Sisterhood episode 84

TITLE: SISTERHOOD

AUTHOR: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 84

He didn’t see Esther for two months as his job got him busy but he talked to her every day. Immediately he rounded up his commitment, he flew to Boston. He came to her store. Esther thought she saw a ghost because they talked that morning. She signalled for him to come to her office at the back. As he entered, she hugged him tightly and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I had been so busy and immediately I was through, I came here. I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too. The children are around.”

“I know. I will stay in a hotel.”

“I can’t sleep over. You should have told me and I would have made an arrangement.”

“It was a spontaneous decision. I will stay in the hotel. I will work with your schedule. I understand perfectly.”

“Ok. Should I drive you to the hotel?”

“I came with a rental car. I will send you the details.” He kissed her.

Esther wasn’t herself. She went home to cook a meal and then took it to the hotel. When she closed, she went home to make sure the children were in bed. She left them, locked the house and went to meet Efe. She was with him until 3 am. She came back home. He stayed for an additional two days and then he left.

For Christmas, Esther’s children wanted to be with their grandparents. Her sister and her family were also travelling home. Esther asked her to help take the kids with her. She bought their tickets. She asked her stepmother to attend to the children from the proceeds of the farm. It was settled.

Rachel and Efe’s ex-wife had planned a getaway together outside the country. Efe bought the tickets, paid for the accommodation and gave Rachel his credit card. He wanted to spend the holiday with Esther. This was the perfect timing. They created several other opportunities to spend time together during the cause of the following year.

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Esther came back to Nigeria for a few months to tidy up some of her business dealings, especially the BDCs. They were cashing out at that time and she wanted to take advantage. She desired to come back to Nigeria, she didn’t like living abroad especially living without Efe.

On that trip back to Boston, she sat beside a friendly gentleman. A Yoruba guy who was in his late thirties. He claimed he was a widower. They exchanged contacts. Even though she liked Efe, she also wanted to be friends with other guys. Efe had Rachel.

Her friendship with Demola was going well. They spoke often. He asked her to dinner several times but she declined because of work. Once she was willing to go, Efe showed up without informing her. She no longer liked the idea of just appearing and she told him. Finally, she was able to have dinner with Demola. She had a good time. He was fun to be with. When he dropped her off at home and tried to kiss her, she declined. She told him she was involved with someone but wouldn’t mind the friendship.

Demola became a regular at her store. She was so funny and had fun ideas. He added her to a group where they plan to go on adventures together. The adventure they chose was to Abu Dhabi. She made the plans and paid her portion. She was living lowkey and didn’t want anyone to know how much she was worth.

She mentioned the twelve-day trip to Abu Dhabi to Efe. He wanted the details which she gave him. He sent her money for the trip. It was a very generous amount. He asked her not to share her room with anyone no matter what, and she agreed. That was the most exciting adventure she had had in a very long time. They went to Dubai on a two-day trip and had more fun. She decided her children will go on this adventure too.

Towards the end of the trip, they went shopping. Esther bought things mainly for her kids and Efe’s kids. She bought a necklace for Rachel. She bought a hand chain for Efe. She also bought things for her sister and her kids. Demola came to see her that evening in the room as she was packing. They were together at all the activities they had. Then Demola attempted to kiss her again. Initially, she allowed the kiss but when it was becoming steamy, she ended it. Demola wanted more but she told him it would not work.

“The guy you are involved with, why does he never go to your house? Why do you meet with him in the hotel?” Demola asked.

“How did you know that? Are you stalking me?”

“I am not stalking you but I had to know who I am dealing with. If he truly loves you he will divorce his white wife and marry you.”

“He is not married to her and I am ok with our arrangement.”

“So why can’t you have a relationship if he has one?”

Esther refused to continue with the conversation. She knew it was time to end this with Demola. He was dangerous. How did he know about Efe and Rachel? She had to be more careful.

She avoided him when she came back to Boston. She stopped having dinners with him and didn’t give him much attention when he visited her store.

Demola was upset. He was a very handsome man and he felt Esther wouldn’t be able to resist him. He knew she had money. Her house was paid for and her kids attended private school. Why she didn’t fall for his charm but would rather be with Efe, he couldn’t understand. He decided to stir the boat.

Demola sent compromising pictures and videos of him and Esther on the Abu Dhabi trip to Efe. It was sent anonymously. He believed Efe would get upset and dump Esther so she would come running back to him.

When Efe saw the pictures and videos, he was surprised. Esther had sent him pictures and videos but didn’t send these. Why did he have to see these? There was a video of Esther and Demola in bathing suits. Esther looked so sexy in her swimwear. The guy (Demola) had a nice physique and a handsome face. He thought Esther had stepped out on him which made him very upset.

Efe didn’t come to see Esther and also didn’t speak with her for over a week. He was hurting. He couldn’t erase the image of Esther with the guy in his head. He was unwilling to share her with anyone. Esther sent messages to him. Finally, he responded and told her he was too busy to talk to her. He was sad and everyone around him knew it. It was when he snapped at the children Rachel had to talk to him.

“What’s the matter? You have been gloomy all week. What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Did she leave you?” she asked.

“Who?”

“The lady you travel to Boston to see.”

“How did you know? How long have you known?”

“I knew when I found frequent flights to Boston for weeks. I knew you were seeing someone there. You have been happy and very generous since she came on board so I didn’t allow it to bother me.”

“But you should have said something.”

“And be with grumpy old you? I don’t think so. She makes you happy; the children make me happy. I don’t want anything from you except the children. You are free to be with her while I have a swell time here.”

Read – Her prince charming episode 44 – 45

“You don’t mind?”

“Efe, do you love me?”

“I do.”

“Are you in love with me?”

“That I can’t answer.”

“But you are in love with her. You abandon work and everything to be with her. If it was just sex, you would be tired or bored by now. You are in love with this lady.”

“But she might be in love with someone else.”

“Ask her about it and resolve this issue. I want you to be happy.”

“How will this work, Rachel?”

“I moved out of your bedroom for a reason. I find ladies more attractive and I am sort of seeing one. We are careful and respectful of our male partners but soon we might come out of the closet.”

“You are bisexual? I never knew.”

“I am tilting towards lesbianism. Let me be here for the children while you do your thing. When was the last time we were intimate? It should tell you we were not meant to be.”

“Lesbianism? I don’t want it around my kids. I am serious.”

“I have never exposed them to it. And I will not do that to them until they are fully mature. I assure it, it won’t happen.”

“Please.”

Having that conversation with Rachel cleared Efe’s head. He didn’t have to pretend around her anymore. The problem he had was the man Esther was involved with. Having a clearer head made him realise there was more to this than meets the eye. The guy had overstepped his boundaries.

He tracked the sender and got his information. Demola was married but his family lived in another state. He was a gigolo and Esther was to be his next prey. He could smell the money. He got angry when Esther didn’t fall for his charm. Why was Esther so careless? Why didn’t she investigate the guy she was friendly with?

It was time for the stalker to be stalked and threatened. Efe sent messages to Demola. He sent all the information he had found out about him including evidence of his marital status and children. He attached pictures he had found of Demola and his family. Then he warned him to stay away from Esther. He had information he could give to immigration and he and his family will be in serious trouble. He threatened Demola to the point he got scared.

Efe wasn’t done. He reported Demola for stalking. He brought evidence against him. Demola didn’t live in Boston but he targeted Esther and moved to Boston. It was easy to get rid of him. What Efe couldn’t understand was how he got his contact.

After sorting out the issues, he came to Boston to see Esther. He had been ignoring her and he knew she was apprehensive. When she saw him at the store she couldn’t hide her excitement. They went into her office to talk. He told her how disappointed he was in her. He asked why she did not investigate the man she got involved with.

Esther denied being involved with him. She told him the story. Even with that, he told her she was careless. What if Jake was setting her up? She accepted she should have investigated him. He showed her the pictures he sent to him. Esther was heartbroken. Now she understood why Efe ignored her all this while. He told her what he had done.

“No more hiding. If you want to be with another man, declare it so I would find out if he is safe and then leave so you can be happy.”

“We were just friends.”

“But you never told me about him. It felt more like a relationship you were hiding.”

“Let’s not argue about this. If I find someone I like, I will let you know.”

“And I will leave.”

“Fine. If that is what you want. You have a woman at home and I can’t have a man?”

“We have gone through this before. You can have your man but not with me. I have concentrated on you; why can’t you concentrate on me? Why do I have to share you? Why can’t you love just me? You were faithful to Jake until I came along; why can’t you be faithful to me.”

“But I am faithful to you. I haven’t been with any other man. You have a woman at home while I get to sleep alone at night.”

“I sleep alone at night too. She has her room. We hardly have sex. She is not the sex type. I lived with it until you came along. I want sex with you. Only you.”

“Efe, you will have other girlfriends when we are together eventually. You will want something new and different. Or even a very young girl. It is what men want.”

“It was what Jake wanted but you didn’t see it because you were blinded by love. Since you have known me, have you ever come to my house and met another lady? Do you think I couldn’t have as many ladies as I wanted? What do you think makes me rush to you every time I have the opportunity? Shouldn’t I be tired by now? It is you, Esther. It is you I want to be with, not just your body. I fear that you are not being faithful to me as your friend has proved. You like fine boys and I can’t compete with what you like.”

“If I tell you I slept with him, what will you do to me? Believe what you want to believe but I took him as a friend. When he wanted more, I stopped communicating with him. He sent the pictures and videos as revenge because he knew about you. I can’t force you into a committed relationship because I messed up in the past. I want more now but I am not in a position to negotiate. I needed a distraction. Each time you go back, I wonder if you are in bed with her. I try to imagine what both of you do. She is smaller than me and I wonder if it is the reason you can’t let go. I want more but I can’t force it and I am in no position to make demands.”

“Why do you want a committed relationship?”

“I don’t know how to jump from one man to the other.”

“Is that all? Would you want it with another person?”

“I want it with you.”

“Why? Why me?” Esther didn’t respond. She turned away from him and focused on something else. Efe turned her around and asked her again, “Why me, Esther?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want anyone else.”

‘Say it”

“Say what?”

“Say it and I will give up everything for you. Just tell me what you feel.”

Esther laughed and said, “You won’t give up everything for me. You are not callous. There is no need. I understand the situation that was why I didn’t come to your state to live.”

“Say it and see if I will do it or not.”

“I can say it and won’t mean it.”

“Just say it. If you don’t I will leave here and never come back. I mean it.” He turned and walked towards the door.

Esther ran after him before he got to the door. She stopped him with tears in her eyes. “You know how I feel.”

“Tell me how you feel and watch me move the world for you.”

“I don’t like the visits, I want something permanent. I want to be with you always.”

“It can be done. No more playing hard girl, let us do this. What do you say?”

“Yes.”

“Ok. I will work things out with Rachel and we can take it from there.”

“Are you serious?”

“Very. I mean every word I say.”

She jumped on him and kissed him passionately. Efe responded. He could see she was genuinely happy. She picked up her bag and left the store with him. Back at the hotel, she told Efe never to leave her or make promises he wouldn’t keep. He promised her it would never happen. They kissed and made love and she confessed her love for him. That was all Efe needed to hear. Before he left, he made a move to show her how serious he was. He met Esther’s children. He told them of his intentions towards her. Surprisingly, they wanted whatever their mother wanted.

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Efe’s business kept expanding. He was making more money than he had ever anticipated. Top-tier clients walked into his company to do business. He couldn’t understand it. He talked to Esther about it. He was signing deals of eight figures. He was referred several times and he did business with them.

Within a year, Esther relocated with her family to Maryland to be with Efe. He bought a big house that had two wings. He introduced his children to Esther and Esther introduced her children to Efe’s children. They discussed the marriage plans with the children and Rachel and agreed that they would live together as a family to be sure they wanted to be together. If it worked out, they would get married.

Rachel maintained a room in the house. Efe’s children wanted her to stay and she didn’t want to be separated from them. Esther was ok with it. Before long, her children fell in love with Rachel. She took care of all the kids and she didn’t mind doing it. Esther spoiled her with gifts because of her selflessness. She could never do what Rachel was doing for them.

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Esther invited her parents to her new home. She introduced them to Efe. Efe let them know he wanted to marry her. Her father did not know much about why Jake was in prison and was not supportive of the divorce. As it posed a challenge, Esther told her parents everything. She explained to them why she left Nigeria the way she did and her fears.

Even though shocked at the information, her father insisted on her waiting before diving into marriage. “Jake’s rush to marry you was a red flag we overlooked and see how he ended up. You need to be sure of this guy before you rush into something you will regret.”

“I was young and gullible when I married Jake. I have been in love with Efe since I was in university. He travelled and never contacted me again. If he was in the picture I would never have married Jake. I have to confess, when we saw each other again, we started a relationship. He wanted me to leave Jake and marry him but I didn’t. I ended it when I felt guilty. We kept coming back together and separating until Jake’s imprisonment. I waited a year for me to be sure it is him I wanted. Daddy, it is him. I don’t need your approval to get married to Efe. I will marry him because I love him and he genuinely loves me.”

That night, Esther’s stepmother talked with her. She advised her to confirm that Efe is the one before she ties the knot. She told her to be wise and not depend on her emotions. “I will tell my Pastor but if you have someone you can talk to that sees, call just for confirmation. Once bitten, twice shy.”

Esther thought about it. It made sense. She was emotional about Efe. She had to be sure she wasn’t making a mistake. Efe was travelling often and he was making so much money. She was proud of him. What if he sees another girl as the money is pouring in? Men can never be trusted. She wasn’t sure he was faithful to her during the trips. Some of these girls could be desperate.

She thought of whom to call for spiritual guidance. She knew Funke was out of it. She believed in her orthodox church and they don’t do such. Nkem was worse. She was surprised she divorced Jake but she still didn’t like Efe for her. Zainab was engulfed in her marriage and wouldn’t be much help. Uncle Tobi was too enlightened to know such people. Then she remembered the Baba that her ex-husband used. She had his phone number. She wondered if he would speak with her truthfully or if he would want to revenge on Efe’s behalf. But she did nothing to Efe for him to revenge for him. And Baba had never lied to her.

She called Baba. He didn’t know who it was but when she introduced herself properly, he was so excited to hear from her. They caught up since the last time they saw. She asked after Jake and he assured her all was well with him.

“You didn’t call me because of Jake. What is troubling?” he asked her.

“Baba, remember I confessed to you and Jake about having a lover and you asked me to stop. Well, I am back with him and my father is not in support of us getting married.”

“After your experience with Jake, he should be. Send me his name and his mother’s full name. I will ask and get back to you.”

Esther sent all he needed to him. She never asked who he was going to ask or how he would get the information. With Baba, she was never suspicious. She believed he would give her an honest answer.

Baba called back. “He is your husband. Your people like him because he is taking very good care of you. Work in the same office as him, if you do that, you will be very prosperous. Your name will be all over the world. You have wealth in you.”

“He might not agree for me to work with him. I don’t want to have any issues with him especially if he feels I don’t trust him.”

“He is not Jake; he doesn’t have women’s problems. This one is serious but don’t let him know you have wealth in you. He should see you as his good luck charm. Let me talk to him. Once I speak with him, he will listen to whatever you say. Don’t be afraid.”

When Efe returned from work, she told him the man that helped her with Jake wanted to speak with him. Baba talked to Efe. He told him to allow Esther to work with him and see how prosperous he will be but there was a catch. “If you make her upset or angry, you will lose everything you made. Her guardian angels don’t like to hear her cry. They dealt with Jake. If you don’t want the same fate, make her happy always. If she works with you, you will call me to thank me for this advice.”

Efe married Esther the following weekend in a courthouse. It was their second marriage so they wanted only close family members. Efe’s parents accepted Esther and prayed for her.

Baba was right; both of them were a force to reckon with. But they remained humble and content.