A Mercedes-Benz G-550 drove into the Amadi mansion and parked at the parking lot. The driver hopped down, went to the rear seat and opened the door. It took a minute for a pair of elegant legs to step down. Chisom lingered at a spot while her eyes swept round the premises. She moved slowly towards the boys quarters and stood still again in reminiscence. That part of the premises housed all her memories of the mansion. She could see clearly, herself running gaily towards the main gate, the day she turned seven years old.
"Please Miss, this way!" The driver said, jolting her back to reality. He pointed the way to a section of the main house. "Let me take you to Chief, he's been waiting!" He added and led the way. Chisom followed him silently.
He took her to the section which Chief Amadi used as a study and guest quarters, boycotting the main entrance of the mansion and the living room. They walked to a door and the driver knocked.
"Yes!" Chief Amadi's voice came from within the room. The driver opened the door and ushered Chisom in. Chief Amadi got up from behind a big table where he sat the moment he saw Chisom. The driver left and closed the door behind him.
Chief Amadi grinned and said, "Chisom, I'm glad you could make it! Welcome home my child!"
Chisom didn't say a word.
"Sit down please!" Chief Amadi pointed to the sofa. She obeyed.
"My dear, I meant every word I said to you yesterday in my office. this is your home where you rightly belong, forget the past and make yourself comfortable!" He went to sit close to her.
"I get very busy most of the time but I'll make out a lot of time to spend with you so we can catch up with each other's life and make up as much as possible the lost years." He paused and continued. "Please, feel free to come by the office anytime! I will always be there for you if you have any problems or need anything! I will set up a bank account for you, so that you can have any amount of money you may need to get yourself settled in. Get a full wardrobe, a new handset and whatever that pleases you or makes you happy!" He glanced at her face but she showed no emotion. "You don't know how it makes me feel to have you here with me." He finished with a smile. He stood up and said, "can I get a hug from you, my child?"
She got up and hugged him. He smiled broadly. "Now, let me show you to your room!" He opened the door and led the way.
He took her to a master's bedroom within the guest block, chatting amicably. The room was massive and glamorous. It had a mini sitting, large walk in closet, a luxurious and spacious bathroom with jacuzzi and a balcony with water view. It was reserved for very special guests to the Amadi mansion but was rarely used. He wanted Chisom to have the special guest room because other rooms in the main section were occupied by his wife and other two children. Besides, it will offer her good comfort and some privacy. It turned out to be just perfect for Chisom, she liked the room and once that was confirmed he took her and showed her some other parts of the main house and finally, took her to the main living room.
When he opened the large door, leading to the cathedral sitting room, a party of people, about thirty in number, who were already gathered waiting for him shouted,
"SURPRISE!!!"
Chisom was indeed surprised but wasn't startled. She wasn't expecting such a reception.
Chief Amadi ushered her inside, and the living room was suddenly flooded with brilliant lights. Thirty pairs of eyes were all now fixed on her but she was well composed.
"Everyone, join me in welcoming home, my lost but found, beautiful, first daughter, Chisom!" Amadi announced proudly.
Everyone who was gathered in the room, men and women who were his senior staff and very close friends all cheered;
"WELCOME HOME CHISOM!!!"
Except of course Ngozi, Obinna and Ekene who were in a displeased shock.
Everyone took turns to greet and shake or hug Chisom. She forced a smile as she greeted them. Ngozi, Obinna and Ekene gathered in a corner to gossip. They didn't greet her.
Chief Amadi grabbed two wine glasses filled with champagne, from a waiter who came right away to him. He gave Chisom one and said, "Welcome home my princess!" She took it and gave him a first genuine smile.
The party got into full swing with good music and lots of food to eat. Chisom interacted politely with so many people. One of Chief Amadi's staff, Iyke dominated the interactions. He couldn't take his eyes off her.
Ekene in her ridiculous outfit got drunk and started to flirt with some men. Obinna disappeared halfway into the party.
********
Later at night, Chief Amadi and Ngozi were having a heated argument in the master's bedroom. Chief Amadi was already in his pyjamas sitting on the bed while Ngozi sat on an armchair still fully dressed.
"You are not doing a good job raising that girl, did you see how she messed up herself this evening before my guests? How embarrassing! And whenever I complain about her outrageous behaviour, you will never take me seriously." Amadi scolded and glared at Ngozi. "Did you see her dressing?"
Ngozi hissed, "Don't change the topic Amadi! The issue here is the girl you brought home under my roof, without at least giving me the slightest hint, not Ekene. Where did you fish her out from? Since when did you start communicating with that Witch you call her mother?"
"Watch your tongue Ngozi!" Chief Amadi fired back. "I've already explained to you that I intended her coming home to be a pleasant surprise. I don't need your permission to bring my child home to where she belongs."
Ngozi burst out laughing. "Your child?" She asked ironically.
Chief Amadi ignored her and demanded, "I will not tolerate any name calling! The poor girl has just lost her mother. She has only me now and I want to take full responsibility of taking care of her and cleaning the mess I made in her life. She will live with me in this house as long as she so desires and you will let her be!"
"Not in this house Amadi! You lie!" She glared at Chief Amadi like a wounded owl. "I will not tolerate her here! I don't want any witchcraft attacks on my children please!"
"Shut that trash you call mouth!" Chief Amadi howled at her. "Who are you to dictate who lives here and who doesn't?"
Ngozi recoiled a bit. She spoke up,
"I'm really surprised Amadi, what's gotten into you? The last time you said something about that girl, you were telling me that she was a serpent from the marine world with wicked powers; that you wanted nothing to do with her." She studied Chief Amadi for a while and asked, "What has changed now? Why are you suddenly so concerned and emotional about that thing?"
Chief Amadi narrowed his gaze and lowered his voice, "The question is; what got into me then? What got me blind? What took my reasoning and turned me into a beast? How did I reject my own flesh and blood? Why did I turn against my beloved wife?"
He looked up and stared into Ngozi's face as if searching for answers.
"Can you explain it to me?" He asked her. Ngozi ignored him and looked away. "I'm determined to find out! I will leave no stone unturned until the truth comes out!" He paused while studying Ngozi. "In the interim, Chisom stays here! She is my child, my first daughter and this is her home! You and your children must be nice to her! No harm must come to her! Not even a little scratch. Do I make myself clear?" He asked, still glaring at Ngozi in the face.
Ngozi hissed. She got up and walked out of the room while Amadi lay down on his bed. He pressed the switch on the headboard and the lights in the room dimmed.
The next day Chief Amadi, Ngozi, Chisom, Obinna and Ekene sat down for an elaborate dinner in the dining hall. Chief Amadi sat at the head chair on a table for six, while Ngozi sat at the tail end facing him. Obinna sat to the right close to his father while Chisom sat to Chief Amadi's left facing Obinna. Ekene sat next to Obinna and was close to her mother. Two stewards stood in wait, far from the table. The atmosphere was tense.
Chief Amadi was in a good mood and he looked happy. He cleared his voice and addressed them, "I called for this special dinner because I want to talk to you all!" He glanced at their faces.
"It feels good to have everybody seated here for dinner, this is something we haven't done before. I would love for us to do this more often. In fact, let's come together every evening to dine together! I personally will get off work on time every day, just to be here for dinner with my family! I will love every one of you to do the same. Whatever it is that you have to do each day must be done on time and you must be home early for dinner! I will not tolerate lateness!"
Obinna and Ekene exchanged glances and frowned. Ngozi didn't react.
Chief Amadi continued, "Dining together everyday will enhance strength, closeness and understanding amongst us as a family. It will serve as a forum for easy communication. We will dine and feel free to bear our minds and discuss issues that are affecting us individually!"
He studied their faces and then ate some food. Everyone was silent. "Chisom, once again, you're welcome home!" He turned to her with a smile.
"This is your family, accept and love them! "Obinna! Ekene!" He turned to their side. "Chisom is your elder sister, she's a member of this family, I want you two to accept her and respect her! Ngozi!" He faced her, "Chisom is like your daughter. Threat her like you would do Ekene, I don't want any maltreatment or favoritism!"
Ngozi remained silent.
Chief Amadi turned to Chisom. "My princess, this is your family! Obinna and Ekene are your younger siblings, treat them with love and care! Respect Ngozi as you will respect your elder!"
Obinna cleared his throat and spoke up, "With due respect sir, I wasn't aware you had another child outside this home before now, not to mention another wife. You can't just drop in someone from the blues and begin to impose new sentiments on us. We are...."
"Chief Amadi interrupted him,
"Chisom is not someone from the blues, watch your tongue! I remember stating a few minutes ago that she's my first daughter! She's my first child from my first wife, actually my legitimate wife!" He faced Ngozi, "If your mother had been sincere to you both, she would have told you that before she came in here, there was a woman and a little girl already in my house."
He paused and looked down at his plate, Obinna and Ekene stared at Ngozi. Chisom was nonchalant. She ate her food undisturbed.
"A series of unfortunate events happened and they left! I lost touch with them! Now thank goodness I have found my daughter again!" He added and smiled at Chisom.
Obinna frowned and chirped in, "I just hope another son doesn't surface. I will not…."
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Chief Amadi yelled and glared at him.