Chapter 15

Boma scampered through the wide halls of the Duncan's home then she found a door slightly opened so she walked Into the room. There where different pictures of the entire family on the wall. 

The room was pretty much wide and vacant except for chairs and side stool. There was a chair in the middle of the room which made it look like a palace.

Maybe it was a meeting room, the setting definitely did look like a palace or a board meeting room.

Suddenly she heard the door shut so she turned back to see Gbade glaring at her with his hands plunged into his pocket. "I knew you were too inquisitive to leave" he began and Boma's eyes stayed fixed on those hands.

Was he dipping his hands to bring out a weapon? Was if it was another false alarm like in the elevator the other day? She asked herself. "Breaking and entering is a crime punishable by the law"

  "The door was opened, so I let my self in; that's not breaking and entering, it's called not wasting an opportunity"

He hissed afterwards, he didn't prepare himself for any sort of argument. Quite frankly, he wasn't ready for it, he had already gone through one with her after he found her eavesdropping.

"Not another argument!" He muttered to himself pulling out his hands from his pocket and her heart raced in fear. He brought out his phone and she let out a sigh of relief.

False alarm! She said within, then she rolled her eyes. "You'll give someone a heart attack with that pulling something out of your pocket move!" She snapped and he scoffed.

"You think I'll kill you?" He asked then he laughed, "Does this place look like somewhere I'll kill you?" He asked swiping his phone to contact so he could call security.

  "What were you expecting to find Boma? Some sort of shrine or some evidence that'll prove we're ritualists?" He asked and she began to wonder how he knew her name.

"Surprised?" He asked

"You think I don't know who you are?" He asked, "Boma Davis" he called out to Boma's shock. "How did you come to find out who I am?"

"Why wouldn't I know the same person whose goal is to paint our family name black?" He asked and she scoffed. "Paint what? There's already black paint underneath it, I'm just trying to scrape the outer white layer off."

"Outer white layer, how does that make sense?"

"Is it your making sense?" She asked hissing loudly, "It's simple as ABC, in case you don't understand, I'm trying to remove the whole facade, the pretense, the juju you guys use in making everyone blind to your evil rituals"

"Again with the ritual talk"

"You think I don't know"

"That we offer sacrifices to our gods, that we drink water using human skull because cups has gone extinct and we bathe with human blood because water no longer comes out of the tap or the fact that we brush our teeth using human blood, because it's the blood of Jesus, makes our teeth white as snow" he moved closer to her and she almost laughed at the humour in his last statement but she managed to keep a straight face through it all.

"So you guys know the blood of Jesus"

"We came to the church right?"

"To fool people. Your ways are not pure"

"Should I give you a tour around the house? We can search for that shrine" "Yes, cause I'll be stupid to go on that tour with you. What will happen when I find this shrine? Won't my head roll  after seeing it. Do you think I'm stupid?"

"I don't only think you're stupid, I think you're sturbborn too. Sturbborn and stupid, you're getting involved in what doesn't concern you" he snapped and Boma scoffed on remembering the messages sent to her.

"Wait.... You've been the one sending me those messages right?" She asked and he scoffed. "Stop butting into what doesn't concern you, it can get dangerous and people can get hurt okay?" He warned and she scoffed.

"Is that a threat"

Gbade hissed, "Take it however way you want it." He answered dialing the security number. "There's a stray visitor in the house, I think you should come get her and show her the way out" he informed and Boma folded her hands, "What do you guys have to hide?" She asked and he scoffed again, "You know what," he said to the security, "On second thought, I'll handle it. Don't bother coming." He hung up dipping his phone back into his pocket.

"I think you should take your leave now"

Funsho took off his white senator top, remaining a white singlet on and Dara who was now carrying Sewa wondered why he took it off.

"What are you doing?"

"Do you think I want to walk around with baby barf and food all over my cloth? No way!" He answered carrying Sewa then he took his seat on the bed while Hannah brought in Sewa's food in a bottle.

"Is it warm?"

"Yes Sir" she answered and he picked up a beep from the bed wearing it over her neck. After which he collected the feeder then he began feeding her.

Hannah left the room.

Dara sat close to him, watching Sewa suckled away then she found herself laughing at the funny sight of a man feeding a baby. "What's funny?" Funsho asked and she laughed even more.

"Feel free to mock"

"I'm not mocking you"

"What are you laughing at then? If you're not laughing at me, then it's Sewa then.  Sewa, someone's laughing at you" he complained looking at Sewa who kept on sucking.

"Pay no attention to your Dad, I'm just laughing because he's a man and this is usually the job for a woman" "What a woman can do, a man can do better"

"No kidding." She answered then Sewa removed her lips from the bottle then she turned her head at Dara as though she was speaking to her.  

"Hey pretty" Dara held her little fingers then Funsho stuck the feeding bottle back into her mouth then she continued sucking.

Tiwa walked up to Mrs Bimbo with a grin on her face. "Scanty party you have going on here? Your wives are not even present" "Who invited you? Cause I didn't?"

"Why won't I be invited to my own brother's tea party?"

"You weren't on the list"

Tiwa laughed, "Even though I wasn't invited, there's nothing that happens in this house that I'm not aware of. I hope you know" "What are you doing here?"

"To party, you know how much I love parties right? Even though you don't like inviting me, I really don't get why you're usually bothered by my presence" 

"Your aura irritates me, you're not a good person and you know it!"

"And you're the good person shey?"

"I am better than you'll ever be Tiwalade!"

"Better my foot, that's what you tell yourself when we know you killed the first wife so you can take her place. Deny it Abimbola, I dare you to deny it!" she snapped and Mrs Bimbo scoffed.

Tiwalade laughed knowing she had gotten her attention.

"Even God knows that such a thing never happened, Ireti died of natural causes"

"Are you sure she did? Are you sure?" She asked then Chief walked up to them. "Tiwalade my dear" he called out and Tiwa flashed a  smile at him.  "Good afternoon Sir" she bent her knees.

"Bawo ni? Bawo ni iya re? (How are you and how's your mother?)"

"We're both fine Sir. She sends her greetings"

"Tell her that I'll send in the package, that I haven't forgotten oh, I've had a lot on my mind lately"

"It's fine Sir"

Omotoyosi called Hannah aside while she watched the children play. "I'm busy with the children Ma" "Does it look like I want to send you on a errand to the market? I just want to ask you some questions"

"Okay Ma"

"Who's that girl with my husband?"

"Which husband?"  She asked and Omotoyosi raised her hands up as though to give her a slap on the face.

"Ti ba gba e leti (If I slap you)"

"She's a friend, the children likes her"

"How is that my business? Was that the question I asked? Who is she to my husband?" "A friend"

"What's she doing with my husband in the house? Another asewo shey? They're doing it inside"

"No! Sewa is there!"

"When has that ever stopped him?"

"They're feeding Sewa" she answered shaking her head at Omotoyosi's ridiculous assumption!

"Isn't that Funsho's job or your job, I didn't get the memo that you guys employed another baby sitter" she snapped and Hannah shook her head again. "She's his friend, that's all I know."

After feeding Sewa, Funsho went into the bathroom to clean up, meanwhile leaving her in Dara's care.  When he got out, he found Sewa already asleep in her arms. Her hands kept on roaming around Dara's breast as though trying to drag her gown down to suck breast milk.

Trying to keep Sewa's hands off her breast was like a war. She she gave up trying. The feeling was nice too, even she had to admit to it.

If she had gotten married, she would have had her own children too.

"Sewa has a nasty habit of touching, as long as you have a breast, she'll try to force it out."  He answered taking a seat close to her.

"It's like she needs breast milk or something" "She's off breast milk"

"Sewa's just five months right? She should still be on....... I don't want to judge but..... what kind of mother leaves her daughter this way?" She asked and Funsho exhaled.

"Who's her Mom? An ex girlfriend or what?"

"Why are you interested?"

"Cause I have questions, a whole lot of them. You said, your children are smart because of breast milk. You're not married to the mother of your boys. Was she a girlfriend or something?"

"No."

"What about Sewa's Mom?"

"No" he answered and she gasped, "Okay... I don't even understand this any longer. What's going on? How come you have three baby Mamas?" She asked bringing out her phone then she typed Funsho Duncan on it.

"What are you doing?" He asked stretching to see what she typed, "Finding out what the internet has to say about you"

"Is there any point? They'll never say the truth about me. I can't believe you're about to find out information from the same internet that makes people think I've been married twice. The news you'll find are nothing but fake news. People are just looking for what to talk about" He replied and she dropped her phone on the bed.

"Why can't you let me know all about you then?"

"Why are you so interested?"

"Who wouldn't be interested? I'm just really curious to know you, to know what you're hiding; call it an amebo spirit but......." She stalled, "Well, I don't like talking about my life"

"Why?"

"Because I'm not proud of my past actions" "Why call it your past when you're still scared to talk about it. Your still making it your present"

"You'll only judge me if I tell you"

"Try me and see" she requested placing her hands on his and he scoffed. "Forget about it Dara, they all have mothers, Shade's Mom is Omotoyosi, she came for the party.  Pamilerin and Ade's Mom weren't invited, neither was Sewa's mother so..... Just let it go, let's not ruin the moment with this cause I really don't see this discussion heading anywhere"

"When did Sewa stop breast feeding?"

"Last month, except we're trying to add those days she sucked my breast" he answered and she chuckled. "Are you serious?" She asked and he gave a nod.

"Your salty breast. Sewa, this old man has been feeding you salt" she complained and Funsho laughed. "You have no idea the things you can do to make a child keep quiet"

"I can relate" she answered and Funsho arced a brow in doubt. "I literally raised Kelvin so I.... Know how it feels. Raising a child can be sweet, children are God's blessings. It can also be painstaking and frustrating too, how do you do it?" He asked, "Do what?"

"Do it alone? Change diapers, take care of the children ? How do you cope as a single father? Doesn't it ever get tiring or hard?" She asked and he smiled.

"I believe the God created children to take away man's loneliness"

"Study the word again, it's women that are supposed to kill loneliness not children"

"I'm trying to buttress a point here" he noted and she chuckled. "My children are my best friends okay, they're my only companion for now and I'm their mother and father for now too. Besides, I don't do the job alone, Hannah has been with me for five years now; even before she got admitted into the University. She's a family friend and my Mom also helps relieve the load but the kids don't like it cause Mom can be strict at times" he explained chuckling as though reminenscening on the moments.

Conversations about fatherhood experience usually tend to get him emotional so he blinked his tears in, trying to remain in control.

"It gets difficult but when you look at them, you have hope, life would have been extremely miserable without them" He confessed cleaning a drop of tears before it fell down.

Dara smiled looking at him,  "Are you crying?" She asked and he sniffled, "I think something entered into my eyes" he lied and she chuckled.

"That's sweet..... what you're doing is amazing. I think I should call you Super Dad" she commented and he smiled scratching his head then  Omotoyosi  barged into the room.

"Oko mi, my dear." She called out then she gasped on seeing Dara as though she wasn't aware she was in the room. "I didn't know you had someone here wow." She added looking at Funsho who wasn't buying the whole surprise act.

"I can see that Sewa is already asleep. So Miss, if you don't mind dropping her on the bed. My husband will handle the rest.  It's wrong to be in the same room with a married man" she noted giving Dara a look.

Dara turned towards Funsho who was beginning to have a mild headache, "I..I... thought... I'm sorry I thought he wasn't married"

"I'm not married Dara. This is Toyosi, my ex-wife, Shade's Mom. Toyosi, meet my friend Dara Igwe" he noted and a frown formed on Omotoyosi's face.

"You forgot to mention future wife too. Funsho and I go way back. I was his first love and the feelings are still very much there" she explained and Dara gave her the 'why are you telling me' look.

"Whether he likes it or not, it's still me he's going to marry." She pointed out and Boma entered too.  "I'm sorry to interrupt but we have to go Dara." She said and Dara sighed in relief.

Finally she'll be getting away from the whole drama! Toyosi was making her look like a husband snatcher.

She gazed upon Sewa, "Can I take her home?" She asked and Funsho laughed. "I won't mind getting her back tomorrow. So I can finally have a good night sleep" he answered and they both chuckled looking at each other then she cleared her throat while Funsho collected the baby from her.

"I should drop the three of you off" he suggested and Dara disagreed. "We'll get a cab"

"I insist"

"It's fine. Good bye Funsho, goodbye Sewa" she kissed her on the cheek before leaving with Boma while Funsho placed Sewa on the bed.

Omotoyosi hissed out loud. "Who's she deceiving?" She asked and Funsho rolled hus eyes. "Jesus Toyo, how many times will I tell you to stop calling me Oko mi when I'm with someone"

"Oko mi" she moved close to him then she rubbed her hands on his chest. "My love" she called out and he shrugged her hands off. "Stop behaving like this now. Who is she?"

"A friend"

"Isn't she too young? Do you like her?" She asked and Funsho exhaled tiredly. "Please leave me alone Toyo, you'll wake Sewa up. Please"

Chris walked up to the Pamilerin, Ade and Kelvin who seemed to be having a loud debate.   "What are you all doing?" He asked and Pamilerin lets out an exasperating sigh. "Uncle Chris, we should be having a mature conversation but I'm chatting with two six years old and I'm this close to slapping the both of them" he answered and Chris laughed.

"Sounds likes an argument, what's it  about?"

"Which is more interesting? Henry danger or Pj masks. I chose Henry, Ade and Kelvin are this close to killing me because of my choice"

"Pj masks is better" Kelvin argued,
"On what grounds?"

"What is ground?" Kelvin asked confused then he glanced at Ade. "Pamilerin speaks too much English when he's trying to win an argument so ... Sometimes, you just have to nod and pretend as if you understand"  he answered. This forced a laughter out of Chris.

"Hey Kelvin!"  He waved at him and Kelvin smiled. "How do you know him?" Pamilerin asked and Chris chuckled not ready to dive into much information.

"Can I have a word with you Kelvin?" He requested and Kelvin gave a gentle nod leaving the boys. Pamilerin was winning anyways!

"Can I call you Uncle Chris?" He asked and Chris smiled, "Sure. Are you enjoying the party?"

"I was until Pamilerin started arguing. I hate arguments" he answered looking down and Chris noticed he probably had a reference memory in mind.

"Do they argue a lot at home?" He asked and Kelvin hesistated. "It's totally normal for family to argue, you see the really fair woman over there?" Chris pointed at Lara, "She's my elder sister, Lara Holland and we argue too"

"So it's normal to fight"

"Not fight, just like Pamilerin doesn't agree with PJ masks, everyone has their likes and dislikes. Besides I prefer PJ masks, don't tell Pamilerin I said that" he whispered and Kelvin laughed.

"I like PJ masks too. I think he drank too much tea" he concluded and they both laughed. "From disagreements corrections flow. You have your Aunty's laughter, I hope you know that" he said and Kelvin smiled.

"Who?"

"Brenda"

"Oh" a frown formed on his face. "You don't like her?" "Not that I don't, I'm just.... It's nothing"

"Hey, talk to me, what's going on?"

"Nothing" Kelvin answered but Chris knew it was more than that. "She argues a lot with her Dad right?"  "She argues with Grandpa and everyone else"

"You call him grandpa, cool. Is she that bad?"

"No. She's just....." He trailed off, "Do you like her?" Kelvin asked and Chris smiled. "I do"

"Will you marry her?" He added, "I'll love to do that, will you? " He asked and Kelvin gave a nod smiling.

"I went outside in search for you then they told me you were in one of the rooms. I was scared!" Boma explained walking out of the house.

"Why?"

"Abeg no ask me why again, you know how I feel about these guys now" she snapped then she exhaled. "What happened?" "That grumpy Gbade caught me searching the house and we spoke and it was really intense, I was scared oh, I was just using style to form baddo. That guy must have been the one to kill that girl at the party"

"You want to know what I honestly think of these people after this party?" She asked, "None of these guys are ritualist. Chief is funny, Chief is sweet, his first wife is so nice. I'll forward the recording to you via WhatsApp"

"I asked him if he was the one that has been sending the message, he didn't say anything. It has to be him"  Boma affirmed while Pamilerin and Ade ran towards them.

"Which is better Henry Danger or Pj masks?" Ade asked and Dara gave a wry smile. "I'm leaving guys, goodbye dearies."

"When are we going to see you again?" Ade asked and Dara shrugged. "I don't know. I can't say. Where's Kelvin?" She asked and they both pointed to Chris who was still discussing with him.

"Can this get more complicated?" Boma asked looking at the both of them laughing. "Brenda is screwed" she muttered to herself while they both made way to the both of them.

"I'm sorry to interrupt Mr Holland, we have to go now." Dara said holding on to Kelvin's hands.  "Oh. It's okay. I was having a nice chat with him"

"We have to go now"

Ruby stayed glued to a movie on television while she ate fried yam and eggs with Dozie on his two seater chair. "Remember the first day I approached you?"" He asked and Ruby chuckled.

"Do you think I can forget it?"

"When we spoke the second time, what do you think was my prospects as a man was" "I don't understand"

"Like when I wanted to get close to you,what did you think my intentions were?" he asked and she smiled.

"Truthfully, I thought you wanted to ask me out."

"I wanted to"

"Then why haven't you?" She asked and he laughed, "Good question" he answered and they both chuckled.

"I just thought maybe you lost interest and you just wanted to be a friends and maybe you realize I was too fat to be your girlfriend"  

"No! You have the perfect shape, I like your shape the way it is.  I didn't even want to be your friend. I wanted something more Ruby, my dream has been to get married when I turn 30. Remember I said I've been observing you, Ruby you have all the qualities I want in a woman. If I want to start anything with anyone, it'll be with you"

"Are you asking me out?" She asked and he chuckled. "Yes. What do you say"

"Hmmmm" Ruby pretended to be in thought and he chuckled. "I like you too and I wouldn't mind exploring the possibilities with you"

"I don't have a ring for now but I would like us to get married this year. Maybe I'll get a ring next week"

"Dad's declaration, no one can get married except Aunt Dara does" 

"I almost forgot" he shut his eyes then he sighed. "I had a vision 2020 wedding plan"

"I have hope sister Dara will find someone before the year runs out"

"Okay" he answered leaning against the chair then he looked at her. "Can I kiss you?" He asked and she chuckled, "I thought you weren't going to ask" she answered then he cupped her chin kissing her on the lips and she kissed him back.

While Dara, Boma and Kelvin waited for the ride they ordered,  They heard a voice call out to them.  It was CeCee. "Hello dearies!" She waved and only Dara waved back. She turned towards Boma flashing a fake smile at her.

"I hope you won't mind if I speak alone with the pretty Miss"

"I'll be by that car" Boma pointed at a Lexus car parked in front of a helux  before leaving with Kelvin.

"My name is Dr Cecelia Coker, you can call me CeCee, who gives a fuck about titles anyways" she said with a shrug then she sighed carefully observing Dara. 

"My name is Dara Igwe"

"Beautiful name you have there."

"Thanks"

" I couldn't help but notice you're friends with Funsho"

"Oh..... We're not friends exactly, see, I'm a client at his gym"

"Interesting, what's your goal?"

"Um.. I don't understand"

"Are you trying to stay in shape, are you a model?"

"No.. Bigger buttocks"

"Ah..... I see" CeCee chuckled and Dara felt kind of embarrassed, "What?" She asked, "Oh, ignore me, I didn't mean to make you feel bad sweetie. I was just thinking of the possibility, a girl can dream right?" She asked and Dara swallowed hard.

Was this lady intentionally trying to make her feel bad?

"What's your point?"

"I saw you go into the room with Funsho"

"He needed to feed Sewa and I followed him"

"You're not the mother are you? Why will you do that?" She asked and Dara scoffed, "I just escorted her, why am I even answering your question, you're not being nice" 

"What are you doing in this tea party, if Madam Bimbo only called for her merit list, what are you doing here? You and your friends are not even on the third list, you know how I know?" She moved closer to her, "You might be wearing an expensive dress but pairing it on a 6,000, 5,000 naira roadside shoe is pitiable" she added and Dara scoffed looking at the black suit she wore.

"What does that have to do with anything"

"Did Funsho Invite you?"

"Chief did" she answered angrily, why was she still answering this rude woman's question?

CeCee scoffed. It finally made sense! It definitely had to be some sort of match making plan. "I see, Chief wants a good girl for his son. You probably think you have a chance with Funsho don't you?" Cecee asked and Dara scoffed. "What? You have no idea what you're saying, for crying out loud, I have a boyfriend"

"You probably haven't realized you like him right?" She asked then she laughed. "Well, newsflash young lady, you can't afford to like him cause you don't know Funsho the way I do and it's going to take much more than being a good girl to keep him and I have all that it takes" she replied rubbing her hands around her body.

"This body he can't seem to resist. Unlike you, I don't even understand what you have.  I'm not trying to grow any buttocks, I've got some good ass and he worships it like a God" she continued now licking her lips and Dara rubbed her fingers on her forehead, "I don't need  this right now. What's my business with Funsho or what he does with your body?"

"Denial phase is totally normal for girls like you" she stated and Dara blinked totally confused then she shook her head.   "You're crazy"

"I'm not crazy, I'm a psychologist and I'm profiling you already. You're a open book, I just want to leave a message you'll understand. Funsho is mine and no one else"

"I'm not dragging him with you"

"That's what you think but I'm telling you this cause I hate competitions. I'm still trying to deal with the other bitch, I don't want to add you to it. I'm not a nice competitor"

Dara scoffed again, "I'm not even competing with any one"  "I'm just telling you in advance, I'm not the type to mess with."

"Is that a threat?" Boma asked from behind Dara didn't even see when she walked by. "The moment I started seeing your eyes blink like that, I knew something was wrong Madam going on?" She asked now turning towards CeCee.

"I was just having a chat with your friend to stay away from my man or else"

"Or else what?" Boma asked, "I don't like competitions, it can be dangerous"

"Dara, you better tell this Egungun to be bekaiful, the express road she's passing can get dangerous. I'm already in a bad mood already, say any more shit, I swear I'll bust someone's mouth." She threatened and CeCee moved back rolling her eyes.

"There's no need for violence dear. We can be friends, once you stay clear of my man"

Boma moved closer to her, "Madam, move before I move you" she threatened and CeCee laughed.

"There's no point for anger transfer dear." She walked away then she turned back, "Dara right? In case you realize you're developing feelings for my Funsho, kill it cause it's going to be me and you going head on and I promise it's not going to be pretty. Do we have an understanding?" She asked blowing kisses at her before walking back into the gate.

How was today's update?😊

What's it with this CeCee sef? 😒