บท 58: Practicing Poses
"Fine," she said, standing up from the plush couch. "Where are we doing this? Outside?"
"No need for that," Chibuzor replied, gesturing around the expansive living room. "The staff are in their quarters outside the mansion, so no one's here to see us. We can practice right here. No cameras, just us making sure we don't embarrass ourselves if the paparazzi catch us in public."
She rolled her eyes but nodded. "Alright, let's get this over with. What's the first pose?"
Chibuzor set his phone down on a side table, leaning against the wall with an air of command. "The first pose is simple. We'll sit on the couch, lean slightly into each other, and act like we're having a private conversation. Think quiet intimacy."
Olaedo snorted. "So, basically, fake everything we're not."
"Exactly," he said without missing a beat, earning a small chuckle from her despite herself.
They positioned themselves on the couch, leaning in just enough for it to look natural but not too close to make it awkward.
Chibuzor tilted his head toward her, his expression soft and attentive, while Olaedo rested her hand on the cushion between them, as if casually sharing something amusing.
"Not bad," he said after a moment. "Let's move on."
"What's next?" she asked, straightening up.
"The second pose, holding hands, walking side by side, looking like we're deeply engrossed in each other."
"In here?" she asked, glancing around the spacious living room.
"Yes, in here," he replied firmly. "We're not trying to impress anyone right now, just making sure we don't look stiff when it counts."
They stood, and Chibuzor reached for her hand. His grip was firm but not overbearing, and Olaedo had to fight the urge to pull away out of reflex.
Together, they walked a few steps, glancing at each other and smiling softly as if sharing a silent joke.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered under her breath, though her expression stayed perfect.
"Ridiculous or not, it's part of the deal," Chibuzor said, his voice calm as ever.
"And the last pose?" she asked, eager to get it over with.
"The forehead touch," he said, his tone betraying a slight hesitation. "It's intimate and convincing if done right."
Olaedo crossed her arms. "Forehead touch? Really?"
"It's part of the poses rehearsal in the contract," he reminded her.
"Fine," she grumbled, stepping closer to him. "Let's just do it."
Chibuzor placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, leaning forward until their foreheads were just touching.
They stood there for a few moments, and despite herself, Olaedo felt an odd sense of calm settle over her while Chibuzor couldn't help but cherish the moment.
"Done," Chibuzor said, stepping back reluctantly. "That should do it."
"Good," Olaedo said, exhaling in relief. "Now, can we move on to something less awkward?"
"Hopefully," he replied, though a small smirk played on his lips as he watched her retreat to the couch
"The next activity is reviewing our backstory," Chibuzor announced, his tone steady as he scrolled through his phone.
Olaedo raised an eyebrow. "Why? Everyone already knows it."
Chibuzor gave her a pointed look, his voice calm but firm. "Repetition ensures we stay consistent. Remember, any slip could cause a media frenzy."
He paused for a moment before continuing, his eyes still on his phone. "So, here's the story, we met long before that guy, Maduabuchi, entered the picture. I loved you back then, but you rejected me because you were already with him.
Some weeks after he betrayed you, I came back into your life. And after a few more weeks, you realized I was good for you, so you accepted me, and we got married."
The mere mention of Maduabuchi caused Olaedo's jaw to tighten, her mood darkening almost instantly. She simply nodded in response, her lips pressed into a thin line.
Chibuzor, however, didn't miss the way her fingers twitched slightly or how her expression clouded over.
He looked up from his phone, studying her face for a moment before looking away, his heart feeling strangely unsettled. She had loved that Maduabuchi guy for years, and the reminder gnawed at him in ways he didn't want to admit.
Clearing his throat, he turned back to his phone, attempting to refocus. "Anyway, we'll need to rehearse this a bit. If a reporter suddenly asks about our past, we have to nail every detail and make it seem effortless."
"Sure," Olaedo replied curtly, crossing her arms. Her tone made it clear she wasn't in the mood to discuss Maduabuchi any further.
Chibuzor sighed internally. The air between them was tense now, and while he didn't want to press her, he also knew that their partnership demanded they bury any personal feelings. For now, he decided it was best to move forward.
"We'll start in ten minutes," he said softly, his voice neutral. Then, without waiting for her response, he stood and walked toward the living room, giving her some space to compose herself.
Ten minutes later, Chibuzor walked back into the room, holding a notebook in one hand and his phone in the other. He gestured for Olaedo to sit down with him.
"We need to work on the backstory for how we met before Maduabuchi," he began, his tone firm yet calm. "We never covered that part because it wasn't necessary at the time.
But now that our relationship has been publicly announced, it's only a matter of time before someone asks for the full story."
Olaedo, sitting cross legged on the couch, responded with a vague, "Yeah," her tone distracted as her mind wandered elsewhere.
Chibuzor frowned slightly. "Any ideas?" he asked, his probing tone snapping her back to the moment.
She blinked and looked at him, realizing he was waiting for an answer. "Um, we're both CEOs, so we could say we met during a business collaboration," she suggested after a brief pause.
Chibuzor tilted his head, considering her idea. "It's plausible," he admitted. "But if we go with that, we'll need details. What kind of collaboration? What year? And how did the professional relationship turn personal? They'll want specifics."
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JedidiahBeaufoy
JedidiahBeaufoy Happy New Year, Amazing Readers!
Welcome to 2025! I’m so grateful for every one of you who’s been following my novel. Your support, encouragement, and patience mean so much to me and have been one of the highlights of my journey.
Thank you for sticking with the story as it unfolds. There’s so much more to come, and I can’t wait to share the next chapters with you. Your engagement inspires me to keep going, and I hope you’ll continue enjoying the journey ahead!
As we step into 2025, I pray it’s a year filled with joy, success, and incredible adventures, both in books and in life.
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Wishing you the best,
Jedidiah Beaufoy.
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