Talk To Me

50. Todo and Kai

"I like someone who's not just pretty but even looks amazing when they're furious," Wale said. "I want to tease them, make them even angrier until they give in... and then do it all over again."

Todo raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you just showing off? Perhaps also practice watching your language in front of your daughter? You're teaching her to be a little delinquent such as yourself."

"Oh, right... but I can't help it. You kept K away from me for so long. Still, I'm grateful you finally brought him back, even if it's just for a day."

They were lounging in the garden right after breakfast. Wale had practically begged Todo to bring Kind over and let him stay the night, and after seeing how Todo was bonding with baby Kai, Wale was sure she could convince her to stick around a little longer.

For the first time, Kai hadn't cried nor woken up in the night. Usually, she kept Wale and the nanny up, waking every couple of hours, either needing to be fed or just for company. It had been a chaotic month, but somehow, Todo seemed to have a calming effect on her.

"How do you do it? I checked a few times during the night, and she was perfectly calm with you. She must like you."

"I'm a baby whisperer," Todo said, glancing down at Kai sleeping in her arms with a soft smile. "Some of my siblings were orphaned; my parents took them in when I was a kid. My father saved them from child trafficking. I grew up with three of them until they left the country. After my father passed, I joined them abroad, but eventually, I came back. I wanted to learn the family business."

Wale listened, noticing how much Todo had layers beneath the cold exterior. At first, she had seemed intense, like her mother. But as Wale got to know her, Todo showed a gentler, more thoughtful side, especially toward Kind. And here she was, bonding with baby Kai as if she'd known her all her life.

"Do you ever feel jealous of me?"

Todo looked up. "How arrogant can you get? I can have a kid if I want one."

Wale laughed, realizing Todo had misunderstood. "Not Kai. I meant with Kind. But you have my interest...maybe one day K and I could have our own."

Todo blushed, glancing back at Kai, whose presence might've been the only thing stopping her from giving Wale a good smack.

"I used to be jealous, but not so much now. I was jealous before I even met you because Kind had already told me about the person he loved. Then, when I met you and he chose you, it hurt, but I accepted it eventually. After he was kidnapped... I just wanted him to be happy."

"Don't you think you gave up too easily?"

"It's not about me. Loving someone means wanting their happiness, even if you're not part of it. What would I get by trying to take him back? A sad Kind? I don't want to end up bitter and resentful like Cherry did, to the point of lying the way he did about his lover being a surrogate. That's too heavy a resentment to carry around. Working with my mother taught me that sometimes, peace is more important than pride."

Todo looked at Wale and continued, "I doubt you'd get that. You're full of pride and possessiveness when it comes to Kind. You're smart, but you're aggressive, unpredictable. Even if you're acting impulsively, you've always got a goal in sight."

"And you may seem eccentric, but you're kind underneath it all. Must be something you got from your father."

Todo suddenly stood, caught off guard by Wale's compliment. "I'd better leave. You should wake Kind. We've got training to do."

"Relax. Sit down. Kai's content in your arms. Besides, seeing the state K's in, I don't think he'll be leaving today, and tonight. I plan to make sure he can't move for at least a week."

Wale was grinning with pride. 'What a smug jerk,' Todo thought. "Poor kid, having you as her parent."

"Can't help it. Having K close to me brings out this side of me, and I love it."

"So... did he finally become official like you so desperately wanted?" Todo couldn't resist the jab. When Wale hesitated, she sat back down, careful not to wake the baby.

"He did... a few times. But not how I imagined. K's still... hesitant."

"Or maybe you're just not cut out to be dated. You adopted a child of your ex boyfriend and his lover without paying attention to whether Kind agreed to it or not."

"What's that supposed to mean? My only goal is to make K happy!"

Todo smirked. Wale seemed like a kid who wanted it all without compromise. 'This woman just doesn't get it,' Todo thought. If Wale were serious, she'd know that to be a real partner to Kind, she had to be considerate and not just boast about leaving him worn out physically and mentally. In Todo's eyes, Wale wasn't quite a great friend or a lover. She was selfish.

"If you really want to be official, tell Kind. But I doubt he'll agree, because, honestly, you don't look the part. Also, just know, the way you leave him worn out, expect him to do the same to you. Are you up for that?"

Wale's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I'd love it! Anything that excites K turns me on automatically!"

"It's not just about him, Wale. You both need to enjoy it. If your goal is to please him, then just embrace being a lover for now. But if you want to mix things up, I've got a stash of toys and stuff I haven't used. My new partner came prepared, so I have a whole collection sitting untouched. I'll have my butler send them over."

"You've got to send them!"

Todo almost jumped at Wale's enthusiasm and noticed Kai stirring in her arms. Her eyes blinked open, and she gazed up at her quietly. The sight melted Todo's heart, and she held her a little closer.

Wale noticed and reached to take Kai, but Todo pulled back, almost instinctively. She raised an eyebrow, barely hiding her grin.

"Ah... let me... just hold her a little longer..." Todo said, a bit embarrassed by her own protectiveness.

"Alright," Wale whispered, amused that Todo, too, could be a bit possessive. Honestly, she didn't mind. Todo might have to show her how she managed to calm Kai down so effortlessly, considering she usually woke up crying.

"Three more days," Wale whispered. "That's all I'm asking. Three days with K here, and you can spend all the time you want with Kai."

Todo chuckled at Wale's desperation. The offer was clearly one-sided, with Wale getting everything she wanted. But, as she looked down at Kai, Todo realised her answer was already clear.

"I want to be Kai's godmother," she said, smiling.

"Swalha already asked to be the one."

"Then proceed and wake up Kind. It's time we left for work."