A DESPERATE DEAL

chapter 5: The CEO

Chapter 5: The Jealous CEO

Friday. 6PM.

Ada was supposed to be home. But Damian’s last text said:

Come to Zenith Lounge. Now. You’re my wife. Act like it.

Her heart sank.

Zenith Lounge was where all the Lagos big men l, c elebrities, politicians, people with bodyguards.

Ada wore her navy blouse and black trousers again. It was all she had, She borrowed lipstick from her neighbor.

The driver dropped her at the entrance. Bouncers. Red carpet flashing lights. Inside music was loud, money was louder and there he was

Damian. In a black suit. No tie, whiskey in his hand.

And on his other side a girl.

Young. Legs for days, Red dress, Hand on Damian’s arm.

Ada’s stomach dropped.

Damian saw her, his eyes narrowed, he gestured her over with one finger.

“Took you long enough,” he said. when she reached them. His voice was cold.

“This is my wife, Ada,” he said to the girl.

The girl looked Ada up and down and then smile “Wife? You? Cute.”

Ada forced a smile. “Nice to meet you.”

Damian pulled Ada to his side His hand went to the small of her back. Warm, possessive, For show.

“Don’t touch me,” he said to the girl.

The girl laughed. “Since when do you care, Cole? You told me you were single.”

“I was. Now I’m not.” His hand tightened on Ada’s waist.

Ada wanted to disappear.

Then she saw him.

Chinedu.

Her ex. The one who left when her dad died. The one who said I can’t deal with your problems.

He was across the room with another girl Laughing.

His eyes met Ada’s. And widened.

He walked over Slow and Smirking.

“Well, well. If it isn’t Ada Slumming it in billionaire clubs now?”

Ada’s face burned. “Chinedu.”

“Who’s this?” Damian asked. His voice was ice.

“My ex,” Ada whispered.

Chinedu laughed. “Ex? Please She was my girlfriend till her dad died and she got poor, then she begged me to stay.”

Lie.

Damian didn’t move. But something in his eyes changed, dark, dangerous.

He stepped forward. Put his arm fully around Ada’s shoulders. Pulled her close.

“She didn’t beg you,” Damian said quietly. “She dumped you because you’re weak.”

Chinedu’s face fell. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Now get away from my wife before I have you thrown out.”

Chinedu looked between them. Saw the ring on Ada’s finger. The diamond, Big, Real.

He walked away. Fast.

Silence.

Then Damian let go. Like he was burned.

Why didn’t you tell me about him he asked.

“It doesn’t matter It’s over.”

“It matters if he disrespects you.”

They stood there. Awkward.

Then the girl in red came back. Damian, baby, let’s dance

“Don’t call me baby” His voice was sharp and don’t touch me I’m married.”

The girl left. Offended.

Ada stared at him. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes I did.” He finished his whiskey. “Rule 8: No one disrespects my wife. Even if she’s fake.”

He paid the bill. Stood. “Let’s go.”

In the car, silence.

Then Damian spoke. “You okay?”

Ada was shocked. “You care?”

“I care about my contract.”

But his knuckles were white on the steering wheel.

When they got to her house, he didn’t get out.

“7AM. Breakfast.”

“Yes sir.”

As she walked away, she heard him say softly:

“Goodnight, Ada.”

Not Mrs. Cole.

Ada.

Her heart did something stupid.

TO BE CONTINUED

*Chapter 6: Amara’s First Move* ∼1390 words

Monday. 7AM.

Ada was already in Damian’s office very early again.

He wasn’t there.

At 7:15, the door opened.

Not Damian.

Amara.

Tall, Perfect hair, Designer dresses that cost more than Ada’s rent. Face on every magazine.

She looked at Ada. From head to toe and smiled. But it didn’t reach her eyes.

“So you’re the wife.”

Ada stood Good morning.

Don’t ‘good morning’ me. Amara walked to Damian’s chair and Sat in it. “I’ve been with Damian for 2 years we were supposed to get engaged. Then you showed up.”

Ada’s chest hurt. “It’s a contract.”

Oh I know. Amara laughed. “He told me. ‘It’s just business, Amara 12 months.’”

She stood. I walked to Ada “But here’s the thing. Men like Damian get attached. Especially to girls who look poor and desperate.”

Ada’s hands clenched. I’m not

“Desperate? You married a man for money what else do you call it?”

The door opened.

Damian.

He stopped when he saw Amara.

“What are you doing here?”

Amara turned. Instantly sweet. “Morning, baby. I missed you, and I met your wife.”

Damian’s face went blank. Amara outside now.

“No.” Amara crossed her arms. “I have a right to know what’s happening. Is it true? Are you really married?”

Damian looked at Ada. Then at Amara.

Yes It’s true. We got married last week.

Amara’s face cracked. “You’re lying.”

I’m not. Damian walked to Ada, took her hand, Laced their fingers. “This is my wife Ada Cole.”

Ada’s breath caught. His hand was warm, big, real.

Amara stared. Then tears filled her eyes, real tears.

“You promised me, Damian.”

“I promised you nothing.” He let go of Ada. “Leave. Now.”

Amara looked at Ada one last time. Hate Pure hate.

“This isn’t over,” she whispered.

Then she ran out.

Silence.

Damian let go of Ada like she burned him.

“Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine.” Ada’s hand still tingled where he held it.

“Did she hurt you?”

“No.”

Damian nodded. Poured coffee “Breakfast.”

They ate. But the air was different Heavy.

“Rule 9,” Damian said.

Ada looked up.

“Don’t trust Amara, she’s vindictive.”

Ada nodded.

Then Damian’s phone rang. Unknown number.

He answered. Listened.

His face went pale.

“What? Which hospital?”

He hung up.

“My grandfather. He collapsed. He’s asking for you.”

Ada stood so fast her chair fell.

“What? Let’s go.”

In the car, Damian was silent, hands gripping the wheel.

“He’s all I have,” Damian said suddenly. If he dies thinking I’m alone

“He won’t,” Ada said without thinking. “We’ll get there and I’ll be your wife a good one.”

Damian looked at her. Really looked.

“Thank you.”

At the hospital, they ran.

Grandpa Cole was in a private room. Oxygen, frail.

But when he saw them holding hands, he smiled.

“My grandson and his wife.”

Damian knelt. Grandpa this is Ada.

Ada knelt too. It’s nice to meet you, sir.

Grandpa took Ada’s hand. His skin was paper thin.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered. “Take care of my boy, he’s stubborn. But he has a good heart under all that ice.”

Ada’s eyes filled. “I will, sir.” Damian looked away, jaw tight

As they left, Grandpa squeezed Ada’s hand.

“Don’t let him push you away. He needs someone.”

In the car back, neither spoke.

But when Damian dropped Ada at home, he said:

“Sunday dinner. Don’t be late. And... wear the ring.”

The ring. That he bought yesterday, 3 carats.

As Ada got out, she heard him whisper:

“Thank you for today.”

For the first time, Rule 1 felt impossible.

Because she was starting to feel something.

And that was dangerous.

TO BE CONTINUED...