Chapter 9

The truth, eventually

Kojo began to cough. 
At first it started like a simple clearing of the throat. It later became more intense. And then, it became a deep chesty cough. It was supposed to be contrived. But it boomeranged.

“Honey, what’s the matter?” Tadeke asked with a look of concern on her face. She had jumped to her feet.

She rushed into the house to get a glass of water.

“Here dear… Pele” She said rubbing his back.

Kojo helped himself with the glass of water. His eyes had turned red. He had tried to pull off an act on pretense but his act backfired. But it at least gave him sometime to think up a good lie. He had a feeling she was going to see through him if had given her an answer immediately. She knew him too well.

“Pele. Take more water.”

He helped himself with more water.

When he finally got himself together, he said, “Wooow, that was something…”

Tadeke was rubbing his back with the flat of her palm.

“So sorry…”

“Its ok. You got me worried there…”

“Don’t know what happened…”

He met the eyes of his wife studying him. She looked absorbed.  

“Are you ok?” She asked.

Kojo stood up from where he was sitting and walked to the balcony barrier. He leaned over it like taking in some air.

His wife was beside him. “Pele dear. Do you need more water?”

“No love. I’m fine.”

“Are you sure…?”

“Yes I am…”

“Ok, come and sit down. There is something that has been on my mind. I can’t keep it anymore….” She met his eyes. He could not read what was behind them. He did not know what to prepare for. How did she come about the name Jennifer Ejiofor? Kojo made a gesture like he was enquiring for her to continue.

“Come and sit down please…”

She held his hand and led him to the seat they were sitting on earlier. Kojo’s heart began to pound again. Somewhere behind his head, his lawyer instinct kicked in. She won’t back him into a corner. Then he settled in the chair gently but more assuredly.

“Honey, what I want to tell you means a lot to me…”

“Are you planning to kill me with suspense?”

“It’s a secret?”

A secret?

“A secret? What secret?” He was adjusting in the chair now. It looked like she was going to say something very interesting. Her expression obviously did not register anger. So he settled more.

“You know my friend, Michelle?”

“Michelle? Which Michelle?”

“My friend Michelle. Michelle Adenoro… Captain’s Patrick’s wife…?”

“Oh ok.. What about her?”

Tadeke sighed.

“Tade, are you going to say it…?”

“She promised me not to tell anybody.”

“Well…”

“Please Kojo, I need you to keep this between us…”

“I understand.” The typical response of a lawyer. Not yes and not no.

“Ok. She showed me some pictures of…” Tadeke covered her mouth.

Kojo seem not to like where she was going with it. The spider seemed to be crawling up his back again.

Pictures? Jesus!

“The picture was that of her husband and one Jennifer.”

The spider started to crawl back down his spine. He began to relax. He felt the spider fall off into oblivion.

“Interesting.” He mumbled.

“My dear, I was shocked.”

“How? Really?”

“She showed me the pictures. As a matter of fact, I held them with my own hands.”

“Pictures? How?”

“Apparently, there’s a secret outfit that handles matters of infidelity. I heard…”

“Outfit that handles infidelity? I don’t understand” He was picking his words carefully.

“Yeah. I was surprised myself. You know cheaters abi? Cheaters on DSTV?”

He nodded.

“Yeah, they do something like that.”

“Here in Nigeria?”

“Yeah”

“Wooow.”

“I was surprised too. Anyway, the long and short of the story is that, Michelle caught her husband cheating captured on pictures. Now, she has decided she’s going to leave her husband.”

“Hmmmm. That’s a rather rushed decision, I think.”

“Honestly, I don’t know what to tell her…” She sat back and held her hands akimbo.

Kojo stood up from his seat. He looked bothered. Or at least, he had to put up a good act. He walked away from his seat to the balcony barrier and looked up. After a few seconds, he turned around to face his wife. His hands also held akimbo—a good lawyer’s move.

“So has she confronted her husband? Do you know?”

“By now, I will assume she must have.”

“That’s amazing. Cheating on his wife and then caught on pictures? That’s really bad.”

“I thought so too. When I looked at that girl’s face though, it looked like a familiar face. I tried hard to figure where I had seen the face. I thought I must have seen her around your office or so…”

As a lawyer, one of the things you should know is to always have counterintuitive measures at all time. Most especially, when you are faced with a case you don’t have most of the pieces clearly put together. He braced up for this one. His lawyer instincts kicked in again.

“In my office? Maybe. We have loads of clients walk in and out everyday. Jennifer or what did you call the lady’s name…?”

“Jennifer. Jennifer Ejiofor.”

“Doesn’t ring a bell…” He lied.

“I don’t know what to do.”

“One of the things I would rather she did was, confront her husband and find out from his mouth what the secret organization gave her. These days of advance technology, people can do a lot with computers.”

“Hmmmm. Now that’s another twist. However, there were many pictures to buttress their claim. I mean, that looked rather convincing...”

“And so?”

“Why would anyone want to go that length all in the name of soiling someone’s reputation…? It sounds like too much work.”

“Depends on how much is involved here… ”
"Hmmmm. Na wa ooo." She sighed.

She stood to her feet. “I don’t know dear, this thing is just all confusing. And like you just said, what if they were doctored pictures? Its just a pity what people will do for money these days.”

“Abi? What if...?”

He watched as his wife made her way through the glass door that led into the living room. He sighed. Infidelity catchers or what do they call themselves? I need to find out about this organization.

*   *   *

 “Chief, chief…” Jennifer said rubbing the big stomach of Chief Etibeh.

He had a long glass of Blue fuel in his hand. The other hand was wrapped around Jennifer’s shoulder.

He smiled.

“Chief?”

“What is it my teddy sweetness?” He asked.

“Chief, I need to change my hair.”

He sipped on his liquor. “Why do you want to change it so soon. I like it. And you just did it last week abi?”

“I know it’s lovely and you like it but chief, its already itching me.”

“Okay, no problem. How much will it cost to make this new hair?”

Jennifer adjusted herself. “Chief, its just 300k.”

The Chief sipped on his liquor again. He looked surprised.

“300k? You ladies spend a lot of money on your hair these days.”

“As your lady, I have to look good. You know…?”

“Yes, you need to look good.”

“So chief will you wire the money to me tomorrow or will you write me a cheque?”

At that moment, Martins walked in.

“Sir, everything is ready…" Martins said without giving Jennifer a glance.

“Hello Martins…” She said softly.

“Hi.” He replied brusquely.

She smiled.

He gave her the look that told her, he wasn’t interested in her.

He had linked up Jennifer with the chief but she had not given him as much as a hug ever since.

He felt indignant.

Chief was up on his feet. He was amazingly agile. Men of his size will most times be assumed to be slow. But not chief Etibeh. He knew how to move his massive frame.

He walked past Martins who collected the empty glass from him.

“Jennifer, I will wire the money to you tomorrow. Okay…?”

“Ok chief.” 
Her eyes met with Martins'. He was looking at her with contempt.

Jennifer was not in anyway troubled. She ignored him. She often liked to have men under her control. It was one of her driving force—her significant motivation. She just loved to control men. And she was very good at it.

She walked up to the chief before he got to the door. She placed a long kiss on his lips.

“Thank you chief.” She mumbled.

She then hugged him. The Chief had his back to Martins. Jennifer looked at Martins who was still looking at her. She winked at him.

She could see the disgust written on his face. It was funny. So, she smiled. He noticed her smile but ignored her.

He walked past them and headed out the door.

“Take care chief. When will I see you again?”

“I don’t know. I need to be in Abuja next weekend. I’m not sure when next we will see but don’t worry, I will stay in touch…”

“Ok. I’m going to miss you a lot.” She rubbed on his belly again. Very gently she said, “Chief, I love you.”

“Don’t miss me too much.” He replied. 
He then walked out of the door. He did not look back at her till he got to his car. Martins held the door for him.

Jennifer watched as the four escort cars that came with the chief moved out. All black cars. Clean sheen.

She smiled to herself. That’s making 1.8million. I will be 1.8million naira richer by this time next week, she thought.

She smiled again. Only this time, she knew how rich her bank account was becoming at the turn of every weekend.

She pulled shut the window.

Her phone started to ring. She picked it up. It registered four missed calls.

It was Captain calling.

She hopped on her bed and picked the call.

“Hi Captain…”

“Where have you been?” The Captain asked.

“I was in the kitchen cooking. So sorry. I was not with my phone.”

“Keep your phone with you. That’s why it’s called a mobile phone.”

“So sorry. I will keep my phone with me all the time…”

There was a chuckle on the other end of the line.

“So will you be free tonight?”

“Sure Captain. I will be free. Anything for you Captain. Anything for you.”

There was silence.

“Ok then. I will see you later then?”

“Sure,” She made a gesture to kiss him on the phone.

The other end went dead. He did not reply.

She sighed and lay back on the bed. Men. They often believe they are the best at playing… They don’t have a clue. No, they don’t.

She picked up her phone and called her friend.

The phone rang but the person on the other side did not pick the call. She tried it again. Still no response.

She dropped the phone on her bed and picked her Samsung Tablet. It was time to start sorting what to shop for.

Her phone buzzed. It was her friend calling back.

She pushed the receive button on the phone.

“Hello babe, werin dey?” Her friend spoke.

“Hey babe nothing much jhoor. Where did you drop your phone naa?”

“No vex. My boyfriend just left my place. I dey try squeeze some change from the guy…”

“Ok. So what happening?”

“Everything is ok. We thank God. What’s up?”

“I wanted to tell you I wouldn’t be available tonight…”

“Haba Jenny, I told my friends I would be having you come through.  Why naa?”

“So sorry…”

“No, no, no Jenny you can’t do this to me naa…”

“Tracy abeg no vex. I get another important outing this night.”

“Ehen, na so? You don get outing wey dey important than our own outing abi…?”

“No be so now babe. Need to see one of my big boys. And you know big boy is big cash.”

“Na all the money you dey collect, you no dey gree share anything with me.”

“No worry my dear, enough shopping for us.”

“Correct. I trust you. Don’t worry I will find one lie to tell my friends…”

“Ok naa. Will make it up to them soon.”

“Alright then, take care of yourself.”

“You too. Send my love to your guy.”

“Ok.”

Then the line went quiet. Jenny pushed the end-call button on her phone and tossed it on the bed.

The Tablet had gone to sleep. She pushed on the slide button and the thing came back to life.

*   *   *

Victoria was now 7months pregnant.

She had noticed recently that her husband had given her less attention. She was suspicious of his recent lateness from work.

She was sitting on the big bed that sat in the bedroom. She was holding his phone. He had forgotten it at home in his bid to beat the early morning traffic.

She started to flip through his messages.

There was not much except messages from the bank, from the church and friends from his office. Nothing suspicious.

She wasn’t satisfied so she looked through his sent messages. There were just two sent messages—one to her and another to his friend Adams. Nothing.

She began to go through his contact list. There were funny names saved on the list. KYC, OON, PKI, JNY, DDT, Roo Poo, Fred T, Manuel BT, Kelly Jon, Bon Jovi.

She grabbed her ipad and typed the numbers attached to the names on her the ipad. She was going to call these numbers to confirm her fears—Daniel was cheating on her, she thought.

When she was done, she dropped the phone and the ipad on the bed.

“Sade, Sade, Sade.” She called out to her house help.

“Ma.” Sade responded. She was at the door in barely 5 seconds.

“Come, I need you to help me buy credit. Help me buy 3,000 naira MTN card. And hurry.”

“Yes ma.”

The house help collected the money from her and disappeared.

She began to feel the pains in her legs again. It was becoming more painful as the pregnancy advanced.

Her breasts were heavier and more glandular; getting ready to feed the baby. Feeling tired, achy and cranky was almost the daily routine these days. Expecting your first child could take its toll on you, they say.

The house help came back minutes later.

“Madam, na the card be this.”

“Thank you. Please Sade, help me bring my flask. Its just over there on the black table.”

The house help went over to the table and picked up the flask.

“Bring the cup as well. I want to drink some warm water. I feel very thirsty.”

“Yes ma.”
Sade brought the flask.

“Thank you. Just put it on the small cabinet near me. No. Put it over there. Ehen, yes. Thank you. Have you eaten?”

“No madam.”

“Why?”

“I wan try clean the kitchen first.” Sade said looking at her feet. She was shy.

“Ok. When you leave now, go and get food to eat before you continue, ok?”

“Yes ma”

Sade hurried out of the room.

Victoria picked up the flask and poured water into the cup beside it. The water was warm.

She picked up the ipad and looked at the names and numbers again. Then she thought, is it worth all the trouble? At this rate she would just be overworking herself for no reason. She will let this slide for now until she had her baby. Then, she would give him hell! Till then.  
She placed the ipad in the corner pocket of her bag.

Till then.

*   *   *

“So, tell me who is Bolaji?”

Oh my God! What happened?

Wole looked surprised.

“What do you mean who is Bolaji?”

“Wole, you think I don’t know? I know you are cheating on me with that girl. Bolaji. Her name is Bolaji.”

“Wait, calm down Fatima. What do you mean Bolaji?”

Fatima reached for her phone and gave it to him.

He collected it and looked at it. There was a picture on the phone. It was Bolaji’s picture.

Oh my God! She even has proof.

“You want to tell me you don’t know that girl? Do you think I’m a fool? You think I would not find out eventually?” She was infuriated.

“Wait a second… Bolaji is my friend. What about her?”

“Your friend huh? What kind of friend is she? Tell me Wole. What kind of friend is she?” She was beginning to loose her composure.

“She is just a friend. Why are you been all melodramatic? She’s just a friend.”

She looked at him with livid eyes.

“Wole, I told you right from time that I’m not that kind of girl. If you are going to cheat on me, just let me go… Bolaji is more than just a friend. You are cheating on me with her.”

“Fatima, listen to yourself. Where did all this come from…?”

She looked at him. Her eyes were growing heavy.

“Fatima, what made you come to this conclusion?” He asked in an attempt to look disturbed. He knew it wouldn't work.

She said nothing. She just played with her phone for a second or two and handed it over to him.

There was a picture of himself and Bolaji holding each other at the beach. The picture was well taken and he knew who took the picture.

He sighed and sat down.

“This was just an outing I had with some friends." He tried to say pleadingly.

Fatima grabbed her phone off his hand and walked out of his house.

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CHAPTER 10 Coming Soon

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Please note that this material is covered by International Intellectual Property Law. No part of this material whether in part or as whole can be used, copied, redistributed, or sold without the express permission of the author. Any violation of any kind, would call for due prosecution

 

Chapter 8

One Point

Chief Etibeh fumed furiously. He threw out all the content of the suitcase. It was like a dream. Jennifer has carted away all the money. He pulled out his pockets like the contents will be there but to no avail.

Darn! I fell prey to that silly prostitute? She pretended only to steal my money away. I’m going to ruin that girl’s life. I will make her miserable. 15million naira! Who would I explain this to? Jennifer, I’m going to kill you. I swear, I will kill you!

Two months earlier.

 “Hi”

“Hello” Jennifer replied gently.

She turned to see a rather large man standing beside her. He was spotting fresh hair cut with a well-tailored shirt. He looked very sophisticated. There was a cigar in between his left fingers. His eyes were intense yet subtle. His hair was slightly greying at the temple. He must have been in his late forties or early fifties. He looked fit and agile.

She ignored him.

“What is your name?”

Jennifer pretended not to hear him.

Martins moved closer to her such that he was almost at hairbreadth.

“Excuse me, can I help you?” Jennifer acted surprise, looking at Martins with contemptuous eyes.

“I just asked you for your name?” Martins asked gentlemanly.

“How can I help you?”

“You look like a Temitope” He asked ignoring her veering.

She ignored him.

He continued, “Let me buy you a drink…?”

She continued to ignore him.

“Ok. You don’t want to tell me your name. You don’t me to buy you a drink. So, what should I do now…”

“Get Lost.” She squealed.

“Oh really?” His voice was gentle and subtle.

Jennifer picked up her glass and walked away.

Martins smiled. He noticed that some eyes were on him but he ignored them. He wasn’t the kind of man that bows to popular opinion. He watched as Jennifer made her way through the door to the poolside. He smiled again. She was giving him the “are you man enough?” impression. And he loved it. She was just perfect, he thought

He followed.

“Hi there…”

Jennifer turned only to see the same face again. He followed. Good.

“I don’t know why you are forming for me. I just asked for your name, that’s all. Nothing more.”

Jennifer did not reply. She sipped on her glass of vodka. The feeling was soothing. And she liked it.

“I’m just an innocent man who likes a pretty lady. And that’s all…”

“I would not want to embarrass you. So please just leave me alone.” She wanted to make him fight for more. She liked already. He smelt of money.

“Just tell me your name and I’d be fine.”

“Tracy”

“Oh cool. Tracy. I’m Martins…”

“Now please leave me alone.”

“Think about it, what can I do with your name alone?”

Jennifer readjusted in her seat as if she was going to say something that will rob him of his ego. Martins braced up for it.

“Martins, I’m sorry. I’d rather be alone tonight. I’ve got a lot on my mind right now. So I will appreciate that you let me be.”

“That’s fine. I’d be at the VIP lounge. You can come up whenever you feel like you wanna just chill…”

He smiled sheepishly and turned to walk away. “By the way, it was nice to meet you, Tracy.”

She ignored him.

She watched him as he made his way through the crowd into the main building.

Another big fish, she thought.

***

Bimpe flipped her book to the next page. She had in her hand a small book with a colorful cover. It had many pages—one of Daniel Steel’s classics.

The kettle in the kitchen made a howling sound. Bimpe was engulfed in the story. She ignored the kettle. The story was getting intense and she could not wait to see where it was leading.

“Bimpe, Bimpe!” Moyin screamed.

“Hmmm…” She barely said, not taking her attention off the book.

“Bimpe, you are going to burn this house oooo” Moyin called from the kitchen.

Bimpe jumped off the chair. Her book fell on the floor. It was like she jolted out of a dream.

“Oh my God!” she squealed.

“See you. You want to burn our house abi? That book you are reading is taking all your attention…”

“Abeg, abeg, abeg. I don’t use sugar. There’s honey in the cabinet over there.” Bimpe said, pointing in the direction where she thought it might be.

“You need to chill my dear. If I was not here you would have gotten this kitchen burnt….”

“It’s ok now… I have heard you and I’m sorry. I can’t wait for the tea. The weather is cold this morning.”

“I see. That is why you are wearing that socks… It’s actually cold though.”

Bimpe was back to her book in a matter of minutes.

“I will go and hide that book of yours…” Moyin was out of the kitchen carrying a small tray. It bore two long ceramic cups. There was steam coming out of the cups. The smell of tea filled the room.

“Thank you, teddy.” Bimpe said grabbing her cup of hot caramel drink.

“You are welcome.” Moyin replied.

The book took Bimpe’s attention again.

Moyin cautiously walked close to her and without warning grabbed the book off her friend. “I will tear this book now…”

“Moyin, I swear, I will kill you. Give me my book now…”

“You will have to come and get it. This book that almost cost us our kitchen, what is it about anyway?” Moyin stood to her feet. She was backing off from her friend. She pried into the opened page Bimpe was reading and then looked up at her friend.

Bimpe was sipping tea from the cup. “Teddy, please, I beg you, don’t close that page. I don’t know what page I am…”

“You will have to find what page it is. I have closed it already…”

Bimpe’s expression deepened. She looked like she was going to scream but instead she sipped her tea. Her eyes were on her friend.

Moyin looked into the page and read out. Janet picked up her bag and walked out of the room. She could not believe what she had just seen. Her husband was naked in the same bed with her closest friend, Daniella. They were shocked to see her standing at the door.

Her husband was shocked. Daniella pulled the covers over herself.

Her husband stood up. He wanted to make an attempt to explain.

“Don’t even think about it!” She squealed.

“Interesting…” Moyin looked at her friend.

“So now that you know what I’ve been reading, can I have my book back?”

“Nope.”

“Teddy, please I beg you in the name of God. I can’t stress myself now… please, I’m begging you… abeg. I no dey do shakara.”

“I say no.”

“Teddy, you are looking for my trouble ooo. Na jeje I sidon here on my own oooo. Abeg gimme my book…”

“I say no.”

Bimpe moved quickly towards her friend. She tried to yank the book off her hand. But she couldn’t get it off her friend.

Bimped pinched her friend on the arm. The book fell off.

“Yeye girl. You are so fragile Moyin…”

“Make sure I don’t lay my hands on that book again. I will throw it outside.”

“What do you have against this book now?”

“You almost got this house burnt because you were reading it that’s what.”

“But I told you I was sorry…”

“You don’t mean what you just said Bimps. Why does this book have so much of your attention… what’s the story about sef?”

“It’s a long story… but very interesting.” She sipped on her tea. It was cooling fast.

“Forget that one. I’ve got gist for you…”

Bimpe closed her book and looked at her friend. “Gist, oya download abeg…”

“I met this really cute guy. Very cute I tell you—tall, dark, handsome and rich. I mean rich like Richard. He drives a range rover sport. Works as a manager with MTN and he loves music. This guy is is a fine boy…” There was glee on Moyin’s face. “He lives in Ikoyi. Chief Erindayo’s last son. You know senator Erindayo now…?”

Bimpe nodded.

“His last son. Men, this guy  swept me off my feet…”

“Ok slow down lover girl. How do you meet all these guys?”

“He is pne of Tony’s friends”

“Tony? Your ex-boyfriend?”

“Yeah. My ex-boyfriend. And what about it?”

“You met one of your ex-boyfriend’s friends and you want to date him…? You must be crazy…”

“What’s there? I and my ex are still friends…”

“That’s bad karma…”

“Who says?”

“I don’t know…. It just doesn’t sound right…”

“Well, that’s your opinion. As far as I am concerned it doesn’t mean anything.”

“They would be talking about you whenever they hangout…”

“So?”

“You are just a weirdo…”

“I know. By the way, what’s up with you and Jide?”

“We are doing great…”

“That Jide guy loves you sha…”

“My dear, that’s the way to secure yourself…”

“I don’t understand…”

“Make sure the guy does most of the loving before you settle… I have learnt my lesson.  Guys don’t deserve all the attention. They end up breaking your heart.”

“Hmmmmm. True talk.”

“Most guys believe that all ladies are gullible. They forget that we hold the reins…”

“I’d keep that in mind.”

“You’d better.”

Bimpe was back with her book. 

*   *   *

Tadeke lean on her husband's chest. He smelt like light morning wind. He was warm and she could hear his heart beating gently but sure in his chest.

He rubbed on her hair and kissed her forehead.

She enjoyed this moments. 

"Honey..."

"What is it, my dear?"

"Do you know any Jennifer. Jennifer Ejiofor?"

Kojo's heart rate started beating faster. He adjusted in his seat.

Tadeke felt the rise in the pump. It was like all the blood in his system was making their way up his chest.

She sat up and looked into his face.

He looked flushed.

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CHAPTER 9 Coming Soon

****************************************

Please note that this material is covered by International Intellectual Property Law. No part of this material whether in part or as whole can be used, copied, redistributed, or sold without the express permission of the author. Any violation of any kind, would call for due prosecution