Daniel was sitting on Monica's sofa watching a movie when his phone started ringing,he took it picking the call without checking the caller's ID

"Chisom!"he heard and took the phone from his ear checking the caller's ID,he winced after finding out it's his mother

"Mom"he replied

"I'm at your apartment and you're not here,I want to talk to you"he's mom said

"Okay I will be there soon"he said ending the call. He stood up immediately locking Monica's door before driving his car to his apartment.

He came down from his car and met his mom standing,the sophisticated dress his mom had on alone proved his mom was out for a business meeting,he acknowledged her and went over to open his door. They both went inside,his mom sat on one of the sofas while he went over to get his mom a drink

"Thank you"his mom said and he nodded

"You said you have something to tell me"he said and his mom smiled

"You were really rude to your dad the last time"his mom said and he groan sitting down

"I don't like the way dad takes Bianca's side,he acts as if I'm not his son"Daniel replied and his mom swallowed

"You know he's doing all this for you"His mom said and he rolled his eyes

"Then I don't want it"Daniel replied and his mom sighed

"Stop saying this Chisom. You know your dad is trying to secure a better future for you"his mom said and he snorted

"Secure a better future? When have he ever let me do what I want?"Daniel asked and his mom sighed

"I'm not here to barter words with you, you should go and apologize to your father"

"I don't want to"Daniel says stubbornly

"Of course you have to. Except you want him to freeze your account. You want to go broke right?"His mom asked and he groan

"Mummy!"he whined

"Don't mummy me and follow me back home"his mom said and he nodded. He stood up and left on his mom's car back to the mansion. They came down from the car and went inside the house

"Sweetheart I am home!"his mom shouted and he rolled his eyes. He saw his dad coming to the sitting room and frown immediately

"Good evening"he greeted his dad

"Evening"his dad replied monotonously

"Big brother!"he heard Precious' voice and went over to carry her.

"Hello sunshine!"Daniel said and Precious giggles

"Settle down let's eat dinner"his mom said and he nodded. He went over to the dining room,Precious and his father joined him in the dining room. Few minutes later his mom joined too and the maid serve them

"Chisom!"his mom called giving him the stink eye while they ate silently. Daniel groan

"I'm sorry dad,for the way I talked back at you"Daniel said and his dad sighed

"You should know whatever I do, I do it for you"Mr Ogechukwu said and Daniel rolled his eyes mentally

"But dad is the marriage important? We can compensate them in another way"Daniel said and Mr Ogechukwu stopped eating

"This indirectly is for your own benefit. Marrying Bianca now will give you power over the two companies,you have no debt to pay and will be able to secure a brighter future for your unborn kids"Mr Ogechukwu said

"Listen to your dad Chisom,it's for our own good and this all I ask of you. You know there's no better woman for you than Bianca"Mrs Ogechukwu says

*

Laying on his old bed and watching the lazy rotation of the fan,the eerie silence added to his thinking as he thought about what his parents talk to him about earlier in the night. He knew his father is only trying to do what's he thinks is best for the family

"Chisom! Whatever you do. Think about this family first, family always comes first"

"Arghh!"Daniel groan. With what his father is implementing he has to forget about Monica. He has to give up on what they have but thinking about that alone, thinking about ending things with Monica gives him a throbbing pain in the heart. He knew he has to take a decision,he knew he will never be satisfied with whatever decision he takes

*

Israel drove Monica back to her apartment,she came down from his car and Israel came down too.

"Thank you, you were so amazing"Monica said smiling

"You're always welcomed"Israel replied and Monica nodded engulfing him in an hug

"I'm sorry for what I did,I know you were expecting a positive outcome"Monica said sighing and Israel sighed

"It's fine,I understand. But if you ever change your mind I'm one call away"Israel said and Monica smiled nodding her head

"Thanks for understanding"Monica says waving him goodbye. Israel went back to his car and drove out of her apartment. Monica went over to her door sighing,she knocked but got no response. She tried opening it but it was locked.

She looked around and found her key on top of the flower pot in front of her apartment,she took the key feeling confused and went over to open the door. She went inside and didn't see Daniel anywhere. She thought he says he was going to wait for her and now she can't find him anywhere.

She sighed and went over to her bathroom to have a nerve calming bathe,she changed to her night gown and took her phone dialling Daniel's contact. It rang several times and he didn't pick up,Monica gave up and went straight to bed

***

Daniel woke up with his prick rising up with him,he yawn and stood up heading to the bathroom to perform his morning rituals,he yawn coming outside remembering he spent the night in his family's mansion. He felt nostalgic and smiled heading to the sitting room, he met his mother arranging the dinning table while Precious played around

"Do you ever sleep long?"Daniel asked roughing her hair, Precious pouted "Aww I'm sorry baby!"

"I don't like anyone roughing my hair"Precious said and their mom chuckled

"She's feisty"Mrs Ogechukwu said and Daniel nodded in agreement

"Is my breakfast ready?"they suddenly heard Mr Ogechukwu's voice and turn around giving him their attention. Mr Ogechukwu was busy adjusting his tie

"Let me help you"Mrs Ogechukwu said and went over to help her husband. Daniel rolled his eyes,this have became a custom between the two couple

They headed to the dining room and had their breakfast,the couple went to work, Precious nanny took her to school and Daniel decided to ride back to his apartment.

He came down from his car and went inside his apartment,he had a mind calming shower and changed to a khaki short and multicoloured shirt,he decided to skip school after checking his daily planner. He had class with Monica and he feels awkward facing her not after thinking of ending everything with her and focused on his already planned life last night.

Daniel groan when he heard his phone ringing,he rubbed his sleeping eyes and took his phone

"What's up man! I didn't see you at school"he heard Jake's voice as soon as he picked the call

"I'm not feeling too good"Daniel half lied

"Okay... I will check up on you later"

"Yeah"Daniel say and the call ended. He suddenly heard a knock on his door and stood up to open it. His emotionless face changes to the one of scorn as soon as his eyes landed on Bianca

"What are you looking for?"he asked menacingly

"Daniel listen to me please"

"No you have cause a lot already"

"I'm sorry please listen to me"Bianca said worriedly and Daniel sighed opening the door wider for her to get inside

***

Walking briskly back to the firm,Lola sighed as soon as the shade hits her. The scorching sun almost burnt her fair skin and she couldn't have any of that. It was supposed to be harmattan season but the sun wasn't having any of it.

She suddenly felt someone holding her wrist,she wriggle her hand away immediately turning to look at the intruder

"What's the meaning of this?"she asked as soon as her eyes landed Fred. Fred crack his throat placing his two hands on his chinos side pocket

"A diamond ring"he muttered and Lola got confused

"What are you doing here Fred?"she asked feeling the adrenal rush in her body. Her anger was slowly rising

"Joel gave that to you?"Fred asked in a mocking manner and Lola got confused

"How do you know Joel?"she asked frowning

"He's a very good friend of mine"Fred replied casually and Lola felt her heart going to a stop

"What do you mean by friends?"Lola asked her heart beating erratically,she only prays she's having a bad dream

"Oh!"Fred bursted into laughter "do you think Joel truly loves you? This was a prank from day one including the ring and meeting up with his parents"Fred said and Lola felt her heart breaking into pieces. She tried controlling the tears threatening to spill out of her eyes

"Why don't I believe you"Lola said trying to maintain a strong voice

"You will be shocked after seeing this"Fred said and brought out his phone showing the picture he took with Joel to Lola. Lola almost lost her balance but she placed her hand on the wall

"What did I ever did to you Fred?! You were the one that broke my heart, I didn't go after you for that but you still do this to me?"Lola asked and Fred chuckled

"You broke off the marriage. You disgraced me in front of my pairs. I still didn't mind and decided to take you back but you had the audacity to reject my offer"Fred said and tears escaped Lola's eyes

"Get out of my sight!"Lola said almost breaking down. Fred chuckled walking away at least Lola was easy than he thought,he didn't stressed much to cause chaos between the two couple.

Lola went back to her office and tried concentrating on her work but she couldn't,she took her phone from her bag calling the first person that came to her mind

"Monica!"she said as soon as she picked up her call. Her emotions all came to live and she found herself breaking down "Monica! Have been played again!"she says bursting into tears

"Where are you?"Monica asked sounding worried

"I'm at work"Lola replied in between tears

"Just come over to the house,I will be going to your apartment immediately"Monica said and Lola nodded before realising she's on call

"Okay"she replied ending the call. She stood up and took her bag leaving the office after lying to her co-workers she's not feeling fine.

She arrived at home knocking on the door,Sarah who was clad on a black bumshort and a tank top busy shaping her fingers heard a knock on the door,she went to open it and met Lola not looking good

"Argh! Sis Lola! What's wrong with you?"she asked and Lola couldn't hold it anymore breaking into tears,her legs gave up on her and Sarah supported her immediately

The door suddenly opened and Monica came in seeing Lola on the floor busy crying,she knelt beside her immediately getting worried

"What happened?"Monica asked

"I have been played Monica! I have been played!"she said bursting into stronger tears

"I don't understand,what happened?"Monica asked patting her back

"Joel.... Joel and Fred are best friend,this was all a game to them"Lola replied. Sarah and Monica got shocked immediately

"This is a deep shit!"