callmeomotee33:
Nice story Talius .....am enjoying it....keep it up

Happy to hear from you dear!

E4: Origin


"Don't go!"

Those were the words that quietly dropped from the youngster's mouth as her parents waved goodbye and drove off, they left her to start a new phase of life.

"Hey! You, new girl, come over here and complete your registration," The House-mistress yelled at her, she had no special care for the girl who hadn't spent more than 80 minutes in this new place. What vexed her more than The House-mistress' interruption of her fantasy about eating chicken was the umpteenth request for her name.

"My name is Enitan!" The girl shouted from the distance. She sulked mildly to avoid the wrath of the middle-aged woman or those of the students around. As she approached the House-mistress, she felt the weight of the thousand and one piercing eyes of the senior girls staring at her; naive as she was, she stared back, unknowing that that was enough to grant her a two weeks all expense paid trip to servicing many senior girl's fantasies. One senior stood out, she appeared much different from the rest of the group even as she stood amongst the others, but that didn't matter now, the youngster needed to answer the call of the House-mistress, or risk being punished for her delay.

Later that night, all the new girls were lined up in front of the dormitory for the orientation night, where the new girls were given a sneak-peak of what they'd be facing for the next six years in State Community High School, Ijapa. School mother-daughter bonds amongst many other relationship dynamics were usually formed on this night. It was all part of their yearly custom for initiation.

Every new girl was to move forward, and be allocated to a senior girl. The allocation was done by the Hostel prefect and Senior prefect.

It got to Enitan's turn, and there was a stir. No senior girl wanted her, because of her small stature- In Community High Ijapa, every petite looking girl was treated as a minus, and no senior would want to be seen as weak for associating with a minus.

'I'll take her', a voice emanated from the dark corner close to where everyone was. Enitan looked forth towards the direction of the voice, she had been trying to figure out in her head for a while if someone had actually been seated there all these while. The girl came forth, and Enitan recognized her as the exceptional girl in the midst of the many she saw at The House-mistress' in the afternoon. The girl's to be in charge of everything that concerned Enitan in the school, and Enitan in return for the love and protection she'll get from her school-mother, who is a very powerful figure amongst the students, was to take care of all domestic things that concerns her school-mother.

"What's your name dear?' Her school-mother gently asked.

"Enitan."

"OK Enitan, I'm Abosede Mandana, but like all my friends, you also can call me Amanda." A large smile appeared on her face, calling her self-given name always made her to smile, it made her feel better than she felt as the daughter of a farmer.


"You can also call me Bimpe, I prefer it to Enitan," the young girl smiled too.

"OK. It is nice to meet you Bimpe." Bimpe stretched forth her hand for a formal acceptance, but Amanda opened hers arms for an embrace and Bimpe wrapped herself in them - They both smiled, this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and they both could see it.

***

"Bimpe, your baby is fine, though it's still too early to tell the sex yet." The Doctor said to his beautiful patient who had been asleep for the better part of the antenatal examination.

"And thank you for been here with her, it means a lot," The doctor said again, this time to the person at Bimpe's side - Tommy. He had been engaging the doctor in series of powerful discussions, that took the better part of the Doctor's concentration, he didn't want to wake up Bimpe from her long nap while he examined her, for fear of ending his conversation with his intriguing guest. Bimpe was now awake, but still wanted to be absorbed in her memories; remembering the events of her past, her beginning with Amanda, made her very emotional. Tears escaped her tear ducts as she remembered the many instances in which she and Amanda had overcome the many obstacles of men, none had ever been this messy because none had ever involved a baby. The typical question would have been if she treasured their friendship, enough to abort her child to save it, but she already knew the answer - she already loved her child more than anything else in this world.

E3: Growing pains


Amanda's anger was on the forefront. To her, Bimpe had done the unthinkable - To try to steal her man was an unforgivable sin, even for her. She immediately got into her car, she needed to get to Tommy's as soon as possible, the hyper-sexual he-goat was going to explain o her what his marriage proposal to Bimpe was all about before hell is let loose. She kept spewing hate word after hate words as she drove, her anger was on the leash, the sooner she got her destination the better for everyone driving on the same road as she, heads needed to start rolling. Fortune smiled on her: Her car intercepted his at his gate just as he was waiting for the gatekeeper to do his job.

"Fortune has provided a great set for us to wash our dirty linens in public today," She announced as she opened her driver's door and rushed towards his, to block him from coming out.

Tommy forced open the door, and sent her falling violently to the rough floor of the road - This was the mean him, the one who wouldn't tolerate a woman wanting to murder an innocent child in the name of preserving her future.

"What is the meaning of this harassment woman?"

Amanda didn't want to believe what just happened, she tried to prepare her mind for the worst before hand but she wasn't entirely up to the task. "It isn't bad enough that you want to marry my best friend, you want to kill me as well so I won't hinder your plans," Amanda accused him on top of her voice. Now, the darkness of the early night provided additional cover to the calm of the estate that no one paid attention to the nuisance they were constituting.

Tommy didn't give her a second look, he was trying hard to hide his own sadness. He kept his head buried on his car roof, and had his back speaking to her.

"Is it my fault that you're a bingo, and couldn't control yourself? Why do I need to suffer for your own mistake? Why?" Amanda asked repeatedly, her tears escaped their feeble jars even as she rushed to wipe them away.

Tommy remained unshaken, he maintained his position even as she closed up to him, even as she hit him with every power she had.

"Is it my fault that you couldn't control yourself that fateful night?" She raised her voice as fast as she moved in search for his face. "Bimpe was just there to talk some sense into you on my behalf, and because your big man was more alive than you, all you saw before you was another conquest to add to your mighty list of conquered. Shame on you! Shame!" she yelled further.

At this point she had succeeded in drawing his attention, he raised his head to shower her a stern look. "I thought you had no idea why Bimpe was at my house that night. I clearly remember your words when I asked you that question." His angry approach scared her so much that she began to retrace her steps, away from him and his car. She didn't know what to say in her defense anymore, he had discovered her insignificant lie - the one lie she didn't think through before impulsively committing.

"You got her into this mess, Amanda. Your impatience and lack of understanding, made you send your best friend into a dangerous situation without you thinking twice. I can't do this anymore. It's over between us."

Amanda ran after him, she pulled her weight after him to stop her future from walking out on her completely. What has she done? If she loses Tommy to Bimpe, she's finished.

"Baby I'm sorry. Remember we're supposed to get married later this year," she tried her counsel for defense.

He ignored her fruitless attempt at resuscitation; it has online been a few minutes but he already felt as though a huge burden had been lifted off him. He entered his car, and drove away, he changed his mind to sleep in his house, he wanted her gone for good.

Amanda burst into tears, the memories of all her many sacrifices for this relationship played through her head. "It can't just end like this. This is not how my story ends. I refuse to be remembered as the pin that connected these two idiots together. It cannot end this way."

She rose up, cleaned her tears and bottled up her pain, she was going to do something nasty. She rused to her car and unlocked the pigeon hole to reveal a 9mm caliber.

E2: The Exodus

The words Bimpe could utter to save herself from Tommy's ravaging caresses were impotent, all her pleas remained in the bossom of deaf ears, Tommy took note of none of them up till the point he finished having his way: Even his drunk-self knew how not to relent until hitting the final target.


***

Bimpe's world had just gotten more complex than she thought possible: A clear line had been crossed because she loved her best friend to a fault, and wanted to help her solve a nonexistent probpem, but how does she explain that to anyone without he or she looking at her like a cheap LovePeddler; people would always look for a person to focus their frustrations on in other to entertain themselves. Her phone rang, drifting her from her depressing thoughts. She stared at it and saw it was Amanda calling. She picked up. "Perfect timing. It's positive. What do I do?"

"Positive!" Amanda repeated with audible fear.

"Positive. Are you sure?" A worried male voice seconded her worry from her end.

"Who's that? Don't tell me he's there with you. I can't talk or face him yet," Bimpe's voice began to breakdown, she had tried her best to remain strong within the past three weeks and it was because she had avoided every means of communication with Tommy. Amanda understood her sob, and ended the call to save her friend from further heartaches.

"You bastard! Look at what you've done, for not been able to keep your shit together, and package that thing between your legs." Amanda pointed aggressively at the edge of the inverted V of the space between his legs-spread-apart-shorts. The confrontation was swift, she didn't give him any chance to process the news that he would soon become a father courtesy of the most unexpected person in the world.

"I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you, or Bimpe." Tommy started his apology. He began to narrate how stressed he had been lately, and that the fateful day of the rape was his worst day at work - He lost a huge sum of money in a business deal gone totally wrong, and was seriously wallowing in depression, "That was the reason for our cancelled date that evening," he said, the explanation caused Amanda some guilty feeling. His colleagues arranged for an immediate visit to the bar to drench and forget their sorrows. How great was his pain that he broke his three years vow of bottle-abstinence, he never envisaged anyone would come by his place, especially not Bimpe, because he acknowledged he had a bad record with alcohol.

"By the way, why was she here that night?" He gathered enough morale amidst Amanda's hard knot face to ask the very important question irrespective of their present predicament.

"Why would you be asking me such after the damage you've already caused?" Amanda fired back. She wondered out loud why the reason that brought Bimpe there that night was of any importance now that the worst had happened.

"She's your friend, you should know what brought her here that late," Tommy maintained.

"I don't know."

He ignored her for a while, and asked what they'd do now that the worst had indeed happened.

"An abortion of course, that's the only option."

Amanda started to walk away but Tommy quickly pulled her back by the arm. He looked at her with disgust, and utter disbelief, her words had shocked him so much that he dropped all the possible ideas his head was giving him on how to handle the situation.

"I can't believe you just said that now. You mean you'll end an unborn child's life without even giving it a second thought?"

Amanda fought to free herself from his firm grip. "This isn't easy for me you know. She's my best friend, but if it comes to choosing between her and what is good for my future, I choose me a thousand times. We wouldn't be in this mess if you had just taken me on that date as we had planned that day."

Tommy couldn't believe his ears, the angle from which Amanda was drawing her argument from was barbaric and heartless. This is the woman he's supposed to get married to in a few months, yet he'd never seen this side of her which scared him to his marrows. His blood was rising, and so was his anger. He picked up his car key and walked out on her, before things got uglier than they already were. He was the one at fault, the one who complicated their already complicated lives, and he was the the one best suited to fix it.

He drove straight to Bimpe's apartment. It was his second time there, the first was when Amanda forced him to come visit her when she was very ill that they feared she might die - He smiled to himself as he remembered that day, it was the day he got the chance to know how beautiful her soul glowed - She just didn't deserve to have her life complicated as he had done to her, this and many other thoughts passed through his mind as he stepped out of his car.

He knocked on her door, unsure of what exactly to say when the door opened and they come face to face. His fright was heightened the moment the door began to unlock from the other side. It opened, and Tommy heaved a sigh of relief, the face that greeted him wasn't Bimpe's. He stared intently at the face, it appeared familiar, just like Bimpe's but older - "It's her mother" he said to himself.

"Yes. Who do you want to see?" Her firm voice asked.

"Yo-ur, Yo- -ur daughter Ma," Tommy stuttered hard, but slowly found his voice.

The woman took a moment to laugh. "She's not my daughter, she's my sister's. You must be Tommy, the Tommy that doubled her problems. You may come in."

Tommy was worried over the woman's swift change of countenance, probably she had the intension of luring him in and letting him put his guard down before she pounced on him with her huge stature. His thoughts were halted the moment he saw Bimpe wrapped up on the center sofa in the sitting room. He approached her position, and went on his knees to apologize; for the past three weeks he'd been a friend to insomnia, his conscience being his judge, and Bimpe's silence to him, his executioner.

"I forgave you that night, the moment I left your house, so forget about asking for my forgiveness, and let's figure out what to do about this coming baby."

Bimpe's words shocked him and he wanted to reprise her wisdom with a shocker of his own, "Marry me," he said.

His reply took all three of them in the house by surprise. Ever since the incident occurred, he always had this in mind as the ultimate solution should she get pregnant: No child of his would be born outside wedlock, and he was no supporter of an abortion, he explained all these to a confused Bimpe.

Her aunt, who had been eavesdropping from the adjoining room, silently rejoiced, she eagerly awaited her niece to begin screaming, 'Yes, I will,' but she got none and her misery lingered in anticipation.
"I'll have to speak with Amanda first to know how she sees this arrangement. Should she disagree, I don't know what will happen. I'm not getting married to my best friend's man no matter what, without her permission." Bimpe's words pleasured him the more, he was making the right decision to legalize his child's birth with her. Maybe it was God's will to bring his first child into this world through the beautiful and intelligent Bimpe.

"Yes you're right. Know that I haven't said anything to her concerning my plans," Tommy chipped in.

"That's very wrong of you." Bimpe's caution came freely, she didn't want any form of rising conflict between them because of her. Tommy dismissed her worry, her safety and their unborn child were the things paramount to him now.

Tommy left, and her aunt ran out, visibly happy that her niece was going to get married soon. "Call Amanda now, delay is dangerous," she suggested.

After repeated trials and redialing proved ineffective in greeting across, until they finally did. "Finally," Bimpe announced for joy.

"You sound better now," Amanda's voice scored poorly compared to the energy Bimpe started the conversation with, she was still relishing in her fight with Tommy a while ago.

"Tommy was just here, and he asked me to marry him," Bimpe went straight to the point sensing that Amanda wasn't in the mood for any form of jokes. "What do you say?" Bimpe asked the second time because of the persisting silence. Amanda cleared her throat probably to hide her increased pain, "What do you want me to say?" She asked back, hissed, and ended the call.

TRAPPED

In Between Worlds (Book One)



E1: Genesis


"Tommy, you promised. This was supposed to be my day, and you're turning me down again. Just know you've let me down once again. Add it to the many other times you've done same this month" Amanda's anger could be felt a thousand miles away, her rage directed at the one person best suited to make her happy. In that fit of anger she didn't mind where her mobile phone had fallen after the delirious call she had just received.

Tommy's the boyfriend who lately hasn't been forthcoming, always having a suitable excuse for his inability to see through any activity they had planned. Amanda couldn't bear it anymore, no, she wouldn't, it was driving her mad. She had the height many would kill for, an all round complete package she had that body many men would love to bed on a regular basis, so she didn't deserve the constant headache she got because of this man who meant the world to her when there were a thousand men in the world who would die for her attention. She suspected him of cheating on her, but she had no prove; in fact, she has no single reason to capitalize her theory that he was a cheat other than her constantly tingling feminine gut. Her internal conflict and mental battle got the best of her, soon she drifted off into a deep slumber to calm her head she felt was on fire.

The hours ran by, and the day flowed with the passing tide, Amanda was asleep, her troubles bubbled from the physical into the imaginary and back to the physical, the incessant clattering inside the apartment woke her up. She popped up from her bed - the combination of the growing darkness and the continued noise made her fearful. She looked up to her wall clock, and repeated the time it told her, "Half past seven." Fear continued to grip her, but she summoned enough courage to pick up the 'kondo' she kept under her bed and went after her unknown burglar.

"Ah! Bimpe, it's even you." Amanda cried with relief when she finally saw her intruder, she let out an audible hiss. The atmosphere received an overhaul of relief - The intruder was her best friend.

"Lol. I didn't even know you were in," Bimpe said in her defense as she slightly brushed pass Amanda who stood on her way at the corridor.

They both had a good laugh when Bimpe turned back and saw the kondo Amanda hid behind her. They've been friends for a very long time, and so each had complete access to the entirety of the other's property. Bimpe walked to the room and instantly saw the need to spread her touch to the place they had messed up in the morning.


Hours later ...


"Tommy hurt me again" Amanda made to swerve the topic towards her as she usually did, but Bimpe wouldn't allow it today no matter what came up, she also had important things to say and she wanted to go first. "Do you always have to bring up the bad recap first. Haba!" Bimpe stylishly cautioned, keeping her selfish motive to herself she went ahead with her narration.

As customary for them, after dinner each weekend they spent together, they'd share recaps of the major experiences in the outgoing week. Normally, they'd cast a lot on who goes first, but this hadn't been in practise for months now because Amanda always got too excited and had the floor to herself, but today, Bimpe was paying her back I'm her own coin, irrespective of her implied pain. Amanda waited patiently for her turn, they laughed over some of Bimpe's juicy details, ranging from her ever annoying boss to her non-available boyfriend amongst other frivolous matters she raised up.

When she was done, Amanda swiftly turned the atmosphere moody again as she tried to do before, she played the part of a scorned and heartbroken woman perfectly - They were her trademark. Her voice began to hurt, and soon the sincerity of the matter wouldn't let her differentiate between an act and her reality: she couldn't help but relate the way she actually felt on the inside, Tommy was killing her slowly, and he probably didn't even know it.

"Take it easy, you don't want headache over a man who's probably in his house right now watching football over a bowl of fries," Bimpe's first set of consoling words flew.

It suddenly struck Amanda. Bimpe could go over to Tommy's and talk some sense into him. She could even go there now, it wasn't too late as she understood from the time piece on the wall she quickly turned to read.

"Look at the time, it's late." Bimpe tried to downplay her urgency with respect, just as she did every time she didn't want to attend her friend's need over her own comfort.

"I know, but do this for me please. He's the love of my life, this you know," Amanda pleaded and shook her to see reason why going over now would have greater effect and make the difference. "He won't expect to see you. He respects you," Amanda spewed reason after reasons to better convince her.

Bimpe adjusted her position on the couch and looked the other away, silently praying Amanda didn't use their magic words next.

"Do it for me," the bomb dropped from Amanda's lips.

The words were out, the words that made either weak whenever it came out the mouth of the other. Bimpe had no choice now, she was trapped, and the sooner she left for Tommy's, the faster she'd get back. She dressed quickly, and left with the hopes of accomplishing her mission and returning before 11pm.

Coincidentally, she and Tommy arrived his gate almost the same time. Bimpe took a while to look at him, head to toe, she couldn't help but shake her head, he was a mess and skunk-drunk, but somehow was still in control of most of his body gestures, she stopped as fast as she had started to wonder how he was able to drive himself home safely, she acknowledged men had very high tolerance level when it came to alcohol, and a strange kind of luck whenever they gulped too much of it. She helped him up the stairs to the entrance of his half of the twin-duplex he called home, she unlocked the foor with the keys she collected from his wobbling-hands, and straight to his bedroom. She turned away after assisting him to his bed, she contemplated what to do next, and decided to place a call to Amanda, to intimate her on the heavy change of plans.

As she long-awaited the terrible network to connect the call, she felt a hand on her waist.

"Oh my God! This is not happening," she thought out to her hearing.

She turned around, and saw Tommy, standing in all his glory, and smiling sheepishly like the drunk he was at the moment. She immediately turned away, to prevent further soiling of her eyes that bore holy-stares. That was her cue to leave, before things spiralled completely out of control. She turned to move towards the door, but a hand of glory was stretched forth to keep her in her position, Tommy's hand of glory. He approached her with a force that seemed as though she has been on his waiting list of seeds to be crushed.

"Remember Amanda. Remember I'm her best friend. Don't do this!" Bimpe struggled to maintain a distance and also to avoid soiling her eyes with the imagery of his charged pecker. Tommy kept pressing forward, all her pleas sounded like encouragements to his ears and like reverberating sounds of cheers from the crowd at a gladiator's arena urging him to go on.

I have a mini-series of anthology stories I'm working on, and I want to share the first with everyone here.

The name of the first season/book is Trapped: In between worlds

This story is a paced telling of how good things can go wrong at the unexpected twist and turn of life, and how we as humans mostly react to our emotions and not reason.

It's short, just ten episodes, and will be posted as fast as possible, so sit back and relax for a swift storytelling. I hope to hear what you think about the story when it's completed.

DISCLAIMER

This work is purely the figment of imagination of the author - Talius Dike. In no way is any similarity intended to mock or announce your situation to the world, all characters are entirely fictional.

No part of this work may be reproduced or stored indiscriminately without the expressed, written, and signed permission of the author - Talius Dike.

FF, tweet @taliusdike

Happy belated celebrations Repogirl, more grease to your elbow.

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.

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.

princessadeola:
Happy Birthday.

Feyikemi12:
God bless your new age

Thank you baby girls, I appreciate.

remiseyi:

Happy birthday man

Thank you my brother. I appreciate.

Today's my birthday family.

E5

The Grandfather's time piece in the home rang a new hour. "7 A.M,” Andrew guessed as he opened the door, judging from the last time he checked while driving that was the next hour. Last night was awesome, it reminded why he appreciated Ramon for coming into his life when she did. "Uhn-uhn,” Mother cleared her throat to draw his attention to where she sat.

Andrew immediately wore a numb look, he tried to devoid his face from any translatable emotion. "Look at me!" Mother commanded with her stern voice; he kept her worried by not sleeping in last night. "I was at a friend's,” Andrew tried to quell her worry, not sure if it was because he wanted to avoid receiving another slap or because he feared what next she could do if he provoked her. Mother smiled. She opened her arms, and like a magnet Andrew was attracted to them for a hug. He concentrated his attention on the large flower pot behind her, rather than listening to her remuneration of her un-existing love for him and total concern for his well-being. "Why does she always have to mention her sacrifices?" The naughty part of his conscience asked the other - He named them Drew and Andy, after himself because they were part of who he was.

Mother broke the embrace. "I said I want to meet Anna,” she rephrased her sentence perhaps the first one sounded threatening, she was trying to mend fences not damage more. Andrew wasn't playing along and it started to piss her off, though she held it better in control her expression had begun to betray her wish as always. "I'll make it happen,” Andrew spoke. She found herself smile as she looked forward to meeting Anna - The intriguing Anna.


***

Mr. Malik strolled into the conference room even though he was late. He had in his hands more files than any single briefcase could contain.

The Moderator of the today's meeting before Andrew arrived, continued in his stead, “Proceed," he said to Malik.

Malik took center stage. He announced he now controlled 40% of the firm's shares on behalf of Mr. Akin, making Akin the largest shareholder of the firm again, even after the momentary set back he had suffered. He urged the investors to see reasons why Akin was the best person to become CEO, the more reason they needed to vote wisely once the court cleared him of all charges pertaining to his son's case.

After urging Andrew twice to say something without success, Dimeji was the one to interrupt Malik, with Huey out of the firm and Patrick away on his wedding anniversary, this was his opportunity get closer to Andrew, to make meaningful contributions in support of the CEO.

"Caution Mr. Dimeji," The Moderator called him to order. Malik took his seat having finished addressing the house.

"Who's this young lady?" Andrew finally spoke, he made reference to the beautiful unknown lady sited quietly close to Dimeji. Dimeji stood to introduce her, “This is Imelda, my goddaughter,” he said. She was joining the firm on contract assignment of six months, and he expressed hope that her performance interests the firm enough to retain her as a permanent staff. He beckoned her to greet the house, she rose. Andrew found his inner self, Drew, drooling at the site of her heavy assets - Assets that made Ramon's artillery look like child's play.


***


Anna sipped her tea with caution. From the little information Andrew gave to her upon invitation, she didn't want to do anything to piss this Iron Lady. Every word Mother said made her smile even the ones that were not funny at all. She wanted to be done with the lunch before it even started. Worst off, Mother requested the venue be Andrew's home: Every inch of this place held recent memories, even the couch Mother sat on remainder her of her and Andrew's moments on it. She tried to focus her eyes on Mother's face, as difficult as that seemed.

"I thought you wouldn't come,” Mother’s words sounded passionate, as though she not showing up would have bugged her rather than anger her, thanks to Andrew she knew better than to fall for the articulate words of the elderly woman. Strangely, Anna found herself trusting every warning Andrew had given her prior to her arrival. "I have no reason to refuse you invitation Ma,” Anna’s time to talk arrived, she noticed her slip in the use of Ma instead of Mother, her host noticed it too.

Mother wore a frown, she didn't know if it was out of disgust for the used Ma Anna used to address her, or because the young lady had just lied to her. Mother asked if Anna would have still come if she knew she and Andrew used to date: That caught Anna unaware. Mother claimed to know a lot of things, even how she gained employment into the Law firm. Anna surrendered immediately, that was something she didn't want to have discussed, she agreed to the real awkwardness of the situation, and said she honoured the invitation out of respect to the sweet old lady she met at the mall that rainy day.

"You're a wonderful girl,” Mother remarked, she pointed that must be the reason why Andrew liked her. She wondered why they broke up, why Andrew left her. Anna's voice was shaken, her strength diminished by the resurfacing memory of how she started at Akin Chambers, “I broke up with him," she finally found the strength to say. Mother was stunned, Anna used the opportunity to gloat, she thought Mother knew everything.