Chapter 3: The Real Owner

Soon, one waiter come out for lobby, dey ask who be member for the clubhouse.

Sharp sharp, one bouncer-looking waiter waka come, voice dey echo. He check list, eye everybody like say dem dey queue for immigration.

Everywhere quiet, everybody face Musa.

Musa face just change—e no be member at all.

E be like say cold catch am. For our side, if you no fit enter club, your street cred dey shake.

Na that time I notice say na Royal Palm Club be this—na only rich people dey fit enter.

I look up, see gold-plated sign: Royal Palm Club. For my mind, I dey laugh. This na the kain place where only the real money people fit flex.

No wonder dem never enter since.

E don dey clear—na outside dem dey pose since, dey form boss for gate.

I just dey laugh small.

I try hide am, but the laughter escape my mouth. For my mind, na this kain scene dey sweet me pass—when street boys jam coded wall.

Musa vex, use me catch cruise.

He turn to me, voice loud. The shame dey pain am, so e dey find who go drag with am.

"Wetin dey funny you, useless man? You sef still dey outside with us."

I just look am, no reply. Na him go tire.

"Na true, na you worst pass for here, still get mind dey laugh."

The other one follow talk. All of them dey find who go join them for shame.

"E be like say person dey form levels."

Dem no know say na me get key for this place now. I just smile inside my mind.

The waiter look my side, face change as he recognize me.

Waiter eye shine, e greet me with respect wey dem no fit see. Him eye shine, e whisper small. I just code am with eye, make e chill.

He wan come greet me well, but I just use eye signal make e calm down.

I no wan make people know say na me dey run things for this club now. I give am small nod, make e behave.

He step back, show me respect.

The guy just bow small, e clear for him body say e sabi who dey in charge.

Meanwhile, Musa still dey make mouth.

Musa no gree drop, e still dey find way turn the thing to himself.

"My brother-in-law go soon land. Na him be member, e go carry us enter."

Musa dey form like say na another of him connect dey come rescue am. Pride no gree let am quiet.

Of course, no be me he dey talk about.

I just smile. If only dem know.

But as the waiter dey show respect, dem begin form boss.

Once dem see the waiter dey look my side, dem switch mouth sharp. All of a sudden, everybody dey claim connect.

"Brother Musa get connect o, no be like some people wey just dey disgrace us."

Dem dey use am shade me—dem no know say na me the real plug.

"How person like that go be Brother Musa in-law? E no even follow."

Dem no get shame at all.

"Tonight, make am see how life be, make e know say Manager Audu dey above am."

Dem dey plan show for me. My mind calm—I dey wait for my own time.

Soon, I see Morayo, dress fine, come down from car with one middle-aged man, arm-in-arm.

One sleek black Benz just park. Morayo step down, her gown dey shine like moon for village festival. Arm-in-arm with Manager Audu, dem dey laugh like say na honeymoon.

The two dey laugh, dey act like couple.

She dey look Audu with corner eye, dey press body small. For my mind, e pain me, but I gats lock up.

I just sigh. I hope say since we be husband and wife, we for fit end things quietly. But tonight, e be like say dem no go let am easy.

Inside me, I dey pray say dem no go disgrace me for public. But with this kain parade, wahala dey front.

As she see me, Morayo face no even change.

She just arrange her hair, smile like say nothing dey happen.

"Tunde, you come straight from your trip? Thank you o. Make I introduce—this na Manager Audu."

Her voice soft, but e get blade inside. E be like say she dey show me who dey run things now.

I just dey look them, no talk, everywhere just tight.

My chest dey tight. People dey look us, dey wait for drama.

Audu just bone, waka come my side, grab my collar.

Audu hand cold, grip my collar like police wey catch thief for market. E no even talk, just rush me like say na him get right. My heart beat fast, but I gats stand.

"No dey do anyhow."

E dey press my cloth, mouth close to my ear.

"Think am, now wey Morayo dey with me, your life don better, abi?"

Him voice get pepper, like say na him rescue me from gutter.

"If not, you for fit buy designer cloth or drive big car?"

E dey try belittle me. In front of all these people, my pride dey squeeze small.

After he talk finish, he push me back.

I stagger small, arrange myself. The disrespect choke me, but I no go make noise.

He even clap him hand like say I dirty am.

For Naija, if person dey clap for you like that, e mean say e see you finish.

At least, Audu sabi real cloth and car pass these other ones.

I reason say at least Audu get small taste, even if na thief e be.

I talk with cold voice.

My voice low like harmattan wind. I no get energy for noise.

"No dey lie for my head. I never spend Morayo one kobo."

I drop am for ground, make everybody hear. I fit see Morayo eye shake.

Morayo face change, call my name like warning.

Her face squeeze, mouth twist. "Tunde!" E get weight. She dey warn me make I no talk pass my mouth.

Before she finish, Musa come hold me.

Musa just jump between us, arm dey block my chest. Na serious force e use.

My face change sharp.

I vex. If no be say people full everywhere, I for show Musa small pepper.

Musa hold knife for hand, press am for my back, near my heart.

As he hug me, I feel cold steel for my skin. E dey threaten me codedly. I gats act like nothing dey happen.

From outside, e be like say we be close brothers.

For person wey dey look, e be like we dey gist. But inside, na war dey go on.

He tell Audu,

Musa face Audu, voice calm like breeze.

"Brother-in-law, go inside. Make I reason with this stubborn man."