MY TREASURED DESIRE

CHAPTER SEVEN: Africa, Here We Come - 2

The Paramount Ruler’s Palace, Nri.

Dr. Alex George-Orji Junior’s P.O.V.

I knew that the delectable Reese Chang – my youngest Sister’s charming friend - was having a nice time with EnDee. But I found it hard to feel at ease without seeing her. Then, joy came when the 15 Cadillac-strong convoys pulled up at that traditional ceremonial park. As demanded by the custom, I was clad in my custom-made suit, with a taxidermal head of a Jaguar draped on my left shoulder... with the dark but beautiful Jaguar fur draped on my left side. I feel so good in my cream-coloured Giorgio Armani Suit under the taxidermal drape...

As I spotted my sister, EnDee, I swiftly moved towards where she stood, attracting the attention of our Palace Ushers: those lovely, curvy, sumptuous-looking, ànkárá-clad African maidens – spreading rose petals wherever I would step my feet. I soon reached the gorgeous friends and dismissed the rose petals’ bearing ushers – amorously watching their graceful waists as they swing their endowed hips while walking away… I do that a lot to give a make-believe impression to the lovely ladies that they are desirable. To me, that act is a form of ‘diplomacy’ that encourages the led... Meanwhile, I met Reese and my sister, trying haplessly to discuss Ndidi’s love preference. The discourse seems to put EnDee and Reese off a bit… So, I guess, my intervention was a good move. I pretended to clear my throat hoping to win the attention of Reese.

“Hello, Beautiful. Be my lass tonight!” I announced as I made a little bow towards my own Sister when I noticed that Reese was not interested in breaking the ladies’ discourse. She stretched her right hand for me to tenderly hold, while gently using her left arm to move her friend towards me.

“Oh, Princess Reese, how pleasant,” I said, gently dropping my sister’s hand and courteously taking Reese’s soft fingers and kissing it… “Welcome again to Africa, My Honey Lass!”

“You are too kind, Prince Charming,” Reese replied amiably, blushing a bit and her cheeks getting a pinkish shade of red flushed into it. “It is a long busy period for you, Dr. Alex Junior.”

“I guess you missed me, Surgeon?” I asked Reese, as I winked at EnDee, while the shy-looking Dr. Reese was looking at the tarred floor. I love Reese's “blush,” because it seems to do a new make-up to her drop-dead gorgeous face. Her lovely gait is – exactly like my sister’s – an excellent product of divine artistry and a courteous touch of the beauty mentors in the Royal Academy. The two ladies could wear each other’s dresses if they wanted to. A twin-masterpiece! I avoid expressing how beautiful they are, in their presence… There might be a time for that, I believe.

And EnDee gently excused herself by cutting into our mini-acts: “Er… Bestie. I guess you are perfectly safe in your professional colleague’s company… I have a duty to perform inside the Palace’s Diplomatic Centre … The short welcome formalities before each of our guests are properly checked into their mansions, please.”

Now, Reese was doing her coquettish acts, being so desirous of my company that she could not say a word to her friend. So, I courteously replied to my sister, “Our Idol, you are quite excused… I promise to take proper care of your lovely neurosurgeon bestie!” Ndidi moved, beautifully cat-walking herself away! I turned to Reese whose heart – I could imagine – had started beating so fast, now being somehow alone with me… I smiled, using a finger to raise her angelic face, lovingly... She shuddered like a teenager.

My Press image of having a big disinterest in the flurries of girls I meet in everyday business could be explained away in one sentence – It was a little too difficult for any of them to meet my taste! Some spoilt friends will advise me to sow wild oats and “have fun with the young Career Ushers in the Palace… to see how s*x opens one’s eyes to the inner beauty.” But I know what they would not probably know easily – without an encounter: I am not a pleasure unit for the opposite s*x… Beyond the outer elegance and endowment in human aesthetics, there is a need to see the inner beauty in its true form. That is not through randy, lecherous, and lusty escapades, but we can only see the real beauty when we choose to understand God’s perspective and live by it. Africans are brought up with high-end moral standards that ensure that – especially as a Prince – you must guard your relational life. Moreover, our George-Orji products are Practical Christians that will not need to broadcast our faith in the face of all these hypocrisies that pervade the realm of the wealthy and highly placed citizens of the world. The truth is that no one is an angel: We live this life by grace!

Reese’s personal package is a masterpiece… She is pure magnificent beauty in all spiritual, physical, and moral spheres! She caught my choosy appeal, in the first place, since she has almost everything in common with EnDee – the model I use to determine what is attractive in a woman! That one was born as a beauty queen’s replica – remember? It is a gift of God that must not be wasted away in voracious sensuous appetite. My mother looks thirtyish at her age – How would she have looked when she was at EnDee’s age? My handsome father was lucky to be a blessed man whose love for God and the down-trodden swept my mom off her feet at the time they met. She was – as grandpa boasts about when he counsels us – a virgin until she married my dad. Most beauty queens of today are lacking in chastity!

I calmly said to Reese, to prepare her for my next move: “I know that you are not this shy, Beautiful Reese…” I seductively caught her right hand and gently swung her around to get another view of her beautiful physique. I enjoyed that, thinking: ‘Oh, What an immaculate masterpiece of an angel…’ Then, I raised my voice a little and said: “Hmmm. You look so excellently enchanting in your lovely evening dress.”

“Oh, thank you, Prince,” she said with a little bow while gently freeing her right hand to be able to caress the shimmering Jaguar skin on my chest. She felt that I shivered as her hands passed over my heart side, and she quickly stammered: “Oh, would you mind my curiosity… Just that it looks so real.” Of course, it is.

I teased her with a charming smile, looking into her adorable pair of blue eyes to see her reaction: “Just that you touched my heart… which is actually real.” She smiled a bit, looking into each of my eyes in sequence… so I continued: “I need a favour from you, though…”

“And what would that be, Sir?” So much courtesy.

“Could you please cut these grandeurs and courtesies? Please.” I was almost inaudible in my whispers.

But she replied to me with a question: “Would that be the favour you need from me, then?” she asked with a sly smile.

I love how she seduces me with her acts without knowing it. I had read her like a book, and I know that this Princess would never accept any man except me. And she deserved the best... I hope I am! But she must trust me and accept to fulfil my request without questions, first. It is a prayerful move that has never failed me! If she insists that I must speak before she decides, then, she won’t be God’s will for me: This is no religious bigotry! Nothing will change my next move!

So, I said, amidst my fast heartbeats: “Promise that you will do it for me, and I will be your slave, Dear Princess of Achaia.” Knowing how intelligent my girl is, I had to apply a little trickery. I bowed slightly, still allowing her to search into my eyes.

Reese got carried away with my noble but flirtatious gestures and I heard that coquettish British accent: “Okay, I’ll do it.”

“Really?” I sought her confirmation.

Reese suddenly realised that it could be a matter of honour. This Caucasian African Guy has always entrapped her, she shuddered as if she got a cold. But what could it be that she thought about? So, she reaffirmed the difficult part of the request that must be favourable to her, just to catch me in my own trickery. She spoke up with a cheeky smile: “Remember that you promised that If I should do it for you, you will become my slave? I need you the way you are, ‘cos I have enough slaves already… I still boldly affirm I will do it!”

I then dipped my right hand into my suit’s inner left-breast pocket… under the taxidermal drape. I looked up and sensed that Reese was almost fainting in suspense. So, I brought out a smallish red pouch, of about two-square inches - having a cute golden zipper. I gently grabbed Reese’s left hand with my own right hand and went down on one of my knees…

“Will you marry me, Princess Reese Chang… A husband will always be a slave to his wife and offspring in that he would provide for them – Yes, everything that will make them the happiest beings on earth… Mark Twain said, ‘Two Most Important Days in your Life are: the day you are born, and the day you find out why. I find out “my reason for being born”: I am made for you! Complete My Being. I love you, Reese!”

Reese became the happiest but most confused woman in the world. She was ecstatic, but her word of honour has broken the self-made vow that she had made… That whoever proposes marriage to her will not hear an easy ‘Yes,’ but will have to wait to pass many tests… Reese was lost in her happy confusion that she was inadvertently keeping him waiting. And she did not notice those tears of joy that are streaming down on her face… Alex Junior brought out a unique diamond ring that sent a reflection of light into Reese’s sparkling blue eyes. She came to the realization that he was still on his knees…

“Oh, My Prince Charming,” Reese then responded and moved closer as if to raise him up. But she eventually knelt before him, her breasts touching his chest, and whispered: “Oh Alex, you played a fast one on me, and I said ‘Yes,’ to do what I had not planned to do. Now, I am trapped in your Love... O Yes, Complete My Being… I will marry you, My Heartthrob!”

Alex brightened up his handsome face with a broad smile, slipped the choice diamond ring into her fourth left finger, counting from the thumb, and hugged her tightly. A long, French kiss followed naturally. At that time, Ndidi and those who were in the Diplomatic Centre have come out, surrounding the couple… Rounds of applause started and continued, approaching the crescendo.

As the applause continued and Dr Alex Junior was so glad that he got what he had always wanted, his mind drifted to what might be bothering his beloved sister… He felt the urge to ask her about why she seemed so distant whenever anyone raises the issue about her own marriage…

***

Reinhard Merkel Mansion, Lagos, Achaia.

At the same time with the African Gala, in Achaia, Greta Merkel was having a tea party in her part of his family’s Mansion. He had found out that Col. Michelle Guan has a soft spot for Gen. Raymond Chang... And to make things easier, she brokered this meeting, since she is Michelle's co-alumna. The well-wishers discussed a lot about money-making ventures, after eating and drinking. Then, Greta broke the ice:

"Colonel Beautiful," is the pet name used by her circle of friends to address Michelle, who was three years ahead of Greta and Celerina's classmates at the German-Achaian University. "You may not know, but we have a lot of help to render for each other!"

Col. Michelle Guan smiled, "You have a strong cover, Miss Germany... I have always had your back."

"I know this, Colonel Beautiful... But at this juncture, I have the moral duty to assist my College Mother and sweet friend."

"In what area could you probably help me, Miss Germany?"

"You know about my love story with the General, don't you?"

"Clearly! You are favoured to have the desire of the hearts of many as yours alone," were the flattering words that meant a little to Greta, coming from Michelle.

"I have a long story for you to understand... What if I am willing to give up ‘my love’ for him, in your favour?"

"You must be joking. He does not even know that I exist... apart from my being one of his team members. That must be a costly offer," Michelle thoughtfully reasoned.

Before Greta could respond, she looked out of her sitting room’s lobby window and saw Miss Chu Celerina make her entry into the Reinhard Merkel Mansion’s gate. Remember the spoilt daughter of the construction mogul at Greta’s University days? Greta spoke up, on salient issues concerning the situation of her heart on the General’s love issue. She made Michelle understand that her love was for the Crown Prince, not for his cousin - the ASSS General. For confidentiality, the friends completed the enlightenment before Celerina appeared at Greta’s posh sitting room entrance. Celerina is currently 23 - and much closer in affinity to her age-mate, Michelle, than Greta.

"The cat with a thousand lives!" Michelle greeted Celerina in an old friends' fashion.

"Here am I, Colonel Beautiful. How is the risky business?" Celerina responded. "How is my Casino Queen today?"

Greta responded with a pout, "Big girls, I have a loaded account... and the losers are still losing!"

The three girls giggled and laughed together. Greta's maid came with more wine and food for Celerina and left silently. They started new debates and talked heartily until it was time for Col. Michelle to leave. And Greta said, "Colonel Beautiful, the assistance I ask of you is not a cash-based deal. Just be informed and do your part. I will handle the rest on my own. Soldier-girl - You do not have to get into trouble for me, okay?"

"Done, Miss Germany! May I have your permission to fall out?"

Greta responded with a serious face: "Permission Granted!" And, Colonel Guan left as smartly as possible, and Marty Chu's daughter asked Greta about what they were discussing.

"A military matter... I needed to get free from a military admirer!"

"Who?" Inquisitive Celerina stretched her neck to catch up on missing gossip points.

"You don't know my trespassing military admirer: She's a lesbian," Greta lied, and changed the topic...