Chapter 4: The Contract
992 Words
Chidinma called the number at 8:00 AM.
The same woman answered. "Kalu Holdings."
"This is Chidinma Eze. Tell him I'm coming."
A pause. "He'll send the car."
"No. I'll take a taxi. I'll be there in an hour."
She hung up before the woman could argue.
Ngozi was waiting outside her apartment when she came downstairs, arms crossed, face set.
"Where are you going?"
"Ngo—"
"Your mother called me. Said you've been acting strange. Won't talk. Won't eat." Ngozi stepped closer. "What is going on, Chi?"
Chidinma couldn't lie to her. Not to Ngozi, who'd been her friend since secondary school, who'd held her hand through her father leaving, who knew her better than anyone.
So she told her. All of it.
When she finished, Ngozi stared at her like she'd grown a second head.
"You're not serious."
"I am."
"Chi, this is insane. You can't marry a—a—" She struggled for the word. "A criminal! A killer!"
"I'm not marrying him. I'm signing a contract."
"It's the same thing!"
"It's not." Chidinma's voice was calm. Terrifyingly calm. "It's a business arrangement. One year. Then I walk away."
"With blood on your hands!"
"With my brother alive."
Ngozi grabbed her shoulders. "Listen to me. There has to be another way. We can go to the police—"
"He'll kill Emeka."
"We can raise the money—"
"Forty-two million? In how long?"
Ngozi's hands dropped. Her eyes filled. "Chi, please. Don't do this."
"I already prayed about it."
"And God told you to marry the devil?"
Chidinma met her eyes. "God told me he'd be with me. That's enough."
Ngozi stepped back, shaking her head. "You're going to regret this."
"Maybe," Chidinma said quietly. "But I'd regret losing Emeka more."
She walked past her friend, toward the street, toward the taxi rank, toward a decision she couldn't undo.
* * *
The gates opened for her taxi like they'd been expecting her.
She paid the driver, walked to the door, and this time she didn't wait for an escort. The same elegant woman appeared, but Chidinma spoke first.
"I'm here to see Mr. Kalu."
"Of course. He's waiting."
They walked the same route. Same hallways. Same door.
This time, when she walked into the study, Obiora was seated at his desk. He looked up, and something flickered across his face.
Surprise.
"You came back," he said.
"Did you think I wouldn't?"
"I thought you'd run. Or pray for a miracle."
Chidinma walked to the chair, but didn't sit. "I did pray. This is the answer."
He leaned back, studying her. "So you'll do it."
"On one condition."
His eyebrows lifted. "You're negotiating?"
"You want me to lie to you. The least you can do is hear me out."
A slow smile. "I'm listening."
"Emeka goes free the moment I sign. Not after the wedding. Not after some waiting period. Today."
"Done."
"And you leave my family alone. Completely. No threats. No surveillance. No 'protection' you didn't ask me about first."
"Reasonable."
"And—" She took a breath. "I keep my faith. I go to church. I pray. I sing. You don't mock it, control it, or try to change it."
Obiora's expression shifted. He stood, walked around the desk, stopped in front of her.
"You think I'd try to take that from you?"
"I think men like you take everything."
He was close enough now that she had to tilt her head back to hold his gaze.
"You're right," he said quietly. "I do. But not that." He paused. "Your faith is what makes you valuable. I'd be a fool to break the thing I'm buying."
It should have been comforting. It wasn't.
He turned, picked up the contract from his desk, and held it out. "Anything else?"
She took the papers. Scanned them. Legal language she barely understood, but the terms were clear:
- One-year marriage
- Public appearances as needed
- Separate living quarters
- No physical relationship required
- Fifty million naira payment upon completion
- Confidentiality clause
At the bottom, a line for her signature.
"Where's Emeka?" she asked.
Obiora picked up his phone, sent a text. Thirty seconds later, the door opened.
And Emeka walked in.
Chidinma's breath left her.
He was thinner, bruised, but alive. His eyes went wide when he saw her.
"Chi? What are you—" Then he saw Obiora. Saw the contract in her hands. Horror dawned. "No. No, Chi, don't—"
"It's okay," she said, voice steady even as her heart broke.
"It's not okay! You can't do this because of me—"
"Emeka." She looked at him. Really looked at him. "I'm your big sister. This is what I do."
Tears streamed down his face. "Please."
She turned to Obiora. "Let him go."
Obiora nodded toward the door. "You're free. Don't make me regret it."
Emeka didn't move. Just stood there, staring at Chidinma like she was walking into fire.
"Go," she whispered.
He left, slowly, looking back every few steps.
When the door closed, Chidinma looked down at the contract.
God, if this is wrong, stop me.
No lightning. No audible voice. Just her hand, holding the pen, Obiora offered.
She signed her name.
Chidinma Eze.
Obiora took the contract, signed his own name below hers. Then he extended his hand.
"Welcome to the family, Miss Eze."
She didn't take his hand.
"When's the wedding?"
"Two weeks. My team will handle everything."
"I want my pastor to officiate."
He smiled. "Of course. We need this to look real."
She turned toward the door.
"Chidinma."
She stopped. It was the first time he'd used her first name.
"You're braver than I expected."
She looked back at him. "I'm not brave. I'm obedient."
"To God?"
"We'll see."
She walked out of that room a different woman than the one who'd walked in.
Engaged to a monster.
Trusting God to hold her together.
- Writer
