Deadly Desire

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 43

Nosa and his wife are already settled in Port Harcourt. The city is beautiful and they loved it.

Mr and Mrs Igiebor took them as their family. They are still grateful to Itohan.

Itohan opened her tailoring shop and stocked it with sewing items. Mrs Igiebor also introduced a home lesson teacher to her and she began to learn. She even connected Itohan to influential women whom she made clothes for.

Nosa opened a lucrative business in a well sited location and he was doing well. He later expanded his business, and employed an additional hand. When he told Itohan that he had employed someone, she was surprised.

“Na man or woman?” She asked.

“A young lady”

“Hmmm!”

“What is it Itohan?”

“Nothing oo!”

“Relax Itohan.

“I don hear”

Nosa laughed. He sat beside her on the chair.

“I know what you are thinking Itohan. I am not that kind of man. I made a mistake in the past and will not return to my vomit. Relax!, I just want you to trust me”

“Alright”

He kissed her forehead and smiled at her.

Itohan is good at what she does. A lot of people patronizes her.

A car parked in front of her shop. She had never met the man that stepped down from the car. They greeted and he explained that he was directed by someone to her.

“I hope there is no problem sir” She asked.

“No madam. I was told you sew well”

Itohan smiled and nodded.

“I dey try my best” She said.

“My wife’s birthday is next month and I want you to make something beautiful for her”

“Oo oh!, Na my work. Tell her make she come make she tell me the style she go like” She said.

“She is at home. Don’t you do home service. I will cover your transport”

“Just give me the address”

The man gave her the address and her transport fare. Itohan didn’t go that day, but the following day, she went straight to the address she was given.

The man and his wife were home. The house smelt of money. His wife Cynthia is a nice lady. Itohan discovered why the woman could not follow her husband to her shop.

She was on a wheel chair. Cynthia had an accident few years ago and has been on a wheelchair.

Itohan took her measurement and she described the style she wanted. The materials were handed over to Itohan.

After collecting an advance payment, she left. Surprisingly, the man was coming everyday for the clothes.

“Oga, the clothes aren’t ready. I will inform you when i don sew finish” trying to speak good English.

“I didn’t come for the clothes”

“Ehen”

“True. I came to see you. I like you. You’re a beautiful woman.

Itohan laughed.

“Oga, I be married woman oo. If I be you I nor go desire wetin go kill me. Stay glue to your wife oo. The only thing wey connect me and you na your wife clothes wey I dey sew. Oga, abeg, no come here until I call you to come collect am. Infact it will be ready next week Thursday. Try come collect am ”

The man stopped coming to her shop. When the clothes were ready, he didn’t come as planned.

Two days later, Itohan closed early, took a bike to the man’s house. She was surprised to see policemen around. She saw the man and a lady in handcuffs.

“Wetin dey happen for here?” She asked a lady.

“Aah!. No mind this wicked man oo. He beat his wife to stupor”

“Haa!” Itohan shouted

“On top what?”

“He brought home this woman and announced to his wife he has married a new wife. The woman confronted him and he started beating her. He has been beating her, but yesterday the beating was worse. Cynthia called her brother to inform him that she was going through hell. Angry that she called her brother, he took the phone and smashed it on the wall. In the process of beating her, the poor woman fell and was later rushed to the hospital”

“Ewooo!”

Itohan with tears rolling down her cheeks saw the man receive terrible slaps.

“It was a mistake” He cried.

“You know he was married with two kids and you still followed him to his matrimonial home. Who does that?” Cynthia’s brother screamed.

The woman was pregnant. She covered her face with her palms sobbing. Itohan called the maid aside and handed the clothes to her.

“When your madam well give it to her”

She waited until the man and his pregnant girlfriend were whisked away by the police.

Itohan took a bike home and narrated everything to her husband when he had returned.

“I pray God heal her from that trauma”

“Amen”

“Some men are so pathetic. Why plan for her birthday when he don give another woman belle?. Na wa oo”

———————————–

Nicole had just returned from her business. It was late and she was hungry as well. Quickly, she showered then entered the kitchen to prepare supper. She had dished food for herself before she heard a knock on the gate.

Nicole rushed to the gate and opened it for Adenike. They exchanged pleasantries. Nicole even helped her to carry her handbag. Adenike was not looking happy and Nicole noticed. Dropping the bag on the chair she faced Ade.

“You are not happy. Did anything happen at the office today?”

“No!, Nothing like that!”

“Is it Sebastian?”

“Not really”

“Talk to me Ade. I don’t like seeing you or anyone like this”

Forcing herself to smile.

“Relax girl!, I am fine. Maybe I am stressed up”

“Maybe?”

“Yes” She said entering room.

Nicole shrug her shoulder in resignation, then took her position in the dining. She waited for Ade to come and join her but she didn’t. She cleared her plates after eating, then returned to the sitting room.

Nicole settled down for a nice program. Glancing at the big clock on the wall, It was 9:30pm. The feeling of discomfort took over her and she knock on Ade’s room. When there was no response, she entered the room and met her friend on the bed sobbing.

“What is it Ade?” She asked helping her to sit up.

“Nothing” She said wiping her tears

“No!, Don’t tell me nothing. You are crying for God’s sake”

Ade kept mute trying to sniffle back tears. Nicole waited for her to open up but she kept mute.

“Take it easy Ade. Tears has never been proven to solve problems. I don’t want you to cry again. I am available if you are ready to talk” She helped her friend up and hugged her.

Nicole left the room, put off the television and went to her room. On her bed, she began to wonder why Ade was so emotional. Maybe Sebastian has broken up with her or something bad happened at her office. Breathing deeply, she closed her eyes and opened again.

“Maybe we are not destined to get married. We have past our prime” She thought out loud.

“Henceforth, I will take life easy. I will be happy. I will treat myself nicely”

Facing the wall, Nicole closed her eyes and zoomed off. By morning, Nicole stepped into the sitting room and met Adenike coming out of the kitchen.

“Good morning” She greeted Nicole cheerfully.

“Aren’t you going to work?”

“No”

“Alright”

“Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure”

Nicole sat with her in the dining room.

“I was so emotional yesterday”

“It’s alright”

Adenike took a sip from her tea and smiled deeply.

“Sebastian doesn’t pick my calls or reply to my messages”

“Hmmm!, Did you have a fight before now?”

“No!. Nothing like that”

“For the past weeks, I have been trying to reach him. Most times he busied my call. So I told Pastor about it because I was worried. I even tried to locate his house but received the shook of my life. Ade paused and sipped her tea.

“The address he gave me was fake. It doesn’t exist. I walked round the street and there was no number 23”

Nicole saw how Ade struggled to keep calm.

“No wonder I have not been seeing him in church. Do you know where he works?”

“No!”

“It’s alright. I am just wondering why he would give you a fake address”

“That is what made me to go emotional”

“It’s okay!, Relax. We will pray about it”

“Do you know I have never asked God to reveal his mind concerning him?”

“Aaah!, It’s dangerous not to”

“I will be intentional about it henceforth. I have to pray.

“You would have gotten a go ahead from God before accepting his proposal”

Nicole hugged her after encouraging her. She drove out of the house confused and wondered why a man would show interest in a woman, propose to her, give her fake address. She got to her shop but could not concentrate.