The next six days at the Amadi mansion was a mixed grill for Chisom. It was the most trying and indecisive time of her life. Chief Amadi was true to his promise. He not only handed over a robust credit card to her, but showered her with gifts. He came home early for dinner and would spend the rest of the evenings conversing, cracking jokes and even watching movies with her. He proved himself to be a repentant man. But the rest of his family were very hostile. They avoided her like a curse. At dinner, they would say nothing and whenever she went to the living room to sit with them, they would immediately disperse, leaving disgusting comments behind.
Ngozi ordered the maids not to serve her but later, Chief Amadi appointed a personal maid for her who made sure all her personal needs and food were served and safe as well.
Chisom was faced with two options, either to leave the Amadi's mansion and return to start her new job in London or stay to bond more with a father she had missed all her life and at the same time, face the battle with his other family. She was having a difficult time deciding which option to go with and when she voiced her worries to her uncle Chike, he favoured the latter.
"The Chisom I used to know was never afraid of any adversity or challenge. Where's that Chisom that beat those bullies in primary and secondary schools to their games, in wits and in academics? You've never been afraid of any opposition. Don't let them scare you away my dear, stand your ground!" Chike counselled her over the phone!
"I'm not really so sure I want to stay here anymore uncle! I've made up with Chief for sure but I don't have to be here! I need to go back to London and move on with my life! I need to resume work and be busy! I can always call him and probably visit every now and then. I can't…"
Chike cut her off, "I think you should stay much longer, for you and for your father! The way I see it, he needs you more than you need him! If you leave now, I doubt he will survive it. Think things through Chi!"
"Do you think he's in any sort of danger?" Chisom asked, a little bit alert.
"Not directly but those outrageous behaviours can't be good for his health. I advise you to stay there and watch over him! Take care of him! It's not about you now anymore, it's about him! Do all you can to protect him from them, he's all you got now! They are trying to scare you away because they already know that with you around, he's secured!"
Chisom sat up from the bed where she had been lying and talking on the phone with Chike. She stood up and paced around the room in apprehension, "I see your point uncle!"
"Good!" Chike responded.
*********
The next day, Chisom got dressed, took a cab and went to the Amadi's head office tagged AMADI'S HOLDINGS. The receptionist recognised her right away.
"Chisom, you are here to see your father right?" She smiled at her.
Chisom smiled back. "Yes! What's your name please?"
"Agatha!" Agatha answered! "Chief is in a board meeting. You may have to wait for a while!" She added.
"I don't mind! I want to take a tour of the facility! May I?" She smiled at Agatha again, "I don't need an escort, I can go by myself."
Agatha answered, "Sure! Take the elevator, you can take it floor by floor!"
Chisom thanked her and walked off. She took the elevator.
At the fourth floor, she found the Accounting office, she knocked and let herself in. She saw Mr Dayo the Chief accountant sitting behind his desk. He smiled and got off his seat when he saw her.
"Hello Miss Nwachukwu! What a pleasant surprise!"
Chisom smiled back and shook his outstretched hand.
"Good morning Mr. Dayo! I just want to look around the facility! I hope I'm not interrupting your work?"
"Not at all! Please take a seat! You're welcome to my office!" He answered cheerfully.
Chisom took a seat on an arm chair across his desk.
"What do I offer you? Tea or coffee?"
"Coffee will be nice!" She replied.
He gave her coffee which he poured from the coffee maker in his office. Milk and sugar was on the small tray that came with the coffee.
Chisom and Mr Dayo swung right into a professional chat. She acquired a master's degree in accounting from University of East London and was just getting ready to resume a job offered to her in a big firm when he received a call from her uncle, to come home because her mother was critically ill.
Mr Dayo was thrilled to hear that they shared the same field of profession. He went ahead to talk about the ups and downs of his work as the chief accountant at Amadi's Holdings. Chisom was a good listener and she knew when and how to ask appropriate questions. Their talk came to an abrupt end when there was a sunden rap on the door and someone entered into the office without waiting for an answer. Once he saw Chisom he chuckled and said,
"Who do we have here? Amadi princess in person!"
Chisom stood up and greeted, "Hello Mr Ikechukwu!"
"Please call me Iyke! Good to see you again! I heard you are here on tour, are you popping into my office too?"
Chisom laughed and replied, "Not really, my tour is over! I should be going to see Chief now!" She glanced at her wristwatch and faced My Dayo,
"Thank you Mr Dayo for the coffee! It was nice chatting with you! Have a great day!"
"It's my pleasure!" Mr Dayo replied.
Iyke tried to stop her, "I hope you are not leaving because of me, Princess?"
"Chisom is just fine please!" Looking him straight in the face, she added, I have to go Mr Iyke, Chief is waiting for me!" She walked out of the door.
Iyke looked at mr Dayo and asked, "Did I say something wrong?"
Mr Dayo laughed at him and shook his head.
*******
While having lunch in a cozy restaurant, Chief Amadi and Chisom talked cheerfully.
"I didn't know a Chinese restaurant existed here, very close to Amadi's Holdings." Chief Amadi commented and looked around, It's really nice and stylish! "How did you know about it?" He queried.
Chisom smiled. "I found it on google map! Then I called to make a reservation!"
"Wonderful! The food is good too!" He scooped some of the seafood into Chisom's plate. "You need more of this!"
"But you've just eaten a little. Don't make me eat everything please!" Chisom pleaded and laughed.
"You are the youngster here! You need more food than I do!" Chief Amadi cut in.
"If you keep stuffing me with food at this rate, I will be shapeless in a month's time." Chisom responded.
"Let's deal with it when the time comes!" Chief Amadi said and both of them laughed heartily.
He glanced at Chisom with misty eyes. He was grateful for the second chance that the child had given him and he would't hold anything back nor waste any second in showing her love. He would spend the rest of his life making amends.
On the drive back to the head office, Chief Amadi asked his driver to make a U turn. He did and after a few minutes drive, they were on the major road of Ozumba Mbadiwe. Chief Amadi asked his driver to drive into a plaza. He asked Chisom to wait in the car for a few minutes, he was going to attend to something urgent. He asked his driver to follow him. Both of them stepped out of the car and went in. Chisom relaxed in the back seat and got busy with her phone.
Minutes later, the driver returned to the car and called Chisom, "Chief asked me to bring you to him, Miss!"
Chisom stepped out and followed him. They walked into a car shop. She spotted Chief Amadi standing close to a white 2023 Range Rover Sports car. When she got close, he handed her a car key saying, "My princess, I should have done this before now, it was thoughtless of me, forgive me!"
Chisom was at a loss for a second, she didn't understand what he meant or why he was giving her the car key.
He noticed the confusion on her face and added, "You need a car of your own rather than having my driver drive you with my own cars or using cabs. You need to go to places and run around Lagos at your own pace and time! So I decided to get you this car. I hope you like it?"
Finally it dawned on Chisom that Chief Amadi was actually giving her the posh Range Rover Sport right there. She was stunned! She glared from the car to Chief Amadi for awhile and finally smiled and said,
"Yes yes yes! I love it!" She went to hug him and he was so pleased.
Chisom greeted, "Thank you sir! But really, you didn't have to…..."
Chief Amadi cut her off, "Why shouldn't I? You deserve the very best my dear! I will give you the world...all you need to do is remind me of whatever that's necessary or point me in the right direction and I will comply!" He smiled and she laughed.
"Don't just spoil me too much!" She said and turned around to admire the SUV.
Chief Amadi watched her as she entered the vehicle and put the engine to life. She moved it around, stopped and jumped down again. Seeing her happy gave him life. If spoiling her would wipe away the guilt he had carried in his heart for years, then he wouldn't hesitate spoiling her over and over. He brought back her focus when she came close to him. "You can drive yourself back home from here?" He asked.
"Yes Sir! Home isn't far from here!" She answered in excitement.
"Alright then, I will head back to the office while you go home! By tomorrow the car will be registered and the plates will be available, hopefully!"
"Yes sir! See you at dinner! Thank you so much! She hugged him again! She went to the car and drove off.
*****
At the Amadi's mansion, Chisom honked for a while before the security man came out to see who it was. He only realised it was Chisom when he got close to the car window. He rushed back to throw the big gates open for her to drive in.
She drove in and found a good spot at the parking lot to park her car. Just as she got out, she saw Obinna coming to the parking lot and staring inquisitively in her direction. She waved at him, "Hey Obinna, come and take a look! Chief bought me this beautiful baby here!" She said and smiled.
Obinna approached her and smiled back. "Oh how wonderful! Congratulations miss opportunists!" He commented scornfully.
Chisom got a bit shocked. "What did you say?"
"You heard me!" Obinna responded. "I know you're not dumb! I know who you are and I also know why you're here and what you're up to! You might have succeeded in charming your way into my father's heart and inside this house but you can't fool me!"
He went closer and lowered his voice,
"I know you're here on a personal vendetta mission; you're here to destroy my family because you and your witch mother were kicked out many years ago, but I won't let you! I'll be watching your every move, gutter girl!"
Chisom, refusing to be provoked, hit back at him right away,
"Oh really? Is that what your mother fed you with? I won't blame you because you're just a spoiled and ignorant child! You have been lied to all these years! You are not aware of the fact that your mother intruded into my home years back and messed up the blissful lives of my parents. Despite that, I'm nothing like you! I have the best home and moral training, plus a quality education; something you can never have, not even in your wildest dream! You are just a junkie and nothing more!"
Obinna glared hatefully at her but she stood her ground and continued,
"And in case you haven't checked, I'm the only legitimate child in this house, the whole bunch of you are intruders and gold diggers!"
Obinna continued to glare at her and she glared back without a flinch. He stuttered, "Well...well… we will find out soon who the real intruder is but be warned, I have your back!"
With that last word, he backed off, got into Chief Amadi's car that he had planned to stealthily take and drove off! Chisom watched him and frowned.