Rita's POV

The sound of music playing over the speakers is overpowered by the loud chatter amongst the guests, all with drinks in their hands and smiles on their faces. After two weeks of hard work and thorough preparation, the day of the launch of the second branch of Haus Fashion is here and I'm excited for people to see what Temi and I have worked so hard on.

For a Tuesday night, the place is pretty packed and I smile to myself as I look around, a feeling of accomplishment settling in. Even if I haven't been able to do much right recently, at least I'm sure I did this well, I tell myself.

"I'm so proud of you, Riri!" Amina gushes, her slim form wrapping me in a tight hug.

"Thank you." I let out with a laugh. After a failed attempt to pull myself away from my cousin, I choke out, "You can let me go now."

With a chuckle, she pulls away as I do, her white teeth a beautiful contrast against her dark skin tone.

Ever since she returned from her honeymoon, Mimi has been positively glowing. As expected though. Nothing made me happier than seeing my cousin happy; seeing my best friends happy.

"But really, you were able to put all this together," she says animatedly gesturing around out. "And for that, I'm really, really proud of you."

Feeling overwhelmed all of sudden, a wide grin stretches across my face. "Thank you. And I'm so glad that you're here today."

"Girl, what? Like I could miss this." She waves her hand dismissively.

"Everything is going great so far." Temi waltzes to where we stand, a half full champagne flute in her hand. She releases a tense breath before saying, "I'll be glad when this is all over and everything is up and running normally. I'm going to book us a spa appointment then."

"We deserve it." I concur, raising my glass up to meet hers.

"We are such boss bitches." Temi sasses, snapping her fingers in my face.

"Yass!" Mimi agrees, getting hyped. "Cheers to boss ass bitches and going after what you want!"

"Cheers!" We say simultaneously as we clink our glasses before bursting into laughter.

"Oh, Chichi is here." Temi says gesturing to the revolving doors which reveal Chioma walking through with David at her side.

With her due date drawing closer and closer, she is getting bigger as well. But I'm never going to actually say that out loud lest I risk her having another one of her crying spells. Seeing my friend pregnant and hormonal has been quite an experience, definitely one I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

"That's true sef. The event planner called me today and-" Mimi begins, referring to the surprise baby shower we are planning for Chichi but I quickly cut my eyes at her, giving her a look that makes her keep quiet.

"Shh! We don't want her finding out about the whole thing now, do we?" I bite out and she shakes her head before pasting a close lipped smile on her face and turning to the approaching couple as I do.

Chioma wobbled her way to us through the crowd. "Congratulations!" Is the first thing she says with a wide grin. Up close, she looks tired and spent and I feel sympathy for her. This can't be easy for her, or anyone for that matter.

I smile as I pull her into a hug, careful to not press against her stomach. After we pull away, she moves to Temi and the two hug.

"Thanks for coming." I tell David, giving him a side hug.

"Of course we had to come to support y'all. You guys are family." He responds simply and I grin at that, patting his arm lightly.

"We have special non-alcoholic beverages just for you at the bar." Temi tells chichi who lets out an almost relieved sigh.

"Girl, lets go get it. I feel so parched." She breathes out and we all begin making our way to the bar.

My attention gets caught by the man in a sharp suit walking through the door and I turn to my girls quickly, "You guys go ahead. I'll be right there."

Not waiting for a response, I make my way to him, my fingers twiddling in front of me as I suddenly felt like a little girl again. This whole thing felt awkward and for a second I really did wish that he hadn't come, that he was occupied with other activities or that he simply didn't get the invite I sent to him earlier.

My eyes roamed over his body hungrily, like just the sight of him was feeding me. It felt crazy, but fulfilling at the same damn time.

"Hey." I breath out and he stares at me, the corners of his lips lifting up in that way that I love so much.

"Congratulations." Cameron says, handing me the bouquet of flowers in his hand. Roses, my favorite.

"Thank you." I reply as I collect them from him and bringing them to my chest.

"I wondered if I'd even get an invite." He jokes and I roll my eyes at his dramatism.

"Don't make me change my mind and call security." I say playfully and he lets out a laugh, the comforting sound making me smile slightly.

"Can we talk?" The question I didn't doubt he would ask escapes his lips.

Taking in a deep breath, I nod and lead him to the back where the offices are. We head to my office and when he's in, I shut the door behind him closed, the barrier immediately cutting out the loud chatter from outside.

Turning to him in the silence, I watch Cameron take off the suit jacket he has on which leaves him in only his white dress shirt and striped patterned slacks. Even in such simple, corporate wear he still looks so damn sexy which only serves to remind me that it's been too long since I made love to my husband.

It's not like that's your fault, Rita, a voice in my head reminds me. A part of me is still angry. It isn't a very significant part as I'm mostly over what happened. I still want an explanation, but I miss my husband. So much.

"I'm sorry about that night." Is the first thing Cam says.

I fold my hands in front of me as I give him a hard stare. I wasn't about to make this easy for him, and if he wants to apologize, he should be specific on what the apology is for. "Which part?" I ask with an arched eyebrow.

Cameron leans against my mahogany desk, his hands extending behind him. "All of it. I'm sorry for not coming home. I'm sorry for not remembering what day it was. I'm sorry for-"

I cut him off, lifting my hand. "Why, Cam? Honestly."

He lets out a deep breath, his nostrils flaring at the action as he goes to take a seat on the couch. He pats the space beside him and hesitantly, I move to it and settle down.

"You remember Toke, right?" He asks and my face scrunches up with distaste. Both at the question and at the person in question.

"Yes, I remember her."

"I-I lied. She doesn't work for me." He says and my body propels out of the chair at his words.

I knew it! I fucking knew it!

"Just let me explain, Rita." Cameron quickly says in an effort to defuse the situation and I take a rugged breath, willing myself to keep quiet and listen to what he has to say at the very least.

"We've been friends for years. We even went to university together." He tells me.

"Is she your ex?" I ask and I feel my chest tighten when he nods solemnly.

"She is. We dated months before I even met you but, I didn't love her. It was never that serious so we broke up when I left the U.K." He pauses, rubbing his palms against each other. "But for a while now she's been trying to get back with me."

I let out a scoff at that, feeling myself become upset. "So is that where you were that night? The night of our anniversary you were off fucking that bitch?"

"Rita." Cameron cautions in a clipped voice and I force myself to be calm. "She asked me to pick her up from the club cause she was piss drunk and had no one else to call, so I did. Nothing happened." He states clearly, his words separated as if wanting it to properly sink in.

It wasn't. I began pacing the floor, tension wringing my body tight. What are the odds? I keep asking myself. Cameron looked sincere but I couldn't bring myself to completely believe his words.

He continues, "I'm so sorry. The date just completely escaped my mind when she called and I rushed to her when she told me she was in an unsafe neighborhood."

"Do you love her?" I interject, the question escaping my lips and leaving a bad taste behind. Me asking that was probably a reach but I need to know.

Cameron reels back at the question as if offended that I would even ask that. "What? No, of course not."

"Okay, do you care for her then?" He stared at me and I scoff, throwing my hands in the air. "You have to at least have an iota of feelings for her if you're hightailing it to meet her wherever the fuck she is simply because she's in danger or whatever."

"No, Rita, I don't. It's called being a decent human being." He throws back and I roll my eyes.

"Oh, please spare me that sanctimonious crap. You could've asked your driver to go get her, ordered an Uber for her. Something! Anything other than rushing to pick her up your damn self while my dumb ass slaved in the kitchen to make something special for you." I let out, my eyes becoming glassy. "To make the night special," I end in a small whisper.

Cameron stands up from the couch and approaches me. "I'm sorry. If I had a chance to go back and do it all again, I would've sent someone to get her." He confesses, his hand coming to my hair and rubbing down the tresses of my weave lightly. "I'm sorry for making you feel this way. I love you, Rita. Baby, you know I do."

I look up at him, his eyes holding a measure of sincerity that warms me up. And when his lips slowly descend on mine, I don't object. Instead, I allow myself to briefly relish the sweet feeling.

His hand holds on to my head loosely as his soft lips move on mine. But before it can go any farther, I force myself to pull away from him.

With my hands pressed against his chest, I ponder over his words. He explained himself alright, but there are still a lot of things left unexplained. A lot of blanks. Like why exactly did she feel so comfortable to even be calling him in the first place even through it was simply for a 'rescue mission'. Then there's the previously existing strain caused by the constant travelling and the secretive calls and messages. No, it's too many things.

A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts as I turn to it. Temi inserts her head into the space created, and says, "Sorry to interrupt you guys, but Rita, Mrs Doyle just arrived."

"Thanks." I tell her, pulling away from Cam. "I'll be right there."

With a nod, she shuts the door closed behind her and I clear my throat before looking at Cameron whose eyes are already on me. "I have to go. But I'll call you so we can meet up and talk." The words even merely leaving my mouth sounds awkward as hell but it is what it is. I can't have a proper conversation with him now, it's the wrong place and time.

He looks like he wants to say something but he refrains from doing so, instead nodding. "Okay, baby.

The endearment makes me feel some type of way but I dismiss the feeling before making my way out of the office with Cameron behind me.

Heading out of the office area which is directly in front of the revolving doors, I feel my steps falter as Idris walks in, spotting me immediately. He has a gift box in his hand, and a sharp grin on his face as he dons a navy blue button down vintage shirt and washed blue jeans. I feel my lips stretching into a smile when his eyes move behind me and the smile on his face is wiped off. He gives me a questioning stare, his jaw beginning to clench and I gulp.

Two weeks ago, I wasn't going to invite Idris for the event. But then a week after the kiss we shared, he reached out to me and profusely apologized for being too forward. I accepted his apology because we were both a little too intoxicated at that point in time, can't really hold anyone responsible for what they do under the influence of alcohol.

Thankfully things didn't become awkward after that as it would've been a loss. I was only just gaining him back, it would've been sad to lose him again.

But as he stared at me now, I felt like just that was happening. I don't know why. I don't owe him anything. Afterall, Cameron is my husband. Yet I felt like this was all wrong. Some part of me felt a need to explain myself.

But I didn't. Instead I watched as he turned and handed his gift to the guard who stood beside him and spared me a glance before walking back out of the door.

My heart clenched at the sight but I did nothing about it.

I don't owe him anything, I reminded myself.

Clearing my throat, I put up a facade of joy as I walked up to Mrs Doyle who stood beside Temi. We spoke for a while before separating to socialize. It was barely over an hour into the event and my mood had been damped significantly.

I felt a small hand take ahold of my arm and I turned to the sight of Rachel's grinning face. "Hey sis! I know you missed me, it's okay."

Shaking my head at my annoying little sister, I replied, "I didn't miss you at all. Glad you could make it though."

She smacked her gum in an irritating manner and I glared at her, the look only making her laugh loudly.

"Where are mom and dad?" I ask her and she points in the direction of our mom who is speaking to a group of people, fitting right in.

"Dad couldn't make it. Work." She says and I wish I was surprised by that information. "Congrats by the way. This place is really amazing. I hope I get the sister discount when I want some cute outfits, aka free stuff." She smiled coyly at me.

I laugh. "You wish. I don't understand what you do with all your money that you're always acting so broke?"

She rolls her eyes at me. "Whatever. Take me to your friends." She grabs my hand and begins dragging me.

For the most part the night is a fun one, yet with all that is on my mind, I find myself unable to really enjoy it.

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So, they finally talked. Hm.

What do you think about Cameron's explanation? Do you believe him, or do you think it's a load of bs?

And Idris getting upset at seeing Cameron there, what do you think about that?

Please don't forget to vote, comment your thoughts and follow me💕

Till next time, stay safe!