PAID

Ella's POV:

My name is Ella Adeoye. Or so I was told. I ran away from the orphanage to fend for myself. I was tired of being held in those surroundings for so long. I was told by one of the workers here at the orphanage that I was dropped on the doorstep. No one saw who dropped me off. All they saw were my name and date of birth boldly sewn on the blanket used to wrap me.

Every day I think about what I did to make that person hate me enough to drop me on a doorstep at night. I feel so much hatred towards that person—probably my mum or dad, if I had any—and so I made a decision in my heart that I wasn't going get so attached to anyone that it would be a problem for me to leave. Everything would just be fun, nothing serious.

I have been planning my escape ever since I turned seventeen. I hate this place so much. It was like I was being choked. Crowded with different kids with different attitudes. 

Most times, I kept to myself. I had just one friend, Mrs. Pat, who worked here. She was the one who found me at the doorstep on her way home from work. No one knew of my escape plan, not even Mrs. Pat. I felt so bad because I couldn't tell her, but it was for the best. I had mastered the ins and outs of the orphanage because I grew up there. I finally decided to use the route the cleaners use to take out trash for disposal as my escape path.

With a few nights til my escape day, I snuck in a cleaners uniform and a nose mask from the store. I needed to be free. I wanted to know what was behind these walls and what the world had in store for me.

It was a cold morning; the regular activities at the orphanage were taking place. After breakfast, I snuck into the cleaner's closet after they had all changed and went to their posts. I changed into the uniform, which fit perfectly. It was like an angel made it especially for me. I made it through the back door, ran for my life, and never looked back—not until I found my way to a park. I took off the cloth and left the one I was wearing underneath. I counted the money I stole from Mrs. Pat's purse, which was a total sum of ten thousand naira. The instant I boarded the bus to Lagos, I knew my life was about to change, but above all else, I knew I was gone for good.

Present Day...

I was done with my chores at J.B. Enterprises. The building was the definition of enormous. I had been working here as a janitor since I escaped from the orphanage. I have no idea how I got hired, but miracles happen. I had been working here for a number of years, but I still hadn't seen my boss up close. The lower-level staff had their own quarters, so we never really came in close contact with the higher-ups because we cleaned up before their arrival.

I'd be turning twenty-three in a few months, and I still couldn't claim I had a life's purpose. I was not living like a normal human being. Most times, I didn't get to eat anything besides lunch, which we ate for free at work. Once in a while, Iya Risi also sent me sumptuous meals made up of what was left from her daily sales. God bless that woman. I got to Lagos not knowing anything or anybody, but God sent Iya Risi to me. I owe her a lot. She took me in and gave me shelter and food to eat.

My expenses were starting to pile up. All I could do was wait for another miracle before I ended up living on the streets, picking at bread crumbs like a pigeon just to survive.

Jade's POV:

You never know how bad betrayal hurts until it is carried out by someone you would sacrifice your life for. 

My name is Jade Brown. I am twenty-six. My friends call me JB for short. I run one of the biggest firms here in Lagos. I had tabled out my life plans for the future. Things were going according to plan until Rose and Henry destroyed it. It just dawned on me that life was not a bed of roses.

Rewind 

I met Rose at a dinner party organized by a business friend of mine. Right from the moment I set my eyes on her, I knew I had found my other half. She was talking to a group of women her age. She must have smiled at something one of the women said, and that's when I lost it. Her smile perfect. Everything about her was perfect, even down to her set of teeth and the dimple in her cheeks, which could be easily spotted from a distance.

Rose was everything you want in a girlfriend or wife. Beauty, curves, humor—well, so I thought. She stood up from her chair to probably get something, so I followed her so as to start up a conversation.

"Hi beauty, must be you glowing up this room," I said. I know my pick up line sounded so cheesy, but that was the best I could come up with. Growing up till this very moment, the girls did the chasing. I knew I was very handsome, so I figured she would give me a chance to at least talk to her.

"Hi, my name is Jade Brown, but my friends call me JB," I said as I introduced myself.

"I know who you are. So does everyone in this room," she said. While we were talking, the music came on and I asked her if she wanted to dance with me. After a little hesitation, she eventually agreed. After the dinner, I got her number, dropped her off at her apartment, and asked her out on a date.

Rose and I had been dating for a while now, so I decided to pop the question and ask if she would marry me. I was on my way back from a business trip when I gave Rose a surprise visit. I had a spare key, so I let myself in as usual. 

"Hello sugar, I am back," I called out, but there was no reply. I checked the kitchen, but it was empty. I was on my way to her room when I saw her dress and a T-shirt lying on the way to her room. The T-shirt that wasn't mine and rose was not one to wear t-shirts. I hope it's not what I am thinking. I started walking towards her room, and that's when I heard her moan out Henry's name. I opened the door to see my girlfriend and my best friend having sex in her bed. I felt like I was hit by a train and my best friend was the driver.

You could also say that my girlfriend was the one who told him the exact time I would be walking on the rail track. The perfect plot. Both of them turned to look at me with shock on their faces. "How could you do this to me, Rose? You know how much I love you despite my parent's disapproval."

I had all sorts of ideas, and none of them were pleasant, but a devastating punch was the most feasible, which I quickly dished out to him. What happened to bros before hoes? What happened to loyalty? What happened to all the plans Rose and I made at midnight? I quickly left to avoid doing something that could make me jail bound for life. I went to the bar and ordered so many shots of vodka that I lost count. I was in a miserable state for weeks drinking anything to take my mind off it. Shut everyone out, including my mum and Dad. I changed my line due to the constant messages from my assistant, saying investors were starting to back out. Paparazzi's weren't even helping matters. It was the top trending news on every social media app.

Apparently, as my sanity was declining, and so was the company. Weeks turned into months, and I was still wallowing in pain. One day, dad forced his way into my apartment and had a long conversation with me that turned my life back on track. After having this conversation with dad, I was determined to fix back my life and promised myself that everyone I came across I was going to use and dump like trash. They aren't worth my love. I resumed work the following week after a thorough clean up. Dad was managing the company all the while I was away. I walked back into my company and started to put things in their place. It took me months for my company to balance back. I had multiple areas of business, ranging from furniture warehouses to hotels to beverage companies. 

My parents have been on my back to get married. It'll help us conclude the business deal with the Zamoras because they want someone who is responsible. To them, being responsible means having a family of your own, which I wasn't interested in right now.

Settling down just wasn't for me. I was still young, and the incident with Rose was still a fresh wound trying to heal. I haven't even dated anyone ever since then. After the meeting I had with the Zamoras, they were still on the issue of me settling down. I suggested many other options to seal the deal, but it proved abortive. I was completely stressed out. I entered my office thinking of the final decision the Zamoras made. Out of frustration, I kicked the flower vase that was by the corner of my office, which broke into several pieces causing a mess. 

I quickly called my personal assistant to send in one of the janitors to clean up the mess that was made. I covered it up with my foot mat to hide the mess from whoever was knocking at the door. I unlocked the door to see my mother's angry face. I immediately knew it had to be about the just-concluded meeting with the Zamoras. "Mother, good morning," I said.

"What's good about this morning? Son, I am getting old, don't you want me to see my grandchildren before I die? I know deep down within you, you want to love again. I know it's hard, but life is about picking yourself back up when you fall," she broke down in tears. African mothers could be so dramatic. 

"Mother, please stop all these tears. You know we can always hire a surrogate. We have enough money to last forever, and hiring a surrogate shouldn't be a big deal." 

"Jade Brown, there is no way I would let you go through that process to have a child. Not that is anything wrong with it, but I want you to get married and settle down. It is every mother's prayer. That statement was really funny to me, and I just couldn't keep in the laughter. I had to laugh out. 

"Mother forget about marriage. We all know what happened the last time I was about to get married, and we can always adopt a child if this is really important to you."

"Is this how you are going to repay me after all I have done for you?" She said in between sobs, and I felt sad, but there was nothing that could be done. All I could do was offer her a paper towel. There was a knock on the door. That should probably be the janitor. What took them forever? I hate it when people don't respond immediately. 

"Mother, please, could you dry up those tears? I don't want anyone to walk in and meet you in that state."

After confirming that there was no single trace of tears on Mother's face, I called them in. As she entered, I was about to scold her when I looked up to see a paragon of beauty stroll in. Her hair color was black as ink with small curls dangling at the tip. She was dark-skinned, and she was staring down at her shoes. I was busy checking her out. I didn't hear her when she greeted my mother and me. "Jade, Jade," Mother tapped my desk, and when I realized I had been staring at her for long and hadn't responded, I quickly skipped the replying part and showed her the mess that needed to be cleaned.

Mother had suddenly gone quiet. I looked up and saw her smiling like she had won the lottery. I knew the meaning of that look. "Jade, I am going home. I am really tired. I should go and rest," she said.

"Mother, let me see you off," I said.

"No, son. I will be fine. Stay back and rest. Darling, what is your name?" she asked the janitor. I knew where Mother was going with this. 

"My name is Ella Adeoye," she responded. "I am Margret Brown. Jade's mum. See you another time. I have to run along now. Bye, dear," Mother said as she made her way for the door. 

She was through with cleaning the mess, and I didn't want her to leave just yet. I have never seen her around. She must probably be new. I don't know all my staff, so she might be old, but still I have never seen her around. " I am through. Would that be all?" she asked. I didn't want her to leave just yet. I have to come up with something that will keep her here for long. "No, that's not all. I need my shelf dusted and each of my books. Please handle them with care."

Everything was clean and sparkling, and the books were quite plenty. She must have noticed because she looked at them and then back at me like I was confused. I didn't want to look stupid, so I had to do something. "Why are you still standing there? Get to work immediately, and I am not saying you should finish everything today. It is okay to finish it tomorrow. What is this girl doing to me?