Making Scandal (The Essien Trilogy, #2)

by Kiru Taye

  "I found an empty table." Ebony tugged her arm, oblivious to the turmoil unfolding inside her.

  Faith followed her, glad for the distraction to snap away from Mark’s heated gaze. But it seemed she wasn’t going to be let off the hook that easily. As soon as they’d made themselves comfortable in the seats and were looking over the aperitif menu, Felix stood in front of them.

  "Hello, Ebony," he said.

  Ebony glanced up and Faith saw the way her eyes widened with surprise and her lips curled in a smile. It seemed her friend was really pleased to see Felix, which didn’t quite match Faith’s response at seeing Mark again.

  "Hi, Felix."

  The way Ebony replied, Faith knew her friend was a goner.

  He leaned in to give her a peck on the cheeks as they exchanged pleasantries.

  Faith used to the opportunity to glance over to where Mark sat. He was still looking at her, causing her heart rate to double its speed, his expression amused and collected.

  Faith turned back to Ebony and tugged her arm as it seemed her friend had been so wrapped up in Felix, she’d forgotten about her.

  "Felix...this is my friend, Faith."

  "Hi, Faith. It’s nice to meet you." Felix flashed a smile as charming as his brother’s.

  "Likewise," she replied, stretching out her hand to shake his, which he shook briefly before turning back to face Ebony. Obvious how keen he was on her friend.

  "I’m here with my brother. Would you like to join us?" He nodded in the direction he’d come from.

  Ebony stared enquiringly at her and Faith gave her a knowing look and shrugged. They were already here and it seemed they couldn’t avoid the men now. Ebony seemed keen to chat with Felix and Faith didn’t want to be the spoilsport. After all, they were supposed to be letting their hair down and, as they say, ‘the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t’. These two Essiens were as tempting as the devil himself.

  "Sure. Why not? The more the merrier, right?" Ebony said.

  Felix led them back towards the bank of sofas. Mark stood as they approached. He was as tall, dark, and devilishly handsome as he’d been the night they’d met. Tonight, he looked exceptional in his baby blue silk shirt and navy pinstripe trousers. His shirt had the top two buttons undone, showing off the dark V of his neck and chest. The sleeves of his shirt had been rolled up, revealing well-toned lower arms dusted with short dark hairs. His wide smile softened the harsh angles of his combatant face and his midnight eyes sparkled.

  This close together, she could see he presented the spitting image of Felix, except for maybe their skin tones, Felix’s being darker. No mistaking the fact they were brothers.

  "Mark. Fancy meeting you here," she said, her voice louder than she wanted it to be.

  "Faith. It’s nice to see you again."

  Mark had a lazy smile on his face as he kissed her on both cheeks. She caught a whiff of his spicy aftershave, reminding her of the night in Jo’burg. He’d had the same scent, woodsy and arousing. Now, her body quickened again, heat unfurling in her belly.

  Strange, when he stepped back, she experienced a sense of loss. Her body liked the strength and closeness of his. They held each other’s gaze for a moment and nothing else mattered.

  "You two know each other?" Felix asked with a mix of surprise and humour, his dark brow arching upwards.

  "You could say that. We met at a Finance conference in South Africa. And this must be Ebony," Mark said, smoothly turning to Ebony. "It’s great to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you." He winked mischievously at Felix who, in turn, glared at him furiously.

  "Really?" Ebony asked with amusement.

  Faith observed the brothers. Their interaction reminded her of the kind of relationship she’d developed with Ebony, more her sibling than her own blood relatives.

  "Mark, I warn you. I’ll wring your neck if you say another word." Felix glowered and his brother simply laughed in response, the sound filled with warmth and delight.

  "Don’t mind Mark. He’s just playing the fool. Please sit down," he said to Ebony before turning another withering look onto Mark who kept chuckling, although his gaze remained fixated on Faith.

  The men waited for the ladies to sit down; Mark sat next to Faith and Felix next to Ebony. Faith exchanged amused looks with Ebony at the cosy set up.

  "Why didn’t you return my call?" Mark asked after the waiter had taken their drinks orders.

  "I’ve had a very busy week at work," she said, lifting her shoulder in a blasé shrug, an attempt to mask the more than casual sensations twirling in her belly.

  "Is that the real reason, or are you avoiding me?"

  She glanced at him and lowered her gaze to the table, not wanting him to see how much he affected her.

  "I’m not avoiding you, although I think we don’t really have anything more to say to each other."

  His hand settled on her left thigh, branding her with strength and heat, her fitted linen pencil skirt providing little protection for her awakening skin.

  "There’s still plenty we haven’t said to each other. So much about you that I want to find out."

  "Why?" A part of her still couldn't believe a man like him would be interested in her.

  "You fascinate me. You’re such a ball of contradictions. As a business professional, I know you’re capable, bold, and ambitious. But last week, I saw uncertainty and vulnerability within you, standing in that alcove, and it makes me want to take you into my arms and protect you."

  "O-kay." A flush crept across her face and she looked away. "You’re very direct, aren’t you?"

  The waiter returned with their drinks and left.

  "I believe in calling things as I see them. There’s no point in playing games," Mark said.

  Faith took a gulp of her vodka and coke to shore up her courage. "Well, since you’re being direct, I guess I have to let you know that there can never be anything between us."

  "Oh?" Dark eyes scanned her body in a slow appraisal. Her cheeks heated up. "I like you and it seemed obvious to me last week on Friday that you like me, too, by the way you responded to my kiss before Wumi interrupted us. So, what’s the problem?"

  Lowering her lashes coyly, she glanced at him through their dark veil and noticed him watching her without flinching. Their gazes connected, his black eyes now with flecks of crimson turning her already heated blood into lava. For a moment, she forgot what she was about to say.

  She pulled her gaze away and concentrated on her words. "For starters, Wumi is my friend and it looks like she wants you for herself."

  "Let me make this clear, in case you didn’t understand me last week." He took her hand and held it between both his surprisingly soft palms, his expression serious. "I have no personal interest in Wumi. She is the sister of a friend. In fact, her brother was in school with Felix and me; that’s how we know each other. We have never been romantically involved and never will be, no matter how much she wants it. Do you understand?"

  She nodded, partially relieved he wasn’t entangled with Wumi. But still, she couldn’t get involved with him. She screwed her face into a frown.

  "Was that the only reason you didn’t want to see me?"

  She stared at Ebony and Felix who seemed too engrossed in each other as they danced on the floor to even notice what went on with her and Mark. She hadn’t even seen them stand to go to the dance floor.

  "Look, Mark, you are an Essien. There are loads of women out there who clamour for your attention. I'm just not one of them. And I'm not in the dating market."

  His head flinched back and his eyes narrowed in a confused expression.

  Chapter Three

  With grace, Mark uncoiled his body from the sofa, rising to his impressive six-foot height, making Faith’s heart thump against her chest as his arm extended in her direction and his sexy drawl reached her ears.

  "Let’s get out of here."

  Her turn to be surprised. "What about Ebony and Felix?"

&nb
sp; "I think those two don’t need us cramping their style."

  Faith nodded and smiled when she saw the way Felix held Ebony on the dance floor. She took Mark’s hand and allowed him to pull her up. "Where are we going?"

  "I know this nice place that does the best Suyas ever. I hope you like spicy grilled meat," he said as he ushered her towards the doors, his hand on the small of her back in a possessive gesture.

  "I love Suya, although I try not to eat too much of it."

  "I didn’t bring my car so we’ll take Felix’s car. His driver can drop us off."

  "No, I’ve got mine. I can drive." She took her keys out of her bag and pointed at the Infiniti FX, pressing the remote lock. The lights flashed and the car beeped.

  "Nice," Mark said as he got into the passenger seat after she slid into the driver side.

  "Thank you." She’d ordered the car when the company confirmed her promotion to director position. A big treat buying a new car, but the old one she’d been driving had become unreliable with needing one thing or the other repaired almost every month. She’d decided to grit her teeth and get a new vehicle.

  A first, having a man in her car. Apart from the odd times when she had her kid brother in here with her, even her father had never been in it.

  Mark directed her but she’d already guessed it would be the place on Ahmadu Bello Way. She headed in that direction, past the skyscrapers of international hotels and businesses, expensive shopping malls, and posh restaurants. Steam billowed out of vents in walls, mixing with exhaust fumes.

  At that time of the evening, the night lit up in gold and blue glows of street lamps as well as red and white flashes of car taillights and headlamps. People milled around, either arriving at their destination or heading home. The sound of car horns and street vendors provided an almost melodic soundtrack to the feverish vibe. She loved the hectic atmosphere of living in the vibrant city of Lagos. In fact, she flourished in it.

  A long column of cars met them when they arrived at the popular Suya spot.

  "That's quite a queue," she commented.

  "Yeah, kinda reminds me of the line to buy crepes in a popular spot up in Hampstead, London."

  "Oh my God! I know the place; just on the High Street. I spent two weeks last year in London and my friend insisted we go to the Crêperie. How do you know it?"

  "My family has a holiday home off Hampstead Heath. Outside of Lagos, the area is like a second home, really."

  "Wow." Another reminder their backgrounds were so different. Her father couldn't afford to buy one, let alone own, a second property in an expensive area of a foreign country.

  "I’ll get off here and walk the rest of the way," Mark said as he undid his seatbelt. "Was there anything special you wanted on yours?"

  "No. Just beef Suya. Actually, skip the onions on mine, thanks."

  He smiled and got out. She watched him stride towards the outdoor restaurant, his swagger oh-so-sexy. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him until he disappeared behind a car.

  What was she doing with him? This all seemed so innocent, coming out to buy suya with him. Yet, it also proved intimate. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done anything close to this with a man. Mark grew more irresistible the more time she spent with him.

  She’d only wanted to spend time catching up on old times with her friend— Oh no! Ebony!

  She dug her phone out of her bag and sent her a text, telling her where she and Mark had gone. The line moved up and she drove closer to where Mark stood waiting for his order. Soon, he’d returned in the car with the two takeaway parcels.

  The spicy scent of roasted meat filled the interior and her stomach chose that moment to rumble.

  "That smells so good. It’s been a long time since I ate this," she said as she laughed. "Do you want us to go back to Reams?"

  "It’s been years since I ate it, too," he said. "No. I would’ve said, let’s go to my apartment which isn’t far from here, but I already know what your response will be to that. So instead, head towards Kuramo Beach. There’s a spot where we can sit out and eat and chat in seclusion."

  "I didn’t figure you for the kind of person to eat food out of a paper bag," she said as she drove off again, giving him a side glance.

  His resonant, warm laughter filled the car. "You mean on account of the silver spoon one’s got in one’s mouth," he said in a very upper-class British accent.

  She burst out laughing.

  "As a king of finance," he continued in the same voice, his eyes twinkling with amusement, "one must interact with one’s subjects once in a while, don’t you think?"

  "Of course," she replied, trying not to giggle so much at his impression of English nobility from the middle ages.

  "And you must address me as ‘Your Majesty’." He raised his nose. "I am a king, after all."

  "Oh my gosh! I think you would make a very good comedian. You know what, I think you would give AY and Basketmouth a run for their money."

  She stopped her car on the sands close to the beach.

  "Oh, madam. But I only ever entertain select guests. I’m afraid the masses will be unable to afford my fees."

  She knew he was joking but somehow, his words made her feel special, as if he really only did his comic act for her.

  As if he sensed her thoughts, his laughter died away just as hers did. He captured her gaze once more and held her in his stare, her breath caught in her throat.

  Would she ever get used to the intensity of his blue-black eyes or the fire that burned in their depth when he looked at her like that? It suddenly seemed as if his face was closer. Did she move towards him or was he the one that moved? She wasn’t sure. All she knew was that their lips were going to touch if one of them didn’t pull back.

  She should stop this now. This was madness. She still hadn’t recovered from his kiss a week ago. If he kissed her again, she would be lost.

  But she couldn’t move away from him to save her life. Instead, the magnetic pull dragged her closer.

  Beep!

  The blare of a car horn roused her and she leaned back into her seat, breathing a sigh of relief. That had been close.

  "Just drive down a little further," he said in a suddenly husky voice.

  Perhaps he had been as affected by their closeness as she’d been.

  Faith followed the queue of cars until she found a space to park on the beach. As a location used for concerts and other entertainment events, finding a spot would’ve been difficult.

  Not this evening. Miles of uncluttered white sand and gentle crashing blue waves greeted their arrival. Copper and red flickered in the distance, flames from a bonfire licking the briny air.

  Mark stepped out, taking the food parcels with him. She opened her car door and lowered her feet. Her shoes sank into the powdery ground, grainy sand scouring her skin beneath the straps of her Jimmy Choo stilettos. Not the correct footwear for the landscape. Her lips curled down in an arch.

  "What’s wrong?" Concern tinged the low tone of Mark’s query.

  "I’m going to have to change my shoes." She reached back into her bag and withdrew the pair of coral lace ballerina flats. They lived in her bag and came in handy in her office when she needed to relax and give her feet a rest from the killer heels.

  "Sit."

  She arched her brow in response to Mark’s order. "Excuse me?"

  One—taking orders had never been her strong point. Two—when she did, it would be in a business environment from her boss.

  These days, she only answered to one boss, the owner of City Investments. Taking orders from men-friends? Hell, no!

  Moreover, had he changed his mind about the beach?

  He met her no-nonsense glare, his dark eyes concentrated on her, the right corner of his lips curled up in what seemed to be a slow-building smile. She’d seen that grin before. The night they’d met for the first time in Johannesburg. The night he’d kissed her and become the subject of her night dreams, to her great chagrin.
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br />   "Let me help you take your shoes off." He sounded unfazed by her glower.

  "Oh." Swallowing her embarrassment, she lowered her bum back onto the leather car seat, sitting sideways. She needed to learn to relax around men. But she hadn’t dated in years. Although this wasn’t a date.

  He squatted beside the car. Cool, firm fingers wrapped around her left ankle. However, a white-hot zap travelled from her leg to between her thighs. Biting her lower lip, she suppressed a moan, her body’s response to him catching her off guard.

  It didn’t help that whatever position he occupied, he still oozed sexy charm. Now, with his attention focused on her feet as he undid the straps, tugged off the stilettos, and slipped on the flats, his fingers feathered her skin in sensual caresses. Blood rushed in her ears, mixing with the sound of her thumping heart.

  How can something as mundane as changing shoes be so erotic? Her fingers curled into the edge of the seat as she fought the urge to reach out the tangle them in his kinky hair.

  Unable to resist the impulse, she scanned his body—the bunch of muscles under his forearms as he tugged and pulled the footwear, the expanse of broad shoulders, the hint of dark hair and caramel skin in the V of his open shirt, the stretch of fabric on his muscular thighs where they bunched from his crouch.

  What was it Stella had said about Mark that night in Johannesburg? He looks like a man who can fulfil a woman’s sexual needs, and more.

  Right now, she could settle for the sexual needs part. She didn’t need more.

  Mark straightened. His palms burnt a path of electric energy on either side of her quivering, traitorous body and settled on her ribs as he lifted her out of the car until she stood on the sand.

  This time, she didn’t sink. She could’ve been floating for all she noticed, her gaze locked onto Mark’s intensity.

  He’s going to kiss me and I seem incapable of stopping him.

  Her breath locked in her throat, desire rooting her to the spot, liquefying her limbs.

  "Oga, I have chairs for you over here."

  Mark turned his head, breaking the spell. "Where is it?" he asked the beach boy who’d approached them.