Please log in and join us to enjoy the ride.

It is a blissful one.

Baron7:
See please Ehn sister Bolape, this one they are already reading about aka bad girl on magazine please don't let anything happen to Iya ibeji o. I have not logged in to nairaland since 2017 I always view as guest. Please what it's worth. Thank you in advance

Amen my friend. Amen. Life is full of shit. It takes courage and faith to live through certain crisis.

skubido:



Sist i gat your point ooo

Ma Sista, it's easier said than done ooo, it's not easy ooo.
Yoruba says( Enibaa Loma )

I pray God should not let us encounter situation we cannot face

Just like you say, everything happened for a reason and all event in life is predestined.

Thanks for reading.

skubido:
Hmmmm , to me I say everything happen for a reason.

I can't blame fatihat too much sha,,
Ma blame is on tunde...

He's d one that cuz it all..

@mrs kolawole.. Am happy for her if through she's pregnant.



Aunt BOLAPE thanks a lot for the long update.. E make sense wella..


Jah bless. Respect

You are certainly right.

It is when a mosquito landed on a man's penis that he will realize violence doesn't solve everything..

aprilwise:
There are many ways to kill a rat in a clay pot without destroying it. lilah should use her brain.

Thank you.

Chibake:
Love this story

Yes, Lilah acted like an ass. She is never be a nice person anyway..

Toeyean1507:
Lilah has no right to go this blunt with Yetunde. The latter has d right to sue her and win sef.
She's just being an a*ss.
Thanks for d update,dear

SIXTEEN (CONTINUES)

As Yetunde approached the sitting room to attend to her visitors, she heard Lekan bombarding them with questions and rolled her eyes in exasperation.
“Aunty Delilah, Is this your husband? I thought you are not married.”Lekan asked curiously.
“I’m not. Tunde is not my husband but he is Gift’s daddy.” She heard fatihat patiently explained to the little boy. She frowned slightly as her steps slowed down. Tunde? Could that be Tunde Abeeb? She thought, puzzled.
“But you are Gift’s mum and he is her daddy, why are you not married then? I thought mummy and daddy are supposed to be married.”Yetunde groaned to herself as her son embarrassed her visitors with his question.
“You are a smart boy.” She heard the deep masculine voice laced with laughter and assumed that was Tunde Abeeb as she came into view. She went absolutely still with shock as she noted the striking resemblance between Tunde Abeeb and her son, Olalekan Kolawole.
“Are you okay ma?”Fatihat asked in concern as she got to her feet.
“I’m fine, Thank you.” She smiled at them and moved to sit down across them as her son walked out of the sitting room discreetly.
“I’m Yetunde Kolawole. How may I help you both?” She asked as she sat back.
“My birth name is fatihat Ali but people called me Delilah Smith and I’m Gift’s mother. We met on the open day at our children’s school” She paused for effect and Yetunde nodded in agreement. “This is Tunde Abeeb, he is Gift’s father.” She touched his arm lightly. “Good morning ma.”He bowed in greeting.
“You are both welcome. Thanks for the gifts you both sent to Lekan on his birthday. It is highly appreciated.” She stated gratefully, even as her heart picked up speed.
“All kids need to be pampered once in a while. Thank you for allowing him to attend Gift’s birthday party.”Fatihat smiled at her.
“Her birthday party ran in the kiddies’ magazine for weeks. I think she won the best birthday kid of the year. It was fantastic. You did a great job. I have to commend you, guys.” She complimented them with undisguised admiration.
“Well, we were just trying our best.” Fatihat smiled as she wiped her sweaty palms on her blue jean.
“So what can I offer you both?”Yetunde looked from one face to the other.
“Please don’t bother yourself with our hospitality. We are here for a reason and you are not going to like it at all.”Fatihat told her solemnly as she sat forward.
“Can I hear it then as time is running out and I need to get to my shop?” Her voice was quiet even as her hearts started thumping in uncharacteristic panic.
“I’m going to tell you my life history and give you a reason why what is supposed to be mine become yours.”Fatihat summarized her life history very briefly in an emotionless and very practical voice while she paced back and forth in front of her two audiences.
“If I get you right, you were raped in your boss’s house and you gave birth in an uncompleted building, right?” Yetunde asked, puzzled.
“That is right. The uncompleted building happened to be yours as I later found out.” She proceeded to give her a blow by blow detail of how she came by that theory. Yetunde had to admit that the young lady has definitely done her homework, even as her heartbeat increased.
“That is okay. Where do I come in, Miss Smith or miss Ali?” Yetunde asked in a polite voice.
Fatihat took a deep breath, looked very briefly at Tunde who gave an encouraging nod and turned back to the woman in front of her who she knew she was about to hurt very badly. “I came to prove to you that your only son, Lekan Kolawole is mine and Tunde’s biological son.” She stated in a calm voice. There was complete silence as both women stared at each other.
“I beg your pardon?” Yetunde asked in a blank voice.
“You heard me quite alright, Miss Kolawole. I know you noticed the resemblance between your son and Tunde when you came in a moment ago which was the reason you stood very still as you looked from one to the other.” She paused for effect, pacing back and forth very briefly before continuing.
“Is that a point for claiming a child?”Yetunde asked coldly.
“I have a set of twin, Miss Kolawole, a boy and a girl. The first thing I noticed about both of them is that they have a small mole at their lower back which I later realized was a family birthmark in their father’s family. I saw the one on Lekan’s back when he came out of the pool on Gift’s birthday. That is apart from the obvious resemblance between the two of them. You can’t deny that, can you?” She paused again as the older woman stared at with a blank look on her face. Tunde thought Fatihat should have gone to study law, instead of studying Business Administration. “Moreover, I did my homework very well and I know your birth record.” She ended in a soft voice.
Yetunde felt herself trembling from inside but she stilled it with an inner strength. “I know your reputation, Delilah Smith. I heard you are mean but I’m not scared of you. You can gather as many evidence as you like, I don’t give a damn about. You can drag it to court if you like, I will meet you there. I want you to know I will fight you with everything I have before I turn my son over to you.” She stated in a cold voice.
“I expected this from you, anything less would have made you less of a woman.”Fatihat cocked her head to a side thoughtfully. Yetunde got to her feet. “I just wanted you to know and think about it. I have no intention of taking him from you but he has the right to know his biological mother and father and to know that we want and love him. That is the only thing I need from you, madam.”
Tunde got to his feet too and gave her trembling hand a warning squeeze.
“If you both want and love him like you are claiming now, why did you drop him years ago? It shows the kind of woman you are. You are nothing but a useless and irresponsible LovePeddler.” Yetunde stated maliciously. Fatihat winced as the barb caught deep.
“She is not a LovePeddler, Miss Kolawole. It was circumstances beyond her control that forced her to do it. We are here to undo the wrong that was done in the past, at least part of it. We appreciate your care and love for Olalekan. We understand how you feel. You have every right to be furious and justifiably so too.” Tunde stated in a calm voice.
“Please get out of my house, both of you. You have over-stayed your welcome.” She shouted rudely and made to walk out on them but fatihat pulled her back by her wrist. “You have not seen the last of me, madam. I will be right back.” She stated calmly and walked out, closely followed by Tunde after a brief courtesy in Yetunde’s direction.
*****
Yetunde sank back into the sofa and let go of her grieve and sorrow. Tears shook her body as she curled up and cried her heart out. Somebody offered her a handkerchief and she took it gratefully, sniffing into it.
“Mummy, please stop crying. Nobody can take me away from you.” Little arms wrapped around her body. It was then it occurred to her that her son had obviously been eavesdropping on them but she was too distraught to chide him at the moment. She turned to hug him fiercely and let her tears flowed freely.
“I guess you’ve produced enough salt water to cook rice.” A familiar, most unexpected voice chided her with mild sternness. She looked up through red-rimmed eyes to see Ademola Badmus towering over her.
“When did you come in?” She asked in surprise.
“I called him when you refuse to stop crying, I got his number from your phone.”Lekan told her quietly as she struggled to sit up.
“I guess you heard my conversation with my guests then?” She asked as she got to her feet and the ground rushed up to meet her. When she opened her eyes, she was lying on her Queen Size bed and the doctor was bent over her. “I’ve never fainted in my entire lifespan, what happened to me?” She asked puzzled, looking from the doctor to Ademola who stood behind him.
“That is what we are about to find out.” The doctor smiled as he checked her pupil and palm.
“When last did you see your period, Miss Kolawole?”He sat back on the chair beside the bed.
“I’m not sure. It’s been quite sometimes but it does seize once in a while, so I don’t bother about it. Is something wrong with me?” she asked with concern.
“I’m fairly sure you are pregnant but you have to come with me to the lab for a proper test before I can be absolutely sure.” The doctor told her frankly. She gave him a blank stare before she laughed lightly.
“Are you telling me I’m pregnant at my age? Tell me something else please.” She gave a nonchalant shrug.
“Has it been confirmed to you medically that you are barren?” The doctor got to his feet and picked up his medical kit.
“Well, not really but I don’t care for it.” She shrugged.
“Wash up. I’m taking you to the hospital now.” Ademola commanded quietly. She shrugged again as she got to her feet.
Ademola walked out of her room with his doctor-friend and Lekan met them in the sitting room.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Badmus for coming to see my mum.” He stated gratefully. His friend moved out of the house as he bent down until he was on the same level with the little boy.
“Thanks for giving me a call when she needs me most. You will never know how much I appreciate that and respect you for it.”Ademola said frankly and he shrugged.
“I guess she would prefer your company to mine.” He drew a circle on the rug with his toes.
“I love your mum very much and I want to take care of both of you. I want to marry her so that we can live together like one big family. I’m not your daddy but I can take care of you like one and we can be real friends. Are we game?” He realized that his heart beats had increased in anticipation of the little boy’s answer and he seemed to take his time in answering.
“My mummy has been hurt before, I don’t know what happened to her but I’ve heard her talk about it to her friends when she thought I’m not listening. Are you sure you won’t hurt her too?” The little boy stared unflinchingly at him.
“I promise.” He placed his palm on his chest.
“Okay. At least I will be able to play games with Funmi all the time, can we?” He grinned suddenly. Ademola found himself swinging him into a manly hug.
“You are my best guy.” He smiled and Lekan giggled happily.
“What is happening here?”Yetunde asked moodily as she came down the staircase.
“I’m taking your mum to the hospital for a test, we will be right back.”Ademola said as he put him down.
“Okay.” He ran for his bicycle room and rode out as they left the house.


P.S

Do you want to study, work and live in Australia? We offer free education consultancy, assist with Admission processing and student visa application. We also do flight reservation and ticketing to any destination outside Nigeria. Chat me up if you are interested. I can be reached at @obolaji on twitter and https://web.facebook.com/olanrewaju.mobolaji on facebook. You may also inbox me at obolaji2002@yahoo.com......

Cheers

SIXTEEN
Fatihat went straight to her daughter’s room immediately she got home but the little girl was fast asleep, so she kissed her good-night and walked out of her room silently in a thoughtful mood.
“You are home.” Josephine came up the staircase and paused on her way to her own room.
“Yeah, I am. You were in the study, right?”She asked quietly.
“That is right. Where have you been? Gift asked after you before she went to bed and I told her you went to a friend’s house which is unusual on Sunday evening.” Josephine gave her a searching look.
She took a deep breath. “I went to see Tunde about my other baby to discuss how we will get him back but he said we can’t win if the woman took it to court because people that want custody has to be married and stuffs like that.” Her voice ended in a weary sigh. “He is quite right on that score. Getting married to him shouldn’t be a problem now, should it?” Josephine grinned at her.
“I beg your pardon?” She arched an eyebrow at her. Her sister laughed out loud.
“I’m not blind, baby sister. Don’t tell me your feeling for Tunde Abeeb has not changed? I’ve never known you to lie for any reason at all, not even to yourself, so tell me what is going on.” Josephine watched her exhaled softly.
“I honestly don’t know, Jose. One moment, I hate him so much that I want to kill him and the next I’m all over him, wanting his touches and kisses. I’m a very confused human being at the moment. I think I should just Bleep him and get over it.” She smiled ruefully.
“The fact is that you’ve always liked him, even back then. If he had been a bit more patient, you would have fallen for him eventually. Are you in love with him?” Josephine asked bluntly and saw her winced.
“God forbid bad thing.” She muttered under her breath.
“I reserved my comment on that anyway. Let’s get a good night sleep, please. Tomorrow is Monday and I have an early morning test.” Josephine headed for her bedroom and she did the same.
*****
“Mum, do you know tomorrow is Lekan’s birthday?” Gift told her mother on their way home.
It was Friday. Today is her birthday. She is eight years old. She was in school for the first part of her birthday party and to invite her friends and classmates to her afternoon party which would take place at her mother’s home.
She looked really cute in a black long sleeve bodycon gown with a flaring skirt which ended just above her knees and her feet were adorned with a black solid heel ankle-length shoe. Her hair was bounded into two pony-tails and held up with fancy and colorful ribbons and artificial flowers. She felt and looked great.
“Really? That is great. Is he coming for your birthday today?”Fatihat asked with a smile. “He has no choice than to come since the whole class was invited. We are going for his birthday bash tomorrow.”She shrugged.
“Bash? It should be a 'party' for kids, where did you learn that word?”Fatihat frowned as she glanced briefly at her.
“Well, that was what he called it this morning. Do you know uncle Tayo send my birthday gift all the way from Chicago?” Gift exclaimed excitedly. Tayo was the last of the Abeeb boys. He just left the country a few weeks back after searching for employment for many months in vain.
“Don’t worry Gift abeeb. You will receive more gifts than you can ever count on this birthday. Wale and Ayo have dropped theirs on their way to work this morning.”Fatihat told her with a grin.
“I’m going to have the most wonderful birthday in the world.” she gushed happily.
“You deserve it, baby.”She patted the little girl’s cheek and guided the car expertly into the compound. The sight that met Gift’s eyes made her jaw dropped with astonishment and disbelieve.
*****
The compound has been turned into one huge wonderland. Fatihat has gone out of her way to hire an event planner at an exorbitant fee to turn her daughter’s first birthday party into a fairy tale.
The flowers were trimmed beautifully and strings of balloons and twinkling colored lights coming out of nowhere were strung around the whole place. This was accompanied by soul-penetrating birthday song that welcomed them as they drove in. The house itself looked like a big toy house in the middle of a Disneyland. Artificial pathway and bushes were created and there were hidden games for the kids in the least expected corners and cranes. Some fresh roses decorated the path where she was to take and on a closer look, she realized with a shock that it spelled, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIFT”.
“Oh God! Mum, is this all for me?” She turned to her mother with tear-filled eyes. “Some of your friends are already arriving. Go up to your room and change.” Her mother pushed her gently towards the car door.
“Thank you, mum. I love you so much.” She threw her hands around her mother’s neck and hugged her tightly.
“I love you too, baby. Mum and Josephine are waiting for you.” Fatihat smiled when she saw Josephine peeped out from the window.
“Is dad not coming?” Gift asked as she opened the car door.
“He is on his way already, I guess.” The girl has already catapulted out of the car before she finished her sentence and was running towards the house as she shouted at the top of her voice.
Fatihat pulled up in the Car garage and got out of the car, then bent to pick up her daughter’s school things before locking up properly. She went into the house through the back door and went straight to Gift’s room. Different types of birthday gifts in different shapes and sizes littered the little girl’s bed and she bent to inspect it. There is a gift from Chenille, another from Josephine, Yusuf, her gateman. She turned up her nose when she saw the gift from Yemi, Tunde’s mother. She dropped Gift’s things and went to her own room to shower and change.
*****
Chenille was on the phone while Josephine sat opposite her with a novel in the private sitting room when fatihat opened the door and came in to join them. She looked extremely tall and slender in the navy blue short-sleeve gown she wore, the top bodice had a low cut that accentuated her full curves to advantage and the flaring skirt stopped just above her kneecap while her legs ended in a pair of low-heel navy sandals. “Hmn….I hope you know Tunde is around?”Josephine told her coyly. She glared at her. “Big blabbermouth! I know you won’t keep your mouth shut. Hi mum.”She went to kiss her mum on the cheek and the latter grinned at her.
“You look good, baby.”Chenille told her with a pat on her cheek.
“Thanks, mum. You are not looking bad at all too.” Fatihat grinned back as she straightened up and looked out through the window.
“The kids are sure having fun.” She smiled as she moved to the window that looked out into the swimming pool where the kids were swimming and splashing around.
The MC of the day was calling the kids to order. Lekan came out of the pool in his swimming trunk, water dripping down his body. He turned his back towards Fatihat’s view as he talked to another little girl and the smile on her face drained away slowly.
Just above his black trunk was the tiny black mole exactly on the same spot like the one on Tunde’s back!
*****
“Are you okay, Lilah?”Josephine asked in concern as she noticed the frozen expression on her face and went to stand beside her.
“Look at that little boy with the black trunk pulling at the white girl’s hair.”Fatihat pointed.
“What about him? Is that Lekan Kolawole?”Josephine guessed right.
“You are right. Can you see the small mole just above his trunk? Can you see it?” she asked anxiously. Josephine nodded.
“Do you know anybody in our family who has that kind of birthmark at the base of the back?”Fatihat turned to her.
“Of course, I do. Gift has it at that exact spot.” Josephine paused. “Wale has it at the same position on his back. I guess it is a family birthmark.” she added more slowly.
“You are right. Tunde has it too, I saw it the day I met him on the beach. So what do you think?”Fatihat looked at her long-time, best friend who has become a blood sister somewhere along the way. They stared at each other with growing anticipation.
“And he is Tunde’s spitting image.” Chenille added quietly. She has come to stand behind them and watched the little boy.
“You are right, mum.”She moved to sit down wearily.
“Who is he?” Chenille asked as she sat beside her daughter. Josephine patiently explained everything to her. Chenille took her daughter’s cold hand in hers and stared straight into her eyes. “Baby, everything will be alright in the end. Just follow your instinct and do what you know is the best, okay?”She told her solemnly.
Fatihat nodded, even as she swallowed hard. “That woman is going to be a tough nut to crack. I won’t blame her for anything she decides to do but if you don’t ask, the answer is always NO. Go ahead and remember that whatever you do, we all love you dearly.” Josephine grinned at her and she found herself grinning back before she was enveloped in the warmest hug she has ever received.
*****
Yetunde was surprised when Lekan received a Toy Ferrari as a birthday gift from Lilah Smith and seven-foot-tall Robby Robot from Tunde Abeeb. She wondered who Tunde Abeeb was while Lilah Smith sounded vaguely familiar until she came across her name two days later on a glamour magazine she bought on her way to her shop.
Boldly written on the front page was the headline “One of The Youngest and Most beautiful, Eligible CEO, Delilah Smith”. Her picture covered the front page. She looked solemn and beautiful in a sinfully short red gown and matching red pump. The following pages covered her inexhaustible and expensive wardrobe and shoes. There wasn’t single native attire among them. It made the ladies sighed with envy and the men sighed with desire, reluctant respect, and admiration. There was a brief but very vague write-up about her journey up the ladder of success and it ended simply with “She has fame, wealth, unthinkable power and connections. On top of it all, she is extremely beautiful, wild, sophisticated, elegant and brave. She is Lilah Smith aka the b-a-a-d girl”
That just summed it up and something about the woman made her heart beat with fear. She is Gift’s mother, she remembered Lekan had called her “Aunty Delilah” but it was difficult to believe that kind of woman would bother to get pregnant, talkless of giving birth. Maybe she just sent a gift because Lekan attended her daughter’s birthday party but who is Tunde Abeeb?, she wondered briefly but eventually pushed it to the back of her mind until she received some august visitors a few days later on a Saturday as she was preparing to leave for her store.

I hope so too.

Maymac:
Nice one. keep the good work moving.

I hope Lilah won't suffer bcoz of her past

I have already responded to your mail.

Thanks.

des4ella:
I sent u an email. Pls check and reply me ma.

Finish quickly and come and read. Lol

murphymakun:
When I saw update by Bolape I was like let me quickly finish my lunch

Hi,

I don't know how to check nairaland mails.

Please send a mail to my email on obolaji2002@yahoo.com and i will respond to you.

Cheers!

Bemby69:
nice one . would like to discuss with you further , sent you a mail . regards.

Thank you.

modupedee:
You're indeed a great writer, I must say the sky can't limit you. You've got a wild imagination kudos to you expecting more from you.

FIFTEEN (CONTINUES)

Fatihat needed to see Tunde urgently but she has been so busy at school and knew the only way she could see him would be to go to his house. She finally had a chance on Sunday and drove to the Abeeb’s residence in the evening. She locked up her car and moved to the main house where she pressed the doorbell and waited. The door opened after a moment and Yemi peeped out.
“Good evening ma.”She bowed slightly with a blank look and walked past her into the corridor which led to the sitting room.
“Good evening, Fatihat. I hope there is no problem?”Yemi locked up the door and turned around to follow the young woman walking in front of her. She was dressed in a baggy combat knee-length shorts and a black tank top that barely covered her navel. Her feet were tucked in a fluffy black house slipper and a black hair band secured her jet black hair from her youthful face. She looked nothing like the mother of a 7yr old girl, Yemi thought grimly to herself.
“Evening, Fatihat.”Ayo, Tunde’s immediate younger brother said from where he lounged on the sofa.
“Evening, Ayo. Where is Tunde?”She rocked on her heels as she dangled her car key.
“I guess he should be in his room.He was down with slight fever since yesterday.” He picked up the remote control and changed channels.
“Thanks.” She took the staircase two at a time.
“She doesn’t look like a mother at all. I really wish to see my granddaughter.”Yemi said with quiet longing as she sat down beside her son.
“I doubt if she will look like a mother, even after six kids. She has always been a beautiful girl even back then when all she wore were rags. You can talk to Tunde if you want to see his daughter but I doubt if he sees enough of her himself.” He shrugged. She sighed heavily.
*****
“Hi, Fatihat.”Tunde closed the business journal he was reading as his bedroom door opened and she came in without knocking.
“Hello. How are you? Ayo said you had a fever.” She notched the door closed and leaned against it.
“I was stressed out at work these past weeks but I’m feeling better now. Why were you not at work all these days?” He asked accusingly.
“I’ve been busy going to school, running my other business and taking care of your daughter.” She told him coolly.
“I see. You must have been very busy indeed.” His voice was heavy with sarcasm. Her gaze narrowed with rising temper.
“You are quite right. I want to claim my son back and I need you to be there with me all the way because he is yours too.” Her voice was blunt and watched his face go blank. “What son? Do you have another kid beside Gift?” He asked in obvious confusion.
“I told you I gave birth to a set of twins, a boy , and a girl. The girl is Gift and I’ve found a woman I could attach to my son. I’ve been investigating the whole issue and I think I’ve met my son.”
‘How did you come to that conclusion, fatihat?”He asked in shock. He has to admit he was a bit scared to be suddenly saddled with two grown kids he hasn’t known existed all because of a stupid mistake he made in the past.
Fatihat paced the room as she explained the whole issue to him and stopped directly in front of him when she was through. “So what do you think? Are you in or out?” she asked bluntly and he took a deep breath.
“It is going to be a very tricky situation. That woman doesn’t have any other kid apart from our boy and we want to snatch her only source of happiness. Moreover, if she takes it to court, we can’t win because a couple who needs custody of a child needs to be married and we are not married. I’m not even sure if we are friends.”
Her brows knitted together in thought as she considered his words. “I guess you are right.” She nodded as she moved to lean against the door again.
He got out of bed and she was surprised to realize he was clad in only his boxers’ shorts. “Fatihat, do you want this kid because he is yours or you are actually ready for motherhood?” He asked quietly, watching her steadily.
“What is that suppose to mean? Are you telling me I’m not capable of taking care of my own children?” She snapped in anger and her jaw dropped in surprise when his hands settled on her bare waist.
“What is it?” He grinned at her stunned expression and dropped a kiss on her open mouth.
“Tunde, get away from me this instance before I do something you won’t like.” She glared furiously at him as she struggled to move away but his arm only went around her and held her against him effortlessly.
“Look at me in the eyes and tell me you don’t want my kisses. Tell me with all sincerity that you are not as attracted to me as I am to you.” He said quietly, solemnly, trapping her against the door with his two hands on both sides of her head. His gaze was locked on hers and the denial which rose swiftly to her tongue died there as she stared back at him.
“That is ridiculous!” She forced a smile and tried to look away but he held her chin with his fingers.
“You are so lovely!” He murmured against her mouth before tugging on her lower lips with his teeth. He nipped softly.
“Tunde……..”She began in protest which died in her throat when he kissed her fully on the mouth as he swept her into his arms and headed straight for his bed. The kiss deepened even as he laid her gently in the middle of his bed and settled between her legs.
Fatihat moaned softly as her arms went around his neck and passion threatened to consume them both. He rolled onto his back, carrying her with him and his palms caressed her smooth back lightly. His fingers came into contact with the clip of her bra and undid it rather easily, and then he had easy access to the back of her neck.
Blood pounded vigorously in his veins and his body was sleek with sweat but he was not near getting satisfied. He broke the kiss and reached for the tank top which he yanked away from her head. Her skimpy pink bra followed immediately and he dived for her lips again while running his fingers up and down her back, then to the side of her breast. She broke the kiss with a shudder and stared at him through eyes, hooded with desire. She moved slowly, sensuously, rubbing the tips of her breasts against his naked chest and he groaned out loud. He rolled her beneath him again and stared down at her kiss-swollen red lips.
“I want to make love to you. I need to…”He paused slightly, his voice husky with passion and he trailed a finger from her navel up to to her flat Tommy and stopped beneath one-rosy tipped breast. She caught her breath and he could feel her trembling with desire. “When I do, I don’t intend to use any protection. Are you on pills?” He asked softly. “I’ve stopped using pills since last month because …….”She stopped abruptly and glared at him.
“You are not seeing any man at the moment.” He stated matter of factly, watching her steadily and traced a finger very lightly over her nipple. She shuddered violently and slapped his hand away.
“Stop that and let me think. Why don’t you want to use protection? You don’t have any in your room or what?” She asked puzzled voice.
“I don’t have any at the moment. Believe it or not, it is a long time since I’ve slept with any woman and even if I have one, I won’t use it for you.” He told her firmly.
“That is crazy. What if I get pregnant? I’m off pills and I’m not in a safe period for now.” Her voice was blunt.
“I would love it so much to have another baby from you, in fact, it would be the best thing that ever happens to my life.” He grinned down at her shocked face as he patted her flat stomach.
“You are crazy. I am just confirming that now” She raised her hands to push him away but he caught them easily and silenced her effectively with a deep kiss which rocked her to the bottom of her soul.
“Do you still smoke?” He asked huskily when he broke the kiss and tugged at the strings on her shorts.
“Hmn……once in a while. Gift is always around and I have to be careful of what I do in her presence.”She tried to clear her voice.
“It would be nice to have this second baby on the way. It will keep you quite busy and away from those naughty friends of yours.” He gave the short a final tug and got it out of the way.
“You are one dumb ass.”She hissed viciously as she rolled away but he caught her easily and held her beneath him again. The next moment they were lost in their own world of passion and rising desires, oblivious to the outside world until a knock was heard on his bedroom door which at first did not penetrate the fog of passion until it came again, louder and stronger.
*****
Tunde raised his head and stared at the door for a moment.
“Tunde, please remember to lock the door when fatihat is leaving or is she staying the night so that I can lock up now?”Ayo’s voice came through the door. She bolted upright. “Will you stay the night? Please?”He asked quietly as he glanced at the wall clock and could see it was an hour to midnight. Her gaze followed his and her jaw dropped in horror.
“Oh my God!” She catapulted off the bed and started putting on her clothes one after the other.
“It is late already, Fatihat. Don’t be a stubborn idiot. Why can’t you spend the night?” He asked in exasperation as he watched her dress up in a hurry but she only glared at him and started looking for her car key. “It is almost midnight. You can use the guest room then and I promise I won’t disturb you.” He added solemnly.
“I must be out of my mind if I believe what you are saying. I’ve driven at 2 am-midnight before in this same Lagos city and nothing happened to me.” She spotted the key under the bed and retrieved it. “Tell your brother to leave the doorway.” she told him quietly.
“What!” He asked with a blank look and realized with a shock that she was embarrassed. Ayo moved away from the doorway, laughing quietly to himself. He heard their conversation as he turned up at the door and had an idea of what was going on before his appearance at the door.
“I can’t believe this! Fatihat Ali aka Delilah Smith embarrassed?”Tunde grinned to himself as he opened the door and saw his brother’s retreating back. “The coast is clear.” She shot out from behind him before he finished the sentence and bounded down the staircase two at a time.

P.S

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FIFTEEN

Tunde was watching a movie titled ‘Lord of the ring’ with his younger brothers in the big sitting room when fatihat paid him a surprise visit. She was on her way from school, the school just resumed another session and she was in her final year.
His brothers gave her a polite greeting and disappeared one after the other, leaving both of them alone in the sitting room.
“Why did you resign?” She asked bluntly as she looked down at him where he lounged on the sofa carelessly.
“I resigned because I feel like doing so.” His gaze didn’t waver from the screen. She picked up the remote control before he guessed her intention and switched off the television. “Are you okay, fatihat? What is the meaning of that?”
“At least I have your full attention now.”
“What do you want? How may I help you, Miss Delilah Smith?”
“All I want is for you to pick up your lazy butt and get back to work. I just reject your resignation letter.” She brought it out of her slim black bag, tore it into pieces and dropped it on him.
“I don’t give a damn about what you want or don’t want. I still own part of the company and I can do what I want without your permission.”
“I also learned that you are planning to sell your shares, is that right?” She went to sit directly opposite him. He gave a nonchalant shrug.
“So?” He raised an eyebrow.
She gave an amused laugh. “I need you in that company, Tunde. You are not going anywhere. I won’t buy the shares and no one else will. Don’t bother trying to apply for jobs elsewhere because I will always be ahead of you.” She said with quiet confidence which stunned him. He was momentarily speechless. “I may dislike the fact that you are my daughter’s father but I can’t change it and I want a father who my daughter can be proud of. Your office is waiting for you.” She got to her feet.
“Not so fast, Mrs. high and mighty Delilah Smith.” He stopped her with his icily cold voice as he got to his feet too.
“I’m listening, Mr. Abeeb.”She raised her eyebrow at him.
“You have nerves, Fatihat Ali. You have the gut to come to my house and threaten me with your supreme power and connection. Who the hell did you think you are by the way?” His eyes narrowed on to a slit as he rocked on his heels.
“You can try me and find out what exactly I am capable of doing. Stop wasting your time and get back to work. See you on Monday.” She turned on her heels and walked out of the sitting room. Tunde watched her go and didn’t bother to stop her because he wasn’t sure of what he would do if he tried.
*****
“She is only working on your emotional attachment to that company. Why not take her up on the offer and just go back, instead of wasting your time at home? You have a kid to support, you know?” Wale told him from behind. He swore under his breath as he turned to face his elder brother. “You love that company and she is begging you back in her own crude way. Go back and continue what you’ve been doing. You can’t survive in another company, take my word for it.” Wale patted his shoulder and moved towards the door. “Can you imagine the nerves of her?” He muttered under his breath.
“You have plans, kid brother, go ahead and execute it. You are the best for the job. Delilah Smith knows it as well as you do.” Wale grinned. He found himself grinning back in absolute relief.
*****
It was an open day in CTC international school, Ikeja. Gift was on the queue with her mother. She moved forward when it was her turn.
“Good afternoon, Miss Molara. Please meet my mum. Mum, this is my class teacher, Miss Molara.”
“You are Gift Abeeb’s mum?” Miss Molara, a dark complexion attractive woman in her late-twenties tried not to stare in disbelieve. Fatihat was casually dressed in sky blue trousers and white long sleeve silky blouse. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and low heel blue sandal adorned her small feet. Her face was devoid of makeup and she looked like an eighteen- year-old, instead of twenty-five. She smiled and held out her hand.
“I’m glad to meet you, Miss Molara. I have heard so much about her wonderful class teacher.” She smiled as they shake hands warmly.
“It is my pleasure, Mrs. Abeeb. Your daughter is very intelligent and smart. She even got a gift for the best hand-work in the class.” Miss Molara paused as she brought out her report sheet and hand-works.
“But?”Fatihat prompted because she sensed it in the hanging sentence. She didn’t miss the fact that she has been addressed as ‘Mrs. Abeeb’. That will be over my dead body, she thought to herself in annoyance.
“But she could get an award for the noisiest and naughtiest girl in the class. She usually led the class when it comes to causing trouble. She plays a lot too but there is room for improvement.” She continued with a rueful smile.
Fatihat gave her daughter a questioning look and the little girl stepped back from her, unconsciously. “Thank you very much, Miss Molara. As long as she is in your class, please feel free to punish her when she deserves it. That is a direct order from me.” She ordered as they exchanged another warm handshake and a sealed bulky envelope before moving away for the next parent to be attended to.
*****
“Aunty Delilah!” A boy’s voice called urgently as she was about to get into her car. She turned around in time as the little boy launched himself against her.
“Hello, Olalekan. What a pleasant surprise!” Fatihat grinned as she caught him and hugged him affectionately.
“So you are Gift’s mom? She is the new girl in my class and you said you don’t have a kid like me.” His voice was faintly accusingly.
“What I remember saying is that I haven’t got a boy like you. So you guys have met then?” She looked from one to the other and her daughter shrugged.
“I don’t like him. He plays too rough.” She murmured under her breath but Lekan heard her and glared at her.
“I know what you and your dummy friends used to say about me. I don’t like you either. You act like miss high and mighty.” He told her pompously. Her daughter looked down at him over her tiny pointed nose.
“Wow! What is this? Do you guys have a crush on each other?” She said with an amused laugh at both of them. Gift turned and got into the car with a hiss.
“Hello” Yetunde approached the group cautiously. Fatihat turned around slowly and frowned slightly as she looked at the moderately tall plumpy woman who was dressed in expensive lace native attire.
“This is my mum, Aunty Delilah. Mum, meet Aunty Delilah. She was the lady that chose my bicycle for me at the store.” He held his mother’s fingers with pride and the latter squeezed it affectionately.
“It is nice to meet and know you, Lekan’s mum.” She was smiling as she held out her hand and the older woman shakes it warmly, politely.
“It is my pleasure, Aunty Delilah.” Yetunde returned the smile before she stepped back. “Lekan, have a nice day” Fatihat waved at them briefly before she turned and got into her car.
*****
Fatihat sat on Josephine’s bed while the latter took her evening bath and came out to meet her glancing pensively through a file.
“What is that?” Josephine’s voice was muffled as she rubbed her wet hair.
“It is the report of the findings on Yetunde Kolawole, the owner of that building where I gave birth to my babies. I think I met her today.” She looked up at her sister.
The latter lowered the towel from her wet head slowly. “How do you mean?” she asked in a puzzled voice.
“There was this little boy I met sometimes ago in a departmental store. His name is Olalekan Kolawole. I met him again in Gift’s school today and his mother. Her two pictures that are here did not do her any justice but I’m quite sure it is the same woman.” She glanced down at the grimy picture that was taken at a distance and back up again. Josephine moved and sat down on the sofa, facing her.
“What else did you find out about her? Does she have other kids apart from this little boy?” She asked curiously.
“No. She is divorced and her medical record shows that she has never been pregnant, talk less of giving birth but she is quite rich, I must tell you.”Fatihat gave a faint smile. “What does she do?” Josephine robbed moisture off her long smooth leg.
“She sells clothes, pieces of jewelry and accessories in Balogun market. I think that boy is the center of her life.” Her voice ended with a heavy sigh.
“What does the little boy looks like?”
“The day I met him, he was arguing heatedly with another boy over a bicycle and I stepped in to settle the dispute. We got talking and there was this expression of stubbornness on his face which was so familiar. Thinking back now, I realized Tunde always wore the same expression on his face when he is convinced he is right about something. “She took a deep breath. “I think he is Tunde’s spitting image but wait till you see him.” She shrugged.
“This is going to be trickish and quite difficult. Assuming she is married with kids now, it would be easier but she is not even married, not to talk about having kids. I don’t know what to say about it, Lilah.” Josephine’s voice was quiet.
Fatihat shot off the bed to pace the room. “At least I’m not still sure he is mine but it is too much of a coincidence if he is not. If you don’t ask the answer is always No.” She was thinking aloud.
“So what do you intend to do? Approach her for your kid? I will come with you if you want me to.”
She gave a short bitter laugh. “It is so funny actually. The kids I don’t want years ago have suddenly become the center of my life and I seem to want them by all means. Is that not insane?” She looked worriedly at her sister.
“You convinced yourself back then that you don’t want them because you know you don’t have the means to take care of them but you do now and you want them back. There is nothing wrong with that, Lilah, stop beating yourself silly.” Josephine chided her and she swallowed hard.
“I’m going to fight for him, Josephine and I’m taking Tunde with me on this because we made him together.” Her voice was grim.
“It is going to be a bitter fight, Lilah. Please know when to step back when it gets too bitter. We can’t have everything we ever wanted in life; we just try our best and leave the rest.” Josephine said in a cautious voice.
“I will give it my best shot, Jose but I understand what you mean though. I will try to tread as softly as possible.”
“That is better. Is Tunde back at work?”
“Yeah, he is but I’ve not been going to work that much because of my Schooling, and assignment so we barely see each other.” She shrugged as picked up the file from the bed. “Are you guys making a head way?”Fatihat asked in concern and saw a blissful smile spread over her sister’s face which answered her question before she did. “Everything is under her control except for the iron woman he called a mother. We will soon pick a wedding date. Keep your fingers crossed.” She grinned at her.
“Hmn…..I don’t envy you but I’m happy for you anyway. It is good to know.”Fatihat smiled as she headed for the door.
“Thanks. So what is happening with you and Tunde?”Josephine asked as she stepped out. “There is nothing going on between us. I’m not a lovesick puppy likes you, darling, so please keep your romantic dream to yourself.” She shouted back and heard her rich and hearty laugh behind her.

P.S

Do you want to study, work and live in Australia? We offer free education consultancy, assist with Admission processing and student visa application. We also do flight reservation and ticketing to any destination outside Nigeria. Chat me up if you are interested. I can be reached at @obolaji on twitter and https://web.facebook.com/olanrewaju.mobolaji on facebook. You may also inbox me at obolaji2002@yahoo.com......

I am coming ooo

Lol...

MidasTouche01:
Bolape, please come and update o

I hope so too.

The past has a way of catching up with us.

mofy1:
Wow this story is top notch. I just hope she get away with her crime because something pushed her to it.

Thank you.

gal10:
Wowwww could not stop...this is so good!

Thank you.

des4ella:
U are talented.. More Grace my dear.

Yes, she needs to be careful as her past may still come back to hunt her....

skubido:
Tanks for d update ma, jah bless



Fatihat shld b very very careful oooo

I hope so too. Karma is a bitch.

Ibunkun1:
Hmm,welldone Ma'am.I Hope Fatihat's Future Won't Come Back To Hunt Her Ooooo

FOURTEEN (CONTINUES)

*****
Fatihat was nursing a glass of strong drink when Michael barged in, covered in a mix of blood and dust. He went straight to the drink cabinet and poured himself a strong drink as well. Then they sat in silence for a while.
“Are you okay, Lilah?”He asked in concern after a moment.
“I’m fine.” she nodded curtly.
“I’m truly sorry for putting you through this. I guessed something went wrong somewhere and I will find out what it was.” He swore to himself.
“Don’t make excuses for me. I knew what I was walking into when I joined The Cross and I think you should quit when you are still ahead.” she told him firmly.
“What is the meaning of that statement? I don’t give up that easily, girlfriend.”He snarled at her.
“Why don’t you channel your talent into something else? We can get out and cool off till the heat dies down, then start an honest business with what you have. This is a good and fresh opportunity for you, Michael.” She told him passionately.
“When did you become a pastor, Lilah Smith? Spear me the sermon please, It is the only life I know and it is what I will do again and again. You are either in or out.” He stared frostily at her.
“What about the lives of those who are gone? Do they mean anything to you at all?”
“It is their lives and their time to go. A good warrior should know when to quit and run for his life.” He shrugged nonchalantly.
“Other people’s lives matter a lot to me and I won’t join you in your second round of craziness. I am not in at all.” She got to her feet and dropped her wine glass.
“That is always the case of women. You developed cold feet when the going gets tough and looked for the next pot of soup.” He snarled. Her palm connected with his cheek in a resounding slap.
“Don’t you dare categorize me with all the bad things women do. You are worse than most men.” She spat at him.
His eyes saw shining stars and his temper climbed into a very dangerous level. It was the first time he was this mad at her and it happened to be the last. “You bitch. I can do without you.” He came towards her menacingly. She reached down and came up very swiftly with her .45 auto pistol in her hand. “You won’t dare kill me, will you?” He said with open disbelieve.
“I will if you won’t listen to what I’m telling you. You deserve to rot in hell, you fucking idiot. All those people do not deserve to die and you still want to go ahead with your stupid plans to rob more people. Don’t you have a conscience at all? It is either you do my wish or I will gladly kill you to spare the world of your rotten presence.”She told him very coldly.
“Will my conscience buy you fine clothes and shoes and cars and houses, you ungrateful bitch?”He came towards her with a furious snarl.
She kept retreating until she had no choice than to defend herself against him. She shot him in the head. He fell backward, dead on the spot. She wiped the gun clean, broke it into pieces and flushed it down the toilet. She pulled off her dirty, soiled clothes and burnt it in the backyard. She went to take her bath in a hurry and changed into a dark, green combat and a t-shirt. She picked up Michael’s gun and cartridges and tucked it away in her tote bag. She packed everything that belonged to her and every feminine article in the house and dumped it in her car. She went back for the last check and bent over the rapidly cooling corpse for a hard, quick kiss on the cold lips.
“When next you come back to this earth, avoid women and stay clear of crimes. Both will kill you over and over again.” She hit the body with her booth and got out of the house, then, she disappeared off the surface of the earth for nearly twelve months.
*****
“I learned that the remaining members of the gang were eventually rounded up and Michael’s apartment was ransacked with a toothpick but they only found his corpse. None of the other members knew my real name and I was gone until the investigation finally died down like any typical Nigerian investigation. Most of the properties he acquired during our time together were in my name. Those ones that had belonged to both of us, I sold them as discreetly as possible. Money makes things work in this country and when you have loads of it, you can get away with anything. I did!” She said with a triumphant smile and he sighed with little envy.
“You are a lucky woman, fatihat. Many aren’t that lucky.” He said quietly.
“I know I am. I could have died in that last operation or could be rotting in jail by now. Josephine was the happiest when I came back home finally, free of the dreadful gang forever.” She grinned openly. The door to the study room opened and her sister came in. “I was scared to death when I heard about the downfall of the gang but she called me that night and assured me she is safe. I’ve always regretted introducing her to that kind of life in the first place but we have to survive.” Josephine picked up the bottle of wine and poured herself a drink.
“You, guys have come a long way and you have done well for yourselves.”Yusuf said with a little tinge of envy.
“Your sister is the one with the armed robber money but I will help her spend it sha.Are you game?” Josephine asked solemnly and they all burst into laughter.
“So our admission came through a few weeks later and we are back in school as old mamas.”Fatihat said quietly.
“We should be through by next year, so I guess it is never too late to be what you want to be, no matter how rough the road is.” Josephine gave the young man a solemn look and he nodded in absolute agreement.
“Please come out. My dinner is getting cold.” Chenille called through the open door.
“I didn’t even realize we’ve spent hours in here.”Fatihat glanced at her slim, gold wrist watch and whistled softly under her breath. They filed out of the room.

P.S

Do you want to study, work and live in Australia? We offer free education consultancy, assist with Admission processing and student visa application. We also do flight reservation and ticketing to any destination outside Nigeria. Chat me up if you are interested. I can be reached at @obolaji on twitter and https://web.facebook.com/olanrewaju.mobolaji on facebook. You may also inbox me at obolaji2002@yahoo.com......

FOURTEEN

“Lilah, Let me have my cash back please.” It was the next morning. She was still struggling from the remnants of the few hours’ sleep she was able to snatch when she heard Michael’s cold voice.
Her body tensed as danger signals went off in her head. She cracked her eyelids open to see he was actually holding a gun to her, her gun! He had obviously searched her purse for the cash but saw the gun instead. The cash was in her boot which she never removes whenever she was out on a job.
She remained still, her mind calculating her next move because there was no way she was going to part with the money she had worked very hard for.
He was standing beside the bed on her side when her stiletto-clad foot shot out abruptly. It caught his arm and the gun clattered to the floor.
In the split second, before he recovered from the shock, she was out of the bed like lightning and diving straight for the gun. His arm caught her in the rib when he reached for it as well but she ignored the sharp pain. Her hand touched the gun and she came up with it a few distances away from him. He backed up immediately and lifted his hand in peace at the dangerous glint in her eyes.
“Wow! You are as smart as you are beautiful.” He grinned at her.
“I don’t play games with my life, Cross. Drop your wallet and the cash on you at my feet.” She told him coldly.
“Common, Lilah. I just want to know if I can work out a deal with you. I have a job and it is only a woman who can do it.” His voice grew persuasive. She pulled the trigger. The bullet missed his leg by an air’s breath and drilled a hole into the soft wood of the bed. He stared at her in horror.
“I’ve never taken a life in my life, Cross but I’ve never missed my target either. Do as I say or you will regret ever meeting me.” She said in a coolly detached voice. Reluctantly, he bought out his wallet and emptied it at her feet. “Now I want to hear what the deal is all about.” The gun did not waver as she stared unflinchingly at him.
He couldn’t help mentally saluting her courage. It seemed as if he has just come across the right woman for the job if he played his game well, he laid his card carefully on the table and watched her consider it.
“I will think about it and get back to you. Drop your card on the bed and get the Bleep out of here. I don’t trust you.” She shrugged.
“I’m giving you just three days to get back to me or else I will haunt you down and you know what that means.” Their gazes met and locked and she felt the first shiver of fear crept down her spine. “Just get out.” she indicated with her head and he did without another word.
*****
“That was how I become the only woman in the notorious cross gang. Josephine was shocked and scared when I told her about it on getting home later in the day. I’ve already made up my mind on the way home because I knew I can’t back out, even if I want to but I was thrilled and scared as at the same time. Life took a different turning for me and Jose. Money rolled in and we moved out of her dingy one-room apartment into a tastefully furnished mini flat in the heart of surulere but I wanted more. I have scores to settle and I need money and connections to do it. Of course, I’m getting the connections from our profession. I can still remember the first time I met the whole gang, the shock,and disapproval that gradually changed into reluctant admiration. Michael had told them tentatively about me but they were all bucking at the thought of a woman in their gang and were actually arguing about it when I walked in on them.” She grinned at him.
“Were you not scared?”Yusuf asked intrigued.
“I was scared and excited at the same time but my inner confidence kicked in like it always did in situations like that.” She gave him a steady look.
*****
“Are you sure you are doing the right thing? I think we can pull through without a woman.” Dapo’s voice was full of doubt. He was the second in command and popularly known as ‘Stone’ among the gang.
“No organization can survive without information. She is our best bet if we want to pull through that deal. Wait till you meet her and reach your own conclusions then.” Michael’s voice was laced with a hint of annoyance as he picked a wrapped paper from the bowl that was being round.
They had been on the issue for the past two days and it was getting on his nerves. They were sitting in their hide-out with their boys waiting for them to address them and he hated the fact that they had to bring that particular argument to their presence. As if on cue, a roll of shots went into the air and they all freeze in their different postures. There was just a thought moving through their mind: they had just being discovered by the police! The boys were about to scatter in different directions when Fatihat walked in, clad in black jean trouser and t-shirt with a baseball cap. Her voice was devoid of make-up and she was holding a .45 automatic pistol that wasn’t hers!
“Oh, boy! You sure made an appearance.” Stone said with reluctant admiration.
“I did. Good evening to you all.” She bowed slightly, looking from one to the other until her gaze clashed with Michael’s own. He winked at her, even though he wasn’t smiling. “That is not your gun, bad girl.”Michael nodded at the weapon she was carrying, practically echoing the other's thoughts.
“It wasn’t. It actually belonged to the guy watching out for this place. I figured I can’t tackle him physically and he may have the inclination to embarrass me. I knocked him out with the butt of my gun before he knew what hit him and picked up his gun on my way in. I’m sorry about that.” She smiled ruefully at him. Reluctant admiration turned to respect in their eyes. “So can we start this right away please?” she pulled a chair and sat astride it. She put the gun into the holster in her other booth and pulled out her pack of cigarette as she listened to Michael cross addressed them.
*****
“Our modes of operations were mostly high-way and bank robberies. Being a woman is also an attribute I used to the gang’s advantage to filter out information from unsuspecting men of high classes and positions. In short, we were a highly successful gang and I become a millionaire almost overnight. I bought cars and a huge house in Omole where I rarely stayed anyway but Josephine lived there. As with every other field, there were male chauvinists, men who hated me simply because I’m a woman. They want to put me where I belonged as a woman. To their sick mind, a woman belonged to a man’s bed and nowhere else. I was Michael’s woman and they all knew it.Micheal loved women but I think he simply fell for me. I was his weak point and I knew it as well as he did. He gave me the key to his heart, his apartment and bought so many things in my name. I was also a signatory to his account and he had the naivety to tell his lawyer to transfer everything to me in the event of his death. I guess a few of them thought they could get to him by hurting me and they tried one night. Michael had traveled to his hometown and I was alone in his apartment when my two visitors came in, uninvited.” She paused as she got to her feet and poured herself a glass of wine from fridge that was in the corner of the study room. She took a deep sip and turned to her brother who sat, staring at her as if he was in a trance.
“I knew they were armed but the nearest weapon I had, was in Mike’s bedroom. I was coming out of the kitchen in a robe that covered just my pant and bra.”
“What did you do? How did you escape, unhurt?” He asked anxiously as he imagined the scene in his mind.
“I caught them unaware. I went straight to the sitting room where they were and they looked surprised for a moment.” she could almost see it again as if it happened the previous day.
*****
“Well, see the bad girl herself. Where is our boss?” The taller of the two, known as Scalpel regained his composure faster than the other one. He smiled at her as he rubbed his palms together.
“That is a silly question. You all know he is not around. What do you want?” She watched in disgust as their eyes roamed her body in the short silky robe she wore.
“You are a big girl and we don’t need to tell you why we are here.” The second man, known as John told her with a malicious grin, gesturing to her body.
“If I don’t cooperate, what will you do?” She asked with a blank look.
“By the time we finish with you, you will be begging us to have you, bad girl. We are going to strip you naked and tie you to the bedpost where you have been fucking the boss. We will taste Oga’s honey pot and be gone before you know what is happening.” Scalpel’s smile turned malicious.
Fatihat pretended to weigh her options before she shrugged and dropped her robe without warning. Their eyes bulged, nearly popping out of its socket at the sight of her body in skimpy bra and pants. John clutched his crotch with a groan.
“Who is coming first?” Her voice was lowered in a seductive whisper as she glided towards Scalpel who was watching her, mesmerized and wrapped her arms around his body. He held her waist as if he was in a dream and stared down at her boobs pressed against him. Her hands moved down his back to the back of his jeans trouser where she had seen the butt of the gun peeping out when she came into the sitting room.
She pulled out the gun and stepped back to their amazement. John tried to reach for his weapon when he realized what had happened and she shot his ankle. He screamed with pain as he held on to his foot and scalpel calmly stepped away.
“You, two get out before I decide to damage something that will be irreparable.”
“I will personally make sure you regret this.” Scalpel threatened as he helped his colleague out of the apartment.
*****
Eventually, they realized that if Fatihat reported the incidence to Michael, they would be in deep trouble. It was with bated breath that they awaited his return and an alternative plan to disappear immediately if he knew about the incidence. However, Michael returned a few days later and was casually curious about John’s bandaged ankle.
“I got injured during a fight in our neighborhood, boss. A guy shot me in my ankle.” He lied glibly as he avoided his gaze.
“You had better be more careful in future before you lose a leg to senseless fight.” Michael cautioned casually as he moved away and walked into the meeting room.
John released a sigh of relieving and exchanged a glance with Scalpel who was hovering nearby. “I have to give it to that girl. She is a matured brood.” Scalpel said with reluctant admiration as he walked over to join him.
“My admiration for that beautiful woman just went up a notch but I will try not to remember her in that skinny bra and pant.” John grinned as he limped forward, supporting his weight on his good leg.
“Don’t drool too much, boy-o before you get into further trouble than this.” Scalpel teased as he followed him into the building.
*****
“So you didn’t report them to Michael?” Yusuf raised an eyebrow at her.
“No, I didn’t report them because I know I can defend myself if they come back. If the time comes when I can no longer defend myself against randy men, then I deserved to be raped again.’ She smiled faintly. ‘Michael loved me and he was very possessive. He was also a ruthless man who has no respect for lives. He would have wasted their lives for crossing his boundary. I didn’t see any sense in that.” She shook her head from side to side and paced the room, obviously disturbed by the memory of her past.
“Were you not scared when you were leaving with a man like that?” He asked with something close to awe.
“I wasn’t really scared because I believe I have nothing to lose but I was scared for Josephine because she believed I will either be killed by Michael in a flare of one of his rotten temper or in one of our outings. It was part of the reason I was faithful to him throughout the duration of our relationship but Josephine will hear none of It.” she grinned to herself.
“So how did you rid yourself of him or you are still part of the gang? Please tell me you are not.” He practically pleaded with her. There was a pregnant pause as she poured herself another drink.
“I killed him.” She stared straight into his eyes. He thought he would vomit his lunch as he stared back.
“You did what?” He croaked in disbelieve, feeling faint.
“You heard me alright.”She took a long sip of her drink and put down the wine glass. She paced back and forth with her hands clamped together. “I never regretted killing him. I was with the gang for more than two years. Apart from my share of the looted treasures, Michael took very good care of me so much so much that I barely touched my money. Like every other thing in life, I know the good time will end someday and I was mentally preparing for that day. He thought he knew everything about me but he didn’t know jack except for the fact that I’m orphaned and I have nobody except him. He even thought my house was locked up but Josephine was living there and he didn’t know about her. The gang knew even lesser except that they called me ‘bad girl’ and I’m their boss’s woman. Our last operation was very bloody.” She took a deep breath and faced him.
“I didn’t know what happened or what went wrong but before we realize it, the police were after us and half of the gang was killed. I usually dressed like a man whenever we go on operations, so the police did not even know that there was a woman among the gang. It was at that operation that I realized that a good warrior lived to tell the story only if he knows when to flee the war zone. I made my escape before it got worse and we met in his house.”


P.S

Do you want to study, work and live in Australia? We offer free education consultancy, assist with Admission processing and student visa application. We also do flight reservation and ticketing to any destination outside Nigeria. Chat me up if you are interested. I can be reached at @obolaji on twitter and https://web.facebook.com/olanrewaju.mobolaji on facebook. You may also inbox me at obolaji2002@yahoo.com......

I always do!

des4ella:
I love diz story.. kindly finish what u started ma.���

I will very soon.

Thanks for reading.

oloyedprince1:
waoh frontpage tins, bolape pls update

Really?

Do you mean on the literature section?

Jane1234f:
We made front page, please come and update

CHAPTER THIRTEEN (CONTINUES)

*****
Michael Cross aka the Ironman sat in a corner of the ballroom, nursing a glass of drink and feeling bored. He was a good-looking man in his early thirties, tall and wealthy. The 7 for all mankind designer sky-blue jean he wore with a white Hugo boss t-shirt plus the gold Rolex wrist-watch around his wrist spoke volume about his wealth.
Ladies moved within his proximity, displaying their wares and trying their utmost best to catch his attention but he didn’t even see any of them. He stared unseeingly into his drink and thought about his next operation when a hush fell on the occupants of the room which was followed almost immediately by the uproar of “the b-a-a-d g-i-r-l”.
He looked up and stared in awe at the prettiest girl he had ever come across in his whole life. She wore a black cap-sleeve, a low-cut A-shaped gown that clung to her slender figure and end in the middle of her thigh.A Long expanse of smooth fair legs ended in a pair of knee-length, solid high heel stilettos boot. He realized with a shock that she wore no bra beneath the clingy material that moved over her fair skin as she moved elegantly towards the dance floor with a cigar stick dangling from her rosy lips.
Desire shot through him like adrenalin as he watched her and he felt his palms sweating. She was in the company of another pretty girl but she was the Centre of attraction as she danced with virtually every man in the room, leaving them panting with desire for her and their women green with envy. He was intrigued, challenged, amused and aroused by this beautiful wild stranger and was about to approach her when she strolled over to where he sat.
“Care for a dance, handsome?”She held out her slender hand to him while the other hand dropped the half-smoked cigar into the ashtray in front of him. The music had turned to a slow number and he got to his feet.
“You care for another stick?” He lit one for her before she answered him and slide it between her moist lips.
“Thanks, handsome.”She moved easily into his arms, fitting snugly against his body and he nearly trembled with desire.
“I hope you know what you are doing?” He whispered fiercely into her ear, his fingers roaming her bare spotless back.
“What am I doing, handsome? Tell me your name.” She moved deliberately against him as she blew smoke into the air behind him and he almost groaned out loud.
“Michael Cross. Who are you, bad girl?” His hands came up her side and his thumbs teased her rosy nipples.
“I’m Lilah Smith.” She smiled at him, her fingers trailing lightly over his arms.
“What is your price, pretty? Please tell me.” He pleaded in a husky voice and she told him.
“Let’s go please.” He practically whisked her out of the ballroom to the receptionist to book a room and she collected her pay immediately they got into the room. It was the best mind-blowing sex he ever had in his life!


P.S

Do you want to study, work and live in Australia? We offer free education consultancy, assist with Admission processing and student visa application. We also do flight reservation and ticketing to any destination outside Nigeria. Chat me up if you are interested. I can be reached at @obolaji on twitter and https://web.facebook.com/olanrewaju.mobolaji on facebook. You may also inbox me at obolaji2002@yahoo.com......

THIRTEEN

Fatihat was on her way to her office from Gift’s school and got held up in the traffic on Agidingbi road.
“God, the traffic in Lagos can be so frustrating.” She muttered under her breath.
“Sorry, mum. It will soon start moving, I’m sure.” Gift flashed her mother a toothless grin.
“Thanks, baby. How was your day?” She pulled playfully at her braids.
“It is okay. I’m catching up gradually, thanks to my private teachers and to you. I love you, mum.”The little girl said solemnly.
“I love you too, baby, anything for my little girl. It is moving now.”Fatihat laughed as she lifted her foot from the break and started moving forward. She tried to move cautiously into the second lane as it was faster but a commercial bus came out of the blues and overtook her. It scratched the side of her car as it was getting away and the conductor even hit the roof of her car, cursing her.
“Get out of the road, useless woman.” He glared at her as they drove away.
Fatihat was speechless for a moment as she stared after them in shock. She followed them at neck-breaking speed as she made a call on her phone. “I will teach this son of a bitch not to joke with a woman next time he came to this world.” She swore under her breath as she overtook cars and finally caught up with them as they turned into wempco road. Fatihat crossed them and pulled up in front of the commercial bus to the driver’s consternation.
“Is this woman crazy?” The driver swore angrily as he matched on the break abruptly and all the passengers lurched forward.
“You better take it easy, driver. You don’t know the kind of person the woman is.” One of the passengers cautioned as the conductor jumped down and started swearing.
“Who are you, self? Take your pangolo car and get off the road.” The conductor’s voice trailed off as Mopol car pulled up behind their bus. The officers came down and rounded up both the conductor and his driver.
“Look at what those idiots did to my car.”Fatihat fumed with rage as she showed them the dent and scratch on the side of her jeep.
“I’m so sorry, madam. They will be severely dealt with.” The head of the mopol team, Mr. Akuruka by the nametag on his chest, apologized profusely and joined his mates where they were already torturing them.
“Sorry oga. Na..my..lane..She…dey.” The driver panted as he did frog jump and screamed each time the cane descended heavily on him. The conductor was in a worse condition and he begged for mercy as he hopped along. The passengers got down and started dispersing one after the other, cursing and swearing under their breath.
“Madam, do you want to press charge against them?” Mr. Akuruka came back to ask her again.
“I want to talk to them first.”Fatihat walked to where they were still doing frog-jump beside the road, closely followed by her curious daughter. Their bus had been moved to the side of the road to prevent further traffic jam.
“Madam, I’m …” pant, pant, “sorry.abeg, forgive me.” The driver went on his chest on the hot ground with sweat dribbling down his face.
“I will forgive you but you will pay for the damage you did to my car.” She said firmly as she watched tears filled the blood-shot eyes.
“Abeg, madam. I just dey come out for the first time today, na the reason wey I dey in such hurry. Have mercy, abeg. My bus don dey mechanic place since last week, I just comot am dis morning and I be family man. Abeg, have mercy ma.”He rolled on the floor before her, begging and pleading with tears.
“Let him go, mum. He is a stupid old man.” Gift told her mother, holding tightly to her hand.
“Stand up. You are free to go.” She hit him lightly with her shoe and he scampered to his feet.
“Thank you ma. God go bless you and your sweet girl.” He ran for his bus with his slippers under his armpit.
“Oga, you go leave me here.” The conductor cried in horror but his boss did not spare him a glance before he leaped into his bus and drove away.
“Madam, forgive me abeg. Have mercy on me.” He lifted his hands up to her as she approached and he froze as if he had just seen a ghost. “Aunty Fatihat?”He called in a hesitant voice She looked down at him without a flicker of expression.
“Is that a trick, young man?” Her voice was cold as she stared down at him.
“I’m Yusuf Ali, your step-brother. Have you forgotten you left us behind in Kaduna? You can’t remember?” A note of despair entered his voice as he saw the chance of relating to his privileged sister melting away before his eyes. She frowned as she noted the resemblance between him and her father at last.
“Yusuf Ali? How about your siblings? What are their names?”
“I don’t know where they are at the moment. They are Bilqis, the twins, Ismail, and Isiak and little Aisha.”His voice was sad.
She smiled at last. “Get up. Let’s go home.”Fatihat dismissed the mopol officers with a generous tip each, thanking them for their time before leading him and her daughter to her car.
*****
“Is this your car, aunty?”Yusuf sat beside her, looking around the big car with undisguised wonder and admiration.
“I’ve owned it for three years. What are you doing in Lagos?” she asked casually as she pulled into the road.
“I came to work.” He shrugged.
“As a bus conductor?” She raised her eyebrow at him.
“Yes, ma.”He wriggled his fingers nervously, feeling the enormous gap between them. She gave a short humorless laugh.
“Will you please call me fatihat the way you used to when we were at home and drop the inferiority complex?” She snapped angrily.
“I’m sorry, Fatihat. You are very lucky, you don’t even know the definition of poverty.” His voice was quiet.
“I’ve had my shares of misery and poverty since I was a baby. Thanks to your mother. Where is she by the way? Where are your siblings?” she asked curiously.
“It is a long story, fatihat, one that will take a long time to narrate.” He glanced into the back seat and saw the little face staring intently at him and listening to them attentively. “That is my daughter, Gift Abeeb. Gift, meet my brother, Yusuf Ali. He is my father’s first son.” Fatihat introduced them casually.
“Good afternoon, Uncle Yusuf.”Gift said shyly.
“How are you, fatihat Ali junior?” He smiled at her, feeling self-conscious in his dirty jean shorts and smelly, dirty t-shirt.
“We will soon be home. We will have plenty of time to talk but we need to get you a decent clothing first.”Fatihat branched to a men’s boutique on her way home.
He bought a set of new clothes for the first time in his adult life. Who would have thought such good luck would befall him when he woke up in his crowded room this morning, he thought as he gave a silent thank God.
*****
“Do you smoke?”Yusuf asked in obvious shock as he joined his sister in the study room hours later. He has taken his bath, eaten and changed into new black jeans and t-shirt. He was still thunder-struck by the size of his sister’s house. He kept telling himself to wake up if it was a dream. Now he regarded her with silent suspicion as he sat opposite her and watched her flicked ash into the ashtray before looking at him.
“Are you surprised? I used to smoke other things apart from cigar but I’ve limited myself to just this. Don’t you as a bus conductor smoke worse things than this? That is why you, guys are always behaving like lunatics.” She said with a small smile.
“It is a rough world that we live in. I’m a man and you are a woman. Decent women do not smoke. They are called karuwas.”He told her with obvious disapproval.
“That is in Kaduna. This is Lagos and I don’t care what people called the likes of me. I’ve stopped caring a long time ago.” She grinned at him.
“What do you do for a living? You are barely twenty-five if I remember well” He asked in a voice, barely above a whisper.
“In other words, how do I become so rich at such a young age? I will tell you when you have finished answering all my questions.” She told him without malice.
“You want to know what happened after you left home, right? I will tell you.” He answered her unspoken question. She listened in silence, smoking one cigar after another, thinking it was really nice having the freedom to smoke without the fear of her curious daughter breathing down her neck.
*****
“After daddy’s death, most of his properties were taken one after the other by his relatives until there was nothing left for us to survive on. Mum has always been a full housewife. She withdrew us from our schools to a government school but she couldn’t even afford that and our schooling becomes occasional. She blamed us for our father’s death and the bad luck we brought to her.” He gave a harsh bitter laugh.
“Couldn’t she start selling something at least? At least I helped her sell ice-water back then before I left.” She said matter-of-factly as she flicked ash in the ashtray.
“Oh! She tried her best. We continued with the ice-water and she added few petty things to it but it was simply not working. Eventually, our house rent expired. Fortunately, she has met husband number two by then at the garage where she sold wares. Mallam Garba was a mean miser, womanizer,and a miserable drunkard.” He said with open disgust.
“So what was the attraction to him?” she asked in a puzzled voice.
“He was good looking and he has money. Anyway, they got married and we joined his first wife and his children in their big empty house. It was then the real nightmare began. He was mean and wicked. He beat mummy every night, after the initial attraction ware off. He doesn’t give a hoot about us and mum neglected us most of the time just to please him. By then, I was old enough to go out and work in the market for money to feed my younger ones. After a while, Bilqis joined me too. Together, we tried our best to take care of our three younger ones. After two years, she left him and we moved to a room apartment in sabo – gari.’
‘’By the time she met husband number three, I’ve scraped together enough money and I came down to Lagos with a friend of mine who was orphaned. I guessed that was the biggest mistake I ever made.” He said solemnly and she gave him a questioning look. “That was the last time I saw my siblings. The first book-haram war broke out few weeks after I left and I was told mum escaped with her husband who was a tanker driver, so he traveled a lot. The last I heard about her was that she was in Jos with another man.” He said with a brittle laugh.
“So what happened to your siblings? Did they escape? Where are they?” she asked anxiously with something close to dread.
“I don’t know what happened to them but they were not killed. Bilqis took Aisha and went to god-knows-where. The two boys, Isiak and Ismail disappeared as well and nobody knew their whereabouts.I went back sometimes after the war died down finally and what I met was a half-fallen, crumbled house that was deserted and isolated with no sign of my younger ones.” His voice ended in a dejected whisper.
“So how are you so sure they were unhurt in the war and had just disappeared?” She demanded bitterly.
“There was an old woman who was a co-tenant in the compound we lived in. She survived the war but lost her whole family. She was the only occupant in the half-fallen house when I got there because she has nowhere to go and she was the one who told me they were able to escape, alive as at then.”He said with a shrug and they sat in silence for some time.
“It is so sad. Do you still stay with your orphaned friend in Lagos?” She broke the silence after a while, bending her head to light a cigar and blew the smoke gently into the air.
“I sleep anywhere the night met me. My friend lives in a room where there are about fifteen other occupants, so it is usually suffocating and inconvenient for everybody.”
“That means nobody will miss you if you don’t even go back. What exactly do you want to do if given the opportunity? Do you want to go back to school or train for a job?” She asked casually.
“I would love to go back to school, I’ve always wanted to read law but it is a while since I’ve left school and I don’t know if I can still achieve that.” He said with a self-conscious laugh.
“You can be anything you want to be if you want it badly enough. I and Josephine went back to school about some years after we’ve dropped out. We would be University graduates by next year. It is never too late to be anything you want to be. All you need is the time and opportunity. I will give it to you on a platter of gold, provided I’m getting a dividend and profit for it in a few years time.” She gave him a frank look.
He stared at her in disbelieve, then to her amazement, he went down on his chest in gratitude. “Thank you, fatihat.God blesses you abundantly. None of us deserve anything at all from you, considering the way mum treated you. I am very grateful and would forever be in your debt.” Tears filled his eyes.
“Please stop embarrassing me, stand up.” Her voice was annoyed.
He sat back on his seat, then took a deep breath. “It is obvious you are rich and you are not married. How did you manage it, fati?” He asked with sincere curiosity.
“I will fulfill my promise and tell you how I got to where I am today.” she sat back and put her legs on the table.
*****
“Hey, pretty girl. Are you okay?” A friendly voice penetrated her numbed mind and she opened her eyes slowly to see the lady bending over her. She was clad in white short with a highly transparent white tissue top which left nothing to the imagination. She was a few years older than she was.
“Hi.”Fatihat smiled at her. The lady returned it.
“I’m Josephine bob. What is your name?” She asked in a curious voice as she bent down beside her. She continued watching the young lady, bending beside her as she thought of a name; she was through with being Fatihat Ali. It was time she fights back life for being so cruel to her.
“I’m Delilah Smith but you can call me Lilah.”She adopted the name of a character in a movie she watched so long ago and the character happened to be a female assassin.
“Why were you sleeping on the roadside? It is dangerous and very risky.” Josephine said with obvious concern.
“I’ve been homeless for months. I have no money; neither do I have a relative. I’m virtually alone in this whole world, isn’t that great?” She said bitterly, choking back tears. “I can relate to you, girlfriend. Get up and let’s get going.” Josephine stood up and pulled her to her feet.
“I feel so weak.” she staggered to her feet and the older girl held her up at her waist. “Don’t worry. I will take good care of you. We will go and see a doctor about your health.” Josephine told her briskly and she nodded in silence.
*****
Josephine bob lived in a room apartment in Fadeyi, along ikorodu road. She was a tall, slender, pretty girl with slight curves at the right place. She was an inch taller than fatihat who was on the petite side and could be described as beautiful, even at a glance. She was a street-walker and didn’t bother to hide her profession from her young friend.
Fatihat spent the next few weeks, getting back to health and learning how to make her next move into the world. She learned to smoke anything that is smokeable, drink, watched pornography and violence film and to party like tomorrow would never come. “I’m going to paint Lagos a very bloody red.”Fatihat told her friend on her first night at a private party.
That was exactly what she did. She turned into a sex freak and a very ruthless hawker.
*****
“I hit my first million before I clocked twenty-one.” Fatihat told her half-brother whose jaw was hanging open.
“Oh ,lord! How did you do it?” He stammered the question at her.
“Josephine is my guardian angel and I owed all that I have to her. She taught me to take precautions and chose my defense mechanism in case I find myself in a tight corner. I chose to use a gun. I have always been fascinated with the cold metal that can take one’s life in a minute. I learned to use it and to carry it whenever I went out on the street. Our job is a highly risky one, there are men who will do horrid things to you to satisfy their pervert urge and may or may not pay you a dime afterward. I was not ready to take a chance with any man and earned myself the nickname the ‘bad girl’” She grinned at his horrified expression.
“So you can use a gun?” He asked in simple amazement.
“I can use it and have used it. I become very rich when I met Michael Cross. He was the head of a notorious armed robbery gang and I joined the gang. It was hell on the wheel and I enjoined the ride to the end!” She said with a smile, filled with memories.

P.S

Do you want to study, work and live in Australia? We offer free education consultancy, assist with Admission processing and student visa application. We also do flight reservation and ticketing to any destination outside Nigeria. Chat me up if you are interested. I can be reached at @obolaji on twitter and https://web.facebook.com/olanrewaju.mobolaji on facebook. You may also inbox me at obolaji2002@yahoo.com......

CHEERS

I will update soon.

I have been quite busy this past few weeks and will still be this coming week but will try and update as soon as possible.

Thanks for your patience.

skubido:
Sista, hope all is well... Plz when are u updating

I am glad you enjoy reading it.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers!

jeweltab:
wow! this is the first time I'll be reading a story written by you, you are really gifted, I got glued to it, I couldn't concentrate on anything else, not until I finally got here, may the Lord bless those fingers, brain and sight, kudos to you ma'am

Amen.

Thank you for reading.

ADECULATE:
Tanks for dis wonderful update bolape, God bless ur 10 fingers dear

TWELVE

Babe, you have faced worst situation than this in life. Why are you finding it difficult to face your own daughter? She asked herself as she trudged up to her hotel suite, suddenly feeling depressed.
‘It is because she has become the most important person in your life. You are desperate for her love. You need her as much as she needs you and if she rejects you, you are afraid you will break apart. A tiny voice told her. Her shoulders drooped as she inserted her key card and walked into the darkened room. She didn’t bother to put on the light as she walked to the bedroom and shed her clothes on the floor.
The answer will always be No if you don’t ask. It is time to go home and stop being a coward, she thought morosely as she scrubbed her body vigorously under the shower and came out a few moments later with a towel wrapped around her middle. Her friends had left for another all-night birthday party but she refused to go with them. She came into the sitting room to order room service and her jaw dropped in shock as she stared at the man lying on one of the sofas with a newspaper. He was in a pair of black jeans and a blue t-shirt. He grinned at her shocked expression.
“What are you doing here? How did you get in?” she demanded as shock turned to anger. “I came to see you and I got in through the door.”Tunde raised an eyebrow at her.
“How do you know I’m here? Why do you want to see me? We have no business together, do we?” She kept standing because the towel around her body was quite short. “We have lots of business together. I got to know about your whereabouts from your friend, Martha. We are friends you know.” He grinned at her dubious expression.
“Have you been sleeping with her because I know she has a crush on you?” She asked with heavy sarcasm.
“Would you mind if I do? She is really not too bad a chic.” He gave her a solemn look. She looked away briefly before she turned to face him again.
“I don’t care who you sleep with. It is none of my business’
He got to his feet abruptly. “Your mum asked me to find you. She is quite worried about you. Why did you leave home, Fatiha?”
“I’ve stayed out for days in the past. She should try and get used to It.” She turned away as she swallowed hard.
“You have a mother and a daughter who need you now. You brought them into your life and you have to be responsible for them.” He was angry.
“Why don’t you go home and mind your fucking business? May I remind you that you are not my minder?” She turned on him with a cold look.
“I’m your minder on this issue because this is about your daughter, my daughter, our daughter, Gift Thomas.” He watched color drained slowly from her face.
“I see. This is what the sermon is all about, right? I never knew you are in desperate need of a child after your unspeakable behavior years ago. How do you think your daughter will feel about you after she learned you raped her mother?” Her voice was bitter. It was his turn to be shocked.
“Fatihat, I’ve told you many times that I’m sorry for what happened that day. I wish I can go back and undo what I did but I can’t. You’ve been trying to do everything to make me pay for my offense. Are you going to deny me the chance to know my child, to make up for the past years I’ve not been there for her?” His voice was weary as he sank down into his seat. She came to stand before him.
“It hasn’t occurred to me to do that but now that you mention it, it is another way to get at you and your stupid family. I will give it a try.” Her smile was malicious.
He reached up and pulled her down unto his lap abruptly. She gave a startled yelp, clutching her towel to her chest and tried to struggle out of his reach. “Damn it, fatihat! You can’t tell me you don’t have any feelings for me and I’m going to use it against you.” He told her roughly before he kissed her. She resisted, trying to hit him with her free hand which he easily captured.
After a moment, she stopped fighting him and started responding. Slowly, she let go of her death grip on her towel. Her two arms linked behind his neck. Their hearts picked up speed at the intensity of the passionate kiss that was deep, long and slow. She went pliant in his arms and moaned against his mouth as she wriggled closer to him. He stood up without breaking the kiss and went down on the rug, settling comfortably between her thighs. He groaned against her lips as her towel rode up her thigh and she wrapped her legs around his body. He broke the heated kiss and looked down into her face.
“Fatihat, I’m not going to lie to you. If we continue for another moment longer than this, we are going to end up making love. Are you ready for that?” He asked in a husky voice. Her eyes blinked open slowly. The desire in her eyes slowly drained away to be replaced by a blankness that tore at his heart and he rolled away from her before she could speak. “I’ve seen the answer in your eyes already. Where is your restroom? I need to clean up.” He turned slightly away to hide the bulge in his jeans and went towards the direction she pointed to. He came out a moment later as she was dropping the phone and he picked up his car key.
“Fatihat, please go back home. Everybody needs you.” He said quietly on his way to the door.
“Thanks, Tunde. I appreciate everything.”
“You are welcome. Goodnight.”He smiled as he opened the door and stepped out. She sat back and suddenly felt lonely. She stood up and went into her bedroom to start packing.
*****
She drove into her premises the following morning and pulled up in the car pack in time to see the front door swing open. Gift came out unto the front porch, looking cute in a pair of brown shorts and white vest with her hair bound into two ponytails. She saw her mother as she came out of the car and ran towards her.
“Hey, pretty mummy.” She launched herself against her mother and the latter lifted her with a grin.
“How are you, baby?”She gave her a quick kiss on the lips and put her down.
“I’m fine. Aunty Jose said I’m starting school next school. I will be attending a private school. Isn’t that cool?” She hopped from one foot to the other, obviously excited.
“It is. Where is everyone?”Fatihat removed her big bag from the car.
“They went out together about an hour ago. I was waiting for you.” The little girl picked the bag up. They went into the house together and went straight to her room.
“How did you know I’m coming in today?”Fatihat dropped on her bed and stretched out her lithe body.
“Daddy called very early this morning and told me it is likely you come home today.” She sat beside her on the bed.
“Who is the daddy?”Fatihat asked cautiously as she sat up.” who else? Uncle Tunde abeeb of course.” She stared at her as if she has grown two head.
“Who told you he is your father?”Fatihat asked incredulously.
“Mum, I mean grand mum did. I’m so sorry for screaming at you the other time.” Gift stood up and hugged her.
“Go and open the door. I think Jose and mum are back.” Her voice was weary as they both heard a car drove into the compound.
“Yes, ma.”The little girl dashed out of her room and moments later, the three of them came into her room to chat her up.
*****
Tunde Abeeb turned up two days later on a Saturday to take his daughter out. Fatihat was the first person he met immediately he walked into the sitting room. She was clad in a bum short and fading red halter neck with her long legs ending in a pair of red fluffy slippers. She was on her way out of the kitchen with a glass of cold juice and she stopped short when she saw him. Desire slammed him in the groin at the sight of her and he turned slightly away, to hide his arousal.
“Good morning.”
“Good Morning. What are you doing so early in my house? It is barely 9 Am.” She glanced at the wall clock on the hall and frowned at him.
“I came to take Gift out, we have a date today.” He told her quietly.
“Hi, Dad.” Gift appeared on the top of the staircase as if on cue and grinned down at her father. She had taken her bath and was dressed in attire similar to her mother’s: a blue short and white-stripped blue halter-neck top. Her choppy fair legs ended in a pair of white sandals and two blue ribbons held her hair in ponytails. He noted the striking resemblance between her and her mother. She was Fatiha Ali’s spitting image! He returned her grin.
“Hey, cutie. You look good enough to eat.” She bounced down the staircase with a giggle. He threw her into the air and she laughed out loud.
“It is good to have a tall daddy.” She teased as she clung to his neck.
“It is good but you are not going anywhere with him.”Fatihat told both of them quietly. They both gave her a startled look.
“But why, mum? Is he not my dad?” Gift asked almost accusingly.
“I never said he isn’t your dad, baby, I just said you are not going anywhere with him.” Her voice was firm as she met his eyes squarely.
“Fatihat, chenille gave me the authority to take her out and she is the only person that can stop me from taking her out.” His voice was hostile as both chenille and Josephine appeared at the top of the staircase.
Fatihat gave a harsh laugh and stared coldly at him. “If I had aborted those babies years ago or I died while giving birth to them, you won’t be here today to claim your lost daughter, will you?” She told him tartly and he felt his facial muscles frozen up.
“Babies? How many did you give birth to?” He slowly put his daughter down as misery engulfed him like a blanket.
“I gave birth to twins, a boy, and a girl after your stupid mother threw me out on the street. She even gave me a thorough beating because she thought I seduced her son or that I lied about what really happened, before throwing me out. Did she tell you that?” Tears filled her eyes at the memory and he closed his eyes in anguish.
“Mum, please don’t cry.” Gift came to cling to her but she pushed her away roughly. “Get away from me. You want a father. Please go to him.” She turned towards the staircase blindly and the little girl slipped away quietly.
“Lizzy, it is okay.” Chenille came down the staircase and engulfed her in her arms.
“I suffered, mama, I nearly died and this idiot is here to claim his lost daughter.”Fatihat sobbed for a moment before moving away from her mother’s embrace.
“I’m sorry, Fatihat. What else can I say?”Tunde said with obvious distress. Josephine went back to her room in silence.
“May God punish you, you idiot.”Fatihat swore at him and walked away.
“I think you should go, Tunde. Everyone is hurting at the moment.” Chenille told him sincerely.
He nodded in understanding as he headed for the door. “I hope you are not bored at home?” He said after a moment.
“No. Elizabeth just opened a shop for me in a complex along Allen Avenue. I think she was planning to buy the whole complex or she already does, I’m not sure.” The older woman said with a smile. He noticed that she had changed from when they first saw her, she looked much younger and fresher now.
“Your daughter is a wealthy woman and an excellent businesswoman.” He told her as he opened the front door and stepped out.
“I’m just getting a glimpse of her vast wealth. I wonder how she made it so fast, considering her rough childhood. She is not yet twenty-four.” She said with a hint of concern and worry in her voice.
“I can’t answer that question. Have a nice day, ma.”He tried to hide the misery engulfing him as he moved away and she gave him a brief wave before going back into the house.
*****
Tunde met his elder brother in his mother’s bedroom when he got home and the latter was surprised to see him.
“Why are you back so soon?” Olawale turned to him.
“The outing was canceled.” He sat down on his mother’s dressing table and brought out his phone. He flipped it opened and searched through the gallery before handing it over to his brother. “Who does that little girl resembles?”Tunde sat back, grimly.
“She looks like Delilah Smith, Josephine’s sister. Does she have a daughter?” Wale asked puzzled as he passed the phone to his mother who looked startled at the picture.
“This is Fatihat Ali’s spitting image. Is this her daughter?”Yemi returned the phone with trembling fingers.
“Yes, the little girl is her daughter and her name is Gift Thomas. She will be eight in a few months time.” He told them and watched the calculations going through their head. “Oh my God!” Wale muttered under his breath.
“That means she is your daughter too, right? How did you find her after these years? So she actually gave birth to her baby on her own?” She asked in a whisper.
“Babies, mum. She had twins but I’ve met only one of them. She was picked up by Fatiha's mother who is a Canadian by the way.”
“That is wonderful. I’m so happy for her.” His brother enthused with a smile.
“She deserved to be happy after all these years and she was so brave. I admired her courage.” Her voice was solemn.
“She doesn’t want me near our daughter and this whole thing is getting to me. I think I’m going to resign.” He sighed heavily.
“But I thought you two were an item. It is obvious she is attracted to you, even though she wants revenge on what you did to her years ago. You still like her, don’t you?”
He exhaled softly as he avoided their probing stares. “To be honest, I’ve always been attracted to fatihat from the first time I saw her and……..well, I’m just a bit confused.” He said sheepishly and shrugged.
“If you’ve had just a little patience, we wouldn’t have gotten into all these problems but you were thinking with your libido, not with your head. What are we going to do now?”Yemi looked at her first child.
“If she doesn’t come around, we will have to step in and talk to her mother. We have to do right by that kid because she is ours too. Tell me exactly how it all happened.” Wale faced his younger brother.
*****

Josephine was on phone with one of their customer in her office when her sister hurried in, banging the wooden door behind her as she came forward and she dropped a letter in front of her.
“I will get back to you as soon as possible. Let me clarify this with you again: there are eleven guests for a night who want single-occupancy rooms each, right?” She paused, glaring at her sister who signaled for her to hurry up. “Okay. There is no problem with that, sir. We guaranteed you the best services possible. Thank you for your patronage. I will deliver your message to her. Bye, sir.” She hanged up finally. “That is chief Bankole. He will be in Lagos with his crew next week Saturday for a birthday bash and they are staying here for a night. We will also be handling the catering services as well. Isn’t that great? How do you attract all those rich customers for us, Lilah?”Josephine asked in wonder.
“The same way we attract them back then. It is your business to make sure they are satisfied with our services and I trust you to do that.” She said quietly.
“That is why I’m being paid. Why are you here in the middle of the day?” Josephine picked up the letter her sister dropped in front of her.
“Tunde resigned. He wasn’t in the office throughout last week and he dropped his letter on Monday before I came in. Can you imagine the nerve of him?” She was angry but under the anger, was another emotion she didn’t want to inspect too closely.
Josephine picked up the letter and went through it at a glance. “He is a part owner of the company, no matter how small and he has a right to do and undo as he wishes. Can’t you buy him out?” Josephine asked, unable to see any problem in the situation. “You don’t understand, do you?”Fatihat vaulted to her feet instantly and paced the office in exasperation. “I can’t run that place alone. The company is expanding every day and it was mostly his hand-work. We just added a cosmetic section to the company and we were supposed to pick up a contract in Kaduna next week. How will I cope without him?” she said in exasperation.
“You are a good businesswoman, fatihat and you have a natural flair for it. How else will your wealth have grown by leaps and bounds within a very short period? You will survive without him. You have the brain and the connection too. All you need to do is to sit tight and get more serious. I am sure you will be fine.” Josephine said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“I know, Jose but I don’t want him to leave. I don’t. Don’t you understand?” She looked mournfully at her elder sister and the latter tried not to smile.
“I see. You are just talking. Are you in love with Tunde Abeeb?”She asked with a direct stare.
“I’m not but I don’t want my daughter to have a jobless father.”Fatihat sat down again with a plump.
“What do you want, Lilah? You want revenge, you’ve got it. There is a limit to what a man’s ego can take. You practically walk him out of your house a few weeks back because he wants to do the right thing by his daughter. You can’t have your cake and eat it at the same time. The ball is in your court, baby girl, play it any way you like.” Josephine said conclusively.
“I want him close by if only for my baby’s sake. By the way, I think I’m close to the other baby. I find the house quite alright, though it is completed now and the owner of the house is a woman called Yetunde Kolawole. It is a long shot but my instincts never fail me.” She said quietly.
“It is well. Mum is going on her first business trip in the next two weeks and I might go with her.”
“I don’t have any problem with that. Tunde is not going anywhere by the way either he likes it or not. ” She got to her feet. Josephine pitied anyone who crossed her sister’s path. She sighed faintly as fatihat walked out and closed the door behind her.

P.S

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