ANIKE
By Toyin Taiwo
Episode 11
I woke up by 6am. I prayed briefly, at least I thanked God I didn’t die overnight. I took my bath, I wore a strap pencil dress.
I lied on the bed after dressing up, I was called up for breakfast around 8am on Saturday morning.
I met him on the dinning reading a newspaper.
Good morning sir, I said as I joined him”
“Good morning, hope you slept well?”
“Ehm….Yes I did”
He was wearing a white crested navy polo on a navy blue three quarter baggy.
“You did not sleep well” he said, more of a statement than a question.
“How did he know? Did he have a camera in that room?” I thought.
“You have sleep bags on your eyes” he said as if he read my thought.
“Oh!” I said in a low tone, I doubt if he heard.
He continued. “So why didn’t you sleep well? I hope I’m not a bad host”
“No sir, maybe it’s because I’m new in this environment”
“Ok, let’s eat”
The table was all set again, as if we are having a feast. I went for fried rice and chicken and stepped it down with juice.
I excused myself, I went back to my room after eating.
Two hours later or thereabout, I heard a knock on my door, I did not bother to ask who it was, I just opened and Admiral Alawode was standing in front of me.
I’d like us to talk, he said and I made way for him to come in. He sat on the two sitter chair in the room and gestured for me to sit beside him, which I did. He moved closer to me, I inhaled his expensive cologne.
“Tell me about yourself” he said and I told him everything, my fathers demise and what brought me here.
He asked if I have a boyfriend, I said no and he asked why, then I told him about Olamilekan and how he left the country to study abroad. I told him ever since he left I’ve decided to be on my own for the time been.
He was a good listener, he listened with rapt attention, he paused me once in a while to ask questions.
After he got all the information he needed about me, he held my hands.
“I’m sorry about your father but I’ll try all my possible best to help you and your family get back on your feet” he assured me.
“Thank you sir”
“You are…..”his ringing phone cut him short
“Please excuse me” he said
“Your Excellency sir..…. Alright Mr President” he said
“Did the president just called him? Happy was right. I was wowed, I’ve never been close to someone who had such connections all my life. So Happy was right” I thought.
After the call, He asked for my bank account details and I gave him.
“I just transferred some money into your account” he said while tapping on his phone. I got a message alert on my phone, I checked, it was a bank Alert, my account was credited with #1 million. I opened my mouth but I couldn’t talk.
“The driver will take you to the airport, now, I’ve booked a flight to Lagos for you, go and sort your family out with that money for now. I have a house in lekki you can move them into the house for now, I’ll call the securities there and notify them. I want your siblings to go back to school, use the money to pay the bills, there are good schools in lekki, they can attend” he said
I was on my knees crying before he could stop me.
“Thank you very much, May God bless you, every good thing you lay your hands on shall prosper in Jesus name” He asked me to stand but I refused to, I was on my knees praying all sorts of prayer for him. He watched me and allow me do my thing. I stood up when I was through.
I was so elated, then I remembered my mum, what will I tell her when I get to Lagos. The man read me like a book, he knew something was wrong.
“What’s the problem?….. Oh your Mum, no mother in his right senses wouldn’t ask questions, but you’ll have to come up with something or better still, tell her the truth, you share your problems with someone and he’s willing to help, after all that’s what it is for now. I could talk to her on phone to clear her doubts” he suggested.
“He gave me his number.” That’s my personal line, you don’t have to go through my PA or the normal protocol. Just call me anytime, and let me know if you need anything. I can’t believe he could give me his personal line, Happy did not have it. He asked for my phone number too and I gave him.
I got to Lagos and went to the church where my mum and siblings were staying in Maryland. I cried when I saw my mum, she has grown lean. She told me the church has been catering for them for some days now.
I sat my mum down and explained everything to her. I told her the truth, let’s say half truth not 100% truth. I had to leave the path that Admiral Alawode is my soon to be potential sugar daddy.
I called a cab, we packed the few things they have with them and went to lekki, I gave the cab man the address and he took us to the place.
I knocked at the gate and the security man opened, he said his Boss had called, so he let us in, the securities even helped carried our bags into the house. The house was cleaned, I’m sure they clean it everyday, the sitting room was well furnished. The house is a duplex with six rooms.
We were still settling down when two guys came in with groceries, they stalked the kitchen with food stuffs and fridge with food, drinks and bottled water. The freezer too was stalked with meat, chicken, pepper and other perishable foods.
My mum was just wondering what miracle was going on. I know she had things on her mind. I had so many things on my mind too.
“I thought this man did not like me at first but doing all this means he’s interested. But come to think of it, he did not touch me all through my stay in his house” I said in my mind.
I went into the kitchen with my immediate sister, Adekemi. We prepared rice with meat stew. My siblings were happy.
“I can’t remember the last time, we ate good food like this” Okiki our last born and the only boy said.
“All thanks to our loving sister” Adekemi added with smiles on her face.
“Let’s just give thanks to God, our suffering is over” I said.
Everyone had already picked a room, after eating, I went to mine, while my siblings settled to watch TV, there was subscription on the cable.
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