TENSION

The night of Deji's arrival, Jenny exited the dining room immediately after their dinner to prepare a room for the new guest. While she went upstairs to arrange the room, Deji also went outside to his car to bring down his luggage. He enjoyed dinner as he announced while at the table and complimented the chef. So it brightened his mood the more and he started to whistle like a young kid. Mrs Bose pulled him aside to chat with her when he re-entered the house and he dropped his suitcases on the floor.

While upstairs, Jenny chose the room opposite hers. Since she slept with Stephanie in the same room, she only kept few items and her personal belongings in her assigned room. She did not find the compliments and flattering of Mr Deji while at dinner, absurd. Rather it made her smile as she laid his bed with new beddings. She also lit up some scented candles to make the room more comfortable and the air, fresh.

Michael left the dinning table to go upstairs in a semblance of a phone conversation but it was all a lie. He wanted to see the room where Deji would be staying for a whole six months and the proximity it had to Jenny's room!

He wished the young guy had chosen to stay at the instant apartment that he wanted to. He was almost heartbroken when he saw Jenny coming out from the room opposite hers. That was too close for comfort.

Jenny wore no expression of surprise, seeing him there, neither was she overly excited as he suspected her to be. Deji is a young man of about 27 years, yet Michael suddenly felt threatened. It was as though his cousin was encroaching on his personal space.

Michael thought about the conversation he had earlier with jenny. He wondered if she would hold it against him. He had behaved like an animal. Quite forceful, and uncivilized in his outburst. As their eyes met in front from the room, Michael whispered for her to come closer to him. Jenny raised an eyebrow. She was surprised that he was whispering. Giving her a hand sign to move towards his room door, She deduced that he did not want his mother, Deji or Stephanie who was laughing downstairs to hear what he was about to say. So she obliged him.

"I am so sorry for the way i behaved earlier in my room" He began, as he had rehearsed it in his head. Jenny kept a pleasant and welcoming expression so he felt it was alright to fully let the cat out of the bag.

"I know that Deji is my cousin" he continued "but I don't want you to feel obligated to do anything extra for him."

"I do not understand sir" Jenny replied.

"I am just trying to make his stay here feel very comfortable just the way you all have made me feel very comfortable and quite welcomed while working here these past months".

"I know you are hospitable, but what i am saying is that you're different and I don't want you to stress yourself or do anything to make him very happy. In fact, i want you to know that you are not his worker or his staff. If he is hitting on you, just let me know. I promise you that i would take it so seriously." Michael declared.

"What do you mean by hitting on me?"Jenny asked.

"I mean...., you know.....," Michael stammered, scratching his head while looking for the right word to say.

"Jenny, what I meant is that, if he propositions you or asks you for something odd, just report him straight to me and I will take it up. I assure you that I will believe anything you say". Jenny smiled sarcastically, looking at him.

Suddenly Michael felt very stupid. He realized that he was whispering while he was talking. He had no idea what had taken over him. He was a man of means and can get any woman he so desires. Yet, this young girl before him, was making him stutter in speech. He had already began and it was too late to stop.

"Jenny I've known Deji for a long time and he is a big flirt. As a matter of fact, he has slept with half of the girls in Abuja before he traveled to America"

"And you are a saint sir?" Jenny asked him.

Looking at her, he saw she was not understanding or appreciating his help.

"I'm just trying to help you. You know you're under my care. I should take care of you more."She gazed at him as though he has horns on his head.

"I hope it's not because of that little misunderstanding we had earlier. I have apologized and to tell you the truth, I was only teasing you in the room. I wanted to know if you were a true Christian. You know you go to church a lot. I am serious. I am not a bad guy. I'm not a bad person at all. I can never be a bad person to you". Michael stated and Jenny's gaze intensified. She wondered what had gotten into him. This was not love. It was lust!

"I hope it's not because of that, you want to run back home to the village? You know you cannot afford to leave my daughter unattended to. She's been able to balance up after six years because of your presence and your care. Please do not abandon her."

He looked very remorseful as he pleaded with her.

"Of course not, Mr Michael. I would not leave Stephanie like that. Stephanie means a lot to me." Jenny assured him smiling.

"I'm so glad you say that. Please lets be friends okay? We're cool? Please let's be cool." He repeated.

Instead of replying, Jenny asked him

"Do you want any after dinner snack or a fruit?"

"No no no. I was just going to sleep. I'm kind of tired." He had a proposal to type to a South African firm and he was to relay their payments in crypto currencies.

"Okay good night sir," she said and went downstairs to join the rest of the family who was busy chatting and laughing.

When Sunday morning came, Michael spread out on his bed, still not wanting to go to church. He knew his cousin will not also go ,so they would probably hang out together after the women had left for church. He had finished up his bid and sent it in the middle of the night. That week, he expected his five hundred thousand dollars payment for one of his contracts. He thought about taking his jet to Dubai to blow off steam and get the thought of a bloody cook of his mind.

Getting up, he heard the exit sound of each room door, so he went to stay by his window to watch them leave. To his greatest surprise, as he looked through his window, he saw Deji holding a bible in his hand, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers. Deji entered his Lexus jeep with Jenny in the front, his mother and daughter behind and they drove out of the compound to church. He was furious!

He wanted to scream and stop them from leaving but that alone would make him look like a lunatic. Such behaviour could irritate his mother and he did not want that. He wondered how he missed it.

Since when did Deji start going to church? he asked himself aloud. That boy never liked going to church. What in the world is this manner of hypocrisy? Was Deji mad or was he trying to play a smart one on Jenny by acting the good boy card? These questions filtered through his mind in rapid succession. He could punch a whole through the boy's stomach, if he was right in front of him.

He thought of dressing up, to catch up with them but it was not in him to go to church. He was not that motivated to attend any church. His heart was still not healed yet. Going to church was one of the many things he did with Laura. Ever since she passed on, six years ago he had not stepped his foot inside any church. He didn't even want to attend for Jenny's sake. What he felt compelled to do, was to dress up, go out and have fun. Deji can play church boy all he wants but in the end, if he decided to mess up with Jenny, he will have him to contend with and that was final.

Two hours after they left for church, he descended the stairs, all dressed and ready to go to the club. As he walked pass the dinning table, his eyes caught a white paper folded as a note addressed to Daddy. It was definitely Stephanie's handwriting. He approached the table, picked up the note which reads

"Daddy happy Sunday! Grandma says we will eat out after service! So you should eat out but Aunty Jenny says there's a plate of fried rice that she kept in the microwave for you, in case you don't want to eat out"

He crushed the piece of paper in fury!

"What rubbish!"he said

"What is all this bullshit?"

Jenny was supposed to come home and give him food. In anger, he dialled his mother's number and it was ringing but she did not pick the call. This act angered him the more as he went out of the house. He entered into his range rover car and drove straight to the church.

A few kilometres to the church premises, he saw that the service was over and the congregation, has been dispersed. In addition,he saw a lot of cars were driving out. This act was causing a traffic jam. He regretted driving in the direction of the church.

Fortunately for him, he saw someone who he wanted to talk to. Miss Regina Tunde the recruiter. She was driving towards his direction and he signaled for her to slow down so they could chat in the steep traffic.

She began by appreciating him for working with Jenny the past three months.

"it's nothing to thank me for. The girl is amazing at what she does" He replied.

"I am glad to hear that sir. Your mum told me in church today that Jenny will be travelling to the village very soon and she would need a replacement for about five days or so"

"That's true Regina"

"You know it's going to be so hard to get someone like Jenny, judging by all the idiots you have earlier sent our way. So I suggest you just get someone who know the basics like simple cooking" Michael said.

"That's alright sir, I will look for someone just like that. I'm so glad you like my Jenny's services. I know she is impeccable"

"she's excellent at what she does" Michael affirmed.

"Thank You so much sir. I just saw them driving outside. Your mother said that they were going to have lunch". Regina said.

"Which direction by any chance did u

You see them drive towards?"

"That direction sir. Although I didn't ask the name of the restaurant that were going to" Regina said but he did not let her finish.

Instantly he stepped on his accelerator like someone going on a chase mission and drove off. After a fifteen-minute drive with no luck of seeing them, he gave up and turned in the direction of the club.

Since it was a Sunday, the clubhouse was quiet. Michael ordered for some drinks and relaxed himself listening to a slow melancholy music playing in the background by the dj stand. He also brought out his phone and began some online trading.

When he raised his head up, he watched Matilda walk in. She turned towards his direction and began to move close. Matilda is big breasted, tiny hips kind of lady. She loved to expose those bursts and it was beginning to loose its savor in his sight.

"Hi Michael don't you go to church?"

"Matilda don't you go to church ?"

"Sorry oh. I just asked."

"Why are you sorry? What do you want?" Michael mocked, rolling his eyes.

"Michael do I have to want something?.I saw your car in the parking lot and I said to myself that I should come and sit by my boyfriend"

"Boyfriend?" he laughed out loud.

"Boyfriend you say?" he repeated laughing as though someone told a joke.

"What is the matter Michael? Did I say something funny"

"Please matilda don't make me laugh. We are not that serious. You know you are not my girlfriend"

"What?" She exclaimed but he looked away.

Michael took a sip of his drink and continued pressing his phone. Matilda took a deep breath. She thought to herself. This man is a son of a bitch. He always knows how to hurt my feelings. He has no single love, no compassion towards anyone else but himself. You are so selfish!

"What did you say?" Michael asked.

She didn't realized that she was talking out loud in anger all the while.

"I said nothing"

"I thought I heard I was selfish and you are not selfish right?" he asked.

"Michael what is your problem?I give you my body, I give you my time." She lamented.

"Please save that sermon for your other men. We give ourselves our body to enjoy.No one is doing the other a Favour."

"You are so arrogant" She cussed at him and he laughed out loud.

"If you want some drink, I'll pay for some drinks. Any other thing else?"

"Anyways, I wanted to inform you that I might be travelling to Paris for a while"

"Good news! Have a nice travel" Michael blotted out.

"Is just so unfair the way you treat me. After I've been nice to you and your child. That's right, Stephanie should be turning 13 soon?" Matilda said.

"Oh so you kept my daughter's birthday in your head?"

" for Christ sake, I was going to marry you! Why won't I know my stepdaughter's birthday" She cried out in frustration.

"Step what'? Who proposed?"He resumed laughing hilariously.

"Please Matilda stop building castles in the air. We were never that close to begin with. Not to talk of marriage. Yes its her birthday and I'll be having a party for her next week Saturday"

"Am I invited?"

"Of course you are. We are not enemies. you're definitely invited."

"I'll get Stephanie something nice for a birthday present".

"That would not be needed but it will be appreciated" Michael replied as he continued typing on his phone.

"Is it just me or can I come with friends?" She asked again.

"Yeah you can. My cousin Deji is even around"

"Which cousin? The Deji that was crushing on my friend Nina?" Maltida asked.

That was when it clicked for Michael. His cousin Deji had a crush on Nina, one of Matilda's friends. They all lived together in one house. This was before Deji traveled for bis masters Program abroad. Deji was always begging to go on a date with her but the Nina girl was not in to him. This seemed like good plan to use Nina to keep Deji far away from Jenny. This could be an opportunity and Michael smiled.

"You know what, have some drinks Matilda and give me Nina's number."

"is everything okay. Do you want to use her to replace me?" She asked

"Why would you say something like that?"Michael asked still looking amused.

"You are suddenly grinning like someone who just won a lot of money."

"It's not that serious. I just want my cousin to have a good time while he is in the country. You know, he has been crashing hard on this Nina girl for so long."

"But I don't think she has any interest in him."Matilda says.

"Just tell her to please come for the party. In fact you guys can visit before the party, if you want" Michael said.

"Suddenly you want me back into your home after You embarrassed me and told me not to come back there.I am sorry we won't. We can come for the birthday party and that is it."

"Come on, I was angry" Michael pleaded winking at her.

"Alright oh"

"I need to buy you a drink" Michael called the waiter.

Matilda was worried about the sudden. change in the demeanor of the man. She thought this guy could be a psychopath or bipolar at most.

Returning home by 5 pm, Michael was happy. He thought he had achieved a lot during the day. To crown it up, he ended up having sex with Matilda. Even though he was not enjoying it as he used to, he moaned so loudly. The idiot girl probably thought it made them bond.

As he stepped into his house, the joy he carried was dissipated. Right in front of him, in his living room floor was his mother, Stephanie, Deji the horny bastard and the lovely Jenny playing a game of Scrabble.Deji sat close to Jenny who folded her legs and her arms in akimbo. She looked beautiful, simple in a blue short and a red shirt. Her legs were so smooth, one could hardly find a blemish on them.

"Daddy welcome" Stephanie greeted him without moving an inch towards him. She usually runs to give him a hug.

"Yeah thank you Stephanie "

"What are you guys doing?" He asked.

"Shush Michael. We are working here. So no noise" His mother said.

"Good evening sir" Jenny whispered while his cousin winked at him.

"Your dinner is on the table" his mother said again. She seemed to be the controller of the game.

"Jenny it's your turn so concentrate"Deji said touching her shoulder.

Michael was so angry that he felt he could explode into a thousand pieces. It was obvious Jenny was in the same team with the bastard Deji and his mother and Stephanie were on the same team. They whispered into each other's ears and that was not a good sign. Deji was probably having an erection with the way he licked his lips and the innocent Jenny could not see right through him.

"Any room for me?" Michael asked, moving closer to them and his mother glared at him as though he was making a nuisance of himself in his own house!

"Go and eat your food" His Mother instructed him firmly, pointing at the dinning table and Jenny chuckled at the sound. He looked helpless!

Michael decided to scatter the game and he began to plan on how he was going to do it.