"What the actual heck, OC?" Aaron barged into the large kitchen at the Obiakor mansion, making October almost jump and she choked on the water she had been drinking. "Would it kill you to just pick your calls?"

October slammed the cup on the sink while coughing.
"Would it kill you to open the door gently?" she croaked.

"I've been worried for hours! You haven't been answering your phone since I left you at the station."

"Ehnnn, why'd you leave?" October hissed and pouted. "It wasn't that serious abeg. The police wanted to question me about an incident from yesterday. Apparently someone reported a stolen necklace yesterday and after I answered their questions and left, I didn't want to talk to anybody. O ti pari."

Aaron rubbed his the bridge of his nose and sighed in relief, one hand on his waist.
"At least next time something happens, send a damn text."

"Oya sorry. I've heard y--"

"Wait." Aaron interrupted. "Why are you here?"

"Well, today's your parents' "homecoming" dinner for me." October made air quotes with her fingers. "So I have to be here so people think we're actually on good terms. With the crazy day I've had today already, I am so not in the mood."

"Oh. That's crazy. Almost forgot that. When does it start?"

"In about- -" she tapped her phone screen and it came on, "two hours."

A maid rushed in and grabbed an empty tray from the kitchen island. She ran back out almost immediately.

"Huh." Aaron nodded. "I guess I have to cancel plans then. Damn it. I need to my change PA. He's useless." He grabbed an apple from the basket of fruits on the counter she was now leaning on. "And never ignore my calls again." He tossed the apple in the air and caught it repeatedly as he took steps backward. "And by the way you look pretty decent today, that's new." Aaron remarked as he turned around quickly and headed out.

October looked at her ankara-styled palazzo and jacket she had on.
Not her style anyways— of course her aunt had picked it— but it was beautiful. And her golden braids had been packed in a ponytail. Ayomide knew her all too well. She had opted for light makeup as usual. Even though it was a dinner for her, she planned to be in the shadows the entire evening.

"He's lying to you, you look hideous." Lawrence walked in as Aaron was going out. He was with another guy that looked around his age.

"Oh my gosh." October groaned. "Could this day actually get any worse?" She picked up her phone and started walking out too.

"You look like 'ewww'." Lawrence smiled

October rolled her eyes.
"Thank you," she said as she passed him.

"Make sure nobody dies when they look at you," he said after her and the guy beside him chuckled. He quickly looked at him with a death stare.

"You don't get to laugh about it Jeremy." He said pointing his finger at him, leaving the guy confused for a moment.

*******************

When she had heard homecoming dinner, she was not expecting the fifty people in the dining hall she was seeing right now. What she really wondered though, if she was honest, was who the carpenter was that designed this gigantic table. It was like an extended family dinner.

They were all seated at the same long rectangular table, with different kinds of dishes arranged on it, and talking about things October obviously had no interest in. It was rowdy, but not too loud.

She inhaled deeply. This was one part she had not missed at all.

She looked around. They must have renovated part of the house because this hall was grander than she remembered. They had barely opened it for anything in the past when she was here, as it was reserved for what her mother would call "meetings with big people", and it was all gold designed. But now it had this silver and white theme which October actually liked. It felt more welcoming.

From the massive chandeliers to the white dining chairs and marble floors, anyone could tell they had spent many millions on this place. There was a tall white wine cabinet at the far end of the hall, and so much space left that October thought she could even move an entire bedroom in here.

While the elderly people were exchanging pleasantries, there were still a couple of unoccupied chairs. The only young people around were her siblings and Anne— whom her parents had always imposed on Aaron to marry of course. Leslie and Lawrence were chatting and laughing about whatever they were focused on, and she could swear sometimes they pointed at her in a sneaky way and laughed too.

The maids were walking about and adding finishing touches to the table, carefully making sure they made no mistake. The fact that October recognized some of their faces after all these years spoke a lot. Her mother barely changed hands around the house.

Aaron wasn't even talking to Anne who was beside him, he was just focused on the woman on his other side in her forties.

Emediong Clark, the oil tycoon.

October scoffed. Who said women couldn't make it?
Almost half of the people on this table right now were women. Big women.

Every single person in here represented powerful families, except two who October recognized from her father's company. There were about three more empty seats, and she knew the one at the head was for her father, seeing that he was not there yet. She wanted to guess who the second and third seats were for, but then the doors to the hall opened and someone walked in.

October bit her lip and sighed. Of course, Damien. He was wearing a grey suit, and October had to admit— suits always had a good look on him.

His family had been close to hers for years, and they were one of the most influential figures in the real estate world. With his father still in a coma after all these years and his mom overseeing most parts of the business, of course Damien would have been here to represent them.

The fact that her family and his were still talking after what she did five years ago to Damien meant that her dad had obviously done so much to be on their good side.

Damien's eyes met hers for a second before he sat down, and she didn't know why but the moment his gaze caught hers, her breath hitched in her throat.

Had she been staring at him?

That would have been so embarrassing. Even if he knew, he just took his gaze away without a reaction.

She clicked her tongue. The nerve of this guy. He hadn't apologized yet. He was supposed to be doing everything he could to get her attention but here he was doing the exact opposite!

The doors opened again and Jim walked in. The whole atmosphere changed and everywhere became quiet as he moved smoothly. He had on a white colored Senator. His guards remained standing outside the door. The maids who had been inside excused themselves too. Every other person sitting got up to their feet, while he made for his seat at the head of the table. They were all muttering congratulations to him and giving him handshakes.

He accepted each one till he got to the seat and everyone else took theirs. He remained standing and cleared his throat.

"Good evening ezinụlọ m." Jim started, running his hands down his chest— a habit October remembered all too well. "It's a pleasure to have you all here to celebrate my victory. For over four years we have been on this fight, but here we are today celebrating this win. I'm happy to announce that Zeinco Oil is now in my hands again, and it is safe to say no Jupiter can make it leave again."

Light claps of course

What was with her father and putting his hands into almost every industry?
Obviously, she had heard about her father fighting for that oil company a year after she had left. It was all over the news that time, but had died down over the years— probably until his win of the court case recently. She wondered how she had missed that. Maybe it was because she didn't watch the news or read the papers anymore.

"Through the trials and twists and turns, I want to thank my lovely wife Ade who stood by me and ensured that you know — isi m agbasaghị." The few that could understand Igbo laughed as they caught what he had said.
Adesewa was just beaming from the seat beside his.

October smiled softly. Of course her "homecoming" was just a cover-up to get her to be here. Why did she think Jim would ever do anything for her?

"And to my loving family and all of you sitting here, thank you all. It wouldn't have been possible without all of you. It is not just my win, but it is now 'our' win." Jim paused. "And today, I celebrate not just one win but two wins for my daughter October finally returned to us after years of rebellion." Jim said and laughed. The others followed, except October, her siblings, and Damien who knew what had actually happened.

The thing was the whole world did not know her father had thrown her out, except the people she was closest to. To the world, she ran away from home after the wedding failed.

This was not funny. At all.
'Breathe, OC.' she muttered under her breath, reminding herself. 'He's a dying man. Anything to please him.'

And then she gave the widest smile she had ever.

Jim stretched out his right arm.
"Come up here Ada m."

'You've got to be kidding me.'
She thought. She didn't want to, but her legs betrayed her because she found herself standing up and walking toward where he stood while retaining her smile.

He took her hand in his. Her body froze. Since she was born, her dad had only held her hand about twice. Yes, he hadn't exactly been the father figure people thought he was. She didn't know what to feel. Somehow she felt uncomfortable. Who wouldn't?

He smiled at her and turned her to face the others at the table. He cleared his throat.

"OC here has a surprise waiting for her. Asides the Maybach parked outside...." Some of them cheered, "I'm happy to announce that from now on my Ada will be in charge of O & R Renovators."

October sharply turned to him and the claps continued. He didn't even look at her. She turned to her mother who just signaled to her to smile more. How was it that they just decided her future while she stood there? She wasn't going to say she didn't want to have a car or a job, but the fact that no one told her all these beforehand and now they were slamming this to her face seemed to her like she was being auctioned to a crowd of people for the highest bid.

"Ma ọ naghị akwụsị ebe a. To crown it all, her first project is already waiting for her as we speak. One of our guests couldn't make it here today, but she is to be in charge of renovating his entire workplace." Jim said with his thick Igbo accent.

As if on cue, the double doors of the hall opened and someone sauntered in.

"Sorry I'm late e- " He halted when he noticed how quiet the place had gone. Everyone had turned to look at him. "- -veryone." he completed and then smiled charmingly.

Dressed in a black suit, with his hair freshly cut and his skin shining whiter than she remembered, he showed a small wave to the room.

October squinted.
"Louis?"