Chapter 21 Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

"Growing up, my mother told me this 'any woman who does not love your family, does not love you' If she loves you then she'll love your family and tolerate every one of their faults."

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Mandy's Glam,

Lagos.

Amanda paced around her office frustrated while Davina tried to ignore her by busying herself with a puzzle game on her phone.

"Ugh!" Amanda groaned and hit herself lightly on the forehead. She groaned for the  umpteenth time before moving to her chair to sit.

Davina sighed tiredly and looked up. "Can I finish my damn game in peace?" She asked annoyed.

Her question only elicited a glare from Amanda. "How can you be so interested in finishing some stupid game when I'm almost completely out of my mind!" Amanda growled.

Davina scoffed "You're working yourself out Amanda! What could be so bad in moving into your husband's home?" Davina asked irritated. She was getting tired of Amanda's antics.

Amanda narrowed her eyes at Davina. "You know what's so bad!  How can you even ask me that? I hate his stupid stupid family!  I don't want to live with them!" Amanda screamed.

"Well you don't have a choice do you? You're married to the man,  whether you like it or not they are your family now" Davina sneered offering no sympathy.

Amanda was acting like a spoiled brat again.

Amanda bit her lips to stop herself from replying Davina.  "I don't know why Denola never listens to me, I hate the fact that his family has more power over him than I do" Amanda said with a moan of frustration.

Davina sighed and put down her phone on the table. "Amanda, Denola is your husband. You're supposed to love him,  cherish him and see his as your equal not try to dominate him and score more points than his family in your stupid tug of war game" Davina said.

Amanda rolled her eyes and tapped her fingers impatiently on her desk. "I wouldn't expect you to understand" She hissed.

She was moving into Mayfair Estate by weekend and it was a move that didn't please her but she had to do it to please Denola.

She had to get back into his good graces, she needed him to trust her again that was why she was putting up with all the bullshit he was spoon feeding her.

She had to submit until he was wrapped around her pinky again.

"I don't understand you at all Amanda, you were a bîtch to his mother and she was a bîtch to you. Can you fûcking bury the hatchet already? You're married to her son" Davina hissed.

"Her son! Not her or his father" Amanda countered.

"You shouldn't have married him then, how can you marry a man like Denola who is everything to his family and think you wouldn't be involved with them" Davina said.

Amanda's shoulders fell,  "You wouldn't ever understand why I want him all to myself Davina" Amanda sighed.

Davina wouldn't understand, there were so many secrets she was keeping from her.

So many secrets.....

Davina sighed before trying to get her to reason from a different angle "Mandy, do you know that the Mayfair estate is one of the most secure places in this Lagos?" Davina asked.

Amanda rolled her eyes "Yes,  it's secure. Secure enough to hide their dirty secrets and lifestyles" Amanda replied rudely.

Davina let out a breath of exasperation "Okay....at least you'll have the assurance that your own secrets will be secure and you'll be well protected from your crazy past now. Amanda you need protection and security, you have everything at the tip of your finger. All you have to do is embrace Mayfair" Davina advised.

Amanda sighed "Well.. When you say it like that, it sounds really reasonable. At least with Mayfair I know I'm safe" Amanda said sourly.

If only she knew that she and her secrets were far from safe where some Mayfairs were concerned

*

*

Hakeem eyed his wife who was playing with a plump baby on the other side of the room.  They were at her cousin's baby shower, an event he'd been forced to attend because his scheming wife had managed to get his father on the same page with her.

"Your wife will make a really good mother, I can't wait for you two to start having babies"  her cousin Mariam said with a grin.

Hakeem tried not to show his irritation at that statement but he couldn't help the little scowl that marred his face that had been expressionless few seconds ago.

He clenched his fists and refrained from yelling that he wasn't planning to have any baby with Nadia. He couldn't even stand sleeping in the same bed with her....how the hell then was he supposed to have sex with her and have babies with her?

Hakeem cleared his throat and excused himself from the room. Once he was out of the room, he let out a breath of relief before taking out his phone from his pocket.

He had six missed calls from Kadin, his brows furrowed more in surprise than confusion. He called Kadin immediately wondering why Kadin had phoned him six times, it was unusual since Kadin barely called.

"Boss" Hakeem acknowledged when Kadin answered.

"Brother....." Kadin said huskily. "I tried to reach you a couple of times....you must have been really busy.  Not too busy for me I hope?" Kadin asked.

Hakeem cleared his throat nervously. "Of course. My phone was away from me, I only just got it back" Hakeem explained.

He pictured Kadin nodding and waited for him to speak.

"I need you to go somewhere for me, if you're not to busy of course. A little errand,  will you?" Kadin asked.

Hakeem knew Kadin wasn't really asking, it was more of a command and Hakeem wouldn't dare turn him down.

"Anything you need Kadin" Hakeem said.

"I need you to find someone for me, somewhere in Jos" Kadin said.

Hakeem held his breath, remembering that Denola had gotten married to Amanda in Jos. Kadin must have gotten wind of it somehow and was once again searching for her.

"Who?" He asked nervously.

"My wife" Kadin said. "I'll email you details of everything you'll need. Don't fail me" Kadin said sternly and ended the call immediately.

Hakeem was even more confused, why was Kadin asking him to find his wife instead of sending his trusted aide?

Who was Kadin's wife anyway and why was he looking for her?

• • •

Don't let smiles and acts of good, repentance and olive branches fool you believe me their intentions towards you remain the same.

*********

Mayfair Estate,

Lagos.

Amanda.

Dame Mayfair was waiting for the couple in her gazebo at the back of the house.

Amanda held her breath when she saw the rest of the Mayfairs beside her. She had an idea of what Denola might have told his parents, Jadesola had seen their fight and they all knew about the secret wedding so she was anticipating their venom. She was very much prepared for that, she had words for them too.

Her defences faltered when Dame Mayfair rose to her full height and sent her a welcoming smile.

"Iyawo mi" she greeted warmly in Yoruba, Amanda knew a little Yoruba and smiled a little when she heard this. 'Our wife', she was welcome.

Her defences fell as Dame Mayfair pulled her into a hug.

Amanda knew she had little to worry about if the Dame was being sweet on her. She basked in the warm welcome and attention that was showered on her by the Dame.

Denola's father stood up next and sent her a smile. "It's good to see you again Mrs Mayfair, you're welcome to the family. If you'll excuse me now, I have to get back to work" he said squeezing her arm gently.

Amanda smiled and thanked him before he turned to Denola "Son, I'll catch up with you later" He said giving Denola a side hug.

Amanda watched him leave before returning her attention to Denola again who was smiling at her now, she smiled at him too but the smile didn't reach her eyes. Not that he noticed.

Amanda turned to Atalia next and waited for her venom,  but there was no venom. Atalia smiled at her, it was so genuine that it overwhelmed Amanda.

Something definitely wasn't right, she smiled back at Atalia but she wasn't fooled. The woman hadn't liked her when she was dating her son and she knew the woman certainly wouldn't like her now that she'd married him.

"Well don't stand there all day, come and sit here you two" she said gesturing to two empty chairs beside her.

Amanda remained motionless till Denola nudged her, she mentally hissed before taking his hand and moving to sit beside Atalia and her evil sister in-law Jadesola.

Her hand remained in Denola's hand even after they sat down, she was clearly uncomfortable under the scrutinizing eyes of Atalia and Jadesola.

"Don't be a stranger, loosen up girl. This is your home now" Dame Mayfair encouraged when she noticed Amanda's stiffness.

Jadesola sneered and stood up immediately. "Maybe she's still feeling guilty" she said before turning to look at Amanda.

"I'm not going to pretend like everybody else here that you're not responsible for my brother's selfish behavior. You took him away and forced him into marriage, you took him away from us when we needed him and because of that he's left without his grandfather's blessing. You're a pretentious, scheming, manipulating bitch.... Iyawo my ass!" Jadesola hissed before storming out of  the gazebo.

"Well...wasn't that a warm welcome?" Atalia said humorously.

Amanda sighed and looked away miserably, how did she even agree to this nonsense again, and she was going to live with this people?

Denola on the other hand was pissed. "It's not funny mum,  you need to talk to your daughter. I won't tolerate anymore outbursts like this, Jadesola has no right to speak to Amanda that way" He said angrily.

Atalia simply clicked her tongue "She's your sister too, maybe you should do the talking" Atalia said standing up.  She played with the expensive pearl on her neck.

"On that note, you're very much welcome Mrs Wife." Atalia smirked before muttering under her breath

'I suppose we can't get rid of you now' with that, she walked out of the gazebo to meet her daughter.

It was necessary for her to call Jadesola to order, she needed her plan to go smoothly and for Amanda to remain unsuspecting of her agenda.

She would make that girl very comfortable before she snapped back.

*

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*

*

*

Atalia paced about the room restlessly,  while Jadesola remained calm waiting for her mother's outburst.

"What did I tell you Jade?" Atalia asked finally, she glared at Jadesola asked she spoke.

Jadesola hissed and rolled her eyes "You know I never hide my mouth, you know how I feel about that bi.." Jadesola was saying when her mother cut her off.

"Do you think I want her in our home, do you think I want her to have our last name?!" Atalia shouted.

Jadesola jumped a little alarmed "Mum, why are you shouting? It was nothing...." She said.

Atalia shook her head "It wasn't nothing, I told you to remain calm and let me handle things. We will deal with that scum eventually. For now, let's wear our masks of patience. Good things come to those who wait" Atalia said.

Jadesola rolled her eyes "Whatever you say mum. By the way, why haven't you told me your plans?" Jadesola asked.

Atalia smirked thinking of how she was going to deal with the pest that was invading their lives. "Just trust your mother Jade, just trust your mother" she said.

Jadesola hummed,  she did trust her mother. She knew her mother was not one to be messed with and stupid Amanda had trampled on her feet too many times.

"Just let me in on something mum, what is your plan?" Jadesola pestered.

Atalia was about to respond when they heard a knock. "Who is it?" Atalia asked frowning.

"Open up Atalia" came Dame Mayfair's voice.

Atalia rolled her eyes before gesturing to Jadesola to open the door.

Jadesola sighed and got up from her mother's comfy cushion, she walked to the door and threw it open.

"Grannie, is there a problem?" she asked cocking her eyebrows rudely.

Dame smiled before lifting her hand to pull Jadesola's ears.  "You naughty girl, I knew I'd find you here" Dame said still pulling Jadesola's ears as she walked into her daughter in-law's room.

Atalia was alarmed when she heard Jadesola moaning in pain and was displeased when she saw Dame manhandling Jade.

"Dame when will you stop treating Jadesola like a little girl, she's now a woman. You need to stop this!" Atalia said upset.

Dame Mayfair frowned unimpressed and squeezed Jadesola's ears.

"Ouch! Grannie stop!" she winced and tried to pull away but Dame's grip was firm.

"Gbenu Soun! You naughty girl since you've refused to stop acting like a brat and your mother has refused to call you to order, I'll keep treating you like the child that you are" Dame Mayfair said pulling the ear harder.

"Mummy, make her stop!" Jadesola winced as she called out to her mother.

Atalia moved to the duo. "Dame please let me handle this. She's my daughter and I was just speaking to her about her behavior" Atalia said upset.

Dame shook her head and pointed a finger at her.

"Since this girl was born, you've been spoiling her.  You and your husband, anytime someone tries to scold her,  You would say you'd handle it. Yet you did nothing, now go and sit back and watch me handle this. If you dare interfere, I'll give you the same treatment" Dame Mayfair threatened.

Atalia clearly startled by the threat simply shook her head and walked back to her seat.

"Now listen to me girl, Denola is not your mate. Should your father pass away, he'll be the new head of the Mayfair clan. You have no right to dictate to him about how he should act, who he should be with or what he should do. He's a man not a child, and the man has made his choice. Amanda is your brother's wife and I'm sure she's not your mate and even if she is....you have no right to speak to her rudely. First of all she's a married woman and she's married to your older brother. Whether you like her or not,  you must respect her. If you dare speak to her in such manner again, in my presence or not, I will give you the beating your mother failed to give you as a child. Do you understand me?!" Dame Mayfair asked strictly and squeezed Jade's ear for emphasis.

"Yes please, just stop" Jadesola begged.

"Shush......I'm not done with you. Tonight, we're having a family dinner. You must apologize to her the minute you see her,  if you don't I'll humiliate you there and then. And trust me,  you won't like it.  Disobedient girl, I will not watch you parade about like a peacock in it's palace.  Especially when you've never worked for anything in your life!" Dame Mayfair said before letting go off the ear.

Jadesola moved away quickly as if she'd been burned.  She went over to her mother's full mirror and examined her ear.

"As for you Atalia,  you better be nice to our wife. I didn't like you when my son married you,  but I tolerated you so we could all live in peace.  I expect the same from you now" Dame Mayfair said before turning away from them and leaving the room.

"Why does she have to be so wicked?!" Jadesola screamed in anger.

Atalia shushed her "Keep shouting like that and she'll come back for you" she warned.

Jadesola growled "This is all Amanda's fault. I swear the soonest that bleached bitch leaves this house and family, the better for us" Jadesola hissed.

"Patience, my dear...patience is the key. Stop shouting, let me think and go get some ice for your ears. I just hope it doesn't swell because I won't take it lightly with your grandmother" Atalia hissed.

"Fine! but just do something and get rid of that Amanda quickly" Jadesola hissed before walking away.

'I'm on it dear, I'm on it' Atalia whispered to herself as she watched her daughter leave.