Though it was expected, he took it in good fate and so decided to do some work since he was already there. His secretary had gone on leave after her wedding and there was no one to make tea or coffee for him. Just as he got up to help himself, the door opened and the last person he wished to see walked in. ‘Hello my son,’ she said sarcastically showing a smile. ‘You can’t fool me, you know? I know all your tactics. I’m not like every other person you can fool with your sweet talks. As a matter of fact, this doesn’t look like my father’s office or does it? I don’t remember inviting you here.’ He snapped. ‘Well, my dear you don’t have to get all worked up. I don’t bite, you know? I only want to be a friend. I mean what’s wrong in being friends with my step-son?’ ‘You are actually dreaming, in fact, you are fantasizing. I can’t imagine my father marrying you; perhaps he has told you so? Even if he had, I believe he said that under some kind of influence, perhaps duress.’ He said e
‘That should be the voice of reasoning,’ James said. ‘I guess so,’ she said ‘Nma, I think it’s about time Justice took a wife,’ he suggested. ‘Yes, I’ve taken time to notice the relationship he shares with Sharon and I know she’ll make a good wife and besides they love each other so much.’ ‘There’s no better bet than her.’ He said. ‘Why don’t we fix the two weddings on the same day,’ he said. ‘We read each other’s thought, that’s a good one.’ She accepted. The wedding between both parents and children were scheduled to take place on the same day. Justice and Sharon were looking forward to it. They traveled to many parts of the world to shop for this grand occasion. They were expecting to have invitees from all walks of life. The weddings raised a lot of gossips. The National Times; a top selling newspaper company and magazine had breaking news on the wedding. The whole city and country were looking forward to witnessing such a grand event. Attendance was supposed to be stri
From the room, they could hear the going-on at the hallway. ‘Honey what’s your schedule like today?’ Justice asked Sharon. ‘Well, I think I have to see a beautician, I mean, I will visit a salon to get my hair ready and do some maintenance & pedicure, ready for tomorrow.’ She had opinioned. ‘Only that? ’ He asked. ‘Oh my, I almost forgot, I promised mum, that I was gonna get her Honk Kong’s best Dried Shredded Cuttlefish, Dried Plumps and Milky Candy. You know she’s got to keep looking astonishing to me?’ She said, chuckling. ‘All these for mum alone? What about us, I mean dad and I and yes, Mirabel? You forgot her?’ He asked feigning a troubled face. ‘You don’t have to worry, I’ve got plans for everyone. Don’t rush it now! She pinched him on the ribs and Justice exclaimed momentarily. ‘Ouch! That hurts you know?’ ‘I know can’t kill my love, you know?’ She said beaming with smiles. Yes, I’ve got to get some gifts for my big parent; meaning his adopted parents’. ‘I know th
Just as her mother would always tell her. She would always say that social strata, class or position doesn’t matter. What matters is the personality in you. Life has a way of balancing these things. You may have money but no morals. Or, you may have morals and not money. However, people with both virtues are to be considered fortunate and blessed by God. Immediately the conversation the room mates were having before she came in resounded in her ears. How can our youths do anything for money? Where are our morals? Where did it all go wrong? These questions and many more kept hammering in her mind and bringing her to a state of a conscious handyman. In a society where materialism and unequal distribution of wealth is the order of the day, there is always an alarming rate of crime and social vices. In recent years, due to economic backlash and desire to ‘belong’, many youths have taken to different social malpractices. Many of our youths have dropped out of school while cybercrime i
‘Tell me, I’m losing my patience here? ‘Well, mother, father, it was really nothing that huge. You don’t have to fret. It was just a couple of boys trying to be irresponsible.’ ‘How do you mean irresponsible?’ Her father who had been silent all these while finally spoke. ‘Father.’ Nkem continued. ‘I had closed from work and was returning home when a group of boys accosted me. But, I promise you nothing happened.’ She concluded. ‘You’ve got to be careful, my daughter. By the way why did you return home late today aside being accosted on the way? He asked rather impatient. ‘Yes father, my boss wanted us to finish a contract she had which was already getting behind schedule. I would have closed from work as you all know by 5:30 PM but for this reason, I had to stay an additional one and a half hours.’ ‘I think you have to tell your boss what happened today so that she doesn’t make you stay late again.’ Her mother commanded. ‘I will mother, let the day break.’ ‘Okay. Now go in an
‘Sorry ma’am, am Fresh and am looking for one Nkem. I believe she works here. Please can I see her? ‘Nkem?’ she was confused. ‘Nkem never had anyone coming to look for her apart from her family members and she doesn’t keep friends as such. Who could this be?’ She asked herself and the only way to find out was if she could call her out and see her reactions. ‘Nkem.’ She called. ‘Yes ma’am.’ ‘A minute please’ She could feel some butterflies in her stomach. Her worst fears have come to play right before her. How would she be able to manage this scenario? Oh my goodness. Where do I run to? Her instincts couldn’t be wrong. She had never felt so sure of her instincts before now. She slouched as she walked. She could feel her own legs and hands vibrating to the rhythm her heart was playing for them. The drum was acutely resonating in her ears until she closed her ears with her hands. She managed to drag her tired legs to the door. Right before her was her worst fears. She looked down
‘You smell so good and fresh.’ He opined, still basking in the feeling of smell of wild flowers. ‘You-u-u?’ She stammered. ‘Yes, me.’ He uttered. ‘Please, can you let me go?’ She begged. ‘You don’t practically know how good you look. You’ve practically mesmerized me, girl. You’ve swept me off my feet my love. Couldn’t sleep all through last night, you know? Haven’t felt this way before. In fact, prior to this moment, I’ve got no feeling for no girl. Tell me; what do I do with you?’ ‘I am quite fascinated at your feelings.’ Nkem found herself saying. Seems she has finally found her voice. She was no longer terrified but feels pity for this lost soul. ‘How can you really fall in love with someone you are just meeting at the first time?’ By now, it was beginning to get dark and because it was a cold evening as a result of the heavy downpour earlier in the day, people were scanty on the roads. The coldness of fear had enveloped her once again, and she became restless to rea
She didn’t utter a word but gave him a wry look instead. ‘Let me take you home. It’s risky for you going out all by yourself.’ ‘I don’t want to be seen with the likes of you. Please, let me go.’ ‘No, if you must go alone, then, I won’t let you go.’ He opined. Seeing that this will start another argument that will lead her nowhere, she gave in. She hurried into her clothes and she felt guilty all the way home. It was about 9.00pm by the time she reached home. To say that the environment at home was conducive prior to her reaching home would be an understatement. Everyone at home was worried. Her parents didn’t know what to do. Should they report her inability to reach home by then to the police? They knew that the police would ask them to wait for 48 hours before they could declare her missing. She felt that that was not ideal at all, a whooping 48 hours? By then something untoward must have happened to the victim. To her, that was a long wait. She felt that the country’s legal