The CEO'S Contract Wife

Continues

CHAPTER 8: THE AUNT ATTACKS

The next morning, Ngozi was alone.

Chike hadn’t come home.

The doorbell rang at 11am.

When the housekeeper opened it, the temperature dropped.

*Ada Obi.*

Red power suit. Red lipstick. Red flags everywhere.

Chike’s aunt. And his biggest enemy.

"Mrs. Obi," Ada said, smiling but not with her eyes. "I’m here for tea. With my niece-in-law."

Ngozi stood. "Aunty. Good morning. Chike isn’t—"

"I didn’t come for Chike," Ada cut in. "I came for you."

They sat in the living room. Two queens. One throne.

Ada sipped tea. "So. How’s married life? Chike treating you well?"

"Very well," Ngozi lied.

"Really? Because I heard you two haven’t been seen together in a week. Not even at the office."

Ngozi’s grip tightened on her cup. "We’re busy."

Ada leaned forward. "Let me be direct, dear. My brother left that company to Chike with conditions. Marriage being one of them."

Ngozi said nothing.

"If that marriage is fake, the board can vote to remove him. And guess who the shares go to then?" Ada smiled. "Me."

So that’s why she was here. To find cracks.

"Are you asking if our marriage is real?" Ngozi asked.

"I’m asking if you love my nephew."

The question hit Ngozi like a slap.

Because she didn’t know the answer.

Before she could respond, the front door opened.

Chike.

Hair messy. Suit wrinkled. He looked like he hadn’t slept in 3 days.

He stopped when he saw Ada.

"What are you doing here?"

"Checking on my nephew’s marriage," Ada said sweetly. "You look tired, Chike. Rough night at the office? Or... elsewhere?"

Chike walked straight to Ngozi. Stood beside her.

Took her hand.

Ngozi froze. Then, slowly, she didn’t pull away.

"We’re fine, Aunt Ada," Chike said, voice steel. "Married. Happy. Together. Anything else?"

Ada’s eyes flicked to their joined hands. To Ngozi’s face.

"Hmm. Interesting." She stood. "I’ll be watching. Both of you."

At the door she turned. "Oh, and Ngozi? Welcome to the family. Try not to break it."

Door closed.

Silence.

Chike let go of Ngozi’s hand immediately. Like it burned him.

"Thanks," he muttered. "For... that."

Ngozi nodded. "You’re welcome."

But her hand still tingled where he’d held it.

And for the first time, they were on the same side. Against someone else.

CHAPTER 9: THE APOLOGY

2:47am.

Ngozi couldn’t sleep. Again.

She heard the front door. Soft.

Chike.

She stayed in the guest room. Pretended to be asleep.

Footsteps stopped outside her door.

A knock. Barely there.

"Ngozi? Are you awake?"

She didn’t answer.

The door opened anyway.

Chike stood there in a white t-shirt and sweatpants. No CEO. No armor.

Just a tired man with dark circles.

"I’m sorry," he said immediately. "For yesterday. For leaving. For... all of it."

Ngozi sat up, hugging a pillow. "Why are you here, Chike?"

"Because I can’t do the cold war anymore." He ran a hand through his hair. "It’s stupid. We’re both miserable."

He sat on the floor. Not on the bed. Keeping distance.

"After the garden," he started, "when we almost—"

He stopped. "I panicked. Rule 3, right? No feelings. I made that rule because I’ve seen what happens when business and feelings mix. My parents... they were in love. Then they died in a plane crash because of a business rival."

Ngozi’s chest tightened.

"My grandfather made me promise. ‘Never let them use you, Chike. Marry for strategy, not love.’" He laughed bitterly. "So when I felt something for you that night, I got scared. I thought if I felt something, I’d lose control. Lose the company. Lose everything."

Ngozi was quiet for a long time.

"So you pushed me away to protect yourself?"

"To protect us," he corrected. "From this mess. From my aunt. From the board."

Ngozi stood and walked to the window. Rain again.

"And what about me? You think I don’t have people depending on me too? My dad’s company, my mom’s hospital bills... I signed that contract too, Chike."

"I know," he whispered. "And I’m sorry I made you feel like you were just a solution."

Silence.

Then: "What do we do now?" Ngozi asked.

Chike looked up at her. "We finish the year. But... can we at least be honest with each other? No more pretending at home. Just... us. Whatever ‘us’ is."

Ngozi turned. "No touching. No kissing. No feelings."

"Deal," Chike said. Too fast.

They both knew it was a lie.

Chike stood to leave. At the door he paused.

"For what it’s worth... the jacket looked better on you than me."

He left.

Ngozi smiled for the first time in a week.

The cold war was over.

The dangerous part was just beginnig.

CHAPTER 10: THE FLASHBACK

Ngozi found him in the study at 1am.

Whiskey in hand. Old photo album on the table.

"You’re drinking," she said softly.

Chike didn’t look up. "Want some?"

She sat beside him. Not touching.

He opened the album.

First page: A young Chike, maybe 8, between a beautiful woman and a tall man.

Both of them laughing. Both of them looking at him like he was the whole world.

"My parents," Chike said. "Obi Holdings started with them. Not my grandfather."

Ngozi listened.

"They were partners. In business and in life. Everyone said they were too in love to be good at business. Too soft."

He turned the page. Another photo. A plane.

"They were flying to London for a merger. Their biggest deal yet."

His voice went flat.

"The plane went down. Over the Atlantic. No survivors."

Ngozi’s breath caught. "Chike..."

"The investigation said it was an accident. My grandfather didn’t believe it." Chike took a sip. "He found emails. Their rival company knew about the merger. Knew they were on that plane. 3 weeks later that rival ‘mysteriously’ got the contract."

Ngozi stared at the photo.

"So your grandfather spent the next 20 years building Obi Holdings into a fortress. And he made me promise..."

"Never love someone in business," Ngozi finished.

"Never let anyone close enough to hurt me. Or to use me to get to the company."

The room was quiet except for the rain.

"That’s why the contract, Ngozi. That’s why the rules. That’s why I freaked out in the garden."

He finally looked at her. "Because for the first time since I was 10, I wanted to break every rule for someone."

Ngozi’s eyes burned. "I’m sorry. About your parents."

"Don’t be." He closed the album. "They were happy. For 12 years they were happy. That’s more than most people get."

He stood, but didn’t leave.

"My grandfather thought he was protecting me by making me marry without love. But maybe... maybe he was wrong."

Ngozi stood too. "Maybe."

They stood there, 2 feet apart. The space between them felt different now.

Not cold. Not empty.

Full. Of everything they weren’t saying.

Chike set his glass down. "Goodnight, Ngozi."

"Goodnight, Chike."

No one touched.

But when Ngozi went to bed, she didn’t sleep on the couch.

She slept in her bed.

And she dreamed of a little boy who lost everything.

CHAPTER 11: THE GALA

The invitation said: _"Obi Holdings Annual Charity Gala. Black Tie."_

Ngozi stared at the dress the stylist sent. Red. Backless. Dangerous.

"Mr. Obi requested this for you," the housekeeper said.

Chike was already downstairs when she came down.

Black tux. Hair perfect. Jaw tight.

He looked up and stopped breathing for 1 second.

"You look..." he started, then cleared his throat. "The car is waiting."

Rule: Appear perfect. Appear in love.

But nothing in the contract prepared them for this.

The ballroom was full of Lagos elites. Cameras. Whispers.

And Ada Obi, watching from the corner with a wine glass.

"Remember," Chike murmured, hand at the small of Ngozi’s back. "We’re happy."

For the cameras, he pulled her closer.

For Ada, he kissed her cheek.

For himself... he didn’t know why his hand stayed there.

"Mr. and Mrs. Obi!" A reporter. "How’s married life?"

Chike smiled. "Blissful."

Ngozi laughed. "He’s terrible at cooking but great at everything else."

They played the part too well.

Too many touches. Too many looks.

By midnight, even they believed it.

Then Ada cornered them by the terrace.

"Very convincing," she said. "Almost."

Chike stepped in front of Ngozi. "What do you want, Aunt?"

"Just a reminder," Ada smiled. "Contracts end. But families remember who was real... and who was lying."

She walked away.

Ngozi exhaled. "We did good."

Chike turned to her. The music was slow behind them.

"Did we?" His eyes dropped to her lips. Then back up. "Ngozi—"

"Mr. Obi!" An assistant interrupted. "We need you for photos."

The moment broke.

In the car home, silence.

Neither of them mentioned how close they’d come.

Neither of them mentioned that fake was starting to feel real.

CHAPTER 12: THE EVIDENCE

Ngozi’s design studio was quiet. 3pm.

Until the bell rang.

A man in a plain shirt. Clipboard. Fake smile.

"Mrs. Adele? I’m from the tenants association. Just verifying residency for building records."

Ngozi frowned. "We don’t have a tenants association."

He didn’t blink. "New policy. Can I ask a few questions about your marriage to Mr. Obi?"

The room went cold.

PI. Hired by Ada.

"Why would a tenants association care about my marriage?" Ngozi asked.

The man sighed. "Ma’am, we know it’s fake. We just need you to sign this paper saying you’ve been living separately. Makes it easier for everyone."

Ngozi’s heart pounded. "Get out of my studio."

He left a card. _"Call me when you’re ready to tell the truth. Ada Obi will pay well."_

---

That night Ngozi told Chike.

He went completely still.

"Describe him," Chike said.

"Mid 40s. Scar on left hand. Drove a black Toyota."

Chike slammed his fist on the table. "I know him. He works for her."

"What do we do?" Ngozi whispered.

Chike looked at her. Really looked.

"We fight back. Together."

He stood and walked to her. Took her hands.

"Ada wants proof we’re not real. So we give her proof we are."

Ngozi’s breath caught. "How?"

Chike’s thumb brushed her knuckles. "We move you into the master bedroom. Tonight. We post photos. We go to brunch with my mother on Sunday. We make it impossible for her to say it’s fake."

"That’s... a lot," Ngozi said. "Rule 3—"

"Rule 3 is dead," Chike cut in. "Ada is trying to destroy both of us. I’m not letting that happen."

Ngozi stared at their joined hands.

"Okay," she whispered. "Master bedroom."

Chike nodded. But he didn’t let go of her hands right away.

Later that night, Ngozi moved her things.

One suitcase. Into his room. Into his space.

His shirt was still on the chair. Smelled like him.

She lay in the huge bed. Alone.

The door opened.

Chike stood there in sweatpants. "Is this okay?"

Ngozi nodded.

He got in on the other side. 3 feet of space between them.

Neither slept.

At 4am, Ngozi whispered: "Chike?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For choosing me."

Silence.

Then: "I’m not choosing the contract, Ngozi. I’m choosing you."

Ngozi closed her eyes. The cold war was over.

Now came the war for real

CHAPTER 13: THE SLIP

The gala ended at 1am.

Flashing lights. Red carpet. Drivers everywhere.

Chike and Ngozi stepped out together.

"Smile," Chike murmured, hand at her waist. "Last photo."

Cameras exploded.

"Mr. Obi! Mrs. Obi! One more!"

Ngozi laughed and leaned into him. Playing the part.

Then a reporter yelled: "Ada Obi says your marriage is fake!"

The air froze.

Chike’s jaw ticked. He turned to Ngozi.

And in one second of pure instinct, he did what any "husband" would do.

He kissed her.

Not a peck on the cheek.

Not for the cameras.

His hand came up to cup her jaw. His thumb brushed her cheek.

And for 3 seconds too long, the world disappeared.

The cameras went WILD.

_Click click click_

When he pulled back, both of them were breathing hard.

Ngozi’s lips were parted. Chike’s eyes were dark.

"Let’s go," he said quietly. Voice rough.

In the car, silence.

Ngozi touched her lips. "That was... for the cameras."

Chike stared out the window. "Yeah. For the cameras."

His phone buzzed.

Then buzzed again. And again.

*@LagosGossipBlog*: _BREAKING: CEO Chike Obi caught in PASSIONATE kiss with wife at gala. Ada Obi’s claims DEBUNKED?_

*Comments: 2.4k*

_"That was NOT a fake kiss"_

_"The way he held her face???"_

_"Contract marriage my foot"_

Ngozi looked up from her phone. "Chike... it’s everywhere."

He finally looked at her. "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—"

"Don’t," Ngozi cut him off. "Don’t apologize for protecting us."

Their eyes met.

3 feet of space between them. Felt like nothing.

Chike’s phone rang. Ada.

He declined it.

"Tomorrow," Chike said. "Board meeting. They’ll ask about this."

Ngozi nodded. "Then we tell them the truth. That we’re a real couple."

"Are we?" Chike whispered.

Ngozi didn’t answer.

Because she didn’t know anymore.

CHAPTER 14: MORNING AFTER

The sun in Banana Island didn’t care that Lagos was on fire.

Ngozi woke up to the sound of her phone vibrating. 47 notifications.

Then 48.

Then 49.

She didn’t have to open i********: to know. The gala kiss was everywhere.

_“OBI GROUP CEO CAUGHT KISSING MYSTERY WOMAN”_

_“WHO IS SHE???”_

_“Contract wife or real wife? 👀”_

Her chest tightened. The contract said "appear as a couple in public."

It did NOT say "kiss like your life depends on it in front of 200 people and 20 cameras."

The door opened.

Chike walked in. White shirt. No tie. Hair still wet from the shower.

He looked... unaffected. Like he hadn’t just ruined both their lives on a red carpet.

“Morning,” he said. Casual. Like this was any other Tuesday.

“Your phone has been buzzing since 5am.”

Ngozi sat up, pulling the duvet to her chest. Separate rooms. Right.

But last night, after the gala, they’d ended up talking in his office till 2am.

And he’d walked her to her door.

And then... the kiss. Again. No cameras this time.

“Did you see it?” she asked, voice hoarse.

He held up his phone. Bloggers. Twitter. Even Nairaland.

Ada had already commented: _“My nephew is a grown man. He can kiss who he wants.”_

Translation: _I don’t approve but I can’t stop it._

“The board wants an emergency meeting by 10am,” Chike said. “To ‘address the optics.’”

Ngozi laughed. One bitter sound. “Optics. Right. Because the 1 Billion is looking very real right now.”

He crossed the room and stopped 2 steps from her bed. Close enough that she could smell his cologne.

“Was it part of the contract, Ngozi?”

Her heart stopped.

That was the question. The only question.

Last night, in the car, with his hand on her jaw and the whole of Lagos watching...

Had that been business?

Or had that been him?

“I don’t know,” she whispered. Truth. “Was it for you?”

Chike’s jaw ticked. For a second, the CEO mask slipped.

And she saw something raw. Something scared.

“10am meeting,” he said instead, turning away. “Wear something appropriate. We have to sell this.”

He left. Door clicked shut.

Ngozi looked down at her phone. New message. Unknown number.

*“You’re not good enough for him. Don’t get comfortable. -A”*

Aunt Ada.

Ngozi deleted it. Then she opened her notes app.

Rule 1: No love.

She highlighted it. And hit delete.

CHAPTER 15: OFFICE SHOWDOWN

10:02am. Obi Group, 30th Floor, Victoria Island.

The boardroom smelled like expensive cologne and trouble.

12 board members. Aunt Ada at the head of the table, smiling like a knife.

And at the other end: Chike and Ngozi.

Holding hands.

On purpose.

“Let’s address the elephant,” Ada said, tapping her gold pen. “The viral video.”

She hit play. The gala kiss. 4K. Slow motion. Chike’s hand on Ngozi’s waist.

Someone in the board whistled.

“Is this part of your marriage, Chike?” Ada asked sweetly. “Or part of a PR stunt?”

Chike didn’t flinch. “Both.”

The room went silent.

He stood up. Still holding Ngozi’s hand. “My wife and I are in love. If that’s a problem for Obi Group, then the problem is with you, not us.”

Ngozi’s breath caught. _Wife_. _In love_.

Those weren’t contract words.

A board member cleared his throat. “Mr. Obi, the contract with shareholders states-”

“States that I must be married,” Chike cut in. “It doesn’t say to who. It doesn’t say how we kiss her. And it definitely doesn’t give Aunt Ada the right to investigate my wife’s bank account.”

Ada’s smile dropped. “I was protecting the company-”

“From what?” Ngozi spoke. First time. Her voice didn’t shake.

“From a girl who saved this company by marrying him? Or from you losing control?”

Gasps.

Ada stood up. “You little-”

“Enough.” Chike’s voice cracked like glass. “The marriage is real. The kiss was real. And if anyone touches her, you answer to me. Meeting adjourned.”

He pulled Ngozi out. Past the cameras. Past the whispers.

Into the elevator.

Doors closed.

Silence.

Then Ngozi turned to him. “You didn’t have to say that.”

Chike looked down at their hands. Still joined.

“I know,” he said quietly. “That’s why I did.”

Ding. 29th floor. His office.

He didn’t let go of her hand.

CHAPTER 16: CLOSED DOORS

His office. 29th floor. Soundproof glass.

Chike shut the door and let go of her hand.

The air felt different. No cameras. No board. No Ada.

Just them.

“You lied,” Ngozi said first. Arms crossed. Heart hammering.

“In love? Really? That’s not in the contract, Mr. Obi.”

Chike walked to his desk. Poured two glasses of water. Didn’t drink either.

“The contract says we have to convince people. I convinced them.”

“That wasn’t convincing. That was...” She searched for the word. “That was claiming me.”

He turned. Eyes dark. “Is that a problem?”

Ngozi laughed, but it came out shaky. “You tell me. Rule 1 was no love, remember? You wrote it.”

“I wrote a lot of things.” He took a step closer. Then another.

“None of them included watching you get insulted by my aunt and doing nothing.”

The 1 Billion was in her account now. Dad’s surgery was scheduled for next week.

She was supposed to feel safe. So why did her chest hurt?

“What do you want from me, Chike?” she whispered.

He stopped right in front of her. Close. Too close.

“I want to know if that kiss at the gala was for them...”

His thumb brushed her jaw. Same spot as last night.

“...or if it was for me.”

Ngozi’s phone buzzed. Hospital. _“Surgery prep for Mr. Adele confirmed. 8am tomorrow.”_

Tears pricked her eyes. She blinked them away fast.

Chike saw. His whole expression changed. The CEO vanished.

“Hey,” he said softly. “Talk to me.”

“My dad’s surgery is tomorrow,” she said. “If this all blows up, if they cancel the last payment...”

“It won’t,” he said. Firm. Certain. “I promised you 1 Billion. You’ll get it. Every kobo.”

“But what about us after? After 12 months?”

Chike didn’t answer right away. He just looked at her. Like he was memorizing her.

“Let’s get through tomorrow first,” he said. “Then we’ll figure out the rest. Together.”

_Together._

Not contract words.

Her phone buzzed again. Ada. 3 missed calls.

And a text: _“The board isn’t done with you. Wait till tonight’s dinner.”_

Ngozi groaned. “Dinner?”

Chike’s jaw ticked. “Family dinner. At the house. Tonight.”

He sighed. “Welcome to hell, wife.”

She looked up at him. “Fake wife.”

He smiled. Small. Real. “Are we still doing that?”

She didn’t answer.

Chapter 17: Family Dinner From Hell

7:30pm. Obi Mansion, Ikoyi.

Crystal chandeliers. White tablecloth. 16 people.

And one very obvious contract wife.

Ngozi wore navy blue. Simple. Elegant. Not trying too hard.

Chike wore black. And he hadn’t let go of her hand since they walked in.

“Ah, the bride,” Ada sang from the head of the table. “Sit. Please.”

Translation: _Sit and be judged._

Board members. Their wives. Two of Chike’s cousins.

All eyes on Ngozi.

“So Ngozi,” started Mrs. Bello, wife of a board member. “What do you do?”

“I’m a textile designer,” Ngozi said. “My dad owns a factory in Onitsha.”

Ada smiled. “Used to own. Before the debts, right?”

The table went quiet.

Chike squeezed Ngozi’s hand under the table. “She’s here as my wife,” he said. Cold. “Not for an interview.”

“Relax nephew,” Ada said. “We’re just getting to know family.”

Dinner was served. Jollof. Goat meat. Pepper soup.

And questions. So many questions.

“Where did you meet?”

“Who proposed?”

“When’s the baby coming?”

Ngozi answered with the script they agreed on. Met at a fundraiser. He proposed in Paris. Baby? “We’re focusing on the company.”

Lies. All of it.

Then the maid dropped a tray. Crash.

Everyone jumped.

In the chaos, Ada leaned to Ngozi and whispered:

_“You think because he defended you today it’s over? The board already voted. If there’s any scandal in 30 days, you’re out. And so is your money.”_

Ngozi froze.

Chike noticed. “What?”

“Nothing,” Ngozi lied. Smiled.

Dessert came. Cake.

Ada stood up. “A toast! To my nephew and his... wife.”

She raised her glass. “May this marriage last as long as the contract.”

Everyone laughed. Nervous.

Chike stood too. Didn’t drink.

“The marriage will last as long as I want it to,” he said.

He looked straight at Ada. Then at Ngozi.

“And I want it to last.”

Boom.

Forks stopped. Jaws dropped.

Ngozi’s heart did something stupid. It believed him.

Dinner ended early.

In the car home, neither of them spoke for 5 minutes.

Then Ngozi said: “30 days. She said if there’s any scandal in 30 days we’re out.”

Chike cursed under his breath. “She went to the board behind my back.”

He pulled over. Turned to her.

“Listen to me. We can handle Ada. We can handle the board. But we can’t handle lying to each other.”

Ngozi nodded. Throat tight. “So no more lies?”

“No more lies,” Chike said.

He leaned in. And kissed her.

Slow. No cameras. No contract.

Just because he wanted to.

When he pulled back: “Dad’s surgery is 8am. I’ll be there.”

CHAPTER 18: HOSPITAL MORNING

8:00am. St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos.

Bright lights. Antiseptic smell. Fear.

Ngozi sat in the waiting room, hands shaking.

Dad’s surgery started 20 minutes ago.

The door opened.

Chike.

In a black shirt. No tie. No bodyguards.

Just him. With coffee. And her favorite meat pie.

“You came,” she whispered.

“I said I would,” he said. Sat next to her. Didn’t touch her. Not yet.

“Dad’s gonna be fine.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I don’t lose,” Chike said. Then softer: “And because you need him to be.”

3 hours passed.

Nurses walked by. Her phone kept buzzing. Ada. The board. Headlines: _“Obi CEO’s Mystery Wife”_

She ignored all of it.

Finally. The surgeon came out.

“Mr. Adele did great. He’s in recovery.”

Ngozi burst into tears. Relief. Ugly, messy relief.

Before she could stop herself, Chike pulled her into his chest.

“Shh. It’s over. He’s okay.”

His jacket smelled like him. Cedar and calm.

She let herself cry for 60 seconds. Then pulled back. Embarrassed.

“Thank you,” she said. “For being here.”

Chike wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb.

“That’s what husbands do, Ngozi.”

Not _fake_ husbands.

His phone rang. CFO.

“The last 500 Million. Where should we transfer it?”

Chike looked at Ngozi. “To her account. Right now. All of it.”

5 minutes later. _BEEP_

1,000,000,000.00 credited.

She stared at the screen. It was real. Dad was safe.

And she was free.

“You don’t owe me anything anymore,” she said quietly.

Chike’s jaw tightened. “Is that what you want? For this to be over?”

Ngozi didn’t answer. Because she didn’t know.

The contract was done. But her chest felt... full.

As they walked to see her dad, a reporter jumped out.

“Mrs. Obi! Is the marriage real? Is this a business deal?”

Chike stepped in front of her.

“She’s my wife,” he said. Clear. Loud. “And she’s off limits. Next question gets you sued.”

In the hospital room, Dad was awake. Weak but smiling.

“Is this him?” Dad asked, looking at Chike. “The one who helped us?”

Chike nodded. “Yes sir.”

Dad reached for Ngozi’s hand, then Chike’s. Put them together.

“Take care of my girl.”

Ngozi looked up at Chike. He squeezed her hand.