Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)

As soon as the car drove into the hospital, Gabbo got down and walked briskly into the building.



Aduke also ran out, but could only trail behind him, for his pace was faster than hers.
‘Good morning Alhaji’ said the lady at the reception
‘Hello, Nurse Rose. How is your little boy now? Asked Gabbo. Aduke was surprised. Was he a regular here?
‘Alhaji, he is fine. As fit as a fiddle now. You would never know he is the same child that had a hole in his heart. Thank God for good people like you. The world needs more great men like you.

Your huge donations saved my only child’s life’ said the Nurse, thankful.
Aduke was confused. This man was a mass of contradictions. A thug and a gentleman, wild, yet so gentle. Harsh, yet so caring. She was no longer sure of whom he was. Aduke began to suspect that this mercurial character had mental problems.
‘Haba! Rose, for nothing. You keep embarrassing me anytime we meet. I’m here for other reasons my dear’ he said, smiling slightly.
‘Ehyah, you have missed Dr. Nelson oh, he has travelled to….’ Began Rose
‘I spoke with Nelson and I am aware of his whereabouts’ said Gabbo, cutting her short
‘So, who would you see today? Or do you want to manage till he comes back? Have you been using your medication?’ asked Rose, worried about him
‘Thank you Mama Rose’ he teased ‘I’m not here for myself, plus, we’ve got company’ he said, looking pointedly at Aduke. This was not a time to delve into his medical issues.
‘Ah, I see’ said Rose who promptly clammed up.


Aduke was shocked to feel a spear of concern dart through her chest. Was he okay? Did he have any life threatening conditions? How come she hadn’t seen it in him? What could the condition be? Awwh! her poor D.G! She had always seen him as a strong stud. She quickly scanned him, looking into his beautiful face, hoping something would show her the signs she desperately needed to see. He had to be okay!
‘….Owhoko’ Addy was jolted back to earth when she heard Peter’s name mentioned. She was very angry with herself. This was about Peter, not about D.G! She wondered if she was crazy. How could she be feeling sorry for this man? She hoped her Peter was better!
‘When did they bring him in sir? Asked the nurse
‘Just this afternoon’ responded Gabbo
Rose quickly ran through the records ‘He’s not here sir’ she said simply
‘Are you sure? They were closer to the clinic than we were. I’m surprised they aren’t here yet’ said Gabo, worried.
‘Let me check the emergency register’ she said as she pursed her lips again, her eyes quickly scanning the register ‘ Owhoko, owhoko, …… No sir, nothing here either; she said
‘Could they have used another name?’ he asked, desperate
‘Well, I also checked for Peter. Perhaps you might want to ring those who were supposed to have brought him here, while I make additional enquiries from my colleagues. I would be very surprised that he is here, unrecorded, though.’



Said the Nurse as she went away to check, Gabbo began to check his phone frantically for the number to ring.
‘The number you called is not responding’ replied the annoying voice of the telecoms lady, informing Gabbo that the phones were either switched off or out of network coverage area. D.G tried over and over again, but the number seemed to have been switched off.
‘What is going on here?’ He grumbled under his breath
‘What is it?’ asked Aduke, worried. This was the first comment she had directed at him since they had left his apartment
‘As you can see, Peter’s name isn’t in the register. I’m trying to locate the guys who were to have brought him in’ he responded slowly, as though talking to a really dim witted person.
‘I know all that’ she responded impatiently. ‘Did he think she was deaf? ‘Where is Peter?’
‘He’s somewhere here, I’m certain there has been a mix up’ he said confidently, just as Nurse Rose came in, with some bad news.
‘Sorry sir, he’s not here’ said the Nurse
‘Are you certain, Rose? he asked, really worried
‘Yes sir’ she said
He looked at the screen of his phone again, this time really worried
‘Davis, we cannot find Peter. Can you try to locate those boys? They are supposed to have brought Peter to Saint Nicholas’ said Gabbo into the phone. ‘Please let me know quickly’
He began to pace back and forth. This the first time Aduke would see Gabbo in this state. He looked really uneasy. It must be worse than she thought.



She sat in the nearest chair and began to cry softly. Peter might be dead because of her!
‘Hey, don’t cry… he said softly. ‘We will find him’ he said as he knelt by her side
‘But we don’t know where he is… what if they killed him? what if he is dead? She asked, vocalising her greatest fears.
‘No, Addy. He’s fine. The human body has a high threshold for pain’ said Gabbo simply
‘You should know you Bully!’ said Aduke, suddenly angry
‘Can we save the drama for later? he said as his phone rang ‘Yes, Davis. No luck. Hmm. Called Olu. His team would get us to the bottom of this.

Give me per second updates okay? I need to know where they took him to.
‘Let us go. He isn’t here.’ Said Gabbo,
‘Just like that? Shouldn’t we wait? Asked Aduke in the hope that the guys had missed their way
‘No. They should have been here by now. They know their way here’ Said Gabbo.
‘Let’s go, there isn’t anything more to do here’ she could see he was worried
‘Will they find him, will he be okay? She asked, her eyes awash with a fresh bout of tears
‘Yes, he would be fine’ said Gabbo. He was not very sure of this, but he knew she desperately needed his reassurance.



He stepped forward, pulled her out of the chair and held her tightly in his arms, she felt so good there. This was where she belonged.

Aduke stood in his embrace, melting in against his hard chest. This felt so good. She wondered briefly why they had been fighting so much.

**********

‘Hey, Tessy’ said Simisola as her friend walked in
Simi was writing some details down in her journal. She looked serious with her glasses perched on her nose
‘Professor Simisola! I haven’t seen you like this in a long time’ teased Tessy
‘Tessy, allow me oh! I need to get my life back in order’ she said as she laughed out
‘Sounds good. So, what project are you working on this time?’ Tessy knew her friend very well, she had a way of jumping from one scheme to the other. Early last year, she had arranged a beauty pageant show for unsuspecting innocent girls. Tessy had been very surprised to see how much Simi had made from the whole exercise.

The sponsors had come begging Simi for an opportunity to sponsor the event. Apparently, the Owen-Browne name had helped her curry favours in the business world. The event had been well organised and it had also been well attended as everyone angled to get a ticket to the event. Tessy knew she had to get in on whatever action Simi was up to.

Tessy knew that Simi had scammed everyone, even the winner of the grand prize had not been given her full cash rewards. The young lady had however been smart enough not to complain, so, Simi had taken the girl under her wing and had endorsed her for the ‘Simisola Special Treatment’. She treated the young girl like her pet puppy. To be fair though, she had helped the girl secure many endorsement and advert deals.



The girl was now a celebrity, all thanks to Simisola.
‘Simisola!, what plans are you hatching out now?’ asked Tessy
‘This is Operation Get Married!’ said Simi
‘Who is getting married?’ asked Tessy, curious
‘Me.’ Responded Simi simply
‘You gotta be kidding me’ said Tessy
‘Nope. I’m serious’ responded Simi
‘Wow! Who is the lucky guy?’ asked Tess
‘None yet. We shall choose one together’ said Simi
‘Uh? What does Anita think about this?’ asked Tess
‘She has been out all morning, she doesn’t know yet’ said Simi who did not look sober
‘Wow. Didn’t think you were the marrying type’ said Tessy, she was shocked. There had to be a story here,
‘I’m not. Desperate times call for desperate actions, love’ said Simi, simply
‘So there is a story?’ asked Tessy, happy she had been right
‘Of course! I need to get married so I can join Daddy’s firm’ responded
‘Ah, so how will you tell Anita about this’ asked a curious Tessy, she needed to see how this drama would play out
Just chill. I am working out the details, we would all be in on it. I need to deal with that stupid tiny Bytch married to my dad’ said Simi vehemently
‘What has Sweet-Potato got to do with this?’ asked Tessy. Sweet-Potato was the nickname the girls had given the younger Mrs Owen-Browne because she always made the effort to call her husband endearing names in front of Simi, just to piss her off.
‘I was at dad’s office earlier and he told me that if I could bring a fiancé to him, he would allow me to work in the office. Once in, I would edge her out!’ responded Simi
‘What?’ exclaimed Tessy, ‘Your dad budged?! I cannot believe it. Wow!’ Tess knew of the long fight that Simi had with her dad over this issue. She was happy her friend could finally get into the office
‘So, why are you looking for husband when he asked for a fiancé?’ asked Tess, confused
‘Tess, don’t you know the crafty old geezer anymore? He’s going somewhere with this. I need to find a husband, I need a guy who will not bow and bend to him. I know he’s expecting that I will bring a hungry guy who would be willing to dump me the moment he credits the guy’s account. I need a credible guy who is willing to help me achieve my dreams. The thing is, none of our friends fit the bill. Do know anyone? Asked Simi
‘How about Chijioke’ offered Tessy
‘Eh, you want his girlfriend to kill me? Joked Simi
‘But its only temporary na’ laughed Tessy
‘No. Next.?’ Said Simi
Edmund nko?’ calling the name of another friend of theirs
‘Haba! Tessy, Do you want me to be the one to fund his habit?’ It was an open secret that Edmund Owoicho, the son of the Foreign Affairs Minister was a druggie. Rumour had it that his dad had cut him off and although Eddie had been able to get contracts using his family contacts, he had been unable to deliver on them because he had squandered the upfront payments on cocaine.
‘Tess, we don’t need anybody whose family has a name. Their parents could see this union as God sent, one that they can use to stabilise the future of their fortunes. So, divorce would be hard. I need somebody whose family would not kick back when I need a divorce, yet credible enough not to collect money from my dad. I want someone focused enough to take me at my word’s worth if I say I would set him up comfortably after all this’ said Simi.
‘Somebody is coming to mind, Simi. Admittedly, he is irritating, but, he could fit the bill. There are moral issues involved though…’ said Tessy slowly
‘Who is it Tess? Asked Simi, curious
‘Do you know Aduke’s boyfriend, Peter? Said Tessy
‘I know him and No. That guy and Aduke are like … in love or something’ said Simi, adamant.

‘Wait! Look, Aduke knows you and Peter are not a real item. I don’t know how we can hook him though. We have to sell him a good story. The thing is in terms of integrity, the guy is a sure pass’ said Tessy who knew because she had tempted him many times.


‘hmm… should I speak with Aduke first? Asked Simi, who had begun to toy with the idea.
‘We can do the talking-to simultaneously. Let me call him to request for a meeting’ said Tessy, as she began to call Peter’s number