YINKS89:
yh bro i dont juz read i try to follow every chapter nd view it from every character perspective althou most pple re viewin it from kate side nd nt payin attention to why gab is doin it.... different opinion thou.

true talk, man gats to hutsle.

this piece is really captivating

elskillful:
this piece is really captivating

thanks dear! I hope you enjoyed it. Just grab a soda and crisp popcorn, join me on this adventure : lets unearth Gabriel's temptations together. *winks

classcaptain, iphekitan, food Don done

Creeza:
dedicated Laveda , sunshine46

Continues*

Damilola

Money is good. Wealth is wonderful, but it could not ensure me the happiness I wanted.
*
The cold wheather induced in me, chilly hormones of July- I hate rainy seasons- Unwanted and uninvited guest which I had to bear.

I wrapped myself in a cozy blanket, sat on the couch in the living room; my only companion - a glass of orange juice.
The glass tableware, which I acquired on my business trip to Korea reflected my loneliness.

Painted walls with marble designs-polished glasswares- in patches; luxirious spacing between the t.v on the wall and me; air conditioned and sweetened vanilla scent.

I'm accomplished,had it all, but something was lacking.

'Am I so difficult to love? I asked my reflection on the table.
Rhetorical question indeed.

These elements of denegration and surreptitious sinisters, paraded through the corridors of my mind. Unexpectedly : the doorbell reinstated my mind to reality.
*
I walked non-challantly to the front door.

'I'm coming...Bisiii? Where is she? Oh! .'
I remembered she took Funmi to school.

'Yes, Umaru, what is it? I said .
Umaru looked wierd as always, his tarky buba and oversize cap resonated stupidity, then he replied. 'Madam, one Oga, I say I wann see am por me'

'who is that? Let him in'

'OK.Madam' he said. Dashed off to the gate, and I heard him talking to someone.

'Oga, Madam say make I kwom inside...Eyy! No frovlem, kwam inside'

I stared from the glass door. Lo and behold : It was Gabriel.
My heart quickened, a rapid inflush of adrenaline to my system, this type I never felt before.

As he took steps towards me, my soul drenched with fear and I felt happiness at the same time. He sliced the air with his chocolate arms, his broad chest made my imagination grow wide. ' oh my! I jerked. He is so handsome.

*snap out of it* I cautioned myself*behave Dami,behave*

'Hello Dami, ' he smiled and my world came to a pause. Is this for real?

' Hi...hello, Gabr...hi Gabriel' I stammerred.

' I'm here to discuss about your proposal'

'which proposal? My lips stretched wide apart and I could feel myself blush.

'the one about...' he began.

I slapped my forehead, and remembered. ' Oh! Yes I remember. Sorry. Its fine if you refuse' I continued ' besides, I dont want to seem imposing and cheap'

I wished the heavens, I could take back the last word. My eyes popped out of their sockets.

Gabriel stroke his left hand behind his jean trousers, bent forward a bit then placed it on his blue slim -fitted
polo.

'You see, 'he resumed ' I'm not too sure about this either, but lets give it a shot....'

'please come inside' I cut in' its hot outside'

'wow! He exclammed' nice place, this is like a palace'

I laughed. 'Soon you will be its King' . Another misplaced statement.

Terrible. Just terrible.

'Here are the documents ' I gave a file to him' Funmi wakes up by 8 in the morning-every morning to be prescise except Saturdays and Sundays, which ofcourse are your days off....You can only leave at 9pm every work day...so if you..'

'Whoa! Wait! I'm practically going to live here? Gabriel asked.

I raised my arms and let it slam on my laps, when I took a seat.
' The choice is yours, except you have a family already?

He was silent. 'I will read the rest, when I get home... I have to leave now'

Something is not right, I thought loudly. His face glowed when I asked about his family.
******

Katherine

' oh July, wonderful July, beautiful July' Boma sang ' I love the breeze, July, the rain in July, my love O! July!

'will you stop it please' I enjoyed the song, but her voice branded it 'MIA'

Boma is nearly same age with me, she just gapped me with 3 more. A cheerful lady, and now my kitchen partner in the school Canteen. Her voice marred her moderate looks.

She danced and stirred the potatoes in the pan.
' Katy, be happy for once ok. Let your life be made of love'

'love? I'm a creature of love. My husband loves me so much' I said ' you think I'm not lovable?

My arms kept steady at akimbo

'Hmm. Katy, love is like alcohol when you take too much, you get drunk' she said ' we cant always trust men you know. They forget so easily, what love means. And when that happens, they grow tired of us'

I scanned every possible reason for her statement.

These few days, I've been getting negative vibes.

' yea! Thats true, but not my Gabriel... He is too good to be true' I ticked my index finger in the air ,smiling.

Boma poured out the potatoes, introduced a new batch and the oil sizzled.

'what can I say? Kate,your husband is lucky to have you. You have a beautiful heart'

I blushed.

'But be careful Kate' she continued ' guard him jealously, so many women would kill just to have a man in their life'

Another hint of impending doom. Like she was a priestess of choas.
I removed my apron, opened the freezer and took out a glass jar of ice water.

Gulping down a cold drink, my mind scattered in different dimensions of mindplay.

Thanks dear for the mention,tho I'm pretty late

Sunshine46 I'm glad you made it back here

Creeza:
Sunshine46 I'm glad you made it back here

I should c ds to d end,wouldn't miss it for anything

Updates pls Creeza, I'm afraid I wld break my thumb clicking on this thread every[sub][/sub] second.

bibijay123:
Updates pls Creeza, I'm afraid I wld break my thumb clicking on this thread every[sub][/sub] second.

ah! Bibi.. Am cooking stew! Let it cook well first, you knw this is a family story. It has to be......

Dont worry! I'm nt leaving this one.

chijioke17:
classcaptain, iphekitan, food Don done

Oya where my spoon oh

Iphekitan:


Oya where my spoon oh

I get enough spoon. You want one?

Creeza:
ah! Bibi.. Am cooking stew! Let it cook well first, you knw this is a family story. It has to be......

Dont worry! I'm nt leaving this one.

I just hope you using firewood to cook, coz really nepa can stall us for ages

Dedicated bibijay123 yinks89 jagugu88li you guys inspire me.

*continues*

Damilola

'' Do you like your party? Are you enjoying it? I said.

'Yes mummy' Funmi said ' I am mummy. Thank you'

'Why? Dont be sad now' I said , when I noticed her smile gradually fade away.

'Mummy... Where is daddy? She said.

'I uhm... He cant make it honey' I said.

'But why mommy. You promised' She said.

'Funmi ,listen to mummy' I began.

'Your daddy loves you so much and thats the most important thing. Just know he cares about you, even if he is far away'

'No he does'nt... If he did,why is he not here. I want daddy, I want daddy!
And now ,even aunt Kemi is not here to attend my birthday party. Whats happening ? She said.

I noticed that too, but due to the many guests and Oluwafunmi's friends , I had little time to think about Kemi's absence.

'Dont be sad, baby. Mummy will never leave you. I'm here, forever'
*

I kissed her on the forehead and embraced her warmly,while bending down.
*******

Gabriel

Dami stood there puzzled.
She bit her lips, scrathed her chin and shook her head.

She virtually scanned me from head to toe.

'What's wrong' I asked.

She shook her head and tightened her mouth like her cheeks were filled with water.

' Its not right'

'What is not right? I asked.

'You dont look like a daddy from America' she said.

'Huh ? So how does a daddy who came back from the states ,look like? I said.

'Your dress. You cant wear Polo and those jeans when you meet my daughter'

'Oh that? I laughed, but it felt embarrassing.

'So what next? I asked.

She cycle me. Then stopped ultimately.

'I have a solution to that' She said.
*
Dami went to her drawer benearth her office table . She brought out a box-very fancy- just like those you get when you buy from boutiques.

I watched her as she took off the covering flap.

'Here. Take this. Change into them. They look better' She said.

The clothes she gave me were expensive, very flashy and I bet my balls, that they must cost a fortune.

'Hmmm. I have arrived Nigeria, finally I don Hammer. I thought.
****

Nanny Bisi was instructed to bring Funmi inside the ball room. Dami made sure all her gifts were all there, especially my horses. Yes they were V.I.P.

'Wow! Mummy ,these are beautiful. Teddy bear! ' Funmi said ' Mummy are those pony horses?

I was hiding in a corner.

'Yes ' Dami's voice replied.

'Really? They are beautiful. Who made them ,mummy?

'I did''
*Daddy-for-hire job began officially. I came out of the corner like a price being unveiled. Beaming every pattern of smile, I could think of.

The little girl was a bit startled. She hid behind her mother.

'Who are you? She asked.

'Uhm..Baby, this your Daddy , Gabriel' Dami said.

'Really?.. Are you my daddy? Funmi said with Joy.

'Yes, I am' I felt guilty, but if lying would get me and my family a better life. Then I rather lie ten times a day.

Not funny though, but my tongue always had the perfect answer.

'Daddy! Funmi hugged me.

'Do you like my gift? Oluwami? I asked.

'Oluwami? She said.

'yes Oluwami, for Oluwafunmi.' I said.

She shrugs. ' the best gift you gave me is you. Thank you for coming, daddy'

' I love my princess, so much, I will never leave you again' I said.

'Promise ?

'Promise' I said.

Dami's joy was extra ordinary, even clueless Nanny Bisi couldn't help it but shed tears of joy.

*Excuse me' Dami said. Her phone rang.

'Yes...my e-mail, ok...you inboxed some pictures... I will check them ASAP'

She was still very happy. Funmi hugged me even more.

Suddenly , Dami's joy was changed to gloominess. Like she saw a ghost on her laptop screen. She sat silently , staring piercingly at me and then checked her screen in disbelief.

'What's wrong, Dami' I said.

'Nothing...' She scoffed.

I was very skeptical if it was really nothing.
Her eyes betrayed her response. There really was something on that screen.

*********************


Katherine


I managed to find a parking space, pulled in and turned off the ignition.
The school bus was always with me on Saturdays to enable me commute early to work on Monday.

It saved me transportation costs.

I hopped down from the driver's seat and looked back to see if I was forgeting any item.
Satisfied, I pressed the lock button on the analog remote key.
The car beeped in response.

I stood there , staring and trying to recollect what I wrote down on the list of items I wanted to buy from the flea Market.
I was standing right in front of it.
Hoodlumps were inevitablely present with their notable suspicious appearances.
I clenched tightly to my hand bag and took a quick look at it to make sure it had not already disappeared

I was cautious. Pepper spray was in the bag.

The stalls were open on all ends, each having only a shelter cover with stakes nailed to thick rods that served as beams for support.


The ground was a typical replica of molten magma larva, the only difference here was the coldness and putridity of this unapolegetic eyesore.
I managed to tip toe a few times , preventing my feet from torture but my slippers suffered dearly .


The goods here were cheap- Flea in nature.
Tomatoes were not placed on a platter of gold unlike the previous weekend when it was hiked.

Assorted goods and beverages were present and affordable, but not the type you get to buy in Shoprite and mega malls.

Original goods could be found here but only if one did a pratical survey of the entire landscape. The forces of demand and supply had no effect on this market.
They were weak in price determination. The price today will be different from that of yesterday.

I couldn't despair, this was the life I chose because of love. I would sacrifice a luxurious life , just for my OGL.

My One Great Love- my sweet Gabriel.
Only if he knew, things would not be so complicated right now.
Not withstanding that, he wanted to get rich and I would put in blood and sweat to see his dreams come true.
***********†*********

She was not in the mood to smile. She stared at me . I couldn't help but wonder what sinister and crooked thought was going in her mind.

She probably was searching for something to plank me with.
Obviously.

' Er??You say wetin ? Abeg Madam, if you noh go buy drop amm. How will I sell
these tomatoes to you 150? She said.

She then looked away with disgust. Shameless indeed.

'How come? See the thing self, e donn die finish' I said ' To be honest this one nah ' Toma' , the 'Toes' no dae again'

It was obvious . The tomatoes looked non-succulent and almost dry.
Only in Nigeria you get to display such kinds of goods with impunity

'Take it or leave it. 150 naira last' I said.

'' Abeg carry your wahala dae go. You dae block my customers o!
Please o' she became furious..

' I can't give more than that nah? Maka why kwanu? In this Buhari period? I said feigning
to be surprised .

" Nah you I carry for head come market today abi? Its change o. Farmers have increased price'

' Nah you sabi, 150 or nothing' I said.

After a long bargain, she finally succumbed to my end of the deal and let me path with the goods.

That was the last item I bought after spending hours debating with nagging market women.

I carried the two nylons portables in both arms.

My hand bag hanging on my shoulder.
I was about to open the passengers door when my bag became loose off my arms.

Someone had snatched the bag.

'Thief, thief O ! I shouted and made a pursuit of the fool. I didn't even care about the nylons as I dropped them on the floor

Suddenly, someone punched the scumbag in the face , barricading his escape.
I felt sorry for him.

"Ouch ' I said.

It felt like I was the one who was dealt with a blow.

' Next time , you won't be so lucky; now get lost' the man said .

I was awestruck and puzzled as I stood there watching my knight in shinning armour.......


To be continued.

Have a good nights sleep.

thanks for d dedication dear, Gabriel will end up hurting more than his wife. See now Funmi is getting attached to him, the poor child. weldone jare.

now she juz found out he is married.

Nice piece here Creeza.

Great update creeza

YINKS89:
now she juz found out he is married.

YINKS89:
now she juz found out he is married.

I hope so too.

Lleigh:
Great update creeza

awwn thanks

bibijay123:
thanks for d dedication dear, Gabriel will end up hurting more than his wife. See now Funmi is getting attached to him, the poor child. weldone jare.

lol..... The poor baby

chijioke17:
classcaptain, iphekit an, food Don done

thanks boss

IamLukas:
Nice piece here Cr eeza.

help me spread the goodnews. UNIBEN peeps can do shakara like die. Abeg invite them here.

Mirob
swann , remiseyi, MozB tunjilomo colik noblets
adetomdx and ashatoda.

This food is fresh, join me and enjoy it.

Creeza:
I hope so too.

b4 nko...

Ok o

Creeza:
Mirob
swann , remiseyi, MozB tunjilomo colik noblets
adetomdx and ashatoda.

This food is fresh, join me and enjoy it.

thanks for the mention... lemme sit and watch from this corner of mine...

Creeza:
Mirob swann , remiseyi, MozB tunjilomo colik noblets adetomdx and ashatoda.
This food is fresh, join me and enjoy it.

i'll be joining you bro

MozB:


i'll be joining you bro

nice to hear

Am really enjoying this

Nice one bro.. am solidly behind u

Dedicated to everyone who has been following up genuinely.

Continues*

Katherine

I watched as the poor lad scrambled off the floor and fled for his dear life.

How could this be? Why him? He is always there to rescue me from problems? I thought out loudly.

* why? I asked , when the thought transformed to words.

'Why what? Andy said.

He wore a brown packet shirt , with a well ironed pitch black trousers.

I was impressed by the shiny shoes he wore. They reflected the rays of the sun and I thought I saw them glow- probably a mirage or something.

'Sorry.... I meant thank you, but why? I said .

'Why what ? He replied again, and gave me my hang bag which he got back from the thief.

'Are you in anyway , following me? I said.

'Obviously not and you're welcome' He scoffed.

'I just happened to be at the right place and time' He said.

This is the second time he did me a favour, and I hoped dearly that he wouldnt asked for any, in return.

' Thank you...for this... I... I really appreciate' I said ,feeling shy and took my eyes off his direction.

'No problem Kate' He said ' Now you owe me two cups of coffee'

*Is that all? He must be a comedian indeed.

I grinned and gave a hearty smile thinking of reasons why he wanted to have a coffee date with me.
*******

Damilola.

''What? Kemi's voice echoed in my ear drums.

', Kemi please help me out here, I'm confused' I said.
-- handling with my pen on the table, and my other hand held the phone to my ear.

The Sunday morning was blissful. Birds chirped from a distance and I could still hear their melodies. The air smelled fresh.

I used to be a Kirk- a bornafide church goer- but all that changed the day my mother was humiliated by her so called fellow members.

I never wanted to remember the past, but it kept hunting me both in dreams and reality.
*

' I just got an e-mail yesterday' I said.

' what were the contents?

'Kemi ,it is so horrible..' I began

'How do you mean, is it that bad?' She said.

' Kemii!!, my mom was arrested for drug trafficking in New york, and you are asking me if it is that bad? I couldnt believe her.


'Listen to me Dami, dont get too fused up, we can still do something'

'What, ? What can we do? I'm confused'. The tears began to roll down my cheeks as I wiped them off gently.

'So how did you get the get the pictures?

'Remember I hired a private investigator to keep watch over her? I said.

'Yes..yes, I remember. John Foster, right? Kemi said.

'yea, thats him. The one we met at the convention in New York' I said.

The tears became unbearable. I just had to let it all out.

' Kemi why are all these happening to me? ' I said ' Why me? Just when I thought everything was getting better'

' Its not your fault, Lola please stop blaming yourself'

' It is.. ' I sobbed' If only I didnt allow Mum to stay back in the states, knowing fully well she was now a drug addict'

Kemi sighed. I could feel her breathe deeply on the other end of the line.

' You had to. She requested it, besides the humiliation from St. Jude's members, left a dent on her personality. Nigeria became too unbearable for her. She needed a change in environment'

' I cant take it anymore'

'I cant , I just cant. Before it was Funmi who suffered, now even my mum is in a deeper mess' I cried.

' It will be fine.' Kemi said.

'So where is Mami Funke now? ' She asked.

'She is in the police net , undergoing detainment' I said' I will try and pull some strings to get her released on bail'

' I'm always on your side. Remember' she said.

'OK. Thank you Kemi. You are a true friend'

' Awwwn! What are friends for? She joked.

'ok bye' I hung up the line.

Thoughts flash into my head like thunder bolts stabbing the very essence of my existence.

' Mummy? Are you ok?

Funmi came into the room and I didnt notice her presence.

'I'm fine. Mummy is ok ' I said.

' You're crying mummy. Did daddy leave us again?

I wiped away my tears and smiled.

'No baby. Daddy didnt leave us. Mummy just has alot on her mind , it will be fine'

'OK mummy. I promise you, I wont ever make you cry. I will take care of you, mummy' Funmi said and cleaned my face with her arms.

Joy overwhelmed me. My cheeks came alive again . I hugged my daughter and held her firmly.

'I love you Funmi' I said' You are really God-sent. You are mummy's angel'

' I love you too mummy'

ENJOY THIS FOR NOW MY PEOPLE.
TBC.

Updated , Cc Mohbaby
yinks89

skarlett
jagugu88li
lleigh
bibijay123

Yemijnr