“Incredible,” Marcus stated. “They must have been acting that way because of your prestige. The twins could even be scared your mother might give everything to you.”
“But
I doubt that. She would never do that to them. She truly loved them.”
“I
know. They were probably naïve, scared and ambiguous of your mother’s actions.
Remember blood is thicker than water.”
“My
mother didn’t see it that way. I didn’t see it that way.”
“Where
is your mother at the moment?”
Olivia
inhaled and exhaled. She bowed her head, shook it and smiled painfully, no
response from her.
He
stared at her concerned. “Miss King, are you okay.”
Olivia
looked at him directly. She quickly stood and grabbed her handbag. “I have to
go.”
Marcus
dropped the note and pen, stood and moved a few steps towards her direction.
“What is it?”
“I
can no longer continue.”
“Did
I say something wrong?”
“I
have to go. I can’t continue this anymore.”
He
tried to think of what he said that might have gone wrong. “Wasn’t I supposed
to ask of your mom?”
Her
lips trembled as her eyes fell on him. “I will call you.”
The
moment she walked out of his office, Marcus pondered that the mention of asking
her where her mother was must have triggered Olivia. He felt something bad
happened and he would do anything to hear the whole story and help her find
happiness again.
His
wife saw Olivia coming out. She was watching a Bollywood movie and paused it
before she questioned.
“Are you going now?” She
intended to invite her for dinner.
Olivia halted and faced
her despite looking nervous. She feared it might lead to a panic attack if she
stayed longer.
“Yes,
I have to go now.” She quickly turned to the direction of the entrance. She
didn’t walk. Olivia ran out of the door. Thank God for the cab she boarded, she
had an agreement for the driver to wait. She entered the taxi and ordered.
“Please
take me back to the hotel.”
“Okay,
ma.” The cabman said and turned on the ignition.
“Drive
fast!”
***
I
returned to my hotel room and had a quick shower. Marcus asking me where my
mother was hit me hard! It brought back an awful memory and remembering the
incident made me sick in the stomach. I had to leave so that I can think.
Earlier
before I went to see my new therapist, Andy Akunna came to see me as requested.
I gave him two thousand dollars to change for me. I could see how surprised he
was giving him such an amount. He could run with the money and he could return
with it. I wanted to test him.
Two
hours later, he came back with the cash in naira notes and a new sim. I took
his phone number in case I needed to see him urgently. I told Andy I would get
back with him later. He didn’t complain or ask for money, he left humbly.
Now, after I rested for a few minutes to calm myself, I called Andy.
“You
are a patient man Andy Akunna,” I said to him the moment he came in and greeted
me.
“Thank
you ma.”
“Do
you know how to drive?”
“Yes,
I do.”
“Do
you love your job?”
He
hesitated before he responded. “Yes, ma.”
“I
need to buy a car and I want you to drive me around for a few days. What if I
tell you to resign and work for me?”
Andy
stared at me confused, thinking of what to say.
“You
are not going to regret it. I will pay you generously.”
“But
you said I would drive you for only a few days.”
“Yes.
You will also be my personal assistant. I will call whenever I need you but
expect a monthly payment.”
He
kept quiet for a short while before he spoke. “I am ready. I will work for
you.” He said in excitement.
“I
hope I can trust you.”
“You
can. I told you I am the one taking care of my mother. She is on medication.”
“Is
she sick?”
“She
is diabetic.”
I
smiled at him. “I am ready to pay for your mother’s medication if you never
betray me.”
He
widened his eyes in surprise and he smiled gleefully. “I would never do
anything to jeopardize what you are about to do for me. No one has done that,
not even her family. I will never betray you, Miss King.”
“Well,
you can inform your mother about the good news. She doesn’t need to worry.”
“Yes!”
Andy jumped excitedly and it made me laugh.
That laugh made me
realize I can be happy, but when? When will I finally have
peace? When will I find love? Will I ever get to meet the love of my life?
“I will tender my
resignation immediately.” His voice brought me back from my thoughts.
“No
problem. We will go out tomorrow. I hope you know where I can buy a car.”
“Yes,
ma. We will board a cab there.”
“I
have to go to a bank for a transaction first. We will leave as early as
seven-thirty in the morning.”
“No
problem.”
I
dipped my hand into my handbag and brought out some cash. I didn’t bother to
count it. I just handed it over to him, and Andy couldn’t hide the surprise in
his eyes when I informed it was for his services he rendered to me. He thanked
me repeatedly until I ordered him out of my room. Andy was happy. I was happy
for him; at least my benevolence would bring a smile to a woman, his mother.
I
ordered for a quick dinner, I couldn’t even finish it. Marcus Dotun called my
number several times but I chose not to answer. I sent him a text, promised I
would call him the next day, maybe in the evening.
I
had a chilled drink, took some sleeping pills before I kissed the night
goodbye.
***
The
following morning, I met Andy outside. He was already with an Uber, he wanted
to carry my bag, I refused. I employed an assistant, not a slave. I informed
the driver of where he would take us for the day. He drove to the bank where I
did some transactions. I spend close to two hours there. I had to open a
savings and current account, wait for the account numbers, transfer some money
into them and change some dollars and pounds. The manager promised I would get my
credit cards the next day. I needed it urgently.
After
that, we went to a car shop, and I couldn’t make a choice. I wanted an
expensive and sophisticated car but Andy advised I should buy an affordable one
for the main time to avoid prying eyes. He didn’t want people to suspect I just
arrived from another man's land. I thought briefly about it, he was damn right.
I finally made up my mind and bought a Toyota Venza. Though quite costly but
not as the one that caught my eyes, a Cadillac.
I
bought my car, paid the cabman, and Andy drove to where I would get my plate
number and necessary documents to avoid Nigerian police. It was impossible to
get them that same day, so I paid extra for them to be fast about it. That
extra was obviously a bribe but I hated delay. In a few days, I would receive
them including my driver’s license.
Andy
and I went to an eatery and ate a late lunch. On our way to the hotel, I told
me to take me to where the Ark City was. It was an estate built totally from
others, a one of a kind.
“Miss
King, that place is like paradise.” He said to me with a wide smile. “We can’t
drive inside the place. I believe there is a procedure for that.”
I
managed to smile. “I read about it on the internet. Has anyone managed to know
the owner?”
“Not
at all. No one knows. The owner remains anonymous.”
“Okay.”
“If
I may ask, why do you want to see the place if you can’t go inside?”
“Take
me there, Andy,” I said commandingly.
He
didn’t bother to question me again, the sound of my voice expressed exactly
what I wanted. We arrived there in forty minutes, he alighted opposite it, and
indeed, it was a beautiful, magnificent and exquisite view despite not
exploring inside. It had two security houses on the left and right sides. The
gate was unique.
I
needed to plot, strategize as fast as possible. “Take me to the hotel.”
“Yes,
ma.”
Andy
drove in silence. When he saw my eyes from the rear mirror, he could tell I
didn’t want to be disturbed. We arrived quite late because of the traffic. Andy
parked the car, gave me my keys and went home. I motioned to my room to lie on
my bed. No need for dinner, I had lost appetite. I was about to have a shower
when my phone rang. I didn’t pick, I just sent him a text saying – I would finish my story. Expect
me in two days at noon.
He replied by giving me
a task. He asked me to write five things that would make me happy and I must
read them out for him during our next session. Before I slept, I sat down with
a pen and a paper. I tried to think of what to write and just one thing came into
my mind.
The
next day, Andy drove me around a part of Lagos City. We shopped, I bought a few
things for him and his mom. We ate and visited the museum. I noticed how Andy
felt. He couldn’t stop grinning, acting as if he had won a jackpot. To me, he
was a lucky fella. He had the grace of God. It was a good day for him.
The
day I was supposed to see Marcus, I canceled our appointment for the next day.
I was unable to finish his task. I also wanted to get my license and the other
necessary official papers.
When
the day and time came for me to see my therapist, Andy drove me as usual.
Marcus' wife welcomed us, offered drinks and snacks but I graciously declined.
Not surprised, Andy accepted. He loved food and wasn’t ashamed to say yes to
what she offered him.
Marcus
Dotun shook my hand with a smile and offered me a seat opposite him in his
office. This time, he wasn’t holding a pen and jotter but he used his recorder.
“Were
you able to write the five things that would make you happy?” He inquired.
“No.
I was able to write two things.” I said disappointedly.
“You
don’t have to be sad about it. You did well. Kindly say it.”
I
took out the paper from my bag to read. “I will be happy when I succeed in my
revenge. I will be happy if I fall in love with the right man.”
“Do
you want to experience true love?”
“Yes.”
“Then
why have you closed your heart? If you are always bitter, it would be quite
difficult for people to approach you. You rarely smile.”
“I
have to stay bitter. I have not gotten what I want. I must accomplish my
mission here.”
“What
if you don’t?”
“I
will never be happy. Never!”
“Now
finish your story so that I can sympathize with you. I have to understand what you passed through,
Miss King.”
I
had to take a slow and deep breath before I could speak. “After I found out
about my adopted siblings, she removed some documents of a land from the wardrobe and gave it to
me.”
FLASHBACK:
“Mom,
why are you giving me these documents?” Olivia asked her mother.
“I
am currently broke,” Elena said. “But I will bounce back soon.”
“How?
I don’t understand.”
“I
used my savings to purchase a land. A very huge land. The governor of the state
wanted to acquire it but I bought it first. I want to build something marvellous
there. I am thinking of collecting a loan from Chief Douglas Ogbonna.”
Douglas
was an old classmate and an old friend of Elena.
“Will
he give you the loan?”
“He
would but he needs time. He is planning to travel when he returns we will have
a meeting. I asked for a huge amount. I want to start the foundation.”
“What
do you intend to build?”
She
smiled cheerfully. “An estate, a unique one. I will build houses with
elevators, different kinds of apartments. There would be a school there, a
playground for kids, a supermarket, saloon, and a clinic, if possible an
eatery… See, people who would live there don’t have to drive out to get what
they want. They will get it around their vicinity. There is a part where you
can even see the ocean. Houses I would build around that site will be expensive
to acquire. I guess people who love water would acquire the properties there.”
“Mom,
it’s a great idea! You need a lot of money for that.”
“I
told you.”
“So
why are you giving me?”
“I
am going to share my properties equally for my children.” Elena pointed at the
documents. “This is yours only. I want you to keep it safe, not even in this
house. I also don’t want to have the urge to sell it in case I am desperate to
get money for other things.”
Olivia
stared at her mother in shock. “Mom, I don’t know what to say.”
“Say
you will guide these documents with your heart, I am not getting younger. One
day you will be in charge of this estate. I would call it The Empire City.”
“Wow!
I love the name.” She hugged her mother tightly. “Thank you, mom, for believing
in me. I promise never to fail you. I will guide it with my life. It will be my
treasure.”
“Chief
Douglas knows my plan and he believes I can do it.”
“I
believe you can, mom.” Olivia released herself from the embrace. “I love you.”
“I love you, Sade Olivia
Badmus.”
BACK TO PRESENT:
“Where did you keep the
documents?” Marcus asked me.
“I
kept it safe. I kept it in the bank.”
“So
what happened next?”
“For
a few days, Naomi started to ask for money from my mother. When she could give
her, they started to quarrel. They had arguments. I wanted to leave that house
that period. My mom refused to tell her she was having a financial problem. On
a particular day, we knew my mother was going to a wedding ceremony. She had
received the invitation a few weeks ago. She planned to drive herself. Her
driver was on leave. On her way there, I called her in front of Naomi, Nelly,
and Nelson. I called to ask…” I couldn’t finish my sentence. I couldn’t hold
back the tears, it rushed down my cheeks.
Marcus
gave me a handkerchief and I wiped the tears away. He sat back and asked if I
could continue. I nodded even though my body trembled.
“I
called to ask her if she could get me a bowl of ice cream when she was
returning, she laughed. Then suddenly my mom started screaming. In a few
seconds, I didn’t hear a sound. I told my siblings something was wrong. They
didn’t believe me. I panicked, called her number several times but it wasn’t
going anymore. I had to wait with my heart in my hand. I was scared to my
bones.”
“Something
bad had happened to your mother,” Marcus said.
Even
though tears began to drip from my eyes, I didn’t want to stop crying. I threw
the handkerchief away, nodded my head and looked straight into his inquiring
eyes.
I
spoke with tears all over my face. “A few hours later, Nelly received a call
from a hospital. My mom had been involved in a fatal accident. Dr. Marcus
Dotun, she died. My mom died on the spot. I barely recognized my mother when I saw
her at the hospital!”
******
To be continued....
Nice ma
ReplyDeleteThanks
Delete