EPISODE 7

THE WEIGHT OF LEGACY

Max’s sudden appearance left Emily breathless.

“Max, what are you doing here?” Emily asked. “I could ask you the same,” Max replied. His eyes roamed the gallery, taking in Emily’s art.

“Your talent never ceases to amaze me,” Max said. Emily’s guard rose “Don’t, Max. Just don’t.” Ibrahim stepped forward “Emily, is everything okay?” “Yeah, I’m fine,” Emily replied.

“Who’s this?” Max asked. “Ibrahim, Emily’s friend,” Amara intervened.

Max’s gaze lingered on Emily, then Ibrahim.”Emily, can I talk to you?” Max requested.

“No, Max. There’s nothing to say,” Emily replied firmly.

Ibrahim placed a reassuring hand on Emily’s shoulder. “Let’s get out of here,” Ibrahim suggested. “Agreed,” Emily said. As they walked away Max called out. “Emily, this isn’t over.” Emily’s heart sank.

But Ibrahim’s presence fortified her. “Ready to leave?” Ibrahim asked. “Yes,” Emily replied.

Outside, Amara awaited “Emily, are you okay?” Amara asked. “Yeah, thanks, I’m so sorry I’m not staying till the end” Emily pleaded with Amara. “Emy, you need to rest ok? I’ll take over from here, ok? Ibrahim, take care of her,” Amara said.

“I will,” Ibrahim promised. “See you later Amara” Emily said as she entered Ibrahim’s car, bading Amara farewell.

Emily and  Ibrahim left the gallery, leaving Max.

Ibrahim drove a distance and suggested they take a little walk. “I’m sorry about that,” Emily said, breaking the silence. “For what?” Ibrahim asked, his eyes locked on hers. “For Max showing up,” Emily replied.

“It’s not your fault,” Ibrahim reassured her. “Thanks for being here, Ibrahim,” Emily said. “Anytime,” Ibrahim smiled. As they strolled through Abuja’s vibrant streets, Emily opened up about Max.

“He was my boyfriend back in Lagos,” Emily began. “You mean Max?,What happened?” Ibrahim asked.

“It was toxic,” Emily said.” He controlled me, manipulated me,” Emily continued. “I’m so sorry,” Ibrahim sympathized. “I thought I loved him,” Emily admitted. “But you’re free now,” Ibrahim said.

Emily smiled.” Thanks to Abuja.” Ibrahim suggested, “Let’s explore the city.” “Sounds perfect,” Emily agreed.

As they wandered through Abuja’s markets, Emily felt alive again, Ibrahim’s presence made her feel safe. At a local artisan’s stall, Ibrahim found a beautiful handmade journal. “For your art,” he said.

“Awwwn, that’s so sweet, Thanks,” Emily replied.

He drove her to his house, in other to keep an eye on her and keep her safe. Emily began to sketch in her little journal everything she saw during their strolling session, Inspiration flowed from her experiences. Her art told stories of heartbreak and freedom, of new beginnings.

 

The next day, Emily received a call from an unknown number. “Hello?” Emily answered.

“Emily, it’s Max,” the voice said. “How did you get my number?” Emily demanded. “I need to see you,” Max pleaded. “No, Max,” Emily replied firmly.

“Please, Emily,” Max begged. “I said no,” Emily repeated and hung up, Ibrahim appeared behind her.

“Everything okay?” he asked. “Max called,” Emily said. “Don’t worry, I’m here,” Ibrahim reassured her. “Thank you Ibrahim” she said, hugging him.

Days turned into weeks, Emily’s art flourished, Her confidence grew, Ibrahim became her rock, Amara her confidante, but Max’s persistence continued to haunt Emily.

One evening, as Emily walked home from Amara’s, she noticed a figure following her, she quickened her pace, but the figure kept pace, suddenly, she began panting heavily, thoughts of the night she was being raped clouded her mind and she was scared, not until she closed her eyes tight and opened it and it was gone, she had to run home in fear.

Weeks went by and Emily realized her feelings for Ibrahim were more than friendship. But was she ready to open her heart again? Emily kept her feelings hidden from Ibrahim, from herself.

Focus on art, she thought. Her creativity flourished, Inspired by Abuja’s vibrant culture.

At Amara’s suggestion, Emily agreed to showcase her art at a local gallery which was hosting an art exhibition and their opening night in order to get more recognition and sales.

On that night, Emily’s nerves fluttered but she was still delighted that Ibrahim was with her.

“Your art is stunning,” he said. Emily smiled “Thanks,” she replied.

But Max’s presence suddenly lurking in the shadows ruined the evening.

“Let’s confront him,” Ibrahim suggested. “No, I’ll handle it,” Emily said. She marched toward Max

“Leave me alone,” she demanded. Max sneered “You think you’re free?” Emily stood tall “I am free with Ibrahim’s support”. Emily faced Max.

“You manipulated me,” Emily accused. “You love me,” Max claimed. “No, I loved the idea of you,” Emily corrected. Max’s face twisted in anger, in defeat.

“Leave Abuja,” Ibrahim warned.

“Hmmmmm” Max looked at him smiling “Ok then, we shall see who has the last laugh” Max left.

Emily breathed a sigh of relief but Max’s last statement stuck to her, she was still wondering what he meant by that statement and why Ibrahim didn’t fidget or seemed disturbed. Ibrahim’s hand found hers a spark of electricity ran through Emily. But she withdrew, afraid to feel.

_Ibrahim’s Hidden Past_

Emily couldn’t shake off the feeling that Ibrahim was hiding something, especially after that night. One evening, as they strolled through Abuja’s quiet streets, Emily confronted Ibrahim.

“Ibrahim, what’s going on?” Emily asked. “What do you mean?” Ibrahim replied.

“Max’s persistence… you seem really calm about it even after he looked you in the eye and threatened you. Why do I feel like you are hiding something from me? Is there something I should know?” Emily said.

Ibrahim’s expression changed from calm to guarded. “Emily, I…” Ibrahim began. “Tell me,” Emily urged.

Ibrahim took a deep breath “Max and I have a past.” “What kind of past?” Emily asked. “We were business partners,” Ibrahim revealed. “In what?” Emily pressed.

“Real estate,” Ibrahim said.

“But there’s more, right?” Emily sensed.

Ibrahim hesitated “Max’s family and mine… have a history.” “What kind of history?” Emily asked. “A feud,” Ibrahim admitted. “Over what?” Emily wanted to know.

“Land, power, money,” Ibrahim replied. Emily’s mind reeled, connections began to form.

“Max’s obsession with me?..” Emily started. “Yes, it’s tied to our families’ past,” Ibrahim finished. Emily felt betrayed by Ibrahim’s secrecy. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Emily demanded. “I wanted to protect you,” Ibrahim said.

“Protect me? or protect your own selfish interest? Protect me from what exactly, tell me how I am connected to all of this” Emily asked.

“The truth?” Ibrahim replied. Emily’s curiosity grew about the feud between Ibrahim’s and Max’s families and how she’s involved.

She begged Ibrahim “Tell me everything.” Ibrahim hesitated, but Emily’s determination won.

“In the 1980s,” Ibrahim began,” Our families clashed over land rights. Max’s grandfather had swindled my grandfather out of valuable property. The dispute escalated into violence, lives lost, relationships shattered”

Emily listened, horrified. “Ibrahim, I’m sorry,” Emily said. “It’s not your fault,” Ibrahim replied.

“But why did Max pursue me?” Emily asked. “Revenge,” Ibrahim said. “Against my family,” Ibrahim explained.

“Through me?” How? Emily realized.

“Yes, Max’s father would do anything to get whatever he wanted, he had to forced Max into marrying Sophia, just to get access to her father’s company, they wanted to be a sole owner of Sophia’s father’s company just to keep their own company from crashing.

He found out your father was the owner of the multi million company that controls both our companies, including Sophia’s company and many others and that was his sole aim for wanting to marry you, he never loved you. He’s fighting to get you back just to get back at me” Ibrahim explained to Emily who was still in shock.

“And you know this because?” Emily asked.

” I had to do my investigations and I realized that Max is fighting to have you back because he thinks I’m with you in order to inherit you father’s company, because that was obviously what he always fought for”. Ibrahim explained.

Emily felt used, anger flared toward Max and toward Ibrahim for hiding the truth.

_Max’s True Intentions_

Emily demanded more answers from Ibrahim.

Ibrahim’s expression darkened “Max wanted leverage, against my family to gain control of everything you father own,” Ibrahim revealed. Emily’s eyes widened,” Max used me.”

Ibrahim nodded “Max’s family needs the lands,” Ibrahim said. “For their business empire,” Ibrahim explained. “And I’m the key” Emily realized.

“You’re the pawn,” Ibrahim corrected. Emily’s determination grew to expose Max, to protect Ibrahim’s family and herself. Emily felt betrayed by Ibrahim’s secrecy, “Why didn’t you tell me?” Emily demanded. “I wanted to protect you,” Ibrahim replied. “From what?” Emily asked. “From my family’s dealings,” Ibrahim said.

Emily’s anger flared “You mean ‘ Our’ families dealings? You’re also part of this?”

Ibrahim hesitated, “I’m caught in the middle.” Emily’s trust shattered, “How can I believe you?” How do i know you are not after me because of my father’s company too and this is all a game to you?

Ibrahim pleaded, “Emily, I love you.” But Emily’s heart was heavy with doubt. She faced a difficult choice once again: to forgive Ibrahim’s secrecy or end the relationship since it was a threat to her family’s business.

Ibrahim’s love seemed genuine, but his family’s action threatened her family’s future. Just then, she receives a text from Max “Ibrahim’s family has a hidden agenda, the land sale funds their business empire.”

Emily’s doubts deepened, was Ibrahim’s love a facade? a tool to manipulate her?.

Her phone rings, and it’s her Mum, “Hello mummy”

“You need to come home now, as soon as you can, it’s an emergency” and she ends the call.

” Hello?” She called but no response.

“Who was that, and why do you seem confused” Ibrahim asked, noticing the change in her countenance.

“It’s my mum, she says I should come back, there’s an emergency and she sounded so unlike her, like there’s a problem” Emily said still looking confused.

“Alright then, we’ll catch the first flight early tomorrow morning ” Ibrahim assured her

“Alright “.

 

 

 

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