Chapter 12

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I return home from the studio around 7 p.m, looking exhausted. While I trained my clients, I also took some moments to work out with them.

And one of the things you have to do after exercising is to take a cool shower to ease muscular tension and have a night of peaceful rest.

Exactly what I am about to do, filling my bathtub with cold water, I turn off the water tap after reaching half of the tub and pour some pounds of ice I got from the freezer into it.

This makes the temperature low and in my shorts, I clench my teeth making a shh sound, shivering as I start to slowly immerse my body under the ice water with my head resting on the edge.

It feels so good feeling relaxed in the ice water, taking a deep breath.

"Come in," I shout the moment I hear a knock on my door. My bathroom door is left open, so I can see Olivia entering the room.

"Hey," I say, this makes her turn in my direction.

"Hmm," She reacts as she moves to the entrance, watching me.

"It's time for dinner, meet us downstairs in a few minutes," She declares and I roll my eyes.

"You guys should go ahead," I reply.

"No," She disagrees. "When last time have we eaten together?

Well, I can answer that. We haven't since she came back to Nigeria.

"Olivia, you know I'm busy," I shrug, raising my shoulder above the ice water.

"Everyone has got a lot on their plates but the family who eats together stays together," She lectures and I chuckle a little.

She should go quote that to mom and dad.

"I'm expecting you," She adds in a commanding way before leaving my presence.

I later let out a deep sigh and come out of the tub. I have been in the ice water for more than five minutes now and I shouldn't overdo it by staying longer at that temperature.

I reach for my towel to dry my body off and put on my tight black robe to keep me warm.

Stepping into my bedroom, I grab my phone from the nightstand and make my way out of the room.

Finally, I join them in the dining room. Dad who has already seated, next to Olivia clears his throat sarcastically.

"What a night!" He adds. I scoff a little and sit on the chair, facing Olivia with the table among us.

With my head lowered as I am watching some Instagram reels on my phone, I hear Olivia say.

"Serve him a plate too,"

I glance at the table to see a plate of chopped chicken fruit salad each in front of dad and Olivia.

"You must be new here," Dad states.

"Yes, Sir. I am Karen..." Hearing that soft voice and name makes me raise my head and look at this girl, Karen by name, standing in between my dad and my sister

"I'm one of the chefs that are just recruited," She adds as she focuses her eyes on dad while I can't take my eyes off her.

"Nice to meet you, Karen," Dad replies.

"Thank you, sir," She says, with a smile that reveals the deep dent in her right cheek.

What a lovely dimple. I thought.

Hey, I shouldn't fall for that.

Karen leaves while the two here begin to eat and within some minutes, she comes back to serve me my meal.

Placing the dish and a glass of orange juice on the table before me, I clear my throat.

"Delicious," Dad comments about the meal, chewing. "Keep up the good work,"

"Wow! Thank you, Sir!" She replies, grinning.

I grab my fork and use it to impale some pieces and lift them into my mouth.

"What are your qualifications?" Dad interrogates as I start chewing.

Yummy! This girl is a great damn cook. The flavors have already melded together as it's been chilled. It's perfect.

"Uhm, BSc in Human Nutrition," She answers and I glance at her in shock.

I look at dad also, and he nods okay while she starts leaving our presence.

What a big liar she is. I admit to myself, focusing back on my meal.

Even though I can't recall the course of study Tracy read out at the gym, I know she is a 300-level student, not even a finalist.

"How is your rally today, I forgot to ask," Olivia breaks the silence.

"Great despite the stress," Dad answers.

"Just four months to go now to officially be: his Excellency,"

"Thank you, sweetheart, I love your spirits," Dad replies to her, grinning while I get up, carry my plate, and head to the kitchen.

I can't engage in their conversation and I should leave them with it.

I keep eating till I get to the kitchen door and find Karen bending as she is packing some of her stuff into her tote bag as she is the only one inside the kitchen.

She grabs a journal on the table and suddenly catches me staring at her while she stands right.

"Do you need anything?" She inquires and I lean my back against the wall with my leg crossed.

"It's my house, you don't ask me that," I reply.

"I am only doing my job," She says and drops the journal inside the tote bag.

"You must be up to something for you to lie to your boss about your qualifications," I burst out and this makes her freeze, shockingly to hear that from me.

"So tell me," I add, jabbing some blueberry into my mouth.

"Well for you to know I lied, you should know what I am up to then," She retorts.

She is still bold after being caught red-handed.

"By the way, your clothes are with the laundry man," She adds as she grabs the two handles of her tote bag, hanging them over her shoulder.

"Are you telling me you did not do the laundry?" I sneer at her and she chuckles a little.

"It's not my job," She replies as she approaches the door.

"Good night," She mutters and walks past me.

I shake my head in disbelief, this girl is daring me. I drop my plate on the sink and step out of the kitchen.

Dad and Olivia have already moved to the living room to watch TV while I see Maria packing their dishes in the dining room.

"Good night," I say to them as I am about to climb the stairs.

"It's strange for you of all people to go to bed by this time," Dad reacts.

"But you will love me to attend the morning lecture tomorrow," I say to him sarcastically and he shrugs in surrender.

I decided to check if the HM send me her transcript. Of course, she did, reviewing the pictures she sent.

"She is 3.8" I mutter to myself, raising my eyebrows in surprise.

My GPA doesn't even reach half of hers.

So she is a first-class student, no wonder she brags a lot.

I have to show her who I am.

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