-  Hope's POV -

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"Thank God he knows now I know he will be d one doing the body guard job now."

-ObarotimiOlanireti
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It turned out the movie schedule Henry had, was during late hours cause that was when the club and kissing scene would take place. But before that, he had a modelling schedule for a phone brand. Since I was free during the morning, Henry surprised me by giving me permission to go home and see Christy and Baby.

Getting to the gate of the compound, I saw a dark skinned skinny guy, flirting with Mary. I almost burst out laughing when I saw her playing hard to get but chose not to rain on her parade. Nothing I won't see in this life.

I finally got to the room to see Christy sitting on the floor, slicing fresh paper. "Babe!"

Christy looked up, surprised expression laced on her face. "Cherry!" She dropped the knife, rushed to hug me in a way that her hand never made contact with my skin cause of the pepper she was slicing. She never expected to see me.

"Howfa na? Watin you dey cook sef?" I noticed the fresh peppers, fresh tomatoes, two eggs, green beans and onions.

"Indomie," She informed.

"Your money don long na." I relaxed on the bed.

"I tried calling you this morning. Watin do your phone? E dey tell me switch off, switch off since." Christy kept slicing the fresh pepper on the plastic flat plate. "Abi light no dey Henry house?"

"Local woman, how light no go dey Henry house." I bashed, not giving Christy any breathing space. "Don't you know that even if there was no light, Henry would power that his industrial gen?" I sat on the bed, folding my knees in a comfortable position. "I carried my phone enter toilet this morning jare. E enter water no con gree on. I been think say I go carry am go bros Jaleel repair store. Na why I come."

"That phone wey you dey manage," Christy laughed, as her attention fell on the fresh tomatoes.

"Na so we see am," I sighed. Being phoneless at the moment was almost the same as a death sentence. "Howfa, I see person dey toast ancient of days for outside, na so she con dey do like pandemic."

"Who wan toast that one?" Christy laughed so hard that she almost cut her finger. "So boy fit see that one toast?"

"She no get kpekus? Them go surely toast her na." I reached for Christy's laptop as I tried to select movies I could watched to pass time. "Abeg do fast, my belle dey cry."

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I couldn't believe how I lost track of time. I was dead meat. I knew it wasn't Christy's fault, she never knew Henry had a schedule this afternoon. So I felt sorry for yelling at her for not telling me the time sooner.

"At this point, I'll be late." I stopped on my track in the living room, after hearing Henry's voice.

"I'm sorry sir," I tried to say. "I—"

"Why wasn't any of your line going through?!" He demanded, his voice getting strained as he got up from his seat and walked towards me. "What if something bad happened to you?!"

I flinched at his sudden harsh tone, but still tried to explain why I was late. "This morning, my phone fell into the water and immediately stopped working. It's at the repair shop now. I'm sorry sir, I will never be late again. Just... Just don't fire me."

I stared down at my sneakers, hoping he'd have compassion on me. "I'm not going to fire you."

I looked up to see Henry had moved couple feet towards me. "I was only worried."

I read his worried state as nothing but brotherly. It had to be that. "Thank you sir."

"You had your bath before leaving?" He asked and I nodded. "Then let's go."

Henry moved ahead of me, while I strolled behind him. We got out and moved straight to his car tent. Once we got there, I got ready to jump into the driver's seat, when Henry beat me to it by holding the car door first. "I should drive, sir. You must feel stress-free so the photo shoot will come out well."

Henry snorted at my words. He didn't give me the key and just sat on the driver's seat. "When has driving ever been stressful?" Of course, I couldn't answer that. It wasn't like we were in fast and furious and even they don't find driving stressful. "You're my bodyguard, not my driver."

"But I've always been driving," I tried to remind him of what he must have forgotten.

"Not anymore," He place the key in the ignition. "I'll do the driving from now on."

I stood there, feeling flabbergasted at his whole change of preference. He had never stopped me from driving, well except from that one time. But still, I'd always been behind the wheels.

"Are you gonna stand there and get me late?" I flushed out of my thoughts and moved to the other side of the car, getting in and sitting beside Henry.

"What's the info about your phone?" Henry enquired, as he started the car. I watched as he smoothly reversed from his car tent and maneuvered his way out of the gate.

"The phone repairer said the water got deeply into the phone and asked why I didn't bring it sooner. I had told him that I'd kept it inside raw rice but it didn't work." Henry snickered at my last words. "I gave him money to help get and replace the faulty parts. I'll give him some time and go back again tomorrow."

"So that explains the rice seeds I saw on the kitchen floor." My eyes widened a bit when I heard him say that.

"Sorry sir," I looked at him. "I thought I cleared it all up."

Henry pulled his eyes away from the road to stare at me for a second. "It's fine."

The rest of the car ride was quiet. Henry didn't say anything to me and it wasn't like I had things to say to him. We finally got to the location of the photo shoot. I walked behind Henry, while spreading my arms wide. Inside of the said building looked so busy. A car like object was parked inside while the whole place was covered in green clothing for effect.

Once the workers spotted Henry, they started treating him like a king. He was given a small battery standing fan to prevent him from sweating, and was seated far away from me. I stood at the entrance as I watched them touch his face a little and style his hair. The little touches they did on his face was useless because Henry was really handsome and did not need it. His well chiseled face seemed to be sculpted by the gods and any girl that set their eyes on him, would surely develop a crush. He was that handsome.

"Christ," I whispered to myself as I shook my head in disbelief. Did I just admit Henry was handsome? What happened to him not even reaching Baby in looks? What the hell was happening to me?

This time, I drew my eyes to meet Henry, only to get choked by my own spit. His eyes were already on mine and his intense gaze wasn't helping. One of the makeup artist was sprouting out something to him but Henry wasn't listening.

Why is he looking at me like that?

Is it normal for him to look at he like that?

The director strolled over and asked the makeup artist and stylist, if Henry was ready to shoot his modelling scenes. Henry got up and moved to a room that had its door closed seconds after. Soon, Henry came out and I couldn't take my eyes off of him. His vintage shirt, casual jean and white converse shouldn't make my head spin, right? But as simple as those outfits were, I couldn't stop staring. Why couldn't I stop staring?

The director gave out instructions to Henry, which he carried out well without error cause of his experience in modelling. Once he was done shooting, Henry would move to the monitor to examine it himself. Once he sees something he doesn't like, or a particular scene he thought could look better, he would ask for a retake.

Soon we were finally done and it was time to go home. Once we got to Henry's car, as usual, he did the driving. I thought he'd be going home, but that thought went down the drain when he drove passed the right route to his place.

"Where are we going?" I couldn't help but asked, as I stared out the window to sound less curious.

"A tattoo parlor," My head snapped to the side so quickly, I thought my neck would break. I couldn't stand needles, reasons why I hated the injections. But taking needles to your skin on purpose and in the name of art, still confuses me.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Henry's voice sounded quite deep and soothing. It brought me out of my trance, then made me realize how girlish I must have looked.

"It's just that I've never really seen someone getting a tattoo before. It's my dream to see a tattoo process." That was a gigantic lie. I'd rather sit out the whole tattoo process than sitting in and torturing myself by watching it.

Henry pulled in and I took note of the not so fancy building set in front of me. It looked like a hair salon with a wide window but plastered on those Windows were scary looking drawings. Henry took a folded paper from were his Cds are, then turned to me. "Let's go in."

I fumbled with the seat belt but couldn't get it out. I think it was because I was super nervous even though I wasn't the one getting a tattoo. I'd blame it on trypanophobia which is my fear of needles.

Henry leaned towards me, our faces so close that I could even feel his warm breath on mine. My heart beating rapidly against my chest as I wondered how I got myself into this situation. At first, I couldn't stand him cause I thought he was an arrogant rich jerk. And now? Now I can't stand him because he wasn't an arrogant rich jerk and was making me feel stupid things I really didn't want to feel.

The seat belt snapped beneath me and I stared down to see Henry had helped me with my seat belt predicament. He leaned back with a cocky smirk plastered on his lips, followed by him taking off his own seat belt and stepping out of the car.

Henry led the way to the tattoo parlor and I followed suit. The place really wasn't fancy and I wondered why heartthrob didn't go to a better place.

The door got opened by Henry, followed by a 'ting' that came from the bell hanging just above the door, which signified when a new customer walks in. I closed the door behind us and spotted a medium height dark skinned lady on long dreadlocks, turning to look at her new customers. Once she spotted Henry, a huge smiled formed on her dimpled face.

"Henry my man," The dreadlocks girl, hollered. She moved over to Henry, and both did some handshake, same handshake I'd seen Henry and Jackson doing. She lead us to a comfy cushion and both sat on it while I remained standing.

"Enitan, meet Hope, my bodyguard." Henry introduced with his hands pointing towards me. "Hope, meet Enitan, a secondary schoolmate."

"Nice to meet you," I said in a deep voice, then decided to turn to the other direction.

"Hope, sit." Henry gestured to the space beside him. I wanted to let him know how okay I was with just standing, but obeyed.

"Henry, it's been so long. I only see you whenever you come in for a new tattoo and the last tattoo you had was what? Two years ago?" Enitan rolled Henry's right sleeves as she spoke, then pointed at a tattoo on his upper right arm to prove a point.

"You know how quite busy I am, Enitan. I don't really have the time to you know....." Henry dragged, but didn't bother to complete his sentence.

"Well look at you, all famous and stuff." Enitan moved to her tattoo stuff, to get her tattoo equipments ready. When coming back, she brought a magazine with her. "Why would you come visit an old friend in this ratchet building."

"I'm here, aren't I? It's not like I could trust my skin with another tattoo artist." The way Henry spoke to Enitan was so free. The way Enitan stared at him was so intimate. Now it looked like I was getting in on their moment which seemed wrong.

"Here," Enitan sat back on her spot which was also closed to Henry, while giving him the magazine. "What design would you like?"

"I brought mine," Henry brought out the folded paper he took from his car and opened it so Enitan could have a look. It was a drawing of a wolf's head. It was so detailed it almost looked like a 3D drawing.

"You still draw?" Cooed Enitan. I didn't know Henry drew. He was a great drawer judging from this art.

"I don't draw like I used to," Henry said to Enitan. "So do the rest magic."

Enitan playfully slapped his upper arm. "This is really good, Henry. Why a wolf, if I might ask. There must be a story behind it just like your other tattoos."

"That's an alpha," Henry said, pointing at the wolf's head. "It represents me. The Moon above the wolf is Luna, guiding the alpha to his mate."

Enitan cracked a smile, then placed her hands on her lap with interest. "So has Luna helped you find your mate?"

Henry let out a smile and nodded his head. "Yes, yes she has."

My heart sunk for unknown reasons. Henry had found someone he really liked and was making a tattoo based on that. It made me think back on the words he said to me in his room. He was really in love with someone else. I shouldn't be feeling this way in the first place. I should be getting him for Christy and not myself.

"Alright, let's move to the inner room to get your tattoo done . Your bodyguard can wait here." Enitan instructed.

"I want him to come with us," Henry said, getting up. Enitan's gaze moved from Henry, to me and back to Henry.

"It's alright, I'm okay—"

Henry wrapped his fingers around my wrist and I automatically shut up. "He's an exception."

Enitan lifted a confused brow. When it seemed like they were done communicating telepathically, Enitan let out a frustrated sigh. "Alright, but just this once. Come in both of you."

Enitan reached for her table with wheels, and wheeled it into the dark room that had red light illuminating the place. I scoffed. I thought this wasn't fancy? Then I lied.

Never judge a book by its cover or its first chapter.

Inside this room was way bigger than I thought. With fancy chairs, a large rectangular mirror plastered at all four corners of the room. A pool table for entertainment, a plasma TV hanging just below the ceiling in a position that looked like it might fall but wouldn't. A huge home theater which was currently blasting out heavy metal music we never heard when we were out or in the other room, which meant this place was soundproofed.

"Have a seat," Enitan gestured to the higher stool, while I sat on the lower one, beside Henry. Enitan placed Henry's art on the table that had wheels as legs, then brought out a needle which was in the form of a gun. It had long wires that went all the way to an extention. "This is gonna hurt, but only a little."

"This isn't the first time I'm having a tattoo," Henry replied dryly, as Enitan decided to do her work. The looks on my face must have been obvious cause right now, I felt my blood drained out of my face once Henry found a way to wrap his hands around mine. At first, I thought he decided to hold hands cause he was feeling the pain of having a tattoo. But the smile on his face showed he was only trying to put me at ease.

The tattoo went for hours and hours and I started to feel my eyelids getting heavy, threatening to close. Next thing I could remember was Henry placing my head on his lap and patting my shoulders softly.

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I stirred on something soft and comfy, which confused me. Wasn't I sitting on a stool minutes ago? Why was I laying on something soft? I opened my eyes and looked around. I wasn't in the tattoo parlor, but in my room at Henry's place. I stared at the wall clock and my jaw dropped.

"Jesus!" I yelled, jumping out of bed. Twelve-thirty?! This was the fucking next day?! Henry was supposed to shoot his scene last night and now it was 12:30am?! Why didn't he wake me up? Why didn't he?!

I was deadbeat. He went to the set on his own? Without protection? I raced out of my room and down the hall, till I got to his wing. I took deep breath before placing my knuckles on his room door and knocking twice.

"Come in," I held Henry's muffled voice. I opened the door a bit and saw Henry half sitting on his bed, with a laptop on his lap. His pajamas sleeve were short so I could see his left hand covered in white bandage. I didn't see the finished work of his tattoo because of my lazy eyes.

"I'm sorry," I said from his door post. Not bothering to step in. "I'm sorry I slept and lost track of time. I'm sorry you went on that set all by yourself and without protection. I'm sorry."

I heard Henry sighed as he placed his laptop beside him. "Come in."

I was already in, but I knew what he meant. I stepped further into his room till I was close to his bed. "Sit."

I gulped, scratched my boy wig and sat down slightly on his bed. Henry reached for his bed stand and stretched out a white nylon towards me. "Have this."

I stared at the nylon then slowly took it from him and stared with confused look. "What's this?"

"Open it," Henry instructed. My eyes lingered on him for a while, then at the nylon. I slowly opened it then gasped when I saw what was inside. It was a new phone and not just any phone, it was iPhone13 staring back at me.

"I-I can't accept this," The guilt in me would never accept it. I'd done nothing but rain curses at Henry. Now he turned out to be such a nice person to me and got me a new phone.

"It's a gift, accept it." Henry said, like it was a normal thing to say.

"Why would you give me such an expensive gift that cost far way more than my monthly salary?" The question spilled out of my mouth before I could even think things through.

Henry readjusted himself, sitting close to me while his right hand tilted my jaw.

"Do you want to know why?" Henry asked, his eyes moving from mine, to my lips that was slightly parted. All I could do was gulp, as it felt I was lost in whatever spell his aura casted on me. "Do you really want to know why?"

My body was definitely acting on his own as my head slightly nodded. In as much as I hated myself for taking such stupid decision, I couldn't help myself even if I wanted to.

Henry's face began to draw close as his right thumb caressed my lower lips. My eyes began to close as I anticipated for the taste of his lips.

"Henry what's up? I need—" Henry and I pulled away, faster than lightning as the door cracked open and showcased Jackson in his night wear.

Jackson had a surprised look and I just couldn't stay in this room without feeling embarrassed.

"Thank you for the gift,"I held the nylon that had the phone pack and scurried out of Henry's room without looking back.

I got to my room and closed the door behind me, resting my back against the door and sliding down.

What the hell just happened?

Henry was about kissing me! I almost let Henry kiss me! Where did all the hate go? Where?!

I let out a frustrated groan, rolled on the floor and kicked my legs in the air countless times. I was so confused.

Once I'd calmed down and was out of cloud 9, I thought it best to look at my new phone. I kicked my legs up in the air again, but this time because of excitement. I placed my SIM in it and thought it would give me hard time to access but it didn't. Recent sms started flooding in, one of which was from Dorcas.

Dorcas
See me in my office tomorrow evening.

Yesterday
11 : 30pm

I was so getting fired.

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Who else want to yell at JK for interrupting such moment??? Even Henry can't stay normal after he had found Hope's secret.

What do you think about this chapter?

What do you think it's HenryxHope or HenryxCherry ship name?

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Word count : 3661

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-Eddy