~Somi's POV~

Two weeks after the initial test with the home kit, we went to the hospital for a proper test. The result still came back positive, so we shared the news with the girls, Homa and Amira. They've been showering me with love and attention ever since. Sarima, on the other hand, is playing hard to get, but I know deep down she's just excited to be the most enthusiastic aunt later on.

Lola had recently given birth to twin boys in Atlanta, and Adams and I were currently at their place with her cause she came back to Nigeria the previous day. Her mother was napping on an empty bed across from us in the nursery.

I and Adams were cooing over one of the tiny babies in my arms as he wrapped the whole of his hand on one of Adams' fingers.

"I'm so glad these boys took Lola's nose. Little wins" Adams commented, looking up at his friend who was bent over the second baby's crib.

Everyone laughed, and PK jokingly placed his hand over his chest, feigning hurt. "So everybody has beef with my nose now abi?"

I looked at PK's wide nose after Adams' roast and laughed some more.

"Adams, you better stop bullying my husband, or else you'll have to leave," Lola warned after having her own share of laughter.

Adams raised his free hand in surrender, sporting a smile.

"When I told you that I used to get ambushed by this man and Williams you thought I was bluffing." PK complained to his wife. "What was it they used to call me back then..."

"The Avatar," Adams helped him out, chuckling.

PK further explained to me and Lola's confused face, using hand gestures to draw the arrow typically seen on Avatar Aang's forehead and tapping his nose, causing Lola and me to burst into another round of laughter.

These men are so creative with their bants, how did they even come up with that?

"Shhh," Adams pointed at Lola's mom who was turning in her sleep from our noise and we both covered our mouth, snickering into our palms.

"And I thought you were on my side." PK said to Lola wearing a mock disappointed look.

"Come here joor" She opened her arms as he went over to her, leaning in for an embrace.

"In a few months, we'll see what you're capable of making. You're lucky because Somi might help your life." PK said to Adams.

"C'mon, stop being a hater now. Haven't you seen me?" Adams responded to the banter with a proud smile.

"Abeggy."

He looked at my face, seeing me smiling adoringly at him. There was a mischievous gleam in his eyes as he stroked my jaw while maintaining a smile.

We left their house after spending some time and stopped at the Atlantic Centre to buy groceries before heading to Adams' penthouse. Once I closed the door behind me, he immediately dropped the bags to the floor.

"Let's Netflix and chill upstairs," he suggested, not waiting for my response. He effortlessly lifted me over his shoulder as we ascended the stairs.

"Which one is Netflix and Chill." I screamed and pleaded amidst laughter, claiming that I was going to fall and die. He headed straight into his bedroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week, Adams made Wale my personal chauffeur. He said he'd be driving himself mostly now. Adams made me promise not to stress myself and I'm not even sure what that one meant because sitting down at home and eating is definitely not what he thinks I'll be doing at barely 6 weeks pregnant.

Thank God Madam B contacted me to join her in cooking for a small event today. I didn't even care for the details, I just jumped at it. Of course Adams wasn't too excited.

Wale picked me up some minutes ago. Hopefully, Adams hasn't told anyone anything because Wale seems to be extremely careful and gentle with his driving today.

"Wale, is everything okay?" I prodded.

"Is there a problem, Madam?"

He also stopped calling me Miss. I know Adams is responsible for that too.

"You're driving pretty slow today. I just wanted to be sure you aren't unwell."

"Oh, I'm very fine." He said. "Sir was very particular about me driving carefully." He smiled.

"Oh," I chuckled, confirming my suspicion.

Typical Adams.

Madam B's event is in Victoria Island today. She didn't give me enough details about the event or what I'm going to do, she seemed to just want me around and I too was looking for any reason to jump out of the house since I resigned at my part-time chef job because I thought I would be going for youth service immediately after graduation and I really just wanted to relax before being shipped off to serve Nigeria. Alas, fate had other plans.

Wale parked the car outside the compound after he honked severally and nobody answered the gate. Wale didn't like that, he insisted that Adams wanted him to make sure he saw me off and he was going to even follow me into the gate but I told him it was okay and that I'll call him when we had finished. He reluctantly let me go.

I stepped down from the SUV and walked into the compound. It didn't look anything like an event was happening there. Just an old unpainted bungalow and overgrown grasses in patches on the cemented floor.

Did I come to the wrong address? I pick up my phone to call Madam B.

Switched off.

I turn on my maps and type in the location she told me. The icon is pointing to my exact location.

So it's correct.

I called again. This time it rings but she doesn't pick in a hurry.

"Somi," she said as soon as she picked.

Finally

"Ma, I'm at the location in the compound. It doesn't look like your usual venues. Are the decorators late?"

"Erm, no, it's a small thing, h-I told you na, just come h-inside please,"

"Okay, ma." I hung up and walked across the grass to the door of the main house.

After knocking for a few minutes, I hear someone walk to the door, the sound of rattling keys in their hands as they unlock it. Everything is already looking funny but I'm not laughing. Madam B doesn't operate like this. Abi have they kidnapped her and made her call me under duress?

What do I even have to offer if that was the case.

Abeg o. God see my hands.

I use the time waiting for the door to open to put Wale on the speed dial. Just in case.

"You!" A familiar voice thundered. I didn't even notice the door open, the next thing that happened left my sight in a blur. Someone hit me across the face. Next thing hands grabbed the neckline of my dress. I catch the hand that attempts to slap me again before getting a proper look at my assailant, she looked so familiar I could swear we've met before.

Oh!

Amina? Colour me stupid. What?

She gives me another slap with her other hand and pushed me out, back into the compound.

"So you think you can snatch my man? You cheap prostitute!"

I can't believe my eyes when I see Madam B follow behind her with a thug carrying a plank in his hand and another girl recording on her phone.

"Grab her!" Madam B ordered the thug. He lunged towards me hitting me across my face and under my eye, doing exactly what she ordered him. Pulling both my arms behind me and holding me between them.

I thought I was going to go blind from the impact as pain clouded my visions.

Didn't know when a scream escaped my lungs.

The man was stinking of cheap booze, weed and weeks of marinated body odour, the stench of the thug makes its way down my throat and my stomach begins to sing its familiar revolting song.

Soon enough I was recklessly ejecting the burnt jollof rice I had Sarima make for me this morning. It just came out in streams, splashing into the grass and on my slippers and on the thug's dirty feet until my body was satisfied.

"Wait." Amina said, asking the thugs to unhand me. They flung my hands away and Amina stepped closer, looking into my eyes. I spat to the side, staring her down too and breathing heavily. I can actually beat her now. But I'm not strong enough to make an attempt on this hired thug, and that's her saving grace today. She turned to Madam B, "Ma'am, why is she vomiting?" She asked her amusingly.

Madam B marched towards me. Avoiding the vomit. I can't believe what's happening. Did this woman really just set me up?

"Come here," She grabbed my hand, pulling me closer to her eyes. Then she reached her hand to touch my belly and I pushed her hand away. There's no bump there yet but there's a difference and if she knows what she's looking for, she might find it. Her reaction invites Amina closer.

"Did Adams knock you up?" Amina barked. I don't answer. "Answer you fucking bitch! Is that how you convinced him to call off his engagement? Adams that never even wanted me in the same room with him?" She spun around. And I used the opportunity to dial Wale, my heart was racing now.

Her next hit sends me into the floor and her first kick is to my abdomen, hard. This time my scream was louder. The compound spun in my head as the pain shot like daggers to my back and every part of my body. Instinctively my body folded, protecting my belly with my knees.

Through my pain I heard Amina sob. She had the guts to be crying.

"What are you standing there for?" She screamed at the thug who rushed towards me with his plank.

"Hey!" I heard Wale's voice and the ambush stopped as he rushed towards them. Tackling the thug.

Wale was not just an ordinary driver, I thought as I watched them fight. He skillfully exchanged hard blows and dodging hits.

I managed to pick my phone and my bag, crawling backwards. My belly, back, neck, face, knees stinging from all the assault. I don't even know when the tears start falling.

They ambushed me.

Seeing that Wale was not letting up, Amina, Madam B and the other girl left the compound hurriedly. The thug followed too after receiving the beating of his life. Leaving me on the ground hurting all over, clutching my belly and stifling groans between sealed lips and closed eyes.

Wale rushed over me. Checking my face and my legs. I feel a sting under my left eye, rubbing it and seeing the blood at the back of my palm.

"Can you stand?" He asked.

"Please help me." I wiped my face again as the blood kept oozing and reached out. He grabbed my hand and stooped, putting it around his neck, pulling me up to my feet. I groaned at the movement. I'm afraid that the baby could be hurt so I wait to see the usual blood that should signal a miscarriage. I don't see anything.

God please.

"Let me get you to the hospital." Wale said.

"No please," I begged, "just take me home." I told him. "Thank you for coming on time." I added.

I don't know if I'm confused but I'm just too shocked for anything.

"Let me at least confirm that I shouldn't take you to the hospital with Sir?"

"No please, I'll tell Adams myself." I told him. He's not convinced but he nodded and helped me walk to the car. She really kicked my right knee, I could barely put any pressure on it.

How will I walk into the compound like this without drawing unnecessary attention and mockery from our neighbours? The whole compound will come out to watch me.

I know the password to get into Adams' house.

"Can we go to the penthouse instead?" I asked Wale.

He nodded again, "Sure."

The drive was sullen. Wale didn't make another sound but his eyes bled with concern each time I jammed them staring at me through the rear-view mirror.

He definitely knows I'm pregnant. If he suspected before I'm sure he knows now.

The tears didn't stop until we got to the penthouse. He honked at the gate and the gateman opened without delay. After driving into the spot where the SUV was usually parked, he got down immediately to help me into the house.

To our surprise the door is unlocked.

"Come, Sule!" Wale yelled at the gate man who rushed back out of his station. "Who dey this house?" He asked.

"Na small madam and her friend. Dem say Oga ask them to relax here."

"Amira?" I asked him.

"Yes, Madam. Her and the other small aunty."

Homa. God. Why today?

"Yaa Allah!" Amira's voice cuts my focus from Sule as she opens the door. "What happened?" She screamed.

That was all the evidence I needed to know that I was pretty battered. "Homa!" She screamed again before she remembered that keeping me standing there was probably not a very bright idea. So she assisted Wale and helped me into the sitting room. Homa walked into the scene, her smile immediately being replaced by terror.

"Jesus! Somi! What happened?" She rushed to the windows, looking for a crashed car I believe.

"It wasn't an accident,'' I said. "Amina ambushed me where I went to work. She connived with Madam B and they hired some thugs."

"Ya Ilahi! That sick bitch!" Amira shouted, returning with the first-aid kit she grabbed and dropping it with Homa before running upstairs.

Wale stood awkwardly at the door.

Homa rushed to me, preparing the methylated spirit drenched cotton wool, then using it to clean the bruise under my eye and the one on my right knee. It burned.

"I'm so sorry." Her hands were shaking, probably from anger. "Shouldn't we take you to the hospital? To be sure that everything is fine?" She passed a quick glance to my stomach.

"I think we're okay." I whispered, bearing down on the pain.

"Adams is on his way." Amira announced when she ran down. She had reported. I've never seen her so annoyed. Her little face is stoned, vibrating. "I can't believe that psycho bitch did this to you!"

I don't even have the strength to combat anyone anymore. I just want to sleep and I think the hospital might be a good idea now, I don't like how I'm feeling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My eyes opened. I don't remember falling asleep. Amira and Homa are standing a few metres from me, busy with their phones. The pain that shot through my back to my belly is too strong to hold between clenched teeth.

"Ah!" It had gotten worse, I clenched down my groan. My hands grabbed my belly again, writhing as another groan escaped.

Homa is visibly seething, "She even had the guts to record it and pay blogs to slander my sister?" I heard Homa roar.

Blogs? What blogs? I'm on blogs?

"Homa," I don't recognize my voice, I tried to steady my breathing. It's a low rasp but loud enough for her to hear it because she rushed over. Another pain shot through my body, this time tears followed the loud groan.

"This is a contraction." I said, nearly throwing up again.

"Let's get you to that hospital," Amira said. "Wale!"

"Where's Adams?" I asked

"He was at an important meeting when Amira called, she said he's on his way though." Homa answered.

I don't know how much time has passed between the time Amira called him and when I drifted off.

"Help me up," I asked.

They held me and as they pulled me up, Adams rushed in. He stood still, frozen at the door, fist clenched so tight his palms went white beside them, I could see his chest move in rhythm to his fast ragged breath.

Pee?

I looked down just as a drop of blood landed on the marbled floor. As I watched in panic, another one dropped, then another and another. I looked back up, slowly at Adams to see if he was seeing what I was seeing. Another contraction shot through my body and I felt him rush me, arms grabbing me before I reached the floor.

I'm not sure what's happening. My body is moving. Am I running? Who's driving? Where are they taking me? I watch the blurred figures fade out.