False Pretenses 15

Kite was stupefied. Here he was, the object of her sleepless nights and worry. Sauntering carelessly into the hotel reception, she wasn’t sure if she was to be angry or happy. Angry because he’d disappeared without a word or happy because she was relieved to see him well. He looked like he usually did, goodlooking with such a careless abandon. The guy was fine.

Kite felt Ise’s hand tighten on her wrist. “Are you okay?” He asked, this brought her out of her trance.

“Uh…. Yeah.”

“Do you need me to stay?”

“Goodness no! Please go ahead, catch you flight….Jet, whatever!” She stuttered “I’ll need to talk to him,

I’ll be fine.”

“you sure?” He asked searching her face trying to be sure she would be fine.

“Sure, I’ll be fine. Please go on and have a safe trip.” She managed a smile for him to reassure him.

“Thanks.” Ise Williams told her, finally letting go of her wrist “You take care too.” And with that he walked

off but Kite’s eyes were on Izu all the time, she didn’t even see Ise turn to take one last look at her and

her ex-boyfriend.

How could he look so undisturbed when he’d left her without any form of explanation? How dare he

look this good?

“Kite.” He said looking amazed and also in shock at the same time. “Kite,” He said again, taking her hands

in his and squeezing as if to confirm if she was real.

“Izu,” She found herself whispering, surprised at the tears that had suddenly sprung into her eyes. She

shook her head as she stared at him trying to clear it. She was in shock but she was also greatly relieved

that he was fine.

He pulled her into his arms, holding onto her tightly, she inhaled that familiar scent of him and that was

when the trance had broken. She immediately began squirming, trying to break out of his hold.

“Kite!” he said surprised but let her go.

“How dare you, Izu? How dare you hold me like you care about me? How dare you hold me like nothing happened?” She accused struggling not to cry.

His eyes softened “Kite, I’m sorry.” He made to take her in his arms again but she put up her hands holding him back.

“You’re sorry?” She was appalled “You’re sorry, that’s the best you can say, really?” She shook her head.

“Six months, Izu! Whatever did I do to you to warrant such treatment from you?”

“Kite, Kite, I swear I have an explanation.”

“Oh! You know you better! I’m not even sure if I want to hear it. I’m so angry with you Izu, I want to

strangle you”. And then kiss you senseless, her minds voice said.

“Kite, please, lets not cause a scene here, I’m meeting someone here. I’ll come see you if you just give me your new address.”

She rolled her eyes “And why should I give you my address? You have my number , don’t you?”

“I can’t call your line for security reasons.”

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Security reasons “Are the police still after you?”

He nodded.

She wanted to feel sorry for him but she remembered how he’d disappeared and she’d been arrested in

his stead.

“Please, give me your address?”

“I can’t.” She told him. Lucky and Di would have her head if they knew she’d invited Izu over, they’d never

liked him and the way he’d left her hadn’t helped either.

“Why?” He asked.

“I’m now staying with Lucky and Di, they won’t like it.”

“and since when did you begin to care what those two think?”

She looked up at him “Since you disappeared on me! Did you know I was arrested? Our account frozen?

They took me in when I had no bloody where to turn because you left me!” She really wanted to hate

this guy but she couldn’t. She was weak for him and if she wasn’t still so angry she would have grabbed

him and kissed the hell out of him but she was wary and didn’t trust him….yet. What kind of guy

disappeared on the woman he loved without a word or warning?

“I am really sorry about that, Kite, honestly! You need to let me explain all that happened. Look, I’m

running late for this meeting, I could give you my number but…..will you call?”

She rolled her eyes “Just gimme and we’ll see if I’ll call..” She said haughtily bringing out her phone from

the tote and handed it over.

He handed it over when he was done “I’m so happy you’re doing good, I missed you so much.”

She raised a brow like she didn’t believe a word he was saying.

“Oh please Kite, don’t look at me that way nao, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry is just a word, Izu. it’s so easy to say.”

“ Okay, but I’m sure when I explain it to you, you’ll understand why I had to leave like that.”

“Yeah, yeah, it better be good.” She murmured rolling her eyes.

So..have you moved on?” he asked her

“What do you mean?” She frowned

“The guy you were just with that was fawning over you.”

“He’s my new boss, Ise Williams.”

“Oh?” his eyebrows shot up “ That was Ise Williams? Wow….and you work for him now? How in the

world did that happen?”

“Theres a story there, I can’t go into it now.”

“Okay” He nodded“so what were you doing here with him?”

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Trust him to ask “We had lunch.”

He raised a brow again “Lunch, what exactly does working with him have to do with lunch?”

Trust Izu to get jealous on the spot? “Didn’t you have a meeting you were running late for?” She asked

back. He suddenly looked like he wished he didn’t have to go.

“You promise you’ll call?” He asked his hand going up to cup her chin “Please…” he pleaded again, “you’ll understand when I explain.”

“Okay.” She replied and he smiled, coming forward to plant a chaste kiss on her forehead. It still didn’t make her feel any better, she was still cross with him but she couldn’t deny that she still felt something

for him.

“Bye Kite, please I beg of you, please call me.” He begged again and she nodded. He turned and walked off while she admired his retreating back recalling what he looked like undressed. Her boyfriend was fine – ex boyfriend, she corrected herself.

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