Page 44 of Craving a King

“In that case…” I return to the bench, get my crown clutch, and remove the panties I wet all over for him earlier. “These, sir, belong to you.” I hand the panties to him. “I expect you will follow up on some of the promises you made me earlier. You know, about bending me over and filling me up?”

He closes his eyes and takes a deep inhale of the silk scraps that were between my thighs two hours ago. He turns to me with a look that I can only describe as sex before lifting me and tossing me over his shoulder. He pats my ass and stalks toward the entrance of the ball.

“Don’t you worry about a thing, queen. Tonight, I am at your service.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Extortion

Kofi

Leaving Ella in bed this morning takes an act of God. She’s so beautiful and inviting in the morning. I count myself blessed that she loves morning sex as much as I do. The first thing I want to do in the morning is touch her. I want to be inside her. After last night on the beach, I feel a part of her. We walked the beach for hours before stripping and frolicking in the water together. Thank God it was late and dark. It was risky, but no one caught us. I felt so free with her in the water. Afterward, we went back to her suite and made love until we physically could not move anymore. It was incredible.

I came too close to losing her last night. That stunt Akua and Abena pulled almost cost me my queen. However, I ensured dinner at the table with them last night was more awkward for them than Ella. I took every moment to kiss and caress Ella at the table. I introduced her loudly to everyone as my lady, and I held her so closely that she was damn near sitting on my lap. I never recognized the presence of Akua nor Abena. Akua could not take it and abruptly left after the first course. Abena stood her ground and shot daggers at us the entire meal.

This morning, I’m on my way to Tarkwa to meet with Chief Kwabena Owusu and get this ancient betrothal contract annulled. I can at least remove this roadblock from standing between Ella and my future together.

When I call the chief, he is too calm for my liking. Generally, the village chiefs are openly curious or at least a bit anxious when the Asantehene asks for an audience. However, Kwabena Owusu doesn’t sound pleased to hear from me. He sounds prepared.

Under normal circumstances, I don’t drive myself anywhere, but today I want to take this meeting alone. I fight with Senya to allow me to go without a full security detail. I manage to win the right to drive the armored Range Rover with two guards, one being Senya, on bike not far behind. I guess this is as close to privacy as I will ever get.

The chief of Tarkwa’s home is all sparkle and elegance when I arrive. Unlike Bonbiri, his home sits in the center of town made entirely of white stone and marble that gleam in the sunlight. It’s actually fitting. For centuries, Tarkwa was the center of the gold mining trade. It still has prominence, but much like Tafo’s cocoa industry, it is a shell of what it once was. Nevertheless, Tarkwa’s chief has kept his familial line’s sparkle through questionable tactics that are rumored to include bribes and offshore accounts.

When I approach the Owusus’ gate, it opens to welcome me in. After I park, I approach the doors and a butler lets me into an overly decorated foyer. The intentional display of wealth annoys me. Everything is gilded in gold: mirrors, plant stands, even doorknobs. I turn to the butler. “I’m here to speak with chief Owusu,” I demand. The butler bows and mutters, “your majesty” before disappearing down the marble-floored hallway.

While he’s gone, I take the opportunity to look around. Pictures of the chief’s family crowd the foyer walls. You can tell where his heart and pride lie after just a few moments in his home.I wonder what a few minutes in my home says about me.I continue to walk the length of the foyer and spot a photo of Abena in tribal dress. Even a portrait designed to show the Ghanaian beauty in her most natural state comes off as fake.

Nothing about Abena or her brother Thomas was ever real. We all went to the same boarding schools together in London. Thomas is a devilishly smart bastard. He would take a blind man’s walking stick if he could attach a profit to the action. His sister is better, but not great. Abena never had time for mere mortals in school. She spent all of her time trying to climb the social ladders in London. She respects Western values and governance over ours. I’m sure that’s why she never comes home. Looking around at the symbols of Kwabena Owusu’s pride, I know her deliberate absence must break his heart.

Why am I still waiting in a damn foyer? I don’t wait to be seen. This is a deliberate power move, but for what? I turn to leave before I hear Thomas’ booming voice. “Your Majesty!” He strides quickly to me and grabs the top of my shoulders in a half-hearted embrace. “We are sorry to keep you waiting—we were finishing breakfast on the patio. Please come, we will have drinks in father’s study.”

I step back from Thomas and fold my arms over my chest, leveling a tight stare at the fool standing before me. “We?I am here to meet with your father about a tribal matter. This is not a social call, Thomas.” I bristle past him toward the center of the house and hopefully the study, knowing he will follow me.

I hear his steps shuffling behind me. He catches up and extends his hand to show me the way. “I know the meeting was just with you and Father, but these days he has Abena and I join all of his business meetings.” Business meeting? When did this meeting become about business? “After you, your majesty.” Thomas ushers me into the study and I’m greeted by a standing Chief Owusu and his daughter, Abena.

I nod to both and Abena returns to her seat on the white leather couch nearest to her father. Chief Owusu sits on a chair that can only be described as a throne. Thomas sits next to his sister. I select the armchair opposite the chief, with a massive glass coffee table dividing us. I sit up and cross my legs, staring at Chief Owusu like he owes me an explanation. He starts to fidget on his throne.

“Well, your majesty, please tell me to what do I owe this honor? I was certainly surprised to hear from you. More so, I was surprised to know you were coming here and not summoning me to you.”

I nod my head in agreement. “Yes, I guess that is odd for official or political visits. This, however, is more of a familial visit and one of a private manner. I don’t have anything against your children—I just don’t think what I have to talk to you about will concern them in any real way. It’s a personal request.”

At that, Abena crosses her legs and narrows her eyes in my direction. “How can you say that?” she squeaks in her birdlike voice. “When I have it on good authority that you’re here to nullify the contract that binds you to me in marriage?”

I clear my throat. “That may be, however, no matter what you think, I have no intention of marrying you. And if we’re both honest, you’ve never shown the slightest inclination that you even care. However, if you feel the need to stay, please do.” My exasperation is palpable. Her eyes continue to shoot daggers at me. I turn away from her and address her father.

“Chief, I know the betrothal agreement has been in place for nearly 30 years now. I also know that you and my parents developed and signed this contract when Abena and I were no more than five years old.” I glance at Abena, hoping her stare has softened. It has not. I continue on. “I think Abena will agree with me in saying that we have no desire to be married to each other. Furthermore, I do not think Abena desires to be an Ashanti queen. She clearly is an accomplished woman in her own right.”

Abena licks her lips before tossing her obnoxiously long ponytail behind her. She stands up and walks to stand behind her father’s chair. The annoying click-clack of her very tall stilettos almost makes me burst with annoyance. “Let’s be clear, King,” she starts. I’m surprised to hear malevolence in her voice. She places her hand on her father’s shoulder. “King or not, you don’t get to speak for me. You do not have the authority to voice what I want. As a matter of fact, we’ve never talked about the betrothal, so how would you know what I want to do or who I love?”

“Love!” I shout incredulously before a belly laugh erupts. “Abena, are you now saying that you are entertaining the thought of being in love with me? You know nothing about me and have never shown one inkling of concern about my person or reign.” I drop my voice to a royal octave. “Whatever game it is you’re playing must cease.” Her father pats her hand, signaling for her to not react to my words.

Chief Owusu shifts in his chair and adjusts his kente cloth to show more of his knees before edging closer to the edge of his chair. “Asantehene, I respect your position. However, I must ask you to excuse any perceived insolence from Abena. This is her life we are discussing. Abena is not talking of games—” He gestures wildly with his hands. “—she’s talking about a promise and a contract. Now, if you don’t want to respect the promise, that is your choice. However, you are legally bound to respect the contract.”

I stand and move closer and stand in front of the chief in 2.5 seconds. He responds by scrambling to his feet. “Are you threatening me, Chief Owusu? You’re confronting the Asantehene with legal action?” He sweats and makes an indiscriminate noise, the makings of a doomed protest. I can tell his emotions are a runaway train. “Take care with your next words, Chief,” I seethe. “I’d hate this to turn into a different meeting all together because of misplaced words and emotion.”

Thomas stands and moves to a desk in the corner of the room. He returns to his father and I staring each other down with a packet of printed paper. “Asantehene. I think you should read this before anything else transpires.” He offers the papers to me and I reluctantly accept them. “Father,” he cajoles. “Why don’t we all have a seat while Kofi reads the contract. That way, we can all talk from the same starting point.” We both nod and retreat to our seats.

“Your majesty, would you like some palm wine while you read?” Thomas places a smug smile on his lips. He would make quite the politician if he put his mind to doing so. He knows I cannot refuse palm wine with an elder without being disrespectful. It would be all over the village in a week. I give him a tight smile.

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