His résumé was one of the best she had seen, and she concluded he was the most suitable candidate for the role.
Unintentionally or not, her fondness for him made her even more certain of her choice.
Once Maduabuchi joined the company, they interacted frequently, their connection deepening with every passing day. It was not long before he asked Olaedo to be his girlfriend, expressing his intention to marry her in the future.
Olaedo didn't hesitate. She was already in love with him. A few weeks into their relationship, she revealed that she was, in fact, the CEO of the company.
Maduabuchi acted shocked at the revelation, but thinking back now, after his betrayal, Olaedo suspected he had probably known all along.
Their relationship flourished for six months. Maduabuchi was attentive, helpful, and always prioritized her. She adored him, believing she had found the perfect partner.
But after six months, his behavior changed. He no longer seemed interested in being with her as much, and prioritizing her became a thing of the past. Yet, by then, she was deeply attached. His earlier actions had hooked her so thoroughly that she justified his distance, eager to hold onto the relationship despite the growing cracks.
Whenever Nnenna or her family tried to talk sense into her about Maduabuchi's behavior, Olaedo always found excuses for him. And when she confronted him about his increasing withdrawal, he masterfully guilt tripped her, making her feel like the problem. Over time, she convinced herself that she needed to be a better girlfriend to keep him happy.
One such occasion was their one year anniversary dinner. They had reserved a table at an upscale restaurant months in advance. Olaedo, as always, was punctual, arriving exactly on time and eagerly waiting for Maduabuchi. She assumed he was running late because of work, he had told her he had taken a second job at another company to save money for their wedding.
Thirty minutes passed. Olaedo's optimism began to waver, so she decided to call him. The phone rang slowly for a long time before he finally answered.
"Chi, where are you? I'm at the restaurant already. Are you on your way?"
She heard muffled muttering amidst a cacophony of noise, cheering, loud music, and voices. It sounded like a nightclub.
"Honey, I can't hear you properly. Can you step away from the noise?" she asked, her tone a mix of confusion and unease.
The background noise faded slightly, and his soothing voice came through. "My dear, I'm still working late. I'm really sorry, but I can't make it to the anniversary dinner. I'll make it up to you, my angel."
Olaedo frowned. This excuse was becoming all too familiar. A wave of frustration surged through her.
"Of all days to work late, you chose the day of our one year anniversary. Do you even love me?" she asked, her voice laced with hurt.
Her words seemed to trigger something in Maduabuchi. His tone turned cold and sharp.
"I'm working so hard to make enough money to marry you and be worthy of you, and you're here complaining about a dinner?" he snapped. "You're being so selfish! How can you behave like this? You used to be so understanding. I don't know what's happened to you."
Olaedo's grip on the phone tightened as he continued, his voice growing louder and harsher.
"Don't you want us to get married? Don't you see I'm doing this for you? Everything I do is because of you! Do you think I want to exhaust myself like this? Sometimes, I feel like you don't appreciate my efforts. I'm trying my best, but you're always demanding more. Can't you be more understanding?!"
His words hit like sharp daggers. Olaedo felt her anger flare up, but she quickly suppressed it. She had always known their dynamic, her position as a CEO and billionaire often caused tension in their relationship.
Due to this, she had bent over backward to accommodate his insecurities, constantly reminding herself that no man would feel completely at ease dating a woman higher than him in social status.
But his repeated use of the same excuses was wearing her thin. She wanted him to succeed and save money for her bride price, as was customary for their traditional rites, but did that mean he could no longer make time for her?
Besides, her people would never make things difficult for him since they love her.
Still, knowing that escalating the argument would only worsen things, she chose to step back.
"I'm sorry, honey. Please calm down," she said, her voice soft and placating. "I just thought today was special and hoped you could make an exception. If you have to keep working, that's fine. We'll reschedule for another day, okay?"
On the other end of the line, Maduabuchi smiled to himself. His tactic had worked yet again. "Yes, today is special, but it won't be as special as our wedding day, okay? I have to get back to work now. Just fix another day if it's so important"
Then he warned sternly "And please, stop bringing up these things, you know how much it upsets me. You shouldn't be making me angry like this. I thought you knew me better by now. Anyway, bye."
Olaedo quietly agreed, feeling crushed but unwilling to argue further. She sat there alone in the restaurant, tears brimming in her eyes. But as a public figure, she could not afford to let anyone see her break down. After a moment, she collected her bag and left, driving home in silence.
On the drive, her mind kept circling back to the faint sounds she had heard in the background during their call, club music. It didn't add up.
If he was working late, why was there such noise? Were they entertaining clients in a nightclub? Her doubts grew, but she dared not ask him; she knew it would only provoke his anger and lead to yet another emotional confrontation.