End Of The Road (a Novel) Chapter 1

Thank you Turiano and Tijehi. Watch out for the next one soon.

what an intelligent guy you are

“That is only the tip of the iceberg. How much more shares do you think we stand to acquire?”

“There’s over twenty percent up for grabs, with the premium we’re offering we can sponge up as much as fifteen. A few of the shareholders may reject us on loyalty grounds.”

 Gladys was in the kitchen tidying up after a late lunch. It was her first meal of the day, but she still ended up not being able to eat anything. Just then, she heard a knock. Wondering who it could be, she slowly went to open the door. It took her a full minute of looking at the woman standing before her before recognition came. It was Edward’s previous foster mother.

"Good morning ma." Suspicion threaded her words.

Mrs. Okrika ignored Gladys and without a reply to the greeting, marched straight into the house. Gladys was surprised but she quietly closed the door and followed her through the hallway. The older woman was standing in the middle of the living room looking around. When she removed her sunglasses and turned, there was so much open hatred and spite on her face That Gladys frowned in confusion. The woman bared her teeth in a predatory smile, moved to one of the settees and sat down with a tinkling of gold jewelry.

"Why don't you join me my dear?” she asked, as if she owned the place. Gladys went and sat down on the opposite armchair.

"What of Edward, the caring fiancé?”

"He has gone into work, " Gladys began

"Gone to the office already? But you just returned from your trip around the world?”

"Something important came up and he had to go." As Gladys said this, her mind began to race wondering how Mrs. Okrika knew about the trip or their schedule.

"Well no problem as I actually came to see you. Don't be surprised," she said at Gladys’ raised eyebrows, "I want to ask you something. How well do you know Edward?”

"How do you mean? Of course I know him very well."

The woman laughed. "Yes, you said he told you about us and how he grew up in an orphanage. Did he tell you the reason he was sent out of several homes before we took him in?”

Gladys paused before answering. "He was not sent out; they just couldn’t keep him."

Mrs. Okrika smirked. “No no, they all sent him away. Didn’t he tell you that? I can see that he didn't." She continued at Gladys’ silence. "Let me tell you; Edward - or Sani, as I knew him then - is an unrefined bastard and I'm sure he hasn't changed. Once he became a teenager and knew he wouldn’t be adopted, he took to fighting at the drop of a hat. After he almost beat a boy to death once the orphanage had to send him away. He began to live on the streets."

"He did not tell me that. I don't believe you." Gladys whispered in denial.

Mrs. Okrika was not finished. “We took pity on him, this street boy doing odd jobs around our factory and brought him into our home. We loved him but he kicked it in our face.”

"Look, Edward told me how you and your husband framed him up…"

"We framed him up?” She shook her head. “You better believe me. Even before I met him, Edward was an angry and wicked child beating up people and stealing when he could. While he lived we us, he still got into trouble, smoking, drinking and fighting. I treated him like my own, but he stole from my husband and violated me. Edward almost raped me…"

“That’s a lie!” Gladys jumped up shaking her head and covering her ears with her palms, but that couldn’t stop her from hearing every word the woman hurled at her.

The older woman also got to her feet, her loud voice riding over Gladys words, "Yes he did. When he lived with us, Edward attempted to rape me. He hit me when I wouldn’t give in.” She pulled up the sleeve to reveal a deep scar high on her left shoulder. “To defend myself, I picked up a knife but he turned it on me. That was when I got this scar, "

Gladys was in shock as the woman went on relentlessly. "It was only the entrance of our gatemen that saved me from death at his hands."

"Stop lying," Gladys shouted. "Why are you telling me all this, making up all these stories?” By this time, Mrs. Okrika was standing right in front of her.

"If I am lying then I wonder why your loving Edward did not tell you the truth. Maybe he told you a few things, but did he tell you that he almost killed me before running away from the house? Did he tell you that he and his gang stole from my husband? Do you not wonder how he set himself up in business so easily?” Mrs. Okrika’s voice rose insistently.

Gladys sank down into her seat and blocked out the woman’s words. Edward had not mentioned the rape but she would assume Mrs. Okrika was making up stuff until she spoke with him. After all he had told her about the theft charge without prompting.

When she remained silent, Mrs. Okrika began to gloat. “Do you believe me now?”

"No I don’t. Edward may not have told me every detail of what transpired with you but I’d rather believe him. He told me that you resented him and I can see that it is true. So much that you betrayed him and lied to your husband to get him sent to jail.”

"Why should I do that? I tell you he almost raped me and stole from us and you think I resent him? All I know is that he has to pay back!” The woman began to pace the room.

"Is that really why you don't want to leave him be? I think it started even before he was born. You were the one that told him, about who his father might be, right?

"Yes I knew Edward’s father. What has that got to do with it?" Mrs. Okrika stopped and looked back at Gladys with wide eyes.

Gladys decided to hazard a guess. “The sins of the father must be visited on the son right? Edward said you recognized him the first day because he resembled his father. Maybe the man rejected you and then Edward did the same too. That is the payback you want, "

“What rubbish! Utter nonsense.” Mrs. Okrika stalked back to her chair and sat down.

“Then why are you here and not the police? You and your husband made sure Edward almost perished in a police cell, even though there was no evidence to press whatever charges you brought against him. You especially knew there was no proof because you framed him.”

“You must be out of your mind.” Mrs. Okrika rolled her eyes but her legs began to shake as a counterpoint to her speech. “Either Edward has you completely fooled or you’re allowing his money to blind you. But hear this very well. He will pay back, no matter what.”

“Why won’t you let him be? After his childhood surely he deserves some love…”

“And you actually imagine he has found love with you?” Mrs. Okrika shifted forward. “So why did he move out of the house to a hotel last night?”

Gladys felt her mouth open of its own accord. “How did you know about that?”

Her opponent smiled and relaxed. “You would like to know that wouldn’t you? Well, it turns out that you are the betrayer now. You sold his shares to his rivals, didn’t you?”

“That is a bare-faced lie!” Gladys jumped to her feet and stood shaking.

“Get used to it, because that’s the story Edward will tell the next woman.” Mrs. Okrika stood up and shook out her dress. “What were you saying about your love now, eh?”

“You set me up." This realization echoed in Gladys’s whisper as she walked forward.

Mrs. Okrika laughed and swerved away from her on her way out of the room. "That is another case that will be thrown out for lack of evidence. Edward will go down, and if what keeps you here is the foolish notion that he loves you, save yourself the heartbreak and get out now. He cannot love anyone, and he certainly doesn’t love you.”

She went out and closed the door softly. Gladys remained rooted to the spot.

Gladys was in the kitchen tidying up after a late lunch. It was her first meal of the day, but she still ended up not being able to eat anything. Just then, she heard a knock. Wondering who it could be, she slowly went to open the door. It took her a full minute of looking at the woman standing before her before recognition came. It was Edward’s previous foster mother.

"Good morning ma." Suspicion threaded her words.

Mrs. Okrika ignored Gladys and without a reply to the greeting, marched straight into the house. Gladys was surprised but she quietly closed the door and followed her through the hallway. The older woman was standing in the middle of the living room looking around. When she removed her sunglasses and turned, there was so much open hatred and spite on her face That Gladys frowned in confusion. The woman bared her teeth in a predatory smile, moved to one of the settees and sat down with a tinkling of gold jewelry.

"Why don't you join me my dear?” she asked, as if she owned the place. Gladys went and sat down on the opposite armchair.

"What of Edward, the caring fiancé?”

"He has gone into work, " Gladys began

"Gone to the office already? But you just returned from your trip around the world?”

"Something important came up and he had to go." As Gladys said this, her mind began to race wondering how Mrs. Okrika knew about the trip or their schedule.

"Well no problem as I actually came to see you. Don't be surprised," she said at Gladys’ raised eyebrows, "I want to ask you something. How well do you know Edward?”

"How do you mean? Of course I know him very well."

The woman laughed. "Yes, you said he told you about us and how he grew up in an orphanage. Did he tell you the reason he was sent out of several homes before we took him in?”

Gladys paused before answering. "He was not sent out; they just couldn’t keep him."

Mrs. Okrika smirked. “No no, they all sent him away. Didn’t he tell you that? I can see that he didn't." She continued at Gladys’ silence. "Let me tell you; Edward - or Sani, as I knew him then - is an unrefined bastard and I'm sure he hasn't changed. Once he became a teenager and knew he wouldn’t be adopted, he took to fighting at the drop of a hat. After he almost beat a boy to death once the orphanage had to send him away. He began to live on the streets."

"He did not tell me that. I don't believe you." Gladys whispered in denial.

Mrs. Okrika was not finished. “We took pity on him, this street boy doing odd jobs around our factory and brought him into our home. We loved him but he kicked it in our face.”

"Look, Edward told me how you and your husband framed him up…"

"We framed him up?” She shook her head. “You better believe me. Even before I met him, Edward was an angry and wicked child beating up people and stealing when he could. While he lived we us, he still got into trouble, smoking, drinking and fighting. I treated him like my own, but he stole from my husband and violated me. Edward almost raped me…"

“That’s a lie!” Gladys jumped up shaking her head and covering her ears with her palms, but that couldn’t stop her from hearing every word the woman hurled at her.

The older woman also got to her feet, her loud voice riding over Gladys words, "Yes he did. When he lived with us, Edward attempted to rape me. He hit me when I wouldn’t give in.” She pulled up the sleeve to reveal a deep scar high on her left shoulder. “To defend myself, I picked up a knife but he turned it on me. That was when I got this scar, "

Gladys was in shock as the woman went on relentlessly. "It was only the entrance of our gatemen that saved me from death at his hands."

"Stop lying," Gladys shouted. "Why are you telling me all this, making up all these stories?” By this time, Mrs. Okrika was standing right in front of her.

"If I am lying then I wonder why your loving Edward did not tell you the truth. Maybe he told you a few things, but did he tell you that he almost killed me before running away from the house? Did he tell you that he and his gang stole from my husband? Do you not wonder how he set himself up in business so easily?” Mrs. Okrika’s voice rose insistently.

Gladys sank down into her seat and blocked out the woman’s words. Edward had not mentioned the rape but she would assume Mrs. Okrika was making up stuff until she spoke with him. After all he had told her about the theft charge without prompting.

When she remained silent, Mrs. Okrika began to gloat. “Do you believe me now?”

"No I don’t. Edward may not have told me every detail of what transpired with you but I’d rather believe him. He told me that you resented him and I can see that it is true. So much that you betrayed him and lied to your husband to get him sent to jail.”

"Why should I do that? I tell you he almost raped me and stole from us and you think I resent him? All I know is that he has to pay back!” The woman began to pace the room.

"Is that really why you don't want to leave him be? I think it started even before he was born. You were the one that told him, about who his father might be, right?

"Yes I knew Edward’s father. What has that got to do with it?" Mrs. Okrika stopped and looked back at Gladys with wide eyes.

Gladys decided to hazard a guess. “The sins of the father must be visited on the son right? Edward said you recognized him the first day because he resembled his father. Maybe the man rejected you and then Edward did the same too. That is the payback you want, "

“What rubbish! Utter nonsense.” Mrs. Okrika stalked back to her chair and sat down.

“Then why are you here and not the police? You and your husband made sure Edward almost perished in a police cell, even though there was no evidence to press whatever charges you brought against him. You especially knew there was no proof because you framed him.”

“You must be out of your mind.” Mrs. Okrika rolled her eyes but her legs began to shake as a counterpoint to her speech. “Either Edward has you completely fooled or you’re allowing his money to blind you. But hear this very well. He will pay back, no matter what.”

“Why won’t you let him be? After his childhood surely he deserves some love…”

“And you actually imagine he has found love with you?” Mrs. Okrika shifted forward. “So why did he move out of the house to a hotel last night?”

Gladys felt her mouth open of its own accord. “How did you know about that?”

Her opponent smiled and relaxed. “You would like to know that wouldn’t you? Well, it turns out that you are the betrayer now. You sold his shares to his rivals, didn’t you?”

“That is a bare-faced lie!” Gladys jumped to her feet and stood shaking.

“Get used to it, because that’s the story Edward will tell the next woman.” Mrs. Okrika stood up and shook out her dress. “What were you saying about your love now, eh?”

“You set me up." This realization echoed in Gladys’s whisper as she walked forward.

Mrs. Okrika laughed and swerved away from her on her way out of the room. "That is another case that will be thrown out for lack of evidence. Edward will go down, and if what keeps you here is the foolish notion that he loves you, save yourself the heartbreak and get out now. He cannot love anyone, and he certainly doesn’t love you.”

She went out and closed the door softly. Gladys remained rooted to the spot.

Why is the board removing my updates I wonder? This is not spam please.

 :p :p :p

"Why should I do that? I tell you he almost raped me and stole from us and you think I resent him? All I know is that he has to pay back!” The woman began to pace the room.

"Is that really why you don't want to leave him be? I think it started even before he was born. You were the one that told him, about who his father might be, right?

"Yes I knew Edward’s father. What has that got to do with it?" Mrs. Okrika stopped and looked back at Gladys with wide eyes.

Gladys decided to hazard a guess. “The sins of the father must be visited on the son right? Edward said you recognized him the first day because he resembled his father. Maybe the man rejected you and then Edward did the same too. That is the payback you want, "

“What rubbish! Utter nonsense.” Mrs. Okrika stalked back to her chair and sat down.

“Then why are you here and not the police? You and your husband made sure Edward almost perished in a police cell, even though there was no evidence to press whatever charges you brought against him. You especially knew there was no proof because you framed him.”

“You must be out of your mind.” Mrs. Okrika rolled her eyes but her legs began to shake as a counterpoint to her speech. “Either Edward has you completely fooled or you’re allowing his money to blind you. But hear this very well. He will pay back, no matter what.”

“Why won’t you let him be? After his childhood surely he deserves some love…”

“And you actually imagine he has found love with you?” Mrs. Okrika shifted forward. “So why did he move out of the house to a hotel last night?”

Gladys felt her mouth open of its own accord. “How did you know about that?”

Her opponent smiled and relaxed. “You would like to know that wouldn’t you? Well, it turns out that you are the betrayer now. You sold his shares to his rivals, didn’t you?”

“That is a bare-faced lie!” Gladys jumped to her feet and stood shaking.

“Get used to it, because that’s the story Edward will tell the next woman.” Mrs. Okrika stood up and shook out her dress. “What were you saying about your love now, eh?”

“You set me up." This realization echoed in Gladys’s whisper as she walked forward.

Mrs. Okrika laughed and swerved away from her on her way out of the room. "That is another case that will be thrown out for lack of evidence. Edward will go down, and if what keeps you here is the foolish notion that he loves you, save yourself the heartbreak and get out now. He cannot love anyone, and he certainly doesn’t love you.”

She went out and closed the door softly. Gladys remained rooted to the spot.

Gladys was in the kitchen tidying up after a late lunch. It was her first meal of the day, but she still ended up not being able to eat anything. Just then, she heard a knock. Wondering who it could be, she slowly went to open the door. It took her a full minute of looking at the woman standing before her before recognition came. It was Edward’s previous foster mother.

"Good morning ma." Suspicion threaded her words.

Mrs. Okrika ignored Gladys and without a reply to the greeting, marched straight into the house. Gladys was surprised but she quietly closed the door and followed her through the hallway. The older woman was standing in the middle of the living room looking around. When she removed her sunglasses and turned, there was so much open hatred and spite on her face That Gladys frowned in confusion. The woman bared her teeth in a predatory smile, moved to one of the settees and sat down with a tinkling of gold jewelry.

"Why don't you join me my dear?” she asked, as if she owned the place. Gladys went and sat down on the opposite armchair.

"What of Edward, the caring fiancé?”

"He has gone into work, " Gladys began

"Gone to the office already? But you just returned from your trip around the world?”

"Something important came up and he had to go." As Gladys said this, her mind began to race wondering how Mrs. Okrika knew about the trip or their schedule.

"Well no problem as I actually came to see you. Don't be surprised," she said at Gladys’ raised eyebrows, "I want to ask you something. How well do you know Edward?”

"How do you mean? Of course I know him very well."

The woman laughed. "Yes, you said he told you about us and how he grew up in an orphanage. Did he tell you the reason he was sent out of several homes before we took him in?”

Gladys paused before answering. "He was not sent out; they just couldn’t keep him."

Mrs. Okrika smirked. “No no, they all sent him away. Didn’t he tell you that? I can see that he didn't." She continued at Gladys’ silence. "Let me tell you; Edward - or Sani, as I knew him then - is an unrefined bastard and I'm sure he hasn't changed. Once he became a teenager and knew he wouldn’t be adopted, he took to fighting at the drop of a hat. After he almost beat a boy to death once the orphanage had to send him away. He began to live on the streets."

"He did not tell me that. I don't believe you." Gladys whispered in denial.

Mrs. Okrika was not finished. “We took pity on him, this street boy doing odd jobs around our factory and brought him into our home. We loved him but he kicked it in our face.”

"Look, Edward told me how you and your husband framed him up…"

I think for your own good,  You should stop posting your stories here,  Enough,  Someone might be stealing your works.

Complete your novel and send to an editor to review okay?

All right I hear you. Thanks sha