Classless

CHAPTER 56- CHANGES 2

CHAPTER 56- CHANGES 2

*FEDOR’S POV*

I laughed it off and stared at him, this was a big shift in how I saw him, how could a man be so competent and eccentric at the same time, I knew there were people who believed that money wasn’t everything. I had always thought about them as something far away, like myths and fables and here I was, in love with one of those creatures. I could not even say it was because he grew up content, I knew that he must have struggled as well. There was no excuse as to why he was the way he was, I gave up trying to understand what it must be like not to make money a priority, it had ruled every decision I made. It was the reason I had not let lust rule my decisions until recent events of course, I could not comprehend Chief at this very moment, what did it feel like? What then ruled his ambitions? Why did I think for a second that we were alike? Even though I had abandoned my desire for a wealthy husband, it did not mean that my brain did not work. My parents were in love as well, I remembered how much they cherished each other before that love turned into poison that destroyed both of them and the family as well. Even they were in poverty for lack of choice, my father worked as hard as anyone but nothing came from it and so did my mother, I genuinely believed that they were happy at one point but I needed their input right now, was it worth it? Their love? Was it worth everything they went through without money? It was obvious, I would not make the mistake of bringing any life into this world if I could not take care of them, it would be careless and irresponsible of me.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Chief massaged my forehead.

I groaned, “I am trying to understand you, it is hard to wrap around.”

“What is?” He said ever so gently that I was not sure if I should broach the subject, I wasn’t sure of what he thought about sometimes.

I shook my head, “It is nothing serious.”

He held my chin, “Then tell me.”

Here goes nothing, I said in my head, “I don’t think I am a greedy person but all my life, I have struggled not to end like the status quo. I am not complaining but I have done my best to achieve a life of stability and which was why I wanted to marry up, of course, that dream has changed. All this while, I had thought you were hmmmm, how do I put this? Of a lower class because of circumstances, even with Martha, I assumed it was your principles that stopped you from making Martha commercial but this, this is different. I have come to the realization that money has never been your priority which is completely different from how I had lived and now, I don’t know what it is like, to not consider money in every decision, action, and reaction. You are unfathomable to me. I am amazed and confused at the same time. What is this Chief?”

He pulled me to him as we settled on the couch, “Money isn’t everything.”

“I know, but it is …”

“I know, I know. I guess, I have always wanted things beyond money. I grew up around people with so much that they do not even know what to do with it and I know how empty they still were despite everything they had, I guessed somehow I knew I wanted more than just wealth. I wanted fulfillment and the thing about business Fedor, the larger it becomes, the less time you have to do things you truly want to do especially when it is new. This isn’t even perfected yet.”

I nodded, “That is because you haven’t dedicated your time to it, because you are always on Martha.”

“Does money mean that much to you?”

“I guess it does, I just think I’d rather be rich and unhappy than poor and unhappy. I also think it is possible to be rich and happy, Do you feel that sense of fulfillment when you are on Martha?”

“It is more exciting than land.”

“Hmmmmm.”

“Does it bother you that much?”

“I don’t think so, I guess I am surprised that not everyone has the same dream I guess. I wanted to understand you more.”

“Do you?”

“Not really so I am going to stop thinking about it and accept it as one of those things.” I shrugged.

He paused for a bit and asked, “I know you have said it before but do you have nothing you want to do that is because you want to and not tied to what it can do for you but for how it makes you feel?”

“No, and no matter how I think about it, nothing comes to mind, I don’t know, maybe going forward I could do that but nothing for now, I don’t do what I hate though.”

He thought about what I said, “Okay, that’s enough thinking for the day. Let’s go eat, there’s nothing to eat here but I know a place close by, she makes the Nigerian fried rice.”

“I see, trying to appeal to my Nigerian side. It is getting late, maybe you should take me home instead.”

He gave me a seductive smirk, “What is the rush? Do you think you would not be able to resist me and fold?”

I scoffed, “Yes sir, your sexiness is overwhelming and I would not be able to restrain from throwing myself at you.” I ignored the tiny truth in that statement and put as much sarcasm as I could into that statement.

“I knew it.” He said deliberately ignoring the dry tone. He dropped my bag in his bedroom as we went out to eat when I remembered.

“Are you sure we should be seen publicly? What if we see someone from work?” I asked.

“We are co-workers and as long as you keep your hands to yourself, we will be fine.” He smugly replied, it was as if he had switched on his seduction because he would not stop bulging his muscles at inappropriate times, and more than once I had seen him sneakily raise his shirt. Now he was buckling my seat belt and he was everywhere. I swallowed hard, if he thought he could get to me, he was right because this mami wanted to fold so badly. I was not even competitive; I had forgotten what had brought on this challenge in the first place. That stupid smirk of his, just before he went back to his seat, I grabbed his head and kissed the corner of his mouth, painfully close to his lips and I purposely allowed my lips to hover on his before I relaxed back into my chair, two could play the game. If I was going to lose, I would give it everything I had.

He froze and cleared his throat just before he closed the door, “Well played, Fedor.” His voice had gotten deeper. The restaurant was small and cozy, a little cute with the soft colors as décor, Chief ordered for both of us and I ignored the overly friendly waitress who was doing her best to show her bust to a hopefully distracted Chief. He had not even paid her any mind when she left, I asked, “Are you aware of the feminine gaze you attract?”

“What answer did you want to hear?” He made a show of grabbing the table to expose his beautiful large hands. The son of a …, I muttered in my head and pretended that I wasn’t completely taken by his hands and then it occurred to me, I did not have to pretend.

“I got my answer.” I reached out and grabbed his hands, I measured it against mine and was fascinated by how small my hand was in comparison.

“What are you doing?”

It was my turn to smirk before I replied innocently, “Playing with your hand. I never thought I was a hand person until you, you are beautiful everywhere.”

“Fedor.” He called out my name in warning. I intertwined our hands before I kissed his then grinned at him before letting him go. “Playing dirty isn’t fair play.”

“What did I do?”

“You know what you did.” He dragged me closer with his foot under my chair as he kissed me hard. The waitress had returned and had cleared her throat, I was self-conscious and wanted to stop the kiss but his hand had gone to the back of my head and kept being fixed until he was done before he released me. I watched him lick his lips as if savoring every taste and now I started thinking impure thoughts.

The first bite was divine, it was the right kind of spicy and salty, I realized how hungry I was because I had forgotten about the sexual tension that was there a minute ago, I finished my food even before Chief and was satisfied. “You’re right, this is good.”

“Told you.”

Chief ate elegantly too, I almost sneered at his gentlemanly habits, it contradicted his usual ways. I don’t think I had any lady like habits, another way I had come short of the mighty Chief, It was a wonder how I hadn’t developed a complex by now.

‘You are doing it again.”

“What?”

“Zoning out. What were you thinking about?”

“Work, I’d be the new girl again.” I changed the course of my thoughts.

He paused like he had forgotten that I wouldn’t follow them for the next trip. “You’ll be fine, you survived the seas, everything else would be a cup of tea.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so.”

When we got back home and freshened up, I had changed to one of his nightshirts, I settled into the sofa in the sitting room, Chief came from the bathroom wet, he had a towel dampening his hair as he stared at me and I was completely riveted by his body. The scar on his stomach held me hostage, “Say the word Fedor.” Chief’s voice broke me from my entrancement.

“You say it.” I hid my body under the blanket I had taken from his room.

“Why are you here?”

“There is only one bed,” I muttered.

“You are kidding, right?” He taunted and I could see it from his point of view, we had spent the last few nights in my room on Martha and now I was what, shy. It was completely different, this is his space and I did not want to admit it out loud but this place was awfully intimidating.

Chief said nothing as he came closer and carried me bridal style with blankets and all into the room before dropping me on the bed and joining me, he made sure we shared the blankets, my back to his front as usual, “Relax Fedor.” He murmured in my ears and I broke into shivers.

What was wrong with me? Why was I this way? I think the word I was afraid to use was fragile, I felt vulnerable here with him and it made me soft? I don’t know anymore but I knew I needed to say the words, at this moment and I turned and faced him and held his face in my hands. “I love you Song.”