“There are two men outside asking about Ajimka.”
The cook frowned.
“Ajimka? What for?”
“They didn’t say.”
The cook paused. Then she walked out to meet them.
Outside, the cook looked at the men.
“Why are you looking for Ajimka?” she asked.
One of the men replied,
“Our boss wants to see her.”
The cook narrowed her eyes.
“Who is your boss?” she asked. “Did she do something wrong?”
The man shook his head.
“No. She actually helped him. She did him a favor. He wants to repay her.”
The cook went quiet for a moment. Then she spoke slowly.
“I know where she stays.”
She gave them Ajimka’s address.
The men nodded.
“Thank you.”
They turned and walked back to the vehicle. Moments later, the car drove away.
The next morning, around 11:00 a.m., the same luxurious SUV stopped in front of Ajimka’s compound. The same two men stepped out again. They walked into the compound.
A neighbor saw them.
“Who are you looking for?” the neighbor asked.
“We are looking for Ajimka.”
“She went out this morning,” the neighbor said.
Just then, Ajimka walked into the compound. She was holding a small bag.
The neighbor pointed.
“That is her.”
The men walked closer.
“Good morning,” one of them said.
Ajimka stopped.
“Good morning.”
“Our boss wants to see you,” he said.
Ajimka frowned slightly.
“Who is your boss?” she asked.
The men looked at each other. Then one of them brought out an envelope and handed it over to Ajimka.
Ajimka opened the envelope and read.
It was an invitation to a palace.
She looked at their vehicle and noticed “HR” on the license plate. Her heart skipped slightly.
“I hope I’m not in trouble,” she said.
“No,” they replied.
Then they showed her their ID cards, explaining that they were private security officers.
After hearing that, Ajimka agreed to go with them. Then she went inside and changed into another set of clothes.
Moments later, she stepped out, ready to go with them.
Her neighbor looked at her and said,
“Don’t hesitate to call or notify me if you notice any problem.”
She nodded with a small smile.
“I will,” she replied before stepping into the SUV.
The car pulled away.
The drive to their destination was long. They had been on the road for over four hours. Ajimka kept looking out the window, her mind racing as she wondered what all of this was about.
Finally, the SUV slowed down in front of a large, towering gate. Four well-equipped security guards stood watch. One of them stepped forward and opened the gate.
The SUV drove inside.
Ajimka looked out the window. Her eyes widened.
Big buildings. Gardens.
It looked like a palace.
The SUV stopped. The men stepped out. One of them opened the door for Ajimka, and she stepped out of the car.
She looked around.
“The person you want to see is inside.”
They led her in.
They walked into a large, well-furnished throne room.
Then suddenly, Ajimka stopped.
Her eyes widened.
She saw someone seated on a throne.
She looked again.
Her heart slowed.
It was Ogbon.
But not the weak man she knew. It was not the poor-looking elderly man she usually saw by the roadside.
He looked different. Clean. Strong. Royal.
He stood up slowly with a soft smile on his face and said,
“My daughter, welcome.”
Ajimka stepped back slightly. Her voice came out slowly.
“What is going on here?”
Ogbon gestured toward a couch.
“Please sit down. Let me explain everything to you.”
Ajimka sat down calmly. Her heart was heavy. Her mind was full. She looked at him carefully, not sure what she was about to hear.
Mr. Ogbon sat down across from her. He looked at her for a few seconds and said,
“I did not mean to deceive you, but I had to pretend to be a poor man for a reason.”
Ajimka kept looking at him. She did not understand what he was trying to say.
Ogbon continued,
“I am getting old. One day, I will leave the throne.”
He paused.
“My only son, the heir to this throne, just completed his studies abroad. He will soon return to this community.”
Ajimka listened carefully.
Ogbon’s voice became more serious.
“But there is a problem. My son has never brought a good woman to me. All the women I saw around him were only after the throne, the wealth, and the influence. I do not believe any of them would make a good queen for my son and for the good people of this community when he finally becomes king.”
He shook his head slowly.
“So I decided to do something. I disguised myself as a poor man. I went to nearby towns to see how people would treat me. I wanted to find a kind woman, a good woman, a woman who looks beyond material possessions, a woman who can make sacrifices without expecting anything in return, because true leadership involves sacrifice.”
He looked straight at Ajimka.
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