Subdued (18+)✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

22~Day And Night

She could already hear her mother complaining before she even opened the door. Two sets of eyes turned her way, one amused and the other pissed and worried. Her mother was sporting a band-aid just above her eyebrow and Aria's eyes quickly ran down her body searching for other bruises. Worry gnawed at her gut as she made her way inside.

"What's going on? It's like day and night in here," she smiled at the older women.

"I told you not to bother with cleaning but you didn't listen. You're just like your mother," Mama Peter laughed but her mother didn't find it funny. She glared at the two of them instead.

"Good morning Mom," Aria greeted as she took a seat beside her mother. "did you sleep well?"

"Don't greet me oh," the woman frowned. "why are you here? I asked you not to come but you never listen." She looked at her friend. "No one ever listens to me."

"I missed you too ma." She enveloped her mother in a side hug and the woman resisted for a few seconds before pressing against her only child.

"Why didn't you stay back? I could have handled it. I wonder who you took this stubbornness from because it's not me."

Aria laughed. Her mother was the most stubborn person she knew and it was even worse when it concerned her family and loved ones. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

"Where are you coming from?" Her mother's eyes travelled to the door as if just realizing that she came through it.

"Did you even sleep?" Mama Peter asked.

"Not really. I went to see Okocha."

"Why Nkemdili? Why?" Her mother rarely called her full name. That she did so now showed how upset she was.

"Okocha has retired right? I heard his son is running the business now."

Aria ignored her mother's glares and focused on the only rational person in the room. "Yes. I spoke to Mike and he agreed to leave you alone. I'll get the money for him soon." No way was she letting her mother know that she only had two months till they came knocking again. She would make sure to resolve the issue or buy more time before then.

"How will you find three million naira? This is my burden eh. Please let me carry it," her mother sighed. "If they come again I'll handle them."

"Ifeoma, just how will you handle them?" Mama Peter hissed. "Yesterday they broke the gate and windows. Maybe next time they'll go straight inside and break your head. Allow us to help out."

"Ma please don't say that," Aria protested. "No one is breaking my mother's head. I promise I'll handle it before it gets to that point," she promised.

Seeing that everyone was determined to help, her mother burst into tears. "I don't deserve you guys, Nkem and Bernice." She looked at them, her cheeks wet from the tears. "I was so scared yesterday," she sobbed.

"Everything will be fine, mom. I can handle this, I promise." She hugged her mom as tight as she could and Mama Peter rubbed the sobbing woman's back.

***

Odogwu's call woke her up later that afternoon and she groaned. Aria was tired of calls disturbing her peace and she just wished for a few hours of quiet.

"Good afternoon sir," she greeted.

"What's good about this afternoon?" he started. "I didn't expect you to pick this call. I thought a nurse or doctor would answer and tell me you were sick and dying. Because that's the only explanation for why you will miss work and not even be polite enough to call me."

She had totally forgotten about her shift at the club the previous night. When she'd been packing, the only thing that had been on her mind was her mother and it hadn't even occured to her to call the man.

"I'm so sorry," she pleaded, immediately sitting up. "Its my mother, she's—"

"She's what?" he interrupted. "is she the one on her deathbed? Does she need medical attention?"

Why was this man just heartless? He wouldn't even let her talk and explain her situation.

"No sir. She had an accident but she's fine now."

"So are you taking care of her? You just said she's fine."

"She's fine. I'll come to work tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" he yelled. She could clearly picture the veins in his forehead and neck straining with his anger. "I need you in the club tonight. I promise you'll be out of a job if you don't show up. Don't test me Aria, don't even try it."

He hung up before she could tell him she was nine hours away and that even if she got in a bus immediately, there was no way she'd meet up with her shift. The worse that could happen was she'd get fired and honestly, she was sick of the job. If she got there tomorrow and explained to him and he still insisted on firing her, she'd accept it in good faith.

After this major decision, she laid back down. The sleep had completely left her eyes leaving her to think about her problems again. The only solution she could think of at the moment was to call Kachi and accept his deal. From what had happened in the car, he didn't seem to be a terrible lover. She could have fun while solving her problems. Her conscience might not let her enjoy it, but the situation was out of her hand.

She was dialing immediately and after a few rings, Usman picked up.

"Good afternoon, Miss Zariah," he greeted.

"Good afternoon sir. Please can I talk to Kachi?"

"He's not available at the moment. You can leave a message for him and I'll get it to him as soon as possible."

"Err, it's a private discussion so I'd prefer for him to call me. Or can you give me his number so I contact him directly?"

"Mr. Onyekachi wouldn't like that so I'll have to ask first."

"Okay, just let me know what happens. Thank you sir."

"Have a nice day ma'am," he said and then they disconnected the call.

There, she had done it. Now it was left to him to contact her and all she had to do was wait.

***

Three updates in a day! I'm on fire right? I know lol.

I am writing as fast as I can because I'm only free on Sundays. I'm currently doing my youth service and serving our fatherland so time is a luxury. I work from Monday to Saturday, 9 to 5pm.

Thank you so much for reading. Please vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter ❤️