The desperate daughter-in-law

The backstabber

She couldn’t help but smile as she watched May dancing in front of the 63 inch tv on the shelf. They were at Rita’s place that afternoon and May’s giggles filled the living room as she danced excitedly to the cartoon music playing on the tv.

“So, Daren asked about the transfer you made yesterday?” Rita’s voice came from the dining table where she sat, chopping onions.

“Yes, I told you, he is becoming suspicious,” she replied from the couch.

“You shouldn’t give him any room for suspicion. I’m glad you came up with the idea of transferring the money into my account,” Rita said.

“Yes, that was what killed it, else, his suspicions would have risen so high,” she said and Rita smiled.

“Um..did you transfer the money to that bastard already?” She asked.

“Um..yes..I.did,” Rita muttered.

“Oh, let me prepare this delicious Jollof rice, I know my baby May must be terribly hungry right now,” she said as she stood up from her seat and proceeded to the kitchen.

From the couch where she sat, Melisa could see Rita’s phone ringing on the table.

“Riri, your phone’s ringing,” she called but there was no response.

The noise from the tv was so loud and she knew it would be impossible for Rita to hear her voice. She stood up and picked up the phone. Her eyes fell on the caller ID and her brows raised.

“Jerry,” she muttered as she saw his name on the screen.

She stopped for a moment as her curiosity arose. Why would he be calling? She thought.

Just then, a text popped up on the screen. It was a text from him and she quickly clicked it open.

“You have been avoiding my calls all through yesterday. What happened to my money? You told me you were gonna transfer 15 million into my account and here, I’m getting 10.

I have always been fair with the bargain and your share of the money is usually high even without you doing nothing. Look, if you don’t transfer the rest of the money into my account, I will make sure your friend knows just how well you’ve been betraying her,” the text read.

“Oh my God, no..this isn't happening. No, Rita can’t be involved in this blackmail, no!” She screamed with her whole strength.

Just then, Rita appeared from the kitchen with her face wearing curiosity.

“What? I thought I heard a noise?” She asked abstrusely as she looked at Melisa who was panting heavily in front of her.

Melisa raised her head to look at her with the phone raised up in her hands.

“What is this?!” She barked.

“What?” Rita asked as she walked towards her and grabbed the phone from her hands.

“Explain the text Jerry sent you!” She thundered with her voice trembling tremendously.

“You’ve been invading my privacy?!” Rita yelled as she scrolled through her phone.

“How dare you accuse me of invading your privacy, you backstabber!” She yelled as she walked over to her and grabbed her hair.

“Argh! Let go of me!” She screamed as Melisa shoved her to the ground.

“After all I’ve done for you?! I gave you a life when you had none! I helped you stand on your feet when your life was crumbling! How dare you betray me!” She yelled as she sent a slap across her face.

She held her cheek in awe as she looked at the furious Melisa who was panting in front of her.

“Melisa, hold it!” She yelled from the floor where she sat.

“Hold it? I should hold it?!” She yelled again as she grabbed her hair and they both began to scuffle on the floor.

“You b***h!” Melisa cried as she sat on her body and rained blows on her face.

“Help! Help!” Rita cried from the floor as Melisa rained her blows.

She began to pant heavily as she pulled away from Rita and stood up on her feet.

“I’m not done with you!” She yelled as she walked over to her baby who was sitting on the floor, staring at them.

“Lisa!” Rita called as she sat up on the floor with her hand holding her chest.

She paid no attention to her as she placed May in her arms and proceeded to the door.

“Lisa, do not dare walk out on me!” Rita screamed after her.

She scoffed as she stopped before the door.

“Lisa, your secret is in my palm and you know what I can do,” she threatened amidst pants.

Melisa smiled as she turned to her slowly.

“Do your worst. You and your psycho boyfriend, do your worst!” She yelled and stormed out of the house angrily.

“f**k!” She cursed as she dragged her feet up from the floor. She reached for her phone and quickly placed a call to Jerry.

“You bastard! See what you’ve caused! You’ve ruined it all!” She yelled into the phone.

“Ruin what?” His voice came from the phone.

“Ruined our business! Melisa found out the text you sent me and she knows I’m involved in this blackmail. And now, I don’t think she is ready to pay a dime anymore!” She yelled into the phone.

“That’s your business with her, not mine,” he said with a scoff.

She scoffed and licked her lips.

“Really? Oh really? I see. You can keep on waiting for your money,” she said with a smirk.

“Rita, don’t dare me! Don’t dare me!” He yelled and she hung up.

*

As she stepped out of the car, she could see Daren’s car parked in front of the building. Why would he be home at this moment? She thought as she quickly wiped the tears off her face.

She walked into the building and proceeded to her room.

“Love,” his voice came through as he saw her walk into the room.

She dropped the baby on the floor and May quickly crawled to meet her father.

He picked her up from the floor and his eyes turned to Melisa. He could see her red sore eyes and the cold look on her face.

“Lisa, are you alright?” He asked.

She heaved a sigh and gulped.

“Um..why..why are you home at this time?” She asked.

“I came home to get a file,” he replied and she sighed.

“Lisa,” he called again and she stood up and walked into the bathroom.

She locked herself in the bathroom and began to weep heavily. She ran her hand into her messy hair as she sat slowly on the cold tiles with her back resting on the door.

“What have I done?” She cried as the tears flowed down her cheek greatly.

She could hear Daren knocking on the bathroom door and she sniffed and wiped her tears off. She sighed with her eyes staring at space. She doesn’t know what Rita’s plans for her were, but she knew they were no good. Right now, she needs to find a way out of this mess, she thought.

But the only way out is to tell Daren the truth, she thought again. Yes, Daren needs to know the truth before Rita comes and spills the whole truth in his face, she reasoned.

Or, would it be best if she goes back and makes things right with Rita? She thought again.

“No,” she said as she shook her head.

There is no way she is going to be a subject to that backstabber, she thought. Rita is evil, Rita is clumsy and going back to make things right with her will only make her a subject to her, she thought.

“Lisa,” Daren’s voice came from the outside and she stood up immediately.

She opened the door and he stared at her face as she walked past him.

“Lisa, I demand an answer. What is wrong with you?” He asked in a rather high tone.

She stopped in the middle of the room and he walked to meet her. They both stood facing each other and she took his hands slowly. He could see the pain and bitterness written all over her face and his heart began to race as he anticipated to hear her words.

“Love,’” she called slowly with her head bowed.

“What is it, my love? Speak to me,” he urged impatiently.

She sighed and looked into his eyes.

“I..I have..,” she was still speaking when a knock came on the door.

He beckoned her to stop and he walked to the door immediately. He opened the door and saw Dotun standing in front of him.

“I’m ready, mom is waiting at the office,” he said.

“Um..just a minute,” he said as he hurried back into the room.

“Love, what is it you have to say?” He asked curiously as he stared at her face.

“I..um..”

“Daren, be fast!” Dotun’s voice sounded from the outside.

“Um..you can go, we..we will talk about it when you return,” she said.

He sighed and nodded.

“Stay safe,” he said as he pecked her cheek and hurried over to the bed to pick up his jacket.

As soon as he left, she walked over to the bed and began to sob.

*

Everyone moved to the dining room for dinner. Mrs Selina was seen with baby May in her arms as she took her seat at the table.

Just then, Diana and Dotun walked to the dining table with Dele running in front of them. At the sight of Dele, baby May began to jump in excitement and they all laughed.

“Look at her, she’s so used to Dele,” Daren remarked as he walked to the table.

“Oh, such an adorable baby,” Diana remarked as she patted May’s hair.

“So fair and adorable like her father,” she remarked again and all eyes turned to her direction.

“Daren is dark, not fair,” Charles put in.

“Oh, yes..that’s right,” she said with a chuckle as she looked at Melisa who was staring at her with her mouth agape. She smirked and sipped from her glass gracefully.

From where he sat, Daren saw the looks the two ladies gave each other and he wondered what Diana meant by her last remarks. Something was wrong, he thought as he looked at his wife who wore an anxious look on her face.

Melisa's heart began to pound at Diana’s words and she lost her appetite for her meal. What does she know? She reasoned.

After the meal, she hurried up the stairs and proceeded to her room. Daren walked in after her and he saw her sitting on the bed looking so crestfallen.

“Love,” he called and she raised her head to look at him.

“What was it you wanted to tell me earlier?” He Inquired.

“Um..I..,” she stammered.

As she stared at his face, she knew she had lost her courage to tell him the truth. She sighed and tucked her hair behind her ears.

She was about to speak when her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and held her breath for a moment.

“Jerry,” she muttered silently.