Subdued (18+)✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

21~Big Mike

Aria and Mama Peter had talked long into the night after they'd covered the shattered windows with tapoline and duct tape. She'd sent the older woman to bed as she'd been yawning uncontrollably. Now, she sat with a glass of water and stared at the mess in front of her.

Sleep was not coming so she grabbed a broom and dustpan and began gathering the glass pieces off the chair. When she finished, she faced the floors, taking care to not cut herself. After the first round of sweeping, she went in again and made sure none were left, then she mopped. By the time she was done, the sun was already up and she knew she had to do something. Okocha, the money lender would definitely be up by now and if he wasn't she would wake him up. She had to know what happened to their arrangement and why he was going around breaking things in her mother's house.

Aria changed into a pair of jeans and a hoodie and left the house. The boys in Okocha's compound were already up and about and none of them spared her a second glance as they went about their chores. It wasn't until she got to the door of his office that someone stopped her.

"Madam, don't enter that office. We haven't opened for today," one of the guys she'd passed yelled at her. She could hear his hurried footsteps as he walked towards her.

"I have to see your boss," she hissed and turned to face him.

"Who you be?  You no go just carry open person door." He was glaring at her now but she refused to be intimidated. "What's your name, madam? Do you have an appointment?"

Appointment? When did that one start?

"Since when did Okocha start using appointment, eh? Tell him Nkem is here to see him."

"Nkem who? Also hands have changed. It's no longer Okocha running things. Our boss is Oga Mike."

No wonder they'd attacked her home. If Okocha had stepped down for someone else, it would explain everything. Still she had to see him first. She made to push open the door and the thug grabbed her arm and squeezed it behind her back. She cried out in pain but he didn't let go.

"You're hurting me!"

"That's what you get for going around and looking for what you did not keep," he sneered at her.

"Let me go right now or else I'd report you to the police," she hissed.

"Police," he let out a loud laugh. "which police? Okay, do your worst."

"Let her go," someone called from behind them and the thug immediately let go. This new person must be the Oga Mike judging from how fast the man released her. "Go back to your duties Akachukwu."

Aria turned to look at the stranger and immediately sucked in a breath. She thought Kachi was handsome, but this man in front of her, he was more. He was not as tall as Kachi, but what he lacked in height, he made up for in muscle mass. His features seemed to have been painstakingly carved out to give the perfect looks that would trap any female. He was clean-shaven and his eyebrows had that perfect arch. His straight nose tapered down to plump, pink lips that were currently holding a smirk.

"Like what you see?" His left eyebrow arched as he took a step closer to her.

"Are you Oga Mike?" she asked with a frown. No way was she going to agree that she'd been checking him out. She'd had enough of arrogant men.

"Who's asking?" He stepped closer to her and she was shocked that she didn't have the fluttering and tightening of her stomach that now seemed usual for her interactions with Kachi. So it was reserved for only him then.

"Nkem. You should know me seeing as you and your goons tore down my house!"

He smiled and pushed the door behind her open. She stumbled backwards and he reached out to steady her, his hands wrapping and  tightening around her waist. Still she didn't feel anything.

"Have a seat Nkem from the torn house." He let go and went to sit at his chair behind the desk. "What can I do for you? Do you have my three million naira?"

"I don't, but I have an agreement with Okocha."

"He told me about it and your house is my response to that rubbish," he said.

"What?" Her eyes widened in shock.

"You said not to touch your mother and house and that you'd handle it. A year has passed without any payment and you guys expect me to honor that agreement? I knew the old man was getting soft."

"But—"

"What's my gain in this agreement?" he interrupted. "I'm not fucking you or your mother. You're not giving me back my money too. Why exactly do you want me to just sit back and do nothing?"

"Still. She's an old woman! You can't go around scaring her and breaking things. The things that got damaged is more than a hundred thousand naira."

He laughed. "I hope you don't expect me to pay for that or remove it from the loan? That's like interest and collateral all in one. Assuming Okocha followed the usual routine, you guys would have been out of that house and your money would have increased. He didn't ask for collateral or interest because he knew your father. Instead of you to be grateful you come here to do what?" He frowned at her. "what exactly did you come here to do?"

Now she was confused. She'd been spoiling for a fight, anything to get Okocha to listen. But now that she'd met this Mike, she didn't know what she wanted anymore.

"Please leave my mother and the house out of it. I'll pay you back."

"How do I know you won't disappear? I heard you're a Lagos babe and only come back once in a while."

"I'll pay, you have my word."

"Your word? That means shit to me. Unless you stay here as collateral where I can be seeing you everyday, there's nothing you can do to stop me from going to your mother."

Didn't this man have a mother? How could he be so rigid about this?

"Just give me time, I'll pay."

"Usually you have one month before I come knocking again. Because I'm nice, I'll give you two months. You better have at least a million naira by then. I won't accept anything less." He pointed at the door. "you can leave."

Aria knew only one other way out of this problem and she had to take it. She only hoped that door hadn't already burned after she shut it yesterday morning.

***

We're getting close to my favorite parts of the book guys!

What do you think about big Mike?

Can you predict what Aria would do next? I'm sure it's obvious by now. After all, we only know one billionaire in her life.

Please vote and comment, it helps the book get noticed.

Thank you so much for reading ❤️