Anike
Episode 23
“Are you expecting…. The b©dyguards entered before I could finish my statement Then his Governor friend, Governor Mark walked in with his security officers. “Your excellency Sir” I greeted him. “How are you Anike” He offered me a handshake and I took it. “I’m fine sir, welcome. I’m on my way out before you c@m£ in. Have a nice stay sir” “Anike, I said you are going no where” “Prince was going on here, I can tell she had been crying, look at her face?” “We had a little misun-derstanding… “What’s this, he sighted the test result and picked it. “Gabriel is your princess pregnant?” he asked pla-yfully, though he’s the funny type. “I wish” he replied. He checked the results and told his men to stand down. They left remaining just the three of us. “Prince you have infection! when did you start pla-ying around” “Give me the papers Jo, nossy governor. Why did you even think I was the one pla-ying around in the first place” “Cos I know your girl is faithful” “Anike you really have fans o, Mark even trusted you more than me his friend. Good for you” “You won’t un-derstand, in fact I have a confession to make. “What confession?” “Well, when you started d@t!ngAnike, I thought she was just some random girl that you’ll soon give up, so people like us could have a share too. But when I realized that you’re still keeping her, Despite the fact that we pressure you to remarry and you said no. I decided to know what’s so good about her that made you stick with her this long. I know Anike never mentioned what I’m about to say to you. Because I’m very sure you would have confronted me if you know about it” He continued “I summoned Anike to my guest house one, she c@m£ and I told her I wanted her just for a night. Just to be sure of what you’re enjoying so much in her. She told me she’s not a pr©st!tût£and I smiled. Everyone has a price right? So I wrote a cheque of #5M and gave it to her. She rejected it. “Oh Alawode has spoilt you with money right” so I thought. So I wrote her another cheque of #10M Guess what she did Gab, she to-re it and stormed out of the room. Not scared of what I could to her. I was dumbfounded. Who rejects #10M for just one night. Do you now see reasons why I trusted her?” Gov Mark explained. Prince was shocked at her friend’s revelation. “She never mentioned it. plea-se Mark plead with her on my behalf, I accused her wrongly, I was misinformed” “Gab, you believe a stranger’s words over hers?” “Just beg her for me Mark, I’ve always trusted her, the result made me accuse her wrongly.” “Anike… plea-se forgive him hun! You know he’s de-eply sorry, you are is life o, don’t s£nd him to early grave” “Anike plea-se…..” he added “Admiral Gabriel Alawode!” I cut in. The only thing you can do for me now is to give me the name of your informant” I said “Anike leave that to me, I’ll personally deal with the person” “Did you hear him, he’s even protecting the person” I said facing Governor Mark. “I’m not protecting her, I’m protecting you” “I don’t nee-d your protec-tion, give me the name or I’ll leave” “Anike, he might have his reasons, just let it go” said Mr Govenor. “Your excellency, I won’t until he gives me a name” “Anike not now” I picked my bag and thanked the Governor. “Anike it’s getting late, you don’t have to leave” “As if you care” I hissed. “Really As if I care?” He was disappointed at was I said but I can’t take it back. “Thank you I can take care of myself” I said and left. I got into the compound and my instinct told me to lur-k around. He might want to tell the governor who the culprit was. I walk down to the side of the house, I stood by the window side. I peeped and saw him with his phone, he placed a call. I decided to eavesdrop. “Happy or whatever you call your self, how dare you pl@ydirty pranks on me, so you betrayed your friend! You are as good as dead.. You will never try such again with her. I swear on my father’s throne, I’ll make sure I make your life a living hell” Prince said with rage and hung up. “Oh my God! Happy!” I couldn’t hold the tears not after everything I’ve done for her
Anike
Episode 24
I got back to my ap@rtment, Happy wasn’t home, I went to her room but to my surprise, she had packed all her things, not even a single pin was left. The whole room was clean. Prince’s threat really scared her, so I thought. I went to my room, l@yon the be-d still brooding, I was hungry but I had no appetite. I wanted to cry but I was tired, Prince disappointed me, after all the sacrifices I made for him. I choose not to keep a b©yfri£ndnot because I don’t have admirers but because I thought he deserves to have me alone for himself at least for now. I was even scared for happy, Despite his riches, connection and power, he never abused it. He doesn’t use his power to destroy people. I just hope he won’t hurt happy. “What has Happy gotten herself into” I said to myself. I’ve never seen Prince threathen someone like that before, he sound like he meant every word he told Happy. I doubt if it’s an empty threat. Come to think of it, people are wicked o, what did I do to deserve this from her. I even gave her #1.5M yesterday. She said she nee-ded it for her boutique. No wonder her boutique business is running down, an adage in Yoru-ba says ‘ If you are betraying someone secretly, bad things will be crawling into your life secretly too’ I called my Mum, Okiki is now awake and I spoke with him. I told her to let me know if they nee-d anything because im not prepared to go to Lagos any time soon, not this week. Prince started calling and I didn’t pick it, when the calls was getting annoying, I switched off my phone. ★★★★ “What a bad day” I said to myself as I stormed on my be-d to sleep. First it was infection, then my brother’s surgery, Prince’s wrong accusations and a friend’s betrayal, all in one day. I travelled from school to Lagos, Lagos to abuja and from Abuja back to school. What a day” I thought as I drifted to sleep. The next day, Governor Mark called me, he apologized on Prince’s behalf. I deceived him and told him have forgiven prince and it’s over. Who am I to say no to the governor. He was happy and ended the call. I remembered Prince said something about his net worth. I decided to find out on goggle since the federal government had alre-ady instructed all government officials to declare their as-sets. I entered his name on the search box. I wondered why I did not think of this before now. The results c@m£ up, then I saw the option for his net worth. I cli-cked on it and I couldn’t believe what I saw hundreds of million US dollars. And I’m very sure this people will never declare their full as-sets. No wonder he said he can buy me anything money can buy other heaven. He can keep his money to himself for all I care. A week later, my brother was discharged from the hospital. I had also completed the doses of the drugs I was given in the hospital, so I went back to the hospital for a rechecked. Luckily infection was gone. I still refuse to pick Prince’s call. When his calls persists, I bought another line and registered it. When he discovered the line was no more available, He s£nt his men to my place to pick me up and I refused to follow them.. I even thought they’ll take me f0rç£fully but they didn’t. “One of the men called him to tell him I refused to follow them. He ended the call and told the others that Prince said they should let me be. So they left after taking instructions from their boss. I knew he’s traveling to Dublin the following week, more reason why he’sis desperate to see me. When all his effort to reach me proves ab-ortive. He st©pped reaching out. He still s£nd me money weekly. I s£nt him a message on Facebook to st©p s£nding me money but he wouldn’t listen. I finished my lecture for the day, I was about to enter my car when one of Happy’s friend approached me. “Good afternoon Anike” “Good afternoon….Tara, right? “Yes, I checked at your house yesterday but you are not in. I’ve not seen Happy for three weeks now. I thought she traveled before and doesn’t want me to now her whereabouts. But now I’m worried, I’ve been calling since and her phone was switched off. I also checked at her dep@rtment I was told she hadn’t been attending lectures for weeks now. She’s also not online. I just hope she’s OK” she informed. “Happy moved out of my house weeks ago, though we have issues to trash out. I called her number severally, it wasn’t available. I thought she did that just to avoid me. But now that you mentioned she’s not been attending lectures, I don’t know what to make out of that” I stated. “May be we’ll have to report to the school authority” she suggested. Something is fishy, and I can only trace it to Prince. “No Let’s wait I promise I’ll find her. But if I can’t in the next three days, then we’ll report” I said and she agreed. I entered into the car. “You can join me, if you are going home, I’ll drop you off” I offered. She entered into the car and I drove out of parking lot. She alighted at her bus st©p that is before mine. I was alone now in the car, so I could think. “Something is not right, I didn’t meet Happy in the house that very day, all are things are gone too. Prince alre-ady called her before I left his house in Abuja. I hope prince hadn’t abducted Happy. He said he’ll make her life a living hell. Prince is not that kind of person, I wonder what he’s up to. I silently pray she’s fine. ★★★★ I got to my ap@rtment and changed into a t©p and short. Afterwards I called Alawode secured line, I’m not sure which country he is pres£ntly. All I know is that he’s I’m not in Nigeria. I placed the call. “Your access code plea-se” the receiver said from the other side. “364IM7J” I replied “Hold on for some minutes plea-se this call will be forwarded” The receiver’s voice said. 5minutes later, I heard his rich baritone voice which I’ve missed but I tried to put myself together. “Hello” “Anike!” “Admiral Gabriel Alawode! Where’s Happy?” I asked authoritatively. “So you called because of that low life girl, after avoiding me for three good weeks!” “That does not answer my question, where is she?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about” “Oh! You think I don’t know. OK let me bur-st your bubbles. I heard your conversations with Happy before I left your house and I heard all the threats. “Stay out of it Anike, that girl nee-ded to be thought a lesson” “I won’t stay out of it, where is she, where did you keep her” “Anike I’ve been trying to reach for three good weeks now but to no avail, what you’re doing to us is not fair” “I’m talking about someone’s lives you are talking about us. See there is no more ‘us’ Just tell me know where she is” “Did you just say there is no us. Then your friend will rot in prison” “Prince you really disappointed me, I thought you are one of the few people who doesn’t abuse their power” “Anyone who messes with you, messes with me and won’t get away with it” “Why are you ma-king another person’s business yours, I can handle my friend you don’t have to interfere” “Really” “I know you still held her because the two us are not on good terms, don’t pour your frustration on her. You are the one who did not trust your girlfriend enough and that is on you” “plea-se hang up, if you don’t have any better thing to say” he said angrily. I quic-kly sobered up. “Prince, I’m on my knees plea-se re-lease her. I know she did wrong by poking into our affair. plea-se re-lease her” I pleaded crying “Don’t overwork yourself she’s OK, I just want to torment her a bit, so st©p crying” “Do you agree to re-lease her now” “What about us?” “We’ll talk about that later, I want Happy at my door step today. Then we can talk about us” “Request granted” he said and ended the call. True to his word, In the evening my Door bell rang and I checked the peep hole, it was Happy in flesh and blood. Episode 25 I opened the door and She walked in and started crying. “Anike, I’m sorry for betraying you, I shouldn’t have done what I did, not after everything you’ve done for me. Jealousy made me do it” “Jealousy! You said you can d@t£ him, then. He’s still old or is he now younger?” “I know I said so, I know he’s rich but I haven’t seen a man spent for a side chick like that before. At some point I even thought you are using jazz on him. Seeing all the thing he’s doing for you, I regret throwing away what belongs to me. Anime you have the whole of Admiral’s heart. See the way he handled the lecturer’s case. He loves and pampers you with everything he has and I bec@m£ jealous all of a sudden. Anike it’s not about the material things that made me grow jealous, you treat me well with everything you have, but the fact that a powerful wealthy man like that is un-der your f!nger ti-ps is what arou-se the jealousy the more. I started plotting ways to separate the two of you for months. But couldn’t come up with anything, I know he trusts you so much. Telling me about the infection was an opportunity, you told me you haven’t informed him and I know he’ll be mad if he hears it from someone else but I had to lie about you d@t!nghis friends just to make my story ju-icy ” he confessed. “Happy you betrayed me, I even st©pped you from doing runs, I started paying you the money you make on weekends. I fund your boutique, I bought you a car, I feed you, you never brou-ght a grain of rice into this house and you eat. I cloth you. What else do you want me to do that I never did. Once I get an alert, you get an alert too. I’ve been grateful enough for what you did for me. I will forever be indebted to you for connecting me with Prince Alawode. But you still choose to destroy my relationsh!pwith him” I said pouring out my heart. “plea-se find it in your heart to forgive me, I’m truly sorry” “So where have you been since?” I asked Happy. “I received a call from Prince Alawode and I knew my cover had been b!own, I started packing my things. I moved it into my car, I was about to go out and some guys took me, one of them drove my car. I was blind folded. I only opened my eyes and met myself in a dark room. They didn’t t©uçh me, I was fed only cereal and water. I begged them to re-lease me but they didn’t listen to my plea-s. I even thought they were ritualist. Until today when I got a call from Prince. One of the guys gave me the phone and I spoke with him. He said “Happy this is just a ti-p of the iceberg, You messed with the wrong girl, you should be thankful, I hate shedding blood I would have waste you without a trace. I’m just doing this for now because she’s worried sick for a betrayal like you. Happy if you t©uçh a single strand on Anike’s hair, I’ll kill you and I mean I’ll kill you without leaving a trace” That was all he said, he did even gave me the chance to apologize. He said he alre-ady ordered the guys to re-lease me because of you. He said I must sign and un-dertaking which will be filled in police station. I signed and un-dertaking, it says anything that happens to you is going to be on me. “Eh ya….” “Have learnt my lessons plea-se forgive me and help me apologized to him. He also said he’ll make sure I graduate in this school without a certificate” “Ahn..ahn! But seriously you shouldn’t have pla-yed such pranks on him, do you think he wouldn’t find out the truth” “Help me beg him plea-se, I know he’ll listen to you” “I don’t talk to him again since that day, I only called today because of you, I just found out from Tara today that you are missing, I knew he’s behind it, that’s why I gave him a call. Have alre-ady cut all ties with him before today” She knelt down and held me. “Eh…I’m finished, Anike plea-se you have to talk to him, you have to mend your relationsh!pwith him or else I’ll be the one to face the consequences” She pleaded holding my legs. “I’ll talk to him, plea-se get up and st©p kneeling like a little girl, a big like you” “Thank you” “Go and get your things back and move in” “Ha….Prince Alawode will kill me. He warned me sternly to stay away from you. We both know he’ll find out” “I’ll ” I exclaimed. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll stay with Tara. We just have few months to graduate” “OK, then. If you nee-d anything don’t hesitate to tell me” She left later. I had to call Prince again, because I don’t un-derstand why she won’t let the girl be. I called his secured line again “364IM7J…..” “Hello” “Have you seen her” “Yes, but why all the threat nau, you even said he won’t graduate with a certificate” “I’m protecting you, that girl could endanger your life” “Prince keep your protec-tion, I don’t nee-d it. She’s a good person it’s only human for her to act like that” “What’s wrong with protecting the love of my life. Anyway I didn’t mean those threats, I know her to be a good person too, I just want to put her on the edge so she could tre-ad carefully around you” “Better, you’ve done enough to her plea-se let her be abeg. Good day!” “Anike, don’t hang up. I’m coming back to Nigeria by the end of the week, I’ll see you then” “If you think I’ll come to your place when you return, then you are a joker except you’ll kidnapped me the way you kidnapped Happy” I scoffed. “Anike…I’m not a kidnapper o, I just want to scare her that’s all” “Whatever” “I have a meeting now, I’ll call back later”. plea-se replace your sim, so we could talk” “I wont replace it, thanks for today anyway” I said and hung up. The next day was my visits to the orphanage. I visited the orphanage every months. I had alre-ady bought the things I’m taking along with me the previous week. I believe in given back to the society. One of the children at the orphanage called me aside when I was about to leave. “Anty Anike, I had a bad dream about you” Lily said. She’s one of my favorite at the orphanage. “How bad was the dream, Pretty?” “I can’t really explain, but I saw a man who instructed to pas-s a message to you “What’s the message?” I asked. “He said you must pray and seek God’s face before you take any decision that as to do with your future” “Alright dear, thanks” I left the orphanage and drove to straight home digesting what the girl said. ★★★★ I went to school on Friday afternoon to returned some text books I borrowed from the libr@ry. From there I went to the supermarket to get some things for my sick course mate. I went to her hostel to visit her. I spent little time with her before I leave. I left the hostel around six and I drove back home. I honked and waited for the gateman to open the gate. He opened after what took like forever. I drove in and I noticed some men in Navy Uniform. I looked up and saw the Boss himself sitting on a plastic chair in my corridor. “What’s he doing here” I asked no one in p@rticular He has never set foot in my house before. I made to reverse before the gate was closed. “Lock that gate” he commanded the gateman and I wonder if he’s the one paying his salary. He obeyed and locked the gate. Good, I locked my doors and stay put in the car. For like ten minutes I was there and he was watching. He later walk up to the car and knocked the window. I didn’t move, he knocked again and I whined down. “What?” I asked “Get down” I did not answer him. “Anike st©p been stubborn and get down from the d–n car!” He ordered. I turned off the ignition, took my key and Gucci handbag and alighted. “You! I pointed at the gateman, follow him when he’s going, maybe he could get you a job because you have no job here again. I promise you, I’ll see to that” I lash at the gateman. “Madam….”the gateman called out but I waved him off I made for the door and Prince followed. I retrieve the key from my bag and unlock the door. Two of the naval officers also followed us in.
Tbc