Chapter 2

Papa had finally travelled and being alone and undisturbed, Hannah thought it was the perfect time to inform Chike and remind him of his offer to take her to his mansion. Using the second-hand phone she had recently saved to buy, she called Chike and set their meeting place and time. Hours later, they were on their way to Chike's home. It was a long drive, but it was not boring for Hannah. She was giddy with excitement and could not stop listening to Chike's description of the mansion's grandeur. When they finally arrived, Hannah was awestruck. Chike had done a good job of underrating the beauty of his palatial villa. It was large, grand and modern. With a fountain, two swimming pools, a tennis court, a basketball court and a large garden, Hannah saw it as the Biblical garden of Eden. If the outside is so beautiful what would the interior be like, she asked herself. Chike gave her a quick tour of the exterior before inviting her inside. Hannah was short of words. It was truly a paradise on earth! Everything, from the chandelier to the soft rug, radiated wealth and class. Chike didn't waste much time showing her around, he simply grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the bedroom while she gazed around her with an awestruck but satisfied look on her face.

Hannah had the time of her life in Chike's villa. She loved every second she spent in it. Chike was so caring, loving and attentive. All she had to do was sleep, eat and sleep again. Chike did all the work. Everything was superb, from the food to the sex and to the man himself. She once asked him why he had no housekeeper, considering the size of the house, but he told her that he had given all his domestic workers a short holiday, so they on hearing this. She silently thanked her stars for having run into such a very nice man. In fact, she could not believe that she was the same person that fell for that poor and classless Jonas. Anyway, she was glad that her mistake had been remedied and she was grateful for the second chance.

When it was time to return home, Hannah could not easily bring herself to think of leaving all this wealth and luxury. Chike himself didn't want her to leave, but she reminded him that if they were to ever meet again, she must leave immediately. After a lot of kisses, hugs and promises, Chike agreed to drive her home.

"Where are you coming from?" Came Papa's voice from nowhere in particular.

Hannah was stunned. She froze on the spot, her right hand on the door knob and her heart rate on overdrive. She quickly composed herself, plastered a smile on her face and turned around to find her father standing akimbo and watching her intently. He had been hiding behind the trunk of one of the surrounding trees, clearly mounting an ambush.

"Em..." She breathed, and smiled sweetly. "Night vigil. Eh... how was your journey, Papa? Hope it went well?"

"Of course," he answered amiably. "I'm sure yours went well too. Nice perfume. Nice lipstick. New shoes and shiny necklace. Did they give you all these things at the vigil? And where's your Bible, by the way?"

"I... I forgot it at Tinuke's place," she stammered.

"So you were with Tinuke... gossiping, abi... after the vigil, abi?" He asked, looking interested.

"Ye... Yes Papa. We went to vigil together. Then we went to her house since I know you won't be back yet."

"Hmm," he sighed, drumming his fingers on his lips thoughtfully. "Tinuke Adesina, abi?"

"Yes Papa."

"Hmm. But I just came from her place few minutes ago. I went to look for you, but her parents said that Tinuke had travelled since yesterday to visit her aunty in Ogun state... so which other Tinuke Adesina are you talking about?"

"I don't know, Papa," she half-shouted. "I've told you where I'm coming from. If you don't believe me it's not my problem. I'm not a child, you cannot be monitoring me like a dog in a cage."

"Just like I thought. You are coming from Chike's place, right? After all my warnings, you still went ahead to do such rubbish, eh?"

"I don't care, Papa," she shouted. "Chike is a nice man. If you don't like him, that's your cup of tea. I was not born to suffer, ehen. I will not live in poverty. God forbid! I am securing my future and that of children's children. I love Chike whether you like it or not. What God has put together, no man can put asunder, not even you, Papa."

With that, she turned and marched into the house like an angry soldier ant while her father shook his head mournfully.