Chapter 51

I felt a strong separation inside me;
I didn't marry him, he married himself. Raymond is not his son, Raymond doesn't have a father. I didn't live with him, he didn't live in my house. I never loved him...
Let's go. Don't you want to leave the bar? Kimberly asked taking me from my thoughts.
I opened the bar and stepped out.
We walked out of the courtroom and met my lawyer outside discussing with a lady.
What a woman, Kimberly exclaimed and touched my lawyer's hand.
You deserve to be an international lawyer oh, I teased.
My lawyer giggled.
You really tried. You talk with so much confidence and sense, Kimberly complimented.
I studied in one the best law schools, my lawyer replied.
David walked to us, whispered something in my lawyer's ear and walked away.
What did he say? Kimberly asked.
He said I should pull out of this case if I don't want to die, my lawyer replied.
I wish I recorded David's threat, my lawyer said.
Be careful because I fear who doesn't fear David, I replied.
There is nothing he can do. Being a lawyer is a risky job that's why lawyer's die like chicken. Being a lawyer needs fortification and I have two fortifications on me. Whatever he plans won't work, my lawyer replied.
Ok oh. Let's go, I said.
I lead my lawyer and Kimberly to my car and drove out of the court.
I dropped my lawyer in her house before driving to Kimberly's house.
The next morning, I woke up feeling sick. I manage to drag myself to the bathroom and had a warm shower. I expected to feel better after the shower but I felt worse.
I went back to the bedroom, covered myself with a duvet and laid shivering.
Kimberly came in some minutes later with Raymond.
Raymond giggled happily at seeing me.
You should be preparing for work, Kimberly said.
I'm sick, I replied.
Kimberly placed her warm hand on my forehead and gasped.
You are burning, is it fever? She asked.
I don't know, I replied.
Maybe it's stress, you have been through a lot lately. Just rest, you will be fine, Kimberly said.
Hmm, I sighed.
I hope your boss will tolerate your absents from work, Kimberly said.
I have the most patient and understanding boss. He will understand if I tell him I'm sick, he will even say I should go for pregnancy test, I replied.
Kimberly nodded and walked out of the room with Raymond.
I remained on bed the whole day but instead of feeling better, I felt worse.
Kimberly brought food, I ate very little and vomited conversely.
Night came, I slept off feeling weak and tired.
Suddenly I was in a strange road with many people both young and old passing. I was the only person standing, the others were all walking. A man whose funeral I attended with my friends some weeks back walked pass me.
Where am I? I asked.
I got no response as people continued passing.
A familiar face appeared.
Jenny, one of my boutique sales attendant that died in a car accident, I gasped.
She stopped and turned to me.
Jenny, I called and wanted to walk forward.
Don't move, she ordered stopping me.
Jenny, I repeated.
What are you doing here Ama? Jenny asked.
I don't know where I am or how I got here, I replied.
Can you still remember a song title "Not my blood" I taught you when you when I was still working for you? Jenny asked.
Yes, I replied.
Sing it in your mind and walk backward without turning your face, Jenny said.
Alright, I replied.
I sang the song in my mind and walked backward in a reverse direction from where the others were going.
I opened my eyes with a gasped.
Oh mine!!! it's a dream, I said.
I held my chest to steady my breath and looked at the wall clock.
1am, I sighed.
I picked my handbag from the table and removed my phone.
I unlocked it with shaking hands and called pastor Charles.
The call was answered on the third ring.
Hello, pastor Charles's soft voice came on the line.
Good morning Daddy. Sorry to disturb your sleep, I said
Is ok Ama. Calling by this time, I hope all is well? pastor Charles asked.
I had a terrible dream, I replied.
What happened? Pastor Charles asked.
I narrated my dream to pastor Charles.
You mean you saw dead people including your dead sales attendant in your dream? Pastor Charles asked in confirmation.
Yes dad, I replied.
That's serious. Did you disobey me and fight David for your house? Pastor Charles asked.
Yes daddy. But it was my friend that told me not to let him take the house in peace, I said.
Obedience is better than sacrifice. Is the house more important than your life? Pastor Charles asked.
David was the person that dragged the case to court because he wanted to divorce me legally. I had to face him in court, the issue of the house was among his petitions, I said.
Have you now divorced him? Pastor Charles asked.
Yes daddy, I replied.
I want you to go on three days dry fasting from 6am to 6pm daily and pray against death. Don't leave the house throughout the three days you are fasting, pastor Charles advised.
Ok daddy. I will start the fasting this morning, I said.
You will not die. Any man that dig a grave for you will fall into that grave, pastor Charles prayed.
Amen daddy, I replied.
I will be praying for you over here, pastor Charles said.
Thanks Daddy, I replied and ended the call.
The door opened and Kimberly came in looking frightened...
Hope you are feeling better? Kimberly asked.
Much better than yesterday, I replied.
Kimberly sighed.
Is everything alright? I asked.
I had a dream about you. I saw you in a lone road, Kimberly said and sat on the bed.
I also had a bad dream and I just talked to pastor Charles. He told me to go on three days fasting, I replied.
Let's pray, Kimberly said and stretched out her hands.
I held Kimberly's hand and we prayed fervently.
For three days, I remained indoor fasting and praying. The urge to go to work and check on my brands was strong but I resisted it.
I resumed work on the forth day. My boss was very angry and demanded that I cleared all the files pilled up before close of work. I was very exhausted at the end of the day.
On my way home, I decided to stop by my house to pack my clothes.
I honked on the gate and David's gateman came out dressed in a white singlet and black trouser with bathroom slippers.
Good evening, I greeted.
Evening madam, David's gateman replied.
Is David around? I asked.
No. Only his wife and children are around,   David's gateman said.
Thank God, I said and got down from the car.
Madam you won't enter, David's gateman said.
I seriously need to pack my clothes. I only packed my baby's stuffs. I have hundreds of clothes in there and I'm depending on my friend's clothes, that's not nice, I said.
Madam you won't enter, David's gateman repeated.
Please let me just pack my clothes and leave before David comes back. I have a boutique where I can get clothes but recently I haven't shipped new clothes into the boutique and I don't see myself doing that until all the issues I have in hand is over so the clothes in my boutique is to maintain business until all my issues is over, that's why I can't remove clothes, I explained.
Is your name Ama? David's gateman asked.
Yes. Did David say you shouldn't let me in? I asked.
You can give me the key to your room, I will go and pack your clothes for you, David's gateman said.
I scanned him and tried a dry laugh.
Are you ok? I asked.
David's gateman looked at me and heaved.
Can I tell you something, David's gateman said.
I'm listening, I replied.
That money you gave me that day you came with your lawyer saved my son's life. My son was very sick so my wife rushed him to the hospital, we were told that we should pay twenty thousand naira before he will receive treatment. The only money me and wife had in the whole world was six thousand naira. I asked oga and his wife to help me, they refused.
I was very worried and out of nowhere you came and tipped me fifteen thousand naira. I added the money I had and that's how my wife was able to pay my son's hospital bill. Thank you, madam, David's gateman said.
Thank God, I replied.
One good turn deserves another. I help you, please help me back by allowing me to pack my clothes, I added.
I'm helping you back by not allowing you to enter this compound...
How? I cut in.
If you enter this compound, you will die, David's gateman said.
What's going on? I asked.
Four days ago, I was doing night watch around the compound. When I turned to the back of the house where generator is kept, I saw oga in a red long gown practicing voodoo.
He didn't see me so I hid and watched him. I heard oga say that the next day Ama steps feet in this compound should be her last day on earth. He muttered few other words to himself and went inside, David's gateman said.
Are you serious? I asked.
Do you joke anyhow? David's gateman asked.
I was speechless.
I saw everything and I'm only telling you because of your kindness to me. If you still insist on entering, have your way David's gateman said and stepped away from the gate.
I stared at David's gateman in shock.
Without a word, I entered my car and drove out.
The day for the final hearing in court came. I didn't have any interest, infact I wanted to pull myself out from the case entirely.
I prepared and left for work without a word to Kimberly.
I was busy in the office when my lawyer called. I busied her calls but she continued calling.
I picked when Kimberly called.
The case has long started and you are nowhere to be found, Kimberly said.
Continue with the case and tell me the outcome when it's over, I replied.
What's that suppose to mean. I hate your attitude at times. Show up immediately, Kimberly nagged and ended the call.
I shook my head and carried my handbag from my table.
I walked out of my office, told my secretary to take care of the office until I return and left the company.
All eyes turned on me the moment I walked into the courtroom.
I was embarrassed but composed myself and walked to the accused's seat.
You are late, chief judge said.
I'm sorry your highness, I apologized with bow.
I sat after the chief judge nodded.
David was in the bar looking perplexed and tired, I could tell my lawyer was giving him a really tough time.
Mr David, what you've shown to the court is your credentials. You have failed to provide us a work permit from a legal organization of which you got the money to build the house, chief judge said.
David sighed.
Pardon your highness, my lawyer requested.
Granted, chief judge replied.
Now that my client is here, I demand that my client shows her net worth and David also show his net worth so the court can know who is richer between them and whose net worth is capable of building a mansion, my lawyer requested.
I unlocked my phone and used my bank code to open my net worth. I gave the phone to my lawyer. David reluctantly did same.
My lawyer took the two phones to the chief judge. After taking a look at our net worths, the chief judge nodded and gave back the phones to my lawyer who returned it back to us.
Court..., The chief judge called and there was total silence in the courtroom.
Considering David's first petition; Ama gave in Willingly to the termination of their marriage and signed the divorce.
On David's second petition; David has failed to provide a legal source of income  on which he built the house and his net worth is that of a lower-class citizen but the house ownership has his name.
Ama has shown us a valid source of income. She works in a reputable company and she is an ambitious business woman with three big brands. Her net worth clearly shows she is a rich woman but her name is not on the house ownership. It won't be nice for the court to tell them to live together in the house seeing that the couple are no longer interested in each other.
David's third petition is out of point and not worth argument. The brand he wants to claim clearly has Ama names as it's owner. Claiming what's not yours is stealing.
On the case between Ama and David, here are my verdicts:
The marriage between Ama and David is henceforth terminated and their son "Raymond" is to be with Ama.
David and Ama are to pack all their belongings out of the house within three days. The house will be sold out and the money divided 50:50 among them.
The warehouse which David tries to claim belongs to Ama and any attempt by David to claim the warehouse gives Ama the right to get David arrested, chief judge concluded and hit his gravel on the desk.
Yes..., Kimberly screamed.
There was mixture of joy and displeasure in the courtroom over my victory.
Court...chief judge screamed.
Silence was restored in the court.
The chief judge and the jurists exchanged a bow and the chief judge walked out.
My lawyer walked to me and hugged me lovingly, Kimberly came and joined the hug.
I turned right on time to see David ignore his lawyer and stormed out of the court room.
I exchange handshakes with witnesses who came to congratulate me.
You don't need to buy a house. Buy back your house, let David be given 50% of the money and let him go to hell while you move back into your house with Raymond, my lawyer advised.
That's exactly what you should do, Kimberly replied in pidgin.
I can't go back to that house, I replied.
Why? Kimberly asked.
David performed some voodoo rituals there to kill me if I ever step my feet in that house again, I replied, oh my God, That man is a psycho, Kimberly abused.
How did you know? My lawyer asked.
I narrated my experience with David's gateman.
My lawyer gasped when I was done.
That's not a problem. Inform your godfather, I will inform my pastor. We will go to that house and pray and revoke whatever ritual he did there, Kimberly said.
I sighed.
It's ok. I need to go back to work, I said.
Aren't we going out to celebrate? Kimberly asked.
Tomorrow is Friday, we will celebrate tomorrow evening, I replied and made to leave.
Please drop her home, I said to my lawyer.
Common give me a peck, Kimberly ordered.
I gave Kimberly a peck and a hug grinning.
Bye, i said with a wave and rushed out of the courtroom.
Thank God it's Friday, I said and sighed with exhaustion after clearing my last work for the day.
I can't wait to hang out and celebrate my court victory with Kimberly and the kids...
My phone rang. I picked it from the desk and answered the call.
Hello, a soft voice came on the line.
Hello, who is this? I asked.
This is nurse Jerome from emergency department, Adventist medical center. Am I speaking with Mrs Ama? She asked.
Yes you are, I replied curiously.
Your lawyer was brought here this afternoon and she is in a critical condition. Your presence is needed, nurse Jerome said.
My lawyer? I asked.
Yes, nurse Jerome replied.
One of our nurses I can't mention her name who happened to be a witness in your case informed us that you were the last client she handled case for. The nurse told us your company details. We called your company and asked for your contact. That's how we were able to get your contact, nurse Jerome explained.
Give me an hour. I will be there, I said.
I picked my handbag and left the office.
Lock the office, I said to my secretary before rushing off to the car park.
I arrived at the emergency section and called nurse Jerome. The call was answered on the first ring.
I'm in front of the emergency department, I said.
I'll be there, nurse Jerome arrived.
I got down and locked my car. I leaned restlessly on the car and waited for nurse Jerome.
A minute later, a fair short nurse walked to me.
Are you nurse Jerome? I asked.
Yes, I replied.
What happened to my lawyer? The last time I saw her was yesterday, she won a case for me. She even dropped my friend at home with her car. My friend is fine so what's my lawyer doing here? I blurted.
She was brought here by a good Samaritan this afternoon. The information we managed to get is; she was attacked by some notorious men on her way to work this morning. She was beaten mercilessly and her condition is really critical, nurse Jerome replied.
Can I see her? I begged.
Sure, nurse Jerome replied.
We went inside the emergency department and nurse Jerome lead the way to casualty ward.
I gasped immediately I saw my lawyer.
She had bandages all over her body, her face was battered and almost unrecognizable.
I looked at nurse Jerome as chills ran down my spine.
We have informed the police and they are working hard to bring the perpetuators to book, nurse Jerome replied.
Ok, I sighed.
As someone she handled her last care for, you should have a little idea that will help the police.
I have no idea, I replied.
David came to my mind and I shivered.
Nurse Jerome held me and lead me out of the ward.
You can't stand the sight I see, nurse Jerome said.
I sighed.
She is responding to treatment. She will be fine, nurse Jerome consoled.
I will come back tomorrow, I said.
Please if you know any of her family members, don't fail to inform them, nurse Jerome said.
I gave her a nod and walked out of the department.
I drove straight from the hospital to pastor Charles's house and told him everything.
My spirit told me David has a hand in my lawyer's attack and I don't doubt. I remember David threatened my lawyer to stay out of the case if she doesn't want to die, I concluded.
If only you listened to me, all this wouldn't have happened but you chose to listen to your friend. Now you have won the case but someone's life is on stake and If care wasn't taken, you would be death by now, pastor Charles said.
David dragged the case to court not me, I replied.
I only did what I had to do, I added.
Hmm, pastor Charles sighed.
I'm reporting his threat to the police tomorrow, I said.
For the last time Ama, leave vengeance to God. Your lawyer is responding to treatment, play your part by helping her family settle every bill and leave David to God, pastor Charles said.
But daddy...
No but, pastor Charles replied.
It's ok daddy. It's late, let me be on my way home, I said.
Be safe my daughter. I see God fighting your battle. Don't try to take the battle from God. leave it to God, he will fight it perfectly, pastor Charles said.
I nodded with a sigh.
Just look at the time she is coming back, Kimberly said when she saw me drove into the compound.
I parked the car behind Danny's car and got down heavily.
I greeted Danny and feigned a smile at Kimberly.
Are the kids asleep? I asked.
Yes. Raymond misses you, Kimberly replied.
I'm exhausted, I said.
I can see, Kimberly said.
What did you cook? I asked.
Melon soup, Kimberly said.
Awn, I blushed.
Have you transferred money to buy back your house to the chief judge before he find someone to buy it, Kimberly asked.
Please Kimberly, I know you love me but remove yourself from my issues...
What!! Kimberly gasped.
I don't want any harm befalling you. If David can go as far as battering my lawyer just because she won a case, that shows how wicked he is, I replied.
How? Kimberly asked.
My lawyer was attacked and David has a hand in it, I added.
Inform the police, Danny put in.
I will not do that. I leave David to God, I said.
But justice should prevail for your lawyer, Kimberly said.
If God wants justice to prevail, he will give David justice, I said.
It's your choice anywhere, Danny said and placed his hand on Kimberly's lips stopping her from arguing.
The judge wasn't stupid saying the house should be sold. Let the house be sold. I will take my share and david take his share and everything end for good, I said and stormed into the house.
Ama, Kimberly called after me.
Early in the morning I went to the medical center and cleared the hospital bill for my lawyer. When I was asked by the doctor if I knew anything that could help the police trace my lawyer's attackers, I bluntly said no.
I had breakfast at the hospital Canteen and drove from the hospital to my warehouse.
After inspecting the cashbook and being sure that work was going well, I took two of my sale boys with my delivery truck and drove to my house.