“Good morning Lai” I say, smiling from ear to ear as I walk towards my brother, dropping the food package on his desk. “Mom asked me to drop this off for you” I pout.“What happened?” He chuckles, “why are you pouting so early in the morning. Do you dislike doing this almost every week day”I nod, “You really should get married soon, so I don’t have to keep doing this. I have a life you know” I say, flashing a smile at him as I sit opposite him.He chuckles, “thank you very much for your advice but except you have someone in mind for me then I cannot grant you this wish of yours as I’m not dating anyone at the moment”.“Then starts dating” I whisper, in an attempt not to draw the attention of his boss. He nods, “don’t worry he’s not here yet” he says, glancing at the door before his eyes return to me.I roll my eyes, “that’s a first. Has he decided to hand over his business to you” I reply with a sarcastic tone.Lai chuckles, “very funny Lara, but no. He had an emergency meeting to at
“Time to head home” I say, closing my laptop before packing my things. “Alice” I call out as I walk into her office space.“Yes Lara” she answers. I smile, “please let everyone know that I will not be around tomorrow, you’re in charge tomorrow. So I’m leaving my company in good hands”.She nods, “I will let them know ma, I’m sure everything will run smoothly”. I nod, “thank you, please let me know if there’s any problem, no matter how small it is”She nods, “I will, but I’m sure there’ll be no need for that. Have a wonderful day off”“Thank you Alice” I say, walking out of the office and towards the car park where my brand new Nissan is packed, a gift from my loving parents.In thirty minutes, I arrive home thanks to the road being traffic free. I hand my car keys to the security, before heading into the house and straight for my room. I’m in a terrible need for a shower.Once I’m done I change into a pink floral nightgown with a matching jacket since I’ll be leaving my room.“I’m sta
Clark’s POVMy head is spinning, thoughts running through my mind as I make way to the office in my private car, tailed by two of my very best bodyguards.The emergency meeting I told Lai I was having was truly an emergency, but not truly a meeting, depending on what you define a meeting has. I had to meet up with my parents to discuss some shocking revelations that threaten to destroy all I’ve ever worked for.As the only child of Carson and Jane Rique , I have been trained all my life to inherit Dames, the company that I head as the CEO. Flashback to the meeting with his parents “You need to get married before the year runs out or we’ll have no choice but to hand the company to someone else” dad says, running his hands through his hair.“But the year will end in a month and a half. How do you expect me to find a wife in that short time? And besides what is the sudden need to get married, you’ve never required me to do so, so why now?” I ask.Mom smiles, “it’s really not our fault
Lara’s POVAfter dinner I helped Clark with washing of the dishes and the pots that were used to cook. In that moment I felt like it won’t be so bad to be friends with him, but that moment was short lived the moment he opened his mouth“That’s not how you do this” he says, taking the pot from my hands, “you have to ensure it’s cleaned with a dry towel before you return it to its original position”.I sigh, “of course, I’m sure you have a book of methods and processes for everything you do. You wouldn't want to be caught making a mistake. If you’re gracious enough, why don’t you publish the book, I’m sure the world cares so much for pan and pots, it’d be a bestseller” I say, in a sarcastic tone as I roll my eyes.He shrugs, “it’s just common sense” he replies, returning the pot to me. I roll my eyes, “I have more common sense than you do” I say, returning the pot to the cabinet.“Now what did you want to talk about?” I ask, turning to face him. “Let’s talk on the terrace” he says, inte
Our Wedding Day- The 18th of December “Do you Lara Austen, take Clark Rique to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part.I smile, pretending to be in love with the man in front of me, “I do”. The priest nods, “do you Clark Rique take Lara Carter to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part.He nods, “I do”. I inwardly shake my head, so much for pretending to be in love. “I now declare you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride” the priest says, stepping backward.I flash a smile at Clark, waiting for him, inwardly grateful that I’m not the one that has to kiss him. He walks towards me tentatively like every step for him is painful.Afraid that the guests will suspect that we’r
I sidewardly glance at Clark who’s currently sitting opposite me in the car, part of me is debating begging him to let me spend some days at my own home and the other is considering leaving in the middle of the night, either way I won’t be spending the night in his house.I sigh for the sixteenth time in a row, and Clark throws an annoyed glance at me, “the way you keep sighing people will think you won’t be living in a state of the arts home”I roll my eyes, “I was already doing that at my brothers place, where I had my comfort” I say, pointedly. “And besides I didn’t realize getting married, also meant that I had to live with you. There are many couples who live separately nowadays”He nods, “that’s great for them but it’s not for us. When I took my vows I meant every word of them, meaning you’re my responsibility and I intend on us living together till we die”I roll my eyes once more, “thank you Mr Clark but I don’t need anyone to be responsible for me, I’m a grown woman” I say wi
“Lai kindly ask one of the home keepers to prepare a room for your father and I, it’s been a while since we last came over” I hear a voice that sounds strangely like my mother’s say.I immediately head downstairs, almost falling down the stairs as I do. Walking briskly to the lounge room, I find my mom seated on the sofa as she converses with my brother.“You need to start preparing to take over the company” she says. Lai eyes widen in shock, not at the words that she just said but at my presence in his house.Mom notices immediately and turns to see what his attention is fixed on, “what are you doing here?” She asks, standing to her feet.“Hi mom” I smile sheepishly. “Don’t tell me you’ve gotten rid of your husband in just less than eight hours” she says, ignoring my greetings.“She couldn’t get rid of me even if she tried” Clark says, walking to my side. I roll my eyes, “I wish I could” I mutter under my breath, out of my mothers earshot but loud enough for Clark to hear.He chuckle
“Does this dress look fine?” I ask Clark, my eyes fixed on the mirror as I speak. I intend to make an excellent impression on his parents, as we will be visiting them for the first time as a couple.He absent-mindedly nods, “Clark” I say, snapping my fingers in his face. “Yeah?” He says startled, “the dress” I say, pointing at the light pink dress I’m wearing.He nods, “oh yes, apologies. The dress is beautiful and even if it isn’t my parents already love you” he says with a shrug. I roll my eyes, “well is that a yes the gown looks pretty or a no, you need to change out of the dress?” I ask impatiently.“It’s a yes, the gown looks pretty” he says, a pointed look on his face. “Thanks, in that case I’m ready to go” I say, grabbing my bag from the bed.The trip to Clark’s parent family home a day before the annual general meeting is quite important to Clark. He wanted me to officially meet his parents and besides, it’d be awkward if the second time I’d be meeting my in-laws was at the co
It was a crisp Saturday morning when Clark and I decided to escape the city for a while. The sun was just starting to rise, casting a golden hue over everything, and I could feel the excitement bubbling inside me. "Are you ready for our adventure?" I asked, glancing over at Clark as he adjusted his backpack. "Absolutely! I've been looking forward to this all week," he replied, a wide grin spreading across his face. His enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile back. We hopped into the car, the engine humming to life as we set off toward the countryside. As we drove, I watched the scenery change from the bustling streets of Lagos to the serene landscapes outside the city. "Look at that view, Lara!" Clark exclaimed, pointing towards a sprawling field dotted with wildflowers. I turned my head just in time to see a burst of color against the green backdrop. "It's beautiful," I said, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. "We should stop and take some pictures." Clark pu
As we dig into the meal, the aroma of the food fills the air, wrapping around us like a comforting blanket. The table is adorned with a colorful spread—fresh fruits glistening in the sunlight, a platter of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and golden-brown toast, all meticulously arranged to create a feast for the senses. I watch as he takes his first bite, his eyes lighting up in delight. “This is incredible,” he exclaims, savoring each mouthful as though it’s the best thing he’s ever tasted. I can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm; it’s moments like these that remind me of the joy of sharing a meal with someone special.We fall into a comfortable rhythm, the clinking of cutlery and the soft sounds of chewing filling the space between us. I take a moment to observe him, the way he enjoys his food, the little quirks that make him uniquely him. There’s something so endearing about the way he closes his eyes for a brief second as he savors the flavors, as if he’s trying to capture the mome
I smile, nestling deeper into his embrace, “what’s done is done, there’s nothing we can do about it now. And it’s not like you can fire her after all you went through to hire her” I say, sympathetically.He shakes his head, “right now, I’m thinking very much of firing her. She can’t go scot free with that sort of behaviour”. I smile, “no let it be Clark, I don’t want to leave you without help at the office. As long as this was a one time thing then I’m fine, let’s move on” He smiles, “you’re just too kind but I can see that your mood isn’t totally lifted. I shrug, wearing a tired smile, “I just feel trained after that conversation, why don’t you go ahead and have lunch without me. I’ll eat later” I say.He shakes his head, “no way, you came all the way to my office for us to eat together. So what can I do to lift your mood” he says, a mischievous smile on his face. “Letting me sleep” I chuckle, suddenly feeling very tired.“I’ll let you do that in due time, but please let’s have lun
“Afternoon Miss Denie, you require our assistance” one of them says. She nods, “yes please kindly escort this woman downstairs”. They both turn to face me, their eyes widening in shock, before returning their attention to her, “that’s Mr Clark’s wife, please excuse us” they say, before exiting the room.I watch as Denie remains immobile and speechless as she processes their words. I don’t bother getting up as I patiently wait for Clark’s arrival.In less than a minute, Clark walks into the room, concern evident on his face as he walks directly towards me. “You sounded upset, is everything fine my love?” He asks, crouching down as he takes my hand.I look behind him to see Debie’s eyes widen at her mistake. I shake my head, “not really. I closed work early to come suprise you with some food and drinks” I say, raising up the lunch bag for emphasis.“But I was met with insults and disrespectful t from your assistant. She wouldn’t even let me inside your office. To think she actually cal
I’m met by a woman who seems to be in her late 20’s. She is seated in Lai’s former desk. Her auburn hair drops over her shoulders, and her hazel eyes catch my attention. “Good afternoon” she says, rising to my feet, a surprised look on her face as she slowly assesses me.Feeling uncomfortable with being under her scrutiny, I mumble a quick greeting before walking towards Clark’s office. “I’m sorry you can’t go in there” she says, blocking my path.I look up at her, obviously surprised at her audacity, “excuse me” I say, trying hard to control my emotions. She gives me a smile, which is more of a mocking smile, “I’m sorry but you can’t see Mr Clark right now, you shouldn’t even be up here. I wonder who let you in here” she says, frustratedly running her hands through her hair.I chuckle, slightly moving backwards as she’s right in my face at the moment. I quietly assess her, wondering how to address the situation. I force my lips to form into a smile, “I don’t appreciate the tone that
Clark brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch gentle and reassuring. “We’re in this together, babe. No one can come between us,” he assures me, and I believe him. Our bond is unbreakable, forged through years of shared experiences, laughter, and even tears. I lean into him, feeling safe and secure in his arms.“Remember that time when we first met?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood. Clark grins, his eyes sparkling with nostalgia. “How could I forget? You were so sassy, but you still managed to charm me with that confidence of yours,” he confesses, his voice filled with warmth. “Yeah, I can be quite sassy,” I admit, “but I didn’t know this side to you. You were definitely worth it.” Clark’s smile widens, and I can see the pride in his eyes. “And look where we are now,” he says, pulling me closer. “Married, happy, and in love. It’s a beautiful journey we’re on.”I nod, feeling a swell of gratitude for the life we’ve built together. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” I say e
Jordan coughs, obviously uncomfortable with being made the third wheel, “I think you guys would love to be alone, so I’ll just leave and catch up with the others” he says, attempting to rise to his feet.Clark shakes his head, “absolutely not, I honestly don’t mind your presence here. A friend of my wife is mine” he states. Jordan smiles, “thank you, but in all honesty I have some things to discuss with Lai. Please excuse me and it was nice meeting you Clark” he says, before walking away leaving Clark and I to ourselves.“Why were you alone with him?” Clark asks, studying me. I smile, “I wasn’t alone with him, I was basically in the open. I purposely discussed with him, where you could easily see us” I say, chuckling at his jealous display.He smiles, “well I don’t like the fact that he keeps hovering around you. You might not be able to see it but I can definitely tell that he like you” smh r says, drawing me closer to him.“How so?” I ask, my tone evidencing my surprise at his words
“So what have you been up to?” Jordan asks, as we settle down. I shrug, partially intrigued by his sudden interest in my life, “nothing much to be honest. Just the usual, handling my business and enjoying my married life” I say, with a smile as I dwell on my relationship with Clark.Jordan chuckles, “how’s that going? Last time I saw you guys, you were both heavily invested in an argument” he says, slightly leaning forward. I chuckle, “you know how couples are, we fight and we make up. It’s all part of the process of understanding each other and learning to understand each other's triggers and boundaries” I say, my gaze drifting to Clark who’s heavily invested in a conversation before returning my attention to Jordan. “So you guys are good?” He asks, suggestively. I nod, “we are more than good, I’m in love with that man” I say, my smile huge as I set my boundary. “What about you, how’s life going?” I ask, shifting the attention from me.He shrugs, “nothing much, except from the fact
“Heyy Belle” I say, running to give her a hug, almost tripping along the way. “Careful Lara” Clark yells after me. “How are you doing?” I ask, pulling her into a hug, before releasing her as I examine her face.She smiles, “I’m hardly getting sleep with Tululla’s sleeping schedule. But in all honesty everyday feels like a blessing to have my little girl in my arms” she states.I nod, totally understanding what she means, “what about Lai?” I ask, scanning the room for my brother. “He’s over there with your dad and mine,” she says, pointing towards a section of the backyard.“They must be giving him some stupid parent advice” I joke, noticing how serious their conversation is. “Heyy Belle” Clark says, embracing her with a hug, “how are you doing?” He asks, returning to my side.She chuckles, “your wife already asked that. Like I told her, I feel blessed” she says, a wide smile on her face and I can tell that this is the happiest she’s been since I’ve met her. Clark nods, “alright, let