Juwon's meeting with Gini had been going well until he asked why she left town. She'd practically fled the eatery. What other sign did he need to know that she was guilty as fuck? She could as well have the word written boldly on her forehead.

It had been nice talking to her though. He was grown enough to admit he felt different in her presence, happier and comfortable. She was like a warm balm on a cold day. He hoped the feeling was mutual. He didn't mind that he knew she was evil, he just hoped that in spite of it she felt something for him. Something significant enough to make her eager to trust him as he played her like a fiddle.

Juwon drove home and laughed as he remembered Gini's reaction to his father's death. She was so good at acting that he'd started doubting if she was truly part of her father's scheme. He could have planned everything behind her back and sent her out of town while he executed his plans. He'd waited for her to ask about the scar on his face. Gini hadn't seen him in ten years, yet didn't care enough to find out how he got his scar. Obviously, she knew who gave him. What else could it be?

Juwon got home and got into the shower. He called Muna as he got dressed.

"Good day, Juwon."

"Good day. How's it going over there?"

"Everything is going smoothly. It's like I never left."

"How's the city?"

"As busy as usual. You've missed so many important dinners and parties. I think it's high time you came back." Her voice was lighter and he felt her bubbly energy through the phone.

"Soon. Hold the fort while I'm finishing things here."

"You've met her."

Juwon smiled at how quickly she caught on. "How did you know?"

"You sound calmer. Have you slept with her already?"

"No, and I don't intend to so soon. Our relationship in school was so rushed, I want this to go at a slower pace."

"Would she like that?"

"She's gentle so I'm sure she'd appreciate it."

"Gentle but cunning. She accused you of rape."

He scoffed. "I didn't forget."

"But you have. What's your plan exactly?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're a business man and you gave a logical plan to taking her father down, which you did by the way. I just haven't heard about the plan you have for her."

"I'm working on it."

"You don't have one. What do you want from her apart from getting all your kinky fantasies?"

Juwon bit down on his lip. Why was she going so hard on him? "I don't have any kinky fantasies."

"I feel like you only stayed behind to get your dick wet. There's just something about her that gets you hard."

"Watch your mouth, Muna. You're crossing dangerous territories," he snapped.

"It's obvious that with her, you don't think."

Juwon walked down to the living room. "My plan is to treat her how she treated me."

"Which involves getting your dick wet. You want to use her like she used you."

He shrugged. "That's it. Is that enough to satisfy your curiosity, Ms Critical?"

"Not yet. She used you to get her father your generational land, what are you using her to get?"

"I'll think about it. Bye."

He ended the call before she could ask another question. Muna's question got him thinking. Truly, Gini had used him to get something profitable. What did she have that he wanted? Not Big Fred's properties for sure, those meant nothing to him.

Juwon wanted nothing physical from her. Emotional, he wanted a lot. He wanted love and security. He had no parents nor siblings so he was all alone in this big, bad world and he missed having someone. Gini could be that someone if he played his cards right. He wanted stability with her. What if he forgot all about revenge and focused on getting her back? That was all he'd ever wanted... to be loved.

Yes, she was evil and had done some terrible things but he could chalk it up to her father's influence. He was going to give her the benefit of the doubt and learn to live with her betrayal. Juwon felt a heavy weight lift off his shoulder. He could pursue happiness instead of revenge. He'd use her to get stability and security and make her fall in love with him all over again in the process. He wouldn't have to ever talk about the past, he'd just let bygones be bygones.

Of course, a part of him would always hate and resent her for going along with her father's plan. He wasn't a saint so he'd take it one day at a time. The larger part of him could accommodate her and that was all that matters. He had to take the good with the bad. Juwon knew not to tell Muna this. She was going to think he only wanted to get his dick wet or any other nonsense foul thoughts she could think of.

Juwon went online and ordered for roses. He typed in Gini's address for them to be delivered to and checked out. He turned off the TV he'd unconsciously turned on and walked out of the house. He trekked to Gini's house and hoped she'd be home.

Juwon knocked on the familiar door and waited. Gini opened the door still dressed in the large tank top that showed the pink sport bra beneath and the pair of leggings he saw her in at the store.

"Can I come in?"

Gini looked behind him and opened the door wider for him to enter.

"It looks the same," Juwon said as he noticed the red interior.

"I was also surprised to find out he didn't change the setting. The furniture is where it used to be, same as the pictures on the wall. A single thing wasn't out of place."

"Gini, do I make you uncomfortable?" he asked as she kept rambling.

She touched her ear then bit her lips. "A little."

"I can leave then."

She touched his hand. "No, please stay. I have no one to keep me company."

"If you're certain."

"I am. Why are we so formal with each other?"

"It's been years."  Her hand was still holding his and he used his other hand to hold hers. The sparks were flying as she moved closer to him. They were almost the same height and he could see every emotion in her dark eyes. He knew from them that the feelings never left. She was in deep and he hadn't even started.

"Do you want wine?"

Juwon released her hand. "I don't mind a glass."

"Take a seat, I'll be back with a glass for you."

"How about I help you?" he offered.

"That's fine also."

Juwon went with her to the kitchen and opened the bottle of wine she got from the cabinet.

"I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier. I just don't like certain things being brought up," she said when they sat on the chair in the living room.

"Trust me, I understand." He understood that she knew what she did. He understood that she felt uncomfortable talking about her part in it. He understood very well.

"You really haven't changed much."

"Oh, I have. In more ways than one."

"I'm not talking about physically."

"Neither am I. It's hard for ten years to go by and still remain the same person."

"I'm talking about your attitude. You've gone through a lot, yet you're still so understanding and respectful."

Was she making fun of him? He felt like wringing her neck, instead he took a sip of his drink. Eyes on the prize, he reminded himself. It would be weird for him to go off on her by telling her how much he'd indeed changed. He wasn't as understanding or respectful as she thought. He was only being that to get to her and he was using her to get emotionally stable.

"Are you okay? You've grown so quiet."

"I'm fine. Let's talk about lighter things like jobs."

"What do you do?"

"I own manufacturing plants so I produce bathroom supplies. Bath tubs, shower heads, faucets, pipes and the likes."

"Oh, wow. You've done so well for yourself. What course did you study in the uni for this?"

Gini was triggering him but he stayed calm. "I didn't go to the uni. I dropped out when my dad died."

"Where did you get the knowledge then?"

"I was an apprentice for sometime and my boss invested in me when I went solo."

"That's amazing. I always knew you were going to be great, I just assumed it was through music."

He nodded. "What do you do?"

"I work at a retail store as a cashier."

"Really? I thought you'd be a dance teacher or a professional dancer."

"I dropped out also and never made it to dance school. I got all the requirements needed but couldn't afford the fees."

Juwon knew that was the part he was meant to show sympathy. "That's sad. How couldn't you afford the fees? You're Big Fred's daughter, he was one of the wealthiest men in town."

"Things got complicated."

Gini was drinking like a fish now. He watched her pour more wine into her glass. He couldn't bring himself to pity her. The part of him that hated her mocked her pain.

"I thought dancers danced no matter what," he said to add more salt to injury.

"Not this dancer," she replied and drank more wine.

Juwon took a sip of his drink and pretended not to see her wiping her tears. He wasn't going to comfort her for not pursuing her dreams. He hadn't pursued his either and he'd survived. He knew then that he'd underestimated his hatred for her. He'd thought he couldn't hate her when she'd hugged him in the store, then he'd admitted that a little part of him hated her earlier today. That little part wasn't so little after all. However, he was still going to get her to fall in love with him. He could hate her as much as he wanted, he didn't care about that. He just wanted her to love him and she was going to.

Juwon got into character and took her hands. He dropped her glass on the table and pulled her in for a hug.

"Hey, it's fine."

Gini sniffed and nodded. He let her go after a while. He wasn't a creep and he was on her turf, he didn't want to hold her for too long and make her uncomfortable.

"Thanks, J."

"I'm glad you're back," he said. He saw her mood shift and he mentally praised himself.

"So am I," she said and took his hands.

Who needed revenge when he could have her like this? Putty in his hands. He was certain she wasn't playing him this time. It was obvious she was trying to forget about the past and he wasn't going to ask anymore. He was only going to hate her in private and enjoy the love and attention she was going to shower him.

He had her.