Chapter 42

Unedited

11th of January, 2020

Thomas and Rosemary caught their breathe in bed then she propped her elbow looking at him. "I still don't see why you're single when you can get married to this babe like me"

"Marry who? You?" He scoffed then he shook his head. "You say it like it's a bad thing"

"Marry someone without regards, someone as stupid as you are. You're only good for thing and it's that thing between your legs so shut up when people are talking about marriage. You are a disgrace to your parents, I hope you know that." He snapped and she gasped.

"Ki la gbe ki le ju? What have I said to warrant such insult? Just marriage that I just suggested oh. As if you're someone anyone can get married to, is it not your first marriage that went down the drain?" She hissed.

"I was just trying to bring up an conversation. It's not as if the sex was mind blowing sef" she snapped and he sat up pulling his shirt close by and she rolled her eyes knowing he was already angry.

She sat up wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry" she apologized and he swatted her hands off. "Abeg! Easy on the pushing. Shebi it's you that always want to do competition of the bad mouth now? If I give you one now, you'll be frowning" she laid in bed now fiddling with her phone.

"My subscription has almost finished oh" she complained and he scoffed.

"Didn't I airtime you yesterday?"

"I've been sleeping and waking on Instagram" she replied now beaming with smile the showed him a picture of a wig. "One hundred thousand naira, tell me the wig will not look sweet on me" she asked and he scoffed knowing what she was going to say next.

"If I die, I'll like to die with this wig on!" She added and he shut his eyes.

Wait for it......

"Thomas I need money oh"  she answered, "Like 500"

"Like 500 naira?" He asked and she laughed sarcastically, "No, it's 50 naira"

"I need it before 25th, there's this cloth I need and I have family needs" "Am I your husband?"

"Are you seriously asking me that Thomas? Are you.... You know what? I should just go to Chief's office and just let him know where his money has been diverted to"

Thomas tightened his fist, that moment he felt like strangling her or pressing a pillow to her face till she suffocates to death! "Again with threats" "Why won't I threaten you? Thomas why are you so stingy sef? I mean you siffon money, like the serious about of cash and you no even start today. You've been doing this thing for more than ten years, why are you being stingy with just that chicken change? What's 500 thousand naira to you? Abi all your chikalas (babe) wey you dey fuck don chop you finish?" She laughed at him and he scoffed.

"Are you sending it or should I locate Chief's office?"

Gbade held a cup of coffee walking down the hall then he sighted Rosemary coming so he frowned walking past her. "Seriously Gbade? Seriously?" She asked and he stood still.

"Is that how it is now? You just walk past me?"

He scoffed turning towards her, "Is this how it is now? You just come to work whenever you damn please? Is this how is it now? You ignore my calls when I call? You know I can go on and on,"

Rosemary walked close to him, "Has anyone ever told you you look really hot when you're angry?" She asked and he hissed walking away so she held his hands. "I was just joking! Gosh Gbade! Loosen up! You're too serious! We used to be friends oh, why all the attitude"

"I should be the one asking that. I sent you here to infiltrate and I know you have something but as usual you tell me the same shit"

"I didn't find out anything. There's nothing out of the ordinary happening there."  "Are you sure Rosie? Are you really sure?" He asked then he scoffed.

"You need to loosen up a bit, forget about all these stuffs, let me make you forget" she ran her fingers across his chest. "Let me take out the stress, let go your office and...." She bit her lower lips and he pushed her hands away.

"The Rosie I knew wasn't like this"

"Wasn't like how? Wasn't stylist, didn't wear expensive human hair, didn't use expensive perfumes. What's bad about a little change? Change is constant Gbade, If you didn't know before, you better know now!" 

"If you don't have anything no Important to say. I have far more important things to do than waste my precious time listening to rubbish" he snapped leaving, "Jesus!" she muttered almost tearing up.

"Mumu!" She muttered sniffling.

Tiwa stormed into Thomas's office with an angry face plastered on her face. "So you're still having sex with that whore aren't you?" She asked and he rolled his eyes. "Lower your voice" "Lower my....."

"She's still a threat so, I don't have any choice"

"You told me you had it under control. Is she still collecting more money?"

"Yes. This one is one hell of a siphoning bitch, she's competing with me"

"And she doesn't want to stop. The last money will be the last she receives, you won't give her again okay?" "What are you going to do?"

"She has to go. She really has to go just like the rest and I'll handle it this time. I don't want you hands getting bloody again. It'll be on me"

"Whenever you say you'll handle something, my heart usually beat. Don't do anything stupid. She has documents that that can work against us, we need those documents" 

Tiwa rolled her eyes, "It's always effective shey? I'll have her dead in no time," "Tiwa"  "I have this under control already. No one will be able to trace this to us. I swear!"

23rd of January 

Rosemary cried at gun point, "Where is the damn document?" Tiwa asked, "What documents?" She asked and Tiwa pressed the gun against her head. "Don't play with me!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It wasn't supposed to be this way. Thomas shouldn't have...."  "Shouldn't have what? Yet you threaten him every chance you get"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I promise I won't threaten him again"

"Time up! I've dealt enough with your shit! All I want is to kill you"  "You can't do that!" "Why, the documents, you still need it right?"

"Where are they?"

"In a safe. I'll bring it to the party"

"Do I look like a fool, that's enough time to run out of town. Bring it today, your life depends on it.  My boys will follow you, every damn place you go to"

"Fine!"

Magdalene's Cyber cafe

Rosemary walked in trembling. She looked back at the scary looking man behind her then she made her way to the toilet where she brought out her phone putting a call through to Gbade. "Pick up pick up pick up" she muttered but he didn't pick.

"Please Gbade, pick up damn it!" She snapped then she got out entering into her sister's office. 

"Hey Magda"

Magda lifted her eyes from the graphics she was designing now looking at her sister. "Wetin you want?" "E don reach that level, no fit greet again"

"Good afternoon" she greeted and Rosemary hissed walking towards the photo copying machine in her office." "E dey work?" She asked and Madga nodded.  "Na half life sha but e go do the work. Wetin happen?"

"I wan make photocopies"

"Of what?" She asked and Rosemary walked directly to a stack of papers then she pulled out a binded copy of a document. "What's that?"

"Company photocopies" she answered with trembling hands.

"When did you keep that there?

"No ask"

"Wetin do una photo copying machine?" "E spoil" she lied and Magda rolled her eyes. "How that Kain big establishment go get one photocopying machine?"

"E get as he be"

"You're lying" "I'm not" "Why are your hands shaking?" She asked collecting the file and Rosemary dragged it back then she busted into tears.

"What's going on?"

"Abeg no ask me stupid questions abeg!" She dropped the file on the photocopying machine.

"Whatever! you can do anything you want. When you dey ever tell me something? I wonder why them call us sister!" She snapped then resumed designing.

"Magda, you know say I care about you right?"

Madga scoffed, "Which one Westlife lyrics wey you dey bust so? Wetin be the point?" "I care about you" ""The only person you care about Rose is yourself, E full your body, you hear! You're just selfish! Selfish ! selfish! selfish!" She confessed and Rosemary's tears poured the more.

"I'm sorry" she apologized, "If anything happen to me ehn, all those my human hair wigs wey you being dey eye. Feel free to use am" "The same wig wey I dey beg you, you dey use me do shakara. Naim I go con...." Magda shook her head. 

"I thought you wanted to photocopy, do so and leave"

Rosemary sighed. "There are some men out there. They want this document but I fear they're going to kill me after getting it"

Magda's eyes opened in horror. "Jesus! When e reach that one? So it's that bad? What's in the document?" "Proof that someone has been siphoning money from the company" "That's serious shit oh!"

"I know"

"Hand it to them now"

"Are you listening? They'll kill me" "
"Who? The man you're always talking to? The one you're sleeping with?" She asked and Rosemary shrugged, "It's complicated oh."
"So...what do you want to do now?"

"Make two other copy of this"

"For who?"

"Gbade Duncan and myself this was the main reason I took the damn job and I should have handed it to him the first day I laid my hand on it. But I was sturbborn, I started to threaten them. Now that sick woman, wants me dead, I can't afford to die!"

"Which sick woman?"

"I can't say"

"That's how you've been getting those expensive things right?"

Magda shut her eyes then she looked out her window seeing a man leaning on a car. "Is it the man on that black Camry?" "Yes. Can I sleep at your place tonight?"

"For where? So they can kill me? No oh. You sef reason am" 

Now

Madga typed on the laptop when someone tapped her on the shoulder. "Urgh!" She groaned, "Please if you have anything you want to do, tell the secretary and she'll duly inform me" she complained looking up at Dele.

"Hello" she greeted on realizing it was an handsome and good looking man. "What do you want?" She asked and he brought out his ID card. "My name is inspector Dele Giwa" he introduced, Magda already rolled her eyes on hearing him say inspector.

"Just because someone operates a cyber cafe doesn't mean the police and EFCC will have to troop in every now and then. Abeg, we're just trying to make a living. Assuming there was job in the country, would these young boys settle to be fraudsters? No!"  She argued and Dele scoffed.

"I didn't come for that"

"What are you here for?"

"Weeks ago, I believe a woman came here to ask you questions..... Derin Balogun, she's my cousin" he began and Magda's heart began to race.

"I don't think I've ever heard such a name" she lied holding on to the mouse on the desk then she clicked on a random file on the computer deskstop.   "You don't say? The name is Derin Balogun, think about it again"

Magda rubbed her forehead, "I said I've never heard that name before. Why are you bothering me? I'll have people send you out oh!"  "So Derin didn't come here to discuss things pertaining to how your sister died"

"No she didn't" she answered, "So what did you two discuss on then?" He asked and she shut her eyes. Did she just slip out of nerves?

Get it together Magdalene!

"I said I don't know who that is"

"She's dark and pretty, tall"

Madga shook her head, "My sister called me two days ago to tell me she's been held captive." Her eyes clocked left to right in thought, she began to wonder if the kidnap of the detective  wasn't  as a result  of reporting her the other day.

"I have reasons to believe my sister came here and I know you're lying so are you going to tell me the truth or I'll do this the hard way and I promise you the hard way won't be delightful"

"What's up with you? I said I don't" she rose up and Dele held her hands cuffing it, "You're under arrest" "For what?"

"Suspect in the kidnap of Derin Balogun"

"I didn't do anything to her"

"I thought you didn't know her"

"I'll speak"

"You have the right to remain silent, anything you say will be use against you in the court of law" 

Ruby cried on phone as she tried explaining the whole incident to Dara. "Ruby calm down and explain this better. I don't speak gibberish!" "I'm supposed to give injection shots to Chief today. It's going to kill him Dara, if I don't. They'll kill you. Where are you?"

"I'm waiting for Funsho to pick me up. He went to pick the kids, school is closing today" "It's true! Kelvin too! All these problem is making me forget things" she complained.

"I'm fine Ruby. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Nothing will happen to me"

"What will I do? I don't know what I'm going to do. If I don't do what they ask, they'll kill me! They're all in on this Sis, Tiwa, Thomas and even the God father, Dr. Ayeni"

"Dele Giwa stopped by today" Gbade announced to his father. "Just thought I should let you know. I wasn't going to tell you"

"This is the second time. The first time was at the hospital, did you at least ask him his reason for coming?" He asked and Gbade exhaled. "I don't think it's advisable to tell you"

"Whatever it is, I can take it Gbade. Let me know"

"He said Derin has been kidnapped" he announced and Chief shut his eyes. "How did he find out? Is she at least alive?" He asked and Gbade shrugged.

"I'll like to talk to that man"

"I don't think it's advisable Dad. Take a rest, please" he begged and Chief sighed feeling defeated.

What could have gone wrong? He asked within.

Gbade got out picking up a call from Boma. "How's your Dad?" She asked and he shrugged. "He's going to fine, he's a strong man. A small heart attack won't kill him" 

But poison can! Boma said within.
"Can you believe Dad put me in charge of taking care of him?" "So he's in good hands then"

"You can say that"

Boma smiled, "I've got a little question Babe, when Rosemary died, who were those who conducted the test on her?" "Thomas Balogun" He answered, "Okay..... Why the cover up?"

"To cover the face of the hospital, that was what he did and he did a pretty good job except trying to buy you into posting on your blog" "So he tried"

"He made suggestions about it but i knew it was fruitless, judging from the kind of person you were"  he chuckled and Boma forced a chuckle.

"I hope to have my Kunu here, I won't be spending the night at the house"

"I get it. I'll be there" she answered hanging up and she scoffed. "Son of a bitch, he wasn't covering up for the hospital. He was covering his tracts, son of a gun was the one threatening me, it had to be!" She brought out her laptop then she opened her Microsoft office then she became typing aggressively.

I once saw an innocent girl's body lay in the Duncan's garden and I saw it as a act of ritualism and then I thought it to be murder..... Just like every crime scene i blamed the obvious one...... She paused shutting her eyes then she closed the laptop.

Funsho after picking his kids from school stopped his car by the studio while he watched Dara carried Sewa who was strapped to the front seat before sitting at the front seat.  "Good afternoon Mummy Dara!!!" Pamilerin and Ade who were at the backseat yelled and Pamilerin wrapped his hands across her neck.

"Be careful Pamilerin , you don't want to strangle me to death" she brought her tongue and he laughed kissing her on the cheek. "Good afternoon Mum" she greeted and he turned his cheek and Dara planted a kiss on it.

"What about mine?" Ade complained pushing his head for a kiss too and she kissed him too. Now she glanced at Sewa planting kisses all over her face.

"I'm not leaving you out baby"

"What about me?" Funsho asked and Dara chuckled, "Your father is a jealous Agbaya" Dara answered and the kids laughed.

"I'm waiting oh" he patted his right cheek and she pulled her lips closer but it ended up landing on Funsho's lips after he intentionally turned.

They kissed for a few seconds and Pamilerin closed Ade's eyes. They ended up fighting behind. "Stop it!" Dara snapped turning back at them.

"It's Pamilerin that started it"

"How was your school result?"

"I had first as usual, and I won a few awards" Pamilerin answered and Dara smiled. "Awwn, that's sweet, Mummy is proud of you. What about you Ade?"

"Third position but It's that boy that caused it. Since he came to school, he's too brilliant"

"You did well too. Ade, you're one of the smartest sic years old I've ever met. Don't let him scare you, you can do better than him" "He's very brilliant"

"You just have him who's more brilliant next term, deal?" She asked winking at him and he smiled and Funsho drove off.

"I can t wait to show Grandpa" Pamilerin said smiling.

Eugene entered into Chief's room with a glass of juice. "Good afternoon Sir" "Good afternoon. How are you doing Sir?" "I'll be fine by God's grace"  "I brought you juice Sir" "Drop it somewhere there, I'll definitely drink it" he replied and she dropped it on the surface of the drawer

"Speedy recovery Sir" she replied walking out and Ruby walked holding a tray containing drugs and injection shots. "I brought drugs from the hospital courtesy of Dr Thomas.

"He sends his greetings" she said shutting the door with her legs and Chief smiled at her.

Magda sat alone in the interrogating room, as thoughts ran through her mind. She was beginning to have regrets for pretending the name Derin Balogun wasn't familiar.

Dele walked in smiling, I hope you've had time to reflect" he asked sitting opposite her. "Are you ready to talk?" He asked and she nodded.

"Derin Balogun"

"I know her"

"How?"

"She came in wanting to ask questions. They he noticed the new printers and photocopiers then he started asking questions upon questions, I didn't want to answer then she got angry and threatened me so I started talking"

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her the machine we're given by the hospital"

"For what reason?"

"For losing my sister"

"That's the most stupid answer I've ever heard. Do I look like a fool?" "It was a gift!" "There's something I find  hard to tolerate, actually, Derin and I do; and it's lies."

"I'm not lying"

"You are!" Dele slammed the table and Magdalene scoffed. "I don't want you dishing me your rehearsed crap for all we know, you might have been the one to even kill your sister"

"God forbid!" Magda replied, "I'll never do that. I swear to God, I didn't. My sister was killed, these people offered me gift as compensation" "Meaning they killed her, who did? Chief?"

"No!"

"Who then? I'm all ears"

"Rose had problems, she was hiding things"

"But you knew it right, you knew the secrets"

"It wasn't until she died that it made sense to me."

"What was it then?"

Magda cried, "I don't want to die like her" "You won't. I promise you, I just want to find my cousin, I wasn't lying when I said she was taken captive. I need her dead or alive. Why will you give gifts like this..... It doesn't make sense. Who brought the gifts?"  "I told her that I don't know their names"

Dele grinned, "We're heading somewhere," Thomas Balogun, Dr. Wilfred Ayeni and Tiwa Duncan." "They killed your sister" "I don't know who did, I never asked." "But you knew and you still collected the gifts"

"All I cared about was being alive. I accuse my sister of being selfish, I guess selfishness runs in the family.  Rosemary was only supposed the meet up with Gbade at the party and give him the documents"

"What documents?"

"Financial statements, proof that someone has been siphoning money from Chief. She made two copies, one for Gbade and one for me."

"Do you still have them?"

"I do but I don't want issues"

Dele sighed in relief, "You're going to be fine okay?" Okay.... That settled, do you know where Derin must have gone to? Any leads?" 

"I'm sorry" Magda apologized feeling guilty.

"I don't understand"

"Rex computers. That day she requested for the receipt for the equipments. I called Thomas and I let him know where I thought she was going to. I'm sorry"

"Dr Gbade!" Ruby cried out running out of the room. Then she bumped into him. "It Chief! I think he's having another heart attack"

Gbade was able to rush in to give his father CPR. "Let's get ready to take him back to the hospital" "No" Chief whispered shutting his eyes.

Mrs Bimbo got out of her husband's room shaking her head then she walked up to Funsho and Gbade. "Don't you think we should move him to the hospital?"

"I suggested it but he refused" Gbade answered and Funsho exhaled. "Why is your father so sturbborn? He needs hospital care, when he wakes up. You both better try to convince him" she snapped leaving and Funsho exhaled.

"Another heart attack" he muttered, "What's triggering it?" He added,  "I don't specialize in cardiology but there must be something, I mean could it be blockages in his arteries or what? Didn't Thomas run a damn test?" He snapped.

"Same thing I thought. I already called him, he'll be coming with the result"

Ade tugged at his father's trousers, "Is Grandpa going to fine?" He asked and, "What's going on?"  "He's sleeping"  "I'm 6 and not stupid. Is Grandpa going going to see out results? Dad?"

Dara held him away with Sewa in her arms.

Dele walked out with Magda who only looked around in fear. "It's okay, no one will harm you. You're safe" he assured, "I'm sure they know that I've been arrested and I'm sure they'll be after my life now"

"It's fine"

"In case i end up dying like my sister...." She trailed off and he shook his head, "You can't die yet" 

Magda scoffed, "Rosemary probably left her guards down, that was why she died. I'm sorry oh, I know I'm an accomplice and I might spent time in jail. I'm sure your cousin will not spare me" she laughed to herself, tears forced out of her eyes and she wipe them off.

Two gun shot fired in the air, one towards Dele who dodged sitting behind a car, pulling out his gun. People on the streets ran helter skelter while Dele stood up pointing the gun towards the car that had driven off already.

He turned back on to find Magda on the floor, a gun shot had been fired on her stomach already. "Oh God" he muttered. Magda laid on the floor crying out in excruciating pain.

"Let's be practical Dara" Boma leaned against the wall now looking at Gbade who was talking to his mother. "They let in Ruby into their plans, are your sure this people even intend on keeping us alive. I rather let the whole world know than hide it and still end up dead"

Tiwa walked into the room and  they both started at her. "The bitch just walked in"

Chief opened up his eyes finally to see all his children and grand children family in the room. "Grandpa!" Pamilerin and Ade who were on his bed screamed.

Shade smiled sitting on the bed with Winny. "How are you grandpa? You gave everyone quite a scare" "Remember you're going to be a great grandfather?" Winny asked and Chief smiled.

"I didn't forget"

"I thought you did. I know my Yoruba sucks but e ma pe laye fun wa (You'll remain alive for our sakes)" she struggled to say in Yoruba and everyone laughed. "Aww come on, I tried my best"

"I might have to start a Yoruba college in this house after you guys Waec" Chief said slowly, "Anyone that doesn't speak well will chop pankere (cane)" he replied and everyone laughed.

"Starting with me" Adenike said in her British accent and Chief smiled at her. "Adenike mi" he called out and tears filled her eyes.  "Hey Dad"

He looked at Adunni, "Adunni mi, OluwaFunsho, Gbadegesin" he called out and everyone wondered why he was doing that. He made it look as though he would die any moment from that time.

"Boluwatise"

"Dad stop it!" Tise yelled, "You're not dying that's the significance of what you're doing. If you think you're dying, you're joking cause you're not!" She snapped leaving and Chief shut his eyes.

"Dara" he called out and she moved close, "Bring your ears close" he requested whispering into her ears, "I need a Pastor, bring in your father"  "You're not dying Sir"  "If I really really do, I'll like to be in heaven" he answered and she cried.

"Don't speak this way"

"Please do it" he requested and she went out crying, she heaved a sigh and Funsho handed Sewa to Dunni then he went after Dara whose hands were shaking from holding her phone.

He held her hands, "Are you okay?" "Yes" "What did he say?" "He said, "He said....." She exhaled, "He wants me to call my Dad to give him sermons about heaven"

Funsho pulled her close for a hug. "He's just exaggerating" he said to convince himself, "It certainly can't be"

Dunni walked down the stairs to see Timmy seated in the sitting room. His hands were clasped together in thought. Her eyes were blood shot, she honestly wasn't in the mood to anyone but yet she didn't want to keep him waiting.

She cleared her throat bringing it out of his thoughts. He rose up on seeing her, her eyes were blood shot. "Are you okay?" He asked pulling closer to her.

"Yeah.... I" she sniffled. "Dad had another attack, he's fine now but I'm worried. He's taking like he'll die in any minute. It's so sad"

Timmy pulled her close and she leaned against him. "Take it easy, he's going to be okay" "I just hope" "Have faith." He advised and she withdrew nodding her head while Timmy wiped her tears off with his fingers.

"Thanks for coming"

"Yeah.... I called severally, you haven't been answering my calls" "I was avoiding you" "I thought as much. Because of what happened yesterday shey? Come on I told you already. I love you and I don't care even if you get pregnant or not"

"What if I'm pregnant?" She inquired   and Timmy shrugged. "I'm not forcing you to do what you don't want to do" "When I was pregnant with Winny, I didn't eat garlic or Onions for 9 months"

"What? That explains why Winny acts like a vampire" he teased chuckling to himself and she chuckled too. "Winny doesn't act like a vampire. Well, as I was saying..... I had my first irritation today and Mom suspected it was....
My sister bought pregnancy test kits and I did what was necessary and.... it came out positive"

"Are you...?" A wide smile curved Timmy's cheeks, he hugged her planting kisses on every part of her face and she laughed.  "I don't know yet, there test can be faulty atimes.
I'll confirm too a real test"

"Ill take that chance then. Thank God"

Dunni folded her hands feigning a frown," I thought you said you don't care even if I have children" she asked shaking his head, "Men" she commented and he chuckled.

"I didn't care about it but when Mom spoke to me, having a child that moment started to sound cool, like a necessity but I swear Babe, I wouldn't have mind doing it because I love you Adunni, I love you with every fiber in me. I'm promising to take care of you and our child if you marry me" he knelt down bringing out a ring. 

Dunni smiled, "Are you proposing?" She asked, "No, I'm having knee pains, what else does it look like?" He asked and she laughed. "Will you Adunni Duncan marry this guy and take his last name? Even though it doesn't sound as cool as yours" he joked and she continued laughing.

"Yes I will" she replied stretching her hands and he inserted the ring in. Then he stood up kissing her passionately on the lips.

Dunni looked around to find Shade, Winny, Dara and Pamilerin and Ade standing by the railing, while watching what was happening. "Daddy come quickly" Pamilerin yelled, "I told you guys it was a proposal"

"How long have you guys been there?" She asked, "Pamilerin said he saw you kneeling"  Dara answered, "Mom did he propose?" Winny asked and Dunni showed them the ring on her finger.

At the January party venue

Eugene held a tray containing a glass of wine and a man pick it up. "That's not yours Sir, it's specifically for a guest. Please" she begged and he placed it back on the tray.

"Thank you" she walked away letting out a loud sigh sighting Rosemary from afar. 

Rosemary sat at the corner of the bar and Eugene walked up to her smiling. "Drinks?" She asked and Rosemary shook her head, "I don't think I'm going to need drinks tonight"  she tapped her legs looking around to see if Tiwa would be around.

"You do look like you need some drinks. What harm can one drink cause?" Eugene insisted and she gave a gentle nod. "True and I really do need the drink" she collected it and Eugene walked away.

"A man must know how to trade well! You thread down the business lane with accuracy and meticulousness so you don't end up suffering a huge sloppy loss like Good luck did. It's a really devasting news, I am highly sympathetic about the outcome of the trade. I'm sure the guy must be on the verge of changing his name to bad luck as we speak" he joked and everyone conversing with him laughed.

"You're bad mouthed" Folabi noted,
"At least I don't have a bad breath like you do" he snapped and others laughed. "Look at this guy," Thomas hissed now turning towards Funsho who was fiddling with his phone.

"How far now? Your mind no even dey this party sef, hope no wahala?"

"I'm fine... I'm listening. I just have things I have to settle" he said leaving and Gbade's phone rang. "I have to go too, I have business" he said leaving and Thomas hissed.

"You guys are no fun!" He snapped then he turned towards Dunni flashing a smile at her. He raised a glass of wine up at her, then he winked at her.

"Dunni is looking pretty by the day don't you think?" Folabi asked and Thomas laughed, "You want to give her a try? Feel free to dive in but I can assure you the results will be bad"

"Your recommendations are usually bad. Imagine if a girl comes to me and says she wants to get married to me. Wont you tell her I have halitosis? When I don't"

"Kai! No dey deceive yourself" He snapped looking into his phone after it beeped.

"Done"

"Excuse me ladies, I'll have to leave for a toilet break"

"Na your brother be ladies. I hope you urinate and don't stop " Folabi snapped and he laughed, "Instead make una catch cruise, make una sit down wait make ladies con toast una" he teased walking away and Folabi shook his head.

"Mehn the babe try as she take last how many years sef? 11? I for don divorce the guy since" a man commented and Folabi laughed drinking his wine. "Shey?"

Rosemary drank from the glass when Thomas called her and she answered the call. "What?" She asked, she wasn't trying to sound nice and he got her message clearly!

"Don't sound so harsh sweetie. I can see you from where you're seated, let's meet at the garden" "I'm not going to do that" "Tiwa's the real threat here Rosemary, if i had my way, it would have been different. I can still make it different, let's just talk" he proposed and she hung up.

She downed the whole drink, then she stood up heading towards the garden.

"Dr  Thomas Balogun!" An old man with grey hair called out shaking him. "How things now?"

Gbade called and she picked up. "What's so hard about getting to me?" "It's a family party, you don't expect me to show preference" "It's a very important matter, you should prioritize this!"

"Oh yes. Like you prioritized our deal at first!" He snapped, "If you had picked my calls days ago maybe we won't be having this issue!"

"Don't shout at me, I'll be with you shortly. Where are you?" he asked.

"I'm not shouting at you Gbade, it's the way I'm feeling. I'm worried Gbade, you know that feeling like Iike you're going to die very soon. I'm having it and I don't think I can keep this thing to myself any longer. At least if I die, someone should put their asses out there!" She snapped and Gbade sighed.

"Wow I'm shocked Rosie, remember I've been asking you to tell me this same secret for months now"

"Oh please Gbade! This isn't the time to start getting sarcastic!" She snapped and he scoffed. "I wasn't being sarcastic, I'm being real. Where are you?"

"At the garden"

"What are you doing there?" He asked and she kept quiet. "Wow Rosie, you're secretive for someone who's about to leak a big secret"

"Hello baby" Ireti called holding a glass of wine and he groaned.

Thomas's phone beeped after he got to the garden then he looked at the message; I'm at the party now, where are you and why aren't you picking up the call again? I'm very angry! Very angry😡

"Get angry all you want Brenda, you're not important now. You're the least on my mind" he muttered and Rosie scoffed coming out of the shadows.

"Who's not important"

"You and your big ears"

"One of your chikalas shey?" She asked and he smiled noticing a blue bind protuding from the brown handbag in her hand. "You look exceptionally pretty tonight. Is that the hundred thousand naira hair you wanted to buy?" He asked and she scoffed, "Your sweet mouth won't work with me. What do you want? Gbade will be coming any moment from now. Except you want to him to see you, get to the point!" She yelled then she touched her belly in pain.

"Ouch" "Hope no problem?" "Nothing"

He grinned plunging both hands into his pocket. It excited him to see her in painful discomfort.  "You see my dear Rose, most ladies use clutches in parties mainly. That's what it's called right? Clutches but this brown bag doesn't suit your dress. Maybe it's because it's too big or something, or perhaps you're trying to hide something in it for example, that document in your bag"

Rosemary tucked the document in and Thomas laughed. "I thought you gave the last one out, Tiwa was right all along. How many more do you have?" "Enough to ruin you if you dare try to kill me"

Thomas clicked his tongue, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, too bad it's in your system already." "What?" "Guess what?" He asked and she instantly had a flash back of the server telling her she be looked like she needed a drink.

"Fuck ... You had me drugged" she bent down and he smiled. "Not drugged, I believe poison is the word you're looking for. It's a potent poison; your hands and legs are going to feel weak. I didn't want you dying where everyone will see.  It didn't have to be this way Rose, it's all your fault and you just paid with your life." He looked around then squats before her.

"Remember you said you wanted to die with this hair. I just granted you your wish" he pulled the document out then looked into her bag for other evidence then he rose up making a call to Eugene.

Now

Funsho chewed his fingers while wallowing in thought of his father and Dara placed Sewa on his lap. "Disturb him" she demanded and Sewa started touching his face. "I don't need this now" "You actually need this now! The children are watching cartoon to get this off. You need a distraction. What if I distract you?" She asked and he shook his head.

Dara instantly busted into tears. "Do you think I'm not bothered about this too? We're all trying to be hopeful here. What will you say to you children in this state you're in?" 

"I'm trying to deal with it my own way" he answered wiping her tears off.

"By chewing your nails." She asked raising his fingers up and he laughed out loud. She laughed too,  "You don't even have nails again. Is this how you deal with nerves, let me know now so I'll move to the next guy"

Funsho chuckled, "I'm sorry. I'm just..... I've never dealt with this type...." "I'm here, talk to me if you want. If kissing me will make you forget, kiss me till my lips get swollen, I don't care. I hate seeing you this way"

5:34 pm

Thomas entered into the house and Funsho frowned at him. "Dad suffered a heart attack hours ago and it's convenient for you to show up now."  "Not like I was playing ten ten somewhere. I was in the ICU with another patient, abeg don't even use that tone with me. You make it look as though I was playing around" 

"Where's the test?" Gbade asked asked and Thomas groaned in regrets. "I forgot"

"Seriously?" He asked, "Is it a bad thing to forget again. What's all this attitude? The test result is in the office, I'll get it tomorrow if you want. I already told you summarized to your guys what the test implied, I don't see the use of...."  He trailled off, "Is the test what's important right now? How's Chief?" He asked and Gbade ran his hands through his hair.

"We need to take him to the hospital. We can't deal with it here. I already called an ambulance"

"Where is he?"

Thomas walked into Chief's room seeing Ruby arranging a sheet over him.  Chief flashed a smile at him. "If I was sharing blessings, you would have been late oh" he joked and Thomas laughed. "Please Sir, forgive this late son of yours" he bowed his head and Chief chuckled.
"There was an emergency at the hospital and I had to attend to it" "Have I ever wronged you Thomas?" He asked and Thomas laughed.

"No Sir, you took me in like a child. You gave me a job, a house and a good life, why will you ask such a question?" "Nothing. Just asking people for forgiveness before I finally join my father" he exhaled.

"Remember the first time I saw you. When I heard you Impregnated my daughter. I wasn't angry, I saw you as a fine young man, Intelligent then I took you in and I still don't regret it because every good you to a man carries it's rewards. Always remember that Thomas" he advised and Thomas bowed his head.

"Don't speak this way Sir. You're not going to die Sir" he assured and Ruby stormed out. "Excuse me Sir" he quickly followed her out.

"Nurse Ruby!" He called for professional reasons and she turned back at him. "What?" She asked and he moved close to her. "It didn't have to be this way but remember every man has insatiable desire"  "Not like this" "Well I do and my Oliver twist alter ego sometimes gets the better of me. Don't worry Ruby, when I get all this, I'll make you life better. Tiwa won't hurt you, that I promise you. You know what you have to do right? He dies today"  

Ruby nodded in tears. "I know"

"Do you think I'll make it to heaven or there'll be a mansion for me there ?" Chief asked Mr Igwe, "You're not dying Sir"  he answered and Chief sighed.

"In case something goes wrong and I do die, will I go to heaven? I come from a quite traditional family, I have three wives and I can't count the times I've had affairs too. Although I've changed but.....still, will God make me pass the gate of heaven? Or lock me out?" "Any man who is Christ is a new creature, all you just have to do is repeat these words after me. Lord Jesus"

"Lord Jesus"

Chief had another attack as soon the ambulance came while Funsho and Dozie carried him out of his room down the stairs where he was then laid on a stretcher.

Tears clouded up his eyes as the sight of his father in that state broke his heart!

Dozie along with another male nurse that came with the ambulance began pushing the stretcher out of the house.

Just when Gbade followed them Boma held him back, "Hey Babe, calm down, it's going to be fine" "I know. I need to follow the...."

"Take a deep breath"

"Boma this isn't necessary"

"Take a deep breath" she demanded and he did.  "Let's go together" "No. I'll be following the ambulance, I'm sorry"

Pamilerin and Ade held on tightly to their father's hand, Pamilerin held his left hand while Ade dangled the right. Dara slowly followed them from behind holding on to Sewa.

"Daddy will Grandpa be okay? What's going on?" Pamilerin asked, "I don't know" He exclaimed looking to see if Dozie would still be in sight.

"Not now guys!" He screamed then he felt guilty afterwards. Ade busted into tears and he knelt down wiping his tears off while fighting his tears from falling down. "I don't know what's going on too. I don't know if Grandpa's going to be okay that's why I need to be in that ambulance. Dara help me here. Please" he looked up at Dara before walking away.

Funsho walked towards where the ambulance was parked seeing Gbade. "Where's the ambulance?" He asked, he knew it was a stupid question, but he asked anyways.  "It was here a while ago"

"They left" Gbade exhaled and Funsho quickly ran into his car and Gbade followed him.

"They left without us!" Boma hissed, "You can come with us Timmy's driving" Dunni announced.

Thomas's phone rang and he answered the call despite driving.
"Hello" "Doctor, we have a problem!" Dozie yelled shutting his eyes, "What?" "Chief, he's not responding" "Try CPR" "We have Sir..." His voice trembled, "Are you close to the hospital?"

"Yes Sir, there's no pulse Sir. I think we just lost Chief"

"You can't possibly say that. How is that possible?" He asked then he hung up looking at Tiwa.

"What?"

"One minute silence for the dead"

Tiwa opened her mouth in surprise then a smile curved her lips. "A minute silence then, we won't want to disrespect the dead" she answered and they both busted into laughter.

She sighed in relief shutting her eyes, "One less problem" "One less problem? Like how?" "Yes. One less problem, we still have to kill Derin, Ruby" "What about Dara and her entire family, are we going to kill them too? Come on Tiwalade, this is the recklessness we keep talking about"

"I don't need your permission to do it Baby, they're all going down. Each and every one of them"

😫😫😫😫

May God not give our enemies the chance to mock at us oooh🙏

Is Chief dead for real???😭😭

Guess what guys??? Slim Hope may come to an end before the year runs out 😔

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