CHAPTER 6

Mrs. Tonia didn't say anything after Flora exited the room. She sighed and walked to sit beside Anita on the bed while Favour and Esther exited next.

"You shouldn't be harsh with your sister. Fighting with Flora wasn't necessary," Mrs. Tonia said as she sat beside Anita.

"I know, Mom, but they disrespect me and it's getting out of hand," Anita replied.

"It's okay. I understand, but don't change yourself because of them. Keep being my sweet, calm daughter."

"Okay, Mom." Anita sighed as she stared at their mother, while Glory walked to sit on the bed.

"I have to go join your father. Glory, go pack your bags and come join Anita here."

"Okay, Mom," Glory replied. She stood from the bed and walked out to the room she shared with Lisa.

Flora was there, arranging her bag of clothes. She didn't utter a word to Glory, who stepped in and carried her own box out.

Lisa sighed as she returned from the kitchen and found Flora in the room she had shared with Glory. She didn't ask questions. She didn't like Anita and Glory either.

~~~~~

Glory exited and walked back to join Anita, who was busy texting Temisa.

Temisa called instead. "Hello, girlfriend. How's home?" she asked.

"All fine. And yours?" Anita inquired.

"All good," Temisa responded sadly.

"What's up? You don't sound happy," Anita asked first.

"I know. It's a long story. Remember my father didn't show up at the ceremony? Now he's asking for my results and telling me to submit them at the Benson Group. You know I have no interest in working with them."

"What! That's good news, Temisa. You should be happy. So quick. You just graduated, and you already have a job at your doorstep, unlike us who have to wander the streets and companies submitting applications."

"Hmm. You can say that, but that's not what I want. At least not now. Besides, with my results, I doubt I'll get the job," Temisa complained.

"Hmph. It's well, girlfriend, but be happy at least. You have your father's support, unlike mine." Anita ranted, and the call went silent for a while.

"It's okay. Truth is, I don't have high hopes in working with the Benson Group. I know they're the most sought-after group of companies, but I'm not interested," Temisa said flatly.

"Hmph. I know, but you can still apply. I'll submit mine there too. I didn't want to bother you about it earlier or ask you to talk to your father. If I submit now and they approve me, we can work there together, and you won't be bored with office work," Anita said.

"Really? So you plan to submit your CV too?" Temisa asked.

"Yes, but I didn't know your father had plans for you there. I didn't want to bother you."

"Oh! No problem then. I'll submit my application and give you updates when they approve me. You know it's through my father, so no stress," Temisa said.

"Yeah, lucky girl," Anita hyped her.

"Thank you, but I'm only submitting because you said you will. If I don't see you there, I'll quit," Temisa informed her.

"Okay, I will. Let's hope they accept me too. Good night." Anita ended the call after Temisa responded, "Good night too."

Anita set her phone down and found Glory arranging her box to fit into the wardrobe she had shared with Flora. She sighed, "Hmph."

All her siblings had dark skin except Lisa, Glory, and herself. Lisa was fair brown but not white like Anita, while Glory was brown.

"Did Flora ask you anything when you went there and carried your box?" Anita asked.

"No," Glory responded. She walked to sit beside Anita on the bed after finishing with the wardrobe.

"I'm sorry for what happened initially," Glory apologized faintly.

Anita smiled. "It's okay. None of it was your fault. Let's hope Flora, Favour, and Esther stop annoying me in this house," she said as she placed her right palm on Glory's hand.

"Hmph. I hope they stop," Glory sighed.

"It's okay. What did you want to discuss with me before Flora interrupted?" Anita asked.

"I wanted to ask about your university. Is it difficult studying business administration?" Glory asked.

"No, not stressful. Keep your focus and don't get distracted by guys and girls in your department who might ask you out," Anita replied. She turned and switched off her laptop. She was tired.

"So you don't have a boyfriend in school or any guy who likes you?" Glory asked, surprising Anita.

"Glory! What do you know about boyfriends?" Anita questioned with wide eyes. Glory only smiled.

"Okay, I don't have a boyfriend because I don't want to lose focus, and you shouldn't either," Anita advised her little sister while Glory smiled.

"It's okay. You'll show me your results for this term since I'll be around. I can be your extra coaching teacher," Anita said.

Glory jumped up from the bed and hugged Anita tightly. "Thank you, big sis."

"You're welcome. Can I breathe now?" Anita asked.

Glory was almost suffocating her with tight hugs and chubby body.

"Okay." Glory let go of Anita and walked to the restroom, while Anita decided to play with her Android phone.

It was late.

Anita browsed information about the Benson Group to learn what the company was like. She searched for the Benson Group of Companies and saw recent news updates.

Anita read some recent news and saw the handover of company ownership to Master Liam Jackson. She sighed as she stared at photos from the company's conference hall and down to photos of the new CEO.

Lost in thought and search, Anita didn't notice Glory return, climb on the bed, and drift to sleep.

Anita sighed as she heard Glory snoring peacefully behind her. She scrolled through timeline posts of the new CEO and checked his profile page. It had few updates.

Anita clicked the CEO's profile picture to see the face of the new boss she might work with if her CV got accepted. His display picture was posted six years ago. He looked younger, making her sigh.

She left his profile to browse how to submit her application letter and certificate.

Anita found an application form and checked available positions.

She copied the company's email address and decided to write an application letter. That was the only way to apply.

Tired, Anita planned to type a fresh letter the next day. After copying the email, she set her phone on the shelf and drifted to sleep.

The next morning at home, Anita woke to her father scream, "No!" She jumped from bed and rushed out to see what happened.

"What happened?" They gathered in the living room. Their father sat on the couch with both palms supporting his head as he fought tears.

"Mom, what's the problem?" They asked. She shook her head, not responding, pacing the living room.

"Father, what's the problem?" Flora asked as she sat beside him. He shook his head in regret and wiped tears from his eyes.

"Mom?" Anita walked to their mother and held her hands.

"What's the matter, Mom?" Anita asked.

Mrs. Tonia responded, "I don't know. Your father got a call this morning. The next moment, I heard him scream while talking to the caller."

Mrs. Tonia stared at her husband. He tried hard to hold back tears. He stood from the couch. Dressed in his deep blue suit for a fresh Friday morning at the office, he sighed and walked back to his room, shaking his head.

"Father!" Anita, Flora, and Favour rushed to him, but their mother stopped them.

"Let your father be. I'll talk to him and find out the problem," Mrs. Tonia said.

"Are you sure, Mom?" They asked in confusion, wanting to see him.

"Yes. Give him time. He'll tell us what it is."