Too Precious Episode 37 – 38

TITLE: TOO PRECIOUS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 37

He called her on the phone. When she picked up he said to her, “You are no longer allowed around my house or office. What we have in common is our daughter and nothing more. I have no interest in being with you now or ever. I will give you the number of our daughter’s new nanny. You will be with her and the nanny every other weekend. All communications will be done through my mother and the nanny. I will create a WhatsApp group that will include the nanny, my mother, me and you. Stop dreaming, we can never be together.”

“Allen, what happened? Why are you sounding like this? What did I do to offend you?”

“Adaeze, stay away from my life. Stay away from me. After you have wasted your body you want to dump it on me? Why should I accept it? Is it because I was being nice to you for the sake of our daughter? Adaeze, you felt I wasn’t good enough. I didn’t have money to buy you the luxuries you wanted. You left me to follow men who could. Why do you think I would ever get back with you? It will never happen.”

“What is making you speak to me like this? What offence did I commit? I have asked for your forgiveness; what more do you want?”

“I want you to leave me and my family alone. I don’t want to have anything to do with you besides my child. Communicate more with my mum and the nanny. I don’t want any intEr×¢tions with you. Is it understood.?”

“Who put you up to this? Olivia is behind this. I hope you know the vile things you accused me of, your girl did worse.”

“I am aware and I love her like that. She didn’t abandon her husband and child to do them; she did them when she was single and has made something out of it. You, on the other hand, abandoned your family to be an akwuna (a pr-stitute). I will never forgive you for what you did; never.” He ended the call.

Allen was visibly shaking. He was hurt. He was pained. He wasn’t a man who called women names but Adaeze went too far with Olivia. His father went too.

Not long after, his mother called. Adaeze had called her crying but didn’t tell her what she did. By the time Allen told his mother what Adaeze and his father had done to destroy his relationsh¡p with Olivia, she was stunned. She couldn’t believe it. She advised her son to forgive her but keep his distance from her. She also didn’t want him getting back together with her.

Dr Hope tried to convince Olivia to reconsider but she was adamant about not going ahead with the marriage. She said there were too many obstacles in the way and she didn’t want to be caught in the middle. She stated, “I am not strong enough for the battle. I want my sanity. Since I called it quits with Allen, I’ve had peace.”

Allen called Precious and told her what happened. “I knew it. I knew it had to be your father behind her change of attitude. But I am disappointed in her. And so what she has a past, she should have told you all about it and accept who she was which birthed who she is now. Why should she be ashamed? No wonder she was very conservative. Do you still want her?”

“Yes, I do. If not for anything but to spite my father and Adaeze.”

“Not a good reason but it can work to an extent. I’ll talk to her. I am sure she will change her mind. Keep talking to her too.”

Precious called Olivia and scheduled a lunch date so they could talk. They met at the restaurant. Both of them weren’t very close friends but they were acquaintances. They talked about so many other things before Precious introduced the issue.

“Allen’s father isn’t a very nice guy. I knew he must have done something to you to make you distance yourself from Allen.”

“How did you know I distanced myself from Allen?”

“Allen told me. He was worried about you. Allen loves you and he’s ready to go ahead regardless of your past.”

“Is that what Allen said to you?”

“Yes, that is what he said.”

“Didn’t he tell you he is in love with you?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Allen is in love with you. You are in love with Allen too. Siblings don’t have s€× and share a child. I found out it wasn’t artificial insemination. Allen denies it because he is trying to protect you but I overheard Emmanuel and Allen talking about it. He asked Emmanuel if you could get pregnant from what both of you did ‘that’ night. Emmanuel told him to ask his mother but he declined. He was ecstatic you were pregnant. That was the major giveaway.”

“Olivia, I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Both of you act as though you are married; why not legalise it?”

“We do not have such feelings for each other, Olivia, you have been mistaking our friendsh¡p for rom-ntic overtures.”

“Can you swear on your son’s life you have never had s€× with Allen?” PB was quiet. She didn’t know what to answer. “I knew it; I was certain I heard right. Allen kept it a secret to protect you. Ok, let me ask you. When his father was found unconscious, who did he call first? When your grandfather died, who did you call first? I observed all these. The reason I don’t want to get back with him is because of you. He will always fall back to you and you will do the same. You won’t be able to do without each other.”

“You are getting it all wrong. We are not s€×ually attracted to each other, we are just two friends that have a child together. Allen loves you. He doesn’t love me in the manner he loves you. He wants to spend the rest of his life with you regardless of your past. Why would he want to do that if he doesn’t love you?”

“Allen loves me; I know he does. He isn’t in love with me. When he is with me and you call, he would rather talk to you on the phone than talk to me sitting with him. I saw the signs but you never overstepped your boundary. I thought both of you were having an affair so I bugged his WhatsApp; I didn’t see anything to be worried about. It was your verbal conversations that got me worried. He told you his deepest secrets. He spoke so freely with you that I became envious. Precious, Allen is in love with you just as you are with him. I will keep saying it. I told him you were in love with him; he became speechless.”

“You told him? Why did he allow me to talk to you?”

“He wanted you to hear it from me instead of from him. I believe he feels the same way but has been suppressing it for so long. Once both of you realise you are meant to be together, there will be no need for further pretences. Don’t worry yourself; I am not angry. It is better you than that witch Adaeze.”

Precious didn’t believe she loved Allen in the manner it is being portrayed. She loved him as a friend, a brother and her son’s father. She didn’t have rom-ntic feelings towards him. He loved Olivia and she was fine with that. She knew they had to talk, she and Allen had to have that discussion. She called him and asked him to come over to her place.

She had recently moved into her grandfather’s room. She did a lot of remodelling of the room using some of his items in the décor so it would still have the feel of him being around. She still saw him as her grandfather not her father. Her current confusion would have been resolved with his wise counsel. How she missed her grandfather.

TITLE: TOO PRECIOUS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 38

Allen got to the house late in the evening. He said hello to all the children. He greeted Titi and found his way upstairs to PB’s room. The nanny directed him to her new room. He hadn’t been upstairs in the house for a long time. He knocked on her door and she opened it for him.

“Nice room. What was so urgent we had to talk about today?” Allen asked. He was showing signs of anxiety.

“What is bothering you?” Precious responded. “Are you hiding anything from me?”

“How did your lunch date go?”

“Not as well as I had planned. You should have given me a heads up. The babe believes we are in love with each other but don’t realise it. Do you agree with her?”

“I don’t. I love Olivia, why does she want to do this to me?”

“So, you don’t have feelings for me?”

“I didn’t say that. I only said I love Olivia. Feelings for you don’t change anything.”

“Why?” PB asked.

“Because it won’t be reciprocated. The first encounter we had, you freaked out over nothing. I was hurt by your reaction that’s the reason I didn’t pursue you. Precious, you are too independent, too confident, too ambitious that I appear insignificant around you….”

“Wait a minute, Allen, what are you talking about? First of all, I didn’t freak out, you wanted us to have a secret affair and I found that suggestion offensive. Secondly, how can you quantify me as too ambitious, and independent? You know everything about me especially how emotionally vulnerable I have been. You advised me to date so I can get my mind off a lot of things, how can you say you appear insignificant when you are around me? You are my closest friend if not my only friend except for Salim. I respected your decision to marry Olivia and gave you my full support. I have always supported you. Why would you ever feel insignificant around me?”

“Because I desire you but I can’t have you. You talk about other guys but don’t consider me.”

“Allen, you are making a mockery of this discussion. You wanted Olivia. You made it clear you wanted to marry her. I let you have your heart desire. Honestly, I had zeroed my mind to a relationsh¡p with you when you were double dating. When I got pregnant, I considered it but then you didn’t want Olivia to know we had intercourse. By the way, she knew. You still wanted her; you never considered me.”

“Did you hear yourself the day you informed me you were pregnant? As I said, you are too independent and that’s where I had a problem with you. If you had allowed me to decide before bombarding me with the fact you don’t need me, I would have suggested we be together. I like the fact that you are in control during any crisis but sometimes you should allow a man to take care of you. That’s why you never had any lovers, you wanted to be in charge and it had to go your way. Sometimes you take risks and damn the consequences. Once in a while, just live. You did this with Biodun and he tried to take advantage. I wouldn’t do that to you; I refused to play with your emotions. Olivia is right; I have been in love with you without realizing it. I realized it the night we had s€× but then you spoilt the moment. I still needed you around me and blocked my affection towards you. When she mentioned it, I thought about it? She might be right.”

“I don’t want us to argue about what happened. Dwelling on the past wouldn’t help matters. I will talk to Olivia again…..”

“There you go again. Olivia is not the issue. Why can’t you talk about your feelings? Are you in love with me? If you are, tell me. If you are not, let me know so I will know how to nurse my rejection on two fronts.”

“Allen, this is sudden. Please give me time to understand my feelings. I can…..” Allen cut her off with a k-ss to her mouth. PB was stunned. It continued until she felt his hand envelope her body and pull her close to him. She couldn’t resist his touch. She couldn’t withdraw her l-ips from the s-nsational k-ss. Her body was betraying her even in her state of confusion as it gave in willingly to his touch. She had lost control of her body as she listened to it mo-n when Allen touched the bare skin of her tummy.

Allen couldn’t resist her. As he pulled her closer to his heart wouldn’t stop beating fast. He planted k-sses on her neck, on her chest on her forearm and finally returned to her neck. He gently untied the housecoat she had on and slipped it off. She was in her night slip. He could see her body through the lace at the top. He slid his hands under the slip from the bottom. He had some resistance from PB. She was shy going unclad in his presence. He k-ssed her reassuringly as he removed the slip. She was unclad underneath which she tried to hide. He went to work on her using his fingers and his tongue. Before long she was convulsing while burying her nails into his skin as she reached orgasm.

There was a knock on the door. It was the nanny. The children were ready for bed and wanted her to give them their goodnight k-sses as she does every night. She wore her slip back on and her housecoat. Allen stopped her by the door and asked her to k-ss him. She didn’t want to argue so the nanny wouldn’t hear them. She k-ssed and realized why he wanted her to do so. This was the freakiest she had ever been.

She k-ssed the children after they prayed together. She switched off their bed lamps and walked slowly back to her room. She wondered what the hell she was doing with Allen in her grandfather’s room. How could she have allowed him to violate her body like that in his presence? She decided she would ask him to go and not be left completely alone with him.

As she entered the room, Allen was lying on the bed. He was unclad except for his boxers. He came down from the bed to meet her. She wanted to say something but as though he knew what she wanted to say, he k-ssed her passionately again, helped her out of her clothing and led her to the bed. She saw a pack of c-ndoms on the side stool. She knew she wouldn’t be able to say no with the way he touched her; she couldn’t resist it. They made love that night. It was gentle, loving and sweet. Allen whispered into her ears before he fell asleep, “I love you.”

They spent the night together in the room. PB woke up first at 6 am which was her usual time to be up to supervise the children getting ready for school. She watched Allen in her bed asleep. He slept so peacefully. She liked him a lot; he was her first crush. She had fears but she cautioned herself not to mention them immediately until they were able to talk. She didn’t want a repeat of the last time.

PB took a quick bath and rushed to supervise the children. They were up and were attended to. She joined in getting them ready. When she was through with them upstairs, she came downstairs to pack their lunch. Titi was already downstairs. She was making breakfast. The children were to have cereal that morning, why was she cooking. She packed the lunch which was ready into the food flasks and placed them in their lunch bags. The children had breakfast and by 7 am, they were ready for school. The nanny went with the driver to drop them off.

PB went back to her room. Allen wasn’t on the bed and she could hear water running. There was a knock on the door. The steward brought breakfast to her room. This was the first time. He said Titi asked him to bring the food to her. She was beyond embarrassed. Titi must have known what happened last night. She felt bad. She felt even worse when she saw the used wrappers of c-ndoms in the bin near the table the steward dropped the food. It was conspicuous therefore the steward saw them.

Allen chose that time to come out of the bathroom tying a towel around his wa-ist. He greeted the steward and asked if the food was for them. The steward confirmed it and he thanked him.

“Good morning. Where did you sneak off to?” Allen asked her pulling her to himself.

“Thank you. Tell grandma I will see her later.” PB locked the door behind the steward who just left. “I went to get the children ready for school.”

“Ok. Have they left?”

“Yes, they have.”

“I am hungry. I had only breakfast yesterday. Can we eat?”

They settled down to eat. PB couldn’t take her eyes off Allen bare chest and abdomen. They ate together in silence. Allen stood up to dress up when he had finished eating. He removed the towel in PB’s presence before wearing his boxers. PB was shocked and quickly removed her eyes.

“Did you enjoy last night?” Allen asked her. PB eyes opened wide when he asked. She didn’t look at him again. “That means I did for the both of us. But, I could have sworn you enjoyed it more.”

“Can we not talk about last night?”

“What do we do with the feelings we have for each other? I am willing to pursue a relationsh¡p if you are.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Should I give you time to think about it? I can wait until you’re ready. I will like to do last night again but in a different setting where we can be free. I don’t want to offend you by making this suggestion but, can we go away for summer? Just the two of us to explore our feelings for each other. I will love to spend quality time with you. I know you but I will like to know you more intimately. Going away together will make it possible.”

PB thought about it. She would have loved to go away with Allen so she could talk about her fears. She wished to be in a relationsh¡p with him but factors were mitigating against it which included family. Knowing Allen, there were some conditions he wouldn’t agree to. He will never agree to take her name or live in her house. She was surprised he spent the night with her there.

“A penny for your thought. You didn’t hear anything I said. Can we arrange this? Let Mirabel and Caleb travel with Simon. I can get Elvis to take my daughter and Treasure if you like. My mother will get the break she deserves.”

“Why doesn’t Simon take all the children with their nannies? They should be all together. I have to warn you, Simon has a lover he is getting serious with. She is a black American living in Nigeria. She would love to spend some time with his children but isn’t keen on living with them permanently. Simon is fine with that. He wants the children to remain with me and visit him only on holidays. The nannies will handle them well.”

“If you are comfortable with it, why not. Where do you want to visit? Name it.”

“I am not particular. I wouldn’t mind anywhere in Nigeria; I want to be closer to the office at this time.”

“We will have a weekend getaway every week until your babies return.”

“Ok.”

Titi greeted Allen. She asked him if he slept well and he confirmed he slept very well. Titi was all smiles while PB was very shy.

“I like him. You know I have always liked him. He is unlike most young guys I know. He is very responsible.”

“Grandma, are you campaigning for him?”

“I’m not o. I am stating the obvious. I know he likes you. You are the problem. This one is not like that loser you married; he is not interested in your family’s money. Quickly get pregnant for him and have a second child. Automatically, you have become a wife. Who will chase you away with two children? It is good for a woman to have all her children with one man.”

“Are you saying I should deceive him and get pregnant for him?”

“I don’t know what you are saying. I said, have your children with one man. Didn’t he spend a night in your room? Were you doing a board meeting there? Since the children went to school, you have been in the room, you just came out at 2 pm.”

“Grandma, we were working. We talked first and then we worked until he was ready to leave. Don’t talk like that o”

“Were you also talking last night? I am not a small child. Just be smart. Don’t let him have access to your body without some commitment. Men don’t mind free things and when they are tired, they will discard them. But if you keep them wanting, they will never leave you.”

“Thank you, grandma, I have to get to the office.”

TBC