TREACHEROUS ORDEAL

CHAPTER 1

About six-hundred and fifty kilometers away from Delta state capital, was Mike, inside a one-room apartment, lying on an old wooden bench. Lost in thought,

"Is this how I will live the rest of my life?" 

Mike lived in Delta State, Nigeria, with his mother and two siblings. He lost his dad during a military raid at his home town, so they relocated to his mom's.  

It hasn't been easy for them, especially with seeing his two little brothers through their secondary school. Sometimes, he felt his presence was a burden to them.  

He kept assuring himself that one of these days, he'll leave to somewhere he would earn better and take good care of them. However, he had no idea of where he could think of going. 

His mom, a food vendor who cooks varieties of Nigerian delicacies was one of the best in that locality. She made little profit as there were more than eleven other vendors within the same street. 

"It's high time I left this place for good. I don't have a life here. One more year and I'll go nuts. I swear...", Mike whispered to himself.  

He picks up his phone. Contacts his only friend in Lagos. A young man he met three years ago, from Kano, during an interstate football competition. They somehow got talking and exchanged contacts during the tournament. He couldn't tell what really brought them together. 

"Hello Kazeem"

"Hello, who's this?"

"It's me bro, it's me Michael."

"Michael?  I know more than six Michaels. Which of them are you?"

"The guy who exchanged phone numbers with you during the inter state tournament meeting in Kano."

"Ah! Sorry,  I can't remember."

"Michael now...  The guy from Delta State."

"Wait, do you mean 'Mike'? Mike from Delta Second-eleven?"

"Yes,  it's me!"

"Oh boy!! Nawa for you o.  Do you know how many times I've tried reaching you since two years ago? Your number was never reachable after we departed."

"My phone got bad. How have you been? You said you were relocating to Lagos then, are you there now?"

"I'm okay. Sure, I'm in Lagos.  That's where I live now. I'm not into football anymore... Now I'm a cook at a Chinese firm here in Ikoyi." 

"Wow!  That's fine. I'm a good cook too.  My mom owns a restaurant and I've learnt how to cook a lot from her. Can I come over and work under you?"

"Mike... See...  It doesn't work that way here 'cos' I'm not in charge of employment. Well,  since you're still there I'm Delta, I have an HR friend who can get you a job over there in Asaba(The capital of Delta State)"

"Oh really?  That'd be fine."

"Okay,  I'll hang up now and send you his contact information. Tell him it's from Kazeem, KazTee, from SunRay, he'll understand."

"Alright man, thank you so much. I will call him in the morning. Have a good night."

"You too bro. Anytime."

They ended the call. Mike contacted the Human Resource personnel the next day, briefed him about his job preference. Cook.  

Mike got a job for the position of a house help in Asaba. His boss was often away on business trips, while his wife, a boutique owner in the outskirts of the town and a part-time housewife, supervised Mike on duty whenever she was around. 

Mike's mother didn't support the idea of him leaving but as a young man in search of a means to live better, she couldn't stop him. It was an emotional moment for her as she saw him to where he boarded a bus and departed.

His salary was forty thousand naira to start with then a possible increase in the subsequent months. He was lucky as his boss provided him with accommodation in one of the quarters.  

However,  he didn't serve as just a cook. He knew how to drive, so she made Mike her personal chauffeur. No extra pay but Mike wasn't complaining. He was grateful for the opportunity and would do more if need be.  

His boss's wife was kind to him. She taught him how to cook other varieties of food within his first three months. So, it went well all through his first five months. 

So far,  his boss had only visited thrice and spent two days on each of his visits. His wife was quite young. She was in her late thirties. Fair skinned, tall and slightly thick with elegant physique for a mother of three. Well, it was none of Mike's business. 

Mike had started feeling uncomfortable after she jokingly asked if he liked to spend one of his nights in the master bedroom. She was joking but Mike was afraid it could be more than just a joke. He's sure of his instincts. That was a deliberate pass from her.  

They were becoming so close that he could figure that she was catching feelings already. He knew her husband's absence was taking a toll on her but he's definitely not the one to be mixed in such a manner of thing.

He rebuked the thoughts whenever he found himself in the middle of such bizarre imagination.

"Not me. God forbid."

In the evening of the next day, after preparing dinner and serving it, he took his portion and left for his room. She called him back to join them.

He's used to her, sometimes, calling him to join them at the dining table.  

As soon as the kids were done eating, she ordered Mike to wait while she took them to their rooms. She returned with two drinking glasses filled with blue drinks and handed him one.  

Mike was surprised. This has never happened. Not from his kind and bossy madam. He suspected foul play but drank it anyway. 

"I hope she's not trying to kill me. No, she dares not. I'm too useful to this family", Mike paused before drinking.  

He consumed about fifty percent of the contents. The drink tasted too good. The best he had ever drank since he was born. In a few minutes, he became dizzy. The substances she put in his drinking had reacted faster than expected. 

As soon as she figured out that it had started working on him she held him up and led him upstairs...