Anthony had his tensed back to her. Veins stiff like cord stretched under his skin and with every second that passed, his grip on the reading table got firmer. His voice howled across the room, word coming out through his gnawed teeth. Lola clutched the blanket she held to her bare chest. Her shaky hand twitched against her chest, the muscle in her jaw stiffened due to the tautness of her teeth. What's wrong with him? Her breath grew hot.

"I gave you countless missed calls. You refused to pick because you are enjoying being in the arms of another man!" He barked as he spun around.

A vein pulsed in Lola's head. She flicked her narrow eyes at him, the brown of her eyes darker, shooting icy brown chips at the man before her. The other hand on the bed clenched the bed sheet that been removed from the bedpost from their love making.

Is that the reason he had called her to come over with a threat lingering in his words? He had said if she does not make it to his house, he would ruin her. She knew better than to let him do that to her. Not when her relationship with her husband has started to progress. Prison is also the last place she want to be. She loves her freedom at the moment and she can't trade it for anything. His love making had been painful. He was nearly choking her and fear caught her throat as a sense of déjà vu washed over her. Five years ago, he had done the same thing. She whimpered under him, begging him to stop but he just pounded harder until she cried. A malevolence sparkle shone in his eyes at the silvery tears that ran down to her earlobes and he just laughed. When he got off her, she tried to get a grip of her miserable self as she sunk into self-pity.

"I thought you were busy at first" He continued. "Then it became frequent. When I saw you last night in his arms, his hands running all over you, touching you the way I should be, oh Lola" He trembled as shivers ran down his spine at the infuriating imaged of Lola and Joshua entangled together on the kitchen worktop. "I lost it. I hated that sight! That should be me and not him!"

"You are been so stupid at the moment, Anthony" Lola growled, letting go of the blanket to get out of bed. "You knew I am a married woman before you thought of blackmailing me" She reached for her clothes on the floor. "You had an idea of what you were signing for and forcing me to do with you"

"Do not tell me that bullshit! You did not like him! You had no feelings of whatsoever for him!" Then he paused, his eyes studied her as she drew her black dress over her body. "Are you developing feelings for him?"

"That's none of your concern" She fired at him, sweat glistening on her forehead. The muscles in her chest contracted. If she does not get out of here soon, she might kill the bastard before her. His blood is the last stain she wants on herself.

"Then why are you not answering my calls?"

"Because I don't want to, damn it!" She screamed. She had tried to hold it in until she leaves but this man is increasing the burning inferno in her with the way he's acting. "You are becoming a thorn on my skin!" She clenched her hand into a fist, her manicured nails digging into the tender flesh of her palms. "I have told you countless number of times. Do not call. I will give you a call. I am not going to allow your foolishness blow this affair" She took a step towards him.

He was still rigid with anger and every wave that emitted from him could be felt. His breathing raged. The rise and fall of his body did not go unnoticed by her. "I am the one in control in this relationship and not you" His cold eyes met hers.

She laughed. Oh God, what has she gotten herself into? "Tell that to someone else! If you want this thing going on between us to last until....." She paused. I can finally find a way to get rid of you forever. She thought. "I don't know. Maybe until you get tired of me or until he finds outs, then stop calling me!"

"You can't end what's going on between us. You know that better than anyone. You don't have the nerve to. You are stuck with me, Lola" He spelt out every truthful word with certainty.

Lola felt the aridness in her throat that closed. He's right and the truthfulness in those words annoyed her. But she won't show him the effect of those words on her. She held her chin high. "How about you try me?" Her hoarse voice betrayed her. A corner of Anthony's lips curled into a smirk. He knew he had hit a cord inside her.

"Then you go to prison" He sang out with mirth.

"You are a dumb man, Anthony" She searched the room for her purse and found it lying at the entrance of the bathroom.

"Be careful of what you say, Lola"

"You need someone to knock some sense into your head and that's what I am doing. Before you start acting like my jealous boyfriend which you are not, think through" She pointed at her head. "You are already having what you want so allow me to have a peaceful life when we depart. I can't remember us adding commitment to whatever is going on between us. You can have as many women as you want Tony. I don't give a fuck about it! Do not expect anything from me aside from what I am offering you!"

"What will happen if he finds out about your affair? Last night, that man I saw won't desire for you that way if he knows you are a two timing bitch!"

"He will give me what I want" Her voice was low, a smile on her lips. "A divorce. You are helping in return, Anthony. I thought you were smart but you are as dumb as you appear" She sneered and headed for the door.

A shriek left her lips at an unexpected pull from an unknown force. Her eyelids closed hard as a strong hand turned her around. She groaned when her back hit the wall, her heart already in her mouth. Her eyes flew open. She tried to speak but chocked. There was tightness around her neck caused by Anthony's hand. Her wide eyes pleaded to be freed.

"I told you to watch your tongue!" He growled out.

"You....you....." She struggled to talk as her air pipe jammed together. "Anthony" Her eyes started to water.

"Oh really?" His grip tightened.

"An.....an...." Her voice cracked. "Tony" Water filled her eyes. His lips curled. His eyes glittered with utmost pleasure.

"You have beautiful eyes" He added more pressure to his hand, holding her gaze with his dark eyes. "I have always loved them. The brown is different from many brown eyes I have seen. Deep brown married with a lighter shade. Very expressive eyes" His voice was low and had a hue of huskiness to it. "When you are happy, they sparkle almost gold but are more like topaz. They shimmer because they are lighter. They are darker when you are angry. At the moment" He paused and studied her eyes, a grin on his face. "I love the fear I see in them" She wriggled, trying to speak but he pinned her to the wall with his body.

"Now listen to me carefully!" His voice became authoritative. "When I give you a call, you pick the goddamn phone. That's why you have a phone. If you wanna be acting stubborn, I will make sure I ruin your perfect little life. Understood!" His hold tightened. She bobbed her head which was stiff in her neck, a tear rolling down her left cheek. "One more thing, sweet" He smiled. "Don't ever" His hand constricted around her delicate neck. "Talk back at me or act too smart around me. Understood!" He barked out. She jiggled her head in understanding.

"Good"

When he released her, she slithered to the ground, coughing and trying to gulp in air as she ran her hand through her neck with relieve.

"You have finally lost it!" She shot at the man who stood above her and fled from the room.

Lola rushed out of his house on wobbly legs she felt could barely hold her shaking body. Tears coursed down her hot cheeks. Chills ran down her spine. She wanted to get out of here, away from that monster indoor. When her G-wagon came into view, she nearly breathe a sigh of relieve through her running nose. The car was as good as new. No one will have an idea that she had ran it through a water fountain which had caused a big indent. The mechanic had done a very good job. She needs to act fast. This man will ruin her like he had said or at last, kill her. He has something against her and she cannot allow him to steal this freedom from her. Anthony holds a grudge against her and it's what's driving him. He won't rest until she suffers just as much as he had. But what's left to ruin in her already messed up life. It has been for as long as she could remember.

She has never felt the way she felt in that room for a long time, trapped with nowhere to go. There was a burning sensation in her throat from his choking. Anthony had wanted to kill her. She saw the intent in his eyes. She tried to switch on the engine but her fingers trembled against the start button.

"Damn it!" She slammed her fist against the steering as she dropped back in her seat, so many feelings going through her.

If she wants to get a hold of herself, she needs to stop thinking about Anthony and anything related to him. She needs to think about anything, anything but Anthony. Oh? A thought ran across her mind. Haseenah! She can think about her. She had visited the woman earlier today, a reason she had worn a black dress. She has never seen Haseenah so miserable, tired, and depressed. It's been long since they saw one another. That should be six months ago when she got married. The lady has lost so much weight compared to last time she saw her. Haseenah could barely talk. She just cried for the loss of her husband.

Lola sighed. But there was something suspicious about the way Haseenah shut them all out. She stopped picking their calls. At a point, her number became unreachable. No one understood the change in attitude. Haseenah and Ahmad had been so much in love. Everyone knew it. Their friends and family. They had not failed to show their affection for one another in public. Did they ever fight? Did they ever have a dip in their marriage? They were everyone's dream couple. Ahmad had loved his wife. There was a way he looks at her that had Lola wishing sometimes someone would gaze at her that way. Now, Haseenah has lost hope in life. She does not know how life will be without Ahmad. Lola's nerves started to unwind, not sure whose life is more miserable between hers and Haseenah's at the moment. At least, Haseenah does not have the ghost of her past lingering in her shadow.

Her life is miserable. She feels like she has lost control of her life at the moment. She's the driver but she has lost the wheel. She flicked a tears that loomed over her waterline but another followed. Oh God! She sniffled. What's wrong with her? Why is she crying? Tears poured down her face. She will ruin her makeup. She needs to visit the hospital to check on Esosa. She has been admitted again after developing fever overnight. The tears won't stop flowing. So, she gave into them, laid her head on the stirring and cried.

-----

Lola arrived home later in the evening. She left for the pool where she had a nice and amazing dive in water. Anthony and what had happened in his house were locked at the back of her mind. She won't think about it. After swimming, she laid on the bench, sunglasses perched at the tip of her nose, a glass of cold fruit juice next to her and a fashion magazine in hand. It was one of those wonderful ways of relaxing and spending her leisure time.

She crossed her legs at her ankle and admired them. They were slender with long pretty toes. Her toe nails were painted the exact bright orange as her fingernails. Lola picked the juice on the stool next to her and sipped from it. A thought crossed her mind and she picked her phone to dial a number.

"To what do I owe this call?" The man who picked asked. She could sense he was smiling which caused a laugh to leave her lips.

Lola sat up, her lips breaking into a smile. There was a feeling rising within. It was foreign and she could not explain. Listening to his voice calmed something in her "Can't a wife give her husband a call?"

"I am surprised" He chuckled. His laugh, it was somewhat sexy, rich and manly.

"You ought to be" She kept the magazine away. "How is your day going?"

"Great"

"Missing me?"

"Hmm..." He trailed off. She had her eyebrow raised as if he could see her. "I don't"

"Well, same here" He laughed.

"What are you doing?"

"I just had a swim in the pool. Ah" She closed her eyes and revelled in the imaginary feeling of water on her skin. "It was chilling, relaxing and nice" She felt a shadow loom over her.

"Without me?" Still smiling, she opened her eyes which encountered Joshua's slim and tall frame. With the thought that the sunglasses she had over her eyes made her see things, she removed it. "Isn't the sun too hot, Orekelewa?" He wiggled his brows with that loop sided smile that sent her heart sprinting.

He stood tall, a hand in his pocket. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to reveal taut slender hands. Lola froze just the way she sat with the phone held to her ear. He was really standing there, tall and cool, pleased with what he had done. She pursed her lips, dropped the phone from her ear and ended the call. She gave him a pointed look as she sat up.

"That was a good way to waste my call card" She gave a curt nod, her eyes narrowed. "You really are a case!"

"Hey" He took a step closer to her. "That's not a nice welcome to a man you have not seen for hours" He bent down and brushed his lips over hers. Without thinking, her hand rested on his shoulder as she gave into the kiss.

"Why are you home so early?" She asked after they broke off.

There was something different about the way she looked at him that made him happy. Her eyes, warm brown, smiled from her heart. Happiness laced them. The glee of seeing him. "Do you want me to go back?" He gestured his head to where he came from.

"Oh, please. That would be nice" She laid back with the curt wave of her hand.

He was home and his presence sent bolts of joy inside her. Excitement flowed through her, warming her skin like the rays of the sun that beats down on them. Lola wanted to hug him, tighten her arms around him and hold him so firm to her body. She had never felt that way. He sent emotions bursting forth within her but she restrained them back.

Joshua's eyebrow rose. "So you did not miss me?" His hand fondled with her dimple. There was a look in his eyes that showed his disappointment. The left corner of her pale lips went up.

"You do not expect me to repeat that. Do you?" She huffed turning away.

The pride that came over her eyes was expected. She dropped her legs from the bench and sat up shaking her head. The brown curls danced. She had her back to him. It was almost bare. The only thing that he could call a material was the string of her bikini top cladded over her bosoms. The skin that wrapped her back gleamed under the warm beams of the sun. Even though the big warm globe might set soon, the rays were still warm.

Joshua swallowed. His throat became dry. As a man, as her husband, as someone who craves for her, he wanted to stroke the glowing chocolaty skin. He stood straight before he does something he might not like and buried his hands into his pockets. Lola yanked the white silky robe from the other bench and slipped into it.

"It gladdens my heart to know I got into your mind for you to call me"

Lola rolled her eyes. "I was not meant to call you. It was a mistake" She tied the robe. "I had to pretend as though it was you I wanted to call"

"Lie" The word rolled out of his tongue. Hilarity and pleasance danced in his dark eyes.

"Believe what you think" She flicked a hand in a regal wave.

"Go on a date with me" He halted her legs before they proceeded to the path that led to the house. Abruptly, she turned around to meet his face. His smile widened. Joshua stepped closer, becoming serious. "Go on a date with me, Orekelewa" He requested taking pleasure from the look of shock on her face.

"Wow!" Lola reacted at last, taking a step back like the words forced her back. She felt like the air she had seized in throughout the time he spoke liberate from her lips and it relieved her body which had gone rigid. "I thought what you did today was shocking but this unexpected question is more shocking. Did you arrive today to keep surprising me with unexpected things?"

"Is that a yes?"

"I did not say that" She held her head high.

"Come on, Lola. I know you want to go on a date with me. Just say yes"

"What an arrogant ass!" She sneered "I can choose to say no" She flipped her hair.

"But you won't" The curve of his lips grew broader.

She groaned and threw her hands. "Do you always have to have a reply?" He gave a shrug as a reply. "When is this date?"

"This Friday because we have a get together to attend on Saturday. Dikko and his wife are having a little dinner with friends and we are one of them"

She swirled away "Just ensure you are punctual on Friday. I hate unpunctuality" She began to walk away.

"Is that a yes?" He shouted after her. She did not reply neither did she turn back but he had his reply. Getting to the entrance of the back door that led to the compound, Lola halted then twirled around.

"Joshua!" She called out.

"Are you saying yes?"

"How about a movie tonight?"

"Are you asking me out on a date?" He teased.

"Date?" She scowled, brushing a curl that fell through the middle of her forehead aside. "It is happening in the living room here" She pointed at their apartment.

"Lola, it's been a while" A familiar voice said. Lola turned to its source. Sha walked up the little staircase that led to the pool in a bikini. Lola blinked. Alarms rang in her head. She glanced back at her husband who still grinned at her.

"I agree" Lola tried not to bark.

"How have you been?"

"Great. I am sure you got eyes" She ran a disapproving eyes over Sasha's figure. What man would be moved by it? Any man, a voice said in her head. Even your husband. "I have been doing well. Great in fact"

"That's nice to hear. I had thought of coming over this evening because I have not seen you in a while"

"Oh really? Isn't that so sweet of you?" Was Lola's sarcastic reply. "Have you ladies finally found a way to live peacefully?"

"Why are you asking? Do you miss our drama?"

Lola snorted. "Indeed" She flicked her hair.

"Most of them moved out except Halimah and I. We own that place now"

"Good for you" She started to walk away.

Lola was already at the staircase when she rushed back to the pool just in time to hear Sasha call out Joshua who was on the phone. There was something different about the way she walked, like a cat that wanted to pounce on a mouse. That witch! Her teeth gnashed. She's trying to seduce her husband. Lola looked at Joshua who waved and smiled. A sudden headache set in. What should she do? That bitch is interested in her husband. Her cheeks flamed with anger.

She started to stomp away but froze again when an unexpected noise pierced through the compound. It came from AY's apartment. He was playing music again on an evening that's meant to be peaceful. Oh neighbours! She fumed. They have a way of running your perfect day.

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