Chapter 5 FIVE

The morning sun seeped into Lolia's room. She groaned, loathing it. She hated the sun, not only was it a rude star intruding into everyone's lives and bringing its damn brightness when it was not needed. She hated the sun because the sun hated her. The sun turned her skin into a red patchy mess, and her eyes were rendered watery and blurry. It was an unforgiving tormentor.

She stretched and her hand hit the white box containing the gift Kachi had given her. Shaking her head she hissed as she pulled it to herself. Kachi never disappointed, the dark blue vibrator with a gold line around its massager-shaped head lay in a bed of purple silk linen. A card lay underneath the vibrator.

The best orgasm in years,

From KayKay

Lolia hissed playfully before she got on her knees and reached for her cell phone charging on the dresser.

There was a message from her father.

Good morning my beloved daughter, may your day be blessed.🙏🏾

Lolia replied to him. Good morning Daddy. I love you ❤️

Her father had made texting her every morning a tradition.

Lolia began a three-way call with Taye and Kachi. Taye picked first she was in her jeep driving to work.

"Hey, baby girl." She turned around and focused on the task of reversing her car.

"Good morning Tay," Lolia replied. Kachi picked after a few more rings. She was still in bed with a brown bonnet on her head, a plain face, and lip gloss.

Lolia always wondered how the girl slept with lip gloss and woke up in the morning looking immaculate. From her eyes, you could tell she was still asleep.

"Why are you broads calling me by this time?" Kachi groaned her voice was low as she protested.

"It's nine am Kay wake the hell up." Taye replied, "You need to get to work."

"She's in the Hamptons." Lolia informed, "With Tomelli."

"The producer?" Taye asked.

"Yes," Lolia replied

"Explains why she is still sleeping." Taye was on the road now. A honking noise entered the call. "I heard he is good in bed."

"Is he?" Lolia asked. Taye also wanted the answer.

"I don't know. I left." Kachi muttered. "He is engaged. I don't break homes."

"You are one runs girl with morals." Taye laughed.

"Sugar baby." Lolia corrected. "Potato, Potahto," Taye replied.

"Abeg don't start this morning." Kachi hissed.

"I do it with finesse."

"Okay, Bruno Mars."

"Loo..." Kachi began. She had a lot to tell Taye but Lolia interjected.

"Stop bickering." She stated. "I called to show you what this one." She pointed at Kachi over the screen. "bought me as a gift." Lolia rose the vibrator.

"Finally." Taye said, "Why did I not think of that?"

"Because you are too busy playing the mother of the group," Kachi said with a click of her tongue. "Whereas I am the savior of fun."

Taye rolled her eyes.

"You are okay with this." Lolia held the vibrator up an amused look played on her features.

"Yes!" Taye turned her eyes to the road. "There is no way Eric is treating your young ass right in bed." That bit was true. "Since you won't cheat, which is a good thing a little bean flick won't hurt."

"In essence use the damn thing and give us the gist later." Kachi threw in. She yawned. "Now if you'll excuse me I have sleep to return to. Good night."

"It's morning," Taye replied "It's whatever I say the time is." Kachi announced

"Bye." Kachi cut the call.

"I can't with that girl." Taye shook her head with a small smile. She loved Kachi, it did not matter how much they fought. "I gotta go too." Taye replied, "What are you doing today?"

"I am going to the children's hospital to see Giana." Lolia replied, "I have not seen her in a while." "Say hi for me." Taye said "Maybe we could have lunch today by 1. I will call Kachi and tell her."

"Perfect." Lolia replied, "Have a good day."

"You to babes."

With that, the women ended the call. Lolia dropped back into her bed. She rose the vibrator above her head examining it, laughing she shook her head and jumped off her bed. She took a long warm shower and applied makeup, heavier than usual. Before dressing up she went downstairs for dinner, a white robe wrapped around her. The table was set for only her. A pitcher of mango juice, a pitcher of clear water, and a plate covered with a cloche. Eric was not seated at the table. He hardly came down for breakfast, because he could not strain himself. This Lolia was alone often. She hated it.

"Good morning ma'am." Liz greeted walking into the dining area "Morning Liz," Lolia replied dropping into the chair. "Have you had breakfast?" "Yes ma'am." She replied,

"Excuse me." Lolia sighed as the woman left. In this big house and she had no one to talk to. If Eric had not disrespected her yesterday she would have gone up to his room. She resigned herself to eating alone, it had been going on for months, and crying over it now was futile. She opened the cloche, and strawberry waffles and bacon stared back at her. It was a lovely meal afterward she scrolled through her phone. Once it was eleven am she jumped to her feet and went back to her room. Getting ready for her day out. Lolia began by picking out her wig. She settled for a blonde curly wig close to the color of her natural hair, then she went to pick out her outfit.

After rummaging through her clothes in her walk-in closet. The interior matched the rest of the house a mix of white and off-white, marble tiles, white wood shelves, and a large vanity at the end of the closet sitting in the middle of two inbuilt shelves. Lolia looked at herself in the mirror and smiled, she had settled for an ankle-length form-fitting black dress. The waistline was internally ribbed synching her waist like a corset. On top, she settled with a plaid purple jacket with pearls for buttons. Her earnings were pearls and she left her neck bare. Nikolia's bruises were fading but they were still visible she did not bother hiding them with makeup. Bruising came naturally to her skin. On her feet were black over ankle-high heel Chelsea boots. She tended to cover her skin as much as she could to avoid the sun hurting her, despite sunscreen. She looked in the mirror satisfied.

***

Nik stood at the massive window of his office staring down at the city sipping his dark coffee. Midtown Manhattan was probably the most populous business district in New York. Those who had offices here were either spotting old money or illegal money. LarDon was a combined effort of two families with very old money and somewhat illegal money, courtesy of his mother's family, the Donatis.

LarDon tower was located in the central portion of the city of Manhattan. This portion was home to some of the most important business centers in the world, including the Empire State Building which Nik could see from his office. The environs were scattered with the majority of NYC's skyscrapers and business buildings.

Dahlia had loved this city. She called it the California of business. It truly was. He threw back the amber liquid and scowled. How was he supposed to be in the same space with that Lolia and not feel the urge to wring her neck again? Careful the urge to wring her neck is what got you here in the first place. A voice of reason cautioned. He would find a way to survive this shit.

***

"Hi."

"Hello." Nikolai's secretary replied blandly.

Lolia had not expected a happy cheerful receptionist welcome from her. It was only yesterday she had almost caused her, her job.

"Mr. Nikol..."

"Here I got you this." Lolia placed the cream shopping bag with the word DIOR written in gold. She knew she had to apologize so when she stopped to pick up Giana's gift. She got something nice for Nikolai's secretary.

The secretary's eyes widened in shock. It was not an action she expected.

"Go on open it." Lolia pushed. Celia took the bag slowly and pulled out a thick white box, Dior once again was written in black on the box. She looked up at Lolia still trying to wrap her head around the fact that she had gotten her a gift.

Lolia pressed her to go on with a warm smile. Celia unlid the box to reveal a black bag. From the feel and packaging, she knew it was expensive. Her mouth hung open for a moment, it was a lovely bag. She pulled it out of its box appreciating its look and feel.

"This is lovely." Celia laid the bag down in the box. "I can't accept this."

"What why?" Lolia asked taken aback by her rejection.

"Celia..." Nikolai stopped in his strides when he saw Lolia.

"You are here?"

"I am," Lolia replied with a chirpy smile.

Nik turned his attention to Celia's table. "What is going on?" He gestured to the shopping bag and box on the table.

"I got her an apology gift," Lolia replied. "For yesterday." She continued with a pout. "She is rejecting it, professional reasons I guess." There was more "Please tell her she can accept it."

There was a smile on her face. A smile that let him know she was cashing in her first order of the year. Nik groaned.

"You can have it, Celia." He stated. "It's a gift. I am sure you don't want to upset Mrs. Larsen."

Spoken like a true fucking pussy. His mind teased. He concurred for once.

"Okay!" Celia smiled. She liked the bag. "Thank you, Mrs. Larsen."

"You are welcome." Lolia replied "And I do apologize for my actions yesterday."

"Thank you, Mrs. Larsen." Lolia nodded and turned to Nik.

"Are you ready?"

"For what?" Nik asked confused. "We are going out." Lolia replied, "I told you yesterday."

Nik closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Give me ten minutes."

"Five," Lolia replied. A bright smile played on her face. She was enjoying this a lot more than she expected.

Nik closed the distance between them and grabbed her by her upper arm. Lolia yelped as he pulled her with him. Celia watched the display before her in silent amusement and curiosity. Nik pushed Lolia into his office and once the door was closed he let go. Lolia frowned as she rubbed her elbow soothing the pain that emanated from his steel grip. She was going to bruise again that was for sure.

"You can't come here and interrupt my work," Nik stated furiously. "It is Tuesday don't you have anything better to do?"

"No." Lola replied "Your father does not let me work. I don't exactly enjoy going on shopping sprees alone." She sighed but her face did not show indignation. She gave a shrug "All my friends are working-class women."

"And you are proud as a first-class gold digger." Nik spat.

Lolia narrowed her eyes at him. You see Lolia believed that insults could not hurt her. Due to her skin condition, she had been called every name under the sun. She had been called 'ugly', 'translucent', and 'abnormal' and once because the sun affected her skin and eyes someone called her 'white owl'. She had built thick skin to insult her physical appearance but insults to her character she had not.

"That's rich coming from a fucking murdered." Nik let out a hiss and walked past her exasperation on his features.

"I have a lunch date by one so we need to hurry up."

Nik slammed his hand into his table. His face was bent along with his frame as he hung his head. "Fine let's go."

"Yay!!!" Lolia chirped Nik counted the minutes as he stood in the elevator en route for the ground floor.

Once they were in the parking lot, Lolia made her way to her grey Aston Martin. She tosses her car key at Nik and he caught it. "You are driving." She informed pulling the door to the passenger seat open. Nik gave her a death stare but made his way to the driver's side.

"Location?" He asked stopping Lolia mid-entry. "Hope memorial hospital." She replied. Nik frowned. "You want me to drive you to your doctor's appointment?" They were both in the car now.

"Nope." Lolia replied, "I want you to meet someone."

"In the hospital?" Nik inquired as he started the car. Lolia nodded.

The vehicle sang to life and soon they were on the freeway. The drive was quiet, the only sound filling the room was the faint music playing from the radio. Lolia decided not to spark up a conversation because she could tell from the way Nik's fingers squeezed around the steering and the tightness in his jaw, fury filled his insides. Hope memorial's tall building came into view. Soon they were walking through the hallways to the children's part of the hospital.

"Hello, Greta." Lolia greeted the receptionist.

"Hello, Mrs. Larsen." She chimed. "The kids have missed you coming to read to them." Greta continued.

"I have missed that also."

Reading to the children at Hope memorial had been a hobby of Lolia's for some time. It has begun with attending a charity banquet with Eric for the hospital before there were married, one thing led to another and she became an occasional volunteer, spending long hours of the day with the children. However, when Eric got sick she had to stop but her donations kept flowing in. The charity was a part of her and she did a lot of charity work back in Nigeria and here in New York.

"Is Gigi awake?"

"Yes." Greta replied "Same room."

Gigi was a mixed race albino girl with cancer who had captured Lolia's heart. Since they met a few years ago Lolia came to visit her often with gifts and goodies. She was even acquainted with Gigi's parents.

"Come on." Lolia beckoned Nik when he did not follow behind her. Dragging his feet Nik reluctantly followed. They walked up a flight of stairs and stopped at the fifth room to the right after the stairs. Lolia gave a light knock on the door before she bent the handle and pushed it open.

"Hey, baby girl!"

Gigi's eyes went wide with glee. "Loli." She would have jumped from her bed if she was hooked to an IV bag.

"Oh, honey I missed you." Lolia chimed hugging the young girl lightly.

Gigi's attention turned to Nikolia who was standing very close to the door with a shopping bag in his hand. "Who is he?" She whispered to Lolia but her voice was still loud enough for Nik to hear in this tiny room.

"This is Nikolai," Lolia replied

"You have a bodyguard?" Gigi asked

"No." Lolia laughed "He is..."

"Your boyfriend."

"No." Lolia replied "My husband's son."

"So your stepson," Gigi answered. "I don't think Nikolai likes that term," Lolia said turning to him.

"Oh sorry Mr."

"It's okay," Nikolai spoke up surprising Lolia. His voice was soft, devoid of the hard tone he usually used to address her.

"I brought you gifts." Lolia stated reaching for the bag with Nikolai. He handed her the pink shopping bag and Lolia placed it in Gigi's lap. Gigi rummaged through the shopping bag and pulled out a beautiful yellow dress.

She gasped. "It's just like Belle's." Belle was Gigi's favorite Disney princess and always spoke about wanting a dress like Belle's.

Lolia was more of an Ariel girl but Belle was lovely too. "You love it."

"I do," Gigi replied.

"Who is your favorite Disney princess Mr. Nikolai."

Nikolai was leaning against the wall with his eyes on his phone. He looked up. "I am afraid I have never considered it. I also have not watched any of the movies."

"Not even Cinderella." Lolia and Gigi asked in surprised unison. Their tone made it sound like it was unheard off.

"I am afraid not." Nikolia replied.

"He is a boy." Gigi offered "Boys don't like fairytales."

After a few minutes of conversation, Gigi indicated that she was tired by yawning. She tried to hide it but Lolia saw right through her. The young girl did not want her friend to leave but they did letting Gigi rest.

"Why did you bring me here?" Nikolai asked once they were both in the parking lot.

Lolia turned to him narrowing her eyes because of the sun's rays. Thank God it was tender today if not she would be a teary mess in seconds.

"I thought it would be nice for you to see that..."

"You are not the villain I make you out to be." Lolia gave a silent nod. "Are you really dumb and just plain stupid?" He asked

"Don't talk to me like that." Lolia began.

"Or what?" Nikolai asked.

He advanced to her and she stepped back in fear. There was something so terrifying about Nikolai. "What did my mother die of?" He asked as he moved menacingly closer.

"What...."

"Answer the fucking question." His jaw clicked

Lolia swallowed. "Cancer." "Where did she die?"

"Here in New York," Lolia replied as her back hit the steel body of her Aston Martin. Nikolai was before her with no space for escape despite the foot-wide distance between them. His furious gaze held her in place.

"Hospital name." Lolia searched her mind and when the answer came her face fell. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she whispered the name.

"Hope Memorial." Nikolia laughed it was a painfully bitter one.

"I am sorry I did not..."

Nikolia took her hand and shoved her car key inside. "I can't do this shit." He replied, "You can tell whoever you want, get me arrested I don't care."

Lolia watched silently as Nik stalked off without looking back even once. Why did she care so much that he hated her? The question remained unanswered.