I sat
down on the dining table and in front of me was a plate of vegetable soup with
cow leg, stockfish and fat pomo. I salivated at the aroma coming from the soup. I did not need a miracle worker to tell me
my system desired the meal. I ate it with pounded yam and cleared the plate because it was
delicious. Mrs. Alice has found a new friend and I would make sure she won’t
regret working for me and my family.
“You
enjoyed the food, right?” Hope asked me after we ate and relaxed at the mini
sitting room.
“I did.
She’s a very good cook.”
Ebube
came to inform us that Michael was around and he has gone to see my father in
his room.”
“Tell
him to come over here when he is done with my father.”
“Okay
sir.” she said and left. Hope rose on her feet to meet Michael while I stayed
alone. I used the opportunity to call Melissa.
“Hello
dear.” she said after picking my call.
“I am
not happy with you.”
“What
did I do?” she asked.
“My
mother informed me you have ordered for your wedding gown, paid for the
invitation cards, concluded your father will sponsor the wedding. How dare you
not tell me about this?”
“Put
yourself together and don’t insult me. You have made it clear we are getting
married next month so what did you expect me to do? Wait till it is two days to
go?”
Her
choice of words baffled me. “You are questioning me instead of answering my own
questions? You are not yet my wife, you are not Mrs. Henshaw and you are
talking rude to me?”
She
hissed. “My dad and your parents will see next week to talk more of the
preparations. The wedding planner will reduce the stress for us all. Anyways, your
mother said you want to pay for everything. If that is what you want no
problem.”
My head
was not only spinning for Melissa disrespecting me but also the sound of her
voice. “You think because I have agreed to go ahead with the wedding, you can
talk to me anyhow? You are already showing me your true color. Can’t you wait
after the wedding before exposing your disgusting attitude?”
“Hector
you can think or say whatever you like.” she said coarsely. “I have informed
some celebrities, friends, my father’s friends, in fact I do not need to
explain some things to you. We are getting married soon and nothing or no one
can put asunder. I will send you the bill of everything.”
“Whatever!”
“I love
you.”
“Thank
you.” I cut the call. I was expecting her to call me back but she did not.
“Why do
you have an angry look on your face?” Michael asked me immediately he entered. “Who
has offended the almighty Hector?”
“I am
not in the mood to interact with you.”
“What’s
going on?”
“I need
to sleep with a chick to ease the pressure on me. Do you have anyone in mind?”
He
assembled himself to sit very close to me. “You are getting married soon and
that should make you start living a good life. Be a responsible man for once.”
“You are
neither a pastor nor a teacher to lecture me about living a responsible life. I
am not a wayward man.”
“I never
said you were wayward Hector. Please don’t put words into my mouth.”
“Go to
hell.”
“Well
with you hell it is.”
“Michael.”
I called his name. He looked directly at my face. “You came to see how my
father is doing and not to piss me off. Do not incite me more because if you
do, I will destroy everything you have.”
He was
about to talk when the new cook came to meet us.
“Sir
Hector, your mother said I should inform you I am going.”
“I like
it when I tell people to do things that I want and they obey. You will be
dismissed the next time you address me as sir. You are old enough to be my
mother so call me by my name.”
She gave
a faint smile. “Okay si..Hector.”
“Better.
I am aware your daughter, Renee will also be working here. I do not beat around
the bush, I go straight to the point. If your daughter does not have manners,
please teach her when you get home. I do not want a bush girl to parade round
in my home. She should focus on her job and nothing more. I have the feeling I
won’t have a problem with you.”
“Thank
you sir for your advice,” she said steadily. “My daughter is respectful and she
will not cause any trouble.”
“Good.”
I collected my wallet and gave her transport fare but she refused. I persuaded
her to take it has a token for her cooking. She took it and counted the money.
“Sir..Sorry
Hector, please five thousand naira is too much. One thousand is enough for me.”
“You can
throw the money away or give your daughter the rest. You can go now.”
She
smiled. “Thank you very much, God will bless you.”
“Amen.”
I said and she left.
Michael
spoke. “Have you seen the new cook’s daughter?”
“No.”
“Why did
you call her a bush girl and said all those things to her mother?”
I
sighed. “I said them out of annoyance. I am not in a good mood.”
“Who put
you in this bad mood?” he asked.
“Melissa.”
“What
happened?”
“I don’t
want to talk about it.”
“Who
will be your best man?”
“I
wanted my father to be the man by my side on that day but I’ve changed my mind.
You are the one.”
He smiled
and gave me his right hand to shake me. “Thanks bro. I cannot wait for your
wedding day and I am excited to be part of it.”
I shook
his hands with no hint of beam in me. That day would be the worst day of my
life.
*******
(RENEE)
My
mother arrived home with excitement. She entered the house singing worship
songs. I allowed her finish before I would say anything to her. She danced
round our small living room, hugged me after everything, and sat down. I joined
to sit by her side.
“Good
evening mum,” I greeted her. “Give me gist.”
“Not
only did I get a job but you did too.”
I opened
my mouth with an enthusiastic look on my face. “Are you serious?”
“Yes my
daughter.”
“How?”
She gave
me the details.
“I can’t
wait to work there.” I said excitedly.
“They
were very nice to me especially our employer’s son. He gave me five thousand
naira for my transport fare.”
I
extended my right palm to her. “Give me my share.”
“Which
share? You will receive yours when you start on Monday. I will also like to advise
you to be careful with the way you talk. I know you are respectful and very
loyal but you are never afraid to express yourself."
“Is that
a bad thing?”
“It is
not madam,” she said. “Do not argue with anyone there.”
I
frowned at her. “Why should I argue? Sometimes you talk as if you hardly know
your daughter. Has anyone I have worked for complain about me?”
She
sighed tiredly. “No.”
“Then
why are you saying all these to me. You are hurting me.”
My
mother drew me closer and hugged me sideways. “I am sorry. I don’t want the
both of us to miss this opportunity.”
I gave
her a smile. “We will never miss this opportunity. This can even open doors for
you and me. Do they have a lawyer in that family?”
She
removed her hands from me. “I don’t know but why do you ask?”
“To sue
your brother of course, half of his properties belongs to you.”
“Renee!
I don’t need any properties. You are what I need and your happiness is what
matters to me. I don’t ever want you to say anything regarding my brother ever
again.”
“I will
not talk about it but we need an apology from him. He insulted you and my
father!”
“Forgive
and forget.” she said softly.
I folded
my hands. “If you say so mami. How many children does our employer have?”
“I think
three but I doubt if one of them still lives there. She was with her father in
the room until she came to eat at the dinning.”
“How is
his condition?” I asked her concerned.
“I can’t
say for now but he’s on medication.”
“I will
treat him like my father and make sure he eats on time and take his drugs
properly.”
My
mother smiled brightly at me. “I trust you for that.”
“You
have not told how much is my salary?”
She
pushed me slightly on the shoulder playfully. “I know you will definitely ask.
Well, you will be paid one hundred thousand naira monthly.”
I stared
at her stunned! “100k?”
“Yes.”
“Just
for me to give him his drugs, answer him whenever he needs my assistance?”
“Yes my
daughter ooo. This is a miracle.”
“We need
to give testimony in the church tomorrow. Do you know how much I will save in a
year?”
“Are you
telling me? I know how much I will save too. We will open a big restaurant in
the future and your dream will surely come true.”
“Yes but
I don’t want it to reach up to a year.”
“Why?”
she asked surprised.
“It
means I don’t want him to get well.”
She sighed
and shook her head. “I understand my daughter. My own salary will sustain us
whenever he gets well and I overheard the daughter telling Mrs. Henshaw to
inform her son to give you a job.”
“Wow!”
“Yes. If
Mr. Henshaw gets better, I will summon courage to remind them about the job.”
“Why
can’t you talk to the son yourself? I thought you said he’s very nice?”
“Correct
but I will talk to his sister first. There is something I noticed about him.”
“What?”
I asked.
“I think
he has a temper. At first when I arrived, he cheered us all and was
accommodating but before I left he said some things to me in an angry mood.”
“Did you
get him angry?"
“No but
I think someone else did.”
“That’s
his business if he has a temper.” I told her. “Just cook whatever he wants and
I will avoid him.”
“You
don’t have to avoid him.”
“I will
because if he accuses me of what I am innocent of I will defend myself.”
She
quickly pointed at me. “Renee! Don’t make me lose my job ooo.”
I roared
in laughter. “I am joking. I will take shit from the Henshaw’s if that will not
make you lose your job.”
“Ah!
Please ooo.”
“What
happens to your shop?”
“I will
think of something and let you know,” she said and rose on her tired legs. “I
need to bathe.”
“How
much will you earn?”
“When I
am through, I will let you know.” She walked inside without the answer I wanted.
I am indeed very thrilled to see her very happy after a long time. I grabbed my
phone to call my best friend Mariam and tell her the good news.
*******
(HECTOR)
Later in
the evening, Hope and Michael finally left the house. I called Weyinmi to come
pick me up at ten for a late night flexing getaway. Before I left the house, I
went over to Hillary’s room to look for her trouble.
“Whenever
you are going to see Peter after Hope travels, inform me.”
Her facial
expression changed radically. “Why?”
“Hope wants
the two of us to visit Peter together.”
“That is
not what she discussed with me.”
“I
helped Hope changed her mind.”
“Why are
you doing this?” she asked.
“To stop
you from embarrassing yourself and this family, you have no shame at all. It is
an embarrassment to have you as my sister and if you ever go there without my
permission, I will spill out your secret agenda.”
She
tightened her face. “I can’t wait for you to get married and leave this house
and me alone!”
“I can’t
wait for you to be matured enough and be useful to yourself! You are not only
shameless but also very lazy. I pity the man that will eventually marry you.”
“See who
is talking? Are you any better than me?”
“You
can’t compare the both of us. We are very different. I have my own flaws but I
am a good man. No one is perfect.”
“You are
a good man yet you love no one.”
“Shut
the fuck up!!” I snarled at her. “I love my family with all my heart. I love
you and that is why I want you to change and be a better person.”
“I like
the way I am,” she said. “I am not complaining.”
I turned
by back to open the door and banged it at her. I was not in the mood to argue
or exchange words with the nincompoop. I had better things to do with
my Saturday night. I followed Weyinmi to a nightclub to have lots of fun. My
phone rang inside my pocket many times before I checked to peep at it. I saw
twenty-one missed calls from Melissa. I was a bit bothered and hoped everything
was all right with her. I went outside to check for a quiet place to call her.
“Where
are you?” she asked authoritatively.
I
glanced at my wristwatch for the time and it was 2am in the morning. “Have you
not slept?” I asked her.
“Where
are you?” she asked again.
I
frowned at her question. “What’s your problem Melissa?”
“I am
going to be your wife soon and I have every right to ask you where you are.”
“But we
are not married yet?”
“Will
you tell me where you are?”
“Good
night Melissa.” I ended the call and switched off my two phones. I inhaled in
and out. Hillary was right, my marriage with Melissa was going to be HELL ON
EARTH but Melissa cannot be so powerful to stop me from partying hard or getting
booties. She can never stop me from cheating.
To be
continued…..
Wa keko... be doing Lyk an Oponu!! Renee cn mk u change ur mind
ReplyDeleteWaa ko eko!!! Renee cn mk u change ur mind... be doing lyk Oponu oshi!!
ReplyDeleteCK, please let those two meet already, abah, u are just prolonging their meeting.
ReplyDeleteFantastic story.
Thank you dear.. they will meet soon.
DeleteIt's going to be really tough on him if he marries he, so he better don't.
ReplyDeletePamscrib.blogspot.com
yo' all should chill nah, as for me hav fasten ma seatbelt cos ain't going nowhere, @carina if u like crawl like a snail...lol
ReplyDeletewww.wlcmwisdom.blogspot.com
DeleteHahahah..you are very funny! Fasten your seatbelt very tight ooo
DeleteHector shouldn't go ahead btw Hector self na case he wanted his father to be his bm... I pray he makes a right decision..
ReplyDeleteWww.trendwithgloria.com
Am still here ooooo
ReplyDeleteNice one
ReplyDeletenyc
ReplyDeleteCarin,you are making this too long,please I want to read hillary and reneeoooooh.too much tension..please make a movie/novel for this writeup okay....hillary is in trouble.
ReplyDeleteI hope i can make a movie in the future. Owo ni koko..
DeleteThanks for your comment
100k....to just give oga food and drugs is that not too much...please make it real,....how much go come be cook...welldone dear..always the BEST.
ReplyDelete