Novels by Temmielle

Dinner was served on the long dining table that night. The aroma of fried rice and grilled chicken filled the air. Florence sat beside Felix, Alex sat across from Cecilia. Everything seemed peaceful until Cecilia’s phone vibrated. She glanced down. James. Her heart skipped. She turned the screen down quickly and ignored it. A minute later, it rang again. “Why are you not picking your call?” Florence asked, lifting her head. “Mum, I’ll call the person later,” Cecilia said sharply, a little too defensive. Florence raised an eyebrow at her tone. Alex, who had been watching her quietly, spoke up, “It’s obvious she’s keeping to the rules of table manners, ma,” he said, scooping a spoonful of rice and chewing slowly. Florence didn’t press further, but Cecilia’s hand shook slightly as she placed the phone on her lap. The call came again, and she silenced it once more. They finished dinner, exchanging only light talks here and there. When they were done, Felix wiped his mouth

Cecilia was still lying in bed the next morning, eyes wide open, the sunlight streaming through the curtains doing little to lift her mood. She hadn’t slept well James’s messages kept flashing in her mind like a bad movie. Her phone was under her pillow, but she hadn’t replied again. She didn’t know what to do yet. A knock sounded on her door. Cecilia, are you in there? The voice was soft, familiar. She sat up. “Rebecca? What’s up ?” she asked as she opened the door. Rebecca stepped in with a warm smile, holding a small gift bag. “I was around the neighborhood, so I decided to check on you. I heard from the officers outside that things are getting a little better here. Can I come in?” “Sure, come in.” Cecilia forced a small smile and moved aside. Rebecca looked around the room. “Wow, you’ve made this place look cozy,” she said, dropping the bag on the table. “So, how’s life now? You look… tired.” Cecilia sat on the edge of her bed, sighing. “Tired is an understatement. A lot h

The morning sun slipped through the curtains, throwing a soft light across the big living room. It was quiet too quiet for a house that had seen so much noise and drama the past few weeks. Sandra was already moving around, setting the table for breakfast. The smell of tea and toasted bread filled the air. Cecilia came down first, her hair tied loosely, dressed in an oversized T-shirt that just grazed her thighs. She had her phone in one hand, scrolling absently, a small crease of thought on her forehead. “Good morning,” Sandra greeted warmly, wiping her hands on her apron. “Morning, Sandra,” Cecilia murmured, offering a faint smile as she sank into the chair nearest the window. “This smells like heaven. You’re spoiling us.” “Not at all,” Sandra chuckled. “You all deserve a bit of peace.” Moments later, Alex appeared, still rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. His joggers hung carelessly around his waist, his hair an untamed mess. He glanced at Cecilia, their eyes brushing

Annabel sat on the edge of her bed, her face buried in her palms. Bills and rent notices were scattered across the table in front of her like a battlefield she had already lost.“Why did I even start all this? Why was I after Felix in the first place?” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I lost my job, I lost my boyfriend, I lost Felix… now the whole world thinks I’m the one behind all the mess happening in his house. God, I’m tired.”She sighed deeply and stared at the ceiling as if the answer might fall from there. The room was hot, the fan spinning lazily above her head. Her life felt just the same spinning, but going nowhere.“I’ve searched for work everywhere. Nothing. And now, the only offer I’m getting is from a man who said he’ll sleep with me for two weeks straight and still make me work three months for free before even paying me that thing they call a salary. Oh God, I messed up my life.”Her eyes trailed back to the papers. Rent four weeks overdue. Electricity bill due.

“Don’t tell me that, Ella! Who do you think you really are? Eh? Tell me, what is your problem?” Sonia’s voice echoed across the hallway, sharp and trembling with suppressed anger. Ella turned slowly, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. “Will you shut that dirty, gutter mouth of yours?” she fired back, her tone laced with venom. “I’m the boss here, Sonia. Try anything funny, and I will sack you. Nobody nobody will question me for it, you fool.” Without waiting for a response, Ella spun on her heels and stormed into her office. Sonia stood frozen for a second, her chest rising and falling as if she had swallowed her words too quickly. “What am I seeing? Ella… said this to me?” she muttered under her breath, clutching her files tighter before going back to her corner office. By mid-morning, Felix and Florence arrived at the company, shadowed by Mr. Obasi and two additional officers from the station. The presence of security had become a quiet norm in their lives four stati

Monday arrived with an unsettling calmness. The weekend’s storm of emotions had left Cecilia drained, but she welcomed the company of her best friend, Rebecca, who was perched on her bed with a bag of chin-chin between them. “I told you, Cecilia,” Rebecca said, her voice full of mock wisdom, “I can’t mislead you or push you into something bad. I knew from day one James was not the right person for you.” Cecilia sighed, chewing slowly on five chin-chin pieces. Her eyes wandered. “Babe, I believe you now. James broke me for real. If you see the way he was handling that girl…” Her lips twitched with a pained smile. “My brain can’t stop bringing back the picture.” Rebecca’s laughter was low and teasing. “I know if it wasn’t for the good girl in you, you would have just stayed, let him sex you right and make girl feel pain and regret it what she said.” Cecilia chuckled despite herself. “Yes oo, but I can’t do such.” They both laughed lightly, sharing the quiet relief of hard trut