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Odoogu:
Meeehn after a very long wait.
hope all is well and settled now?
be good

Yes all is well. Thanks for asking

Two other officers came in that night. I wasn't surprised anymore. I resigned to my fate and let them do their 'business' without any resistance.

The skinny policeman returned with one sachet water which he offered to me to drink before taking me again.

When the metal door of the cell was finally locked, I coiled up in a fetal position and cried. I remembered what my Mama used to say, When some people sin their punishment comes fast, when others sin their punishment take years to come, some don't get punished at all until after death but the luckiest of the three are the ones who receive their punishment almost immediately, their punishment is usually the lightest.

I held on to Mama's words and it gave me hope.



The early morning sun rays burst through the holes of the metal door and warmed my skin. I hadn't slept a wink. My nose had already gotten used to the putrid smell of the cell. My throat was dry from thirst. I had semen from different men between my thighs. I was in a rough shape.

A few hours later, a woman dressed in an oversized blue dress opened up the cell and dropped a small bucket of water. She shut the door right after.

I took the bucket to the farthest corner of the cell and drank some water out of it first before I rinsed my face and hands.

The metal door opened again a few minutes later, this time it was another female police officer. She led me out to the DPO's office.

I began to shake like a leaf when I entered the DPO's office.

The DPO was an elderly man who looked like he was in his late 50s. I greeted him and he asked me to take a seat opposite him.

He asked me a few questions which I answered. I lied to him that I was a hairdresser in Lagos and I had come to Benin to hustle and start a new life as the father of the child in my womb had left me.

He asked of my family and who I lived with. I told him I was an orphan and I had cohabited with my boyfriend before coming down to Benin.

I didn't blink or flinch as I lied. I had practiced what to say the past night. The DPO stared hard at me and asked for the number of any of my neighbors in Lagos so he could confirm this. I had started calling out the number of Fatima, my friend from work before he asked me to stop.

"It's okay, we went through your phone and his and we saw that you two were not connected in anyway, you were only at the wrong place at the wrong time."

I placed my hands on my chest and let out a heavy sigh of relief.

"She is free to go. Take her to the counter." The DPO ordered to the Policewoman who stood behind me the whole time.

I was given back my Jacket, Purse and Sandals at the counter. I signed where I was asked to before leaving the police station.

I saw a small kiosk opposite the gates of the police station. I was hungry but I wanted to get out of there as fast as possible. I opened my purse to see how much I had left. All my money was gone.

dawno2008:
Welcome back

But Pls easy on poor cherry

Yes sir!

leosmaria:
I knew it.
I knew you will come back one day
welcome back on board captain
can we now start sailing the ship?



I hope you have settled the issues

Yes I have, thanks

@leosmaria @tahir01 @Born2winxxx @henriettttta @EdmundAlma @kingso23 @missmossy @emitheo @Wonderz01 @Dfrenzy @greatdeal1408 @Flizbeauty

When we arrived at the station, We were taken behind the counter where we registered our details with a female police officer.

Our names were written boldly in chalk on a blackboard above the counter. Calvin was stripped down to his boxers, while my purse, sandals and jacket were taken away from me.

"She even get belle sef." The policewoman hissed. "Dem wan born another criminal, we get plenty room for cell."

Our statements were taken and I was led to a small cell which reeked of urine and faeces. The female officer locked the metal door behind me. I was the only one in the cell.

"Enjoy your stay in our hotel." She sneered before she left.

I sat down on the cold concrete floor and rested my back against the wall. There was no light in the cell and it was very cold.

I began to sob. What kind of bad luck did I run into? Was Broda haunting me from beyond? I would have slept in the park in peace. They would surely find out that I murdered Broda. I would be hanged. My mind raced with different thoughts.

The metal door clicked open and the skinny policeman walked in.

"Hello dear, hope the mosquitoes are not too much this night?" He asked as he stood above me.

"Please sir...I swear, I don't know him..."

"Shh...it's okay, I believe you."

"Ahh...thank you sir." I felt a bit elated and went on my knees to thank him.

"Get up." He said as he helped me up to my feet.

I began to feel suspicious, why was he being so nice?

"I read your statement myself and I know it is 100% true but the problem is that my colleagues think you are telling lies...and when the DPO hears of this tomorrow... hmm, I'm not sure he would be on your side o! He hates anything that has to do with drugs with passion, in fact, it is better you kill somebody than sell drugs! Once he hears of this, it is maximum prison straight!"

I swallowed hard. Murder plus drug peddling. I am finished, I thought.

"Please sir, help me...I am innocent." I pleaded. I didn't trust him but I had no other option.

He placed both hands on my shoulders.

"It's okay, calm down... Luckily for you, I am very close to the DPO. We are stepbrothers, anything I say he listens. I can help you convince him...you would go Scot free."

My heart skipped at his last words.

"Please do... abeg I can't go to jail."

"I will I like you too much." He raised one hand from my shoulder and used his fingers to brush my cheeks.

I shuddered at his touch. I couldn't pull away, I was at his mercy. I made up my mind to do anything to get out of prison.

He lowered his lips to mine and kissed me. His kiss was very sloppy and I cringed under him.

He lowered both hands to my breasts and began to squeeze them roughly. It hurt me as the pregnancy made my breasts sore but I couldn't complain.

"Be a good girl and I will help you out." He whispered as he turned me to face the wall.

He pulled down my trousers along with my panties. I heard him unbuckle his belt before he thrusted deep into my dry vagina without warning. He placed his hand over my mouth to muffle my scream.

"Shut up you this girl...you want the others to hear?" He said as he kept on with his deep thrusts.

I shut my eyes tight as my head kept on hitting the wall of the cell. I bit down on my lips and endured the pain until I felt him pour his seed into me then his phallus went limp.

"Good girl." He chuckled and slapped my bottom. "See you tomorrow." He said as he adjusted his trousers.

I turned back to see him walking out of the cell. "Oga, what about-"

I was shocked to see the chubby policeman walk in.

Please forgive me for the late post I had a few issues I had to sort out. I'm here now

On our way to the hotel, as we approached the roundabout at Ringroad there was a roadblock filled with Policemen.

I held my breath and hoped the Policemen would not flag us down.

"Take, put these in your bra." Calvin said as he passed his two smartphones to me.

I was already in hot soup and this guy wanted to implicate me? No way! I won't let him do what Broda did to me.

"It won't fit." I replied.

"Just try...put it in your shirt or wherever...just keep it hidden."

I shook my head vehemently.

"Bitcch! You would sleep on the streets this night, I'll make sure of that!"

He switched off the phones and threw them under the car seat.

The car slowed down as a police officer waved at us to stop. He parked under a street light.

My heart pounded loudly in my chest as 2 policemen walked to the vehicle. They took positions on both sides of the car.

"Good evening o." The chubby policeman with pot belly greeted cheerfully while the skinny one on the driver's side kept blinding our eyes with his flashlight.

"License and registration." The skinny policeman asked after he was done searching. The cab man handed the documents to him which he gave a quick glance before he returned it.

The skinny policeman pointed his flashlight at our faces again and asked us to step down from the car.

I trembled with fear as we stood at the side of the road.

"See fresh boy..." The chubby policeman grinned from ear to ear as he stared at Calvin.

"See as he skin smooth, I no sure say our sun dey beat am. "Na office work you dey do?" He sneered.

"I sell jewelries." Calvin's spoke with a shaky voice.

I silently prayed the Policemen focused on him alone and forget I was there.

The Policemen laughed out loud and some other officers gathered.

"Na your woman be this? She fine o...but why she no dress fine like you? You be stingy man?"

Questions flew from one officer to another, all directed at Calvin. The police asked for his phone but he insisted he didn't have it on him, after a hot slap from the skinny policeman. He finally broke down and confessed he was a 'Yahoo boy', he showed them where he hid the phones in the car.

They brought out his phones and switched it on while the others brought out his luggage from the trunk of the cab. While they were searching through his bags, they struggled amongst themselves to steal some of his items.

"Wetin be this?" One of the Policemen asked as he brought out a big brown envelope from Calvin's box. He didn't wait for an answer before he emptied the contents which turned out to be small clear wraps of whitish substance, there were about 15-20 of them.

"Iye meh! That one na kpurummiri!" Another policeman screamed.

The skinny policeman who had been standing next to Calvin all this while punched him in the face, it made me flinch. Calvin bent over and cried out in pains. He hit his back with a baton, Calvin's cries grew louder.

"Make we take carry am go station." The skinny policeman announced.

The other policeman hurriedly threw back in the items they had stolen, they zipped up the luggage and kept it into their van.

"Madam, you go follow us too." The skinny policeman said to me as he handcuffed Calvin.

I almost peed my pants. "Abeg na for park I meet..."

"Shut up! You go write statement when we reach station." The skinny policeman roughly took my hands and placed a handcuff on them.

"You are under arrest, anything you say here would be used against you in the court of law." He recited as he clicked the handcuffs.

As I felt the cold metal if the handcuffs against my wrists, Hot urine flowed down my Jean trousers.

Wonderz1:
Renderbaby thanks and more grease to your elbows

Thanks

leosmaria:
Renderbaby, hope you re alright, we your noble readers are waiting for you

Yea I'm fine...I'm so sorry, I was caught up with work. I'm here now

My heart raced as I hurriedly made my way towards my bag of clothes, I mistakenly tipped over a bucket of garri causing it to spill. I hissed and kicked the bucket out of my way.

To my surprise, a bundle of 1000 naira notes tumbled out with the garri. When I picked it up and counted, it was a sum of 7,000 Naira. Broda must have stashed it away, I thought.

I changed into a white shirt with a pair of jean trousers and jacket. I had troubles buttoning my trousers due to my bulging stomach. I gave up and pulled my shirt over it.

I wanted to pack a few clothes but my mind kicked against it, Mekus could come in anytime. I stuffed the 7000 naira into my purse and dashed out of the room.

I shivered when I saw Broda's body on my way out. I had never seen him lay so still and silent. I slowly nudged his arm with the tip of my foot to see if he was really dead. He didn't move. I kicked his side harder. He was still. In a twisted way, It made me feel superior and confident, something I haven't felt in a long time. I kicked his body around some more before I ran out of the compound.

As I ran down the street, I prayed I wouldn't come across Mekus. The sky had grown dark and there were few people on the street and most shops were closed. I had no idea what the time was but I guessed it to be about 9pm.

I sighted a Keke Napep and hailed it.

"Iyana ipaja. Drop." I said to the keke rider after I entered.

I had no plans on where to go to. I couldn't think straight at that moment, all I wanted to do was to get out of Lagos as quickly as I could.

My heart went out to Mama and Nkiru. I missed them both, I wanted to tell Mama and Nkiru that they were both right about Broda and I was wrong. I needed a shoulder to cry on. What if the Police detains them? I thought. I had disappointed them too many times just to please Broda, I didn't want them to suffer for his death.

"Madam!" The keke rider clicked his fingers at my face.

I shook my head at him. I was lost in my thoughts.


"Madam I been dey call you since...nawa o!"

I looked out of the keke. The market was bustling with people. A lot of traders were still selling their wares on trays and mats by the roadside. It was a rowdy scene.

"We don reach?" I turned to ask the keke man.

"No we still dey go." He answered with sarcasm.

I eyed him. "Take me to where buses they load...I wan travel."

He stared at me like I was crazy. "To where? What of your load?" He asked as he looked down to my small purse.

"Mind your business. Take me to any bus park wey dey close by."

He shook his head at me. He probably thought I was mentally ill. "You go add 100 Naira join." He announced as he started the engine of his tricycle.

We rode into a big park. 'Iyare motors' I read out the huge sign at the entrance.

I paid the keke rider who looked at me with pity in his eyes but was eager to collect his fare.

I walked to the ticket stand and waited patiently on the queue. I didn't even know where heading to at that point.

I thought about Mekus. Had he seen Broda's body? What was his reaction? Did he flee or he went to the police? He seemed like the type of guy to run. I felt sorry for him, he had given us free accommodation and all he got was trouble in return.

I finally bought a ticket. The skin bleached lady with heavy makeup behind the ticket stand informed me all the buses were heading to Benin City. I held my breath as I bought the ticket, I whispered a prayer that the police wouldn't be able to trace me to Benin City.

We boarded the bus and moved. There was traffic at Dopemu, we were stuck there for a while.

I leaned my head against the window of the bus. Broda's still body flashed through my mind. I imagined him lying there with the big rats in our compound gnawing at his body.

Tears rolled out of my eyes as Broda's words played in my head. He had wasted 3 years of my life. I was just 18 and my life seemed like a huge mess. I bit down on my lip and wished I had made Broda's death slow and painful.

I was going to look for a way to get an abortion when I got to Benin, even if I had to beg on the streets, I promised myself.

It was 2am when we arrived in Benin city. I only had a purse with me so I didn't wait with other passengers for the Driver to offload luggage.

I took a seat at a corner of the bus park and looked around as people struggled with their bags and passengers quarreled with their Drivers.

I was confused. I had no idea on where to go to. I had never been to Benin before. I felt stranded.

"Hello."

I looked up to see a tall young man with long dreadlocks packed in a ponytail. He had a diamond stud on one ear. I was mesmerized with the aroma of his perfume.

I looked away and tried to ignore him but he persisted.

"Hello. Please can I sit next to you?"

There were lots of vacant seats around. I frowned and nodded.

I held my purse tightly to my body. He didn't look like the hungry type but I didn't want to take chances.

He sat next to me and as his shoulder brushed mine, something in me awakened.

I kept my face still, staring at a distant corner. I resisted the urge to look at his face.

"I don't mean to intrude... But I heard you cry in the bus, I was seated behind you so I couldn't reach out, are you okay?"

He had a foreign accent, I couldn't tell if it was British or American, I didn't know the difference.

I turned to look at his face. He was handsome. He had this sweet and nice aura.

"I'm lost." I heard myself say.

He looked confused. "Lost? Did you take the wrong bus?"

I shook my head slowly and fresh tears came flowing. "I don't have where to go."

He stretched out his hand and rubbed my shoulder. "Don't cry...it's alright."

His gaze lowered to my round tummy. I felt embarrassed and pulled my jacket over my stomach.

"Uhm...sorry..." He raised his eyes to meet mine. "Do you have anyone you could place a call to? I have a phone---"

I shook my head and sniffed.

He looked at me for a while. "It's fine...One step at a time. I'm Calvin and you?"

I hesitated. I couldn't think of a fake name. "Che--Cherry."

"Nice name." He smiled. "I came into the country yesterday, I live in Holland, came in to see my Parents...uhm... I was going to lodge in a hotel, since you need a place to sleep, I don't mind if you come along."

I bit my lip. What if he was a ritualist? Would I meet my death so soon after killing Broda? I asked myself. My life couldn't get worse, I shrugged.

"Okay." I said as I stood up and walked with him into a waiting taxi.

After our meeting with Mr Bayo who had given us the sum of 200 thousand Naira, Broda wasn't satisfied. He dialled Musa's private phone number severally but Musa never picked.

Broda told me he contacted Musa's wife on facebook informing her of my pregnancy but she blocked him. He also tried reaching out to Musa's brother but he also ignored him.

For three long weeks, Broda made me shuffle between the Company and Musa's house where I stood by the gates from dusk till dawn just to get Musa's attention. It didn't work, the only attention I got was ridicule by other staffs.

"I don tire, this belle don dey reach 4 months...I no think this man go pay the money, e better make we comot am now." I said to Broda one evening.

I had just returned from standing at Musa's gate, I felt very tired.

Broda turned to eye me. "Na you never ready to collect the money. You suppose dey cry, dey shout for him gate. No way wey he no go answer you."

I frowned at Broda. Whenever Musa's car came up his driveway, I always ran to hit at the doors and window as I begged him. His security men always chased me away, sometimes they would lash me with their whips. Broda would never understand how humiliating it was, I thought.

"For 3 weeks now, I dey stand under sun and rain dey beg am... If he fit pay, he for don do am since, I don try abeg...the pregnancy sef dey weigh me down, I need remove am, the earlier the better." I suggested.

Broda looked me over with the corner of his eyes. "Hmm...okay." He said as he nodded. "You no wan go beg am again abi? No wahala...but make I ask you first, you get money to take remove am?"

I was surprised and irritated by the question. "Which money? I dey give you all the money na."

Broda hissed. "Sister, your abortion money dey part of the 20 million wet the Arab dey hold. If he no gree pay, born the pikin, go drop am for him house."

I began to vent as tears rolled down my eyes.

"Which kind talk be that?! The man pay 200k, na only 10k I need for the abortion, you fit keep the rest to yourself!"

Broda raised his brows at me and laughed.

"Abeg o, Madam vex...no be me you suppose dey para for, go meet the man wey give you the belle...after all, when una dey screw, you no include me...na now wey e no sweet you again you come dey drag me inside, it's not done." He said as he kept on laughing.

My cheeks felt hot, I wished I could punch him in the face.

"No be you tell me say make I carry the Belle for am?!" I screamed at him.

Broda shook his head at me. "Cherry you see how dumb you can be...no be you go open your mosquito legs for am in the first place? It was bound to happen. Don't force the bastard in your womb on me--"

I didn't think twice before I landed a slap across his face. I opened my mouth wide in surprise at my action. I wanted to apologize to him but I couldn't find my words.

Broda held his face, his eyes shot daggers into mine. "What did you just do?" He asked as he stood up from the mat, he started to unbuckle his belt.

I stood up after him. My instincts told me to run but I decided to stand still and face him.

"Beat me! Beat me!!" I raised my hands to my sides and moved closer to him. "You don already kill me finish, I am dead inside! Nothing wey you do me fit pain me again!" I cried.

Broda pulled my hair and used my head to smash the wall. I yelped out in pain. I turned and stretched my hand to grab him by his shirt, I used that as leverage to pull my body close to his and I sank my teeth deep into the skin on the side of his belly.

He groaned in pained and landed powerful blows on my head for me to let go but I clenched my teeth and held his skin firmly in my mouth.

"You dey craze abi?!" He yelled at me as he kept on pounding my head and back. I began to feel dizzy from his blows and finally let him go.

He pushed me to the floor and picked up his belt. "You bitch!" He screamed. "Who dey give you mind, you wan fight me?! Who you be?!" He asked as he struck me severally with his belt.

I whined and whimpered but I didn't beg him to stop.

I heard him panting. "You be waste product! Thank God say I don process my visa finish, I dey go buy my ticket and next week by God's grace, I don move!"

I looked up at him with my eyes wide, I couldn't believe what I heard him say.

He laughed when he saw my face. "You dey surprised? You think say I fit put up with a prostitute like you!" He spat at me and struck me again with his belt. "By next week, I don leave the country, I be wan kick you out since but--"

I didn't hear the rest things he said. My mind raced and my head began to spin. Never would I have thought Broda could betray me so. I never suspected he was planning to travel, I had been busy with work and running helter skelter to get Musa to pay the money. He purposely kept me in this dilemma to distract me from his wicked and selfish plans, I thought.

"...Better go back to your Mama's farm you bush pig! Oh, I forgot! She won't even let you in. The last time you came back home pregnant she footed the bills and you ended up selling the child and you plan to take home this bastard to her?" He laughed with scorn.

"Cherry, I no say make you pack o, you don try for me, I be wan even drop like 2k for you as I dey go but you just spoil everything... Anyhow sha you fit do wetin you wan do after all you get Arab sugar daddy..." He said and laughed again.

My chest began to feel tight. I couldn't breathe properly. I wished the ground could open up and swallow me.

"....Make I tell you one secret, you wan hear?" He looked at me for an answer but I didn't reply. He continued anyway. "After he pay the 200k, I tell your Arab say I be your boyfriend and na me get the belle... I know say he no go pay the 20 million, if I persist, he fit kill me, I just want make you suffer, make you know say you no fit cheat on me and go scot free. Ashawo!" He spat on me.

He turned away and began to walk out of the room.

Till this day I tell you, I don't remember how I got hold of the pestle or how I ran after him, I don't even understanding how he didn't hear me come after him.

All I know is that I hit him with the pestle at the back of his head and he fell to the floor. I kept on pounding his head with the pestle till he stopped moving.

When I finally stopped, I was deeply satisfied with the way his face caved into his skull and the sight of his blood had a calming effect on me.

For the first time, I spat on him.

Two weeks later, Broda and I arranged a meeting with Musa. We were to meet at an open field close to an Anglican Church, three streets away from where we lived.

We had done an ultrasound which indicated the foetus was about two months old.

Broda and I stood waiting on the field for Musa for over two hours. The sun was blazing hot and there was no shade around to hide under. The sun burnt my skin. After a while, my legs became weak.

I complained to Broda about it but he asked me to shut up, he was getting impatient with Musa's
lateness as he had dialled Musa's number severally but he didn't pick up. I almost suggested we leave but I was scared Broda could hit me.

A black SUV drove into the field and parked in front of us. A short bald man with dark sunglasses alighted from the Jeep. He was escorted by two armed police men.

I gulped and turned to look at Broda. I could see fear in his eyes but he didn't move.

"Make we go." I whispered to him as they approached us. He ignored me.

My heart began to race as started to regret the whole situation.

"Good afternoon Sir and Madam." The short man bowed his head slightly at both of us. "I am here to represent Mr. Ibrahim Musa. My name is Mr Adekunle Bayo . He sends his apologies as he had something urgent to attend to. Nevertheless, he briefed me about it and I can take it up from here."

"Why did you bring them?" Broda used his chin to point at the police men who stood beside Mr Bayo.

"Oh never mind them. They are just my bodyguards. I move everywhere with them." Mr Bayo shrugged.

I didn't believe him. I wanted to grab Broda's hand and ask him to run with me but I froze like a statue.

"Let's go straight to the point." Mr Bayo spoke quickly. "What is it you want? Mr Ibrahim has told me about the whole pregnancy saga, he suggested she goes for an abortion as he doesn't want it."

"She can't do such. We are Christians and it is against our family tradition. He needs to take up his responsibility." Broda said with a firm voice.

Mr Bayo took off his sunglasses and held it in his hand. He nodded his head slowly at Broda like he understood him. "If I may ask, what sort of responsibility?"

"It's his child we are talking about here, he should know. My sister needs comfort especially now in her delicate condition. She needs accommodation, a car and all that would make things easier for her. Nobody is asking him for marriage as he has already made it clear he won't marry her."

Mr Bayo nodded as Broda spoke. "I understand, my boy." He stretched out his hand and one of the police men stepped forward to drop a fat brown envelope on his open palm.

"Here." He handed the envelope to Broda who received it. "That is the sum of 200 thousand naira. Do as you please with it. Mr Ibrahim wants the case closed."

Broda threw the envelope to the sandy soil on which we stood.

"The case is just beginning."

As Broda dipped his hand into his bag, the police men pointed their guns at him. I let out a loud gasp as I raised my hands and I turned to look at Broda to see his hands were also raised.

"I just want to bring out my phone." Broda announced. The police men didn't put down their guns. Broda left his left hand up while he slowly used his other hand to reach into his bag to bring out his phone.

He fumbled with his phone a bit before holding it out for Mr Bayo who squinted his eyes to look at the screen.

"I know his wife and some of his family members. I am ready to let them know of my pregnant sister."

I opened my mouth wide as Broda spoke.

"He's married?" I asked Broda. I couldn't understand why I felt so downcast.

The look Broda gave me made me feel stupid. I lowered my eyes to the floor.

"We need 20 million. It will be like nothing ever happened." Broda said to Mr Bayo.

Mr Bayo chuckled. "My boy, if I were you, I would be grateful for the 200 thousand." He turned to me. "Mr Ibrahim said I should let you know your employment with the company has been terminated. Good day Sir and Madam." He bowed his head slightly and turned to walk to his SUV.

"His wife will hear about this! And the company too! It will be all over social media!" Broda yelled. It seemed like the veins in his neck would burst.

Mr Bayo turned back slowly to look at Broda. "And you think anyone would listen to a hungry scoundrel? My boy, don't push your luck."

The police men kept their guns pointed at Broda and I till Mr Bayo entered his jeep before they followed suit. The jeep drove off spraying dust on Broda and I .

Broda's eyes were red with frustration.

Wishing all my avid readers a HAPPY SUNDAY.

Three months later, I discovered I was pregnant for Musa.

Broda and I went to a medical laboratory to run a pregnancy test to confirm if my suspicions were true. The result came out positive.

Broda was so delighted. He even bought a bottle of cheap gin on our way home to celebrate with. He didn't allow me sip from the gin, he said he was scared I could lose the pregnancy.

"Baby, our dreams are coming true." Broda smiled at me and took a deep swig from the bottle. "America, here we come!" He laughed. "All those 50k, 100k wey we been dey bill the Arab son end as from today. Na million way now."

I smiled and nodded. As hard as I tried, I wasn't excited. I couldn't wait for Musa to pay up the money so I could remove the thing growing inside of me.

Broda kept on drinking happily. He was in a happy mood. I decided it was a good time to tell him what was on my mind.

"My love, I be wan suggest something." I said nervously.

"Tell me." He said with an encouraging smile.

"As we wan go overseas, I think say e good if I fit write senior WAEC, make I get the certificate so when we get there I fit start work then enter university."

Broda bursted out laughing like I had just said the most ridiculous thing.

"You write WAEC?" He pointed his index finger at me as he kept on laughing. "Which university wan admit dullard like you? You no even mention Nigerian university, na the one wey dey oversea!"

He made me feel stupid and worthless. I wanted to cry but I did my best to hold back my tears.

He held his chest as he tried to stop laughing. "See Cherry, I no fit waste money to register for WAEC wey you go later fail woefully."

He placed his hand on my back and rubbed it. "Nor worry, nor stress yourself, na good idea you bring." He swallowed back a laugh. "I go take care of you all the way, all you need do na to born and train our children, I go find the money to take spoil una."

He pecked me on my cheek. His breath reeked of alcohol.

"Now, relax my Queen. Wetin you wan chop make I cook for you."


***********


I sat on Musa's laps with my blouse unbuttoned, one of my breasts was exposed which he sucked on.

I bit my lips as I thought of how to tell him was pregnant. I had been procrastinating telling him for days. Broda was fed up and threatened to beat me up if I didn't break it to Musa that day.

"Baby?" I began.

"Hmm?" He answered with his mouth still sucking on my nipple.

"I want to tell you something."

Musa released my nipple and looked at my face with a frown. "What? You want more money? Ah...Cherry I no know wetin--"

I cut him short. "No, no...it's not that..."

"Then it's what?" He asked getting impatient.

My mouth went dry. "Uhm... I- I am pregnant."

His face turned red. He gently pushed me off his laps and stood up to face me. "What do you mean you're pregnant? I think say you tell me you dey take drugs to comot am?"

I nodded slowly and looked away to avoid his eyes. "I don't know how it happened."

He sighed heavily as he walked to his desk. He turned to look at me and scratched his head.

"Okay...it's fine, you know where you fit remove am?"

What a Bastard, I thought.

I shook my head hard. "I no fit remove am, I am a Christian, I can't kill." I said it exactly how Broda said I should.

If looks could kill, I would have been dead with the way Musa stared at me.

"Cherry, no be full human being yet...it's nothing!"

I folded my arms and frowned. "I no fit comot am!"

Musa looked distraught. "I can't marry you!"

I hated him that instant. Broda was right about everything, I thought.

"I never asked you to marry me. Just take care of your baby and I."

He widened his blue eyes at me. His face got so red I thought he might explode.

"I will pay you any amount you want...please!"

I had him where I wanted.

I picked up my handbag and buttoned up my blouse.

"I can't remove it." I said as I walked out of his office.

leosmaria:
thanks for the update

Thanks for your comments

leosmaria:
thanks for the update

Thanks for your comments

Wane2:
Hopefully by the end of the story she would have acquired sense or updated the one she has, or your wish for her might have come to pass if she remains this stupid till then?
By the way good job to the author you're wonderful.

Thank you!

I resumed work the next Monday. I was anxious about Broda coming to see Musa.

"Darling, how is your mum? Hope you enjoyed your stay at the village?" Musa asked sweetly as I sat on his laps and played with his soft curly hair.

"She's fine." I replied.

If only he knew how horrible my weekend had been, I sighed.

Musa planted a deep kiss on my lips. "I missed you." He whispered.

I recoiled from him. I remembered I was still spotting blood from my anus. I shuddered as my mind flashed back to what Broda did to me during the weekend.

I stood up from Musa's laps and sat on the couch next to him. I thought it was a good time to let him know about Broda's visit.

"My elder brother dey Lagos... I told him so much about you, he talk say he wan see you...he go come today."

Musa's face went blank immediately.

"You get brother?" He asked with a frown.

"Yes...my elder brother... He be the first born."

"You tell am about me? I think say we agree say nobody go know about us?"

My heart sank. I thought he loved me. He had even asked me to spend the weekend at his place. Was he ashamed of me?

"Na only my brother I tell." I spoke sadly.

"Cherry, a deal is a deal. You have to Learn to stick to your words." He said firmly. "Since you don already ask am to come, no wahala...No tell any other person say we get anything." He shrugged.

I Stared at him and concluded he didn't really love me, he was only using me for sex. Broda was right, other men were only after my body, no man could ever love a broke school dropout like me, I thought to myself as I walked to the restroom to cry.




Broda came into the office around 2pm in the afternoon. He exchanged pleasantries with Musa and they talked for a while.

I excused myself from the office and sat outside to wait. I was still sour at Musa's attitude. To think I had almost fallen in love with him.

Broda came out from the office and asked me to walk with him to the gate.

"So na Arab you dey fork?...I be think say na Hausa or Fulani" Broda sneered at me.

Blood rushed to my cheeks and I bent my head.

"The man get money, we go hit am big." Broda chuckled as he placed a hand over my shoulder. "We just need play our cards right."

When we got to the gate, I bade him goodbye and walked back to the office.



That night, Broda and I laid side by side on our mat. We had a lot of gists and laughs. I was in a happy mood.

"I want make you get belle for Musa." Broda said suddenly.

I jerked up from the mat and stared at him with surprise. I looked at his face for a sign that he was joking but it seemed he was serious about what he said.

I shook my head vigorously. "I no fit!"

He sat up and held my hand.

"Cherry, we need get the man to dey committed... That man fit give us up to 15 or 20 million naira, we just need get where to take hook am and that na the only way."

I removed my hand from his and shook my head again. How could he suggest such a thing, I thought.

"Cherry, be considerate...you know say this man, him pocket full and we need the money. You...well, if you demand for that kind money he no go give you...many girls dey wey he fit take replace you adding to the fact say you no too bright, the man just dey manage you....Na the belle sure pass. We go use the money take travel abroad, start our family and live better life...I just want the best for us baby." Broda grabbed my waist and kissed my cheek.

I pulled away from him.

"Wetin we go do with the pikin?" I asked as my mind flashed back to my first daughter who Broda had given away.

Broda hissed. "That one no be problem...The belle no go reach 7 months before we comot am. By then, with God's grace, the man go don pay up."

Tears ran down my eyes as I weighed the gravity of his plan, I didn't want to lose another child. How many more children would I have to sacrifice to fulfil Broda's dream? I asked myself.

"Why don't you just get me pregnant and we go talk say na him get the belle. With that, no need for abortion... He go still pay the money and we go born the pikin for abroad..."

"God forbid!" Broda waved his hands over his head and snapped his fingers. "You no fit carry my belle come dey fork another man, na big taboo where I come from, you and the pikin go just die self....and besides, we nor fit born now, make we settle for abroad first, life no dey easy there o!"

Broda moved closer to me and held me tight to his body. "Cherry do am for me, for us...for our future children."

"I can't..." I sobbed.

He pushed me away from him. I almost hit my head on the brick wall.

"You be one very selfish person!" He screamed at me. "All you think about is yourself! You think say I dey happy say you wan carry another man belle? You think say na only me go enjoy the money?! I dey make plans for you, I dey secure your future... You for still dey village dey slave away for your Mama farm...You think say the Arab love you? He just dey use your body! When better, classy babes full ground. Na local girl like you he go dey mess with...no wonder he dey lock you dey fork you for office." He stood up and punched the wall.

I was frightened. I shifted to a corner on the mat and bent my knee to my breasts.

"See, I don try for you...never for once wey I don ever cheat on you since we meet, na you carry your dirty pussy go fork....Tomorrow, gently pack your things comot...All my plans with you don cancel, no marriage again!"

Broda turned to face the wall as he panted.

I felt terrible. I didn't want to lose Broda because of Musa who didn't love me. I caused all of this, I shouldn't have cheated in the first place, Broda only wanted to make something good out of a horrible situation. He was doing it for us. I thought.

I stood up and walked to him.

"I will do it." I said and sniffed.

leosmaria:
baby please na

I apologize for my tardiness sir....hope you like my new update?

"Cherry, E don do...no cry again. Just relax here make I go to talk to am...easy o." Mekus spoke softly to me as he assisted me to sit on his tattered mattress.

The pain in my throat was excruciating and I had a headache. I moved to lay on his bare mattress. I didn't care that it looked dirty or bedbug infested, I was too tired.

Mekus had rescued me from Broda. If not for him, I would have been referred to as a corpse.

"You need water? Make I get you paracetamol?" Mekus asked. He looked worried.

I shook my head weakly and thanked him.

"Make I go talk to am. Just calm down and relax. Everything go dey Alright." He assured me and walked out of his room.

I curled on the mat in a fetal position as I wondered if Broda would ever forgive me. All the beatings I had received from him had never gotten to the point of him wanting to kill me.

I felt guilty that I had cheated on him. I should have told him the truth right at the beginning. I'm sure he wouldn't have allowed me to continue to work at the company. I was a tramp, I concluded.

I prayed to God to touch his heart to forgive me, after all, I did it for Broda. I gave him all the money the Director had given me. I just didn't want to be a liability to him, I had to prove I was useful somehow.

I cried myself to sleep.



I felt light taps on my shoulder. I woke up to see it was Mekus.

"Good morning, hope your body dey fine?"

"Morning?" I was alarmed and I stood up quickly.

I had passed the night in Mekus room, Broda would kill me.

Mekus noticed my uneasiness. "Don't worry, I stay with am for una room for night. He don calm down, you fit go meet am, talk to am..."

"Abeg, you fit come with me?" I dreaded meeting Broda. Even if he was calm as Mekus had claimed, I didn't know what to say to him, There is no good excuse for cheating.

"Don't worry, nothing go happen. Una need talk in private." Mekus said calmly.

My mouth went dry as I nodded and walked out of his room.

As I got closer to our room, my pulse quickened. My palms were damp with sweat. I wished I could sink into the ground and never come out.

I entered quietly into the room and saw Broda staring out the window. I wanted to greet him but I was too scared to do so. I stood close to the doorway ready to make a run for it.

He noticed my presence after a few minutes as he turned to look at me. I stared at the floor to avoid his eyes as guilt and shame engulfed me.

The silence in the room was painful and heavy.

"The only reason you dey breathe na because of Mekus, go thank am, he be your god." Broda said calmly and turned his back on me to stare out the window.

"Who dey screw you?" He asked calmly.

My bladder felt too full all of a sudden. I began to tremble as I thought of the best way to answer the question without provoking him.

"Answer me."

My tears mixed with sweat. "Its...Na--Na just one Man...just one person." I stammered.

"Name."

I fumbled with my moist fingers. "Mu...Musa."

Broda turned to look at me with disgust. "Na aboki you dey fork?"

I shook my head vigorously.

"Na my director, for work." I spoke with a low voice.

Broda laughed, I looked up to see him shaking his head.

"Because of promotion! Small 80k, you spread your leg wide...one for Lagos, the other one reach Kano! Cheap Sluut!"

His words tore into me like a sharp blade. Tears gushed out of my eyes.

"I've always known you are dumb and useless! Very daft! Everything you just dey too slow...Your mates wet dey do runs, Na mansion them dey build, see big big cars wey them dey drive...but you, nothing to show for it!"

He stared at me with disdain and I closed my eyes to cry.

"How long una don dey fork?"

I sniffed. "About 2 months."

I heard him groan. "Na relationship una get na."

I shook my head.

"Which one be no...2 months no be beans."

I got down to my knees to beg him. "Please...I go quit the job... I no go ever do am again...I be just wan help---"

"Help who?! Na yourself you dey help!"

"Na you I give all the money...I no keep any for myself, I swear!"

Catarrh ran freely down my nostrils. He silently watched me cry.

He walked to the other side of the room and grabbed a small stool. He came towards me to place the stool in front of me and he sat on it.

My heart pounded wildly as I panicked. I mentally prepared myself for a punch or slap.

He faced me squarely.

"You say this man na director for the company, right?

I swallowed as I nodded.

"Na him place you for 80k salary?"

I nodded again.

"You don ask am for money before?"

I shook my head.

"Good. Na him dey give you all those 5k, 10k wey you lie say na stolen goods you dey sell?"

I nodded.

Broda rubbed his chin and smiled.

"Remove your clothes." He ordered.

I looked at him, confused.

"Now!"

I stood up quickly and did what he said. He beckoned on me to go back to my knees as I removed the last piece of clothing.

I felt less as I knelt down butt naked in his presence.


"Where una dey do am? For his house or una dey lodge for hotel?"

Hot blood rushed to my cheeks. I was ashamed.

Broda raised a hand to hit me but he stopped.

"I don promise Mekus say I no go touch you but if you no cooperate, I go do wetin dey my mind and you no go like am. Answer me!" He urged.

I bowed my head. "Office." I murmured

Broda broke out in laughter. "Like the dog you are." He said and spat on my face.

I wanted to wipe away his saliva but he stopped me.

He kept on laughing at me as I cried. My body shook with each sob. I hated myself.

Broda stopped laughing. " Our engagement is canceled. I no want do again...you fit go meet your rich man."

I widened my eyes at him and shook my head. "Please...please.... I love you...no leave me." I held his leg tightly as I begged.

He watched me as I begged.

"Okay...just do as I say, if I see say you loyal, I fit marry you at the end, because Na wetin go benefit both of us I dey look out for."

"I go do am...I go do am." I was desperate. I couldn't risk Broda leaving me. I still loved him.

"You love the man?" Broda asked as he looked deep into my eyes.

"No." I said firmly, I didn't look away. I tried to believe what I felt for the Director was just plain lust.

Broda nodded.

"Now...you go write down him name and surname for me. The name of the company too. You dey hear me so?"

I sniffed and nodded. I wondered what he was up to. I hoped he didn't have plans to harm the Director.

"On Monday, when you resume work, I want make una continue with the relationship... Give am sweet love. I go visit you for your office, you go introduce me as your elder brother."

'Oh God, not again!' I thought.

"You hear me?" Broda asked.

I nodded.

"If you try anything stupid, I go kill you. Any money wey he give you no touch am for any reason at all... If you want make we still marry, I have to trust you... You don already destroy that trust, I dey give you second chance to build am back."

I heaved a sigh of relief. "I no go dissapoint you, I swear." I assured him.

"Good."

Broda stood up from the stool as he painfully grabbed me by my hair. I whimpered as he made me face the wall.

He pressed my head down till I was bent on all fours.

"Stay like that." He ordered.

I felt a hot slap on my bare bottom and I grunted.

I jumped as he probed my anal hole with his manhood. I turned to look at him with wide eyes.

He pushed my head back down and threatened to hit me if I moved.

He forced himself deep into my anus and I cried out in pain.

He drove fast and tore into me as he pounded. I felt a warm and sticky liquid seep out of me, I suspected it was blood.


"From now on...na this hole I go dey use." Broda grunted as he increased his pace.

My face was contorted with pain and I bit down on my lip to keep myself from screaming. I shut my eyes tightly and tried to blur out the pain.

If this was the price I had to pay, so be it. I promised to do everything I could to gain Broda's love and trust again.

leosmaria:
Renderhelp, renderbaby, Pls come and update

Aye sir, working on it

"What is this?!" I shoved the blue slip to Broda's face as soon as he walked into the room.

"You sold my baby!" I cried out.

Broda grabbed the slip from my hand and squeezed the paper.

"Who you sell my pikin give?....Ritualists?! Because of money!" I threw myself to the floor and wailed.

Broda went on his knees beside me and cupped my face in his palms.

I pushed his hands away. "Leave me! Give me my pikin! I want my baby!" I screamed at him as I pounded his chest with my fists.

"Cherry, calm down!" He struggled to hold my hands. "I be no wan tell you before---"

I paused and stared at him with disdain. "Tell me wetin?" I sat up and wiped off the catarrh running down my nostrils. "I no want that evil money...just send the money back and bring our daughter." I sobbed as my heart grew heavy.

Broda pursed his lips as he rubbed my shoulder.

"I no sell am...I don tell you before, I no sell am..."

"I'm not stupid!" I spat at him. "Where you come see that money?! Where--"

"Cherry...Calm down and hear me out. I tell the couple wey carry the baby say I no want any money, I just wan give them the pikin as me and you no fit cater for am....I explain give them say I no get work , they con say make I take this money take settle myself...So when we get other children along the line, we go fit take care of them."

He took my hands into his and looked into my eyes.

"Cherry, I love you and I no go fit do anything to hurt you, talk less of my pikin. I want the best for us....The money, I wan use am take develop myself...I dey do all these to give you a good life, life wey you deserve."

He held my hands more firmly.

"I want make you trust me no matter what...I need your hundred percent trust, I no want any doubt in our relationship, especially when i make you my wife. Swear say you go forever trust me and you go dey loyal no matter what."

I sniffed and nodded.

"Swear." He urged.

"I swear." I said.

He smiled as he wiped my tears and gave me a hug.

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

"Please... Please...." I knelt on the mat and rubbed my palms together to plead with him. My body went weak as I began to tremble.

He threw the used condom to my face. The content inside splattered all over my face and dripped down to my neck. I wanted to use my wrapper to wipe away the semen but Broda stopped me.

"Leave it there...Rotten whoore! That is what you deserve!!" He screamed at me as he flung my bag to the side.

He walked towards me and grabbed me by the neck. He pressed down on my throat as he lifted me from my knees.

"Please...please." I choked.

I held his arms and tried to loosen his grip on my neck but it was of no use, he was far more stronger than I was.

I looked at his face. His eyes were red with tears running down his cheeks. The veins in his neck popped.

He lifted me up till my feet dangled in the air. I kicked and struggled till I couldn't breathe.

The room began to spin and my head felt as light as a feather.

"Tell me! Who dey drill you?!"

The room went dark all of a sudden.

"Darling, Come spend the weekend at my place." The Director said as he massaged my bare bottom.

We just had bouts of sex. I was stark naked while he just had on a white office shirt and a loose tie around his neck, he was naked waist down. The office door was securely locked.

I was taken aback by his offer. We had never had any relation outside his office before. I scratched my scalp as I thought of a good excuse. The offer sounded tempting but Broda would have skinned me alive.

It had been two months since I got my new job position and to be honest, I enjoyed the job. I didn't do much work aside having sex with the Director anytime he wanted and serving drinks to his Visitors.

I was well paid. The Director usually handed me 5,000 naira or more to get lunch for myself during work days. I always gave the money to Broda, I had lied to him I got the extra money from selling stolen factory equipment and carton of noodles along with other workers in the company. Broda started treating me right. Things were moving smoothly at that point.


"Sir..." I began.

"Darling...I've told you not to call me sir, if you can't give me a sweet name then you should call me by my name, Musa." He said and playfully pinched my bum.

I laughed and pushed his hand away.

"OK...OK Musa, I cant..."

Musa frowned at me. "Why?"

"Uhm...I wan go visit my Mama for village.... I promise am say I go come visit this weekend." I lied through my teeth.

Musa rubbed his chin and thought for a while. "I think you talk say you no get phone." He turned to look at me suspiciously.

"I no get phone...I use my neighbour phone take call am."

"Hmmm...okay, get dressed. Let's go get you a phone." Musa announced. "You don dey talk say you go buy phone since, you nor gree buy, stingy girl." He laughed.

I jumped happily at first till the thought of what Broda would say flashed through my mind. Broda had always said I didn't need a phone.

"Musa...I'll get the phone myself, you don try for me. Thank you." I said.

"Nonsense! Let's go." He insisted.

I shook my head and pounced on him to distract him with another round of sex.

As I straddled him and lowered myself on his manhood, he groaned and pulled me close so my nose could touch his. He kissed me.

"Cherry my love....I just wish you could come live with me, live with me as my wife forever...."

Something stirred in my heart, I began to feel something for Musa.



That evening, I returned home and saw Broda and Mekus sitting on a bench in the porch of the uncompleted building. They were playing a game of Ludo, with bottles of beer by their feet.

I hissed as I turned to bolt the rusty gate. It had been two months since Broda got arrested. He had refused to go back to learn his 'Yahoo work' or any skill at all. He was a graduate of the University of Nigeria,Nsukka. He had more opportunities than I did and here he was wasting his time.

"Good evening." I mumbled and walked past the both of them and walked to the room.

In the room, I saw a pile of dirty plates and pots in a corner.

"What stopped him from washing the plates he used to eat? And he dey house since morning o." I hissed and took off my work clothes.

I tied a wrapper around my chest. I laid my back on the mat. I stared at the cement plastered ceiling as I thought of how I could have spent my weekend at Musa's place, the good food I could have eaten, I could have slept on a comfortable bed compared to the thin raffia mat on placed on a hard floor that I was laying on. I thought of how sweet Musa was till I fell asleep.



I felt a sharp blow on my back. The pain cut through my back bone. I winced in pain and sat up to rub my sore back.

I looked up and saw Broda holding out a used condom with his right hand and in his other hand was my unzipped bag.

His eyes were bloodshot.

I swallowed a thick lump in my throat and my bladder felt full all of a sudden.

"You Whoore! Wetin be this?!" Broda screamed on top of his lungs.

Sorry to my wonderful readers for the late post.
I promise to try harder to keep updating regularly.

I went to the Police station that evening to bail Broda. Mekus had refused to go along with me. He said the Police were unpredictable and they could tag him as Broda's cohort.

At the station's counter, after begging for Broda's release, I was asked to pay a sum of 8,000 naira. I paid with the money the Director had given me for lunch.

When we got home, I saw Broda had sustained several bruises from the beating the police had meted out on him during interrogation.

He told me the Police had raided the house where he was learning Internet fraud. There were about 20 boys in the house at the time of the raid, 14 boys were arrested while the rest escaped.

"Sorry." I mumbled after he explained. I was still nervous about my fling with the Director. Broda had spent his day in a dingy cell while I had my legs spread open for another man. I felt like a horrible person.

"How much the Police collect from your hand?" Broda asked as I pressed his bruises with a warm cloth.

I swallowed a lump in my throat. "8k..."

Broda turned to look at me with the corner of his eyes. "Where you see that kind money?"

"Na...na my friend...uhm Fatima from work... Na she given me." I stuttered. Sweat rolled from my forehead and my hear began to pound fast.

Broda slapped his thigh. "Why you just dey so daft?! You just dey too dull! Full 8k just waste like that?! You no fit give them 2k or 3k max?! You are too useless to me, I swear!" He yelled at me.

His words stung and I began to sob. The guilt of cheating and Broda's outburst made me sad.

"I...I nor know--"

"Wetin you know? Ehn Cherry?! Na why I say you daft!...You nor know anything! You finish school? No be dropout you be?...See now 8k don comot from your peanut salary, how much go come remain?" He fumed.

I stepped away from him in case he wanted to hit me.

"If I know, I for leave you for your Mama farm, carry girl wey wise...graduate wey get better work, not a bloody daft illiterate!" He spat at me.

Tears ran down my cheeks. Each word felt like bullet piercing through my chest.

We both stayed silent for a while.

"When you dey collect your salary?" Broda asked after a while.

"Next week." I sniffed.

"How that peanut go sustain us...only God know....You no dey add anything to my life..." Broda grumbled.

"Them don increase my salary." I blurted out. My heart beat quickened.

I wanted to prove to Broda I wasn't useless. I wanted his love and approval.

He turned to look at me. "To how much?"

"80 thousand."

He stared hard at me . "Which kind dirty joke be that?"

"No be joke...them promote me today." I lied.

I left out the part that I forked the Director.

Broda's frown turned to a smile.

"My Love!" He moved closer to me to hug and kiss me. "Why you no tell me since, make we celebrate?"

"I be wan tell you since but you been dey vex." I folded my arms and pouted. I enjoyed him doting on me.

"No...I no dey vex for you...how I go vex for my Queen? Na just the police wahala." He said and kissed me.

"Uhn...Baby?"

"Yes my love." I answered.

"Since you no get bank account, E better make them dey pay your salary into my personal account...E no good make you carry that kind cash come house." He said as he nibbled my ear.

"Okay...E better like that." I turned to kiss him.

I felt good. Broda didn't have to know the dirty details of my job, as long as it solves our money problems, our love would only grow stronger, I thought.

leosmaria:
Good one baby
keep it coming

Thanks. Sure thing

Three months after Broda had sold our Child, I still felt empty and depressed.

I had no one to talk to as Broda had warned me severally not to talk about her and I was too ashamed to meet Mama or Nkiru. I drastically lost weight and People kept on asking if I was sick.

I tried hard not to think about her and held on to Broda's words that she was in a better environment.

On a Saturday morning, I was trying to get rid of the cobwebs on the ceiling with a mop. The end of the mop got caught at the handle of Broda's bag which hung on the wall. I tried to pull the mop free from his bag but his bag got torn in the process.

It was Broda's favorite bag and I was sure he would beat me up for getting it torn. I decided to take it to a shoe shiner to get if fixed before Broda returned.

I emptied the bag of it contents, it was just a few pieces of paper, most were crumpled. I was attracted to a blue paper and I picked it up. I saw it was a bank deposit slip.

"650 thousand!" I screamed.

I moved close to the window to get enough light on the paper just to make sure. Indeed, it was 650,000 naira. The deposit was made by Broda into his own personal bank account.

For the past year, Broda had always complained of being penniless. I always remitted all the money I made from doing menial jobs to him since we moved into our new room.

"Where did he get such an amount of money and Why didn't he let me know?" I asked myself.

I looked at the date on the slip and saw the deposit was made the same day he had given out our daughter.

"He sold our Baby for 650,000 naira" I said aloud.

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

I pushed the Director away from me and took a few steps backwards.

"Sorry Sir... I can't." I muttered and stared down at the floor.

He came closer to me and I stepped back. He stopped.

"Why...You no like me?" He asked.

I shook my head.

"Then what is it...Tell me."

"Uhmm...I, I am engaged." I said and let out a deep breath.

"Oh!" He walked back and sat on his desk.

We both stayed silent for a while. My chest felt tight.

"Why you no wear ring?" He asked.

"I forgot it at home." I lied.

Broda had only tied a loose string on my finger when he proposed. I had disposed the string hoping he would get a ring later on but he did not.

"You suppose wear your ring everywhere." He tapped his fingers on his desk. "No matter, You start as my secretary tomorrow." He stood up from his desk and walked over to his large chair.

"Your face go make my office look bright." He smiled at me.

"Sir, I'm okay with the factory work."

"Nonsense! You start tomorrow. 7am sharp. You can go now." He waved a hand at me.

I curtsied and hurriedly walked out of his office.


When I returned home from work, I decided not tell Broda what had happened a work. If I told him, he would have insisted the Director and I had gone beyond kissing. I kept quiet about it.

I thought it was best not to go to the Factory anymore.

I informed Broda of my decision that night and he yelled at me.

"Of what use are you to me? If you wan become burden to me better go your Mama house!" He screamed.

"I go find another work." I muttered.

"Which work? Secondary school dropout like you! Who wan give dullard like you job! To even see 5k a month work you think say na beans....See Cherry, no make me talk this night, just continue that work if you know wetin good for you." He said and laid on the mat.

I sat down on the floor with tears running down my face.


The next morning, I resumed work as the Director's secretary. When I entered the office, the cleaner was just rounding up her work and was about to leave.

When she left the office, I stood and looked around in confusion. I didn't know what to do. I decided to look busy by restacking some books on the shelf.

The door opened and the Director walked in.

"Good morning sir." I greeted and walked quickly to take his briefcase from him.

He smiled at me and walked to his seat.

I dropped his briefcase next to him and was about to leave when he called me back.

"Sir?" I turned to him.

He stood up from his chair and walked to where I stood.

"Where's your ring?" He asked staring down at my hands.

My heart began to beat fast and beads of sweat rolled down my forehead.

"Sir...i.. I forgot." I stuttered.

He grabbed me a kissed me. I tried to push him away but he held me tightly by my arms.

"You lied." He drew me closer and bit me softly
on my ear. "All liars go to hell."

"Sir, please stop." I said with a shaky voice as I tried to push him away. I was scared.

He pushed me against the wall and planted a kiss on my lips. I bit down on his lower lip, drawing blood.

"Arrgh!" He screamed and released me to nurse his lips. I turned to run but he grabbed me and threw me to the floor. We struggled for a while before he pinned both of my hands above my head.

"Leave me alone! Leave me alone!!" I cried.

"You're tough, I like it!" He smiled and tore my shirt. He used a torn piece of my shirt to tie my hands above my head.

"Please sir, abeg let me go....I no go tell anybody." I pleaded as I sobbed.

"No...no...don't cry." He said softly as he wiped at my tears. "I really like you, just relax." He sucked on the nape of my neck till I let out a deep moan.

"You see, you like it..." He kept on sucking on my neck as he pulled off my bra. He trailed his tongue down from my neck till he got to my left nipple and he sucked.

"Please...stop." I said weakly. I arched my back to push my breast deeper into his mouth.

He pulled up my skirt and pushed down my panties.

I jammed my laps together immediately. "Sir please! No...I have a fiance!" I cried.

He spread my thighs as I struggled. I relaxed when I felt his tongue on my clitoris.





I walked home slowly after work. . I tried my best not to cry but tears flowed freely from my eyes. I felt guilty.

I couldn't tell Broda what had happened. What could I say? The Director had raped me? That was far from the truth. I had begged him to insert his manhood into me after he had given me a mind blowing cunnilingus.

He handed me 10,000 naira to get lunch for myself afterwards which I initially rejected but he insisted.

We had another round of sex when he got back from an afternoon meeting and he didn't have to tie me down.

"Am I possessed?" I kept asking myself as I walked home.

I was wearing a different shirt, Broda was sure to notice. As I neared the gate I thought of an excuse. I saw Mekus running towards me.

"Cherry...where you dey since? I been dey wait..." He panted.

Before I could answer he spoke.

"Them just call me say Police don't arrest your Man."

"Jesus!"

I heaved a huge sigh of relief as I saw blood stains on my panties. My period had finally come.

I had a quick bath as I was already late for work. My wicked supervisor had already deducted 2000 naira from my salary for coming in late on two occasions.

As I put on my black jean trousers, I saw it was already loose on my waist. I had begun to lose weight . I wanted to quit the job but Broda would kill me if I did.

Broda was still asleep as I pecked him on his cheek and rushed off to work.

I was only 15 minutes late when I arrived at the factory. My supervisor reprimanded me and slashed 1000 naira from my salary even as I pleaded with him not to.

I was asked to load a truck with cartons of noodles amongst other workers. I had already loaded a few when a guy came to tap me.

"Director dey call you." He informed me and left.

I felt a thud in my chest.

"Cherry wetin you don do?" Fatima, my friend and coworker asked.

I shrugged looking confused. I had heard the Director was very mean man. I also heard he has beaten up some of the workers especially those who stole.

Fatima looked worried. She went on to load the bus while I went to take permission from the supervisor.

The Director was an Arab. He was huge with grey hair and full grey beards. I believe he was above 50. He was a handsome man.

"Good afternoon sir." I greeted him with a shaky voice as I stood by the door.

He had a large office. It smelled richly of Wood and Leather. His office was fully air conditioned.

"How are you? Why you dey stand for there like that? Come in, sit down, sit down!" He said smiling.

I took a seat opposite his table. I sat on the edge of the arm chair. I felt uncomfortable.

"Wetin you wan drink? Coffee? Juice...?" He asked and I shook my head.

I was amazed at his fluent pidgin.

"No! You must drink something... If I come visit you and I no gree collect wetin you give me, you no go vex?"

I smiled. "Okay sir ... I will take water sir."

"No...I no get water." He shook his head vigorously. "Only juice, wine..."

"Juice sir." I said timidly.

He pressed a button on his table and his Secretary came in almost immediately. He instructed him to get me a glass of juice and scotch for him.

"Cherry, Cherry... Very beautiful name." He said to me after his Secretary left.

"Thank you sir." I bowed my head. I was very uncomfortable. I wondered why he called me into his office.

"Beautiful name for a very beautiful girl."

His Secretary came in with our drinks on a tray and served us. He left quickly.

"You are too fine." The Director said after taking a huge gulp of his drink."Too fine to work under sun...You go secondary school? " He asked.

"Yes sir..but I no finish...."

"But you sabi read and write?"

"Yes sir."

"Good...you go dey work as my Junior assistant from today."

I widened my eyes and opened my mouth.

"Nor worry...the work no too hard, na just to usher visitor in, serve drink and arrange my office, simple." He clicked his fingers.

I went on my knees and thanked him.

"No....no...Get up, get up." He stood from his chair and walked over to pull me up from my knees.

"I dey pay my secretary 30,000 naira...but I go dey give you 80,000 naira monthly. No tell anybody...You fit keep secret abi?"

"Yes sir" I said and nodded.

He moved closer and placed his hands on my waist then he kissed me.

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

I felt a cold pressure on my forehead, I blinked my eyes opened. Everything looked hazy.

"You dey okay?" Broda asked me. He seemed to be worried.

I nodded and removed the wet rag from my head. I sat up on the bed. I felt a bit dizzy.

"Where my baby?" I asked Broda as I stood up and began to search the room. I looked under the bed, I started to rummage through a pile of clothes until Broda grabbed me and pulled me back to the bed.

I tried to push him away from me but he held on to me tight. "Bring her back!...bring my baby back..!" I cried.

"Shhsh! Calm down...its okay...its okay." Broda held me till I calmed a bit. He then loosened his grip and wiped my tears. "Its okay..."

"Why you do that kind thing?" I mumbled weakly and fresh tears ran down my face. "Bring my baby...I no need your money, I go take care am by myself.... If you no want make we dey with you, I go go stay with my Mama." I began to sob loudly. "Bring my baby!!!"

Broda rocked me as I cried. "My love, don't cry. She be my pikin too....E dey pain me say I give am out..."

I turned to look at his face. "Then why you give am out?!!! E no pain you!! You for tell me say you no want the belle before...." I yelled at him.

"I just want make she live better life...life wey we no fit afford to give am...." He said with a calm voice.

I kept quiet for a while. I felt exhausted.

"Did you sell her?" I looked into his eyes.

"Sell? No!....How I go sell my pikin...Them no get pikin, they promise say them go take good care of am, send am go the best school and give am better life...."

I began to sob loudly as he rubbed my back.

"Cherry no worry, we don do the best thing for--"

"No be we, na only you do am!" I flared at him.


"Okay, na me do am." He accepted.

"When them go bring am back?" I asked with a low voice.

I knew the answer already. I buried my face in my palms and cried.

"Baby its okay....Look, na the best decision I make. We got get plenty children for future when the time is right. We just dey start life. I'm only 23 and you be 16 years. Make we settle ourselves first before children. I get bright future and I wan share am with you."

He stood up from the bed and went on his knees. He pulled out a loose string from the carpet.

"Cherry I want make you marry me...I want make we dey together, make we born many children at the right time...." He pulled out my hand and tied the string on my ring finger. "We no need go church or sign anything. We know wetin dey our hearts and that one strong pass any marriage certificate....When I get money we go do big wedding."

I knelt down and hugged him. "I love you."

"I love you too baby." He looked at my face and wiped my tears. "No cry again and no talk about the baby...na mistake we make and we need forget..."

I nodded and we kissed again.


I tried my best to forget about my daughter but I continued to hear her cry in my sleep for over a year.

Few days after we moved in, Mekus helped me get a job at a factory where packaged instant noodles were manufactured. The job was very stressful and time demanding. I had to work from 7am to 9pm, 6 days a week. I got a monthly pay of 25,000 naira.

"This job too dey stressful." I complained to Broda one evening as I applied some cream on my black eye.

Broda had begun to learn his 'yahoo work'. He usually visits his friends at Gowon Estate to teach him.

"How many days you don work wey you dey complain? You too lazy"

"I no dey lazy at all, if you see the kind load wey dem say make I carry yesterday...I go soon grow muscle o." I said as I flexed my biceps. He laughed.

"Nor worry, na just for a while." Broda said and planted a kiss on my lips. "When I make the kind money wey I dey target, I go use am take spoil you."

We both laughed and I kissed him.

"Hope you no go leave me for another woman? You go come talk say I no go university, I no get class..." I pouted.

"I won't" he licked my neck and my breath came out heavy.

"You sure? Swear." I demanded.

He squeezed both of my breasts hard and pulled off my top. I wasn't wearing a bra and he attacked one nipple with his tongue while he roughly pawed my other breast.

I shivered as waves of pleasure engulfed me.

"Swear say you no go leave me." I urged him.

I grunted as he chewed my nipple. He pulled down my shorts and parted my thighs. I was soaking wet down there. He rubbed my clit till I had an oragasm. He then pushed me to lay on the bed.

"I no go ever leave you" I swore to him and looked at him waited for him to say the same thing.

He never did.

He drove hard into me and kept slamming till he ejaculated. He rolled of me and slept off.

"Maybe he was carried away." I whispered to console myself.






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

I entered into the room after Broda and to my dismay, there was no baby item in sight as he had promised.

"Where the baby things?" I turned to ask Broda.

"I be keep them for the store where I buy them, I don pay down, Na just to carry am come. I go go collect them, nor worry about that one." He assured me.

I placed our daughter on the bed and sat down beside her. She was awake. I held her tiny fist and shook it playfully. She looked up at me with her large brown eyes.

"Go baff, make you carry her." I said to Broda.

"Wetin you wan chop? Make I go buy for you. Chop make you rest."

I smiled at him, I had never thought he would be so caring.

"Yam pepper soup." I told him.

"Okay, I dey come. Try relax." He said and left the room.

I felt happy and content. I kept on staring at my baby with love in my eyes. She was a blessing to Broda and I.

I thought about Mama and Nkiru. They would be heartbroken as I had left without letting them know. I didn't mean to hurt them. They should understand I had a new family now and that was my primary focus, I shrugged.

I looked at the wall clock and saw It had been 2 hours since Broda left to buy me food. I wondered why he took so long.

I suddenly felt very tired and fell asleep.

I was in a deep sleep when Broda returned and woke me up. He apologized for coming back late and gave an excuse that he had to wait for them to cook the food.

He brought out the flask from a polythene bag. He opened the flask and I salivated as the aroma filled the room. He handed the flask to me with a spoon.

I had already started eating he food before invited Broda to join me. He laughed and called me stingy but he refused. He went out of the room as I ate.

"I don boil water for you. E dey inside the yellow bucket outside." He said to me when he got back into the room.

" Thank you daddy." I said jokingly and we both laughed.

"What of the baby things?" I asked with a mouth full of meat. "I need baff the baby soon."

"I go go collect am after you baff finish, make I stay with the baby as you dey baff...we no fit leave only am for the room." He said and I nodded.

When I was done eating, I stood up and took the flask to go to the kitchen to wash. Broda stopped me and collected the flask from me.

"Nor worry, I go wash am. I go do everything, no stress yourself."

I felt giddy. I hugged him and kissed him passionately.

I pulled of my dress and kept it in the laundry basket at a corner of the room.

"Make that belle flat quick...why stretch mark come full your body like say you fight with tiger?" Broda said looking at my nude body with disgust on his face.

I felt embarrassed and hurriedly picked a towel to cover myself. As I left for the bathroom at the back of the house I felt very ugly.

In the bathroom, I saw I was still bleeding. The nurses had said it was normal. I removed the bloody postnatal pad and wrapped it tightly with a small polythene bag to dispose of later.

I looked at my body. My belly sagged and was riddled with black stretch marks. Broda won't find me attractive anymore, I sobbed.

I picked up a small cloth from the bucket of hot water. I squeezed the hot water out of the cloth and used it to press my tummy in with all my might as I clenched my teeth in pain.




I went back into the room when I was done bathing. Broda was sitting on alone on the bed.

"Where my baby?" I asked him as I scanned through the room with my eyes moving rapidly.

Broda stood up from the bed and walked past me to bolt the door.

"Which kind play be this?" I cried . "Where my baby?! Where she dey?!" I held his shirt and screamed at him.

"I don give her to people wey fit take care of am." Broda said calmly.

I blacked out.

The next morning, I could barely open my left eye. When I looked at my reflection in my small hand mirror, I saw he eye was black and puffy. My cheek was also swollen. I cried in anguish.

"I go give you money make you take go pharmacy." Broda said when he saw my face. "See how you resemble criminal wey them catch." He laughed at me.

Mekus came into the room. He was shocked when he saw my face but he instantly pretended like he didn't notice.

"Una Good morning o!" He greeted cheerfully. "I be wan go fetch water, come make we go so I go show you the place." He said to Broda.

Broda turned and asked me to go with Mekus.

"Ah! Only her no fit carry the water...Na only for morning Father dey let us fetch and una go need like 3 kegs." Mekus explained to Broda.

"She fit carry am." Broda insisted.

Mekus looked at me with pity in his eyes and led the way.

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

After I delivered I was asked to take a bath and move into the post natal ward.

I was told to breastfeed my daughter and as I did that I took out time to admire her. She was a very beautiful baby.

She had a full head of hair which was jet black and very curly. She was the carbon copy of Broda. She inherited his honey colored eyes , his straight nose and his full lips with a perfect arch. She only had my light skinned complexion.

Mama and Nkiru came in to see me after a while. Mama brought food along for me to eat. They were very happy to see the baby. Mama rocked her as she danced and sang. She thanked God I had a safe delivery.

Mama wanted to name the baby but I refused. I thought it was only right that Broda should see her and name her first. Mama felt sad.

I didn't have an appetite so I ate a little. It was still very early. Nkiru had to go to school and Mama had to work. Mama gave me some money just in case I needed anything and she promised to come back later in the day.

I slept off as I was very tired.

I woke up when I heard my baby cry. I got down from the high hospital bed and picked her up from her cradle. I moved back to the bed and sat down to breastfeed her. She latched on to my nipple and sucked like her life depended on it. I laughed at her.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Broda walk into the ward. I was very happy to see him. He kissed me on my lips and asked if I was fine.

"How you know say I don born?" I asked.

"I get my ways...Na boy or girl? He asked as he grabbed a plastic chair to sit on.

" Na girl...she resemble you too much." I detached her from my breast and handed her to him to hold her but he refused.

"My body dirty."

He looked neat to me. I insisted but he remained adamant. I shrugged and kept her back to feed.

"When them go discharge you?" He asked.

"The midwife talk say na this evening."

"Okay, I go hang around." He shifted his chair closer and lowered his voice. "No follow your Mama or Nkiru go house, We dey go my place, Me, you and the baby."

I was surprised at the change of plans.

"But my Mama done buy--"

"Remove your mind from all those ones...I don buy baby things put for house too. Everything wey you and the baby need dey."

I stared at him and nodded sadly. Mama had spent a lot of money paying hospital bills and buying baby things . She would feel bad.

I didn't want to get sad at the moment.

"Which name you go give am?" I smiled at Broda.

"I go think of name later. I need go now, I bribe the nurses to enter here...I go dey around dey watch. After your Mama settle the bill I go come carry you. Stay alert." Broda whispered and left.

He didn't even look at our daughter's face. Maybe he wanted a male child, I concluded.

Later that day, I was discharged. Mama paid the hospital bill and went out to look for a keke to take us home.

Broda and I used this opportunity to sneak out of the hospital with our baby in my arms.

dawno2008:
So this dumb girl has a baby girl already,and this heartless love-vendor is refusing her money to send to her people

I'm speechless

Lovely update.

Thanks