Well dear, God z ur strength. I realli dun knw ur bday date, buh all dat I can say z wishing a great n apy bday.
Have fun on ur bdae.
Cheers!!!!

Am also h*appy birthday in arias or advance o. Lot of love. When am i getting my cake?

Firstly... Hapy birthday 2 u, wish u LLNP. Wud b expectin my cake nd i hope it wil get 2 me. I'm sowie 4 d late wish nd i hope it counts.

Secondly.... D updates u promised, hop we get 1 dis week. Tnx in advance

Halooo,pls wats hapening 2 d posts na.hop al is wel

Let nominate this thread for front page...my opinion though

Xenia,Y r u fallin my hands now?

Really..if there is any thread on NL I want finished,its this one. OP,wetin we do u na? Come finish sumtin jhare

Wow....dz story is superb

Xena.... U are a pure class.

I wonder why such a good story is yet to make frontpage? Some stories not as good as this would just have a page n they on the frontpage. Anyways kudos xenia u are doing a great job!

The writer has gone awol, wouldn't make sense to put it on frontpage when she wont be around to continue, till she's serious...

Haba,xenia..it's gonna be approximately 1 month 2moro u update. E no gud like dis oooh.

What an interesting and captivating story, pls Xenia what is still holding you from updating. I was late to work for 3day and was queried just because I was glued to my phone throughout the night reading your write up. Pllllllssssssssss more of it.

Xenia where are u!!!! Since November dear! Its not good o!

hp al is well wit u

princesa: The writer has gone awol, wouldn't make sense to put it on frontpage when she wont be around to continue, till she's serious...

Yeah it might not make sense now, bt then it would have made lot of sense for she was around for months n only went AWOL last month!

Captivating, but @ op u have kept us up for long what's happening? U are one of the that inspired me to join n start writing so pls come back

Sadly I can help be hrt broken when I. See such good story go to waste

Omg so much love and disappointment from you people. I can’t believe it, this is some self esteem boosting dope right here due to the love. Thank you so much I am grinning from ear to ear. I promise you guys to finish the story, I have just been crazy busy that I didn’t have time to write. Please forgive me.

princesa: You've got a fan here, so do update as promised.

The Lord is ur muscle

princesa: The writer has gone awol, wouldn't make sense to put it on frontpage when she wont be around to continue, till she's serious...

princesa: The writer has gone awol, wouldn't make sense to put it on frontpage when she wont be around to continue, till she's serious...

@ Princesa, I know I have disappointed you by not posting, please bear with me. I will steadily get there. As you said the lord is my muscle. I believe he is yours also. Xoxo darl.

scon-p:
Scon-p is waitin

@Scon-P, biko no vex for me my love that I kept you waiting for long. Hugging you tight.

Sophiatabitha: Na wa o. So after all the scrolling i no even see anything read. My down button is beging for mercy. Plis update ni. Dying

@Sophiatabitha. My dear kai see me covering my face I don’t know what to say to you, hiding. Please accept my apologies, it is the devil that wants to break us up.

Hardeluv: Well dear, God z ur strength. I realli dun knw ur bday date, buh all dat I can say z wishing a great n apy bday.
Have fun on ur bdae.
Cheers!!!!

@Hardeluv. Aww thank you for the bdai wish. God is your strength also. So sorry I haven’t post for long, please forgive me.

Bimcious: Am also h*appy birthday in arias or advance o. Lot of love. When am i getting my cake?

@Bimcious. My bimbilincious Bimcious .Cake it haff finish O. Rat ate it. I am so sorry dear that I didn’t post for a while please forgive me, hope you still enjoy the story.

SPLENDIDFLOZZY: Firstly... Hapy birthday 2 u, wish u LLNP. Wud b expectin my cake nd i hope it wil get 2 me. I'm sowie 4 d late wish nd i hope it counts.

Secondly.... D updates u promised, hop we get 1 dis week. Tnx in advance

@SPLENDIDFLOOZY Darlinnnnnnng cake it haff finish  I know say it go turn to double vex as I no post since. Biko no vex for me. I am still loyal.

Enache: Halooo,pls wats hapening 2 d posts na.hop al is wel

@Enache. Hi sugs, thanks for asking after me. All is well, life just caught up with me, will post as much as I can darl because of people like you. xoxo.

Tinu-02:
Let nominate this thread for front page...my opinion though

@Tinu-02 awww thank you for thinking I am good enough fora special mention. It does mean a lot to me. Your opinion rocks btw. Xo. Mwaaaah.

Candis009: Xenia,Y r u fallin my hands now?

@ Candis009. My dearest I have disappointed you again, seems I am the bad one in this love affair, what manner of love expression will I do to win you back my love? No vex for me, the witches in my village don’t want us to be together.

zubis05: Really..if there is any thread on NL I want finished,its this one. OP,wetin we do u na? Come finish sumtin jhare

@zubis05 Shai you have provoke for me. No vex my dear please na. I will complete it. I promise, no worry about that.

stefikal: Wow....dz story is superb

@Stefikal . Hi dear glad you love it. I am sorry for not posting for long, please bear with me, hope I do not disappoint with the ending.

ony073: Xena.... U are a pure class.

ony073: Haba,xenia..it's gonna be approximately 1 month 2moro u update. E no gud like dis oooh.

@onyx073. Wow, thank you. Kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss and some more puppy dog kisses. I really didn’t know time had gone that far. Damn, please forgive me. I am only human and a terrible multitasker.

Pastor Olu T: I wonder why such a good story is yet to make frontpage? Some stories not as good as this would just have a page n they on the frontpage. Anyways kudos xenia u are doing a great job!

@Pastor OluT. Thank you Pastor for thinking I am good enough for special mention. It doesn’t really matter hitting front page if people like you enjoy the story here and I guess there may be a criteria I am not meeting. Thank you so much for the vote of confidence. I would have said kisses but I don’t know if it is right to shower pastors with kisses.

Dadymonso: What an interesting and captivating story, pls Xenia what is still holding you from updating. I was late to work for 3day and was queried just because I was glued to my phone throughout the night reading your write up. Pllllllssssssssss more of it.

@Dadymonso. I beg no dey receive query because of me O. I go finish the story no worry you hear, but biko no more queries that thing they fear me like sword. Thank you for following and I am sorry about the late post.

dolly dolly: Xenia where are u!!!! Since November dear! Its not good o!

@dolly dolly. Pls no vex. I am kneeling down, I am checking my calendar now and see that it really has been long. Don’t be pissed at me please I am trying my best. shey you will hug me because you are not pissed right darl?

gandyluv: hp al is well wit u

@gandyluv. Thanks for checking on me. I am fine, I have just been too busy to take care of myself and unfortunately you guys also. Please forgive me, I am trying my best humanly possible.

Oluwason: Captivating, but @ op u have kept us up for long what's happening? U are one of the that inspired me to join n start writing so pls come back

@Oluwason. Pls I beg you in the name of Oluwa, do not be pissed at me. I am happy you joined because of me and I am sorry I started to disappoint, I couldn’t help it. Please forgive me.

Ice4jez: Sadly I can help be hrt broken when I. See such good story go to waste

@Ice4jez. Not to worry this story will not go to waste I will finish it. Please forgive me for keeping away so long.

Tuesday 24 May 2005.
Zandra.
White could make anyone look virginal in the right shape and cut, so she chose to wear white. She was seated at the William towers lobby in a white skirt suit and a big black and white floppy hat, she looked like she was an heiress, a dainty virginal heiress, that was what she wanted to look like. Sesan had informed her that she had received a call from a Samson who had promptly ended the call when he picked it up, she had of course had minutes of an explanation session that seemed to last forever about this particular Samson.

It was not the popular Samson Williams he had read about, this Samson was a plumber who was meant to fix a leak in the kitchen, she thanked God profusely that there was really a leak in the kitchen. She had teased Sesan a little that he had become fixated with Samson just after he had read that article about his engagement, he asked her repeatedly if she knew him and she always denied, he was bent on ways to introduce her to him even though she said she did not know him or want to meet him. She prayed that will not happen, but she was here now.

The newspaper in her hand serving as her camouflage just in case her sun shades did not work, had begun to tire her hands. This guy needs to come out of his office as soon as possible, not everybody was keen on playing the waiting game. She wondered what she would tell him, it was so unlike her not to rehearse her lines, all she knew was that she wanted to see him and here she was, she would just let the words blurt out of her mouth once she gets his attention. She loves getting his attention; she loved all the attention he gave her. For some reason she was finding it difficult to accept that he will be giving all that to Francesca and that was why she was there. She wanted to say she was sorry, she wanted to beg him to have her in her million broken pieces, she knew it was insane and highly improbable, but what do people say about never knowing until you try it.

For some reason she felt like biting her fingers, she had accepted that she was sad and pathetic and there was nothing she could do with it. So what she wants now is to have a piece of happiness that Samson gave her. She would either have it as his friend or his lover; she didn’t mind playing second fiddle to Francesca. Sesan would never know the cheap thrill and dangerous game she will be playing on the sides, she knew she risked being sent to Hell fire if he found out, but he never will, she just couldn’t risk that.

Oh God its him, its him! She nervously crossed and uncrossed her legs as she witnessed the all too familiar scene of Samson leaving the office. She knew this too well, it will take him approximately eight minutes to get to where she was seated, because there will be a flurry of people walking up to him to sign this and that and get clarification on this and that. Damn why did she sit in the same position she usually seats to wait for him when he comes out of his dungeon. For some reason she was no longer sure of her plan, what exactly did she want, did she have the guts to carry on like this? Lie to Sesan and worst of all Samson, something in her was pushing her to get up and run, it was all a mistake. The desire was not strong enough but instead she clutched firmly to the papers in her hand as if it was a life saver. She would probably let him walk past her and she will move back into oblivion.

He wouldn’t pick her calls to him, so why was she here. God what was she doing? This was a man who wanted to set his life right by being with the woman who was the right fit for him and here she was dressed up as a mirage of that woman who she was nowhere near her perfection. She wanted to bring to his feet her evil temptation and wreck his life. For some reason she seems to thrive in chaos and where there was peace and harmony she could not stay. She wished this wasn’t the truth but it was. Why did she stick to Sesan when Samson was there? She knew there was a deeper reason, she knew Sesan would hurt Samson if he found out, she was absolutely stupid, what on earth was she doing here, what demon possessed her to come? This was the worst decision in her life after she bleached her hair blonde that one time.

It was that eight minutes or so and she could see Samson and his crispness walking towards the door she sat next to. He walked right past her and she could see from the corner of her eye hid behind the newspaper and sunglasses the motion detecting doors give way to his presence. She had better leave, but she had to wait some minutes so that his car will leave the lot. She was lucky enough that her car was out of sight and he was highly unlikely to sight it unless he was looking for it.

Twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven……..she could feel air hit her face all of a sudden, her newspaper fortress was gone and there above her was Samson looking down at her. Definitely her attempt at counting up to a hundred was not going to work to avoid him, it was so sad because she had already wasted the voice in her head, counting up to twenty seven. He was saying something, she had better ignore the whisper of the workers, who were turning to look at her.

“What in the name of the Father are you doing here?” At least that was better than the daggers of fire she had envisioned. It dawned on her immediately that she really missed him.

“Will you make me your lover?” It just came out of her mouth, that wasn’t what she intended, she was meant to say ‘Hi there Samson or maybe how are you Samson?’ He ignored the question.

“Did you think I would not know that you were the one seated here, I spotted right away…..get out.”

Okay this is understandable, he was angry and she had absolutely no place there. Zandra was aware of the gathering multitude who she was sure wanted to witness the scene. Heck she would have joined in if she had been standing around to see what she would do. So she did one of the things she knew how to do best, she started to cry.

Not wails , no sound came from her, but she felt the pearl shaped droplets of water fall down her face and she could see the expression on his face soften. He moved forward to touch her shoulder but he dropped his hand almost immediately. The silence began to speak, they just looked at the other and she made sure that the tears did not stop. The Tear Jerker as she called it had a ninety-eight percent effectiveness, it had originated when Sesan had asked her to continually recreate her vulnerability just like when he first saw her by the road side. In the earlier years on slow weekends, he would position her at huge event halls where a wedding or any other jubilation was taking place and he would ask her to cry, to get the sympathy of the rich patrons. It was extremely ungracious to wail with tears therefore she learnt how to cry without opening her mouth or spoiling her face. There was of course a back up story then, it was that she lost her mother, but later the story changed to her father gambled away her tuition fees. She got sympathy mostly from rich old men, who often turned her to their kept woman. This was even how she met her first husband.

“Follow me into my office.”

It worked! She knew it worked ninety-eight percent but for some reason she had little faith and thought that this will be the 2 percent it didn’t. She was glad it worked, she reached into her small clutch purse and cleaned the tears. She knew she was about to con him to have her back, she knew it was wrong but it was the only way.

It was a really long ride made harrowing by the silence, she looked at her shiny red shoes the only piece of color she brandished and played timidly with her finger. Samson wasn’t looking at her but she felt like he was boring holes all through her body, like he knew about her plan then he was going to rubbish it and shame her. When they got to the office door, he opened it and let her in. she should say thank you but she was too sober to do that, she needed her wits here, she wanted to cry. God she loved him.

This was more awkward than she had thought it will be, he walked to his couch and sat down there, this was officially an unofficial meeting since he did not go to his high priest chair, so she went to sit on the opposite couch without being asked to. He didn’t let her talk he already started.
“ I am afraid that cannot and will not happen?”
“What?” She knew what he was talking about but she still had to ask.
“You being my lover, I am getting married.”
“Why?”
“I am getting married and you have your Sean.”
“He is out of my life, that is what I came here to tell you. I walked out on him.”
“I don’t believe you, you can never walk out on Sean”
“It is the truth, when I saw those pictures of you and Francesca, I thought that should be me. I heard bells in my head when I saw that ring. I have grown attached to it, it is like I have the fake somewhere with me and you gave her the original.”
“I apologize; you can keep it if you want to. I wanted a ring in a hurry and the Jewelers could not get anything more expensive, less expensive means my father would bully me.”
“So you opted for a diamond ring and five golden rings.”
“Yes.”
“How’s your dad?”
“He seems fine.” Silence filled the room again, she had already gotten the answer she wanted and she knew the next step she had to take.
“So if Francesca left you, you would consider me again”
“No you are bad news and Francesca won’t leave.” He was very calm about it, it amused her.
“Sean is gone” It was a lie but she needed to sound convincing.
“Great you can make a good life for yourself then.”
“With Sean gone will you consider me if Francesca left?” He didn’t answer
“Will you?” There was this sense of urgency in her voice, it wasn’t really urgency, she was desperate.
“I guess.”
“Great. Francesca will leave you in at most three weeks, call me when she does, I have a shoulder to cry on.”
“That sounds interesting, but you are forgetting something, I am a Williams, women don’t leave the Williams. Besides she loves me.” He was looking at her like she was some entertaining show.
“You are deluded and I am going to make it happen, you’ll call me don’t worry.” At that she got up, walked up to him and kissed his forehead, he didn’t flinch, she had to leave but he stopped her by holding her hand.
“The crying at the lobby, that was a con right?”
“Yes.”
“You are good.”
“I know.
He let her go, she caught a glimpse of him smiling at her as she walked towards the door in the decorative glass on the walls. She smiled because she knew she would have him back.
Hopefully.

Friday 27 May 2005

Setting up a meeting with Francesca was easier than she had thought, it only took her a call and a promise to give a discount to her movie producer contact Donald when next she was available which she knew wouldn’t be soon. She really didn’t know how all this would pan out, all she knew was that she needed Samson back to her. So there she was in a restaurant waiting for Francesca, after flying in to Port Harcourt from Abuja.

The movie producer she knew had told Francesca there was this new project that will be good for her and increase her versatility in acting and the lady in charge of it would like to talk to her over dinner. It was a swanky upper class restaurant with very posh cubicles that had curtains at their entrances neatly parted to each side and secured by ribbons. Francesca could of course dine here as it would be easy to close the curtains and talk serious business; she wondered how she would react when she asks her to give up the man who had proposed to her with such grandeur and was the stuff dreams were made of. She hoped her trade by batter idea would work.

It was already some minutes past the designated time, she had dunked a glass of cosmopolitan and was now asking for peppered snail kebabs and a bottle of champagne, so she wouldn’t just look like she was warming the seat and would end up not getting anything. She adjusted the skirt suit she was wearing and took a minute to reflect on her life. She was utterly confused but she knew she had to keep moving, she wondered if she was wasting away. She doubted that she wanted the reality of a life with Sesan but she knew they had been on the streets together since they were kids and she owed him her loyalty to that. This rich man’s son was doing things to her as she knew Sesan would say.

There was a few gasp and sighs from the open restaurant on the ground floor and she could only imagine that it was Francesca making her super star entrance, so she immediately got up to go look but she was disappointed when she saw instead a governor she did not want to see. He had a ridiculous pot belly and bad breath; he was a good payer so Sesan always made her go with him no matter what. She immediately retreated into her cubicle and released the ribbons that secured the curtains, so he wouldn’t see her peradventure he was led to the exclusive area which he would most certainly will be entertained.

It was beginning to look like Francesca was going to stand her up. That would really upset her, so she made a call to the producer who assured her Francesca would be there, she then restated that she was in cubicle 9, so that the royal actress would not bother her pretty self stressing or worse leaving . At least her over priced snail kebab’s came so she could feed herself. She had always loathed using fork and knives to eat because they hindered her, so she placed aside the utensils when the waiter was gone, took out some wet wipes from her bag to clean her hands then she started to enjoy the delicacy. Another added advantage for having closed curtains, was that she could gobble like a starving person. For some reason she longed for a yoghurt drink, unfortunately they didn’t serve that there, so she poured the wine bottle she had ordered in anticipation for Francesca. Surprisingly the wine tasted good with the snails even better than the yoghurt would have.

As she threw the third to the last piece of snail in her mouth, the curtain parted, thinking it was a waiter coming to check up on her she was about to ask for more snails, but looking up she saw this beautiful make up free creamy skinned goddess Francesca and there she was with her mouth stained from snail pepper in the most uncultured way possible.
“Oh I am sorry, wrong cubicle.”
“No. Its me.” She said quickly using a napkin to wipe her mouth and hands.
“You?”
“Yes, I am the script writer slash producer you are meant to see.”
“Oh okay.” Francesca said skeptically.
“Please sit down, I am sorry to have started the merriment before you, what will you have?” Francesca sat down after carefully scrutinizing her, she was a little embarrassed, there was this piece of snail in her mouth she had not finished chewing and she didn’t want to spit it in the plate, so she just swallowed it and , pushed it down with some champagne before pouring herself another cup. She probably looks like a lunatic.

“I am terribly sorry, but I am on a diet, I need to be a certain figure for my wedding.”
“Wow, I saw that in the news congratulations on that.”
“Thank you.” Francesca said giving an affectionate smile.
“Where will you get married?”
“One of these Islands I suppose, we have not yet decided. We will decide when we pick a date. I am terribly sorry I didn’t come early enough by the way. I am a terrible night driver and I had to call the management to let me in through the back door. I hate being noticed in crowded places especially when I just want to just relax and have some alone time, as you can see I am in my sweats and no make up.”
“Its fine, I understand. I am over dressed.” Damn, this lady was just a decent lady, how would she bring this up?
“No please don’t feel embarrassed. I should have made more effort but today is my make up free day…..So straight to business, what is this script about?”
“Uhm” she cleared her throat “It’s about a woman who is about to get married to her dream man but find two better offers on the table.”
“A temptation, how intriguing, but I’ll have you know that I stopped playing roles like that a while back. I am experimenting and now play roles with a message to pass on.”
“I wasn’t talking about a movie role Francesca, I was talking about you.”
“Excuse me?”
“ I have two better offers than Samson Williams for you.” Francesca looked at the half full champagne glass in Zandra’s front and Zandra could only imagine that what was going on in Francesca’s mind was to pour the contents on her face. Zandra knew that’s what she would do if anybody had the cheek to ask her what she was asking Francesca.

“Are you drunk?” Francesca finally let out.

“No. I am asking you to leave Samson.”
“Am I being punked? Where are the cameras?”
“This is for real. I need you to leave him?”
“Are you a journalist waiting to write a special scoop story?” It was obvious Francesca didn’t believe somebody will have the cheek to ask for such a thing.
“No.”
“The only reason I am seated here is because I am in shock and in a way interested in this loony idea of yours, but I have listened enough, tell Donald I will kill him so he should be prepared. Goodbye” Francesca got up to leave.
“Samson cheated on you with me. I am the one he slept with and he crawled back to you when he realized I wasn’t ready for him in my life. You will only be taking second best.” That seemed to stop her; this time around Francesca turned around and poured the drink on Zandra’s face. Then she gracefully left, that lady was an angel she did everything gracefully. Okay that didn’t go according to plan. She threw the last few snail Kebabs in her mouth and refilled the glass.

It was time to go with plan B, she called Donald the producer and informed him of the death threat that was hanging around his neck, she then asked him to feed Francesca information about Ishmail Danladi and Bode Oguntoyinbo. Ishmail was the son of an ex president who literarily swam in money but of recent was looking for a fantastic wife and Bode was a multibillion dollar jet owning pastor’s son who was ripe for marriage but needed somebody credible. They had both told her about their worries and needs in past sessions and she knew Francesca was just the right woman for them. She didn’t know yet if Francesca thought she was the right woman for them, but she would find out.

Sunday 29 May 2005
Zandra walked up to her terrace and felt the morning breeze kiss her, she looked at the barely busy streets and all of a sudden she felt alone. Yinka was away to see her folks and Sesan had gone on another of his business trips with Chief Nwosu. So she was indeed very alone it was disheartening, she didn’t think it was Yinka or Sesan she missed, she knew she missed Samson and she just hopped her cunning plan would work. The sound of a young man sweeping leaves off his space area in the garden below her drew her away from her thoughts but then again she felt the overwhelming sense of loneliness and uncertainty.

She dabbled with the idea of calling Sesan and telling him it was over between them and she would pay him off but she knew that was damn near impossible. She wasn’t ready for that right now; she would beg him to please let her go when she feels the time was right.

Her door bell rang and she cursed out loud because she just wanted to be alone this Sunday, she toyed with the idea of ignoring it but the sound was becoming annoying so she went to the door. She looked through the peephole and she was surprised to see a woman covered in a scarf with her head bent. This was a strange one. So she opened the door, only to find that the shrouded in mystery scarf woman was. Hmmmm her plan was taking shape, so she placed her hands akimbo and asked.

“ To what do I owe this august visit? I can’t believe you are in my house, especially after our last meeting. How did you even find out where I live?”
“You have your sources and I have mine.”
“Okay that is top notch, I am impressed…..are you here to warn me about Samson again? You know I can’t make him do what he doesn’t want to do right? Besides I respect your decision. I will not be chasing after him. The only way I can do that is if you agree to leave him.”
“That is what I came to speak to you about?”
“What?”
“I want his number?”
“Whose number?” Zandra was amused, she knew whose number, that it had to be one of the two men but she feigned ignorance.
“Ishmail’s number, I would like to speak with him if we are going to be on the same page.” Those words were music to Zandra’s ears, so she would have a chance after all.
“Hmmmm, you made the right choice, Bode can be a self serving righteous hypocrite”
“What do you mean hmmm? Oh wow gee thanks for recommending Bode then” Zandra could tell that Francesca was tense.
“Calm down, I will call Ishmail right now and I would have dissuaded you if you picked Bode. Anyways why did you change your mind about his arrangement?”
“Because Samson is mad about you, if you come up on the radar again I fear it would be a sorry case. I need security and from what Donald said you can guarantee that with one of these men.”
“He is correct, Bode will never divorce as long as his father is alive and Ishmail is a hopeless romantic, if he maries you, he will want it to be for keeps. I wish you had let me explain to you but I trust that Donald did in very good terms.”
“Yes he did.”
“Please come in we shouldn’t stand at the door all day.” She ushered Francesca in and led her to her lounge while she went to get her water and find her phone. Francesca accepted the water after asking for lime to be squeezed in it. They were fast becoming strange friends. Zandra relaxed on an adjacent sofa and started to scroll through her phone.
“I will call now.”
“No wait before you do.” Francesca said in between water sips “I have questions to ask.” God this match making thing was more difficult than she thought; she had to answer questions also.
“Shoot.” She said clapping her hands as if to signify the start of a timer.
“Is he really a good man, I know he is wealthy but that does not make him a good man.”
“As far as I know he is a good man, he can be a little bit arrogant and you will have to prove to him that you are not one of those women who want him for his money. He can be erroneous by thinking his money makes everything come to him, so you have to disagree with him occasionally so you stand your ground. Agreeable but cutely disagreeable so that he respects you.” Francesca nodded as if her lecturer had just exposed some words of knowledge to her, but indeed she had told her the key thing to handle Ismail, he was a spoilt rich brat who needed to be handled firmly or else she would turn to a toy.

“Have you slept with him before?”
“What kind of question is that? I have of course, how do you think I know him and know intimate details about him?” Zandra saw the frown form on Francesca’s face and knew she may have said a little too much, but the girl had to know if she was marrying him.
“So you are telling me to marry a man who you have slept with”
“I slept with Samson also and you want to marry him.”
“I guess you are living up to your love peddling ways.”
“You know that hurt, but I will ignore it. We are here to help the other. Ishmail is a good Muslim he prays 5 times a day and he had often let slip that after his wife he will not have to pay anymore. It will be a gross disobedience to the will of Allah as he would not love them all equally besides he didn’t need to if he found a good woman which I am sure you are. He also talks about the hatred polygamy breeds and how he didn’t want that. He only paid me because he often needed to get his load emptied when he was between ladies, most of the women he found out were with him because of the money and they had poor attitudes. That was why I felt you will be the perfect choice for him. Yet if he is a stubborn man and all he has revealed to me are lies, I have ears in the call girl circles and so I know what is going on. We could arrange a ban from the elite which he only patronizes although I cannot guarantee you a ban outside the country.”

“So there’s a possibility he may cheat?”

“ I cannot vouch for him a hundred percent, I mean you thought Samson wouldn’t but look what he did with me.” That was the reply to the insult Francesca had implied earlier and they both realized it. Francesca made a funny sound with her mouth perhaps because she was weighing her options, she couldn’t really tell but for some reason Zandra felt calm, she knew she was winning this.

“Call him.” Those were the sweetest words she had heard in a long time, so she was happy to oblige. He picked after the second try, she kept him on speaker and didn’t even let him say Hello.
“Your Excellency sir” She liked to call him your Excellency to humor him.
“You this girl.” Ismail laughed his deep rich laughter in the Hausa British accent, she loved to hear.
“What have I done now, your Excellency?”
“ I have told you not to call me that…..what do you want, it is when you want something you butter me up.”
“You have missed it this time around; you are the one I want to give something to.”
“This is sounding interesting tell me.”
“Does the name Francesca sound familiar to you?”
“Francesca, Francesca, kai you know I have met many Francesca’s now, why are you talking in parables?”
“Okay another clue, Francesca from Nollywood.”
“Ah yes, that fantastic actress, very shiny skin and kissable lips. I have seen some of her movies.”
“Really, Mallam so that’s what you remember about her….so you like her?” Zandra glanced towards Francesca and she could see that she was positively beaming. ‘Ashewo’, Zandra thought to herself.
“What man in his right senses wouldn’t like her. I have seen her at an event before but we were on separate tables.”
“Okay what about you two sitting on the same table next time you meet. As in a date, I told her you were looking for a wife and she said she would like to meet you.”
“Zandra, Zandra! This woman that I know got engaged when or you think that I do not read all these your soft sells?”
“I am giving you confirmed information right now. She will like to meet you, that her Samson no sure. She wants a stable and God fearing man and that is you”
“Wow, I am finding it really difficult to believe you. You know because that woman is out of this world.”
“Okay you know how they say seeing is believing. This time around you will know speaking is believing. She is right here and wants to talk to you.”
“Really, stop kidding me Zandra. Is it fools day?”
“It is not fools day at all. Just know that you will settle me after this works out between you two.”
“ This girl, this girl, I thought you said you wanted to give me something for free in the beginning. Okay let me adjust my body so that I can converse with her properly and woo her.”
“She is free now, it is me you are settling. You are just a clown. What are you adjusting?” She imagined him dusting off and adjusting whatever he was wearing, it seemed ridiculous.
“Zandra, I don’t want to hear your voice again. Put gorgeous Francesca my wife to be on.”
“Yes your Excellency.” She returned the phone to its handset volume and handed it to Francesca then walked out of the room to her terrace. She wasn’t interested in what they were going to discuss, she will definitely teach Francesca how to behave with him but that will be all. She knew they would get married they were too perfect a match not to.
Forty-eight minutes later she heard a rap on her terrace door, it was Francesca who was beaming, and for some reason Zandra felt content with herself.
“He wants to speak to you.” Francesca said handing her the phone, which she took.
“Were you people trying to recreate the world on the line, I don’t understand the length of that call. To say that was my airtime.” She said jokingly.
“You know I will refund you don’t you. But first thank you, she is so soft spoken and she seems very shy. I have been begging her to tell me where you are so my driver can come and pick her.”
“Oh so you are in town”
“No, but I don’t want her to change her mind, so she would not run away. If she see’s my house she may love me more.”
“ You are wrong there my friend. You have quickly forgotten that she is engaged to Samson Williams, so she knows how opulence looks like.”
“Why must you rub that in? She is not engaged, she is previously engaged. In fact if this girl agrees I will marry her next week.”
“So much haste? ” She said in fake shock while winking at Francesca.
“I can’t afford to let her escape. She is the woman of my dreams.”
“Well you know I will put in a good word for you to let her off the William tree and into yours.”
“Thank you…..your account number is still the same as before right?”
“Yes but do not bother, this was between friends.” She knew Ishmail will still send her cash, but she really meant that she didn’t want it. He was doing her a huge favor by needing a wife.
“Such a darling, but you know I will still send. I am so happy.”
“You really do not have to…..bye for now Ish”
“Bye naughty one.” She hung up the phone and she found herself smiling.
“Why are you smiling?” Francesca who was watching her intently asked.
“Because I know next week I won’t be lonely.” They both knew what she meant, but she understood more than Francesca could ever do. Francesca’s phone began to ring in the purse she had abandoned in the parlour. She ran to fetch it.
“It’s Ishmail” she whispered
“You gave him your number already”
“Yes, should I pick it?”
“No, don’t. Lets have tea and watch a movie, he will keep calling, you'll pick at night. You can tell him then you kept your phone on mute. Which I suggest you do right now, because that phone will keep ringing. When do you need to go back to your shooting location? You can stay with me if you want to. Ish will be flying in to see you.”
“I have a hotel room booked, you know I can’t tell Samson I am in town.”
“Nonsense you are my guest and we are helping each other.”
Francesca nodded her head, she understood, both women had come to an understanding.

Welcome back Xenia...

Dz Francesca mind ehn na die!

Now u get me.abeg no fall hand oh.

My love,doz witches plan no fit work o.. Wen I saw an update 4rm u tonyt,I was al smiles

Finally! And i hope you're gonna stick for long...loving the drama, welcome.

Welcme back dear,nyc update,patiently waiting 4 d nxt 1

Following silently dear. Tnx 4 d update. U a darling....

Wow! You are the bomb! I have read a few good stories here without passing any comments, but your story sure broke my silence. I'm still on page 2 but I can't but tell you how great your work is. I really admire you.
* I so don't like Sesan and I hope Samson is wise enough to ditch Yinka* I really wish Zhandra will remain Mrs Williams... It's weird... I kinda pity her. Keep up the good work Xenia.

why is it that it is only ladies that write this kind of off-the-hook sweet stories?

first, it was ishilove. later it was repogirl and now you

I must get there.

Buzzzzzzzzzzz how far now? You no longer update this story, ki lo de?

Wow wow wow...! Bravo lady,keep it up...although u kept us waiting for so long.