Read the first four episodes of Love, Your Enemy
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
-Proverbs 31
She was aware of his presence in the kitchen but pretended not to notice. His imposing frame threw a shadow at the entrance, taking away some of the sunlight coming in from the door.
She set her concentration on the meal she was packaging. A food basket lay on the table before her. She placed the packaged meal in it and angled her head in his direction.
He was just returning from his morning run. Sweat-soaked, he struck a pose that made her think immodest thoughts.
βYou should shower before the sweat dries on your body,β she said to him.
βYou want to shower with me?β
βJeremiahβ¦β she chided with a playful smile.
He walked towards her. βWeβre feeding the poor now?β he asked, referring to the basket of food.
βItβs for Papa.β
Leye displayed an unsightly expression. βYou know he cooks his own meals, right?β
βI know. This is just me kissing his ass. Big Mommy told me heβs not been known to turn down peppery and really soggy yam porridge.β
Leye wasnβt listening; he was doing his characteristic thing of adoring her with his eyes. She felt the caress of his gaze beneath the shirt and shorts she was wearing.
βCan we take one more month off for an extended honeymoon?β he requested in puppy-like eyes.
She touched his nose before going on tiptoe to kiss it. βNo.β
βThen, letβs go and see a doctor to have a more reliable contraceptive like an IUD inserted. I donβt trust the pills youβre taking.β
βThey work just fine, Leye.β
βI donβt want you getting pregnant soon.β
βI wonβt,β she replied with shifty eyes.
βYouβre lying.β
He snatched her waist. She moved away but he drew her to him.
βYouβre sweaty and sticky,β she complained.
βYou didnβt seem to have a problem with that last night.β He prodded her side with a finger and began kissing her. She released a moan, kissing back in a slow and sensuous manner. His hand slipped beneath her shirt, and at that moment, Najib happened in. But he withdrew, keeping his stare away from them.
Leye stopped. βCome in, Najib.β
Love pulled her shirt down and fell into her serious demeanor.
βGood morning, sir,β Najib greeted.
βGood morning,β Leye responded. βIβll leave you two.β
Najib moved away from the entrance to let him through.
βGood morning, mama.β
Her eyes fell on a bulky folder he was carrying. βLetβs take this in the office.β
She led the way to what was once Papaβs study. While she was away on her honeymoon, Najib and Mina had transformed the place into a friendlier, more engaging space for her, adorned with dark shades of blue and tinges of brown. The outcome was a warm setting. White linen curtains with blue and gold stripes hung over the windows. There was a wide glass door leading out to the backyard of the house, which when opened, presented an expanse of an obsessively-cultivated lawn, stretching out over a space that was reserved for a childrenβs playground.
Love opened the glass doors before taking her seat. She stared out for a bit, fixing her eyes on grey clouds that were coming together in the sky. βWhat do you have for me, NJ?β she inquired as she walked to the desk to take her seat.
βDirt.β Najib limped towards her and extracted files from the folder he had with him. He dumped the files on the desk. Using just one hand, he separated them into two collections. One was bulkier than the other.
βAll the church leaders. Everything you need to know about them,β he explained, hand resting on the bulkier collection.
βAnd this?β Love asked as she shifted her eyes to the smaller stack.
βThese are clean. No dirt. No secrets. Straight as the narrow road that leads to heaven.β
βYou have one more file in there.β Love pointed to the folder which Najib was holding to his chest.
βYeah.β
βWhoβs in there?β
βPapa.β
Love tightened her stare on him. βWhy on earth did go digging dirt on him, NJ?β
βBecauseβ¦β NJ pulled a chair. His walking stick made a scrabbling sound on the floor as he sat. βThe old man controls everything around here. Without his permission, nothing happens.β
βYou do realize heβs my father-in-law, right?β
βI realize that.β
βHe is not an obstacle, Najib. Not now. Not ever. He is family and I am highly disappointed that youβd do such a thing without asking my permission first. You know already that he and I are not best of friends. I donβt want to worsen things by making an enemy of him.β
βI understand, mama, but please, have a look at what I found.β
βNo.β
Najib placed the folder on the desk.
βDonβt do this again. Iβm an Omotosho, and every single member of this family is now part of my family. Do you understand?β
βYes, ma.β
βYou may leave.β
Najib pulled his weight off the chair and began out.
βStop.β
He obeyed and turned. Loveβs eyes danced between him and the folder. βCome and take it.β
He returned to her. When his hand touched the folder, she stopped him.
βVery quickly, tell me what you found.β
An unobtrusive smile came to Najibβs lips before he blurted, βPapa has a secret love child from an affair.β
Loveβs eyes left the folder to meet Najibβs. Her brows deepened in curiosity.
βBut first, I want you to know that Big Mommy was also had out of wedlock. Papa was sixteen then. However, the only mother sheβs ever known is Papaβs late wife, so technically, daddy is his first child from a legal marriageβ¦β
βNajib, youβre giving me a headache with what I already know.β
βI was just laying the foundation for the main story.β
βGo ahead with it.β
βOkay, so, back in Abeokuta, there had been a lady. A choir member from their former church. Her elder sister was also a lay member of that church but today, sheβs a respected leader in the senate at BCC and also the churchβs treasurer. Well, Papa was seeing her younger sister who got pregnant for him. He rented out an apartment for her and continued with the relationship until she was almost due. Unfortunately, she got complications in the eighth month of the pregnancy and almost lost her life. She was operated upon and the baby delivered. She survived shortly after but was told that her baby had died and was already buried. Devastated, she moved on with her life, refusing to join her sister in Papaβs growing church. She joined a much larger ministry and is today a minister herself. Still unmarried.β
Love pulled the folder towards her. βWhen did this happen?β
βA little more than twenty-three years ago.β
βAbout the same time they left the church and came here.β
βBut thatβs not all,β Najib continued. βThe old man has had other affairs since then. At least I was able to find out about two other women. One before his wife died and another after her. Neither of the ladies got pregnant for him, though.β
There was evidence to Najibβs claims contained in the folder. Hacked text messages and emails, including photos of the women and detailed background information on them. Love turned her eyes on Najib.
βHow on earth did youβ¦?β
He smiled. She sighed. Najib was a self-acclaimed computer programmer, who also enjoyed seeing himself as a private detective, just for pleasure. He loved computers and IT related endeavors. After Akonte died, Love paid expensively for him to do an IT course online. She wasnβt surprised that he was now enjoying his pastime a little too much.
βPlease, donβt tell me you peeped into my husbandβs personal life too.β
Najib shook his head. βIβll never do that to you.β
βYouβd better not.β
She gestured him away. When he was gone, she shut the folder, thinking about all Najib had just revealed to her. She was neither surprised nor disappointed in Papa. Love was not the judgmental type. Papa, even with the distance between them, was more of a father to her than her real father. She was determined to love him no matter what, for the reason that she was certain that what Najib had discovered was just one side of the story. In counseling people, she had learned that behind their dark secrets lay human hearts that were by nature, defective and prone to make mistakes.
However, there was Alice to consider. Was she Papaβs latest conquest? Did she need to be saved from him?
Love directed her attention to the office door on which someone was knocking. She asked the person in. Mina entered in her noisy manner, greeting, remarking about the weather and talking about social media at the same time. While she did all that, Love gathered the files back into the folder and locked them in one of her drawers.
βPeople canβt still stop talking about daddyβs bible study topic yesterday. The whole submission in marriage thingβs got them arguing on Facebook and Twitter.β
βWhat is the general consensus?β
βMany of them are not buying the mutual submission teaching he gave. Theyβre questioning his Christianity and blaming you for twisting his mind.β
Mina brought her phone to view. βSee this tweet that has over two hundred retweets and nearly five hundred replies. It says, βPastor Leyeβs new wife seems to be the head of his home. Thatβs why he submits to her. Hashtag woman wrapperβ.β
Love was unbothered. βThey donβt even know my name.β
βOh, they do. One of them replied to the tweet and said, βThe wifeβs name is Love. Makes sense that sheβll be the man in the house. His name must be submissionβ.β
Love laughed and said, βThatβs quite dry.β
Mina laughed also. βBut mommy, daddy is a teacher! Damn! Yesterday was fire! How does one teach like that? I felt like I was listening to Jesus himself.β
βCareful there.β
βMama, daddy is fire. He brought the house down!β
There was a proud smile on Loveβs lips that was not allowed to show. She alone enjoyed the pride she felt over her husbandβs gift. She had been against the topic he had chosen to tutor on but he had insisted on it, reminding her how equality, feminism and submission in marriage as regards to Christianity had been the trending topics on social media for almost a year.
βOur congregation has a good number of young people that have opinions about these things, and they are also quite vocal about them online. We need to let them know what the bible says about gender equality,β he had told her.
βAnd what does the bible say?β she had asked.
βCome to church with a pen and paper, madam,β he had replied.
Love respected Leyeβs dedication. There was an absolute devotion for the things of God. Not even being jetlagged from their honeymoon had been able to stop him from doing his work. And true to Minaβs words, when he took to the stage the night before and got into that zone where he often flowed in step with the Holy Spirit, he set the house on fire.
βRevolutionaryβ, a leading Christian blog had called him. βIt seems someone went to stir the same spirit that fired up the Apostles from the early church. Jesus we know, Paul we know, but who on earth is Omoleye Omotosho?β
βPerception,β Love had explained to Najib behind closed doors on the eve of her white wedding. βWe have to change the perception people have of him from Daddyβs little boy to a man of his own standing. Do this before we get back from our honeymoon.β
βMama, Iβm not Christ. I canβt work miracles.β
Love had looked away from Najib as she replied. βIβm not asking you to work miracles. Iβm asking you to tell the truth.β
Ergo, in her absence, Najib let truths out about Leye and caused a stir on the internet. With just an opinion piece published on one of the top blogs in Nigeria, Leye became more popular than he already was.
Love had read the piece on the fourth night of their honeymoon. Leye was beside her, stroking her lower back as she read out loud, both of them laughing at pauses. When he had gone to sleep, she dialed Najib and gave more instructions.
βSex appeal. He slays with his fashion taste. Ladies love that sort of thing. Young guys want to dress like him. Have a blogger do a post about his impeccable style. Get top quality pictures from the photographer at the church. He should have shots that show different angles of him while preaching. Pick the best. Avoid the ones in which he posed for the camera. Those types always come out too contrived.β
βYes, ma.β
βHeβs a Mai Atafo fan. Ensure that thereβs a post on a top fashion blog spotlighting the times he rocked a Mai Atafo.β
βYes, mama,β Najib had responded. βBut how about you? Donβt you want the spotlight too?β
βJust do as youβre told, NJ.β
She had hung up. She knew Najib was not particularly pleased with the idea of putting Leye first, following the pain and humiliation she had endured in Abeokuta after Akonteβs passing. His idea of her being Leyeβs wife was to bring her out to the spotlight, to make her shine, to restore the years Akonte had taken from her.
But Love was a different type of influential woman. She believed her impact was as strong behind closed doors as it was in the open. She didnβt feel the need to have the publicβs eyes on her. There was still time for that. For now, her man needed to secure his place of authority. Once that was done, she would emerge as queen.
βMama?β
Love took her eyes off her desk and looked at Mina.
βI was asking if you wanted me to go ahead and plan your day.β
βMy day? I donβt have much to doβ¦β
βExcept visit the orphanage that is owned by the church.β
βOh. I forgot that.β
βThey are expecting us by twelve. And you also have lunch with daddy by two. Overlooking the lagoon.β
Love raised her brows.
βHis words. Not mine.β
βWhat else?β
βSenate leadership meeting by 5pm. Mama, why do they call themselves the senate? Itβs soβ¦political. BCC should do better. I hope you get to change the name toβ¦something more Christianish, likeβ¦β
βMina?β Love stood up.
βYes, mama?β
βLock those doors and find something engaging to do.β
βYes, ma.β Mina curtsied.
Love went upstairs.
β β β
βPhew!β
Both panting, Alice and Adindu threw their sweaty bodies on their seats. They stared at each other with amusement in their eyes and then went off in laughter.
Adindu cackled. βPhew!β
βI should be crying, Adi. I canβt believe Iβm finding this funny.β
They erupted in laughter again, Adindu wiping sweat off his forehead.
βHe literally chased us with a machete, Alice. A machete.β
Alice shook her head. βI saw my life flash before my eyes.β
βMe nko? The first swing was in my direction. If I hadnβt been fast on my feetβ¦β
There was more laughter which soon died down with deep sighs as Adindu turned on the engine of his car.
βSometimes, I think we risk our lives too much as clergy,β Alice murmured as she rubbed sweat off her chin with the back of her hand. βThe last thing I expected today was to be chased with a machete by a man whose wife invited me to pray for him.β
βWhat on earth is this Holy Ghost school that is sweeping across Nigeria and stealing people from their churches?β
βI seriously donβt know. My neighbor joined too, and sheβs losing her mind fast. She keeps inviting Tara and I for their meetings. Non-denominational, she claims. I wonder what goes on in there.β
βMaybe they give them machetes.β
βLetβs be going jor,β Alice said, laughing.
βI was thinking weβd do lunch.β
βI was thinking weβd better not.β
βAliceβ¦β Adindu became serious. Alice sensed what was coming. βAre you ever going to date anyone? Or even get married?β
βBecause marriage is the best thing that can happen to me?β
βBecause youβre too much of an amazing woman to remain single. I know that what happened between you and your ex scarred youβ¦β
βIβve told you never to bring that guy up in any discussion. Ever.β
βIβm sorry. Itβs just that you need a man to erase all that pain. Alice, make me your husband…β
βIβm already spoken for, Adindu,β she uttered and regretted it immediately.
Adindu showed confusion with a frown. βYouβ¦have a man?β
βI was just joking. Forget I said it.β
βWho is he, Allie?β
βI was just joking nau. Why would I have a man and keep it a secret?β
βAliceβ¦β
βThere are people waiting for me in the office, Adi. Letβs go.β
Adindu put the car in motion. βIβm heartbroken.β
Alice made no response. There was little conversation between them as they journeyed to Bethel Covenant Center. When Adi stopped his car in the parking lot, he turned to Alice.
βIs it Papa?β
Alice smiled, opened the door and stepped out. When she entered the admin wing of the church, she was greeted by a woman who had come to see her with her teenage daughter. Alice invited the woman to her office.
βIβm in a hurry, Pastor Alice,β she said when she was offered a seat. βIβll make this fast.β
Alice sat in her chair and gave audience to her guest who was a manager heading one of the busy branches of a leading bank. Her husband was also a bank manager, but of higher status. They were parents to three teens, and were also respected members of the church. Every month, they gave generously for the advancement of church projects, and to the needy. The husband believed it was his calling to particularly cater to Papa and Leyeβs wardrobe needs. Alice remembered Leye telling her that he couldnβt recall the last time he walked into a store and picked a pair of shoes. The man always sent designers and boutique owners to him.
Hence, the man and his wife were considered βhigh priorityβ members.
βPastor Alice, my second daughter, the one thatβs back there in the reception has been acting quite strangely of late. Sheβs the noisiest amongst her sisters but she became quiet and withdrawn recently. Of course, I didnβt notice this because of my busy schedule but I took a short leave for two days and picked out the changes. I have questioned her to tell me what is going on with her but she is not responding. I suspect it has something to do with her boyfriend. I have done everything to keep them away from boys but Iβve failed. Iβm even tired sef. Please, Pastor Alice, talk to the girl for me. I donβt have time or energy. Iβm too busy for teenage drama.β
βOkay, ma. Iβll see what I can do.β
βThank you.β
Holding on to a Chanel handbag, she moved towards Alice and dropped an envelope on her desk. βThe Lord laid it on my heart to give you this.β
βOh,β Alice murmured in surprise. βThank you. I appreciate the Lordβs goodness.β
The woman chortled as she hurried out. Alice opened the envelope and found clean hundred dollar notes. Seven of them. She put them away just as the teenage girl was making her way into the office.
βSit down, dear.β
βCan I get a drink of water, please?β
Alice recalled walking past a functional water dispenser in the reception as she was making her way in. Did the girl miss it or was she just being insolent like her elder sister whom Alice had also counseled and almost cast out demons from when she confessed to her that she had had a threesome on her first day in university?
Alice rang the receptionist and asked for a glass of water.
βSo, talk to me, dear. Why did your mom bring you to me?β
The teen shrugged and adjusted one end of a falling faux eyelash. Alice watched in silence, wondering what right-thinking parent allowed their sixteen-year-old daughter use heavy makeup.
She grunted quietly and prepared herself for a long afternoon. It began with little cooperation from the girl but because Alice was skilled in speaking to and getting young adults to open up, she was patient enough to carry on with the session until the girl became cooperative more than an hour later.
The story was that she was four months pregnant and was scared to tell her parents because they were going to be mad at her and cut off certain privileges. Alice was taken aback at the confession because there were no outwards signs that the girl was with child. She only believed her when she lifted her dress and exposed a bump that could pass for being a sign of having had too much to eat.
At that point, Alice became drained.
βDaddyβs going to send me to grandmaβs. And grandma doesnβt let us watch TV. Sheβs Deeper Life. Sheβll make me go to church every day.β She began to cry.
βYouβre not bothered about being pregnant at sixteen?β
βI am but mommy will take me to her friend whoβs a nurse and sheβll have it taken care of, just like she did with my sisterβs. Iβm scared of an abortion, though. I heard it hurts like period cramps.β
It was then it occurred to Alice that the ministry was doing little to engage its teenagers in active pursuits. If they were involved in distracting activities, there would be little time for sexual misdemeanors.
Alice passed over a tissue to her. She didnβt know what else to tell her, as she was overwhelmed by the girlβs blasΓ© attitude over her situation. βI will speak to your mom and weβll schedule another counseling session so we can talk properly. What you have done is not right. And your attitude towards it is shameful. What about your boyfriend?β
βHeβs gone back to the UK.β
βHeβs a member of BCC too?β
βNo. And heβs not my boyfriend. We just sort of did it a few times. But donβt tell my mom that, please.β
Alice ended the session. She was out of words, still reeling from all she had heard. She escorted the girl out, phoned her mom and broke the news to her. She was silent as the woman cried over the phone.
βWhere have I gone wrong with these girls, Pastor Alice? What didnβt I give them?β
βMaybe you gave them too much of everything, ma.β
βI just wanted them to have what I didnβt have, and instead of them to be grateful, they go about getting pregnant?β
Alice said nothing.
βPlease, give me time to process this and Iβll come over with her father, so we can talk properly. I just canβt think clearly now, and Iβm supposed to have a meeting in a few minutes. Thank you so much, Pastor Alice.β
βThank God.β
βPlease, can you not tell anyone about the pregnancy?β
βMa, itβs my job toβ¦β
βI know what your job is, Alice. But my babyβ¦sheβs a little girl. Imagine the shame and humiliationβ¦ The stigma. The way it will taint the family name. Please, keep it to yourself.β
Alice cussed in her head. On days like this, she hated her job.
βBut what were you planning to do?β Leye asked her some minutes later as she brought the matter to him in his office. βYou want to go and tell the leaders, so that theyβll slut-shame a teenage girl?β
βIs she not a slut?β
βYou judge too easily, Mono.β
βWeβre supposed to keep quiet?β Alice slumped on her favorite couch. βThe woman will take the girl for an abortion.β
βTheir life. Their choice. We do not condone it, though.β
βBut we know itβs going to happen.β
βBecause the girl told you. What if she isnβt even pregnant?β
βLeye?β
βAlice, there are very tricky situations youβll find yourself in as a pastor. You have to apply wisdom or sometimes, apply the simple act of unlooking. Itβs different if the girl came to you to ask what should be done. You could then advise her to get into our young mothers program where we take care of her until she births the baby and she either gives it up for adoption or we help her adjust to her new life as a mother. But in this case, you have no proof of pregnancy. Only a disturbed teen. It is now your job to ensure that she doesnβt get herself into that mess again. Since you feel so disturbed about her and her siblings, get another dedicated sister in the church and two of you should begin a mentoring process with them. And you must speak to her parents about the young mothers program. I doubt that itβll be an option for them, though.β
Alice threw her weight back on the couch. βIβve had such a terrible day.β
βPele.β
Alice related to Leye the story of the man with the machete and they had a good laugh over it.
βIβm glad that weβre talking again like we used to,β he said, showing a calm smile. She smiled back. Her anger at him had long been taken over by the affection she was receiving from his father. Her relationship with Papa was deepening each day. There was hardly any physical contact between them. He kissed her less but would spend hours with her, engaged in discussion and other activities. His reason was that he was blisteringly attracted to her and was careful not to do anything that would get them both in trouble.
βSo how was your honeymoon?β Alice asked Leye, clearing thoughts of Papa off her head. It was easy to get lost at random intervals, thinking about him. She felt like one on whom a spell was cast and it was pleasurable. Falling in love, in her opinion, had to be magical and dreamy. Papa wooed her in a way that was enchanting. No man had ever courted her in that manner.
βLove and I had fun,β Leye replied to her question. βI wish it didnβt have to end.β
βAnd while you were there enjoying yourselves, the blogs and media houses back here were set on fire over you. The article about you and mama was something else. Membership increased after it was published.β
Leye flashed a smile. βWe may have to expand the building soon.β
βOr just do double services.β
βSounds like a plan. Weβll look into it,β he replied, staring into the face of his watch.
She took that as a cue to leave. As much as the beef between them had been done away with, she found that it had left a rift in their friendship.
βBut youβre doing okay, though?β he inquired.
βYeah.β
βI still worry about you, Alice. I donβt want you getting hurt.β
βIβm fine.β
βSure? No strange men in your life, twisting your head?β he asked in low laughter but she knew he was serious.
βNo strange men.β
βAwesome.β
She sprang to her feet. βI should be going.β
The door opened and Love strode into the office. She brought in her domineering air which made Alice feel small. But Alice blamed it on the combination of green pants and matching cream top she wore that gave her a stately appearance. Alice was dressed down in a churchy pencil skirt, chiffon top and flat heels with cheap jewelry.
βGood afternoon, mamaβ
βHello Alice. How are you doing?β
βGood, mama. Welcome back.β
βThank you.β
Alice turned to Leye. βPastor Leye, what do you think about an Easter camp for teenagers? Itβs to get them to socialize in a healthy environment, engage them in activities and have experts come to talk to them about dating and relationships and sexual abstinence.β
Leye looked at his wife. βWhat do you think of that?β
βSounds like a lovely plan.β
βGreat, Alice. Put together a plan and forward it to Pastor Love. She is now in charge of things around here.β
βYes, sir.β
Love walked to where her husband stood and Alice watched Leye give her a kiss that made no attempt at being modest. Her phone rang at the moment and in relief, she apologized for being taken away, dashing out as fast as she could.
Her caller was Taraβs fiancΓ©, Morris.
βHi Moore,β she greeted.
βGood day, Alice. I am in your office, waiting.β
βOh. I forgot about our appointment. Iβm in the building. Give me a bit.β
Alice hurried back to her office. Morris was waiting, hands in his pocket, eyes on a board on which Alice had pinned photos of the work she did with teenagers, single mothers and spinsters in the church.
βHey, Moore,β she greeted. βI apologize for not remembering we were supposed to meet.β
They hugged. He was a short man. Fetching and charming, with a generous heart. He was from a wealthy family but had chosen to make a living on his own as a field engineer for a telecoms company. He had been with Tara for three years.
βPlease, sit,β Alice offered. βCan I get you something to drink?β
βNo, Iβm fine.β Moore sat.
βSo, talk to me, Moore.β Alice took her chair, kicking out of her shoes.
Moore cleared his throat, scratched at his beard and revealed to Alice that Tara had called off their engagement and broken up with him. The news left Alice weak.
βWhen did this happen?β
βAbout a week ago?β
βMoore, Iβm so sorry. I didnβt know. She didnβt tell me. Things have been normal in the house and at the salon. What happened between you guys?β
Morris explained that he had no idea. Tara had suddenly become distant and soon asked for space, which she was given. But a few days after, she ended the relationship.
βAnd one of the pastors in this church is responsible.β
βOne of the pastors? Who?β
βReverend Aloysius Adonijah.β
βBishop A?β
Alice frowned. The accused was the longest standing clergy in the church. He had followed Papa from their former place of worship in Abeokuta and helped him establish BCC. He was highly respected and no one questioned his actions in the church. No one dared. He always had Papaβs backing, no matter the situation. It was rumored that he was behind many of the major decisions the senate took. But the senate itself was divided in two groups. One group was faithful to Leye; the other was sold to Papa, headed by Adonijah who always had his way.
βHe told Tara that God revealed to him that I was not her husband. That if we got married, our marriage wonβt last and it will end terribly.β
βWow. He said that and Tara didnβt tell me?β
Alice listened to Morris speak about his pain and confusion. He begged her to communicate with Tara.
βYou know how much I love her.β
Alice nodded. He bore his pain in his voice. It came out terse and broken but he remained the calm, smiling man she had grown to love like family.
When he left, she sent Wemimo a message.
-Want to sleep over at mine? I have gist, pizza and peppered gizzard.
Wemimo replied:
-Pizza and gizzard⦠Jesus loves me, this I know.
Alice laughed.
β β β
It was past 9pm when Loveth stepped out of the office complex. She found Papa standing outside his car in thought. She wasnβt sure about his mood. He had his glasses on and a face that seemed not to want company. But Love walked to where he stood.
βPapa?β
He turned. She found herself being stared down at in a way that made her feel unimportant.
βIs the meeting over?β he asked.
βNo. I justβ¦left. Theyβre still arguing. Iβll wait for Leye in the car… Goodnight, Papa.β
βDonβt go yet.β
She put a halt to her already moving feet.
βWell-played,β he remarked. There was a dark smile on his lips.
βEverything that is happening in that conference room right now was orchestrated by you.β
βI donβtβ¦β
βUnderstand?β he completed. βI knew youβd feign ignorance. But you canβt fool me.β
He shut the driverβs door of his car and leaned on it. βWell-calculated. Subtly-executed. Youβre a genius.β
Love didnβt smile. She kept an innocent expression on. The man was accusing her of being responsible for a faction of the senate asking him to step down from his position as General Overseer to let Leye take his place.
The leadership meeting had begun three hours ago without any incident. Loveth was formally introduced to the senate, and she received a warm welcome, or so it would seem. As the meeting progressed, a few matters were brought to the fore and handled. Some were thrashed, and new ideas were put forward. And just when everyone was thinking to call it a night, one of the elders, who was known to be outspoken and a devotee to no one, threw in the submission that Papa be asked to vacate his position for Leye.
The manβs reasons bounded on the fact that the public now viewed Leye as the face of the church. He also brought forward documented proof showing that Leyeβs tenure since he took over from Papa had fetched more income to the church by the way of the caliber of men and women who were drawn to his teachings.
Asides being a dynamic teacher, Leye was a lecturer at the Lagos Business School. There was hardly any month that went by that he wasnβt invited to speak about business-related matters in seminars within and outside the country. His circle of acquaintances consisted of CEOs and wealthy businessmen of growing and established companies. Leye had somehow drawn them to the ministry. He had also attracted the youth which made for an increase in membership.
The elder felt Leye had earned his stripes and Papaβs era was now ended. Love was certain that the article published online while they were away at their honeymoon was responsible for the manβs proposition. But just as she was doing with Papa presently, she had kept a reactionless comportment and remained silent at the meeting, even when Leyeβs loyalists agreed to the suggestion, setting off strong opposition from Camp Papa.
βI wonder how the press managed to get details of what happens in this church,β Papa said to Love who maintained her cluelessness.
She was also curious as to how Najib got the information. As far as she knew, he was hardly acquainted with anyone in the church.
βPapa, are you insinuating something here?β Love asked.
βMy dear, I donβt insinuate. Iβm putting it to you that you are behind that article and the sudden public interest in Leye, which have now led to the mess weβre having in that conference room presently.β
βPapa, with all due respect, you accuse me wrongly. I was away on my honeymoon when that article and the others were published.β
βOh, shut it. This was all your plan and your husbandβs. And like I said, well-played.β He smiled again. Darker, this time. βYouβre a dangerous woman. I should watch out for you.β
His eyes shifted to the entrance of the office complex. Love turned and saw Leye emerging from it. He was in a mood, stomping hard as he walked past them to his car.
βI have to go, Papa.β
βGoodnight, Loveth.β
βGoodnight, sir.β
βI do hope that you never get to experience the pain and humiliation I faced in there today. Itβs not the easiest thing to wake up and find out that youβre no longer needed, that what you have built with your sweat and blood can be taken away from you in a blink. I pray you and Omoleye never experience that.β
βPapa, Leye supports you. You know that. He showed displeasure when the matter was brought up. You saw him support youβ¦β
βHogwash!β
It was the first time Papa was raising his voice at her. She bent her head in respect.
βNonetheless, tell him I am behind him,β he said in a lowered tone. βHe will take my place. I will ordain him myself. All for the good of the ministry.β
βYes, Papa.β
βWeβll discuss more on it. You and I. Come over tomorrow morning. Iβll make breakfast.β
βYes, sir.β
Love headed to Leyeβs car. As they drove home, she gave him details of the discussion she just had with Papa.
βHe wants to crawl up into your head and use you to manipulate me,β Leye hypothesized. βDonβt fall for it.β
Love rested her hand on her husbandβs thigh to calm him. This was the first time she was seeing him upset. His anger at the leaders who were clamoring for him to be the new G. O. was genuine. He nursed no desire to take his fatherβs position. He was comfortable where he was. But Love wasnβt. She was desperate for him to take what she felt rightly belonged to him.
And as if reading her thoughts, he added, βThe mantle of spiritual leadership should not be passed on as an inheritance. Let everyone be guided.β
Love began to massage his thigh. She would change his mind. She would make him see reason soon.
Β©Sally@moskedapages
Sally!!!
I really do enjoy reading this episode. It’s a beautiful long read. I love youβ€. Love is only sneaky woman though?. But I can’t really blame her, she wants the best for her Man.
I guess she does
She wants the best for herself, if her man gets something out of it fine. She is manipulative and self preserving.
I think love is pushing too hard. She sud let her hubby be himself
I hope she listens
Thanks for reading, Molly
Thanks Sally. This is the best series for me.
Awww thanks a lot
Pastor leye has warned everyone oo, sally inclusive…Let everyone be guilded….Hoomygosshhh…..Papa of laive ooo, he is becoming my favourite character here after pastor Mrs love omotosho…..Me and my old men abi…thank u
Lol. I’ve been warned, ma. I will take heed.
Papa is a very good bad guy 😂
Lovely read. This game that Loveth is playing…truly a dangerous woman. She’s using Leye to further her ambitions. But Najib sha…smh! I have no words for Tara…yet.
Thank you, Bman
nice one sally
Thank you, dear
I knew that papa is a man to be wary of. Hope Alice did ant get hurt. Love is manipulative sha……
*doesnt.
She is…
Omo this our loveth oooo
βΊ
Wow! The plot thickens!!!
I hope all Love’s scheming won’t explode in her face.
Great job, Sally.
I hope so too
Thank you!
Nice long episode..tnx Sally. ..Papa and love it’s 2 early to be fighting oo…
Help me tell them
Love, Love, Love. Extremely smart and calculative…I like her…she should just keep calm and ‘remain’ aloof.
Papa, #wehdone sah. Obragado holy pass…church politics sha. Alice, I don’t even know for that one again.
Beautiful read…I am enjoying it cos mehn, this is real. If some ppl just had a glimpse of what goes down behind closed doors in churches…hmmm
Yeah, the drama is a lot more than what I can pen down
Thank you
I see Papa as one of those people that see everything as a game. Competitive to a fault! And all for his own amusement. Love is so manipulative. The only person that i trust in this series is Wemimo because shes the only one we know what shes capable of. Me I’m wondering were the love child is, her mother and how they will affect the Omotoshos.
Thank you Sal.
Your questions will all be answered in time.
Thanks, Amina
Thanks for this episode Ms Sally.
You’re welcome my dear
even Darker Berry hasn’t got Darker casts than this or close to this,,,,,the BBC though I feel MSN would have been better…I hope Sally understands…Pastor Love is just like every other woman out there…its better not to love any of the cast,not even Pastor Omoleye.so as not get too dissapointed wen his own dark berry pops out…Papa n Alice go on soun tho….
BBC and MSN? uncle, ayam not understanding o. Please come back and tell me more
Wow see politics……… Nice move Love but is it the right move?
We’ll know in time
Nice piece .. well done Aunt sally
Thank you, Kofo
Thank you Madam Sally… Dunno where I should start commenting 4rm or d character I should pick on, all I know is dat I’m loving Pastor Love right now, & d zeal 2push her husband 2d top.i just hope when Pastor Leye gets 2d top he won’t turn out 2be Like Papa or ur late husband o. Sometimes All We Need is Jez a Push 2lead us 2where we r meant 2be!!!
You are right
Loving this love character more. Alice should be careful, don’t trust papa again. Thanks Sally.
My pleasure, dear
Good one Sally. Thank you
You’re welcome
Love is a smooth operator
Mahn! I dunno what to say. Pastor Love be like “let the games begin” and papa sef, it shudnt be a big deal to step down na ? then the baby mamas, I will like to read about aw the women set him up and he ddnt want to disgrace them ??? abi I’m over reaching. I trust Sally to make the ghen ghen moment jaw dropping sha
Hahaha! You may want to read today’s episode, Bimbo
Thanks babe
Tara, mumu Tara, don’t worry Bishop A go soon come marry you… Loveth sha, I just dey one corner dey look you o. Leye the maoGod, wehdonesir. Papa papa, ur match has come. Thanks Sal
You’re welcome, Chinny
Pastor Leye is a good man, and me am loving pastor Love d more. Papa papa u don dey old now. U should step down and pray that GOD directs you on who should take over. Abi u wan die for there?? Thanks Sally for this long read. Much love.
Love, love, loveth….you are a gathering dirt on people and plotting, you have forgoten that “he who leave in glass house does not throw stones” hmmmmm….I hope your plans won’t backfire.
Leye appears sane and focus on God first, let’s hope the position won’t make him deviate. What manner of spirit is controlling Tara, to think she was forming good Christian for wemimo and Alice….does she not know she has the mind of Christ?
These type of dramas are what the apostle was envisage when he states ” looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith”
God bless you sally…
Bless you too, Simplygold
I so love this series, because its different and still very interesting.
In Nigeria, everyone desists from using religion as foundation for writing fiction because Nigerians take it badly as the fanatics they mostly are.
A lot of unusual things go on behind the scenes in churches and other religious houses whether we want to believe it or not.
Those claiming “men of God” are not always what they strive so hard to portray.
Ultimately, let’s all be guided as leye aptly put it.
Sally may God Almighty give you the grace and wisdom to write this story as it should be written. kudos
Hehe this aunty Loveth na wa ? Please why would a mother have her daughter do an abortion hmmmm….thank you ma for a lovely episode β€οΈβ€οΈ??
Wonders shall never end. So Papa has a secret. I hope Alice won’t be one of his conquest.
I enjoyed reading this and am waiting to see how it all unfolds. Thanks Sally
Damn! Damn!! Damn!!!!!!!!. Love is crazyyyy and i love her. ambitious and can manipulate her way out. just hopes it doesnt come back to bite her.
Najib my man! i feel you.
Pastor Leye, you will be alright
Nice one Sally. love every bit
really nice story.. i’m stuck already
Love is dangerous abeg. I just hope all this doesn’t come back to bite her.
Thank you Sal
I don’t think Leye realises how manipulative Love is. I just hope it does not cause a rift in their marriage.
Tara is the type of Christians that jumps and continue to jump, when their pastors say so, without stopping to ask God if he wants them to jump or not.
wow, see woman manipulation….loveth eh gently o
powerful session with you as usual Sally…..see u next time
I love Pst Leye already.
But this is Church politics at play and a reality of what happens behind the scenes in churches. May God help us all.
Church politics. .. love the way you capture everything so succinctly
Gracias
Ghen ghen and the plot thickens…Thanks Sally. May your creative juices never run dry
Amen
Thank you, Etoya
This story is building up gradually and getting captivating.
great work
Thank you!
well done Aunty Sally….
θ°’θ°’δ½ γγγthankyou
Lol. You have written Chinese for me o
But I’m sure it’s something good. Ese
This episode is so goood! Love is very calculative and manipulating. I hope Pastor Leye is strong and can put his foot down where Pastor Love is is concern. Alice has to open her eyes and not let love cloud her judgement. Papa, hmm! I knew he had some serous secret and I am sure Leye is aware of father’s side children. Gee! this captures church politics well. God help his church. Thanks Say for an interesting episode.
Bless you, Akua
😘
well done Sally. Brilliant job. pls any update about memoirs of a repentant escort?
Not yet dear
Alice will get what is coming. Just give it time, that stupid love she thinks she’s beginning to feel, na money and thirst for power.
Tara foolish no be small sha. I never would understand all these people who follow “my pastor said s/he is not the one for me kinikan”
Loveth is quickly becoming my favorite character.
Thumbs up Sally. Thank you for this episode. luv ya
I love you too, Bimz
Thank you
What is getting most of my attention In dis episode are d teenagers o…. What crazy mother (who claims to be a Christian) murders/abort for her children! This one weak me…. I am loving pastor leye.! Everyone should be guided.. Even Love.!
Good stuff ma’am Sally, u rock!
Thank you, Ayoola
I’m scared for Pastor Love o. Don’t want her to get hurt again.
I love Love to bits but she scares me with her ambitions! I see bits of myself in her but none of her Cunning. This is really great Sally!
There’s loads of schemings and Love is a master schemer. Her character is just the way they are, fanning embers and stoking fires while they watch and feather their own nests. They mostly are very intelligent too.
Papa’s strength in all of these commotion is that he’s a veteran that knows a ‘few’ things with regard to how every works.
One thing I’ve always been saying with this church wahala sha is that it’s not all about ‘doing it for The Lord’.
Alice for all her ‘pastorliness’ is one easy to manipulate person. I feel for her. The one who gets my pity the most is that olodo that was told not to marry Morris because ‘he’s not the will of God’.
All in all, good stuff Sally. Not that I expect less anyways. A whole lot of this happens, you can see if you’re a church person whose presence transcends the auditorium.
I so respect Love, she’s a typical woman who wants the best for her husband, when I saw the proverbs 31 quote, I should have expected ?! I am not sure she expected things to work out this fast though, she needs to tread carefully, Papa created the game, he knows where all the pieces lie.
Leye and Love are a good fit, he’s loving, she’s ambitious, they are well balanced.
Alice, I hope you don’t end up in wonderland with Papa!
Behind every powerful man is an ambitious woman!
Great story Sally.
Now, am scared for Pastor Love o ! I’ve bought plenty handkerchiefs to dash Alice when the water works begin. I don’t see a happy ending for her and Papa
Loveth d badass ladyboss, hope u really know d shit u re stirring o cos effribodi av gotten a dark side o. Papa, is also a calculating badoo n he is also going to fight back secretly. Pastor Love alwayz watches ur back o cos Papa is also forming his own secret army nau. Pastor Leye don let dis ur new position get to u n changed u for d worse. Tanks, Sally dis are all tins dat happens in our religious ouse everywhere. Badass politics in d ouses of God. Tara wat is happening btw u n Bishop A. Hmmmm, nice one Sallicious Sally, muah muah muah.
Ahhn…Sally you take style yab Holy Ghost School?
That was some fast moves on Pastor Love’s part. Thought she was going to do her work slowly.
Papa I worry for your ways but really it’s difficult to let go of something one have taken time and pains to build over the years so I feel for you.
Papa the papa…..papa yii badt gan oh. Love, take it easy oh.
Well done madam, thank you….xoxo.
Politics in the church…This is so real Interesting! Madam Sally, I doff my hat.