" ..How about your Dad? "
"He is.."
Zara was about to answer when they all heard a car horn.
"He is back" Zara Smiled.
Speak of the devil.Stella on the other hand didn't smile. Mr Ebenezer was different from his wife and Stella didn't like him but she had to pretend and keep her cool for now.
Mrs Ebenezer has already gone to welcome him.soon,a tall man in his mid forties was in the sitting room, he exuded an air of Nobility and yet gave off this feeling of being approachable. He was putting on an official attire,Grey shirt and black pants obviously coming back from work.he looked tired but looked at his wife tenderly.
"Where is Zara?" He probed.
Soon,Zara and Stella walked in.Zara went to hug her father.
"Daddy"
Mrs Ebenezer stood by the side, holding his briefcase with a warm smile on her face, this was a perfect picture of a happy family, how it should be.
but not to Stella,she had seen that most families who appear to be happy had fake smiles on their faces or fake people like this Mr Ebenezer.she didn't like this man and only her knew why.
"Good evening sir"
Mr Ebenezer raised his head to look at Stella and smiled at her.but Stella only felt disgusted with that look and sneered inwardly.
'Wolf in sheep clothing!'
"How're you, Stella?"
"I'm fine"
"hmm..Stella came to see us today" Mrs Ebenezer smiled and said sarcastically.
She then went ahead to Narrate Stella's 'drama episode' Mr Ebenezer looked at stella with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Stella, you will stay here tonight, tomorrow you go back".Mrs Ebenezer said and Mr Ebenezer just nodded in agreement. Stella nodded but deep down, she was starting to regret coming here.but she couldn't just go back and face danger alone. She didn't have nine lives!
Well,she will stay only tonight.
" Honey,Come and freshen up "
Mrs Ebenezer walked away, holding the briefcase.Mr Ebenezer stood up and followed her.soon, only Zara and Stella were left,they walked to the dinning table to eat.
'Ding'!
A young beautiful woman checked her phone after hearing the notification sound. Her red lips curled up.it was a credit alert, she has money now! She wore her high heeled shoes and picked her hand bag.
"Thank you" she said to the middle aged man sitting on the bed.
"You deserve it,let's meet another time"
he smiled,looking at her lecherously.
The woman also smiled in appreciation, giving of this baddie vibe.she stood up.she had an average height but with straight beautiful legs which were in full display because of her dress.the light purple dress was sleek and stopped above her knees,it had stones and other materials that made it shone.it also hugged her body,accentuating her curves.her shape was what even some women would envy.
And the men...
Few minutes later,the woman was standing by the road side waiting for a taxi to pick her.but her deamenor have changed, maybe because she had changed her dress.this time, she was wearing a lose gown which was less extravagant and reached below her knees.she also kept away the high heeled shoes and fancy handbag.she looked like a common ordinary woman going back home after the day's business.
Well,she was actually going home after the day's business at 10:30pm!
At 10:30pm,it would be really lucky for her to get a cab or taxi back home, but she had to try,she had to be in church tomorrow.
Soon,a taxi moved slowly towards her,her eyes brightened.
"Where are you heading to?,get in!" The driver said with a kind smile on his face.
The woman took few steps towards the taxi and paused when she looked inside. There were two guys at the back. She had a bad premonition about it.it could be dangerous for her. It was already so late and she has to be vigilant,she was only a woman.she has heard of scenes like this were the person is overpowered,drugged, kidnapped or robbed.
She withdrew and waved her hand to the driver in disinterest. The driver was puzzled and tried to coax her again but she ignored him.he started his taxi and left.The woman smirked.just before it Zoomed off,she had sighted a gun peeking out from one of the men's trouser pocket. Her intuition was right, they were bad people.
She kept standing with a calm expression on her face.but inwardly, she was already sweating a bit.that was a close shave! although she was used to staying out late,this time, she prayed to get back home safe.
God has been kind to her,if not,she would have long fallen into danger.
But what was she doing? Why go through so much risk?she had thought about it,some people had advised her.but she knew what she wanted and would work towards it.that soft life, that easy,luxurious life? She was determined to get it by all means. She only had one life to live, so, she was going to live it well without that stress and depression that comes with poverty.She had seen that most people only pretended to care,but when the chips are down,they're nowhere to be found. That's human nature. She knew she had no real people in her life, so,she could only stand up for herself. Everyone else could go to hell!
Thinking about her life, she wanted to let the tears flow but stopped herself. Why should she cry?,she has cried enough and it was her time to smile, to shine and to blossom. The cold air hit her body but she only smiled indifferently.
'Patricia, you're a strong woman'
She thought.
A public transport bus soon came in sight, she squeezed herself in.the smell of people's breath mixed with sweat pervaded the air,making it a bit uncomfortable to 'get oxygen'.
Patricia sighed.she must definitely get herself a luxurious car.
When she got down from the bus,it was already past 11pm,she dragged her tired body to her house but was puzzled when she saw her neighbors still outside, discussing.
What's going on?it was already so late.
When they sighted her,they gave her strange looks. Some didn't hide their dissatisfaction with her.they all saw her coming back late in the night as being irresponsible. But Patricia didn't even care about their opinion of her.
"Welcome" Mrs ibe greeted,insincerely.
"Good evening" Patricia greeted everyone, her eyes asking for answers.
"Thieves came" Mrs Ibe continued.
'What!?' Patricia widened her eyes in shock.she quickly made her way to her room,everything looked fine and in place until she looked up at the wall,her T.V was no longer there! The thieves made away with her television, she was very angry. How could this happen? She checked for other things and found out that some of her expensive kitchen utensils were also touched. Her face was red in anger.
"Those bustards!" She gritted her teeth, but there was nothing she could do.she came out and saw that her neighbors were looking at her with sympathy. Her face didn't look good,she must have been robbed too.Mr peter had a gloomy expression too.so,she and Mr Peter were the unlucky ones tonight.
"How did this happen"? Patricia didn't even know who to ask.
" I think it was this evening, and they used the rainfall as an opportunity". Sandra ,a nurse chimed in.she felt really sorry for the 'unlucky people'.
"Mr peter has already contacted the police" Sandra said. But they all knew that could end up being unfruitful.Patricia sneered inwardly, was Mr peter suspecting one of them?
For a moment,there was silence with everyone lost in their own thought.
But..
"Where is stella?" Mrs ibe suddenly broke the silence. Everyone shifted their positions, yes,where is Stella?
"I hope she hasn't been kidnapped!"
Someone said and everyone's faces looked grim, if that's the case,then,this was going to be fatal for someone. They looked at Patricia who had a pale face,forget it,she was the unluckiest one.
"I didn't see her" Patricia said, her lips trembling. She showed a panicked expression this time.
Haa..losing a family member, your child!
Maybe this careless woman would learn her lesson now.but..poor Stella.
Someone even volunteered to call the police, but they knew she could only be declared missing after 24 hours.
Patricia sat down by the door dejectedly, thinking hard.Stella was supposed to be at home now but where did she go?she couldn't answer her neighbors at this point. She knew she had been careless but refused to believe her daughter was in danger now.