Joyce paraded the living room of her fiance's house as she await him to get back. She had called him few hours earlier and he had told her that he would be back soom, but had not appeared ever since, nor was he picking up her calls anymore.
She decided to try his mobile number again and fortunately, it was picked on the second ring. "Come on! Where are you? I've been worried," she asked as soon as she heard his voice.
"I'm here," she heard him say and became confused. She was about to question him to that regard when the door opened and he emerged. She sighed and went to him, surrounding her hands on his waist.
"You're late. Why is that?"
"Good evening to you, too." James smiled, disregarding her question. "No welcome kiss and you're asking me why I am late?"
Joyce laughed and hit him softly on the shoulder. "Okay, fine." She leaned in and placed her mouth briefly
James was glad the following day was Saturday. He used that opportunity to relax at home. Work had been so hectic for him lately since he no longer had a personal assistant. And the club he went with Joyce the previous night did him no good.And talking about Joyce, he was so pissed with her for disappearing the night before. She had only informed him that she would be back but never returned. It took him several attempts before he was able to get in touch with her through her number. All his previous attempts were telling him the line was busy.He had been so worried that he went outside to check on her, but no matter where he searched, she was no where to be found. That had bothered him and Dami, who started trying her number, too.When he was finally able to get in touch with her, he had screamed in anger at her. All she did was apologised that something came up and was no
James left his mother's house depressed and returned to his house. He inserted his key to open his front door but noticed it was unlocked. He was sure he locked the door on his way out and it was too late for his girlfriend to be there. It was almost ten pm.His mind drifted to the thief that had broken into his mother's house and had perfectly stolen money from the safe. He couldn't possibly be here in his house. What for?He was not scared. Not for a moment. He believed the thief would not go scot free. Not in his hands.Slowly, he turned the door knob and opened it. He felt something moved from behind the door. The thief would have known he was back and was now armed and waiting for him to enter and then, probably hurt him. He was smarter than that.
Joyce was puzzled. She had no idea what he was talking about. She would never go to his parents' house without telling him. She was even always shy to go alone without specific reasons.And what was that about being all over a guy? She made an attempt to touch him, but he did not allow that by moving to the side, so she rose to her feet and went to stand before him. "What are you talking about, James? I am confused," she asked silently. She was aware he was very annoyed and shouting to prove her point would do no help.James said nothing at first. He wanted to calm down, but he was struggling to. It was very difficult for him to reduce his anger. He opened his mouth to talk only for him to close it back and went to his room.Joyce watched silently as he disappeared from her sight and came back with an envelope. She collected the envelope and opened it. "Oh, my God!" she exclaimed as she saw the pictures one
"What! How? When?" Joyce exclaimed when James told her that the money had been stolen from his mother's safe. She was shocked and speechless. Thirty million was a huge sum of money. Who could have done that?"I really don't know how but it happened yesterday. The police are still doing their investigation on the how it happened. I will be going there soon," James uttered.Joyce rose from her seat in the living room and started parading the room. She put a finger to her lips and bit on it. "Oh, my God!" she exclaimed. "What do we do now? That money is huge. Fuck, the person who did that must be someone you know or could it be that you were tailed?" The inspective side of her was awakened. She could not help but start assuming the possibilities and the probabilities."I don't think I was tailed there. I would have noticed if that were the case." James sighed heavily. "Actually, refunding the money would not be a pr
Angela finally got the new address of Joyce. She had been to the house she used to live, thinking she was still there,but on getting there, she was told that the family had relocated. She had been fortunate enough to find a neighbor that knew their new residence and had given her the new address.She vowed to visit her that morning and tell her all she overheard from the snobbish woman. She could not just open her eyes and watch her friend's life get ruined when she could do something about it. She took a taxi and told the driver where she was going.Minutes later, the driver parked in front of a beautiful bungalow. She was awed as she looked at the building. Her friend had really upgraded. From the look, she knew that the house was not like some very expensive ones on movies or the ones described in novels, but for someone to be living in a house such as that could only mean they were living well.She paid the driver and alighted. She
James widened his eyes and moved closer to the screen. He replayed the video and paused it where the lady was entering. He tried to look clearly to see if the figure was really familiar,but no matter how close he looked, the lady did not resemble Joyce.But, that dress was the same as Joyce's and according to the time and date, it was the night he had been to the club with her. He stopped himself from thinking further. He trusted Joyce."Isn't this Joyce? So, her aim was to steal the money when she came by. How could she? She has no sha–"James was pissed off. "Mum!" He called, trying to control his anger. "Do you realize who you are talking about?" He asked in case her mother had forgotten that Joyce was his fiancée."I find it hard to believe, too, but she's the one we're seeing here," his mother protested. No matter how much she loved the lady, she would never condone her acting in such a
James was taken aback. What was she talking about? What nonsense was she saying? He was confused. He could not believe his ears. He concluded he must have been hallucinating. "Sunshine, what... What.. are you say...ing?"Joyce got on her knees and started crying. She sobbed as she thought of words to say. She felt a pang of guilt for lying to them, most especially to James. She could not look him in the eyes. She was afraid of what she would see there. She did not need anyone to tell her before she knew she had crushed his trust in her with what she said.As James attempted to get closer to her and lift her up, his father spoke, "I am so disappointed in you, Joyce," he started and rose to his feet. "I took you as family, yet, you let me down. I'm calling off your wedding and that's final," he declared and walked out of the living room into his bedroom.Andrew did not want to believe that Joyce was capable of doing such a thing
James brought her outside the living room into the compound beside his car. He suggested for them to go inside and talk but she had refused with the excuse that she was okay with standing on her feet.She could not look at him. She kept playing with her fingers and sniff once in five seconds.James also had red eyeballs as a result of hurt and anger, but he could not say if the anger was directed at himself or Joyce. "Joyce, I–" the remaining words got caught up in his throat. He sniffed, put a palm over his nose and mouth, then returned the hand back to being in his blue hoodie."I'm... I am sor...sorry,"Joyce apologized, still not looking at him.He shook his head. "Don't tell me you are sorry, Joyce,because I know very well that you were lying earlier."Joyce was taken aback. He trusted her. Her mind started jubilating, but teary expression remained on her face. S