WEEKS LATER.She walked down the stairs hastily with the phone in her right ear. “Um, I will be there soon,” she said as she walked into the living room where she could hear baby Junior’s cries. “Nat,” she called anxiously to Natasha who was feeding the baby.“Yes,” Natasha called without raising her head up.“Your mother called. She says your father is sick and he needs my presence,” she said anxiously.“My father?” Natasha asked curiously as she looked at her face.“Yes, she says he’s in a near death situation and my attention is needed,” she explained.“Oh no, I never knew he was sick,” Natasha cried as she stood up from the couch.“I..I need to go with you,” she said.“No, Nat. You have to stay behind and look after baby J. It’s late and we can’t hit the road together,” she explained.“Um..Okay. But you’ve got to let me know of the situation when you get there,” she said, anxiously.“Yes, I will,” Alex said with a wry smile as she hurried to the door.“Alex,” Natasha called and
She began to pace around the house with the maids gathered around her. The phone continued to ring but there was no response from the other end. “What is going on? Alex, pick up your call!” She cried into the phone. “Have you called your mother?” Vivian asked anxiously. “I don’t wanna call that woman, yet,” she said angrily. “I will suggest you give her a call,” Bose advised. She sighed in frustration and sat on the couch tiredly. Just then, her phone rang and her heart skipped as she saw Adrian calling. “Nat, have you heard from her?” His anxious voice sounded from the phone. “Not yet. Um, I’m about to call mom,” she said. “I’ve given her a call but her line is not reachable. I called dad too but his phone is switched off,” he said. “Um..I..I will..,” she was trying to speak when the door opened and two men in police uniforms walked into the house with Sam who seemed to be limping behind them. “Sam!” She cried anxiously as she stood up from the couch. She could see his ban
He couldn’t wait for the car to halt before jumping out of it. He ran into the house with the men running after him, holding his briefcase. As he stepped into the living room, he was welcomed by the somber faces of everyone present in the living room which includes Alex’s friends and family. He began to pant heavily as he stared at their faces and all eyes turned in his direction. “Adrian,” Natasha called anxiously as she stood up abruptly and rushed over to meet him. “Where is my wife? Is she not back yet?” He asked innocently as he looked into Natsha’s face which was filled with tears. “No, Adrian. It’s almost three days now and there is still no word from her, nor even her kidnappers,” she cried and he scoffed and shook his head in disbelief. Right now, he was lost, he was dumbfounded and he has lost his senses of reasonings. It all sounded like a Joke to him when he first heard the news of her kidnap. But right now, everything seems real as he saw the faces of the people who w
MONTHS LATER Stepping onto the balcony, she could see him sitting close to the guardrails with his eyes staring through space. He was looking so emaciated and unkept with an unshaved beard and bushy hair which had been left uncombed for the past few months. She stopped for a moment and heaved a sigh as she saw him caressing the portrait in his hand which had become his daily custom. Her heart became heavy and she sniffed as she tried to hold back her tears from falling. She walked over to him and knelt before him. “Nat,” he called with a wry smile on his dry lips as his weary eyes looked into hers. “Adrian, you need to stop. I need you to put yourself together and be strong for Junior,” she cried. He smiled and looked away from her face. “I’m strong,” he muttered. “No, you’re not. You’re losing it! Your mental health is deteriorating,” she cried as she rubbed his palms tenderly. “Tomorrow is our second anniversary. We planned to visit Dubai together to make memories,” he said w
“I’m so happy my bro is up on his feet again,” Natasha said with a smile as she helped him knot the tie around his neck. He smiled wryly and heaved a sigh. “I will be going to Abuja for an emergency meeting tomorrow,” he revealed and she smiled. “You know, hanging out with the boys really helped you a lot. You see, you should make friends,” she said. “That was what she told me some time ago," he said with a smile and she frowned. "You are talking about Alex, again,” she sighed and he smiled. “I can’t stop talking about my wife,” he said and she nodded with a smile. “Um..on the night of the remembrance, I saw you and Amos together frequently. Have you guys met before?” He asked. She froze and gulped as she walked away from him slowly. “Um..no..um..yeah..just a few couple of times with Alex. Yes..he had come visiting before Alex’s demise,” she stammered. “Hmm. I hope it’s not what I’m thinking?” He asked and she shook her head frantically. “What do you know I’m thinking?” He a
Stepping into the living room, she could see Amelia walking down the stairs, staring at her in dismay. "Nat..is..is everything okay?" She asked as she looked at the brown rolling box beside her. "Yes..yes, mother," she replied. She stopped for a moment and her small round eyes looked at her face in surprise. This is the first time she was referring to her as mother. "Um..I'm glad you are here," she said with a forced smile on her face. "I'm here to stay. I want to be with my father..," She said and the smile on her face diminished. "Oh..um..yeah," she said nervously. " And also to be with you. I want to spend time with my mother, so I can get to know you better. I know we've not been good together as mother and daughter, but I guess I was just overwhelmed and sad by the fact that you abandoned us. But now, I want to make things right," she said. Her face broke into a smile and she opened her arms wide to embrace her. They both embraced briefly and her small lips broke into a s
Walking into the room, she could see Natasha sitting on the bed beside her father. Her brows raised and she heaved a sigh of tiredness as she walked to the bed. "Oh, mom, you slept late," Natasha said as she dropped her phone on the bed and a smile appeared on her lips. "Yeah..I.. I don't know how it happened," she said as she shook her head abstrusely while walking to the bed. "Oh, I need to give your father his tea," she said as she walked to the shelf. "No, mother. I've served him his tea already," she said with a smile. She stopped and turned to look at her with her brows raised. "Oh..um..how..did you find the tea pack?" She asked. "I searched around the room. Of course I know it will be in here," she said with a smile. "Oh..um..okay," she replied with a wry smile on her lips. A knock came on the door and Natasha stood up from the bed and walked over to the door. "Madam, a lady is here to see you," the maid at the door said. She was puzzled as she looked at her face for
FLASHBACK Her heavy pants could be heard as she ran through the dark night towards the bottom of the bridge which was pitch black and void of people. She was halfway to the river shore when she bumped into a group of men who seemed to be fleeing from the water. They looked very much like fishermen and she stopped for a moment as she saw them staring at her face in curiosity. "Please, help me. A friend of mine has fallen into the water," she pleaded intensely as she gasped for breath. The men took slow glances at each other and they tried to hurry past her. "Please help me, she is gonna die, please," she pleaded as she turned to face them. "Didn't you hear the gunshot? Ehh, woman?" One of the men asked as he shot her an angry look while pointing a bright torch light at her face. "I heard it and I need to rescue her. Please, before it's too late. You don't need to worry about the gunshot, the bad people are gone. I will offer you money," she offered and they took slow glances at e