Mrs. Tonia didn’t say anything after Flora exited the room. She sighed and sat beside Anita on the bed while Favour and Esther also left the room.
“You shouldn’t be harsh with your sister. Fighting with Flora wasn’t necessary,” Mrs. Tonia said to Anita as she sat beside her.
“I know, Mom, but they keep disrespecting me too much, and it’s getting out of hand,” Anita replied.
“It’s okay. I understand, but don’t change yourself because of them. Keep being my sweet and calm daughter,” Mrs. Tonia advised.
“Okay, Mom.” Anita sighed as she stared at her mother. Glory walked up to meet them and sat on the bed too.
“I’ve got to go now and join your father. Glory, you go pack your bags and come join Anita here,” Mrs. Tonia said.
“Okay, Mom,” Glory replied. She stood up from the bed and walked out of the room to the one she shared with Lisa. Flora was already in that room, arranging her clothes in the wardrobe but didn’t say a word to Glory, who carried her own box of clothes out.
Lisa sighed as she returned from the kitchen and found Flora in the room she previously shared with Glory. She didn’t ask any questions, as she didn’t like Anita or Glory.
Glory exited the room and walked back to join Anita, who was busy texting Temisa. Temisa called instead.
“Hello, girlfriend, how’s home?” Temisa asked.
“All fine, and yours?” Anita replied.
“All good,” Temisa responded.
“What’s up? You don’t sound too happy,” Anita asked.
“I know, it’s a long story. Remember, my father didn’t show up at the ceremony, and now he’s asking for my results and telling me to submit them to the Benson Group? You know I’m not interested in working with them,” Temisa said.
“What! That’s good news. You should be happy. You just graduated, and now you already have a job offer, unlike us who have to wander the streets submitting applications,” Anita said.
“Hmmm, you can say that, but that’s not what I want, at least not now. Besides, I doubt I’ll get the job,” Temisa complained.
“Hmph, that’s okay, girlfriend, but be happy you have your father’s support, unlike me,” Anita ranted. The call went silent for a while.
“It’s okay. But honestly, I don’t have high hopes of working with the Benson Group. I know they’re the most sought-after company, but I’m not interested,” Temisa deadpanned.
“Hmph, I know, but you can still apply. I’ll be submitting mine too, but I didn’t want to bother you or ask you to talk to your father about it. If I submit mine and get accepted, then we can work there together, and you won’t be bored with office work,” Anita said.
“Really? Do you plan to submit your CV there too?” Temisa asked.
“Yes, but I didn’t know your father planned for you to work there. I didn’t want to bother you,” Anita replied.
“Oh! No problem then. I’ll submit my application and update you when they approve me. Since it’s through my father, no stress,” Temisa beamed.
“Yeah, lucky girl,” Anita hyped her friend.
“Thanks, but I’m only submitting because you said you would. If I don’t see you there, I’ll quit,” Temisa informed Anita.
“Okay, I will. Let’s hope they accept me too. Good night, girlfriend,” Anita said as the call ended, after Temisa replied, “Yeah, good night too.”
Anita put her phone down and saw Glory arranging her box in the wardrobe she shared with Flora. She sighed, noticing that all her siblings had dark skin except Lisa, Glory, and herself. Lisa was fair brown but not white like Anita, while Glory had brown skin, and the rest were dark.
“Did Flora say anything when you went to carry your box?” Anita asked.
“No,” Glory responded and sat beside her on the bed.
“I’m sorry about what happened earlier,” Glory apologized faintly. Anita smiled.
“It’s okay. None of it was your fault. Let’s just hope Flora, Favour, and Esther stop annoying me,” Anita said, smiling and placing her right palm on Glory’s hand.
“Hmph, I hope so,” Glory sighed.
“It’s okay. So, what did you want to discuss before Flora interrupted us?” Anita asked.
“I just want to ask about your university. Is studying Business Administration difficult?” Glory asked.
“No, not too stressful. You just have to stay focused and not get distracted by handsome guys or girls asking you out,” Anita replied, turning off her laptop as she was tired.
“So, you don’t have a boyfriend or any guy who likes you?” Glory asked, surprising Anita.
“Glory! What do you know about boyfriends?” Anita asked, wide-eyed and smiling.
“Okay, I don’t have a boyfriend because I don’t want to lose focus, and you shouldn’t either,” Anita advised, while Glory smiled.
“Okay. You’ll show me your results this term since I’ll be around. I can be your extra coach,” Anita said. Glory jumped up happily and hugged Anita tightly.
“Thank you, big sis,” Glory said.
“You’re welcome. Can I breathe now?” Anita asked as Glory’s tight hug almost suffocated her with her chubby body.
“Okay, I’ll go freshen up before sleeping,” Glory said, letting go and walking to the restroom.
Anita sighed and decided to play with her Android phone as it was late.
Anita browsed information about the Benson Group to learn about the company. She searched for the Benson Group of Companies and saw recent news updates on her phone. Anita read about the new leadership by Master Liam Jackson and sighed.
Anita stared at photos from the company’s conference hall and the new CEO. Lost in thought, she didn’t notice when Glory climbed onto the bed and drifted to sleep.
Anita sighed as she heard Glory snoring peacefully behind her. She scrolled through the CEO’s timeline and profile, which had few updates.
Clicking on his profile picture to see the new boss she might work with if her CV was accepted, Anita saw the photo was six years old, and he looked younger, making her sigh again. She left his profile and searched for how to submit a job application.
Anita found an application form and checked available positions. She copied the company’s email address and decided to write a letter of application, as that was the only way to apply.
Tired, Anita decided to type the letter the next day. After copying the email, she put her phone away and drifted to sleep.
---
The next morning at home, Anita woke up to her father screaming, “No!” She jumped out of bed and rushed out to find out what happened.
Everyone gathered in the living room where their father sat on the couch, hands on his head, fighting back tears.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” they asked. Mrs. Tonia shook her head, pacing silently.
“Father, what’s wrong?” Flora asked, sitting beside him. He shook his head regretfully and wiped tears.
“Mom?” Anita approached and held her mother’s folded arms.
“What’s the matter, Mom?” Anita asked.
Mrs. Tonia finally replied, “I don’t really know, Anita. Your father got a call this morning, and then I heard him scream while talking to the caller. I don’t know what the problem is.”
She looked at her husband, who was trying hard not to cry. He stood, already dressed in a deep blue suit, ready to leave for work as if it were a fresh Friday morning, but sighed and walked back to his room, shaking his head regretfully.
“Father!” Anita, Flora, and Favour rushed to him, but their mother stopped them.
“You girls should let your father be. I will talk to him and find out what the problem really is,” Mrs. Tonia said.
“Are you sure, Mom?” they asked, confused and wanting to see their father.
“Yes. Give him some time. I’m sure he will tell us what’s wrong.”
Liam doesn't say anything as he stands watching the two friends reunite and forgive each other. They finally stand up, and Temisa walks over to see the twin babies in their little baby bed in the living room."Wow, they look so much like Liam, but my baby resembles me more than Alfred," Temisa says, while Anita only smiles at her."It's all good, girlfriend. I wish you both a happy married life, and I will be your bridesmaid on your wedding day," Temisa proposes, and Anita shakes her head."Flora already filled that position. You will only join the train.""Okay, dear. I have to be on my way now. You know I just darted out from the house as soon as Alfred told me about your babies and that you're here with Liam. Take good care of yourself, girlfriend, as you look slim," Temisa says, while Anita nods to her."I will. Let me escort you," Anita feels all the previous heaviness in her heart disappear, and she walks out of the mansion with Temisa.They walk to the garage where Temisa's car
Mrs. Tonia quickly greets Mrs. Juliet, "Good evening, ma'am.""Yes, welcome. Let's go in first," Mrs. Juliet ushers them into her living room. Just then, Mr. Taiye walks in too and sees the visitors, noticing Liam carefully carrying a baby in his arms. He recognizes the familiar lady as his son's secretary and immediately knows the babies are the result of the encounter they had in Liam's office."Good evening, Father," Liam happily greets his father. Mr. Taiye nods to all their greetings, while Anita nervously stares downward, feeling uncomfortable, remembering Mr. Taiye had warned her to stay clear of his son and never show her face in his company again."Mother, here are your grandkids," Liam walks over to meet his mother, who is sitting on the living room couch. He carefully places the baby boy in her arms, and Mrs. Juliet is still in shock as Liam never told her his secretary was pregnant or that he was bringing his babies home.Mr. Taiye is the most confused as he remembers he w
"Are you married?" Liam finally asks, sounding hurt. Anita shakes her head and replies, "No.""Then how come the babies?" Liam asks as he finally saunters over to meet her. He has missed her so much, and he doesn't look himself because of her."Anita," Liam finally approaches her, and she turns to face him, and he sees she's crying."I'm sorry," Anita cries, and Liam crosses the thin line between them and hugs her warmly."It's okay. I've missed you. I do love you," Liam comforts her in a hug, hoping whoever got her pregnant or married her doesn't step in and catch him hugging his wife.Anita wants to pull away from Liam as she inhales his cologne, realizing she's crying into his chest, but Liam hugs her tighter and raises her chin to face him."Don't you miss me?" he asks, and Anita sniffs."I do," she replies."And you don't want to kiss me or welcome me?"Anita finally raises her head properly and looks up at Liam's face.He looks sick too, so unlike him, and his beard is overgrown
Anita doesn't say anything as she watches her mother dress up in a green gown while she breastfeeds her little daughter, who sucks a lot, wanting to drain the remaining energy she has left."I have to go out now and buy everything we will need to eat tonight. There's no food in the kitchen, and I don't want to disturb Mama and her in-law.""Okay, Mom."Anita watches her mother walk out of the room. She carefully places her little girl down and walks to her phone to see all the text messages Liam sent to her. Her heartbeat increases as she unlocks her phone screen.She sees a lot of texts from him and love emojis and she smiles, staggering backward to sit on her bed to read his texts."What happened to you? Your mom said you got discharged from the hospital. Are you alright now? Not to worry, I will be coming down to your village to see you. But why did you shut us all out? I have really missed you. Honestly, I cannot stop thinking about the love we made, and I'm glad your mom finally
Mrs. Tonia pulls away from the mother-to-daughter hug and stares at Anita's face."It's okay, stop crying. Why did you run away, and who did you sleep with?" Mrs. Tonia questions as she walks to look at her grandkids.She stares at the two cute babies who are also awake and staring at her. She gasps in surprise as she isn't mistaken—the babies look so much like Liam, the CEO of Benson Group. She stares back at Anita, who’s also looking at her, and then back at the twin babies in their baby bed."Anita, who got you pregnant?" Mrs. Tonia asks again while Alice finally walks over to hold her hand."We can discuss this at home. Let it rest while we leave the hospital first."Mrs. Tonia sighs and looks from Alice to Anita and back to her grandbabies.They're so cute and fair, and now she knows why the CEO has kept on asking her about Anita.So he's the one that got her daughter pregnant and slept with Anita the very day he delayed her at work and made her return home late.Mrs. Tonia tries
Anita wakes up that evening with a light headache. She sits up in her bed and eats the dinner Alice brought for her from home."How are you feeling now? You need to breastfeed your babies and not starve them," Alice says. Anita finally looks at them as her eyes clear, and seeing one of them crying, Alice speaks to her."She's a girl, while the calm one here is a boy." Alice hands over the baby girl to Anita, who stares at her beautiful daughter's face.Her baby girl looks so much like Liam; even though she's very fair like her, her baby's short curly hair and round cute face resemble Liam so much. Anita's heart skips a beat as she keeps staring at her baby instead of breastfeeding her."Why are you still staring at her? Give her your breast milk" Alice finally yells at Anita, snapping her out of her daze. Anita opens up her shirt and breastfeeds her baby.The little girl in her arms stops crying after a while as she sucks on her breast. As if the second baby is aware, he resumes cryin