Chapter Thirty

"Lied to you?" Uzo asked surprised. "What did he lie to you about?"

"It's nothing," Rose answered. "So, tell me more. Tell me something about his time in the states." Rose said.

They had finished washing the dishes and While Rose wiped his hands, Uzo put away the last of the dishes and said, "what's there to talk about? He was always working." Uzo said.

"Working?" Rose asked and leaned against the kitchen counter. "Isn't his father a billionaire?"

"Of course his father is. If his father isn't then how do you think he was able to spend most of his years in the United States?" Uzo asked her.

"Then why did he have to work so hard?" Rose asked because she doesn't understand why he had to work as hard as Uzo was saying.

"Well, he wanted to make his money and be independent. He used most of the money his dad was sending to him to open up his company. He still had to work part-time while going to school and starting his own company." Uzo explained.

"Really?" Rose asked.

"Yes, he did," Uzo answered.

"So, why did he come back if his company and life are all in the states?" Rose asked.

"I don't understand how that husband of yours thinks and I don't even want to try. His thinking is very different from ours." Uzo said and smiled. "When we met, he saved me from some guys who were bullying me. I was five years old at that time."

"Why we're you being bullied?" Rose asked him.

"That's a story for another day, Christopher should be out of the bathroom by now," Uzo said.

"That's true." Rose agreed and they both walked out of the kitchen. They got to the sitting room and Rose took a seat on her favorite seat.

Uzo took a seat across from her and said, "so, tell me about your early years. Since we are friends, I believe we get to know each other better. You'll be needing me soon. Together, we can always bully Christopher..." Uzo suggested and truthfully, he could already picture himself and Rose giving Christopher a hard time.

"That's my husband oo. You want me and you to bully him?" Rose asked.

"Yes Nah, that will be so much fun. Please Rose, give me this opportunity to tease him small." Uzo said.

"Stop troubling my wife and get yours!" Christopher said as he walked into the sitting room dressed neatly in fresh clothes.

"Oooh God, why did you have to come out now? I thought she asked you to wash thoroughly?" Uzo whined.

"That's none of your business," Christopher said and sat down beside Rose. "Do I still smell like a fish?" He asked her.

Rose sniffed the air and said, "a little. Her smell is strong. Please move to the other side. Why didn't you wash up properly?" She asked after a few minutes.

"Come on, I spent a long time in the bathroom scrubbing my body and I spent about ten minutes washing my mouth as well," Christopher explained as he sniffed himself as well.

"You might have done that but you still smell like her and I don't like that!" Rose said crossing her arms over her chest.

"Are you jealous?" Christopher asked her as if realizing that.

"Why would I be jealous? Which kind of mumu question be that? I should be jealous that she kissed you or that you took your time before pushing her away. Which one do you want me to be jealous about?" Rose said. From her tone, one could tell that she was already angry.

Christopher was shocked at her outburst but after a few seconds, he smiled happily. Uzo looked at their interaction and was surprised when he saw a smile spreading across Christopher's lips. 'What's making him smile? Can't he see that she is angry? How this guy mind dey work sef?' He asked himself as and watched them. "Sorry if I asked the wrong question," Christopher said but, the smile never left his face.

"So, what are you now supposed to ask?" Rose asked and looked at him for the first time since they started the conversation. "Wait ooo... Why are you smiling? Did I say something funny?" She asked when she saw the smile on his face.

"Am sorry. It's just that you look so beautiful right now. I am confused as to when you look more beautiful." Christopher said. "Maybe you should smile so that I can compare it." He suggested with a smile.

Rose hissed and asked, "did you hear a thing out of what I said?"

"What did you say?" Christopher asked. He knew and he could see that she was angry and he didn't want her to continue that discussion. "Did I tell you that, I like the sound of you calling me honey in front of Cindy?" He asked her.

"What's there to like? I was only trying to get her out of my presence and nothing more. Don't let that get into your head." Rose answered him.

Uzo was silently watching them. He wanted to talk but, was scared that if he said anything, he would be sent home by Christopher and he wouldn't get to watch Christopher begging someone. "But it has already gotten into my head. It sounded so sweet and my heart started beating so fast when I heard your calls, honey. Why don't you call me honey from now onwards?" Christopher asked her.

"What a cute man!!" Rose said with a smile on her lips. She even went as far as pinching his cheeks and said, "why don't I just call you cutie? I like the sound of that better!!" She said.

After Rose finished saying that, Uzo couldn't hold himself anymore and started laughing hysterically. Christopher's smile became stiff on his lips. He turned and looked at Uzo who was laughing at him and at Rose whose smile was still on her face and said, "if calling me cute would make you happy then, you can go ahead and call me whatever you like." He said to Rose and turned to Uzo was smiling and said, "what are you still doing here? Shouldn't you have gone to your house by now?"

"Don't mind my presence and just talk." He said between chuckles. "Just continue being cute. I also like that name. Can I call you cutie?" He asked.

"Get. Out. Of. My. House. Right. Now!!!" Christopher said enunciating every word.

"Jeez... Why are you being so scary? I'll quietly sit here. Just ignore me cutie." He said and burst into another fit of laughter.

Rose also couldn't control her laughter anymore so, she laughed along with Uzo. "That's it. Get out of my house." Christopher said and got up. He pulled Uzo up from his seat and pulled him towards the front door.

"Don't be like this bro, it's just 9 pm. I'll go home when I want to!!" He shouted as Christopher pulled him to the door. "Bro abeg na!!" He pleaded.

Christopher paid deaf ears to his pleading and pulled him to the door. "Dey go your house. I no wan see you for here again. You are not welcome here without an invite. Now, bye bye!!" He said and opened the door.

"What a pleasant surprise son!" They all heard immediately the door was opened. Uzo was surprised by the sudden visit but the most surprised person was Rose whoo had followed them to the door.

"Dad?" Christopher said.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Few hours earlier...

After Cindy left the house angrily, she walked as fast as possible and entered into her car, and Zoomed out of the compound. She drove a little distance away from the house and parked her car. "Haaaa!!!" She shouted and hit the steering wheel of her car. "I'll make you pay!! Can you imagine that black thing said I am smelling... Me," she said and touched her chest. "Me, Cindy Coker... Smelling like rotten fish. Chai... I don suffer no be small," she continued to lament yo herself. "Who is her father in this country sef? What gave her the confidence to talk to me like that sef? Haa... Ooooh, I should have slapped her. Why did I just leave like that?" Cindy continued to talk to herself.

She was sniffing herself when she heard a knock on the glass. She looked at the person and hissed before whining down. "What do you want?" She asked.

"Do you seriously want us to talk while I am standing outside and you are parked so close to the house?" The newcomer asked her.

"Fine..." Cindy said and opened the car door. "Get in."

The newcomer got into the car and Cindy drove out of the estate. She drove them to a closed bar and they both got down after she had parked the car. They walked into the bar and ordered a drink. "What would you like to have?" Cindy asked.

"Just malt." The newcomer said.

"Fine," Cindy said and hissed. She signaled a waiter to their table and gave out their order, "bring a bottle of malt and one bottle of Smirnoff Ice."

"Ok, ma'am." The waiter answered and walked away to get their order.

"So, why did you seek me out? I thought you like doing things over the phone." Cindy asked the person with her.

"Can't we just have a drink together?" The person asked with a smile. "Well, I was still in the house when you performed your act." The person said.

"So?" Cindy asked cause she doesn't understand what the other person was getting at.

"I thought you could do better than that. What you did was lame. It was stupid and childish." The other person said. It was none other than unknown.

"What would you have me do? Do you even know how hard it was for me to pass that stupid gateman?" Cindy asked.

Unknown was about to say something else when their order was brought. They waited till the waiter had walked away before continuing. "You could have beaten her up or something better." Unknown said and opened the bottle of malt to take a sip.

"I could have beaten her up?" Cindy asked and the other person nodded. "You must be joking. I only came to verify the information you gave me and it turns out you are right. I feel so angry right now!" Cindy added as she also took a huge gulp of her drink.

"So, you doubted me? You thought I gave you wrong info?" Unknown asked.

"You can do anything for money so, I don't trust you. I will think of something better very soon. I can't have that lady staying in that house thinking she belongs there." Cindy said.

Unknown smiled and said, "there is something you can do tonight tho. It'll help you in the future."

"What's that?" Cindy asked.

"You know what you have to do before I can tell you something important na, do the needful and I will tell you why I followed you when you left the house." Unknown said and gulped out of her drink.

"How much this time around?" Cindy asked taking out her phone.

"150 thousand naira." Unknown answered without batting an eye.

"For what na. Ordinary opinion?" Cindy asked with incredulity.

"Take it or you leave it. You have the money so, let's help you spend it. Besides, I am sure that if you get married to Christopher, you will stop needing me so now is my chance to gain from you." Unknown said.

"Fine," Cindy said and picked up her phone to make a transfer. "The normal way abi?" She asked.

"Send it to my personal account." Unknown answered.

"Why do you even do with all this money?" Cindy asked as she sent the money to unknown.

"What I do with the money is none of your business just like how what you do with the information I give to you is none of my business." Unknown answered.

"Fine. I have sent it. What do you have to say?" Cindy asked after sending the money.

Unknown waited till she received the alert before smiling brightly and saying. "That's why I like you. You too sure!!"

"Please stop acting like you love me. We both know you help me because of the money so, get to the point." Cindy urged.

"Well, why don't you go to Old Mr. Allen and tell him what happened?" Unknown said.

"Why didn't I think of that?" Cindy asked after hearing the suggestion.

"That's because you don't have a brain." Unknown murmured but said out loud, "That's why you have me. I am here to help you out and besides, you are probably stressed that's why you didn't think of that."

"You are right. I will go to his place right now and tell him about what happened. I will let him know how his son brought in a nobody to embarrass me." Cindy said and smiled.

"My job here is done." Unknown said and stood up, gulped down the remaining drink in the bottle, and said, "it's always nice doing business with you madam Cindy."

Cindy smiled and watched as the unknown walked away. Immediately unknown was out of her sight, the smile on her face disappeared. "Just wait till I become Christopher's wife. You will be the first person that I will sack." She said and hissed.

She finished up her drink and paid then, walked out of the bar and got into her car.