Chapter 2 —You Belong To Me Now
1438 Words
By the time Adaeze got home, the rain had reduced to a soft drizzle.
The streetlights flickered weakly over the narrow road leading to her apartment building in Yaba. The compound gate creaked as she pushed it open, exhaustion sitting heavily in her chest.
Everything about tonight felt unreal.
Damien Black.
That office.
That stare.
The way he spoke like he already owned every broken piece of her life.
Adaeze wrapped her blazer tighter around herself as she climbed the staircase to the second floor. Her heels clicked against the concrete steps while her mind replayed his words over and over again.
If I choose someone, Adaeze… I know everything.
A chill ran through her.
She reached her apartment door—
—and froze.
A black envelope sat neatly on the floor.
No stamp.
No courier label.
Just her name written across it in clean silver ink.
Adaeze slowly bent down and picked it up.
The paper was thick and expensive beneath her fingers.
Her heartbeat quickened.
How?
She had barely left Blackthorn Holdings thirty minutes ago.
Nobody should have reached here before her.
Unless—
Unless Damien had arranged it before she even agreed to the job.
The thought made her stomach tighten uneasily.
She unlocked her apartment quickly and stepped inside before shutting the door behind her.
The tiny apartment suddenly felt colder than usual.
Too quiet.
Adaeze dropped her bag on the couch and opened the envelope carefully.
Inside was a contract.
Thick.
Detailed.
Official.
Her eyes scanned the pages.
Salary.
Accommodation allowance.
Travel agreements.
Confidentiality clauses.
And then—
Her breath caught.
A monthly amount large enough to completely change her life.
Adaeze sat down slowly.
This was insane money.
Enough to clear her debts.
Enough to take care of her brother comfortably.
Enough to finally breathe.
But nothing came free around men like Damien Black.
Nothing.
Her phone buzzed suddenly on the table, making her jump.
Amara Calling.
Adaeze exhaled before answering.
“Hey.”
“Oh my God,” Amara screamed instantly. “Did you get the job?!”
Adaeze rubbed her forehead tiredly. “I think so.”
“You THINK so? Babe, that man is literally one of the richest men alive.”
“I noticed.”
“So what happened?”
Adaeze hesitated.
How exactly was she supposed to explain Damien?
How he looked at her like he already knew her secrets?
How he somehow knew about Richard?
How terrifyingly calm he was?
“It was… strange.”
Amara laughed. “Strange rich men are still rich men. Please secure the bag.”
Adaeze smiled faintly despite herself.
Amara had always been like this. Loud. Funny. Reckless.
Sometimes Adaeze envied her ability to move through life without fear.
“You don’t understand,” Adaeze said quietly. “Something about him feels wrong.”
“Wrong how?”
“I don’t know.” She stood and walked toward the window. “Like he’s hiding something.”
Before Amara could respond—
A familiar black SUV slowly pulled up outside the building.
Adaeze’s entire body stiffened.
No.
No no no.
The driver’s door opened.
Richard stepped out.
Her blood turned to ice instantly.
Even from the second floor, she recognized him immediately.
Tall.
Handsome.
Dangerous.
The kind of man people trusted too quickly.
The kind of man who smiled while destroying you.
“Adaeze?” Amara’s voice sharpened through the phone. “What’s wrong?”
“He’s here.”
Silence.
“Richard?”
Adaeze couldn’t breathe properly.
Richard leaned casually against his car downstairs like he belonged there.
Like he hadn’t spent months making her terrified of shadows and late-night phone calls.
“Lock your door,” Amara said immediately.
Already done.
But fear was never logical.
Fear remembered things.
Richard slowly lifted his head toward her window.
And smiled.
Adaeze stepped back instantly.
“He saw me.”
“Call your brother.”
“No.” Her voice shook slightly. “No, Chike will make things worse.”
Her younger brother was protective to a fault. If he came here and fought Richard again—
God.
The last time had nearly ended in blood.
Then her phone beeped.
Another message.
From Richard.
I know about your new boss.
Adaeze stared at the words in horror.
How was he always watching?
How?
Another message came immediately.
You think a billionaire can save you?
A knock suddenly sounded at her door.
Adaeze nearly screamed.
Her entire body froze.
Another knock.
Slow.
Deliberate.
“Adaeze,” Richard’s voice called softly from outside.
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.
Amara was still speaking frantically through the phone but Adaeze could barely hear anything over the panic roaring inside her ears.
“Adaeze, listen to me carefully—”
Another knock.
“Adaeze.”
Tears of frustration burned behind her eyes instantly.
Why wouldn’t he leave her alone?
What more did he want from her?
“Adaeze,” Richard said again, voice calmer now. “Open the door.”
She backed away shakily.
“No.”
A soft laugh came from outside.
“You still scare easily.”
Her stomach twisted painfully.
Because once upon a time, she hadn’t been afraid of him.
Once upon a time, Richard had been charming.
Protective.
Loving.
Until he wasn’t.
Until love became control.
Until apologies became bruises hidden beneath long sleeves.
Until she realized dangerous men rarely looked dangerous in the beginning.
Her phone vibrated again.
Unknown Number.
Adaeze stared at it for a second before answering cautiously.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then—
“Open your curtains.”
Her breath caught instantly.
Damien.
His deep voice slid through her body slowly, calmly.
Adaeze moved toward the window instinctively and pulled the curtain aside slightly.
Across the street, a black Rolls Royce sat quietly beneath the rain.
Her pulse stopped.
Damien was inside.
Watching.
“How long have you been there?” she whispered.
“Long enough.”
Fear and confusion tangled violently inside her chest.
“You followed me?”
“I protect what belongs to me.”
The words hit her hard.
“What?”
Downstairs, Richard knocked again.
Harder this time.
“Adaeze.”
Damien’s voice darkened slightly through the phone.
“He’s becoming impatient.”
“How do you know—”
“I know everything.”
God.
This man truly terrified her.
“What do you want from me?” she whispered.
A pause.
Then quietly—
“Sign the contract.”
Adaeze’s eyes widened.
“You can’t be serious.”
“He won’t stop,” Damien said calmly. “Not unless someone stronger stands between both of you.”
“You sound like you’ve done this before.”
“I have.”
Something cold moved down her spine.
Outside her door, Richard’s patience finally snapped.
A loud bang echoed through the apartment.
Adaeze jumped.
“Adaeze!” Richard barked now. “Open the damn door.”
Tears burned her eyes immediately.
Her hands trembled.
And somehow Damien heard it through the phone.
His voice softened slightly.
“Look at me.”
She glanced outside again toward the Rolls Royce.
Even from this distance, she could see him clearly now.
Watching her through the tinted window.
Still.
Controlled.
Predatory.
“You’re safe tonight,” Damien said quietly. “Because I’m here.”
Nothing about those words should have comforted her.
But somehow—
Somehow they did.
Another violent bang shook the door.
“Adaeze!”
She flinched.
Then Damien spoke again.
“Sign the contract,” he repeated softly. “And I’ll make sure no man ever touches you again.”
Her breathing slowed.
Not from peace.
From something far more dangerous.
Temptation.
Because for the first time in months—
Adaeze felt protected.
Even if the protection came from a man who looked capable of destroying her too.
Downstairs, Richard suddenly went silent.
Adaeze frowned slightly and looked outside again.
Two men in black suits had appeared beside him.
Bodyguards.
Damien’s bodyguards.
Richard’s expression darkened instantly as one of the men said something to him.
The tension on the street shifted dangerously.
Then Richard slowly lifted his head toward Adaeze’s window one last time.
And dragged a finger across his throat.
A promise.
A threat.
Before getting into his car and driving away.
Adaeze’s knees nearly gave out from relief.
“You see?” Damien murmured through the phone. “You need me.”
Silence filled the room.
Then slowly—
Adaeze looked down at the contract in her hand.
And for the first time…
She realized signing it might not just cost her freedom.
It might cost her soul too.
- Writer
