Chapter Thirty-seven

I give my reflection one last lingering look before heading up to the rooftop to meet that insufferable hedgehog.

Nerves are gnawing at me for reasons I can't pinpoint, but I'm desperate for this so-called dinner to start and end without any drama. After the disaster of our first encounter, I'm hoping for a smoother evening.

The same guy who escorted me to the patio is now stationed outside my door. I heard Damian called him 'Nathaniel' from his study earlier, so he must be the techie who tied all my details to Damian.

Please, let's hope he doesn't uncover Nifemi's true identity.

As he leads me up, I keep checking myself out in this tight red dress with a dangerously high slit that nearly reveals my upper thigh. I tried to wear a black short underneath, but it just made things worse by showing awkwardly. Besides, this was what the designers recommend I wear to the dinner banquet. 

I'm not usually into bright wigs, but this honey-blonde wavy makes my face look divine. Still, I'm uneasy about strutting around in this outfit.

My cleavage is practically spilling out, and my collarbone is on full display. I'm used to more covered-up outfits.

What if this dress turns him on and he leaps at me like a ravenous beast?

Ew! Bummi, why on earth are you thinking about anything intimate with this hedgehog?

I shake off the disturbing thoughts as we reach the rooftop. Nathaniel promptly leaves me to my own side.

My attention shifts to the night sky, which seems so close, as if I could reach out and touch its beauty like a deity.

"Are you just going to stand there gawking, or are you going to make yourself useful?" A familiar voice jolts me from my reverie, drawing my gaze to him. Only then do I realize he's here.

It's him. The hedgehog.

He's not looking at me directly, but I can tell he sensed my arrival before speaking. What's he engrossed in now? Soccer again?

His focus tightly remained unmoved in his phone. 

His casual-yet-corporate look tonight is oddly captivating.

As I step in, I'm careful with my silver heels—don't want to slip. In movies, men set out chairs for women, but here, I'm left to pull out my own seat.

The air is perfumed with a strong aroma.

I deliberately let the chair screech as I sit, annoyed that he didn't help me.

"For heaven's sake," he scowls, clearly irritated by the chair's screeching sound. "Are you always this loud everywhere? MTN." A second after, his expression suddenly changes to one of genuine surprise as he finally looks at me.

I sat down, baffled by his reaction. "What?" I scoff, feeling victorious. "Oh, I see, you've never seen a stunning angel before?" I toss a strand of my hair. Proud. 

His gaze moves from my cleavage to my face, and with a look of revulsion, he retorts as if dismissing my words in disgust, "Please, you look like a hideous witch pretending to be beautiful. Seeing you is like having my grandmother show up for dinner."

He just insulted me—my very essence of beauty. "I don't blame you; I blame your mother for wasting nine miserable months nurturing a hedgehog like you. It's a regretful ordeal."

His eyes narrow, seething with anger. I see my words have struck a nerve, but I couldn't care less.

"You look like a washed-up hooker with all that slap you call 'make up' on your face." Did he really just say that?

How dare he compare me to a prostitute?

"You remind me of a girl who got pregnant at thirteen. You're almost identical—cheap and shameless." Another blow lands, and I can't take it anymore.

Bummi, don't just sit there—do something! Anything to make him hurt.

My eyes dart around the table as I plot my revenge.

I grab the wine bottle, pour a glass, and throw the whole thing right in his face.

"Jesus Christ!" He's completely blindsided by my reaction.

I, Bummi Pearl Ademola, am far from finished with him.

I grab the jar of freshly squeezed juice and pour it all over him, drenching him from head to toe. It's like a cascade of rain, and his stunned reaction is priceless. "Oh. My. God."

I drop the empty jar on the table and brush my hands off. "Dinner's over. Have a good night, hedgehog." I flash a victorious smile, thoroughly pleased with my little revenge.

"Oh my goodness!" I hear a voice exclaim from the entrance. 

I turn to see who it is… it's Nathaniel, rushing towards Damian.

I hadn't anticipated my anger would escalate so dramatically. It feels like I've just committed a crime and realized it too late.

"Boss, are you okay?" Nathaniel asks, then turns to me with a look that clearly says, "What did you do?"

My heart is racing, but I remind myself he started it. 

Nathaniel is helping Damian clean up, but I pick up another napkin, trying to help too. Damian's cold, thunderous voice makes the napkin drop from my hand.

"Touch me again, or lay a finger on my shirt, and you won't see tomorrow's morning," he growls, glaring at me and then at Nathaniel. "Get her out of my sight before I do something we'll all regret."

"Yes, boss," Nathaniel replies, nodding sharply and casting a final glare at me. No need for more words; I know it's time for me to leave.

**********

The entire night, I cried myself to sleep, drowning in regret over what I had done. He didn't even come to bed like he did our first night. 

Sure, the mansion has plenty of rooms, but did he really have to leave me alone in this lonely enormous space?

I woke up to swollen eyes and a gnawing sense of guilt. What I did last night was over the top, and even though it felt good at the time, who would believe he started it first after seeing him like that?

"He started it, yes, but you made the scene." My mom's voice over the video call was relentless.

Nifemi made things worse: "Don't come back here without something good, oh."

Annoying kid. Just like his father.

I hang up and toss the phone onto the bed, determined to find him and apologize as Mom suggested. 

I'm still getting used to the mansion's layout. Thankfully, I bump into Nathaniel on the way.

"Nathaniel!" I call as I hop down the stairs, but he doesn't answer. "Nathaniel!" I try again, but he just walks by, not even glancing my way. Is he even angrier with me than Damian? Frustrated, I grab his arm. "Natha—"

"Good morning, ma." 

It's not Nathaniel but another imposing guy in a suit. 

How many bodyguards does this mansion have?

Maybe my swollen eyes are affecting my perception.

"Oh… I'm sorry, I mistook you for someone else," I apologize.

He smiles. "It's okay, ma. I overheard you calling my chief captain earlier. I'm Maxwell, your new personal bodyguard. Sir Nathaniel and the Boss are out of the country."

H…he…he left without seeing me?

"Boss is in London and won't be back for a while," Maxwell adds.

"London?" I whisper, astonished.

"Yes," he nods. "He went for business. He left early this morning—didn't want to disturb you since you were asleep."

So, he left without saying goodbye because I upset him last night. 

"You should get ready for work, ma." Maxwell breaks into my thoughts. "Boss has arranged for your personal chauffeur, Simon, to drive you to work and back." He speaks into his earpiece as he walks away. "Simon, please get the car ready. Madame will be out in a few minutes."

I'm not paying much attention to what he's saying. My mind is occupied with why Damian still considers me valuable and even arranges care for me despite his absence and the trouble I caused.

"Ma, your breakfast is ready." A middle-aged woman appears, announcing.

I responded with a nod.

Anyway, today marks my 'Second-First' day back at the office where I got fired two years ago. Thanks to Damian and a hefty dose of 'F*ck you' to ungrateful 'Me.'

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

Dayo's morning took an unexpected turn as he drove past a familiar spot where he'd first encountered her. The memory was a tantalizing flicker from the past, as vivid now as it was back then. 

**FLASHBACK**

It was a Monday, and Dayo was running late. Thanks to a night of celebrating with his best friend Raymond and a few too many drinks, he had missed his early wake-up call. Alcohol was never his thing, but Raymond had insisted he join the celebration for his younger brother's graduation from college. Those two drank all night till drunk. Now, he faced the bitter fruit of that decision: a hangover and a looming business meeting that demanded punctuality.

Glancing at his wristwatch, he pushed the gas pedal, accelerating recklessly as he veered off his usual route. But then, something caught his eye—a woman struggling with her car. She wasn't just any sight; she was a diamond in distress, a gem that defied his well-ordered plans.

Despite his best intentions to ignore the distraction and head to his meeting, the allure of the scene tugged at him like a siren's call. The sight of her, combined with the emotional pull, was like a sweet temptation he couldn't shake off.

He wrestled with himself, but the feeling was too intense. It was like trying to spit out sugar—impossible. Finally, he gave in, making a sharp U-turn and abandoning his meeting without a second thought.

As he pulled over, he saw her grappling with her defiant car, cursing under her breath. Dayo, nervous and out of his element, approached her. "Is my lady in distress?" he asked, his voice carrying a British flair he didn't know he had.

She barely glanced his way, absorbed in her frustration. "This car is driving me insane! I've got an 8 o'clock meeting, and now it's 9:41. It's a relentless pain in the ass!"

They were now kindred spirits in lateness.

"Let me take a look," Dayo offered, diving under the bonnet. After a brief inspection, he smirked. "It's the calibrator."

"Calibrator?" She nearly lost it. "Are you kidding me? How many times do I have to fix this piece of junk? I service it religiously every two weeks!"

Dayo chuckled as he fiddled with the engine. "Just like people, cars need their regular feed and maintenance. You know how it goes."

Frustrated, she mumbled, "I should've just used my mom's car. She warned me about this thing, but I didn't listen. Now it's betraying me like a spiteful ex!"

After a moment of silence, he said, "Try starting the engine now."

She hesitated but eventually complied, and the engine roared to life. Overjoyed, she leaped out and enveloped him in a tight hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she exclaimed, not noticing his stunned reaction. "If it weren't for you, I'd be waiting forever for my grumpy mechanic to show up."

Dayo, still in shock from the unexpected embrace, could only watch as she beamed at him, the memory of that day seared into his mind. 

"It's alright, you don't need to thank me too much," Dayo chuckled awkwardly, struggling to find the right words. "Anyway, let me introduce myself properly." He extended his hand. "I'm Felix Adedayo Ayomide."

She took his hand with a firm shake. "Adira Success Omowummi, but just call me Adira."

Dayo scratched the back of his head, his nerves getting the better of him. "Um… I was wondering if we could, well, meet up sometime? Maybe dinner? At my resort?" He asked, his voice tinged with hope.

Adira's face lit up with a bright smile. "Yes, of course. I'd love to!"

Dayo felt a surge of happiness—her smile was everything he had hoped for.

*****FLASHBACK ENDS***** 

The ring of Dayo's phone jolted him from his reverie. He answered with practiced ease. "Kelly, is everything ready?" He glanced at the road. "Great, make sure it's all set. I'll be there soon." He ended the call, his mind already on the next task.

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

Meanwhile, In Adira's car, she was chatting with her daughter in Canada. "How's the studying going?"

"Great, Mom," Sharon replied. "But forget about me for now. How's your health?"

Adira rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, sweetheart. A hundred percent healthy."

Sharon wasn't buying it. "I don't believe that. Last time we talked, you were coughing."

Adira laughed softly. "I was eating when you called. I choked a bit."

"Hehehe. Nice try, Mom. You didn't choke."

Adira laughed again, mimicking her daughter's tone. "Stop worrying about me. I'm good. I should be the one worrying about you, okay?" 

Sharon sighed dramatically. "I'm fifteen, Mom. I can take care of myself!"

Adira chuckled. "By the way, have you heard from your father?"

Sharon's voice brightened instantly. "Yeah! He sent me a new MacBook and a brand-new SUV! Don't worry, I've got my license. He's coming for my cheerleading competition this weekend."

Adira's eyes widened. "Really? The same weekend I'm visiting?"

"Mom, you're here for work. It won't stop you. And—" Sharon's tone shifted. "Are you avoiding something because I mentioned Dad?"

"Sharon—"

"Isn't it time you two sorted things out?"

"Sharon, let me call you back. Someone's calling."

Sharon protested. "Oh, so it's because I mentioned Dad?"

Adira shook her head. "No, someone is genuinely calling. I promise I'll call you back after my meeting, okay?"

After a while, Sharon sighed. "Okay. Love you."

"Love you too. Take care."

After hanging up, Adira looked at the caller ID and answered. "Hi there, it's Success on the line. Who am I speaking with? Oh! This weekend? I'm not sure—I'll be at a conference. But my secretary can handle it. Okay. Thanks." She ended the call and drove into the garage when she got to her workplace. 

She greeted the security guards, noticing their uneasy expressions, she asked. "Everything okay today?"

"Yes, Madame."

Still curious, she entered the building and was greeted by a loud "Surprise!" Her heart skipped a beat as she saw balloons, decorations, and signs reading, "Happy Birthday, Success" and "Please, Marry Me For The Second Time."

Her jaw dropped as she spotted roses spelling out the proposal. 

Security guards dashed in and emerged from their uniform tops, now revealing shirts that read "Please, say yes." Her employees revealed shirts with her photos on them. 

Dayo, appearing like a saint from nowhere, knelt before her. "Adira Success Omowummi, for the second time, please come back to me."

Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered, "Yes."

The crowd erupted in applause as Dayo slid the diamond ring onto her finger and kissed her deeply. 

"Aww," the staff cooed.

Blushing, Adira buried her face on his chest. 

Once the crowd dispersed, she asked, "How did you pull this off?"

"Well," Dayo shrugged, "It was easy. What matters is that we succeeded."

She poked him playfully. "You're such a naughty boy."

Dayo grinned. "I know. So, would my lovely wife love to celebrate this beautiful occasion with me?"

"Only at your resort," she winked.

Dayo tried to contain his laughter but ended up chuckling. "Why my resort?"

"Because that's where we had our first date," she declared proudly.

He laughed shyly. "You kept those memories?"

She gasped, pretending to be surprised. "Oh, and how did you get my college photos?"

Dayo took her hand as they walked out. "I knew Sharon would be helpful."

"What? She knew about this?" Adira was astonished.

Dayo opened the passenger door for her. "Don't worry, I'll explain everything. And I'll keep her quiet."

"Really? What should I call you two?"

"Secret keepers," he whispered, winking. "Like father, like daughter."

Adira rolled her eyes playfully. "Whatever."