Subdued (18+)✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

73~Yes?

"Sir, you sent for me." Usman poked his head through the small opening in the door of the study. He could see Mr. Onyekachi and two of his friends. From the expression on their faces, he could already tell they wouldn't be having a pleasant conversation. Anyone else would be scared to enter this room with three large and muscly men dominating the space. However, he knew them and although he was scared shitless, he knew it wasn't yet time for him to meet his creator.

"Come in and sit," his employer said, pointing at a chair in front of the three men. This seemed like an interrogation. He could only guess what it was about. The three men's gazes followed him till he was seated in front of them.

"Usman, how na? Hope you've been well?" Mr. Azu asked as if truly concerned. Usman saw it for what it was, a ploy to defuse the air around them.

"I've been fine sir. And you?" Mr. Azu only nodded in response to his question, then the three men went back to silently watching him.

"On the day Zariah was supposed to come back to Lagos, did you receive any strange calls?" Mr. Kachi asked.

He already knew this question was going to come so he'd prepared for it. "Actually, I spoke with two people other than you and my family. I don't know if there's anything to it, but Mr. Bode called me. He wanted me to help him out with something but I said I had to pick Miss Aria."

"And?" Mr. Chike asked, his brow arched in confusion. The movement drew his attention to the bruise on the man's forehead. The cut made the easygoing Mr. Chike look intimidating. Just what had happened in the past twenty four hours?

"The other one was a strange number calling to see if I was at the airport yet. I assumed it was Miss Aria. It wasn't until everything happened I realized it wasn't her."

"I told you I found him suspicious right from day one," Mr. Azu spat, folding his large arms in front of his chest.

"Sir! I'm innocent! I didn't do anything," Usman cried, falling out of his chairs and onto his knees.

"He's not talking about you, Usman. You can get up." Mr. Kachi cleared his throat.

Usman took a few seconds just to be sure he was safe before rising from the floor.

"About Bode, what did he want your help with?" Mr. Kachi asked.

"He didn't say. I was surprised because it was the first time he was calling me."

"What are the odds Bode called and got information about her the same day she gets kidnapped?" Mr. Azu asked. "I'll go get him. He should come and explain himself."

"Azu chill! Bode is our guy. Why would he do something like this?" Mr. Chike asked.

The other two men exchanged looks before Mr. Kachi turned to him. "Usman, you can go."

***

Azu whirled to face his friends immediately Usman left. "What are the odds that the same client I talked to you about hired people to kidnap your woman? Bode was the only other person who knew about this deal. You asked me to take my hand off it and I did. How sure are we that Bode did same?"

"If you're using that logic, we can also say you're behind this," Chike retorted. "You know what Aria means to Kachi and you know him well enough to now how to use that information against him!"

"Chike! Are you mad or something? What reason would I have to do this? I've always been straightforward about my dealings."

"What reason does Bode have then?"

Kachi listened to his friends argue, unsure what to say. Right now he couldn't say he trusted any of them.

"Why are you on his side, Chike? You and him were never close."