ENJOY THIS THRILLING ROMANTIC STORY
CHAPTER 1
Kitan's eyes popped open as the rays of light hit her eyes. She shielded her face before she caught sight of her best friend standing at the window, holding the curtain open.
"Morning Bride to be!" Her friend screamed followed by the ladies standing around her bed. She realised her room was filled up already with her friends and family. Her friends from childhood, school, work were all standing round her and screaming.
Kitan had to suck in her frown but she still threw her best friend a glare
"Don't you dare interrupt my beautiful sleep next time" Kitan whispered through closed teeth and tried to smile at those hugging her.
Helen rolled her eyes "Yen yen yen, come on! Today is the D-day!" She screamed and the others screamed too, jumping on her bed and hugging her. Kitan rolled her eyes but let herself be hugged for the millionth time.
She sighed in dejection. She couldn't believe it was her big wedding day. A day she had always dreamt of. She had lived for this day but...
"Blessed be the lord God almighty! Who has caused his light to shine upon our face..." Her cousin suddenly launched into her poetical hymn as usual while the others chorused 'Amen' after her. They all looked so happy as they held hands and prayed over her.
Kitan sighed and let her eyes fall on her glittering gown few feets away. It was so extravagant. She had fallen in love with the ball gown at first sight even though it cost a fortune but her mother in law had paid for it without blinking an eye.
Kitan wondered just how rich the family she was marrying into was. They had all in control. Kitan was having her dream wedding because of them. From the event planner to the hall, the bridal train extravagance, the color, the food, the cars.
Her hands were shaking. She wasn't comfortable with it all. She sighed for the umpteenth time and her friend caught the gist.
"Okay can the bride have a moment please?" Helen asked in her ever domineering voice and they all started to leave the room to go chat outside without questioning her.
Kitan couldn't say for sure who was more sassy between them. They were both crazy, she had concluded, maybe that was why they were best friends.
"What's with that look hun? You are supposed to be jumping by now! It's few hours to your wedding!" Her cousin Kaisha jumped next to her. She had made herself her personal body guard ever since the girls got together for her wedding. She loved her cousin Kaisha. They had been together since day one in diapers and those little things.
"Maybe she's scared of her wedding night" Her sister cut in and barked into laughter. Kitan rolled her eyes at her one and only sister who was already fully dressed. Trust Faith not to miss an hair out of place.
"Are you even supposed to be here Faith? So get your tiny little scrawny ass out" Helen glared and then stopped
"Forgive me lord" She muttered quickly as she wiped her mouth.
"Time to leave Faith" Helen grabbed Faith and pushed her towards the door.
Her sister was a pain in the ass, always wanting to get on her bad side but Kitan knew they loved eachother to death. It was just two of them.
"Is that true couz? Oh no...don't tell me you are scared of...?" Kaisha's eyeballs popped large and they were really large. Kaisha had this large doe eyes which could make you do anything for her by just staring in them. She was like a real life African Barbie with her long natural hair attached to a flowing Brazilian hair and her glowing fair skin. Kaisha had always been a beauty to behold.
Kitan sighed and eyed her cousin
"You are listening to that rat?" She asked
"Well...could be true. You don't need to be scared at all, you just get into position and at the moment..." Kaisha was demonstrating it all
"Oh just shut up" Kitan scrunched up her face as Helen barked into laughter obviously enjoying the show.
"You girls need deliverance" Kitan muttered and the girls laughed in each other's face
"I don't think I should go on with this wedding but..." Kitan sighed
"Well I can't believe it's you regretting cos I talked you out of this but you were so head strong on you having to do this, you have instructions to do this. So what's with the change of mind hun?" Helen placed her hands on her enormous hips. You could almost take Helen as her elder sister with her great height and fleshy stature. Helen was the example of a full fledged woman with child bearing hips as Africans love.
"Why do you feel that way baby girl?" Kaisha moved closer with a worried look and for a moment tears clouded her eyes.
"Maybe I am scared..." Kitan shuddered
"Scared?" Helen asked with a frown. It was obvious she couldn't believe the great Kitan could be scared of anything.
"I don't know what I am getting myself into..."
"Oh well I know and let me tell you! You have the best choice in the entire universe. You are getting married to the one and only Eliots! Dastardly rich and royal! Girl! You shouldn't be worried at all" Helen rolled her eyes.
"Or are you having second thoughts about Dan? I thought you've closed his case?" Helen shot an accusing look at her. Kitan's heart was racing as she rolled her eyes to hide her conflicted emotions.
Daniel Gbotemi was the best man of her life. He was the man she had always seen herself getting married to. She couldn't deny she liked him like crazy but they had been too much of friends and now she had to marry someone else. Someone years far older than her!
"But? I've never even seen this man before! Never even said a word to him, how do I marry someone like that?" Kitan sighed in dejection, glad she finally spoke her mind
"What? You've never seen your husband?" Kaisha asked with disbelief
"Hey girl that doesn't matter cos you will see him today hun?" Helen cut in as she dragged Kitan to her feet.
"What? Really? You've never seen him?" Kaisha asked again in obvious shock.
"Not even on social media. It's like he doesn't exist!" Kitan exclaimed
"Well, maybe you don't know but rich people dont do social media and he must be a very busy person. You know how much hardwork makes them that rich" Helen rolled her eyes
"Who's side are you on?" Kaisha asked with wide eyes and Helen shrugged
"Look I am just glad my best friend is getting married to a billionaire, that makes me a billionaire friend " She barked into laughter.
"Even if he is a pot bellied old man?" Kaisha asked in shock.
Helen rolled her eyes "What's wrong with that? I like pot bellies" She flashed her teeth and Kaisha threw the pillow at her.
"Hello..." A knock interrupted and the door opened to reveal a tall pretty woman in a flowing white jacket. She had a big smile and huge glasses along with an enormous I-pad where she kept jotting things even as she walked in, in her pretty gold heels.
"Oh Dina! Thank God you are here!" Helen breathed and hugged the event planner. Dina was the best event planner in lagos, only the high and mighty could afford her.
"Hello girls, why are you still in bed baby?" Dina asked in surprise
"Get up girl. Time to transform you into the queen you are!" Dina exclaimed and Helen squealed in excitement.
******
Her Uncle held out his hand as the piano started its hum and Kitan's heart started to race. It was time already. Tears clouded her eyes as she looked into her uncle's eyes. It should be her father standing there and not her uncle, though she loved her uncle very much but her heart twisted in pain as she thought of her father.
"Promise me..." his voice reverberated in her head as she took the walk, a step after the other.
His eyes had closed as his last breath left him and he had left them forever. Tears rolled down her eyes. She couldn't stop them. She knew she didn't want the marriage. She couldn't do it but she had a promise to fufil. It was her father's last wish on his death bed.
Though she couldn't understand why she was pulled into all this but her father was so committed to the Eliots. She couldn't understand their acquaintance but all she knew was that her father wanted her to marry the Eliots. She just had to. It was his last wish.
She missed him badly. He should have witnessed this day though she wasn't totally sure about the marriage but she walked on as the music went on and the congregation got up to welcome her presence. Her eyes had been blurred with tears but she recognised her mother wiping her eyes with an hanky and Helen commenting from behind about her makeup.
Kitan looked up and she could see the priest smiling at her. He was also like a father to her. He was the one who christened her and still found time to check on her. She wondered why he wasn't against the marriage.
"My baby, don't cry, he is seeing you from heaven and smiling wide today" her mother muttered and she nodded and they hugged. Kitan didn't want to let go.
"Come on girl" Helen whispered behind her and pushed her forward.
"I don't think you have any cause to cry at all cos I! Can't! Breathe!" Helen exclaimed
Kitan wanted to laugh at her friend. Helen was what kept her going with her funny comments like handing over stress depressors at the right moment.
"Oh my God! Kitan!" Kaisha whispered in shock
Kitan wondered what was wrong with her friends. She turned her attention on the exquisite decor. A combination of silver and purple. It was so beautiful. The flowers were beautiful. It was funny she couldn't tell what flower it was but she liked its simplicity, just plain white and green. They lined the aisle and every corner of the church. The diamonds on her dress glittered under the chandeliers as she walked each steps delicately. Her bridal train suited the color theme in lilac dresses which flowed around their heels and cut extravagantly at the top in a beautiful fashion with flowers on their hair and wrists. The little flower girls walked ahead, throwing tiny pieces of flower.
It was all so beautifully planned. Her mother in law had taken care of it all. She had matching cord lace designs with her mother and their head gear stoned to perfection. The men's shoes were shining, she could almost see her reflection in them. It was all so perfect. She should be happy.
The choir voice raised a higher pitch and Kitan heard her heart beat speed up.
"Finally! look at your husband Kitan" Helen barked into laughter and Kitan frowned. Her heart was racing. She didnt want to look. She was so scared, maybe even repulsed. How would she fair in this marriage? She hadn't even met the man once before and he was far older than her. How old? 7? 5? Maybe. She couldn't recollect. The wedding had been planned so fast.
She was closer to the alter now but she didnt raise her face. She couldn't back out either. She had to fufil her father's last wish. Yes, she would. She would marry the whomever and end it. She consoled herself and climbed the alter's mable steps as her uncle's supportive hands finally drew away. She wanted to grab him back and run away or hide somewhere! But her uncle was gone and the piano had stopped. There was perfect silence. You could hear a pin drop.
"Brethren we are gathered here today! Before God and man..." Father Collins spoke up and Kitan felt her breath seizing. She was really going to get married?
She wondered if it was worth obeying her father or throwing it all away and living her own life.
"Joining you both in holy matrimony...."
Kitan thought she was going to pass out. Her heart was racing fast. Maybe she was going to have an heart attack?
"Now Kitan!" Kitan snapped in shock as she heard Father Collins call her name.
"Do you Oreoluwakitan Favour Adejobi take Silas Adedotun Eliot as your lovely wedded husband...." she turned to her mother who was crying and smiling at the same time. Her younger sister didn't have a distinct expression but Helen was grinning from ear to ear, Kaisha was looking worried. Her mother in law was smiling in that calm way billionaire mother in laws do and a man who had matching outfit with her mother-in-law and holding hands, stared straight at her with such a calm look. Kitan looked away quickly and turned to look else where.
She stared and then she glared and then...
She stared at the face staring back at her with a cool expressionless look. Kitan held her breath. She realised her racing heart had suddenly stopped and instead, now she couldn't breath. She realised she was staring face to face! With her husband to be!
Her heart started racing all over again, faster as it looked like it would stop beating all together. She couldn't stop glaring at the man before her.
"Kitan?" Father Collins called and she realised the whole church was staring at her.
"Wh...What?" She muttered and her husband to be moved a bit. She glanced at him. He was staring at her and it gave her goosebumps.
"Was asking if you take Dotun as your husband" Father Collins whispered back and Kitan muttered a thanks.
She raised her head and glanced at her husband to be again without really believing everything going on around her. So it was him. It was him who refused to show his face for a month before the wedding? Why? Was it because he was so fine...
Oh yes, that's it. Kitan was surprised at such....beauty. He was truly royal in that intimidating height, towering above her and staring down at her with that cool look which was so perfect. God! She couldn't believe it. He was so damn handsome that she kept staring. His face was just so perfect. Or maybe she was dreaming? How could someone be this handsome? Clean beards shaping his face, perfect eyes with milky brown beautiful eyes, wait? Damn, she was hopeless and that look he was directing at her. Her heart was racing. Her husband? How could she be so lucky? Wait lucky? She couldn't understand her brain, it was going haywire!
"Yes, I do" Kitan breathed out and held his eyes. He seemed to relax back and locked his jaw.
"Will you Silas Adedotun Eliot take Oreoluwakitan Favour Adejobi as your lovely wedded wife, in richer, in good health, in sickness....Till death do you apart"
Kitan watched him lock his jaw as he glanced at her. Her heart was racing. What would he say? His voice suddenly caught her fancy and she marveled at the rich velvety baritone
"Yes, I do" He replied. Kitan held her breath as screams rang out and applauds. The choir broke into a song of jubilation. Father Collins was smiling.
Kitan glanced at her family, clapping away and hooting before she heard Father Collins
"Now, you may kiss your bride"
Hun? What? Wait! Kiss?
O!M!G!
Kitan was about to have an heart attack before she was held in a strong embrace of the man who stole her attention these few minutes and this beautiful man held her in his arms and Kitan couldn't think before he kissed her.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. No! It must be a dream!
He didn't have any right to kiss her! She didn't even know him! But she couldn't believe how she relaxed in his ever so gentle arms and his soft palm on her face. She marveled in that little moment as his lips met hers and he kissed her softly. Her heart fluttered in disbelief at how perfect that moment was.
"Congratulations!" The voices were all over them as a thunder clap of applauds surrounded them and her husband suddenly let her go. Kitan was still trying to catch her breath as she stumbled on her heels. That fast?
"I present to you!" Father Collins' voice rang in her ears.
"The latest couple!"
*****
Kitan couldn't say why her heart was racing or why she kept throwing glances at her newly wedded husband. It was a very festive mood with food and loud music. The reception was held in a garden with flowers everywhere, transforming the place to a perfect beauty. Everyone was enjoying themselves, eating, chatting and just getting together.
Helen was over the moon with herself. She kept checking out every of the groom men who were shockingly gorgeous. Kitan still couldn't believe her husband was who he turned out to be. She was yet to take it all in.
She glanced at him again. He was over the other side talking to a couple of grown up men. He had been talking to them for hours now. His tall frame kept drawing her attention back. She didn't have a choice. There's no where you looked, you wouldn't see him cos he was so catching to the eye. His looks, his stance, the way he carried himself...
The way his white petunia suit molded his muscles and his tie hadn't moved an inch. She wondered if he wasn't uncomfortable with the neck choking tie but he looked so relaxed and it looked so good on him.
But Kitan couldn't understand why he wouldn't even meet his bride to be even once or why her father had been so keen on her marrying him. Why would he marry her too? She was confused and angry. What exactly was he trying to prove?
"Uuuuu your eyes are all over the hot hubby, you can't take your eyes off him already?" Helen barked into mocking laughter as she gulped her wine. She was obviously drunk already. Even though Helen was her best friend, this was what set Kitan off, Helen's wild behaviours. Though Helen was sweet and a great friend but she hoped Helen would take life more seriously and also God. Yes, Kitan knew she herself wasn't perfect and her own walk with God was a struggling baby steps but Helen worried her all the time.
"Tonight is going to be hottttt" Helen slurred with this look that totally disgusted her.
"Come, don't you have any hot guys to chase anymore?" Kitan eyed her and she laughed.
"Oh so many but I have to be here for my girl" she smiled and immediately Kitan's insides cooled. This was it, this was why she loved Helen regardless.
"Kitan dear?"
They both turned at the sweet voice to see her mother in law. The woman was delicately beautiful, as youthful as ever with a sweet composure but Kitan couldn't trust mother in laws, they could be a pain in the ass like Kaisha's mother in law.
"I trust you must be tired already?" She flashed her perfect white teeth at her.
"Oh...not really" Kitan laughed and her mother in law smiled at her.
"I will have Dotun over, okay?" She said and Kitan could only nod. Her heart started racing again. Dotun was coming? They hadn't even said two words to eachother.
"Please don't leave Hel" Kitan whispered and Helen raised a brow
She was about to ask why when Dotun's presence suddenly filled everywhere, her breath, air, senses. She was rendered speechless.
"Hi" he said and she turned to him
Helen turned too and her eyes popped wide. She smiled wide with a blush
"Hi, I am Helen, Kitan's best friend" she chuckled
"Nice to meet you" he replied and turned to Kitan
"Can we go?" He asked
She nodded without really thinking. Wait. She was finally going with him? She turned back to see her mother and sister, walking towards her. They threw her hugs and she wanted to cry. She was really going to leave them.
They all escorted them to the car waiting outside. It was a black sleek limousine. It was shinning under the darkening lights with flowers all over it. The chauffeur held the door open for them. Kitan couldn't believe she was leaving. She turned back to hug her family again and her friends.
She threw her bouquet there and the girls fought to have it. You have to be sure Helen got it with a big smile on her face. She was panting hard.
"I got it!" She screamed at Kitan and she couldn't help but laugh back. She was going to miss her best friend. She hugged her again.
"Okay, I love you too baby but you have to go " Helen wiped fake tears off her face.
Dotun was already in the car and she climbed in with the doors closing behind her. Now, she was about to freak out. He was right there beside her and they were....alone.
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