Subdued (18+)✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

8~Aria

The three men watched Kachi as he stormed off. After a few seconds, they seemed to realize that he wasn't coming back and Bode rose to chase after him.

"Let him go," Chike called. "You know he's already in a bad mood. There's nothing you can do about it now."

Bode cursed, but sat back down. He exchanged a look with Azu before turning to face Chike. "We should have told you, maybe he would have received it better."

Chike snorted, "like it would change anything."

"Will you talk to your guy? I know he's stubborn but this one pass," Azu said. He ran his fingers through his short dreads before pulling on them.

"You guys know Kachi already. There's no possible way he would agree to this set up," Chike chastised his friends.

"I don't get it though. He supported his father until the guy won the election. There's no way you'll convince me otherwise that Obiagu won without some underhand deals."

"None of us actually know what part Kachi played in assisting his father. He probably didn't involve himself in anything like that," Chike said.

"This is a lot of money, Chike." Azu shook his head. "I've never met anyone like Onyekachi before," he grumbled.

"Maybe when he's calmer, we can try talking-" Bode was saying.

"Don't bother," Azu cut him off. "I'll find another way. We don't have to use Kachi's bank. I don't want to be on the guy's bad side."

"But-" Bode tried again.

Azu shot him a look. "It's fine Bode. I'll figure something out."

***

He didn't know how or why, but Kachi found himself standing at the bar downstairs. The server there gave him a small smile before asking what he wanted.

"I don't really need anything. I was looking for one of your colleagues? Ria?"

"Ria?" the girl intoned, a confused frown marring her face. "wait. Do you mean Aria?"

"Yes, yes. Aria," Kachi smiled and the girl smiled in return.

"She's on night shift today. Her afternoon shift starts tomorrow. Hope no problem sir?"

"None at all. I wanted to discuss something with her so maybe I'll come by tomorrow afternoon."

"What's your name, sir? Should I tell her you came looking for her?" the girl asked, her hand hovering above a pen.

"No. As a matter of fact, don't tell her anything about me and our conversation. I'll tell her myself tomorrow." He slid a couple bills on the table to her. "Thank you so much for your help."

"Thank you sir. You're so kind," the girl cried and began counting the money. "A whole ten thousand for me, thank you sir."

"It's fine. I'm just glad you could help me out," he smiled at her again before walking away.

The smile died immediately he turned from the girl and his mind went back to his conversation with Azu and Bode. He couldn't believe what the two of them were asking him to do. He knew he could do it and in a way that they'd never trace it back to him and his bank but he'd promised himself that he would never involve himself in politics ever again.

The last time had been enough for him. He had seen and done things that he still regretted all because he owed it to the man who had raised him. Kachi wished he could help his friends, but there was no other way to refuse without explaining his past to them. It was better they thought of him as a righteous asshole who was disappointing them because he wanted to be an upright citizen.

His car was already waiting for him outside. Kachi spared one look at the club before opening his car door and getting in. Usman, his driver wasted no time in getting them out of the parking lot. He had a lot to do and the hour he'd spent here only made things worse.

***

She stared at the debit alert for a few more seconds before sighing and dropping her phone. Odogwu had sent her eight hundred and fifty thousand naira that morning and the debit alert had come almost immediately, leaving her account in the red again. Her only consolation was that she had just enough to pay the rent and survive on till the next month salary came.

Aria was tired. She was tired of toiling day and night to offset a debt that never seemed to have an end. It felt like she was using cup to fetch water and fill up a well. Any amount that entered her account was always immediately deducted to clear the loan she'd gotten three years ago. If only she'd not defaulted that first year and had to start paying penalties.

Three years of trying to pay off ten million naira loan and she still had seven million in debt left. And she was not counting the debt her father had incurred before going to jail and then dying. That one was like a bone that was hooked to her throat.

Sighing again, she finally stood up and began to clean her apartment. Usually, cleaning gave her peace and helped emptied her mind, but today, it didn't seem to be working. Instead of the peace and quiet, her mind was full of that man, Kachi.

How could someone so handsome be so rude? She didn't forget his foul mouth and how demanding he'd been. She really pitied the woman that decided to marry that man. He was a handful! Aria had washed her hands off him and had buried her crush on him, or so she thought. Why was he still hounding her two days later?

"Get a hold of yourself, girl," she muttered, then tied the lid of her trash bag. When she pushed open her door, she almost crashed into someone taking out his trash. He sidestepped and muttered an apology before continuing to the stairs.

Aria remembered crashing into Kachi at the club and how her body had felt when he held her in his hands. Those few seconds had been enough to make her come undone. She remembered breathing in and reveling in the smell of his cologne and that earthy smell that was purely male. As she thought about it, Aria realized it was the same smell she had perceived on her neighbor that she'd almost crashed into just now.

It was then it hit her! Kachi lived in the same building as her! Aria couldn't believe her luck. The same man she was glad to be rid of was living doors away from her. She didn't know how to feel about the new situation. She should be pissed, yet there was a part of her that was skipping in excitement.

***

Imagine running into someone you have a crush on Everytime? I don't think I'd be able to handle it😂

What do you think about them living in the same building?

Please share your thoughts by leaving comments for me. If there's anything you don't understand, please let me know and I'll explain.

Thank you so much for reading. I'll really appreciate it if you voted on this chapter. It would help the book get noticed ❤️