THE PRICE OF LOVE

I PAID FOR THIS Today is Maxwell's birthday. So I wanted to surprise him I bought a cake, and went straight to the receptionist to collect the key card in the room . The key card in my hand was shaking. I never knew why, but i didn't give more thought to it Room 412. Eko Signature Hotel. On my way to the room. I was thinking of what he will say when he sees me. And how happy he will be. My boyfriend of 3 years. His birthday surprise. I’d spent the last 4 months saving for this. Extra shifts at the bank. No food. No transport. Because Maxwell said "Babe, I want something nice for my birthday." Because I loved him. Because I thought he loved me too. I was closer to the room when i heard voices coming out from the room. I thought he was planning a surprise for me. I was so happy. when i heard another voice "baby please be gentle". I was shocked. Is this not Crystal's voice. I said to myself. Then i said to myself " it can't be" I quickly pushed the thought aside. "she might be planning something with him for me oooh", I smiled. I quickly swiped the card. The door clicked open. Music. Candles. Rose petals on the bed. And Maxwell. Naked. On top of Crystal. My best friend. Crystal’s eyes met mine first. Guilt. Then... nothing. She didn’t even cover herself. Maxwell sat up fast. "Marvel, baby, wait" "Don’t call me baby," I said. My voice was weird. Calm. I looked at the bed. The petals. The champagne I paid for. The receipt on the nightstand. EKO SIGNATURE HOTEL - ROOM 412 3 NIGHTS - PREPAID NAME: MS. MARVEL ADEYEMI AMOUNT: ₦450,000 I’d used my last savings. Crystal finally grabbed the sheet. "Marvel, it’s not what you think—" "What do I think, Crystal?" I asked. "That you two were praying for me? That this was a surprise party?" Maxwell was pulling on his boxers. "Babe, please. Let me explain." "Explain what? That you’ve been sleeping with her for how long?" "2 months," Crystal said. Quiet. 2 months. That was when I started picking up his laundry. When I started cooking for him every night. When I started calling him "husband" as a joke. My chest didn’t hurt. Not yet. It was like my body was waiting for permission to break. "Get out," I said. "Marvel—" "GET OUT OF THE ROOM I PAID FOR!" They scrambled. Clothes. Phones. Whispers. Crystal wouldn’t look at me. Maxwell did. Once. "We can talk about this." The door closed behind them. And then I broke. I didn’t scream. I didn’t cry. I sat on the edge of the bed with the rose petals and the cold champagne and I laughed. Because what else do you do when your entire life catches fire in one minute? 3 years. I dropped out of UNILAG for him. I told my mom "He’s the one." I paid his rent when he lost his job. I sponsored his sister’s wedding. And he repaid me in a hotel room with my name on the receipt. I stayed there until the candles burned out. Until the petals wilted. Until the hotel staff knocked and asked if I wanted housekeeping. I walked out with nothing. Not even my dignity. The lobby was full. People in suits. People laughing. I was in jeans and a hoodie. Hair a mess. The receptionist smiled at me. "Enjoy your stay, Ms. Adeyemi?" I just nodded. Outside, Lagos was hot. Loud. I had ₦2,000 in my account. No job. I’d quit last month to "focus on us." No home. I’d moved out of my sister’s to stay with Maxwell. No Maxwell. I walked. For 2 hours. Past the market. Past the bank. Past the church where I prayed for him. My phone buzzed again when I turned it on. Unknown number. Ms. Adeyemi, this is Mark Daniels,We need to talk. It’s about a business opportunity. Call me back.` Mark Daniels. The Mark Daniels. CEO of Daniels Holdings. Billionaire on the news last week for buying 3 banks. Why was he calling me? I deleted the message. Scam. Had to be. I got home to my sister’s at 9pm. She took one look at me and pulled me into a hug. "What happened?" "Nothing," I lied. "I just... I’m tired." I showered for an hour. Tried to wash the hotel smell off. Tried to wash 3 years off. At midnight, I couldn’t sleep. I opened my laptop. Checked my bank. ₦2,000. Checked my email. Rejection after rejection. And there it was. Another email from Mark Daniels. Ms. Adeyemi, I saw your profile through a mutual connection. I have a proposal that will solve your financial problems immediately. ₦50,000,000. For 6 months of your time. Call me. This is not a scam. Mark Daniels` ₦50 million. I laughed again. Because of course. The universe wasn’t done humiliating me. First Maxwell. Now some billionaire wanting to buy me. I closed the laptop. But I didn’t delete the email. Because ₦50 million could pay my mom’s hospital bills. Could send my brother back to school. Could get me out of my sister’s living room. Could make the last 3 years mean something. My phone lit up. Unknown number again. I answered. "Hello?" "Ms. Adeyemi?" A deep voice. "This is Mark Daniels. Did you get my email?" I sat up in bed. "What do you want from me?" "A girlfriend," he said. No hesitation. "For 6 months. And I’ll pay you ₦50 million." The room went silent. Outside, a danfo honked. "Are you serious?" I whispered. "Dead serious," he said. "Can we meet tomorrow?" I looked at the ceiling. At the cracks. At my life. 3 years with Maxwell got me betrayal. 6 months with a stranger could get me ₦50 million. "What’s the catch?" I asked. "No catch," Mark said. " Just business." Just business. Right. "Okay," I said. "Where?" "Daniels Tower. 10am. Ask for me at reception." "Okay." I hung up. My hands were shaking again. But this time, not from crying. From fear. From hope. From the fact that I was actually considering it. I looked at my phone. Last message from Maxwell, 3 hours ago: Babe please. I love you. I blocked him. Then I looked at Mark’s email again. ₦50,000,000. The price of love, apparently. And tomorrow, I was going to find out what it cost. CLIFFHANGER:I had no idea that saying yes to Mark Daniels would cost me more than Maxwell ever did.