His for the night; Bound for life

Rose moved to the Benue state after her little stunt with Christopher Allen. The son of the renowned Mr. Allen in Nigeria. It's been four years after she took his money and left Lagos only to discover she was pregnant a few weeks later.

She didn't want to abort so, she had the child and justified her action as taking money for the upkeep of his child.

~ROSE~

"Mom!!!",

That's my princess and I dare not answer her, "what is is my love?" I ask My three years old daughter.

"I don't want to go to school today!" She said giving me a very sad look.

"Why honey? What happened?" I ask while moving my chair close to her.

"The kids at school call me fatherless every time." She complained.

"Don't let them get to you my love, you are not fatherless... I have told you a lot of times that your dad traveled... You have a father! Ok?" I said to her. I wonder how parents train their kids these days. How can such little kids always say such things to themselves?

"How old am I mum?" Princess asked me.

I was confused as to why she would ask me such a question. "Why are you asking me that?"

"In case you don't know, am three years old mum! I want to see my dad!" She answered and whined.

I have been dreading this moment ever since I found out I was pregnant four years ago. I didn't know what to say to her. How do I tell my daughter that her dad doesn't even know she exists? I can't even bring myself to go back to Lagos.

"Look at me my princess," I said and carried her on my lap "Your dad is very a very busy person. He travels a lot and he will come to see you soon. Don't let your classmates tell you that you don't have a father ok?" I tried to convince her.

"But mum, why hasn't he come to see me even once? Better still, show me a picture of him. Chidi told me to bring a picture if I want them to believe that I have a father!" She said to me.

Seeing her like this breaks my heart a lot "why don't we talk about this when you get back from school? I need to go to the shop and you need to get to school early." I said to her.

She nods her head and goes inside her room to pick her school bag. She came back out after a few minutes and we left the house. I drove her to school and it was obvious from the frown on her face that she wasn't happy. I tried to cheer her up but she didn't give me her usual happy vibe.

We got to her school which is a private school very close to my shop. I run a grocery store and it's doing better than I expect. "Baby, won't you smile for mummy?" I try to coax her when she was about to leave the car without hugging me.

"I love you, mum..." She said and opened the car and walked into her school without even looking back. How did she grow up so fast?

I drove off after she has gone into the building and headed to my store. I have sales girls and branches around but, I don't like staying home all day.

I got into the store and Ada who happens to be the most sensible among all of my workers in this branch came up to me to take my bag.

"Good morning ma," she greeted me with a smile.

"Good morning Ada, how are you?" I replied as we walked towards office.

"An fine ma... Ehm... Ma!" She stuttered.

I looked at her and wondered what it was with her, "What is it? Did something happen?"

"No ma. It's just that, you have a visitor. They came in very early and insisted they wanted to wait for you." she said.

"What did they want?" I asked her. She handles the store in my absence and she hardly allows people to wait for me.

"Ma, you will be shocked to know who is waiting for you, It..."

"Good morning miss Rose Sanders!" Someone interrupted what Ada was saying.

I turned to look at the owner of the voice and It was like I was slapped by God. It's the one person that I have tried all possible means to hide from for the last four years, "Good morning Mr. Christopher Allen, to what do I owe the pleasure of having you in my store so early in the morning?" I managed to sound professional.

"I have waited and looked for you for four years! What a warm welcome!" He said and walked too close to me.

"What do you mean you looked... You looked for me?" I managed to say without running away.

"Haha, Rose... Do you want to talk in front of your employee or, do you want to talk privately?" He laughed and asked. From the look in his eyes, one could tell he was enjoying himself.

"I don't know what you want to talk about or why you seem to know me but, let's go into my office," I said and led the way in.

Ada was just looking at us like she has was watching a movie. Even I will look confused If I were her. "Go and do other things, Ada," I said to her.

She looked from me to Christopher then ran off.

"I see you used my money wisely," Christopher said immediately the door was locked behind us.

"Please, Mr. Christopher Allen... I don't know why you are here but I am sure am not the person you are looking for." I said to him. How he managed to find me is a mystery but I have been expecting this. I know one day, he will find me but, I never expected it to be so soon.

"You haven't changed you know, you still have this innocent face that fooled me, you left with my money and something much more important Rose..." He said to me.

I wanted to deny knowing him but I also know it will be useless trying to. If he is in my office then, am sure he would know everything about me by now. "It's not what you think, I didn't do anything wrong to you... Please leave me alone!"

"Haha, you didn't do anything wrong?" He said and moved to stand at my front. "You lied to me and then stole my money! You ran away from Lagos! You made sure I wouldn't be able to find you... Isn't that wicked?" He asked me.

My best option was to try to convince him not to have me arrested. I know what I did that day was wrong but, I needed the money and besides, I ended up with his child so, we could say I used it to make life comfortable for his child. "What I did that night was wrong and am sorry but, the situation called for it. You are the son of a billionaire so I didn't think that little amount will affect you!"

"The situation called for it? You lied about so many things... Your name, your address, am sore you did all those because of the money you wanted from me... I was new to Lagos and you, my beautiful Rose, showed me how serious Lagos could get!" He said. With the way his voice kept going higher, I know he is angry.

Just when I was thinking it could be a bit ok, I remembered his child. What if he already knows about Princess and wants to take her away? What do I do? "It wasn't intentional!" I said to him.

"You make me laugh, I am here for what belongs to me and I think you know what that is," he said.

My heart dropped to my feet immediately after he said that. I know he would want his money and I hope that is what he is talking about. "What do you want, your money?" I asked hoping he will say yes.

"You are very funny... I want what belongs to me and you know very well what that is, yes, you took my money but, that's not what I am talking about... I WANT MY DAUGHTER!"

I felt my legs go weak immediately he uttered the last four words. Princess is my all. I know he is rich and can take everything away from me but, I was hoping he wouldn't find out about my daughter. What do I do? How do I make him understand that he can't take my daughter away?

~ Rose~

I felt my legs go weak immediately he uttered those last four words. Princess is my all. I know he is rich and can take everything away from me but, I was hoping he wouldn't find out about my daughter. What do I do? How do I make him understand that he can't take my daughter away? "How do you know about my daughter?"

"Oh, you know how to hide and I must give you that! I looked everywhere... I almost thought you were a ghost and you didn't exist until a friend saw you in Lagos last month... You do know how to hide I must say." He said and moved to stand beside me.

His close proximity wasn't helping my fear at all so, I moved behind my desk and sat down. "Please, have a seat, and let's talk like grown-ups!" I said as calmly as possible.

He looked at me for a while and I thought he wouldn't sit until, he took a deep breath and sat down then said, "I thought we had an understanding that night, what happened? I woke up and you were gone. The worst part is, you left with over 30,000 dollars. I asked around and was told you didn't work at that club like you said. Why did you do all that?"

How do I explain to him that I was there that night for the first time? I haven't even stepped into a club before. I think the best thing is to explain to him what led me to that place that night. "I can explain everything but, please, don't take my daughter away. She is the only part of my life that I don't regret!" I pleaded.

He looked at me like I was wasting his time then said "your explanation better be reasonable or you have yourself to blame."

"Ok... I... It's a long story." I said to him.

"I have all the time in the world to listen to you and, if you don't want to talk now, I can take my child with me and, you come to me when you are ready to explain your actions and why you hid my child from me." He said trying to stand up.

"No! Please sit down. Don't take her away! I will tell you everything!" I said. I couldn't allow him to just walk away like that and then take my daughter.

"My life has always been hard. There had never been a single day that I could remember not being hard... I have never known my parents, I only remember staying with my aunt who made sure I had it as hard as possible.." I started.

Years ago...

"Rose!!! Rose!!!"

I heard my aunt shout my name. I have been staying with her for as long as I can remember and if I had my way, I would be out of her house by now. I don't want to answer her because I know she would ask me to go and run one stupid errand or the other.

"Rose!!!" She shouted again. She is almost close to the backyard where she allows me to sleep and I don't care what she will do this morning. I watch as she rounds the corner and when she sees me sitting and just looking at her, she flares up immediately. "See this useless monkey ooo... So you have been sitting here while I have been shouting like a madwoman since!"

'So you don't know you are a madwoman?' But of course, I couldn't say it out. Instead, I got up like I was surprised at her appearance and said "good afternoon aunty... I didn't hear you calling!"

"You didn't hear me calling?" She asks to which I nodded. She got angry at my answer and rushed to me and started hitting me. "So, my voice wasn't loud enough? I will make sure I kill you today! You are very useless. I picked your ass and sent you to school... What have I ever gained from you?" She continued to rant and hit me like she always does.

I managed to escape her hold on me and after running a short distance, I asked her what I have never been able to ask all my life. "What have you ever give to me sef... You made sure I work for anything you give to me... Even the school you are using to brag sef, you didn't do anything! I was hawking pure water and doing all sorts of things for you... Let me even ask you, who are my parents?" I asked but I made sure I was far away from her as possible.

She tried to catch me but I ran away creating more distance between us. "Do you think you are important to me? I have been waiting for you to grow up more so you can start making me real money!" She shouted and tried to catch me again.

What does she mean by real money? So all the ones I have been making is not money? "But aunty, what about all the money I have been making for you since I could walk?"

"See this yeye girl oo! So you think all those 2000 naira, 3000 naira that you bring home every day is enough money? You must be more foolish than I thought. In fact, I can see you will be worse than your stupid mother!" She shouted while picking up her slippers to throw at me.

This is the first time she has ever talked about my mother and I wasn't about to allow this opportunity to pass me by. In all my 18 years in this house, she has never talked about my mother. Sometimes, she would bring a new girl to join me but after a few months, they would leave. "Since you have never like me, why don't you just send me back to my parents! Tell me about my parents and I will leave your house for you." I said hoping she would allow me to go.

"Hahaha, do you think your parents want you? Your useless mother didn't even know who your father was. I brought her from the village and taught her how to make money! After a few months, she got pregnant with you this stupid girl!"

Her story didn't shock me much because I had suspected she does something like this. I have been wondering how she makes money to own a big and beautiful house like the one we stayed in but now it is very clear. I always knew she was into some kind of prostitution business and that's why she was always coming home with different men. "I don't understand what you are saying, aunty... Who is my mom? Tell me about her and let me go and look for her so that I can stop being an eyesore for you!"

"I should let you go?" She asked to which I nodded. "You are much more foolish than I thought. What did they even teach you in that school sef? How did you even manage to pass your WAEC? Your mother is one of the prostitutes that worked for me when I just started. Ahe got pregnant for you after a few months in the business and, when she gave birth to you, she dumped you at my house and ran away... I have never seen your mother after that night."

I wanted to know about my parents and after finding out that my mother was a prostitute and I would be introduced to the business that day, I ran away from home that night.

I was lucky enough to meet aunty Joyce who helped me. She took me to her house and allowed me to stay with her. Aunty Joyce wasn't that different from my aunt that I grew up with. Aunty Joyce was into the same business just that she didn't want me to join in until I was old enough.

I stayed with her till I was twenty and she decided I was old enough to start feeding myself.

I stayed with her till I was twenty and she decided I was old enough to start feeding myself. On that fateful day, she woke up very late as usual and called me to her room.

I got to the door to her room and knocked then, waited for her to call me in. It didn't take long before I heard her reply from inside, "come in Rose!"

I walked into the room and greeted "good afternoon aunt Joyce!"

"How are you, Rose?"

"Am fine. Thank you." I answered.

"Have a seat Rose! There is something very important that I want to talk to you about," she said.

I took a seat on the beautiful couch in her room and waited for her to continue what she wants to say. She looked at me like she was checking me out and after some time she smiled and nodded her head like she was talking to someone before saying, "Rose, I called you here for something very important. Do you have any idea what it is?"

"No I don't, hope I haven't done something bad?" I asked.

"You haven't don't anything bad Rose, you have been on your best behavior. I would like to ask you a question first, can I?" She asked like she was unsure.

I didn't know what she wanted to ask or say so, I just nodded my head that she could continue which she did. "Ok. Do you have a boyfriend?" She asked me.

"Ha! Aunt Joyce, boyfriend ke! I don't have any boyfriend oo. Am always in this house if you go out oooh..." I quickly answered.

"That's good. So do you know that kind of job I do?" She asked me next.

How do I tell her I know she is a prostitute? I couldn't say yes so, I lied. "8 don't oo... I asked you but you say I wasn't old enough to know."

"Well, now you are old enough. You are no longer a baby and I think it's time you join the business. You don't expect me to keep feeding and clothing you forever right?" She asked. At that time, I already knew where the discussion was going to but, I didn't say anything. "I am what you will call runs-girl. I believe you know what that is?"

My heartbeat kept increasing with every word she said. Would I have to run away from here also? "I know what a runs girl is," I answered.

"Don't take it the wrong way but it's time I teach you how to make your own money. You are old enough to start living your own life. I love you and that's why I accepted you under my roof. I saw a beautiful girl and I knew you will be great. I want you to go out with me tonight and I will teach you all the tricks you need to know!" She said.

I didn't want to go into prostitution and didn't want my answer to sound like an insult so I said "but, I could do other things... Maybe you should allow me to go out and search for a job..."

"Look Rose, I know what you might be thinking. I am a graduate. I finished university and I still didn't get a job, talk more of you who only went to secondary school! This is the best job anyone can ever offer you, Rose... Think about it. With the money you make, you can easily further your education and still live fine like I am now..." She said.

"But aunt Joyce, I don't want to sell my body to different men... I don't want to..."

"You are not selling your body Rose, it's called runs. You have fun and still, get paid. Go and think about it. I'll wait for your answer by the end of the week." She said and laid down.

I knew the discussion had come to an end when she did that so I left her room. For the remainder of the week, I kept thinking of what to do and no solution came to mind. By the end of the week, Aunt Joyce bought new clothes and asked me to get ready that she wanted to take me out. She took me to the popular nightclub called downtown. It's located in lekki and only the rich and all these big boys and girls go there.

When we got there, she showed the hefty bouncers at the door a card and we were allowed in. She took me to the bar and asked me to wait for her that, she wants to use the restroom. "Sit here and wait for me, I need to use the restroom!" She had to shout due to the loud music.

"Let me go with you..." I said holding her hand preventing her to go.

She assured me she will be back as fast as possible and said, "if anyone offers to buy you a drink, just accept it and enjoy yourself. I won't stay long."

After she left, I was sitting and watching what was happening around and waiting for her but, she didn't come back. After waiting for over thirty minutes, I decided to go and look for her in the restroom. I managed to locate the restroom and she wasn't there.

At that moment, I knew she had tricked me. She had brought me here to introduce me to the so-called business. I felt lost and confused. How do I manage to get out of here? I decided to find my way back to the bar and wait till whenever she decided to come back for me.

I hadn't been there for long when someone approached me. "Hey beautiful, can I buy you a drink?"

His voice was so rich and, he had this accent that one would call oyinbo tongue. I turned to face him and wow! He was fucking handsome. "Hi..." I answered shyly.

"I have been watching you for a while now and you look like you want to be somewhere else!" He said and smiled.

"Oh, I... It's..." I couldn't form any coherent sentence. It was like anything I wanted to say wouldn't come out.

"Hey, don't be shy ok, am Christopher Allen by the way," he said and offered his hand to me.

His name was a wake-up call to me. It was like as if his name brought his face into full focus. I wasn't a fan of gossip but, I watch entertainment shows and I know who is standing with me. He is the only son of the billionaire, Mr. Allen. His father is well known for his multiple business interests and it was rumored that his son just got back From the states to take over his father's business.

Who would have thought that my first night out would bring me to such a person? My silence must have freaked him out cause, he had to tap my shoulder to get my attention again. "Are you ok?"

"No... I.. Yes... I mean, yes am fine. Am sorry I spaced out. My name is Blessing." I introduced myself but, with another name. I didn't want to tell him my real name cause I felt I shouldn't.

"Nice meeting you Blessing, I must admit you are a blessing. You are fully blessed..." He complimented.

We got to talk and I learned he just got back just like the news said and he would be taking over his father's company. It was like we were very good friends because the conversation became cool and I started to relax. I even allowed him but me a drink. I had never drunk more than a glass in my entire life so, it didn't take long for me to get drunk.

The last thing I remembered that night was getting into his car. I woke up the next morning in bed with him. I was fully naked and with the pain in between my legs, I knew something happened between us. I quickly got up and dressed, intending to leave as fast as possible when I fell onto a bag.

The bag opened and what I saw inside shocked me. It was filled with money and, not just any kind of money. It was filled with dollar notes. I am not a thief but I believe I deserve some payments for the service rendered. I quickly got up and took a bundle out of the bag and dressed up.

I looked at the money and thought that was my chance to make a life for myself. Maybe God wanted me to have something that was why he brought him to me last night. I was still looking and thinking if I should take the money or not when, I remembered that, I could use that money to set up myself. I wouldn't have to go back to Aunt Joyce's place and I could even go back to school.

I made up my mind and took all the money then ran out of the room without waking him up.

~present day~

"After I left you, I left Lagos that very day. I rented an apartment intending to use the money to train myself through university but, a few weeks to my jamb exam, I found out I was pregnant. I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it so, I bought a house and started this business. I knew school was out of the question so, I started this business so that I would give the child a comfortable life." He didn't say a word while I was talking neither did his expression change.

He was quiet for a long time before he said, "I want to meet my child!"

I knew he would want that but I wasn't ready. "I... Allow me to tell her about you first. Please," I pleaded.

He got up from the chair and buttoned up his suit then said, "very well, tell her about me. I will be at your house tomorrow for dinner."

"You know where I live?" I asked him.

He looked at me for a while like I am stupid then said, "I have watched you for a whole month and I know everything I need to know. I'll see you tomorrow."

After saying that, he left. There is no way I would sit still in the office anymore so, I went back home and prepared my daughter's favorite dish. I need to tell her about her father so, I need her to be happy.