IRIS
"What's wrong with you Iris Adelana?" I asked myself quietly, immediately I found myself in my bedroom. I placed my right hand over my chest as if to check my heart beat. I knew if I was a light skinned person my cheeks would be pink from a blush.
How did it even happen? How could a random question that was not even romantic in the least bit affect me this way?
Think straight Iris; you are an Adelana and the Adelanas are not easily given to emotional attachments. I chided myself.
It was quite evident that Enyinnaya was only sexually attracted to me, and that being the case any further emotional attachments by me would only be dangerous for me. I stood up to get a glass of cold water. Whiskey was a no go area for me, as I needed my sanity to think and whiskey would take every little bit of sanity left in me.
I laid on the cold floor as everywhere suddenly felt too hot even as the air conditioner was turned on.
You don't love him, your heart body, and soul is still for Gregory Malik. I cautioned myself again.
Gregory Malik was the last boyfriend I had, so telling myself that I was still inlove with him was the only rational way to keep my heart from misbehaving. At least being hung up on a humane ex boyfriend was a lot more better than having feelings for an ill raised arrogant Savage of a man; the likes of Enyinnaya Amadi. After all, it's not possible to be in love with two people at a the same time, or is it?
Picking up my phone from my bed table, I dialed Nelly's number, it rang once before she picked up.
"That was quite fast, don't you think so?" I jokingly asked.
"Oh! I was actually chatting with someone on WhatsApp when you called, that's why " she responded light hearted too.
"Is anything wrong ma?" She questioned from a worried heart.
"Nelly, can you drop the formality for now, please. I need my friend not my personal assistant." I begged Nelly.
"Okay, I'll do just that. Tell me what's wrong and what I can do to help."
"Nelly, I think I'm heading towards the path of damnation." I said, eagerly awaiting her response.
"Well, unless you committed murder and you aren't planning to repent and ask for forgiveness of sins, then my dear friend, I would say you are." Nelly said jokingly with noble intention to calm the pressure she thought I was feeling.
"It's not that bad yet, but it's most certainly not good for me now, either."
"Can we just hit the nail on the head. What's wrong, Iris?
"Nelly, I think I may be......" I abruptly dropped the phone on my table, took a deep breath and picked it up again to continue with our conversation.
"You know what, don't mind that I called you, let's forget about this discussion." I said, abruptly putting an end to the call.
What was I thinking calling Nelly? Wait, was I really going to tell her that I thought I was falling in love with the same jerk who was responsible for the delay in my accelerated success. No. I wasn't going to do that yet, atleast I needed to be sure this wasn't a hormone induced temporary emotion. Come to think of it, how could someone possibly fall in love with a person they've been with only thrice?
That was damn right impossible!
Almost immediately Nelly called me back. "Nelly" I began "I told you it was a mistake and I'm sorry I called you okay." My voice showed distress and she was quick to catch on.
"Your voice says otherwise. Besides, Iris you know you can talk to me about anything right, I am your friend and I will really feel disturbed knowing that you are in distress."
"Nelly, for now I feel I can handle my situation, but if I feel the need to talk about anything troubling me, I will make sure to call you."
"If you say so. Bye, then." She said and cut the call.
Nelly wasn't just a personal assistant to me. She was my best friend, not just a best friend, she was my only friend.
As the first child and daughter of Mr Adelana Ayomide, I had grown up conscious of the fact that I was the heiress to the Adelanas Empire, a multi-million dollar fashion industry. Thus, I had lived a sheltered life as a child with no one to call a friend. Growing up, I lived a life of solitude since I was already accustomed to that kind of life. During my days in the university of Lagos, one would have expected to have made friends but that wasn't the case, the only close acquaintance I had was my boyfriend who also was my only friend, the other people usually seen around me occasionally were just my colleagues. Salvation for me came in the form of my personal assistant Nelly. Nelly was the only one I could go to spa with, visit the cinema with as well as go shopping and clubbing with. I shared every trouble and pain with her, my joyful moments wasn't left out too.
NELLY
"I'm guessing that was your boss again, right?" Chike asked immediately I ended the call with Iris.
"Yes, it was her. Do you have a problem with your girlfriend communicating with her boss who happens to be a female?" I asked in return, hissing and rolling my eyes at him, as if asking for trouble from him.
"Really, Nelly? You of all people know that I don't have a thing against your boss except the fact that she's always playing the damsel in distress and you are constantly acting the role of a knight in shining armour. I am your boyfriend Nelly and I am not comfortable with that."
"Beat it Chike. This is my career we are talking about here, what do you want me to say this her, ehn? Should I go to her and just say 'Good day Madam, my boyfriend is against the way you constantly reach out to me when you are in distress, so I am quit!' tell me is that what you expect me to do?"
He smiled, then bit his lower lip; something he almost always did when angry or tensed up. Responding to me, he began "Maybe that is what you should do."
"What! What are you saying right now Chike?" I questioned, way beyond shocked.
"I am saying that you should quit your damn job! Think about it, how much do you get paid to do all this."
"Am not earning peanuts chike and you know it. I get paid well for my efforts and time thus, I don't have to be on your neck for everything I need." At this time, shock was quickly turning to anger and if Chike wasn't careful with his next words I was going to explode.
"I'm not asking you to leave your job and become penniless "
"So what are you now saying if not that?"
"Come work for me. Become my personal assistant instead, I will pay double whatever amount Iris pays you to be her assistant."
I laughed so hard at what he said, to think I once thought he was Mr flawless. Who knew he had this much insecurity and jealousy in him.
"Chike ogini?" I queried in Igbo language. "Ogini kwa? Can someone not love you and love their career simultaneously? I love my job and I don't see any reason to quit my job. Let's face it, this isn't about my job, it's about you and your insecurity, perhaps your arrogance too. So, I'm not quitting even if you offer to pay me ten times what Iris pays me. Inugo?" Chike was a wealthy man and I knew he could pay me more than ten times Iris payed if he chose to, so I had said that just to make sure my words hit home.
"So you are choosing your job over me Nelly?" He asked, this time, completely furious
"On the contrary I'm not choosing anything or anyone over the other. I'm simply telling you that I plan to not resign and I also don't plan to give up on us. So let's just stop this unnecessary argument please." Honestly, I was already tired of constantly arguing with him about my job and Iris.
"Seriously Nelly, you are beginning to get on my last nerve and if care isn't taken you might have to make that choice someday, because I don't see your boss becoming any better." He finished, angrily got off the bed and was about leaving the room when I jumped up quickly from the bed to stop him.
"Where are you going to" I anxiously questioned. If was already past ten P.M and it worried me where he would go to by that time of the night and in the state that he was in.
"To find peace and a breath of fresh air." He replied, his eyes completely holding mine in their depth. He was hurt and I was the reason behind it.
"But I thought you said I am your peace and breath of fresh air?" I queried shakily. Was I suddenly going to loose what I had sought, for a long time?
"Right now I don't know if that is true anymore." He said, peeled my hands off his and walked out.
Muddled in my thoughts, I felt too tired to chase after him, so I fell ran back into my bed and covered myself with my blanket. I decided to let go of every worry and thought so that I could sleep peacefully, but a question kept nagging me.
Was this a real break up or just a pre break up?
Two weeks laterIris"So what do you think of this executive suite?" Enyinnaya questioned the moment we got into our hotel suite in Dubai."You should know that I am yet to check it out, so what's the rush for?" I questioned rudely, trying my best to squash the pride born out of his choice of hotel.The suite was a large one befitting royals. It featured a large sitting room with a flat screen TV, a four sitter dining table, sliding wooden doors and a large work desk. The bedroom was a quite an eye catcher too, featuring a Walk in closet, a powder room, and a king sized bed. I smiled when I saw the bed, it was large enough to accommodate four people of my size, at least I was confident that I didn't have to be afraid that I might have skin contact with Enyinnaya. The bathroom also had it's attraction, in short the hotel would pass as a 6 star hotel to me.Nice choice Enyinnaya, really nice. I thought, but I wasn't going to tell hi
ENYINNAYA"How long has it been since you have been staring at me, Mr Amadi?" She questioned stirring up slowly from the bed.Was I supposed to say ten minutes or thereabout? I checked my wristwatch, it had really been about ten minutes but, I wasn't going to let her know that."For sometime now. You look peacefully beautiful when you sleep and it was quite enthralling to watch you sleep. Hope you enjoyed your sleep as much as I did mine?""Well, I can say I did.""That's good to hear then. You should have your bath and get dressed, I don't plan to remain within this room all day neither do I plan to let you do that.""You said you have a meeting with a partner this morning, I hope you don't expect me to be your weekend turned personal assistant, because, I am not planning to go on any business meeting with you."I laughed hard. She was ever so ready to act stubborn, but she soon will realize that she had no reason to. "Ma
IRIS"How did you find the food?" Enyinnaya asked, the minute we left the restaurant of the hotel."It was really delicious. I enjoyed every serving. I especially liked the choice of wine you made, it must have been quite expensive seeing it's quality. What's the name again?""It's a nineteen ninty eight Dom perignon rose champagne with about twelve percent alcohol or thereabout. If I was drinking alone, I would have requested for a champagne with more alcohol percentage. Anyway, Seeing as you loved it that much, perhaps I should get you one when we are ready to leave.""That would be really appreciated." I replied. "So where next? ""You will see." He answered with a mischievous smile.I was slowly being eaten up by curiosity as we journeyed to our destination. As if the stars knew how curious I was, it didn't take long before we got there. To say I was amazed at the sight doesn't even begin to describe how I felt."It's
NELLYI dialed Chike's number for the fourth time, and for that same number of times, he had my call screened. What was he thinking, bouncing my calls? I tried again for the fifth time and got the same negative response. Why would he break up with me the way he did. It didn't seem like a break up at the time, it was more like a warning, but for about three days now he had been bouncing my calls, giving me all the reasons to believe that it was over between us.It was high time I paid a visit to his house, I wasn't going to stand for a disrespectful break up. At least if he was going to break up with me he should be man enough to say it to my face, not this baby game he was playing. I didn't have anything to get done as Iris was on a weekend trip with her business partner, so I just dressed up and let myself out of my house. I helped myself into my car, it was a red Camry, the last gift I had gotten from Alexander few weeks before our break up. Alexander was the n
MR NARRATOR"Wakey wakey, come on, wake up, Miss sleeping beauty" Enyinnaya called out to Iris, tapping her arm, as he tried to rouse her up from her sleep."Ohooo na! I'm awake already, stop disturbing me joor." Iris said, shaking off Enyinnaya's hand that was on her arm."Would have loved that, but there is no time for that. So, young lady, get your lazy ass up and go get ready " Enyinnaya insisted."Where are you thinking of taking me to this time around? Iris asked, seeming reluctant to leave the bed and go out with Enyinnaya."Perhaps, you have forgotten, so let me remind you. Mami, today is Sunday and usually, on Sundays, Christians go to church to Worship their God. So, up you go, get up, you lazy ass." Enyinnaya answered light-heartedly.As if Enyinnaya's explanation was like a snake bite, Iris raised herself from the bed immediately, the shock and surprise on her face was priceless and Enyinnaya knew almost immediately, that h
CHIKE"How long have you been fucking Iris, your so called boss?" I asked, angry yet anxious as I waited for her response. It took a few seconds before she understood what I had asked her, and her first response didn't serve me any purpose."What do you mean by that, Chike?""Heck! I spoke English Nelly, not some strange Language!""Chikeeeee!!!" She screamed, threw her bag on the floor and ran head first to where I stood, holding me by my collar she continued " what is wrong with you? Are you sworn to make me hate you forever or what? What is this insane question about?"I shook off her both hands that were on my collar, drew her up by her slender shoulders, such that her eyes were at the same level as mine, then I continued our conversation, more like altercation."Let me rephrase my question. Nelly Okafor, for how long have you been having an affair with the lady you call your boss?"As if possessed by some strange spir
IRIS"Welcome back. So what next?" I asked Enyinnaya, the minute he returned from his business meeting that Sunday evening."We pack our properties in preparation for tomorrow's journey." He said, while expertly undressing himself. It was an innocent activity, but it's effects on me was not so innocent."And?" I asked again."It's obvious you are dressed for bed, so I just have to take my bath and then we sleep. Or you can just go ahead and sleep without me.""Really? Is that all the activity you have planned for the night, Mr Amadi Enyinnaya?" I questioned, as I got up from the bed. At this time, he was only dressed in his singlet and briefs. He looked so daringly sexy, the kind of sexiness reserved for immortals."What else would there be?" He questioned, seemingly oblivious to my intentions. It made my stomach flutter, and I briefly wondered. How can someone so schooled in the art of seduction, not know when he was being seduced? I laughed.
IRIS"Dance with me." Enyinnaya commands, stretching out his arm to take mine. I raised my head just so I could get a good look at his face. His intense dark eyes seem calm and their calm darkness provides me with a kind of calm only the dark provides. Now he's turning me into a poet. I thought and almost smiled but stopped myself. Someone could write a whole book of poetry about Enyinnaya's look, he was that good looking, and he was standing before me, ready to be my man, for just this night, though, I'm hoping a night would be enough to quench my wanton desires for him.Lucky you, Iris, lucky you.He looks at me for a while before going to the fridge. He pulls out a bottle of champagne and two wine glasses, before filling the glasses with the champagne. He offers me a glass and I take it, we make a toast, before sipping from the wine."Mr Amadi, are you trying to turn me into a champagne person?" I asked jokingly."I would if I could, but you are quite a handful, a very stubborn