Our First Date
1131 Words
The next morning, Port Harcourt woke up to sunshine.
Lila stood in front of her wardrobe in the guest room, staring at clothes she never thought she’d own. Silk dresses. Designer jeans. All bought by Ethan’s assistant yesterday while she was at the hospital with David.
Her phone buzzed.
Ethan: Meeting in 10. Downstairs. Casual.
Casual.
For a billionaire CEO, "casual" probably meant a 2 million naira shirt.
Lila settled for a simple yellow sundress and white sneakers. Her hair in a low ponytail. No makeup except lip gloss. She looked like herself. Not "Mrs. Carter". Just Lila.
When she got downstairs, Ethan was already waiting in the living room.
And he was… wearing jeans.
Dark wash. Fitted. White tee. Sneakers.
No suit. No tie. No bodyguards hovering.
He looked younger. Softer.
And for a second, Lila forgot how to breathe.
His eyes swept over her, slow.
“You look beautiful,” he said quietly. Like he meant it.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “You too. Casual.”
A ghost of a smile. “Don’t get used to it.”
David and Daniel came running down the stairs, matching blue shirts and shorts.
“Daddy!” Daniel yelled, launching himself at Ethan’s legs.
Ethan caught him easily, lifting him up.
“Morning, champ.”
David hung back, shy. Still tired from yesterday’s hospital visit, but his fever was gone.
Ethan set Daniel down and crouched in front of David.
“Hey, buddy. How are we feeling today?”
David shrugged. “Better.”
“Good. Because today, we’re going on a date.”
Lila blinked. “A… date?”
Ethan stood up, looking at her. “With my wife. And my sons. Unless you had other plans?”
Her heart did something stupid.
“No. No other plans.”
The Park
They didn’t go to some fancy restaurant.
They went to Liberation Park in Port Harcourt.
Children were running. Ice cream trucks were playing music. Families sat on mats with food.
Normal.
For the first time since signing that contract, Lila felt normal.
Ethan bought ice cream for everyone. Chocolate for Daniel, vanilla for David, strawberry for Lila. He got coffee for himself.
They sat on a bench under a big tree.
Daniel immediately started telling Ethan about his toy cars. David leaned against Ethan’s arm, eating quietly.
Lila watched them.
Ethan was listening to Daniel like it was the most important board meeting of his life. Nodding. Asking questions.
When David coughed, Ethan’s hand was instantly on his back.
This wasn’t part of the contract.
“Why are we here?” Lila asked softly.
Ethan didn’t look at her. He was watching the boys.
“Because my sons deserve a normal day. And because…” He paused. “Because I want one too.”
The word "want" hit her chest.
Daniel finished his ice cream and tugged Ethan’s sleeve. “Daddy, can we play football?”
Ethan raised a brow. “You want to play with me?”
“Yeah!”
Ethan looked at Lila. “Come on, Mrs. Carter. Let’s embarrass ourselves.”
They played on the grass.
Ethan was terrible. He tripped over the ball twice. Daniel laughed so hard he fell over. David actually smiled. A real smile.
Lila kicked the ball and it went straight into a bush.
Ethan groaned. “That’s my wife. Zero coordination.”
“My husband,” she shot back before she could stop herself.
The word hung between them.
Husband.
Wife.
Ethan’s eyes darkened. He walked to the bush, got the ball, and tossed it back to her. His fingers brushed hers.
Neither of them pulled away immediately.
“Race you to the bench,” Daniel yelled.
They all ran. Lila lost on purpose just to see Ethan scoop up both boys when they got there, spinning them around while they shrieked with laughter.
God. He was good at this.
Too good.
The Food Stall
After, they got suya and plantain from a street vendor.
Ethan paid with cash. No card. No assistant.
He sat on a plastic chair, eating with his hands, while two bodyguards stood far away pretending not to watch.
Lila stared. “You’ve done this before?”
“My mom used to bring me here when I was 10,” he said. “Before… everything.”
Before the company. Before the pressure. Before Victoria.
David leaned his head on Lila’s shoulder. He was getting sleepy.
Ethan noticed. “We should head home.”
In the car, Daniel fell asleep in the backseat immediately. David dozed off against Lila.
Ethan drove. Quiet.
The city passed by outside.
Lila risked a glance at him. He looked tired. But peaceful.
“Thank you,” she said.
“For what?”
“For today. For… being their dad.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened. His hands gripped the wheel.
“I’m trying, Lila. I don’t know how to do this. But I’m trying.”
The honesty in his voice broke something in her.
Back at the Penthouse
They put the boys to bed together.
Ethan read Daniel a story. Lila tucked David in.
When they came out, the penthouse was quiet.
Too quiet.
Ethan poured two glasses of water in the kitchen. Handed one to Lila.
Their fingers touched again.
“Did you have fun today?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Me too.”
A pause.
“Lila.”
“Hmm?”
He stepped closer. Not touching. Just close enough that she could smell his cologne. Clean. Expensive.
“The contract said one year. But today didn’t feel like a contract.”
Lila’s heart was pounding. “What did it feel like?”
Ethan looked at her mouth. Then her eyes.
“Like a beginning.”
And then he kissed her.
Not the boardroom kiss. Not for show.
This one was slow. Careful. Like he was asking permission.
Lila melted into it. Her hands came up to his chest.
When he pulled back, they were both breathing hard.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he murmured.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not in the contract.”
Lila smiled, small. “Maybe it’s time we rewrite the contract.”
Ethan stared at her. Then he laughed. A real laugh. Deep and surprised.
“God help me, Lila Adeyemi.”
He turned to go to his room, then stopped.
“Goodnight, Mrs. Carter.”
“Goodnight, Mr. Carter.”
Upstairs, Lila lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
Her lips still tingled.
Her heart was racing.
This was supposed to be fake.
So why did it feel so real?
Outside her door, Ethan leaned against the wall, running a hand through his hair.
One year.
How was he supposed to survive one year… and then let her go?
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