THE CONTRACT
EPISODE 15
Tobi drove home with a satisfied sm-irk plastered across his face. Not only had he won the award for the youngest billionaire in Africa, but he also had in his pas-s£nger seat, Aisha Zamena.
Aisha Zamena was a t©p model in Africa, and when he saw her at the award ceremony he had attended, he knew she wanted to go home with him.
His mind drifted to Abena, but he shook the thoughts away. He didn’t like her, and all he nee-ded was to get la-id, then he’ll forget about her.
After parking in his house, he turned to Aisha. “Give me one minute. I nee-d to check something first.”
She nodded without looking up from her phone. He walked briskly into house, and saw Abena sprawled on the couch, watching a movie. A bunch of bananas were on a plate on a table in front of her, and the peels were scattered on the floor. There was also a box of finished cookies and chocolate wra-ppers on the floor.
She looked up at him and smiled. “Hey.”
“I nee-d you to pack all of this stuff, right now, with yourself, to your room. I have a visitor and this place is untidy. Plus, I can’t let my visitor see you.” He instructed and she got up quic-kly.
She packed all the trash and took it to the dustbin in the kitchen, then she gr@bb£d the bunch of bananas and went to her room. She wondered who the visitor was. Tobi ha-rd ly brou-ght his work home and she knew it wasn’t Joseph. She shrugged it off. It was probably a business p@rtner.
But she knew it wasn’t a business p@rtner when she heard the m0@n ing. She heard them stumble up the stairs, and walk into Tobi’s room. She heard them slump on the be-d, she heard the sounds of plea-sure, the m0@n ing and the creaking of the be-d. She hvgged her pillow and tried to sleep, but it wasn’t easy when she could hear them having S-x in the room right beside hers.
And when she heard the woman scream out Tobi’s name, she bur-st into tears. That night, before she sle-pt off, she fought with the voice in her head on whether she was falling for Tobi Ademi.
The voice said yes. But she said no.
The voice in her head won.
…
“You’re distracting me.”
“Hm?” Abena looked up at Tobi. They were both sitting on the three seater couch; he was working, as usual, on his l@pt©p, while she was trying to focus on the movie she was watching. But she kept on sneaking glances at Tobi, imagining things she would never admit to. She shook the thoughts away from her head.
Pregnancy hor-mones.
“I said, you’re distracting me.” He said again.
“How?”
“Well you can’t sit there wearing a pair of shorts and showing off your S-xy looking legs and expect me to concentrate on the work I’m doing.” He said. His eyes fli-ckered towards her and back to the l@pt©p screen.
With a sm-irk plastered across her face, and a sudden boost of confidence, she re-moved his l@pt©p carefully from his l@p, and placed it on the centre table.
He opened his mouth to protest, but before. he could utter a word, she sat on his l@p, straddling him.
Their bodies were dangerously close, and the only thing separating them, was her baby bu-mp.
“Abena.” He whispered in a husky voice that caused her confidence to falter. She was afraid that her voice would fail her, so she hummed in reply instead.
“You have no idea how much I’ve wanted this.” He leaned closer to her, hisl-ips on her ear, and her b©dy shivered in excitement.
He placed a k!sson her n£¢k, and trailed down, placing feather like k!sses as he went.
He looked up and sm-irked at her. Her gaze dropped to hisl-ips and she li-cked herl-ips in anticipation.
“You drive me crazy.” He said and before she could get her br@in to work again, he leaned in and k!$$£d her. Softly at first, teasing her, enjoying the feeling that c@m£ with each second.
She gro-an ed at how slow he was, and felt him smile against herl-ips. His ton-gue went dee-per, c@r£ss!nghers, and all her defences broke down one by one. She couldn’t deny that she was enjoying it. He ni-bbled on her lower l!pgently, and earned a small m0@n , and then he went on to k!ssher again.
“Abena.”
Abena tried to focus on the k!ss, but how was he k!ss!ngher and talking at the same time?
“Abena.”
The voice was more impatient, and a hand tapped hers, trying to bring her back into reality. She grumbled some incoherent words and went back to her k!ss.
“For the love of God, wake up.” She heard the voice again, and the hand tapped her ha-rder.
“Go away, you’re interrupting the k!ss.” She snapped and heard Tobi chuckle beside her. Her eyes wi-de-ned in realization and she turned around slowly, and saw the Greek god himself, laughing at her, mocking her with his eyes no doubt.
“The k!sshuh? And who was the lucky guy?” He said in between his laughter.
“Definitely not you. Go away Tobi.” She said throwing a pillow at him. He dodged it and laughed ha-rder.
“What do you want?” She sat up from her be-d and looked at him, folding her arms against her che-st and trying not to ogle the sight that was before her.
“You’ve missed your appointment with the doctor today.” He smiled.
“Oh my God! Why didn’t you wake me up?”
She jumped out of her be-d and towards her closet, looking for something to wear.
“Calm down jare. I own the hospital, remember?” He boasted c0ckily.
“How can I ever forget? You never fail to remind me every time something like this comes up.” She said, with a hint of sarcasm.
“Anyway.” He rolled his eyes at her and continued. “We moved it to one p.m. So get re-ady and come and have breakfast. I got the cook to come in and make us akara and ogi. I’ll be waiting.” He said before standing up and walking out of her room.
…
Abena walked down the stairs, her stomach grumbling at the sight of the akara (bean cake). She could smell the aroma from her room.
“Are you ogling me or the food?” Tobi said, breaking her thoughts.
Both, she wanted to say, but instead, she rolled her eyes and walked towards the table, stuffing her mouth with one.
“Good to know you observe table manners.” Tobi said sarcastically, his nose scrunched in irritation.
“Whatever.” She said while eating another one and then she added sugar and milk to her ogi (pap). She sat down and continued eating.
“What happened to you this morning?” He asked.
Abena’s mind went to the dream she had, and the bu-tterflies returned. Trying not to appear nervous, she lifted an eyebrow at him with the best poker face she could manage. “What are you talking about?”
“You woke up late. You never wake up late.” He pointed out, obviously oblivious to her nervousness.
“Oh.” Memories of last night flooded her mind. The sounds they made in the other room. She had cried until she couldn’t cry anymore, then she sle-pt off, hvgging her pillow and whimpering.
“You were too loud.” She snapped, suddenly angry at him, and that lucky model he brou-ght home the previous night.
“Who?” He gave an amused sm-irk, he obviously knew what she was referring to.
“You and that bimbo of yours. You guys were too loud.” She looked down at her food, trying to control the anger that burned in her.
Why was she angry anyway? They weren’t together, he didn’t mean anything to her. At least that was what she told herself. “Sorry. I should have taken it to another room far from yours.” He said, his expression softening a little.
“You think? I mean, this house is hvge. And you own h0tels everywhere. Why did you have to do it right beside my room?” She said, raising her voice.
“I apologized, gosh. Besides, it’s my house. I’ll do what I want to do with it. If I want to throw a d–n p@rty, then I’ll do it.” He snapped, his patience quic-kly running thin.
“Well then let me leave somewhere else. You control a large p@rt of real estate. Get me another place. I never said I wanted to live with you.” She complained.
“Abena. I’m not letting you out of my sight.” He said.
“Why?” She screamed. “You could ha-rd ly stand me, yet now you won’t let me go anywhere else. Why? So you could keep me awake while you bring girls over and f–k them loud, not bothering about the fact that I’m in the room beside you.”
He winced at her words and decided to choose his words carefully. She was alre-ady so angry, although that didn’t st©p her from angrily chomping on the akara.
“I’m just trying to look out for you. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He said slowly.
“No. You don’t want anything to happen to your baby.” She hissed, her tone was ice cold.
“Well the baby is p@rt of you, isn’t it? So looking out for you is the same thing as looking out for my baby.” He said softly. His words felt like a b!ow to her heart. She always knew that every iota of care he showered on her was because of the baby, but a small p@rt of her hoped he cared about her too.
“Whatever. Take your S-x life far away from me, or else next time, I would walk in and totally embarras-s you. Maybe act like your wife or something.” She threatened, although he could hear a hint of humor in her tone.
“Hm. So you’re jealous ehn? Thats why you now vexed like that. You want to be the one in that room.” He tea-sed, sm-irking confidently at her.
Her heartbeat increa-sed, hammering against her che-st and she suddenly had to leave the room. If she didn’t leave, she had a feeling she might just gr-ab him and start k!ss!ngthe life out of him.
Stupid hor-mones.
She let out a nervous laugh and rolled her eyes.
“In your wildest dreams.” She stood up and took her plate to the sink, washing it so she could start going to the hospital.
She felt him come beside her, and dangerously close too. “What are you doing?” She asked in a shaky voice.
He was standing behind her, his hands on the sink at both sides of her b©dy. Hisl-ips were right in front of her ear.
“I heard you, when you were slee-ping. You whispered my name.” …
THE CONTRACT
EPISODE 16
After her doctors appointment, Abena couldn’t get Tobi’s words out of her head. She would have to start locking her room door.
She decided to get a job to do. Something simple that would take her mind off Tobi and all the feelings that was annoyingly developing in her.
She walked down a street for a while, trying to clear her head while walking towards the taxi park. That was when she saw the vacancy in front of a large building. It was a modelling Agency. She looked down at her big belly and laughed to herself. She decided to walk in front of it and see. Then she saw the sign clearly.
They nee-ded a pregnant woman!
With a broad smile on her face, she walked into the building, happy for the first time about her pregnancy.
…
“You know, every time you come to visit me, you always start talking about Abena. As entertaining as the stories are…” Joseph started with a laugh. “I’m beginning to think the invisible Tobi Ademi is falling.”
“Why do you always do this thing? I talk to you about something and then you’ll start saying ru-bbish about what me liking her. Did I tell you I like her. Abeg, free me.” Tobi said, annoyed at his friend.
Joseph was sitting down on his hospital be-d, his injured leg was propped on a cushion, and he was eating Maltesers that Tobi snuck in for him.
Dera had forbade chocolates. Said it wasn’t good for his ‘age.’
“I’m just saying. You always talk about her. And you give her ‘the look’.” Joseph tea-sed.
“Which look?” Tobi glared at him.
“You know, ‘the look’.”
“You think this is one American movie shay. That’s why you’re saying ru-bbish.” Tobi huffed out which made Joseph laugh ha-rder.
“But seriously. You had S-x with Aisha while Abena was in the next room?” Joseph asked.
Tobi nodded. “I wasn’t thinking.”
“Says the man who makes billions everyday.”
“I just… I don’t even know again sef. It all felt weird. I was trying to get her out of my head but the more I k!$$£d Aisha, the more her face appeared in my head.” Tobi said truthfully.
“Well that’s step one of falling in love.” Joseph smiled broadly.
“And how do you get rid of it?” Tobi asked quic-kly.
“Kill yourself.” Joseph joked and started laughing again.
“How about I kill you. Bloody idiot.” Tobi snapped but that caused Joseph to laugh ha-rder.
“Oh this is better than any African magic movie. You, falling in love, is something I’ve been waiting for, for like forever. And when I saw Abena, I knew you were going to fall.” Joseph grinned.
“I’m not falling in love. It’s just lvst. She’s an attrac-tive woman. Its normal for me to want to do her.” Tobi spat out.
“Let’s see what you’ll be saying as the weeks go by.” Joseph said.
“Why can’t I just allow her to move into another house?” Tobi asked quietly.
“Because you don’t want her out of your life. Your house is the most sacred place to you, because it’s the first building you ever worked on successfully. And now you want to share it with someone.” Joseph said thoughtfully. “Make it a home.” …
.
.
Abena walked into the house at around past eight, bur-sting with excitement.
“Why are you coming home at this time?” Tobi asked sharply. He was seated on the couch in the sitting room, obviously waiting up for her. He stood up to as-sess her, looking out for any possible cuts or injuries. Her b©dy warmed up at his gaze.
“I was somewhere.” She grinned at him, and he was surprised that she didn’t lash back.
“And why are you so happy? Are you high? I swear to God if you got high with my child inside you, I would slaughter you.” He raised his voice but she just laughed.
“No. I’m not high Tobi. I’m perfectly low.” She laughed at her stupid joke and he just raised an eyebrow at her in confusion.
“I got a job!” She squealed.
“Abena. You’re not supposed to get a job. It says so in the contract that-”
“I’m not allowed to get a strenuous job. But I don’t think posing for the c@m£ra is something difficult.” She smiled broadly at him.
“Well what’s the job about?” He asked, trying to share in her excitement.
“Its for a clothing line that works with maternity wear. The man said I’m perfect for the job. And that my husband is such a lucky man.” She grinned.
“Husband?”
She wiggled her f!ngersin his face and then he noticed the golden wedding band around her f!nger. He gave her a questioning look but she just shrugged.
“What? I told you, people stare.”
“So what is going to happen?”
“I’m going in two days for a ph0to shoot. Then I’ll get paid. It’s just a one time thing. I’m not looking into modelling as a career, trust me.” She said with a laugh and proceeded to walk to the kitchen.
“What are you looking for?” He called after hearing cu-pboards and the fridge opening and closing.
“Food!” She shouted and earned a light chuckle from him.
…
“A model hm?” Tobi was driving to work, and he had called Joseph, eager to get information about the modelling agency Abena had told him about.
“Yeah. Just help me get information about it before she goes tomorrow.” He said.
“Why do you want to get information about it so bad though? Afraid that those male models would steal her from you?” Joseph tea-sed.
“Nope. She wears a wedding ring when she goes out. Says that ‘people stare’.” Tobi said with a sm-irk though he knew Joseph couldn’t see him.
“Wow. Eya for her. Okay, I’ll make some calls. Mail you whatever I find.” Joseph said.
“Thanks.”
…
Before Tobi went for lunch, he checked his mail and saw the message from Joseph about the modelling agency.
His stomach clenched in fear as he re-ad what Joseph s£nt to him. At that second, his phone rang.
“Yeah.” He said after looking at the caller ID. It was Joseph.
“Have you seen it?” Joseph asked, fear also evident in his voice.
“Yeah. Thank God she’s going tomorrow. I’ll show it to her when I get home. But let me call her first.” Tobi said.
“Okay. It’s a good thing you checked.” Joseph said.
“Yeah. Let me call her.”
He hung up and dialled Abena’s number, still staring at the email.
Her phone was switched off. He tried the house phone but it just rang repeatedly.
A wave of fear swept throu-gh him. He gr@bb£d his blazer, and phone and rushed out of the office.
…
Abena walked into the modelling agency. The manager had called her that her appointment had been moved back because they were in a hurry.
She didn’t mind anyway, she had nothing to do at home. She had switched off her phone so she could concentrate. She sat comfortably in the office and the man c@m£ inside, and handed her a cu-p of Orange jui-ce.
“How are you doing Mrs. Omotosho?” He gave her a warm smile and sat down in the chair opposite her.
“Excited.” She beamed at him.
“Good. The ph0togra-pher is setting up, and the make up artist would be here soon to t©uçh you up.” He explained.
“Okay. Thank you.” She blinked and shook her head. She was feeling dizzy. The man kept on smiling at her, and her gaze fli-ckered to the glas-s of Orange jui-ce.
“What did you do?” Her voice slurred. She shook her head vehemently, hoping to get rid of the dizziness, but it was just worse.
“The thing about you Nigerian girls is that when you have a chance to be famous, you don’t think twice before saying yes.” He said, giving her a sinister smile.
Her eyes felt heavy and before she fell into an uncertain slumber, she heard his sinister chuckle. She felt tired of struggling, and hesitantly gave in into the darkness.
.
What’s happening?
Hope you’re not thinking what I’m thinking?
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 17