Emily's POV
 
  Three days had passed and Dad had already told the principal that I was leaving. Mr George Hamilton, my principal was really shocked at this sudden departure. The school year had barely begun and he tried his best to persuade my dad to let me stay.

  I didn't even know if I wanted to stay or not. I lost my best friend and my reputation but I wanted to stay for James.

  Deep down I knew that was not happening. My dad never went back on a decision. Once he has made the decision it was final.

  That was it. Goodbye America. Goodbye Minnesota.

It wasn't hard to arrange my trip. Dad always renewed our passport and I had obtained my visa. I wish my visa was denied but oh well.

  Grandma was really happy I was coming over. She had constantly begged my dad to bring us to Nigeria. She wanted to spend time with us.

  She could be very stubborn at times. She had come to America when I was ten when mom just disappeared but she stayed with us for only six months.

   Those months felt like years. Life was unbearable. She was an Igbo woman while my late paternal grandfather hailed from Eket, Calabar.

  Hardly was there any time when she wouldn't be on my neck. My paternal grandmother is friendly but she's a handful. She's overbearing.

  She would tell me stories of her youthful days and how she met my late grandfather. I always got bored while she talked and I would fall asleep.

  Also, she made my dad shun us from watching television. We were only allowed to watch cartoons for three hours then she would force us to read our books while she had the television to herself.

  Furthermore, she stopped ordering food and eating out. She said it was a waste of money. Now I see where my dad got his frugality from.

  She always cooked native dishes for us and I don't fancy native meals. My dad was also not allowed to cook.

  I hated all this but the worst of it all was when I was in the kitchen with her. She always made me join her to cook. I would feign sickness to get away from the kitchen.

  Cooking with her was a nightmare. Unlike my dad, she complained about everything- my stamina, the way I chopped onions, the way I held the knife, everything and anything.

  Now, I was going to stay three full months with her in a place I have never been before. My luck is great.

  It's been six years now. Maybe she has changed. I tried to cheer myself up.

  My flight was on Friday by six-forty five am. The day arrived quicker than I expected. All through the week, James and I had been getting along. He had told me how he felt and we reconciled.

  James went to school while I stayed home and watched films on Netflix. Each time he came home, I'll always ask him if anyone inquired about me but he would nod his head in negation. It made me feel that indeed, there was nothing here.

  I cleared my contacts besides Dad and James. I was going to start afresh so, I was getting rid of all the extra baggage in my life.

  I threw away our ( Lucy and I ) special box. We kept a lot of our pictures taken from sixth grade till now. We also had some objects we held dear in it. I kept it for both of us.

  The most painful thing for me to get rid of was our friendship code placard. I read the twenty codes and in tears, I cut it with scissors, one by one.

  We had written it in sixth grade and I never knew our friendship would end like this. I thought we would be best friends forever. I guess life changes your plans.

  James got a new phone. He had misplaced his previous one when he went missing. Now he was back to his usual vibrant self.

  Friday morning was sober. Black wasn't my colour but my mood chose my outfit. I was dressed in black ripped jeans with an oversized black T-shirt and white sneakers.

   I packed my braids with a thin black band and I took my two big luggage to the living room. I packed my things on Wednesday. I didn't take all my clothes and shoes. It was for three months only. I wasn't moving out completely. I will be back.

  Dad sat me down for a talk.

"Emily, I hope you understand that I love you." He paused to make sure I was listening and I nodded in affirmation.

"My decision to send you to Nigeria is to discipline you so you can stay with your grandma. You know she is old and lonely and she loves you a lot although she might be a bit difficult at times."

  "Yes dad, I understand." I sighed "please take care of James and yourself."

  "Sure Emily, we'll be fine. We'll call you every day. Don't worry so much. Nigeria is a beautiful country and Lagos is a great city. You'll enjoy your stay there and you might not even want to come back." I scoffed at this.

  "Be very careful and beware of boys. Also..."

  At this point, I had zoned off. I lost interest. Seriously, he was giving me the talk. All I could hear from him from here on was blah blah blah.

  I couldn't take it anymore and I quickly spoke up, "Dad, trust me I'll be fine now I also want to give you the talk."

He looked at me with suspicion. "Go on."

"Please Dad, beware of Miss Betty. I'm not comfortable around her. Tread with caution dad."

  "Emily, there is something I want to tell you about Miss Betty and me."

I was really scared now. Dad was hesitant. His face fell like when he told us our mom disappeared. Okay, I'm exaggerating but he was not smiling. He became really serious and that just made the atmosphere intense.

  "I-" then James cut in.

"Come on Dad, Sis, enough with this emotional drama. You both look like you are in some sappy, old, soap opera."

  Then he bowed his head.

"Sister dear, I will miss you, I'll have all the cookies." I frowned at him and gave him a friendly punch.

"Ouch Sis, always so violent but seriously look at the time, it's ten minutes past six and if you continue like this, you'll miss your flight. We'll keep in touch. That's why we have social media. We can video call anytime okay?"

  I hugged him tightly. He knew how to ease tension between people. I was going to miss my annoying little butterfly.

  Dad promised to send my allowance to me every month but I was not happy it will pass through my grandma. I didn't have an account yet.

  The drive to United Airlines was quiet. I kept staring at the place I was leaving. My home.

  They watched me board the plane and to my greatest surprise, James was crying profusely. He didn't know I was watching them.

  This boy was something and he was acting as if he wasn't affected. Dad hugged him and they left.

  I put my earbuds on. I was flying first class. There was no one beside me so the flight was peaceful. I wasn't a loner but I didn't want any company on this flight. I wanted to reflect on what was in store for me in Nigeria.

  My dad told me my grandma would receive me at the airport or she would send her chauffeur.

  After looking around the airport for some time, I saw a cute guy carrying a placard it read "Welcome Emily."

  That's her chauffeur, my subconscious mind told me, but for a chauffeur, he was really hot. Well, I heard there weren't enough jobs in Nigeria so it's possible.

  He had dimples and he was smiling. I could see his white perfect set of teeth. Cool hair cut and he was tall. Probably six feet two inches. I  mentally eyed my subconscious and she responded to me What, I know the height of a guy by looking at him.

  His complexion was tan and he had broad and well-built shoulders.

"Stop assessing him", I yelled at her. For a minute I had inner peace.

  As I reached him, my subconscious was doing cartwheels now. I knew he was truly hot. Better than from afar.

  I quickly introduced myself trying my best not to stutter.
"I'm..Emi..ly. You must be here for me."

  He looked puzzled and then his smile dropped and was replaced with a cold and intense gaze. I felt he didn't hear me and I was no longer under the influence of his charm. I quickly shoved my luggage to him.

  How dare he not take it from me. What a gentleman he was and I quickly said the first thing that came to my mind.

"Seriously, why are you staring at me like that. Carry my luggage properly, I'm your boss's granddaughter. Where is your car anyway? I had a long and tiresome journey about 14 hours on a plane."

  I felt numb in my butt. I hated sitting all through the flight.

  "Come on, lead the way."

This time he frowned first then he chuckled. He took out his phone and he kept staring at me and the phone. Then he shook his head and walked past me.

  I couldn't take this and I yelled after him bringing the spotlight on us;

"What the heck is wrong with you, wait up".

Everyone was staring at me. They were looking at me like I was blabbering. I felt so ridiculous but I will make him pay for this.

  I followed him with my two heavy luggage. I stopped following him when I saw a girl that looked around my age or older. She ran to him and they hugged. She was all smiles and cute.

  My cheeks were filled with embarrassment now and I slowly walked away. I now understood the situation then, I heard an annoying voice trailing behind me.

  "Young madam Eme-ely, I have come. I had to stop and eat on my way to Arik airlines. Young madam, I'm really really very very sorry."

  I mentally cursed him. If he had come earlier, I wouldn't have embarrassed myself like that. He showed me a picture of my grandma and me, then I knew he was the chauffeur. He carried my luggage while I tagged along from a distance.

  He looked like he was in his mid-thirties. I was quite irritated by his shabby appearance. Loose, blue shirt with two buttons missing along with an oil stain on his collar. There was a tear at the hem of his baggy black trousers. His belt was worn out and let me not go to his shoes. They were begging for mercy.

  I hadn't expected a Prince like the unknown mister from before. I couldn't help blushing as I recalled his face but, this was beyond how bad I expected the driver to look.

  I took deep breaths as I entered the black Honda. It was surprisingly neat but that must be because of my grandma. She wouldn't ride in a dirty car.

  Relax Emily. Fear had begun to build up within me. My subconscious just gave me a sadistic smile and she mocked me, this is only the beginning Emily. Worse things are coming.

  Were worse things coming? I pondered within. I wouldn't know. I just have to stay positive and hope for the best.

.........................................................

I'm so sorry if my story is coming off too slow. Some details are really important so from now on I'll try to update twice a week.

Anyone curious about Emily's Prince.

Do you think life in Nigeria with grandma will be miserable for her🤔??

I'll restrict the POVs to three from now on.

We'll be seeing less of Mr Hugh, our hot daddy and James.

Special thanks to @Winnieflex, she's my number one reader 😘