The Second Wife - Episode 11

© Onyinyechukwu Mbeledogu

Wednesday, 24th March 2004
3:58pm
B.B Briggs & Co
Rumuola Road
Port Harcourt

B.B Briggs was on the phone with Dienye. As best man B.B was privileged to plan his best friend’s wedding. Soki’s bride price had been paid on the 28th February and the court wedding and white wedding were fixed for after the Easter holiday which was still close by.

It was weird being a major part of planning Dienye’s wedding given the fact that Dienye had been married to his only sister/sibling. Well, it wasn’t as though the Briggs family was expecting Dienye to spend the rest of his life as a widower. After all, he was still in his thirties and a young man. He had already spent four years mourning his late wife.

No day went by that B.B didn’t miss Nengi. However, her death without a child put pressure on him as the only surviving child of their parents to get married and produce grandchildren. Recently, with Dienye about to get married for the second time, the pressure had increased. They were age mates and Dienye was getting married a second time while B. B. was still a bachelor.

The door to the tastefully furnished office opened and his secretary, a woman in her early thirties walked into the room. She handed him a visitor’s slip. Still listening to Dienye, he looked at the name on the slip.

‘Oroma Amaewhule.’

Oroma Amaewhule! Oroma Amaewhule! He ran the name over and over through his mind. It didn’t ring a bell. Oroma was a popular Ikwerre name but he wasn’t privileged to know anyone by that name, at least not personally. Perhaps she was a client.

‘Head of Chambers,’ he mouthed to Medina, returning the slip to her.

B.B. had been a lawyer for thirteen years and had established his chambers six years after he was called to the Nigerian Bar, after he had returned from his Masters’ programme. His Head of Chambers, Onajite Dehinde-Philips was nine years at the bar and highly competent; a first class graduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the Law School, she also held a Masters’ Degree and was a certified arbitrator. He loved the way her mind worked and found her more than capable of handling things in his absence. She was Itsekiri but married to a Yoruba man.

He was surprised when Medina returned a few minutes later. He arched an eyebrow.

‘Visit is personal,’ she whispered.

Personal! Perhaps someone had sent her to him.

‘Five minutes,’ he mouthed to Medina who nodded and left the office.

‘I have a visitor, bro,’ he told Dienye. ‘If you can stop by the office later, great. If not, let’s meet at home and discuss further on the checklist.’

‘No problem. If you don’t see me in half an hour’s time, then that means we would be meeting in your house.’ Dienye told him. ‘And you had better have a hot plate of onunu waiting by then.’

‘I hear.’

Five minutes later, the door opened and a tall, slim, fair skinned woman stepped into the office. Her short curly hair and large round earrings reminded him of Soki. The woman was dressed in a pink long sleeved shirt and knee length jean skirt and a pair of black flat shoes.

‘Good afternoon B.B.’ she told him taking the chair he offered her.

He placed her age at somewhere in her mid-twenties.

‘Good afternoon, Miss Amaewhule, please have a seat.’

He rarely attended to persons he didn’t know when it wasn’t for official purposes. In his almost thirty six years, he’d had to deal with all sorts of women ranging from those who wanted to date/marry him to those who just wanted to have babies for him. He was careful so as not to be involved in a scandal especially given the fact that he had recently applied to be a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

‘You may not remember me. It’s been eight years,’ Oroma stated.

Come to think of it, she did look a bit familiar but he wasn’t sure how or where they had met. He wasn’t blessed with Dienye’s photographic memory. Dienye would most likely remember a person he had met for the first time as a toddler, B.B thought with a smile.

‘I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage.’ he told Oroma.

‘We met in Nsukka eight years ago, during Ibierefagha Daniel-Hart’s convocation party. Ibierefagha and I were friends although she was a few sets ahead of me in UNN.’

He had met a lot of Ibierefagha’s friends during the party. Ibierefagha was Dienye’s immediate younger sister and there was a five year age gap between them. She was presently married to her University Sweetheart, Tamunobarabinye (Abinye) Pepple and they had three children.

‘I’m sorry. I am still trying to place the face.’

‘I was called Christabel back then.’

Reflexively, B. B pulled back his swivel chair. There was only one Christabel that he knew and he had every good reason to remember that name even if he didn’t recall the face that went with the name.

Ibierefagha had introduced her younger friend to him and Dienye during her convocation party. Christabel was helping her attend to her guests. B.B hadn’t really taken much notice of the second year medical student, although she was pretty, simply because she was too young for him. She had been all over him, so much that Dienye had teased him about having a new crush.

B.B had been facing some personal challenges during that period and had only attended the party because Dienye had dragged him to it, insisting on driving down to Enugu. There had been plenty to drink and B.B had taken advantage of this to drown out his problems, something he had never imagined he could do. And that had been his undoing! He couldn’t even recall what had happened before he woke up in the middle of the night in his hotel room with 18 year old Christabel in his arms. Considering their state of UnCloth he didn’t need a seer to tell him what had happened. He had quickly dragged himself out of the bed reaching down to pull on his trousers, before waking her up, dragging her to a sitting position on the bed.

‘What have you done!’ He had shouted at her. ‘Get out of my room, now before I throw you out through the window!’

Acting mainly on instinct and anger, when she didn’t immediately move, he had dragged her out of the bed, pausing only to gather her clothes from the rug and pushed her right out of his bedroom not even thinking about her state of UnCloth and what might happen to her on the long hallway. That was the last time he had seen her until now.

Dienye was the only one he had spoken to about the unfortunate incidence. And for the next few months he had waited with apprehension for her to come claiming that she was pregnant for him. When she didn’t show up he had simply forgotten about her.

And here she was!

‘You!’ he burst out presently.

She placed her handbag on her laps and leaned forward.

‘Yes.’ she agreed. ‘Ordinarily, I wouldn’t be here considering what happened the one and only time we met. I wouldn’t bother insulting you by apologising for what happened. However, circumstances demand that I see you.’

‘If it’s a legal issue, you should have seen my Head of Chambers as I instructed my secretary to tell you.’

‘I cannot afford your services,’ she replied. ‘Besides, considering the manner in which you discharged me eight years ago, I doubt if you would accept to do a matter for me even if I had the money to pay for your professional services.’

He arched his eyebrow. He didn’t want to remember the incidence of eight years earlier, at least what he knew of it.’

‘What exactly do you want from me?’ he demanded, getting impatient, wanting her out of his office.

She reached into her handbag and took out a half size paper which she handed over to him. He took it from her, looking suspiciously at the pink paper.

His eyes widened as he read the contents. It was a birth certificate for Tamunobiobele Ihunda Briggs, born to Tamunobiobele Briggs and Christabel Oroma Amaewhule. From the date of birth, the child had been born nine months and fourteen days after their meeting.

‘What is this!’ he blurted out, refusing to believe his eyes. This was a nightmare he needed to quickly wake up from.

‘What does it look like?’ she returned, taking the birth certificate from him.

She reached into her bag once more and took out a photocopy of the birth certificate which she placed on his table, and then a photograph of a seven year old girl. She handed the photograph to him. When he hesitated, she placed it on the book in front of him, scribbled down an address on a piece of paper and placed it on the photograph.

‘I do not have a phone but you can reach me at this address.’

B.B. was still in a state of shock when Oroma rose to her feet and left the office.

*******

‘Wow!’ Dienye exclaimed as he looked at the photograph B.B had silently handed over to him.

‘There is no way she can be mine,’ B. B was saying, ‘or she would have reached out earlier. I won’t take responsibility for a child she had by another man.’

‘This girl looks exactly like Nengi did at that age.’ Dienye told his best friend. ‘Even down to the mischievous dimples. I wonder why her mother is just reaching out to you.’

‘I suspect foul play.’

‘So, what did you tell her?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Well, you need to follow up on this.’

‘I hear. We have things to discuss now. I’ll deal with it later.’

*******

B.B couldn’t concentrate after Dienye left his office. He couldn’t even work on the brief on his table. He didn’t want to believe that he had fathered a child with Christabel or Oroma as she called herself now. After waiting long minutes without achieving anything, he closed early and found himself driving in the direction of the address she had scribbled down.

He parked just before the gate and locked the car. He opened the gate and was greeted by a really long line of room and parlour apartments with a narrow walkway separating the two buildings facing each other. There had to be at least 14 apartments there. Oroma’s apartment was No 8.

Oroma wasn’t home. B. B wondered how people coped with living in such an enclosed place. He spoke to one of her neighbours who confirmed that she hadn’t been back all day. He didn’t bother leaving his name but thanked the man and left.

As he got into his car, one of the women he had sighted earlier within the premises approached his car.

‘You be fine man,’ she said, ‘but make I warn you, Mama Bio no be the kain person wey person like you suppose come find.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘She go use you like toilet paper, come troway you the way she dey take troway the other men wey dey come find am.’

‘I see.’

B.B on a normal day wouldn’t engage in gossip but then –

‘She dey do ashawo work. She don even commot like three pikin since she pack come here two years ago. If you no take time she go carry belle come put for your head as I dey sure say she don take her pikin put for another man head.’

‘Thanks for the advice.’

‘Take am o,’ the woman warned seriously. ‘If you no wan catch the plenty disease wey she carry for body. If you be one of her customers, e never late to change mind o. Soon her pikin go follow her for her business. E dey am for eye too.’

Before B.B could comment, the woman was sprawled on the floor from a punch from Oroma who had given her. She had been so engrossed in her gossip that she hadn’t seen Oroma arrive.

‘You can say whatever you want about me, Mama Rosemary, but the next time you utter such nonsense about my daughter, I will permanently shut that thing you call a mouth up.’

Talk about a lioness protecting her cub!

‘Na lie I talk? No be ashawo work you dey do?’

‘What I do with my spare time is none of your business.’

B.B noticed that she didn’t deny the prostitution allegation.

Chapt 10 contd

***



6:15pm

Housing Estate, Woji

Port Harcourt

Soki paced nervously in her bedroom. Her parents were in the master bedroom and she hadn’t seen them for hours. She knew better than to disturb them. Dienye was picking her up by 6:30pm and being a stickler for punctuality he would most likely arrive a minimum of five minutes to the time.

The doorbell rang but she barely noticed as she focused on getting ready for her date. Her heart was pounding against her chest. This was her first date and she was so nervous. There was a reason for every phase of one’s life and once you missed any phase, you never have the opportunity to get it back again. She should have dated before now as it would have given her an edge tonight. As it stood, she was a JJC – a Johnny Just Come.

She recalled one of the advices she had picked up from conversations with her roommates and course mates – always go out with ‘vex money’ whenever on a date, just in case the man tries to misbehave. Vex money meant a little money you had on your person to get you a ride back to school in case your date misbehaved. But vex money wasn’t going to work this time. She was broke. Besides, it wasn’t necessary since the man in question was her fiancé.

She had picked a gift with her last cash – a black leather wallet which she had JCI Logo engraved on it. It wasn’t much but she hoped he would appreciate it. He loved T-shirts but he also made a living producing them in massive quantities for clients within and outside the country. The favourable recommendations ensured that he was able to make millions in profit each year. And so getting him a T-shirt might not be the best thing to do. She would have to make do with the wallet. Next Valentines’ Day she would come up with something much better.

She took a deep breath and touched up her makeup.

* * * * *

In the sitting room of the Achebe home, Dienye was watching his parents-in-law-to-be who sat adjacent to him. He had arrived a few minutes earlier and called Soki but she hadn’t answered the call. He had also sent her a text before approaching the front door. He had been surprised when the door was opened by an elegant woman he suspected to be Soki’s mum. She had let him into the house watching him with curious eyes. When he introduced himself and informed her that he was there to take Soki out, she immediately offered him a seat and called her husband. And so there they were, watching each other in what was an awkward situation.

‘Nwasoka tells me I have you to thank for my release,’ Joshua Achebe told the young man in front of him.

‘Actually you have your daughter to thank for that. She only reached out to me in addition to others.’

‘She’s a very precious girl,’ Joshua said in praise of his daughter. ‘I still appreciate your contribution.’

‘We both do,’ Ezinne concurred, looking in her husband’s direction, gesturing with her eyes that this was the moment to say whatever it was that they had discussed earlier.

Dienye knew that they would have a lot of questions to ask. After all, he would react in the same way if he was in their shoes.

‘Like I said, I appreciate what you did for me. However, at the risk of sounding ungrateful, I would like to have an alternative arrangement with you other than the one you have with my daughter.’

Dienye was silent.

‘Nwasoka is precious to me and I wouldn’t want her to do anything that she might end up regretting because it is in her nature to adopt other people’s problems as hers. I am sure she must have told you that I would rather have remained locked up that have her pay for my sins.’

‘She did,’ Dienye responded quietly.

He knew where this was headed. They would have preferred an Onitsha man as Soki had informed him yesterday. Besides, they knew nothing about him. However, irrespective of the circumstances, he and Nwasoka would be getting married. He just had to find a way to ensure that he didn’t make an enemy out of his in-laws-to-be in the process.

‘I would feel more comfortable if I can have a payment plan for the money you paid on my behalf,’ Joshua told the younger man. ‘I want my daughter married to an Onitsha man. However, if she decides that she wants to marry from another tribe, I wouldn’t stop her or stand in her way just as long as I know she is doing it for LOVE. This clearly isn’t the situation here. As her father I cannot allow her to get married to satisfy a debt that wasn’t hers to pay in the first place.’

‘I appreciate your plight, Mr Achebe.’ Dienye told him. ‘However, this is out of either of our hands.’

‘Is it? You do not have to marry my daughter. I am certain you are not in love with her and therefore can give up this idea in exchange of me paying my debt to you. For it is my debt not my daughter’s.’

‘She will be in safe hands.’ Dienye assured them.

‘But you do not love her.’ Ezinne interjected.

‘No, I don’t.’ Dienye said in agreement, quickly adding: ‘but she is very dear to me.’

‘Love is very important in a marriage. Its role cannot be over emphasised. I – we do not want our daughter to be in a loveless marriage especially since her father and I have loved each other for almost thirty years,’ Ezinne told him.

‘I fully understand-’

‘I don’t think you do,’ Joshua countered. ‘Nwasoka is still in school and too young to be thinking of getting married. You are a lot older and more mature than she is.’

‘And she will be well taken care of.’

Joshua took his head.

‘I have no intention of stopping her education. She is free to pursue her education to any level of her choice.’

‘Good. But I still intend to work out a payment plan with you. If Nwasoka chooses to marry you, then I would prefer if it is because you love each other.’

Dienye fully understood their fears. His parents had been married for thirty-eight years. He had been married to Nengi for seven years and had they not been in love, they probably would have gone their separate ways. He had been so in love with her that he had stayed and worked around the challenges they had. Nengi had constantly experienced dyspareunia and as such hated sex because no matter how gentle he was with her, she always felt pain. They had visited a few gynaecologists with the same result –

she had primary vaginismus. And so they had settled for lengthy foreplays so that the main sexual encounter was as short as possible. And they would have spent the rest of their lives this way if she had survived. There had been nothing medically wrong with either of them that would have prevented them from having children. Like him, Nengi had loved children. After waiting for seven years to have one without success, they had decided to adopt. However, she had passed on and he didn’t bother completing the process.

Yes, love was very important but he was sure that he and Nwasoka would work something out. He didn’t believe in divorce unless domestic abuse was involved and he had been brought up to respect females. He had four younger sisters and had never raised his hand against any female. He wouldn’t start now.

‘About the payment plan…’ Joshua continued.

‘There will be no payment plan.’

Three heads turned in the direction of the voice. Soki had activated the silent sign on her phone earlier in order to avoid a few calls and had forgotten about it until she picked up her phone wondering why Dienye was late. That was when she had seen his name on the incoming call log and read his message too. She had quickly run out of her room with the intention of putting a stop to whatever it was that her parents would be discussing with Dienye in her absence.

‘There will be no payment plan, mum, dad,’ Soki repeated as she joined them there in the sitting room.

‘Nwasoka,’ Ezinne started.

‘No, mum,’ Soki interrupted. ‘I am getting married to Dienye. So forget about the payment plan.’

Dienye rose to his feet. Soki looked lovely in her red dress and light makeup. The difference between Soki and Nengi hit him. Nengi was very beautiful, tall and a size eight with full hips. Soki on the other hand was a size 12 or thereabout and a full foot shorter than he was and although not as beautiful as Nengi, was pretty in her own right. His attraction for her showed that he didn’t have a specific type when it came to women. He particular loved her full busts and eye catching backside. He smiled at the thought.

‘I’m sorry to have kept you waiting,’ Soki told Dienye. ‘My phone was placed on silent mode earlier and I forget to change the settings.’

‘No sweat, babe,’ he told her. ‘You look absolutely ravishing, my dear.’

‘Thank you.’ Nwasoka flushed at the compliment.

Her parents were immediately forgotten. Dienye also looked good in his light blue shirt tucked into black slacks. She figured that he would look good in whatever outfit he chose.

‘It was nice meeting you, Mr Achebe, Mrs Achebe,’ he told them as he took Soki’s left hand in his and led her out of the sitting room.

‘I’m really sorry for the delay,’ she apologised profusely as Dienye drove off. ‘It was not my intention to leave you to face my parents alone.’

‘I am an adult, babe,’ he laughed. ‘Besides, they were only worried about you and your future, which is quite normal considering the circumstances.’

Her gift from Dienye was a Motorola Phone, Motorazr V3 to replace the phone she moved around with. Soki felt bad about giving him such a small gift that for a moment she pretended she hadn’t bought anything. However, she soon changed her mind and gave him the wallet. His excited look wasn’t feigned. He thanked her saying that he had been procrastinating getting a new wallet for some time. He particularly loved the JCI Logo engraved on it. Right in front of her, he took out his wallet and showed it to Soki. It was really old, she thought and seriously in need of a change. She was glad to be the one to provide an alternative for him. She figured even wealthy guys could overlook a lot of things others took for granted.

Dienye quickly transferred the contents of the old wallet into the new and bigger one, smiling as he looked at it. Then he turned to her and kissed her lightly on the forehead, thanking her once more.

‘Even our thoughts are linked,’ he smiled. ‘So you see we are really meant to be together.’

The rest of the night went on perfectly.

Read Episode 11 here - https://youngicee.com/2020/01/the-second-wife-episode-11.html

The Second Wife - Episode 10

© Onyinyechukwu Mbeledogu

7:35am

Oroma Estate

‘Good morning, Double D,’ Priye told her big brother, hiding a yawn at the back of her hand.

Dienye was in the smaller sitting room watching an old premier league match. Well, he appeared to be watching the match but his mind clearly wasn’t there. However, he turned when his sister sprawled in an unladylike manner beside him on the couch.

‘Please tell me you at least had a good night’s sleep,’ Priye said to her brother, noting that he hadn’t shaved.

‘Yes, I did,’ Dienye responded.

‘What gives?’ she asked. ‘Thinking of your proposal to Soki?’

They had talked about it the previous day when she arrived at his home from school. Priye had been pleasantly surprised by the news. She knew her good friend had a crush on her eldest brother and had teased her so many times about it but she hadn’t seen this coming. When she had called Dienye on Thursday asking for his assistance, she hadn’t expected Dienye to give Soki the entire sum. She had believed that her brother would give Soki a cheque for a reasonable amount. The proposal was definitely unexpected.

The Daniel-Hart family had been worried about Dienye after Nengi passed on. Nengi had been his world. They had been friends long before Priye was born. Her death had affected Dienye so much that the family had actually feared that Dienye would grieve himself to an early grave, but that hadn’t happened. The only outward evidence of his grief was his refusal or failure to date. Well, there was also the case of his refusal to use the master bedroom he had shared with Nengi. His excuse had been that the room was too big and thus lonely for just one person. His home boasted of six en-suite bedrooms and he had been using one of them since then.

Two things got her worried when her brother told her he was getting married to Soki: (1) He was way older than Soki. Soki was only a few months older than Priye who, being the youngest of the Daniel-Hart siblings, had three sisters and a brother between herself and Dienye. (2) She couldn’t tell whether or not Dienye was really ready to start a new family. Perhaps if he had really grieved, this wouldn’t have been an issue. But Dienye hadn’t grieved properly. At least not in the open, considering what Nengi had meant to him.

Despite wanting to see her brother settle down once more, Priye had tried to persuade him to change his mind about marrying Soki, at least for now. The timing and intention were wrong. For now, she was the only one in the family who knew why Soki and Dienye were getting married. Her parents would be relieved that their oldest son hadn’t finally taken the path of a eunuch. Belema would be back soon and he definitely wouldn’t buy the story that Dienye had suddenly fallen in love with his young friend. It wouldn’t be long before he found out the true story and tried to talk his big brother out of making a mistake he and Soki would no doubt regret.

‘You know you aren’t ready to become emotionally attached again,’ Priye told her big brother.

‘Who said anything about being emotionally attached?’

‘Like you would spend the rest of your life with Soki without getting emotionally attached? You are drawn to her. Beneath the seemingly innocent flirtations is a man attracted to a young woman who obviously adores him. However, big bro, you need to properly grieve Nengi before you can allow another woman into your life. It wouldn’t be good for either of you.’

‘Soki and I are getting married,’ Dienye said stubbornly. ‘We would sort every other thing after the wedding.’

‘That’s a dangerous comment to make, big bro. You are my eldest brother and I love you very much. I believe that any woman who has you for a husband would be the luckiest woman alive. However, for your sake and Soki’s you need to rethink this. Even if you insist on getting married to her, please have an extended courtship. That should give you enough time to sort out your feelings and give you two enough time to grow on each other. Soki is my friend and I know she would keep her word to marry you if after the long courtship you still want to marry her, but please do not rush things.’

Dienye shook his head.

‘You do know that this is not really anyone’s business but Soki’s and I?’

‘I’m your sister and if I don’t worry about you, then who else will I worry about?’ Priye asked him.

Dienye took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He didn’t want an extended courtship. He was afraid that if he did he would change his mind about settling down with Soki. He still loved Nengi but that didn’t mean he wasn’t ready to remarry. He was still young enough to have a family of his own. He was wealthy and his wealth drew a lot of females to him. With Soki he was in no doubt as to why she was marrying him; he wouldn’t be falling into the trap of making the wrong decision and having to live with it for the rest of his life. He was old fashioned enough not to consider a divorce.

He reached out to pull his sister close, brushing a kiss across her forehead.

‘Your friend is in safe hands. You know I won’t hurt her.’

‘Not intentionally.’ Priye said. ‘You wouldn’t intend to, but I’m afraid you two might have problems if the issue of Nengi isn’t resolved.’

‘Soki is in safe hands.’ He repeated.

Episode 74 contd

El Deols, Anthanna.
19:23PM

Adrian sat quietly on the dining table and watched as Sheila served the food on the table with the help of the maids. He was unusually silent that night.

He had on a black coloured cotton shirt tucked into grey trousers, with black cover shoes on his feet. His shirt was buttoned almost hallway down, slightly revealing his hairy chest. He looked cuter in his new haircut and new pattern of beards, but he looked less confident that night.

"The aroma is breath taking," he tried to fake a smile as Sheila sat directly opposite him.

Sheila smiled in reply. "I hope you would enjoy it."

He picked up his cutlery and smiled again at the sweet smelling flavour Bobotie dish. "I'll surely enjoy this," he said before he started to eat.

The elements in his stomach danced and cried out for more as he made the first chew, the food was as delicious as he expected.

"Did you prepare this yourself?" he had to ask as he couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Yeah, I've not cooked in a while, so I'm not sure if I did it perfectly." She replied.

"This is more than perfect Sheila," Adrian smiled. The smile came from his heart this time.

"Thanks baby," Sheila replied.

Her reply got Adrian so surprised that he paused the chewing in his mouth and stared at her face. She kept eating without noticing he was staring at her. He took his eyes off her and continued chewing before she looked up.

She had just called him "baby" which she had never done before. Adrian did not know what to think. Just the day before, she had warned him to keep a distance and the next day she was trying to endear him to her again. He felt so confused that he almost lost interest in the food, but he chose not to spoil the moment and continued eating quietly.

They finished the meal in ten minutes and the maid helped in clearing off the plates from the table.

"Can we move to the living room?" Sheila asked Adrian.

"Oh Yes!" he said and picked his phone from the table immediately. He got up after her and she step aside to let him walk past her.

He made himself comfortable on the three seater sofa while she went to turn on the television and pick the remote control. She joined him on the same sofa, at the other edge.

Adrian wanted badly to discuss with her immediately but he decided to wait for her to set and fix a channel on the television first. He feasted his eyes on her body while he waited. Her legs were crossed and arms rested on the left armrest of the sofa, her short blue gown revealed her hot thighs in her sitting position. He could not but admit in his mind that she was not just beautiful with a perfect figure eight shape but she also had a sexy body which was difficult to resist. He however swallowed in his lust with a huge drag of breath and managed to take his eyes off her body.

She rested her back after selecting a music station and turned to face him.

"So, how did your day go?" she asked.

He took his eyes off the TV to her face. "Work was great today and the day couldn't have ended better with the delicious meal you prepared."

Sheila eyes closed briefly as she smiled, her smile making her face more beautiful. "I'm glad you enjoyed the meal."

"Yea, but..." he heaved a sigh and raised his brows. "I'm kind of surprised you invited me for dinner tonight, I thought I had been disturbing you with so much invitations for dinner."

She smiled again. "I'm sorry if I made you feel bad yesterday, I just wanted to be careful with you."

"Careful?" Adrian squinted. "Careful of what? Are you sure you're not doing this because you thought I felt embarrassed by that guy yesterday?"

"Well, I saw the look on your face when we left the eatery. It was obvious you didn't feel good about it but that's not the reason I invited you for dinner tonight."

"You're wrong Sheila, I didn't feel anything about those guy's words last night. He was wrong about me and I don't give a damn about his opinion." Adrian replied. "I was more surprised with the way you handled it, I didn't imagine a single punch from you could crash him to the ground."

Sheila chuckled at his words. "Well, I didn't imagine it too. I had not had time to practice my fighting skills on anybody."

"Your fighting skills?"

"Yeah, I joined Henry for exercises and training a couple of times, he thought me how to make the right hit with my fists."

"Hmm, Henry." Adrian muttered, staring down for few seconds. "Henry was your former bodyguard, right?"

"Yes, he was." Sheila chuckled as she separated her legs and rested her head on the backrest of the sofa. "He was more of a friend than a bodyguard."

Adrian held his breath as he stared at her thighs again, he was having a hard time resisting touching her. He sniffed in gently and took his eyes off again.

"Sheila, you are in love with him. Aren't you?" he asked in a calm voice.

Sheila did not reply immediately. It was difficult to admit she had fallen in love with someone she only knew briefly after saving his life and it was more difficult to admit that she hadn't been able to get over him even though he rejected her.

"Yes, I am and it's difficult to get over it." she finally confessed after a minute of being quite.

Adrian heaved a deep sigh. He was already developing hopes again that night but he could now see that Sheila's heart was totally given to another man and it might be impossible for him to have her.

They both sat quietly for the next ten minutes without a word from the both of them. The music playing softly from the television was the only sound that could be heard.

"Sheila," Adrian finally sat up with a forced smile on his face. "Thanks for the night, I will like to take my leave now."

Adrian rose up to his feet before she could reply.

"Why are you leaving so early?" She got up and asked.

"I guess I have to be up early enough tomorrow, so I have to go to bed early."

"It's okay, we would talk more later then." she smiled.

"Yeah, sure."

She walked him out of the house to the car and watched him drive towards the gate before returning into the house alone, feeling so lonely all of a sudden.


Read Episode 75 here - https://youngicee.com/2019/08/restless-episode-75.html

A CRY FOR LOVE - PART 5

© Tisa Phiri

Ketty.

Looking out the window as I drove back home, my thoughts were fixed on what Mario had told me. I was not the so jealousy type of a person but the look in my Mario`s eyes as he talked about the girl he helped made me worry a little bit.

“Baby, you should have seen this girl, she is so desperate, and she is so broken I could see she has been through so much. What amazed me the most is that she didn’t seem proud of me helping her. It was like she wanted to do things on her own but was at the same time fixed in a corner” He explained.

“Well, there is a lot of things going on around us my baby, but what can we do, you have done your part to help that woman and am sure God will bless you for that.” I smiled at him not really asking who this woman was or what was wrong with her. All I knew was he helped a sick woman to the hospital.

‘Hey so how did the birthday party go? Am sorry I messed it up leaving before it was over after you put in so much to help make it.” he had apologized Kissing my hands.

“Anything for my man, its bad you didn’t tell me where you went but am glad you are here now. So how does being 32 feel like?” I chuckled as we relaxed in his mother`s couch I got comfortable forgetting where I was.

“Well, I don’t feel anything different. Only that am getting married in days” he laughed softly.

“Oh yeah, may I know to whom?” I teased him and he pulled me closer kissing my lips the loud clearing of the throat by someone broke us up. We looked upon to see who it was just to be met by his mother.

“Mom” Mario sighed standing up to her I bow my head in shame, something about his mother always made me feel uncomfortable so I lowered my eyes to avoid looking into her obviously disapproving eyes.

“What is going on here? You have made my house yours now?” his mother asked staring at me.

“Am sorry mom” I quickly apologized and she clicked her tongue.

“Rich kids” she murmured and I saw Mario squeeze her hand to stop her. But it was too late the damage had already been done. I stood up pretending I didn’t hear her and walked away.

“That girl has no manners at all. The problem with people who have money they never teach their children manners. “I could hear her speak as I walked away but Mario stopped her.

“Mother, say another word and am out of here.” he warned and I rushed out not wanting to hear any more.

Later on we parted ways and here I was driving home.

The moment I opened the front door to go in my phone rung and I noticed It was a strange number, not even the true caller app could identify it so I waited for it to ring till the it almost cut before answering it.

“Hello” I answered and stayed silent to hear the voice of another person.

“Halo, it’s me” the person on the other end responded.

“Just tell me who are you. Am I supposed to know you?” I snapped taking put my frustration on the person on the other end.

“Am Chisomo.” The voice responded and I stopped in my steps, throwing the keys to the car on the bar table and taking a stool.

“Chisomo?” I asked, not that I didn’t know who she was but I wanted to be sure the right person had called me. Before she could answer the line cut and I sighed redialing it. She responded on the second ring and I told me who she was and apologized she run out of air time.

“Chisomo, I never expected a call from you” I told her as a matter of fact.

“Yeah I know, I didn’t expect to call either. But I need the money Ketty. My mother is dying and I need money. Is it too late?” she asked me and I paused for a while trying to check if she was being serious. I had started following another girl the past weeks, but in my heart I felt Chisomo could be the best person.

“What made you change your mind?” I asked her instead.

“Well, like I told you, my mother is very sick and I have tried this whole time to find money but I have failed. Am ready to give you and your husband a child” she explained.

“Well then, meet me tomorrow if you are serious we will talk about it and see the way forward”

“Yes, okey then, were do we meet from?” she asked me and I told her it would be okey for her to come to my house so we discuss the way forward at length.

The following day, I informed Mario about the meeting I would have with Chisomo. As always he told me to do what I wanted.

Chisomo...

“Mom, am going to do what that woman asked, she gave me her line and I think its time we considered getting some money for your medicine.” I told my mother after the stranger dropped us at the hospital. The doctor told me if they didn’t operate on her any time soon, I would lose my mother.

So here I was trying to get her to allow me to do as Ketty had asked.

“Chisomo, listen to me. Am not sure what makes you think the only way to get me well is to sacrifice your life for mine, I will not allow you to subject your body to that, giving birth to a child that you will never have? In order to have money?” my mother shook her head.

She went on telling me how hard it would be for me to let go of my child and warned me it was not only immoral but a sin to fornicate. After hours of debating, I just told her it was okey and she assumed I was letting it go so I called Ketty to let her know I was going to do it. I was totally scared of the decision I made but I could not think of any other way of having to save my mother`s life.

I stood in front of a black gate in Woodlands after knocking with a stone, it was silent I was even thinking of going back when the gate opened and a man stood there looking at me from head to toe. From his clothing and altitude, I could tell he was the servant / worker.

“What do you want?” he asked his voice cold I felt so useless.

“Am here to see Ketty” I told him without minding his altitude. He walked back in locking the gate in my face.

“What is wrong with you John? You treat people like I don’t know.” I heard Ketty`s voice from inside and the moment I raised my head to look at her after the gate opened again, she smiled widely and softened her face.

“Am so sorry dear, I should have told John you are coming. Please come in” she ushered me in and I slowly walked in front of her and looked around the nicely done pavers and the surrounding. I wondered if that was her parent`s house or her fiancé`s arguing to myself as to why a rich person would want a poor woman like myself to give them a child.

“What is to miss with all this? What does this woman want a child for?” I whispered in my heart and she looked at me opening the front door for me to enter. Apart from the nice house she had and the great interior, what caught my attention the more was a photo of an old man hanging on the wall, it wasn’t the only one as I noticed two more photos of the same man were in the room.

“Your father?” I asked seeing the resemblance, as a way of starting a conversation with her.

“Yes” she chuckled proudly I could see the light in her eyes as she followed my gaze to look at the photos.

“You must be great together, I see the way you smile at the mention of his name. You love him so much huh?” I asked.

“He died 10 years ago” she announced catching me unaware I opened my mouth surprised.

“Oh dear, am so sorry. I didn’t know I thought…”

“it’s okey, it’s been years you know but I miss him. So let’s begin” she changed the subject.

“Yeah sure, so how are we going to do this?” I asked her.

‘Well am not sure you will keep the end of the bargain after I give you the money you need since it seems you want a down payment for your mother`s medication. So here is what we do, you get to spend a night with my fiancé before we get married. In that way I will trust this will be done as planned” she told me and my heart raced as I realized what I was getting myself into.

“What? Any problem now?” she asked seeing how uneasy I had become.

“Yes I have heard you, so when can I get the first payment so I pay for my mother’s surgery and medicine?” I asked her just to get over it already.

“Well first things first, when was your last period?” she asked

“About 6 to 7 days ago, why?”

“Well that is good, we can get you pregnant during this period then. Let me just warn you to keep our promise. You will not tell anyone of this and you will be staying with me in this house till you give birth, my husband and I have decided to stay in this house after our marriage and so will you. For nine months, if at all you will get pregnant. you will stay inside and some arrangement for you to take care of your mother the moment the pregnancy starts showing will be done later on. Do we have an agreement?” she asked me and I nodded my head, hating the feel of what I was subjecting myself to.

Chisomo...

To be continued

Read the remaining episodes here - youngicee.com/stories/a-cry-for-love

The Second Wife - Episode 9

© Onyinyechukwu Mbeledogu

Housing Estate, Woji

Port Harcourt

The loud banging on Soki’s door had the dual effect of rousing her from the beautiful dream she was having, and knocking her right off the bed so that she landed unceremoniously on the carpeted floor. It was that unexpected! Cursing beneath her breath she picked herself up.

The banging continued.

‘I’m coming,’ she called out wondering what this was all about.

It was obviously not a medical emergency or whoever was at the door would have already come into the bedroom, after all, the door was open. She placed the back of her hand over her mouth in a yawn, pushing down her short night shirt as she walked to the door. She opened the door surprised to find her dad there and he didn’t look a bit happy at all.

She didn’t need a seer to know that her mum had told him the circumstances surrounding his release and he was clearly not happy about it. Here we go! Until this point, she had been hundred percent sure that she could deal with this herself but one look at her dad’s unsmiling face made her wonder if she had done the right thing by not accepting Dienye’s offer to be with her when her father was releases. Dienye had wanted to speak with her dad last night but she had dissuaded him from it, saying that she didn’t want to break the news so soon after her dad’s release.

‘Good morning daddy.’ she greeted.

For once her father didn’t answer her greeting.

‘What have you done?’ He asked without preamble.

‘I got you out of police custody, dad.’ she responded without bothering to pretend that she didn’t know what he was talking about.

Being in police custody had aged her Dad by ten years and she was happy he was no longer there. Had Dienye not come to her rescue her daddy would have been either handed over to the EFCC or kept in prison custody awaiting trial and for that she would always be grateful to him. She had visited the Bundu Prisons in her third year in school and she was shocked at what she had seen. The prison had inmates thrice its capacity with a majority of them awaiting trial. She couldn’t imagine her dad being one of the inmates in such a place.

She stood aside as her dad walked into her organised bedroom. There was nothing out of place except the unarranged bed. Soki was a stickler for neatness.

‘I wish you had let me deal with the problem like I told you,’ dad said as he sat on the edge of her bed, a spot used to him as they spent most times talking like friends in her room.

‘I know you specifically asked me restrict myself to reaching out to your friends and our family members and nothing more, but I am your daughter, daddy and there was no way I could just fold my arms without trying to raise the balance of the money.’

She sat next to him and he sighed deeply. She could tell this was weighing so much on him. He was angry more with himself than he was with her.

‘I am so sorry, Soki,’ he apologised. ‘I put you in this position by my actions.’

‘It’s alright daddy. At least you’re free. And that’s what’s important.’ she told him, sliding her hand through the crook of his arm and resting her head on his shoulder.

He kissed the top of her head.

‘At least I didn’t have to go around having sex with multiple partners to raise the money. I got one major donor.’

‘One you are now compelled to marry. I can’t let you marry a riverine man.’ Dad told her.

‘This has nothing to do with your dislike for the riverine man, dad.’ she responded. ‘Dienye is a good man. He came to my rescue when I needed him the most and he didn’t ask me for sex.’

‘He didn’t have to. Once he is married to you, he will have all the sex he wants from you. If he was as decent as you said, he wouldn’t have made marriage a requirement.’

‘If you were in his shoes, would you have given out that kind of money without some sort of collateral?’ she asked him. ‘I don’t think so. We didn’t have any landed property to use and the current worth of the cars couldn’t cover a fourth of the amount. It didn’t even help that the people who priced the cars were pricing them as though they were worth nothing. It was a better proposal than I received from some of your friends, daddy.’

She felt him go tense.

‘He is Belema and Priye’s eldest brother and I trust him.’

‘You don’t know him and you cannot base your trust based on his siblings’ opinion of him.’

‘I am not basing my opinion on those of his siblings. I know him, perhaps not as well as I should, but I know for a fact that he is trustworthy. He was ready to part with N3,

000,000.00 without asking me for anything in return.’

‘You wouldn’t know that now, would you, since you have already accepted his proposal?’

‘He paid the money into my account before I went to see him yesterday,’ she returned. ‘I was under no obligation to accept his proposal. I accepted his proposal because I couldn’t raise the rest of the money and I wanted you out of there. Besides, I have had a crush on the guy for two years so it isn’t as though this is a total stranger that we are talking about.’

Her dad shook his head.

‘No matter your view of him, I do not approve of you spending the rest of your life with a man who doesn’t love you. I will have to talk to him about a payment plan.’

She rose to her feet.

‘A payment plan! No way! I will not have you incurring additional debts after the sacrifice I have made to avoid same. It’s too late.’

‘I intend to do whatever it takes to get you out of this,’ he told her stubbornly.

Fortunately, she had inherited his stubborn nature.

‘It is completely out of your hands.’ she told him. ‘I have promised him that I am going to marry him and I will.’

Her dad looked at her.

‘That promise was extracted under duress. I am sure you know the legal implications of agreements made under duress.’

She was well aware of it but as far as she was concerned the issue didn’t arise in this case.

‘You wouldn’t be protesting this much if Dienye was an Onitsha man.’

‘That’s not the issue.’

‘It is, daddy. It is. It is unfortunate that I didn’t have an Onitsha man or by extension an

Anambra man make me the same offer Dienye did. I made a promise to a good man, one I have every intention of honouring. It was my decision to marry him.’

‘All because you felt you had no other choice.’

‘I didn’t have any. Besides I couldn’t accept your boss’ indecent proposal. I am sure mum told you about his proposal to have me as his mistress for three years in exchange for the money.’

‘Yes, she did. The nerve of the man!’ Dad cursed. ‘I hope he didn’t lay a hand on you.’

‘He wasn’t successful.’

Dad heaved a sigh of relief.

‘That’s why his proposal increased from eight months to three years. I don’t want to think about him.’

‘I still wish you had let me face whatever charges they would bring against me. For all you know, the suits would have been dismissed on technicalities.’

That was possible, but there was no way she was going to risk it.

‘I am just grateful to God for using Dienye to get you out of police custody and future problems with the law.’

‘I still don’t like this at all.’

‘Dienye is a good man,’ she insisted. ‘And he will most likely make a good son-in-law.’

Her Dad snorted in disbelief. He didn’t know Dienye was a widower and she intended to keep him in the dark until later.

‘I know you would want to meet Dienye behind my back and talk him out of marrying me, but I would advise you not to. I have every intention of marrying him and you can feel free to tell me ‘I told you so’ if I have any problems with him.’

‘I can always refuse to give my consent and my blessings,’ he told her.

‘And what exactly would you gain by doing that?’

‘I would have my daughter back. You might feel that we wouldn’t be having this conversation if I had been more cautious, but what has happened has happened and I can’t change it. However, that doesn’t mean that I will stand back and allow you make what I consider to be the worst mistake of your life.’

What she thought or didn’t think about what she was getting herself into wasn’t important right now. Was she making a mistake by getting involved with Dienye? Only time would tell.

‘I am twenty-one, daddy and legally an adult, able to make my own decisions. I will be spending the rest of my life with this man and it is up to you to decide whether or not want your daughter living with a man she isn’t married to.’

‘Is that a threat?’

‘No, daddy. I was just pointing out how important it is for me to keep my word. You taught me not to make promises unless I intend to keep same, remember.’

Her dad looked like he was going to argue further but she stopped him with her next words:

‘Dienye will be coming to pick me up this evening. I hope you would be nice to him.’

His eyes narrowed.

‘He’ll formally ask for my hands in marriage because he is a good man who would not take it for granted that having paid so much he now owns me.’

‘I don’t want a riverine son-in-law,’ her dad protested one last time.

‘But you are destined to have one.’

She hugged her dad, telling him that everything was going to be okay and begging him not to get involved in her dealings with Dienye. Achebe was a big family and it would be so easy to have them hold an emergency family meeting because of her at the instance of her dad. She wasn’t going to take the risk of finding out whether his detest of the riverine tribe would surpass his need to keep the reason for his arrest secret. So far, all they knew was that he had some problems that required a lot of cash which he would pay back once he was settled.

Her dad left but she knew this discussion was far from over. She just hoped her mum would have a way of distracting him, at least today. They should do whatever it was that they did on Valentine’s Day. Besides, this Valentine’s Day was different in that her dad had gone through semi hell and back and there was so much to be grateful for.

Soki shut the door behind him and went into the bathroom where she quickly brushed her teeth before heading for the kitchen to prepare breakfast. She had her first date with Dienye that evening and was really nervous about it. They were engaged and it was only right that she spend the day with him. The question right now was what kind of gift could she give to her mega rich fiancé especially considering the fact that she was literally broke?

Read Episode 10 here - https://youngicee.com/2020/01/the-second-wife-episode-10.html

Ann2012:


Thanks dear

Uwc dear

A CRY FOR LOVE - PART 4

© Tisa Phiri

MARIO…….

The night was going down slowly. I walked out of the duty room and went to check on the duty guards and satisfied everyone was working as required I retired back to the office and grabbed the remote control to try watch some soccer match. The moment I sat down to relax, my phone rung.

“Hello mother?” I responded

“Hello Mario, I waited for you to come pay me a visit today, what happened? Does it mean when you are getting married you forget about your mother?” she went on talking I had to sigh before responding.

Of all people, I knew the kind of person my mother was, there was no denying she was not an easy person to deal with especially if you were not on her good people list. She would say things out without regard you are hurt or not, she never hid her feelings about things and most people found her unpleasant.

“well, mom, I told you am working in the night today and I had to spend the afternoon, of course part of it with ketty she was filling me on what is going on with the wedding planning” I explained calmly.

“What is wrong with you? You used to have time with me but now all I hear is Ketty. That rich girl has you in her grip and I wonder if at all we will ever have you around after you marry her” she went on complaining I had to cut her short.

“mom, stop now please, she is not taking your place you know that, you are and will always be my mother, but she is going to be my wife in a weeks’ time, the earlier you accept that the better for all of us”

“Mario, am not happy but anyways, its time for you to marry and give me grandchildren already” I heard her smile. That was her only concern about me marrying, to give her kids, and I somehow understood Ketty`s concern. She had told me her condition and since she could not have kids, she was burnt on her plan to have us get a baby through another woman, everything I did to get her forget about the issue she found a way of convincing me that was the way out for us.

“Are you still there?” I heard my mother ask, I then realized I was not even listening to whatever she was talking about.

‘yes am here mother, I have heard you” I lied chuckling in the process.

“Well, do that then and this time don’t let me down Mario, your father sends greetings” she concluded and I regretted lying because now I was in trouble. How was I to do what she told me to if at all I didn’t know what she wanted me do for her.

“Oh God, am in deep shit” I murmured to myself and lay down my head on the office sofa.

The following day after work, I went straight home. The house I had lived almost half of my working years. I had worked for 7 years in the Zambia Airforce. After staying with my parents for 3 years, I had decided to move out and rent a house in Kamwala as I never wanted to stay inside the camp like many of my friends did.

It was in my 4th year of working that I met Ketty, a tall and beautiful girl that took away my breath the moment my friend introduced her to me as the best friend to his fiancé.

Well, it was on one of the annual balls we usually have at the end of the year, and we sat down on the same table.

“So what do you Ketty?” I had asked after the chit chats we had with Frank and his fiancé Sera.

“Well, am a writer” she smiled

“Writer?” I asked not really sure if that was impressive of surprising.

“Yes, I write books, you know stories “she nodded her head and I smiled back.

“Wow, I never knew I would cross paths with a writer, Zambian writer to be precise, what an interesting woman you are”

She looked at me in a way that made me feel proud of myself. I could tell she was no ordinary woman and her sense of style and class was evident.

I never wasted any time after knowing her, a few weeks down the line I invited her out for dinner and that was the beginning of our relationship. I realized she talked less about her family and one day when she invited me over to her house, in woodlands, I was amazed to find out she was wealthy. In trying to understand how she lived alone and seemingly had a lot of wealthy judging from the car she used to drive and the house. She then opened up and told me about her parents and how terrible her father turned out dead in his car.

My friends warned me not to get comfortable with a rich, single and independent woman, but my heart had chosen and I knew I was not going to lose her just because my friends felt intimidated by my rich girlfriend.

“She is a good person, guys, she never makes me feel like I am under her, she lets me take my place as a man and that is enough to make me have her.” I told the guys point blank.

“Are you coming here or not?” my mother called me later in the day and I knew I was in deep trouble.

“Yes mom am on my way” I breathed in.

“Good, hurry then” she insisted.

An hour later, I was in Matero to see my mother and she welcomed me with a wide smile I wondered what was going on with her.

“Mom, where is dad and why do you look so happy this afternoon?” I asked her as she led me inside.

“Where is it, first of all?” she asked me.

“mom, am sorry, I don’t know what I was supposed to bring, the thing is I was working late the time you called and I didn’t pay attention to what you said on the phone” I told her the truth she shook her head.

“I told your father you were not going to do it, anyway, thanks to your brother and fiancé, we have it all in place” she smiled leading me inside the house and I was shocked to find the living room filled with people and the moment I stepped in they all shouted a happy birthday to me. Ketty was among them smiling widely.

“Oh dammit, how could I forget my own birthday?” I held my face in my palms.

“Yes it is your birthday dummy and I wanted you to bring a bottle of wine for your father” my mother whispered to me and I laughed.

“Well, mother its seems this room has all the wine and food I had not planned on eating and drinking” I laughed walking away from her to my fiancé.

“Hey there?” I hugged her quick and she smiled wishing me a happy birthday.

She told me how she had arranged for my party at my parent`s house.

“Wow, am so happy baby, thank you, I didn’t expect this at all, all my friends are here?” I looked around at the guys from work and my friend Frank was around. My young brother and dad all cheerfully welcomed me among other people.

After walking around and greeting everyone receiving their wishes, I decided to take a break outside.

“hello, how are you Mario? It’s been long, your mother told me it’s your birthday” I heard a voice call out and I looked at who it belonged to. My mother`s neighbor was standing over the flower fence.

“Bana Bwalya, long time, am fine” I stood to greet her. We were still talking when a lady walked in her yard she turned to look behind her.

“Chisomo my dear, what brings you here?” she talked to the lady who I could tell was either sick or she had something serious going on.

“Aunty am sorry to bother you, but my mother is very sick I need to take her to the hospital. I was hoping your husband can drive us there and I will pay him when I get the money. Please help he is the only taxi driver who helps me in times like this. I have nothing with me right now to pay another taxi. ” the lady spoke looking at Bana Bwalya.

“am sorry for that, but today is a bad day, you see my husband who always helps your mother with transport to the hospital is not around, he won’t be back till tomorrow morning”

Bana Bwalya responded.

“oh, God what do I do now?, I have been on the market trying to sell something so I can raise some money for her hospital bills but it’s all failing apart, what do I do now” Chisomo cried I felt my heart reached out to her.

“Maybe I can help. I mean, I have a car here and the young lady looks desperate” I found myself offering help.

“What?” Bana Bwalya asked surprised.

“Yeah, I just feel bad for the lady here Bana Bwalya” I smiled sadly. Bana Bwalya asked about my birthday and I smiled telling her I would be back before people notice I was gone.

“Well, you are still a good child I recall as a boy Mario, go on now Chisomo. My neighbor`s son will help you take your mother to the hospital” she looked at the young lady who nodded without looking at my face.

“Thank you” she looked at me once as we sat in the car and right down. I could see her lips tremble she was either scared or crying I didn’t look close enough to be sure which was which.

“Chisomo! Chisomo! Is that you?” a soft voice came from inside the house when we got to her house a few blocks away from my parent`s house.

“mom, Bashi Bwalya is not home but the neighbor`s son offered to take us to the hospital, come on let me help you up” she spoke to her mother softly. I watched from the door as she led her weak and evidently sick mother to the door.

“Oh, here I got you” I held her other hand seeing them struggle to keep straight.

In the car as I drove to the hospital I realized I had left my phone and no one except Bana Bwalya knew where I was going.

“Young man, May God increase your years and see you through all the good days of your life. God bless you more and more” the woman blessed me I looked back at her in the mirror and noticed she did it with closed eyes laying on her daughter`s laps.

For some reason the two of them got my attention such that on my way back I kept thinking about them and what was really going on, the lady Chisomo wasn’t really interested in talking to me I could see from the short responses and I decided to leave the moment I dropped them at the hospital.

“Mario, finally, my God where did you disappear to?” Ketty asked me the moment I got to the door.

“The hospital” I answered shrugging.

“What? Are you okey? Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked one question after the other and I smiled at her.

“Am okey baby, Come on. I will tell you everything” I held her hand as we matched inside.

.

Mario...

Read Episode 5 to 10 here - www.youngicee.com/stories/a-cry-for-love

A CRY FOR LOVE - PART 3

© Tisa Phiri

KETTY…

It was only a week towards my big day and I was so nervous and excited at the same time. Moving about my empty house, I took time to reflect on my life walking about the house. Landing my eyes on my late father's pictures, I stopped and started touching it memories of my father flushing back to my mind.

“Ketty my dear, come sit with me here” he called me one evening. I was only 17 then, I sat next to him and he opened some files.

“Look at this my child” he displayed them before me.

“What is this daddy?” I asked him flipping through them I could not understand a thing written on the papers.

“Well, this is all the documentation of my life accumulated wealthy. The title deeds, the money saved in the bank accounts and many other important documents of my estates ” he smiled showing them to me one by one.

“But daddy, why are you showing them to me now? Is there something I should know about them?” I asked him. He sighed and let me closer to him I rested my hand on his as he looked at me seriously.

“All this is yours my daughter, I have put it all in your name so that in case anything happens to me, you should know about what I have worked for and make use of it for your life. The thing is your mother and I have not been on good books for a while and I cannot trust her enough to do the right things, am sure when you grow up a little bit you will be able to understand” he smiled

“But daddy, mom and you are doing great together, what do you mean by…” I could not finish asking the question and my mother walked in and sat across us.

“like I said, you will understand when you get matured my daughter, now get this and take it to your room am coming after you” my father squeezed my hand and I obeyed his order leaving them glaring at each other with mom I now could see something between them was terribly wrong.

Instead of moving to my room as told, I stood by the stairs and listened in to them as they talked.

“What was that about Chalwe?” the cold voice of my mother asked.

“it’s none of your business Enala. It was something between me and my child so stay out of it” my daddy snapped and stood up I ducked a bit to avoid him seeing me.

“you will not do this to me again and again Chalwe, am still under your roof as your wife and you will not treat me like I don’t exist” my mother pulled him back I saw my father`s face turn red with anger he was silent for a moment and when he opened his mouth to speak what I heard made me shiver.

“This marriage ended a long time ago, the moment you decided to sleep with my best friend to humiliate me, was the day you put an end to this marriage. Now if you will excuse me, I have something to do” my father added.

“Well, he is a better man than you are you know, at least he cares for and …”

My mother`s words were cut short with a slap from daddy she sniffed in.

“How dare you insult me Enala? How dare you, after everything I have done for you?. You team up with my friend wanting to get everything I have? Well, I got news for you, even when your plan to kill me succeeds you two will never get a dime from me, you are so pathetic you make me sick” daddy shouted and stormed out of the house I run to my room crying.

“What is going on here?” I spoke to myself as I had locked my bedroom door. I could not believe mom could have betrayed dad with uncle Henry, I always thought he was a good man and saw him coming home even when daddy was out of the country on business trips but now I understood what was really going on.

“How could she?” I cried feeling broken I felt sad for my father, I had never seen him that upset and I knew he was not doing well. Looking at the file in my hands, I recalled his warning words to take care of it so I quickly hid the file and walked out just to find my mother standing by the door.

“What was that?” she asked

“What mom?” I stammered looking down the floor.

“You know what I mean, what was that your father gave you down stairs?” she held my hand with a strong grip.

“Let go mother, you are hurting me” I tried to pull my hand loose but she wouldn’t let me go.

“Is it true you and Uncle Henry are sleeping together?” I asked her straight up upset at the way she was holding me.

“What was that?” she narrowed her eyes, before I knew it, she was on me beating me up for disrespect. I cried out in pain as she hit me repeatedly there was more to her beating than what I had just said I could feel her hurtfulness in her cold hands.

“You stupid girl, how could you talk to me like that? am your mother” she yelled in my face and before she could hit me again, my father walked to us and pulled her back pushing her to the wall.

“What are you doing? Are you mad ?” he screamed and all I could hear was shouting and screaming around them I run out and went to the back yard crying myself out.

“Hey sunshine!” Mario walked in through the back door to my house making me startle I looked at him enter.

“Hey my precious gem, you are welcome “I tried to smile, but I guess the gloomy face from my memory was still planted on my face he stopped in his steps looking at me.

“Are you okey?” he asked moving closer.

“yeah, yea, I am now,” I placed down daddy`s picture frame and hugged him.

“You miss him right?” he asked still hugging me.

“Yeah you have no idea” I responded with a grin he pulled me to sit on the couch.

“Don’t worry, am here, am going to help you forget him, come on smile now” he made his silly face and I kissed him on the lips.

“I know you are a good man and you love me Mario, no doubt you will make me happy but never will I forget my father especially the way he died” I shrugged sadly he shook his head.

“Am sorry about your daddy baby, really I am, but it’s been what? 10 years now”

“yea, I know, it feels like yesterday most of the times though especially when I see that witch of a mother I have” I snapped and Mario shook his head placing me down beside him and sitting up to look at me.

“Well, well, enough of sad talks baby, let’s talk about the wedding.” He smiled and I nodded my head at him.

“Yeah and the woman to give us a child?” I chuckled, his face went down the same second.

“What?” I asked

“We already talked about this Mario and am not giving you an opportunity to talk me out of it” I shook my head.

“Baby, why do you insist on doing this really?” he asked this time so serious.

“well, I have thought through things and I don’t want to end up like my parents, they were unhappy and because of little misunderstandings, they made grave mistakes in their lives and daddy ended up in the grave, so yeah, I want us to be complete and since I cannot give you a child, we need to find a way of having one” I clearly outlined and he sighed deeply sitting back.

“I don’t know baby, all this just feels so wrong, I love you and it’s enough”

“No, it’s not enough baby, we will be just fine okey. Now what can I offer my dear hubby to be?” I smiled changing the subject he shrugged dismissingly.

“Red wine will do” he answered

“Wine, you are drinking this time of the day?”

“Yes, its Friday, can’t a man have a drink?” he smiled and I stood up to get him his wine.

“Hmm, so I went to see this woman in kamanga, she is the sister to my maid.” I started, looking at him but he seemed to know where I was going with my story and he looked at the TV instead.

“She a good girl and good looking for sure, but I don’t like her altitude. Oh God, where can I find that perfect woman, well at least almost perfect woman to mother our baby?” I asked myself not minding Mario`s unconcerned look.

“So what do you say?” I moved to him and he looked at me lifting his blows.

“About what?” he responded.

“Mario, seriously?” I scoffed.

“Look, if you want to get us a baby do it on your own terms but please leave me out of it” he smiled teasingly.

“But she will have to lay with you in order to get pregnant” I reminded him and he made a disgusting face.

“Really, baby, you will allow another woman to touch me? “He asked

“Yep, if that is what I have to sacrifice for our eternal happiness, then yes, just once or twice is enough to get pregnant if the ovulation period is well calculated and then done!, the rest will fall in place.

“Hmmm, whatever” he looked away and I sat closer to him playing with his fingers he kissed my hands and stood up to leave.

“I came checking on you baby, I got to go. Am working tonight. “He kissed my forehead.

“What? SDO?’” I asked him.

“yeah, am a ZAF officer and until am promoted to MAJOR or a higher rank, above Captain, am still going to do night duties” he chuckled as I lead him outside he stopped in front of his Benz and leaned on it looking at me.

“Well, will see you tomorrow then. Work well and come early we need to finalize the dances tomorrow” I reminded him and he smiled getting into the car I watched him till he was out of the gate.

“I love him” I told myself as I moved into the house.

Meet Ketty..

To be continued

A CRY FOR LOVE - PART 2

© Tisa Phiri

KETTY…

When I was done explaining to her what I needed her to do for me in exchange for money to pay her mother`s hospital bills, she looked at me and for a moment I thought she was going to hit me. She couldn’t say a word, instead, she stood up and looked at me from head to toe.

“What now? You don’t want money anymore?” I asked her. I know I sounded awkward she was wondering if at all I was a normal human being or not. But I was not joking either and I planned on having my wish one way or the other. I knew if she could give me a negative answer I would find another person to do it for me.

Well, I had the money to my name, which evidently I had no other way of spending it.

“Are you okey?” Chisomo asked me her voice now raised a bit.

“Yes, am okey? What kind of question is that?” I asked her with a smile which I noticed she took offence.

“Let me get this straight, you think you are sick and are not able to bare kids for the man you claim you love? Now, you want to pay off a woman to sleep with your man so that she gives him a child?” she looked at my face

“Yes,” I responded bluntly and now stood up to make her realise I was not joking.

“You are sick in your head woman, you are in fact the craziest person I have come to meet in my life. You talked so calmly and for the moment I thought you are a good person...”

“hey, please don’t insult me Chisomo please, you don’t need to say all that to me, let me remind you that I just met you and you have no right to judge me. so if you don’t want then go on and leave, I just wanted to help you with your mother you know” I sighed shaking my head, I picked up my bag and started walking away from her leaving her staring at me as I walked.

Yes, it seemed crazy to her but I had to find a woman to give me and my husband to be a child the moment we got married. I loved Mario and I knew from the talks I had with his mother we would never be happy till we gave her grandchildren, at least even just one. Now that I couldn’t give birth to a child as I was barren due to some illness I had as a teenager, I had to find a way to make my marriage work.

Mario seemed hesitant about my idea, pointing out that I would never bring happiness in our home by paying out a stranger to give us a child. But I had to convince him otherwise.

“How many kids would you love us to have?” I recall asking him one night when we were together and he had smiled a big smile,

“well, at least 3” he looked at me and the look in his eyes when he said it made me realise how much he wanted to have babies. Though he had a change of language after learning of my condition, I knew deep down his heart he wanted kids and since I could never give him any, I decided to find a way to complete our home a few months before our wedding.

The plan was for us to pay someone to get pregnant from Mario and I would pretend to be pregnant during the period so that people would never know the truth behind our baby.

“Hey, Ketty! How are you my dear it’s been ages?” my friend greeted me when I got to her place. I had kept thinking about my meeting with Chisomo as I got to the garage where I left my car for servicing and later on drove to Northmead to see my best friend Sera.

“Hey, okey my friend, how are you?” I tried to cheer up In front of her but like always she was able to read my mood she frowned sitting next to me after handing me a glass of water.

“I told Mario” I finally spoke up looking at her face she sunk back in the couch looking at me her eyes wide open.

“Don’t, do not, tell me you went ahead with that stupid idea of yours Ketty?” she shook her head.

“yes love, I did, I have to do this for us, the plan Is all outlined well, find a woman to sleep with my would be husband maybe a few weeks after our marriage, she gets pregnant and I start paying her slowly till the day she gives birth. I get my baby and she leaves our lives forever” I shrugged casually making Sera rub her head scratching the scalp down her weave she was wordless.

“Please my dear. Don’t do this please, I beg you. Mario has proven he loves you and he accepted the situation. So just get married and be happy do not bring other complications in your marriage” she spoke in a calm but firm voice I knew she was concerned about me.

“well, what good will my husband`s love be if we are always going to get the heat from his mother about a child anyway. I don’t have that much a good relationship with my mother already. I cannot have another beef with my mother in law, no I won’t” I shrugged and placed down the glass of water.

“well, I will say I tried to warn you dear, if that is what you want and your fiancé is okey with it then go ahead , am here for you as always my girl” Sera smiled at me I hugged her close .

“I love you Sera, “I chuckled and she smiled the more.

“I love you Ketty you and me are like sister and I am trying to look out for you, God knows where all this crazy idea came from” she laughed softly.

“Am a writer remember?” I smiled and she nodded her head,

“you sometimes tend to live in your imagination my love, and it’s not good for you. Anyways, any luck in finding this lady who would give you that child?” she asked me.

“Well, I met someone today after having another heated discussion with Mario, you should see this girl, she is strong and beautiful, her body shape, let me just say her physical features are appealing. I want a person like her to mother a child for us “

“But?” Sera looked at my now down face.

“She said no” I frowned sadly.

“Okey. I didn’t think you thought it will be easy to call someone, hey woman!, you are beautiful and look healthy, can you be the one to sleep with my husband and get pregnant for us? Did you?” Sera scoffed

“I know right, its crazy dear”

“No its not crazy girl, it’s hilarious and awkward, people will think you are mad or something” she laughed

“This is Africa, Zambia if I may add, people don’t think like you do my dear” she added

“Okey. That is okey, I failed my first attempt but am sure I will find someone soon enough. You will see. “I told her with so much determination making my friend click her tongue at my idea.

Chisomo………

I was lost in my thoughts as I stood in the door way to my mother`s ward, the time I went to check on her I found her sleeping and I stood there looking sadly at her I recalled the meeting I had with the strange woman Ketty.

“How on earth would someone think like that? What the hell is this world turning into?” I asked myself shrugging in the process.

“Well, she is mad, I need money for my mother yes, but there are other better ways of saving mom`s life than do what that crazy woman was suggesting.” I spoke to myself.

Walking about the ward, I sat down my body feeling tired I dozed off. The shouting voice of the nurse woke me up I looked around as though I was lost just to meet eye to eye with the loud nurse shaking my shoulders.

“Yes, sister, am sorry I fell asleep.” I sat up seeing I was still in the hospital after having a beautiful dream my mother was well and we were walking down the road laughing and chatting.

“Your mother is very ill and the doctor wanted me to ask you if you have had any lucky finding the money he told you about” she asked me and as realization sank in, I started sobbing at the thought I had not done a thing to save my mother.

“No” I responded without hesitation.

“well, there is little we can do for you here then, the doctor explained everything and since there is no other thing to do for your mother without the needed medication, I suggest you take her back home till you get something” she looked at me so cold I wondered if at all she had any slight bit of compassion in her heart.

“sister, I know about the money but right now mother is so sick, I cannot take her home , please help us, I promise to work hard to find some money to pay the bills, please help her” I begged kneeling down on my knees but she stepped back and shrugged.

“am sorry, the doctor told me to let you know that is hospital policy and so am going to prepare the documents and you people will be discharged” the nurse spoke her last and walked away leaving me still on the floor my face was wet with tears I failed to stand up even when a few faces were looking in my direction, probably wondering why a 26 year old lady was humiliating herself in public.

“God what now?” I asked myself still stationed to the floor.

An hour later, we were back at out small home in Matero, my mother looked at me as I sat beside her and weakly smiled.

“Why have you been so silent my Chisomo? Things will be fine okey? don’t worry about me, God will heal me at his own time? “She smiled and I looked at her shaking my head.

“well, you have had that faith for some months mother and there is nothing God is doing about it, maybe it’s time we started thinking of ways to find money to help you instead of hope as you call it” I uttered my words and the look in my mother`s eyes warned me she was not pleased.

“Am sorry mom, it’s just that…” I started and wiped the tear from my eyes.

“Its alright, I get it, you are tired my daughter you have tried all you can and things are hard for you, trust me though, everything works for good for those who love the Lord” she patted my shoulder with her weak hand and I faked a smile.

“Get some rest mom, let me make some fritters and sell so we can have something to eat this evening” I covered her with a fleece and walked out to make some fire outside.

To be continued

I don't really post this story on weekends, but here's another one for you to enjoy - https://www.nairaland.com/5637922/cry-love

Episode 8 contd

‘I noticed you transferred N3, 000,000 into my account instead of N2, 000,000 as promised,’ she said, changing the topic, before her brain started conjuring all kinds of 18+ scenes. Fantasizing about him in private was one thing, doing it with him watching her was a different ball game. He was perceptive enough to find her out.

‘Yes, I did,’ he replied. ‘And, no, it wasn’t in error.’

‘I am really grateful, D.D,’ she told him.

‘For nothing. There was no way I was going to let you fall into Nze Maduabuchi’s clutches and still sleep well at night. I’ll put a call across to Nze Maduabuchi this morning and have the balance transferred to him before noon.’

‘I don’t know how to begin to thank you.’

‘I’m getting something in return, you,’ he reminded her.

‘And at the cost of your independence. That amount is too much to pay as a bride price even if I was the daughter of the president.’

He shook his head.

‘I called my lawyer last night after I dropped you off. He is working on a pre-nuptial agreement for us.’

Seriously, Soki thought. Did they do that in Nigeria?

‘You knew I would say yes.’

‘I figured you would. You are too decent to give in to your father’s boss’ advance when you have an alternative and decent offer.’

‘You’re right. But a pre-nup?’

‘It wouldn’t be anything cold-blooded,’ he assured her.

To her, pre-nuptial agreements were only necessary when you were afraid your spouse was more interested in your money than in you. And she really had no interest in his money or he would have been her first point of call. She liked him a lot, was attracted to him and it had nothing to do with his financial status.

‘I have no interest in your money,’ she told him.

‘I’m sure you don’t, but I still need the pre-nup-’

‘To protect your investment,’ she finished up. ‘Why exactly are you marrying me? If it were just about the loan, you would have come up with a different arrangement.’

‘Smart girl,’ he responded, leaning into his chair. ‘This arrangement suits me just fine as it would bring an end to the regular torment I have to endure of having my sisters, cousins, aunts trying to match-make me with their friends or friend’s daughters. Besides, at my age, I need a family.’

‘You have been married before.’

‘For seven years, yes. And there was absolutely nothing medically wrong with either of us, I can assure you.’

‘I wasn’t questioning the functionality of your manhood,’ she said with a blush.

Geez, she couldn’t believe she had said that. Dienye chuckled good naturedly at her choice of words, making her relax. Whatever his reasons for wanting to marry a woman he didn’t love, a woman who didn’t love him, he was giving up a lot of money to have her. Her dad was in for the shock of his life. He would be having a riverine son-in-law. Her dad was a proper Igbo man who wanted all his children settling down with Ibo husbands. There would be no August meeting for her. Well, Dienye should be the least of his problems. At least he would be free, that is all that mattered.

She was going into this marriage without knowing much about marriages. She had never dated anyone and so wasn’t experienced enough for someone with Dienye’s obvious experience. Did happiness go hand in hand with love in marriages or could both exist independently? Well, one was solely responsible for one’s happiness. There were so many questions in her head begging for answers. Weren’t couples supposed to be best friends? Free with each other enough to confide their deepest secrets and desires? Well that was for normal marriages. Theirs wouldn’t be one. The moment she married this man she would be giving him possession of her body. She flushed, thinking of being made love to by this man. No, sex was the right word. There was no love between them. He would be her first and only. She would be his and the mother of his children.

She watched him silently. What was his late wife like? That was the wife of his youth, the one he had married because he loved her. She was the one he had given his heart to. Would she be able to fit into her shoes? Would she be able to get him to love her in the long run?

‘What’s going on in your mind?’ Dienye asked her.

Soki had forgotten he was watching her.

‘Nothing important,’ she replied.

‘Talk to me, babe. Something’s bothering you and I need to know what it is.’

Soki took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

‘What’s bothering you?’

‘I’m scared.’ she confessed. ‘We are getting married for the wrong reasons. And I am afraid it might not work.’

He smiled and reached across the table to take her hands in his.

‘Every marriage has its issues and so I can’t promise you a perfect marriage. However we’ll make our marriage work,’ he assured her.

‘We barely know each other. We aren’t even in love.’ she complained. ‘What if we are not compatible? What then?’

‘We have been able to establish that we are attracted to each other. I have no doubt that we will be compatible, babe. I was madly in love with my wife and losing her almost damaged me. I don’t know if I have it in me to love you, at least the way you want, but I would never deliberately go out of my way to hurt you.’

At least he was honest with her.

Dienye called Nze Maduabuchi and informed him that he would be making a transfer of N5, 870,000 on behalf of his fiancée. Soki raised a cheque for the N3, 000,000 Dienye had paid into her account in his name. Her dad was released that evening and it wasn’t until the next day that the drama began.


You can read Episode 9 here - https://youngicee.com/2020/01/the-second-wife-episode-9.html

The Second Wife - Episode 8

© Onyinyechukwu Mbeledogu

Friday, 13th February

8:28am

Woji Estate



Soki buttoned up her fitted blouse (one of the blouses she had initially grown out of) which she wore over blue jeans and a pair of sneakers. Just as she was spraying her perfume, she heard a beeping sound from her phone announcing that she had a message. She picked up the phone and screamed as she saw the bank alert for N3, 000,000 from Dienye.

Her mother ran into her bedroom and Soki quickly showed her the text message.

‘I told you he was a good man.’ She told her mother proudly. ‘He is not what you think he is. With this I do not have to go to see him.’

Her mother looked amazed. She had been certain that Dienye had promised her daughter N3, 000,000 just to get her to accept his proposal. However, this made her respect the man, whoever he was. With the money, her daughter had no business going to him, just to call him and thank him.

‘Where are you going?’ she asked Soki as she picked up her hand bag.

‘To see Dienye. I am accepting his proposal.’

‘You do not need to do so. He has kept his promise to you and you assured me that this money was meant to be non-refundable.’

‘It is.’

‘Then why on earth are you accepting his proposal?’

‘Because I want to. I have no way of raising the balance.’

‘And he knows it.’

‘He knows nothing. For all he knows I might accept Nze’s temporary offer which I figure would become less once he gets this N3,000,000.’

‘Don’t even make that a thought.’ Ezinne warned her.

Soki laughed. ‘Ala a na agba m (am I mad)? I am accepting Dienye.’

‘Well, you have to wait for me to dress up so we can go see him together. I need to thank him before I head out to see your father.’

‘No, mum. I need to do this myself.’

‘Why would you -?’

‘I don’t want you getting involved. I am marrying the man and I don’t want you coming there and complicating things.’

Her mother parted her lips to protest but Soki escaped from the bedroom, racing down the staircase and out of the house.



* * * * *



8:45am

Oroma Estate

Port Harcourt



Soki nervously approached the front door of Dienye’s house. She needed to talk to Dienye and alone. Her eyes scanned the vast premises. This would be her home once they were married. They weren’t characters in a Mills and Boon romance novel where the protagonist proposed a short term marriage with the intention of not having it consummated. Once married, she and Dienye would be intimate within every meaning of the word. Her heart skipped a beat. Was she ready for this? She had always imagined her first time being with a man she loved, a man who loved her back.

Having read so many romance novels, she had an almost vivid imagination of what her wedding night would be like: how her husband would pamper her and try everything romantic within his power to make the moment an unforgettable one for her. Had Dienye’s late wife been a virgin? Had he been the one she lost her virginity to? How had it been? She was literally frightened of what she thought to be her future, not because she felt she would be a victim of domestic abuse, but because she wasn’t sure what she was getting herself into.

‘You don’t have a choice,’ a voice inside her head told her.

Everyone had a choice, she countered silently. She had chosen this one because it was decent. But that didn’t make her relaxed. She had read once that you would know you were making the right decision once you felt peace within yourself. Well, what she felt was turmoil. Her head was filled with negative thoughts. What if Dienye fell in love with someone else in the course of their marriage? What if she wasn’t enough for him? What if he ended up hating her? Would he expect her to move in with him before marriage? Would he expect her to have pre-marital sex with him? Would she have to come to his home to cook his meals and do his laundry like a lot of girls did with their boyfriends and fiancés? Was he even over the death of his late wife, after all, he still wore his wedding ring? Would she have to constantly deal with her ghost in the house?

She figured she would be justified in blaming her dad for her present predicament, or even hating him. But she didn’t feel that way. He had made the mistake of trusting a friend and then trying to cover it up. Anyone could have found himself in that situation. What was important was that a way had been provided out of it and her father would be back home before the end of today.

Talking about her father, he would rather face the consequences of his action than have her sacrifice herself, her life and her happiness to get him out. He had no idea what she was doing and she wanted it to stay that way until she had made her promise to Dienye. She was someone who firmly believed that promises should never be made in a hurry as once made, they are to be kept. And so once she gave Dienye her word to marry him, she would be completely under the obligation to do so irrespective of anyone else’s views or opinions.

Her dad would definitely not be pleased with the decision. She knew for a fact that he would approach Dienye with an alternative deal before it was too late. His job wouldn’t be waiting for him – that was tied to her accepting his boss’ terms. Having accepted an alternative offer, her dad would be back in the market as a job seeker. And at his age, who was going to employ him? Perhaps, if she had considered this particular consequence, she would have accepted Nze’s offer despite her moral upbringing.

‘No, you wouldn’t have.’ The voice inside her head told her with all certainty.

And it was right. Being a mistress would mean that her dad would get back his job, but it also meant that he would resign from it because there was no way Joshua Achebe would stay back on a job knowing that his daughter was paying for every naira on her back and beneath his boss.

She sighed deeply and hurried to the front door.



* * * * *



Dienye stood just in front of the door waiting for Soki. He had been expecting a phone call and not her physical presence but he was relieved that she was there. He’d had a restless night, unable to sleep. No matter how many times he told himself it was not his problem, he still found himself worried about the choice she might make. He had promised to transfer the money to her account once he didn’t hear from her by 10am and yet the moment the bank was open he had effected the transfer.

The moment he got her call that morning, he had known that his proposal was accepted. And that filled him with a mixed reaction of relief and apprehension: relief because she wouldn’t be satisfying Nze Maduabuchi’s sexual needs; and apprehension because he wasn’t sure he was in the emotional frame to get married again. He still felt that pain that came with the knowledge that Nengi was gone for good.

He had been told that it would get better with time but it hadn’t. He couldn’t bring himself to spend the night in the master bedroom they had both shared. The room had an adjoining door which led to the bedroom she used as her studio. The room was exactly the way she had left it the morning she passed on in an accident. He had it cobwebbed every now and then but it felt painful to do so. He spent every anniversary of her death locked up in that room, reminiscing on the life they had shared.

She had been an architect and a good one at that. She had just ventured into illustrations for children’s books when her life was cut short. There wasn’t a day that passed that he didn’t miss her. She had been his life, his everything. She had been his best friend, his lover, his confidante. Theirs hadn’t been the perfect marriage, no marriage was perfect. He had loved her with everything in him and was so used to having her take care of him and his needs that her that the reality of her absence only dawned on him when her body was lowered into the ground. They had made so many plans, even down to how they would celebrate their golden jubilee anniversary. He quickly brought his thoughts back to the present for it hurt to think of her.

He watched as Soki approached the front door. She looked brighter than she had been when she arrived the previous day, which was a good sign. He stepped aside and let her into the house. She walked into the hallway while he shut the door behind her. He looked completely masculine in his white and red stripped shirt and black trousers and Soki almost gave in to the strongest temptation to throw herself into his arms and lose herself in his embrace. She couldn’t believe that this man was going to be hers for the rest of their lives. Before now, she had imagined what she would do to and with him if she had him for 24 hours. She had a crush on him and had several fantasies with her playing the role of his wife, but not once did it occur to her that it would be real.

He was good for her fantasies but being an older man, she hadn’t really considered him husband material. She had imagined the man she married wouldn’t be more than four years older than she was but she guessed fate had something else in store for her. At least he was in his mid-thirties and therefore not so ancient. He was still a youth, which was her only consolation. It could have been worse.

‘I accept your proposal,’ she told him without preamble and then remembering her manners, added, ‘Good morning, sugar.’

‘Good morning, babe,’ he responded, and then added, ‘have you had breakfast?’

She shook her head. Breakfast, ke? In this kind of situation? She had expected him to get straight down to business but he said nothing about the proposal or the fact that she had accepted it. He looked nothing like a man whose proposal of marriage had just been accepted. He led the way past the sitting room door and to the dining room.

‘Don’t worry about breakfast,’ she told him as she tried to match his long strides. ‘I’m not hungry.’

‘You will have quite a busy day today and you need something in your stomach.’ He told her as they entered the dining room. ‘I only have coffee for breakfast but there is a loaf of bread in the refrigerator, and jam, sardine, eggs in case you are interested in having an omelette. My girlfriend for the weekend is coming over this evening and she was specific about what she wanted made available.’

He smiled and she found jealousy rearing its ugly head. Girlfriend for the weekend! Having accepted his proposal that automatically made her his fiancée and no other woman was staying with her man especially not for the Valentine’s Day! Her displeasure must have shown on her face because Dienye laughed and said: ‘There’s no reason for you to be jealous. I was referring to Priye.’

‘I wasn’t jealous.’ she denied hotly, relieved that she didn’t have a competition.

She was already thinking of him as her man, talk about being possessive. He had assured her yesterday that he wasn’t in a relationship but that didn’t mean that he didn’t indulge in sexual activities every now and then and with willing companions who understood his need not to be in a relationship. After all, what man would stay celibate for four years?

‘Yes, you were,’ he countered. ‘You should have seen the expression on your face when you thought you had competition. You looked ready to gouge out her eyes.’

His laughter wasn’t helping matters. Soki punched him playfully on the arm, the first time she had been forward towards him.

‘Don’t worry, babe. I am all yours to do with as you please.’ He assured her, laughter in his eyes.

Soki blushed. She had completely forgotten that Priye was spending the weekend with her eldest brother. Come to think of it, she had said something about being his girlfriend for the weekend and getting back to school with a fat bank account.

‘Well, feel at home, babe. After all this would be your home once we are married.’

Soki loved having three square meals and could barely fast for more than a few hours. Once he gave her the cheque, she would head down to Avresons. School was out of the question for today. Everything happened for a reason. A few months ago, her school had been on strike and they had been unhappy about it. From the time table, her degree examinations would most likely have fallen this week. However, courtesy of the strike, the school’s time table had been adjusted which gave her about three months to her degree examination. It really would have been disastrous to miss school on the week of her final examinations. As it stood, she would be joining the August batch for law school.

Dienye showed her where to find everything and before long she was seated adjacent to him with a plate of sandwich, scrambled eggs and hot cup of tea. She didn’t feel comfortable having him watch her while she ate but she was hungry. The last meal she had taken was the peppered chicken and she didn’t realise how hungry she was until she had fixed the sandwich. He had scrambled the eggs while she made the sandwich and she wondered if he was doing it because she was a guest or if it was just him being himself.

She loved a guy who knew his way around the kitchen. Soki was a great cook, loved to sample new delicacies but she loved it when a guy could do more than just boil water. He was a widower – a bachelor and she was certain that if he left his doors open, he would have countless of females, fighting to feed him with all sorts of meals and constantly keeping his bed warm.

‘I guess you wouldn’t consider me unromantic if I don’t serve you breakfast in bed,’ she told him, ‘since you don’t have breakfast save for coffee.’

‘I am sure you and a cup of coffee would work perfectly well with my diet,’ he teased with a wink.

She had walked right into that one!

A CRY FOR LOVE - PART 1

© Tisa Phiri

The morning rising sun was hot, I looked around the yard as I walked towards the exit. My heart and mind at peace even when my mission was hotter and very disturbing. I had no way of explaining my feelings at the moment, the only thing on my mind was to find something that would fulfill my heart`s desire, and that was the love of my dear fiancé.

Mario is a good man and I intended to make it my mission to let him have a blessed and long life. Now that my life had a large stumbling block, I wouldn’t give up hope of other`s happiness especially that of the man I had come to so much love it sometimes hurt the thought of living a life without him.

“Ketty! Ketty! Stop!” the shouting voice of Mario made me stop in my steps but I bothered not to turn around and look at his face. I was so scared of seeing what lay within them I preferred to act like I didn’t care at all about his feelings.

“I have already told you this is final Mario, I don’t know why you want to make things harder than they are already” I spoke without facing him I could feel him breathe behind my back.

Instead, he held me from my back and squeezed me in a tenderly way and like that was the only grip on the tears I had held on to in my eyes, I felt my chin wet.

“Stop please, will you?” Mario whispered rubbing his face in my back I swallowed hard fighting the urge to turn around and kiss him, tell him all will be okey. But on second thoughts, I stepped forward and though he hesitated to let me go, he eventually released his hands from me and I freely walked away getting on the first bus that was pacing by the road side.

Mario`s house was just along the road in Kamwala south so I had no issues when it came to transport. The moment I settled back in the back seat of the Toyota hiace, I looked in his direction and I regretted it the very moment seeing him still standing there his hands on his face.

“Men do cry after all” I shrugged not happy about the feeling though.

“Hey sister, ndalama apo” the bus conductor raised his voice and I looked up at him with a smile,

“Yes please, here” I handed him the money which was already folded in my hands.

“Town?” he asked me but I was so lost in my mind I didn’t answer him.

The next time I paid attention to him was when I recalled he had to give me my change.

“I was asking you were you are going sister and you played dump, that is the problem with imwe my slay queens bamu Lusaka, you think you run the entire world” the man uttered his frustrations on me, I was tongue tied.

I took a moment to analyse my dressing, I was clad in a pair of thick jeggings and a blouse long enough my entire back and hips were well covered, I had some white schores on my feet that matched my floral blouse. My face and hair as was my trend was well and neatly done.

“Well, what makes you think every woman in Lusaka is a slay Queen?” I found myself answering him back after I confirmed in my head I was actually okey with my dress.

He looked at me and my calm face and instead smiled widely.

“Awe ndimwe babwino chabe mwandi sister (no, you are just beautiful my sister)” he shrugged and I had no more to say to him I even failed to pronounce a thank you.

A few minutes later I was out of the bus and was matching hurriedly across the streets when someone bumped into me I sharply looked in the direction the woman was heading and was so sorry to find her lying flat on her stomach some people watched her others whispered softly I could not tell what they were saying.

“What the hell is wrong with you, you cannot watch were you are going?” I shout out before I could control it and the lady slowly but carefully stood up and wiped her back and hands.

“am so sorry dear, I didn’t see you, my mind is somewhere else” she spoke so gentle just her voice made me develop a lump on my throat I hated myself for behaving like that, humiliating the lady when she already had enough with falling down in public.

“Um, excuse me” I walked towards her when she turned to go as I had not responded to her apology but kept looking at her.

“Am sorry I was so harsh on you” I apologized

“It’s okey dear, it was my fault really” she smiled but in a sad way I held her hand

“Where are you going? You look troubled?” I asked her

“Um, my mother” she stammered and I could see the struggle in her eyes as she tried to tell me what was bothering her.

“Listen, its okey, am a stranger I understand, but I feel bad for you, honestly you don’t look well at all. Can you tell me what is wrong, please?” I held on to her and instead of answering she burst out crying.

“My God Lady, what is it?” I now pulled her in an embrace and I am not sure what led me but I pulled her hand and led her in South gate mall and found a seat outside some café.

“Am sorry” she cleared her throat wiping her tears and trying to wipe the ones that had fallen my hands.

“It’s alright dear, you can calm down now” I whispered with the best smile I could give.

“My mother, is very sick in the hospital, am just coming from there and the doctors are recommending a huge sum of money for her medication and operation, I have no idea where or how I will get the money. She is the only one I have as family, I cannot go anywhere to ask for help. I don’t work, I lost my job as a shop keeper a few months ago due to her sickness which made me abscond from work for some time” she teary explain, I nodded my heard slowly to make sure she understood I was listening to her.

“Am sorry about your mother. What is wrong with her?” I asked her after she managed to control her tears.

“She has some kind of cancer I don’t know how to pronounce it well, it is growing so fast and is located in her stomach” she responded

“Oh, God, am so sorry for that. By the way what is your name? Am Ketty” I looked at her

“Am Chisomo” she for the first time smiled it was like her name her name gave her hope after all.

“Chisomo, I like you, not only are you so beautiful you seem like a good person too, some people would never care so much about their ill mother but I can see the struggle and the desire you have to get her better. “ I smiled.

“She did the best for me am just returning the favor, besides she is my mother and I would never get to have another in this world” she smiled

“I know right?” I smiled back, in fact admiring she had such a connection with her mother, the thing I always wished for but never got a blessing to have it.

“well, it seemed fate made us to meet today, am on a mission and now that I have met you, am thinking you could be the one to help me with it” I smiled holding her smooth dark brown hands she looked at my face her eyes full of hope.

“Really?” she smiled

“Really, I would help you with the money you want for your mother for some favor” I started and she sat up ready to hear it all.


You can read episodes 2 to 25 here - www.youngicee.com/stories/a-cry-for-love

The Second Wife - Episode 7

© Onyinyechukwu Mbeledogu

9:07pm
Housing Estate, Woji
Port Harcourt

Soki checked on her mum in her bedroom. She had thought about Dienye’s proposal during the drive home. In spite of all their flirting, he was still practically a stranger. Although she was attracted to him and had fantasised about him, she knew nothing personal about him besides the fact that he was a kind hearted widower with a good sense of humour.

He was also a good man who really wanted to help. Men like him were rare. But she couldn’t just say yes to him. Marriages should be built on love, trust and friendship. She wasn’t ready for emotional entanglements. She was too young and too inexperienced to be thinking of getting married. She hadn’t even experienced life.

Would she have felt differently if he had made a different kind of proposal? If he had propositioned her, she would most likely have given in to him considering her feelings for him but she was glad he hadn’t. Whatever his reasons, Dienye was prepared to marry her and get her out of Nze’s way. However, he was making it her decision. She would get his help no matter the decision she made. Besides, it wasn’t like Dienye was a random man she had approached for help. He was her friend and she was also friends with two of his siblings.

Like she had figured, she wasn’t getting out of this the same. She had two options open to her: to be an executive LovePeddler or the wife of a millionaire she wasn’t in love with. It looked that simple but wasn’t so simple. She would be the biggest fool ever if she accepted Nze’s offer when she had an offer for marriage. Dienye would most likely want them to get married as soon as possible. She would be ‘bought’ for the sum of N5, 870, 000.00. Who in their right minds would part with such a ridiculously high amount just to get a wife? Her parents would never approve of a riverine man for a son-in-law but there was nothing they could do about it. Her Dad had taken that decision out of their hands when he got arrested.

‘Mummy,’ she called to her mother.

Ezinne turned to look at her with dull eyes. One look into those eyes and she knew that she was right in considering Dienye’s proposal.

‘I have good news for you,’ she told her. ‘I have been able to raise the entire money.’

Ezinne sat up on the bed at the news.

‘I found someone who is willing to pay the balance of Daddy’s debt.’

For the first time in six days, there was life in Ezinne’s eyes. ‘Who is it?’

‘You remember Exquisite Hotels, where cousin Dilinna had her wedding reception a few

weeks ago?’ Her mum nodded. ‘I spoke with the CEO today. He happens to be my friend Priye’s elder brother and he promised to help.’

‘Just like that!’ her mum’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. ‘What does he want in return? No one would part with such an amount of money for the sake of someone neither related to him nor sharing his bed.’

‘Nothing mummy,’ Soki replied.

‘Don’t lie to me Nwasoka Achebe. What did he want in return?’

‘He didn’t ask me to go to bed with him, if that’s what you’re asking.’ Soki assured her evasively.

‘Perhaps he is hoping that you would be grateful enough to accept it when he finally asks that of you.’

‘Mr Daniel-Hart is not like that,’ Soki said in Dienye’s defence. ‘He is a good man.’

‘Daniel-Hart,’ her mum repeated. ‘Onye ocha (a Caucasian).’

‘No ma.’ Soki replied. ‘He’s from Bonny-’

‘Onye mba mmili (a riverine man)! Chim o! What did he want in return?’

Ezinne, like her husband, believed that riverine men couldn’t control their sexual urges and thus couldn’t stay faithful to any woman.

‘It is not important, mum. What is important is that daddy will be released tomorrow.’

‘It is not important,’ her mum repeated. ‘Why won’t you tell me what he asked for?’

‘You won’t be happy about it,’ Soki replied.

‘Tell me all the same.’

Soki took a deep breath and let it out.

‘He asked me to marry him.’

‘Tufiakwa,’ her mum spat. ‘You must be joking.’

‘I am not.’

‘I hope you did not accept his proposal? I nukwa udi ndia, okwa so akwa ka I ga na ebe maka na fa ga na ali nwanyi obunna fa fu enu (If you marry people like that, you will constantly be in tears because they would always be cheating on you with other women).

‘Really mum,’ she said exasperatedly. ‘Not every riverine man is a he-goat! Besides you have such men in every tribe, even in our own Onitsha. I haven’t accepted but I intend to do so tomorrow.’

‘You will do no such thing.’

‘I do not have a choice. If we do not have the balance of the money by noon tomorrow, dad would be handed over to the EFCC and his boss assures me that he would also file a civil suit for the outstanding amount and you can be sure that interest would be included. We do not need that kind of publicity.’

‘No, we don’t. But I will not allow you to sacrifice yourself in the process. Ejì m aka na Chukwu ga-enyelụ anyị aka (I am hopeful that God will help us out of this situation).’

‘Perhaps this is God’s way of helping us out,’ Soki told her mum.

‘I don’t think so. You are too young.’

‘O buro ife m cho, ma na uzo akpochigo. (It’s not what I want, but I am out of options).

‘Atokwanum o! (I’m in trouble) Joshua what have you done?’ her mum wailed.

‘Please stop it mum. This isn’t good for your blood pressure. I have found a solution to our problem-’

‘In a tribe known for promiscuity.’

‘That is hearsay, mum. You cannot judge an entire tribe based on the attitude of a few.’

‘I hear you. Chai!’

‘At least his proposal was decent. Nze wanted to have sex with me for 3 years in exchange for the money.’

‘Otolo gbabukwa ya ebe afu,’ her mum swore. ‘Ara na agba ya (He is mad!).’

‘I know this is like being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea but Dienye’s proposal makes a lot of sense.’

‘And you are sure he doesn’t have a wife tucked somewhere. You never know with rich men…’

‘Mum! He was married once but she died a few years ago and no, he didn’t use her for money ritual. He was wealthy before he married her.’

‘And what about his children? Have you thought about that?’

‘He doesn’t have any.’

‘Oho! And you wonder why he is eager to marry a young woman?’

‘Hian! Mummy! This your mind sef.’

‘What? You never know with these men. It isn’t every time that the failure of a woman to conceive is her fault. Sometimes, the fault is from the man who has low sperm count.’

Welcome to sex education 101.

‘I seriously doubt if anything is wrong with him.’

‘Have you had sex with him before?’

‘Of course not,’ she responded, horrified.

‘Then you are not in a position to make a concluding finding.’

Haba!

‘I do not need to have sex with him to be convinced that his manhood is functioning properly and that he is capable of giving me a child. He is less than 40 years and very much a youth.’

‘Who could have wasted a majority of his sperm as a hyper sexual teenager and young adult.’

Soki shook her head. Her mum was completely ready to discredit Dienye so as not to have him as a son-in-law despite his wanting to help her family.

‘I intend to marry him mum. Love will come later.’

‘That’s what foolish women say to themselves only to find themselves facing divorce or dealing with husbands openly cheating on them.’

‘I don’t think Dienye is like that.’

‘You have met the man a few times and suddenly you think you are an authority on how men behave.’

Soki sighed deeply. ‘It doesn’t matter because I am marrying him. It is either that or dad remains in custody. This is something I must do.’

‘Then once your father and I raise the money, we would secure your freedom from him,’ her mum assured her, knowing when to give up.

‘While incurring other debts, thus defeating the whole aim of my sacrifice,’ Soki reminded her mum. ‘I don’t want you interfering. You and dad would have to get used to having a riverine son-in-law.’

She slept fitfully that night, various thoughts running through her head.

Read Episode 8 - https://youngicee.com/2020/01/the-second-wife-episode-8.html

Restless - Episode 74

® 18+ SNVL
© Oyinloye Oluwatosin Emmanuel

El Deols, Anthanna
17: 50PM

"Good evening Ma'am," Sheila's bodyguard greeted as he opened the door for her to get into the backseat.

She stepped in and settled down while he entered into the front seat.

"Wait," Sheila said as the engine of the car was turned on, she took out her phone and unlocked it. "Please, give me some minutes to make a call, I'm not sure I'll like to head home directly."

"I'll have to go with you anywhere you go today ma'am," the bodyguard said, staring at her face through the rearview mirror. "I wouldn't like a repeat of what happened yesterday."

Sheila hated it when he insisted on following her out but she knew her father always compelled him to do so.

"Hey Adrian," she said into the phone as soon as her call was answered.

"Hey," the voice answered softly from the other end. "Good evening Sheila."

"Good evening Adrian," she replied. "I'm about to leave work now and I was wondering if you are free this evening, we could have dinner together like we did yesterday."

There was silence from Adrian's end and it lasted longer than expected.

"Are you with me Adrian?" Sheila asked.

"Oh Yes! Sorry, Uhmm...I'm currently not around but I'll be getting back home in the next thirty minutes, won't that be too late to meet you?"

"Ermm..." Sheila eyebrows gathered together as she considered another option. "Why don't we meet at my place? I'll fix dinner for both of us."

"Oh! Nice, can I be there by seven o'clock?"

"Yea, that's a good time." Sheila answered and ended the call.

A picture of Henry flashed through her mind as she kept the phone in her bag. She remembered again how both of them used to sit at the backseat of the same vehicle and how she used to rest her held on his shoulders while he wrapped his strong arms around her.

She closed her eyes and shook her head. The encounter with Stanley the previous day had brought so much of Henry's memories back to her mind which she hated. Apart from that morning which she did not think of him, every moment she was alone in the office, he had always found a way to creep into her mind. She thought the best way to get rid of him in her heart totally was to give Adrian a chance.

___

Piel City, Bethanna.

"Stay close behind me and hold the guns firmly," Henry said to Wilson as he led him down the stairs. Wilson followed closely, holding the guns in both hands and pointing around to warn the men met as they walked down.

The men gathered together but gave way as they saw how Henry held Tanko's neck firmly under his armpit and had a gun pointed to his head.

"No jokes, step aside men." Henry warned the men continuously as he climbed down to the ground floor and proceeded out of the building. He advanced towards the main gate immediately, keeping an eye on the men who were gathering and following slowly.

The men looked visibly angry and ready to attack. They had different weapons with them except for guns but they could not come closer to them for the fear of Tanko being hurt or even killed.

"Take the car keys from my pocket and bring it closer to the entrance," Henry stopped as they climbed the pavement of the entrance hall. Wilson took the keys and hurried out unstopped.

Henry proceeded slowly after him, looking back and forth as he approached the gate. He looked back more as only one man was at the gate and the others were behind.

His eyes met with the bloodshot eyes of the man they had met while coming in, he could see that the man had sustained an injury on his shoulder from their encounter. He carefully unbolted the gate and stepped outside. He spotted Wilson already driving closer and he quickly moved with his hostage to enter the vehicle.

15 Minutes Later.

"Your men aren't coming after us, they seem to have another plan." Henry said to Tanko. They were both sitting at the backseat of the vehicle while Wilson was at the front driving. For the past ten minutes, Henry had the mouth of his gun kissing the side of Tanko's belly while he looked back from time to time to check if the men from the Piel Territory were coming after them.

Tanko gave no reply but sat quietly in the car with his eyes looking forward.

"Take the turn, and drive into the public garage." Henry said to Wilson, and turned to look back, hoping to confirm during the turn if no one was really following them.

Wilson did as he was told, he turned into the road by the left hand side and continued driving slowly, his eyes searching for the public garage. He located the sign board far away at the front and increased his speed until he got closer. Henry hid his gun behind Tanko as they got to the gate, he took out a currency note from his jacket and handed to the men at the gate. They gave them a pass and allowed them drive in.

"Where would you like us to park?" Wilson asked as he drove into the place.

"The indoor garage," Henry replied.

Wilson glanced back at him wondering why Henry would choose the indoor facility. He however obeyed and drove into the garage. There was a lot of space in it, compared to the open area.

"We'd park where that blue car is," Henry said, after noticing a car which had just parked beside a bus.

"Take out your gun and take care of Tanko, don't bother trying to see what I want to do, it could make Tanko take the gun from you." Henry warned in a light tone and opened the door even before Wilson brought the car to a halt. He quickly put on his face cap.

He stepped out and closed the door immediately Wilson parked beside the blue car. He turned around the car quickly to meet the car owner just stepping out of the blue car. Wilson turned back in the car, pointing his gun at Tanko. He was inquisitive about knowing what Henry planned to do, but he remembered the warning not to watch so he fixed his focus on Tanko.

"Hey man!" Henry hailed the man.

"Hey!" the man stared at the stranger, wondering why he was walking towards him hurriedly. Henry blocked the man in the space between the bus and the blue car.

"I need your car for something quick," Henry said pointing a gun at him.

The scared man put stretched his keys towards Henry immediately and put the second hand in the air.

Henry did not only take the key but pulled him by the wrist. He dragged the car owner with him back to their car and stopped behind the boot.

"Unlock the boot," he shouted in a loud voice to Wilson.

He opened the boot with after noticing Wilson unlock it.

"Get in!" he commanded the car owner. "And do not make a sound for the next five minutes."

Scared of losing his life, the car owner stepped into the boot quickly and watched as Henry closed him inside.

Henry got back into the backseat of the car. He took off his face cap and handed it to Wilson, he also gave him the car keys he collected from the car owner. "Put this on and step out of the car with your head bowed. Get into the driver's side of that car and get it started."

Wilson did as he was told.

"Get up!" Henry commanded Tanko as he opened the door. He stepped out first and Tanko stepped out after him. He turned with Tanko through the front of the car this time and spoke to Wilson while he directed Tanko to the back. "Open the boot."

He dragged Tanko to the back of the new car and opened the boot.

Tanko already moved to get in even before Henry spoke to him but Henry wanted more than getting in. He took out an handkerchief from his back pocket and covered Tanko's nose with it.

He held Tanko's body as he fell unconscious and got him into the car. He hurried quickly to the driver's side and ordered Wilson to moved to the passenger's seat.

As they drove out, he could hear the car owner locked in the other boot already making some noise and hitting the sides of the vehicle.

___

FOX Corporation Headquarters,
EPA Hill, Bexford.

"Why should the police officers pass through a route in the village that has no CCTV coverage," Steve blasted angrily in the open office where he was.

Over ten people had their seats and tables in the office and more than seven were currently sitting, working on their computers, all trying to get the CCTV coverage to locate the culprit who escaped.

"Keep your eyes on the live stream, we should be able to locate when he tries to get out of that environment." Steve ordered in a loud voice.

"Boss, over fifty police officers were sent to Fortune area to search for him." Evelyn said as she walked into the place.

"Damn! I just hope they can find him, the boss would be mad at us for this." Steve complained bitterly, without turning to look at Evelyn.

"The boss is mad already, he called the police commissioner. The officers who took him from here are in trouble." Evelyn replied as she got closer. She stopped beside a table where a man was sitting and working on a computer and bent to peep into his work.

"That guy is wise, I truly doubt if they would find him." Steve said.

"Boss, we should be optimistic about this. It would be difficult for him to escape fifty officers," Evelyn tried to encourage him.

"That's if he hasn't escaped already before the officers got there," Steve said as he turned to her. "Those fools have just messed things up."

He turned again and walked to table to check what a female officer had on the computer screen. he was still standing there when his phone began to ring, he checked the caller. It was Paul Edwards.

___

Benuit, Bethanna.

Elvis Kahn was sitting alone in the living room. He had a laptop in front of him and a mouse by the side. His finger was however on the down arrow button which he used in scrolling the webpage he was on. He held the mouse and switched to another tab after finishing on that webpage. He scrolled for some minutes on the new page before he opened a new tab. He typed in the URL - youngicee.com into the navigation tab and clicked on go. The homepage of the website loaded and he scrolled to the news section. He scrolled down slowly, reading the headlines of the news when a particular one caught his attention, the featured image of the article was Stan's picture and the headline read - Suspect shoots police officers on Transit and escapes.

He clicked on the news quickly and began to read as soon as it loaded. He picked his phone after patiently reading for close to two minutes.

"Hey Ario, did you get the news that Stan escaped from officers on transit?"

"Yes sir, I did and I just made arrangements for some men to go in search for him." the call receiver replied from the other end.

"Also make arrangements for your men to remain at the station, your station is the closest to the location and he would most likely come there for protection. Fifty police officers have been deployed to search for him." Kahn said.

"That would be done sir," the receiver answered.

"Good, make sure he doesn't get back into the hands of the police." Kahn said.

"Yeah, I would try all I can."

"Good."

Kahn ended the call and put his phone on the table. He thought of calling Hutton to inform him but he changed his mind. Hutton was on a very important trip and even though he was the strategist who always knew what to do in different situations, he deserved to be excluded from worrying about some things.

Kahn opened his contact list and began to scroll in search for people he could call to influence the police and stop them from carrying out an intensive search for Stan.

Episode 6 contd


‘I don’t have any use for a mistress.’ He assured her. ‘I am proposing a permanent arrangement between you and I.’

Was he asking her to marry him! He was handsome. She had a crush on him and perhaps if she wasn’t worried about her father she would have long thrown caution in the wind and given in to that one secret urge she had from the first day she met him – to kiss him just to know how his lips felt and tasted. But-

‘You don’t mean-’

‘What other liaison between a man and a woman could be more permanent than marriage?’ he responded.

‘But w-e hard-ly know each other.’ she stuttered, although grateful that he hadn’t diminished her trust in him by being like Nze and some of my father’s other friends.

‘We’ll have enough time to do that.’ He assured her.

‘This is wrong,’ she protested, rising to her feet. ‘When I came to you, it wasn’t with the expectation of getting the entire sum. I would appreciate any amount you can give without sacrificing yourself or your happiness in the process.’

He arched an eyebrow. ‘I appreciate your concern, babe, but remember that I am

an adult and although the decision is impromptu, I have thought about it.’

‘I won’t let you do this.’

‘I am doing it of my own free will, babe. Believe me I am not under any pressure, at least not from you.’ He assured her. ‘I lost my wife four years ago and I guess I’m long overdue to settle down once more.’

‘Surely you have dated other women since you lost your wife. There must be one of them who-’

‘I haven’t had the time,’ he confessed. ‘I buried myself in work and JCI activities to get over her death, leaving no room for dating.’

She figured she should be glad that she would be having him all to herself but could she settle down with a man she barely knew even when she had a crush on him? There was a huge difference between having a crush on someone and being in love with that person. One was just a phase and the other was permanent. The thought of being with him didn’t have the nauseating effect the thought of being with her father’s boss had. He was a younger man although over ten years older than she was, but he was offering her a decent relationship. She had imagined herself getting married a year or two after youth service, giving herself the opportunity to live life a little before settling down for the rest of her life.

He asked for her account details and she gave it to him.

‘I’ll have the sum of N3, 000,000.00 transferred into your account first thing tomorrow morning.’

A transfer was safer than moving around with a cheque for over a million naira. Wait a minute! Did he just say N3, 000,000? That must have been a slip. He had promised her N2, 000,000.

‘I’ll give you tonight to think about my proposal,’ he told her. ‘If you accept then call me by 10am tomorrow. If I don’t hear from you, you would still have the money I promised paid into your account.’

She rose to her feet just as he rose to his. Acting on impulse, she hugged him. He stiffened momentarily then returned the hug.

‘Thanks so much, Dienye,’ she told him, fighting back the tears of joy that threatened to escape.

‘For nothing.’ He responded, gently extricating himself from her embrace.

‘You can’t call this nothing. I am not in any way related to you and you are letting go of such an amount of money to help me out of my predicament without any strings attached.’

‘Don’t forget my proposal.’

‘Which is very decent unlike the proposals I have received in the last few days. Besides, you are still giving me a large sum of money which has nothing to do with the proposal you made and for that I am so grateful. You are a rare breed Dienye Daniel-Hart. I am blessed to have you as my friend.’

He didn’t say anything.

‘May God bless you beyond human comprehension and continue to prosper the works of your hands. And may you never lack anything good.’

‘Amen and amen. And now, babe, I need to get you home.’

‘You’ve done so much already for me,’ she told him in protest. ‘I will take a bike home.’

‘No way,’ he returned. ‘Let me get my car keys.’

‘Woji road is notorious for its traffic,’ she reminded him as he headed out of the sitting room. ‘I don’t want to put you through that especially not after you have been so good to me.’

‘I insist. And if there is a major traffic on that road, please feel free to say ‘I told you so’ and I promise not to take offence and drop you along the road.’

She smiled.

‘And there’s the angelic smile that keeps my dreams beautiful all night long,’ he teased.

She blushed.

He picked his car keys and she followed him to the front door. He turned off the lights on the way out. Outside, they headed for his Black BMW which was parked beside a Toyota Corolla.

There wasn’t much traffic and for that she was grateful. She would have had to deal with the guilt of putting him in the way of traffic in addition to disrupting his life. The moment he pulled up in front of the black gate of her family house, she thanked him for the ride back home and made to get out of the air conditioned car. His fingers wrapped around her wrist stopped her from doing so. She turned to face him in the semi-darkness of the car.

‘You are not under any obligation whatsoever to accept my proposal,’ he told her. ‘Do not feel pressured.’

She nodded.

‘I mean it, babe.’

She nodded, giving in to the impulse to hug him in appreciation.

‘Thanks D.D. Good night.’

Read Episode 7 here - https://youngicee.com/2020/01/the-second-wife-episode-7.html

The Second Wife - Episode 6

© Onyinyechukwu Mbeledogu

Dienye stood in the hallway. He was at loss as to what to do about Soki’s predicament. He really wanted to help her, not just for his sister, but also because he really liked her. He was her last bus stop. He had done a lot by promising to give her N2,000,000.00 which was not to be refunded. Well, he would give her N3, 000,000 but that was all. Some people would think him foolish for doing this for a woman he wasn’t in love with and who wasn’t in love with him, a woman he wasn’t even in any relationship with.

This wasn’t exactly a charity case per se. He usually had a budget every year set out for children and teenagers in need of surgery. This would be the first time he would be giving such an amount to someone who wasn’t directly involved in a problem. This was actually her father’s problem but Soki had taken it upon herself to raise the money. She had already missed school so close to the first semester examinations as a result. If he didn’t help her out, she would be compelled by her love and loyalty towards her father to accept her father’s boss’ indecent proposal. No one would blame him; after all he was giving her a whole lot of money, more money than any of her relatives had given her and asking for nothing in return.

He doubted if Priye, when sending her friend to him, had intended that she get the entire sum from him. Priye would be more than grateful for what he had done so far. What Soki did afterwards shouldn’t be his problem. However, could he allow her to leave, knowing that she would be sacrificing her happiness and her morals just so that her father could regain his freedom irrespective of how her father might feel about it? His three million naira would assist her but make no difference as Nze Maduabuchi would still have her in his bed for three years.

This really shouldn’t be my problem, he told himself. God knows I have tried. I care about that girl but I have tried my best. She has no collateral I can use for my investment and I have nothing to gain by losing the entire sum.

He rubbed at his temple. It was easier to sign cheques when it involved terminal illnesses faced by children or teenagers and as gifts to orphans and widows. However, this was a different case. What justification would he have for giving out N5,870,000 to save a man from being prosecuted especially given the fact that he was actually an accessory after the fact?

‘She intends to work until she can pay you completely,’ a voice inside his head reminded him. ‘You should think about that.’

‘And I cannot employ her for years without paying her,’ he countered. ‘So that is completely out of the question.’

‘What if her father comes up with a payment plan?’

‘Do you seriously see him having a job waiting for him once he is out of police custody?’

‘You call her your babe and your sweetheart but you know that N3,000,000 you intend to give to her isn’t going to change anything. She will still have no other choice but to give in to the man’s demands. You can afford to give her the entire sum but if you insist on a collateral for the extra N2, 870,000, then you might as well marry her and get it over with.’ the voice suggested.

‘I have no intention of-’ he paused before he could complete the sentence.

Marry her? Why should he? He wasn’t looking for a wife. He wasn’t in the market for a wife. So his family members didn’t hesitate anytime they had the opportunity to try to get him hitched with one of their friends or friend’s children, that didn’t mean he had to get hitched before he was ready. Even if he was ready, he and Soki didn’t know each other like that.

He was going to get married and have children but getting married to Soki was

not an option. She was too young. He had at least fourteen years on her. The perfect man for her should still be in his mid-twenties. Besides, wouldn’t proposing to her amount to taking advantage of her situation? She would most likely accept given the fact that the other proposal she had was indecent. No, he would prefer the harmless flirtations they enjoyed every now and then.

‘And then you get to live with her being forced into the arms of a man thrice her age when you were in a position to avoid it,’ that voice continued.

‘Seriously?’

‘Yes, it would be all on you. That girl adores you and you know it. If given the chance, she could easily fall in love with you. Not giving her the entire sum is the same as not giving her anything. If anything, it would be tantamount to giving her three million naira as an incentive to bear the old man’s touch for three year: One million naira for every year. You became responsible for her wellbeing the moment you agreed to help her. You know she has exhausted all her options. You cannot go to bed tonight without resolving this.’

Curse his damned conscience and kind heart! The voice was right. He certainly couldn’t sleep well knowing that she would be a sacrificial lamb to a man like Avreson’s boss. Had she not been an innocent it would have been easy to just give her a million and satisfy his conscience. But she was an innocent and he didn’t want her innocence being lost to a man like that. It was better for her to be with her husband than a man old enough to be her grandfather.

‘Look on the bright side, you would be getting your relatives off your back the moment they know you are getting married. No need to avoid family programmes anymore.’

He recalled his grandmother’s statement about his ‘equipment’ becoming rusty and useless and told himself that perhaps ending his celibate days was long overdue.

‘Let’s hope I know what I am doing.’



* * * * *



Dienye returned to the sitting room a few minutes after he left. Soki watched as he sat on the chair he had vacated earlier. Had he reached a conclusion?

‘Are you in a relationship?’ he asked unexpectedly.

Where did that come from?

‘That’s a personal question.’ she told him.

‘Are you?’

‘No I’m not.’ she replied.

‘I see.’

‘Are you?’

‘Touché.’ He smiled lightly.

‘You didn’t answer my question.’

A sad expression clouded his face but it disappeared almost immediately.

‘No, I’m not.’

Were the ladies in Port Harcourt so blind that they would let a man with his looks move around freely and unattached? She wondered.

‘I was married for seven years to a woman I loved, one I had known almost all my life,’ he told her. ‘She passed on four years ago in an accident.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that. I -’

He lifted a hand to silence her, letting her know that he hadn’t told her about it for her to empathise with him. He was certain Priye had told her before now that he was a widower.

‘Do you have any medical issue I need to know about?’

Where was that question coming from? She wondered for the second time. Where was

he headed with his questions?

‘That’s a personal question.’

‘Obviously.’

‘Then why the question?’

He ignored her response. ‘I need you to be completely honest with me.’

‘I don’t have any medical issues. I am AS, rarely sick. I do not have HIV or any STDs. I have never had sex and so have never had an abortion. My womb is secure unless someone took it out in my sleep. I had surgery months before we met as a result of a growth in my skull. Don’t worry, I do not have any mental issues as a result and I never miss my medical check-ups.’

He smiled. Too much information, but necessary all the same.

‘I am AA and so you being AS doesn’t matter. And I also come with a clean bill of health.’

‘I still don’t understand where this is going.’

‘I have given your situation a long thought and I have a proposal I believe would be beneficial to you and still keep me in my little sister’s good books.’

‘And what is your proposal?’ she asked, feeling a tightening around her neck like she was choking.

Please don’t be like the others, she groaned silently. Do not break my heart!

‘I’ll transfer the entire balance to your account with you as the collateral.’

Her face fell.

‘I thought you weren’t going to ask me to be your mistress.’ She accused.

He was a good man but a man all the same. What was she expecting? That he would give her the full balance with a pat on the cheek for being such a good daughter? She figured better him than Nze. Like she had surmised, this present situation was going to change her life forever. Come to think of it, how would being his mistress put him in his sister’s good books? Surely he wasn’t proposing…

Episode 73 contd



"He awaits you, follow me." the man said and turned immediately with the two others.

Henry nodded to Wilson that it was time to proceed further.

The men cleared the way for them as they followed the new men into the building. They were led through the stairs to the second floor of the building and they walked past a couple of doors and windows on the corridor before they got to a unique door made of aluminum.

The men stepped to the other side while the man leading opened the door for Henry to enter. Henry stared at his face for a second and then gestured with his hand for the man to lead the way in instead.

The man chuckled and proceeded in with the two others and stopped close to the door to allow Henry in. Henry stepped in slowly with Wilson behind him.

His eyes moved around the large room quickly. It looked more like a sitting room but the furnitures were only concentrated at the centre, there was so much space left around. The room was about a total of a seventy squared metres, ten centimetres long and seven centimetres in width.

The wall at the end had two well spaced windows covered with beautiful curtains and beside the windows were two men, one at the end side of each, standing like security men. Henry noticed they had guns with them, unlike the other men he met before coming up. The sitting area of the room took less than half of the total area. Two men were sitting there, one on the long sofa and another on the adjacent seat. The one on the long sofa had one of his legs placed on the sofa, his right elbow was resting on top of the backrest with a bottle of beer in his hand. The other man was busy with the phone in his hands. They both stared towards the entrance when Henry stepped in.

Henry glanced at the face of the man who led them, expecting him to lead them to Tanko but he only signaled with his hand for them to proceed further.

"He's the one with the phone," Wilson whispered as he moved closer to him.

Henry walked slowly and confidently, closer to the men. Their eyes were on him as he approached them while Henry kept his eyes on Tanko as he got to the area.

"I'm here to see you Tanko," Henry said, without mentioning any greeting word. He took a glance at the other man and then settled his gaze on Tanko's face again.

Both men were well dressed, unlike most of the other touts outside the place. The only thing that looked unkempt was the dreadlocks on the hair of the man with the beer. Tanko himself was on low cut but had long beards and moustache.

"I don't know you," Tanko said with a frown on his face as he squinted at Henry's face. He locked his phone and kept it on the next one seater sofa. "You caused a lot of trouble here today and you're someone I've never met."

"They tried to stop me from seeing you and got the punishment for their behavior, " Henry said with a chuckle. He moved into the sitting area. "Can I have a seat?" He asked, already standing in front of the one seater sofa directly opposite Tanko and about four metres away from him.

"I don't know you, I don't entertain strangers here, you have to go straight to your reason for being here." Tanko replied.

Henry hissed. "Well, I don't need your permission," he said aloud to himself and sat. He looked back and beckoned on Wilson to step forward and also sit.

He noticed the men who had led them in were now standing at the entrance like the men at the window.

"So, you don't me Tanko but do you know him?" Henry asked, pointing at Wilson who refused to sit but stood behind him.

Tanko squinted at Wilson's face for a while. "The young man looks familiar but sadly I don't keep faces of acquaintances for long. Who's he and who the bleep are you?" He turned his gaze slowly back to Henry's face.

"My name is Michael and I'm here for a simple reason, for you to lead me to Morris Caleb," Henry stated at once.

A look of surprise appeared on Tanko's face immediately he heard the name and he looked again at Wilson's face.

"You?" He frowned hard at Wilson after being able to recognize who he was."What the bleep do you think you're doing? Didn't I warn you before?"

"Lead me to Morris Caleb and leave the young man alone," Henry said in a strong tone when he realized Tanko was shifting attention to Wilson.

"I have no idea where the bleep he is," Tanko said blankly, staring at the Henry's face.

Henry glanced at Wilson's face and then slowly returned his gaze to Tanko's face.

"I've got no time to waste Tanko, I need you to find him quickly." Henry said.

"No, you need to get the bleep outta here now." Tanko said as he pulled out his gun. He cocked it and pointed it at Henry. He suddenly raised his eyes to Wilson again with so much anger in them. "And you, do you think I'm not going to punish you for bringing him here to me?"

"I forced him to bring me here, the same way I'm about to force you to take me to Morris." Henry replied confidently.

"You're insane and you're going to bleeping get out of here now before I change my mind," Tanko said and got up angrily from his seat. He stretched out his hand further, aiming the gun at Henry's forehead.

"Take it easy man, even if you kill me, it won't make you escape taking us to Morris," Henry said as he lifted his hands up in surrender. "More of my people would still come after you."

"What the bleep!" Tanko frowned his face. The other man who was busy with his beer bottle suddenly became more interested in their conversation after hearing about more of Henry's people. He put his feet on the floor and exchanged glances with Tanko.

"Who the hell sent you here?" Tanko's friend asked.

Henry moved his gaze to the man's face. "This is none of your business homeboy, except you know where I can find Morris Caleb."

"You're an idiot!" Tanko's friend said angrily and also pulled out a gun.

Henry seemed unruffled by the situation but Wilson was already trembling greatly.

"Being an idiot doesn't stop both of you from getting forced to take me to Morris," Henry replied confidently.

"Hey guys!" Tanko beckoned on the men at the entrance. The three of them answered him hurriedly. "Come, take this man to Terror, tell Terror to discipline him until he he confesses who he came from and who sent him. I'll join you there in few minutes."

All three men took out their guns and pointed down at Henry, the man who had led him to the place ordering him to get up.

Henry got up slowly, still with his hands raised in the air. He turned and moved in direction of the door where he was pointed. He stopped and looked at Tanko's face again, the gun was still raised. He turned back and walked slowly, conscious of the men pointing their pistols at his back.

They led him out of the room and towards the staircase which they came up through. This time, he was asked to climb up the stairs leading to the upper floor. He stopped as he raised his foot to climb the first step of the stairs, he dropped his foot and turned his neck sideway, his eyes squinted as if he remembered something.

"Move," the man behind him shouted.

"I need to tell Tanko something important," he said, turning back slowly to look at the men.

"Move my friend!" the man shouted at him and Henry turned back immediately.

Henry lifted his foot as if to climb the stairs but instead turned and delivered a kick to the groin of the man at the center, extending both hands to catch the wrists of the two others by the sides pointing their guns.

The men were taken by surprise and Henry made it more difficult by holding their hands in a way their grip on the gun loosened and their fingers could not easily touch the trigger.

He sent another kick with his knee to the man's face as he held the hands of the two others wide apart. He landed a third kick on the man's chest to send him crashing to the ground.

The man on the right swung a blow but Henry dodged and hit him in the chest with his forehead. He left him to stagger back while he pulled the third man closer and delivered two blows to his belly. He gripped him by the belt and lifted him up, he slammed him on the man who had fallen and was trying to rise up.

He kicked the hand of the third man just as the gun was raised and followed up quickly with two kicks, one on the chest and the other on the face. He dragged the man by the hand closer to himself and pulled him, swinging him towards the other two men. The man fell just beside the two others and tried to get up immediately but he raised his head to receive a kick on his face. Henry moved closer and pulled him up, he dealt him two more blows on the face before taking the pistol from his hand. He picked the second pistol that had fallen from the hand of the second man and then picked the leader up and dragged him towards the handrail of the stairs, placing his back against it. He bent him forward and kicked him twice in his belly. He took the gun from his side and put it in his front pocket. He pulled him closer and then pushed him against the wall, making him fall and roll down some steps on the stairs to the lower floor.

He took a quick look at the men on the floor again before proceeding quickly to the room. He stopped to listen when he got to the door and heard Tanko shouting furiously at Wilson.

"I swear he forced me here, I didn't agree to bring him here..." Wilson was trying to explain when Henry barged in. He fired two quick shots immediately to the men at the window side and fired another shot to the shoulder of the man sitting on the long sofa as he was trying to pick his gun.

Tanko who was holding Wilson by the neck against the wall released him and stepped back. He had left his revolver on the centre table. He stared in awe as Henry moved straight to him.

Henry grabbed him by the neck and slammed his back to the wall, putting him in the same position he had put Wilson but with a stronger grip.

"Now, you've gotta tell me everything about Morris' whereabouts. Would you?" Henry asked in a strong tone.

"Ye...ss," Tanko wheezed. He could barely breathe as Henry's fingers were fastened so tight on his neck.

Henry loosened his grip on the neck a bit to allow for air and also let him talk.

"So, where can I find Morris right now?"

"I..." Tanko was about to talk when Henry suddenly turned and fired a shot into the chest of the man sitting on the long sofa.

Tanko opened his eyes in shock, wondering how Henry had been able to know without turning that the guy had picked the gun and was about to shoot.

"I know where to find him," Tanko said after Henry stared him in the eyes. "But it might be a little difficult."

"You'd take me there," Henry said and pushed Tanko forward. He signalled for Wilson to follow and he proceeded towards the door, holding Tanko by the collar and pointing the gun to side of his head.

Read episode 74 here - https://youngicee.com/2019/08/restless-episode-74.html

Restless - Episode 73

® 18+ SNVL
© Oyinloye Oluwatosin Emmanuel

16:32PM

Piel City,
Bexford Extension, Bethanna.

"Sure it's this place?" Henry asked as he pulled over to the side.

"Yes, it is." Wilson replied, looking up at the huge building close to the spot the vehicle was parked.

They both stepped out of the vehicle and stood side by side, Wilson stared at Henry's face while Henry stared at the buildings they were heading to.

Four different large storey buildings formed a rectangle on the land, facing each other inwards except for the first building whose entrance faced the road. The gate was at the centre of the building, a few metres opened space above the slab of the first floor. It was called the Nanl Territory, believed to be a "city" on it's own inside the Piel City. It was the community of the notorious Nanl Group, a group of thugs and touts which managed to function somehow legally. As expected, it was occupied by hardened men and few women most of who had been convicted of or the other and had spent part of their lives in prison. In that Nanl Territory lived Tanko, the man Wilson claimed had come to take Morris from the house.

"Louis..." Wilson called and wanted to say something but Henry interrupted.

"Call me Michael," Henry put in sharply.

"Oh! Sorry, Michael..." Wilson faked a smile. It was going to be difficult sticking to that name for he had known him as Louis ever since they met. "Ermm... Tanko warned me the last time I saw him, never to talk to him or ask about Morris from him."

Henry glanced at his face. "Isn't it Tanko who came with the two other men to take Morris?"

"Yes, he is." Wilson answered affirmatively. He was so unsure of what they were about to do, Louis was about to enter into the Lion's Den. He knew Louis was strong and had seen him take one or two persons down on more than one occasions but this time around, they were going to look for Tanko, an ex convict in the place where he had his other dangerous friends in surplus.

Henry glanced at Wilson's face again and took in a breath. Wilson had finally agreed to help him find Morris after a lot of pressure. He had told him that one of the other reasons Morris had wanted to leave was to treat his bad health. Wilson had not given more explanation about Morris' bad health and had left Henry to wonder what kind of health situation could have moved his friend Rex to go into hiding.

"Let's go in," Henry said, he glanced at the place again and then returned his gaze to Wilson's face. "I'll be doing the questioning, all you have to do is behave like my victim."

Wilson raised a brow. He had thought Henry was contemplating not to go in any longer all the while he stood staring thoughtfully. He followed Henry hesitatingly.

"Hey! I'm Michael, I need to see someone." Henry introduced as he got to the grid gate. A man was sitting on a plastic chair behind the gate and smoking a cigarette.

"How can I help you boy?" the man who seemed to be absent minded replied after taking another drag, he didn't take more than a glance at Henry.

"I want to see someone inside, his name is Tanko." Henry answered.

The name mentioned seemed to catch the man's attention as he turned slowly and squinted at Henry's face.

"You wanna see Tanko? Has he called you to come?"

"No, but I need to see him urgently."

The man relaxed back in his seat and took in another drag. "Bleep off man, Tanko doesn't entertain unexpected visitors here..." he paused and turned again to Henry. He sized him up with his eyes from head to toe and hissed. "He only entertains men who comes with money and I don't think you've got any reasonable amount with you."

The man sat back and continued to smoke without looking at Henry again.

"Hey man! Let me in quickly, I need to see Tanko urgently." Henry said in a strong tone.

Wilson touched Henry gently on the arm, his eyes full of fear. He seemed to want to pull him away for them to leave.

"Hey! Get the hell up and let me in now," Henry shouted louder and aggressively, grabbing the steel rods and shaking violently.

The man gazed at him again, looking surprised at Henry's display of force. He felt irritated as he stared into the eyes under the face cap wondering who he thought he was that he believed he was man enough to shout or behave as a nuisance at the territory gate.

"Bleep you man," he cursed with a frown on his face. "Put your hand in and unlock it yourself," he said in anger and threw the cigarette left in his hand on the floor.

Henry put his hand through where the man pointed and found the bolt. He opened and pushed it in, he stepped aside and nodded for Wilson to enter.

Wilson stood and stared at him with fear in his eyes, pleading silently for Henry to change his mind and let them leave.

Henry stepped in without waiting for Wilson anymore. He stopped in front of the man seated and stared him in the eye. The man also stared back at him boldly.

Henry suddenly grabbed him by the neck and dragged him up.

The man was helpless as Henry's grip on his throat was stronger than he expected, he held on to Henry's hand with his hands, struggling to breathe.

"Never you waste my time again," Henry said to him before throwing him to the side.

Wilson watched in fear and then stepped in afterwards, he followed Henry slowly as he proceeded through the entrance.

About five men gathered together and began to move towards Henry, having seen what had happened at the gate.

"Who the hell are you?" the man at the center asked angrily as they stopped two metres in front of Henry.

All five men were heavily built men except for the one who stood at the right end.

"I'm here to see Tanko," Henry replied them, ignoring their question.

"What the bleep!" the man's face got filled with rage as he wondered what kind of audacity Henry had. He had not just walked in but troubled the man at the gate and still had the boldness to ask of Tanko without answering the question of who he was. "You're going to get your freaking butts out of here now if you don't want to get beaten blue black."

Henry's eyes glanced around the place for a second. They had gone past the middle of the first building and could now see the inner space between the four sides, it was quite bigger than he expected. He could see many structures including kiosks, water tanks, few cars and other things in the vast land area.

He let out a brief smile when he saw them staring Wilson who was behind at his right hand side, he stretched out his hand in his direction.

"Direct all your grievances to me, he's just a victim I forced to come here with me." Henry said and then placed his hand down again. "Now, get Tanko for me or take me to him if you prefer that."

The men stared at him, surprised at his persistence. The one at the middle made a signal with his head for the man at the left end to attack Henry. The man launched forward immediately, immediately followed by another.

Henry grabbed the man's thrown fist easily with his right hand and twisted the hand, he delivered a punch into side of the man's belly twisting his ribs and causing discomfort through his whole body. The second man attacked and Henry caught his wrist and slammed him hard with his palm on the chest after which a kick in the belly followed. He dodged a blow from another man by bending and moving forward swiftly, he grabbed the man by the arm close to the shoulder over his back. He met another one with a kick to the chest before flipping over the man whose hand he held, slamming him to the floor.

He dodged a punch from the man who did the talking and delivered an accurate uppercut to his jaw, he followed up quickly with a blow to his neck and kick to the groin. The man who looked less muscled charged towards Wilson but Henry turned quickly and caught him by the collar from behind. He dragged him back and grabbed his neck, he raised him and slammed him to the ground.

More attention was drawn to the scene and many other men around in the place, stopped what they were doing to watch what was going on. Few of the men dropped what they were doing and began to step closer to the fight scene while many others just watched from where they were.

By the time Henry raised his head after slamming a fourth man to the ground, he found a different set of men already forming a semi-circle around him, this time weapons like rods and planks with them while the others only tightened their fists.

Henry raised both hands slowly in a surrendering fashion and took two steps back.

"Gentlemen," he spoke out loud, his eyes moving from one angle to another. "I'm not here to cause any trouble, I only have one request which is to see Tanko. So, please bring Tanko out or take me to Tanko."

He looked from left to right for seconds and no one seemed to be ready to give him a response. He saw few of the men he had beaten already getting up and stepping aside for the other men to receive their own beating.

"Gentlemen, I repeat. Bring Tanko here or take me to Tanko," he spoke out load again.

He was given no verbal response. Instead, a man obviously filled with rage led the attack towards him and others followed.

"Step aside," Henry said with a hand gesture to Wilson as he took a step back to prepare him for the attack.

He bent to dodge a rod and followed with a heavy punch to the belly of the man. He turned to the left quickly and delivered a quick to the chest of another man. He grabbed one's neck from behind and twisted, he bent forward and slammed the man's back on his knee, breaking the man's backbone.

The breaking of bones continued for about five minutes more. After many had been injured and some rendered unconscious, the men began to pull back slowly from Henry.

Henry dusted his palm and watched them as they stepped back. He noticed a man dressed more neatly than the others, coming closer to him from the left with two men following behind him closely.

"You want to see Tanko," the man asked, stopping some metres away from Henry.

"Yes," Henry replied briefly, glancing back at Wilson to confirm if the man standing in front of him was the Tanko they came for.

Episode 5 contd

He said nothing.

‘From what transpired today, I know that becoming Nze’s mistress wouldn’t automatically absolve my father. It would merely give him an opportunity to work out a payment plan, knowing that he won’t be able to raise the sum especially since he would of his own accord resign from Nze’s employment. My father would never continue to work for a man who would use his daughter to his advantage.’

She inhaled and exhaled deeply.

‘Between my father and I, we can work out a payment plan for whatever additional amount you give to us. It would take time but we would pay you back. However, my dad needs to be out of the police custody in order to do this. And I cannot in the interim offer myself to you as collateral. That would be insulting you.’

He arched a well-defined eyebrow.

‘Maybe,’ he responded, enigmatically, stroking his chin, ‘then again, maybe not.’

Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

‘I was just teasing you.’ He quickly assured her. ‘Word of advice, sweetheart: never talk about the possibility of offering yourself to a man in his own home before he starts getting ideas. And that includes me. I might be more of a big brother to you, however I am still a man and certainly not perfect.’

She was silent.

‘You can be rest assured that I would never ask you to be my mistress. I have no need or use for such. If I want a woman, then it would be as a wife.’

‘You won’t understand how relieved that makes me feel,’ she said.

Dienye was silent for a very long time. Soki wondered what was going on in his mind. He was watching her but his expression was unreadable. She thought of her father’s boss. If she didn’t get the balance of the money, then she would be the sacrificial lamb. She knew a lot of girls in her situation would say to hell with it, after all they weren’t the ones who were directly involved in the loss of the money. They would rather be supportive during the trial but she didn’t want this going to trial. She was surprised the news of her father’s detention hadn’t been carried by the media, considering how fast bad news flew. Perhaps it was because he wasn’t a politician or the owner of Avresons? Whatever the reason, she was glad.

Detention wasn’t good for anyone let alone her dad and she couldn’t let him continue to suffer for trusting a friend. It could have happened to anyone. She figured some persons would call her stupid for considering sacrificing her own happiness in exchange for his release. A lot of people would judge her if she ended up being Nze’s mistress without understanding the story behind it. Then again, would she be justified in doing it if it came to that? Would she be any different from the prostitute who blames lack of work and family problems for engaging in prostitution? Would she feel less guilty if it was a man like Dienye who had made that proposal and not a man thrice her age?

Had it been Dienye in that Avresons’ office instead of Nze Maduabuchi, would she have pushed him away? No, she would have given in to his kiss, her arms wrapped around his neck or waist as the case may be. Then again, she doubted if Dienye would have come onto her in that manner. Surely, he wouldn’t stoop so low to grope her or try to force himself on her.

She had less than 24 hours to come up with a solution she could live with but something told her that no matter what happened, her life would never be the same again. Until last week, she was a simple, quiet final year law student with a CGPA of over 4.5 and channelling all her energy towards maintaining her CGPA and bagging a first class degree. It was two days to valentine and she didn’t even have plans for it. That was what her life currently was like. No relationships with the opposite sex

unless it was platonic. After all, she was just 21 and had still had years to go before she had to settle down.

She had never been anyone’s girlfriend let alone ever considered the option of being a mistress to a rich man. She wasn’t so naïve that she didn’t know that there were a lot of girls on campus currently occupying that position. For her, there were certain lines people shouldn’t cross. One of them was getting involved with a married man or woman. Well, Nze wasn’t currently married but that made no difference. He was too old for her.

It was so amazing how easily one’s principles can be put to the test by situations one faced which was why one was advised never to judge a person until you have walked a mile in her shoes. Six hours ago, she would have sworn that being a mistress was one thing she would never consider being. She would even have sworn that she would rather be dead or lose a limb than be in that position. But she was her father’s daughter and no sacrifice would be too much for him. Knowing her father, he would never approve of it. He would rather spend the rest of his life in jail but was that really an option? This wasn’t just about him, her immediate family was affected. Her mum’s health was failing as a result of his detention. Her elder sister would be coming into Port Harcourt this weekend leaving everything on hold. Apart from her parents, she was the only one who knew that the deadline hadn’t been extended. Her baby sister needed to be kept in the dark.

Any way she looked at it, the odds were against her.

Dienye might be wealthy but there was a limit to what he could give to her. Being a good man with a big heart and with the added fact that his youngest sister had sent her to him for his assistance, she was putting him in a fix. The only way she was walking away from this with everything intact was if Dienye agreed to issue her a cheque for the outstanding balance. And he wouldn’t do that without collateral. No sane person would. Not even when he wanted to get between your thighs, which is why Soki was certain that being Nze’s mistress wouldn’t automatically mean that the debts were forgiven. It would only mean that her father would be given the opportunity to work off his debt.

She looked at Dienye. He was still watching her, deep in thought. He was probably wondering the best way to get her out of the mess she had found herself in, a mess that wasn’t hers in the first place. He looked away and took a deep breath slowly exhaling. What was going on in his mind? If Dienye couldn’t help her then she was doomed. Three years wasn’t three minutes or three days. It was 1095+ days. That would be too much for anyone even a woman named Endurance.

Soki recalled Dienye’s earlier words to her: ‘So we have established that you presently have only two options: get the balance or give in to your father’s boss’ demand. The latter is something I do not want to happen if I can do anything about it. You are obviously an innocent and it would ruin you for life…’

Dienye suddenly rose to his feet.

‘I need a moment,’ he told her before leaving the room.

He clearly wanted to help her but without collateral, it would be bad for business. He had already done so much by promising to release N2, 000,000 without a refund which was more than should be expected from a man she wasn’t in a relationship with and who wasn’t related to her in any way. It wouldn’t be fair to demand more from him but like Oliver Twist she would appreciate it even if she had to spend the rest of her life paying him back. Besides, she had no doubt that once her father got wind of this he would insist on a payment plan to free her from any promise she made. Better a promise made to Dienye than one made to Nze


Read more here - https://youngicee.com/2020/01/the-second-wife-episode-8.html

kajsa08:
Lovely story line.
Following

You're welcome to the thread

The Second Wife - Episode 5

© Onyinyechukwu Mbeledogu

Soki took a deep breath, let it out slowly and said: ‘I have a predicament and I am hoping you can help me out of it, at least to an extent.’

‘I’m all ears.’

She wondered how much of the truth she should tell him and decided that she might as well tell him everything. His expression did not betray his emotion.

‘How much are we talking about here?’ he asked when she was done.

‘N12.25m,’ she replied, quickly adding, ‘We have been able to raise N6.38m from friends and relatives and the sale of my parents’ cars, my phone and my jewelleries and my mum’s.’

‘Leaving a balance of N5, 870,000.’ He stated after doing a quick mental calculation. ‘That’s a lot of money.’

‘I know. You are Priye and Belema’s brother and I would ordinarily feel really bad about heaping my problems at your feet, but at this point I am out of options.’

Her cousin, Obiorah Achebe was currently out of the country on business and she had no way of contacting him before he returned. She didn’t even have his personal email address because she had always taken it for granted that she could see him whenever she wanted. Even at that, she doubted if she would get the full sum from him considering how much it was. It was a lot of money. Belema Daniel-Hart also would have given her something tangible but he was currently offshore and reaching him was impossible.

‘I am not asking for the entire sum as a loan.’ she continued. ‘I just need whatever you can spare until I can pay you back.’

‘When is the deadline?’ Dienye asked her quietly.

‘Noon, tomorrow.’ she replied. ‘I tried negotiating for an extension but he wouldn’t bulge despite the fact that I had given him a cheque for N6, 380, 000.’

Dienye was silent for some time, obviously deep in thought. He could tell how much this was weighing her down. N5, 870,000.00 was a lot of money. She had told him that her mother was presently having blood pressure issues which he knew could be another cause for concern if not managed and her elder sister was also trying to raise funds from her work place. As a corper, there was a limit to what she could spare and so Soki was taking up most of the responsibility of raising the money. He would give her something to alleviate her problems but what about the balance?

‘I will give you a cheque of N2m, non-refundable,’ he finally told her, ‘but that wouldn’t solve your problem. How do you plan on getting the remaining N3, 870,000?’

‘I have no idea, but I can’t sit and watch. Thanks so much…’

‘How about your father’s friends and relatives?’ he cut in before she could thank him for the money he intended to give her.

He was an amazing person, Soki thought. Who gave that kind of amount without asking for something in return? He was a rare breed.

‘We have met with all of the ones we could see.’

‘Out of the money you have already raised, how much is non-refundable?’ he asked.

‘About N3,400,000.00’ Soki replied.

‘In essence, what you have in addition to the money I would be giving you is N5,400,000.00 as the remaining N2,980,000.00 is still a debt which would have to be repaid.’

Soki nodded.

‘That means you are left with actually N6,850, 000.’

She didn’t want to think of it that way. She would rather imagine that it was N3,870,00.0 which was far from N6,850,000, but like he said, the reality was the other amount amounted to fresh debts.

‘We tried to raise more, but the others wanted something I couldn’t give to them.’

‘Sex,’ he rightly surmised.

She nodded. ‘And these are supposed to be my father’s friends.’

‘Welcome to the real world, babe.’ He told me. ‘People don’t part with that much money without getting something in return.’

‘I heard but I was hoping to be proved wrong.’

Dienye shook his head and she wondered what was going through his mind. This wasn’t his problem but he was helping her. He was giving her N2m without refund.

‘I would really love to help you with the balance of N3.87m without asking for anything in return,’ he told her, ‘but the amount isn’t child’s play. I am a business man and I know how easily one could be tempted to take a friend’s word for it when it comes to making payments. I can’t completely blame your father for trusting a friend but to have doctored the reports: that was fraudulent. And it is unfair that you have to leave school in order to run around to get him out of trouble. However, I understand your sacrifice and appreciate it because I know a lot of people who wouldn’t do anything in your shoes.’

‘He’s my father. He has made sacrifices for me too. That’s why I am trying my best to raise the balance.’ Soki assured him.

He went silent once more, his mind working. She could tell that he really wanted

to help her and he was probably weighing his options.

‘I would appreciate any amount you can spare,’ she told him. ‘I’ll hustle for the rest.’

‘In such a short time, I have my doubts. It would take nothing short of a miracle.’

‘I don’t have much of a choice in the matter. My father’s boss gave me an option but it is one I would rather not accept.’

His arched eyebrow demanded an explanation.

‘When I approached Nze Maduabuchi, he made an initial offer for me to his mistress for five months, for every outstanding million and in return he would replace the outstanding amount in the company’s account.’

Dienye didn’t look surprised.

‘Initial?’

‘Yes. His initial offer was five months and if I satisfied him, he would make me his wife. However, he changed his mind and extended it to three years.’

‘Let me guess. He came onto you right there in his office as a way of getting you to accept his offer and revised the terms the moment you rejected him.’

Soki nodded, trying not to think of Nze’s hands on her. She didn’t tell him that Nze had chosen his hotel as the spot for her defilement.

‘He is a ruthless business man and will have his pound of flesh,’ Dienye told her.

‘I can’t date him or be his mistress,’ she told Dienye.

‘Because he is old enough to be your grandfather?’

‘Yes, plus it is against my principles.’

Dienye linked his fingers together before him.

‘So we have established that you presently have only two options: get the balance or give in to your father’s boss’ demand. The latter is something I do not want to happen if I can do anything about it. You are obviously an innocent and it would ruin you for life. I have five sisters and I can imagine what the thought of being with Nze Maduabuchi is doing to you. I would gladly give you the entire balance if I had some sort of collateral for the money.’

‘My father has nothing to offer presently in form of collateral and contrary to what Nze Maduabuchi pointed out, my elder sister and I are not his assets. At least not in that manner.’

‘I am a business man, babe,’ he told her. ‘It wouldn’t make sense to let go of such an amount of money without collateral.’

Soki could understand his plight. He had already done more than she had expected.

‘I will pay you back even if it takes the rest of my life,’ she promised him and she meant it. ‘I can work for free if that’s what it takes.’

‘It wouldn’t be right for me to engage your services without pay.’

She could list a number of men who would gladly do so.

‘You can consider the N3, 870,000 a salary advance.’

‘Not even if you are working for the presidency would you get such a salary advance,’ he smiled, revealing those cute dimples. ‘I can’t do that. You would need the money.’

‘I am not in a position to complain.’

He looked at her and once more she couldn’t read his expression.

‘I believe your father knows nothing about this.’

‘He would rather remain in custody than have me make such sacrifices,’ she responded. ‘It would break his heart if I became his boss’ mistress because of his mistake.’

‘Which you would do if you don’t have the full sum by noon tomorrow.’

‘I would approach the table like a sacrificial lamb and without a fight, but I don’t want to consider it,’ she said feeling dejected and physically shivering from the thought of being with Nze. ‘I had to lie to my elder sister that I had been able to secure an extension from Nze. I don’t want her worried.’

Episode 4 contd

Present day, 6:05pm

Oroma Estate

The game ended about 5 minutes after she arrived and Dienye headed in her direction with a natural grace she found sexy: all muscular leanness and not an ounce of fat. She had such a huge crush on him that she found everything about him sexy. If he were to fart in her presence, she probably would find it the sexiest thing ever done.

She hadn’t realised how much she needed a hug until Dienye’s strong arms went around her. She unconsciously leaned fully into his embrace, absorbing his warmth and feeling like half of her problems were solved. Amazing what a hug could do!

‘It’s good to see you again, babe. It’s been too long.’

‘Love of my life! It’s always so good to see you,’ she responded, shyly. This was the first time she was meeting him outside the company of Priye and Anwuli.

‘Am I still the love of your life? Abi you wan use my brain do pepper soup?’

‘I fit?’ she returned, a little smile playing around her lips.

‘But you have abandoned me because of those small boys in your school. Haba! Our love is supposed to be stronger than that o, especially with Valentine’s Day by the corner!’

‘I -’ Soki stuttered.

‘Who is that young man who is not afraid to try to steal you from me?’ he demanded. ‘If I catch him, eh…’

‘Nobody would dare. You are the keeper of my heart and have no rival whatsoever.’ Soki responded.

‘That’s more like it,’ Dienye laughed.

B.B cleared his throat noisily and in a very ungentlemanly fashion reminding Soki that she was still basking in the masculine hug. In that minute or so, she had forgotten about all her problems. The man’s throat clearing had brought her back to her senses, reminding her of her reason for being here in the first place. She reluctantly extricated herself from Dienye’s embrace, immediately missing his warmth and that masculine scent that was all his. She had totally forgotten about his friend. Did everyone with a crush react the way she did or was it just her?

‘And who is this lovely young woman you have been hiding from me?’ his friend demanded feigning annoyance.

‘Back off B.B.’ Dienye warned his friend. ‘Soki, meet my annoying best friend B.B Briggs. B. B, meet Soki Achebe.’

‘How do you do, darling?’ B.B lifted her fingers to his lips, asking shamelessly and in a conspiratorial tone, ‘Are you his girlfriend?’

‘Actually, I –’ Soki stuttered.

‘She is a friend.’ Dienye came to her rescue.

‘Great. Will you be my girlfriend?’ B.B asked, ignoring his best friend.

‘I barely know you.’ Soki stuttered again.

‘Back off B.B. She is here to see me.’ Dienye warned him.

‘That can be remedied.’ B.B. laughed, adding to Soki, ‘What do you say? Let’s ditch the old guy and head for a candle light dinner.’

‘He won’t like it at all,’ she responded.

‘Who cares?’

‘Okay, break it up,’ Dienye cut in. ‘Don’t you have somewhere else to be, B. B?’

‘None that I know of.’ B.B responded with a shrug.

‘You can think of one on your way out.’ Dienye told him. ‘And don’t forget tomorrow’s meeting.’

‘Why do I get the feeling that I am being dismissed?’ B.B asked petulantly. And if Soki wasn’t worried, she would have laughed at his behaviour.

‘That is because you are.’

B.B. looked from his friend to Soki and back at his friend and then an impish look came over his handsome face.

‘Oh my God! You have the hots for her.’ B. B teased and she found herself blushing. I wish!

‘Don’t be an idiot.’ Dienye bit out.

‘I completely understand.’ B. B. laughed. ‘I was wondering why you would kick me out without at least letting me bathe and change out of these sweaty clothes. Now I know.’

As he left, he muttered something about being the best man in case there was a wedding in the near future and needing advance notice in order to make the necessary preparations.

‘Ignore him,’ Dienye told Soki as he led the way into the house through the back door.

She hesitated a bit, reminding herself of how her father’s boss had tried taking advantage of the fact that they were alone in his office. And then she reminded herself that this was Dienye. Priye wouldn’t send her to her brother’s home if she thought for a moment that her eldest brother wasn’t principled.

They crossed through the large kitchen and a hallway, down a little staircase and into a sitting room. The room was large with white walls, black marble floor, dark grey leather sofas and armchairs with flowery pillows. The curtains blended with the cushions. On the right was a bar with shelves of assorted wine and wine glasses. What caught and held her attention was the large life size portrait of a beautiful woman she suspected was his late wife. Considering his age, he must have married really early. He still wore his wedding ring despite being widowed for four years now.

He turned on the large plasma television and gave Soki the remote control.

‘Please feel at home,’ he said. ‘I just need a few minutes to change out of my sweaty clothes and probably have a quick bath. And then we’ll talk.’

Once he left the room, she dropped the remote control on the side table and picked up the remote control on the glass table at the centre of the room to control the Akira split unit air conditioner. She didn’t bother choosing a channel. Once the DSTV was done scanning, CNN came on. She reduced the volume and waited nervously for Dienye to return. How did she go about asking him to give her a loan for an amount she might never be able to pay back?

* * * * *

Dienye walked into his bedroom, dragging the sweaty T-Shirt from his lean body as he did. Usually, after a game of lawn tennis, B. B would have a bath there and enjoy a drink and conversation with his best friend but Dienye had been quick to get rid of him. He knew B.B would not let him hear the last of it and that he would have a hard time convincing his best friend that all he shared with Nwasoka Achebe was a platonic friendship.

She was the first woman he had been attracted to since the death of his wife but he didn’t intend to do anything about it, for two reasons: First of all, she was too young for him, and secondly he wasn’t ready to date anyone. He hadn’t dated anyone since his wife passed on. Yes, he wanted his own family and a wife to take care of and who would also provide him the needed company but having once experienced the pain of losing a loved one, he wasn’t sure he wanted to deal with it again.

His parents and siblings were trying to get him settled down once more but he wasn’t prepared to do so. He was glad his mother wasn’t like some of the women portrayed in the Nigerian movies or he would have been faced with having a wife married for him and brought home to him! That would be really horrible and the girl would be most embarrassed because unlike the sons portrayed in those movies, he would package the girl back to wherever it was that she came from. However, this didn’t mean that he wasn’t being pressured into remarrying. His parents had ten grandchildren already but they wanted him settled down once more. They believed he was lonely, and, living all alone in that big house of his, he could fall victim to the wicked antics of some Port Harcourt ladies desperate to get themselves a wealthy husband.

‘Those girls will take undue advantage of your kind heart and create scenarios that would leave you with no other choice but to marry them in a bid to save your good name,’ his mother had told him.

She had been subtle in her approach. However, his maternal grandmother hadn’t been nice at all despite Dienye being her favourite grandchild. Professor Margaret Ezimdinma Ezindu (Mama Nawfia) had told him the last time he had visited that he needed to remarry as soon as possible because: ‘any equipment not put to use for a long time could most likely malfunction due to rust and become absolutely useless when you need it most. Constant greasing will go a long way before it’s too late.’ Dienye had quickly assured her that his equipment was functioning properly. Imagine referring to that part of his anatomy as ‘equipment’! Rust and malfunction indeed!

He returned his mind to the matter at hand. What was so pressing that Priye would send Soki to him? Was she in some kind of trouble? He wondered. It was so unlike his sister to send anyone to him, which was why he readily agreed.

Well, it felt good to see Nwasoka again. He had missed making her blush despite her dark skin. He might not have a love life presently, occupying his time with work, his workouts and JCI activities but he could afford to indulge in innocent, harmless flirting episodes with her whenever they met. And she seemed not to mind.

He smiled as he walked into the adjoining bathroom.

* * * * *

Dienye returned ten minutes later, apologising for the delay as he sprawled on the sofa. He had bathed and changed into a black t-shirt and black combat shorts.

‘So how are you, babe?’ he asked her.

‘I’ve been better.’ she replied truthfully.

‘Not to ditch your looks, but you look a lot slimmer than I remember. Are you on a diet?’

She shook her head.

‘Good, because I like you just the way you are,’ he told her and she wasn’t sure if it was part of his usual teasing until he added, ‘I don’t want you losing assets that are very important to me.’

‘I don’t intend to. I have only been under a lot of stress,’ she responded.

He watched her through his glasses even as a woman in her early thirties came into the sitting room with tray of Don Simon, a tall glass, and a plate with 3 peppered chicken laps. Soki declined but Dienye asked the woman, whom he introduced to her as Felicia, to drop the tray on the side table beside her chair. The woman asked if he needed anything before she had to leave. He shook his head and bade her good night. Soki would later find out that the woman came in thrice a week to clean up and fix a meal when required.

‘You need to take something.’ Dienye told Soki.

‘I don’t have much of an appetite.’ she confessed.

‘When was the last meal you had?’

‘Last night, but I’m not hungry.’

‘My maternal grandmother would always say that not eating does not in any way make your problems go away,’ he told her. ‘If anything, it makes it worse because you would have to deal with the effect of hunger in addition to your immediate problem. So eat, babe, and we’ll talk about whatever is bothering you.’

She figured he was right. She was plump but had lost a bit of weight in the last five days. She took a bite from one of the well spiced chicken, aware that he was watching her. She offered him one and he reached for it, saying nothing.

He waited until she was done and relaxed before asking, ‘So, what’s the problem? Priye would never have called me about a friend unless it was absolutely important.’

To be continued

Read Episode 5 here - https://youngicee.com/2020/01/the-second-wife-episode-5.html

The Second Wife - Episode 4

© Onyinyechukwu Mbeledogu

Wednesday 17th July 2002
5:25pm
Hostel D
UST, Diobu

‘It’s almost 6pm,’ Priye informed Soki.

They were in their room – Room 42 on the last floor. The room was quite big with two double bunks for the four occupants in a room. The furniture comprised large double closets, reading tables, a ceiling fan and two standing fans, a refrigerator in the centre of the room with Priye’s photograph on it. Four lockers were pressed against the wall, all on a carpet with blue background. The room was arranged in such a way that it was spacious.

‘Thanks Priye,’ Soki stretched out on the bed and smiled. ‘You wouldn’t have called me if I hadn’t informed you that your big brother would be training at the Jaycee meeting today.’ she teased Priye who was an intending member, courtesy of her eldest brother who was an active JCI member with the Port Harcourt Metro Junior Chamber (PHMJC).

‘Dienye’s training?’ Anwuli Maduka enquired, adding accusingly at Soki’s nod, ‘and no one deemed it fit to tell me. Not even you Priye. Na wa o. And you are supposed to be my best friend.’

Anwuli had been Soki’s roommate in her second year and she had met Priye through her. Both girls were studying Business Administration. Anwuli was dating Belema, Priye’s elder brother and was like a member of the Daniel-Hart family as a result of their relationship.

‘I was going to tell you,’ Priye argued with a self-depreciating smile.

‘I only heard about it during the board meeting yesterday.’ Soki told Anwuli.

Soki was the Director of Socials I of the UST Collegiate Jaycees, an affiliate of the Nigeria Junior Chamber (NJC) and she had been trying to get the girls to join the organisation. Dienye had made her job easy by catching his sister, so Soki had only Anwuli to worry about. She was currently organising the annual picnic with this year’s venue fixed for Eket, Akwa Ibom State. Tickets were already been sold both to Jaycees and non-Jaycees. The tickets sold for N500 and covered transportation.

‘There’s still time to get dressed.’ Soki told Anwuli.

‘I would need to find something formal to put on,’ Anwuili complained.

‘There’s no need. Today is strictly for training and so you can come in your jean.’

The JCI dress code for business meeting (fellowship) was formal complete with shoes and handbags for the ladies. Traditional wears were also permitted so long as they came with hats, caps or head gears. However, training sessions had the dress

code: smart casual.

Soki jumped from the top bed which was actually Priye’s space and walked up to the closet, pulled it open and took out a pair of black jeans and a white t-shirt. She took off her shorts and top. However, as she reached for the white t-shirt, Anwuli quickly snatched it.

‘Must you always look like a law student?’ she asked.

Soki had unconsciously selected the t-shirt. Only then did it occur to her that she was about to put on a white upon black attire. She quickly replaced the white t-shirt with a sky blue one.

The training venue was the viewing centre situated behind the school’s restaurant B-Boss and close to the shopping complex. It was a stone throw from hostel D. Soki registered herself, Anwuli and Priye on the attendance book, pointing the girls in the direction of the white chairs arranged to form a thick u-shape.

Students were talking about the trainer who was to take them on the topic ‘Starting Young.’ Those who had been in his training before now were in awe of him as an excellent trainer. Although he had been to their hostel twice, Soki had never met him. From the family pictures Soki had seen through Priye, he looked like an older version of Belema. Soki looked forward to meeting the second Daniel-Hart brother, wondering if he looked better in reality.

Unseen, Dienye stepped into the viewing centre and sat beside the Director of Finance, Julius Kpakol who was taking attendance beside the door. He engaged the Mass Communication student in a conversation until he was called up at exactly 6:05pm for the training.

‘My LOM President, fellow board members, fellow Jaycees, friends and observers, it gives me great pleasure to introduce our trainer for the day,’ NJC Cllr Jide Adeosun was saying. ‘This trainer needs no introduction if you have been attending NJC functions. He is a one-time collegiate chairman, national executive vice president in charge of Area B, 2003 National President and currently the International Vice President in charge of the Africa and the Middle East, an serial entrepreneur, a great mentor. I could go on and on and still not do him justice. Please join me with a standing ovation as we welcome our trainer for today, JCI Senator Dienye Hart.’

‘Oh my God,’ Soki whispered loudly to her friends. ‘When did he come in?’

‘I won’t be surprised if he’s been here since we arrived,’ his sister responded. ‘Big bro is a stickler for punctuality.’

He was younger than most people expected. In his 30s, he was tall, light complexioned and strikingly handsome. The fact that he was bespectacled did nothing to tune down his good looks. Soki would later discover that he also had the golden brown eyes common with the Daniel-Harts.

For the next hour he took them on a wonderful training experience. He had a good sense of humour and made the training a contributory one. By the time he was done, those of them who had never had the privilege of being in his training were in awe. He had chosen from school to be an entrepreneur. He had, as a student, designed the UST Jaycees T-Shirts and ultimately most of the t-shirts worn for faculties and associations in the school. He had continued with this even after school, creating the ‘RINZ’ Collection for T-shirts. He had taken JCI University courses early enough and started a training institute with a few older friends in which he engaged the best trainers in his JCI circle.

He had made his first million before he was 24 and had recently opened a hotel ‘The Exquisite’ with amazing facilities, including halls of different sizes and conference rooms which were constantly utilised as well as a bar with a life band. He was also the founder of an orphanage – heart of a child. He had developed interest in running an orphanage after he and his brother had discovered a baby disposed of in the dumpster close to Federal Government College Port Harcourt.

Priye, Anwuli and Soki waited after the training to see him. Students gathered around him, asking questions resulting from the training and taking his contact details. It wasn’t until he was done with the director of training and the LOM President that he approached the girls. He embraced his sister and her best friend.

‘How is my favourite little sis?’ he asked Priye.

‘Favourite ke? You say that to all your sisters.’ Priye laughed.

‘I am the eldest and so I cannot afford to be seen as partial.’ Dienye laughed, revealing cute dimples.

His bespectacled gaze shifted to Soki and he stretched out his right hand, saying: ‘Hi. I’m Dienye.’

‘I’m Nwasoka.’

‘The roommate I never get to see,’ he smiled.

‘Same.’ Soki responded, finding his easy smile infectious.

‘It’s good to finally meet you.’ He told her and then to the three girls, ‘I am glad you saved me the trouble of having to climb those miserable steps in your hostel. You know I am not getting any younger.’

‘I hear.’ Anwuli laughed.

‘If every older man had your looks and build the hearts of we younger ones would be in grave danger.’ Soki said without thinking and before she could stop herself.

What has come over me? Soki wondered.

Dienye looked at her with surprise. So did Priye and Anwuli. Had Soki been fair skinned, she would have turned beet red. It wasn’t as though she hadn’t met a handsome man before! So why did she react to him like she had never reacted to anyone in her nineteen years on earth? Although he had a wedding ring on, Soki recalled Priye telling her that Dienye had been widowed for two years now. So Soki didn’t have to feel guilty about having a huge crush on a married man.

‘Thanks for the vote of confidence, babe.’ Dienye finally told her with a smile, after he had recovered from her statement. ‘I knew there was a reason why I just had to meet the fourth roommate. Perhaps you’re destined to be my sweetheart.’

Soki was certain he was teasing her, but that didn’t stop a flush from coming to her cheeks.

‘Where’s Juliet?’ he asked.

Juliet was their other roommate and a final year Agric/Economics student.

‘She had a late lecture.’ Anwuli responded.

Soki stood aside watching Priye’s brother. She believed she was experiencing her first real crush. As a child, she had a crush on Christopher Reeve’s Superman character. Dienye’s photographs didn’t do him justice at all. He was clearly not photogenic. She loved the way his lips quirked in an easy smile, tempting her to lift her arms, wrap them around his neck and lower his head for a long, hot kiss. She could imagine all the things she would do to him if she had him for just 24 hours.

Now where did that thought come from? God help her. She had obviously been watching too many romance movies!

‘Okay. It’s just 7:37pm,’ he said, adding with a twinkle in his eyes, ‘which means I have enough time to treat you lovely ladies to dinner and have you back before lights out.’

Priye playfully punched his arm.

‘Does this look like a secondary school to you?’

Soki started to decline, not trusting herself to behave in his presence with the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Besides, she could trust Priye and Anwuli to set her up by leaving the front passenger seat of his car for her and also the seat closest to Dienye’s at wherever it was they would be going for dinner.

‘I insist,’ Dienye told her. ‘Besides, it would give me the opportunity to get to know you better.’ He added with a wink, stretching out a hand. Soki hesitated slightly before placing her hand in his. He smiled at her and she returned his smile, her hand still in his.

Priye and Anwuli noisily cleared their throats.

‘Don’t mind them,’ he told Soki in a conspiratorial tone. ‘They are just jealous.’

As predicted, the moment they got to his car, Anwuli and Priye quickly got into the back seat leaving Soki to take the front passenger seat.

* * * * *

Gloriagee:
I;ve read this story on Okadabooks. Do you have the writer's permission to repost?

Yes, and it is actually running on the blog majorly

The Second Wife - Episode 3

© Onyinyechukwu Mbeledogu

4:55pm

UST Back gate
Diobu
Port Harcourt

Nwasoka was seriously running out of options. Despite the closeness of her first semester examinations, she hadn’t been to school all week. However, she found herself heading to school from Avresons, the least of the reasons being to access the tonnes of notes she knew she would have to copy or photocopy.

She couldn’t believe how close she had come to being defiled by her father’s boss. She shuddered as she recalled his kiss and his hands pawing her buttocks and pulling her into his clothed erection. That man was nothing short of a he-goat!

Three years as his lover! God forbid! There was no way she could date him without her family knowing about it and even if they wouldn’t find out, it wasn’t an option she was willing to consider. A man like that would make her move into his home where he could constantly have his wicked way with her! If she returned to his office, whether or not it was to accept his offer, she wouldn’t leave there with her virtue intact. He wouldn’t be considerate enough as to find a befitting environment considering the manner in which she had rejected him.

She walked through the back gate and had just walked past block 1 of Hostel A when her phone rang. It had a really embarrassing ringtone but she was fortunate to even have a phone. She had sold her bigger phone and bought this tiny Sagem phone with the most horrible ring tones you couldn’t even begin to imagine. She took the phone out of her knapsack and looked at the caller ID. Priye. She quickly took the call.

‘Look behind you!’ Priye said and ended the call.

Soki turned to find her former roommate walking behind her. She forced a smile as they hugged each other. Priye Daniel-Hart was a final year Business Admin student and one of the tallest females Soki knew, topping her height with a staggering 7 inches. They were good friends but her height made Soki’s average height more pronounced. The Daniel-Hart siblings were known for their height. Her brothers were over 6 feet tall. Belema was Soki’s closest male friend. He had graduated from RSUST in Soki’s second year and presently worked with an oil servicing company.

Soki’s thoughts were preoccupied with trying to come up with ways to get the balance of her father’s debt before noon the following day and Priye clearly noticed her friend’s distraction as they exchanged pleasantries.

‘Okay, what’s the matter with you?’ Priye asked.

‘Huh?’ Soki asked, distracted.

‘What is wrong? It is so unlike you not to ask after the love of your life.’

Soki had been so worried that she had forgotten to ask about her number one crush: Dienye Daniel-Hart. He called her ‘babe’ or ‘sweetheart’ and Soki in return called him ‘love of my life’. They were not in a relationship. It was just the flirtatious way they greeted themselves, something that had started on the day they had met and to make Priye and her best friend Anwuli jealous. It had stuck so much that it came naturally. He was a good man with a big heart. He always asked after Soki when he dropped by to see his youngest sister. Soki had met him two years earlier when Priye was her roommate but she hadn’t seen him in months.

‘Forgive me, dear.’ Soki told Priye. ‘How’s my delicious Didi?’

‘He’s doing great,’ Priye responded, wondering what was wrong with Soki.

Priye knew her friend Nwasoka had a massive crush on her eldest brother. It was no secret and Dienye indulged her. Well, her big brother did like Soki but more like a little sister. Whenever his name was mentioned, it brought a unique smile to Soki’s face but that smile was missing now. ‘I’m spending the weekend with him,’ Priye continued, ‘so what’s the problem?’ Priye continued.

‘I am having serious family financial issues.’ Soki told Priye after a little hesitation. ‘I am trying to raise N5, 870,000.00 before tomorrow afternoon.’

Priye whistled at the amount but like a good friend didn’t ask how Soki’s family came about incurring such a huge debt.

‘We have raised half of the money but are having difficulties raising the balance.’

Soki didn’t bother telling her friend that the N5, 870,000.00 was actually the outstanding balance.

‘I don’t have anything remotely close to what you need,’ Priye told Soki, ‘Unfortunately Belema is off shore but I’m sure Dienye would give you something substantial as his babe. You haven’t called him about this, have you?’

Although she had Dienye’s number, she hadn’t thought of calling him.

‘No! I didn’t think it was right to take undue advantage of his friendship like that.’ Soki responded.

‘I don’t understand the kind of sweetheart you are doing with D.D o!’ Priye shrugged, scrolling down her phone for her eldest brother’s number. ‘He didn’t give you his number just so you can decorate your contact section with it. He naturally has a soft heart for the needy and I am sure he would be glad to assist you.’



* * * * *



Oroma Estate

Off Okporo Road



Sodienye Tamunobarasua Arinzechukwu Daniel-Hart was engaged in a game of lawn tennis with his best friend, B.B Briggs. 6”3 and just an inch shorter than his only brother, he looked good in his white t-shirt, shorts and Adidas canvass. Well, with his parents’ good looks, one wouldn’t expect less from him or his siblings.

He narrowly avoided getting hit on the face by the green ball when he got distracted by the sound of his phone ringing. He could easily ignore the call and call whoever it was later but it was family and so could be important or urgent. He had assigned a special ring tone for his family members so he wouldn’t miss their calls when he was really busy.

As an entrepreneur, his time was his. He had taken the day off work to rest. However, B.B had come around and seduced him into a game of lawn tennis. In the past, whenever they played the game, his wife Nengi who was also B.B’s younger sister would serve as an umpire. Nengi was a great tennis player, one of the many things they had in common but she loved being the centre of attraction when it involved the two most important men in her life.

As an architect, she spent a lot of time in her studio working on amazing designs. She’d been great at her job. He tried not to think of her and the large hole her death had left despite the fact that four years had since passed.

‘Hold on a minute,’ he told B. B as he headed in the direction of the chairs by the pool side where he had dropped his cell phone.

It was his sister Priye. Being the youngest and almost sixteen years younger than he was, he had gladly taken over her training for her tertiary education years, with the consent of his parents of course. And she spent most of her weekends with him. She had this annoying habit of emptying his fridge and freezer. She was one of those eat-and-grow-tiny females that made you wonder where all the food they consumed went. Without Nengi, his big house was lonely, and so he enjoyed having Priye around.

“Hi pumpkin,’ he said as he took her call.

“Hi Double D. How are you?’

‘I am exactly as you left me,’ he teased and heard her soft laugh. ‘How are you doing today, dear?’

‘I am doing great bro, and don’t worry, I didn’t call to cancel our plans. I am still your girlfriend for the weekend.’

‘Great. I wouldn’t want to sue my own sister.’ He teased. ‘That would be so awkward.’

‘How can I cancel our date when I know I would be returning to school with a heavy bank account?’

Dienye laughed.

‘While leaving me with an empty fridge.’

‘You eat like a bird, darling bro. Someone has to help you out.’

Dienye laughed once more.

‘I am in the middle of a game of tennis with B.B,’ he told his sister. ‘What’s the reason for your call?’

‘I have a huge favour to ask of you.’

‘Are you pregnant?’ he sounded stern but his sister knew better than to take him too seriously.

Priye laughed uncontrollably.

‘Hian, you sef. On a serious note, your babe needs your assistance.’

‘What’s wrong with my darling Soki?’

Soki was Priye’s friend, a final year law student he had met two years earlier after a training he had conducted in her school. He had taken Soki, Priye and Priye’s best friend/soon-to-be-sister-in-law Anwuli out to dinner that night. His sister had deliberately left the seat next to his for Soki and Soki hadn’t felt comfortable but he had been able to make her relax. He found her really attractive but the age gap meant that he could be nothing more than a big brother and friend to her. Soki had his number and he expected her to call him directly if she had an issue he could help her out with. Perhaps she felt that whatever it was that she needed his help for went beyond the kind of friendship they shared.

‘I think it is better if she tells you herself.’

Dienye turned to B. B. who was waiting for him.

‘Tell her that if it isn’t too urgent, I’ll call her the moment I am done.’

‘I would rather she meets with you one on one today, if you can make out the time to see her.’

He gave it a thought and responded: ‘No problem. Tell her to come to the house.’

‘Thanks so much Double D. You’re the best.’

‘Wait till I tell Belema,’ he laughed.

‘I’ll deny it.’

His laughter was rich and from his heart.

‘All right, darling. See you tomorrow. I love you.’

‘I love you more.’

He returned to the game. He hadn’t seen Soki in months. It would be great seeing her again.

‘Don’t tell me your secret girlfriend is coming to see you.’

‘Hmmm?’

‘That can only be the reason for that smile on your face.’

‘If I hear. I am smiling at the thought of thrashing you.’

‘Big talk.’



* * * * *



UST Back gate

Diobu



Priye tossed the phone back into her handbag. It always felt good to hear her brother laugh. He had always been known for his easy smile and disposition. However, the death of his wife had hit him so hard that for months he had withdrawn into his shell. She was glad he was doing better. What he needed was to get married again!

She turned to her friend who was watching her with keen attention.

‘So?’

‘Dienye is at home and he has agreed to see you there.’ Priye told Soki, taking out a jotter and pen from her handbag. She wrote down Dienye’s home address, tore out the page and handed it over to Soki.

‘Thanks so much, Priye.’ Soki hugged her friend in excitement and gratitude. ‘You are a life saver.’

‘You’re welcome, dear. You had better hurry up. There’s probably traffic around Garrison/Waterlines and then at Artillery. If you are unable to locate his house, call him.’ And then Priye added mischievously. ‘Make sure you give him a hug from me.’

Soki stared at her friend.

‘Wetin? No be your love again?’ Priye laughed.

‘It would serve you right if I end up as your sister-in-law and ban you from our home.’

‘You fit?’

Soki laughed for the first time since she had heard about her father’s arrest. She hurried back through the back gate. She took a bus to Park and another to 1st Artillery and then she took a bike from the Okporo junction to Oroma estate where Dienye lived, finding that it was actually within walking distance. Because of the traffic she encountered on the way, it took her close to an hour to make the trip from school. She was tired and hungry but she was on a mission. Food was the last thing on her mind.

She readjusted the belt on her black jean which was now a size bigger courtesy of the forced weight loss she had undergone. Her red top blouse previously hugged her figure but not anymore. She walked through the side gate and headed down to Dienye’s house which was quite a distance from the gate but she barely noticed.

She gave her name to the security man at the gate. Dienye must have left an order for him to let her in once she arrived because she was immediately allowed into the vast premises. Had she been in a better frame of mind she would have appreciated the landscape. His home was a massive bungalow in the centre of the compound. It was built in form of a ship. She was directed to the back of the house where her crush was involved in a game of tennis with another man. Dienye didn’t have his spectacles on and he looked more handsome than ever.

She sat by the poolside watching the two men. Lawn tennis was one of the sports she had always been curious about but never could understand the way the scores were apportioned. As she watched the men, she recalled the first time she had met Dienye Daniel-Hart.

Read Episode 4 here - https://youngicee.com/2020/01/the-second-wife-episode-4.html

Oppy4God:
waiting for today update on ur site

Ann2012:
I'm in love with this story, reading on your website already......can't wait for another update

Thanks for following. It's been updated on the site Mondays to Fridays only

The Second Wife - Episode 2

© Onyinyechukwu Mbeledogu

‘I would need an acknowledgment of receipt,’ Soki told Nze politely.

He looked at her, arching an eyebrow.

‘You do not trust me?’

‘That’s not the case sir. I need it to show those who made the contribution that it was used for the purpose for which it was agreed that it should be used.’

‘Your father didn’t waste his money sending you to school.’ He laughed and pressed the intercom switch, asking his secretary to come into the office.

‘Quickly run a copy of this cheque.’ He told his secretary the moment she stepped into the office.

When the woman returned, he endorsed the photocopy and handed it over to Soki who quickly put it in her handbag.

‘About the extension, sir?’ she reminded him of the reason she had come to see him. ‘Can you give my dad one?’

‘I appreciate the effort you are putting towards saving your father, my dear. However, I am afraid that cannot happen. To grant an extension will create the impression that anyone can steal from my company or aid others in defrauding my company and yet have as much time as he wants to make a refund. I have a meeting with the company’s auditors tomorrow by 2:00pm and they would be mandated to look into the company’s accounts in preparation for the shareholders’ meeting we have next month. Your time expires by noon tomorrow after which I shall have no other choice but to cause my lawyer to institute a civil suit against him for the sum and have him handed over to the EFCC for prosecution. You are a law student, I am sure you know the implication of that.’

‘My family will not survive those suits.’ she told him quietly.

‘Then my money has to be raised.’ He insisted.

She understood his plight but she needed time.

‘Please temper justice with mercy. I am not asking you to forgive the debt. I am asking for an extension within which to pay it,’ she told him. ‘My father trusted a friend who has disappeared and he has to now pay for that mistake. I brought the cheque so that you know how seriously my family takes this.’

He shook his head.

‘I am a business man, Miss Achebe. You plea is not sustainable.’

‘Is there no way I can make you have a rethink?’

How in the world could they raise N5, 870, 000 in less than 24 hours? Soki looked up to find her father’s boss quietly observing her. She didn’t like the way he was looking at her.

‘Perhaps there is a way you can raise the money by then,’ he told her.

‘How?’ she asked. ‘I don’t mind working here free of charge until the debt is fully settled.’

‘You are not a child anymore.’

‘What does that have to do with anything?’

‘Everything, my dear. Joshua claims not to have assets but he has two lovely grown up daughters.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘If my money isn’t raised by tomorrow, your father will face both civil and criminal litigation, but you are in a position to avert this.’

“I-I don’t know what you mean,” she stammered, a sinking sensation growing suddenly in the pit of her stomach.

She wasn’t so dense that she didn’t know that the elderly man was hitting on her.

‘I want you as collateral.’ He said without mincing words. ‘Five months for every outstanding million and in return I pay the balance of the money into the company’s account.’

She drew her head back and looked at him. Was he for real? Five months for every outstanding million, which meant that it would have been twelve months had she not come with the cheque. Why on earth would he even imagine that she would want to be his mistress? He might be a good looking man but he was also three times her age and had no business cradle snatching.

‘You have grown into a lovely young woman,’ he continued, ‘the loveliest of Joshua’s girls with a body made to give a man pleasure.’

He rose from his armchair and walked across his large table to her. ‘You are a package ready to be unwrapped.’

She ignored him.

‘Tell me, Soki, are you still a virgin?’ he asked, stroking her cheek.

‘What!’ Soki gasped, pulling her head back as though she had been stung by a bee. She hadn’t expected him to be so blunt.

‘You are, aren’t you?’ he laughed. ‘Don’t worry. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. I promise to be gentle with you and make your first time very memorable.’

He actually licked his lips as he said that! Had he been L.L. Cool J, perhaps he would have gotten away with it but there was nothing remotely decent about that reaction. However, on him, it was a sign of a gross, chronic and unapologetic philanderer. He might be handsome for an older man but she didn’t trust him one bit. She rose to her feet, keeping her distance.

He laughed, feeling so good with himself. That made her wonder just how many young ladies this man had defiled. He must have been a stud at one point in his life but for her, there wasn’t anything really attractive about a man forty something years older than you are. He was even older than her dad and to have him look at her like he was going to cross the room at any time and force himself on her made her even more uncomfortable than she already was.

‘I have no intention of raping you, my dear.’ He assured her. ‘You are a beautiful young woman and so you can’t blame me for staring at you. However, I am simply providing you with a means to solve your problem, one that would be pleasurable for both of us.’

Was this man for real?

‘No, thanks.’ she told him.

‘You do know that this is the only way out? Even if you were to find 10 wealthy men to spend the night with you, you won’t be able to raise the money. Nobody pays so much for a night, not even a politician. And being an innocent means you won’t even contemplate multiple sexual partners.’

Anyone who heard the last part of his words would actually think he was a good man advising his friend’s daughter who was about to gain admission into the university.

‘If it had been so easy you would have given me a cheque of the entire sum instead of half of it.’ He continued. ‘I am offering you a solution. Your father sacrificed a lot to give you and your sisters a good education. You can’t pay him back by letting him rot in jail. I am offering you an opportunity to save his life.’

‘And the price is my defilement?’ she retorted.

‘That is a very harsh word, my dear. I would prefer your ‘pleasure’.’

‘You are three times my age, sir.’ She reminded him, hoping he would see reason.

‘The older, the better,’ he told her shamelessly. ‘You need an experienced man and not a boy who would be fumbling like a buffoon and end up damaging you.’

She was tempted to walk away but she needed to get him to accept her terms.

‘Don’t worry, I won’t die on top of you’ he assured her, adding with a laugh, ‘although it would be such a good place to die.’

She arched an eyebrow.

‘You can be rest assured that I won’t require a Viagra in order to match your youthful strength.’

What was wrong with this man?

When she said nothing, he continued, ‘Your father is a good man who shouldn’t waste away in prison. His job will be waiting for him but all you have to do is give yourself to me for five months. He doesn’t have to know. We would work out a clandestine arrangement that would save both our heads. After our tryst, you can marry anyone you want.’

‘I -’

‘Morals don’t count here,’ he said, cutting her short. ‘You have a pressing need that must be taken care of and I have the solution. Morals won’t free your father or put food on your table. You have nothing to lose by being mine for five months. I’ll treat you right and ensure that you have the best life has to offer. By the time I am done with you, the man you marry will have big shoes to fit into.’

And he was so sure of himself.

He was looking at her, really looking at her. She might have been standing nude in his presence like a Venus de milo statue. He was literally stripping her with his eyes. She could actually feel the heat of his eyes on her skin like a physical touch. He was hoping she would be desperate enough to give in to his demand.

Tufiakwa! Chukwu ekwekwana ife ojoo! (God forbid bad thing), she thought.

‘You need to find a way out quickly or else you would be left with no other choice than to be with him.’ A voice inside her head told her.

Nze moved to the large couch in his office and invited her to seat next to him.

She didn’t trust him but she was here to negotiate with him and it wouldn’t do well to upset him. She sat on the couch but kept enough space between them. He covered the distance so that she was compelled to breathe in his expensive cologne.

Surely, there had to be another way out. Her mother’s blood pressure had risen to a point that the family doctor had warned her was getting dangerous and that he might soon be compelled to admit her at the hospital. She had to do something and fast. She wasn’t going to let her father remain in police custody and she wasn’t going to let him face criminal charges. Somehow, Nze knew she was not only her dad’s image, she was also his favourite and would do anything for him. That was her weakness. But she couldn’t be with this man.

Now, she understood how girls who were compelled by circumstances beyond their control to sell their bodies for money felt. Her father was worth every sacrifice but could she sacrifice her body to a man she loathed and suffer the guilt for the rest of her life?

He must have sensed the trail of her thoughts because he placed his right hand on her left knee.

‘Do you have a boyfriend?’ he asked.

She didn’t answer him, still deep in thought. What options did she have? Not much. Either she gave in to this man’s demand or found someone else to part with the money she needed. The first option was a lot easier but she wasn’t sure if she could do it.

“Why don’t you just relax, honey?” he asked huskily, grinning suggestively at her. “It’s not as bad as you think. It would be a satisfying liaison between two consenting adults.”

‘Consenting?’ she repeated, rising to her feet and moving away from him. ‘The last time I checked you were trying to get me into your bed for five months and under duress. What’s consenting about that?’

His patiently-indulgent smile remained on his handsome face as he watched her.

‘You are considering my proposal, honey, aren’t you?’ he continued, a dirty grin crossing his face as he moved closer to her, ‘you know you don’t have much of an option.’

‘And your wife?’

‘I am a widower. So, if your hesitation in accepting my offer is as a result of your moral upbringing that forbids you from having sexual intercourse with a married man, then you have no further need for such. If you please me within the five months, I could make you the next Lolo Maduabuchi.’

The man was a joker. Have sex with him, marry him?

‘I need to sample the goods to be sure they are as delightful to my body as they are to my eyes,’ he continued. ‘Something tells me you would be good in bed, a real screamer who would keep the neighbours awake as a result of the immeasurable pleasures I can give to your beautiful body and mind.’

Soki’s jaw dropped. Nobody had ever spoken to her so lustfully!

‘A trial would convince you,’ he said. ‘What do you say? We can start from the couch here and finish up at a hotel. A woman’s first time is very important and so it shouldn’t happen just anywhere. A few kisses, serious touches and we leave this place, charged enough for a very rewarding session at the Exquisite Hotel.’

His eyes shone with lust as he approached a shocked Soki like a predator stalking a prey. He caught her before she could escape, jerking her forward against him. She squirmed frantically but he held her tightly. The feel of his aroused maleness despite the layers of their clothing, shameless in its pulsating rigidity, frightened her. Never before had she been faced with a man’s sexuality like this!

She pushed at him, even as his free hand went behind her head, his fingers

turning her head upwards to meet his kiss. She clenched her teeth as his lips slid over hers. His fingers pulled painfully at her hair and as her lips parted in a scream, he slid his tongue inside her mouth, his other hand freeing her waist to grab her buttocks. Big mistake. She bit his tongue, drawing blood, uncaring of his HIV status. Without his strong hand holding her to him, she stepped on one of his expensive shoes and pushed him away from her. Had she worn one of those high heeled shoes she usually wore for lectures instead of flat shoes, she would have successfully and satisfactorily done him harm!

Pervert!

He staggered back, his shocked expression epic and she would have laughed if she didn’t have to flee from his office. The front of his trousers bulged out embarrassingly. Anuofia! she thought as she quickly picked her purse which had fallen to the floor when he grabbed her. As she raced out of his office, his words followed her:

‘My offer has been extended to three years. I will have your body Nwasoka Achebe!’

He was so on his own!

Read episode 3 here - https://youngicee.com/2020/01/the-second-wife-episode-3.html

skubido:
Following

Palmerbarry:
Ride on, Oyin.

Ann2012:
Following

Welcome to the ride guys, make sure you invite others

By Onyinyechukwu-mbeledogu

Episode 1


Saturday, 7th February 2004
7:46am
Housing Estate, Woji
Port Harcourt



NWASOKA CHIMAMANDANATA ACHEBE always felt at peace whenever she stepped into the large well decorated sitting room of her family home. However, this morning, as she walked into the sitting room, she had the feeling that something was very wrong. Perhaps it had to do with the absence of her father Joshua Achebe or perhaps it was the appearance of her mother that made her feel that way.

Soki’s mother, Ezinne Achebe, beautiful and sophisticated and always dressed up as though for the cameras was currently dressed in her nightdress, the cover-it-all type she wore when they had guests staying overnight, instead of one of the make-my-husband-sweat short nightgowns she wore for her husband. Soki’s two siblings, Tobechukwu and Nkolika took after their mother in terms of looks and fashion. Soki, on the other hand, was every bit her father. The second of Joshua Achebe’s three daughters, she was the shortest at 5”4.

She dropped her knapsack on the couch and approached her mum who was doing a poor job of hiding the fact that she had the weight of the world on her slender shoulders. Her parents had celebrated their silver jubilee anniversary a few months earlier and in style. Her mum had looked like a princess in her dress which fitted every bit of a figure she took time to nurture, and nothing like the forty-eight year old mother of three. She was a woman secured in the love of her husband and her parents’ marriage was one Soki wanted to have for herself whenever she finally settled down. Her dad had not given in to the pressure to marry another woman in search of a male child. He loved his girls and never acted like he missed having a male child around. There had been this special glow on her mum’s face since that special day and it was absent now.

Soki had left school early in order to meet her parents at home and join them for any of the activities they planned for the day. She was a final year law student at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and after weeks of preparing for her first semester examinations, she needed a break.

‘What’s the matter, mum?’ she asked.

‘Nothing for you to worry yourself over.’ Ezinne Achebe told her daughter with a forced smile, giving the younger woman a hug. ‘How was your trip back from school?’

‘It was fine,’ Soki responded, extricating herself from her mother’s embrace to say, ‘You have always told my sisters and I that a problem shared is a problem half solved. You look like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and you need to tell me what the problem is. Is it dad?’

Ezinne inhaled and slowly exhaled before responding.

‘Your father was arrested yesterday morning.”

Whatever Soki had been expecting, it certainly wasn’t that. And thank God her father wasn’t cheating on her mother.

‘What? How? Why?’ Soki asked.

‘He had some problems at work – money related.’

Joshua was the Chief Accounting Officer of Avresons Nigeria Limited, a large company into a lot of businesses. He was one of the most honest persons Soki knew and so she couldn’t imagine him having money related issues at work.

‘Uncle Jude bought goods worth N12, 250, 000.00 from the company and paid with a cheque.’ Ezinne continued. ‘Your father allowed the transaction because of the

friendship and trust that the cheque would clear but it was a dud cheque.’

Uncle Jude was her father’s good friend and Soki had known him since she was a little child. She hadn’t seen him in years though. In order to cover up the deficit, dad had done the last thing he would have expected of himself and manipulated the records with the hope of getting the money back from his good friend before the deficit was noticed. He refused to believe that his friend would deliberately give him a dud cheque.

‘And where is Uncle Jude?’

‘No one has seen or heard from him since the transaction. He isn’t taking your father’s calls and neither is his wife.’ Ezinne responded.

This was worse than expected. Without Jude, her father would be in bigger trouble than he already was in. From the little she had known of Uncle Jude, he wouldn’t do this to her father. So where was he? Had he been in an accident? Was that why he couldn’t take her father’s calls? How about his wife? Was she tending to him in a hospital and as such didn’t have time to take any calls? Soki had been taught never to think the worst about anyone without justification.

‘Oh my God!’

‘He’s moved out of his apartment.’

‘That’s not good. We need to get a loan from the bank,’ Soki told Ezinne.

‘No collateral,’ Ezinne responded sadly. ‘I have gathered my jewellery together and some of my best clothes. Alhaja will be coming over later to cost and pay for them.’

Alhaja was the woman Ezinne usually bought her gold jewellery from.

‘I have also put up the cars for sale.’ Ezinne continued.

Her parents each had a Prado Jeep and Lexus RX 300 respectively and although these were expensive cars, cars were not assets in that you could never sell them for the price you bought them let alone for a higher price. And it was worse when you were selling them to settle a debt. You would settle for far less than what you would ordinarily sell them for.

‘What do you mean by no collateral?’ Soki asked, surprised. After all, the house was built by her father.

‘The house was mortgaged a few years ago, and you know the fate of your father’s plots of land at Eliozu.’

Her Dad had 6 plots of land at Eliozu but they were the subject matter of litigation at the State High Court. Soki couldn’t understand why her father had mortgaged the family house. She didn’t recall her family having any immediate financial issues before this one. They had been comfortable in the last few years.

‘When exactly was the house mortgaged?’ Soki asked

Her mother hesitated and Soki found this suspicious.

‘Mum?’

‘About 30 months ago.’

Thirty months ago? Oh my God, Soki thought. He must have mortgaged the house to pay for her medical bills. She had undergone a surgery at the John Hopkins Hospital in the United States to remove a non-cancerous growth in her skull. She had spent a few additional weeks for check-ups and to rest after the successful surgery. Soki would have lost a full semester if the school hadn’t proceeded on a long strike in her absence. She still had check-ups at the University of Nigeria Nsukka Teaching Hospital, UNTH. Soki had taken it for granted that her hospital bills had been cleared by her father’s income. She should have known differently.

‘The only reason why the bank hasn’t been on his neck is because he has been making instalmental payments and the bank had granted him an extension on fresh terms.’

Tobechukwu was presently running her housemanship programme at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan while the youngest Nkolika was a JSS 1 student at FGGC Abuloma. One phone call would have brought Tobi home but Ezinne hadn’t planned on getting Soki and her elder sister involved. She hadn’t banked on Soki coming home from school that weekend. Soki hadn’t given her advance notice.

‘We need to call Tobi,’ Soki told her mum.

Nkolika had to be protected from this. There was no need bringing her home.

‘No,’ Ezinne protested. ‘Leave your elder sister out of this. She is far away and I do not want to have to deal with the likelihood of her entering the wrong vehicle because she felt she was desperately needed here and as a result, fall victim to persons with evil intents or worse be involved in accidents.’

Soki understood her mother’s fears but still felt that Tobi needed to know. She could also help raise the money. Soki told her mother so, adding that she could also ask Tobi not to come home as attempts were being made to resolve the issue. She finally convinced her mother who promised to call Tobi later in the day.

Soki and her mum visited her father at the Obio Police Station. They spoke at length with the DPO before meeting Joshua. He had aged by ten years in the last 24 hours. A police cell let alone prison was no place for anyone. According to the DPO, considering the nature of the offence for which he had been arrested, dad would have to be transferred to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution. A criminal trial would damage her father’s reputation. He was a good man who had made a mistake. People would only see a fraudulent person if he stood trial. They had to find a way to get him out of there.

According to her father, his boss had given him until noon on Friday to pay or face full criminal charges. Keeping her father for over 24 hours without taking him to court would amount to a breach of his fundamental rights but Soki wasn’t thinking in that direction. To institute a fundamental rights enforcement action against the Police and Avreson’s boss would not work to her father’s advantage. If anything it would make the situation worse than it was. The plan was to ensure that her father didn’t face a criminal trial. The moment they filed a suit, the police would take him to court and formulate all sorts of charges against him.

N12.25m was a lot of money to raise in less than a week!





12:37pm

Thursday 12th February

Nze Maduabuchi’s office

Avresons Nigeria Limited

Port Harcourt



Raising N12, 250, 000.00 through an honest means within a week was like trying to force an elephant through the eye of a needle. What got Soki upset was the temerity with which some of her dad’s so called friends tried to have sex with her in return for money. Men she had respected and some of whom she had known since she was a little child; men who had wined and dined in her parents’ home, shared jokes with her father, and had eaten her mum’s delicious meals!

Her parents had so many wealthy friends, some of whom had showed up at their silver jubilee anniversary and so one would ordinarily think that raising N12, 250, 000.00 from these men and women would be a work over. These were men and women who could easily part with as much as N500, 000.00 without batting an eye. But clearly, her dad didn’t know some of his so-called friends.

Thank God for situations like this which opened her mother’s eyes to who her husband’s genuine friends were. Only a few of her mother’s friends made attempts, others either didn’t take her call or told her that if she had approached them the

week before they would have been able to help. See talk!

Soki’s Godfather, Sir Austin Okoye had parted with N1.8m without asking for a refund. Between Soki, Tobi and their mum, they were able to raise a total of N6, 380,000.00 from relatives, friends, and the sales of their properties. Two accountants who worked under her father, Nwadiuto Anunandu and Owanate Briggs had sent in N250,000.00. However, N6, 380,000.00, although more than half the initial debt, was a long way from N12, 250, 000.00. Their predicament had also proved that her parents had some genuine friends and that not all relatives were terrible people! Had that not been the case, there was no way they could have raised the amount of money they had so far.

The monies were paid into Soki’s current account. She raised a cheque for the sum and went to her dad’s boss with an extension in mind. Surely, seeing the effort they had made to raise the money he would grant her dad an extension!

Nze Thaddeus Maduabuchi’s office was on the last floor of the four storey building. She stopped at her dad’s department to speak briefly with Owanate and Didi and thank them for their contributions, before heading for Nze’s office. She waited nervously at his private secretary’s office wondering how to approach this issue. She was there about an hour before she was informed that Nze would now see her.

Caught up in her worries, she didn’t have the time to appreciate the expensive décor of his office. She just wanted her father out of police custody. Nze Maduabuchi rose to his feet as she walked into his office, closing the door behind her. In his early sixties, he was a very tall man and physically fit. Her father on the other hand was at 5”7, two inches shorter than his wife and thickly built. Her mum would always say that men in their fifties and sixties who were particular about their physique were chronic womanisers.

‘Good afternoon, sir,’ Soki greeted.

‘Have a seat, my dear.’ He told her in his deep voice. ‘How is your father?’

‘As well as anyone can be in his present condition.’ Soki responded.

He gave her a look she could not decipher. ‘I didn’t hand him over to the police out of spite, my dear. He defrauded my company,’ he told her.

‘He made a mistake.’ she returned. ‘My father is a good and honest man.’

‘He tried to cover up his sins.’

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

‘I came to humbly seek an extension. My mum and I have raised N6, 380,000.00 and we need more time to raise the balance.’ She passed the cheque to him. ‘I can assure you that you will get the balance of N5, 870,000.00 within 30 days.’

He looked at the cheque and placed it on his large desk.


Follow the link to read Episode 2 - https://youngicee.com/2020/01/the-second-wife-episode-2.html