THE RUN AWAY BRIDE

NEW JOB

her head could not quite fathom everything, how did he know everything about her just within few hours? was she already wanted?

"you are probably wandering how i know all these, well, my P.A can easily know who are aslong as he has yiur picture, its a computer thing. Now tell me everything about you, and i promise to help you out"

"why do you want to help me? you don't know me, you just met me few hours ago, i believe someone of your calibre can't help me without wanting something in return"

she said stubbornly and raised her chin up. Kelvin chuckled, and sighed

"you know, you have been missing for 24hours now, so i believe the police who have started their search, if not, then your picture would be posted throughout Nigeria, a missing bride if found a sum of probably 200, 000 or more, depending on how much your suitor loves you"

"loves me? i don't even know him. argh alright fine, i escaped, because i don't know the man, nor have i seen him and i cannot just live like my mother and arranged marriage, Mr. Kelvin please i can't go back if i do, my father will murder my mother and I"

"so your mother helped you right?"

"yes she did"

kelvin smiled and caressed his chin,

"pls you have to help me, you promised to help me if i tell you, and i've told you, pls help me, i will work as your maid, or P.A anything, just don't ask me to give you my body"

kelvin tried hard not to laugh at her last request, he cleared his throat and kept it cool

"you can't work as my P.A i already have a P.A, and as my maid, my personal maid, looks very bad for an intelligent lady like you, and yiu can't work in the company, because you don't have any of your certificates, so its kinda hard Miss Abidemi"

Out of frustration and fear, Demmy knelt down and began to begg Kelvin, kelvin was certainly not expecting that, he held his breath and raised a brow

"stop this!" his voice was firm and authoritative, Dem my finally stopped, she stood up and looked down ashamed and feeling sorry for her self.

kelvin sighed, he has never been in this kind if situation before, and a ladg never made him feel this way, he was the ine who makes ladies feel that way.

"i do have a good job for you, i already have a maid so i don't need more"

Demmy looked at him with anticipation,

"you will work as my girlfriend"

Demmy held her hair in disbelief, she widened her eyes and looked at Kelvin with begging eyes

"look her Abidemi, if my family discovers that i have a girlfriend, they'll stop pestering me to bring a wife and i am not ready to get married, also i won't touch you if that's what you dread. And if you don't dread that, your wish is my command"

Demmy slapped her cheeks softly and sighed, she bite her lips and seem to think for a while, few moments later she looked at Kelvin

"till when? also i can't stay in your house as a liability? and as your girlfriend that's shameful, i will look like a gold digger, i do need a job too. I hate having to depend on someone for everything"

"don't you depend on me for this job? i'll pay you"

"that's just weird you will pay me to be your girlfriend, why not a fiancee then i can have an excuse for living in your house."

"you are so impossible, what job do you think you can do? without your credentials?"

Demmg sat down close to him.

"I've thought of this Mr Kelvin"

"just call me Kelvin"

" okay, call me Demmy. what business do you do?"

"i can't tell you that for now. tell me what you think you can do?"

"Model, or fashion designing, when i was in school i used to model for photographers, i know that i don't look so good, but i will work on my skin i promise, if i'm a model, i will feel worthy of being called your girlfriend for a while."

"why do you care about what people say?"

"someone of your calibre will definitely have a social life, people will know you on the internet and if you can post that you have a girlfriend, they will want to know her, and if they see that its little me, they will say hateful things, and i dread such comments sir and i should not be on any social media now, or else it would be easy to find me"

Kelvin reasoned with her, she was reasonable and smart.

"so what now?"

"good, i live in your house anonymously, till i make a name for myself, or start a business, and of course my location will be disclosed. I can do this by myself, i just need few days to sort myself out, get new clothes and find a very reputable studio to work"

Kelvin sighed and nodded in affirmation, he Didn't want to loose an new gem and he really wanted his family to stop pressurising him.

***

Anike is seated in Demmy's room, she sobbs quietly and holds her phone tight, "she might call anytime soon. I hope you are okay? i hope you are safe? take care of yourself for me as i for you" her sobbs become louder and incessant.

Dare walks in with Mr. Bello, they both look worried.

"Baami, Abidemi, is no where to be found, the police have searched and its already 24 hours so we have lodged a missing complaint, we dropped her pictures, and we are still waiting for a call"

"from who?" the Old soldier asked

"from a kidnapper probably. maybe she was kidnapped."

Dare said.

"she was kidnapped, i believe your father, there's no way she would have run away, since she knew about our union. Or does she have a lover? a boyfriend perhaps, he might have kidnapped her or maybe she eloped with him."

Anike came out of the room still hugging one of her daughter's clothes, she wiped her tears and walked to Mr. Bello

"she doesn't have a boyfriend, she is completely single. I have left the case into the hands of God, please, sir go home and relax."

"so you just want us to drop the case? woman? go and sleep when men are talking you don't intrude" her husband said rudely.

"don't talk to a woman like that, Anike, just go and rest, leave the rest to us, we would find her"

"but the money you are spending is too much, please just leave the case i know that my daughter will walk back home"

"Anike i am not complaining am i? please go and rest." Mr. Bello said, making Anike feel guilty, she walked back inside.

***

Kelvin, Demmy and Okiki arrived a beautiful house, not too big, a duplex in a place called Jabi, the house was beautiful and the atmosphere was serene, Demmy loved it. He showed her around and took her to her room. her room was also bug and beautiful, Demmy has only seen bug room like this in Tolani's house, she has never owned one before. Demmy smiled to Kelvin and went into her room to shower.

after taking a long shower, she got out of the bathroom, and saw her wedding dress neatly folded on the bed, on the other side of the bed was her card, toothbrush, comb, and a neat night wear, she smiled and wore her night wear.

"wow, he is so kind, i must pay him back for all these kindness", she picked up her card and her mood changed, "i almost forgot about you. i can't call you now maami, but i will call you very soon when all is well, but i need you to know that i am well. And i will take care of my self for you, as you for me." she smiled and kept the card in the drawer, then she kept the gown in the wardrobe.

A knock was heard on her door, thinking it was Kelvin, she hurriedly went to open the door, but an Old woman was seen, she smiled at Demmy, Demmy smiled back and greeted her

"food is ready madam, oga say make i call you"

"oh, i will be down in a minute"

Demmy smiled and closed the door.