Chapter three

Julia shook her head repeatedly. 'No no Martha your family......its polygamy how can I come stay with you? Your father other wives and children how will they react? Julia asked concern etched on her face. 'Julia! Do you want to sleep on the streets? You could be raped or even kidnapped! Martha exclaimed with wide eyes. 'Besides, I am the only child of my mom the children of the other wives don't play with me you are my only friend I can finally have a companion' she continued. Julia nodded reluctantly, Martha quickly helped her pack her belongings and boarded a taxi.

When they got to Martha's parents villa, Julia was stunned! It was far more bigger than her own! "Martha what does your father do? Julia asked in amazement. 'Oh he is just a senator.......but he I actually a nice man but the thing is he is a polygamist imagine he married four wives!"

Martha said and quickly reduced her voice as they stepped into the villa. Inside was in chaos! Some children were in the living room playing PS and others were busy with one thing or the other, almost everyone was talking at the same time.

Martha just shook her head and headed upstairs and Julia quickly followed suit. As they ascended the staircase they ran into a beautiful woman wearing tons of jewelries "Martha! Who are you bringing into the house? Who do you think you are to bring in a stranger into the house?"

The woman continued ranting but Martha just ignored her and continued climbing the stairs. "Who is she?" Julia asked quietly when she was sure they were out of earshot. "That's Raina my father's fourth wife, she is just a loud empty barrel that loves making noise! She has been married to my father for over a year now and still doesn't have anything to show for it. That's my mom"

she said pointing to a beautiful woman ahead. The woman wore a smiling face but Julia still had her fears. Martha hugged her mom, Julia almost busted into tears when a shout off horror jolted her out of her thoughts.

Samantha, Martha's mom hugged her tight with tears streaming down her face. Julia then processed what was happening, Martha has told her mom what happened to her. "Come in my dear, come in" Samantha urged pulling Julia into a room.

"Martha take her luggage to the guest room" Samantha ordered. "Yes mom" Martha said leaving both of them. She took Julia into her room and asked about the details of her parents death. When she heard the name of the group that wanted to partner with Bernard and he refused, she exclaimed in shock!

'

"He should have partnered with them them! They are devils!" Samantha exclaimed crying. "You know them ma?" Julia asked her eyes wide with shock. 'Yes, few years ago I and my elder sister went clubbing.....

Two years ago.............

Samantha and her elder sister Joyce walked into the most popular club in the city. Star life club was located in the city center, it was a club strictly for the wealthy. They were invited by a Joyce boyfriend Harry who was a top ranking business man. As they got there, they were stopped by the security.

"Am sorry girls, but non members of this club can't get past here" one of the men stated coldly. Joyce stomped her foot angrily "look here Mr man! My boyfriend is Harry Robinson! How dare you stop me from entering? Are you tired of your jobs ?" Joyce shouted pointing her finger at the guy who just spoke but they ignored her. Samantha patted her and asked her to calm down. "Call Harry" she urged.

Few minutes later, Harry came out. "Am sorry Ladies" he apologized and led them in after scolding the security men. When they got in they were stunned! Everywhere was bustling with life, there were people dancing on the stage and in another corner they were gamblers.

They also learn from Harry that there was a casino upstairs and the identity of the owner was unknown even to the management of the club. As they wined and dined, suddenly a large group of men in black suit and goggles walked in surrounding a person.

No matter how they tried, they couldn't see the person surrounded, so they gave up and continued having fun. Few minutes later, a young man wearing black suit and goggles walked up to Joyce and whispered something to her pointing upstairs.

Joyce's face changed immediately and she stood up and gave the young man a resounding slap! Samantha and Harry were dumbfounded. "How dare you? How dare he? Can't you see am with my boyfriend? Are you blind? Go back to your dirty boss and tell him I have a boyfriend he should go look for an harlot!" Joyce screamed at him.

Then Samantha and Harry understood what was going on. Harry became furious and his face became deadly. He stood up and punched the young man on my face, and began to fight him. It took the intervention of the other patrons of the club to pull them apart. Strangely, during the fight the young man didn't utter a word even when he was asked the name of his boss.

After the fight, he just turned away and left swiftly. Everyone then returned to what they were doing and the. matter was soon forgotten. Close to morning, Samantha, Harry and Joyce decided to return to the hotel Harry booked down after a fun filled night.

But as they settled into the car, their tyres was shot and the passenger's door was yanked open and Joyce was pulled out forcefully by a group of thugs. Harry tried dragging her with them but he was shot on the chest and he died instantly. Joyce was abducted and never seen again after that.

Back to present..........

Tears didn't cease to flow from Samantha's eyes. "Then my family company began to go down, when it was at the brink of bankruptcy, we were called by a strange young woman and told we have offended someone we weren't suppose to cross in a lifetime. They also admitted they were the abductors of Joyce and asked us to pay a huge amount of money for them to loose their hold on our company.

"My struggling parents couldn't even afford half of the money so I was married off to the senator and my family company returned to normal" Samantha narrated still soaked in tears. Julia gritted her teeth in fury! So her family wasn't the first? She felt her blood boil! Samantha hugged her 'its going to be okay my dear, you are going to be fine' she consoled her as Julia sobbed in her arms.