ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

The whole ten minutes walk to The Dwarika's hotel, Fatima was quite. She didn't know what to say because she is allowing her mind and brain to web around what's just happened. The fact that she couldn't escape the claws of Ahmad and also the fact that she felt something when he yanked her to his arms, those are things she needs to settle down to browse through. Did she seriously let herself go just because she's in his arms? The first man she's ever allowed to wrap her around his arms? She cannot believe how wanton she felt then and how much she crave it again.

Maybe her period is making her feel everything she's feeling and the minute it disappears, she will be back to who she is. And also Dr. Mujida's words about intimacy. She knew how hard it was to not do so many things when the period is about to start. Miraculously, her menstruation this month isn't painful like all others. Naturally, it starts being painful three days before the blood appear and continue to hurt mildly until she is done and the days are over. She walks around with heating pad all the time and changing it two to three times everyday. It's never been easy to her.

She was yanked of her thoughts at the feel of Ahmad's hand unclamping around her arm, the bruising hold disappear, leaving her to snatch it off and rub her other hand to soothe the dull ache it left. She glared at him, not minding the receptionist in front of them asking how many rooms they want. Ahmad didn't hesitate to say two. Meaning they will share one and the other two men with take one. This man has clearly lost his mind along the way from Nigeria, he is not using his rational mind. Who said she is going to share a room with him? She didn't say anything though, her lips glued and sealed.

She's actually been speechless since he told her he sat close to her in the plane. She should turned around to see who dared to sit close to her when there are more seats in the business class for the person to sit on but her mind was preoccupied with so many things.

Charting out how to live off the money she's packed and not use her card is going to be a struggle. She's used to spending money anyhow she wants but if she touches the one in her account, the boor would trace her immediately and look at her. She didn't even remove the money but they are mingling together in her first hour.

Ahmad liked the hotel and it's cultural inspiration. There are things that would occupy his time before they go back to Nigeria tomorrow or next.

Dwarika's Hotel is inspired by Kathmandu Valley's rich cultural heritage. It features an outdoor pool and four food and beverage options. Featuring an extensive collection of artefacts from the 13th century, Dwarika's Hotel is modelled after the palaces of Newar Kings. Pashupatinath Temple is 500m away while Kathmandu International Airport -where they've landed- and the Buddhist site of Boudhanath are both 2km from the hotel. Recreation facilities available include massage services and a spa. Guests can choose to dine at Krishnarpan, which specialises in local cuisine. The hotel also serves Japanese dishes at Mako's and Continental dishes at Toran. Local and international drinks can be ordered from Fusion Bar. Everything is right in order for him.

He ushered them to the elevator, Fatima grumbling as she walked ahead of them all. Ahmad is still amused by her tactics and the way she looks speechless and trapped. Finally, he's seen something other than triumph and mockery in Fatima Musa Babagana's eyes. When she realized that he was the one, the way she cried and held her beating heart as though it's about to fall off, he enjoyed the sight a lot. She's always been inundating herself in trouble and when she gets caught, she acts all surprised and shallow. Ahmad is going to enjoy mocking her about her foiled plans for the rest of the days.

They were given room twenty three and twenty five which means there is one room in between them. He gave them the keycard to their room and took the one he and Fatima would use, held her arm again and pushed her not so gently inside. As soon as she entered, he locked the door and place the keycard inside his pocket.

Oh, he is not going to handle things more lenient now that he's seen how far Fatima will go to escape this marriage. Since he is giving up and agreeing to stay with her, who the hell is she not to stay with him? He is not the bad one, she's the criminal amongst them and the one to be feared. He should be the one running away not the other way around.

Fatima watched him quietly as he bounced around the room, placing keys here and there knowing they are of no use to her. When he finally settled down on the one couch in the room to remove his shoes, she crossed her arms and surveyed him. Such face and body is wasted on him to be frank. Someone with his body and face shouldn't be a gold digger and money monger but sadly, it's wasted like she's said.

She could see the small glint of satisfaction and victory trying to tilt the side of his lips in a ghost smirk. "Don't be so excited about a small victory. The battle has just begun and I'll make sure you won't win this." His fingers stopped unlacing his shoestring as she grumbled in a sure voice.

He gave a mock chortle and continue unlacing his shoestring that for a minute there, she thought he was not going to retort. "A small victory? This is hardly a victory in things I've achieved in life. If only you will quit your shenanigans and have sense for once. This is hardly a game you are playing but it's draining."

She's never heard him talked like that. His words are always curt, short or forced but never this long. Eyes wary on him, half thinking he is not even the one sitting there in front of her but another person entirely but she won't be fooled. This air of arrogance, elegance and smooth way of talking belongs to only one man she knows and he's there in front of her. She's just galvanized a bit that he left his comfort zone to talk her into quitting what she is doing.

"And I told you I'm playing a game when? I'm not going to stop until I'm free from you, gold digger."

Ahmad's brows furrowed before he realized what she just talked about. Him, a gold digger? Oh this girl surely doesn't understand what she is saying at all or he can just give her the benefit of doubt. She doesn't know what has transpired between her father and him or she would've known that he is not after her fathers wealth but he is not about the gist her on it. She should keep thinking whatever she wants to until she realize that she is not making sense at all. Why would he marry her for her father wealth? Does she think he is that cheap? Maybe he should divorce her. Them being together won't benefit anyone no matter what Betsy and Musa Babagana think.

Keeping both his Nike shoes beside the couch, he placed his elbows on his widened knees and clasp his hands together. "Then let me assure you, I won't let you go even if I'm held at a gunpoint. The sooner you realize that you are married to me, the better."

"And just who the fuck do you think you are?" Her eyes are wide now, veins popping from her neck and forehead, nostrils flaring. "Huh? You think you can dictate my life because my father bought you and got you married to me? Then let me swear to God, I'm never going to allow you into my life. Don't think this is going to work, it will be your worst incubus! It is a promise." She emphasized on the word promise.

Ahmad shook his head. Minor things trigger her anger and he gets why. Accused of being a murderer at a young age is something but Fatima becoming the person she is is entirely different. "I don't want it to work. I don't go for unruly women like you. Don't forget that I have the right to marry three other women but you can't. Don't go ahead of yourself."

This is the last blow Fatima could take, she rushed to where he sat in flashing speed and jerked the collar of his leather jacket. Her eyes are on his, she feels the power of having the upper hand as she stared down at his sitting form. He looks relaxed again and nonchalant, she hates it when he is never intimidated by her like other people in her school. Why doesn't she have that power over him like she does on others? Burning with rage, her eyes yawed a bit shade crimson as she swallowed thickly.

"You think you can use that against me? I know my rights and I can go to the court to have this marriage severed. That's what I'm going to do. I don't know why I wasted my time on your freaking ass. A gold digger like you don't even deserve my anger." She pushed at his collar and stand straighter. The thought that a woman can severe her marriage when she gets maltreated by her husband in the court never got to her but she remembered seeing similar case in a movie.

Ahmad shrugged, as if her threat didn't matter to him. "There is no court that can help you with this case. Again, the sooner you learn that you are tied to me, the better."

Fatima's face contort to look of confusion. How could he be so sure that no court would help her? Is she missing something about the Islamic way for a woman to divorce her husband or what?

In her confusion, she breathed out a question she never wanted to ask. "Why? Why do you want to stay married to me? It's clear that I hate you and you don't like me either. Why suffer? How huge is the amount of money my father gave enough to have you go through so much to keep me?"

The question has been bugging her mind but she never had it in her to ask or pull over it. Her thought is, her father did him something too great that he couldn't turn down but she wants to know. No man would go through this even with the money her father gave him. He'd rather use that money to marry a woman that will satisfy his needs than waste his time on her. It's not like he is deeply in love with her and is using facade, that is the last thing in Ahmad's mind about her. There is nothing to love about her. She's not too beautiful, just average and had it not being for her fathers wealth, no one would notice her.

So what is there that have him glued to her like a leech?

Ahmad contemplated on whether to tell her why he really is with her. It wouldn't hurt anyone saying the truth than keep lying to her and keeping her in the dark. If he really wants to keep his promise and help Fatima like he's promised two people to, then he will have to start by softening her up. The minute he is done helping her, he will let her go and maybe even help her find another man. He's married her to help her, once that duty is off his shoulders, he will divorce her and they will lead separate lives like they've never met.

He stared straight at her, his eyes piercing through hers with deep honesty. "I promised to help you. Your father thinks I'm the perfect person to help you and so does your friend. I don't know why they think I can help when I also lack patience and you very well know how to cross boundaries and make everyone's blood boil with a few words. I'm just going to try and see where it goes."

Fatima gulped at the honesty and frankness in his voice and eyes. But he hasn't cleared the air for her. "Help me how? Medically or what?"

Her eyes are frightful that it made him grin, she looks adorable with that expression. Is she afraid of being intimate with him? Maybe he should tease her a bit and make her more uncomfortable so he can relish on the sight he might never see again. Fatima Musa Babagana afraid and shy, whoa.

He shrugged his shoulders and lean back on the couch. "Medically and mentally."

Her glare came back rapidly, her expression now serious and businesslike. "You won't come close to me no matter what pain I might encounter in future. And who told them I need help? I don't need no fucking help from no one! That old man thinks he is doing the right thing huh? He wants to fool me into thinking he cares about me? Even if it is true, he is twenty years late! And Betsy, she doesn't know what she is doing. How could she ask a gold digger to help me? Help me with what anyway? I'm I mad or crazy but I don't know? I'm perfectly alright, why would they think I need any help?"

She's talking without breathing, Ahmad didn't know whether her questions are rhetorical or not but he found himself answering anyway. "I'm no gold digger, you hooligan. Your father didn't give me a cent to get married to you, I made a promise I had to fulfill."

She didn't believe him, it is written all over her face. "And you expect me to believe he really didn't give you anything? Where did you get so much money to buy a log cabin? Many expensive cars? And interior like that? Even money to leave the country with two other police officers? Tell me where those money came from."

"I don't owe you no explanation. You can ask your father whether he's given me money or not. I'm done discussing this matter with you." He left the couch and lie down on the bed because he cannot even think about shower when he is this tired.

Fatima frowned at his back. "Where do you expect me to sleep?"

"Here." Ahmad grunted before he lost consciousness, leaving her motionless by the foot of the bed. She stared hard at his back as if waiting for him to jump off at her piercing stare but he didn't as much move. Fatima could remove the keycard and quietly leave the room but she is too tired to even think about it so she removed her boots, made it to the bathroom to change her sanitary pad then went to bed and lie down at the far end of it to avoid touching Ahmad even in her sleep. She won't be able to forgive herself if she touches him. He is still her enemy because she didn't believe a thing he's said and she will keep trying to break that marriage with or without his cooperation.