Without sparing her another glance, Chibuzor accepted a hand sanitizer and hankie from one of the nearby servants. He meticulously wiped his hands, scrubbing them until they turned red. His voice was as cold as ice when he spoke,
"Housekeeper, throw her out of my estate. After that, report to me to receive your own punishment"
The housekeeper's face paled, dread pooling in his eyes. He bowed stiffly before hauling the girl away with the help of a few guards. She didn't resist, still too dazed by the force of the slap to comprehend what was happening.
Chibuzor's sharp gaze swept over the remaining chefs and cooks. He paused as if contemplating their fate but ultimately said nothing. What he didn't know was that all of them had kept silent earlier when the girl openly disrespected his wife,
Returning to his seat, Chibuzor's jaw tightened as he realized his appetite was gone. He gestured dismissively at Olaedo, his tone curt.
"Eat whatever you like. If it's not here, have them prepare it. I'lI be in my study."
He strode out of the dining room without waiting for her response, his footsteps brisk and deliberate.
Olaedo watched his retreating figure her thoughts racing. 'He's furious.'
She shook her head in disbelief. The way he dealt with that girl, so ruthless! Yet, I've been provoking him since the day we met, and he's never once raised a hand against me.
Her lips curved into an unexpected smile. For all his coldness, Chibuzor had displayed a depth of respect for her, one she hadn't expected in this arrangement. He had personally defended her without hesitation and had silently endured her sharpness.
Relaxing in her chair, Olaedo felt a strange warmth settle over her. She glanced around the grand dining room, feeling more at ease than she had since stepping into his house
'Maybe this marriage isn't so bad after all'
Still, as she considered his actions, she couldn't ignore the faint regret she had seen in his eyes before he turned away. She had caught it, just a flicker, but it was there. His strict code of discipline didn't excuse the slap, and it seemed he wasn't entirely at peace with it either.
Her resolve solidified. "I'll have to talk to him about this. His respect for me is clear, but I can't ignore his methods. They can't stay this way, not if we're going to make this marriage work."
For now, though, she allowed herself to relax and eat. The shadows of the incident remained, but so did a small, undeniable warmth from the way Chibuzor had stood up for her. Even in a fake marriage, that had to count for something.
In his study, Chibuzor pursed his lips, his expression darkening. He was not the type to resort to violence, let alone against a woman. But he's anger had gotten the better of him "Looks like I still have some work to do on myself."
It was the weekend, so he picked up his phone and sent Olaedo the schedule for their "posing practice" and performance review for their fake marriage. They needed to wrap up what they hadn't finished the previous day. Once they were done, they could go their separate ways for the day. It took them more time than they thought to perfect their act in the past three months.
As he waited for her to finish breakfast and join him, his phone buzzed. Olisa's name lit up the screen.
"Young Master Onuh Olisa," the caller ID read, as if announcing his arrival.
Chibuzor answered the call, listening as Olisa's voice came through. "I've passed the main gate and will be at your residence shortly."
Chibuzor rose from his chair, intending to personally welcome his sworn brother and introduce him to Olaedo. But just as he headed to the door, his new assistant sent him an urgent message requiring his immediate attention. With a sigh, he dialed Olaedo instead.
"Olaedo, one of my friends, Olisa, the one I mentioned before. He is coming over to check on you. Could you please welcome him at the door? I have something urgent to handle but will join you soon."
"Okay," she agreed without hesitation, her mind already pondering how to interact with this friend. She had heard of the illustrious Young Master Onuh Olisa, a prodigy in the medical field. He had completed medical school, his internship, housemanship, and national service in just under seven years, a feat that normally took a decade or more.
Dabbling in various fields, from general medicine to surgery, he was now specializing in gynecology.
Hearing a car approach, she rose from the sofa, smoothing her dress. "Time to meet the genius," she thought, her expression calm.
Olisa parked his car in front of the main residence, his movements brisk as he hurried inside. He was curious about the woman who had managed to make Chibuzor leave their Association of Single Men. Knowing his way around the estate, he walked in unannounced, not bothering with formalities.
Olaedo stepped forward to greet him, observing the man before her, a chocolate-complexioned young man, about Chibuzor's age, dressed casually in home clothes. As he approached, she smiled politely.
"Welcome to our home, Young Master Onuh. I'm Mrs. Arinze Olaedo, Chibuzor's wife. Hubby says you're one of his closest friends and speaks highly of you. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Olisa "..."
Hubby? Olisa's thoughts screeched to a halt. So it's real, then.
Instead of responding, he assessed her silently, his gaze scrutinizing. Why does she look so familiar? And that bit about Chibuzor speaking highly of him? Highly unlikely.
"So," he began, his tone laced with sarcasm, "you're the one who made him abandon our Association of Single Men? What's so special about you? Honestly, you don't seem like much."
He stepped closer, his stern face unyielding.
Olaedo raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback. What kind of friends does Chibuzor keep? Association of Single Men? And his behavior, this wasn't just childish; it was absurd.