THE PRICE OF LOVE

CHAPTER 5

I SAID YES

Monday morning.

I woke up in a bed that didn’t feel like mine.

Ikoyi apartment.

Marble floors.

Silence.

And ₦50 million waiting at the end of this.

My phone had 3 new messages.

1. Mom: `God bless you my daughter.

Surgery is booked.

Thank you.`

2. Brother: `Fees paid! I can go to school! Love

you sis`

3. Mark: `Car will be there by 8am.

The driver’s name is Tunde.

Event Thursday.`

No "how are you".

No "good morning".

Just instructions.

Right.

This was a job.

Tunde was on time.

Black suit.

Black SUV.

"Good morning, Ms. Adeyemi."

"Good morning."

He drove me to the mall.

"Mr. Daniels said to get you a few things for the week."

"I have clothes—"

"He insisted."

2 hours later I had bags.

Dresses.

Shoes.

A laptop.

Receipt total: ₦3.7 million.

I felt sick.

"Can we go home?" I asked.

"Yes ma."

---

Tuesday was quiet.

Too quiet.

I cleaned the apartment even though there was a cleaner.

I cooked even though there was a chef on call.

I called my mom.

She was glowing.

"They said the surgery will be next week.

My baby, God sent you an angel."

Angel.

Right.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

I ignored it.

He called again.

I answered.

"Marvel?" Maxwell.

"What do you want?"

"I want you back.

Please.

I was stupid."

"You cheated with my best friend."

"I know.

But it meant nothing.

You mean everything."

"Don’t call me again."

I hung up.

Blocked him.

10 minutes later: New number.

`You can block me but you can’t erase 3 years. - M`

I threw the phone on the couch.

---

Wednesday.

Aisha came by.

"Mr. Daniels sent these.

For tomorrow."

Box 1: Navy blue gown.

Box 2: Diamond earrings.

Box 3: Note. `Be ready by 7pm.

No talking to the press.

Smile. - M`

"Does he send notes like this to all his girlfriends?" I joked.

Aisha didn’t laugh.

"You’re the first, ma."

Oh.

---

Thursday.

Charity Gala.

Federal Palace Hotel.

I spent 2 hours getting ready.

Hair.

Makeup.

The dress.

I looked like someone else.

Like someone worth ₦50 million.

Tunde picked me up.

Mark was already inside.

The moment I walked in, cameras turned.

`MARK DANIELS ARRIVES WITH GIRLFRIEND`

He saw me.

Walked over.

"Evening," he said.

"Evening."

"You look..." He paused.

"Professional."

Professional.

Not beautiful.

Not stunning.

Professional.

"Thanks," I said.

We did the rounds.

Shaking hands.

Smiling.

"So happy for you two!"

"When’s the wedding?"

"She’s lovely, Mark."

I nodded. I laughed. I said "thank you".

Inside I was counting minutes.

Then I saw them.

Maxwell.

Crystal.

At a table near the back.

In rented clothes.

Staring.

Maxwell’s face was red.

Crystal was whispering to him.

Pointing at me.

My stomach twisted.

Mark felt me tense.

"What?"

"Nothing," I said.

"Just... can we go to the bar?"

We did.

He ordered water for me.

Whiskey for him.

"You okay?"

"Yes."

"Liar."

Before I could answer, a reporter came over.

"Mr. Daniels! Ms. Adeyemi! One photo please?"

We posed.

Arm in arm.

Smiling.

The flash went off.

And across the room, Maxwell stood up.

Fast.

Like he was going to come over.

Crystal grabbed his arm. Pulled him down.

Mark saw it too.

His jaw tightened.

"Ignore them," he whispered to me.

"I am."

We stayed 1 more hour.

Then: "Time to go," Mark said.

Outside, Tunde was waiting.

We got in.

Silence.

Then Mark’s phone rang.

He answered. "What?"

Listened.

"Send me the link."

He hung up.

Showed me his phone.

Blog post.

Posted 5 minutes ago.

`BREAKING: MARK DANIELS’ NEW GIRL IS EX OF FRAUDSTER`

`SOURCES SAY MARVEL ADEYEMI DATED CONMAN MAXWELL OKORO FOR 3 YEARS`

`PHOTOS: EX-COUPLE SPOTTED AT SAME EVENT`

Under it: Photos of me and Maxwell from 2 years ago.

Me cooking.

Me smiling.

Me stupid.

My face went hot.

"I’m sorry—"

"Don’t," Mark said.

"It’s fine."

"It’s not fine.

I ruined—"

"You didn’t ruin anything," he cut me off.

"This was going to happen."

He called James.

"Take it down.

Legal team.

Now."

He hung up.

Looked at me.

"Are you scared?"

"Yes."

"Of what?"

"Of him.

Of her.

Of this blowing up."

Mark reached over.

Took my hand.

For 3 seconds.

Then let go.

"We have security now.

You’re safe.

I’m safe.

The deal is safe."

Safe.

Right.

He dropped me at the apartment.

"Get some sleep.

Friday is off."

"Okay."

I went upstairs.

Checked the blog again.

Comments:

`Gold digger`

`She used Maxwell and now she’s using Mark`

`Poor Mark`

I closed the app.

Cried for 10 minutes.

Then stopped.

Because crying didn’t pay bills.

---

Friday.

No event.

I slept till noon.

Woke up to ₦500k alert.

`Monthly allowance. - M`

I sent money home.

Called mom.

Tried to act normal.

2pm.

Doorbell.

Tunde.

With a box.

"Mr. Daniels said you might need this."

Inside: Books.

Accounting textbooks.

Note: `You said you dropped out.

Finish it.

Online classes start Monday. I paid. - M`

I sat on the floor and stared at them.

No one had told me to go back to school in 3 years.

My phone rang.

Mark.

"Did you get it?"

"Yes."

"Good.

Don’t argue.

Just do it."

"Why?"

"Because you’re smart.

And smart people shouldn’t waste it on men like him."

He hung up.

---

Saturday.

I started the classes.

Sunday.

Another dinner at his parents’.

Mrs. Daniels looked at me and said,

"So. What do you do, dear?"

"I’m... between jobs, ma."

"I see."

"She’s studying," Mark said.

"Accounting."

"Oh," Mrs. Daniels said.

"How... ambitious."

I smiled.

Mark squeezed my hand under the table.

---

Monday.

Classes.

Gym.

Groceries.

Normal life.

Tuesday.

Mark texted: `Event Friday.

Wear red.`

Wednesday.

Maxwell called from a new number.

I blocked it.

Thursday.

Another blog post:

`MARK DANIELS’ GIRLFRIEND SEEN STUDYING. IS SHE REALLY QUALIFIED?`

I laughed.

Friday.

Red dress.

Event.

Photos.

Smiles.

We were getting good at this.

After, in the car.

"How are you doing?" Mark asked.

"Okay, I said. "Really."

"Good."

Pause.

"Marvel."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For saying yes."

I looked at him.

In the dark car.

Tired eyes.

No CEO mask.

Just a guy.

"You’re welcome," I said.

"For the money?"

"For... not making me feel like a transaction."

He didn’t answer.

Just nodded.

We pulled up to my apartment.

"Goodnight, Mark."

"Goodnight, Marvel."

I went inside.

Checked my phone.

New text.

Unknown number.

`I saw the photos.

I saw you with him.

You’re mine.

And I’ll make him pay for taking you. - M`

Maxwell.

I deleted it.

Blocked the number.

But my hands were shaking.

Because I knew him.

And when Maxwell said he’d make someone pay...

He meant it.

CLIFFHANGER:I thought signing the contract was the dangerous part. I was wrong. The dangerous part was what came after.