Subdued (18+)✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

11~Terse

Aria didn't actually expect Kachi to recognize her from their one minute talk at the staircase the previous day. Which was why she was confused at how hurt and disappointed she felt when he walked past with his friend without even sparing her a glance. Was she that unremarkable? Sure she wasn't tall and excessively curvy like other girls, but she still had things going for her. She was confident enough that she had a nice body and a beautiful face to go with it. So what was wrong with the man?

The thoughts left a sour taste in her mouth and left her irritated. Why was she even bothered? She didn't want him to actually like her. He was rude, cold and annoying. But she remembered the way his features had warmed for a few seconds yesterday and how happy she'd felt. Aria could already tell that she'd do terrible things in this man's name and she warned herself to stay far.

She heard her colleague as she pushed the door open and took a seat beside her. Aria turned to her with a smile and the girl gave her an annoyed look.

"Yemi, what is it?"

"Don't even carry that tone. Me and you who should be angry?" the girl immediately flared up like she'd been waiting for this exact moment.

"Ha. Please what did I do to you this time?"

"I heard you followed them to dance the other night and Odogwu paid you guys two million each," Yemi frowned. "me that's your friend, ordinary five thousand I didn't see."

"Jesus," Aria began to laugh at the incredulity of the situation. The two girls had never been that close for a start and also, who could believe that Odogwu gave them two million naira each. That greedy man? "Please where did you hear this?"

Yemi scowled at her. "why are you laughing at me? Its true bah."

"No! Yemi so if you hear that Odogwu gave one of his employees two million, you'll believe? The same Odogwu I know?"

The other girl watched her for a moment, trying to decipher the truth. "He didn't? But I saw you guys that day na. Those guys upstairs were the ones that wanted private dances."

"We did get paid but it was eight hundred k," Aria lowered her voice.

"Aria! That's still a lot of money na. You couldn't even give me something from inside eh? This your luck I don't even understand it."

"I'll see you later."

Yemi smiled broadly. "Girl you're big o. What will you even do with that amount of money?"

"Yemi, if I see ten million right now, it still wouldn't solve my problems," Aria said and Yemi burst into laughter. Though she laughed along with her, she knew how dire her situation was.

Yemi looked around before whispering. "I heard they spent the night with the guys and that you refused because the guy wouldn't pay what you demanded. Is it true?"

Aria was beginning to get furious again. The idle talk that had been distracting her from her worries were now hitting a little too close to home. "Please stop," she cautioned the other girl. "This one have pass. I'm not a prostitute na. What the girls did or didn't do is also none of my business. Its their choice."

"But-"

Aria had had enough. "Please let's just work." When Yemi tried to talk again, she hushed her. And since the girl didn't want to annoy her and risk losing the money Aria had promised, she kept quiet.

***

Kachi was not able to focus on anything Chike was saying and if he didn't collect himself, his friend would know he was distracted.

"...so what I'm saying is don't be mad at them. Its just business. I'm sure Azu and Bode would not try this nonsense again."

Kachi forced out a laugh. "What are you? Their messenger? I can't believe Azu sent you to come and pacify me." Ever since he could remember, Chike had always played peacemaker. Even when they hadn't met Azu and Bode, the man had been the one to smooth over any issues Kachi got into. And he got into a lot of problems.

"Kachi."

"Its not even that deep man. I'm not angry or anything like that. Tell that guy we're cool."

Chike let out a relieved breath. "I can finally breathe now. The two of them have been hounding me non-stop since yesterday."

"That's why you brought me out to this place, like its a date? Because you were playing peacemaker?"

"If this was going to be a date, I wouldn't bring you to a lounge on top a club. I'd just take you straight to the hotel."

"Bastard. So I don't even get the wining and dining? Just straight to the hotel?"

"With that ugly face, who'd wine and dine you?" Chike laughed and his friend followed.

Just then his phone began ringing and all the amusement in Chike's face died. He gave Kachi an apologetic look as he grabbed his key. "Kachi I have to run. I'm sorry I can't give you that ride to your office. I just hope Usman is still around."

"So you'll really leave me on our first date," Kachi teased just so he could get that look of worry away from his friend's face. It worked because Chike grinned and slapped him on the back before hurrying out. "guy, you actually owe me dinner," he called out as his friend ran down the stairs.

It was just in time. Kachi had been looking for an excuse to go talk to Aria without tipping his friend off. Now all he needed to do was play his cards right. He pressed the small bell on his table, hoping she was the one that answered.

***

Yemi watched the bell light above her blink and she knew it was from the lounge. There had been only two people up there since this afternoon and she had watched one of them hurry out, leaving the really handsome one behind. She turned off the light before Aria could come out from the bathroom. This was her opportunity to get her own big money.

It didn't matter if she couldn't dance, she knew there were other things she could do to attract him. After all, she had more curves than Aria, even if the girl was finer. Men no longer looked at face, it was the body that mattered so Yemi knew that she'd succeed. She just had to take that step.

Without debating it further, she grabbed her pen and notebook and ran up the stairs.

***

I like sharp girls like Yemi, but some men shouldn't be chased😂

Please let me know your thoughts about this chapter. Interacting with you is the part I look forward to the most.

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