BENEATH THE CROWN
(AMANDA’S TALE)
**CHAPTER 28**
**UJUNWA’S POV**
We got to his shop in no time and met my sister, who didn’t seem pleased to see me. I walked forward with a smile to greet her, but she ignóred me and walked towards, pullîng him inside the office. I went closer to listen, but what I heard bróke my heart.
“Why did you bring her here?” Ugonma asked, folding her arms across her chest.
“And what do you mean by that? That is your elder sister we are talking about,” Soma snapped.
“Do I look like I care? She can go to héll for all I care,” Ugonma said, rolling her eyes.
“What! That is your sister, for crying out loud. I saw her roaming áimléssly around the street, lost in thoughts, thinking of how to get a job. All I wanted to do is to help her, and I thought you would be happy about it. Can you even hear yourself? What has come over you Ugonma?” Soma asked in disbélief.
Ugonma hissed and sat on the chair. “What don’t you understand; that I don’t want my sister here or what? What did you bring her here for? I want her out of here this minute, and I’m really serious about it.”
“Ugonma, I really don’t understand you anymore. Why do you seem to have a problem with every lady around me? You have made me lose a lot of female customers because of this attitude. What exactly is the problem? Talk to me,” Soma sighed in frustration.
“You are the problem; don’t you understand that we are about getting márried and shouldn’t be seen close to females so they don’t get the wrong idea. Is there a problem with that?” Ugonma asked.
“I can’t believe this. So this is your problem; to the extent you have no regard for your own sister. You made me lose poténtial customers because of this nonsénsé. Are you okay?” Soma asked.
“Look, I have said my own. I don’t want her here; I don’t want to come back and meet her here, you are not supposed to be close at all because of the pást, and you know this,” Ugonma said, standing up from the chair.
“You know I lóve you, but you are just too stûbbórn and refuse to listen to me. So, my advice is to listen to me, and everything will be alright. But if you refuse, I won’t tell you what will happen.” Ugonma smirked and walked out of the office.
Tears began to roll down my eyes because I couldn’t believe my sister would turn her back on me after training her in school. Well, it is all my fault I lost a good man to her. I have no say in this.
I walked out of the boutique with only one thing in mind; I would rather suffer than receive maltreatment from my own blood sister.
“Ujunwa! Ujunwa!” Soma called.
I turned to face him and sighed. “Look, Soma, I thank you for your effort, but I can’t stay here. I don’t want to be a problem in your marriage with my sister. I beg to take my leave; just take care of her. She is just behaving like a baby; don’t take it to heart.”
I turned, but he held me back. “I never asked you to leave. I was the one who employed you and the only one who can ask you to leave. I brought you thinking she would be more comfortable around you, but I guess that isn’t the case. She just changed a few weeks after you left my house. Since then, I have lost a lot of customers, even a contract that was handled by a female friend of mine. She made me lose it by disgracing the woman in the restaurant. I just don’t understand what exactly is her problem.”
“I guess she thinks the women want to snatch you away from her. Just try to make her understand that you are the only one for her,” I said, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“I hope so, but for now, you are not permitted to stop working for me. Come, let me show you around,” he dragged me towards the shop without waiting for my reply.
I just hope this won’t be a problem for me.
**UGONMA (UJUNWA’S SISTER) POV**
I walked into the bar with a smile on my face as I saw my friends. I cát-walked towards my friends.
“Here comes the latest brîde in town,” one of my friends hailed.
I smiled as I sat among them. “How are the girls doing now?”
“We are fine oo cash madam. How is our in-law now?” one of the friends asked.
“He is fine oo. Girls, I came with gist oo. Do you believe that Soma has the guts to bring that my uséléss sister to the shop as a salesgirl, and she fóólishly accepted? I told her to leave before I came here, but I know he won’t allow her to leave. I have promised to make her life in that shop a living héll,” I said boldly.
“Babe, I have told you, don’t freehand for your man; be in control. Men like women that are in control. Take me, for instance, my man lóves my contrólling náture and adores me to bits. Continue with it and watch as he worships the very ground you walk on,” Sophia said.
“Babe! I am not giving him space oo; women flock him up and down with the preténse of doing business with him, and I am the one who saves him from their devóuring eyes, but he never appreciates it. Now he has the mind to bring my sister under the preténse of a salesgirl. I am ready for him; I will make sure he chases her out by fórce,” I smirked.
“Yes babe, do not give him breathing space until you get what you want. Men are like babies that like to be controlled. Let me even tell you a trick that will help,” Sophia said, drawing closer to me and whispered some words in my ear, causing me to smile.
“No problem,” I said as a smirk formed on my lips.
We chatted for a long time before dismissing, going our separate ways. I drove back to the store in my Babe’s car, hoping that my sister would have taken my advice and left, but I was shocked to still see her there attending to customers.
She greeted me, but I stormed off, straight to the office. “Soma! What is the meaning of this nonsense? Why is she still in my shop? Did you hear what I said before?”
“Ugonma! What exactly is your problem? For God’s sake, am I the one marrying you, or are you the one marrying me? What exactly happened to you, babe? Why did you suddenly change?” Soma snapped.
“Soma! You are the problem, and until you change and heed my advice before there will be peace,” I said.
“Ugo babe, I understand you are stressed because of the wedding preparation; just calm down ok. You are the one I want, I just want to help your sister, nothing more,” Soma said, caressing my cheeks.
“And I said I don’t want to have her here or for you to help. Is it by force?” I retorted.
“I want to help her, that is…”
**SLAP!!**
“Why are you so stubborn? I said I don’t want you to help her,” I said furiously as I slapped him
Deep down, I hoped my plan worked. I smiled within myself, expecting him to submit to me, but I shivered from the aûra coming from him.
“UGONMA! HOW DARE YOU!!”
**THE PALACE**
People can be seen trooping into the palace with tears in their eyes, carrying their sîck loved ones in their hands.
King Ikenna looks frustrated at the situation on the ground and couldn’t help but sigh.
“My king! Please help me; my only son is dyîng; please save him,” one of the villagers cried, with others crying out the same.
“My elders, what exactly is the problem and what is the solution? Why have such a great cálámity befallen my land” King Ikenna asked frustratedly.
“My king, we don’t know too; let the priest come and tell us what the gods said. I am sure the gods are not silent about this,” Elder Ejike said.
The priest arrived at the palace and walked briskly towards King Ikenna.
“My king! The gods have spoken and have also given the solution,” the priest said.
“Wise priest! What is the problem?” King Ikenna asked.
“My king! The great cálámity that has befallen this land is because one of your wives has committed a great abomînâtion and has just 3 days to conféss before peace will be r itestored.” The priest said
“JUST THREE DAYS!!”