That evening, I could sleep as I kept thinking about my decision to give Ethan a chance, or rather to give myself a chance at love. Even though I had convinced myself that I had nothing to lose by accepting his proposal, something somewhere kept telling me otherwise.

But there was no going back now!

I slammed this to myself as I wrote my reply to Ethan in a text message, and without reluctance, I sent it, knowing well that I had just stepped into a wind tunnel and knew it was going to be a wild ride.

_____

"Keji, get up!"

From the serenity of my sleep, I heard my aunt's voice, but I squirmed and slapped her hand from tapping me. 

"C'mon child, wake up!"

Once again, her voice got to me, this time, agitated. Then, snapping out of my sleep, I jumped to my butt and was shocked to see my aunt sitting beside me on the bed.

"Auntie Femi, what are you doing here?" 

She laughed. "Oh, my little sleeping beauty, aren't you glad to see me?"

"Oh..." I tried to say, but then I shook my head, and gathered myself before saying, "Of course, auntie."

Smiling, she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a bear-tight cuddle, which I always opposed, but nevertheless loved.

"Missed you, Keji."

"I missed you too, auntie."

On disentangling from the hug, I drew back to admire my aunt. It had been over a year since I last saw her, but she had barely changed. Always the shining ebony, classic chic, aunt Femi was always stunning and ever beautiful. Now, on seeing her after a long while, I could not deny how much I've missed her.

"But, the last I heard you were in Hawaii with your boyfriend, auntie," I said.

She laughed. "Oh, Drake was quite an adventure, but I have to be with my favorite niece, right?"

I puckered my lips. "Favorite, but I'm your only niece."

"Hear, hear." She laughed harder.

"But, seriously, is Drake here with you?"

Instantly, the smile on my aunt's face disappeared, as she leaned closer to me, suddenly serious, and I knew that meant she had something really important on her mind.

"Enough of me, Keji," She said.

Raising a brow, I asked, "What's wrong, aunt?"

She frowned. "C'mon, when were you planning to tell me?"

"Huh?" I stared at her, wondering what she was insinuating.

"Really, Morounkeji?" She asked. "When were you planning to let me know that you were getting married to Ethan McKenzie."

I almost jumped off my bed, shocked at the words from the lips of my aunt. Did I not just acced to Ethan's proposal, a few hours ago? How did my aunt get to know about that?

"Wha-?"

I sat up on my bed, staring my aunt in the eye.

"Who told you about that?"

My aunt seemed bemused at my reaction.

"That's what annoyed me, Keji. No one told me about that..." She said. "Because I had to find out from the media!" She dropped.

What the fudge?!

Immediately, I grabbed my phone from the bedside table and saw over a million notifications pilled up, but I quickly dived into my chats with Ethan, and right beneath my yesterday reply, was a sentence.

"I knew you'll accede, fiance. Next step, I've got it covered."

My jaw dropped as I stared at my phone in disbelief. 

How dare he?

_____

Without replying to the greetings from anyone, I marched into Ethan's office. His secretary tried to catch up with me, but I was not going to let her. As I stepped in, I was met with several men in suits whom I recognized to be directors and CEOs of media houses, and sitting on the top seat of the table, was the devil himself.

His lips parted into a smile, as he stood to his feet.

"Lovely having you here, darling," He said, as he walked toward me, and leaned in a small hug to me. In a whisper, he added, "I know you're angered, but trust me, this is what you need."

I stared at him with bloodshot eyes, as he left the hug, and placed a soft kiss on my cheek. He looped his arm to the back of my waist, holding me to himself as he faced the men.

Suddenly, without warning, several photographers came into the room, instantly clicking pictures, after pictures of us. 

I could feel my heart freeze up in me, but I kept a straight face and managed a smile as I played along with the situation.

But God knows that I feel like ripping his head from the rest of his body.

I just knew it. If only, I had listened to that part of my mind that warned me about him. But, no, I just had to fall into his open trap.

Ethan McKenzie was using me for his personal fame, and I foolishly became his pawn.

Damn me. 

Ethan squeezed my side causing me to look at his face, and I got the smirk he had on his lips, but I smiled, brightly knowing that he could not make a fool out of me.

I'm going to get him, and I'm so going to get him bad.

_____