Chapter 5: Mi o le gba! Standing My Ground

Next time we went to see the plan, Tunde really took time off to follow me.

For the first time, e wear fine shirt, even spray perfume. I just dey observe.

Morayo brought out the new design, and her assistant kept pressing me to accept it.

Dem dey hover round me like mosquito, dey smile fake smile. "Aunty Amaka, we suffer o!"

“Aunty Amaka, we worked overtime to meet your requests. Please check it out…”

Dem even bring small chin chin, dey try bribe me with snacks. I no move.

Before I could talk, Tunde started praising the design.

E just dey talk as if na im be chairman for the matter.

“It’s beautiful—clean and simple. I think it’s perfect. Let’s go with this one.”

He dey act like na im money pass, but I know the style.

I eyed Tunde. As he spoke, he quickly looked at Morayo.

As e finish talk, he shift eye quick quick go Morayo side. The two of them dey reason code.

Morayo didn’t look back, but the corners of her mouth lifted, like she was satisfied with herself.

She just do small smile, like say she don win one kind bet.

I pushed the contract aside and said straight, “I’m not satisfied.”

Mi o le gba! Bring the contract, abeg.

I’d done my homework for over a month and seen at least five similar designs online.

I show them sample on my phone—see, this one dey Instagram, that one dey Pinterest. Dem just dey recycle design.

It was nice, but nothing special—and definitely not worth the price they quoted.

I break it down—why two million for what I fit get for 500k?

When I said this, Morayo quickly looked at Tunde.

Her face change, eye wide. Dem dey fear say I go spoil market.

Tunde cleared his throat and gently held my hand. “Baby, what are you not happy about? I think it’s really nice. Sometimes the pictures don’t show everything—the real thing is what matters.”

E dey try calm me down, but my mind no dey gree.

“Are you not being too picky?”

E talk am with small smile. My body just dey hot.

The assistant added, “Yes, Mr Tunde knows best. The final look is what’s important.”

Dem dey side Tunde, form say woman no sabi style.

“Morayo is our top designer, with plenty experience.”

Dem dey hype am, dey make me look like enemy of progress.

I shook my head. “No means no. Here, and here—I don’t like those parts.”

I point the area, draw circle. I no send anybody face.

Tunde wanted to argue, but I cut him off.

I no let am finish. I just talk my own.

“Didn’t you say our first house should be special?”

I remind am of im own word. Make e remember who be madam for the house.

“So if I’m picky, what’s wrong with that?”

I drop am like question for table.

Then I turned to Morayo.

I face her, serious.

“Aunty Morayo, your company’s fee is not small—it’s two million, not fifty thousand.”

I dey talk loud make everybody hear.

“A hundred-square-meter house, and the renovation fee alone is massive.”

I break am down—na who dey waste money?

“Besides, I said what I wanted right from the start.”

I repeat am, dey make my point.

“So why do you think you can just show me two versions and expect me to sign?”

She dey act like say na charity she dey do. I no go gree.

Morayo’s face changed.

Her fake smile disappear. I see am.

Tunde’s mood also turned dark.

E no talk, but I fit see say e dey vex.

Morayo closed her laptop and forced a smile. “Okay, I’ll go and redo it.”

She pack her things, hiss small. "No wahala, madam."

So na old flame dey design my house? No wonder gist no dey finish. If this house go carry wahala, I no dey there.