Bound to Him by Law

LONDON

Leonard smiles as the last of his paintings sell. This is the first time his work has been featured in such an upscale art gallery. It's a big deal for him.

"Tonight was a huge success!" Paul squeals, slapping Leo on his back affectionately. Paul is Leo’s manager, and introduced him to the art gallery owner. The two hit it off when Leo came to London on a family business trip. Their love for art has made them great friends. Leo's paintings are private to him, and he rarely shares them with anyone except his family.

In the beginning, painting was a coping mechanism to deal with the loss of the queen—his mother. He was very young when they lost her and for close to a year he could not talk. The only way he could communicate was through painting. Out of the three brothers, Leo was the closest to their mother, maybe because he was the last born or because he looked so much like her. The love between the two made the older brothers a bit jealous at times.

Losing their mother to the cold hands of death unexpectedly was a huge blow to Leonard. He threw himself into painting and gradually it became something more serious for him.

It was Paul who insisted that such beautiful works should not be hidden. ‘It will be a crime against humanity,' he recalls Paul telling him jokingly the first time he saw his paintings.

Leo told him that his paintings were not for sale. After all, money was not a problem for him, but Paul insisted. After some thought, Leo agreed, deciding that he would use the proceeds from the paintings to take care of children in need. Paul was just happy that he agreed to share his work with the world. It came as a huge surprise to Leo when Paul announced that an art gallery agreed to feature his work for their opening night.

"I totally agree with you. Thank you for your support." He smiles with gratitude at his friend.

“This calls for a celebration,” Paul said. For a British guy, Paul sure knew how to flex like a typical average Nigerian man.

“Alright, let’s go. I need to eat anyway.” Leo chuckled.

The two left the gallery and drove to a restaurant near the gallery to eat and toast to the success of the event. They were about to enter the restaurant when Paul received a call from his wife. Their son was not feeling well, and his attention was needed.

“I’m so sorry but, I have to go,” Paul said.

“Come off it, I will follow you.”

“No, please Leo. It’s nothing serious, but you know how my wife is. Besides it’s a night of celebration, so I insist that you should have fun, eat, and order champagne on my behalf. I will call you.”

“Fine, send my regards to Kate,” I said, waving him off.

The waiter led Leo to a seat, giving him the menu. Leo already knew he wanted something familiar—fried rice with chicken. His eyes flickered across the room. There were only a few people since the restaurant would be closing soon. His gaze settled on a beautiful lady seated two tables away from him, and he wondered how he could have missed her on his way in.

He has had his share of beautiful women, but none has left him this captivated or staring like an idiot like the stranger was making him to do at the moment. She was definitely a head turner. He thought she would be in her mid-twenties with curly dark hair. She was gorgeous. Leo preferred his women slim, but from where he was sitting, he could see she was a bit curvy. She looked like she could be bi-racial. The sleeveless black gown she wore dipped in front, giving him a tantalizing view of her cleavage. She was well endowed.

He has never wanted to paint something or someone so bad. She fascinated him.

He can’t explain the pull towards her. She is seated alone, her nose tucked inside the menu, still trying to figure out what she wants. He watched her with amusement. Her brows pull together in concentration, before she lets out a frustrated sigh and lowers the book, causing Leo to chuckle softly. She glances in his direction and gives him a lopsided grin. She definitely heard him chuckle.

“I guess I’m a little confused about what to order. You were quick with yours,” she directed at him.

"Excuse me?" he called out to her. He is suddenly not feeling like eating alone anymore.

"I said you were quick in making your decision. I can hardly decide what I want to eat when I'm in a restaurant," she said with a hint of smile teasing her full pink lips.

"Do you need help with it then?" he asked with a grin.

"Seriously? I wouldn't mind. What are you having?"

"Fried rice with chicken."

"My father loves that. I think I will have it too. Mind if I join you and we share a table?"

"Please do, I would love that." He gestures to the seat before him, watching her leave her seat to join him. He is now certain that she is not waiting for anyone to join her.

"Thank you. I hate eating alone," she mutters, her mouth curving into a smile. With just the table between them Leo can’t help but notice how her brown eyes almost turn golden under the lights as she bestows a smile on him.

"It's alright. I'm Leonard by the way, but you can call me Leo," he says, stretching his hand out for a handshake.

"Claire. Nice to meet you, Leo," she said, clasping her hand in his. They both felt the shot of electricity.

"So do you come here often?" Leo asked, as their meal arrived.

"No, I don't. This is my first time here. You?"

"Same here."

Leo later found out that she came to London to visit her mother, who was British. Her late father was from Nigeria. So, Leo was right—she was bi-racial.

"So, you are Nigerian?" she asks conversationally while they eat.

"Yes I am. Have you ever been to Nigeria?"

"Sadly, I have only been there once while my father was still alive, and I was very young then. But I'm planning to visit again someday. I would love to see the place again through the eyes of an adult," she declares, her eyes brimming with excitement at the thought.

The two talk as though they were longtime friends, with Claire asking him questions about Nigeria mostly. Leo has never met anyone so carefree like her before. She's just so full of life. He found himself telling her about his gallery show, and she insisted on buying champagne to celebrate the success of the exhibition. She ordered and they celebrated amidst laughter and cheers.

It feels natural for him to invite her over to his hotel and he was happy when she accepted. There was no use denying the intense attraction they felt for each other, and they were not going to see each other again anytime soon. Despite his reservations about having one-night stands, he could not help himself when it came to her. She would return to the United States the next day, and he would return to Nigeria. A long-distance relationship would never work.

It amazes him—a woman who does not want any string attached. He is not used to women not wanting something from him, but Claire does not want anything from him. She didn't even bat an eye lid when he mentioned in passing that he was a prince. She only laughed when Leo told her. Claire found it amusing. She claimed her life was nothing like his. She’s a florist in LA with her own shop and she enjoys it.

So, they loved each other all night long. Every touch, every kiss was committed to memory. It was intense and full of passion. They couldn't seem to get enough of each other. His mouth was hot when it opened over hers and still tasted of the champagne they had earlier, causing heat to snake through her body like molten lava. Her hands slipped inside his suit, which had remained open, and traveled up the length of his back, exploring the hard muscles that rippled under the shirt. His hands tunneled into her lustrous ebony hair, tenderly massaging her scalp as his lips traveled to her neck.

It was almost dawn before they both decided to sleep after feasting on each other's body.

Leo woke up with a sated smile on his face. He had come to a conclusion. He would try everything in his power to make the long-distance relationship work. He turned towards her but found her side empty and cold. This has never happened to him before. He is the one who leaves before his companion wakes up, not the other way around. He guessed it was better that way…no long goodbyes.

So why did it hurt like hell?

LONDON

FIVE YEARS LATER

THE INSISTENT RINGING OF HIS MOBILE PHONE WOKE HIM from the well-deserved sleep he truly needed. He stretched his left hand to the bedside table, head buried under the pillows, groping around for the offensive phone, but he ended up knocking the lamp off the table. He winced. Finally, his hand connected with the phone, but it stopped ringing. His eyes squint at the phone glare to check the caller, and he releases a groan when he sees his father's mobile number on the screen. Seven missed calls.

Before he could drop it, the phone starts ringing again. Taking in a deep breath, he answers.

"Hello father. Please, who is dying?" He's up to his father's antics; they will not work with him. His father—His Royal Highness King Adesiyan Gbadegesin—knows how to play the dying card with his three sons, but Leonard has come to know that it's all an antic to get his two older brothers to do as he wishes. He may be old in his late eighties, but he's not dying any time soon. The old man is too tough to die now.

"Is that how you greet your father and your king, Leonard Aderopo Gbadegesin?" irritation laces his father's boisterous voice. His father only calls him his full name anytime he exasperates him.

"I'm sorry Father, please pardon my manners," Leo says, not really meaning it.

"Apology accepted. Have called you several times. Out partying last night after your art exhibition?"

"Father you know me so well." Leo chuckles, dragging himself to a sitting position. "But not this time Father. I didn't go out partying. I left the gallery pretty late, just catching up on some much-needed sleep."

"You need to come back home," King Gbadegesin said, getting straight to the point.

"Father, please don't tell me you are dying because I won't believe you. That trick only works on Liam and Henry. Besides, I'm busy here. I still have one last art exhibition to do, so I will be in London for another two weeks."

"I did not call you because of my health. On the contrary, I'm fine. Something came up, or should I say someone, that needs your urgent attention in Nigeria. It can't wait. Take the next available flight and be on your way."

"But Father, can't you just tell me what is going on? You are starting to get me worked up." Leo is now fully awake.

"I'm afraid it's a delicate situation that you have to be present for. I will be expecting you. See you soon, Son."

"Alright Father." Ending the phone call, he closed his eyes and rested his head in his hands for a moment.

Leonard could not fathom the reason behind his father's command for him to travel home. He pondered on it but couldn't come up with any clue. Leo thought of calling his brothers to see if they knew anything but dismissed the notion. If they knew, they would have informed him. He could only hope that everything was well.

He saunters to the bathroom to shower, stretching his back as he goes to relieve himself of the ache in his spine. The art exhibition took a toll on him, but it was worth it. He smiled at the thought of the amount that one of his paintings sold for in the upscale gallery. The proceeds would feed thousands of hungry children on the street, which gave him great him joy.

He discarded the black briefs he wore, stepping into the shower cubicle. Putting the water dial on high jarred his body awake. Some enjoyed taking coffee to keep them alert and on their toes, but what did it for Leo was a good cold shower.

Leonard pulled on a pair of black trousers, tucking in his pristine white shirt into the waist band. He snapped on his cufflinks, holding the phone to his ear with his shoulder, as he waited for it to be answered. His face breaks into a smile, making his dimple wink when it was answered.

“Hello to you beautiful," he drawls.

"Leo," the voice on the other end purrs.

"I'm so sorry, but we will have to cancel our date this evening. Something urgent came up and I have to be in Nigeria."

"Aw, but baby you promised," she pouted.

"I know. It’s a family emergency. I promise when next I'm in London I will definitely take you out."

"I will hold you to that promise. Do have a safe flight back home, darling," she purrs.

"I will darling. I will make it up to you," Leo assures her before ending the call. Nothing a little diamond earrings or bracelet could not take care of. Jasmine is an American lady he met a few weeks ago at one of his art exhibitions, and one thing led to another. He took her out for few drinks, and they ended up in bed together. Nothing serious but he sure enjoyed her company. Leo does not do one-night stands like people imagine, but neither does he do long term. He enjoys the company of beautiful women and respects them.

The next thing he needed to do was cancel the last exhibition before he left London. He left a button undone on his shirt and shrugged on a black suit jacket over it. He was the most fashionable one out of the three brothers; his motto was never be caught not fresh. The Nigerian media has tagged him the millionaire Playboy Prince and Party Animal. And he's living up to their expectations. After all, he is used to it by now. Although half of what they say is not true.

He guessed that it was his looks and background that made them to tag him so. He was a little fair skinned with dark eyes. He was not short by any standard, but at 5'11 with a firm lean body, he was not as tall as his brothers. What he lacked in height, he made up in looks. It was common knowledge that he was the hottest looking one out of the three brothers.

He slipped his feet into black leather shoes, striding to his bedside drawer to take out his Rolex watch, the only accessory he favors. In a long stride he exited his hotel room and stepped into the elevator. He planned to call Paul to reschedule his exhibition before taking care of other business investments he had to attend to in the city. He liked London and the freedom he enjoyed there. No one cared that he was a prince here. He got to hang out and have a nice time with women without any strings attached, unlike his country where women saw him with a price tag on his head—it was all about money. He wanted to linger just a little longer. He had a deep affinity for the city and a life away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.

***

THE FLIGHT that took him from London landed in Lagos, Nigeria, before connecting to the family's private plane to Ijomo. He would have loved to visit Liam and the boys in Lagos, but his mind was pretty much occupied with his father's call. It was dark by the time he finally landed in Ijomo, and he made his way straight to the King’s Court.

The guards bowed their heads in greeting the moment they saw him. He only nodded his head to show he acknowledged them. He found his father in his bedroom with his reading glasses perched atop his nose reading a book in bed. He put down his book, sliding off his glasses the moment he saw Leo.

"Welcome back, son. How was your flight?" he asks, smiling at him.

"Tiring, your highness," Leo said, taking up the sofa beside the big four-poster bed in the tastefully furnished bedroom.

"I understand. Once you freshen up and rest you will feel much better."

"I will do that later. Now that I’m here, what's so urgent?" he asked impatiently. He was never one for small talk.

"Leonard! You are so impatient. Well, I don't know how to put this to you lightly, but you have a four-year-old daughter."

Leo burst into a fit of laughter, holding his sides as he rocked in his seat.

"Oh, I'm glad that you find it funny, but this is a serious situation, Leo,” the king mutters, giving him a pointed look.

Leo searched his father's face to see if it was a joke, but the old man was deadly serious. The grin on his face left him. Was the old man serious? But it wasn’t possible!

“Father, is this a joke? Because it’s an expensive one, and besides it’s not possible," he said, giving his father a searching gaze.

"Well, I don't know about it being impossible for you to impregnate a woman, unless you have a sexual condition I don't know about," the king says, "Two days ago, a young beautiful woman paid me a visit. She's been looking for ways to reach you, but everything proved futile, then she remembered that you told her you are a prince in Ijomo, and she decided to take the next flight to Nigeria from the United States. She told me you met in London five years ago and you had a fling. She got pregnant and she decided to keep it. Now you have a grown four-year-old daughter who needs her father," he paused. "I’ve seen the girl's picture, and I must confess, the resemblance to you is uncanny. But we will still have to run a DNA test to be certain."

Leonard covers his hands with his face, rubbing his day-old beard. He did not hear anything his father was saying. All that was resounding in his head was, "you have a daughter.” How did this happen? He was never careless, and always wore protection. Why did she wait until the girl was grown before coming out? Leo's mind kept running with questions.

"Did you hear everything I said?"

"Yes, I did. What did she say her name was?"

"Claire Braithwaite. Her father is Nigerian while her mother is—"

"Is she by any chance bi-racial?"

"Oh, I see you remember her now."

Leo remembered her all right, and the night of passion they had. He also remembered how she left the next morning before he woke up, leaving him without a way to reach her.

He had forgotten about Claire until now. She just showed up out of the blue with a child in tow. He did not know how to process what he just heard.

"So, what are you going to do about it?" his father asks, bringing him out of his reverie.

"Did she leave her contact details?"

"Yes, she did."

"Good. Which hotel is she staying at?"

"She's staying in one of our hotels in town, though she didn't know we own it."

"Okay,” he said, rising to his full height.

“I want to know what you want to do before you leave."

"I need to confirm that the girl in question is mine, and then we will take it from there. I will meet her first thing tomorrow morning."

"Alright, son. That's a good idea. Let me know how it goes."

"Alright Father, see you tomorrow," he mutters leaving his father's room.

The king watches Leo's retreating back and smiles. It was apparent that he didn't have to do anything; fate was dealing with Leo. He would just watch and see how his son handled the situation. With that in mind, he turned off his bedside lamp and turned in for the night.