When A Man Wants - Episode 11

ANIKA

I turned to the other side, he was not in bed.

I rubbed my arm over the empty space on the bed and it wasn’t war either.

Tommy hadn’t slept in this bed!

I sighed and rose up so that my back was no longer on the bed . I was sitting with my legs still stretched out.

I was so confused I didn’t know what to do. Tommy shouldn’t have punched him but I shouldn’t have danced with him either!

I should have let the poor guy go immediately my husband had left with Freddie. Why did I let him stay?

I gave an exasperated sigh and rested my head in my palms!

Vincent I am so sorry!

The memories were coming back and I began to recall the way Vincent had held his hand to my waist, throwing his head backwards , laughing so heartedly as I stepped on his toes while dancing with him!

I got so lost in the moment that I didn’t hear Tommy come in. The next thing I knew was Vincent spitting blood as he collapsed against the settee….

I shut my eyes and tried to push the memory away….

That poor guy was mute for gods sake! Why would Tommy feel so insecure!

The way Vincent had thrown his head back and laughed…..the way his Adams apple kept bulging…the way he had held my hand….stroked my palm with his thumb…..

Oh God! I am going crazy!

Why does this guy remind me of Freddie so much! They do not even look alike! I could have said perhaps, he didn’t die! This guy is way cuter than Freddie was. With his perfect Roman nose and sexy long eyelashes…How I wish he could talk…..

I had to snap out of that bad thought! It was impossible! Yes ,my son liked him, it doesn’t mean I should too…

I stood up from the bed..I should go find my husband…..

******* ********  ********  *********

I met him in the study

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/when-a-man-wants

. He had a portrait in front of him and his working materials. Behind him were two of our guards, supporting him.

As I approached him, the memory of how we had met began to unfold….

He came to our house shortly after Fred’s death.  I recognized him as I and Fred had seen him many times on TV. Fred had even said he would make sure he becomes even better than this man and  win bigger awards than he did.

He came to look for my husband, he said he had heard of how talented he was and he wanted them to work together…I told him Fred died. He was surprised and disappointed. He was also very sympathetic. Since then, he had been visiting and then we got close. He was so nice, rich, famous,  caring and so handsome.  He gave me everything I wanted and took care if my son as well. It wasn’t long before he proposed but I gave him an answer after my boy clocked one. Shortly after, we travelled out of the country. We stayed abroad for five years. He gave those times up for my son and I so we could live like one big happy family and now he was back to return to his work. I was okay with that, I was only sorry because, I kept messing up things for him with Vincent…..

“Baby, can I talk to you?” I started, slowly.

He was sketching on the portrait, he didn’t look at me but he paused.

“What is it about?”

One of the guards was holding the paint for him.

“It’s about what happened today…” I replied, soberly.

He continued sketching. His hand moving zig-zag as he splashed more paint….

“What about it?’

I moved closer and knelt down beside him, putting my hand on his back…

“I never knew you could make it today . I didn’t want to impose and my son…our son needed friends. He likes this man for some reason that I do not know and I am so sorry. I should have told you first but I didn’t want to disturb you. Baby please. No one can take your place in our hearts, you know that?”

He paused and dropped the brush in the pan.

Read " Fulfilling Wishes " by the same author ( Tobi Loba )

. Then he faced me.

“Do you like him?”

I was surprised. “No . I don’t.”

“You want to be friends with him?”

I knew that was a tricky question so I shook my head.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded.

“Then, we are good. Look, you are the wife of the great Lyon. I don’t want you to lower yourself to ordinary people’s level. Do you understand? You are always in the public’s eye.  You can be caught on the camera anytime, I don’t want the press to use our family as a topic. Alright? Once they start seeing you with some guy, they start asking questions . “

I nodded.

“I love you okay. Now go to bed. I will join you later…”

He kissed me lightly on the cheek before I stood up and headed for my room…

“Ramzel, Find out everything about that guy okay? I need to know why he is interested in my family!”

He said it quietly but I heard….

********* ******** ***********

Hmmm...if you were ANika, hearing that, what would you do?