Chapter 1.

Zara

I got down from the car that brought my aunt and i from the village and my eyes came in contact with a glorious mansion. I had never seen such an edifice in my life. I was almost sure that I was going to get lost in this place.

"Welcome, to your new home" I heard my aunt say, making me turn my head in her direction to see her smiling at me.

"It's beautiful aunty." I said in amazement, still looking around us. I noticed the green plants that were planted close to the walls around the compound. The exotic cars parked around the compound were too much for me to start counting.

"Come let's go inside." Aunty Ijeoma said and I turned around to take my bags but she stopped me. "Don't worry dear, Alphonsus will bring them in." She said, talking about the gateman making me turn around to follow here.

We walked into the house and I was immediately star struck with the beauty of the interior, it was so extravagant. I never knew Aunty Ijeoma and Uncle Uche had this much money. And we have been suffering in the village. It's unfair oh. But I won't complain. At least I'm here now.

I just wish my parents were still alive to see where I am. "Aunty, your house is very fine." I said to her making her chuckle. 

"It's also yours my dear. I want you to meet someone. Louis? Louis!!" She called while I patiently waited for whoever it was.

"Yes, I'm coming." A very tired and irritated voice called out. A very tall and handsome man wearing a hat strode down the steps and into the living room.

"Oh mom you're back finally." He said, smiling at my aunt. Wait oh, so that is her son. I didn't even know they had a child. I hadn't seen him before.

"Yes oh and I came with your cousin." His face fell and he looked at me then back to my aunt 

"Wait, wait, wait" he said rapidly, looking at me again. "Zara? Zara right?" He said while pointing at me and I nod.

He started eyeing me up and down making me feel conscious of myself because the clothes I was wearing were very old.

A smile suddenly broke out on his lips. He walked towards me and enveloped me in a hug which was unexpected. I hugged him back though, my heart calming down and I was able to smile at him.

"Its so good to finally meet you, I'm Louis, the hat guy." He said still grinning. I felt ashamed that he knew who I was but I didn't even know that he existed.

I chuckled a bit, who calls himself 'the hat guy'?.

I unconsciously let out a small yawn. This made Louis to grab my hand and start walking in the direction of the staircase.

"I know you're tired, let me show you your room." He said, grinning and dragging me up the stairs. I felt a bit scared because I had just met him.

I looked back at my aunt and she just smiled at us, shaking her head. I just took that as her saying "its safe".

We got upstairs and it was a whole new decoration all together. I was so in awe of the whole house, so big and so beautiful.

We passed different hallways that I tried so hard to memorise but I couldn't get it. I said it, I was going to get lost in this house.

We got to a very big mighty door and he opened it. I was greeted with a very big beautiful room. There was a big mighty bed posted to a wall with two lamps 

Hanging from the ceiling was a chandelier, I'd never seen one until I came to this house.

" You like?" I heard Louis say, making me look at him. He was just standing there grinning at me and I know its because of the way I was looking around in fascination.

"Everything is just so lovely here. It's so unreal." I say grinning at him.

"Just freshen up and get some rest. I need to go to the office now but I'll see you in the morning okay?" He said still smiling at me. I nodded.

He turned around to go but he stopped. "Forgive me," he said, "the bathroom is over there" he said pointing at another giant door to the right of the bed, "and your walk in closet is over there." He pointed again to a door to the left of the bed. I gave him a nod and then he left me alone.

"Wow, this place is fine oh." I said to my self, turning around to look again. My late Uncle Uche must have made a whole lot of money before he died because this is luxury on another level.

I came to notice that my luggage had already been brought here. Well I wouldn't exactly call them luggage. They were just two beat up duffel bags, I didn't really have much.

I took my sponge, towel and toothbrush from the bag and went straight to the bathroom. Thankfully, the bathroom had a shower with two taps beneath it, one was red and one was blue. I used my sense to know that it was hot and cold respectively. 

I decided to put the both of them on, making the water warm. I quickly had my bath and brushed my teeth. 

Once I was out of the bathroom, I saw my aunt sitting on the bed. "Aunty, I didn't know when you entered." I said smiling at her.

She smiled back. "Just wanted to have a chat with you. Come and sit beside me." She requested and it made me thankful that I was wearing my towel, what if I was naked now?

I obliged her and sat beside her. "So how far with your education?" She asked me.

"I have a degree in business management." I said. My aunt's face changed to one of shock. I knew she would be surprised.

"How? I thought you had never left the village." She asked me. 

"Well aunty, it was a miracle. My father didn't have money to send me to the university and then Unizik brought their weekend programme to Nnewi. We were meeting at the community primary school every weekend. I studied there for five years and i got my degree."

"Wow, interesting. I was thinking of how to get you in school but now I think it's a job that you need. I'll talk to Louis." My aunt said and my heart was full of joy and gratitude.

I knelt down on the tiled ground "Aunty, thank you so much, I'm so grateful, God will surely continue to bless you." I said and she smiled and told me to get up which I did. I sat back on the bed and sighed.

When I was still in the village after getting my degree, I was wondering how I would make use of it. I had big dreams, but there was no way for me to achieve them because I was stuck in the village with no opportunities. I was glad that my aunt took me out of there. Now I can comfortably think about my future with a smile on my face.

"Now I want to you feel at home. This is now your house. You can do anything you want, eat what you want and go where you want okay? The house is yours as much as it is mine." She said, genuinely smiling at me.

I felt happy that I had someone like her after the death of my father. And although it is her late husband that is related to me, she still felt the need to take care of me and I appreciate her for that.

"I'll be going now, I'll have to travel again tomorrow but Louis will take care of you." She said and I felt sad that she was leaving, but Louis was nice to me so I didn't have any worries.

"Safe journey aunty." I wished her and she thanked me and left me alone. I sighed and yawned again. I was really sleepy and it had gotten dark.

I took the two bags I brought and went to where Louis said was the walk in closet. I opened the big door and since it's called walk in I figured it meant that I had to walk into it which I did and lo and behold it was like I was in another room.

There were clothes upon clothes hung on five clothing racks, three shelves filled with shoes and bags, a vanity table with a mirror that had lights and oh, another chandelier. What is it with this house and chandeliers.

"Wow" I unconsciously said and dropped my bags. A thought quickly hit me though, what if they aren't mine? I couldn't use things that I wasn't told to use. 

I hastily brought out my mum's old night gown that I now use and put it on. I then kept my bag in a corner and left the closet.

Reaching my room, I laid down and covered myself with the blanket.

This was Lagos, where they say the fun never stops. And I already knew that I was going to have the time of my life.

With that thought, I lulled myself to sleep.

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That's chapter 1.

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