Eric has to go...CNF #134.

I stood outside the door waiting for my aunt to come. I had forgotten my house keys at the office. I couldn't go back because it was raining and I didn't want to get drenched.

I had already sent her a text and she replied to me that she would arrive in twenty minutes time but looking at the time on my wrist watch, it had clearly been forty-five minutes already. “What could be keeping her?” I pondered.

Just as I was about placing a call to her, I saw her drive in and sighed in relief. She came out of the vehicle and with her keys, she opened the door so that we could both go inside. The atmosphere inside the house was warm, a sharp contrast to the frigid temperature outside.

I turned to ask my aunt what had kept her but her forlorn appearance caused the question on my mind to vanish.

“Aunt Rita, what's wrong? Why is your mood down?” I asked as I went to sit beside her on the couch.

“Nothing dear, don't mind me” she said trying to brush me off but I wasn't taking that for an answer. I loved my maternal aunt a lot and I wanted to ease her burden.

“Aunt, you know that I'll keep on asking you about this. So I suggest that you come clean and tell me what is wrong. Is it your job? Is someone harassing you? Or did someone annoy you on your way back? Please tell me so that I can sort it out with you okay” I probed softly so that she would open up to me.

She looked at me with those sad puppy dog eyes, sighed and began speaking.

“It is Eric dear. You know that he was laid off work some months ago and I have been the one supporting him financially. He called me not quite long after I got your message and his demands this time were a bit over the top” my aunt finally opened up to me.

“Over the top? Please aunt speak in plain language because I'm lost” I said to her.

“He called to tell me about an investment he was introduced to and how the returns would be triple his capital. He also asked me for the capital to start investing”

“Okay, so how much did he say was the investment capital?” I asked but my heart was already beating fast and I feared the worst.

“He said the amount was five million and when I told him that I didn't have that kind of money, he begged me to sell the only piece of land that my father left for me as an inheritance. He promised to pay back as soon as the profits came in. When I hesitated, he said he would not go ahead with the wedding unless I gave him the money. I'm in a dilemma my dear” she confessed as she rested her head on her palms in worry mode.

“This is unbelievable. How could Brother Eric demand such from you? That piece of land was given to you by my grandpa. It should not be sold so recklessly”.

“This is risky if you ask me but he shouldn't have used your upcoming wedding as a leverage against you. This is too bad of him” I said to my aunt in a matter of fact manner. I'm known for being blunt as I like calling a spade, a spade.

Aunt Rita, lifted her head, sighed and nodded in agreement with me. “I understand your point dear but you know that I love him and we've been together for so long. I don't think that he would do something to hurt me. I'll just take a loan from my company and give it to him to invest. When he reaps the profits, he will pay me back the five million and we would live together happily as husband and wife”

I looked at my aunt like she had grown two heads. I couldn't believe what was coming out of her mouth. I placed a hand on her forehead to check her temperature and probably her mental balance because what she just said could not have come from a sane part of her brain.

“Aunt Rita, what are you saying? You want to take a loan of five million from your company to give to Brother Eric? No now, that's too much of a risk. Have you thought of the possibility of the investment not yielding profits? How much do you know of this investment stuff anyway? Aunt, to be candid, I smell a rat and I would advise that you investigate properly before handing him such a huge amount of money. It is better to be safe than sorry” I said and left her on the couch while I went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

All through that night, I was worried for my aunt. I know the pressure she faces daily on changing her status from single to married and I understand that she's well advanced in age. Men are usually skeptical about having a relationship with a woman close to forty but Eric didn't mind her age. He promised to be by her side and marry her and this gave her hope but his demands lately were becoming outrageous.

“There's no smoke without fire. I need to really find out what is going on” I thought to myself before closing my eyes and drifting to sleep.

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One week later

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“Aunt Rita! Aunt Rita! Where are you?” I inquired as I dropped my hand bag on the center table. “I'm coming” I heard her say and so I waited.

She came out of her room to meet me in the sitting room. “What's up baby sis? Why were you calling for me? Did something happen?” She probed.

“Yes aunt. Something wonderful happened but first let me ask, have you given the five million to Brother Eric yet?”

My aunt replied in the negative and I let out a sigh of relief “thank goodness”.

“Aunt Rita, you won't believe what I just found out about Brother Eric but I hope that you will be able to handle the truth when it is laid out before you?” I asked and she nodded in the affirmative. That was all the boost I needed to let the cat out of the bag and save my aunt from doom.

I brought out a flash drive from my bag, brought out my laptop to insert the flash drive and play the video on it. My aunt's eyes widened in shock and disbelief because right there in the video was her beloved fiance caressing another lady who happened to be pregnant and he was telling her that he would soon get five million from my aunt with which they would use to travel outside the country and live happily.

My aunt began to cry but I consoled her letting her know that it was good she had not given Brother Eric the money, so nothing was lost.

“How did you get this video Becky?” Aunt Rita asked.

“I investigated by hiring a private detective. There's no investment plan whatsoever aunt. This was all Eric's plan to fool you after he cheated. You better break up with him now that you have the upper hand” I stated.

“You're right dear. Thank you for finding out the truth for me. I'm relieved and I will do the needful. Trust me” she replied.

True to her words, Aunt Rita broke up with Eric and she focused on her self development. I was so happy seeing her shine as she should. Soon she met Andrew and they got married. Till date, the family of four are doing well.

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Thank you for reading.

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