CHAPTER EIGHT – Winds of Change
Sunnyās wife was basic. From the start, he had known that she had nothing to offer except the traditional duties wives were expected to fall intoāand he picked her solely for that role. She boasted of a bachelorās degree in education and a diploma in computer science. Asides those, she looked good in expensive clothes and being chauffeured around town in a posh car. He couldnāt remember her raising her voice at him or disagreeing to his plans and opinions. Everything he said or did was fine by her, including being sexless toward her for eleven years.
The last time they had sex, it was to try for their third child in the hopes that it would be a boy. But they had another girl and Sunny stopped trying. He neither blamed his wife nor sought to impregnate another woman outside to get a boy. He accepted his fate as the father to three amazing daughters. He liked to think of himself as a liberal whose wife was lucky to have a man like him that didnāt give her reason to worry over her place in his life. All he wanted in return was respect and loyalty. She had done more than enough in those areas, except for one thing. Her relationship with Kofo.
Sunny was yet to figure out how the women bonded behind his back, as they were dissimilar in many aspects. They werenāt the best of friends either and they met only on the occasion, but each time Kofo appeared in her life, she became a different person for a couple of days.
Coming out of his bedroom this morning to hear her laughing and speaking with Kofo in the felt like infidelity on her part. Kofo had told him she was coming over to discuss a sensitive matter, which was unlike her. Usually, she would ask them to meet somewhere. But Sunny wasnāt bothered by it. He surmised that she was trying to get him to drop his bid for the CEO position.
It was out of her hands now. The Hara Group of directors were going to make their decision later tonight, and he knew the seat would go to him.
āGood morning, ladies.ā
Kofo and Ijeoma stopped laughing and stared Sunnyās way as he made known his presence.
āHello, Sunny,ā Kofo greeted. Ijeoma merely smiled at him.
āI didnāt know you were here already,ā he said to Kofo and looked at Ijeoma. āNobody told me.ā
Ijeoma smiled again, saying nothing.
āIād like a cup of tea, please,ā he requested. āGet one for Kofo too.ā
āNo, thatās fine. I had something before coming here. Besides, Iāve been entertained already.ā She pointed at the dish on a stool in front of her, containing grapes.
āTea?ā Sunny looked at Ijeoma again and she got on her feet. He took her seat as she left the living room.
āSo, what brings you here, Kofo?ā
Kofo made sure Ijeoma was gone before she faced him. āIāll make it quick.ā
āPlease, do. Iāve got things toāā
āIs Atari your son?ā
Sunny slowly turned to look into her eyes. But he didnāt give her an answer. Instead, he picked a grape from the dish.
āOgisoāā
āI hate the way you call my name, Kofo. No respect at all.ā
āStop trying to evade the question. Is Atari Abashi your son?ā
āThat is such a wild thing to ask me.ā
āThirty-one years ago, I remember Janet walking into our main office in Ikeja and requesting for a job. Her application letter caught my attention and called her in for an interview right away. She was smart and had a diploma in accounting. But from speaking to her, I saw that she was someone who was ready to learn and take on any position in Rain Textiles. Unfortunately, we were overstaffed. So, I sent her to the office in Lagos Island. To you.ā
āThen, I slept with her and got her pregnant. Thatās your conclusion, right?ā
āLet me finish my story.ā
āGo ahead.ā
āI didnāt hear from her for a while, but I had someone in the office who informed me that you were favoring Janet a lot. I figured that you liked her and it was nothing serious, because you had Ijeoma. Soon after, Ijeoma got pregnant and you had to do right by her by hastening the marriage, which you did. You then went to the UK for your honeymoon.ā
āWow. History teacher.ā
āYou came back after one month, and that was when the drama started. One morning, you and Janet got into a very public fight that had Ituah firing her and asking security to throw her out of the office. I never heard from her again until she showed up five years later, claiming that Ituah was the father of her son.ā
āAnd you didnāt tell Ituah or me, becauseā¦?ā
āBecause, as you already know, I was not myself.ā
Ijeoma walked in, bearing a tea tray. She served Sunny and left.
āAgain, Janet disappeared from radar, but once in a while my mind would prod me to look for her.ā
āBut you didnāt.ā
āShe was inconsequential to me, Sunny. However, this year, I decided set a few things in order and thought to look for her. That was when I found out that she was dead. I did a little digging about Atari too.ā
āAnd decided to go behind the Olumeses to offer him a juicy position at Hara.ā
āFirstly, Sunny, heās my childrenās half-brother or cousin ā if my theory is right.ā
Sunny chuckled before taking a mouthful of his tea.
āSecondly, I made a promise to Janet years ago to take care of Atari, if anything happened to her.ā
āWomen supporting women.ā
āAnd I was working toward it, when I heard that you were ahead of me already. Youāve gotten him a house, a car, and youāre trying to push him up the ladder to the CMO position?ā
āWho told you these things?ā
āSunny, am I right or wrong?ā
Sunny sipped his tea again. Kofo was a dangerous woman. Petite as she was, she was to be feared. Everything she had concluded about him and Janet was true.
He recalled being drawn to Janetās handwritten application letter before falling for her.
She appeared plain at first sight, but the longer his eyes remained on her, the more he saw that there were curves underneath her pleated skirt and simple blouse. He was instantly attracted to whatever she hid underneath her clothes. But he wanted to hear her speak first; so, he asked her questions and kept his eyes on her lips as they moved.
āWhere did you school?ā
āUniversity of Jos. I have a diploma in accounting. I intend to go for a full degree in UNILAG. Thatās why I came to Lagos.ā
She wasnāt only articulate, Janet was confident as well. Sunny gave her the job at once and turned away other applicants. It didnāt take long for him to make known his intent toward her. He had fallen hard for her, and Janet herself expressed that she was infatuated with him. They soon began to sneak around after office hours and during the weekendsāand what began as a sexual relationship quickly turned into something deeper. They hid their affair from everyone, as they had to work with each other by day, following nights of infinite pleasures. One morning, however, when the staff hadnāt yet come in and they thought they could steal a moment in Sunnyās office, Ituah walked in on them. He said nothing of it and life seemed to go on.
What Janet didnāt know, then, was that Ijeoma had just discovered she was pregnant. A family meeting went on without Janetās knowledge and Sunny was pressured to marry Ijeoma. A speedy traditional ceremony was conducted in her hometown, followed by a church wedding. Afterward, Sunny traveled out of the country on a month-long honeymoon, leaving Janet devastated. In his absence, Ituah slithered into her life to console her, while taking advantage of her vulnerability.
When Sunny returned, Janet ended what she had with him and concentrated on her job. He still wanted her, but she was resolute on her decision. A short while later, she mentioned to him that she was pregnant for Ituah, confessing to what had happened between them in his absence.
Sunny lost his mind and they fought in the office, not caring for the presence of staff and clients on the premises. When Ituah tried to weigh in, Janet turned her anger on him, as well. Apparently, he had dumped her, just as Sunny returned. He also knew about the pregnancy before Sunny did, and he denied responsibility. To cover his shame, Ituah fired her and asked security to escort her out of the building.
The last Sunny saw of Janet, she was dressed in a white dress, entering a yellow cab, her face bathed in tears. His anger ran on for months, after she was gone, but not as enduring as his affection for her.
Sunny searched all over Lagos for Janet; and when he couldnāt find her, he went to her hometown in Nasarawa state, where he met her cousin, who informed him that she passed away at childbirth, along with her baby. He should have known, by the manās hostile monosyllabic answers, that he had been lying.
Her alleged demise was like a million stabs to his heart, but he mourned her and moved on. In January, however, he got a letter from her that brought back to life the past. Sunny found out that a relative into whose hands she had entrusted the letter forgot to send it to him, and only remembered to, when moving houses. Janet had been dead for nine months at that time. In the letter, she had told him about Tari and how she had strongly suspected that he was Sunnyās son.
Sunny mourned her a second time, recalling how much of a happy soul she had been. Janet had had a bright disposition to life and always saw the good in everything.
āI was born to be rich, you know?ā she once told him, after he gifted her a designer bag in which he placed a wad of notes. āGod gave me an illness that leaves me with low immunity because he knows Iāll have money to take care of myself. This is just a chapter in my life that will soon end.ā
Sunny hired someone to follow Tari around and give him updates about his life. He wanted everything on himāwhere he ate, whom he hung out with, the women that shared his bed, his favorite thing to do after work hours, his pastāall of it. The investigator was efficient, and every weekend, he brought him to date on Tariās activities. Sunny soon became obsessed with playing the all-seeing-eye. So much that he preferred to be in the shadows than reveal himself to Tari. There were things about the young man that reminded him of Janet, even though he watched him from a distance. Things that reminded him of himself. Hence, Sunnyās clandestine surveillance stretched on for four months until he was certain that his heart and mind were settled on what role Tari was to play in his life.
As it were, he was without a male heir to take over from him. Tari being his son was going to solidify his claim to the ownership of Hara Telecoms. But to do this, he had to be sure Tari wasnāt Ituahās.
āYou know she was a harlot,ā Ituah said of Janet when Sunny told him about Tari. āIām not going to accept that boy as mine.ā
āJust meet him and talk to him.ā
āWhat if heās yours? Have you thought about that?ā
āI have.ā
āThen, why are you bringing him to me?ā
āJust in case he turns out to be your son.ā
āSunday, he can turn out to be anything, I donāt care. Iām not claiming any bastard.ā
āWeāll run a DNA test.ā
āNo.ā Ituahās word was final and he frustrated Sunnyās efforts to have a test run before his demise. The next time he raised up the DNA issue, it was with Tari, who did not object to it. He submitted himself to a clinic of Sunnyās choosing on the day before his trip out of Nigeria with Rain. When the results came in, it proved that he was indeed Sunnyās son.
āOgiso, youāre not saying anything. Am I right?ā
Sunny lifted his eyes from his teacup and looked at Kofo.
āWhat is it to you?ā he asked.
āIt is everything to me, Sunny. You know that Hara is family legacy.ā
āYeah, yeah, so named after Habib and Rain. Please, donāt remind me for the hundredth time.ā
āThen, you should know that I donāt intend to hand it over to an Olumese.ā
Sunny smiled. āKofo, my darling partner, I donāt want you to forget that the reason Hara is standing strong is because of my tireless efforts behind the scene over the years. And that is why my son must have a chunky size of that cake. I know you already plan to bring in all your children. That whole Bahamas thing is to butter them up.ā
āHara is their heritage too.ā
āFunny, though. They are Olumeses.ā
Sunny almost laughed at the frown that curdled Kofoās face.
āLook, letās not get into a scuffle over Atariās presence at Hara. We have many fights on our table, Kofo. Can you just let this slide, the way my son is sliding in and out of your daughter right now, as we speak?ā
āI beg your pardon?ā
Sunny laughed slowly.
āWhat are you talking about, Ogiso?ā
He sipped his tea and laughed again.
āWhere do you think Rain has been for three weeks?ā
āShe told Dora she needed a break.ā
āWell, if a break is Atariās phallus.ā
āWhat!ā
āI hate to break it to you. Sheās in some vacation spot with the boy.ā
Kofo shifted in her seat, bowled over by the news. āHowā¦?ā
āKofo, your life and mine have been intertwined for a long timeāā
āBecause you made it so. You blackmailed me and stole what was mine. And I know that somehow, youāre behind this thing.ā
Sunny raised innocent hands. āNot me o. God has a sense of humor and I am amused as well.ā
āOh my God!ā Kofo covered her face. āRain and Atari are related.ā
āNot in any way. They donāt even share siblings.ā
āOh God.ā Kofo shifted in her seat again, gripping the armrest.
āYou may want to breathe.ā
But she decided it was best to stand. āYouāre lying to me, right?ā
āI have more important things to do, Kofo.ā
She picked up her purse, and the moment her shawl covered her shoulder, she was back to default mode. āIf youāre really telling the truth, then I want to let you know that your plans wonāt work. I will make sure your son never goes near my daughter again.ā
āI wish you luck with that.ā
āTell Ijeoma Iām gone.ā Kofo started out, heading for the front door.
āDonāt forget our meeting! Tell your chef to prepare that his steaming jollof.ā He gulped the remnant of his tea. āI canāt get enough of it.ā
As soon as he returned to his bedroom, he checked Tariās WhatsApp. He had seen him online earlier and noticed that he had read all his messages but had refused to reply them.
Sunny pressed his thumb on the voice recorder. āAtari, itās been three weeks. I know youāre doing what I asked and having a good time, but end it and come back home. Your job isnāt going to be available forever.ā
He needed Tari to take what he offered him seriously. Coming out of the shadows to claim the CEO seat at Hara Telecoms was mostly for Tariās sake. He wanted the transition to be easy for him when the time arrived. But to ensure that happened, Kofo had to get out of the way. This was why he went behind her to the Hara Group, which was headed by three other people who had the largest stakes in Hara Telecoms and all its subsidiaries. In plain terms, they owned the company, alongside Kofo and Sunny. They were called upon only when the most important decisions concerning Hara Telecoms couldnāt be handled by the board of directors. A few days ago, Sunny requested a private meeting with them to give reasons as to why Kofo had to step down.
Unfortunately, their response to his proposal wasnāt what he had hoped for. They called for a dinner meeting at Kofoās residenceāa sure sign that they respected her more than they did him.
It would devastate him to lose the CEO seat, especially now that Kofo had presented Habib Kareem as her preferred candidate for the position. It had been three weeks since she submitted his name at a board meeting. The board was divided in two factionsāone for Sunny and the other for Kofo. The Hara Group was worried that a prolonged in-house war could spell doom for the company, especially now that they had had an extended drop in the stock market.
Sunny prepared his speech for the meeting tonight. He had gone to them as a man, strong on logic and business. Now, he had to appeal to their emotions. Kofo seemed to be winning on that front already.
āDo you want breakfast?ā
Ijeoma, as usual, had quietly entered his bedroom without his knowledge. He looked at her with a slight frown, annoyed to be disturbed. She understood and withdrew. Minutes later, she returned to inform him that Nadia had stopped by for a visit. Sunny noted the disdain on her face as she mentioned Nadiaās name. It was funny how she detested the girl and loved her mother.
Sunny responded to a phone call before he got off his bed. Sundays were for early morning masses at the church and returning home to stay in all day. Not to entertain annoying women and their daughters.
He slipped into his slides and went downstairs to meet Nadia. She was standing in the living room, admiring a family portrait. He felt sorry for her, seeing her emaciated figure that was a result of mourning her father more than it made sense to. She had been a daddyās girl, of course. In her childhood years, she saw him as perfectionāand on his end, the adoration had been reciprocated. He would give her everything she asked for, without requiring her to earn it. This was because he fed off her need for him, so that he could be her hero and shape her life in the way he so desired. In the end, though, he lost control of her, as she became unmanageable and threw tantrums whenever she didnāt have her way. He then abandoned all parental responsibility to Sunny. Sunny, in turn, enacted revenge on Nadia for her fatherās sins to him. In the end, the brothers created a monster that not even beauty and brilliance could redeem. Nadia had the proclivity to be intolerable and callous in her relationships, even toward her siblings. She nailed the clichĆ© image of the snobbish, rich kid without the wealth.
āGood morning, Uncle Sunny,ā she greeted without turning to look at him. She was dressed in a black ensemble, as she was still in mourning.
āHow are you, Nadiakhe?ā
She looked at him now, bearing a dead smile. āGood.ā
The girl was every inch her motherāheight and facial features alike.
āSit down, dear.ā
Nadia found a couch, as did Sunny.
āHave you had breakfast?ā
āYes, thank you.ā
āOkay. So, what brings you my way, darling girl? The last time we spoke, you were mad at me for telling you that your fatherās houses belonged to his widow.ā
āI was only trying to let you know that she was a gold-digger who came into his life to reap where she did not sow.ā
āIronically, there was neither gold to dig nor crops to reap.ā
āYet, she owns his houses.ā
āAnd now, your brother got Rain Textiles and every other thing handed down to him. What exactly did you get, Nadiakhe, for being Daddyās favorite?ā
Nadiaās eyes turned icy. Something about it made Sunny uneasy.
āWhy are you here?ā
She pulled out a file from her handbag. She kept it on the center table. Then, she went for a diary next. Sunny recognized the diary and looked at her, finding her eyes already waiting for his.
āWhat are these?ā
She pointed at the file. āEvery important document on Rain Textiles.ā
āOkay?ā
She pointed at the diary. āAunty Atitiās diary.ā
āWhat am I supposed to do with them?ā
āI found them in Daddyās safe last night. We just got back from Benin, but I had to go to the house and search for important documents because I knew that Xave hasnāt taken the inheritance thing seriously. That was where I found Auntyās journal.ā Nadia picked the notebook. āI want to read something to you.ā
āPlease, donāt bore me. Your aunty liked to believe that she was a white woman with all that diary bullshit. Always keeping records of what should not be kept.ā
Nadia opened a page and read: āI just found out that Ogiso is hiding something about that contract with the witch.ā She looked at Sunny. āWitch, being my mom, right?ā
Sunny gave her a pokerfaced look.
āIt was Auntyās last entry. The date was before the day she died. History has it that she slumped and died in your house.ā
āRight in front of me.ā
āHeart attack, they said.ā
āYouāre a good history student, just like your mom.ā
āSo, what were you hiding Uncle Sunny?ā
āNadia, your father and protector is dead. Youāve gotten away with being disrespectful and rude to me for years, just because he always supported your insolence. All of it has ended now. So, the next time you talk to me like that, I will slap the shit out of your petulant mouth.ā
āI apologize.ā She reached for the file. āBut I know what youāre hiding.ā
āYou know what now?ā
āYou and Daddy made my mom sign Rain Textiles to Daddy becauseāā
āBecause she was mentally unstable as a result of emotional and psychological abuse from your dad.ā
āIāā
āLet me finish. Youāve been lied to for years. He ruined your mother and made her sign over her business to him. Then, he initiated a divorce and told the whole world that she was leaving because she wanted to be with her boyfriend. Your mother was thrown out of her own home with just five hundred naira in her handbag and a box of clothes. Your deadbeat father was the villain this whole time.ā
Nadia hesitated before she spoke. āBut you helped him.ā
āYes. I was greedy and callous. I deeply regret my actions.ā
āUncle, are you sure? Because this contract here states thatāā
āYour dad was an equal partner to every future business your mom owned,ā Sunny stated. āMeaning that even before Hara was built, he already owned half of it. I got the lawyer that drafted it, and I want to let you know that your dad didnāt know what I did. He was not supposed to find out, the same way your mom didnāt see it either. I slipped it in there to use it as leverage later because I knew who Kofo was, and I was as certain as the sun rising that she was going to get back on her feet with the Kareems behind her. So, I waited until the time came and I showed her the clause.ā Sunny smiled. āWho do you think she preferred to be partners with? Me or Ituah?ā
Nadia was dazed by his confession.
āAnd that is how I became her partner at Hara. Nadiakhe, little girl, what are you going to do about it? Go to your daddyās grave and cry like the baby you are? Or blackmail me?ā
Nadia was still dazed.
āBecause if you go to Xavier, who now owns Rain Textiles and that document youāre holding, youāre going to lose out on what youāll get from the blackmail. And we know that Xave is a mommyās boy beneath all his bravado. He will not take advantage of what it can bring him. Secondly, it doesnāt shake what Kofo and I now have. She has chosen not to take me to court.ā
āSo, youāre sayingāā
āWhat do you want?ā
āIā¦ā
āDid you actually come in here to accuse me of my sisterās death with no evidence and to remind me that I used crooked means to get to the top? You didnāt have a plan? Is that how I raised you?ā
āYouāre not allowing me think!ā
Sunny leaned forward to make his point. ā101 of business. Never miss the chance to swing a deal your way.ā He stood. āEmotions will be the death of you, Nadiakhe. Come back with what you want from me.ā
He headed back up the stairs, annoyed for being disturbed, but not so much that he didnāt see that Nadia was as dangerous as her mom.
xoxoxo
Three weeks wasnāt enough for Tari. If he could pause his life for a long time, just to spend it with Rain, heād do it two times over. He didnāt realize how much she was like his mom until she lost two thousand dollars during a hike and she didnāt miss a breath. Instead, she asked Tari if he wanted to escort her to get a tattoo and piercings done.
āTattoo?ā
āIām scared of needles, thatās why I need to do this. Iām not really a fan of tattoos.ā
āThatās a wild reason to get inked on. But letās go.ā
Using Google, they hitched a ride to a credible tattoo parlor. Rain asked for a peace sign smiley tattoo behind her ear, but when it was time to have it done, she freaked out and ran out of the building. It was so hilarious that Tari laughed until his tummy hurt. He went after her and brought her in. Somehow, he convinced her to get a nose ring instead.
Again, it was a lot of drama. Tari volunteered to get his ear pierced for her sake. After he did it, she stayed still enough to get her nose done. When the needle went in, she screamed and broke into tears. It was hard for him not to laugh, so he rubbed her back until the artist fixed a nose ring. No one could convince her to tattoo her skin after that. Weirdly, it was Tari who got the sudden urge to do something to his arm. It started with a tribal tattoo, but he wanted more and booked for a session the following day. Rain went with him. By the third day, his left arm was a work of art, although it was sore and hurt for two days afterward.
He was changing before his own eyes, and he could hardly recognize himself. His confidence and faith in life had returned, but he feared that he might become an entirely different person in a short while.
When he said yes to going away with Rain, he knew his time at The Insured Place was over. He asked HR for a week to sort out an emergency. It was approved but it was without pay. Four days later, he turned in his resignation while Rain slept beside him, somewhere in Dominica. They had rented an Airbnb for two weeks, and Tari allowed himself to enjoy his life after an endless existence of suffering. He had looked forward to having a great time with Rain, but he didnāt foresee how much the trip was going to change him. They shopped in expensive boutiques, went on unsupervised boat rides, hung out with other couples from around the world. Tari felt like his life was spinning too fast for him to catch up. Whenever they didnāt leave their apartment, it was because they couldnāt have enough of each otherās bodies. And the best part was that they werenāt vanilla about the sex. Rain was shameless when it came to the usual things for which other women felt shame.
But their time was soon over and they had to get back to Nigeria. The morning they were to leave, while lying in bed, Rain asked him to stay one more week.
āJust like that?ā
āIām not ready to go back. I wish we could stay here forever.ā
Tari laughed.
āYouāre really a spoilt kid, Rain.ā
āI know. But I want to introduce you to the world of traveling. That is if youād be interested in occasionally traveling with me on a whim.ā
āOn a whim?ā
āDonāt you like to be spontaneous?ā Rain asked him. This was the most āwhimā thing he had done in years. āWhen was the last time you did something crazy?ā
āThese past two weeks. Going on this trip with you.ā
āYou donāt want to do more?ā
āI donāt think youād like me very much if I hopped on a plane every time you asked me to.ā
āYouāre right. I love that weāre different.ā
āYouāre sure?ā
āI also like that we have a friendship thing going on. Feelings have this habit of burning brightly then turning cold. When that happens to us and the outer layer peels off, letās not fight too much to keep it and lose whatās important, which is us. Feelings refresh, get deeper, and grow when they have a healthy soil that makes them want to stay.ā
āHmmm⦠Your age is showing, mama.ā
Rain smacked him.
āBut that was profound.ā He snapped his fingers to applaud her.
Giggling, she said, āI canāt even take you seriously.ā
He responded by wrapping her body with his for a cuddle.
āPlease, one more week with me before we leave.ā
āOkay.ā
He wasnāt sure, but he sensed that she didnāt want to get involved in anything back home that would take her peace. He was already learning that she had clever ways of detaching herself from pain.
They stayed back but spent less time outdoors. Tari couldnāt get his hands off Rainās body. Even when her period came, he was heavy on the cuddles, having discovered that her biggest love language was physical touch. He visited a local market nearby and got ingredients to prepare goat meat pepper soup because it was her favorite.
āIf we ever break up, Iād still come over to your house for food.ā
āUnfortunately, I donāt cook,ā Tari informed her. āIām lazy like that.ā
āAt least, we share something in common.ā
āWe share many things in common, Rain. Are you ready for Hara?ā
āNo, but I miss having a job. I canāt wait to go back to an office and boss people around.ā
On their flight out of Dominica, she lost her usual cheer. She spent most of the time sleeping. When she woke, she tried to keep her mood uplifted.
She leaned toward him. āGive me your hand.ā
Tari extended his hand to her.
āI read palms.ā
āWhy?ā
āItās the type of weird shit you learn from meeting all sorts of gypsies when you travel a lot. I met this one in Egypt. Her name was Kiya. Very creepy woman, but she taught me a lot about black magic.ā
āLike what?ā
Rain stared into Tariās eyes. āLike how to trap a man with pussy.ā
Tari sneered. Rain tugged his hand closer. She caressed his palm with hers.
āSo, what do you see in my future?ā
She made an exaggerated show of studying his palm, causing him to smile. āI see you becoming very rich and famous.ā
āI like rich. Famous? Not so much.ā
āItās in this line here.ā She ran a finger from one side of his palm to the other. āSee how unbroken it is?ā
āYeah.ā
But Tari wasnāt looking at his palm. His eyes were on her, following the fine baby hairs on her forehead that disappeared to the side of her face. Then he stared all the way down to her neck, stopping at the distracting fullness of her cleavage.
āYouāre going to get married soon,ā she foretold.
āSoon?ā
āYes.ā
āTo whom?ā
Rain looked up, catching his eyes. āMe.ā
Tari laughed, throwing his head back.
āItās in your palm.ā
He closed his palm and trapped her hand in his. āDid you just use style to propose to me?ā
āI donāt propose to men. But soon, you will ask me to be your wife, and I will say yes, and we will live happily ever after with our four beautiful kids.ā
āFour?ā
Rain nodded.
Tari cleared his throat. What was the politest way to tell her that he didnāt want children?
A flight attendant came by and asked if they wanted anything.
xoxoxo
Rain knew she had made a mistake by telling Jaya what time her flight would be arriving Lagos. Jaya had been worried about her to the point of ridiculousness. She even went as far as getting Mide to accompany her to the airport. Rain had planned to share a cab with Tari, but they changed plans and Tari used the cab alone before her friends arrived.
On their way home, Jaya apologized for showing up late.
āItās fine,ā Rain said, waiting for the scolding to come. She took the backseat while Mide sat in the front with Jaya.
āYou wonāt believe that Kevin has been blowing up Mideās line all day because sheās been with me,ā Jaya reported. āHe canāt take care of his own kids.ā
āAre we surprised?ā
āOn top of that, he was still yelling on her for being selfish. Talking about āI planned for us to get away this weekend to celebrate your birthday.āā Jaya hissed. āBirthday that has already passed. Ogbeni, if I donāt slap those stretchmarks off your muscles!ā
Rain smiled.
āMide, I have said this a hundred times, and I will say it again,ā Jaya continued. āYouāre my baby and I love you, but the moment Rain is done with you, so am I. We can reconnect when you finally get sense and banish Kevin out of your life completely.ā
āYes, ma.ā Mide looked at Rain. āYou, you have anything to add?ā
āIām not done,ā Jaya continued. āOne day youāll wake up and realize that youāve lost out on a lot and you have no identity except wife and mother.ā
āJaya, can you just say whatās on your mind and stop using Mide to act like you want to even the scolding?ā
āThree weeks, Rain!ā
āThere we go.ā
āWith a guy you hardly know.ā
āOh, I know him.ā
āWho the hell is he?ā
Rain sucked in her lips to hide a smile.
āHe looks like an upgrade from Noah sha,ā Mide stated.
āMide, we donāt even know this guy.ā
Rain raised her hand. āHey, I said I do.ā
āYou think you do, just because you guys are fucking.ā
āWellā¦ā
āDoes he have a girlfriend?ā
āNo.ā
āYou donāt know that. Is he fucking his sister?ā
āNo.ā
āYou donāt know that too. Is he a yahoo boy?ā
āI see where this is going.ā
āWhat are his financials?ā
āFinancials?ā
āRain, you are the only daughter of aā¦ā Jaya glanced at Mide and withdrew her words. āYouāre rich. Is he as rich as you or is this going to be another case of Noah, Wilson, Qudus, Raymond, Tobiā?ā
āI get your point, I get it. Yes, he doesnāt have what I have, butā¦ā
āLike how many times did this guy make you cum?ā
Rain blushed. āWellā¦ā
āBut we all know you donāt do one-night-stands or friends with benefits. You see a man and he ticks one box out of your list and you want to go in for the long haul. How canāt you see that youāre insane?ā
āYou have to live a little, Jaya Nelson. I love the thrill of falling in loveāā
āAnd getting heartbroken. Over and over and over.ā
āIām surviving.ā
āNo, youāre not. Look at this Noah mess, for instanceāā
āWhoās Noah?ā
āRain?ā Mide pleaded.
āIām sorry, but I donāt know who youāre talking about. Noah is a strange name to me.ā
āThe worst part is that in a few weeks, youāll believe this and your brain will start erasing him.ā
āErasing who?ā
Jaya and Mide sighed together.
āGirls, I love the thrill of falling in love. I love relationships. I love being needed by one man and needing him alone. This thing you people do when you fuck around with just anybody is not for me.ā
āMe too,ā Mide commented.
āSo, youāre going to get engaged to this one too?ā
āI am not rushing anything.ā
āYouāre gone. Mide, our girl is gone.ā Jaya removed her wig and cast her eyes outside. āI hate him already.ā
āTari?ā
āYes. I hate him. Same way I hate Kevin. Youāre as needy as Mide.ā
āOkay.ā Rain didnāt want to fight. āSoā¦. Guess what I got you girls!ā
āA man we donāt need?ā
āJayamma?ā Mide smacked Jaya.
Rain gave up. She picked her phone and was about to text Tari for a sleepover. But she changed her mind, as she recalled Jayaās words. It would embarrass her if Tari saw her as needy. She texted Dora instead.
On my way home
āJust fuck him and go,ā Jaya advised.
xoxoxo
Kofo could feel her heart falling apart as she sat with her partners and agreed to sign over her company to Sunny. This hadnāt been her plan with Habib, as they had gone behind Sunny to lobby the board members of the Hara Group. Her partners had promised her and Habib the position, only to throw in a twist by asking her to step down and allow Sunny and Habib take the CEO seats. Hara Group wanted fresh faces. Kofoās time was over.
But she wasnāt totally thrown out, as she was to become the new chairman of the board of directors. Her partners believed it was a fair deal; none of them could see how torn she was by their decision. It felt like the Olumeses taking Rain Textiles and her children from her all over again.
āHara is moving away from command-and-control leadership,ā the head of Hara Group explained. āMore organizations are putting two leaders at the top. Itās em⦠Itās hardly new. Co-consuls ruled ancient Rome for nearly 500 years. I believe weāre advanced enough to understand the merits of sharing power.ā
As he continued to speak, Kofo felt like reaching across the table to smash his head on the porcelain plate in front of him.
āHabib and Sunny need to each play to their individual strengths, have clear responsibilities and decision rights, and agree up front on an approach to conflict resolution.ā
āWe will do a marvelous job,ā Habib assured them. āRight, Olumese?ā
Sunny nodded. He also didnāt seem happy with the new arrangement. At least, that gave Kofo some pleasure.
After the dinner meeting, she completed her act of playing the good host by walking the men to their cars and wishing them a good night with a smile on her face. Sunny was the last to leave, but before he entered his car, he hung around.
āOur lovebirds are back,ā he said, eyes on Habibās arm, which had gone around Kofoās waist. āI think they had a great time in Dominica. Iād love to know how their relationship is progressing. Wouldnāt you?ā
āWhatās he talking about?ā Habib asked Kofo.
āIgnore him.ā
āOh, he doesnāt know yet?ā
āGood night, Sunny.ā
āGood nightā¦partners.ā
He got into his car and drove off.
āYou should leave too,ā Kofo told Habib as she dropped his hand from her body and headed back in. He followed her into the house and stopped her at the staircase.
āTalk to me.ā
āIt feels like Iām losing everything to the Olumeses all over again!ā she shouted. āYou knew what Sunny did to me in the past and you advised me to go ahead with this stupid plan of appealing to those men? My own company?ā
āAlma, you and I didnāt see this curveball coming. But itās a good thing. It is for the good of Hara.ā
āWhy doesnāt it feel that way? Why am I here, panicking that my company would become something I wonāt recognize soon?ā
āIt wonāt. I am at the helm of affairs. Just trust me.ā
Kofo shook her head. She didnāt believe him. She didnāt believe anything right now. She felt darkness coming for her, and she couldnāt stop it.
She continued upstairs to her bedroom. Habib went after her.
āWe will kick Sunny out eventually. It will take years, but we will do it.ā
āHow? He has a legacy plan, you know that?ā
āWhat legacy plan?ā
āRemember Ituahās bastard son?ā
āYeah?ā
āWell, heās actually Sunnyās son.ā
āThe Atari guy? How?ā
āLong story.ā Kofo took off her earrings. āThe saddest part is that our sweetheart daughter is in some kind of thing with him.ā
āRain? What thing?ā
āTheyāre having sex or dating, I donāt know. I donāt even know how they met. But I am certain that Sunny is behind it.ā Kofo sat on her bed, distressed. āI messed up, Habib. I should have told her the truth years ago, so that sheāll know her enemies and be prepared to take over from me. Itās too late now.ā
āItās not. Listen to me.ā Habib sat with Kofo. āItās not too late. I believe in Rain, and I need you to believe in her too. Sheās always been on the right path, and she wonāt fall off this time.ā
āShe has a poor taste in men.ā
āAgreed, but letās not look at her through the lens of her relationships but through her accomplishments. She has done well, working with foreign companies. She will do well in Hara too. You made the best decision by ensuring Dora pushed her into IT. You prepared her for this time. You need to trust the process.ā
Kofo wanted desperately to hang on to Habibās words, but it was difficult. He had reached out to her two weeks ago, ending his grudge and agreeing to her terms of becoming co-CEO with her and selling Alma Networks to Hara Telecoms. But it came under certain clauses, which she rejected at first. However, after going back-and-forth with him, she gave in. She could see his genuineness, the sacrifice he took that had him leaving his early retirement to secure Rainās future in Hara Telecoms.
āIf thereās anything, Iām happy that youāre going to be at the top,ā she said in a calmer tone. āIt was all I always wanted.ā
āI need you to be okay, Alma. I donāt want you back in that place your ex dragged you into years ago. It was worse than hell. Please, stay in the light. For Rainās sake.ā
āI will.ā
āHaving said that, we need to celebrate tonight. A bottle of wine, perhaps?ā
āHabibā¦ā Kofo placed her hands on his chest. Her eyes followed the wrinkles around his eyes. āLetās not. Iām not ready to do anything with you that would make us cross dangerous lines.ā
āAlma, itās just you and me. No Ituah, no marriage vows. Stop running away from me. Stop it.ā
āWeāre a very complicated pair, Habib.ā
āWeāre older now. Letās leave complexities to children.ā He placed his hand over hers. āMarry me.ā
āDonāt start.ā
āListen, Alma. Listen. Iām old-fashionedāā
āSays the man who was sleeping with someoneās wife.ā
āDidnāt I tell you to leave him, that Iād take better care of you?ā
Kofo laughed, recalling how serious he had been that year.
āI want to do things the right way. If you want a secret marriage, thatās fine. Justā¦be my wife, Kofo. Do me the pleasure and honor.ā
She shook her head. āI canāt. I have fought many demons, within and without, to get here. I just want to enjoy the rest of my days, happy and pampered.ā
āThatās what I want too. Letās pamper each other, Alma. Please, think on it.ā
Kofo looked softly into his eyes and touched his cheek.
āHabibā¦ā
āRemember when I first kissed you? I walked into the kitchen and saw you washing the dishes.ā
āYou told me not to do it, that it was the maidās job and my soft palms would peel and get hard.ā
āBut you refused and I joined you.ā
Kofo could recall the heat she felt that evening. It was hard to concentrate, standing so close to him. After they were done with the dishes, he wiped her hands with a towel, then asked if he could kiss her. She wanted to protest, but her lips were stiff. They moved only when he took them with his.
āGo home, Habib.ā
āHow long has it been?ā
āI canāt remember.ā
Neither could she remember what a man felt like inside her. She once kept a lover, but that was more than ten years ago.
āThen, Iām staying the night and every other night until you realize that what we have has stood the test of time and we belong together.ā He got up and gave her his hand. āLetās get that wine or tea and sit and listen to music like two old people whose kids are all grown and left them all alone.ā
Kofo smiled.
āCome on.ā
She placed her hand in his and he pulled her up to meet his lips. Then he kissed her. It was a tender one, as if tasting her, trying to remember everything about her. She clung to his shirt, feeling the nerves in her fingertips and toes came alive. It felt like she would fall if she didnāt hold on to him.
Habib moaned and murmured her name before letting go of her lips.
āThe wineā¦ā Kofo whispered.
āLet it wait.ā
Habib went for her mouth again, bringing her body to his. She desperately wanted him, but she had to stay focused and fight for what she had painstakingly built.
āHabib?ā
āMm?ā
āThe wine,ā she said again.
āYes, the wine.ā He cleared his throat. āLetās go.ā
Kofo led the way out. She felt a tremor when his body touched hers from behind. She hastened her steps, giving him some distance, even though she knew she couldnāt escape him much longer. Habib was here to stayāin her company, in her heart, and in her bed.
Her life as she knew it was over. She didnāt know how to start afresh.
©Sally Kenneth Dadzie @moskedapages
That was hot and spicy. Your writing transports me into the story. Nice one sally
This episode was a lot. Don’t know how to unpack my feelings enough to write them.
All I can say is that these characters will always have a place in my heart, and Sally is goooood.
Thanks Sally
This was smoking hot, ahn han kuku kill me na. I hope Kofo gives herself the chance to start over with Habib. I’m rooting for them. I never saw the twist about Tari being Sunny’s son coming. Sally you are amazing, thank you.
I love the twist, it explains why Sunny is so invested in Tari and Ituahās detachment. Kofi deserves a chance to live and loveā¦although I canāt wait to see sunny loose at his schemes
See me falling in love just by reading the love these 2 share .
Kai, Sunny os evil, evil and evil again. Jessszzzz . I won’t be surprised if he killed his sister .
I still can’t wait to know the monster Nadia is , I just hope Sunny isn’t sexual with her .
Thanks for this Sal
Amazing read!!! Sally blows my mind everytime.
Thanks Sally, ātwas a long and good read. I love love ā¤ļø this brings me calmness after the crazy weekend
Queen Kofo.
Sally thanks for this long episode. Itās cool having Kofo and Habib together. So Atari is Sunnyās son? I didnāt see that comingā¦..
This Episode was wow . I really needed it to calm my tensed mind. Habib and Kofo damn I love their love.
I am so here for Tari and Rain . Sunny is a demon and I really hope that Tari doesnāt fall into his schemes.
Habib is such a sweetheart;Kofo let go and let love lead
Whew!! Thanks Sally for blessing us with such a long read. loved, loved this episode. Good thing Tari already informed Rain of his discussion with Sunny
I really loved this episodeš„²
I don’t understand how I missed this episode and to think i have read the next episode. It now makes sense the more.
Sally but you are a genius o, how do you weave these stories sef. Thank you for always