Chapter 4

FRANKLIN

"It's fine," Amelia replied, and we started eating the chicken pepper soup that the waiter had served us earlier.

We didn't speak to each other while eating, as the pepper soup was spicy.

After we were through and had finished a few drinks, I began to feel a mild headache. I smiled at Amelia and told her, "I have to go home now. How about we meet up tomorrow, Sunday? Do you go to church?"

"Um, yes, Frankie. But I would like to spend some time with you tonight. You know, just you and me," Amelia touched my hand, but I quickly withdrew mine, understanding what she wanted.

"No. We cannot do anything foolish for now. I'm still married to your sister, and my family isn't aware that I want to divorce her," I told Amelia, as I was beginning to sweat despite the air-conditioning unit in the private room.

Amelia frowned and tried to touch me again, saying, "No one would know, Frankie. I have always wanted you, and now that I'm back, we will be together and you will send Natalie away."

I wanted to give in to the idea of what Amelia said. My parents didn't like Natalie, and they only made me marry her to hide our family shame, as my father didn't want news spreading that I had slept with a young woman in her father's house.

I had very faint memories of how Natalie and I had sex. Every time I tried to think about it, I developed a headache.

"No," I said, rising to my feet. I told Amelia, "We will do all that later. I promise you, I'm not sleeping with your sister. Since she set me up, I have lived with her as a neighbor, and we haven't done anything intimate like making love."

"Really?" Amelia's eyebrows shot up as she looked at me in shock.

"Yes. We have separate bedrooms, though sometimes we use the same room, and Natalie knows not to cross boundaries with me."

"But you have seen her naked."

"No," I quickly brushed off the topic of seeing my wife naked. It was something I did not like to think about.

Natalie was more beautiful naked than wearing clothes. But what could I expect from the daughter of a prostitute? Thanks to the fact that she didn't know how to dress, she mostly wore loose-fitting clothes that weren't of good quality. I wondered who had advised her to learn fashion when she wasn't fashionable at all.

I would have preferred to open up a supermarket for Natalie, but what if she seduced her male customers and had them drugged? She was still my wife, and I am very famous in this part of the city.

I wouldn't want my wife dragging my name down with her wayward life, especially considering I hadn't touched her since we got married. So it was best that she stayed home.

Although I enjoyed Natalie's good cooking, I didn't want to acknowledge that I liked anything about her.

Once I divorced Natalie, I would employ a chef to handle my meals, as I don't like eating fast food. I would also hire a dry cleaner for my laundry. That way, Natalie would be of no use to me.

"Come on, let's go. I'll drop you off at home since it's already getting late. Tomorrow, we can hang out again," I told Amelia when I saw her frown.

Amelia stood up, hugged me, and said, "I really want to spend the night with you."

"Don't worry, we'll meet up later," I said, carefully pulling away from her hug as I began to feel sick and sweaty.

"Waiter!" I called out, and soon settled our bill with my debit card.

Once we left the restaurant, I drove back toward the Jackson residence, knowing it was only a short distance from my house.

I arrived at their front gate and parked the car. Unlocking the doors from the inside, I found myself unable to step out and open the door for her.

"Frankie, you promise we'll hang out tomorrow?" Amelia asked me once more, looking at me with her lovely blue eyes.

"Yes," I replied, and Amelia got out of the car.

"Take care, sweetie!" She waved at me as I watched her walk back into her father's house.

I locked my car doors properly, suddenly feeling intensely aroused and craving a warm body in that moment.

*What is wrong with me? Was I drugged?* I wondered, quickly starting the engine and driving home.

In the three years I had been married to Natalie, I had never patronized a prostitute. I didn't want to start now, so I drove home, believing I would feel fine once I got back. It was a common habit of mine to fall sick whenever I ate outside, as I disliked eating out.

I arrived home late, pulled into my compound, and parked the car. Staggering out, I dragged myself toward the house. I didn't know what time it was, but I was certain it was late.

Reaching the front door, I rang the doorbell, but there was no response. I banged on the door, and when it finally opened, Natalie was standing there wearing a light green dress.

"Welcome back," she greeted me, moving aside so I could enter.

I stepped inside. As Natalie locked the door and turned around to face me, I couldn't hold back any longer. I grabbed her arms and yelled, "What did you do to me?"

"Huh! What did I do wrong?" Natalie asked, her large brown eyes welling up with tears.

I looked at Natalie's face, unable to believe that I was beginning to find her attractive. As I tried to look away from her chest, my eyes kept trailing downward to stare at her bosom.

"You drugged me again, didn't you? Why can't you accept that I don't love you and that our marriage is fake!" I yelled at her, trying to suppress my desire, but my body was overheating, and I didn't know how much longer I could endure it.

"I don't know what you're talking about! Aren't you the one who left the house just now with Amelia? What did she do to you that you came back home accusing me?" Natalie sobbed, but I refused to believe Amelia would drug me.

"Shut up! We have been at home since morning. I ate your food before going out with Amelia. Was that why you refused to let her eat your food—because you put a love potion in it?!" I shouted, refusing to believe that now, just as I had finally made up my mind to divorce Natalie, she had dared to use voodoo on me.

"No! I couldn't do that! I know you don't like me, but I wouldn't stoop so low as to drug you! I want us to end our marriage peacefully and go our separate ways! I will get the divorce papers ready by Monday!" Natalie said.

"And you expect me to believe that? I have spoken to you several times about getting a divorce and having you leave, and you refused! Now you've drugged me again, just because you saw me laughing with your sister! Well, guess what? It worked! Now I can't help but desire you tonight!"

"What?!" Natalie struggled to break away from my grip by the door as she screamed, "No, Franklin! I don't want you! Once you wake up tomorrow, you'll accuse me of using you! Let me go!"

I ignored Natalie's screams as I lifted her up and carried her back to our bedroom on the top floor.