"Oh, Christian!" Lilly leaps into his arms just as I rolled my eyes.

How...dramatic.

"Lilly, it's alright you can get off now,"

"I'm just in an emotional state and I bumped into thi- Imani and it only made matters worse," she gets off and smoothens her skirt, " but I'm fine now, I won't get thrown off by such an issue," she shoots a glare and takes a step back.

"Alright...? Would you excuse us for a moment, Lilly?" he beckons me and I'm ushered into his office.

"Look, Christian, before you attack me, Lil-"
"I missed you," he pulls me closer to his chest, lifting me from the ground with his arms wrapped round my waist.

"Christian," I grunt.
"I know you want to lash out because of what just happened, but hear me out...I missed you," he pouts and I can't help but laugh at how adorable he looks in such a mood.

At the same time, I'm wondering what exactly Lilly has on her sleeve with the whole 'to and fro' situation. Obviously she's an obsessed woman and would plot anything against me, that I'm sure.

"What are you thinking about?" he nuzzles into my neck.
"Um, nothing. It's just, I don't know if I came at the right time, considering that you're still busy with work," I lie.
"Oh. I can close up so we go?" He suggests.

"Wait, we have our cars here with us and-"
"We'll use yours, I don't mind leaving my truck here," he cuts in.
"Okay,"

I take a seat and watch him clear his table before grabbing a black jacket from the armrest.

"Ready to go?"

× × ×

This feels surreal... how I'm at this point in my life with someone I didn't expect to be with. Not to mention how we got to this, if it goes any further then I have alot of answering to do with my parents back home .

After their call a few weeks ago, I cut them off to catch a breather. I mean, Christian and I are doing so well and involving them only makes matters sour. Believe it or not, I have set a ringtone for them and them alone, just so they don't rain on my shine. It's now refreshing to do so much to make myself (and Christian) happy, atleast I'm trying with him.

Yes, I get a little crazy with my temper but really, a sister can't help it!

[But enough of that though, let's get to Kenya's wedding.]

"Girls, check this out!" Hannah calls out to Kenya and I.

"For the bachelorette party," her face is cunning and foxy.
"Now's not the time, Hannah," Kenya rolls her eyes.

We all stare at the advert in the magazine that Hannah has in her hand, a fancy ladies club downtown.

It does sound fun; us having a serious night out just for Kenya's last days being -Kenya Badu. It's sad in a way, she'll go on her dream honeymoon and probably return pregnant and then start a family... or something. I just know marriage comes with its baggage, so my mother says.

"Just the three of us?" Kenya asks with a scowl.
"Duh!" Hannah's eyes roll.
"I don't know,"
"Oh, come on! You need this, Kenya. Y'all are always on my ass about going out to the club, this will be your last time!" I shove her arm.
"It's not like I'll be any different after I'm married, girls,"

"True," Hannah tilts her head to the side, " but after that ring is on your finger then we can't go as often as we used to... and you know that very well,"
"Not true," she defends.

"Yes true, Kenya!" I snap my fingers in her face.
"Whatever," she rolls her eyes just as my phone vibrates in my pocket.

New Message
Mum:call me back. It's urgent. [1345]

Urgent means alot of things, or atleast when it comes to my mother. But for the sake of the unknown, I don't have a choice.

"Ima?"
"Yes mum," I walk away from the girls to a corner.
"Look, I don't understand what it is with kids like you who can go for days without speaking to parents..." I'm not phased by her ranting thanks to my mind drifting off.

I know she'll talk about Christian, maybe compare him to James or something and I'm not having any of it.

"Ma'?"
"Don't cut me off while I'm speaking,"
"Right," I nod with bulging eyes so she continues, even though she can't see my expression.
"So what was the reason behind your silence?"
"Can we talk about this in the evening mama?"

"Eh eh!" She says in shock," So you've been hiding this your white man from us thinking we'd not find out?! Imani, you've turned our family into a laughing stock, a bowl for village spit, you disobedient thing!" she continues to say every bad word in the book until my father is heard in the background.

"Hello?"
"Imani, we need you to come home for a family meeting. We've not even gone halfway through the year and already you've caused trouble far beyond our thinking . You need to return to be redirected, this will be a family meeting and not for the entire community to know, even though they'll find out eventually,"

"Father, I have a job to handle. I cannot just drop everything I'm working so hard on to travel home in the middle of the month?!"
"We understand, but they should also understand the urgency of this meeting. However, for the sake of your job we will allow you to come as soon as March begins,"

I can hear my mother protest in the background but I know my father is much more understanding than she is.

"Thank you, father,"
"It's alright. Goodbye,"

× × ×

The sun is setting and the streets below are flooded with cars. I'm wondering if it's a good time to head home or push work until the traffic clears a bit.

Walking to my desk, I feel a wave of fatigue sweep over me. I must admit it has been a long and busy week since the building project started, and now that Pete is standing in for me as well it has given me time to work on other things.

"Hey," my body jumps at the sound from the door, and in walks Christian.

"Why'd you startle?"
"I was still thinking about work," is all I can say.
"You look tired," he walks towards my back and places his hands on the sides of my neck, pressing on my shoulders lightly.

"I know, even you know that it's been a tiring week,"
"Well, I have just the thing to ease you. Let's go,"

We close up in the office and leave in his car instead of mine. The drive was quite long, and I was expecting the obvious that he'd take me to his house. This feels different, we arrive at what looks like a Villa, and he turns to park right by the entrance.

"Here we are," he sucks in a breath and turns to me.
"The years I lived in this city, I never knew this place existed," I say breathlessly as my eyes scan the surroundings from inside the car.
"It's a recent project I worked on with Adrian,"
"Wait, when was this?" I scowl.
"When he was in England. He was also into the whole building business with me," he explains.
"It was some hobby?"
"You could say so," he squints, nodding his head in agreement.

"So why'd you bring me here?"
"I want to show you something," he smiles , and I gaze at the sunset already replaced by violet and azure blue filling the sky out the window next to him.

"Ok," I smile and he leads me into the house.

It doesn't look fancy, but I loved the feeling. I never really liked things that scream 'filthy rich' soon as I walk in. A homely look like this is really welcoming. The interior still looks like it's being constructed, with white cloth covering some of the furniture.

"It's still being renovated, I hope you don't mind?" he says nervously as he turns the rest of the lights on.

I nod, my heels clicking on the wooden floor as I enter the kitchen.

"This place is more of a family home from inside," I tilt my head to one side as I trace my hand over the oak island.

"It kinda is, but it has the potential to be a getaway house,"
"Nice," I mutter, " What is it you want to show me?"

His face lights up slightly as he takes my hand, leading me upstairs. We walk into a room and once the lights are switched on, there's a large tub before us.

"No," I gape.
"Before you get any ideas, we won't be in the jacuzzi together," he holds in a laugh.
"That's not what I was thinking," I lie.

He chuckles and ushers me to the edge of the tub while he walks to a closet and pulls out a large robe.

"I'll excuse you so that you change and hop into the hot tub. But first, let me finalise it," he turns the faucet and walks into a room with the sink and toilet, returning with bath salts and bubble bath in both hands. As steam fills the room slowly, he pours a handful of salt, the sweet aroma filling my nostrils and I feel light at how relaxing it would be once I'm inside.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask quietly.

He stops and approaches where I'm seated.

"Well," he takes one hand in his," I really want to show you that you're appreciated, that I love you as much as you do love me. I want you to know that you deserve to be treated with care, and I've seen how your friends do that and I'm proud that they do. I feel you should also get treated more by me too," he kisses my knuckles.

"You've said that before," I sigh.
"Then I'll say it over and over," he pats my shoulder and stands.

"You'll call me once you've entered the tub,you can place your clothes in the closet while I get us something to eat, ok?"

I nod yes and he's out of sight.

"Well, let's get relaxed, shall we?" I hum to myself as I get undressed, placing my blazer and dress along with my purse and heels aside as Christian instructed.

The water is hot and soothing as I sat in the tub, playing with the foam on the surface. This feels too good to be true, my body eases up as my head rests on the edge, my eyes closed to savour the moment.

"Can I enter?" I hear Christian's voice from the other side of the door.
"Yeah," I respond and the door opens slowly as he walks in with a tray of fruit and juice.

"Really, Christian?" I grin and close my eyes again.
"Consider this hotel pampering- from home ," he laughs, and I felt something soft placed under my head.
"What's that?"
"A towel, I'm just improvising,"
"Oh,ok," I smile.

He sits next to where my head is, and I feel his glare on me.

"What are you thinking about?" He asks.

"Nothing. If I think of anything, I'd be running out of this room any moment from now,"

Which is true, considering the fact that my parents want me home to discuss 'my conduct' in the name of me falling in love with Christian. I don't know how best, let alone when, to tell him. I've always brushed over the whole topic of what my parents expect from me, but never about the whole 'tribe-culture-race' issue that my parents have burdened me with.

Ugh, I can't even think about this right now. After all, Christian is here to help me relax, not relax and carry my problems into the tub.

"I understand," he chuckles lightly, "would you like a massage after this?"
"Maybe, you're good at it anyways," I open one eye to check his expression.
"I see,"
"Hey, pass me some fruit,please," he brings the tray closer and I pick a peeled tangerine.

"Where did you find time to get these?" I ask,sitting up.
"I was here earlier today, over lunch,"
"Oh, okay," I nod.
"I hope you don't mind being here,"
"Well, I wasn't expecting this. But at the same time, a bit of pampering would work right now," I take a sip of juice and savour the moment, closing my eyes slowly as I rest my body in the tub...

-
"I swear you went to school for this," I moan as Christian's man hands press on my bare back all the way to my tail bone. The ointment has an amazing scent, and I feel at ease.

"I didn't, honestly. Like I told you, it's something I did often for my mother,"
"Was she having frequent body pains?" I ask.
"Well, no- ok, maybe. She just had alot of work on her hands providing for four children," he sighs.

Maybe this is my chance to know him on an even personal level,no? His sigh said alot.

"I remember you talking about your siblings... four is alot,"
"It sure is," he sighs again.

"And your father? Where was he in all this?"

There is a long pause.

His hands stop for a moment before leaving my back. I instantly sit up and wrap my hands round my torso, and watch him grab the nearest towel to wipe his hands.

"Christian?"
____________________________________
I cannot thank you all enough for reading this far, and maybe the story line isn't the best but do let me know.

Please continue voting and I'd appreciate comments as well. Thanks☺️