FARIDA

"Aww, cutie. Smile for mama." I state as Storm runs to me, playing with my feet.

"Did you miss me?" I ask, stroking her cheeks. The look in her eyes give me the response I wanted.

"No hellos for me?" Bukky asks with a warm smile.

"Mi amor." I jokingly say in a twisted Spanish accent and she laughs, shaking her head.

"Ode!" She retorts. She is on leave, hence her availability to care for my baby. Else, she'd have created a mess here in the house. I should get her own cattery for her.

Storm is my cat and no, I was not pregnant neither did I have a baby for that jerk face. I just had severe case of food poisoning that was treated. The stress I had gone through at that point delayed my period. It was a huge relief when the results of the test were out. I mean, I fell terribly ill and was in severe pain but in comparison to being pregnant for him.

"How was today?"

"Boring." She says with a yawn, slapping her hands across her mouth.

"Well, asides your cat disturbing my many attempts at sleeping." She states and as if on cue, Storm meows and does a cute face, looking between the both of us.

"Shey this one understands English ni?" We both laugh and I hand her the pack of food I got for her on my way home.

"You want to bribe me? I like this bribe." After she leaves, I tend to the fur cutie before finally retiring to sleep. Today has already been tiring.

Tamara is still not home because baby girl is shopping. Danish people go hear am. According to her. Her trip is just for a few days but shes shopping the whole of Lagos as if shes never coming back. That girl! She's influencing for a travel agency and they have decided to sponsor her trip to showcase how best they can spoil their clients if they subscribe to their services.

For the past 3 years, my life has been peaceful. I mean, nobody expects an asset in the Oil and Gas industry to quit and reject offers from other companies. I was too much of a Madam Yeni loyalist take those other offers, even though they were very juicy ones. After all, she did not cause the quitting so it was just right I respected her enough not to. Plus, most of them were her tough competitions and owned majorly by people who did not think twice before looking down on her.

She came. She begged me. She apologized on that idiot mans behalf. She did not even know what he did. She kept asking me. My pride would just not let me go back there. Yeah, call it anything. I needed to stamp that fact on his face. He might have been one of the good ones, sexually, it does not mean that is a rule book that states they are of the best manners. Very ill-mannered man.

It was as though I saw this day coming because my investments and business were the walls I fell back on. They were the reasons I could make that decision without flinching. All I needed to do was get more involved and of course, reveal the face behind the businesses. The patronage became more when I revealed myself and to be honest, most of them admired me because they thought I quit to focus on my businesses. If only they knew the actual reason, the person who provoked it.

I am fine now and have chosen to forgive him doesn't mean I won't use my head on matters concerning him and it certainly does not imply he'll be given an open arm welcome.

As I clean off the last droplet of water on my skin, I let out a deep sigh, glad the day is finally over. There's something troubling me, though. After years of his sickness, the man who birthed me kicked the bucket. It's in a message I received today. According to them, the burial is on 25th of this month which also happens to be the last Saturday of the month; a day I carved out for clearing out someone's sales. What I basically do is go to a random roadside hawker and purchase everything they are selling at that moment, to give out to others to eat. It's a win-win as both parties' benefit; the hawker and those eating.

It's their audacity for me. I mean, they don't know my plans for those days but still, they don't have a right to expect me there. I did not see him when I was alive, it's now that he is dead that they think I'll see him. I bet they want cash and as some sick form of last respect, I decide to let this off my mind once and for all. So, I call Tabitha.

"Hello." She anxiously says into the phone at first ring. It takes me a few seconds to make my mind whether to go on or to disconnect the call.

"Hello. I received the news. Sorry for your loss." My voice comes out curt and crisp, making me mentally pat myself in the back for a front well put-up.

"My loss? He was our father, Farida." I roll my eyes at her, even though she cannot see me.

"I won't be going for the burial." I state.

"Is that what you called to tell us?" My mom's sharp voice snaps over the other end of the call, making me flinch a little. I cant believe she still has this pull over me.

"Send your account number, Tabitha." I state, trying to sound calm because me responding in the same manner in which my mom spoke will only lead to more argument.

"Listen here, you this stupid ungrateful and most regretful seed of mine, we don't need your money. You think we are paupers." The woman who birthed me obviously expressing her tiring strings of insults. But you are paupers. I wanted to say but I just hold it in and chuckle instead.

"There's nothing funny about what I said, you this witch! Wawa! Banza!" This woman should be calming down. I am not the reason behind her failed life on earth and her obvious misery.

"I'll send the number." Tabitha says with a sigh.

"Don't send her anything. Are you mad? You want me to disown you or what?" I could still hear her yelling in the background.

"Alright. I await your text." I don't wait for any answer before the call is disconnected.

When the message pops up, I immediately copy the number and forward a sum of 1 million Naira to them. The poverty in them will not allow them to even reject that money, even in their dreams. I place my phone on do not disturb so their stupid calls won't come in.

When some problems arise, you throw money at them.

•••••

My team handled the sales clear out session today because I am currently at the airport, about to board my flight for Gombe. Slayed in all black, I make my way to the airport when the flight is announced for boarding. I have no other load asides my handbag because this is supposed to be a breeze in, breeze out sort of travel. I have only an overnight change of clothes and my toiletries packed in there. This trip was a last-minute decision, courtesy none other but my two best friends who said to just give him that one last respect even though he does not deserve it. Tamara even joked about how I won't be here today if not for him and his wife. They know everything that went down so they could understand my exact pain.

Hian! These people and their small planes. The ACs were not even working properly and they still billed someone heavily for this substandard trip. This was the only flight available for today which was why I booked like that. Something as little as water was not even made available. I wonder what the aviation authorities are doing about these airlines that keep tarnishing the name of this country that we are trying to build.

The flight was not even enjoyable but it finally comes to an end as we land at the Sani Abacha International Airport and I make my way out through local terminal. I hail a cab and after settling on how much my fare is, I start my journey to the part of town where the family resides. On arrival, the compound still looks as I left it, if not even worse.

There's nobody in the compound's exterior but there are so many footwears in sight. I can hear voices from inside the house.

"Madam, we don reach abi na the wrong place we dey?" The cabbie asks me.

"We don reach." I respond and pay his money before stepping out. Honestly, I feel and look out of place as I take a final survey of the compound, shaking my head at their lack of improvement through the years. I knew they would still be here because this property is not a rented one. They built it and it's the only thing they have to their name. Well, asides their plot of land for farming.

Knocking on the door, I make my way in when the door is opened but it is almost immediately shut when they catch a glimpse of my face. So, I use all the strength I could gather to push it and force myself in. What the hell?

Am I seeing a ghost or what? Is this not the man that is supposed to be dead as reported by these two scheming witches whose shock upon seeing me could not be concealed.

"You came." The woman who birthed me speaks as her eyes scan through my features reeking of envy. These people can never change.

"You can join us in the naming ceremony if you want." The supposed dead man speaks, as usual in his uncaring tone. So, they collected my money for this?

"Are you not supposed to be dead?" I shoot back, glaring at them. Unbelievable!

"Farida Talatu Lawal!" The man I used to know as Uncle Nehemiah raps out my name in some much speed that he had to take in steady deep breaths as he shoots me daggers.

"So, you all are in on this scam of theirs." I say, looking at him accusingly.

"Are you out of your mind? I am not your father that will sit and watch you insult him!"

"He is not my father! For a second, I thought I saw hurt flash in his eyes as fast as it disappeared. These people don't have conscience. Do they even have a bone of humanly thoughts poking them in their bodies? I would have just stuck to my plans of not showing up for the burial of a sham. I am not surprised by how low they have chosen to sink.

My mind has no line of action planned out. I never expected this so the shock is still registering. Still rooted on the same spot, I try to think of something but my head blanks. I know that I can't stay in this place, for sure.

Whatever connection I had with them, I am finally cutting it off. This family has caused me so much.