UNDER 168 HOURS [BOOK 1, 168 HOURS SERIES]

Chapter 1: It Was Just The Begining When...

"Alhaji Musa! Please help my family, I beg of you...please!" Her tiny voice whined to the elderly man in brown designed dansiki.

"Shut the hell up and stop causing drama in my office! We aren't family, are we? Your dad was just opportune to be one of my close friends and that was it! Now he's dead, and you expect me to take responsibility for what isn't mine? I have a family to provide for as well, so just get lost, okay?!" He grumpily snapped.

"My mum really need money for surgery within this week. I don't want her to die of cancer, please... Pay back the money you owned my dad." she clinched herself to his legs, with her body, shivering like the edge a tiny leaf.

"I already told you, crazy witch! I'm not owing your dad any penny, he was the one owing me and perhaps, it's been how many years now since his death? Like what?.... Five years?! Mteeew! Get out of here!" He kicked her away like a piece of shit.

"Just one million naira for the surgery, sir. Help me this once and you'll never see my face again, I promise." More tears poured out of her eyes as she rubbed both hands together, begging.

"Have you ever earned a penny in your life? And you are saying just one million like that!! Get the hell out of here. Right. Now!" He opened his office door, motioning her to leave.

"Please sir, help me!" She managed to lift herself up, holding her stomach tight with so much pain and discomfort.
"Only you can, Alhaji Musa. Only you..."

His secretary, a tiny, light complexioned lady peeped from the corner.

"Miss Lydia!" Alhaji called as she rushed to where he was, by his door step.

"You see what you've caused? Don't worry, I'll deduct two months pay from your salary!" She just shivered, unable to agree or argue.

"Sorry, sir."

"Get me the security guards, immediately!" He snapped his fingers as Miss Lydia who called them on the telephone standing on her desk.

Zainab quickly wiped out her tears, running back to him again. She knew this might be her last chance. She'd visited him with a heart full of hope and never thought he would let her down.

"Please sir, don't do this to me... I beg you in the name of Allah, reconsider..."

As if he was concerned, he bent his head, closer and grabbed her jaw, full fist.

"Look here, Zee! I can only help you if you're willing to help me as well. Things won't end well for you and your family if you keep acting like this."

"Help me sir, I'll do anything to save my mother." Zainab cried once again.

Alhaji Musa's eyes raked up and down her skinny body.

'Using this one would be child abuse, I'll take her sister.' a though played in his mind.