ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

Two geriatrics in their sumptuous getzner sat idly in a house office, going over family details and problems they are facing. Decanters of the most expensive wines present in the country is right there in front of them along with crystal glass cups. Two maids stood -mutely like dumb statues- aside to fill in the cups the minute they get low. They are deaf ears to what the men are talking about, as their job requires.

"It's a shame to my family too. He got married without telling anyone of us and then aborted his own baby all the while assaulting his wife! This is the highest of stupidity!" Yakubu Dikko bursted out again for the second time since the news reached him earlier that afternoon.

Musa Babagana didn't like it at all. He set up the urgent meeting with Yakubu Dikko albeit having much to do.

He found out about what Usman Yakubu Dikko did before he even arrive at the man's mansion. He couldn't turn back around when the news arrived right as the huge monitored gates recognized his cars and opened themselves. His plans are foiled and he needs to go back home to get more things charted down before the sun sets tomorrow. It is a vow he is not about to break for anyone.

Musa Babagana was sure the older man wouldn't have told him what is happening in the family had it been he is not influential enough and knew he would know about it way before he does. Things like that just don't get out of the household for no reason. All the riches won't kill down rumors, hence, they try their best to keep it minimum and immobile. This won't be though! Not when a woman is involved and the man is accused of assault and aborting.

Yakubu Dikko grew up in the lavishness of wealth. Right from his forefathers, they've never had any problem when it comes to wealth. Old money, what other people call it nowadays. Their root came from money. But even with all that, he could never come close to what Musa Babagana achieved by himself. Shipping company never worked greater for anyone in the world like it did for Musa Babagana.

Yakubu Dikko in his mid sixties is a man rolling down to the end of life. His face is sagged but the handsomeness of him when he was younger is still very much clear, something all his sons manage to take over. Married to three beautiful wives, eleven children and five grandchildren, Yakubu Dikko is said to be a family man and that is not a lie. Except that his last son didn't bother taking over anything from the family except wealth and looks.

"That is something I never would've expected from Usman." Musa Babagana chirped in. All he wants to do now is leave the office and go in search of the next groom in his list. He never is one to work with plan A only, the B is always right behind it.

What is more difficult about finding a groom is expectations. He wants someone who could cherish Fatima the way he never did, he doesn't want her to be more broken than she is. He won't be able to love her, that is a fact he's embraced long before but what about someone else doing so? Only that men nowadays or the whole generation is tumbling to precipice and you never know which one to pick at. Most will marry her for the wealth of her father, he cannot have that.

He is going through the expensive circle around him but then he found out something, he couldn't get anyone because they are all spoiled. If he gets a wealthy one, his eyes won't be too much on his riches but there ain't good ones remaining. And if he snag poor or average, one might kill his daughter for the sake of what he is seeing upfront. It is the truth of life and he's seen it happen time without number. Someone went to great lengths of kidnapping his wife for money.

He's got a backup plan, he hopes it works out for the best though.

After a few more words and chiding, Musa Babagana stood up and left his old friend. If this plan has failed, he is going to use more ways to get an even better plan. His eyes have been skipping through some things around him and it's time to make judgment of it himself.

"Get me everything and anything I need to find about the new ACP, Lysette. I want to know what is hidden underneath the stone before he was even born." He told his female bodyguard and also private investigator as she sat at the passenger side while he occupied the back.

"Yes, Sir!" Even her words are professional as the austere expression she's wearing on her face. She doesn't take her job lightly, she'd rather die than let it slip.

Lysette Mike has been with him for the past five years, working efficiently like no other male he's hired. She keeps tabs of each and every business associate of his so as his inner circle. She's just a lady of twenty eight but the way she works and carried the energy in herself, she'd put many other many to shame. She's not bulky, not at all and is actually a very sexy lady if seen from perspective of sexual speculation.

He's never liked her in that way but admired her courage and efficiency. He's never seen her out of the black attire she's given herself when he gave her the permission to chose any uniform she wanted. There is no lie that when he was first introduced to her, he doubted she was going to be of any use to him. She proved him wrong that very first day when she ended up seeing the backstabber in his ship before the real investigation. She found him out just by looking in his eyes.

In a few minutes, she gave a satisfactory nod at her laptop and turn to him. "Do you wish to read it here or I should-" she was cut off by his demanding hands outstretched to take the laptop from her.

Right there in front of his is the complete profile of ACP Ahmad Hakim Al-hafiz. As he read the first stanzas, he got more intrigued to find out more about this man living underneath his roof. The more he read about the gentleman, the more he gets curious, amazed and also galvanized right in the car.

By the end of the last paragraph, Musa Babagana knew there is no way this best catch will get off his hook. He shall get ahold of Ahmad Hakim Al-hafiz because he is the only man that can take care of his daughter and also set her path straight. She needs more discipline and matching spirit to get her on stiffer and rigid path. This is what he wants, a man right underneath his nose.

A police officer is the best and most perfect match for his headstrong daughter!

"Are you saying what I'm thinking?" Adeelah glared from beneath her eyeglasses as she sip gingerly on her cardamom iced tea.

Musa Babagana is trying to bring up the proposal to her first before meeting with Ahmad himself. He could've done that without going through much trouble but he doesn't want to look like a hypocrite to his wife when he is not. It seems like Adeelah is only going to waste his time further and he didn't make the best decision by coming to her.

He looked stern and detached, disallowing any emotion to display itself. Not desperation as he feels inside of him. He never knew how desperate he is to get Fatima off his wing till now. "I'm saying what you're thinking. ACP Al-hafiz is going to be the best husband for her, you can testify that too."

She sat up abruptly as if something just hit her harder now. "I can testify that but it doesn't mean I'm going to be in this play. Getting Fatima married before the sun sets tomorrow doesn't make sense. You have till one month to decide on that but no, your business is always more important than your family. Don't act like you care now, you don't."

Surprised by the outburst that has never happened, his brows flew up to his hairlines in amazement. He's never permitted such act from Adeelah because he is not one to tolerate nonsense but because he is there to ask about her nephew's hand in marriage, she's got the right to talk all sort of rubbish. His male ego is hurt but he didn't get where he is by pushing his ego upfront, he will deal with her later and she's just motivated him to get his daughter married to her nephew!

"I am not here to listen to your side of story, Adeelah. I thought I should tell you before I go ahead with whatever I want to do. Seems like I've made a grave mistake. Do as you see fit." He left the room in quick strides, his eyes trained on the plot arranging themselves in sheaves in his head.

He left the house again for the third time that afternoon only that the time now is close to Maghrib. He is going to the police station to talk to ACP Al-Hafiz by himself. This should be the last time he is leaving that mansion without making sure his daughter has shackled a husband that will help them both. Him with his heir and her with her future children if she's ever thought about them at all.

The waiting area is a bit crowded and thanks for the nose mask Lysette gave him to wear for protection of image. He can't be seen in police station like that. Some might notice him but they cannot be very sure who he is and he is more focused on what is at hand to care about what is happening around him.

"I want to see ACP Al-hafiz." He said to a sergeant passing by. He cannot just go to the reception, it is too crowded and many thugs are there and can easily recognize him. Maybe try to rob him.

The sergeant stared at his expensive outfit from head to toe, his eyes slitted a bit to put puzzles together of who this wealthy man might be. Few more seconds of staring weirdly, he finally resigned with a frustrated smile of not recognizing this person and answered. "ACP Al-hafiz is quiet busy right now, Sir."

Puzzled in frustration, Musa Babagana gestured to Lysette behind him to come forward which she did, out stretching a bunch of thousand notes to him. He opened the officers hand and place the sheaf gently, startling the man that haven't seen that amount in a long time. Even if he will see it everyday, it's never been his own so imagine his thrill at the gift.

"Let me go see whether he can accept visitors." He discretely place the money inside his pocket and turn around to leave only to halt by his Angel from above voice.

"Tell him it's Musa Babagana."

The sergeant's eyes widened which caused him to turn in one sixty to see the said Musa Babagana in face mask. He was amazed and galvanized, staring with his mouth and nose alongside huge eyes.

"Not a word about it to anyone." Lysette threatened, stepping forward to stand beside her boss like a shield.

Mutely and wordlessly, he nodded at Lysette before turning around to half run to ACP Al-hafiz's office at the other side of the station. The felicity and joy of knowing he has more than his five months salary in his hand is too much to contain. He has his own one hundred thousand Naira in his pocket just by answering a reputable influential man.

He met Ahmad furiously working with his laptop, disregarding everyone and anything around his surrounding. He is isolated even with the surrounding with with noise, heat and materials. Sergeant Lawal always look up to Ahmad like some eminent, he just respects him, like every other good officer in the station. No one has ever said a bad word against. Well, you never know behind their backs.

"Good afternoon, Sir!" He saluted professionally upon entering the office. When the man only nodded and didn't raise his head to acknowledge his complaint, Sergeant Lawal took it upon himself to break the news like that. Maybe that will get the man's attention. "Sir, Mr. Musa Babagana is here to see you."

Abruptly, his fingers seized their movements on the keyboard and he slowly but surely rise his head to look at the messenger. Realizing who the officer is, Ahmad didn't falter the furrow across his brows. This is a surprise and why would Musa Babagana come to him in the station and not call for him or maybe wait till he gets home? Something is definitely fishy and not right, he'd be damned if he doesn't find out what it is.

"Show him the way." Was his answer with a nod of affirmation. That feeling crept up within him again, curiosity grave as hell.

A minute passed before he heard the sounds of footsteps outside his office on the worn out red carpet sprawled at the corridor outside. Unhurriedly, Sergeant Lawal opened the door for Musa Babagana, saluted again at Ahmad before taking his leave with Ahmad's permission. Left alone with the man who is supposed to be his uncle, Ahmad stood up to pay respect in a professional way.

He rounded his table, went to Musa Babagana and shook his hand sternly. The man let out an austere smile, his face twitching irritably in a way that makes him look older and fake. Ahmad didn't mind, knowing how the mindsets of these rich folks works. His father had been one too anyway.

"Have a seat, Sir." He gestured to the twin chairs in front of his table which Musa Babagana occupied leisurely.

Ahmad went back to his seat and clasped both palms together on the table as if waiting for explanation of what he's brought with him. Noticing that, Musa Babagana gave a chortle that came from his throat and then began.

"I'm not here for business, ACP. I'm here for personal reasons."

Ahmad's mouth formed an 'o' as his brows shoot up in another galvanized expression. He actually thought Musa Babagana was here to report something or inquire about Usman Yakubu Dikko! By now, everyone knows about the lady that filed a case against the man who refused to divorce her but assaulted and killed her baby.

A blink, he suspire. "How personal is this, Sir?"

"Very personal." Musa Babagana emphasized the words to get his message across. Ahmad nodded, sitting up straighter because he knew this is crucial. "And I really hope you won't fold my hands like you did the other time."

Ahmad smiled, a small one but visible anyway. The edges of his lips twitched in alarm. "Except if I cannot do anything about it, Sir. If it is within my power, you have it sheathed."

Something about his words set Musa Babagana's heart at ease and he looks satisfied. "My daughter, Fatima is unwell as you know." He paused, Ahmad nodded that he should continue. "Surgery needs to be performed on her but when it does, Fatima's life will nearly be baseless by the end of it because her ovaries and uterus will be removed. She cannot give birth even if she wants to. She's suffering from endometriosis and something needs to be done immediately. I asked for another way other than the surgery, I don't want her life to be ruined. The doctor suggested marriage.

"I already told you about my plan to get her married, this just strengthen my will. I'm leaving the country in just two days, I want her to get married before I leave which is why I set it before the sun sets tomorrow. I've been looking around for groom, you know how the world is now. When I finally settled on Usman Yakubu Dikko, I found out the terrible things he's done so I backed out.

"Now I have only one person in mind, if not him, then no one else."

Intrigued, Ahmad pressed. "Who is this person, Sir?"

Without blinking or flinching, Musa Babagana tipped the words from his lips without remorse. "You!"