8. Playful Mood

The doctor finished examining Braden and returned to his seat. Both Alicia and Naadu were present.

Braden also returned to his seat and asked the doctor the reason for the headache anytime he remembers something. The doctor gave a long medical explanation which he didn't understand a thing, "In simple terms?" Braden asked the doctor.

"Although you didn't suffer any brain damages, there's a slight problem that makes it stressful for your brain to remember things, that stress causes the headache." The doctor explained. "But this time I didn't try to remember on my own. The memory came by it's self. "Yes but the brain was still working." "So how do I stop the headaches?" Braden asked him.

"Just take the drugs regularly and everything will be fine." Braden nodded his head and asked, "So, when can I start exercising? I'm tired of the clutches already."

"All in due time, but if you can stand the pain, I'll get the doctor for you and send your schedules to your wif _ nurse." he cursed undertone for his near slip but Braden didn't even notice.

Naadu took the prescription from the doctor and asked  Alicia and Braden to wait for her in the car.

When they reached the car park, Alicia opened the door to the back seat for him and helped him get in the seat. In the process of taking the clutches from him, he tripped. As Alicia helped to prevent him from falling, they ended up in an embrace. Their eyes met and held and time froze as both their hearts accelerated. While Braden wandered what was happening to him and why he felt strong attractions towards Alicia, she was wandering if he could remember the embrace.

Then just when the tension heightened between them a car horn sounded beside them and ruined the moment. "Sorry, I lost my balance." She straightened herself up and helped him sit comfortably then asked if he was okay. 'I am but a little friend of mine isn't,' he was thinking but he nod his head in response rather. "Did you say something?" She asked and he stared. Did he say it out loud. "I said I'm okay. Thank you." He plastered a smile on his face and said. "I'll leave the door open for fresh air, the sun is too high this morning."

She did just that and went to her seat behind the wheels. "Whose car is this? I don't remember it." He inquired. "It's mine." "Do you earn that much to afford this expensive car?" He was curious. The car was the latest model jaguar and white in color. "My husband bought it for me on my last birthday." She informed him. "What? He's rich and must love you a lot. This is the latest model and it costs a fortune."

"We love each other madly." She said with teary eyes. That statement stirred up an emotion within him which shocked him, he felt jealousy. "Are you not too young to be married?" He stated then added, "from what you said, I helped you into nursing school so you've probably been in school for _"

"Final year. I'm almost through. I just have my final exams to write in some few days." She informed him. "So how does Ruth know your husband?" "I told her." "You converse with the house help?" He sounded shock. "What am I? Am I not like her?" Her words shut his mouth.

A while later, "I'm rather curious, cause I knew you as a teenager so it's strange to wake up and you're all grown up _"

"I'm 25years old and I've been married less than a year, and before you ask we're separated, that's why I took this job." She cut in. "You said that yesterday. Am I bothering you?" He asked and she shook her head in answer, "Not really but it feels weird talking to you about my husband." She explained and he nod his head. "I understand, but can I ask another question?" She turned in her seat to face him. "Go ahead"

"How come I remembered how he calls your name? Do I know your husband?" He inquired and she stared for a while then shrugged her shoulders, "I wouldn't know. Do you know him?" She asked instead and he chuckled.

Naadu walked over, shut her brother's door and took the front seat. Alicia set the car in motion. "Did you get to know each other better?"

"We're well acquainted now. It seems she's helping me out of gratitude." Nii said, "And because she cares for you." Naadu added.

"I also found out her husband is richer than me and I might know him." He said again, "Maybe not before but now he should be richer, considering how you spend lavishly on Patricia."

"Ouch! That blow hurts."  He feigned pain and Naadu and Alicia chuckled. "Alice will make you a perfect wife." Naadu said causing Alicia to give her a brief stare before looking back on the road. "She's a perfect wife to her husband." Braden pointed out to his sister.

"If you think I spend then what about her husband, he bought the latest model of Jaguar for her." He added. "She's his wife, Patricia is not even your girlfriend."

"Then I'll make her my wife." Alicia lost control of the car.

"Watch out, Alice!" Naadu exclaimed.

Alicia controlled the car skillfully to their amazement. "Wow. Excellent. You deserve this car." Braden complimented.

"Nii don't ever say what you said again not even as a joke." Naadu warned him.

***

Mrs Lartey Senior barged into an office, where Alicia sat behind a desk working on some papers. "You finally showed your claws." Alicia looked up from the papers she was reading. "I always knew you were a chameleon, finally you revealed your true colors." "What did I do, mum?"

"What're you doing in my sons office?"

"Protecting my family's interests." Alicia replied to her fury. "Which family? The one you killed and buried with your jinx?" Alicia chose to ignore her statement and rather said,

"In my husband's absence, as his next of kin, I've the right to act in his stead."

"You've no rights in this company, young lady. So bundle yourself and your trash out of my company." Alicia chortled. "Are you trying to intimidate me, Mum?" Her question puzzled her mother in law. "You and I are both aware that as a way of punishing Nii, you sold all your shares out. So you don't really have any power in the company unless Nii says otherwise."

Her words shocked mother in law. "Nii tells me everything. I know his plans and thoughts for this company and I intend to use that knowledge to correct the wrongs in his absence."

"And who'll take care of him?" Mother in law asked.

"Me, 'cause I don't trust you to help."

"You'll regret this, I'll speak with my son_"

"You'll do no such thing, mother, or you'll answer more than "how did I get here" Alicia pointed out to her. "What do you intend to achieve by your actions?"

"Mother, our clients are threatening us for giving them inferior products."

"But we've been producing and supplying this same product for the past 20years." Her senior insisted.

"Tastes and preferences have changed, mother. Do you now understand why Nii retired you?"

The woman only shook her head. "He only did that because he feared I'd turn against him when he decided to marry a gold digger like you." They held their gazes for a while then Alicia nod and agreed with her, "how could I forget."

Alicia rose from her seat and packed the papers, "I've a meeting to attend." She walked passed her to the door. "You'll regret this, Alicia."

She paused at the door and turned to her, "I've had far worse regrets than this." She said and left the woman alone in the room.

"Witch!" She hauled insult at her daughter in law.

•••

Braden and Alicia were making out at the entrance of his room, he opened the door and walked them in while still kissing passionately, then shut the door behind him and his hands started exploring her body, while still kissing her.

They paused the make out session for a while and stared at each other hungrily for a while then resumed kissing, this time undressing each other.

Braden carried her bridal style, walked her to the bed and laid her gently on the bed. He hovered over her with her lying in between his legs. "My beautiful Alicia." He traced his fingers on her cheeks down to her neck, shoulder and arms and goosebumps spread all over her skin, wherever he touched. She also touched his face and smiled then his head came down on hers and claimed her lips once again.

Braden proceeded to making passionate love to his wife without holding anything back.

--------

Ruth cleaned something from the center table as Naadu watched her. "Thank you Ruth. Is my _"

Alicia came in, from outside, at that moment and greeted them. "Good evening, I was about asking about you. Where did you go?"

"I had to check and supervise somethings at the company." Alicia replied. "When was that?" Naadu inquired, "Late morning."

"That means my brother was all alone?" Naadu exclaimed and rose from her seat. "What do you mean all alone. Esther was here and she told me she'll be home all day that's why I left." Alicia explained. "She wasn't here when I returned from the market." Ruth informed them. Alicia dropped her bag and rushed inside, straight to Braden's room. She opened the door quietly and entered. He was fast asleep but behaving strange. So she went closer to check if he was okay, then she saw the bulge in his trousers and chuckled.

As if sensing someone's presence in the room, he tossed left and right and woke up with a start. "What the_ what are_" "I came to check up on you since no one has seen you around." Alicia said. "You left me alone." He accused and she shook her head, "Esther was here when I left. There was an emergency that called for my attention. If I knew she'd leave I wouldn't have left you with her, I'm sorry." She apologized. "It's okay. The physiotherapist cancelled our appointment today." He informed her. "Yeah. She told me you needed some important tests for her to know the kind of exercises to do with you." Alicia explained. "But I've to inform her that her worries have no bases." She smiled as he watched her very puzzled. "You're as fit as a fiddle." She teased and winked at him, gesturing to the tent in his pants. He chuckled and covered himself then remembered his dream and smiled absentmindedly. "Now what's causing that mischievous smile on your face?" She inquired standing akimbo and he smirked at her. "I just remembered something." "Are you going to tell me or should I guess." His smile widened. "Is it the reason for the ...?" She gestured to his lower segment. "Maybe."

"So is it Patricia?" She teased and winked at him

"Believe me you don't want to know." He stated then something dawned on him, "Are you not being too forward with me Madam Nurse?" He raised his eyebrows. She shrugged her shoulders, "I'm in a good mood today." She smiled and added, "playful mood is the correct word instead."

She moved to the side of the bed where he lay to help him up from the bed. She didn't see his clutch and hit it with her leg, "Ouch!" she fell into his embrace, "sorry, are you okay?" he automatically held on to her. When she lifted her head to tell him she was okay, she realised their face was just an inche apart, their nose was almost touching and Braden was staring at her lips...