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TopeOmotosho:
I have a new book out!

Congrats love

Culin:
Thank you!

Expecting today's update, o.

He had been enraged and he wanted to teach her a lesson. He wanted her to swallow her words. He wanted to show her just how despicable born again Christians could be. He wanted his daughter to come back crying to him that he had been right. But she never did. He had been so convinced the witch doctor had defrauded him of thousands of naira. He had gone to make trouble for the man. When he got to the man’s house, he found out he had passed on a few months before.
Now, after seven years, Felicia came back with the same man. She didn’t even feel bad about what she had done to him. She hurled words at him.

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Elsa grabbed a hold of her son’s hand and smiled at him and prayed fro him from the bottom of her heart.
“Omo a gbo'ro si e l'enu na. O se.”, she said beaming at him.
“Amin. This is only because of you. I wouldn’t have paid any attention to them if it weren’tfor you. But I’ve told you. If I’m not a match, I’m not giving the twins up for them to be tested.”, he said.
“I know and I understand. Thank you.”
“No problem ma. Ehen! That reminds me.”, he said and pulled his hand away from his mother’s so he turn to face her. “ How’s your bobo?”
“Bobo? What are you talking about?”, she asked in confusion.
A mischievous grin sat on his face as he said, “Mr. Donald.” Délé watched in shock as his mother tried to stop a smile from forming on her face and hissed.
“You are not serious.”, she said pursing her lips to stop them from spreading into a smile. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop her cheeks from rising and gleaming.
“Mummy, you’re blushing. Is there any development I should know about?”, he asked in amusement.
“No. There’s no development you need to be made aware of.”
“I thought we tell each other everything.”, he whined in protest.
“Last time I checked, you’re my son not my husband.”, she said and changed the station.
“Is that what Mr. Donald is telling you? I’m your first husband o. He is only borrowing you momentarily.”
“Na so.”, she quipped laughing.
“So are you going to tell me?”, Délé asked.
“No.”, she insisted and he groaned. “Sorry. It’s classified.”
“Okay o. But peradventure something happens and you become boyfriend and girlfriend, no sex before marriage o. Chastity is key.”, he joked and his mother hit him with a pillow.
“You need beating, omo yi.”, his mother said horrified and hit him again. He laughed.
“Do you know when the test results will be out?”
“Next week.”, Délé answered.

Felicia, you’re the biggest fool I’ve ever met.”, he said and turned to look at her.
“What did you just say to me?”, she said with her jaw loose.
“I believe you heard me. Felicia, you’re a fool. Talking to your father the way you did. What else are you? Do you not know what the Bible says about honouring your father and mother? Have you never read Proverbs thirty verse seventeen? In case you haven’t, it says the eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. Abi, you skipped those verses in your Bible?”, he spat in her face.
“Felicia, we have more than dishonoured that man. We disrespected and humiliated him. And for once, I needed you put aside your sass and your smart mouth. I needed you to understand the importance of seeking for your father’s forgiveness. I would have rather you said nothing at all. In fact, if you knew this was what you wanted to do, you should have stayed back in Abuja. I never forced you to come. We spoke about it and you agreed. Felicia, is this who you really are? Because I don’t want to believe the way you act with my parents is a façade. The man is your father for crying out loud.”
“He is not a father. He’s an unbeliever and…”
“That has to be the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life. Which version put a caveat that you only honour your parents when they are believers? His blood flows through your veins. His semen gave you life. He has authority over you, whether you like it or not. Felicia, God’s word doesn’t change. Honour your father and mother so that your days may be long did not expire upon the coming of Christ. Christ came to fulfill the law and the prophets or you didn’t read that in your Bible as well?”
He sighed and said, “I’m sorry for calling you a fool. That was wrong. Felicia, trust me when I say there is so much at stake if we don’t get your father’s genuine forgiveness. There’s so much I can’t explain to you because of your condition but believe me when I say getting your father’s forgiveness is a matter of life and death.” He stood and left the waiting room.
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Augustus Omorogevia laid on the bed silently thinking about his daughter and how she had hurt him. The daughter he used his blood and sweat to nurture, telling him he had ceased to be her father. This Jesus Christ of a person and his born again fanatics had robbed him of so much. His wife and then his daughter. To think he had once wanted to be a born again Christian. The God was just not worth serving.
He and his wife had given their lives as newlyweds and joined the work force of a local assembly almost immediately. They had worked and slaved with their whole hearts in that church. His wife in the choir and he as an usher. They had paid tithes and first fruits in that church. They took their Church members as a second family and assisted those who weren’t financially buoyant.
The year they had Felicia things took a terrible turn. His cargo got lost at sea setting him into debt. Their lifestyle changed drastically. They had had to let out the house they owned to raise funds. Despite the grace to grass challenge, they never stopped serving the God they had just found. Not long after they had Felicia, his wife fell terribly sick. He had rallied round to get funds to treat her. He had even gone to the so called church and gathering of brethren for assistance. The church spurned and scorned him. Brethren began to treat him like a plague and look down on him. When he couldn’t afford to keep his wife in the hospital anymore, He had prayed and fasted for her to get better but nothing worked. It was as if the God they was dead and deaf.
One of his former customers introduced him to a shaman. He reluctantly used the medicine the man gave him and in days his wife got better. He felt guilty for consulting a witch doctor and repented and promised he would never resort to such diabolical means again.
It was a February Thanksgiving service it happened. He and his family were just returning from church. His wife had gone across the street to get them bottles of water. She was crossing the road when a Jeep came out of nowhere and hit his wife and she died on the spot. On a Sunday. After he and his wife just praised the God that was supposed to protect them. He gave up on God then.
His life was peaceful afterwards. His business bounced back slowly but steadily. He nurtured his daughter carefully instilling manners in her. He wanted her to become the woman her mother was. Everything was fine till she came home from work one day and tried to preach to him. Only the heavens knew where she got dragged into the craze of worshipping a God that didn’t care. After rebuffing her over and over again, she started giving him attitude, being rude and impertinent. She started acting holier than the pope with him. The father who had raised her.
He had put up with her attitude till she came one day with a man in tow, another born again mad man, that she was getting married. He had immediately put his foot down. Then the next thing he heard they had gotten married behind his back. And the most humiliating part of it all was that his neighbours knew his own daughter had gotten married before he did. Then he found out she had hired people to act as her parents at her wedding.

“ Tor. You don talk am. I am not your father. Hence we are strangers..”, the man said as he stood
“Daddy, please don’t mind her.”, Jaiyé pleaded and stood.
“Young man, don’t interrupt me.”, the man shunned Jaiyé.. “Since we are strangers, it is high time you two left my house. Outside.”, the man said and pointed at the door.
“Sir, please.”, Jaiyé begged. “Felicia, apologise.”
Felicia stood and looked at her father indignantly pursing her lips and then muttered a poor excuse for an apology.
“Keep your apology. That is not what is hungering me.”, the man snapped. He winced and cleared his throat. His hand came to his chest and hit it.
“Sir, are you okay?”, Jaiyé asked in alarm. Even Felicia’s scowl dissolved as the man kept on beating his chest. The man wheezed in pain and tried to talk but his words were unclear gasps.
“Papa?”, Felicia asked in panic. He coughed repeatedly but the pain continued. “Are you okay?”
“Get out!”, the man managed to shout before wincing and groaning again. “Omosin!”, Felicia shouted. Her father’s leg buckled and he fell by the sofa struggling to breathe.
“Sir!”, Jaiyé exclaimed and rushed to his side.
“Omosin!”, Felicia shouted and the girl ran into the room.
“What is wrong with Papa?”, the girl asked in dread.
“I think he’s having a heart attack.”, Jaiyé said. “Please help me carry him to the car.
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Jaiyé sat in the waiting room, praying and hoping for Felicia’s father to be okay. He held his head in his hands resting on his knees. The devil had reared his ugly head and used Felicia to destroy their attempt at reconciliation with her father. What if the man died? He prayed not. His daughter’s life would be at stake.
God, please intervene. Please just do something. Please save him.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked up. He saw his wife looking worriedly at him. He wanted so bad to slap some sense into her. He couldn’t believe the way she spoke to her father. After all the explanation he had given her. He hissed and turned his face away from her. He clamped his hands together and rested his chin on them.
“Jaiyé, I bought you some fruit and water to break your fast.”, she said.
“I’m not hungry.”, he said clipped and shrugged her hand off.
“At least, drink water.”
“If I’m thirsty, I know where to get water. In fact, I’d rather drink water from a stream than take anything from you.”, he said looking at the wall in front of him.
“Are you angry with me?”, she asked.
“No. Of course not. I’m so happy with you.”, he said still looking at the wall.
“Because of him? You’re getting angry at me because of him?”, she asked in shock.
“Felicia, you’re the biggest fool I’ve ever met.”, he said and turned to look at her.
“What did you just say to me?”, she said with her jaw loose.

Dbeautyy:
Ahh, womennnnnnnn. I still keep asking God why He created you people that way, why didn't He put some if not most of our configuration into you ladies. Ani ka je ekunru tan laawo, otun gbon ti towo si. One can be quiet and still take his or her stand. Aburo, I think I should order one giant Jerusalem bible for you, you put it under your pillow after reading cos this stuffs are deep. More oil jare

I'll be expecting the Bible.

Dude, I won't talk concerning your first two sentences sha cause you're my man.

“Is he okay?”, Jaiyé stopped and asked.
“He is better now, sha.”, the girl said and locked the door.
“What do you mean by sha?”, Felicia asked.
“The doctor said Papa should be careful as another heart attack could kill him. Maybe he will listen to you. All the things they said Papa should not be eating is what he likes to eat. And that Mama Nene is not helping matters. I’ve warned her not to sell food to Papa but she doesn’t listen. And Papa too will refuse to take his drugs.”, the girl ranted in mild annoyance.
Felicia couldn’t explain why she felt a twinge of sadness. She was literally just praying for the man to be dead five minutes ago. She chided herself. Her father had sowed the wind and was reaping the whirlwind. It was divine justice. Maybe that was why God asked them to come. He wanted them to see the way the wicked had been punished.
Omosin led them to the living room and Felicia sat beside her husband. She ignored the glare Jaiyé was giving her. She looked around the room. Nothing had changed. The same television set, the same couches, the five pictures hung on the wall were still the same, the same centre table. She looked up at the picture of herself and her father. She was just five then. She could still see the love in his eyes.
Love? It wasn’t love. An unbeliever like him could not understand the word.
Jaiyé sat silently in the living room. He wondered for a few minutes why Felicia would not want to hug her cousin. If there was one thing Felicia could not stop talking about when they first got married, it was Omosin. Omosin had come to live with them three years before their marriage when her parents died. Felicia adored her because she was the sibling she never had. Seeing her avoid Omosin's hug baffled him.
His heart and spirit groaned to the Lord asking for wisdom to approach her father. His father-in-law. He hoped the man would be okay and try to take care of himself. He hoped this restitution would set things right. He looked at Felicia and her belly and hoped her father’s forgiveness would avert the horrible things the prophecy predicted.
He had been praying one night when he got the revelation. His heart still wrenched in pain as he remembered the frightening pictures he saw that night. If Felicia was going to have a girl, then this was necessary. He wondered when they’d be able to find out the sex of the babies. He hoped he could avert whatever stop the revelation predicted by asking for forgiveness.
He wished he could explain everything to Felicia but with her fearful nature, she might end up giving herself high blood pressure and eclampsia. He missed Pastor Leke. Pastor Leke was a shepherd indeed. He would have given him godly advice on how to handle the matter and how to guard his heart state. Unfortunately, Pastor Leke died a couple of months back. He wished he could have seen the revelation while Pastor Leke was still alive.
He sighed and whispered underneath his breath. “God have mercy.”
He really hoped they were boys. He wouldn’t mind. He couldn’t imagine his daughter going through what he saw if it wasn’t avertable. He’d hate himself. He heard the soft padding of feet and looked up. He came face to face with Felicia’s father. The man shuffled with the aid of Omosin to the living room.
The man’s eyes widened at seeing them and Jaiyé stood and was copied by Felicia.
“Good afternoon sir.”, Jaiyé said and fell into a full prostration.
“Good afternoon sir.”, Felicia said and knelt too.
The man shook his head. “Get up. Idobale ko n'iwa.”, the man said fluently, shocking Jaiyé.
The man was aided into a seat as they stood.
“Why have you come here? After seven years. What do you want?”, the man said as Omosin left the room.
Jaiyé perched at the edge of the wine velvet sofa said, “Sir, we know we’ve been terrible children. We don’t deserve your gracing us with your presence. We’ve come to see the error of ways. And we are terribly sorry. Children will always be foolish. They will err but that doesn’t mean one will throw his children away.”
“I’ve thrown you two away long ago.”, the man responded.
“Was that before or after the charm you used on my husband?”, Felicia retorted abruptly.
“Felicia!”, Jaiyé shouted to scold her. They were trying to apologise not enrage the man. She simply glared at him and threw her face away.
The man chuckled mirthlessly. “I see your mouth still dances like an Atilogwu dancer. Ehh. Your husband has not been slapping you hard enough.”
“Daddy, we’re sorry.”, Jaiyé said and turned to face the old man.
“Did I fall down?”, the man replied and Felicia hissed.
“What is wrong with you?”, Jaiyé whisper yelled and apologized again.
“Uh!”, the man said and laughed. “Madam I hear from God. Is your God still talking to you with the way you disrespect your father.”
Felicia glared at him. “You ceased to be my father after what you did to me.”
Jaiyé curled his hands into fists hoping for patience to deal with Felicia. Why was she bent on ruining this attempt at reconciliation. Was it because she didn’t understand what was at stake? Why was she so rude and impenitent?
“ Tor. You don talk am. I am not your father. Hence we are strangers..”, the man said as he stood
“Daddy, please don’t mind her.”, Jaiyé pleaded and stood.
“Young man, don’t interrupt me.”, the man shunned Jaiyé.

Hey guys.

Hope you enjoyed the updates.


Comment away.


Please, I might not be able to update regularly. School has resumed and I'll be shuffling my free time between completing this book and its sequel.

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Margaux righted her dress for the second time that afternoon feeling sated and well loved.
“I love you, Margaux.”, her husband panted.
She smiled at him and said, “I love you too.” She looked at her reflection in the mirror and brushed her weave. “And thank you for the gift.”
“What gift?”, Daniel asked as he walked to the water dispenser in his office. Margaux turned to face him with a knowing smile on her face. He was just acting coy.
“Whether you choose to admit it or not, thanks.”, she said and turned to face the mirror.
“Is this you saying you want a gift?”, he said and took a drink of water.
She shot him a raised eyebrow. Were the tickets wrongly delivered to her office? Maybe it was a surprise. He walked to her and snaked his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek.
“What do you want, Marge?”, his said with his eyes holding hers in the mirror. “Anything you want. It’ll be my make up gift to you.”
“But you’ve already given me a gift. The trip to Maldives.”, she said giggling and she turned to face him and hug him. “Thank you so much.” She released him when she felt him stand there rigid and shocked.
“Don’t tell me it was a surprise and I ruined it.”, she said as she cupped his face.
“What trip to Maldives? You know I can’t fly.”, Daniel said with furrowed brows.
“Stop it, jo.”, she said with a small chuckle at his confused expression. “Who now bought the tickets and made the reservation at the hotel? I know you don’t fly but thank you for making the sacrifice….”
“Margaux, I didn’t buy any tickets or make any reservations. I’m serious.”, he said and took a step back.
“But the envelope said 'Our belated honeymoon.’”, Margaux said, believing her husband was feigning confusion.
“Margaux, there has to be a mix-up. I didn’t buy any tickets. If I did, I wouldn’t deny it.”, Daniel said.
“If you didn’t, then who did?”, she asked.




Chapter 28
Felicia looked at her father’s house feeling the cold grip of fear wrenched her internal organs. She twiddled her thumbs as Jaiyé parked the car in front of the building. Her fear that this was a bad idea returned gnawing at her heart and mind. She wanted to break out of the vehicle and run back to Abuja. Jaiyé would most likely tackle her and explain the importance of what they were about to do. Like he had done throughout the previous week.
Jaiyé turned to her and smiled. She smiled back as best as she could. Her husband grabbed a hold of her hand to reassure her that all was well. At least, with him.
“Let’s pray.”, he said.
She shrugged and he said a few words of prayer. After his amen, he got out of the rental car. She sighed and rubbed her small bump. She prayed God would protect her and her babies from her diabolical father. Jaiyé opened the door for her and she got out of car.
She purposely wore the massive boubou to hide her belly. Jaiyé was against it when she pulled it on this morning but she insisted it was what she wanted to wear. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him the real reason why she opted for the Ankara robe.
I cover myself with the blood of Jesus. I cover my husband and children with the blood of Jesus. We bear in our bodies the mark of Christ. Hence, let no man trouble us.
Jaiyé held her hand and led them to the front door and knocked. He looked down at their hands and at her pale face. He most probably had felt her moist palm. He squeezed her hand lightly.
“All is well.”
Felicia nodded and swallowed. Why was he so confident that all was well? Because of his three days dry fasting? She hoped to God her fears this time around were unfounded. Her spirit had been troubled when her father came around seven years ago. And she was right. Now, she prayed with all the sinew she had that she was wrong. She would give anything to be wrong.
She exhaled as Jaiyé knocked again. Maybe he was not around or better still dead. That would be good.
Her hopes were dashed as she saw the door open and her cousin Omosin stood in the doorway.
“Aunty Felicia?”, the girl called in disbelief.
Omosin was just ten when Felicia got married. They used to call her then legelege but mighty because no matter how much she ate she never added weight. She remained as gangly as ever. Once, her father had fought with a neighbour who had been spreading rumours of Omosin being mistreated and malnourished. For months, the woman always turned the other way when her father passed by.
Now the young lady before her wasn’t the scrawny child anymore. She was now a svelte young woman.
Felicia nodded. The girl made to hug her but Felicia took two steps back. Jaiyé looked at her I surprise and the girl’s face crumpled in hurt.
“Sorry, Omo. I’m just recovering from a skin infection. I don’t want to pass it on.”, Felicia explained ignoring Jaiyé's quizzical look. She wasn’t lying, exactly. She had had hives a week back due to her reaction to eating catfish. This particular pregnancy of hers had her picking her meals. Things she loved eating were giving her reactions. But she couldn’tpass the hives by hugging her cousin but her cousin didn’t know that.
The girl smiled weakly and said, “Ive missed you.”
“Me too, Omosin.”, Felicia said. “This is my husband, Jaiyé.”
“Good afternoon, sir.”, the girl greeted as if she just noticed he was standing there.
“Afternoon dear.”, he replied smiling.
“Is Papa in?”, Felicia asked trembling.
“Yes. Please come in.”, the girl said and stood aside for them to enter. “He is resting. We just got back from the hospital.”
“Is he okay?”, Jaiyé stopped and asked.
“He is better now, sha.”, the girl said and locked the door.
“What do you mean by sha?”, Felicia asked.
“The doctor said Papa should be careful as another heart attack could kill him. Maybe he will listen to you. All the things they said Papa should not be eating is what he likes to eat. And that Mama Nene is not helping matters. I’ve warned her not to sell food to Papa but she doesn’t listen. And Papa too will refuse to take his drugs.”, the girl ranted in mild annoyance.

God, give me the patience and self-control of Oroma. I swear I would have slapped B.B at least once.

Nice update love.

Thanks.

A knock jarred them away from each other. They turned to look at the door as the handle jiggled like deer caught in the headlights. Another knock brought movement back to them. Osas righted her dress and went to sit in one of the chairs in front of Daniel’s desk. Daniel looked at his reflection in the mirror hung on the wall by a wash sink. He picked up a wipe from the sink and wiped lipstick from his lips and tossed the used wipe in his pocket. He walked to the door as another knock rapped on the door. He opened the door and met his wife smiling at him.

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Margaux stood eager at the threshold of her husband office waiting for him to open up. The nurses had told her he was spending his lunch hour in his office. She wondered if he was sleeping. She knew she ought to have called before coming over but she was eager to resolve their fight.
She hadn’t had plans to throw her anger at him for hitting her away when she left the house that morning but seeing the gift he had delivered to her office changed her mind. The tickets to the honeymoon they never had was the best thing he could have given her. And to the location she had always wanted. Maldives.
So he had hit her. She provoked him. And if he was with another woman there was a perfect explanation. So maybe his sporadic attitude and alcoholism were unnerving, he was still her Daniel. And he was making an effort. She had to meet him halfway.
She knocked again and looked at her watch. She had a meeting in three hours and the return journey to work would take up to an hour if traffic was light. She groaned. He was most definitely sleeping. Daniel was a heavy sleeper. She knocked harder and the door opened. She saw her husband's face and she smiled at his shock. She pressed her lips to his in greeting and pushed past him into the office.
She stopped in her tracks when she saw the woman from the hotel sitting I his office. So, they were colleagues. She knew there was a reasonable explanation. Though the wife in her rebutted it.
“Hello.”, Margaux greeted.
“Good afternoon ma.”, the lady greeted as she got out of the chair.
“Margaux, this is Osas, a resident doctor…”, Daniel hastily introduced.
“And his friend’s cousin.”, Osas supplied.
“Really? Which friend, honey?”, Margaux asked and turned to Daniel.
“Um, Stanley.”, Daniel said.
“Oh!”, Margaux said in shock.
“Its nice to meet you, ma”, Osas said and stretched her hand.
“Likewise. Please call me Margaux.”
“Beautiful name.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be leaving. Doctor, we’ll continue our talk about antibiotics later.”, Osas said and left.
Margaux smiled at Osas as she left. “I never knew there could be someone that fine in Stanley’s family.”, she teased as she dropped her handbag on the seat Osas just vacated.
“Well, she got lucky.”, he answered smiling nervously. “What are you doing here?”
“Baby, I’m sorry. It’s been a week already.”, she said as she wound her arms around his waist.
“Just like that?”, he asked in shock.
“Yeah. I forgive you. Let’s just kiss and make up.”, she said and kissed his lips. Still on a testosterone rush, he deepened the kiss and held his wife tight. He was shocked to see her ready to patch things up after the cold shoulder she’d been giving him all week.
He heard a soft moan from her and he smiled inwardly. He had missed his ever so responsive wife. His hands went on to cup her outlandishly generous backside. While Margaux was not exactly busty enough to turn his world off its axis, she made up for it with an enormous backside. His touch had her mewling. Her fingers got lost in his hair. His hands strive for his second favorite part of a woman’s anatomy and fondled it tender loving care.
“God!”, his wife swore in ecstasy as she tugged at his coat. Her lids fluttered open as she pulled away. “Can we do it here? Is it ethical?”, she asked, her voice husky with lust and her hooded eyes fazed.
Damn ethics. He needed his wife and he’d have her.
“I don’t think this cares about ethics.”, he said and pressed his arousal to her. She smiled wickedly and kissed him fervently as her skillful hands tugged his belt out of the belt loops of his trousers. His hands hitched up her gown trying to get to his favorite place but rather than touch her supple, warm skin, he felt the nylon material of her pantyhose.
“Why do you women wear these things?!”, he grunted in frustration and she giggled. She unbuckled his belt and undid his pants. His hands fumbled the assignment of rolling down her pantyhose and underwear. She laughed and tried to help him when someone knocked on the door.
“Bleep!”, he cursed his wife’s ear. She stifled a laugh as she hurriedly began to right her dress.
“Who is it?”, he asked as fastened his zipped his fly.
“Doctor Onugha, Doctor Mallum wants to see you.”, the person outside his office said.
“Bleep!”, he swore silently. “Okay, I’ll be with him shortly.”
Daniel turned to look at his wife. Except for her swollen lips and the little light creases on her dress, nothing else showed that they were just about to have a quickie in his office.
He adjusted his pants and took deep breaths to hide his semisolid state. “I’ll be back soon. We are going to finish what we started.”, he promised.
“Mkay.”, Margaux said and settled in a chair.
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Margaux righted her dress for the second time that afternoon feeling sated and well loved.
“I love you, Margaux.”, her husband panted.
She smiled at him and said, “I love you too.” She looked at her reflection in the mirror and brushed her weave. “And thank you for the gift.”
“What gift?”, Daniel asked as he walked to the water dispenser in his office.

I'd love to see how this card game plays out

Culin:
I'm trying to emulate you now So I'll tryyyyy with all my might to update Chapter 9 by Sunday. Then the usual Wednesday update.

Lol

Thank you love. More strength.

Ann2012:
I just hope this action of Nathan doesn't put Enitan in harms way...

Thanks for the update

Abi o.

I doubt Eni will forgive him if he (by extension his parents) cause her to lose her baby.

Loved it dear.

Is it possible we get more or do we have to wait till next Wednesday?

Vikkie14:
Kindly take your time to type, saw a handful of typo errors. You don't need to rush through or it will kill the vibe.
Anyways, thumbs up. Keep it coming.

Thanks b. I'll address it

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Funlola sat by her daughter with her lips downturned in pondering. It had been three weeks since she spoke to Elsa. Apparently, Délé wasn’t going to donate. Where did they go wrong? All her fasting and prayer down the drain. Her phone rang and she checked the caller ID. Pastor Isaiah. She hissed and silenced the phone. She wasn’t in the mood to hear God will do it exhortations. She needed God to do it now.
Had she known the kind of heinous crimes Folá had committed she wouldn’t have touched him with a ten foot pole. Now, her innocent daughter was paying for his sins. She sighed and crossed her arms under her breasts. Would God intervene? Or had He ordained that Peju would bear the brunt of Folá’s wickedness.
She looked up at door as it creaked open. The doctor entered with a smile on his face. An extra cheery smile.
“Good afternoon, ma.”, the doctor said and pocketed his hands in the pockets of his blue scrubs.
“Afternoon doctor.”, she said looking warily at him.
“I just got out of the OR. The news came in. We found a donor for Peju.”, the doctor announced. And she nearly jumped out of her seat in shock and elation.
“Who? Where did he come from? I thought there’s a three year waiting list.”, she jabbered in one excited breath.
“Well, the lady was recently added to the register and she turns out to be a perfect match for Peju. I called in a lot of favours but she’s ours and she’ll be in Abuja in a week.”, the doctor listed.
“God, thank you.”, Funlola said and sank to her knees in gratitude. “Baba, e se ti mi o f'oju sukun omo.” ,she said and stood. “Oju ti Délé.”
The doctor smiled at her antics and left the ward.

She felt someone shake her and she sat up. She winced at the bright light stinging her eyes. Her lens focused and she saw her last daughter looking at her.
“Mummy, wake up. I brought food.”, the girl said.
Funlola looked around the room and still saw Peju looking as pale as ever on the bed. “Did the doctor come to say when the donor was arriving?”, she asked.
“Which donor?”, Tanwa asked looking at her mother in consternation.
“He came to tell me that there’s a donor for Peju.”, she said.
“Mummy, you were dreaming. Come and eat.”, the girl said as she set the warmer on the table by the bed, dashing her mother’s dreams.
“Mi o jeun.”, she said and left the ward.

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Daniel looked up from the files he was going through as one of the students on residency entered his office. He blinked wondering how to let her off gently. The girl was clearly infatuated with him and he clearly led her on as he used her to get over his guilt with Margaux. The simple kiss they had shared turned out to be one of the most stupid mistakes off his life.
He looked at her from the meat bun atop her head to the sexy cat eyed glasses that framed her eyes to the pink lipstick coated lips spread in a toothy, sultry smile. Her coat was left open and her Jean knee length kimono styled dress hugged her body. The wide v-neckline displayed her bounteous and supple breasts. He fought hard to tear his gaze from her thorax and bring it to her eyes. He had always been a breast man. He noticed her smile had turned into a smirk. She knew what exactly her dress was doing to him.
He prayed he could figure out a way to end things before he became the cheat Margaux suspected him to be. She leaned against his door and locked it.
“Hi, Daniel.”, she drawled as she prowled towards him.
The air became heavy and he had to exert effort to breathe. “What are you doing here, Osas?”, he said.
“We have unfinished business. What we started at the hotel the other day.”, she said as she came around his desk to stand inches away from him.
“Osas, please.”, he said and turned to face her. “Tuesday was a big mistake and unethical. I’m married and…”
His words trailed off as she pulled off the flap from the Velcro that held it in place and he stared at her standing before him clad in her lace undies and tights. He gulped and looked at her smug face.
“You were saying?”
“This is wrong.”, he breathed as she closed the gap between them. She held onto his shoulders and smiled down at him.
“Daniel, you drive me crazy.”, she gasped lustily. She leaned down to kiss him. He found himself deepening the kiss and his hands reaching up to touch her, to hold her, to please her.
A knock jarred them away from each other.

Nice but very short o

No update?

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Margaux winced in pain as she dabbed concealer to her bruised cheek. She hissed at her skin that easily bruised. There was no way she could hide it. If it had a black eye at least she’d be able to use sunglasses. But there was a palm sized bruise on her face. Even a child would know what it meant. She was still awed that Daniel could raise his hand at her. He was definitely cheating. If that wasn’t enough the bastard insulted Chris’s memory.
She wouldn’t say anything. Not yet. She’d wait till she had evidence and then she’d leave him faster than she could blink. She made a mental note to ask her mum for a private investigators number as well. She looked at her reflection. Her paste of concealer and foundation still couldn’t hide the bruise. She would have to let her hair down. The bruise was on the side with the Fuller part of the half parted weave. The hair would could the bruise. She’d have to shift her meeting with the new COO. She couldn’t go down to the head office with her face all bruised up. Gossip would fly and if she was unlucky enough she might run into her father. That would spell trouble.
She applied her mascara and lipstick and stood. She turned around and met her husband staring at her. She didn’t want to believe the remorse she saw in his eyes. He was just a phony. It was often said that love is blind but marriage is the cure. She had seen the real Daniel being married to him. He was a superficial, cheating, wife beater. Only if she wasn’t Margaux Azuka Oduah, would she stay with a cheating wife beater.
“What do you want? I’m not Christian enough to turn the other cheek if that’s what you were expecting.”, she said and walked passed him to their bedroom.
“Margaux, I’m sorry.”, he said as he followed her.
She scoffed and picked up some folders and stuffed them into her laptop bag. “Why? So you can hit me again? No thanks. Keep your apology.”
“I really am. You provoked me last night.” She picked up her handbag and laptop and stared at him in curiosity.
“You called me a dick, a bastard and cheat. I know it’s not a justification and I’m sorry.”, he apologized.
“Whatever.”, she said and walked towards the door. “There’s only so much I can take. If you keep acting like this, unlike the man I married, you won’t have a wife anymore.” She turned to look at him and then left.
Daniel groaned and sat on the bed. He couldn’t believe he hit his wife. What was happening to him? His guilt gnashed at his heart and his conscience squirmed within him. He couldn’t tell the truth. Tinú would have to die. Unfortunately. If he told the truth, he’d lose everything. He would have to stomach it and find a way to act himself with his wife. This defense mechanism of being distant would eventually tear his marriage apart.
He felt vomit churn in his stomach. He swallowed and took deep breaths. He had to learn to survive it. If Tinú got executed, he’d have to live with her blood on his hands.
He needed a drink, something to numb the sting of his conscience.

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Margaux looked up from the analysis she was going through as the telephone rang. She pressed a button to receive the call.
“What is it, Dhikruh? I told you not to disturb me.”, she said and reclined in her seat. She picked up the paper and continued reading.
“I’m sorry, ma. I know you said not to disturb you but His Excellency is here to see you.”, the meek voice of her secretary filled the room.
She sat up immediately. Her heart fluttered and pounded. What was Rasheed doing here? She set down the paper she was reading and picked up her handbag. She dug through it for her compact mirror. She held it to up to look at her reflection.
“Ma?”, the secretary inquired.
She quickly adjusted her weave to cover the side of her face with the bruise.
“Ma, do I let him in?”
“Uh, yes. Please, let him in.”, Margaux replied out of breath as she dumped the compact mirror into her bag and tossed the bag underneath her desk.
“Okay ma.”, the lady said and the call disconnected. Margaux took deep breaths to calm herself and adjusted her desk and straightened the files and knickknacks on it. Her eyes glossed over the framed family picture of Genevieve, Daniel and her. The black and white naturalist photograph had Daniel sitting topless carrying a nude Genevieve on his shoulder and she hugging her husband from behind. None of her parts showed. Only her shoulders and arms could be seen. She could feel the love in that picture. Where did it all go?
She tore her gaze from it as the door opened. Dhikruh held the door open for Rasheed. She stood and pasted a smile on her face.
“Thank you, Dhikruh. Good morning, sir.”, she greeted warmly as she spotted the blue and gold Oduah Holdings Corporation file in his arms. The door closed and they were left alone in the room
“I said I preferred Rasheed.”, he stated smiling as he reached her desk.
“ Please, take a seat.”, she said gesturing to the dark leather armchairs before her desk. “Rasheed.”, she said indulging him.
He smiled and took a seat. She sat after he did
“I’d like some conditions to be added to the contract.”, he started.
“Going straight to the point, I see.”
“You know me to never dilly-dally, Margaux. I always like to hit the nail on the head.”
“I definitely know that.”, she said recalling their time together.
“Condition number one. I want to actively participate in the new production session and in the running of the company.”
“Done but subject to an NDA.”, she stated.
“Fine by me. Number two. I want the office next door.”,he listed. Her eyes widened for two seconds and she nodded.
“That can be arranged.”, she muttered and looked at a file on her desk.
“Third, I want you.”
“What?!”, she snapped and looked up to meet a smirk on his face. He burst into a smooth rhythmic laughter.
“Just kidding. I only have two conditions.”, he said. “Lighten up. Has marriage killed your sense of humour?”
Her frown loosened. “I don’t like such jokes, Rasheed.”
“Fine, sheesh. I’m sure your house must be like the Von Trapp's before Maria.”, he put in.
Margaux swallowed the nasty retort she had remembering he wasn’t just Rasheed, her ex but also an investor.
“So the contract?”, she asked.
He handed it to her.
“I hope I won’t regret doing business with you.”, he said.
Me too.

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Délé walked around his desk to hug his mother. He was beyond happy to see her. He had kept oh postponing his trip to her place due to his busy schedule.
“What are you doing here? You should have called me to come.”, he said as he released her.
“Well, you know what they say. If Mohammed will not go to the mountain, then the mountain will have to come to Mohammed. Besides, I needed the exercise and to get away from the house.”, she said as he led her to a seat.
His eyebrow ascended in curiosity. “Is anything the problem? Are you still having light issues? Is Omotunde behaving nasty?”, he asked as he sat beside her.
“They fixed the light that very day you left. Omotunde is not giving me attitude. Ko to be. It’s Donald that is my problem.”, his mother said and sighed.
An amused smile danced on his lips. He had never seen his mother this affected by a man and he liked it. Whatever Donald was doing had his blessing.
“Wipe that stupid grin off your face.”, his mother scolded and he laughed.
“Give me the gist. He loves you, doesn’t he?”, he said.
“I don’t think I should be discussing this with you…”
“Mummy, yes or no.”
“Yes.”, she groaned and he burst into laughter.
“I no talk am.”
“But he has a girlfriend and he wants to break up with her for me.”, his mother nagged and he whistled.
“I never knew such drama happened to people above fifty.”, he said in shock.
“Me neither.”
“So let me guess. You are thinking of his girlfriend before your own happiness.” His eyes asked her to deny it and she didn’t. “Typical mum. Miss two good shoes.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”, she snapped.
“Nothing.”
“Anyway, that is not the only thing that brought me here. I have something to discuss with you.”

Ohibenemma:
"... I need Dele's help to save my daughter's life..."

I would have said they will never get help, but now that God (fasting & prayers) is involved, I can confidently say, palming my chest, "Allz well! Allz well!!! Allz well!!!

Weldone, Millieademi, continue the good work!

Thank you love.

NaijaDonCast:
Its like i've missed tha part please dear explain to my understanding why is dele the only person able to help leukemia girl, because you never scripted them getting to test run dele and see him matched whatsoever is required 4 the transplant or is it speculation or genetics?

It is certain yet. Buut there is a big possibility he is a match since none of her other relatives can donate.

“And I’m sure you didn’t come to tell me how grossed out you are by your husband’s misdeeds. What do you want exactly?”
“I need your help. Forget I am Folá’s wife…”
“That is kind of hard to do, considering it’s the only thing that connects us to each other.”
“I am here to appeal to you from one mother to another. I need Délé’s help to save my daughter’s life. She has leukemia and she needs bone marrow transplant. None of her siblings' HLA matches hers. We suspect that Délé may be a match. I’ve already been to him to seek his assistance but he refused on count of what Folá did you. I know this is somehow but I’m desperate. Mi o fe f'oju sukun omo.”
Elsa sighed and placed the fussing girl on the couch. She mulled over it for a few minutes before she spoke
“I don’t know what to do. I mean Délé is a bit headstrong but I’ll talk to him…”
“Thank you so much.”, Funlólá said elated.
“That doesn’t guarantee he’ll do it but ma a pe s'ibi iya ti n b'omo s'oro t'omo n gbo. I’ll do my best but I’ll suggest you pray. I know my son and just how wilful he can be. I can perceive you pray so I’ll advise you pray that God who holds the hearts of kings should touch his heart.”, Elsa said.
“There’s also a possibility that if he isn’t a match that any of his children might be.”, Funlólá stated.
Elsa looked at woman in shock. “Do you realize the children you are mentioning are just seven years old?”
“I know but their youth is an essential factor. The cells are still healthy and able to regenerate faster. That is what the doctor said.”
“I can appeal to Délé to give his bone marrow but when it comes to the children, they are his and I can’t tell him what is best for his children. That is a different ball game. I’ll talk to him though.”

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Rasheed slid the envelope of money across the table to the woman in front of him. She picked it up and opened it to check it’s content. She smiled at him in gratitude. He picked his snifter and swirled the Amber liquid in it before taking a sip.
“I want progress the next time I ask for feedback.”, he said.
“I’ll do my best, honourable.”, she answered and slipped the envelope into her handbag.
“I’m not paying you to try. I’m paying you to do what I asked of you.”, he snapped.
Her face dulled and she nodded. “Yes sir.”
“Don’t forget. I want hard evidence. Pictures and videos.”, he said and took another sip.
“Yes sir.”, she said and stood.
“Ill text you the next meeting place.”, he said and she left.
Rasheed dropped the snifter in front of him and opened the two files in front of him. He read through both of them and appended his signature to the two of them. He snapped his fingers at his assistant waiting on him.
“Sir.”, the assistant said and looked alive.
“Call the lawyer. Let him know I’ve signed the divorce papers. Call Margaux. I’ve signed the contract.”, Rasheed said.
“Yes sir.”, the man answered and picked up the two files and left the office.
Rasheed relaxed in his chair and picked up his snifter. A sly smirk played on his lips. Margaux. He missed her. The woman excited him in a way no other woman ever did. He had always imagined she’d be the one to bear his children. It wasn’t too late. She was still ripe. Once he crushed her trust in her husband, then she’d need a shoulder to cry on. Besides, he was going to actively participate in the day to day running of the mills and dairies. He’d slowly and surely seduce her into his bed. And even if the seduction didn’t work, she owed him. And he’d collect. WhetherWhether she wanted it or not, she’d be his. Oh, he couldn’t wait to have her again in his bed.

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Margaux picked up the plates from the table and carried them into the kitchen. After dumping them in the sink, she gripped the edge of the sink as she recalled the scene at the hotel. Anger boiled within her as she remembered the stoic expression Daniel had throughout dinner. If he hadn’t been wearing the same shirt, she’d have sworn he wasn’t the man she saw laughing earlier at the hotel.
She chewed mercilessly on her lips as she rinsed the dishes and loaded the dishwasher. She hated this. She had to ask him. If he bold enough to go to a five star hotel with his mistress then he had to be bold enough to admit it. She wiped her hands on a napkin and left the kitchen. She met him reading a newspaper on the dining table.
“I saw you today.”, she started.
“Really?”, he said without looking at her.
“At Ambrosia Palace. With some lady.”, she said and he dropped his paper. “You both seemed so happy and you were holding hands. I wondered what could have been so funny that you were laughing so hard.”, she said with a sarcastic smile on her face.
“What are you hinting at?”, he snapped.
“Are you cheating on me? Be the dick you are and do not deny it.”, she shouted.
“What did you call me?”, he asked as he stood.
“A dick. Now answer me, you bastard.” The next thing she knew he slapped her. A gasp escaped her lips.
“It is your brother that is a dick and a bastard.”, he said and left the dining room.

“So, Oduah Mills and Dairies is the second youngest addition to the Oduah Holdings Corporation family, operations beginning twelve years ago. And in eight years, we grew to be a force in the market, becoming a major substitute for Flour Mills of Nigeria products and a lot of imported milk products. If you’d kindly look at slide three, it shows the profit and cost margin for the first ten years of operation…” Margaux stopped wondering why Rasheed rather than look at the papers in front of him was watching her. And not watching her in attentive listening but with a gaze that told her business was the last thing on his mind.
Why would he be looking at her as if he was stripping her with his eyes? Were all married men just dogs and couldn’t be faithful? In anger at him and Daniel, she snapped, “Are you listening to me or what?”
Her irritation flared when her words didn’t faze the look on his face.
“Slide three, profit cost margin. I heard you.”, he said.
“It’s one thing to hear and another to listen. Rasheed, are you really interested in investing? Or are you just trying to get my attention?”, she asked and dropped her tablet on the desk.
“Margaux, as much as I love your attention it doesn’t put food on the table. I am not running for second term. And I’m trying to consider my options.”, he said.
“Okay then. The market…”
“It just so happens that my new business prospect comes with a beautiful view.”, he stated with a smirk on his face.
“Rasheed, don’t, please.”, she begged in exasperation.
“Margaux, my political career is coming to an end. There’s no need for Sarat anymore in my life.” He perched on the edge of his seat.
“Rasheed, I can’t be in your life so you better keep Sarat in it.”, she said. “Can I continue with the presentation or do you need a minute to get your head back in the game?”
“Continue with the presentation, Margaux. Just don’t begrudge me my view.”
She shook her head and continued.

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Funlola swallowed a large dollop of air and knocked on the door with the name plate Elsa Dáramólá. She waited for a few seconds and knocked again. She hoped to God that Elsa would give ear to her pleas and somehow convince Délé to donate his bone marrow. She hoped Elsa wouldn’t be as resentful and vengeful as Délé. A large part of her doubted it. Elsa was the one raped and Délé was just a son avenging his mother. Elsa had been the one to bear the ramifications of Folá’s lust and betrayal. She bore the shame and disgrace and she had no reason to want to help her. But she had to try for Peju’s sake.
She couldn’t believe that Folá could do something so despicable and debauched as raping his sister-in-law. She thought she had been dreaming the other day when she listened in on his conversation with his brother. The worse part was that he didn’t own up and he covered his crimes up for thirty-two years. Something she had known from her youth was that mistakes parents made could come back to haunt their children. And now she was watching it play out in her daughter’s life.
She bit her tongue to steamroll the curse she wanted to lay on Folá. If she didn’t control herself, she’d be piling up more problems for her children.
The door opened and a young lady in her twenties greeted her with curiosity masking her face.
“Please, I want to see…” She didn’t know whether to call her Elsa or Ms. Dáramólá or Mummy Délé. She would be laying eyes on her for the first time.
The lady raised her eyebrow as if to ask if she had forgotten who she wanted to see.
“Elsa.”
The lady pursed her lips and let her in. She followed her through the hallway and to the living room. The lady offered her a seat and left to get Elsa. Funlola looked at the pictures hung on the wallpaper covered walls to the leather sofa and high-end low wooden coffee table. Everything in the room screamed comfort. It seemed Providence had smiled on Elsa. She lived in a respectable gated community and in comfort. No doubt thanks to her son. God was indeed merciful.
Ìyà o je e gbe.
Funlola thought of how she would present her case before Elsa. She had been thinking of what to say for days and nothing had come to her. She didn’t want to come of as crass or rude but she was desperate. She sighed and hoped God would favour her with Elsa. She felt the soft bite of hunger in her tummy. She had been fasting for a week now. She hoped her pastor would not be wrong. He had told her to go and meet Elsa after their last prayer session together.
If she got out of this, Folá would see hell.
She heard the soft padding of feet in her direction and she looked up. It was the young lady followed by an older woman carrying a baby. She thought Délé only had two children. She thought wrong apparently.
What if it is this baby's HLA that matches Peju’s?
She didn’t want to think that. She doubted if Délé would let her touch a strand of his hair let alone the baby’s.
“E ka san o.”, Elsa greeted as she sat opposite her.
“E ka san.”, Funlola responded.
“I don’t think I recall this face. I’m sorry if we’ve met before.”, Elsa said smiling.
Funlola wondered what her face would be like if she revealed her identity. She took in a deep breath and said, “No, we’ve not met before. I’m Funlola. Funlola Ìgè.”
“Okay? How can I help you?”, Elsa said with curiosity painting her face.
“I’m Folá’s wife.”, Funlola said. She watched Elsa closely to gage her reaction. A mild flash of surprise and irritation and curiosity darkened her eyes.
“What do you want?”, Elsa said tersely.
Funlola tightened her hold on her handbag. “I… Elsa, we are meeting for the very first time under quite peculiar situations. I know what Folá did to you and I apologise on behalf of my husband. I am extremely sorry for what he did to you. You cannot imagine how horrified I was when I learnt what he did to you.”
Elsa pinched her lips together and said, “I am interested in pursuing the case, if that’s why you’re here. I have no joy in recounting the horrid memories. You don’t need to worry. Your husband is safe.”
“Frankly, I don’t care if Folá goes to jail for what he did. What he did was despicable enough and he didn’t even own up to it. That is just foul.”
“And I’m sure you didn’t come to tell me how grossed out you are by your husband’s misdeeds. What do you want exactly?”
“I need your help. Forget I am Folá’s wife…”
“That is kind of hard to do, considering it’s the only thing that connects us to each other.”
“I am here to appeal to you from one mother to another. I need Délé’s help to save my daughter’s life.”

lilachiever:
Aocoed, Laspo or Yabatech?

UNILAG.

Why do you ask though?

Akara tu s'epo.

Ketty, has it not ended for you now?

Mario, your head, I swear is not correct. Though, I can't blame you.

Chisomo, think with your head and not your heart. True love isn't defined by sex and giving a man a child. Think outside the picture. If he cheats on Ketty with you, what's to say he won't cheat on you with someone else?

Culin:
Lol, I don't even know what to say. Thanks for being amazing. Next update will be on Wednesday. Wednesday is Wednesday this time around. Lol.

Btw, how do you update soooo many chapters in a short time? Haaa. Please tell me the secret.

Will be expecting it.

Lol.


I don't know. I guess I just love you guys so much it pushes me to write more often.

lilachiever:
Unilag or LASU?

What makes you think I'm in a university?

Thanks for the update.

Ann2012:
I just hope Ketty doesn't regret her decision of bringing Chisomo to Mario

Of course she'll regret it. Because whether she likes it or not, Chisomo will be the mother of Mario's children, not her.

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Margaux flipped through at the papers in her hands, going through financial reports on sales. They were bad. Really bad. Ever since Chris died, the company had become a shell of itself. At least, they had gotten off the criminal charges against them for environmental degradation on lack of substantive evidence. But the damage it had done to their reputation was dreadful. Investors had pulled out and customers had lost confidence in the quality of their product.
Years of hard work wasted. She closed the file. She wondered how Chris would have addressed the issue. Chris was raised for this. Handling a company and juggling life’s lemons. She had only gotten her degree in business to please her father. As orthodox as it might sound she only wanted to be a good wife and a terrific mother. She fingered her wedding band and engagement ring.
She pursed her lips at the thought of Daniel. She didn’t understand him anymore. He had taken to the bottle and she couldn’t understand why. It seemed like he was fighting some pains and anytime she asked, he’d get angry. Anger shot through her as she recalled the way he had shouted at Genevieve when she saw crying last night. She had wanted to claw his eyes out.
She placed her palms on her laps and looked up at the road. Where exactly was this driver taking her? They had been on the road for close to an hour. She didn’t want to be late for her meeting with the new investor. The man’s assistant had called the office and declared his boss’s interest in investing in their mills and dairies. She wondered why he wanted in invest in that particular sector of their conglomerate but she simply believed everyone was wary of their mines and oil wells since the case.
“Aren’t we there yet?”, she asked and looked at her watch.
She had to head home on time. She didn’t want to leave her baby alone with her father. Not in his mercurial state. She made a mental note to ask her mum to get her a live-in nanny.
“Almost madam. The next turn is where the hotel is.”, he answered.
“Please, be fast.” She packed the file back into the folder.
Soon, the driver pulled up into the parking lot of the hotel. She mumbled a thank you as she got out of the car. She put on her sunglasses and walked towards the entrance. A couple of metres to the entrance of tge hotel, she spotted Daniel, holding hands and laughing with another woman. She tried to dismiss the scandalous thoughts that he was cheating on her. They could be old friends, colleagues, maybe distant relatives.
Daniel would never cheat on her. He couldn’t. She had done everything to make him happy. She had even lost a significant amount of weight for him. No, she had to trust her husband. She watched them turn the other way and enter his car. Her pounding heart hoped she was wrong.
She shook herself out of her daze and walked into the hotel.

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Margaux sat patiently in the study of the suite waiting for the investor to arrive. She tried to mentally run through her presentation again but her mind kept on wandering back to Daniel and the woman she saw with him. The more she tried to forget, the more the picture in her mind became vivid. Why did they come to a hotel?
Maybe, there’s a really good restaurant here. Or maybe the hotel is far enough for their romp in the sack.
Why was her husband laughing? Something he rarely did at home these days.
Maybe because he was happy to see his long lost friend or relative. Or maybe because you’re the one he can’t stand.
Why was he holding her hand?
Maybe they’re that close. Or maybe he loves her.
Margaux shook her head to stop the battle between her heart and her mind. Daniel wouldn’t dare. She was the mother of his daughter and the love of his life.
Since when has that ever stopped a man. Even your own father cheated when his wife was dying. Her mind said.
No. Daniel is not my father.
The door opened and she heard someone clear his throat. She turned and saw the man who had introduced himself to be the assistant who called. The man held open the door and someone walked in. It was Rasheed.
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. They needed his money and she owed him. She stood and determined to be professional.
“Good afternoon, honourable.”, she greeted as he crossed over to seat in front of her.
“Afternoon, Margaux.”, he greeted as he sat.
The door was shut leaving them alone. “Id prefer Mrs. Onugha, if it’s not too much to ask, sir.”, she stated as she sat.
“And I’d prefer Rasheed.”
“If that is what you want…Rasheed.”, she said and pulled out the copy of the presentation and placed it in front of him.
“I love the way it rolls off your tongue.”, he said and bent his head to peruse the document before him. She was flustered at his untoward words but kept herself in check. They needed his money.
“So…honourable…”
“Rasheed.”, he corrected looking at her.
“Rasheed.”, she gritted wanting the name to sound as abrasive as ever on her tongue.
“Perfect.”, he said and leaned back in his chair.
“So, Oduah Mills and Dairies is the second youngest addition to the Oduah Holdings Corporation family, operations beginning twelve years ago. And in eight years, we grew to be a force in the market, becoming a major substitute for Flour Mills of Nigeria products and a lot of imported milk products. If you’d kindly look at slide three, it shows the profit and cost margin for the first ten years of operation…” Margaux stopped wondering why Rasheed rather than look at the papers in front of him was watching her. And not watching her in attentive listening but with a gaze that told her business was the last thing on his mind.
Why would he be looking at her as if he was stripping her with his eyes? Were all married men just dogs and couldn’t be faithful? In anger at him and Daniel, she snapped, “Are you listening to me or what?”
Her irritation flared when her words didn’t faze the look on his face.
“Slide three, profit cost margin. I heard you.”, he said.

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“Do you know what I realised for the first time today?”, Elsa said as she pulled away from Donald.
Donald looked at her puffy red eyes hoping she was okay. She had been crying for close to fifteen minutes.
“What?”, he asked.
She sniffled and said, “Not all first loves are true loves. I saw today the real Jolá Ige and I wondered how on earth I fell for him. He has always been a jerk. I look back and see snippets of his jerkiness. I must have been so desperate for love that I eloped with him. I thought I was getting away from my stepmother but now I realise I was only being a fool.”
“You weren’t a fool. You were young, innocent and in love.”, Donald said and held her hand. He patted it staring at her.
“ I’d beg to differ.”, she said and pulled her hand away from him. “Thank you Donald. I really appreciate your standing up for me. I need to rest my head….”
“Okay, no problem. I’ll be leaving.”, he said and stood.
She turned her back on him and tried to calm herself before going to bed. She turned when she heard the door close. She melted in relief and sat on the couch. She had been imagining what she saw in his eyes earlier. She had to. She held her head in her hands. Maybe she’d write a movie out of her life. So much drama.
She looked up when she heard the door reopen. Her relief flew out of the window and she stood.
“Did you forget something?”, she asked nervously.
“Yes. I forgot to do this.”, he said and walked to her like he couldn’t keep a lid on himself anymore. He cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers.
“Donald, what are you doing?”, she said as she pulled away from him.
“Elsa, I’ve been on this planet for close to seventy years. I’m not getting any younger. And if there’s one thing I’ve decided is that I don’t want to have any regrets about what I could have done. Elsa, I want to be with you. With all my heart. I want to spend the rest of my days with you. I’m tired of being a coward. I’ve said it. I’d rather I say it and you reject me than not say it at all.”, he said and pressed his forehead against hers.
“Donald, you can’t. We can’t do this to Lydia. She doesn’t deserve it.”, Elsa said and stepped away from him.
“Are you really putting Lydia before yourself?”
“Of course. To do to others as you want others to do to you. God! I can’t believe I’ve stolen someone’s boyfriend.”, she said and turned away from him feeling scandalised.
Donald walked to her and placed his hands on her arms. “I was never hers to begin with.”
“This is wrong.”
“Elsa, do you want to be with me? Yes or no? I want a one word answer.”
“I..”
“I wasn’t in the options. Yes or no.”, he said.
“Donald…”, she called in trepidation.
“Elsa, yes or no.”
“Its not that simple.”, she said and pulled away.
“You love complications. Do you want to be with me or do you still feel nothing for me?”, he stated plainly.
“Donald, I love you as a friend, as a brother…”
“You’re lying. I doubt you’d kiss a brother the way you kiss me just now.”, he deadpanned.
“Donald…”
“Elsa, once in your life do what you want…”
“The last time I did what I want I got burnt badly and I’m still paying for my impulsiveness.”
“What about me then? What about my feelings?”, he asked as he came around her to come face to face with her.
“And what about Lydia?”
“Forget Lydia is in the picture. Focus on you and me…”
“I can’t. Lydia is in the picture. Please forget about this notion. I can’t be with you knowing Lydia is suffering because of me. Please.”

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Seyifunmi dragged her feet in fatigue down her street. The bright orange light and noise of sirens and the whooshing of heavy torrent jolted her out of her fatigue. Murmurs and wails filled the air as she pushed through the throng of people on the street. Her jaw dropped as smashed through the asphalt. Her apartment building had caught fire. Tears welled up in her eyes. Her documents and certificates, her clothes, her life was in that flat and it was all gone. She had used her up entire savings to pay for a year and a half.
Where would she start from? What sort of horrid day was it? She had been robbed on her way back home. Her phones and debit cards were in her bag. She had had to beg a few pedestrians to give her money to return home. Most people had ignored her. An elderly woman had offered to pay her fare rather than give her money. She was grateful nonetheless. Three stops away from her bus stop, the danfo she had entered broke down and the foolish conductor refused the give anyone money to take another bus. She had had to trek home and now her house had caught fire.
“Seyifunmi!”, she heard Délé shout and she turned to see him. He pushed through the people blocking him and ran to hug her.
“God!”, he shouted. “Why didn’t you pick your calls?”
“I was robbed on my way back from work.”, she said. He pulled away in worry to look at her. “Are you okay?”
“I wasn’t hurt. Délé, my house…”, she cried.
“It’s okay.”, he said and hugged her again. “When I came over and saw the fire, I was worried and I kept calling your line. It was switched off. I was scared. I thought you were stuck in the house. I thought… I thought I had lost you. I thought I had lost you, Seyifunmi.”
“I’m safe.”, she said smiling weakly.
“And you don’t know how glad I am.”, he said and pulled away. “Seyifunmi, I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t.” He pressed his lips to hers not regarding the backdrop of calamity and loss behind them.
“Oh, Délé.”, she moaned as he broke the kiss.
“Let me take you home.”, he said.


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Seyifunmi mumbled a thank you as she collected the cup of coffee Dele handed to her. She blew on it and took a sip. She placed it on the coffee table and tucked her leg underneath her and picked up Délé’s laptop and finished drafting her email to the HR department of her firm. She reread it and clicked send. She picked up her cup of coffee and took another sip. She looked up at Délé who was busy warming up the takeout they had ordered.
She put down her cup and walked towards the kitchen.
“Hey.”, she said and sat on a stool by the counter.
“Have you sent it?”, he asked as he brought out a Pyrex dish from the microwave and poured the rice in it on flatware.
“Yes. Thanks for lending me your laptop and your T-shirt.”, she said smiling.
He looked at her and smiled. “There’s no need to thank me.”
He placed a plate of rice, salad and chicken in front of her. “Thank you”, she muttered.
“You’re welcome.”, he said and pulled a Tetra Pak of orange juice out of the fridge and placed it in front of her. “So what’s next now?”
“I have no idea. I really want to think this is a dream and I’ll wake up.”, she said. She sighed and said, “Dele, I’m sorry about the last time we saw each other.”
He crossed the area and came to stand by her. “I get you were nervous. There’s nothing to be sorry for.” He placed his hands on her face and caressed her cheek. “Tonight, I thought I had lost you. You don’t know how the thought sickened me.”
She smiled. “You didn’t lose me, Dele.” She held his hand to reassure him of her presence as she saw the look of anguish on his face.
“I know but just thinking that you could have slipped away from me kills me. I love you, Seyifunmi. I love you so much.”, he said softly.
Euphoria roared within her like a typhoon. He loved her. Her hear stretched so much with joy she thought it would burst. She lifted her lips to his and kissed him with all her love.
“I love you too Dele.”, she said and hugged him. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited to her those words.”