Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)

7 years ago

Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)

Aduke had left Gabbo’s house the morning after their emotional face off. It had been a very odd night because she had not seen him again till she left, he had even refused to come and sleep in the room. Suddenly the house had seemed so alone and oppressive. When at breakfast she asked Bassey if he had seen his boss, she was told that Gabbo had taken his standby travel case, which was always packed with all travel necessities from his study and had travelled late last night.

Bassey said he was certain that this was for an important meeting in Abuja, but he was not very certain. Aduke had therefore swung her plans into action and had decided to seek Peter out.

She however had to first know where he could be found. For some strange reasons, his phone was switched off and she was tired of calling his own number endlessly. So, she had decided to call Ambali, who’s number she got from Davis, Gabbo’s P.A. Perhaps Amabali could tell her of Peter’s whereabouts. Had he gone back to his house here in LasGidi or was he out of town already?

‘Hello sir, this is Aduke Shapade’ said Addy into the phone
‘Errm, the young lady with Alhaji Gabbo?’ asked Pius Ambali who was surprised to hear from Aduke
‘Yes’ said Addy who rolled her eyes. This is one of the things she had tried so hard to avoid.

Gabbo’s stature was too overpowering and gradually, she had begun to lose her own person.

No longer was she seen as Aduke for Aduke, now she was known as the girl who was always with Gabbo.
‘I need a favour sir. Please can you tell me where Peter is?’ asked Aduke who went straight to the reason for calling Pius Ambali.
‘Ah my dear, Peter is here at my place, we are currently trying to keep a low profile until the kidnappers are apprehended’ responded Ambali who was not aware that the kidnapping ring had been taken down by the police.
‘Oh okay sir. I would like to see him. Please can I have your address?’ asked Aduke
‘Of course’ said Ambali who quickly sent a text with his home address in it.

Aduke made a quick trip to her aunty’s house to drop her things and after successfully avoiding her aunty’s questions about Gabbo and why she had not come with him to visit her to discuss wedding dates, she quickly took a taxi to Pius Ambali’s house. It was while in the taxi that she read Splinkeji’s post and disbelievingly tried Simisola’s phone number which went through.
‘Hello, Addy’ responded Simi in a whisper
‘Simisola, Belinda’s blog says you are back in town. I’m happy to hear this’ said Aduke
‘I’m so glad to be alive. Addy, it was terrible! I was set up by Anita and her boyfriend, Wale!’ said Simi, still whispering ‘They killed someone in front of me’ she continued
‘Oh my God! Anita?!!! How is this possible? How can she have a boyfriend we don’t know of?’ asked Aduke, shocked
‘Yep. Better believe it. I’m not allowed out of my dad’s house or to even call friends’ said Simi, explaining the whispers, ‘But I know that you are legit. I have refused to pick Tessy’s calls’ said Simi
‘Poor you!’ said Aduke ‘Do you want me to come over?’ she asked
‘Maybe later, Addy. I’m finally feeling sleepy after taking lexotan. I was in the clinic after we left the station running all sorts of tests and going through various examinations. Thankfully, all is well.’ said Simisola
‘They did not…’ asked Aduke whose voice trailed off
‘No. I was not raped. I was lucky though, Ogadi, the guy that died, saved me from that’ said Simi, whose voice broke when she mentioned Ogadi’s name
‘Oh my God. Thank God, Thank God, Thank God, Simi!’ said Aduke ‘Are you sure I should not come over?’
‘Later Addy. Let me rest. I will call you’ responded Simi
‘Ok, see you later’ said Aduke as her taxi pulled up in front of a house in Omole Estate.

The big brown duplex seemed to have been built a long time ago. she could tell this by the design of the roof and the louvre windows. She wondered what Peter would say when he saw her. Aduke paid the driver, took a deep breath and knocked the pedestrian gate which swung open because it was unlocked. She was surprised because most of the houses she knew were manned by Mallams. There were no cars parked on the premises and Aduke wondered if anybody was home.

She walked into the front door and rapped on it. A male voice responded from inside ‘Come in’ this voice was unmistakably Peter’s.
‘ehhh, Aduke, what are you doing here? asked Peter, who was shocked to see her
‘I’m here to see you’ said Aduke simply
‘Ahh, come in and sit down dearie’ responded Peter. Aduke complied, surprised at Peter’s warm welcome
‘I’m here to resolve issues between us, Peter.

We really should not be enemies. We have a history’ said Aduke
‘I knew you would come to your senses. There is no way you can be with that old man, I know my girl too well. the money was a temporary attraction’ said Peter who moved closer to her
‘Errm Peter, that is not why I came. I’m not here to talk about Danladi’ said Aduke. ‘I’m here to discuss us’
‘Danladi’ scoffed Peter. ‘Danladi’ he said as he moved his face closer to hers
Aduke smelt a whiff of Alcohol on his breath and suspected that he had been drinking, however, this did not show in his mannerisms and so, she imagined he might have had only a small shot.
‘Peter, have you been drinking?’ asked Aduke, juts to reconfirm
‘Just a little dear’ he responded
‘Oh okay, then we cannot have this talk now’ said Addy, who got up, ready to leave. As she attempted to open the front door, Peter ran up and shut it
‘Please don’t go, Aduke’ he begged ‘I can talk, let us talk things over’
‘Peter, are you sure?’ she asked, doubtful of his state of mind
‘Yes. I promise. I have given us a lot of thought.

We can still make it work. I’m ready to forgive you, in fact I have forgiven you, my life is nothing without you’ said Peter in a rush
‘Come, let us go inside’ he said as he dragged her into the living room again, and made her sit on one end of the three seater sofa. He took the other end.
‘I have spent several nights thinking about how much you mean to me and Aduke, I’m glad you have come back to me. I knew that common sense would prevail. I know you too well’ he said
‘Pet…’ he interjected before she could continue
‘Shh, dont say a thing, baby’ he said as he mover closer to her
‘No Peter, let me talk. I have heard you, but I’m sorry, we are not quite at the same place.

In fact, I would never have imagined that you could still be in love with me’ said Aduke
‘I’m sorry if I hurt you right now, but it is only fair that I should let you know that I have moved on. I do not know if it was time, chance or our destiny, but I’m not sure that we were meant to be and before you think this is about Gabbo, it is not. This is about your inability to forgive me even when you knew I had acted out of character, it is due to how you walked away from me at the first sign of a ‘sin’ on my part’ said Aduke ‘I am only human, I can make mistakes, I made mistakes, but you were not willing to see past that. I admit it must have been hurtful and annoying, but you virtually threw me out, Pee’ said Aduke
‘I said I was sorry, Aduke. I realise the error of my ways now’ said Peter
‘I understand all of that, but I would prefer it if we could be friends’ said Aduke
‘It is the money isn’t it? Every young girl wants to be married to a wealthy man now, don’t they?’ said Peter angrily as he moved even closer to her.

‘No, it is NOT the money! I have never been and never will be a gold digger. I have more dignity than that!’ said Addy
‘So, tell me what it is!’ yelled Peter who got up and stood in front of her