Redemption - Episode 29

 

Lucas:

"High five buddy." Jason gingerly clap my hand. 
"You did great. Imagine she wanted to eat your dad. The evil woman!." I continue.
"She looks like an angel though." Jason says and I see the lovey dovey eyes he is spotting. Oh no. He can't be charmed by the woman just after few minutes at the dining. Benedicta kept making the boy blush with her antics . I can't lose my buddy too. Daisy already went upstairs with Benedicta to fix her hair like Benedicta's. Imagine.
"Hey buddy. She's a spider wielding maniac. Ask uncle James, she totally has many spiders stored in her pockets." I tell him. His eyes are already bulging with fear. Good.
"Do you want to go to her?"I ask and he shakes his head vehemently grabbing my leg. I didn't think so. I grin down at him.
"Come on buddy. Let's go to the studio downstairs. You and your sister do have that children's TV show you were asked to perform at. Let's get some practice done." I tell him and he cheers up. Just like his dad, music gives Jason joy. He's just five but he can sing and make you swoon. His sister isn't much different. She has an angelic voice but let's just say show biz isn't her thing. At the sight of cameras or an audience, my baby girl freezes up

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/redemption

. I am still trying to get her ready for the show next weekend but it's not working.

"What about sister Daisy?" Jason asks me.
"Oh, bene_ I mean your nanny would get her down soon."
"Alright. Let's go!" He squeals and I smile as he grabs my hand and drags me downstairs.

  We have been practicing for half an hour and like always, I keep thinking the bridge of the song doesn't sound right.
"Why did you ask me to stop again?" Jason calls from inside the booth and I gesture for him to start from the beginning one last time. He shrugs his little shoulders then pull on the earphones again before he starts singing. It sounds great but just until he gets to that bridge again and I stop the music.
"What now?" He asks me, pouting like the kid he is.
"Something is so not right with the bridge of the song.*" I say even though I know he can't hear me.
"Of course, something's wrong." I startle as I hear Benedicta's voice behind me. I gather myself quickly and throw her and dark look.
"And you know what's wrong?" I ask rudely and she nods.
"Excuse me." She says and I get off my seat for her. She makes herself comfortable in my chair before tweaking some things on my audio workstation before grabbing the sheet music.
"You sing Jason's part." She hand me the paper. I eye her up and down. 
"Come on. Just humour me." She says.
"Please." The way she says the please has all my buttons pushed and I see myself singing the first line of the song.
  She smiles broadly at me and I continue singing like the love puppet that I am. I get to the bridge and start singing it when she joins me. I falter in my lyrics when I hear that voice again. God, she's amazing. She gestures for me to continue and I notice how she changes the tune of the bridge. Our voices complimenting each other. Our eyes are locked on each other as we end the song but we can't look away. I think I just stopped breathing. Where did the damn air go?
"Wow! That sounded great" I hear James voice and Benedicta jerks out of my chair, breaking our moment. James with the worse timing. Damn him.
"Yes aunty Bennie. You were amazing." I hear Daisy who I just realized was in the room say.
"Who would have thought you can sing like that?" I hear James swoon at Benedicta and I snap out of my fog when I see her blush.
"Get away from the woman James. What are you even doing here?" I snap.
"Calm down boss. Talinah is here. She says_"
"Oh here you are. I can't believe you left me at the club that night." Talina comes barging into my studio. She rushes to me and give me a tight and if I might add, unnecessary peck. I don't know why but my eyes goes to Benedicta and I can't decipher the look on her face.
"Come on Jason. Daisy. Let's give your uncle some privacy" she calls to the kids and before I can get a word out, she flees the studio with the kids and James behind her tail.
"Bee!" I yell and I am about to go after her for reasons I don't know before talina grab my wrist.
"What's your deal with the Nanny? I saw the way you were looking at her before I walked in." She tells me. What's her business what my deal with my Nanny is? I am about to ask her exactly that when she pushes her phone in my face.

  My eyes focus on the news headline on her phone. ARE LUCAS AND TALINA AN ITEM?
"What the hell?!" I grind out.
 Talina lowers her phone and smile now that she knows she has my attention.
"See Lucas, I won't beat around the bush. I like you okay? That's why I am considering you and Jake's proposal to work with your label. The press got pictures of your fight with that guy at the club and seeing as we were also seen together earlier that night, they think you were fighting for me." She says.
"Those bloody reporters! I am going to sue their ass for slander. That post has no bases." I yell.
"Ooops. I kinda made them think so. I need the publicity for dating a man like you so if you don't want my dear fans to turn against you once I release a statement that you dumped me, you have to go on with my plan." She rakes her claw like fake nails against my chest and my skin crawl. I can't believe the press portrays this woman as a talented and charming artiste. What a fraud.
"I am not interested." I grind out and pull her hands off me.
"Can you leave?" I continue.
"Listen to me Lucas. I know you want me. I mean who doesn't? I am saying, you can have me while we pretend date." She says. She sounds desperate now.
"Why do you need this kind of publicity?" I have to ask.
"The press are unto my ummm let's just say sponsor.

Read " Falling For Innocence " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. If they find out, I would be over. You have been tagged by the press as unattainable because you have never had a date with the same woman twice. If they think we are dating, they would forget about finding my sponsor and focus on us. Please." She pleads.
"Who is your sponsor?" I ask and she shakes her head.
"That, I can't tell you." She says
"Then I am afraid I can't help you." I tell her. She looks stun but I don't care. She looks like the kind of woman to never make a deal with.
"Please, leave." I grind out.
"You are going to regret this Lucas. When you come begging like you would, I would remind you of this!" She spit in my face.
"Hide your weakness sweetie." She adds before she storms out and I follow behind her to make sure she leaves.

  Talina gets to my sitting room and stops when she sees Benedicta with Jason and Daisy. She turns back and smirk at me. Benedicta notices us but doesn't stand up. Talina close the distance between us and whispers into my ears.
"Isn't she the woman at the club? I think things are about to get interesting. Now I know your weakness." She giggles into my ears before turning back to walk out of my house.
 What the hell just happened?
  

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