Chapter Seven: Mrs. Melanie's House

— Michael Melanie

"Michael, what's the meaning of what you did at the hospital? Have you gone mad? How could you leave your mother for four hours in the hospital without notifying her or anyone of your whereabouts?" My mother yelled at me when I arrived home.

When I returned back to Madonna Hospital to check on my mother after what transpired between Gina and me, I couldn't find her there in the hospital anymore. It was difficult for me to wrap my head around it because her phone number wasn't going through when I tried calling. We never discussed her returning to her house from the hospital. I remained silent for some minutes at the hospital, thinking about where she could have been, and I decided to enter the hospital to ask about her.

"Excuse me, nurse. Please, do you have any information on Mrs. Melanie, who was at your hospital some hours ago?" I asked the nurse while still wondering in my thoughts about my mother's whereabouts.

The nurse looked at me pitifully, and there was something peculiar in the way she stared at me. It was as if she had an unusual interest in me. Her gaze felt seductive and almost hypnotic, like someone who had lost control over herself and was ready to devour me whole. The thought crossed my mind that maybe she was a possessed nurse, but it seemed unlikely as to why a possessed nurse would be working at Madonna Hospital, one of the biggest and most sophisticated hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria.

"Hello, Nurse Kudirat! You haven't given me a reply to my question," I said, trying to bring her back to the present.

She told me that there was a patient who was suddenly rushed to the theater room for an emergency operation a while ago because her condition had worsened. She thought the name was Mrs. Melanie, but it turned out to be Mrs. Melania, a woman who had recently returned from the United States to Nigeria. Relieved, I left the hospital.

As I was leaving, Nurse Kudirat called my attention again, and this time I decided to hear what she had to say since she claimed to know how my mother left the hospital. I immediately rushed to where she was, eager to hear more from her, but she insisted that I give her my phone number before she would disclose any information. I obliged and gave her my contact, and she confirmed it was mine before she started telling me what actually happened.

"After you left in a taxi, some hours later your mother finished her treatment and tried to find you. She tried calling your phone number, but there was no response. She waited for another extra hour, but you didn't show up. She then decided to call a certain person to come and pick her up. The car was a black BMW with tinted glass," Kudirat said.

I didn't waste any time and rushed out, asking my taxi driver to take me to Kimberley Street. The taxi driver drove carefully, but I asked him to increase the speed a little bit. I remembered that the black BMW with tinted glass that Kudirat mentioned belonged to Albert, and I was skeptical about what he could do. He was a notorious cultist and an assassin. The thoughts of what he could have done to my mother kept resurfacing. I asked the driver to ride on and increase the speed. I recalled the last time when Albert had sent assassins to assassinate me and take away the documents belonging to Melanie Company. If he could do such a thing to me, then what's stopping him from harming my mother? All these thoughts kept racing in my mind until we reached the house, and I rushed inside.

"I'm sorry, Mother, something urgent came up, and I had to leave. I apologize for not informing you beforehand," I explained.

She asked me to sit down, and I obliged. She told me that she waited for a long time, unable to find me, and decided to call her friend who then asked her son to bring her home with the BMW. As she mentioned her friend, I suddenly remembered that her friend also owned a black BMW. It wasn't just Albert's car.

"I saw you outside the hospital talking to a lady. Was that Loretta?" My mother asked.

I was surprised, and I told her it wasn't Loretta but Gina, the girl I had told her about. She seemed concerned and speculated that Gina might not love me, but I wasn't sure about it. My mother advised me to find out more and not lose someone like I did with Loretta.

After our conversation, I decided not to take my bath immediately and instead went to the bathroom. As I was showering, I pondered what had happened at Gina's house and why she had turned me away. Something felt wrong, and I felt an urgent need to find out the truth. Maybe she had siblings or parents to consider. My mother's advice echoed in my mind as I resolved to find a way to uncover the mystery.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. My mother asked who was at the door, and a familiar voice replied, "It's me, Albert. Can I come in?"

My mother listened attentively to Albert's words, but she seemed skeptical about his sudden change of heart. She knew about his past and the notorious activities he had been involved in. Still, she decided to hear him out.

"I understand that people can change, Albert," my mother said cautiously. "But it takes more than words to prove that change. If you're serious about working with Michael, you'll need to show genuine commitment and reform. Melanie Company is a place of integrity, and we can't afford to take any risks."

Albert nodded, seemingly understanding my mother's concerns. He tried to convince her further, "I know I've made mistakes in the past, but I promise you, I've turned a new leaf. I want to be a part of something positive, something that can make my family proud. Working with Michael and contributing to the success of Melanie Company is the path I want to take."

My mother remained composed but firm. "Albert, I believe people deserve second chances, but trust has to be earned. If Michael is willing to give you an opportunity, then I will support it. However, any sign of deception or dishonesty, and you will be out without a second thought."

Albert reassured my mother, "I understand, ma. You won't regret this decision. I will work hard and prove myself."