Failed One Night Stand With the Alpha

5. Ugly White Lies

Steps on How to Lose your V-card- When I think life can’t get any worse, it does. I’m blaming this on the champagne. I should have never drank so much.

I groan, roll over in my bed and hold my heart because f.uck, it really does hurt for unexplainable reasons.

Usually when I wake up, I forget every single thing (even my name) for a little while. However, as soon as I wake up this wretched Sunday morning, all I’m reminded of is how I so gracefully punched my potential lay in the face.

“F.uck” I mewl, covering my face with my hands as I start cringing at myself.

I’m so embarrassing!

Right now, I’m only lucky that I’ll never see Soren in the face again so I don’t need to be called out on my own bullshit.

I just wish I had selective remembrance. I wish I could only remember kissing him, getting finger f.ucked by him and his mouth on the goods. But I can barely even remember that! For some reason I just know it happened.

All I can remember is driving my fist into his face and running around with a popped tit. Damn, it’s like I’m a toddler again.

I groan and roll over in my bed, wishing my asinine thoughts would just wither away. It’s almost Noon and I haven’t nursed my hangover.

Leilani got into the apartment some few hours ago, checked in on me, flashed me a little smile and is now snoring in her own bedroom.

She’s cranky on little sleep so she’s probably recharging so she can drill me about all the deets on my first time. And God, I wasn’t ready for that. I wasn’t ready to admit I told him his d.ick was too big and I took to my heels and fled.

Deciding that I had to stop moping around, I picked up my phone to officially start my day. I check my Flo App with a disgruntled sigh.

My life was stupid and I was crazy, beyond crazy but I wanted to have a little bit of order in my apparent chaos.

I had to at least know that I wasn’t going to be on my period today.

To ensure that the app held accuracy, I had to log My overall body reactions daily.

Log Symptoms.

I go over the usuals, logging in my weight, the amount of sleep I’ve had and of course, water.

The next section is S.ex and S.ex drive.

I recalled that the morning yesterday I had been so confident that I would tick the ‘had protected s*x’ option but here I was, lamely ticking the ‘didn’t have s*x option’. And boy did my failure slap me in the face. At least I could tick the ‘high s.ex drive’ option seeing as I certainly liked it when that handsome stranger had stuck his fingers inside me. I was more than glad to tell Leilani that he found actual wetness and no damn spiders or cobwebs down there.

But I could never prance in her face when I didn’t sleep with him.

Because I punched him.

I cover my face with my fingers, groaning at the embarrassing thought of it.

I punched my one chance at losing my virginity. God, why was I so drunk?

It wasn’t even the fact that I punched him and ran away that unsettled me. I still had the audacity to want to see him again. And what was I going to say?

“Hey Soren, I’m sorry I punched you in the face. Can we get a do over? Like, Take two?”

If he was sane, he wouldn’t even bat a single eyelash at me. I’d bet on my virginity that he’d be running away from me.

Groaning, I place my phone in the pocket of my shorts and slip out of bed.

Time to make some Maggi noodles to help with my hangover. I tip toe to the kitchen to prevent Leilani from waking up prematurely and set to cooking. When everything is ready, I plate the noodles and sit by the counter.

I’m about to take a bite of my Maggi when I notice my phone vibrating against the counter.

Picking it up, I let out a slow exhale as I see my father’s endearment plastered across the Home Screen. A FaceTime.

My blood runs cold.

I love my old man but when he calls, he’s always pressuring me about marriage.

In where I come from, we usually get married early.

It’s one thing to be single at my age but it’s another when my father is a Northern And influential King.

I literally had to escape by studying in the States because other political leaders and Northern Kings had their eyes set on me for their sons. In no way was I interested in marrying into those families- not when I knew it was going to be arranged.

Of course, my father would never marry me off without me being in love because his marriage with my late mom had been an absolute love match. However, the constant rejections meted out from my father would cause unnecessary friction with the other Kings and Politicians. I decided to stop any dispute from happening by running off to the US and coming back stealthily to visit.

Presently I’m working so hard to become an established Lawyer. I couldn’t keep hiding away in New York if I had nothing to show for myself.

My father was extravagant with allowances and gifts but I had to keep refusing them to prove that I could be independent. That was why my biggest feat in history was landing a job as an Associate Attorney in Calhoun &Dale Law Firm.

Just maybe, my dad could stop babying me.

I couldn’t help but wonder why he was calling me because we spoke yesterday when I told him I got a job at a Law firm.

I just hoped it wasn’t any thing serious.

“Inakwana (Good morning)” I greet him with a cheerful beam.

My old man rolls his eyes at me. So sassy.

“Halima it’s afternoon. I just know you slept in again,” he shakes his head.

Like my friends, my father prefers to call me by my tribal name, Halima. In fact, he calls all my siblings by their tribal names. It’s just a thing he does.

“Oh well I-“

“And you got a fantastic job just yesterday! You’re supposed to develop better sleeping habits. If you wake up late all the time, you’re going to get fired before you-“

I let my ADHD distract me while he drones on and on like the drama King that he is. He’s such a perfectionist. I know he loves me and I love him too but I wish he understood that no matter what he says, I’m going to keep sleeping in.

“Are you listening? Because I don’t see your eyes focused on me” he scowls.

“Yes, yes” I nod vehemently, too eagerly for him to decipher I was lying.

I know he’s intelligent enough to deduce I’m lying but luckily, he ignores me.

“So why did you go to sleep late last night?” He furrows his eyebrows, c.ocking his head slightly at me.

“Nothing. Just Netflix,” I lie smoothly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

“Hmmm. Netflix?” He raises a sharp arched brow and scratches his beard.

“Yes,” I nod.

“It was just a guilty pleasure. A little bit of relaxation for passing the job interview-“

“You lie exactly like your mother. You know that, don’t you?” He cut me off.

I pale and succumb to twitching my eyes to prevent them from widening.

Please, I hope this man isn’t aware of my escapades last night.

If he finds out, I’m going to die.

He’s literally going to crucify me and feed my ribs to those enormous Bull dogs he’s keeping back at home.

“W-what,” I stutter, my hands literally trembling as I digest his absolutely pissed off expression.

Sighing, he lifts his iPad and pushes the screen towards the camera of his iPhone so I could see clearly.

“So who’s this?”

My jaw drops. Like- absolutely drops and rolls into my Maggi.

This can’t be happening.

This cannot be happening!

Right on the screen of his iPad, there is a clear picture of Soren and I making out on his car.

I’m deceased. I already know it even though my heart is still beating.

I glance towards the red dress I put on last night.

Why does it look shorter than it actually is?

I almost weep as I find Soren’s hands pressed firmly against my butt.

And his tongue... the picture had been taken when Soren was thrusting his tongue into my mouth.

Damn, did the tabloids have no mercy?

I’d laugh and not give a f.uck if Leilani was the one showing me this news headlines on this cheap ass tabloid paper.

But this, this was my father!

The New York Rundown.

MYSTERIOUS MULTI MILLIONAIRE SOREN FOUND OUTSIDE A CLUB IN A HOT MAKE OUT SESSION WITH BLONDE HEIRESS

(Find out her identity on Page Ten)

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” My father snaps, dropping his iPad.

S.hit. This was bad. Like, extremely bad.

“I-I...” I stutter, hoping to say anything or produce a lie that would save me.

“This isn’t very funny Halima! You’re my eldest daughter! What sort of example are you setting for your younger siblings?” He hisses.

God, I’d forgotten how strict my dad was, How I was expected to be at my best behavior because I am the Emir of Kano’s first daughter.

I’m in so much trouble.

“I can explain-“

“Explain what? That you went to a club and from the look in your eye I know that you don’t even know who he is. That’s-“

“He’s my boyfriend!” I blurt out.

No, Cleo. Stop lying. Turn the wheels of time and if you can’t, cut the call.

“Your what?” He repeats, stunned.

“Yes,” I nod, swallowing the bile in my throat from my lie.

I know you don’t believe in God but Jesus, it’s Sunday! Stop lying! It’s going to blow in your face!

“He’s my boyfriend. I’ve been meaning to tell you but I... I was shy”

My father raises a brow at me and I whimper.

“Are you lying?”

“I’m not. Ba na yi karya (I don’t lie)” I grin at him.

Bad Cleo, Bad!

“What kind of boyfriend takes his girlfriend to club?” He frowns, but he looks more confused than upset.

“Oh he owns it. He just wanted to show me because I was curious” I continued to lie.

Now it’s too late. Now I can’t confess.

“Have you had s.ex with him?”

“Dad!” I cry out, muffling my ears and shaking my head.

God, there was a reason why he wasn’t the parent that gave me s.ex education!

“Well I need to know the truth. So I can see whether we can start planning a wedding. I’m so excited!” He claps his hands excitedly.

“We can have two weddings. One at home here in Kano and the other in-“

“Dad!” I exclaim.

I knew he’d be so dramatic about it!

“That’s not how relationships work these days! I mean we might break up-“

“Are you dating to break up? Halima I hope you know you’re old?” He teases me, wiggling his eyebrows mischievously.

“I’m not!” I cry out, my cheeks flaming.

It always hurt extra when daddy dearest is roasting me.

“Then why don’t you want to marry him? At your age, you should date to marry and not to break up. And you had s.ex with-“

“I did not!” I shout, groaning and cringing in embarrassment.

“Well at least you have self control. But in case your patience snaps in the future, remember where you come from. We do not have s.ex until we marry-“

“I get it!” I groan, irritated at his constant mentioning of the S word.

When it comes out of his mouth, It should be a slur!

“I want you to introduce him to me. I think this is a serious relationship. Or should I travel there? It’s been a while-“

“I’m kind of busy at the moment. He is too. He traveled for business in Washington. When the time comes you can say hi” I grin.

But on the inside, I was crying. I told a lie less than five minutes ago and I was already regretting it! Can the ground actually open and just swallow me?

“Alright. I’m proud of you” he grins, his eyes shining excitedly.

It’s the first time I’ve ever introduced a boyfriend to him because I never told him about my exes in the past.

I felt so sad for lying to him about something so important.

“I’m proud of me too,” I smile, looking up and stretching.

My eyes immediately land on Leilani.

She is staring at me like a fresh fish out of water.

“Uhhh something just came up I’ll call you later”

And before He could protest, I professed my love to him and cut the call.

“Halima!” She exclaims, rushing towards me.

Bad timing Lele!

“Please don’t yell-“

“You only f.ucked him last night! This is not the type of thing you lie to your father about-“ she trails off as her eyes darted towards my neck.

“Oh mi Bebè! (Oh my baby!)” Her eyes soften as she touches the spot that had the mosquito bites on my neck.

I let out a shaky exhale as soon as the pad of her finger brushed against it.

Why was the skin so sensitive?

“You found your mate!” She exclaims, stepping back and jumping around excitedly.

She presses both hands to her mouth to stifle her gleeful giggles but fails terribly at that. Suddenly, she pauses and glances at me.

“Why aren’t you celebrating?”

Celebrating the fact I failed at getting laid?

“Mate? Are you still sleepy?” I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

“Oh,” her eyes quickly widen but she covers it up with an odd yawn.

“I mean getting laid. Tell me all about it. Wait, stand up and turn around Mija !” She squeals, dragging me to my feet.

I grumpily rise and she twirls me around, pressing her hands all over my bare waist and stomach.

It hurts that she is so excited for me when I can’t even return the energy.

“Look at all those marks! I can tell he’s possessive! And Hermosa? Did he find the clit?”

I sheepishly nod.

“Yes!” She cries out, fist pumping into the air.

“Oh God I’m so happy! I can’t wait for you to introduce him to me! It’ll be epic!”

Before I can confirm or deny him being a boyfriend, she picks up my plate of barely steaming Maggi and rushes to her room.

“I’ll make you some Tortillas to celebrate! You can’t just eat Maggi for breakfast!” She shouts over her shoulder.

Oh God, I thought Leilani didn’t think he was my boyfriend!

Why was she suddenly gleeful and happy?

How did she go from disapproving my lies to actually believing them???

My head was spinning from the surplus amount of lies I had just told to both my father and my best friend.

I knew it was only a matter of time before Ret, my adoptive sister would call me to ask what was happening.

What do I even do?

It’s not like I kept contact with Soren so I could beg him to fake date me!

And even if I did, no sane person would agree! And why was I even on the front page of a Tabloid cover?

So many questions but I had not a single answer to any.

I rush into my room to answer the one that bugs me the most. Standing over my furry framed mirror, I twirl to find the marks that Leilani was talking about.

True to her words, I find hand imprints on my waist and some disappearing into my shorts.

Why didn’t I even notice how he was touching me yesterday?

When my eyes darted towards my neck, I freeze over.

The scars of my mosquito bites had vanished and was replaced with a fat and ugly purple hickey