OIL MONEY |A Nigerian Romance|

Chapter 5

TOBI

With her small frame, she is still a trouble maker. Very stubborn. Chuckling to myself, I round up the driveway and park when I reach my destination.

"Good evening, sir." Musa greets while sliding the gate. He is the gateman.

"Musa, good evening. How are you?" I ask him.

Once I am at the entrance, I ring the doorbell. The maid comes to answer, taking the small gift pack off my hands.

"Uncle Tobi, good evening." She greets.

"Good evening, how are you?" I ask with a smile.

"Fine, sir." She soon leaves me, sitting and waiting for my mom to arrive. I feel a tap on my shoulders and I turn to a smiling face.

"Good evening, ma." I genuflected, smiling. She reaches out to hug me. Sweet mother.

"Let us wait for the last person." Last person? As if on cue, the doorbell rings and the maid rushes to open it.

"Farida, dear. Good evening." Why is she here? My exact question mirrored on her face but she just keeps shut.

"Good evening, ma. Good evening, Mr. Bankole." I nod my head at her greeting. See her, she does not even look like someone who was making a scene under the rain. This Farida!

"So, I called you both here because of the forthcoming business convention organized by the Association of Petroleum Products Distributors in Nigeria (APPDIN)." She finally speaks when we are all settled.

"I will be contesting for the association's President. Anyway, you both are travelling with me." She just dropped a bomb. Why does Miss. Lawal have to travel with us?

"Alright, ma. Any other thing?" She asks.

"Yes, its in two weeks and in Gombe." She informs us. At the mention of Gombe, Miss. Lawal squints her eyes. I wonder why.

We discuss some other things like preparation for the trip, what is expected of the both of us going with her, people to stand in for us while we are away and lastly, plans regarding accommodation. When we are done, she stands up, ready to leave.

"I guess you haven't had dinner, Farida. Wait behind, dear." All these sweetness towards her is annoying me. First of all, there are other staff who are way senior to her in rank. Why should she be sent there?

"I'll just go home, ma. My friends must have prepared something." Better! She should know her place is not here.

"Nonsense!" Mom dismisses her excuse with a wave of her hand.

"Oh, did I make it sound like I was asking? I wasn't, dear. You're eating here. I already had Grace prepare dinner for four people."

"Mom, she could just go to her house, instead." I finally voice out my annoyance. The response to my suggestion is a glare thrown my way.

"Let us go." Mom turns her back and starts walking towards the dining room. When the door closes behind her, I turn to look at the reason behind my annoyance.

"Why can't you just go to your house? You do not have to eat here. Stop the pretense, Miss. Lawal." The spite in her eyes shone.

"Excuse me, if I can remember clearly, and to be sure my memories are not failing me, this is not your house. So, your opinion does not matter, sir."

"I just knew all your excuses and supposed good behaviour were pretense."

"Are you seriously being petty because of food? In fact, I am leaving. Enjoy and be sure to tell Madam the exact reason I left. The moment she turns, I do not even look back. I don't feel bad. She can sort herself out. I just don't like the amount of sweetness mom accords to her.