His Old Money World

Chapter 5 - He Defends Her

I learned the rules of the Ikoyi house fast.

Don't use the main staircase if Simi is around. Don't look Adrian in the eye. Don't leave a speck of dust where Simi's hand might touch.

It was Thursday night, 9pm. I was ironing Simi's dresses in the laundry room — silk that felt like water. My arms were aching. I had been standing since 5am.

Simi came in without knocking.

She picked up one dress, inspected it, then threw it at me.

"Do it again. There's a crease. Are you blind or just stupid?"

The hot iron was still in my hand. The dress hit my chest and fell.

"I ironed it twice, ma. There is no crease—"

I stopped myself. Rule two.

She stepped closer. "What did you say? You are arguing with me? In my own house?"

"This is not your house yet," I whispered before I could stop myself. My exhaustion speaking.

Her eyes widened. Then her hand moved fast.

The slap wasn't hard enough to fall, but loud enough for the whole laundry room to hear. My cheek burned.

"Mainland rat," she said, voice shaking with anger. "I will tell Adrian to sack you tonight. And I will make sure no big house in Lagos hires you again."

The laundry door opened.

Adrian.

He had heard. He stood there in a grey sweatshirt, hair wet from shower. He looked at me — hand on my cheek, eyes full of tears I refused to drop — then at Simi.

"What happened?" he asked, cold.

"She insulted me! She said this is not my house! I was just correcting her ironing and she—"

"I asked what happened," he cut her, but looking at ME. "Amara?"

My cheek was throbbing. "I... I talked back, sir. I'm sorry."

Simi crossed her arms, victorious. "You see? No respect. Sack her, Adrian. Now."

He was quiet for three seconds that felt like an hour. Then he said to Simi:

"Don't hit my staff. Ever again."

Simi's mouth dropped. "What?"

"If you have a problem with ironing, tell Bisi. Not her. And don't touch her again. I don't hit my staff. You don't either."

It was not romantic. It was cold. Like a boss protecting company property. But he had said MY staff. And he had told his fiancée not to touch me.

Simi stared at him, then at me, with pure hatred. "Fine. So you are supporting your maid over your wife?"

"You are not my wife yet," he said, exactly the words I had said. "And this is still my house."

He left. Door closed.

Simi looked at me like she wanted to kill me. Then she walked out, slamming the door so hard the iron fell off the table.

I sank to the floor, holding my cheek. Not from pain. From shock.

He defended me. Cold old money Adrian Adeyemi had defended me.

And I had never been in more danger.