Page 44 of Ruin Me

“Ife, things have been pretty hectic. I just didn’t have a chance. You know I would have called.” The lie slipped smoothly from my lips.

As a crisis manager, I was a professional liar; I was damn good at my job. But with Ife, I only ever lied to her about one subject. Her father. Since my attack had everything to do with her father, I had to keep the details vague.

“You promise?” She asked, amid shuffling sounds in the background.

“Of course… Ife, what’s all that noise?”

She paused, long enough to make me suspicious. “Noise? I don’t hear anything.”

“Ha! Don’t try me. You know I know when you’re lying better than anybody.”

“There’s no… fine, I’m packing.”

Panic and terror filled my veins. I swallowed twice before I managed a moderate tone. “Oh? Where are you going?”

“I’m coming to see you, silly. Someone attacked you,” her voice wobbled and she sniffed. “And if not for me, you would be safe in your apartment in D.C.”

“Ife, you are not at fault for other people’s actions. There’s no need for you to come running over here to look after me. Mom and Dad have me covered.” So did your dad, but I wasn’t going to say that.

Ife puffed out a disappointed breath. “Yeah, I forgot you finally have your mom and dad with you. How does it feel living under their roof again?”

“I don’t know, Mom and Dad have rolled out the red carpet and being here feels a little surreal. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but their constant need to pamper me makes me kind of want to be a kid again.” I forced a giggle.

“I totally get that. Dad can’t spoil me enough whenever I visit.”

“True, but be honest, everyone caters to you. Your Insta is full of Ekele doing everything for you. He even took you to Nigeria to meet your mother’s side of the family and introduce you to his.”

“He did do that.”

Her trip to her mother’s homeland was nine months ago and she was excited upon her return. Up to six months ago she raved about Ekele’s consideration and romantic gestures, but the lack of enthusiasm in her voice today warned me things weren’t going well.

“Did something happen between you two?”

“I didn’t call to talk about me.” She injected fresh energy into her voice. “I need proof of life to reassure myself you aren’t being held captive somewhere.”

“Girl, please. If I were, would we be having this conversation right now?”

“What if you’re an AI voice meant to deceive me?”

“Ife—”

“Maybe I do need to fly over?—”

“Okay, okay.” I rush over to the sliding glass door in the study because I wasn’t sure if Ife knew the penthouse’s design. When she switched the call to video, I accepted and made sure the camera pointed away from the building.

“You aren’t at home?” Ife pushed her long hair from her face as she peered through her glasses toward the room’s backdrop.

Thinking quickly, I made up an excuse. “No, Mom and Dad treated me to a spa day and a night at your dad’s hotel.” I crossed my fingers and hoped she didn’t compare the small bit of skyline with one of the views from her father’s hotel.

She eyed me up and down, and her smile fell. She pointed toward my neck. “She did that to you?”

I raised my hand to cover the bruise.

“There’s no sense in hiding it now. I’ve seen it. And covering it up pretty much confirms she did it.” Ife nibbled her lip. “Are there any leads?”

“Not yet, and honestly, I don’t have too much faith in the police. I think they want to believe your father’s capable of murder.”

Ife’s brow wrinkled. “Does this mean you’re coming back home and handing off Dad to another company?”

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