Teni Johnson

ONE

Kankarofi Enterprises,

Lekki,
Lagos,
Nigeria.
By the time the paramedics got to Jimi Anifowose's house, he was already cold and 'teni. was with her father in the Lekki office. She always reported directly to him when she was done with an erase.
She walked gracefully to the lobby, into the elevator and down the hall until she got to her father's office. It was the largest in the building and the most cosy, her father being the CEO.
The glass windows ran from top to bottom on one side of the walls, behind every his desk set up. At night it was a beautiful view into the busy Lekki streets. There were also big wine colored curtains from the ceiling to the floor that were almost always parted and at each side of the window except when he had meetings. The floor was covered with a posh carpet, wine in color too.
When she walked in her father was busy on his desktop, typing away. He didn't recognize her presence.
"Daddy"
He greeted her her with a warm smile.
Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi. A forty-five year old, established man, who always looked every so young. A perfectionist. A man who believes strictly in the laws of nature and karma, a philosopher. He became a haji at twenty-one and at twenty-three decided there was no God and became a heathen. Started the business of buying and selling homes at twenty-five and by thirty, after earning himself a name all over the country, and owning the biggest estate agency that was about to go global, he began to diversify into other streams of budding businesses so that by thirty-four he would become the first Nigerian to own a global enterprise with over seventeen businesses under his name. He wasn't known to be a ladies man, always focused on his work but rumor has it that he got rich too quick and that his wealth must have been through ill gotten means; some people speculate money rituals, some speculate fraud or just plain theft, others feel that he had a large share of some inheritance they never heard of. Either way, the most important part was the general feeling that the source money was just not his.
Even with all of the rumors and speculations, Alhaji's slate was still clean. You could never get anything on him. Either he was a genuinely good man or he was just too good at a game only him knew how to play...
'Teniola was lucky to have Alhaji as a father. She always got everything she asked for and more. She always had life easy with home school, lots of food, games and books,extensive sports and fitness training.her father was the best form her; no other. She understood and could speak twelve languages both local and international and had an over 175 IQ. she owned a black belt and was extremely patient( she had to be ) and if she was a professional boxer she would have won a heavy weight champion. She had no friends; she didn't need them. She had her father and could always talk to the guards, aids and her trainers; most of all, she had her father to always run to for everything. There was no need for outsiders, besides outsiders always bring doubt and chaos among family her father always said.
"It was good I presume. Have a sit. I would like
to have Leo send me a filed report just to be sure
you should go home and freshen up. I have a pack-
age waiting on your desk. I hope you like it. I should
hear it on the next breaking news. That would be all.
Have Fejiro set up dinner in my bedroom. I'd be home
in a couple of hours. Love you babe. See you at home"
He slipped a black folder to her which was stamped classified. She took it and opened it. A girl. Probably a year or two younger than she was. She had never killed a female before. She had never even been trained to kill someone this young. She was longing to know why anyone would want to wish a girl as young as this dead but she knew better that to question her father especially about "marks". She had a job to do and that was it. She was to ask no questions or argue. The last aid who did that was shot in the head right in front of her. She was eight then.
Alhaji saw that look on her face. He couldn't place it because she had never had that look before. It didn't matter because she didn't say anything and besides she couldn't. In this business you learn to do as you are told and keep your opinions to yourself or simply get served to the birds.
"You leave tomorrow night.
It should take a few hours
and you are back home. Under-
stand?"
She nodded and left just the way she came. At the reception downstairs Leo was already waiting. He never spoke much. He hardly ever spoke to her. She never understood what his problem was but whatever it was Teniola was sure it was a major thing. When he saw her he began walking to the car, leading her without even looking back. She knew one day she would have to give this Leo a piece of her mind, and it wouldn't be nice at all.

__________________________________________________________________________

Later that night after while studying information about the present her father gave her, she heard noises from Alhaji's room and she was sure it was not the television. She was definitely sure it was not dinner either...