Chapter 27 Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Four

'Fixing a broken wall will not be as easy as it was to bring it down. Nevertheless, the wall will be fixed with togetherness and determination'

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December.

Mayfair Estate,

Lagos

Amanda.

"I decided to bring your lunch upstairs, I wasn't sure if you'd be able to walk down to the dining room" Davina said setting a tray that held a bowl of fresh fish pepper soup and a loaf of bread in front of Amanda.

Amanda made a face and hissed "I'm pregnant, not critically ill. You better stop treating me like an invalid. It's annoying seriously, if it's not you, it's Denola or the Dame. Even Atalia that despises me won't cease babying me" Amanda said picking up the soup spoon beside the bowl.

Davina grinned "You're carrying Denola's first child, what do you expect? I'm surprised he even agreed to leave you and go to work today" Davina said amused.

Amanda sent her a smile, it was nothing new that Denola's petting was unnecessarily excessive. She was over five months pregnant already but he treated her like she was about to deliver their baby already.

Ever since she fell sick the minute they got back from their honeymoon, everyone in the house had been treating her like an invalid.

She dared not complain about their attention because they never failed to remind her that she was pregnant with Denola's first child.

"You know what will make this pepper soup tastier?" Amanda asked Davina while stirring the soup with the spoon.

Davina shook her head and eyed her pregnant friend. "Amanda aren't you tired of eating sausages?" Davina asked exasperated.

Amanda sent her a mischievous look. "Go and get me sausages before I report you to the Dame. Remember, whilst I'm pregnant I get to have everything I want at the snap of my fingers" Amanda rolled her eyes.

Davina chuckled "And all you want is plain sausage? You do realize your husband has mad money, you could ask for mansions, cars or even a yatch and he'd get it for you yet all you ask for is sausage" She hissed.

Amanda sighed "Italian sausages, not just any kind of sausage. What do you even know? Besides you know it's what your god child wants" Amanda said.

Davina rolled her eyes and growled "Fine, I'll ask the chef to prepare your Italian sausages" she said emphasizing on the Italian sausages with air quotes before walking out of the room.

Amanda chuckled and placed a hand over her mouth so that Davina wouldn't hear her amusement. She could tell she'd frustrated Davina already, but then what were friends for?

Her phone buzzed as she took a spoonful of the spicy broth. She looked at the screen and saw a foreign number.

She quickly looked towards the door to check if anyone was lingering around before answering the call.

"Hmm Halima you remembered me today, I thought you would never call" she said a little resentful. She knew she shouldn't since her sister was still trying to settle into her new life abroad but she couldn't help it.

'Excuse me sis, it's now Miss Daniella Mayfair. Dani for short'  Her sister responded humorously.

"OK o madam Daniella, anyway how are you settling over there?" Amanda asked.

'It is great, I don't have to live in the shadows or cower in fear of anyone. I'm free again, thank you so much Sans' Her sister said gratefully.

"It's nothing I wouldn't do a thousand times for you Sis, I'm so glad you're happy" Amanda said looking down at her wedding band.

'Oh I'm more than happy, I met this hunk at the grocery store the other day. Damn, he's totally into me. We've been hanging out and it might be getting a little serious' She said excitedly.

"Girl, I'm so happy for you. Just be careful anyway so you don't get into another mistake" Amanda warned.

'Yeah I know, anyway when are you coming here? I know it's secure at Mayfair but it won't be for long trust me. Kadin was getting close to finding me before I left. I don't need to tell you how obsessed he is with having his way. Gosh! my life was hell when I was married to him and I will never regret leaving' She continued.

"Eh ehn. I don't even need negative vibes right now,  I'm pregnant and I don't need to worry about anything. It's not healthy for me or my baby. I'll deal with Kadin's matter later. Just forget him,  you're safe now that's all that matters. Take care and enjoy your new life, we'll talk later but for now I have to go. Davina is coming with my lunch and I don't want her to hear any of this" Amanda said briskly.

'Alright, talk later bye' Her sister said before ending the call.

Amanda sighed thinking about her sister's warning. She had to leave before Kadin found her and destroyed her happiness but she couldn't leave till the baby was born and she certainly couldn't leave without Denola.

"Ugh! Why does my own situation have to be so difficult?" She asked out loud.

"Are you okay?" The Dame asked poking her head into the room.

Amanda stiffened, she hadn't heard footsteps and she hadn't been expecting anyone.

"I'm fine" she replied a little flustered. Had the Dame heard her suspicious conversation?

"Are you sure? I couldn't help but hear you. You said something about pregnancy being difficult" The Dame said walking into the room.

Amanda's heart stopped pounding "Oh noooo...I didn't mean..." Amanda started when the Dame cut her off.

"Amanda, don't hide anything from I or your husband. I need to know at all times that you and the baby are in good health. If you're having difficulty, I'll phone the doctor and have you on bedrest as soon as possible" The Dame said.

Amanda shook her head "No, I'm fine. I...I....I actually received a call from my neighbor who had a boutique right beside Mandy's Glam. She said she's gotten a new spot for her boutique and her customers were already patronizing her. I was just wondering why my own situation was still a mess. I've lost everything" Amanda said faking a sob as she lied quickly.

Dame Mayfair's worried expression softened. "Oh darling, you don't need to worry about that. Denola and I are looking into it already, once you have the baby and you're done nursing, you'll be back to work" The Dame smiled.

Amanda's expression brightened "What? Denola never mentioned anything about that" She said.

The Dame winked playfully "I wasn't supposed to say anything, keep it between us and act surprised when he finally surprises you" The Dame said mischievously.

Amanda chuckled "Thanks a lot Dame, I know you have a hand in this. Your grandson is smart but he certainly wouldn't have done anything about my business if you hadn't mentioned it to him" Amanda said.

The Dame smiled "You're welcome dear and why haven't you finished this pepper soup?  If you don't like it, I'll ask the chef to make something else for you" The Dame said.

"I'm fine, I'm just waiting for my sausages. Thanks a lot" Amanda said.

"Oh alright, I'll go get them to make those sausages quickly. Excuse me" The Dame said before walking out of the room.

The minute she was out of the room, Amanda sighed. She didn't want Mandy's Glam after she had her baby, she wanted to leave Nigeria.

How would she go about it now?

*

Hakeem's residence,

Lekki,

Lagos.

Hakeem's favorite person in the world was Yasmin Jega, she was a vain bitch everyone could see that except Hakeem

His Yasmin could do no wrong where he was concerned, the saddest part of the whole issue was that Nadia couldn't hate Yasmin.

They'd been friends since they were children, she couldn't hate Yasmin simply because her husband loved Yasmin rather than her.

"Hakeem just look at this purse, isn't it  lovely? I know for a fact that Jubril  will not agree to buy it for me. Maybe I'll tell him, it's a gift for Nadia. You know how he adores her" Yasmin winked at Nadia who was sitting opposite them.

Nadia held her breath and waited for her husband's reaction but he didn't so much as blink at her. "It's lovely but it'll look even better on you" Hakeem smiled pinching Yasmin's cheeks.

Yasmin let out a high pitched giggle. "Hakeem, stop joor!" she said excitedly.

Nadia fought the urge to roll her eyes, the two of them were more of a couple than childhood friends.

"How much is it?" Hakeem asked. "It's just seventy dollars, nothing much" Yasmin responded taking her phone out of Hakeem's hand.

It didn't take a genius to know that Hakeem would purchase that purse in multiple colors for Yasmin.

Nadia stood up immediately "Yas, I'm sure the food is getting cold. Let's go and eat please" she said a little upset. She hated the way they treated her as if she was invisible.

"Oh alright, just give me a minute. You know I don't really fancy hot food. And how about you Hakeem, won't you eat?" Yasmin asked.

Nadia was about to tell her that Hakeem would die before he ate anything she cooked when Hakeem cleared his throat.

"I'm not hungry" Hakeem said.

Yasmin frowned "What do you mean, you're not hungry? I've been here since twelve and you've not eaten anything since then. I'm sure you're hungry, okay should I cook your favorite for you?" Yasmin asked with a small smile.

Hakeem grinned "Jollof rice and Plantain?" He asked.

"And my signature fried chicken..." Yasmin giggled.

She turned to Nadia "Okay just put my lunch in a take away dish, I'll take it to Jubril...you know he loves your cooking. I'm also going to need you to also help me prepare the ingredients for my special Jollof rice" Yasmin said standing up.

Nadia looked at her in disbelief but she refused to voice out her complaints, she didn't want to incur Hakeem's wrath.

"Alright, everything you'll need is in the kitchen. Just check the deep freezer or the kitchen cabinets. I have a headache, I'll just go upstairs to rest now" Nadia said turning away.

"Ehya, poor Nadia probably has a headache from all our chattering. You know she barely gets along with the two of us, she and Jubril are more alike" Yasmin chucked.

Hakeem frowned "Maybe she should have married him" he murmured.

Yasmin bit the inside of her left cheek.  "They were going to remember?" Yasmin replied.

Hakeem didn't respond, he didn't want to remember. He didn't want to remember how Nadia wrecked his chances of being with the woman he was in love with.

"Let me know when you're leaving" Nadia said walking out of the room irritated.

"Alright honey, I'll bring some jollof rice to you when I'm done" Yasmin said loudly.

Nadia didn't respond, they could both stuff themselves with it for all she cared.

Jubril came to pick his wife from Hakeem's residence at seven pm, Nadia and Yasmin had been tidying up the kitchen when he arrived.

Hakeem had answered the door.  If anybody else had been present there, the tension in the air would no doubt have suffocated them.

"What are you doing here?" Hakeem asked with a disgusted look on his face.

There was a time when they used to be best of friends, but that time was clearly so ancient.

"What do you think? I'm hear to pick up my wife.  I don't have time to waste, get her for me" Jubril said.

Hakeem scowled "Fine" he said walking back into his house. He marched to the kitchen and watched as Yasmin dried the dishes Nadia had washed.

"Jubril is here for you" Hakeem said coldly.

"Oh....Good bye then. Nadia, see you some other time" Yasmin sighed and looked at Hakeem, they looked at each other for such a long time that Nadia was sure they were speaking with their hearts and that alone shattered her heart the more.

"I'll come and see you tomorrow...." Yasmin said to Hakeem before walking away.

Nadia was surprised when Hakeem didn't follow.  He turned to look at her  and glared openly at her.

"She's fine, I know you think she isn't but..." Nadia was saying when Hakeem cut her off.

"Shut the hell up!" he yelled.

Nadia sobbed "She's fine, Jubril treats her so much better than you treat me.  They are happy but we are not...we are not because you've refused to let go and open your eyes to the truth. Jubril is not Satan and I'm not his demon. When will you stop being blind?" Nadia asked pained.

Hakeem chuckled "You know who is really blind? You are, if you think I'll forget everything you did and forgive you or even try to make this sham of a  marriage work then you're not only blind and delusional but stupid as well" Hakeem said walking out of the kitchen.

Nadia followed "You're in love with another man's wife Hakeem, who is the stupid one?" she asked.

Hakeem stopped and turned to look at her.  "What did you say?" He asked angry and ready to charge at her.

Nadia stepped back "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that....It's just that...I see the way you look at her, the way you treat her.  And I on the other hand, you won't even spare me a glance, you treat me like I'm dirt or I'm invisible" Nadia said, her body was shaking with sobs now.

Hakeem felt disgusted rather than remorseful. "Listen to me, if you can't take the heat then get out! I've told you countless times, I don't owe you anything asides the roof over your head and my last name. I don't owe you anything else, not love, respect, security or money. Don't provoke me, you've done enough" Hakeem hissed before walking away.

Nadia leaned against the wall and cried till her eyes were swollen. She couldn't leave but she couldn't stay either.

She was tightly rooted in a dilemma.