Lines appear on my forehead as I stare hard at my phone, trying to pass this level on Candy Crush which seems impossible. I groan as I lose again for the umpteenth time since I started this level, it's hard. My eyes fly to the time on my wristwatch, a smile graces my lip and I stand, time for a break.
The kitchen guy number rings without any disturbances, I dial it again and groan when I get the same response. Making my way out of the office, a frown mars my feature at the thought of eating alone today. My food partner, Chi no longer eats lunch with me so I have resorted to eating in my office.
Most of her lunch breaks are spent outside, with someone, possibly a new love interest who she is uneager to tell me about.
The elevator doors slide open and Chi is the first person I see. She hasn't seen me yet, not with the amount of attention she's paying to her phone. Her shift dress is bigger than it should be but she is rocking it and her wig has given way for cornrows.
She starts walking to the doors before I can get to her and I stop her in her tracks with my question. "Where are you going?"
Her head whips in my direction, the ends of her cornrows lashing at her face. She frowns and puts them in a knot at the nape of her neck. When she finally meets my gaze, there's no trace of that initial frown.
"To see someone." She smiles. "Hi."
That someone again. I stifle the urge to roll my eyes and hiss. "Someone has no name?" I ask and place a hand on my waist. "Who gave you permission to leave?"
Chi's tone matches mine. "It's my break time, I will be back before it's over."
We stare at each other and I sigh in defeat, she doesn't need permission to leave for a break so long she returns within the one-hour period. I miss her, I miss our small talks and gossip while we lunched.
"Why don't you bring the person here? At least your meals will be covered," I suggest.
Chi's face takes on a thoughtful look, she taps on her chin with her index finger and proceeds to shake her head. I nod, so much theatrics for nothing. Ignoring her farewell greetings, I stomp to the restaurant.
The place is empty so I make my order, sit at the farthest corner from the entrance. I stab the fried yam with slight disinterest and chew slowly, angry to admit that my appetite walked out the doors with Chi.
Heaving a sigh of frustration, I head to the counter with my barely eaten plate of fries, apologise and request for a takeout to be sent to my office. The server's face pulls into a frown so I rephrase my request, waiting instead to take the meal up myself.
From the corner of my eyes, I see a couple walk in hand in hand and a sad smile flits to my lips. I take a swig from my bottled water and shake my head, trying not to think of memories from a time before.
I don't pay them much mind until the lady walks up to make her order, she taps me on the shoulder and I turn. Our eyes meet and a surprised laugh escapes my lips.
"You're back," I state, happier than I should be. Chi notices it too and her smile grows.
"Yes. I decided to take your suggestion," Chi says with a grin. "I brought him here."
Him? My eyes widen and my voice lowers to a whisper, "Is he your boyfriend?"
The expression of disgust on her face has me cackling, she's allowed to bring her boyfriend here for lunch and I make to tell her that but she leaves before I get a chance to. When my eyes land on her companion, my grip on my bottled water tightens and I start a mental check of my appearance.
My gown is fitted to my body, my box braids are in a big bun at the centre of my head and my makeup is on fleek, as always.
Chi gestures for me to come over so she can introduce us but I refuse, since I stopped seeing him at The Palace, I have made efforts not to think about him.
They both stand and start to walk towards me. I sigh, pushing myself from the counter to meet them halfway. He shouldn't be here.
Paul's face is a blank mask, pretty much the same bored expression he had when I first saw him. He only smirks when we are all seated and Chi starts with the introduction.
"Udo," Chi turns to look at him then at me, "this is Madam Pauline, she's my Boss."
"Madam Pauline?" I scowl at the mockery in his voice and his eyebrow raises in amusement. "I never thought I will see you again. What a small world."
Paul smirk shifts into a sincerer smile but that mockery is still in his voice so I ignore him. Besides, what does he expect me to say to that? I take another swig from my bottle, taking a few moments longer to drop my hand so I can inspect him.
He is still as sinfully handsome as the last time I saw him, his gaze is trained on me and a corner of his lips twitches. His muscles seem to have grown bigger, it won't take much effort for him to lift me.
A slow, sensual smile flits to my face and I take one last swig from my bottle. Paul might be good at masking his emotions but his eyes, they are his giveaway. They don't lie and they say he wants me too.
Chi holds her hand up, turning from me to him. "You two know each other?"
I am the first to break our stare-off. I nod and ask, "Why do you call him Udo?"
"It's our secret," Chi responds with a wink. I look to Paul to see if he will say otherwise but he looks right through me. "Since you both know each other; I won't bother with further introductions. I'm starving."
I smile even if it is the opposite of what I want. I want the details. I barely know Paul and I can bet my makeup kit that he won't divulge any information about himself.
"Maybe you can join us to eat, Udo?"
Paul eyes me briefly, mumbles a yes and Chi claps in excitement. She leaves the table and I bite my lower lip, unsure what to say to this man. I open the takeout and start eating, taking occasional glances at Paul.
The silence is choking but he doesn't seem to mind. I do. It's suffocating. I tap my leg under the table, waiting and wondering what is taking Chi so long to get their lunch.
"You stopped working at The Palace," I state.
He shrugs and I roll my eyes then sigh, talk about stubborn. Maybe he's still upset from our last time together. I never got a chance to properly apologise to him.
"The chinchin was nice," I say and his eyes narrow but I manage to push the words out, "I am sorry for calling you boring."
The only indication that he heard me is the ghost of a smile that crosses his lips. "How do you two know each other?"
"Well, he's my-" I jump at the sound of Chi's voice. When I get over my shock, I see her and Paul silently communicating then she says, "Udo is anything but boring."
My ears perk at the sound of that, my gaze wanders to her and she shrugs. How much did she hear? We finish our meal in silence and Paul volunteers to see me off to my office.
"You don't mind?" I ask Chi who starts for the reception like this is normal. Paul also doesn't seem to think anything of it.
She shakes her head with a reminder for him to check on her before he leaves and I lead Paul to my office, making sure to lock the door behind me. I need answers.
I move to sit on the edge of my desk and he stays by the door, hands shoved into his pocket. I like the view he offers but I'm sure he didn't come here to model for me.
"You don't look too happy to see me," I say.
"You didn't seem too happy to see me either," he returns and I smile, at least he pays attention. "I was surprised to see you. When Chi talked about her Boss being so young and hot, I didn't think it was you."
"You think I am hot?" I bite the inside of my lips, rest my hands on the table and he nods. "You and Chi ..." I trail off.
"We go way back," he finishes for me.
"Are you two a couple or something?" I ask.
He pushes himself from the door and stalks towards me. "What do you think?"
My head falls back as he leans forward to rest his hand on either side of me, giving him a view of the pendant in between my boobs. "You are not a man of many words."
His head dips low enough for me to feel his breath and he smirks. He wraps a hand around my waist and pulls me to himself.
"Action speaks louder than words, I'm a man of action," he whispers in my ears.
Our proximity causes me to lose my train of thought. My face becomes flushed, my legs wobble and he lowers me gently to the edge of the table. Sparks dance around the part of my body he still has a hold on, tingles crawl up my spine and I slant my head to get a better view of the man who is doing this to me to see if the reaction is mutual.
His staid expression forces a question out of my mouth. "You and Chi, how long?"
"I have known her for a very long time."
"Before we met?" I ask and he nods. Some of the sparks die down and as much as I want to, I can't bring myself to push him away. "I thought you liked me?" I murmur to myself.
"I did, from the moment I saw you," he says and I tense until he adds, "I still do."
My whole body thrums in response to that and my breathing becomes shallow when his fingers brush my chest to pick my pendant.
"How's he, your boyfriend?" he asks.
"We broke up," I manage to whisper.
Paul drops the pendant on my bosom and I suck in a sharp breath at the heat that sears me at his touch. He trails a finger along my collarbone, I bite my lower lip and arch my back when he nips on the skin on my neck, behind my ear. His head descends to mine, his lip covers mine but he doesn't kiss me immediately, almost as if he's giving me a chance to pull away but I don't want to.
I grab fistfuls of his shirt and press my lips against his. His lips are soft, too soft and our kiss is softer, delicate. He is gentle, with his touch, the way he hooks a finger under my chin to scatter kisses all over my jaw, neck before returning to my ready lips.
Kissing Paul is like having a taste of ambrosia and I want more of it. My gown rides up, files drop to the floor as my legs wrap around his waist and I moan.
An image of Chi laughing pops in my mind and I finally manage to push Paul off me. He casts one look at me, his face just as flushed as mine but doesn't say a word. My chest rises and fall, my finger moves to my swollen lips, I want more of his kisses.
Paul begins to pick up the sweets that fell to the ground. I use that moment to adjust my dress and try to compose myself. When he's done, he puts the sweets back in their bowl, holds out a few to me and pockets them after I permit him to do so.
His eyes darken a little as they rove over me and my smile freezes at the thought of him taking those sweets for Chi. He drops the bowl on my desk, rearranges some of the files that fell off then goes on to give me a chaste kiss that has me aching for more.
"It was nice to see you again, Pauline."
Moments after the door shut behind him, I remain in that position, staring at the door like he's still there modelling for me.
**********
Picture: Bryan Okwara
The picture is of the other person I had imagined for Mr. Kings.
Please. Please. Please. Can we get to a thousand reads before the next chapter?
Vote. Comment (this cracks me up with laughter). Share. Follow.
I will be counting on y'all. Thank you. Thank you.
💝💝💝