Well, the "nothing fancy" dinner turned out to be a mini banquet. Over 30 men were present, I was thankful I planned ahead. I still tried to talk to Ry when he came up the room, but he wouldn"t just listen. He hastily changed into an ironed white dress shirt and black pants. I sighed and went downstairs, it was just seven in the evening and there"d be enough time to tell him, I"ll just tell him when the "dinner" is over.As I made my way down the stairs, I caught a glimpse of Ry talking to one of his a.s.sociates, obviously one I barely knew. His gaze searches around before meeting mine and beckoning to me, time for another introduction that I didn"t care about in the least, but I have to act accordingly. I stride over to him gracefully and plastered a business like smile on my face, both men had gla.s.ses in their hands and the man in a perfect gray suit has his back to me.
"Meet my wife Mr. Kelvin, she prepared the appetizer you loved so much, she"s the CEO of the legendary LEE-VEE"s in this state and she cooks every one of their meals by her very own self. Vee, this is Mr. Kelvin, he"s partnering beth for our latest project." My heart stopped as blood rushed into my head, Kelvin?. Maybe it"s some other Kelvin.
Much more to my misfortune and disappointment, "Mr. Kelvin turned around and I wasn"t mistaking, it is Kelvin. Everything seemed to blur out, I couldn"t comprehend what just happened, I was zoned out for what felt like hours. This can not be happening. This can not f.u.c.king happen.
"Play cool Vee, it"s been four years, he probably won"t recognise you." My stupid demon mumured, of all times, the demon chose that moment to give the worse advice ever. Why am I like this?, so what if he knows I"m alive and with his baby, my baby....will he try to s.n.a.t.c.h her away from me?, I better not find out. I would try as much as possible to keep that truth away from him.
"Nice meeting you again, Mrs. Brown." He said and flashed a dazzling smile, of course he"s the actor of the century.
"Nice meeting you too, Mr. Kelvin. I hope you enjoy your stay here." I flashed him the closest thing I could manage as a smile but didn"t take his hand. He was really amused and pleased with whatever trauma I was going through, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d.
"I a.s.sume you still haven"t forgiven me for spilling your lunch the other day Mrs. Brown." He smiled evilly and his hand was still outstretched, I feel like strangling the life out of him, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d was revelling in my misery. What does he want from me?
"You"ve met before?" Ry questions curiously.
"Of course dear" I answer simply, without sparing Ry a glance. "We"ve more than met. we"ve f.u.c.ked and he"s tried killing me and he"s the biological father of Dayo." were the other words I so wanted to add.
"Yeah, earlier today. I spilled her lunch while rushing out of the elevator, but she didn"t seem to hold a grudge then. I"m really sorry about that Mrs. Brown, and I hope it isn"t going to affect our agreement in any way Mr. Brown."
"Of course not, your proposal is too valid to let go of just because of a trivial matter, my wife here doesn"t even remember. Do you, Vee?" Ry seemed very eager to please this a.s.shole, it was really sickening to see the amused glint in Kelvin"s eyes, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d hasn"t changed a bit, I can only act according to plan and pray he doesn"t find out about Dayo.
"Of course, I would be in the kitchen if you need me." I started to escape but froze when I caught a glimpse of Dayo"s nanny, and she"s coming this way with.....oh my G.o.d.
I practically ran towards them, the last thing I wanted to happen is involving Dayo in the already ma.s.sive mess. I had already got to them and was ushering them out of sight but Ry just had to be a spoil sport.
"Hey Vee, bring Dayo over here to meet Mr. Kelvin." My life is officially over. It is officially over.
"You have a great kid here Mrs Brown, how old is she?" He asked, staring at me over the rim of his gla.s.s, he isn"t stupid he"ll figure out the rest if
I dare tell him Dayo"s age.
"She"s a little over 4, last month was her birthday precisely." Jeez, he just had to be a blabbermouth because they"re f.u.c.king partners.
"Very nice, I would like to get to know her sometime soon." His eyes were crinkling with amus.e.m.e.nt, the p.r.i.c.k.
"Not likely to happen Mr. Kelvin, you"re a very busy person and Dayo doesn"t bond with strangers, the setting doesn"t seem conducive for for little Dayo, I"ll have her sent to her room Ry. Nice to meet you again Mr. Kelvin." I made sure to emphasis the word stranger, he can"t come waltzing into my life, -he life he almost destroyed- and start bonding with my daughter, there is no way in h.e.l.l I"m ever going to allow him take my baby away from me.
After reading Dayo a bedtime story and tucking her in, I made sure her nanny wouldn"t bat an eyelid in watching her. I went downstairs even if I didn"t want to, there were less men in the living room having dessert. I silently walked to the kitchen to clean utensils, it"s 9pm and the servants were all probably already in bed.
I sighed at the irony of my life as I cleaned up the counter. I"ve gotten peace and happiness for the past for years, no drama, no mind games and most importantly no constant reminder of a dark past. It just so seems that life itself hates me, bringing me to face the past I never want to remember in such a cruel manner. I don"t even know which to do anymore, tell Ry about it all and end this or pretend he"s some stranger and move on. I somehow know that either way he wouldn"t back down from trying to take Dayo away from me, with his gleeful expression earlier I"m sure he has already found a way. But I wouldn"t give him the right, I"ll fight the.....
"And we meet again Vee Vee." That familiar voice snapped me out of my disturbing thoughts.
The encounter I"ve been dreading for years is about to happen, G.o.d help me.
**"