"We are sorry but we will have to get back to you."

"Darling, we still haven't decided. Please go and wait for our call "

"Tacha Williams right? You know what, you will have to go back home again. Please do not come until we get in touch with you if we decide to hire you. You need to leave our premises now."

Tacha sighed after roaming the street of Lagos for the whole day, stressed out from the buses she boarded. Even Lagos sun and traffic was capable of wearing someone off which they both did to her. Tacha was sincerely tired of the rejection she kept receiving. It was already two weeks since she lost her job, trying to get a new job she can. All they told her was; they would get back to her, yet nothing, no calls, no text messages, no emails. They looked really excited every time she met with them, assuring her they would hire her, only for her to wait and wait for days with no response. On getting there, they all acted like they would carry her out if she does not leave their premises immediately.

Tacha understood job wasn't an easy thing to find almost everywhere in this country. Every day, everyone is walking on the part of being an entrepreneur and a CEO of their own company which worked for some people but not everyone. Tacha had always wanted to have her fashion line for thick women, but Everytime she mentioned it, people just laughed at her. They would ask her; you want to teach them how to wear baggy clothes? Or appear in long skirts?

Tacha sighed, finally standing at the front of the house she lived for years with her mum. Tacha looked down at her phone. For the past Five days she had been trying to reach her mum. Rather than picking up her calls, she would rather text her, telling her how well she was doing. Tacha wanted to visit home since her mum had been refusing to pick her calls, but she wanted to secure a job first. With that, she could get some foodstuffs and carry them with her, knowing there was a salary somewhere expected to enter her account, but at the last minute, she changed her mind.

Tacha entered into the house and walked through the corridor that led to the door of their room. The door was locked. It was almost evening, and if her mum had gone to work, she was expected to have resumed back into the house. Tacha brought out her phone and dialed her mum's no. It stopped ringing, and immediately a message came in.

Me and your sister is doing well. Back home already.

What! Tacha exclaimed. Her mum had been lieing to her all this while. Where was she?

A dark young guy walked towards the door Tacha rested on "Looking for someone? I live here."

Tacha couldn't take her eyes off him, lost in thoughts. Was she having another dream? The room had actually being rented out. So fast. As if the Landlady was waiting for them to leave. But since when? Tacha moved away from the door, speaking up so quickly before the guy entered. "When did you move in please?"

"Last week."

What! Her eye brows went up at the guy. Her mom had left the house for over a week and she was not told. To where?

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

Tacha had seen beautiful houses in her life, but as she managed to enter one? No. She only admired them from distance. She was just another girl who grew up poor, hoping she got a break and be successful to take care of her family. Tacha couldn't believe her eyes. This was where her mother was working. A beautiful place, definitely a very rich family. She didn't like her quiting such a peaceful work for a new one, but she couldn't judge that yet. The new one could even be better than her mum's former job. Probably better. This made Tacha so happy. She hope the family were taking good care of her mum. Tacha had to take Uber instead of a public transport. She wasn't familiar with the address her mum sent to her, and she was too eager to see how her family was doing in a new place.

When Tacha discovered her mum had left the house without sharing that with her, she was angry, typing a quick text message about her mum's whereabout. How disappointed she was, and how angry she was at the moment.

Tacha came down from the car, walking towards the gate. It was immediately opened, even before declaring who she came to see. Wow! A smile came down and settled on Tacha's face. She was so happy, hoping she could discuss her issue with her mum. Tacha found a way to get a job already. This family her mum was working for could help her. She looked forward, and...

Something just seemed off about the familiar image she saw from afar.

That couldn't be her mum. Tacha told herself.

The resemblance was way too much. This person looked exactly like her mum. Carrying a cement block on her head to the site where a building was being constructed.

Tacha walked very fast. Her steps could pass for her starting for a marathon race. Then she run, yelling. "Mum!"

The so look alike Tacha saw turned to her immediately.

She was lost.

Frozen.

Shocked.

It was no one else than her.....mum.

"Mum." Tacha moved closer staring at the woman in her dirty clothes covered with sand and a cement block on her head. Tacha's eyes immediately soaked with tears as a quick pain shot through her heart. Embarrassed and angry. Oh my God! Her hands flew to her mouth. "Mum what are you doing here?" A tear rolled down, letting her crying mouth in display. "Why are you doing this to yourself mum. Why didn't you call me?"

Tacha's mum dropped the cement block on her head. She could feel the pain that were expressed through her daughter's eyes. Her chest were heavy, ashamed her daughter had to see her like this. She was here because the person has offered to help her, and didn't know it was this kind of job. When she knew, she couldn't say no because of the price. She needed the money. She turned her gaze to her daughter. "Tacha, I can't keep calling you always. I'm your mother, I should keep taking care of you no matter how old you become."

Those tears came down so freely because Tacha gave up. She didn't want this for her mother even if she wanted to keep taking care of her. Tacha drew her mum closer. "You are not doing this anymore mum. Where is mana?" She asked of her younger sister.

"Tacha, I can't." Her mum moved away, dropping her hands. "He's paying me hundred thousand naira just to carry these blocks. I would be able to get a new place for us."

"What!" Tacha Exclaimed. *When I'm here. Who cares about the money. How much is hundred thousand naira mum? I'm a graduate, I will get a new job and take care of you. I will get us a new place."

The two stared at each other. Tacha understood her mum wanted an explanation, but not now. It would be after they left this place.

"The boss!" Tacha's mum said in fear, pushing her daughter away. "You have to leave. We can't make him get angry."

"Mum stop!" Tacha yelled. "Who is that heartless person that hires you to do such a work? He's not in his right senses for hiring an old woman like you. He's doing you no favour but trying to kill you. Did you tell him you have leg problem, a diabetic patient, and you can't stay near dust because you are an asthmatic patient?" Tacha yelled at her mum. "Oh, he definitely didn't ask you about your health status. He's stupid and a killer."

Tacha's mum froze.

"Who is that yelling in my house?" The voice said right behind Tacha, very calm. This time, Tacha froze. She hated the fact that she thought the voice sounded familiar. She swallowed, her hands balled into a fist. The presence of the man bothered her already. She turned, and immediately, she thought her heart stopped breathing, but picked up a race immediately. Again, after many days, she felt she was about to die by the presence of doom in a human body, hardly breathing as he towered over her. "Oh my God!" She let out in a shock. "You again?"

"Do I know you?" Nathan said, his face as hard as a rock. "You, get back to work." She was waiting for Tacha's reaction and he got it.

"What!" Tacha exclaimed, holding her mother's wrist. "How dare you speak to my mother like that?" She said slowly, anger popping from her words, but trying not to flare up, her eyes bitter and wet, close to raining. Now she knew, Nathan was rich, but doesn't know how well. This was his house, and she had to be very careful cause this devil could do anything to her and her mother. Any moment from now, Tacha would cry, so she tried her best not to speak as she stared back at Nathan who gave her a deadly grin. This was exactly what happened whenever people tried to disrespect him, make him feel powerless, insult his ego and dare to say no to him. He would torture them to the end, without no second thought.

Nathan filled up the space around her. "You need to know I'm just starting, and I don't show mercy once I have my eyes on you." He stepped back. "And...mind your speech this time. I'm not in a good mood. You..." He pointed to Tacha's mother. "Go back to work or I will have you arrested for taking my money and not doing your job."

"What!" Tacha was speechless. She turned to her mum. Then she nodded. Which means she had already being paid. Another lie her mum told her again. She didn't tell Tacha she had already been paid.

Her mum withdrew her hand and left the two alone. She couldn't tell what was going on, but she felt so sorry for her daughter and ashamed of herself. What could she do? She couldn't pay for their rent, and was chased out. Someone reached out to help her and she couldn't just say no. She had nowhere to go than anywhere life throws at her again.

Tacha now understood Nathan was heartless. It doesn't look like he was ready to hear her out, but Tacha didn't give up. She looked up at him with her teary eyes. "That is my mother." Her tears fell. "Is this a coincidence that my mum works here?" She moved closer to him staring into his eyes. "Come for me. Please come for me instead."  She was really crying. "She's an asthmatic patient, she is diabetic, and has arthritis. If anything happens Nathan, your hundred thousand naira will not solve it. Please I beg you." She was probably pleading with her voice. "I will replace her."

He looked up at her. He wasn't sure how her tears managed to move him. He rolled his eyes at her. To release her mother, there was only one way he could grant her. "First of all, I'm not moved by your display." He told her, his voice extremely cold. "That work your mum is doing does not worth that amount. And if you are gonna replace her, I will like to have my ninety thousand naira back."

Tacha stunned by his offer. It was as if she didn't hear him clearly. "What?"

Nathan pointed to the other workers. "What I pay them every week is nothing more than ten thousand naira. Is either you let your mum complete her work, or you pay me back my ninety thousand naira. I will let you think about it," he said turning away from Tacha without another glance.

"Right here sir!" Bolatito yelled, opening the car door for Nathan the moment he got to the car. He entered and a genuine smile took over his lips. Then he laughed. He couldn't get Tacha's reaction of his mind. Right there, they drove past Tacha who was completely frozen.

Bolatito stole a quick glance at Nathan, and he was still smiling.

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What do you guys think about this chapter?
😔 I seriously feel for Tacha but we meeeeveeeeee😄

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Thank you so much for reading ❤️