Chapter 14 Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

"If you intend on keeping secrets, remember we live in a small world and sooner or later it will be discovered"

*******************

Early June.

Lekki,

Lagos.

Hakeem.

His wife's face was the last thing he wanted to see in the morning but unfortunately for him he'd run into her the minute he got out of his room. One of the reasons he'd purchased a big house was because he wanted a lot of space and distance. It was why her room was seven doors away and despite the distance, he felt it was still too near. That was also the same reason he spent most of his time at his club to avoid her as usual.

"Good morning" she muttered lowering her eyes when he glared at her. "What?" he asked angrily. Every conversation with her always left him in a foul mood.

"Daddy....my Dad that is. He called to ask if you were coming to see him this weekend. We're having our usual family dinner and he wants you there" She said playing with her wedding band. A gesture that irritated him to no end, he hated seeing his late mother's ring on her finger. She didn't deserve it, she deserved nothing that belonged to him and his family.

"Why should I see your father, I thought he was too good to associate with the likes of me. His retired driver's son, suddenly I've made money and I've become an interest" Hakeem sneered and walked away.

Nadia followed him. "It's not like that, you've been turning down every of his invitations. You're part of the family now, Saturday family dinner is a tradition. You never attend anyone, he wants to know why" Nadia said calmly.

Hakeem laughed harshly. "Part of your family, I thought he said I was nothing but his slave. I'm not a part of your snobbish family, not by choice anyway. Our marriage doesn't change anything, I hate your family. Everyone of them" he said.

Nadia swallowed knowing she was also included. "So you won't come?" she asked.

"Yes I won't come, I'm busy. Some of us work you know, we aren't all jobless. I don't stay at home all day like you!" he spat.

"I'm not jobless, I've never asked you for anything material have I? Neither am I interested in your money, not that you would ever give me any..." Nadia was saying when he cut her off.

"I don't give you anything because you don't deserve it, because you're not worth it. Why should I waste any cent on a liar and a deceitful snake, you can play innocent all you like but you don't fool me" Hakeem said.

Nadia sighed, she was used to hearing this. Gone were the days she used to flinch to his harsh words.

"Will you at least call my father and give him your reasons for not attending the family dinner this time?" she muttered.

"I don't owe your father any explanations, stop bothering me Nadia. Isn't it too early for this, why won't you let me be?!" he snapped before grabbing his car and house keys from the shelf. He stormed out of the house and hurried to his car just in case she followed.

He was out of his house and on the way to his club in no time.

When he got to the club, he quickly handed his car keys to a chauffeur to park his car before walking to the front door entrance where he met one of his security guards interrogating a man.

He recognized the man the minute he got closer. "Aliu" he said surprised to see the man.

Aliu resided and worked for his close friend in Abuja and he almost never left Abuja unless it involved serious business.

He was his boss's right hand man and he handled everything at Abuja. His coming down to Lagos meant it was extremely important.

Aliu sighed "Thank God you're here, your bouncer won't let me in. I tried to convince him that I've been here before with Kadin but he wouldn't believe me" Aliu said.

Hakeem smirked before turning to the guard. "Tola this is Aliu, he works for my very good friend. Do not deny him access again for any reason unless of course I order you to" Hakeem said.

Tola nodded before opening the door. "Good morning sir" he said leaving the doorway. Hakeem and Aliu walked into the building.

"He's a new staff, he doesn't know you. And besides you haven't been here for over a year now. Since the opening" Hakeem said.

"Well...You know how seriously we take our work. Kadin does not tolerate sloppy ends, you've worked for him before. You know how it is."

"I remember very well. You should have just come with Kadin's VIP card. They'd have allowed you in" Hakeem said.

Kadin and Denola were the first people he'd given VIP cards.

"We couldn't find the VIP card you gave Kadin. He would have called to inform you I was coming but he had other things in mind" Aliu said.

Hakeem nodded "I'll have to send another card to him, how is he these days? Is he still crazy about his risky kind of business?" Hakeem asked.

"That's not why I came" Aliu said. Hakeem nodded and went to the bar to get them a drink. It was still early in the morning and the place was almost empty, staffs were still putting everything in order. Hakeem managed to find them a bottle of wine and returned with two glasses.

"Isn't it too early to drink?" Aliu asked smiling.

Hakeem scoffed, not after dealing with his terrible wife. Alcohol and women were means of escape for him but he didn't tell Aliu that, it was too personal.

"Come on Aliu, you are used to worse by now. Kadin drinks from morning till night" Hakeem said.

"He doesn't drink anymore, he has a child now you know?" Aliu said.

Hakeem's eyes went wide. "He does, don't tell me he's also married" Hakeem said.

Aliu laughed "He's not as wild and psychotic as he was before, he's toned down. I handle most of his business now" he said.

Hakeem laughed remembering the man who had helped him and invested in his business years ago.

"He did mention being engaged once when he was drunk" Hakeem laughed again.

"How come he didn't call to tell me he was getting married or anything?" Hakeem asked.

"Let's discuss that later. I'd like to know something Hakeem" Aliu said.

Hakeem got serious and dropped his glass of wine. "What would you like to know?" Hakeem asked.

"Do you keep track of your VIP cards?" Aliu asked.

"Yes, they are limited. When someone opens a premium account with us, he becomes a member of this establishment and he's handed a VIP card. He can use the VIP card to purchase drinks and other things on credit, everything is charged to his premium account later" Hakeem explained wondering why Aliu was interested.

"How do you differentiate one VIP card from the other?" Aliu asked. "They are numbered, Kadin is number one. He's the first person I gave a VIP card" Hakeem said.

"Well his VIP card was stolen, he wants to know if someone has used it. The person stole from us and it's important that I find the person" Aliu said.

"Are you sure the person is in Lagos?" Hakeem asked.

Aliu shrugged not willing to say anything else, "Alright, I'll ask security. They usually take note of people who come in with VIP cards and their numbers" Hakeem said.

Aliu nodded. "I'll be back tomorrow morning, I have to see a few clients today." Aliu said getting up.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow. Take care" Hakeem said, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was odd.

*

It was almost six o'clock in the evening when Hakeem's assistant came back with a report on the use of the VIP cards in his club.

"Was it used here?" Hakeem asked hoping it wasn't. He wondered who would have been stupid enough to steal from Kadin.

Maria nodded. "Card one was used in December twenty fifth and January twenty ninth. By two people, Amanda and Davina Arinze. It was card number one, they didn't purchase anything with the card though" Maria informed.

Hakeem's eyes "Amanda Arinze?" Hakeem asked shocked.

Maria nodded. Hakeem shook his head, now that he thought about it. He hadn't asked himself once how Amanda had a VIP card. He certainly hadn't issued her any.

He knew Amanda had secrets but what kind of secrets exactly? Something was definitely not right.

•••

"We keep the darkest part of us beneath the surface, the surface is so bright and beautiful it makes it impossible to see the darkness beneath"

******************

Early June

Victoria Island,

Lagos.

Amanda.

Amanda and Davina were getting ready to leave the house for the office when the bell rang. "Could that be Denola, perhaps he forgot something?" Davina asked.

Amanda frowned when she heard the bell again. "No I doubt that, it's probably one of his nosy, snobbish family" Amanda hissed sliding into her Prada shoes.

Davina smirked. "Are they that bad?" Davina asked.

"You have no idea Vina, they never stop calling me names and I haven't done anything to them. Not yet, when I'm ready for them. They will regret messing with me. " Amanda hissed.

She picked up her file and bag and headed toward the door.

When she opened the door, she was greeted by Hakeem's stormy expression.

"Denola isn't here" she said coldly. She and Hakeem weren't friends, they only tolerated each other for the sake of Denola.

"I know" Hakeem frowned. "I called him before coming here. It's you I want to see, can I come in?" he asked looking around.

Amanda rolled her eyes. "I don't have time, talk" she said crossing her arms against her chest.

Hakeem nodded thoughtfully and decided to keep things brief. "I found out that you've been using a VIP card to get into my club" Hakeem said studying her expression.

Amanda froze for a moment before straightening her shoulders, her face went expressionless. "Yes?" She asked.

"How did you get it?" Hakeem asked.

Amanda scoffed "Really, you came here to ask me that?" Amanda asked flipping her long braids backwards.

"You used the first card I issued out and it's been reported stolen. I'd like you to be honest with me now, how did you get it?" Hakeem asked.

Amanda sighed exasperated "It belonged to Davina's ex Tim, he's in South Africa at the moment. Perhaps you'd like to go over there to question him" Amanda answered sarcastically.

Hakeem grinned. "Of course, that will also be arranged. This Tim however never used the card, you did. Mr Kadin as the owner of the card and the police would like to question you, the person who used the stolen card. I'll give them your contact details so they can get in touch with you" Hakeem said coldly.

Amanda paled at the mention of an interrogation, she was hiding something. He knew that but he wanted to know exactly what she was hiding.

"Ka...Kadin?" she stuttered, her bravado disappeared immediately.

"He's here...in...in.....Lagos?" Amanda asked again.

Hakeem studied her for a while, one thing was prominent in her features now. It was fear, Amanda was afraid. He saw it in the tears that gathered in her eyes, in the way her body shivered.

"Are you okay Amanda?" Hakeem asked concerned.

She shook her head slowly. "Look, he's not in Lagos but his assistant is. He's looking for his VIP card, just hand it to me and I'll handle everything. But you need to tell me what you're hiding" Hakeem said.

Amanda's lips quivered as she shook her head. "No... It's over. It's over for me, it's not that simple. Nothing is that simple with Kadin" Amanda said.

Hakeem frowned. "I know he is a complex man, can I come in? Let's talk, I know you won't confide in Denola but you need to talk to me. I'm the only one who can get you out of whatever you've gotten yourself into. Do you understand?" Hakeem said eyeing her head down to toe.

Amanda nodded and held the door open, "Come in, you might want to sit down" Amanda said clearing her throat.

She walked back into the house where Davina was standing in the middle of the room looking at Amanda in askance.

"Hello, you must be Davina" Hakeem acknowledged when he entered the sitting room. "Hello, good morning" Davina said coldly still not moving from her spot.

Hakeem cleared his throat and looked to Amanda for answers. "You cannot tell Denola any of this...I know he is your friend but I have to be the one to tell him" Amanda said.

Davina's eyes widened. "You don't plan on telling him right?" Davina asked.

"Amanda, we agreed on burying everything in the past, that's why you came to Lagos. Don't do this, you'll ruin everything" Davina said.

Amanda shook her head "Kadin is looking for me, if he finds me...everything will be ruined. Hakeem here might be the only person who can help" Amanda said.

"We should never have used that card or gone to that club. What were we thinking?" Davina scoffed.

"It's okay Vina, I promise you. No matter what happens, I'll make sure he doesn't hurt you. This is my problem, not yours." Amanda muttered.

Hakeem looked at her confused. What the hell was going on?

Amanda turned to Hakeem. "My name is not Amanda Arinze, she did exist at some point but she's dead. I changed my name because I was running away" Amanda said.

Hakeem exhaled. Wow, it was much bigger than he'd expected.

Just how much was she hiding? Hakeem wondered. Most importantly, he wondered how much of a danger she was to Denola.

"Why...why were you running and what were you running away from?" Hakeem asked curiously.

"That's a very long story" Amanda muttered but that didn't deter Hakeem. He had all day, he wanted to hear every secret in Amanda's book.

*

Jadesola's phone rang twice before she finally got out of bed with a groan. She walked over to her shelf and plucked the phone off it. It was an unknown caller, she rolled her eyes before answering it.

"This better be important!" she barked at the caller not caring who it was. She was the one and only Jadesola Mayfair after all.

"Miss Mayfair, it's Maria Philemon. Hakeem's assistant. You asked me to keep tabs on one Amanda Arinze and your brother Denola Mayfair" the caller said immediately.

Jadesola's eyes sparkled with interest and mischief now. She immediately wondered what her brother and his precious Amanda were up to now.

"Anything interesting?" She asked slumping on her king sized bed.

"Yes ma'am, well it has nothing to do with your brother but Miss Arinze has been using a stolen VIP card. The owner came searching for it yesterday, I thought that might interest you" Maria reported.

"Stolen" Jadesola giggled. Why was she not surprised, she knew that Amanda girl wasn't so innocent.

"Yes. I didn't get the owner's name and identity but I'm hoping that he might come in tonight" Maria said.

"Excellent my dear, make sure you get his name and identity, I could make dinner with a picture too. And send me your account number, I'll forward money to you immediately. Good job" Jadesola said excitedly before ending the call.

She quickly texted her mother after she ended the call.

'Operation bringing Amanda down is back on track. Are you in?' Jadesola smirked as she sent the next. She knew her mother would definitely be in support, no one hated the tramp more.

As for Hakeem, they were supposed to be in this together but he hadn't bothered to tell her this.

She knew his loyalty rested with Denola but he was a fool for thinking Amanda was good for her brother.

She would expose and get rid of Amanda once and for all.