Talius:
Today's my birthday family.

Happy birthday man

remiseyi:

Happy birthday man

Thank you my brother. I appreciate.

Talius:

Thank you my brother. I appreciate.

God bless your new age

Talius:
Today's my birthday family.

Happy Birthday.

princessadeola:
Happy Birthday.

Feyikemi12:
God bless your new age

Thank you baby girls, I appreciate.

Hapi brthdy, u wil live to fulfil ur destiny in Jesus name.

yo tali bobo....happy belated byday iooooo....

Topscoque:
Hapi brthdy, u wil live to fulfil ur destiny in Jesus name.

Amen. Thank you dear.

kikayboss:
yo tali bobo....happy belated byday iooooo....

My one and only Kikay. Respect. I appreciate you bro, thanks a lot.

E6

Andrew couldn't get the image of Imelda out of his mind all through the weekend. Even while he slept he fantasized about making love to her. Every other woman seized to appeal to him save for a few. He thought about asking Agnes to search for her number when he went to her home, but he couldn't when he realized how happy she was with Marcus, and didn't want to be the killer of their fun by bringing a side job to her. He resolved to wait till Monday. It was Monday and he still couldn't wait for her to answer his call and walk through his office door. The door finally opened and it was not Agnes.

"You sent for me Sir,” her angelic voice resounded in his ear; all he could think of was hearing her voice say his name while he drilled the living day light into her. "Yes I did,” he said, he bulging assets where calling out for him, even from the maxi skirt she wore he could feel the weight of her backside.

He offered her a seat. He didn't waste time to dilly-dally, he was the CEO and he wanted her, the question was, “What do you want in return?" Imelda couldn't believe her ears: After a lifetime of having sex with many good for nothings, someone was offering to make her life sound for the same sex offer. Who was she to say no?

"Will you be my sex bride?" His statement sounded more like a command than a question. Who was she to say no? She knelt down and unbuckled his zipper like the wayward expert her heavy assets made her appear to be, she suckled his drilling pecker like a professional, she made him moan heavily.


***

"Hey Anna,” Andrew called and ran after her. She walked into his office again without restriction, because Beatrice wasn't at her post again, and she saw Andrew hitting Imelda's jackpot furiously. It was beginning to piss her off.

"Hey what's up? I thought we were cool?" Andrew feigned ignorance to his knowledge that such sights always pissed an ex off. "We are,” Anna lied unconvincingly. Andrew knew she was at his office to update him on the dinner with his mom, he also wanted to know how it went. Imelda surfaced from the office, tired of waiting for Andrew's return she signaled him to call her, she swerved her waist heavily to distract Andrew from talking with concentration to Anna again.

"Never mind,” Anna said and started to walk away. She staggered on her steps, and felt dizzy, Andrew rushed to her rescue. He ignored her resistance, she wanted him to let her be, but he insisted after bringing her back from the clinic.


The Doctor on duty at the staff clinic immediately announced her suspicion, “You might be pregnant,” she said. The awkward stare Anna and Andrew exchanged told her she could be wrong on her believe that they were still together. This was a case of office gossip gone wrong, Andrew might not be the father and she had announced Anna's possible status to a man who had no right to know, CEO or not. Her fears were confirmed when the result came out positive, she apologized to Anna for her unprofessionalism. Anna didn't care.



***


Huey greeted Andrew with his presence immediately he returned from the clinic his office. Andrew silently cursed Agnes: People were coming into his office without regulation because she was never at her post. He had a lot on his kind now and didn't see the need to tell Huey he was just from the staff clinic, it certainly would lead to more questioning and he needed to keep Anna's secret safe. He hoped she'd make the right decision and terminate the pregnancy to build her career better, she had the luck of years on her side to make children later.

Huey brought good news, apparently the same Judge still preceding over the case still resented Akin for his dubiousness, and got angry when he realized Akin was using the opportunity he was offered to have an external lawyer represent his interest to want to take over the firm. The Judge gave an injunction that still prevented Akin from getting close to the firm talk more of taking over as CEO. Andrew heaved a sigh of relief at the good news, it was desperately needed, especially after finding out Anna was carrying Mark's child. Huey still recited his plea for reconsideration, he still wanted Andrew to leave while he still could, “Things would only get worse," he said.


***

"Girlfriend I'm sorry,” Agnes pleaded. Beatrice shrugged off Agnes's touch. They searched furiously for an unoccupied space to sit and eat at the staff's canteen. Agnes touched her friend playfully, she wanted her to listen to her success story with Marcus else she brings up her issue with Andrew.

"Did you have to call his name?" Beatrice spat at the mention of Andrew. Agnes watched with keen interest, she never knew it had gotten to that level. She thought of an Andrew related news worthy worthy enough to make Beatrice smile; she told her about the day she caught him and Ramon shamelessly making out like the time with Anna. Beatrice didn't show a difference in care, as far as she was concerned she was done with all things Andrew and had no care whatsoever for him.

"That's a lie,” Agnes corrected her, she told her that no matter what happened she'd always care for Andrew.

E7



"Thank you all for coming,"

Andrew repeated those words for the third time as he hoped the crowd's murmur would subside. He wondered which of his announcements made them clamour this loud; was it the one where he announced Mother as a Director, or the one where he said he now controlled 55% of the firm's stock.

The men and women of the press present counted themselves lucky enough to have been granted permission to listen first hand as the events broke inside one of the biggest firms in the country. They all were in a frenzy as they eagerly awaited the most important announcement of the day - The new name of the firm.

Andrew exchanged a quick glance with Ramon, he could see the happiness written all over her face, they matched with the beautiful dress she had on today that for once didn't threaten to pop out her mammary glands. The glance was quick because he needed to keep his head clear, and on the task at hand. He started with the usual epistles most CEOs were known for before getting to the more interesting part, “I present to you, the new face of legal backing in the country," he said and held onto the handle that would unveil then new logo bearing the firm's new identity if he pulled it.

"Lewis Chamber,” The logo finally read. Ramon was the first stand up, she ignored the other members of the audience who were giving a standing ovation and walked towards the podium as she always intended to do, but for a different reason this time. The bright flashes of the cameras of media houses didn't deter her her movement; she walked up and tried to disrupt the working of the setup that projected the imagery of the new logo. The media feasted their flashes and lenses on the headline worthy show the relatively unknown lady pulled. Andrew's security detail whisked him away to safety. He followed diligently as he knew Ramon would be very mad; the hurry in his steps took a praise when he heard the words, “You promised” behind him; he took a moment to turn back, he could see the pain and signs that announced betrayal written all over her face. "We have to go now,” His Chief security Officer called his attention that they keep moving because of the increasingly surging crowd who wanted to taste of the CEO - It was difficult to say who was who, because certainly, Akin's loyalist would be part of the commotion, and one couldn't say what they had planned for Andrew - The safest game was to take him away.


***

Mark could tell something was different with Anna today, she looked and acted pale, and he couldn't but wonder if it was reason why he hadn't seen nor heard from her in a while. He thought he hurt her the last time, he apologized just in case; the way she cringed her eyelid made him suspect something else was wrong and that the words she just said to him were lies. He pressed further.

"I'm pregnant,” Anna finally yelled, she couldn't take it no longer. The laughter from the two wardens sanding close on her side of the room gave her slight goosebumps: Maybe they thought her announcement a confession, and laughed in anticipation of how her lover would react. She couldn't look up to Mark even when he asked her to; she felt she had committed both their futures into a ditch; Andrew's suggestion started to sound meaningful now even though she had out rightly refused to commit murder then. "I'm getting rid of it,” she finally looked up to say.

"No!" Mark pleaded. He already loves his unborn son as he already claimed his embryo to be a boy. Anna found herself giggling, her thoughts countered his words with a proclamation of the embryo a girl. But she had to face reality: How was she to do this alone without his help?

Mark pleaded she find the strength for as long as it took. He knew he wouldn't be here forever, no matter how long his trial was being delayed. Anna should find the strength to carry on. For their love and for their unborn son.


***

He knocked again, just in case she didn't hear him the first time. "I'm coming,” that familiar voice spoke. Soon Anna was before him. Though she wore a surprised look as to his mission at her home late that night, it didn't deter him from saying his mind as he wanted to since he arrived

"Stay away from me,” Anna turned her back on him. He was wasting her time by not speaking, perhaps, he thought she still loved him, she had to prove him wrong. It took him holding her arm firmly and drawing her back towards with force to stop her from slamming the door at him. She resisted his embrace, his familiar scent and hold that always sent her into frenzy when they were together. He finally let her go.

Andrew wanted her to get an abortion, he said so again. Unlike the first time, she had the courage to resist his suggestion or compulsion, whichever effect she felt he was having on her. "Stay away from me!" She yelled better than the first time. He tried to hold her hand again, and she gave him a weak slap, “Better that than nothing," she thought, and ran into her house with hurry.


***

If there was a recurring theme in Andrew's life today, it had to be rejection: It was becoming unbecoming, and he needed a break. Behind the wheels of his G-Wagon Benz, he thought of whom to roll up to. He had succeeded in alienating most of the woman who he knew cared deeply for him: Anna, Beatrice, Ramon and a few others he couldn't recollect easily. All he had left were booty calls, the likes of Patricia, Imelda, and that girl with the delightful honeypot who ran away because she thought him a ritualist for boldly referring to his mother as Cruella. Her memory mattered less the closer he got to feeling Imelda again; he could mentally feel her skin press against his, his groin mused at the reality he was about to face.

The door opened and the goddess of lust stood before him. Imelda pulled off sexy effortlessly with a loosely fitted silky red robe that exposed her heavy assets scantily coveted with a matching purple lingerie; judging by majority of her clothing having that touch of purple, Andrew could tell that was her best colour. She kissed him and led him by the hand to her bedroom down the dark passage of her rented bungalow. Andrew could wait no longer, he began to devour her breasts at the entrance to her room, and wasted no time in jacking her to complete the journey to her bed. Imelda got on her knees, she wanted his clothing off so he could give her his pecker that she clearly needed in her.

The thought of Anna suddenly visited Andrew, he tried to rebuke them but they persisted, he could hear her rejection replay in his head, they replayed consistently and louder with each turn. He let go of Imelda's left breast which had suffered dearly at his mouth's action, he sat on the single bar chair present at a corner of the room and begun to scratch his head violently as though they would make the haunting thoughts disappear. "Don't get pregnant for me,” he said out of nowhere, he felt confessing those words were a means to confronting the demons haunting him now.

Imelda couldn't believe he could say such a thing, as long as she was concerned, this was her body and she would do whatever she wanted with it, no one had any right to dictate to her how she should use it. She certainly had no intention of getting pregnant now, not even in the nearest future; her flat belle couldn't be exchanged for anything in this world, at least for now. She still wanted him, even though her libido weren't as pushy as they were when he called to say he was coming over. She grudgingly stood up from the bed where he left her for the bar chair. She completely removed all forms of clothing she had on.

E8

Dimeji stood confused for a little while. He looked around but couldn't see anything substantial to make him remain a second longer on this floor - Everyone knew the 18th floor was the uncompleted floor used for sexual escapades during working hours - Imagine his confusion when Imelda repeatedly assured him it was the same floor she was talking about when she said she wanted him to surprise him. He had finally exhausted his patience, the edges of his Italian suit pants were already hitched by the dusts of the earth. He turned to go, but stopped as soon as he heard his name.

"Uncle Dimeji,” Imelda called again softer.

Moments like this she hated why her voice sounded too sweet and tender, because they usually failed to pass across her full emotion. When he finally stopped she jerked with joy: She couldn't wait to show him the office space Andrew just handed over to her this morning.

Dimeji didn't seem to appreciate the office space even after he learnt major repairs had immediately been commissioned. Imelda tried to calm his worry that things were already going south, she insisted Andrew gave her the floor to ensure their privacy, if she played her cards right she could be in charge of everyone who found him or herself transferred to this floor as soon as the renovations were completed.

Dimeji still had his doubts, but his words were corrupted and constantly clouded by her hands; they played with his tie all the while she explained. They progressed to his upper collar button now, and he quickly surrendered to the woman power - Even though what she received from Andrew wasn't what they had initially discussed, he had to agree with her that it was a step in the positive direction, he could only pray she doesn't mess it up. He gently removed her hands from his white starched barrister shirt and set her back by two steps, he pulled the tie off himself: She had fiddled with them for too long, and had started a reaction in his body he couldn't suppress any longer.


***

The increasing sounds of 'koin koin' told him it was a woman headed his way, and as he felt, he didn't mind the extra company; three hours alone had added nothing to his life other than a higher blood pressure brought about by burdened thoughts of why Akin would drop him at this crucial moment when he was already very close to the goal.

He understood blood was blood, but couldn't understand why he had to be sacrificed by Akin in this manner - His license as a practising lawyer was heavily threatened - Akin sold him over and he couldn't take it.

"Malik!”

He quietly looked up at the sound of Ramon's beautiful voice calling his name. He didn't expect to see her, but could still flash her a smile, without making noise over the fact that she had been trying to make a fool of him for all the weeks they'd been working in the same building. He heard the rumours about Andrew's betrayal and had been expecting her to switch over to Akin's side ever since the news went viral; imagine his surprise when he found out what brought her here.

Ramon was here strictly for business, she wanted to form an alliance with the one person she knew hated everyone at the firm as much as she did at this moment. If there was one thing she could count on Malik for, it was his resolve to perfectly get back at whoever tried to take him and his loved ones down, and if his many attempts to woe her back since she got back into the country didn't prove that he still loved her, then nothing would. Anyone who would want to toy with their feelings was living in a dream if he or she thought they'd get away with it - She could count on Malik for a revenge plan. They were still not getting back together, and not even Malik's announcement of his undying love for her at this moment would change that.


***

Patricia staggered momentarily but soon found her comport. She understood Andrew was still angry at her for not protecting Anna from getting knocked and worse, for not telling him the moment she found out. She pushed him back with great force, “I'm sorry,” she forcefully pleaded. How was she supposed to stop a grown woman from having sex inside a government prison? No matter the amount Andrew offered her for her services, that was far above anyone's pay grade. She recalled his threat, she wondered what he'd do to her now.

Andrew was really fuming with anger. Ever since he found out about Anna's condition he'd been thinking of what to do with Patricia: She had failed him in her foremost responsibility of protecting Anna from any form of harm, including self-inflicted ones like her present condition. He believed Anna didn't know what she was doing, and would in a little while regret keeping this pregnancy .

"I'm sorry,” Patricia pleaded again, her voice had softened more, perhaps the sudden realization of the kind of damage done caused her tone to lighten. She agreed to give Andrew the time he requested to process his pain and know what next to do with their relationship.


Agnes ran into the office evidently shedding tears. Andrew initially wanted to transfer his aggression on her, but held back the moment he noticed her tears; his approach changed like the wind flow. "Talk to me," he pleaded. Patricia brought her water to calm her husky throat that suffered from grave weeping. They both wondered what made her cry this way. Each time she tried to talk, more tears submerged her words, she couldn't help herself, her heart was very heavy.

"Mr. Sanni is dead,” she finally managed to let them in on the reason for her heavy tears.


***

"Mark!" The Chief Warden pronounced his name with guilty pleasure. The name-sound felt raunchy, as though it was the first time he'd be experimenting with the sound. He fixated his gaze on Mark who walked away from the gathering of the other inmates with humility, head down. It gave him great joy to observe humility in his prisoners, it showed him Mark had learnt fast the rules of the prison walls: He had theoretically and practically made Mark his b!tch hence there was no way he wouldn't have learnt to be humble.

"Those things you hear about prisons are true, men do men here," those words would forever hunt Mark even outside these walls. He was free to go, but he knew he'd never be free of the memories his father had made him accrue in there. He thought of his dad, how he'd face the man who refused to visit his own son sent to prison on his behalf. He thought about Anna, the surprised look she would have on her face when she realized he would be home with her to have their child and live their lives together forever. He thought about how the smallest of things in life mattered. His heart still brewed fresh hatred for the Chief Warden for his defiling acts against him almost every day, even on his birthday, because he was the son of the famous Barrister Akin, it seemed to give him joy while he was doing it that he had his way with the son of the man whose firm had sent a quarter of the inmates to the prison; playing along was the way he had survived all these months, and not the stipends he offered them as Anna thought. He believed he'd live pass the experience, all he needed was to leave here as soon as possible; he would prove the Cheif warden wrong in his believe that no one could escape the claws of homosexuality once hitched.

E9

Anna still couldn't believe her eyes - She had wiped them twice and he was still here - it truly was Mark before her. She opened her arms for a hug, though she remained skeptic over the reality of this setting; she still felt her was an apparition, a figment of her hyper-imagination. All such thoughts rolled away the instant his skin touched hers - Reality just dawned on her.

Mark didn't want to waste another moment here; to leave with his pregnant woman was what matter most, even if the law would frown at it. But, he didn't care for the law, he cared only for Anna, and if she wanted same he would do it in a heartbeat.

"What do you think?" He asked for her opinion, her next words would be life defining for the both of them.

Anna was all for that, but she felt skipping town this early in the day without any form of good bye to their lives as they've known it wasm't something she was sure she wanted to live regretting years to come. "Let me think it over at work," she pleaded, her eyes sent a thousand other messages her mouth couldn't. Mark get the messages; they'd discuss the matter when she got back from work - It was a Friday and the assurance of a blissful weekend gave them both the much needed strength to carry on.

***

Mark's words kept ringing in her head from the moment she stepped her feet into the firm; the thought that today could possibly be her last day in the firm kept ringing inside her head. "Thank God,” she said, when she saw Patricia, someone familiar to take away the hard-hitting thoughts off her mind.

Patricia wore an gloomy face, which was very unusual for her; the mode and manner with which she replied Anna told the latter that something serious was up. "Mr. Sanni is dead." Patricia finally said. Anna felt bad, and agreed to attend his funeral as plans for an official goodbye were already made.

***

Almost everyone from the firm had dark shades on: One would have thought it was a Law-thing, save for the few enlightened members of The Late Sanni's family who graced the ceremony in theirs.

There was a little argument before the funeral was finally able to proceed. The bereaved family refused to bow to pressure from the firm to defile the corpse of their loved one by dressing him in his Barrister regalia; "Twenty-first century or not, we would not throw away the core values of our belief," they maintained, till the firm back off. Those who choose to not align themsleves with the funeral rite as termed barbaric strayed away from the site, till it was time for festivities.

The entire funeral rite didn't take lomg, about an hour, give or take; Sanni's corpse was cremated just as he had always advocated for during his lifetime; this he always said was to protect human lives from the pollution his decaying corpse would cause, and the degradation that accumulated corpse caused the earth. "The dead is dead,” his first son quoted him during his eulogy, he had a lot of pleasant things to say about the man many including Andrew learnt to call Father. Andrew himself had a lot to say about the late Sanni in his eulogy; he was a man of honour, integrity, and uncompromising; he was the father Andrew never had.

It was Anna's first time in Ogun state; here would go down as the one state she'd give anything to visit again in the near future; she loved everything she saw about the state, especially the infamous Olumo rock close to the late Sanni's hometown. In her entire reason for excitement she remained at Patricia's side - The fear of getting lost was far greater than whatever excitement she felt.


***

Andrew strolled alongside Mother - They both welcomed the familiar scenery of unpolluted air, open field, and chirping insects. It was a while since they both loosened their guard to enjoy nature at its fullest, the more reason the limited time they had to spend here ached their hearts; this place offered them the little opportunity to bond without worry or scheming as had become thir norm.

"Do you still remember the way you used to run each time your father wanted to beat you for dancing in the rain with the neighbours?" Mother asked. He turned to face her, his hands swung lazily as he did, he finally rested them on the mini statue that separated them, that way they were positioned closer. "How could I forget," he placed his hands on his buttocks to augment his reminiscing of the many lashes he received at that age.

Mother smiled but for a moment, memories of her late husband had began to surface. she exchanged awkward eye-contact with her son when she tried to look away. He mistook it for weakness and tried to console her: He was caught up in their moment.

"Your father was a horrible man,” Mother responded to his show of affections, with a smirk; joy returned to her heart as she swiftly took control of her dampened emotions and of the moment; she observed as he rose to the defense of a father he couldn't remember anymore. It made her mad that he thought it easy to forgive a man who was horrible to them.

“Forgiveness makes you weak Son."

Andrew always knew the connection they felt here was too good to last long. As the days went since her return, communication with his birth mother got more difficult than a cripple trying to qualify for the Miss World beauty pageant. Now was the opportunity to ask a question that had been bugging him for a while now: He needed clarity on how his father died.

His question was rated 3, on a scale of 1 to 5. With the way the conversation had been headed Mother knew it was a matter of time before Andrew wanted a reminder on what killed his father. He always had doubts about the popular recap of Larry's death - He died in his sleep. Mother knew she couldn't tell him the truth, he wasn't ready for it yet, it needed to remain in the past; the true fact that Larry died in an accident needed to remain with her, it was a burden she had resolved to carry alone to protect him from his memories. She remained silent.

***

Patricia had waited patiently in the distance for Mother to leave Andrew before she approached him. Agnes provided the perfect distraction for her Anna problem, to give her the opportunity to talk to him, but he still didn't want to see her. He feigned tired, and blamed her wrong timing. All these excuses he gave without turning to face her. He walked out on her in silence.

Patricia felt she didn't deserve the treatment she was getting, he was taking things too extreme and personal. She wondered what his obsession with Anna was, and hoped that his wallet she just stole contained something to answer that question. How could annoying, self-righteous Anna entice him so much that he'd risk sacrificing her?

***

All eyes turned towards the latest visitors to pay their condolences at the register: It was Ramon and Malik - They entered with a bang, to make a statement. They walked in together, dressed in all black and dark shades like most others. The thing that made them stand out was the large black bouquet Ramon had in her possession. She boldly brandished it as she blushed to whatever Malik whispered to her: They obviously didn't care they were at a funeral.

nice

E10

The Monday that followed the funeral weekend; Mother wasn't smiling - It wasn't because she loved or missed The Late Sanni as most in the firm did; after all she didn't even know man in his lifetime - It was because the private investigator she contracted to spy on Andrew brought back damning reports from the burial.

"Who is she?" Mother seemed particular about this one face amongst the many faces that littered the pictures the young man had just checked in; she could tell by simple observation, that the lady and her son had chemistry, hence a possible ongoing relationship. The slow assimilation of her spy pissed her further, he was reasoning far lower than a high school fresher. She needed answers to why Imelda appeared cozy with her son in all the pictures before her.

***

"Have you seen my wallet?" Andrew spoke into the intercom. He had hope that he left it one way or the other in Agnes's possession. The fall of “No,” from her lips crushed his soul: That wallet contained a lot of vital documents and tiny sized credentials. He let out a hiss and another one in heightened frustration. Lately, life had been finding new ways to frustrate him. He called her a bitch inspired by the popular saying. Agnes laughed because the intercom was still live.

Beatrice approached Agnes, her face looked weak and very sad. They exchanged a warm embrace; Agnes began to feel her own surge of emotions, she let go in to see Andrew before he dashed out on one of those his meetings.

Andrew stood up the moment he saw her; he had been thinking about her all through the weekend; he worried over how she was handling Sanni's demise. Of them all she was the closest to him, seeing her looking pale troubled him lightly.

"I'm leaving," she said. Memories made with the late Sanni littered the entire firm and she couldn't remain here if she wanted to quickly move on with her life. He was practically the only father she had known, everything she ever did in this firm was directly and indirectly in service of him. Andrew volunteered to grant her the transfer she had requested weeks ago but she didn't want it anymore, it couldn't solve her problem. "Anywhere is better than here for now," her sob aided her plea. She was here to say goodbye; the least he could do was make it easier for her.

Andrew embraced her again, he engulfed her firmly and more passionately than he did the first time. He remembered those times when those arms were all the comfort she ever needed. He found himself longing for something as permanent as that again, maybe not with her but with someone in the world meant for him.


***

Everyone kept staring. Their gazes were piercing as though they had just seen an alien. Akin let go of a hiss, they had all forgotten within months all he did to make sure their employment conditions were favourable - Humans would always be humans, selfish and uncompromising when whatever happening didn't directly affect them - He held it in mind to be different, should he achieve his aim and regain control of his company, he'd be a different man, a different kind of CEO.

So engrossed in his bitterness, he didn't realize when he bumped into Anna. "Excuse me!" She aggressively yelled before she realized who it was before her. Though surprised to see the father of her lover before her, she held her cool. A lot more eyes were on him, they wondered why the security officers hadn't thrown him out already. Their buzzing and noise attracted Mother.

"I'm back!" He announced with a grim, and flashed her a paper. Mother snatched the paper from him, her eyes breathing fire at the possibility of truth in his announcement. Her eyes caught the authentic stamp of the High Court Judge who precedes over his case. Her eyes were now on fire, she wondered aloud what he did to get to the Judge to make him back out of prosecuting him.

"This doesn't mean anything,” Her proclamation of war was fearsome and direct. The court document flew from her hand in the opposite direction of where she turned to, it landed on Anna's feet. Anna took the chance to greet him, she wore a warm smile to complement as she handed over the piece of paper to him.

Akin thanked her, and watched as she walked away. He had never really liked her. He always thought her a good digger because of the way she hopped from Andrew to Mark, he still thought her same, he was certain if she had the chance she'd hop back to Andrew now he was the CEO, the same way she tried to close up to him when her newly employed her.

***

Anna walked briskly to Andrew's office. Time was against her, and she needed to offset the matter of her resignation that brought her to the firm today. Mark awaited her at home to celebrate the beginning of their new life.

"You have the right to an attorney ...," Anna heard from the distance she stood. She looked up and saw Andrew cuffed and led away by two men of the Nigerian Police while a third read him his rights. She rushed through the path to the left to intercept then at the crossroad. "Where you taking him to?" She asked. The one who read him his rights pushed Anna and the others who gathered to watch. Anna watched helplessly as Andrew was politely ushered out of the firm in cuffs like a high profile criminal. Agnes caught up to the frenzy, she panted out of worry and crying. Anna later learnt his wallet was found littered close to Imelda's corpse at the entrance to her rented bungalow. Anna argued Andrew wasn't a murderer. He was a lot of things but a murderer wasn't one of them, this she tried to let everyone around understand, but no one seemed to care. Soon everyone dispersed to their stations as though nothing had just happened, Agnes sat at one corner drenched in her own tears.
.

***

Mother sat in her office without a care to the source of the loud noise outside her office, her confrontation with Akin still pissed her off, his perceived insolence angered her still, she hoped for a positive feedback from her spy.

The extremely lanky guy sighed with relieve when he got the turn to relate his findings to her. He'd been waiting for her for the past hour to break the news of his finding to her; he was certain she'd love it hence his resolve to wait for her amidst his increasing hunger for food. When mother asked what he'd found his face lit in joy, the information he was about to divulge was worth a million naira and he was certain she'd pay for it.


"Imelda is Akin's illegitimate daughter?" Mother repeated after him to be sure she heard him well the first time. That was a finding she didn't expect. She trusted Isa's professionalism to thoroughly sought out the truth, he was good at what he did, yet she didn't want him to continue as he requested, the matter had taken a dynamic turn that would be best left buried. This she made him understand, and promised to pay his requested fee by midnight.

She always had her reservations about Dimeji, now she confirmed he was up to no good bringing Imelda into the firm.

E11

He walked up her back porch, knocked twice but no reply. This was the same way he got entrance the last time - The time he threatened her to never get pregnant for him - She never took this long to answer his call, something was wrong. He heard a noise and turned to the front porch where it emanated from. He was late, her assailant had struck - a stab to the neck - She was down and fast bleeding out.

His legs seemed heavier than ever, yet he pushed them harder than he'd ever done. What should he do? "Stop the bleeding, or stop the assailant," he was stuck in between decisions. He finally settled for the latter, with her bleeding Imelda was good as gone already, “This evil would not go unpunished,” He consoled himself as he ran after the fast fleeing hooded assailant.

"Stop! Stop!" He kept shouting on top of his voice, the increasing distance between them had started to frustrate him. His legs were too heavy for the burden, but he pressed on and caught up to the assailant. He threw his weight and sent them both crashing to the rough floor of the empty road they had been running on for a while. The assailant fell with the face to the floor, Andrew pulled off the hood and turned the figure around for a view. He saw himself behind the hood.


"Wake up Mr. CEO,” Detective Ojo snapped his finger at him for him to stay awake. He sounded rude; the other one with the protruding stomach was far nicer to him, possibly he could see pass this entire frame job.

Andrew's eyes were burdened with stress, he hadn't gotten much sleep since he arrived here but he still found strength within to put up the act and charisma he was known for. "I didn't kill her you know,” he channeled his inner voice, he needed to keep his flaw in check, they shouldn't see his emotions failing. He watched as Ojo exchanged banter with his partner, they obviously had a clash of interest in the way they questioned suspects.

Mr. Nice Detective finally spoke, “She was stabbed multiple times in the neck region." The pictures he placed before Andrew depicted the gruesome crime scene of the murder; he made sure Andrew understood how much bleach and manpower it took to clean up the crime scene, Detective Ojo seemed to enjoy Andrew's face of conflict at the sight of the pictures.


Andrew remained silent. His brain calculated the probability of him having a dream about her death in the same position she was killed; he wondered if he could have had something to do with her death and suppressed it like they do in most movies.



***

Patrick had just returned from his sponsored wedding anniversary vacation with his wife. He didn't appreciate not been looped in on all that had been happening while he was away. Patricia was the one to bring him in on all the info he was missing, luckily she was passing by Andrew's office when he went to check on him. He couldn't believe his ear when Agnes told him Andrew was arrested here, it took the confirmation of Patricia for him to believe. Now, he wanted to know everything he had missed. As far as he was concerned, Andree was leaving that police station immediately he understood all on ground, he wondered how a building full of lawyers would let their CEO spend even a minute in police custody without raining on them the full weight of the law they claimed to be experts in.


***

"Where is your Son?" Akin asked Mother. She wasn't pleased with his barging onto her office without invitation. Akin shrugged it off with a reminder that he built the office. Mother couldn't believe she could still hate him more than she already did at that moment. Akin wanted to assume position of interim leader in Andrew's absence, he was best suited for it at the moment - The firm must always have a leader at all times, that was what Article 3 of their constitution dwelt on - He controlled the largest percentage of company's stock, and was already let off the hook by the court. Who could contest? He was here to see the look on her face when he made her understand that her time and plotting were over. Yes, he knew she was the one behind the entire thing; and he was ready to bury their long time hatchet if she was ready to move on too. "See you on the other side,” he bade her farewell, he was off to announce his taking over.

"Wait!" Mother called out in time. A was already at the door, but the sound of uncertainty he picked in her voice caused him to smile, he felt she had realized her chances and probably wanted to cut a deal, that was what she had always done all these years. He felt her hands on his shoulder, they began to caress him. He turned and kissed her, and moved her backwards to her desk. He didn't want to, but he couldn't help it, he would accept this sign of surrender from her if that was all she had to offer.

Mother let him ravage her with kisses long enough to locate what she searched for on her desk. She slapped him to send him off her. "Idiot!" She insulted him, how could he think she'd be quick to jump into bed with him, at her age she was wiser than that. "Take," she threw him a file, it was the document of Andrew's power of attorney, in his absence she controlled everything he controlled including the firm, Akin had lost again and as far as she was concerned he was a lost cause without a comeback.


***

Akin left the office thinking. The power of attorney crap was something he didn't see coming. How couldn't he? It was a basic thing that even a break out lawyer would know. He realized he was fast losing track of the law world. He needed to get his life in order as soon as possible.

"Hi Dad!" Mark's voice came from behind him. Akin couldn't believe his ears. He quickly turned and saw him standing before him. He panicked, how could he have forgotten he had a son?
.

***

Detective Ojo walked in with a gloating face, he was ready to run Andrew down with detailed questions that would expose him for what he knew he was - A killer.

"Bastard,” Andrew silently cursed him. He was still holding his composure just as he had been doing for more than twenty-four hours he'd been held here: There was no working time piece around but he knew how to keep track of time without a time piece, that was something he'd use to his advantage now. "It's more than twenty-four hours now,” Andrew gloated. The law specified all preliminary interrogation to end after twenty-four hours if no substantial evidence against the accused was found, and the police were already faulting that law as far as he was concerned, taking the battery away from the table clock before bringing him in wouldn't save them if he decided to press charges against this precinct and Ojo in particular.

Detective Ojo muttered, he couldn't find something substantial to say in his defense; Andrew was right about everything, especially the battery part, he wondered what kind of person this was, and realized his intelligence must have been the reason he ascended to the position of CEO and not through bribing of a High Judge as he had always thought. He had always hated Andrew since that court proceeding, but now he knew better. "You're free to go now Sir,” he panicked, the threat of the full weight of the law seemed more real before him now than when his partner pointed the possibility out to him. He wanted Andrew out of here as fast as humanly possible.

Andrew was having the time of his life watch the Detective fumble with his locks and clearance proceedings. He laughed at how fast his manner of approached had changed when he realized his gimmick had been found out - Times like this made him love Ramon well, he blessed her for making him learn to mentally follow the time where there was no time piece. He kind of enjoyed his experience here, but was in no hurry to return a second time.

Correct story,following closely.

E12


Andrew walked into his home with an uneasy kind of feel. He walked upstairs and made certain Mother wasn't around. He was very hungry and grabbed something to eat from the refrigerator in the dining room. He sunk into his extra soft cushion that lay at one corner of his wide living room to relieve himself a little off stress and worried thoughts.

***

Mother kept a lazy gaze at Dimeji as he spoke. He was the chick and she was the hawk, yet he continued to defy her magnificence with his lies; How could he say her son raped her goddaughter? Did he not realize who he was talking to? Even with his insinuated video evidence, Mother never appreciated been threatened, it never ends well for whoever threatens her.

"Fifty million or the police get to know," Dimeji maintained. This was a haphazardly thought plan because his original with Imelda went to nought the moment she was murdered; he couldn't defraud Andrew alone, but he could defraud his mother through blackmail. As he tried to make her understand the level of his seriousness he couldn't help but think about his planned escape to Singapore: The implied-ransom would still go into the illegal deal he still wanted to achieve if his plan for Andrew and Imelda had come through. He gave Mother two days to make the money available to the offshore account detail he wrote down on the paper he offered to her.

***

"Let's toast,” Ramon wore a huge smile: Malik made her happy.

Spending the past three days behind closed doors with him reminded her the reason she fell in love with him years ago, he was still loving as she remembered and she couldn't help but fall for him again. He slept over at her place three days ago because the rain wouldn't let him go after their meeting of revenge against everyone at Lewis Chamber. She knew it was a bad idea letting him sleep over, but she couldn't send him out into the rain, no matter their quarrel, and when inhibitions went dead under the serene weather for two that night, she felt happy in his arms. It happened again the next day, more times than the day before, and also today. They'd just finished making love and they wanted to toast to their reignited love.

"A toast,” Malik asked with concern, he wasn't really a wine guy. Ramon remembered but she wanted him to drink to the health of their renewed love. She ran to the bar, her bare skin shone in the dim light of the night and the dim light of the mini coloured bulb Malik had fitted specially for tonight. Tonight was the anniversary of the day they met and he remembered, he wanted to make it special in every way, extra spiced sex and all that. Ramon had a choice problem, she stared at her two most expensive drinks at her bar, Andrew's seemed more appealing, probably because she welcomed the naughty idea of drinking what he bought for her with her ex. Everything Andrew pissed her off, he betrayed her and she was going to betray him in every form possible. She grabbed The Brut-rose.

"Cheers!"

"Cheers,"

They clinked their glasses. Ramon drained her glass at a go and went for another, she watched Malik struggle with the pungent odour the drink gave off, it made her laugh. She had drained three glasses and he was still deciding whether or not to take his first. He finally decided to not. He rushed to kiss her neck, he wanted to go again but she wanted to drink more than she wanted to touch body. She placed her middle finger on his intruding lips till she finished her fourth glass.

Malik withdrew a bit, her admired her again, this was the umpteenth time, her body held no blemish. He agreed to wait till she drained the glass, it'd increase his chance of the marathon sex he desperately craved for with her tonight. He kept on admiring her, encouraging he to drink up. Out of the blues he yelled for her to stop.

Ramon could taste the blood on her lip, she tried cleaning up but more drained from her nose, and as Malik just pointed out her ears had started to bleed too. Ramon stared desperately at the wall mirror located at her bar, her reflection showed her eyes had also started crying blood just like her nose and ears. She turned in horror, her tears had mixed with the blood, and she could still taste it on her lips, she felt the metallic taste of blood as perfect as she could feel her own strength failing her, she had begun to gasp for breath.

Malik didn't know what to do to cool her down. He held her by the hand to prevent her from clawing her own face out in horror. He let her rest down at the base of the bar. He wondered what started the bleeding, at that moment he turned around, and saw the empty bottle of "The Brut-rose Armand de Brignac Midas.' He immediately asked where she got the drink from, her mouth opened but the words coming out weren't audible enough. He placed his ear close to her mouth to listen better but what came out was more blood that stained his skin. She was desperately gasping for breath and he was crying begging her to stay alive.

Ramon kept her eyes fixed on Malik, she could feel her life force fleeing her body but couldn't do anything to help herself. She could feel the light of life dimming from her eyes but she struggled to focus on her love. She could read his lips, his "I love you," came through, but she couldn’t return them, she immediately regretted all the years she was estranged from him, she desperately wanted to tell him she loved him too but she couldn't. Her neck tightened and all she could do was rest in the warmth of his arm for the moment she had left and ask the Almighty for his forgiveness if he would listen to her now.


***


Sleep still refused to come, even as the hour of Mother drew closer, he prayer to the god of sleep that he slumbers before she returned. For the better part of today he had been thinking about his life, and all he had done to be where he was today. From the police custody when he thought of Ramon till now, he hadn't been able to get her out of his head. This was a woman who had done so much good for him, a woman he sincerely and deeply loved, but like all women who loved his cursed self she got bitten by the vicious viper in him.

The 24th of December, 2004 came to mind: The day he met Ms. Ramon.

He was in the police cell for being the only suspect in a case of stolen money in the compound where he lived. Without anyone to pay his bail he rotted away till she saw him. She claimed to have seen him for the three days he had slept there: She also claimed to be a consultant for the police, but he later learnt that she was dating the DPO then. She took him in when his Mother was away in the white man's land raising funds to strike her enemy, she saved him from himself and his demons, his agoraphobia was at its pick then and she helped him put it under check, she made him use it as a weapon to always strike first at people's comfort before they could take a strike at his unease and make him uncomfortable, she helped his life have purpose, she helped him to take a career in law to help further his plot against the elusive Akin he had described to her then, she made him promise to grant her whatever she wanted when their plan worked, she taught him to love and he loved her for that. His eyes began to shrink, his thoughts were getting much for his head to comprehend any longer, he wanted to sleep now. The entrance door keyhole turned twice and its knob followed once: Mother was back.

E13


"Mother!" Andrew called out from the couch; his greeting sound weak, but still held contempt within. His voice was weak, yet clear, as Mother could tell. She was glad he was home, though she wouldn't let her emotions show; she was a bit worried and wanted him to find a way out of their custody. Her weaknesses were a default she had perfected hiding, no one was worthy to know what bugged her - that ideology had kept her going for a very long time now and she welcomed it. She stared intently at his son, her boy; rarely did she allow herself indulge in her own emotions, they always brought out the worst in her, they always let her guard down, just as they were doing now. She walked towards him and placed her hand on his bare belly, “Have you had something to eat?" she asked feigning little concern. He said “No!" He asked to be let to go to bed; he remembered clearly the last time Mother acted all concerned and worried it didn't end well for him.

"Dimeji is threatening to destroy us,” Her words caught him on the flight of stairs, he froze on his steps. He slightly turned to the left, towards her, his face visible enough to her eyes even though the stairs chandelier was switched off. He said to her, "We'll destroy him first, like we do all our enemies." His reply pleased her very much.

***

Andrew walked through the firm in self-absorbed quiet, he still felt sleepy: Lately he had always slept with one eye opened, he wasn't even sure if it was because of the increased crime rate, or because of his Housemate. He was stuck in the same house with a woman his brain told him wanted him dead, and had always given him a thousand easy to kill; it's been hard and exhausting trying not to. He kept moving till he realized he was now at the paralegal quarters; his thoughts drifted towards Anna and how he used to come smoke her out in the name of official duty before the overhaul transferred her directly under him. He missed those days as much as he missed his self-absorbed quiet. He wanted to continue on his way, but his curiosity got the beter of him - he wanted to know why everyone gathered. As he walked towards the center of their gathering, loud chants of "CONGRATULATIONS" filled the room.

A large banner that bore the words ‘CONGRATULATIONS' stood overhead Anna and Mark's position, they were smiling and loving up.

Andrew wondered if Mark had just proposed to Anna. His heart squeezed and his face immediately clawed with mild jealousy. He tried to get a better view from the back, and saw the big baby picture frame by Anna's side; he immediately realised the gathering was an announcement for Anna's pregnancy. Joy inadvertently creeped into his heart; the thought of Anna not ending up with the father of her unborn child guiltily but unsurprisingly pleased him.

"Hey!" He called out to Anna. He was bold enough to offer his own congratulations. All eyes were on him. He collected a glass from Patricia who was sharing, and raised a toast to the unborn child's long life. Anna looked at him with a piercing gaze. He alone knew why.


***

Andrew barged into Mother's office. He wanted her to call off the hit on Dimeji, "No more killings," he announced. Mother at first was glad he didn't barge in that way to demand to assume the duties of CEO, she would have been forced to discipline him again for been unnecessarily rude, especially when she thought they were progressing in their evolving relationship. "Are you alright?" She wanted to know; yet she didn't care; something was off with him; he was the same person who suggested yesterday that she take Dimeji down like they were known for; what change within the last eighteen hours? She wanted to know.

Andrew didn't have the urge to explain, but he had to. The surge of electricity he felt in his body caused him to take a seat. His body shook gently at the surge of realization: All life had value, that was something he just realized, being in the same room with Mark and Anna.

All Mother could say was her boy had become a love-sick puppy. She felt like hitting sense into his head. "You've been friend zoned,” she maintained; worst, he hadn't even realized it: He was still in love with Anna. He didn't dispute it. To him, he never fell out of love with her.

Mother agreed to think about it. "I'll do what's best for us," she said; the decision wasnt for Andrew alone, it concerned them both.


***

Andrew went to Agnes. When she saw him earlier in the day, she was filled with joy and ran from the distance to hug him, having missed him. He wanted someone familiar and comfortable to talk to now.

Two men dressed formally but not like Lawyers walked up to them, they wanted to see the CEO of the firm - “whoever it may be now,” as one of then joked. Agnes didn't find the joke funny even though Andrew laughed. The young man apologized to her; they were from the forensics department of the police and were here to officially report Ms. Ramon's death, who up till the point of her death was a staff of Lewis Chambers.

"O my God!" Agnes exclaimed when she found out how Ramon died - Of rare poison. Andrew was numb; he felt shaken within but couldn't show it. Agnes had already begun to cry.

"I can't stay here anymore,” her words supported her tears. What would her children do if she died? What would Marcus, the guy who had begun to make her feel alive again, do if she was sudeenly caught up in the thick web of power-tussle and incessant deaths in the firm? What if the demon killing staffs of their firm located her as well? All these questions she threw towards Andrew while buried in his shoulder, heavily crying. He tried to carry her into his office, he didn't want anyone to see her this way, but she wouldn't budge. He went on his knees to assure her on his life that nothing would happen to her, she meant the world to him, and he wouldn't let anyone or anything hurt her.


***

Mark sat opposite his father, he still hadn't touched his branded 'The Bar' drink, even after fifteen minutes of being served. He obeyed out of courtesy, as Anna urged him to honour his father's call to show up for a drink at The Bar. He knew his father wanted to gauge his anger and know how to start making amends for his many sins. He called Akin's attention to his dubiousness and excellence at manipulating people, “This is the reason why I won't let you anywhere near my child,” Mark threatened.

Family still meant the world to Akin, and hearing Mark threaten to cut ties with him, to prevent his grandchild from ever knowing him didn't please him. "Who would it please?" He asked himself. He loved Mark more than life itself, and that was the reason he was trying to mend fences now rather than later, it was the reason for all he'd been doing since; to get his inheritance back from Andrew and his LovePeddler-thief of a mother. He wondered why Mark couldn't just see that.

Mark maintained he didn't want any part of the inheritance, all he ever wanted was his father, and his father left him to rot away for weeks in the prison cell. As far as he was concerned he was done with everything that had to do with Akin and the firm.


***

"Bring your sight back here,” Patrick tried to win Huey's concentration, he had been staring at Akin and Mark seated tables away from them at The Bar. He and Huey were there to catch up on old times, and Huey dwelling on his past enemy wouldn't do them any good in moving on.

Huey still maintained as he'd always claimed that he was done with all things Akin, and had left the fight for God to avenge his mother's death as it pleased his wisdom. To prove it, again, he volunteered to change seat positions with Patrick, that way Patrick would be the one facing Akin. Patrick agreed. Soon they were engrossed in their own discussion and matters that they forgot Akin was seated away from them.

"I miss this bar,” Huey exclaimed at a point: The newly commissioned daytime band made the sunny drinking experience more fun that it was.

"I can't remember the last time I came here."

"Me either."

Both men cheered to the pleasuring sound emanating from The Bar's band. It wasn't everyday two lawyers from different firms sat over a bottle of whiskey at everyone's favourite bar to talk.

Huey broke momentary silence. Patrick had called him earlier today, he sounded tensed and in dire need of him over the phone; so he had to travel the distance to heed his call; yet since they arrived here he appeared calm and hadn't said a word concerning the matter of urgency.

"I needed to talk to someone outside the firm,” Patrick finally cleared the air. He filled Huey in on all that had been happening of late, and claimed to be having hard times continuing with all that had been happening at the firm.

weldone Talius, its getting more interesting

E14


Patricia held Andrew firmly by his wrist, her many attempts to sway him for the past ten minutes to see reason pass the recent resentment he held for her had all failed, he was acting like a spoiled school child missing his mother. "You have to listen to me,” she pleaded again, but the sharp threat in his eyes that accompanied the words, “Let go!" made her let go

Andrew's heard was spinning: He wondered what Patricia was thinking when she brought this crazy idea to him. How would she think he'd agree to use the K-option on his own mother? How could she insinuate that his mother was the one who framed him for Imelda's murder? It was practically impossible for Mother to do so because he was sire she loved him, even if it was in a twisted way. "Not happening,” He maintained his stance.

Patricia noticed the building sweat through his crisp white shirt. He never sweated that much, never. This wasn't the Andrew she had come to know over the many years they've worked together. How could he suddenly forget his hate for his mother? How could he even claim that she loved him?

"Get out!" Andrew's voice boomed loud to cut her, he was angry and his face clearly showed it. He turned a deaf ear to her plea, he maintained his resolve to place her on suspension especially for suggestion that he end his own mother before she ended him. According to her, Mother was killing off his competitions, his loved ones, and he didn't even realize it. Probably till she killed Anna too.


***

Patrick took note of how different The Bar looked without activity during the day, no natter the rebranding it wasn't up to the aura the night life provided. He gently rolled his sleeve to observe his expensive time piece, “1:20PM," He read out loud, "Where are you Huey?" He asked the empty space. He looked around still nothing. He removed the dark shade that contributed to his failing sight, and he received his healing instantly.

"Thought you wouldn't show up," Huey greeted with a smile. Patrick blamed the Lagos traffic. They had scheduled another meeting after their last one. Patrick's eye caught the third party that didn't seem to be drifting away.

"Patrick Jamie, Jamie Patrick," Huey gave a quick introduction as he sensed Patrick's increasing unease at the stranger's presence.


Jamie - He was from Tiffany Jane Law Chamber: a fast rising law chamber with an ever increasing clientele ready to take over the Nigerian law scene. He was here on Huey's recommendation to meet Patrick, the man with the exact kind of skill they needed at the firm.

The job offer came with the exact kind of scenery change Patrick needed: A new town, better pay to treat his family better, a higher rank, and more time off with his wife, but then he couldn't just pack up and leave Andrew - He remembered his promise to stay with Andrew and fight all evils by his side, even though the evils of late seemed numerous and far tactical than what he'd have thought possible, a promise was a promise - Their unusual kind of friendship history made the decision process harder.

"We'll give you a lot of time to think about it," Jamie offered a smile, he couldn't come back to his firm with a negative reply. Huey assured him Patrick would think about it. Patrick sat studied with his thoughts. Jamie felt Patrick had loyalty which was a rare commodity in the market place, it made him want to convert him to their firm as soon as possible.


***

"Empty!" Andrew shouted in frustration at the sight of Mother's empty chair. Her absence caused him to notice the not-so-newly installed grandfather clock - He wondered why they decided to switch to the vintage form of time telling - He ignored the eye catching edifice when Mother came in.

"I got your message," Andrew announced with agitation. Mother asked why she hadn't gotten results. He stunned her when he boldly declared he wasn't going to do it even if she disgraced him before the entire firm now. She lowered her fancy spectacle to view him with her naked eyes. He sulked.

"You say?" She asked again.

Andrew remains quiet, he knew better than to reply. Mother's email instructed him to frame Akin for any crime whatsoever he could come up with so that they could permanently get rid of him and take control of his stocks- But he didn't want to, lately he didn't know what he wanted anymore.

Mother cut the chase, she wasn't one to drag a case for too long and she wasn't going to start now - Just like she threatened Anna then she was threatening Agnes now - If Andrew didn't go ahead with the plan, “Agnes's children will become orphans,” she said. Andrew resisted but it only seemed to fuel her ever increasing dominance over him; even though Ramon taught him to manage his fright and prevent something worse than his agoraphobia to return, he still was no match for the face of Mother's true wrath.

He went on his knees to plead. This was more for framing Akin that for the threat to Agnes's life, “Mother would never hurt Agnes,” so he thought. But she insisted, “Akin must go."

The rising chaos outside the room, made then both pause. Andrew rose up, he led them both outside to the source of the heavy noise.

"You've killed her," The young man's voice rang out again. He saw Andrew and he rushed to give him a huge blow that sent Andrew staggering, before he was barricaded by members of the staff that came to look, they had to protect their boss from getting a sequel to his slap.

"You people finally killed her,” The white of his eye glowed bright red as he spoke in tears, his pain had attracted almost every eyes present in the building. Patrick arrived in time to hear him finally repeat his statement, he asked what happened, “Who died?"

"Agnes."

Everyone started to murmur. Soon, most eyes were on Andrew who tried to find his feet. The moment he recognized the trouble was from Marcus he panicked, but he refused to let his fear get the best of him, up till the moment he received the blow; Agnes was dead and everyone wanted to know what he'd do. His eyes scanned through the entire hall, everyone was waiting for him to speak. He located Mother standing close to her office door, she left him to go inside, she left as she always did.

Everyone's guard was down and Marcus came for him again, It took the intervention of Patrick, some young male staffs, and the sway of the able bodied security men to arrest Marcus and force him away from Andrew, who he had punched more times than necessary. The security officer bundled him in their van to the police station.

"Let's get you cleaned up."

Andrew looked at his unexpected helper for the third time since the last minute he offered his service. He couldn't make up his mind to accept his help or not, so he decided to play along. Mark helped him. Andrew purposely downplayed the two subjects for a conversation with Mark; but Mark persisted, he wanted to set the pace for a new relationship between the both for Anna's sake.

"I haven't had the chance to thank you,” Mark finally said what was truly on his mind. Andrew wondered loud, he wanted to know what the appreciation was for.


Mark's gently rested his back side on the wash basin next to the one Andrew was using to clean himself up. He wanted to speak from his heart without mincing words. He had been trying to do the right thing for the sake of Anna and his unborn child for a while now, and that included settling whatever issue he had with Andrew. "For breaking me out of jail,” He finally replied.

Andrew had forgotten about the favour he granted Anna, he tried to make Mark understand the favour wasn't form him, but her, yet he insisted on showing appreciation. He also wanted Andrew to understand that he and Anna were going to get married soon, if Andrew held a tiny bit of the love he claimed to have for Anna he'd let them be for the sake of their unborn child.

Andrew stared at him, he thought Mark a fool for trying to reason with a man who loves the mother of his unborn child; whether Mark believed it or not, he and Anna were not yet married. But then, Anna choose him for a reason and he would respect that choice as much as he could.

"I owe you a favour,” Mark said to him.

***

Patricia sulked in anger, over what next to do: Asides Andrew she had no life, without him was purposeless. Her frustrations got the best of her and she couldn't successfully unlock her car. In the process of fiddling with the handle, the key broke in it

"Need help?"
Patricia turned, “I think I do!" She sounded shy. A little stare and she recognized her helper as the guy from the storage department, she had seen him twice when she went to fetch an old document for a case she was working with Mr. Dimeji last week.

The young man identified himself as ‘KC.' He claimed to be a mechanic, when he pulled out his toolbox from his car boot, he was parked next to Patricia. Patricia bit her lips from excessive smacking, the guy was hot! by her description, he appealed to her in every way, even the sweat collected at the back of his shirt turned her on. Soon he was done and she thanked him with a hug, he could feel her erect nipple from her blouse without a bra.

KC got the message, she wanted him or she wanted any man at all, it didn't matter to him, he was ever ready to pump. He grabbed her by the neck to himself and kissed her. She pushed him into her back door seat, she was in charge.

E15


Andrew sat on the marbled floor of the rest room, the sound of the overflowing water from the wash basin sounded soothing to him, until the flowing spill started to encroach his position. He revisited the memory of the painful revelation of the past hour. He wondered if Agnes was truly dead as Marcus claimed, he wished Marcus show today was just a show. He understood the man was in pain and thus promised himself not to press charges. He couldn't help but remember her very recent fear for her life, it was as though she could see her death coming and he stupidly kept assuring her safety when he knew he couldn't do much. Was it coincidence that his mother threatened her and she ended up dead? He needed to see a body else he wouldn't know what to do or be able to live with himself. This was far harder than anything he's been made to suffer through in all his life, he's always been suffering.

The steadily flowing water finally reached his legs, it touched one foot of his Italian foot wear causing it to sparkle at the point of contact. He quickly arose and washed his face, the world needed to see a strong CEO ready for anything.

"Sorry." The restroom's exit hit someone on the other side as he sent the door flying, and he immediately apologized to his victim. He recognized it was Patricia the moment he was able to see her face. He called her name and she returned the favour immediately.

He pulled her in, and shut the door behind them. He pulled her up to him and comfortably carried her to the finely crafted table top after the array of wash hand basins, he placed her on it and rested her back against the silver mirror behind her and lifted her legs, she ravaged his belt buckle like a little girl desperate for a particular flavour of fruit juice, and he wasted no time in diving in - This was the only way he knew to feel good.

After about twenty minutes of a go without skin protection, he was done even though she was just getting started, he tossed her aside like the piece of trash he felt within - He felt empty. Patricia wondered out loud why he was acting strange and weirder that usual. He told her Agnes had died last night. That was all the explanation she needed. She placed her hand around his shoulders from the back, and gently rested her fore head at the back of his head, she only wanted to offer comfort but Andrew wanted no pity.

"I have to go see her body," He announced and broke her moment, he was already adjusted and headed for the exit. "See you around Patricia,” he said goodbye. His tone contained his appreciation for the time they had just spent together, Patricia thought he was more screwed up than he was letting on - "Andrew never implies a thank you after sex,” her memory served to remind her.


***

Andrew's attention was drawn to her desk, he couldn't pass because he suddenly realized that heading to the mortuary to confirm her death took away every hope he had that this was just a hoax and cheap ploy by Marcus to extort him and the firm off some money or some unknown plan that he prayed it was all about. His attention shifted focus to his office door, ajar, it served to remind him more about Agnes's absence from her duty. It didn't help his grieve. He stormed into the office and saw Mother seated there.

"You killed her,” he shouted at Mother. He gave a powerful three word as a welcome greeting.

Mother showed a little consideration for his pain, it was so unlike her and it made him suspect her even more, what Patricia told him that morning weighed heavily on his mind. Mother walked up to his position and calmly pulled him by the hand to have a seat, he didn't resist. Andrew thought of what exactly he could do, this woman was screwing up his life really bad and he didn't know how to fight back,

"Bleep this illness,” He quietly cursed his agoraphobic condition: It made him a weakling where his mother was concerned. He thought about how different life over the months since mother returned would have been without that condition, things that used to matter before had ceased to matter now because he had Cruella in his life again - The witch all witches.

"I didn't kill Agnes," Mother said in her defense. She reminded him her threat was almost as recent as when they found out she was already dead. She made it up to force him to comply with her plan to frame Akin at that instant. She asked him how he thought her killing Agnes would further their plan, getting rid of Akin was still her top most priority.

Andrew gave a reserved hiss - How he wished she knew he called her a witch in his head - Mother attention was divided by an emerging call and he had the opportunity to express a little emotion. She brought up the issue that made them fall out hours ago before Marcus's arrival - Akin's permanent incarceration. Andrew wondered how much human blood the witch had drunk in her entire life time, his grief meant nothing to her that she brought up the same talk about destroying her enemy again.

"No!" He maintained his stance. She didn't take it well, and burst out most of her suppressed anger for the moment, Andrew wasn't moved - The saying that anger had a way to strengthen a man's heart proved true in this case.

"You don't know all he has done," Mother tried to make him see reason but he maintained his stance, he kept screaming, "Enough of the scheming. I'm tired."

"He's is you father!" Mother angrily announced.

The dropped bomb shell seemed to make him slow down, he relegated his voice to let hers shine. Mother narrated how he got her pregnant because the man who Andrew knew as his father never had time to stay home, and beat her all the time whenever he was around. According to her all Akin's love disappeared the moment she took in because his wife was also pregnant at that time and the wife suddenly became more important. She clearly remembered how she pleaded for him to marry her and leave her husband, but he refused and even denied her unborn child, he denied Andrew. She paused to thank God for the death of Akin's wife unborn child, the woman couldn't give birth until the next seven years.

She continued the recount of her ordeals, she had to kill the drunk Akin knew as his father years later when he began to question and trouble her over rumoured infidelity charges from village gossips, he would beat her mercilessly without reason whenever he came back drunk because she was the usual topic of discussion at the village square where he drank. She had to drug him, tie him up and torture him with fire until it went wrong and his entire body caught fire. She had to set their home on fire to cover her tracks. The fire was so intense that his body was charred completely.

"I know,” Andrew stood up to say. Mother's countenance grew, "Good," she announced, he was finally seeing the sense in her entire vendetta against Akin.

Andrew rephrased his subject in case she didn't get his message the first time, “I know he's my father,” He maintained his hard face and blank stare. He had known for a while now Akin fathered him, he had a private investigator trail Mother for weeks and knew about her various long distance secret meetings with Akin, where they argued away from familiar eyes discussing who knew what. He had the P.I trace their history and he found someone who knew someone that knew something. He really hated her at that moment.


***

"How's it coming?"

Akin spoke into his phone in a low tone, he still remembered his manners and that the walls all had ears. He wasn't really feeling the call, the person on the other side had more bad news than good news especially with properly taking care of the loose end that was a thorn in his flesh.


***

Mark still sat uncomfortably in his car as he had done for the past thirty minutes, with the black sweat shirt and pant he wore coupled with a dark hand glove it was a surprise why his Air conditioning system hadn't overheated. In as much as he would have loved to come out and take a stroll, it seemed inappropriate especially as he awaited a sign.

'Flash! Flash!' The simultaneous trickle of an overhead car light seemed to announce it was time. He crossed the road to the black Benz packed by the fence that stretched a little distance. the passenger's seat glass rolled down and Andrew appeared on the other side,

"Are we good?" Andrew asked. "I think,” Mark sounded tensed.

Both men scaled the mini fence and started towards the bungalow building, it was just like the one in Andrew's dream when he was in the police custody. Mark flashed the dim light while Andrew jacked the police seal on the door. They opened the front door that immediately revealed the living room. Both men put on their masks, and walked in cautiously. Andrew searched around the familiar places he knew hidden cameras were placed. Memories of the cameras and all the kinky acts they let he and Imelda carry out in this house, they brought guilty pleasures to his body. He was taking too long, and a terribly shaken Mark kept on bugging him about leaving, the police could come anytime soon and he wasn’t ready to go back to jail; they were here to look around for evidence not search for hidden cameras that Andrew used in making sex tapes in the living room.

"Finally," Andrew announced, he had finally located the tape he was searching for, the one in the right camera.

"Are you kidding me?" Mark sighed in frustration on thinking Andrew lured him to a crime scene just to fetch his sex tape. Andrew ignored him, he was free to leave if he wished, he wasn't leaving here without watching the tape: He needed to see the face of the killer.

One episode to go for this current book. How has the journey been so far?

Wow! Talius I love this, You are good!

Talius:
One episode to go for this current book. How has the journey been so far?

Excellent

Bb4u:
weldone Talius, its getting more interesting

yorhmienerd:
Wow! Talius I love this, You are good!

Bb4u:
weldone Talius, its getting more interesting

maximanuel:
Correct story,following closely.

kerr9:
nice

Thank you very much. I appreciate your comment(s).

E16


The loud siren from the many police cars packed round Lewis Chamber attracted the attention of everyone within the firm and its premises. The men of the police force came prepared to arrest Imelda's implicated murderer, who worked at the firm.

The police went in armed, and within five minutes came out with the suspect already handcuffed. The Commissioner of Police had addressed the press before his men came out; he said they received a tip from someone who they choose to keep anonymous for security reasons. He said their informant had given them detailed info that implicated the suspect they had come to take into custody.

Andrew walked down the stairs of the firm's main entrance. His eyes caught his mother's as she was escorted in cuffs into the armoured police vehicle. He cut her an eye, and smirked.

"Mr. Andrew, how do you intend to move on after what has just happened,” A young reporter asked him. He thought her beautiful, but quite skinny; not exactly his kind. He managed to answer her question by reminding her he was The CEO to the many staffs under his wisdom and care, and he had a responsibility to the country at large.

“Until the moment I step down as CEO, my full allegiance is with Lewis Chambers." He pointed at the large emblem of the law-firm that stood at the center of the stairs where they were all gathered.


***

"What is the current state of things?" Andrew threw the question to no one in particular, he buried his head into the paperwork he had been on for the past fifteen minutes. Patrick moved to silence the growing murmurs in the conference room; Andrew unusually didn't seem to care today about the rowdiness of his meeting with the Executive's today, or even about the few empty seats in the hall.

"Officers from The Psychiatrists Association of Nigeria are here," Patrick announced.

Andrew wondered what they were doing there, and was told it was the Federal Government's concern about the incessant and very much connected deaths in the firm over the past few months; all staffs were expected to be psychically analyzed. Andrew didn't seem to have a problem with the update, and even termed it a welcomed development. The murnurs continued; people could tell something was up.

Mark and Anna walked into the room; through the piercing eyes of confused Executives they passed round to get a seat close to Andrew. The murmurings continued.

"I asked them to join us," Andrew announced without a care for their feelings. He understood old men and women always nagged for the wrong reasons. Akin watched in silence from the corner of the seat he sat on, just the same way he'd been doing since he entered. His gaze ran from Andrew to Mark to Anna, and back again, in that order.

As the couple walked round to take their seat. Andrew observed Anna's pregnancy still wasn't showing. He wondered when her bump would start announving itself; although it wasn't his business, he cared; but his concerns would have to wait till after the important announcement he had to make.

Mark and Anna were to become co-CEOs of the firm with immediate effect, if they'd just sign their own part of the document legalizing it. It was Andrew's early wedding present to the both of them.

The decision to hand over power this way didn't go down well with most members of the board, who felt they should have at least been given a chance to vote on his choice of successor(s), or better still select someone from amongst them, who was already a Director of the firm. Andrew watched them rant in silence.

After a while of venting, Akin stood up and spoke, he was of the opinion that young bloods such as these if given the chance would do wonders for the firm far more than any of them old folks could ever do - He gave his support for Andrew's decision, not because it was his son and lover, but because he believed they would do a good job raising Lewis chambers to greater heights. His speech was immediately supported by Patrick, and the final verdict was given by Andrew again; he was still CEO and the laws of the firm gave him the final say in every situation, and hr had spoken. Akin used the opportunity while still standing to show his resolve to want to mend fences with Andrew as a stepping stone to earning the forgiveness of every other person he had hurt one way or the other in his quest for power. Andrew agreed to this, and they both walked outside together to talk.

***

"The sensors are off. Move fast!" Patricia's voice sounded through the gear into his ear. He walked fast accordingly and met up with the elevator.

"Go now!" She gave another command. He moved faster, and appeared through the corridor to the conference room were the signing of the power handover document was in effect, and caught the eye of Akin who was looking off Andrew's shoulder in his direction.

"That's Dimeji right?" Akin asked his son. "Looks like him,” Andrew replied. Both men wondered why he walked funny, they started to walk towards him, slowly.

"Look up!" Patricia's instruction came as a warning to his ear this time. He obeyed, and saw both men fast approaching him. He quickly ran into the conference room. Andrew picked up the pace to chase him. He rushed after him, and stretched his hand to hold the entrance door before it closed. A blast emanated from the inside that removed the door from its place, and carried with it Andrew. Akin who had almost caught up was thrown off balance by the magnitude of the blast. They were both unconscious.

And that's a wrap on Book 2. Thank you for the journey so far.

Talius:
And that's a wrap on Book 2. Thank you for the journey so far.

Is it going to have a part 3, cos I don't seem to understand it. Nice job sir.

yorhmienerd:
Is it going to have a part 3, cos I don't seem to understand it. Nice job sir.

Yes my brother. There's going to be a Book 3, sometime in the future.

my talius, how cloz is the future

Talius:

Yes my brother. There's going to be a Book 3, sometime in the future.

laikas:
my talius, how cloz is the future

In the foreseeable future.

Talius:


In the foreseeable future.

plz sir, these one u're saying does not concern me o, my own is that u shld come fast and finish anytin concerning cracked source, or else.....