Chapter 16

Ezekiel$

I never realized what I truly valued until now. My girlfriend, and soon-to-be mother of our future children, Kiyara, is everything to me. She's my oxygen, my heart, and the reason for my morning smiles. Known to the world as the owner of K Jewels, she's known to me as my entire life.

I couldn't live without her. I knew I would go mad if I didn't have cameras set up in every corner of her mansion to keep track of her. My days have been blessed since she confessed her feelings, and with my family aware of our relationship, she feels like part of my family, which she will be.

We're at my home, working on a big project—a creation that will celebrate our relationship and make the world remember us for years to come. It's a bracelet from K Jewels, combined with E Tech's technology.

"Done," I said, finishing the last piece of the motherboard and testing it. It worked perfectly.

"Oh my God, it's amazing!" Kiyara exclaimed, hugging me and giving me a peck. I'd make thousands of these if I got a peck from her each time.

I smiled, satisfied. "So, when are you going to show the public?" she asked.

"Me?" I replied, confused.

"Yes," she said. I took her wrist and gently pulled her onto my lap.

"We'll both go out there and show the world that we are a perfect couple," I said. She looked flushed, probably because of how close we were.

"Come on, don't tell me you haven't gotten used to this?" I teased. She rolled her eyes and got off my lap.

"So, when are we going to show the world?" she asked, emphasizing the "we."

"What about tomorrow?" I suggested. She looked surprised.

"It's too soon. How can we inform the press so quickly?" she asked.

"Don't worry. All you have to do tomorrow is—" "—look pretty," she interrupted. I frowned at her.

"What will it take for you to understand that you look beautiful in anything you wear?" I asked. She smiled.

"Only to you, lover boy," she said. I got up from the chair and headed towards the kitchen. She followed me, laughing.

"What's wrong?" I asked, noticing her amusement.

"Don't tell me you're going to cook," she said, mockingly.

"Are you underestimating your future husband?" I said with a slight smirk.

"Oh no, sir, but I just think it would be best if I cooked instead. By the way, where are your chefs?" she asked.

"I fired them," I said plainly.

"Don't tell me it's because I made them food," she said.

"Partly. The other reason is... when you become my wife, I want us to cook together, just like loving couples. I want us to have fun in the kitchen, teach our children to cook, and maybe invent a new delicacy," I said, walking towards her and wrapping my arms around her waist.

"I understand, but what will happen to them?" she asked.

"Don't worry, I gave them each a million dollars so they wouldn't be upset," I said, lighting the hot plate and starting to cook.

"That's really generous, soul," she said softly, making me feel a rush of affection.

"What did you just call me?" I asked, turning towards her.

"Soul," she said seductively. She was clearly trying to distract me from burning the noodles, but it didn't work. I walked towards her and kissed her deeply until we were out of breath.

"Chefs don't get distracted," I said.

"I don't care," she replied, returning the kiss.

Kiyara

Despite my efforts to distract Ezekiel, he was an excellent cook. He boasted that he had specifically learned to cook just for me, which made me feel special.

I've wanted many things in life, but Ezekiel is my soul and the reason I wake up every day feeling clean and renewed. He's my other half, the reason I feel good every day and forget the difficulties of life, even though he doesn't let me avoid them.

I am Black, and he is white, but he loves me for who I am, including my Nigerian slangs. He has even made an effort to understand them for me.

"You never told me about your parents," he said, noticing my somber mood as I looked at the soda in my hands.

"I thought you knew," I said.

"Well, I don't know how nice or cruel your parents were, only that you had to live with your uncle because they died," he said gently.

I took a deep breath. "Well, my dad was a businessman who owned a jewelry company, and my mom died after giving birth. My dad loved me, but then he had a sudden heart attack. People fought over his inheritance, which was supposed to be mine. My uncle ended up with it, but he squandered it on gambling and cigarettes. He mistreated his family and didn't care about me."

I felt Ezekiel's hand squeeze my shoulder in support. "Will you be angry if I visited your uncle sometime?" His voice was friendly but his tone suggested a darker intent.

I looked at him, feeling a mix of emotions. "There's no point. I don't want to see him again or be reminded of him."

"Okay," he said, taking a sip of his cola. I hugged him unexpectedly and smiled.

"I'm lucky to have you with me, Ezekiel King."

Ezekiel$

"Come on, bruh, I know you missed me. It's hard being in the UK without you. I can't breathe knowing you're so far away," Mark's dramatic voice came over the phone, making me roll my eyes.

"Stop being melodramatic and just tell me why you called," I said.

"So much for 'I missed you, Mark,'" he said, sounding disappointed. Those words were only meant for Kiyara.

"Well, I'm coming back to California tomorrow, and I know you've been up to something. I also know you won't tell me about it because of your secretive nature, so I'll find out myself," Mark said suspiciously.

"Do whatever you want, Mark. I don't care," I said, ending the call.

Mark has been my close friend for years. He's a member of E Tech and is responsible for exporting weapons to other countries. Mark enjoys the company of women, parties, and heavy drinking. While he spreads positive vibes, he can also be a bad influence.

Strangely enough, Ariel, who happens to be Kiyara's best friend, reminds me of him.

Mark is nosy and often invades people's privacy. When he found out I hadn't been to a brothel, he forced me to go, which led me to meet Kiyara. It was the only thing he did that made sense.

I knew when he arrived, he'd sniff out something suspicious quickly. If he dared to flirt with Kiyara, he'd have serious consequences.

Before I knew it, tomorrow arrived. I made sure to lock my doors because Mark has a habit of not knocking. He eventually knocked after struggling with the locked door for a few minutes.

"Don't come in," I said plainly.

"Come on, bro. This is how you welcome your soulmate?" he said dramatically.

I opened the door to see his familiar grin. He reached out his arms for a hug, but I turned and walked inside instead.

"You're no fun," he pouted as he followed me.

"How was the UK?" I asked, feigning curiosity.

"It was nice. Lots of beautiful women and good people," he said with a grin.

"What about you, Ezekiel? Still single?" Mark mocked.

"She's not a 'bitch,'" I said, my calm tone masking my irritation.

"Oh, so you've got a woman now?" Mark smirked.

"I was never yours, Mark," I said, getting up and heading upstairs. Mark followed me, entering my dressing room despite my attempt to keep it private.

"You're not meant to be here," I said coldly.

"Oh, come on. We're both men—" I threw a book at him, which he dodged.

"Hey, calm down. Tell me about your girl," Mark said, trying to diffuse the tension.

"I dare you to call her a 'bitch' again," I warned.

Mark shut up immediately, and we continued to the event venue. I was introducing a new product to the public with Kiyara by my side. She was meant to come alone since her friends, Ariel and Bella, were busy.

As we arrived at Kiyara's mansion, she stepped out in her gown, looking even more elegant than I had imagined. The driver opened the door for her, and Mark's surprise at seeing her was evident.

"Oh my God, it's the—" Kiyara started, but I cut her off with a swift, firm punch to Mark's nose, which made him stagger and bleed. Kiyara flinched, clearly unsettled.

"Watch it," I said coldly.

Mark, though bleeding, managed to laugh. "Nice to see you too."

Kiyara, though clearly uncomfortable, tried to compose herself. "You look stunning," Mark said to her. "If it weren't for me, Ezekiel might not have met you. He was quite reluctant about the brothel visit, but I insisted."

Kiyara managed a polite smile, and I saw her discomfort but chose not to address it immediately. We proceeded to the event, where Kiyara and I presented the new bracelet—a testament to our shared journey and collaboration.

The public's reaction was positive, and it was a moment of pride for us. After the event, Kiyara and I took a quiet moment together.

"Today was amazing," Kiyara said, her eyes reflecting both relief and joy. "Thank you for everything."

"It was my pleasure," I replied, smiling at her. "You made it truly unforgettable."

We shared a quiet, intimate moment, savoring the success of the day and looking forward to our future together. The event was not only a professional milestone but also a celebration of our love.