BABY STEPS.

Camille is in the public library doing research for a little project she's working on, the next day after Michael's visit. Her phone starts vibrating on the table before her, and she stands up to go and take her call outside not wanting to risk the librarian's wrath.

She steps outside into the warm air to pick up the call, wondering who the caller is since it's a strange number. She presses the answer button and picks up the call.

"Hello, who is this please?"

"Hey, Camille. It's me, Michael."

Michael replies cheerfully from the other end.

A smile breaks easily on her face upon hearing his voice.

"It's true you have my number."

"Of course. You ought to stop doubting my words by now. Need I remind you I have my sources?"

"Alright. So, what's up? How's your day going?"

"It's going okay, I just decided to ring you and hear your voice. I am at work but I could not stop thinking of you. How's your day going too and what are you up to?"

"My day's going fine and I am at the public library doing some research."

"Cool. How's our date tomorrow night? Have you decided on a place yet?"

"Yeah, I have decided on a place, I would text you the address after."

"Okay, no problem. Where and when should I come to pick you up? Or do you intend to drive?"

Chuckling into the phone, she responds.

"7pm would be fine. You can come to pick me up in front of my place, I would text you the address too. I don't drive cause I don't have a car."

"You never cease to surprise me. How can you not have a car? I am pretty sure you can afford it if you want."

"I don't have a car cause I never learned how to drive. I can afford it sure, just haven't felt like. I live just a few miles from my eatery, I don't really need a car."

"We are going to have to do something about that, aren't we? I don't want my woman walking around town. It sends the wrong message."

"Back up a minute. Who said I was your woman? What makes you think I don't have a boyfriend?"

"I was referring to you in the future tense. You would be my woman. I plan to make that happen as soon as I can. I would stake a bet on you not having a boyfriend. I am pretty sure you don't."

He says laughing.

"In your dreams, Michael."

She laughs.

"I am not going to be your woman. Don't even think about that."

"We shall see, won't we?"

"Yeah sure. Listen, Michael, I got to run. There's stuff I am working on here and I can't afford to waste time on it."

"Okay sure. See you later then. Take care of yourself, Camille."

"Yeah, you too Michael."

She drops the call and heads back into the library to continue her work, a big smile plastered on her face.

THE NEXT DAY.

DINNER.

Michael picks up Camille from her house at exactly 7 pm. They both compliment each other's looks before getting into Michael's car and driving off.

Michael is dressed in a fashionable black tuxedo complementing it with a blue tie and well-polished black designer shoes. On his wrist is a simple diamond bracelets that would have cost a fortune. The smell of his cologne was heady and masculine in a sweet and mature sort of way. A smile breaks across his face when he sees her appraisng him, and she noticed for the first time that he had dimpled cheeks. How come she never noticed, she wondered. She graded him 8/10 in looks before but the discovery of the dimples just rounded it up to a 10/10.

Camille is dressed in a short, straight red gown with a side slit they went all the way to her thighs and showed off smooth, unblemished skin. Her made-up face was perfectly done to enhance her beauty. She holds a black clutch purse and matching black high-heeled sandals to complete her look. Her small  but well defined hips did justice to her outfit and thank God for self control or he would have taken her right there.

He takes a bow, kisses her beautiful, delicate hand and leads her to the car.

They were now  seated at a table in the restaurant with their orders in front of them. They begin to eat slowly, each silently wishing the night won't end soon.

Michael takes a drink of water from his cup and picks up a napkin to wipe his mouth.

"So, what made you choose this place?"

She swallows her food and takes a drink of water before responding.

"I don't know, I just googled nearby restaurants and this popped up. The ratings are good too. Why did you ask?"

"Nothing. I was just trying to make conversation."

He pushes his half-eaten food away from him and leans back in his seat.

"So, tell me about yourself."

She also pushes her plate away from her too and rests her hand on the table.

"What do you want to know?"

She asks, wiping her mouth too.

"Anything you feel like sharing."

"Well, I am Camille Williams, the only child of my parents, I graduated medical school a few months ago and I am still waiting on the results of the exams I wrote before going for my residency. I am 22 and I also own a eatery. Like most girls, I like to have fun and hang out when I can. I consider myself friendly but I also don't take bullshit."

She shrugs her shoulders.

"There's nothing much to say really. You are going have to ask me anything else you want to know."

She concludes, setting her napkin down.

"Hmm, interesting. What branch of medicine did you study?"

"That would be neurology."

"Wow! Just wow! It has something to do with the brain I guess."

"Yeah. The brain and other central nervous systems."

"So, you are a neurologist? That's pretty cool."

"I am not a neurologist, I am a neurosurgeon."

"Is there a difference? I thought it meant the same thing."

"It is sure. I don't want to have to bore you with details, just know they are in the same branch of medicine. The only difference is a neurologist diagnoses and treats while a neurosurgeon performs required operations. That's simple enough I hope."

She concludes smiling.

He smiles back at her.

"It is. Thanks for the free medical lecture. You told me you just finished medical school, why do you have to wait before going for your residency?"

"That's because my residency won't be in Nigeria. I had to write some qualifying exams to determine if I would be accepted into a residency program outside the country."

"Why travel outside the country for your residency? You don't want to do it in Nigeria?"

"I don't, Michael. Going outside the country to have my residency is another way of learning. I want to see how things are done outside the country. Have you seen the state of medical practice in Nigeria? It's pathetic."

She says shaking her head sadly.

"The plan is to go there for my residency and come back home with a team of professionals to establish my own specialist hospital."

"I must commend you on that beautiful vision you have. I am impressed. You do know to build a specialist hospital is going to be expensive? Not to mention strenuous."

"Not as expensive as building one with all the latest and modern types of equipment of neurology. I know it's not going to be easy but no one said it was going to be. I have the expenses covered."

"We are talking billions of naira. I really do hope you have it covered."

"I sure do. My parents have been making investments on account of this for a very long time. Safe to say I have a tidy sum set aside for that purpose."

"Well, that's really good to hear. What got you attracted to neurosurgery in the first instance?"

"It's a really long story. Let me just make it brief and say the failure of health systems in the country plus my fascination with human brains."

"I would have loved to hear the story, maybe another time."

She nods in agreement.

"What would happen to your eatery after you travel?"

"I would close up and sell it before I travel. It was good while it lasted but it's time for another phase. I mean I am going to be away for almost ten years. I can't possibly keep running the eatery.

His eyes wide as saucers, he exclaims.

"Ten years? For what? Are you going to start your studying all over?"

She laughs at the look of pure shock on his face.

"My residency is going to take about six to seven years. I also plan to do more research and one or two professional courses before coming back home. I want to work for a while there too."

"I don't even know what to say. I had no idea being a neurosurgeon took that much work. I have a new level of respect for you. You have lots of foresight for one so young. Before I forget, best of luck on your exams."

"Thanks, Michael for all the compliments. I have lots of planning and work ahead of me. This is just me taking a break before I jet off."

"I sincerely hope you pass your exams. I believe you would though. You are a very remarkable woman with brains."

"Thank you."

"Tell me, who was the lady I met on my way out of your office the other day?"

"What lady? Oh! That's my cousin, Lara. We are very close."

"Why do you ask?"

"Nothing at all. Just curious."

"You know she asked me about you too? Do you maybe know each other from somewhere?"

He pretends not to hear her question.

"Shall we have dessert?"

He whistles to the waiter who appears almost immediately.

"No. I am already full as it is. I would pass on dessert."

"You sure? You can have anything you want. Some more wine perhaps?"

He points to the empty bottle of red wine they had with their dinner.

"Thank you but I am sure I have no space left in my stomach for dessert or anything else for that matter."

She pats her stomach to emphasize her point.

"Sorry for disturbing you then. You can go."

He apologizes to the waiter who has been standing by patiently. The waiter leaves and he focuses his attention on Camille.

"What about your parents? How are they?"

"They are doing very great thanks. Now, it's your turn."

"My turn what?"

"Now don't be coy. Your turn to tell me about yourself."

He smiles with a gleam in his eyes.

"Okay. Here we go."

He clears his throat.

"I am Michael Akinseloyin as you already know, I am the first child of my parents, there are only two of us, myself and my younger brother. I am  28 years old, I had my degree in business administration outside the country and I am currently in charge of my father's real estate business. Any other thing you need to know would be discovered in the course of us getting well acquainted with each other. Note, I also don't take bullshit."

They look at each other and burst out in laughter.

"You are funny Michael. Real funny. Where's your younger brother?"

"Mitch lives at home with my parents and I. He likes to keep to himself and is not quite as social as I am. We are not all too close but we get by, no bad blood whatsoever."

"Nice. Why do you still live with your parents?"

"Nothing. I just haven't felt the need for my own space. I am very comfortable in my parent's house. I go out and come in as I please no stress plus, there's also the issue of free food. My mum cooks really well."

"So, you are a mummy's boy huh?"

"You could say that. I am real close to my Mother but she respects my privacy if you are thinking that might affect our relationship."

He says smiling.

"You have to stop talking like that. We are not going to have any relationship."

Now looking serious, he leans on the table.

"I like you so much, Camille. You might think it's the usual bullshit men talk, but I have never had a woman call me out as you did. I am legit I swear it. I am not looking to toy with you or shit, just give me a chance."

"I wonder how many girls you have fed that line. You have a really nasty reputation. I have heard lots of rumors about you."

"I won't deny that I haven't had my fair share of girls, I certainly have. I want to have something different with you if you give me the chance. I won't even lie and say the rumors are not true, they probably are. In fact, there might be more things you haven't heard about. Like the fact that I have never worked a day in my life till about six months ago and that I smoke like a chimney. I wouldn't describe myself as a gentleman even, I can be real nasty. I just want to be a new man and you inspire me to want to do that."

He takes her hands in his and looks into her eyes.

"You can't tell me you don't feel anything between us."

"There are so many reasons why a relationship with you won't work out. I can't even begin to list them. Even if I wanted to have a relationship with you, I would be leaving the country soon if all goes according to plan."

"Distance is nothing to worry about. I am willing to take baby steps if you are game. Let's just see how it goes. What do you say?"

"I don't know, Michael. Give me some time to think about it. Let's say a week or so."

He grins.

"I intend to woo you till you say yes."

"Well, time would tell what's going to happen."

"Thanks, Camille I really appreciate that. So, how are your friends? Funmi and the other girl?"

"They are both doing okay. How about your friends?"

"They are doing okay too. Hopefully, I can introduce you to them as my girlfriend soon."

She smiles non-committally.

"Listen, I have tickets to a movie at the cinema. Would you like to go with me?"

"I didn't take you for a guy that likes cinemas."

"Nah, I am not the cinema type. A grateful client gave them to me and I don't want them to go to waste. It would be my pleasure to have you with me at the cinema."

"When?"

"It's tomorrow night. The movie is just two hours."

"Alright then. I am game."

"Thanks. I would come to pick you up by six if that's cool with you. It starts at six-thirty."

"Six is fine. I would be dressed and ready by the time you come."

"Great."

They continue chatting for hours getting to know each other and exchanging questions.

"I feel like it's getting late, I should really go home to get some much-needed rest."

Camille declares.

"So soon?"

"Yes please."

"Let me take care of the bill then."

He signals to the waiter.

"I took care of it already."

She announces, waving the approaching waiter away.

"Excuse me, when?"

He asks blinking.

"We were not seated at this table by chance, I called ahead to request this particular table after I saw the pictures of the restaurant's setting online and paid for the reservation ahead."

"I didn't hear you tell them you made a reservation."

"That's because I came in and took care of that while you were parking the car."

"I am still confused. How can you know exactly how much we would spend or how does this work?"

"It's not such a big deal. I paid for the whole package. They have a package for people coming for a date. It includes meals, dessert, and wine for two people. I paid and that's it. Close up your mouth Michael. A fly might get in."

She tells him when she sees him staring at her open-mouthed.

He closes his mouth and continues staring at her in amazement.

"I don't know what to say."

"Say to what?"

"I am going to have to tweet this. This is the first time a Nigerian girl would pay for anything we eat together. I've never had a woman who isn't my mother pick up my tab. Camille, you keep pulling up these surprises."

"What's the big deal? We had a meal together and I paid cause I can afford it. Stop being dramatic, please. I know lots of Nigerian girls that spoil their men. So what?"

"Are you saying I am your man?"

"Oh! Shut up."

She smiles at him getting to her feet holding her purse.

"These heels are killing my feet.

He gets up too, leading her out of the restaurant into his car, and off they go.

They soon arrive at Camille's modest apartment where she invites him in.

Taking her keys out of her purse, she inserts it into the keyhole.

"Do you want to come in? We could open another bottle of wine and talk a little more."

She asks hoping he would come in and finish what he started at her office. Heaven knows her heart has been racing wild with unimaginable thoughts of him taking her in different sexual positions.

"I would have to decline. I may not be able to keep my hands to myself around you. Baby steps, remember?"

What an asshole! She swears inwardly. To think she faked tiredness to get them out of the restaurant and into her home early enough. Now, she is going to have to deal with the unpleasant consequences of her action. She tries again one more time.

"We are both adults, we won't do anything we don't want. We can just look around my place together you know?"

What rubbish did she just say? Look around her house? It's not a museum for heaven's sake. Was she that desperate to get laid? She sucks in her upper lip trying to stop herself from saying any more nonsense.

"As tempted as I am, I would have to pass. There's enough time to see your place later. I just wanted to see you safely in."

He turns and leaves after kissing her forehead.

"See you tomorrow, beauty."

"Yeah, you too."

Dragging her feet inside straight into her bedroom, she undresses slowly trying to banish thoughts of Michael's hands on her body as she steps into the warm shower.