Billionaire's Secret Bride

ChapterTwo: Signed

The okada dropped me right at the big gate of Qlerilx Tower a few minutes before nine. I paid the driver with the last of yesterday's sales money. I stood there looking up at the building. It was so tall high up like cocoa house of Ibadan city it felt like it was touching the clouds. The glass walls gleamed in the morning sun clean and cold compared to the dusty streets of Ojaoba one could literary see the reflection of one's teeth on the walls. Two security guys in black uniforms stood at the gate looking dead serious as if in a graveyard. One stepped forward and asked in a low voice “Madam do you have an appointment with oga” I showed him the text message on my phone “Nine sharp. Do not be late.” He looked at the screen nodded slowly and waved me through the metal detector. It beeped because of my small earrings but they let me pass anyway.

Inside the air got cold from the strong AC hitting my face like opening a freezer. The floor was shiny marble reflecting my old sandals and making them look even more worn out. The receptionist sat behind a tall desk with perfect makeup and a tight smile. “Miss Adebayo” she asked. “Mr. Qlerilx is waiting for you. Take the elevator to floor forty-two.” My wrapper suddenly felt old and cheap next to her neat skirt and blouse. My sandals made a slapping sound on the marble as I walked each step echoing in the quiet space. I bit the inside of my cheek the way I always did when nervous and phobic ever since I was a small girl.

The elevator went up smoothly and fast no shakes or stops. When the doors opened on floor forty-two there wasn't a waiting room or secretary desk just a big open office with huge windows showing Lagos far below like a toy city. Danfo traffic looked small and slow from up here and the ocean in the distance appeared as a thin blue line under the sky. Angel sat behind a wide glass desk like it was his throne. He wore a gray suit today looking as perfect as the black one from yesterday. "Chai Money good o see as the guy fresh" I muttered beneath my breath. He didn't stand up to greet me he just pointed to the chair across from him.

“Sit Omolola” he said.

I sat down carefully. My legs shook a little under the table and I pressed my knees together to hide it. “Good morning sir” I answered trying to keep my voice steady.

He pushed a thick black folder across the desk towards me without a word. “The contract” he said. “Read it. Sign if you still want to do this.”

I opened the folder slowly. My fingers felt cold even though the room wasn't that chilly. The pages had a lot of words in small print full of legal language like “herein” and “forthwith” that made my head spin a little. There was a fake marriage certificate that would be registered as real lasting exactly one year with no divorce allowed before three hundred and sixty-five days passed. Then came the rules listed clearly like orders:

Live in my Ikoyi house. Separate bedrooms.

No sharing a bed under any condition.

Appear together at family events business dinners and public places when needed. Always act like a happy married couple with no mistakes.

No outside relationships. No dating no close friends of the opposite s*x nothing that could cause gossip or scandal.

Keep the contract secret from everyone. No telling family friends or even your mother the true reason. Tell them we met normally and fell in love quickly.

After one year a quiet divorce with no claims on my property. You receive five million naira plus all debts cleared. Your mother gets improved medical care if required.

Five million naira. My fingers tightened on the paper until it made small creases. That amount could buy a new house for Mama pay for the best doctors and even let me open a small shop to sell real adire cloth instead of just paper drawings. No more selling for pennies in the market. No more skipping meals to save money for mama medicine. "This thing na real blessing ooooo five million without stress" I asserts in silence. Hmmmmm.

But live in his house Act like a wife in front of people Lie to Mama every single day

I looked up from the pages. “This one plenty nah” I said. “Live together People will talk a lot.”

“Dem go still talk anyway no matter wetin you do” he answered. “A rich man marries a girl from the market The gossip will spread fast. But we will control the story with photos smiles and careful answers. Or would you rather the creditors come to your door tonight with their boys”

I swallowed hard. I remembered Mama’s cough from last night the way it sounded like stones moving in her chest. I remembered the landlord’s text message this morning “Final warning-pay or pack out.” “No” I said. “I will do it.”

He nodded once. He slid a black pen across the desk. “Sign here. Initial every page.”

My hand was really shaking as if it would detach from my wrist. The ink made a small blot on the first signature Omolola Adebayo. Then he signed his name Angel Qlerilx. The letters were sharp and straight with no extra curves.

He took the folder back and locked it in a drawer with a small click. “Good. My driver will take you home now. Pack only what you need clothes personal things. My people will arrange the rest. You move in tonight at seven o’clock sharp.”

“Tonight” My voice came out higher than I wanted. “But Mama she can not”

“Bring her too” he said. “There is a guest room already. A nurse will be on call twenty-four hours a day. It is better than your current room with the generator that stops every night.”

My mouth opened and closed again. He had thought of everything. Or maybe he just wanted to control everything from the beginning.

“Why me” I asked suddenly. “Many girls in Lagos would fight for this chance. Why choose a market girl you never met before”

He leaned back in his chair. His eyes narrowed just a little. For the first time I saw something move in them not empty but guarded like a door half-closed. “You ask too many questions” he said. “You fit the need. You are desperate enough to follow through. You are strong enough not to break under pressure. And” He paused and looked at me fully my wrapper my frizzy hair my tired eyes. “You have fire inside you. You will not fold easily. I need that.”

Fire. The word landed strangely in my ears. It sounded like a compliment and a warning at the same time.

He stood up. The meeting was over. “My assistant will give you an advance cash to buy new clothes for the first event next week. It is a family dinner. My parents want to meet my wife.”

“Your parents So soon” Panic rose in my chest.

“No time to waste” he said. He walked to the door and held it open for me. “Do not be late tonight. And Omolola” He stopped and looked at me again. “Do not make me regret choosing you.”

I stepped out of the office. The assistant lady tall with a sharp suit handed me a thick envelope with cash a black card and a printed address. A black SUV waited downstairs. The driver opened the door like I was someone important.

The ride home was quiet. Lagos passed by the window danfo buses stuck in traffic women balancing basins on their heads children selling pure water in the hot sun. My old world. Tonight a new one would take me.

Mama was sitting up in bed when I entered the room. She saw my face and frowned deeply. “Lola what is it You look like you met a spirit in broad daylight.”

I sat beside her on the bed and took her hand. “Mama good news mixed with small trouble. The man wants to marry me properly. We will move to a better place. You will get the best doctor and no more waiting in long lines.”

Her eyes searched mine for a long time. “Marriage Just like that Do you know this person well”

I forced the lie to come out smooth it was the first of many. “Through a friend Mama. He has liked me for some time. He wants to help us quickly.”

She didn’t smile. She squeezed my hand. “Marriage is not a small thing my child. Pray hard. Make sure God covers you.”

“I am praying” I said. But inside me fear mixed with a strange excitement. Survival felt like this sometimes.

Evening came fast. I packed a small bag my best wrappers Mama’s medicines three sketches for courage. The SUV arrived exactly seven o’clock. The driver helped Mama into the front seat. Her eyes grew wide as we drove through Victoria Island with bright lights and smooth roads that had no potholes.

The mansion gate opened automatically. Lights flooded the driveway like it was Christmas. The garden was trimmed and perfect with a small fountain making soft water sounds. Inside the house marble floors felt cold under my feet a big chandelier hung above like stars and the staircase curved like something from a film.

Angel waited at the door he didn't even smile. He sternly folded his arms across his chest. “Welcome home wife.”

He looked at Mama. “Mrs. Adebayo. The nurse will settle you in the guest wing. Dinner in one hour.”

Mama nodded slowly. But her fingers dug into my palm a silent warning to be careful.

Angel led me up the stairs. He opened a door to a room bigger than our whole compound back home. A king-size bed stood in the center. A large wardrobe was already full of new dresses with tags still on them silk lace colors I had never worn. The balcony faced the lagoon where water glittered under the night lights. In short it's a beautiful house.

“This is your room” he said. “Mine is next door. The rules start now. No leaving without telling me. No questions about my business.”

I nodded. As he turned to leave the words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them. “Angel why do your eyes always look empty Like someone who lost something big.”

He froze like an electrocuted robber his back was stiff then he turned slowly. “Do not call me that yet. And do not dig for answers you will not like the rules are clearly stated”

The door closed softly as he left me in my confusion. The lock creaked gently.

I sat on the bed. My heart was racing so heavily that one would think I was passing out. The new clothes smelled fresh and expensive. But I was already frightened by my strange experience.

Tonight was the real beginning. Fake wife in a real house. Or is there a real danger I don't know hiding somewhere?

But seriously, I was becoming more confused, unstable and paranoid