Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Later that evening, I was in my room reading when Juliet barged in clutching her drawing book and a small colourful box, "I hate her, I hate her, I hate her, I hate her, I hate her. God I hate her."

"Honey what's the matter?" I asked her "duck face is the matter. She doesn't even know what privacy means, mommy UK can you even imagine what happened?"

"tell me, what happened?"

"I was in my room, doing my drawings, minding my own business when duck face came in. Offence number 1, she didn't know, offence number 2, she called me pumpkin. No one is allowed to call me pumpkin except my daddy and you. She came in and said, 'hey pumpkin, since I'm gonna be your mother soon, I thought we should spend more time together so we can bond in no time' eww. Bond? with a duck face? do I look like a duckling?"

"It may not be so bad, you never can tell, she may be fun to be with," I said

"mommy UK, you're kidding right? You don't expect me to be with that thing do you?" Juliet said in horror. We were still talking when Christy barged into my room, "so this is what you are looking black girl, you act so humble and sweet but behind my back, you talk rubbish about me. Don't even think of denying it, I heard every single thing you said. Juliet, pick up your things and come let's go to your room, we were having a conversation."

"I am not going anywhere with you duck face," Juliet said and came hiding behind me. "don't let me call come get you there, come over here now or you will get it from me," Christy threatened. "Christy?" I called, she ignored me, "Christy don't you hear I'm calling you?"

"what do you want from me black girl?" she shouted, "again, my name is Ukpono not black girl and I want you to get out of my room right now," I said in a low but harsh tone. "excuse me?"

"maybe you have the habit of barging into people's room, don't try it with me. I don't care if you are God brought down in form of a woman, you have absolutely no right to barge in to my room. so now get out."

"you heard the lady, shoo. you're presence gives me indigestion," Juliet told her.

"You must be mad black girl," Christy said. "Yes honey, this black girl is mad and mind you, she can make the first day you met your fiance also be the last day you ever breath, now get out before I break your bones."

"I am calling Jaden's mother immediately," she said as she turned to leave. "oh and Christy, do well to knock before either of you come in, it wouldn't look so good if mother watches me literally take your breath away, now would it?"

I locked the door from inside and left the key in the keyhole in case another key is used on the other side, the door won't open. Juliet and I laid on the floor of my room, she drawing and I reading the book I was reading before she came in. At some point I used my headphones, so I didn't hear if Christy or Jade's mother came.

About an hour or so, Juliet tapped me and I took off my headphones, "daddy is knocking," she said and I quickly opened the door. "Hey, you're back," I said smiling genuinely. "yeah, can I come in?" he asked, "sure, sorry come in." I stepped aside for him to get in, "daddy, daddy," Juliet shrieked and jumped on him.

"oh here you are, your violin lessons is starting in few minutes, you better go get ready," Jade kissed her forehead and she ran out leaving her drawings and everything else scattered on the floor. "So how have you been doing, I hope no one bothered you when I was away?" he asked, I shook my head, "everything has been perfect you don't have to worry about anything," I said.

"oh, Juliet made one of her illustrated stories, come take a look. She always do it when a new lady moves in, you should have seen the one she made for you, it was hilarious," he said.

The pictures were matchstick figures, typical drawing of a 5 year old girl. 'my name is Juliet and I live in a big house with my daddy, mommy UK, Hannah and her staff. things had been going perfectly until grandma brought a duck face woman to marry my daddy, on her first day with us, duck face turned my kind and loving grandma to a demon. Demon grandma made lunch for everyone but did not give everybody the food, she gave it to herself, duck face and me but not mommy UK or Hannah or her staff. I didn't eat her food in case it gave me an upset stomach, the worst part is that demon grandma locked up the ingredient cabinet and mommy UK could not cook another food. Mommy UK, Hannah and I had to go to a market to buy things for her to make her country's food, called jollof rice for us, she used a container in the basement and charcoal to cook the food and it was very delicious.'

"what is the meaning of this?" Jade asked looking very angry, "what happened when I was away?""Why did you lie to me? I asked you if anyone had disturbed you when I was away and you said no, tell me, what else happened and you're not telling me?" Jade was very angry with me. "I didn't expect you'll keep things from me Ukpono, I brought you into my house, you are my responsibility, anything that happens to you is on me. Tell me, why did you hide it from me? You know what, never mind. I'll talk to mother myself," he turned to leave but I stopped him.

"You see why I didn't want to tell you? I don't want you to have another disagreement with your mother, I don't want it to look like I was waiting for you to come back so I can run and tell you what they did to me while you were gone. She's your mother, I don't want both of you to have issues with each other because of me. That is why I didn't tell you, so please don't confront your mother," I begged him.

"UK what has gotten into you? why have you become soft because of my mother and some lousy woman claiming to be my fiancee? Are you aware that they will continue bothering you whenever I'm not around? Are you just going to allow them to hurt you every single moment in which I'm not at home?" Jade asked.

"No Jade, I may not be a member of your family but I'm no slave either and trust me, I know when to fight back and when I do, it is always ruthless. I don't know if anyone has any insecurities around me but I have my reasons being here and that is my education, anyone that would not let me live and study here in peace won't be in peace too. So Jade, I'm begging you, don't confront your mother or anyone about what happened."

In everything I said, I carefully avoided mentioning Christy's name. "is there anything else you'd like to say because I want to lock the door to my room and continue reading," I said. "Why do you want to lock it, why not just close the door?" Jade asked. "So that people in this house can learn how to knock and that includes you too Mr Kale, I've still not forgiven you for barging into my room the other day," I said playfully, lightening the atmosphere in the room. Jade bellowed in laughter, "are you kidding me? That incident happened days ago and you're still thinking about it? Okay what do you want me to do in order for you to forgive me, do I need to crawl on all fours? Or do you need a kiss?" He asked giving me a flirtatious look. "That's it Mr Kale, get out of my room this instance before I have you castrated," I said pushing him playfully out of my room.

He opened the door and Christy fell down, she was clearly leaning on the door, eavesdropping on our conversation. Jade's smiling face turned sour, she stood up immediately and hugged him, " honey you're back and you didn't even come to see me your fiancee instead you went to this psycho's room." Jade untangled himself from her and pushed her away, "what did you call her?" She didn't even notice that Jade was not looking friendly, she kept throwing herself at him and talking nonsense about me, "just because I came into her room without knocking, she threatened to kill me. Can you imagine? It's only because of my kind heart and good heart, I wouldn't have hesitated to dial 911 immediately so that she'll get locked up," she said.

Jade turned to me, "anything else you're not telling me?" "Well she barged into my room trying to force Juliet to follow her to God knows where, Juliet clearly said she didn't want to go anywhere with her. You of all people should know how much I hate someone barging into my room, I told her to leave or else I'll literally take her breaths away," I replied shrugging. "Wait a minute Christy, you went into Ukpono's room without knocking? Are you out of your mind?" he asked "but... but..." Christy stammered and Jade lifted his palm to silent her. "I do not want these charades happening again so I'll straighten out some things for you Christy.

"This is my house, not my mother's, and in my house there are rules you need to adhere to if you'll be staying with us for a few days, these rules are specifically for you so listen attentively. Rule number 1, my mother brought you to this house not I, you are only a guest here. Me and you have nothing to do with each other, I am not your fiance so do not call me that or any silly name you can think of, not even my first name. You are only to address me as Mr Kale. Rule number 2, avoid having any form of body contact with me, you are to stay a distance of 6 feet apart from me. Good thing the dinning table is long, I stay in one and mother stays in the other end so sit close to her and my room is out of bounds for you. Rule number 3, have you seen this lady here, her name is Ukpono, she is a very special person to me, you are to address her as Miss Udofia. Rule number 4, Hannah and her staff are my workers not your slaves so you have to give them the respect they deserve. Rule number 5, stay away from my daughter. Rule number 6, don't you EVER enter Ukpono's room without knocking, whatever happens to you there, is on you."

Christy stood there with her mouth wide open even I was surprised because I knew she would not keep them.