THE 365-DAYS WIFE

Chapter 3: Mrs. Damian Okafor

The headline was everywhere by 6am.

BILLIONAIRE DAMIAN OKAFOR SHOCKS LAGOS WITH SECRET WEDDING

Zara’s face was on every blog. Caught mid-vow. Looking terrified.

Her phone rang. Mom. 18 missed calls.

Zara turned it off.

By 8am the car was waiting. Black Range Rover. Tinted windows.

The driver: `“Good morning, Mrs. Okafor.”`

Mrs. Okafor.

The mansion on Banana Island was worse in daylight. Bigger. Colder.

Damian was at the dining table. Coffee. Newspaper. Laptop.

He looked up when she came in.

`“Morning, wife,”` he said like they’d done this for years. `“Sleep well?”`

`“Yes,”` Zara lied.

`“Good. We have a board meeting at 2pm. You’re coming.”`

`“Me? Why?”`

`“Because you’re my wife,”` he said simply. `“And the board needs to see that I’m stable. Married. Settled.”`

Zara nodded. She had no choice.

At 1:30pm her closet was full. Stylist. Makeup artist. Hairdresser. All sent by Damian.

The red dress from last night was gone. Now it was a white pantsuit. Elegant. Powerful.

`“You look like her,”` the stylist whispered. Then caught herself. `“I mean... you look amazing.”`

Her.

Amina.

The boardroom was on the 40th floor. Glass walls. View of the whole of Lagos.

12 men. All older. All staring.

`“Gentlemen, this is my wife, Zara Okafor,”` Damian said, hand on her back. `“She’ll be attending all public functions with me from now on.”`

Handshake after handshake. `“Congratulations.” “Beautiful couple.” “So young.”`

Zara smiled until her cheeks hurt.

After the meeting, Damian pulled her aside. `“You did good.”`

`“Was that a test?”`

`“Everything is a test, Zara,”` he said. `“Come. Dinner with my mother tonight.”`

Zara almost choked. `“Your mother?”`

`“Clause 3.4. Public appearances. Family dinner counts.”`

---

They drove to Ikoyi. Another mansion. Older.

Mrs. Okafor was small. Sharp eyes. She looked Zara up and down for 10 seconds.

`“So you’re the one,”` she said. `“The one from nowhere.”`

`“Good evening, ma,”` Zara said.

Dinner was silent. Until dessert.

`“Damian,”` Mrs. Okafor said. `“Where is Amina’s ring?”`

The fork in Damian’s hand paused. `“Sold it.”`

`“You loved that girl.”`

`“I’m married now, Mother.”`

Zara stared at her plate.

There was silence all through their meal.

On the drive home, Damian was quiet.

At the door, he stopped her. `“About my mother...”`

`“It’s fine,”` Zara cut in.

`“It’s not,”` Damian sighed. `“She doesn’t approve. She thinks you’re using me.”`

`“Am I not?”` Zara asked before she could stop herself.

Damian looked at her. Really looked. `“I don’t know yet.”`

He walked away.

Zara went to her room. Her phone buzzed.

Unknown: `You met his mother. You’re in too deep now. - B`

Zara deleted the text.

She was Mrs. Damian Okafor.

For 365 days.

END OF CHAPTER 3