e

s under her spell, like I was caught up in the thick web she had created. Celine was saying somet

were you saying?" I adjusted

ing at two, sir.

ind me, wi

, sir." S

that all?" I ad

per phoned..."

cleared her thr

t to tell the CE

ow." She cut Celine off and

out. I watched how Nana's eyes traile

the matt

he dexterously tucked a trespassing s

s quite im

I returned my gaze to the plethora of files on

or only one

!" We ch

n idea." She gave a

king about Ariadne would only

e," she

you could possibly imagin

na.

you've made her chase after you like

e, to be with me? I don't love her, Nana.

t Cel

y, wh

ll was she

ip these days." She crossed he

an

unbeli

what is necessary right away. Has sh

Nana. Celine has noth

e you are seeing someone. Who i

I was

urse in my presen

our manners?

me about manners, N

defiant...you are bent o

n make decisions for myself, I can likewise discern

ilent for

I'm still quite struggling to

n the right track

dded q

rack of yours. When shall I meet her?" Her insightfu

allo

supposed to

w this woman whom I wa

ight with her was what

woman who abided in my delusions if I a

ng the entirety of my being and i

ned, twitching

the country."

oes she not have an identity? A

you reject a conglomerate's d

ave myself from Nana'

is..." I found m

returns." I hoped my lie sounded like a complete truth, genuine enough to keep Nana

her a superior to Ariadne, or the welcome end

he rose to her feet,

adne. A man is allowed the liberty of multip

me to fuck her." I di

it. You are not i

n't believe she

ha

d be a cheat

? Do you trust her not to fuck

made the reality more real, more t

s not

ted to her family." She finally said. T

ng myself for her, but I didn't know where she was or whom she was spen

fi

et my eyes on Aunt Layla that morning. I had wanted to curse at her and even hurl

er's wicked voice came saying as so

come to see her." A

loud, much to the discontentment of Mrs.

can just waltz in here and do as you pl

Sofia," Aunt Layla urged, and I ambled across the room to her. I watched as Mrs.

t of wedlock into my house, have you

ourself, Mrs. Carter. My son is quite harmless a

to keep mute thereafter. I know her

seat?" Aunt

e again." I guessed that was Mrs. Carter's way of

up on the sofa. "How have you been, Sofia? Y

d tell you..." If I began,

ofia." She stroked my hair as she used

times when I'd longed to see and hear her voice. When Mrs.

ught her starin

tell you, too, abo

s. Carter cut in. She could do well to k

rica, Ke

hirped with

Kenya." Aunt

you." I cried. "I'll make it

esides..." She stopped talking, di

Aunt Lay

said in a con

ayla s

aken, Mrs. Carter,"

ou expla

ile, staring at Mrs. Carter. I

a prominent one in my portf

ehend it at firs

" She ch

Mrs. Carter asked, by then I

one of the top three designer brands in the worl

own the

unt Layl

o believe that, do you

u who leave others in a lurch to believe in an outstanding

nt of the co

on." She said b

that position,

as

n? Why is she there when y

hey are not so trivial to be dis

odd

nt to pee,"

e Nathan to the restr

, Nathan." I took his hand a

yl

on her face. I knew she was onl

our desertion gave me the opportun

w if you are n

be duly reciprocated. Be it enmi

me back to the

. Carter. And besides, Nathan should

othered. "Is there anyt

to take Sofia out twice a week.

l thoughts plagued my mind. I stared lingeringly at my reflection in the mirror; I was certainly another

around. I touched my ring finger, recalling that night when I had flung my weddi

now, I have a beautiful new life. And love? Oh, love! I doubted it still had a chance for me. Whatever love I must sha

he was not at all a stranger? Of course, I did. I had these thoughts. What did he look like? Wh