Alfred and Valerie had been trying for another child. Even though Alfred loved Zeal, she still longed for another child one that would be Alfred’s blood. Even though he doesn’t look bothered, lying in the comfort of her bed, she thanked God for Alfred; a wonderful husband and father. Making him a father would be the best gift she could give him. The sound of an incoming call got attention. As she stretched to pick it, the caller shocked her.
“Hello”, Valerie calls out.
Hello there, my love. Did you think I wouldn’t call?
I want to see you. For a fact, I need to see you.
The sound of his voice was like an electric shock. All of a sudden she broke into a sweat. She couldn’t help smiling. She realized she was praying that he would call.
“Are you there, Valerie my love; speak to me”.
“I’m right here, I can hear you”, Valerie answered.
“I am not going to force you but let’s meet.
I will text the hotel and room number to you and time I will be waiting for you, please come.
Bye”.
As she put the cell phone down, it became clear that a big decision had to be made.
As Valentine sat in that hotel room, he just couldn’t tell if Valerie would come. He knew asking her to come wasn’t right but then he just couldn’t help himself.
Two hours after the time he had texted to her, Valerie had still not shown up. Valentine began to pace back and forth in the room. He leaned on the table he had placed a bouquet of red roses on and started nibbling on his index finger. That was a habit his mother had tried but wasn’t successful in getting him to stop. He had littered the floor with red petals and the bed as well, hoping that would entice Valerie. Thirty minutes later, Valerie had still not shown up. A frustrated Valentine was now seated on the bed nervously playing with roses, but still hoping she would show up. A part of him doubted her coming. He knew it was morally wrong for him to keep thinking of her and even ask for a secret rendezvous, but then fate had brought them together again and he was not going to deny his heart what it truly needed.
By 3 pm, he woke up to a knock on the door. His heart skipped a beat. He walked to the table picked up the flowers, hid it behind him using his left hand and with the right hand he opened. The smile on his face froze and then turned to a frown when he saw who was at the door. “Sir, you ordered champagne?” the waiter asked.
“Yes I did, drop it over there”, Valentine answered, unable to mask his disappointment in seeing the waiter.
She placed the ice bucket with the champagne in it by the bed and walked out. Can’t believe it’s 3 pm already and Valerie hasn’t shown up, he said to himself. Feeling a little disappointed he lay on the bed, and not long after he heard another knock. After three more knocks, he went to the door, and asked, “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Valentine, open the door”.
He quickly opened the door and there she stood, in a black floor-length lycra gown. She slowly stepped into the room. Valentine quickly shut the door, afraid she might change her mind and walk out. He shut the door and turned to look at her, now standing by the table and perceiving the flower, she looked too beautiful for words to describe. The lycra gown showed off her hourglass shape. Her hair was packed in a bun; as she moved towards the bed, he could see she was putting on heels, red to match her bag. She sat on it but still refused to meet his gaze.
“Thanks for coming. For a minute there, I thought you wouldn’t come”, he said, gaining her full attention.
Smiling, she said “I kept on asking myself what I was doing as I was driving down here”. She paused and dropped her bag beside the bed. “I can’t even tell you how many times I dressed and undressed, but I’m here”.
Now seated on the bed, the way she sat, and the look on her face made it obvious that she was nervous. I walked to the bed and sat close to her. Our knees touched and she immediately shifted.
“You look really beautiful. It’s been years”, he exclaimed. “You have grown into a very beautiful woman”.
“Thanks for the compliment. I noticed the ice bucket and the wine in it. Are you planning on getting me drunk?” she queried coyly.
“No, but then let me open it”, Valentine answered trying to put her at ease. As Valentine was tending to the wine, Valerie admired the room. It’s tastefully decorated; the television was on, apparently on a cable network. She just realized this was her first time in a hotel room.
She had conferences in hotels and even meetings but a hotel room, no. She had been in a suite for four days with Alfred, and that was in France when they went for a conference.
Valentine’s voice brought her out of her world; “here this is for you”, he said offering her the glass.
After a glass of champagne, Valerie was already tipsy. She had never been good at drinking alcohol. After a glass, she always gets drowsy. When she dropped the glass, Valentine offered to fill it up but she declined.
They both sat in silence with Valentine being the only one drinking. She looked up to find him staring at her. What caught her off guard was his question, “did you ever think of me?”
She didn’t answer. Valentine tried again, “I’m asking you a question, and I need an answer. Did you ever think of me, miss me, or you just gave birth to our baby and settled into the role of being the perfect wife?”
“Valentine, please don’t ask me such questions”. Valentine picked up her glass and his and dropped it on the table. He placed the bottle back in the ice bucket.
“Valerie, I need to know if you still love me. I know you still feel something, but I want to know what it is. Is it just lust? Because I felt the way you responded to me that day at the car park. I felt you tremble when I touched you. Valerie, you moaned for me”. He stopped, trying to control himself.
He moved to where she sat on the bed and knelt before her and cupped her face in his hands.
“Valerie, I am asking; is what you feel for me, lust or love?”
The feel of his hands on her face burned. She tried to get his hands off her but she wasn’t strong enough. It was either the alcohol was weakening her or the feel of Valentine's hands on her chin was taking every ounce of her strength.
He brought his face close to hers. She perceived the alcohol on his breath, and yes his perfume.
“Valerie, I love you. I never stopped”.
“But, Valentine you are married and so am I. Please let’s not...”
Her plea was cut halfway as Valentine claimed her lips in a hot deep kiss. She clung to his shirt collar, afraid he might stop. The taste of her was overwhelming. He felt her finger on his scalp; her lips were so soft and warm, but so sure. She gave as much as she took. She gently pulled him to the bed. Still kissing him, she pulled him towards herself and he lay on top of her. He released her lips and kissed his way to her neck. He perceived a whiff of her perfume; so light but still very sensual. He heard her moan as he nibbled at her earlobe, his hands were underneath her gown. Just then, he thought he heard her say something, but he didn’t stop. He pulled her gown up exposing her thighs. His hands caressed her thighs; disappointing to find she was wearing underwear. As he caressed her curves, all the way to the band of the underpants in other to take it off, she stopped him and gently pushed him off. He was sort of surprised and still deeply aroused. He had to lie, face down on the bed to hide the proof of his arousal. She was also struggling to put herself together. She spoke finally, “Valentine please, let’s stop here before we make a terrible mistake”.
“Don’t you think it’s rather too late?”, I shot back.
“Valentine, please I’m not trying to be a tease but we have to stop because people will get hurt if we continue this act”.
“No problem,” I said, still face down on the bed.
I could hear her arranging herself and putting on her shoes.
“I have a question for you”, she said. “I got married because I had no choice, I was pregnant with no house to live in and we were neck-deep i
n debt. Why exactly did you get married? why did you not keep your word? Why did you forget all about me? What happened to all the love you professed to me before you left this country?” She paused, and I heard her walk to the door.
The key turned in its lock and the door cringed open.
“Valentine, “why did you abandon me?”
And with that, she left, because I heard the door close behind her.
I rang the doorbell and Mrs. Bassey answered the door, an elderly light-skinned woman in her early fifties. She is assigned to the door. All she does is confirm the guest from the gateman, open the door, interact with the guest, offer them a sit and refreshments and then send for me or whomever the visitor needs to see.
As I wait at the door, Mrs. Bassey speaks again, “Madam, please come in”.
I must have been lost in thought. I immediately walk in. Her usual smile is still on her beautiful face”.
Madam Can I get you anything?” she asked after collecting my bag.
“Mrs. Bassey, a glass of cold water will be great”. She hurries off and returns with a glass of water. After taking a few sips, I returned the glass to her.
I eased off my shoes and kept them beside the leather seat I was seated on. With my legs stretched out on the tiled floor, I rested my head on the cushion and shut my eyes I could feel it, just the way it happened a few minutes ago. I almost committed adultery. If I didn’t stop it when I did, it would have really been too late.
I couldn’t help but notice that Valentine was still really romantic. He actually brought me flowers. He looked so handsome; one of the reasons why I fell in love with him, asides from the fact that he is so caring and very simple, he is a good-natured person. I can remember when he used to visit the motherless babies home every last Saturday of every month. He would say, “they are just children like me. Instead of pitying myself that my mother loves her career more than my sibling and me, I go out there and do what makes me happy”. He would save money from his pocket money and use it to pay gifts. To every child he gave gifts, a teddy bear was added.
“I want them to have something to hold at night when they feel cold and lonely”, he would say with a thoughtful look on his face. Valentine’s father offered to always sponsor his trips to the motherless babies but Valentine refused saying he wanted everything to come from him. Valentine only accepted the driver takes him there and brings him back home. I always waited for him at the University main gate every time so we go there together. Seeing him hand those gifts out was always a good sight, with a big warm smile plastered on his face. He would even play with the toddlers. Sometimes, he went as far as going with the maid to the market to pick out the gifts himself. There is no time I pass by that motherless home that I don’t remember him. I used to wonder how a wealthy child brought up with all the good things money could buy can be so down to earth and loving to everyone.
“You came back”, Alfred said stopping to give me a kiss on my forehead as he walks to a cushion beside me. “It looks like you were in deep thought”.
“Yeah I have a lot on my mind and I am a bit tired”, I replied trying to avoid his eyes.
“You wanna share it with me, it could help,” he said reaching for my hand, placing my fingers on his upturned palm.
“When I’m ready to share, you are the first on my list,” I said faking a smile.
“So there is a list”, he said with a weird smile. “By the way, where did you go to looking so tempting”.
I didn’t see that question coming because I choked.
“Sweetheart, I’m beginning to feel I’m in a law court. I went to eh”, I cleared my throat and retracted my hand and folded them on my chest afraid he would notice I was shaking.
“I went to the motherless babies home”. I don’t know why I said that but it was the only thing that kept to my mind. He looked at me, as though he was in doubt, smiled and said, “That is very charitable of you but you look, eh...” his voice trailed off.
“I look, what?” I asked,
“You look captivating. Yeah, that is the word”.
“I do?” I said trying to cook up a smile.
“Yes,” Alfred said, with a smile on his face and a mischievous look in his eyes, one I know very well what it means
”And if you would come with me, I would show you just how much”.
He got up from the chair and in quick strides, he was in front of me. He offered me his hands and I took it and got up from the chair. Alfred swooped me into his arms and carried me to our bedroom.
CHAPTER NINE
The way he kissed me, his lips so gentle but so sure. The taste of him is just making me weak. I can feel his hand go down my body. Using the other, he holds my head steady, while he gently loves me with his lips. He smells so good; his lips trail kisses from my mouth, down to my earlobe. The feel of his teeth on my earlobe. “Oh Valentine!” I said. His lips move down to my cleavage. I hold onto him afraid he might stop. The feel of his shoulders, they are so strong; his hands still very busy on my thighs pinching me as he trails his way to my waistband.
I feel a little pat on my shoulders, another pat and I discover I’m still here with Alfred.
“Sweetheart, are you still here?”, Do I stop the massage?”
“Hmm, of course not dear. I’m enjoying it, please don’t”.
Alfred’s hands are magic wands when it comes to massage, sometimes I tease him about opening a spa.
“Okay, but you know this favor has to be returned”, he laughs mischievously and whispers in my ear, “in-kind”.
Valerie knew just what that meant; it was going to be a long night and a sleepless one at that.
That was the same thing at Valentine’s, the only difference was that Susanne was going to need a cold shower because her husband just gave her a cold shoulder.
“Susanne, please not tonight, I’m too tired”, she recalled him saying – while she pulled the bed cover closer. She wished she was pulling him closer. Lately, he hasn’t been in the mood for anything she thought, not even food. She sighed, closing her eyes tightly, wishing sleep would come sooner. She had put in a lot of effort in seducing him today, not even the flaming red lingerie could awaken any desire in him. The unripe plantain and sauce he loves so much was barely touched. Susanne had a feeling something was going on. Her memory drifted back to another Valentine, at another time and at another place.
Taking another look in the mirror, I nod in approval, dressed in a mini purple gown, empire waist with a deep V neck to show off my beautiful creamy breasts. I almost forgot earrings. I sorted out of my jewelry box a translucent lilac-colored heart shape earrings. Susanne makes a mental note, perfume check, sexy underwear check, hair check.
Apart from her beautiful almost flawless face, Susanne’s hair is what keeps people staring at her after she walks by but what they all don’t know is that she had her faults.
Her mother would say, “Susanne I keep warning you when you hang on to something you never let go. Stop this habit it’s not healthy”. As she straightens the already well-made bed and turns to leave, Susanne looks at the mirror again and says out loud, “Wonder Man, you are mine today”
Her mother was right. Susanne just couldn’t let go of her obsession with Valentine.
Susanne gave him a kiss on the cheek and settled into sleep; he is mine and will always be. But as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that something has changed or returned.
A few kilometres away, Alfred lay by his wife who was sleeping deeply, he was certain that something had changed. Valerie has been his wife for sixteen years and he knows every corner of her body, but tonight he saw, felt and heard something he has never heard, seen or felt. He asked himself, could it be that? He shook his head and went to bed. He pulled her into his arms; she woke slightly whispered something and returned to sleep. He quickly reached for the bedside lamp and turned it on, she was really asleep. Alfred heard it again and this time he knew he wasn’t imagining.
/> CHAPTER TEN
“Oh, Zeal you are already at the table”, Alfred says as he descends the stairs alongside Valerie. Valerie walks up to her son and pinches his cheek playfully, “you just couldn’t wait huh”. Cecilia, one of the youngest maids in the house appears, from the kitchen, “may I serve Ma ?”, Valerie answers, “My dear, go and take your breakfast I will take over from here”.
Zeal finally speaks, “Good morning Mom and Dad”, Alfred and Valerie speak at once, “Finally !”.
Zeal chuckles, “I was just too hungry to wait, sorry”, he apologizes, “I have been up, since 3.00 am working”. Alfred looks at him thoughtfully and says, “I thought we all agreed you will stick to reading or don’t you want to study Medicine and Surgery any more”.
Choices Page 5
