“Complicated”
Episode 18
After Ore left, Titilope walked into Farouk’s office.
“How did it go?” she asked.
“She denied that the pregnancy is mine, but I think she is lying. I’ve contacted my lawyer, and I’m telling you now, if I’m not here when she delivers that baby, I want you to request a DNA test. I don’t want you guys to fight for custody, but to be a part of his or her life, and for Mum to have a grandchild that will remind her of me when I’m gone.”
“Farouk, I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry you have to deal with this on top of everything else.”
“It’s fine, I’ll be okay.”
“I don’t think she’ll want to continue working with us after this.”
“I know. Let’s start looking for a replacement.”
“Okay. Do you need anything else?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you, Titi, for everything. It seems you’ve put your life on hold for me. Soon, you’ll be able to carry on with your own life.”
“A life without my brother isn’t something I’m looking forward to. I’ll be in my office if you need anything.”
“Okay, thank you.”
After she left, Farouk brought out his phone, went to his gallery, and pulled up Ore’s picture. He looked at it with tenderness. He couldn’t stay angry with her. He wondered about the challenges she must have faced having a father like hers, and how parents could manipulate the lives of their children just because they brought them into the world. He decided to start writing letters to Ore, for the time when he might no longer be here.
In the quiet of his office, Farouk began drafting the first of many letters to Ore. Each word was chosen carefully, infused with a mix of his feelings—regret, hope, and a deep sense of connection despite the complications. These letters were meant to be a legacy, a way of staying present in her life and that of his potential child, even in his absence.
“Dear Ore,” he wrote, “by the time you read this, I may not be here to see your reaction or to explain in person the emotions that compelled me to write. You came into my life unexpectedly, a fleeting yet profound encounter that may have changed the course of our lives. I find myself often wondering about the ‘what ifs’ and the path not taken.”
Farouk paused, his thoughts drifting to their short time together, the connection they had made, and how it all seemed like a distant dream now. He continued, “I don’t know if the child you carry is mine, but the possibility binds you to me in ways I had never anticipated. If it turns out that this child is mine, I want you to know that you will never be alone, no matter how it may seem.”
He elaborated on his wishes for the child, expressing hope that they would grow up knowing about him, understanding his condition, and perhaps why he made certain choices. “Teach our child, if mine, about the courage to face life’s adversities with strength and grace. Tell him or her I thought of and loved him/her long before they were born.”
He addressed his struggles and the reality of his illness, how it shaped his decisions, and his regrets about not being able to be a more present figure in their lives. “My journey has been marked by battles, both physical and emotional, and while I wish I could be there for every milestone, know that my spirit will always be looking over you both.”
As Farouk sealed the envelope, he felt a mixture of sadness and relief. He placed it in his drawer, a bittersweet repository of his hopes and final messages. He then pulled himself together, knowing he needed to focus on the present and the responsibilities that awaited him.
Farouk decided to leave instructions with Titilope on how to handle the letters should anything happen to him sooner than expected. He hoped these letters would never need to be read, that instead, he could have those conversations in person. But life, he had learned, was anything but predictable.
After Ore left, Adetola was deeply troubled. He knew that if the truth about his medical condition were revealed, or if his father discovered that the pregnancy was not his, he would be in grave danger. Adetola was painfully aware that he had always been merely a tool in his father’s grand plans. He had never received any real affection from him; instead, he was constantly reminded that his sole purpose was to carry on the Ayegbajeje legacy, which was intricately tied to the Akinolas.
He understood that this child held great significance for his father—it was more than just about having a grandchild. Adetola suspected there was something more sinister at play. He reflected on a conversation with his father when he had resisted marrying Ore. His father had chillingly told him that if he didn’t proceed with the wedding, he should consider himself as good as dead, asserting that his life was meaningless if he didn’t comply with his wishes. Never had Adetola felt so helpless and unloved.
Cutting ties with his family was not an option; he knew too well what his father was capable of. His father was diabolical, having used dark powers to manipulate or harm those who crossed him. With a heavy sigh, Adetola picked up his phone and dialed Jaiye, asking him to come to his office. He needed someone to confide in, someone who might understand the desperate crossroads at which he found himself.
When Jaiye arrived, Adetola briefed him on the new developments.
“Are you sure Ore isn’t playing you? How did the man find her so soon?” Jaiye questioned.
“No, Ore isn’t like that. I believe she’s telling the truth. Jaiye, you know my situation. My father cannot find out that the child isn’t mine,” Adetola responded anxiously.
“So what do you want to do?” Jaiye asked.
“I don’t know, that’s why I called you.”
“This is a delicate matter, and the way I see it, you have two choices. You can either offer the guy money or we eliminate him.”
“Eliminate! No way, I can’t have someone’s blood on my hands. And I don’t think this person has money problems. Ore works for his company, and I know she is one of the best financial analysts in the country. It’s just her father who has been an obstacle in her growing her career.”
“Then we have to consider the first option,” Jaiye suggested.
“No, Jaiyeola, I won’t do that,” Adetola firmly refused.
“Then you have to be prepared to pay the ultimate price when your father finds out you have presented him with another man’s child as his grandchild.” Jaiye laid out the harsh reality, highlighting the gravity of the situation Adetola faced.
After leaving Adetola’s office, Ore went to see her pastor and shared everything that had happened.
“I know it’s wrong to lie to him and then give his child to another man, but there is so much at stake here, Pastor. My father has high expectations. Can you believe he told me to guard the pregnancy with my life as if the child is more important to him than I am? So, I have to continue this lie,” Ore confessed.
“Then what will you do when the baby is born? He has the right to request a DNA test. What are you going to do then?” the pastor asked.
“I might travel overseas.”
“Sister Oreoluwa, I understand all you are dealing with, but all I hear from you is what you want and what your family wants from you. Where is the God factor in all of this? Go home, Ore, and continue to pray and trust God. Remember the revelation I had; something is going on in your family, and in due time, it will all be revealed. But I suggest you stay calm and don’t take any drastic actions. Wait on the Lord.”
After the pastor prayed with her, she left. However, Ore couldn’t relax. She asked her driver to take her to her father’s office. Usually, it was difficult to see him without an appointment, but when he was informed that Ore was there, he immediately allowed her in.
“Ore, my dear, how is my grandson doing?”
“Your grandson? How about asking me, your daughter, how I am doing?”
“I know you are fine; you are always the strong one. So, what can I do for you, Ore?”
“I’ve just been thinking that maybe it would be a good idea for me to have this baby abroad. The way you are so expectant about the baby, I feel it’s better to have the baby abroad just in case something should go wrong.”
“You must have this baby here in Nigeria.”
“But why, Dad?”
“Because I want to be there when the baby comes.”
“But you can travel to see me before the baby comes.”
“What is going on, Ore? Why do you want to travel to have this baby?”
“I just told you, Dad.”
“Yes, but I think there is something you are not telling me.”
“Nothing.” Ore was uncomfortable under her father’s intense scrutiny.
“Okay, Ore, if you say so.”
“Okay, Dad, I will be on my way now.”
“Take care of my grandchild.” Ore quickly left her father’s office.
When she got home, she decided to send in her resignation to Titilope. She knew there was no way she could continue to work for them, and it was better she resigned so they could find a replacement. However, she had to finish the assignment at hand, but as soon as she was done, she planned to cut all ties with.
Thanks for reading
Tbc
