"What's this silly news I've heard about you ending your relationship with Rebecca?" Josh's mother demanded as she walked unannounced into Josh's office.
Josh dropped the pen he was holding and leaned back into his executive

"Mom, you can't just barge into my office" he stated calmly. His mother stared at him in anger, "give me a reason why I can't barge into my son's office?" She bellowed.
"Because I work here?" Josh replied, Mrs Imoh walked up to her only son, glared down at him. "Now listen carefully, because I would hate to repeat myself... You would get back together with Rebecca, ask for her hand in marriage, get engaged and married. Do I make myself clear?" Josh stared at his mother blankly, he deduced that she must be out of her mind.

"You are kidding" he said smiling, when his mother didn't return his smile, he knew she was serious. Josh's smile waned. " But mom" he began, "I'm not in love with her" he finished. His mother scoffed, "love Really?" She asked.

"Have you forgotten so soon about your last love incident?" She queried sarcastically. Josh tensed and clenched his fists, he stood up from his seat and walked to the glass framed window. He closed his eyes, but he couldn't stop the flow of the memories. 

***THREE YEARS AGO***
"Honey! Your phone!" Bella called out, from the bedroom. Josh ignored her, he kept staring into space, leaning against the balcony rail. Bella left the bedroom, taking Josh's phone along with her. She walked up to Josh and waved his phone in front of his face.

Josh's gaze came into focus, he stared at Bella, his dark eyes slowly going over her face. Bella smiled and raised her eyebrows in question at Josh.
"Your phone" she said softly. Josh turned away from her, "let it ring" he uttered.
"But it could be an urgent call" Bella said, baffled by Josh's attitude. "And I said let it ring!" He replied harshly. Bella's eyes widen in surprise, Josh had never raised his voice at her. She blinked rapidly and retreated slowly into the bedroom.

Josh sighed and bowed his head after Bella left for the bedroom, could she really be pretending? He wondered. He didn't want to believe, he found it hard to believe or maybe he should ask her and lay the issue to rest. Having made the resolution in his mind, he left the balcony and walked into the bedroom.


***PRESENT DAY***
Bella glanced quickly at the doorway, rising to her feet as her MD walked into her office.
" You startled me, sir" Bella said, clearing her throat hastily. "Sorry about that" her MD replied, "you seem distracted, is everything alright?" He asked. "Yes, yes sir, everything's fine" Bella replied hastily. "You wanted to see me, sir?" Her MD took a seat, "oh yes" he replied "have a seat" he told Bella.

Bella took a calm breath before returning to her seat.
"Have you ever heard of Josh Imoh?" He asked, placing a blue cover file on the table. Bella felt herself go still, she gasped softly. Her MD gave her a puzzled look. Bella nodded her head slowly, "oh good" her MD responded, smiling at her. He pushed the file towards her.
"This is the advert proposal that was sent to his company" he began. "He has agreed to have the proposal presentation, and I want you to do it" he finished. Bella went pale, she shivered.

"Bella, did you hear everything I just said?". The MD asked, staring at her in surprise. Bella blinked rapidly. She nodded hastily "yes sir" she croaked. "Good" he said,standing up to leave the office, he stared down at Bella, "don't ruin this, Bella" he warned.

He left the office, closing the door behind her. Bella shuddered, she bowed her head and allowed the tears flow, she couldn't do this, she couldn't face him, not now. She recalled her august visitor and shook her head, he would have known the truth by now. Would he take Pearl away from her?

***TWO DAYS AGO***
"You look like you've seen a ghost" the visitor stated calmly. "Oh my God!" Bella exclaimed, "Can I come in?" He asked. "Sure" Bella replied, stepping back to allow Dominion into the sitting room. Dominion walked into the sitting room, closing the door behind him.

"Please have a seat" Bella told him, as she sat down on an armchair and set Pearl on her feet, arranging her clothes swiftly. Pearl was simply fascinated with the new comer, she stared at him openly, "mommy" Pearl called, "see" she said, pointing her little chubbly index finger at Dominion, Dominion smiled, " I didn't know you remarried" he said, staring at Bella. Bella stared at her daughter, "I have told you to stop pointing your finger at people" she warned.

"Hmmm" Pearl replied lazily. Dominion laughed and wiggled his fingers at Pearl "hiiii" he whispered, Pearl's face broke into a grin, her dimples on full display. Recognition dawned on Dominion, his eyes widen in surprise. "I would recognize that smile anywhere" he mutterred. Bella swallowed,

Dominion pinned her with an accusing gaze "you didn't remarry, did you?" Bella shook her head slowly.Pearl walked towards Dominion, stretching her arms. Dominion obliged, he stared at Pearl in awe as she reached up to touch his beard, he could clearly see the resemblance now. "Josh doesn't know about her?" He askedBella, Bella shook her head slowly.

"How could you be so cruel?" Dominion demanded, "what? Cruel? Bella asked in anger, staring her Dominion sharply
"His mother knew about my pregnancy, she advised me to go for an abortion, because Josh wouldn't want the child" she retorted, breathing hard. 

Source:www.ellablogpedia./tempted-chapter four

Since the attacks on Paris happened, this popular phrase “pray for Paris” got me thinking as it went viral on social media.

All of a sudden the world went sympathetic for the country and its inhabitants. As people hoisted profile pictures which suggested the phrase and updated their status in like fashion.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a strong believer of the whole ‘pray for Paris’ crusade. Of course the apostle Paul rightly said “I would that prayers and supplication be lifted up for all men”.

But strangely, my mind became obsessed with the idea of these tragic happenings. Similarly, Nigeria has been experiencing very disturbing attacks for quite some time now, courtesy of the terrorists group Boko Haram.

And yet we didn’t think they deserve PRAYERS? From the slaughtering of high school students, burning villages and the kidnapping of the chibok girls. And all they got as support was “Bring back our girls”.

Which is interesting, because Ghana experienced a major setback, when the floods came in conjunction with the explosion at the fuel station on June 3rd, 2015 at circle, Accra.
And yet, besides the wave of fear and shock many experienced, not many thought it was worth campaigning for a “Pray for Ghana”.

Interestingly, we find very alarming situations funny or rather cool to make jokes about. Suddenly, everyone with a smart phone can send in a tweet or the hash tag about the occurrence, and you are seen to know what’s trending.

However, people found it quite fancy when a couple of celebrities gathered to hold a parade on the energy crisis being experienced in Ghana “Dumsor must stop” which was held in high regard by the people. For many, the idea was quite entertaining, as they could only see what their political extractions allowed them to.

Torrents of thoughts go through my mind when I think of the love man holds for his kind. Funny world we live in; when one person dies we say it’s a tragedy, but when people die, it’s called a statistics.

A man employs another man as his security for the fear of his fellow man. Where can the love of the African for Africa be found? This is a call to uphold and cherish our own.

Source:www.ellablogpedia.

CHAPTER THREE

"Oh! Can you? Josh asked in anger, he took a step towards Bella, "huh!!" Pearl exclaimed. Josh paused, stared at his daughter, while Pearl gave him a grin displaying her new set of baby teeth.

Josh felt his anger drain away as he stared at his grinning daughter, he smiled back and stroked her chubby cheek. Josh dropped his right hand from his daughter's cheek, he turned to Bella "I'm going to take her away from you and make sure you never see her again...that's my promise to you" Josh said venomously. Bella drew in air harshly, "j...j..osh" she stammered. 

Bella opened her eyes, she sat up suddenly "Pearl" she murmured. She stood up on shaky legs and walked unsteadily to her daughter's crib. She shuddered in relief as she watched Pearl sleep in her usual postion; she slept on her side with her arms wrapped around her favourite teddy bear.

"Oh God, it was just a dream" Bella said to herself. But it had felt so real, she thought. Bella closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around her middle, she sighed.

The door bell rang, shattering the stillness within the house. Bella opened her eyes suddenly, panic mounting. Pearl gave a short cry as she woke abruptly, Oh God! Bella thought... It couldn't be him, Bella tried to calm Pearl, who for an unknown reason refused to stop crying.

Bella panicked, she picked up Pearl and began rocking her, "shhh" Bella murmured. The door bell rang again, "huuhh!!" Pearl exclaimed, as she suddenly stopped crying, she pointed towards the door direction with her chubby finger, urging her Mother to the door.

"I know" Bella replied, sighing and hoping that her dream couldn't be happening. She left the bedroom and walked cautiously to the front door, exhaling slowly before turning the lock and opening the door.

"Oh my God!" Bella gasped audibly, Pearl stared at the visitor blankly and turned to stare at her Mother, her baby lips curved into a grin and she clapped her chubby hands. "You look like you have seen a ghost" the visitor said. 

Source:www.ellablogpedia./tempted-chapter three

CHAPTER TWO

Josh looked up from his ipad, sighing wearily. He took a quick glance at his wrist watch, noting that it was thirty minutes to the commencement of the presentation.

He stood up from the uncomfortable seat in the conference lobby, he told his PA he was going out to get some fresh air. Josh walked out of the lobby, heading for the balcony when he noticed the lone occupant, she had her profile view to him and Josh thought she was fairly beautiful.

He watched her pace the balcony floor and smiled to himself, she really was working out some nervous energy. He headed to the balcony and stopped a few metres from her, " I don't think pacing is going to burn the nervous energy" he said, standing at ease and tucking his hands into his trousers' pockets.

Bella gasped audibly and whirled around to confront the intruder, her retort died on her lips when her eyes met his, her eyes widened in amazement. Josh's smile dimmed slowly as he got a close up look of her, he corrected his earlier judgement, she wasn't fairly beautiful.

Her beauty took his breath away... or maybe his sugar level was playing tricks with his sight since he was yet to have breakfast, well, he could also be short of breath due to asthma, but he hasn't had an asthma attack in years.

Bella slowly came back to earth and her first reaction was to frown at the intruder, Josh smiled sheepishly. "I saw you pacing" was all he could say. Bella crossed her arms, glared at him while rhythmically tapping her right foot against the tiled floor.

Bella gave a non-committal response, Josh stretched forth his right hand "I'm Josh". Bella slowly took his hand and shook it, "Bella" she replied.

***PRESENT DAY***
Josh glanced up as the sitting room door opened, he smiled when his childhood friend, Dominion, walked in. "Still in this world?" Josh teasingly asked his friend.

"Your head" Dominion replied, as he flopped on one of the sofa in the sitting-room. Dominion sighed contentedly as he got into a comfortable position on the sofa. "How far na?" Dominion asked, "I'm fine" Josh answered, dropping the T.V remote control on the coffee table.

"Where's ur chick?" Dominion asked, Josh gave a wry smile before responding. "She's on a business trip". "What's at home to eat?" Dominion asked, scratching his head absentmindedly.

Josh shrugged "nothing" he replied. Dominion sighed audibly "this makes me miss Bella more" he murmured. Josh's facial expression turned stony, "don't ever bring up her name in this house again" Josh warned.

Dominion sat up, "look, I'm sorry, I know how you feel". Josh absently rubbed the back of his neck "just let it be, man" he said. 
*******************
Bella sighed as her daughter, Pearl, refused the next spoon of cereal, Pearl, on the other hand, was simply fascinated with her mother's necklace. She makes an attempt to grab the pendant every time her mother got closer to feed her.

Pearl bent her head sideways and gave her mother a stare down, as if saying: "if you want to feed me, give me your necklace".

Pearl giggled and blew her mother a raspberry kiss, Bella smiled and shook her head at her daughter's antics. There was a knock at the front door, Pearl babbled inhocoherently. It seemed her daughter was expecting a vistor, Bella mused.

"Let's go see who's at the door" Bella said, lifting Pearl from her high chair and placing her on her left hip, Pearl clapped her chubby hands as Bella begin walking towards the front door. The knock came again. "Coming" Bella answered. She turned the door knob and opened the door, Bella blinked and blinked again as she stared at the visitor.

She believed she was hallucinating. She gasped in surprise when the visitor said "hi Bella". "Aaah" Pearl exclaimed, drawing attention to her, she didn't like being ignored.

The visitor took a good look at Pearl. She, in return, also stared at the visitor, raising her left eyebrow. "Oh my God" the visitor muttered, as recognition dawned.

The visitor turned to stare at Bella with raw anger. Bella drew a shuddery breath, "Josh, I can explain" she whispered.