STOLEN PARADISE

CHAPTER THREE

Pastor Paul Azikwe has been shepherding God's Faithfuls Ministry for the past thirty years in Lagos. The church Elders and junior pastors hope that one of them would be chosen to head the prestigious and Spirit-Filled ministry someday but they also know that there are chances that the pastor's only child; Paul Azikwe junior might take over after his father goes to be with the Lord. Pastor Azikwe was very much aware of the confusion and arguments but he knows the decision of a successor belongs to the Lord alone.

The Ministry of Love in the church helps the homeless and work hand in hand with their member, Funmilola Olanrewaju. She was obviously specially called into the ministry of charity (although all God's children must be cheerful givers) and he admires her greatly. She is a young woman full of life and nothing ever brought her down. Some people in church even nicknamed her "sunshine" because of her cheerful and bright attitude towards everything. But as the same young woman cried her eyes out before him about her parents' marriage proposal, he knew something was amiss. She seem frustrated and pushed beyond her strength.

"Sister Funmi, stop weeping. The Lord will see you through this."

"Pastor, I don't love this man and I don't want to get married yet. He is not even a Christian! Imagine the disaster my parents have brought upon me!" She complained bitterly.

Pastor Azikwe's office has glass panes making everything going on inside visible to the secretary. She also was shocked to see the ever cheerful Funmi in such a state.

"Don't speak evil against your parents. I'm sure they are looking out for you." He replied gently.

Funmi was even more frustrated now. Her pastor should be scolding her parents now not support them in this rash decision. Why should she be the sacrificial lamb for the debt? Her parents claims it is to protect her from the perverted Mr. Richard because they were sure he has his lustful eyes set on her and her bright future...his way to fully control Olanrewaju's Corp.

"Pastor, they should have asked me for help! Now I am getting sold to stop them from being humiliated. Please pray for me so that this terrible cup could be lifted. Pastor, have you forgotten that if I marry the wrong person, my destiny will be altered? Please pray for me."

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With a tear stained face, Funmi drove inside her compound, unaware that someone followed her in. She rested her head on the steering wheel and cried the more. Pastor Azikwe did pray for her and she felt slightly better but as she drove home, she received a call from her mother to remind her to act fast and stop being stubborn.

"God, I believe that you can change all this." She came out of her Blue 2011 Toyota Camry with her black Gucci leather handbag... a gift from Antonio the previous Christmas. He had made a joke of her being "too simple and cheap" while she was actually worth millions in monetary value as well as in character.

Her gateman ran towards her with a beautiful woman walking behind him.

"Welcome back Ma. You have a visitor." The tall middle aged man said with a small smile.

Funmi took a good look at the woman and asked,

"How may I help you?" She asked.

"Hello Funmilola. I am Sharon Otunba." The Gateman went back to his post while Funmi tries to recover from the shock of having Antonio's one and only in her house. As if just being there was not enough shock, Sharon went down on her knees and began to plead with Funmi not to marry Antonio.

"We love each other. He is my life. I can't live without him, I beg you." Funmi looked at the smart looking young lady before her and asked her to get up.

"Please come in and have something to calm you down."

The two women sat opposite each other in the lounge, drinking a cold refreshing Apple juice.

"Sharon, I do not want to marry Antonio. It is circumstances created by our parents that created this nightmare. Please stop crying."

Sharon looked at her rival and replied, "I guess you have never fallen in love before. You don't seem shaken at all."

If only you knew what I've been through.

Funmilola smiled and poured more of the apple juice in her own cup.

"I did, once; got my heart broken. Wrong man." Sharon looked visibly shocked but she also thought that a woman of Funmi's caliber will find it hard to get the "right" man.

"But this is beyond me! Our family's reputation, company and lives are on the line. I wish all this had never happen." The thought of the deadline her mother told her that afternoon about Mr. Richard's debt made her skin crawl with fear but getting married to protect her while paying the debt was the best plan at the moment.

"I know you are miserable and rightly so. Have you thought about what would happen when the debt is paid? Will Antonio divorce you when you are out of danger? Can't you see you are being used by your family as a collateral? Antonio does not love you." Sharon said as gently as she could.

"You don't need to remind me, I know he cares nothing for me in that special way." Funmi said nonchalantly. This infuriated Sharon.

"Today is Friday Funmi! Your wedding is next Saturday! Do something! Run away or ask for help from a big shot politician! You are well connected so help yourself and stop playing the victim!"

"I should do something? Run away? Kill myself? Drop Antonio on the altar and make him a laughing stock? As it is I feel like a helpless lamb. I did not plan for this to happen Sharon. If the invites have not gone out..."

Sharon interrupted her and got up from her seat. With her arms folded across her chest, she said with vehemence, "You will not be the first to cancel an engagement little Madam." She looked down and in a softer but threatening tone added,

"Can't you understand my pain? Are you saying you won't end this nightmare?"

Pain suddenly shot through Funmi's chest and she began to hyperventilate. Her breath was short and her chest tight. She began breathing in and out rapidly and clutched at her chest. She quickly reached into her bag which was just right beside her, took out her inhaler and administered it while Sharon watched in shock.

"Are you okay?" Sharon asked in concern. Funmi slowly readjusted herself on her sofa with her back resting on the backrest properly. She took about ten puffs from the inhaler after almost a minute interval and her breathing began to normalize.

"Should I call for an ambulance? Take you to the hospital?" She asked frantically. Funmi moved her head slowly in the negative.

"Alright then, I will leave now but please think about what we discussed." She picked her handbag and left but not before informing the Gateman about his Employer's state of health.

This problem was definitely not going to be easy to solve.