Feire noticed Fola’s countenance as she stood before him. She didn’t know whether she should ask what was wrong or who he was talking to, but she also didn’t want to sound like she was already doubting him barely minutes into the relationship.
“Won’t you ask me who called?” Fola threw at her.
She grinned. She didn’t know what to reply with.
“It’s Kike.” He glanced at his phone and back at Feire.
“Kike?” Feire was shocked.
“Yes. I don’t know why she is calling me. The moment I saw the number, I knew it was hers. I still know her number offhand.”
“What did she say?”
“I didn’t even hear her out before I ended the call when I noticed you were coming behind me.”
Feire chuckled. “Why?”
“I was just scared you would think I still had contact with her.”
Feire laughed.
“What are you people discussing that you left me out?” They heard Stella interrupt them.
“You better chill. When the husband finally gets the wife, every love planner must step aside.”
Stella laughed. “It isn’t your fault.”
Feire scratched her head. “What can a newly married woman be calling you for? On her wedding night for that matter.”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you sure it is her mobile number?”
He nodded. “I’m very sure.”
“Call her back.” She shrugged.
His eyes widened. “Call her back?”
Feire grinned again. “Let’s hear what she has to say.”
“Okay.” He pressed a few buttons on his phone.
Flashback to the wedding…
Feire, Mosun, Stella and Fola had already gotten comfortable seats. They all came in with Mosun’s invitation and sat together.
Feire raised her head from the pamphlet she was given to watch the groom and his men walk in and she smiled.
He didn’t see her.
Probably because it never crossed his mind even once that Feire might have found out, especially after Kike assured him she had tightened security and ensured anyone without an invitation wouldn’t get in.
He forgot Kike already distributed invitations at the office and Mosun naturally had access to one.
He stood beside his decorated chair while Bayo stood behind him as the best man.
As soon as that was done, Mosun stood up to excuse herself briefly when her phone buzzed. She soon returned to her seat to watch the bride and her father walk in too.
It was Kike.
Her boss.
They were not wrong after all.
Uche chuckled.
“How did you get to know the lady?” Susan asked.
“You know I told you I went to Kike’s office. As I was leaving that day, she followed me and said she wanted us to talk. At first, I thought she was one lady trying to shoot her shot or maybe introduce me to one business idea until we entered my car outside and she told me her name was Mosun and she worked with Kike.”
Susan adjusted herself on the seat. “Interesting.”
“She said the guy Kike wanted to get married to — which she eventually got married to today anyway — was her best friend’s fiancé and he had been dating Kike while keeping her friend completely in the dark. She explained how this wicked guy kept lying to his babe that he was only working for Kike, not knowing they were planning a wedding together.”
He paused briefly.
“She was the one who told me not to worry, that she would slot out her invitation for me so I could scatter everything.”
Susan laughed. “Now this is serious, Uche. Like, I’m not even comprehending this. You mean the guy that was kidnapped also has a babe, then the babe’s friend works with Kike and she was the one who gave you the invitation?”
He nodded. “Yes. The plan was for me to come and disrupt the wedding.”
“But what is giving you the assurance that you are the father of the baby?”
He shrugged. “I have been suspecting, Susan. You know I told you about all these things. How would Kike suddenly have such a wedding? Then barely months after our breakup she’s already pregnant? From the way the lady…” He stopped abruptly, trying to remember Mosun’s name again.
“Mosun or what did you call her…”
“Yes. From the way we talked, it was obvious this guy and Kike only met recently. I just know she got pregnant and doesn’t want me to know about it, so she pushed this guy to cover up for her.”
Susan shook her head. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
“That is the only uncertainty I have. How would a guy accept a pregnancy that isn’t his?”
“I feel the guy owns the baby, Uche. Because another thing you need to understand is that the more you fight for this baby when you aren’t even sure you are the father, the more they get closer to the truth that you raped her.”
He glared at her.
She chuckled and shrugged. “It is a bitter truth you also have to face, brother. You raped her.”
“Stop repeating it.”
“Truth is bitter.”
“Just let’s get out of here.”
“Hello,” Fola said into the receiver.
“Hey, Fola.”
“Is she the one?” Feire whispered and Fola nodded.
“Good evening,” Fola said awkwardly. He honestly didn’t know what else to say to her.
“Good evening. I… I don’t know how to say what I called you for.”
“What is it?”
“I was shocked to see you today. How did you get to know about the wedding?”
Fola glanced at Feire, not knowing what to reply with. Feire quickly waved her hands at him.
“Er… don’t worry. That is personal.”
“So personal that you can’t tell me? I’m honestly amazed at how you got an invitation to enter.”
“I know how to make my moves, Kike. I just came to wish you well.”
“And kidnap Desmond after, right?”
There was a short silence before Fola fully digested what she meant.
“I don’t understand.”
“Desmond is missing. He was kidnapped as we left the garden and my mind tells me you might have done this to retaliate.”
“He is missing?” Feire whispered again.
Fola nodded slowly.
“See, I don’t understand what you are saying, Kike. I just came to wish you well. I’m even shocked he is missing. How come?”
“Please, I’m sorry for all I did to you, Fola. Can you just release him? Please.”
“I’m serious. This sounds completely strange to me. I didn’t do anything. I don’t even know the guy.”
“Then tell me how you got the invitation.”
Feire waved at him not to disclose it.
“I’m sorry, the person who helped me wishes to remain unknown. I don’t know anything about his disappearance, I’m telling you the truth. I only came to see how you were doing after all these years and wish you well. I didn’t come there for any ulterior motive and I didn’t come to wreck havoc either. I know nothing about Desmond.”
Kike heaved a deep sigh and the call ended.
Fola and Feire kept staring at each other for some seconds, not knowing what to say.