Abuja To Lagos
Episode 9 ?❤
Hunting through the fridge and his pantry, Adaora made herself a small breakfast and sat at the table to await Clifford’s return.
All the while, all her insecurities re-surfaced. Old habits die hard.
She couldn’t believe that Clifford would just leave her like that. Didn’t he want her? He said he did. Was he lying? Or was he just now coming to his senses? After all, they had a romantic week away, and now that they were back in their regular worlds, maybe things weren’t so perfect after all.
Most of her breakfast remained uneaten when Adaora heard the garage door open and Clifford’s car pulled in. She looked over at the clock, it was close to ten o’clock. Contractually, their relationship would end once he paid her.
What am I going to do?
The door opened quietly and Clifford entered the kitchen. He saw Adaora’s luggage by the door and then his eyes fixed on her, sitting at the table where they had their first conversation. He had two envelopes in his hands.
The expression on her face must not have been very good because he immediately started looking worried.
“Hi,” he said meekly. “I’m sorry for leaving so early … I, uh, didn’t think they would take so long at the bank.”
“That’s okay,” Adaora replied, more curtly than she should have.
Clifford sat down at the table. He placed the thick envelopes on the table. Both of them knew what those envelopes represented.
Neither wanted to be the first one to talk.
Finally, Clifford cleared his throat. “I …um ..had a great time this week, Adaora.”
“I did, too,” she said with a sigh. She needed a sign from him. Something to tell her that she hadn’t been played.
“I—” he started. There was a long pause. “I don’t suppose we could see each other again? Go out to dinner or for drinks?”
“I don’t date clients,” Adaora replied reflexively, and almost immediately she wished she had kept her mouth shut.
Clifford fell silent. He looked away and out the window.
She searched his face for hints. There was pain there, not the same as he felt for his wife. But something new. It probably matched her own.
Her emotions struggled for control. Her once-contained feelings told her to say one thing. The business-like whore told her to say something different.
Clifford appeared to be at a similar loss for words.
What are you thinking? she wanted to ask him, but couldn’t.
As the two parts of her warred over what she should say, they quickly came to a consensus. Sh|t or get off the pot. Make a decision, Adaora. Head or heart. You can’t follow us both.
“Did we have something last week, Clifford?” she said finally. Her voice was so low, she wasn’t sure she said it out loud. “Something real?”
“Yes,” he whispered. His response was so immediate, she knew it could only be the truth.
What am I going to do?
Order or disorder. Money or love. What am I going to do?
Adaora stood up, her chair sliding back across the floor. Clifford looked up at her in alarm.
“I don’t want your money, Clifford,” she said. Her decision was made. Her stomach churned.
Head or heart. Those were her choices. She could walk away from Clifford. He was, after all, a paying client. She had buried her feelings before, she could do so again.
But at what cost? Happiness? A family? Love? And for what? A few cash and another decade in a profession she loathed? Was it worth it?
Not anymore.
Clifford had a disbelieving look on his face. His jaw dropped.
“You know I don’t own myself in this business?” Adaora reminded him.
“Omalicha?”
She nodded her head.
“Oh! That’s not a problem. I’ll pay her off.”
“Um, …”
“What’s that? How much is her percentage? How much do you owe her?”
“It’s not about money, Clifford.”
“Ok, tell me what it is… I’m all ears.”
She stammered and mumbled some incoherent words.
“Be free with me. Tell me about it.”
“The truth is, everyone working under Omalicha went through some spiritual…” she trailed off.
“Spiritual what?” Clifford was shocked.
“Yes, you heard me right. I can’t decide to end being a call girl without her consent. She can make my life miserable.”
“d@mn it! Wait, are there consequences that await your clients?”
“Consequences? No!” she shakes her head. “Only those who try to play smart or refuse to pay up get themselves into trouble.”
“Oh! Really?” Clifford exhaled.
“See, I’m not supposed to let you know this. It’s a secret but…,” she paused.
“But what?”
“I’m fed up with the life I’m living. I don’t want to continue being in any bondage. I want to be free. I want to live a normal life like everyone else. You can help me… please,” Adaora felt emotional.
She had fallen for Clifford and doesn’t want him to leave her. She knew he also had a thing for him. Their feelings were mutual, but her fears lies in the information she just revealed to him.
“Adoara, I’m confused. What exactly do you want me to do?”
“We need to see Omalicha. She already has a client for me in two days. I need to break the covenant with her or else, I’m doomed for life.
“I’m not going to lie. I don’t think I can…,” he paused.
He watched as tears trickled down Adaora’s cheek.
To be continued…
Frank The Writer
