PRISS

The door opened abruptly to reveal the entrance of the sun, I was in my closet as usual listening to some songs when Tenola appeared .

"Priss, what's going on?", she asked with a surprised look.

"Good morning to you too", I responded and she gave a dismissive wave of her hand.

"Aren't you going to work? It's Monday for goodness sake", Tenola said with her hands on her hips.

"I'm not going, it's not as if I have any work to do", I responded in a dismissal tone.

"But......"
"Just tell them I'm not feeling too well".

She nodded before continuing," Today is the election, aren't you curious about the result?"

I shot her a deadly glare as she mouthed 'sorry' before walking away.

Closing the door, I inserted the earpiece into my ear as I listened to 'I'm alive' by Celine Dion.

Few minutes later, the door opened and I looked up angrily believing it was Tenola but it was mom.

Her face was pale and I pondered on what was wrong, deciding to say something, mom beat me to it by saying," We need to talk".

CLIFF

"Guys, I'm nervous", I said while adding the cufflinks to my pinstripe suit.

"Everything would be fine", Frank assured while patting my shoulder.

"Don't worry", Zina added with a smile. I nodded and turned to the both of them.

"Chloe got back yesterday", Zina announced and my mouth formed an 'O'

"Surely, she's on your side along with your dad and she informed me they tried convincing your mom but they don't know the outcome", Frank added with a pitiful expression.

"I pray it doesn't turn out bad", I said.

"It won't", Zina assured before giving me a peck and then turning to Frank who kissed her and her stomach.

"Time to go", I shouted and Frank released Zina and we both walked out of the house.

"Goodluck", Zina waved as we drove out.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

PRISS
"Mom, I'm all ears", I insisted as we both sat on the couch in her room. Apparently, others had left the house with only mom and I around except the workers.

"Don't get mad ooo", she said in a pleading tone.

"Just spill it", I said impatiently.

She took a deep and long breath,before finally talking.
"I've kept it for so long but who I met yesterday made me decide to let you know", she admitted in a quiet tone.

I was getting jittery.
"Just say it", I said while trying to sound calm, I despised being kept in suspense.

"Okay, I know your birth parents", she confessed.

It was as if a dagger crossed through me, my eyes widened as my mouth fell open. So, she knew my biological parents all this while and kept it from me.

She continued, "Infact your mother and I were best friends, we were three then along with Feyikemi".

"WHAT!", I shouted as my lashes fluttered.

"Your mother's name is Priscilla", she announced while my eyes opened widely, anytime from now it would jump out of its socket.

"Your father's name is Mukit, they met while we were in the university, after we graduated his parents forced him to get married to someone else".

My mouth quaked as I tried verbalizing words but they weren't coming. When she realised I wasn't saying anything she continued, "It was after he got married that your mom realised she was pregnant, she decided to keep it from your Dad but Feyikemi spilled the beans".

Feyikemi! That crazy woman.

"Why did my mom decide to keep it a secret?", I queried.

She drew in another breathe before revealing, "Your dad was married to her elder sister then and she didn't want to destroy their marriage"

"What?",my forehead furrowed.

"After Mukit found out, he had no choice but to stay with your mom, he left his matrimonial home to stay with her but Paula, your mom's elder sister was vexed and picked up a fight with your mom and to everyone's surprise, Paula moved into your mom's house claiming she was also pregnant and at such Mukit and Paula had to move back to their matrimonial home while he visited Priscilla often", she stopped for me to talk but I didn't say anything, I was already absorbed in the story.

She continued,"Immediately your mom brought you to this world, she gave up the ghost"

I covered my mouth with my mouth as I gasped. Terror overtook my face as my eyes turned glassy.

She sniffed before continuing," Paula hated you that instant and claimed she was heavily pregnant and at such couldn't take care of you, Mukit then gave you to me, weeks later, Paula gave birth in New York and at such she pinned him to the baby, Mukit couldn't go back to Nigeria, months later, I got married and Kolapo insisted you couldn't stay with us and I had no other choice but to drop you at the orphanage so far Feyikemi didn't want you".

I swallowed the lump in my throat as pain washed over me, I glared at her being speechless as I facepalmed, she touched me and I looked at her.

"I'm sorry", she begged while I tried to smile but I ended up pursing my lips.

"Mukit named you Jaliyah but after I adopted you which was few years after I got married without having a child, I changed your name to your mom's , I named you Priscilla in memory of your mom though you still bore Mukit's surname"

This time the tears I'd been trying to fight swam in my face. Mom hugged me while I sobbed on her chest.

"Did you hear from my dad after that?", I questioned immediately the tears stopped coming.

She drew away from me and looked into my eyes.
"I heard from him after I came to Islandia turns out he stayed here", she responded with a small smile.

I nodded.
"You've met him once, the first time you came for vacation but Paula doesn't want you and at such he only sent you gifts"

I shook my head with different thoughts.

"Can I meet him?"
Sadness washed over mom's face, I hope it isn't what I'm thinking.

"He's dead", she announced as a tear dropped from my eye. I sprawled to my feet and ran to my room. Closing the door , I jumped on my bed while sobbing with flowing tears like a newly discovered river from a local village stream. I'd resented my biological parents but now I longed for them. Why did they have to die without spending time with me?

"There's something else you need to know", mom's voice came behind the door.

I knelt beside my bed after crying my heart out, prayed and seeked for forgiveness.

After complacency set in, I decided to go see mom for whtever she had to say. I just hope it wouldn't be another bomb.

CLIFF

"I'll support Cliff", Chloe said while smiling at me.

"That makes it 15.5%", the company secretary announced.

Jabal shot me a glare before his mom talked," I'll support Jabal"

"That's 15, so Cliff is 15.5 while Jabal is 15", the company secretary announced.

"Cliff", Dad said as murmurs erupted as if they didn't know dad would support me with his shares, my only fear was mom as the others who had promised to support me with me thinking only Jabal's mom would be on his side ended up breaking their promise, they were a big disappointment as they all moved to Jabal's side.

"So now Cliff has 45.5 and Jabal has 45.5", the company secretary announced as all eyes were fastened on mom, she was the only determinant and had been quiet ever since the meeting started.

It was getting hot as all mom did was smirk, I tried meeting her gaze but she didn't meet my gaze and just then the door flew open.

All eyes moved from mom to the person that walked in. My eyes widened.

"I'll vote for Cliff", mom and the person said in unison.

My brain was still trying to register as I gawked at the person.

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