At this, Olaedo began to piece together that something was amiss. She decided to remain composed and observe how he handled the situation.
If Chibuzor failed to accord her the respect she deserved, they would need to have a serious conversation. And if, after that, he did not change, then this contract would end, no matter what it cost her.
'Living with a man who doesn't respect me?' she thought bitterly. 'No way! I'm not signing up for Maduabuchi Part 2: The Sequel. The CEO I married to stabilize my business betrays me as well? Not happening. Let's see how he handles this first.'
Feigning confusion, she shook her head and replied, "I never request for anything specific because no one has ever asked me. Sandwich and tea is not a bad choice, though, so I just went with it."
Chibuzor's expression darkened as his sharp gaze landed on the housekeeper. His voice was like a whip. "You have never once forgotten to ask me what I want to eat at any part of the day. But you have been skipping such an important task of asking your Young Madam? What? you don't recognize her? Do you think she is not worthy?"
His words struck like a hammer, and the housekeeper flinched under his intense glare. But deep down, Chibuzor knew this situation was partly his fault. The housekeeper likely assumed that because of how he had chosen this wife, practically at random, she didn't matter to him.
But they could not have been more wrong.
Fake marriage or not, she was still his legal wife. And no one, not even himself, had the right to disrespect her.
'She's mine to protect, and I will not let anyone forget it.'
Chibuzor's guess was spot-on. The housekeeper had deliberately assigned the task to one of the cooks, prioritizing the young master alone. After all, this young madam didn't seem to matter much in her husband's eyes, or so he believed.
Sweating profusely, the housekeeper finally spoke, his voice shaky. "Young Master, I just thought she wouldn't mind..."
Before he could finish, Chibuzor cut him off with an edge of steel in his voice. "Who's the cook you assigned the task to for the past three months?"
The housekeeper faltered, then reluctantly pointed towards one of the young cooks. "It... It's her, sir."
All eyes turned to the cook, their gazes a mix of confusion and suspicion. They had noticed her unusual behavior around the young madam, but the kitchen staff knew the truth, this girl harbored resentment toward their new mistress.
Chibuzor's glare could have frozen fire. He stepped toward the young cook, his tone as sharp as a blade. "So, you thought it was fine to disrespect my wife? Do you think I'm dead?"
The cook's heart raced as he advanced. For two years, she had dreamed of this moment of catching his attention. But not like this. Not like this.
She had started working in the main building two years ago and had spent that time finding every opportunity to be noticed by him. He never even looked her way. That hadn't discouraged her, though. Since there was no other woman in his life, she kept trying.
But all her hopes crumbled when Chibuzor brought home a woman last three months, introduced her as his wife, and made the entire household welcome her as "Young Madam."
Her jealousy burned like a raging fire. She hadn't slept a wink after the introductions.
When the housekeeper assigned asking what the young madam wanted for meal times to her, she saw an opportunity. Perhaps if she occasionally went up to the third floor, she might leave a greater impression on Chibuzor. But the housekeeper warned her to stay in her place and wait for young madam to come downstairs or call before asking her.
Still, as she noticed the housekeeper prioritizing the young master's breakfast and ignoring the new madam, a dark thought crept into her mind: 'If the young master doesn't seem to care about her, why should I?'
Fueled by envy, she decided to serve Olaedo food meant for the staff for the last three months. While the food was of good quality, it was far from the luxurious meals typically served to family or honored guests. She convinced Chef Ezinne and the others that the young madam had always asked for a simple sandwich and tea or another simple dish.
When Olaedo unexpectedly approached the kitchen, the cook panicked, fearing she would be exposed. But the young madam agreed to the meal without a word, reinforcing the cook's belief that she wasn't significant to the young master.
During breakfast, the cook deliberately blocked Olaedo while serving Chibuzor, leaning in with her low cut uniform in an attempt to capture his attention. But Chibuzor barely acknowledged her. Instead, he teased Olaedo with a gentle smile before returning to his newspaper, oblivious to the cook's efforts.
This made her seethe. 'What's so special about this woman?'
She gloated inwardly, pleased that the young madam had no idea she was eating a servant's meal. But when Olaedo started scratching and alarming everyone, her confidence wavered.
'This was supposed to be harmless!'
She wondered why it never happened before, and watched anxiously as Olaedo recovered. Relieved that the incident didn't escalate, she rushed to the housekeeper, requesting leave to "lay low" for a few days, but didn't tell him the real reason.
But before she could slip away unnoticed, she was summoned to face judgment.
She felt an intense pressure descend on her and instinctively looked up Chibuzor stood towering above her, his presence more imposing than ever. She froze, momentarily dazed by the striking handsomeness of his face, even in weariness
Then
Smack!
Chibuzor's palm collided with her left cheek, the force sending her sprawling backward. The imprint of his hand flared red on her skin as she fell to the ground, stunned. The slap echoed in the silence, shocking everyone in the room, including Olaedo.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dear Readers,
It's your author here! I want to take a moment to address this scene. I do not condone violence in any form, it is harmful and there are always better, more constructive ways to handle conflict. Chibuzor's actions in this moment are intentionally written to serve as a pivotal point for his character's growth.
This story is fiction, but I strive to create characters and situations that feel real, with all their imperfections. Just like in real life, no one is perfect, and growth is a journey. Mistakes don't define a person as inherently bad, and Chibuzor is no exception. He is not an abuser, but rather someone learning and evolving, with Olaedo playing a significant role in his transformation. Thank you for staying with the story as we explore the complexities of growth and redemption together.
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