Chapter 3 Three

AYO CURSED UNDER HIS breath as he moved away from the gambling section. He made his way to the bar, bumping into a few people as the club was filled up.

Well what was he to expect? It was Friday night.

A perfect day to get drunk, stay up late and do things that'll leave you shaking your head when you wake up.

Maneuvering through the crowd, he made his way to the bar and quickly slid on a stool. A small sigh of relief escaped his lips.

As if on cue, a sexy bartender-one he had caught staring at him from time to time-walked up and stood before him.

She moved slowly. Batting her eyelids in the art of seduction. Her mouth moved as soon she formed a bubble with the gum she was chewing on. Finally, she stood in front of him, her hands sprawled on the table, boobs on full display thanks to the small shirt she was wearing.

His lips twitched as he lifted his chin and held her gaze. The lady had a smug look.

Oh, she knew she was attractive.

Damn daughters of Delilah! Can't move around in peace without bumping into, at least, a dozen of em.

"Can I get you anything?" she asked in a really loud voice. Trying to be heard over the loud music.

He studied her for a while. The long green hair on her head let down to cradle her small round face. The club did know how to put beautiful women behind bars.

Great body and revealing outfit.

She turned her head to the side, running her fingers through her hair and packing them to one side so that her neck was on full display.

Ayo frowned.

Did she mistake him for a vampire? If yes, she wasn't the type he'd like to drink from.

He liked his women rather...thick and big everywhere.

"Like what you see?" she yelled.

Well thank God for the loud music. She would have purred that instead.

"I'll pass." when she scoffed, he added "I'll have a beer instead."

"You know, there are other things that can get you high instead of a beer." she smirked before walking to get what he asked for.

"There are? I had no idea." he chose to go with playing dumb and that made her chuckle.

"Whatever you say." she gave him his beer, two. He pushed the other one back but she stopped him. "It's on the house." she smiled.

"Wow, aren't you a nice, generous lady!"

She scoffed "There's plenty where that came from and even more when it's coming from me." he knew he had a dumb look on his face because her shoulders slumped. "Three words. Blow. Your. Mind."

He arched a brow at the damsel who was already backing away to attend to someone else. "Okay," she winked and went about her business.

Opening his drink and taking a long sip, he spun around while still seated to face the people on the dance floor.

Ayo scanned the crowd for his friend, but met the gaze of several girls who seemed to want him to come dance with them but he waved them off with a smile.

Today was just not...it. He didn't feel it.

"Hey bruh, what's up?" he didn't have to turn to know who it was.

"And the man returns after countless hours of flirting." Ayo praised, turning to hold his gaze.

Timi grinned.

Ever heard a man being called beautiful? Well, that was Timi. His Mother actually thought she was having a girl due to the signs of the pregnancy and even the scan but then the baby came out having that face of a girl and a stick between his legs. She named him Timileyin. Timi for short. It was a unisex name and one that suit him all too well. He had a round face, smooth too like that of a baby's. Long lashes, curved eyebrows, chubby cheeks and a pouty mouth. To top it all, he was of average height and had a slender body.

"Oh please stop. You're too kind." Timi said and fluttered his lashes a few times. Ayo laughed at the act, picking up his second beer and handing it over to him.

"See anything you like?"

He shook his head, not even thinking twice "Nope, you?"

"Nah, they do have this great sense of humour but nah, I'll pass."

"Then what are we doing here?" Ayo found himself asking. He couldn't believe he had to go through the troubles of leaving the house before asking himself what he would be doing in the club.

"You did say you wanted to have fun." Timi reminded him.

"And?" he queried. "I didn't mean a club."

"Where else do people go to have fun? Plus, there are pretty girls here, Ayo. Just open your mind and stop being stubborn." Timi yelled. "You're not making it easy for me as your wingman oo." he announced, causing Ayo to choke on his beer, bursting out laughing.

"What? When did I say I needed a wingman?"

"It's an unspoken job requirement." Timi made it known. "A best friend is a wingman."

Ayo chuckled at his words. He didn't need a wingman but he wasn't about to tell Timi that. The man would give him reasons-valid ones-as to why he needed him.

He rolled his eyes, bringing forth his beer to his lips when his movements stopped. The brain cells giving the action ceased to function as someone caught his attention.

He couldn't look away and by heavens he didn't want to.

Perfection was an understatement but he had to settle for that. She was an epitome of perfection.

A hand gripping his thighs had him tearing his eyes from the woman as he looked at his best friend whose hand called his attention but eyes were on someone else.

"Holy shit!" he heard Timi say. "Dude. Dude. Dude." he called, tapping him continuously.

Suddenly irritated by the action, he pushed his hand away. Turning his attention back to who deserved it.

She was worth every nanosecond of his time.

Standing at the entrance, she graced the club of undeserving men with her presence. Not like she even dressed for the occasion but she slayed the outfit without even trying.

She owned a red gown that hugged her curvy shape. A gown that kissed and taunted her round hips, flat stomach and big boobs. One that still took its time to show off her long legs. The gown did nothing to hide her fair skin and that even complimented it.

Ayo glanced away, suddenly feeling hot. He threw his head back and emptied his cold drink. A heavy sigh before looking her way again.

Her red pick and drop hairdo was held in a bun. Dropping down to her shoulders.

A girl who didn't care about length.

Her face was void of any form of makeup other than a lipstick that glistered on her small lips.

One who still had eyes for natural beauty and wore it with great confidence.

Her almond eyes were cold. Stopping the guys that tried to make a move. Slender fingers coming up, signifying 'Stop' to those who dared.

Her eyes. They fluttered close every now and then and her body swayed. He noticed the firm grip she had on the wall.

Tipsy but picky.

Again, she was an epitome of perfection.

When she finally took a step, he expected her to stop along the way or stagger so he could swoop in and save the damsel in distress. The way she moved made him doubt if his theory of her being tipsy was true.

It was either that or she was good at putting up an act and always staying in control no matter what.

She walked towards him and soon held his gaze. His breathing turned shallow as he suddenly became aware of every movement he made.

Unable to stare into those cold eyes of hers, he looked away.

His heart was beating fast and loud and as she continued to advance towards him, he only prayed she wouldn't hear it.

Did she still have her eyes on him? He didn't know. He didn't even want to find out.

He scanned the crowd while his eyes itched to have its gaze on her.

Timi appeared in front of him, his eyes glued beside him. When he held his gaze, Ayo could tell what was going on.

'She's here.' Timi mouthed and he gave a nod. When his brows arched, Ayo looked away.

He felt Timi poke him. A sigh. He gave his attention.

'Do something.' Timi mouthed with a frown.

"What?" Ayo asked. More like yelled. Shamelessly. With a smile on his lips.

Timi hit his thighs and moved up close to his ear. "Guy, are you mad? Say something to her!"

"No, you do it. You're the wingman. Make us meet."

"The universe is doing that right now. Look at her!" Timi forced through gritted teeth.

"Na. You know I don't believe in that." he shook his head.

"Why won't you look at me?" the female voice asked from beside him and both men froze.

Drawing in a long breath, Ayo turned.

Oh the universe be praised!

He held her gaze. Those eyes stared up at him in curiosity and her lips pushed up in a small pout.

"What?" he asked. Choosing to play dumb.

"You heard me." she demanded in a fierce tone.

"Er...okay." he smirked. Not knowing what to say, he asked. "I'm looking at you now. That's good?"

Still holding his gaze, she shook her head slowly. The action was somehow sexual.

Fuck!

"Not how you were looking at me back there. What happened to the hunger in your eyes?" she teased with a cocky smile.

"You saw that?"

She nodded slowly.

"Uhm, okay." he had never been speechless before.

"Hi," Timi intervened and relief washed over Ayo. He had never been this relieved and happy to be with his best friend all his life. "My name is-"

"Would you love to dance?" she asked, cutting him short.

Ayo's throat went dry. He didn't want her to leave.

Fuck! Fuck! Do something. Say something!

"Yes, I'd like that very much." the smile in Timi's voice as he said those words made Ayo clench his jaw in anger.

He watched as a relaxed smile spread to the lady's lips. This time, it reached her eyes. They lit up. Like a kid who was promised candy.

"Good. Go dance. I want to talk to your friend."

Ayo gaped at her.

Timi was silent. He might be a beautiful man, but Ayo was the kind of guy that every woman would drop her panties for without even thinking twice! And to top it all off, he had a charming personality and a gorgeous smile that did the trick. If his smile didn't get them to run towards him fast, his words did and his words only come as backup if his good body did not draw the female before the smile came in.

When he held Timi's gaze, his throat went dry but he nodded. A sign saying he would be okay. But who was he kidding? He would definitely piss himself!

Timi leaned forward and Ayo turned, giving him his ear.

"I don't like her."

He almost laughed but he held himself back as he watched Timi leave with a slight frown on his face.

He knew how Timi felt. He had once said that the gorgeous man and beautiful one always go hand in hand. While women thought it was cute to have babies with Timi because obviously the kids will be beautiful, Ayo was a trophy husband. All females wanted to do around him was flaunt him and then try to trap him down with pregnancy.

But he considered that boring.

Turning back to his...mistress, he smiled back at her. "My friend probably hates you by-"

"I'll be damned if I care." she gave a dismissive wave of her hand and rolled her eyes.

Immediately, she moved closer to him and his hands automatically settled on her waist.

In his defense? He held her steady.

He caught the whiff of alcohol oozing on her. Oh she'd had too much to drink, yes. But she was still in control of her actions.

Maybe.

She leaned forward as if to whisper something in his ear and he gave her what she seeked. But when she latched on his earlobe, sucking and gently nibbling on it, he doubted she knew what she was doing but that didn't stop him from tightening his hands on her waist and moaning at her actions.

"Come." she whispered.

Daughter of Delilah. He reminded himself.

"Come with me and you'll never want another woman for a whole month."

He arched a brow knowing fully well that she couldn't see him. Words failed him and he lost all thoughts of concentration when she trailed her fingers in his head. Caressing and gently scraping.

Fuck! She was good.

She pulled away until she was holding his gaze with a smirk on her lips.

He was panting hard. Just from her touch. He was panting like a dog. She knew what she was doing to him.

The damned daughter of Delilah had a smirk on her lips.

But Refuse that kind of proposal? Not in a million years.

"For a whole month? You've got yourself a deal." he confirmed with a smirk of his own.

***

IVONNE SIGHED SOFTLY as a yawn escaped her lips. She stretched her body, twisting in the most possible way. Sighing from the relief it brought.

She squeezed her eyes open, shutting them immediately at the bright light emerging from her window but after a while, they adjusted just fine.

Finally, she sat up only to wince from the ache her head pounded in.

Slowly this time, with her hands on each side of her temples, she sat. Leaning back against the headboard, she rubbed her temples finding sweet relief.

Glancing around, her gaze fell on her red dress lying on the floor beside the door. She looked down at herself and frowned. The movements of her hands stilled.

She was wearing a T-shirt.

Why was she wearing a T-shirt when she didn't even own one?

She held the material. One of her brows arced in surprise at how soft it was. She brought the material to her nose and took a big whiff.

Male. Cologne.

Ivonne froze.

How come?

But when she got nothing but headaches, quickly, she grabbed the hem of the shirt and threw it over her head.

She tossed it aside and lazily got out of bed. Her hand flying to rub her temples once more as her head began to ache, she walked past the mirror but stopped and took some steps back, wanting to take a good look at herself.

But the girl in the mirror was so pitiful.

She looked like shit. Her face was swollen. Her hair scattered atop her head, they were pulled out of the bun she'd held them in. She was in her blue bra and matching underwear.

Her eyes roamed her body and when she turned her neck to the side-

Was that? No. A hickey?

First, a T-Shirt that she didn't even own and now a hickey?

The more she tried to remember anything of how she got both, the more the headache.

The last thing she remembered was attending Kemi's engagement party.

Giving up on her memory, she glanced around her room. Searching for anything out of the ordinary. Her gaze fell on the clock hung above her bed.

"Shit!" she dashed into the bathroom. Punctuality was after all, what she had to exhibit in the office.

***

"Don't touch anything. I'll handle it when I get back." she sneered. "I have to do everything myself." Ivonne shook her head. She was video chatting with her personal assistant.

The lady, Patricia, bowed her head and the act made Ivonne narrow her eyes.

All her Father knew how to do was hire incompetent people. All of them were second hand products. They couldn't do anything without calling her first.

You made it that way. Her inner voice seemed to remember.

No decision was final without her approval. But if the idiots had a little trust in their skills, then they would generate the balls to do it without her being involved.

That would just give you enough reason to fire them.

"But Ma," Patricia began, "You made it clear that no one should do anything without-"

"Are you trying to be smart, Patricia?" she doubted as she walked down the stairs. "It's a little too late for that now. I already know you as a dumb-star."

The young woman blinked away the tears.

Ivonne rolled her eyes at the usual act that irritated her. "Anyways, call for a meeting with Becky's team and Juliet's, I want to know how the new product is coming along." she climbed down the stairs in a bit of a hurry.

"Yes, Miss. Ivonne. When will you be here?"

She paused. One of her brows arced in shock. "Patricia, get them to wait for me in the conference room. That's all you need to know."

She hung up. "Stupid. They should wait for me to come. What kind of lazy people did my father hire like this?"

She hissed. Her heels hitting the floor with a bit of force. She gripped her handbag a little tighter. Her stomach rumbled and she placed a hand over it.

She didn't eat anything last night and she obviously couldn't wait to eat. She had places to be.

Walking past the dining room, her feet came to a stop when she inhaled a mouth watering aroma in the air.

Ivonne turned towards the kitchen.

She didn't have a chef. She never had the need to hire one and surely one didn't just magically appear in her house but given the strange hickey on her neck, the T-shirt she'd had on this morning, she was prepared for the unexpected.

She let her bag sag to the floor.

Was it her driver?

Her brows knitted and her mouth turned down in a frown.

He already left yesterday to go back home.

She had work today and had completely forgotten to tell him to drive her to work.

Now how would she get there?

Pushing that aside, she focused on what was happening right before her eyes.

Why was there a hot man dipped in caramel in her kitchen?

And shirtless too.

Those wide shoulders. Long legs in black Jeans hanging low on his waist.

For an average built man he did have a pretty slim waist.

"Who the hell are you and what in the world are you doing in my house?"

In my kitchen to be precise. Shirtless and swinging your ass like you own the place.

But that hung as her breath left her when the intruder spun on his heels.

She held the gaze of light brown eyes. One that held amusement. His perfectly curved eyebrows arched in surprise. Full quirky lips slowly pulled back to reveal what she'd call a smirky smile-if that was even a thing, that is.

When he cocked his head to the right, she noticed a touch of dimples.

Good gracious.

It was suddenly so hot.

Her eyes darted lower. Went over his puffed chest. Roamed his undeniable abs-

She licked the corner of her upper lip. Glancing away, she blinked more than twice before giving back her attention.

"Uhm," she fought for what to say.

"Uhm." he repeated. A fine soothing voice.

She frowned.

His eyes weren't even in her face, he was checking her out.

How rude!

She leaned on one hip and folded her arms. Noticed how he went up and over and side by side. Before going down her body with his eyes.

She was wearing a black retro bodycon dress with mesh sleeves. A nice cut-out decorated with a bow and a round toe stiletto heels.

"All done?" she asked in a flat tone with a brow arced.

Those eyes shot up to her. A silent dare dancing in them.

"Waw." he struggled to say. "You go to work dressed like this?" he asked. A smile on his lips.

He had really good vocals. And a gentle voice. She quite expected something deeper. One that could make one tremble, seeing that he had a terrific body.

"You barge into a woman's house and-"she leaned to the side. Trying to get a good look at the frying pan over the mild fire.

"-cook for her? What are you? One with a death wish?"

He gaped in surprise and no sooner, his shoulders slumped. He smirked. "Good morning to you too."

Ivonne scoffed.

What a clown!

"What do you want and how did you get in here?" times like this, she knew she should have hired a bodyguard. It was long overdue.

"In your kitchen?" he asked. Glancing at the pan real quick, he turned off the gas. "Well I figured you'd be hungry." his shoulders came up in a shrug as he held her gaze.

She stared immensely at those eyes. They looked so innocent and good.

"Get out of my house."

His brows shot up. "What!"

"I won't repeat myself." she said, suddenly getting irritated. The pounding in her head was threatening to rip her in two and the cuteness overload from him wasn't helping either.

"Oh." he sounded disappointed. "Don't you at least want to know who I am?" he asked and she didn't miss the hint of hope in his voice.

Smooth skin. Hard dark nipples teasing and taunting her.

Speaking of nipples, hers were trying to drill a hole in her bra-

"You're staring."

"You're in my house." she reminded him.

"That gives you the right to stare?" she could hear the smile in his voice and she pictured he had a cocky look on his face too.

No way was she getting lost in those eyes again.

"Listen to me," she lifted her chin. "You better get your ass out of my house right now, else I'm calling the police," as she spoke-more like yelled-her head throbbed and that only fueled her anger.

Unlike her, the stranger was being so calm, relaxed and collected. While she stood there, rubbing her temples and wincing every now and then.

Just how much did she fucking drink?

"Here."

He had a jug of orange juice in his hand. With a frown, she hit the glass down, moving back quickly but not fast enough as some of the juice splashed on her shoes.

"Argh!" she groaned. Irritated immediately. Shaking it off, she faced the stranger in her house with a blank look on her face while he had one of shock.

"One minute. After that, I'm locking you in here and trust me when I say I'll have the police knock you off the earth in seconds." she glared at him, turning to walk away.

He sighed. "It's always the cute, fair ones-"

"What'd you say?" she whipped her head in his direction.

He rolled his eyes and she walked away. Picking her bag from the floor, she checked her watch as she walked out of her house.

Closing the door behind her, she waited.

How the fuck did he get in? He couldn't have snuck in unless-

The door opened and he emerged fully dressed.

Her jaw dropped when she saw the T-shirt that she had woken up in. He had it on.

Did that mean,

The hickey immediately came to mind.

"Did we..." she trailed off. "Did I-"

"Bring me home? Yes" he said dryly. "A shame. You're a lot of fun when you're drunk."

Surely they didn't...

"Fun?" she arched a brow. "What?"

She'd never gone home with a guy this hot to her house before. It was always a hotel and with some...less Greek god.

"Not that, you idiot." she scolded her thoughts.

"What?"

"Leave. Your services are no longer needed." she announced

"Services you don't even remember." the smart fool pointed out.

"Are you trying to be smart with me, young man?" she doubted.

He shrugged.

"I take it you were a guest at the engagement party, yes?"

Damn! Kemi would kill her if she found out that she boned a guest.

"Party? No." he frowned. "We met at a club. The one you staggered into. Already drunk."

Her head began to fill with images of her dancing in a place filled with people but she couldn't decide if it was real or just her imagination acting for her.

"How the hell did I end up with someone like you?" she said without thinking. But it was the truth. The people she'd hung out with in the past weren't this...were less than this.

"You walked up to me, and said to follow you and that if I did, I'll never want another female for a whole month." he wiggled his brows as he sized her with his eyes.

"What?"

His lips quirked.

She stared at him for a while before she chuckled. One that turned into a laugh. "That has to be the stupidest thing I have heard all morning."

Besides Patricia wanting her to wait for her workers instead. What a fool!

One of his beautiful brows arched, "You think I'm lying?"

"Oh I don't think so." her smile dimmed. "I know"

"O...kay. That doesn't make any sense but ok. Listen, you were drunk and I was on my own. Minding my own business when you walked up to me, after snubbing the shit out of my friend, and whispered those irresistible words to my ear." He smiled with content and that just pissed her off.

She was silent for some time. "So you go about taking advantage of drunk women?"

"And you go about dressed in a killer outfit making promises and lying you didn't make them?"

Killer outfit. Point taken.

Silence fell between them.

There was no way she could do a thing like that. She wasn't dumb enough to say something like that.

"Let's say I said that, which I strongly believe I don't," she began. "What makes you think I'll keep to it?"

With the way she was finding it hard to not lick him in her imaginations, she could just about pounce on him.

No! She scolded her subconsciousness.

Tell that to your underwear.

As if reading her mind, he stepped closer to her. Ivonne eyed him suspiciously as her breathing suddenly became hard and her heart began to pound.

He moved closer to her like a predator caging his prey, waiting to attack. When her back rested on the door, he circled in even closer.

What sort of madness is this? She asked herself. She didn't have time for this, as she had a business to run.

"What nonsense are you doing?" she asked, petrified.

He leaned in closer. Their breath mixing as one.

"I think you'll hold on to your end of the deal just fine." he said with a cocky tone that made her push him off.

"Listen you-"

"Ayo."

"What?"

He rolled his eyes, as he put distance between them. "The name's Ayo, Ivy."

"Ivy? Don't you dare call me that". She glared and he raised his hand in surrender.

"Ayo." She exhaled, trying to calm herself down. "This little sham you're trying to pull might have worked for other women, but not this one". She pointed to herself while holding his gaze.

If he was scared, worried or disappointed, it didn't show and that just pissed her off.

"I'm smart. And you're just another dumbstar added to my non-existent list of 'dumbsters'." she made known.

She walked away from him and pointed to the gate while glaring "Out."

"Can I get a goodbye kiss?"

The nerve of this man...

"I'll rip your lips outta your face, you dumbstar"

He gritted his teeth while widening his eyes and began to walk away. "Yeesh. Fine, I'm going. I'll come check up on you later."

"Don't even think about it." She narrowed her eyes and glanced over to her cars. Looking down at her wrist, she was a few minutes late, thanks to this dimwit.

"Hey." she called and he stopped. Turning to her, he arched a brow.

" Surely you can't be so useless after all this..." she trailed off. Eyeing him up and down.

His lips curved to the side and quirked.

Narcissistic bastard!

She sighed "Can you drive?"

Now he was looking at her like the 'dumbstar' that he was.

"Useless." she mumbled. "Just go away. Looking at you makes me sick."

"Bye." he said nonchalantly and walked away.

He turned, giving her a wink but she glared at him and he raised his hand in surrender as he disappeared out of sight.

"Stupid gold digging son of a-"

The honk of a car interrupted her and she hurried to the gate. Only sighing when she recognized Kemi's driver.

The staffs at the office were surely cursing the life out of her that was for sure.

But, if they didn't like it, they could always complain and of course after that, they would be jobless.

She hopped in the car and throughout the drive, she couldn't keep her mind off the 'dumbstar.'

How did someone get so handsome? So well shaped. Yet so arrogantly cocky!

If there was one thing she hated besides everyone in her father's company, it was cocky good looking scum of men.

Damn! Her panties though...