Chapter twenty

AYANNA 

I felt nervous after I got a reply from Rain Blackwell asking me to meet him outside the house. I draped a fur coat over my night dress and a fluffy fur slippers. Picking up my phone I look back at Mother who was still sleeping soundly before walking out of the room. 

I passed by Father's room, leaning my ear against door and from the loud snore I heard coming from inside his room I knew he fell asleep already. 

I waited at least five more minutes before leaving the house. A black Lamborghini revuelto packed a little distance away from the house. From the license number XXXX already knew it was him because only the Blackwell family had that license number. 

As I walked toward the car, I felt a wave of nervousness wash over me. It wasn't the first time I was meeting Rain Blackwell. I'd even dared to get entangled with him for a month. Yet I felt especially anxious tonight.

I felt his intense gaze on me even before I reached the car. He was staring, his gaze trailing my every movement like the predator he was. 

Drawing a deep breath, I opened the door to the passenger side, hesitating for few seconds before getting in.  

"How have you been?" I asked doing my best to keep my voice calm. 

"How do you think I've been doing?" He whispered leaning so close that his breath fanned against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "You left me hanging for so long. I almost thought you changed your mind. I was already thinking of resorting to other means like kidnapping you." 

I turn to look at him in that moment, my breath hitching at how close our lips where. We were literally breathing each other's air. I tried to pull back but he was faster, catching my chin between his thumb and index finger. His gaze slowly trailed from my eyes to my mouth in that seductive way of his.

"You wanted to see me?" He held my chin still as he spoke, his gaze meeting mine again.

"I," I mumbled unable to bring myself to tell him why I wanted to see him. "Can we go somewhere else?" I suggested instead. Perhaps if we weren't in the confined space of his car, I'd be bold enough.  

Rain looked at me for a while, then slowly pulled back. "Okay."

I released the breath I was holding once he ignited the engine, driving away at full speed. It didn't take long before we arrived at his penthouse the one he brought me to before. 

I silently walked behind him my heart racing like I was a soldier going into battle. 

"Do you want something, a drink, snack, food? Whatever you want I could give to you?" He said as soon as we were seated. 

Whatever I wanted he could give to me.

It sounded like something the devil would say but the price...

I shrugged the thoughts immediately meeting Rain's eyes. Since I was here, there was no going back.

"I want you to take everything from my husband, his wealth, prestige_ 

"Can I take you also. You're his most precious treasure after all, nothing he have could compare to you," Rain muttered and I nodded gradually.

"You also have to help me claim my father's empire. Help me seat on the throne and let all his power belong to me. In exchange, I would do anything you ask of me."

"Anything,"he repeated, a dangerous look flashing across in his eyes before his lips slowly curved into a dark smirk.

"You already know what I want. However, I have to make sure you don't go back on your words and runaway from me like you did before. so we'll sign a contract, this time on my terms."

***

NEXT DAY 

The clock ticked 1.pm just as I walked into the hospital. I heard that Alex was getting discharged today and that he was being accompanied by Kate. That shameless duo. They probably thought I was dead and out of their way. Till now, I still found it hard to believe that Alex had been the one behind my accident. Even with all the evidence I saw. I didn't want to accept that the man I'd love and lived with for five years would betray me to the extend of trying to end my life. But then he had so much to gain from my death. My wealth, in the event that i don't conceive a child everything went to him. No wonder he made sure I wouldn't conceive.

Alexander Greyford was the worst thing that ever happened to me and I intend to be his nemesis also. 

The moment I reached his ward, I heard laughter coming from inside, both his and Kate's.

Probably rejoicing because they thought they succeeded. But look who's back from the dead. I'm here to haunt and torment them like a ghost. Smiling mischievously to myself, I looked down at the black dress I was wearing. I also wore black shoe to match then I brought out the black ghost mask I bought on my way to the hospital, using it to cover my face before entering the ward.

"Ahh,"Kate yelled, almost failing off Alex's lap as she quickly shot to her feet, a panicked expression on her face as she adjusted her dress. Alex also looked mortified as he hastily adjusted his shirt and I pretended like I didn't notice what him and Kate had been doing, as I stepped forward, only to halt when I was few inches away.

"Who the fuck are you? Why...

He paused mid-sentence, a curious expression replacing his panicked one. 

"Ay...Ayanna?"he called out unsure. I could see the doubt in his eyes and also trepidation. Kate's expression mirrored his and I smirked. Keeping them in suspense for few seconds longer before tauntingly taking off my mask.

"Surprise hubby. You darling wife is back alive and very healthy. Here for good and never to be parted from you."

I struck different poses, then flashed him a smile. Though my smile faltered as soon as I caught the disappointment on his and Kate's face. I wasn't even bothered about Kate. But Alex_ he wished I was dead it was clearly written in his gaze and though I hated him now, I couldn't help but feel an excruciating pain gnawed intensely at my insides. 

"Oh my goodness, I'm so happy you're alive. I thought...the news said you were in an accident," He shot to his feet limping towards me with a pretentious expression. He opened his arms like he wanted to hug him, but I stepped away, ignoring him as I moved towards where Kate stood, looking like a mosquito caught in a spider web.

"Oh dear cousin, thank you so much. I heard how much you've been taking care of my husband in my absence, aren't you the best cousin everyone would pray for," I shot her a pretentious smile, setting my hand on her shoulder and smiled when she flinched.

 "She must have taken care of you so well, you're practically glowing," I turned back to Alex catching the guilt that flashed across his gaze before it was quickly replaced by a pitiful look. 

"You... What are you talking about? Kate was just here to console me since I felt miserable after hearing the news of your accident... Heavens know I would've done something terrible to myself because I couldn't bare the thought of losing you. Ayanna you have no idea. If you had died, I would have ended my life too."

I almost scoffed at how ridiculous he looked at that moment, but I held it in, going to stand before him again.

"I know how much you love me. So if I die I intend to take you with me," I said tightly holding his hand. "If I don't take you with me, then my soul would feel restless everytime I see you hurt living without me."

Alex flinched his face twisting into a frown as he didn't expect such reply. "Stop joking like that honey. Nothing like that would happen to you. I won't let anything happen to you."

I nodded with a fake smile, turning to Kate. "I'd have to disturb you to watch over my husband. I need to help the police with their investigation since they think some one was trying to murder me."

I didn't wait for their reply or turn to look at the expression on their faces but I knew. They weren't going to have peace...

Once I left the hospital, I checked my bag for the phone Rain gave to me last night, clicking on the message he sent to me. Though I had told Alex and Kate I was meeting with the police, I was meeting with Rain instead.

"Ma'am, boss asked me to drive you there," the guy called Flex drove up to me in a black Rolls-Royce just as I tried to stop a taxi and I furrowed my brow wondering how he knew I was in the hospital still, I got into the car without question.

For some reason the route he took seemed familiar. Like the one I took to my house at the outskirt of town. My suspicion was confirmed when we got closer to the house. I spotted Rain black Lamborghini parked out the house and my heart began to race.

"He's inside the house," Flex told me before driving off. I stood front of the door for a minute before mustering the courage to walk in. The moment I do two pair of eyes found mine from where he sat on my couch like a king. He gestured at me with two fingers and I moved towards him, intending to take the space next to him but he drew me into his laps with a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

"Remember the last time we were here. You ended things between us. It only right we start again where it all ended."