****
"Dara," Kelvin called her pulling her out of sleep, she rubbed her eyes dazed, still drowsy. "We are here, we're already here, come on get up," he persuaded softly. She yawned and opened her eyes wider. She stretched a little bit, feeling like she had not slept for long.
"You can sleep all you want now," he said with a soft smile and she nodded feeling awkward with him. When did things become like this with him? He was her boyfriend before but they were never really serious. They were more like close friends.
She could not deny that she had blown him before but that was it, nothing else. They did not have time for themselves. They were so busy running around trying to find the attacker that they did not realise how much they were missing out.
Kelvin wanted to change that, but he felt like Daea was not ready. Not this soon, not after what had happened with Kelson and his mother. He was treading very lightly with her. Not wanting to overstep his boundary.
They walked into the penthouse and the elevator, after one of the residents of the building greeted them with a smile. They quietly rode the elevator to the penthouse. On getting there, Kelson was pacing around the room, and Nifemi was sitting on the couch watching the news and munching on chips. Luis and Dele were nowhere to be found.
"What are you doing here?" Kelvin said with malice in his voice. Dara looked toward Nife who shrugged, "I told him he was not allowed in the house but he forced his way I'm thinking you were in here. He said he was going to wait."
"Thank you," Dara said tiredly, she had bags under her eyes and her body was generally weak, a lot of things happening were taking a toll on her health. Nifemi nodded and wandered off away from them, knowing it was not her place to hear whatever conversations they were having with each other.
"You got married to Kelvin?" he asked making Kelvin frown, "leave Kelson, what my wife does is not your business." Kelson scoffed.
"Wife? Dara, why did you marry him, hun? Why did you marry my twin you ingrate!" he yelled at her, making her flinch. His words stunk regardless of her hatred, "Kelson the only reason I am not throwing you out of the building is that you aren't a twin. I went to leave now!"
"Leave? Why do you fuck the love of my life! Why are you keeping her in your arms and falling asleep with her by your side? That is what you want me to do!"
"Do not say that to me, Kelson! You have time and time again to say you loved me while doing the exact opposite."
"Dara why can't you understand?!" he tried to move toward her but Kelvin stopped him. "What happened between us was a blessing, I know you will not understand now, but marrying Kelvin was a mistake! Choosing him was a bigger mistake! I fucking love you," he wailed, but she would not look at him. Her head was pounding almost violently.
"I am calling security Kelson! You have overstayed our welcome here you will no longer be welcomed here or in our lives."
"Your lives? Dara was mine! You took her from me, how could you?" he pulled his twin by his collar. The white shirt had turned brown around the neck, "how could you do this to me? You married her! You betrayed me," he shouted in his face.
"Let him go, Kelson! Let him go!" she shouted at him before Kelvin pushed him off. Putting on the floor angrily. He matched toward the telecom, rapidly spoke into it and slammed it on its home.
"What did you aim to achieve by coming here? Why did you come here, Kelson? I have made it clear that I do not want to see your face or talk to you!" she stated angrily.
"I am sorry Darasimi, I am sorry for ruining your life, you know if I could I will turn back tbs hands of time and change what happen," he begged.
"Get out Kelson, I do not want to see your face ever again."
He scoffed and looked away trying to rein back the bus tears, he felt his throat clogged up. Dara married Kelvin, it was true, it was not false news. Truth be told, he knew deep in him that it was not a lie. The sneaking around the boys have been doing, they have been planning a wedding. A fucking wedding.
How could they do that to him? He was their true d wasn't he? How could they ostracise him when he was the only one that had harmed Dara? They bullied her first semester and now they are doing everything to take her away from him, is that how life works? They would just forget him like that? Because of Dara? His life felt like it was over.
He walked toward the front of the penthouse and walked away, leaving Dara who collapsed on the chair. She just needed a break from everything she had witnessed.
"Hey, are you okay?" Kelvin asked her and she opened her eyes back, rubbing her temple. She nodded with a brief smile. "I am exhausted Kelvin, everyone wants something from me. I just need a break, a real one, not one where there is another drama."
"I will see what I can do about it, but first, come, you should sleep first. You look exhausted." she stood to her feet and walked followed him forward toward the master bedroom.
"Why are we here... Kelvin..." he shook his head stopping, "I know why you want to say, marrying me does not mean you have forgiven me, I get it. Staying here does not necessarily mean anything, I know my place and I will not cross any boundary."
She nodded looking away, she looked around the room, trying to think of what to do first. "Do you want me to help you out of the dress? So you can sleep comfortably?" she nodded. He walked toward her back and started pulling the zip to her out of the dress. She shivered a little as he zipped her dress down. She felt his gaze down her spine and started pulling his
She stopped his hands remembering that she was not wearing more than a bra and pants underneath her gown.
"What's wrong?" he asked wondering why she was stopping him, "I am hum? I am going to do it myself," she stuttered quietly. Kelvin wondered why she was feeling shy around him, she ran blown him earlier and they had talked about sex among their friend group.
Maybe it was because they did not spend enough time together to know what they were comfortable with. She rubbed her shoulder before walking toward the platform carefully. Kelvin walked toward the walk-in wardrobe, he brought out a huge t-shirt and walked toward her. He gave it to her as she continued to struggle to get out of the dress.
"Let me help you Darasimi, you are struggling," Dara nodded feeling defeated, she turned to the other way, and he opened the entire zip. She turned back as quickly as she could and he moved away from her to show that he had no intention whatsoever.
He smiled reassuringly at her, "the tee is for you to change into, I will be in the living room. Once you can are awake come and see me in my study, I have work to do," Dara nodded and watched him leave. She pulled the gown off and pushed the t-shirt unto her body, before removing her bra. She pushed her down onto the floor and pulled the duvet over her, she closed her.
****
"You are saying that Kelson is throwing a tantrum, you have got to be kidding me!" Dele said shaking his head. He took a swing of his alcohol.
"The media is eating the wedding up, the perception is that as it had been predicted before. There is a union between the companies. It will tie your family's hands and Dara's family's. Stephanie is trying to prevent scandal and the Oladele's stock prices have risen by 26%. It is going to be on the news and everyone is trying to know more about the new couple. So..."
"If we can speed up the adoption process, legally Steohanie's hands would be tied." Luis finished, smirking.
"All this planning and everything, you did not see the way Kelson was acting, he was acting hysterical, guys. We should be careful and not forget about Temi and Shade Oladele. They have more power than they let on. We must tread carefully with them."
"I understand, and I was thinking of taking Dara and Layo to my uncle's resort. It will take her mind off everything, is that a good idea?" he turned to Nifemi, who dropped her cocktail on the wooden table next to her. She turned to the guys who had their attention fully on her.
"It is but pulling Layo out of school will not show to be a good parent in the court's eyes Kelvin. You and pulled her out of school twice now, see have to tread lightly."
He nodded considering Nifemi's advice. She was a pretty good friend, he could not deny that. She helped him with the gown, which the three of them used and the tuxedo, everything ranging from the media coverage and paparazzi was covered by her and Luis. She had managed to convince Dara that he was only trying to help her.
"Everything seems fine for now, which is totally abnormal," Luis joked but nobody paid attention to it. "Good thing that we already have back plans ready if everything backfires, we cannot let Dara down."
"You people are pretty loyal friends," Nifemi observed, with a blank expression, "if we want to be," Luis shrugged. "Now we better get going, when do you want to leave for the resort?" Dele asked, standing from the sofa. He pulled his one from the wooden stool that was placed next to him.
"On Saturday, that will be the best. I will help Dara settle into the penthouse and we can visit Layo before we have like mini hangout section then we call to leave."
"How long?" Dele asked, "a week or two, I just want her to have a clear head before we return. Fighting against Robinsons as Oladeles is one crazy deal. We have to be mentally strong if we want to come out victorious."
Luis nodded noting all that he was saying, "take care Kelvin, I know you are not going to admit it but it is nice to see that you are doing a good thing for her and Layo, she loved but you with Kelson and everything. She can look at you the same way."
"I understand, I just wish for her to be fine, for everyone to stop demanding her devotion when they have shown that they are not to be trusted. She had no choice then, I will make sure to give her a choice in the marriage."
The trio nodded before he escorted them out of the penthouse, he walked back to find a quiet and empty house. He had to remind himself that Daea was asleep in his house, their house. Just thinking of it gave him butterflies. He was happy even though everything was not sorted. She was his and this could give him a chance, give them a chance to work their issues out.
****