March 23, 2019

Aliyah's POV
"Welcome to the Abubakar's Mansion," Rasheed gushes.

"Is that the name of the mansion? Abubakar's Mansion?" I ask.

"Yes, that's the name."

"Okay, I love your house. It's beautiful and big. Very big," I say more to myself than to him but he doesn't notice.

"Well, come in," he guides me through the front door.

A butler receives us in the large living room and takes my bag away.

"Don't worry, he's taking it to the guest house at the side of the mansion," Rasheed says quickly when he sees the frown on my face.

"Why should I live in the guest house when you have many rooms in this big house of yours?" I ask confusingly.

"Well, you see," he scratches his head, "this isn't a very big town. If the Town's people get to know that am letting a young unmarried woman stay in my house, a woman I have no relations with, there's going to be trouble."

"So?" I shrug, "People will talk. Let them talk."

"It's going to spoil my reputation. My father was a very popular business man in many parts of the country. People respected him a lot. He had chains of companies all over the world. It would be a bad image on our compainies' name and I don't want to drag my father's name or my name to the mud," he explains.

Wow! Just how rich is this guy.

"So you're saying you're his heir or something?"

"Yeah, I am. As a matter of fact, I now own all those companies and many other properties that he had. You know, first born and having to take over the family business," he makes a small laugh.

"Oh."

"Please have a seat," he offers me.

"Thanks," I sit down and smile sweetly at him, "So don't you have siblings?"

A maid comes into the living room with a tray of biscuits, a jug of chilled juice and two glass cups. She serves us  and then leaves.

"Yes, I have siblings. I have three siblings. Two sisters and a little brother," he tells me as he takes a sip of the juice.

I take a sip too and allow the sweet taste of mango to flow into my system.

"Do you like the juice?"

"Yes, it's very sweet and fresh," I smile at him.

"My little sister has a thing for fresh fruit juices."

"Oh. So tell me, are you the only one your father willed all his property to?"

"No. But he willed most of them to me. Like some of the companies were his and I inherited them. Along the line, I also established my own line of companies. Some properties also went to my sister. She's through with schooling and manages her own business now. The boutique where we met, yeah, she owns that," he explains.

Wow! I have just hit the jackpot.

"What about your other sister and brother?"

"They are still in school. Ayeesha is fifteen and Uthman is twelve. They do have properties willed to them too. Enough about my companies and properties. Tell me about you," he looks me in the eye, waiting for an answer.

I have to think. I can't tell him the same story I told Sasha. He might find out and that's too dangerous. I can't take an risks.

"Well, haha, there's not much to tell about me. Am just a boring young woman trying to survive."

He gives me an amusing look, "You're not boring, Aliyah."

"Really?"

"Yes, I find you intriguing. I want to know more about you. That can only happen if you trust me a little and tell me about yourself."

"Well, I ran away from home. It's not really a home. My family is dead but my father's family whom I live with want me to marry some rich old guy. So I ran away."

"Why would they do that. I get that they are your family but you're a grown woman. You're old enough to choose who you want to marry," he states.

"Yeah but my family can be very demanding and can do anything to make sure they get what they want," I explain further hoping he buys the big fat lie I just told him.

"Okay, so what's the way forward?"

"I came here to start a new life. And please don't ask me about my family. I dont want to talk about them. I need to start afresh," I plead with him.

"It's alright. Everything will be fine," he says to me just as the front door opens and two kids walk into the room.

"Assalam alaykum, Brother Rasheed," they both greet as Rasheed smiles at them.

"Walaykum salam," Rasheed and I reply them.

"How was school today?" he inquires from them.

"Fun," his brother says.

"Boring," his sister says, rolling her eyes and sitting on a couch, "None of my friends came to school today."

"Why?" Rasheed asks her.

"Ameenat went to visit her grandparents for the weekend. She decided to leave for their place today while Hasanat is sick."

I just look at the three siblings and note their resemblance. Uthman and Rasheed look a lot like each other with their pointed nose and small lips.  They have the same complexion and colour of hair. Ayeesha also has pointed nose but full lips. The three of them have brown eyes but Ayeesha is a little fairer than the brothers and I can't tell the colour of her hair because she's wearing an hijab.

"Am going to my room to change. See you guys later," Ayeesha stands up and trudges up the stairs.

"Me too," Uthman says and leaves.

"So, what do you think of them?"  Rasheed asks me with a smile.

"I don't really know. I haven't talked with them."

"Yeah, am sorry about that. I should have introduced you to them. But that will be after lunch because right now, they are hungry and tired and won't really listen to you," he chuckles.

"Okay."

"Lunch is served, Sir, Madam," a maid informs us.

"Thank you, Rukayyah," she smiles at him and leaves, "Please, this way."

I get up and follow him into another room. It was the dinning room. It was large with up to ten chairs or thereabout. The windows in the room went from the floor to all the way up the ceiling. There were beautiful fresh flowers in vases placed at strategic corners of the room.

"This place is beautiful," I tell him honesty.

"Thank you. Ayeesha and Utyman will join us shortly."

************************
"Is she your girlfriend?" Ayeesha questions.

Rasheed chokes and he quickly reaches for his glass of water.

"Ayeesha, she's a friend," Rasheed tells her.

"What friend?" she eyes me.

"A friend is a friend, Ayeesha. Now, please eat your food."

There is silence for a few more minutes before Ayeesha says another thing. This time, aimed at upsetting me.

"Why did you come here? Are you after my brother's wealth?" she asks as she looks straight into my eyes.

What a brat!

"Ayeesha! Will you please just stop this and eat your food in silence?" Rasheed snaps at her.

She doesn't say any other thing but glares at me, blaming me for her brother snapping at her.

After lunch, Rasheed introduces me to them as his friend.

"I hope both of you make her feel welcomed in this house."

"I don't have to do that!" Ayeesha erupts, "She's not my friend!"

"Well, she's my friend and  you will show her some respect!"

Ayeesha glares at me the more and I glare back at her.

"Am calling Sister Haleemah!" she tells her brother angrily and marches up the stairs and away from us.

The sound of door slamming is heard later on.

"Ouch!" Uthman winces and walks out of the living room.

"Your siblings hate me!" I almost wail

The last thing I want right now is his siblings hating me right now. I already have much on my plate.

"Hey, relax, you don't know that yet. This is just your first time of meeting them. Calm down."

"Okay."

Aliyah finally found her match in the person of Ayeesha. Hahaha. Next update coming soon. I hope you enjoy this chapter.