Chapter Nine

She ran her eyes over the last sentence she had just typed on her laptop as she tried to ignore the little callings of hunger. She had to finish that chapter, or else, her online readers would end her life. Lately, she had been getting comments upon comments, and messages upon messages, from her devoted and faithful readers on SkyReads, questioning and ordering her to go update the book quickly.

Of course, she would have done that if she had the time to, but with her new job, she was always tired when she came back from work and mostly just slept till the next morning after getting home late from work due to the annoying traffics of Lagos. She would arrive home at 7pm even after getting off work by 4pm. She had been skipping meals at home, because sleep was more valuable to her than food; she could only hope it didn’t backfire soon.

The day had been stressful already for her. In her usual fashion, her mother had woken her with a loud voice, even though she tried to block her out with her pillow. She later had to open her eyes, feeling very annoyed because her mother threatened to give her a hot slap if she continued to remain in bed. She had climbed out of her bed grudgingly and proceeded to brush her teeth. When she was done, she had to sweep and mop the entire house. As if that wasn’t enough, she washed all the plates, cups and cutlery as well, and at her mother’s command, washed the bathrooms.

The worst part of it all for her, was having to accompany her grandmother, Alhaja Pelumi to the hospital to get her legs checked, as well as conduct a medical test on her. Her grandmother’s medical check-up which was conducted from time to time was sponsored by a Non-governmental organisation, to which Bukunmi was thankful for, but didn’t know why she had to be the one to accompany her there all the time when the hospital specifically requested for the presence of any family member, and Ben and her mother were around, but never went along with her.

The hospital was crowded with patients and unattended people by the time they got there. There wasn’t any vacant seat, but out of compassion, a young man in his thirties gave up his seat for her grandmother who blessed him and thanked him profusely. Bukunmi had no other option than to remain standing, and she wanted to just yell in anger and frustration. It was like the number of people kept on increasing instead of reducing.

Shaking her head sadly, she thought of what would happen to people if doctors ever went on a strike. A lot of people will definitely die, and it won’t be nice at all. Also, why couldn’t they have more facilities and workers? Imagine a sick person having to stand for hours even in his weak state before he could be attended to, no wonder most people who couldn’t afford private hospitals preferred going to a local chemist or doing it the herbal way. She was still lost in thoughts when she heard someone scream. She diverted her attention to the direction the sound had come from. A woman who was approaching fifty had slumped, obviously due to fatigue. Bukunmi shook her head in disappointment and disapproval; the Nigerian government needed to start doing better.

It was as though ages had passed before her grandmother finally got attended to. After she was done, they had to wait for the test results, but at least, she had finally gotten to sit down, which made matters a little bit better for her.

Presently, she groaned tiredly and with frustration seeping in slowly. She couldn’t come up with anything anymore and her head was blank with no idea at all. Sighing, she slammed her laptop shut , then reached out to the old wooden bedside table beside her bed, in order to get the plate of akara (bean cake), which had been sitting there unattended to and waiting to be eaten. The balls of round shaped akara were already cold, but she had no choice than to eat them like that. As long as she could get something to stop her stomach from singing loudly, she was fine.

As she threw one of the balls into her mouth and started munching on it hungrily, a call came in through her phone. She stood up and went to the socket beside her wardrobe where the phone was plugged. The caller ID showed it was Nneoma who was calling. She wasn’t surprised; Nneoma was the only reason she hadn’t forgotten what her ringtone sounded like as she was the only one who ever called her.

Smiling, she unplugged the phone with her oily hands and answered the call, then went to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Hey, mama,” Nneoma's usual high-pitched voice which was never void of excitement and optimism called from the other end.

“Hey. How are you doing?” Bukunmi asked.

“I’m always fine. How about you?” She asked.

“I’d say I’m fine as well, but then, I’d be lying. I’m stressed out as fuck, and tired as hell,” She said, sounding so down.

Nneoma laughed. “Already?”

“Yes, already. I’d give up if not for the pay, if I’m being honest,” She disclosed.

Nneoma scoffed. “You’re just a lazy ass.”

Bukunmi rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it,” She said, not disputing that fact.

“Why don’t you just follow your mother’s advice and get a wealthy man to be married to?”

“Sorry?” Bukunmi asked, in obvious disgust.

“Not everyone can work in the office, so, just get married already. I’m itching to be your chief bridesmaid,” Nneoma said.

Bukunmi scoffed. “And who said I want to be a liability to someone? If I’m getting married, I should be able to offer something as well. And I do not think I’m ready for marriage now. I still have a lot to do,” She said.

“Like getting justice for your father?”

She bit her lip. “Yes, like getting justice for my father.”

“When will that be? You keep saying it, but how are you going to go about it? Shouldn’t you let sleeping dogs lie?”

“Never. I’ve let the dogs lie for too long, it’s high time they awoke, don’t you think?”

“Imagine my answer is positive, but the problem is you don’t have any proof to prove what really happened, and you’re not even sure of what truly transpired that day. How are you going to go about it?” She asked.

Bukunmi gave a wild laughter. “Well, that’s why I didn’t miss the opportunity to work where I believe this issue originated from,” She said, as she stopped laughing almost as immediately as she had began.

“Wait, what? You’re working with Welling Fam Heights?” Nneoma asked in a loud voice, shocked to the bone.

Bukunmi nodded her head as if Nneoma could see her. “Yes. I only told you I had gotten a job on WhatsApp and the heavy pay I landed as well, but at least, you remembered the company’s name as soon as I dropped the hint just now.”

“Of course. How could I ever forget?” She asked rhetorically.

“I’m not only working there, I am the personal assistant to the son of the CEO, the very one who saved my life that day,” Bukunmi said.

Nneoma gasped. “Tade Wellington?”

“Exactly. I have to admit that I’ve underestimated you all along, you have a really good memory,” Bukunmi told her.

“I know, right? But on a more serious note, you’re working with him?” She asked.

“Yes, in the same office as well,” She responded.

“Wow. And he doesn’t know who you are?”

“Of course, he doesn’t.”

“So, how’s working with him like? I’m sure he’s nice to you. After all, he saved your life.”

Bukunmi scoffed as she grabbed another piece of akara. “Nice indeed,” She said sarcastically.

“Oh my goodness. Does this mean he treats you badly? I seriously don’t want to believe that this guy who saved your life and hugged you tightly, and dried your tears is an asshole. Describe him in three words.”

Bukunmi smirked. “Well, that’s easy. Piece...Of...Shit,” She said with utmost disgust written on her face.

Nneoma couldn’t help but chuckle. “Why’d you call him that? Is he that bad?” She enquired.

“Believe me when I say that ‘bad’ is an understatement when you’re describing him. Tade Wellington is an annoying jerk who doesn’t care about other people. He’s a sadist, a psychopath, a Casanova, a narcissistic jerk and an inconsiderate douchebag. I hate that I have to force myself to smile at him, when I really want to descend on him and break his bones. I detest that guy, I really do...”

“Sissy!” She heard Benjamin’s voice yell.

She ignored him, and continued speaking. “Seriously, if there was an award for the biggest jerk on earth, it’d be given to him because...

“Sissy! He’s right here!” Benjamin yelled, almost at the top of his lungs.

“Can’t you see I’m on a call? Who’s right where?” She yelled back, and as she turned around to see her brother who just became annoying to her, she shuddered and lost her balance, falling to the floor.

“Ouch! My butt!” She cried out.

He snickered. “That’s what you deserve for talking bad about me,” She heard him say.

“Who’s there?” Nneoma’s voice cried out from the other end of the call.

Bukunmi quickly picked up her phone which had developed another crack from the fall. With the way the phone kept falling and developing many cracks, she kept on wondering how she was still able to use it without faults for the past three years. Kudos to China!

“Hey, I’ll call you back,” She said and hung up.

“Why didn’t you tell her it’s the piece of shit who’s here?” He asked, as he looked down at her, still wearing a smirk.

Bukunmi avoided his gaze and bit her lip, staring at the floor, feeling really embarrassed.

He extended his hand to her, and she looked up wondering why he wanted to help a gossip like her up.

“Accept his hand already,” Benjamin said in a tone that showed he was annoyed, disappointed and irritated altogether.

Bukunmi swallowed hard. What if he was trying to pick her up, then drop her again? Still, she couldn’t refuse his hand. She had already gotten on his nerves by talking bad about him behind his back. She couldn’t worsen the situation by refusing his hand.

She accepted his hand, and he pulled her up, causing her to face him.

He stared intently at her, and she avoided the penetrating gaze of his sexy, yet very dark and intimidating eyes.

His left hand was around her waist, and the other hand held her left hand. Her heart was beating fast, and she trembled as he held on to her, his warm breath making her lips quiver.

“I’ll be in the living room,” Benjamin said, and walked out quietly.

Tade gave a pleased smile. “He’s one smart child,” He acknowledged.

“He sure is. He has never come in second right from his kindergarten days, he’s always topping his class,” Bukunmi managed to say.

“If only you’re half as smart as he is,” Tade sneered, and without warning, pushed her away from him.

Bukunmi was astounded. Then, she remembered he ought to still be mad at her. Why had she gotten caught up in the moment? At least, he hadn’t thrown her to the floor, she thought, trying to console herself.

She still couldn’t believe her eyes. Why in the world was Tade Wellington in her bedroom? If there was someone she never expected to see in her home, it was he.

“Why are you just standing there? You should be apologising,” He said.

“God, please, let this be a dream,” She said, as she pinched herself repeatedly.

“The pain on your butt should be enough proof to show that this is a reality you have to accept,” He said, as he walked over to her dressing table, looking around.

She stamped her feet on the floor like a child, regretting why she had used those words to describe him.

“I’m sorry,” She said, finally letting her head win over her ego.

He scoffed. “For what exactly? Calling me a sadist or a narcissistic jerk? Or...”

She cut him off. “I’m sorry for everything I said,” She told him.

He sighed, and looked like he was thinking of an answer to give her.

“Sorry to ask, but how much of it did you hear?” She asked.

He threw her a distasteful look, and she looked away, knowing she shouldn’t have asked.

“If you want to show that you’re truly sorry about what you did, you’d have to go somewhere with me,” He said, in a final tone.

“Somewhere? Where exactly?” She asked, overwhelmed with confusion.

“That’s for me to know,” He said, and eyed her from head to toe.

She looked herself all over. “Why are you staring at me that way? Is anything wrong with me?” She asked, more perplexed than even before.

“Everything’s wrong with you,” He said, and shifting his gaze from her side, he looked back at the dressing table and picked up the small table portrait that was lying there.

Fear suddenly rose in Bukunmi. The frame he was holding was a portrait of she, her mum, Benjamin, and her late dad. What if he recognised who she was now? She made a move immediately and attempted to grab the picture frame from him.

He gave her a cold stare as she failed to successfully drag it from him, being that he was way taller than she could ever be.

“I don’t fancy it when people touch things that are mine without asking for permission...”

“And I don’t like it when people talk bad about me behind my back,” He said, interrupting her before she could conclude her statement, and placed the picture frame back on the table.

“Leave that topic, will you?” She blurted out, annoyance written all over her face.

“I will do just that, if you accompany me to where I...”

It was her time to interrupt. “I refuse to go anywhere with you. It’s the weekend and this was not part of my job description!” She said, almost yelling.

He was slightly taken aback. “Oh, really? When I asked you what the duties of a personal assistant was, you told me one of them was...”

“Following you around. And I just regretted giving that reply for the first time since that day,” She cut in, with her teeth clenched as she tried to fight back her annoyance.

“It’s good you at least remember the answer you gave...”

“Whatever. I don’t really care. I am not obliged to work for you during weekends, and that’s it,” She stated firmly.

He scoffed. “Did you read the letter of appointment before affixing your signature to it? There, it was clearly stated that...”

“I didn’t read that letter or contract or whatever, word for word. I only glanced through it,” She defended, interrupting him once again.

“Let me finish!” He said as he threw her one of his cold stares that spoke volumes of him being annoyed.

She abruptly kept quiet, and watched him bring out his phone from his pocket, silently wondering what he was up to, and mentally preparing for the worst.

He shoved the phone in front of her face, and motioned for her to read what was written there aloud.

She eyed him fiercely, looking like she’d have stabbed him again and again if she would go scot-free after that action. It was a mystery as to how he maintained a cool and calm composure, and didn’t even seem shaken, despite the obvious anger written all over her.

“If you won’t read it, I will. Article 6(2) of the Employee’s agreement states thus: The employee must be available anytime he is called upon by the employer,” He said, with a wide grin plastered on his face.

She became more frustrated than she already was. “But I didn’t read it before signing,” She argued.

“That’s not my business. What matters is that you signed,” He said, the grin becoming broader on his face.

“I was desperate, you can’t do this to me,” She said, knowing she was gradually losing the argument.

He chuckled. “You can say that in court,” He said, and began to stride out.

“What? You’ll go as far as taking this matter to court?” She asked in a state of panic.

He stopped in his tracks, and slowly turned around, nodding his head in the affirmative.

“Fine then, I’ll come with you,” She said in surrender.

A triumphant smile lit up his face. “I never thought you’ll say those words,” He said in a sarcastic tone.

She bit her lip, trying to stop herself from yelling at him and telling him to go fuck himself and do as he pleased.

“Can’t I know where we’re going to at least?” Bukunmi asked.

“If you’re asking because you’re confused about what to put on, do not be. Just throw on a simple dress, or a blouse and a pair of trousers,” He said, not giving her the answer she wanted, but at least, clearing the questions on what to wear, from her head.

She knew he was never going to budge and tell her where they were headed, but she was also sure that he wasn’t going to hurt her. Would he have come to her family’s home and revealed his face if he wanted to cause her harm? Of course not.

“Just step out, I’ll be out in a second,” She told him.

“Sure,” He said and with a sly smile, turned his back and walked away.

About twenty minutes later, she headed out to the parlour, wearing a blue jumpsuit with a black pair of sandals. As usual, her hair was tied up in a bun, and she wore no jewellery.

As she came out, he couldn’t help but stare admirably at her. If she was this beautiful with no makeup on, wearing only her smile as an accessory, how then would she look in expensive clothes, and make-up with jewellery? She’d certainly look like a goddess, he reasoned.

“What took you so long?” Her mother asked, and jumped to her feet to stare at her daughter.

“I had to freshen up first,” She said, hoping her mother wouldn’t start any drama.

“It’s fine. You look beautiful, my dear, just like me. Your guest refused to eat though, and was just staring at the curtain, hoping you’d come out,” She said, with a smile.

“He was?” She asked, puzzled about her mother’s sudden sweetness.

“Yes. He wasn’t concentrating on the game Ben was showing him, and was just looking impatient as he waited for you to come,” She replied.

Tade, who had been sitting on one of the chairs, cleared his throat, feeling uncomfortable about the discussion, and stood up.

“We’ll have to get going now,” He said, shooting a small smile at her mother.

“Of course. Please, do take care of her,” She said, also smiling.

He brought out an envelope from his pocket, and handed it over to her mother, who happily collected it.

“Oh, my son, thank you,” She said.

“Thank you, sir,” Benjamin also chipped in.

Bukunmi was however, not pleased with this act, and she wondered why her mother shamelessly collected the envelope which certainly contained money immediately, without even putting on a show first, as if she was thinking about it.

“You’re welcome,” Tade said warmly, and gestured to Bukunmi to leave with him.

“Bye, I’ll be back soon,” Bukunmi said as she made to leave.

“Take all the time you want, my dear,” Her mother said, while Benjamin waved her goodbye.

Typical! It was very easy to buy people’s conscience and dignity. In a world laced with corruption and poverty, who wouldn’t gladly sell their souls for the sake of money? That’s what she always thought, but seeing her mother being that way didn’t sit well with her at all. She didn’t want to bow to that kind of lifestyle, even though it now looked like a societal norm.

At the parking lot, he stopped abruptly and without warning, causing her who was closely behind him to almost stumble.

“What is it?” She asked, looking annoyed.

“That picture frame,” He said.

Her heart began to beat loudly to the point that she could have sworn she heard it loud and clear, and her fingers trembled, as she thought of what to do now that it seemed like he had remembered.

“Was that your father?”

She couldn’t believe that her worst nightmare was slowly becoming a reality. This was where he was going to yell at her, and demand the explanations she didn’t have to give. If only she had just been honest from the beginning, maybe she wouldn’t be cursing herself in her head right now.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” He asked.

Her teeth chattered, and she managed to nod her head slowly.

He shook his head. “Why then did your mother say you look like her? It’s obvious you took after your father,” He said.

“Wait, what?’ She asked in an unequivocal state of confusion.

“You look just like your father, and for a strange reason, he seems familiar, but I can’t quite place where I know him from,” He said.

Happiness overtook the fear that had clouded her a second ago. He did not remember, and she was grateful for that, as well as very much excited.

“You definitely don’t know him. He’s dead,” She said.

He looked really shocked as soon as she said that her father was late. “I’m so sorry about that,” He said, feigning pretence.

“It’s okay. It happened a very long time ago,” She said, even more delighted that he didn’t seem to remember a thing.

“Okay then,” He said.

He unlocked his G-wagon, and watched as she gleefully opened the passenger’s seat door, and entered into it. A smirk appeared on his face as he saw he had successfully made her believe that he had no idea that Thomas Jibawo Ketu was her father. She had bought his act, and she was never going to know that he knew every single thing about who she was, and that she sought justice. Somehow, he knew he had helped her have a shot at getting justice, but at the end of the day, he also knew justice wasn’t something easily attainable.

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Much love.