When the plane landed at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport the following day, it was already 2 PM in the afternoon. The weather was bright and beautiful; luckily the harmattan hadn't set in yet. Michael, dressed in a casual blue suit, looked incredibly handsome as if he had stepped out of a painting.
Before Michael and Robert could spot the company driver who had come to pick them up, they were engulfed by a surge of people. Shouts filled the air, and placards were thrust forward, demanding attention. The words on the colourful signs conveyed a harsh message: 'Jessica for Michael Njemanze!' 'Chioma Chima: The Other Woman!''She is a manipulative user!'
Glancing at the bold letters emblazoned on the signs, Michael couldn't believe what he was witnessing. He wondered who could have orchestrated all of this. Robert, too, was taken aback, clearly shocked by the situation. How did everyone find out about Michael's relationship with Chioma? Why was she being labelled a promiscuous woman? Robert couldn't help but wonder.
Adding to the confusion, at that very moment, Michael received a phone call from Audrey. She confirmed that Chioma was her brother's girlfriend, but she couldn't understand why she had feelings for two men simultaneously. Audrey was astonished by the news, yet she somehow still had faith in Chioma.
It was obvious that Chioma had gotten herself into a heap of trouble, with rumours spreading like wildfire on the internet. Paparazzi were swarming, gathering information for their newspapers.
The chaos intensified. Paparazzi swarmed, their cameras flashing like strobing lights. A particularly aggressive fan, face contorted in anger, shoved a placard in Michael's direction. 'Dump that gold-digger!' it blared in bold red letters. Despite the hostile confrontation, Michael remained unfazed by the rude message. He tightened his jaw and muscles, focused only on protecting Chioma.
'Sir Michael,' a different voice shrieked, laced with venom, 'you have to get rid of her! She's just using you for fame! She knows the difference between you and her. She is such a promiscuous woman to cheat on you with your favourite cousin.'
A woman with eyes narrowed in malice, shoved another placard in Michael's direction. This one featured a picture of Chioma, her smile twisted into a caricature by the superimposed caption: 'Golddigger Alert!'
Robert turned to Michael. 'I understand that I support Jessica for you, but I still believe that Chioma is not like that. She isn't a promiscuous woman. This must be a misunderstanding…' Deep down, Robert still had some trust in Chioma.
Roberts's words were cut short by another voice, colder and more calculated. 'So, what you're saying is that you trust that promiscuous woman more? Don't be foolish, Robert!' a fan who overheard their conversation coldly glanced at him. 'Do you think we would waste our time for nothing? Ask her about her relationship with Felix. Ask her about the intimate moments she shared with Felix when she was attacked by mobsters. Felix took her to the best hospital, treated her like a queen. But all he got was heartbreak. I sincerely hate scheming women! Jessica would never do this to you. So, Sir Michael, don't hesitate to rekindle your relationship with Jessica.'
'Quick, Robert, check the entertainment news headlines! You'll see everything there,' another fan of Jessica suggested.
Robert pulled out his phone and searched for the headlines. To his surprise, he saw news articles and videos accusing Chioma of being a user.
'Whether she's a promiscuous woman or a user, I still love Chioma Chima and will never grow tired of loving her,' Michael declared, silencing the crowd. They made way for him and Robert to pass through. Boarding the company car, Michael turned to Robert. 'Contact Jessica. I'm sure she's responsible for this.'
Robert quickly dialled Jessica's number. 'Sir, she's on the line,' he said, handing the phone to Michael.
'Jessica, are you out of your mind?'
On the other end of the phone, Jessica's laughter echoed. She seemed to be enjoying Michael's reaction. Calmly, she replied, 'You've always known me to be crazy, so why are you asking? Don't tell me you're upset because I didn't come to welcome you at the airport. I have jet lag. Besides, you wouldn't want me to come. I'd rather not waste my time.'
'I know you're behind the scene at the airport.'
'What scene?'
'Don't pretend with me. I know you too well,' Micheal growled, the words a low rumble.
Jessica chuckled, taking a bite of her strawberry as she leisurely sat on the living room couch of the Nnaji mansion here in Abuja.
'Why did you pay those people to spread lies about Chioma?' Michael asked, his voice filled with anger.
'Lies? How could I do that? I have never been a liar.' Jessica feigned ignorance, a saccharine sweetness coating her voice. 'But if you don't like the situation, then quickly cover it up by publicly announcing our relationship. That way, everyone will be at peace.'
Furious, Michael abruptly ended the call. Determined to control the damage, he immediately contacted his connections in the media and had the news taken down. However, despite his efforts, supporters of Jessica continued to post and repost online, accusing Chioma of manipulation. Netizens joined the discussion, sharing and commenting, hurling insults at Chioma. Michael felt lost and confused, unsure of what to do next. He wished it was all just a bad dream, but unfortunately, it was his reality. He found himself in love with the same woman Felix loved, and the situation seemed impossible to navigate.