Keeping Secrets (The Essien Trilogy, #1)

by Kiru Taye

  When she got out the front door, Kola and the driver were moving Felix’s unconscious body into the car. They lay him out in the back seat and she got in and put his head on her lap. They had already bound his head in a bandage to stem the bleeding.

  As the car sped off, she called the hospital to tell them what had happened and to prepare for their arrival. They told her not to worry, they’d be ready. All the way there, she kept telling herself not to worry, that he’d be fine. That it was probably just a bump in the head that knocked him out. Yet, she couldn’t stop her heart beating fast or her body shaking from anxiety.

  It seemed the driver could pick up her fear because he drove faster than she’d ever seen him do. Taking all the side roads to avoid the evening traffic, he got them to the hospital within a short time.

  When they arrived, the stretcher trolley waited with the medics outside and they whisked Felix away to an emergency room. Kola stayed with her as the receptionist gave her some forms to fill out, which she did. Afterwards, she sat in the lobby, waiting and praying fretfully.

  Felix stirred as muffled voices filtered into his hazy brain. At first, he couldn’t make out the words. They were just sounds buzzing in his head. He tried to open his eyes but they felt heavy and his head felt like someone was crushing it with a vise. So he kept his eyes closed and just drifted in and out of his haze as he tried to get a grip on his environment.

  He tried to figure out where he could be. The last thing he knew, he was getting out of the swimming pool. Then he’d blacked out and probably fell, the reason why his head felt like someone played a drum kit in there. This meant he must be back in hospital, from the beeping sounds he could hear.

  Slowly, the words of the people around him filtered in and became clearer. He could make it out as a man and a woman speaking. The female voice sounded upset and high-strung, the man’s tone calmer and relaxed.

  “Everything is falling apart,” the woman said in a sob.

  “It’s not as bad as you think. He’ll recover.” The man’s voice felt quieter.

  “What if it doesn’t? I feel like it’s all my fault. Like I pushed him too far.”

  “It’s not your fault. Never think that. He was told to take it easy. He shouldn’t have pushed his body too hard. You couldn’t have foreseen it.”

  “But it’s my fault things haven’t been going well between us. I thought it was getting better, but it all changed again suddenly.”

  “Look. He is a grown man. He is responsible for his own actions. Stop blaming yourself.”

  “I’m so worried. What am I going to do?”

  “Come here. It’ll be okay. You’ll see.”

  Felix body froze as he listened to the conversation, his heart sinking into his stomach as he realised what he listened to. The distressed female voice, he recognised instantly. The male voice sounded oddly familiar but he couldn’t place it right away.

  There came the rustle of fabric and muffled sound of someone crying. He forced his eyes open though they hurt when the bright light penetrated his lashes. Not even the pounding pain in his head could match the excruciating pain in his heart when his eyes confirmed what his ears had heard.

  Ebony, being held closely by the man he had known as his neurosurgeon, Dr. Savage, but who he now realised must also be her ex-fiancé, Dele. They didn’t even know he watched them as Ebony stood crying into Dele’s shoulder and he stroked her back.

  Slowly, a sense of déjà vu descended on him and then the memories came flooding back. He nearly cried out in agony at the pain that racked him.

  “Step away from her.” His strong words were harsh and deliberate. He didn’t care.

  Ebony jerked away when they heard him and ran to his side. Dele stood at the foot of the bed, watching.

  “Thank God you are awake.” She hugged him, tears streaming from her face. He stiffened his body, keeping his eyes trained on the doctor, not wanting to look at his wife whose warmth now surrounded him. He shrugged it off as she straightened, wiping her face with her hands. He had underestimated her. She wasn’t just an actress; she was a very good one. He’d nominate her for an Oscar. Even he hadn’t seen this coming.

  “Leave us,” he ground out through gritted teeth, his tone layered with ice, still choosing not to look at her. He had no wish to see her crocodile tears nor did he doubt their effectiveness. After all, he’d fallen for her wily charm before.

  “What?” From the corner of his eyes, he could see his wife’s puzzled frown.

  He growled. Trust her to push him. The charm of her obstinacy had worn off. Did she think he’d put up with it now? He turned to her, his anger simmering in his veins.

  “I said, leave us. Don’t you understand English? Step outside. I need to talk to the doctor alone.” He sounded condescending and insufferable but he didn’t care. He’d only just begun. She was going to see a whole new side to him.

  “Don’t talk to her like that,” Dele interjected and stepped forward.

  Felix turned and glared at the man, his fury written all over his face. The other man raised his hands and stepped back.

  “It’s okay,” Ebony said in resignation. “I’ll go and get a drink.”

  Felix saw the dejected look on her face before she walked out of the room. He should feel something but he didn’t. A chunk of ice now rested where his heart used to be.

  “How are you feeling?” Dele asked casually as he came closer to him.

  How dare the man? If Felix wasn’t lying down, he’d have punched Dele’s lights out. Felix ignored his question.

  “Don’t touch me. I want another doctor.” He was surprised his voice sounded so calm.

  “I’m the only one available at the moment. I’ll check you out and you can have someone else later if you still wish to do so.”

  “Do you have a problem with English, too? Read my lips. Get. Me. Another. Doctor. Now. Or I’ll have you and this hospital tied up in a malpractice suit from here to eternity that you’ll never have time to practice, let alone touch another man’s wife. And another thing, if you love yourself at all, keep away from my wife. If I so much as get a whiff of you anywhere near her, I promise you will wish you never crossed me. Do I make myself clear?”

  The other man stared at him for a while, the casual smile he had earlier wiped off his face. When he finally spoke, he sounded worried. He should be.

  “You do realise nothing is going on between Ebony and I. I was only trying to calm her down.”

  Felix growled menacingly and sat up, ready to stand.

  Dele raised his hands in surrender. “Fine. Suit yourself. I’ll send another doctor to you,” he said before turning to walk out the door.

  Felix lay back down on the pillows and waited for his wayward wife to return. His heart ached with such sorrow he wanted to rip it out and be done with it. He didn’t want a heart anymore. It proved more trouble than it was worth. What he would have to do next would amount to ripping it out, anyway. He didn’t have a choice. Not as he’d remembered everything that had happened in the past and the reason they hadn’t had a wedding night.

  History had indeed repeated itself.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Ebony sat outside Felix’s hospital suite and bit her lip. She hugged her shaking body. Kola stood next to her, his normally stony expression softened with concern. He had taken one look at her when she’d stepped out of the room and offered her his seat. She had been glad to sit down. Overtaken by a panic attack, she had felt faint at the time.

  After taking a few deep breaths, she felt better now, although her head buzzed with the dull beginning of a nasty headache.

  She closed her eyes. The image of Felix’s icy cold and angry black eyes loomed in front of her, his lips twisted in disgust, the vein on his temple ticking violently. He looked like a man with murder in mind.

  God help her. She had blown it big this time. Baring her heart like that in front of Dele had been bad enough. Dele was an old friend. Whilst she’d never have sou
ght him out any other time, it felt good to have his shoulders to lean on just then. It had been only a brief hug but she could understand how Felix would misunderstand it. Especially if he’d heard everything she’d said. How much had he heard? It looked like he’d caught most of the exchange, gauging from his reaction.

  In her own defence, she had been distressed at the time. Seeing Felix back in a hospital room again turned out agonising. If it hadn’t been for the quiet strength of Kola and the listening ear of Dele, she would have gone mad with worry.

  She now had something different to stress about. It seemed Felix had his memory back. This meant he knew everything about her, him, their marriage, and their non-wedding night.

  “Oh!” she groaned out, clutching her head.

  “Are you all right?” Kola bent over at her strangled cry.

  She nodded but still kept her head lowered.

  “I’ll get you some water,” he said before he walked off, leaving her gratefully alone.

  The door to Felix’s room opened and Dele walked out. He had a frown on his face. She stood, looking at him with worry puckering her face.

  “Is he okay?”

  “I don’t know,” came Dele’s terse reply.

  “What do you mean, you don’t know? You’re his doctor,” she cut in, confused by his attitude.

  “Not any more. He’s demanding another medic. And I’m not to go anywhere near you, either.”

  “What?”

  “I’m sorry, Ebony, but you have to talk to him yourself. It’s more than my job is worth. He’s threatened legal action against me and the hospital if I don’t keep away. I’ll stay if you want me to, but I still have to get someone else to check him out.”

  With her mouth agape, she shook her head. “No. No. I’ll be fine. There’s no point making things worse. If he’s threatened you, then he means it.”

  “If you need me, call me,” he said before walking rapidly away in a flurry of white coat.

  Ebony couldn’t believe Felix had turned down someone who was there to help him, when he lay obviously injured. Dele was one of the best neurosurgeons in Lagos, in Nigeria, even. To get someone as good at such short notice would be difficult. Felix must be angrier than she imagined. And surely, that knock on the head must have caused more damage that she thought. This was plain crazy.

  Kola came back with a bottle of water and handed it to her. She took a few refreshing sips and savoured the cool, clear liquid on her tongue.

  As good a time as any to face the music. Bracing herself for the worst, she pushed open the door and walked back into the suite. Felix lay back, his face looked strained though his eyes were closed. Slow and silent, her footsteps didn’t register against the linoleum of the flooring. At the foot of the bed, she stopped, not sure she should get any closer to him.

  “I am sorry,” she whispered in a soft voice, her heart wrenching. She wasn’t sure if he was awake, if he could hear her.

  Icy, antipathy-filled black eyes opened up and pierced through her, pinning her to the spot. Her heart sank rapidly and remorseful tears clogged the back of her eyes.

  “Sorry about what?”

  His words grated, stung her as sharply as a slap.

  “About earlier. About Dele. About the things I said. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I was going out of my mind with worry that you’d gone into another coma, or worse.”

  “Spare me the dramatics. I don’t care for it. You of all people understand my need for honesty, loyalty, and privacy. I made that very clear from the first time I met you. Yet, you betrayed me at every opportunity.”

  “I’ve done no such thing. I...I—” she stammered, aghast that he would accuse her like that. She would never intentionally seek to hurt him.

  “And still you deny it. There’s no point talking to you. Go home, Ebony.”

  “Please, Felix. Let’s talk about this. It’s not what you think. I’m sorry if you think something is going on between Dele and I. He is only here as your surgeon and I was so distraught. It’s not an excuse. I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to be disloyal in any way. If you want me to keep away from Dele, I promise I will.”

  “Your promises don’t mean anything. You once made me a promise and never kept it. Why should I take your word now, Ebony?”

  “What promise? I haven’t broken any promises,” she said defiantly. He couldn’t blame her for something she hadn’t done.

  Felix shook his head, his lips turning down in a sad smile. “I honestly don’t even know which is worse. The fact that you betrayed me by breaking a promise, or the fact that you can’t remember making the promise to me in the first place. Shows how little you rate our relationship and, worse of all, me. And to think I thought you were the best thing that happened to me. How laughable? You are quickly turning out to be the worst.”

  The impact of his words hit her like a punch in the face. Flinching, she racked her brain for what she could have done to make him think so lowly of her. Her racing heart and the tears clogging her vision were not helping.

  “Felix, please tell me what’s wrong. What I’ve done? Please. Let’s sort this out now. Tonight.” The tears were free flowing now. She moved closer to hold his hand. He pulled it back.

  “I’m tired of talking. The other day, I told you about my parents and what deception and disloyalty did to their marriage. So you know how I feel about secrets and lies. Go home and think about it. When you are ready to confess, I’ll listen. Otherwise, leave me be. The driver will take you home. Go.”

  He did look tired and in pain. Ebony thought about the wisdom of staying on and trashing out whatever could be wrong between them. She knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep until things were resolved. This was her marriage, her life. She had a child to think about, too. If there existed a chance that she and Felix could sort out their troubles, she’d take it.

  “Before I go, I want you to know, I love you. More than I’ve ever loved anyone else.”

  “Oh, Ebony, you are so full of it.” He shook his head in angry whips. “You should have thought about that before you opened yourself up to another man a few days before our wedding.”

  The bottle of water in her hand slipped out, landing on the tiled floor with a thud. Blood drained rapidly from her head. She felt faint and had to grip the rail at the end of the bed to keep standing.

  “Yes, I saw you. Though you and your lover made no move to hide yourself from view in your mother’s back garden. So stop the all-so-innocent look and get out of here. I’m tired of looking at your face. And another thing. About that baby in your womb, I want a paternity test.”

  The look of revulsion on his face told her she had to get out of there immediately. Letting go of the bed rail, she staggered out of the room past Kola who she ignored when he called out her name. She kept walking, not acknowledging anyone else until she got outside in the warm night. She kept walking, past the car and driver who looked at her strangely. Out of the hospital premises, onto the road.

  She didn’t know where she was going but she kept walking, not noticing anything else around her.

  He knew. He’d seen. Stupid, stupid woman. What were you thinking? What are you going to do?

  The words swirled around in her head, twisting her mind, confusing her. She didn’t know how long she walked for or where she could be. At some point, she must have stumbled because she looked up at the bright city lights, the face of Kola looming over her before everything went black.

  Felix sat on the settee in their bedroom and watched as Ebony’s chest rose and fell silently while she slept, angry at her idiocy for putting their child at risk. What was she thinking by walking into the night like some kind of crazy woman?

  As soon as Kola had come into his hospital room and told him Ebony had walked out without waiting for anyone to take her home, he’d told his security chief to find her. Luckily, Kola had seen her outside the hospital and followed her until she had passed out cold on the street.

  When the replacement doct
or had finally turned up, he had requested an immediate discharge. The medic had protested, saying he should stay overnight, at least, but he’d refused. He had to get out of there, to make sure Ebony and the baby were okay.

  Yes, he wasn’t a hundred percent certain the child was his, but even by a one-percent chance, he would take it and hope. He would never let a child come to harm, anyway. And since Ebony didn’t seem to be capable of taking care of herself better, he would make damn sure that she was taken care of.

  When the car had come for him, he’d reached home to find Ebony asleep in their bed. The housekeeper had changed her after Kola put her on the mattress. She still hadn’t woken up. He just sat on the settee and watched her. The doctor had told him to sleep, had given him some pills, but he hadn’t taken them. Truth being, he didn’t want to sleep. He knew what he’d dream about and didn’t want it.

  So he sat there instead and thought about what he was going to do next.

  If there wasn’t a baby involved, he wouldn’t even be debating it; he would tell the lying woman to go to hell. He didn’t need people like her in his life.

  How could she have done what she did after she had offered herself to him the night of the governor’s ball? So what if, afterwards, he hadn’t been the most attentive lover and had avoided her? Still, they had been engaged, were going to get married, even though only on paper. And it had mattered to him. It had hurt deeply. Still hurt, too.

  The feeling she had awoken in him on the first night they made love had been so deep, so passionate, so overwhelming, it had scared him. He’d kept himself busy with travel and work for days afterwards, needing the time to sort his head out. He hadn’t known then what he wanted but the time apart had been good for him to think. He had come back to tell Ebony what he wanted, only to find her in another man’s arms.