Gina was dragged back to consciousness by the mellifluous accompaniment emanating from somewhere towards her right. To clear the hazy feeling hovering above her, she tried to fight it off. Unpreparedness had her momentarily shutting her eyes, only to peer them again when the minimal intensity of the flourescent bulb settled well with her pupils.

Disoriented for a second, she allowed her eyes to take a cursory sweep of her immediate surrounding. The dark and grey fusion was telltale sign that she was in Gabriels' room. However, before she could process how she got there or why, a harmonious concord had her turning her head slightly to follow the sound that was precursor to bringing her back to reality.

Her curious eyes scanned the right part of the room haphazardly before landing squarely on the figure perching on the bed beside her. His head was bent low, obscuring his features but she had lived with him for a month now to recognise him anywhere.

His concentration seemed to be focused on what he was doing, and her eyes wandered past his overflowing black robe to rest on the edge of the sleeves where his palms became visible. The said part of his anatomy, surprisingly, was cradling her right palm as one would a day old baby.

The caressing was soft, gentle and oddly intimate. Not having been a recipient of the man's caring side, it came as a perplexity for her to see him engrossed in nursing her back to health.

The soft lullaby continued, as her auditory nerves tried to get accustomed to the melody. The voice was smooth, with a dash of tenor strings which had her wondering if the music was coming from him, but as there was no other human present in the room, -and the voice was definitely human- she made her deductions.

He hadn't raised his head yet, seemingly obvious to her now active state, which helped her study him, or his singing more. She was surprised that he could sing... or hum, since that was the accurate description for what he was doing, but ultimately it was the wordings that caught her attention.

Sleep, sleep child,
and have no fear,

The lyrics sounded strange to her ears so she thought it nice to ask him about it.

"You can sing?"

The scratchy, throaty sound that left her lips instead had his back ramrod in a flash. His eyes found hers and he automatically dropped her hand as if it seared him. She frowned at his behaviour, eyeing him which prompted him to react.

"You're awake finally."

She could almost detect the relief in his voice. Was he worried on her behalf?

Not trusting her vocal chords for the mean time, she nodded, still studying him. 

He coughed again, loudly, before reaching over to touch her forehead. His palm was warm and soft and she involuntarily closed her tired lids to bask in the feeling when they trailed to her neck.

"You seem fine. Everyone was worried when you didn't wake up immediately."

Satisfied with his observations, he withdrew his hand which forced her lids to open. Only this time, her slight confusion was replaced by a glare.

"Everyone?"

His gaze snapped to her face at the anger radiating off her tone. He sighed and moved a few inches away from her bed.

"Yes, the whole family," he reitrated, barely looking at her, "Monica wouldn't stop screaming and wailing that she might have caused you to miscarry, so we had to call the family doctor. He said you were fine, just some spotting which pregnant women experience occasionally.

"I guess this would be the appropriate time for congratulations as you really are pregnant."

When she didn't share in his joy, he coughed before continuing, "although he did say to get you medically checked out once you woke up, so I've booked an appointment for this weekend once I get back."

"I have a doctor assigned to me already." Her voice was suddenly flat, and she couldn't seem to find the energy to continue conversing with him. Everyone was worried about her? What about him?

He sighed, the predicament obviously weighing him down. It must have boggled his mind that he didn't plan the course of this pregnancy better.

"I know you do. I suggested it for crying out loud, but she's all the way there in Banana Island and Dr. Wasiu is just a few blocks away."

There was something he wasn't saying and whatever it was had her ears prickling for the hidden message. Tired of playing word games with him, she sat up slowly on the bed, eyeing the blue house robe she was clad in with disgust. All through, his attention didn't waver from her even though he was standing a good five metres away from the bed.

Fixing him with her serious demeanour, she quizzed. "Gabriel, what exactly did the doctor say?"

Realising he couldn't outrun this inquiry, and mainly because she deserved to know, he sighed before replying,

"He said we were extremely lucky that it was a minor issue. According to him, since you're in your first trimester, any form of strenuous exercise or heightened emotion could have terminated the pregnancy. He also made it a point that I knew your life was at risk, as well."

She scoffed on hearing that. "I guess I have your beneficiary and your sister to thank for that. And let's not forget your brother who called me a gold digger as if I've ever stolen from him before," she muttered spitefully, her eyes roving the room speedily and in anger.

"Where is everyone sef?!" She barked.

"They went to Church."

Her eyes paused to stare at his hovering tall figure as if seeing him for the first time. "And what are you doing here?"

"I had to make sure you were alright. You slept longer than the doctor said you would, but he also said to keep you hydrated because you were dehydrated and fatigued."

"Eh, you can go now. As you can see, I'm fine." She spat out irritably.

"I wish you were, but above that, I also wish I made sure that you were fine, Gina."

At her blank expression, he strolled to come perch on the bed beside her. Cupping her hand in his, he began to caress it softly before speaking again.

"I took the pregnancy for granted, I realise it now. I had roughly estimated that you would get pregnant immediately and when you didn't, I tried to force my already planned schedule on it and it put the baby..., it put you and the baby in grave danger." He amended quickly before she noticed the slip-up.

"You've told me before that you were trying to protect the baby and I've ignored your warnings all because I was being selfish. I'm sorry, Gina. From now on, we'll do it your way. We'll tell people when you're ready, and I'll personally see to your safety at all times..."

"Does that include keeping your crazy family away from me?" She interrupted, hope brimming in her pupils.

He chuckled at her childlike pout before nodding. "Especially my crazy family."

"At least, you apologised. I really thought you wouldn't." She appeased him with an infectious smile.

His face broke into a grin and then he was full out chuckling, which he still tried to keep at its barest minimum.

"You can sing?" She blurted out randomly. "How is it that you can sing better than me?"

The incredulity of the discovery had her shaking her head in amusement, mischief dancing in her eyes.

"Will you let it go already? This is a secret. No one in my family knows about this." He threatened, the severity lessened by the sly smirk on his lips.

She nodded, making a zipping motion over her mouth with her fingers.

"Why do you sing? What motivates it?"

She knew he wouldn't just start singing because he could. The man would control the very air he breathed if he could.

He shrugged disinterestedly. "I usually sing when I'm faced with stuffs I could have handled better but didn't. It helps me stay calm. At least I believe that's what it does."

She grinned up at him, completely besotted by this side of him. Who knew he could sing beautifully?

"Will you sing for me? I'm feeling down and stressed. The baby is down too. Even if you won't do it for you, then do it for the baby, please?"

After a series of pleadings, and pouts coupled with crocodile tears and the classic emotional blackmail, he finally, albeit reluctantly, granted her a wish.

Iyawo mi,
Ololufe mi,
Ore mi, my lover,
I will love you forever.

Laughing gaily, she pulled him down for a quick, chaste kiss, which soon paved way into them being in their birthday suits in a matter of minutes amidst moans and gasps.

++++++++

Gabriel was returning to work tomorrow, hence the need to clarify matters with his father. Actually, he needed to ensure Gina's safety here while he was away.

He might trust Anthony because he'd never go after Gina unless prompted but Monica was temperamental and could injure Gina -she had already done so- and someone had to keep an eye out.

Then there was also Malcolm to consider. His younger brother was a damned womanizer, and despite him potraying Gina as a scheming leech, he'd still bed her if he could, so Gabriel thought it wise to put a leash on that rabid dog sooner, considering the fact that the contract would not tolerate uncultured behavior near his child or the woman carrying it.

He walked down the steps in determined strides heading towards his father's study. Raphael had turned one of the guest rooms downstairs into a small office ever since he allowed his two sons to become managers at the company. It served the purpose of not having to worry about spill over company matters. That way he could still be abreast of everything even from home.

Gabriel reached the door in time to hear muffled sounds emitting from inside. He knew instantly it was his father and Malcolm, and wondered what those two conspirators were up to. The heavy mahogany door prevented him from eavesdropping so he knocked. The door was opened a minute later after a series of key turns and unlocked bolts, which caused a frown to form on Gabriel's features. What could they be discussing that warranted locking the door?

Malcolm was grinning at him from the other side of the door and Gabriel pushed past him, striding into the room to go sit on an armchair facing the desk. The study looked eerily similar to his office at the company with the same colors and arrangement, with the exception of a glass flower vase holding a colourful combination and some hanging small shrubs placed strategically around the room.

"Gabriel, why are you here?"

"I'm not done talking with your brother."

"You are now," came the retort to his father's comment, as he ignored his brother's question.

Gabriel saw Malcolm throw up his hands as if to protest but one look from their father and he turned and walked away grudgingly, closing the door behind him.

"What do you want?"

"What were you discussing with him behind closed doors?"

Father and son asked simultaneously.

Raphael sighed, looking suddenly tired. "How is Gina? Did she sleep well? Is she feeling better now?"

"You're purposely avoiding the question, Father," Gabriel scowled at his father for playing him the fool.

"It was nthing important." He waved the matter aside nonchalantly. "Malcolm's convinced you and Gina are putting on a show, that you guys cannot possibly be in love and that the pregnancy is a trap for me. He says he can prove it but you know your brother. Pay him no heed."

Gabriel threw his advice back at him, however. "It does not look like you aren't listening to his rants. In fact, if you had to close the door, it must have been more serious than you're letting on."

"He closed the door when he arrived. I had nothing to do with that. But if he insists on carrying on with this charade of his, I'll have to listen to him. He's my son too," Raphael clarified, feeling like he was being scrutinised under a microscope.

That statement infuriated Gabriel immensely.

"The last time you listened to him, I ended up having to fight for my birthright with my brother. Everyday you play this awful game of favorites in this house. And just last month, you decided you don't want a new CEO anymore, as if the efforts I put into this company is for nought. What will you do next, Father, to frustrate me?" He raged.

"What I do is for your own good. This company isn't yours until you prove you can handle the enormous amount of responsibility involved." Raphael insisted, his voice rising too.

"Wow, I'm impressed. You are certainly the father of the year." He laughed sarcastically, his features morphing into one of scorn.

"When have whatever you've done been for my good? Do you have any idea what I like? Do you even have an inkling of what is it that I want? You can't possibly be doing this for my own good if you don't know me!" He gritted out through clenched teeth and forced breath.

"I won't have you use that tone with me, Gabriel!"

"Or what, Father?" He challenged squarely. "Are you going to fire me from the company? That's probably the next step since I can't go any higher than this. Perhaps you'd take a drastic approach and disown me. I don't see any other way out of this," he muttered in disgust.

Raphael did not reply as he watched him quietly, trying to understand him. He really couldn't though, which was pointless him trying now. But how he wished he could.

Out of all his children, Gabriel was the only one who didn't give him trouble. An obedient child right from when he was very small. He knew wrong from right at such tender age he refrained from failing his parents. With the responsibility of being an older brother to all his siblings, he was the one who put them in line always. Even as they all rebelled against his rules, fighting constantly for their independence, never once did Gabriel do such.

Sometimes, Raphael told himself it was because he had instilled his views too deep into his son that he couldn't break free. Other times, it was best to believe it had nothing to do with his teachings but everything to do with his son's personality. His cold, heartless persona would still be there even if the teachings weren't.

"Why are you here?" Raphael repeated the first question he had thrown at him once he passed through that door.

Gabriel looked at him as though seeing him for the first time. Gone was his anger from earlier. Replacing it was the hard-hearted businessman he had raised.

"I'll be going back to my house come tomorrow morning and I have a few requests to make. Since Gina would be staying here for the meantime in order for her to get acclimatized, I'll want an eye out for her and my child."

Raphael chuckled suddenly. "You don't trust her?"

Gabriel frowned at him before retorting. "It's your children I don't trust. Monica can be extra when she hears of a new life and that would not be good for my child in any way. Anthony has serious anger issues so I need him to be cautioned around Gina, and your stupid fool of a son, Malcolm, best be keeping his hands to himself around Gina or I will break it off. I swear it," he instructed firmly.

"I know. You don't want harm coming to them and I'll ensure that they are safe while you're not here," Raphael agreed, nodding eagerly.

Gabriel stood up from his chair and turned to leave. "And this family meeting coming up better be worth it. The drama from last time is still making me sick," he intoned before turning to march out of the study.

Raphael watched the door close behind his eldest son before sighing heavily. If Malcolm's words were to be believed, the family meeting scheduled for next weekend would be worth it, for the drama promised was going to keep people reeling from shock for weeks.

Suddenly, after a deep exhale to calm his anxious heart, he stuck his hand under the blue folder on his desk and slowly pulled out the Manilla envelope hidden underneath. He had seen the heading of the document contained inside earlier and was not of the free mind to share that information with his children yet, so he had gone covertly on the envelope.

Scanning the door to ensure complete privacy, he undid the bind of the envelope slowly before digging his wrinkly hand inside. The white sheets he pulled out stared back at him as one would a gawk at a moving circus.

He tried to digest what was penned down but the heading that stated complete ownership and transfer of shares had him confuzzled. What did the lawyer mean by these statements?

Hungry for more clarification, he proceeded to turn the pages where strange words like 'inheritance', 'first son' and 'birthright' danced incredibly in front of his eyes. Out of sheer disbelief, he skimmed the four paged document some more but it was undoubtedly clear what the situation on ground meant.

As an afterthought, a wickedly terrible idea crossed his mind at that very second. It was dangerous and downright heartless but he was not about to see his blood and sweat for over three decades washed down the drain because of an over-ambitious son. Gabriel would have to march over his dead corpse to take Asika farms from him.

The thought of the manipulative scoundrel had his sense of security in upheaval. His eyes darted around his study in quick scrutiny for the safest, least likeliest place to safeguard an important secret such as the one contained in these documents. Resolving that there was no better place than home, his eyes landed on the bunch of keys lying haphazardly on his desk. Allowing no room for doubt, he grabbed the key and stood to his feet.

Quickly, his pacing found him in front of his small shelved library and he squatted instantly. Shoving a key into the bottomed drawer, he pulled it open and dumped the documents inside before pushing it back in and secured it before rising to his full height.

So lost in thoughts was he, that he did not notice the slightly opened door, nor did he take cognizance of the eyes that peeped through the door, watching him expertly as he slipped the document into the bottom drawer.

~~~~~~~~

Do we want to take a wild guess what's in the document, or better still, who the peeping Tom is?

A steamy scene up there, huh? Now, the clashes and insult can mellow down. Or not. You can never be sure with those two.

Remember to vote and comment. A lot.

Thank you