Ayoola Faleke

“What! Why do you ask such a question?” Had Evelyn given her the impression they were dating? He liked Evelyn a lot and could easily fall in love with her but he was trying his best not to cross that line. She was a married woman and that was all the reason he needed to keep his emotions in check. 

“Well, I know she is married but there is something in her voice when she talks about you. A kind of reference or affection , I couldn’t place my finger on it but I know I have heard it in your voice too when you spoke about her. Initially, I thought it was a girl you were dating but now, I know better.”

That cut too close to the truth and his heart ached badly. Was she attracted to him too? It didn’t matter though. She was taken and that was all. “Madam, psychologist, well done. Just do your job and stop poking your nose into what doesn’t concern you.” He was teasing.

“Bro, I love you. Please don’t get involved with a married woman. She is not just married but also wealthy and powerful. This is a complete recipe for trouble.” Gbemi sounded worried.

“There is no cause for alarm, Gbemi. Put your mind at rest.”

“If you say so.” Gbemi sighed. “You and trouble are always 5 & 6. It is that thing that was forbidden that you are always attracted to. It may have worked for you in the past but don’t aim for that one that will put you behind bars this time around.” 

Well, he was a risk-taker and a calculated gambler. How else would he have built different successful businesses without a university degree or prior experience? If he listened to every caution and warning his family and friends dished out to him, he would still be flourishing in poverty. Life was a risk and only the brave would succeed. You lose some, you gain some.

“Aunty, I have heard you. How is your boy and your big baby?” They spoke for a while before Gbemi ended the Call. 

Ayoola was in a pensive mood as he went to get their tickets and proceeded to Evelyn’s office to pick her up. Maybe it was time to take a step back from his involvement with Evelyn. Maybe he could take another chance with Kemisola and see where it led them. The thought did nothing to cheer him up.

Evelyn and Titilola were sitting at their Reception when he strolled in. He had become such a regular that the security men no longer profiled him whenever he came in. They got to his feet as he came in. All his new resolve dissolved when he saw Evelyn without a blazer for the first time. She wore an Ankara print combat trouser and top. The outfit molded her voluptuous curve to perfection  and made her a cynosure of all eyes. Oh boy! Who was this beautiful curvy woman? His jaw nearly sagged in open-jaw admiration but he picked it up on time and composed himself. 

“Oh man! Who is this beautiful woman? Have you seen Eve? I can’t find her any longer.” He was speaking to Titilola but his eyes were on Evelyn who was blushing. Titilola burst into helpless giggles.

“Ayo, please stop. You are embarrassing me.” She grabbed his hand and propelled him out of the reception hall. “ How can a whole CEO like me be blushing like a schoolgirl for God’s sake?” She pretended to glare at him but he only laughed as he took her hand in his and pulled her to his side.He didn’t see Evelyn’s father , Jonathan Wright who was coming behind them and the thoughtful frown on the man’s face as he stared after them.

“Your outfit is  beautiful. You look gorgeous. I hope you set  fire on all those blazers please?” He opened the Car door for the ladies.

“I am personally doing you that favour, Ayo. I am burning those blazers all by myself” Evelyn glared at her but she ignored her as she continued. “This outfit is from Plush Plus Line , our new baby. She is modeling it for us.” Titilola was at the back while Evelyn was sitting at the front seat, beside him.

“How many potential customers did you get today because you are a beautiful model?” Ayoola grinned at her as he turned the ignition.

“Quite a lot. I am still amazed at the number of my female colleagues  who asked for the contact of the designer.” Evelyn looked dazed.

“I told you it is a success already. Please leave the flyers in my Car and any other PR materials you have. Every female customer who crosses my path is our  potential customer.”

“You are my guy, Ayoola. Your woman is such a lucky one.” Titilola winked at him.

Hmm. The only lucky one he wanted was taken. “Let’s go and sing our hearts out and drink like there is no tomorrow.” 

*****

Evelyn Wright 

Last night was a banger. Ayoola wouldn’t let her be a spectator. She sang as if there was no tomorrow. At first she was shy and feeling self-conscious, so she stayed behind and urged Ayoola and Titilola to go first. Ayoola went to speak to the dee-jay at a point, and then went to take the stand when the oldies song, You are beautiful by James Blunt , was being played. His voice was deep, beautiful and pulled her  into the song as he held her gaze. It was as if he was singing to her soul. He pulled her in in a way she couldn’t explain. Her body was covered in goosebumps and her heart stirred and yearned for something. She was sipping her drink when he took the stand but had to drop the wine glass when her hands began to shake. 

Was he trying to tell her something? What was going on with her? Was she falling for him? 

“He is singing for you.” Titilola’s voice was quiet as she nudged her gently.

She opened her mouth to speak but no word came out and she swallowed hard. He was singing for her? Could a beautiful man like him fall for a woman like her? 

When Ayoola stopped singing, there was a rousing applause and cheers. He sang so well and almost every woman in the room was staring at him. He stood still for a while, staring at her like someone in a trance before he turned to go and drop the mic. She swallowed her drink in a gulp. What was that? 

“Madam, it is your turn. “ He had a boyish grin on his face by the time he returned to their table and the knot in her tummy loosened up a little. She had probably imagined everything. 

“I can’t sing to save my life, “

“It doesn’t matter. We had a deal. “ He pulled her to her feet. 

“Okay, I am going,” The muscles in her legs were shaky and she was nervous, feeling as if everyone was mocking her but knowing he was staring after her was all the motivation she needed. She, who had faced powerful men across the boardroom, how difficult could it be to sing to a bunch of strangers? 

The lyrics of “When I fall in love by Celine Dion & Cliff Griffin “spilled from her lips effortlessly as the memories of days when she listened to the talented  Canadian singer flooded her mind. She missed music. She missed dancing. She missed when she didn’t worry too much about life and what others think about her physique. Ayoola joined his deep masculine voice to hers as he went to meet her on the stand, picking up Cliff Griffin’s part and they rendered the room speechless for a while as they sang to and for each other. A louder applause rendered the air at the end of the duet and something broke free in her. She felt seen. She felt as if a burden had been lifted off her shoulder and she could soar without hindrance. It was a momentous occasion for her. 

“Thank you.” Her arms went around him in a tight, warm hug, her body shook and her throat cloaked with tears as she buried her face in his chest. 

He looked startled at first before his arm went around her and he hugged her back, “You are welcome. You have a beautiful voice by the way. “

“Thank you.” Her smile was shaky as she stepped away. “Let’s go and dance”

He drove them to another club and they had crazy fun. He and Titilola competed by smoking shisha while she drank and danced as if she had no care in the world. It was midnight by the time he dropped them home one after the other. 

Kelvin was already in bed when she staggered into their bedroom, whistling happily under her breath. He stirred and opened his eyes. 

“Where are you coming from at this time? “ He was frowning as he glanced at the bedside clock. 

“I went clubbing with my friends.” She was grinning as she strolled into her walk-in closet and began to undress. 

“Who are your friends? Do I know them?” There was suspicion in his voice and that caught her attention. 

Was this man alright? Was he actually questioning her after she had seen him banging her housemaid with all his strength? 

“Are you asking me that silly question? Go and sleep or go fuck your bimbos.” With that, she turned around and walked into her bathroom with a hiss. She missed the look of surprise and suspicion on his face as he stared after her.

When she woke up the following morning, she was ready to start the gym session. She told herself it was because she was on a weight loss journey, not because she was eager to see a certain youngman whose thoughts were beginning to occupy her mind every second of her waking hour.

******

Kelvin Ikeduba

When did she start having friends? What kind of married woman stayed out late with friends until midnight? It was time he woke up and took his husbandly duty seriously. Even though he was sure no man would look twice at his obese wife, he didn’t want to take any chance. Her wealthy status was enough motivation for any man. There was a frown as he watched her undressing and walked into the bedroom. Had she lost some weight or that was a figment of his imagination? Remembering she wasn’t wearing her usual blazer when she came in, he sat up straighter in bed and stared at her discarded clothing. Something fishy was going on and he needed to get to the bottom of it.

The thought of making love to Evelyn made him nauseous but if he could get her pregnant, she would be too busy taking care of his child and wouldn’t have time to be gallivanting around town with irresponsible friends and coming home at midnight.  Moreover, if she gave birth to his Child, the child would automatically become the heir to the Wright Empire. How else could he secure his future other than this way? He had been such a fool. He should have impregnated by now but it wasn’t too late. He needed to mend his ways and warmed his way into her heart and bed again, no matter how disgusting the last part felt. The sight of all that flesh always made his skin crawl. 

But he needed to find his blackmailer, Lydia Bach and took care of her. No woman would steal from him and go scot free. Afterall, they both enjoyed the marathon sex that took place that night. He had employed the service of a private investigating firm to find her. The sound of message notification on his phone startled him and he picked it up with shaking fingers, thinking it was Lydia Bach at work again. The messages were from the investigating firm. She had been found. A triumphant smile spread over his face as he scrolled through his personal email.

“Hey, baby.” He got to his feet when Evelyn came out of the bathroom, clad in a towelling robe that barely reached mid-thigh.

“Hey.” She went to the clothing closet to pick up her pyjamas and he followed, reaching for her waist. She pushed him out of the way with a glare. “Get out of my way please. I need to sleep.” 

“I miss you.”

“Really?” She laughed as she changed into her pyjamas, right in front of him. Yes, she was definitely losing weight and there was something else he couldn’t place his finger on. “Goodnight, Kelvin.” She picked up her phone and the business book she was reading from her side of the bed, then walked out of the room.

Yes, he was right. Something was going on and he would get to the root of it. He vowed as he stared at the closed door, gritting his teeth in impotent fury.

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

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 Nine of HIDDEN DESIRES will be posted next week Sunday, 16th March.

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

Thank you!