The Accountant –
EPISODE 3
They confided in each other. They shared their secrets and dreams of the future with other. Deji had
rejected his mother’s offer to go the United Kingdom for his degree on the account of not being able to
cope wherever there was no Nike.
One time Deji even dared to bring her to the palace to meet his parent. His mother, not surprisingly, was
most displeased with Deji’s little friend. However, the king thought Nike was one intelligent and
charming girl and encouraged the friendship, and for that reason alone Deji felt even more love for his
father.
‘’So what is the king saying about you studying abroad?’’ She asked stroking her hair. Her eyes showed
interest.
‘’He finally decided I won’t have to go if I don’t want to. I promised him he won’t regret the decision.’’
‘’Wow! Finally. Is he aware you deferred studying in the UK because of me?’’
‘’Yes. He kind of figured it out. He also promised to pay for tuition fee throughout the university since
he’s aware of your mother’s financial condition.’’ Deji narrated.
‘’What! You’ve got to be kidding. Are you for real?’’ she exclaimed in excitement as she jumped down
from the bed.
‘’Of course baby.’’ Deji came down from the bed to hug her.
‘’Iya Onidodo needs to hear this.’’
Releasing her, Deji said, “about that. You can tell your mother about it for sure, but we really need to be
discreet about it. The queen shouldn’t know. My father promised to see to that.’’
‘’Alright. Well noted. My mom can keep a secret to the grave. She always say that.’’
†*******************************************************
Awele, Nike’s mother, was at the shop where she sells a special type of fried plantain popularly known as
Dodo Ikire when she sighted a familiar face. In fact, it was 17 years ago she last saw that face.
‘’Baba! Baba Tewotegbo!’’ she called out loud.
The man looked around to know who recognized him in a city he just came into two days ago. Then to
his greatest surprise, though he was hardly surprised by anything, he saw Awele.
‘’Awele, is that you?’’ the old man asked to confirm what he was seeing.
‘’Yes, baba. It’s me.’’ She affirmed.
‘’Orunmila O ka re.’’ Tewotegbo praised the god.
She offered the man a seat on the bench inside her shop which he gladly accepted. She then hurriedly
got a schnapp drink for him.
‘’How is my daughter?’’ he asked after gulping a drink.
‘’Very fine, baba. She’s all grown up now.’’
‘’Hope she’s learning the culture of the Ife Ooye?’’ He asked. Ife was also known as Ife Ooye.
‘’Yes Baba. One of the prince is her close friend, in fact.’’
‘’Really? You mean one of the Ooni’s son?’’
‘’Yes Baba.’’
‘’Hmm. Ori ade.’’ The man said softly with a lot of meaning attached to it, which Awele couldn’t fathom
out even if she tried to.
‘’Baba, you know you’re yet to tell me why you told me to come and settle here with my daughter?’’
Awele asked hoping to get an answer this time around.
‘I’m only doing what the gods sent me, Abeke. Just let your daughter stay here a little longer, when the
time comes for you to know, you will.’’ Tewetegbo responded with a tone of finality.
THE NEXT MORNING
Lagos, 2016
A sharp rap on the door half-awoke Deji in his hotel room. It was a single hotel room with a king-sized
bed, a sofa and a coffee table. A Samsung television set hung on the wall. Beside the bed was the closet.
The hotel room also had a private bathroom.
He opened his eyes slightly. His head was p******g, his throat was dry and he was feeling drowsy. He
raised his head, surveyed the room and then fell back to his pillow. He grunted and closed his eyes.
Another rap came on the door, this time louder. A voice followed, ‘’Adedeji!’’
It was his mother’s voice. With that, he sat up quickly on the edge of the bed. He poured himself a glass of cold
water which was on the coffee table. ‘
’Please hold on, mom.’’ He grumbled.
He washed his face in the bathroom hurriedly, before coming back to turn the key on the door knob.
‘’What have come of you, Deji?’’ Ireti snapped as she walked into room. She didn’t wait for him to invite
her in. She wasn’t a vampire.
‘’You arrived late last night. Like that wasn’t horrible enough, you missed breakfast this morning.‘’ her
eyes flashing with obvious displeasure.
‘’I kind of over-slept.’’ He simply said.
His mother raised an eyebrow and continued, ‘’of course you did. I don’t like the way you’re treating
Theresa. She was at the breakfast table with her uncle. She was getting a lot of stares. You need to get
serious with here soon, or you might lose her to another man. A girl like that won’t wait around for your
forever.’’
We already talked about this, mom.’’ He responded.
Irritated with her son’s response, she said, ‘’we have, and we will continue talking about it until you do
the right thing. She is a daughter of one of the ED’s of your bank. This will help the career you have
chosen in the stead of managing some of your father’s business.’’
‘’I’m working on it mom.’’ He knew arguing with his mother would only worsen his migraine.
Most people thought of his mother as being cold and unfeeling. Deji had to admit that his mother
possessed an irritable size, but in her own way she loved him dearly. She always try to make decisions for
him whenever she feels it was needed. Not that Deji didn’t allow her to do so, but sometimes her
decision conflicts with his own wishes. And on these occasions, he stood his grounds.
Deji had to give credit to this mother for some of her well taken decisions. Hooking him up with Theresa
at the time when he was overly distracted with work was a perfect example. Theresa was perfect for him
he had to agree with this mother, but he could not just bring himself into taking the relationship to the
next level.
‘’You better. I want to see my grandchild.’’
There was rap on the door before it was opened. Aremu stepped in. they both turned to face him.
‘’Good… Good morning Ma.’’ He stuttered as he greeted Deji’s mother bowing his head a little. ‘’I’ll check
back.’’ He gestured at Deji.
‘’No, stay.’’ Ireti said. Turning to Deji, ‘’I’ll see you at the pool.’’
Aremu shut the door behind him as Deji’s mother strode out of the room.
Sitting at the edge of the bed, Deji sighed. He poured himself another glass of water and gulped it down.
The migraine seemed to have subsided.
He tried to recall last night’s event, but Aremu interrupted his thoughts.
‘’I brought you here last night, or let me say, earlier this morning, when I found you at that little building
behind the garden. You were unusually wasted.’’ Aremu said trying to harass him.
Deji stared at him blankly before looking away. Judging from Aremu’s grimace, he knew his valet was
delighted about something.
Last night’s event started rushing back to him. He remembered how Nike had left him on the dance floor
after he said something she found unpleasant. Was it too much to ask if she had married the same
person she had cheated on him with? He didn’t think so. She had no ring on. Perhaps she got divorced.
Maybe. Just maybe. But what does it matter? He has nothing on her. She will all always be the cold-
hearted bitcch that broke his heart.
‘’Deji, are you still here?’’
Aremu’s question brought him back to reality. He rubbed his temple gently. ‘’I’m here,’’ he simply said.
‘’What happened to you last night?’’ Aremu inquired like an FBI agent. He was standing over his boss, hands in akimbo.
It was obvious his valet was in an FBI mood, but Deji wasn’t ready for that. ‘’ I don’t want to talk about
it.’
Aremu was more than a valet to Deji. He had been with the Adelowo’s family for years. His mother was
one of the queen’s mistresses. They both lived in the palace. The king allowed Aremu stayed with them
even after his mother’s death.
Aremu accepted Deji’s offer to come and live with him in Lagos after the
king’s demise. Since then he has been Deji’s valet. They were as close as two coats of paints.
‘’Fine. I’ll be at the opposite room if you need me. The room service here is amazing.’’ Aremu turned
around to exit the room.
He said in a low tone before closing the door behind him, ‘’that she still got a
hold on you after all these years is a mystery to me.’’
Deji heard him. He knew Nike was the reason he almost passed the night on a grass. His valet was right. She
still got a hold on him. Seeing her last night brought back a lot of memories. The good and the
unpleasant ones. Too bad the one he remembered the most was the not too good memories. Yeah. The
betrayal.
But the question is, can he ever get over her?
TBC
Wowww nice