Paul?

Thankful for the distraction I hurry to open the door, rushing to the nearest empty stall. I sigh in contentment as I empty my bowels, blinking morosely to help clear my vision.

Paul? Is he really here? Giggles escape me, I shake my head. This is why I shouldn't take alcohol. Now I am imagining things or rather, people. Why will he be here?

I take my time to leave the restroom, not in a hurry to meet the pervert waiting outside. Paul is the first person I see once I step out but I refuse to believe, Chi never said anything about him coming here. I giggle. Did he see me dancing with Teddy? I hope he did because he has to know I am a single lady with men willing and ready to shower me with the attention he's denying me.

"Paul?" The name leaves my mouth easily, I blink. "Paul?" He is standing opposite the door, arms folded across his chest. I spare a look around, he's the only one here and I stagger towards him. "You came. You came."

"Yes baby," he murmurs and my face lights up in a smile. His hands come out to steady a slightly wobbling me, I giggle and bop his nose. He's a cutie. "Let's get you home."

My head moves left and right, I squeeze him in a hug. "I missed you," I say with a pout while caressing his face. His beards are soft to touch, I pull a strand out and giggle when his lips pucker. "Did you miss me too?"

He doesn't get a chance to reply because I pull his head down and crash my lips on his. My hands roam his chest, moving down to his buckle but he grabs my hand before I can go further and ends the kiss. I frown.

"I want you," I whine. "I want Paul."

My fingers return to his buckle, his palm comes on top mine to stay my movements. I pout and swipe at his hand, only for him to bring it right back. I don't know what I intend to achieve in my disoriented state but I like the feel of his hand on mine from trying to stop me. He groans, the sound is like music to me, I giggle and reach for his buckle again. My head falls back, a corner of his lips twitch and I pinch his cheeks.

"You are so handsome." I peck him. "I want."

"Alright. We need to get you home," he says. I sniff him and sigh in contentment when he pulls me closer, watching with faint amusement as he struggles to bring out his phone and also type with his left hand.

Snatching the phone from him, I make to run but his arm around my waist keeps me captive. I hit him on his chest and pout when he doesn't flinch. He's so strong and macho and handsome. A series of curse words leave his lips, I weave my fingers through his beards and make kissy sounds at him as he taps rapidly across his screen.

"An uber should be here soon," Paul mutters in a strangled voice. His hand circles my waist. "What have you been drinking?"

"Nothing," I say and shrug. "I don't know the name but it burns." Paul eyes narrow, his eyes scan my body for any sign of injury and I erupt into a fit of giggles. "It stopped." He nods while ridding me of the strands of hair stuck to my sweaty forehead, I pinch his cheek again. "You're such a gentleman."

He scoffs, I stick my tongue out. His phone pings. "You think?" I nod; his phone pings again. "Alright. Your Uber is almost here."

My head clears a bit at his words, I struggle in his grasp and he finally lets go. "I don't want an uber, I want you." My hand goes to caress the slightly noticeable bulge in his sweatpants. "And you want me too. Paul, I'm tired of the games, the hide and seek."

The look that crosses his eyes is one I can't read, I am not sure I want to know what it is. His hands circle my wrists, he brings one of my hands to his lips and begins to litter kisses all over my knuckles. I giggle, maybe I will drink more to bring out his sweet side.

"You have had too much to drink," he starts in a small voice like I will have trouble understanding him if he speaks faster. His knuckles caress my cheeks, I gulp and lose my train of thoughts when he smiles. "We will talk about this tomorrow, okay?"

"No." I shake my head. "No. Let's talk about this now." Given our record of hiding from each other, I don't want to miss this opportunity. I admit the alcohol is making me braver than I usually am but I haven't said anything out of place. Or have I?

"I want you," I say and poke his chest. "You want me too so I don't understand what's stopping us. Why are you holding back?" I huff and cross my arms. "That's no way to treat someone who loves you. Ask me out."

"Pauline," he starts, his tone is icy. "You are drunk. You don't know what you are saying so we will talk about this tomorrow."

His tone irritates me, his words irritate me even more, almost to the point of anger. My head clears a little, I stare at him through angry eyes. I confess my feelings to him and that's the best he can tell me? Shaking my head, I take a step away from him. I am tired of this cat and mouse game we have been playing, this beating around the bush.

"I'm not drunk," I murmur and stagger just a little. "Maybe I am a bit tipsy but not drunk, never drunk. Let's talk about us now, please?" I pout and blink so fast my vision blurs. "I know what I'm saying, I promise. I think I am in love with you," I nod, my body sways, "yes. I have feelings for me, for you."

Paul's gaze remains fixated on me, his eyes narrow without the slightest indication he heard me. I groan, the effect of the alcohol wearing off under his scrutiny. He doesn't want to think or talk about our future together yet he's constantly sending me gifts, doing things only lovers will do.

When his mouth finally opens, like all other days when he says the most heartbreaking things, I wish he never spoke. "You are not in love with me, Pauline. You are in love with the idea of being in love with me."

Silence descends on us, followed by an odd sound which I soon realise it's that of my heart breaking into a thousand and one pieces. I sober up immediately. My chest tightens, I wheeze, I can't breathe. I make a sound between a choke and a sob, placing my hand against my aching heart. Paul tries to hold me when I stagger backwards but I scream at him. I don't want his hands on me again, he has made things clear. Crystal.

"Pauline. Please don't misunderstand me," he starts to say but I am quick to shake my head. It's too late, I don't care what he has to say in his defence. I am tipsy, not stupid, I know what he said, I heard it; loud and clear and I understood it even better.

"I don't know who hurt you," my voice comes out strong, the opposite of what I feel inside and I give myself a mental applause for that. "And I am sorry they did." I sniff and wait till I'm sure my nerves are under control. "But I shouldn't have to pay for the sins of some girl who's probably in Enugu living her best life without you. Move on."

My vision blurs for a few seconds, Paul triples and I put a hand in front of me to stop him from multiplying. I blink, once, twice until my vision clears. Whatever that drink we took is called, I will need to find Teddy so we can take some more shots.

Paul closes the distance between us, I flinch when he tries to reach for me again and he takes it as his signal to keep his wicked hands to himself. Part of me wishes he tried again but I am quick to shove that senseless thought to the back of my mind.

"I am sick and tired of you," I whisper. His brow arches, I level my gaze on him and sigh. He has said his piece, now it's my turn. "I am tired of you always invalidating my feelings. Tired of constantly chasing you-"

"Chasing me?" Paul scoffs as he backs me up against the wall. His facial expression is unreadable, I can't decipher his thoughts and I don't want to anymore. I'm done.

"If chasing me is sitting all day cooped in your office, asking Aaron or Chi about my welfare when you know I'm only a phone call or a few floors away from you," he pauses to catch his breath. His eyes bore into mine, stripping me of my sass and comebacks. "Then you might need to revisit your definition of chasing. I've been doing all the chasing and I don't mind it." He sighs, his fingers run through his scalp. "I care about you, I want you too. You know this."

"I don't," I whisper. My fingers trail his lips, my breath catches in my throat. "Show me."

His response is not the touching of his soft lips to mine, it's a seductive whisper as he breathes out, "We should not be having this discussion right now, the Uber guy is almost here. We will talk tomorrow when you are thinking straight." The declaration of my new madness, my inability to think straight because I confessed my feelings. Wow.

"The Uber better be for you because I am not going anywhere," I spit. "I am not your business anymore." With that being said, I shoulder bump him and sashay out with the grace of a drunk, rejected, broken-hearted female. Besides, who needs a Paul? Not me.

I am barely out the corridor when an arm grabs me, I make to scream but a hand clamps over my mouth. My breathing becomes laboured, my vision clears faster than fog on a glass surface. I stop struggling.

Warm breath fans my neck, I don't relax until I hear the familiar voice say, "It's me."

Annoyed at him for pulling such a stunt, I tear myself from him and dig the pointed part of my heel into his foot. I would have slapped the prank out of him but Paul's warning hung above my head. He raises his hands in surrender, his face contorts in pain but my sympathy already vanished.

"Don't ever do that again," I growl. Men and stupid pranks yet women are complicated.

Teddy nods, his lips pull into a small smile and my anger dissolves. "Sorry," he mutters and the corners of my lips twitch. Unlike a certain bearded idiot I have the misfortune of falling for, he knows when to accept his faults and apologise. "I have been looking all over for you. Where have you been?"

Looking back to the corridor to confirm that the idiot isn't coming after me, I shrug and flash him a smile. "Do you want to dance?"

A tug on my wrist is the only reply I get right before we meander through dancing bodies. Paul's words try to penetrate my subconscious, I shove them and scoff. My head is not clear? I let out a sadistic chuckle. My head is clearer than it has been in days. It's just heavy and also pounding.

On the dancefloor, my hands rest on Teddy's shoulders as we move in sync to the slow song. Behind him, I spot someone who looks like Paul but when I blink, he's gone. Probably a figment of my imagination.

Giggles escape me when the music changes. This is my jam. I turn my back to Teddy, his hands move to my waist as I begin to grind against him in rhythm to Rihanna's work. Guilt attempts to surface as my butt continuously grinds against his crotch area and I twerk harder. I am not doing anything wrong, I am single and ready to mingle.

My gown rides up, Teddy's fingers brush my thighs. His hand starts to wander, I twirl so I am face to face with him and my body goes rigid when he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture is too intimate for someone I won't be seeing after this night.

"Teddy," I whisper and raise my eyes to his face. His eyes are hooded, clouded with lust and a part of me wants to see how far this night will go. He hums in response, eyes not leaving mine. "What of your babe?"

Someone as handsome as him shouldn't be single. He blinks like I have asked a difficult question and shakes his head slowly. "I don't have one." I don't know why I believe him but I do. "What about you, are you single?"

"Yes."

His lips curl into a smirk, I turn around before I do something stupid and continue dancing. For this night, I can pretend he's Paul, whatever he intends to do with the piece of information I volunteered is up to him. His hands move under my bust, I tense and relax almost immediately. I am single.

The song changes, our rhythm changes with it, giving me a chance to feast my eyes on Teddy's handsome face. He snakes an arm around my waist, my hand returns to his shoulder. Our bodies press against each other and I stiffen when his head dips.

"I want to kiss you," he whispers when I remain rigid and I mutter an apology. Do I want to? Nodding my approval, I let him palm my face, pulling my lower lip between his teeth for a kiss that never happens.

"I'm sorry," I murmur with my face still turned to the left. His hands drop from my cheeks so fast I should have felt guilty for leading him on, instead, I am flooded with relief and the urge to leave. I spare him a glance and quickly look away. I can pretend he is Paul all I want but his touch is enough to bring me back to reality. "I can't do this."

The shock on his face allows me to create room between us and I am glad he doesn't try to cover the distance. In a desperate bid to escape this place, I pay little attention to the people around me until my body rams into something--someone solid. I groan, an apology already hanging on the tip of my tongue when the person drags me by the wrist. Panic sets in, numbing all my senses and I am unable to breathe properly until we are standing outside of the club and my eyes settle on my assailant. I glare at him, what's wrong with all the men I meet?

Paul is the first to break our stare-off, he scowls. "Have a little self-control, madam."

How dare him? I scoff, my eyes fly to his lips which are always quick to put me in my place. "Self-control? I have enough of that."

He stalks closer to me until my back is up against the wall, places a hand beside my head and I shrink into myself. "Yeah, you do. That's why you are kissing strangers."

"He's not a stranger," I lie and try to shove him but he refuses to budge. "I know him."

"Who is he?"

"I don't kiss and tell."

A sarcastic chuckle follows my reply, Paul spares me a glance, I roll my eyes and he resumes laughing. "As expected," he says. "I find one reason to trust you and you turn around and give me nine more to distrust you." He straightens up, I hiss. Minister of Trust. "You can't eat your cake and have it."

"Are you going to keep using that against me?" I poke a finger at his chest, creating some distance between us. "I cheated on my boyfriend, so what? It was only a kiss," I spit out. "A kiss. I slept with King after I broke up with Edwin. A. F. T. E. R. After," I spell the word out. "I accepted my faults, I forgave myself and have moved on from it unlike you who is still stuck over an ex you use as a standard to judge other girls. Move on."

Paul's mask cracks, emotions dance across his feature, I blink and look down at my shoes. It's a wonder I can still stand in them. When I raise my head, he's still staring at me as if my words have rendered him immobile. Good for him. He's not the only one allowed to utter mean remarks.

"I didn't mean that..." I trail off.

He shoves a bottle of water into my hands, my eyes dart between him and the bottle. I refuse it. Where did it come from?

"Drink it," he starts, putting the bottle back in my hand. "It will help clear your head."

I let out a low hiss and scowl. Minister of Sobriety, my head is more than clear. My parched throat calls for attention, I eye the bottle and gulp the water greedily, already feeling light-headed at the refreshing taste.

"Paul," I murmur and try to bridge the gap between us but he takes a step back so I stand quietly with my back against the wall, shivering. "Why are we here? I feel cold."

No sooner are the words out of my mouth when a gust of wind sweeps past us, causing my body to tremble. Paul pulls off his jacket like the weather doesn't affect him and offers it to me. The guilt disappears at the scowl etched on his face when I hesitate to take it and I wordlessly accept it. He still has on his white vest but it seems to be serving the same purpose as a singlet.

"That guy, Teddy, I just met him here," I start to explain, in case that's his reason for being distant. "I was thinking of you when I tried to kiss him but it never happened."

"Good for you but it's none of my business."

"Of course, it's none of your business. I know you don't care about me, I was just saying," I finish off foolishly. When he doesn't reply, I ask, "What about Chi?"

She's terrible to have left without notice and she will receive an earful from me tomorrow but I want to be sure she's safe.

"Fine."

"When did she leave?"

"Pauline. I beg you, please be quiet."

My eyes fall on my feet, I hug myself and nod. We stand there in silence until a car comes to stop in front of us. I am surprised when Paul grabs my hand, a fuzzy feeling settles in my chest at the gentility with which he guides me to the car. He leaves me to discuss with the man he calls my Uber driver and I pout until his return.

"Be safe." His thumb trails a line on my lips, he places a kiss on my forehead and ushers me into the car. "We will talk tomorrow."