Chapter 2 Crossed paths

they drove for 10 minutes and arrived at the hotel, they all went inside and asked for their reservation, and a staff directed them to their room.

they walked in saw the other family members sitted in the room, they exchanged pleasantries the men talked amongst themselves and the women too, Julia looked around but did not remember any of the other in the room she greeted her aunt's and uncles and sat down, until a tap came on her shoulder, she turned around and came face to face with a young man with dreads, he looks cool and razz but he's cute, she's sure he might be one of her cousins.

"Julia wats up, longest time" he said.

"am ok what about you, how have you been? " she replied.

"I hear say you go jam person car as you dey come back from club, this girl you never still stop that your rough life bah, better change oo this girl before you kill yourself" he said jokingly.

"Yes I know I don stop, no worry I no dey do that kind thing again, I don be serious girl" she answered.

"see as you fresh, this girl you dey chop life oo" he said.

"but do you know why grandma called a family dinner ?

"Thank you cuz, but I have no idea, do you?" She replied.

"not really but I heard she wants to make an announcement tho, let's wait and hear it" he replied her.

"Ok" she said.

Julia sat down with her cousin Micheal and we're reminiscing about their outings, when the door to the room opened 5 minutes later, with an old lady walking in and a young girl about Julias age holding onto her arm with smiles on their faces, and another woman following behind them

they all stood up and welcomed the old lady.

"welcome mom" her father said.

chorus greetings followed after that from the others, the old lady sat down , and everyone followed after that.

"mother how have you been?" one of Julias uncle asks.

"I've seen better days" the old lady replies.

the hotel waitresses started bringing in the food and drinks while discussion where flying around.

Julia noticed a stare from the other end of the table every since they sat down.

she looked over and saw Sofia staring right at her, Julia raised an eyebrow to her with a smile on her lips.

Sofia snared at her and looked away.

"Ego how are you been doing? how's your health, your father told me you where admitted in the hospital, you're still living that reckless lifestyle abi? " the old lady and Julia.

(oh Julia's native name is Ego).

"grandma am fine thank you for asking, and am no longer living that life anymore" Julia replied.

"are you sure, that's not what I was told?" she said looking over at Sofia.

grandma don't listen to side talks ,don't worry am alright and I've decided to start working in dad's company from Monday" she replied looking at Sofia.

"Ok that's good, that's good, make me proud" the old lady said with a smile

"okay grandma" Julia replied.

"So the reason why I called for today's dinner gathering is to make an announcement" the old lady said.

everyone turned their attention towards the old lady.

"James and I have discussed an issue, and came to an agreement, and we decided that Julia is going get engaged and after that married to William Brickson" the old lady announced.

the whole table became quiet and calm everyone turned and looked over at Julia with curious looks on their faces including her cousin by her side.

Julia kept calm and continued eating her jellof rice, Sofia angrily got up from her chair and pointed at Julia saying.

"you knew I liked Williams ever since uni days, and you knew I wanted grandma to set a marriage arrangements between us, and now you go ahead to snatch him, why do you hate me so much, your mother snatched my mother's love and got pregnant for you first and now you're doing the same thing again" Sofia said crying and shouting pointing at Julia.

"shut that thing you call a mouth, you open your mouth to call me the home wrecker?" Julias mother said angrily.

"mom it's alright calm down "Julia said consoling her mother.

"the next time you speak to my mother again like that we'll be the last time you open your mouth"Julia said pointing at Sofia.

"mom it's ok sit down, don't allow anyone spoil your mood.

"Sofia stop acting like a brat and sit down, there is no one snatching your man.

Ego had no idea that she will be getting married to William she was told yesterday.

"stop acting like the whole world owes you anything, we accepted you and your mother even when your mother wanted to scatter my son's marriage.

the next time you open your mouth and talk to my daughter-inlaw like that again will be the last time I acknowledge you as a member of this family!" the old lady said angrily at Sofia

"I know what your mother did, but I still overlooked it all and accepted you and your mother, made sure you guys have the best lives and lived like every member of this family, so why will you say something like this and point fingers, when it's your mother you're supposed point those fingers at.

"now apologize to Ego's and her parents" the old lady said.

"grandma am sorry for all I said, I was angry about Julia marrying William, am sorry" Sofia said to her grandma.

"don't apologise to me now do the needful" she said angrily to Sofia.

"Dad, aunty, Julia am sorry for all I said please I was angry, forgive me it won't happen again" Sofia said apologetically.

"it better don't happen again, it's because you're my flesh and blood that's why am still tolerating your mother, so better don't forget that " Julias father replied angrily.

"am sorry dad it won't happen again" Sofia said

and they continued their dinner in silence, the old lady went back to the main land and the rest of them continued the dinner gathering.

Sofia's mother, Margaret approached Julia's dad and said.

"James please I want to speak to you about something?" she said.

"ok what is it?" he asks.

"please can you also allow Sofia work in the company along side Julia, she's also your daughter too?", she said.

"Sofia will enter the company, but it's not going to be now, Julia has to know the ropes of the company first, and Even if she's entering the company, she'll only help julia in managing the company" he replied her.

"why are you treating Sofia like she's some child you adopted child from the street, why must my daughter be beneath Sharon's daughter" Margaret replied angrily.

"How is Sharon better than me, why do I and my daughter always have to give way for she and Julia!"

"because she's better than you in everything, she not manipulative like you, always trying to go against my family, Margaret don't let me throw you aside, am still tolerating you because of my daughter, I suggest you know your place in this family" James shouted at her.

the noise drew the attention of every other person in the room and everyone turned to face them.

Julia walked up to Margaret and her father and said

"Dad is everything alright, do you need me to handle her for you?" she asks him looking rudely at Margaret.

"Yes am alright, it's fine, get your mother let's go home" he replied Julia.

"ok dad I'll go get her now" Julia replied walking towards her mother.

"and you this conversation is over, don't bring it up again, I'll tell you when it's time for her to enter the company"he said walking out on Margaret.

Sofia clenched her fist angrily saying,

"Sharon and Julia, I'll make sure you both regret the embarrasment you caused me and my mother today, you did not die the other time, but don't worry the next time you won't be so lucky" she said walking up to her mom