This is expected. Education is the bedrock of development.

Best of wishes to all Nigerian electorates in 2023.

Best of wishes to all Nigerians in 2023.

How I wish all these fighting are for the interest of the masses.

But the same Atiku did not speak against closing of the borders.

One hopes that at the end of the day, people's hopes and aspirations will prevail.

'I didn't mean to hurt you.' The explanation was gratuitous. 'See, I really like you and I will do all those things I said I would do. Just cooperate with me.'

Rhoda stared at him. The shock was still on her face.

He tried what he thought was a disarming smile again.

'I did that because I like you so much.' His smile broadened. 'See, if you prove to be a good girl, you will really enjoy in this house. I can promise you that.'

She still looked at him uncertainly.

'Don't you want me to take care of you? Don't you want me to treat you special?' He was intent on setting the booby trap.

'But, madam...what of madam? She no go like it.'

Her reference to madam buoyed him up, rather than dampening him.

'Who will tell her? Are you a baby that you'll tell her such a thing? Listen, even if she gets to know, am I not the master of this house? You have nothing to fear, my dear.'

The use of the last expression seemed to work on her.

She appeared to relax. Nonso noticed this and capitalized on it.

'You don't have to doubt me.' He touched his chest to give her assurance. 'I always do what I say I will do.'

He said it as if he was God.

'Listen, to show you how serious I am, come and take this.'

He brought out some naira notes of five hundred denomination.

Rhoda's eyes popped out when she saw the money. She first stared at the money, then at him.

'More of this will come if you cooperate. Come and have it.'

There was another slight pause.

He knew he would win. There was a leer on his face as he beckoned at her again. ‘Come on.’

Like a toddler with unsteady steps, she moved over to him and he grabbed her again. This time around, there was only a feigned little resistance.




The following morning, after the devastating news of her fiancé, Helen remained in her room. Her mother came to meet her and enjoined her to take things easy.

'You need to cheer up.' She gave her daughter a pat. 'If he would not be, somebody else would be. Come on, cheer up. It's not the end of the world.'

Julie ordered the maid to bring beverage drinks for her.

Janet too popped in to see her sister before she left for her place of work.

She wasn't there for long as she was conscious of not getting late to work.

She was soon in the school. She immersed herself in her work and forgot about any remote or immediate source of worry. During the long
break, she decided to call Emma, her heartthrob.

'Na so you dey do?' There was sarcasm in her tone. 'You didn't even bother to call me since yesterday.'

'I'm sorry, my dear. But I called you yesterday afternoon.'

'Since yesterday afternoon? That was long ago. That's about twenty four hours ago now.'

He laughed across the line. 'Once again, my apologies.'

'Apologies accepted, but don't do it again o.'

'Yes, your Lordship.'

The two of them laughed.

'Don't worry. I'll make it up. This weekend, I promise to make it up.' His voice over the line was very unambiguous.

'O.k. That'll be nice. So, how's everything at your end?' She could even predict what his answer would be.

'All is well, dear. Every thing's cool.'

She nodded. 'Alright. Bye for now.'

'Bye bye.'

Janet cut the line. The office assistant knocked at her door and brought in the burger she had ordered for.

'Thank you.' Janet took the pack from her. Just then, her cell phone rang. It was Emma on the line again.

'Hello. I called to fulfill my promise to call.' There was a short laugh and he seemed to find his action very funny.

'Not so fast, mister. I expect you to call in a couple of hours’ time.'

'This one too is a call, darling.' He was a smooth operator but Janet would not fall for that.

'I know, but I'll still be expecting the other call in a couple of hours’ time, or so.'

'You win.' He laughed again. 'Alright, till then.'

She cut the line again, smiling to herself.

Cool.

How long will this back and forth game continue?

The transfer season is still open.

lhordspy:
Which one is TOPE PETER OBI again?

I wonder too.

Really? What a country!

Let us hope that the effort will yield positive and desirable results.

Yes, those who live in a glass house must not throw stones.

* * *

Rhoda was washing the plates in the kitchen when her madam called her. She quickly stopped what she was doing and wiped her hands with the table cloth.

'Rhoda!' The voice came louder.

'Yes, ma.' Rhoda, without further delay, moved to the sitting room to attend to her.

'Yes, ma'am.'

'Don't forget to wash those my clothes I said you should wash.'

'Yes, ma'am.'

Madam Rose picked up her handbag. She was ready to leave. Rhoda made to help her with the bag, but the madam brushed the offer off.

'Just come and lock the gate. The madam briefly looked around the sitting-room, as if trying to see that all was well. They stepped out of the sitting room. The morning sunshine was bright. Madam went to her SUV car.

'Don't also forget that no visitor or stranger must be allowed inside the compound. Do you understand?' Rose looked at her sternly.

'Yes, ma'am.'

Rhoda opened the gate for the car to pass out of the compound. Then she bolted it and went back inside the house. The madam would probably not be back until late afternoon or evening, as it had been in previous days. As for madam's oga, that one had travelled and Rhoda did not know when he would be back.

She went back to the kitchen to complete her task there. Rhoda was an eighteen years old Togolese who recently started working for madam's family. The journey of life had taken her from her village to Lome, and from Lome to Lagos. She still had the ambition to be a fashion designer but she must do this domestic job for now.

She was about to start work on the laundry when she heard hard knocks at the gate. Wondering who it could be, she went out to find out.

'Who is that?' She moved to the gate and stopped short.

'It's me.' It was a male voice. From the tone, the man was becoming impatient.

And it sounded like oga's own. Rhoda was surprised. She looked through the latch to confirm. Realizing that he was the one, she quickly opened the gate.

'I've been horning the car for some time.' The man didn't find the delay funny. 'Until I banged the gate. Why didn't you answer me on time?'

'I'm sorry, sir. I no hear. Madam say you travel.' It was unmistakable that she spoke in faltering English.

'Yes. Person wey travel no dey return? I’m back.'

He went back to his car to drive in. Rhoda helped him to carry his bag and some sacks of foodstuffs from the boot of his car to the house.

'Is there bread and eggs in the house?' He looked towards the kitchen.

'Yes, sir.'

'Good. Fry some eggs for me. I'll like to have fried eggs and bread.'

Nonso went to have a shower and change of clothes. For the past two days, he had been to Benin city on business. Unlike before when his trip could take weeks, he hardly travelled now, and whenever he did, he would be back within a couple of days.

He was a successful transporter who had made his mark in passengers’ transportation business. His fleet of buses was doing well. At sixty,
Nonso had travailed the north, east, south and west of the terrain called Nigeria. He had four children, all grown up. The first two were in Europe while the third one was in Malaysia. The last born, twenty-two years old Sandra was studying Business Administration in a private university in Ogun state.

Nonso relaxed in the sitting room, awaiting the food being prepared by Rhoda. He was yet to tell his wife that he was back in Lagos. No need to do that for now, he reasoned.

'Food don ready, sir.' Her hands smelled of onions.

From his seat, he looked up and nodded. Of course, he had been had been waiting for the announcement.

He moved to the dining table. The taste of the food was as good as the aroma. Since Rhoda was employed, she had not disappointed in her culinary skills. Nonso ate the food with relish.

https://okadabooks.com/book/about/victims_of_passion/23232



Please, all my friends, who are too numerous to mention, are all welcome.






Victims of Passion


© Copyright 2018. No part of this story can be copied or reproduced in any form without the express permission of the author’










Love Toread






This story is dedicated to God and all those who believe in love.




Janet is a very beautiful lady from a wealthy home. Every other thing is working well for her, except her relationships with men. She doesn’t have a lasting and reliable relationship. When she catches her current boyfriend in the arms of another lady, barely four months into the relationship, she is convinced that something is wrong somewhere.
She meets Raphael, a dedicated and loving soul. Two things stand between her and Raphael: the fact that he comes from a lower social class; and more importantly, because her father is vehemently against it. She decides to please her heart. In the course of this, she learns a lot of things in the hard way, including those she never envisaged.










Victims of Passion


Janet put finishing touches to what she was doing and decided to call it a day in the office. It was already four p.m. and it was the closing hour. Students had, about an ago, closed for the day. The day students had gone home while the boarders had gone to the dormitory.

She opened her clutch bag and brought out her mobile make up kit. The face reflected in the mirror was a beautiful one. Janet smiled to herself as she ensured that the face was moderately made up.

She stood up from her seat, packed her personal things in her bag and rose to go. Her office was on the ground floor of the expansive building. Apez College was a five star secondary school that occupied wide expanse of land. It offered day and boarding facilities for those who desired quality secondary education and who could afford it.

Her parents, owners of the school, put her there to be the Administration Officer. She was to report directly to Mrs. Glory Kweku, the matronly Ghanaian School Administrator. There were other places Janet could have chosen to work, but she said she wanted the college.

As she moved towards the car park, she saw Raphael, the English language teacher for Senior secondary classes. He was coming out of the staff room, his bag strapped across the right shoulder.

'Hello.' He smiled, showing a set of white teeth good enough for toothpaste advert.

Janet waved back at him, smiled and moved on.

'Are you going to town?' Raphael looked at her briefly and looked towards the gate. 'I don't mind a lift.'

Janet answered in the affirmative. He joined her in the car. The interior smelt nice. She drove the Honda car while he sat beside her at the front seat. Raphael had always noted the simple and unassuming manner Janet always conducted herself. He respected her for that. At thirty one he was a bachelor but he would not dare cross his boundary. No matter how much he liked her, he would not try it.

'How was the job, today?' He hoped the question was not unnecessary.

'Not bad, although not very exciting either.'

He nodded as if he understood. There was silence. He could not find any other thing to say. To break it, she slotted a CD containing
selections of popular R & B music.

'Please, I'll like to get down at the next junction.' He offered a smile, hoping it would be a token of appreciation.

When he alighted, he thanked her for the ride and moved on.

'Have a nice day.' She smiled again and drove off.

Ten minutes later, she drove inside their duplex home at Ota.

Sule, the security man opened the giant gates for her. He was full of obeisance, as usual.

Uncle Joe should be writing comedy of errors.

QUE SERA, SERA. What will be, will be.

QUE SERA, SERA. What will be, will be.

Interesting work.

Crime does not pay.

In all these intrigues and politricking, God will show us the best.

More dramas are still ahead.

Youths should be desirous of making a change. The time is now.