Duped

love confessions

Location: David's family house

Time: 7:30am

After baking the cakes, Bella wrapped them beautifully and carried them to the airport, a representative had already been sent to take them. She signed the deal done and left. She was quite happy that after all that happened, she still managed to deliver on time, all thanks to David off course. After their "talk", she had only saw him during dinner that day. They didn't talk much and she could bet it was noticable by everyone present, neverminding that, she wants him to make up his mind and put a label on their relationship. Time was running out.

David was fully dressed in his work outfit and climbing down the stairs when his mom stopped him.

"Good morning son"

"Morning"

"You slept well?"

"Yeah. You?"

"I did"

"I can see you are off to work?"

"Yes mum, just waiting for Nat,.... Hurry up Nat" he called louder.

"2 minutes" Nat replied back louder.

"Well son... I just wanted to know why you and Bella have not been on a good conversation?"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh you know what I mean. You both used to be all over each other but during dinner yesterday, I noticed you were talking formally"

"It's nothing mum, Don't worry about it, I will take care of it"

"You sure?"

"Yeah"

"Alright, let me tell you this, you make hay when the sun shines. Bella is such a nice girl. Girls like this are not single for long. Ask her out before someone else will so you will not end up regretting. I need grandkids as soon as possible"

"Everything was going fine until you mentioned grandkids, mum leave kids out of this, who says I'm getting married"

"Shhh shut up, how old are you?, 32? 34?"

"Mum! I'm 30"

"Whatever. Do you think you are a child, your mates have four grown up children by now. And you are here saying rubbish"

"It's not rubbish, it's my decision"

"To hell with your decision. I know you are scared, of love, relationships and marriage, I am your mother so I know. Let my failed marriage not discourage you because many marriages have worked out fine too"

"I have heard, mum"

"Good. you love her don't you? I see the look you give her, like how Nat looks when he sees his ex girlfriend, Nancy" she chuckled softly with a smile on her face.

"I heard my name" Nat said as he climbs down the stairs and walks up to where David and their mum was.

"It's nothing, what took you so long to get dressed? I don't even know if you were having babies in there" David said jokingly to Nat. Nat hearing Nancy's name would steer up painful memories for him and he has just recovered from them.... David didn't want that.

"It takes time to get the hot body dressed yunno" Nat said as he smiled.

David rolled his eyes "come on let's go before mum starts another round of advice"

"You know I heard that right? Anyway... I hope you guys didn't forget anything" their Mum said with a smile

"No we didn't, we are grown up men so we didn't forget anything" David said as they both start walking off.

"Oh..wait.... I think I left my phone on the sitting room table" David said as he stops and makes a U-turn to the sitting room.

"Yeah..grown up indeed" their mum said as she rolled her eyes.

David gets to the sitting room and picks up his phone from the table. He was about leaving when he heard someone talking by the dinning room.

"Please I need more time..... I promise I will pay up.... I just concluded a contract yesterday, so I have some money with me.....it will be enough to pay outstanding debt....I promise to pay the rest soon, please don't throw my things out of the house.... I'll be there right away" The person said with a pleading voice.

David walked up to see Bella almost in tears.

"What happened Bella? Why are you like this? Who was that on the phone?" He inquired worried to see her like that.

She hugged him and tears fell from her eyes.

"What's wrong?" He asked again.

"My mum was sick some months ago, It was pretty serious, I was getting short on money, I sold some things, used my rent money just to get enough money to treat her. Since then I've not been able to pay the rent I owe the landlord and I couldn't pay this month's own because of the fire incident and all that went with it. He (landlord) always threatens to throw my things outside and today he is doing it for real. I tried to beg him for more time but he simply refused" she narrated in between sobs.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Omotola and Nat were in the sitting room now listening to them.

"It's okay, Bella, everything is going to be fine. I want you to follow the driver to your place, get all your things, mum will give you money for the rent. You pay and get your things here"

"You are always helping me, you don't have to"

"It's nothing, this is a big house with a lot of rooms, we shouldn't leave them empty" David answered with a smile and he cleans her teary face.

"Don't cry, it hurts me when you cry" he added.

"Yes dear, you are more than welcomed here. I'll accompany you to your apartment, son...you should head to work, you are late already...Go....I will take care of things here"

"Alright" David said and kissed Bella on her forehead and he walks out with Nat.

"Thank you so much ma for letting me stay in your house" Bella said appreciatively.

"It's no problem, you are now part of the family, come on.. let's go get your things" Mrs omotola said as she makes her way out of the house.

Plan......successf__.

★★★—————————————————————★★★

Location: Homely treats, Lagos, Nigeria.

Time: 6:03pm

Bella had successfully transferred her belongings to David's house. Mrs omotola couldn't express her joy more, she had already made plans in her head on how she was going to get David married to Bella. Finally her wish was coming true. She suggested a family dinner outing to celebrate Bella's welcome into the house. Presently only Bella and Mrs omotola had arrived, David and Nat were coming directly from work.

The restaurant homely treats was just as it's name. It was made as homely as possible with cushioned chairs, chandelier, and pictures of families who had dined there. There was also soft music from the speakers. Each table was surrounded in boards to cut from from other table and make you have that desired privacy like in homes.

"Ma, don't be offended, is your husband not coming as well?, I have never seen him with the rest of the family or even eating with the family"

"My dear, David would flip if he saw him here, it would totally ruin his mood. And his father wouldn't want that either because it always ends up bad"

"Hmmm, David is always so angry when he sees his father like if it was possible he will kill him right there"

"Many things made him like that.. but dear, this is not the right time to discuss this... luckily for us, I booked us massage and facial treatment at a spa, just us women. We have a lot of things to talk about" Mrs omotola said as she giggled like a little girl.

Bella smiled, such a nice woman. She almost felt bad for her and wished she didn't have to go through with this...

Just then her phone lightened up, a new message. She clicked and open it. She had to compose herself not to act so shocked by the message she saw. She looked up at Mrs omotola..smiled and excused herself to the restroom.

What is she doing here?....

Why didn't she call instead?....

She could put us all in trouble....

She is going to ruin everything....

These questions ran through Bella's mind as she walks into the restroom and the door locked behind her. They spoke in whispered voices.

"What are you doing here? You are going to get us caught, why didn't you call?"

"Shhh calm down, nobody is going to see us, I came to check on you and how you are holding up?"

"What do you mean by that? I'm absolutely fine"

"What about your bandages, did you really have to make it real? Look at your pretty face now with a bruise. How am I going to keep up with that?"

"Is this really what you came for? What happened to calling?"

"Chill girl. I just came to tell you that we don't have much time anymore...she..is sick... and wants to see you..we need to speed things up"

"Take care of her, I will be with her soon"

"I will, so what's the latest development?"

"I'm in their house now so..."

"That's good. Remember No feelings?"

"Yeah..N..no fee..lings"

"Why the stammer? What happened?"

"Well..."

She was cut off by the noise from outside the small restroom, someone is coming. She opened the door slightly and saw Nat just a few feet from the restroom. It seems he was heading there but was stopped by a friend. She turned back to the person she was talking to and she was gone. She sighed in relief.

How long was he standing there?

How much did he hear?

Shit.

She closed the door slowly and went off to the sink, she was washing her hands when Nat entered the restroom.

"Oh.. Bella you are here?"

"Yeah I came to use the restroom. You guys closed pretty late today, I hoped it wasn't that stressful?"

"No not really, we just needed to give a round up of things since David wanted a break before traveling overseas for a meeting"

"Really?"

"Yeah, you will hear more about it from the horses mouth during dinner... by the way nice dress"

"Thank you"

"Let me just finished up here, I have a little stain on my shirt, I'll will join you and others soon"

"Alright"

Bella leaves the restroom and join the dinner table with the now present David.

David eyes were glued on Bella, she did two big all back braids and had a light makeup on that made her face glow, she wore a short simple dress that twirled from the waist down, the black dress complimented her brown colour so well and she finished it up with silver heels and bag. David fell in love with her all over again if it was even possible, she looked so beautiful that he couldn't stop staring.

"What made you take so long, dear"

"Sorry, I had met an old friend"

"Oh okay, well David and Nat is here now, we can get our orders"

"Sure" Bella took her seat by David's right side and opposite his mum.

"Hi" David greets

"Hi, how was work?"

"Good"

"Okay" Bella takes the menu and gives her orders to the waiter. She wasn't so dumb to notice how dumbfounded David was, she could read off the desire in his eyes like he wants to eat her up. She was glad she made that effect.

Nat walked in and sat by his mum's right and opposite David. They all ordered their food and delved into little conversations. Their order came, on Bella's table was a plate jollof rice garnished with salad, turkey and pineapple juice. On David's table was spaghetti and meatballs with red wine. On Mrs. Omotola's table was Amala and ewedu soup with assorted meats and a glass of water. On Nat's table was yam and fried egg with glass of Pepsi. David was caught severally stealing glances at Bella.

A text came in on Bella's phone..

It read: caught?__

She looked up at Nat for some seconds, it doesn't seem like he heard anything...

She typed back..: No, I don't think so__

She really hope not.

★★★————————————————★★★

They just finished dinner and Nat took Mrs omotola home in his car. Bella and David were to go in his.

They were both walking silently to the car park. David was somehow nervous because he wanted to say something to Bella. His mum had told him what to do and she said this would work but still he haven't been so lost for words in his life and about a woman for that matter.

They got to the car and he opened the door for her like a gentleman, just as she was about to get in, he stopped her by blocking the door with his hands.

It was now or never.

He caressed her face and his eyes bore into hers. The way he stared at her made her feel butterflies in her stomach. She was confused by the strange feeling.

"You are beautiful" He said as he brought his lips close to hers and kissed her. It was slow as if he was trying to say everything that seemed so hard to say to her. With her back rested on the car, she pulled his hair softly and she deepened the kiss. He moaned in her mouth and wrapped his hands tighter round her waist. He nibbled her bottom lip and gave a little suck. She moaned and her hands caressed his back. They didn't care if they were at an open car park.

They both craved for each other, they were at each other arms and nothing else matters.

Few seconds later they separated and were both out of breath. David was still a few inches from her and they could hear each other's heart thud violently in their chest. He looked down at her lips, it was daring him to come back to it.

Bella felt the rush of emotions through her body, it wasn't supposed to happen but.... it did.

"David..." She tried to speak when....

"I love you" he spilled out. All his emotions of love clear on his face, he silently hoped she doesn't reject him. he was madly in love with this woman and nothing else matters. But the look he received from her he couldn't comprehend. That blank look that she gave with ease. It was her signature look and it only made him crazy for her.

moments passed and the atmosphere so tensed that you could light a match on it.

"I love you too" she said in a low voice but he heard it. Her whole head was in conflict. Her hormones corresponded with what she just said and it wasn't supposed to be like that. it was just a sentence. She was giving out too much. She knew she was crossing the line, so many things were at stake but she didn't care. she loved him.

"what did you say?" he said a smile creeping up to his face.

"I love you, you fool" she said clearly now smiling widely. Her joy knew no bounds. she couldn't believe she was jeopardizing her mission by falling in love with this man. what will Bella say?

He reached for her and brought her into a connecting hug. This was the most happiest day of his life.

Her eyes grew wet and tears lined her face. Not tears of joy but for what might happen next.

"Don't cry or I will cry" David as he uses his hands to clean the tears from her face. They both laughed.

"Do I have the honour of asking this beautiful woman in front of me to be my girlfriend?" He said in the most ridiculous accent ever as he stared into her eyes with mock-seriousness.

A car next to theirs reversed out of the parking lot, some people passed with their partner, some staring at them weirdly. It was unusual to see lovers declare their love in a parking lot, but who cares? Definitely not David and Bella.

She chuckled and gave a wide smile, she wrapped her hands round his neck and pulled him closer to her face. She pressed her lips on his gently and shortly. She smiled when he drew closer to her for more. She hugs him instead and draws her lips to his ear and whisper a "yes".

And that was all he needed for his lips to be covered in hers.

★★★——————————————★★★

Wooohoooo

I can't help but 'awwn' at David and Bella moment they are just so cute.

Who is the new character?

Is she good or bad?

What is her association with Bella?

Is David making a mistake by falling for Bella?

Tune in next time to find out. ?

Nathaniel past relationship will be discussed in the next chapter... get ready ?

Also I just thought it would be nice adding dishes eaten here in Nigeria. So pardon my specific writing of food and food related items. You like?

Please don't hesitate so drop your feedback in the comment box, both critics and reviews. I want to hear them all..

Do you think there is something I'm not adding or forgetting? Do you have a suggestion? Also drop it as well.

Are there typos that need to be corrected? Tell me too ?

I am working tirelessly towards daily updates, I will try my very best.... so I might send in a new one tomorrow

Christmas is almost here, what are your wishes? plans? what do want as a gift?

Are any December born here? what date? my mom is on the 15th?

I love you all ❤️

BTW I need book covers... somebody help?

~precious~

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