One Point
Chief Etibeh fumed furiously. He threw out all the content
of the suitcase. It was like a dream. Jennifer has carted away all the money.
He pulled out his pockets like the contents will be there but to no avail.
Darn! I fell prey
to that silly prostitute? She pretended only to steal my money away. I’m going
to ruin that girl’s life. I will make her miserable. 15million naira! Who would
I explain this to? Jennifer, I’m going to kill you. I swear, I will kill you!
Two months earlier.
“Hi”
“Hello” Jennifer replied gently.
She turned to see a rather large man standing beside her. He
was spotting fresh hair cut with a well-tailored shirt. He looked very
sophisticated. There was a cigar in between his left fingers. His eyes were
intense yet subtle. His hair was slightly greying at the temple. He must have
been in his late forties or early fifties. He looked fit and agile.
She ignored him.
“What is your name?”
Jennifer pretended not to hear him.
Martins moved closer to her such that he was almost at hairbreadth.
“Excuse me, can I help you?” Jennifer acted surprise,
looking at Martins with contemptuous eyes.
“I just asked you for your name?” Martins asked gentlemanly.
“How can I help you?”
“You look like a Temitope” He asked ignoring her veering.
She ignored him.
He continued, “Let me buy you a drink…?”
She continued to ignore him.
“Ok. You don’t want to tell me your name. You don’t me to
buy you a drink. So, what should I do now…”
“Get Lost.” She squealed.
“Oh really?” His voice was gentle and subtle.
Jennifer picked up her glass and walked away.
Martins smiled. He noticed that some eyes were on him but he
ignored them. He wasn’t the kind of man that bows to popular opinion. He
watched as Jennifer made her way through the door to the poolside. He smiled
again. She was giving him the “are you man enough?” impression. And he loved
it. She was just perfect, he thought
He followed.
“Hi there…”
Jennifer turned only to see the same face again. He
followed. Good.
“I don’t know why you are forming for me. I just asked for
your name, that’s all. Nothing more.”
Jennifer did not reply. She sipped on her glass of vodka.
The feeling was soothing. And she liked it.
“I’m just an innocent man who likes a pretty lady. And
that’s all…”
“I would not want to embarrass you. So please just leave me
alone.” She wanted to make him fight for more. She liked already. He smelt of
money.
“Just tell me your name and I’d be fine.”
“Tracy”
“Oh cool. Tracy. I’m Martins…”
“Now please leave me alone.”
“Think about it, what can I do with your name alone?”
Jennifer readjusted in her seat as if she was going to say
something that will rob him of his ego. Martins braced up for it.
“Martins, I’m sorry. I’d rather be alone tonight. I’ve got a
lot on my mind right now. So I will appreciate that you let me be.”
“That’s fine. I’d be at the VIP lounge. You can come up
whenever you feel like you wanna just chill…”
He smiled sheepishly and turned to walk away. “By the way,
it was nice to meet you, Tracy.”
She ignored him.
She watched him as he made his way through the crowd into
the main building.
Another big fish, she thought.
***
Bimpe flipped her book to the next page. She had in her hand
a small book with a colorful cover. It had many pages—one of Daniel Steel’s
classics.
The kettle in the kitchen made a howling sound. Bimpe was
engulfed in the story. She ignored the kettle. The story was getting intense
and she could not wait to see where it was leading.
“Bimpe, Bimpe!” Moyin screamed.
“Hmmm…” She barely said, not taking her attention off the book.
“Bimpe, you are going to burn this house oooo” Moyin called
from the kitchen.
Bimpe jumped off the chair. Her book fell on the floor. It
was like she jolted out of a dream.
“Oh my God!” she squealed.
“See you. You want to burn our house abi? That book you are
reading is taking all your attention…”
“Abeg, abeg, abeg. I don’t use sugar. There’s honey in the
cabinet over there.” Bimpe said, pointing in the direction where she thought it
might be.
“You need to chill my dear. If I was not here you would have
gotten this kitchen burnt….”
“It’s ok now… I have heard you and I’m sorry. I can’t wait
for the tea. The weather is cold this morning.”
“I see. That is why you are wearing that socks… It’s
actually cold though.”
Bimpe was back to her book in a matter of minutes.
“I will go and hide that book of yours…” Moyin was out of
the kitchen carrying a small tray. It bore two long ceramic cups. There was
steam coming out of the cups. The smell of tea filled the room.
“Thank you, teddy.” Bimpe said grabbing her cup of hot
caramel drink.
“You are welcome.” Moyin replied.
The book took Bimpe’s attention again.
Moyin cautiously walked close to her and without warning
grabbed the book off her friend. “I will tear this book now…”
“Moyin, I swear, I will kill you. Give me my book now…”
“You will have to come and get it. This book that almost
cost us our kitchen, what is it about anyway?” Moyin stood to her feet. She was
backing off from her friend. She pried into the opened page Bimpe was reading
and then looked up at her friend.
Bimpe was sipping tea from the cup. “Teddy, please, I beg
you, don’t close that page. I don’t know what page I am…”
“You will have to find what page it is. I have closed it
already…”
Bimpe’s expression deepened. She looked like she was going
to scream but instead she sipped her tea. Her eyes were on her friend.
Moyin looked into the page and read out. Janet picked up her
bag and walked out of the room. She could not believe what she had just seen.
Her husband was naked in the same bed with her closest friend, Daniella. They
were shocked to see her standing at the door.
Her husband was shocked. Daniella pulled the covers over
herself.
Her husband stood up. He wanted to make an attempt to
explain.
“Don’t even think about it!” She squealed.
“Interesting…” Moyin looked at her friend.
“So now that you know what I’ve been reading, can I have my
book back?”
“Nope.”
“Teddy, please I beg you in the name of God. I can’t stress
myself now… please, I’m begging you… abeg. I no dey do shakara.”
“I say no.”
“Teddy, you are looking for my trouble ooo. Na jeje I sidon
here on my own oooo. Abeg gimme my book…”
“I say no.”
Bimpe moved quickly towards her friend. She tried to yank
the book off her hand. But she couldn’t get it off her friend.
Bimped pinched her friend on the arm. The book fell off.
“Yeye girl. You are so fragile Moyin…”
“Make sure I don’t lay my hands on that book again. I will
throw it outside.”
“What do you have against this book now?”
“You almost got this house burnt because you were reading it
that’s what.”
“But I told you I was sorry…”
“You don’t mean what you just said Bimps. Why does this book
have so much of your attention… what’s the story about sef?”
“It’s a long story… but very interesting.” She sipped on her
tea. It was cooling fast.
“Forget that one. I’ve got gist for you…”
Bimpe closed her book and looked at her friend. “Gist, oya
download abeg…”
“I met this really cute guy. Very cute I tell you—tall,
dark, handsome and rich. I mean rich like Richard. He drives a range rover
sport. Works as a manager with MTN and he loves music. This guy is is a fine
boy…” There was glee on Moyin’s face. “He lives in Ikoyi. Chief Erindayo’s last
son. You know senator Erindayo now…?”
Bimpe nodded.
“His last son. Men, this guy swept me off my feet…”
“Ok slow down lover girl. How do you meet all these guys?”
“He is pne of Tony’s friends”
“Tony? Your ex-boyfriend?”
“Yeah. My ex-boyfriend. And what about it?”
“You met one of your ex-boyfriend’s friends and you want to date
him…? You must be crazy…”
“What’s there? I and my ex are still friends…”
“That’s bad karma…”
“Who says?”
“I don’t know…. It just doesn’t sound right…”
“Well, that’s your opinion. As far as I am concerned it
doesn’t mean anything.”
“They would be talking about you whenever they hangout…”
“So?”
“You are just a weirdo…”
“I know. By the way, what’s up with you and Jide?”
“We are doing great…”
“That Jide guy loves you sha…”
“My dear, that’s the way to secure yourself…”
“I don’t understand…”
“Make sure the guy does most of the loving before you
settle… I have learnt my lesson. Guys don’t deserve all the attention.
They end up breaking your heart.”
“Hmmmmm. True talk.”
“Most guys believe that all ladies are gullible. They forget
that we hold the reins…”
“I’d keep that in mind.”
“You’d better.”
Bimpe was back with her book.
* * *
Tadeke lean on her husband's chest. He smelt like light
morning wind. He was warm and she could hear his heart beating gently but sure
in his chest.
He rubbed on her hair and kissed her forehead.
She enjoyed this moments.
"Honey..."
"What is it, my dear?"
"Do you know any Jennifer. Jennifer Ejiofor?"
Kojo's heart rate started beating faster. He adjusted in his
seat.
Tadeke felt the rise in the pump. It was like all the blood
in his system was making their way up his chest.
She sat up and looked into his face.
He looked flushed.
****************************************
CHAPTER 9 Coming Soon
****************************************
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