Lola swung her Porsche Macan into the driveway next to her Mercedes. She pulled to halt, switched off the engine and proceeded to get down. The chilling air of the night slapped her face, whipping her hair back. It licked her skin causing her to shiver a bit. She regretted outing on a mini denim skirt, tank top and some pretty sneakers from Puma.

She strolled into the foyer, surprised the light was switched off. Is Joshua not home? Slightly curious, she headed into the living room after switching on the light. In the living room, the lights were dimmed and the television was switched on with its volume low. Joshua laid on the three seater, his head on the armrest, one hand under his head and one of his legs bent up at his knee. The corners of her lips arched up. She kept her bag on a chair and headed to him.

"Hey" she greeted, settling on the empty space beside him.

"How was your outing?" he asked, his voice throaty.

"Great" she smiled, looking down at his face. His deep eyes lacked the sparkle or anger she had seen in them in the morning. His face was gloomy, expression forlorn. She found herself becoming worried. "Is something wrong?" she questioned bending a bit to lay a hand on his chest.

"Not really?"

"Are you sure?" she leaned in, one of her hands reaching up to caress his head, a gesture he found relaxing. Joshua eyelashes came down. He exhaled, inhaled, his breathing slow and warm. Lola's eyes, warm brown with a lot of golden rays in the iris, gazed at him with worry. She saw his Adam apple bob as he swallowed. Sympathy drove its way into her heart, allowing her to become more worried about him. "Hey" she husked out, her feminine fragrance permeating the air around them. Joshua had one urge at the moment, to hold her close and bury his face into her neck to inhale and exhale until that sweet scent intoxicates him. "You seem down"

He opened his eyes. Smoky eyes, muted and soft met her eyes. "I am alright"

"So you won't tell me anything" the look in her eyes altered to a peeved one.

With a scowl over her desirable lips, she pulled away. Before she could leave, he bound his hand around her waist to push her back into him. Lola gasped while Joshua enjoyed the way her lips parted with shock, need for her coursing through him. Slowly, a smile appeared on his face. His eyes, framed with thick eyelashes appeared darker, more enticing in the dim light. The smoky eyes were sultry.

"I am just down" he husked out, his hand caressing her side. She felt the fluid movement of desire in her body. Lola shivered. She rested both hands on him to play with the button of his polo shirt.

"That night I had a nightmare and we were at the balcony, your eyes were full of rage and malice. I remember asking you why there were there and today, what I see in your eyes is grief. What's wrong Joshua?" her voice was soft, pleading and low for only him to hear.

She has never had a man sit right next to her and feel so sad. Lolu was not the kind to tell his problems. When he does, she tries to sympathise with him but she was never good at it. Giving sympathy to a female friend was different but when it comes to male friends, she was terrible at it. With Joshua, it felt different. What can she do to create a smile on that face, at least a smile that will reach those eyes?

Joshua has his own pain. She noticed for the second time. He has kept something hidden. She wanted to know, wanted him to share his problem and for the first time in her entire life, someone's problem felt like hers. We all have secrets we keep hidden, secrets we are scared to expose, secrets nobody see or know. You are not the only one life have dealt with Lola. You have to know that we all have pain in here. His words played in her head.

She leaned closer until their faces were just inches apart. One of her fine hands rubbed his tattooed arm, a finger caressing the chain tattoo on his arm. Her heart stuttered in her chest causing it to speed at a momentum above normal. What she was about to do, she was not sure if it would help. She took his lower lip into her mouth, caressed until he kissed her back, sucked in a slow and fiery way before she pulled away.

Their shallow breathing came out a little bit louder. She smiled at him, eyes dark with need looked at his. His had the same expression in them. They both wanted more than they have but they knew they had to take things one step at a time. Their sexual needs should not make them do something they might both regret.

"Does that make you feel better?" Lola asked, stroking the side of his face, a finger leaving feathery caresses on his beard. His beard was just a little goatee.

"I think more will make me better" He teased.

She laughed. "Have you eaten?"

"Not yet"

"There should be food in the fridge. The maid must have left something behind"

"I am not hungry" he tosses her hair behind her shoulder, his gaze intense. "I went out with a friend" There was admiration for her in his eyes. For once, she accepted that look and took pleasure in it.

"So you won't be telling me what's on your mind? What's making you this way?" he gazed at her, eyes unblinking. Instantly, she knew he was not going to say anything. "Oh, I have forgotten. We are not that close yet to have that emotional connection and speak about our problems to one another. We are just into physical needs at the moment. I am sorry to bother" she rambled, scrambling to her feet to get up.

She was right, Joshua thought. They were yet to trust one another with each other's problem. She has no trust for him that's why she hides the fact that she has mental disorder.

"Let's get what's in the car" Lola smoothened out invisible wrinkles from her skirt. His refusal to speak had hurt her but she had hidden the hurt in her arrogant eyes.

Joshua sat up with a sigh then pulled her to him. He expected rejection but got none. He guided her to sit next to him. "Listen" his rich baritone was sexy, too appealing not to make a woman want him. "I want to tell you but at the moment, I can't. I will when the right time comes and stop making me feel bad" he spoke, tucking her hair behind her ear. He brought his hand to her face. His thumb fondled with her dimples.

"I understand" She glided away to sit on the sofa.

He wanted to talk about what happened in the morning but did not know how to lay it down in a way that won't piss her off. He liked what was happening between them at the moment. The feel of her. That easiness between them. So he's not ready to ruin it for anything. Should he let it slide?

"Josh" Lola called looking away from the television. Joshua hummed a reply, his eyes on his phone. "I did a little shopping and will need help with packing the bags in"

"If you did little shopping, I am sure you won't be needing my help" he said, still typing on his phone.

"I can't take all the bags once and the food I got from the restaurant needs to be taken in. It is not like I have five hands now"

"How many are these shopping bags, Lola?" he lifted his eyes to look at her.

"Just two" she lied, lifting two fingers up.

"Then why will you need my help?"

"Because I....." lines creased on her forehead. "Just tell me you don't want to help me and stop questioning me like I am in an interrogating room" she stood up.

"They are just questions"

"Well, they are becoming too much"

He laughed. "I will help you"

"You see that's easy" she threw her hands.

He followed her to help her with just two shopping bag. Really? He was yet to understand women even though he grew up with two. His jaw slackened when the content of the booth came into view.

"Lola! Na the little shopping wey you do be this? (Is this the little shopping you did?)" He asked pointing at the booth filled with shopping bags.

Lola smiled. "That's what I call little shopping"

"Then what do you call sufficient shopping?" he reached for some bags.

"When the booth and seats are filled with bags" she beamed reaching for some bags.

They emptied the booth going in and coming out few number of times. In the room, they ate shawarma which she got on her way back amidst a very nice conversation. After eating, Joshua headed for the living room to answer a call and work while she sat down to work on some pictures that need to be delivered the following day. Tired of work, she picked her phone to chat. On WhatsApp, her friends were online including her siblings. She enjoyed chatting. Occasionally, she switched to Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat where she posted a snap from the day. On instagram, she uploaded a picture she took during her outing.

Joshua did not return into the room for long. He still did not come back few minutes past eleven. Lola pondered on what sort of work would take his time. She pouted getting off the bed, shutting down her laptop and keeping her phone away. She needed to sleep. She took a shower and got ready for bed.

Going back to the bed, she stared at it. She was contemplating whether to place the pillows for demarcation or let them be. It's been two months since their marriage and they still slept with pillows in between them. Why? She really did not have a reason. What she knew was when they got married, she was so mad at him and did not want any physical contact with him. She exhaled, running a hand through her hair.

Lola settled for the later. There was no need for separation again. When she was taking the risk to put her heart at stake, many things have to change. No more boundary on the bed. But this does not mean she wanted to sleep with him. As she laid in bed, everything went dark and she saw nothing but an eerie darkness around the room.

Lola blinked, straining her eyes to see through the dark. She pats the bed for her phone but met with coldness. Nothing. She kept searching until she felt it. A smile formed over her lips as she switched on the torch. IBEDC just interrupted the power supply. Really? Who interrupts the power supply? What sort of neighbourhood is this? At her father's house, she does not need to go through this. There was light all the time, a standby generator. She hissed getting off the bed. The stream of light splattered across the room, brightening it.

The door creaked as she opened it echoing through the quiet foyer. Her torch gushed light across the dark hallway illuminating a part of it. Where is Joshua? He needs to put on the generator. She headed down to the living room.

"Joshua" she called walking down the hallway. No sound came neither was there a voice. "Are you there?" she shouted pointing the torch at the direction of the living room. "Joshua" she called out again, her voice louder. She waved the torch across the dark room and found no sight of him.

"Done looking for me?" A thick voice, so close to her said behind her.

Her heart jumped to her throat. She squealed tumbling into the room. She toppled to the floor when her unbalanced feet could hardly stay. In the process of falling, she tried catching her phone that dropped from her hand but failed miserable. She watched the phone hit the marble floor, face flat. She could swear she heard a crack. A screech louder than the former escaped her lips, her heart beat going wild. Not her phone. She cringed looking at it.

"My baby" she squealed picking the phone up. A cracked screen looked at her. "No!" she cried out running a thumb across the broken screen. "Why do you have to come up behind my back like that?" she barked at her husband who watched her with a little smile.

"You chose to be scared" he shrugged.

It irked her. What a careless attitude?

"Look at my phone!" she pointed the screen at his face. "See what you have done to it?"

"It did not fall from my hand" he still said without care.

She bit her lower lip, angry eyes on him "You need to care and try to rectify your damage!" she got to her feet straightening her silky nightie. "I am sure the screen cannot tap again. How will I switch off the torch light?"

His eyes skimmed over her. Want, hot and very fluid streamed through him. What the heck has she chosen to wear tonight? A satin night wear that stopped just in the middle her thighs. The material was white and thin enough to exhibit the outline of her fine body. Lola cleared her throat.

"My eyes are here" she pointed at her eyes trying not to laugh she had successfully gotten his attention.

"Don't worry. I will change it for you" he waved a hand.

"You can't even afford an iPhone. I am sure the Samsung you are using is second hand"

Her words were harsh. The kind to pierce through the heart of any man and cause it to bleed but today, those words had not hurt him. Maybe because he knew he would really get her a new phone. If truth be told, it won't be her iPhone 8. He will get an iPhone X.

He smiled. "You have nothing to worry about" he walked away.

Lola's eyes went wide. No! He won't borrow money again. She won't allow him to borrow money until they have no roof on their head. She rushed after him.

"You won't be borrowing money again, Joshua" she met his quick pace. He did not reply. "I am serious. You are not going to borrow money again and I do not want a second hand phone like yours. Do not bother getting me another phone. I will get it myself. My father will send money for an iPhone X" His smile grew broader. "I am speaking to you!" she halted. He headed to the main door. "Josh!" she shouted and he continued his walk. Lola bit her lower lip hard. What a crazy man?

It took her few minutes to realise that she had been left alone in the dark hallway with her phone's torch still on. The shafts of light from her phone made the hallway appear scary. It gave it this eerie ambiance. Her heartbeat picked up. Lola recoiled. She gazed at the far end of the hallway.

There was a silhouette of a man there. In the dark, his eyes shone with mischief and wickedness. He smiled. Lola's face lost every bit of colour. Her eyes became huge. In her ribcage, her heartbeat quickened hard. She stood frozen, chills running through her spine. No! No! No! She screamed in her head. A muscle flinched but the rest stayed rigid. He can't be here! He is not meant to be here!

"You can't run for too long" his voice resonated through the corridor.

In her shaking hands, her phone dropped. Now, she stood in darkness, darkness that consumed everywhere. Thunder rumbled through the sky. Lightening accompanied it. It lightened the hallway. His figure became more visible. He had a blue shirt on and black trousers. A belt in hand. Her quivering feet move back at a very little pace. Sweat broke free from her pores. She trembled, fear saturating every part of her. She took another step back. Her teeth began to chatter, body vibrating.

"You are not meant to be here" words came out of her shuddering lips.

"This is where I belong, baby" he laughed. "With you" he took a long stride toward hers.

She spun around, her legs moving beneath her as fast as she could. She raced across the hallway, looking over her shoulder. She ran. He followed. Tears broke free from her tear glands. He would get her. She needed to run. Run away from him, a voice shouted. Her speed intensified. From time to time, she watched behind her shoulder. The entrance of the house appeared farther than it was. She had to get there. He laughed, laughed out, the kind that sent shudders travelling through her.

"Don't run" he chanted. "I will get you" he pursued.

She rounded the armchair as she sprinted to the foyer. She felt every pulsation of her heart, every beat against her chest. Perspiration seeped from her pores soaking her nightie. She rushed into the foyer and the light came on. She screamed landing on the floor. Lola looked back. He stood at the opening that led into the living room and laughed, his shoulders shaking. Sobs escaping her lips, she got up to run but found herself rushing into a hard body. An ear-piercing scream left her lips as she bounced back. Instead of finding herself on the floor, herself in strong hands.

"Please, please, please" she pleaded struggling to leave the arms. "Leave me alone" she cried. "Please!" she pleaded, trying to shake away from the strong grasp.

"Lola" Joshua called. "Lola" he shook her.

"Please leave me! Please let me be!" she fought him.

"Baby" he called looking at her as she wrestled in his arms. "Lola" he shook her again. Her eyelashes flustered open. When her glassy eyes met his, she stopped fighting. He saw the relief that washed over her face. "Hey, I got you" his tender gaze fell on her face.

"Joshua" she clasped his shirt in her wobbly hands. "He was there. He was standing there, Josh. I swear I saw him!" she ranted, looking back at the hallway she came from.

"Who?" he narrowed his eyes.

"That man. He was there. He has come. He will get me" She said, her eyes pleading him to believe her. She pointed a finger at the staircase. "He was there. He was chasing me. I swear Joshua" she beats his chest. "He...."

Her chest compressed. She felt like her ribcages were closing over her lungs squeezing air from her throat. She slapped Joshua's chest twice and took in a very deep breath, eyes becoming wider. She tried to talk but she felt strangled. A squeak came out instead of her voice. Joshua became worried. His wide eyes watched the way she struggled to breath. Oh my God! He brought her to sit on the floor. His heart hammered in his chest.

"Hey, Lola" Joshua knelt next to her, taking her face in between his palms, his eyes looking deep into her fearful one. "Calm down" she shook her head, looking back at where she came from. Few strands of hair were transfixed on her sweaty forehead. The more she tried to take in a gust of air, nothing came in. Breathing became more difficult. "Listen to me" he held her face firmer in between his hands making her bring her dreadful gaze to his. "Calm down. Breathe in." she did. "Breathe out" she obeyed. He repeated and she did as she was told until she could get her breathing back to normal. "Now, what man are you speaking about?" she glanced at her back again. "Look at me" Joshua angled her head back to his face "What man?"

"That....tha...." she trailed off.

Realisation dawned over her. Lola looked back then at the face of the man who held her with so much tenderness that wanted her to breakdown and observed her with eyes full of worry and care. Her lips moved but no words came out of her mouth.

"Listen to me babe"

"I swear!" she shouted yanking away from Joshua's hold. She is not crazy! No! She is not mad! He was there. "He was there, Josh! He was there!" she pointed at the hallway. "He chased me! He followed me! He wanted to get me!"

"I am not saying you are lying. Come here" he pulled her into his chest and captured her into a protective hold. Lola held unto him.

Every muscle of hers softened. She slumped into his arms, face stricken with tears. He rocked her back and forth in his arms, caressed her back with a hand. She was quiet, her breathing coming down to normal. He knelt down next to her for a long time, just trying to calm her down and make her feel better. His heart constricted. He has never seen her that way. The woman he saw was vulnerable, scared and was broken. Who the hell is the man she spoke about?