THE CO - WIVES

THE CO - WIVES

CHAPTER 27

James's POV.
I was beyond myself with happiness. What else would make a man happier then seeing his crush warming up to his advances?
Jackline and her mum settled in their new apartment.
The schools had finally closed and Jackie's bro joined them. I used to spoil the young man with a lot of gifts. I wanted to get into his heart first. That way it would be easier to convince his sister. By the look of things, he liked me alot. I was winning.
Jackie resumed job and people in the office were surprised to see her driving a brand new Audi.
I had literally shifted to my mansion and Joyce didn't seem bothered by that.
One evening, I requested Jackie to accompany me to a dinner meeting with my clients.
I told her to head home to change from the office wear, and I was gonna pick her later.
When I went to pick her later, she looked gorgeous...
My heart almost skipped a beat. She was in a knee length balloon dress, blue in colour, with matching ankle boots. She looked stunning!
I couldn't resist her. I hugged her passionately and kissed her lips passionately. I was surprised when she took in the kiss without resisting.
She entangled herself from the kiss and I led her to the car.
I drove to the venue, while chatting endlessly. She seemed to have warmed up to me but I had to take my time.
At the dinner party, all eyes were on her. I couldn't help but be proud of her. I swore to myself that I was gonna make her my wife soonest.
As we drove home, she was literally silent. I wondered why she was so quiet. I concluded that she wasn't in the mood to talk.
Back in her apartment, I parked next to her car and she insisted I get in because it wasn't that late.
I agreed because I wanted to say hi to her bro. Her mum had gone back to the village when she made sure her daughter was safe.
"James, I want us to talk..."
I did like that tone at all.
She was calm.
More calmer than I expected.
I looked around but it's like her bro was asleep.
"What is it dear? Talk to me swiry."
"Before I make up my mind about your proposal, I would like to talk to your wife first..."
Where was that talk headed to!
"No problem, we can always visit her."
I told her but I wasn't sure how Joyce would react.
We planned the day and it was supposed to be a surprise to Joyce. However, we were not going to meet in my house but in a restaurant in town. All said and done, I kissed her goodbye and I left to my mansion.
The day came and I lied to Joyce that I wanted to treat her to dinner. She was happy to hear that.
As we settled on the reserved table for three, Jackie arrived looking gorgeous as ever.
She said hi to us and sat next to Joyce.
Joyce looked surprised but she tried as much as possible to stay calm.
Food was brought and we ate to our fill.
We ordered for drinks and Jackie started the talking.
"Madam Joyce, I am here to say sorry of I have ever offended you in any way. Kindly find it in your heart to forgive me..."
"You shouldn't be apologising to me Jackline, I should be the one doing so. I mean, I have confronted you severally on allegations that you are my husband's lover not knowing that you had nothing to do with him. It's funny how I pushed him on the wall till he started harbouring the ideas to date you. I am happy he has found love in you Jackline. I am not against your affair at all."
"Thanks a lot madam. I thought he was kidding when he told me that you had agreed to have me as your co wife. God bless you."
Don't worry dear, if James is happy, I am happy too."
The two ladies hugged. I envied them. I could see a woman in love who didn't want to lose her husband for her silly mistakes. I resolves there and then that I was not  gonna divorce her for the sake of the kids.
"One more thing madam..."
"Call me Joyce please... I feel too old when you call me madam!"
The two women giggled.
"I would like to thank you for taking your time to follow Diana and help the police find me. Also for helping them get the other assailants. Thanks a lot mada....I mean  Joyce"
"Anything for my husband Jackline. He had literally lost his mind when you got kidnapped. He even blamed me thinking I was part of the gang!"
We laughed it off and continued with our drinks.
We made merry as we laughed heartily like long term friends.
As we parted ways, Joyce reminded Jackline to take good care of me.
Jackie drove off to her place as I dropped Joyce to our house.
My kids were already asleep when we arrived. I spent the night there but in the guest bedroom. I hadn't overcome what Joyce and Jeff did in our bedroom, on my matrimonial bed!
*************************
One month without seeing Jackie felt like a decade. I had flown out of the country on a business trip. We had spend most of our time speaking over the phone.
It was on a weekend therefore I knwe she was gonna be in the house. I called her phone when I landed but it wasn't going through.
I asked my bodyguard to drive me direct to her house. I knew I was gonna find her all alone because her bro had gone back to school.
I arrived at her apartment and she looked shocked to see me. She ushered me in and gave me a glass of cold water to drink.
"How have you been Jackie? Your phone is off? Why? And where is your car, it ain't in the parking!" I asked her curiously.
The Jackie I was seeing looked different but she was still my Jackie.
She had coats of makeup on her face and she had dressed scantly.
I was used to her wearing a dress while indoors but this time she had just a T-shirt on. Her walking style had also changed and she looked a little bit slender. But I blamed it on my absence for a whole month.
"I am not Ja...."
"Forget it love, its alright. .it's like she had seen me checking her out.
I brushed the whole thoughts off, I even forgot about the missing car.
" prepare yourself darling, we are going out. Please wear that blue balloon dress, will you?"
She looked confused.
All in all she nodded and ran towards her bedroom.
I waited for her and when she finally showed up, I couldn't take my eyes from her! She looked stunningly beautiful.
I rose up from the couch and held her by the waist as we headed for the door.....
I had instructed the bodyguard to take a cab after dropping me at  Jackie's place.
I opened the passenger door and helped her sit.
I then went to the driver's side and reversed out of the , whistling softly.
The Jackie of that day seemed o talkative. She asked me how my trip was and many more things.
I drove to my mansion to keep my bag and as I drove in, she seemed awed by the environment.
She behaved totally different.
She would occasionally place her hand on my thigh as I drove.
I welcomed her on and we sat on the couch.
She seemed to survey the environment, a broad smile registered on her face.
"Darling, just order food and drinks. We can eat from here. I don't feel like going anywhere."
She told me.
I was happy as well because I didn't feel like going out.
I called my guard to bring us food but I didn't order drinks because they were in the cabinet.
We ate and drunk the whole night. Jackie seemed to have changed by the  way she was swallowing the scotch whisky. I remembered she had refused to take whisky in our precious outings. What had changed? I brushed it off as usual.
We were seated at close proximity. She seemed free with me and she kissed me once in a while....
I was happy at least she was finally warming up to me. 
I knew my several months dry spell was gonna be quenched.
The alcohol hand taken better part of our emotions.
The kissing deepened.... We kissed more oftenly.
One thing led to another and we found ourselves naked on the floor, making love like our lives depended on it. I was too drunk to think of protection!
The following morning, we had a quickie before refreshing up. I dropped her off in her apartment after insisting that she wanted to go to church.
One thing though left me worried, the Jackie who looked so naive wasn't as naive as I had thought. I remember she once told me that she was a virgin but nothing proved to me that she was a virgin when we made love that night.
It's like she had had sex repeatedly. That act alone, and her lying to me made me to start hating on her.
Back at home, I found her missed calls but I didn't get back to her.
So she had been pretending all this while? I needed an explanation as to why she had taken me for a ride!