₦airaland Forum

My peopleee,

@Electricboy @Silver1996 @Dybala11 @kunki90 @Adekunlated @Missmossy @oyinella @purity23 @Humbleness @dammyd46

Been a while I heard from you ooh... *Winks*

"Oh Jeez! Aminaaa?!" She shouted,throwing up her hands, as she ran to hug her.
She is Musa's younger sister, three years younger. Wow. A glorious transformation here!

"Tolaniii" She said her name playfully, as she held her hand loosely.

"I am fine" She replied, pulling a chair out for Amina to seat.

"How did this happen?" Amina asked as she sat down staring at her comatose brother lying still on the bed.

"I don't know myself, we'd only planned a get-together outing for today, only to receive a call of him being in the hospital." She said.

"Hmmm, Okay." She exhaled, then noticed a slight movement of his eyes.
In burgeoning excitement laden with hope she called out the attention of the nurses, who immediately sent for the Doctor.


***

"You said you saw his eyes move? That's a good sign, but he is not responding now." The Doctor said, as he held a pupillometry, checking for his response to light.

"We would keep a watch. He would be fine"

Just then Chinyere entered, her eye lids sagging, then she noticed Amina,
"Aminaaa" She hollered, her face suddenly transforming with awe.

"How are you?" She asked, as she played with her hair.

"I am fine ooh"

***

Soon it was Monday as she strutted into the publishing house dressed in a figure hugging gown with heels to match.

"Hey Ms Tolani" Kayode called her.

"Good morning sir" She replied in a courteous manner.

"Good morning, The Director asked me to work with you on some reviews for Jaja's Book" He said.

"Yessir, Bridgelands and Denver Lead publications sent mails on publishing reviews on the book last weekend sir."

"Nicee, just see me in my office when you are settled, so we could talk some more."

"Okay sir, I will be there in a minute."

"Thanks!, see you." He said as he walked off, inhaling the scent of her perfume, hoping to get to express his feelings to her someday.

***

" Kpom Kpom Kpom" A knock went on his door. With his gaze remained focused on his laptop, typing, he said, "Come in"

The door creaking, as Tolani walked in with a file on her hand, she greeted him.

Raising his chin, Kayode asked her to sit as she drew out a chair and sat down.

"A minute please" He added, as his typing speed increased, then huffed, and closed his laptop. It was another Ghost Writing Job.

Then he started, "So, what's the rate of increase in sales since Manhattan's review?"

"30.5% sir" She said.

"We sold 4034 copies last week which was a big time improvement!" She added, as she read out from a fullscap sheet.

"Wowww. Really nice!" He said, giving her a thumbs up.
"We would work out getting big Nigerian magazines to review and see how it goes" He added.

"Owk sir"

"Do you know about 'On Naija Streets'?"

"Yeah, I follow them on Facebook. Nice content they've gotten!"

"Yes, so I am going to send a mail today unfailingly, so we see how that goes"

"Owk sir"

"You should also send them a mail requesting an honest review of your book - "Shalewa", it really should have a larger audience. For real!"

"Hun hun, Thank you" She replied as her lips curved into a smile.

"Yeah, you should"

"And Mr Kayode, Do you have a book published?" She said in a curious tone.

"None yet, but I really have written a whole lot ghosting.
I don't think I have the patience to see my books growing readers with poor sales"

"Ehen, but you should publish at least one. I read your short story on Adeolu Publications last week and the way you did wield those words are way beyond me!" She said.

"Thank you!"

"But, make sure you check out 'On Naija Streets' ooh" He added.

***

A warm fuzzy feeling enveloped him as he closed the door to his car. He strode up the main entrance of the house. He'd just gotten shortlisted for The African Writer Prize for Ingenuity.

The gateman, hailed him as he sang into his cubicle as he'd given him a #500 note on driving into the compound.

Yanking the door open, he yawped out in excitement, "Mummyyy, Kemisolaaa!" as his sister and mum trooped out of the kitchen.

"Mummy, your boy just got shortlisted," He said with an air of pride, shoving his left hand into his pocket, as he pushed a page of the Dailies across their faces! It read the names of the 10 shortlists.

"Osheyy!" Kemi yawped out giving him a mock salute while his mum hugged him.

"So, how are we celebrating it ooh?" Kemi added, giving him a puppy dog look.

"Where do you want to go this weekend?"

In the midst of the celebrations, his dad entered the sitting room. Prostrating, he greeted him Yoruba.

"Welcome, the Writer" He replied him in Yoruba, giving him a frosty look.

"So, what's the celebration about?" Mr Randy asked as he sat down on the long family chair and crossed his ankles.

"Daddy, Kayode got shortlisted ooh. Top 10 Writers in Africa!" Kemi revealed.

"So?"

"And that reminds me, Kayode, you would have to resign in that Writing House of yours or you combine it with Law if you want to continue living in this house."

"I have met Barrister Adedayo on you getting a job in his Chambers since you don't like the public office, and he is giving you a placement as soon you want to resume."

My country people,

I'm really sorry for the delay in updating, my phone spoilt, I'd just got it resolved.

And yesssss, we MOVE!

Next Updateeeeee>>>>>

DarkGamer:
Anybody following?
@Shewrites @kunki90 @kayo80 @saturn101 @Awesome05 @kweensheba @FairCritic @oyinprince @hizeeksheun. I'm inviting you all to read my science fiction story.

Present ooh!

You can continue here : https://collegeafrican./2020/05/23/tolani-episode-8/


Next Update Drops on Tuesday Still. *Winks*

***

Chinyere's high cheek bones were sunken, and her vision blurred as she sat on her bed, on a silent chit-chat with her diary, her pen making a wiry sound, as she drowned in her grief as Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance" played low from her phone.
Soon her phone beeped, and on checking she realised, it was a text from Tolani, telling her of Musa's accident.

"JESUS!!" She shouted, as she dropped her phone, racking her fingers through her hair while she frantically paced her room as a wave of fear and depression swept through her.

Quickly, she took her bath, wore a gown, shook out her hair, and wore her palm slippers. In no time, she was set!

"Pheww!" She let out a harsh breath as she jammed the door behind her, then her phone rang, and on checking the caller ID, it was Femi.

Her body locked up in rage as she slid down the reject call option.
What the heck does he wants? She jammed the gate as her pulse slammed in her neck. Then, her phone rang again. Letting out a harsh breathe, she rejected it, then heard her name.
Turning her neck to see who was calling her, she realised it to be Femi, resting against his car, as he smiled broadly.

"Pheww!" She huffed. This guy!, With his sweet words he comes.
"Femi, please leave me in peace and let's be good" She said trying hard to calm her nerves.

She'd suspected him to be cheating before now, which he denied bluntly when questioned, accusing her of loosing trust until she finally caught him.

She'd caught him in a cuddle with a lady in underclothes in his apartment the last time she visited, as he stammered the usual 'it's-not-what-you-think' chorus.

"I'm sorry Chi." He said, trying to put up the best soothing tone he could.

"Please, my name is Chinyere and you can leave now." She snarled, walking off, as she fastened her footsteps towards a group of Bike-men waiting for passengers.

***

Tolani sat down on a chair provided for patients' guardians. Worry coursed through her, as she stared at him lying seemingly lifeless with a ventilator connected to give him life.
Would he survive? Or perhaps he gets reduced to a wheel chair. A lot of thoughts flew across her mind.

"Ms Tolani" A square faced Doctor in his late 30s soon brought her out of her reverie, as he tapped her, requesting to check Musa's vitals.

Squeezing Musa's hand, he checked for a response, which he didn't get, then he placed two fingers on his neck. A faint pulse throbbing beneath his fingers.
Slipping him a curious glance, Tolani asked if he would be fine.

"Don't worry, he would be." He assured her, as he left.

"But Doctor, would be able walk again?" She asked, calling him back.

"Madam, I can't give a say on that until he wakes" He said, then left.

Ooh God! Why did this happen? Perhaps Chinyere's Pastor was right about her misfortune, and she has brought it upon Musa.

Suddenly, she heard her name. Raising her chin, she realised it to be a petite young lady in a comb-styled hair, her face seemingly familiar. Narrowing her eyes, she tried to recall where.



***

Thank you all for the supportsss friends, it ain't going unnoticed.
As always, I look forward to reading your comments>>>>

purity23:
I'm here waiting

E don drop ooh... *Winks*

"Owk, I would be there now" She added, not waiting for a response, ended the call, as her breathe quickened.
But an accident? How?

"Ooh God, that definitely must be Musa's car" she thought as worry snaked through her, while she silently prayed for his safety. Crossing the road in a regular Lagosian's daredevilry, she hailed a bike, "OKADA", as the bikeman came to a halt.

"Brown Jake!" She yelled.

"#300 nii ooh" The bikeman said gruffly, as he gripped his bike's handles.

"#300? I only have #150 please, if you can't take it, go!" She said in Yoruba with a sigh of irritation.

The bike man hissed, started his scooter and zoomed off while she starred, her face puzzled watching him go out of sight.
"Screw him!" She swore under her breathe as she looked out for another Bikeman.

"OkadaAa" She hailed another, as he pulled to a halt in front of her, almost losing control and hitting her.
Her brain almost exploding in fury, she raised her head to spew out some words of 'wisdom' on him then found his face to be familiar; Calming, she tried hard to remember where.
"Ooh YES, Mile 12!!" She blurted out.
"Oga, how far now, you wan hit me?" She continued, meaning the words more seriously than they sounded.

"Sorry Madam" He said, smiling, he'd recognized her too.

"Where you dey go?" He added.

"Brown Jakee" She said in a perpetually tired voice, as she climbed his bike. She was soon used to the Lagos razz life.

"Hospital ko? Naa #200 ooh" He said, starting his scooter, then zoomed off to Brown Jake hospital.

"Owk, No problem" She said as she soon got lost in her reverie. Oh my! Old memories of herself, Chinyere and Musa in Secondary School, preparing for the WASSCE examinations....She was jolted out of her dreaminess with shouts of people as they gathered round a Danfo Bus, and a bike man sitting on the ground, his face was swollen and he had bruises all over. The Danfo Driver had hit him.

God forbid! She said under her breathe as a thought of Musa in a similar condition the bike man was ran through her mind.
"C'mon he might be dead!" She heard the voice say again, as a chill went through her.

"Zoooom" The Okada man brought his bike to a halt as he parked in front of the emergency unit of the hospital.

Coming down from the bike, she walked fast, towards the entrance forgetting to pay the bike man.

"Madam" The Bikeman called her, his voice calm. Tolani turning her neck to see if she was the one being referred to, slapped her forehead slightly on seeing the bike man. "Oh, sorry, I forgot"

"No wahala" He replied as she handed over a #200 note to him, then walked hastily into emergency centre.

No!!! What was lying on the bed wasn't Musa; He was more of swollen faced clown with a white bandage wound around his head, and his eyes closed. Unconscious!

***

His gaze focused on his laptop that Saturday, Kayode was putting finishing touches to the editing of the ghostwriting job he'd started earlier that week, then his phone vibrated.

It was an email notification - a mail from Opus Publications; he'd sent them a copy of his short story, to get featured on their platform with a good pay for rights to first publication.

Click!, he opened the mail, and read:

"Dear Mr Kayode Randy,

Good afternoon, and we hope this finds you well.

This is a response to your submission of one of your pieces for a feature on Opus.

Thank you for sending us, we found it really interesting but it isn't a right fit for us.

Best of luck placing this piece elsewhere, and I hope you’ll pitch us again in the future. To receive future calls for pitches, ---"

"Mtchew, Na them Sabi " He hissed, as he closed the email app and dropped his phone, to resume to his editing. Just then a knock went on his door.

"Come in" He said in Yoruba, as his door creak-opened, his mum entering.
His dad had brought up the lawyer-writer issue again last night.
"Daddy, please leave me alone with these talks" He'd replied him, his pulse slamming in his neck, as he walked away.

"Oluwa-kayode" His mum called him with a voice laced with affection as she sat at the edge of the bed.

"Mummy, what's is it again ooh?" He said, his face glued to his laptop, as he stopped typing.

"You know myself and your dad loves you, and we want the best for you.
Is there anything personal about you dumping law? Cos--" She trailed off.

"There's nothing mummy. Writing is where my passion lies."

"I know, but you can combine it with Law now. At least, I have always supported your writing,..."

"Or how many big writers do you see writes for a living? Not even Soyinka! There was always an extra Job" She said in Yoruba trying to sound more serious than she did.

"Mummy, so being a developmental editor is not a job?" Kayode chuckled, turning his neck and looked askance at her.

It's way getting hotter!

Femi Cheats on Chinyere.

Musa got into an accident.

Tolani is in distress.

How and Would Musa survive this?

Chinyere? *Expression dulls as sorrow closes up my throat*

New Update Drops today by 3:15pm!

Grab your popcorns, Get sitted as we unravel in bitsss!


Love and Light always!
Hizeeksheun.

dammyd46:
I don't but Why am I a kayode fan all of a sudden.... hope you win

Osheyyy! Uncle Kay people *Winks*

I Hope too ooh. *Broad Smiles*

Adekunlated:
Weldone op, keep the updates coming

*Winks*

Missmossy:
Aww hope Musa would survive it

Welldone..keep the updates coming in.

I hope too ooh *Hugs*

"What's wrong?" Tolani said as her spirit fell.

"Femi cheated on me! " She said.

"What? oh my God, I'm so sorry. Men will always be men"

"But I loved him, and he loved me too."

"See, let that idiot go to hell! He definitely doesn't deserve you."

"I know, but I really love him."

"Forget him joor. I would be coming to your place this evening. Please cheer up" Tolani said, making the effort to sound reassuring.

"Okay, I would try"

Tolani feeling uneasy with her sobs, suddenly changed the topic "Ehen, ehen, Musa said he called you"

"Yessss, he did. His voice has really changed, said he would pay a visit to my house one of these days." She said, rubbing her eyes.

"Yes ooh, But his broad forehead is still there sha" She said as she giggled.

"Ehen, ehen, he wants myself and himself to go out together tomorrow too."

"Osheyyy! Something is cooking" She hollered, her voice clear.

"What about Kayode now?" She added.

She hissed, then started, "C'mon, It's nothing, we have all beeen friends since Secondary School now."


***

Checking his phone, as he expected her call, Musa had waited for her in his car parked in front of Hills and Friends.
Tolani had picked Hills and Friends for her choice restaurant for their outing.

Smiling, as his phone finally rang, he was about to pick up the call, until suddenly, a car while rounding the corner, lost control and drove into his car. Jeez! The noise of the metals crumpling, glasses shattering and women shouting "hElP" almost deafening.

His seat belt tugged at his skin and his head rocked to and forth, as his car in turn swirled like crazy hitting the next car and the next hitting the next. His Jeep became a write off.

Passersby soon filled the scene, as they made mumurs of "hope-no-one-died".

A woman with her head gear shoved to a side and her hands akimbo had peeped through Musa's car window to see if he was fine, as a tall sturdy man with an iron rod, in his hand came to force-open the door of the jeep.

"YeEeee, the other man died ooh" One woman shouted in Yoruba, as two heavy built men forced the door of the other car open as he lifelessly fell into their hands.

"Phewww!" The tall sturdy man let out a harsh breathe as the door to Musa's car creak-opened, then he bent, and raised Musa's head which lied on the steering wheel as blood dripped down his face. He was unconscious.

Soon, an ambulance attached to Hills and Friends pulled up as about three health personnel came down from the vehicle. They asked the witnesses few questions and soon had Musa and the other guy on two stretchers wheeled into the ambulance, and had the door shut.
The vehicle gave a shudder, a pause and the zoom of an old engine thrown open as they sped down the roads of Ikeja to the teaching hospital.

***

While this happened, Tolani had been dialing Musa's phone which kept ringing without a response. "Why wasn't he picking up?" She wondered.

"Was he up to a trick? Who knows, he might be up to one his old boy Secondary school tricks.

Then suddenly her phone rang, and on checking out for the caller ID, she realised it was an unknown number.
Tolani not used to picking unknown calls, wondered who it could be?

She was soon jolted out from her thoughts as her phone rang again, huffing, she picked the call.

"Hello" A feminine voice greeted.

"Hi" She replied, faking a British accent.

"Yeah, are you Tolani Adeola?"

"Yes, I am. How can I help you?" She said, fiddling with her ear rings, as she watched a tow-truck drag a wrecked jeep across the road, while she silently hoped the fellow involved didn't die.

A wave of suspicion soon spiraled round her as the lady started, "I'm calling from Brown Jake Medical Centre,
Do you know any Olanrewaju J. Musa?"

Tolani narrowing her eyes, checked the Jeep closely and replied, "YEe-s-"

"He is currently at the emergency ward at the hospital, he had an accident"

"What HAPPENED?" She shouted.

Missmossy:
Why is Chinyere crying??
Break the suspense biko

Ah, I'm wondering too ooh...let's sha be praying for her. *Winks*

oyinella:
thanks for the update

You are welcome! *Hugs*

"Hmmm, just finished cooking, eating now"

"Ehen ehen, so what are you eating?" He replied with a broad-smile emoticon.

"Rice. What are you doing too?"

"Yeah, a break from work, so I'm chatting, should resume in ten minutes" He replied.

"Owk.."

"So, how is work? Spirit, Soul and Body?" He asked.

"Nice place. Yeah. Tiring too, Director pretty bossy. It's always Tolani this. Tolani that. Especially with our sales dropping recently."

"Wow. It's not your fault now. Nigerians with a poor reading culture, you know?
People who read sef dey download free PDF for WhatsApp. People no dey buy story book for naija ooh.
I'm guilty of that myself. LMAO" He texted.

"Hmmm.
So what else do you do apart from being a Medical Doctor?"

***

After three days of their first chat, with Musa constantly texting her every night, she got a call from him as she was having her usual reminisce-the-old-times gist with Ms Abdulahi. She tapped her, "Please, I'm coming", as affection glowed in her eyes, she slid up the 'receive call' option and said into the phone, "Hellooo"

"How are you?" Musa asked, in his usual friendliness.

"I'm fineee" She replied, as Ms Abdulahi lips slowly curved into a witty smile as she resumed work on her laptop.

They did their usual small talks, with Musa asking what colour of dress she wore, and herself asking what colour of tie he had on.
It was like the old times - the old glowing friendship, with Chinyere as the Queen of the clique.

"So do you care for an outing this weekend?" He asked as he stroked his beard, with silence following from Tolani's end and a humming sound simultaneously. "Okaay", she finally said in a level way.

"What's up with the "hmmm", or don't you want to go?" Musa chuckled as a knock went on the Tolani's Office door.
Without waiting for the usual "come-in" response, the door creaked-open as Mr Babatunde entered.

"No now, please I will call you back, I need to attend to my Boss at the moment" She said into the phone to which he replied "Bye, see you!" in a level way and ended the call.

"Good morning sir" Herself and Ms Abdulahi said in unison as they stood up, ushering him to a sit.

He thanked them, as he sat down on the long cushion chair placed by the left side of the office table. His ankles crossed.

"So, how's the sales been since Monday" He asked Tolani, his voice calm, as he plucked at the cuff of his shirt.

"Great improvements sir" She said with graceful simplicity as she brought out a paper from the sales reports file, and added, "Pretty much of impovements sir"

"We got more reviews on Jaja's book this week. One from Manhattan, another from New York Post, which really increased the rate of Jaja's book orders in the US sir" She said.

"Owk, good! Please do work with the developmental editor on getting more reviews." He said, giving her a thumbs up then he took his leave.

Almost immediately, her phone rang, "Oh Musa", she thought as she grabbed her phone to check the caller ID, only to realised it to be Chinyere.
Wow, Chinyere? She had told her, her cousin Ngozi would be coming to Nigeria on Sunday, and they would be going to the airport to pick her up. A change of plans. Maybe?

Picking the call, she said into the phone,
"Hello" as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

"HeEloO" Chinyere said as her throat thickened with sobs.

oyinella:
hizeek come and update small na

I will update tomorrow... *Winks*

Thebigdream:
Thanks for the update

You are welcome! *Broad smiles*

Hey friends, You can also check up a Book Series I published on OKADABOOKS - "DIARIES OF AN AFRICAN COLLEGIAN"

Link: https://okadabooks.com/book/about/detail/29339

And the next update drops tomorrow too. *Winks*

purity23:
Thanks for the update

You are welcome! *Winks*

dammyd46:
finally made it down here hope I am not too late, Thanks for inviting me. @hizeeksheun Lovely story

You are welcome! *Hugs*

"Kayode, you know I have always wanted the best for you, I left you to choose to study Law at the University, rather than choosing for you.
But, see you now? Dumped Law and the juicy employment I promised you in the ministry for writing and editing. OLUWA-KAYODE?!"

"Neither am I complaining." Kayode replied in Yoruba.

"Mummy Kayode! Do you see what you have caused? I always told you then to stop this boy from writing. 'Ehn, It is his talent, ehn, it is his gift' See yourself now; your son wants to write-feed his family" Mr Randy had soon transferred his aggression on his wife who sat down beside Kemi staring at them both.

"Please! It was my choice to study law and now my choice to pick up writing for a career which I excel at." He said as he walked out.

"Mummy Kayodeee! Can you see your son?"

***

Jamming the door of his room angrily as he entered, he huffed, "Goddamnit!"

Then he pulled off his jacket and threw it to a corner of his bed, afterwards opened his bag to bring out his lap-top; just then, his phone rang, as he shoved his hand into his pocket to bring out his phone, and on checking the caller ID, it was Lois.

"Lois? What the really heck does she want?" He said out, rejecting the call then flipping the phone across the bed. Such terrible mood he was in today!

As his muscles tensed, he drew out the chair to his study table then sat down and opened his laptop to work on a 15,000 worded ghostwriting job he had to deliver before the end of the week.

"Phew!" He did let out a huge breath as his phone rang again.


***

As the oil sizzled, Tolani, carefully removing the pieces of sliced fried plantain into a flat plate, soon heard her phone ringing.
Turning off the gas cooker she quickly made off to grab her phone; and on checking the caller ID, she realised it was Chinyere.

Tucking a lock of hair under her ear, smiling, she said into the phone, "Hellooo"

"Tolly baby" Chinyere chuckled over the phone.

"How are you?"

"I am fine ooh"

"Hope you are fine too?"

"Sure!...and our Kayode? How is he?" Chinyere giggled.

"Chi Chi, park well abeg! Kayode kor" She said as she let out a mirthless laughter.

"Ehen, Ehen, na so baa? We have started hiding things from each other now ehen?"

Then they did some small talk after which Tolani ended the call, and almost immediately, her phone vibrated. It was a WhatsApp text from Musa.

"Hello"

Smiling, she replied, "Hi", then dropped her phone on the shelf, quickly served her food, and got set to eat.


With her phone on her left hand and her spoon on the right, she ate-chat, as a "How are youuu?" text from Musa popped.

Her eyes bugging, as she smiled, she typed "I'm fineee, trust you are too." then clicked send!, as she gulped a spoonful of food.

Almost immediately, Musa texted back, "Sure! I'm fine, with a smiling emoticon and as she was thinking of what to type next, he soon added "It was really nice seeing you again!!"

To which she replied, "Youu toooo" with a hugging emoticon, and then almost immediately a text popped from another of her contacts.
Toggling between Musa's chat to the WhatsApp's homepage to see who texted, to behold an "Hello" text from Kayode.
Wow. This would be first time he would be texting her. What could be up?

She gave a half shrug as she click-opened the chat and replied, "Hi", as an email notification buzzed.

The mail read:
"Hi,

Thank you pretty much for willing to help. Attached to this mail is a copy of a flash fiction I scribbled few weeks ago.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind Regards,
Solade."

"Phewww" She exhaled. Not now definitely, maybe tomorrow, tonight is hooked! She thought as she minimized her mail, and toggled back to her Whats-App.

"So, what are you doing now?" Musa had texted.

The living two lives part of being a Storyteller. You live yours and that of your characters.

Vickyace:
Sure, you can have some

*Stretches hand, cups palms and gets some* Thank youu. *Broad smiles*

Humbleness:
Thanks for the update

You are welcome. *Winks*

Thanks!
Good stuff here.

oyinella:
present sir! let me get a bowl of popcorn

You are welcome ooh! I hope you secured a sit sha. *Winks*

"I'm so-o... She said as Mr Babatunde cuts her off.

"NONESENSE! Be sorry for yourself!!
Well, our main point of discussion today:
Ladies and Gentlemen, we've had our sales dropping really short since the beginning of this year, and having it dropping a little further more might have an effect on your salaries" He bellowed.

While this went on, Kayode was soon lost in thoughts, reasoning on what to do about Tolani. Should he leave her for the broad fore-headed guy? Or get into the game?
More so, Lois had been giving interest signs: from the numerous disturbing calls, to the bored stiff chats.
But would letting her go be the best?

"Ms Tolani, what's the sales report for Jaja Marris' Tales Of Lagos?" He asked, leaning forward.

"1.5 million since the beginning of January sir" Tolani said with a little bit of confidence as she brought a paper out of a file.
Mr Babatunde had told her last week to always bring recent sales reports files to board meetings.

"1 what?... He shouted.
"Three months? 1.5million to a book?
Hey. I really need you all to dish out your ideas on how our sales could be better. We sure can't continue this way.
So anyone?" He asked as his eyes rolled to and forth across the table, while he leaned back in his chair.

"Kayode?!" He called out, as Kayode got snapped out of his reverie, replying "Sire?"

"Can you all now see it? Absentmindedness even during meetings. How do you..."

Kayode, fighting the urge to throw up, sat down, staring at Mr Babatunde while he waited for him to be done ranting.

"I was following sir, I just didn't hear your last statement." He lied.

***

"Oga Kay, wetin you bring come naa?" Young John blurted out as he closed the gate while Kayode parked his vehicle.
Young John had worked as the gateman with the Randys - Kayode's family. Dressed in a faded brown khaki uniform he walked up to meet Kayode, giving a mock salute as he stretched his hand, to help him with his bag.

"John, see leave me alone" He said as he gave a dismissive wave of the hand.

"Oga naOw" Young John said as the corners of his mouth quirked up, making a funny face.

"JOHN" Kayode shouted, as terror overtook his face and Young John realising Oga wasn't in a good mood today quickly walked back to his gate side cubicle as he whistled out.

"Phewww" Kayode let out a harsh breath as he turned the door knob, the door making a creak.

"Who is home?" Kayode said in Yoruba, as he walked into the living room.

"E ka bo" A young lady in her early 20s greeted back in Yoruba without looking at him as her gaze remained fixed on her laptop.
She is Kemi, Kayode's younger sister.

The Kayode's home is a stereotypic well-off Lagosian's home on the Victoria Island.
The well furnished spacious living room, with exotic chairs arranged round a glass table with a touch of gold, and a 32 inched TV screen hanged opposite the long family chair.

Mr Randy, Kayode's Dad, sat down on the long family chair with his legs crossed and eyes skimming through the dailies while he flipped through pages. He was oblivious of Kayode being back from work.

"Good evening Daddy" Kayode had greeted him twice, to which he was irresponsive until he tapped him.

"Oooh, Oluwa-Kayode, you are back. Welcome..." Mr Randy said in Yoruba.

"How was writing today?" His dad made a devilish grin as he closed the newspaper and dropped it on the stool beside him.
"Editor-In-Chief" He added mockingly.

"Here we go again" Kayode huffed as he walked off.

"I am talking to you and you are walking away. Come back here, you have not grown past my reprimands." He said as his eye brows drew together.

"Daddyy" Kayode murmured, dragging his feet.

"Sit down there." His dad said.

"Please Daddy, I had a long day and I've got lots of projects to work on before tomorrow's morning"

"Ooh, plenty to write?" Mr Randy said as he let out a mirthless laughter.

"Or to EdiT? Project kor, Projector ni" He added.

Vickyace:
Seems interesting, I'll sit with my popcorn and coke.


You can check out more romance stories here - www.youngicee.com/romance-stories

Thank youu. Come and gimme small popcorn naa, I forget my own for house. *Winks*

ruboy:
Thanks for d mention..

You are welcome ooh!

Humbleness:
Thanks for the mention,l got your back.

You are welcome *Hugs*

EvaJael:
Thanks for the mention. I'm here. I hope Lois Is a good woman o. That's the name of someone dear to my heart

Let's hope she is ooh. You are welcome! *Winks*