CHAPTER 5 RantHQ

I just sat down crying as Austin declared his intentions to me. He looked so serious and sounded resolutely.

“You know my situation I guess”. I stuttered.

“Yes, I do”. Austin answered.

“I don’t even know my status at all. I don’t know if I am still married or not. You saw what my husband did to my shop right? He is just like that. He is very swift to anger and won’t stay still until he leaves you frustrated. I appreciate your feelings for me but I don’t think I can entertain it for now”. I said firmly.

“I am not forcing you at all. I don’t even expect you to accept me immediately. I just wanted to let you know. I don’t want to ever miss my chance of being with you… I want you”. Austin said assertively.

I just sat down staring at him. My husband sounded like this when we first started if not better. He was all over me and was very caring. We were both in love and I thought what we had would last forever till he he took me to see his parents and everything changed.

“Thank you so much sir but I can’t promise you anything. I don’t think I have the strength for anything marriage. I just want to be alone”. I said.

“I am ready to wait for you. I won’t rush you. Let’s be friends for now at least. Please give me your number”. Austin said handing me his phone for me to insert my phone number.

I was hesitant for a while but later gave in.

“Thank you for making my day”. Austin said smiling.

His smile was so funny, I didn’t know when I started laughing.

“It’s good to see this beautiful laughter once again. Please laugh often”. Austin said.

“Stop jor”. I said blushing and we both burst into laughter.

We left the restaurant smiling and giggling.

He booked a ride with an Uber driver who came to pick me up.

“I will call you”. He said while the Uber driver drove off.

For some weird reasons, I felt relieved. I wasn’t sad about my shop that my husband has hijacked. I wasn’t bothered about anything. It was really nice speaking with Austin.

I finally got to the house and met Faith and her mother in the palour watching a TV programme.

“Babe what took you so long na. I was so worried about you”. Faith asked concernedly.

“It’s a long story. Good evening mama”. I said genuflecting.

“Good evening my child. I heard about what your husband did. Don’t be sad about it. They want you to come begging before them. I pray you don’t give in. Some men would go an extra mile to make sure they break you completely. Ndo!”. Mama said.

“I needed to hear these words. Thank you so much ma. You’ve always cared for me like your own. You will live long for us”. I said with gratitude.

“You are all my children. God will help you”. Mama said patting my back.

I felt like a baby.

“Babe gist me… Your husband really carried everything from the shop?”. Faith asked.

“Na so I see am my sister. I don’t even know what to do. That man is so wicked. I can’t believe I was once in love with him”. I said bitterly.

“It is well my sister. I will put words with my husband and see how we can help you “. Faith said

“You have done enough already… Please don’t stress that man for my sake. I am good”. I pleaded

“What are friends for? You know I can do anything for you right? I will talk to my husband “. Faith said with finality.

My phone started ringing, it was Austin. I didn’t know when I started blushing. Luckily, nobody noticed it.

I excused myself to take the call.

CHAPTER 6

“Hello Elizabeth”. Austin said enthusiastically.

“Hello Mr. Austin, good evening”. I replied a bit shy.

“Have you gotten home”. Austin inquired.

“Yes, I just did”. I replied back.

“I am glad to hear that. I can’t believe I finally got to speak with you today. I have always longed for this I am not going to lie. Thank you so much Lizbeth”. Austin said appreciatively.

“Thank you for your kindness Austin”. I said.

“So where do you base currently? I don’t mean to be rude or invade your privacy “. Austin asked.

“I am actually putting up at my friend’s house. She’s married with a kid. She came through for me. I can’t even imagine what would’ve happened if not for her”. I replied back.

“It’s good to know you have amazing people around you. Where is the place at?”. Austin asked.

“Hmmm…. I shouldn’t be disclosing my address to you since I don’t really know you that much….”.

“I thought we’ve gone past that? My intentions are genuine Lizbeth. I am not a kid, I know what I want. It’s okay if you don’t trust me enough…”

“I live with my friend faith at Number 19, Chief Jagbandi Street. It’s close to a Redeem church “. I blurted out.

“Thank you for trusting me Lizbeth. I promise you won’t regret this “. Austin promised.

“You haven’t told me much about yourself though”. I asked.

“Ohhh… My name is Austin..”.

“Obviously”
I cut in and we both started laughing.

“I am from Enugu, same village with your ex husband. I base in Abuja. I am a business man. This is me… A simple man who wants to enjoy his life “. Austin said.

“Are you married?”. I asked.

“Never been married. I almost got married seven years ago but I lost her in an accident a week to our marriage day. It was devastating… since then, I haven’t found a replacement until I met you “. Austin said.

“I am sorry about your loss’”. I said empathetically.

“I am good dear… You don’t need to be sorry for me. Let me let you rest. I will talk to you tomorrow”. Austin said.

“Thank you for today. Take care “.

I said and ended the call.

I sat still for a while. I jerked back to reality when I heard Faith clear her throat.

“Madam who was that “. Faith asked curiously.

“Abeg leave me jor. I dey hungry, wetin dey house?”. I tried to prevaricate from her questions.

“Stop jor… Who was that na”. Faith asked again.

“He is a friend… We just met. It’s nothing serious before you start planning asoebi and all that. I know you”. I said and we started laughing.

“Tell me na.. what does he do for a living? Is he fine? Hope he is wealthy? Is he igbo?”. Faith went on and on with different questions.

“Free me jor”. I said and ran out of the room.

Faith ran closely behind me still asking me series of questions about Austin.

She left me alone when her husband returned back from work. I was so happy. I don’t have strength for Faith and her questions.

I ate dinner and went straight to bed went I was done with the dishes.

I was about dozing off when my phone started ringing. It was my husband.

I just sat down frozen and watched my phone ring till it stopped ringing.

It rang again almost immediately. This time I picked it.

“Hello Elizabeth… Hello.. can you hear me”. My husband asked in his usual authoritative tone.

“Good evening”. I replied coldly.

“Where are you? So it has gotten to the point when you no longer care about your husband. How come you didn’t call to ask about your shop? Are you seeing another man?”. My husband went on and on ranting.

“I don’t have strength for your problem. Good night”. I said and ended the call.

He called back almost immediately. This time around, I just turned my phone off and went to bed.

EPISODE 7

My husband kept on calling my phone nonstop. When he saw I wasn’t taking any of his calls he started sending me series of text messages threatening to end my life or make me miserable sooner or later.

I just avoided his calls and messages like he wasn’t existing.

Austin on the other hand was still head over heels with me. There is no day he won’t call at least twice a day to check up on me.

At first, we spoke for 10 to 15 minutes in each calls and gradually graduated to speaking for hours.

Little by little, I started getting fond of him. I began to enjoy his company. I started getting excited whenever whenever my phone is ringing and its Austin calling.

This went on for about two months. Austin has long travelled back to Abuja. I was still squatting with Faith and her family who really treated me with so much love and warmth.

One morning, I had just finished bathing when my phone started ringing. It was Austin. I picked the call almost immediately.

“Hello Lizbeth. Good morning”. Austin said in his usual soothing voice.

I was just grinning from cheek to cheek.

“Good morning big man. How was your night”. I asked.

“Ofcourse I slept well since your voice was the last thing I heard before going to bed”. Austin teased.

“You have started again Mr. Man”. I said feigning anger.

“I’m sorry queen Elizabeth. Are you free today?”. Austin asked.

“Hmmm.. Do you want to take me to Paris Mr. Man?”. I asked jokingly.

“Just say the word my Queen and see it happen”. Austin said smiling.

“You’ve started o. I will be free though “. I answered.

“Just come to your junction by 11am please. Please don’t ask questions “. Austin pleaded.

“Hmmm okay sir. 11am then”. I replied back.

“Byeee.. let’s talk again later “. Austin said and ended the call.

After the call ended, I was left in total confusion. I just kept on thinking about what Austin was planning. I couldn’t wait for 11am to reach.

I jerked back to reality when Faith came to the room and dragged me to the palour.

I sat with her and mama chatting for about one hour. I excused myself and went to the room.

I wore a free gown and applied some powders on my face. I took my purse and left for my junction.

I called Austin and told him I was almost there.

When I got to the junction, Austin was already there waiting for me. I just couldn’t stop smiling.

“You are full of surprises you this man”. I said.

“And you are an epitome of beauty”. Austin complimented.

He opened the car door and asked me to enter.

“Where are we heading to”. I inquired.

“I want to surprise you”. Austin said without saying anything further.

He stopped at the front of one fenced compound and asked me to come down. I was thrown into confusion.

“Follow me inside. Don’t be scared, I won’t kill you”. He said smiling.

I followed him into this well furnished apartment and couldn’t help but admire how beautiful the apartment was.

“This is your home Elizabeth. Please manage this place for now”. Austin dropped the bombshell.

I just stared at him in disbelief.

“What are you saying”. I asked confused.

CHAPTER 8

“Do you mean this house is mine?”. I asked teary.

Austin moved closer to where I was standing and placed his left hand on my shoulder. He brought out a white handkerchief from his pocket with his right hand and wiped my tears with it.

“You won’t even stay here till the end of this year. I just want you to manage here for now “. Austin said.

“When did you start planning this “. I asked.

“From the moment I saw how your husband… Sorry, your EX husband humiliated you”. Austin said.

“Why are you making me fall for you effortlessly?”. I asked.

Austin let out a very loud laugh. He moved away from where I was and gave me a mischievous stare.

“And why are you making my heart beat faster than usual right now?”. I asked as I walked towards him.

Austin moved to where I was and grabbed me by waist.

For a moment, my heart stopped beating. I felt movements of butterflies in my tummy.

Austin moved his face closer to mine.

At this moment, my knees became too weak to carry my body as I struggled to stand firm.

“Please God, don’t let him kiss me, I don’t think I will be able to resist him”. I prayed silently in my mind.

Austin moved his face towards my left ear with his hand stroking my hairs.

“Your happiness is my priority Lizbeth. I just want to see you smile”. Austin whispered slowly into my ears.

“What are… you doing… to me?”. I stuttered incoherently.

“I am only trying to make you mine”. Austin said softly.

“You are going to make fall shamelessly at this rate”. I said helplessly.

“Is that not the plan?”. Austin said laughing.

He let go of me and sat on one of the couches.

I just stood fixated on one spot. I knew I wasn’t myself at that moment. I was legit turned on. I was just too embarrassed to do anything or think of any other thing.

Don’t blame, I can’t even remember the last time my husband made me feel this way.

“So, do you like the house”. Austin asked.

I couldn’t make any sense of his question. I was lost in thought.

Austin stared at me for a while as though contemplating his next choice of action. After a while, he said;

“You leave me no other choice Lizbeth”.

He moved fiercely to where I was standing and grabbed me to himself.

My heart stopped beating again.

“God please help me”. I prayed silently.

Austin planted a kiss on my mouth. At first, I didn’t respond to it but the intensity of his touch left me no choice but to return his energy.

Before you can say Jack, we were already pants down on the couch.

I knew everything was happening so fast but I didn’t want it to stop. My conscience kept calling me a cheat since I wasn’t divorced yet but who cares?.

I allowed myself to live in the moment and enjoyed the gentleness of Austin’s touch.

He was nothing like my husband. He was gentle till the very end.

For the second time in my life, I reached an orgasm.

We both fell asleep cuddled up on the floor.

To be continued