Michy's POV

A new hope, another dose of luck and a new opportunity to wallow in the happiness that God has once again blessed me with is how I feel about every new day when I wake up in the morning, having the love of my life beside me on our matrimonial bed looking as peaceful as ever.

Like always I couldn't stop gazing at her as she rested her head on my chest like the cushioniest pillow ever.

I took in her appearance that I was responsible for, her beautiful nappy hair was a tousled mess, face glowing like the ever celestial
radiant sun and her luscious lips were plumpier and pinkish, her bossom was no less than a map of love bites.

I've lost count of how many times we've woken up like this or looked this kind of messy after our first time together. Like I can't get enough of her, every single time hits different than the previous and only leaving me wanting for more.

It's good she wants and loves it as much as I do, else I wouldn't know what I would have done.

Back to present, I am high on pride like I had just injected crack and the feeling of unworthiness too slowly danced low inside me.

It was an open secret I was an angel but there was this demon side of me that was unknown and hidden from almost everyone expect Drake and Scorpion.

That was why the former was beastly ballistic during the Imogen drama, it wasn't just Monae being his sister. Basically I guess it was just that and a little more.

Knowing what I was in the past and the repercussions of it, I didn't want to lose Monae as selfish as I am knowing she deserved better than this heartless hurting man I was, I hid the truth from her and we all know how that ended up.

And that side of me finds it hard to believe and accept that, I own a woman like Monae who is so pure and meek. Someone I never thought even in my wildest imaginations, I was going to have.

The ways of the universe is strange, I ended up having and I now I feel so unworthy of her. She deserves better than me.

Once upon a time, I was a man who never regarded women as anything but sex toys and objects I can freely release my fury and hatred on after going through years long of pain from heartbreak.

Blinded by excruciating pain and anger, I was immune to their pains, their cries and I ended up hurting women and making them no less than me.

And karma? He dealt leniently with me, Monae. Perhaps it was God's way if punishing me who knows? That by seeing her, I'd be reminded constantly of my sins and have a pricking guilty conscience, perpetually.

One day, one day, I'm going to open up to her and narrate who I was in the past to her. But for now, I am too scared to know what she will think of me and all I can do is, be a better man for her. It ain't easy but I am trying and I know it is worth it, for my Nae, everything is worth it.

"Or maybe," I whispered, stroking her rosy cheeks as I stared at her sleepy face, "I did something immensely good that's why God blessed me with you."

A thoughtful smile crept on my face, maybe I did and I'm glad to have done that because having Monae in my life is the greatest blessing ever for me and I'll do every thing, I mean literally everything in my power to make sure this blessing stays with me forever.

Everything might be all bliss and gay in our world as of now. But I know right now somewhere, those who direly want to see us apart are plotting.

After what my baby told me about her not so pleasant encounter with Morganna, I know we are in for something big but it can't be bigger and deadlier than what I am planning for them.

They have had their way with my wife, hurt her and embarrassed her for far too long. It's about time they had a taste of their own medicine and trust me, it will be bitter than what they gave her.

I won't need to put in much effort, hell no. When it's time for evil people to be punished, forces from every corner of the earth, above and below included, join to see to that so let the show begin while I treat my beautiful wife like the queen she eternally is.

Speaking of that, I kissed her hair and climbed out of bed, walking around, I gathered our night clothes which were strewn carelessly about the room and tossed them into the laundry bin, going into the closet.

Putting on sweatpants, I detoured into the bathroom rather than the bed to handle my oral hygiene which was over in minutes.

Back in the room, I pulled the sheets over her sleeping body, leaning down to kiss her hair.

I was about to turn back and leave when I saw Monae stir and hold my hand to stop me. With drowsy and lazy eyes which she struggled to open, she pouted, "come back to bed with me."

"Go back to sleep babe, please."

"Please, just for today, don't go to work and lie with me all day."

Her words caused me to smile, little did she know I already had plans of staying at home with her and was only leaving from here to prepare breakfast for us.

After our marathon last night and this dawn, she needs to recover her energy back because as for me, I have quiet the energy to have a repeat of it the whole of today.

I nodded, leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. "As you wish, love and please go back to sleep. I promise that I'll be right here beside you when you wake up."

"Promise?"

"Pinky promise." I nodded and kissed her knuckle, I drew her hand back a little to tell her, "I love you."

"I love you too." She mumbled as she yawned.

Hearing her say those words even in her sleepy state made my heart flutter and warm. I'm no girl but I felt that and deeply, it's getting to almost a year Monae and I got involved yet I haven't gotten used to her confessing her love to me.

The words are always like fresh new hope and life for me when ever she utters them, from her heart.

******

I always knew cooking was a big deal, especially when you're making it for someone really special.

But I didn't know it was this hard when you can't seem to find one essential ingredient to make your cooking complete and perfect.

It's been close to twenty minutes and every fucking second of it has been spent, combing the whole kitchen for eggs!

Like who even makes English breakfast without them? Plus it's of great importance to me because I don't eat anything red meat so how the hell can I enjoy the breakfast too if I don't get them?

Fed up and disappointed, I was about to slam the refrigerator door when I heard a voice, behind me.

"Good morning, sir."

I turned around to the unfamiliar voice, irritation very clear in my movement and saw a lady who's face was nothing closer to familiar and everything stranger and shady.

Slamming the door, I huffed and rested my full gaze on her and with narrowed, assessing eyes, I eyed her closely.

This is our first encounter and although not much words have been said, I don't like her. It's weird but I don't get good vibes from her and from what I know for a long time, I'm a good judge of character.

"And who might you be?"

"Pardon me, Mr Krupp," Miss shady stranger said, strutting towards me and even the sound of her heels could be heard from my floor, she irked me more. "We haven't met yet. Always at your service as the temp cook Miss Asabrewaa Appiah recommended, my name is Zoya Kingston, pleased to finally meet you."

Not to act rude but I scoffed, averting my gaze from to her outstretched hand and quickly back to her face.

No way in hell will Asabrewaa recommend someone like her to my house, she knows how much I'm keen on decent employees and this, lady or whatever she is, is far from being decent.

"Sorry but I don't shake hands." I informed her curtly, putting away the bag of mushrooms.

She nodded, "no offense."

"Sorry if I seem rude but I'm just not happy with seeing strangers in my house unannounced." Especially ones who give me the bad vibes.  I didn't add that.

I don't know why but I don't like her, my spirit doesn't and every thing about her.

From her dress that's too inappropriate for an employee, a cook for that matter who's always around hot oil and fire, to the way her eyes keep boring into mine, predatorily like a piece of meat or that smile stuck on her face.

I don't like it.

Her lips instantly carved a smile, a flirtatious one, anybody will notice. "Don't worry, I wouldn't even take any offense if you were. You're completely right, I'm a stranger but not that much of a stranger to the other employees--"

"And you said Asabrewaa recommended you?"

"Absolutely sir, actually she and I go way back during those times we worked at restaurants. I know most of her cooking and recipes so she called informing me of a temporary vacancy here." As if wiping tears from her eyes with her knuckles, she lowered her head shyly.  "I'm embarrassed to say this, I really need the money so I accepted the--"

I cut her off immediately,"Okay, it's okay. I get it." But I don't get it, why will Asabrewaa send someone in her place and won't call even for once to inform us about it? "You talk of being familiar with the other employees when did you get here? And have you been briefed on what you're supposed to do?"

"Yeah, not from them but Asabrewaa. She lectured me on my work here while she's away so yeah, I do."

"Very well, then I assume you already know my wife is in charge of cooking my meals, is that not it?"

"I do sir."

"Good that will be all for now."

"Can I help you with the cooking?"

I flashed her a polite smile, "thank you but I got this besides, I am the only person who can cook for my wife."

"Oh okay then I'll just sit back and observe, who knows I can learn something from you."

"Don't you have other things doing, like buying groceries?"

Zoya pursed her lips, thoughtfully, and pretentiously perhaps. "Not that I know of."

I shrugged, turning my back to her. I was in no mood to strike a conversation or anything. What I wanted was for her to leave my presence. "Okay." I said blandly and lighted the fire under the frying pan which I am going to use to fry the mushrooms, bacon, sausage and tomatoes.

Before I could stretch my hand and pick the bottle of oil, I felt a hand rest on my back and the bottle in my face.

Behind it was a smiling Zoya.

I forced a smile to which she blushed. "Thank you but I remember clearly I told you I got this."

"I couldn't help it sir, I just hate being idle."

"Oh really?" I asked, taking her hand which was still resting on my back. "You really want to be useful huh?"

She glanced at it and embarrassedly cleared her throat, hiding her hand behind her. "Yes sir, anything--"

"Perfect, go shopping for groceries--"

"What?" She shrieked with an attitude but recovered quickly, "Uh what I mean is, what should I stop for when the brunette maid has already gone out to do that work."

"Eggs, go shop for egggs because I need them urgently and unfortunately for me, we're short of that. But fortunately for you, this is your chance to be useful, right?"

"Yes sir."

"Good, have the driver send you."

"Okay--"

"Oh yeah and while you're at it, please do something about your dress, will you? And when you're done, ask the head of staff to hand you a copy of the code of ethics book, it'll come in handy in the future."

"Alright." She agreed and I would have been greatly relieved if not for that mood killing and souring smile she threw my way while looking at me from up to down one last time and walked out of the kitchen, swaying her hips I'll admit is curvy but not more appealing and natural like my wife's which I'll die for if the need be.

If it ain't my Monae's then sorry I don't want it.

********

Judging by the clinking of heels, I didn't bother turning back, knowing fully well it was that obvious shady lady again.

What does she want right now when it wasn't more than five minutes she left?

Can't a person live in his own house in peace?

"Hello brother--oh my God is that..?"

But I was wrong. Boy, I miss hearing this voice and having it lecture me to death for sometime now.

Stepping away from the cooker after turning it off, I was about to pull her in for a hug but she held her hand up, a displeasure written all over her face like a poem. "I won't mince words, you fucked someone last night didn't you?"

I mirrored her displeasure as well but when she chose to phrase her words like that, I scowled harder. That was no way to describe what Nae and I did last night, this one was more of lust. Which ours wasn't, it was full of love damn it.

So I decided to mess with her, make her feel the slight anger that jolted in me when she said those words.

"You know me so well, so why ask?" I shrugged.

"I'm so disappointed in you and angry right now that I feel like beating the shit out of you. What is wrong with you Alistair?"

Oh, oh, Alistair?

Sometimes I forget that's my name till she calls me that when she's mad at me which she is judging by her flaring nose.

But what I didn't see coming was the hard, painful pinch she gave me on my bicep.

I yelped no lie, "what was that for?" With face full of displeasure, I rubbed the spot.

"You haven't seen anything yet, this and many more to come is for you being an idiot!" She was on the verge of tears as she smacked me everywhere possible, not because she was sad. Heidi is the weird type who cries when she's mad. "You're a pig for cheating on a good woman like Nae---"

Grabbing her hand to stop her from beating me any more, I folded them on my chest. "Look this isn't cheating when she left me and I'm a man after all I have needs that need to be fulfilled, I can't always use my right hand, can I?"

"She left because you lied to her, how's that her sole fault for you two being in this predicament, c'mon tell me."

"I never denied I wasn't at fault, no, I accept my mistake unlike her who was so naive and sorry to say stupid for believing the words of another over mine. So have I accepted she doesn't want me again, like c'mon I have done everything humanly possible to search for her yet to no avail and I know she's still here. I'm done running after her, if she loves me as much then her annoying ass should chase after me too, don't I deserve that?"

"You wait and watch, after I'm done with you and that whore you slept with, you wouldn't have any balls left to satisfy your so called needs."

"Wait, where are you going to?" I asked, running after Heidi as she dashed out of the kitchen.

"That isn't your business, you pig!" She insulted me again, hurling one of her heels at me.

It was too late to duck, the damn thing hit my head. I grimaced, rubbing the spot as I watched her ascend the stairs.

At this point I knew my little joke has gone too far but I can't help it. I'm dying to see the look on her face when she realizes it's Nae and no one else, priceless it will be.

*******

The food was ready and already dished out onto plates, I haven't  heard any commotion coming towards me so I think Heidi isn't as mad as I thought she will be.

I guess everything is fine.

That was what I thought until a loud and painful slap landed on the side of my head. "You," she more like seethed, spinning me around to face her. "You..you lied to me!--"

"Technically I didn't lie because you never asked me who it was, you already had this perception so I played along, how's that my fault?"

"Oh really?" She asked with smile playing on her lips, the look in her eyes told me I was in a deep shit. "Yeah I recognize that look on your face too well and I can confirm it, yup, you're in a deeeeeep shit. I want to see how you'll convince your angry wife--"

"What do you mean by angry, what did you say to her?"

"I didn't say, I played for her to listen. You know I'm never the one to cover up lies and treacherous deeds, I recorded every word you said--"

"Where's Monae?"

"More like where's the stupid and annoying Monae? By the way I am here."

Looking behind Heidi, who gladly stood aside, I saw Nae standing with hands crossed over her chest.

And instantly, I knew from that tone and look on her face that I was done for.

Gosh this isn't how I planned for things to end up in.

Passing a death glare to Heidi, I run my fingers through my hair as I thought of ways I can calm the raging storm in the form of my wife right now.

*******

Not even the huge sums of money being highlighted on my laptop screen could pull me out of my restlessness or distract me from thinking about how angry Nae is with me right now.

Dejected, I tore my gaze away from the screen and dumped the file on the table, pushing my head back to rest it on the chair.

A sigh emanated from my lips as I shut my eyes.

My desire of having a very special romantic breakfast with my wife was all ruined thanks to my big mouth of a sister Heidi who played the recording of our wofds back in the kitchen to Nae.

And now she's mad at me, she wouldn't even talk to me. Forget about not talking to me, Nae doesn't even want me in her presence, she sacked me from the dining table and I've been in my study since then.

It's been an hour and half now and I'm contemplating on going downstairs to check up on her and see if I can call her down and apologize.

On one hand I want to go cause I can't stand this and on the other hand I don't want to becuase I respect her wishes and don't want to ruin her day.

Women!

Those creatures can be so difficult at times, I can count the number of times I apologized to her yet they all fell on deaf ears.

It was a small mistake that I made and it isn't like it was intentional, I had to act to make it look real besides I didn't mean those words.

Like c'mon, how can I do my own Nae like that when I know she's become extra sensitive lately?

Sighing again, I raked my hair again. I only hope she's going to come around very soon.

Till then, I opened my eyes and say up straight, I think I have to continue working to distract myself else imma go mad from all this.

Going back to working initially wasn't helping but as the minute passed by I slowly saw myself less and less of it. Although once in a while I get a flash if it.

I was deeply engrossed in checking the reports Heidi brought from the ranch when a call came in on my phone.

From the ringing tone, I knew it was Drake calling.

Yeah, he and I are cool now. It was impossible for us to stay mad at each other and fighting for that long.

Two months have passed since my wife and I reconciled and that is long enough for Drake and I get over that phase we were going through.

I've never been the one to fight with my friend and stay not talking to him for a long time, he shares that quality as well so we made up, quicker before the two wives could butt in.

"Yo, what's up man?"

"I'm good, I'm good. You and the wifey?"

"We good but the pregnancy keep messing with her mood, she's mad at me right now."

"Is this like a new disease or something? Mine for an or two now is mad at me too, only she isn't pregnant like yours."

"Tf did you do to my sister this time around?"

"Chill,it was an unintentional mistake, she will come around quick--"

"Thinking about it, are