Mubarak pulled the chair back before sitting on it. He crossed his legs and leaned back, "Rahma Turaki..." He smiled, though it didn't meet his eyes. "...to what do I owe this pleasure of meeting you?"

She crossed her legs too, mirroring his actions. "I need your help"

He stared at her for a while, not uttering a word. She knew he was trying to spot any hint of the kind of help she wants. "My help?" He asked, chuckling lowly. "Why do I have a feeling that it's not an ordinary help"

She shrugged.

"Okay then..." He muttered, sitting up straight, hands placed on the table between them intertwined. "Tell me, what kind of help do you want from me?"

She stopped tapping her hand on the table, moving it to rest on her thighs. "I need you to help me put Maria, Noah's mother, behind bars" Though the words she uttered were grave, her tone and posture exude calmness.

For a minute he didn't say anything to her. He simply stared. Lips set into a tight line and brows drawn in slightly in thought. When the gears in his head stopped turning and he realized that she actually being serious, he laughed. "Do you even know what you're saying Rahma?"

She didn't find his words humorous, not his actions so she maintained her stoic expression.

He stopped laughing, seeing as she had no intentions on taking back her words. He scoffed, resting his chin on his fist, "Tell me then, why should I help you?"

"Because it's the right thing to do"

He scoffed again, laughing the minute the words left her mouth. "Right thing to do?" He repeated. "Noah is my friend; why should I betray him?"

She smirked, the only visible expression he got out of her since he arrived, "Friends?" She snickered. "You can pretend and fool everyone Mubarak but you can't fool me. Are they really your friends? Is that why you lied to them?"

His calm façade didn't waver, not did his smile. "I don't know what you're talking about"

She nodded slowly, lips puckered a bit. "You leave me no choice then" She sighed, pulling out the envelop she brought with her.

He calmly watched her slip her hand into the envelop and pull a paper out. He slouched back on the chair, humming lightly as her eyes skimmed the paper. He didn't care one bit about what she has on there. She can have information about everything involving him and he wouldn't care.

Or so he thought.

"Mubarak Saraki..." She started, eyes not moving away from the paper. "You put on quite a show if I have to say so myself. You convinced your 'friends' that you are a detective when you're really..." She flicked her eyes up to meet his, lips tilting down a bit seeing the smile on his face still intact. "...an intelligence officer"

He chuckled, shaking his head in the process. "You really are a funny person aren't you?" He crossed his legs again, one of his hands moving away from the table. His fingers ran across his knuckles, "I don't know what you're talking about" He repeated his earlier words, slowly for her to understand it.

She lightly slammed the paper infront of him. "The paper doesn't lie, does it?" She didn't move her gaze from him, not wanting to miss any emotion that might flicker across his face.

He raised a brow, looking at her directly in the eye to show her that he has nothing to hide. "I don't think you should be asking me that Rahma" He stressed her name, letting her know that he knows more than he's letting off. "Nowadays, there are so many lies on a paper. You should know firsthand"

She bit the inside of her cheek. Convincing him was much harder than she thought it'd be. However, she wasn't willing to give up that easily. She intertwined her fingers, resting them on her thigh as she stood straight. "Well, deny it all you want but as far as I know, you're supposed to be on a two months break. This case you're working on is non-official. How could your higher ups react when they find out you're using your connection as a member of the NIA for your personal reason?"

"It's funny how you think you know everything" He chuckled, shaking his head. He then sighed loudly, pushing the chair back as he stood up. "Clearly, you don't have anything sensible to say so ciao Rahma" He turned around.

Rahma's set her lips into a tight line, not moving her gaze from where he was just sitting. "What about her?" She spoke, not turning to see whether he stopped or kept walking. "You might not care about being exposed but what do you think would happen to her?"

Judging from the fact that she could no longer hear his footsteps fading, she believed that he stopped.

Hands lightly being slammed on the table made her flicker her eyes to the irked Mubarak. She finally got an emotion out of him.

He gritted his teeth, eyes narrowed at her. "You have no idea who you're going against Rabia"

She smiled. For him to use her real name meant he was finally on board with her. Her eyes flickered around them to see the people that turned to see due to the sound he made from slamming his hands. "You're gaining us unnecessary attention" She muttered, making sure he heard her. "Now you can either sit and we talk like adults or you made threats that would end up harming her. The choice is yours" She raised a brow, eyes maintain that icy glare he kept sending her. But she wasn't backing down either.

After a few seconds of silence thick with tension, he sat back down on the chair.

"How did you find out about her?" Though she has to admit, he's an expert at masking his emotions, he didn't do anything to hide the flapping of his hands-clearly agitated.

"Well, considering you eavesdropped on my conversation..." She wasn't sure it was him. However, a part of her believed that it has to be him, "...and find out my identity, it's only fair I do the same to you"

"How much do you know?"

"As much as you know about me"

Mubarak huffed slightly. "I'm not talking about me" He wouldn't be there if she was talking about him alone. He can handle her if it was just about it, but it's not.
"I'm talking about her"

Rahma picked up the envelop and pulled out a couple of papers, along with the pictures. She placed the pictures first in front him, then the papers. Her finger tapped the girl's image. "Ameerah Hamisu..." She started, "The only friend you have since childhood. You were neighbors back in Kebbi when you moved there with your family. A final year medical student at BUK. Parents, Alhaji Hamisu, a middle class business man and Larai..." She trailed off, wondering if she should tell him that part. However, the look in his eyes proved that he knew it. So, she decided to skip it. "...adopted her" She said instead. "The same girl that filed a rape case against Tahir three years ago which coincidentally was the time you and Tahir became friends" She chuckled. Last night, she didn't sleep until she read every paper Zarah left for her and understood every bit of it.

He narrowed his eyes at her.

She moved her finger to the paper and tapped on it, "The same girl who filed a retrial case again, even though the victim passed away only a couple of days ago which brings in the big question, how will she win the case then when the victim is dead?" She watched his hand clench tightly.

He did not expect her to know that part and the answer to her question. But she does.

"Of course, she couldn't have gotten this far without someone giving her an intel which is where you come in. Every information you get from Tahir you tell her. Unfortunately, you couldn't stop her from flunking as he and Noah, your friends, planned. And if I'm not mistaken..." She glanced at her wrist watch, taking note of the time, "...her flight from Kano will arrive in a couple of hours as you two need a plan on how to end Tahir and put him behind bars. And that's where I come in, you want to use me to achieve your plan" She pulled her finger back and leaned back on the chair, "Should I continue?" She smirked.

Frankly speaking, she underestimated how smart and resourceful Zarah is for her to have gotten all those information, though the last part was simply improvisation from Rahma. The look on Mubarak's face meant she got everything correctly.

Mubarak moved his eyes from the pictures of he and Ameerah meeting to the paper that held everything about the girl. Everything is on that paper. And that's what bothers him the most. How did they find out everything?

He picked up the pictures and placed them on the paper, before pushing it back to her. "So you found out everything about me just as I found out everything about you. Why should we help you?"

Rahma didn't miss how he said 'we' instead of 'I'. She shrugged, "Isn't it obvious? It's a win-win situation. I'll help you put Tahir behind bars if you help me put Maria behind bars"

He snickered, the deep frown on his face disappearing. "With all due respect Rabia, you're a sinking ship. You keep forgetting that you only have eight days to prove your innocence else you'll be deported and thrown back in jail?" He raised a brow, turning the tables back on her, "Why should I want to be allies with you?"

She pulled out her phone, swiping across it till she found what she was looking for. Turning the phone to face him, his eyes fell on the message. "You sent me this message. If anything, it proves that I can consider you an ally"

He scoffed, moving his eyes away from the phone. He sighed deeply then stood up again. "Or an enemy" He said, making her brows furrow. "The message could be an admonition as you believe or it could be a threat" All trace of lar disappeared from his face. His narrowed eyes glanced at the papers, the envelop and her phone before moving back to her; the corner of his lips tilting up slightly though his eyes didn't hold the same humor. "Just because you have evidence on me and Ameerah, don't think you can threaten or blackmail me with it. Trust me, you don't want to make an enemy of me. Don't confuse an ally for an enemy Rahma. I can be your ally or your enemy. Now, I think I'm more of the latter"

He turned around and walked away.

She watched his figure disappear as he walked out. She sighed deeply, massaging her temples with her fingers. Well, her plan didn't work. Blackmailing him didn't work.

Could she handle having another enemy instead of an ally?

~*~

Bunza,

Kebbi State.

Lami placed the plate on the table, pushing the food warmer closer to it. When she was done, she placed her hand on her hips as she looked at her handwork, hoping that it would be enough. The elders say 'the way to a man's heart is through his stomach' and she wanted to see if it would work. It never did before, but she hoped that one day, it will work.

He used to love her cooking a lot. The mere thought of that was the only hope she held onto, knowing that maybe, she wasn't wasting her time.

She tapped her phone, only to note that there's still about an hour before he comes back from work. So, she opted for sweeping the living room again. That always helped her calm down.

Getting the broom from the spot she usually keeps it, she swept the middle size living room of the house they moved into a few years ago when his business prospered. They still live in the same house along with her co-wives. Except, just like in the last house, each wife has her own side. Though none of them verbally said it, they preferred it that way.

They all stayed out of the other's business. Except for the first wife who seemed to be close to Lami as everyone believed. In everyone's eyes, she's the mature first wife who treats her co-wife as a younger sister compared to the second wife who kept on showing her true colors outright.

While one was a slithering green snake, the other was a downright witch.

Figuratively though.

While putting away the broom, Lami heard the front door open. She discarded it away quickly and made her way into the living room just in time to see him walking in. She offered him a smile, though she didn't get one back. "Welcome back home Mai gida. I've prepared your favorite food for you"

Without a second glance at her, or the direction of the food she made, he started walking to him room. "I'm not hungry"

"But..."

"I said I'm not hungry"

She nodded though he couldn't see her. With a sigh and a deep frown, she slouched on the couch nearest her. She reached her hand out and massaged her temples, hoping to soothe the headache forming.

The sound of the door opening again had her looking up. Her co-wife---the first wife, came in with a wide smile. When her gaze fell on Lami, she frowned. She shook her head as she made her way over to her, before sitting on the couch Lami's sitting on. "Let me guess..." She placed her hand on her shoulder. "...it's Alhaji again, isn't it?"

Though Lami never uttered a word to anyone apart from Ameerah, about what's going on, everyone else already figured it out. It has been years already, yet it's the same circle over and over again.

Lami sighed and looked away.

This made the woman squeeze her shoulder lightly, "Don't worry. He'll come around. It will soon be over, I promise" She grinned, seemingly one that's supposed to be full of hope for Lami.

Lami stared at her for a while. Though her words didn't sit right with her, she didn't say anything.

Instead she nodded.

~*~

ABUJA, NIGERIA.

Rahma reached her hand out to touch her face mask, just to make sure it's still in place. She held her head high, fingers tightening around her bag as she made her way over to the room Zarah had been transferred to. She knew she was being careless by visiting her at the hospital like this since people will see her but she didn't care.

Everyone she's hiding from knows her secret already, what's the point?

The only reason she's being discreet about it was because Maria didn't know that Rahma knows everything. The woman still has the mentality that she is a step ahead of Rahma and it was that kind of mentality that would lead her to her demise.

After Mubarak left, Rahma went back home and skimmed the other papers Zarah left for her, trying to see if she could find anyone or anything that would help her. Mubarak clearly wouldn't. That much she realized.

She had her doubts right from the beginning, the only reason she agreed was because he was the one Zarah told her to ask for help from, and if it didn't work, she should blackmail him.

Since both obviously didn't work, she was left alone. That was why she decided to stop by the hospital. Being in Zarah's presence might just help think of something.

Rahma extended her out, taking a hold of the doorknob, she pushed the door open. She stepped into the room, closing the door shut behind her.

Her gaze first fell on Zarah's figure that laid on the bed. The tubes she's attached to wasn't as much as the ones from yesterday considering she had moved out of ICU. At least, she didn't look as lifeless she did the day before. That didn't mean that she doesn't look bad either.

Rahma sighed and moved her gaze to the figure that sat on a chair far away from Zarah, dozing off peacefully. Her lips stretch into a small smile at the sight of Mr. Sagir. She walked towards him, and tapped the chair lightly, "Mr. Sagir..."

He jerked awake, eyes flying to Zarah's figure first before moving it to the source of intrusion. "Rahma" He muttered, blinking rapidly to get rid of the sleep, "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be with Mubarak plotting something"

"You should go and get something to eat, I know you've been here since morning. I'll look after her" She said, deciding against answering his earlier question. How could she tell him that the plan Zarah hoped will work didn't?

"Are you sure?"

She nodded.

He stood up, "I'll be back after eating something" He said before walking out, leaving her alone with Zarah.

Rahma sighed again, pulling the chair close to the Zarah's bed as noiseless as she could. When it was close enough, she sat on it, keeping her bag on the edge of the bed. Her gaze remained on Zarah's face and guilt began to eat her up. She couldn't help but feel like Zarah was in that position because of her.

If she didn't agree to take her case, would she be in this situation? Why did she agree in the first place knowing how dangerous it'll be?

Rahma closed her eyes, burying her face in between her palms as her arms were perched on her thigh. She didn't know how long she stayed in that position. All she knew was that she couldn't bring herself to face Zarah.

"You look more depressed than I thought you would"

Rahma snapped her eyes open, head swiveling to the source. Her brows drew in confusion, before the familiarity dawned on her. "You..." She muttered, "What are you doing here?"

The woman walked further into the room, leaving the door to close by itself by the mere shove she gave it. The door closed with a slight smack sound, making Rahma narrow her eyes at her. The woman didn't care though, her eyes moved to Zarah.

"You didn't answer my question" Rahma stood up, her figure covering Zarah's out of the woman's view.

The woman chuckled. "Calm down Rabia, introductions first" She wasn't fazed by the glare she got from Rahma at the mention of her real name. "Though I'm sure you know who I am, it's time for a formal introduction." She shoved her hand out, "I'm Ameerah Hamisu"

~*~

Ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. Mubarak has been working with Ameerah all this while.

Who saw that coming? 😅

Rate the level of this book's plot twists.

Oya, I'm done updating now.

Goodnight.

Love, Jannah.