DECE-P-TION

DNII

"Hold me tighter." I recall sultana's voice while I brushed my teeth in front of the mirror. I close my eyes, trying to get that thought out of my head. I open it back up, glancing at my phone to see the time.

I leave my phone there and walked into the room to get dressed for a new day at work. "You don't have to give me an answer now....".

Will I marry her for my ambitions or as a wife? Isn't it the same thing? No. My selfish interest is clouding my judgement. I put on my pants and vest when I hear a doorbell.

"Falah." I hear Rashad's voice as I rush down to open the door, wearing my shirt on the way. I open the door. "You decided to come after a century."  I walk to the sitting room, buttoning my shirt. He walks in and sits on the sofa.

I try to figure out where to start from l as I reside my head from buttoning my shirt to see him eating my food that I placed on the centre table. I walk over to him and snatch the plate. "You're barely eating it, let's split it." Rashad protests making me chuckles. "You're not getting it, it's been long I ate homemade food."

"Is it?"

"I made it myself." I throw some in my mouth before sitting beside him. He sits up, eating with me. "Monger." I tease him.

"Like you're one to judge." He replies. "That's true." I take the last piece of fries, leaving back on the sofa.  "I got an offer from a client about marrying his daughter and I will gain power and money but...".

"But?"

"Sultana said I shouldn't be greedy, I'm not. I have been looking for a wife anyways." Rashad raises a brow. "You want the power and money, that's just it." He chuckles, making me groan.

I really went the benefits.

"I've been unsure and been in denial." I cross my arms. "You need to think about everything. It's not necessarily greed if you're wise. See the girl, know her, her family and start something without bearing any of that in mind. You must not gain power and money, you have gained having a wife from a good family. That's what matters. You'll even gain more respect from the family if you marry her for her."

I nod. I'll be getting the privileges anyways, slowly but surely. "You're right." I stand up, stroking my beard. I can still be a loving husband and get what I want.

"How does sultana feel about it?" Rashad asking out of the blue, making me think about her. She's not going to like the idea of that, detest it. Already, I hope she doesn't make it awkward.

I sigh, chewing on my inner lip. "We had sex. After I met the father, I went to her since you never called and then we hooked up." I confess.

"Out of a 10?"

"Solid 8." 

"So, are you putting a ring on it?" I glance at Rashad. If I had not met Khaldoun, I might have but no. It's not going to happen. It's too late.

"She understands that that can't happen between us."

"Does she know that? She might think she has a chance." I nod, letting out a heavy sigh. "Now, get out of my house. I don't need you." I dismiss Rashad, leaving him in the parlor.

********

"I told you to stop overworking yourself! I intend to attend your wedding and hold my grandchildren! I don't want my son to die!" My mom shouts through the phone.

"Gbele iya mí (sorry, mother), but I need to do this in order to take care of my wife and your grandchildren." I explain, entering the building. She keeps silent for a few seconds. "Have you found a girl to settle with? Are you serious with someone?"

Lord.

"No, I'm dating someone."

"Do you intend to get married when I'm dead?"

"Ra-ra, iya mí. (No, mother)". I get into the elevator, letting out a sigh. "I will get married Insha Allah before anything like that happens which won't happen anytime from now."

"Insha Allah, now when are you coming over?" I chuckle at the consistency of this pattern. "Soon, within this week. Whenever I'm free." Another badge.

"You're just like your father, you work and forget about me unless you need something then I'll become the centre of attention. The worst part is, your father has retired yet he pays no attention to me."

She complains. "But you usually go out for either body care, parties or women's trip."

"Oladimeji! Are you on my side or your dad's?" I laugh, getting out of the elevator. "I'm on yours, ma."

"Don't call me again for food."

"Iya mí."

"Don't call me that, goodbye Falah." She hangs up, making me laugh harder. "Morning, can see you're having a good one yourself." Sultana walks to me. "You know the usual, mother."

"Mother." We chorus as we walk side by side. "Please send her a bouquet of lilies and sunflowers with a box of white chocolate and a bottle of the best non alcoholic wine available."

"Noted." We enter my office as I walk to the table, taking off my blazer. "Thank you. What are the meetings we have today?" I turn, slightly sitting on my table.

"There are seven meetings today. You have one in ten minutes." She walks towards me, showing me how packed I am today on her pad. I sigh, placing my hands beside me. "It's going to be a long day."

I say when she comes closer to me, placing her hands on my shoulder. "Sultana." I call her name firmly. "I know, I just want to confirm that yesterday happened."

She caresses my neck, leaning in to kiss me on my lips. Her kiss was slow and her lips soft. She pulls away, smiling. "Sorry for being unprofessional." She steps away, looking back at her pad.

She clears her throat, scrolling through it. "Mr Khaldoun is the second person you have a meeting with. Mr Desmond third-".

"Sorry, mr khaldoun is at what time?" She raises her head to look at me. "Twelve, is there anything wrong?"

"No." I stand up, sliding my hands in my pockets. "Shall I make certain preparations?" I shake my head, walking over to her. "No, I wasn't expecting a meeting with him today."

"He sent a mail about the meeting, thus." I nod as she hands the pad over to me. "Okay. Am I free within this week?"

"Only on Thursday."

"That's when I'll be visiting."

"Your mother?" I look at her, noticing the smudge around the corners of her lips. "Yeah." I look back at the pad, tell her and don't do anything stupid. Tell her and walk back to your table.

"Your lipstick is smudged." I tell her as she pulls out her phone. "Really?" She tries to tidy it up with her hands. "Wait." I take out my handkerchief, holding her chin to fix it. I start cleaning it, noticing how her lips looks ravishing.

"Are you sure you know how to do this?" She asks. "Stop moving your lips." She smiles,nodding. A part of me telling me to kiss her and the other half restraining myself.

I finish cleaning it up, handing the handkerchief to her. "Don't forget to please send the things to my mother."

"Immediately." She answers as I sit on my chair. I lean my head back, watching her leave the room. You know the right thing to do.

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