Before he could finish, Chibuzor cut him off with an edge of steel in his voice. "Who's the cook you assigned the task to for the past three months?"
The housekeeper faltered, then reluctantly pointed towards one of the young cooks. "It... It's her, sir."
All eyes turned to the cook, their gazes a mix of confusion and suspicion. They had noticed her unusual behavior around the young madam, but the kitchen staff knew the truth, this girl harbored resentment toward their new mistress.
Chibuzor's glare could have frozen fire. He stepped toward the young cook, his tone as sharp as a blade. "So, you thought it was fine to disrespect my wife? Do you think I'm dead?"
The cook's heart raced as he advanced. For two years, she had dreamed of this moment of catching his attention. But not like this. Not like this.
She had started working in the main building two years ago and had spent that time finding every opportunity to be noticed by him. He never even looked her way. That hadn't discouraged her, though. Since there was no other woman in his life, she kept trying.
But all her hopes crumbled when Chibuzor brought home a woman last three months, introduced her as his wife, and made the entire household welcome her as "Young Madam."
Her jealousy burned like a raging fire. She hadn't slept a wink after the introductions.
When the housekeeper assigned asking what the young madam wanted for meal times to her, she saw an opportunity. Perhaps if she occasionally went up to the third floor, she might leave a greater impression on Chibuzor. But the housekeeper warned her to stay in her place and wait for young madam to come downstairs or call before asking her.
Still, as she noticed the housekeeper prioritizing the young master's breakfast and ignoring the new madam, a dark thought crept into her mind: 'If the young master doesn't seem to care about her, why should I?'
Fueled by envy, she decided to serve Olaedo food meant for the staff for the last three months. While the food was of good quality, it was far from the luxurious meals typically served to family or honored guests. She convinced Chef Ezinne and the others that the young madam had always asked for a simple sandwich and tea or another simple dish.
When Olaedo unexpectedly approached the kitchen, the cook panicked, fearing she would be exposed. But the young madam agreed to the meal without a word, reinforcing the cook's belief that she wasn't significant to the young master.
During breakfast, the cook deliberately blocked Olaedo while serving Chibuzor, leaning in with her low-cut uniform in an attempt to capture his attention. But Chibuzor barely acknowledged her. Instead, he teased Olaedo with a gentle smile before returning to his newspaper, oblivious to the cook's efforts.
This made her seethe. 'What's so special about this woman?'
She gloated inwardly, pleased that the young madam had no idea she was eating a servant's meal. But when Olaedo started scratching and alarming everyone, her confidence wavered.
'This was supposed to be harmless!'
She wondered why it never happened before, and watched anxiously as Olaedo recovered. Relieved that the incident didn't escalate, she rushed to the housekeeper, requesting leave to "lay low" for a few days, but didn't tell him the real reason.
But before she could slip away unnoticed, she was summoned to face judgment.
She felt an intense pressure descend on her and instinctively looked up Chibuzor stood towering above her, his presence more imposing than ever. She froze, momentarily dazed by the striking handsomeness of his face, even in weariness
Then-
Smack!
Chibuzor's palm collided with her left cheek, the force sending her sprawling backward. The imprint of his hand flared red on her skin as she fell to the ground, stunned. The slap echoed in the silence, shocking everyone in the room, including Olaedo.
Without sparing her another glance, Chibuzor accepted a hand sanitizer and hankie from one of the nearby servants. He meticulously wiped his hands, scrubbing them until they turned red. His voice was as cold as ice when he spoke,
"Housekeeper, throw her out of my estate. After that, report to me to receive your own punishment"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dear Readers,
It's your author here! I want to take a moment to address this scene. I do not condone violence in any form, it is harmful and there are always better, more constructive ways to handle conflict. Chibuzor's actions in this moment are intentionally written to serve as a pivotal point for his character's growth.
This story is fiction, but I strive to create characters and situations that feel real, with all their imperfections. Just like in real life, no one is perfect, and growth is a journey. Mistakes don't define a person as inherently bad, and Chibuzor is no exception. He is not an abuser, but rather someone learning and evolving, with Olaedo playing a significant role in his transformation. Thank you for staying with the story as we explore the complexities of growth and redemption together.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The housekeeper's face paled, dread pooling in his eyes. He bowed stiffly before hauling the girl away with the help of a few guards. She didn't resist, still too dazed by the force of the slap to comprehend what was happening.
Chibuzor's sharp gaze swept over the remaining chefs and cooks. He paused as if contemplating their fate but ultimately said nothing. What he didn't know was that all of them had kept silent earlier when the girl openly disrespected his wife,
Returning to his seat, Chibuzor's jaw tightened as he realized his appetite was gone. He gestured dismissively at Olaedo, his tone curt.
"Eat whatever you like. If it's not here, have them prepare it. I'lI be in my study."
He strode out of the dining room without waiting for her response, his footsteps brisk and deliberate.
Olaedo watched his retreating figure her thoughts racing. 'He's furious.'
She shook her head in disbelief. The way he dealt with that girl, so ruthless! Yet, I've been provoking him since the day we met, and he's never once raised a hand against me.
Her lips curved into an unexpected smile. For all his coldness, Chibuzor had displayed a depth of respect for her, one she hadn't expected in this arrangement. He had personally defended her without hesitation and had silently endured her sharpness.
Relaxing in her chair, Olaedo felt a strange warmth settle over her. She glanced around the grand dining room, feeling more at ease than she had since stepping into his house
'Maybe this marriage isn't so bad after all'
Still, as she considered his actions, she couldn't ignore the faint regret she had seen in his eyes before he turned away. She had caught it, just a flicker, but it was there. His strict code of discipline didn't excuse the slap, and it seemed he wasn't entirely at peace with it either.
Her resolve solidified. "I'll have to talk to him about this. His respect for me is clear, but I can't ignore his methods. They can't stay this way, not if we're going to make this marriage work."
For now, though, she allowed herself to relax and eat. The shadows of the incident remained, but so did a small, undeniable warmth from the way Chibuzor had stood up for her. Even in a fake marriage, that had to count for something.
In his study, Chibuzor pursed his lips, his expression darkening. He was not the type to resort to violence, let alone against a woman. But he's anger had gotten the better of him "Looks like I still have some work to do on myself."
It was the weekend, so he picked up his phone and sent Olaedo the schedule for their "posing practice" and performance review for their fake marriage. They needed to wrap up what they hadn't finished the previous day. Once they were done, they could go their separate ways for the day. It took them more time than they thought to perfect their act in the past three months.
As he waited for her to finish breakfast and join him, his phone buzzed. Olisa's name lit up the screen.
"Young Master Onuh Olisa," the caller ID read, as if announcing his arrival.
Chibuzor answered the call, listening as Olisa's voice came through. "I've passed the main gate and will be at your residence shortly."
Chibuzor rose from his chair, intending to personally welcome his sworn brother and introduce him to Olaedo. But just as he headed to the door, his new assistant sent him an urgent message requiring his immediate attention. With a sigh, he dialed Olaedo instead.
"Olaedo, one of my friends, Olisa, the one I mentioned before. He is coming over to check on you. Could you please welcome him at the door? I have something urgent to handle but will join you soon."
"Okay," she agreed without hesitation, her mind already pondering how to interact with this friend. She had heard of the illustrious Young Master Onuh Olisa, a prodigy in the medical field. He had completed medical school, his internship, housemanship, and national service in just under seven years, a feat that normally took a decade or more.
Dabbling in various fields, from general medicine to surgery, he was now specializing in gynecology.
Hearing a car approach, she rose from the sofa, smoothing her dress. "Time to meet the genius," she thought, her expression calm.
Olisa parked his car in front of the main residence, his movements brisk as he hurried inside. He was curious about the woman who had managed to make Chibuzor leave their Association of Single Men. Knowing his way around the estate, he walked in unannounced, not bothering with formalities.
Olaedo stepped forward to greet him, observing the man before her, a chocolate-complexioned young man, about Chibuzor's age, dressed casually in home clothes. As he approached, she smiled politely.