TO THE TALENTED PEN HOLDERS

This is solely my opinion and i am not imposing it on anyone( NOTE)....you can take it or leave it, i am just stating facts the are obvious to me.....

sincerely, from the depth of my heart i do love entertainment, especially for the sake of relaxation. i am a writer...an upcoming one at least and i enjoy the feeling of been any character in a story that i write but there is one thing i won't be...i wont be a degraded fellow that would corrupt and destory the mind of my readers especially the teens and even pre-teens.

we have to note that writers are like gods, they create and they destroy any character they have in their mind. They put it into writing making the readers feel what they want them to feel and influencing their actions afterwards.

i have come to realise that you are what you write and when you write, you stimulate others to been like you. sexuality outside marriage is absolutely degrading in any kind of form it takes whether as masturbation or as ponography.

These things take from us without giving us anything back in return.. its like building up a generation of wasted youths....

That you have made a mistake in life, that you have fallen, that you lost your dignity doesn't give you the right to pull the younger generation down. find a solution to your problem and write about that solution.. I guess that's more healthy. True i know you put '+18' on your stories and articles but then, how many teenagers know the meaning. why write it at all?

sex amidst youths is like off and on insanity...it leaves them with a feeling of worthlessness... who would tell them that they were not created to run into the sexually inviting arms of every Dick, Tom and Harry.. they finish and they are like 'oh! what have i done!' whereas you were the maddness initator!

come on! lets do this together ... lets do it right! lets write good.... lets help the upcoming generation. life is not all about sex!

I LOVE TO WRITE BUT I WOULD WRITE RIGHT!

#love #passion #purity
#Thisismyvoice
BOLARINWA OYINDAMOLA

wow....this is really deep.....

Phunmmielurlar:
No matter hw late dis comment seem 2 b cumin,jus accept am lyk DT.....a sin 4 person wa go read wa no go drop comment!


Dis tori mk sense die!....short buh still vry detailed *chop kiss* ....buh aunty watin na,tireni 2 suffer Na,only her go receive beatin of her lyf/embarrassment,only her dem pursue 4 ouse,only her receive knife wound,only her still receive bullet (u 4 allow olumide collect dt 1 4 Luv jawe)!


U don enter ma personal fav. writers diary!
Nce write up!
U r d bomb!
All dis NL writers sha 1 put me 4 trouble(y'all r exceptional!)

looool...thanks a lot ma.....awwwn.....so glad to see dis comment

its brief...interesting, funny and sweet

really really cool.....

following....

Lolsd:
Interesting novel but this Theodore guy is so dull!!! can u imagine a girl is giving u d greenlight and he is acting like a ninny .. who does that?

someone who knows what he wants...and is sincerely been careful....i guess.....

t1976:
This is a very nice and interesting story,weldone Oyin

thanks ma

Silensa:
wow wow wow wow and many wow's. thank you very much dear for robbing me of my night sleep. More mb to your device ma'am, you are so so good.

awwn thanks silensa......

TMDavidWest....you are amazing!....i mean your weave of words and everything....i admire you from far o....keep the good work up....wonder woman!

kai! otunba sha....i cant help but be sorry for you in advance

[quote author=dimssy post=53913504]
hmmmm,#gbayi Oyinda1242..
should wee expect something anytime soon.[/quote

hmmm....that's a big question. i would be stepping down for now tho to go back to learn...so that i can make neccessary adjustments in my writings and come back better... you should expect something but not so soon tho...Although you can download this pdf valentine package that was written by me


Please download via.. /p4na8k-hx
*#Fadesewa* *#BolarinwaOyindamola*
www.temitopedaniel.

read...enjoy....learn...and drop your comments

awwn....thanks to all those that wished me a happy birthday...i am glad you enjoyed TIRENI...God bless you for following...

I dedicate the grand finale of TIRENI to the young man that introduced me to story writing, i never believed i could write stories but he gave me an opportunity to write a book with him titled UNREQUITED. He taught me most of the things i know, right from using descriptions to how to imput suspense. He is my Teacher, my boss, my papa, my brother and a friend like no other! Please help me appreciate the person of TemitopeDaniel.. God bless you pa!

GRAND FINALE

Panic gripped Olu as he confirmed that Tireni was in his house, The house he ran away from. Jeez, the real valley of the shadow of death. What was she doing there for heaven's sake? He kept asking himself as he stepped hard on the accelerator. He felt like flying over other cars that were on the road.

He picked his phone and dialed Ade's number
"How could you have allowed her leave home!" He barked into the receiver

"She is at your place." Ade replied confused.

"I told you to keep her safe." Olu accused again.

The panic transferred to Adewoyin, Olu could hear it in her voice "what has happened!"

"Just stay where you are." He advised and ended the call.

Olu turned into his street it was clear, he parked a distance away from his compound; his eyes darted to and fro as he checked his safety, he placed his hands on his trousers and felt the gun in his pocket, sprouting out hair from his mouth he raced towards his house.

** ** **
Tireni had walked straight into Olu's room the moment she entered. The first sight her eyes caught was his laptop that was on the bed. It was switched on.

"He must have rushed out." She mused as she motioned towards the screen. The picture on the system became clearer, it was her Mum! She squinted her eyes to have a clear view as she bent to take her sit. Her mum? The situation baffled her.

She scrolled down and read the words written under it, her eyes grew wide and her heart ran wild. Her Mother was a Fraud? She didn't wait to read the remaining.

She stood up, panting and sweating, feeling both disappointed and betrayed. She had fallen into the hand of a wolf!

She shook her head and she paced around the room, breathing heavily and unable to express what she felt. Her mouth became heavy, her legs were weak and she felt dizzy. Tireni had to hold the wall for support.

Her eyes fluttered as she tried holding back the eating tears. The day she planned to give him a yes was the day he planned to destroy her life by taking her Mother. She trembled as she held the burglary in Olu's room, staring at the laptop from a distance.

That wasn't the time to cry, she had to be strong, her Mum was in danger. Tireni didn't know which to react to first, the betrayal she felt or the danger her Mum was. Why did she allow her heart love him? She was already getting to trust Olu. This was the height of it all.

She was going to make sure he smelt the ground. Right now, the only thing that mattered to her was his downfall.
"I will hurt you beyond your expectation. It'll be slow and eternal."

She grabbed her bag to search for her phone, she needed to alert her Mum, she hope she'd pick.

She was still searching and trying to turn over the whole bag when her phone rang, it made it easy for her to locate it. It was Olu. She decided to talk so calmly. She wouldn't make him know about all what she saw.

Tireni could pick the tone at which Olu spoke. He just asked her to stay right there in his room, she could bet that she heard panic in his voice.

Tireni considered if she should go for a knife or a pestle, but no, her heart wouldn't allow her. She had already fallen for him and getting up was difficult than she expected. She shivered as goose bumps climbed her skin even in the stuffy room.

Tireni sat on the bed, breathing really hard, she was going to wait for him, give him a piece of her mind and they were going to meet in court.

Her mother wasn't a fraud and so she was going to get the best lawyer no matter the cost and win the case. It was going to make her mother love her; her fragile mind calculated.

"Ooh! Olu used me." She sobbed after she called her Mum the fifth time and it wasn't going through. She didn't know what was going to happen next but she knew she was going to fight.

** ** **
"Kessi! I am going back in. Tireni is inside."

"What?!" Kessi exclaimed

"Mobilize the guys faster, we'll remain indoors."

"We are right on it."

"Make it fast. The road is still clear." Olu informed as he inserted his key into his lock, her turned it and opened the door to his apartment. He removed his gun immediately and pointed it left, right and center, holding it firmly. He locked the door behind him.

Tireni wasn't in the living room. Nothing of her's was in sight, even her bag which she usually drop on the chair whenever she comes wasn't there. It wasn't a time to entertain thoughts so he went ahead into the room, his eyes darted to and fro.

"Tireni!" He called. He heard sobs.
** ** **
It was like the whole building shook she screamed "Give me the key!" Olu had tried in vein to tame the arisen lion in Tireni. She was sobbing quietly at first with her head down.
Maybe he shouldn't have tried moving close to her especially with a gun in his hand.

Her head jerked up as Olu stretched to place his free hand on her shoulder. "Don't touch me." She had stated gravely. "You evil, wicked monster."

Olu stepped back, giving her space to stand up to her feet. Her big frown and twisted lips helped the fire in her eyes to express her anger.

Olu's eyes quickly surveyed the room, it rested on his laptop and his six senses told him that she had seen everything, except one; that Teniola wasn't her biological mother. That particular information and the evidences backing it was on another file.

Olu dropped the gun on the bed, a little distance from where Tireni stood. "I am not trying to hurt you." He lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender "I just need you to trust me right now Tireni."

"Trust you!" Tireni screamed to his face as she grabbed her bag. "I should trust you! Because you think I am stupid! I didn't go to school? I can't read what's on your system." Her eyes turned red and her veins stood out.

Olu wasn't bothered about her reactions, he just need to keep her indoor. Tireni's eyes rested on the gun. She could just pick it and end his life once and for all, her heart beat sped as the thought crossed her mind. He deserved it for all she cared.

For all the love he showed her in pretense, Olu deserved to be dead; for the fact the he told her about the fraud case and didn't tell her it was her mother, for hurting her without consideration, for teaching her to trust him and he was to be one to betray her. Olu deserved to be dead!

Tireni motioned towards him, panting heavily. Olu moved back "what are you doing?" He asked, she fixed her eyes on him like a lion does to its’ pray, pouting her mouth and drawing her brows together in a deep frown, she reached to the bed and grabbed the gun.

"Tireni you can't do this!" Olu said with his hands still up, he was sweating now even though he was standing directly under the fan.

"I can! And I'll do it over and over again." She pointed the gun at him holding it with her two hands.

"No, you love me, you really do!" Olu tried reaching out to her emotions.

"No!!" She gave a thunderous scream, straining her voice and engaging all her strength. "I don't love you, I don't." She said shaking her head. "I am going to end you now once and for all."

"It's not what you think." Olu explained.

"Shut up! You have taken everything from me. My love and my Mum. How dare you Olu." She looked away from him and glared at the gun she was holding and I guess that was where she missed.

Olu grabbed her hands, holding them together very tight. Tireni screamed and cried and kicked but couldn't hold on long with the pressure on her hands. She pushed and pulled, struggling to hold on to the gun. It fell from her hands and Olu immediately kicked it hard. It slid far under the bed.

He released his grip and let out a loud sigh. Tireni ran out of the room to the door. He knew he had to keep her in, Teniola guys must have been lurking somewhere outside by now.

Tireni got to the door and tried to pull it open before she realized it was locked

"Give me the key now!" She screamed again. She wondered why he wouldn't allow her go, after all the pains he had caused her. Why won't he just free her. At least he had fulfilled the mission he came into her life for.

"Tireni you have to listen to me, you just have to hear me out!" He gestured with his hands trying to buy time.

"Just give me this key Olu!"

"Hold on and listen to me Tireni, I beg you." Olu went on his knees. He stretched his hand to touch her arms but she moved a step back.

She folded her lips in and allowed the tears that had formed in her eyes pour. "Can you just allow me go I am begging you too." Her voice broke.

"What you saw about your Mum was correct."
Olu allowed his head drop. Tireni drew a long hiss and remembered that she had her spare key.

She dipped her hand into her bag, pulled out the key and made for the door. Olu sprang to his feet and grabbed her from behind, his effort was futile as Tireni successfully turned the key.

"Tireni hold on!" He raised his voice and held her. Tireni turned back and raised her knee, she hit him between his legs. He screamed and spawled to the floor. Tireni stepped out.
** ** **
The sound of the gun shot made Olu forget his pain and jump up, Tireni fell to the back with a thud, the lower part of her body hung down the door post. She was bleeding, the bullet passed through the right side of her stomach.

Olu pulled her in fast and kicked the door to a close. He locked it with his key and bent over the unconscious lady. "Tireni." He called, "Tireni you have to hold on." He spoke into her ears like she could hear him, Olu shivered at the sight of the lifeless lady, her body was becoming cold.

He could still hear gunshots outside but so he remained on the floor beside her, holding her closely regardless of the blood stain.

"Open the door! It's Kessi." He heard from outside.

"Get an ambulance!"

"I already called for one." The back ups had already done the necessary things. Olu opened the door and saw one of their guys that was on uniform trying to bend the head of a struggling woman into the van.

"Hold on." He called out to them, while Kessi went in to Adewoyin.

The head popped back out of the car, It was Madam Cash. Olu was mad.
"So you came with them to kill her!" He threw a hard slap that made her head hit the top of the car.

Teniola was shocked, she couldn't say a word. She just stared. You know that time of look? So indifferent and evil.

"Take her away before I take justice into my hands." He stared at the other guys that had been handcuffed at the back of the van. They all kept their head low, one of them laid lifeless, he must have sustained a bullet injury.

Olu walked back to join Kessi. "Let's take her, we'd meet the ambulance on the road." Olu said as he rolled Tireni into his arms.

"Tayo has been busted also, at the airport. He planned travelling without the woman. Can you imagine." He asked.

"I can imagine anything right now." Olu said with no note of excitment. If Tireni doesn't live everything was going to be in vain.

** ** **
It was after two weeks in the intensive care unit of the general hospital that full life returned to Tireni's body. The day she regained consciousness she was welcomed by a song Olu was humming beside her and playing with the sliver chain that beared her name. The supervisor had spared him from doing other works, so that he can take care of his girl.

He never left her side until the days they had to take the case to court and that was just twice because the supervisor made sure that the case was not continuously adjourned.

Bella and Aminat were back for the case and although Aminat parents were found, they preferred her to be with Mr. Fagade abroad, where she could be protected and taken care of, they had lost her before and wouldn't risk it again.

Olu explained all that had happened to Tireni when she was strong enough to hear, he told her the secret behind all the pains she had experienced as she lied down on the hospital bed. Everything! From the day he met her till the day she got shot.

Tireni wouldn't have gone through all that she went through if she had held on a little longer for Olumide to explain there. She couldn't stop sobbing after hearing the whole truth and seeing evidences.

The pain she was experiencing now on that bed was nothing compared to the pain she had experienced when she was indoor with him - the pain she felt that was out of betrayal.

That was what she was supposed to go through if she was ever going to get back all that belonged to her. Her real family and her inheritance. Olu really loved her and she wished she had trusted him more. After all, he was the one she planned to spend the rest of her life with.

Olumide brought out a paper and a pen. "Sign this."

"What is it?" She asked as she tried giving it a glance first.

"It's your form to the music school." Olu announced.

She stared at the name of the school that was written boldly on the top- Royal Academy of Music, London.

"London?" She asked, Olu nodded with a big smiled.

"How do we finance it?" She asked again.

"Your aunt would take care of it." Olu explained and just then the door to the private ward screeched and Tireni looked up to meet the loving eyes of Fagade Bella.

The feelings that rushed through the two were thrilling as Bella and Tireni locked in a long, warm embrace regardless of the pains Tireni felt by her side. How could she have known that she was a family with such a lady? Bella planted a kiss on her forehead, holding her face in her hand she said.

"From now on, you'd never go through even the slightest stress or any form of suffering." Tireni nodded, tears had formed a cloud in her eyes again.

"I have to see the doctor." Fagade Bella announced. She stood up and patted her grey gown down. "Take care of her." She winked at Olu.

"Yes ma!" Olu replied and they chuckled. The two had a bad record with each other but now that they had to be something like 'in-laws' they just had to flow.

Olu moved to the bed beside Tireni as soon as Bella closed the door behind her. He spoke these words into her ears.

" You should know that I know my job and at the same time I love you and would not do anything to hurt you or make you go through unnecessary pains. I'd do anything to keep you safe. If only you'll fully trust me. I can only help you as far as you let me." He paused ans swallowed, looking straight into her eyes he said, "I love you Tireni."

Tireni closed her eyes and moved her lips muttering the words 'I love you too and I'll spend the rest of my life with you over and over again."

"Is that an automatic yes!" Olu asked with a glint in his eyes

"Sure!" She gave a big blush

Olu stroked her hair to the back, he couldn't help blushing too, he placed his head on hers and the both hummed "iyawo mi" by Timi Dakolo.

Tireni made it clear that she was not willing to see Madam Cash and Tayo; who had been sentenced on life imprisonment with hard labour with every single dime from their account being transfered to her.

Tireni made it clear that she was moving on immediately, she was going start a beautiful life with Olu and her new family. Even the desire for an apology wouldn't make her go to the prison to see those evil people

** ** **
They were checking them in at the airport, Shina, Bella and Olu were also there. She was going over to Royal academy, London to resume her music school and Bella was going with her to help her with settling down.

Bella and Tireni crossed over to the other side of the bar. Shina and Bella waved good bye to others while Olu screamed on the top of his voice, drawing the attention of every single person.

"Marry me Tireni.". He said waving a Tiffany box. Tireni's eyes widened, everybody was looking at her.

She screamed back. "Of course I'll marry you!"
Olu threw the box over the bar and Tireni jumped to catch it, people clapped and laughed. She opened the box and slid the ring into her finger. This was the most awkward proposal she had ever seen.

She waved back, showing the ring and screaming 'I love you.' Bella placed her hand around the waist of her happy niece and dragged her along laughing heartily.

"Why did he wait for us to cross over before asking me." She asked Bella.

"Because he trusted you to catch his ring no matter how far." Was the reply


** ** **
From Oyin
Sometimes in life, the thing we really deserve do not come on a platter of gold, we have to carry the cross in other to experience the joy. We have to learn to trust even when we are in pain, to believe even when we were once let down and to have faith even when it looks like the help of God isn't near.
KEEP TRUSTING and HOLDING ON
OYIN LOVES YOU! GBAM!
I drop my pen here

The Grand Finale of my 1st story - TIRENI drops tomorrow by 8am...WHAT HAPPENS NOW THAT TIRENI IS IN OLU'S ROOM...THE CORE ABODE OF DANGER?....WATCH OUT!....do not miss it and don't forget to keep your comments coming in...love ya!

CONTINUATION

** **
Olu was around, Kessi and Bello were also around. It was only Simeon Stones representative that was holding the meeting from starting. Shina tried the man's cell phone again.

"He'll soon be here." He announced to the group of them sitting around the conference table, they nodded.

Bella had traveled out a day before with her father and Aminat, her and Aminat were core witnesses and he made sure they had travelled before he mentioned it to any of the the detectives since he didn't know which one was the insider.

His meeting with them today was to inform them that he was ready to take the case to court. The evidences they had gathered was enough it was high time they left the remaining to the judge. The only secret mission left was for him to find the insider.

As for him, the results from the lab, the photograph of Tayo with the gun dealer and the DNA test was enough to implicate the fools and for justice to reign. Catching them in the act was just something extra he wanted.

The man finally appeared and submitted the copy of business proposal signed by Teniola and the business ownership form she submitted. Shina checked it and passed it on to Olu.

"Same signature!" Olu exclaimed.

"And she has a partner o, i feel the lady is dumb, why would only her be signing." Kessi commented when the paper got to his hands.

I personally give Tayo a big hand on that. Mehn! The man was smart. He used her back to back and Teniola too sef, must she always make the same mistake.

"Well even fraud make mistakes." was Bello comment on what he saw.

The meeting came to an end and the all went their separates ways with Shina appointing Police escorts for the Man that represented Simeon Stones.
** ** **
Kessi and Olu went to Olu's place to discuss after the meeting. Olu narrated everything that had happened between him and Tireni to Kessi.

"Kai! So she pointed a knife?"

"I swear." Olu replied

"A real knife?"

"Hun hun. The one made out of mud." Olu replied mockingly.

"She has serious trust issues o." Kessi commented.

"And I don't know what to do about it again." Olu complained.

"Give her space.". Kessi advised

"Are you sure?" Olu asked

"It works, she'll realize you really love her and come back. At least you have given her your key."

"True." Olu nodded.

"Besides you have to free her at this time. It's dangerous to be close to her now that we are at the heat of these cases. we don't know who is watching. " He paused and continued.

"The fact is that, when everything comes out plain she'd end up trusting you, she will see clearly everything you have been doing for her and would have no choice."

Olu fixed his eyes on Kessi and waited a little as if he was digesting the advise before muttering "you are right, I'll do just that."
** ** **
He parked his car some distance away from Frantel Foods and waited for Detective Bello to enter before he did, he had two police escorts in his back seat as usual. He had been taking them along since he started trailing the three detectives that worked with him.

He met Olu clean and same with Kessi, it remained Bello. He knew that whoever it is would want to take an action immediately after the meeting entered and took his seat in the general section, then he called a waiter to order for a drink.

The VIP section wasn't so far from where he sat and he saw detective Bello sit in a table for two before a man. All well and good, Bello backed him and the man in anyway wouldn't recognise him not to talk of noticing him. He checked the picture he had with him. It was Tayo.

He could hear their discussions clearly due to the wire bug he placed on the detective has they trooped out of the conference room and the hearing device in his ear which did not only transmit signals but also records it.

Happy that he caught his culprit he waited patiently and downed the lemonade he ordered for. He listened to how Bello offloaded everything they discussed to Tayo.

"Leave Teniola, she is a police meat already and leave those kids too, Aminat already sold you out! leave this damned country is my advise for you." He heard Bello say.

"That would be hard, especially because of the girls i’m training. That Aminat is a bastard." He proclaimed. After thinking for a while he announced "I'll do as you have said, expect an alert soon."

"When do you plan to leave."

"Next week but I'll first deal with that guy, Olu."

Shina watched Bello walk out with Tayo, he waited for some minutes, paid for his drink and followed suite.
He entered his car and watched Tayo and Bello entered theirs, he was glad the two were going different ways.

Soon he overtook detective Bello's car. He signaled to the two men with him and they got down and did the needful. One of the men pushed the dumbfounded handcuffed man into Shina's car and the other followed from behind in Bello's car.
** ** **
Shina really missed Bella, he anticipated their being together, he was calling her for the second time since she left with her father and Aminat.

"Babe?" Shina said and he downed his fruit juice.

"Shina!" Bella exclaimed excitedly into the receiver.

"Awwn, she is happy to hear from me."

"Come on! That's childish, I can do without you." Bella defended.

Shina chuckled, "well, I won't push further out of pity for your monstrous ego."

"Whatever...." Bella drawled.

"How is Dad and Aminat?"

"Dad is doing good, we have finally settled down and Aminat has started attending a counselling section over here, she is responding really well." Bella explained. "And guess what?" She quickly added.

"I am not..."

"- so good at guessing." Bella completed the statement with him, swinging her head from side to side in a childish manner.

"Well, Dad is planning on adopting Aminat if the case truly gets settled. Although that's if they are unable to reach her real parents. Just to have someone to stay with him sha." She gestured with her free hand like she was talking to someone that could see her.

"That'll be nice." Shina responded plainly with no hint of excitement or disagreement and Bella noted it.

"You don't sound happy about it. Isn't the cases going well."

"We are making progress, we finally got the insider amidst us and we are working towards the D-day. Just the pressures you know?"

"I know and it's all going to work out well, hmm?" She paused and heard Shina sigh. "And whether it works out fine or not, I am always proud of you."

The statement made a smile creep slowly to his lips. "I love you Bella and I'll make you Proud." He said.

"I love you too, see you soonest!"
** ** **
"You've got so stop listening to that song." Adewoyin advised as she slumped in the bed beside Tireni.

Ever since the incident between her and Olu happened she had been listening to a particular song on heart break and it was on automatic repeat and funny enough she wouldn't use an ear piece. Adewoyin was forced to know the lyrics of the song.

"And maybe you should start getting up from bed too." She said mockingly.

Tireni threw a wry smile and replied "I am getting better."

Ade threw her a glance and asked. "Who asked if you were sick?"

"Shut up girl! I am love sick!" She announced rolling her eyes

"Oh I see. Did he reply the text?" Ade asked sitting up, she was visibly prepared for gist with the usual smirk on her face.

"No, he didn't, and I composed it well." Tireni answered. She paused the music and passed her phone over to Ade to read the text.

Ade smiled as she read through, she looked up to her friend whose eyes were following her every movement.

"Girl, you deserve this punishment." Ade concluded. "But it's funny, I don't see any reason why he would give you his spare key and still refuse to reply your text or return your calls." She added.

"I don't know what to do again o. I am sorry, I only did what I did for my safety" She collected her phone back to try Olu's number again.

Ade chucked. "Because you couldn't trust him enough babe, that all he is asking for."

"I have gone through a lot you should understand that." She talked with the phone on her ears.

Ade was about to reply when Tireni screamed.

"He picked! He picked! I swear he just picked!" She pointed at the phone in her ear with her free hand and bounced on the bed.

Ade's eyes widened in equal excitement.

"Babe he is hearing you over the phone na. Compose yourself." Ade advised.

"Hello, I saw your calls and your texts I have been busy and I am still busy, work is really hanging on my neck, take care of your self, I have to go now." Olu cooed from the other end the moment Tireni said a sensible 'Hello'
He had planned not allow her excitement last a minute and it worked,

Ade watched her friend’s face change from extremely happy to seriously sad. Tireni removed the phone from her ear and stared at the screen as if to be sure that he really ended the call

"He cut the call?" Curious Ade asked with a slight frown.

"Yes." Tireni answered, "but he said he his busy." She added.

"Hmm..." Ade hummed.

"What?" Tireni asked

"Or....." Her friend drawled

"Or what na!"

"Could this also be because you haven't given him a yes. You know it's not too good to keep a guy waiting for long." Ade suggested.

"It could be." Tireni nodded. "

I don't think it's about what happened because he didn't sound angry or upset, just let me say Busy." She paused and pressed her lips together.

"And you know the funny thing?" She asked Ade with sparks in her eyes. "Olu has never been too busy for me, so he cannot be busy now. He is probably reacting to time." She added.

"True talk dearie." Ade encouraged her reasoning.

"How about I go to his place tomorrow, enter with my key, prepare a surprise dish and give him a surprise 'Yes!'"

Ade clapped, "That will be extremely cool, hmm, so 5th of june will now be your anniversary day."

"Mumu! We have not started the relationship, this one is already talking about anniversary." She mocked Ade.

** ** **
Tireni looked sweet in her long, flowing armless gown. It was orange and had patterns of green, V- neck with a band a little above the navel level.

"Oooookaaaaay! Kill the day babe!" Adewoyin exclaimed as she came out of the bathroom.

"He's going to like you on this." She remarked as she took Tireni in. Her eyes perused her.

Tireni chuckled as she swirled around in front of the Mirror. Ade clapped and gave her a thumb up.

"So is everything prepared?" She asked as picked up a cream bottle from the small trolley beside the bed.

"Yes, I got the fish, meat and vegetables yesterday, it's remaining only the Semovita and I'll get it on my way."

"Hmm, Surest wifey." Ade teased, while Tireni buckled her green sandals. "Na you sabi." Tireni answered as she struggled with the already annoying buckle. Soon she was done and she lifted her head.

"Comb that hair again." Adewoyin pointed out, it had fallen far apart from the intial style it was combed into.

Tireni scowled and motioned towards the dressing table, it was her D-day. The day she was going to let Olu know that she trusts him enough to give herself to him. She was going to look her best and cook her best and infact! Smile her best.

** ** **
5th of june as Detective Bello had announced was the day for the Nigerian Police Force to put an end to the deeds of Teniola and Tayo Marquis.

Plans had been made. Every one already knew the parts they were playing, the back up police were ready.

Olu had called all the necessary persons that morning, it was a very bright day, the bright was clear and the wind wasn't violent, it was so cool you would never expect a storm from the NPF to break lose on such a day.

Olu couldn't sleep all through the night, it was shocking when Detective Shina called to inform him that Bello was the insider and that he had been arrested.

His mind worked round the clock imagining how the arrest of Tayo and Teniola would be. He opened the window to allow the streaming light from the sun in.

Olu checked all the neccessary documentations on his laptop where all the Top-class information where. Everything was complete. He was sure that Kessi would have Tayo on trail now while he was yet to go after Madam cash.

His phone rang and he stretched to pick it from the other side of his bed.

"Man! Leave home now! They are coming over to your place, Get away from there, we would cover them there!" Kessi's voice boomed hastily from the other end.

The call ended before he could say any other thing. Thank God he was dressed he picked up his car keys and rushed into the car. As he drove out of the compound in reverse he checked the street through his rear view mirror.

"It's clear." He muttered and swerved into the road in speed."

How could they be coming after him? Had Bello given them his address before he was caught. Whatever it was he just had to get out of that place fast.

He felt the gun in his pocket as his body shifted in the car seat, it was for self defence. He had to get to a place to hide and then he'd join his Men when Kessi calls to tell him that the place was covered.

Tireni! She crossed his mind. "Oh my God, she could equally be in danger!" He muttered as he picked up his phone to dial her number.
She didn't pick at the first ring but did at the second.

"Where are you!" He asked alarmed, practically postponing every form of pleasantries.

"In your room." She replied, her voice broke.

To be sure he heard right, he asked again "which room?"

"Your room." Tireni replied.

This penultimate episode of TIRENI is dedicated to
missymossy
mismore
souloho 19
dimssy
kingphilip
TemitopeDaniel


EPISODE 10
Tireni can't help the feelings she gets when Olu comes around, he was the reason why she was able to forgive Ade and her mum and it helped her get better health wise, he came over to Ade's place every other day and everything seemed to be going smooth even though she had not given him a yes.

Tireni had tried going back to her mum but it proved futile, the first time Olu met her on the road when she had not gone too far from Ade's house, he changed the course of her journey and took her to an amusement park, the second time she got home and didn't meet anybody, the bar was locked too and a neighbour told her that she guess her mum has relocated.

The information was a big shocker to Tireni, she was now getting to believe that her Mum didn't want her at all, how could she have relocated without her. Olu was a great consolation to her on that day he took her out and gave her new phone that he bought for her after he brought her back home. She refused it but Ade's mum had encouraged her to collect it.

She was learning to trust Olu although sometimes she could stop herself from being curious. She tried checking through his messages once and he came in right on her. It resulted into a big disagreement.

Olu demanded for trust the most amidst other things and that was the hardest thing for her to give even though she was trying her best. Their friendship was booming and Ade whined her about it almost every day.

This was like the third time Olu was taking her to his house, the first time was when he tried cooking efo riro for both of them but it got too salty and they had to go for bread, the second time was when her and Adewoyin payed him a surprise visit and didn't meet him at home.

They had to leave afterwards when he didn't come and they had tried his number continuously. He later came to their place when he got the note that they came.

Today was the third time and Tireni had gladly accepted the invitation since Ade was to go out with Steve. As for Steve he hardly came to the house to check for Ade, he would just stay outside and call her out. Ade too preferred it that way despite Tireni's continuous reassurance that she didn't have a problem with the two of them.

Olu allowed her enter first while he held his door open. Tireni walked in and took her seat, she placed her bag by her side and rested her head on the head rest while Olu locked the door.

"Come inside the room with me, I am too tired to stay here." Olu announced as he walked into the room, dragging his feet.

Tireni wasn't sure she heard right. She should come inside the room with him? Her eyes drifted to the door as she stayed glued to her seat. It was locked. Her heart raced as fear was playing a prank on her.

Olu entered the room and removed his shirt but left his singlet on. He climbed to the bed and laid down.

"Tireni!" He called.

Tireni heard her name and tightened her grip on the chair like it was death that called. Why did he ask her to come inside the room? Does he want to rape her?

"Oooh! This is why I don't like coming alone to a guy's house." She mused, her heart was doing a double somersault.

She knew that whether she remained in the sitting room or she goes inside the room, if he wanted to rape her he would. The door was locked besides he was a lot bigger than her.

Her mind was trying to do some escape calculation when her phone rang. She checked, he was the one, she tried picking the phone but her hand trembled to the extent that the phone fell and switched off.

"I am coming!" She screamed

"Please bring water from the fridge in the dinning when you are coming." He requested.

Jeez, now she didn't have a choice so she decided to take a knife along from the kitchen. If he tried anything stupid she was going to threaten him with the knife and get the key and run away.

She stood up to get the necessary things, she kept the knife in her hand bag which she strapped over her shoulders and and walked into his room with a tray containing bottle water and a cup.

Her eyes darted around the big beautiful room, it was her first time there. She had deliberately left the room door opened.

She placed the tray on the bed and remained standing. "Sit down now." Olu urged, she hesitated and then sat down almost at the edge, holding her bag close to her.

Olu sat up at the head of the bed, drank the water and engaged her in a discussion. They talked and laughed and later sang.

"You should learn how to dance." Tireni advised Olu as she leaned on the bed with her elbow.

Olu chuckled and caught the sight of his key on the bed behind Tireni. He remembered he wanted to to give her a spare from the bunch so that she could come over whenever she liked.

Tireni saw Olu crawl towards her and her heart thumped, what was he trying to do? She remained calm and watched him, at least she had seen the key when she entered and deliberately sat in front of it in case of necessity.

As Olu stretched his had over her to pick the key behind her. Tireni grew wild, she screamed, sat up abruptly and started punching his chest. Olu sat back shocked. "I knew it! I knew you wanted to rape me!" She cried, "that's how you guys do, you have only been after what you can get." She kept hitting him and screaming.

Soon Olu lost it too, what else does he want to do to make her trust him! The more reason why he cannot tell her the truth he knows about her mother. "Stop it Tireni!" He shouted her down. Tireni stood up fast from the bed and grabbed her hand bag. She pulled out the knife.
** ** **
"I went to the embassy today." Mr. Fagade announced to his daughter as he entered.

"What did they say." she asked looking up at him

"The visas would soon be ready, they'll call me and we'll be out of this country in no time."

"Really?"

"Yes, you don't seem excited about it." He asked, he noticed Bella's downcasted countenance. He didn't see any reason why they should stay in Nigeria any longer, there was no good information on all the cases Bella had reported so what's the use.

Bella told Aminat who was with her to go in while she talked to her dad, the young girl was gradually overcoming the trauma. Aminat sauntered into the bedroom and locked the door gently.

"The thing is, I don't know how Shina would take it." She explained "and the company also needs me now."

"Come on! You are not staying over there, just to help me settle down and you'll be back here again." Her dad persuaded

"Bella, if you want to travel out, you are supposed to just inform me, not to hide it and assume." Shina injected from behind, he heard the daughter-father conversation and came out of his room.

Bella's ego kicked off as she stood up to reply him. "Are there not things you hide too, so many things you keep without telling me, if I ask about Tireni it's trouble , if I want to talk about Simeon stone its another trouble!"

"Oops! I guess I have to retire to bed." Bella's dad entered the room and locked the door, leaving the two to theirselves.

"That's why you can't come to tell me you want to travel, Bella you just made your dad think i’m inconsiderate."

The argument continued to minutes and Shina ended up revealing every single bit of what he knew to her after he made her promise to keep everything safe and to keep her emotions in check.

Bella couldn't believe that the woman she sat beside when she was submitting her proposal was the person likely to have killed her Brother and even her mother. 'Let's say I knew I would have pulled her by hair to the main road.' Bella thought as Shina talked. She later decided that it was better to focus on the good news.

"So it's been confirmed that Tireni is my niece."

"Yes, but you can't come in custody of her until we take the case to court."

Shina told Bella that he thinks it'll be better to follow her dad now that she knows so much for safety's sake.

"Who would take care of Aminat?" She asked

"Take her along." He suggested.
** ** **
"Are you going to stab me now!" He looked straight into her eyes as he stood up.

"Don't come near me Olu." She warned holding the knife firmly, she bent to pick the key from the bed.

Olu motioned towards her fearlessly. She had forgotten she was dealing with a detective and besides she was holding the wrong weapon, a gun would probably have been better.

"I'd stab you , if you take one more step." She moved back as she spoke,

"And I want to watch you stab me." He didn't shift his eyes from hers. They were already out of the room. Her bag was on her shoulder, with the key in her hand.

She glanced back to check how close she was to the door when Olu grabbed the hand that held the knife. It fell from her hand and she screamed in terror.

Holding on tightly to her hand, he stooped, pick the knife and flinged it to the dinning.
He held her by her shoulders and shook her, her bag dropped and likewise the key "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Tireni heart was beating heavy and fast. He released her from his grip and she folded her hands around her arm. The way he held her hurt.

"Sit down." Olu ordered
She started at him and moved back.

"I am asking you to seat down now!" He screamed. For the first time, Tireni saw the policeman in Olu. He was raged, his eyes blazed and his veins popped out.

She sat down slowly unable to take her eyes off him, the man in front of her was a vivid example of 'power pass power'

"What do you think I wanted to do? Rape you." Olu asked sternly. Tireni was dumbfounded.

"When do you want to trust me! When? Tireni. What have I not done to prove myself. For Christ sake! I was only trying to pick the key behind you. I only wanted to give you my spare key." Olu paused and swallowed. Tireni glared at the floor.

He ruffled his hair with his fingers and continued "it's just so that you can come here anytime and trust me more and get those flimsy thoughts that I could be cheating out of your head." Tireni remained quiet it was just as if Olu poured cold water on her. She felt stupid.

Olu went to the back of the sofa! Picked the bunch of keys and removed one for her.

"Take." He stretched it out to her, his voice was more gentle now. Tireni stretched a trembling hand to collect the key.

He placed it in her hand and held her hand tightly. He didn't want to do this but he had to, he didn't know when he'd see her next according to the plans he had. He looked straight into her eyes as he held on to her hand with the keys in between.
"Now, get out."
Tireni parted her lips to talk but Olu cut her short.

"Don't talk, just go." He dropped her hand and pointed at the door.

"Olu." She managed to say.

"Go!" He screamed. Tireni stood up, picked her bag and started for the door. She glanced back at him but he turned his back and placed his hands on his head with his elbows pointing forward."

She opened the door with the key he gave her and left, closing it softly. Olu heaved an heavy sigh and walked straight into his room, he picked his phone to call Ade.

Tireni rested her back on the front door and wished she could just say something to him, she wished she could explain herself and tell him that she trust him but that was going to be a lie. "You don't point a knife at someone you trust." She mused.

She removed her phone from her bag and dialed Ade's number, it was busy. She tried again still resting on Olu's door and she picked this time.

"I am coming to pick you." Ade said before she could utter anything. Olu had already called her friend.t seem excited about it.

CONTINUATION

** ** **
Shina brooded over the fact that there could be an insider amidst them. The fraud had been withdrawn from Simeon Stones, Bella's mum was killed without trace and it all happened when the D-day was drawing near.

The plan was to conjoin with Simeon Stones to get the fraud as she collected the stones. Shina felt she couldn't have pulled back from such a big opportunity if she didn't know that the police were involved in it. It’s not at all possible that the someone in the management must have informed her.

The plan to give out the investment to Margul and son's and the motive was kept so confidential and was discussed with only crucial memebers of the administrators, even the general secetary was left out, so it could have been from there. He meant what he said when he mentioned that he was going to kill the culprit if he found him out.

"A penny for your thought." Bella said with a smile as she clapped in his face to bring him back from wonderland. She had been standing there for over five minutes but he seemed to be busy in a far away land.

Shina found a fake smile and threw it at her. "I am not thinking about anything jare." He said pulling her to his legs. Bella made herself comfortable and raised her legs to relax well.

"What makes me feel you are lying." She rolled her eyes as she accused

"You are calling me a liar niyen o." Shina mixed his english with yoruba in a funny manner

"You said that yourself." Bella answered using one of her fingers to push his head.

Shina seemed even more withdrawn than her that lost her mother, she made it clear to him that she was in search of a better life and would not want her mother's death to take the same toll that her brother's death took on her.

That was a good development but still Shina felt what had happened was an opportunity to prove himself as a man that deserved her and as a competent detective supervisor. He had pushed the whole engagement and wedding plans out of his mind and was now focusing on getting the person that has caused his sweetheart so much pain.

Of course, he couldn't tell Bella what was on his mind. It would reveal all the things that he has been hiding about Simeon Stones, Tireni and that they had a lead on the fraud case. He cleverly switched the topic to her plans for business growth a topic which Bella engaged herself in heartily.

"I am going to make you proud of me." She said with a smile.

Mr Fagade opened the door of his room when he heard voices from the living room. The aged man was looking more frail and lonely, the death of his wife was having strong effects on him. He no longer went out so much, he spent most of his time indoor playing chess.

Mr Fagade caught the sight of Bella jumping off the detective legs as he stepped out of the room. He chuckled.

"No, no, no." He started shaking his head incredulously. "You didn't have to do that!" He said with a smile as he motioned towards them, Shina's eyes darted towards Bella, then to her dad and back.

"Ahn ahn, why did you now jump down." He continued, Bella turned red as she blushed, feeling embarrassed.

"Feel free to do what you like jare, abi ki lo ni mo so?" He smiled as he looked at Shina and took his sit. Shina twisted his lips in a smile.

Mr Fagade chuckled again. "Boya you guys should soon plan my own apartment for me, so that I won't be disturbing your lovey dovey." He said with strong yoruba accent. They all bursted into laughter.

"Don't mind her sir, I don't know why she jumped." Shina said, "oya you too. Come back now." He referred to Bella who kept standing.

She motioned towards the chair but didn't sit on his laps, she just sat beside him and giggled putting her head in her hands.

"Fi si le, omo baba e ni." Bella's dad proclaimed proudly as he took the TV remote.

"Have they now called you back at that company." He said as he changed the channels.

"No, dad. I don't know why?" She replied casting a glance at Shina.

"Forget them jare, shebi they didn't give you in the first place." Her dad advised relaxing in his seat.

"Maybe they are working on something." Shina suggested.

"Yes, maybe..." Bella drawled
** ** **
"She is in the room." Tireni heard Ade's mum say.

Tireni had been on bed rest since the last incident, she found it hard to eat or find good sleep. She was still hurt and she felt justified because Ade and her mum have not still been able to come up with a good excuse for what they did other than the fact that they were just protecting her. She didn't take that as an excuse. Who protects a daugther from her own mother?.

Ade's mum had told her that she fainted as a result of the enteric fever that had not been fully cured before and that it had eaten deep into her system due to lack of adequate treatment. She had no choice but to stay with them since she was not feeling fine.

Olu knocked and entered the room, she was glad he came but was to weak to express it.

"How do you feel now." He asked taking his sit beside her on the bed. She guessed they must have told him everything including the fact that Adewoyin no longer slept in the same room with her but now downstairs in the living room.

"Am better." She answered lifting her brows, she started to tell him all that had happened expressing her disappointenment and anger against Ade and her Mum, at least he has to hear her own side of the story incase Ade had lied to him. Olu sighed when she was through and asked her what she had eaten.

"Nothing! I can't eat here, I am not sure about them." She replied

"Calm down, nobody here hates you, you should know that by now Tire, they only tried to make her see that what she had done to you was wrong, who throws knife at her own daughter?" Olu asked

Tireni was quiet. "Who?" He asked again, "if they don't make her understand that you are a child who needs love, she'll continue to treat you this way, abi don't you like the way Ade and her Mum relates." He asked

Tireni sighed "But..." She drawled. "But I don't like to compare My mum with anybody, I still think they went to far."

"What if they say they are sorry?" Olu asked with a teasing smile while Tireni turned her head to the other side pretending not to be moved. "I don't know." She replied.

"Let's leave that aside for now, I got something for us to eat." He lifted the nylon that he had placed on the floor to the bed. The aroma of the fried rice and grilled chicken hit Tireni’s nose. She turned her head back and sat up on the bed.

"Thanks! You won't know how hungry I am."

She fondled with the nylon and quickly grabbed the chicken after opening the take away plate. Olu chuckled in disbelief he couldn't believe that Tireni could be that outspoken and not even hide her hunger.

"Why are you laughing and staring like that." Tireni muffled with her mouthful.

"I...I.. Can't....I just.." Olu tried to form words

"You better join me if you are hungry."

They finished eating and Olu packed the plates back. "Do you feel stronger."

"Sure who wouldn't feel stronger after a plate of delicious Fried rice." She said, cleaning her hands with a tissue paper.

"Would you see Ade and her Mum now." Olu asked.

"Errr...."

"Please." He pleaded

"Okay." She answered with a smile.
** ** **

zika19:
quite am interesting story. however i'm of d opinion dt u make d story clearer by use of flashback or so to understand scenes at d time tireni was a child and now dt she has grown

hmmm.....okay....thanks zika19....i would see to that

CONTINUATION

** ** **
His car came to a screeching halt in front of the girl, she laid on the hot sand whimpering.

"Come in."Olu shouted.

She stared at him and moved back, crawling. It was an high way, cars passed faster than a twinkle of an eye.

Olu had the seen the girl roll out of Tayo's car, from the back seat; her gown was torn and she looked helpless. He looked forward and realized that he had lost the Maroon colured honda he was following.

"Come in! I only want to help!" He screamed again, stopping his car there was safe.
The girl stood up slowly and patted her gown down, holding the torn part with her two hands.

Olu stretched and opened the door to the backseat, he drove to the next round about and turned back to the station. At first the girl seemed to panick, her eyes darted to and fro has Olu handled his car well, it was visible that she didn't feel safe.

On getting to the station he looked back before coming down from the car and realized she was asleep. Her young face looked calm with streaks of dried tears across it.

Flipping her into his arms was easy, he lifted her and carried her into the station. Olu greeted the uniformed men at the station with nods and smiles.

"Woah. What is she?" Detective Bello asked rising to his feet as Olu entered the bullpen.

"Using what for a human, that's interesting." Was Olu's answer as he place the girl on his table, she was still soundly asleep.

Bello rolled his eyes and twisted his mouth.
"Who is she?" He asked firmly.

"A product of this morning's trail." Olu replied.

"Where is Kessi?" He asked almost immediately.

"Went for lunch."

"I think that Tayo guy is also into child trafficking." Olu said as slipped into his seat, staring at the girl on his table.

"So you just got a human witness then?"

"I hope so." Olu replied.

The girl gave a loud scream from her sleep as her eyes shot open, she made to jump from the table when Olu held her down.

"Calm down, you are safe." Olu caught her by her arm and pulled her to himself. He stopped and repated himself assuringly "you are safe."
The girl nodded and bursted into tears.

Detective Bello frowned and dropped his pen. "Where would you keep her?" He asked.

"I don't know." Olu answered.

"Just ask her the important question and do away with her, you can always fetch her when you need her." Bello scowled as he advised

"She is tired, someone like this need rest and good food." He scoffed, disgusted by detective Bello's attituded
The detective picked his pen and paper and walked out of the bullpen.

"What is your name." Olu asked the crying girl.

"Aminat." She replied, sniffing. She had an hausa accent.
Kessi entered and stood staring at them, the young dark girl with Olu wouldn't be more than 12 years of age.

"Another case?" He asked stooping beside Olu.
Aminat stared at the two men bending in front of her with wide eyes, she looked like a specimen.

"No a lead on this present one." Olu replied without taking his eyes off the girl.

"Hmm, I'll contact the supervisor while you get her something to eat and maybe a good bath." Kessi offered

"From where?"

"Where you'd have gotten it for your own daugther." Kessi answred with a lopeside grin, Olu threw a fake grin back through clenched teeth.

Kessi stood up and walked to the door of the bull pen before he looked back and announced.

"Olu there is still no lead on the death of Mrs Fagade."

Olu sighed and replied "step by step, it'll all come out plain."
** ** **
" I am sorry Tireni." Ade said as she sat down on the bed. The room was quiet when she entered she almost thought Tireni was sleeping. Tireni shifted and dragged the duvet closer turning over to her side as Ade entered the room.

"I know I should have told you that it was Steve but I didn't have the courage." She explained as she robbed her two palms against each other.

"Where did you now get the picture you showed me." Tireni asked.

"It's ...it's my ex." Ade stuttered.

"Really! You had an ex before Steve." Tireni asked,
sitting up on the bed abruptly

"Yes." Ade looked down.

"Is he fine? How would it be if I date him?" Tireni rolled her eyes.

Ade would have loved to say 'but Steve was not your ex naw.' But she changed her mind.
"Tire....." She drawled with an appealing eyes, meeting her friend’s gaze for the first time.

Tireni knew Ade only called her 'Tire' when she wanted to ask for something back then, at other times she called her name in full.

"Okay! Okay! I am only joking but...." She drawled and stopped amidst the sentence.

"But what? Tireni I want you to pour out your mind to me, I know you are hurt. Trash me! I don't care! But don't keep quiet." She pleaded

"I am not hurt." Tireni quickly denied "I am just angry that you lied to me that's all." She said with a slight frown

"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to...."

"There is no need to be sorry, we never dated besides, you guys looked good together and your Mum likes him too." She flashed an almost sincere smile.

Ade smiled back through pressed lips and rolled her eyes. "So we are good." She asked.
Tireni rolled her eyes too. "Yes, I guess."
They shared a hug and Tireni sighed. She hoped she'd get to trust Adewoyin.
** ** **
"I was trailed today. I already pushed the girl down before I noticed." Tayo informed Madam Cash as they sat over two bottles of beers in the bar.

"I warned you Tayo." Madam Cash shot him an
accusing glance. "You wouldn't listen," she eyed him.

Tayo leaned back in his chair, twisted his mouth and the rim of the bottle with his thumb.

"We need to get Tireni. That's why I am here." He dropped.

"Tireni!" Madam Cash eyes popped. "What do you want with her? Huh? To sleep with her or raise her to to be like you?" She asked with disdain.

"That's up to me woman!" He picked up the bottle and gulped down its content.

"If you don't tell me why? I am not doing anything about it."

"That girl is a key!" Tayo blurted.

"What can she open?" Teni asked with a sly smile.

"Fortune babe, fortune!" He said snapping his thumb and middle finger together. "Get her for me." He said firmly and stood up to leave.

Tayo was highly informed. One thing is that he never lacked informants. Who knew that the girl he detested was a niece to the CEO of the company he detested? He didn't discover because he didn't deal with Bella Fagade then just her P.A, although he knew Fagade Designs was going to have something to do with the man Stella had chosen instead of him, but he thought it was going to be a distant relative's company or probably not connected to him at all.

He had sent a threat letter when he found out that the sister of the deceased was taking the case up, being properly informed, he quickly took care of the situation, he wanted the case to lay low and go dead just like the people involved. If only he had known that it was the same lady that owned the company? Information didn't shine any luck on him in that aspect.

Now that he has found out that it had been clarified that Tireni wasn't Teniola's daugther and that she belonged to the Fagade's; he smelt his doom at a corner. He would go down, instead he'll finish everything that needs to be finished.

He was definitely not going to tell Teniola about his plans, he only needed her to get Tireni to him. He smiled to himself, it was a pity Bella would keep losing everything she loves all beacuse she wouldn't sit back down and let sleeping dogs lie. He had warned her and that was fair enough.
** ** **
Bella was working on getting over all that had happened and Shina had been a good help. She stayed away from office work for a while but was getting constant feed back that everything was alright from her PA.

She couldn't deny that she was impressed by his up-to-task attitude these day. He was really amazing to work with.

"Has Aminat finally said anything?" Shina asked has he slumped in on the sofa beside her.

"Hmm, yes a little." She answered lowering the volume of the t.v.

It's been tough job getting thirteen years old Aminat to say anything other than her name and age since Shina brought her home from the station. She seemed to be experiencing a kind of trauma. The way she refused foods and screamed out her sleep was alarming; always complained about a man staring at her from the windows.

"She said her uncle handed her over to a new 'oga' as she kept it." Bella explained "and that the man use to hit her whenever she doesn't do what he says. That's all I have been able to get."

"That's a progess." Shina sighed.

"You have not said anything about Tireni." She asked

"That's because its not yet time Bella." He said it on a concluding note and stood up. Bella wanted to say something else but tightened her lips together instead. It was obvious that Shina wasn't in the mood.

Bella would have loved to inform him that her competitor at Simeon Stones dropped the investment and that although another opportunity has not been announced but she was sure it was coming. She smiled to herself and lifted her legs up to lay down.
** ** **
She knocked twice waiting for a response, when she didn't get one, she banged the door hard.

"Hold on!" Adewoyin screamed.

She checked through the peep hole on the door and saw the vivid face of Madam Cash. She bolted up the stairs and tiptoed to her room door. She locked the door and heaved a sigh of relief. Tireni was inside the room she had just taken her bath.

She tiptoed back to the stairs and walked down back, she heard a bang on the door again.She opened the door and glared at Teniola fiercely like a bear in defeat. Teniola was dumbfounded for some minutes, the look on Ade's face was like an awful shadow of some unseen power.

Teniola glared at her back with the same intensity of hatred. "Is Tireni here?" She asked.

Ade gave an empty laugh. "No she isn't"

Teniola bit the side of her lips and looked down. If she was going to get Tireni back, she had to throw away her pride.

"I am sorry about the other day." She glared at the floor. "I know that was bad of me, I am sorry, I can't believe I did that to my girl too, I think anger took the better part of me." She finshed her appology message and looked up to Adewoyin.

The corners of Ade's mouth turned up, "So?" She asked like Teniola just said a boring joke.

"So I want to see her, I want to apologise and take my daugther back with me." She answered in a meek way.

"I already told you she is not here! Don't you get." Ade raised her voice. Fighting the temptation to reveal that she already knew Teniola wasn't Tireni's real mother.

"Young lady don't raise your voice at me!" Teniola lost her temper. "Can you talk to your mother like that?"

Tireni had finished dressing up and she thought she heard the voice of her Mum somewhere around. 'Oh! That's not possible' she dismissed the thought. But then it came louder and clearer. Her heart thumped her Mum was there. She turned the door knob and pushed the door. It was locked!

"Ade!" She screamed.

Ade rolled her eyes she could hear both the Mother and daugther scream.

"Where is she?" Teniola asked again, this time more authoritatively

Ade bent forward like she wanted push her face into Teni's own "read my lips." She pointed at her glossed lips. "SHE DIED." She said and stood up straight.

"She died?" Teniola repeated in disbelief.

"Yes she did." Ade answered. "Now, get out!" She pointed towards the road and drew her brows into a tight frown.

"Are you crazy?" Madam Cash asked in shock.

"No she is not!" Ade's Mum interrupted from behind, she was just coming back from the hospital. She was on morning duty and was done for the day. Her white gown sparkled like diamond in the sun.

"Leave my compound now or I'll call the police on you!" Ade's mum screamed.

Teniola retreated, walking with her back as she stared at the mother and daugther before her. She walked a distance away from them and shouted back "To hell with you all! Who cares if Tireni stays there! Bastards!" She screamed as she walked away.

"God have mercy." Ade's Mum mused as she shook her head.

** ** **
Tireni checked through the window and caught the sight of her Mum screaming and cursing. She swallowed hard and rushed to the door to push it again, kicking it and screaming Ade's name.

"Calm down Tireni, I am opening it now." She heard Ade's voice from the back of the door.

Ade staggered back and cried as Tireni's hand landed on her cheek. "I swear I'll tear you apart."

Tireni's eyes blazed as she charged at her. Ade's mum ran upstairs and succesfully pulled Tireni away from Ade.

"Don't touch me!" she screamed as she tried to free herself from the woman's grip. She glared like an hungry tiger, panting."

"Why are you all like this! Why!" She cried, breathing heavily. "You bring so much joy and then stab me with pain."

Adewoyin stood behind her Mum as she watched her friend display sheer madness.

"First it was Steve! you lied! Ade, you lied! Now my mum, she came...she came all the way here." She paused to catch her breath. "She was ready to take me back. I heard her! But you pushed her to hate me again." She bent and let out a loud cry; falling on her knees, she held her tummy. She looked white.

Alarmed, Ade's mum screamed "Tireni! You need to calm down."

Tireni batted her eyelids and her eyes closed slowly, "I am leaving here today." She muttered.

"Get me water!" Ade's mum glanced at Ade. Ade ran down the stairs. "Fast!" Her mum urged.

She rushed toward Tireni, holding her limp body. "Hang on sweet heart."

Ade and her Mum were updated about everything that was happening to Tireni, Olu had informed Adewoyin in a secret meeting that they had, he informed her that lives have been lost concerning the case and Tireni had to be kept safe. Away from her fake mother and father most especially.

Fear of the unknown made Ade involve her mum, and her mum had assured her that they were both in it together.

xaviercasmir:
Kome should keep it cool with her daughter.Been torn away from the environment you are used to is usually hard.
Ride on boss

yeah...i think the same thing too

TemitopeDaniel:
Wow... This is awesome, Oyin. More grace dear! Though I have few observations, I don't really like pointing out mistakes every time. Just the use of tenses, punctuations and also some constructions. I can't start pointing them out now. But this is really a blast! More grace dear.

wow.....what am i seeing.....TemitopeDaniel ??... extremely scarce man...i am glad you read through...thanks for the comment and observations....i'll try my best to work on them
.... more grace to you too sir

CONTINUATION

** ** **
Bella had cried to the extent that tears no longer flowed. She sat at the back seat of Shina's black ford with her dad as he drove them to his home.

The police had collected their statements earlier. Bella's dad made it known that he didn't leave his wife at home, and that he is extremely surprised to find out that she had been killed in their home, "It must have been that she got back from shop as at the time I went out." He stated.

The police informed them that there was no trace as to who the killer was at that time and that it was better for them to stay away from the house for a while. Shina offered to take them to his place and also promised to follow up the case. An ambulance was called to pick up Mrs. Fagade's cold body.

Father and daugther opted to sleep together in the guest room. Shina wished he could do more than provide a place to sleep for Bella but her father was there, he would handle the consolation while Shina would watch like a statue and keep saying sorry from a distance.
** ** **

"I don't know what to think right now." Adewoyin's mum said as she took her seat.

"I don't think her Mum is a mother, something tells me she's a witch." Ade suggested looking at Olu for approval.
Olu smiled weakly not knowing what to say.

"Shut up, Ade or better still go to your room."

"She is not a witch." Came Tireni's weak voice, she had been awake for sometime but was too tired to talk. She talked now because she felt she had to defend her Mum like 'Family sticks together.'

"You are awake, how do you feel." Ade's Mum asked walking over to Tireni, Olu shifted to the edge of his chair to get to hear what she was saying clearly. Ade eyed Tireni, hissed and left to her room. She was wondering when her friend would drop this stupidity.

"I am fine." She gave a weary smile, Olu came over and squatted by the three setter, she tried to turn on her side, the pain pricked her and she yelped. "Don't try to move, just stay like that." Olu advised.

She managed a smile.

"Thanks Olu."

"Don't mention."

"And you told me o." She continued, sadness covered her features.

"I think we should report this case, she could have killed you." Olu said, drawing his brows together

"She didn't kill me, thanks." Her countenance drowned.

Olu would have reported the case himself but what is the use when the victim herself wouldn't show up.

"But..."

"Don't 'but' it Olu. She is my mother." Tireni cut in sharply

"Fine!" He raised his two hands in a gesture of surrender.
** ** **
Shina, Kessi, Olu and Bello meets at the conference room, they all wore girm faces that looked like carved mask. An extreme tension like a drawn bow filled the room, every body apart from Shina had their head down. Even Olumide who used to greet the uniformed men at the information desk heartily did not say a word as he entered. An air of sadness hung around.

Shina opened his mouth to talk but closed it back. He couldn't find words, in his heart was a deep dark well of sorrow. It was not his first time hearing of murder or seeing dead bodies but you know how it is when it reaches the matters of the heart, it’s as swaggering and sentimental as a penny novelette.

"There really must be an insider." Bello broke the icy silence that seemed heavy and dark as of a passing cloud.

"- Who knows the Fagade's and probably Tireni." Kessi added.

"I have checked and I didn't find any clue." Bello said and pursed his lips.

"The person must be among us here." He dropped.

The statement stung like a frozed lash, the detectives looked up at once, Olu swallowed, Kessi brows knitted while Bello eyes sparkled like he had just received a vison from the morning air.

Shina's eyes darted as he met the gazes of the three men in front of him one by one. He had been trying to push the thought aside but detective Bello just spoke his mind, he knew he had to be careful now. Now that he couldn't trust those he worked it.

"I swear if I get my hands on you. I'll kill you." He pointed at them like they were all the culprit.

"Let's not just conclude like that." Olu spoke up.

"Then get me tangible information Olu!" The supervior screamed
Olu's face fell.
Shina stood up and walked out of the conference room.

"Now who is the insider?" Kessi asked with a side loped grin,

"Guy, your sense of humor is poor." Olu answered.

Kessi squinted his eyes and focused on Bello, a frown creased Bello's brows, He threw Kessi the what-do-you-mean look, hissed and walked out.

Olu picked his Phone and called Adewoyin. "We need to talk." He said to the reciever.
** ** **
Tireni was getting healed fast. She felt at peace where she was and was ver grateful that Ade's parents accomodated her and treated her like one of their own. She never for once felt out of place and she couldn't deny that she was jealous of the type of relationship Ade shared with her Mum.

Even though she get access to discuss depths with Ade's mum, she reminded herself daily that "what is not yours is not yours.' There are no two way to go about it. Somehow, she found herself been grateful for Olu, he add brought an amount of joy and pain that was almost equal and right now 'Joy' seemed to be climbing to the top faster.

She started to wish he was there with her, was her heart already letting him in? She wasn't sure, but the old feeling she got when she sighted him at the bar then, were creeping in back.

Tireni was already dozing off on the sofa when she heard a knock. Her eyes snapped open, she adjusted her off shoulder top and asked who was at the door.

A male’s voice answered. 'Olu isn't a bastard she thought." Just when he knocked the door in her dreams she heard him knocking real life. Her back ached as she tried to get up.

As she motioned to the door in calculated steps she schooled her smile into an easy one. She opened the door and the smile collapsed like a pricked ballon. She squinted her eyes as she scrutinized the tall figure before her.

"Steve?" Tireni asked to be sure.

"Tireni." He confirmed her thoughts.

She shifted to the side and allowed her eyes study as he entered. Ade and her Mum were upstairs, they must have heard the door open.

The last place she expected to meet Steve again was in Ade's house, she would have loved to believe that Ade skipped the part of Steve when she was updating her but she remembered they talked about it in school and she had said that Steve was just her level mate and they were not even in the same depatment.

"Ade!" She called, to alert her about her visitor.

It was obvious Steve was in shock, he probably didn't expect to meet her there. Ever since he ran away from the bar after causing her the trouble of her life, he never contacted, at times when she thought about it she was usually grateful that she didn't 'fall' so fast.

Seeing him again was doing something to her. She was angry. She had never felt she was hurt by him probably because Olu jumped into her life before she could consider it, but now it was like there was a revelation of the fact that he abandoned her when she needed him to stay.

Even if she couldn’t pin point that she loved him then, she felt Steve was callous to have tried to lure her with the bait of love.

What he was doing there remained a mystery until Ade's mum screamed a reply from upstairs. "She's coming, that should be Steve Willians right?" She cooed with a note of excitement.

"Yes ma." He answered, his baritone voice choked Tireni.

"Steve?" She thought, "Williams?" It occured to her that all through their secondary school days, she had never taken any specifc note of his surname. So he was the sweet boyfriend of Adewoyin. How come he didn't look like the guy in the pictures Ade showed her? Did she lie?

"So your surname is Williams hun?" She asked taking her seat.

Steve Willams felt uncomfortable with the way she looked at him. He shifted the sofa and answered with a quiet 'yes' looking down. How could he dare to look at her face?


He liked her. Yes! But she rejected him and that made what he had for her a past tense, beside he didn't think he could cope with her bull dog of a mother. Now, things have changed, he got into school and met Adewoyin after a long time. He asked her out, she rejected but after a while, she agreed.

Adewoyin had agreed to Steve after he and other girlfriends from school had done their best to perssuade her that dating him wasn't wrong.

They all saw her excuse as vague and always repeated that she could go ahead to date him as long as her best friend wasn't in the same school and besides Tireni did not love Steve.

"Willams." Tireni muttered again.

Anger gnawed at her chest. Adewoyin should have just come out straight, she shouln't have picked out only his surname at least she would have been prepared for this kind of meeting. Soon Ade's mum came down through the 'S' shaped stair case. Steve stood up to greet.

"No, no, no. Have your seat." Ade's Mum waved a hand of dismissal. "She is coming, dressing up to meet her prince charming." He casted a glance like a flitting bird at Tireni, he coud see a scowl climb to her face.

The scowl on her face didn't stop him from thinking Ade's mum was cool. "Thank you ma." He answered with a smile and watched Tireni with the corner of eyes. He saw her pick the t.v remote.

"Oh no! Cut it!" Ade's mum replied heartily waving her hand again

"Ade! You are keeping someone waiting." The
woman cooed looking up to the stairs.

Tireni cooked up reason in her head why Ade wouldn't want to come down stairs. She knew it would have to do with her. She probably wouldn't be able to stand the look on Tireni's face. Tireni decided to leave the siting room to help matters.

"I'll call her." She offered and started climbing up the stairs, the pains at her back pierced as she took each step.

She opened the door to the room she shared with Ade and saw her siting in a blue gown with her head in her hands. "Go down stairs, he is waiting for you." She informed subtly and crawled up the bed pulling the duvet over her head.

Ade looked at her and exhaled, she was grateful Tireni decided to stay out of the way. It wasn't like she was bad, she would have told her only that she knew Tireni was going through a lot as at then and she wondered how she'll take it. Tireni had been asking to see the pictures of her boyfriend that was why she showed her fake ones.

Ade had the meeting planned out well, except that Steve spoilt everything by coming into the house. She already told him to call her when he gets to her compound. Even though her Mum knew he was coming to take her out she had decided to keep him outdoors because of Tireni. She was sure he'd be shocked.

Tireni turned when the she heard the door lock. She saw that Ade left her phone. She sighed and picked up the phone, went to the music player and clicked on 'Omoge mi' by p.square. That was the song for the moment.

Ade rushed back upstairs on realizing that she forgot her phone. She stopped at the door on hearing the music that played out, she also heard Tireni humming along.

This na my only best friend
If na you, tell me wetin you go do your
Best friend
Omoge ti mo fer an
Ti emi feran, ti emi fe ri
Omoge mi ati padi mi
Won ti semi nikan ti o da....

Adewoyin stood still at the door, she realized she wasn't ready to face Tireni, she shouldn't have lied.

She sang the remaining part of the chorus " wetin you go do your bestfriend. This na padi mi, ore mi eyi e eh, girl why, yeah yeah..." She sang as guilt punched at her before running back down the stairs

Tireni thought she heard Adewoyin's voice, but dismissed it after checking the window and not finding her. She wished Olu could just show up, she didn't understand what she felt but she just had to talk to someone.

EPISODE 9

In matching towel, bathroom slippers and shower cap, Teniola stepped out of the bathroom, humming a song. She always had somewhere to go but today was free, she was just going to freshen up and rest.

She went out of the room to check the food she was cooking before she went to take her bath, as she walked past the living room she saw shadows by the window. She stopped and listened, she heard murmurings. She moved close to the window, her forehead creased as she scrutinized. "Who is there?" She asked.

"Me ma." Came a female's voice.

"You who?" She asked again, she couldn't open the door because she was still on towel.

"Adewoyin."

"Adewoyin..." She drawled as she repeated. She pushed the cotton aside, and sighted the slim built young lady that stood at the window, she was slender but not thin.

Recognition dawned in her face and she scowled, it was Tireni's friend.

"Tireni is not at home." She said as she closed back the cotton.

"I know ma." Ade said in a haste. She would have loved to say 'where did she go ma?' But this wasn't the time to play pranks. Her friend was right there, hiding behind the door , with great expectations that she was going to make every thing right.

"So what do you now want." Madam Cash’s voice erupted again.
Ade tried to put on her most appealing face as she spoke.

"Mummy, you know that Iya omo ko n ju omo nu." She stated in yoruba. "Tireni is very sorry ma, she didn't mean to offend you, she is totally remorse and is asking for your forgiveness." Ade glance sideways and Tireni nodded.

Madam Cash scowled, she was irritated, left to her she'd have just closed the cotton and walk away but she decided to answer the young girl. "Let me advice you." She started sternly.

"You better stay away from Tireni, she is evil and wouldn't help you."

Tireni was shocked to hear that, her own mother labelled her evil. The words burned her like a living coal in the soul; she lost her patience and came out to defend herself.

She worked to the window side, Teniola scoffed she had known Tireni was there, at least Adewoyin couldn't have been murmuring to herself.

"Mum, you didn't hear from me before you judged me." Her eyes swam with tears, "I said I am sorry." She held the burglary as she tried to meet her mother's eyes.

Teniola exhaled and shook her head, her expression hardened. "I am not your Mum, please go back to where you are coming from."

"Ah! Mummy you can’t do that." Adewoyin interjected. "You can't disown your own daugther." She fell on her knees dragging Tireni alongside, gesturing to her to kneel and beg.

"You know what, the two of you should get out of here." Madam Cash said in a slow and grave way.

Tireni and Adewoyin glanced at each other and back at the woman on towel by the window.

"Mummy please." They chorused. A blind rage like fire swept over Teniola.

"Okay. Wait for me. Wait for me o!" She closed the cotton and went inside. Her foot steps sounded like that of a god.

Adewoyin go up to her feet. Tireni who was still on her knees looked up at her.

"Stand up, just stand up." Ade moved her palm up and down.

"Why?"

"Stand up jare!" She raised her voice.

Tireni stood up, confused. Ade moved closer to her and whispered in her hear. "Do you have cutlass at home."

"No." Tireni answered

"Then it could be a knife."

"Knife for what?"

"Are you blind, can't you see how she went inside ni." Ade's eyes widened in terror. "Let's get out of here!"

"My mum can't use a knife on me, calm down."

Teniola's footsteps became clear again. Ade peeped through an open space in the window.
The woman was just emerging from the kitchen with a butchers’ knife that had a sky blue handle. "I swear it’s a knife!" She alerted, frightened like a child in the dark.

"Let's go!" She started to move away from the door. Tireni stood still and rolled her eyes "knife ke." She muttered.

As she bent to check by herself through the window, the front door flew open, and Teniola appeared, holding the knife firmly. Tireni made to run, Adewoyin screamed her name. Teniola tightened her grip on the weapon and flung it hard.
** ** **
It was now a normal routine for Shina to pick Bella at work by 6:10pm and drop her off at home. The good bye peck was also a constant 'K' as Shina never forgets to give it.
Bella would walk in with a broad smile while Shina waited for her to disappear within the gate before he entered his car.

That was how it had been since she said yes, although sometimes Shina went and extra mile by going in with her to say hello to her parents.

Bella alighted, got her 'goodbye peck' and made her way in. "I love you!" Shina screamed hard from outside, Bella could guess that his big stomach shook. She chuckled and replied "I love you too."

Shina entered his car and was about to turn the ignition when his phone rang, it was a strange number. He picked and was about to talk when the scream from inside interrupted.

"I'll call you back." He said to the reciever.

Bella re-appeared at the gate, perspiration had formed on her fore head, she was out of breath and her eyes were wild. Shina threw open the door of the car and ran to her, her eyes were pale and she turned white.

"What happened?" Shina hardly finished the question than she fainted in his arm.

"Bella!" He screamed, shaking her by her shoulders, she was a frail as a spider web. She didn't respond and like a great express train; roaring, flashing and dashing headlong, he carried her over his shoulders and bolted into the house.

He was about to drop her on the chair when he his eyes caught the sight at a corner, it was Bella's Mum in the pool of her own blood. He grabbed Bella back into his arms and carried her out using his left hand to punch the botton of his phone.
** ** **
Tireni collapsed like a concertina as the knife plunged into her back. Adewoyin screamed again as she watched her friend fall like dead leaves in an highway. She rushed towards her and saw Madam Cash motioning towards them. Strength came like she was baptized, she pulled the knife out of Tireni's back and helped her out fast.

They were able to get out of the gate before Teniola who was still on towel got to them. Adewoyin heard her lock the gate from behind.

Blood flowed over Adewoyin's hands, she moved some distance away from the bar, holding to her friend, before she called for help. People rushed to their aid, but Tireni already passed out. Ade's eyes glistened with tears, she was trying to be strong.

A man carried Tireni to his shop and Adewoyin and some group of people followed behind. She dialed Olu's number used a cloth soaked with petrol to clean the wound. Fresh blood kept pouring out from the deep wound, Tireni stirred but was told to keep calm by the people around, she moaned in pain as she squeezed her eyes shut.

Olu showed up soon enough and helped Tireni into his car while Adewoyin said thanks to the people around who where obviously curious to know what happened. She hopped in and the car zoomed off.

"To where?" She asked Olu.

"I don't know. Hospital maybe."

"Let's take her to my place. My Mum is a nurse." She informed. She directed Olu to her place.
** ** **
The police men were around and Kessi too before Fagade Bella regained consciousness. The supervisor had tried Olu's number over and over but he wasn’t picking. Kessi was inside with the men while Shina was outside watching his Bella.

He packed the car and folded his arms on his chest. Bella sat up on the back seat of the black ford, her head ached and everything seemed to be swilring around.

She relaxed in the seat and tired to remember why she was still in Shina car.

"It's a lie!" She screamed holding her head. Shina looked back, and opened the door and slipped in beside her, he locked all the doors immediately.

"All she ever wanted was to see me get married." she cried after giving up on struggling to get down. She helped Shina by his shirt and begged him to save her mother. He held her firmly in his arms and did not stop her from crying. He just held on to her and stroked her hair.

"What did she do! Who did she wrong!" She kept on screaming and crying. "They have taken everything from me! Everything I know!"

Shina saw Mr Fagade coming along the street. He was still afar off, he inhaled deeply and wondered about how the man would feel. He was dressed like someone that didn't go far.

Mr. Fagade saw neighbours gathered at his gate and hoped nothing was wrong. He recognized Shina's car and walked straight to it. He could hear Bella wailing voice already.

"What's going own he asked." His brows knitted int a frown.
"Come in sir." Shina requested.

Mr Fagade opened the car and sat in the back seat.

"They have taken everything!" Bella kept crying, her voice wasn't so loud again, she was already tired.

"We were robbed?" The aged man asked.

"No, I want you to take this like a man." Shina started.

"Your wife...." He was about to continue when Mr. Fagade interrupted screaming "My wife!" He pushed open the door and bolted out, leaving Shina's mouth hung wide open.

He watched the man disappear through the gates and heard his voice "Allow me to go in! She is my wife!" Mr. Fagade shouted at the officers at his door who were trying to stop him from coming in.

Shina didn't go there, he trusted the officers to handle the situation well. Bella was still crying, although she wasn't screaming now, she just made sounds, a lot of them that didn't make sense.
** ** **
After stitching the wound on Tireni's back,Adewoyin's mum thanked Olu. "Not to worry ma, she is like a sister to me." He replied with a slight smile. Adewoyin raised her brows and muttered "hmm. Sister."

She shook her head incredulously. Her mother and Olu heard her and turned to look. She flashed an expressionless face like she didn't say anything. Ade's Mum smiled, she understood.

It was her first time meeting Olu but she already heard a lot about him from the two jolly friends when they came back from Ade's school some days back. She knew her daugther was in a relationship with a Steve Willams but she had never met him. It was in the process of asking after him that the dicussion led to Olu.

She had also encouraged Tireni to go back home to beg her mum. She did that with the assurance that no mother would disown her daughter just like that and besides it wasn't like Tireni got pregnant.

She had known Tireni to be Ade's friend right from their secondary school days and have heard a lot about her strict mother, yet she felt that Tireni should go back beacuse a mother would always be a mother but she was mistaken.

She looked at the sleeping girl on the three setter and at Olu and said "it is well."

"Amen." Olu responded.

"Do you want to wait for her." The tall dark woman asked

"Yes I would love to." He answered with a smile.
He took his seat and stared at Tireni, she was made to lay to lay on her front and her back was slightly exposed. She looked soundly asleep and her face was as solemn as a mask
** ** **

CONTINUATION

** ** **
Ade's face lit up as she announced to Tireni "They are giving us a break, starting from tomorrow." She had just been notified on her department's group chat via whatsapp

"Really." Teniola's face brightened

"Yes, it an opportunity for us to go and beg your Mum and sort out things at home."

Tireni's expression closed up at the reminder that she had problems to tackle. She inhaled deeply, "I feel like staying here for a longer time." She said, a line appeared between her brows.

"The earlier we face this the better." She advised.

"How many weeks break." Tireni asked.

"Till further notice."

"Can we stay here for a week more so I can at least plan an approach."

"Is that all?" Ade gave an assuring smile.

"Yes, I guess."

"No problem." She pulled her friend closer

"I am sorry for any inconvinience."
Adewoyin chuckled. "Why are you behaving like prim and proper."

"So I won't get to see your 'Williams boyfriend' now?" Tireni asked

"Ehn! That one that likes home. That's if he isn't on his way home already." Ade answered,

"maybe next time." She added.
** ** **
Detective Bello looked fatter and had an improved complexion for someone that had been sick; Olu thought as he took in the sight of the third detective allocated for that station.

"Your wife is doing a good job o." He commented as he sat behind his desk.

"Abi o." Was the reply that came from the detective.

He was an introvert and hardly talked, the more reason why his presence wasn't felt when he wasn't around. He just listened and drew when he was less busy. He was good for an artist than a detective because most times his works of art seemed to gain more recognition than his work as a detective.

"What am I seeing! Bello Bello!." Kessi exclaimed as he bounced into the bull pen.

"Na detective Bello con fresh like dis. Nawa o. E good make person sick o." Kessi continued, the detective just smiled . Kessi's sense of humor was still the same since he left the office. They exchange pleasantries before Kessi walked over to Olu's table.

Olu informed Kessi that he had put a call through to Simeon Stones and they have agreed to slow down with the contract. "And her?" Kessi asked.

"Tireni? The situation is under control."

"Hmm. It's better she stays there. At least it's peaceful."

"True, that's why have been sending money over, so that her friend wouldn't be burdened." Olu said with seriousness

"Oga o, oko-iyawo!" Kessi hailed.

That was what Kessi had been calling him ever since Adewoyin called his number from a police station to ask for help and to confess that Tireni was with her.

Adewoyin had called Olu because she knew her Mum wouldn't be able to do so much than to start looking for a bail. Since Tireni had told her that Olu was a detective, she begged the officers to allow her to use her phone to call him since she didn't know his number offhand. They did, and she handed it over to them when she was through.

Olu had responded promptly leading to their release before others that were with them. Since then Olu had made it a point of duty to send money to Ade to take care of Tireni without spilling anything out to her.

Ade did her part efficiently. She had expected Olu to request for Tireni to come back home but since he didn't she did not bring it up too.

"Why not just plant a bug on this people and get this case over with." Detective Bello advised from his seat, he heard them as they discussed the case.

"Kessi thinks the man as a bug sweeper." Olu answered.

"Hmm, then catching them in the act is best." Bello said after Kessi gave him a quick review of how the case had been going."

"The DNA test isn't ready." Olu asked Kessi.

"I should go and collect it today. The man called me this morning."

"We should go together then."

"Hmm, your big news right?"

"I am nervous sef." Olu admitted.
** ** **
Ade had just gone to buy pepper on the next street and Tireni was inside alone. To be sincere she wouldn't say she wasn't disturbed by the Music the other guys in the compound were playing, as much as she liked music she didn't like the noise these ones were producing.

She wondered why students should even have home theatres in the apartment in school. From her own point of view, their parents were just spoiling them.

She heard a faint knock at the door, it was probably faint because of the tempo of music that filled the air. "I am coming." she screamed. As she strapped her jacket on and hoped the person heard her. She walked to the door wondering who was there and when she opened it she encountered wonder.

It was Olu, her brows snapped together and she opened it slowly. He was still standing there, it wasn't a dream. Olu was in Ade's school standing in front of her room door, clad in red dinner jacket and black jean. His mouth twitched as he sized her up, she looked better than he last saw her.

"Can I come in?"
His voice sounded like Music in Tireni's ears, Music that dominated all that was booming around her, it was delightful to her mind like cool water to the lips.

She stared at him like he was magic. The tension they shared explained the meaning of 'Love is a natural force' to Olu. She pressed her lips together and shifted to the side for him to pass.

Shock didn't make her talk, the silence between them was as deep as death. She had thought of him for weeks without end and here he was standing before her. How? Was what her senses were screaming.' Sweet' Was what her emotions where singing.

Olu hardly sat on the chair when Ade opened the door and entered. "Oops!" She exclaimed. She couldn't deny the tension she felt.

"You..you are here." She stuttered referring to Olu.
Tireni's brows knitted and her eyes flashed. He brain was trying to pick up.

"Yes, it was straight forward, thanks." She heard the musical voice rise again. Like chants of a known song.

"You know each other?" Tireni managed to ask.

She watched Ade and Olu's eyes meet as she glanced at the two of them.

"What is going on?" Tireni asked battling her lids.

"I am so sorry Tireni, I should have told you earlier..." Ade started

'Huh? Is Olu the 'Williams' Ade talked about?" Tireni's heart raced as Olu cut in

"It's not her fault, I made her tell me where you are." Olu spoke with calm, staring at Tireni who wasn't sure about how she felt. Relief washed over her. Thank God it wasn't what she was thinking.

"We needed to get out of that cell." Ade added

"So he did it?" She asked, there was a spark in her eyes

"Yes." Ade answered with a smile, the smiled faded when Tireni didn't smile back, her nostrils just flared as she bit her lower lip.

She stood up and paced around the room not minding Olu that was seated, she was trying to control herself, she felt a mixture of two things, whether it was love or hate that dominated she didn't know.

"I told you not to tell anyone where I am Ade." She accused gravely, "and you went ahead." She continued as she glanced at her friend. Ade looked away.

"Tell me why you did that!" Tireni's voice rose.

"Oh! He is paying you?" She asked using her fingers to drum on her head as she walked about.

Olu's jaw tightened, his muscle ached. He drew his lower lip between his teeth and inhaled loudly. She didn't have to behave like that and pour out all the blame on a friend that had been of help all these while.

He stood up from the chair and motioned toward Tireni. "Don't come near me just stay where you are." She asserted.

"Do you have to pour all the blame on her when am here?"

"Do you know how much pain you have caused me." She threw back.

"Who caused more pain? Who? You that ran away from the hospital or Me that came to look for you." Olu pointed at her then at himself.

Ade seized the opportunity, opened the door and quietly slipped out of the room.

"In case you have forgotten you are the reason why I was in the hospital in the first place." Tireni continued, Olu swallowed.

"If you didn't come into my life all these would not have happened. I never told you that I wasn't coping with my life. You just came and ...and...." She was looking for the right word.

Olu charged at her just then. she staggered back and he caught her by her waist before she fell. She was bent with her head tilted backwards over his arm . She gasped, the way his eyes bore into hers made the nuts in her head want to loose.

For a moment she forgot all that had happened, her feelings betrayed her. She closed her eyes and allowed him to pull her close to his chest. She was lost in his warmth, his fragrance filled her nose.

She wished the moment was forever. She lifted up her head to see his face and he met her forehead with a kiss. He held her by her shoulders and moved a step back.

"I'd do anything for you Tireni."

The words flowed out to Olu's mouth and made it's way into Tireni's heart. She felt like dancing barley. She pouted to hide her blush. When she tried to talk her jaw dropped, her head wasn't producing anything sensible. She just stood there and watched him retire to his seat.

Ade knocked, she had watched the film to her brim through the window.

"Come in." Tireni said.
Ade entered and went to where Tireni was.

"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to go against your wish. It wasn't my....."

"It's okay Ade, I understand." She stopped her blabbing friend and her lips curved into a smile.

Olu spent over three hours with them before going home, he had done his best to persuade Tireni and her friend not to come home yet, but Tireni insisted saying that she cannot just cut out of her family and that she had done something wrong and had to beg her parents.

Olu tried to remind her of all the sufferings she had endured, and she was like 'nothing good comes easy, even love from your parents.' Olu wondered how she got the mentality that you had to work for the love you get. There was a lot about her mindset that needed to change.

He was grateful to Adewoyin who had sent him a text a day before that they were planning to come home for the break; it made him decide to come over.

Even if his effort was futile he was still grateful for the opportunity to see the one that made his heart so a double flip. She had included in the text that she would like him to follow them to beg Madam Cash. Ade was ignorant about a lot of things.

Olu had a hard time fighting the urge to tell Tireni that it was confirmed already that Madam Cash wasn't her real mother. Kessi had brought the test result to him yesterday; he could go with him because something else came up and for the first time in a long time, he responded to his "let's celebrate it."

He remembered how Kessi had successfully gotten a strand of Tireni's hair the last time he saw her and how his supervisor provided them with Bella's own, a paid attendant in the bar had gotten a glass cup that Madam Cash used. Everything worked out just fine.

He was sensible enough to win the fight against that desire else he wouldn't have achieved anything.

Tireni would have still gone back home out of disbelief and probably hate him for speaking against her lovely family, he couldn't risk destroying the friendship he had just renewed with her.

She had accused him of trying to turn her back against her home while he was trying to persuade her and he could see the curious look on Ade's face. She must have wanted to know if there was more reason to why he didn't want Tireni to go back home.

As Olu drove home, he prayed that Madam Cash would not for any reason take Tireni back, he felt she was better outside any home than being in a home where she didn't belong.
** ** **
"How can she drop the contract." Olu said into the receiver. He heard footsteps and looked towards the door. It was Detective Bello, the detective greeted and Olu nodded in acknowledgement.

"Let me get back to you." He concluded the call. Kessi had not yet reported to the office yet for the day. He sent a text to him and the supervisor.

"Chief suspect drops contract. Information from Gen. Sec. Of SS."

He used codes for the sake of safety.

"I got your text." Kessi announced a entered the bull pen, he greeted detective Bello, dropped his laptop bag on his table and walked over to Olu.

"She truly dropped it.?"

"Yes. According to the general secretary."

"Did they by any means inform her that the police is involved." Kessi asked

"How could they? Are they crazy?" Olu frowned at the possibility.

The supervisor entered the bull pen and the three detectives rose to greet him, "Meet me at the conference room." He instructed and left.
"The three of us?" Detective Bello asked, looking lost.

"I guess so, he didn't specify." Olu replied.

"Someone is sneaking around these cases."
The supervisor declared, staring at the three men standing in front of him. The way things were going did not make them want to seat down.

"First the phones were untapped and now the chief suspect is pulling out of a fraud action."
The supervisor continued.

"Something is up." Olu added

"And I need you to find out. Bello." The supervisor delegated the duties firmly. "While you and Kessi trail these culprits intently, don't miss out anything."

He swiveled his chair, he was visibly tensed. "If Simeon Stones should declare an hunt for another suitable company Bella might jump at it, if she does she is going to be the next target."

"That's a smart plan. If that's truly their plan." Detective Bello spoke up for the first time.

"Two blows won't be good for that company." Kessi added.

"Simeon Stones has to hold on for now."

"Olu, get me the contact of the Simeon brothers." Shina said as he rose to leave.
** ** **

EPISODE 8

This time around Bella seemed to enter with a new aura, she smiled as she greeted her PA. Who came out of his office the moment he knew she entered the premises.

Bella had flashed him a type of smile that he was tempted to smile back, but he didn't. Instead he walked back to his office wondering how a lion can easily turn into a lamb. Bella Fagade just smiled with him, he chuckled alone. Wonders shall never end!

"Come in." He cooed from behind the door
His secretary walked in.

"Why are you late today?" He looked stern.

"I....traffic jam." She stuttered, using her left hand to clean the perspiration that formed on her face.

"And it happens everyday?" He asked again, she was about to reply when he stood up in anger. She shrieked in timidity and moved back.

"You are tempting me to fire you." He spoke, pointing his index finger and with a kind of strength that made his veins stand out.

Bella passed by just then, and peeped into the open office, she heard their discussion and motioned into the office.

"Well, why not let me help you do it." She walked with a sly dancing smile.

The PA stared at her shifting from one foot to another. "Pick your sack letter from my table." She said, referring to the secretary who went down on her knees immediately.

"Madam I swear, it'll not happen again, I don't have car that's why." She pleaded, lifting her hands.

"If we that have cars behaved like this when we didn't have, we'd never have gotten one." The countenance on Bella's face changed as her face tightened to a grimace.

"Arrange for her to get her pay for the month and ensure she leaves immediately." She told her PA firmly.

"Rubbish." Bella added as she left, ignoring the pleading secretary whose yellow blouse was soaked in tears.

The PA was still trying to digest what happened as he watched the wailing lady in front of his desk asking him to do all he could to help her when Fagade Bella entered again.

She just informed him that she'll like to have a meeting with him later in the day as she was presently busy. Bella acted like she didn't notice the secretary that was still there, she wanted to save herself the stress of screaming; there was still much to achieve that day.

Shina had talked to Bella about her strife with her PA. He didn't see any reason why Bella should be at logger heads with him, this guy had been in charge of her company for almost eighteen years. He had nurtured it to where it was and he didn't feel one mistake was enough to throw him out even if the mistake had a great effect.

He told Bella that she had great managerial skills but still feels her PA had also made great contributions to the success of FAGADE DESIGNS. All these things played back into her head as she entered the building earlier in the morning, she decided to be nice.

The niceness wasn't just broad enough to cover the carefree attitude of the lazy secetary. She was in no way feeling bad about her decision to throw her out. If Fagade Designs is going to rise again, people like that were not needed.

Bella and her PA ended the meeting on a good note. They drew out plans on how to renew the business and he reassured her that he was going to make up for the mistake. They shared a bottle of wine that Bella brought to work and cheered to the new Fagade Designs that was uprising.

Bella left work light and happy, like a burden had been lifted. She didn't seem to react to the disappointment she got from Simeon Stones anymore and she was grateful to have Shina. She smiled to herself as she leaned on the gate. It was 6:05 and Shina was supposed to pick her by 6:10 she knew he was always on time.
** ** **
Adewoyin bursted into the room and jammed the door after her.

"The key!" She screamed at Tireni. Tireni looked up from one of Adewoyin's books that she got herself busy with, startled.

"The key Tireni!" Ade shouted again.

Tireni ransacked the things on the table as fast as her hand could go. "Where is it? I can't find it." She threw back, alarmed. Her heart thumped.

Ade used the side of her body to hold the door put. Tireni could hear the noise coming from outside. Ade's eyes surveyed the room fast.

"That's it there!" Ade notified, "Under the table."

Tireni bent over to pick the key. A man shouted from outside "Open this door!"

"Be fast, it's not my door." Ade urged pushing the door harder. Tireni threw the key and Ade fumbled to lock the door with trembling hands. She slipped down to the floor after successfully locking it

"Open the door or I'll bring it down!" They heard the man shout again, followed by a bang! Tireni was so sure that the kind of sound she heard could be produced by someone's hands, it had to be that the man kicked a door opened. "It's not my door." She heard Ade mutter again.

Tireni placed her hands over her mouth, her eyes were wide open in fear. She squatted near Ade and asked "what's going on.".

"I can't explain now." Was Adewoyin's reply. She was panting heavily. Her waist bag that contained lecture notes laid beside her.

Everywhere was quiet now, they didn't hear any sound, just footsteps. Tireni had been seating near Adewoyin all the while resting her back on the door.

"Let's go to the bed." Tireni advised,as she placed her hands over Ade's shoulder in a bid to calm her down.

As soon as they stood up to go to the bed, the dreadful bang invaded the silence. Adewoyin ran forward away from the door and it flung open hitting Tireni. She hit the wall behind the door and gave a double piercing cry, Adewoyin screamed along.

It wasn't just one man that was there, he held a riffle and stared at the two frightened ladies

"Take the two of them." he ordered the men with him, who swung into action.
** ** **
Shina pecked her forehead and watched her walk into the apartment. Bella was the present queen of his heart. He couldn't wait for the Big deal 'Marriage.' But all the same he didn't want to go to fast. He had to get to really know her.

"Welcome." Mrs Fagade greeted her daughter the moment she appeared at the door.

"Good evening Mum, how are you?"

"Fine dear, this one that you are smiling."

"Ahn ahn, don't I smile before ni." She looked up at her Mum before she continued un buckling the silver sandals she wore.

"Why didn't you take your car." Her Mum asked.

"Shina was going to come to pick me."

"The detective?"

"Yes ma. What do we have at home." She answered and plopped into the sofa beside her Mum.

"You have me at home, gist me abeg." Her Mum teased."What going on between you two now." Her Mum asked with a mischievous grin.

Bella brought out two cups of ice cream from her bag and handed over one to her mum.
Delighted, her mum asked "Did he buy it for me."

"I bought it for you Mum," Bella scoffed, she was planning to tell her Mum what had happened this past few days but she didn't expect her to be head over heels like this.

Bella explained the occurrences that had taken place over a meal of boiled Potato and fish stew, she saw her Mother’s eyes gleam like pearls as she spoke.

"So I now have a son in law?"

"No, Mum, I didn't say he proposed." Bella rolled her eyes.

"It's the same thing jare, no guy like that would waste his time if he is not planning for marriage." The excited woman explained.

Mrs Fagade leaned on the table with her elbow and clasped her hands in a gesture of prayer.

"God please let the ring be a diamond ring." Her Mum prayed with closed eyes.

Bella was amused by her mother's attitude she bursted into an hilarious laugh. "Mum, you are one hell of a character!" She said as she packed up the dishes, unable to subdue the laugh.

"That's why I am the only interesting person in this family." Her Mum said on top of her voice, laughing along.
** ** **
Tireni and Adewoyin looked like suffering itself. The had just stayed in the cell for one day and they were looking like they have passed through the valley of the shadow of death and they didn't escape evil, it fed on their weight.

Dirty clothes,smell of urine, weird hairstyles as a result of 'no comb', bulging eye bags and streaks of dried tears along their faces. They held each other hand in hand as they followed the police man.

Tireni and Ade were picked from their home as a result of a protest that happened in the school, the policemen had swung into action and they chased students even to their homes, they picked the ones walking by the road side whether you are aware there was a protest or not, soon they started going to rooms to pick people like it was mandated for their van to be full.

Students scampered everywhere, some were injured as a result of the stampede, the guys tried to fight back while the girls followed like lambs for slaughter. Ade ran all the way from the school gate to her home, Only to meet some of them in her street, breaking into rooms. Luck refused to shine on her as her and her visiting friend were picked.

"I pray they are allowing us go." Tireni whispered to Ade as the walked down the dark corridor. She hoped that she wouldn't regret coming over. When they had asked them to call one person each before they packed them like sardine into a cell, she had told them that she didn't have anyone to call. Calling her Mum would prove that she is bad and her dad was totally out of it.

Adewoyin was still waiting for her turn to call when they took Tireni to the cell, Ade soon joined her and Tireni didn't bother to ask her who she called, it had to be her Mum.

"Did they collect your phone." She asked the moment she saw Ade pushed into the cell. "Yes." Ade said, "I doubt if I'll ever get it back."

"Sign here." The husky voice behind the desk ordered, they quickly signed. "Where are your things." Adewoyin quickly identified her phone and it was handed over to her. Tireni whispered a 'wow'.

"Your Mum must be mouthed in this aspect o." Adewoyin gave a wry smile. "They allowed us out first and with your phone again." Tireni continued obviously awed.

When Adewoyin found out the reason why they were taken she knew it'd take like a day before they would be allowed out and it'll be on bail that would be hard to afford. There was fear that Tireni could fall sick again, she was just recovering besides, she still complained about weakness that morning before Ade went to school.

As they entered the street where Ade's apartment was, students rushed to them wanting to know how it went. Tireni could hear Ade explaining their ordeal as she squeezed herself through the forming crowd, walking home as fast as her leg could carry her. She felt too irritated about her looks to be standing and telling stories to people who didn't even know her.
** ** **
"It could be true that we are really been trailed." Tayo sat down, shaking his legs. It was his first time visiting the house since the incident happened.

"What is the next step?" Madam Cash asked,
sitting in an opposite sofa.

"I don't know for now." He spoke with dreamy eyes, trying to fish out an idea

"I don't know why the police would want to be a prince of persia just to stop this blessing." Teniola said, Tayo looked at her. His lips curved into a smile. He knew she said that to please him. Sometimes he asked himself why he didn't love her back. What can he do? Love is love, he couldn't fake it.

"He said our phones should be tapped and it was truly tapped. Let's wait for more updates from him. Then we will know which way to go?"

"But I'll be called to come and get the stones soon." Teni reminded him.

"I know." He swallowed, his throat was dry.

"Something would come up.'

Teniola shifted the discussion to Tireni, she informed Tayo that she feels the girl missing.

"She had always been around the bar before we didn't see her again." She talked with a slight frown.

"We don't belong where we don't belong, she doesn't belong here." Tayo stated with a suspicious grin.

Teniola wondered what he meant she had always known Tayo to be brutal, and the only reason why he had been sparing Tireni's life all these while was because she looked like Stella.

Could he have finally taken the big step? Why would she care? The girl was of no use to her again besides she had never been of any use than protecting her self image, covering up for her barrenness.

Dead or alive, Teniola was not planning to take Tireni in again, so she decided to change the topic.

"When are you coming back?" She asked Tayo with an appealing eyes.

Tayo chuckled. "Not any time soon." He met her eyes, they were deem with sadness.

"What are you busy with?" She sounded broken

"Breeding the young."

She understood, Tayo was recruiting criminals, expert frauds to be precise. He had once mentioned it to her and she turned it down at once. "We are bad enough, we don't need to raise people to be like us." She had answered that day and he didn't probe further. Now he had taken good use of the opportunity that came from their disagreement.

Teniola looked away from him and swallowed. "Girls?" she asked.

"They seem to be more easy to handle, their weak emotions let them down."

"We don't have to do this Tayo."

"It’s not WE, It’s ME." He corrected firmly without any hint of remorse.

She squeezed her burning eyes shut and looked heavenward, gnashing her teeth. He was going to dump her now? After all they had gone through together?

Her chest heaved, high and low, her breathing had changed, she wasn't sure she'd be able to control the emotional rage booming in her.

She grabbed the side of the chairs and slowly opened her eyes. It blazed with wrath, but her mouth spoke a different thing. An entire sharp contrast to what she felt inside.

"Tayo please don't make any other girl like me." She slowly went on her knees, her eyes welled up."

Tayo braced up to his feet and walked to the window. "They have their choices to make."
She batted her eyelids and allowed her tears run down her cheek,

"How old is the youngest of them."

"Fifteen." Tayo answered.

"Fifteen! Tayo! Fifteen!" She repeated.

Her jaw slacked, she became pale, cleaning her tears she stood up from where she knelt and dashed to where he was, holding his shirt from behind.

"Why do you have to be like this, why?" She cried, Tayo turned around and shoved her away. She gasped as she hit the wall.
His eye brows rose as he motioned towards her.

His eyes bored into hers as he stated "Listen to me and listen well, I know what I want and I get it how I want."

Teniola trembled, he yanked her away from the wall and pushed her to the chair, her eyes widened in fear. "And if you cannot cope with it, I'll shove you out just like I just did." His expression hardened.

He sighed and sat down back where he stood up from, allowing his head drop in his hands, he spoke with pain "if I can't bear my own children, I will make them."

But he was the one that made her barren after series of abortion, what did he now mean? She wanted to talk but her lower lips only quivered.

"What do you have at home." He asked.

Teniola was still too shocked to talk, she just stared blank at him.

"I said what do you have at home!" Tayo screamed, kicking a nearby stool.

Teniola shuddered and answered "check...the kitchen." She stuttered

He walked to the kitchen to serve himself and soon came out with a plate of rice and stew, he sat at the dining and ate in silence.

Teniola watched from where she sat, she wasn't sure If he had a gun with him but right now she just felt like putting a knife in his neck.

He stood up from the dining leaving his plate there and holding the chicken bone up to his mouth as he walked to the door.

"I'll call you when I need you." He said and walked out. Teniola's breathing eased.

CONTINUATION

Sir, you are disturbing the hospital premises. You are not allowed to scream here." The nurse cooed with a scowl.

"I am telling you that someone is missing and you are talking this way." Olu motioned towards the desk, mad with fear and terror.

"I want to see the doctor now." He continued.

"Then join queue." She scowled, "sick man." She added as she walked away from the desk.
Olu stared at her plump body as she walked away. If only she knew he could get her bad mouth into jail.

He drummed on the top of his car as he waited for Kessi to pick. He explained what went wrong in a rush and Kessi promised to be there in some minutes time. Olu sat in his car with his eyes closed as he waited for Kessi. Did he come to the wrong hospital?
** ** **
Bella had received a call the other night, she would be needed at Simeon Stones that Monday morning. The secretary had told her that her company and Margul and sons have been picked for consideration and they both had to be present at a meeting with he board of directors.

"Your company has a profit back down based on fraud?" The bespectacled bald man asked looking straight a Fagade Bella. Who was clad in a blue shirt, pink skirt and a pink muffler attached to her shirt. She shifted on the chair, hesitating before she answered.

"yes sir."
She clenched her fist. "But it's been sorted out." She added fast enough before the man continued.

"Excuse us for some time." The man spoke up referring to both Bella and Teniola. Soon they where called back in. Bella's brain was dead nervous, for the first time she wished she had proposed for this contract through the Simeon brothers.

" We would get back to you through the secretary but I'll like to inform you that Simeon Stones does not invest to lose. We take our decisions based on team work and would go for only what we know is right."

Bella and Teniola nodded. "Thanks for understanding." The man stood up and packed his laptop into his bag and other board members followed suit. Teniola and Bella held a long gaze before they joined the troop leaving the office.
** ** **
"We'll find her don't worry." Kessi assured Olu as he drove on top speed.

"I don't want to believe that, we have checked the hospital, we have checked the bar. Where would she now be!" Olu said, rubbing the front of his forehead. His worries drew lines across his forehead.

"Why did the doctor allow her to leave." He added, it was more of an accusation than a question.

"She is eighteen Olu, she is old enough to make decisions."

"So!" Olu asked with wild eyes

"So you don't expect the doctor to hold her down." Kessi answered expressionlessly

Kessi had handled the situation with calmness when he entered the hospital, he requested to see a Doctor and he was allowed into the office. Olu stood outside by his car, he didn't go inside with Kessi because his frustrated self wouldn't help the situation.

The doctor had informed Kessi that Tireni signed out herself a night before saying that she felt better and need to go. He had tried making her stay to finish her medication but she bluntly refused and another patient was given her bed as soon as she left the premises.

Kessi's expression already told Olu that it was no good news, they decided to check the bar and didn't find a trace of her. They tried asking people and they were like they have not seen her for about two days now. Olu and Kessi decided to comb the streets for her. It was a futile search.
** ** **
Shina watched the way Bella hid her emotions perfectly. No single tear drop yet her conversations were laden with pain. The loss of the investment opportunity really pained her. She had told herself severally that Simeon Stones would regret not investing in Fagade designs.

"I am going to work on my company till we beat them hands down." She talked with so much determination

"It'll be fine Bella." Shina consoled

"A company experienced fraud, doesn't make it useless, even good people go through bad times and they are not supposed to be condemned." She said, visibly tired.

"Don't get yourself worked up, you should rest, allow me show you the guest room." Shina offered

"No, thanks." Her stubborness prevailed.

Bella had gone to Shina's house the moment she got the text that explained that Margul and sons was the preferred company. She was disappointed and frustrated.

The investment was her core plan in moving her business forward. She still didn't understand why they dropped her because of a fraud incident, an incident she expected them to see has mere.

Olu's call came in some minutes after Bella started dozing on the sofa. "Sir the girl has gone missing." Olu's voice boomed

"Which girl?."

"The Tireni girl."

"Hmm." The detective supervisor stared at Bella's sleeping face, and stood up to continue the call in his room. Bella stirred a little, stopping him on his tracks.

"Sir can we have a meeting, there are somethings you need to know about her." Olu continued from the Other end.

"Let's talk about it in the office tomorrow, 10am. Please keep this information from Fagade Bella she just experienced a loss."

He warned before cutting the call. Bella would kill herself is he finds out that the girl she had her hopes up on was missing, she talked about this Tireni girl whenever they met. Not even now that things seemed to be going bad for her.
** ** **
"If i’ve not seen her in a long while, even when I came home for break about six months ago, I didn't see her." Adewoyin said into the receiver looking at Tireni's frail body on the mattress in her self contained apartment. She had shown up in her hostel about two hours after she called that she was coming.

Adewoyin had sent her the address and of course she was very happy to have her long time best friend around. Just that her mouth almost dropped when she saw the frail staggering figure of her friend dragging a box and a polythene bag along, she didn't look well.

She updated questions really fast for Tireni to answer as to why she was that way but her tired friend was to weak too download any answer. Instead she asked for water.

She had taken the water and curled up to bed after telling Adewoyin not to say anything about being there to anyone, although she didn't expect anyone to ask after her. She promised to explain everything to her friend when she had gotten enough rest.

Adewoyin was about to tear the dangote pasta into the pot of boiling water when her phone rang. It was a man that introduced himself as Olumide and explained that Tireni had called her number twice with his phone before.

He asked if she had seen Tireni and she denied because of what Tireni had told her before she slept. Who was he? Was her best friend running from her boyfriend? What about her parents? These were questions that tugged Ade's mind as she went ahead with her cooking.

It was when she tapped Tireni to come and eat that she realized that she was running on high temperature. "Tireni!" She exclaimed "you burn like fire!" Startling her friend out her sleep.

"Don't worry I have drugs." She said with a wave of dismissal and adjusted to continue her sleep.

"You are sick Tireni." Ade said as if to inform her. There was no response from the sleeping girl, Adewoyin tapped her again to sit up and eat but the effort was futile, she got another plate, covered the food and set it by her on the bed.

** ** **
Olu was just dropping the call when the supervisor entered, Kessi had called earlier that he would soon join them. He greeted the man and they took their seat.

"So what have you gotten about the missing girl."

"She has been no where to be found, Kessi took her to the hospital she was sick and now we can't find her." Olu wheeled out not knowing where to start from exactly.

"And why should Kessi take her to the hospital, I don't understand." Shina asked looking suspicious

Kessi entered the conference room, greeted and took his seat, the supervisor and Olu stared at him in an awkward manner. He was forced to to ask 'what?'

Olu dismissed the question, gave a fake cough
and continued. He explained all that had happened, he kept apologizing for his misconduct and for allowing emotions get in the way of his job. He explained everything from his first time at the bar to the point where he called Adewoyin. The supervisor listened with rapt attention.

Olu finished his tale and looked up at the supervisor; his head had been down all the while. He didn't see what he expected when he met the supervisors gaze, it was more of a smile than a scowl.

"Well, I think it's confession time." Shina announced whit his smile coming to full bloom.
Kessi and Olu glanced at each other wondering what their supervisor was about to say.

"Bella just said yes to me recently." He dropped, biting his lower lip.

"Fagade?" Olu asked, raising his brows.

"Ehn ehn! So that woman can say yes to a man!" Kessi proclaimed as his eyes shot out.
The supervisor chuckled and Olu and Kessi laughed along.

"The supervisor is in love with the victim and the detective is in love with the chief suspect's daughter." Kessi said with a smirk.

"Tough equation." The detective added, leaning into his high back executive chair.

"But there is tendency that Tireni is Bella's niece." Olu said breaking the ice of silence that was dominating.

"It is still a mere hypothesis, detective Olu." The supervisor sounded formal.

"I think we should take extra care to search Tireni out, she is a core evidence for these cases and keeping the fact that she is missing from Bella Fagade isn't a bad suggestion, women can be really funny at times." Olu swallowed as he listened while Shina nodded.

"We should get fluid samples or hair strands from the three involved and do a DNA test while Olu calls Simeon Stones to tell them to slow down a bit." He concluded.

"Nice plan." The supervisor commended

"After I got the message sent to Teniola Marquis about the acceptance of the proposal by Simeon Stones, I stopped receiving signals." Olu informed. "They must have found out that their phones where tapped." Olu added

"How can that be." Shina asked tapping the floor with his shoes

"They have an insider?" Kessi asked and the three looked at each other.

"We can't say for now, it's just the three of us on this case and I want to believe there is no insider amidst us." Shina stated and the two nodded, inhaling deeply.

"It could be a minor fault from the technician. I'll call him today." He assured. "And before I forget, detective Bello is resuming tomorrow, he should be handling the latest street murder that was reported."
** ** **
Tireni opened her eyes and the aroma from the spaghetti by her side hit her nose. She dragged her self up lazily and looked around the room for Adewoyin.

She was right there, sitted on the floor at the corner of the room beside the reading table with her head buried in a novel titled 'Unrequited.', she could see a lady holding her eyes in tears at the back cover but she couldn't see the name of the writer clearly.

She had known Adewoyin to be an addicted reader of novels of any theme. She liked it as much as she liked music. "You've not stopped reading all these love rubbish." She said startling her friend.

"Oh, you are awake!" Ade said as she dropped the novel near the stove.

"You need to eat use your drugs." She picked a sachet water from the reading table and motioned towards the bed.

After Tireni had eaten and used her drugs, she and Ade had a long talk about all the things that had happened so far and why she decided to come a long way to her school.

"I needed fresh air, the air back at home was killing me." She expressed her discomfort.
Adewoyin expressed her bitterness about what Madam Cash did to her friend.

"That your dad should be hanged to death." She declared with a scowl. Tireni hit her with her left palm, she wasn't fast enough to escape the stinging effect the slap had on her laps.

"Ouch!" She exclaimed in surprise

"That’s my Dad you just talked about." Tireni accused

"Whatever.." Ade drawled and eyed her friend. She felt Tireni was just being unnecessarily loyal to a man that didn't mind her death.

Their talk projected into late night as Adewoyin updated Tireni on how academics have been and her new relationship with one 'Williams.' According to her they were in the same level but not in the same department.

She talked like someone that was getting the best out of the whole romantic relationship and she didn't forget to add that he could sing really well to. That must have been what catalyzed their love. Tireni thought to herself.

Adewoyin had asked Tireni why she wouldn't give Olumide a chance and she replied that she didn't trust him enough yet and his presence in her life was what aggravated her problems.

"You don't know what the future holds for you guys." She tried to encourage her friend

"Let whatever it holds wait." Tireni countered firmly

"Did I tell you that Steve is also in my school." Ade asked, changing the topic.

"The same Steve?" Tireni's eyes widened

"Yea, same one, we are in the same level, he is studying accounting."

"Wow! He must be bigger now." Tireni commented

"And handsome too." Adewoyin added with mischief hanging on its edges. Tireni stirred at her friend and they both chuckled

"All the best for you o." Tireni said pushing her by her shoulders. She felt better talking with Adewoyin, she almost forgot that she was not yet fully recovered.

EPISODE 7

The car gave a whooshing sound as it sped raising the dust from the untiled road, it was a Maroon coloured honda that had Tayo has it's driver. He swerved into the filling station and waited for his turn to fill the car. This part of the business that he was going for was one of the most important.

"He just entered a filling station to fill his tank I guess. I am right behind him" Olu spoke

Tayo horned as he waited for the car in front of him to enter into the main road; soon, he was on his way, on top speed with his blaring music. How would he have known that he was being followed?

They overheard him discuss with someone about delivering Guns through his tapped phone, it'd be a very good bonus for Olu and Kessi to hand over the Gun dealer along side with Tayo.

Olu had prepared well to trail him, they were able to get the hotel he was staying through the GPS and Olu was already there waiting at a corner in a black Nissan Aramanda SUV that had tinted windows, full tank and had been given a thorough check up by an expert mechanic a night before.

Whatever happens, Kessi was going to send backup, so there was no fear, even if things turned sour.

Olu didn't drive too fast neither did he drive too slow, he was smart enough not to follow the car directly. It was a straight road so Tayo couldn't have suspected any particular car as they were all heading in the same route.

He increased the music has he entered triumphantly into Abeokuta, Olu maintained his distance knowing that it'll now be easy for Tayo to notice any foul game. "You are at Abeokuta now?"

"Yes." Olu replied, happy that his partner was following him up diligently.

"I just sighted the house, you won't believe what it looks like, so tattered." Olu continued.
As he clicked on his camera.

He had seen the Firearms dealer come out and handed over bag to Tayo bringing out a semi- automatic pistol which was probably a sample of what was in the bag.

Olu took a quick shot before he reversed back into the main street. Tayo had followed immediately, Olu increased the speed of the car and soon lost Tayo, which was what he wanted.

He had to take the camera to the lab to get the pictures printed out as tangible evidence. Tayo was definitely Madam Cash's partner.

"Where are you?" He asked Kessi over the phone as he walked into the station, it was evening already but he and Kessi had planned to meet there the moment he returned from the trailing Trip.

"I am in the hospital." Kessi keeping his voice low.

"Hospital?"

"Yes,"

"Your son?" Olu asked

"No."

"Then what? How come you are there? Are you injured." Olu asked as he plopped down into his chair. He was tired and famished.

"Tireni, she....hold on." He heard Kessi say. Olu became alarmed.

"Tireni. What happened to her? Where is the place?" He stood up abruptly. Confused. Kessi's voice didn't come through but the call was still on.

Olu paced around the empty bull pen as Detective Bello, the other detective apart from Him and Kessi had not resumed still. He wondered what the nature Detective Bello's sickness was.

He placed his phone in his ear again and realized that the call had already ended. He tried Kessi's number over and over but he wasn't picking
** ** **
Teniola pushed open the small side gate with the confidence that there was no security man behind it. Tayo had done his own part of the deal, he got her all the things she needed and cleared off every disturbance.

She was clad in a pink blazer and a black sleeveless gown, light make up and her packed up braid hung over her shoulder. She had a glittering silver necklace that had a heart shaped pendant with matching earrings.

Well composed, she walked elegantly into the building with her shoes making clanking sounds. Teniola knocked once and pushed open the adjoining door of the general secretary's office. "Good morning." She greeted, raising her pink shaded eye brows.

"Good morning." The women present in the office chorused. "Are you here for the proposal too?" The lady who seemed to own the office asked, while the other lady looked back at her.

"Obviously." Teniola replied confidently.

The secretary immediately had a scowl on her face. Teniola suddenly seemed to be a challenge to her authority; A reputation she had built over years. She didn't want anyone to come and start making her feel unworthy.

"From which company?" She probed further.

"Margul and sons." She replied, flipping a stray stray strand of her hair back. The name of the company she used was a name Tayo came up with from God-Knows- where. She mentioned it confidently because she knew Tayo must have cleared all the necessary grounds.

The secretary checked it up on the laptop in front of her and nodded. "Come over. Join us." She said looking straight at her. Teniola motioned towards them and took her sit in the only empty seat available near the woman the the secretary was attending too.

The other woman seemed younger but classic. Her designers bag, heels and long wavy Brazillian hair caught Teni's attention. She had a fair unblemished skin that glowed, light make up and a kind of confidence that could come only from success. Bella was killing the occasion.

"So we have three companies that have already submitted their proposal and are still expecting more before the end of this week. The company's administrative board would meet next Monday to pick the favored company and should get back to us by Wednesday." The secretary reeled looking straight at the two women before her. They seemed to mind each other's business and didn't share any eye contact through out.

"I should get back to you on Thursday morning, if none of these plans are disrupted." Bella nodded as she tried to size the other woman up from the corner of her eyes.

She seemed to her like she was a strong competitor and she had never heard about 'Margul and sons" before nor met her in any business meeting. She decided that she was going to do a check up on the company through the internet when she got home.

** ** **

"Kessi!" Olu screamed from inside when he heard the door bell, he had gone home when he wasn't able to get any more information from Kessi at the station, he didn't know the hospital where he was, so it was no use staying, besides it was late already.

Olu hurried to the door and fumbled with the key. He got it opened and there stood before him his house keeper's daughter, A young girl of about sixteen.

"Good evening." He was visibly surprised.

"Good evening sir." She seemed shaken.

"Is there a problem? Olu asked, concerned.

The petite, dark complexioned girl in a blue polo and black dusty skirt that had patches of brown on it looked down to her pink girly slippers. She itched her head and kept her face down.

"Is there a problem?" Olu asked again.

"I want to sleep here." She mumbled

Olu chuckled. "Sleep here? Where is your Mummy."

"She sacked me. she said I am pregnant."

"Are you pregnant?"

The girl nodded affirmatively, Olu started at her stomach and felt there was no bugling sign of pregnancy. Olu was getting thrilled by what he was seeing. To him she was to thin and lanky to be pregnant.

"You are pregnant because your Mum said so?"

"Yes." She replied looking at his face for the first time.

Yoruba mothers sha, Olu thought. He weighed his options; taking her in might be risk, he couldn't trust her explanation. He pushed his feet into his palm slippers and followed the girl home walking behind her. His mind had not shifted from Tireni, he got all steamed up when stupid questions crossed his mind.

'What if Tireni was pregnant? Could that be the reason why Kessi cut the call? Why were they in the Hospital?'

"It's there sir." The girl cut him out of his thoughts, pointing at her house. A two bedroom flat.

The woman finally agreed to take her daughter back in after Olu had promised to give them money to go to the Hospital for a confirmatory test the next day.

He walked home, happy that he helped the situation and wishing he could help Tireni that much. Time and chance didn't just permit. He got home and tried Kessi's unreachable number series of times before giving up. Sleep seemed to have been kidnapped as he searched for it all through the boring night.

It was quarter to seven in the morning when Olu heard his door bell ring, he sprang up from the bed as he wasn't sleeping deeply.

It was Kessi this time. He looked like someone that has not had enough rest. "Do you have stout?" He requested has he walked in.

"No, but there is coffee or fruit punch." Olu replied as he closed the door. Kessi sank into the sofa in the living room.

"Did you go home at all?" Olu asked as he brought out fruit punch and a glass cup from the fridge.

"No. Was in the hospital till this morning." Kessi went on to explain how he met Tireni along the road throwing up some distance before the bar.

'Jeez she is truly pregnant' was what jumped into Olu perplexed mind until Kessi explained that the doctor diagnosed 'Malaria and Enteric fever.' "She is on drips now, her third one before I left this morning."

Olu sighed. "It should be as a result of sleeping outside."

"And dirty water too." Kessi added

"How about the bills."

"I settled it already" Kessi yawned.

"You should rest before I give you feed back on the trailing."

"I swear I need it."

Olu led Kessi to his king sized scattered bed. A part of the bed sheet was on the floor but Kessi didn't mind as he settled himself on the stack of three pillows.
** ** **
Fagade Bella discussed the business proposal with her parents, expressing the uproar that had been created in her mind at the sight of the said CEO of Margul and Sons.

She had checked online and found out that they dealt with the manufacturing of Jewelry. They seemed to be Potential competitors, She remembered the look on the woman's face.

Mrs Fagade did not cease to keep assuring and encouraging her daughter using the sentence 'Fagade Design is different from others so don't let it bother you.'

Bella knew that if Simeon Stones accepted her proposal, she could make them permanent partners along the line. She sighed and moved away from the window to avoid the slap an angry wind was bringing.

In order to take her mind off the all things, Bella talked to her Mum about Tireni, how she met her and how likely she is to be her parents grand child. She had not mentioned it to them even when they overheard her at the cementry. The idea of having someone to call a 'grand child.' was exciting. Mrs Fagade prayed in her heart that the girl was really the lost daughter of her only son.

Bella walked into her room dragging her feet, the two pressing issues on her mind were sitting heavily on her shoulders. She climbed to her bed and picked up her phone.

"Can I come over, Are you free?"

It was a text from Shina. She replied him and awaited his presence. Bella couldn't wait to tell him about the new development at Simeon Stones.

She changed into a peach flowing gown and went into the kitchen to prepare for her Visitor after informing her Mum who decided to stylishly excuse them by going to her shop.

Shina told Bella about how he trusted her intelligence that she couldn't be overlooked by Simeon stones. Infact, he declared the investment hers. He advised her to have ready made plans on how to handle it and to make maximum profit.

"Fagade Designs is coming up back again, and it'll crush the fashion industry." He said, almost sure of himself.

It brought a quick beam to Bella's face. Shina seized the opportunity and planted a soft sharp kiss on her firm peach painted lips. She chuckled.

"So should I go ahead and see her." Bella asked as they shifted the discussion to Tireni. "No, you can't make any claims without proper evidence."
He told her as he munched the pawpaw. It was cut into moderate sizes and arranged in a soup plate. It's bright yellow color and creative arrangement made it appetizing.

"I won't make claims, just to talk to her and get to know her more." She defended

"No, any slight cause for suspicion can send this whole case crumbling down." Bella was quiet.

"Do you understand me Bella?"

"I am not sure." She answered looking straight at him.

"Please I just need you to stay away from her, at least for now, so that you don't put yourself at the risk of being killed." Shina placed an affectionate hand under her chin and used his other hand to pull her closer making her head rest on his chest.

** ** **

Olu pulled up at 'Life O'guard' hospital against the advice of his partner. He just had to see her even if he didn't get to talk to her, he'd stand outside the hall to see how she is faring.

"Ward two, Bed three." the nurse that attended to him at the reception directed. Kessi had told him that Tireni mentioned that she didn't want to see Olu for now, he had advised that Olu gives her some space to recover first before going to her.

Olu walked through the corridor passing by array of rooms with different labels. The whole place smelt of antiseptic and drugs, it made him tweak his nose. He stopped at a door with a plastic card that read "ward 2 Female's ward."

The plastic card indicated that visitors were not allowed until 12pm. He checked his wrist watch it was 11:45am, he took his seat on a white painted waiting bench towards the left hand side of the ward.

He watched the nurses in clean white gowns and blue caps that looked like a toy goal post walk around, holding trays that contained syringe, drugs, drip bags and all other sort of medications.

A nurse entered the ward Tireni was said to be with a stack of sky blue plain bed sheets over her right arm. He could hear her telling them in the ward to get dressed that it'll soon be visiting hour.

The nurse came out empty handed and and looked sideways to where Olu was seated pressing his phone. "Hello." She called his attention with her very thin voice that made it look like she was squeaking.

"Good morning." Olu greeted rising to his feet for an handshake. The nurse shook his hand firmly and beamed him a smile, exposing her her gap teeth.

"You are here on a visit?" She asked, still keeping her smile.

"Yes." Olu replied with a hint of a smile on his face.

"You can go in ten minutes time."

"Okay, thanks." Olu drawled, taking his seat again.

She looked back, casting quick glances at Olu as she walked away, he didn't seem to notice anyway, he had resumed back to his phone.

Olu saw a man walk into the ward with his wife. They probably had a child in there. He knew it was time to go in. He took a quick breath and muttered something like a prayer as he pushed open the door. He sighted the bed that had '3' written on it with something that looked like red paint.

Olu motioned towards the bed cautious that his shoe didn't make too much sound, he stood at the edge of the bed for a while. The occupant seemed to be soundly asleep, the yellow content in the drip pipe moved so slow that Olu had to shake his head.

He gathered enough courage, inhaled deeply and made to remove the cover cloth that had covered both the persons body and face.

He bent a little and dragged the cover cloth little by little till it came over the person's face. He met the alarmed eyes of a woman's round face.

She had bulging eyes and black lip , her front hair was scanty like rat chopped it off. Olu was as shocked as the Woman, she looked so terrible that you could almost conclude that she was suffering from cancer.

"Oh...I am so sorry." Olu stuttered and the woman kept staring.

"I guess the nurse gave me a wrong bed number. I am sorry." Olu pleaded. When the woman kept staring with a bewild face without saying nothing.

Olu decided to cover her back up, and that's what he did. He stepped away from her bed side and glanced around, all the other occupants had their faces opened and none of them looked like Tireni.

He walked back briskly to the reception and complained. The nurse there told him that that was the bed number recorded for Tireni Marquis and if she wasn't there, then she didn't know.

A patient waiting to be attended to that overheard his conversation with the nurse, advised him to check through all bed '3' in the female wards.

"She isn't in any room! She is missing!" Olu said on top of his voice, like he was alerting the whole hospital as he approached the receptionist.

CONTINUATION

Teniola was walking out of the VIP section of Franktel Foods when she thought she saw Tireni. Her own Tireni with a guy in the general section. She saw her move her head towards the guy like they wanted to kiss. Cheap thing, Madam Cash thought as she charged towards them.

Just three days ago, she caught her with Tayo and now this Guy. The customer she was talking to followed her behind.The two love birds were lost in what they were doing, they didn't notice there was an angry bull coming towards them.

"Mr. Man o don't put your mouth!" She cooed standing on her toes and waving a hand at Olu's face. She yanked Tireni up by her hair, making her whimp. Olu head muttering voices around, everybody in the place had their eyes on them.

"Madam, calm down." He decided to go the soft way although there was disdain written all over him.

Teniola picked the cup containing unfinshed drink and poured in on Olu. He clenched both his hand as his teeth trying to control himself. She dragged Tireni out of the restaurant by her hair.

The victim covered her face to avoid the shame. The customer who did not follow them out immediately faced Olu and said "you sef don't put your mouth in mother and child business again." He scowled and walked out

Olu picked his key from the table and stormed out after them. He saw Madam Cash push Tireni inside a car and sat at the back with her as she snapped at the driver to take off immediately. He spotted his car and walked to it.

Olu sat in the car seat and leaned into it. He allowed all that has happened replay in his mind. It was almost a perfect date, he wished he didn't pick that place. After letting his anger out on the dashboad by hitting it, he used his seat belt, inserted the ignition key, turned it and the car roared to life.

As he controlled the car in reverse and idea struck him. He picked up his phone and called Kessi.

"Jeez. What do we do now, Am sure the woman recognises you now?" Kessi replied after hearing all that happened

"Exactly! That where I need you to come in. Go to the bar and find out what happens since I can't go. If we get a picture of something, I can get her sued for child abuse and it'll be an easy way to get a DNA test" he reeled.

"I was about going to the lab but I can go tomorrow. I gat your back man!" Kessi assured.

"Thanks! I am waiting to hear from you." Olu cut the call and heaved a sigh.
** ** **
"We should be expecting you next week." The female voice from the other end spoke

"Yes, thanks." Bella replied, resting on the rail in the balcony.

"And don't forget to come with a business ownership form." The lady cooed on a final note.

"Noted!" Bella replied and cut the call

She had just called the general secetary of Simeon Stones to inform her that she is coming to drop her proposal next week. She felt the general secetary represented the company well with the way she talked.

She was friendly and polite. Actually, she wasn't the one supposed to be doing the calling but presently she didn't trust her P.A. So she had been taking care of all important transaction herself.

Bella hoped that she'd be the first to go with her proposal and that it would be considered as soon as possible.

She couldn't bear to lose anything anymore, she was committed to bring the company back up; at least to the stage it was, when her brother handed it over to her. Her mind went back to the detective, she hoped something was going on about her new discovery.

Bella closed her eyes and allowed the cool gentle breeze that passed lift her hair as it made its way past her.

"Hmmm.....sweet moment huh?" The detective husky voice interrupted the moment. He had entered the compound just as she was closing her eyes. Startled, Bella swirled around to see who talked and met him gleaming.

"Wow! I didn't know you where here she comported herself.
** ** **
"From what I am seeing now, she is been thrown out."

"Are you serious." Olu said drumming his fingers on his room door. Kessi was giving him feed back about what was going on at the bar.

He packed at the other side of the road, and saw Tireni at their gate, beside the bar, on her knees. Her white top was no more white.she looked like someone that had been rolling on the floor.

Bags and polythene nylon were flying out of the gate. People were all over, some cursing, some sympathizing with her and some gossiping.

There was nobody in the bar as they were all outside watching the way Madam Cash disciplined her child.

"I am serious, the woman is throwing her things out of the gate. People are gathered there sef."

"Oh. My God! I caused all this."

"Just calm down. I'll see what I can do."

Kessi waited patiently in his blue Acura TL car. He knew the population of people would soon decrease.

Madam Cash didn't seem to be changing her mind as she kept screaming curses at the girl. "You should have just died from the begining.' she cooed as she locked the gate from inside.

Tireni sat down on the floor with her box and bags scattered around her. Everybody has gone back to their business now and she had banged the gate severally in vain.

It was evening already she was tired and was already dozing off on one of the bags when she heard her name. It was a faint call but she still heard it. She opened her eyes and looked around, she only saw a nursing mother with her baby at her back passing and staring at her.

She placed her head back on the bag and heard her name again. This time it was louder. She sat up, curling her legs backward. And looked around. She sighted a man waving from inside a car. It couldn't be Olu, Olu was probably gone for good, just like Steven. She thought.

She stood up, using the gate as a support she felt dizzy. After getting her stance, she walked towards the Opaque blue car and narrowed her eyes to see if she could recoginze the person.

Tireni placed her hands on the rear mirror for support and spoke slowly. "Do I know you?"

"Yes. I offered a face towel the day a man hit you." She looked confused, her eyes were still squinted. "At the bar? Remember?" Kessi asked, concerned about the way she looked.

"Yeah, yeah I do!" She replied weakly.
What do you want?" Tireni asked, "you don't know the way some where?" She asked again

"No, I saw what happened, Olu sent me." He revealed.

Tireni's eyes shot open at once and her voice became clearer. "Olu sent you?"
She asked,

"Yes." Kessi confirmed. "You guys know each other? You are friends?" She left the rare mirror.

"Yes. Come in." He opened the door on the passagers side. "I'll explain better."

"No." Tireni answered firmly, "I don't know you."

"I wouldn’t want to bring any harm to a lady that has gone through so much already." Kessi stated with an appealing face. "I mean no harm, come inside, you can’t stand there like that."

She didn't say anything for a while, like she was weighing her options. Looking straight at him, she agreed and walked to the other side to take her seat.

Kessi put her on a call with Olu.
"Please let Kessi bring you over." Olu begged over the phone.

"I can't come to your house all because my Mum pushed me out, I am supposed to stay and beg and that is what I will do. People will think I don't feel remorse when they see me packing my things away."

"I know but it's already late. What is the essence when she is not even going to open the gate?"

"I will stay, thanks for the offer." The phone notifed that there was another call coming in.

"Hold on, Your Friend has a call." She passed the phone to Kessi, he picked the incoming call and talked for about five minutes. "Olu are you still there."

"Yes." He heard from the other end.

"I need to leave this place now, my wife just called that my boy is sick and I need to get them to the hospital." He informed Olu.

"Okay." He said again as he passed the phone to
Tireni.

"No don't bother." Tireni asserted without collecting the phone. She pushed the door open and got down. "Take care of your son." she screamed at Kessi as she crossed to the other side, to her gate.

"She just ran off." Kessi said into the phone, he cut the call and swerved into the street. He watched Tireni knock the big gate through the rear mirror and he shook his head. He was soon out of sight.

** ** **
Mr Fagade, his wife and daugther stood, before the grave with a pavement that had on it 'Fagade Collins, Gone too soon, 1952-1989' all in block letters and beside it was the grave of Fagade Stella.

Mrs Fagade tightened her hold on her daughter, stroking her by her hair. "I miss you brother." Bella mumbled as she bent to drop a flower stalk, without standing up completely she moved to Fagade Stella's grave, her dad moved back to give her space.

Squatting," I saw some one that looked like you recently. friend," she spoke softly and swallowed. Mr. And Mrs. Fagade gave themselves a quick glance, none of them understood what she was saying, she didn't mention anything like that to them.

"For some reasons I feel she is your missing daugther Stella." She continued, "she looks too much like you and talks like you too. Her name is also Tireni" She placed her hand on the tiled grave block. "I promise to find out if she is your real daugther." She dropped a flower there.

She stood up after muttering things nobody could hear for a while, her parents watched quietly. This was one of the reasons why they never allowed her come there alone. She could be really scary.

** ** **
Kessi drove to the station, he had gotten the results from the lab. Olu was to meet him there. They had a lot to tackle and he hoped Olu would allow his emotions get in there way. Left to him he wanted to finish this case once and for all.

He sighted the check point ahead, he noticed a woman and a man arguing with the police men.

"Do you know who I am?" He heard the woman brag. It was so weird to find out that the woman and man was Teniola and Tayo.

On a normal note, he'd have loved to stop his car and complicate the case for a revenge on behalf of Tireni, all the police men at that check point knew him well but for the sake of covering up his identity he zoomed off.

They went straight to business when he got to the station. Olu was already there with all the neccessary paper works.

"The result is exactly the same as the one from eighteen years ago.”Olu said as he looked through the new and former results.

"The thumb print of the person that loaded the bullet is different from the thumb print of Madam Cash that we trailed." Kessi informed

"She has a partner." He stated

"The partner is likely to be Tayo."

"How sure are you."

Kessi explained how he had been following the tapped phones from time to time, he told Olu how he knew that Tayo Marquis was going to meet with Teniola that day at Franktel Foods, it was mentioned in the calls they made together.

"I tried to call you that morning but your number wasn't going through. I guess there was a network problem that's why their calls redirected to my phone since you used my number as alternative." Kessi explained.

Olu and Tireni's visit to the same resturant that Madam Cash and Tayo was a sheer coincidence. Kessi explained how Tayo stated on over the Phone that it was going to be a strict business meeting.

"They talked about Simeon Stones. That’d be their next target." Kessi continued,

"And I think they have a strained relationship presently." Kessi showed Olu the apology text that Teniola sent to Tayo.

"According to GPS she sent it at 12:02 pm, from Franktel Foods. That should be after their meeting."

Olu took a deep breath. "We have to follow that Tayo up too. I'll go to Simeon Stones tomorrow to have a meeting with them."

They talked about Tireni for a while and Kessi promised to keep checking up on her and giving Olu feed back since he couldn't go anywhere near there.
** ** **
"Get out! Get out from here now!" Madam Cash screamed when she caught Tireni in a corner of the bar, curled up and sleeping,

Life outside the comfort of a room was terrible, she slept on the verandah of the bar with mosquitoes feasting on her, she hardly ate except once in a while when the bar attendants served her the last part of pepper soup out of pity. She felt sick at times but she kept on keeping on,

"Mum please." Tireni cried, it was her third day outside

"Oya, pack her things out." She told an attendant. "I don't want to ever see you anywhere near here." She said pushing Tireni out with her two hands.

Tireni staggered and fell into his hands. It was Olu, he was standing right there in front of her. He looked good even when he was frowning.

When Tireni became stable, she looked back at her Mum, she stood hands akimbo, staring at the two of them with disdain, she eyed them, hissed and walked back into the bar.

Tireni looked back at Olu, he seemed to have been looking at her Mum too. She pushed him to a side with all the strenght she had and stormed away.

Olu ran after her, he wondered where she was rushing to, she didn't even pick her bags, she walked passed her gate and crossed to the other side of the road.

Olu soon caught up with her. He held her by her arm. "Where are you running to?" He asked as they were both panting.

"Can't you just leave my life alone." She screamed, her veins popped out she stood on her toes. Almost putting he face in his face.

"You have caused me more pains than I ever imagined! Just go." She screamed again. People looked at them as they passed, majority of them recognized Tireni as they mumbled things to each other while they passed.

Olu expected this kind of reaction from her and he was prepared. He knew it would have been better for him to stay away but he couldn't bear with the fact that she was sleeping outside home.

"You have to listen to me Tireni. I know you are mad at me, but none of us bargained for this." He walked briskly after her as she walked off doubling her steps.

"I love you and nothing would change that." Olu cooed from behind her. It was like they poured cold water over her. She stopped abruptly and almost fell into Olu who was directly behind her.
"Then stop loving me. Stop loving me Olu." It was the first time she called his name and he liked the sound of it.

"I can't help it I am sorry." Olu said with his eyes down

"Just go, please I beg you, leave me alone." Olu stood still and watched her go. She meant it she asked him to leave for.

He felt he should respect her opinion and give her space. He wished he could scream it out loud to the whole world that Madam Cash is likely not to be her mother but the time wasn't right yet. He needed an evidence.
** ** **
"Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!" Detective Shina screamed as he jumped up in joy. Bella almost thought his bulging stomach would fall off as she laughed along. Shina couldn't believe it, he was a lucky man.

He was finally who he had always wished to be, a well to do Detective supervisor who was with an exception woman. A woman with brains.

Bella had walked into his compound with a small cake in her hands, she screamed his name and he looked down from the window of his room upstairs.

She wore a gown that matched the color of the cake. Orange cotton flay gown, it had net on the top part and a black slightly heeled open toe shoe, it was suwed with matching necklace and bracelet. Her well made up face gleamed as she looked up to him.

Shina came downstairs to open the door for her, he was quick to notice what was inscribed on the cake but he wasn't quick to comment. He didn't want to be too forward and fall his own hand. He moved back for her to come in and she went straight to the dinning.

"Can i get a bread knife." She cooed to Shina who was getting the door locked. He got the knife and came over to join her. "So, what are we celebrating." He asked with his eyes taking the the whole of her in.

"We are celebrating the day I have decided to let go of my past and pick up joy, the day I have decided to take a risk and permit love into my heart." She said as she loosened the nylon she used to pack the self made cake.

"I should get us drinks then." Shina said still trying to be calm and not forward. He stood up and went to the fridge while Bella took her sit.

"Hmmm, I don't think I really get you? He wanted her to hit the nail on the head.

"Okay, I am saying...." She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Shina stood up from the chair where he was seating, he stood behind it and held the wood firmly looking a Bella's calm face.
"I am saying yes to you Shina."

"I promise, that you won't regret this." Shina said after expressing wild happiness for some minutes. "I hope I wouldn't" Bella beamed him a smile. She was finally giving herself to a man.
** ** **
Kessi informed Olu that his son was fine and that they were now back home. The little boy had malaria fever and was probably also 'daddy sick' because he seemed to get better after seeing his dad.

"Daddy don't go again o." He cooed into his dad's shoulders as he balanced himself of his arms.

"Daddy needs to work naw." Kessi's wife came to his aid, "but he'll be here for now." She threw Kessi the I- Hope- so look. Kessi did stay with them all through till they were ready to go home.

Olu informed him that Tireni was still sleeping outside and that she didn't look good to him. He told Kessi about his decision to give her space for now but that he couldn't also stand the fact that he wasn't going to get to see her and know how she’s faring or if her so called Mother had taken her back.

"I need you to help me again." He landed

"That'll be hard o, what makes you think she'll talk to me, she already knows that we know each other."

"It's worth the try Kessi. I think it's worth it."

"Okay. I'll try."

"Thanks man, thanks!" He heaved a sigh.
** ** **

EPISODE 6


"Madam cash!!" Another guy hailed as he passed by her seat, he was like the fifth person that had greeted her within the space of thirty minutes. The bar made her well known.

She checked her wrist watch as she waited for Tayo, that was the restaurant where they discussed business whenever they wanted to do it away from home, most times over a bottle of champagne.

Frantel foods, was a restaurant owned by a couple. It was comfortable and classic. The VIP section where Teniola sat had a demarcation from the general section. It's chairs and tables were decorated with blue and white linen, a flower vase in the center and a small basket containing spices.

Soon Tayo walked into the VIP section in a white chinos, blue jean jacket and an ash timberland shoe. He looked young for his age.

He took his seat opposite her on their table and signaled to a nearby waiter to give his orders.

"Madam what about you?" The waiter asked

"She'll take the same thing." Tayo answered like Teniola couldn't talk. The waiter looked at her again and she nodded giving him a go ahead.

"Not even good morning Tayo." She said, more like an accusation than a question

"Only friends greet." Tayo answered firmly.

"Straight to business now" he annouced, "I already got the neccessary things." He continued not minding the downcast look on her face.

Tayo had not come home since the incident that happened last. He had pushed her to the floor and walked out. She didn't see him until now and it was mainly for business. She wanted him back even though she had told him that she didn't want him in her life anymore.

Teniola had given up on keeping quiet, she had noticed the way he looked at Tireni for a while now,Was he going to love both Mother and child and kick her out of the circle? No way! The child that was supposed to be a punishment to him was now a thorn in her flesh.

The waiter brought their meal of Fried rice and grilled chicken, with a plate of well spiced shrimps and crabs alongside.Tayo settled immediately for the food in front of him after dropping the I.D card and the business ownership form on a table.

Teniola picked it up, checked and kept it her hand bag. She fixed her eyes on him till he finished the food, she wondered how he was comforable, ignoring the fact that she was not eating.

He finished and signaled to the waiter, paid for the two of them and stood up. Teniola couldn't lift her head to meet his. She didn't know why but she felt ashamed.

** ** **
He brought the car to a halt after finding a suitable place to pack in the garage. He got down and walked to the other side to open the door for her. There was no smile on her face today but she still looked beautiful.

He knew she wore a long sleeve to cover her wounds, the white turtle neck covered her towerly neck. It's a pity he couldn't sympathise verbally with her, but right there in his heart he was saying all the neccessary sorry.

"You look good in white." He commented as he held her hands in his, helping her come down from the car

"Thanks." She blushed, looking down at his shoes.

Olu was surprised when Tireni agreed to go out with him. He had expected her ego to speak but she allowed her heart do the talking. To her this outing was going to be an escape from the hell of her home.

Her mother made life frustrating for her since her Tayo refused to come back home. Since her Mum wasn't around, what harm would it cause going out with a perfect gentleman like Olu.

"This place is really big." She commented with a weak smile. Tireni sent her eyes on survey around the building and finally fixed her gaze on the big red play card that read 'FRANTEL FOODS"

"Shall we?" Olu said bowing and stretching his hand out. Tireni led the way and he followed suit.

He was on a black fitted T-shirt, a blue jean and black and white foot wear. He went casual because he didn't want her to see him as ancient and outdated. He secretly hoped she liked his new haircut and the fragrance he wore.

"Wow!" Tireni curved her mouth to form an 'O' at the sight of the arrangement of the restaurant.

Olu threw her a broad smile, he was happy she liked the place. He had gone online to select the place for his proposed outing and Frantel Foods seemed to have more likes for a place in that area.

"I am glad you like it." said Olu. A waiter came to them to show the seat reserved for them in the general section.

He pulled out the chair for her to sit. Tireni sat down like a queen, although she was scared that the linen used to decorate the chair might get torn. Her black hair tickled her neck as she didn't pack it, she knew her hair was a strong point in her natural physique.

Olu signaled to the waiter that showed them the seat after telling Tireni that she was the one to take orders for the two of them assuring her that he would go for whatever she picked and he was sure he'd enjoy it.

The waiter brought the menu list and she checked it. Everything on it looked strange to her except one combination "pancake and grilled chicken". She had eaten pancake once and was very familar with chicken. She collected a pen and ticked it for the two of them.

"What do you want as appettizer." The waiter asked switching her gaze from Tireni to Olu and back

"What do you want Miss?" Olu asked, putting Tireni in a tight corner. She collected the list again and realized there was still appetizer and dessert for her to mark but since the waiter only talked about appetizer she marked 'fruit salad'

"How about dessert." The waiter asked. This time Tireni gave a loud sigh. Why didn't she ask for everything at once?

" No, thanks. We'd have been too full to take dessert" Olu came to Tireni's help. The waiter collected the Menu list and walked away.
** ** **
"Will you just walk away and leave me here." Teniola asked with her head still down

"I guess so." Tayo replied as he put the chair back. Dumbfounded although not surprised, Teniola watched Tayo walk out of the VIP section, leaving her on seat with an over priced meal in front of her.

After contemplating whether to eat or not, she called the waiter to clear the dishes, which he did promptly Free food for the guy.

She leaned into her chair and began to type an apology message to Tayo, she had typed and cancelled three times before she was finallly satisfied with the message, she clicked on 'send' and inhaled deeply. Love was stressful, Tayo was getting her worked up.

"Madam cash!!!" She heard someone hail again. She looked at the person from the corner of her eye, and sat up abruptly. It was one of her major customers at the bar. She could make do with his good company so she signaled to him to come over.
** ** **
Olu had tried all his best to find out from Tireni why she didn't look like her usual self, there was no hint of happiness in her conversations and she seemed locked up inside.

"Why do you have to be bothered whether i’m happy or not, you don't know me?" She scowled
Olu knew all that had gone wrong but he couldn't and cannot spill the beans that he planted a bug on her.

He leaned forward, peering at her closely. "I don't know anything but I know I like you."

Tireni heart raced, she could feel his breath on her face. He had said it too direct and it caught her unawares. The way his lips moved, they were to deep too call them pink, something like the color of tomato ketchup.

She inhaled deeply and traced the rim of the glass cup with her index finger.

Olu didn't shift his gaze and it penetrated through her, she hoped he didn't hear her heart beat.

"Okay..." She drawled, cocking her head to the right slightly. "How old are you?."

"Twenty four." Olu sat back and picked his cutlery

"Twenty four!" Tireni repeated widening her eyes

"Come on! I said twenty four not forty two."

"I know, I heard you." Tireni relaxed in her chair to have a better look at the 24 year old mega looking guy sitting in front of her.

She expected him to say something like thirty or thirty five. Not like he looked old o but he was looking too well to do for a guy of twenty four. The way he dressed, his model of phone, standard car and a good job. He must be living an interesting life; Tireni thought.

"I don't know you, so I need time."

"Have all the time you want, but know that one heart is somewhere longing for yours." Olu gleamed, "So that I won't end up singing, 'what am I to do? I am tired of running around chasing you, I can never think of betraying you. Girl na you I dey find, baby make up your mind'." His rich voice sang the bridge of banky W's "will you be my lover?'

"Will you be my lover?" Tireni sang along

"Yes, no, yes, no, yes!" They chorused together and laughed out loud, swinging their head from left to right and back. The laughter quickly died down when they realized that they were calling attention. They both inhaled deeply as Olu's eyes smiled into hers. He was happy that he made her laugh.

After the meal, they gisted. Olu thought he saw Tayo pass, but dimissed it. Tireni asked after Olu's work on the case and he told her he was making progress, she said a brief prayer of success for him.

They talked about her love for music and share the song they liked. Olu was more into Blues’ than Tireni who likes hits. She spoke about music with deep passion as she defended her favourite music icons when Olu tried to bring them down with criticism.

They were about to go when Tireni asked for Olu's phone to call Adewoyin. He watched her as she made the call, she chuckled almost every two minutes. She finally dropped the call and said a hearty “thank you”. Olu leaned closer placing his arm on the table and gestured to her to come closer too.

Curious about what he wanted to tell her she leaned on the table too with her hands on her chin. Olu was about to declare his love for her again for the last time that day before he goes to drop her at the back at the bar.

He hardly caught the sight of the familar face when the hand landed at the back of Tireni's neck. Olu braced up to his feet, pushing his chair backward. Her sharp cry was resounding as her head hit the table.

"Are you crazy? Olu screamed, mad in anger before he realized that it was Tireni's mum, the famous Madam cash and chief suspect on his trending case that was standing before him. Beside her was a man; her date, he guessed.

souloho19:
like your name..this piece is like salt to the pot of soup that is suspense literature..keep it coming..wouldn't mind a little action tho

Thanks....we'd see about that....thanks for following sir

thanks guys....really appreciate your comments...i would work on it @ missmossy.....God bless you guyz gan....i am so glad to see your comment kingphilip