Prince and I chatted as we drove to the restaurant. We passed a lot of great restaurants that I got confused.

"Where are we really going?" I asked with my brows furrowed.

"To a restaurant to eat"

"Well, we just passed alot of great restaurants. Explain?"

"I have one you will love. Their food are always delicious"

"That's good cos I want to eat pounded yam and banga soup," a lopsided grin appeared on my face.

"You don't want rice?"

"Mtchew!"

"Pizza?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Expensive Chinese Food?"

"Abeg! Do I resemble a Chinese?"

"Burger? Barbecue? Most expensive meal on the menu?" he glanced at her and turned his gaze back to the road.

I shrugged. "Why do you want me to choose that?"

"I don't. I'm just surprised that you aren't. Most girls would use this as an opportunity to empty my wallet"

"I'm not most girls!"

"I agree with you!"

"What do you want to eat?"

He shrugged. "Let's get there first!"

"Okay!"

We arrived at a huge hotel. Prince sent a smile at me and drove into the parking lot. He surprisingly leaned to unbuckle my seatbelt and opened the door for me.

"Thanks!" I said and slid out of the car. He got out and led me towards the building. He opened the glass door and I walked in. I pressed my lips together and my eyes swept around the room. "You chose the restaurant. Get ready to pay the bill".

He chuckled and a waiter directed us to an empty table beside the window. The sun had set and the sky was dark blue. The interior of the building was magnificent. There was good lightning and the air conditioner made the room cool. Red and white was the main color in the building.

A waiter walked up to us and asked for our order. Prince nodded and said my order, "Pounded yam and banga soup for the pretty lady here!"

"And you?" he asked and adjusted his red bowtie. He wrote down my order and stared at Prince, waiting for him to speak.

"Um...." he rubbed his jawline.

"What's wrong?" I probbed.

"I don't know what I want to eat!" he replied and did a half-shrug.

"Oh! Just select anything nau!"

"Like what?"

"I'm not you. You should decide yourself".

"You know what! How about you make my order for me?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah!"

"Hmm..." I glanced at the menu.

"You are an Igbo boy! What do you think of nsala?"

He shrugged. My eyes darted to the list of Nigerian soups in the menu.

"Waiter, Eba and ogbono soup"

His face was etched with a smile.

"You like it?"

"I'm already salivating! Nice choice!"

The waiter wrote it down and left their midst.

"So what should we do about your family?"

"Tomorrow! We'll go there and this time, you will enter the house and also go to my room. It will drive a point to them"

A sommelier recommend a perfect wine for us. He presented it, opened the bottle and served it into our glasses. Prince and I began to sip from the glasses.

"Prince, my man!" we heard a deep baritone call out. Soon, a young man arrived and slapped Prince's back.

Prince's brows shot up before he glanced at the culprit. "Chima?"

"Prince, my man. You've been scarce. Why nah?" Chima exclaimed and placed his hand on his waist. He had a goatee and his black hair was weaved in an all back style.

"Oh!" Prince rubbed his neck and rose to his feet. "I'm sorry. I haven't been calling".

"Why haven't you been calling? You forget me? Your long-time friend? Why nau!"

"I'm really sorry. I wanted to call you"

Chima's eyes met mine. His gaze swept up and down my body and he asked, "Who's this chick? Is she the one taking all your time?"

Prince's mouth curved into a smile. "She's Anita".

"Your....?" Chima had a smirk as he waited for him to complete it.

"My girlfriend!"

Chima's eyes went wide. "How? I thought you had a fiance?"

Prince clenched his hands into a fist.

"I was joking! I know you didn't propose to her. But I'm surprised you have a girlfriend. A workaholic like you shouldn't have a girlfriend. You won't have time for her"

Prince shook his head. "What kind of friend do I have?"

"The sincere kind!" he chuckled. "Nice to meet you, Naomi. Take care of this boring guy for me".

"Dude, why are you here?"

"To eat. Isn't it obvious?" Chima replied.

Prince rolled his eyes. "I know you very well, Chima. You don't like to eat outside"

Chima burst into laughter, tossing his head back. "You guessed right. I'm here with my babe".

"I knew it!" Prince nodded.

"Let me go and meet her. Call me soon. I have something to tell you," Chima replied, waved and walked away.

"He seems like an interesting guy," I said.

"Yeah! We've known each other since our diaper days".

I let out peals of laughter. "Then you must be close?"

"Yep! Extremely close. He knows my deepest secrets. That's why I never mess with him," Prince chuckled.

My avid eyes sparkled and I propped my elbows on the table, my head leaning on my hands. "What are your deepest secrets? Are they dark?"

He bit his bottom lip and shrugged.

"You killed someone?"

"Ah!" he exclaimed. "No! I'm not a murder".

"You stole meat from your mother's pot of soup or stew?"

"Is there any kid that didn't experience that?"

I rose a brow as I contemplated lying. "Okay! Fine! I also did that. I stole a lot of fried chicken".

Prince's shoulders shook as he suppressed his laughter. He sipped his wine and asked, "Who knows your deepest secret?"

"My sister!"

"You have a sister?"

"Can't I have one?"

"Do you have a brother?"

"Nope! Just a sister!"

"And she knows all your secrets?"

"Yes!"

"I would like to meet her?"

My brows snapped together. "Why?" I sent a sidelong glance.

"So I can get one of your secrets. Blackmailing will be fun"

"Ehen! So that's your plan. No wahala! Chima is close by," a sinister smile graced my face. I rubbed my hands together as my eyes searched for Chima among the customers.

"Nah! We have a bro code. He would never leak my secrets to anyone"

A brief laughter escaped my lips. I tapped the table and my eyes drifted to his. "Never underestimate the power of ANITA"

"What?"

"You heard me!"

He chuckled. "Don't worry. I won't underestimate you!"

The waiter served our meal and we ate in silence. When we were well-fed, we reclined on our chairs.

"This weekend. What do you plan for us to do? You remember that in our contract, you agreed to do anything fun to spice our lives!" I told him.

He nodded.

"So what's the plan?"

"I don't know. I was hoping you'd make the plans and I'll just make it happen!" he voiced and ran his fingers down his dark curly hair.

I stroked my jaw as I thought of the place I'd like to visit.

A beach!

I heard the word in my head. The corner of my mouth lifted into a bright smile and I announced, "A beach!"

"Deal!" he snapped his finger and smiled.

"Which beach?"

"The best I can locate. I will do my research but which beach would you like to go to?"

"I really don't know"

"Alright! Then, I'll surprise you"

"Should I prepare some food? Will it be like a picnic?"

"Actually," he looked at the counter in the restaurant where some customers stood. "I was considering ordering snacks or food from this restaurant. They make good pizza and meatpie".

"Mhm! That would be yummy. Okay! We will order from here!"

"Anything else?"

"I'll buy a mat and a sun hat. Should I get one for you?"

"If you wish"

"Okay!" I bobbed my head. "Hmm...What else are we going to need?"

"I think we have talked about everything. If I remember anyone we missed, I'll get it"

I clapped my hands in excitement and squealed, "I can't wait. I'm going to ensure I enjoy myself".

He simpered.

"Do you think we can surf?"

"What?" he yelled and if possible, his eyes darkened. "Don't even think about that. I might not even allow you to get close to the ocean".

"Huh? So what's the use of going to the beach?"

"The ocean can't be trusted. Must you go close to it?"

"Yes!"

"Then we aren't going to the beach," he declared with a frown etched on his face. He crossed his arms over his chest and glowered at me.

"Why?"

"I don't want you to be taken away by the ocean!" he replied and clenched his jaw.

"Do you fear the ocean?"

"No! But I know it's dangerous!"

"Can I just go a little close to it? You will be there to protect. You can swim, right?"

"Yes!"

"Then you will be my lifeguard"

"No! We aren't going to the beach!"

"Prince, please nah!"

"No!"

I folded my arms across my chest and tilted my head, trying to understand the man in front of me. "Are you sure you don't have a phobia of ocean?"

"I don't! I just don't want you to hurt yourself, that's all"

The way those dark eyes held mine, and the soft, yet firm tone of his voice washed over me like a warm, protective blanket. I didn't want to feel anything for this guy. But his good looks, that protective streak, and an underlying secret vulnerability, made him even more attractive in my eyes.

I shut my eyes. Why does he care if I get hurt? Well...I don't want to think of that. I opened my eyes. "Nothing will happen to me. Let's go to the beach, please".

He stared at me for a moment and sighed in defeat. "Okay!"

"Good!" I smirked.

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Who wants to go to the beach? Do you love the beach? What about the ocean? Do you like it?

Who knows your deepest secrets?

What do you think of Anita and Prince's upcoming outing?

Would you like to go close to an ocean?

Thanks for Reading. Don't forget to vote and Comment. Love y'all.

That's right,
Itz Mabel.