"I won!!!" I shriek with glee as I laugh uncontrollably at my friend Scott, with whom I am playing FIFA 21 online.

"I'm always your boss in this game," I say, chuckling while he makes a throat-clearing motion.

"Let's play one more game." He finally says, and I keep grinning.

"I miss defeating you," I boast in my deep voice.

I'm thrilled to be back home after my vacation in Paris to begin the last semester of my senior year at Imperial College.

"What's up with resumption, dude?" He inquires. Scott and I are both Imperial College students enrolled in the same program.

"Dude, it's our last semester, we're going to have a blast, more money, more ladies, more party, more games," As I am speaking, he interrupts.

"The only son of Chief Anderson is talking." He calls out and I grin.

He is right. My father, Chief Anderson, the owner of the five-star Spring hotel and suites, is one of Lagos's affluent men, and I am always happy to be his only son.

I start to say, "I.." but stop as I hear a knock at my door.

"Yeah?" Whoever is at the door gets my attention.

"Maria", she announces. That is one of our housekeepers.

"What do you want?" I question.

"Chief wants to see you in his study right away," she says, and I exhale.

"Guy, let me call you back," I say to Scott, and he hangs up. I take off my headphones, set them on my bed, and walk out of the room.

Since I returned from Paris yesterday, I've been itching to see my father, and now that he has my time, I dare not refuse him.

On my way to his study, which is also upstairs, I come across his bodyguard, who wears a black shade on his face.

I've never seen this man grin in all his years here. What kind of work is that, my goodness?

I knock on the Chief's door, and as I step in, I say, "Hey, Chief."

I can't believe my eyes when I see Tracy, my girlfriend, cuddling with my father on the couch.

The first thing you notice when you go into the study are the two white sofas at right angles to one other, as well as an office chair facing the other two office chairs and a center table on the right side of the office. There's also a bookcase with a ton of books on it which makes me wonder if my dad actually reads them or if they're just there for display.

"Son," Dad responds. "It's good to see you back,"

I giggle a bit because I can't believe what I'm seeing, disregarding dad's remark as my gaze is drawn to Tracy's.

Tracy and I agree on an open relationship, but being with my father is the last thing I anticipate from her.

"Wow! Michael Anderson? It's a pleasure to meet you." She says in her sultry tone as I settle on the tiny couch next to them.

I'm now close to dad as Tracy is on his other side.

"Do you know him?" Dad inquires.

"Of course, Chief," She responds while giving me the side-eye. "Besides the fact that we both attend Imperial, who in the city wouldn't recognize the Chief's son?" She adds while flashing a shady smile.

"Oh! You're right," Dad answers.

The dream I'm having is only a dream someone should please wake me up right now.

"What the heck," I murmur to myself, shaking my head in shock trying not to lose my mind at Tracy's antics.

"Zaddy, pardon me, I must leave you guys." She makes a kissing gesture while pressing her lips on Dad's.

Funny enough, I can't keep my eyes off her as she gets up and begins to cat step to the door.

"Mike.." Dad fills the silence as she walks away, which draws my attention as I gulp.

I give him a serious gaze.

My father is a tall, black man with a grey beard and a full head of bald hair. Despite being in his early 50s, he has a youthful appearance that causes some people to mistakenly refer to me as his younger sibling.

I'm also his carbon clone, with a similar face, strong build, brown eyes, and height. I am 1.84m while he is 1.87m.

Some claim we even have the same smile, which I disagree with.

I believe everyone has a unique smile.

"Dad, where did you two meet, and who is she?" With a worried expression, I ask him those questions.

"She's my babe, and..." While speaking, he abruptly raises an eyebrow. "How come you're asking me such questions?"

"Dad!" I shout in disguise as much as I can.

"Come on boy! You are old enough to know all these things," Dad shrugs and I scoff at him, caressing my thigh.

"What are you talking about?" I argue.

"Is that the reason you wanna see me? Young man, I have a meeting to attend now." He states and I try to be calm.

I just even realize he is dressed up in his classy native dress with headgear and coral beads encircling his neck.

That bitch shouldn't stop me from requesting what I need from dad as it is very important to me.

This coming Sunday is my birthday, and I've been longing to share my wish list with him.

It has been a family custom since I was a little child for my sister Olivia and me to make birthday wish lists and post them in our parents' rooms. Growing up, all I do now is tell him straight out without making a list.

"Well, as a birthday present, I need a new whip and an apartment for my last semester," I demand, frowning, and he chuckles slightly.

"This isn't funny, Dad," I say. "I can't remain in your mansion much longer while I'm in my last semester."

"Really? About your grades. You barely made it to 1.5, and you won't even graduate if you don't take care of the courses you carried over." Chief spouts out, and I mutter an objection.

I manage to defend myself by saying, "Come on dad, I have told you that I'm going to study well this semester."

"The way you talked seems like you are going to study hard and make it to first-class honor which is impossible," Chief responds sarcastically and I squint and furrow my brows.

"I'll give it my all," I reassure, shrugging

"Your mother does not approve of this," Chief observes.

He should not include my mother in this. They are divorced, so anything he wants to offer me has no bearing on my mother and vice versa.

"Nothing like that for you until you graduate from Imperial," He adds firmly to me as he stands up, staring at his wristwatch.

"What!" I exclaim in disbelief.

As Tracy unlocks the door and enters, we hear her remark out of blue, "Come on Chief,"

I wonder why she returns to interrupt our conversation. She must be listening in on what we are saying.

"Why don't you grant him his wish?" She added as she approaches my father.

"As a potential contender for Lagos State's governor. People will appreciate you more after hearing that you bought your kid a new car and an apartment, and they will vote for you since they know you are not going there to steal money because you already have yours. Think about it, Zaddy." She gives lectures.

My mouth drops open, and I scoff.

"Wow! What an excellent statement," Dad speaks out.

Did she just assist me in convincing Dad? Unbelievable.

"I told you she's good," Dad says to me, and she flushes as I clear my throat, attempting to fake a grin.

"Well, I authorize a new whip while the apartment waits for him to graduate," Dad says.

"That's still nice, Chief." When Tracy praises him, he beams.

"Go meet with Jeff to have it approved," He says to me.

"I'm headed to the meeting, see you guys later." He kisses Tracy, and the three of us begin to leave his study.

You'll never see Dad leave someone in his study while he goes out.

When he steps outside, his security follows him downstairs, and I attempt to breathe in and out before confronting Tracy.

"What the hell was that?" I get closer to her and whisper in my rough voice.

"What happened?" Tracy smirks at me and rolls her eyes confidently as if she's done nothing wrong.

"My dad? How dare you?" I respond while she glances around to check if anyone is seeing us.

"Shh!" She holds me silent by placing her palm over my lips.

"Come with me," she says, dragging me along with her, straight to my room.

Does she even recognize my room? I have never taken her here before.