Candy candy. Nairaland has been a platform which I ve learnt a lot of things from various stories I ve read. This one of them. Thanks for the story. God bless you.

Onemansquad:

i sabi invest wella u can gv me d moni

omo from ur moniker only, i dey fear make my 'ego' no come enter one chance o!

kingphilip:
no worry make nysc just throwaway me reach that side first

Candy please time for breakfast is already moving o

@ kingphilip, u sure u go wan come serve for far northeast? God will take u to a place that will favor u just like he did mine in Jesus name, Amen but try not to infleluence ur posting.

@ candy, mommy breakfast and lunch time don pass o, now na dinner time, food neva don finish? btw, hope all findeth thee today?

*****************

Charles watched in horror as the van drove through gate to total garden, connected Dugbe and headed straight to the horror called iyaganku police station.

"Officer, please what's going on here?" He asked the officer with the name tag 'Ossai' sitting next to him, behind the driver and the other officer. Ossai had been fair enough to him because of their Edo connection. He had even allowed him to sit inside the van instead of at the back.

"My guy, na the woman wey you dey owe money." He answered him.

Chief Mrs Williams, Charles knew immediately.

They drove through the gate and pulled up near the entrance. His camry was parked at the general car park. Anna and his boy got out and followed him to the station. Inside, he was asked to sit behind the counter while they waited for Mama Williams.

She showed up thirty minutes later. The policemen welcomed her warmly, just like they would a celebrity. Indeed, the Williams were real celebs as far as Oyo state was concerned. She ignored charles and walked straight to the DPo's office. The DPO sent for charles almost immediately. Daniel remained on Anna's laps, both looking from one policeman to the other. The whole thing was still like a mirage to them.

"Good afternoon ma" charles greeted Mama Williams

"Mr man, what happened to chief's money?" The DPo cut in harshly before Mama Williams could answer.

Charles starred at his feet. The policeman that led him there stood next to him. "I have it ma," he looked at Mama Williams

"And why didn't you give it earlier? You were running away instead!" The dpo challenged him.

"In fact, your men did a good job." Mama williams commended the dpo. "They traced him to the hotel he slept yesterday, they saw him move today."

The dpo smiled. "They are good boys. The two guys there didn't go with a car and they had to first call for a van. One of them had to follow him on a chattered okada. You know we agreed to arrest only if he plans to leave the city----"

Mama Williams understood well...she had to grease palms, even though she had been more than generous to them earlier, especially the part where the officer chattered okada.

"I know, dpo. Charles, where is my money?"

"I'll get it on monday ma. We can use atm to go and check the balance, its there. But I can't withdraw it all with atm." Shame wouldn't let him look at her. He had underestimated this woman.

"No problem," the dpo said. "We'll keep you in the cell with those hardened criminals till monday when you'll go and withdraw the money. Officer, tell Ortega to deflate his tyres."

Charles, tears in his eyes, pleaded with mama williams and the dpo. He was scared to death. He could imagine the cells. Even the dpo's office smelled of izal! The closest he had been to a police cell was when the kegite members were arrested by the their chief's landlord for their loud noise during his undergraduate days. None of them slept behind bars, they were bailed by a former kegite chief who met them there.

His pleas fell on deaf ears. He sobered up when the officer pushed him out of the Dpo's office and out of Mama Williams' sight. He thought of Anna and Daniel and how they'll feel about it all.

Back at the counter, while being booked, he demanded for his phone and dialed Tade and Wande's numbers continuously until an overzealous policeman snatched his phone and marched him to the cell. Anna shed tears as she watched him go. She hugged Daniel tight to her bosom. She had never been inside a police station, talk less of watching her loved one marched to the horror of nigerian cell.

"Please, keep calling Tade and Wande's numbers." He told Anna as he was led into one of their dingy holding cells.
"Hian, Tade always to the rescue since 1500!"

And yes, he was not willing to release all the money, but he may be forced to. Only two things bothered him: Tade and the two houses he had used part of the money to acquire. He had not heard from Tade since Kevin told him about Tade's discussion with mama and Wande.

Whatever Tade didn't tell him about the Williams, Kevin had told him. He had told him about the argument Mama Williams and her daughter had with Tade, even though he didn't know what it was all about. Except that Mama Williams had entered the car, saying, "Charles again!" He had also told him about Mrs Williams' plans to have him arrested on saturday, hence the decision to quickly vacate the house on friday. Little did he know that they were already tailing him. Obviously, kevin was not one hundred percent in the loop- some things were still hidden from him. But being in his camp had made Charles' life easier.

It's always good to have inside information. He thought to himself as the officer led him to the narrow passage that opened to the holding cells. The stench filled his nostrils immediately.


*****************

never underestimate the power of a woman ....nice update candy
BTW...aren't u going to polling centre today?

*****************

Sergeant Ossai had been kind enough to put him in what the inmates and officers regarded as a corporate cell. Devoid of armed robbery suspects, car jackers, kidnappers and their likes but not without its fair share of agberos and pettey thieves.

The stench of urine greeted his nose as the officer slammed the iron bars shut and secured it with a padlock outside. He crouched somewhere on the bare floor and nodded at his new neighbors.
I can't stay beyond tomorrow morning, he consoled himself. Luckily for him, his cell mates were civil. From what he'd heard about jails, he was expecting to be beaten blue and black. But apart from the initial 'gra gra' on the part of a self-acclaimed landlord, 'chairman', the rest of the bunch looked decent.

"Na corporate cell dem go put you," Ossai had assured him, especially after Anna had 'settled' him and another officer with a promise to do even better when she returned. "Na office people like you we dey put there, if they fit pay."

The rest of the night was bleak. He didn't sleep a wink. The mosquitoes sang to the drum-like snores of the other inmates he shared his cell with. He couldn't imagine himself snoring in this kind of environment. The only mattress, torn, dirty and flat, was occupied by the 'chairman'. Charles would have picked the floor over the mattress any day.

He spent the night thinking about his life, his choices. He had merely used the ladies to punish Tade. Even if Tade hadn't dragged Bola with him, or go after Wande, he would have found a way to deal with him. To him, Tade was one arrogant SOB who deserved no pity. He tried to convince himself that all he did was justified. In this sinking hole, called Iyaganku, he didn't regret his choices.

Charles had grown up amidst poverty. He had struggled for everything in life. Making money at all cost had been his motto. Even as an undergraduate, he had considered joining a cult that promised him money, fame and the best girls. Thanks to the timely intervention of his friends Tade and Ben who had talked him out of it and assisted him the best way they could.

But Tade always got the best girls, the best grades. Charles, at his 6'2 and with his athletic body didn't have the charm of Tade. The girls simply fell for Tade's charms. He was very happy when Tade couldn't get a good job and had depended on his generosity. But it all faded fast.

Charles had started attending the new church because of the rich single ladies, one he had set his eyes on was the Williams girl. As usual, he had lacked the charisma and the courage to approach her.

The one sunday he had forced Tade to go with him, Tade had landed her! He had hated him for that too.

"Fvck you, Tade." He said, albeit quietly

"What's that?" One other 'white collar' inmate that was kept behind bars on charges of embezzlement asked him. Apparently, sleep had eluded him too.

"Nothing! Just thinking aloud." He told him.

"Try and grab some sleep, my brother. This place is even better than other cells." The 'white collar' inmate consoled him.


*****************

Chapter 38


********************


Tade's phone was in silent mode, while Wande had left hers in her bag, also in silent mode. None of them noticed Charles' and Anna's incessant calls. He had been transferred to a private room after being stabilized. Luckily, it wasn't a serious case. Shock coupled with his asthma. Dr Ben just wanted him to rest for an hour or two, review him and see if he could go home.

Flanked on both sides by Wande and Bola, Tade lacked no attention as he sipped from a thermos, quietly.

Wande took a long look at her rival. She looked really beautiful. Wande didn't look too bad in her skinny jeans and sleeveless black top either, but she knew she was no match for Bola in the attraction department. She hated her even more.

"You can go now," Wande eyed Bola. "It's nothing serious."

"Em, I brought him here, I'll stay with him."

Wande had been keeping her anger in check since she learnt Bola had brought him from the guest house. The animosity between the two rivals was even deeper than they could imagine.

"I'm his wife, and I want you to leave my husband, this minute."

A nurse popped her head in just then to check on Tade. She smiled at the ladies and they both smiled back.

"How are you sir?" She asked Tade.

He nodded his response, indicating he was fine.

"The doctor said you will go home later today or tomorrow morning." She assured him.

"Yea. Today will be better." He was tired of the hospital already, especially the women around him. He needed his escape, especially to allow what Bola had told him earlier, to sink in properly. He still had Charles to deal with, his money and properties to recover from them. He watched the nurse disappear behind the door and shut it.

He looked at the warring women and shook his head. All he wanted at that moment were his children, Dele and Mary, and to lay his hands on his money. No more women or friends for him.

Wande saw Tade's phone blink continuously as Bola held on to it. Wande stood up and stretched her hands towards Bola, "hand me his phone."

Bola obliged. She handed her the phone but made no attempt to leave. Wande went through the phone and saw Charles' and Anna's missed calls. She picked her own phone from her bag with the intention of calling Anna back, and saw the same calls.

"Honey," she faced Tade, "Charles and Anna have been calling."

Bola's ears raised like an antenna. Charles calling? Just the guy she needed to reach. But who is Anna? She looked at Wande and contemplated asking her questions but thought against it. Wande will never answer her.

"Hmm" Tade said. The name spelled disaster for him. "Please don't call him back. Not now."

she caught Bola staring at her with a corner of her eye. "I insist you leave now, you cheap hoe." Wande faced Bola after keeping the phones in her bag and changing the mode to 'general'.

"Mtcheeew." Bola hissed.

"Tade dear, please tell her to leave now before I lose my temper." Wande faced him.

"Leave ko-------" bola started saying.

"Knock yourselves out, ladies." Tade said and faced the wall. He was furious at the two of them, at the whole world in fact. After Charles betrayal, he hated everyone that had dealt with him. He had been thinking about Charles' excuse for his hooking up with Bola and Wande. His supposed crooked way of hooking up with Bola topped the chart. But was that enough reason for a friend to sleep with his best friend's wife and mistress? He had asked himself. He still had to deal with Charles.

"Just leave, ok?" Wande said again.

Bola needed no further nudging. She needed to reach Charles somehow. Since his phone was going through, she decided to go and call him so they could meet. she stood up, stretched her hand to pick Tade's car key so she could go pick her bag, but Wande gently laid her hands on hers, restraining her from picking the key.

"You can't go near that car, ever again" she warned her

"But my bag is inside!"

"Ok, I'll get someone to go bring it for you."

"No. I drove the car here. I will go and pick my bag." She insisted stubbornly.

Wande was irritated, but restrained herself from saying the car does not even belong to Tade but herself. She dropped the key in her bag and called reception on the bedside intercom. An orderly appeared within a minute.

Bola sat back and watched helplessly as Wande sent the orderly to the Range rover. The ordely brought her bag and she snatched it from her violently, twisting the older woman's wrist in the process. She was angry.

"Mtcheeew, Abokoku" she told Wande. "Get well soon." She touched Tade' arms.

Tade turned to face her. So much to say to her, but all that had to wait. He wished Wande would just leave too, with her stress. He wanted to be alone.

Wande smiled mischievously, she won. She had rushed down when Dr Benjamin called to inform her earlier. She had seen an opportunity to have her man back. Only for her to get there and meet Bola.

Curiosity got the better of her. She stood up and opened the door quietly and scrolled to Charles number, curious to know why he had been calling. His number was switched off. Then she dialed Anna's. Tearfully, Anna narrated everything to her. She felt moved to pity.

"I'll call my mum and see if he can be released in the morning." She promised and walked back into the room.

*****************

donPhill:
never underestimate the power of a woman ....nice update candy
BTW...aren't u going to polling centre today?

Nope. Chilling with ma 'homies'

Lesson: envy, jealousy, bitterness and unforgiveness leads to doom. Thank you Candy for the wonderful breakfast.

lenmafon:


@ candy, mommy breakfast and lunch time don pass o, now na dinner time, food neva don finish? btw, hope all findeth thee today?

Food don land now.

I enjoyed Yamaltu Deba, but I never considered working in Gombe. I hail you, if you are not a Northerner...that place far and kinda dry. But we had cow meat in abundance then. A wonderful experience...

Serves Tade right!, dis Bola, she go get heart attack if she knws dat Charles has been taking her 4 mugu all dis while.I swear if Wande beg her Mama 4 Charles ehn........ I dnt knw wat to say. nd dat Charles dem suppose put am 4 all dose Agberos cell.

Candy nice updates. keep it flowing.

Aunty Candy thanks for the updates

Bola,so you are still living..What for nah...
Charles you will rot in jail

I don't just get it with these pathetic excuse of men, why are they not remorseful? They feel justified with all what they've done. I just want them to suffer for their deeds. Waiting to know how Bola will react when she gets to know that Charles already has a wife and son. Thanks for the very lovely updates. Regards to your "homies".

Hmm...Tade I even tot ‎​you re dead already. Candy pls do me dis simple favor of wiping Tade's chapter (u know wat I mean,ryt?) *Smiles mischievously*

adeh39:
Serves Tade right!, dis Bola, she go get heart attack if she knws dat Charles has been taking her 4 mugu all dis while.I swear if Wande beg her Mama 4 Charles ehn........ I dnt knw wat to say. nd dat Charles dem suppose put am 4 all dose Agberos cell.

Candy nice updates. keep it flowing.

Those agberos will turn Charles to something else o.

SexySapphire:
Waiting to know how Bola will react when she gets to know that Charles already has a wife and son. Thanks for the very lovely updates. Regards to your "homies".

She's aware that Charles has a son, you know Anna is not his mum. But she's not aware that Charles has Anna. She's still thinking she's the one for Charles.

@ma homies, they'll hear jor. Thanks.

missviva:
Hmm...Tade I even tot ‎​you re dead already. Candy pls do me dis simple favor of wiping Tade's chapter (u know wat I mean,ryt?) *Smiles mischievously*

Ha, my Tade never die o ;P
Btw, Charles is a scumbag, Tade is better. Let's deal with him first, what do you think? He over did his revenge thingy. Besides, he never asked Bola out. Though Charles betrayed him by dating Bola, despite the fact that his friend had eye for her.

‎​you re right, ‎​you know. Lets deal with charles first his revenge was too much and he's not even sober,

@Candy am here o, thank God all dat is hiDden is finally out. Really an unholymatrimony....wot will be d end of them all? Abeg can't wait. More power 2 ur fingers candy....

SexySapphire(f) Its just you have this grudge against cheating men. Forget not that not everyone is perfect. I just pity your future husby [if you never marry, because i trust naija men with away match].

stuff46:
SexySapphire(f) Its just you have this grudge against cheating men. Forget not that not everyone is perfect. I just pity your future husby [if you never marry, because i trust naija men with away match].

Of course, I'm definitely gonna get married. I just hate it when people don't show remorse for their wrongdoings. I hate the idea of "I'm the man of the house, my wife can't do anything" that some guys portray. It tells me just one thing, they DON'T respect their wives!

Un-holy matrimony it is.... Tade lose pretty bad and Bola buh Charles really planned his revenge well. Wat a nic3 story full of lessons for both cheating men and women. Candy more intellect ma

Keep it up and coming Candy.

What is abokuku?

@candy, I saw dis story on fp, n I decided to follow it hence lovin d story, while waitin for updates, decided to check out ur oda story "the web", n now am @ d concludin part but it seems u deleted it. Pls help we d late readers n summarize it for us, we've cum a long way to abandon d story juz lyk dat, we rily wanna kno how it ended plssss

SexySapphire:

Of course, I'm definitely gonna get married. I just hate it when people don't show remorse for their wrongdoings. I hate the idea of "I'm the man of the house, my wife can't do anything" that some guys portray. It tells me just one thing, they DON'T respect their wives!

The idea of "I am the man of the house" isnt that pleasant to the ear for a wrong man but the excuse "You werent there for me" is disgusting. That means you cannot stick to the altar promise?

Tade still work on how to get sorry for his doings.

nice. i served in kaltungo, gombe south. so na only meat u chop for there? my dear it is kind of dry but life is not too expensive compared to my place owerri. but am planning of leaving sha if i see a beta teaching job, i don try my best for the school.

candy:

Food don land now.

I enjoyed Yamaltu Deba, but I never considered working in Gombe. I hail you, if you are not a Northerner...that place far and kinda dry. But we had cow meat in abundance then. A wonderful experience...

**************

Chapter 39


Wande drove through Challenge road in a sad mood. She had just dropped Tade off at the guest house after he refused to come home with her. Tboy, one of their drivers was to take the Range to him later, at the guest house.

Her phone rang on the dash board, but she paid no attention. She was thinking about Tade and Bola, then Charles and his incarceration. The phone rang again as she negotiated the challenge round about and headed towards ring road.

Reluctantly, she picked it and sighed at the name; Segun. She inserted her hands free and said "hello"

"Hi, wande!" He greeted

"Segun, how are you?"

"Well, I'm fine. I'm on my way home but I saw your car drive by just now."

Wande was too preoccupied to have noticed his car, especially o a double lane. "I didn't see your car and I hate driving and talking on phone." She said simply, narrowly missing hitting a careless pedestrian crossing the highway in front of high court.

"I'm sorry, can we talk somewhere, say Domino's?"

"Ok, fine. I'll drive straight there. I'm approaching mobil junction now." She told him.

"Thanks. I'll meet you there in 10"

She didn't answer. She removed the hands free from her ears and dropped her phone in her bag. She allowed her mind to wander back to Tade and Bola and their kids. She learnt they were two; a boy and a girl. Bola, a beautiful girl, no doubt that was the attraction for Tade. She felt stung by a jealous rage. Hers was a one time mistake with charles, but Tade had set the whole Bola thing up, went into it open eyed and with intentions. He had spent her money on Bola and now the forensic investigators and lawyers are on her neck to let them threaten Tade with a law suit so he can return his loot. But somehow, she loved this man.

She drove through mobil junction and found a parking spot close to Domino's as the whole place was packed full. She waited in her car.

********************

********************

Segun turned back at the Anfani junction and headed back towards mobil. He had just left his dad's chamber at the law hub and was on his way home when he spotted her car.

He had missed her greatly. Wande had refused to pick his calls for over a week now. He had needed to talk to her so desperately he had gone to look for her at home on friday. Tade's and Mama William's cars had indicated a family thing going on. He had left without seeing her.

Thessy, his ex-girl friend had been calling. Apparently, she was still in love with him and wanted to visit him in Nigeria. He had loved her so dearly too, and even got her pregnant to get her parents' approval. But thessy insisted on aborting the baby when he told her he was coming back home. Thessy, with Nigerian parents was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia but never stepped foot in Nigeria. To his parents, she was no different from a typical 'akata'.

On the other hand, Sade the slut had been bothering him with her pregnancy. He had assured her he will do everything to make the baby comfortable once dna shows he's the biological father. Sade had insisted on him paying support for the pregnancy. Something he had refused to do. His mother had also stood on his neck to marry her and take the baby!

He branched off the ring road at high court and drove through Mobil to Domino's pizza. Scoring a decent parking space was difficult. He managed to pull up behind an abandoned truck and an official tricycle with Nestle written on it. He smiled at the fragile appearance of the tricycle.

He reached in his breast pocket for his phone to call Wande, but she tapped him on the shoulder before he could make the call.

"Hey!" She smiled. He looked handsome in his simple but elegantly made men's native cotton wear and brown stripped sandal.

"Hi, wande." He held her in his embrace. He held her hand as they walked inside the pizzeria, but she withdrew her hand from his.

"This is Oluyole, my area and I'm married!" She reminded him

They managed to get a corner table inside. A surprise. Domino's is usually packed full with foreigners and 'ajebota' wannabes on weekends. They ordered one medium sized pizza and sat down to wait for their order.

"Why have you been avoiding me, Wande?"

"Segun, I've been through some sh*t recently. I'm sorry"

She narrated what's been happening up to tade's hospitalization and even Charles detention, leaving out where Tade left because she slept with Charles. She was too ashamed to tell anyone, not even Segun.

"So, he left the house because of Bola?"

"Em, yes." A big lie.

"But if Charles reaches a lawyer, your husband will be involved, and you said you want to protect him."

"What can I do now?" She asked him. As a lawyer, he had always given her good legal advice. "Apparently, he gave the money to charles for a business..."

"Is that what he told you?" He cut her short.

She looked at him, "yes."

"So, your forensic investigators didn't tell you the money was given to Bola and that Bola handed it all to Charles?" He asked

She was confused. Nobody told her anything about Bola and Charles. She proded further. "Why would Charles take tade's money from Bola?"

He cleared his throat. Wande had seen Bola's picture through him for the first time and he had always been careful not to be caught in unnecessary marital web. He had known about Bola's double dating through Sade but kept it to himself because of the respect Wande seemed to have for Charles. Mama Williams must be aware since the forensic auditors were aware, he thought.

"Babe, I think you should really talk to your mum!"

"She won't tell me anything, she won't even release Charles on bail! Anna and Daniel are my major concern."

"Hmm...ok...Bola and Charles have been dating since..."

Wande stood up with speed as if a snake had just crawled up her skirt. "Whaaat? Bola and Charles?"

"Yes. Charles got all the money through Bola and not a business deal with Tade."

She sat down again, tears filled her eyes and she managed to wipe with a tissue. Their pizza had been served and only Segun had taken a bite out of the piece he cut out for himself. She had lost all appetite. What was charles up to? Sleeping with Bola and having the gut to even come back several times to ask her for more sex after their first shameful romp? Thankfully, she had said no and meant it. Their relationship had returned to one of respectful distance afterwards. But now, she hated charles' gut even more.

"So, he should rot in detention till monday!" She said angrily.

"Your husband may be dragged down with him" Segun reminded her. "He didn't steal from you, your mum or the Williams' dynasty. He is not the main culprit here. He can't go down alone."

"Then let Bola go down with him!"

He smiled. "I'll talk to you as a lawyer. Bola didn't steal from you guys either. Tade did. Yes, the money was traced to charles but how did it get to him?"

She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders in resignation. "Mum is bent on getting the stolen money. They even traced two buildings to him from the same source. The buildings have been sealed though."

"Well, he's scared half to death of your mum and the law. I'll assume he doesn't have a lawyer. You can tow that line and use subtle threat to recover your money." He advised.

"Thanks, the law." She always felt better talking to him. "I appreciate you." She placed her hands on his, on the table. She even managed to eat a small slice of pizza and downed a cup of beverage.

Segun stared into her lovely eyes, "I'm in love with you!" He didn't know when the words came out, but he didn't mind. He had meant to say it for long now.

She withdrew her hands as if he were a leper. Her eyes opened wide in surprise. She was short of words.

"Say something" he urged her

"Segun...I...I don't deserve you, please." She pleaded. "I love my husband."

"He doesn't deserve you, angel!" He tried harder

She stared hard into his warm, desperate eyes. "I don't deserve you either, Segun."

With that, she wiped her lips with tissue paper, dusted her jeans for crumbs and walked out of Domino's without looking back. She deleted his number from her phone, against her better judgment.

"Tade is my cross" she muttered to herself as she brought the engine to life.


*********************

In seeking the truth you have to get both sides of the story, wande is not only kind but a woman every man should have as a wife. my opinion though

Mario1983:
In seeking the truth you have to get both sides of the story, wande is not only kind but a woman every man should have as a wife. my opinion though

am in support of what you said

Mario1983:
In seeking the truth you have to get both sides of the story, wande is not only kind but a woman every man. should have as a wife. my opinion though

well spoken.

Nice work Candy.

ruffhandu:
Hello Candy,
Please check the bolded.

should be "she"


should be "Wande".

Modified.Thanks a bunch!
I lost about eight edited updates yesterday and had to type again.