STOLEN BY MY LOVER’S ENEMY

“Babe, you’re not paying attention to me.” Tiana said it with a playful pout, leaning across the sofa to block the television. Damon looked up from his phone. “And what exactly am I supposed to be paying attention to, sweetheart?” “Me, obviously.” He laughed, put his phone facedown on the cushion, and pulled her gently onto his lap. “There. Is my beautiful girl happy now?” Tiana pretended to consider it. “Not yet.” “Not yet?” He raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t kissed me.” Damon smiled. “Oh, so that’s the problem?” “That’s a serious problem, babe.” He cupped her face and kissed her forehead first, deliberately making her wait. Tiana narrowed her eyes at him. “Damon!” “What’s wrong, princess?” “You know exactly what you’re doing.” “Then tell me what you want.” She slipped her arms around his neck. “You.” His teasing expression softened. He kissed her gently, and she returned the kiss, smiling against his lips. When he drew back, she followed him for another quick kiss. He laughed. “Somebody is demanding tonight.” “I’m your girlfriend. I have rights.” “Is that what they teach you at girlfriend school?” “Yes. And one of the rules says boyfriends must give their girlfriends at least five kisses every evening.” “Five? That’s a very expensive school.” Tiana burst into laughter and buried her face against his chest. Damon held her close, rubbing her back while she settled comfortably against him. These were the moments she treasured most. Not the expensive dinners or the gifts he sometimes brought home, but the simple feeling of belonging beside him. They had been together long enough to know each other’s habits. Damon knew she hated sleeping with the bedroom window open because the traffic noise disturbed her. Tiana knew he preferred his coffee without sugar and that he often forgot where he left his car keys. They shared an apartment in Lekki, Lagos, and had slowly built a routine that felt like a life of their own. Some mornings, Tiana prepared breakfast while Damon stood behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and stole pieces of whatever she was cooking. Some nights, they argued over which movie to watch before ending up sharing the same blanket. And when work exhausted either of them, the other usually knew how to make the day feel lighter. At least, that was how things used to be. Lately, Damon had changed. He still called her babe. He still kissed her before leaving for work. He still asked whether she had eaten. But the little things were disappearing. He no longer reached for her hand automatically when they walked together. His kisses had become brief, and whenever Tiana tried to initiate something more romantic, he seemed to find a reason to stop. At first, she blamed his workload. Damon had been coming home late, sometimes looking so exhausted that he barely finished dinner before checking his emails. Tonight, however, she had hoped things would be different. “Babe?” she murmured against his chest. “Hmm?” “Can we forget everything tomorrow and spend the whole day together?” He looked down at her. “The whole day?” “Yes. We can make breakfast together, go out for lunch, and maybe watch a movie in the evening. No work calls. No staring at your laptop while I’m talking to you.” Damon smiled faintly. “You make it sound like I’m a terrible boyfriend.” “I’m saying you haven’t been the best boyfriend lately.” His smile disappeared. Tiana immediately regretted how she had said it. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “It’s fine, babe. I’ve just had a lot going on.” “Then talk to me. You don’t have to carry everything alone.” For a moment, he looked as though he wanted to say something. Instead, he kissed her forehead. “I’ll try to make tomorrow work.” Tiana studied his face. “Promise?” “I promise.” She smiled and kissed his cheek. “That’s my handsome man.” Damon chuckled, but his eyes drifted toward the phone on the sofa. Tiana noticed. “Are you expecting an important call?” “No. Just work messages.” “Then ignore them for a while.” She took his phone and placed it on the coffee table. “I want my boyfriend tonight.” He caught her hand and kissed her knuckles. “You have me, sweetheart.” The words warmed her heart, and she leaned forward to kiss him again. For a few minutes, everything felt normal. Damon held her against him, and Tiana rested her head on his shoulder. They talked about a restaurant she wanted to visit and laughed about a neighbour who had accidentally locked himself out of his apartment that morning. When they finally went to bed, Tiana changed into her nightwear and climbed beneath the covers. Damon joined her shortly afterward, carrying his phone. She moved closer and rested her head against his shoulder. “Goodnight, my love,” she whispered. He kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, babe.” Tiana lifted her face and kissed him softly on the lips. He returned the kiss, but when she tried to draw him closer, he gently moved away. “I’m really tired tonight, sweetheart.” She paused. “Again?” Damon exhaled. “Please don’t start, Tiana.” “I’m not starting anything. I just miss being close to you.” “We live together. We’re together every day.” “That’s not what I mean, and you know it.” He turned onto his side, facing away from her. “Can we talk about this tomorrow?” Tiana stared at his back, fighting the disappointment rising inside her. She wanted to argue, but she didn’t want another night to end with them upset at each other. “Okay, babe,” she whispered. “Get some rest.” She moved closer and placed a gentle kiss on his shoulder. Damon didn’t turn around. A few minutes later, his phone vibrated on the bedside table. Tiana barely paid attention until the screen lit up beside her. A message preview appeared. Chloe: Babe, are we still going to meet in the hotel today? Tiana frowned. Chloe was her best friend. The same Chloe who had visited their apartment last weekend, sat at their dining table, and laughed with them as though she were part of their little family. Why was Chloe calling Damon babe? Tiana sat up slowly and looked at him. “Babe?” Damon didn’t answer. She touched his shoulder. “Damon, your phone is ringing.” He shifted without opening his eyes. “Just leave it, sweetheart. I’ll check it in the morning.” The phone vibrated again. Tiana looked at the screen, then at Damon. She had never felt the need to search his phone. He knew her password, and she knew his. They had never treated that access as an invitation to investigate each other’s private conversations. But the message had unsettled her. She picked up the phone, intending only to see whether Chloe had sent something urgent. The screen was already unlocked. Tiana opened the notification. Her stomach tightened when she saw the conversation. Chloe: Babe, are we still going to meet in the hotel today? Damon: Yes, sweetheart. I’ll find a way to leave the house. Tiana read the exchange twice. Then she scrolled upward. There were messages about meeting after work, complaints about missing each other, and affectionate words that looked painfully familiar. Her hands began to tremble. She remembered the way Chloe had hugged her last weekend and asked whether everything was going well between her and Damon. She remembered answering with a smile. He’s the best thing that has ever happened to me. Had she been protecting a man who was laughing at her behind her back? Tiana turned toward the man lying beside her. “Damon?” This time, he opened his eyes. “What is it, babe?” She held up his phone, her voice barely steady. “Why is my best friend asking you to meet her at a hotel?” Damon sat up so quickly that the blanket slipped from his shoulders. His eyes moved to the screen. For a second, he said nothing. Then he reached for the phone. “Give me that, Tiana.” She pulled it away. “No. Answer me first.” “Babe, you’re misunderstanding what you saw.” “Then explain it to me.” He rubbed his face, looking toward the bedroom door as though searching for a way out of the conversation. Tiana’s eyes filled with tears. “You told me you were tired. You told me nothing was wrong. You kissed my forehead and called me sweetheart while you were planning to meet Chloe at a hotel.” “Please, let me explain.” “Are you cheating on me with my best friend?” Damon opened his mouth. No answer came. Then the phone rang in Tiana’s hand. CHLOE CALLING. Tiana stared at the name on the screen. Damon reached toward her, his voice suddenly desperate. “Babe, please don’t answer that.” Tiana looked into his eyes, feeling the last of her certainty begin to crumble. “Why, Damon? What are you afraid Chloe will tell me that you haven’t?”