Worthy (Challenge Series, #3)

by Kiru Taye

  Peter came back just as Anuli came out of the bathroom. He strode over to the side of the bed closest to him—the left, while Anuli climbed into the right side.

  Neither of them spoke as they settled on either side of her. The bed was big enough that they didn’t touch.

  Tense, she lay on her back, staring up at the white ceiling waiting for someone to say something.

  Eventually, Peter rolled over and kissed her on the forehead. “Goodnight, Tessa. Anuli.”

  “Good night, Peter. Good night, Nuli,” she said.

  “Good night,” her friend mumbled and turned over on her side.

  Peter switched off the lights turning the room into darkness.

  Tessa closed her eyes. It occurred to her she was lying between two of her lovers. She needed each of them in different ways. Her bond with Anuli was psychological. They were bonded by their pasts and the things they’d done since.

  Yet she had a bond with Peter too. It was physical but so strong and powerful, she couldn’t think of letting it go. At least not yet. Not for another year.

  She had to find a way of appeasing each of them so that she didn’t lose her best friend or the man that she seemed to be getting attached to.

  How she was going to do that, she didn’t know. The thoughts whirled in her head until she fell asleep.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Tessa was pleased that both Peter and Anuli seemed to have sheathed their swords and called a truce the next morning.

  Breakfast was uneventful. They sat down together and ate the meal of sausages, scrambled eggs and toast while Peter outlined the plan for the day.

  While she wasn’t too thrilled about the trip to the sexual health clinic she understood the necessity for all their sakes.

  After eating they showered, got dressed and headed downstairs.

  Peter told her to head on to the car while he spoke to the receptionist.

  Outside, a chauffeured car waited for them. It a Mercedes Benz GL63 SUV and the man introduced himself as Godwin.

  “Good morning, Aunty Tessa,” the man greeted her as he held the back door open. He was somewhere in his 30s from what she could tell and was dressed smartly in a short-sleeved white shirt and navy trousers.

  She smiled. “Morning, oga Godwin. How now?”

  She spoke to the man in Pidgin English hoping to keep a casual tone between them.

  “I thank God o.” He asked.

  “This na my friend, Anuli,” she introduced her friend as she got into the car.

  The man nodded at Anuli with a smile. “Welcome.”

  “Thank you,” Anuli said as she joined her in the back seat.

  She didn’t have to know about cars to know how expensive it was. The immaculate interior, the fresh smell and the softness of the cream leather as she sank into it told the story.

  Peter came out of the entrance. Instead of sliding in beside Anuli, he shut that door. He spoke to the chauffeur but she couldn’t hear what she said to him. He walked around to the other side of the car and opened the door where Tessa sat and slid in.

  She shifted so she ended up in the middle seat. The car had three rows of seats but it was interesting that they all chose to sit on the same row.

  After that they headed for the clinic. Each of them saw the consultant privately before the tests were conducted. Then they sat in the reception and waited about thirty minutes. The waiting had to be the longest. Peter’s phone rang and he stepped outside to take a call.

  Anuli reached for her when they were alone. “You know whatever the result, you’re still my babe.”

  Tessa puffed out a breath and smiled. She was glad that she still had her best friend. “Thank you.”

  They were called back in individually and given the results of the test. Thankfully her results came back negative. So did Peter’s and Anuli.

  Afterwards they grabbed a quick lunch to go before they went shopping for new clothes. There wasn’t time to fit in hair appointments but they managed to be book one for the next Friday.

  They were exhausted by the time they got back to the hotel. That night they chatted easily while eating dinner. None of the arguments from the previous evening came to the fore.

  Sunday went too quickly for her. They had brunch after which Peter headed back to Enugu. This time she had his contact details and he had hers.

  The week went too slowly for her. Interestingly, Peter called her every evening. Because Anuli was usually in the room with her, she tried not to stay on the phone with him as long as she would’ve liked. The more excited she became about talking to and seeing Peter again, the more withdrawn Anuli became.

  On Friday Tessa left school early to head to her hair appointment. She’d booked it so it would be done before she saw Peter. She wanted him to see her without the hair extensions. Anuli’s hair appointment was on a different day but she agreed to accompany Tessa to her appointment.

  Afterwards they headed over to the hotel. They’d left some of their things over there as Peter had said they could come there whenever they wanted. The suite was reserved for him permanently.

  She’d been surprised that Anuli had come along with her. Because of the way her friend had been behaving all week, she’d thought she’d refuse to meet with Peter. But Anuli had come along too.

  About seven o’clock her phone buzzed. She grabbed her phone. It was Peter.

  “Hey,” she said as soon as she picked up the phone. Her excitement filtered through her voice.

  “Hey, Countess,” he replied. “How are you doing?”

  A huge smile broke on her face like it always did when he called her countess. “I’m great. We’re waiting in the hotel suite. How about you? Have you arrived?”

  “I’m sorry, Countess. I’m still in Abuja. My meetings ran late. I’ve only just finished and heading to the airport. I’m going to be late getting to Port Harcourt.”

  Her shoulders fell. “Oh. Are you still coming tonight? Isn’t it late?”

  “Don’t worry about it. I own an airline, remember? I’ll be in PHC in a few hours so don’t stress. Just relax. Order whatever you want and I’ll see you soon.”

  “Alright. See you soon and be safe.”

  “I will. Be good, Countess,” he said and hung up. He always signed off that way.

  Her shoulders slumped as she stared at her phone.

  “What’s the matter?” Anuli came to sit beside her.

  “Peter is still in Abuja,” she said and leaned back on the sofa.

  “Ha. Abuja? That means he’s not getting here until tomorrow because it’s too late to catch a flight.”

  “That’s what I thought but he said he would be here in a few hours.”

  “Tomorrow morning is still a few hours. He was just telling you that so you don’t worry. So what do we do? Go back home?”

  “No. He said we should stay and relax. We can order whatever we want.”

  “Good. Because I wasn’t planning on going back home anytime soon. Have you forgotten there’s been a power cut for days? Who wants to miss out air conditioner and DSTV?”

  Tessa laughed. They were enjoying luxuries in Peter’s suite compared to where they lived. “You’re right.”

  Anuli turned on the TV and Tessa hunted for the room service menu. They hadn’t eaten since this morning before they headed off to classes. They ordered food along with a bottle of wine.

  They sat on the sofa, eating the food, drinking wine, and chatting about the general gist in school or the movie they’d been watching. The easy conversation, the laughter and familiarity was as it had been before they’d met Peter.

  After a while they curled up against each other on the sofa. The softness of Anuli’s body was familiar and comfortable.

  Anuli tilted her head and brushed her lips against Tessa’s. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’m sorry.” Tessa sighed.

  “You haven’t let me touch you since Peter came into the picture.” Anuli looked so sad.

  Tes
sa’s heart went out to her friend. She had been so engrossed with Peter she hadn’t thought that Anuli would feel neglected.

  “I didn’t mean for it to turn out this way. I just feel as if I should keep myself for Peter. You understand, don’t you?”

  “I understand, Tessa. But what about me? You have Peter but the only person I have is you. I love you. Don’t you know that by now?”

  There were tears in Anuli’s eyes and they dripped down her cheeks.

  A lump clogged in Tessa’s throat. She’d never seen her friend like this. Almost desperate. Anuli had always been the strong one. The confident one. The one who had slain Tessa’s dragons. Yet now she looked so vulnerable.

  Tessa reached across and drew her into her arms, wiping her cheeks. “Do you want me to stop seeing him? Do you want me to cancel our deal with him? I’ll do it for you. You know that.”

  Anuli had been the one who insisted they sign the contract. Although Tessa knew it would hurt to let go of Peter and the money, her friend was more important to her.

  “Will you really do it?” Anuli leaned back and looked into Tessa’s eyes.

  “Yes, if it’s what you want. Your friendship is more important to me than the contract or Peter. You should know that.”

  “I know.” Anuli sighed. “I don’t want you to cancel the contract. We both need the money. A year is a long time but I’ll survive it as long as I know you’ll come back to me at the end of the contract.”

  “I will always be in your life. You can’t get rid of me.”

  “I hope so. Can you do something for me?”

  “What?”

  “Let me make love to you one last time.”

  “Anuli—”

  “Please don’t say no. Please. Just one last time. And I won’t disturb you and Peter again.”

  Tessa puffed out a heavy breath. The idea of having Peter all to herself was enticing. But would Anuli really be okay to leave them to their own devices. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure. I know the two of you would rather not have me around anyway.” The other girl said, brushing hair away from her face.

  “Okay. But it’s just for tonight.”

  Anuli’s face broke into a smile before she kissed Tessa and pulled her up from the sofa and into the bedroom.

  Hours later she woke in the dark room. Her body was still entwined with Anuli. The other girl had her legs and arms draped around her body. All the lights were off but there was flickering coming from the living room.

  Had they left the television on?

  Wanting to check, she shifted Anuli’s limbs off gently so she didn’t wake the other girl. They were both naked, the clothes discarded on the bedroom floor. In the dim light she managed to find her tunic and pull it over her head.

  She padded into the living room and stopped short when she saw someone lying on the sofa. Her heart thumped hard in her chest.

  Peter? When did he get back?

  She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was five minutes past four.

  How long had he been lying there? She couldn’t see his face from this angle so she didn’t know if he was asleep or awake.

  Why would he sleep on the sofa? It wasn’t as if they’d never shared a bed even if they weren’t having sex like other people.

  Her breath hitched. Had he seen her and Anuli tangled up? Was that the reason he chose to sleep on the sofa? Surely he couldn’t have seen them having sex. They would’ve heard him come into the suite.

  What should she do? Should she wake him up?

  He’d probably had a long day and a longer journey getting here. She shouldn’t disturb him.

  She turned back and returned to the bedroom. Tapping the other girl on the shoulder, she woke her.

  Anuli stirred. “What is it?”

  “Peter is back,” she whispered.

  Anuli leaned on her elbows. “Where is he?”

  “He’s sleeping on the sofa.”

  “Okay. Get back into bed.”

  “But I don’t know when he got back. Do you think he saw us together?”

  Anuli shrugged groggily. “It doesn’t matter. He knows we’re lovers already so it’s not a surprise to him if he saw us. Come on. Get back to sleep. You’ll see him in the morning.”

  Tessa climbed back into bed still wearing the tunic. Anuli was back sleeping within seconds but Tessa couldn’t get back to sleep.

  Peter sleeping on the sofa was not a good thing. She just knew it and she knew the consequences would not be good.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Peter swung his leg over the side of the sofa. He hadn’t gotten much sleep last night. He rubbed his hands over his face before he stood.

  The sun was barely up and he could do with some sleep. But he had a lot to do today. This wasn’t the time to rest.

  Time to get started with his day. He walked over to where he’d left his jacket over one of the dining chairs when he arrived earlier this morning and pulled out his phone. He typed out a message to the hotel manager and sent it.

  Then he headed for the bathroom for a quick shower. First he had to walk through the bedroom with the two women.

  He’d seen them when he’d arrived, naked bodies entangled like the lovers they were and the air filled with the scent of sex. Disappointment had made his chest tighten even as his body had curled tight with anger.

  He’d stepped away, unable to look at them any longer and needing the distance to calm down and think of what to do. The sleepless night had helped him. Now he had his course of action set.

  He walked in the bedroom to find Tessa getting off the bed. “Peter, hi. You’re up already.”

  He didn’t stop walking but just gave her a cursory glance. “Yes.”

  She wore a blue and white linen embroidered tunic and rubbed the back of her neck with her left hand. “I didn’t know when you got back last night. I saw you sleeping on the sofa but didn’t want to wake you. You should’ve woken us when you got back.”

  Her guilt showed in the way she rambled on.

  He stopped at the bathroom door and turned to face her. He wouldn’t make this easy for her if that was what she was expecting. She stared down at her feet, reminding him of a child who’d been caught doing something bad.

  She had done something bad. Although, he’d been resigned to the fact that she would do it. But he hadn’t expected to walk in and find them at it on his bed.

  He’d bet it had been a deliberate action from Anuli directed at him. She was telling him in no uncertain actions that she had control of Tessa and could do whatever she wanted.

  She would soon learn that every action had a reaction. Every deed had a consequence.

  “When I arrived the two of you—” he waved his hand from Tessa to the sleeping Anuli and back to Tessa. “—looked too cosy to disturb.”

  Wide-eyed, her head snapped up as she sucked in a sharp breath and covered her mouth. Her expression confirmed what he already knew.

  Heaviness settled on his body and he shook his head as he turned away and walked into the bathroom. Shutting the door, he leaned against the slab and puffed out a heavy breath.

  For the uncountable time over the past few hours he asked himself why he was doing this. Why he was investing time, money and effort in a woman who seemed like a lost cause?

  Because you never give up on anything. Because Naaza would be disappointed if you gave up on someone who so obviously needed help.

  Because despite everything he still wanted Tessa. He still wanted to prove to her that there was good out there. That she should stop selling herself short.

  To be able to do that he had to get rid of the biggest influence in her life. Anuli.

  There was no way that Tessa would learn for as long as Anuli was still there whispering in her ear like a little devil.

  He understood the importance of friendship. After all, he had Michael and Paul. They’d been friends for more than twenty years. But their relationship was based on mutual respect.

&
nbsp; What those two had, he couldn’t be sure how healthy it was even if it was coming from a good place.

  Sighing he took the clothes he’d had on since yesterday off, tossing them on the cold tiles before stepping into the shower cubicle. He didn’t waste time in the shower. Ten minutes later he was out of the bathroom and across to the closet.

  Neither Tessa nor Anuli were in the bedroom. Tessa must have woken her friend which was good because he needed them both awake for what would come next.

  He got dressed in a navy linen two piece and navy suede loafers. Then he headed out to the living room.

  Tessa and Anuli sat on separate sofas. They looked up and greeted him “good morning.”

  “Girls, come over here.” He didn’t want them sitting comfortably for what he had in mind. He pulled out the chair at the head of the dining table and sat down.

  Tessa walked over in a hurry, her eagerness to appease obvious. Anuli walked slow, taking her time, her expression one of nonchalance.

  Tessa walked a couple of chairs away and pulled one out.

  “No,” he said and pointed to a spot in front of him. “Come over here.”

  She hesitated and moved just as Anuli walked around the other side, taking the long route.

  “Anuli, you need to come and stand here too.”

  She eyed him but didn’t say anything as she walked over, her movements slow and deliberate. Eventually she stopped beside Tessa who was fidgeting with the sleeve of her tunic, her gaze averted.

  “Do either of you want to sit down?” he asked, keeping his tone steady.

  “Yes, of course,” Anuli answered as if it had been a stupid question.

  He ignored her rudeness. “Sit on the floor.”

  “What?”

  They both stared at him as if he’d lost his mind and stared at the floor.

  “You want us to sit in the floor?” Tessa asked, her voice shaky.

  “Yes. Right here.” He pointed to the spot.

  “Why should I sit on the floor when there are chairs all around?” Anuli waved her hand about.

  “Because you don’t deserve to sit on any of the furniture or use any gadgets in this suite. You’re lucky that this floor is carpeted. Have you forgotten that I’ve been to where you live? Are you trying to tell me that you’ve never sat on the cold concrete floor in your one-room flat?”