It has been a week since I last saw Gregory. I promised myself to break up with Raymond before seeing Greg again because the feeling of guilt was suffocating me.
I was completely restless all through, I didn't know how to break the news of how I felt about us being together as a thing anymore and the worst-case scenario of his reaction to the news kept swirling around in my head.
I thought of packing my stuff and leaving the house without saying a word to the idiot but I knew deep down that will only worsen the situation because he'll surely find me and send me to the hospital after he has taken the pleasure of beating me within an inch of my life.
So, I waited until it was weekend. Sunday night to be precise, when he always relaxes in the living room watching football matches. I unlocked the back door, took the car key which was actually mine in the first place, packed all my stuff in two bags and took it to the car. Since Raymond doesn't own a gateman, I decided to open the gate in case of an emergency getaway before returning to the room.
I watched as he moved to the edge of the cushion in anticipation of a goal. I felt really nervous, my mouth opened to come up with something but nothing came forth. I went into the bathroom and splashed water on my face to calm down a bit.
"Raymond," I called twice to get his attention when I stepped back into the room.
"yeah," he said absentmindedly, eyes fixed on the TV.
Breathing in deeply and releasing it slowly, I said in one breath, "Raymond, I have to leave you."
A deadly hush descended in the room. Minutes ticked away as I silently waited for him to speak. He muted the TV, slowly got up from the cushion and turned to where I stood. His face was unreadable.
"What did you say my dear?" he asked calmly, just like the calm before the storm.
"I can't go on like this, I'm sorry Raymond, I've to leave." His first reaction was something I never expected, I thought he was even happy about my decision to leave him until I realized that his laughter sounded hollow and bitter.
"The hell you are," he bellowed angrily, glaring at me from across the room when he stopped laughing.
And I met it head on, glaring back at him. Not once did I flinch or look away, I didn't pretend to acknowledge his dominance. I didn't even consider it, I was fed up with his dominating attitude towards me.
"I'm tired of this thing we call a relationship, I..."
"Of course you're damn tired," he snapped. "Look here Timi, you don't make decisions here, I do." he said, beating his chest.
There were times I would've backed down but that day wasn't the day to show fear.
I nodded in agreement, "yes, I don't have a say in this relationship Raymond, I let you ride roughshod over me which I never complained about but I won't just sit and be a glorified punching bag for you when I'm blessed with legs to move and eyes to see. It's time for me to leave Raymond."
"Time for what?" He stepped closer, though I chose that moment to look away and check if the back door was still slightly opened, unaware he was coming closer, that his refusal to accept this was about to get up close and rough.
"I'm leaving and there's nothing... Raymond?" I turned back, my gaze going first to where he was supposed to be, then to the shadow suddenly at my side.
"Raymond?" my voice filled with surprise, a bit of shock and a hint of apprehension as he swung his hand and landed a solid blow to my stomach.
"you're an ungrateful human being," His lips pulled back in fury, a snarl ripped from him seconds before he plowed his fist into my stomach again. "I bought you everything you ever wanted, looked at your ugly self every single day," he snarled, his breathing hard, fanning my face.
"Stop please," I couldn't help but beg as I stepped away from his menacing form, groaning in pain.
"No, you stop right there. Do you think any man out there will look at an ugly hippo like you twice? Touch you or even think of liking you?" he asked with a sinister smile on his face.
And that was the last straw that broke the camel's back. I felt something deep and dark break free inside me, forming a layer of ice around my racing heart. A cry left my throat as I picked up a vase and smashed it on his head with all the strength I've got in me.
"Jesus!" he shouted in shock and pain.
I didn't wait around to see if there was blood or not, I raced from the living room to the car outside. As I buckled the seat belt with trembling hands, his enrage howl from the house filled me with dread. I slammed the car into gear and sped out of the compound into the night.
I drove straight to Natasha's house, knowing fully well that if I went to Bose, Raymond would come looking for me in her place and she would surely open the door for him as she has done time without number in the past. All in the name of letting us try to have a talk and understand our differences. And if I decide to go to a hotel, that's even worse because Raymond seems to know everyone and get his way with them.
Her gate man opened the gate seeing that it was me from a week ago. I drove past him not sparing him a second glance into the big compound.
I knocked on the front door and waited. The door opened to Natasha standing in a pink nightgown.
"Miss Timi?" she asked with a bit of confusion.
I couldn't breath, I thought she wasn't due to come back until next week. "I- I came..."
"Oh, you're looking for Greg. He's not here at the moment." I was surprised to hear that but I said nothing, just stared at her.
"But erm... It's cold out there, come in." she gestured for me to come inside.
'You followed her then?'
'It'll seem weird turning back and going, don't you think Officer?'
'Go on please.'
I got in, closing the door behind me. We moved from the corridor to the living space in silence. My heart was in my mouth, I could remember vividly how she went about referring to her and Gregory as we, like they were an item the first time in my office.
"Don't mind the mess please, I was just going through old photos," she said as she opened the fridge close to the dining area, taking out a bottle of water before she returned to where I stood waiting.
"please sit Miss Timi."
"Thank you," I managed to say before sitting stiffly on the cushion opposite to hers.
"I didn't expect to see you this late.' She began, passing me a glass of water. "Though Greg told me of the business you two discussed." I almost choked, spouting out water from my mouth and nose. I had no idea of what she was saying but I decided to go with the flow
"Sorry, as I was saying, I told him to hold on until you deliver my work but he won't listen."
"About that," I wiped the water from the corner of my mouth, "we're almost done with your work, it should be delivered to your home in two days time ma'am." I wasn't lying about that, it was just the finishing touches that were remaining.
"Good," she said, picking the scattered photographs from the center carpet. "Did he ask you to come over?"
"I was supposed to meet him this evening to discuss the details of what he may like but I got caught up in the tax office."
"Help me with that please." she said pointing to a photo at my feet.
I picked it up and gave it to her after having a quick look at it, "she's beautiful," I couldn't help saying.
"That's true, she was Greg's fiancee but unfortunately she met an untimely death." A shiver ran down my spine, remembering what he told me about the deceased lady in the picture.
"You know, she stole his heart back then," she said with a sad look in her eyes.
I watched as she stood and moved to keep the photos in an old looking wooden box. "you're beautiful and now I see why he looked at you the way he did the other day." my body went completely rigid.
"It's getting late." I stood up.
"He's having some work done in his place that's why he stayed here while I was gone but he's back to his house at Ek_ _ _."
My gaze narrowed on her. I have gotten enough drama for one night. I don't know what she was going on about but I'm not getting involved in it. So, I thanked her for her hospitality and moved to the door.
"Miss Timi," she called out before I could turn the door knob, "here, have this and be careful, don't fall my dear." She placed a piece of paper in my palm before opening the door for me to leave.
When I parked outside her home, I unfold the paper and an address was written boldly on it. I didn't know when hot tears started leaking out of my eyes. 'She just saved your from sleeping in the car by the roadside,' I thought, smiling through my tears.