Toun and her sister Eunice stared at each for a while before Eunice lips curved into a smile. It was a kind of smile that was very rare to see on Eunice to her sister.
She heard her secretary said something quietly before she left the office and that was when she looked away from her sister.
"Eunice! How do you... How do you know where I work and what are you doing here?" Was Toun first question. No hint of emotion in her voice. There was no denying that she wasn't happy to see her sister.
"Common sister, Toun is that how you will greet your sister whom you've not seen in almost a year and half." She said throwing her hands dramatically.
Toun simply shrugged. She wasn't expecting her sister. Not in a million years did she expect to see her sister in her office.
"Well, I got my way of doing things. How have you been?" She said very concern and sincere.
Toun looked up at her. Eunice was hardly emotional towards her. She cares little about her. Their relationship wasn't the kind she wish for any two sisters.
They were never close. Right since they were little, they never agreed to something ever. They were ice and fire. They argue about everything and nothing. They were complete opposite in almost everything.
"I'm great." She replied casually. And to be a good caring sister, she stood up from her desk, walked over to her and embraced her. Eunice was caught by surprise at first but she finally relaxed with a smirk on her face. "Sorry, I never call to check on you."
"It's okay. It's understandable. Not like we were very close." Eunice said flatly.
Toun said nothing in reply to that. It was also the truth. And she don't have to disagree. She went back to her seat and Eunice took a seat opposite her. She noticed her look around the office. It was obvious she wasn't so pleased with it. She knows how Eunice thinks and her kind of taste. Not like she would ever sit in an office. Her result were bought for her. She never worked for it since she failed in most of her courses.
But Toun doesn't seem to care. They never like the same thing from the very beginning. Her food is Eunice poison and vice versa and they are used to that already.
"Your office is very nice." Eunice spoke up breaking the silence. She was half sincere about it but Toun gave a small smile in reply. "This has always been your dream. Becoming a lawyer and having an office of your own. Glad you made it sis."
"Thanks." She appreciated with a small nod.
"I saw some hot guys while coming in. Have any of them ask you out?" She said in that familiar tone whenever she and her friend are discussing something nasty.
Toun rolled her eyes. She don't think there is any discussion ever where Eunice won't mention guys name or something related to it.
"What?! And no." Toun exclaimed exasperated.
"Are you kidding me sister Toun? Do you want to tell me those hot guys are not drooling over you? They look rich. And you are a beautiful excellent lawyer with a very wealthy father. No man won't want that. Forget the fact you're a lawyer and dad is wealthy. Sis you're dripping hot and beautiful. Don't tell those guys won't want to try their luck." Eunice said dramatically.
Toun listened to her with a frown masked on her face as she says her usual nonsense. That is one of the reasons they were never close. They have two completely different lifestyle and thoughts.
"Well, there can't because I am married. I'm a married woman and there are not blind." She said showing her the finger with her ring. It was a golden ring with little diamond on it.
Nathaniel had surprised her when he gave her that ring the night before their court wedding. She never believed he could buy such a thing for her - not because he was stingy or anything but because he don't have a good job. But he never told her how he got the money to buy it.
Eunice looked beyond shock on seeing the ring. Her face was masked with disbelief and she was perplexed.
"Married? To who? And when? And ... And how did we not know about it?" She asked, perplexed.
"I don't need to say everything. I already told dad and mom about him and they didn't give their consent. I love my man and who cares what they think? And not like you ever care to know either." Toun replied her sister.
A disgusted and disappointed look covers Eunice face and she stared at her sister. She gave Toun that look she dread - that kind of look that was always on her face when they do not agree on something. That look she had inherited from their father. The same look he always have on when he wasn't pleased or very disappointed.
And it hurt Toun to know that her sister hasn't change a bit. And that she was right. Eunice still never cares.
"Don't tell me it's him? The same guy dad told you to stay away from. That poor miserable church rat."
"Point of correction. My husband is not a poor church rat neither is he someone that you can insult. He worth more to me and I will gladly appreciate it if you give him the respect he deserves."
"Respect?" She scoffed. "Like seriously... Respect." She snided before laughing. "That's bullshit Toun. That man married you without the consent of our parents and you thinks he deserves respect? Did he respect my dad or his decision for him to stay away from you?" Eunice asked.
"He can't stay away because we love each other and dad doesn't understand that."
"Understand what? That you marry someone like that. A no body. That scumbag, pervert with..."
"Shut up Eunice!" Toun yelled at her sister hitting the table hard, shocking both of them. She hate the way her family thinks so low of Nathaniel and how they can easily disrespect him.
And she won't tolerate that nonsense most especially from her idiotic proud sister who does nothing than to support every single thing their parents says.
"Don't you ever call my husband names. You don't know him, so don't judge him."
"I don't need to know him, I have heard about his worthless life."
"Eunice! Watch your tongue!" Toun warned.
"What? Isn't that the truth? You get married to some nobody and you did it behind dad and mom back. How dare you? How could you? You betray dad's trust in you. You don't even know half of the plans he have for you and here you are saying you are married to a nobody."
Toun was trying so hold back her anger. She was at work and she don't want to ruin her reputation or be the rumor of the week at office because of her blabber mouth sister.
"Listen Eunice, you know nothing and you don't have any right to talk about my husband like that. He is my husband and not yours. You can go ahead and get married to the world richest man. I don't give a damn. But don't you talk about my husband like that ever!"
"I don't think you know what you are saying. That guy have brainwash you. He needs you just for your money." Eunice said angrily and exasperatedly.
"Well, it's my money and not yours. I'm working not depending on my monthly allowance from dad. I'm not some mama's girl like you. And if I decide to spend that money on my man, it's non of your business. He is my man. And no matter who he is, you should respect him. He is half the man that is ever out there or anyone you've ever hang out with and that is the truth." Toun said to her sister.
She could see that she was clearly hurt by her words. And she don't cares. Deep down, she was glad about it.
"You're totally mistaken. I know that guy have put you under some kind of spell and that is why you are been unreasonable." Eunice spat back.
Toun rolled her eyes. "Look Eunice, there is no point arguing with you. I know right from the start that this won't end well. You coming here. It won't. Is there ever a day we have a conversation without arguing?" She asked rhetorically. "And there is no point talking with you. You can never understand. One day when you are sensible enough to know what is true love, maybe then we will have this conversation and you will have something reasonable to say."
Eunice laughed holding her stomach. Then she said to ber sister.
"Ewehhh. My sister and true love. True love with a lowlife. " She laughed. "Stupid. I thought you were a bit reasonable than me, I didn't know you are such a fool. You believe what you have with that pathetic man is true love?" She scoffed. "I'm so disappointed in you Toun. Dad and mom will be so so disappointed."
"Well, we all have right to our emotions. And if that is what dad and mom feels, then good luck with it. I love Nathaniel and whatever they like they can think about. I'm already married to him and you can't change that. It's my life and my decision to make. He makes me happy and that is what matters. So stop meddling in it." Toun warned. She was already getting exhausted from the irrelevant argument with her sister.
"We will meddle in it. You don't seems to be in your right sense because of whatever that man must have done to you. You are blindfolded. So we got to meddle in it because we care about you and we want the best for you." Eunice said.
Toun chuckled. "I don't see a sixteen year old girl here." Toun said sarcastically. Then she arched a brow at her, saying. "And when do you start to care so much about me Eunice? Huh?"
"What?" Eunice asked, exasperated.
"Common, you don't have to pretend Eunice. You and I both know that you never care. You never care about me. You are just after pleasing mom and dad. And you want me to do the same. I can't be in dad shadow forever. But if that is what you want, you are free. I can't and won't. Not me. So stop acting like you actually care. You don't. After all this is your chance. Dad and mom will be disappointed and the worst they can do is disown me. And tada.. they are all yours. Isn't that what you care about. Their love and attention on only you. To be the golden girl."
"Isn't that what you want? To be the useful child? Ever since we were young you've been competing with me for mom and dad affection. You want to be the favorite. The one who makes them proud. Now you have your chance. Do whatever the hell you want. They are all yours. I've grown to be an independent woman and I'm no longer under dad's shadow. I'm married now with a life of my own. You can have them. So don't give me that crap about you caring. You don't care about anyone. You care about only yourself. So I don't expect you to start caring now. Not like I need it. We've been that way since we were young. Right? So I'm old enough to make my own decisions and I don't need your advice. Think whatever the hell you want and say whatever the hell you want to mom and dad, I wish you good luck. Just know that no one can ever change my mind about Nathan. Not even mom or dad. So now if you will excuse me, I need to go back to my work. I am too busy for all this nonsense." She said finally, looking away from her sister.
"So you are sending out of your office?" She gave a wry laugh. The truth was Toun words hit a nerve. And it pains her that she knows all that about her.
"Call it whatever you want but you need to leave." She said without looking up from the desktop.
Eunice stared dagger at her sister, fisting her hand at her side. She promised herself to pay her back for all those words and she would prove to her that she really don't care about her.
"You will regret what you did today. You're going to regret ever disobeying dad by marrying that man. We are not done sis." She glared, picked up her bag, stood up and left the office without a backward glance.
Toun exhaled loudly when her sister finally walked out. She leaned back on her chair and rub her forehead.
She knew it wasn't going to end well. When it comes to Eunice, it was always that way.
She was also tired of trying to prove to her family that Nathaniel is not as bad as they thought him to be. She had hope Eunice might understand her a little. She really felt stupid for believing and hoping for that. Eunice is just like their parents. And more than anyone, she knew how much Eunice worship their parent and love to be the one who pleases them. So it wasn't surprising that she would support them on the matter either.
She just pray the day would finally come when her family would understand her. The day they will finally accept Nathaniel as the man she love.
Toun couldn't be sure what would come out of Eunice visits. She have no idea what she can do next or say to their parents. But she was too tired to start thinking about that. She had already told her her mind. She had always know about Eunice jealousy and uncaring attitude toward her. But she had never said it to her face. But since she finally pulled the string, she is forced to pour out her mind.
*****
Nathaniel sat with his wife beside him. They were both talking about their day with the Television on but muted. Then she mentioned her sister visit.
"I was very surprised when I saw her. I don't even know how she got to know my office." Toun complained to her husband.
"Your dad must have told her."
"You are right about that. It's just that she never cares to know much about me. So her coming to my workplace was surprising." She said as she leaned on her husband chest.
"So how did the visit went?" He asked.
Nathaniel had never meet Eunice since he knew Toun but she talked about her a few times. And from what she told him, he knew that the two sisters aren't close and they don't like each other that much.
"It was terrible." Toun replied. Nathaniel looked down at his wife's head before rubbing her arms.
"You both argued again?" He asked.
"Yes." She answered. "About you. I told her about you and she started saying bullshit about you. You know that I can take that."
"I'm sorry you have to argue with your sister about me."
"We always argue. It's no big deal. And you shouldn't apologize. She should be. She don't know you and she was judging. She ought to respect the fact that you are my husband but she didn't. Someone need to teach her some lesson. Dad and mom pamper her a lot."
"She is their last child, you can't blame them. And thank you my queen for defending me." He said kissing her forehead.
"I would do that for you anytime." She said with a grin. "I just hope that someday they would understand us."
"Me too." Nathaniel said sounding so hopeful.
*****
A man in his early forties was sitting in front of Mr Joseph. He have that usual look on his face - cold and emotionless. He was opening a folder which was given to him by the man sitting with him which happens to be his private investigator.
"So?" Mr Joseph asked with a glare.
"His name is Nathaniel Adeolu. He attended the same school with your daughter, he...."
"I know all that. I need current update." He said in his usual stern and cold voice.
"I'm sorry." He apologized and continued. "Well, they are married and they live together in a house that was bought under the name of her husband Nathaniel."
"My daughter is married to that man?" Mr Joseph exclaimed. "Without my consent? When?" He asked.
"Yes, there are married. They got married about six months ago. They did a court wedding at a federal court in Ibadan." The investigator replied.
Mr Joseph could hardly believe his ears but the man will never lie to him. He always did his job well. Eunice had told him about it. But he waved her off. He thought it was just some childish rivalry against her sister as usual. But then his wife told him about the unusual attitude of Toun of recent. His wife had told him that she was becoming distant and it look like she have so much responsibility on her.
And that is what prompted him to call his private investigator. He asked him to do some findings for him about the both of them to confirm. He doubt if Toun would be honest with him. And here he was confirming what his last daughter had told him.
He couldn't believe his ears and the betrayal hurt. His own elder daughter, his child, his favorite child could disobey him after all he had done for her.
What an ungrateful child! He thought.
He couldn't believe Toun would go behind him and marry the one man that he asked her not to marry. Because of that same man she had disappointed him. And it all happened under his watch while he was alive. Because he trusted his daughter so much and give her a lot of freedom.
"And his mother who is on wheels is also staying with them. She is the one taking care of their daughter."
"Their what?" He growled at the man.
"Daughter." The man seems surprise at his question. "Don't you know about that too sir?"
"Know? If I do you won't be here. And a point of correction, my daughter has no child and especially not with that 'poor miserable thing'."
"But I'm very sure about that sir. They have a daugher Annabelle by name. She is probably five or six. She looks a lot like your daughter so it's undoubtable that she is her daughter." The man said confidently.
"That's ridiculous." Mr Joseph chuckled loudly. He thought the man to be crazy or confused. "So you are telling me that Toun had a child a year before she graduates or at her final year."
The man nodded. "Yes." And deep scowl masked his face. And he tried controlling his temper. He felt stupid, disappointed, disgusted and angry all at the same time. His daughter had a child without him knowing. She got married without his consent. And if all happened while he is alive and well. She had played him for a fool.
"That's an huge lie. Toun will never do that. She was train well." He tried to convince himself.
"You can confirm for yourself." The man said. He was almost angry that the man would doubt his work. Mr Joseph glared at the man.
Although he knew the man was right. He always do a good job that is why he employed him as his private investigator. And he never bring false information to him.
It was just so unbelievable, disappointing and hurtful that his daughter would betray his trust in her.