Joyce paraded the living room of her fiance's house as she await him to get back. She had called him few hours earlier and he had told her that he would be back soom, but had not appeared ever since, nor was he picking up her calls anymore.
She decided to try his mobile number again and fortunately, it was picked on the second ring. "Come on! Where are you? I've been worried," she asked as soon as she heard his voice.
"I'm here," she heard him say and became confused. She was about to question him to that regard when the door opened and he emerged. She sighed and went to him, surrounding her hands on his waist.
"You're late. Why is that?"
"Good evening to you, too." James smiled, disregarding her question. "No welcome kiss and you're asking me why I am late?"
Joyce laughed and hit him softly on the shoulder. "Okay, fine." She leaned in and placed her mouth briefly
James was glad the following day was Saturday. He used that opportunity to relax at home. Work had been so hectic for him lately since he no longer had a personal assistant. And the club he went with Joyce the previous night did him no good.And talking about Joyce, he was so pissed with her for disappearing the night before. She had only informed him that she would be back but never returned. It took him several attempts before he was able to get in touch with her through her number. All his previous attempts were telling him the line was busy.He had been so worried that he went outside to check on her, but no matter where he searched, she was no where to be found. That had bothered him and Dami, who started trying her number, too.When he was finally able to get in touch with her, he had screamed in anger at her. All she did was apologised that something came up and was no
James left his mother's house depressed and returned to his house. He inserted his key to open his front door but noticed it was unlocked. He was sure he locked the door on his way out and it was too late for his girlfriend to be there. It was almost ten pm.His mind drifted to the thief that had broken into his mother's house and had perfectly stolen money from the safe. He couldn't possibly be here in his house. What for?He was not scared. Not for a moment. He believed the thief would not go scot free. Not in his hands.Slowly, he turned the door knob and opened it. He felt something moved from behind the door. The thief would have known he was back and was now armed and waiting for him to enter and then, probably hurt him. He was smarter than that.
Joyce was puzzled. She had no idea what he was talking about. She would never go to his parents' house without telling him. She was even always shy to go alone without specific reasons.And what was that about being all over a guy? She made an attempt to touch him, but he did not allow that by moving to the side, so she rose to her feet and went to stand before him. "What are you talking about, James? I am confused," she asked silently. She was aware he was very annoyed and shouting to prove her point would do no help.James said nothing at first. He wanted to calm down, but he was struggling to. It was very difficult for him to reduce his anger. He opened his mouth to talk only for him to close it back and went to his room.Joyce watched silently as he disappeared from her sight and came back with an envelope. She collected the envelope and opened it. "Oh, my God!" she exclaimed as she saw the pictures one
"What! How? When?" Joyce exclaimed when James told her that the money had been stolen from his mother's safe. She was shocked and speechless. Thirty million was a huge sum of money. Who could have done that?"I really don't know how but it happened yesterday. The police are still doing their investigation on the how it happened. I will be going there soon," James uttered.Joyce rose from her seat in the living room and started parading the room. She put a finger to her lips and bit on it. "Oh, my God!" she exclaimed. "What do we do now? That money is huge. Fuck, the person who did that must be someone you know or could it be that you were tailed?" The inspective side of her was awakened. She could not help but start assuming the possibilities and the probabilities."I don't think I was tailed there. I would have noticed if that were the case." James sighed heavily. "Actually, refunding the money would not be a pr
Angela finally got the new address of Joyce. She had been to the house she used to live, thinking she was still there,but on getting there, she was told that the family had relocated. She had been fortunate enough to find a neighbor that knew their new residence and had given her the new address.She vowed to visit her that morning and tell her all she overheard from the snobbish woman. She could not just open her eyes and watch her friend's life get ruined when she could do something about it. She took a taxi and told the driver where she was going.Minutes later, the driver parked in front of a beautiful bungalow. She was awed as she looked at the building. Her friend had really upgraded. From the look, she knew that the house was not like some very expensive ones on movies or the ones described in novels, but for someone to be living in a house such as that could only mean they were living well.She paid the driver and alighted. She
James widened his eyes and moved closer to the screen. He replayed the video and paused it where the lady was entering. He tried to look clearly to see if the figure was really familiar,but no matter how close he looked, the lady did not resemble Joyce.But, that dress was the same as Joyce's and according to the time and date, it was the night he had been to the club with her. He stopped himself from thinking further. He trusted Joyce."Isn't this Joyce? So, her aim was to steal the money when she came by. How could she? She has no sha–"James was pissed off. "Mum!" He called, trying to control his anger. "Do you realize who you are talking about?" He asked in case her mother had forgotten that Joyce was his fiancée."I find it hard to believe, too, but she's the one we're seeing here," his mother protested. No matter how much she loved the lady, she would never condone her acting in such a
James was taken aback. What was she talking about? What nonsense was she saying? He was confused. He could not believe his ears. He concluded he must have been hallucinating. "Sunshine, what... What.. are you say...ing?"Joyce got on her knees and started crying. She sobbed as she thought of words to say. She felt a pang of guilt for lying to them, most especially to James. She could not look him in the eyes. She was afraid of what she would see there. She did not need anyone to tell her before she knew she had crushed his trust in her with what she said.As James attempted to get closer to her and lift her up, his father spoke, "I am so disappointed in you, Joyce," he started and rose to his feet. "I took you as family, yet, you let me down. I'm calling off your wedding and that's final," he declared and walked out of the living room into his bedroom.Andrew did not want to believe that Joyce was capable of doing such a thing
James brought her outside the living room into the compound beside his car. He suggested for them to go inside and talk but she had refused with the excuse that she was okay with standing on her feet.She could not look at him. She kept playing with her fingers and sniff once in five seconds.James also had red eyeballs as a result of hurt and anger, but he could not say if the anger was directed at himself or Joyce. "Joyce, I–" the remaining words got caught up in his throat. He sniffed, put a palm over his nose and mouth, then returned the hand back to being in his blue hoodie."I'm... I am sor...sorry,"Joyce apologized, still not looking at him.He shook his head. "Don't tell me you are sorry, Joyce,because I know very well that you were lying earlier."Joyce was taken aback. He trusted her. Her mind started jubilating, but teary expression remained on her face. S
James got to his car and opened the door for his fiancee to alight. That was what they had planned that morning when Annabelle had uninvitedly visit her house to apologize and explain the reasons behind her actions.Joyce had found out that her story of being sexually molested by her uncle was true and Vivian had used that as her first weapon, promising to help her fly out of the country if she would obey her."I really hesitated at first because I knew it was wrong and because you were so nice to me, but my desperation to escape from my uncle got the best of me and I had no choice but to do it, especially after Vivian told me that she was initially with Mister James before you ruined it,"Annabelle had explained earlier that morning.Joyce did not seem shocked after hearing her explanation that morning. She was only disappointed in her. But she understood her. She had her reasons, just that her way of making things right
James brought Joyce and her mother home after leaving the police station. The DPO had sent some of his men to Vivian's address that he had given to have her arrested.But, throughout their ride in the car, Joyce did not say a word, nor did she even glance at him once from where she was sitting beside him. He was the one stealing glances and yearning for her to meet his eyes and that was quite torturing for him. She had changed and he hoped that the reason should just be that she was stressed out and not because she had gotten tired of him.He didn't want that. He never did.He parked in their front porch and alighted to help Joyce out of the car. Her mother joined them, holding Joyce's other hand and started walking her in. She was too weak to be able to walk on her own."Sorry, my dear," Felicia said as she opened the front door for them to go inside."Oh, dear! You got me s
In no time,they were in DPO's office and James had questioned him as to the reason he had Joyce arrested when he had clearly stated that he had no intention of pursuing the case.The officer smiled a little at James' reaction. "Sir, you know it is actually impossible for us to take such step without prior permission," he explained."Then, who gave you the permission?" James was curious. He knew the only people who could give suslch permission was his family,but who exactly was it?"Your mother came here and inform me that you changed your mind about the case and that you wanted the culprit to face the wrath of the law," the police man expounded.James placed his elbows on the desk before him and buried his face in his palms. How could his mother do that? What had even gotten into her? For as much as she knew,she really loved Joyce as her own child. But why would that change all of a sudden? He trie
James was almost at his mother's house when his phone started ringing. He looked at the screen and saw that it was Joyce's mother calling him. What could be wrong? She had never called him ever since the incident happened. Not for once. He feared something might have happened to Joyce, so he quickly answered the call and greeted.The woman did not answer his greeting but went directly to her reason for calling her. One should not heat around the bush in cases like hers or it would be dangerous. "I beg of you, my dear, let Joyce be released from the police's custody. She knew absolutely nothing about the money," she was in tears and that was noticeable through her voice.James felt shivers ran down his spine. What was she talking about? Joyce? In police's custody? How? When?He swerved to the side of the road, halting the car with the ignition on. "What!" That was the only word that had the courage to leave his mouth despite all the
James glared at her as they got into the compound. He was furious. He had actually not expected that of Vivian. He was aware that she did not seem to like Joyce with reasons that are vague to him, but she should not have blurted it out like that. It was an embarrassment to him and would definitely tarnish Joyce's reputation with his workers. He did not want that.Vivian could only give an evil smile as she folded her arms and watched his actions. Exactly what she wanted, to make him mad.She loved seeing him in such a state. She knew he was trying to tell her something with the way he opened his mouth and closed them back. He seemed too angry to say anything, so she decided to help him out. "Are you perhaps wondering how I got to know about it?"James narrowed his eyes at her. That was not exactly what she was pondering on, but it would not be so bad to know where she got the news from. "Yeah?" No one knew about the issue
James was in his office for the first time in weeks. He needed to go if he did not want his company to liquidate. He had to monitor the business going on in the company or he was going to lose a whole lot.Things had not been very easy for him. He had not been doing well and the sadness within him was boldly written on his face. Anyone could see that he had not been his usual self. Most of his employees had been asking him what was wrong with him and all he could tell them was that he fell sick. That was not a lie actually, and it was definitely not the truth as well. But he could not just be explaining everything that happened to them. That was his personal life and problem.He managed to finish some paperworks at work and gave the rest up till the following day. He had piles of files to go through. How he wished Joyce was still with him! Those contracts would take her not more than a day to review,which would make it easier for him to
What was her mother talking about? Preg –what? Was that how easy it was to conceive? It was not a bad news, but nor was it a good news, too. How perfect would it be if she could share the news with James! He did not even pick her calls nor call back anymore. Perhaps, he was still angry. He might have totally forgotten about her.But, it could be true. She had not seen her period that month, but she had been too bothered to notice.A tear escaped from one of her eyes and like a flash of lightning, she moved her palm and wiped the stubborn stroke of tear away from her cheek. She should not get too emotional, but how could that be possible when she had no happiness?What was it that she did wrong to deserve the suffering she was having now? She would not mind if she had to apologize to anyone to regain her joy. Just mention who."What did you say, mum?" It was possible for her to actually be ove
Joyce rushed outside her room to the bathroom to puke. She had been ill and had been having morning sickness for a few days now. She had been feeling very weak and lazy to even wash to even wash the dishes.She opened the tap and rinsed her mouth a few times. She placed her hands on the zinc and sighed, looking at herself in the mirror. "I need to get myself treated for malaria," she muttered to herself as she closed her eyes briefly. She heard someone cleared their throat behind her, so she looked at the entrance beside her and saw her mother watching her in some kind of way. She could not decipher what the look meant, so she raised a brow, indirectly asking her mother what the problem was and why she was staring, more like glaring at her.Instead of replying, Felicia moved closer to her and soothingly rubbed her daughter's belly, hoping she would get the hint of what she was trying to relay to her. But unfortunately, Joyce looked
It had been a week since the kidnapping of Joyce's parents and Annabelle was just going back to Vivian's house after buying herself a dinner.Vivian had promised to take her out of the country the following week and she had been very excited about that. She literally bounced her way back home as she lingered on the thought of what she could do when she got abroad. Her thoughts strayed to the suffering and molestation she had experienced in her Uncle's house.His Uncle never allowed her to leave the house. He would lock the door with her inside whenever he was going to work and come inside her room to sexually harass herwhen he got back. She had been so helpless at the time, and that was why she had not hesitated to live with Vivian when she had suggested it.She could almost not believe that she would be running away from him forever. Her plan was to travel out of the country and never come back to Nigeria since she had