False Pretense Episode 23

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“Goodnight Sir.” Sal greeted as Ise got off the SUV at his front door.

“Yeah goodnight Sal, I’m not to be disturbed until noon tomorrow by anything short of the world coming to an end, okay?.” Ise instructed his driver and personal security.

“Yes Sir.” Sal clipped.

Idris , who was in charge of his housekeeping came out from the house “Good evening, Sir.” He greeted

“Evening.” Ise replied him as he went into his house. Idris always brought in his things from the car every evening when he returned. His laptop bag and whatever else he might have in the car. Ise was tired. What he needed was rest, he’d not really had any reasonable sleep since he’d returned from his last trip. He was so tired he’d not bothered with wearing his suit jacket, the darn things felt just too heavy even when they really were not, maybe it was of a mind thing or something.

Most of the time he liked to take it off, roll up his shirt sleeves and get down to work. He was more of a casual person but the importance of his work had him dressing sharply all the time. He’d had a hectic day, the toughest of which had been the first one in the morning with the VILDE Group. He couldn’t help the smile as he recalled the events, they’d spent so much time going back and forth until Kite had come to the rescue.

She had shocked the hell out of him when she’d come up with that magnificent idea, but being the boss he’d had to get over that shock as quickly as possible. With just a few words she’d solved an issue that had seriously been disturbing them for a while now not only with VILDE but with a few other customers who had offices in remote locations.

Who was the girl? There was definitely more to her than met the eye, she just kept surprising him and he was sure she would continue to, what he didn’t get was what had really gone down between her and Princess later when everyone had left the conference room. Princess had accused her of downing the contents of her teacup on her while Kite had denied the allegation saying she hadn’t seen princess coming and had poured it on her by mistake.

He hadn’t known who to believe, he knew Kite to be a liar but he was sure she’d only do something like that when seriously pushed and knowing Princess, he wouldn’t be surprised if she’d said something annoying to her. She’d been known to insult staff before but it was no excuse though, Kite needed to curb that temper of hers or it was bound to put her in serious trouble one of these days.

He’d still been reeling with gratitude at her input that morning and had kind of taken her side against Princess saying no one had been in the room to corroborate either one’s story so he didn’t know who to believe but he’d turned on Kite and warned her that if she did indeed do it, she was lucky this was going away really easily for her.

Princess had been so visibly angry that he’d not dared to show even the tiniest amusement at her appearance. She hadn’t found it funny and knowing Princess prided herself on her looks, he’d had to seriously hold back the laugh that wanted to break out from the look of her wet weave which sort or resembled a mop after being drenched in tea.

Now that he thought about it really well, he was sure Kite had done it. The girl just acted without thinking when she was angry.Princess had declined attending the two other meetings and had a secretary take her pace instead. Kite had been there but whenever his eyes had wandered to her corner, she was always seriously engrossed in her typing. So beauty and brains she was. He should have known, she couldn’t be a good trickster without being smart to pull her tricks off.

He missed her already, seeing her always got his heart fluttering. He really did like her but he wasn’t one to dwell on someone who didn’t return his feelings and had preferred her undependable boyfriend to him. He really did hope she knew what she was doing and she didn’t get hurt in the end.

Bringing his thoughts back to the present, he decided he needed a shower for his tired body before he had a light dinner. Thoughts of Kite, her issues and work would just have to wait till later.

Twenty minutes later he was done and feeling better actually. He made his way down the stairs to the dining to see his sister Jeje already helping herself to the dinner which had been laid out for him.

“Hey brother mine, welcome back.” She said as she forked off a portion of the baked tilapia that had been set for him.

“Hi Jeje.” He replied

“What’s up?”

“Not much, was here to see you and then I stumbled upon this wonderful meal, how was your day?” He shook his head as he picked up a dish

“Don’t ask.” He replied.

“That bad?” She asked as she helped herself to some vegetable stir fry, picking one thinly sliced carrot and popping in her mouth.

“Yeah meetings and all that. Besides how are preparations for your party coming along?” She nodded

“Great. Have you gotten my gift yet?” She asked and he smiled.

“Maybe.” He replied. She narrowed her eyes

“Forming elusive now, are we?” She asked and he shrugged. She shook her head “What did you get me?” She asked.

“You already know I’m not telling.”

“You’re such a spoil sport.” She told him

“And you’re so impatient. Will Ice be here?” he asked after her boyfriend that is if they were still together at that moment. He saw her face fall and got his answer. “You guys going through a rough patch?” She shrugged

“If you could call it that.” Her words brought back his memory on when he’d asked Kite same and she’d replied with that same answer. He smiled a bit,maybe these women were kind of alike after all?

“Care to spill?” He asked.

“Ice can really be pushy.” She replied.

“How do you mean?”

“He’s practically outlined how he wants my life to progress, as in what I should be looking to do next and then the next thing and then the next and then we’ll get married and have so-so number of kids, and this and that.”

“Hmmmm” Ise hummed, he’d been guilty of that with Izy. He’d planned their entire future together without caring to hear her view.

“I’m still young Ise, I just want to take it a step at a time and when I tell him that, he’s like I’m not focused and begins advising on the need for focus.”

“Hmmmm. So I take it you two are off for now?” he said

“Yeah, but he’s been calling, I know if I give him a sign we’ll get back together but I’m….” She stopped. He turned

“You’re what?”

“I’m….kinda… seeing someone else.” She told him not looking at him.

“There’s nothing wrong in seeing someone else.” He said trying to allay her obvious discomfort at telling him.

“Yeah… I know. But he’s kinda like …..” her voice trailed

“Like what?” He urged

“Seven years older.” Ise raised a brow

“Do I know him?”

“Ummm…no, I don’t think so.” She shook her head vehemently. Good! As long as it was none of his friends he was okay.

“Jeje, just follow your heart and then use your head a bit too, you’re intelligent young lady, I’m sure you can make good decisions.” He told her. She smiled

“Thanks Ise,” then she raised a brow

“So what are you forming like now?” She asked deepening her voice next “You’re an intelligent young lady,” she imitated him “In your mind; you’re like an adult advising a kid or what?” Ise smiled as he looked at her

“Yes nao, you don’t know before?”

“Yeah right, keep deceiving yourself.”

“I’m twelve years older than you, Jeje, Twelve years is not beans, don’t forget that. I can still spank you if I wanted.” He warned moving into the living room, she following behind. She laughed.

“I’ll just report you to my new boyfriend.”

“ Oh yeah? Then we’ll settle it out man to man in a duel.” He joked “when will we meet this mystery guy?”

“Ummmm…when the time is right, besides we just started I don’t want to spook you or him or mom, you know?” Ise narrowed his eyes getting suspicious, this one she was keeping him away from them, he could bet there was a problem somewhere.

“He’s not like an outlaw or anything, is he?” She laughed again

“No! I just want to see where this is heading first before introducing him, you know?”

“Okay o,” he conceded “does mom know?”

“Hell no and please don’t tell her, you know how she can be, abeg Ise I really don’t need her pressuring me into bringing him over. Besides, she really did like Ice and she’d also planned our future together so I don’t want to burst her bubble just yet.” He knew first hand how his mom could be. She’d all but panned he and Izy’s wedding too.

“I get it, my lips are sealed.” He said taking a forkful of vegetables.

“But Ise, what exactly happened between you and Izy?” Jeje asked. Ise who’d been about swallowing his food hesitated and got pepper in the wrong part of his throat. He began coughing.

“Sorry.” Jeje was by his side patting his back while he took a gulp of water to help clear his throat.

“Wrong timing, Jeje. Can you ask questions like that when I don’t have a mouthful of food I’m trying to gulp down?”

“Sorry, but it’s a simple question, I’m not sure why you’ve never answered it.”

“I’ve never answered it because Izy is your good friend and it might damage your friendship.” Jeje’s eyes widened

“That bad?”

“Yes, that bad.”

“Tell me.” She said.

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