*CHAPTER 4*

"No, ma'am. I checked the kitchen, and there's no food left," Olima replied. Mia frowned, hungry. "Why didn't you say something?"

Olima looked from Mia to Gina. She'd helped Mia with her homework, and Mia had been friendly. But as soon as Gina arrived, Mia reverted to her mother's toxic behavior.

"So, you sat here with Mia, watching television? Didn't you think to ask me for money to buy groceries and ingredients for dinner? Or did you expect us to starve tonight?" Gina asked coldly.

"No, Mother—I mean, ma'am," Olima stammered.

Gina opened her purse, counted out some bills, and said, "Here's 10,000 naira. Before I finish my bath, you'd better go to the market and buy everything you need for vegetable soup and semovita. Else..." Gina glared at Olima, dropped the money on the center table, and went upstairs.

Olima rushed to the kitchen, frantically checking the containers to see what ingredients she needed. She grabbed the money and hurried out of the house, hearing Mia's laughter as she ran.

Nathan stood up as he saw Olima rush to the gate, clutching a black plastic bag. She was wearing a light blue gown. "Where are you rushing off to, young madam?" Nathan asked.

"Open the gates!" Olima yelled. Nathan knew she was on an errand again; that's how she usually left the house.

Nathan opened the gate, and Olima rushed out, nearly getting hit by a car leaving the estate. The driver cursed at her, "Stupid woman! Where are you rushing to?"

Olima ignored the expensive red car and ran towards the estate gate to go to the market.

Inside the flashy red car sat Justin Robert, a handsome young black man whose billionaire parents wanted him to take over their multimillion-dollar empire and real estate businesses. His father was known for selling houses to top billionaires in town.

Justin, 21, felt his heart race as he saw his car almost hit the woman running out of her parents' home. He knew most of the estate's residents were billionaires.

The sun was setting as his car drove past her. He was on his way to the clubhouse, one of his favorite hangouts. Justin hated business and found nothing interesting except drawing, watching movies, and hanging out with women who were ready to sleep with him.

Justin felt himself getting aroused as he saw how pretty the young woman looked, and how her breasts and buttocks bounced as she ran.

Unable to look away, Justin ordered, "Stop the car."

"Boss..." Jesse, his driver, was surprised. "Okay, Boss."

Justin wore a red long-sleeved shirt, black trousers, and black shoes. He was breathtakingly handsome and took care of his appearance, knowing that first impressions mattered.

Olima continued running to exit the estate gate. Night was approaching, and she knew her stepmother would punish her if she didn't return in time to prepare dinner.

"Boss, do you need anything?" Jesse Andrew, 30, asked impatiently. He wore a white shirt and black trousers.

"No, wait here," Justin replied, nervous as he saw the young woman running towards his car and the exit gate.

Justin was used to women throwing themselves at him. Now, he had to approach this woman, whom he'd seen before but never approached, knowing her father was probably a billionaire too.

Olima hadn't had time to change out of her light blue gown, which provocatively showed off her figure. She slowed down when she saw the red car that had almost hit her stop, and the door open.

Olima thought the driver or passenger wanted to scold her for running into the street without looking.

"Hi," the handsome young man who stepped out of the car said. Olima froze, staring at the tall man in front of her.

"No... excuse me," Olima shook her head, meeting Justin's gaze. Before Justin could say "wait," she ran past him, faster than before, towards the exit gate.

"Shit!" Justin cursed. Jesse smiled in the car, having watched Olima's reaction in the rearview mirror.

Justin sat back in the car, frustrated. "Start the car," he ordered.

"Alright, boss," Jesse replied, waiting for Justin to buckle his seatbelt before starting the engine and driving off.

Olima's heart was still racing. She'd exited the estate gate and gotten into a taxi.

She breathed a sigh of relief, wondering what the young man wanted. She didn't know him.

She calculated the cost of the soup ingredients, knowing the main market would be closed, but she could still buy some things from roadside vendors.

Olima arrived at the market, paid the taxi fare, and rushed to a roadside seller, buying everything she needed for the vegetable soup. She'd only learned to cook five months ago and wasn't very good at it, but it was manageable.

Olima never cooked when her mother was alive. Now, having to learn after her mother was gone, she gulped. She paid for the items and vegetables, and before she could finish her purchases, night had fallen. Olima frowned, knowing her stepmother would complain.

She'd forgotten to ask her stepmother for money earlier, and with helping Mia with her homework, she'd forgotten to go to her stepmother's shop, where she sold women's clothing. Gina owned a boutique.

Olima stood waiting for a taxi, but none were available. The night grew darker.