CHAPTER 8: SHE CAME FOR WAR
942 Words
BRIDE FOR HIRE – CHAPTER 8: SHE CAME FOR WAR
*7:00 AM. Saturday. Toronto – Airbnb.*
I woke up to Tobi’s arm around my waist and my phone buzzing like crazy.
Dreame: *Chapter 6 hit 420,000 reads in 18 hours.*
Comments:
“OMG THEY’RE REAL NOW!!!”
“AUNTIE IS BAKING CAKE FOR THE WEDDING!!!”
“AMAKA BETTER NOT RUIN THIS!!!”
Too late.
*Tobi:* “Morning.”
He kissed my forehead before I could even open my eyes properly.
*Tobi:* “You’re smiling. That’s new.”
*Me:* “Because for the first time in a week, I’m not scared.”
*Tobi:* “Good. Stay that way.”
He didn’t know about the email that came in at 3 AM.
I didn’t want to ruin the morning.
---
*9:00 AM. Email – Subject: “We need to talk. Toronto.”*
*From:* amaka.ogundele@g*******m
*To:* tobi.bolanle@g*******m
*CC:* h***:://chinaza.okaf0r@g*******m
_“Tobi,
I’m in Toronto. Landed last night.
We need to talk about your ‘marriage’. I have proof it’s fake.
Meet me at Tim Hortons on Queen St at 2 PM. Bring Chinaza.
If you don’t come, I send everything to Canada Immigration.
- A”_
I read it twice.
Then I read it again.
*Tobi:* “What is it?”
I handed him my phone.
He read it. His face went blank. The same blank he had at Eko Hotel.
*Tobi:* “She’s bluffing.”
*Me:* “Are you sure? What proof does she have?”
*Tobi:* “She doesn’t know about Ibadan. She doesn’t know about Auntie. She doesn’t know about us.”
*Me:* “But she knows about the ₦500,000. She knows we met 5 days ago.”
Tobi cursed under his breath.
*Tobi:* “We go. 2 PM. We face her.”
---
*1:45 PM. Tim Hortons – Queen St, Toronto.*
Amaka was already there.
Designer coat, designer bag, face like she’d been planning this for months.
She stood up when she saw us.
*Amaka:* “Well, well. The fake couple.”
*Tobi:* “Amaka, don’t do this.”
*Amaka:* “Don’t do what? Tell the truth?”
She slid a folder across the table.
*Amaka:* “I have the voice note. Mrs. Bolanle offering ₦500,000 for a fake wife. I have the bank transfer. I have the timeline. You met 5 days ago. This is fraud, Tobi.”
My stomach dropped.
*Me:* “Why are you doing this?”
*Amaka looked at me.* Not angry. Pitying.
*Amaka:* “Because he’s mine. He always comes back to me. And you’re just a placeholder he used to stay in Canada.”
*Tobi slammed his hand on the table.*
*Tobi:* “She’s not a placeholder. And I’m not yours anymore.”
*Amaka laughed.* Cold.
*Amaka:* “We’ll see. Immigration meeting is Monday. I already booked it. I’m going to tell them everything.”
*Me:* “You can’t. That would ruin him.”
*Amaka:* “And what about me? He broke up with me over text while he was in Nigeria with you.”
*Tobi:* “Because I was done, Amaka. I’m done now.”
Amaka stood up.
*Amaka:* “Think about it. 2 days. Or I walk into that office Monday and end it all.”
She walked out.
Leaving the folder on the table.
---
*4:00 PM. Airbnb – Toronto.*
I couldn’t sit still.
*Me:* “She can end this, Tobi. Everything. Auntie’s treatment. Your residency. Us.”
*Tobi:* “She won’t.”
*Me:* “How do you know?”
*Tobi:* “Because if she wanted to end it, she would have done it already. She wants me to beg.”
*Me:* “So what do we do?”
*Tobi sat me down.*
*Tobi:* “We tell the truth. All of it. To immigration. Before she does.”
*Me:* “And if they don’t believe us?”
*Tobi:* “Then we lose. But we lose together. Not lying.”
I looked at him.
He looked scared. But determined.
*Me:* “Okay. We tell the truth.”
---
*8:00 PM. Phone Call – Lagos.*
*Auntie:* “Chinaza? Are you okay? You sound funny.”
*Me:* “Auntie, I need to tell you something.”
I told her everything.
About the ₦500,000.
About the fake marriage.
About Amaka.
About Toronto.
She was quiet for a long time.
*Auntie:* “And you love him?”
*Me:* “I think I do, Auntie.”
*Auntie:* “Then fight for it. Even if it’s messy. Even if it breaks. Love is worth it.”
*Me:* “What if we go to jail?”
*Auntie laughed.*
*Auntie:* “Then I’ll send you jollof in jail. Now go. Fight for your husband.”
I hung up crying.
Tobi was in the doorway.
*Tobi:* “She knows?”
*Me:* “She knows. And she said fight for you.”
*Tobi pulled me into a hug.*
*Tobi:* “Then we fight.”
---
*11:00 PM. Toronto – Bedroom.*
*Tobi:* “I’m scared, Chinaza.”
*Me:* “Me too.”
*Tobi:* “Not of immigration. Of losing you.”
*Me:* “You won’t lose me, Tobi. Not if I can help it.”
He kissed me. Slow. Desperate.
Like he was memorizing me in case Monday went wrong.
*Tobi:* “If we lose, I’m coming back to Nigeria for you.”
*Me:* “Don’t say that. We’re not losing.”
*Tobi:* “Promise me something.”
*Me:* “Anything.”
*Tobi:* “Promise me that even if this ends, you’ll keep writing. Your stories keep people alive, Chinaza. Keep writing.”
*Me:* “I promise.”
We fell asleep holding each other.
Monday was coming.
- Writer
