Chapter 13: Chapter 13

"Alex," a chubby-cheeked man with a ginormous moustache called.

Alex's face became rigid and stiff immediately and he muttered, "Mallam Tanko."

______

The hostility in the atmosphere was thick, forged, and toxic that a new knife will go blunt at the attempt of slicing it. My heart heaved up as I tried not to breathe in the poisonous oxygen the air possessed.

The two men stood at a fierce and fighting stance. Their eyes communicated thousands of hostile insults, words for words while I stood there like a little kid, observing and trying to appear distinct in the midst.

"Great to see you here," mallam Tanko said and stretched his hands out for a shake.

"Same here," Alex replied with clenched teeth and shook his hand firmly that Mallam Tanko winced a little.

"I hope you are looking forward to our business meeting tomorrow, Alex?"

"Definitely." Alex cocked a brow and clutched me tighter till I could feel pains around my ribs.

"Ouch," I squirmed, bringing attention to myself unintentionally.

"I am so sorry," Alex said sincerely as he slightly massaged my waist making me gasp in surprise.

What the hell is going on?

"And who is this pretty young blood?" Mallam Tanko smirked as his eyes drank my appearance greedily.

"She is my personal secretary, Tife." Alex barked in a ferocious tone.

"Oh calm down genius, she is just your secretary." He tilted his head to a side while Alex said nothing.

"Right, Tife?" His gaze shifted between myself and Alex.

"Uh!" I shrugged. "Yes."

"Good, that will only make our deal easier." He smirked at a fuming Alex.

"What is that supposed to mean, Tanko?"

"It means that we can conclude and negotiate on the business deal here and now only if you agree to my terms and conditions." He sipped from his drink.

"You want to shift tomorrow's meeting to today?" Alex queried with furrowed brows.

"Glad you got my drift, you are getting more smarter, I must comment. You used to be really daft when you just took over the-"

"That is enough." I butted in, shutting the both of them up.

"Why? He is just your boss, you have no right to speak when men are talking." Mallam Tanko snapped at me, giving me a disgusted look.

This man must be a sadistic Tanko with the usual northern norms and tradition. In the north, they consider the opposite gender as inferior, that their work lies in the kitchen and the other room.

The poor ones marry off their daughters as soon as they attain puberty and they betroth their daughters to rich, and affluent politicians at a very young age. A sick tradition and that is exactly what this man is trying to apply here. He doesn't know I'm from the west and things don't work like that there.

"Name your price and let us seal this deal once and for all. Not everyone has time to spare for your nonsense." Alex spat and walked toward a round table.

We both followed suit, with me bringing out my laptop and documents to commence work.

"I will make sure twenty thousand employees under me open an account in your bank." Mallam Tanko clasped his hand and stared at me, a greedy expression forming on his face.

"That's huge, but what do you want in return?" Alex took a sip from his sparkling, colourless wine. From the scent, I could tell it is alcohol. And expensive quality one at that, with a higher percentage of spirit.

"I want her." Mallam Tanko nudged his head at me while I turned my head backwards, looking for the her.

"Are you insane? This is my employee and not a freaking sex worker." Alex raised his fists as if to punch him before bringing them down.

"Nonsense! Speak again because she is off-limit to you." Alex gulped his entire glass and took another and another.

"I will give her a house, a car, and anything she wants. I will also accept this deal if she agrees to be my twentieth wife." Mallam Tanko bit his lower lip.

"You are an old pervert, a stupid man at that. Save your bloody wealth because I don't need it." I glared and took the first gulp of my wine.

"How dare you talk to me like that." Mallam Tanko slammed his hands on the table. "Such a poor and ill cultured Yoruba breed-"

Before he could finish his statement, Alex threw a punch at Mallam Tanko's nose making it bloody already.

Mallam Tanko's bodyguards rushed to the scene and tried to hit Alex when Mallam Tanko stopped them.

"You bastard, you just hit my nose for an ordinary girl?" Mallam Tanko stared at me in disgust.

Alex threw another punch at his face making me gasp in shock. Alex bodyguards also came around behind us making it seem like a battle scene with two soldiers, captains, and a girl at the middle. The music has stopped playing as everyone gathered around to watch what is happening.

"I'm sorry I missed my shot because I was planning on breaking your face." Alex speech slurred a little. He was beginning to get drunk.

"Attack him," Mallam Tanko commanded his guards but Alex's guards stepped forward and soon, gunshots were been fired, tables turned around, ceramic plates and glasses shattering, people running helter-skelter for protection, screams and yells from everyone. It became a chaotic disaster. Our business deal was ruined and we still have two more days to spend in Abuja.

"Over here," Louis guided us towards the car and soon we were settled inside.

"What happened?" Louis questioned.

"Business deal went wrong. A bad business deal happened." I answered and strapped my seatbelt around me while Louis drove off in a hurry.

The trip back to the hotel was silent as I stared out the window of the car. I only heard gunshots on the radio and saw real-life guns on the television. I didn't expect all of this at all, this wasn't planned for. My life used to be simple and peaceful until I got this job. I don't know if a job that doesn't provide my security is the best for me. This is too much to comprehend.

As if nature could here my conflicting thoughts and could understand my pain, little showers of rain grazed the earth. This is the moment I wish I have my boyfriend around to cuddle with me.

"I'm sorry you had to experience all that, life has just been-- been crazy these few days." Alex nuzzled closer to my ear and whispered making me flinch in shock.

"I thought you were asleep," I said breathlessly and stared at his bronze skin tone. He is so beautiful.

"I can't sleep when your beauty stuns me," he stared into my eyes.

His breath fanned my bare skin, making me feel warm and cosy.

Louis drove into the garage of the hotel and opened the door for us. We alighted like couples and went into the lift.

"I know you are drunk, so I will just let that slide," I said as we entered his apartment.

"Getting drunk isn't bad, sometimes it helps one become daring and bold and let you spill things from the bottom of your heart." He followed me around and eventually sat on the couch with me.

"What are you saying,  I am not even your spec, remember?" I reminded him In a harsh tone and began removing my shoes and jewellery.

"That is when a change of mind comes in, one tends to agree with a certain norm because one believed in it." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Alex, you are not even making sense." I scolded.

"I have been around white-skinned ladies for the longest period of time, that I have accepted it unconsciously as the definition, and terminology if beauty, Tife."

I chuckled and stared at a smirking Alex, wondering if this is another prank he is playing. Him telling me his perspective of beauty has changed made my heart warm, I can feel my intestines jumping in glee and happiness.

"Your laughter sounds like melody, I have pushed you away for the longest period of time because I tried to deny the attraction I felt. Quite stupid of me." He grinned and caressed my cheeks delicately.

"Who are you and what have you done to my boss?" I peered into his eyes, searching for the usual grumpy Alex I know.

"He is right here." He pointed at his heart. "He only had a change of heart."

"You know what, you are just drunk and you will definitely have forgotten all you have said by tomorrow." I stood up with my heels in my hand, heading to my room.

"Stay with me," he said huskily.

"Go and sleep," I waved him off and switched on the light in my room.

I dropped my heels carelessly on the floor and began stripping till I was in my undies. I went to the large mahogany mirror in my room where I replayed all that happened few minutes ago. The rain is still pouring heavily outside, I walked towards the balcony to get myself drenched under the rain. I close my eyes to savour the earthly scent when I heard someone breathing loudly behind my back.

I was about screaming when Alex placed his index finger on my lips, shushing me.

He nuzzled closer to my nude shoulders and sniffed my scent. He then began plastering little kisses over my neck making me moan loudly.

In the ran, Alex's hair becomes one with his face, wetly draped over the bony structure that drives me crazy. His expression is serious that I wonder if he knows how much he drives me crazy, how it makes me want to feel every inch of his skin.

He spun me around and kissed the droplets from my lips, making me feel his lips smile against mine. He swept my hair aside and kissed me just over the collarbone. He nibbled at my ear, then sank into my arms. I hang my fingers on his waistband, dragging him closer as he buried his face in my shoulder curve, his hand flexing around my naked back. He gave a reduced groan. "You are like a dream and you smell heavenly," in my hair.