Paris had not been as bad as he had imagined. It had given both him and his opponent some slice of sanity, instead of the endless banter and bickering. At least, they would have some peace now he was safely tucked away.
For the first four years of his stay, he had perfected the language and furthered his studies, realising he had a flair for the French; French cuisine, French wine, French history and culture and the language. French women.
He did not mind how they came; If they were from either of the French colonies or they were from direct French men. He didn't mind at all, as long as they were classy enough to suite his taste. He enjoyed women who had power as it suited something that tingled in his libido, yet he detested their attitude, their clinginess and squealing nature. And they detested his fickle nature. His inability to remain loyal to them brought him into odium yet they found it impossible to resist his charms.
He remembered attending a law dinner. He had set his eyes on a dashing Mauritanian. He had watched her roll her eyes in disgust as her friends ogled at him. It hadn't helped her case, that she had been uncomfortable in the body con zip front dress she had picked out for occasion.
Talking to the recent divorcée had been a breeze. He had expected the rude remarks laced with pride on her part, he had a reputation after all. And he had countered in the sly manner of his that had left her in a curious yet abashed state. As the conversation between the lawyers seated at their table became heated, Alex had thrown in his pitch, gaining supporters and few opposing pitchers, however, he stood his ground, gaining praises from both parties, especially the Mauritanian who had remained mute through out the argument, her eyes fixed on him like a ferocious tiger who had spotted a prey. She had been surprised by his intellectualism due to his lack of a tie over his shirt that had two of its buttons undone and had made it possible to catch glimpses of his dark and built chest.
The sudden raise of his left brow towards her had caught her completely off guard; he had caught her staring, red handed, which made her down her glass of champagne in one sip.
Dinner had continued as usual, but not for Alex, as he could feel the tip of her white stiletto heels on his shin. That had been a clarion call to duty for him. He had caressed her foot and traced the anklet that graced her ankle. Although she had kept a poker face amongst her peers, only she and Alex knew what went on beneath the table and what would go on further behind closed doors.
She had made quite the show by spilling her drink on herself and wiping it off her bosom with a napkin provided by him. Little did the others know that she had tugged the zipper of the dress down, flaunting a red laced balconette bra for Alex to see, before tactically returning the zipper to its initial position.
He had slipped her a card to the hotel and room he had been occupying for the night. She was to come to him, not the other way around.
At midnight, she stood in her blood red lingerie and heels enticing Alex.
Their brief affair had left a mark on her as she craved him more with each passing day. But he had made it clear that he needed nothing more from her. They remained friends with benefits for a month till he set his eyes on another lustful prey.
This had been his life for the time he spent in France, separated from his sweet sister who had been sent off like him to Rome where she furthered her fashion career.
Being separated from his mother and sister had been the downside to the arrangement. They, Alex and Zika had visited each other on some holidays, but the distance and difference in time zone had been so great that it drifted them apart. But now they would be reunited in their mother land.
"You can't just barge in like that, sir. There are clear rules you must follow and Mr Alex gave strict orders not to be disturbed"
Alex heard his assistant's agitated voice as the office door swung open as well as the clicking of her heels against the tiled floor as she hurried after the stubborn guest.
"Wow, Alex. What a pleasant way to treat family." The voice called out, dusting his vest.
"Tobi," Alex greeted with a low chuckle, clasping his hand with the other man's own.
"Welcome home, brother."