Sensitive Affair

Faint beats of the music playing downstairs flowed into the room. Lolia sat in the makeup chair Taye had set up and smiled into the large mirror Taye set before her. She knew her friend worked wonders when it came to makeup. Her capability was no mystery to her but since it had been a while since Lolia had gotten her face glammed she had forgotten just how lovely she looked when glammed up.

Everyday makeup was usually geared at looking natural and flawless. No matter how flawed people would think she was with her ghost white skin sometimes tomato red, depending on the sun, or her twitching blue eyes which looked red under the scrutiny of bright light. "You bloody miracle worker." Lolia sang as she smiled into the mirror turning from side to side admiring the beautiful work of art Taye had turned her face into. Kachi's heels tapped the floor as she made her way from the bathroom back into the room.

The train of her beautiful orange and dark green patterned Ankara dress flowed behind her. "You look amazing," Kachi announced with a smile wide enough, all of her thirty-two pearls could be seen. "My friend is a fucking goddess and my other friend is a fucking artist." She chimed hyping up her girls. Taye rolled her eyes as she let a smile break loose. She placed the mirror back in the huge green makeup box she had hauled from her middle class neighborhood down to Lolia's high class residential. She turned to take in Lolia's appearance once again. She had styled everything from her hair down to her clothes, that was Taye's magical skill, she could make anyone and everyone look beautiful.

From makeup to hair and clothing she was amazing. To Taye, Lolia was already a beautiful woman so she had opted for light makeup simply to enhance her friend's already evident beauty. She settled for a smokey eye with silver teardrops along with light brown glossed lips. On Lolia's hair was a beautiful chestnut-colored bone straight lace frontal packed into a low ponytail with a middle part. The outfit was a brown floor length satin corset dress with a high slit and a plunging neckline, exposing the golden curves of Lolia's cleave. "I honestly do not remember the last time I got all dolled up guys." Lolia chimed smiling ear to ear. "With everything that has been happening with Eric this past two years I just...." "No, no, no," Taye started raising her hands to stop Lolia from diving headfirst into a pool of grief. "We are not going to talk about that, we are going to focus on good tidings. Eric is turning sixty-five and it's a good day." Lolia smiled. "It would be an even better day if his dead-beat son comes." Kachi was always the mouthy one. Ready to fight anyone for her friend. She also always spoke the truth. "Kachi," Lolia muttered in a cautioning tone. She was not a fan of Eric's son either but he was far from a deadbeat. He was one of the most attractive and hard working men she had ever met in her life but she would not allow herself to say that out loud. "Nik is not dead beat he is just angry." "About what?" Kachi continued as she plopped down on Lolia's king-sized bed. She let her fingers caress the soft furs of the cream and white blanket, before crossing her legs.

She leaned back resting her weight on her left hand and flipped her hair to the side as she continued speaking. "It's not your fault that his parents went through a divorce. Plus, he was an adult when it happened, he should suck it up." Lolia sighed. She wanted to agree with Kachi and absolve herself of any blame but she just could not. If Nik knew the truth maybe he would not hate her as much but that truth was not hers to tell, it was Eric's. "I understand where he is coming from," Taye replied as she began to unbutton her shirt. She needed to get dressed so they could all go downstairs and join the party.

"He feels like you caused the rift between his parents." "But she did not." Kachi dropped in. "He doesn't know that," Taye replied. "Maybe he should," Kachi stated staring wide-eyed at Lolia. She knew the secret Eric did not want his children to know courtesy of Lolia. Sometimes she regretted telling Kachi because she brought it up too often. "No," Lolia replied with a frown like Kachi had spoken the most profane of things. "I will not go against Eric's wishes and I will not make Nik hate his late mother. I can't live with that on my conscience." Kachi let out a scoff. "You got a big heart don't you." She continued "Can't be me." "You are just mean," Taye replied with a small chuckle. "No, I am just a baddie," Kachi concluded. She waved the topic off. "But that is by the way. Get dressed fast girl, we need to take a picture to commemorate this day." She continued "Look at us from being three broke bitches from Nigeria to making dollar bills." She pouted her lips and frowned "This would have been a better toast if we had some champagne up in here." "That can be arranged." Lolia smiled as she hopped out of the chair she was sitting in and picked up the home intercom. "Hello Eliza, could you please send up a bottle of champagne and three glasses? Thank you." Taye changed into a glittery black dress and had her makeup done in a split second. They took pictures at Kachi's request -orders- and with glasses of champagne in hand, they made their way out of Lolia's luxurious bedroom into the massive well-lit hallway of their friend's upper class mansion. A crystal chandelier hung from the top of the high ceiling sharing its light with the other light sources in the hallway. Four doors spotted at different corners of the massive hallway led to different rooms. On the walls were bronze and brown artifacts matching the off white color pattern of the space. Kachi made a stop at the rectangular antic mirror with gold rims, hanging on the wall just to look at herself once again. "Vanity." Lolia playfully jabbed. "Self love," Kachi muttered. "I ain't like you guys who got a man to love all of this." Taye shook her head. "Then get you one." Kachi's eyes met Lolia's as she started in pidgin. A popular Nigerian creole. "She dey talk like say them they sell them." Kachi and Taye were always at each other's throats but through it all, they loved each other very much. They were both friends before Lolia joined the group. Sometimes she felt like the third wheel but she knew her girls loved her so she was a proud third wheel. Lolia let out a smile. "I do not have time for your bickering." She muttered. "My husband is waiting for me." She began towards the staircases' long spiral steps which were barricaded with bronze bars. The music was much louder now as Lolia descended the stairs with her friends behind her. The eyes of various guests turned to her but her eyes focused on only one place and that was on Eric. His light brown eyes lowered into slits as he gave her an awarding smile. With the help of his cane, he made his way towards her at the steps and held out a hand for her. Lolia placed her hand in his and he aided her down the remaining steps. "Why are you walking?" Lolia whispered into his ears. "The doctor said..." "Please Lia for one night I do not want to remember that I am sick," Eric muttered as he continued to smile like they were having a lovely conversation. "I want to do all the things that a healthy man would do." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Laugh with old friends, dance with my wife, and make love to her." Lolia smiled. "As you wish Eric." She was getting so used to saying those words. It was always what Eric wanted that Eric got, sometimes she believed he deserved it because of how much he had done for her other times she wished he would just listen to her. "Daddy." Anitta Eric's daughter called as she came towards them. A bright smile adorned her already gorgeous face. Dark brown doe eyes acknowledged Lolia for a second but it was not friendly. "Hello! It was a huge improvement from the sour glare she usually shot Lolia's way. "Hello, Anitta." Lolia replied, "It is always a pleasure." Anitta gave a forced smile. Lolia did not think Anitta liked her but at least she pretended for Eric's sake and Lolia appreciated that. She wished Nik would do the same but he was proud and so damn stubborn. "Happy birthday Daddy." Anitta hugged her father. "Thank you for coming," Lolia added. "Of course." Anitta continued as she turned to her father with a wide loving smile. She squeezed his hand. "I would not miss my father's birthday for anything." "Thank you, baby," Eric replied as he hugged his daughter. "What about Nik and Rick?" He looked past her searching the crowd for his sons. "Are they here?" "Rickard is coming." Anitta replied as his face fell but it lit up once again."But Nikolia..." "Is out of the country." Lolia jumped into the conversation. Anitta frowned at her but Lolia ignored her as she continued with the lie she had planned to use tonight if it was evident that Nik was going to be a no show. Rick, she was sure would show up because Lolia had gone to him and practically begged. She has also pleaded with Anitta here but then again Anitta has always been easier than her brothers and Rick had always been easier than Nik. She had sent Nik messages but had never been allowed into his apartment or his office. "He told me that he had important business, but to apologize he sent you a gift." "But he is not coming." "It is progress." Lolia continued. She kissed his forehead. "We are breaking through and soon he will come over and see you." Eric let out a smile. "You are right progress is good." "Eric!" A friend of Eric's called. The short round man wrapped a hand around Eric. "Ladies mind if I borrow this old man." He chimed as he led Eric away. "You are lying." Anitta started once the women were alone. "I have no idea what you are talking about," Lolia replied. "Nik is not out of town and he sent no gift." Anitta continued "Nik would not even talk to you if you were the last person on earth so why the fuck are you lying?" Lolia turned to Anitta and for the first time tonight, her smile fell. "I know that you and your siblings hate me but I care very much about your father." She continued "He is going through so much that all he asks for is to be happy tonight and I would do anything to make that wish come true." "Going through what exactly." Anitta replied, "He realizes that being married to his little gold digger is not all rainbows." "You are right my marriage to your father is not all rainbows." Lolia continued "Sometimes there is just rain but seeing him smile tonight is all the color I need." She stepped closer. "I am not the enemy here, your enemy is time and you better use it before you lose it." "What?" Anitta asked with narrowed eyes. "Lolia," Kachi called from behind. Lolia turned around. Kachi and Taye stood by the stairs both had replaced their glasses of champagne with glasses of red wine. Lolia knew that her friends believed she needed saving thus Kachi waved her over which was most likely Taye's plan because she knew Kachi very well, calm and subtle was not her type of gameplay. Lolia let out a smile indicating that she was fine and with a nod she acknowledged Kachi's invitation before she turned to Anitta once again. "Thank you for coming." Lolia offered "We hope to see more of you." Lolia let out a deep breath as she made her way to her friends. Once she was with them she let out another deep breath. She took Taye's cup of wine and poured it down her throat. It was not enough, so she risked her life and took Kachi's and repeated the same action. Kachi let it slide because she knew Lolia was tense. "What was happening over there?" Kachi asked "Stepmother duties," Lolia replied with a small smile as she folded her hands. "His kids do not know that he is sick." She explained. "Wait what?" Taye asked, "They deserve to know." "It is not my duty to tell them." Lolia defended. "He made me promise. He does not want them to love him again because of pity. He wants it genuine." "So he is waiting to die first?" Kachi stated. "Kachi." Taye cautioned "What?" Kachi scoffed. "Tell your husband the truth. You said that Nik was closer to his mother than his father, that boy is never going to forgive him or you until he hears the damn truth." "Honestly Lia, you are keeping so many secrets for this man." Taye added, "I may agree with Kachi on this one." "Drop it," Lolia replied. "I did not come over here for a lecture." She continued "I just..." She paused as the words died on her lips. "I need something strong." The night's merriments continued as Eric talked to friends and family. Lolia did her best to stay out of the way and just let him enjoy his night. By the middle of the night, they cut a three-tier birthday cake, probably bigger than a wedding cake. "The night is almost over and Rick is not here," Lolia muttered to her friends' hearing. Eric sat in the middle of the room watching along with everyone a lovely performance by some contemporary dancers Lolia had hired. He seemed enthralled as they did their flips and twirls. "Girl staring at the doorway all night long is not going to suddenly make him come in." Kachi offered. "Just enjoy the night instead of worrying so much." "It's not my night to enjoy Kach, it is his," Lolia stated. She closed her eyes as she buried her face in her left palm. "Loli ok." Taye called "Isn't that your husband's first son." Lolia looked up abruptly and to her ultimate surprise, it was. Nik and Rik walked into the room. Rik was in a black tuxedo and Nik was in a blue suit. They both grabbed glasses of wine from the server who offered and walked further into the party. Anitta made her way to them and they exchanged hugs. "You came." Anitta chimed. "Rick talked me into it," Nik replied taking a sip of his wine. "Your father's wife was practically begging," Rick whispered into Anitta's ears. If Nik knew that he was here because Lolia had asked he would be out in the next second. Nik let his eyes roam around the room. This was not the room he had grown up in. This was a different house. The home he had grown up in was much bigger with a mix of gold, blue and red décor, massive paintings hung in every area of the home he had grown up in, his mother was an art enthusiast. Her love for art had birthed his love for art as well. Unlike her, he was not just an enthusiast but also an artist. The chandelier in the middle of the house he had lived in as a child had a much more elaborate design than the light spheres that hung above the room in this space. The crystals had cascaded down like a shiny rainfall emanating from the ceiling held unto by a single but strong line of the same crystal like design. He remembered how he and Rick tried many times to jump and touch the pearl shaped crystals. His father came into view sitting in the middle of the room watching the dancers before him. He looked different, slimmer, and older. Nik remembered a time when his father was the best man in the world to him but now that time was long gone. The dancers' performance finally came to an end. The room clapped. Nikolia did not. Bile rose in his mouth when he saw Lolia cut through the room straight to Eric. He did not know what she told him but his father turned to them with an impossible to achieve wide smile. Nik wanted to smile at his father. He wanted to walk to him and hug him but seeing that gold digger's hand intertwined with his father's he could not bring himself to. All he saw anytime she was involved was red. "Do not look now but Nik and Rick are here," Lolia informed Eric Eric's smile widened impossibly wider as he turned to the direction Lolia pointed. All his children stood together. Eric rose his hand giving a wave. Anitta and Rick returned the wave but Nik only nodded, no smile in sight. Lolia fought the urge to walk over there and punch him. Lolia stood upright with a hand on Eric's shoulder. "Hello everyone may I have your attention." The music died down and all eyes turned to her. "I must say everyone looks amazing tonight." She continued "Without taking much time I just want to say how wonderful you are Eric Larsen. You came like a breath of fresh air into my life when it felt polluted and filled my eyes with light when all was dark." "This is bullshit," Nik muttered throwing the contents of the glass into his mouth. "I know," Rick muttered. "Let's just smile and try to be supportive of Dad," Anitta added. "So today join me as I make a toast to the most amazing man Eric Larsen." Everyone cheered. Lolia's smile was wide but as soon as she saw Nik exiting the door it fell. Without thinking twice she picked up her gown and rushed out after him. "Nikolia." She called as she exited the house. Nik continued in his strides ignoring Lolia's calls. Lolia rushed after him ignoring the fact that the stilettos on her feet were not made for sprints. She managed to overtake him and then she stopped and turned to him stopping him with her hand on his chest. "Stop." She let out a sigh, "Please." Nik frowned as his eyes moved from her hand on his chest to her face. The hate burning in his eyes was so evident it make her almost shrink back in fear but she did not. Eric meant a lot to her. If standing up to his evil son was all she had to do, she would do it just to make him happy. "Why are you leaving?" She asked, "You just got here." Nikolia stepped back from her touch and stepped away from her path, then he tried to continue walking away. Lolia was not having it so she grabbed his hand. "I get it." She began. "You hate me. I would hate me too but please just talk to him before you leave." Nik narrowed his eyes as he stared at her. He was trying to read her, trying to understand her but he could not see past the fact that this woman had caused his mother and her marriage so much pain. Nik yanked his hand out of hers. The pull was so fast that Lolia lost balance and fell to the floor scrapping her knee on the hard concrete. She exclaimed in pain but Nik did not stop or turn around even for a second. He just continued to his car. Nik groaned once he entered his car. He had not meant to hurt her but he could not help it. Everything she had today was his mother's. The position she stood at was his mother's. The love his father gave Lolia was his mother's. She had come in and taken his mother's life and he hated it. He hated her so much that he could not bear to breathe the same air that she did. He had thought he would be able to celebrate his father tonight but when Lolia began that speech, he lost it. He could not bare to see her celebrate a life that she stole. He hated her so much that it hurt and he wanted her to feel that hurt. *** Lolia sighed as she placed a plaster over her injured knee. The merriments of the night had finally come to an end and she just wanted to cuddle up next to Eric and sleep. "How did you get that?" Eric asked pointing at the plaster on her knee. "I sprinted with my heels." She chuckled as she climbed into the bed. She had a pink silk robe on. She snuggled close to Eric. "How are you feeling?" "Tired." Eric replied, "But happy." Eric kissed Lolia's lips. Lolia deepened the kiss as she climbed unto him. They continue to kiss but to their utmost surprise, Eric's length did not harden even for a second. "That's odd," Lolia muttered looking up at Eric. "Too tired?" "No," Eric replied cupping her face. He caressed her lips with his thumb. "You could further stimulate it." A smile spread across Lolia's face as she scooted lower. Eric was in a white, soft robe. He had not bothered with underwear because he knew the plans he had for tonight. After a few minutes of unfruitful blowjob, Lolia sighed and dropped into the space beside Eric. "Maybe I am tired after all." He sighed. He turned on his side to face Lolia who was staring up at the ceiling. "I am sorry." "It's okay." Luna forced a smile. It wasn't okay. She was bloody horny it could kill. "Let's just go to bed." Eric wrapped his hand around her and soon he was snoring faintly into her neck while Luna sat awake with her eyes wide open. She needed release soon. It had been years since she obtained a good one.

***

Nik ran a hand through his messy hair as he threw back the translucent brown liquor in his glass. Rick was already opening the bottle of Hennessy, to give Nik a refill. "Can you believe her?" Nik growled. "Standing in Mom's position. Speaking as his wife." Rick shook his head as he took a sip of his drink. He had come to see Nik who had left the party early and found him drowning his anger in a bottle of liquor. "You know what you need?" Rik muttered a small smile began to spread across his face. "Sensitive." Nik cracked a smile as he shook his head. "Sex does not solve everything." He reminded Rick. "No but when was the last time you had sex?" Rick asked "You used to be a babe magnet." he continued "Still are. Your secretary is very interested." Nik rolled his eyes. He was very close to firing her anyway. He did not mix business with pleasure and she seemed not to get the memo because she wore a lot of low cut outfits exposing her breasts and thighs to him. It was unprofessional. "Or Marina, or Sandra." Rick continued "She is interested." "They all want more," Nik replied. They always did. Sex he could do but the nitty-gritty of an actual relationship ceased to please him ever since he saw how love ended for his parents. His mother was left alone while cancer ate away at her and his father found succor in the arms of a younger woman, who held no candle to his mother. "Just think about it." Rik replied, "You don't want a commitment but you want to fuck." He took a sip of his drink, "Sensitive is the place for you." "Sensitive belongs to Dario, I rather not run into him there," Nik replied. "Besides I can get sex if I want it." He could but he sparingly did.