Chapter 14 - What does he want?

"Will you accept this poor boy that is begging to be your boyfriend?"

Chimamanda was standing in shock, never did she expect this to happen soon.

She was so shocked to say anything she looked like someone who was struck by thunder and lightning bolt.

"So this playgirl is going to be in a serious relationship" her mind kept screaming.

She looked at Ryan, the man she was willing to commit to. It was not going to be easy on her end but she couldn't say anything less than yes to this handsome man looking intently at her piercing her soul with his beautiful gaze.

"Yes Ryan, I'm going to be your girlfriend" she finally says.

Ryan hugged her in ecstasy, he was joyous and it was evident like pregnancy.

He took her hand, kissing it in the process "Thank you"

Chimamanda nodded "It almost sounded like a marriage proposal tho" she joked.

"Then I guess I gave to make more impressions when I will ask you to be my wife" Ryan replied.

"Let's go already it's late, I'm sure chidinma will skin me alive when I get home"

"Sure, but no one is skinning you alive not under my watch"

Chimamanda laughed nervously "are you protecting me already"

"I'd always do so mademoiselle," Ryan says with a courtesy bow.

She laughs at his gesticulations while they walked to the car. Ryan as usual opened her side of the door before he headed to the driver's seat.

When Chimamanda got home she noticed her sisters had all gone to bed.

She took a quick shower and tucked herself in bed reminiscing on the day's event.

She decided to give Ryan a call. "Hey Princess" he spoke after the second ring. "Hi, asleep already?" she asked nervously.

"No, I just took my bath now and I'm thinking of you"

Chimamanda blushed Scarlett. "Okay, I wanted to be sure you got home in one piece"

"Yes I did, I'll talk to you in the morning sleep tight I love you" he replied.

Chimamanda paused as she heard the word 'I love you' it sent shivers down to her spine. She wasn't ready to say the word yet but she hoped Ryan would understand.

"Good Night," she whispered and hung up.

Chimamanda walked into her office smiling sweetly and humming to a song.

"Good morning Ma" Nnenna greeted. "Good morning love" Chimamanda replied sweetly.

Chimamanda was so happy this morning, today was surely a good day for her, people at the company noticed her mood and had a fair share of the goodness.

"You seem to be overly excited today Miss Odenigbo" Nnenna commented. "Your coffee ma" she added.

Chimamanda takes the coffee from her and sips it.  "Ma'am you have a court case by 11:00 am.

Chimamanda listens as Nnenna reads out her schedule for the day. Usually, nothing comes after her court case hearing except emergencies.

" That will be all then," she said and dismissed Nnenna. She prepared her documents for the court case hearing. Once it was 10:00 am she took her belongings and headed to the court to avoid traffic and be punctual.

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"Mildred be careful with the way you are speeding. You don't want to get us killed, do you? Chimamanda warned. She was scared to her bone marrow but Mildred was too hyped to notice her anxieties.

"Come on best friend, you are too scared to be called my friend, grow up" Mildred quipped facing her with her tongue sticking out.

"Watch out" Chimamanda screamed at Mildred who faced the road and dodged a bus that she almost hit. The vehicle swayed and collided with a fast-moving Trailer.

"No..." Chimamanda hollered at the top of her voice, a pitch that could make someone deaf. The Windscreen shattered into pieces, and Mildred hit her head with great force on the steering, part of the shattered windscreen struck into her chest.

The windscreen shattered on Chimamanda. The shock was too much for her that she blacked out.

A familiar voice was calling her "Chimamanda" "Jean wake up it's a dream". She woke up to chidinma tapping.

"Shh, it's okay it was just a nightmare, calm your nerves down" she assured as she pulled Chimamanda in a hug.

"It felt real as if I was really with Mildred. I don't want to lose mum and dad like I lost Mildred, Chidinma" she cried hugging her tightly.

"We are not losing them, we will catch the culprits" Chidinma stated "go back to bed will you" she added as she patted her sister's back for her to sleep back which she finally gave in to.

Chimamanda opened her eyes to the sun's rays from her open window almost blinding her, the birds were at a corner singing melodious tones which she was not happy to hear because of her banging headache.  She lazily stood up and walked to the bathroom to take her bath.

She took some analgesics after breakfast to calm her headache and left for the hospital to see her parents.

She went into her father's room first the doctors were in his room attending to him.

"Good morning" she greeted the doctors.  "Good morning Miss Odenigbo" they greeted simultaneously.

"How is my Dad feeling this morning?" She asked. "He is conceding to treatment so far but is still in a coma state" "All you have to do is pray hard and wait for him to come out of it." The Doctor assured.

"As for your mum, it's greater news, she is still in a coma state but she can now hear whatever you say to her, she also feels." "We suspect she will come out of Coma in a couple of weeks." The doctor gave the nurse the medical chart with an instruction she nodded and left.

"Be strong, my dear" the Doctor patted her and left.

Relief and happiness washed her face she was delighted to hear the news about her mother.

She sat down on a seat close to his bed, she looked at him. "You will fight this, I know you will Sir" she gingered with a smile, adrenaline coursing through her vessels.

She stayed a bit remembering Old memories with him. She felt tears flow down but she cleans them immediately.

"I won't cry again," she told herself. She stood up and left for her mother's room.

"Good morning mum, she greeted in glee as she entered her mother's room since the doctor said she could hear and feel.

Your second daughter came to see you and guess what I'm painting your nails it's been a long time since you polished them and I know you don't like keeping your nails unpolished and unkempt. She was saying these things to make her happy.

Chimamanda took her mother's hand and started applying nail dissolver to her nails, within five minutes she was done. She stared at her handwork, it looked lovely.

"Mum they are stunning" Chimamanda squealed. "I know you will like them. "mum please come back, your babies are missing you." She said as she dropped her nails for them to dry. 

"Chisom has been crying, she hasn't lifted her camera since your accident, Chidinma has been working hard on new designs for a fashion show she wants to host in Paris plus the new edition of her magazine which I'm going to feature as the cover and fashion celebrity icon."

"You need to cheer up your girls mum you can't just leave us all alone against the world, we need you in Chidinma's show." "Wake up mum, you know we love you please we are waiting for you to wake up to us we won't ever give up on you." She cleaned her tears, She didn't want her to notice that she was crying.

She didn't want to break her heart. "I will get going, mum" she kissed her on her cheeks " don't miss me too much" she laughed at her words and left the room.

She drove straight home, refreshed, and dozed off.

                   Unknown P.O.V

"Kola your next target should be Chimamanda, that stupid bitch I want to give her a painful death. I want her to watch me as I eliminate her slowly" she clenched her teeth, clasped her hands, and closed her eyes shut imagining the scene.

"You have to plan this strategically because that bitch is so smart and can suspect a foul play around her." "Once she is down the rest won't be difficult to eliminate, besides send men to keep an eye on their parents anymore of them trying to stay alive, you eliminate them but for now let them be useless in the hospital bed." "Have I made myself clear? She asked sternly

"Yes, Ma" Kioa replied as he set out to carry out his duties.

"Uche, you think you can leave me and be happy with your wife and children?

"Never!" She thundered.  "I will make you all pay and suffer and then everything you ever own will automatically be mine. She took a cigarette, lit it, and puffed out the inhaled smoke.

"Cheers to your downfall losers" she laughed hysterically.

           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chisom yawns loudly and stretches her bone. She looks around her bedside table for her phone. She switched it on and looks at the time, it was noon already.

"Shit! I must have slept long" she mutters.

She had been heartbroken since her parents' accident, she couldn't even pick up her camera to take a single picture something she derived Joy in doing since she was a child.

"Jeez, I can't keep lazing around anymore, I need to do something so If dad and mum should wake up from their state of coma they would be proud of their little girl." "I think I will just meet Chimamanda and discuss with her."

She drops her phone, strips off her nightdress, and moves to the bathroom to take a nice hot bath.

She slides into a denim skirt, white crop top, and white sneakers.

She grabbed her car key and headed outside. As she opens the front door she breaths in fresh clean air "Oh I have missed this" she moaned.

As she moved to her car she noticed a silhouette in black clothes and followed it quietly. The figure moved towards chimamanda's window, it began to climb to access the room which was situated upstairs.

Chisom screamed in horror as she saw what the figure was up to. The figure turned abruptly. He had no mask on, she looked at the face in fear but the face looked familiar, and the realization hits her. It was kola chimamanda's admirer.

He wants to hurt Chimamanda and why would he want to do that was all Chisom could think of.

She stopped screaming as he lunged toward her with a knife, she remained fixed at her spot even

though her mind was screaming for her to take to her heels.

As he approached her, he took his knife up to strike. She closed her eyes in willingness to die. The noises of footsteps she heard behind her gave her the courage to open her eyes.

"Are you alright ma?" one of the security guards inquired.

She looked around but Kola was nowhere to be found "Fuck! He escaped" she mumbled.

"What were you morons doing when someone entered the compound and tried to kill me under your watch" Chisom spat hitting each guard that was standing close to her with her bag.

"We are sorry ma'am it won't happen again" the head of the guards announced remorsefully.

Chisom stormed out of there, furiously she entered her car and drove out to her father's office to see Chimamanda.

"Chimamanda I know who hurt Dad and mum" Chisom disclosed the moment she entered Chimamanda's office.

Chimamanda dropped the paperwork she was holding and looked up at Chisom.

"Who is the bastard? Is it uncle Ifeanyi?" Chimamanda quizzed.

"No, it's not him Chisom asserts. "I don't even know why you still hate him." "I've forgiven him a long time ago for saying Dad should take a second wife.

Chimamanda scoffed "I don't trust him, wait till I bring him to justice."

She stood up to meet Chisom "So who is the bastard that tried to kill Mum and Dad? Chimamanda asked in resentment.

"It's Kola" Chisom acknowledged.

Chimamanda laughs "Kola?" "No, it can't be possible." "What is his motive?" "I can see you are becoming delusional" Chimamanda kept on laughing.

Chisom looked at Chimamanda incredulously. She couldn't believe Chimamanda would berate her statement.

"I am not delusional" she screamed in lacerations. She went on to narrate the incident that had happened at their house so Chimamanda would believe her.

"Oh my God!" Chimamanda exclaimed after Chisom narrated her ordeal. "What does he want? Why would Kola be going to my window? Why does he want to hurt us? Chimamanda probed, she was holding her head. "Was it because I didn't like him back? Was it because I rejected and turned down his love proposals?" She searched.

"Gosh that guy is surely a psycho, he needs to go to the psychiatric hospital." She yelled standing up at this point, she was stymied. The accident had taken a big part of her sanity.

She walked back to her table and picked up her bag and car keys.

"Let's go see Mum and Dad at the hospital who knows if they are the next target."

"Call chidinma and fill her in on what you just told me, tell her to meet us at the hospital" Chimamanda instructed Chisom.

Chisom fidgeted around in her bag for her phone. She called Chidinma and did exactly what she was instructed to say and hung up.

They drove their separate cars speedily to the hospital. As they got to the hospital they met Chidinma in the waiting room pacing.

"I have assigned bodyguards to guard mum and Dad's rooms 24/7, they will get here very soon and start guarding their room doors immediately. They've been briefed already" Chidinma informed them as they headed into their father's room

Chidinma held both of her sister's hands, stress was evident on her face.

"I don't know what our family did to them, Chimamanda not accepting Kola is not enough reason to want to hurt her and our parents besides I won't even choose him over Ryan"

Chimamanda and Chisom burst into laughter after they heard Chidinma's statement.

"We need to team up to help our family besides we are all that our parents got" Chidinma acknowledged.

Chimamanda and Chisom nodded in unison

"We have to be careful and trust no one even Aunt Chinyere"

Chimamanda shot Chidinma a puzzled look. "Why? besides, she is our favourite aunt."

"I know but right now we don't have the luxury of trusting anyone. It's our fight now please" Chidinma pleaded her eyes were damped with tears.

"Okay, I understand" Chimamanda agreed after a moment of thought. "But what about Ryan? She inquired.

Chidinma looked at Chisom who shrugged and threw her face away " I think we can trust him a bit at least he has proved his loyalty a little"

"Alright, we would stick together like glue and can we now tell the press about our parent's condition?" Chisom asked finally.

"Yeah anytime from now, Rumours are already springing up claiming that they are dead but we are hiding it"

As they reminisced on memories and cracked Jokes while surrounding their father's bed. 

A male nurse in green hospital scrubs and nose mask walked into the room, without saying anything to the sisters he pulled out an injection.

"Wait, Excuse me, what are you trying to give him," Chimamanda probed. 

The nurse paused "it's his daily afternoon dose ma'am"

"But the Medical director had done that already, he said my dad won't receive another shot till evening" Chimamanda queried.

On hearing that and sensing his cover had blown away the nurse fled the room in a bolt.

The sisters chased after him, "That nurse that just ran off is a suspect go after him" Chimamanda barked at the bodyguards and ran quickly to her mother's room to check on her.

They immediately chased after the nurse but he was faster and knew the hospital exits better so he escaped.

When the security men returned to the waiting area, the sisters were already there anxiously waiting

Chimamanda ran towards them "Where is he?" "He escaped ma'am" One of the security men answered.

"How could you guys let him escape are you all competent enough for this Job at all? If my dad dies do you all think we would pay your company?" She screamed in agony. The security men apologized quickly

"It's okay Sis, they wouldn't have noticed any foul play besides he disguised as a nurse" Chisom came close to soothe Chimamanda to avoid her hitting the security men out of anger.

"From now on only Doctor Anayo will be the only doctor allowed into my parent's room if another doctor must enter Dr Anayo must be present in the rooms also." Chidinma instructed she was close to breaking down in tears.

Dr Anayo rushed in, "I heard what happened. Girls I'm sorry for the negligence." His face was wrinkled in worry.

"It's okay Sir, I'm just glad he didn't succeed." Chidinma introduced Dr Anayo to the security men to get acquainted with his face

"Sir, apart from us, no one except you would have access into my parent's room or if there is a need for another face from the hospital you must be present till the doctor leaves the room" Chidinma explained.

"No Problem, we should check CCTV for clues of the suspect." Dr Anayo suggested.

"Yes please we would join you soon we need to do a quick video for the public to know what is going on" Chidinma said bringing out her phone from her bag.

Dr Anayo nodded and walked off.

The sisters gathered together to do a video, they explained all that had happened to their parents not leaving out the recent occurrence.

After the video they collectively posted it in all of their social media platforms.

They did a quick stop at their mother's room again before they headed to the CCTV control room.