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KANO STATE, NIGERIA.

"We are going to Italy! Oh man, I have been too good for my boss to turn me down." Lateefa hooted, jumping from her seat on the floor in Amirah's mini room to the mattress to help Amirah 'chose' clothes fit for Italy.

"I can't wait to go there too. I didn't ask for the exact location but I hope Abdul will be able to meet me there. You know he went for his masters there right?" Kamilah also sounds excited, folding a boot cut pants in Amirah's luggage - Lateefa brought it for her when she said she didn't have any and don't know how to tell her boss. Lateefa said she should borrow it but she won't collect it when they come back, she does not need it like Amirah does.

She also don't want Imad to look down on Amirah in anyway.

"It's going to be so much fun." Lateefa giggled again, throwing away a tattered baby hijab, earning a glare from Amirah herself for throwing away her clothes so shamelessly around the room.

It'd get pigsty with everything she is doing had she not stopped her ages ago. It is already annihilated by the rain.

Afaf and Najla are not home, she went to school with her and won't be back till two in the afternoon. They got the morning off work to set out for their trip to Italy the next day and since the girls are done packing their own clothes in excitement, they decided to help Amirah out with her own so she can stop kvetching about packing and not wanting to leave the country with them on this joyous trip that comes once in a century. They've been working in the company for a while and never heard such opportunity so they won't miss it for the world.

When the duo walked into the room Amirah shares with her sister and niece, they scrunched their brows in pity and worry which she acts like she didn't see. She knew they were going to react like that after seeing how badly their lives had changed in the past three years. When her mother was alive, life wasn't as hard but now, it is bitter and acerbic. How could she even think about resting when so much is on her shoulders at that moment? A lot more to do and close up like a damn clock around.

Even if they don't have debts, she will have to get them a new place to stay where it'll be good for their niece. Najla deserves somewhere she can happily play with her toys, roam around freely, perfect place with equally flawless hygiene. They do keep the room clean, extremely clean at that with the help of Husna who helps with some incense burner they use twice a week making their room smell nice and amazing.

If they can't decorate it, they should permit if to smell nice and look as good as it could be. The galore won't matter much if they do have everything to settle in their stomachs.

"I don't know why I don't share the vibe with you guys. I don't want to be the party pooper." Amirah sighed, plopping her head on the worn out pillow that looks flat now but enough for someone to know they are placing their heads on something.

In reality, she does not want to go abroad with Imad after what has happened in the past. The experience she's had was not pleasant and it is one she never wishes to revive but it is happening yet again only that this time around, it is with her two best friends and other companions. This time around, there is no relationship between the two of them, no marriage or anything connecting them together but pure work that needs utter professionalism.

"You will share it once you see how Italy looks like and not Chicago. Man, I already browsed the place and I am deeply in love already. Three days in that heaven and I won't think I ever lived in Nigeria." Lateefa bounced again, closing the suitcase with her both hands, pressing hard on it knowing she's filled it with more clothes than necessary.

"I hope so." She reclined back knowing no matter what she is going to see in Italy, it won't change her view on leaving the country under Imad's care. It had happened before, it shouldn't happen again.

"But what do you think about sharing a room the three of us? We were asked to chose partners and there are only five girls going with us. The other two can share the same room, right?" Kamilah enquired, wringing her legs around one another, pressing her back on water chipped lime wall.

Amirah pursed her lips whilst thinking about the situation and then answered. "Yes please, I don't like sharing room with strangers."

"Same here, I want to disturb people with snaps. I mean, the three musketeers in Italy sharing one heck of an expensive room in equally ridiculously rich sumptuous hotel?" Lateefa exaggerated while swinging her new iPhone twelve pro max gifted to her by her mother just a week ago.

"As long as my face won't be there, I'll be good." Amirah chortled when she got earned with one of her famous quelling glare. She likes acting like the celebrity in Lateefa's words even though that's wrong.

"You ain't no celebrity, ex Mrs. Imad." She just had to say it again. Amirah knew that Lateefa is the only one on earth that won't ever stop calling her that name and bringing Imad in every conversation and go scot free. She is getting used to it when it comes to Lateefa, the girl never listens and the more she shows how annoyed she is, the more motivated Lateefa would feel. The girl can be a bully, she harangues Amirah.

***

Afaf cleared her throat while trying to hide her excitement because it is as if she is the one taking this trip to Italy. Just two weeks and a few days after she's started working, luck struck her and she is leaving the country instantly. Who would've thought Amirah would be able to work in a prestigious company under Imad and will leave for Italy a few days after she's started working? Definitely not in her wildest dream or anyone's.

She wants to take over Amirah's place in the palace and work as Ameena since Amirah already told the girls over the phone that she is really sick and the medicine is only if she leaves the state to her village. She said it is some disease she's been fighting since she was young and the only cure is back in her village three hours road trip. She has nothing to say, she cannot lie that she will be home because they can cut out time to come see her and she does not want that. They might know who she really is.

Afaf will be there for only two days though, the weekend Saturday and Sunday where Husna volunteered to take care of Najla. The one day Afaf won't be able to make it, they'll make up excuse for their mistress or beg another maid to take her place. Fortunately, their mistress won't know her face and will be fooled by new people taking her place. Afaf is going to apply makeup too, just not too much.

Enough that she won't look like Amirah. They don't have problem with the royalties, they might not recognise her and the one person that will is leaving the country with her.

The thing is freaking hectic, it is making her head hurt so much. The mere thought of having two lives makes her life come to a screeching halt and she is not exaggerating it at all. No one knows how hard and tough it is being two persons except if you are in that persons shoes. Not that they'll fit just anyone. It is more like Cinderella's, it chooses whom it wants.

"Ami, can you please tell me one thing about you right now? I want to know this so desperately." Afaf blinked her eyes, clearing her throat again. This question might ruin the low nice atmosphere in the room, she is sure about that.

Amirah's brows scrunched on their own, feeling it in her guts that her sister might just annoy her like sisters are meant to do. It only happens once in a lifetime with Afaf seeing as she is not much of a talkative but then again, you can't remove that annoying bone from a sister's body. They like the I know it better than you, came to this world way before you did. Took the breast first and left the remains for you type of thing.

Nevertheless she gave a small nod. "It better not be something I don't want to talk about. You know all the topics I despise."

Afaf knew this is a topic Amirah loathes but she must talk about it. "Do you like being in Imad's company? I'm just curious."

"I never knew you like to gossip so much. No, I despise being in his company even for a second. If that is all, then permit me to sleep since I have to wake up earlier than usual tomorrow." She gave a fake smile, cuddled Najla to her side. She is going to miss the baby for the next three days, she is used to them around her every day.

Without that infant around her, Amirah is sure to be annihilated through and through. If that girl doesn't give her the greatest strength and happiness, she does not know who coukdm

"You don't need to sound all acerbic about it. He was once your husband anyway." Afaf turned her back to Amirah, not willing to see what her reaction will be. Her younger sister is still in that delusional naïve body of hers, Afaf knew something is amiss.

"Husna, please and pleases don't make me cry again. I don't want to apply kohl because I'm leaving the country, let me be." Amirah wailed to a stubborn Husna who thinks leaving the country is equivalent to going to a wedding. Since it is just six in the morning and she is needed at the office in about thirty minutes to complete some work and board the plane around eight.

She gave them her passport the day they were told about the trip, their visas and everything is now set for them. Her heart won't stop palpitating at the mention of this trip every time knowing there is something amiss. Something is definitely going to happen in this trip, that's a strong guts feeling she is having. The same thing that has happened years ago when she was about to leave the country with Imad. That one leads to divorce but what about this one, what would it lead to? Something more tragic than a divorce the day after your marriage? She visibly shuddered.

"No, you need to look good just in case if you accidentally bump into a fine handsome man. We don't want you single all the time. Don't think about why I'm not doing this to Afaf, she is about to finish her finals and she is next on my list. When I'm going to do her makeover, she will get a man immediately while you on the other hand, is another case." Husna kept rambling while combing and stretching Amirah's hair because in her words 'she won't take care of her hair for the next three days' and she is doing it for her.

"I swear I feel like you are now Ya Arwa, stop acting older than your age." Afaf huffed, opening a bulky text book and flipping through pages already knowing where she wants to read.

"You all know I am right. Amirah is already nineteen and what, she is never seen with a man which is a no no to me. And you Afaf, you are twenty three and have no man too. Gosh, saying it through my lips sound worst." Husna cried, packing Amirah's hair a little lower from the middle of her head to allow the veil to stay put.

"Mtsw, you need serious beating this girl." Afaf fall back on the bed, shutting them off and started reading yet again. Exams has been hectic, taking care of Najla and also being a maid is really going to be malignant.

"Ms. Adam, make sure those files are arranged before we leave. We are going to use them as soon as we get back, it should be close." Imad commanded, clearing his own table while pointing his finger at the stack of files by the end of his table. They are all getting ready to leave for the airport.

"Sure, Sir." She took the files, almost falling on her boat loafers but steadied herself, didn't notice Imad almost approaching to help her on her feet. He cleared his throat discretely, meandering his attention to his work so she won't notice.

They are about to leave the country already, standing outside at the lobby with people standing all around them. All the department heads that are going with their personal assistants. "And, Ms. Adam, make sure you are close to me when we arrive at Italy. There are some things that needs to be done by you there. You have a phone with you there?"

"I have it but, it might not work the way you expect it to. I will just take my laptop with me, it'd be easier to exchange emails." She gulped, praying hysterically inside her head that he should not ask to see her phone. The phone has seal tape, rubber ring and other little broken glasses all around.

"Ask the secretary to give you a new phone before we leave. The phone should have my contact information and all you need to have." With that, Imad made his way out of the building to the cars waiting for them outside. He didn't greet anyone, not even the ones that greeted him, he is the aloof CFO prince.

Amirah walked back to their floor, took the phone from the secretary who already got a call from Imad and made it down just in time for the others to file into the car. Her luggage is amongst the cars though she does not know which one.

And off to Italy they went.