She received the news with more calmness than he had expected.While he was fuming that her damn ex had struck again, she simply collected the newspaper from her assistant, collected her coffee and calmly sat down to read it.Then she went through the posts online before switching on the TV set to watch the morning news.The segment that followed the news programme was Glamour Gaze.She stayed glued to the TV as the two journalists on what was apparently a gossip show showed the graphic image of Martinez’s bruised face.Ayo couldn’t believe that a single punch had caused such a bruise, but the picture was enlarged so much that it was hard to miss.The presenters talked gleefully about Martinez’s new claim that Tanya was the one who had actually cheated on him while he had been enduring it because of his love for her. Even though they kept their faces professionally respectful, the disdain was clear in their tone when discussing how Tanya asked Ayo to beat Martinez up because he promi
Ayo had never been so proud of standing beside anyone.She read him her speech after she was done with it, and he was so impressed that he couldn’t find the right words.He just grabbed and kissed her before declaring, “You’ve got this.”Meg complimented how well they looked together when they came down the stairs and even Christianah bobbed her head in agreement.Ayo was sure that Ruffs would have the “I told you so” look on his face if he could see how well his two-piece suit fitted him.Thankfully, Ruffs had not found any reason to come disturb him that morning about how he should act at the event.If for nothing else, Ayo was glad about Tanya’s important announcement about the conference.“They are waiting for you,” Meg said before she led the way to the massive ballroom they were using for the conference.Sudden nerves fluttered in Ayo’s stomach just as they got closer. As if she sensed it, she linked her hand with his and gave him a reassuring look.This woman.Ayo didn’t have t
“So, you are a coward?”The simple, accepting way she asked was the last straw for him.“What did you just call me?” he asked in a dangerously soft tone as he narrowed his gaze on her.Still with her legs crossed, she shrugged and said, “It is a question. Are you a coward?”When he did not answer, she added “I would have thought you are not. I guess I was wrong.”She stood up and turned to her vanity to remove her earrings. “Chicken” she added casually.She was trying to rile him up. She was doing it on purpose.Ayo knew that, but still, he couldn’t stop himself from walking over to grab and turn her around.“When you insult me, you look at me. Say that to my face,” he said harshly with racing breath.She looked at him innocently like she was going to back down, then suddenly she raised her arms like a flapping bird and let out a cackling, “Bawk bawk bawk,"Ayo growled in frustration, wrapped his hand around her neck and pulled her closer while his harsh breathing filled the room.In
She had not changed her number.Ayo searched for it on his Google contact and called her with the hope that it would go through.Not that he was going to allow that to stop him anyway.The call rang and she picked up almost immediately.He didn’t have to introduce himself before she knew who he was.It was as if she had been expecting his call all along.Smug and ready to lord her victory over him, she invited him to a hotel.Her exact words were, “I know why you are calling, you prick. Who could have thought you would be the one reaching out to me now? I bet you never saw this coming. Well, before I listen to you at all, I need you to meet me physically. No negotiations.”She disconnected the call before he could say anything and sent him the location and time immediately.When Ayo saw that it was a hotel, he mused about how predictable she was.The woman was obsessed with him and wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to take a swipe at him again.He couldn’t believe she would be so stupid
“I already told you you could go home. It’s past your work hour, isn’t it?” Tanya said to Christianah.“Ms. Meg would have my head if she knew I let you go out alone, ma.”“Let me? And who is going to tell her? You?” Tanya answered in exasperation. “I…”“If she learns about this, you don’t need to worry about her having your head. You will be sacked already,” she turned to give the confused Christiana a straight look, “By me,”Flustered, Christiana clutched her backpack. “Ma, please, don’t sack me. I can’t afford to be sacked right now. I still have to pay my school fees,”“Learn to keep your mouth shut then,” Tanya said tonelessly.Christianah moved to zip her mouth as she said, “Lips sealed, ma. I won’t tell even if she puts a gun to my head.”Tanya rolled her eyes at her assistant’s drama. She remembered Ayo’s words about how the people around her are like babysitters.As she looked out of the darkened car, she tried to remember when she had ever gone anywhere without someone moni
“What are you doing here?” she countered with her eyes on the wrinkled part of his trouser front.Ayo gave her a questioning look. “What am I doing here? I told you…” he looked back at the opened door.He quickly stepped out fully and closed the door behind him. “Let’s get out of here. We can talk later,” he said in a low voice.“You don’t have to tell me twice,” she snapped at him and turned to leave.She turned back again just as he took a step. Her eyes went towards the door. “What?” he asked testily.She lifted her chin and said, “Why was a woman calling for help?”“She is crazy,” he said with annoyance. He stepped towards her. “We can discuss this in…”She backed away and asked, “That was the woman in the audio?”He nodded.“Did you hurt her? Did you…” Her eyes dropped to his pants. “....do something to her?”What the fuck was she thinking? Ayo wondered in growing anger.He stepped forward and grabbed her elbow, swiftly turning her around as he marched on. “I didn’t fuck her if t
Heart thumping and badly shaken, Tanya’s hand shook violently as she tried to unbuckle her seatbelt.“Oh my God. Are you okay?”His voice sounded like it was coming from a far distance.Tanya could not trust herself to speak as she jerkily pulled at the seatbelt.Why was nothing working?!“Here,” she felt him brush her hand aside as he unbuckled it for her.She hurriedly opened the door and her legs almost folded under her as she stepped out into the cool air and the sound of distant traffic.A car whizzed by just as she stepped out, and its headlights shone on the electricity pole just a few inches from the front of the car.“What if he hadn’t managed to stop the car?”Tanya’s weakened legs couldn’t carry her as she thought of how horribly they could have met their end.She sank to the floor in a crouch, lay her head on her knees and wrapped her arms around herself.She could have died again tonight. She had gone all her life barely having any near-to-death scare and now she had alm
Tanya soon fell asleep as soon as they got home.He held her like he never wanted to let her go and she fell asleep feeling his eyes on her.When the disturbing memories of screeching tyres and deflating airbags wanted to ruin her sleep, she only needed to feel his arms around her to know that it was over and they were safe.She opened her eyes to see that he was still looking down at her with a thoughtful look on his face.“You are not sleeping?” she asked sleepily.He shrugged slightly as he answered, “I love watching you sleep,”She raised her eyebrows and mumbled, “Then I guess you are in for a treat because I am so tired right now that I can’t keep my lids open.”“Then sleep,” he said as he kissed her nose, “I will be here.” She nodded half asleep, then she opened her eyes again, sluggish, “You are fine?”“Never been better,” he answered with a smile.“Good,” she murmured and she soon slipped into a peaceful sleep.When she woke up, she couldn’t find him beside her.She frowned