In the one month to the pop-up store design and opening, everything has been moving well for Soma. The project itself, from which she had gained so much exposure and praises from her team leader. Her relationship with her coworkers, which was stronger than ever.
If she were to draw the graph of her life, she’d be at the point approaching the peak.
Everything was wonderful. Including her relationship with Remi, as much as she didn’t want to admit.
They were still staying back after work hours. Everyone understood Soma’s drive and admired it, but didn’t feel motivated to join. Emmanuel included. Which was good. Or else they’d find out Remi was involved, and there’s no way in any reality that it would look good.
She knew she should stop entertaining him, stop staying back. But deep down within her, she didn’t want to. She told herself that she just wanted to enjoy his company and learn from him and would never end up liking him.
Most times, Remi would distract her with random facts. Like how no number before 100 has the letter A when it is spelt. Somehow, it would lead to her opening up to him, feeding the knowledge bank that had her name on it that he had created in his head.
His ulterior motives were clear as day, yet she always fell for them.
However, she wasn’t the only one opening up. Remi told her about his family, separated parents and him being the oldest of three children. His siblings, Morenike and Monife, were twins, in their final year.
The revelation had raised the question of his age. He quirked his brow at her as he sat on the edge of the table, she on her regular chair beside him.
“Why? Think I’m too old or something?”
Soma shrugged, looking away in a teasing manner. “You could be. Looks are deceiving.”
He grabbed the arm of her chair, pulling it to him. Her carefree hands suddenly began to dampen.
He cocked his head to the side. “I’m only five years older than you, Somadina.”
“Four?” She breathed out.
“What?” His eyes had dropped to her lips, but like the few times it had happened, he dragged it back to her eyes. That was safer. “Too much for you?” He whispered.
“No. It’s okay.” She shook her head, realizing something. “Stop doing that.” She smacked his thigh and he let out a boisterous laugh, The sound was one she was getting familiar with, and also trying to gain immunity against.
“I’m not doing anything,” he said, taking her hand in his gently.
“You just tried to pull me into that imagination of yours where we could be…something.”
“Imagination…I’m sure we can turn that to reality.” He laced their fingers together, placing it on his lap. Her eyes had stayed on the perfect combination a bit longer than necessary.
Back at home, Soma lets out an exhausted groan as she laid down on the sofa. Remi was doing too good of a job destroying their boundaries.
Lilith strolls in from her room and stops when she sees her. She sighs. “Why are you looking like a depressed puppy?
Soma turns her head to her before sitting up. She opens her mouth to speak but Lilith stops her with an outstretched finger.
“Wait. Let me guess. Your boss.”
“If you know, then why ask?”
Lilith comes to sit down in front of her on the floor, cross legged. “In case there was a plot twist. But I should have known better. So. What did he do this time?”
Soma thought back to a few hours back. Remi had the habit of delivering snacks to her during work, and during their alone time, dinner. For only her. She’d share it with him, but Remi wasn’t a big eater and would only take a few spoons.
Just yesterday, she had given him the ultimatum to bring something for himself, or she’d go home straight. Today, he brought a larger bowl of what he usually ordered for her.
She pointed to the food as she craned her neck to see him. “I can’t finish this.”
“I know. It’s for both of us.” He didn’t even spare her a glance as he removed the cutlery.
Soma squinted her eyes, head tilting as she tried to make sense of his words. “Weren’t you supposed to bring your own?” She had asked, her words coming out slowly.
“You wanted me to bring food for myself.” He gestured to it. “It just so happened to be in the same bowl as yours.”
Soma’s jaw dropped and when the situation dawned, a scoff left her.
“Oh.” He spoke before she could try to argue. “I’ve already compromised on the food issue. So we should be good.”
The idea didn’t annoy her. If anything, she was impressed by his effort. And very aware of how close she was to really catching feelings.
She had sucked her lower lip between her teeth, while her hooded eyes locked on his frame. When he turned on his heel, facing her, he stilled for a second before walked up to her.
He lifted his hand to her face, his fingers freeing her lip, startling her. “You look like you’re swearing for me.”
She blinked, the physical contact robbing her of all air. “I might as well do that,” she somehow managed to say.
He nodded with a small smile. “Go ahead. It won’t change the fact that you’ll be the one by my side while I suffer.”
Soma narrates the whole incident to Lilith—who interrupts at almost every turn to squeal—not missing a single detail.
“Can you guys just date already?” she asks, her face glimmering with excitement.
“What? No!”
“Why not? From everything I’ve been hearing since you began working on that project of yours, the man clearly likes you.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.” Soma shakes her head. “He’s still my boss. It doesn’t look right for a boss and his employee to date.”
“The man doesn’t care. He owns the company for God’s sake. And there isn’t a non-fraternization rule is there?”
“There isn’t.”
“I see no problem.”
“I do. I’m not going to have people talking behind my back and saying things like I only got certain projects because of it.”
Lilith watches Soma. “So…apart from people’s perception, there’s nothing else?”
“No…what exactly is that supposed to mean?”
“Well, you’ve said a bunch of nonsense that I suppose is valid, but I haven’t heard you say you don’t like him.”
Soma freezes, her eyes locked with Lilith’s searching ones. “I don’t.”
“Hm. You sure took your sweet time with that stupid answer of yours.”
“I-I…Remi is a good guy. He’s handsome, nice when he’s not trying to bully me—”
“That is entirely because of your bad attitude,” Lilith murmurs.
“—he listens to me, probably hangs up every word I say like he’s placing a star in the sky. He notices things about me and before I say Jack, it’s taken care of or provided for.” She pauses. “I mean, of course, I feel a type of way. I’d be a robot if I don’t, right?” She lets out an awkward laugh. “But, nothing more. I…don’t like him in that big way.”
“So what you’re saying is if Remi does these things to another woman, you won’t—”
Lilith stops talking and slowly smiles. She takes her phone out and snaps a quick picture of Soma, making her nearly jump out of her skin.
“What’s that for?”
“You said you don’t like him. But just look at this.” She pushes the phone into Soma’s face. “That’s how you looked when I was talking about Remi and other women.”
Soma’s lips part slightly as she stares at the photo. Her face is twisted in a glare and she knew what thought was roaming in her head.
How dare he abandon me for someone else? Am I joke to him?
She sighs, covering her face with both hands. So much for thinking she wouldn’t end up liking him for real.
A week to the store opening, staying back after work had changed meaning. There was no use pretending that it was for work. Soma had resigned herself to her fate. She liked Remi. That was it.
The day before the opening, Remi calls her into his office. It had been a long while since that happened. Soma chuckles at the memories.
Just as she raises her hand to knock, the door opens. Remi stands there, wearing those glasses of his and looking more divine than usual. Or maybe that was just her.
“Come in.”
She enters and waits for him to close the door and turn to her. “How can I help you sir?”
“I didn’t call you for work, Somadina.” He takes her by the hand and pulls her closer to him. “I wanted to see your face.”
“We’re still seeing each other later today.”
“About that. The Aqua Store opening is tomorrow. So when we close from work today, let me take you straight home. You should rest up.”
“True.” She bobs her head. “Let’s do that.”
They stay quiet, entering an unspoken staring contest, which makes Remi narrow his eyes.
“There’s something different about you today.”
“Really?”
He closes the little distance between them, his hand travelling along her arm. “You’re not resisting or complaining.”
She keeps quiet for a beat, considering something she had been thinking about for the past week. “After the opening, should we…go somewhere?”
“Somadina.” He lifts his second hand to cup the side of her face, staring intently at her. “If you don’t want me to assume, then be specific with your words,” he tells her, his voice low and intimate.
She swallows roughly. “Let’s go on a date.”
“Have you given up on making excuses?”
“No.” She leans into the touch of his palm. “It’s just that my defenses are down right now.”
“I’ll pray that they remain that way forever.”
A giggle leaves her lips. “I should go now. See you later.”
Remi stares at her a beat longer, before letting out a controlled sigh and dropping his hand. “Fine. Later.”
Since she had finally decided to accept whatever this was with Remi, she was going to do it right.
She was going to tell him about the gala.
Tomorrow.
So Soma with all her mouth has fallen. And she wants to reveal herself. Will it go well?👀
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