章 38: Restore the breeziness that used to be their relationship.
The door was slightly ajar and from within emerged sounds of fingers tapping on computer keys. A glance showed an empty executive armchair and a huge working desk. The south facing wall was made entirely of glass and the view from this height was breath taking. Night colours of intense red and orange hues enacted the ending of dusk and beginning of twilight. He was sat on a chair in the shadows with his laptop on his knee. He blinked severally before accepting she was in his office on a Wednesday evening at 7.50pm. Behind him on the taupe wall was a framed certificate from Wharton Business School along with other accolades and awards for investment banking, most with the Swiss national symbol. On the opposite wall were Van Gogh imitations of his famed Sunflowers and Starry Night paintings. There were two other doors contained in the office space. The first was a wardrobe containing starched and ironed shirts, colour coordinated and hung on wire hangers and the second led to a private washroom. The space was immaculate and tastefully decorated with lamps and abstract pieces of design. It looked better than most people's homes. If this was her office, she'd never leave too.
"Please tell me you did not stay behind so you could play Solitaire" It was a feeble attempt to break the ice
"Not one of the qualities you find attractive in a man?" Ikenna asked closing his Mac Book Pro
Amaka laughed "Not usually, but that list needs revising anyway"
An awkward silence ensued
"I would say I'm happy to see you but I'm not sure what sort of visit this is" he pushed his chair back, standing up
"I need some perspective" Amaka had chosen her words carefully
"As a friend? I cannot be your friend Amaka" Ikenna was quick with his answer. The decision was made once he noticed how her absence affected his concentration. It was all or nothing as far as Ikenna was concerned
"Can I just hide here for a while then?" Amaka sighed. Everything appeared to be spinning
"That's what I'm doing. Company would be nice"
Amaka sat on a chair and looked around nervously.
"How are the kids?"
"The kids send their love" she said at the same time he did. They both smiled, the children card had been played. What next?
"It is good to see you Maka"
"It is good to see you too" she wondered why she came here with nothing to say. No speech prepared.
"I'm starving" Ikenna said, picking up the phone to dial.
"Okay."
"Will you join me?" there was a hint of his naughty smile
"What are you having?"
"There's a lady down the road that serves lunch to the bankers, she always makes me a little something before closing up. I let her choose the meal. Do you mind?"
"A decision I don't have to make? Sounds lovely" Amaka said
In no time at all, Ikenna rushed down to pick up the delivery from the lady's son. He came back in and set the polyester bag down, opening a bottom drawer and producing plates, forks and two glasses.
"You really need to get out more" Amaka advised
"Ms. Nwafor are you asking me out?" he asked with a wink
Opening a mini fridge he brought out a Sprite bottle, filling the glasses, he handed Amaka one and for a moment they both just sipped, staring at one another.
His ebony and elm desk was too high to rest her elbows on. Amaka had no choice but to balance the plate of jollof rice on her lap. It was hot and burned her satin skirt but she did not want to complain. She after all was the one imposing, disturbing his routine.
"Wait I have an idea" Ikenna said. Kicking off his shoes, he jumped up on the table. He took Amaka's hand and pulled her up as well; her black patent heels fell down to the carpet with no sound.
"This is how I always eat dinner I swear." he gave a cute grin as he pushed up his sleeves.
With the added height, the wonderful view of the city was uninterrupted now. Because glass took an entire section where conventionally cement would be, Amaka felt like she was soaring out and into the night, it was just clouds, sky, stars and lights. Abuja was beautiful.
"I can see why you never leave." She said to him
"It's one of the perks." He shrugged, "I'll trade you plantain for some of your fried peppered gizzard"
"Best thing I've heard of all day" she said handing over her plate
The arrival of the food certainly helped to restore the breeziness that used to be their relationship. They ate without haste, occasionally trading words, playing catch up.
"I couldn't bear to be in Kano without you." Ikenna whispered, unburdening himself as he set aside his empty plate. They were sat cross legged now and watching the sky.
"I'm sorry for how I acted that morning" she said minutes later.
They were silent for moments on end. After their meal, Ikenna replied Amaka's question and explained his fascination with Van Gogh, confessing that one day he would love to own an original. Amaka chided that he must learn to 'Buy Nigeria', and teased his international palette. Ikenna argued that he was in no way posh or 'ajebutter'. In fact he was sure he knew more Nigerian songs than she did, and not this new contemporary nonsense but old classic meaningful songs. Turning on his iTunes library, Ikenna played songs from the old school, there was Afro Juju, Highlife, Fuji, Labaja, Blackky, Majek Fashek and a lot of Fela. In no time at all he asked her to dance, Amaka did not need to be asked twice and she jumped down from the desk and into his arms. Stomachs heavy with food and drink, Ikenna led Amaka around the room with her bare feet on his; their footsteps silently imprinting on the soft carpet
When Ikenna tried to kiss her Amaka almost sighed with relief, it was getting hard to concentrate on what he was saying anymore. With his breathe at her chin, hands on her hips, Onyeka Onwenu's 'One Love' on the stereo and stars in the background. She gave in to that feeling, surrendered to the scenery and seduction of night sky, dimly lit surroundings and sexy scent of skin. Smoothly their mouths met once again, and it was like time had not passed since that morning in her kitchen. His lips were sweeter than she recalled his touch gentler, and once again it was she that forced the intensity, it was she that succumbed to passion and dragged him down to the carpet. It was Amaka that unbuttoned his shirt and kissed his chest, it was she that led his hand down her stomach.
She awoke the following day to fierce sunshine. Amaka sat up. Sleep slowly vacated her eyes and she gazed around the room bathed in morning sun rays. The bowls from last night's dinner were stacked neatly on the floor, so were their shoes, Sprite filled wine glasses and a half eaten bowl of chin chin. Ikenna had on a Bluetooth ear piece, spouting figures, and every second he refreshed a page on his Mac. He was shirtless and though he bothered to put trousers on, he had not done up the zipper or button so they sagged low on his boxers. He caught sight of her, and grinned when she gathered up the blanket to her chest to cover her modesty. He strolled over and kissed her, he tasted like coffee
"About time"
"It's 6am." Amaka protested. "When did you get up?"
"5am. Tokyo market is 8hours ahead"
"Show off" She scoffed
"I was starting to think I tired you out"
"Yeah nobody cuddles like you Ikenna" she teased
He grinned and tried to sneak a peek, chuckling when she tightened her grip on the blanket. The person at the other end of the line resumed the conversation and Ikenna excused himself.
Amaka realised that if someone was to walk in, they would assume a night of wild sex had taken place. A fair assumption; her breasts were unsupported at the moment and Ikenna was a wiggle away from nudity. God knows last night she wanted to, her inhibitions melted away and all that mattered was her heart pounded and her breathe shortened when he kissed her. She pushed his dark body down to the desk, climbing atop and unbuttoning his shirt, she remembered kissing his chest and following the cluster of hair down his navel, she remembered feeling sure... that was till panic set in. Five years is a long time to go without that sort of intimacy with a man; what if she didn't know what she was doing? What if she said the wrong thing? Did he expect her to know tricks? On and on these mediocre concerns sprang up. All these questions made it difficult to relax. She could no longer go through with it and with a hesitant shake of the head, Ikenna understood. Even with his erection poking her thigh, he did not press or insist she finish what she started. He kissed her gently and held her head.
They cuddled instead and when tiredness overcame them, removed restrictive clothing so as to sleep comfortably. Sometime past midnight Amaka awoke and looked at the sleeping man by her side, the one that let her use his shoulder as a pillow, even with her braids pinching into his skin. She watched his eyelids slightly flutter and she felt safe. Feeling her stare he opened his eyes, bright and beautiful.
"I was 18 when I first met Femi..." Amaka began unprompted. The entire length of the narration Ikenna did not utter a word or change facial expression. He did not frown when she spoke of the good times. Berate when she mentioned loaning Femi all her money for his get rich schemes. He did not sympathise when times got rough after she fell pregnant. He had not a foul word to say about her parents or Chukwuma. He did not even cheer when Amaka set out alone; arriving in Abuja with just the down payment to a house she had not even seen. Ikenna said nothing, he just listened. When Amaka stopped talking, he said simply "Thank you for telling me"
"You must think I am the most naive person." That was why she had not wanted to tell him the first time he asked, she was embarrassed at how gullible and weak her old self was
"No I think you're wonderful"
The glass wall showed golden clouds now as dawn fully unwrapped. Ikenna strolled to her and helped fasten her bra, kissing her shoulder with each clasp he hooked. He buttoned her shirt and smoothed down her hair. He kissed her forehead and her lips.
"I have to go" Amaka whispered against his throat
She was at the door before his insecurity showed "So what does this mean now? You and me, Us, are we?"
"If I knew I'd tell you" Amaka said before she shut the door without a backward glance. Leaving Ikenna Nwosu more confused than she met him.
"When suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool..." Nabila Mujahid read from to her baby, as she did every morning after her prayers. This week it was from Things Fall Apart. She enjoyed reading in the nursery. Nabila liked the swampy, evergreen forest theme and found it relaxing. It was her rain forest in the metropolis. There were all sorts of toys stacked around the room but her favourite had to be the Kermit the Frog teddy, future Godmother Amaka had purchased. It looked right at home amongst the leaves and fellow lagoon friends painted on the wall- including a few sneaky crocodiles lurking in the dark water.
Nabila read Chinua Achebe's words aloud, shifting slightly when the baby kicked harder. It was the fourth book she had gone through, reading her favourite novels out.
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