CHANCES(Under editing)

Chapter forty two

I just wanted to have a lazy Saturday but here I am at my door gawking at the stately figure of my father.

"Has living alone erased your manners eh" He admonished.

"Agbeló sir"

I bent my knees to bow to him in greeting,he grunts as a reply and stepped into my living room.

I barely closed the door,He was already touching objects while he scrutinized my apartment as he moved around the space,nothing escaping his sharp gaze.

He was dressed casually in jeans and a plain white polo shirt. He had on a leather wristwatch and some leather palms on his feets,He looks good and healthy,his hair has gotten a bit more gray but it makes him looks more distinguished.

"A nice use of the building,not the most traditional-like apartment but I expected that from you"he stated

I beamed at his compliment,my heart ached a bit at my gesture.
'i have never stopped looking for my dad's compliments and affirmation' I thought sadly.

He lets out a sigh as he sat down heavily on my couch.

He nods his head approvingly " good couch" then grinned at me.

'God,I miss him' I thought as I launched my self into his seated figure and hugged him fiercely.

"Always my little girl" he choked out  and kissed my forehead.
I untangled from him and sat down next to him on the couch.
It was a comforting silence as he rubbed my hands in calming gestures.

"So when are you coming back home?"

'And the comforting silence has been broken' I withdrew my hands from his.

He sighed at my withdrawal.
"Nienie,you already made your point. I am sorry for underestimating you and relegating you to the back. And also not giving you the freedom to voice your opinions thereby contradicting myself by raising to be an independent woman" he cradled my hands.

'He suddenly realised all that, something is fishy'

"I am sincerely sorry. You can say it is because I was scared or I just didn't want you and i to realise how valuable you are as an employee but the truth is that I don't  want you to ever leave the nest cause you are always my little girl"
I got teary eyed at his words.
'fishy or not,I am still his little girl'

"You leaving your pa made me turn into an old man who is living with some weird boys"
I stifled my laughter but cracked a smile at his joke.

"Come home,nienie" he urged

"I can't dad"

"Why?,if it is your employer,I will sort it out. I finally took your advice and  opened a branch office in Abuja so that means you can still stay in this city if you don't want to be far from Ife"

'This is going to be hard' I thought.

"Dad,I already made my choice and I currently like where I am at"

"Stop this nonsense at once" he yelled and stood up.

I drew back a bit at his harsh voice but my dad is all bark no bite.

"That meagre stipend you are given at the month's end is what you want to settle for..... I cut into his diatribe... Actually you paid me a little less than that"

"I did?"he asked in confusion as he says down gently.
I gave him a nod

"Oh,I see but that will change,I haven't told anyone yet but you will be the one to head this city's branch"

'Yeahh right' how old does he think I am?

"I am not qualified for that position"

"I own the firm and whatever I say goes" he smirked

I got infuriated at his "calm lord of all" smirk.
It was my turn to stand up " you are still doing the same thing. I don't want  you to compensate me because I am daughter and not because I am good enough for that position" I Spilled out

" You know what,I don't even want to work for you at all" I said convincely to my self.

"You are not serious,you are being emotional about this" he cajoled me

"No,I am not" I sat down and took hold of his hands "daddy I really do love you but I don't want to work for you. It is not an emotional decision,it is a practical one and it will be good for my career. I am not using your name so noone knows that  i am your daughter  and I so want that for myself. Please do understand" I pleaded.

He stared into my eyes for while as I try to maintain my best puppy dog eyes.

"It is your decision but I can't promise I won't try to win you over as the time goes but I respect your choice. Your mom will be so proud of you,she was always headstrong and independent like you" He pats my hands lovingly " won't you feed your old man?" He asked.

I smiled.

................

My phone beeped with a  message.

' lunch is on me'  from unknown contact.

'Who is this?' I typed back

'Get ready in 20 minutes'

'The audacity reeks of Rapheal' I smiled
"Wiped that off,he doesn't get  a smile from me after disappearing to God knows where" I admonished myself out loud as I remembered how long he has been unable to be reached.

"And this sudden macho whatever is not welcomed" i am so lying through my teeth right now.

"Eeeei" I squealed with giddiness as I ran up the stairs to get dressed.

I rushed down stairs as the door bell rang out.

"Shit!,my purse" I went up to grab my clutch purse from the top of the bed and stopped by the mirror to make some last minute adjustments to my appearance.

I was in a yellow floral patterned chiffon wrap - around dress with some white sandals, I accessorides with a dangling gold earrings and a thin wrist watch.
My moisturised hair in a high puff, edges checked,a neutral makeup on and a new layer of lip gloss to my shiny plump lips,also checked.

I dropped the lip gloss in my white purse and ran downstairs as the he rang the doorbell impatiently.

"Abeg don't spoil my doorbell o!" I cautioned him.

I took my keys from the table and casually struts to the door.

I did the 'Can't let him know he has been missed,you know,make him wait a little' strut.

I opened the door with a smirked which dropped as soon as I saw who it was.

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Agbeló - means good morning in estako west dialect which is ivhie,Edo State,Nigeria.

Abeg -  means please

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I saw the meme that I placed in the media box while scrolling Instagram and was like " damn I have to update"😂😂😂.