“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
The man sat in a darkened room with a land phone to his ear.His eyes were fixed on Ayo and Tanya’s video even as he nodded.In a chilling tone, he asked the person on the phone.“Are you sure?”He waited for an answer from the other end and said, “No mistakes this time.” He disconnected the call, placed the phone on its holder, and reached for the smouldering cigar above the ashtray.The cigar glowed in the dark as he puffed on it.The hand he had to his side was raised swiftly and a silent pinging sound echoed in the room as he shot the target on the other side of the study.Pinned to the target was the face of Mr Tomori.“Fucking bastard,” he said, then emptied five more bullets into the electronic target.***********The next few weeks after Ayo’s live video was filled with lots of activities for the couple.Most brands who had shunned Tanya because of the scandal began to call back and many new ones started to send her offer upon offer too.Not only was she back on the chart as
Dressed in a vibrant crimson gown with a gold belt, paired with diamond-encrusted stilettos and chandelier earrings, Vera Devane ignored Tanya and turned up her megawatt smile as she raised her hand to Ayo.“Hi, Mr Taiwo. It’s my pleasure to finally meet you up close,” she purred. “Has anyone mentioned that you are a yummy piece? If you get tired of this one, you can call my number, you know.”Tanya’s body tightened at the direct jab, and she was pleased that Ayo didn’t take the hand Vera offered to kiss.“I don’t know if I should say I am honoured or insulted, miss, but I think I can return the compliment that you look…” he gave her a once-over before completing with a straight face, “...like you are ready for a theme party,”Tanya had to suppress her smile at the veiled insult when she saw the way Vera’s smile dimmed.Then the lady kept her plastic smile in place as she looked from Ayo to her, “Awn, you got yourself the loyal one. I am almost happy for you, babe.”The mocking refere
"Why is he here?" Tanya felt Ayo's hand tighten on hers.She turned her head to see Martinez down the hall surrounded by his new manager and his bodyguards.She noticed that the bodyguards were fewer than he normally had.She supposed he had to keep up pretenses because she of all people knew that he could no longer afford them.He could barely afford the clothes on his back as he was so neck-deep in debt that she was sure he wouldn't finish paying for them in a decade, even if he decided to straighten up and do better.Since that didn't seem to be in the cards anytime soon, she was sure even his pretences would crumble soon enough.She saw Derek, a heavyweight champion, pointedly snubbed Martinez and walked away.When he spotted them, he turned towards their direction, but Tanya looked at her security head before turning away.She knew he wasn't going to get to her family even if he became a fly."Ignore him," she told Ayo. "Some people still believed that his old music, Gangrene, des
“It will be fine,” she told herself firmly.She had to believe it.She told her men to stay out while she looked for him.She entered the hotel and was directed to the ballroom on the second floor, sectioned off separately from the main floor.Tanya took the stairs that led to the ballroom just as someone was coming down it.“Why must I always see you everywhere I go? Isn’t it enough that you ruined my life?!” Susan’s shrill voice dampened Tanya’s mood.She wondered what she was doing here, especially coming from that part where the receptionist said it was closed off to the public for the day.Despite her curiosity, Tanya decided to ignore the bitch so she could go away with her trouble. She had something better to deal with, and she was not going to allow her to ruin it for her. She continued up the stairs expecting Susan to shut her trap if she didn’t respond.She gasped when she suddenly felt a hand pull her from behind, and she slipped backwards.“Tanya!” she heard Ayo’s voice as
“I am pregnant?” Tanya started at the doctor in shock.“Yes, princess. That explains all those feelings you’ve been having. Congratulations.”Tanya couldn’t believe it.She stared blankly at Dr. Aguilar then looked down at her stomach.Cupping it, she stood up from the bed and walked slowly towards the door.She flung it open and Christianah almost tumbled in. She had her ears plastered to the door, while Meg leaned against the railing with a worried look on her face.Meg hurried forward while Christiana steadied herself, “Well?” she asked while peering into Tanya’s pale face. “What is it? You are fine? You are fine, right?”Her worried tone made Tanya nod automatically, and then she said quietly, “I am pregnant. He said I am pregnant.”“Pregnant?! That is good news!” Meg said excitedly, then “Come, you shouldn’t be standing. You are pregnant…”Tanya didn’t believe she could squeeze laughter past the ball lodged in her chest, yet it erupted as she looked at Meg’s face. “Pregnant, not s
In a theatrical whisper, he said, “It is that man I saw on the TV with you. I think he is your husband? Yes, that one. Such a wicked soul,” he said with disgust on his face right before he forked some lobsters into his mouth.“There are many men with me on the TV, many have acted as my husbands before too. Which one of them are you talking about?” Tanya asked with confusion on her face.“I mean the…” he cleared his throat and drank wine to wash down the hastily chewed food. “The real one. The one you married instead of Martinez. What is that name I hear people call him? Yes, Mr. Taiwo. That one.”With surprise evident on her face, Tanya leaned forward. “Are you sure about this? You must have been mistaken. After all, it was a dark street.”“I know it as sure as I know my name, princess. I won’t lie to you. If that killer wants to lie about it, I can say this right to his face!” he said firmly.“Oh? That means you wouldn’t mind repeating this anywhere?” Tanya asked.“Of course not! Mart
Tanya waved the man over as she saw him enter the restaurant.She had booked the whole restaurant for the evening and was seated alone, so it was easy for him to see her.He wore a blue windbreaker jacket that seemed to have seen better days, just like his jeans and shoes. He seemed to be in his thirties.Smiling broadly, he approached her table. "Hello, princess. I can't believe I am meeting you in the flesh. This is so surreal. May I have an autograph, please?" he said excitedly."Of course, why not?" Tanya answered with a smile. "Let's get down to business first. We can do that later.""Okay, okay," he said as he scraped the chair back loudly and sat eagerly while smiling at her.Tanya disliked his shifty eyes immediately, but she held her smile as she assessed him. Her eyes went towards the man behind the counter with his face turned away before focusing on the man giving her a once-over.She was sure she had never seen him before nor knew him with Martinez, but then it was easy to
She was ashamed.The better Ayo’s family treated her during their two-day visit, the more ashamed she felt about the way her mother had treated Ayo and was still treating him.The visit was meant to be a few hours' visit, but his sister had persuaded her to stay one more day.She could see that his mom loved the idea as well, so she immediately agreed.It had been the most relaxing and heart-filled visit she had ever had.Ayo’s mother did not treat her like a stranger at all. She treated her like she had known her for ages.Her care and compassion almost seemed alien to Tanya.It wasn’t that her mother wasn’t capable of love, she just couldn’t remember a time when things like her career and her standing in the family hadn’t overshadowed any bond they might have developed while spending time together.If she thought hard enough, maybe she could recall a time in her childhood when she had been allowed to just be a child or when her mother had just looked at her with love without thinking
She covered the distance between their hands and linked them together, saying, “I want to meet your family. It would be my honour to see your home.”Emotion clogged Ayo’s chest and thickened his voice as he said, “And after that?”“I want you back,” she said without hesitation.“Back? Like…?”“Forever,” she answered. “I don’t want to end this. I lied when I said this was just an arrangement. I want more.”Oh, baby. Ayo’s hands tightened on hers as his eyes swam with the blooming emotions in his heart. “I want more too, baby. I want it all. I don’t ever want to let you go. I will work hard to deserve you. I will…”She leaned forward to lay her finger on his lips, “Ssshh,” she said softly. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. You are more than enough for me,” she said with glistening eyes.Ayo shot out of his chair and hauled her into his arms before he could stop himself.Enough. She believed he was enough.Apart from his family, no one had ever believed he was enough.E
Excitement and anxiety warred in Ayo as he entered Avery.Avery was one of the top restaurants in Lagos with full-course international cuisines. One could request any food from Asian delicacies to oriental cuisines.The restaurant was so famous that one had to book a reservation at the restaurant at least a week before the date.Ayo had decided to try his luck that afternoon when he called. He was disappointed when he was told they were booked for the next three months.He was thinking of another place he could invite Tanya to that would be just as phenomenal when he got a call back from the restaurant.“You are in luck, sir. Someone just cancelled their reservation now. Would you like to take it?”“Yes,” Ayo said immediately.Though the reservation had taken the bulk of the money he had left, he was happy to do it for her.The security guard greeted him cordially and opened the door for him, and he stepped into the cool interior.He was surprised when he saw three attendants waiting f
“You won’t believe this!” Tanya smiled as she readjusted on the bed and asked, “I can sense it is something exciting from your voice. What is it?”“Oh my God! Excitement is the least of what I am feeling right now. I am overwhelmed.” his exuberant voice made her smile widen.Oh, she missed him. She wished she could see him right now.Even better, she wished he could be beside her at that moment. She missed him badly, but she was determined to respect his decision.“Even if it kills me,” she thought as she rolled her eyes at herself, then focused firmly on his excitement.“Do you know James Beed? I mean, what am I even talking about? Of course, you know James Beed. Mr Beed called me!”“Oh?” she prompted while grinning from ear to ear.“He called me for my book! He wants to make it into a movie! Can you believe that?! He was even talking about series, collaborations, and some other things I couldn’t really focus on. Can you believe this, Tanya? My book will be turned into a movie. I wro