ALWAYS YOU.

1_ UNWANTED COMPANY.

Ama had long since lost count of how many times she'd been roped into socializing with the Coles.

Even after they'd moved into their sprawling mansion home and out of her childhood apartment. The steadfast friendship between her Aunt Nelly and the regal Mama Cole, which had only grown stronger over the years, had made the chances of severing ties with the Coles slim to none.

Besides, she loved Mama Cole as much as she did her aunt, and the woman in return treated her as the honorary fourth child of the Coles. It wasn't that she had a problem with the family, it was that she had problems with specific members of the family.

Mama Cole always smothered her and acted like the mother she'd lost all too early in life, papa Cole was more reserved but his affection was just as loud, Ama had always had a soft spot for him but could never bring herself to be comfortable around him, he reminded her too much of her father.

Bee. The only girl child and last born of the family was almost two years younger than Ama was herself but her hostility made up for that gap. They'd been best of friends once...but that was a story for another day.

Ola, the spare, as he humorously called himself was the best of the siblings, he was light, jovial, and the only one who made her feel like... herself.

A polar opposite of his brother, Ade, and she could never find the words to describe Ade.

There were the little ones, the twins; Tai and Kenny, and little Muna. They were an absolute delight to be with, the twins being Ola's boys were always a rambunctious joy. But little Muna had seized her heart from the moment she'd been born. The only offside to the child was her father; Ade.

Where did she even start with him?

While B's hostility was often disguised in snide remarks and muted expressions, Ade's hatred of her was an open threat.

He hated her almost as much as she hated him sometimes and they'd both live their lives happily if one of them dropped dead suddenly.

Ok, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, and 'hate' may just be too strong a word, but really, they both did not do well being close to each other. But her aunt and his mother liked to test them, as is evidenced now by the situation they'd been roped into once again.

Aunt Nelly was eloping to get married_ if you could believe that_ and had insisted Ama escorted her to the airport and of course, she had obliged, anything for her dearest and only aunt.

But instead of driving straight to the airport like normal, Aunt Nelly had to say goodbye to her friend. And like any self-respecting Nigerian mother who had too many sons on her hands to spare, Mama Cole had insisted a man escort and help them get through typical airport problems.

As her terrible luck would have it, Ade was available. And he could never say no to his mother or Aunt Nelly for that matter, he loved and respected them both too much.

So here they were, in yet another situation forced on by the same perpetrators, her dear Aunt safe, secure, and boarded. Ade, disgruntled and driving, herself riding shotgun and woefully uncomfortable.

Even then she could not help staring through her peripheral. Adewale Cole was one of those men who exuded such careless beauty that made one question God's decision.

Why waste such deep black eyes, lovely thin lips, skin like melted bronze, thick and shapely brows, brows, long lashes, and a godlike physique on such beast of a man?

Usually, Ade lived in suits _and boy does he know how to wear one_ like the CEO he is, and kept a close-shaved head and non-existent beards. But since the saga of the last few months that liended his life, he'd shed that CEO skin.

Currently he wore a plain black tee, carton color cargo shorts and palms. But with the way he looked, he might as well still be wearing those custom-made suits. The head was still closely shaved_he'd die on that hill_ but he now spotted a week-old cruft of beard, the effect of which was as potent as the sight of his bare forearm flexing as he controlled the steering wheel.

Ade drove the same way he did every other thing, with cool and perfect control. Not even when the rug was pulled from under him had he lost that control.

In fact, Ama had only ever seen him lose his marbles once. That had been at the birth of his child, when Ama had held baby Muna for the first time and said a hearty, watery congratulations to him.

Ade had smiled so big and gave her an enthusiastic kiss on the cheek. That, in her book, was losing his marbles and as if to prove her point, they'd gone right back to 'hating' each other the next day.

With a sigh she didn't dare draw out too long, Ama readjusted herself on the overly comfy seat of his g-wagon once again. The silence was choking even for Ama who ordinarily didn't mind the quiet at all. And it didn't take a mage to know that Ade was once again brooding at her presence. It did not help that he had been reduced to driving her around like a disgruntled chauffeur who didn't get paid enough.

Ama was used to being driven about, it was one of those Lagos princess treatments she'd grown up receiving. But Ade always made it feel like a put-upon task.

He took a sharp turn and approached the popular Eko hotel roundabout.

"You can drop me off at the stop." Ama finally broke the stiff silence.

But his gruff reply had her clamping shut once more, "I'll be delivering you to my mother."

Ama scowled, I'll be delivering you to my mother like she was some useless cargo he wanted nothing to do with but would suffer the task for his beloved mother.

Biting back her usual scathing remark since he'd done a good deed and helped her Aunt through boarding without a hitch, even if it was by throwing his name and a handful of cash around.

But the silence that once again settled was now unbearable, so much so that, she did something that she normally wouldn't dare to do, she reached forward and turned on the radio.

Ignoring his side glare and secretly grateful he didn't just switch off the thing just to spite her, Ama settled back and listened to the entertainment news.

"......the peak of the matter is that; former adult movie star, popularly known as Ozzy has now returned to the scene after taking a decade-long hiatus...."

Ama's heart dropped down to her feet.

"...as we all know she reached peak stardom in her role as Scarlett, the exotic dancer in the movie 'Make it Rain' but had to put a hitch on things to play the married life. But it is no secret that marriage hasn't exactly been satisfactory for our beloved actress and now she's making a long-awaited comeback. And yes, it is no coincidence that 'Make it Rain Again' the sequel, is in the making and the character whom everyone had fallen in love with in the first movie would be played again by our beloved Oz_"

As she'd half expected since that dreaded name had been brought up in the announcement Ade reached out an arm flipped off the radio and slammed his fist down hard on the console, scaring the life out of Ama.

Then as if nothing of the sort had happened, Ade went back to driving as easily as before.

Scratch that, Ama had seen him lose shit twice, and this time it was scarier. The rest of the drive as they sped past the hotel and towards his family home in the 1004 estate was deadly quiet, but Ama would rather choke on the silence than say a single word.

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AN, I honestly cannot explain how scary it is to finally put this up. This will be my first book on Wattpad and my first work in public ever. It's been years coming and I honestly cannot specifically say why it took me so long.
But I'm proud of myself for doing this and it's only just a start. I hope you'll be staying for the ride. See ya! 👋🏾