Scandalous Twists (Entangled Love: Seduced Into Forbidden Passion Book 2)

by Boadi, Lilly

  “Sweetheart, have you eaten something this morning?” he whispered

  “No, and I don’t feel like eating” she said weakly

  “C’mon, you have to” he said, getting on his feet. “I’ll be with you in a jiffy ok?” he said and pecking her cheek, rushed downstairs again.

  In the interim, Kelly was seriously in thought, pacing anxiously in her living room. She wanted to at least find out if Haida was at Mellis’ and what conclusion she had come to. It was almost two and half hours then since she talked to Haida, and she thought she should wait for at least, thirty minutes to call her. Suddenly, the door bell rang

  “Come in” said Kelly, and she wondered who was at the door “Oh, Carlos! Come in. Why didn’t you call first? You look nervous. Have a seat”

  “I was thinking Haida could be here, is she?”

  “No, as you can see. Hasn’t she called you?” she was desperate

  “No she hasn’t. I get the feeling she’s trying to avoid me. I didn’t want to call, because I thought she might be here” he collapsed on the couch.

  “I get you. She said she was going somewhere, and that she would call and inform you. I told you, if you really are to get this girl, then you must persist more”

  “I think you misled me Kelly; she is not as naive as you wanted me to believe. In fact, I think she’s very intelligent and smart” said Carlos, and Kelly laughed wryly

  “Is this Carlos talking?!” she turned a gaze at him. “I thought you were experienced enough to know how to deal with a woman like her!” she ridiculed. “In fact, I think she’s too cheap for you to handle.” She smiled at the corner of her mouth “Carlos! – A cat with nine lives!” she moved towards him and seductively cuddled his hair. “A chameleon who fits every situation and finally gets his way through when it comes to women, so what are you saying?” Carlos didn’t know if he should take that as a compliment or sarcasm.

  “Even, a skilled hunter has days of misadventure!” he sneered defensively and laughed. “There’s something different about this girl. I can’t really lay my hand on what, but I think I really like her - I mean, genuinely” he said, making her hackles rise as she paused suddenly and moved away from him.

  “What do you mean? Don’t tell me she’s already won your heart!” she snapped

  “I didn’t say that” he said softly. Kelly stared at him for a second

  “Tell me, is there any possibility that she would be the first woman to win your heart?” she asked, almost in a whisper

  “I’m not sure… Maybe…maybe not” he said imprecisely

  “Better not Carlos ‘cause this isn’t part of the plan!” she burst

  “Hey, calm down…. I didn’t say I was in love with her. It’s even too early for that. Relax ok?” he calmed her down as she pursed her lips, sighed and sat

  “Anyway, I’ll call her and find out where she is” she said, dialing Haida’s number.

  The call went through but there was no response. Mellis stared at the name on the phone, wondering a thousand times if he should pick through. Kelly called the third time and Mellis picked through “Hello…Hello…Halloo?” he kept saying until the line went dead. ‘Why didn’t she say anything?’ he wondered. Though Kelly had cut the line, the phone kept hanging on her ear. She was tongue-tied and looking strange.

  “Why? Didn’t you get through to her?” asked Carlos

  “Err…no. Her phone is switched off” she said. Then suddenly, an idea crossed her mind and she grinned. “Carlos, can I have your phone?”

  “What are you trying to do?” he asked, handing her the phone

  “Nothing strange. Only trying to make things easier for you” she said giggling.

  Carlos watched her silently, wondering exactly what she was up to. Haida’s phone beeped, signaling incoming message. Mellis stared at her sleeping face and took the phone; it was so tempting, yet he knew it wasn’t right to read her text messages. He was dying to know what was in the text, moreover, when it could be an urgent message, even so as she was fast asleep on his bed. Maybe, it was from her family or better still, that Kelly who didn’t want to talk; he wasn’t sure if she had refused to talk to him or the line was bad. He stared guiltily at Haida and thought ‘Forgive me for doing this Haida’, and then he pressed the read button.

  The text read: ‘Hi sweetest one, I’m missing you terribly. I can’t stop imagining you being in my arms and making sweet love to you again. This is the remains you left me yester night. I enjoyed every bit of you! You’re the sweetest woman I’ve ever been with. Your lips taste like honey and making love to you was heavenly. Thanks for the wonderful time. You promised you’ll be here today; I’m waiting eagerly for us to continue where we left on last night. Please don’t disappoint me. I love you honey. Yours, Carlos’.

  Mellis was bewildered. He kept staring at Haida’s sleeping face. Could it be true what he was thinking? Who was this Carlos? Maybe it was a wrong line; maybe the text mistakenly came to her line - that was what he was convinced about. No! Haida couldn’t cheat on him; she truly was a virgin, she was keeping herself for him. What if it was all true - that what she saw yesterday led her to do something silly? No, Haida wasn’t that type who would act impulsively in that sense. He was confused and desperate. He wanted to find out the truth from her; he wished he could wake her up and make her explain immediately. He wanted to call the same line and find out if Haida really knew anyone called Carlos. He was getting devastated. Suddenly, he thought about keeping this to himself and finding things out for himself secretly. He immediately deleted the text message and stored the number on his phone. He glared into Haida’s closed eyes. He was getting furious already. He tried to calm down, but it was difficult. But he trusted Haida? Wasn’t this the time his trust for her was being tested and he had to excel? But it was absurd; how could he trust that blindly? The message was real and clear and it did come to her line. Somehow, the possibility of everything being true was driving him crazy. His hackles were rising; could a woman he loved with all his heart and being cheat on him so? Already, he had himself to explain to her, and he thought he should deal with that first before this. Already, he felt he was about losing her – something he would do anything to see to it that it didn’t happen – and so coming up with his paroxysm could only worsen the matter.

  So, when she finally awoke, he tried to convince her into believing him. Haida felt tired to quarrel with him again. She knew though she was so much hurt, she still loved him. His kisses were soft and sweet, and she melted into his arms. Why was her heart so soft towards him? She wanted to disbelieve him and hate him, but it was easier for her to do otherwise. She came to his house, with anger fully inside her; she was actually going to call it quits between them. When the image of him kissing that girl at the show came to her mind, it disgusted her and she knew she could never kiss his lips nor stand his touch anymore. But, here she was, lying in his arms with such comfort and sweetness. She looked better, and Mellis was glad about that. Then her phone rang and she reached out for it

  “Hello Kelly?”

  Mellis excused with his index finger in the air “She called earlier but she wouldn’t talk or so…” he hissed

  “Sweetie, where are you? Are you still at Mellis’?” asked Kelly

  “Yes” said Haida lazily

  “How did it go? Is everything ok?”

  “Yes, everything is ok”

  ‘What was that supposed to mean’ thought Kelly “Err, I called earlier, but I…I couldn’t hear you”

  “Oh, I was sleeping. I just woke up; Mellis might have picked it up then”

  “I can see everything is really ok” said Kelly with a little sarcasm in her tone, something Haida didn’t realize. “Well, Carlos is here, will you talk to him?”

  “Oh let me” Carlos came on the line “Hi Carlos…” she said, and then Mellis’ face beamed with surprise and expectation. “…I’m sorry I couldn’t fulfill your expectations. Something came up and I had to attend to it�
�

  “At least you should have called to inform me, to keep me out of suspense” said Carlos

  “I know. That was not courteous of me. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you some other time”

  “Really? I’m glad to hear that” Haida smiled

  “Ok, see you soon, I hope. Bye”

  “Bye pretty”

  Mellis saw the spark in her eyes as she talked with Carlos and even after putting him off and he was tempted to question her. Did she really sleep with him, or was she only trying to make him feel jealous? For though he was able to convince her he was not guilty, he knew she was still angry with him. What’s more? She seemed to avoid him after talking to that Carlos. He couldn’t take it anymore.

  “Who is Carlos?” Mellis managed to ask.

  “A friend of mine. Why do you ask?” Haida snapped

  “Was he at the show with you?” he asked softly with a hot burning inside.

  “He was; in fact that’s where I met him. Why all these questions? Are you really jealous? Do you mind anyway!?”

  “Haida, what really happened between the two of you?”

  Haida chuckled “What’s that question supposed to mean?”

  “You know what I mean, Haida!” he gushed

  “And how daring you are to ask me that question! You had your own way yesterday Mellis and I had mine; we all did our own thing! Why don’t we forget about yesterday and try to move on!?”

  “Forget about yesterday and try to move on like nothing happened!?” he yelled.

  “And what would you do, huh!? Are you going to keep on rambling about the fun we both had yesterday!? It doesn’t go against either of us, does it!?” she shouted

  The argument was getting heated, and Mellis thought he should let go, but he felt he was near the truth - near what he’s dying to know.

  “At least, you know what I supposedly did, but I have no idea what you did! Did you sleep with him!?” he asked blatantly.

  Those words pierced her heart. There was silence. Though the suspicion of a harlot was dumbfounding and hurtful, what she felt doing at the moment was to reprise that hurt.

  “Just as you slept with all those girls you call your fans! Just as that! Yes, I did sleep with him! But what do you have to lose?! Like I said, you had your own way and I had mine, so let it be! If you can’t take it, then back off!” she was so angry she didn’t mind what she said.

  Mellis stood motionless. There was pain in his eyes and his face was sorrowful. He was deeply hurt and Haida could see it. Yes, that was tit for tat, and for a moment, it made her feel better. But she came home and started weeping uncontrollably. She realized though she could forgive him, she couldn’t forget it. Even if she was able to convince herself he had nothing to do with those women, the scene of him kissing that girl couldn’t stop haunting her and making her feel angrier with him. That alone was very painful, and at this moment, she wished she hadn’t seen it, for it had already affected her self-esteem too. She knew she hurt Mellis with her words, and that too was painful. She had come to love this man so much that, she felt his pain and joy. She wore the same look of sadness when she came back home, and her mother saw that. Mrs. Morgan followed up to her daughter’s room and at her door, heard her sobs. She called out to Haida, shaking the locked door slightly

  “Phoebe, are you in there?” she asked

  “Yes mom. I’m at the lavatory; I’ll be with you in a jiffy”.

  Mrs. Morgan realized her daughter was doing anything to hide her emotions, but she wouldn’t give up trying to find out what was wrong. She was sure whatever it was had gotten something to do with Mellis.

  Meanwhile, Mellis was in tantrum; throwing everything he could lay his hand on about, messing up the whole room. He felt so much pain, something perhaps he was yet to feel to the core, for it seemed to steal its way slowly into his heart as he imagined Haida in someone else’s arms. Yet, he wanted to convince himself it was truly all an imagination. Maybe Haida said all she said out of reprisal because she was hurt. But what about that text message from Carlos? That made everything so bona fide. One thought upon another rushed through his mind until he didn’t know what to think anymore. It was so bad that things were happening this way. He was sure whatever the cause was, that Kelly had something to do with it.

  The next evening, after church, Haida left home telling everyone she was going to Kiara’s. She went to a beach-resort and spent the cool evening with Carlos. True to Kelly’s words, he treated her like a queen with all decency and gentility. Their meeting did her so much good, for being with him made her feel her good self-esteem again. He lifted up her spirits with his soothing words that made her feel invaluable.

  Both Mellis and Haida were hurt, and none was ready to initiate a truce and reconciliation of a sort. Therefore throughout the rest of the weekend, none heard from each other. Haida was able to convince her mom there was nothing wrong with her, and that she wasn’t feeling too well. She was missing Mellis, but each time she thought about what happened, she felt angry and only wanted to hurt him more. Mellis on the other hand felt restless. He wasn’t himself. He wanted to know more about what Haida had said, but he wasn’t ready for another quarrel and so he possibly couldn’t involve her. His thoughts shifted to Kiara; even if Kiara knew nothing, he felt he had to let her know what was going on, and at least, he was quite sure he could fish out one or two things from her which could be helping.

  ***

  The glowing blue sky set the tone for a beautiful Monday morning, which promised a happy day. For the first time in so many months, Mellis prayed silently to God, asking Him to favour him with a successful day. He was still in pain, and had lost his drive as an energetic and hilarious person. He prayed that he shared in the happiness this day promised, to ease the pain the previous days had acqainted him with. Part of his schedule, he had an appointment with Kiara at lunch time, something he had beseeched her not to mention to Haida.

  Kiara had felt suspicious about a problem of a sort between her best friend and Mellis, and upon seeing Haida at work, she knew her suspicions were worth it; why did Haida look so wane and sad anyway? Besides, why did Mellis plead Haida had no idea about their imminent meeting? What was really going on?

  “Did everything go on well with Mellis last Friday? Did you have fun?” asked Kiara, seeing Haida was unusually quiet.

  “Oh yes” Haida lied, “Everything was ok.”

  “So, where did you go? What was the surprise?” asked Kiara, not convinced.

  “Oh…em… Kiara I’m really not feeling okay. Can we talk about this later?”

  “You are sick?” Kiara asked sharply

  “No, just a slight headache…but I’ll be ok”

  It was quite clear something was wrong. Kiara respected her friend and her privacy and had never wanted to push things if Haida didn’t want to talk. Even if their closeness as friends had diminished since that Kelly came into the picture, though it hurt, she wouldn’t talk about it. However, if her friend looked so bad, she would pry a step further. Well, whatever it was that Haida was hiding, she felt she’d know from Mellis later on in the day.

  Haida had one task to perform jointly with Osborn. Too much was on her mind that she wasn’t consciously cautious with him for Meg’s sake. As they worked together, sitting opposite to each other, Osborn saw the sadness in her eyes.

  “Hey, are you ok?” he asked softly.

  “Sure. I’m fine,” but the way she said that told him she wasn’t.

  “No you aren’t, Haida,” he said, getting on his feet. He sat adjacent to her on the desk and touched her cheek with his palm “What’s wrong with you? Talk to me,” he said sweetly, looking into her eyes with deep concern.

  Haida saw the love in his eyes and tears rolled down her cheeks, as she thought “How could this be? Here is this man who truly loves me, and the one I truly love has only hurt me?” Just then, she couldn’t hold back, and she began to sob bitterly.

  “Oh dear, why are you cryi
ng?” asked Osborn fondling her hair

  “Oh Osborn!” she said, and then collapsed into his arms.

  “It’s ok, it’s alright,” he cuddled her.

  “Now, tell me why you are sad,” he said, pushing her slightly away from his bosom.

  “Is it Mellis?” Haida nodded sadly. “He hurt you, didn’t he?” Again, she nodded. He sighed and put her in his arms again. “What did he do…? Cheat on you?” Haida nodded, still sobbing. “I knew it!” said Osborn with a little fury.

  He knew a type like Mellis; he could hardly believe he truly loved her, and even if he did, he knew he was bound to cheat on her. The rage he had for Mellis all this time came fully alive within him. Osborn stayed by Haida until it was lunch time.

  “Would you have lunch with me?” he asked

  “No Osborn, you know we shouldn’t. Your wedding is just a few days away and I don’t want to cause you anymore problems with Meg,” she said and Osborn sighed deeply and said nothing.

  Meanwhile, Mellis set off to Trinity Co. premises to pick Kiara up. Her car broke down during the weekend, so she suggested taking a cab to meet him at their scheduled place, but Mellis had refuted that idea. He promised to pick her up at work, regardless of Kiara’s fear that Haida might see them. Finally, they mutually agreed to meet at the company’s entrance gate. He wanted to play a gentleman role. Besides, he didn’t want anything to happen to her on the way because of him, he had told Kiara. Nevertheless, he hoped Kiara was able to give Haida a white lie and more so that Haida was already out for lunch.