The Virgin’s Slot

TVS

REFLECTION BOOK HUB

PRESENTS

THE VIRGIN’S SLOT

(TVS)

WRITTEN BY DAMILOLA BABS

INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

Copyright: Damilola Babs, 2022

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Being a virgin does not necessarily mean

that you will get it right in marriage. The
right knowledge is needed, the right heart to
make the right decisions and the ability to
see God in your journey is even more
paramount. Sit back and enjoy this
trailblazer that has been inspired by the
Holy Spirit.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Damilola Babs is a drama Minister, and a

prolific Creative Christian Writer with a
mandate to bring up kingdom minded
creatives who have the same vision of
seeing Christians enjoy deep knowledge,
and prosperity through books.

She is the founder of Reflection Theatre

Ministry where we reflect Christ in all we do.
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Prologue

Mary knew that her father’s death left too

much dent. No one dared talk about it after
their mother recovered from the shock that
almost took her life. It was there, in their
hospital that she met the nightmare, Wisdom.
Aggressive, insensitive and proud. It wasn’t
like that at first, but after a few into the
relationship, the trouble started. He would
beat her to stupor and sometimes, she got
hospitalized. He paid the bills and apologized
every time. Mary endured because her mother
told her to.

Tonight, he had bought her a dress and told

her they were going out. She loves the dress,
but wasn’t sure she wanted to go out. With
Wisdom, it wasn’t about her, it was about him.
She got dressed quickly and came back out.

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He made no comment about her look and it

felt funny, but she knew better than to
complain, so she just followed him.

The guest were top politicians from all over.

Wisdom wasn’t a stranger among them. He
mingled well with the men that were his age.
Mary recognized almost everybody sitting,
commissioners, past commissioners, the
former governor of the state and the rest. She
knew better now why he picked what she was
wearing. It was intentional, it had to be loud
and classy else There was no way she
wouldn’t have felt displaced once they
entered such an exotic gathering.

Mary caught a guy staring. She looked away

quickly and held her man closer. He was busy
with other guests, greeting from one table to
another. She was happy he hasn’t seen the
guy staring.

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“Right, Mary...” Wisdom asked her, laughing

hysterically. She had heard nothing that he
said but she knew she had to play along. It
was the table he had spent too much time on
and the man sitting there was his best friend,
Kings. They were the same. Toxic women
beaters who had no regards for sanctity.

“Wait here for me, I will be right back.”

Wisdom told her and sat her on a seat on the
table. The young man that had been staring
started walking towards her. Mary wish she
could cry like a baby and beg him to go back,
but she couldn’t. It was too public for any kind
of drama.

“Hey, beautiful.” He greeted but she gave no

response. “I am talking to you. I like you
and...”

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“And what?” Wisdom interrupted out of

nowhere and Mary knew she was done for,
dead. She just didn’t know how he was going
to kill her.

“And I don’t think he deserves you.” The man

told her man but tilted to her instead. She felt
very uncomfortable and moved away from the
man who was no walking away.

“Kings, AJ dey try me I swear, but not to worry.

I know who to deal with.” He told his stunned
friend and dragged her out of the party. Mary
didn’t make a sound, she just followed him
like a puppet, his puppet...

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Chapter 1

Mary groaned in pain. Her legs hurt. She couldn’t

get up to pick up her phone. The pain in between
her legs kept sending signals to her brain. Joshua
couldn’t drive, it was the same with her friend
Helen.

She dragged her badly beaten body close to her

handbag and brought out her phone, her hand
quizzed around until she found her phone. She
picked up the phone and fell back to the ground.
Her nose bled as much as her stomach did. She
couldn’t believe he had stabbed her just to have his
way. And she couldn’t believe he did have his way.
She panted and cried as she dialed the only person
she should have trusted; Andrew.

“Hello,” she cried on phone. “Help me please. I am

dying.” She cried and dropped the call. His
resounding hello came on the phone like a rumble.
She knew he was coming, she only hoped he made
it down on time. Mary could almost feel her fingers

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turning numb. She was going cold and it only

meant one thing, death.

“Huh,” Mary groaned as she felt a slap go across

her face. It was Wisdom, her fiancée. She has just
angered him again and this time, she knew she was
done for.

“I am sorry, Mary cried, walking with her back into

the house. How was she to meet him face to face?
The man was their saviour. She, her little brother.
and her mother insisted she stayed in the abusive
relationship or they all die of hunger. She couldn’t
even order the effrontery. No, no way!

“Don’t beg me!” He parched at her removing his

belt from his waist. “I am going to deal with you.
You didn’t even care if I was standing there, you let
that man talk to you and ask for your number?”

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“Wisdom! Wisdom, I can’t control that. I am sorry.

Any man can walk up to me and ask for my
contact.”

“You are still talking?” He asked angrily landing the

belt on her stomach. The next lash touched her
back, the next touched her hips. She was in hell.
Not knowing where to touch or hold. The pain was
everywhere. She squirmed and shrieked in tears
until he was done. Mary picked up her silver clutch
and slowly went out of the house. How did a
perfect dinner turn into another abusive moment?
Just a few hours, she felt beautiful, absolutely
beautiful. Wiz, like she called him had made all the
preparations, bought her the perfect dress, a white
dinner gown, her hair made her remember Barbie.
Perfection!

Now, here she was, beaten into a pulp like a native

goat. She didn’t attempt to stop a vehicle, she just
trekked slowly, sobbing without shame on the main
road. Mary was too tired. Not only physically, but
also mentally and emotionally. She sat by the road

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side, her legs spread out wide, her fine whine heels
laid beside her on the road side. She didn’t care or
give a damn who was watching, she just stayed
and cried like a baby.

Andrew drove past but couldn’t take his eyes off

the woman that sat by the road side. He reversed
and pulled over beside her, before hitting his car
horn and whining down his window.

“Hello, good evening young lady, are you fine?” He

asked her, his head to tilting out of his car window.
Mary gave him a bad look and got up like the man
had not just talked to her. He followed her and
drove gently behind her as she walked.

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Chapter 2

“Look, I am not a kidnapper, my name is Andrew

Boluwaduro, I am a surveyor and I just moved into
Ibadan. Here, my ID card.” He told her, stretching
his card to her. She ignored him and he returned it
into his car.

“Okay, just so you know, I want to be sure you are

safe, so…umm…I am just going to drive behind
you until you get home.”

“Please, go and leave me alone!” She parched at

him angrily like he was the one that beat her up.

“Look, I won’t bite you, I promise.” He told her and

kept following her behind.

“You all are the same, animals in human flesh,

believer, nonbeliever, you are all the same. Look at
my face, look at my shoulder. Your kind had the
right to lift his finger up and beat me this bad. Over

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what? Over what? The fact that I can’t help my

family without him?”

“Okay, okay, chill. Let me help you home. I am not

going to beat you, I am not going to touch you,
please.” He pleaded and she stopped. His car
stopped abruptly too. She faced the road and
ignored him.

A huge man approached her staring lustfully, his

stomach was a drum size, no, two drums size. She
had intentionally taken her eyes off him until it
became pretty clear, the man was coming for her.
Mary rushed through the back of the car into it.
Andrew whined up quickly and began to laugh, she
almost joined in.

“Why did you run like that?” Andrew managed to

ask her.

“Leave me jor! I live in Sango.” She told him and he

started the vehicle.

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The trip was suppose to be quiet, but Mary found

herself talking to Andrew and telling him too much
about herself. By the time he pulled over in front of
her house, He was consoling her and exchanging
contact with her. He promised he was going to be
back the next day.

Mary saw her mother waiting in front of the house,

adjusting her wrapper too many times. She bade
Andrew good night and came out of the car as she
watched him drive off.

“Eh!” Her mother started once Andrew left.

“Omo mi! Omo ola! Omo daada!” She hailed and

danced, but Mary ignored her, walking angrily into
her room. The woman ran after her in curiosity.
Mary didn’t care.

She banged the door to her face and fell on her

bed crying. She was tired, she wanted a change.
She wasn’t growing any younger, at twenty-eight,
she needed stability, she needed rest and she was

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sure it was the right time to get it. Mary laid there
on the bed until sleep came calling.

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Chapter 3.

“Babe na wa oo.” Even Paul cannot try this

nonsense with me.” Helen, Mary’s friend, who was
the complete opposite of herself, told her. Mary sat
in front of her sewing machine, while Helen sat
across the machine and talked none stop. She was
a sanguine, the type that hardly hid her feelings, yet,
she was Mary’s best friend, except that the two
could sometimes go months without talking for no
reason. All the same, Mary always thought of her as
the smarter one, she wasn’t a beginner like her, yet
at the mention of her name, Paul fidgeted and
played the fool at any time.

Paul was her boyfriend. A church brother to the

core. She was also a Christian, but she did too
much as far as Mary was concerned. She played
the adviser but the woman, obviously had her man
wrapped around her sleeves.

“See babe, nobody, I mean no girl, can give Paul

sex the way I give it to him. Left, right, center, all

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round!” She would always respond each time Mary

warned her and talked to her about value and all.
The first time she told her it had shocked Mary to
her bones.

“Wait?! Are you having sex with Paul?!” She had

asked, her lips falling apart in surprise.

“Not really, but you see, the things is that he wants

to wait. Me, I no fit. Him never too gree, so I am
here doing all I can to make him sleep with me.”

“Hmm, Jezebel!” Mary joked and then headed in to

advising her friend. It was the same day she
opened up to her about her status. “Look babe, I
am still a virgin. I mean, not even Wiz has been able
to have me.”

“Babe! Seriously? What are you doing with the old

sack. Your hymen, why don’t you just get it broken
and move on with your life. No one has to know
you’ve done it anyways.” She told Mary looking
straight into her eyes.

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“Babe, I can’t. Apart from fornication being a sin, I

am just not interested in sex for now, it has nothing
to do with my spirituality.”

“Hmm, abeg, no be you, Hail Mary. You be spirit

ooo abeg,” she joked and they both laughed. Helen
sighed and looked at her friend with pity.

“Babe, that Wisdom guy does not deserve you, I

swear.”

“Don’t swear jor,” Mary told her and tapped her

shoulder lightly. “I know, right? But what can I do?”

“What can you do?” Helen asked wearing shock

like a mask.

“He is the only man I know willing to spend for my

family without asking for sex.” Mary explained…

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Chapter 4

“He is the only man I know willing to spend for my

family without asking for sex.” Mary explained.

“Then get a job, or get another man and…and…”

she turned away from her friend.

“And what?” Mary asked turning Helen’s face you

herself.

“And sleep with him abeg.”

“Helen!”

“What?”

“You know my stand. I don’t want to sleep with any

man until marriage.”

“Na Wetin?!” Helen parched, her eyes widening.

She was angry already. “Look me well, I be virgin?
No, but Paul practically worships the ground that I
walk on. He loves me crazy and does not deny me
anything I ask him.”

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“Except sex,” Mary interjected and sighed.

“See, this is not me trying to influence you badly,

but Wisdom isn’t wise, he isn’t good for you, he is
bad news and I don’t want him for you.”

The door squeaked from behind and her mother

entered. Helen knew better than to continue. The
woman hated her as she hated Wisdom. She was
bad news as far as Mary’s mother was concerned,
bu daughter loved the girl.

“Good morning ma…ermm, I mean, good

afternoon ma.” Helen stuttered and bent too many
times.

“Hmm,” the woman responded coldly and opened

the door wide. Both Mary and Helen knew what she
meant. The two signaled each other and Helen
picked her bag to leave.

“Good bye ma.” She greeted on her way out, but

was soundly ignored.

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“Mary, Mary, ki lo se e? What is wrong with you?

Yesterday, it wasn’t Wisdom that came to drop you.
Your new dress was torn and you came in with a
new man. A new man! Eh!” She shouted and sat on
the bed beside her daughter.

“Mummy now, ejo. Stop doing this. Andrew is just a

friend I met yesterday.”

“Hmm Hmm?” She asked raising a brow.

“Yes Mummy and nothing happened. It was your

one in a billion son-in-law to be that beat me up
again.” Mary finally yelled.

“Mary, Mary, don’t say it like that now, ehn?

Couples fight oo. Your father and I-“

“Oh please mom! Yes, you both fought, but never

did he raise his hand on you. Look mom, I am
getting a job and I am breaking up with that foolish
Wisdom!”

“You will do no such thing! Never! How do you

want to be grateful for all this man has been doing

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for us. Look at where we are staying, he got it for

us. Your brother’s school fees, my medicines and
the hospital bills. What meager salary can you earn
that would solve all of our problems?”

“Why then did Daddy send me to school before he

died? Why? Ehn? I want to work, contribute my
quota and do my bit instead of laying my body
down on the sacred altar of Wisdom and his family.
His younger sister treats me like a dog, his mother
treats me worse and he, he treats me
like…like…nothing!” She landed with a sob and a
honk followed. Her mother checked through the
window quickly.

“Wisdom is here. You will wipe those tears off your

face, go out there and beg him.” She told Mary
with so much excitement like she hadn’t heard
anything her daughter said.

“Beg hi-“

“You will listen to and stop arguing.”

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She told her already walking to the door. “I am sure

you know he hates waiting. Be fast and please put
on something better, you look like a mess.” She
finally told her and walked out.

Mary didn’t know what to do or say, she just stood

there and let her tears roll down her cheeks. She
spent a few minutes more before going out to
meet Wisdom in his car. Her mother was standing
close to his car, talking to him indistinctly and
laughing. Mary heaved to hide her anger, but her
face was stone strong. Her mother was now
walking towards her winking and gesturing for her
to smile. She stopped once she reached her side.

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Chapter 5

“Behave yourself!” She whispered and continued

her walk into the house turning at intervals and
smiling sheepishly.

Kpa! The car door sounded as Mary settled her

angry self next to Wisdom. She hated the fact that
she had obeyed her mother and had a change of
cloth. She was wearing a red sleeveless body hug
and black jeans. Her long hair was packed to the
center of her head. He leaned over to peck her, but
she moved away with equal speed.

“Okay, sorry about last night.” He apologized

casually without an iota of remorse in his voice.

“Okay,” she responded.

“And is that all you are going to say?” He asked her

squeezing his forehead.

“What should I say? I am asking you, why do you

want me to say? That I am sorry too. That guy
should have never come an inch close to me at the

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Tolu’s birthday party. Well, Wisdom, I do not have

control over the men that talk to me and tell me
they like me, you obviously have a problem with
that and a lot of other things.” She yanked to his
face without fear. Mary saw him swallow his saliva
hard. She knew she had hit something hard inside
of him. It was going to get her into trouble later, but
this morning she was angry and she was going to
say all that she needed to say. He wouldn’t dare
hurt her in front of her mother.

Wisdom opened his side of the car and walked to

her side. He opened the door to her side of the car
and dazed her a slap across her face.

“Are you mad? Who do you think you are talking

to?” He asked her, shielding her away from her
mother’s view.

“You slap me in front t of my mother’s house?”

She asked him crying.

“And I will slap you again. Who rented the damn

house you now call your mother’s house? Me! Who

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is responsible for your feeding and the things you

wear? Me! Who-

“-Enough! It is okay.” Mary told him and gently

pushed him away to come out of the car. She came
out and strolled off without saying a word.

“What happened?” Her mother asked once she

entered the house silent. Mary said nothing to the
woman. She just walked past her into her room.

Her phone rang like it had been waiting for her

return. She checked to see who it was. It was her
new found friend, Andrew. She had saved it with
Brother Andrew, funnily. She sighed and cleared
her throat before picking it.

“Brother Andrew of the most High!” she managed

to say out of a croaky voice.

“Jesus! You just brother zoned me!” His voice

came up playfully.

“No now, that is what I saved your number as on

my phone.”

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“Young woman, delete it, delete it, now, how, now.”

He jokingly told her in a funny accent.

“What if I say no?”

“Well then, I can make you change your mind over

dinner.” He told her.

“Are you asking me out on a date?” She asked and

laughed.

“Not yet, not yet, this is just me wanting to eat out,

but I will and when I do, you will know.” He told her.
“Okay, so by 6pm, I will come get you.” He told her.

“Won’t that be too early for dinner?” She asked.

“Not for man without a car.”

“What happened to the car from last night?” She

asked.

“Not mine. It belongs to a friend and I have

returned it to him.

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Chapter 6

“Not mine. It belongs to a friend and I have

returned it to him.” He told her and then an
awkward silence came up between them. “Are you
there?” Andrew asked, shutting the silence
between them out.

“Ye…yes. I am here and I will be waiting to talk to

you over dinner.” She told him. They talked for a
little longer before he finally dropped the call.

Andrew arrived to take her out and she absolutely

loved what he wore. It was an Ankara designer. The
front had a V shape cut that ran from the front
pockets to his knees. The trouser was slim and fine.
He wore a cap on it that made him look like a Hau
sa mallam, yet, he was writhing of absolute finesse
and peace to add.

“Mary could not help but exclaim when she saw

him.

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“Wow! Who made this?” She asked in amusement.

“I did.” He answered.

“You are a fashion designer?”

“Yes. And thanks for not saying a tailor like other

people.” He told her and they both laughed.

“That is what they call me too and they don’t just

call me that, they are very disrespectful about it.”
She replied and they both laughed. As they entered
the Uber Andrew had ordered.

They talked abt more things in the clothing line

including Nigerian designers like Luminie, Yomi
Casual, Lanre Da Silver, Ade Bakare Couture, and
the likes. The man seemed to know so much. She
was impressed. He talked about their unique styles
and rise to fame. He was definitely a fashion king.

“Do you like the meal?” Andrew asked her for the
umpteenth time since they started eating.

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“I like it.” Mary told him tiredly smiling, almost

giggling.

“I just want to be sure. We are in a Chinese

restaurant, they may serve you frog legs and
lizards.”

Mary laughed heartily and Andrew could not help

but notice the features around her neck. She had a
sweet chain neck. They folded and lapped each
other so perfectly. They were full and her fine
caramel colour accentuated every line and there, a
dot. A small dark dot. It was just by the side of her
neck, it made him smile once he saw it.

“You are beautiful.” He told her completely lost in

her eyes.

“Yeah, many people say so,” Mary responded and

it made Andrew chuckle.

“What kind of response is that?” He asked her.

“Don’t you feel beautiful?” He added another
question and Mary went dumb.

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Wisdom was the only man she had ever been with
and never had he told her that she was beautiful.
Although, her mother called her arewa, meaning
beauty. Only that the name didn’t matter after
spending a few months with her man. He always
made her feel like a nonentity. Mary sighed and
adjusted quickly on her seat.

“How were you able to afford this place? I hope I

am not taking too much from your pocket?” She
asked him in an attempt to change the topic.

Andrew laughed gently and Mary went mute.

“No, keep talking.” He told her. “You don’t know

how attractive it makes you look trying to change
the topic on me like I am some twelve year old.” He
laughed again.

“Okay, fine. You see, I avoid the topic because

even if a admit it that I am beautiful, my man makes
me feel like a piece of plank next to him and my
mom…”

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“I am listening.” He told her gently. His left hand

crossing the table to hold her hand. “It’s okay, feel
free to talk to me. We are friends right? And thank
God you already brother zoned me.” He added and
chuckled.

“Mom feels I should stay with him to prevent us

from dying of hunger. I am tired and I need a job.”
She added too quickly.

“Hold on, you just said you needed a job.” He

reverted.

“Yes, I mean, I am a graduate and I really feel if I

can start making money to keep my family together,
then I would be free from Wisdom. You won’t
believe he came by this morning and…and instead
of an apology, he slapped me.”

“What?! That nitwit touched you again?” He asked

hitting the table in anger.

“Ah ahn, calm down now. May be I shouldn’t have

told you.” She said.

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“No, no, please, tell me everything. Always tell me

everything. I promise to behave myself.” He told
her, his hand flying to his chest.

“Andrew!” A male voice called from behind Mary.

She turned quickly to see who it was. The man was
huge and dark and he seemed to have changed
Andrew’s mood. “Hey man,” he came closer this
time.

“Who is that?” Mary asked Andrew…

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Chapter 7

“Hey man,” he came closer this time.

“Who is that?” Mary asked Andrew.

“Mark, my friend. The one who owns the car.” He

whispered and got up to shake him.

“Hey Mark.” He greeted back hugging the man.

“Na Wetin now, why you still follow me come here?”
He whispered into his ear.

“No be so now baba, no be so. Omo, na she be this,

she fine oo.” Mark whispered back into his friend’s
ear. Andrew pushed him away from himself quickly.
And gave him a funny look.

“Um, are you both ready to leave, so I can give you

both a lift?” He asked.

“Don’t worry, I will get Mary home in one peace.”

Andrew replied quickly. To his surprise, Mark

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turned to the woman sitting there and took her

hand into his.

“My dear lady, my name is Mark and I am your

friend’s friend. It is my pleasure to meet your
acquaintance.” He introduced himself in a funny
way and it made Mary giggle.

“Mark, abeg, come dey go, please, leave us.”

Andrew said, pleading.

Mark took a long walk away from them and in no

time reappeared like some magician.

“You know what? You both can have the car, I will
just take a cab home.”

“Why?” Andrew asked in pleasant shock.

“Well, it’s just me, but you my man, you need to

treat this lady well.” He told him and dropped the
key before striding off again.

Mary just kept laughing. “Your friend is so funny.”

She told Andrew once Mark left.

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“You have the most amazing laughter I have ever

seen or heard.” He told her getting lost in her eyes.

“Are you lusting after me right now?” She asked,

looking down at the plate of food she had barely
touched. It was the reason he kept asking if she
liked the food.

“God forbid.” He told her. “Okay, let me tell you

something, I have four amazing sisters and I am the
only boy in my family.” He told her.

“Wow!”

“Yes. And not just that. I accepted Jesus since I

was eighteen and since then, God has taken me
through the thick and thin of hard times. Struggled
a bit with pornography at some time, but um, didn’t
have a girlfriend until I was twenty six.”

“What?!” She mused at him from her side of the

table.

“Umm, don’t worry, I am not gay. I wanted my first

woman to be my only woman. Unfortunately, it

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didn’t work out and ermm, we broke up last year

after four years.”

“Four years! What happened?” She asked.

“Well, apparently, she couldn’t cope with um…a

man who has never done the do with a woman. She
herself was a pro and I wasn’t giving her the vibe
she needed to stay.”

“Wait! What?! You have never um…”

“Say it, yeah, I have never. It’s okay, you can laugh.
I have never told anyone though, I didn’t want
anyone laughing me to scorn.” He told her
adjusting on his seat uncomfortably. “I don’t even
know why I told you.” He told her and added a brief
fake laughter.

“No, no, it’s fine. I am not going to laugh at you. I

mean, I am proud of you and um…it is very noble.
So, to what do you owe waiting?” She asked.

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“Umm, can we change the topic. I’m getting rather

uncomfortable.” He said and chuckled. Mary
smiled back.

“Why are we telling each other too much just on

our first outing?” Mary asked and they both laugh.

“I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel too much. It feels

like I have known you for ages.” He told her staring
at her again.

“That look, it makes me uncomfortable.”

“Why?” He asked still looking at her. “You are not

used to people admiring you?”

“Well, yes, people admire me, but admiring me this

long and making it this intense?” She said and
looked away.

Andrew laughed out.

“Eat up Sister Mary.”

“Sister?”

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“I am sister zoning you. You think you are the only

one that knows how to brother zone people…” they
bantered as they finally dug into their food and ate.

Mary had not felt such peace in a long while, yet

she knew leaving Wisdom was going to be a hard
decision to make.

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Chapter 8

“I am sister zoning you. You think you are the only

one that knows how to brother zone people…” they
bantered as they finally dug into their food and ate.

Mary had not felt such peace in a long while, yet

she knew leaving Wisdom was going to be a hard
decision.

Mark’s car pulled over in front of the house. Once it

lights were turned off, Wisdom turned on his car
light to tell Mary he was waiting for her.

“Eh, Jesus!” Mary called fearfully.

“What is it?” Andrew asked.

“Wisdom,” she answered.

“Oh, that’s his name. Well, I am not going to trade

hugging you tonight for anything.” He drew her
close and hugged her. Mary couldn’t help but
laugh.

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“Oh! Thank you for making my grave deeper.”

Mary told him.

“No one is dying. At least, not tonight. By the way,

prepare your CV. I will talk to Mark, he is a boss in
one of these big offices around.”

“Are you serious?” She asked happily.

“Yes. I am.” Mary hugged him again. This time with

too much joy.

“Wait until you get the job before you break my

neck so that you can at least foot the hospital bills.”
He told her and they both laughed.

By this time, Wisdom had stepped out of the car

and stood right in front of his car with the light still
on. He looked like he was going to get Andrew and
eat him raw.

“Okay, I think I may have to take you in myself.

Andrew told her and opened his car door. Mary
opened hers too fearfully, but he signaled her to
stay still. He went over to her side and opened the

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door for her. She stepped out and he pecked her.

Mary was shocked.

“What was that for?” She asked him.

“For a peaceful night.” He said and held her hand.

For a moment, everything around Mary stopped
existing. She walked beside the man, as he
escorted her into the house, Wisdom’s angry eyes
following after them. Once she was inside, Mary
rushed to the window to see what would happen
next.

Just as she thought. Wisdom stopped Andrew

halfway, pierced him up and and down with his
eyes and retreated into his car angrily. Andrew
simply entered his friend’s car and drove off too.
Mary sighed in relief.

“Where have you been? Wisdom has been waiting

for you.” Her mother’s voice came behind her.
Mary sat back on the cushion but said no word to
her mother.

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“I am talking to you!” Her voice came up again.

This time, Mary picked her hand bag from where
she dumped it on the floor and walked into her
room without saying a word.

“Get out!” Wisdom’s voice came up loud and

mercilessly. He had come with some men to throw
them out of the house. He was that angry and it
was obvious he wasn’t going to spare them.

“Have you seen what you caused? Have you? You

this thoughtless child. I warned you not to offend
him, I warned you not to offend him oo.” Her
mother kept yelling into her ears.

“Aunty Mary, what did we do this time around,

ehn?”

“I don’t know!” She replied and it annoyed Wisdom.

He moved close to her and dragged her by the hair.
Joshua, her brother could not take it. He was
twenty and had all the manly features, but he also
couldn’t take Wisdom on and he knew it.

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“Please stop!” He begged. “Don’t hurt my sister.”

He kept crying, but Wisdom ignored him and added
pressure to holding her hair.

“How dare you say you don’t know what you did?
You, my property, my woman, you stood here
yesterday, hugged and even kissed another man in
front of me.” He shouted into her ear.

“I am not your property and no good man would

treat their women like this. For your information,
that man that dropped me off was only a friend and
I am sure you know he didn’t kiss me, it was only a
peck.”

“I don’t care! No man touches you in front of me!

No man!”

“Fine! Take it all, all of it!” Mary yelled, collected

herself from him angrily, and unzipped her bag, she
poured out the clothes he had bought for her,
handbags, and jewelry.

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“You can have them all and go. Get out of my life,
get out of my face, I am tired!” Mary cried.

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Chapter 9

You can have them all and go. Get out of my life,
get out of my face, I am tired!” Mary cried.

“Mary! Mary! Are you mad?!” Her mother slapped

her from behind. “Where do we go to from here?
Where?!”

“Mummy! Mummy don’t touch me! You made me

say yes to this idiot! I knew he was bad news from
the first day he drove in and claimed he loved me.
God! What was I thinking? You are not even a
believer!”

“My father owns a church you rat!” He told her

angrily.

“But you, you don’t own Christ. You don’t even

know him!” She yelled to his face fearlessly.

“Fine, let Christ show up for you, let him help you
foolish woman!” He told her and faced the guys.

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“Make sure she and every of her family members

leaves this place, do you understand?!”

“Yes sir!” One of the men answered for all of them.

Mary stared at Wisdom as he walked away and

then disappeared into his car. He zoomed off
without mercy.

Mary’s mother kept yelling and saying many things

to her. She just couldn’t think straight. She walked
away from her mother and moved to another side
of the house to help her think straight.

She didn’t know what to do, her job had not come,
she needed help. She brought out her phone and
dialed Andrew’s number. She was scared, she
hated to be a burden, yet, the man was her only
hope.

“Hey sister, woman of God, how far?” His voice

came on happily.

“Um…” Mary started, clearing her voice in her

usual character. “I need your help.” She told him.

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“Ermmm…” she hesitated again.

“Tell me anything, I am here for you.” He told her

calmly. Mary simply burst into tears and couldn’t
say anything.

“Wait! Are you home? I am coming.” He told her

and dropped the call.

“See, you better do something about this nonsense!

Do something ooo! You this child! Alakoba omo!”

“Mummy don’t say those things to me, don’t say

those things to me, I beg you in the name of God. I
beg you!” She told her mother and sat on one of
the bags outside the house.

“Hey…” Andrew’s voice came up very softly.

Mary’s mother looked at the man and hissed. He
didn’t look at the woman at any time, he just
focused on Mary, lifting her slowly up to her feet
and hugging her.

“Shhh, it’s okay. It’s okay.” He calmed her down as

she cried more.

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“Oh, so Wisdom pays the rent and that is why he

could angrily come to throw you out.” He said and
chuckled. “Okay, great! First and foremost, sorry I
caused you so much trouble.”

“No, no, it’s okay.” It is not your fault.” She told

him.

“Okay. And secondly,I need to get you and your

family to a safe place. Staying here would
giveWisdom the right to keep hurting you. Umm,
give me a minute.” He told her and walked away
from her, holding his phone to his ear. Mary’s
mother rushed to her side and dragged her closer
to herself.

“Is he rich like Wisdom?” she asked her daughter in

a low whisper.

“No, he is not, but he is not as thoughtless as him

either.” She told her mother.

“So, how is he going to help us?” she asked her

daughter again.

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“I don’t know!”

“What does he do?”

“He is a fashion designer.”

“What is fashion designer? A tailor is a tailor, abeg.”

She hissed and walked away from Mary’s side.

“Umm, we would have to wait. A truck is coming to

take these things away from here. You and your
brother would stay with me, your mom, um. She has
stay with an old aunt so that I can buy time to settle
the apartment issue. I’ll wait here with you.” He told
her. “That’s your younger brother, right?”

“Yes, Joshua!” She called the young man to come

close.”

“Good afternoon sir,” Joshua greeted once he

came close.”

“Hey Josh, wassup?” Andrew greeted the young

man casually and shook his hand like they were
friends. Josh responded.

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Chapter 10

“Hey Josh, wassup?” Andrew greeted the young

man casually and Josh responded. The two soon
started talking about things even Mary did not
understand.

Football, computer games and all. Devil May Cry

was one of the games Joshua brought up and he
was both pleased and shocked that the man knew
that one too. They talked about Sparda and her
husband Anthens who had been held captive and
how their sons had now grown and wanted to take
vengeance and see that the father is released from
hell.

Mary thought the game was evil and began to

advise them both against it. They both laughed and
giggled watching her make a mountain out of a
mole hill.

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Soon, a truck arrived and they were on their way to

the house, not their mother though, she was taken
to Aunty Hannah’s house. Aunty Hannah was
Andrew’s Aunt and that was all they knew about
her. Mary had insisted they followed their mother
to Aunty Hannah’s house first and the sight she
met was just amazing. The woman lived in a room
self-con with her sixteen years old daughter. The
girl jumped on Andrew once she saw them. She
couldn’t stop talking about school and her new
found crush, Jerry. Mary knew they were not
related from the way the girl kept bantering.

“Good afternoon ma.” She finally greeted Mary

who simply smiled back and greeted her softly.

“Kai! Aunty you are fine oo.” She added and both
Mary and Joshua laughed. Joshua liked the girl.
She was lively and very friendly and it wasn’t long
before the two clicked and began to talk.

The house was very comfy. The living room was

beautiful and anyone would see at first sight that

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the theme colour had carefully been chosen. Milk

and brown. The chairs were soft and looked like
they had just been made.

“Good afternoon ma, ooo” Mary’s mother greeted

Aunty Hannah, almost squatting. The woman
hoisted her off her knee immediately.

“Haba now, we are sisters, don’t knee for me.”

The woman told her and Mary was glad her mother
wasn’t dramatic about the whole thing. They set
out and left once they were sure everyone was
settled in.

Andrew couldn’t wait for them to be in the car, he

loved to stare at Mary. She was that beautiful as
far as he was concerned.

His house was beautiful, it was a room self-con,

but it carried an ambiance of comfort that even the
blind could feel. The living room had a plasma
hanging on the wall, a home theater set sat right
beneath the Tv. The cushion was joined and so the

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it formed a semi-circle in the living room. The

center table was a portable glass design that
matched the terrazzo floor, black and shiny. The
seat was also black, with throw pillows that were
almost the size of a normal pillow. They were huge.

“Wow!” Mary exhaled. “Your house is…um…”

“Beautiful.” Joshua helped her with the word.

“Thanks.” He told them both and proceeded into

the room with some of their belongings. Mary and
Joshua followed him. The bed was a king size bed,
the duvet was a thick purple and white design.
Joshua jumped on the bed, while his sister mused
at Andrew. There was a black cushion in the room,
a small plasma hung on the wall, a pair of game
pads were on the floor in the room.

“Did you say you are single?” Mary asked smiling in

shock.

“Very single.” He responded smiling back and

giving his usual long stare.

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“May I use your restroom, please?” Mary asked

and waited for him to lead her into the restroom
that was just inside the room they had entered.

“You like my sister, don’t you?” Joshua started.

Andrew’s eyes widened in shock. Why was he

asking? The woman was in a relationship,

he wasn’t ready to be the reason she would break

that up.

“As a friend, yes.” He answered, trying not to put

ideas into his head. Truth be told, he loved Mary,
but she belonged to another man. At least she
hadn’t said otherwise.

She soon came out of the bathroom and asked the

young men to excuse her that she needed to bathe,
the two funnily dragged each other out like they
had known each other for a very long time.

In fifteen minutes, she was back in the living room.

Andrew sighed at the sight he saw in front of him.
She was beautiful. Josh was determined to be

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observant. Monitoring every eye movement that

happened. He cleared his throat to clear the
awkward silence…

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Chapter 11

He cleared his throat to clear the awkward silence.

“Mark sent a text.” Andrew announced out of

nowhere. “Your interview is Monday morning. They
want to see what you have.” He told her.

“Are you serious?” She asked excitedly. “Eh, thank

you Jesus, I can’t wait. Thank you Andrew! Thank
you!” She exclaimed.

“Shey you will kukuma help them hold their office

key? Abi which one is you cannot wait?” Joshua
told her in sarcasm. She went close and hit him on
his head.

Andrew could not help but laugh. He didn’t have

the opportunity to have his siblings around him, he
grew up a lone child. Seeing this two and the
natural love that existed between them made him
miss his own sisters.

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“Let’s eat out.” He announced already getting up

and turning off the TV in front of them.

“Haba, no oo. You have food at home, right? I will

cook.” She announced.

“Bro Andrew, allow her, she dey try.” He told

Andrew and added a wink. It made Andrew snicker.

“Josh, what exactly is your problem? By the way,

get yourself up and come into the kitchen with
me.”

“Kai now! Maybe we should just eat out.” He told

her.

Andrew could not keep his laughter this time. He

laughed heartily and fell back on the chair.

“Okay, you know what? I will join you both. Show

you around the kitchen so you don’t get stranded.
He told them and that settled the tussle.

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She made rice and stew. The man seemed to have

his life all figured out. There was stock in the
refrigerator, there was meat, grounded pepper,
and lots of other raw foods. She was pleasantly
surprised once he showed her the food store.

Andrew was surprised when he tasted the food, it

was better than what he ate outside his house.

“Where did you learn to cook like this?” He asked

with his eyes still open in shock.

“Mom had a restaurant.” Josh answered for her. It

was apparent she didn’t approve of him mentioning
it. She rolled her eyes at him and then stared back
at her food.

Andrew wasn’t looking at her, he just focused on

the young man and kept talking. He wanted to
know what happened to the restaurant.

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So what happened?” He asked and there was

silence. Josh cleared the food in front of him with
plenty speed and excused them. He noticed she
had stopped eating and just sobbed.

“I am sorry, Mary, I didn’t mean to bring back bad

memories.”

“No, it’s fine. It is just that since the incident

happened, none of us have dared to talk about it.”

“Oh, it’s fine if you don’t want to…”

“No, it is fine, I want to talk about it.”

“Mom’s restaurant was razed to the ground.”

“I am so sorry to hear that.”

“And dad somehow was in it.”

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“Jesus.” He whispered. “How did your mom cope

with that?”

“I don’t know if she is coping, but it made me grow

up quicker than I expected. Mom depends on me,
my brother depends on me. At first, I was confused
and I thought Wisdom was an escape route. Maybe
at first he was, but not anymore. And right now, I
am not looking for another escape route, I want a
job. I want to be free from this madness.” She
finally told him.

Andrew just stared at her. He couldn’t believe a

family had gone through such pain, she especially.
It was too much as far as he was concerned. He
got up from his spaceand walked up to her.

“Can I hug you?” he asked for her permission not

wanting to add to get grief or overwhelm her.

“Don’t worry, you will get the job, Mark will make
sure of it.” He told her.

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“Thank you.” She said leaning away from him and

looking at him.

“So, when do I get to see your shop?” She asked

him.

“Tomorrow,” he told her.

Mary liked it here, there was peace. It was a totally

different experience from the initial nuclear war
she was having with Wisdom. She stayed up late
and prayed for God to make a way for her.

“Hello, your mother just passed out.” It was

Andrew’s sister on the line. Mary couldn’t believe
her ears. They had just finished preparing to go see
his shop, but as it was, that was going to be
impossible.

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Andrew took the phone from her once she

exclaimed.

“Who is this?” Andrew asked. Adjusting his

wristwatch and holding the phone to his ear with
his shoulder…

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Chapter 12

“Hello, your mother just passed out.” It was

Andrew’s sister on the line. Mary couldn’t believe
her ears. They had just finished preparing to go see
his shop, but as it was, that was going to be
impossible.

Andrew took the phone from her once she

exclaimed.

“Who is this?” Andrew asked. Adjusting his wrist

watch and holding the phone to his ear with his
shoulder.

“It is your Aunty oo. She woke up this morning

complaining of body pain, just pain, all kinds of
pain. She passed out before I could even help her.”

“Wow! Ermm, you know what, we are on our way.”

Andrew told his sister and held Mary close to
himself. She was already crying.

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“It’s okay, let’s go. He told her, once he dropped

the call.

“Please, don’t let me bother you, I will go alone.”

Andrew hissed briefly and dragged her after

himself without asking her any other thing.

“Aunty, this place? You could have done better.”

He told her frowning.

The small clinic was full. There were people

everywhere. Andrew was glad his sister was able to
secure a good space for Mary’s mother. They
entered a ward that would have been sarcastically
thought of as a cubicle. The walls had hundreds of
cracks or so, Andrew thought from the entrance.

“Mommy,” Mary called and held the woman’s hand.

She didn’t even care if the place was good, bad or
ugly. She just wanted her mother to be fine.

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“Sorry Andrew, I thought of it as an emergency. I

needed to do something quick.” The woman
explained to Andrew who was already on his phone.

“Hey, Mark, I need your help. I know you are out of

town, but I need your car.” He told his friend on
phone like they both owned the car. “I know you
didn’t travel with it. Abeg. Alright, thanks man.” He
finally said and dropped the call.

“I will be back soon,” he told his aunt and turned to

Mary. “Be fine, okay. I will soon be back.” He told
her and hugged her before stepping out.

“Is my brother dating you?” The woman asked

thoughtlessly. How could she even ask about that
at this time?

“No.” Mary answered her bluntly.

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“He is a good person. Young, temperate, God

fearing and very romantic.” She told her and
chuckled.

“Ma, can we not talk about this at this time? Please

ma.” Mary told her wearing no expression. Her hair
was a mess, but she couldn’t care much about it
now.

“Okay, if you say so, but please, don’t lose him.”

The woman finally said and sighed.

She got on Mary’s nerves, but she controlled

herself well. She was careful not to start another
talk between them, she was quiet all through, got
up, went outside and came back inside and then,
there he was. Andrew was back with Mark’s car.
He didn’t waste time in settling all that needed to
be settled. In a short while they were out of clinic to
a better one.

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“Thank you,” Mary told him once they were settled

in the proper hospital. The process was long, but
they thought it was worth it. The coolness of the
room, the neatness. Everything was shiny. The
floor could probably heal the sick. The nurses
looked like they had all gotten internationally
trained with their queen’s English and
well-pressed uniforms. Mary was sure her mother
was safe.

“Stop thanking me, Mary. What are friends for?”

He told her.

“Um, I might not go for the interview on Monday.”

“Why?”

“My mother, I need to be…”

“Mary, Joshua can do that for you. Your interview

cannot wait. Don’t worry, she is going to be fine.
We will be here.”

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“Josh won’t be able to take care of her the way I

would.”

“Then I will join him.”

“Your shop.”

“It doesn’t matter, Mary. I am offering to stay, just

let me.” He told her and she finally agreed.

Monday came and Mary was ready. She wore a

wine blazers and a matching pant. Her inner was
white and a white belt held her waist perfectly. Her
shoes were a wine unisex loafers and they just
matched. Her human hair wig was new and well
taken care of. She did not worry, Andrew had
bought the material, taken her measurements, and
made it into magic.

She had confidence oozing out of her as she

stepped into the office. She met a lot of people, yet,
she wasn’t timid. She caught some of the guys

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staring, but she was used to getting that reaction

from people, men especially. Once she was allowed
in, she met a young woman who sat at the helms of
affairs in the absence of Mark. The woman was
nice knowing she was the CEO’s candidate, else
none of these good-looking gurus talked to people
of her caliber with respect. She thought, heaved,
and sat where she gestured her to sit.

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Chapter 13

The woman asked to see her CV and asked her a

few other questions. Then to her greatest shock,
she told her to resume on Wednesday. Mary
couldn’t believe her ears. Was this luck or grace?
Whatever it was, she was grateful it was coming
her way. Her salary was four hundred thousand
naira for starters and she was resuming as the
company’s data analyst.

‘I got the job! I got the job!’ Mary shouted happily

once she saw her saving angel. She hugged him
again and again and again until her make up
stained his shirt.

“Congratulations dear, I am happy for you.” He told

her.

“Congratulations dear,” her mother managed to

tell her. The woman had woken up. Things were

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just going on smoothly. This was just heaven

smiling on her.

“Thank you Mommy. And I am happy you are back.”

She told the woman patting her forehead before
turning back to the smiling Andrew.

“Where is Josh?” He stepped out to get us lunch. I

told him to get yours too once you called to tell me
you were on your way here.”

“Thank you. Okay, you know what? Dinner is on me

and I am taking us out, just you and I.”

“I like the sound of that, but Miss Mary no. Dinner

is on me. You are just starting work and friends
help each other not exploit each other.”

“You are not exploiting me Andrew.”

“Well, I would feel that way if I let you pay for

dinner.” He told her and they both chuckled.

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Mary’s mother had suffered chronic typhoid and

malaria attack. The doctors attended to her well
and she was going to be discharged by Friday
evening. Josh was left with specific instructions
not to get carried away or leave the woman by
herself, and the friends could swear, he got the
message with the intensity they had passed it with.

First day at work for Mary was hectic. They had not
had a data analyst in a while and so it left so much
for her to do. She was almost going to give up and
lay on the floor of her new office, but for Andrew’s
random massages that kept flooding her DM. She
would read, chuckle and respond.

Her routine became extra organized. She had to

get up very early. Sometimes she made breakfast,
other times, she just couldn’t. On the mornings,
she couldn’t meet up, food was brought to her
office and it had been ordered by Andrew. Two
months later, Andrew visited her in the office. It
was a big space, but it was Mark’s office and the

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man knew his way around. He was a far cry from

the monster that hunted her before, yet he was
asking her for anything, not sex, not a relationship,
nothing.

Six months had passed and Mary had simply had

thanked Andrew and told him it was time to move
out of his house. He wasn’t happy, but he knew she
was right. He was just going to miss the two
persons that had made life beautiful in six months.
On the day they moved out, Andrew had taken
Marks’s car again. This time, he had practically
stolen it from the man and helped them pack.

He was very impressed, because she had told him

nothing about it.

“How did you do it?” He asked.

“My colleague Biola knew some agents and they

were affordable.” She explained. She was very
happy Andrew had been around, the stress would

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have been out of this world for her. So that the men
busied themselves with the arrangements, while
Mary prepared their food in her nice kitchen. Her
house was in Ikeja and so was her office. It was just
a stone throw away, it was going to save her the
headache of spending on her transportation.

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Chapter 14

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Written by Damilola

Babs. From the stables of #reflectionbookhub

“Would you do dinner with me tonight? Just you

and I?” Mary read the man’s message on her
phone. She quickly gave him a positive response
and in no time, he replied; “I will pick you up from
work.” She looked forward to spending time with
him, she couldn’t deny she liked the man very much
too.

Once it was her closing hour, Mary left and waited

for him outside the office. He arrived in a blue Uber
and in no time, they were on the beach. Mary
wondered what he was doing.

“What are we doing here?” She asked, musing at

the man.

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“Calm down now. I will sha not throw you inside the
water.” He teased and they both laughed. He took
her by the hand and led her further.

What Mary sighted from afar made her stop and

laugh. She hit him slightly with her handbag and
struggled to move with her heels. He bent over
quickly and helped her remove them.

“Thank you.” She whispered and he heard. Mary

wouldn’t doubt it if someone told her the man
heard her heart beat. He paid attention that much.

It was already past 7 pm and the setting just made

perfect sense. The artificial candles, the white
table cloth on a petit table for two, a bottle of wine,
two glasses, and well-served plates of food. What
kind of man was he? He was too perfect to be true,
but Mary knew more than anything she wanted to
savour the moment and not think about her past
failure.

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“Ehhh, Mr. Romantic,” Mary taunted. “You try

sha.”

“Stop making this harder than it is for me already

now, Mary.”

Mary laughed again. They had become very close.

He was very different from all the men she had met
before, and he was different from Wisdom. The
guy was the direct opposite of his name.

“Please sit.” He told her politely and she obeyed

still smiling.

“So to what do I owe all of these surprise dinner?”

She asked.

“Well, I just thought you deserved some relief from

all the stress you’ve been through and I had
something to share with you.”

“Okay…” she responded fixing her eyes on his.

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“But first, let’s eat.”

They were her favourite even though she had never

specifically told him what it was. Jollof Rice and
beef with Salad and then, there was the Velvet
wine.

Andrew could feel his heart racing. He didn’t know

how to say what he wanted to say, but he was
going to say it all the same.

Mary was a fast eater and Andew knew, so once

she was done, she got up and stood facing the
ocean in the beach. She wanted to get a full picture
of it and savour every moment spent there. The
cool ocean breeze played with her hair. Her blazer
was unbuttoned and seemlessly obeyed the
command of the breeze. Her hands rested beneath
her breast as she watched the beauty of nature.

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“Didn’t know you loved the ocean this much?”

Andrew’s voice startled her from behind her. She
turned in shock.

“Did you rush your food?”

“I am here for you not for the food, Mary. It was

just part of the whole package.”

His confidence surprised Mary. He had always

been very reserved around her, but then he just
suddenly seemed different. His hands hung in his
pockets and then he moved closer and stood
beside her.

“I respect you Mary. I respect the woman you are,

your love for God and, I respect your character and
your person, and I would sincerely open up to you, I
love you and I would love to marry you. I would want
to spend forever waking up by your side and taking
care of you and praying for you and with you.”

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“Ummm…” she started, sounding lost. What kind

of man was he? They weren’t even dating yet. She
fixed her eyes on the man and then they both
chuckled and looked away. Were they both shy?
Mary chuckled and sniffled before saying her next
words.

Give me time to think and pray about it.” She finally

told him. She wanted to say yes badly, but she
couldn’t just say yes to him without a spiritual
vetoing. She was different. Not the hungry girl that
wanted a man at all cost. She could fend for herself
now, at least.

“I wasn’t expecting a yes immediately.” He told her

and smiled. She smiled back. Her joy knew no
bounds, the mere thought that he liked her like that
made her brain tingle for joy. It made her happy.
They talked some more before they finally
departed for the night.

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Mary could not stop thinking about Andrew’s

demand. She got home late but cared less. Her joy
was noticeable. Her mother and Joshua wondered
at her, but only Joshua hit her with the question she
wasn’t expecting.

“Were you with Uncle Andrew.”

“Common shut up there!” She parched like the

guy’s speculation wasn’t right.

Once she was alone in her room. She twirled,

turned and danced before going down on her
knees. Mary jerked up, and shook her head. She
knew she would be deceiving herself if she prayed
alone. She thought of Helen, but they had not
spoken in such a long while. She felt like a
backstabbing demon already, what was she
suppose to tell the lady, plus. She wasn’t even
grounded.

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Her phone beeped and the light came up, it was

Andrew calling. The man acted like he was an angel.
How could one man be so caring? Her ringing tone
was the beeping sound, she picked up her phone
and answered the man’s call.

“Hey, Drew, are you home yet?” She asked.

“What did you just call me?” He asked chuckling.

“Drew,” she responded without shame. “Don’t you

like it?” She asked.

“I do. Just that it sounds strange coming from you.”

He told her. “Anyway, I am home and I am safe.”

“Good to hear. Thanks for the treat tonight.”

“It’s nothing. You deserve a treat every day.”

“Stop getting into my head young man.”

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“And you stop getting into my heart young

woman.”

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Chapter 15

“Stop getting into my head young man.”

“And you stop getting into my heart young

woman.”

Mary laughed heartily. Her only saving grace was

that the next day was a Saturday, else she knew
there was a no way she was waking up early to go
to work.

“Umm…can ask you for something?” She finally

started in a serious tone”

“Ask me anything, Mary.”

“No offense. I like you, a lot, but, we are both

believers and I hope you know there is no way we
are doing this without God.”

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“Yes, I know.” He told her and sighed. Mary turned

on her gigantic bed. The one she was supposed to
share with her mother and brother, but the two
always stayed in the living room. While her mother
enjoyed lying on the L-shaped chair, Josh would
take the floor till morning. It just automatically
made the bed hers.

“Could you stay away for about one to two weeks?

I can’t focus on prayers with you here, every time.”

“Ooookay. I understand the staying away part, but I

don’t get the why.” He told her.

“Look, I like you. I like you a lot and the moment

you told me you liked me, my heart raced in so
many directions, but I need to pray and I need to
focus.”

“Hmmm, so this fresh piece of handsomeness

distracts you?” He asked her and laughed.

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“Oh, please, don’t fool yourself.” She responded

and joined in the laughter. Mary knew beyond a
man, she had found a friend. One who shared her
faith, her fears, her strength and her hopes.

“Joshua, open the door now, hen.” Mary beckoned

on her brother who was supposed to be in the living
room. She was busy in the room ironing and folding
her dresses. For the umpteenth time, silence came
from the living room. She hissed and walked to the
door herself. She opened it and regretted
immediately. It was her nightmare; Wisdom.

He stood there wearing his sunglasses and looking

like someone had begged him to come check her.
Her mother was sleeping in the room and she
wasn’t going to let her smell his presence. She
stepped out and looked round like she was looking
for someone else. It almost felt like he didn’t exist.

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“Yes, how may I help you?” She asked frowning. It

was apparent she was angry and she was not ready
to liaise anything with him.

“Is that how you say hello to your boyfriend?” He

asked her attempting to take a step closer to her.

“If you close this gap, I’ll kill you.” She threatened
sternly without smiling. His response was a ridicule.
He chuckled and closed the gap.

“You see, I am not dead. Baby, I missed you.” He

told her softly. She gathered strength from
nowhere and pushed him off.

“You must be out of your mind for that statement.

Who even showed you my house address?”

“Helen, Helen your friend did.”

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“Oh my God! What an error on my part. I am sure it

is because I didn’t tell her I have broken up with you,
that is why.”

“Really, but I am not done with you yet.”

“Well, I am done with you. Completely done. Get

your ugly face out of street and out of my face.”
She told him and banged the door behind her. She
locked it quickly. She couldn’t believe she had just
spoken to Wisdom like that. All her fears were gone.
He wouldn’t dare touch her, she wasn’t his toy
anymore. A part of her wanted badly to call Andrew,
but another part reminded her that they were on
this break to help her focus. Why was this
wickedness in human form coming back now? She
stood in the center of the living room and began to
bind every spirit of backwardness. She prayed so
loud that her brother ran out from the restroom
where he had been. He joined in without asking
questions.

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Was the devil trying to be funny? What was the

meaning of that mess? She thought. Her life was
better off without the man. She picked her phone
and called Helen immediately, not to fight the
woman, but to let her know what was up. She had
been too far from the woman.

Mary took her prayers about Andrew seriously and

she could tell even the man prayed on his own. He
would ask her everyday how her prayers went. If
she needed him to pray about something with her.
Mary has never felt such peace with an opposite
sex. She couldn’t believe Andrew would become
what he had now become to her.

Finally, in the second week, her answer came. It

came from the most solid source. Her bible. She
had been studying the book of Ruth. How she was
faithful to her mother-in-law and all, but never had
her eyes really opened to the kind of man Boaz
was.

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First, Boaz was a man of his word. He kept his

promise to Ruth after she slept at his feet, at the
threshold. He promised to marry her and he did. He
was hobourable and didn’t take advantage of her
even when he could. He didn’t sleep with her.

Like Andrew, she stayed with him for six months

and the man had self control. Never for once was
there an attempt on his part to touch her. He was a
protector and a provider. Everything matched. She
prayed some more and then, Mary could almost
swear the next voice was her Mom’s. The voice had
simply said, “that is your man. Your provider,
protector, honourble and a man of his words.” She
wept. It was the first time she was praying about
anybody, yet Jesus had mercy and answered her.

She picked her phone and dialed his number, but

he wasn’t picking. She tried it again and this time,
it went through.

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Chapter 16

She picked her phone and dialed his number, but

he wasn’t picking. She tried it again and this time,
it went through.

“Hello,” his voice came up.”

“Can you come over after work?” She asked.

“Well, I don’t mind, what’s the occasion?” He

asked.

“God sent me your exam results already.” She told

him and laughed.

“Should I be scared?”

“May be you should be. A little bit scared.” She told

him and laughed again.

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“I am coming over now.” He told her and she could

almost hear his footsteps as he ran.

“Easy.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t fall.”

“Okay, see you soon.” She told him and dropped

the call.

Soon, Mary heard a knock on the door. She knew it

was him and rushed out. She opened the door and
for the first time, Mary noticed how handsome the
man was. His caramel skin colour was noticeable.
He had the finest fingers she had ever seen, even
his dyestyma made a whole lot of sense. He was
well built and his full hair stood in perfect coiffure.
Mary wondered if he was a designer or a barber
per excellence. His own look said it all.

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They were a perfect synch, their smile said a lot.

The gestures gave them away, it was like the two
had been together for ages.

“Hi,” he greeted.

“Hi,”

The two gave each other a long stare and began to

laugh. Andrew knew what the laughter meant. It
was a yes. He nudged her into the house and
hugged her tight.”

“Thank you.” He told her now holding her and

looking into her eyes.

“No, thank you.” She told him. “You are such a

blessed man and I am lucky to have you all to
myself.”

“Yes. I am blessed because of you.” He told he and

chuckled. Mary was glad Joshua was out of the

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house and so was her mother. She had began to

spend so much time with Kojo, a Neighbour down
the street that Mary was beginning to think there
was more to it.

“Let’s go out.” He told her.

“And your shop?”

“Employed two guys to help with the work there.”

“Wow! Look who is the CEO.” She mused at him

and he laughed.

She wasted no time in changing into something

nice as they both stepped out. It was a beautiful
day and Andrew was not going to let it go to waste.
He couldn’t admire the woman any less once she
stepped out. She was a sight to behold.

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“Congratulations! You have just been promoted to

lead the company’s data analysts. So you will be in
charge of the other analyst in our other branches.”

Mary couldn’t hear the woman anymore as far as

she was concerned. Her heart was racing. Was she
really promoted? It had just been a year. Had she
been that good or was God just a prayer answering
God. She remembered she had prayed asking for
help. The bills were piling up. Joshua had to return
to school after the few months of break, her
mother had medications to take and there was the
foodstuff part and other bills, plus her upkeep and
savings. She just stared at the woman with joy.

“Here, your letter,” the woman handed her letter of

promotion.

Thank you ma. Thank you.”

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“Your official car will be brought in soon. You will

have to travel a lot to our other branches so a car
for you is a necessity.” The woman explained.

“Thank you very much ma. Thank you so much.”

She told her and made her way out of the woman’s
office. Biola was the first person that hugged her
once she was out.

“Babe! Congratulations!” She told her almost

yelping.

“Thank you!” She told her. “I can’t wait to tell

Andrew about this.”

“Abeg, who be Andrew?” She asked her wearing a

frown.

“My fiancé. Don’t tell me you have forgotten about

him so soon?”

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Chapter 17

“My fiancé. Don’t tell me you have forgotten about

him so soon?”

“Na hin type dem dey remember? I don’t want to

remember him, abeg. Come, I hope you know, you
both are world apart now. How can you, a senior
data analyst in a reputable company like this, I
mean, you command other analysts oo, you will
now be thinking of settling down with a tailor.”

“Ehn ehn, abeg. Shift. What’s that now? Ehn, what

is that? I don’t like it. If you can’t respect him, no
bad blood, but please, the disrespect is what I
won’t take from you.”

“Ehn. What is respect without money? What is

honour without cash? All this English wey you Dey

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speak go soon change when you meet the men that

run this game. They are cute, huge, and all shades
of hot chocolate.” Biola told her.

“Thank you Biola, but you see, my bole and

groundnut, don do me. I no need salad and fried
rice to prove point.” She parched back.

“Whatever. Think about it.” She told her and

walked out with her handbag. She was going to
celebrate with her man, it was the close of the day
already. There was nothing more to do there.

“Hey beautiful,” Mayokun stopped her outside the

office, swinging the office key to her face like she
needed to see it. Her new office came with an
official car. She was going to be given soon so
Mayokun’s car key did not matter.

“I have told you to stop calling me that. My name is

Mary Adelaja.”

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“Why are you doing anyhow like this? Is it because

of your broke boyfriend?”

“Ehn? Mayokun, in your entire life, don’t you ever

call my boyfriend broke o.” She warned.

“Is he not broke?” How can a guy at his age be a

tailor? Your gist is everywhere in this office oo.”

“And how is it your business? Please, if you don’t

mind. I have better things to do.”

“Like rushing to your boyfriend’s shop

in an Uber.” Mayokun taunted and laughed. She

only hissed and left. She felt a jab knowing she was
truly going to his shop. She was head of analysts
and here she was in a shop that could barely hold
ten people.

“Are you okay?” Andrew asked her again for the

umpteenth time. She sat there holding a bottle of

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juice and staring at her man make sketches on a

board. She seemed lost in thoughts, they were no
longer on the same page. She was always talking
business and he was always talking about smaller
things, but he was a good man and she had prayed
about him, hadn’t she? There was no way she was
going to leave him because of what people thought
about them.

“You were looking lost all through today. Hope all

is well?” he told her once they were in front of her
house.

“It’s nothing. I was promoted today.” She finally

summoned the courage to tell him.

“Oh wow! Good news! He beamed as he

congratulated her. It was from the purest of heart
without prejudice and she could tell. Tears
gathered up in her eyes in frustration.

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“Baby, why are you crying?” He asked her, wiping

her eyes with his hands.

“Can’t you do something else apart from drawing

sketches and sewing clothes? I want to see you do
well too. Mark could…”

“Don’t, I beg you in God’s name, don’t do this. I

love what I do and I don’t feel it’s small or
inconsequential. Are you feeling that way for me?”
He asked. His eyes looking stone cold. She had
never seen him like that before. Fear gripped her,
she knew she had to drop the topic or contend with
what he was bringing her way. Fierce anger.

“I am sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.” She told him.

“I know. It is fine. I have plans to improve the

business, so maybe it would at least suit your taste.”
He told her and hugged her briefly before exiting.

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“Andrew,” she called one a small voice and he

stopped. She knew he was angry and was
suppressing it with all his muscles.

“I am sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. I love you.”

She told him and closed the gap between them.

“It is fine Mary, you are right. I am a man, I have to

do more.” He told her, hugged her and finally
stepped out.

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Chapter 18

The next few weeks were even more frustrating.

The official car came in and there was an official
house too. Her salary was reading half a million.
She couldn’t believe her eyes, yet it was very real.
She was an ideal Lagos big girl.

At first, she had no issues going to pick her

boyfriend and dropping him off, but then it
gradually became an issue.

Mary was traveling more, meeting the kind of men

that would be referred to as the big catch. Most of
them asked her out, took her out on dates, some
on free vacations to Dubai, Los Angeles and the
likes. Most of the men she met from company
sponsored seminars, sone on random trips. In all,
coming back to Andrew’s cubicle was a problem.
They even looked different. Not that he looked

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broke, but he was too much of a common guy. He

always had his jean, shirt and snickers. Mary
preferred the men in suit with their cars and files
and nice shoes and nice colognes. What was she
suppose to do with a guy in jean and shirt, doing
nothing serious than seeing clothes and drawing
sketches.

“Mary, Mary, I hope you now know that your level

has changed. Start considering other options. Mary
would hear a voice in her head telling her. It got
worse, her mother added her own fuel to the
already burning fire.

Tonight was a special one, Mary thought. She was

going to break up with Andrew, she was really
done.

Biola’s last words in the office kept ringing in her

head.

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“Omo, this decision is the best you have ever made.

Leave him.”

She sat there and was looking forlorn. It had only

been ten months into their relationship and here
she was breaking up with the man she could not do
without a few months back. A part of her felt guilty,
another felt cold and merciless. Her life was
getting better too quickly, she didn’t need Andrew
around her anymore. Introducing him to her new
set of friends was getting harder. She remembered
the last dinner with him. A senior business
associate had insisted she came with her boyfriend.
He had come there wearing Mark’s suit, she was
relieved at least until Olafemi Dino asked him what
he did for a leaving. She felt bathed in
embarrassment.

“I own a fashion outlet,” he told the man too

quickly. He simply laughed and that was the last
thing he said to him. Dino had directed everyone
other conversation to her. She knew why. He

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wasn’t in their class. She was done as far as she

was concerned.

“She sat there in her expensive perfume and dress.

Her makeup was lit. She was a different person,
but he, Andrew understood and embraced the
newness.

“Hi babe,” he walked in and pecked her on the

forehead. She had intentionally not gone to pick
him up as usual. She let him find his way to the
restaurant. He noticed her look, but was quiet.

“Are you fine?” He asked once they had settled in

and he bought them food. It was a very expensive
place. She had not expect him to pay with so much
ease, but he did. As far as he was concerned
nothing was too much to spend on her, on his
relationship.

“No, I am not.” She started still not smiling.

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“Is that why your face is like this?” He asked

laughing. They had not fight over anything. They
were fine the last time he checked. “Okay, I guess
it’s serious. Sorry I laughed. What is it babe? Are
you okay?”

“No, I am not.”

“What is going on?”

“I…I…I…you are an amazing person, but you see I

can’t continue with this relationship. She told him.

He paused and laughed the more.

“You like silly jokes, Mary. Stop it. We are fine,

aren’t we?” He asked not taking her serious.

“I am not joking!” She raised her voice this time

and it made people around turn. She pushed before
continuing.

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“I am sorry, but this is not a joke. We can’t

continue together. Things have changed. I
obviously want more out of life than you want. I
can’t marry a tailor.” She blotted.

“What? Mary. You just called me a tailor. I thought

it used to be a designer. Common, Mary, please
don’t do this.”

“It is not about not doing it, Andrew. It is already

done.”

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Chapter 19

“How? When? Without me in that decision? I

thought you were happy and I was going to ask you
I marry me.?” He yelped out.

“That won’t be possible anymore. I have moved on.

You want to remain a tailor, fine. For me, I want
more out of life and that obviously makes us
incompatible. I’m sorry.” She told him and
attempted to stand up. Andrew held her hand down
on the table and looked at her with his tears filled
eyes.

“I can be more, Mary, just give it time.”

“I am running out of patience. In fact, patience is

not a luxury I have to waste right now.”

“Waste? Have you given up so soon?” He asked

and she looked away. Andrew knew he had lost her

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and had to let her go. He left her hand and without
remorse, she walked out on him.

The tears in his eyes dropped without restraint. He

loved her madly and felt betrayed. He couldn’t even
pinpoint the reason he cried. It was just too painful
to describe.

Weeks passed and Andrew hoped the woman he

loved would return, but she didn’t. He couldn’t even
bring himself to tell Mark they had broken up. So he
kept it a secret. It was just apparent, she wanted to
be as far away from him as possible. Mark had
drove in one hot afternoon and accused him of
keeping secrets. He knew what the man was
talking about, but his salon was too open for a
discussion as sensitive as that. He dragged his
friend outside so they could talk well.

“You should have told me she left you.” He started

pacing up and down like Mary had broken up with
him and not his friend.

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“How?! How was I supposed to say it. I too do

mumu on top this love matter now.”

“You weren’t a fool, Andrew, you were the better

person. And I know what you are going to ask me
for now?”

“What are you thinking?”

“Don’t sack her.” Mark said to his face.

“She deserves that job and you know it.”

“Well, right now, I am not sure.”

“Don’t sack her Mark. She didn’t get that job

because I know you, she got it because she
deserved it. Plus, you are my friend and the
company is yours, but help this onetime, please.
Don’t sack her.” He pleaded.

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“I will try.” Mark responded and dragged his friend

into his arms in a manly way. They hugged and
Andrew appreciated his friend’s concern.

“We are brothers man, and trust me, I will acreage

this somehow.” Mark insisted.

“Whatever brother.”

“I am serious. You are a good guy. Do you know the

things you’ve done for me? Way back from campus?
You took a bullet for me when those confra boys
almost killed me.”

“Mark, that is what brothers do,” Andrew told him

and shook him again.

“Why am I even explaining what I will do to

that…that…bit…”

“Don’t say it, I beg you.”

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“Sorry bro, I already did. Bitch.” The two looked at

each other and laughed.

“You really need to start considering Jesus in your

life sha.” He told him as the duo laughed back into
the shop.

Mary could not help it. Going back to Wisdom was

the most available option. She knew the rich dude
more than any other rich dude that now wanted her.
He was her safest place as far as she was
concerned.

“Are you sure about this?” Helen asked her as they

both sat in front of her rented apartment.

“Helen I am not a baby, I know exactly what I want.”

“And what you want is Wisdom?” The woman

asked her and scoffed. “Babe, as far as I am
concerned going back to Wisdom is like going back

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to your vomit.” She told her and rolled her eyes in

displeasure.

“Look, that guy treated me badly when I had no job.

I mean when I used to depend on him excessively.
Now I have a job, my own car and a house. He
would respect me more than ever.”

“Hmmmm…hmmmm. I am warning you now. I am

warning you now oo. Tor.” Helen cautioned but it
was obvious the woman had made up her mind and
had started making arrangements to fix her
relationship with Wisdom.

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Chapter 20

The next day, he was in the house. Looking like he had

just won an award in the Grammies. Helen could not
bring herself to be nice to the man. She was at her
friend’s place to spend the weekend after a very long
while and this sight wasn’t palatable.

“Yes,” Helen stood around the entrance like she

wouldn’t let him in.

“Morning. You obviously forgot about manners.” He

told her.

“Is that Wisdom?” Mary asked from inside the house

looking all dressed up. Helen hissed and walked back in
the living room. Wisdom strolled into the living room
and hugged her.

“Hey baby,” he called to Helen’s disgust. She wished she

had come visiting on a different day, not now, not today.
The evil she saw standing close and hugging her friend

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was bad news already. She waddled to the longest seat in

the living room, laid on it and turned away from them
both. Soon, they were out and she was glad she could
breathe without having to think of them.

“Aunty Helen,” It was Joshua calling her. She knew

exactly why without being told. The guy sounded as
worried as she was about her friend.

“Yes, Joshua, what is it?” She asked, sitting up

immediately.

“Pray for my sister,” he told her still frowning.

“Pray? Did you just say pray?” Prayer cannot do this one
oo.”

“Prayer is limitless, it moves beyond our limitations and

works wonders.”

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“Okay now, you too be praying as I am praying. God

will help her.” She told the young man watched him go
back to the room.

She wasn’t the very spiritual type, but she knew God
answered prayers. At least, she learned that from songs
and her mother and maybe Sunday school classes. The
ones she abandoned before she clocked twelve.
Notwithstanding, Helen cleared her throat and knelt
down. She clapped her hands together loudly and cleared
her throat again.

“Tor, God, Joshua says that prayer is limitless. Well, me

sha know that you have power, power to bulldoze this
foolish Wisdom out of my fiend’s life.”

She tilts over to see if Mary’s mother was anywhere

close.

“God, I know that with you I can gossip.” She whispered

her next lines. “Mary’s mother does not really have sense,
so help her not to lose her daughter to senselessness. Abi.

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So what should I say again now? Tor, in Jesus name I

have prayed, amen.” She rounded up her prayer and got
up. At least she prayed, she thought, as she laid back and
slept.

It was one month after the breakup and Mark wanted to

hurt Mary back madly. He was his born-again childhood
friend and so there was no way he was going to let
Mary’s disloyalty go under the carpet. Andrew had his
big plans and he was working on them. He wasn’t a
broke guy. He was hardworking, comfortable, and had
the dream of owning a fashion company.

It was a Monday and Mark knew it was the right time to

strike. He had sent for Mary in his office that early
morning sounding like it was an emergency when he did.
She came in trying to control her breath. Nobody entered
the CEO’s office except they were invited. She could
count the number of times she had entered Mark’s office
throughout her working days, it made the call very
shocking.

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“Good morning sir, you sent for me.” She told him.”

“Yes, sit.” He responded without looking at her. Mark

heart began to beat too fast. He thought of Emem, his
love and then his friend turn brother. He knew he would
never hurt his friend and his friend didn’t want to see her
hurt. He was a hunk, determined to seduce her, sleep
with her, and dump her, but then, thinking of how much
his friend respected her. The mere thought of seeing her
naked caused his heart to shrink with fear.

“Umm…you know what? I change my mind, you may

go.” He told her looking at her and swaying on his seat
from side to side. She nodded and walked back out…

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Chapter 21

She thought he was going to sack her. She had

been a muse because of his best friend, but now,
the muse had disappeared. She was nothing
serious to the man anymore, but she was calm,
keeping cool and observing things.

It seemed to her like Andrew wasn’t the petty type

after all. He was different because nothing
changed. Mark gave her equal treatment and never
disrespected her. Mary knew that beyond the
man’s respect for her, he did it more for his friend,
Andrew, but going back wasn’t an option, never.

Mark’s phone rang from his pocket, he reached for

it quickly. It was his father, he wondered what he
wanted this time. He had served the man all his life
and he was glad his half-brother wasn’t under that
pressure. The guy had declined and followed his

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heart, but somehow, his father Chief Anthony had

crazy control over him.

“Hello, dad.”

“Hello, son.” His father’s voice came up. “Mark,”

the man called like he’s had done something
wrong.

“What is it this time?” he asked his father without

respect.

“Shut up, you weak wing. How dare you let Dolapo
Pedro take over more than forty percent shares of
SUMAL & SONS?”

“That isn’t true dad, it isn’t true.”

“Shut up and listen to me. If it isn’t rectified before

the end of tomorrow, I will fly into Nigeria, find you
and crush you. You have always been a waste
anyway.” The man told him and dropped the call.

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“This man pisses me off. What crap!” He yelled

and kicked the air before leaving where he stood in
front of Walls Mall. It was the most expensive mall
in town, and average earners knew better than to
come there. It was Mark’s regular spot. He hissed,
pulled his suit as if it had offended him, and
entered his car.

He knew where to drive to. His best friend’s house.

It was the best place he could be now. He was
happy he had gotten them drinks. It simply meant
they could chill and do boys’ things. After all, they
were now both single. All thanks to his Nigerian
father who refused to outgrow traditions even after
spending so long outside Nigeria.

“What?!” Andrew mused at him in shock. He

couldn’t believe what his friend had just said.

“What do you mean by what?” Mark asked undoing

his buttons with one hand while the other hand
tossed his suit away from his body to the sofa.

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“Guy, the news may be true.”

“But the decision-makers have had no meeting. At

least, none that I know of.”

“Bro, there are cheats everywhere. Wild ones who

want all you have,” he told him and picked up a
tape rule strolling to an Ankara’s on the table.

“Do you mean it?”

“Guy, stop now. You dey form ajebo for this level?
We know how these things work. Look, I am not
taking any drink with you. Call an emergency
meeting now. Call them, send them an email,
anything man, I am not in your field, but I know that
there is something you should do. Just be the same
about it.

“Emem, I need to call Emem. It’s pas 10 pm already.

I hope she would still be awake.”

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“Dial it, now,” Andrew told again and continued like

he hadn’t just spoken.

“Hello, Emem,”

“Yes sir,”

“Call an emergency meeting of the shareholders, 4

pm, for tomorrow, and hey, come in tomorrow with
a comprehensive detail of what our shares are
reading.

“Done, sir.”

“Good. See you in the morning.”

“Goodnight ,sir,”

Mark paused for a bit and sighed. Andrew turned

and gave him an inquisitive look.

“I love you, Emem.”

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“Mark, we are not doing this. We are done and

please, I need my job more badly than a man whose
father doesn’t like me.” She told him and dropped
the call.

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Chapter 22

“Please, I need my job more badly than a man

whose father doesn’t like me.” She told him and
dropped the call.

“Man, I didn’t know it was the same Emem. How

can your ex still be your PA? You are joking with
fire.”

“She is not my ex yet man,”

“But she is done with you Mark and she’s made

that clear too many times.”

Mark fell to the chair in frustration. He raised his

leg to pull his Tory Burch designer shoes. He had
gotten them on his last trip to the US.

“Man, I love that woman, and nothing has

changed.”

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“You know our father. A reason why I alienated

myself from yourself and him.”

“And I still wonder what my offense was? Being his

son?”

“I don’t know. We have been friends since High

School, way back in Florida. My parents died and
you know dad came around and then there was the
long adoption process…” he hissed and continued
what he was doing.

“These memories haunt you, don’t they?”

“Ugh, kind of. You know. The abuse…”

“Don’t talk about it if you don’t want to.”

“It’s okay Mark, we are brothers.”

“Yeah, secretly. Nobody knows us as brothers.”

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“But it changes nothing bro.”

“Yeah.” Mark responded getting up and stretching

his body.”

“When Buckner abused me in that classroom back

in Florida. Everything changed, every single thing.”

“Is that why you’ve never had sex with any

woman?”

“Part of it. But you know, meeting Jesus changes a

lot of things.”

“Including meeting snakes like that damn Mary.”

“Stop it, man. I still love her madly.”

“I know. I see the way get lost in the pictures on

your phone. That stupid smile on your face that
won’t go away.”

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“Man, leave my life alone. Talk about dad

controlling the living daylight out of you!” he yelled
playfully, tilting his head and facing up.

“Shut up!” he hit his stepbrother on the shoulder,

laughing. “But you know it is funny how our lives
just keep taking the same trajectory. I was raped by
my own biological father, you have no parents, I
have parents who don’t care.”

“Shhh man…shhh man. You know what? Bring out

those drinks, let’s chill tonight!” He shouted
happily and Mark took over the excitement from
him.

The next day SUMAL & SONS was filled to the brim.
Before 4 PM shareholders and executive
committee members were already arriving. Mary
wondered at everybody at work. Why was she the
only one left out, everyone seemed to be let in on
what was happening.

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“Biola, what’s up? What is going on? Why do we

have so many guests?”

“They are not guests, they are co-owners.”

“I don’t get.”

“Shareholders Mary. Shareholders.”

“Are we in any know of trouble?”

“I don’t know.”

“Sir, Dolapo Pedro just arrived and here sir, I

printed this out.” Emem handed her boss pieces of
printed paper. She had come in very early to make
sure that was done before the normal day’s job
started.

“What is this?” Mark asked her burying his head

into the piece of paper…

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“The shareholders and their current stock.” She

responded and adjusted her glasses.

“What?! It’s true.”

“How? When? Why was there no meeting called to

that effect? Who signed what? When?”

“We don’t know anything for now, but I smell

politics.”

“Politics?”

“Emem, who are they?”

“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all

for agreeing to this emergency call. It was due to
the urgency of the matters arising.” Mark started.
Adjusting his suit. Emem knew he was going to
have a panic attack if she didn’t help him out, this
was not his life. He loved to just be the guy on his
lane, playing music, writing, and singing amazing

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songs, but for his father, he was here, stuck in a

suit and a room with piercing vulture eyes of rich
corrupt men.

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Chapter 23

Emem walked briskly and got hold of the remote to

the AC. She increased it and made him a cup of
black coffee. She couldn’t doubt that she loved the
man, but for his father, who had completely
silenced all their feelings and buried it in a
commentary.

“Dolapo Pedro, I see that you have acquired an

additional fifteen percent to your shares bringing
your shares to a total of 40%. Mrs. Grace Attah
here still owns 5% and Chris Abel still owns 5% it
only tells me that Ajayi Akinola sold out his shares
to you. Mr. Ajayi Akinola, why are you selling your
shares?”

“Hmmm…to diversify risk.”

“What risk Mr. Ajayi?” Chris Abel asked him.

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“SUMAL products are not moving in the market

and the market predictions right now are not riding
on the positive line.”

“Mr. Ajay, you sold your shares based on a false

market prediction?”

“It is not false, read the handwriting on the wall.

The competition is too high. DEBAR soaps, sugar,
cement, and the rest are doing better. How do you
intend to beat that?”

“Rebranding or penetration pricing could do that

job.” Attah Grace pointed out.

“Not when all the market competition is zooming in

on us. Can’t you see? DEBAR products are doing
too well, their market strategies have never been
seen and…”

“Why are we arguing this? Ajayi has sold is shares

to me, leaving him with 10% equity of his shares.”

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“10% what? That is not a good deal.” Mark told the

man.

“It doesn’t matter. My investments are not safe

and so I needed to do something fast. Selling my
shares while still maintaining a reasonable
percentage of equity is just perfect.”

“Well, you owe SUMAL a debt, so you have to pay

up, Dolapo Pedro.”

“I was given an ultimatum to pay up. It is signed on

paper Mark.”

Who else supports Dolapo Pedro owning 40%

shares of SUMAL & SONs?” Mark asked but
nobody responded except Ajayi. He sighed and
turned to his beautiful PA.

“Back date the date on Dolapo’s debt file. Change

his payment options, cash or his 75% of his
shares.”

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“What?” Dolapo Pedro mused.

“You brought this upon yourself Dolapo, it is the

Machiavelli business principle. Let’s do this. It is
war time.” He told him and then stood up straight.

“In the absence of no further discussion, I would

move the motion that this meeting be adjourned.”

They dismissed and once alone with Emem he

hugged her and kept sighing in relief.

“You did well.”

“Thought I was going to pass out.”

Emem laughed. He loved hearing her laugh, it was

infectious.

“Thank God you didn’t.” She told him and laughed

again.

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“Emem,” he called her name looking at her

intensely. The woman waddled away from him. She
was a petit but smart woman. His was way bigger
than her in size, but it didn’t matter. What mattered
was the fact that, after a rough childhood, only one
woman had been able to show him so much, love.
She did it so effortlessly. It was something about
her quiet but not dumb personality. He liked her
faith. She reminded him of his best friend turn
half-brother.

“Emem, listen, we don’t have to do this on my

father’s terms. We can go away from everybody
else, it will be just us, on an island, somewhere
away from my father and…”

“And get married without his consent? Look, I can’t

do that. I can’t possibly do that. I can’t live the rest
of my life knowing that our father didn’t approve of
me marrying you.”

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“But we will have each other Emem. I know you

love me as much as I love you and this would be the
greatest opportunity to spend forever together.”
He told her waddling after her and standing behind
her.

“Sometimes love is not enough.” She told him and

walked out calmly.

The next face he saw was that of the man that

raised him. He loathed his father for many reasons.
The man had taken advantage of him when he was
young, he remembered every time. It haunted him
even in his sleep, yet, he had lived all his life for him.
Studied in the schools he chose and studied the
course he wanted. It was a good thing Andrew left
early. The man respected him and treated him
better.

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Chapter 24

“Dad,” he called out not wearing any emotions on

his face.

“And what is that twerp doing in your office? I

thought I made myself clear.”

“Dad, she works here.”

“Then I will sack her.”

“You don’t have to. She was only here for

business.”

“What kind of business?”

“Dad, are you going to spend time asking me

questions about a relationship you swept under the
carpet?” he asked his father frowning. The man
sighed and sat on a chair with his bodyguard
behind him.

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“Do you really need that man here?” he asked

looking up at the big man that stood begin his
father.

“Do something stupid and regret it.” He told his

son and adjusted himself on his seat. “So, has it
been resolved?”

“Ummm…not yet, dad, we…”

“What do you mean by not yet dad. Mark, why are

you such a failure? Why are you so slow and
senseless? Why are…”

“I beg you stop it.”

“Stop what? If your brother was here…”

“Then maybe you should go get him from his

fashion store then.” He yelled at his father.

“Did you just raise your voice at me?”

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Mark adjusted himself and sighed. He was going to

choose his next words carefully and not be rude.
He was tired, every fiber of his nerves was tired.

“I am sorry I did that. God in heaven knows I will

never disrespect you, but you, you disrespect me
daily. You disrespect me every day. You don’t listen
to me when I talk to you. You just make me live in
the reality of your own world. It is tiring dad and
then you don’t even honour my sacrifices. Look,
Dad, I love you, but truth be told, I can’t do this
anymore, I can’t. I am tired.”

“Tired of what?” the man asked him still frowning

without remorse.

“Of this, of you not having an ounce of remorse, of

you not caring, of me living for you, of me not being
able to have the woman I love because she is so
terrified of you she won’t even marry me. How
many more times would you tab me to see that
killed this man already?”

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“Now listen, I won’t stop until I have everything,

every single thing I want from you.” He told him
sternly.”

Mark got up and paced around the office in wonder.

One hand held his waist while the other rubbed his
head. He was angry, too angry to say a word, but
he was going to say it anyway.

“What are you? A human being or a virus? How can

you be this desperate and without emotions? How?
Well listen, maybe I am done with this rubbish, and
maybe my brother will do a better job than me
around here. As for me, I am done!”

“You are my son, Sit down! You cannot be done

until I say so.”

Mark laughed heartily and then turned to the man.

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“You adopted him remember. He is your son as

much as I am. Wait, after you separated him from
his four sisters, what do you think he calls you?”

“He left. On his own accord, he left!”

“But you still adore him. Your only fear is that you
can’t control him like you do me! But you know
what? I quit! I am done being a pet for your
experiments.”

“You cannot quit! Not now.”

“Then watch me leave.” He told him, threw the

door wide open and left the man sitting there. He
walked straight to Emem’s space and dragged her
after himself.

“What is going on?” Emem kept asking dragging

her handbag along.”

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“We will talk at your place.” He told her and kept

dragging her after himself. The staff members
were shocked. What was happening to the CEO
and his PA? But no one dared to move closer or
ask any questions while he was around.

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Chapter 25

“You what?” Emem mused at the man in front of

her. She knew the last thing he needed now was
any form of advise. So she wasn’t going to go
further.

“I resign.” He repeated himself without remorse.

“And what will you be doing?” She asked folding

her hand across his chest and starring at the man
who wasn’t looking at her.

“Other businesses. My forex trade is doing fine. I

have some millions in my Binance account. I will do
better staying away from that man.”

Emem didn’t know what to say, she just offered

him her hand in comfort.

“Sorry, I let this happen. I should have just

resigned.”

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“Nothing is your fault Emem, nothing. I was going

to leave any way. And all of this hasn’t changed
how I feel about you. Emem, come back to me,
marry me. I love you, you give me peace like no
other person has ever given me. Who am I
supposed to spend forever with if not you?”

“I know you want to spend forever with me, but

going in and out of faith will also not help you. You
need to be rooted.”

“I know Emem, I just had too many demons from

the past warring against me. Too many bad
memories haunt me and then I see myself diving
back to the bottles.”

“Have you tried reading the Bible or praying?”

“Yes. And those times, I won’t lie, they were

peaceful. My dad is just the… never mind. I am fine
and my faith will be grounded, not just because I
want you Emem, but because more than ever I

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need that peace.” He told her and held her hand.

“But again Emem, for the umpteenth time, marry
me.”

There was a knock on the door. Emem collected

her hands gently and went for it. It was Andrew. He
greeted the young woman and came in calmly
staring at his brother. There was a brief silence and
then they hugged each other.

“I am proud of you brother.” Andrew told him,

hugging him. Mark sighed and then laughed. Emem
returned holding two glasses of wine for the men.

“Here, this should soothe you both.” She told them

and left them there. The men sat facing each other
in a mini lounge in Emem’s compound. Emem had
rich parents, she just wanted to work to gather the
experience she needed for her family business. Yet,
not even that had made chief Anthony think about
her differently. The men knew they had so much to

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talk about so they made for the cool area in the

compound.

“Now, he is going to turn to me.” Andrew started.

“Yeah, but you, you can match him. The man fears
you…”

“Hmmm hmmm, I won’t call it fear. I will call it

respect.”

“Whatever it is man. He respects you. You can run

that company on your own shots. No externals, just
you and your business brain that you moved from
Florida to Nigeria. God! You are such a fighter!
What?!”

“Guy, abeg. Don’t do that now. I am not running

that company for any reason. I was done before
you, remember?” He told his brother and sipped
the wine.

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“Look, I know we both don’t have the perfect

relationship with Chief Anthony…”

“Why call him that?” Andrew asked his brother

laughing in between the lines.”

“Abeg, we share nothing in common, abeg. Like I

was saying. We do not have the best relationship
but you see, that business needs a fighter. You are
smarter, you are better at this thing. See your shop
now, that place is beginning to look like an industry.
Only you can help daddy out this time.” He told
him.

“I know right. The truth is…” he pause and played

with his glass of wine. “ermm…since Mary left I
have needed a distraction. Don’t get me wrong, I
am not saying I am still madly in love with her.

“Of course you are.” Mark teased. “God! I have

never seen you so in love with anything, she beat

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the place of fashion in your life you know.” Mark

laughed out loud.

“Yeah, right? But stuff happens. I love her, I love

her crazy, but then she wanted out and I had to give
her that.”

“You are strong man bro.”

“I don’t trust my own strength you know.” His

phone rang out loud from his pocket. He adjusted
and brought out the device. It was his father calling.
Chief Anthony.

“It’s dad.”

“I told him to let you do it. I am done.”

Andrew shook his head and picked the call and put
it on speaker.

“Hi, dad.”
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“Hi, son. How have you been?”

“Fine. We haven’t spoken in six months. My bad, I

apologize.”

“It’s nothing. The company needs you son, your

brother backed out.”

“I know dad, we spoke.”

“What? Are you both backing out on me?”

“Not really, dad. I guess it’s my turn to make this

table spin.”

“Does that mean you helping out with SUMAL?”

“Of course, dad. I am.” He told the man. Mark got

up and paced in front of him gesticulating happily.

“Thank you son,”

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“Did you just say thank you?”

“Can’t I say that to my son?”

“I didn’t know you could think like that. You have

always been so high up that we barely reach you.”

“Show up in my hotel room on Thursday night.

Let’s sort this out.

“Okay dad,” he told him and dropped the call.

“Did he just gaslight that topic?” Mark asked in

shock.

Andrew nodded laughing. Mark joined as they both

laughed. They were too close. Andrew had taught
the man pidgin English, he fell. in love with the
language the first time he heard Nigerians speak it.
Andrew had taunted him that his Nigerian blood
was thick and that it haunted him. The men chilled
out until late at night, and then they announced

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that they were leaving. Mark was going to drop his

friend and brother off before heading to his house
on Ikoyi.

then they announced that they were leaving. Mark

was going to drop his friend and brother off before
heading to his house on Ikoyi.

The men chilled out until late at night, and then

they announced that they were leaving. Mark was
going to drop his friend and brother off before
heading to his house on Ikoyi.

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Chapter 26

Three months had passed and the new love birds

had chosen a nice place to meet. Once they got to
the restaurant at D-Blings, Mary sighted her ex
sitting across them. He looked good in a native
attire and a cap. He looked good but that still did
not mean he was her type. His head was dug into
the menu when she walked up to him.

“Hi, Andrew.”

“Oh my God! Oh my God! Mary.” He called her

name calmly, smiling and without an iota of anger,
he got up and hugged her closely like he held no
grudges. Mary was surprised but she hugged him
back.

“How have you been?” He asked her.

“Good, you?”

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“Great. I am fine.”

“I am here with my fiancé.” She told him and

pointed at Wisdom.

“Him?” Andrew’s eyes widened in shock, but rather

than saying too much, he smiled and waved it off.

“Yes, him.” She parched back and adjusted her

hair to the back.

“Wishing you the best of luck.” He told her and sat

back.

“Thanks. Good night.” She told him and began to

walk back to her now boiling man.

A young fair lady walked in. She looked very rich.

Her voice rang like she had heard it from
somewhere. She was Alicia Hey, the famous Hip
Hop singer. Then she saw the hefty bouncers, they
were there, just outside. Once she walked in a lot

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of people walked up to her to take pictures and all.

The place was very expensive, it only had very few
people coming to eat. She busses it was the reason
she chose the place.

The lady landed a kiss on Andrew’s cheek. The man

had this comportment she had never seen any man
have and around him was this finesse.

“Nobody money no fit change oo. So, Andrew

landed himself a babe from the industry.” She told
Wisdom as she sat down in front of him. She had
not noticed he was wearing a frown and looking
like he was going to strangle her. He got up and
excused himself without listening to anything she
had to say.

“Babe, babe. Wisdom, Wisdom…” she got up and

ran after him.

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“Wisdom, I am talking to you!” She yelled behind

him once they were outside the eatery. “What is
your problem?” She yelled.

“Babe, I am sorry, but you all over him in there and

you abandoned me to chat with him.” He told her.

“Wait, did you just say sorry?” She asked in a soft

tone. She was dumbfounded. Wisdom just
apologized to her for the first time ever. She stood
there looking at him in bare shock. He took a step
closer and kissed her softly on the forehead.

“I love you baby, but please, stop doing the things I

hate.” He told her and held her back inside the
eatery. Mary sighed, the man had really changed.
She sighted Andrew’s eyes on them as they
entered and felt even more proud than ever.

“Would you sleep over at my place tonight. I

promise you nothing is going to happen.” He told
her. She remembered he had just warned her not to

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do things he hated. Wisdom hated anyone

disagreeing with him, she knew better than to say
an outright no. She nodded her head in agreement.
She wasn’t comfortable with it but, saying yes was
a better choice than a public disgrace in front of
Andrew and his celebrity girlfriend.

“I love you babe.” He told her and she smiled back.

“I love you too, Wisdom.” She told him and buried

her head in the menu still smiling.

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Chapter 27

Mary almost ran late earlier in the morning, but for

her car, she made it to work in time, only to realize
that she had left her phone at home. She wasn’t
comfortable, it was her major line. She knew she
had to go back home for it. Unfortunately, going
back to Wisdom’s house wasn’t child’s play. She
sat there on her seat and kept sighing. She heard
people shouting outside her office, but she wasn’t
borthered about them. All she could think was how
to get her work line, the one she had left in
Wisdom’s house. Her back was turned to the door
in frustration. She turned and a slap welcomed her
face. Mary fell to the ground in full force. The
whole office gathered at her entrance in shock.

“Are you Mad?” It was Mayokun defending her.

She staggered up on her feet and almost fell back.
Biola rushed to her side and held her.

“I am talking to my woman. Stay out!”

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“Do I look like I care? Mr. Man, get out!” Mayokun

parched at him.

He brought out her phone from his pocket and

smashed it on the ground. Mary could swear she
could hear him breathing heavily in anger. She was
too ashamed to even lift her head. Especially in
front of Mayokun, her long time admirer. She stood
there stone faced, hiding her face behind her thick
human hair wig.

“This is going to be your last day in this office. You

had better resign before you return.” He yelled and
strode out in anger.

“Thank you all, show over, you may now return to

your offices.” Biola announced and it worked.
Everyone returned one after the other to their
office space. Mary just leaned on her friend’s
shoulder and cried. She knew it was the end of her
and Wisdom. He had no justification for what he
did, she was done.

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“Mary,” Mayokun called softly trying to move

closer. Biola waved him off her. He understood and
left the women immediately.

“Who was that?” Biola asked her amidst her sob.

“My mistake.” She answered her and cried more.

She wished she had brought her things with her the
night before, because it only meant seeing the
monster, Wisdom once again before walking out of
his life finally.

The house was dark. Mary wasn’t a guest. She

walked right in resting her hand on the right part of
the wall. The light came up. Wisdom sat there on
his brown leather sofa writhing of alcohol. He was
angry, but so was she. Her swollen face hadn’t
recovered yet. She didn’t say a word to him, she
just sobbed in regret and went into the room to get
her things. How could she have left Andrew for this
waste? She asked herself and cried the more as
she picked her dress and wig. They were those she

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had work the previous night. Once she reached the

loving room, Wisdom was standing at the door.

“Get yourself off that door.” She told him sternly,

but he acted deaf and stood there still.

“You…” he began, staggering back and forth, his

mouth yelling alcohol at her. “I let…you go the first
time, but not this time. I am not going to let you go.
The reason…why you keep leaving me is that
virginity that gives you pride. This time, I will take it.”
He told her in his absolutely drunken state.

“What do you mean by that wisdom?” She asked

staring in confusion. She did understand what he
meant one bit. She hissed and attempted to step
out, but Wisdom landed her another hot slap on the
same spot he had slapped her earlier in the day,
the pain was crazy. It ran through her whole system
and went straight to her brain.

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“Ha!” She yelled out. It was obvious he wasn’t

done. The big guy moved closer and decked her
again and again and again, she fought the demon
back, but it was obvious she wasn’t as prepared as
he was. He brought our a kitchen knife and
stabbed her in her stomach.

“Wisdom!” She yelped and held her stomach as

she gradually fell to the ground looking at him. The
man wasn’t remorseful. He advanced quickly and
pulled her white dress up.

“Pl…ease, don’t do this.” She managed to beg, but

the evil in him had killed his sense of reasoning.
Mary knew dying now, in this house wasn’t an
option. She was too weak to fight Wisdom off, she
wanted to use what was left of her strength to fight
for her life. She had to live!

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Chapter 28

He tore her underwear impatiently and had his way.

Mary couldn’t tell which pain hurt her most. The
sharp one that went in between her legs, the one in
her face from his countless slaps or the sharp knife
that stood upright in her stomach. She silently wept
and prayed for forgiveness. She caused it, it was
completely her fault and now, no one was there to
save her. Not the big businessmen she was always
meeting with or her colleagues that were always
taunting her about her tailor boyfriend.

“Now you are useless to me and you can die for all
I care.” He told her once he was done. He began to
adjust his trousers and walking out of the house
almost immediately. She could almost hear him
running.

Mary groaned in pain. Her legs hurt. She couldn’t

get up to pick her phone. The pain that ravaged all
her body kept sending signals to her brain. Joshua

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couldn’t drive, it was the same with her friend

Helen. Who was she going to call?

She dragged her badly beaten body close to her

handbag and brought out her phone, her hand
quizzed about until she found her cell phone. She
struggled to picked the phone. Her nose bled as
much as her stomach did. She couldn’t believe he
had stabbed her just to have his way. And she
couldn’t believe he actually did have his way. She
kept panting and crying as she dialed the only
person she should have trusted; Andrew. She knew
at that point that even the devil was interested in
her death.

“Mary, you are not dying now. Mary, you are not
dying now.” She kept telling herself

“Oh God please, give me this second chance.

Please, give me this second chance and I promise
not to be an idiot anymore, I promise.” She cried
out holding the knife to her stomach. She knew

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removing it was going to be a colossal mistake, so

she steadied it with her hand not moving it.

“Mark, Mark,” she began to call like he was God.

She picked the phone up and dialed the man’s
number. He picked without wasting time.

“Hello, please, Mark help me. If you are not here in

a few minutes, I will die”

“Mary?” He questioned. It sounded like the man did

not have her number anymore.

“Yes.” She spoke faintly, the sight of her own

blood nauseated her.

“Where are you?” He asked her.

“Number 4 John Bosko Estate, Ikeja.” She told him.

“Come straight in I beg you.” She said and let the
phone fall off her hand.

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She didn’t know if this what people meant when

they talked about fainting, but she felt very dizzy.
Uneasily and tiredly dizzy. She closed her eyes
slowly and in what she thought was a deep sleep.

Mark drove into the Estate in confusion. He looked

around again and again, fixing his large eye balls
on the numbers on the numbers in the wall, most of
which had faded out. What he saw at the entrance
was ‘house 200’. He knew at once that he was in
die big trouble. Two hundred! What?! That meant
looking for the forth house that was going to be
like one hundred and six houses away.

Mark sighed and sped until he saw house five and

then, there it was, the forth one. He stopped and
ran to the door of the house. The door was flung
open. He entered through a passage and then the
next sight that met him made him hazy. He stopped,
covered his mouth with his hand.

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“Mary!” He called. He knew he didn’t have the

luxury of time so rather than stand there in
bewilderment, he bent over and scooped her into
his arms and put her in his car. He came back for
her handbag that was on the chair ran back to his
cat and drove off like he was a competitor in a car
race.

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Chapter 29

“What happened?” Andrew’s voice came up on the

phone. He had to tell him what he had just done.
Picked up his ex from her boyfriend’s house and
brought her to the hospital.

“She was in a pool of blood, Andrew. Her ex

stabbed her and…and…”

“And what?” His voice came up again. “And

what?”

“He raped her.” He blotted.

“What? How did that wvn happen? How did you

find out? What is going on with her right now?”

“Hey, hey, I don’t know more than what the doctor

said. Andrew, I was wondering why he would do
such a thing. She was still dating him until
yesterday evening.” He said in sarcasm.

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“She is not like that Mark.” He defended her.

“Abeggi. Yet she followed a guy for money and left

you, you my dude.”

“Are you still in the hospital?”

“I don’t understand. Na me born her? I did my bit,

man. Paid her bills, called her family and left. Wetin
be my own, am I the rapist?”

“You cannot talk like that. She is my friend and I am

my best friend.”

“That was before you became CEO, now SUMAL

documents are your best friend. Abi, check it, since
the last time you left, you haven’t stepped Nigeria
and I have legit been running things for you here.
Thank God there’s Emem, if not, the office will
suffer.”

“Just don’t talk about her like that, please.”

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“Andrew, it is my airtime, my phone, my house, I

can say anything I want to say, abeg.”

Mark waited for a reply from the other side, but it

didn’t come. He only heard his friend and brother
exhale .

“Don’t tell me you are about to do what I think?”

“I am coming back to Nigeria.”

“For?”

“For a friend of course.” Andrew told him.

“Andrew, I know we are brothers and we respect

each other and all, but, wait, you dey craze?

“So what are you going to tell Alicia? You just

found that lady after spending so much time
apart?”

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“The truth. I have personal business to settle.”

“Don’t come here, I beg you.” He told him, but it

was obvious his mind was made up.

“Mark, could you send me the address of the

hospital?”

“Yes I can, but no, I won’t.”

“Okay, I know how to get it. Thanks.” He told Mark

and dropped the call.

Joshua hated the smell of drugs, but he had no

choice, his sister was there. Sick and wounded. He
had insisted their mother went home to prevent her
from crying and whining about her daughter’s
condition.

It was past 9 pm, Helen arrived with her fiancé

holding food for the siblings, she walked into the
hospital frowning. She couldn’t believe Mary could

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be this daft and shallow. For the umpteenth time,

she had not been able to wrap her head around the
mess that had just happened.

“Babe, babe smile now.” Paul pleaded following

after her holding another bag containing warm
water and other drinks.

“And why should I? Why should I pretend to be

happy with her when I am not?”

“Because she is sick?”

“And did I cause it?” She parched back at him

“Babe, easy on her, easy.”

“Look, lover, you don’t understand.” She stood still

looking up to his large figure as people passed by
them either going into or out of the hospital.

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“How could she do this? Really? Wisdom is a

nightmare any day, anytime. She knew this yet, she
became his prey again. Really? Yes, we lost touch,
she wasn’t talking to me as much as she did at
some point, but I remember she used to be the
bigger girl, Paul. She used to be the bigger girl in
Jesus, whatever happened to all her super amazing
sense!” She yelled and wept. Paul hugged her
quickly. He knew she was hurt, stopping her from
saying how she felt was going to be bad news.

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Chapter 30

Paul was the calmest man ever. He understood the

nature of his woman, although she had made him
fall from grace, he was glad they had both
repented and things were now better.

Joshua strolled out and met them there. He rushed

to her and hugged her.

“Aunty Helen!”

“Big man.” She called back sniffing. “How is she

now?”

“She hasn’t opened her eyes.” He told them and

sighed.

“Joshua.” A familiar voice called not too far from

them.

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“Uncle Andrew.” Joshua called and rushed into the

man’s arms. He looked so good and smelt nice too.
His denim had his name customized on it as
“A_Drew”, his hair was fuller and better. His shoe
was the best thing Joshua had seen in the day. It
was a brown timberland that matched the white
vest he was wearing.

“How have you been?” He asked following after

the boy who dragged him slowly to Helen and Paul.

Helen knew him. Mary had told her so much about

him and she had seen his pictures on her phone,
but the man was cuter than he looked on the
phone.

“Good evening.” Helen greeted him first.

“Evening miss…ugh…” he struggled.

“Helen.” She helped him out.

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“Oh, her best friend. It is nice meeting you. So

much pleasure meeting you.”

“Glad to hear. Let’s go inside. Visiting hours will

soon be over.” Helen said and led the way followed
by Joshua who couldn’t leave Andrew’s side.

He had so much to tell him and they sure were

catching fun even inside the gigantic private ward
they had shifted her to earlier in the day. It worried
Joshua since he knew they might not be able to
afford it. The hospital looked too expensive. Yes,
his sister had an official car and a fat salary, but
they were many responsibilities to take care of and
so he would not want them spending all their
money in a hospital. Joshua wondered why nobody
came to send them out. The hospital did not allow
so many people in a room at a time but after
listening to their story, the Matron gave them her
permission.

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“Jo…Joshua,” Mary called slowly. They all rushed

to her except Andrew. The man wasn’t sure she
wanted to see him.

“Mary, how do you feel?” Helen asked, pulling the

sheet up to giver her properly.

“Not feeling well.” She responded. Her swollen

face wearing a frown.

“Uncle Andrew is here to see you oo.” Joshua

announced.

“Mmm?” Confusion laced her face as she looked

at her brother.”

“You should let her rest well Joshua.” Andrew told

him and rose slowly on his feet, resting his back
against the wall and not moving closer.

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“What are you doing here?” Mary started harshly

not looking at the man. “Are you here to mock me
because of what your friend told you?”

“Mary, are you serious?” Helen mused at her.

“Umm…we will just be outside.” Helen signaled
everybody and they all walked out and stayed
outside the ward.

“This is a hospital, not a stand-up comedy hall.” I

am not joking. What are you doing here?” She
asked again.

“I thought I would come and see you, I left

everything behind just to be by your side and you
think I did all of that to look you in the eyes and
mock you? Mary, who do you think I am?”

“I don’t know!” She sobbed out in tears. “I don’t

even know who I am anymore, I am so ashamed
right now and I just want everybody out of my life!”
She yelled and turned aggressively.

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“Be still Mary, the stitch, don’t tear it.” He

cautioned.

“I don’t care! I don’t! I actually thought of my

mother and didn’t want to die.” She said and
sobbed. “Wisdom was the worst decision of my life!
I thought I was doing the right thing. Leaving you
seemed best. I mean how could I reconcile being
the head of a company’s analysts and a…a tailor?”
She broke down and cried.

“We are done with that Mary. Your wrong definition

of me brought us here and we are done. I am here
as a friend to support you and not to mock you. I
guess that is the difference between us, because
no matter what you become, I will be here, Mary. I
will be here.” He told her and waddled to another
side of the room, checking her beverages out. “I
will order for more beverages…” he told her.

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“He raped me, he raped me, Andrew. He took my

pride, my virginity. How do I ever explain that to
anybody?” She cried but couldn’t move.

Andrew had tears stored in his eyes. It was her

mistake, that made it more painful. It wasn’t as if
the man came to the house, dragged her out and
raped her. She had gone with him, willingly. He
couldn’t deny the flow of emotions that still
mesmerized his heart towards this woman, but no,
they were done. They could only be good friends,
he thought to himself and repeated the phrase
‘good friends’, in his mind.

“You can resume your job once you are out of here.
I am sure Mark would still want you around?”

“What about you, Andrew, do you still want me?”

She asked him out of nowhere.

What audacity, he thought. How could she even ask

him that question after the pain she had made him

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go through and he is still going through. He pulled a

face towel out of his back pocket, dabbed his face
lightly before facing her.

“We are done Mary. I have never touched a woman

like that and I am sure that God in heaven, my
father, has a better slot for me than…” he lacked
words, but he was going to try all the same.
“…than…than this.” He told her and walked out of
the room.

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Chapter 31

Mary knew she was done for. She cried everyday in

the hospital. She couldn’t believe she had lost a
man like Andrew because of her insensitivity. She
never saw him again in the hospital, but her brother
told her that he called often and the times he had
told her he visited, she had been asleep.

After three weeks in the hospital, Mary was

discharged and finally allowed to touch her phone.
The first message she saw was from Wisdom. It
had the most cruel content anybody could ever
send to anybody.

“Pay back is always sweeter and more bitter. See

you in hell.” He wrote.

Mary flung the phone and it had almost landed on

the wall in front of her, but for Joshua. The guy
dived towards it and caught it right on time.

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“Aunty Mary!” He shouted, panting. “Take it easy

now. Take it easy.” He told his sister. She sat there
and cried. Her tears were infectious. She couldn’t
believe she had been that stupid.

They left the hospital and soon, they were home.

Not even her mother could say anything to her. She
knew she hadn’t been the best mother and her
advice had brought nothing but pain to her
daughter.

“Welcome Mary.” That was all she said and did

every other thing without talking. Served her food,
prepared her bathe and gave her her medications.
Mary wasn’t going to say a word either. She just
wanted to heal without stress. Many of her
colleagues came to check up on her including Biola
and Mayokun. She was grateful. After all nothing
was their fault, she was the thoughtless one who
should have knew better than take silly advices.

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“We have a new CEO,” Biola mentioned. She was

interested in that topic. Did it mean that her job
was at stake?

“What? Why?” she asked.

“So Mark chose the love of his life over the job of
his life and got kicked out. He is now very serious
with Emem and last I heard, they are jingling the
wedding bells.” Biola told her dropping a glass of
water and facing her friend. Mayokun sat facing
the two friends.

“So, who is the new CEO?”

“The boss’s brother.”

“Step-brother.” Mayokun interrupted. “Allow your

gist dey cook well. No dey give half gist.” He told
her and kept listening.

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“Don’t worry, for now, Emem is low-key running

things for the family in the office and Dolapo Pedro
gave up his shares.”

“One gist at a time now,” Mayokun told her.

“Anyway, new CEO never come office so you are
safe.” He told her and then they kept bantering
about other things.

It was one month and a week, Mary was back to

work. Everything seemed different. Only her office
remained the same, like it had been kept safe for
her. The rest of the staff members had been moved,
positions had been changed. It was almost like she
had been gone for years. Notwithstanding, she
maintained her cool and tried familiarizing herself
with her clean looking office. It was obvious that
the cleaners were still doing their job even while
she was away.

“Oh baby!” Biola came in dancing in a funny

manner.

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“Biola,” she called calmly, smiling.

“Welcome back baby girl. I am so happy that you

are finally back.” She told her, sitting on the seat
opposite Mary’s chair. The table in the middle
separated them.

“Thank you Biola, thank you!”

Mayokun’s knock came on the door. The door was

ajar, so they knew it was him.

“Hey girl! Baby!” He called and swayed to her side.

His arms were wide open. Mary didn’t resist him.
She hugged him and sat back.

“How are you doing now?” He asked her.”

“I am great and I am back to work.” She told him.

“Our new CEO is arriving today and I hear that she

is a dashing young woman…” he blinked too many
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times and added a blush. The ladies laughed. “I am

the ladies man, so shooting my shot is not out of
place, right?”

“Not out of place at all, Mayokun.” The women told

him in unison. Soon, he left and then, Biola left too.
Two hours later, a meeting was called and they
were told that the CEO was waiting. Mary couldn’t
have been more shocked. It was Alicia Brown, the
lady she had seen with her ex, Andrew, the Pop
Star. She couldn’t hold her laughter. How did Alicia
Brown turn CEO in her company. Of course,
SUMAL & SONS wasn’t going to make her their
CEO, were they?

“Get out of my seat, Alicia,” a male voice spoke

from the door and they all turned. It was the man
nobody expected, especially Mary. The man that
had just spoken was no other than Andrew, her ex.
Her breath stopped in her throat and for a while,
she thought she was dead. She almost yelled his
name out in shock.

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“Hey big brother,” Alicia responded casually and

smiled, but she wasn’t getting up.

“Don’t do this here, get up.” He charged playfully

towards her and booted her off the seat in the
board room. She giggled and stood close to her
brother who addressed them. Mary could swear
she heard nothing except the continuous thumping
of her heart beat. She stood there quiet and dazed.
Biola and Mayokun also recognized him. He had
visited the company a few times before.

“We will be adding a new venture to the company.

We will now be having the SUMAL CLOTHINGS. I
have explored and checked this venture out in
more than a year and I think it will do great. Our
office will be needing an extension, don’t worry, it
isn’t going to be located here, it would be
somewhere in Ikoyi and that has been taken care of
already.” He sighed and looked up to his sister
where she stood. “Do you think I am missing any

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other thing out?” he asked his sister who seemed

clueless. He shook his head and continued.

“For those who do not know me, my name is

Andrew Boluwaduro, your new CEO. And umm, I
hope we will all do our jobs and not snoop around.
I don’t like shallow people or lazy people. Those are
my biggest turn offs. Don’t do that with me, please.”
He turned to his sister again. “Anything else?”

“No. Except ummm…I think you should just ask

your Stacy.” She told him in one of purest
American accent anybody had heard and without
being called forward, a slim lady with a figure like
that of a runway model walked into the room.

What would Emem be doing? Mary wondered

staring at the three.

“You aren’t forgetting anything sir, except that

after now you have three more appointments for

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the day.” She told him and stood aloof watching

the rest of the staff.

They were glad the man had no issues, didn’t sack

anybody and didn’t complain about anybody. He
just spoke about the job and told them about how
much he loved excellence.

“Mary, how are you feeling now?” He asked her

bluntly without shame and for a second, Mary
thought she was going to disappear. She sniffled
before talking.

“Umm, I am fine, sir.” She managed to answer.

“I know not many people know about your fashion

business. We will be needing your prowess for our
clothing line. We hope you oblige and work with
me?” He told her fixing his eyes on her.

“Yes sir.” She managed to answer again.

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“Very well then, have a nice day everyone and

please be at your best. He told them before
leaving.

A part of Mary was angry and another part felt very

guilty. What more did he keep away from her? The
one room, his sister is a popular Pop Star? Was he
even poor, was anything about him true at all? Yet,
she felt guilty for leaving him. Did she even deserve
the salary and promotion she got or did he
influence his brother into doing it? How did they
even become brothers? She asked herself myriads
of questions but tried maintaining her cool.

“Are you okay?” Biola asked once the meeting was

done. She didn’t respond, she ran after her ex with
so much speed and soon caught up with him
outside the office.

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Chapter 32

“Are you okay?” Biola asked once the meeting was

done. She didn’t respond, she ran after her ex
boyfriend with so much speed and soon caught
with him outside the office.

“Wait!” She yelled once she saw him. He stopped

once he saw her running towards him. Mary
ignored Alicia and walked up straight to him.

“What is it Mary?”

“You think this is funny? What in God’s name is

happening here, Andrew? I demand an
explanation.”

“I owe you no explanation, Mary.” He told her

sounding very cold.

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“Yes you do. You think it’s cool to go around

goofing with people’s hearts and pretending like
you are some poor dude, on a lone street and…”

“I never pretended to be poor. You weren’t just

satisfied. We had dates in some of the best places
around, but no, your reputation mattered more.
You wanted to chill with the big boys on another
level and you got what you wanted, you got what
you deserved.” He told her and then there was
silence everywhere. The two starred on like they
were actors in a movie. Her tears filled eyes
questioned his. That was too heavy. She wasn’t
expecting him to say that to her no matter what.

“May…Mary…” he called her in a pleading tone

and then watched her run off in pain. He knew what
he had said was wrong, but the truth was that had
been angry since he found out about the rape. It
was her damn fault, he had thought too many times
and found no good reason why she left him.

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“You want to go and beg her?” Her sister asked

looking at him in shock. “That girl doesn’t deserve
you. I can’t believe you would stay this long without
sex and then opt for…for…”

“I beg you, don’t say it.” He told his sister without

looking at her and then walked like he didn’t know
where he was going to. He walked towards his
black SUV and entered.

“Thank God we don’t share the same surname.

acting like a sissy because of some damaged girl…”
she kept whining as she followed him.

Mary couldn’t believe what had just happened.

What on earth did Andrew just say to her? She
picked up her laptop and began typing her
resignation letter. The shame and stigma was too
heavy on her. What was she even thinking? How
could she have resumed the same office after the
dastardly incident that had happened to her? Once
she was through, she double checked it a few more

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times, sobbing and sniffing in tears, before

forwarding it to the personnel department.

The lady behind the computer was shocked, but

she acknowledged it and even printed it out as
soon as she got it. Mary waited until everyone was
gone before packing and leaving. She left the
official car and the key to the official house she
never used.

“Mary, are you okay?” It was her mother. The

woman knew better than to say too much around
her daughter. They barely spoke these days and
she just knew things were amiss with the young
lady.

“I am fine, Mummy.” She told her starring blankly

into the Television in front of her.

“You are not. It has been a week since you last

went to work. What is going on?” The woman
asked calmly settling next to her and searching her

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eyes for answers. Her eyes were utterly blank, they

said nothing. She was getting scared of what her
daughter was becoming. Joshua was in 200
hundred level in the state university. The man was
barely at home, but he made it home on some
weekends.

“Talk to me, Mary. What is going on?” She asked

again. This time, Mary cried. She didn’t want to talk
about it, she just wanted to cry.

“I resigned! I resigned!” She yelled out, escorting it

with tears. Her mother went mute. She was done
giving her daughter the wrong advice, she couldn’t
do it anymore. She looked at her, sat up, and
sighed.

“Do you still pray?” Her mother asked her to her

shock. The woman was a church goer, nothing
other than that.

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“Don’t ask me that now, don’t!” She told her

mother in her shock.

“Mary, I know I have not been a good mother, but

here is one thing I discovered, I just never told you
about it. Whenever you don’t listen to me but listen
to God, you always come out bright. And the
failures you’ve had these past months has only told
me one thing. You have not been praying as you
used to, you have not been listening to God as you
used to. Your mental calculations have been your
director, not God.” The woman told her.

Mary got up and took a spiral turn before

motioning into the house.

“Jesus, forgive me. Forgive me and thank you for

sparing her life. I will do my best from now on, I just
hope it is not too late.” She prayed silently in the
living room, tears stored in her eyes. The few
weeks her daughter spent in the hospital had been
so scary. She thought she as going to lose her child

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and so she began to pray and ask God to forgive

her. She prayed and prayed until she was sure her
daughter was fine and coming back home.

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Chapter 33

Once she was done praying, a knock came on the

door.

“Yes, who is there?” She asked tilting towards the

door like her question was going to open it.

“It’s Andrew, ma.” Her daughter’s ex announced.

She jerked up and opened the door quickly.

“Andrew,” she called calmly and dragged the man

inside the house like she had been waiting for him.
“Forgive me, forgive me for misleading Mary. I am
sorry.” The woman apologized without even
knowing that things had changed. “Are you here to
reconcile?” She asked him.

“Ummm, I am actually…ummm…” he was going to

pick his next words carefully when suddenly they
heard a loud noise from inside the room. It was

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Mary. Andrew led the way, he sped towards the

room and pushed the door open without even
thinking twice. Mary laid on the floor writhing in
pain. She held her stomach tightly and beside her
was a bottle of shaving powder.

“Shaving powder ke? Mary! Mary!” The woman

kept yelling. She had not even seen what Andrew
had seen. Mary had not only poisoned herself, she
had also cut her own wrist. It was obvious she was
head bent on dying. The blood began to drip on her
white top as she turned and twisted. She was
chubby and fully endowed, nevertheless, Andrew
lifted her off the floor and with the maximum speed
he could afford while carrying her, he ran outside
the house into his car. He had brought a different
car this time, not the SUV.

What was Mary thinking? He thought and kept

panting. Mary’s mother knocked the window to the
car, she wasn’t going to let them do this without
her again. Yes, she had high blood pressure and

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everyone was trying to keep her safe, but for once

in her life, she wanted to be a good mother.
Andrew intuitively opened the door for her. She
flew in muttering prayers as they drove to the
hospital.

“She will be needing blood transfusion ASAP.” The

doctor told them.

“I am O+. I am a general donor.” Andrew

announced.

“Okay, come with me.” The doctor told him and led
the way. Mary’s mother tried going with them, but
Andrew stopped her.

“Relax here, I will soon be back.” That was all the

woman had seen of Andrew and then she sat there
all by herself until Helen arrived and then an hour
became two, and two hours passed before he
came out looking weak and holding a bottle of
Malta Guinness drink. He could barely greet Helen

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whose number he had gotten from Joshua and had

simply told to come over. The two women quietly
watched him in shock. Helen brought out the flask
of food she brought for her friend and handed it
over to him. He needed strength and she wanted to
be of help.

He needed some sleep for sure and there was no

way he was going to sleep there. He brought out
his phone and called Mark to come over. The man
showed up in minutes.

“Good afternoon ma,” he greeted the women

sitting down and then helped Andrew up on his
feet.

“I will be back in the evening.” He managed to tell

them.

“Where are you taking him to?” Helen asked. Mark

was trying to suppress the anger he felt.

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“Home,” he told her and continued walking out.

“I will be back.” Andrew announced again.

Mark looked away immediately. He was going to

ensure that didn’t happen. He wasn’t Jesus Christ
and there was no way he was going to watch him
die for the sins and problems of another man.

“Bye, ma.” Mark told them emphatically as a sign

that he wasn’t coming back. He was going to make
sure of it. Their daughter and friend had done
enough and he was not having it any longer.

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Chapter 34

Two weeks had passed and Mary wanted to

desperately see Andrew. She was sorry and it was
high time she said so. She felt guilty each time she
remembered that his blood was flowing through
her veins and yes, her mother was right. She had
dug her head into too much work that she forgot
the essence of her prayers and study life. She
wasn’t meditating.

“I want to see him.” She told Helen, who was sitting

right next to her.

“I do not understand. Who do you want to see?”

“Andrew.”

“See, that man has not been here since he left. I am

not sure he wants to see you.” She told carelessly.

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“I want to see him!” She yelled this time. Anger was

slowly creeping back to her life. She knew it was
out of the frustration of having to do all the
thinking without Jesus in it. That life was stressful
and it was already getting to her.

“Okay, okay…” Hellen agreed raising her hands up

in surrender. “You will be discharged tomorrow,
you can go from here.” She told her to get her off
her back.

“Okay.” She answered calmly.

“Mary, you need to take this time really to go back

to praying.” Helen started. “You are one of the
biggest reasons Paul and I decided to stop what
we used to do and live for Christ. I love you babe,
but you are slowly sinking into too much anger.”
She told her and resumed what she was doing.
Reading a book. Helen never read, she didn’t take
life that seriously. Was she the only one now left

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behind? She kept thinking. Mary managed to pray,

she felt too weak, but she needed it at this point.

“Thank you Lord for sparing my life twice. Forgive

me for being too proud and not praying, send your
Holy Spirit to help me because I can’t help myself. I
need my relationship back with you, help me.” She
prayed silently and cried. It was all she could
muster, but she prayed from her heart and was
sure God had heard her.

The next day, once Mary was discharged, they

ordered an Uber and headed straight to Andrew’s
house where she had lived for months. She wasn’t
sure he still lived there, but she was going to try her
best anyways.

Once she knocked on the door, Alicia’s voice came

up. She had read the news of the young lady giving
up hip hop for a normal life in the gospel field. She
has adopted her normal name again, Alicia
Boluwaduro. Mary knew it was the Andrew effect,

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but wondered why it took so long, plus, he had said

he grew up a lone child. Well, he wasn’t wrong. She
had heard on the news that Alicia was been
adopted by a different family. At eighteen, she left
home, disowned her adopted parents to do hip hop.
To help them forget they ever adopted a child that
hurt them, the two never tried searching for her,
they just stayed away as much as they could not
until Andrew arrived their door step to look for her.

From Ondo Nigeria, Andrew’s father had moved his

family to the USA while it was just him and his wife.
After four children the two died in an automobile
crash, leaving the children in the care of the
American government. It was the beginning of their
disaster.

Luckily for him, he was adopted by a Nigerian

whose son was his best friend in school, but things
didn’t go down well for too long. Andrew returned
to Nigeria when he was twenty-five, and learned
the robes of business on the busy streets of Lagos

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while staying with chief Anthony’s relative. That

was smooth enough.

The door soon opened to their faces. Mary sighted

her man from afar, his back was turned to them, he
was wearing a headset and had his head dug in
some paper works.

“Can I come in? I promise not to cause any more

damages.” She told the woman who simply nodded
and let them in.

Helen sat down quickly. The house was so comfy.

Mary walked straight to where Andrew was and
touched his shoulder calmly. The man turned like
he had just gotten out of a trance.

“Mary.” He called gently, removing the headset

from his ears. It was the most gentle way he had
ever called her and his voice was just still as
perfect as ever. “What are you doing here?” He
asked her rising to his feet, his full figure

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overshadowing hers, but it wasn’t intimidating, she

was used to it. He wasn’t a very big guy, he was
bigger than her.

“Andrew Boluwaduro, I am sorry. Your arrival into

my life was everything and losing you was my
greatest mistake. I can never forget a man like you.
You have loved me so genuinely that I wonder what
your heart is made of. I am so damaged, yet you
are still here. I am sorry for everything I put you
through, forgive me, Drew.” She finally told him.

“I am sorry, I cannot do this. I am sorry I can’t. It’s

late, Mary.” He told her and attempted to go in and
then there came the next knock on the door. Alicia
went for the door, this time, it was her mother. The
woman was with her son. She saw her daughter
sobbing but didn’t even ask her anything, she just
walked up to Andrew. She was going to kneel, but
Andrew caught her halfway.

“Please, don’t do that.” He pleaded.

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“Can you please, forgive us? Forgive my daughter,

forgive me, forgive us, please. If this is the last
thing I do before death comes for me, please…”
she cried as she spoke. Andrew could not let her
continue. He started talking too.

“I have forgiven her. It’s okay, please. I loved your

daughter and I still love her, but…” He left the
woman’s side and walked up to Mary.

“You tried killing yourself and didn’t even think

about me?” he told her and smiled.

Mary hugged him quickly. Her soaked face stained

his shirt immediately. She wasn’t going to let go,
but he also wasn’t going to let her go, he wanted
her to stay with him. Helen looked away from them
once she saw his own tears flow. She felt extremely
uncomfortable, but it was obvious, that none of the
pair cared about her or the older woman and her
son. Alicia just stood by the door and smiled.

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“I wish you stayed, Mary and I wish you can stay

now. I want you, I want you so badly that the mere
thought of you being away hurts me. I loved you
from that night I saw you and irrespective of what
has happened, I still love you.”

“No, no, I am not good for you, Andrew. I am

defiled and…and…”

“Nobody gets an automatic slot to marry a virgin

just because they are one. The choice of whom to
spend forever with has nothing to do with being
defiled or being whole if God is involved. I love you,
God approves of us and that is all that matters. Will
you become the mother of my children or…”

“Yes, I will.” She said too quickly.

Alicia’s tears began to drop. She knew her brother

needed the woman he was holding to be sane. He
had not been himself since the incident started.
She was glad he was reunited with the woman he

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loved. Just the same way they had become

reunited on his last trip to Colorado. She quietly
prayed that they find their other sisters and live
happily.

“Thank you, Andrew. Thank you!” Mary kept telling

him as she cried.

“No, thank you, baby, for saying yes. I love you now
and I will always love you no matter the odds.” He
finally told. knowing they were going to spend
forever together and there was no letting go.

THE END

Copyright Damilola Babs, 2022

No part of this book shall be plagiarized except if
authorized by the author.

If this has blessed you, please kindly drop a

WhatsApp message on 09052399526 or send an
email to [email protected].

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Our next book is titled, MY NAME IS OSUN (but I

am not a goddess). It promises to be massive and
be a blessing.

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