Charming smile was a unique spell, Eva had over her customers who found her gentility and white teeth irresistible.

Eva, was someone who believed in two things: her word and her decision. Never let anyone break them even herself. Her intrepid modified her to an acclaimed woman who's ego was treasurable than her next breath.

After the three years occurrence that left her wandering on the street for a job, she'd still not let it divulge her into abandoning her fiery spirit towards standing blocks. Not even the stabbing breakup that had dragged her into months of irreplaceable void.

Her unrelenting and intense dedication earned her a salary increase in just two months of working at the eatery.

Who would ever believe that a manager in a multi-million company would end up being a worker at an eatery? At least those who knew her before would be struck with wonderment when they saw her.

Still, Eva did not let that define or bother her one bit. She simultaneously retracted to the right step and left the rest for time to replenish.

With her natural display of a radiant smile that ordinarily might compete with the brightness of the sun, she forwarded a plate of fried rice and chicken on a tray to an awaiting customer.
"Can we hang out one of these days?" The man at the receiving end of the specialty, completely outstrip by her warm smile, initiated as he accepted the outstretched tray.

Eva's exterior expression broadened. A more polite strategy she'd adapted to dealing with the opposite species. "Fortunately I am an extremely busy woman." She gestured for him to step away for the next in line.

Too charmed to budge, the 5ft,4 chubby man dipped a hand into his pocket and returned with a card. Dropped it onto the tiled giant stone counter with a sly wink. "Do call me. Please."

Eva, exhaled heartily, then nodded. The moment he turned, she snatched the hard paper card, catapulted it like one would a rotten egg into the trash can.
"That is where it belong," she whispered with a triumphant snide smile. Uplifting her face, the smile melted away likely with the man staring back at her with accretion shock registered on his face.

Had it not been in her heart, Eva would have swore the pounding resonated from a constructing building across the road. By the visible rising and falling of his concealed chest, it was more than obvious he was battling same.

Eva, recovered quickly. With an almost suppressed smirk that startled her a heart beat, she leveled her chin, cursing herself for displaying such disgusting reaction, while at it. "Which do you prefer?"

"What?" His deep engrossed voice made Eva shudder slightly thereby leading her to lay more inner voiced profanity on herself. "What?" he repeated.

Kicking back the old memories that tried to sneak back into her mind, Eva raised a brow nugatory. "I don't think you walked in here just to stare at me." She barely gave a damn if she sounded sassy. That was what she had intended to deliver.

"Eva. Still harbor old grudges," he said with a tone only her could hear.

Eva, to her utmost abashment pouted. His heart jiggled just like it'd always done when ever she positioned her mouth in such an odd, but effective direction. It does lot of silly things to him, arousing him in a way no other woman ever succeeded at.

Still he refused to skitter to her because there was nothing between them. And never would be.

Never... be?

He doubted that. However he would make her crawl right back and apologize for vanishing out of his life three years ago. That, he mused with determination, is what he would watch her do.

"Little wonder you did not forget my name," Eva, murmured capturing the pernicious she was knowingly inflicting on him. Surprised he didn't try to hide it as an arrogant man he was.

"I hardly forget any human whose mountainous pride controls into hurting my feelings."

Her eyes lowered just as a scowl worked between her brows. "I'm not to be blamed for your capability of shaking me off you." Her big dark-brown eyes rolled back to focus on his brown pairs.
Instantly, as thought triggered by supernatural force, she felt how bad she had missed looking into his beautiful optic.

All of a sudden, anger boiled inside of her veins. Pissed at herself for her instant realization, Eva huffed out breath and returned a smirk that communicated stubbornness. "I don't believe it is appropriate to forget friends. Daniel."

He smiled. Something else more sinister glistened in his eyes. "Friends indeed." He tucked his tongue in his cheek as he brought out his wallet and retrieved his credit card. "A plate of fish pepper soup." He placed the card on the giant separator.

"Not in charge of that. Over there," Eva motioned at a lady in that category standing there feet from her.

Daniel, took a step towards the direction; occupied back the space in a flash like he hadn't stepped away. "Let me go with the rice then." He flashed her a look that snapped off a little bit of an amusement dangling from her face.

Eva frowned. Popped his master card into the POS. Handed it back to him a minute later, and dished his order. Gazing back at him, she found an incomprehensible smile at the corner of his mouth. That was when she realized she had been trembling for an unknown reason. "What?" she demanded.

"Isn't it obvious?" The beam extended to the rest of his little lips.

Eva, spared it a two seconds of thought before scrunching up her nose in distaste. "If you don't want your order any more, I will gladly throw it into the bin."

"Well," he paused as though giving that a serious deliberation, "considering my already debited money and the flabbergasting part that you still retain the code to..." He suggestively let the rest trail.

Eva, froze. Oh no!

She had unknowingly inserted his Credit card digits when carrying out the transaction. Without extending the portable machine for him to take out that part. Geez.

Eva, felt like crumbling to the floor and never wake up. Instead, angrily, she shoved the flat stainless steel housing the delicacy and a glass can of water she'd previously took out from a deep freezer behind her. At the process, her fingers brushed with his causing a familiar sensation she now detested badly for still having an effect on her, zigzag through her blood filled veins. Appalled, they stood watching each other.

Daniel, reclaimed himself. Turned and made to a table at a secluded corner as if trying to hide from her to avoid another round of alien voltage. Such feelings weren't welcome in his life. Not after working tirelessly to strengthen his physically and emotional reactions. A consistent check that had rewound him to a professional state.

She wasn't the first he ever dated and separated with. But she was the only one he lost his heart together with his body. It all happened like a dream till he adjusted to the positive self-remark that had helped him through the breakup.

They had each other for about a year. The bound was rather complicated. From start, he'd always been mad at her for not sparing at least six hours of her time to spend with him. Her job came first and nothing else.

At the time, he became jealous of her employment for snatching her attention from him and leaving him to ponder if she cared about him even a notch.
Her determination as an independent woman was applaudable. He just couldn't belly her choosing her work over him indirectly. That had led to their cold breakup. And non to find it best to contact the other for fear of rejection.

Another surprise that had met him was walking into the restaurant and finding her after all those years. And what prevented her from seeking one of her standard around Lagos. Like his own multi-billion Naira industrial company.

Could he simply offer her one and watch her ego... annoying ego deflate?

She was capable of glaring him down till he doubted his own sanity for thinking that at first. She happen to be a woman who rarely gets moved by display of wealth. A fierce woman who despised any act of pity from anyone. Is he capable of convincing her? Stand on his ground while she threw that defiant look of hers without being tempted to press his lips to hers?

Daniel, rolled his eyes at his food. Where was all that coming from?

If only he hadn't stumbled upon her again. It would have been bearable. He intended to be ruthless towards her. If not entirely heartless, at most pretend to. To make her get a clue of his change and zero tolerance for submission.

Where the hell was that coming from, too?

There was no way he was having anything to do with her. That was why it is named past. All buried in their previous live. Now was present! He wouldn't fall for her alluring lips. Bewitching eyes, again. The only chance they had got to explore the strange feelings had been binded and tombed. Now was the time to avenge her hoity-toity towards him.

With a mischievous grin, he dug into his food. Shoved it into his mouth and let his new found companion break into a broad smile.

"You should have invited me to join you instead of prickling me with your smile."

Daniel, frowned. Looked up from his meal to a fair skinned slender woman whose neck cried to be offloaded of it's burden. "Huh?"

"You smiled at me when I walked in."

"I did?" He uncorked the bottle water, filled a glass, brought it to his lips and drank heartily. "My apologies. It wasn't meant for you'" he finished as he dropped the cup. He plastered on a dismissive smile.

She glowered down at him, clearly admitting the effect his dismissal had caused. "With my all sweetness and light, I swallowed my pride to approach you and this... Whatever." She flew around and stalked towards the arrays of people waiting for their turn.

Daniel, using the remaining liquid in the glass, gulped down a fast rising laugh. Reached for his fork and resumed eating. Having rice hadn't been in his plan while deciding to eat out here. Weighing the discomfort he suddenly decided to see Eva through, was so irresistible. It was pay back time. He wasn't about to pass up the opportunity presented. The innocent look she wore... defiant look, is not capable of saving her, Daniel corrected when he registered the smirk she directed at him.

***
Meeting, Daniel again after three solid years was the typical hassle she always tried to avoid. Reappearing in her life troubled and embarrassed her altogether. Would he laugh at her? Mock her? Or worst... She glanced at him, scowled at the expression she saw on his handsome face. Was that pity? Eva, hated it with all the passion left in her and wished to be able to wipe it off his face. She needed neither is sorry ass nor help.

He wasn't to be blamed for her misfortune anyway. A six figure salary earner turned a three-zero digits monthly receiver. Self-fury centered on herself surged at that moment threatening to blow her up.

Instantly she thought it best to rid her mind off her own problem. His scent was every where. Alluring, strangling her, luring her. How could she get him off her thought. After her departure from the company, she'd gotten two others that ended as soon as it'd began. Now she was stuck here. Going through the whole process of hunting for a job wasn't in her latest agenda. Even the resurfacing of the man in her earlier relationship would not make her quit.

Eva, jolted back to reality when an inpatient customer tapped his car key on the surface.

*******
"What's with the scrunched up face?" Eva's, elder sister Favour, questioned the moment the bedroom door crashed open and close.

Eva, was in no mood to share tales that hurt her all over again. Daniel, gave her not even a glance the moment he was done and dusted himself out of the building. She literally wasn't expecting him to look at her like he'd done when they were together. Still the coldness that came with his return enraged her to the core. It was well obvious she couldn't stand seeing more of him, and him her. Talk less of picking up their crumbled romance involvement.

Start all over again? Who was talking about dating him again? I must truly be out of my mind.

She flung her bag on the bed, sat on the edge. Hubris to settle for less what's been tossed at her was more than her stamina could exceed.

"Are you okay?" Favour, pressed sitting up on the bed. "You look like hell."

"Thank you for the compliment," Eva, replied sarcastically undoing her black sandals.

"Jerk off the slog, Eva."

"Never told you I was dealing with one." Eva, rose and made to pull her clothes.

"Suit yourself then." Favour, lay back down. Deliberately stared at the door.

"You are saucy as Mr arrogant," Eva, blurted having been stung by Favour's reply. She had been hoping that Favour would trammel her into disclosing her worries.

Instinctively, Favour avoided a chuckle. Her eyes narrowed returning to Eva's. "Mr arrogant? When did you have a boyfriend I'm not aware of?"

"You mustn't know all of my personal dealings." Eva, dragged her orange uniform T-shirt over her head. Unbuckled her belt and shoved down her black jean.

"I am not only your sister, but best friend, too remember?"

"The only thing I remember is the wrenching look on his face when he looked at me."

Curiously Favour, sat up. "Must be terrible considering your mood."

"Beyond terrible. Daniel__" Eva, broke off her words, hated the sensation that linked into her body at the mention of him. If his name could do funny things to her, what would flattering herself in his arm do to her?
Exactly what it'd always done when they were togther, Eva answered. Nothing's really changed. That cautioned her to be real careful about him for he was far dangerous than she'd thought.

A heavy sigh escaped through her nostril. She bent and tugged off the pant leaving her in panty and bra.

"Daniel?" Favour's eyes widened. "The Daniel I know?"

"No. The one in your dream," Eva, twisted as she took a towel.

"What does he want?"

"Food." Using the towel, she concealed her nakedness. "Walked right in front of me. My heart almost departed my chest.'

Favour, bite back laughter. "I know that feeling of running into someone you least expect."

"I did not ran into him. He instead dragged himself to me after all these years. Just when I forgot he exist."

Favour, extended an unfazed look at her. "You'd think me an idiot if I believe that."

Eva, rolled her eyes. "Not my problem."

"There's a possibility, Eva."

"Of what?" She demanded, Irritated. Weirdly ducked towards the adjoining bathroom as if expecting a blow. "I hope he never shows up again." She eased open that bathroom door, went in and shut it behind her.

"Why does that sound untrue?"

"How about you go have him since you are spellbound by him," Eva, retorted as warm water rained down on her.

"Very well, then." Favour smiled. "If you aren't affected why are you swearing to the shower?"

Eva, for the second time in a day, stiffened. Realized she'd been doing that out loud to what she mused to be under her breath. "You need to fix your ear."

Favour chuckled loudly. "It's plainly clear you are over him. By the way years has gone by. You are not supposed to be affected by his return from the land of the dead," Favour, said careful but sarcastically.

"Nice to know you are free from his charms. Meanwhile the effect he has over me is my detest of him."

Involuntarily, Favour blinked. "That's gibberish."

"Oh, no. The spell is back."

"You wouldn't admit how desperately you want him back."

There was no reply to that for what seemed like ages. Finally Eva, traipsed out with a look of satisfaction. "I really do hate him."

"No. You don't."

"Yes. I do." Eva, eyed her. Moved to the wardrobe.

"No."

"Yes."

"You can't hate him."

"Yes. I do."

"You still love him, don't you?"

"Yes. I... No. I don't! Geez! Ugh!" Eva, snorted. "My mistake for talking to you about him."

"You did anyway. And deep down you know the truth."

"The only significant truth I know of is that I desperately__" She yanked the closet door open.

Favour grinned. Opened her mouth to say something...

"__want him to disappear and never come back. Forever!"

Chewing her lips close, Favour frowned. Unbated. "First sign of attraction," she stubbornly applied.

"You call chopping one's balls, attraction? Because that is what I am planning to do to him the next time he shows up."

Favour threw back her head and laughed.

"That's not funny." Eva, plunked her blue night gown.

"Not my fault you lost your sense of humor."

"You are beginning to annoy me, you know?"

"I believe that is what siblings do. Piss the hell out of each other and not being able to do anything about it. What's the fun with the exception of that?" Favour wiggled her eyebrows.

Eva, couldn't drag back the smile that littered her face. "As infuriating as you always are. You know I adore you still." She shrugged into her sleeping attire.

"I love you, too, baby sister."

"If only you'd excuse the baby out of it, I'd hug the living daylight out of you."

Favour burst into laughter. " You will always be my baby sister even when you get all sagged and wrinkled."

Spreading the white towel onto the door of the wardrobe, Eva, made her way to the bed. Yawned. "I am glad for letting me know you'll cherish me till the end."

"Go and eat before you swallow me."

"Not hungry, just exhausted. I snacked on something before coming home."

Favour, adjusted for, Eva to lay on the bed. "I shouldn't have prepared that meal then."

"It wouldn't get spoilt by morning."

"Not a guarantee."

"What's that?"

"Oha soup."

Eva, bolted off the bed. She knew Favour, had been deliberately reluctant to say what it was from the start. The specific vegetable soup was her favourite. No matter how full she was, the mention of that dish always manage to subdue her satisfaction. Just like someone being invoked, Eva, flew out of the room to the kitchen. Every other thing should wait till she's done having her fill. However, this time the memory of the man who waltzed back like he'd never left, tormented her mind. He had a part of her with him, that she discern sourly.

For a brief moment, Eva thought she caught the smell of his perfume. She shut her eyes in pleasure. Then cursed herself when she discovered what she was doing.
Before she does something remarkable stupid, like imagine his mouth moving on hers, Eva scooped some semo and soup decorated with assorted meat and fish into two plates. Walked dejectedly into the sitting room where she sat. For the first time in history, her love for the food vanished. She stared down at it. Her appetite gone.

How bad would it be to hope they'd get back together and reinvent a steaming desire between them. How disgusted would she feel of herself to imagine her hand trailing purposefully over his clean trimmed beard, red lush lips...

Eva, groaned in frustration. Now more determined to stay away from him to avoid messing further with her already messed up focus. The first chilly break up had been disastrous. Another might shatter her fantasy of having her own family in the future.

With a propinquity roll eyed. She leveled at the ceiling hoping to prevent her mind from wandering too far from likeable. Her aim now should be how to make good money. Ways to make him pay for not coming back sooner.

And what to do to herself to quit reminiscing like a lovestruck, hopeless idiot!

With a shaky smirk, from an unknown planet in her body, she decided to always view him as her past. And matters pertaining to the past has no business with the future.

Could she pull that out perfectly well?
****

Eva, wasn't sure if she should be happy or disappointed when Daniel, did not show up for two days. It wasn't her style to be bothered by irrelevant things. Daniel, shouldn't be any different.

So why does she feel an intense urge of something she couldn't fathom. The more she tried to brush it aside, the more she yearned of him. Isn't she pathetic. Who would still desire an ex who was proud. Someone who made her burn but not burnt. A man whose eyes dissolved her inside the instant it clique hers.

Getting back together wasn't feasible. The earlier she learns that simple fact the better. With that decided for the tenth time in a day, Eva stressed a strenuous smile while attending to the never ending streaming customers.

*****

Cooking was one thing, Eva does best. It gave her a wild satisfaction and fulfillment against all odds. Maybe she might choose to take up a profession of delivering good, healthy food to the masses if finding a better job proved abortive.

Some who had ordered for meal from her had looked at her with undisguised disbelieve when they discovered she was a first class graduate of one of the best University in Nigeria—Like the one standing before her now:

"You are too good to be a waitress," the slim man from rough calculation, whom might be in his late twenties, observed in his own world of assumption.

No reply.

"What is your name?"

"Would you like extra meat?" Eva, asked instead.

"Make it three. A friend of mine who is a regular in here told me you were at the top of__"

"Anything else you like to add to your order?" She cut him off.

"Don't be rude girl. Thank me later for not believing him when he told me that. Only low class women work in this kind of establishment." He grinned lopsidedly, and Eva quickly noted the possibility of excess alcohol.

She demanded for the money which took him approximately two minutes to fish out of his pocket. With an even wider beam that to him was all charming, he extended a dirty crumpled one thousand naira note over to her.

"Your bill is one thousand, seven hundred naira."

He winked dumbly. "I know. I know woman. I always eat the same food whenever I come here, so I know how much it's worth without you having to remind me." He dug once more in his plain trouser pocket for more money. Three minutes later, when Eva was done serving two other women of their food, he finally snatched his hand out and in it was a one thousand mint. He handed the both to her. Eva, gave him his change and followed by his order . "The second money is meant for a girl I intend to woo. And now you've collected it from me. I now agree with my friend, because an unschooled peasant will never know to demand for another," he grumbled stupidly as he navigated to a near by table.

Eva, took no offence with the derelict expression. She knew better than to care what people thought of her. What mattered was what she believed of herself. And the peculiar thought had taught her never to relent no matter what.
Currently, life threw her the biggest omen to her face. And that threat...

Eva, sucked in a sharp breath.

******

Ladies and gentlemen. Above I present the first chapter of TRIALS OF LOVE. With the word count of 4033. It is a novel so expect each chapter to be a bit lengthy.

Here I want to explain some things I mentioned:

Oha soup: Is a lovely dish made with oha leaf. A green vegetable mostly found in the Eastern part of Nigeria. Some states call it Ora, while some oha. Personally this is my favourite.

Semo: Is a short for of semolina made from Durum wheat.

In Nigeria, our currency is known as Naira. This information is for the non Nigeria readers.

****
Like I stated in the Introduction segment, I would love and appreciate all the support I can get through this book. Please don't forget to comment and vote on each chapter. I never forget those who show me some love.(winks) Thank you till the next chapter.

Authors note: 149
Total: 4182