~~HER BABY’S SECRET~
EPISODE FIVE~
Arike’s POV
“I don’t understand why your stubborn boss wants to see you on a Sunday.” I grumbled as I helped Busayomi carry her bag to the car.
She planned to leave on Monday morning but then her boss called up to bring some files she picked from the office to his house.
“It’s strange how your boss wants to see you. Can’t he wait to get the files on Monday?” I continued grumbling.
“I don’t know if it’s -”
“Arike please my ears are full. I am a secretary more or less like a personal assistant so he can call me up anytime. He’s a businessman.”
“I don’t believe it’s just work related. Work on Sunday? Who does that?”
“My boss does that.” She replied with a laugh.
“Perhaps are you hiding something from me?”
“Something like what?”
“Anything about -”
She interrupted me sharply. “Hey! Aunty! Stop right now! If you are thinking I am having an affair with my boss then dead that thought!” She eyed me.
“I didn’t even say anything.” My boss shrugged.
“My boss is a good looking man but I don’t like him. And remember I have a boyfriend.”
“Which boyfriend?”
“Seyi of course.”
I rolled my eyes. Durrrhhhh. “Well I hope your so called boyfriend is able to speak of you like this to his friends and family?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“Sister mi I don’t understand why you’ll be dating someone for close to five years now and you don’t know his friends or family.”
“Arike please let’s not go down that lane.”
“Your wish.” I stepped back from the car so she could close the door.
“Don’t forget everything I said to you.” I shook my head in understanding. “I will give you a call when I get home.”
“Take care of yourself and tell you boss to be careful if he doesn’t want me to serve him a court note.”
She laughed. “I’ll constantly remind him that my baby sister is a lawyer.”
We laughed. “Bye bye.” I waved and watched her drive out of my compound.
My phone rang as I turned back towards the house. It was a call from Bamidele.
“Hello Damsel.”
“Hi Bami.”
We exchanged how are you’s.
“Are you enjoying your Sunday?” He asked.
“Yeah..”
“Your sister is still around?”
“No, her boss called her up to bring some files to his House.”
“Ouch! Now you’re home alone.”
“Yeah.”
“What do you intend to do?”
“Prepare for the new week.” I responded.
“And after the preparation?”
“Review a case.”
“And?” He asked again.
I raised my eyebrows in confusion as I thought for second. Why was he asking me these questions? But nothing came to my mind.
“What would you do after reviewing the case?” He asked again.
“Probably read a book.” I responded.
“Okay..seems you have everything planned so don’t let me interrupt your plans.”
“What about you?”
“Home alone trying to kill boredom with video games.”
“Oh! Okay.”
“I’ll be stepping out soon to buy dinner, do you want to join me?”
“Me? I have enough food at home.”
“Oh! So why don’t you invite me for dinner?! Don’t be selfish, Arike.” He chuckled.
I was taken aback by his words. Should I really invite him over for dinner? I am aware Bamidele can’t cook. And he told me that he always eat out or order food whenever he’s too stressed to drive out to buy food. Life of a bachelor who can’t cook.
“Arike, I was -”
He snapped me out of my thoughts. “Yes! What did you say?”
“I was only trying to make a joke about you inviting me for dinner at your place. I mean.. well since you already have plans for today then we can have dinner some other time.”
I don’t think it’s a bad idea to invite him over for dinner. An inner voice said to me.
“I’ll talk to you later.” He said.
“No! Wait!” I said quickly.
“Yes….”
“I have food…so it’s okay for you to come over for dinner.”
“No you don’t have to do that because it was a joke.”
“I am serious. I don’t really having anything doing and you are bored too so we can keep each other company till night falls or anytime.”
“Okay..okay what time should I come over?”
The time was 4:00pm. “Is 6 okay?” I asked.
“You should be the one to decide since you’re the host.”
“No..you decide.” I said.
“Okay..six is fine by me. It’s cool. I’ll be there.”
“Okay.. I’ll text you the address.”
“I won’t be needing it.”
“What?”
“Oh no! I mean -” he paused.
“Hello?”
He sighed. “Arike, we worked together on a case for a long time and you think I won’t know where to live?” He asked.
Well I was kinda stupid to hide my place from him when he already knows where I live. At the last dinner when he offered to drive me home I refused and it was obvious that I had pushed him away so he wouldn’t know my place. I ordered Uber in place of a free ride. Right now I feel so embarrassed and I don’t know what to say.
“I am sorry. I shouldn’t have found your place without your consent.” He apologized.
“No..no.. it’s alright.”
“Okay….i’ll see you later.”
“Bye.” I disconnected the call.
I set off to the kitchen to start preparing dinner. I decide to cook Rice,turkey stew and catfish pepper soup because these are his best meal.
I finished cooking and cleaning around 5:30pm. Thirty more minutes and Bamidele will be here. I should take a shower because my body stinks from too much sweat from cooking and cleaning.
I didn’t take too long in the bathroom,it was like the quickest bathe I have ever had in my life. I was a bit nervous about Bamidele coming over for dinner. I kept thinking if I was doing the right thing. All I truly wanted was distraction from my feelings.
I rushed to my phone when it beeped. A message from Bamidele.
“I am sorry, I will be late for dinner. I have to take my dog to the clinic but I won’t take long.”
I already set the table. I shook my head in disappointment. I wasn’t happy even though he had a good reason for turning up late for dinner.
I shrugged off the feeling of disappointment. “He has to take care of his dog who happens to be his closest friend. He’ll be here soon and I hope his dog is fine.” I whispered to myself as I sat on my couch and turned on the TV.
Some minutes later the doorbell rang. Who could it be? Bamidele? Perhaps was he playing a prank on me? Silly boy!
I rushed to the door without looking through the small gap on the door.
“Ba -” my intended word was cut off when I saw who was at the door.
My smile dropped. “Oh..Dayo?”
“Were you expecting someone else?”
“Come in,” I stepped aside for him to walk in. ” You didn’t tell me you were coming.”
“Sorry about that but I wanted to surprise you.” He flashed me his best smile.
“You should have at least send me a text.”
“Here.” He handed me the paper bag in his hands. “I brought your favorite chocolate.”
“Thank you.”
“Aren’t you happy to see me?”
“Don’t I look happy to you?”
“Okay I know why you’re giving me cold attitude. I am sorry.”
“About what?”
“Everything..whatever it is that’s making you act -” he sniffed the air.
“Are you cooking something?”
“No.”
He gave me a wink. “Five star Chef…I can smell something delicious.” He sniffed again.
“Wow! Smell like my favorite – catfish pepper soup!” He made an attempt to rush into the kitchen.
“No..I mean…” He stopped at the dinning table.
“Wow! Food?! What’s the occasion?” He asked.
I was quick enough to stop in from opening the bowl of pepper soup on the table.
“Arike, what’s with all these food on the table?”
“Cover it up before it gets cold.”
He obeyed. “You don’t eat much but why cook plenty?” He asked. No response came from me.
Dayo didn’t tell me he was coming over and Bamidele would be here anytime soon. I don’t know what to do to stop these men from seeing each other. Adedayo would be so pissed once I tell him Bamidele is coming over to my place.
“Perhaps are you expecting someone? Oh wait! Lemme guess Busayomi is coming right?”
“No, she just left few hours ago.”
“So why is there so much food on the table?” No response.
Why am I scared right now?
“Did you predicted my visit and cooked my favorite?!” He smiled. “Awnnnn that’s so cute. You’re such a darling.”
“No Dayo -” I stopped him when he tried to hug me. “I didn’t set the table for you.”
“Okay…” He settled in one of the chairs.
I summoned the courage to say the words. He can’t kill me but I am just worried about what he would say and how he would react.
“Bamidele is coming to have dinner with me.”
He dropped the plate he was holding and looked up at me. “You’re kidding right?” He chuckled. When I say chuckle – it was devious.
“I am serious.”
“No you can’t be serious!” He shouted and I jumped. I should have prepared for his reaction.
“I invited him over.”
He stood up and stood in front of me, looking straight into my eyes. “Arike?” He placed his hands on my shoulder blades. “Why are you so stubborn?”
I moved his hands away. “My stubbornness has nothing to ~do with anything.”
“Oh really? Why set the whole table for him? Is he your boyfriend now?!”
“Dayo stop over- reacting!”
“Answer me Arike! Is he your bo~ yfriend?!” He yelled.
“No he is not ~my boyfriend.”
“Fine..fine..” he breathed out. “I don’t want to see him around here. So you better call him up and cancel this dinner.” He sounded like he was com~ manding me. And I hate being told what to do and he knows that!
I laughed. I think I have heard enough.
“The last time I checked you don’t own me. I can do whatever I want. I can invite anyone – this is my home!”
“Don’t you get it? I don’t want to see you with Bamidele!”
“And why is that?!”
“You shouldn’t be seen with someone like him.”
“I will be the one to decide that not you.” I walked back to the living room.
“Arike don’t you dare walk away from me, I am not done talking.”
“Dayo…please don’t tell me what to do.”
He blocked me from watching the TV. “Babe, I don’t like your friendship with that guy.”
“What’s wrong with him? You keep telling me to stay away from him without giving me a good reason.”
Few seconds passed before he answered me. “Never mind. Just stay away from him.” He tried to walk away but I blocked his pathway.
“Tell me why?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Okay…then I won’t stay away from him. And as a matter of fact I have decided to give him a chance.”
Well I only said that to try to make him tell me the truth about Bamidele.
“You better don’t try it.”
“Maybe I’ll change my mind if you tell me the truth about Bamidele.”
“Oh! So all these while you’ve hanging out with him, you still don’t know how true colors?”
“We only went out once but we’ve been friends for a while now.”
“Well Bamidele did a great job at putting up a facade so you can fall for him.” He clapped his hands. “Bravo! If only you know his true colors then you won’t be here preparing dinner for him.”
“Go straight to the point. Tell me what you know about Bamidele.”
“Ask him this question once he arrives. For me…I am not going anywhere and I won’t let him into this place.”
“Seriously? If you are not going to tell then I don’t care!”
“It’s best you stay away from him!”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“A good attorney shouldn’t be seen with a man who hits on other men!” He hissed and flopped down on the couch.
I stopped in track and turned to face him. “What did you just say?”
“Are you deaf? Which of the words I just said did you not hear?”
I was confused. “What do you mean by a man hitting on other men?”
“Bamidele is g.ay.” Adedayo answered.
My jaw dropped completely.
“Do you need a shock absorber?” He grabbed the remote and tuned into a football station.
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