In case y'all have been curious of what Jade looks like, here's my imagination. Of course, you are allowed to imagine her the way you want it😁💕

More aesthetics of her would be coming up.

Song of the chapter; 23, Burna Boy.

Jadesola

Heartbreak. Most times, when an heart break is described in movies, I always compared it to that of a mother loosing her child, to a lost child, seeking the comfort of her home. The books described it, many, many, descriptions by authors shed a little bit of light into it. Nothing, no amount of descriptions and imaginations could compare to the amount of hurt I was feeling.

The feeling could be compromisingly compared  to that of a band aid, the one you would have to pull slowly, bear the pain as it hurts. A heavy heart,  diluted with nervousness, anxiety for every passing moment. What do you do when you watch your freedom get taken away from you?

It wasn't that easy.

I could have easily walked into Aunty's room, inform her of the situation with William and I. In fact, times without numbers, I felt myself walk up to the room just to end up coming back. It wasn't that easy to rip off the happiness clouded in the face of an human—not to talk of the one you loved dearly.

I didn't want to  crumble the new found hope in Aunty's heart. Somehow, a sick part, a really sick part of me felt like what I was doing now should serve as a compensation for all the good things they have all done to me. Taking someone in really wasn't a easy job.

Apparently, the reason Uncle and Aunt had jumped to the conclusion of marrying off their old enough children, because surprisingly they felt like we were both in love and they were doing both them and us a favor. Williams was officially taking over the company in a few months. We were to get married before then. Calculating it roughly, I was to get married to Williams in three months.

A deep yawn escaped my mouth exactly the same time the door to the elevator rolled open. I entered inside, massaging my already tired shoulders as I leaned against the wall. The marriage plans had been revealed over two weeks ago and that had been like the last time I had seen Williams at home. He had been—fine, I had been the one avoiding him. Well, i couldn't be blamed. I didn't want him going all I am the tiger and the eagle on me again.

"Hold the door," his  unmistakable deep voice resonated throughout the empty office hallway. How come this thing hadn't closed yet?

Williams was almost in front of the elevator when he glanced up, his steps didn't waver he only kept walking at his own pace, a very slow one as a matter of fact. Expecting me, his house maid to hold the elevator for him. Feeling silly for a little while, I continued to stare at him, making sure our eyes locked as I removed my hands blocking the elevator door. His eyes widened and he took hurried steps but he was too late, the doors had already closed and I had I also managed to stick my tongue out at him. He deserved that.

A sigh escaped my lips as I landed on the first floor of the company. I was exhausted already and all I wanted to do was lay on my bed and sleep for the whole of the year.

My steps almost wavered as a figure immediately appeared in front of me. It was so quick, so unexpected to digest that I almost lost my footing. Well, I would have if quick hands hadn't grabbed me by my waist.

"Careful Jayde, you might have lost your footing and died. I wouldn't want my wife dead, now would I?" Of course, it had to be William.

I could only trace the shadows of his face, make out the outline of his neatly, well trimmed beard. Most part of the company was lighted by the emergency light as it was night already and past work hours.

His hands still remained on my waist and I tried to slip away but he didn't let go. So I remained there, my hands resting on his chest. I proceeded to ignore the way he now slid both his hands to hold me on my waist. A stranger walking by could have mistaken us as lovers.

"Well, Will. I didn't lose my footing and I'm perfectly okay. Besides, wouldn't it be better that I'd be gone from your life and as your wife?" I questioned, almost rolling my eyes.

"I'd rather have you in my bed. You have no idea how-

William paused from his sentence and shook his head. I failed to understand his point for a moment. What had he meant by that?

"Anyways," he cleared his throat, still his hands remained on my waist. "I've decided that since we have no choice but to get married. Maybe we could try being civil with one another?" He questioned.

Thinking about it a little, I made a quick decision of 'it wouldn't hurt.'

"Of course Williams, as long as we don't overstep our  boundaries. Like the one you are doing now." I gestured at him, using my head as a pre headed signal towards his hands on my waist.

He scoffed a little and removed his hands. "You are about to be my wife and I can't even put my hands on your waist?" He sounded disbelieving.

I shifted in my feet's a little, finally removing my hands that I seemed to have forgotten on his chest. "Yes, that would be correct. There's no use for that to even happen."

"If I can't hold your waist, am I even allowed to kiss you?" My heart skipped a beat at his question. What happened to the cave man he had been  the previous day, screaming his lungs out. The man standing right in front of me looked different. His grim face of annoyance had now been replaced by a teasing yet frustrating look. The now brightened moonlight cast a gaze around his shadow, making his silhouette appear more appealing. His bright red lips could be mistaken as that of a cherry with the way it scrunched up along with his brows. It looked like he really cared about us, me and him kissing.

"No, we can't. Why would we even do that?" I rolled my eyes and managed to escape his hold and move completely away from his compelling eyes.

"Wow. So I don't even get to kiss you." He said so quietly. I rolled my eyes and walked ahead of him, to my car. Ignoring the skip of my heart and the warmth of sweat that had now formed between my hands.

***********************************************

"So you are telling me, you are getting married to that asshole?" Of course, Temi couldn't lend herself courtesy as she exclaimed next to me. We were in a mini bar not to far from my estate. Joey was seated next to her, hands on the glass cup as he slowly sipped his Andre wine, looking back and forth between me and Temi's exchange of words.

After I had announced the news to them earlier this afternoon, finally accepting the fact that I was getting married. We had agreed to meet in the evening after work hours. Temi and Joey both worked in the same company so it wasn't hard to meet up. Pretty sure they'd bantered like children all the way.

""Yes, Temi. For the twentieth time." I sighed as I placed the glass between my lips, sucking in the wine into my mouth. I dropped the glass back, licked my lips and focused my attention on a unusually quiet Joey.

"What's up Joey?"

"I'm here, loss at words to be honest. In my opinion, I feel like you shouldn't enter into something you don't wanna. It's not an easy gamble. Marriage that is, it's not like a relationship you could easily leave. The both of you would be branded together. Marriage is not an achievement, neither is it a play ground you could just walk into to test the waters. It doesn't, never works like that. So I'd suggest you think deeply about this. Before going into something you can't get yourself out of. Of course, I would not tell you what to do. I would only advice you and toss you both sides of the coins. If you don't want to get married, then don't do it. Follow what you want. Except you want to." Joey finished and immediately, Temi followed after him.

"Looks like she wants to because the Jade I know doesn't cower easily at emotional or any kind of manipulation."

I sighed. And then sighed again. And again. I sighed many times that evening because when I thought about it, it didn't feel like I wasn't interested. My heart was conflicted.

"Arise o compatriots!" I saluted the air as I almost stumbled into the bed of flowers at the entrance of the house. Who made that sound? Was that me? Me that was!

"Oh for heavens sake." Joey groaned as he adjusted me by the side. "I knew I should not have let you drink too much. Like Temi isn't enough of a pest, you had to join her too!" Joey exclaimed only to groan a "ouch." A result of Temi's handwork on him.

"Don't call me a pest and take me to my mother. Sweet mother." Temi said.
Okay, it looked like I wasn't the only tipsy person.

"Joeboy, keep quiet. The ants are speaking." I shushed at Joey as the ants rounded in a corner, shaking their asses and boobs for me to spray them some cash. "Get me some cash Temi, I need to spend for these beautiful people. Sorry, animals, oh no insects!" I giggled.

"The both of you, shut the hell up." Joey adjusted Temi by his side. "Jadesola, please open the door you are about to lick." I could feel his frustration but I couldn't help myself from my actions. I moved away from the chocolate looking door to open it from the spoon. Sorry, handle.

Closing my eyes to reopen them, I almost crashed against the flower bed yet again by the door when it immediately crashed open. Williams. He paused a bit, taking in the scenario before him. He placed his hands on his head, imitating a 'for fucks sake' position, letting out a quiet groan and in result, blinding lights caused by this wrist watch on his hands reflected and shimmered directly into my eyeballs, leading me to loose my footing and land directly on his chest. I ignored joeys sigh of relief.

Like a mixture of peppermint and rich leather. He smelt like a new day, a grasp of a new light, the warm dewy smell, like that of a brand new T shirt, with a rich fragrance detergent and I could not help but inhale him. My hands fell down like a wailing mother, rounding to hold onto him. Above his butt and beneath his chest. Right in his middle.

"You smell yummy baby." I mumbled. Baby, where the hell did that come from?

"And you are naughty, jayde." He said, collecting my hand bag from my hands.

"But I did nothing wrong. I've been good." I was almost sounding like a baby. And it seemed like that was starting to annoy my sub conscious because she kept gazing at me with the stink eye.

"I would tell you what you did if— Williams speech got interrupted by joeys clear of throat and I turned back to glare at him.

"Excuse me, me I don't have anything against your conversation but we need to get inside before we freeze up." That's right, Christmas was on its way. And both Joey and Temi are sleeping over.

"My bad, Williams held me by the side and we  all entered into the living room to separate. With Williams leading me our rooms hallway and Temi and Joey disappearing into the guests hallway.

"I'm tired." I moaned out as I settled on the bed, legs stretched out in an awkward manner. My hands moved in imaginary sizes of shapes as I searched for what I couldn't even pin point I was looking for. The room felt cold against my skin. I wanted a little bit of warmth.

"I don't even understand what you are looking for Jayde." Williams groaned and I rose to pull him on the bed. Warmth. Ah, he was the warmth.

"What are you doing?" He questioned but his hands were not in the least protesting as they had now found a rest on my waist.

"I'm looking for you, warmth. I'm looking for you." I mumbled sleepily, my hands stuck between both our bodies as I adjusted the small of my back right on the arm that wasn't connected to the hand holding my waist.

I couldn't hear what he said next because it was resonated low but it sounded like, "I've been looking for you all my life, Jayde. You have no idea."

I closed my eyes and slept off. Listening to his heartbeat. Which by the way was beating very fast.

JADESOLA

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in arrears y'all.

Another update. This should have been a double update but I couldn't do it because I lost majority of the next chapter. Anyways, expect another update this week.

Happy new month and stay safe you guys.
Adesewa ❤️🦋