Love or Wealth 39b

 EP 39B


 After work Made took the recording straight to Segun's office...)

MADE : Uncle...(Holding the camera)...it was more than what we expected o.
SEGUN : really!
MADE : take a look at it yourself..(Giving the camera to
Segun)...Uncle beware, some scene there can be tempting...
SEGUN : (surprised)....haha...(collects it)..let me see...(starts
watching at the recording)...Jesus!...this girl is desperate o! (Looks
at Made)... Right in the office?!
MADE : yes o Uncle, right in the office.
SEGUN : (still watching it)...Jesus Christ!
MADE : I had to run away.
SEGUN : children of these days...!...(Finished watching it)....its
okay. This is even more than we need. I'll keep in touch....
MADE : Uncle make sure Aunty doesn't see that with you o...(Teasing
Segun as he stands up)...
SEGUN : (laughing)...ha that's why I dare not take it home...(Putting
it in one of his drawers)...here it will be...
MADE : (laughing)...should I get a new phone?
SEGUN : don't worry, she will return your phones to you. Between the
next few days...but if you like, you can get one to use for the
meantime. Because I had to ask Bisade and Bola for your office phone
number this morning before I called you.
MADE : (takes a deep breath)..okay sir...I'll be on my way now.
SEGUN : alright...(Extending a hand shake) good job!
MADE : thank you sir.


******Proudly Achiever's Youth Network ******

(Immediately, Made started looking for job elsewhere.

Few days later his MD summons him...)

MD : (holding a document)...Made, it doesn't have to get to this...
MADE : (confused)...what's that sir?
MD : a restraining order, or you sue this company for backing up
sexual harassment against you ...?
MADE : oh that? Sir, I told you what your daughter was doing, but you
didn't listen.
MD : it still doesn't have to get to this. I thought it was a personal
issue between you and her, that's why I didn't want to interfere.
MADE : sorry sir, but the work environment was becoming so
'not-conducive' for me.
MD : its alright...you can go.
MADE : thank you sir...(He leaves)


******Proudly Achiever's Youth Network ******

Its a saturday, Bisade and Bola are having lunch quietly when she
broke the silence....)

BOLA : Dad..(Looking at her father)
BISADE : yes dear?
BOLA : breakfast, lunch and Dinner has become so dry these
days...don't you think?
BISADE : hmm...because of Made's absence abi?
BOLA : hmm mm
BISADE : you miss him...
BOLA : more than you can imagine.
BISADE : (drops his cutlery and looks at his daughter) ....Bolanle...
BOLA : yes Dad...
BISADE : how do you feel about Femi?
BOLA : em...(Thinking about it, she drops her cutlery)..well
Dad,...then, I saw Femi, more like a brother. He was there when Made
wasn't and I was still quite young then. He was my teacher, I
respected him...
BISADE : and now?
BOLA : and now....I'm a woman...now I have taste and
preference...there are things I look out for in a man....

(While they were talking, Femi walks in, drawing their attention to him...)

FEMI : good afternoon sir...(Entering into to dining room)
BISADE : how are you?
FEMI : fine sir...(Turns to Bola)...Bolanle...
BOLA : hi...(Continues eating)..
FEMI : (pulling out a seat)..you've not been picking my calls since
the other day I took you back to the office...(He sits down, without
being offered the seat or food), neither did he notice the way Bisade
looked at him)...
BOLA : yeah, that's because I've being preoccupied with something else.
FEMI : I came to your office and I was told you're not around...
BOLA : yes, I took some days off work. I was at Obudu cattle ranch.
FEMI : (surprised)...really?
BOLA : yep
FEMI : you alone?
BOLA : yes.
FEMI : why?...a place like that should be enjoyed with someone beside
you...you should have invited me over....
BOLA : I needed to be alone. I needed to sort my feelings out, away
from everybody.
FEMI : (smiles)...really...(Looks at Bisade who pays him no attention,
he didn't bother himself as to why Bisade's countenance changed
towards him)
BOLA : yep.....
FEMI : that's good.
BOLA : em Femi....(Dropping her cutlery and paying him more attention)...
FEMI : yes...
BOLA : let's recap those things you said about Made...
FEMI : which one?
BOLA : you said he knew from the beginning that Dad is my father, right?
FEMI : yes he knew. He made enquires from your classmates...that's
your village classmates then....(Chuckles)
BOLA : hmm....did he confirm it to you that he knew?
FEMI : well he didn't. But for him to have gone back home immediately
after he just returned from Lagos, he definitely knew what was going
on.
BOLA : so in order words you presumed he knew.
FEMI : I'm sure he knew.
BISADE : (cuts in) did he confide in you? I mean did he confirm it to
you in anyway?
FEMI : (facing Bisade) no sir....but...
BISADE : (cuts in)...but what? (turns to Bolanle)...look... Made
actually suspected,....and I knew he suspected, but I cleared all his
suspicions myself.
BOLA : (turns to look at her father)...really Dad?
BISADE : yes. I told him you were late Uncle Akande's daughter and he
believed me.
BOLA : are you sure he did?
BISADE : yes he did. Because if he had not, he would have told Mary immediately.
BOLA : hmm...that's true...(Thinking about it)...because he was so
attached to her...(Turns to Femi, who is now becoming confused)...
then you said he doesn't love me, right? That he's only pretending.
FEMI : (still trying to take his stand)...of course!
BISADE : (looks at Femi)...tell me, how do you know he was pretending?
FEMI : well...(Thinking of what to say)...because...because he never
really liked her.
BISADE : did he tell you that?
FEMI : yes he once said she will be punished for his location of service.
BISADE : when was that?
FEMI : her very first day in school.
BOLA : did he ever tell you he was in love with me?
FEMI : y....yes but that was after his father died.
BOLA : so he told you?
FEMI : yes, but I know it was a lie.
BOLA : how would you know? You read his mind?
FEMI : em....because....because.....(Stuttering)....well....(Thinks of
what to say)...Made is a lazy brat, never working for anything. All
this action he's putting up is just pure pretense...
BISADE : (cuts in, facing Bola)...Bola
BOLA : yes Dad?
BISADE : please excuse us. I want to talk to Femi alone.
BOLA : okay Dad...excuse me..(Leaves the table)
BISADE : (after Bola was out of sight)...you know something I really hate?
FEMI : what's that sir?
BISADE : I hate backbiting...you called Made your friend, yet you talk
about him this way?
FEMI : but sir, its what I know...
BISADE : (cuts in)...what do you know? You don't know anything. I'd
always thought you're a good man. I thought you're more matured than
this...didn't you say you've done your PHD?
FEMI : yes sir.
BISADE : I'm highly disappointed in you! Your level of maturity is
zero. Do you think this is how to win a woman over? You think by
bad-mouthing your rival, you'd have a chance with a her? No, it
doesn't work like that. You're supposed to work your way to making her
love you.
FEMI : but sir, I did everything possible....
BISADE : (cuts in)...you did everything possible....is that why you
went ahead to tell her she's not related to Made by blood?....(Seeing
he couldn't say anything)...putting her more in Made's
hands?....didn't you study anything that has to do with predictions?
Couldn't you have predicted what the outcome of your actions would be?
You should have been wiser than this...(Pauses for a while)...so now,
did all your actions bring her to you or away from you? Tell me?....
FEMI : sir, we've not really talked yet. But I've told her how I feel...
BISADE : hmm...you are a fool, a big one... You better stop this
childish behaviour of yours... How old are you now?
FEMI : 32 sir...
BISADE : and you're acting like a 12-year old. You need to grow
up...(He hisses and leaves him at the dining.)

(Femi asks the house keeper where Bola is and was told she's in the
garden reading a novel.

He walks up to her...)

FEMI : hey...(Walking up to her)
BOLA : hey...(Looking up at Femi)
FEMI : (sitting in front of her)....you know we've not finished our
discussion. The one we started the other day...
BOLA : which one exactly?...(Pretending not to know what he's talking about)...
FEMI : the way I feel about you...
BOLA : oh...
FEMI : so talk to me...
BOLA : I'm sorry... But I'll pass.
FEMI : you'll pass? (Wondering what she means)...Pass what?
BOLA : haha...I mean we can't have anything together. I can't see you
more than a friend.
FEMI : what!...After everything I did for you?
BOLA : (shocked)....what you did for me? What exactly are you talking
about? What did you do for me?...(Dropping the novel in her hand)
FEMI : I stayed behind after youth service, and taught you instead of working...
BOLA : oh please! You talk like you did it freely....Were you not paid?
FEMI : (stands up angrily)...paid? Paid what? How much can your father
pay me?....My father is a millionaire! How much does your father want
to pay me for teaching you?
BOLA : (standing up too)...and whose fault was that? You came here
saying you wanted the teaching job, who knew who your father is?
FEMI : is that what you will say?
BOLA : why won't I say that? You came here saying you did this, you
did that, who forced you? If my english teacher left who said I can't
get another? You talk like we came to beg you to teach me without
paying you!
FEMI : you're an ingrate....I should have left you when you couldn't
as much as pronounce a simple 'sir' correctly!....
BOLA : (shaking her head)...yeah right!
FEMI : its thanks to me you can speak english correctly today. Its
thanks to me you could pass your SAT. Its thanks to me your father
could later take you out in the public, because you were a disgrace to
him. Who could stand a village girl like you? Even that lazy brat
Made, rejected you because you would pass more for a house maid than
his cousin, that's why he couldn't stand been seen with you!....you
were a disgrace to everyone around you because your house maid could
speak English better than you!...it was thanks to me that you can
stand in the public today and face people...
BOLA : hmm...(Clapping her hands)...thanks almighty English
teacher....my saviour you are, right? And what would you want in
return after getting paid....?(Standing up to him)....you know what?
You should really have come out clear at that time instead of waiting
this long...or is it a bonus you need?...anyway, I'm sorry I can't be
with an immature Being like you...telling me what you've done for me
thereby saying untrue things about Made and my Dad...what have you
done that someone else cannot do? Tell me...
FEMI : (laughs scornfully, shaking his head)...you're such an ingrate!
BOLA : (shaking her head too)...Femi, look at you, you called Made a
lazy brat, what are you? You've been back from the UK now for how many
months, yet you're doing absolutely nothing!...come to think of it,
you said you decided to teach me, that's why you didn't work,
right?...
FEMI : of course!
BOLA : and now? Now that you're not teaching me? With the fact that
you have your PHD, where are you working now? You've been back for how
many months now, what are you doing for yourself? You kept saying
you're resting, for how many months? Yet, you say Made is lazy, what
are you?
FEMI : I stayed home not working just because I wanted to have time for you.
BOLA : oh really...!
FEMI : yes...
BOLA : is that your idea of a man? Staying home not working?...all
because you want to have enough time for a girl who is working? Isn't
that ridiculous?
FEMI : my father owns Realty Bank, I'm made already. Not working
doesn't affect me.
BOLA : (clapping her hands) good thinking! Well sorry to disappoint
you, your effort was useless!
FEMI : you're such an ungrateful brat!
BOLA : oh yeah, and I'm sure part of what you did for me was
'rubbishing' Made, right?
FEMI : I was making you see him for what he really is.
BOLA : you know what? You're such a snitch! A conniving snitch!
FEMI : so now I'm a snitch?
BOLA : Yes you are!
FEMI : you're calling me a snitch for the same Made that was messing
around with a girl in his office!
BOLA : oh thanks for that observation Mr Perfect!..and please if you
don't mind, enough of this useless talk, please leave my house!
FEMI : I should leave your house?....
BOLA : yes please...or if you like you can stay here!......(She takes
the novel she was reading and leaves)
FEMI : Bola! Bolanle come here!

(She did not turn back and Femi leaves angrily....)

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

Meanwhile, Bisade was in the study, he had being looking at Bola and
Femi through the window. He later sat down and thought of all that has
happened...)

BISADE : so this is the kind of boy I wanted my daughter to marry?
This boy is worse than Made...and to think I was about pushing her to
him...just like Mary's father did..I would have made the greatest
mistake of my life.


As Bola enters into the house Bisade asks her to come into the study)...

BISADE : calm down dear. I heard your discussion...
BOLA : he really got me angry Dad.
BISADE : that young man disappointed me. I thought he was a man actually.
BOLA : he's such a child, Dad...
BISADE : I'm just seeing him for what he is...and to think that I
wanted you to spend the rest of your life with such a man...
BOLA : Dad!....no wonder you were telling him to come over...you were
trying to match make us?....I can't believe this...
DAD : actually, I thought you could fall in love with him...
BOLA : (sitting down)...no Dad, I don't love him.
BISADE : you don't...
BOLA : no I don't. I have always seen him as a brother and later a friend.
BISADE : hmm....(Looks at her)...and Made?
BOLA : (becomes serious looking at her father)...Daddy...
BISADE : hmm?
BOLA : if I told you I'm in love with Made how will you feel...
BISADE : (smiles)...whatever brings you happiness is what I desire. If
Made is the one you want, who am I to say no?
BOLA : Dad...(Stands up and walks closer to him, resting on his
shoulders from the back of his chair)...I think I may be feeling
something big for Made...
BISADE : really?
BOLA : yes Dad....
BISADE : now you people will make me feel like my two kids are getting
married...
BOLA : is it not good?
BISADE : well.... Do I have a choice?
BOLA : (laughs)...I really miss him Dad. I feel like I'm incomplete
not seeing him everyday...
BISADE : hmm...that bad?
BOLA : that bad Dad.
BISADE :  when did you start feeling this way?
BOLA : Dad, you don't want to know. You really don't want to.
BISADE : please tell me.
BOLA : Dad, only Made would know when it started.
BISADE : (surprised)...Made?
BOLA : yes Dad.
BISADE : you're getting me confused.
BOLA : don't worry Dad, you'll know, soon.
BISADE : okay o...
BOLA : I really need to call Made now that Femi is off my way...
BISADE : he told me he's at the verge of resigning.
BOLA : oh Dad he should.... That girl is something else. I felt like
strangling her that day.
BISADE : ...I smell jealousy...
BOLA : jealousy?....(comes to his front)...I'm not jealous...(Ignoring
her father's eyes)
BISADE : (chuckles)...you're not?
BOLA : no, I'm not...(Going to sit down again)
BISADE : then he should keep working there, I mean, he's a
manager...(Teasing her)
BOLA : no, he can't!... That girl may do something crazy again...I
won't even have rest of mind that he's working there.
BISADE : hmm.... and someone is not jealous....
BOLA : no, I'm not...its just that.....(Short of words)....
BISADE : just that what?
BOLA : em....I don't know....
BISADE : (laughs)...my Baby is in love...
BOLA : haha nau Daddy.....I'm even going to call Made, before you'll
continue making jest of me here....(Leaving for her room)
BISADE : (laughing)...hahahaha....not jealous indeed....


To be continued...