CHAPTER 4

Franklin Howard=

"Okay," Amelia replied, and we started eating the chicken pepper soup that the waiter had earlier served us.

We didn't speak to each other while eating, as the pepper soup was spicy. After we were through, as we had some few drinks, I was beginning to feel a light headache, and I smiled at Amelia and told her,

"I have to go home now. How about we meet up tomorrow, Sunday, again? Do you go to the church?"

"Um, yes, Frank. But I would like to have some time with you today. You know, just you and I," Amelia touched my hand, and I quickly withdrew them, understanding what she wanted.

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

Amelia frowned and tried to touch me again as she said, "No one would know, Frank. 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 either, and only had me married her to hide our family shame, as my father wouldn't want the news to spread out there that I slept with a young woman in her father's house.

I had low memory about how Natalie and I had sex, and each time I tried to think about it, I would develop a headache.

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

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

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

"But you have seen her náked."

"No," I quickly waved off the topic of seeing my wife náked. It was something I do not like to think about.

Natalie was more beautiful naked than wearing clothes. What do I expect from the daughter of a prostitute? Thanks to the fact that she doesn't know how to dress, and mostly wears loose-fitting clothes that aren't good quality.

Sometimes I wonder who had advised Natalie to learn fashion when she wasn't fashionable.

I would have preferred to open up a supermarket for Natalie, but what if she seduced her male customers and have them drugged.

She was still my wife, and I'm very famous in this part of the city. I wouldn't want my wife to drag my name with her wayward life, coupled with the fact that I hadn't touched her since we got married. So it was best that she stays home.

Although, I enjoyed Natalie's good cooking skill, but I don't want to acknowledge that I like anything about her.

Once I divorce her, I would employ a chef to take care of my meals, as I don't like eating fast food. Also, I would employ the service of a dry-cleaner to take care of my laundry. So that way, Natalie would be of no use to me.

"Come, let's go home. I would drop you at home, as it's already getting late. Tomorrow, we will get to hang out again," I told Amelia as I saw her frown.

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

"Don't worry, we would get to meet later." I carefully pulled Amelia from hugging me as I was beginning to feel sick and sweaty.

"Waiter!" I called, and soon cleared our bills with my debit card. Once we left the Restaurant, I drove back home to the Jacksons' residence, knowing it was a few distances away from my home.

I arrived at the front gate and parked my car while I unlocked it from within, unable to get down from my car and pull the door open.

"Frank, you promise that we will hang out together tomorrow?" Amelia asked me once more as she looked at me with her lovely eyes.

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

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

I locked the car door properly and was feeling horny as I wanted a warm body at the moment.

"What's wrong with me? Was I drugged?" I wondered and quickly started the car engine and drove home.

For three years that I had been married to Natalie, I hadn't patronized a prostitute. I didn't want to go there now, so I drove home, thinking that once I get home, I would feel alright.

It was my habit of falling sick each time I ate outside, as I don't like it.

I arrived home late, as I drove into my compound and parked my car.

I staggered, getting out of the car and dragged myself into the house. I don't know what the time was, but I was certain that it was already late.

As I arrived at the front door, I knocked, but there was no response from the door. I banged on the door to open, and when the door finally opened, Natalie was standing there wearing a light green gown.

"Welcome back," she greeted me as she moved away from the door for me to enter.

I entered the room, and as she locked the door and turned to face me, I couldn't hold it back anymore, and I grabbed her arms and yelled at her. "What did you do to me?"

"Huh! What did I do wrong?" Natalie asked me, as her eyes welled up in tears.

I looked at her face as I couldn't believe that I was beginning to find her attractive. As I tried to look away from her chest, my eyes kept going downward to stare at her bosom.

"You drugged me again, didn't you. What can't you accept that I don't love you, and our marriage is fake!" I yelled at her again, wanting to suppress my desire, but my body was overheating, and I don't know how long I would endure this.

"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, and you came back home accusing me," Natalie sobbed, and I refused to believe that Amelia would have drugged me.

"Shut up. We have been at home since morning. I ate your food before going out with her. Was that why you refused Amelia from eating your food because you have put love potion into it!" I shouted, not wanting to believe that now that I have finally made up my mind to divorce Natalie, and she dared to use voodoo on me.

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

"And you want me to believe that. I have spoken to you several times for us to get a divorce, and for you to leave, and you refused. Now you have drugged me again, just because you saw me laughing with your sister. Well, guess what? It worked, and I cannot help but desire to have you tonight," I told her.

"What??" Natalie struggled to break away from my grasp on the door as she yelled at me, "No, Frank! I don't want you! Once you're awake tomorrow, you would lie on me that I used you. Let me go!"

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