04/06/2025
ADAORA THE MAID (written by Ozavize extraordinary writer).
Chapter Four
The rains came suddenly that Thursday afternoon. Heavy clouds rolled across the sky like boiling smoke, and within minutes, the city was drenched. Adaora stood by the window of the boysâ quarters, watching fat drops slap against the concrete, the gutters already beginning to overflow.
She liked the rain. It reminded her of home, of the sound of her mother humming while cooking yam porridge, of the warmth of her siblings huddled together in bed. But here, in this big house where no one ever smiled without reason, the rain only made the loneliness worse.
She had been in Lagos for over a month. She knew every inch of the mansion now, every scratch on the tiles, every broken hinge, every creak in the stairwell. But her world was shrinking. No one had mentioned evening school again. No one had paid her any salary. Every time she asked Madam Ronke about it, she got the same reply:
âLater. Letâs see how useful you are first. You think we have money to throw around?â
Adaora was beginning to understand what Florenceâs words had truly meant: âJust behave yourself and youâll be fine.â The unspoken truth was, she had no power here. No voice. No choice.
That evening, while peeling yam in the kitchen, Mr. Tade, Madamâs husband, returned from a business trip.
He was tall, with a clean-shaven head and an expensive wristwatch that glinted whenever he moved. He carried himself like a man who expected the world to move aside for him. Adaora heard his voice before she saw him, deep, confident, used to being obeyed.
âWhoâs this one?â he asked, nodding in her direction as he walked into the kitchen.
Madam smiled. âThatâs the new girl. From the village. Florenceâs cousinâs child.â
Tade turned to Adaora. âWhatâs your name?â
âAdaora, sir,â she said, her voice small.
âHmm. How old are you?â
âSeventeen.â
He stared at her a second too long. Then smiled faintly. âWelcome.â
As he turned and walked out, Adaora felt a strange chill run down her spine. Something in his eyes unsettled her.
Over the next few days, Tadeâs presence grew more noticeable. Unlike his wife, he didnât shout. He was calm, quiet, always watching. Sometimes when Adaora walked past him in the hallway, she could feel his gaze on her back. Once, she caught him watching her mop the living room. Their eyes met, and he didnât look away. He just smiled and slowly sipped his wine.
Adaora told herself it was nothing. Maybe she was imagining it. She focused on her tasks, determined to remain invisible.
But on Sunday afternoon, Madam Ronke left for a church womenâs retreat, taking the children with her. The house was quiet, unusually so. Adaora was in the kitchen chopping onions when she heard his voice.
âYouâve been working hard.â
She turned quickly. Tade was standing by the kitchen doorway, arms folded, watching her.
âYes, sir,â she said cautiously, looking down.
âCome,â he said.
She hesitated. âSir?â
âI said come.â
Slowly, she put down the knife and walked toward him.
He handed her a cold bottle of Fanta. âRelax. Youâre doing well here. Iâve been watching.â
âThank you, sir,â she said, barely above a whisper.
âYou like it here?â
She nodded.
âGood. If you ever need anything, just come to me. Donât be afraid.â He reached out and touched her arm lightly, but deliberately. âYou understand?â
Adaora froze. Something about the touch too familiar, too confident made her throat tighten.
âYes, sir,â she murmured, and stepped back quickly.
He chuckled and walked away, leaving behind the sickly-sweet smell of cologne and something else, danger.
That night, Adaora couldnât sleep. Her mind played the moment over and over again. The smile. The touch. The way he had looked at her like she was not a person but a prize.
She wanted to run.
But where would she go? She didnât know the streets. She had no phone. No money. Even Florence hadnât called or come to check on her.
In the quiet of the night, she knelt by her bed, trembling.
âGod,â she whispered. âPlease protect me.â
But even her own voice sounded uncertain.
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