Dear Future Husband E17
David walked up to Mother Francesca. “You, I know you.”
Mother Francesca stared at me. “Please Kimberly, let’s hurry.” She said, holding my hand.
David pulled her. “You are going nowhere.”
“David…” I cut in. “What is it? We have an emergency for Christ sake.” I said, and yanked her hand from him as we walked away.
David yelled. I turned to look at him but didn’t return to him as I followed Mother Francesca into the room.
“Doctor, how is she?
He nodded. “She is stable for now.”
I heaved a sigh of relief. “Doctor, how long would she be in here?”
“That, I can’t say for now, but she is a fighter, so we are optimistic.” He said, and walked out.
I stepped out with Mother Francesca. She smiled. “I’ll have to return to the facility now, good thing you are here.”
“Excuse me, mother? What did David want with you?”
She blinked. “Nothing important.” She smiled. “I have to leave now.” She said, heading for the rear.
“Mother Francesca, why are you not taking the front door? Are you afraid of meeting David there?”
She sighed. “Young lady, I am very busy at the facility and I have to leave now. I’ll send some sisters over to be here with you.” she said and left through the rear door.
*************************************************************************************************************
Shola sat down with her legs crossed. “In as much as it is a watering offer, I am sorry to decline.”
“What the F*ck!” Marcus slammed the table.
She smiled. “Why are you all aggressive, Marcus? This attitude won’t help anyone of us.”
Ini nodded. “I agree with her. Please calm down, Marcus.” She replied. “Shola, what exactly do you want?”
Shola nodded. “I want your life. I want to hurt you by taking away all you’ve labored for.”
“That’s beautiful.” Ini replied, and rose to her feet. “I don’t think we can reach an agreement, Shola. But one thing is for sure, I am going to drag you down with me.”
Shola smiled. “How do you intend to do that?”
Marcus laughed. “You are more stupid than I thought. Do you expect us to reveal our plan to you?”
Shola rose to her feet. “I don’t like the way you guys are going about this, and I smell a dangerous play here.” She clutched her bag to her arm. “Don’t make me wreck your career, Oblong.” She said, as she walked out.
“It’s Obong!” Ini replied, laughing.
Marcus stared at her. “So, Ini, what were you talking about?”
She laughed. “Oh…that? I was just bluffing.”
He smiled. “You are something else, I hope we haven’t sprang Shola into action.” His phone rang. “Excuse me.” he said, and stepped outside.
Ini rubbed her hand together. “What am I going to do?”
The door opened and Marcus rushed in. “I have to go…It is very urgent.”
“What is it?”
He cleared his throat. “I have to see my mother now.”
“Let me drop you.”
He shook his head in disagreement. “No, I am fine.” He replied and dashed out.
*************************************************************************************************************
I walked over to David who was seated on a chair. “Want a drink?” I said, offering him a can of coke.
He stared at me. “No, thank you.”
“David, I am sorry for yelling at you when I wanted to go and see my friend.”
He wore a wry smile. “I understand. You have a large heart, how’s your friend?”
I placed my head on his shoulder. “The doctor says she’ll be better.”
He smiled. “That’s good to hear.”
“Why are you here, David?”
“We brought Tola’s ex here.”
I stared at him. “Tolu Scott? What do have with Tolu?”
“The dude is an addict. He ran into trouble with his drugs.”
“Where’s Tola?”
He looked outside. “She’s outside. Wole walked away, he was really pissed.”
“Poor boy. I’ll be with Tola.” I said, standing up. “Maybe you should check for Wole.” I added.
He nodded. “Sure.”
I walked out and sat beside Tola. “Hey…”
“Hi.” She replied, bluntly. “And before you criticize me, Tolu needs me now more than ever.”
I smiled. “Tola, right now, I am not in the best position to do this, I wish Ini were here.”
Tola smiled. “Ini? She would probably finish off Tolu on his sick bed.”
“More like death bed.” I replied.
She stared at me. “What do you mean by that?”
“Did you know about Tolu’s use of drugs before today?”
She rolled her eyes. “How was I supposed to know?”
“Tola, don’t lie to me. I am so sure he didn’t just start doing drugs.”
She nodded. “So what? It wasn’t this serious. It was because I left him, and it’s all thanks to Wole for coming into my life, he ruined what I had with Tolu.”
My eyes popped in fear. “I need to call Ini, because I think I might just be the one to kill Tolu now. What is all this?”
“Is it too hard for you to understand that I love him?”
I hissed. “I think you have gone nuts and this is more critical than it looks, are you also under the influence of drugs?”
She scoffed. “I have to be with Tolu, I am going in now.” She said, standing up.
I sat her down forcefully. “Hello Ms.” I shouted aggressively. “I think it’s time you know how foolish you are. What else do you want? Are you waiting till Tolu kills you before you realize there’s no hope for the both of you?”
She hissed. “What are you driving at?”
“That you are a fool! Look here, what you guys might have shared in the past may have been memorable, but wake up and smell the coffee, you are not welcome in his life again, he’ll continue to use you and your money, and then when he’s through with you, he’ll dumb you.” I paused. “And, trust me, you deserve it.”
She swallowed. “I am not having this conversation with you.”
“Why is that?”
She scoffed. “You have never been in love, your life has always been mapped out, and this thing with David is not real. I am sure you are only playing your family script well, I have had to deal with life, learn to fall in love on my own, and my heart chose Tolu.”
I nodded. “Do you think I have never had attractions for other
guys all my life? I have! I have felt things for others, but as strange
as it seems and even though it is a family arrangement. I am crazy about
David, he is the only man for me, he won my heart.” I paused. “Tola, I
am quite surprised you will go as low as dragging my family life into
this because you want to stake something for Tolu, that’s fine. I am
going to leave you to your foolishness, and I wish you and Tolu the
best.” I added as I rose to my feet. “I should be with David now.” I
said and walked away.
*************************************************************************************************************
Ini pulled up a block away and watched Marcus open his door and run into
the apartment. She smiled. “So this is where he lives.” She turned on
the ignition. “I’ll be back.”
*************************************************************************************************************
Marcus saw his mother in the living room. “What was so urgent?”
“The issue about your wife.”
He stared at her. “Mom! How could you drag me from work to discuss about wife matters?”
“Work? Do you consider what you do a job? That place where you are all around skinny girls who won’t eat in the name of being a model. I need you to marry soon, you are my only one.”
He hissed. “This is unbelievable, and I can’t believe you did this to me, if you had called me because something happened to her, I would understand.” He said, pointing inside.
“She’s fine, I have been taking care of her. That’s one of the reasons why you have to be here, I shouldn’t be handling that for you.”
Marcus sank into a chair. “Look, there’s a woman in my life right now, however things are complicated with her.”
“I hope she isn’t a model. Things are always complicated with them, she won’t like you, or where you live. If we were staying in Banana Island or Garden City and all those fine places, maybe.”
He nodded. “She is a model, Mom. She is very nice.”
“My dear, forget it. If I was a model, I would have never married that wretch, your father.”
Marcus scoffed. “That’s why you weren’t a model.” He sat up. “But, Mom, she is different.”
“Na so…Chioma too was different until she left you for greener pastures.”
He scoffed. “I have to return to work soon, it’s obvious I have nothing to do here.”
“You do…Chioma dropped a note for you.”
He stared at her. “Chioma was here?”
She nodded. “Yes, and she dropped this for you.” she replied, handing the note to Marcus.
His hands trembled as he unfolded the letter carefully.
************************************************************************************************************
Ben walked up to me. “How’s she? I have been looking all over for you.”
“She’s going to be better. Have you seen David around?”
He shook his head in disagreement. “No.”
I nodded. “I have to look for him.”
He pulled my hand back. “Kim, I think we should head back to the office. Mr. Adeoye is under some real tension right now.”
I nodded. “I understand, but why don’t you go ahead?”
“Without you?”
David walked in on us. “Go without her.”
Ben smiled. “You are just full of it, aren’t you?”
“David, where were you?”
David shrugged. “Searching for Wole, dude has gone off.” Ben walked away. “I don’t like that guy.”
I smiled and tiptoed to him and kissed him on the cheek. “I like you.”
He bit his lip with a corny smile. “That’s interesting.”
A sister from Victoria’s home walked up to me. “Ms. Bankole, I am here for Mrs. Sunflower.”
David stared at her. “Sunflower?”
The sister nodded. “Yes, Mrs. Sunflower”
David stared at her. “Where have I heard that name before?”
The sister replied. “Sunflower is a flower, Sir.” He nodded.
“Erm…let me take you to the doctor.” I said to the sister. “Please, could you keep an eye on Tola.” I said to David.
He nodded. “Okay…see you soon.”
************************************************************************************************************
Bolu Coker closed the elevator door as himself and Tunji Bankole
approached the top floor. “The foolish man still has his elevator
running.” Bolu said.
“What did you expect? Let’s make this quick. I have to go to the hospital to see my wife.”
Bolu hissed. “Stop being jittery, we haven’t done anything wrong, and we didn’t push Wura into the pool, she attempted suicide, she should be in the asylum.”
Tunji shot at him. “Watch your tongue, Bolu.”
The door opened at the top floor and they stepped out. The receptionist smiled as they approached. “Welcome to Millaroca Magazine, how may we help you.”
“We are here to see, Mr. Adeoye. Tell him Coker.”
The Receptionist put a call through and faced them. “Shall we?” she said, as she led them to Mr. Adeoye’s secretary.
The secretary rose to her feet. “Good morning sirs.”
“Good morning. Is he in? Bolu Coker asked.
She nodded in agreement. “Just a minute.”
Bolu Coker hissed and pushed the door open. “Are you the type of man who a secretary should still answer to?”
The secretary rushed in after them. “Sir, I tried telling them to hold on.”
Bolu stared at her. “Don’t worry, he can’t fire you, but we can.”
Mr. Adeoye signaled to his secretary and she walked out. “Isn’t this too early, Bolu Coker?”
Bolu stared at him. “Meet my friend, Professor Tunji Bankole.”
Mr. Adeoye smiled. “Why the formalities? You and I know that Bankole here is no saint. Or aren’t you the one buying Millaroca?”
“You heard right.” Tunji replied. “I intend to take this place by Monday, but I intend to propose you a new deal.”
Bolu stepped on him. “Don’t.”
Tunji stared at him and spoke through his clenched teeth. “It’s my money.” Bolu smiled and stepped back. “Are you ready to listen?”
Mr. Adeoye nodded. “What could that be?”
“I would give you time up until next month if you fire Kimberly with immediate effect.”
Mr. Adeoye stared. “Kimberly Bankole?” He paused and stared at Tunji. “She is your daughter, right?”
“Would you fire her?”
Mr. Adeoye rose to his feet. “You know, Tunji, I have made mistakes in the past, one of which was letting Wura marry you, I should warned her against a beast like you, but now, you want me to fire Wura’s daughter?”
“Do you want a deal or not?”
Mr. Adeoye took a deep breath. “Tunji, I have never met anyone with so much will and courage like Kimberly, oh…I missed a line, my cousin, Wura used to have such until you took away her sanity with all the shame and problems you have put her through, now that I know who Kimberly is, I am ready to protect her with everything I am and I have left.” He scoffed as he continued. “Now I know why she won’t even let us know that she is your daughter, she must be ashamed of you.”
Tunji smiled. “I would be here for my new building on Monday, there surely won’t be a re-vote this time by the board, have a nice day.” He said and walked out. Bolu followed briskly.
Bolu muttered underneath his breath. “You have taken a foolish step.” He bumped into Ben as they approached the elevator. “Watch where you are going.” He shouted.
Ben bowed. “I am sorry, Sirs.” He stared at Tunji Bankole. “You are Professor Bankole, I am a very big fan of yours, Sir.” He said as he bowed.
Bolu hissed and moved ahead. “Tunji, we have work to do.” He said, and they got into the elevator.
************************************************************************************************************
“Thanks for bringing me to see my Mom.” I said, as we walked out of the hospital.
David nodded. “It’s okay. I hope she gets better soon.”
I nodded. “Me too…I have to return to the office now.”
David held my hand. “Erm…Kim…eh…Who is Mrs. Sunflower?”
I smiled. “Why are you so interested?”
“I like the name.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Try harder.”
He shrugged with a smile. “It’s just that, you’ve been too close to her, and you are even making her more of a priority.”
I smiled. “Do I sense jealousy here? You come first, and you know that, right?”
He grinned. “That’s comforting.”
“Anyway, if it would make you feel better, I met her at the home, she lost her son, and has lived there ever since, a sad woman, broken marriage and all.”
He rubbed my forehead. “Sorry, dear. Now I see why you are so drawn to her.”
I nodded. “She needs comfort, someone to defend her, you know.”
He smiled. “That’s why she has you; you are always stepping in and helping others.” He replied. We walked hand in hand back to the car; everything was looking beautiful between us. “Kim, would you be available on Friday evening, I would love to take you somewhere.”
I sighed. “David, I hope so. Work is really tight now, I have to return to the office now, we are under so much pressure.”
He opened the doors. “Everything would be fine, they have you.”
************************************************************************************************************
I fixed my gaze on my laptop as I typed on, I knew I had to round off my
story, I mixed up Elizabeth’s life with my mom and mine, I titled my
new piece. “This Woman”, as soon I was through I left for Mr. Adeoye’s.
“Is the boss in?” I asked.
“He has had a really rough day, and I don’t think he’ll be willing to see anyone.”
I nodded. “I understand, but could you just tell him that I need to see him?” The secretary was still hesitating when Mr. Adeoye’s door opened. “Good afternoon, sir.”
“Kimberly, you are just the person I need to see, Please come in.” he said, and returned into the office.
I wore a thin smile as I took my seat. “Thank you sir for excusing me earlier.”
He smiled. “It’s fine, you are like a daughter to me. How’s your mother?”
“She’s much better.”
He nodded. “So what was she suffering from?”
I stared at him. “Well, I call her my mother, but she’s a friend, she has complicated health issues.”
He nodded. “I see…Anyway, are you braced for leaving work by Monday?”
“I think we can surprise them.” I said with a smile.
He smiled. “I love your positive attitude, if we can make Friday’s edition of Millaroca a sell out, we may force the board to reconsider and who knows? We might stop the sale.”
I nodded. “It is possible.”
He took a deep breath. “Kimberly, I am taking a huge risk of putting all our arsenals in for this story, is there a chance that we might fail?”
I wore a faint smile. “There’s always a chance for failure, but with God, all things are possible.”
“Amen.”
He nodded and sat up. “Kimberly, you have never really told me about your background, who are your parents?”
I cleared my throat. “Their names are Mr. and Mrs. Bankole, just in the educational sector.”
“Would it kill you to say Professor Tunji Bankole and Wura are your parents?”
************************************************************************************************************
Oyinkan removed her sunshades as she walked into the building. “How is it going?”
“Your institution would be finished very soon.” The supervisor replied. “We just need to put a few touches here and there.”
She nodded and picked her phone. “Hello.”
“Where are you? It’s noisy there.”
She stepped outside. “I can hear you now, what’s up?”
“I got the house already, and I want to move in by weekend.”
She smiled. “That’s fantastic, David. So, has Kim seen the home yet?”
“No, but I want to show her the place by Friday, but she may not be available, she has so much on her table at work now.”
She smiled. “That’s sad. It means you’ll take me to see the place, right?”
“Do I have a choice?”
She nodded. “Of course not.”
“Oyinkan, do you remember the name, Sunflower?”
She nodded. “Who won’t? It’s a flower.”
He hissed. “Talk to you later.”
*************************************************************************************************************
Wole shut the door. “David, you shouldn’t have come.”
“Really?” David replied, as he took his seat.
He hissed. “Tola just wants to kill me.”
“Shut up, man! You are making this thing too serious. Tolu was her ex, it’s only logical she shows some sympathy.”
Wole scoffed. “Sympathy? Come on David, you can yell at me because Kim isn’t the one all over that guy, maybe if she was, you’d understand me.”
“Wole, I understand how you feel, but leaving her at the hospital and running back to the office is just unfair, she needs you.”
Wole took his seat. “David, I want to be there for Tola, but she’s making this all too hard for me. Is there any hope that I am going to be with her in the end?”
David took a deep breath. “Man, you have to understand, that what is yours can never be taken away from you.”
Wole nodded. “I know, but this one, she isn’t even mine, I am doing everything I can to win her heart, but it’s just a waste.” His Intercom rang. “Tell him I’ll be there soon.” He said.
“What’s up?”
Wole sighed. “I tendered my resignation.”
“Wole, you are taking this too far.”
He nodded. “I won’t be able to survive if she goes back with Tolu, it would be too much for me to take, and the chances are very likely. I can’t continue to work here with her.”
“Do you love Tola?”
He nodded. “You know I do.”
“Then fight for her. Tola is a smart lady, but she also has a very disjointed mind at the moment, and I guess that’s why she is doing this, but if you are willing to stay with her through it all, you would have the best of her, man.”
Wole sighed. “I don’t know, David. The true reason why I came here is because of her, I might as well just operate from my Father’s firm.” He replied, standing up.
“Wole, just remember that whatever you do, you have to consider the hurt you are going to put the both of you through, you are indirectly breaking up with her.”
He shook his head. “This isn’t my fault.”
The door flung open and Tola came in. “Wole, what did you do that for?”
“What?”
She fumed at him. “Mr. Asolo called me to say you tendered in your resignation.”
He nodded. “Oh well…I just thought the tension between us needs to be eased off a little.”
“Wole, you are bad at handling rejection.”
He smiled. “Really? So, are you saying you have rejected me?”
She took a deep breath. “I haven’t said so.” She noticed David’s presence. “Hi, David.” He waved back with a corny smile. “Could we discuss this in my office, Wole?”
He nodded, “After you, please.” Wole closed the door after her. “Tola, I don’t want this rift between us…”
“But you are creating it…you are doing fine here, why mess it up for sentiments?”
He gasped. “Tola, this is you jeopardizing what we have for someone who isn’t worth it, and it hurts so much.”
“Tolu is sick because of me.” she replied, adjusting his tie. “Wole, I am sorry, I don’t want to lose, I love you.” she muttered. “I was scared when Mr. Asolo called, I had to run down here, Please…”
He took a deep breath. “Stop playing with me, Tola. Please…”
“I am not. I just want to make sure he is well again. Won’t you do this for your ex?”
He smiled. “Don’t do that, Tola. This is a very difficult case, and you know it.”
She nodded. “Okay, I know and I am sorry, but I just want you to understand. Would you do this for me?” I asked, batting her eyelashes.
He nodded. “I’ll try. Let’s go and see David.”
************************************************************************************************************
Ini pulled up some distance from the house but close enough to see the house. She dialed Marcus. “Hey.”
“Keep the music low, Mom…What’s up?”
She cleared her throat. “I need you urgently at the agency now.” She said, feigning seriousness.
“Okay, I’ll be on my way now.” He said and hung up. “Mom.” He said, as he swirled round. “You need to keep the music down, it’s no noisy here.”
She nodded. “Where are you going to?”
“The agency.”
She frowned. “What are you always doing that place? “
“That’s where I work, Mom.”
She nodded. “You better make more money and take us out of this place.”
He nodded. “That’s why I have to work, for all of us.” He said. “Take care of the house. And please, don’t go over to the neighbour’s place today.”
She hissed. “You won’t tell me how to live my life.”
“I know, but it’s important you stay indoors and you know it. Please Mom.”
She nodded. “Fine, I’ll do this for you. Have a good time.”
He smiled. “See you later.” He said, and walked out.
************************************************************************************************************
David slammed his box. “I think I this is the last bag.”
Oyinkan nodded. “Except the bag for your watches and belts.”
He smiled. “I can’t forget that here.”
She nodded. “Can I at least have the Hublot? I like that one a lot.”
“No, thank you.”
She smiled. “Okay. Let’s come to an agreement, when we go to take the rest stuffs from your fathers, you could donate some of your shirts for charity sake.”
He wore a smile. “That’s fine.”
She helped him as they moved the boxes out to the living room. “David, what’s up with the sunflower thing?”
He sank into a chair. “Apart from the fact that it is a flower?”
She took her seat beside him. “Yes. David, isn’t that name more familiar to you?”
He shook his head. “At first, I thought I knew it so well, but later, I just let go off the thought.”
“Well…it reminds me of something.” she replied. “And yes, sunflower is a flower, but do you recall that you guys had that flower in your house back then?”
David shook his head. “No?”
She paused and smiled. “Now that I think of it, your mom loved that flower, right?”
He stared at her. “Sunflower… Yes, she did.”
“Do you have any painting of your mom?”
David scoffed. “No, but we should at least have one at my father’s house.”
She nodded. “I think we should go and check that now.”
“Okay, let’s go.” David said, pulling the bags out.
The journey didn’t take too long as David drove at a high speed. “Let’s go upstairs.”
A maid met them in the hallway. “Good evening, Mr. Coker.”
“Yes, is my father in?”
She shook her head in disagreement. “No, he has been out since morning.”
David nodded. “Come on, Oyinkan. Let’s go.” They walked upstairs and unlocked the door to his mother’s studio. “No one has been here in years.”
Oyinkan bumped into a table. “Ouch!”
“You alright?” David asked, as he turned on the light. “This place is like a museum.” He said, as he walked round.
She limped across the room. “David, do you remember anything from when you were a boy?”
He crashed into a chair. “I was an awful son.” He said as he took a deep breath. “I should have loved her more, kissed her when she was all wet and smelly, my father, he turned into this.”
Oyinkan knelt before him. “David, you are a nice man. You are better now, looking at how you tried helping people, you’ve really matured.”
He smiled. “Thank you. Anyway, let’s stop moping and let’s find some conviction.”
She smiled. “We won’t have to look too much, I guess.” She said, as she brought down two pictures. “Your mother signs her paintings with sunflower. Elizabeth Sunflower.”
David gasped as his heart raced staring at the signature on the paintings.
*************************************************************************************************************
Ini stepped out of the car after she watched Marcus’s mom leave the
house. She pushed the door open and walked in. She picked up a picture
frame with Marcus and his Mom in it. “Cute.” She said, and dropped it.
“Why didn’t Marcus want me to ever know his house? So I won’t know he
stays with his mom.” She laughed, as she talked to herself. “What a
kid.”
She walked round the living room. “It is beautiful and simple here. Nothing complicated.”
She heard tiny squeals. “Where’s that coming from?” she said to herself as she walked closer to the direction of the noise. The squeals got louder now and sounded like a cry. “A hostage?” she thought as she approached a room with its door half open.
The cry was more audible now and didn’t sound like a hostage, it sounded like a genuine cry. She opened the door and stared in as the cry was pronounced. It was the cry of a baby. She walked over to the Baby cot and saw a baby girl crying. She gasped.
Dear Future Husband E17
© Tomi Adesina
#OpraDre
