CHAPTER TEN

He usually let Moses or Martins handle the studio work, but when a singer came with a project worth a million naira or more, he took charge himself.

Natasha Edward, the singer, had committed 1.5 million to the project and planned to invest twenty million naira in total.

This caught his attention since most new singers didn't spend that much.

Curious, he went to the studio.

Natasha was sitting elegantly in the office, wearing a black dress with matching accessories, looking like a British woman from the early nineties.

As she greeted him, he noticed her lovely perfume filling the room. "Nice to meet you, Miss Natasha," he said.

"Nice to meet you too, Raymond. Let's get straight to why we're here. I'm ready to invest in my music project, and I want it to touch many lives. If it doesn't make a difference, I'll regret it forever."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Is this your first project?"

She nodded and sipped her coffee."You're more interested in reaching people's souls than making money?"

"Yes. I owe everything to God and your mother. I have so much to be grateful for."

"My mother?"

"Yes, she trusted me to manage Sylvia Design for five years."

He was surprised. "My mum told me how you turned Sylvia Design around in just five years. The company had been struggling for decades, but you helped them see their designs were outdated. Your management skills are impressive."

"I learned a lot at Matina Schools. That was where I started."

He gasped. "You managed Matina School? The well-known one?"

She nodded with a smile. "Why are you so surprised?"

"I never knew the CEO of Matina School was so young."

She laughed. "Stop flattering me, Raymond."

They went to the studio, and he listened to her sing.

Her voice was beautiful, like an angel's.

It was clear she was a virtuous woman.

***

"Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates." —Proverbs 31:31

She read the verse and looked at Juliana. "This verse kept me going when I started the fashion company."

Juliana put an arm around her. "Two weeks before you came to our house, I cried in church, like Hannah, asking God for a daughter. When I saw how hurt you were when you arrived, I regretted doubting God's promise. At first, I was scared you would compete with Victor for the company, but you made your own way. You believed in God's promise to bless the work of your hands."

Tears filled Rosa's eyes. "Since I came here, I've known no pain. God gave me the life I always wanted."

"Can I ask you something, Rosa?"

"Yes, Mother."

"Why did you hate your mother so much?"

Rosa sighed. "One Friday, I was washing dishes when Uncle Jackson rushed in and told my mother he found her a receptionist job. Do you know what she said? 'Jackson, do you think I'm doing this job just to survive and take care of Rosa? I do it because I enjoy it!' Uncle Jackson had told her how everyone at school isolated me, but she didn't care. She wanted that job. At first, I didn't hate her because I thought she was doing it for me. But hearing her say that, and watching Uncle Jackson help her get rid of innocent babies, I wished God would take me away from her. I was so traumatized that I lost empathy. This family helped me discover who I really was. I thought I was a sad girl with no emotions, but coming here, I realized I just hadn't released those emotions. I'm a happy girl with so many emotions." She hugged Juliana. "I never want to lose you, Mother."

Juliana sobbed. "Thank you for trusting me to be your mother. Thank you so much."

After their emotional moment, Juliana nudged Rosa and winked. "You didn't even tell me about Joshua."

Rosa giggled shyly and looked away. "It's nothing special."

"With the way you're looking away, it must be very special."

Rosa giggled again and jumped off the bed. "He held my hand, and my heart was beating so fast, I thought I was going to die."

"Awww, I'm going to cry right now."

They burst into laughter.

***

Rosa carefully ironed Victor's tuxedo for the evening event he was attending.

When he received it, he exclaimed, "Impeccably pressed, as always. If we weren't related, we could consider getting married."

She rolled her eyes. "So I can iron your clothes for a living? I rebuke you."

He laughed. "Rosa, why don't you come with me to the event?"

"I'm not in the mood. I just want to sleep."

"Sylvia Designs will be there. Just imagine collaborating with top brands like that! It's a big opportunity."

Rosa hesitated, tempted by the offer.