Sweet Hearts

Revelations

        The past two weeks were eventful. Brenda found out she was having a baby girl and Chris after his return from his three-days tour had frequently showered Lara with lots of gifts and cheesy texts. The both of them had appeared on so many shows as 'The Cutest Nigerian couple' which was exciting and frustrating; exciting because she had new offers on fashion lines and frustrating because Chris decided to increase the security arguing in line with a saying 'the more popular; the more exposed'.

Lara had just finished a breakfast date with Brenda and was going through some clothing sketches when Hannah; her personal assistant walked in with some papers and a steaming mug of coffee.
"Lara, you have a visitor".

"Who is it?". Lara asked taking the mug from Hannah.

"A lady". Hannah replied

"A lady?".

"All those questions are not necessary". A voice she could recognize anywhere said as the familar lady walked into the office, her heels clicking against the marble floors. She sat opposite Lara not waiting to be offered a seat and crossed her slender legs.

Lara nodded in the direction of Hannah; an indication for her to leave. Hannah gave the lady a curious stare before she placed the papers she had on the table and walked out of the office.

"Hi". Lara forced a smile "Cecilia".

Cecilia gave a distorted smile and pushed back her Ray Bans to the top of her head.
"Being sweet doesn't suit you".

Lara folded her arms "I guess you're right, why are you here?".

Cecilia gave a short humourless laugh and uncrossed her legs.

With those legs, Lara thought. She could pass for one of her models, she was slender, tall..

"Chris isn't picking my calls or returning any of my texts".

Lara rolled her eyes "How is that my business?".

Cecilia gave her a sour smile "It isn't sweetie, I just came to inform you that whatever juju or Yoruba witchcraft you think you have on Chris won't last. Ugha!, It won't. In a few months, I'll be getting married to Chris and replacing you to be Nigerian's sweet heart".

Lara laughed throwing her head backwards "Jeez, who knew you could pass for a comedian?, You're just so funny". Lara straightened up "Why can't you get the message honey?, Chris is done with your side chick services. Go render it to someone else who's interested".

Cecilia smiled and began staring at her fingers like they were more important. "He didn't say so when we were wrapped up in each other's arms". She looked up and pouted "Oh!, He didn't tell you where he was last two weeks monday?".

"You're pathetic and desperate".

Cecilia gave a smug smile "Pathetic, no. Desperate, yes. I could invite you for my wedding except my party is not for the masses".

Lara shot an eyebrow up "Chris was on a Ghanaian tour".

"I know, but his tour ended on monday, he didn't tell you, did he?, I can't believe you fell for his tales".

"What are you talking about?".

Cecilia stood grabbing her handbag "Just tell Chris to pick my calls". She paused "Or, maybe you could pass my message to him".

Lara let out a sigh "Why don't you tell him yourself?".

"Calm down". Cecilia tsked "Tell your husband that I'm carrying his baby".

Lara froze as though a bucket of ice had been poured on her. She could feel her heart stop and the room began spinning, the only sound she could hear was the faint clicks of Cecilia's heels.

Lara couldn't think. Had Chris lied to her about his tour?.

    

                     °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°  
      Chris laughed loudly at some jokes Paul shared and sipped from his bottle beer.

He had just finished a successful duet with Paul and decided to share drinks with him, Kcee and Bashir; Paul's manager. He discovered lately from their tour that Paul was an orphan before he was adopted by his foster parents who decided to support his music career. Chris felt bad for awfully writing Paul off, maybe he could discuss with Lara to invite Paul for lunch sometime.

Lara.

The thought of her brought smiles to his face. Realising he hadn't heard from her that afternoon and how desperately he wanted to hear her voice, he excused himself from the trio and walked out of the studio to the corridors while he dialled her line. He waited patiently and all he could hear was repeated rings, she didn't pick his call. He tried six more times but she still didn't pick which was strange because Lara always had her phone with her.

Maybe she's just busy, he thought to himself. But deep in his guts he felt something wasn't right.

He slipped his phone into his pocket and made to enter the studio when his phone rang, he reached for it excitedly.

Checking the caller ID, his face fell into a frown. Cecilia!.

"What do you want?". He asked gruffly.

"Come on sweet heart". She chided and added sweetly "It's nice hearing from you after a while, You don't have to act awkwardly after what happened the last time".

His senses came alive. "What do you mean?".

"Is that what you tell your wife all the time?".

He pressed the bridge of his nose "Cecilia, what's wrong with you?".

"What's wrong with me?. Heck, I don't know, maybe I'm desperate. Desperate to keep the guy I would be getting married to in some months time because he's busy badging 'Nigerian's Sweet Hearts' with a lady from the blues".

Chris rolled his eyes "Lara's not from the blues...".

"There you go, defending her as usual". Cecilia interrupted.

"I thought you were happy about the whole 'Sweet Hearts' thing'.

"I was happy until I started seeing random cute pictures of you two, it got me pissed. Like I should be the one in your arms instead of her, be the one to be in those cute photos instead of her". Cecilia rattled.

"Cecilia.. we've talked about this".

"Talked?, You barely made a statement. You just drown yourself in whiskey all through the night".

"I'm really sorry, I can't remember most of the things that happened that night". He said tracing his lips with his thumb.

He heard her take in a dramatic gasp "You don't remember anything?, Even the sweet love you made to me?, Screaming my name?".

He choked on his own spit "What?".

"It's better we talk about this over drinks, cause I've got some news for you". With that she hung up.

Chris couldn't think. He slept with Cecilia?. How did he do that?.

He rubbed his palm down his face before he walked into the studio. Paul was the first to notice him.

"Dude, you look like shit". Paul said.

Chris nodded and picked his car keys from the seat he had sat.

"Are you okay?". Kcee asked walking towards him.

"I need to get home". Chris replied.

"Is there a problem with Lara?". Kcee asked worriedly.

"She's fine. I just need to rest".

"Yo!, You do need it dude". Paul said patting Chris's shoulder.

Chris nodded and walked out of the studio; his thoughts ran wild; first he needed to talk with Cecilia and figure out what had happened the last time they met.

Translations
*Juju
Voodoo
*Ugha! (Igbo)
Lie!

Soo, how's this chapter?.
Remember to tap the STAR.
Follow, comment and share.
I love you 😘