Episode 21
Emeka, for the next couple of days makes sure he stops by Dianaâs room every morning, she had insisted to stay in the guest room out of respect for his mother she had told him, he agreed. He takes her out often to lunch every afternoon, and dinner at evenings, he didnât give her any space to doubt, he showed her all the love and attention any girl would be blown over for without being intimate with her. The point was to give her all the attention she needs, to cushion her up, leave no room for doubts from his side. She had fallen; he wanted to make her fall hard, so hard that her eyes will glow when they see him.
He takes her to the movies, watch her laugh at funny scenes, cry when it is emotional and scream when it is scary while burying her face in his arms. He opens the doors for her when she enters the car, takes her hand when she comes out, he dabs her mouth when she spills food, feeds her when she is smiling. Buys her nice things.
He calls her his lady, his queen when he is addressing the staff when they walk into a restaurant and on some days he doesnât have much work, he takes her cruising around town, without his security tailing him, he tells her that he is enough to protect her, and when she isnât looking he buys her a gift and surprises her with it before the day runs out.
He made her feel special, he did all that a man would do to a woman he loved⊠he did it so that she would have no iota of doubt of him in her body. And as hours spreads into days, she looked so happy.
And when he looks into her eyes, she stares back at him, he sees it, yes he sees her eyes sparkle, he sees it twinkle bright, and when she calls his name, itâs with something else attached to it. Love!.
He sees her, how she goes to greet his mother every morning, making it a duty to make breakfast, his mother is quiet these days, not happy, he needs to talk to her, reassure her, that all would be well soon, tell her to forgive him when it is over.
Olive, is quiet too, avoiding to make a scene⊠But that is a purposeful intent.
But Diana? Diana is changing, she is changing, she is falling and falling hard for him, and that pleases him.
And at night, he walks her to her room, kisses her cheeks and when she asks him to stay with her, he does because he knew she wouldnât try and sÂŁduce him like before, but still you canât keep leaving yam in front of a goat and keep expecting it not to eat it because it didnât eat it before.
âShe wants to love him like he has never being loved before?â
He laughs, he wanted to laugh in her face, but that would have given him away.
He listened to her talk and his heart twisted in his chest, because⊠all she said she meant today to him, meant nothing.
While he fanned Dianaâs feelings for him from flame to red fire, he keeps tabs on Ambross, he would have stepped in as soon as he withdraw that money under the table, but he was going to wait, allow him feel he played him for a fool, allow him enjoy the loot he obtained, allow him bask in his foolishness.
He knew it was better to catch a thief with his mouth fool with stolen meat then to catch a thief who had wiped his mouth and hands clean from the oil from the soup and no trace of loot. And that is what he wants to do, catch Ambross with his mouth full with his greed, selfishness and wickedness
He leaves Dianaâs room and goes upstairs, knocking on the door..
âMama, can I come in?ââ
She raises up her head, Olive was seated beside her. She smiles getting up
âMama, I will see you laterâ she walks away, once she nears Emeka, she leans in
âShe isnât too happy, make her feel better will you, I almost feel guilty not able to tell her anythingâ
âMe too â
She nods touching his arm and leaves.
âHey mamaâ he comes to her, pulls the seat closer to her âyou are angry with meâ he holds her hands âI am sorryâ
âI am not, you are a big boy, you make your own decisionsâ
âMama donât sound like that now, you break my heartââ
âYou break my own heart when you picked her Emeka, what do you want me to do? You say I should let you have your wife, your love, what happens when she breaks you Emeka, how do I protect you?â
âMama, she wonât be able to do that, because I will be the one who hits back, I donât need protecting this time mama, but she would be the one who needs to be protectedâ
âWhat do you mean Emeka?â
He searches her eyes, no, he canât tell her now âI mean, that, I mean that I am a big boy now mama, I make my decisions and before I did that I thought long and hard so I donât need protection, you will see, you will understand it all. Just support me mama, please, accept herâ
âI have accepted herâ
âNo, you say that but you donât mean thatâ
âWhat do you want me to do, gather her in my arms and kiss her cheeks and cook for her?â
âNo mama, I see her making an effort, being nice to Mama Tito, trying to care for you, making an impact in the house, she leaves no room for errorââ
âI see, she could be pretending!â
âMaybe, but it is all genuine to me, let it be for youâ
âWhy does it sound as though there is something you arenât telling meââ
The intuition of a mother, Emeka thought to himself âNothing, I am telling you everything for now, I want to talk to you about ââhe trails off
âAbout what?â
âI want to hold the engagement party here mamaâ
She signs in resignation âSo are you really going to marry her, you really want to marry her?â
ââYes!!â
She shakes her head âWhen?â
âThis Saturdayâ
âIsnât it too soon Emeka, wait, think about it, please!!â she makes one last plea
âNo mama, its time, all I have waited for is here mama, its time. She loves me, she really loves me Mama, itâs time to finish it mamaâ
âYou say something Emeka, and I read something else, what is it you are trying to say, what are you keeping from me? Why do you say she loves me like⊠it just happened and you are waiting to do something with that information eh?â
Mama, you intuition is top notch, but I canât let you in on it, not till itâs all over. I am sorry.
âNothing mama, you are reading something else, i just mean i am happy and why wait. I want to marry the girl I love and I need you to arrange it, please, itâs going to be just immediate families, one or two friends and invited guests, thatâs allâ
âWhy not your everyone Emeka? Your business associates, your friends far and wide, why not the press and everyone else in the whole world Emeka?â
She was angry, he rubs her hands, calming her down. She was lashing out, since he wanted a wedding going against her why go private, why not tell the whole world right mama? But, she isnât the one I want to spend my life with Mama, she is just the one I want to break, and I donât need the world here to witness, just the few.. and then all this would end mama.
He looks up at her
âI want a private setting mama, nothing more, my life is public, but my personal life shouldnât be in the spot light, for now at leastâ
âYou wonât change your mind?â
âNo!!â
She sighs âVery wellââ
He stares at her âMy mother, I know you mean well, and I want you to know that I will never go against you, never! I love you too much, but I also have the matters of my heart to deal with, and it involves Diana andâ he pauses âforgive me if I have hurt you, forgive meâ he buries his head in her hand âForgive me for everything, for yesterday, for today and even for tomorrowâ
âEmeka!!â she rubs his head holding him tight, why does it feel like he isnât saying something to her, why? âEmeka my son!!â she repeats and drops a kiss to his head; they stay like that for a while before he eventually leaves alone.
He meets Olive at the door, she was waiting for him âso by this weekend, it will all be over?â he asks him as he comes out
He nods his head
âMy flight is in the morning!!â
âI know, should I drop you off?â
âYou donât need to!!â
âThank you Oliveâ
âNot yet Emeka, donât thank me yet!! Let me say goodbye to your mother. See you later, maybe I will get a proper goodbye from you later onâ she smiles patting his shoulders and entering the room to say goodbye to his mother.
âI wish you didnât have to go Olive, I wish you were the one marrying my son, I wish you were my daughter in-law Olive, he wouldnât listen to me now you are leaving, oh oliveâ Mercy says as soon as she sees Olive entering her room
âOh Mama, itâs okay, itâs okay, the heart wants who it wants Mama, you canât force a man to love another, I will be fine and you will be too, all of you, I promise, just have a little faith okay?ââ Olive says going to her and shutting the door, Emeka sighs deeply, sad about his motherâs words and her countenance.
A little longer mama, I will never go against you I promise.
He walks away.
Diana is seated on the bed biting her lower lip with the phone to her ears as she waits for the phone to connect, it does âHey Grace, how are you?â
âI am great and you?â
âConfusedâ
âWhy?â
âYou were right. I do love him, I love him now, I donât know what to do?â
âTell him the truth, no relationship should be formed on a lie, Emeka is a good man, he will forgive you, toss it away and love you still, from what you have been telling me of all the nice and breathtaking things he has been doing for you, it seems he is 100 all in, so you need to be all in too, which means, all those greed for material wealth, you need to let it goâ
âI donât think much about it anymoreâ
âLiar!!â
âNo Grace, for this past few weeks, Emeka has been amazing, loving, caring, really..I was stupid to never love him, more stupid for leaving him in the first place, nowâŠI just want to be the good person he deserves, I havenât even tried to sÂŁduce him at all, because I donât want him to think that is all I am after, not anymore anyways and he is such a gentleman, never asking, not even pressurizing me, he is such the perfect gentleman Grace, oh my heartââ
âAnd Olive?â
Jealousy creeps into her, she frowns âThank God she is leaving tomorrowâ
âTell me Diana, donât lie⊠you really arenât planning anymore on cheating Emeka, taking his money and leaving are you? Like you did with the rest, that what you feel for him this moment is real?â
âFor the first time, I donât want to anymore, for the first time I want to stick it out!!â
âIf Emeka was to be left with nothing right now, today, would you stick it out?â
Silence
âDiana, would you?â Grace wanted to know
âI will. I care about the man now Grace, I love him, I do, I donât want to ever hurt him againâ
A relief sigh is heard âDiana Nkenchior, right this moment, I am glad to be your best friend, I am really tearing up right now, reallyâ she laughs, Diana could hear her sniff, she laughs
âSilly, so anyways, my engagement party is coming up on Saturday, and you better be here, I will send you the addressâ
âOh wow!! That soon, is it going to be a big affair?â
âNo, he said he wants a private affair, family, close friends, the wedding would be huge, but I think he wants to do a court wedding at once, he said he is getting the lawyers here, no need to go all the way to the court officeâ
âWow! Of course I will be there, congrats now Diana, I never told you since because you were a gold-diggerââ
âScrew you!â Diana laughs âI hate you, if you were God everyone would die of their sinsâ
Grace Laughs âNah, not everyone, just youâ they laugh again
Grace continuous curiously âSo wait, if you said you donât want to sÂŁduce him anymore, does it mean you arenât sexually attracted to him?â
Diana blushes âOf course I am, but, I donât want to push it, for the past couple of days he has been sleeping in my room, we cuddle, we talk and laugh and we fall asleep, I havenât felt so loved up like this ever, not with anyone, other men want to tear my close off and actually do, but not Emeka, and sometimes itâs beautiful and great to just lay next and just be in the arms of the one who loves you and who you love and not want to do anything⊠Gosh! My heart beats so fast in my chest and I feel like flyingâ
âAww look at Dee oh, talking about a guy like this, this love odikwa sure oh!!â Grace laughs as she teases her
âOh stop it Grace, so I will see you Saturday okay?â
âYes yes!!â
âDee?â the knock came
âMy fiancĂ© is at the door, talk to you soon Mwah!!â Grace squeals in excitement
âoh⊠my fiancĂ© eh? Heh, me that donât have a fiancĂ© nkor? Let me go and hug pillowââ
âDonât worry, someone better than your baby daddy will show up okay?â
âMaybe, bye!!â
Diana drops the call saying her goodbyes and opens the door wide âHey baby!!â she smiles
âHey Dee, so I was thinking we watch some movies, eat chocolate and baked cookies with juice!!â he was carrying a tray
Hmm late snack in bed, dear Lord!! Why didnât she love this man since? Her heart flutters with love.
âOf course!!â she beams making room for him to step in.
They spend the night watching movies, eating and making small talks and she laughs and laughs when he tells her jokes, and when he told her to go home and get all of her things and move in with him, she was happy and told him she would do so first thing in the morning, and when she was sleepy she lays on his chest with a smile on her face, and she sleeps and her dreams were heaven.
He stays awake watching her sleep.
Diana goes home to park her things from her house the next day, Emeka had told her last night that she wouldnât need to go back home after their engagement, within the month they would have a grand wedding.
She didnât care, as long as she married him, she loves him, she really loves him!!.
She was going to be the best wife he would ever have.
She was happy, happy that she was different, happy that she had fallen long and hard for Emeka, if only she had from the beginning, all this wouldnât have happened. Now she doesnât have to hide and pretend. Now, she just has to love the man with all that she is, that is what she wants, to love the man, and she was loving the man. The love he had showered on her was enough to sweep any girl off her feet and she was swept!
She grabs her bag and flings it into her new Ferrari, Emeka had told her to go pick a dress for her engagement party, and she would stop by first before going home.
Mercy is quiet, she prays to God that Emeka changes his mind, she misses Olive, and she was a good girl. But she left already, she sighs.
Now she has to tolerate this Diana girl, she didnât like her; she didnât like her one bit, but love? her son says he loves her, maybe that is why she would never understand love, one minute the person you love hurts you, the next you forgive them as though they did nothing wrong, maybe, just maybe that is why God loves men unconditionally.. despite their daily shortcomings..
She sighs turning as Diana enters the house, she comes to her smiling âSee Mama, while I went to get my dress I got something for you too, Emeka gave me his credit card, see, I know you love bangles so I got you a few, and shawl as well, see mama, arenât they lovely?â
She looks up at her; she is startled in what she sees. For the first time, there was something different about her eyes, maybe, just maybe she has changed, maybe, because the sparkle she sees now wasnât from the jewels she held in her hands, but it sparkled when she called Emekaâs name.
âMama?â
Mercy didnât realize she was still staring at her, she blinks âthey are pretty, thank you!!!â she takes them, Diana smiles looking at her, she expected her to throw them away, scream at her, but she doesnât , her eyes pools on their own accord, she blinks the tears back. Since she got here, she was susceptible to tears at every given second, what the hell happened to her, she blinks it back.. âHave you had dinner Mama, should I go and prepare food for you?â
âNo!!â She sighs, then continues âMama Tito is already preparing somethingâ
âOkay let me go help her in the kitchen ââ
Mercy watches her leave. Something was different about Diana, she realises.
Emeka came back to find them at the table, his mother was eating silently, Diana with her, but they werenât talking, at least they werenât fighting,.
Things were looking bright for whatâs to come, no room for doubt, which is why his mother has to be in the dark.
He had been to Ambrossâs ventures and for the next couple of days he visited there.. just to be apprised of things, make him feel okay, like the investor coming to check on things, makes him feel important..
He laughs
Ambross had taken him to his new house, Belinda was too happy to invite him, she came unto his again, and he politely put her down.
Ambross told him then his old house was sold for about NGN13million, and he got the cars on second hand basis. Emeka didnât ask, but Ambross felt obligated to explain to him nevertheless, Emeka was indifferent as he told him.
He had meetings with the staffs with Ambross in attendance; Ambross didnât relent to sU-Ck up to him, calling him Sir, Oga, The big boss.
Oh father, donât have an heart attack when you find out the big boss is your son, you disgust me, make me angry, and to think you cannot recognize your son right in front of you brings me utter pain, revengeful pain.
You smell and worship money right? Same money has been your downfall today.
And soon, I will kick you off the stool, and then I would tell you.
He made the necessary calls and fixed the meeting.
Tomorrow would make it a month, tomorrow, it would begin, tomorrow is when all this would end,.
A month of pretended hidden identify for his father, and an untruthful heart for Diana, it was all worth it.
THE NEXT DAY
Ambross is at his office, it is past ten in the morning. There are a few people seated in the conference room waiting, he checks his time, Mr Uchendu had told them 8am for the end of monthâs reports and meeting, now it was past ten, did he forget the time?
He places a call to his PA again to find out.
âHe will be with you shortly sir!!â Agnes answered him
âOkay, thank you!!â
ââHe would be here shortlyâ Ambross addresses his staffs.
Agnes drops the call and turns to him âSir, its Mr Ambross againâ
Emeka turns from the window âanother hour more, let him waitâ he goes back to staring out, hands in pocket, his face straight.
âOkay Sir!!ââ
Three hours later, Emeka drives into the companyâs premises..
Ambross who had gone up to his office to rest seeâs him from his window, he places a call to Luke, âCall everyone in, he is here!!â
He stands up rushing out of his office; he enters the conference room as everyone files in.
âIs he here sir?â Someone asks as he enters
âYes he is, behave yourselves, give your monthly report and answer all the questions he would ask, if not I will fire you myselfâ
âYes sir!!â they chorused
After the meeting, he was would take a one week vacation and go on a trip to the states, only him, he had already booked his flight for tomorrow. It would be one week of fun, luxury and women, away from his nagging wife and the loan sharks who have suddenly stopped coming and calling him. He was going to relax from work and stress and this Uchendu who thinks he is smart, he had no idea he took away money from their account, Ambross smiles. In another few weeks he would take more, he canât see so much money and not enjoy from it.
He looks up as three men walk into the conference room, he recognises two of them, the lawyer, Mr Tammy, and the accountant , but why were they here?.. he didnât recognize the third person. While he is trying to understand why they were here, the fourth person walks in behind them, everyone stands up to great him, he greets back asking them to sit down. There was a seat left for him, he passes it and comes to stand behind Ambross, Ambross turns
âGoodmorning Sir Mr Uchenduâ
âCan I borrow your seat Ambross, I think I would have a better view from hereâ he smiles down at him; it didnât get to his eyes.
Ambross stares at him âSure sir, please !!â Ambross gets up and allows him the seat
âShall we begin!!â Emeka states taking a seat, crossing his legs and leans back
Father, here begins you purge . Your day one and finale trial. Your End. And I would enjoy watching you squirm, beg and be ridden off.
âGo on with the reports â Ambross states to the Team lead who began to talk.
The meeting commences
Its two hours later when they are done with their reports, Emeka is impressed the staffs were working hard, despite the incompetence of Ambross who had nothing to show for his efforts, he was impressed with their staffâs work, he would retain them.
âWell sir, I think we are doneâ Ambross beams with pride
âNot quite yet, I believe you have been introduced to Mr Tam and the accountant prior to today?â
Ambross frowns âYes sir but, I do not understand why they need to be in this meeting thoughâ
âOh patience, you will soon. Team leads, please would you mind getting all the accounts and transactions from the first of this month up until yesterday please and give it to Mr Tony thereâ
Everyone stares at each other as they pass him the files.
âMr Tony hereâ Emeka refers to the third man âIs an Auditorâ
âWhy do you need that sir, I told you we send you the daily reports sir?â Ambross looks at him and back at the staffs then at the Auditor
âYes you did, it was quite accurate but, it is mandatory for an audit to be carried outâ
âAudits should be carried out after a few months or at least a year right?â
âNo!! An audit can be carried out when I want it to be carried out Ambross. Carry on Tony, this shouldnât take too long will it?â
âNo sir, as longs as what they have here is accurate to what was sent, it shouldnât be more than an hour to be through!!â
âVery well!!â
âHave someone bring in break tea and snacks for everyone while we wait Ambross, quickly!!â
âYes sir!!ââ Ambross walks out calling Luke and giving him orders, and then he goes to his office and begins to fidget
âAn Audit? A bloody Audit?â he wipes the sweat away from his face, he tries to calm himself, even laughing âSilly me, what am I scared off? it wasnât recorded anyway, I destroyed the files, no one saw it, he was fired, nothing would be amiss, since then till now we have withdrawn and put back money into the accountâ he laughs âthey can audit all they wantâ he goes back into the office more confident than ever as Luke comes back, he carries a cup and snacks in a tray from Luke and goes to serves Odinaka Uchendu, with a bright smile on his face âSir, this is for you!!ââ
âThank you Ambross!!â Emeka takes out his phone and browses as he waits.
After what seem like an endless hour, Tony raises his head frowning, âSir, there happens to be a discrepancies in the reports we have here, in the balance here and what reflects in the bankâ
âWhat does that mean?â Emeka drops his phones
âIt means that some funds arenât balanced and it isnât reflecting accordingly, like it was suddenly there and then it wasnât, no transfer to and where to sir.. the checks and balances, incoming and outgoing cash doesnât corresponds with whatâs in this documents, the reports sent to you and account balances sir after careful calculations Sirâ
âHow much are we looking at?â
âAbout 30 million naira!!!â
A gasp fills the room
âNGN3Om million naira? How does that disappear from the account!!! It didnât develop wings and flew or legs and walked out of the account, who is the team lead for that department? In fact.. â he turns to Ambross âcare to explain how this is happening?â
Amboss stutters, how is it possible it reflected, it shouldnât have, he frowns âSir Odinaka sir, sir..I am..er sir as surprised as you are, please crosscheck i think itâs a mistake!!â he tells Tony
Tony shakes his head âI have, and it is stated here, that NGN30 million was withdrawn from the account on the fifteenth of this month, but it doesnât reflect if it was used for a project, or anything concerning the company, salaries had been paid and some outstanding debts covered, this is profits accrued to you Sir Odinaka, out of the NGN100 million gotten within this month, that is your profits Sir, the company keeps 60 while you take 30 and 10 goes to other affiliates and upkeep of staffs etc. But, that 30 million had been withdrawn and what we have here in the account is about 45 million naira after the Anex projected was funded sir. ââ
âHow can this happen Ambross?ââ Emeka turns to him, âI thought you said your staffs are competent and trust worthy, do you bred thieves here?â
âNo Sir Odinaka we donât, I cannot believe this, really I am flabbergastedâ he cleans the sweats appearing on his forehead again
âWhere is you accountant he must have signed off on this, get him here!ââ
âYes sir Odinaka!!â
It take about 20 minutes for him to get down to them.
âSir?â
âI have one question, who did you sign this NGN30 million release to, quickly state it ââ
The man frowns looking at the documents, âsir, I didnât sign this, and besides, I started working here on the 17th of this month. I have no idea what this is, when I began, the balance of the account was that of 45million which was what we worked withâ
âOkay, does that mean someone else was working here by that time and who?â Tammy asks
âWe had another accountant, but he stopped working here a few weeks ago think he was⊠ââ someone began to speak but was cut off
âNo!! he wasnât a very competent fellowâ Ambross stated
âWho was he?â Emeka asked
Ambross swallows, âI donât remember his name, ââ he lied
âHis name was Jackson, yes, Jackson Aliko!!ââ someone reminds him, Ambrose throws him a sharp look
âWhy was he fired?ââ Emeka directs the question to Ambross, he blinks swallowing again
âIncompetence sir, he wasnât good for his job.ââ
âPull up his file HR will you?!!â
He does so and hands the Tab to Emeka, âFrom what I see here, he had worked with you for two years, performance is good, very active and trust worthy, he was fired on the fifteenth of this month. HR that is your department, what was the reason you fired him?â
She looks at Chikurdi, he shakes his head ,
âI am, waiting HR !!â
âMr Ambross asked me to fire him for incompetence Sirâ
âAnd there was no evidence to that effect?â
âNone Sir!â she states
Emeka turns to him âMr Ambrose, would it be safe to say that this Jackson person stole my money the same day he was sacked and you all Werenât aware of it?â
âSir, I swear it might be possible, because he didnât complain, he did nothing; he just gladly accepted his release. I am sure he stole it. He is a thiefââ He states angrily.
âhmmm, this is a big problem, NGN30 million isnât a thousand naira Mr Ambroseââ
âA quick question Mr Ambross, before he signs a release form, he would have received an okay from a CEO or from a higher authority level personnel like the MD, as well as confirmation from the bank to go ahead, forms would have been filled at least form you to him or him to you, surely something must be thereâ the Accountant states.
âHe must be very smart Sir, very! Oh, to think that we trusted him, now he left, no forwarding address, no way to contact him and get back your money sir, oh what a world!!â Ambrose laments
Emeka shakes his head smiling âOh Ambross, Ambross , Ambross! You are one hell of a funny guy, you deserve a medal for a class act, really cute, but there is one problemââ
Ambross stops lamenting as everyone is whispering about the money stolen from the company
âSir, why..why..why do you say that, what?â He asks Emeka who turns to his lawyer
âTammy, you can bring him in!!â
âBring who in?â Ambrossâs voice wavers
âOh, I am sorry, I forgot to tell you we had a little chat with him today.â
Ambross grows pale.
âHim who?â
The door opens to usher him in,
Ambrossâs mouth drops to the floor.
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