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The jeep came to a stop in front of the club, and both Minnie and Alex stared at the building. However, Alex averted his eyes to Minnie, and there was a slight frown etched on his face.

“Remind me why you have to go?” He grunted.

She threw her eyes to him, and upon seeing his look, she laughed. “C’mon, baby, I’ve explained this to you already. I love working, and feeling independent. Besides, Joe has really helped me, and it’s just right to be there for him.”

He sighed, “I still don’t get why you’ve got to go back to work.”

“I love working there,” Minnie stated, “I’ve got friends in there, too.”

Reluctantly, his lips pulled into a small smile, “I guess I have to understand, right?”

She leaned to him, and in a low voice, she said, “I love you,” and placed a peck on his cheek.

“I love you too,” He replied in a hushed tone.

Satisfied with his reply, she smiled and they both got out of the jeep, and walked into the club. Since it was still daylight, there weren’t much people in the club, but the few there threw Minnie winks, and some even whistled as she and Alex walked in. Minnie knew majority of them, and this was their usual way of being pathetic cockfaces, but on glancing on her boyfriend’s face, she could tell that he didn’t like it one bit.

“Oh my God, you’re back,” Genesis excited yell echoed through the club, as she ran to Minnie, and enveloped her in a bear-crushing hug. Minnie giggled as she freed herself from her friend’s grip.

“I haven’t been gone long,” Minnie bleated.

Her friend rolled her eyes. “I’m starting to forget how you look like, Minnie,” Gen joked, and both Minnie and Alex laughed. She threw her eyes to Alex, and gaped, “Oh my, Mr. handsome, you’re here too?”

Alex smiled, “Well, it’s nice seeing you again, Gen.”

Minnie frowned at how her friend stared at Alex, and she had to clear her throat in order to snap Genesis out of her dreamy gaze.

“Where are Paul and Joe?” Minnie asked.

Behind them, Paul answered, “Who’s looking for me?”

They all turned around to see Paul who’s hands were busied with two crates of beer, and both ladies gaped at how he carried them effortlessly.

“Those look heavy,” Genesis said.

“They certainly are,” Paul replied.

“But, it’s no big deal for you, Paul,” She fluttered her eyes at him, and Paul smiled inwardly.

“I suppose it won’t be a big deal to you too if I give them to you,” He said, and Genesis eyes went wide as she shook her head.

“No, thank you,” She said and disappeared into the club’s kitchen.

“May I be of assistance,” Alex offered, and Paul shook his head.

“Oh no, thanks man,” He declined nicely as he carried the crates to the bar. Alex and Minnie walked over to him. He turned around and faced them with a smile, “It’s nice seeing you back here, Dom,” He said to Minnie.

“I couldn’t help but miss you,” She said, and her eye danced to Joe’s office door, “Um, is he around?”

Paul followed her gaze, “Where else will he be?”

She turned to Alex, “Baby, I need to see him.”

“Sure,” Alex said, “I’ll come with you, if you don’t mind.”

She held his hands, “Then, let’s go.”

With this, they both walked to Joe’s office. Minnie knocked once, and Joe’s voice came from inside telling them to come in. She opened the door, and her eyes immediately went to Joe who was behind his desk typing something into the laptop in his front. On hearing the door open, he looked up from his desk, and his lips pulled into a warm smile on seeing Minnie, but on looking at Alex, he instantly stood up.

“Alexander Canaan, it’s a pleasure having you here,” Joe said, “Please, have a seat,” he said, offering them a seat.

Minnie was surprised that Joe seemed to already know Alex. Well, Alex didn’t seem to know Joe but he still smiled and walked over to the chair.

“Joseph Adams,” Joe said as he stretched forth his arms to Alex, who accept the handshake.

“Nice to meet you, Joseph Adams,” Alex said and his eyes flashed with the recollection, “Are you the husband to Amelia Adams? The founder of LAF?”

Joe’s excited eyes fell, and his smile disappeared as soon as the name rolled off Alex’s lips. Both Alex and Minnie noticed this change in him.

“Is all alright, sir?” Alex asked, and Joe nodded.

“Please seat,” Joe said, and both Alex and Minnie sat down on the two chairs across Joe. As soon as they were all seated, Joe apologized for the change in his emotion.

“You see, Amelia and I are long divorced,” Joe explained, and they both gaped.

“I’m so sorry I brought her up,” Alex apologized.

Joe pulled his lips into a smile, “It’s been years.  I just need to get over that, so it’s not your fault, Alexander,” he said, and Alex nodded, “By the way, what brings you to my little club?”

“You call this little, sir?” Alex exclaimed, “You’ve got an empire going on here.”

“My,” Joe’s smile deepened, “I’m flattered.”

“I’m not flattering you, sir,” Alex replied. He looked at Dominique who was beside him, and he placed his hand over hers. Joe’s eyes followed this, and they locked on their hands. “I accompanied her.”

Joe’s eyes crinkled at the edges, “This is absolutely great. Minnie, I didn’t know that you were acquainted with Mr. Canaan here?”

Minnie smiled, “Joe, Alex is more than an acquaintance to me.”

Joe nodded, “I can see that. So, Minnie, I hope you’re coming back.”

Minnie poured her eyes to Alex, and he nodded. He would not stop her from doing what she loved. So, if working here makes her happy, then he’s okay with it.

“Sir, she would love to come back to her work here,” Alex said.

Minnie joined in, “Yes, Joe, I’m back.”

Joe looked up in a silent prayer, “Whew! Thank goodness,” and both Minnie and Alex laughed at this.

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Amelia and Dave placed a call to the Commissioner of Police, in name of, Lateef Adewonuola, who happened to be a very close friend and supporter of Amelia’s foundation. He was informed about the brothel, and as much as he wanted to go with them and arrest the operators of the brothel, Amy told him not to – at least not that particular time. She wanted to have a one on one talk with the so called owners, and find her daughter first before she let the law handle the rest. Though not in complete support of her decision, Lateef agreed after making Amy promise that she will allow his men accompany her.

This she agreed to. So, before noon, she and Dave left for the west, and they arrived to the small town where the brothel was located. Their witness, Jide, also came along with them to identify the so called Monday, and his wife.

The trail of Amelia’s white cars parked at the main gate, and as she stepped out of her car, she looked up and saw the enclosed brothel covered with walls which almost buried the inner building from the outside. Her heart thumped against her chest as she stared at the building. This was it; she was finally going to get her daughter back, after nineteen long years.

“Are you ready, Amy?” Dave asked.

Why wouldn’t she be ready when this had been what she had desired. This was the moment she was living for. The moment she gets to see her little baby girl.

With a huff of determination, she said, “Let’s go.”

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Amy’s lips curled up as she looked around the waiting room of the brothel – her nose wrinkling up at the sight before her. Several partly-nude girls were hanging around in groups across the room, and they were all throwing seductive glance at Dave and two of her bodyguards who had come in with her.

How despicable, and these girls are someone’s children. As soon as the thought got into her mind, she became sour – what if her little girl was a part of them?

Her thoughts were abandoned as soon as the inner door of the room came open, and a slightly-overdressed woman walked out, and behind her were two girls. She walked to the cushion in front of Amy, and sat down. The two girls also sat at her side.

Amy scoffed at the woman’s sick show of superiority, and wished she could just watch the woman fall to her disgrace. Such people like her where the ones ruining the society – leading innocent girls to their doom.

“I was surprised when I saw your motorcade approaching my house. How may I help you, Amy Adams?” The woman asked with a slight smile, although one wouldn’t fail to see the sneer in her eyes as she obviously disliked Amelia.

However, Amy smiled inwardly. It was great that she knew her; at least this will make everything easy.

“I’m glad you know me, but I can’t say the same of you,” Amelia simply said.

The woman’s lips curled into a thin smile, “So, I know. I am Dinah, but my girls lovingly call me ‘Mama Di’,” She smirked, and Amelia snorted at this. How could these girls actually like her? Maybe they were all forced to follow the woman as they had no choice.

“Alright, Dinah,” Amy said, as she sat up in her chair, “I’m not here to cause you any harm, and I’m certainly not here to ruin things for you. I only need you to answer me in all honesty.”

Dinah’s smirk stretched farther as she scrutinized Amelia with her eyes, “Go on, Amy Adams.”

Amy threw her glance to Dave who instantly knew that it was his clue to speak. So, he straightened himself, and faced Dinah squarely, “On the 27th May, 1995, an accident occurred along the Badagry express way involving a Camry car which had three occupants in it – a man, his wife, and their seven month old daughter,” Dave narrated, and a devious spark crossed Dinah’s eyes as he mentioned the daughter. Amy was quick to catch this, and she clenched her jaw in anger.

“Where is my daughter, Dinah?” Amy cut in without giving Dave the opportunity to conclude his explanation. Dinah’s eyes widened at Amy’s question, but she did the weirdest thing by laughing.

Dave and Amy exchanged glances, before Amy glared at the woman. It was obvious that Dinah knew about the accident, and she sure knew about her daughter.

“Answer me, Dinah!” Amy demanded.

Dinah laughed harder. “I can’t believe you’re actually here to ask me this?” She said, and laughed even harder.

This angered Amy the more, as her nostrils dilated and her teeth blared in anger. “You do know what I am talking about, don’t you?”

“Of course I do, Amy Adams,” Dinah admitted. “By the way, you are right. My husband took your seven month old daughter nineteen years ago, and she was brought here to me.”

Dinah’s words hit Amy like a bomb, and her eyes went moist all at once. “My child is here?”

An evil grin appeared on Dinah’s lips as she saw the expression on Amy’s face, “Oh, she was here, but now, she’s no longer here.”

Amy’s brows furrowed as her eyes went wide, “What do you mean?”

There was a twisted scowl on Dinah’s lips as she watched Amy for a while, before she resolved to tell her the truth. “You see, your daughter, Dominique, was a major part of my girls, and I truly made her into a star whom all men would kill to get.”

Her daughter’s name was changed to Dominique? A stabbing pain pierced through Amy’s chest as Dinah’s words came to her.

“However, your stubborn child ran off and I’m very much sure that she would be dead by now,” Dinah finalized as her lips stretched into a mocking smile.

Amy’s felt her stomach become heavy as the sudden dread of coldness and emptiness took over her as she stared at Dinah, unblinking. But, as soon as the information sank into her, she quickly rejected it and laughed. “You must be kidding, Dinah. My child is not dead. Now tell me where she is!”

Dinah was dazed with this, but she quickly covered her surprise with a fake smile, “I wouldn’t lie. I don’t have your child anymore. She’s lost out there, and for all we know, she might be dead.”

Amy could believe anything else, but not that her daughter was dead. She could feel it somewhere in her heart that her child was very much alive, and she had to find her. She would stop at nothing to find her. Her eyes remained rooted on Dinah as the thoughts roamed her mind. She did not trust the woman one bit, and believed that Dinah was keeping something – Amy knew that she had to find out all she could from this woman, but this certainly wouldn’t happen if she kept on asking nicely.

As Dave tried to reason with the woman, Amy picked up her phone, and texted Lateef, informing him of the woman, Dinah, and the girls. She knew that Lateef would not hold back from scavenging Dinah, in order to get answers from her.

“Dave,” She called to him, making him stop abruptly at his failed attempt to get Dinah to talk. Her lips pulled into a smile, as she looked at Dinah, “Thank you so much for telling us this, Dinah,” She said, and faced Dave, “We need to go now.”

Surprised and at the same time, confused at her words, Dave nodded and Amy stood up. “It was nice chatting with you, Dinah.”

Dinah’s nose wrinkled up at the actions of Amy, but she smiled, “Same here, Amy,” She said.

With this, Amy and Dave walked out; followed by her bodyguards and they eventually drove away from the brothel. Dinah watched until they were out of her sight, and she scowled.

Why was Amelia so calm upon hearing that her daughter was no longer in the brothel and the fact that she might be dead? Could it be that she already knew where Dominique was? Or, maybe, this was her way of accepting defeat?

Either way, Dinah knew that Amy Adams would never find happiness as long as she never finds her daughter, and this was all Dinah ever hoped for.

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Lovelies, do not forget to leave a like and probably some comments before you go. Thanks.
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