Besotted (18+) ✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

Six

She'd hoped the horrors of the past day were figments of her dreams, but immediately Ada opened her eyes, she realized she hadn't dreamt it. One of her eyes hurt to open and her throat felt raw from all the screaming she'd done. Slowly sitting up, she inspected the room. It was dark and the space beside her was still warm. So he'd slept beside her after what he'd done.

After sitting for a while without John showing up, she decided to access the damage he'd done. Getting up was a challenge and she had to limp to the bathroom while holding on to the pieces of her dress. Ada shifted back in fright when she saw her reflection in the mirror. Her throat was red and if you looked closely, you'd see the imprint of fingers forming a necklace around her throat. Her eye was swollen and red rimmed. Her lips were torn where he'd bitten her.

Allowing the dress to fall, she examined the rest of her body. Those were teeth marks on her breast and cleavage. Bathing would prove to be a challenge because all the wounds would definitely sting. But she had to get clean. It was a new day, one she wanted to enter with a positive mindset.

She got into the shower and turned it on, slowly letting the hot water wash her. Her tears ran and she let them, after all, you wouldn't be able to tell it apart from the water. She wasn't crying, no. She was simply letting her body do what it wants.

She was reasonably steadier after she'd dried, moisturized and then clothed her body. By the time she left the room, an hour had gone by. As she walked down the hall, her feet crushed rose petals. She bent to inspect, noting that they made a trail to the kitchen. She could hear Asa play lowly from the speakers in the living room, her favorite song.

When she got into the kitchen, she found a bouquet of flowers on the counter, along with a note. She followed the instructions which asked her to come to the living room. John was on his knees, his face the saddest she'd ever seen it. The moment he laid eyes on her, he began to cry. The sight broke her and she knew without him saying anything that she'd already forgiven him.

"I know you hate me," John said, sniffing. "I can see it in the way you look at me. I don't blame you, I totally deserve it."

"It's fine," Ada spoke softly. Her heart had always been a problem. She'd never learnt how to say no and she was never one to hold grudges.

"It's not, baby. I hurt you. I hit you."

She didn't reply to that, letting him continue. John stood up and came to where she was, wrapping his arms around her. For a few seconds, she froze up in fright, but her body slowly loosened till she was hugging him back.

"Any man would have assumed you cheated on him seeing you dressed like that. Plus you were holding on to him like he mattered more than me. I was jealous and hurt. Baby, you have to understand and forgive me. It was your fault."

"I understand." She patted his back. John was right. If she'd seen him in the same situation with another woman, she'd have gone mad. Plus she'd been drunk and clung onto Chike like he was her all.

"I promise it will never happen again. You just have to stay away from those men. Prove that you love me, okay?"

"I will." Yes, she would. Not everyone would understand her friendship with Chike so it was better to not have to explain it. The best was to avoid him for now.

"Promise me, Ada." He squeezed her tightly, his body shaking as he continued to sob.

"I promise."

"I love you, Ada. I love you so much and I can't share you." He kissed her forehead. "I made breakfast, rice and plantains, your favorite." He led her to the dining room.

Ada didn't correct him about that being his favorite food, not hers. What mattered was the effort. It didn't even occur to her that he'd never apologized for what he did. Instead, he blamed her and guilt tripped her into forgiving him, with an added promise of staying away from Chike and the guys. None of that mattered. What mattered was that John loved her and she loved him.

***

"It's been a week and I've not been able to reach her," Chike said, pacing the length of Mr. Adebayo's office. He was Ada's manager and his last resort. He'd tried everything but still had no news about her welfare and whereabouts. "I even went to her house and there was a new person occupying the space. Apparently, they've lived there for two years."

"Mr. Umeh, please calm down. Ada is safe and fine. I even heard from her boyfriend today."

Chike glared at the man who was trying to pacify him. "Calm down? I can't reach her!"

"I don't know why she didn't tell you about the new house, so I can't give you her address. Just go home, Mr. Umeh. If I hear anything, I promise to contact you."

Mr. Adebayo powered his laptop and focused his attention on the device, further infuriating Chike. He wished he could grab the small man and shake him back to his senses. Why was everyone behaving like this? Even Azu and Kachi had said he was overreacting. When he'd been abroad, he and Ada talked at least twice a week, the time difference didn't matter. Now with them in the same city, she was AWOL for an entire week? Why couldn't other people see what he was seeing?

"Mr. Adebayo, you're supposed to be her manager. How can you effectively do your job if you can't reach your client?" The man's nonchalance was getting to Chike. Usually he was a pretty laid-back person who had impressive control on his anger, but Mr. Adebayo's attitude was putting those reins to test.

The older man looked at him from above his prescription glasses. "I no longer manage Ada. It's John that's my client."

"What?" Chike immediately grabbed a chair. The force of that information physically affected him. He forced himself to breath while wrapping his head around what the other man was saying.

Ada moved two years ago and didn't tell him. She got a boyfriend in that space of time with him being none the wiser. She'd changed managers too and he'd had no idea. So much had happened in her life that she'd kept away from him. Had it been intentional or a small slight? It couldn't be. Ada knew everything about him, even down to the names his colleagues abroad and even his neighbor; that was how much they'd shared.

Had he offended her and she was trying to get back at him? He shook his head. Ada was not that petty. She was the type to confront you about your wrongs. Or could it be that their friendship had sizzled and he was holding on to what was? Had he been that foolish to keep a burning candle and be blinded by that flimsy light?

"Mr. Umeh?" He heard his name from far away as his thoughts traveled. "Chike!" Mr. Adebayo shook him.

Chike blinked, finding the man standing in front of him. When had he moved. "I'm sorry, sir. What were you saying?"

"I'm asking if you're okay." The man took a step back, his eyes assessing him.

"I'm fine. I'm fine." As he repeated that, he wondered just who he was trying to convince, himself or Mr. Adebayo.

"If you say so." The man returned to his seat behind the desk.

"So who is her new manager?" Chike asked.

"New manager? Miss Ada quit singing last year."

If he hadn't already been sitting, Chike was sure he'd have collapsed. Ada had told him about various deals she got and concerts she'd had in the past months. Were they all lies? Had Ada lied to him?

"She hasn't had shows and concerts recently?" Chike asked dumbly.

"No. She's spent the time supporting her boyfriend. No matter how I pleaded, she refused to come back to the agency."

Ada had lied. Why?

***

Slow updates I know. I promise I'm trying.

In the meantime, you can check out 'Sinful Pleasures', a new book I've been working on. I update more regularly on there.

Thanks for reading ❤️