THE WITNESS (a novel) Episode 1

#Thewitness EPISODE 1

“Dad, I will not marry Charles. You can’t be serious! How can you ask me to marry that filthy old man dad?” 


Alyson was pacing the four corners of her room furiously while her father, sitting by the bed just started at her with his hand on his walking stick. Alyson slightly wondered why her father has decided to use a walking stick this time, not that he has any need for it as far as she was concerned. It’s just one of his ways of intimidating poor people who are unfortunate enough to think he is as generous as he is rich.

Watching his daughter like a stranger, Chief Jacobs stood, undisturbed by her tears. They are just to make me go back on my decision he thought. But I, Chief Jacobs, the richest man in my club, am not ready to back down on a decision I have made. I just fail to see how the idiot old man managed to beat me at any game at all!  and I Chief Jacobs am not ready to give that old bastard my money for the game he obviously cheated on!

“Look Alyson, you will have to marry Charles. You don’t really expect me to pay him all that money, do you? Why should I pay him the money when he clearly professed his love for you and wants you as his wife? What’s really bad in being a twelfth wife? Darling, even though he’s a distant second to my wealth, you know Charles is rich and can take good care of you.”

Staring at her father with disbelief, she started crying all over again. “Dad! You mean you’ll rather have me married to Charles as a twelfth wife than to pay him for what he won from your stupid game? You’ll not give your money to pay for your gambling but you’ll give your own daughter? How can you be so wicked dad?

“Look dear, it’s not wickedness, its business. Even though Charles’s wealth is a distant second to mine, I’ll like to have him on my side and what better way to do that than to have him as an in-law? Anyway, I’m just telling you so that you can get set. It’s already settled. Charles is coming to do the needful this weekend and by the next two weeks, you’ll be in his house!”

Alyson almost fainted upon hearing this. No I will not faint and I will not marry Charles. I will not be a twelfth wife. That will be over my dead body! She paced to and fro her father’s front and then stopped all of a sudden, forcing her father to take two steps back unexpectedly. Chief Jacobs was surprised and happy with the look on his daughter’s face, thinking the look on her face meant she has agreed to the arrangement. Well, this was easier than I thought. He thought to himself. “Good Alyson, I know you’ll understand. I’ll go and tell your mother you’ve agreed”.

“No dad!” Alyson shouted. “I’ll never agree to that, but I have a proposition for you... What if I pay Charles the money dad? Twice the amount you owe him, am sure Charles will agree to it”

Her father stared at her for a while and thought well, it’s not as if I like the bastard in the first place, but why should I waste my money when I have two beautiful daughters? It’s not as if the useless pig will be disappointed that Alyson does not want to marry him, and he will surely like his money back, doubled for the rejection! “Alright Alyson. If you think you can pay twice the money, then go ahead.

The relief was obvious on Alyson’s face and voice when she ask her father “how much is the money so that I can transfer it to him right now.”

“Well its one million…”

“What? Are you crazy? You mean you gambled one million naira away in one night? You are getting out of your mind dad. Now I have to pay two million naira for you gambling!”

“Dollars” Chief Jacobs continued as if his daughter had not spoken at all “and I only have one week to pay him back. If I am unable to pay him back in one week, I have to pay one hundred thousand naira interest every week.” Seeing the defeated look on his daughter’s face, he continued without feeling remorse “you don’t have to pay the money or try to because I know you don’t have any money close to that amount in your account.” With that said, he walked out of the room.

Cynthia, who heard the conversation between her father and her sister walked into the room and hugged her crying sister, then stared at her, focusing on her beautiful face “what will you do Al? You don’t have such amount, neither do I and you know mum will always support her husband. What do we do now? You can’t marry Charles Al…he’s too old and you can’t be a twelfth wife!”

“I know Thia”, Alyson replied between hiccups “but I have to find a way to get the money. Can you believe dad? He gambled away one million dollars in one night! Anyways, I have to plan. I just got a new contract that I am yet to review. If I sign it, I’ll get five million dollars from it…”

Without waiting for her sister to finish her statement, Cynthia jumped up from the bed happily. “You have to sign the contract now Al, you just have to sign it! Wow, am so happy Al.”

“Well am still thinking about it Thia. This one is more complicated. It’s not just about selling the estate, it has an unofficial clause attached to it.”

“Wait, it’s not another marriage attachment is it?” Thia asked jokingly. “It’s not an illegal deal is it?”

“No, it’s...”

“Then what can be worse than marrying Charles?”

“It’s not illegal” Alyson repeated. “It’s just that the owner is an old woman and she does not want her kids abroad to worry about her, but she’s sick and she wants someone who can stay with her until she can finally move to her new house at Banana Island.

“You have to sign the contract. Go and stay with the woman, am sure the company will be thrilled you agreed to do this but first, get half the money before you start…”

“That’s another problem Thia. She won’t pay until she moves out of the house and that’s in three months’ time and dad said there’s a weekly interest attached!”

“Talk to dad Al. am sure he can agree to pay the interest while you work for the money for three months. Just don’t let him know you are leaving the house for three months cause if he does, he will marry you to Charles whether you want it or not. Just tell him you are working on a contract that will pay off in three months and don’t let mum see you leaving either, because she will tell her husband…in fact, just sneak out, but let me know when you leave”. She was already at the door when she looked back and asked “where is this place that you are going to live for the next three months Al?”

“It’s Badagry” Alyson replied without interest.

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***

Tracey was in her room, packing some old clothes in a tattered bag with a frown on her face while her mother was standing by the bed with a worried look.

“I don’t like this Tracey. You and I both know that you don’t know anywhere beside this Bayeku that we are. Where do you know that you want to go to? Why not stay and lets look for something good to do here? You might get lucky and see a rich nice man”

Looking at her mother with a smirk “Mum, you know that’s not possible. The only rich and nice man you know that is interested in me already has four wives. Really mama, do you wish me to marry an old man that will make me his fifth wife?”

Looking defeated, her mother paced the bed from one edge to the other “I know that! But I don’t know where you are going to or what you are going to do there. And you said there is a job already waiting for you?” she asked thoughtfully “how did you get this job? What kind of work will you be doing and where exactly did you say this place is?”

“Well mum, yes I already got a job with a nice old lady who is living alone. She’s rich and she needs someone who can help her with house chores; she said she does not want a nurse in the house. I think she’s afraid of nurses, like you mum” smiling at her mother, she continued “anyway mum, she’s rich and she’s paying well and with the money, I can take good care of us before I see that rich nice and young man that will marry me. Don’t worry mum, I’ll be fine.”

“Have you met this old woman before? Are you sure she’s nice? Remember old rich people are always nasty my girl”.

“This old rich woman is nice mum…trust me”.

“OK but where is this place?”

“It’s Badagry mum”

***

Melisa was in the car with her friends, brooding as they were driving to the cinemas to catch a movie. Unexpectedly, she sighed and spoke up. “I am traveling next week guys.”

“Hmmm, so that’s why you’ve been quiet since. Where are you going to this time Lisa, can I come with you?

“Oh no you can’t. but you can have my car and my apartment while am away.”

Maggie was so happy about the news that she felt like opening the car door just to be able to jump up. “Really? You’ll let us have the car and the house to ourselves? When are you coming back and how about the money you promised me?”

“Maggie…”one of the girls in the care cautioned. “Are you the only one she promised money to? She promised Jenna and I too naa. So Lisa, how about the money you promised us?

“Don’t worry, I’m transferring the money to your accounts when we get home”

“Wow, this must make your parents happy. Hearing that you are coming home after six months” Jenna said.

“And who said am going home? Am just going to catch some fun guys…”

Staring at her as if she suddenly developed one more head, Maggie asked “Fun? And where are you going to catch this fun of yours?”

With a happy smile, she replied “well, I’m going to Badagry”

***

To be continued...

Read episode two here

Episode 2 The Witness

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