OPEN HEART SURGERY

STAY

Dara fixed Nicole's breakfast, and grabbed her hand bag. "Honey, please don't let it get cold." Dara said, hurrying out of the house.

“I hate you, i***t!" Nicole spoke into the phone. "Good luck!" She yelled after Dara, who was already running back into the house.

“Where did I drop the car key?" Dara asked, and Nicole pointed in the direction of the dining. Dara snatched the key off the table and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Niki please you need to eat something so you can take your drugs." Dara said, running out again.

Nicole nodded. "I love you Honey." She said, happy that her friend was finally going to get the job of her dream.

“I love you too." Dara replied, as she tried not to fall off the heels she wore as she hurried out again.

“That's so sweet, I love you too." Tasha's voice filtered through Nicole's phone.

“Shut up! I wasn't talking to you." Nicole shot at Tasha on the phone.

“Oh my God, is he there?" Tasha asked, from the other end.

“Is 'who' where?" Nicole asked.

“Zak!" Tasha replied.

“No he's not! I was talking to Dara," Nicole explained. "She has a job interview this morning." Nicole said, carrying the drugs Nene had brought to her after her wondrous escape from Zak's room.

“… He's protective, caring, loving and handsome, and you can add a few more things to that." Nicole told Tasha.

“Is he good in bed?"

“We haven't had s*x! We haven't even kissed!" Nicole said.

Tasha's voice came sharp on the phone. "If he's who you say he is, give me two reasons why you are not yet two months pregnant?" Tasha scolded.

Nicole could only imagine the seriousness on Tasha's face when she sounded so lame. "I'm waiting for my brain, I don't want o leave it behind this time." Nicole said. "I'm surprised you're not bothered that he's African.”

“He's not hungry and sick! You said he's a heart doctor and he's rich. So, I don't care the color of his skin or the skin of his color because 'rich' and 'doctor', doesn't sound African to me."

Nicole laughed so hard and fell off her chair. "Do you know, crazy is a synonym for Tasha?”

“I'm serious Niki, but you love him, right?"

Any question in that direction always came straight for Nicole's heart. "I don't know, maybe.”

“Niki, I know that you know that I know that you love him." Tasha said.

“Okay! Fine, I do.”

“Then what's your problem?”

“I don't know Tasha. I'm just scared that I'm too old to make a stupid mistake again." Nicole said, walking to the window. "Oh! My God, Tasha, he just drove in.”

“Alright, Niki you have to pull yourself together and apologize for running away, then you can tell him you love him too." Tasha instructed.

“How can I tell him that?" Nicole stammered. "Bye Tasha, he's almost at the door.”

“He can't be at the door! You said he just drove in." Tasha said. "Promise me you'd tell him you love him.”

“Okay Tasha, I'll call you back." Nicole said, nervously.

“Don't call me back! Just promise." Tasha insisted.

“Okay fine, I'll tell him I love him. I'll tell him whatever you want. Bye!" Nicole did the only thing she could do to end the call politely.

What does he want, why can't he just stay away? Nicole's voice questioned. Zak stopped and walked back to the car. Nicole almost screamed for him to come back, she didn't really mean that. He picked his stethoscope from the car and walked to the front door as Nicole ran from the window, telling herself this was her territory and she had to take control.

She opened the front door before he rang the bell. "Hi! Bonjour monsieur." She beamed, praying for the grace to keep up with the act.

Zak studied her in silence. Her hair was well combed, he couldn't tell if she wore make up but he could tell her dress was shorter than all the others he had seen. Her chest was exposed and he liked what he saw and struggled not to stare. "You're positively beaming, how is my patient doing?" He asked, stepping into the room as his confidence overwhelmed her act.

She had expected him to stare. Her attitude yesterday was childish, why did she run? Maybe it had turned him off and he was no longer attracted to her. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't know what to do Zak. I didn't know what to say.”

A space of about a meter stood between them, for every time Nicole stepped back, Zak stepped forward to maintain the space. "If you're asking me to forgive you, I have. So let's get back to business." He said. "How was your night?" He continued as if he was certain her night wasn't so good.

“I had difficulty breathing but when I woke, I was fine and felt like-" She paused, the word she intended to use.

“Sprinting?" Zak guessed.

She smiled, stepped backward and switched it for another word, "skydiving." He laughed at her wit, and stepped forward again. They had stepped into the dinning and Nicole took her last one backwards, and got trapped between the dining table and her doctor.

“Have you taken your drugs?"

“I was just about to, thanks for sending them." Nicole said, letting out a sharp gasped as Zak lifted and placed her on the table without prior-notice where she sat quietly in disbelieve. He had actually held her in mid air for few seconds, looking directly into her eyes. Was he that strong or was she that light? There was more of a soldier than a doctor in him, especially when he refused to give that charming smile.

He plugged the ear-piece into his ears and raised the stethoscope diaphragm to her already exposed chest. Nicole wanted to run but she was trapped and since she couldn't, her heart began to race. Nicole, he is emotionally, medically and physically coming after your heart. Please do something. Her mind instructed.

Zak closed in on her and gently touched her arm for support as he found the right spot, right above her breast. She caught the whiff of his thin line masculine perfume as she melted in her seat or rather on the dining table. Its smell was like something made in heaven. Like her eyes, it was beyond any designer. She had never perceived it before, off course she had never been this close to him. And now, all she wanted was to rest her head on his chest and stay there forever.

Zak listened to the soul of her heart beat the finest sounds of music. Nicole was lost in his charm and trapped in his gaze as Zak saw through the sea of her eyes. He swam to see, and drowned deep in the flawless blueness of her eyes. Nicole closed them, her face lifted, her lips slightly parted and Zak responded as they found each other in a gentle, graceful and passionate kiss.

If it was a dream, then it was a dream come true but if it was real, someone had to wake up, someone had to stop it else, there would be a next level. Nicole gently pulled away, her eyes still fixed on his, a half-smile formed on her face although she was not sure why it did. She touched his cheeks cautiously as if they would burn her hands if she wasn't careful and the half-smile faded into seriousness, confusion and questions. "What do you want from me Zak?”

“I want you to stay." Zak said, with his eyes still glued to hers.

“Stay where Zak?" She asked. Tears filled her eyes. "I can't." She replied, as a tear ran down her right cheek.

“I love you Niki." Zak reaffirmed.

Another tear ran down the left. "I love you too Zak, but I can't." She said, as the tears ran down her face, Zak gently wiped them. "I'm scared. I'm scared to love you Zak." She continued.

“Why can't you? What scares you?" He asked, obviously confused.

“If I knew, I wouldn't be so scared." She sniffled. "Just go, please. I think I need sometime alone." She muttered, politely.

Zak nodded and lifted her off the table before she could protest. "If I miss you, I'll call. Take your drugs and change that dress, you need to protect your chest," He paused, "Your heart." Then he smiled and walked away.

Nicole thought her heart only needed protection from him. She could not believe she had told him 'no'. She ran to the window and watched his 2-15 Benz-G-Class drive out the gate. It occurred to her that he only drove the Benz when he was going out of town. Maybe he wanted to tell her he was traveling. He said he would call… But what if he doesn't miss her, ever again? Nicole he doesn't love you anymore. Her ever speaking mind spoke.

Nicole's phone rang, it was Mrs. Sambo, but Nicole just watched it ring until it terminated. She would not answer any call until she was sure no one would detect the disappointment in her voice. I told you he doesn't love you anymore, maybe he never did. The phone rang again. Nicole, please pick the damn call! Her voice screamed at her, as she attacked the phone and slid the green on the screen.

“I told you I'd call if I missed you. I just did." Zak's voice filtered into her ears.

She looked at the screen, it wasn't Mrs. Sambo. She had not imagined he'd do that, joy painted her heart with orange and yellow and completely shot off words from her mouth.

“Hello… Niki are you still there?" He asked.

It was not a video call but Nicole smiled and nodded frantically. "Yes I, I am." She stammered.

“Did you chock?" He asked.

"I almost did!" She chuckled, wondering how easily Zak raised and eased tensions at will. She thought of how he'd make her cry in a minute and laugh in the next.

Zak's tone on the phone changed to a more serious one. "Niki, I need you to find out exactly what scares you because, I love you very much and that doesn't make it very easy to take a 'no' for an answer." He said. "We can fight it together, like tagged team partners"

“Zak, what if my fears are more than one?”

“It doesn't make a difference as far as we're on the same side." That's all Nicole wanted to hear, she wanted to be sure she was not going to be in this alone. Now, her Ex-boy, military blood and heart surgeon had promised to be her partner.

She had gone out for a few drinks with Dara, to celebrate Dara's new job that evening but Dara had saved the night section to spend outside Top View Villa. Because Aunt Rose wasn't in town, Dara had told Nicole to sleep over at Zak's place as was the custom when ever her mom traveled. But Nicole had refused the golden offer, besides she lived alone in California with no armed guards watching over her.

It was a beautiful night and Zak had chosen to walk from plot 134 to 137. Nicole opened the door, but Zak spoke first "Bonsior mademoiselle.”

“Good evening Dr. Zak, how may I help you?" Nicole said, giving him her killer smile.

“I came to check on my patient." Zak replied, giving her his charming smile.

“You commanded her to change her dress this morning, I guess that was the cure, so she's fine and she feels like sprinting." Nicole said, refusing to be remorseful about it.

“Nicole, please don't sprint!" Zak said. They laughed as he walked in. Zak was happy to see how happy she looked. "Are you home alone?”

“How does that make you feel?”

“Where's Dara?”

“She went out to pick something."

“…And won't be back tonight." He guessed.

“I didn't say so." She replied.

“I wasn't asking, I was telling you." He told her.

Nicole wasn't surprised. It was just Zak talking about Dara. "It seems like you want to talk, have a seat but make it snappy so I can fix dinner for Nicole. Alone!" Nicole said, throwing herself on the sofa.

Zak laughed. "I won't be long. I suggest you come spend the night at my place.”

“Why should I do that?”

“Because in my father's house, there are many mansions there. Have no fear. You won't have to sleep in my room." Zak said, and Nicole thought about the idea again with a little hesitation but Zak gently pushed a little harder. "Pick up the phone and call Aunt Rose, She'd tell you to that that.”

“I don't doubt you but calling Aunt Rose would be telling on Dara.”

“Oh! So this is about the friendship code," Zak said. "In that case, I'll get them to send more guards to watch over you.”

Nicole stood up to pierce his ego. "What are you trying to prove? I already know you're a civilian who uses his father's military influence to impress the girls.”

Zak smiled at her, in admiration. He really loved this fire branded Nicole, the white version of Dara. "That is what everybody would believe and for that singular reason, I do everything to prove them wrong." Zak said. "I have friends, soldiers, officers. I have my own network and connections." He continued. "I don't live in my father's shadow.”

“But you still live under his roof?" She retorted.

“I don't see the sense in renting an apartment when I have a place to stay until my house is completed.”

That was new information for Nicole. "Your house?”

“I bought one here in Abuja, but it's undergoing some renovations right now. He bragged, as he stood up to leave." Like I said, I'll send you more guards.”

Nicole began to accept the truth that she really did not know the man she was seriously contemplating diving into a relationship with. Then it occurred to her, that Dara had told her a lot about Zak, actually a lot about herself and Zak. What they did, the fun, growing up together and all that, but she never really told her who he was, apart from the regular 'stupid heart surgeon'. And what he was all about, apart from the regular 'nice guy', 'ex-boy', 'Casanova'.

"Stay!"

Zak turned to look at her. "Stay where?”

“Instead of extra guards, I want you to stay." She said, shyly.

Zak smiled. "This morning, I asked you to stay and you refused. So why would I want to do that?”

Nicole laughed quietly. She knew he wanted her to convince him. "You were asking me to stay, like, stay with you in Africa." She explained. "But I'm asking you to stay just one night.”

“Africa? You know that's the part I'm supposed to kiss you, right?”

Nicole smile. "I also know you won't.”

“You're right, but can I ask you something?" Zak requested, and Nicole gave him her attention, wondering why he needed permission to talk. "Why would you want a man for a night, when you can have him for life?"

His question seemed to knock Nicole off her emotionlessness into reason-ability for some seconds before she regained balance. "I think it's too early to answer that question, because you've not really asked it. But what if we struck a deal?"

“I'm listening."

“I'll stay, if you stay." She told him.

Zak kept a business attitude. "Are you saying yes? You love me and you'll-”

"Zak! I'm saying stay." She threw both hands in the air.

He gave his charming smile, held her waist and drew her to himself. What if I stay, and I mistakenly kiss you again?”

She raised her face to his. "I'll mistakenly kiss you back."

Zak carried out his threat and she retaliated. They kissed from the door back into the room, the emotions intensified almost out of control. She pushed him to the sofa with passion and with magic. The kiss was romantic and elevating to s****l. He grabbed her butt. His hands found its way from her thighs into her skirt as she pulled away and slapped him on his chest. "Are you trying to r**e me or what?"

Zak felt a cold steam of shame "You're on top of me Nicole." He remarked, quietly.

“Oh! I'm sorry." She said, and got off him. "I need to go fix dinner." Walking to the kitchen she turned and smiled at him. "For us.”

The Nicole Zak saw was not the Nicole he had met last month at the airport. This Nicole was totally in control, happy and fearless, naughty and funny, vigorous and energetic. He had liked the other Nicole but he was madly in love with this one, so he followed her into the kitchen.

“Don't just stand there, grab an apron." Nicole said, placing a pot on the fire.

Zak couldn't help but laugh, he actually couldn't remember the last time he was in the kitchen and here, she was talking about putting on an apron. But he did anyway. "What has come over you? I need an explanation for the automatic change of attitude, humor style and the motive behind all this energy?”

There's a Nicole who is locked up when she does not know what she wants, Tasha calls her freezing point Niki. But the moment she does, Tasha calls her boiling point Niki. So which of the Nikis do you prefer?”

”I prefer the fire hot Niki." Zak replied.

“Boiling point Niki! Not fire hot." She corrected, and began chopping some vegetables.

Zak watched her skillfully work, around the kitchen. "'Nicole', I had always loved that name and had hoped to call one of my daughters by it.”

“We have a million people answering to the name, so she's welcome to join the party.”

“Since you took the name first, I'll just think up another one for her." Zak said.

Nicole looked at him, like he was insane. "Seriously, so what are trying to say?”

“I don't want to be mixing up my daughter's name with her mother's name." Zak said, with a serious look on his face.

It took Nicole a second and a half to interpret his logic. "Stupid heart surgeon!" She grinned and divided the onion into two halves "Oh! God this is the part I hate." The onion fumes found her eyes at the same speed with which she attacked the bulb of the plant. Tears ran down her eyes and she shut them tightly.

“I'm sorry, let me get that." Zak offered to help. Nicole dropped the knife on the chopping board for him. Instead, he hugged and kissed her, she kissed him back as tightly as her eye leads pressed against each other. It was a long, tight kiss.

Nicole pulled away gently, opening her eyes in the same manner. She felt good, like the kiss had done the magic. "That actually worked. How many girls have you tried it on?”

“You're the first" Zak answered. "We just invented it. Let's call it, 'the onion fume kiss'." Zak said.

Nicole laughed at their invention. "Is that all we can offer the world Zak?" She said, as her laughter faded into a smile and terminated with a serious stare into his eyes. "Zak, you know I love you, right?" Zak could see the fear he had seen in her eyes that morning and he wanted to take it away but he had no idea what it was all about and how he would go about it.