Niko’s Eye

Chapter 14.

"Genesis."

Alejandro.

Alejandro sat in his office, with his secretary in between his legs, putting in work.

He needed to relieve himself from the stress that Isis had placed on him.

He was determined to appear innocent before her. He did not blame her for thinking him guilty, but she had to pay for doubting his integrity.

He thought of how he had built an incredibly colossal empire and would never let anyone thwart it. He had made sure of that by eliminating every possible threat and he was set on doing the same thing to Isis if she posed as a possible grenade to the foundation he had laid for himself.

The only problem was that, he still needed to get the girl into his bed.

The fact that it was taking him longer than usual , irritated the hell out of him.

He knew that he had to begin with eliminating her self-consciousness.

That was the only thing that kept her from jumping into his bed.

He also knew that Isis was attracted to him, in more ways than one.

The only thing that made her different was her religious background.

She’s just like every other girl…right?

His forehead was so creased in thought that he heard his mistress ask him if he didn’t like what she was doing.

"Actually Valentina, get back to work. I’ve got some business to take care of."

And with that he zipped himself up, put on his suit and strolled out of his office, leaving her to see herself out.

Isis.

Isis had a Biology practical today. She’d be dissecting rats and she was terrified because she knew she didn’t have a strong stomach.

The last time they had to dissect a hamster, she had thrown up right inside of the opened up animal. All of her embarrassing experiences had each contributed to her name-calling.

She was not prepared to go back to that life so there she was in the lab, in another pair of ripped jeans and a mustard-yellow, off-shoulder top. This time she made sure not to lose the plastic bag her Mami had carefully placed outside for her.

Isis noticed that she started getting more attention from the guys on campus and she wondered what was wrong with her. It’s not like her face changed or that she had make-up on.

During her lunch break, she decided to video-call her best friend, Zainab.

"Same guy you’ve been telling me about, with that whole dress drama right?" Zainab asked, with a mouthful of tuna sandwich.

She was on a lunch break too.

"Oh yeah. And get this. I told you about the time his driver showed up in my room right?"

Zainab nodded, still chewing.

"Well the guy got KO’ed. As in, Assasin’s Creed. As in, Tybalt killed Mercutio. As in, ’The Bride’ kills Bill."

Zainab spat out her water and burst out laughing.

"Nigga got pew-pew’ed! Having a big-ass mouth could put you 6-feet underneath it seems."

They both were in tears from all of the laughs.

Isis positioned her phone against her textbooks and stood up to kick back a ball that had landed at her feet, to a bunch of guys who were playing soccer on campus.

She came back to take a seat and continued her conversation with Zainab.

"Okay, where were we?"

Zainab was wide-mouthed, with chunks of chocolate in the pockets of her cheeks.

"What?", asked Isis.

Zainab quickly finished chewing her chocolate and screamed excitedly.

"A hunnie’s got an ass now! That figure is crazy in those jeans and it looks sooooo good with that top. And I wanted to mention your skin. Ahhhh, butter! Who you been f*****g? Only a man’s touch can make you glow and grow like that!"

"Uhhhh nigga, I grow and glow with God. What do you mean? I’m not having s*x like your nasty ass." she said laughingly.

"Oh so you know that s*x can make you grow in the right places and also glow huh? I see you Virgin Mary."

Isis laughed and threw a popcorn at her screen, as if to throw it to Zainab.

Zainab kissed Isis goodbye through the phone, " This weekend you’re at my house for my birthday right?"

Isis nodded, elated at the thought of being away from home.

"Bye babe. Kisses."

Isis gathered her things and made her way to classes too, glancing at her watch and knowing they would resume in any moment.

Alejandro.

Alejandro parked in front of Isis’ university gate and waited.

What time do these little f***s leave this place?

Alejandro had a master’s degree in applied financial mathematics and 3 additional degrees in psychology, electrical engineering and neurosurgery. He also had a pHD in s*x education and womanizing.

He had no public schooling experience and had been home-schooled since he was born.

His tertiary studies were all done via correspondence, and always with a woman nearby.

He believed that s*x helped him to keep his calm and to concentrate.

He thought back on times when he’d write online examinations while getting head. He lived his life to the utmost fullest. His s*x drive was on steroids and he had the stamina, fit enough for his whole legion of demons to feed on, if ever they were to get tired.

Also, I need to get a new driver. I can’t do this s**t every day. And I’m here waiting for Isis, like some moron who’s in love…

His thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the varsity gates, and out came the students.

He could always spot Isis, not only because he was a predator, but also because she wasn’t like anything he had ever seen.

There she was, walking like an Egyptian queen.

Her hair was in what looked like a twisted braid across the front, top part of her head. With curls tumbling down, on the sides of her face.

He was falling…like a domino.

He could think whatever malicious thoughts he wanted to think, about her. But every time he saw her, he was a whole different Alejandro.

That began to irritate him.

Fuck.

He cursed in his head.

I need to smash this babe and get the hell on with my life. She’s ruining the image I worked so hard to build.

She was a total eclipse of his heart.

He blew a breath and got out of his car so Isis could see him.

Isis.

Isis was excited to get home today because she had decided she would finally call up Alejandro and see what it would lead to.

She had gotten the hype from her best friend, Zainab.

She kept thinking about how Zainab had said that she looked different and had grown into a woman.

It must have came with the age.

She was smiling to herself when she looked up and saw Alejandro parked outside of her school gates, leaning against his car.

No ways.

She panicked and started to wonder if she looked okay.

Nothing a dab of lipgloss can’t fix.

She walked up to him, mouth full of the oily stuff and hugged him.

Okay. "Captured."

Alejandro.

She feels like a plush, cashmere carpet and smells like a meadow full of different specimens of expensive flowers. If I could just let my hands wander to her derriere…

Isis embraced Alejandro and he held her there. Executing his plans and letting her feel his desire for her.

But he was posing as the perfect gentleman, so he needed to fall back into his role.

He slowly broke the embrace and kissed her forehead.

Whatever crushes Isis had on campus, game over.

He opened the car door for her and she blushed, hiding her face from the shocked onlookers.

Alejandro smirked in pleasure. Dumb little students with no real lives.

"Where are we going?", Isis asked.

Alejandro started the car and reversed hastily, almost knocking down a few students.

He stuck his head out and yelled, "That will teach you to mind your own goddamn business!"

He looked over at Isis, who was trying so hard not to laugh, and smiled at her, full teeth.

The f**k?

He hated how she made him feel. Alive.

He had told her that he wanted to take her to the places she was used to going to, in a bid to play an emotional blackmailing game.

You’re so good at this Alejandro.

Isis.

She had felt Alejandro’s erection and could not believe that little old Isis, could give a man such as Alejandro, a boner.

And that kiss on the forehead. Girrrrl.

She got into his car and asked where they were going.

He had not answered her but rather reversed into the students standing around to watch them, and almost riding over them.

She felt like laughing after he told them off and caught her breath when she looked at Alejandro, who was smiling at her from ear to ear.

He had dimples.

Dimples that seemed to come out only when he smiled really broadly.

That is so adorable.

He had told her that he was taking her to a bistro, next to the beach in Bridgetown.

"I don’t want to impose on you, the kind of life that I’m living. I know you’re a simple girl. An island girl. And I’m the one that’s going to change for you. You told me that this was a place you grew up going to. I’d like to experience it too."

Isis smiled, charmed. She looked at Alejandro dreamily, got settled into her chair and cranked up the volume on Alejandro’s car stereo as they drove into the graffiti-splashed town of Bridgetown, Barbados.

Alejandro.

Nigga, what s**t place is this? He thought, as he pulled through the driveway.

Alejandro parked into the Bistro’s parking lot and took Isis’ hand as she stepped down from the car.

He had chosen the most modest car from his collectibles - A top-down, yellow jeep.

Perfect for island adventures and steamy s*x in the jungle, according to Alejandro.

He led her through the bamboo trees that led to the little cafe next to the harbour.

They passed a Rastafarian at the door of the bistro. He sat there, cap pulled down on top of his dreads, a dreaded beard, dark glasses, maybe some green army fatigues and broken down boots, smoking a joint.

He was probably a dealer.

He looked at Isis directly and said, "Orange yellow yuh nah know if it sweet", which directly translates to "Don’t judge everything by appearances."

Isis did not know what the man was implying by that but she replied saying, "Everyday buckit a go a well, wan day he battam drap out" which meant, "Every bad action, has a consequence."

She plastered on a fake smile and walked into the bistro, leaving Alejandro to pick up his face from the ground.

He knew she was an Island girl but had no idea that it was that deep.

Okay, so she’s African, Barbadian, Greek, Egyptian perhaps and what else?

He pondered on it so hard, forgetting where he was and what he had came there to do.

So, he didn’t even have an idea of her actual roots? He always knew the ethnicities of the girls he slept with, but this one..

He based his suspicions on her exotic looks, assets and behaviour.

This was the time when his psychology degree came in handy.

With that, he looked at the man up and down, scrutinizing him before going in after Isis.

As he was about to enter, he saw her standing in front of him, with tears streaming down her mahogany cheeks.

Isis.

Isis had gone in, to the bistro, and had decided to use the bathroom first.

She knew this place so well, which was evident in her confident strides around the restaurant.

She thought about how Alejandro’s eyes would soften around the edges every time he looked at her.

He can’t be playing a game. This has got to be real. Every time we see each other, we become transfixed.

She carried her thoughts with her, all the way to the ladies room, with a mischievous smile on her face. She knew what she had to do.

She needed to square up with Alejandro.

Isis was going to beat him at his own game, that was if he was playing one.

Better safe than sorry, right?

She walked into the ladies room and examined her face.

Pretty ebony tree. Eyes like fire. Cheekbones like Sheba.

She smiled at herself. What a day I’m having.

She eased herself, came out to wash her hands, fixed her gloss and left.

She went straight to the bar and ordered two tall glasses of Mojito cocktails, one virgin - a necessary aperitif for a day that promised good company, good conversation, and an amazing view of the beach and the yachts moored, in the harbor of Bridgetown.

Then, there was a laugh: a jeer that cut deep. And then suddenly, a distinct laugh that she knew so well, piercing her ears.

She slowly looked in the direction of the source of laughter and saw…her mother.

Seated in one of the bistro’s hammocks, nestled against the nook of the man she was having an affair with.

This was a place they used to come to, as a family, when her father was still alive and now her mother did not even think twice about dishonoring his memory.

She walked back to the entrance of the bistro in a zombie-like manner.

My mother is committing adultery without giving two f***s about my father.

She could not fight back the tears.

"Change of Heart."

Alejandro.

Alejandro hurriedly gathered Isis into his arms, giving her a moment to let whatever she was bottling in, out.

He closed his eyes to the wafting scent of her hair. She smelt like tropical fruits, flowers and essential oils.

How had she come to this? And who’s responsible for her tears?

He was shocked at his own reaction towards seeing Isis cry. He found his heart cornered in Isis’ hands.

"Let me take you to the car."

He grabbed Isis’ hand and led her back to his car, furious with whoever had taken away her happiness and seemingly ruining his plans.

I mean, that’s all he cared about right? Just because he wasn’t going to be able to carry his plans through. Not because he began to care for her or anything corny like that...right?

I need to get ’Mission Isis’ out of my way and fast.

"Let me take you to someplace quite so you can relax and talk to me, if you’re ready."

Isis didn’t react or even speak. She was vaguely staring out into the oasis of the bamboo and palm trees in front of her.

He drove with a concerned look on his face. He was genuinely worried. He didn’t know if it was about Isis or about his thwarted plans. He just didn’t know anymore.

He constantly checked on her, asking if she was okay and if he needed to stop anywhere.

He couldn’t help it.

Isn’t that caring for Isis? Just saying.

His inner voice pissed him off.

She eventually told him to stop the car.

They were on an open road that was parallel to a vast beach, void of life.

Isis got out of the car and started walking towards the voluminous body of water and earth.

She took off her shoes and let her toes sink into the sand. She looked back at Alejandro, who was standing next to his car, unsure what to do.

She stretched out her hand towards him and he slowly crossed the road and approached Isis, placing his hand in hers.

Isis.

Alejandro had swooped me in his arms, caressing my hair and rubbing my back. It calmed me down and brought me back to earth.

On their car ride, Isis thought about what she had just seen and how much it had affected her.

What’s the exact reason for crying?

She loved her father so much and every memory she had of him, came flooding into her mind, and out through her eyes.

Her mother was happy.

That should’ve counted for something but it didn’t if she was choosing to build her happiness on the crown of her father’s memory.

That was her problem.

And that was what was making her angry.

First she defiles his memory in their own bedroom, with a man she did not introduce the family to, let alone, married.

Then she decides to rub salt into the open wounds of the tragedy and dirt onto the fresh memories of her husband.

Isis was convinced that her mother never loved her father. And it could be possible that she didn’t love Isis either because what she had done, could not be classified as acts of love.

Not just that but every day, she lived through the epitome of her mother’s disregard for her.

She couldn’t even remember when was the last time she had a mother and daughter bonding session. None of that.

No loving calls. No cute texts. No spoiling. No tenderness. No affection. And now, no trust, no loyalty and one thing that was always missing - love. No love.

Wasn’t her mother the one who always taught her Galations 5:22-23? The fruits of the Spirit? What happened to all of that? Where did the love go? Where is the joy? The forbearance? The kindness?

She decided that none of all of this was her fault and she was no longer going to live in her mother’s shadow or allow her mother’s decisions to influence her life. She was going to live it the way she saw fit.

Starting by allowing Alejandro, to make her happy. What could be the worst case scenario anyway?

She stared at her hands folded in her lap, feeling Alejandro’s eyes on her every now and then.

She cleaned up the closet in her mind and neatly tucked her thoughts away for another day.

She smelt the sea and heard the crash of the waves, looking up, she asked Alejandro to stop the car.

She got out and walked across the road to the beach.

Taking her shoes off and allowing the warmth of the earth cover her white-painted toenails.

She looked back at Alejandro and stretched her hand out to him, beckoning him.

She knew he wasn’t a fan of nature, but he said he wanted to change for her, right?

Alright then, Mister. Let’s go for a swim.

Aisha.

"Oh Sergio, you know that we can’t keep seeing each other in public. What will the congregation say? It’s getting too risky and you know Archimede’s daughter loves coming to this place. God forbid she finds us here. Lest she’s a nosy fellow."

Aisha gently removed Sergio’s hands from the folds of her inner thigh and finished up the last of her drink, getting up to leave.

"I’ll call you later and we’ll make more appropriate arrangements to meet sugar."

She pecked his lips and licked off the alcohol from the sides of his mouth, before turning on her heel and making her way out of the bistro.

She had called a taxi because coming to meet Sergio in her own car would have drawn too much attention to her. Everyone at church could recognise her car from a million light-years away.

Her taxi arrived and she practically ran inside, to safety, and away from possible prying eyes.

As soon as she got home, she asked her mother if Isis was back yet.

"No, Aisha. The child is out being a young adult. Get a life." she said, as she carried on knitting.

She glanced at her watch. 18:48.

Aisha felt like screaming.

Where could this i***t of a child be?

She only had a practical today so she should’ve been back 4 hours ago.

She flipped out her phone from her handbag, while making her way up the stairs, to her room.

"... Hi! This is the answering service for 00..."

She angrily pressed the ’end call’ button and swore to punish Isis once she was back.

Alejandro.

Alejandro watched Isis in awe as she carefully opened the back strings of her mustard-yellow off-shoulder top and threw it at him.

"Come on Mr ’Too-serious-in-life-to-have-anything-to-do-with-actually-living-it’," she said as she pulled a grimacing face in hopes to resemble Alejandro.

He burst out laughing and mischievously licked his lips as he placed his gaze on her chest.

She had on a yellow swimming bustier that complemented her skin tone to the utmost perfection.

Indeed she was an Island girl. Always ready for the beach.

Her body glistened in the sunset and her eyes gleamed along with it, meeting to form a constellation of wonders to Alejandro’s eyes.

She smiled at him and his mind fell in deep, and coveted.

He found himself walking towards her, removing his baby-blue chambray shirt.

It was almost as if there was a magnet, attracting and pulling him towards her.

Flipping off his leather sandals, he attempted to unbutton his khaki shorts when Isis slowly placed her hands, over his hands.

"Let me," she shispered.

Damn. He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw.

What is this?

Now she smelt like coconuts and the ocean.

She placed her quivering hands on the button of his shorts and slowly unbuttoned them, allowing them to drop.

Her eyes fell on his swollen manhood.

Why did he decide not to wear any underwear?

And why the hell was Isis behaving so calmly at the sight of my nakedness?

The thought troubled him and he started to become self-conscious too. He wondered if he wasn’t big enough. If she’d seen bigger. Or maybe this was her way to finally decide if she wanted to sleep with him or not, based on his length.

He was guessing that the answer was a ’no’, judging from her placid reaction.

He started to panic.

And then he took the wheel again, "It’s not fair that you let me swim naked while you have your swimsuit on now, is it?"

Isis.

Hello sugarcane!

Isis did not expect for Alejandro to be butt-naked under his shorts !

She was horrified. But she kept her cool because she needed to keep her game on check.

Although she was a virgin, she had seen a number of p*****s before. She was 20 for heaven’s sake. That needed to count for something.

Not just the age and the responsibility that came with it, but the experiences too. Of which she had none. Zero. Zilch.

She saw the p*****s in Biology class, and on the internet. Not that she was watching porn but just that she Googled it out of curiosity.

Alejandro had hinted that she take off her swimsuit so that they could both swim naked.

Smart move.

She tried to think her way out of it but there was nothing she could come up with.

She slowly took off her jeans.

As she was going to unclip her bustier, she thought for a second.

Isn’t this the same thing that I’m condemning my mother for? But the only difference is that she acts like she’s perfect, and I know that I’m far from perfect.

But still, here I am with a man I hardly know and now I’m about to show him my nakedness. We’re not even dating or anything. What if he’s actually playing a game and me doing this, would mean he’s scored a point against me? It can’t be that bad. It’s not like we’re going to touch or anything... Right?

She contemplated before slowly unclipping her bustier and letting it fall to the ground, all while keeping her hands across her breasts.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She looked at Alejandro, who looked mesmerized by her every step.

He was anticipating this.

She looked down and saw his anticipation, it reeked of male fervor.

Isis felt excited at his desire for her.

She slowly let down her guard from her chest and untied the sides of her yellow, bottom piece.

Thank God she was shaved.

It’s almost as if she had expected something like this to happen. After that first encounter with Alex, she had made sure to keep her body hairless.

Nasty virgin.

She felt extremely self-conscious and tried to hide her body but Alejandro’s smooth, strong hands had slowly removed her hands, for his prying eyes to ravage her whole.

She remembered Zainab’s words and gained the confidence to turn away from him, seductively walking towards the water and casually throwing her head back to invite Alejandro in, after her.

Here’s to a night of desert dreams and Sicilian skies.