An Unexpected Match

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“What do you think?” Nosa asked, staring at the man in a black jacket, white shirt and yellow tie, sitting on an armchair directly facing him.

Kurt Achike flipped once again through the file lying on his lap. The file contained information about his three matches. Their names, ages, occupations, contact details and their photos. Dayo, Chiaka and Trinity. Three very beautiful women.

“They all look great. Good job. So I guess the next step is to go on dates with each of them...”

Nosa muttered, “Yes. I’ve spoken to each of them. It’s all set.”

Kurt nodded. A pity Farida wasn’t around this morning. Nosa had mentioned that she was at a business meeting. A pity. He would have liked to do this with her. She reminded him of his mother, Amelie, and of his stepmom, Diola. All three were strong, kind, hardworking women. Well, anyway, the most important thing was that he was now one more step closer to finding a wife. With any luck, one of these three matches would end up being the first Mrs. Kurt Achike. And then he would no longer be called the Breaker of Hearts.

Kurt’s eyes left the file and traveled upward to the flat screen TV stationed on the wall to his left. The women’s photos were displayed on the screen and below each photo, was a caption stating their name, age and occupation. Thorough. These people at One Plus One were thorough. And that, he was certain, was mostly as a result of Farida’s efforts.

He switched his gaze from the photos on the screen to Nosa’s face just in time to catch the younger man ogling his watch and suit, traces of envy and insecurity shining out of his eyes.

Kurt relaxed in his seat, allowing his eyes to brush over the other man. Nosa wore a bright blue patterned tie, a checked shirt and a pinstriped jacket. Kurt grimaced. Too much pattern. It hurt his eyes to look at the guy. But he was good-looking enough, neat and well-spoken. How old was he? Twenty-five? Twenty-eight?

“That’s wonderful.” Kurt jerked his head toward the TV. “I noticed the last woman; Trinity Esi... is she in anyway related to Chief Justice Esi, SAN?”

“Yes, she’s his second daughter. And she owns an elite fashion magazine... Fab Femme.”

Kurt arched his eyebrows. “She owns Fab Femme? My ex-fiancée, Abomeli, loved that magazine.” He re-opened the file and peered at Trinity’s photo once again. Long, full lashes over small eyes, a Cupid’s bow mouth, fair skin. Really pretty. From a prominent family and with a business of her own to boot... remarkable.

Nosa clapped his palms together. “I can imagine you would want to start getting in touch with these women...”

Kurt bounded to his feet, grinning. “Yes, I do. Thanks for your help.” He dumped the file on the centre table in front of his seat.

“It’s my pleasure.” Nosa said. He offered a plain cream-coloured business card. “In case of any problems... it has my phone number and email address.”

Kurt accepted the card and stuffed it in the inside pocket of his jacket without glancing at it. He said, “Please give Farida my regards.”

“I will.”

With a nod to Nosa, Kurt exited the conference room. He strode into the reception area and tossed a careless smile at the receptionist. She reciprocated with a wide smile.

At that moment, the entrance doors swung open and someone rushed in through them. It was Farida, glancing down at her phone and marching forward.

“Hey, hey...” Kurt called out, coming to a stop.

She looked up at the sound of his voice and smiled. Halting in front of him, she said, “You’re done?”

“I am, thanks, Farida. Your assistant said you had a business meeting. I had thought I would miss seeing you today.”

She glanced down at her feet. It had taken some stuntwoman driving to get here in time to catch him before he left. But, of course, she couldn’t tell him that. Farida stared up at him. “You almost did. How was it? Did Nosa give you your matches?”

“Yes, he did. They are great. I’m looking forward to this weekend.” He laughed and stroked his beard. “A lot of dates...”

Lucky women. Farida smiled. “I’m glad I could help.”

His gaze washed over her. “You look good.” The fitted jacket, silk blouse and a-line skirt in dark colours were good quality and made her look inches slimmer. The skirt downplayed the width of her hips and the dark grey blouse matched her silver lipstick.

“Thanks.” She said, her pulse somersaulting. It was worth it. All the time she’d spent yesterday night choosing her attire for today.

“What was the business meeting about? If you don’t mind my asking...”

“No. I had a meeting with some consultants about the new show I’m creating.”

“New show?”

“Matchmaking show.” She shrugged. “Reality TV.”

“Wow! That’s great, Farida. That’s a good idea.”

“It is, isn’t it?” she grinned up at him.

He laughed. “Yes, I’m impressed. You’ve impressed me even more.”

Farida eyed the twinkling dimples in his cheeks and those rose-pink lips. Gosh, she could stare at him all day.

“I have to go. I have a meeting with my brother at the club. Nosa gave me his card. May I have yours?”

“Certainly.” She dug into her handbag and produced a business card. “Here...” She passed it to him.

Kurt’s fingers clutched the card, brushing against hers in the process.

Farida licked her suddenly dry bottom lip.

He glanced down at the card and then back up at her. “This is great, thanks. Well, I’ll be seeing you, Farida. Bye.”

“Bye, Kurt.” She sighed, watching him walk out the doors and then turned to Esther. “Any calls? Walk-ins?”

“No calls.” Esther answered, “But you had two walk-ins an hour before Mr. Achike arrived. A couple came in for counseling. They made an appointment with Nosa for later in the week.”

“Good, thanks, Esther.” Farida swung away from the receptionist and moved toward her office. She just needed to catch up with any pressing issues before leaving again to join Alera at her gig in the Federal Palace Hotel this afternoon. She’d promised Alera that she would stop by.

“Nosa!” Farida called out, unlocking her office and settling behind her desk. “Nosa!”

“I’m here.” he said, stepping in. “How was the meeting?”

“Very good. They had a lot of wonderful ideas for the show. I’m excited just thinking about it.”

“How much will it all cost?”

“They’re working on that now. They’ll come up with an estimate and then we’ll meet again. What of you, any updates?”

Nosa shrugged. “Esther told you about the couple? I’ve added them to your schedule. And Kurt Achike just left.”

Farida nodded. “How did that go? Was he pleased with his matches?”

“I think so.” Nosa replied and strolled over to her side of the desk. Plunking his backside against the edge of the desk, he added, “He seemed particularly interested in Trinity Esi.”

“Did he?” Farida let air out of her lungs. Trinity was the kind of woman men like Kurt fell for. Well, Kurt was only her client. And so was Trinity.

He peered at her face. “You look tense, Farida. You need to relax sometimes. When last did you get a massage?”

“A massage? I can’t even remember when... maybe years...” she paused and stared at him. “What are you doing?”

Nosa was behind her now, tugging at her jacket. “Relax, Farida. I only want to give you a brief massage.”

“Nosa—”

“Farida, relax...”

She eased her shoulders down and allowed him take off her jacket. His hands returned to grasp her shoulders. His thumbs and fingers went to work, kneading, stroking.

She shut her eyes. He was quite good at this. She could feel the strain leaching out from her muscles and her skin.

“You are tense, Farida.” He said and then added in a lower tone, “Why don’t you come over to my place later? I could give you a full body massage, cook for you and then we can watch a movie together.”

Farida kept her eyes closed. In the early days of One Plus One, she had often worked late with him and then after work, they would hang out at a restaurant and have dinner. And then one day, without thinking, she’d invited him to her place for dinner and a movie. At the end of the evening, he’d kissed her and she had returned the kiss. That night and some nights later in his place, they’d kissed and made out. Nothing serious. Certainly no s*x. Yet. Could she have s*x with him? Should she?

His lips brushed against her neck. Farida jumped. Her eyes opened.

Nosa’s voice whispered close to her ear. “Come to my place after work, Farida.”

Should she? After all, it was just s*x and it had been years since her last encounter. Her ex, Yomi, had been her last lover. Why not? Nosa was cute and he liked her. Of course, there was no way on earth Kurt Achike, of all people, would ever notice her in that way. Why not Nosa? But she didn’t like his flat. It was too small and cramped. Should she suggest her own place?

Her mobile phone buzzed. Farida sat up, pushing Nosa’s face away from her neck. She glanced at the Caller ID. Alera.

She picked the call, shooing Nosa away with her free hand. He left, pouting.

“Alera, I’m on my way.”

“No... you’re still in the office. Come now. I’m bored and these randy bankers can’t stop gawking at me.”

Farida giggled. “I’ll be there soon.” Alera was such a contradiction; off-stage with her sexy, figure-emphasizing clothes and high heels and on-stage with her throaty, suggestive lyrics and her booty-popping dance moves. No-one would ever guess that Daniel had been her first and only man and that she had dated him for nearly ten years. Alera was a one-man woman. She hated undue male attention and spent a lot of her time rejecting numerous s****l advances from hopeful suitors.

“Come now!” Alera yelled into the phone.

“Coming...” Farida vaulted off her seat, grabbed her bag and rushed out of her office.