CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE.
The next thing on Adele’s to do list was to apply for a job. She had gone shopping for new clothes, a new phone and some groceries and now she was home in her apartment. Before going shopping, she had met up with Linda, who gave her the keys to her house.
She was very proud of all that she had managed to do and prayed to God to give her the strength to move on from Jamal and their failed marriage. She knew Jamal would never take her request for a divorce seriously if she kept living under his roof, but he would when she moved out and started living on her own because she was convinced that he did not like her one bit.
During her pregnancy, she fell in love with Jamal and that was one reason why she craved his attention and almost died every time she saw him flirting with Danielle. She was madly in love with him, but at that point in time, after all that had happened, the only thing she felt in her heart for him was hatred.
She was, however, guilty of the fact that she had lied to Linda over and over again despite how much she had helped her. Her escape would not be as smooth if not for Linda and she knew she owed it to her to tell the truth, even though not the entire truth.
She could not tell Linda that she was married to Jamal or the fact that she had had a miscarriage, but she could tell her she was the one to leave in the apartment and not her so-called cousin.
She picked up her new Samsung phone, it was the same phone she used to own that was bought by a stranger she had never known. She felt bad for throwing that phone away, but she did not want to risk getting tracked down by Jamal’s men so she had to throw it away.
She dialled Linda’s number and her heart fluttered when she picked on the third ring.
“Linda speaking, how may I help you?” Linda’s voice came through and Adele cleared her throat to introduce herself.
“Hello Linda, it’s Adele.” She introduced and Linda gasped in surprise over the phone.
“Oh my God Adele, why did you use a strange number to call me?” She asked worriedly.
“Well… I had to change my cell phone and phone number to avoid getting tracked by someone.”
“To avoid getting tracked? Adele, are you in trouble? Is someone trying to hurt you? Should I call the police?” Linda asked alarmed and Adele smiled, tears forming in her eyes. She was so happy to see someone showing genuine concern for her.
“No Linda, no one is trying to hurt me and I’m not in any sort of trouble. I just needed to get away from someone.”
“Someone? Who’s that person?”
“My husband.” Adele wanted to say, but she swallowed words and cleared her throat.
“Linda… that’s not important. I just wanted to say I’m sorry for lying to you. The apartment I wanted you to get wasn’t for my cousin, it was for me. Like I said, I’m trying to stay low and not get found by someone, that’s why I had to lie.”
“Adele, you are getting me worried right now. Look, I’m coming over so we could talk and I’m not taking no for an answer. Just hold on.” She said and dropped the call before Adele could protest.
Adele shook her head and the phone on the bed before turning to look at the screen of her laptop. She had applied for a job at a few publishing agencies and she hoped one of them would get back to her before the end of the week. She had used more than half of her savings for her transfer and she really needed to work and earn money to be able to take care of herself.
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Jamal on the other hand was feeling miserable. He had gone out to search for Adele himself, but he did not find her. None of his men had called to tell him any good news about the search.
He was confused and frustrated.
He had tried to reach her cell phone countless times, but his call wasn’t even going through. The customer service on the line kept saying her phone was switched off.
He couldn’t help but worry about Adele’s well being. He wondered where she could be at that point in time and people around her. Adele was a very fragile girl who had grown up protected by his grandma, she had no idea what life in the streets felt like and he was worried that she was going through a hard time.
He tried to sleep, but he could not. He kept looking at his phone hoping that he would get a call from his guards or from Adele herself, crying and begging him to come pick her up.
The news about Adele’s disappearance had spread throughout the household. His father had called several times to probably ask what was going on, but he had ignored all his calls. Danielle had called as well, but he had declined all of them. He was not in the mood to talk to the two people who were the root of all the problems he was facing in life.
For his mother and sister, he knew that was excellent news for them and he didn’t want to see their faces.
“Jamal.” He heard his grandmother call from his room door and a knock soon followed. He sighed heavily and buried his head in the sheets, letting out a muffled scream. He wasn’t in the mood to see or talk to anyone, but he knew his grandmother would not stop knocking until he opened it up and told her what she wanted to hear.
“Jamal!” Her call came through again and Jamal grumbled as he wiggled his body on the bed. He finally stepped down with an eternal frown masked on his face and marched to the door to open it up.
“What is this I’m hearing?” Grandma asked the moment the door swung open. She pushed Jamal from the way and walked into the bedroom, searching around with her eyes for any sign of Adele. When she did not see her,, she turned to look at Jamal, taking an akimbo posture.
“Where is your wife?”
“Grandma I don’t know and I’m losing my mind right now.” Jamal lamented as he closed the door and sauntered over to where his grandmother was standing.
“What do you mean you don’t know? She’s your wife for goodness sake. You are supposed to know the whereabouts of your wife at every time!” Grandma scolded and Jamal bowed down his head. The validity of her words stabbed his heart like a million daggers.
He was so ashamed of himself.
“She left for her weekly checkup with the guards, I had no idea she had planned to escape. I was in the middle of a conference meeting with the board of directors at the conglomerate when I got a call from the guards telling me she was nowhere to be found. I ended the meeting and left the office. I ordered my guards to find her and went out in search of her as well, but I didn’t find her. Till now, my guards still haven’t called to report their findings. I have tried her cell countless times, but it appears to be switched off. Grandma I am this close…” He said demonstrating by being his thumb and index finger close together. A mannerism he had copied from Adele. “I am this close to losing my sanity.”
“You are not going to lose your mind, Jamal. You are going to stay strong and find your wife. do you understand what I’m saying?” Grandma asked firmly and he nodded his head with teary eyes.
“I’m gonna make a few calls tonight. Adele will be found in less than no time.”
“Thank you grandma.”
“Don’t thank me, I’m not doing this for you, I’m doing this for Adele. I’m worried about her safety, she’s my granddaughter too and if anything bad happens to her out there, you will have me to answer to.” She warned in a firm tone and Jamal went mute. “You look miserable. Have you had dinner yet?”
“I have no appetite.”
“I’m gonna tell the chef to serve you some food and make sure you eat. I will know if you don’t and that will just add to your crimes.” She said and stomped out of the bedroom.
The moment she closed the door behind her, Jamal groaned in frustration as he ruffled his hair with his fingers. His grandmother was not making things better for him.
As he lazily dragged himself to the bed, his cellphone rang and he hastened his steps to go pick it up, hoping it was one of his guards. When he saw Sean’s name flashing on the caller ID, he immediately answered the call.
“What’s the update?” He asked eagerly.
“We found her and she’s safe.” Reported Sean and a big wave of relief washed through Jamal. He let out a heavy sigh of relief and fell off the bed, making sure to keep the phone pressed to his ear. “It appears she rented an apartment just around town and she’s settled in. I have sent you her address via text. Do you want us to bring her home?” Sean asked over the phone and Jamal closed his eyes to think.
Adele going the extra mile to leave that household to live all by herself meant she really needed some space. If he forcefully brought her back home, he knew he would not be helping things at all because she would hate him even more, and that’s not what he wanted.
“No, leave her be. Get more men to secure the building and keep a close eye on her. Make sure she doesn’t notice, am I understood?”
“Yes, Mr. King.”
“Look after my wife Sean, make sure nothing happens to her.” Then he hung up.
A light chuckle escaped his lips as he shook his head.
“My dear wife, if you didn’t want to get tracked down just yet, you should have at least found an apartment in a building not owned by me.” Jamal whispered to himself as he went to his inbox to check the text Sean claimed to have sent.
It was there indeed. Adele’s address.
Jamal was relieved that she was safe and sound, but he knew he wouldn’t be at peace with himself if he did not drive over to her apartment, so he picked up his car keys from the night stand and exited his bedroom, despite the fact that he was dressed in a pair of grey sweatpants and t-shirt. He needed to at least know the location of the room she was living in at the building.