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⭐

Thank you!

Enjoy!!!

Chapter 2

Unedited

"What is your father complaining about?" Mrs George asked washing his hands in the kitchen sink. Soon she was out of the kitchen leaving Gbadamosi alone with Brenda who had stopped by before six for a date that was scheduled for seven.

She had a purple chiffon sleeveless gown on which revealed her cleavages. One of those dangerous dress to keep his eyes glued on on spot. It even had a slit lined up to her thighs.

One you should never wear to a Pastor's house.

Anxiety couldn't make her stay a moment more in the house; she had to see him by all means- Preferably alone! Her disappointment was finding his parents at the house too.

The moment Mrs George left the kitchen, she grinned assuming she did it on purpose as a cue to get them to talk.

Perhaps she wanted them to be alone too!

Gbadamosi grated some carrots while Brenda watched him now leaning dreamily against the kitchen counter. "You're sexy and you're a chef, two combination I want in my dream man"

He instantly looked at the door to see if his mother was coming back in. "Chill! She's gone" she said giggling then she moved close enough to him.

"We're alone sexy" She added and he scoffed, "And I'm a Pastor too, you're always forgetting that"

"No I haven't forgotten. That's insignificant to the conversation we're having at the moment"

"Wow.... That's more like saying my assignment to God is insignificant"

"Don't quote me wrongly Bada, you know what I mean"

"No i don't. What do you mean Brenda?" He stopped grating now focusing on her for some reasonable explanation, of course there won't be any but let him not be accused for not giving the lady a try.

Brenda fumbled through some words but nothing reasonable came out of her lips. "Urgh! Come on, we're alone. You still owe me a hug and we're alone, we can do what.....ever" she dragged her word to his amazement.

Really? He doesn't need a soothsayer to tell him what the "Whatever" implied. Gosh! Is this one listening at all? What part of being a Pastor didn't she get?

Gbadamosi scoffed repulsively while his mother walked in chuckling. "You won't believe why your father was complaining?" She chipped in and Brenda moved back slightly. "What?" She asked with an innocent look almost as though nothing happened.

"Is it not the news he was listening to? The presidential candidates and all" She hissed and Brenda picked up a carrot take a bite out of it while she watched him continue grating, "Bada is a keeper don't you think so?" His mother asked and Brenda smiled biting her lower lips.

"Hundred percent, or how do they say it around here? He's a husband material, millions of yards" "Awwwwn, his head will be swelling like that" Mrs George joked and Brenda busted out laughing.

Bimbo, one of the ushers in Word foundation church pulled out some money from her bag in the room then she walked into the sitting room where Deja was pressing a shirt. "Did you put money in my bag? Cause this money is looking like something I recognize"

"Like how much?" "500 hundred naira, four, hundred naira and two fifty naira"

Deja hissed, "I even thought you're talking about something big. Well, since you said it looks like something you recognize, you can as well keep it." She hissed, "When I said, owo yen, (that money), o looks familiar, I didn't mean the way you are thinking cause I'm sure pe if it was 5,000 naira or let's say fifty thousand naira, you'll claim it's your own and bring out receipt proving you're the owner"

Deja lifted the iron balancing it upright on the shirt then she turned off the switch. "The money does look like you"

Bimbo scoffed, "What I want to say is not good but when I remember 2020 when I gave and rededicated my life to Christ. I'll just weep cause I know that I would have said it's your family's destiny that looks like this money" She snapped raising the fifty naira up looking at it with all manner of seriousness.

"They didn't even put your family picture in the front, it's at the back. It's even your mother that's fishing here, she's on low cut, ah! your father is even assisting her. Family business"

Deja frowned and she glanced at her, "Ah, you can frown, pele, I didn't know" "You know that words get to me easily" "Pele Cinderella, it's me that looks like she hulk, words don't get to easily cause I have thick skin"

"What's your point? You said the money looked familiar, all currency in Nigeria these days looks familiar. I spent a 500 naira note in Abuja over years ago that had the number 1995 on scribbled on it with pen, only to spend It again last year here in Lagos, coincidence or not, I don't care"

Bimbo dropped the money on the pressing table. "I counted this exact money after church service, remember when you were complaining about how people still pay fifty naira as offering and I supported them that afterall, they call it thanksgiving offering, they did not specify boya it's monetary. After all we cannot rob Peter to pay Paul, or in this case, rob peter to pay God"

"Cut to the Chase"

"This was part of the money I gave Chioma to give to those people that always wait for transport. It was three thousand naira. I wanted to dispose off all the small change and all that.... How did it get into my bag?"

"Do I look like Chioma?"

"Maybe they were not up to three as usual and she decided to keep It in my bag. The bolo did not even tell me....Let me call her." She walked up to the extension to detached the charger from the phone but Deja disapproved of it.

"Don't bother. I'm sure there was a mistake somewhere"

"Don't what? Ehn! I can't keep this money, even if my eleda is broke, broker, brokest. Church money? Ah! Even If it's five naira"

"Babe Chill! That wasn't what I meant." She laughed removing her phone from her back pocket then she called Gbadamosi. "What is this one doing?" "Just watch"

"Good evening Sir"

"Good evening Sister Deja"

"How are you Sir, I hope I wasn't disturbing your sleep or something. I was kind of skeptical about calling, I'll feel guilty if I was disturbing a prayer"

Bimbo's palm suddenly rested underneath her chin as she stared at her in shock, "You weren't bothering me at all" Gbadamosi replied, "And you're not saying that because you're trying to make me feel better"

"No. We're about to have dinner" "We?" "Family. What's going on? Spill"

"Huh.... Apparently, I found some money"

"Ah! Lenu e...(From your lips?)" She muttered.

Deja cleared her throat, "Bimbo and I found some money, we think it's offering money, I think Sister Chioma mistakenly dropped it in our bag without informing us"

"I've not kukuma called the sister chioma" Bimbo whispered and Deja shot a glare at, "Shhh!" She mouthed.

"That's not a problem, you're head of ushering, you can have it resolved with the finance department, Just call Deacon Daniel"

"Sure... I felt bad that's all.... Really bad about it"

"Hey... It's fine, I appreciate that you could call back. You're a wonderful soul" "Thank you Sir" She replied blushing, "Um... I'll have it sorted out right now, how is the evening Sir"

"Urgh!" He groaned, "Fine"

"I won't want to believe that my Pastor is lying to me"

Gbadamosi laughed, "I'm fine. Thank you, and I hope your mom is doing better." "High blood pressure flees at the mention of Jesus, you prayed and I've been praying. She's doing great"

"Extend my greetings to her then. Good night"

"Good night Sir" She bowed her head ending the call then Bimbo scoffed, "Ah! You lied to your own pastor," "It wasn't exactly a lie, Mom has high blood pressure"

"Shebi you're the one that gave her the high blood pressure" She whispered, "Excuse you?" "That's not even the one I'm talking about. The money!"

"It's the the truth to my favour. Abeg free me, I'm doing this for a just course"

"Justice constantine weldone, you didn't tell me your were studying criminal lie and justice. Lenu e... (In your mouth). Micheal Jackson did not see anything and he was singing you leave me speechless, what if wakes up from the dead and see you, he will release the remix version"

"You're exagerating it"

"Exagerrating you say? I am speechless, Angel Micheal is speehless, the Holyhost inside of you just flew out" She point at the door, "He's telling me to open the door that Iro yen ti poju, imole ati okunkun o le sise papo! (The lie is too much light and darkness can't work together). They cannot even comprehend together. Deja let me shock you, should I shock you? Even God is speechless. Kanipe God is man... Kai! The isrealite did not do more than this that God said he will destroy them with flood"

"Get your facts right. The isrealites were not in existence then, i should know as the Pastor's wife that I'm gonna be" She gloated and Bimbo raised her nose in disbelief.

"Kaare (Weldone) Pastor Mrs Adejare, Pele, She o binu o sha ( I hope you were not angry)"

"It's just my way of getting close to him, I haven't sacrificed five years of my life to stay an usher forever. I want more, I want him to notice me, but he's just acting blind and just hearing about that one that came today. Mehn i'm just angry"

"That Oyinbo that was just doing shin shin shin everywhere"

"I just hope it isn't true. If it's not Pastor, i don't want, the man is just the perfect man for me, he has the looks, this man cares about my family, he visited Mom when she was sick"

"He's a Pastor, what do you expect? He does the same for everyone"

"You don't understand, he comes through for me everytime, I've never seen anyone like him"

"Wonder Wonder, Wonder Wonder, Pele oh, so he's now God in your life, always coming through for you, Mercy Chinwo!"

"You don't understand! I've sacrificed too much abeg!" "You've sacrificed too much... Even Jesus that did the sacrifice is not making noise like this, what is five years gan? Is it his fault? Are you not the one that has been wasting time?" She paused imitating her, "I've sacrificed too much" She hissed walking away while dailing Chioma's number on her phone.

"I'll remind you when I become Mrs Adejare Gbadamosi George"

"I have better things to think of. Hello Chioma, you no try at all"

"I'll remind you!"

After dinner Gbadamosi walked Brenda and her parents out of his house. The excitement he felt was out of the world! The should do and go! The only thing her parents spent the whole evening doing was bragging about their investment on Brenda.

"Even the bible said we should lay riches for our children and that is what I've done, your father has done it, so will you for you children"

Have they ever heard of spiritual investment?

"Gbadamosi, I have to admit, you have a nice place." "Thank you Sir" "Maybe someday I'll come swimming" Brenda chipped in giving him a sensual look and he rolled his eyes.

Swimming where? Mtchew!

"When are we going to do this again?" Mrs Arolowo asked and Gbadamosi scoffed within. He didn't feel like doing anything again! This one should just be the last dinner, let everyone rest.

"We really enjoyed the dinner you made" "Thank you Ma" "This way we're so sure that our daughter is in the right hand"

Gbadamosi had no choice but to raise his brow in shock. Did he miss something? When did he ask their daughter out for them to be so sure their daughter is the right hand.

It was the last thing he needed that moment; silly assumptions till the point of them planning his wedding without his consent! Is he not in Africa again? You need to have a shock absorber to absorb a lot from African parents cause those people can shock their children for a living!

As If there's someone paying them at the other end for it. He won't be put in this situation, no!

Gbadamosi cleared his throat, he was ready to end all this rubbish and whatsoever might be growing in their minds, yes he was that direct. "I don't understand what you guys meant by your daughter Is in" "Don't mind him jare... " His mother interrupted him now giving him a familiar look.

"Gbadamosi is just joking. Maybe we'll fix dinner some other time"

Gbadamosi tightened his fist, he could hear a voice saying 'End this now, end this now before it gets too late!' But Mrs George kept on winking at him. "I'm sure my son will want to thank you all for coming. Oya Gbadamosi" She chipped in scratching her hair and he faked a smile at her.

"Of course Mom.... Of course"

Mrs George walked into her son's sitting room along with her husband to defend her in case Gbadamosi gets angry. She found her son pacing left and right so she cleared her throat to get his attention. "Your father and i will be leaving now"

"Oh really?"

"Yes. Abi, do you want us to stay here?"

"No, maybe Dad, not you"

She scoffed, "Next time you want to preach honour your father and mother to your congregation, just don't bother" His mother feigned hurt, another emotional blackmail to escape what had just happened.

"Good night. Honey let's go"

"What does the next verse say Mom? Fathers do not provoke your children." "Thank God it said fathers, mothers are left to do the provocation"

Mr George laughed. Good point!

"Mom, I'll give you honour from now till the day you die, even after your death I'll give you your last honour"

"I'm not comfortable with you talking about my death. I'm too young to die"

"Don't avoid the topic Mom, what was that for?"

Her eyes scattered around, "What was what for?" "Don't even pretend like you don't know what i mean Mom, all those in law clingy thing you were doing. This is not some African magic movie"

"Oh. I'm very much aware dear. Are they not our prospective in laws? Niyi, talk to your son oh"

"Don't even involve me" Mr George raised his hands then he took his seat on the couch now staring at his wife who now had her hands on her chest, feigning hurt for being deserted by him just when he needed her the most. "I shouldn't involve you, when i was saying it at home, you didn't dispute it"

"Did i say anything? Mummy Gbadamosi, did i say anything. Shebi, bi mo se njoko wo e titi ti o fi se gbogbo eto niyen, se mo soro? (Shebi, that was how i just sat staring at you till you concoted all the plans, did i speak?)"

"Ah! Oya, Why didn't you say something against it?"

"So that you will use emotional blackmail on me shey?"

"Congratulations, E ti so mi di, Queen of emotional blackmail (You've turned me into Queen of emotional blackmail)"

"I love you Baby but it's always your last resort."

"Don't add Baby me into this matter, I'm offended"

Another emotional Blackmail!

"Shebi i told you that Gbadamosi is a grown up man who can make his own decision." "I thought you said you didn't say anything, if you were in the court of law, they would have just debunked this your new testimony"

"No arguments in my house please.... When you guys get to your house, you can argue and play love there"

Mr George laughed and his wife wondered what he found amusing. "What's funny?" She asked and he laughed, "Number one, the fact that the last women's day programme in church, I overheard you advising the women to always allow their children make their choices in life, especially when it comes to marital matters and two, my life will be boring if I didn't have someone like you here with me"

Mrs George gushed, she would have reacted to the first statement but the second has manage to melt her heart. "Don't try to corner your way out of this jhoor. See, i am just a mother trying to help her son"

"In what way Mom? Forcing me to get a wife of your choice? All those stunts you pulled today, just like I said in the morning, if it repeats itself another time, I won't be this gentle. Don't use the fact that I'm a Pastor to step on my toes every time, because you know I won't say a word" Gbadamosi glared at her and she moved closer to him, "Eh come and beat me now, kukuma come and use long cane and beat me because I'm trying to be a mother. Wo, i am not forcing you to get married but I'm trying to open your eyes to the essence of having a woman in your life and i feel it my guts, i feel it that that special woman is Brenda"

Her son scoffed throwing his face towards the wall. "You of all people know very well that this isn't a matter of guts, if it were, you would have fasted and prayed about it. You're letting your wish cloud your judgement, why don't you let God lead you?"

"If you don't want me in your face Gbadamosi, do the needful and get yourself a woman" She snapped walking towards the door, "I don't want a woman, i want a wife!"

"Whatever makes you sleep at night!" She snapped banging the door against them.

Gbadamosi exhaled now staring at his father, "Have you seen Mom?" "I know right, she has man hands. She bangs the door way too loudly, me, I've been saying it that one-day, she'll go to someone's house a break the person's door and the bill will be on her"

"That wasn't what i meant"

"Eh now, me too, I'm also laying my complains, the door banging is a major issue we have to look into and she even forgot she came with her handbag"

Gbadamosi chuckled taking a seat close to him then he exhaled tiredly, "I seriously don't want to laugh Dad" "Me too, I'm also being serious. Just be patient with her, you know that she's getting old and she wants grandchildren, your brothers don't look like people that will marry soon and I also want grandchildren too, no pressure my boy. I still look young but, I'm getting old"

"Ahhh, yes sure no pressure but the words itself are heavily pregnant wit pressure " he muttered sarcastically provoking laughter from his father's mouth.

"I want to marry right"

"Very important! Don't blame your mother sha, we are going to be marking our aniversary soon and It's 37 years of joy and there are lots of pressure on her too from friends and family. She will just be talking about her anniversary and someone will just be like, ehya, another wedding anniversary without grandchildren, what are your children doing?"

Gbadamosi creased his brow, "Who said that?" "You don't want to know. How much longer you wish to stay single is your business but bear with her, keep creating excuses for her outburst. Maybe it's menopause" he joked and they both laughed.

"Do you have someone?"

Gbadamosi shook his head and then he laughed, "You mean of all the beautiful single women in church, you haven't seen anyone?" "No. I don't feel anything for them"

"Remember in the book of Mark 8 when Jesus spat into the blind man's eyes and asked him what he saw and he said I see men as walking as trees. I think your spirituality is so much at it's peak now that you're seeing women as trees walking"

Gbadamosi laughed, "They're not my priority, God's work is my ultimate concern" "Don't take this the wrong way but you obviously won't get physically married to God, he ordained marriage for a purpose. So haven't you seen any pretty woman at all?"

"Huh ...." He trailed off as a picture of Kilahi flashed in his mind then he laughed. Why did the image flash through his mind sef?

"God hasn't said anything yet" "Sometimes he wants you to make a move first, like Chess" "I don't think this about the move, I don't want to marry wrongly"

"Brenda is a good woman, we've known this girl since she was baby"

"Still Dad, I feel there's more to this story than this."

Kilahi laid in bed in front of her laptop applying for jobs when the Gbadamosi's words resounded in her head;

You're not a disgrace child, that's not from me, it's God speaking. He's about to change you life, good things are coming, I hear the Lord say he's opening doors and something good is about to walk through the door.

"That Pastor is definitely handsome" Sewuese commented scrolling through the church page, this was accompanied by a grimace from Kilahi, "Dan boro uba!" She snapped in hausa.

Just when she was thinking of what the man said. This kind of coincidence sef!

"Besides, some shared the church service from today, I was just looking through pictures" She bumped into Kilahi's picture then she smiled, "They posted your picture too"

"Huh?" She quickly dragged the phone looking at it and how many likes it had, it was just one. "My lips were not even closed, why will they post it? I feel like I've spoilt the picture for everyone"

Sewuese dragged her phone back, "It's fine! I like it, let me save it since you don't like taking pictures" "Why will take it? Only one person liked the picture sef!"

"Oh. It's even Pastor Gbadamosi that liked it"

"Shebi it's his church? People are wicked, they didn't see people to snap around, look at the way my mouth was" She hissed. "Why are you doing like Mumu like this? Are you not also human?"

"The man is good looking, has style. I meant it in the holiest way ever. The man is a servant of God, I don't have any dirty thoughts buried in my mind, duh! I have a boyfriend. I'm just saying if the man wasn't a Pastor, and I wasn't seriously dating someone, I'll be shooting love bullets at him"

"Where's your dignity?"

"You're just forming like Odechi (impenetrable) as though the guy isn't fine"

"You said it already, he's a man of God."

"He's fine right?"

"Yes. Are you happy? He's not bad looking, if the man is a swimming coach, someone's daughter will be drowning everyday so she can receive daily CPR" Kilahi commented and Sewuese gasped.

"Was it so bad to admit it? He's God's creation, let's admire him"

"Funny i was just thinking of him"

Sewuese cleared her throat looking away then towards her, "Say what?" "Don't be so childish Sewuese, how old are you? I was just thinking of what he said in church. It's not as if the guy will ever know i exist. I'm never showing up again and PS, he's not even my type"

"You don't even have a type"

"Madam! Can you just let me land before you kill me,"

"What's your type?"

"Good question, God-fearing men, a man that respects a woman's opinion, men that listen and any man that can make me feel less pathetic about myself, a man they will love my body structure the way it is but God hasn't structured such DNA in any man yet so....I'm going to die single"

"How are you all these qualities are not in Pastor Gbadamosi? After all the man is single"

"He is?"

"Yes"

Kilahi scoffed, "Even more reason why he's dangerous, he's handsome, single Pastor. The devil loves using those people, all the choristers must have gone in and out"

"Killi!"

"Why are we making this man a topic? I was only thinking of what he said... When he said something good was going to walk into my life"

Sewuese pointed at her sticker again, "All things are possible baby! All we just have to do is dream, pray and watch God move things in our favour. Who art thou mountain before Zerubabel" "Not when the mountain is my face. I've been praying, and praying for God to a face reconstruction"

"Babe... Things will get better soon, I'm just glad you finally agreed he was talking about you. You heard the accuracy in the word of knowledge, just have faith"

"Sewuese!" Mrs Adzer called out from the sitting room and she patted Kilahi's cheeks before leaving the room.

Kilahi looked up at the ceiling, "If that word truly was for me Lord, why do I feel empty, why do I get disgraced every now and then? Why do people toss me away like I mean nothing" Tears welled up trickling down.

"Why do they call me Ugly? You spoke to me many years ago, you said I was created for a great purpose then you abandoned me, my parents died and no matter what I want to forget but I'm still hurts" She placed her palm on her chest sobbing quietly.

"It still hurts and it's not fair. I didn't deserve it, no one does"

Tuesday Morning

"Daddy!" Kilahi jerked from her sleep, she stared at Sewuese who was sleeping soundly then she exhaled laying back in bed. Tears ran down her eyes down to her ears.

Manny's phone rang while he was sleeping, he instinctively reached for the phone, but instead, his hands grasped his bible where he usually place his phone on. He sighed in frustration finally opening his eyes to see the phone where it laid close to the Bible. "God!" He cried out before snatching it up, it had stopped ringing.

He gazed at his phone and the phone rang again, it was an unknown number! "Hello, good morning" he greeted waiting to hear the voice from the other end if it'll be a familiar voice, maybe a phone number he forgot to save.

He won't want to offend anybody by asking,'Who am i unto to?'

"Good morning Manny?" She greeted, "This is Manny right?" "Yeah. Is it" "When i got the number, i had my doubts since you're the Almighty Manny" "Wait.... Almighty wise Manny? Can we drop the exaggeration?"

"You think I'm exaggerating?" She asked and he tried to decipher who the voice belongs to. He hears people's voice for a living, how in the world is he going to decipher this one?

He had no choice but to ask, "I'm sorry but who am i unto to?" "It's me Hilary, the one who called"

"Oh" he paused then momentary panic fluttered in his chest, what could have made her call so early in the morning? Another suicide attempt? He hopes not!

"Hey Hilary.... Is everything okay? It's barely 5:30" "Yes. I'm sorry for disturbing your sleep. I couldn't sleep, i have been awake since last night.... I wanted to call much earlier but I didn't want to bother anyone."

"Okay..... Are you okay? Were you having suicidal thoughts?"

"No. Not really. I just needed someone to speak to, I was just bothered about some things and for a moment I was depressed."

Manny exhaled, "Okay. You know what? Um..... Why don't you stop by at the studios today? I'll be much available to speak to you then" "Really?" "Yes. Definitely, will you be chanced?"

"Are you being serious?"

"Why will i joke about something like that? It's something i do sometimes, it's not a first and it won't be a last. So, will you be opportune to come?"

"Yeah.... Sure, that'll be very nice. I'll just squeeze through my schedule and.... and uh..... come over."

"Super"

"Thank you Sir"

"Just call me Manny"

"Yes Sir, Manny, Yes Manny"

"Great then! See you later"

"You too" she ended the call and Manny dropped his phone exhaling loudly, "God, is there something I'm supposed to say to her or do? I know I'm not the regular Pastor but you can help me with words cause this is a sensitive issue and i don't want to speak on my term"

Revive Foundation

Mrs Aishia☝

Temi entered into her colleague's office where she was busy conversing with a lady that was crying at that time. "Oh" she cleared her throat after the woman turned to her with tears in her eyes. "I'll come back" "No Miss Coker, you walked in just in time"

"In time for what?" Temi cringed in thought, this left her curious, what could they have been talking about? Could have been related to her? How come? For crying out loud, the other lady in question was crying.

It definitely has to be a very sensitive issue. But what can it be? She thought to herself.

"I'll take my leave now"

"It's okay Ma. It's gonna be fine, we'll look forward to making sure we find a way to get justice"

"Thank You" she replied, picked up a black hand bag from the table then Temi watched her slowly walked out of the office in dejection. "Are you sure it's safe for her to leave like this? She looks like she'll faint any moment from now"

Mrs Akinlade shrugged, "I won't blame her, anyone in her shoe will be traumatized" "Geez!" Temi exclaimed, curious about her comments, what kind of shoe is wearing? She shifted the chair before sitting on it.

"Was she ..... raped?"

"No." She replied sharply staring at her and she blinked twice, "You said i was just in time, for what?"

"It's a sensitive issue"

Just like she thought!

"What kind?"

"Her husband has been forcing her daughter"

Temi shut her eyes for a while then she rolled her eyes, "How old is she?" "Ten" "God! All these step fathers of today just can't keep their zippers on" she commented and Mrs Aisha responded with a scoff, "Step father kor, it's the girl's father, like biological father"

"What the hell? This is unacceptable, he should be arrested and jailed. The girl must traumatized, we should bring her in to access her mental damage"

"Yes. We just want to be quiet ad possible but the man wants trouble, I'll show him I didn't study law to fold my hands and watch perverts like him ruin people's lives." She groaned in exasperation.

"There's just a lot on my plate, one of our hardworking staff left the NGO, Friedah, she called, she said she had a better opportunity. She didn't have the decency to look me in the eye. I'm looking for a replacement ASAP"

"You are?"

"Yes. Someone proficient, it doesn't matter the field the person studied, as long she's nice, a lady preferably, not all these fake people that go around looking for who to deceive" "Wow.... Um..." She paused surprised at how God works.

"I know someone, I haven't known her for long but she's a sweetheart. She has this warm spirit"

"Is she a computer literate?"

"I don't know. I'll find out and let her know"

"You can send in her contact to the secretary afterwards. We'll message her the time and venue for interview"

"Sounds great."

"Miss Coker?"

"Yes Ma?"

"I'm not going to give her preferential treatment because of our relationship, it's going to be strictly by merit"

"Sure"

Ade☝

Gbadamosi sat still in his office, his gaze was on one of his usher whose hands were folded in anger, "Today is counselling, if you have something to say, say it. Even if I'm the one that made you angry. Spill, what's wrong with you. Don't hold grudges"

"I have complains about Sunday service" "What happened?" "We took long, the longer we stay, the longer I stand, when I'm not standard bank. But that's by the way cause at 11 o clock I joined the congregation and sat down, we cannot come and die from standing too much. Who did we offend?"

"So what's the main complain?"

"Before Chief Usher will report me, I say let me kukuma come and report myself, I'm surprise the matter hasn't been filed on your table yet. On Sunday a woman behind me fell on the floor on my watch. I know it's normal for them to fall. I allowed her fall intentionally. Simple halleluyah that you shouted from the altar, Aunty was already falling under anointing. I was like Aunty if you fall, you're falling at your own risk. Abi are you the only on that always fall under anointing, abi me that I'm doing ushering duty, anointing does not always hold me. Emi na (Me too), I fall under anointing but I control it, Iwo naa (You too) control your own. I mean Nigeria is too hot for people to be falling all around. I mean we are all going through a lot, this country Is showing us Shege back to back and we are slowly advancing to pro max. Ah! someone should not come and carry her own shege and add to my own. If i can carry my own shege and give to somebody to hold for minutes pere(only), I'll be happy. After all we are all casting our sheges on God, even though we're still feeling it, we believe he's in control"

Gbadamosi witheld his laughter, "Is that all?"

"I think you might want to reconsider hiring one the Angels to be catching these people. Last month, somebody fought with me and removed the button of my shirt. On Sunday, it's my finger that broke, because our Medusa of a Chief Usher decided to turn me into stone from her look and I tried raising the woman up. Even ten Hulk okogans cannot lift that woman and I broke my fingernails. Nails that I've been nurturing for months"

"Is that all?"

"Yes Sir"

"Were you forced into being an usher"

"No. I just wanted to stand and look pretty, I never thought breaking my finger was part of the job description"

Gbadamosi laughed, "God help me with this guys... Do you want to quit?" "No, my boss is a bitch too but I'm yet to quit so... Why should I quit? It's God's job" "Exactly, if you're expecting men to reward you, you'll be disappointed likewise if you complain on the job, you get minimal or no reward. Give your best in all you do always"

Ade exhaled, "I just wanted to get it off my chest cause the next time someone will fall on me, I'll push the person"

"Ade!"

"Just kidding" He laughed placing both hands on his desk, "Papa?" "Huh?" "Are you getting married to the girl from Sunday service? What's her name sister Brenda"

"Jesus! Where did you get that from?"

"Esope? (You say?)" He asked feigning oblivion now looking at the wall clock, 8:34 am. "Ade" "Ah, is that the time? I don't want to be late for work. Have a nice day Sir" He replied picking some valentine's day flyers then he left the office.

Gbadamosi hissed, "Ad...."

It had to be Tega! The whole church must be buzzing about it!

Deja walked in dressed in a blue gown, "Should I have him suspended? Just say the word" "No. Are you having issues heading the department?" "No. Bimbo and Ade are my number one headache, if not that she's my best friend, I don't know what I would have done"

Gbadamosi laughed, "Bimbo is another character... Sometime I wonder how they both decided to work in the same unit" "Same here Sir. I mean, being with them, heading this department has taught me a whole lot, I am now a better version of myself, I pray regularly not just for myself or people in my department, I also pray for others just like Paul encouraged in the book of ...."

"Exactly! That's good"

"I've been studying too, and growing patient everyday."

"You still need to work on your anger, I can see it. That's a message from God, work on it"

Deja almost rolled her eyes, nothing gets past this God sha! "It's just the department weighing me down but God knows that judging from where I started from till now, I've seen tremendous change and I owe this to the best Pastor ever!"

Gbadamosi chuckled, "You'll make me blush now" "Feel free to blush, it's we we" "Yeah.... Thank you Deja, for staying with me all these years... You were one of my first members, it's five years now"

I don't want your thank you, just put a damn ring on my finger! She snapped within, Shit! God better not be ministering her mind to him!

"Are you going to work?"

"Yes. I came to get the Valentine sticker and flyers. I saw It on the group chat and I posted it on my status. I better start evangelizing, every soul must be in church on Valentine's day!"

Gbadamosi laughed, "As if it's possible! Some people will not want to give up date night for church service" "I'll pray heavily that everyone I invite honours the invitation.

She was trying too hard!

She picked one of the fliers up, "I don't like the color mixture"

"There are varieties"

"Okay. I'll share this with the whole of my heart" She packed a whole lot, "Have a nice day Sir" "You too, God bless you" "Amen" She said walking towards the door then she turned towards him laughing nervously, "That reminds me, Tega was talking about you getting married to that lady that came yesterday."

He rolled his eyes grunting in disapproval, "How true is that?" "No. Brenda is a childhood friend and acquintance" "Oh" She smiled within, "I was even thinking..." "Don't be quick to make assumptions"

"I'm really sorry."

"How's your Mom?"

"Fine, thanks for always asking. Bye Sir" She left the office smiling. Then she frowned on glancing at the flyers and sticker she packed.

How in the world is she going to distribute this at work????

Sefa hunch over her mother's sewing machine where Kilahi was seated. She watched her unloose the clothes she had sown incorrectly. She had a material she wanted her to sew so she had to come humbly.

"Good morning Aunty Kilahi"

"What do you want?" Kilahi asked in frustration now wiping some sweat off her chin. "If it's food you want, I cooked already"

"It's not the food"

"I know you've come to look for trouble so, let me just save you the stress, I'm really not in the mood to listen to you say trash about me" She aligned the dress on the machine then she placed her leg on the pedal now paddling it.

"When have I ever said trash about you?" She asked and Kilahi scoffed hemming the entire length of the fabric"

"Are you ignoring me?"

She grunts, stopping all she was doing. "Sefa, can you just let me be?" "Well, I need a favor from you. There's this style I want you to sew, i saw it on Instagram and I instantly fell in love with it!" She explained now removing a red sequence material from a bag.

"Where did you get cash to buy sequence?"

"I hustled as per the last born that I am. I would have asked you for money but I know you don't have"

Kilahi scoffed, "Really?" "I didn't mean it that way" "Message the style to me via WhatsApp, I'll see what I can do about it. When do you need it?"

"Awwwn thank you. I need it for Valentine's day. I have a date"

"Huh? Wait, Valentine's day ke?"

"Yes Aunty Kilahi, Valentine's day. I won't be surprise if you have forgotten there's a thing called Valentine's day? It's in one week time" "Oh" she paused rolling her eyes.

Valentine's day has always been the worst time in her life, it makes her feel like a lonely bunch.

All she does is watch people talk about how their dates went while she ends up being the one to attend church programs only! That's how she ever spends her Valentine.

Not like it's a bad thing but when church event requires plus one, she's always alone!

Nonsense!

"You don't have a date bah?"

"I don't even have a boyfriend. Who cares about a date?"

"Even I have a date and I'm just eighteen years. So In other words, you don't have a date for Valentine?"

"Did I mention anything about looking for a date?"

"No but at least someone must have asked you out on a date."

Kilahi rolled her eyes, "Don't even piss me off Sefa, don't you have things to do?" "Like what?"

Like passing Jamb and getting admission into a tertiary institution! She answered within, she couldn't say it out because she knew how much it'll hurt her. After all, it's not her fault that the stake to study Law is high in Nigeria! Just like it's not her fault that she's still single, even though Sefa finds every moment to pick on her for it.

"Like visiting your friends, brushing your teeth"

"So my mouth is smelling?"

"Yes of insults, it stinks, really bad. Go and meet your friends"

"You're not wrong about that" She responded dropping her material on the sewing machine but she shoved it off to a stool. "Are you not too young to be dating too?"

"No. The truth is, I look at you and get scared. I don't want to be 27 and still in my parent's house, at least Aunty Sewuese had a boyfriend . Some of us want to have two children at that age not sitting down by the sewing machine everyday waiting to get called up for a job." She paused and Kilahi blinked her eyes, she could almost hear bells ringing in her head, Gbagan! Gbagan!! Gbagan!!!

"But Aunty Kili.... You know you should be outside searching for jobs bah? Toh, even if you find a man that'll marry you today, he won't want to marry a liability without a job. My advise is that you get a job or rent a shop to further sew people's cloth, cause the only customer you'll ever get here in this house is me, Sewuese and Mom"

"Jesus!!!" Her mother yelled from behind, "Is it your elder sister you're speaking to that way"

"No. My cousin"

Aunty Mabel raised her hand to slap her but she dodged running behind Kilahi, "Aunty Mabel, just leave her" She said out loud but deep deep down, she wanted her to be beaten to stupor!

Maturity will not allow her!

"What kind of person are you? They'll beat you one day and I promise to be quiet about it." "I'm sorry Mom, the person I was talking to didn't even say a word"

"Will you get the hell out of my sight before I lose it! Or else you wont like what I'll do to you" She screamed and Sefa ran off. Kilahi rolled her eyes then she exhaled tightening her fingers.

"Abi what kind of human being have i given birth to like this?"

"Aunty, dont sweat it"

"One slap will reset her brain"

"Aunty! It's fine." She snapped and her Aunt raised her brow at her, "Really?" "Okay, quite frankly it's not fine but it's her house I'm living in" "You know i hate it when you say that! Isn't it your house too?"

Kilahi paused in thought to her Aunt's amazement, "Well.... technically, it's not my.." "You shut up!" She snapped then she busted into Igede, "Have i ever treated you unfairly? Has there ever been a time where i treated you differently from my children?" She paused switching to English.

"I've been a mother to you, my husband and i have never treated you badly, we took you to the same school as the rest, we paid your fees because we love you as though you came out from our loins."

"Wait... i didn't mean to hurt you"

"How can you say something like that,for crying out loud Kilahi, you're my blood and I've always"

"Mom! I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way"

Aunty Mabel smiled, "You just called me Mom" "I...." Kilahi paused then she laughed, "I guess i did." She added then she sniffled. "I didn't mean what i said" "You did. You always mean what you say" she moved closer then she folded her hands, "You know this house is also yours right? It's Technically, legally, geographically and all the lly, yours"

"So i guess i can sell it without you guys getting angry right?"

Aunty Mabel nodded placing her hands on Kilahi's cheek, "Sure, then we can happily live under the bridge as one big happy family" she replied sarcastically and they both busted out laughing. "My pretty Kilahi"

"Let's not go there Aunty, I'm all but pretty"

"Aunty? I'm disappointed, what happened to Mom?"

Kilahi arced her brow, "Baby steps" "A mother can dream" she concluded laughing at herself for having such high expectations. Then she heaved a sigh, "How's the job search going?" "Horrible. I have submitted my cv but no one's calling me up"

"Maybe you should just open up a fashion shop, you don't have to worry about paying, George and i were talking about it this morning. There's this building they're working on across the street, the one that belongs to our friend, Emeka. All you have to do is go for six month training to perfect all this talent"

"It's not what i want to do, besides i have a bet to win"

"Huh? What bet?"

Kilahi blinked her eyes, where will she even start from? Not like she wanted to involve her in the whole agenda between she and her bestie. Either ways, she needs to change the topic before Aunty Mabel starts to insist, so she scratched her neck. "Six months is too long, i just finished NYSc and... i just want a white collar job"

"The labour market is very stiff"

"And they say I'm pessimistic. Who's the pessimistic one now?"

Aunty Mabel nodded in agreement, "You're completely right. Why don't you want to work in Mr Peter's firm where you worked after secondary school? The man is a good man, an elder in his church" "Elder kor. He's not an option, I'll just die of more low self esteem, that man contributed to my issues"

"How?"

"Long story Ma"

Aunty Mabel's eyes widened in fear, "Did he try anything stupid? I swear to God" "No but he did say stupid and damaging words that are beyond repairs. See, even if worst comes to worst. Mr Peter is not an option so let's just drop this conversation. I have to get back to what I was doing"

"Toh, are you driving me away?"

"Aunty!"

"Okay now. You know... Kilahi, i remember those days when your spiritual life was sound, even as a child, your mom will talk about how dedicated you are to God's things, how you will pray about something and God will bring it to past. How you will go down on your knees and bring things to past, as a kid. Remember that day you told me that I shouldn't worry, that i'll my job and I did. We thought it was a rambling of a kid but it wasn't it was like God respected your words. What happened?"

"The accident happened"

"God saved your life"

"I don't want to talk about it okay? Can we not? You know I don't like talking about it yet you love bringing it up"

Aunty Mabel raised her hands, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you need to speak about your childhood" "Aunty...please" "I'll be stepping out for a bit then" She picked up her purse leaving the house then Kilahi exhaled in frustration.

Brenda stepped into Gbadamosi's office dressed in a blue crop shirt and a black trousers, once again, her cleavages were on exposure. "Good afternoon Bada? How are you?" She didn't wait to hear his response when she added, "You look stressed, let me ease you of that stress" She walked towards him and he rose up shaking his head.

"What are you doing?"

"I promise not to bite"

"Have some respect for God"

"For what? Wanting to give you a massage, where's the harm in that? Where's the sin that?" She asked looking up at him, "Why don't you give me an answer Pastor, Is it a sin?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I heard It's counselling day so I came so you can advise me on what to do. I'm having some difficulties" "What kind of difficulties?"

Brenda bit her lower lips, "What do you advise when all i see is doing unholy things to a man that has sworn to be consecrated to God? How do I steal a man who's heart that has been devoted to Divinity? I'm jealous of God, I need deliverance Bada, lay your hands on me"

What do you guy think about the Chapter and the characters?😁

Gbadamosi's situation nko?

Guess who will be a supporting character in this book? 🤔🤔

You gat it alright! Bamidele Jones and AmazingGrace!!💃💃💃

Who's excited.... When it played out it my head... I was surprised and excited too! 😁

More incoming! 😉

Good day guy!!

Don't forget to vote! ⭐