~ ANGEL'S POV ~
It was a Saturday morning. As usual, all I had to do was wake up and begin my chores for the day - of course, there was nothing special about Saturdays. I wasn't even Dangote's daughter to start with.
My mother was still asleep and so were my siblings. However, I got out of my room still dressed in a singlet and shorts which served as my night wear.
I made it to my younger brother's room. He was still fast asleep, but what did I care? It was a Saturday.
"Oya, uncle get out from that bed!" I clapped my hands as I moved up to the side of the bed to tap his legs.
He rolled from side to side, making small grumbles and snorts.
"Wake up! Don't waste my time," I scrunched my face up in annoyance.
"Oooooh God," David grumbled once again before finally sitting up on the bed.
"You and disturbance ehn," He hissed.
"If I slap you, you will head to begin sweeping the house. Oya go and sweep. You know we have a lot to do today," I pulled at his ear which caused him to wince.
"Oooooh God," He continued grumbling as he jumped out of his bed and got out of the room.
Surprisingly, there wasn't much work to do. The clothes had all been washed and the whole house had been swept and mopped clean.
The only thing left to do was to wash the dishes and to make breakfast.
"How come?" I placed my hands on my waist in confusion. I hadn't taken note of it when I first walked into David's room.
"Everywhere is clean and you're just disturbing me," He folded his arms across his chest and frowned.
"Plates haven't been washed. Go do that and get out," I walked out on him.
David was a very stubborn 13 year old boy and sometimes, I wondered how he was even my brother.
While leaving him to attend to the dishes, I made my way to mum's room. I gently knocked on the closed door and a faint tired voice responded.
"Come in."
I opened the door and walked in, shutting it behind me. My mum moved to sit up on the bed on seeing me. Looking to her side, I saw my younger sister of 10 years old sleeping peacefully. She was the only one who slept in our parents room.
"Migwo, mummy," I went on my knees and greeted her. Although I was reluctant because I found it hectic but that was how I had been trained.
"Ehh Vrendo," She responded with a smile.
"Were you the one who cleaned the house?" I proceeded to ask after getting back up.
"Mm. Na me," She let out a light yawn and stretched her arms.
"When? You didn't come home early nau," I pushed on my point.
"Na around 11 I take come. Una don sleep that time. My madam pikin be say make I never commot but you know me, once it's time for me to take a break I go do am for my children," She revealed her gap tooth in laughter as she spoke. "So I just cleaned it up at night so I don't stress you guys."
"Ehen," I nodded. "Thank you. So when will you be going back?"
"On Monday," She answered. "But today, you go follow me go my madam place. Her pikin wan see you while your siblings go go una aunty house."
I stared at my mum in disbelief. After keeping her occupation hidden away from me for so long, she finally wanted to take me there to see her madam's child? For what?
Not that we had ever asked where she worked. She never just told us.
"Ah ah wetin happen?" I asked.
"She just wan see you. She go like see you," Mother smiled.
"Ok," I simply answered.
"Go baff now," She urged me.
I nodded and stepped out. To be honest, I always thought my mum was probably a prostitute for always hiding the nature of her job away from her children. She would spend many days away and would come back home to take a break of a day or two. Sometimes, her breaks were up to a week and nothing more.
But when I weighed my assumption, it didn't make sense. Prostitutes I had seen lived lavishly, yet we were still struggling to pay rent.
Once we had all gotten ready for our various outing locations, we ate a breakfast of yam and eggs. With that, we were all out of the house.
Mum and I took David and Ella to Aunty Oghene's house by cab. Once we dropped them off, we both got on another cab that took us to mum's place of work.
When the cab finally arrived at an enormous mansion, I was in disbelief.
Wait...Did my mum work in such paradise? As what? If she worked here, why couldn't she make enough money to take us out of our poverty stinking life?
I remained silent and simply followed her.
"If you see my madam daughter ehn, very fine girl and very respectful too," She chuckled as the gateman opened the gate to let us in.
"Good morning ma," He greeted my mum.
"Good morning my brother," My mum responded with her usual bright smile.
For a gate man to be giving her so much respect...does she hold a high position here that she has been keeping a secret but decided to reveal today?
Several theories ran across my mind but I knew better than to jump into conclusion.
The compound was a sight to marvel at alone. From the artistic water fountains here and there, the swimming pool at the centre, to the unusual yet magnificent interlocking tiles.
Omo! Some people dey enjoy life o!
I was in awe all through the journey of walking up to the mansion and entering into it.
I was hit by the beauty I had never seen in my life before.
My God! See house!
I continued standing, allowing my eyes to take in the beauty of the spacious living room.
"Angel," My mum's voice pierced through my thoughts.
"Come sit down," She patted the space on the couch next to her. "Stop acting like a village girl."
"Mummy is this really where you work?" My widened eyes landed on her face. Who knew she had a good eye for something?
"Where else before?" She hissed jokingly.
"My God, this house is fine o," I gasped.
"What job sef?" I asked in addition.
Before she could answer my question, I heard the swift movement of someone's slippers scurrying down the stairs.
"Ah mummy welcome!" A voice accompanied the sounds made by the slippers. "The gateman informed me that you are around."
The owner of the voice soon came into view and I found myself on my feet in surprise.
"Head girl?" The words flew out of my mouth.
It was in that moment that she took her time to finally acknowledge my presence.