"The way in which autonomy, competence, and relatedness are understood in self-determination theory is quite unique in the performance context [6]. According to SDT, and in opposition to other needs theories, the three needs do not vary by the extent to which people possess them, but by the extent to which the environment facilitates their satisfaction or frustration [9]—"

Is self-determination good for your effectiveness? A study of factors which influence performance within self-determination theory by Michał Szulawski, Izabela Kaźmierczak and Monika Prusik, 08-09- 2021.

Chikamharida's POV.

I was forced to leave braid's girl because she obviously wouldn't let me be, and I mean that in all ways, metaphorically and literally. That sole reason was why I'd almost broken my foot kicking roots in anger.

Now, the sun was scalding hot, it burned hotter than I had bargained. However, they illuminated the way pretty effectively to prevent me from stubbing my toe again. To pass away time, I wrote random things on the bark of trees I passed until I arrived at the parking lot of the Jones estate where black, white and silver vans formed a battalion. Was this a van showroom or something?

"Hey," I waved at a burly security agent passing by. When he noticed me, he just nodded making it seem like I had made a fool out of myself by waving. Actually, what type of security guard waved? Probably I, the untrained and uncultured.

At that time of the day, the tarred roads were so bright mirages formed and the cobblestones had their pricky and rounded heads on display and totally highlighted.

I ignored it all and went straight to the employees quarters by the left wing of the Jones mansion. A gate led in, and you could see the essentials— our laundry room, kitchen and others just on entry. My room was by the farthest edge and that was my intended location. Of course, I stayed at the ground floor while the older employees stayed up, not my fault for coming late now, is it?

Cream walled hallway and wooden doors, I admired. Walls were neat, and so unlike what I was used to that it may always leave me wowed. If it was back home, my three youngest brothers would have doodled on it, or rather the triplet boys would have designed it with muddy ball prints.

Finally I arrived at my door. However as I was about stepping foot in, my feet paused, the tip of my boot digging into what appeared to be a biscuit wrapper. "But there's a dustbin out," I said as picked it up only to see it's torn edge and the crappy writing on it.

"Meet me at the bridge by ten."

It was definitely not a biscuit wrap. The paper was as beige as day.

Holding the pulp in my hand, I delved on to who'd know me enough to send me such a note. It definitely wasn't Henry because he knew my room, he was my superior. He could knock anytime and there was no problem. However, it wasn't also my bigger employers, I doubted they even knew my name with the laarge workforce at their disposal.

"Who could it be?" I asked no one in particular.

I guess it was up to me to find out; by ten it said.

"Having a good day?"

A soft voice asked me. I looked back to see my next door neighbour. She was probably off duty and was on a pajama. Definitely didn't look like a security guard, probably a cleaner or chef, not that I looked like one.

"Yeah," I said. "Did anyone drop by?"

"Are you having problems with the boss or the commander?"

"Not really."

"Na," she said. "Just came back from work, thought I heard voices and came out to check. Really didn't see anyone."

"Alright," I said. "I'm Harida. You?"

"Choice. The other chefs call me Chilli. Might be bringing snack for you sometimes. How are you loving it here so far?" She asked.

I though about the devil incarnate that had set me up and the infuriating child I'd just made a deal with. "Peachy, but it's nothing I haven't experienced. It was nice meeting you Chilli."

"You too, Harida."

-and I shut the door, note still in hand. Somehow, that conversation didn't seem draining maybe cause of the promise of appetizers, and snacks and a lot of other yummy things including free beef, which will be a privilege.

Finally I was back in my room, my own space. Something I'd always dreamt of but had never really had till now. It had a bed with a matress, a window that locked properly and a curtain, decorative ones and not the handsewn one I'd grown up with.

I'd proceeded to take a cold bath which I did. Why wouldn't I when water and lotion was free? Then I went to the kitchen and took some plantain chips. Fear didn't let me touch the drink. They may request that I pay for it and I hadn't even known if I'd be receiving a salary yet. I'd probably ask Henry.

Right on time, as I was heading back to my room, I met Henry, standing before my door about to knock.

"You're here," I said.

He looked at my hand then at my face, then frowned. "Why didn't you take a drink with that?"

"I wanted to use water," I said, hoping to God he wouldn't ask but he saw through it.

"I don't see any water with you Harida. Are you planning to drink from the tap? Come on," he said. "Those drinks in the fridge are for you all to be comfortable. You don't have to feel guilty taking them."

I didn't say anything. He started walking away in the direction I just arrived. His steps so abrupt.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll be back," he said. I nodded, shrugged and walked into my room, relaxing on my bed and opening the chips. I'd only taken three chips when the door opened and Henry walked in with a canned Fanta in hand. He probably didn't know that it was my favorite drink.

"Take and drink," he said, handing it to me.

""I-"

"We're no more stranger Harida. I wouldn't drug you," he said.

"I know," I murmured. "Just that..."

"You're giving excuse. Don't forget what I told you when we met. If you start making it in life, don't feel guilty," he repeated.

The canned drink was still outstretched. "Okay," I said, taking it from him and not planning to drink it.

It seemed, however, when he took the seat by the window that he planned on watching me eat.

"Not to be rude but are you going to watch me eat?"

"Just eat your food. I am not going to convince you this time that you need to eat. Mr Bolaji is back and the commander requested that you both meet. May I even ask what's up with you and her?" He asked. His gaze was piercing despite the distance.

"I was set up."

He raised a brow. "How do you know that?"

"I didn't do it Henry. She said I broke into her room and took a pot."

"Then who did?"

"I'm yet to find out."

*****

I'd done alot of things in life including reading my immediate elder brother's diary and taunting him with it. Also there's me getting carried away by privilleged kids in school and failing that terms exams, forcing grief on my parents because their brilliant daughter got last in class and wouldn't tell them the reason why.

Growing up in a poor background forced you to consider a lot off decisions before going through with them, forced you to think of words before they honked right out of your lips. Been there, done that, and this same reason was why I hadn't told my mother and Maji that I was starting to hate them for not being rich. Cause if they were actually rich, I'd have gotten away with a lot of things— my naive brain had managed to procure. It thought that I'd be able to misbehave and there wouldn't be repercussions. It thought that I wouldn't have even been in a hassle with someone called "the commander" if they were rich.

Older me begged to differ.

Bolaji's study was also his office, so I'd learned, and it was at the second floor by the right wing of the mansion. Highlighted polished floors, navy blue walls and tall book shelves waved us in on our entrance. Did he breathe pulp?

Henry shut the door behind him. He'd insisted I walked in first, and right now, we were both standing at the door until Bolaji asked us both to take a seat.

The chair was so comfortable, like my seat on the aeroplane. But it was about to get uncomfortable if he brought the commander's issue.

"I see you've settled down without issues," he said. Was he kidding? Or was this some kind of investigation trick to see if I'd broken into the commander's room truly?

"The place is nice sir, and thank you for making us comfortable and for trusting me with the job as one of your security aid," I said, like a rewired robot who was sincere, somehow.

However, it was my first time seeing my employer face to face and there wasn't any inclination that he was like my other bosses so far.

"Is she the one?" He asked Henry.

"Yes sir, she is," Henry said, making the boss's eyes return to me.

"Her name?"

"Chikamharida Bick." Henry answered for me.

"From Nigeria?"

"Yes sir."

The boss was silent for sometime before looking at my identity and CV. "Said here that she's a secondary school graduate and a first year University student, recently dropped out," Bolaji said, reading from a white folder I recognized as my CV, then looked at me directly "You know how to read and write right?" He asked.

Seemed like all members of their family got the same type of brown eyes.

"Yes sir," I said, waiting and itchy for him to bring the subject of the commander up. However, he didn't bring it up.

Instead he said, "I see you've bonded with my daughter already."

"We met by coincidence sir. She's a special child," I said. Henry sent me a surprised look. I guess I left that out.

Mr Bolaji affirmed my words with a nod and seemed to be in deep thoughts. He had brown skin and his hair was cut to his scalp, his beard though, were neat and made him look like a pharmacist. He appeared smart, like a businessman and had this easy aura about him. Nothing like the commander was in him and he was her offspring.

"Actually," he said, breaking the silence. I was looking at his nose as he spoke, afraid to meet his eyes. Afraid of him knowing I was a trash. Him not judging me for my lack of qualifications didn't mean he wouldn't for a lot other things.

"You've past the test. What I really want is one who'd look after my daughter. One who'd protect her from my wife. She doesn't like Adele for alot of reasons and I'm afraid something bad may happen one of these days. You're not just a security guard, you're Adele's personal security."

I looked at Henry. He too was at a loss of words and didn't seem to be happy about mtge development. Why was he getting shocked by these things? He referred me, he must have known all these, that I wasn't meant to be a normal security, right?

"She has no military training sir," Henry said.

"She'd be trained. She'd learn. But for now, that makes her more perfect for the undercover job," Mr Bolaji said, taking out a print from his drawer which I assumed to be a contract. "Read through it and sign. To other employees, you're my daughter's nanny, do you understand?" He asked.

"Yes sir."

"And you'll protect her with your life."

"Yes sir."

*****

Henry insisted on following me to my room. His steps were so hard on the floor. Lots of opinons he was holding in and I wondered what they were.

He shut the door behind him. I was already in.

"Would you sign the contract?" He asked.

I sat on the bed, removing my boot and my socks and flinging it on the chair. Then I took the contract from beside me and started reading.

"Of course I will," I said without looking up. "Isn't this job the reason you brought me here."

"It was," Henry said, pulling at his dreads, "-until, until he made you his daughter's bodygua— nanny." He looked at the door. "You want to be his daughter's nanny? Come on Harida, I was joking when I said the job required you loosing a liver. I hadn't meant it."

"I'm not rejecting this job Henry. Why do you want me to refuse it so badly?"

"It's not safe."

"Seriously? That's what you're going to say? You aren't even going to say the reason why it's not safe? Just it's not safe."

Henry let out a harsh breath. He was debating, pulling his hair so hard it should hurt. Then he stopped pacing and turned to me.

"Alright, forget what I said. You can take the job. It's your decision and it's on you if anything should happen. Don't forget that you'd be protecting her with your life," he said then stormed out.

As Henry left, I dropped the contract underneath my pillow. Since he was so obvious about disliking my promotion, who was to say that he wouldn't get rid of it while I was away.

As much as I was trying to understand his anguish with my new role I couldn't, and I hated the fact. Henry, when we'd first met had told me that he was once like me. He told me that determination was everything.

Was he afraid that I'd get shot on the job or that I was afraid of a gun? Come on, I'd been shot at once, and he was there the second time with me in a bus during the drive to Lagos.

He didn't see me retching my guts out at the sound of a gunshot so what was it? Why was he afraid?

As I thought more of it, the gentle rays of sunlight streaming into the room and illuminating everything, creating a good ambience, I picked up the contract again in hope of clarity and I was surprised by the amount I saw. The salary was huge.

But the question remained; would I be able to handle a gun? Could I take ones life at the cost of braids girl? Could I sacrifice my life for hers?

Maybe that was Henry's fear. Maybe he doesn't think I had what it took to protect Adele. From the looks of the salary, I had to prove him wrong.

Mr Bolaji said I'd protect her from his wife. That shouldn't be so hard since from her schedule which was bounded with the contract; she was already homeschooling and I wouldn't only be protecting her from his wife. In fact, I'd protect the young girl from the world. I was getting paid enough to do that.