Billie checked her outfit one last time before heading out for the night. She wore a white silk dress that blew gently as she waited for a cab outside her apartment. It revealed a stunning hourglass figure underneath that Billie seemed oblivious to. She always felt insecure about her body. All she saw were the flaws and not the beauty. However, to the rest of the world, Belinda, who many called Billie, was a true African beauty. She had prominent curves which complimented her tiny waist and full bust. She wore her hair short with a stylish side cut and dyed bleach blonde. This seemed to bring out her facial features which were her best asset. Billie was a beautiful young lady without a doubt.
While she waited for a cab, most people couldn’t help but ogle her – both men and women. Everyone who passed her paid her a compliment.
“You look beautiful.” One elderly woman said.
“Let me give you a ride.” A man in a black Mercedes said as he drove by.
She had grown used to the compliments. After years of working in the city’s night scene, compliments didn’t flatter her anymore. Instead, they annoyed her – like a mosquito annoyed someone in their sleep. She wished they would just shut up and leave her in peace. But she smiled pleasantly and nodded at the compliments and glares.
Finally, her cab arrived and she almost jumped in. She retreated into the backseat, sighed heavily then fasten the seat belt.
“Where to ma’am?”
“Umm…” she hesitated, slightly muddled. “Hotel Emerald”
“Okay.” The driver replied as he started the trip.
The silence was her bliss. She enjoyed the few minutes she got for peace and quiet. At work, it was a constant back and forth as she attended to her passengers. Sometimes, she wondered whether it was worth it then she remembered she was a mother and her kids depended on her. At home, her two young children were a ball of energy and jumped on her as soon as she got home. They hardly saw her so the few days they got with her were cherished.
This was one of those few occasions where she got time to herself – away from work and her kids. One of her close friends had invited her to her engagement party at the Hotel Emerald and she was surprisingly available.
“I’m almost there, babe. Where’s the venue?”
“Just walk in, you’ll see a welcome sign.”
“Okay.” She replied then hang up.
She found the sign just as Mercy, her friend, had said. It led to a large ballroom beautifully decorated with gold balloons and red roses. Billie couldn’t help but admire the whole setup. She wandered around like a kid in a candy store admiring every food station, gift station, and of course the photo station. Everyone was all smiles as they chatted and sipped cocktails. Billie felt lost since she didn’t know anyone there except her friend and bride-to-be who was busy interacting with other guests.
She found herself standing in an isolated corner, holding a drink she barely drank and watching the rest of the attendees have fun.
“What’s a pretty girl like you doing all alone in a corner?” a man with a deep bass asked rhetorically.
She snapped out of her daydream and turned to see a tall, built man standing next to her. She wondered how long he had been standing there or watching her.
“Hi.” She said
“Hello. I’m Ken, Mercy’s cousin.”
“Billie. Her childhood friend.”
“I remember. You used to tease me a lot when we were young.”
“Oh, my God! You’re little Ken?”
“Yup. Not so little though.”
“Yea. You look good. What are you doing nowadays?”
“I’m a software developer for an energy firm.” He said, almost in a bragging way then rattled the keys in his pocket.
“Nice.” She answered nonchalantly.
“What about you?”
“I’m an air hostess.”
“Wow. Of course, you are.”
They talked for hours, catching up on all the major events they had been through.
Six hours later, Billie woke up with a pounding headache uncertain of where she was. Nothing seemed familiar. The beddings were all white. There was a TV hanging on the wall and a full-length mirror beside it.
“Am I in a hotel room?” she wondered as she dragged herself out of bed. Then she noticed that she was naked and she was alarmed. “What happened? Why am I naked?” she continued to think to herself as she scanned the room.
No one else was in the room so she didn’t bother to wear any clothes.
There was no trace of anyone else being in the room except for a note that was placed on the vanity table. It read:
“Good morning beautiful. Let’s get breakfast together. I’m in room 705. Ken.”
Memories of the previous night started coming back to her. She remembered meeting Ken and having one of the best conversations she’d had in a while. They then danced to all her favourite songs. At some point, she removed her heels and continued dancing. They took a stroll in the hotel’s compound admiring the dark, starry night. Everything else was a blur from that point.
Billie couldn’t help herself from feeling giddy. She took a shower, got dressed and headed to the room number on the note eager to meet the man who made her night memorable. After a short wait, he came out with a towel wrapped around his waist showing off his toned abs.
“Come in,” he said as he moved out of the way.
She entered hesitantly.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” She said looking around.
“Not at all. I’m just freshening up for our date.” He smiled and winked at her.
“By the way, I woke up with no clothes on. Did you…” she asked seating on the edge of the bed.
“Nooo. I wouldn’t. Mercy helped me escort you to your room. She’s the one who undressed you.”
“Oh my God, was I that drunk?”
“Yup. But you were the life of the party.”
“I need to hear all about it,” she said perking up.
“Well, after taking a stroll, we stopped by the pool and had a few cocktails there. You said you wanted to swim then before I knew it, you had jumped in the pool.”
She laughed slightly embarrassed.
Billie felt like a young schoolgirl again. She had so much fun that weekend that she was scared to go back to her normal life. Just as she thought about her kids, the phone rang.
“Billie, where did you go? You didn’t tell me you were sleeping over.” Her mother enquired.
“It happened all of a sudden. I’ll be back in a few hours. How’s Jojo and Derrin?”
“They’re good. Just asking about you.”
I miss them so much. Tell them mummy will be home soon.”
“Okay, hun. Have fun.”
She hung up.
“Mummy? You’re a mother?” Ken asked.
She was silent for a minute. “Yes. I have two kids.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I love kids.”
“Oh? I just figured most people don’t want to hear about kids.”
“Not yours. I want to hear all about them. I bet they have a fun personality just like you.”
They giggled as Ken got dressed and then made their way to the restaurant. Breakfast was just as she expected if not better. Everything was perfect – the view, the food, and the company. After breakfast, Ken offered to drive her to her house and she agreed.
“Here we are.” She said as they approached the gate.
Her kids were playing outside the house.
“Are those your kids?” Ken asked.
“Yes.”
“They are so lively. I’d love to meet them.”
“Let’s leave that for another day. But thank you for a fun night and a wonderful morning. I hope we make it a regular thing.”
He nodded and kissed her on her cheek then unlocked the door for her.
“Bye, beautiful.” He said as she alighted.
Like the previous guys she had met, Billie knew that she would probably never see Ken again and she was fine with that. After all, her kids were the best thing she could have asked for in this world. As she looked at them play in the garden, she heard the same familiar voice that startled her at the party the other night.
“I couldn’t go without hugging you,” Ken said.
She smiled. Clearly, Ken was different from most people she had met. They embraced as her kids and mother looked on. He then turned to the kids and walked back to his car.
“Mummy, who is that?”
“That’s mummy’s friend,” she answered.
“Will he come back?”
“Yes,” she said with certainty.
Here are more short stories you should check out
Love Happens When You Least Expect It – The Unlikely Prince Charming
She Fell In Love With Him After He Had Moved On. Will She Get A Second Chance At Love?
The Toxic Love Cycle That Made Me Realize I Needed Therapy
The Unexpected Love Of My Life
How I Found Love In An Unexpected Place
She Got Another Shot At Love After A Messy Breakup And A Child
This story first appeared on this blog as Could He Be The One? A Night In The City
