Claimed By the Billionaire

16 On her way to him

Madam stood shocked, her mouth open. She jumped into action along with her girls as Okafu struggled to pull in deep breaths. She tried to calm Okafu down as her laughter turned to loud wheezing.

Okafu placed her hand to her chest. She was having a panic attack.

She could feel it radiating through her muscles to constrict her lungs. It was a strong one. She knew it wasn’t like the other ones. She hasn’t had one like these one in a while. It was the worst. Okafu can still remember the dilapidating effect these ones had on her emotions. Back then she’d allowed them to take over her life as she was unable to take control of her emotions.

Now, she was back there again. The whirlwind Ren was causing in her life was going to be the death of her.

“Please stop young lady, you’re scaring me,” Madam fluttered around her like a bird, “maybe I should call Mr Amatapa. He should know…”

Okafu’s wheezing came to a screeching halt at the mention of Ren’s name.

“No. I’m fine,” She said, bending over to get her head between her legs. She breathed deep, counting to ten, until her breathing got under control. There was no way she was going to let Ren Amatapa see her at her weakest moment. He’d seen her in tears in the car, and that was the last time he’ll ever see her at her weakest.

“I’m ready for whatever you want to do with me,” she said wiping her hand over her face. It felt hot and clammy. Okafu sat up straighter in the chair.

Madam stared at her for a minute and then nodded.

She and her girls moved in a flurry of coordinated movements getting her ready. After hours of being prodded and pulled, Okafu stood in front of the mirror staring at a face she didn’t recognize. They had stretched her natural kinky hair into an intricate style that framed her round face. Her makeup was flawless, and brought out her best features. Madam had chosen a silver sequin dress with a bare back for her to wear. It moulded to her curves and pooled around her on the floor.

She was…

“He was right, no?” Madam asked behind her. Other sets of eyes stared at her eager to hear what she thought of her makeover.

“Yes,” Okafu said. She was beautiful. She didn’t look like herself. And she wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

Her life was changing so fast. It felt like she was tumbling head first into the unknown. And that scared her.

“Is she ready yet? It’s time to go.” The bodyguard’s voice came through the back door. Okafu hadn’t realized that he’d been there all the time. He must have heard her near nervous breakdown. How embarrassing. She hoped he wouldn’t tell Ren.

“Yes,” Okafu said turning away from the mirror.

The sun was setting over the horizon as they walked out of the boutique. The bodyguard guided her to the waiting car like she was the queen of Sheba.

 Paul kept his distance as they walked. He had heard Okafu’s slight breakdown in the dressing room. Though he didn’t agree with Ren’s tactics of approaching the young lady, he understood that some things couldn’t be helped. Paul just wished there was a better way though.

Ren Amatapa was a different kind of breed, not many people could tolerate him. He should know. He worked for the man twenty-four- seven. Not that he was a slave driver he was just tough and he was pulling no punches with woman he claimed he loved.

He was going to make her his, come rain or high water.

 Paul shook his head as they reached the car.

When he opened the back door of the car, Okafu held her breath. She wondered what Ren would think of her.

She didn’t want to impress him or seek out his approval, but she couldn’t help but feel a little needy and in need of a little comfort, especially from him.

As the door opened she waited. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach making her feel silly for wanting anything from Ren Amatapa.

Shaking her head Okafu, clicked her tongue disapprovingly at herself. She was not going to allow herself to fall into the abyss that Ren was pushing her into. She will not accept what he was doing to her, not matter how much she craved his touch sometimes.

 Okafu climbed into the car, not caring what he said about her new look. When there was nothing but silence that met her in the car, Okafu turned around to find the back seat empty. Something akin to disappointment and hurt filled her chest.

She swallowed the emotions. It was good that he wasn’t there. Her emotions were all over the place.

Okafu closed her eyes and thought of the events that happened today. Everybody now knew that she was Ren Amatapa’s fiancé. Not after the way he had claimed her in front of the whole school.

They all knew.

And Lina…

Oh s**t. Okafu looked around the car. She left her backpack in the car. Her cell phone was in there. She looked around her for her backpack, but there was nothing. Ren must have taken it.

Okafu clenched her fists on her thighs.

Oh that man was going to drive her crazy!

The car smoothly came alive, and they drove off. She stared at the street lights outside the car as they sped by. She hardly recognised the streets they passed. This was the part of Noman Town she’d never ventured into before. The area spoke of money and prestige. The houses were bigger and shinier. 

“I’ve never been here before,” she said fascinated. The streets were cleaner and their drive ways had well-kept lawns and flowers.

It was like another world.

 “Yeah? This is where the rich and famous live.” The bodyguard threw back at her.  Okafu stared at him shocked that he was speaking to her. The few times she had been in the bodyguard’s presence he had either ignored her or pretended like she didn’t exist.

Okafu shook her head, tonight was unreal anyway. She shouldn’t think much of his behaviour.

She focused on what he was saying.

The houses were amazing, even the streets looked expensive. Status and money mattered in Noman Town. There was a clear distinction of who belonged where. And people kept to their sections not mixing. Her family was doing well for themselves in the sense that they could afford housing, food and school. In Noman Town’s standards they were considered capable citizens, higher than the poor of the poor.

What was Ren Amatapa doing with her? She clearly didn’t belong here.