Behind Closed Doors

"Let's not get too comfortable, though," the steward warned, his tone growing serious. "It's too early to know her fully. She might be kind today, but the real test of a madam comes when she's in charge for a while."

Meanwhile, the gossip had traveled far beyond the compound.

At the Arinze family's old residence on the other side of the city, Old Master Arinze was laughing uproariously. His hearty chuckles echoed through the grand sitting room as he rushed to find his wife.

"Dear, I told you my grandson wouldn't lie to me! This girl he's in love with really exists! And guess what? They argue all the time, just like we do, and she always wins!"

Old Madam Arinze barely looked up from her embroidery, one brow arched skeptically. "Your grandson?"

The old man froze mid-step, realizing his mistake. "Our grandson. Our grandson," he corrected quickly.

Her eyebrow didn't drop, so he tried again. "Your grandson, your very good grandson," he said, a touch more dramatically.

Finally satisfied, she nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Old Master Arinze sighed inwardly. When she complained about their grandson's unmarried status, he was "his grandson," but now that the boy had found a wife, it was "her grandson." He chuckled at her double standards but quickly brushed it aside, too excited to linger on the thought.

"You should have seen her!" he continued. "The staff are saying she's beautiful, confident, and kind. She doubled their salaries without a second thought! Isn't that the kind of woman we wanted for him?"

His wife's smile widened, a warmth settling in her heart. She looked up at him, her sharp eyes softening. "I suppose I underestimated him. It seems I don't know my grandson as well as I thought."

The old man beamed at her approval, his heart fluttering just a bit. That smile of hers, it was the first thing that had captured him all those decades ago, and it still held him spellbound.

"Well," he said, leaning closer. "Do you think we should call them tomorrow?"

The old lady shook her head, her smile taking on a teasing edge. "No. Let them come to us for the introduction and subsequently the paying of bride price and traditional marriage. That's how we'll know how serious they really are."

Old Master Arinze laughed again, his heart full of pride for his grandson, and relief that the family line was finally in good hands.

Back at the young couple's house, Chibuzor led Olaedo to her room. The door creaked open, revealing a spacious room bathed in calming, nature-inspired tones. She scanned the walls and couldn't help but sigh in relief, thankfully, it wasn't drowning in pink.

After pointing out the room's features, including the ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet, Chibuzor excused himself. "I need to catch up on sleep," he murmured before leaving.

Olaedo wasn't too concerned about anyone noticing they had separate rooms. Only family, close relatives, and the housekeeper were allowed on the third floor. The second floor was reserved for guests, while the first floor housed the living room, dining area, kitchen, and other shared spaces accessible to the household staff.

Feeling more awake, she began unpacking her suitcase. She carefully arranged her clothes in the walk-in closet and set her cosmetics neatly on the dressing table. Inside the closet, she stumbled upon rows of clothes, casual dresses, evening gowns for occasions, and other stylish items thoughtfully prepared to help her blend into her new role.

"This husband of mine is really organized!" she muttered, unable to hide her shock.

After unpacking, Olaedo said goodnight to Chibuzor then moved to the study within her room to tackle some pending work.

-----------------

Three months later

The first rays of sunlight peeked through the curtains. Stretching, she decided it was time for a bath. Afterward, she dressed in one of her own outfits and headed downstairs in search of breakfast.

She had slowly started getting used to living here, but still didn't feel at home. Every day, they each pretended to be so in love during breakfast, lunch, and dinner before going their separate ways to work. They also made sure to go on a date even though their relationship wasn't public yet. The date was meant to deceive Chibuzor's grand parents who had insert spies to watch their movements.

On weekends, her and Chibuzor would practice their poses, and review their fake marriage performance. And this weekend was no exception.

It was Sunday morning and they had stayed up almost all night yesterday practicing various couple poses and finalising their meet cute story since the family ball was coming up that Saturday.

The house was alive with activity. Servants moved about with purpose, each focused on their tasks. As she passed, they greeted her respectfully, and she responded with a sincere smile that came effortlessly.

It reminded her of her company, where she effortlessly navigated conversations with her employees. She even paused occasionally to engage a few workers in light-hearted discussions, asking thoughtful questions that brought warmth to their faces.

Just as she approached the kitchen, curious to interact with the chefs and see what was being prepared, a young woman stepped into her path. Her expression was stern, her posture rigid.

"Young Madam, you can't be here," the woman said sharply. Her tone then shifted to one of mockery as she added, "It's beneath your status to be in the kitchen. Go wait at the dining table. The maids will serve you soon." She waved her hand dismissively, as though shooing away a stray animal.

Olaedo's brow arched at the blatant disrespect. For a moment, irritation flared within her, but she quickly decided to let it go. She had only been here for three months, and she had no intention of starting an argument.

Without a word, she stepped around the woman and entered the kitchen. The other staff pretended not to notice the exchange, keeping their gazes firmly on their tasks. Undeterred, she greeted the older women warmly and exchanged pleasantries with the younger ones before asking with a smile, "What's for breakfast?"

One of the chefs, Mrs. Ezinne, answered with a warm smile, gesturing to the grand table filled with dishes. "Something light," she began. "For you, we've prepared sandwiches and tea. For the Young Master, we've crafted a harmonious blend of Western and West African cuisines, offering a delightful variety. On the Western side, there are fluffy pancakes with maple syrup, crispy bacon, and a gourmet omelet station with customizable fillings. From the West African side, we have golden akara, steaming moi moi, and fried plantains paired with a rich, spicy egg stew."

She then motioned toward another table laden with drinks. "For lighter fare, there's a fresh fruit platter of mango, pineapple, and watermelon, alongside parfaits layered with yogurt and granola. To accompany, we have freshly brewed coffee, a selection of teas, and refreshing orange juice."

Olaedo nodded, impressed by the spread. She wondered why no one had ever come to ask her what she wanted to eat specifically, she would have preferred toasted bread and avocado this morning since she had been given sandwiches and tea or some other similar food for the past three months, but a sandwich was still good so she didn't raise any objections.

The simple style fitted her lifestyle as she was never one to demand an overabundance of food just to pick at a few dishes while the rest went to waste.

'But what's with chibuzor's menu always being extravagant? A mix of Western and West African cuisines for today's breakfast? There was no way he could finish all that, right?'

She found it excessive and, frankly, a huge waste from day one, but had decided to keep her thoughts to herself. After all, this wasn't her house. Instead, she smiled brightly and said, "Can't wait to taste your cooking again, Mommy Ezinne! I'll head to the dining room. Thank you, everyone."

As she left the kitchen, Olaedo purposely strode past the young lady who had tried to challenge her earlier. Her silence spoke volumes, and she felt no need to say more.

Entering the dining room, her eyes landed on her husband, already seated. She adjusted her voice and called out cheerfully, "Good morning, sweethea—ah!"

Her words faltered mid-sentence as her gaze froze on his face. She blinked in disbelief at the dark bags under his eyes and his weary expression. Was this really the same man who had looked so dashing and full of life just hours ago?

Even the servants paused, visibly taken aback. It was the first time any of them had seen their Young Master look so worn out.

Meanwhile, Chibuzor met her gaze with a darkening expression, his handsome features marred by exhaustion.

'This woman caused me to barely get a wink of sleep and now she is still bringing attention to my weird face?! It seems that if I don't teach her a lesson, she wouldn't learn to show me more respect!'