A woman's dilemma - Episode 61

 

Amy:

"Amy?! Are you coming out anytime soon?" I hear Claudia yell from outside my room. I can clearly hear the irritation in her voice and I snicker to myself silently. She's been so grouchy. More than usual actually and I don't let it get to me. I'm nervous as hell. The dinner at the hotel tonight shouldn't be a big deal if it was just the girl's night out I'd planned but when Benedict had called earlier at the salon, Claudia, God bless her wicked heart actually invited him to join us. Now said man is outside waiting for me to come out.
When I picked his dress, I did not have Benedict in mind to impress . It's a little red member. With it's lace wrapping my tiny figure. I actually look curvier than usual though. The leather jacket I have over it is my only saving grace. It covers the plunging back which reaches just above my ass.
This dress was all Claudia's idea and now I'm going to look slutty in front of the man I used to call professor.
"Amy!"
"Coming!" I yell back at the annoying woman. I wish I could just kill her and bury her inside this room. Right now we have company. Will Benedict act as a witness to my crime?
I grab my purse and shake my head against my murderous thoughts.
"Why are you wearing a leather jacket? It's hot." Claudia says as greeting as I come out to meet her by my door.
"Out of my way. Where he?" I ask as I pass her.
"Just outside and he's looking perfectly delicious." She chuckles lightly

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/a-woman-s-dilemma

. I know she can't be far from the truth. I slowly make my way to the living area with Claudia behind me.
Thankfully, the man's back is to me when I enter and he doesn't turn so he doesn't see me openly gasp at his suit clad back. My hormones rage with a fierce fury. Did I say his ass looks too good in black slacks?
"Amy." He says even before he turns, shocking me. My eyes flies from his ass to his face and he smirks.
"I wanted to give you a show. Satisfied?" He asks with a raised brow. I blush and my eyes lock on the floor until his shiny shoes come into my line of vision.
"Ready?" He asks when I look up at him. I nod stiffly and he smiles. Like really smiles with his lips and eyes and I try so hard not to put a hand to my chest. Please be calm, oh heart of mine. I don't think I've been this excited about anyone in my life. I feel like my usually dull life will be filled with so many colors of adventures if I take the hand I feel like he's stretching out to me. Do I want the adventure? It's not like me to want excitement but I place my arm around his and nod at him.
"I'm ready." I breathe out.
"Good. Because I'm not letting go now. You're just too breathtakingly gorgeous Amy." Oh gosh. I melt beside him.
"Amy, wipe your drool. We have to go." Claudia is rude enough to embarrass me at the profound moment. I stutter a few words but Benedict just lead me out of the room with Claudia behind us. I give her a meaningful glance and she nods firmly.
"I'm fine." She mouths and I nod. I trust that she'll do just fine. I already know what the end of her path will be but she just have to think long and hard like the rational woman that she is.

****

Benedict:

"Are you having fun?" Amy ask her friend who rolls her eyes at her before putting her glass of fruit juice to her mouth. Both ladies are staying off the hard stuff tonight for good reasons and so am I. It's been an hour since we arrived downstairs to the party. The place is buzzing with energy as the MC keeps the crowd alive through the programs. They've been some singing and a few competitions and I'm actually having fun.
"You've not been drinking your wine." I realize Amy is speaking to me so I give her my eyes.
"Yeah. Have a game tomorrow. Not a big one but it's important." I tell her just as an idea hits me.
"You know what, I think you guys should totally come." I say. She starts to shake her head.
"Come on. I'll really love it if you'll come. Never had someone special watching me from the crowd before." I brush her flushed cheeks slowly as her shiny eyes mesmerize me further. How long have we been hanging out that I just can't get enough of touching her when she's close by and whenever she's not, I'm thinking about her.
"I'll come." She says and I grin.
"I'll make sure to make it worth your while. We can go out for dinner right after the match. How does that sound?" I ask her and she nods.
"Sounds like a plan." She replies. I take her hands and bring them up to my lips. I brush my lips across her knuckles and the gasp she lets out spikes something deep inside me. She's not the only one gasping because I catch Claudia put a hand to her mouth. She looks stun as she looks to the stage. I turn to face the stage to find Daniel Obi on the stage in front of a piano.
"This should be fun." Amy whispers to me with excitement before taking her eyes to face the man on the stage. I feel a bit possessive and I find myself taking her hand and putting it on my lap. She looks to me a bit confused but I just point to the stage and mouth for her to concentrate on the party.

****

Claudia:

"No." My hand jump to my mouth when the idiotic man climbs up the stage with an easy flare that can only be attributed to Daniel. He positions his body in front of the piano at the side of the stage and positions the mic closer to him and I feel dread climb up my throat. What is he doing?
I can see Amy bubbling with excitement beside me but I can't take my eyes off the man to pay my friend any attention.
"Good evening everyone. I'm sure you all are having a great time tonight. Well I promise not to make it any less great. For those who don't know me, I'm Daniel Obi. A Nigerian actor. And yeah, I'm open to signing some autographs after my song." He winks and the crowd cheer with ovation. A woman behind me actually screams that she'll like so much more than an autograph after he's done. I feel my hands squeeze hard on the glass in my grasp.
"Calm down missy." Amy giggles as she watches me. I let go of the glass and sit back in my chair.
"He's going to suck." I mutter more to myself than anyone else.
"This song is a popular one in my country. It's a song by Simi. By you. I'm actually singing it for someone I'm absolutely smitten with." He says. His eyes come to settle on me at this instance and all the air is sucked out of me instantly. I can't even look away. He doesn't as well. He plays a few keys on the piano without breaking eye contact with me before he winks and takes his eyes from me. I take the reprieve to take in big gulps of air.
He totally makes love to the lyrics as his deep voice drips of promises I can't take him up on. His fingers work like magic as they move on the piano. I don't take my eyes off him like I know most of the ladies in the room are also having trouble doing. Up on that stage with the light casting a few shadows on his face, he looks ethereal and too good to be true.

    In a sea of people I've been searching for you, you can rely on my baby.
    I will make you cry in happiness.
    Will you forgive me for the happy tears?
    Just know I'll always be right here.
     Oh oh hallelujah
     Claudia hallelujah

I can't take it anymore. I snap up on my seat with so much force, the chair falls to the floor, disturbing the quiet of the hall apart from Daniel's singing. His fingers stop on the piano and his eyes rest on me. He starts to stand and I shake my head. No. Stay there. Don't tempt me more. He doesn't seem to listen to my silent plea. He starts to come to me. The whole room starts to look towards me.
"Claudia, he's coming here. Holy father!, he's coming here." Amy thinks wise to mention on a squeal. My heart beat spikes too high up to be normal but I can't move. I want him to catch me this time. He stops just a few feet from me and we just stand without saying a word.
"Claudia..." He breathes my name like it's the very air he wants to breath and I lose it, I launch myself into his arms. He catches me with a chuckle and start to cry like a baby. In his arms. He's totally crippled me with that song. With the gesture.
"Hey. Stop crying." He coos to me. I can hear camera flashes close by but I just bury my face in his shirt.
"Take her out of here. It's becoming rowdy." I hear Amy says just as I feel hands lift me off the floor. I squeal but it's too late because Daniel already has me up on his arms and against his chest. I don't want to show my face to the media if I haven't already. So I just let him carry me out.
  Once I feel the air hit my face, I know we're outside. It's quiet so I guess we are okay.
"You can put me down now." I say quietly, it's a miracle how he hears it.
"I don't want to." He says just as quietly but he puts me down nonetheless. I stagger a bit before I get my footing on the floor. I can't lift my head up to face him though. I'm so embarrassed for crying like that in there.
"Are you okay?" He sounds concern so I nod slightly.
"Maybe you should let me see your face, Claw." The name infuriates me enough to have my head snapping up to his grinning face.
"There's the woman I love." He says and I suddenly feel shy again.
"Can..can..can you get me some water?" I stammer out. He eyes me slowly but nods.
"I'll get it. Just don't move an inch okay?" He requests.

Read " Intoxicated Romance " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I nod but he looks at me, uncertainty clear in his face.
"You'll be here when I come back with the water right?" He asks.
"Go on!" I push on his shoulder to get him moving.
"Okay. I'm going. Be here when I come back." He starts to hurry back inside and as soon as he's gone I let my head hang. I rest on the wall close by and let my eyes slip close. What does this mean now? Does this mean that I'm giving him a chance? What about Benjamin? I scrub my closed eyes but pause when I hear footsteps close by.
"You're back early." My eyes slip open and a gasp escape my lips at the man staring at me.
"Expecting someone else?" Benjamin asks. I nod then shake my head just as I see Daniel coming back with a bottle of water in hand.
Like a coward, I've never been called before I grab Benjamin's hand before he can turn around and I pull him as I hurry to the front of the hotel.
"Hey calm down. Didn't know you'll be this happy to see me." Benjamin chuckles lightly. I grimace at his words. He probably doesn't know what his woman has been up to for the past few days.
I look behind me and when I don't see Daniel anywhere close, I know that I've successfully escaped the fight that I'm sure would have broken out if I hadn't hidden Benjamin.
Now the severity of my situation stares at me with wide eyes and I try not to cower under Benjamin's eyes. He's smiling down at me but I can't bring myself to do anything but look at him warily. What do I do now?