Chapter 33✂️

Kunle

With the cake in my hands, I took the stairs to where Natalie sat, her breakfast already devoured as she sipped her cup of water. "Where is Grace?"

"In her room," she replied, staring from the cake to me with a wide smile. "Good morning Kunle, can I get a piece."

"Sure but after I eat half," I said moving to the kitchen where Linda stood humming to a tone as she washed the dishes.

"Did you take Grace's meal to her?"

"No sir, she requested to be left alone for now and will come down to get her's when ready."

"Shit," I murmured as I moved to the fridge and placed the cake with care.

Yesterday was a night where we both lost control, unleashed a fire probably caged longer than our fragile bodies could hold and I regretted none of last night's action, but was rather grateful for the freedom and relieved I had as I held her till dawn.

I knocked on her door for several seconds, my mind pondering over her thoughts after she fleed my room. Was she still mad at me? Or was she alright with all that happened?

After no response, I pushed the knob and walked in. From my position by the door, I could hear running water as my eyes wandered to her clothes properly folded on the bed.

Swaying to the temptation that lingered in my heart, I folded my sleeves, pushed opened the bathroom door and let my eyes zoom down her naked body, not heavily curved but perfect enough to weaken me despite last night.

"Ah!"

"Hey, calm down." I chuckled moving towards her with my hands raised.

"What is wrong with you?! What the fuck is wrong with you?!" The shock was visible in her wipe eyes as she splashed water on my face.

"I'm sorry," I replied, as cold water ran from my head to my body.

She stared at me with pressed lips, before shaking her head, probably despising my presence. "You are getting wet and I need to finish up, please excuse me."

"I know but we need to talk."

"Can it wait?" Her brows were furrowed as she stood underneath the shower with her hands folded.

Smiling, I imitated her posture but let my eyes roamed down her body slowly. "Let's talk now. I don't trust you anymore. You might run away...again."

"You are unbelievable. Kunle I am getting cold, wait outside please."

"It's not going to take much of your time and I can keep you warm if you want, all you have to do is say the word sweetheart," I teased, flirting for the first time in a while. It felt strange but right. She had a way of making sure it was right.

"Alright then, let's go outside." She turned off the shower, picked her towel from a hanger.

"I need a towel too."

"I send you enter here? Shift." She pushed past me but I pulled her into my arms, wrapped my hands around her chest and turned on the shower.

"Now you don't have any towel to use sweetheart," I whispered, with my lips slowly brushing her ear.

"You are evil, very evil."

"I know baby, now listen. I am not sorry about yesterday, I am sorry if it feels like I forced you to have sex with me, I am sorry-"

"No, you don't have to say that." She turned freeing herself from my arms. "I could have stopped you if I  wanted. It's just..." She trailed off exhaling deeply.

"I meant what I said."

"I know, you hardly say things you don't mean. It's just, I need time and space. One crazy ex nearly killed me days back. I just don't think I am ready for this, for us. You are my boss Kunle." Her lips quivered as each word created a greater understanding of how she truly felt.

"You need space, I am ready to give you that. But please forget about me being your boss." I paused, holding on to her cheeks as water splashed down our body.

"I am never going to hurt you. I promise."

"Thank you, now can I get out?" She smiled as I placed a kiss on her forehead and enclosed her in a hug.

"I thought you love it here?"

"Can we leave now, I am cold."

"Wait a little jor," I said, loving the feel of water that calmed all nerves.

She pulled out, sneezed before her soft stares turned into a glare. Her eyes were filled with fire that had me even more inclined to keep her close.

"Excuse me." She pushed past and rushed out of the bathroom.

"Sorry..." I switched off the water and followed after her with a smile.

***

"Good evening sir," I said, my concern on his two previous missed calls as I walked back into my room after minutes in the gym.

"Evening my son, can you come over to the house?"

I kicked off my snickers, wrapped a towel around my neck. "Hope no problem Dad?"

"I just need a favour, it is urgent."

"I will be there soon sir."

"Are you bringing Grace?"

"No sir," I said moving to the bathroom as my mind wandered to the lady next door who avoided me all day.

***

"Kunle!" A familiar feminine voice echoed, the moment I walked into Dad's mansion changed into a plan Jean and green Tee. I took a step backwards in awe as she walked towards me with her hands wide open.

Cassandra, a childhood friend who left Nigeria for South Africa six years back with her parents wrapped her hands around my neck in a tight hug.

Year's of no contact was evidence in the changes on her face. She looked different from the girl I once knew, her cherry face was ragged with a nose ring and unlike the sugarcane Cassandra we knew her to be, she bloomed with flash on all curvy part, covered by the tight black grown.

"Oh my God, you are as handsome as fuck. You didn't change one bit."

"I don't think you should use that language in this house," I said, but she narrowed her eyes and pulled me to the sitting room where a magazine was left open on a sofa.

She patted the sofa but I remained standing with my smile still playing on my face as I stared at her amused by how things changed in a flash. "You look good Cassie. Seriously you do."

"We have a lot to discuss. A lot...I heard you called off your engagement."

"Yes, I did... But before the investigation, I need to check on the owner of this house, he gave a distress call."

"Sure...the study room."

"I will be back." Leaving her in the sitting room, I strolled to Dad's study room where he sat typing down his phone with a smile that crashed those of the couples on Closeup advert.

"Who is making this old man smile?" His attention deviated from his phone to me as I approached his desk littered with books.

"You will not understand my son. And I am not old, I can bring you down in Taekwondo."

Taking my seat, I burst into laughter. Taekwondo was the last thing this man could try and we both knew this.

"Dad, why the emergency call?" I Inquired ready to get down to business.

"You met Cassie abi? She will be staying with you for now."

"What?"

"Any problem?" His brows were raised as he clasped his hands on his desk.

"She can't stay with me, you know I love my privacy."

"I know, but she needs a place to stay and I promised her dad she will be safe."

"She's free to stay in any of the suites in the hotel, I mean she is twenty-four years, why will you be trying to keep her safe?"

"She can't stay in my house sir," I said with finality in my tone.

"Now don't use that tone on me boy, you may be taller than I am, but I can still climb a ladder and send hard knocks down your head."

"I am sorry sir," I apologised,  remembering my boundaries and reading the seriousness that spiked in his eyes.

"But Daddy mi, I don't see any reason why she has to stay at my house."

"She will be bored here and same with the hotels. Besides it's just for two weeks, I think she will keep Grace company."

Companionship, that was something Grace needed and could find in Cassandra who never held back but welcomed all.

At least, so I thought.

"Why is she here?"

"Private business. After the two weeks, she will be off your hands, trust me," He said, picking his phone and raising.

I watched him leave the study room, the decision already made and I had no say.

***