Chibuzor tilted his head slightly, as though weighing her words. "You might be right.....or not," he said finally, his voice even. "But the next time you plan to leave the house for an entire day, a little notice would be appreciated."
The girls stiffened slightly at his tone, except for Olaedo, who met his gaze with a calm smile.
"Noted," she replied smoothly. "We'll be sure to send you an itinerary next time."
"See that you do." His eyes lingered on her for a moment longer, taking in her refreshing look, before he turned to leave, heading toward his study.
As soon as his footsteps faded, Ifeoma let out a low whistle. "Well, that was... intense."
"He's not mad," Adanna said quickly, though she didn't sound entirely convinced.
Nnenna raised an eyebrow. "He didn't look particularly thrilled either."
Olaedo remained quiet, her thoughts focused on the subtle flicker of emotion she had seen in Chibuzor's usually cold eyes. 'Was it jealousy? Disappointment? Or something else entirely?'
"I think we should call it a day," Olaedo said finally, her tone decisive. "We've had enough excitement for one evening."
The others nodded in agreement, and as they began to disperse, Nnenna caught Olaedo's arm. "You okay?" she asked quietly.
Olaedo smiled faintly. "I'm fine."
But as she headed to her room, she couldn't shake the feeling that today's outing had stirred something unexpected in Chibuzor, and perhaps, in herself.
At midnight, Chibuzor stood in the moonlit garden, his sharp eyes fixed on the towering stone sculpture of a lion. Its intricately carved mane shimmered faintly under the silvery glow, but Chibuzor wasn't there to admire the craftsmanship.
He crouched behind the sculpture, his calm demeanor unshaken despite the oddity of his task. His housekeeper had left the mattress carefully hidden at his request, neatly rolled and covered with a discreet dark sheet.
"All because of that loophole free contract," he thought, narrowing his eyes. The infamous agreement had been drafted with meticulous precision by none other than himself. The clause about "separate sleeping arrangements" left no room for negotiation.
His patience for sleeping on the cold, hard floor had reached its limit. Tonight, he would rectify this injustice.
As per his great grandfather's journal, the lion sculpture concealed an entrance to an ancient passageway leading directly to his study.
With a quiet press of the lion's left paw, the ground beneath the sculpture shifted, revealing a narrow, stone stairwell descending into darkness.
"Primitive but effective," he muttered, hauling the mattress over his shoulder and stepping into the passage. The air grew cooler as he descended, the faint smell of earth and stone filling his senses.
He reached the passage floor, where narrow stone walls formed a tunnel that snaked through the house's foundation.
The passage was dimly lit by faint cracks in the stone where moonlight seeped through. Chibuzor moved quietly, his calculated steps ensuring minimal noise. But as he adjusted the mattress on his shoulder, the edge of it caught on a loose rock embedded in the wall.
Thud!
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, trying to steady himself. Unfortunately, his next step landed on a jagged stone.
"Ow!" he yelped, his voice echoing through the narrow corridor.
He froze immediately, his sharp ears straining to catch any sound from the house above.
Olaedo sat in the kitchen, sipping her chamomile tea as she replayed the events of their adventures danced in her mind. The experience had revived her more than she had expected.
A faint sound reached her ears, a muffled yelp. She stiffened, her cup halting mid air.
Her brows furrowed as she glanced toward the door. "What was that?" she whispered, her heart rate quickening. The eerie silence that followed only made it worse.
Her overactive imagination took over, conjuring images of ghostly figures creeping through the house. She shivered, setting her tea down and running back upstairs with a speed she had never run with before.
Chibuzor clenched his jaw as the pain in his foot subsided. He resumed his journey, this time more carefully, the mattress a silent companion as he navigated the last stretch of the passage.
As he neared the study, a new complication arose, Adanna's voice drifted through the walls, loud and animated. She was still awake, apparently on the phone with someone.
Chibuzor paused just outside the secret entrance, his expression grim. 'Of all nights for her to be awake…'
Her laughter rang out, and he grimaced. Waiting wasn't an option. He needed to act.
With painstaking care, he walked past ensuring the sound was minimal.
Finally, the stone wall leading to his study came into view. He pressed against the hidden lever, and the panel shifted silently, allowing him to slip into his study room.
The study was dark, illuminated only by the moonlight streaming through the window. He crossed the room silently, setting the mattress down against the far wall.
'Victory at last!'
As he leaned back against the wall, catching his breath, he allowed himself a rare moment of satisfaction. "A minor inconvenience, but worth it."
Just as he straightened, the door to the study rattled.
"Chibuzor?" came Olaedo's voice, followed by a soft knock.
He froze.
'Not now,' he thought, his mind racing. He hadn't locked the study door, and she would likely enter if he didn't answer soon.
Clearing his throat, he called out in his usual calm tone. "What is it?"
There was a pause. "I thought I heard something when i was about to pull the handle of our door.."
"Just me working late," he replied.
"Oh." She sounded unconvinced, her tone laced with worry about what she also heard downstairs, but decided to wait till morning. "Well, don't stay up too long. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," he said curtly, listening intently as her footsteps retreated.
Once he was sure she was gone, he let out a slow breath.
The next morning.
Chibuzor was seated in the study, sipping his coffee, when Olaedo entered. She hesitated at the door, her expression unusually cautious.