Chapter Six - We Have A Whore Amongst Us

“Nina, are you picking a fight right now so you don’t have to attend my mother’s birthday dinner?”

Mario was upset, and I was glad he was not in front of me. I can’t resist that sweet face even if I tried. I wanted to be good. Dress up like the lovely nursery school teacher I was and impress all the fine people who will be interested in knowing me since I will be poised beside Mario as his “friend.” laugh at their not-so-funny jokes and maybe come up with a project or talk about real estate or some business stuff because rich people like to be sure that you are not a predator.

I know how the evening would go because I have been the arm candy countless times at events like this. Even though this might be a bit different, I can tell Mario likes me. But being there did not seem right to me, so I picked a fight. It was easy. I told him my being at his mother’s birthday would “complicate things.” It started as a witty remark about me being the perfect wife material, and his family would hang on to my every word. But he took it a bit further by hurting my feelings in return. Admonishing me by saying, “trust me, I do not want to play meet the parents either.”

That stung because... It just stung, and I hated it for stinging so much, so I called us “fuck buddies,” which is what we truly are if you think about it, but Mario hated that term.

“We are more than that,” he said the first time I mentioned it.

“Enjoy your night, Mario,” I said dismissively and ended the call. I waited a few minutes, standing by my phone, waiting for him to call again, but he did not. I looked over at my lovely dress and smiled with pain when I imagined the disappointment on Kayla’s face when Mario told her I wouldn’t be coming. I sighed. Then, with all the enthusiasm I could muster, I prepared for the party.

In under a few minutes, I was ready. I told you I wanted to be by Mario. I was about to head out the door when a soft knock made me pause, and I held my breath. Don’t tell me it is Mario here to convince me. I scowled at the awkward scenario in my head. Mario must be here to try and persuade me to attend the party, and I just made his job easy if I open the door already dressed and ready for the party. I should have waited a bit. My being already dressed takes away the drama from this conversation, and I had an overwhelming urge for drama and being pampered tonight. I swallowed and erased every trace of a smile or enthusiasm off my face before I swung the door open.

It was not Mario but Bolu.

“I was walking past and saw your lights on. “Bolu explained in his usual charming manner. “but you are headed out.” he pouted.

“Come in, please.” 

“No, I should go.” 

I chuckled and pulled him in.

He might pull out his charming smile as a shield, but I know him better than that. I could tell Bolu was not feeling great.

I sat beside him on the couch, unsure how to make him feel better. I removed my shoes, headed to the kitchen, and brought him a glass of water.

“What is wrong, Bolu?” I said as I handed him the glass.

He tried to mask my observation with his “don’t worry about me.” smile, and I rolled my eyes.

“You are not fooling me with that pretend smile you have put up.”  

I stood over him as he gulped down the glass of water. I took the glass back and led him to the kitchen. I placed him on one side of the kitchen table and stood on the other.

Bolu chuckled. “What are you doing?” 

"Creating my bar." I brought the only bottle of whiskey I had and started to pour. “Sir, you don’t seem very happy tonight. Girlfriend problems?” I held his gaze as I handed him the glass, and he took it gratefully.

“Money problems.” 

I paused, urging him to continue. He swallowed his drink in one gulp.

“And girlfriend issues.”

My ears perked up. I had been frequenting Bolu’s Bar, and he never said anything about a girlfriend.

"I want to acquire the bar, but the Princetons put a high price on it. It is killing me, and she has never even liked the bar, so she finds my sulking pointless. She has told me to pursue bigger dreams. But that bar is my dream. I love it there, but, to her, I am wasting my youth here."

“You are not wasting youth. Your dreams are valid.”

"Thank you. We had a big fight. So I decided to take a walk.” Bolu breathed, "Now I am here making you play bartender and crease your beautiful dress when you should be out with the man you love."

I scoffed. 

The room fell quiet, and after an odd exchange of looks, I saw the apparent sad eyes clear up, and his eyes brightened. He seemed to blink more like he was trying to put out the twinkle but try as he may, he could not. He leaned in and kissed me, and I kissed him back. What is wrong with me? I kept screaming in my head.

His hand was already approaching my breasts when a knock came through, followed by “Nina!” 

It was Mario. 

My eyes widened, and I swallowed hard. I looked to Bolu to do something. Anything. The knock came through again. 

“Nina?”

I was grateful when Bolu pulled himself from the chair and walked towards the door, which immediately sent alarm bells to my head. What if Bolu opens the door and reports to Mario about how he just kissed me, and I willingly kissed him back? Nina, you idiot. 

“Wait!” I whispered.

Bolu halted and mouthed, “Relax.”

This word worked like magic because my shoulder immediately relaxed while I held my breath anyway. 

Bolu paused to wipe my lipgloss off his lips and opened the door. Mario was about to knock again when the door flung open. “Where is Nina?” 

I listened to detect anger in his voice, but there was none. Mario was just concerned that Bolu opened the door instead of me. I appeared from behind Bolu with a bright smile. There were no words exchanged, Mario's eyes softened, and he hugged me. I felt Bolu stiffen beside us and kicked myself for being so stupid. I should not have allowed Bolu to kiss me. Perhaps I am possessed by some demon that made stupid decisions. I bit the insides of my cheeks. There was no need to pass blame. This was all me. No demons.  

"I will leave you two now," Bolu said without mincing words and bolted before we could untangle ourselves from the hug. 

"He is so mad at me," Mario muttered, holding my face. "He must have told you why."

I nodded. 

"Please do not say anything on the matter. It is beyond my control." 

He planted a kiss on my lips to stop me from countering him. I savoured the kiss. My head had worked overtime in under a few minutes. I will address Bolu's situation tomorrow; I just wanted to relax now.

Mario broke off the hug even though I was not ready to. "How is the party going?" 

"Terrible. My brother showed up out of the blue." Mario scratched his head lightly. 

"How about Kayla? Did she see him?"

Bolu laughed and nodded. "She is there saying she has two dads."

We broke into laughter. 

"Come with me to the party, please. My family wants to drive me crazy already. With you there, I couldn't care less. 

I nodded, "Sure."

Mario held up a white envelope. "I saw this on the mat."

I frowned and took it. Mario excused himself to get a glass of water. I opened the unaddressed envelope. It read; 

I know who you are, and people will soon realize we have a whore amongst us.