Twisted

"So what am I supposed to do young woman! Kill myself!?, What exactly haven't I given you tell me, you ask for money every month end like you're into some kind of business yet you're just a mere house wife". Shocked at his words she raised her voice to speak but kept quiet and took position in akimbo, changing sides at intervals.

"You better say something now" Alex kept shouting

"What is it Alex!? Or what is not it, ah ah after all am I not your first wife? Who then should enjoy your wealth other than me!?... Small money you're shouting, oya beat me beat me ooo Alex beat me!!!"

"Now I know you're possessed, there's something wrong with you" He pushed her aside and walked out.

"Oh, are you leaving? Why not come and argue with me, shameless man!" 

All along Grace had been standing by the door watching the whole drama and quite feeling sorry for Alex, on Florence noticing her just sighed and left.

Mr. Alex Oriaku is a prominent business tycoon and a certified engineer, one of the best in the whole of Nekede South. He was well known for his constructions and philanthropic acts in the community. Reconstructing the main road leading from the central market to the king's palace and offering scholarships to final year students of secondary schools around made him outstanding. He was so versatile in his business and decided to be same in his marriage. Mr. Alex albeit a Christian, got married to two beautiful women of different tribes. Florence a no-nonsense Yoruba woman with three kids and Grace a multi-talented Igbo woman with three kids as well. Wherever Alex went if asked his reason behind his polygamous family, he's reply will always be "I so much admire and support inter-ethnic marriages and I don't regret it".

While unfortunately, it looks like he was starting to regret it. 

Florence the first wife and nothing but a house wife made it a point of duty to always demand and re-demand from her husband whatever thing fancy she laid her eyes or set her heart on. She has always been so materialistic and made no attempts to change and her husband too being so wealthy and known wasn't bothered because he was more than capable of providing for her. On three several occasions a business center had been opened for Florence but presently, the three shops and it's earnings are gone. Just in one year, Florence squandered the whole money from the shops and sold them out to her best friend Erica who rented it out to two other people. As if that wasn't enough, without remorse the next year she requested 3.2 million naira from her husband to get into some sort of online business where they will be paying her daily and at the end of the year she gets double the amount she invested in. At the mention of the amount Alex was in awe, for the first time ever he was forced to question his wife.

"Haba Alex, are you not capable? You and I Know that that amount is nothing compared to all you have"

"I know but still I'm worried about the sort of business it is, you know we don't just venture into businesses like that online for that matter"

"Ha, so because I need money from my own husband, I would have to face jury like I'm some sort of criminal? Or is it that you no longer trust me Alex?" 

"Off course not, I was just being cautious. Fine I'll transfer the money to you first thing tomorrow morning"

"Now you're talking" Florence smiled and pulled her husband closer. She was very corny and not someone to be played with. Despite the fact that she was a mother of three, a boy and two girls, all Florence did was mould them into her kind, lavishing them with expensive things and blaming the help Nneka for all their excesses. 

On the other hand was Grace, a beautiful quiet Igbo woman of great virtue who believed in "work-chop". Her own way of telling people that before you rest and eat, you need to work really hard and sow. So far grace had opened different shops around the village, attracting customers from far and near with enough hands as well to help with the sales. Sincerely if Alex were to make a choice between his two wives it would most definitely be Grace. This he confessed to one of his closest colleagues Francis during a chit-chat. 

"To be very honest with you Frank, Grace has won a special place in my heart"

"Really"

"For real man, her maturity and efficiency is just amazing" Alex kept praising his second wife.

"While my friend, it is said that "he who finds a wife, finds a good thing" and I think you have found yours, so my advice is be very good to her"

"Off course I have and would always be, come off it!" The both laughed and continued their drinking.

Grace had three children as well but unlike Florence she had two boys and a girl, a true replica of her mother with an outstanding beauty. She made sure to train her children in the right way possible and as they grew gradually she never failed to give them hints of the way life is and how to go about it. When they got into school, she was cautious of the kind of company she kept and warned them too of the dangers in keeping or being around bad people. Basically Grace had no problem in her side of the marriage, she was fruitful and comfortable with whatever her husband gave her. The fact she had her own blooming business, made her financially stable and Independent of him but there was still a problem. The only thing Grace was worried about was her relationship with Florence. The latter was so envious and always found faults in the former. At some point she even accused grace of using diabolic means to grow her business but thankfully a lot of people saw the difference between Grace and Florence so no one took the accusation seriously. Florence tried all possible means at every given opportunity to tarnish Grace's name and reputation. The latter was more scared of her transferring the hate to her children. Emeka and Obinna Grace's son's became play mates with Kingsley Florence's only son since he had no play mates and wasn't comfortable staying with Chioma and Naomi his sisters who were always busy either discussing the last party they attended or the next one to come or the different styles and combinations of clothes to wear. Kingsley not in this category withdrew to playing and conversing with Grace's children especially her sons. One day, while the three boys were chatting outside the house, Florence came out and on first sight pushed Emeka and Obinna away and dragged her so inside the house screaming Grace's name all the way. When Grace finally came out, before she could speak Florence already started raining abuses on her and ended with a warning "you have finished using charms in your business ba and attracting admirations from people, make sure, just make sure you stay away from my son o!!". Grace stood for a moment pondering then went to check on her sons who were still at the spot. "I keep telling you two to be careful eh, please don't call trouble to yourselves my dear" she pulled them closer to herself "we've heard you ma" and they all went in.

Mr. Oriaku was barely ever at home. Out as early as 6am, entering one meeting after another and bargaining here and there, he was always stucked up at work. His second wife Grace always spoke to him about his health and adviced him to take a leave but Florence the first who was only concerned about the income was totally against such motive, " ah ah, if you take leave Alex how am I supposed to cater for myself and the kids?" 

As time went on, Alex became concerned and worried about his first wife's extravagant way of life but opted to keeping it personal so as not to add more fuel to the fire. Life went on in the family, Alex and Grace with their businesses while Florence kept on spending until things started going not as planned.

Mr. Alex had been a private consultant to one of the top government companies. He helped with the supply of construction materials and a lot more till this faithful day. 

"No Charles, there are other ways we could handle this"... "what do you mean you're transferring the contract to another company, why!?"

"I'm sorry Sir, but that was the instruction from the boss"

"But...

To be continued

Biggest gratitude to you all readers 🤗. Hope my story was worth the time spent.

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