Decision

Chapter 9

The harmattan wind swept dust across the lonely street as Jessica sat behind the counter of her small shop, staring blankly at the half-empty shelves before her.

The once colorful provision store had become a shadow of itself.

A torn carton of noodles leaned against the wall. Two bottles of groundnut oil stood abandoned beside expired biscuits. Flies buzzed lazily around a cracked glass jar that used to be filled with sweets for children who no longer came.

Everything in her life had fallen apart so quickly that sometimes she wondered if she was cursed.

First, Felix chased her out of his life.

Then Daniel disappeared with her money.

Customers stopped buying from her.

Debt piled up.

The landlord threatened to throw her out.

And the worst part of it all was the silence.

No calls.

No help.

No Felix.

No Daniel.

Jessica lowered her eyes and rubbed her tired face. She had not slept properly in weeks. The mirror in the shop no longer reflected the beautiful village girl who once dreamed of conquering the city.

Now she looked exhausted.

Broken.

Forgotten.

Outside, dark clouds gathered in the sky, threatening rain. Few pedestrians hurried past the street without even glancing at her shop.

Jessica sighed deeply.

“God… what did I do wrong?” she whispered.

At that exact moment, the sound of tires screeching against gravel echoed through the street.

A sleek black jeep slowly pulled up in front of her shop.

Jessica frowned.

Cars like that never stopped in this area.

The jeep’s tinted windows reflected the dull afternoon light. The engine remained running quietly like a dangerous animal breathing in the dark.

People nearby immediately turned to look.

Two young boys stopped playing football.

A roasted corn seller adjusted her wrapper and stared curiously.

Even the women gossiping across the road fell silent.

Jessica’s heartbeat quickened.

The driver’s door finally opened.

A tall man stepped out slowly.

Black shoes.

Expensive wristwatch.

Dark sunglasses.

Powerful presence.

Jessica narrowed her eyes.

Something about the man looked strangely familiar.

The man walked toward the shop confidently, scanning the environment as if searching for someone.

Then he removed his sunglasses.

Jessica froze.

Her heart nearly stopped.

No…

It couldn’t be.

“Felix!” she gasped.

The man stopped instantly.

His eyes widened in shock.

“Jessica?”

For a few seconds neither of them moved.

The air between them became heavy with disbelief.

Jessica felt her knees weaken.

Felix looked different.

More mature.

Richer.

Sharper.

But it was truly him.

The same man she once loved.

The same man she betrayed.

The same man she thought she would never see again.

“What are you doing here?” Felix finally asked, his voice low with confusion.

Jessica swallowed hard.

“This… this is my shop.”

Felix slowly turned around, looking carefully at the nearly empty shelves and worn-out building.

His expression changed immediately.

Shock.

Then concern.

“What happened to you?”

Jessica forced a weak smile.

“Life happened.”

Felix removed his wristwatch slowly as though trying to process everything before him.

“Didn’t you go back to school?” he asked quietly.

Jessica shook her head.

“No.”

“Why?”

“I tried… but things became difficult.”

Felix stared at her silently.

Jessica looked away in embarrassment.

“Even this business is dying,” she admitted. “I was scammed too.”

Felix’s jaw tightened instantly.

“Scammed?”

Jessica nodded bitterly.

“I invested almost everything in a relationship . By the time I realized it was fake… all my money was gone.”

Felix cursed under his breath.

For a moment he simply looked at her.

Not with anger.

Not with hatred.

But with pain.

Jessica suddenly felt ashamed of herself.

Years ago, Felix had tried to help her build a better life. He wanted to sponsor her education abroad. He wanted to give her opportunities she never imagined.

But she ruined everything.

She became arrogant.

Careless.

Stubborn.

And eventually she lost him.

Now fate had brought him back when she had absolutely nothing left.

Rain suddenly began to fall heavily.

Customers and pedestrians ran for shelter.

Thunder rumbled across the sky.

Felix looked at Jessica again.

Her clothes were faded.

Her face looked pale.

And despite all her attempts to hide it, he could see suffering written all over her.

Without warning, Felix stepped forward and pulled her into a tight hug.

Jessica’s eyes widened.

She hadn’t been held like that in a very long time.

The warmth of his embrace shattered the wall she had built around her heart.

Tears burned her eyes instantly.

“Let’s go home,” Felix whispered.

Jessica pulled back slightly in confusion.

“You mean… I should follow you to your house?”

“Yes.”

Jessica blinked repeatedly.

Her mind became chaotic.

After everything?

After how badly she treated him?

Why would he still want her near him?

Before she could respond, a loud voice interrupted them.

“Jessica!”

Both of them turned sharply.

A skinny man wearing a soaked shirt was running toward the shop angrily.

Jessica’s face immediately lost color.

Felix noticed it.

“Who is that?”

Jessica stepped backward nervously.

The man reached the shop breathing heavily.

“I’ve been calling you since morning!” he snapped. “Where’s my money?”

Felix frowned.

“What money?”

The man ignored him completely and faced Jessica aggressively.

“You promised to pay today!”

“I said I need more time,” Jessica replied weakly.

“You’ve been saying that for weeks!”

Felix stepped forward calmly.

“How much does she owe you?”

The man scoffed.

“And who are you?”

Felix’s expression hardened instantly.

“I asked a question.”

The man hesitated slightly before answering.

“Five hundred thousand naira.”

Jessica lowered her head in shame.

Felix looked at her slowly.

“You owe this much?”

Jessica nodded silently.

The creditor laughed mockingly.

“She thinks running a useless shop will magically produce money.”

Felix’s eyes darkened.

Without another word, he pulled out his phone.

“What’s your account number?” he asked coldly.

The man blinked in surprise.

“Eh?”

Felix looked at him impatiently.

“Your account number.”

Jessica’s eyes widened.

“Felix, no—”

But it was too late.

Within minutes, the transfer alert entered.

The man quickly checked his phone.

His mouth fell open.

“You… you sent everything?”

Felix nodded once.

“Now leave.”

The man immediately changed attitude.

“Thank you sir! God bless you sir!”

He hurried away into the rain.

Jessica stood frozen.

“What did you do that for?” she whispered emotionally.

Felix looked directly into her eyes.

“Because I should have never left you alone.”

Jessica’s chest tightened painfully.

Rain continued pouring around them.

The silence between them carried years of regret.

Finally Felix spoke again.

“Lock the shop.”

Jessica hesitated.

“I can’t just leave.”

“You can.”

“But—”

“Jessica.”

Something in his voice made her stop arguing.

She slowly reached for the keys with trembling fingers.

As she locked the shop, several thoughts raced through her mind.

Where was Felix taking her?

Why had he suddenly appeared now?

The black jeep sped through the rainy streets of Lagos while Jessica sat quietly beside Felix.

The interior smelled expensive.

Soft music played faintly.

Jessica kept stealing glances at him.

He looked successful.

Very successful.

But something about him seemed… different.

“You’ve changed,” she said softly.

Felix smirked faintly without looking at her.

“So have you.”

Jessica looked outside the window.

Streetlights reflected across the wet roads.

After several minutes of silence, she finally asked the question burning inside her.

“Are you married?”

Felix tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

“No.”

Jessica’s heartbeat skipped.

“Why?”

Felix laughed dryly.

“Because after you, every woman started looking fake.”

Jessica looked down immediately.

Guilt stabbed deeply into her chest.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Felix didn’t respond.

The jeep continued moving.

Soon they entered felix’s estate.Jessica couldn't believe she was back into somewhere she was stopped from entering.

Felix!

Jessica called out.

After the issue that occured between us,I came back here but the securities didn't let me in.

Don't worry, everything is settled now.Felix said.