Chapter Seventeen

"Merry Christmas, rock star!" Ayoola's voice teared the silence in the room and her brother felt like standing up at her for a smack.

"Why can't you free me for a breath, lawyer?" He teased back with a groan, opening his eyes wider. He turned to Aminat's side but he couldn't see her again. She must woken up before him.

"She's already in the kitchen" his sister revealed, sitting on one arm chairs.

"When are you leaving?" She settled for a serious talk.

"Today is 25th right?"

"Why would you ask that" Ayoola chuckled, rolling her eyes.

"I'd like to leave tomorrow or 27th" he said as he sat up from the bed. He swiped his forehead with his palm.

"But I don't know what mum would say" he continued with a sigh and rise up to leave.

"Blackmail her through your wife" she let it out carelessly.

"You're going to be death of us" Ayo laughed, walking towards the bathroom.

"Olamide is in the kitchen right?" He asked.

"Yes. Preparing her lover's breakfast" she smirked and he giggled.

"She loves the kitchen too much" Ayo noted.

"You have a big kitchen in your big mansion. She'd stay there all day and cook whatever you want" She snickered and left the room.

"That's if I'm around  or care to eat" he replied aloud in his mind.

Would she even wants to be a full housewife? Even if she wants to be, for who? He knew she loves taking photos and she had a good body shape that would attract cosmetics and modelling companies for endorsement once he  rise her to fame as his wife.

After using bathroom, he strolled to the sitting room to see  if he could help with any of the family's Christmas preparations.

While Ayoola and Aminat busied themselves in the kitchen, Temmie and Yemisi took  care of Christmas decorations and designs on the Christmas tree, the cottons metals and things that can upholds beautiful light wires on the wall.

Tracy was taking care the orders and buying forgotten items. When she came to drop some of the things she bought, Ayo got amazed when you see her.

"You're still in this house?!"

"Yes" she replied, panting.

"Where were you when Mr Uncle came?" He said and Aminat felt like laughing from where she was cooking. But she didn't because she could still remember what he did to her. And she haven't forgiven him yet nor had he apologized.

"Mr uncle?" Tracy laughed herself. "Actually I went to get some designers for Angela yesterday"

"That reminds me again? Where's Angela"  he tapped his forehead.

"She's still sleeping" her mother answered from the kitchen. Aminat felt like leaving the house for a moment because of her so called husband.

"The house helps?"

"You know we don't celebrate Christmas with strangers" his mother cautioned and he rolled his eyes.

Aminat and Tracy? He was sure they were not part of the family around ten years ago. If he talks, his mum would regard it as arrogance.

"Ayo"

He  felt a tiny hand on his kneel and he looked to see his cute little niece trying to hold him.

"Good morning my Angel!" He smiled broadly and hopped the child on his chest, caressing her back gently with his fingers.

Aminat sometimes wonder how Ayo feels comfortable with a four year old kid calling him bluntly by his name. If any of Hadiya's children should call  her by name straightforward without an "auntie" before calling "Aminat", she'd slap the child across the face.

He walked to the kitchen for some oranges. Their four eyes hit each other as she quickly removed hers.

"Come here baby, let mummy get you your breakfast" Ayoola rinsed her hands and carried her daughter from Ayo, leaving the two alone.

He bent down and took an three oranges from the fridge, throwing them up and catching them playfully.

"Good morning. I know you won't greet" he smirked at her but she succeeded in maintaining a strong face.

"Good morning" she replied reluctantly. He chortled to her hearing, provoking her more  than ever.

"Uhm.. I actually want to apologize about what happened last night..." He started but it never appealed. To her, he was only apologizing because she was sure his mother instructed him to.

Ayo, who was still thinking that Aminat owe him an apology by displeasing him with her way of address continued.

"I was just in a bad mood.."

"But your mood is okay now right?" She interrupted him, causing Ayo to torture his cheeks while trying to contain his laughter.

Suddenly for her but steadily to him, his hands dropped the oranges on the on the cabinet and reached for her waist. She froze with the tomatoes she was slicing. His entire arms snaked round her waist, literarily, hugging her from the back.

"I'm sorry" he muttered into her ears softly with a huge mint of seduction. Aminat's forehead beamed droplets of sweat but she refused wiped them off.

"I've forgiven you please" she pleaded weakly.

Seems like Miss Smart don't know who she's dealing with. He smirked devilishly.

"You're sure?" He asked and she couldn't believe he wasn't sure.

"Mm!" She moaned in reply, nodding her head continuously. But instead, Aminat felt a line drawn by a slight pressure in between her thighs. She tried to budge but she only made it steamier by rubbing her back beneath his belt. Her eyes widened and she surrendered her head on his shoulder.

The beginning of her short, skimpy tight gown stopped his finger. His whole palm brushed her clothed thigh up to her waist and he sighed, releasing her at last.

It took her some minutes to recover from his romantic torture. She took a huge breath and raised her head up at him as if she was promising him revenge but he could not help but chortle at her restlessness.

"Why are you looking sweaty? What have we done?" He said and they both chuckle while she shook her head at him.

"Wait.. Is this time of celebrating Christmas?" Ayo, who was amazed by her energy towards the festive preparation. After all, she wasn't just a Muslim but the favorite daughter of a certified Alhaji.

She looked up at the ceiling as if she was trying to remember something.  "Mm.. Officially yes"

"Unofficially, no" he completed and both erupted into a heat relieving laughter.

"What did you mean by officially?" He noted with a frown. Though he came for oranges, he ended up with a grape graced wine.

"Mm.. Like I'll go my Christians friend's house to eat, shop and cruise around. That was especially when I was in school. And my Christian friends do the same during Ramadan" she explained and he listened attentively at every word. But he couldn't help but chortle at her last statement.

"So.. That was why I said, it's my official first time" she concluded and he nodded in comprehension.

"What did you study while at school" he settled on a chair and Aminat realised she was in for an interrogative interview. So.. She tried to stay calm and continue her cooking while answering his questions.

"English"

"Really?"

"Yes na" she paused and turned back with a chilling smile. "You?"

"MK said she told you already" he rolled eyes, still refusing to open the wine.

"MK?" Aminat asked pretentiously.

"I know you understand I'm referring to my mum" he shut her lies down and she gave a low chortle.

"You like Christmas?" She changed the topic.

"Mm.. Last year.." He tried to remember and she came to his rescue.

"You were performing live at Lagos"

"Oh yes! You remember?" He frowned in disbelief. "I can't believe you're reminding me of how I spent my last Christmas" he laughed and she joined him.

"Yeahhh. Even though I couldn't make it, I watched it live" she added, taking the soup from the cooker, all done.

"I want to tell you something" he paused and Aminat became startled with a frown at the grave in his voice.

"What about if we leave for Lagos tomorrow rather than the fourth of January?" He suggested and she shook her head in disapproval immediately before he could finish.

"I can't! I just can't leave like that" she grumbled like a kid that got her chocolate snatched.

"Come here" he whispered gently, taking her closer by her hand.

"The thing is.. I've got an unscheduled work hindering my plans. I need to leave this country by twenty eight of this month. So I need to get to Lagos tomorrow" he explained and she took a deep sigh, trying to avoid his gaze.

"Mm... What about my mum and kid brother? Won't I tell them before I leave?"

"You'll. You can by tomorrow morning  or afternoon. It's the most simplest thing, c'mon" he persuaded then someone knocked.

The knock confused him at first. Who could have knocked the kitchen's door. A stranger would only have to do that at the main entrance. Probably it must be one of his sisters trying to give them privacy. He sighed aloud but she had opened the door already. 

Boom!

A herd of a presenters and her crew stormed in. The female presenter who obviously was a black American had a angelic shape of a hot model - as noted by an awed, jaw dropped Aminat.

She  stared at the crew's shirts and the camera's fonts. It was clearly written to be the Vogue's.

"Christmas surprise!" She watched female presenter squealed in a sweet tone and hugged her husband with a peck on each side of his cheeks right in front of her.

"This is your mum's place right?" She pulled back with a chilling smile.

"Yeah" he replied with a restless grin. Aminat was sure he would have forgotten that they were both having a conversation before they trooped in like a herd of sheep with no Shepherd.

"What made you like this place... Like what's your favorite thing about it" she started and he got her chair before settling down on his own to answer the question.

"I just love it because it's so full of family stuffs. You know.. I get distracted from worldly and work, work stuffs like that. Mm.. I just think I love it because it feels home" he shrugged at his last statement.

What awed Aminat was the fact that he wasn't sitting like an interview guest a bit. He had one of his legs on the chair and sometimes make funny faces.

"So.. Welcome to the Get To Know Tlay Thirteen Times. You're ready?" The lady beamed with another smile and Aminat had to hold her eyeballs down before it rolled by itself.

"Run it!" He stood  from the chair and went over to where Aminat was standing behind the camera, making tea for Temmie.

He opened one of the shelves and brought out a mug cup.  Then collected the tea jaw from Aminat, pouring some into the cup. He went back to the presenter and handed over the tea to her before settling down back.

"Oh thanks!" Her sweet voice kept provoking Aminat for no reason.

"So.. Let's start with.. What's the meaning of Tlay"

Ayo kept staring at his wife from afar as if the was written on her forehead.