CHAPTER EIGHT

An hour later, Chief's wife got up from the bed and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

When she was done, she came out.

"Hope you enjoyed it Mike," she said smiling.

Michael kept mute.

"Anyways, dress up let's go back to the shop. This is the deal I told you about, it's just between the two of us. No one should know about this."

Michael was still not talking.

She got close to him and held his hand.

"You aren't saying anything. I understand your feeling. With time you will get used to me. Dress up let's go."

They both dressed up and left for the shop.

When they got to the shop, they continued their business like nothing happened.

Later on, their relationship continued.

So one day, Michael went to eat food at their regular mamaput and met his friend again. They both ordered food and waited to be served.

"My man! You dey scarce these days Ooooo," his friend said.

"My guy, I just dey."

"Wetin dey sup na. You just dey chop oga money forget me."

"I just dey busy."

"You know say you no fit hide anything from me, reason me the latest nah."

Michael was quiet for a moment.

"Can I trust you?" Michael queried.

"I be your guy from day one nah, I no fit disappoint you," he assured him.

Michael in a low tone explained everything that had been going on to him.

"Omo! You don blow!"

"I'm telling you that I'm in a mess and you are saying something else. Please what can I do?"

"This is a big opportunity. Omo You dey lucky Oooo, this type of thing no dey come my way."

"Opportunity? how?"

"You will get whatever you want, you don't need to be taking money from your sales any more, you are free to do as you like. My man, the benefits are uncountable.

Just play your game well and you will get whatever you want."

"What if Oga finds out."

"Who go tell am?"

The vendor then brought their food and they ate and left.

Michael agreed to what his friend said.

From that day on, he started feeling freer with Chief's wife even though he respected her as his master's wife.

Nobody suspected anything, the other boys especially Senior felt jealous that madam loved Michael more than them.

Two months later, Chief came back from China.

Madam stopped going to shop. Chief's return didn't change the secret relationship between the two.

Whenever Chief's wife wanted to be with Michael, she would make up a believable reason to get Michael to come home and it was usually when the kids weren't back from school.

On one occasion, Chief's wife called Chief on the phone and told him that she gave Michael a list of food ingredients to buy at the market.

"I'm not feeling too well to go to the market, tell Michael to bring the ingredients home so I can prepare the food before you people come back."

"Okay, I'll tell him."

Chief gave Michael money and he bought the listed items and carried them to the house.

That's how they continued fueling their affair.

That year was the end of the apprenticeship tenure for Senior.

In the Igbo trade apprenticeship system, it usually takes between five to seven years for an apprentice to learn a trade and get settled by his master.

That year was the last year for Senior.

He served Chief well and wasn't involved in any case that may linger his settlement.

When the month written on his agreement reached, Chief settled him with a huge sum that he could start up a business with and even gave him a shop.

Chief always uses Senior as an example for Michael and Uche.

"If you do well, I will settle you handsomely. Learn from him, don't involve yourself in anything that will implicate you."

Later on, when Michael was alone with Chief's wife, she assured him that she would do anything possible to make sure he got a better settlement than Senior.

"You know I'm in charge. I can get Chief to do whatever I want. Just play your game well and you will forever enjoy yourself."

"I believe you, Mommy. I won't disappoint you."

"Ok darling, come and give me some sugar."

They locked lips and had it off.

Afterwards, Michael went back to the shop.

I'm

VINCENT

Son of a nobody