Billionaire’s Daughter PRETENDS To Be Poor And Rides Bicycle To School To Find True Love

Billionaire’s Daughter PRETENDS To Be Poor And Rides Bicycle To School To Find True Love

Miss Edin, your father has two service departments in Ecoy, both 5 minutes from the academy. Which one should I prepare?  None.  None.  I will stay in the dormatory.  At least let the driver follow behind you quietly from a respectable distance.  My jewel, the Anaborei name did not suffer three generations of boardroom warfare for you to go to school on iron scrap. Daddy, I am going to class.

 Not a coronation.  Classes where children of rich people behave their worst.  Exactly. I want to meet them before they meet your money.  If anybody troubles you, call the principal. Then the principal should start packing. Take a car, Edin.  But Grandpa, the bicycle is fine.  No, it’s not safe. Take the car.

 I have one. the roing along after all I’ve been through I belong. I have seen love where a stranger’s face. I have seen home feel like an empty place. But the heart knows the truth. Even when the world hides the proof. I gave my silence.  You people heard  the board chairman’s daughter is resuming today.  Really? I didn’t know.

 Yeah, I just heard.  Wow. Wonder what she’s like. Please let her be my roommate. I am tired of breathing the same air with ordinary people.  They said she just came back from abroad.  Oh, really? Then we must welcome her properly in this Lagos. Friendship is investment. Uh-uh.

 Is this delivery or admission?  Maybe staff entrance is closed.  Hello. Registration for hardship is not here, my dear.  Imagine Crown Lake has fallen. They are admitting bicycle people now.  Good morning.  Good morning. With that bicycle, please don’t greet me too close. Hold on. That is the Maybback from the Aurelia fleet. God, look at the roof.

Zimma, I have dropped you. Let me go before Oga notices the car is missing.  Daddy, please stop shaking like somebody stole Gary.  This car is not ours. If they sack me, your school fees will swallow us. When I marry into money, I will pay everybody back. Open the door.  Zimo, your mother and I sold everything for this school.

 And I am trying to make sure it was not for nothing. Door.  This is her. This must be the board chairman’s daughter.  Compared to Bicycle Girl, this one is a swan.  Hi everyone. I am Zimuzo. You can call me Zema. I hope we learn together and grow together. Your voice is so sweet. Even money has voice.

 Please, I don’t like noise. Don’t spread anything.  Zema, they said the anniversary gala will have over 100 media houses. Is it because of you?  Let us see what God will do. comes home after all.  Edinabori, this your disguise is wicked. You look like you escaped from a moral lesson textbook.  Keep your voice down.  I nearly asked security to give you transport money.

 I am serious. Nobody must know.  I know you want to study human beings in their natural habitat. Something like that. Why is Tenno talking to Bicycle Girl? Men like him get bored. Sometimes they entertain nonsense. Exactly. Curiosity. He will soon remember his level.  Shall we? Madame Loki.  Behave yourself.

 Is this the limited autumn collection? My auntie in London posted it and deleted it because people beg too much.  Brands send gifts. My room at home is full. Pick anything you like.  You are not only rich, you are kind. I am officially your person.  Madam, I was told to confirm that everything is comfortable.

 Tell them I am fine. Even staff bow for her. Ah God remember me. Have they started behaving like human beings?  It is day one. Daddy,  that is not an answer.  They behaved like human beings who worship cars.  Come home.  No. No.  You are stubborn like my mother. Then you should be used to it.  Edin, humility is good, but don’t confuse humility with allowing fools to test God with your name.

 I know where the line is.  And when they cross it,  I will call Uncle Tobore.  You should call before they cross it.  She looks beautiful. She looked at me like I was a driver she did not know.  She is afraid  of us of being seen as us.  I borrowed a car that can buy this whole street because my daughter said one day of shame will spoil her future.

 We wanted her to climb. There is climbing and there is flying with another person’s wings.  Mommy, don’t call me at night.  Have you eaten?  I am not a child.  Your father said you looked worried. Daddy talks too much.  Zimo, remember who you are.  That is exactly what I am doing. Are you blind?

Village girl, can you pay for what you broke? It’s fine. Let us not embarrass her. I since it has happened, choose one item and keep it. See, Grace, she damages you and you still bless her. Using another person’s things to impress people is exhausting. No. Excuse me. These are custom orders. The initials are engraved under each product.

It says EA. Yes, EA Edrina. Please. EA means estate allocation. These brands code things differently for private clients. Estate allocation.  Do you know more than the owner?  You came to this school yesterday and already you are trying to drag me. Be careful. Lagos can swallow people. Quietly then stop standing near the mouth.

Don’t form sharp mouth for us. You came here to chase rich men.  Maybe that bicycle is her marketing strategy. Poor but available.  Leave her. Some people are born into lack and still refuse to be humble.  Here, Zema. Nobody should move with this girl. She is bad news. Hi, I am Orit May.

 People call me May  Edin.  I know  you caused a little earthquake this morning.  I was reading bottle labels.  What is your relationship with Tenno?  Friends.  Just friends.  Do you need academic help or gossip?  Academic help mostly. I am on scholarship. So if you ever need notes, pass questions, anything I can help.

Thank you. See her. Any man that passes, she will throw nets. We have two new students. First, Miss Zimon Moji, our queen, and Miss Eddarin.  Bicycle department.  Sitting arrangement. Zema, please sit in front. You deserve a good view.  Ma, can may you sit beside me? I hear he’s very brilliant.  Of course. May he move.

These were made by children in a rural community our academy supports. We are raising funds for books, school blocks and access roads.  I will donate 50,000 naira leader.  That is how old money behaves.  Make mine 100,000. Nobody can compete.  Bicycle girl. What about you? 100 naira or moral support?  Charity is not performance.

 More or less, love is love. Convenient thing to say when your pocket is empty. Zema, why not show the h 100,000 now? My card has a daily limit. I will withdraw tomorrow. Responsible spending, queen behavior. Money is one thing. Has anyone asked what the children actually need? If they need classrooms, build classrooms.

 If the road is bad, fix the road.  Miss Edin, please don’t come here with empty big English. How much can you give? I will take all the paintings 10 million naira today. Then I will fund two classroom blocks and the access road through the Anaborei Foundation.  10 million from where? Tenno’s bedroom.  Call the person now. Let us see.

 I am giving you one chance to apologize before you disgrace yourself. Uncle Tobori, send 10 million cash to Crown Lake classroom B3 now. If money enters this class today, I will answer your surname.  Please don’t. I don’t want useless relatives.  You are mad.  Not yet. Mr. Edin, the 10 million naira has arrived.

Jesus,  this is staged. Count it.  So, Tenno is generous. Don’t mind her. Men spend this kind of money when women know how to behave. Money earned by selling dignity still smells dirty. Then why are you choking on it? Miss Ederin, the academy can issue a receipt to whatever name you prefer. Foundation, parent, anonymous donor,  anonymous for the public record for the internal record. Anabori foundation.

 Anabori.  Is there a problem?  No, I just I thought you thought I was too poor to have a surname worth writing carefully.  Students joke. You know how young people are. Teachers teach them where jokes are allowed to land. She said anaborei foundation.  Anybody can say foundation.  But the money came  from Tenno.

 Think Tenno’s family can move cash. She’s using his money to form mystery. Maybe we judged that too quickly.  May brilliance is not the same as wisdom. Some girls know how to make men spend. Don’t let innocent eyes deceive you. Still 10 million will build something and one scandal can destroy it. Remember that  the road and classroom pledge will require board coordination.

 Send the survey report to Uncle Tori. He will dispatch engineers by Monday.  Engineers, the children need roads, not applause.  Freshest private hangout this weekend. Laoi Archery Club. Rich crowd. Proper networking.  Archery.  You play  in Europe. I trained with professionals. Of course you did. I didn’t bring my gear.

 We can buy gloves, jackets, anything. The bow is the issue.  No need. I have a custom collector’s bow. My butler will send it.  I will handle it. Zimuzo, my child, I made the special one with extra crayfish. You have not eaten since morning.  Uh-uh. Zema, who is this woman calling your native name like village announcements? What are you doing here? Did I not tell you never to come near these streets?  I wanted to bring food.

Since your father dropped you, my mind was not quiet. Your mind should have stayed in your kitchen. Just eat small then I will go. Do you know what I am building here? Do you know the caliber of people I am standing with? One look at your greasy face and my  life is finished. Zimos, these greasy hands paid the deposit for the room you sleep in. Poverty is not a curse.

 We can rise cleanly. Cleanly. Look at you. 20 years in Lagos and you still smell of wood smoke and cheap oil. You look like a curse. But I raised you. I did not beg you to bring me into this world to sell Aara at my school gate.  Auntie Fay, are you okay? I am fine, my dear. I slipped. Zimma, apologize to your mother now.

 My mother? This woman is a common caterer. She has been stalking my family for years. Edin, because you are poor, you are quick to identify with servants. Exactly. Look at Edin, patron saint of roadside Aara. Zema, let’s go. The smell is starting to affect my hair.  Bicycle girl, play your level. If you look at Zema with those dirty eyes again, I’ll make sure Lagos becomes very small for you.

 Ken, people only make noise when they are too weak to stand on their own ground. Edin, I won’t expose you. Just stop attacking me. You are lower than the poverty you are running from. Please don’t fight her. She’s my only child. Then someone should remind her she has a soul. That girl is obsessed with you.

 She cannot stand that you are above her. She’s always there, always looking at me like she knows something. Then finish her. The freshers hang out. We invite her. She will refuse. May will invite her. She thinks he’s harmless. What will happen there? Enough to teach her that reputation is easier to drown than a body. You are wicked.

No, I am surviving. May, did you ride from poverty?  Zimma invited me. I came for Zimma.  Short skirt to archery. This girl is always advertising.  She knows rich boys are here.  Since you came, play with us. Experience high society properly. I am not interested because you don’t know how.  Winner gets 100,000 naira.

 Or are you afraid?  That bow. Beautiful, isn’t it? Very familiar. You have seen one before in a magazine. Maybe. Fine. One round. I choose Edin. Please don’t embarrass her too badly. Let her go first. I don’t want my shot to intimidate her. Oh, please. You wish. We’ll see about that. See her posture.

 Somebody call ambulance before string cut her hand.  She’s delaying because village people did not teach archery.  10.  Luck. Foolish luck.  Your turn.  Zma is too heavy. Let go. They’re watching. We have to go. Zimma, return that bow today. I took it from the trunk. If they find out, I am finished.  Go away.  The wind shifted. There is no wind.

 You distracted me. me. Zema, you kept talking.  Calm down.  No, she planned this. She always plans disgrace. Throw her into the water.  Zema, don’t be foolish.  Take pictures. Post it everywhere. Let Crown Lake know what happens to girls who insult their betters.  Stop. This is too much.  Do you want to defend her? Look at her now. No tenno. No mouth.

Let me go.  Are you hurt?  No.  Mr. Atuati, with respect, Edin insulted Zema. You cannot offend everybody because of this girl. I can offend a graveyard if it stands between me and her. She’s not worth it. She sleeps around with rich men. Say one more word. You think only you have people? Do thank God. Handle this.

Idiot. Young master tenure. Everybody here leave now.  Give me permission to end this nonsense today.  No. They ordered men to drag you to water.  I know I was there.  Don’t joke.  I am not joking. But if you crush them now, they will say you did it because you are sleeping with me or because you are proud or because rich boys cannot take insult.

 They will never see themselves.  Why do you need them to see themselves?  Because punishment without revelation creates martyrs. I don’t want Zema pied. I want her mirror clean.  You always make strategy sound like mercy.  Sometimes mercy is strategy.  And sometimes you give people too much rope and call it observation.

 Rope reveals direction. Some people climb. Some people hang themselves. Zema’s mother works near the gate. She sells food. She looked at her daughter like all her suffering had a name.  And Zimma pushed her.  That is what scares me. People who are ashamed of love can do anything.  Come home.

 Let your father handle the school.  If daddy handles it, the lesson ends before the exam.  This is not school, Edin.  Everything is cool. Especially high society. When we were children, you used to hide your sweets to see who would steal them.  And you always stole them  to prove your experiment had results. This time, if anybody touches you again, experiment is over.

 Agreed.  Official contract  witnessed by Legos Traffic. Nobody expected Tenno to appear. That girl has something over him.  Let us just leave it. That bow is not balanced for your frame.  I have not practiced in a while.  May I? Who are you touching? He is teaching me. Tier Dumo Karibbo Dumo Karibo Holdings.

 My father’s group. Yes. Zimon.  She is the honorable he board chairman’s daughter. Then Lagos has been hiding treasure. Keep it if you accept dinner with me.  Dinner sounds simple enough.  Miss Edin, Chief says this designer made it privately after the Paris collection. Only one exists.

 I have dresses I have never touched.  Chief says those are last years.  Tell my father fashion will not kill me. He said you would say that  the Academy Gala Committee confirmed your guest judge card. Your father also approved your veto authority.  He approved too quickly.  He said if they want Anabohi money, they can survive Anabohi standards.

directors too. If you enter that gala stage, Nollywood can notice you. Nollywood? Really? Zema, this is Paris finale material. Is it not almost 10 million? I picked it randomly. My closet is too full. That dress looks tired. meaning it has been through too many lies. What right do you have to judge? Have you worn anything beyond market cotton? Who says Zema needs approval from people who arrive on bicycles?  For you,  Tony. You didn’t have to.

 I had to. Beauty should never stand unsupported.  Thank you. No offense, Miss Adarin, but taste is not something poverty teaches.  No offense taken. Poverty did not teach you manners either.  Bring my dress. Your dress is trekking from Oshodyi. That is a private goier commission. I saw it in a closed catalog.

 Which man bought it for her?  Clothes cannot wash a dirty body. This is an anniversary gala, not a beauty contest. What talent do you have? Will you ride bicycle on stage? I am not auditioning. That invitation is for Zema.  Is it?  Of course it is. Who else deserves center stage? What is this? You people are now dating.

 Ka, don’t embarrass yourself.  Zema, be my girlfriend. Echo Atlantic extension private placement 1 billion naira now 10 billion in 3 years if approvals land  interesting  your father’s signature and corporate seal will move the banks the anaborei name gives oxygen to dead concrete  I can speak to him  not speak stamp once the mandate is stamped The consortium releases bridge funding. After that, everybody eats.

 Taier, that project has a litigation hold.  Excuse me.  The waterfront title is contested. Any bank that touches it will inherit trouble. Look at this girl. Now you are a property lawyer.  This is a private conversation.  It becomes public when fraud enters it. Fraud from Zema.

 You really don’t fear God.  You are jealous because Zema has a man who can buy your entire street. Zema, you have already stolen perfumes, a dress, and a bow. Don’t add a corporate crime to your wardrobe. You hate that I am noble and you are low. You hate that the anniversary stage, the judges table, the best men, everything you dream of comes to me easily.

The stage means nothing to me because you cannot reach it. This invitation has my name and the academy seal printed in computer village. Anybody can emboss rubbish.  Since when did Crown Lake choose student judges?  Check the forum.  It says judges, but it doesn’t say you. Drag this liar out before she infects the event.

Touch her again and your father will need a second son.  Tenno, thank God you are here. Edinforged a judge invitation and threatened to veto my performance. We were only protecting the gala.  Shut up. I looked for you in then. Change a room. I got delayed by a public exhibition of stupidity.  Then let us leave before it becomes contagious.

 So the invitation is real.  You people ask too many questions for people who ignore answers.  She has bewitched him.  Then show me something stronger than witchcraft. Get the seal. Good evening, Edin. Good evening, Jalomi.  You look respectable.  That was your best sentence. The board members are watching from London. Investors are logged in.

 Once your performance lands, I present the EcoAtlantic prospectus at the private reception.  Edin is on the judges table.  She is one vote out of five.  No, she has board veto. If she slides that red button, the live stream cuts my performance and marks it as disciplinary disqualification.

 My name disappears from the gala reel.  Why would they give that kind of power to a girl who came here on a bicycle?  Because she is not what we thought. Listen to me. You are going out there. You will look directly at her and perform like your life depends on it because mine actually does.  You’re hurting me.  My creditors don’t send reminders, Zema.

They send men. If this deal dies tonight, they will not stop at my office. They know my parents address. They know my sister’s school. Kenny and Jalomi are ready. If Edin moves her hand toward that console, we upload the cropped sugar daddy photos to the academy server and the live com feed.

 We stain her name before she can veto yours.  She looks so quiet. How can someone so quiet be so heavy?  Even the heaviest mountain can be blasted open. Get on that stage. Zimma, you look beautiful.  Who is this?  One of the caterers.  Tell them backstage is private.  You heard him go. May the crown you are chasing not cut you ahead.

Go.  She spoke to you like five family.  Poor people are familiar by nature.  Miss Zimuzo, you are up. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Miss Zimon Noaki with a dramatic monologue titled The Crown I Was Born to Wear. They told her to bow. They told her to shrink. They told her greatness had a gate and her name was not on the list.

 But a woman does not need permission from those who inherited chairs. If the world refuses to call her royal, she will build her own throne with bleeding hands. I was not born to kneel. I was not born to smell of kitchens, goddess, and other people’s leftovers. I was born to be seen.  If you press it, she is finished tonight.

 I know. And if the world calls her nothing, she will answer with a crown. So bright their blindness will burn.  Why?  Revenge is too easy. Revelation lasts longer.  She has fire. You are kinder than people deserve. No, I am accurate. You passed, Zema, you passed. What score did she give? Does it matter? You passed.

 She thinks she can spare me.  What do you mean  spare me? As if I need saving.  That’s not what she meant. It is and I resent it.  After tonight, people will ask questions. Your name is hot. If we move the property deal now, investors will follow the heat.  Can we not talk business for one night?  We are talking about survival.

 My survival or your debt?  Both. If you are smart,  she has everything.  Then take something.  The truth will come out. Zema,  what is it?  The lie is hungry.  Then feed it consequences  soon. This jacket, those heels, the silver clutch. Wrap them.  You have a fearless relationship with money.

 Money fears me.  I told chief I need more time.  Do not go to my parents’ house. Please. I will pay the 500 million. I have a 1 billion mandate coming from Anaborei.  48 hours.  48 hours.  No. Leave my sister out of this. She is in school. She has nothing to do with me. Tell chief I am not running.

 I just need a seal. Once the mandate is stamped, the bank releases bridge funds. I swear on my father’s name.  Hello. Hello.  Lagos business.  The kind that parks outside in a black prao.  You saw them?  I see more than people think.  Then see clearly. Those men are not bankers. They collect for people who do not write reminder emails.

 If I default, they will make an example of my family before sunset.  And what am I supposed to do?  Be who you say you are.  Meaning,  bring your father’s seal. Stamp the mandate. Let Anabore’s name stand in front of me until the money lands.  You want to hide behind me?  I want us to win. No, you want my imaginary father to stop real men from breaking your real bones.

 Zema, love is beautiful, but power is what protects love. If you cannot move one document, then what exactly are you bringing to this future? Take a cab home. About the document, sweetheart. Hurry. Timing is survival. Auntie Fa, Missin, it is nothing. Who brought you here? I came by boss. I slipped in the kitchen.

You were meant to report any injury on estate duty.  Please sir, don’t remove me from work. It does not affect my cleaning.  Health first. Work and wait.  You are kind miss. Too kind. My daughter says kindness is for people who have money to waste.  Your daughter is wrong about many things. She was not always like this.

When she was small, if I cried, she would bring water in a cup with both hands. She wanted to be a doctor. Then she entered places where people measure life by labels. Labels fall off, but shame can stick. Bill everything to their estate and rest for one week. That is an instruction. One stamp, one life.

 Zimosour, what are you doing here? I work here. What are you doing in the chairman’s study? Move.  No.  You want me poor forever. I want you free. This is prison you are carrying with your own hands. Free. You call your life free. You kneel to people who throw away food worth your monthly salary.  I kneel for work, not for shame.

 Same thing. Give me the seal.  If this deal lands, Tony will marry me. I will enter the family I deserve.  Any family that needs you to steal before they love you will bury you alive. Zema, please, my child, don’t ruin yourself. Auntie, I slipped. Don’t talk, Tori. Let’s see who looks poor now. You got it.

 My mother almost died.  But you got it. You don’t even pretend. Well,  pretending is for people with time. I don’t have time. Beautiful.  Say thank you.  Thank you.  When this money comes, we make it official. I don’t want whispers. I don’t want girls laughing that you are just using me.  I understand, Zema.

 Good. Make sure of it.  When this money comes, everybody will respect you. I said us.  Us. Of course.  I have the mandate. Send it to legal before morning. Zimma,  she’s not here. Don’t let them arrest her.  Auntie, she pushed you.  I fell.  If a child cuts her mother with a knife, the mother still remembers when that hand was small.

to never going back.  Look at the woman from the gate. Wrist bandage, blood, everything.  Let me see. Blood.  What happened?  I told you Edin had darkness.  See how with old men she’s not even selective. How much for one evening, Edgerine? 5,000, 10 or old men get discounts. Move.  Don’t form innocent.

 The forum has receipts.  Edin, apologize for what? For what you did to your mother. That woman is not my mother. And whoever pushed her knows herself. You can deny blood after everything she sacrificed.  See the video.  She broke my phone. Everybody saw it.  Edin, my office now.  You should have stayed on your bicycle.

If May had not reported you, this academy would have continued harboring a disgrace.  What did he report?  I heard things about you meeting men about the woman at the estate.  You heard lies and dressed them as truth. Director Crown Lake has a reputation. We cannot allow compensated dating, violence, and forged invitations to stain the anniversary.

 Pack your things. You are expelled  without investigation. Your type always asks for process after dragging dirt into clean places.  My type.  Poor, proud, hungry, and connected to men who should know better.  Call security.  You dare me.  Yes.  Professor, perfect timing. I have handled the Edin matter.

 We are expelling her before the scandal damages the gala. handled. Yes. The girl in the photos, the old man, the domestic worker.  That old man is Chief Obero Anabi, chairman of this board and Edin is his daughter.  There is confusion. My father is also on the board. People mix names in high places. There is no confusion, only fraud.

 You owe me a dress. Even if you work 10 lifetimes, you cannot replace it. Zema, return those clothes. The house people are asking questions. Your mother is in hospital. What have you done? Zema, where are you going? This is serious.  Stop shouting.  But you can’t just leave.  I have somewhere to be.  Wow, the infinity pool.

 That glass facade is insane.  And a private cinema. Zema’s villa is unbelievable.  I want that.  That is my house.  There she goes again.  Everything good is yours. Dress yours. B yours. House yours. Are we yours, too?  Zema, please tell this girl to stop using your family house as phone wallpaper.

 What? Are you serious?  Dead serious. It’s not right.  I’ll handle it. Edin, since you love our house so much, I can ask them to fix the doghouse for you. Invite everyone then. Your house, your rules. Invite them this weekend. Zema, tell them. Let poverty faint at the gate. Of course, this weekend everyone come.

 My family loves guests.  Good. I will come to you. I never miss a party in my own house.  Zema, your house is not a house. It is a country. I told you people, real money does not shout. It builds walls.  Zema, you are the nanny. Understand? The nanny.  Miss Ederine is expected back tomorrow. If you spoil this for me, you buried me yourself.

 My child nanny, welcome to my home. Relax, eat, enjoy.  Ah, even here. So she followed us to hustle inside Zuma’s house. Edin, my guests are hungry. Set the table.  Seap, please shut up.  No problem. Let me serve. Are you blind? Common seven work you cannot do. There is better wine in that glass cabinet. The 1945 bottle auction piece 380 million naira.

 Zema, bring it out now. Let us taste generational wealth.  Don’t. That bottle is the chairman’s treasure. We cannot pay for it. It is my house.  Then open it. This is life. One glass is somebody’s inheritance.  Full-bodied, complex, old money has taste.  Taste wealth, servant. Lick the floor. Don’t waste it.

Uncle Tobé, come home. Something unclean entered the house. Who let you in? Is that your butler? You opened the chairman’s collection. Mind how you speak. Zema offered us wine in her father’s house. Sir, punish me. Please don’t touch my daughter. Daughter,  stand up, fool.  Zimuzon Noi, daughter of Fey Noi domestic staff and Levvenus Noki Chauffeur.

 You trespassed, stole garments, opened restricted property, and brought outsiders into the Anabhi residence.  What?  Dear classmates, how was my hospitality? You have been told many times you preferred comedy. No, no, this is my life. You stole my life. You stole perfume, dresses, a bow, a car, a name.

 Don’t add my life to the list.  You lied to us.  You loved the lie. Throw them out. Edin, please. I was misled. You know how Zimma is. She deceived all of us. You were not deceived when you called me dirty. You were entertained. I am sorry. You are afraid.  I spoke rubbish. Forgive me. My father must not hear this from your father.

 Your father should hear how you behave when you think nobody important is watching.  Please  stand up. Kneeling does not become respect simply because you are in trouble. Zimuzo beg them. Tell the truth. My child, this is the time to stop. Stop calling me that. It is your name. It is the name of a poor girl.

 No, it is the name I prayed over when fever almost took you. It is the name I whispered when I sold my wedding gold for your acceptance fee. It is not poor. You made it ashamed. If you had married better, I would not need to steal better. Ta tell them tell them who I am.  Who are you?  What?  I met you as the Anabhi erys.

 If that is false then we have nothing to discuss.  You begged me for the seal.  Careful. Desperate girls say many things. The bank has already been notified. Any mandate carrying our seal from you is void and under investigation.  This is a misunderstanding. The police will enjoy your explanation.  You said I was treasure.

 I was misinformed. I am Zimma Anabi. One call and you people will disappear from Lagos. Do you know who I am? Help me up. I will give you 1 million.  Zema, wake up. We are the same kind. Empty people worshiing full pockets.  Don’t compare yourself to me.  I already did. That is why I am ashamed.  I will not be poor.

 I will not be nobody. Edin, you will not stand while I crawl. Miss Ederine, please help me find my child. She has not come home in 3 days. Her phone is off.  Auntie, stand up. No. I know she did wrong. I know. But she is my child. If something happens to her, my own life has finished.  Zema’s choices brought her here, not me.

You have people. You have cars. You have police that answer your call. Help me. I will ask around.  God will bless you. God will. But when we find her, you must stop covering her crimes with motherhood. Love without truth is a cloth that catches fire. What is this  food?  Do I look like a woman who eats prison food? Bring prawns. Bring pepper soup.

Bring what Edine eats.  Edin is not your problem anymore.  She is the only problem.  Zema, marry me.  You  give me seven years. I will build something. I am brilliant. I can walk. I can become somebody. Seven years of hunger. Seven years of I am trying. You think I escaped my mother’s life to enter yours? I love you.

 How much?  Enough to do anything. Then bring Ederine to me.  Kidnapping is a crime.  So love has law. Men are all noise. Tony wanted my seal. Kenny wanted my status. You want my body of suffering but cannot fight for me.  I can fight but not this.  Then leave me. Let me die. Let Ed Ederine win. Let everybody laugh that Mama Fay’s daughter returned to the gutter.

 You should sleep. Sleep while Edin breathes.  Zimma, don’t.  You said you love me.  I do.  Then prove it.  Not by hurting someone.  Fine. Tomorrow I will go to school and tell them you lured me here. I will tell them you took advantage of me when I was drunk. Your scholarship will vanish. Your name will rot.

 No, please. You can’t do this. Why are you doing this to me?  Because you promised anything.  What do you want me to do?  There is a project assignment. Get her alone. Coffee first, then call me.  Edin, are you free? There is a spa in Victoria Island. My treats.  Edin, about everything.

 You know people talk. Miss Edin has plans. See them. Yesterday you were poverty. Today you are oxygen.  They are not welcoming me. They are welcoming my surname.  Dinner.  K. Mrs. Ooni assigned a project with May. Deadline is tonight.  May that reported you.  He apologized and he is still the best person for the research parts.

 Be careful.  I will.  Call me when you are done.  Yes sir.  Don’t. Yes sir. Me and then disappear.  Final section is done. Send me the references.  I will.  May. Are you still angry that I told the director you lied?  No, I deserved it.  Then why are you acting like judgment day has your name on it?  Let me get coffee. My apology.

God forgive me. Please drink before it gets cold.  May, whatever trouble you are in, you can still step out.  I am sorry. No, wait. me. I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry. Zema, don’t say my name like you own it. Untie me. You still command. Even here.  Zema, you said we would scare her. We have scared her.

 I want a video. I want Lagos to see the great Edin Anabi helpless. I want her to wake up every morning and remember that I dragged her down.  No.  No.  I will not touch her.  May, listen to yourself. This is the last exit before your life closes. Sorry cannot rebuild me. You think poverty was my curse. No.

 My curse was seeing people like you breathe without begging. You begged every day. You just called it luxury. Her last known location was the cafe in Yaba. May Agede left with her by the rear exit. Plate number was obscured. Blame later. Find my daughter now. Announced 100 million naira reward for information leading to Edin.

 10 million for verified leads. Police, DSS contacts, private security, every driver in Lagos.  Wake them up. Already moving. Sir, if this city has swallowed my child, I will cut it open.  Bring it back. That access is difficult. Warhouses, private yards, illegal loading bays. At night, even police patrols avoid some turns.

 Then buy the turns, block the exits, and light up the dark. The Anabi group has announced a reward. 100 million. People are searching everywhere.  Good. Let them search while she breaks. Zema, please let us run.  Run to what? Poverty. Your one room. My mother’s food carts.  What is this?  You liked her at the range.

 I brought her to you.  Are you mad?  Don’t pretend now. Take what you want and leave Lagos.  That girl is under Tenoya Atuati’s protection.  Tenno is a rich boy, not God. You called me into a grave and called it opportunity.  All of you are cowards. Men with muscles and no spine.  Someone is here.  If I lose everything, she will carry a scar, too. Zema, this is no longer envy.

This is evil. Then let evil finally win something. DROP THE WEAPON, ZIMMA. I am sorry. I am sorry. Sorry I am late.  You came  young master. I did not touch her. The girl tricked me. Edin, please. She forced me. I didn’t want. But you did. Why? Why must you have everything? You have father, money, name, protection, love. I had nothing.

You had a mother who sold food under the sun. so you could sit in air conditioning. You had a father who bowed beside a car to protect your dream. You had a brain, beauty, school, chances. You called them nothing because they did not shine enough. Easy for you. Have you ever entered a room and felt people price your poverty before they heard your voice? We cannot choose the room we are born into, but we choose what we become when the door opens.

 I hate you. No, you hated yourself and punished everybody for it.  The words land harder than any slap.  Zimuzo, don’t look at me. My child,  daddy, I am fine.  You are not fine. But you are alive. We will start there. After all this, you still want that bicycle.  It carried me into the truth.  Next time truth can enter Range Rover.

Did you bring Ederine to watch? Are they recording this for the school forum?  I brought the soup you used to beg for when malaria held you. You would sit on the kitchen stool and tell me that when you grew up, you would buy me a restaurant.  That was when I was a child. Before I knew a restaurant costs money and money belongs to people who don’t look like us.

 It belonged to us. Zimosour, we had our name.  Our name? Noi? Who respects a Noki in Lagos? If I write Noi on a paper, will the bank open their doors? If Kenny hears Noi, will he invite me to lock away? The moment I arrived in the Mayback, they looked at me. They actually saw me.  They saw a car.

 Zema, they did not see you.  It is the same thing in this city. You are what you drive. You are what you wear. I was tired of being invisible. I was tired of watching you clean toilets. For people who look through you like you are made of glass, they can look through me. My soul is not in their eyes. But you took your soul and threw it into their garbage heap because you wanted them to clap for you.

 Are you going to testify? Yes. Against your own daughter? No. For the truth. I spent 19 years covering your lies because I thought I was protecting you. I lied to the principal. I lied to your father. I even lied to my own conscience. And look where it brought you. To apapa. To handcuffs. They will jail me, mommy.  No, my child, we will find a way.

 Then you will serve. But when you come out, you will walk on real ground. No more stolen wings, Zimos. You will stand on your own feet. Even if those feet are bleeding. Time eat. I will be outside. I will not lie for you in court, but I will be waiting at the gate when you are done. Crown Lake failed not because one student lied, but because many people preferred the lie.

 Staff failed, students failed, leadership failed. This institution will make restitution starting with disciplinary action and a full anti-bballying review. Miss Ederin Anabhi.  I did not hide my name because I was ashamed of it. I hid it because names open doors that character should open first. Most of you did not hate me.

 You hated what you thought I represented. Lack, inconvenience, embarrassment. Then when you discovered I had money, you changed your language. That is not respect. That is exchange rate. Zema’s poverty did not make her cruel. Your wealth did not make you cruel. Cruelty is a choice that becomes easier when a crowd claps.

The rural school project will continue. The classrooms and road will be built. Not because we perform charity here, but because children should not suffer while privileged. People learn basic humanity. Miss Ederine, I heard you are the one who did this. I heard your Accara is the reason half the school survives morning lectures.

 She has not allowed me to visit. Give her time.  Do you think she can become good again?  I think truth is a hard ground. Some people land on it and break. Some people use it to stand.  It’s ready for you.  Oh, Tenno. It’s beautiful. Thank you, Tenno. Truly,  I have committed an act of madness.

 I repaired this thing.  She is not a thing.  She’s older than some lecturers. At least let me follow you.  On what? Your sports car.  I can buy a bicycle.  Can you ride one?  I am an Atuati.  That is not a cycling qualification. Ready  for you? Never  But I will follow the door. I belong. I belong.

I was worthy long before. Let the wind my name. Let the road sing along after all I’ve been through. I belong. I have seen love where a stranger’s face. I have seen home feel like an empty place. But the heart knows the truth. Even when the world hides the proof. I gave my silence too many years. Turned my sorrow into something clear.

Now I stand in the light and I am not afraid to be here. Oh, I was falling but grace found my feet.