So far in the mansion, in the past Eighty-six hours, fifteen minutes and forty-five seconds, nothing extraordinarily spectacular had happened, and supposing they did, Gina would have missed it because she was too busy awaiting someone's return. Not that she was counting the seconds, of course.

A hot Friday afternoon at half past two found her sitting by the balcony of the room practically waiting for Gabriel to cross the threshold these ostentatious folk called a 'gate'. Undoubtedly, he would not cross without a sleek car to match his immaculate dress sense. It was a known fact that the man was always a sight to behold. In all meaning of the word.

Taking a sip of her fresh cold fruit drink, Gina sighed at the good life she was suddenly thrown into. It was unbelievable the intensity of the luxury offered in this house. She didn't have to lift a finger to do anything, and it was taken quite literally, too.

Every morning per request, she had breakfast served in her room once she awoke. After the incident on Monday with the blasted eggs, the cooks had reverted to awaiting her meal requests before making them. Of course, Gabriel's diet plan superseded hers but luckily, her appetite had been quite tame.

A maid ran a bath for her while she ate and if she wished, was assisted in getting scrubbed and in dressing up. She had run around the tub screaming and giggling like a child the first time, so they had been forced to refrain from presenting the offer afterwards. After, she was then left to her own devices for the day. Fortunately, the Asikas had busy schedules and she didn't get to meet them till evenings at dinner, the abnormality attributed to Monday notwithstanding. Even thinking about her lucky escape that day had her smiling impishly.

When the sun was at its peak in the sky, she ate lunch alone in her room, at the balcony or at the small library she had been shown to on Tuesday by a maid. Apparently, Gabriel deduced that reading had soothing effects and hoped it would relax her considerably. With repeated episodes of filling up hard paperbacks with food particles and generous amounts of drools, she had begged to differ.

Dinners were majorly had at the large dining table with the remaining family members. Raphael Asika seemed and acted formal with her but she had her misgivings about the man. He didn't bombard her with questions and she never felt inclined to include him in long conversations either. She was not a fool to know she was walking on thin ice with him.

The siblings treated her diversely as did their father. Anthony would always offer her a dazzling smile once she arrived late for dinner, disgraced her ancestry by stuffing her face with too much food, or even had a choking hazard for talking too much in between meals. By Thursday, she had no choice than to label his radiant beam as maniacal.

Monica, on the other hand, would go out of her way to snob her, obviously labelling their fight off as insignificant. Gina knew better and made sure she knew it too by holding her gaze unblinking at dinner, or making snide remarks about whooping her ass despite her state. Monica would turn up her nose at her before engaging her father and brother in an incessant talk about the growth of the family business. Gina's response to her pettiness was generous amounts of eye roll and raspberry blows. She would often laugh at her childishness after.

Sighing about her monotonous lifestyle, Gina tried to work on her points for debate for her freedom. Gabriel would return today, -as would his evil brother- which gave her the chance to pitch her ideas to him. She was bored in this house doing nothing and wanted his permission to go out on a daily to distract her from the real reason why she agreed to this surrogacy thing.

So far, she had yet to make any headway with her investigation. The maids wouldn't speak to her unless spoken to, the two assigned to her going out of their way to discreetly snob her when they perceived she was oblivious. The Asikas were never around to actually question them about Amelia, -even if they were to spill- and she doubted she would ever get any answers while staying here.

Annoyed with her bleak situation, she pushed away from the balcony and decided a stroll this afternoon would do her some good. After her confrontation with one of her maids, Ebere, earlier this morning for attempting to dress up in her Ankara kimono , she had declined their help for the day, choosing to locate things and places in this house by herself.

Her first port of call: the living room.

It baffled her how she had never been present in the living room for more than a few minutes each evening since one went past it en route to the dining room. But in her hurried movements, she had glimpsed varied family pictures decorating the walls like masterpieces of art and being bored had awoken the desire to peruse them this afternoon. After all, popular saying insists a picture tells a thousand words.

The stroll to the living room was uneventful, which she was glad for, reason being that the helps had travelled to the rumour mill. A few paces later and she was standing at the doorway of the massive room.

Taking it all in, she counted six sofas in colours of white, red and black, with stools of various shapes placed side by side to the sofas. A massive LED television was hung on the wall, and four speakers- attached to the home theatre- placed strategically at each end of the rectangular shaped room. Venetian blinds adorned the five windows formed by archways and random artifacts and flower decorations made up the aesthetics.

Taking her eyes of the decoration, she focused them on the family paintings instead, and was completely flawed when she saw how numerous they were. First thought marvelled at their glaring need to show off how happy they were judging by the white, pearly teeths exposed by the family members in each picture.

A second apparaisal wondered if the members of this family wanted to be recognised instantly by guests using their portraits, but as the former was more likely, she cringed at it before going for a closer look.

"It's like they did Macleans advert before becoming billionaires. Na wah." She muttered to herself before approaching the first picture from her right.

This was a family portrait judging by the faces of seven people smiling widely into the camera. They were younger versions from years back but there was no confusing the faces represented.

Raphael sat on a throne with an actual gold crown set atop his head. His wife, whom she had come to know was Grace, sat on the right arm of the throne, her arm around her son, the youngest one, Gina inferred since she could tell the other siblings apart.

A beaming Monica sat at the other arm of the throne, her arm thrown around her father in a loving gesture, as should his wife but Gina swore to attend to that mystery later. The three brothers lined the back, their intimidating height dominating in the picture. Gabriel stood in the middle with Malcolm on his right and Anthony on his left. The men were dressed similarly in oxblood red kaftan embroidered intricately and luxuriously. The women wore buba and iro with matching headgear of similar shade.

One simple look portrayed a happy family, but as she studied the picture judiciously, Gina could deduce that the family in the portrait bore little or no resemblance to the ones she had met at dinner. For one, the mother and the youngest son were absent. Also absent was the genuine laughter and happiness they all exuded in that picture. She was definitely shocked to see Gabriel in mirth, even if it was only in pictorial form. A happy Gabriel would be a sight to behold. Looking away from the portrait, she couldn't help wondering what had happened to him? What had happened to all of them?

A study across the other pictures yielded the same conclusion more or less and a gnawing feeling in her was awoken to figure out what happened. Frustrated with herself when her conscience reminded her Amelia was still unresolved, she huffed and puffed before making her way back to her room for a well deserved nap.

+++++

Stretching and yawning lazily, she climbed out of bed in search of what to snack on. She wasn't sure if it was the pregnancy or just plain hunger but she was craving chocolate chip cookies like crazy. And she was determined to relieve her hunger.

She was barely at the door when a knock sounded and she pulled it open to find Monica at the other side smiling warmly at her. She donned a yellow maxi gown that gave her skin a lustrous shine. Gina felt instantly jealous.

"Good afternoon or is it good morning since it seems you slept into the day," Monica greeted amiably, looking at everywhere in the room, except at her.

Gina eyed her warily before replying. "Good afternoon, Monica. I didn't actually sleep in. Gabriel thought it was best I did not stress the baby during the day, so I took a little nap."

"Well, you should listen to him. Pregnancy is not a matter to be toyed with." Monica's stare snapped from staring off into space to come rest at her midsection. The intent glare was evidence she was plainly trying to grasp the fact that Gina was truly pregnant. "Can I come in? I brought fruits," she rasped, raising the white creamic bowl she held to lessen her discomfort and weirdness.

Gina nodded, uncertainty brimming in her eyes. The last time they were in a similar situation, it had resulted in her fainting spell.

Moving to the side to allow her enter, her hawk-like gaze followed the older woman as she glided gracefully into the room, surveying it as if seeing it for the first time.

Without sparing the door a glance, she pushed it close, her focus on the woman who set the bowl she held on the side table before coming to perch on the chaise longue. For the life of her, Gina didn't understand usage for this piece of furniture when the bed was more than comfortable but who was she to argue with the rich?

What was it Gabriel had said about his sister again? Gina wondered, not sure how to perceive her.

On her fair oval face sat a smile so bright it shamed the sun, but Gina could feel the negative vibe emanating in waves off her. The smile soon turned creepy and cracked on her face when it faced off a deep scowl.

"Won't you join me?" Monica asked out of the blues, looking at her still standing near the door. She couldn't comprehend why the girl perceived her as an enemy when she came in peace.

"I thought we could have a chat. A little bonding between girls. I don't bond well with my brothers because men are so complicated."

"Men, in general, or just your brothers?" She enquired, batting her lashes to appear dainty. The irreproachable aura exuded by the woman perched on the longue not fooling her in the slightest.

"I deserve that," she murmurred, briefly looking away from the girl who glared at her as one would a terrorist. "For heaven's sake, stop staring at me as if I'm the devil's incarnate, Gina!" She cried out in exasperation when the intensity of the glower did not dim.

Smiling, with detest in her eyes, she was quick to point out. "You nearly made me lose my child. I think my judgement of you is fairly accurate."

"For the last time, I'm not an evil person. I was provoked to believe the worst of you and I acted on impulse, but I'm really not your enemy, Gina."

She mumbled incoherent words before strolling to come sit at the other end of the longue, her guard still up.

"Why are you here?"

Monica adjusted on the cushion so they were facing obliquely before replying. "Isn't it obvious? I came to talk about your pregnancy!"

"Excuse me?"

"Yes." Was the response she received. "I've always been so excited about babies in general. You know, like the conception and births and diapers and breastfeeding methods, and pampering and just the usual cuddling, squishing and fondling of their soft skins."

Pausing in her reverie to flash Gina a smile, she quizzed,

"Do you know babies have the softest and sweetest flesh out of all animals? I've always wanted to have a taste. Or a bite."

Blood of Zechariah!

Gina didn't know when she made a sign of the cross over her stomach thrice in a row. She hadn't gone to church for nearly four years now but she felt she needed a bottle of holy water at this present moment.

Instead, she made do with shooting laser beams at her in case she made to touch her stomach, or made any movement towards her for that matter.

To clear the awkward air she had unknowingly created, Monica stood to her feet to grab the bowl before returning to her original position. She passed her the fruit bowl which she accepted cautiously, as to not appear rude, before placing them on the ground near her feet.

On second thought, she nudged the bowl with her feet under the longue discreetly. She was not about to be poisoned so early in this house.

"So tell me about yourself, Gina. I suppose since you're carrying my nephew, it would be best if we got to know each other better."

Gina shrugged dismissively, trying to dodge the question. "There's not much to tell, really." This particular response had always worked in movies, and she hoped the creepy woman would take the bait.

"Dont be silly. I know there's a lot to tell, especially concerning your relationship with my brother. Gabriel hasn't had much luck with women in the past. They always cheat on him after giving them everything money can buy. I don't understand why women can't be content with just one man."

Gina wanted to input that 'money wasn't everything', but she wasn't sure that point would hold water when tested against this family's views.

"But you're different from all those other girls. I can see the fire you've got in your eyes." Monica continued, oblivious to her thoughts concerning their family. "You see, Gabriel has never dated someone who wasn't in our social class before. He has never had a reason to go against our father's wishes for a woman and I'm itching to find out why he did it with you. So, gist me all the juicy details about how you guys first met. I'm sure the secret is in there, somewhere."

Hanty, the only secret here is that I'm not pregnant by choice.

Being forced into the spotlight, Gina offered her a tight-lipped smile before treading down her fantasy world full of rainbows and unicorns.

"I was barely making ends meet with my baking stuff. So, one day after close of shop, I realised I had made loss instead of profit, so I went to this high class bar to get drunk."

"Why would you do something like that? You just said you lost money."

Go and ask your brother that question, not me. Besides, will you stop interrupting me? I need to finish this tale before I forget it.

"Acts of courageous stupidity, I guess." She shrugged it off. "So, there I was drowning my sorrows when this handsome guy walks in and orders a drink too. I get bold and flirty and run off to the dance floor and he joins me. Turns out he can dance really well and I fell hopelessly for him just like that."

"Really? That doesn't make sense. No offense but Gabriel can't dance to save his life."

He said he couldn't sing but we know now that it isn't true.

"Could have fooled me." She grimaced at the giggling woman.

"What happened after that night? You said you guys didn't kick it off immediately."

She was really good at details if she remembered their ridiculous spinoff of a romantic affair, Gina thought randomly. She, the story weaver, didn't even remember half of the story!

"I knew I liked him from the very first day I met him in that bar. But he wasn't into me and it hurt. I think I fell in love with him during that time we didn't see each other cause I went to that bar every Saturday night just so we could meet again. Eventually, just as I was loosing hope, there he was again like that first night. We got talking and somewhere in between, he said he liked me and I thought I would die of happiness."

Monica beamed widely, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears. "You're so lucky, Gina. You knew right away you loved him. I wish I was like you. I wouldn't see love even if it hit me square in the face."

She sounded wistful, and Gina was glad the conversation had shifted away from her. Now, she could take over the wheel of this twenty question firing squad.

"But I heard you've been married thrice. Didn't you love them?"

"No, I didn't." She shook her head slightly and looked away. "At first I thought it was love but love doesn't die off or grow cold. Whatever I felt for those two grew cold over time and we stopped loving each other." She explained with a faraway look in her eyes.

"They say third time is the charm but it's not true. I met someone else but I'm certain I do not love him."

Gina didn't say anything to that. She watched the sad woman sitting beside her and wondered what would drive her to marry and divorce two husbands in a space of three years. She had even met a third man and, by the looks of it, had plans to divorce him too.

"I'm jealous of you, Gina," Monica started, forcing Gina's eyes to pop.

This woman and her cuckoo talk again. Which kind wahala be this?

"You're going to have a child with my brother. You must be extremely happy thinking the whole world revolves around you but it doesn't. Nothing does."

"Excuse you?" Gina did not like this woman's dark tone and didn't bother hiding it.

She was adamant, unwavering in her thoughts. "Having a child is the most painful thing in this world. There is no happiness to it. Everyone will fawn over you at first but will gradually turn into enemies before your eyes. They will turn around and stab you in the back. Your own brother, the one you trusted the most will betray you in the space of a second," she finished, with that faraway look still in her eyes, forcing Gina to lower her guard. She could tell from her expression that she was remembering a similar situation. Had she been pregnant before and lost it? Was that why Gabriel said she feared 'conception'?

Gina shifted in her position on the longue causing Monica's gaze to snap at her movement. She seemed to realize her words had affected Gina and became remorseful.

"Forgive me, dear. I get carried away easily with my thoughts. Please don't listen to them."

She stood up when Gina nodded, smiling at her. "This was very nice, Gina. Let's do it again. Maybe you'll come see me in my room or we can go shopping together. I'll talk to Gabriel to allow you go with me."

Not in this life. Not while I'm pregnant at least.

"Perhaps," Gina replied tautly, bidding the seconds till she was gone to start her prayer warrior session. Witches were suddenly real and alive.

Then Monica walked off towards the door, and without a backward glance, exited the room.

~~~~~~~

(Shivers) Of course, Gabriel did not explain in detail what he meant when he said Monica was a bit cuckoo.

What do you think about her sob story?

Vote and comment just to make me happy.

Thank you, people. 😄😄