Twelve

CHAPTER TWELVE.
“I see you as my family.”
Adele and Jamal did not speak another word to each other after that sentence. She walked over to the sitting area where she read her book until she felt sleepy and went to bed, while Jamal worked almost the entire night as usual. When she woke up the next morning, he was nowhere to be found on the bed.
“Of course he left for…” Her words were cut short by the sound of the bathroom room door opening. She turned to look and her eyes almost fell off from their sockets when she saw Jamal walking out of the bathroom, with just his towel tied around his waist. His chest was bare and his eight packs were screaming “touch me!”. There was steam flying all over his body and the way the water droplets trickled down his well toned muscles and apps made her swallow dryly.
His hair was wet and ruffled and a few wet strands fell down his forehead almost concealing his left eye brow.
He was smoking hot…
He looked like a Greek god.
She could not believe she was married to such a handsome man.
“I’m all yours wifey, you just have to say the word.” He broke the silence and Adele quickly tore her gaze from his body and plastered it to the wall. Jamal chuckled in amusement and walked into the closet to wear some clothes.
Adele managed to snap out of her trance and was about to step down from the bed when her phone rang on the nightstand. She checked the caller id and her heart was instantly filled with milk and honey when she saw “Grandma” on her caller id. She quickly picked up the call and swiped the “accept” icon before pressing the phone against her right ear.
“Good morning grandma” She greeted her respectfully.
“Adele, my dear. How are you doing?” Grandma asked enthusiastically from the other end of the call.
She left a day after their wedding for England to meet her sister who was reportedly ill.
“I’m doing just fine, granny” She lied frantically.
She wasn’t fine at all.
Jamal was frustrating her with his bipolar nature, while Aliya and her daughter had taken it upon themselves to make her life miserable in that household. She felt unwanted.
“I can see right through your lies, Adele,” Grandma cautioned.
“Grandma, what do you expect me to say? It’s the usual, just that this time around, there’s Jamal to deal with. He’s so strange and I’m having a really hard time trying to adjust.” She explained, trying hard to keep her voice as quiet as she could.
She did not want Jamal to hear her saying such things about him.
She was terrified of the man!
“I understand what you are talking about my dear, that grandson of mind can be quite a handful to handle. But you’ve got this, I know you do!” Grandma sounded so confident that it made Adele want to laugh because she was not getting it.
She wasn’t getting it at all and she was very close to losing her sanity in that house being married to that mysterious man called, Jamal.
“Sure… I do.” She whispered, not even meaning what she was saying.
“So, how is marriage life going? Are you enjoying it?” Grandma asked and Adele could feel that she was smiling from molar to molar, after all that’s what she wanted.
Adele closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh as she thought of what to tell her.
She was married to a very wealthy and powerful man who clearly had attitude problems and she had no idea how to handle him most of the time. One minute he was cold and all about her not minding his business and the next minute, he was defending her like a husband should.
His mother and sister-in-law were appalled by her existence and never missed any opportunity to taunt her.
For her father-in-law, she doubted if he even knew about her existence in that household.
The family as a whole was bizarre and she knew it was just a matter of time before she lost her sanity living with them.
“There’s nothing much to say granny. We are both trying our best to get used to each other and … I don’t know? Make it work. So far, so good… there’s hope.”
“That response sounds like our marriage is going down the abyss, wifey.” A voice spoke from behind, causing her to jump in fright. She quickly turned to look around and was terrified to see Jamal frowning at her. Immediately, she ended the call and put the phone aside.
“I… I…” She began to stutter, but he quietly turned around and walked back into the closet, indicating that he wasn’t interested in hearing what she had to say.
Typical Jamal.
“Shit!” She exclaimed and got down from the bed.
The morning did not start well at all.
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After bathing and dressing up for work, Adele went downstairs to meet Jamal, but when she arrived, she was not happy with what she saw.
“Jamal…” She heard Danielle call as she rushed to him, trying to keep her handbag in place on her arm.
“Yes, Danielle.” Jamal responded, slowing down his pace for her to catch up with him.
“Can you please give me a ride to my agency? My car broke down and I’m running late. ” She pleaded as she tried hard to keep up with his pace even though he was walking slowly. Jamal came to a sudden halt and turned to face her. Adele’s gaze intensified on him as she waited for his response.
“Shannelle can give you a ride in her car.”
“Shannelle has to leave for her agency too… she can’t take me.” Danielle cried and Adele knew she was lying big time.
Jamal looked at Adele for a while before turning to Danielle once more.
“The black Bugatti Veyron. You should be seated shotgun before I arrive.” He ordered.
“Thank you so much!” Danielle squealed in excitement as she rushed out of the house.
Jamal, who knew he had offended his wife, walked over to her. Adele stood on the spot, completely petrified.
Her head was spinning like a roller coaster and she was trying hard to correlate all what she just witnessed.
Did her husband just agree to drive some other girl to work?
He had never given her a ride to any place before!
“You look beautiful this morning” He complimented her with a smile. ” Not that you don’t always look beautiful… I mean, you do… but, today is exceptional.” He was still smiling, but Adele was not because that’s not what she wanted to hear. “I’ll be home late, don’t stay up waiting for me.” Then he kissed her forehead and exited the living room.
Adele swallowed the painful lump that had accumulated in her throat and breathed hard.
He was an apathetic creature.
“Hmmm… I sense someone’s anger and despair.” Shannelle mocked as she approached Adele who was still looking at the door Jamal just exited. “Let me tell you, darling, what you witnessed was just the tip of the iceberg. Sooner or later, those two will get pretty close and my brother will dump you for her. Wanna bet?” She asked in a provocative tone and Adele turned to face her with a gentle smile plastered on her face, despite the rage that was boiling in her heart.
“You know Shannelle, I’m just curious about something.” She said with a frown.
“Which is?”
“Does your ass ever get jealous of the amount of shit that comes out of your mouth?” Adele asked, creasing her brows as if she was truly wondering about it. Shannelle gasped in horror and covered her mouth with her hands.
She was completely taken aback by the insult.
“I mean… it should” Adele continued. “Get a life, sister-in-law!” Then she cat-walked out of the living room.
“How … how…” Shannelle stammered amidst heavy breaths. “My mother will hear about this!” She cried and rushed up the stairs.
Adele, who felt fulfilled, got into her car and her driver drove off.
She was however, still angry with Jamal for accepting to take Danielle to work.
Jealous, if she could add.