by Kiru Taye
“This is serious,” Peter and Michael said at the same time.
“Right. I’ll sort out the flight and call you back,” Peter said.
“Yes, I’ll book the car. And then you can tell us exactly what’s going on,” Michael added.
“Thank you,” Paul said and disconnected the call. His friends had his back. At a time like this it was good to know that. To beat Vincent at his own game, Paul had to call out all his resources.
Letting out a heavy sigh of relief, he went to his wardrobe to pack what he needed.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Paul had showered and changed clothes by the time the car arrived. He’d called his attorney and a few other people he needed to get his plan into action. Michael turned up in the car with his driver to pick Paul up. They’d agreed it would be better if they pretended Paul was having a night out with the guys so they wouldn’t raise anyone’s curiosity. He’d already dismissed Amaechi for the night.
When he left the house, he had a light overnight bag. He told Aunty and Simon he was meeting up with Peter and Michael at Park Hotel, Enugu and would be spending the night there. It wasn’t unusual for him. He part-owned the business with his other friends and they met there regularly. Occasionally, he spent the night there if the need arose.
Tonight, neither Simon nor his mother acted curiously. They simply wished him a good night before he got into the car with Michael.
“You’ve got everything you need?” Michael asked as soon as Paul got into the car.
“Yes,” he replied as they drove out of his driveway. “You know you don’t have to come to Lagos with me.”
“I told you already it’s not a problem,” Michael waved his hand dismissively. “It’s my weekend with Kasie in Lagos anyway. I was supposed to get there in the morning. Catching a late flight works even better for me. Moreover I’m not about to miss out on an opportunity for a good old brawl.”
Michael chuckled and Paul joined in.
“Remember the incident in school when I got into a fight with one of the seniors and you came charging in,” Paul said.
“Yes, I remember it so well. You always seemed to get into trouble and we’d all end up in a brawl. We showed that guy not to mess with us, though.”
“And we got punished for fighting too.”
“But it felt good to defend each other,” Michael said, in a more sombre tone, his expression serious. “And I’d do it again for you. It’s time Vincent and his mother took a rest.”
Paul nodded gravely. His brother had to be stopped finally. “I appreciate it. Thank you,” he said, trying not to get too emotional.
“Plus, I’ve got to see the girl causing all this trouble.” Michael added as an after-thought and they both broke out laughing again.
During the flight down to Lagos they caught up on their exploits as young men growing up together. When they arrived in Lagos they were picked up and taken to Michael’s house in Victoria Island.
Paul made a few more calls that night to finalise his plans. That night's sleep didn’t come easily. His mind was with Ijay as he wondered what state she was in and what Vincent might have told or done to her.
He thought about the way he felt about her. He must have been in love with her from the first day he saw her. It was probably why he’d been angry when she’d disappeared in the morning. But he’d allowed his pride to get in the way. Vincent had taken advantage of Paul’s mistake.
Now Paul hat to fix things because Ijay loved him. The kind of love she’d shown him, no other woman had shown that to him.
Ijay had been willing to undergo discomfort and stress when the factory equipment had been damaged. She didn’t have to help out but she’d done so. Even though at the time they weren’t even lovers.
She’d left the comfort and luxury of the house in Enugu to return to Amori just to be with him. Then she’d volunteered to go to Abuja for the NAFDAC documents which had put her in Vincent’s clutches.
She’d done all those things for him with love and gotten into trouble. Now he had to show his love and faith in her by going to her. He hoped she’d agree to his drastic plan when he told her.
His sleep was short and fitful. He woke at dawn, showered and dressed. Michael drove him first to Surulere to pick up the parcel. Mr. Lawal, his father's former chief of security handed him the package which he knew contained the DVD of his father’s personal message to him as well as his last will and testament.
“I’d like to come with you,” Mr. Lawal said. “I know that whatever made you request these items now is very serious. I promised your father that I’d watch your back if you ever needed me. I think that time is now.”
“There’s no need,” Paul replied.
“Let him come with us,” Michael said. “There’s always safety in numbers.”
“Okay,” Paul replied and they headed out of the man’s house. Mr. Lawal followed them in his own car as they headed across third mainland bridge to Victoria Garden City. They arrived at the leafy estate just after seven.
The night watchman opened the pedestrian gate and refused to let the car in. He told Paul the residents were still asleep. As the man talked, Paul saw two young women come out of the front door; both were in silk dressing gowns.
Paul recognised Ijay instantly in her blue robe. His heart stopped for a moment and then raced off as it recognised its love. Warm sensation suffused his body. His heart felt lighter and elated for seeing that she looked well.
The other woman came toward the gates. She looked so much like Ijay, a little younger. Paul assumed she must be Ijay’s younger sister.
“What’s the problem?” she asked Paul with a frown.
“My name is Paul Arinze. You must be Uloma, right?” he asked and lifted his lips in a pleasant smile.
“Oh,” She cocked her head to the side and looked surprised, her brows rising in her forehead. “You’re Vincent’s brother,” she stated boldly.
Her confident manner reminded him so much of Ijay. His smile broadened.
“Yes,” he replied, encouraged by her demeanour. “Can I come in and speak to Ijay for minute, please?”
“I don’t know,” she said and looked behind her in Ijay’s direction.
Paul’s attention turned to Ijay. She hadn’t moved from the spot. Her eyes were wide like saucers. She appeared petrified. Shaking her head, she gesticulated wildly with her hand for Paul to leave. On one of her waving fingers, something sparkled.
A ring! Vincent’s ring?
She was wearing Vincent’s ring. How was that possible? Hadn’t she told him she’d thrown the ring away? Had she been lying?
White hot rage pierced his heart with pain. He gripped the gate post and leaned on it as a wave of nausea passed over him.
Had he been too late? Had he already lost her?
Lifting his gaze to Ijay’s direction, he searched her face for answers. The early morning sunshine reflected the liquid in her eyes. Then the shimmering tears dropped onto her cheeks. She was distressed...ashamed? Surely she couldn’t have betrayed him like the others. There had to be a chance for them. Some hope.
He loved her.
“I have to talk to her now.”
Propelled by a need so strong he couldn’t name it, he pushed the gateman aside and walked past Uloma toward Ijay. All he knew was that he had to get to her. He had to look into her eyes and search her soul for the answers he needed.
Each of his steps were dogged by slashing emotions—rage, fear, desperation. Everything else around him was just white noise. All he could see was Ijay.
She didn’t move, as if she was frozen to the spot. Tears continued to run down her face. Watching her, it felt like someone was shredding his heart. Abruptly, he stopped in front of her. His heart jerked in his chest like he’d just done an emergency stop manoeuvre.
For a few seconds, neither of them said anything. His chest rose and fell. He tried to control his ragged breath.
She was as beautiful as ever with a cle
ar skin and bright eyes in the morning. Yet she was agitated, her hands fidgeted with her robe. She looked like she expected the world to end any minute. He wanted to take her in his arms and tell her they’d survive today.
Then the gateman was there and broke the spell. “Madam Ijay, I’m sorry. He pushed past me.”
“It’s okay,” Ijay said softly, her words strained. “You can go.”
The gateman stood there hesitantly. He was obviously unsure of leaving his boss’s daughter alone with a man who looked as fierce as Paul did at that moment.
“Go!” It was Uloma this time.
The man walked away quickly.
“Do you need me to stay?” her sister asked.
Ijay shook her head, her ponytail swinging behind her head. “Thanks but I’ll be alright.” Uloma walked in the front door and shut it.
“I need to talk to you,” Paul said calmly, though he felt anything but relaxed.
Seeing Vincent’s ring on Ijay’s finger drove him insane. The little ring of metal was a symbol that Vincent had won. Paul couldn’t let that happen. He couldn’t give up yet.
“First, take that ring off,” he bit out in a low voice.
“Paul, I can’t do that. I’m not even supposed to talk to you. You have to leave,” Ijay replied, some of the old defiance back in her sparkling brown eyes.
“I’m not going anywhere until I know the truth. Yesterday you told me you loved me. Today you’re wearing Vincent’s ring again. Tell me why.”
“Paul, please go.” She looked away, dismissing him in the downward sweep of her gaze.
“Tell me why, damn it!” Driven by desperation, Paul grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
“He’s going to kill you,” she choked out loud. “Vincent was going to kill you. I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t let him hurt you. I’m sorry.”
She lowered her head and sobbed. He pulled her into his arms, wrapping his large arms and body around her. He held her tight, her head against his chest, her tears soaking his shirt. The sound of her cry tore at his heart.
She’d sacrificed herself for him. That was even more than he’d ever expected from her—from anybody. If that wasn’t proof of her love, nothing was. He hoped he’d be able to live up to that love. Gently, he caressed her back. When she calmed, he leaned back and tilted her head up from under her chin.
Her eyes shone with the left over tears. With his thumb he wiped her cheeks.
“I won’t let Vincent hurt you or me. After today I promise you he’ll leave both of us alone permanently.”
“Oh no! Don’t tell me you’re going to kill him?”
“Death is too easy for him after what he’s put you through. I have something a bit more legal in mind but as effective,” Paul said and gave her a lopsided grin.
“He’s coming over later today. He’s booked us to have a marriage ceremony at the registry today. I wasn’t supposed to tell anybody until afterwards. He said he has people watching you and me.”
Paul gritted his teeth angrily. When Ijay looked at him sharply he relaxed a little.
“Listen, don’t worry about Vincent. I’ve already flushed out his spies. First was Kate, then Mr. Obi and I think the third person is Simon’s mother.”
“I suspected Mr. Obi from his behaviour yesterday but Simon’s mum?” Ijay’s eyes widened in shock. “Oh no! You could be right.”
“Why do you say that?” His frown deepened.
“The day Amaechi drove me to Enugu, I threw Vincent’s ring in the kitchen bin,” Ijay said, lifting her palms to her cheeks. “Yesterday Vincent turned up in Abuja with the same ring. Simon’s mother was in the kitchen when I threw the ring away. She’d also been reluctant for me to return to Amori as if she didn’t want me to be with you. It had to be her that gave it to Vincent.”
“You’re right,” Paul replied, his eyes narrowing in anger. “She was fidgety yesterday. I suspected something was up. Now you’ve confirmed it.”
He shook his head sadly. He’d welcomed Simon and his mother into his home and heart. It was hard to swallow that the woman would betray him. He wondered what Vincent had offered her.
“What are you going to do about her?” Ijay asked, her sad eyes searching his face.
“She can’t stay in my house any longer.”
“Oh no. You’re not going to kick them out? I feel so guilty now for splitting your family.” Her eyes glittered with unshed tears.
His Ijay had such a big kind heart. Here she was worried about a woman who’d sold her out. Paul couldn’t forgive the woman so easily, though.
“Don’t be. I made a commitment to Simon and I won’t renege on it. But his mother put your life in danger. I can’t forget that. So I’ll find them somewhere else to live and cover the expenses.”
“Okay.” Her chest rose as she heaved a sigh of relief.
“So do you still love me, sweet Ijay?” his voice dropped into a low rumble as he held her gaze and stroked her cheek with his thumb.
She blushed, her cheeks turning rouge. “Yes,” she whispered in a husky voice and lowered her eyes shyly.
“Then I’ve got to do this.” He lifted her hand and took the engagement ring off her finger. “I’m going to keep it this time and make sure it’s safely disposed off.” He slipped the cold ring into his pocket.
“And this.”
He leaned down and kissed her soft lips passionately. She gasped and opened up welcoming his sweeping tongue into her warm sweet depth. She moved even closer, crushing her pliant body against his hardness. His hunger for her blazed to life. He reminded himself they were at her parents’ and controlled his fiery urge. When he lifted his head they were both out of breath.
“Now you need to get dressed,” he gave her a sexy smile and released her. Having her that close with her teasing fragrance and softness was causing havoc with his body. “I have somewhere to take you.”
“You’ll have to come inside and wait. Where are we going so early?” she smiled cheekily and turned toward the front door.
“We are going to beat Vincent at his own game. I’ll tell you the rest in the car.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Thirty minutes later, Ijay was in the car with Paul, Michael and Uloma heading to Ikoyi. Her sister had insisted on tagging along after Ijay narrated the events of the past few days. Strangely, Uloma wasn’t surprised that Vincent had turned into some sort of psycho because of the way his mother was obsessive about him. Yet, even her wild imagination hadn’t prepared her for the extent of his craziness.
Ijay and Paul sat in the back seats with Uloma in the front passenger seat while Michael drove.
“So what’s this big plan of yours?” Ijay asked Paul when all the introductions had been made and Michael chatted with Uloma up front.
“After Sonia called me last night, I realised that Vincent was planning to do something crazy by turning up in Abuja unannounced.” Paul took her hand, wrapping his large warm hand around it.
“Years of both of us trying to outmanoeuvre each other had taught me a few things about my brother. I realised this time he was really up to something big. So I made a few enquiries via my attorney. Vincent being Vincent played his card exactly the way I expected it.”
Paul paused and held her gaze. “Do you remember filing for a marriage notice with the registry?”
“Yes, months ago,” Ijay replied. “Vincent said it was best to file it as soon as possible so that there would be no delays when we wanted to register the marriage. As we were going to wed in the church I’d thought it was simply a matter of formality. Why?”
“Yes, you are required to file a marriage notice if you are going to wed in a registry and the notice is posted. It seems my dear brother Vincent had always planned to do it this way. I found out he’d scheduled your wedding for today, even before this week.”
“What? He planned it that way?”
“Apparently so.”
“Oh, I can’t believe I was so gullible and fell for
all his soft words.” Ijay shook her head in anger. “He actually admitted he’d seen us together in London. He was going to marry me to get back at you.”
“My brother can be very charming when he wants to be and also very devious. That night, I’d felt as if I was being watched. But it was a party and I dismissed the odd sensation.”
“So what are we going to do about him?” She really wanted to get back at Vincent for using her so ruthlessly.
“Well,” Paul cleared his throat suddenly looking nervous. “I’d like to ask you to marry me.”
Ijay’s face brightened before creasing into a frown. “Paul, you know I love you. Don’t tell me your sole purpose for wanting to marry me is because of Vincent.”
“No. Of course not.” He looked pained. “I know this is not a very glamorous way to propose to you. But I’ll be delighted to have you as my wife. I love you and a few days ago I told you I’d never let you go. I meant it.”
Ijay’s lips curved gloriously, her eyes sparkling. “In that case, it’s a yes.” She giggled. Uloma squealed in laughter.
Paul leaned across and kissed Ijay briefly.
“Wonderful. Now I can call my attorney to meet us at the Minister’s house in Ikoyi.”
“Minister’s house?”
“Yes, we’re going to get married today. This morning in fact. The Minister for Justice is the only one who can grant a marriage license without the need for a notice. We need the sworn affidavits which my attorney will do.”
“Paul, I’m not dressed for a wedding. I’m not ready,” she said, her heart racing in panic.
“I know. I’m sorry to have to do this. We have to stop Vincent. This is the only thing that would stop him. I promise you. He understands the sanctity of marriage and will not break it.”
“I don’t want to get married to you like this. Without my parents or friends.”
“I totally understand. I promise we’ll have another ceremony exactly the way you want it. You’ll have your dress, your bridesmaids, whatever you want. But we have to survive today and stop Vincent. This is the only way I can think of.”