Jabali's Redemption - Episode 33

 

‘Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank all of you for making it here,’ Jabali’s deep smooth voice came through the microphone causing the murmur in the room to go down, everyone turned to look at the podium where he was standing, looking sharp in his three piece dark charcoal suit.

‘You look ravishing Neema,’ the voice of Akila whispered behind her and Neema turned around.

All evening she was dreading this moment, meeting Akila.

‘Mr. Okumu, you look …nice too,’ she smiled and shook his stretched hand but he pulled her for a tight hug whispering in her ear, ‘if you had agreed to my proposal, I could have offered you more than what Jabali gave you.’

Neema detangled herself from his grasp and stepped back with all the dignity she had, his words were like cold water thrown on her . she was aware that they were attracting attention from the crowd around them.

‘Mr. Okumu whatever you are talking about,’ she smiled and tried brushing away his cruel utterances, ‘I don’t understand,’ she feigned ignorance.

‘Yes, you do,’ he smiled coldly at her, ‘you went for the highest bidder did you not? What did he promise to give you?’

‘Excuse me I have to get some air,’ Neema stepped away from him, she had to get away from him and his bitterness. She slowly elbowed her way through the crowd the sound of Jabali’s speech a distance drone in her ears.

As soon as they had stepped into the hall where the party was held, all eyes were on them or rather on her

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/jabali-s-redemption

. she felt like a small girl who was dressed in her mother’s clothes and makeup. Miss Malika had dresses her in a knee length and shoulder off white dress. her hair was done and she felt like a new coin. Shiny and expensive. It did not help that Jabali looked at her like a man starved, she had never blushed so much in her life.

In the room she could feel gazes on her and tried to avoid them as much as possible. Smiling and practically clinging to Jabali’s sleeve.

Until the moment Jabali had to make a speech, she hadn’t left his side. Akila chose that time to approach her.

She hadn’t reached the bathroom when someone grabbed her from behind and pulled her back, with a strangled yelp she turned to see Akila had followed her outside the great hall where the party was taking place.

‘What are you doing Akila?’ she pulled her hand from his grasp, what was wrong with him? He had never been this rough. She looked around and noticed that they were alone and he had pulled her into a secluded corner. Neema didn’t like being cornered like that and her irritation was rising.

‘Cut the act Neema, your innocence is fake,’ Akila spat bitterly, his handsome face hand contorted into a deep frown, ‘you pretended to be his secretary but you ended up ensnaring him in your trap.’

‘Stop this Mr. Okumu,’ she gritted her teeth,

‘I guess both of you are the same, you married him for his wealth and he married you to keep his post in the company,’ Akila scoffed,

‘What?’ what was he talking about? Neema wondered, she never married Jabali for his wealth and what did he mean by he had married her to keep his position in the company.

‘Use your pretty head to think Neema,’ Akila grabbed her shoulders and practically shook her, his fingers digging inside her flesh,

‘What are you talking about?’ Neema tried to detangle herself from his grasp but he held on tight,

‘Jabali and I are in a battle for succession of the company. We were both at a tie until he decided to marry you. You break the tie. He married you for votes Neema,’

Jabali married her for votes but why? She didn’t even have any influence over the board of the company. Then it clicked inside her head. The board meeting where Akila challenged his position, the hurried wedding, the late nights he came home and finally the marriage announcement. It had all been a plan, Jabali had been plotting for a long time.

‘The voting is going to take place a week from now. With his announcement, the old-fashioned board members who for some reason value marriage and families will vote for him and he will retain his sit on as the Director General of Tembo tea factory.’

Neema released a sharp laugh and Akila was taken back for a second releasing her, how could a pot call a cattle black? Both Jabali and Akila were made from the same cloth. With Jabali she wasn’t surprised but she had not expected Akila to be so shrewd and calculating too.

‘Does this seem funny to you?’ he asked,

‘How is Jabali different from you Akila?’

‘What?’ It was his time to be surprised, ‘don’t compare me to that corporate psychopath’

‘You were never genuinely interested in me, you could have used me to attain your goal just like Jabali,’ she answered him,

‘I would have treated you much better, not letting you rot inside that cold mansion up in the mountain while I entertain my mistress in town,’ Akila said snidely

‘A mistress,’ did Jabali have a mistress? Neema wondered. ‘Jabali doesn’t have a mistress,’

Akila scoffed, ‘is that what he told you?’

Neema paused for a second and sighed, if Jabali had a mistress then she was to blame. They were yet to consummate their marriage. Lately they had stopped arguing but they rarely communicated. He came home late and left very earl in the morning. She always thought that he was busy in the office but now it seemed he was busy in the arms of another woman. The thought made her heart crumble.

‘Look Neema…’

‘I think you have said enough for today Akila,’ Neema said in a low voice, she didn’t know if she could take much of Akila’s insolence anymore, ‘Jabali is my husband and I will support him. He deserves the position of the head of this company because he has worked so hard for it and it is his birthright.’ She stood up much straighter and looked him squarely in the eyes,

‘Now if you will excuse me, I have to go and listen to my husband’s speech, he is going to announce our union and I should be there over there support him.’

With as much of her bruised pride intact, she turned and left the small corner he had pushed her in. she left him standing there with a gape mouth. She hoped he would swallow a fly and choke.

Clearing her head, she reentered the great hall to hear,

‘And finally, ladies and gentlemen, the last announcement for the night. I would like to introduce you to my lovely wife,’ murmurs erupted from the crowd, ‘ the mother of my future children,’ whistles and snickers, ‘and the woman I love most in the world,’ the last words were directly said to her and Neema felt her heart miss a beat, ‘Mrs. Neema Kasri, lets welcome her,’

Breathing deeply as the spotlight turned towards her, she made her way to the podium where Jabali had stretched his hand to her. Neema prayed she wouldn’t fall on her face on the six-inch nude stilettos Miss. Malika insisted she put on.

Jabali embraced her in front of the whole crowd, making the crowd go wild again. It took time before the crowd calmed down and Jabali held her on her side.

………………………………………

‘What was that all about?’ Jabali asked the moment the chauffer shut the door behind them. Neema had just seated and was adjusting her dress underneath her.

‘What are you talking about?’ the question hit her by surprise. She didn’t miss the roughness of his tone. Something was eating him up and Neema didn’t have time to answer him. She had done as he wanted to parade herself Infront of everyone as his wife. To top on that Akila had cornered and harassed her. Neema didn’t know how long she would hold all of the feelings inside her anymore.

‘You couldn’t wait to go off with your ex-boyfriend or maybe he is still your boyfriend,’ Jabali continues saying the word boyfriend as if it is a curse.

‘Boyfriend?!! What…’ Neema was getting more confused.

‘Yes, your boyfriend, Akila. How long have you been seeing him behind my back?’

‘Akila is not my boyfriend,’ Neema spat, her patience spreading thin.

Jabali grabbed her left hand that was nearer to him and roughly pulled her towards him, ‘Don’t deny it, I saw the two of you walking out before I started on my speech. You spent a whole lot of time outside before you came back,’

‘Let go of me, I didn’t leave with Akila he followed me out. I needed some fresh air from that room,’ she tried pulling her hand from his firm grasp but he held on tight. Neema could see the fire in his eyes, Jabali was raging mad but so was she.

‘Maybe he was right I should have accepted his proposal; he would have treated me better than you.’ She spat angrily using her other hand trying to pry his vice like fingers from her wrist.

Jabali laughed at her weak attempts, ‘Neema, this character doesn’t befit you selling yourself to the highest bidder. You are not much better than a cheap woman on the street,’

Neema lost all of her composure and slapped Jabali on his cheek, her fingers stinging from the contact. The slap didn’t have much effect on Jabali as he only laughed more cruelly and held her wrist on his left fist. No matter how much Neema tried to fight he couldn’t release her.

‘Let me go, am tired of being a pawn in this game. You thought I wouldn’t know about you using me to secure your position in the company?’

‘Who told you about that?’ Jabali asked sharply, maneuvering her wrists on her back and holding her like that, her chest thrust forward and heaving. Neema hated Jabali for treating her like that, she was holding back tears that were threatening to fall. Jabali had passed her through a lot and he didn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon.

‘You are no better than your father, he took so much from people and returned nothing. Using dirty trick only to maintain his position on the company and the town…’

Jabali didn’t let her finish, he silenced her with a punitive kiss, he didn’t release her wrists but used his free hand to hold her head in place and kiss her relentlessly. Neema tried to move her lips from him but he was stronger.

Maybe it was the pressure of the day mounting up but something snapped inside her and she returned the ferociousness of the kiss with her own. Slowly his grip on her loosened and she got her hands free and wrapped them around his neck.

Then Jabali stopped kissing her as soon as he started but he didn’t stop holding her close to him and Neema was left disoriented for a few seconds. Her eyes hazy and looking at him, Jabali stared back at her with fire burning deep in his eyes. Neema didn’t know if it was passion or anger.

Read " The Dancing Bride And Her Spirit Warrior " by the same author ( Razia Iminza )

. Her body was fired up like and all of her senses were alert and very much aware of Jabali’s closeness and his heat.

Then his phone vibrated from his phone breaking the connection they had. Neema seemed to remember where they were and the driver who was doing his best to ignore them and not look at the back seat. She quickly pushed Jabali away and sat up straighter.

‘Neema…’ Jabali started his voice somber.

‘Sorry for slapping you…I shouldn’t have done that,’ Neema didn’t know what came over her, Jabali seemed to be bringing the worst out of her. she had never raised her hand against any other human being. She didn’t like the person she was becoming angry and impulsive.

Jabali opened his mouth as if he was going to say something but he didn’t. his lower jaw was ticking and Neema could feel his struggle. He wanted to say something but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. She could feel tears forming in his eyes and she turned tot the window and opened it slightly. The cool mountain air cooled down her warm face and she blinked her tears away.

the rest of the ride back home was spent in silence apart from Jabali who was in his phone. He constantly looked at her direction but she avoided his gaze like a plague.

..........................................................

Hey Guys.

I understand am not doing a good job with posting consistently and i apologise for that.

I am going to post several chapters for you.

I hope you enjoy.