CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN
For the millionth time
About an hour later, Kylian and I were seated side by side in Madam Black’s restaurant
“I told you she is leaving France” I informed Kylian for millionth time tonight
“I heard you but I don’t believe you”
“You think I will lie to you”
“Yes” he muttered without battering an eye
“Are you serious? You think I will lie to you”
“You were not exactly excited about the franchise when I told you”
“Do I think you are moving too fast? Yes but at the end of the day, it is a good business move”
The doorbell at the entrance chimed and turning to source of distraction, I found Delphine, Kylian's attorney walk in. Kylian waved to her and she walk up to us
“Hello” she greeted.
“Hey” I nodded. The last time I saw this woman was when I was signing my post nup. That was long time ago
“It is good to see you Bewaji and still standing” she remarked and I got the message she passed along. She didn’t expect that I would still be married to Kylian by this time.
But why is she here?
“Why is she here” I asked my husband. “I already told you she is leaving”
“I am not leaving here without signing a deal with that woman” he smirked
What?
“Can I bring your broth now?” Madam Black asked despite carrying the tray of hot broth of pepper soup already as she stepped up to us from nowhere
“No yet, ma’am” He replied as he adjusted his nose mask and cap to cover more of his face “Please drop that tray on the table over here and sit with us, we will like to talk to you about an issue”
Madam Black did as told and placed her two hands on the table next to Delphine
“My name is Kylian and You know my wife already” Kylian pointed to Delphine “That is my attorney, Delphine and we just wanted to talk to you about something”
“If this is about the franchise, I already told Bewa I am leaving. I want to be closer to my children”
“Told you” I gloated “He thought I was lying”
I saw Kylian smile.
Why is he smiling?
Something is not right
“How do you feel about selling” he said with indifference
What the hell?
I gazed at Madam Black and noticed her complete surprise, scratch that... complete shock
“What are you saying, Kylian” I interposed “You want her to sell her family recipe”
Kylian sighed in frustration and said “I love you but can you stop talking please?”
OMG! He just said he loves you
What? Of course he loves me
His action said that but he is using his word now to tell you he loves you. He loves you, Bewaji
Fixing my attention on Kylian, I thought about that, he has never said it before
“We are here to talk to Madam Black and not make a profession at staring at me, Bewa” he cut into my thought
“Oh, I am sorry” I apologized as I cautioned myself
You got lost looking at him again
I guess so
“So, what do you think Madam Black, we will pay you well” Kylian continued his negotiation
“No money is worth the price of my family recipe”
“That is because you haven't heard what we have in mind for you and everything has a price”
“That is my cue” Kylian announced as he stood up, he held my hand and pulled me up “Delphine, I leave it to you” Hand in hand, Kylian led the way didn’t leave my hand until he had to carry the tray of hot broth which he carried to far end of resturant. I strained my ears to hear what the two were saying but I got nothing because they were talking in hush voices
Thirty minutes later, we were out of the restaurant with Madam Black and Delphine still deep in conversation. I tried to observe the direction of the conservation but Kylian won’t let me
“Walk with me” he said from nowhere
“What?”
“I said walk with me, I feel heavy after that pepper soup almost melt my tongue” he joked and I was tempted to laugh with him but I couldn’t forget the fight we had earlier. Also, there is a negotiation happening few steps from where we were standing outside the restaurant that could change the course of my life for good
“It is cold”
Then Kylian waved to a car that I didn’t noticed was here. The driver of the car hurriedly came to us with something in his hand. On getting closer, I noticed he was holding coats, he handed them over to Kylian and walked back the way he came to the car.
“Have it” He stretched the coat to me and I looked him in surprise
How did he know that he would get to need a coat? I mean we have a woolly sweater on but with the weather in France, a sweater is not going to cut it. So, it was supposed to be from the car which has a heater to the restaurant which also also a heater, there was no way I could have thought we would go on a walk but he did
Maybe going on a walk is not coincidental for him. He must have planned it.
“Are you not worried about the negotiation going on inside” I asked
“I am not, because one way or the other, Madam Black will sell that recipe”
“You sound so sure”
“That is because I am” he stated confidently “Now, shall we go?”
With no more excuses, I decided to go with him. Hand in hand, we walked round the street of Paris. Of course, not alone, I sighted three of his security men walking about 10 steps behind us
I looked up at the crescent moon above and at the man by my side walking with me in silence. I smiled to myself, this was my dream once. Taking a walk with my husband under the big silver moon hand in hand. Such a simple activity was a big dream difficult to achieve back then and now that I have, why am I not over the moon
This secret in our marriage is destroying things for me
“You asked me what I was afraid of back at the penthouse” Kylian spoke, putting an end to the silence between us
“You lied and told me the cold”
“I didn’t lie, I don’t like been in the cold” he answered
“But we are in the cold right now, why will you do that to yourself”
He hesitated, then finally opened his mouth
“You said you want to walk around the street of Paris with your husband”
"What?"
How the fuck did he know that?
“And how did you know that?”
Did Alice tell him?
You never mentioned it to Alice
“I have been reading your blog articles, The Black Lady in Paris. One of your….”
“Oh my god!” I exclaimed but he chuckled instead
“I wanted to get to know you and I get a little insider to what makes you happy”
Should I be happy or mortified?
Be happy, he is making an effort
He did plan this walk
“We could have found another time, if you hated the cold this much”
“It is always cold in France anywhere and you always found a way to make things warm for me”
Can a man be more cheesier than this?
No
Just like that, whatever edge I had around him from earlier slowly melted away, I love this man but the love suddenly tripled as I watch him smile to me as we walked
“Moreover, I figured it would have more sentimental if it was on your birthday” he uttered
He did remember
Patience, patience, Patience. You seriously need it
“You remembered” I blurted out in a surprise tone
“Of course, I remember. Who forgets his wife’s birthday? I didn’t say anything because I wanted to surprise you and if I really wanted to beat Marcus, I really need to do something you want to do”
Fuck! He is competing with Marcus for your affection
I pulled him back with our interlocked hands and stopped his momentum, looking into eyes
“There is nothing between Marcus and I, Kylian. He is just my good friend”
“Are you sure he knows that? He bought you a porche, plasted your face all over his socials, something he never did before, Are you absolutely sure he sees you as just friends?”
“Of course" I retorted without hesitation "When I kissed him, he rejected me and told me to go home. We are just friends”
“If you say so” Kylian nodded “But it does not make me feel better”
“Kyl,…”
“Wait, let me talk. All the times, you needed me, he was here for you, it just makes me hate the situation and makes me want to be better for you. That way, I can deserve you”
We need to let the issue with the plan and secret, go. He loves you and that is all that matters. You can see, he is trying his best
Fine, we let it go
We continued walking and time and time again, I burst into laughter as he tell me stories of his childhood, his first girlfriend, his terrible first sex and a lot more hilarious stuff from his past
At a point, we turned a corner and in front of me stood the heavily lighted and beautiful Effiel Tower
“Now, Alice told me you wanted to visit this monument but she denied you the oppourtunity. She has always regretted that”
All I ever wanted when I got to Paris was visit this place but could not. Finally, I got to see it
“Thank you, Kylian”
“Kylian!” A familiar voice called out and we turned towards the direction of the voice and Delphine walked toward us with a file
Did Madam Black really sell it?
“Yes, she did” She said, guessing my thought right
“Thank you, Delphine” he appreciated her as he collected the document from her hand
“I got her to stay for two years to oversee the franchise and we might have to trademark the recipe to prevent other family members from calming ownership in the future”
“She is staying for two more years, I thought she was going home to her kids” I asked in complete confusion
“I told you everything has a price” Delphine taunted
“We will talk about the details later, thank you, Delphine, good night”
The older woman walked away, leaving us two
“Unbelievable” I stated still revening from the fact that Madam Black will change her plans for money
“Happy Birthday” Kylian stretched the file to me
“What?” I collected the document from him “This is for me?”
“I mean better a business with prospects than a Lamborghini”
“Are you serious?”
He chuckled loudly
“Are you seriously competing with Marcus?”
“Of course not”
“Good, there is no need for that, I love you and he is my friend”
“I know”
I opened the document and the first thing that grabbed my attension was the money Madam Black was paid, I counted the numbers behind and it was 6 in dollars
“This is a lot of money”
“Which will earn you more with the right management and business advice. Delphine will be coming to see you tomorrow with some business experts. Don’t worry, everything will be done, the way it is supposed to be”
“Thank you, Kylian, thank you so much and I love you with every fibre in my body”
“I love you too” then he kissed me
“Shall we go to the next”
“There is more?”
“I read that you will love to kiss me silly the french way on the top of Eiffel tower, if I am not mistaken that should be bucket list number …hmmm 2 or 3. 2, the first was getting global recongnition through your writing”
I laughed out loud both in happiness and embarrassment
“There was no specific location, it was at the end of the date” I corrected
“What better way to end a date than with a kiss in the french way at the top of the Eiffel Tower” I laughed till tears started dropping from my eyes. Then, he picked up my hand lead the way to Effiel tower
I am letting everything go, I am not going to let some secret about France shadow the good life I can have with Kylian.
He is with me and that is all that matters
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SATURDAY 9.00 PM WAT
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