Evelyn Wright

“My daughter, kai kwanu? How are you? Hope I didn’t wake you up?” Evelyn’s sleep was interrupted by a call from Kelvin’s mother, Elizabeth Ikeduba. 

“No Ma. I am fine. How are you too?” Evelyn struggled to sit up in bed and noticed her husband wasn’t on his side of the bed. Where was he at this time of the day? It was barely 7am on a Saturday morning.

“I am fine. Thank you for taking good care of us. God bless you richly.” Evelyn had been sending a regular sum of allowance to her in-laws’ account every month in addition to a supply of foodstuff.

“You are welcome, Mama. It is your right to be taken care of.”

“My daughter.” The woman coughed slightly and Evelyn’s body tensed up. “I know you children of nowadays like behaving like the Oyinbo but you two no longer be small pickins any more. Do quick and give me grandchildren.” There was a smile in her voice.

How could she tell the woman that she could count the number of times her son had made love to her since they got married almost a year ago? It was like a button switched off in their love life the moment they tied the knot. He practically avoided her in bed. It was either he was too tired or he had work to do whenever it was time to sleep. Her touch seemed to repulse him. She had a healthy appetite for sex and she had gone to sleep several nights, horny and craving for his touch. Had he finally grown tired of her? Or felt ashamed to be seen with her? She didn’t know how to ignite the passion in their marriage and wasn’t even sure who to discuss this with.

“Mama, don’t worry. We are working on it and you will soon see the result.” There was a forced smile on her face.

“Thank you, my daughter. I trust you.” They talked a bit more before the call ended and Evelyn stared at the floor, morosely.

Evelyn rolled out of bed , tied her robe and shuffled out of the room. Belema was in the kitchen when she got there and was just boiling water for Evelyn’s morning tea. 

“Is breakfast ready? This kitchen is yet to be clean. What is going on with you?” Evelyn stood at the doorway, looking around the untidy kitchen. 

“I am sorry, ma’am. I am not feeling well.” Belema curtseyed , avoiding her eye and inadvertently drawing Evelyn’s gaze to herself. She was looking pale and her motion was slower than usual.

“What is wrong with you? Would you like to go to the hospital?” There was concern in Evelyn’s voice.

“No ma.” There was haste in that response and a frown formed on Evelyn’s face. “I will be fine. I have taken some medication and just needed to rest.”

“If you say so. Please take the day off. I will get the cleaning company to assist.” 

“Thank you ma.” Belema gave her a grateful smile.

“By the way, have you seen my husband?” 

“No ma.” She avoided her gaze again as she moved past her and Evelyn watched her leave with a thoughtful expression on her face. She had lost her appetite. She had better go and dress up and go check on her pet project. She just started a clothing line for plus-size women, Plush Plus Line and the project was taking most of her free time.

*****

Ayoola Faleke

“Is everything alright?” Evelyn had been unusually quiet since he picked her up.

In the almost one year since he became her regular Cabman, his admiration for the woman had only increased. She was smart, beautiful and hardworking. She worked twice as hard as her philandering husband. Kelvin’s favorite pastime was his chain of numerous girlfriends across the city and visiting the newest clubs in town. Ayoola wasn’t sure Evelyn was aware of her husband’s clandestine activities but she never complained. She was the kindest woman he had ever met and treated her domestic staff like family. She had offered to take him for lunch several times , especially when they had been out for the whole day but he always declined. However, she always found a way to repay him.

She sighed heavily, “I want to ask you a question. I have always known you to speak your mind. So please don’t mince words for me.”

“Can you just ask the question and leave the suspense, madam?” 

She laughed at that and the dimples in her cheeks winked to life. Oh boy! Would he ever get over this woman? He had tried relationships with three different wonderful women in the space of the time he knew Evelyn but none of it worked out because he couldn’t invest in the relationship emotionally.  

“Am I repulsive to look at?” Her voice was tentative as she looked at him.

“What? Where did you get that idea?” He gaped at her in shock and the Car lurched forward when his foot pressed down on the accelerator by mistake.

“Easy nah. Don’t kill us.” She cautioned him as her hand touched his arm lightly and his muscles jerked under her touch. This woman would not be the death of him.

“I am sorry, please.” He controlled the vehicle and got it back on the road,before throwing her an apologetic smile.

“It is alright. It was my fault for asking such a stupid question anyway. Don’t bother about it.” Her smile was self-deprecating.

Was it possible such a smart woman would feel so low about herself? Who did this to her? He took a deep breath to calm himself. “ You are a beautiful woman. Your skin is so fresh and smooth it begs to be touched. You have the kind of womanly figure rich and powerful men will fight and kill each other to have such women belong to them. Should I continue?” Had he gone too far? 

Her lips parted in shock as she stared at him, “Are you sure? Or Are you just  flattering me?”

“Do I look like I am?”

“Err… No. Thank you.” She stammered with an uncertain smile and looked out of the window.

“You are welcome.” 

“Where are we going now?”

“I want to check on Tiara.” Tiaraoluwa was an experienced boutique owner who specialised in creating and selling women’s clothing but on a smaller scale. Titilola had introduced them to each other when Evelyn came up with the idea. Evelyn had been impressed with her unique designs and creations. “We have been working with a couple of plus size models and it is beautiful what a nicely styled outfit can do to the woman’s body.” Her enthusiasm was contagious.

“You are doing a great Job, Eve. You also need an online presence.” He glanced at her.

“You are right. That is part of the reason I am seeing her today. We are engaging a couple of influencers and generally testing the market. It should be a success right?” Her voice was tentative.

“It is a success already, Eve. I trust you. You are the business guru.” 

“Thank you.” She grinned at him.

 “You are welcome. I may have to come back and get you. I have clients waiting for me at the gym.”

“Really? Are you an instructor or an owner?” She was facing him fully now. She paid attention to people and listened. It was one of the things he admired most about her.

“Both.”

“Pray tell, how many businesses do you own?” She gave him a mock glare.

“Which other business do I do that you know of?” 

“The Cab business.” It was his turn to look surprised and she laughed heartily. Her laughter always did things to his heart. “You think I don’t know? How else would you find time to pick me whenever I called? Plus I noticed the driver who came to meet you at the bar the other time. He is one of your drivers.”

“It is alright, madam. At least you can patronise me whenever you need my services.”

“I will always be your number one customer. Trust me!” 

******

Kelvin Ikeduba

“Who is this, please?” Kelvin barked into the phone. He was taking his bath when his phone rang, and he rushed out of the bathroom before the incessant noise woke his wife. There was no caller ID.

“Calm down, baby. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?” A husky, seductive but unfamiliar female voice laughed at the other end. The sound washed over him like aged, sweet wine.

“I’m sorry I lost most of my contacts. Who is this, please?” He lied smoothly with a smile.

The woman laughed again; her voice tinged with wicked amusement. “You are a professional flirt, Kelvin. I can bet my beautiful ass that you don’t know who is speaking.”

“Who are you then, mystery woman?” 

“Check your messages on WhatsApp, Sugarplum, and we will talk later.” The phone went dead.

“Hello?” Who was she anyway? The pinging sound of messages dropping on his phone caught his attention, and he opened the chat messages. Dizziness threatened to engulf him, and he dropped onto the bed like lead.

It was the lady he had sex with at his bachelor’s eve party. He couldn’t remember her name, but he could never forget her face or her curvy, sinfully seductive body or what the body did to him that night. It was the best night of his life since he started having sex!

Was life about to throw him a curve he wasn’t expecting?

Finding Solace is available on the blog shop for your reading pleasure.

The Blurb

Araire Falade, a beautiful, wealthy, and single woman in her 40s, is trying to slow down her ticking biological clock, and her boyfriend, Bamidele, has said he will only propose if she gets pregnant. 

Seeking help, she approaches the sexy, handsome but married fertility doctor, Chibuike Azuke, and they soon become great friends. 

Glowing and pregnant, her happiness doubles or so it seems when  Bamidele finally proposes.

All hell breaks loose when Araire discovers she has been duped, not only by the man she was engaged to, but also by the man she had come to trust and love with her whole heart.

Will love find her again or she is destined to remain single and alone forever?

The Chapter Six of Hidden Desires will be posted next week Sunday , 23rd February.

Don’t miss it and don’t forget to leave a comment.

Thank you.