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There’s no place like home, no matter where you’ve been, Susan thought, as the taxi drove through the giant gates of her mother’s mansion. She hadn’t thought she’d feel this excited to be home; even Stacey’s cold shoulder didn’t bother her any longer, despite the slim availability of chance to be rude at the flight attendants.
“Mom!”
Susan shouted excitedly and flew from the taxi the moment it stopped. She hugged her mother, who in turn hugged her, both spotting huge smiles. They didn’t see Stacey’s exaggerated eye roll, as they clung to each other.
“Hi grand ma,” Stacey grumbled behind Susan.
Mrs. Grant immediately, but tenderly shoved Susan’s bulk out of the way and shone her bright smile on her grand daughter, the one she was well pleased to see.
“My darling, I’m so glad to see you.”
“It’s nice to see you too, grandma,” Stacey replied in a dead voice and allowed the painfully modern woman too hug her. The twelve year old wrinkled her nose at the oppressive, perfumed cloud that hung around her grandmother, then insistently, she pushed away from the embrace.
“I’m jet lagged; please can I be shown to my room?”
“Of course, my dear, the maid will do that,” Mrs. Grant said, signaling to the waiting maid to do just that.
Stacey smiled politely and followed the maid, who had her luggage.
“What’s that about, Susan? I thought she’d be happy to see me,” Mrs. Grant seemed pained.
“Mom, I can’t get into that now. She’s been acting all saucy since she started growing buds.”
“Susan!” Mrs. Grant acted scandalized at her daughter’s words.
The said daughter just rolled her eyes, knowing her mother very well, she was all about polite insults and veiled barbs.
“It’s the truth, and I’m glad I can finally leave her to you to raise and put some discipline into her.”
“Like I did in you?” Mrs. Grant asked with raised eyebrows.
Susan just groaned tiredly and went into the house with her hands around her mother’s waist. I need a drink, she thought, we’ll deal with Stacey later.
~*********~
“What are you doing here?!” Debbie blurted the instant she opened her front door and found yours truly standing there.
“Err…I could go, if this isn’t a good time,” I said and began walking backwards.
She chuckled and shook her head, “No, no, no, I’m sorry; I didn’t mean it that way. Please, come in, it’s so good to see you,” she gushed as she closed the door behind me, and I enjoyed the simple décor of her house.
“I hope it wasn’t stressful getting here,” Debbie asked pleasantly.
I could have lied…pleasantly, of course, but my newly activated conscience was working over time, probably to make up for the past.
“Err…it was a bit, but I took care of it,” I smiled and my heart skipped at the frown that marred Debbie’s lovely, fair face. After Big Mama, I respected Debbie above all else, so I needed to make a good impression, and I wanted to be open with her; so her sharp gaze of suspicion was actual pain to me.
“By taking care, do you mean breaking the law?” I shrugged casually and pursed my lips as though getting ready to whistle.
“You could have been caught, Wana! What is wrong with you? Enough stealing already; how am I supposed to trust you, when you give me no reason to?”
Debbie was really angry; but so was I, because I knew I’d only helped myself from the purse of an arrogant and careless lady, the type that I’m sure everybody hates.
“I had to get here some how,” I explained mildly, not wanting to entertain my anger, after all I was here for her help; it was too early to go mad.
“You could have chartered a Keke over here, and I’d have paid,” Debbie pointed out reasonably.
“What if you weren’t home?” I countered, reducing my eyes to sleets while waiting for her reply.
“You could have called, my number is right there by my address,” she huffed, self righteously.
“I don’t have a phone,” I said, opening my palm and shrugging.
Debbie sighed wearily, “That has to change then. But, Wana, pilfering isn’t the answer to everything.”
“Oh, for the love of God!” I exclaimed, not able to hold on to my simmering temper any longer. “I thought we just concluded that there was no other way.”
“I took just a note, from a purse full of one thousand naira notes, which belonged to an arrogant, stuck up lady, who felt being careless with her purse was fashionable. I could have taken the whole purse and opened up a business, and wouldn’t be here, but I didn’t. If doing that is a crime, by all means, drag me back to jail.”
We were both shocked at the vehemence of my tirade. I was heaving heavily, and had already made up my mind that I couldn’t ask Debbie for help, not after what I’d just said.
“I’ll take you there and give you my wallet in the process…to my jail of love, of course.”
The Barry White quality of his voice didn’t shock me as much as what he’d just said. Debbie and I turned in opened mouth amazement, and our eyes fell on a dark, giant of a man who smiled seductively at me, and winked, before continuing on his way to where ever he was headed in the recess of the house.
Debbie shook her head apologetically at me, “I’m sorry for judging you on sight. It must have been difficult resisting from taking the whole purse.”
“You have no idea,” I reply with a wry twist to my lips.
“I’m sorry, forgive me?”
Man, Debbie was too good to be true. She was actually apologizing and I was going to milk the situation for all its worth. I created a mock frown on my face and picked at imaginary dirt in my finger nails.
“Maybe, not immediately, you should sweat a bit,” I pointed out and tried to hold back a smile. I couldn’t for long, Debbie laughed first and I couldn’t help myself, I joined her.
The slurping sound cut through our mirth and we both turned to find the Barry White sounding giant there, his gaze fixed steadily on me.
“Such a sexy woman, I wouldn’t mind if you sweated for me and not a bit,” he said, causing my eyebrows to reach for my hair line. It was a lot disconcerting that the man didn’t respect personal boundaries and just as I was wondering who the hell he was, Debbie introduced him.
“And the inappropriately vulgar man is my cousin…,” her exasperation was interrupted by said cousin.
“The name’s Bobo,” he said transferring the packet of juice he’d been slurping from to his left hand. His eyes never leaving mine, he extended his right hand for a hand shake.
The dude was trying to appear sexy with hooded eyes, but he just looked sleepy to me. Out of courtesy, I took his outstretched hand; it was cold from holding the juice packet.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said with the fakest smile I could muster.
“No, my love, the pleasure is all mine,” Bobo said and wouldn’t let go of my hand, even though I furtively struggled.
I gave up the fight and turned to Debbie, my hand still in Bobo’s grip. “Could you, point me to the bathroom, Debbie? I’m sorely pressed,” I said this, widening my eyes desperately at Debbie, she understood immediately.
“Oh, of course, this way,” she directed and began moving away from the parlor, still, Bobo wouldn’t let go of my hand.
Debbie realized I wasn’t following and turned, her face registered consternation when she saw her cousin still held on to me.
“Let her go, Bobo. Do you want the lady to spill her business where she stands?” she snapped.
Bobo gave me a slow smile and said, “Gladly, ma Cherie.”
I struggled less furtively and more desperately, and succeeded to get my hand off his grip, I gave him a horrified glance as I fled the vicinity, almost knocking Debbie down in my haste.
~*********~
In an alternate universe of his own, Daniel Akpan was engrossed in his writing. His gaze flipped from the screen of his laptop to the sheet of paper on his desk, which he quickly filled with his scribbles.
He sniffled a bit from the chill emanating from the vents of the air condition, and scratched his neck, further stretching the already weak neck of the t-shirt he wore.
More than his dream had come true in the past years. It had involved a whole lot of back breaking, nerve numbing, work, but finally, he had gotten here. Here being his built office building, a publishing company, workers and two best sellers still paying loyalties.
Daniel’s partner, Paul John, who preferred to be addressed as PJ, lounged on a seat in front of his desk while he worked. PJ wasn’t doing anything at the moment; his eyes roamed Daniel’s overall dressing and grimaced. For someone that was wealthy and successful, Daniel’s present appearance was quite misleading.
At least he thought so, “It’s time you changed your dress style. You need to depict your station.”
“Hmm,” was all Daniel said, his eyes never leaving the screen of his laptop, or even flickering in acknowledgment that he’d heard what his partner had said.
Little things easily pricked PJ’s anger, one of them being to be ignored. He frowned at Daniel and clapped his hands to get his attention…nothing.
PJ clicked on the camera on his mobile phone and began videoing his friend. “Why are you so obtuse? You look like a mongrel; the least you could have done for yourself this morning is shave your beard. Monkey, you didn’t even comb your hair, soon to be obsolete pariah, idiot, Dundee united, see your nose like my grand father’s own, blah, blah, blah,” then he waited, still videoing his friend’s reaction.
At first nothing happened, then as though his mind just registered the sound of PJ’s voice, he jerked and said, “Hmm,” and nodded for good measure.
PJ’s mouth dropped in amazement; he ended the video, reached out and slammed down Daniel’s lap top from behind. The act brought his eyes up, his emotion fluctuating between anger and shock.
“What was that for?! Why did you do that?” he sputtered, and then his mouth hung open in consternation as PJ played the video for his viewing pleasure.
It wasn’t pleasurable. Daniel lunged across his desk to grab the phone, but the slimmer man sidled away from his reach and laughed.
Daniel sat down, and sputtered again. “How could you video me?! Delete that video, PJ.”
“Now I see why the wife left you,” PJ commented wickedly, though still smiling and enjoying his friend’s discomfort.
“And why did you leave your wife?” Daniel replied sarcastically. “I wonder that every time, since she’s the only person that can stomach your bullshit. Which reminds me, have you called her?”
“Are you finally showing concern for something other than your books?” he sarcastically asked.
Daniel looked really concern, “Seriously man, you need to call, she doesn’t deserve what you’re putting her through.”
“Okay, Danny, I’m sorry for bothering you in the first place. Here,” PJ said, helpfully reopening his lap top and arranging it conveniently in front of his friend. “…there, work, I don’t think its right to use up all your concern in one day,” he was being sardonic.
“Don’t try to make it a joke…”
“Am I smiling?”
“If she didn’t go crazy on you, we wouldn’t have met and this wouldn’t have been built,” he said, gesturing to the office. “Consequently, she’s responsible for this success, forgive her for that reason if nothing else,” Daniel begged.
“I have an idea!” PJ suddenly exclaimed, looking excited.
Daniel grinned and looked interested, “What?” he asked, sitting forward.
“We need to start brain storming on what cloth you’ll wear at the award night.”
“Huh?” Daniel was lost.
“Would it be traditional or Western? Whatever it is, it has to be elegant because you’re getting that award.”
“What?”
“I’m just doing my job, I’m all about the company’s media image and that includes you as the head.”
Daniel was in complete consternation; the topic had roughly veered from what they’d been talking about, he was confused.
“What award?”
~*********~
Susan gasped and almost choked on her drink. “An award?! Wait, last I checked, he wasn’t that good,” she said with a skeptical frown.
“Well, dear, that was five years ago, things changed,” Mrs. Grant said almost smugly.
“How?” Susan still looked stunned. “I don’t understand, I never thought he’d amount to anything.”
“You thought wrong,” as usual, Mrs. Grant thought snidely. “An obscure publishing house took a gamble on his books and it brought them to lime light. Out of five published books, which are paying well, Daniel has two bestsellers. He has been nominated for the prestigious author award for this year.”
Susan stood up and paced in deep contemplation. “He’s my husband, mom, I need to go back there and apologize.”
Mrs. Grant’s brows went up in alarm, she was in shock. Susan noticed this and frowned.
“Where’s your sense of ambition, mom?”
“Where’s your sense of shame and decency?” she countered.
“Wouldn’t it be nice to see your daughter beside Daniel as he collects the prestigious author award? You could proudly boost to your friends then about your genius grand child and award winning son in-law,” Susan said with a dreamy look in her eyes.
“I do like the picture you’re painting, but have you thought of what his reaction will be when he realizes that his daughter is in town?”
Susan contemplated her mother’s question, bending her head to the side. “It’s Daniel now, I’ll just apologize,” she waved her hand derisively.
“You’ll just…apologize, for taking away a man’s daughter without his consent. Are your quite alright?” Mrs. Grant asked with a concerned look at her daughter.
Susan bent her head the other way, still in contemplation, “Should I throw in seduction? I certainly should,” she answered herself with narrowed, thoughtful eyes. “It’s been five years, a little something would remind him of what he missed. And the Daniel that I know, would want to do the right thing for his daughter, which is, bringing his family together. I might even take in and maybe suggest a small wedding, just family, and a few friends, a renewal of our vows,” Susan spoke sightlessly.
Her mother was stunned and short of words, she was thinking her daughter might be having a nervous breakdown, but it didn’t seem so. Susan looked really calm and determined, the same look she had when she’d decided that Daniel would marry her twelve years ago.
All the elderly woman could mutter was, “Wow.”
~*********~
“Wow, you must be hallucinating,” Daniel said sardonically and tried to focus on his lap top screen.
“Don’t worry, bro, I’ll wait until you’re in the spotlight to say, ‘I told you so’,” PJ said while fiddling with his phone.
“There are plenty good authors in this state, authors that have been around for eons.”
“Many years of writing don’t relatively interpret to best sellers,” PJ countered sagely.
Daniel groaned in frustration and slumped lower in his seat.
“You need to…,” PJ began and then was interrupted by his phone. “Mr. Ubong ‘Slay’ Ebong,” he hailed with a wide grin. “Are you calling for another rematch? You know you’re my wife at chess, at your service to fuck you up,” PJ said without catching a breath, when he did, he listened to whatever his friend was saying.
Daniel grinned and shook his head, PJ and Ubong, which they usually called Slay, were arch enemies when playing chess. He’d met Slay through PJ, several months after Susan had disappeared with his daughter. The thought twisted his heart as usual; he took a deep breath and sighed wearily.
Slay and his pregnant wife, both SSS agents, had been extremely helpful in investigating Susan’s where about. Though, they’d not had much result, but their effort, for someone they’d just met, was touching. They had become and stayed friends, Slay’s lovely wife, Eddy, even directed him on some legal step’s to take, in case Susan suddenly returned to town.
PJ had regaled him with the interesting story of how Slay got his nickname and how he met his wife. Daniel thought it an awesome story, something only seen in movies, but it was real. He had never seen two people more in love, it made him realize the relationship he’d had with Susan hadn’t been love at all.
He had been doodling on the paper by his lap top, when PJ cleared his throat and got his attention. Daniel looked up and smiled, “How’s Slay, and his lovely wife?” he asked but frowned when he saw PJ’s solemn look.
“What is it? Are the Ebongs alright?” his first thought was for Eddy’s pregnancy.
PJ gave him a curious look, sighed and soberly said, “Susan is in town…with your daughter.”
Silence reigned for ten seconds, then Daniel lunged from his seat, almost hurrying pass PJ, but his friend grabbed him.
“Wait, wait,” PJ said, and clung to his weakened t-shirt. “Where are you going to?”
“How can you be asking such a dumb question? I’m going to get my daughter, of course,” Daniel huffed and struggled to pull away from PJ’s grip.
“I can’t allow you to do that,” PJ shook his head and suffered a venomous glare from Daniel.
“Let go of my shirt, PJ, or I’ll have to punch you…in the face,” he threatened, his hands instantly folded into fists.
Both men were of average height, PJ just a head taller than Daniel, but slimmer and not in any way a fighter. He was conscious of his appearance and Daniel knew about it, hence the threat of a punch to the face.
PJ grimaced and determinedly held on, “No, you need to calm down,” he said tenaciously, and stared into Daniel’s eyes to convince him. “You can’t just go barging in like that, we need a strategy.”
“I don’t care about your stupid strategy; I want to get my daughter!”
“And you’ll get her, but not like this! We didn’t get successful by going in half cocked, we strategized. We refused to sell your manuscripts even after several rejections, because we’d researched and planned and knew what was at stake and that built our decisions.”
“This is business…”
“This is my daughter,” Daniel ground out through clenched teeth.
“As far as Susan is involved, it’s business. Besides, your daughter isn’t a child any longer; her perception is probably skewed from whatever Susan has fed her over the years.”
Daniel sighed wearily; he realized his friend was right. His shoulders drooped, but PJ held on to his shirt, just in case he was pretending.
“Everyone is concerned about you, Eddy specifically asked me to make sure you don’t go off half cocked.”
“She did?” Daniel asked with widened eyes.
“She did,” PJ nodded, silently congratulating him self for being able to hold him back. “All we need is a strategy to get Stacey without Susan.”
Daniel nodded in agreement, “What’s the plan?”
The story continues…
Your comments bring out the beauty of this story....thanks
“Mom!”
Susan shouted excitedly and flew from the taxi the moment it stopped. She hugged her mother, who in turn hugged her, both spotting huge smiles. They didn’t see Stacey’s exaggerated eye roll, as they clung to each other.
“Hi grand ma,” Stacey grumbled behind Susan.
Mrs. Grant immediately, but tenderly shoved Susan’s bulk out of the way and shone her bright smile on her grand daughter, the one she was well pleased to see.
“My darling, I’m so glad to see you.”
“It’s nice to see you too, grandma,” Stacey replied in a dead voice and allowed the painfully modern woman too hug her. The twelve year old wrinkled her nose at the oppressive, perfumed cloud that hung around her grandmother, then insistently, she pushed away from the embrace.
“I’m jet lagged; please can I be shown to my room?”
“Of course, my dear, the maid will do that,” Mrs. Grant said, signaling to the waiting maid to do just that.
Stacey smiled politely and followed the maid, who had her luggage.
“What’s that about, Susan? I thought she’d be happy to see me,” Mrs. Grant seemed pained.
“Mom, I can’t get into that now. She’s been acting all saucy since she started growing buds.”
“Susan!” Mrs. Grant acted scandalized at her daughter’s words.
The said daughter just rolled her eyes, knowing her mother very well, she was all about polite insults and veiled barbs.
“It’s the truth, and I’m glad I can finally leave her to you to raise and put some discipline into her.”
“Like I did in you?” Mrs. Grant asked with raised eyebrows.
Susan just groaned tiredly and went into the house with her hands around her mother’s waist. I need a drink, she thought, we’ll deal with Stacey later.
~*********~
“What are you doing here?!” Debbie blurted the instant she opened her front door and found yours truly standing there.
“Err…I could go, if this isn’t a good time,” I said and began walking backwards.
She chuckled and shook her head, “No, no, no, I’m sorry; I didn’t mean it that way. Please, come in, it’s so good to see you,” she gushed as she closed the door behind me, and I enjoyed the simple décor of her house.
“I hope it wasn’t stressful getting here,” Debbie asked pleasantly.
I could have lied…pleasantly, of course, but my newly activated conscience was working over time, probably to make up for the past.
“Err…it was a bit, but I took care of it,” I smiled and my heart skipped at the frown that marred Debbie’s lovely, fair face. After Big Mama, I respected Debbie above all else, so I needed to make a good impression, and I wanted to be open with her; so her sharp gaze of suspicion was actual pain to me.
“By taking care, do you mean breaking the law?” I shrugged casually and pursed my lips as though getting ready to whistle.
“You could have been caught, Wana! What is wrong with you? Enough stealing already; how am I supposed to trust you, when you give me no reason to?”
Debbie was really angry; but so was I, because I knew I’d only helped myself from the purse of an arrogant and careless lady, the type that I’m sure everybody hates.
“I had to get here some how,” I explained mildly, not wanting to entertain my anger, after all I was here for her help; it was too early to go mad.
“You could have chartered a Keke over here, and I’d have paid,” Debbie pointed out reasonably.
“What if you weren’t home?” I countered, reducing my eyes to sleets while waiting for her reply.
“You could have called, my number is right there by my address,” she huffed, self righteously.
“I don’t have a phone,” I said, opening my palm and shrugging.
Debbie sighed wearily, “That has to change then. But, Wana, pilfering isn’t the answer to everything.”
“Oh, for the love of God!” I exclaimed, not able to hold on to my simmering temper any longer. “I thought we just concluded that there was no other way.”
“I took just a note, from a purse full of one thousand naira notes, which belonged to an arrogant, stuck up lady, who felt being careless with her purse was fashionable. I could have taken the whole purse and opened up a business, and wouldn’t be here, but I didn’t. If doing that is a crime, by all means, drag me back to jail.”
We were both shocked at the vehemence of my tirade. I was heaving heavily, and had already made up my mind that I couldn’t ask Debbie for help, not after what I’d just said.
“I’ll take you there and give you my wallet in the process…to my jail of love, of course.”
The Barry White quality of his voice didn’t shock me as much as what he’d just said. Debbie and I turned in opened mouth amazement, and our eyes fell on a dark, giant of a man who smiled seductively at me, and winked, before continuing on his way to where ever he was headed in the recess of the house.
Debbie shook her head apologetically at me, “I’m sorry for judging you on sight. It must have been difficult resisting from taking the whole purse.”
“You have no idea,” I reply with a wry twist to my lips.
“I’m sorry, forgive me?”
Man, Debbie was too good to be true. She was actually apologizing and I was going to milk the situation for all its worth. I created a mock frown on my face and picked at imaginary dirt in my finger nails.
“Maybe, not immediately, you should sweat a bit,” I pointed out and tried to hold back a smile. I couldn’t for long, Debbie laughed first and I couldn’t help myself, I joined her.
The slurping sound cut through our mirth and we both turned to find the Barry White sounding giant there, his gaze fixed steadily on me.
“Such a sexy woman, I wouldn’t mind if you sweated for me and not a bit,” he said, causing my eyebrows to reach for my hair line. It was a lot disconcerting that the man didn’t respect personal boundaries and just as I was wondering who the hell he was, Debbie introduced him.
“And the inappropriately vulgar man is my cousin…,” her exasperation was interrupted by said cousin.
“The name’s Bobo,” he said transferring the packet of juice he’d been slurping from to his left hand. His eyes never leaving mine, he extended his right hand for a hand shake.
The dude was trying to appear sexy with hooded eyes, but he just looked sleepy to me. Out of courtesy, I took his outstretched hand; it was cold from holding the juice packet.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said with the fakest smile I could muster.
“No, my love, the pleasure is all mine,” Bobo said and wouldn’t let go of my hand, even though I furtively struggled.
I gave up the fight and turned to Debbie, my hand still in Bobo’s grip. “Could you, point me to the bathroom, Debbie? I’m sorely pressed,” I said this, widening my eyes desperately at Debbie, she understood immediately.
“Oh, of course, this way,” she directed and began moving away from the parlor, still, Bobo wouldn’t let go of my hand.
Debbie realized I wasn’t following and turned, her face registered consternation when she saw her cousin still held on to me.
“Let her go, Bobo. Do you want the lady to spill her business where she stands?” she snapped.
Bobo gave me a slow smile and said, “Gladly, ma Cherie.”
I struggled less furtively and more desperately, and succeeded to get my hand off his grip, I gave him a horrified glance as I fled the vicinity, almost knocking Debbie down in my haste.
~*********~
In an alternate universe of his own, Daniel Akpan was engrossed in his writing. His gaze flipped from the screen of his laptop to the sheet of paper on his desk, which he quickly filled with his scribbles.
He sniffled a bit from the chill emanating from the vents of the air condition, and scratched his neck, further stretching the already weak neck of the t-shirt he wore.
More than his dream had come true in the past years. It had involved a whole lot of back breaking, nerve numbing, work, but finally, he had gotten here. Here being his built office building, a publishing company, workers and two best sellers still paying loyalties.
Daniel’s partner, Paul John, who preferred to be addressed as PJ, lounged on a seat in front of his desk while he worked. PJ wasn’t doing anything at the moment; his eyes roamed Daniel’s overall dressing and grimaced. For someone that was wealthy and successful, Daniel’s present appearance was quite misleading.
At least he thought so, “It’s time you changed your dress style. You need to depict your station.”
“Hmm,” was all Daniel said, his eyes never leaving the screen of his laptop, or even flickering in acknowledgment that he’d heard what his partner had said.
Little things easily pricked PJ’s anger, one of them being to be ignored. He frowned at Daniel and clapped his hands to get his attention…nothing.
PJ clicked on the camera on his mobile phone and began videoing his friend. “Why are you so obtuse? You look like a mongrel; the least you could have done for yourself this morning is shave your beard. Monkey, you didn’t even comb your hair, soon to be obsolete pariah, idiot, Dundee united, see your nose like my grand father’s own, blah, blah, blah,” then he waited, still videoing his friend’s reaction.
At first nothing happened, then as though his mind just registered the sound of PJ’s voice, he jerked and said, “Hmm,” and nodded for good measure.
PJ’s mouth dropped in amazement; he ended the video, reached out and slammed down Daniel’s lap top from behind. The act brought his eyes up, his emotion fluctuating between anger and shock.
“What was that for?! Why did you do that?” he sputtered, and then his mouth hung open in consternation as PJ played the video for his viewing pleasure.
It wasn’t pleasurable. Daniel lunged across his desk to grab the phone, but the slimmer man sidled away from his reach and laughed.
Daniel sat down, and sputtered again. “How could you video me?! Delete that video, PJ.”
“Now I see why the wife left you,” PJ commented wickedly, though still smiling and enjoying his friend’s discomfort.
“And why did you leave your wife?” Daniel replied sarcastically. “I wonder that every time, since she’s the only person that can stomach your bullshit. Which reminds me, have you called her?”
“Are you finally showing concern for something other than your books?” he sarcastically asked.
Daniel looked really concern, “Seriously man, you need to call, she doesn’t deserve what you’re putting her through.”
“Okay, Danny, I’m sorry for bothering you in the first place. Here,” PJ said, helpfully reopening his lap top and arranging it conveniently in front of his friend. “…there, work, I don’t think its right to use up all your concern in one day,” he was being sardonic.
“Don’t try to make it a joke…”
“Am I smiling?”
“If she didn’t go crazy on you, we wouldn’t have met and this wouldn’t have been built,” he said, gesturing to the office. “Consequently, she’s responsible for this success, forgive her for that reason if nothing else,” Daniel begged.
“I have an idea!” PJ suddenly exclaimed, looking excited.
Daniel grinned and looked interested, “What?” he asked, sitting forward.
“We need to start brain storming on what cloth you’ll wear at the award night.”
“Huh?” Daniel was lost.
“Would it be traditional or Western? Whatever it is, it has to be elegant because you’re getting that award.”
“What?”
“I’m just doing my job, I’m all about the company’s media image and that includes you as the head.”
Daniel was in complete consternation; the topic had roughly veered from what they’d been talking about, he was confused.
“What award?”
~*********~
Susan gasped and almost choked on her drink. “An award?! Wait, last I checked, he wasn’t that good,” she said with a skeptical frown.
“Well, dear, that was five years ago, things changed,” Mrs. Grant said almost smugly.
“How?” Susan still looked stunned. “I don’t understand, I never thought he’d amount to anything.”
“You thought wrong,” as usual, Mrs. Grant thought snidely. “An obscure publishing house took a gamble on his books and it brought them to lime light. Out of five published books, which are paying well, Daniel has two bestsellers. He has been nominated for the prestigious author award for this year.”
Susan stood up and paced in deep contemplation. “He’s my husband, mom, I need to go back there and apologize.”
Mrs. Grant’s brows went up in alarm, she was in shock. Susan noticed this and frowned.
“Where’s your sense of ambition, mom?”
“Where’s your sense of shame and decency?” she countered.
“Wouldn’t it be nice to see your daughter beside Daniel as he collects the prestigious author award? You could proudly boost to your friends then about your genius grand child and award winning son in-law,” Susan said with a dreamy look in her eyes.
“I do like the picture you’re painting, but have you thought of what his reaction will be when he realizes that his daughter is in town?”
Susan contemplated her mother’s question, bending her head to the side. “It’s Daniel now, I’ll just apologize,” she waved her hand derisively.
“You’ll just…apologize, for taking away a man’s daughter without his consent. Are your quite alright?” Mrs. Grant asked with a concerned look at her daughter.
Susan bent her head the other way, still in contemplation, “Should I throw in seduction? I certainly should,” she answered herself with narrowed, thoughtful eyes. “It’s been five years, a little something would remind him of what he missed. And the Daniel that I know, would want to do the right thing for his daughter, which is, bringing his family together. I might even take in and maybe suggest a small wedding, just family, and a few friends, a renewal of our vows,” Susan spoke sightlessly.
Her mother was stunned and short of words, she was thinking her daughter might be having a nervous breakdown, but it didn’t seem so. Susan looked really calm and determined, the same look she had when she’d decided that Daniel would marry her twelve years ago.
All the elderly woman could mutter was, “Wow.”
~*********~
“Wow, you must be hallucinating,” Daniel said sardonically and tried to focus on his lap top screen.
“Don’t worry, bro, I’ll wait until you’re in the spotlight to say, ‘I told you so’,” PJ said while fiddling with his phone.
“There are plenty good authors in this state, authors that have been around for eons.”
“Many years of writing don’t relatively interpret to best sellers,” PJ countered sagely.
Daniel groaned in frustration and slumped lower in his seat.
“You need to…,” PJ began and then was interrupted by his phone. “Mr. Ubong ‘Slay’ Ebong,” he hailed with a wide grin. “Are you calling for another rematch? You know you’re my wife at chess, at your service to fuck you up,” PJ said without catching a breath, when he did, he listened to whatever his friend was saying.
Daniel grinned and shook his head, PJ and Ubong, which they usually called Slay, were arch enemies when playing chess. He’d met Slay through PJ, several months after Susan had disappeared with his daughter. The thought twisted his heart as usual; he took a deep breath and sighed wearily.
Slay and his pregnant wife, both SSS agents, had been extremely helpful in investigating Susan’s where about. Though, they’d not had much result, but their effort, for someone they’d just met, was touching. They had become and stayed friends, Slay’s lovely wife, Eddy, even directed him on some legal step’s to take, in case Susan suddenly returned to town.
PJ had regaled him with the interesting story of how Slay got his nickname and how he met his wife. Daniel thought it an awesome story, something only seen in movies, but it was real. He had never seen two people more in love, it made him realize the relationship he’d had with Susan hadn’t been love at all.
He had been doodling on the paper by his lap top, when PJ cleared his throat and got his attention. Daniel looked up and smiled, “How’s Slay, and his lovely wife?” he asked but frowned when he saw PJ’s solemn look.
“What is it? Are the Ebongs alright?” his first thought was for Eddy’s pregnancy.
PJ gave him a curious look, sighed and soberly said, “Susan is in town…with your daughter.”
Silence reigned for ten seconds, then Daniel lunged from his seat, almost hurrying pass PJ, but his friend grabbed him.
“Wait, wait,” PJ said, and clung to his weakened t-shirt. “Where are you going to?”
“How can you be asking such a dumb question? I’m going to get my daughter, of course,” Daniel huffed and struggled to pull away from PJ’s grip.
“I can’t allow you to do that,” PJ shook his head and suffered a venomous glare from Daniel.
“Let go of my shirt, PJ, or I’ll have to punch you…in the face,” he threatened, his hands instantly folded into fists.
Both men were of average height, PJ just a head taller than Daniel, but slimmer and not in any way a fighter. He was conscious of his appearance and Daniel knew about it, hence the threat of a punch to the face.
PJ grimaced and determinedly held on, “No, you need to calm down,” he said tenaciously, and stared into Daniel’s eyes to convince him. “You can’t just go barging in like that, we need a strategy.”
“I don’t care about your stupid strategy; I want to get my daughter!”
“And you’ll get her, but not like this! We didn’t get successful by going in half cocked, we strategized. We refused to sell your manuscripts even after several rejections, because we’d researched and planned and knew what was at stake and that built our decisions.”
“This is business…”
“This is my daughter,” Daniel ground out through clenched teeth.
“As far as Susan is involved, it’s business. Besides, your daughter isn’t a child any longer; her perception is probably skewed from whatever Susan has fed her over the years.”
Daniel sighed wearily; he realized his friend was right. His shoulders drooped, but PJ held on to his shirt, just in case he was pretending.
“Everyone is concerned about you, Eddy specifically asked me to make sure you don’t go off half cocked.”
“She did?” Daniel asked with widened eyes.
“She did,” PJ nodded, silently congratulating him self for being able to hold him back. “All we need is a strategy to get Stacey without Susan.”
Daniel nodded in agreement, “What’s the plan?”
The story continues…
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