Chapter 16

This chapter is dedicated to all my readers from:

USA,

Nigeria,

South Africa,

Ghana.

If you want your country added, comment here. I'll add it in the next chapter or the following ones.

Kara’s POV

*

“I’m set.” I announced as I alighted the stairs. The nervousness rolled off me in waves and memories of the last time myself and Stephano went out together surfaced. That night was the night all these began. He had also kissed me. And I’d enjoyed it.

My eyes moved around the lounge to where young master was sitting with his phone in hand and he was dressed in shiny white Polo with Nike logo at the breast and deep black jeans.

Without even thinking, I felt myself giving him a nod of approval because he looked even better this way. He was wearing black converse boots and I found myself rolling my eyes. Why wear converse again after wearing fitted Italian shoes with socks all day?

His eyes moved from the phone to my direction at the end of the stairs and we locked eyes. He just stared. No one said anything as I made my way down and I fought my now mushy brain, so as to pull my gaze from his— something I succeeded miserably in.

“My my, you’re really set.” Paul commented and this was a wake-up call because I immediately averted my gaze and gave Paul a shy smile. To say we clicked the instance I met him at the airport hours ago would be an understatement. He’d pulled me into a hug, saying he had heard a lot about me and thanking me for making life less bearable for his annoying cousin, Adrian.

His words not mine.

It hadn’t even been thirty minutes since I met Paul when I concluded that he was a cool guy. Yes, a bit talkative but nothing I couldn’t handle since I also tended to talk a lot if I was free with someone.

It was a pity I couldn’t say the same for young master and I already knew that this little outing of ours would be awkward.

Stephano kept his phone in his pocket and muttered something under his breath. Paul raised a brow and mouthed ‘you look wow’, to which I bobbed my head at and smiled; something young mas- Stephano's scrutinizing gaze immediately caught. Paul also saw Stephano switching gazes between us.

“You look sexy.” he spoke louder and I giggled. Adrian had hinted him that Stephano liked me, so he was probably trying to ruffle Stephano’s feathers. I was in just palazzo high-waist pants and a black fitted silk top.

I didn’t bother applying makeup but I didn’t forget my red matte. I loved matte lipsticks.

“You look perfect Kara Mia. Let’s go.” Stephano said with a straight face but his tone was almost surprised, as if he couldn’t believe he was complimenting me. As if he’d never done something like that and I didn’t want to react to it. But he just called me perfecto.

With his hand snaking around my waist in an unneeded way, he led me towards the entrance but I halted for a second so Paul would catch up. My body was totally responsive as my back immediately felt the warmness of his touch, making tingles spread through me.

“You have such a nice home, Mr. Alfonsi. I love the paintings especially.”

“Thank you Paul, those paintings were gotten from the National Museum two years ago. I love paintings that deal with so much expression.” Stephano explained without turning around to face Paul.

Guilt flooded through me and I gave Paul an apologetic smile but I was glad he had at least made effort to talk a little on the paintings. I knew he liked them because there were two ancient portraits in his own bedroom.

As we finally walked out and got into Stephano’s Lamborghini, he opened the backseat door for me and asked Paul to sit beside the driver at the front. I was about to make a comment about me sitting with him at the back so we could keep chatting when my phone rang and I picked it immediately when I saw it was mama.

“Kara?”

“Si mama?”

“How are you? Are you entertaining the young man well?”

“Yes mama. I’m currently heading out with Paul and Stephano.”

“Have you left the house with them both?”

There was a country music being played at the background and I could hear cackles of some men. Gregory should be getting better, then.

“Si. How is Gregory?”

I entered the car and moved further in while Stephano took a seat beside me. His cologne instantly filled the air and I looked at him. His expression was blank.

“He is doing well. His leg is healing faster than expected.” Mama replied.

Gregory, who was close to being a father to me had survived a truck accident and was currently receiving treatment at his home after being discharged from the hospital, so mama went to pay him a visit. He had been friends with my mom since forever.

“Okay. Does that mean he won’t need the walking stick any longer?”

“The problem is not that dear. I think he is solitario (lonely). A little company should do and company, I will surely provide.” She ended with a giggle and I just shook my head when she said, “That rhymed.”

Anyone would have expected mama and Gregory to just get together after my papa’s death, in fact, some of their friends expected them to date or get married but she keeps saying ‘I don’t like him that way. He’s just a friend’.

It was almost funny because they looked both cute together. They met years ago when I was a little girl. Mama had taken me to the market and while playing with another little girl who I later learnt to be Gregory’s daughter, I had followed her to a place she called her ‘little home’, which was a sty— Gregory’s sty to be precise.

Mama had been frantic, searching for me all over the market place and Gregory had joined in the search, not finding me until he got home late at night and saw me all cuddled up with Nina, his daughter on her bed. We were young, and only wanted to play so we didn’t think of the consequences of running of that way.

I could still remember how angry Stephano had been that time, since I was seven years old. But what I sincerely had no idea of, was why he would lock Gregory in a cell for three whole days, stating that the man knew my whereabouts. Stephano had been so cold and devious since he was at a tender age. I was only seven then and already knew of his heartless ways.

“He sends his greetings, Kara.” Mama’s voice brought me out of my reverie. I was not complaining if she didn’t want to be with any man apart from my papa though. I knew how much they loved each other, even when he was now dead. Mama still would never joke with him.

“Pluck some blackberries on his farm for me. Also, stop by Alfred’s place for some fresh honey.”

“Grow up Kara.” She scolded but I did an eye roll. The car was now moving through the estate and towards the main gate. “Have you finished eating the honey I specifically kept in your room? You should pay more attention to your body now that you’re getting older.”

“Sure, you’re eager for me to grow up but when I do, I’ll also have to leave you one day and-”

“You know I hate such talk. You won’t leave me ever.” Mama snapped. She hated it when I made a comment about me leaving her because now I was all she had since papa was dead and I made sure to do that regularly, so she would also stop asking me to grow up and talking to me as if I was still a child.

“I know mama, but it’s the truth. Now however, I’m still your girl. Take care of him for me and show him my love. Get home safely. Love you!”

“Love you too.” She sang and ended the call.

We got to Mr. Ben and alighted. Stephano was waiting to hold my hand though he was back to his expressionless self that I couldn’t figure out. Paul on the other hand had dozed off in-between the fifteen minute ride.

“Hey Paul, wakey wakey.” I tapped his shoulder from the backseat.

“Kar Kar. I slept of...” He stated in a deep voice and chuckled. I knew he must’ve gotten jetlag from the flight but I knew the Paul I just met was way too active to just sit.

He smiled at me and I turned to Stephano who was still holding his hand out. I took it with a shudder slowly trailing down my spine and we led Paul in. His hand was cold. Not clammy but also not all that welcoming; it just weird all in all.

“Welcome to Mr. Ben. I am Carlo and will attend to you.” A man with low-cut grey hair in a chef outfit approached us from the entrance before leading us to a table for three. “What would you like to order?”

As usual, Mr. Ben wasn’t crowded like other eateries but there were a handful of people in it. The thing was that, the place was wide enough so when at least ten people walked, they wouldn’t bump into each other.

“Thank you.” I smiled, with Stephano still holding my hand and Paul just walking quietly beside me. The men didn’t look like they were going to be acknowledging him soon or at all.

“Please place your orders. I would be back to attend to them.” He spoke directly to me as we got to the table he led us to and sat. He spread the menu before us and nodded, leaving.

I nodded and took the menu, looking intently at it. Oh. Stephano was still holding my other hand. With a frown, I tried to pull it out of his hold but he just held it and looked straight ahead.

“Stephano.”

He shook his head, snapping from whatever trance he had been and looked my way. I tugged and he finally released my hand. Paul, who had chosen his order, was on the phone typing furiously while Stephano was just looking uninterested in the world, only stealing a glance my way once in a while.

“Have you chosen what you’ll be ordering?” Stephano’s deep voice made my blood pump rapidly in my head. It sounded so husky that it should’ve been a crime to sound that way. Not finding my voice, I nodded and caught a small smirk playing on Paul’s lips as he stole a glance from me before turning it back to his phone.

The waiter came back and took our orders. I kept smiling at him, as if that would cover up for Stephano’s cold demeanor and Paul’s nonchalance, while Stephano turned rigid whenever I giggled at something funny the waiter said.

I was tempted to ask Stephano if he was alright.

“I’ll be back shortly with your orders.” Carlo, the waiter said and left.

“You don’t have to laugh with him. He’s clearly flirting with you. Such a dick.” Paul finally spoke as he watched the retreating waiter with a frown. I tried my best to burn him with my harshest glare but failed miserably.

“Uh...you weren’t replying a word he was speaking. I-”

“He is doing his job, you know?” He raised a brow, unconvinced. I opened my mouth to give him a good retort when Stephano took my hand again and my senses came alive.

He started drawing lazy, random patterns inside my palm and my whole hand heated up, making my eyes wide as I stared ahead. My breath hitched because his touch wasn’t only making me uneasy but my whole body was tingling at the effect of the random act.

“He is right.” The deep voice close to me vibrated.

I just nodded. Maybe they would finally talk because it was as if they were intentionally forming a tag team, thereby making the waiter nervous. I noticed I was the only one the waiter had been looking at and I couldn’t blame him. I dug into my chicken and Caramel Frappuccino when our orders arrived, already getting hungry though I had eaten a large bowl of ice-cream with Paul when he had just arrived at our place. I had a bit of Stephano’s salad too.

Stephano ate with care, and so did Paul. It made me feel self-conscious, so I started making use of my cutleries properly. He still didn’t release my left hand and I felt myself becoming conscious of whenever he would steal a glance— something he did almost every minute.

After the meal, Stephano paid and we left there. I didn’t bother arguing since he insisted on paying for Paul and I. The air around us was dry.

Everything felt gloomy and that didn’t sit well with me but I vowed to go alone the next time I would take Paul to grab something to eat because whatever good spirits we were supposed to bask in, was ruined with Stephano merely tagging along.

Throughout the ride home, I didn’t say anything. I just wanted to be alone again with Paul so we could chat more and he could tell me more about the dumb things Adrian had done as a teenager.

“Kara?” Stephano mumbled close to my ear, his gruff voice making me more aware of the fact that we were sitting together at the backseats. He was sitting closer than he had been earlier.

“Yes?” I hummed, absentmindedly.

“What’s wrong?” He asked carefully. “You’ve gone awfully quiet.” He caressed the tip of my ear, his eyes soft as my eyes searched his. Tingles erupted in my belly at the thought that he might truly care enough to have asked but I stamped them down, reminding myself that we were only going to be pretend lovers for a year.

After one year, it would be over.

Whatever he did, I couldn’t allow it to affect me. I had to admit that the sweet act of him holding my hand, stealing occasional glances at me and sounding so husky when asking me a question was actually very good. I would just have to survive this somehow because there was no way I would put boys— or rather men, before books.

“Nothing. I’m fine, thanks.” I mumbled.

Let’s just go home.

............

Next chapter will be in Kara's POV. Don't stop doing what you love the most. I'm rooting for you.

Your girl,

Hephzibah.