It was a Sunday and I just got back from Chike's place. I was meant to tell him that we had to end things on Thursday but I didn't have the guts to, so I went over to his place last night to do that. I was going to simply explain why we couldn't continue to see each other anymore. I owed him that much, it had been months since we'd been sleeping together. He had a right to a fair explanation.

When I got to his house he was bare chested again and I got distracted. It was that damn chest, I never thought right around him whenever his chest was bare. My hands were inside his briefs in no time and we were doing it against the wall after that.

It surely didn't end there, I ended up spending the night with him again. I had my chance to tell him that was the last time we would have sex but I blew it, instead I almost told him I loved him. I caught myself quickly enough to say, I loved having sex with him. He in turn said he wouldn't put his dick inside anyone else if I promised never to allow another dick inside me. I only nodded and pretended to be sleepy.

It was only a stupid vow anyway, that wasn't the problem. The problem was that I was stalling, I didn't know how to put it. I wasn't sure how to tell him. I was the one people broke up with not the other way round so I had no experience in that department. Was he going to get mad or cold? I didn't want to find out so my best option was to send a text.

I took my handbag from the center table and went to the bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed and thought about how I was going to put the text. I fished out my phone and typed the reasons we couldn't be together anymore. I explained that I needed space and wanted to spend more time on my career. I didn't add the painful truth that I'd gullibly fallen in love. It was too tragic to add.

It felt pathetic so I erased the text and simply typed, I think we should stop seeing each other. I hit the send button and kept looking at my phone. I waited for few minutes and didn't get any reply. He could be busy, he'd see it when he picked up his phone.

I took off my clothes and got under the shower. I came out wrapped in a bathrobe and when I checked my phone, there was still no notification from him. I got into bed and checked the text, it showed that it had been read. Didn't he care that we were ending things? No response was a response so it was apparent that he didn't care, it was a good thing I ended things then. I couldn't go through another one sided relationship. I did gullible things for Kola all in the name of love, not again.

I got up from the bed and got the document Ben gave me. I'd ignored it for days thinking about not agreeing to the deal because I'd been thinking about Chike's feelings. I got a pen from my bag and signed the paperwork before over thinking it. My business needed me more than any man.

I got into the office on Monday and made a call to Ben to inform him that I was taking the deal. Chike still hadn't replied my text, I didn't need more signs to know what we had meant nothing to him. Dave was back in the office and he looked healthier. He wasn't sneezing continuously anymore and he was back to his curious self. I heard him talking to Lola when I walked into my office earlier, she was telling him all that happened in his absence.

When I got settled in, I went to the seamstresses. Agnes had come through for her friends with their measurements and the dresses were almost ready to be delivered. I measured the finished dresses to see if they matched the measurements that were sent. Some did while others didn't so I told the seamstresses to correct the errors and went into my office.

There was a client to dress later in the afternoon. She was going for her book launch and she wanted to look fabulous. Party dresses gave the most headache, dresses for launches and meetings were easy to style so it was going to be an easy one.

I checked my phone when I got to my desk, there was still no notification from Chike. It was a low blow. No protest on his head, nothing, just radio silence. It reminded me of what I'd forgotten, that it had all been about the sex. I spaced out all through styling my client for her book launch. Dave was by my side helping, but I was million miles away. I took a deep breath when we concluded the styling and got back into the office.

The seamstresses had the dresses ready when I paid them another visit, the final fitting was perfect and I was joyful. The process involved with making them was a tedious one. It was something I never looked forward to doing again. Dave sent them to the delivery company, and I sent a text to Agnes telling her when to expect the dresses.

I was almost getting ready to leave the office when I got a call from Ben. My two-month fake relationship was starting that night, he said. He told me they had planned a dinner at some upscale restaurant and all I needed to do was show up and act. I called Dave in and told him I needed one of the dresses from my clothing line in my size. When he asked where I was wearing it to, I told him I had to see an old friend.

I got to the restaurant dressed in one of my best designs. If we were going to give the public a show, I could as well do so in my design. When my face got splattered all over the tabloids, people would want the dress and the clothing line would become public knowledge. A win for me.

Ben had booked a table by the window, a brilliant move. We were practically telling the press, notice us. Ben wasn't present, it was going to be just I and Lil Don. I knew he was going to be doing some behind the scenes magic. I sat beside Lil Don and beamed at him. He returned the smile and pecked me. He was obviously a better actor and I tried to match his talents as the food arrived. We would smile at each other for nothing and sometimes laugh.

The food was good and that was the only consolation about the situation. My face was starting to ache from all the forced laughter.

"What's your real name? I'm sorry I can't keep calling you Lil Don," I said. I took a forkful of food and sipped some water.

"My name is Yarima," he said in an accent I hadn't noticed before, "Can I call you JD?"

My brows furrowed. Jade was already a short form of my full name, Omojadesola.

"I'm sorry, I just like abbreviations."

"Alright. You can call me JD," I said.

In two months we'd be done with the make believe and I might never see him again. If he wanted to call me just J, I'd allow it.

"You can call me Yah."

I was expecting YR or YM. "Okay."

I went back to my plate of seafood and chicken paella. I sipped water after the plates were cleared, the wine in front of me looked off. I loved alcohol, from wine to liquor, but the wine didn't do it for me that evening. Yah was wearing blazer over a white shirt and black jeans, it was more reserved than what he wore the last time I saw him.

"Who styled you?" I asked.

"I did. Did I do great?"

"You did."

"I wanted to impress you. We both don't want to be in this situation, I'm doing it for the label and you're doing it for your business." He shrugged. "I wore the only blazer in my wardrobe so I don't embarrass you. I know it's hard enough being in this situation, the least I could do was dress like I was truly dating a celebrity stylist."

He was the popular one, how could he ever embarrass me? I knew that was possibly Ben's move.

"I'm impressed," I said.

If I wasn't so into Chike, I could have liked him. He was handsome and thoughtful, a very rare combination.

"Tell me about yourself," Yah asked.

"I don't think that's a good idea." I sipped my water.

"Okay." He smiled and I smiled along.

I didn't need to know anything about him and I was certainly not divulging information on my life. I didn't even want us to be friends. It was strictly business and it must remain so.

"We should leave," Yah said when we sat in awkward silence.

"Okay," I replied.

"We would normally go through the back door but we need the press to know we're together so front door it is."

"Okay."

Yah took my hand as we left the restaurant. I gave him my handbag, and he smiled as he collected it after he realized the narrative I was going for. There were no camera lights flashing in our faces but we knew the press was around with their zoom lenses, lurking. Yah bent and kissed me briefly on the lips and we walked to my car. Ben had told me earlier to park it far from the restaurant. I knew that was another smart move, the longer we walked, the more pictures got taken.

We acted clueless as we walked together, smiling and talking nonsense. I almost stopped smiling when his hand stroked my hair, that was Chike's move. I was grateful when I saw my car because I was starting to lose my composure. I unlocked the car and we got in. I drove Yah to the hotel he was staying and went home.

I stayed longer in the shower as I thought of Chike. I wasn't sure I did the right thing by sending him the text. I couldn't have continued seeing him though, my poor heart was already in too deep. The last time I fell in love, I ended up with a divorce letter at thirty-two.

I didn't sleep well that night.