Read The Intruder Episode 2: Lost But Found Wife
Tobi began to look for his wife. He called, texted, sent messages but there was no reply from her. Her phones were switched off or more accurately, her lines no longer existed. Her parents and siblings didn’t know where she was. None of her colleagues in the University where she worked as a lecturer- she was retained after her PhD – had seen her. They didn’t know what was going on and he didn’t tell them. He didn’t want to involve any of them. He still held the hope that Amaka would change her mind and come back to him someday. There was no need starting an unnecessary scandal.
Weeks passed and there was no sign of Amaka. It was as if she didn’t exist. That the years they had together were just a dream. The only thing that made him believe she was real was the night wear she left behind.
Back home, Anita was a nightmare. She would drink and smoke from morning till night. His warnings to her fell on deaf ears. His once Spartan home now oozed like a chimney. The way she always smoking, he thought he would develop lung cancer. And he didn’t smoke, ever!
Because he didn’t want his kids in such a toxic environment with a toxic woman, he took them to Mike’s house to stay until he sorted things out. Mike knew Anita since they were undergraduates and her relationship with Tobi. Hence, he was the only one who knew what was going on in Tobi’s home now. He attempted to talk to her but her reaction to him left a bitter taste in his mouth. So he learned to stay away from her and wish his friend well from a distance.
With the kids gone, it was just Tobi and Anita and the occasional help, Edith. Anita didn’t mind that the kids were gone. It was a welcome development. She didn’t want to look at them every day and be reminded of what she couldn’t have.
But that didn’t stop her from making Tobi wish he was dead. Her demands were endless. It was war if he didn’t meet any of them. She was always quick to remind him of his file.
“I need 15 million naira.” She demanded one day.
Tobi stared at her. “What for?”
“I want to open a boutique.”
“Last time you collected 10 million naira from me to open a hairdressing salon. And that was a week ago.”
She shrugged like she didn’t care. “I changed my mind.”
“Fine. You can use the money to open your boutique.”
“I already invested it in another business.”
“What business?”
She gave him an insolent stare. “Last time I checked, you’re not my account manager.”
“It’s my money.” He reminded her, getting irritated.
“Point of correction, it’s our money. I’m your wife now.” She emphasized.
“You’re not my wife.”
She arched her brows at him. “Really? Okay, let me go and expose your file since you’ve decided to deny me, again.”
She turned to leave.
“Wait!”
She turned back to him.
Tobi sighed in defeat. “I’ll make a transfer.”
She beamed in delight. “Thanks, baby. I love you so much.”
It would not end there. After a few days, she would come back and ask him for ridiculous amounts of money another imaginary business. Tobi endured till he was getting close to a breaking point. He wanted to strangle her. He could already feel his hands around her neck and her treacherous eyes popping out as he choked life out of her. But it all in his imagination. Not once had he laid hands on her.
Every day, he dreaded meeting her and the drama she would bring with her. He avoided coming home until the middle of the night when he was sure she was asleep. Yet, it didn’t remove him from Anita’s clutches.
He came home one late night, tired and heartbroken. The whole house was silent as a grave. Edith had gone back home. Anita was surely asleep in her room. Tobi went straight to bed and within minutes, he was in dreamland.
Suddenly, he woke up. A hand was groping him. He caught the hand and sat up immediately. It was Anita. She was wearing a very sexy lingerie and flashing him the most seductive smile in the nine planets.
“Hi, baby.” She purred.
He was shocked. “Anita, what are you doing here?”
She giggled and slid her hand on his groin. “What do you think I’m doing here?”
He quickly pulled away from her. “Please go back to your room. I’m tired.”
He yawned widely to emphasize he wasn’t in the mood. Anita ignored it. “Come on, I miss you. Make love to me, Tobi.”
“I can’t. I’m married.”
She looked around her, comically. “Hello? Last time I checked, she left you.”
“Only because you sent her away.” He said, anger creeping into his voice.
“Whatever.” She said dismissively. “I want you, Tobi. I’m going to make a better wife. I promise.”
“No matter what you do, you can never replace my wife. Now, get out of my room. I want to sleep.”
He pushed her off him. She stared at him, her seductiveness disappearing. “It’s like you’ve forgotten our agreement.”
“What agreement?”
“That you divorce your wife.”
“You made that agreement not me using that damned file against me, remember?”
Anita smiled, returning to her seductive mode. “Come on, baby. What happened to the Tobi I used to know? What happened to the guy who looked at me like he wanted to devour me? Who couldn’t take his hands off me? Who made me feel like I was the only girl in the world?”
“That was in the past.” He stated flatly.
“I want him back.” She pleaded. “I love you, Tobi. I always have. Please give us a chance.”
She tried to kiss him. He drew back and shook his head. “No, Anita. I’m sorry. What we had was great. But it’s gone now. I love my wife. And though she’s not here, I believe she loves me too and will come back. I won’t betray her. Please try to understand.”
Anita’s face froze with cold rage. “Understand what? That you’re rejecting me again? After all I’ve done for you?”
His temper snapped. “Done what? All you’ve done since I met you in that mall was make my life a living hell. What exactly have you done for me apart from that?”
“You want to know, abi?” She asked viciously. “Okay wait here. Let me go and call NAFDAC to tell you.”
She turned to leave as usual. He forcefully pulled her back and gave her a long, hot kiss. When they finally pulled back, she broke into a satisfied smile. “Now, that’s the Tobi I used to know.”
She pushed him back on the bed and straddled him. “You’re going to do exactly what I want until I tell you to stop. Brace up, soldier. You ain’t going anywhere until I’m satisfied.”
That became their routine. He would come back late from work. She would ambush him in his room. And they would have marathon sex all night long until he felt like dying. The one night, he tried to sneak into his room and lock the door, she raised so much hell that he never tried it again.
Meanwhile, he continued looking for his wife. Each day that passed and he couldn’t find her, he plunged deeper into depression. He began to drink heavily, something he had never done before.
On another frustrating fruitless day, he found himself in a bar drinking shots after shots of alcohol. He got drunk and passed out. When he woke up, he was at home, on his bed. Anita’s naked body was curled around him and he had a splitting headache.
He couldn’t remember what happened the previous night. When he tried, the headache came with full force that he groaned loudly, waking her up.
Anita smiled sleepily at him. “Good morning, baby.”
“What happened last night? How did I get here?”
“You don’t remember? I found you passed out in a bar and I brought you home.”
He nodded, which brought with it another wave of pain splitting through his skull. He suddenly sprang out of the bed and barely made it to the toilet before he vomited everything in his stomach. Anita patted him soothingly on his back.
He drew away from her. “What are you still doing here? Don’t you have something to occupy yourself with this morning.”
She gave him a contemptuous look. “Oh, you don’t want my help. Fine. Vomit there and die. Idiot.”
She hissed and stormed out of the room. Feeling better, Tobi went back to the room and sat on the bed. His phone rang. He answered the call. It was Amaka’s lawyer.
Amaka had officially filed for divorce.
Stay with us as we unveil Episode 7 on Monday. Drop your thoughts on the comment section and share.