This is just something I've been working on. I kinda got tired of reading about weak, helpless females waiting for their TDH hero to come knock them off their feet. So I thought up a modern kind of tale that twists things up and the woman gets to make the first move and call the shots. Don't know if Nigerian men are ready for that yet . But if that's your kind of woman then I encourage you to read on. . .

I'm actually thinking of showing it to some serious producers, see if it can be turned to film. I'm totally picturing Genevieve in the part of the female lead: a confident, emotionally-aloof and successful woman, who's NOT looking for love but at least a hot piece of choc to warm the sheets . She was hurt in the past by a gold-digging fiance and now can never trust a man again. But girl has needs and there's one man in particular she's set her eye on to meet those urges. . .

yea great move let us know when you be releasing it,

phraze:

yea great move let us know when you be releasing it,

Thank you, however it's just a novel for now. I will soon be posting a free sample, and the full ebook will be available for purchase on my blog. Please keep checking in for the free chapters!!

[size=45pt]Twisted[/size]

[size=14pt]Chapter One[/size]



Niq watched with narrowed eyes when Lima walked into his office, a narrow folder in her hands. She came forward on those towering heels of hers which added six inches to her tall, curvy frame, a cool expression on her face.

"The TeleTex file," she said without preamble, dumping it on the desk in front of him. "The case is up in two weeks. Jerry was assigned to it, but he'll be out of town on an important assignment. Father decided I should brief you on it, see if you can handle it."

Niq opened the file, scanned the first page. "I think I can read, Lima," he said coolly, before looking up to meet her detached gaze. "I can do all the background stuff that's needed to prepare me. So thanks, but the briefing won't be necessary."

She rolled her eyes. "Stubborn as ever," she muttered under her breath, but loud enough to be heard. "Fine, work on it yourself. It would save time if I ran it all by you, considering you've never represented them in court before. I, on the other hand, am conversant with the case, so -"

"So why don't you handle it?" He asked mildly, sitting back so he could better view her as she stood over his desk. His expression was unreadable, which was a good thing, considering the thoughts going through his mind. Like how maddeningly hot, yet aloof she seemed.

Lima Shakur was the daughter of the boss of the thriving law firm, Peak Partners, where Niq also worked. He'd joined the firm a couple of years ago, and had been finding it challenging yet rewarding, especially working with such legal luminaries as Lima's father, Buba Shakur, and his other two partners, Joel Akang and Chuk Amadi. And then, just six months ago, Shakur's eldest daughter swept in, fresh from her studies in the UK.

Barely twenty-six and with a Master's degree already under her belt, she was quick to make waves in the firm - professionally and otherwise. She was as hard working and dedicated as the lowliest intern - and had a great head for legal matters. But there was more to Lima Shakur than her brains, of course. She also happened to be a very beautiful, very attractive young woman.

She was tall, even without the "killer" heels. She also had the body of a goddess, a fact that no amount of business-like, severely coloured skirtsuits could hide. The best part, however, was that angelic face of hers, with the large brown eyes, pert nose and full, inviting lips always touched with just a hint of gloss. She could get any red-blooded male's temperature up with just one look - and he'd find himself hooked. That was, of course, before she opened her mouth.

Yep, once she got talking you realised the hot looks went with a cool, detached personality. In one month after her arrival, she secretly gained the nickname "Ice Princess", especially with the male lawyers. It was apparent that there would no chance of "hitting on" the boss' daughter. She was a no-nonsense, career-driven young woman who simply didn't want to make the effort with social niceties. Nope, Miss Shakur would definitely not be winning any popularity contests at Peak Partners, Niki decided.

Those thoughts made him chuckle briefly, and she seemed to catch his smile. "Something funny, Mr. Benson?"

He saw her eyes narrow into a slight frown, and he suddenly had this crazy idea. Grinning, he rose to his feet, going from his desk to stand next to her. Shrugging, he said in a light tone, "First off, you really should start calling me Niq, like everyone else does. And I was actually thinking to myself just what you would say if I asked you out to lunch today." A charming smile crossed his lips.

Lima regarded Niq Benson with a thoughtful shake of her head. Men were all the same, it seemed to her. Especially the good-looking, successful types like Niq. He was a few years older than her, she knew, and was a formidable lawyer, an asset to the firm. She knew her father thought very highly of the man in front of her, especially since he won a major legal battle for them just months ago. It had been a compensations case against a multi-national law firm, and their clients had been a small Niger-Delta community. Niki and his team succeeded in gaining millions on behalf of the community, winning what had become a landmark case, covered by the major newspapers. Lima couldn't help but be impressed.

If only he wasn't so damn cocky, she thought suddenly, turning way from the grin spread across his handsome face. "Let me guess," Niq muttered, throwing up his hands as he watched her head for the door. "Your answer is 'no', right? Or more to the point, "go to hell", huh?"

His exasperated words made a hidden smile cross her lips, even as she glanced back to reply, "I was actually going to say "yes", as a matter of fact." And almost laughed at the stunned look on his face.

"It'll give us the opportunity to go over the TeleText case," she added, her hand on the door knob. "Meet you in the foyer, twelve fifteen." And she was gone with a soft click of the door.

[b]

Sure enough, she was waiting there for him at the exact time, and he led her out to where his car, a luxurious, low-slung automobile, was parked. Niq was inwardly still reeling from her surprise assent; he'd been so sure she'd refuse. As she'd refused every other hopeful chap who'd asked her out on a date since she arrived. Of course Niq knew this was just a working lunch, and that he needn't get his hopes up. And yet he couldn't help feeling this was some kind of improvement. Who knows, he wondered, what could come out from this?

It was with such optimism that he took her to a classy, very expensive intercontinental restaurant fifteen minutes from the office. He knew he was doing it to impress her; after all, she'd just spent the last two years studying in Europe. She ordered a light meal, and he decided to follow suit.

"Nice place," she commended, looking around at the plush, elegant decor, the tables filled with professional-looking, loaded types. "Do you dine here often?"

He chuckled. "A bit pricey for a lunch hour break, right?" He joked. "Seriously though, I like the food and I come here when ever I can. Besides, I wanted to bring you someplace nice. It's not every day I get to have lunch with the delectable Lima Shakur." He flashed a white-toothed grin, and she was saved from replying when the waiter appeared right then with their food.

Lima had to admit the meal tasted delicious: light, fresh and perfectly seasoned. She started to talk about the TeleTex case, quickly going over the vital elements while they ate. She knew he'd told her earlier that it wasn't necessary, however, she wasn't letting that stop her.

Niki listened raptly - or at least, he made an effort to do so. But being around Lima Shakur was quite distracting, even in a room full of people. She didn't seem to realise how attractive, how alluring she was, and even the way she ate, dainty yet with obvious enjoyment, was delightful to watch.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" She asked suddenly, and he snapped out of his thoughts, blinking.

Placing down his cutlery, he rubbed at his chin. "I was just wondering. . . Do you ever think of anything besides work?"

His words seemed to puzzle her, and he saw her frown. "When I'm AT work, no, Mr Benson, I don't. I'm not exactly paid to drag my feet or mess about. Neither are you, by the way."

Niq nodded. "You're right, of course," he murmured, taking a sip from his glass of water before adding, "however I do think a woman as young and beautiful as yourself, shouldn't take life so seriously."

"An interesting observation," she replied, her tone conversational. "In other words, I shouldn't be such an uptight little bitch."

"Woah," he lifted a hand, surprised. "I'd never go so far as to say that."

She smiled thinly. "You wouldn't have to. Look, Nik, I know about all the stuff being said about me ever since I joined the firm. I guess being the boss' daugter leaves me open to a lot of flack."

He shook his head, inwardly pleased he was no more "Mr Benson", as he replied, "No one holds THAT against you. It's just that. . You CAN be off-putting at times," He smiled to take the sting out of the words.

She didn't seem much bothered though, as she sliced through the steak on her plate, her expression unmoved. "Well, just because I refuse to be the office tart like one or two of our female colleagues. ."

"Hey, chill out," he chuckled, then sobered up to say, "Look, I can't speak for the other guys, but as for me. .I simply think it would be nice if we could be co-workers and friends, as well."

He thought her smile was a bit mocking as she held the fork close to her lips for some moments. "Friends, Nik?" She murmured, her curved brows lifting. "Somehow, friendship is the last thing I think you want from me."

Niq was about to ask her just what she thought he wanted, when her cellphone beeped at her elbow. She placed down her cutlery and reached for the mobile with a courteous "excuse me."

He watched as she took the call, her face turned slightly away from him. He was admiring her lovely, well-proportioned profile, when her words started to sink in.

"No Dad, I'm not in the office. I'm having lunch with Nik Tobi. The inaugural dinner tonight? Of course I didn't forget."

Niq tried not to wonder what his boss might think of them having lunch together - for business or not. Nik wasn't afraid of her dad, but he wanted to stay in the old man's good books. So maybe he'd better stop admiring the sexy way her full lips moved when she talked, or even the nice, crisp sound of her cultured voice -

"Oh, I'm sure he'd love to come, dad. Alright, see you in your office in half an hour." She hung up, then faced Nik with a cool smile. "Well, looks like you have an invite to the inaugural ball tonight."

Niq's eyes widened, not getting her point. He knew about the ball, of course. It had been in the papers all week. All the bigshots in the country were going to be there. But what was she saying?

She seemed to be laughing at his confused look. "Dad told me to ask you along. I assured him you'd be honored to be my escort this evening." She calmly took a sip of water.

Niq decided to play it as cool as she was. "Nice of him to offer. And of course I'd be glad to accompany you. Question is, how you allowed yourself to be paired up with me."

She shrugged, returning to her food. "Dad suggested it, and I didn't think it was a bad idea. I think he likes you, Nik." She smiled in that detached way of hers that maddened him so much, almost like she was secretly laughing at him. "Besides," she added, "you made a lot of good points today. About how I shouldn't be so serious - and what good friends we can be." She chewed delicately on her food for some moments, and held his gaze questioningly. "You did mean what you said, didn't you? Look, it's not too late to back out, you know. I'll understand."

Niq's eyes didn't shift from hers as he too, took his glass to his lips, drank and placed it down. "Oh, I'm not backing out of anything," he assured her, deciding that he wasn't chickening out of the challenge, what ever it was. He told himself he'd beat her in the game every time.

"So what time should I come pick you up?"
[/b]

Cool, continue.

I guess it's safe to say that NL is not particularly a "reading" forum, so pls if you want the continuation come to babyrocka.. Cheers !!

Hello Nlanders, it's been a climati ride with the dashing, charming Niq Tobi and the delectable Halima Shakur.

Lima was his kind of woman in many ways: fire and ice rolled into one heck of a fantastic package. The only problem was: she didn't believe in love. She simply wanted to keep things on a physical level till it petered out and they could get on with their lives.

Most men would be quite happy with such arrangement: sex on demand with a beautiful, desirable woman - no strings attached. But Niq wasn't most men; and he had his heart, his very pride, to think about. This Twisted love was not going to take him down with it,

*** it was a climatic finish in many ways and the readership was quite satisfied with the story's conclusion. To have your fix of the Twisted tale here at babyrocka.. Enjoy and thanks for reading!