The mansion is centered in the middle of a beautiful garden, giving a serene environment. The flowers were well taken care of by Ebena the gardener, a middle aged man. Ebena always watered the garden every morning and trims the grasses weekly. He was busy that morning watering grasses when he heard a hoot. The driver rushed to open the gate. Ebena overly joyful to see Nero driving into the compound. It's been years since he set his eyes on him. He dropped his tools and goes to welcome Nero.
"Oh what a pleasure. Today must be blessed" he sang cheerful as Nero alighted from his car. Nero smiles and gives him a handshake.
"Good morning papa, nice to see you again".
Ebena was a jovial person, loved and respected by everyone, he dropped out of school at elementary, but his interest in reading books, newspapers and listening to radio enabled him to speak good English.
Nero could see he had aged so well. He didn't have lot of grey hairs as he does now.
"How are you? I never thought I would see you again". Ebena said.
"But am here now sir" Nero replied
Ebena smiled, tapping him on his shoulder "Like you gonna stay". They both laughed out. Nero said pointing at the building.
"I heard he's back to town" he was talking about his father Ejiro.
"Oh yes. He arrived yesterday afternoon." Ebena replied. A lot of thoughts crawled into Nero's head instantly. The last time he saw his dad was when he came to pick Didi's belongings to finally move in with him. Right from the hospital where Yonu was pronounced death, Didi had insisted on not going home Ejiro. Nero took the reason to be that Didi would be scared and haunted to live in same mansion without his mother.
The living room was wide and luxuriously decorated. Huge sculptures were positioned at different corners, with lot of painting hanging on the wall. Soft music played always in the house. He knew he got his tastes from his father. The sweet scent of house was another thing Nero missed so much. It was very warm and welcoming.
He exchanged greetings with different domestic staff as he goes upstairs to his father's room. He took a deep breath as he got to his father's door before he entered.
Not much has changed so far in the room, it was spacious and with modern decor. Every item in room speaks class . The glass table gave the room a nice look, a bottle of a wine and a glass were neatly placed on table. On the gigantic bed was a well ironed dress. Nero's attention went to the walls. It was beautifully decorated with faces and pictures of all the family members, him, his mom, Didi, Ovie and even his grandparents.
"What an pleasant surprise" though frayed at first, but Nero maintain equanimity. The voice was familiar and powerful. It belonged to his father Ejiro. He turned to face him. Ejiro wore a bathrobe and his face were dripping wet from bath. He was smiling and daring into his eyes. Ejiro has a haughty and intimidating personality. Taller than Nero and a bit darkness, with striking resemblance. Nero knew his father could be anything but a murderer.
"Good afternoon father. I never knew my present would be pleasant. Neither do you look surprise". Nero said.
Ejiro throws his head back in dismay and pulled it back "you are dissapointing. I saw you sneaking into my house on the cctv".
Nero snapped "I don't sneak".
Ejiro grinned "yea I was expecting you, you can see the welcome party is going on. Plus your sense of humor appaling. Nero didn't respond as Ejiro walks to the table. He picked up the bottle of wine and pours into the glass and lifts for a sip.
"What brings you here son?" Ejiro asked sipping some drink. Nero wasn't expecting that question so soon, he was thinking of a better reason he could say. He was there to get an linking evidence to what Uncle Ovie told him. He was too proud to use visitation as an excuse, he knew Ejiro is too smart to believe that.
Nero responds "I need a loan 500 grand from you". Nero's eyes caught Ejiro's. He hated those eyes, they are always supercilious.
"A 500k loan? Ejiro mimics, smiles and sips again.
"See if you gonna mock me father I will just leave". Nero blurted out.
Ejiro interrupts "see son. I know how much your small tech company gives you, plus the businesses your mama gave you. I heard a lot. Impressive lots". Nero's eyes caught with Yonu's picture on the wall, right behind Ejiro. He gently rolls his eyes to get a better view. It was a picture of her backside, in bikinis and very transparent skirts. His eyes caught up with a tattoo at her back. He could swear he had seen those tattoos somewhere else not her body. Nero rolls his eyes back at Ejiro not be get him into suspicion, Ejiro drops the glass of wine on the table, then said softly "why are you here son?".
Nero flares up feigning provocation "what is your problem papa. Come on. I always knew this way a mistake" Ejiro chuckles as he watched Nero's reactions.
Ejiro replies "I will send you a million.
"I appreciate your generosity" Nero snapped sarcastically.
Ejiro responds "I heard a woman moved into your apartment" he smiles snarkishly "I am super proud of you son". Nero felt so embarrassed and irritated, he stood off, heading for the doors.
Ejiro yelled playfully "please don't touch any sharp object in my home. I wouldn't want to infected. I heard HIV is contagious". Nero ignored him and stormed out. Ejiro kept laughing out loud .
Tega and Didi were seated facing other on the bed in Tega's room. They were both reading a book together, when Nero barged in loudly leaving the doors at agape.They both jerked up at the awkwardness. They could sense he wasn't in his best mood.
Nero said calmly focusing his gaze at Tega "Didi I need you to go downstairs to your room now".
Didi nodded, pulled himself out from bed and walks out. Nero shuts the door as he exited. Standing and gazing sternly at Tega like he could pierce into her. She was in short knickers and an oversized jacket belonging to Nero.
Nero said in a demanding voice "stand up and take your clothes off". Tega smirked as gets out of bed.
Tega says seductively "I knew I am always going to be your personal tart", those words pierced hard into Nero's heart but he tried not to react. Tega lip-smacked seductively, unzipped her shorts, then gently unbuttons her jacked, revealing her red pants and then her bra. She pulls off the jacket and drops it on the floor. Her body was alluring and arousing. Nero was fighting inside not to be incited, he needed to focus so he turned his face away.
"What? my body don't excite you any more?" Tega flares at not getting the reaction she wanted from him.
"Turn your back". He said pretending not to be unprovoked by her body.
Tega frowned and flares "I don't do anal"
Nero snapped irritatedly "Tegs just turn"
Tega hesitatedly turned revealing her butts. Nero's eyes caught with the tattoos on her back. Those were exactly the same tattoos he saw at Yonu's body. His assertions were right. He wondered if this was a mere coincidence or there was something mysterious.
"How did you get those tattoos?" Nero asked.
Tega turned back and blurted "you only pay me to be your temporary whore and not to explain the tattoos on my body".
Nero blows hot "that's enough. Don't you dare say that to me again" mellows at Tega's tender eyes and says softly "please don't do that. Just tell me how you got that".
Tega picks up her jacket "I can see you dont want it. You just want to be annoying" moving away from Nero. He pulled her back gently, grasp her arm and said
"Listen to me Tegs. I need you to say something. Is as if I have been lied to all my life. Like I have lived in a pool of water but have a sud in my eyes. Please I need answers. My mom could be linked to this".
Tega could see the weakness in his eyes when he mentioned his mom. She released herself from and said.
"OK fine. Since you care to know" she says with meanness "I was I was" stammers, took a deep breathe and continues "I was in a very poor village with my family far away at southern coast where nobody knew we existed. I was 12 when my family decided to give me away to a very old chief; a disgusting and toothless monster; so he could ease my family's burden for a piece of cocoyam farm". Tega frowns, her eyes were now filled with rage as she spoke "luckily that day, some group of men came into our village with gifts, said they were from the government. Picked 12 girls, promising our family a better life for us all." She paused and smirked.
"That's all. The government officials. They were not really genuine right?" Nero asked inquistively.
"They took us away to a place where they were hundreds of girls like us. They gave each and everyone of us a matching tattoo, more like a stamp of ownership, taught us the secrets of our bodies and how to please men. Shocked and disgusted Nero blurted.
"What? Wait at twelve" Tega squinted at him, Nero said slowly "were they sex traffickers?"
Tega snapped "what do you think?".
Nero covers his mouth in bewilderment "No way. That was barbaric and ruining".
"No they didn't ruin me, those sex traffickers saved me and I am grateful to them". Tega bursted out in fury almost in tears. Nero replies softly and looking into her eyes with so much tenderness, "No Tegs, you were kidnapped".
"No" she snapped up, streams of tears running down her face "I was rescued".
"I could have been sold to that ugly old man, probably frustrated and stuck with kids I can't even look at. I would have been miserable" tears began to drop "They gave me a life, though it was cruel but it was more hopeful" she burst into tears. Nero grabbed her close to his chest, feeling her tears and warmness, he began to console her. He felt really sorry for her, now he knows better, now he affirmed Uncle Ovie was right. He thought about his father with so much hate and fury. He felt so betrayed and hurt. Nero closed his eyes trying to shut out of reality but there was no place to hide from. He swore to avenge her, his mom, Yonu and those that were victims of his father's cruelty. He swore to stop him.
The unceasing clanking could be heard in the Eatery Ejiro and his brother, Dr Ovie had come to eat. The waiter took long before serving there orders. Ovie had doubted himself considering how patient he was althrough and he was especially nice to the waiter. Ejiro snarfed his plate of beans and plantain porridge to Ovie's surprise
"Could you not slurp that like a moron brother. that is specially embarrassing" Ovie said to Ejiro and he replies.
"why should I care, I am famished. Now eat your food and stop complaining. What if I was a moron. what does that make you?" They both laugh out loud. Ovie was having a bowl of chicken nuggets with chips and a box of juice. Ejiro periodically sipping from Ovie's drink.
"You could have ordered a juice and not water, instead of stealing mine". Ovie complained.
"can you not do that Ovie. Brother's share. Don't worry I will buy you another juice." Ejiro replied.
The response brought back lots of memories for Ovie and he watched Ejiro snarf his food. Their father wasn't exactly the best dad but anytime he wanted to remember anything his childhood, Ejiro pops in. He was like a father, a friend and companion while growing up. Ovie thought of how protective Ejiro was and the sacrifices he made for him while growing up. Infact Ejiro was the one that suggested Ovie studied medicine in the first place.
"Ovie eat, aren't you hungry?". Ovie snapped back at Ejiro's voice. He realised he hasn't taking a bit for some minutes now. Ejiro had finished and picking out the particles stuck in between his teeth.
Ovie hissed and says "you just had beans and plantain, what could be stuck in your mouth?".
"I took your nuggets brother moron. Only god knows what you have been thinking not to have noticed". Ejiro replies adjusting his sit and signals to the waiter nearby to come clear his front.
They occasionally go together to eat and a tradition to maintain their bond. Ovie lost his appetite and requested a take out.
"when are you getting married Ovie?". Ejiro knew he hit a nerve by asking that. Ovie feigns a smile. He wished Ejiro could reach his head and see reasons with him. Ovie is in his 50s but looks charming as ever. This was actually the first time Ejiro asked this question and he wondered after all this years.
"I never thought you would ever ask" Ovie responds taking a sip from his juice box, goes back to munching his food . Ejiro smiles, leans back on his seat, gazing at his brother. He saw the waiter coming from behind Ovie with a nylon, package Ovie's meal as he ordered a take out. He shakes at the waiter, signaled at him not to bother, cause he has seen Ovie was now eating.
"Do you remember that night mama died?" Ejiro dropped. Ovie paused immediately, took another sip.
"Can we not talk about this brother" Ovie said giving Ejiro a dreadful look.
Ejiro giggles "seems like someone loathes his father".
"You dont?" Ovie asked throwing a scornful glance at him. Ejiro joggled his shoulders and replied.
"No I dont?" Ovie's face twitched in disbelief. "Yea I said what I said. Mother was problematic and difficult. You were too young to understand".
"And you weren't?" Ovie blurted out and Ejiro interrupts.
"Yes I was old enough to understand our parents were in constant war because of our grandfather's inheritance. Mom was an instigator and an ambitious woman. Trust me she was going kill father before he did." Ovie's expressions changed. He was shocked. He shaked his head in utter belief.
"You don't believe that. Do you? but I do. You don't possibly think I would lie against my own mother. I heard phone calls. I saw attempts, his food his drink. You remember that night father beat me for throwing his plate of food". Ejiro smiles as he continued "He didn't know I was saving his life. I was tired of getting beaten for throwing father's wine. So I intentionally started taking wine from father's chamber so mother would see father wouldn't be the only one in danger".
Ovie snapped in grieve, though fighting to control himself not to draw attention from the people around. He pushes his food aside.
"that's not true"
Ejiro grasped, sits up and responds calmly, "Ovie listen to me. Whatever happened to this family doesn't matter anymore to me. What matters is that we have moved forward and better. In all the circumstances, we still exiled. Don't let Whatever happened control you or ruin your life. You are incharge now but you must always remember this. you are incharge now".
Ovie's heart melted into pieces. Part of him knew Ejiro could be telling the truth, or atleast he has nothing to gain from lying. He was too young to even understand lot of things but that particular incident never left his head. He took a serviette from the table and wipes his mouth, throw it back on the table. Gulped as much as he could from the juice box, takes his phone and stands.
"Work calls brother" Ejiro was speechless, he could only nod. Ovie had left in pains. Ejiro couldn't help but feel pity for him. He shakes his head, then draws Ovie's left over and began to munch on it.