C4 Chapter 4–Business deal

This food taste so good. Never have I tasted any food this delicious. I thought Iya Risi's food was tasty but compared to this, it's nothing close. Mrs Margret thanks for the treat. You have no idea how grateful I am.

"Don't mention darling". About the business deal you were talking about a while ago I would love to know what this business deal entails.

"Good one my child. Let me go straight to the point. Seeing that you've met my son this morning makes things easier for me to explain". Mrs Margret please could you expatiate. I seem not to understand."

"Sure here's the business deal. Firstly, I need you to make Marshall fall in love with you seeing he has a thing for you. Secondly, I need you to bear a child for him and he doesn't know about this so let's just keep it that way. He must never find out. You can always file for a divorce if things don't go well after the stipulated amount of years agreed on in the contract. This will be a non-disclosure agreement. I would have just suggested you sleep with him without using protection that is after a medical checkup but I know my son wouldn't do such. He is very careful around girls because most of them are after his money and probably his body."

I couldn't control my laughter. I just had to let it out. It sounded like script lines for a play. I even had to crosscheck for cameras but I couldn't find any. "Margret I never took you for a funny person but seriously you are indeed extremely funny.

"I'm paying a sum of twelve million naira, a change of occupation, wardrobe and house. Think about it. You get to permanently keep everything even after the job is done. Six million naira after signing the contract and the remaining six million as soon as the job is completed. You are single, you can't raise a child alone and you still have a long way to go so letting one child go is not a big deal should in case you aren't interested in him along the line. I am doing this for him. He needs to conclude the deal with the Zamora's. It has always been his dream and after his last relationship, he has refused to love again. How do I get a grandchild?

This deal is like killing two birds with a stone. When the deal is finally concluded all you have to do is leave the country. I'll pay for all the expenses. Your life will change forever. I conducted a quick background check up on you and I know you need this more than anyone else."

My mouth was wide open. Twelve million naira, a house, change of wardrobe, and a new job. For a deal of two years and to conceive a child for the Browns. This whole thing sounded like a Nollywood screenplay. No more cockroach hunts, or zero-one-zero meal plan and leaking roofs. A life of luxury and fame!! Was there any need for having to think about? "Margret consider this is a done deal. Where are documents I need to sign?" The Maldives here I come.

"Good thinking and conclusion. I will draft up the contract and my lawyer will give it to you. All you have to do is read through and see if you need to add a clause or two and sign it then we get to work. Can I get an extra take away for the lady, please? Thanks, you can keep the change." She said.

"Thanks, Margret I had a wonderful time. I'll just highlight at the bus stop." If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up.

"Don't mention darling and hold onto to this little change to get yourself an Uber home instead of waiting for the bus. It's quite late. We don't want anything happening to you now do we? Good night dear see you tomorrow."

I ordered for my ride, entered my starting point and destination. I couldn't wait to get home. On my way home, I began to think of my new life, the list of things I have always wanted to buy. The Uber driver brought me back from my train of thoughts indicating that I had gotten home. I pay for my t-fare and highlight from the car. "Keep the change," I said. It felt so good.

Holy J, I just told him to keep the change. I scream out once the car was out of sight. Guess who's going to be rich and famous I sing and skip to open the door to my house. "Ella Adeoye" is already a "rich babe" I wish I had a megaphone right now. I couldn't keep this great news to myself. Looking for the right word to describe how I feel and still haven't found.

Poverty is indeed a disease just like HIV. It comes with other diseases like depression, low self-esteem and so on. First thing tomorrow I'm going shopping. I need to fix my hair, buy a few clothes with my savings and the change Margret gave me. From the look of things I doubt I'll be sleeping tonight cause I can't wait to sign those papers.

The rays from the early morning sunshine into my eyes so I quickly turn to the other side of my bed to avoid the rays from waking me up completely. As I do so, my eyes connect with the time on my alarm clock showing thirty-five minutes past ten. Over excitement can cause problems like oversleeping and missing an opportunity. I was already running late. I have to meet up with the lawyer by noon and I can't afford to be one second late. I run into the bathroom, take my bath and change into sweatpants and a Calvin Klein jumper. Thank God for thrift clothes. I lock up and head for the day's event.

It's 11:40 and my makeover section is over. I slip into the dress I just purchased and looked into the mirror to see a very beautiful image of myself. The dress fits so well it hugs my curves and stops mid-thigh. I put on my heels with a matching gold earring and I'm ready to meet up with Mrs Margret's lawyer so I call her to ask for the location.

"Gabriel will pick you up immediately." She said.

I stand outside and wait for any sign of Gabriel

" Wow! Ms Ella, you look beautiful." Gabriel said with a smile. Please call me Ella, enough with the formalities.

We stop at a restaurant and Gabriel leads me to Margret and her lawyer. "Ella you cleaned up well. You look breathtaking." Thanks, Mrs Brown.

"Don't mention it. Without taking much of your time, let's go straight to business. "This is my lawyer Alfred Stone. Alfred this is Ella Adeoye.

"Here are the documents needed for the contract, please go through them just in case you want to subtract or add one or two clauses."

" Just show me where I'll sign."

"Ms Adeoye are you sure you don't want to go through the contract before signing? He asked.

" It's quite much, I'll just sign them."

" Sign here, here and finally over here. That's all for now. I'll be on my way."

"Here's key to your new house and your car. Before I forget here's your recommendation letter for your new job. Your clothes and everything has been set up in your house all you have to do is quit work at Jade's company. I'll organize a coincidental meet up next week. When he sees you and ask why you quit, tell him your Mum's sister just died and she didn't have a child so she willed all her property to you. Gabriel will take you to your new place and I'll go with the other driver. See you later Ella."

I collect the key to my new apartment and car from Margret. This still looks like a dream to me but the faster I accept that this is real, the better. We enter a street full of sophisticated buildings and stop in front of a building I assume to be mine.

"Here is the building Ms Ella."

Gabriel, please call me Ella. What did I say about formalities?

"Ok, Ella. I would put that at the back of my mind so as not to forget." Gabriel presses a remote from one of the keys Margret gave me and the door opens to reveal a white Benz and a beautiful apartment. I press an unlock button on my apartment key and the door slides open just like the gate. This is beautiful. Somebody wake me up.

My perfect dream house. I love everything. The car and the house. I start to search for my room and spot one that looks different from the others. So this is what being rich is all about. You could organize an apartment, a car, a job and a new wardrobe with the snap of a finger overnight. I see a door that's different from the bathroom door so I walk towards it and open it to find a walk-in closet with different clothes and shoes.

My life just changed overnight with the snap of a finger. All these things just for me?. After an hour of accessing the house, hunger and fatigue kicks in. I stroll into the kitchen to see if there's anything available to munch on so I open the fridge to see it has been stocked up. I take out a slice of ham, sausage and some fresh vegetables. I open the cupboard, pick out a packet of spaghetti. I dice the vegetables, sausage, ham and fry after adding the necessary spices. When it's done, I serve myself a plate of spaghetti and vegetable sauce with a glass of orange juice. After eating, I clear my plate and settle down in the sitting room to watch a movie. I continue the same routine for the next six days. Exercise, eat, sleep and learn how to drive. Mrs Margret instructed Gabriel to teach me how to drive and from the look of things, I think I'm learning real fast. It's finally Monday, so I wake up exactly by seven o'clock to prepare for my new job. I got accepted through Margret's recommendation letter as a personal assistant for Niphmeclothing line. I have always wanted to have a clothing line of my own so working here was like one step to achieving what I wanted.

I stroll into my walk-in closet and settle for a black coloured jumpsuit and a nude pumps. I put on a little makeup because I was naturally beautiful.

I grab my keys, an apple and head for work.