Forever Yours

Chapter Six

Andrew's POV

I was bothered. Victoria had called me but immediately I picked the call it was disconnected. I thought she was just beeping me and expecting me to call her back which I did but I couldn't reach her after that. I had tried over and over again but got the same result.

I wanted to blame the horrible MTN network but deep down I just knew that that wasn't the case, something was wrong somewhere.

I left work and drove to her house first which was empty, mine was empty too. So I called her father, he didn't answer at first but when he did he assured me that Victoria was fine and she was with him at home that it's most likely network misbehaving.

I've always trusted him but this time around I knew that he was lying about the network, he knew Victoria and I were planning to leave, that's the only explanation for the shit happening.

I called her mum and she confirmed her being at their house, I asked to speak with her and she told me that she was sleeping, I asked if I could come over but she told me it was better not to so I boldly asked her if it was her father who took her against her will and took her phone too and all she said was a 'take care of yourself' in a overly cheerful voice.

I wasn't wrong but the only thing I could do was find a way to get us out of the situation.

I called James but he didn't pick his calls, I called Maya and she told me that she was currently in Abuja leaving James as my only option to get Victoria out of the house.

I called him over and over again but he never picked any of his calls which is wierd because James hardly ever misses a call, meaning he was either deliberately avoiding my calls or he was somewhere without his phone.

I was pacing my room when I heard my father's voice. I ran out of the room and met him on the stairs.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I followed him upstairs.

"I can't come over to see my son?" He stopped walking. "We have to go for a meeting in Abuja tommorow and we're flying tonight," he said and I froze.

"Seriously?" I rolled my eyes. "It has to be tonight?" I was almost yelling.

"Ewelikwala olu gi o gi," (Don't raise your voice on me boy,) he said in Igbo and I groaned. First I don't like speaking Igbo but if he speaks to you in Igbo, most of the times he expects you to reply in Igbo and second he's just annoying me right now.

"Enweghị m ike isoro gị," (I can't come with you,) I shook my head.

"N'ihi gịnị?" (Why?) He placed both his hands on his waist and tilted his head back a little.

"Maka na enwere m ihe ndị ọzọ dị mkpa m ga-eme," (Because I have other important things to do,) I began pacing my hallway.

"Ihe dị mkpa karịa azụmahịa?" ("More important things than business?)

Yes. I wanted to shout but I sucked in a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye.

I'm really sorry Victoria, I'll come for you as soon as I can.

"Fine, I'll come."

"Good, I'll send the driver to pick you, it's a journey of two days so start packing whatever you want to pack." He said before walking away.

When I heard the front door close I stormed back into my room and began pacing it. There really is nothing I can do right now but obey my father.

I sent a message to Victoria on WhatsApp, though she may not see the message but it's better I try at least.

I told her that I was going to Abuja and that I'm sorry but I'll figure it all out and come for her when I can and that I love her.

By the time we arrived in Abuja and lodged in our hotel I was out like a light bulb under seconds and I never got the chance to charge my phone until day break.

***

Victoria's POV

"Go away!" I yelled but the knocking on my door just wouldn't stop. "What the fuck don't you understand by go away? Besides I don't even have the keys to the door!" I sat up on the bed.

The knocking stopped and a few seconds after the door opened and in walked my mum with a scowl on her face.

"Is that how to greet your mother in the morning?" She folded her arms and began to make her way to my bed.

"Mummy ejor e fimile," (Mummy please leave me alone,) I pulled the covers over my head and laid back on the bed.

"Tímba fo eti e," (If I slap you,) she yanked the covers from my body and the next thing was a loud spank on my ass.

"Mummy kini mo shé bayi?" (Mummy what did I do now?) I shot up from the bed and ended up tangling with the sheets on the floor so I landed on the floor with my ass. "Shit," I cursed.

Mum sighed, "you are going to get up, take a shower, get dressed, come down for breakfast and we're going out."

I struggled to untangle myself from the covers and stood up straight, scowling of course. "I'm not hungry and I don't want to go anywhere."

"Tímba-" (If I-)  mum charged towards me with her hand raised and I recoiled, raising my hand to avoid her slap.

"Okay, okay I'll do it," I gave in and slowly retracted my hand from the front of my face.

"You better," she looked at me from head to toe. "You have twenty minutes to come downstairs," she left the room and slammed the door so hard the windows rattled in protest.

Grumbling I rearranged my bed and did as mum instructed. I had to use more make up than usual so I could hide the bags under my eyes that appeared due to my hours without sleep last night. I wore blue boyfriend jeans and a beige V-neck T-shirt with white Nike's

When I got to the kitchen, dad was sitting by the counter, a cup of coffee in front of him and his iPad in his hands, definitely reading the morning news.

He was the only one in the kitchen and for a second I thought of acting as if he wasn't there but I changed my mind and gave him a half hearted greeting.

He looked up from his tablet, "good morning." His eyes scanned me from head to toe, "where are you going to?

"Ask your wife," I answered, uncovering the plate set on the counter. It was rice and stew with fried plantain.

I took a seat on a stool and began to eat.

"Damilola," dad called my Yoruba name and I just had to look up.

He opened his mouth to speak but mum stopped him with her words as she walked into the kitchen.

"I hope you're ready," she looked at me from head to toe and nodded in approval.

"Where are you guys going to?" Dad asked.

"I told you we're having lunch with Mrs Jacobs," she replied giving him the 'you're kidding me' look.

Dad nodded as he seemed to remember, "okay then." He went back to reading his news.

"Oya jeun kia," (Eat fast,) she said to me before she left the kitchen.

I was able to eat only half of my food so I covered the rest and kept it in the fridge so I can eat it later in the day.

I am absolutely not ready to meet my mother-in-law to be but I don't think I have a say over my life right now.