BELLA'S MEMOIRS (ENTRY #21)

OKECHUKWU IS BACK

Dapo Smith, Okechukwu’s trusted friend and business partner had come to take me for a ‘drive’ and we had ended up at a guest house in Ikoyi where Okechukwu was waiting. Apparently, he had defied Yinka’s orders and returned to the country and was trying to stay out of sight. I was very happy to have him back but I was worried about what that meant.

Me: You shouldn’t have come home Okechukwu.

Okechukwu: That is not the ‘welcome home’ I was expecting. I have missed you like crazy baby.

He came to me and pulled me close. I inhaled his familiar fragrance and I realized how much I had missed him.

Me: I missed you too, so much it hurt.

He smiled and kissed me.

Me: Why did you come back?

Okechukwu: Well, after Toni’s shocking revelation your grandmother realized her plan couldn’t work. You see her initial plan was dependent on Christopher giving her evidence of some shady business deals that Yinka has been involved in using his father’s name and position without his father’s knowledge. She was going to leak this evidence to the press. Of course you know how that would go, money would exchange hands, the story would be suppressed, a retraction printed but Yinka would have to lay low for a while. Obviously at that point having a lavish grand wedding would be a bad idea so the wedding would be put on hold for a while, Yinka would probably have to leave the country for a few months so the wedding would be set at a later date…conveniently after your father’s gubernatorial election. Your grandmother would then reveal Yinka’s affair with Toni after which you would be free to break off the engagement stating obvious reasons of his shady business practices and his affair. It would not have been a bad idea except for the fact that the most critical element in the plan- Christopher the PA now has an agenda of his own. He obviously needs Yinka to cut Toni off which is more likely to happen if Yinka marries you.

Me: So we are back to square one, we have no plan. Am I supposed to marry Yinka?

Okechukwu: I gave you my word that you wouldn’t have to. I have a plan.

Me: Ok?

Okechukwu: Do you know the best way to fight off an enemy who has discovered you have a weakness?

I shook my head.

Okechukwu: You own up to your weakness. You don’t try to fight it, you embrace it and expose it so it can’t be used to hurt you.

Me: What does that mean? What weakness are we owning up to?

Okechukwu: What is Yinka’s leverage? Our family secrets right?

I nodded.

Okechukwu: So we expose the secrets. All of it, lay it out for the world to see and it would never be used to hurt us again.

Me: The Duchess would never agree to that. There are criminal issues involved here. You and my dad could go to jail and I could go to jail as well.

Okechukwu: No you can’t. Your dad and I…yes. But for you to go to jail concerning the kidnapping issue, your dad and stepmom would have to press charges and no charge was ever pressed against you, and I doubt your family would press charges now.

Me: So what about you and my dad? Your money laundering and forged identity case, my dad’s embezzlement and fraud case?

Okechukwu: I would risk going to jail for you Bella because if you marry Yinka you would still be going to prison. Just a prison that comes with a mansion and escort cars.

He was right, being married to Yinka would be a form of bondage. Mental and emotional bondage which could be sometimes worse than physical incarceration.

Me: So we expose it all and then what?

Okechukwu: You’re asking me …And then what? And then I do what I know how to do best.

Me: Which is?

Okechukwu: Spin the story. Public relations…I can clean up the mess in a matter of weeks and spin the story to be about both of us. Make it seem like the haters are trying to ruin a great love story. Everyone loves a love story Bella. Bella and Ferrari trying to end up together but are caught in a helpless web spun by their families. My older brother who made me do illegal things, your dad who abandoned you for decades only to turn out to be a liar and fraud. We become the victims in the whole mess.

Me: So our families become the villains?

Okechukwu: Bella has your father ever asked if you truly love Yinka or if he makes you happy? Did my brother stop to think of what would have happened to me if I got caught on his little mission? My brother is a powerful man, he will be fine and no Ayo-Kessington is going to jail. You and I know that. This is Nigeria Bella. Our families will be fine, sure there would be some losses. They may lose seats on a few boards, lose some investors, business partners but all of those material things can be replaced. Your future is priceless.

Me: The elections, my father will lose.

Okechukwu: Becoming the governor’s daughter means being Yinka’s wife. Is that a price you are willing to pay?

I definitely wasn’t willing to pay that price especially because it also meant losing Okechukwu.

Me: So what is the plan?

Okechukwu: Good, I knew you were too smart not to see this is the only way out. I have some strong media connections given my line of business. I would leak the story exclusively to a few blogs and soft sell magazines, no newspapers or hard core publications – they would report it from a political angle and make it look like a case of the rich being above law. The blogs and soft sells would report it as gossip and sensationalize it so we have a softer landing. The Vice President would obviously be appalled at the scandal, of course we would have to emphasize the fact that you and I have carried on a sordid affair despite your engagement to the Vice President’s son. You know Yinka will never allow you to make a fool of him that way. He will call off the wedding, drag our names through the mud which is why we have to put phase two in motion shortly after.

Me: What is phase two?

Okechukwu: We leave the country. While I was away in America, I applied to some schools. I want to go back to school and get a college degree.

Me: Wow! That’s fantastic.

Okechukwu: I won’t go without you Bella. You will come with me and we will start a new life in America.

Was Okechukwu proposing to me? I had to be clear on what exactly he was asking me to do here.

Me: What would a new life entail?

Okechukwu: Me and you trying to start afresh. We can’t predict how our families would react to this stunt we are about to pull. What if your dad cuts you off? Plus I sort of promised your grandmother I would stay away from you if she helped us out. I obviously had no intentions of doing that, I was hoping you would be willing to cross the bridge with me after we had taken down Yinka and start over. I mean I have some money saved up, and I have put my house in Victoria Island up for sale. Hopefully it gets sold before my assets get frozen because I bought that house with my commission from the illegal transaction. If I can’t claim any of my assets I would have to start over in America. Get a job so I can pay my tuition and get a decent place for us to live and make sure you are taken care of.

Me: I will get a job.

Okechukwu: You don’t have to if you don’t want to. It is because of me you are choosing this life and I will try my best to make it good for you.

He still hadn’t said anything about marriage.

Me: I will support you anyhow I can. We are in this together and I will choose you in ten lifetimes whether you can take care of me or not.

Okechukwu: Bella we are Africans and here, it’s a man’s responsibility to take care of his woman.

Woman…he said woman not wife. His words to me months ago about not being sure he wanted marriage started ringing in my head.

Me: What if I could help make taking care of me easier?

Okechukwu: How?

Me: I am an American citizen you know, and I could make you one too. It would make getting a job and paying your tuition easier.

Okechukwu: How would you do that?

Me: If we got married, you could file for citizenship.

Okechukwu: I am not interested in your citizenship Bella and I don’t need you to make anything easier for me. I am a man and I can take care of you and if you don’t trust that then too bad. My father may not be Vice President but I do not need handouts!

I was so shocked at his outburst. I was only trying to help him.

Me: I was only trying to help…

Okechukwu: There is a car waiting to take you home Bella. I think you should go now before my cover gets blown. The story will be leaked tomorrow, so get ready.

It was the longest night of my life and I couldn’t sleep apart from the fact that Okechukwu’s outburst shocked me, I was scared. Petrified!

I was worried that his plan would backfire. That he would get arrested for his past crimes, that my father would get arrested, that the Duchess would hate me for trying once more to bring shame to the family name. My stepmom didn’t exactly have an active career save for her Women Empowerment initiative which was a non-profit organization. If my father went to jail and all his assets were seized, how would she look after herself and her kids? My half siblings…Dunni and Kitan. They would hate me for ruining their lives and making them grow up without a father.

I remembered Mrs. A my stepmom telling me stories about her marriage and how she had to sometimes make my dad see the light when he was about to make a mistake. Okechukwu’s plan was a time bomb waiting to explode and I wished I had not been so quick to tell him I was on board. At the time I had been blinded by overwhelming need to be by his side forever…forever…which he had still not promised me? Given the circumstances should I have expected a more concrete plan for our future?

I was confused and the worst part of it was I had no one to talk to about it.

I was lying in my bed thinking about the easiest way out of the mess when I heard a soft knock on my door.

Me: Who is it?

Bella open up it’s me.

It was my dad at the door.

My Daddy: Bella are you okay?

Me: Yes dad I am fine. Why are you asking?

My Daddy: I am so sorry I have been on the road so much lately with this campaign and all. I should be spending more time with you considering you would be leaving us soon.

I could sense a hint of sadness in his voice. A lump formed in my throat and I struggled hard not to cry.

My Daddy: Are you excited Bella? Anjola was of the opinion that you are not as excited as you should be, she has been asking me to talk to you. So bride to be…how do you feel?

Me: I feel okay Daddy.

My Daddy: Don’t tell Anjola, but I had cold feet. Infact the morning of our wedding, I had my international passport in my jacket just in case I decided to bail at any point. But when I saw her walking down the aisle I felt really foolish because I knew there was a reason I chose her and so I stayed. It was symbolic for me because every time we have a challenge I remember that I had the choice to run but I didn’t. And so I know I am here in my marriage because there is nowhere else in the world I’d rather be and I think that is the key to a successful marriage. Waking up every morning and remembering the reasons you made your choice and choosing your choice all over again. So I know it’s pretty normal to have cold feet especially at your age and with the fact that you just lost your mother and moved to a new country, you are going through a lot of changes right now and I want you to know that you don’t always have to act like you have it all together. Sometimes you can let go and let other people help you. You are so independent I am worried that you would need me and you won’t come to me because you always feel you can fix everything yourself. I don’t care if you are married with your own grandchildren if you need anything you come to your daddy ok?

I couldn’t help it I rushed to him and gave him a bear hug. I could see he was getting a bit emotional.

My Daddy: I am so proud of you princess. You were a surprise from God to me at the time I needed it the most and knowing you will always be honest and open with me no matter what gives me peace. I am not just your dad Bella, I am your friend always remember that.

I loved Okechukwu more than anything in the world but I loved my dad too and I knew he loved me and I couldn’t ruin everything for him because I wanted to live happily ever after.

I didn’t know what to do, Okechukwu was going to leak the story the next day and then all hell would break loose. If I told my father, could I trust him to find another way…a less painful way? Would Okechukwu understand why I was about to make this decision? Would he take it as an act of betrayal or would he accept my willingness to risk it all for him as a sign of my love and devotion.

Okechukwu’s plan was going to put us all in trouble and I prayed he would understand why I did what I was about to do.

Me: Daddy there is something I need to tell you.