Episode 31

Glory's POV cont'd

We got to our rendezvous point which was a cosy house located very close to Idumota.

We both got inside laughing and clinging to each other.
Sam was really happy that I finally accomplished the mission. He unlocked the front door of the house and we both got inside.

I dropped the bag I was carrying on the couch and turned to see Sam grinning at me biting his lips.

There's no way we're doing this Sam! I whispered in amidst giggles as I ran up the stairs.

He rolled his eyes and picked up the bag running closely behind me. We got into the room and I turned on the lights.

The room was filled with multiple computer screens some plastered on the wall while others were on the tables in the room making it look like the computer labs in Hollywood movies.

I pressed a single button and all the screens came alive at once as the booting process began. By now, Sam had set the bag down and was emptying out it's contents which were the flash drives I'd gotten out of the safes.

He helped me with the setup without saying a word. I kept stealing quick glances at him from time to time. He looked a little upset but he knows that we are not supposed to mix business with pleasure.

He went over to the new empty couch and plunged himself in as he started making the relevant calls while I tried seeing how I could get the information from the drives.

When he was done, he came over to where I was sitting to take a look at what I was working on. I felt his warm breath on my neck. This won't let me concentrate one bit. I turned around to look at him who was pretending to be so caught up with the information on the screen.

'Let's do this real quick and get back to work shall we? I asked with a smile playing on my lips.
'Say please' He says twisting his face in mock annoyance.
'Pretty pleeease..' I said pouting like a little girl.
(I'll fill you in on the details later on)

Marie's POV
Lately, Diamond and I have not really been talking much. She seemed really upset about what I said the other day.

She kinda kept her distance from me. She wouldn't eat when I ate or watch TV with me like we used to and Jude wasn't back for days now. I'm guessing he must have jumped ship abandoning me to my fate.

I felt so alone. I mean, Diamond was my only friend here now she doesn't want to even look me in the eye.

I'm currently sitting in the living room watching a movie that I wasn't even enjoying.
Suddenly the front door flung open revealing Diamond and a guy walking behind her. He had his hand in hers as she was dragging him into the room amidst loud laughter.

They stopped in their tracks when they saw me in the room. I took a closer look at the guy who resembled some kind of gangster rapper.

He had tattoos covering the exposed part of his arms and neck, multiple chains on his neck and long dreadlocks on his head as well as a little diamond earring in one of his ears. I wonder who he is to her.

'Marie meet Travis, my boyfriend and Travis meet his wife' She said in a baby ish voice which earned a scoff from the boyfriend.

'Hi' I greeted trying my best not to look at any of them in particular. I would have never guessed that this were the type of guys Diamond was into.

The look on the guy's face clearly showed that he was really upset. He walked closer to where I was clenching his fist and jaws like he was coming to hit me. I flinched and shifted nervously on my seat.

'Calm down angry bird' Diamond intervened wrapping her hands around his waist from behind. She whispered some words into his ear and his facial expression softened as she dragged him up the stairs while never taking his eyes off me.

I held my chest to prevent my fast beating heart from falling out of my chest. Was that thug going to hit me? I'm guessing him and Jude are enemies.

This is freaking me out a lot. I just hope that my dad and Francis can get me out of here before these people and their enemies drop me in a body bag.(God forbid)

I was still stuck in the same position as I was when they left me when they came down the stairs again wearing matching clothes. Thugger had his hand on her waist and eyes on me. I felt so scared as he glared at me and I quickly dropped my gaze to the floor.

😟 About Two Hours Later 😟

I was still in the sitting room watching TV when a knock resounded on the front door. One of the maids rushed into the room and opened the door.

Some men in suit came into the room. They were from Jude's father and came here to fetch me. I got upstairs to change up and returned a moment later following them out into one of the waiting cars. In a sec, the convoy drove out of the compound and got on the road.

After a long drive, we got to their family house. I remembered it from the day of the wedding planning stuff when Jude had brought me here. I alighted from the car running my eyes around the surroundings.

The flowers smelled nice but I didn't have much time to appreciate it as the guards motioned for me to follow them inside.

I was taken into one of the small sitting rooms and sat down anxiously waiting for Jude's father to come out. Curiosity was eating me up already. What does he possibly want to say to me?

I sat there running my eyes round the room. It looked nice but as you already know, affluence is nothing new to me. I'm a billionaire's daughter.

Jude's father came in a while later wearing an all white attire. I stood up and greeted him respectfully.

He replied and motioned for me to sit down as he also did same giving me that same lustful stare making me shift uncomfortably in my seat.

'Actually, I called you here because I want to tell you that you are a very beautiful girl' He said leaking his lips.

I was shocked to the marrow!! WTH This old man is totally crazy.

He stood up from his seat and sat beside me and I quickly shifted away from him.

'Your mother and I are no longer together, so I thought I should have fun with you instead as your fresher, younger and sexier' he added shifting closer to me trying to touch me.

I jumped up from the sofa in rude shock. This old man has lost it.
'Im your son's wife dammit' I yelled out loud.

'But he's not here now baby' he said in a pleading voice.
So disgusting. I felt like throwing up immediately. He's calling me baby? Gross!!!

I turned around and walked hurriedly towards the door but he grabbed me by the waist from behind and dragged me violently trying to lay me down on the couch.

I managed to yank myself free from his hold. He tried to hold me again but I slapped him hard on the face and his vision went black. He cowered and fell on the floor lying on his back. I kicked him in the groin and he yelped as he fell on the floor writhing in pain.

'Shame on you dirty old man' I yelled angrily and ran out of the room as he still lay there on the floor groaning in pain.

I got out of the room and finally located the main living room where I met the men in suit who were more than they were before.

As soon as I got into the room, an alarm went off and I realized that I won't have anyway to get out of here if they find out what I've done.

I tried to get to the door but I was immediately grabbed violently from behind by one of the men.
'Let me go!!' I yelled helplessly as I tried to wriggle free from his hold but he was too strong.

One of the men who had gone in to check on Jude's father came out and gave me a slap in the face.

'Take her away and deal with her mercilessly!' He ordered and the guy carried me hanging on his shoulder and took me out of the house. I kept screaming and hitting his muscular back but to no avail.

Read Episode 32 here
https://beat.com.ng/my-mums-gateman-episode-32/

Crestaria:
Please girl, don't disappoint me
And the boss is happy for accepting to be his permanent secretary. I understand,the joy is overwhelming

Well done Lipstick

I love it for them

Episode 12

I couldn't control myself from laughing as I simply covered my mouth and walked away to the front door which I hurriedly unlocked and rushed in just to laugh out loud.

A few seconds later, I heard a knock on the door and I went to open up. Obviously it's Alex.

"Na my main babe be this one. Really?" I said resuming my laughing all over again as I kept remembering how brazy he sounded when he said those words.

"It's just for your protection Folake." He said instead in a serious sounding tone.

"How do you mean?" I questioned in amazement.

"Eddy is bad news and I wouldn't want you or any other girl for that matter to have anything to do with him for your own good." On hearing these words, my eyes widened in shock.

"When I was still living here, he got arrested twice for beating up his girlfriend till she passed out. And he couldn't control his anger and his fists on each of these two occasions because he was under the influence of hard drugs." Alex explained sending chills through my entire body.

"Oh! I had no idea. Thank you so much." I said in a shaky voice taking a seat beside him on the two seater.

"You're welcome. And I'd actually cut off his hands if he lays it on you." He threatened leaving me speechless.

Why does he even care about me so much?

***

"So she's suddenly scared of visiting her old bobo?" Ama asked almost in a whisper and I burst out laughing.

"Exactly my thoughts girl. It's as if you were there. It was so annoying as she just scattered my plans like that with a foolish errand." I said drinking from my glass of water.

It's Monday and I was explaining to Ama and Promise during lunch break why I had to cancel last minute on Friday to run errands for The HR.

"And you're yet to tell us what GM's house looks like." Promise inputted which led me to describing the heavenly destination leaving them in awe.

"Three cars and a two storey building in that very luxury estate? But where does this guy get all that money from?" Promise asked in shock.

"This guy must be laundering money or doing rituals." Ama stated like it was some sort of obvious fact.

"My dear, if you ask me, na who I go ask? This guy must have another source of income apart from this day job."

"That's what I'm thinking also. He looks like a rich kid not someone who came up from the trenches." Promise seconded my motion.

Let's just say I skipped the part where we had crackers dipped in butter and fruit juice, lunch at Kebari's and him finally bringing me home only to claim me as his girlfriend before my neighbor and the part he threatened to cut off his hands. That was the real juicy gist but dem no go hear am from my mouth.

This week was equally a busy one and I barely had any room to breathe.

Alex was in and out of meetings with department heads everyday and I had tons of typing to do on a daily that I rarely had time for lunch.

***

On Thursday afternoon, a beautiful lady holding a baby came to the office looking for Alex. She introduced herself as Rita the official and original secretary I was covering for.

It was so nice to finally put a face to the name. Alex had mentioned her a couple times showering praises on her for being reliable and super good at her job.

She's here to see Alex. I quickly notified him and he asked me to let her in.

About an hour later, Alex emerged from the office holding the baby with Rita following behind.

"Your things were moved down to storage. I'll have Wahab bring them to your place later." That was all I overheard Alex say as they walked past my cubicle.

It was so nice to see him playing happily with the adorable little baby who he finally handed back to the mother and said goodbye.

"My office." He ordered as he strutted past my cubicle back into his office.

"Rita is quitting. She just handed in her resignation letter." Alex announced relaxing in his seat pointing to an envelope on his desk the moment I walked into his office.

"Her husband is a pastor and has been transferred to another branch of their church in Delta State so she can no longer work for me." He continued before pausing briefly like he wanted me to properly digest the information.

"It's just a few weeks left before our arrangement will be concluded. I want you to carefully consider taking over as my secretary permanently. I'm not forcing you to do it. This time around, it's totally up to you to decide." He concluded and I nodded as I knew that was exactly where the conversation was going to end up.

"I'm glad you're giving me a choice in this matter Sir. I'll give it careful thought and let you know what I decide." I responded in my most respectful voice.

With that being said, Alex talked about a few other things before finally letting me go.

***

"So are you going to consider staying under him?" Ama asked during lunch break on Friday as I'd just filled her in on what happened yesterday.

"I'm still thinking about it." I said sounding confused and overwhelmed.

"But I thought you had dreams to rise and become one of the top dogs? There's nothing like promotion for someone's secretary except for the little pay raise. And I don't consider being a secretary as a career." Promise quipped in.

"Plus someone like Alex can just frustrate you till you quit your job." Ama added overwhelming me the more.

"I know all this but it's better than wiping the noses of everyone in the sales department. Promotion no go show overnight oh, you gats sweat like tomorrow no dey oh." I reminded them and that only earned me an eye roll from Ama.

"It's your choice and you should think carefully before deciding on anything. It's just that we had hopes of seeing you back in our department."

The thing is that Alex has been really kind to me even though we started off on the wrong foot.
Even all the boyfriends I had all my life have never added money for me to rent a house not to talk of giving me a whole furnished three bedroom flat. And he's never for once asked for anything in return. Staying as his secretary would be a great way to show that I appreciate all he's done for me.

Ama and Promise didn't know the good sides of Alex Oluwoye like I did. They only saw him as an authority figure who was conceited and vainglorious.

That same day before the close of work, I made my decision to keep working as his secretary known to Alex and he just couldn't hold back his joy.

"We should celebrate." He said happily. This was not the reaction I'd expected from him though.

He got up and started searching for something among his collection of vinyls and picked out one which he placed on the gramophone and a powerful male voice was heard belting his heart out.

"That's James Brown." He said proudly and returned to his seat as he observed the confused look on my face.

"I've never heard this song in my entire life." I said with a laugh while he pulled out two wine glasses from a drawer in his desk followed by a bottle of red wine.

He decanted little quantities into each glass before passing one to me.

"Looking forward to a great time working together. Cheers!" He said and we raised our glasses before gulping down our drinks in one go.

"So are we still on for tomorrow?" Alex asked as dropped his now empty glass.

Oops! I totally forgot that tomorrow is Saturday and I'd promised to assist in cooking for him. Geez! My sharp mouth will never put me trouble. Kai!

"Yes sure." I responded with a nod even though my eyes had gone wide in shock.

I had set an appointment with a hairstylist now I have to call her and cancel.

"Great! I'd come over to your place and pick you up so you'll go and buy whatever is needed at the market deal?" He said extending his hand for a handshake.

"Deal!" I simply replied shaking his hand slowly as fireworks went off inside me.

This would be the very first time in my life I get to touch Alex y'know. Except for that one time that my arm brushed his on the staircase and one other time like that when I handed him a pen and his finger touched mine.

I relished the handshake like it was my favorite soup served with a mountain of semo. How delicious!

His hand was so soft and I didn't want to let go. We shook hands close to thirty seconds not wanting to break the handshake before we finally disengaged laughing at each other.

Wow! Just see confam man with good looks, better brain and a hand softer than my pillow and he's totally out of my reach. Nawao!

Suddenly my mind flashes back to cooking for him. Omo, no be small something oh! The almighty Alex Oluwoye will be tasting my food tomorrow. So wetin baba God no fit do?


Read Episode 13 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/couldnt-pretend-episode-13/

Episode 9

Lea

River is standing right there, wearing dark jeans, a black t-shirt and a hard look on his face as he glares at Nick behind me. Then, his eyes meet mine, and his tough demeanor softens slightly. Thank goodness for the dim light that is hopefully concealing the redness of my face.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice two more figures stepping out from the throng of people to stand beside River. The first is Jake, who holds his ground with his muscular arms crossed intimidatingly over his broad chest.

Then Ky, who comes to stand beside him, glances from Nick to me, then to Marissa; his eyes linger on hers for a moment before turning to the crowd surrounding us.

"Shows over," Ky says rather effortlessly, yet everyone hears him and most pretend to go back to what they were doing. However, their ears are most definitely still with us.

"Lea, I swear this isn't what you think!" Nick begs from behind me, forcing me to look away from River and twist towards him.

"Save it," River says, calmly yet firmly. Stepping forward, he takes a hold of my wrist and pulls me out of the house through the front door and onto the porch. I want to pull my arm away from his unnecessary grasp but decide against it.

Marissa, Ky, and Jake follow after us like sheep with River as the shepherd until we are all out of the house and stood on the grass of the front garden. River's fingers are still tightly wrapped around my wrist. Although I want to deny it, his touch makes my heart flutter.

River nods towards Marissa, his expression quite agitated. "Did you drive here? Do you have a ride home?" He questions as if Marissa is in some sort of interrogation.
"Excuse me?" I turn at him, surprised at his rude tone of speech. Marissa stares at him in shock.

What aggravates me the most is that he doesn't even turn to face me; he simply leans forward, waiting for Marissa's response. Poor Marissa looks stunned.

"Yes." She answers quietly.
"Good, then you can go home. Ky, go with her and make sure she gets home." River order as if he's our parent.

"What on earth, River are you hearing yourself right now?" My voice is louder this time, and it finally captures his attention. He doesn't have any right to boss her, or anyone around like this.
He turns to face me, his glaring eyes piercing mine. What is wrong with him?

"You said you were going to Marissa's house only. What happened to that?" He inquires, the harshness of his tone still obvious.
"What the heck is it to you?" I bite back, loathing his bossiness.

"I'm sorry, am I missing something? Do you two know each other?" Jake asks, looking at both River and me in turn.

River lips part to reply with, "no, I mean yeah, it's complicated." He finally releases me from his grip.
Stepping closer to Marissa, I give her the let's-get-out-of-here look. "Ky, there's no need to go with Marissa, we're both going." I address him, before looping my arm around Marissa's and starting to walking down the garden path, away from the three of them.

"No you're not, you're coming home." River calls after me. Is it bad that a small shiver rushes through me when he says 'you're coming home'? As if his home is also mine?

Slowing my strides, I glance over my shoulder at him, eyebrows raised in a daring manner. "Or what?"

"I'm going to call your mummy and daddy." He calls in a patronizing voice, and I halt in my tracks.
Oh no. Not mum and dad.

If they find out I went to a party full of drugs and alcohol without their permission, I will not hear the end of their parenting lectures. Plus, I'll be grounded for life.

I spin around frantically and pace back towards River with the most venomous stare. "Parker, if you dare call them, I will cut your dick off and feed it to you."

He devilish smirk tugs at the corners of his mouth. "Babe, I'm dialing my mother's number right now, I'm sure she can pass me on to speak with your mum."

I'm taken aback by the word 'babe', yet try to hide it by narrowing my eyes at him.

"Please, explain why her mum will be with your mum?" Ky asks, extremely confused. He and Jake look like Tweedledum and Tweedledee together, it's funny, to me at least.

Lea, focus, you're meant to be angry, or worried, take your pick .
"Shh..." River places his index finger against his lips as he presses his phone to his ear.

"Lea, it's fine. Just go with River, I'll be fine." Marissa insists from behind me.

"Hi, is Lea's mum with you?" River speaks into the phone as I feel the blood rush through my veins.

"Fine! I'll go with you!" I exclaim, hoping that he'll hang up the phone. He displays a satisfied smile which irks me even more yet I try to calm myself.

"Oh no, don't worry," he speaks into the phone. "See you later," he says before hanging up.

"Wait, you live at River's house?" Ky asks.

"What the heck dude, explain." Jake pleads.

Neither River nor I can keep the amused smiles off our faces as we look at both Jake and Ky who are now beyond confused.

"We'll explain everything later." River says. "Ky, make sure Marissa gets home, Jake, follow me back to the wood house." River orders. Yep, he's definitely the shepherd figure.

"Wood house? I thought we were going back to your house?" I question unknowingly, following in River and Jake's footsteps after I throw a quick 'goodbye' at Marissa, who is walking with Ky towards her car.

"It is at my house, it's in the woods behind the back garden." River explains.

"It's our little hideout," Jake inputs. Unlocking his Ferrari and reaching for the car handle, the door opens upwards towards the navy sky blanketing us.

"I'll see you in a minute mate," Jake calls to River before climbing in. River nods a farewell in his direction, and we watch as Jake swerves onto the road and drives away out of our view, the sound of his engine overpowering the music that has just been turned back on in Nick's house.

"C'mon." River says with a much calmer tone this time.

Trying to cloak my annoyance, I follow after him as he strides down the sidewalk, passing two more enormous houses that are guarded by large, steel gates.

A breeze hits us, winding its way through River's hair and dishevelling it. It's a small thing, albeit it's enough to keep me subtly admiring him until we reach his Mercedes.

What? He's hot. You would do the same.

Once we're both inside the car and safely strapped in by our seatbelts, River turns the keys in the ignition, and the engine roars to life. As he steers the wheel to move off, a whiff of cologne tickles my nose, and the scent is heavenly.
Why do all boys have to smell so good?

He keeps his eyes on the road as he presses down on the gas and accelerates. However, he isn't speeding, for which I'm grateful.
Is he not driving fast for my sake?
"You never said you were coming to this party." I state whilst examining his features. I'm the first to break the silence in the car that is becoming too awkward.

"Neither did you." He replies, eyes still on the road. His teeth are slightly clenched.

I clear my throat, remembering the conversation I had with him in the school parking lot just a few hours ago. "You didn't need to know."
"Well, you didn't have to lie." His eyes find mine for a moment, before turning back to the windshield.
I don't reply, I don't know how to. To be honest, I don't know why I even lied to him.

"You know Nick just wants to get into your pants, right?" River continues, pressing down the break when the traffic lights turn red.
"What if I want to get into his pants?" I tease.

River chuckles, flinging his head back against the seat's headrest. "I don't think that's possible." He says through his laugh.

He has such a lovely smile, one that bears perfectly aligned white teeth.
"Why not?" I ask, acting overly offended.

"Because, I don't think you're the one for casual sex. I don't get that vibe from you." River explains, tapping his fingers against the black steering wheel.
"What vibe do I give you then?" I inquire, the curiosity in me coming afloat.

"Hm..." He thinks of what to say as his fingers tap on the steering wheel. The lights turn from red to green and the car accelerates. "I think, you're a hard worker and your biggest nightmare is failing an exam."
I smile, so true.

"I don't think you like attention either, but I may be mistaken," he cocks his head to one side.
Again, true.

"And, you put on this hard-to-get persona." River finishes, a mischievous smirk plays at his lips.
The way he says t makes my breath hitch in my throat. Does he think I'm playing hard-to-get with him? Am I? Pushing the feed of questions to the back of my mind, I reply with as much wit as I'm capable of.

"River, I'm not playing hard to get, I am hard to get."
Oh you wish, Lea, you wish.
***
After River parks his car in his house's driveway, we both walk side-by-side towards his back garden and head into the woods. The high moon and the twinkling stars scattered around it illuminate our way.

We push through the branches that seal the woods from the garden and enter the forest-like area. I'm extra cautious of falling over the unsteady wood floor, so I cling onto each passing trees truck, feeling its rough texture beneath the skin of my hand. River's in front of me, leading the way.

Every so often, he peeks over his shoulder at me.
"You okay back there, clumsy?" He asks, holding down a tree branch so that it won't smack me in the face when I walk by it.

"You know, your nickname for me is getting quite boring, I think you should come up with another one, dickhead," I tell him, trying to sound bored of the name but there is no stopping the smile that creeps onto my face.

"I can say the same thing for you. You saying 'dickhead' doesn't suit you, you're too nice." He states, facing back ahead to watch for where he's stepping.

"Me? Too nice? Oh, you haven't seen the ugly side of me yet then, Parker." There's a challenging ring to my voice.

He comes to a hesitant stop, twisting his upper body in my direction to show me his crooked smirk. "Bring it on, Wilson."

Before I can make a sensible justification to what I'm about to do, I just think 'f-ck it, let me do it, the guy deserves it,' and pick up a medium sized stone from the wood floor.

"This is for being rude to Marissa earlier," I say, before throwing the stone at his chest.

What I haven't thought about is River's super rapid reflexes, and how quickly he realizes the stone is spinning towards him. Therefore, before it's even an inch away from his chest, he catches it effortlessly with both hands. Then laughs. While holding his stomach. He looks like he's in pain. That's how funny.

There you go, Lea. You're that pathetic that he's laughing so hard it hurts. Go on, face-palm yourself, you know you deserve it.

"A stone? That's the best you can do?" He chuckles, standing up straight and recovering from his amusement.

"I'm glad I can make you laugh." I deadpan.

Don't blame the guy for laughing at your stupidity.

Both mine and River's heads turn in the direction of the sound of an opening door; I'm able to see through the tree branches the orange glow of artificial lighting and fire mixed together.

"Are you guys going to come in, or what?" Asks a familiar voice that I guess belongs to Jake.

River guides me around a few more tree's until I can see the open door with Jake stood in the middle of its entrance. My eyes squint to try and make out the rest of the house, or at least an outline, and as my eyes adjust to the little light around me, I can see that the house is camouflaged into the trees of the woods.

You can barely see it even exists if you shut the door. No wonder Jake called it their hideout.
"Hey." Calls River as we approach the door of the wood house.

Jake slaps his hand onto River's chest to stop him from walking further into the building.

"Did you tell Georgia about this place?" Jake questions.

"No, why?" River replies, puzzled.
"Why the heck is she here then?" Jake whispers harshly as he indicates with a bob of his head towards the room beyond the door.
Georgia's here, brilliant .

"I heard my name!" Georgia calls as she skips up to the door behind Jake. Once her eyes land on mine, she pauses dubiously. "Oh, hi," she greets with a surprised tone, glancing from me to River when he speaks.

"Georgia, this is Lea. Lea, this is Georgia, my girlfriend."

Read episode 10 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/mr-popular-and-i-episode-10/

Episode 10

Kiki

"I was just too frightened to ask any more questions Eri." I told Erica as I finished narrating the story of all that took place last night to her. Her face was now almost back to normal except for the scratch marks.

"Right from day one, I never liked her remember? She was acting so shady like she a somebody." Erica said sounding really upset and I nodded affirming what she was saying.

As we were still speaking, my phone rang and I checked the caller ID which indicated that it was Dwayne calling and I picked up immediately.

"Hey D what's up?" I said as the call connected.

"It's all good Doll. Just wanted to check up on you. Still at Erica's place right?" He asked making my mouth widen in shock.

"How did you... Wait, those guys are still following me around right?" I ranted remembering that he got people tailing me.

"You already know." He responded with a little laugh.

"I'll see you later." He added.

"Alrighty bye. Love you!" I sang making Erica to frown a bit.

"Love you too Doll." He concluded and ended the call.

"You look jealous." I said sticking out my tongue at Erica who was giving these crazy looks.

"Like I ain't got a man." She joked rolling her eyes.

"So what you gon do about those guys following you around anyway?" She asked with great concern.

"Don't know yet." I responded cluelessly throwing my hands in the air.

"Maybe we should do a background check on this dude. Like what he running from in Detroit." She suggested with a shrug making a whole lot of sense.

"You're right, but how do we do that? We don't have any access to such resources." I countered.

"What about Gerald? I mean he's a police officer, he could assist us in doing the background check." She recommended and I smiled picking up my phone to call Gerald.

***

😉 Dwayne (Travis)

After I'd ended the call with Kiki, I got into the waiting jet heading back home to Detroit.

Rick had earlier informed me that he'd found some evidence that my dad was murdered. I needed to take a look at it personally and also use the opportunity to get some information out of Diane.

***

"Best dinner ever." Diane sang as we finished the expensive meal of seafood.

"Cheers." I said raising the glass of champagne for a toast. We clinked our glasses and I flashed her a one-sided smile as she took a sip of the drink which was laced with sedatives.

Taking my left hand down under the table, I caressed her hips as she smiled and took another sip of her drink gulping it down nervously. Good girl! She's gonna be a goner in a matter of minutes.

I noticed that she was getting light-headed as she started spewing a whole lot of nonsense. Just what I wanted! The soothing effect of me caressing her legs and the drugs soon took her to Dreamland. Since we were in the reserved area, no one else was here to see what was going down.

My security men carried her into one of the cars and we pulled out of the premises headed back to her house.

Her maids opened up for us and I headed straight to her room.

"Let's get dirty." Diane muttered in her sleep as I dropped her on the bed in the room. How disgusting! I scrunched up my face as I covered her up with a duvet and took her phone.

I used her left index finger and unlocked the phone heading straight to her mail and all of that private stuff. I transferred some of the useful files to my own phone. It was kinda dissapointing that I couldn't get access to her laptop since it needed facial recognition for it to be unlocked.

My phone soon started ringing and my eyes widened as I realized that I'd promised to see Kiki later tonight. I checked my watch and realized that it was almost nine. It's an approximately two hours flight all the way back to Orlando plus I wasn't really done with what I came here for today. Guess I'll have to come back tomorrow.

"Hey Doll." I greeted as I picked up before the last ring.

"Where you at?"Kiki asked with a yawn.

"On my way home, wanted to get some takeouts for us."

"Thought you said you don't do junk food." She said with a little chuckle.

"Wait till you see what I ordered." I defended.

"See you soon then. Byeeee." She said and hung up before I could even respond.

Taking a last look at Diane who was fast asleep in bed, I hurried out of the room heading out of the building. I needed to get to Orlando as quickly as possible.

We got back to the strip where my jet was already waiting and flew all the way back to The FL.

I stopped by a classy Chinese restaurant and got two plates of food before heading straight to her house. It was already a few minutes past twelve by the time I pulled in Kiki's driveway.

"The dialler reads three hours ago D." Kiki ranted huffing and puffing in annoyance.

"I'm sorry doll, I got held up by a customer." I lied hoping she was going to believe me.

She eyed me up and down suspiciously with her brows raised before lightly rolling her eyes and opening the door wider for me to enter. I know I suck at giving excuses but it's profound that she bought that crappy lie.

After dinner, we got in bed and did the nasty before going to sleep.

I woke up at about three in the morning and decided to go through the files that I'd hijacked from Diane's phone and the evidence that Rick had given me earlier in the day.

Most of what I saw in Diane's phone were photos of her and a guy that I've never met before. Judging from their WhatsApp chats and emails that I saw when I was with her phone, the guy is her brother.

Being a public figure, everyone knows that Diane is an only child. Her mother died after giving birth to her and her father has neither remarried or adopted a child. What I'm I even saying? Dude's her older brother.

I sent his photo to Rick on WhatsApp and told him to find out more information about this brother of hers.

Now on to the evidence that Rick had given me, it was details of the real cause of my dad's death which we knew nothing about. Before now, we were told that my dad had died from a rare type of diabetes but now, the files before me contained the autopsy report of what actually killed him - poison!!!

Ever since I was a kid, I don't remember my dad eating in a restaurant. He always ate at home and even when he travelled, he ensured that he took a cook along.

This means that he was poisoned at home or by his cook. Holdup, his cook resigned as soon as my dad died.

As I sat there connecting all of these dots, I felt like going crazy as so many questions rushed into my mind at once. Who the heck paid him to do this and why?

I'm gonna call Rick when the day breaks so he could help track this cook down.

💃 Kiki

I woke up the next morning and couldn't find Dwayne in bed with me. I stretched tiredly under the covers yawning loudly like I was about to swallow a cow.

As I was about to get out of bed, the bedroom door opened and Dwayne walked in with a tray full of food. Gosh, boy always bringing me breakfast in bed isn't that amazing?

He wore my flip flops and one of my oversized sweatpants with a big fat grin on his cute face.

"Good morning boy." I said sitting up properly.

"Morning baby doll." He responded setting the tray down.

"You look great wearing my clothes." I teased slapping his butt.

"Ouch! And you look better with nothing on." He whispered softly biting his lips.

"Bring your sexy body over here." I said dragging him to myself by the hand.

My back landed on the bed as he kissed me with so much passion.

"Breakfast is gonna get cold shawty." He said as he broke away from the kiss making me frown a bit.

I groaned in dismay as he got off me and sat down beside me on the bed. Gosh! Such yummy finger licking breakfast!😋

"Wanna go shopping for new clothes and stuff?" Dwayne asked and all I could do was force a smile as my mouth was filled with food.

"I'm always ready Dwayne." I finally replied bearing in mind that I don't have a job no more.

"Remind me to transfer some money to you so you can go get what you want. And take Erica along as well." He said before taking a sip of his coffee.

"I thought it was gonna be you and me." I said furrowing my brows at him.

"Nah, I hate shopping remember? He said and I burst into laughter. Dwayne generally hates going out to places where he's gonna meet a lot of people except it's a last resort. Erica could be right. Maybe he's actually got something he's running from.

Should I ask him why he left Detroit? Nah, that sounds tougher than asking him out.

"What's that?" He asked looking intently at me.

"Nothin." I said flicking him a little smile.

"But you're shaking your head."

"Uhm just thinking of what to get at the mall." I stuttered nervously.

We finished up with breakfast and Dwayne cleared the table before finally returning to his house to get ready for work as usual.

After Dwayne left, I got on the phone with Erica asking her to get ready for our shopping later in the day. Dwayne had given me a whopping ten thousand for the shopping. I'm gonna buy the whole mall today. Duh!

😉 Dwayne (Travis)

As soon as I left Kiki's house, I headed straight to mine and got dressed before driving to the airstrip where my jet was waiting for me as usual.

After we landed in Detroit, Rick was on hand to welcome me with even more shocking Revelations. Dear God!!

Read episode 11 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/when-i-fell-in-love-episode-11/

Episode 30

Marie's POV

Lately, I've been thinking about all the information that I got from Diamond the other day. It was all too much for me to handle and process at the moment.

I mean how complicated could my life get? days back my mum came here to threaten me after signing a wedding certificate in my name.

I sat there in the living room with my the TV remote control in my hand as I kept switching the channel looking for something interesting to watch until I caught sight of something interesting on a news channel.

It was a screenshot of my mum and Jude's father kissing in a hotel. This is interesting I thought to myself as I increased the volume. About a minute into the news, Diamond ran downstairs screaming my name as she finally came into the room.

She plunged herself into the empty seat beside me and showed me her phone screen. It was also the same news.

According to the news, it was my alleged that my mum was the one who leaked the video of the media. (I doubt it) I mean, why would she leak a video of her committing adultery with her best friend's husband to the whole world.

Apart from money, property and jewels, one thing that my mum valued and guarded with everything was her sterling reputation. There was something fishy but I cared less.

We talked about it for a while before the maids came to inform us that dinner was ready.

Jude hasn't returned ever since the day he left the house angrily. Deep down, I prayed that he should never return because I hated him with a passion.

After dinner, we went back to the living room to watch some movies. The news channel was still showing.

It was the People's Congress party chairman in a press conference. (The people's Congress is Jude's father's party) They were dropping him as the flag bearer of their party.

This is not good at all, I thought to myself as I turned to look at Diamond's reaction to this new development.

She had an emotionless expression on her face as she picked up the remote control and changed the channel.

That's surprising. I mean she should have looked a bit upset about it but she wasn't. Could it be that she planned this, because the way she talked about her father the other day wasn't very pleasant. I needed answers.

Are you the one who leaked the video? I asked curiously (I hope my big mouth doesn't get me into trouble)
Why would you suggest such a thing? She fired back sounding somewhat annoyed.

Because you knew about it all along? I stated throwing my hands in the air.

How did you know that I know? She asked in shock

It doesn't matter how. I added rubbing my forehead in frustration.
I just needed to know, could she be so cold?

Well, I didn't do this though I've always wanted to and it's none of your business. She said hesitantly as she raked her fingers through her hair.

I nodded and turned to fix my eyes on the movie while she walked out of the room angrily.
I almost messed up!! I better keep my big mouth shut.

Sarah's POV (Marie's mum)

I sat there on the couch pouring myself another glass of vodka as I fixed my eyes on the TV screen feeling dead inside.

The news was showing clips of the leaked video of me and Femi kissing. I threw my flip flops at the TV screen angrily as I heard the presenter mention that I was the one who leaked the video. How ridiculous!!

All my efforts have been wasted. Everything I worked for. I've always wanted my Femi to become the governor.

But now thanks to Davis, it's all gone down the drain.

I have no choice but to leak his own secrets as well. I didn't know he has grown so much balls over the years to call my bluff.

My phone rang on the stool close to my the chair I was sitting on. I glanced at the screen and flinched immediately I saw the caller ID. It was Femi's wife, my best friend whom I have betrayed.

Why is she calling me after everything? I dared not try to pick it up. I knew she will rain curses on me if I made that mistake.

I took the glass of vodka in my hand straight to my mouth and downed all the contents in a single gulp and tried pouring myself another glass but both the bottle and the glass slipped out of my hands and smashed into tiny bits on the floor.

Maids!!!! Maids!!!!! I yelled angrily as two of them ran out into the room.
Clean this mess up and bring up another bottle, I commanded as I tried getting up but fell back into the chair. I finally got up and grabbed my phone from the stool as I staggered drunkenly upstairs to my room.

I opened the door and dropped heavily on the bed dozing off almost immediately without even turning off my lights or locking the door.

Glory's POV
Two of the maids have just come into my room to inform me that the boss wants a bottle of vodka delivered to her room and they were scared to face her just in case they flop and she fires them.

I walked out of my room with the girls trailing behind me and went into the living room where the bar was located.

I took a bottle of Svedka vodka and a glass and dropped them in a tray carrying it carefully up the stairs.

Good luck up there one of the girls said while the other looked at me pitifully. I can handle this.

I got to her door and found it slightly open. I tried knocking but the door kept giving way. I slowly peeped to see if she was inside and found her on the bed fast asleep.

I walked into the room and closed the door behind me. I've never been in her room before as she never let's anyone clean her room.
It looked more like an expensive suite in a five star hotel.

I walked in and dropped the tray of vodka I was carrying on a stool by her bed.

I scanned the room quickly looking for anything that might resemble the evidence I've been sent to pick up.

I had two assignments in this house; number one was to keep an eye on Marie and number two was to get the evidence.

I kept half of my attention on Marie's mum who was snoring loudly on the bed and the other on anything that might resemble evidence, a safe or anything like that.

I checked her drawers, the huge closet and even the bathroom. Bingo!! I found two safes inside the bathroom. Who does that?

Remember when I said I'm good at opening stuff, I was not bragging! I'm just that good.

I tried a few password combinations but that didn't work so I decided to open them manually. One of the safes had a keyhole for the override key while the other didn't.

I walked over to the mirrored bathroom cabinet and picked out a pair of tweezers and a metal nail file. I didn't even know which one will work best.

I inserted the pointy end of the nail file into the key hole and rotated it counterclockwise over and over until I heard the locking mechanism break open. Whew!!

It was a stupid safe anyway. Not well built at all. It looked like it was built by amateurs because I popped it open in only a matter of seconds. One down, one more to go.

The second safe didn't have any override keyhole meaning that I had to opt for a reset.
The nail file wasn't long enough so I decided to straighten out the tweezers.

Again I'll say that I am an expert when it comes to opening stuff.

I lifted the safe and placed it on the counter. This one looked a little bit more complicated.
I turned the back panel to locate the safe's electronic element to find the right openings. Thankfully, the lights were bright enough to help me see what was inside the holes.

I slid the tweezers into one of the openings to gain access to the control panel of the safe.

I carefully used the tip of the tweezers to gently press the reset button making the c-panel light up with a little beep.

I turned to the front where the little keyboard was and entered a new code after which, I punched it in and finally, the second safe clicked open.

The first safe contained a flash drive and stacks on stacks of dollars while the second contained about 20 flash drives and some photographs as well as a gun.

I took off my top and dropped everything into it as I tied both ends and sneaked out of the bathroom.

Marie's mum was still sleeping and snoring loudly in the same position as she was before. I quietly tiptoed to the door and got out of the room undetected.

Now the next thing I've got to do is get out of here before she wakes up.

I called Sam and told him to get the car ready. The mission has been accomplished.

By the time I got downstairs, the girls were no longer there so I quickly ran out through the front door straight to the parking area. I didn't see any security outside which was strange. I'm guessing Sam had a hand in that.

I got into the car lot and found Sam standing by one of the cars.

I gave him a steamy kiss and a quick hug and got into the trunk of the car. (Don't be surprised, me and Sam have been creeping around for a while now)

He closed it from outside and started the car heading for the gate. In a bit, we were out of the residence.

He stopped the car and popped the trunk for me to get out. I sat in the front of the car with him and we zoomed off. We need to get the information to Marie's dad and Francis.

Read Episode 31 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/my-mums-gateman-episode-31/

Episode 11

I thought I was going to miss Alex these three days that he was going away but for wia?

This guy has his way of keeping you on your toes throughout the day.

My eyes were constantly fixed on my computer screen all day long as I had to check my email every other five minutes for a new correspondence from Alex.

I did a ton of typing, filing, scanning and running around from office to office while Alex was probably chilling somewhere in a conference room.

Thank God it's just a matter of weeks left for me to complete this nonsense secretarial arrangement so I can jejely return to the sales department where I rightfully belong.

On Friday, my joy knew no bounds as the hectic week was finally coming to an end and Alex will be back here.
Because it's like my work load tripled the second that guy found his way out of Lekki.

Just as I was prepping my desk and getting ready to leave for the day, the HR came in and handed me a quarto sized envelope which I was supposed to deliver to Alex at his house tomorrow morning.

Which kind wahala be this again now? Why can't she just deliver this thing to him because verily, verily it won't just end with ordinary delivery. Another errand must surely follow. Why can't this girl just allow me to enjoy my weekend in peace eh? Who did I offend?

Alex's address and phone number were boldly inscribed on the envelope which she handed to me and walked off just like that. Yeye girl! She doesn't want to go to her ex boyfriend's house.

I rolled my eyes as I held the sealed envelope inspecting the address like I was trying to visualize the directions in my head.

Helplessly, I made my way downstairs and found myself in a taxi heading straight home. Now I have to call Ama and Promise and cancel the plans we made to go hangout tonight as we'd gotten our salaries for the month.

I need a sound sleep tonight so I can wake up as early as possible tomorrow morning and hit the road.

***

The most annoying part of the whole issue is that Alex wasn't picking any of my calls throughout that evening and the following morning and neither did he respond to my text on WhatsApp leaving me clueless on how to get to his place and make the delivery.

Getting a good headstart from Google maps, it was a whole lot easier to get to the address which was located in one of the most expensive estates in Lekki.

How does he afford to get a house in a place like this? How on earth does he fund such a lavish lifestyle?

The taxi fare to this place was in no way cheap and I just might need a refund for crying out loud.

"Plot 108" I kept muttering to myself as my eyes scanned the buildings restlessly clutching my bag tight like it was going to disappear from my shoulder.

If someone just told me that such an area like this existed in Lekki, I would have doubted at first. I'm sure this is where some of this low budget celebrities normally come to take photos for their Instagram and later they'll be telling us that they're abroad. Mtchew!

Standing at the gate of plot 108, the gateman who saw me wandering around took notice and walked over to talk to me. Probably coming to warn me for loitering and trespassing.

"Good morning sir." I greeted respectfully as he opened the gate and I'm sure that he was surprised to hear me refer to him as 'sir' this early morning.

"Morning. Are you looking for someone or are you lost?" He queried rather gruffly as he folded his arms around his chest.

"I'm not lost. My name is Folake. Is this the residence of Mr Alex Oluwoye?" I asked as I started getting nervous.

"And who are you?" He asked again thinning my patience a great deal.

Sha, na him job e dey do so I no fit just blame am.

"My name is Folake and I'm his secretary." I responded in annoyance eyeballing him.

He didn't say anything further as he just pulled out his phone from his pocket and made a call supposedly to Alex repeating everything I'd just told him to whoever was on the other end of the line.

After spending like two minutes on the phone with whoever it was, the yeye gateman finally opened the gate and let me into the residence which was a replica of all the other buildings in this luxury estate.

The house was two storeys high, everywhere was interlocked, with flowers and lawns on both sides of the driveway. On the far end of the building, there was the garage with three cars parked. The flashy Mercedes he comes to work in, the blue Chevrolet that Wahab drove the other day and a convertible Audi. I shook my head in awe as I kept looking around like a villager taking it all in.

The gateman led the way to the front door of the main building. As soon as he knocked on the front door, I heard a loud bark from a dog that made me jump in fright. I mean nobody has to tell you that the dog would be one of those huge and scary looking breeds.

After three knocks, the door swung open and Alex's tired but handsome face popped out. I let out a big sigh of relief followed by a smile and then a little chuckle while he just stood there watching me like a movie. He was really surprised to see me at his doorstep I guess.

"Good morning Sir." I greeted with my smile still lingering while the gateman turned around and walked away.

"Morning. Come on in." He finally said stepping away from the door way as he opened it wider for me to enter.

The cold air from the Aircon hit me and the fresh scent of the same fruity smelling air freshener from the office hung strong in the air and without knowing it, I inhaled the sweet fragrance as my eyes roamed through the expansive living room.
Money sweet oh!

Everything in this room was just golden. The sofas, the tables, the grandfather clock, all the frames of the large portraits on the wall, the flower vases, the gigantic chandelier hanging from the high ceiling, even the door handles all had gold on them. Na wao!

Alex actually let me take my time to scan the room before he finally spoke up.

"I was having breakfast in the kitchen. Care to join?" He said calmly running his fingers through his well shaved head.

"Sure thing Boss." I responded as I followed him towards the direction of the kitchen.

I kept slapping myself mentally as I was drooling over his moving figure. He wore shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt. Man got a body from the gym for real. Omo come see well built muscles and those fresh,hairy yam legs got me swallowing hard. How can one man have all these good looks and money to himself alone? His girlfriend is definitely a very lucky lady.

We got into the kitchen which was so neat and sparkling. No cooking is ever done here for sure. Even the faucet and sink here were also golden.

"Wow!" I mouthed as I took a seat on one of the kitchen stools running my fingers along the polished surface of the kitchen table.

"What? Really? Biscuits, butter and fruit juice for breakfast?" I said with a snicker.

"Why? It's nice. You can try some." He offered as he pushed the plate full of biscuits to me also doubling in fits of laughter.

"So is this what you eat every morning?"

"Kinda. Other days, I normally have bread and some bananas in the house. In the afternoon, I go for lunch and on my way home from work, I eat dinner before coming back and the cycle continues." Alex said with a casual shrug.

"You should also eat some home cooked food sometime."

"Yeah! Whenever I'm at my aunt's place, I eat whatever I want to."

"Why not get a cook or something?" I suggested.

"Can't trust em. Kebari's is serving me well." He scoffed earning an eye roll from me. I just rolled my eyes at my boss whoa!

"So Catherine sent you here?" He queried with a hint of sarcasm in his tone changing the subject as he picked up another glass and filled it with the juice before placing it before me.

That was how he reminded me of why I came to his house in the first place.

"Yeah." I managed to voice out having stuffed a mouthful of the delicious crackers.

I pulled the envelope out of my handbag which was on the kitchen table and handed it to him.

He opened and inspected the contents of the envelope with little or no interest before placing it back on the table.

"Is everything okay?" I asked as he had a rather neutral expression on his face after reading whatever it was.

"It's all good." He said with a flat smile. That was a clear indicator that something was not right.

We cleared the table and returned the remaining biscuits back to the pack and the juice straight back to the fridge.

"I could help you know. I can come cook for you on the weekends." I spoke before thinking. Realizing that I just said that out loud, I bit my lips real hard to shut myself up.

"But nevermind." I tried dismissing it as Alex looked at me in absolute surprise. He was never in a million years expecting such a suggestion.

"You say wetin?" Alex asked earning a chuckle from me. That sounded so cool to hear him address me in pidgin for the very first time. I wonder what his Yoruba would sound like.

"I mean I could come cook for you on Saturdays only if you want me to." I stated shyly rubbing my already moist palms together.

"You know my aunt really spoiled me when it comes to food. I love the traditional, time consuming stuff." He said in a bit to brace me up.

"Yeah. I've seen your orders at Kebari's. My mom's like that too and being the only girl in the house, I learned everything while my lazy brothers played football in the yard.

"Okay. I'd love to see you try something. Next week?"

"Yeah. Next week would be great."

"But for today, let's go to Kebari's because I'm starving." He said yawning and stretching.

After lunch at Kebari's, he offered to drop me off at home which was a big relief for me.

By the time we got back to my place, Eddy my annoying neighbor who wanted to toast me on the very first day he saw me was outside taking photos and videos of a cute little dog.

He practically ran to greet us as soon as he saw Alex get down from the car after I'd vigorously convinced him to come inside and see what I'd done with the place.

"My boss, I dey loyal." He said respectfully with a bow as they both shook hands and got talking.

So they're comrades? That means he lived here while Alex was also here.

"Boss this fine kele na who she be?" Eddy asked referring to me as I rested on the car watching them with lazy eye rolls.

"Na my main babe be this one. Anybody wey wan touch am go juh lose their hands." Alex bragged and my eyes went wide in shock. He just introduced me as his girlfriend? That's insane.

I couldn't control myself from laughing as I simply covered my mouth and walked away to the front door which I hurriedly unlocked and rushed in just to laugh out loud.

Read episode 12 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/couldnt-pretend-episode-12/

Crestaria:
Hmmm... Catherine

Well done

Catherine don move on 1000 miles

jayboy:
This story sweet. More ink to your pen

Thanks so much my brother
Glad you're enjoying it

Episode 8

LEA

You shouldn't blame me for being a tad confused here. Wasn't he the one who told me to keep my mouth shut in that car this morning? And now he's here? Maybe I'm being petty but it's not every day that River comes to talk to me.

Obviously, Marissa is going to think something is up. I skeptically eye his hand, making his grin brighten.

"Oh, so now you're playing hard to get and won't let me help you up?" He chuckles, raising his eyebrows.

"I'm not playing anything, dickhead." I bite back, taking his hand in my attempt of getting up from the floor.
Lesson number one Lea: never trust a boy.

His grip on my hand loosens for a fraction of a second, causing me to suffer a mini heart attack when I almost fall back to the ground.

He instantly bursts into laughter, probably from the expression of shock that passes over my face when I realise his cruel trick. Luckily, his grip tightens just before I land for the second time on my coccyx, and this time he pulls me until I'm upright and standing on both feet.

"Remind me to never let you help me again," I narrow my eyes at him, but he's still too busy laughing.
"Wait..." Marissa's voice inputs behind us, making me turn to her. "Did you just offer your hand to help Lea..." She points at River, her eyes now focused on a certain area on the ground in front of her as she thinks of what to say next.

"And did you just call him a dickhead ?" She points at me, furrowing her eyebrows. It's safe to say that she's very, very confused right now.

"Yes." River and I reply simultaneously.

We glance at each other, a look of disgrace on my face and a look of amusement on his, and then turn back to Marissa who is still trying to figure something out in her head.

"I'm sorry, I might be completely stupid, but am I missing something?" She waves her hands around in the air as she speaks;
now looking at both of us in turn.

"Because, the last time I checked, I don't think you guys exactly..." She pauses to find a good explanation, "know each other."

"You haven't told her?" He turns to me.

"You told me not to, remember?" I reply sharply.

"But, I didn't realize you were going to listen to me."

"Hello?" Marissa calls, now shaking her hands vigorously in the air.

I sigh, turning to Marissa.

"Remember that guy, Malcolm, yesterday night?" I ask her and continue speaking when she nods in remembrance. "Well, he's River's dad..." Once I reveal the 'big secret' to her, her jaw drops.

Her index finger is straightened and pointed directly at me. "So you're...living with him." The finger hesitantly moves towards River.
River and I both nod.

In a matter of seconds, her hands clamp against her mouth in shock and amazement. There goes her dramatic reaction, why in the world did she drop theatre class last year?

"Yeah, big hoo ha. Now lets go." I tell Marissa whilst rounding the bonnet of the car and opening the passenger door.

"Wait!" River calls, following me around the car bonnet.

By the time he reaches me, I'm already comfortably sat in the passenger seat, about to shut the car door, but he pulls it open before I can close it.

My eyes spot his toned biceps through the reasonably tight shirt he's wearing, and a shiver runs through me.

River, why'd you have to be eye candy when I'm supposed to be annoyed with you?

"Wait." He repeats, Marissa is watching him suspiciously, still confused.

He leans down until his face and mine are at the same level, only a foot away from each other, one of his hands rests on the car roof whilst the other is holding onto the inside of the door.

"What do you want?" I ask, adjusting my seatbelt.

"Where are you going?"

"What's it to you." My eyes narrow at him in annoyance.

"Stop playing hard to get, Lea." A smug smirk overtakes his expression.

"Oh, for fcks sake. Not everybody wants to blow you, River." I yell exasperatedly.

He chuckles. "No, I'm being serious." His face straightens. "Where are you going?"

"To Marissa's, where do you think." I rest my head against the seat, looking ahead, through the windshield at Marissa whose hands lean against the car bonnet. She's studying both of us intensely.

"Are you going just to Marissa's? No where else?" River questions as if this is a police interrogation.

"Jeez, why so nosy. Back off." I push at his chest, but I should know better because, like the first time I pushed him, he doesn't move an inch.

"Lea, I just want to know." He's entirely serious now, ther smirk having vanished.

"Why do you want to know?"
"I just...In case my parents ask where you are."

"You're such a bad liar." I retort, a small smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. "Your parents already know that I'm staying over at Marissa's, and that's all I'm going to do tonight." I lie back.

I reach for the car handle as River backs away and then close the passenger door.

Marissa opens the driver's door and climbs in, after securing her seatbelt in place; she starts the engine and reverses out of her parking space. I know River is still standing on the side walk, looking at us as Marissa drives, but I try my hardest to keep my eyes focused on my fingers that are nestled in my lap.

Obviously, I fail.

Just as Marissa is about to drive out of River's view, I look up at him; he's staring straight at me, conveying a blank expression.

Maybe my lie didn't convince him... I don't know why I felt the need to leave out the fact that I was going to Nick's party tonight, I just did. I watch as Georgia Blakeman from our year comes to join him, threading her arm around his.

Her presence seems to take his attention off of me and I watch as they begin to walk back inside.
I'm guessing she's his girlfriend.
Why do I care so much?
***

"Oh my God," Marissa slowly pronounces every letter of the phrase as she admires me. "You look hot."

Thanks to Marissa's makeup and wardrobe, I've managed to fix up quite well. Matching a pair of short denim shorts over black tights and a plain white t-shirt, the outfit is casual yet with the addition of flawless makeup, it looks effortlessly cool.

If only I had the time to make myself up like this every day. Letting the waves of my dirty blonde hair hang down past my waist, I can tell why she's looking at me with wide eyes.

"Nick is going to be all over you!" She exclaims.

An uncomfortable feeling swells in the pit of my stomach as she says that.

"Ew, no," I reply, still staring at my reflection, sort of in awe and quite impressed with the way I look. "Thanks for letting me borrow your clothes and makeup though, you're the best."

"Do I sense sarcasm?" She chuckles, bending to get closer to the mirror as she continues applying mascara.

"No seriously, you're the best,"

"Stop, you'd do the same for me." She waves her free hand as she speaks; she does that a lot to express herself. "Oh, and I've put some clothes for you in the bag on the bed, you can keep them, I have far too many."

My hands fall from fixing my hair to swing by my sides as I take her in. She's so, so nice.

"See, you're the best. Thank you."
"Oh my God we're being too mushy today," her signature phrase takes a laugh from me.

After a small pause, she speaks again. "Do you think River will be there? He seemed quite interested in where you were going tonight."

Her words take me back to the parking lot earlier, "eugh, don't remind me, I fell straight on my ass in front of him." I shake my head in a poor attempt to bury the memory. "And I have no idea."

"I bet you hope he's going to be there," she turns to arch an eyebrow at me, returning the mascara to her makeup collection - just seeing it makes me miss mine.

"Psht, no," I reply, a little too quickly, and not too convincingly either.
She offers me a fat grin, "you do, don't you."

Fighting the urge to return her smile, I turn back to my reflection and run my hands through my hair, "I couldn't care less."

"Ha." She blurts, spinning away from me to grab her glass of water. "You carry on telling yourself that, hun," she finishes, lifting both her eyebrows as she takes a sip.
***

It only takes fifteen minutes before Marissa squeezes her car into the only available parking spot on the entire road. My heart wobbles in my chest; not just from the nerves that are starting to emerge, but from the blasting music of the house to our right.

By the extravagance that I'm guessing is Nick's house, I'm starting to feel as if everyone who attends my school is rich, apart from me.

Marissa and I get out of the car; not sharing a thought because it's evident we're thinking the exact same things. Fck, this isn't my scene.

We start towards the welcomingly open front door. There are few people that I recognise from school standing around outside on the porch that winds around the house.

Some are smoking what my innocent mind assumes is cigarettes while others just seem to be enjoying the cool breeze as they swig from whatever is in their cups.

"Oh my God," I need to sit down with her one day and have a serious conversation as to why she feels the need to say that phrase so many times. Wait...why is she saying it anyway?

"What is it?" I ask, cautiously stepping over an empty beer can, we've almost made it to the front porch.

"Look," She whispers discreetly, glancing forwards.

My eyes avert from her face to the front doorway of Nick's house that was free just moments ago, and there I find him, the party man himself.

When my eyes capture his deep blue ones that can drown you if you're not careful, he offers me a gleeful smile.

We're almost there, be cool.

"Hey, you made it." Nick greets me, calling over the loud music as a smile tugs at his mouth to reveal his white teeth.

"Yep, in the flesh," oh no, why did I say that? Resisting the urge to bring my hand up to face, I return his smile.

"I see you brought a friend?" Nick turns to Marissa.
'Uh, yeah. This is, uh..." I forget my friends name for a second, dazed by his adorable smile. Oh, yeah, it's Marissa.

Way to be cool, Lea.

"Marissa, right?" He says through a small laugh, probably wondering why on earth he invited a stuttering mess to his party. "How have you been?"

Hold up, am I missing something here? I didn't think these two knew each other.

"Good, you?" Marissa replies, giving him a friendly smile back. I look at her, trying to keep from showcasing my confusion.

His grin seems to falter a little, but he regains it quickly. "I'm okay, thanks. I'm glad you guys came, the party is just starting."

A lot of girls have spoken poorly of Nick, mainly those who have dated him for a short while and were unexpectantly dumped. However, it's hard to see how a person with a smile that seems as genuine as his could live up to the ill gossip.

Maybe he just didn't like them, and that's okay. Better to end a relationship rather than leading it on for too long.

Still be careful Lea, he still could be as bad as the gossip portrays him to be.


Read Episode 9 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/mr-popular-and-i-episode-9/

Crestaria:
Lea sorry oo

The girl just dey fall like dollar

Episode 9

Kiki




We silently crept out of the room and ran up the stairs heading into the bedroom locking the door from inside.




Dwayne dialled a call on his phone asking for some intervention.




As soon as he was done with the call, we heard footsteps approaching the stairs heading towards the bedroom.




I was so scared and held Dwayne tight as he stroked my hair trying to calm me down.




Dwayne quietly stood up and switched off the lights. Oops! Bad idea!!




The people on the other side of the door observed this and banged on the door trying to get inside.




I don't know what was happening on the other side of the door as I heard silenced gunshots followed by heavy thuds on the wooden floor.




"They're here." Dwayne said and got up from the bed that we were sitting on opening the door.




"Good evening sir." Five guys in suits chorused and Dwayne breathed a sigh of relief.




"Took you guys long enough to get here." Dwayne said nonchalantly and got closer to where the unknown men were lying on the floor groaning in pain.




"Who are you? And what do you want?" Dwayne asked placing his foot on the spot which was bleeding on his leg.




"She sent us to come and kill her." The guy said pointing at me.




"What? Who?" Me and Dwayne yelled simultaneously.




"Her name's Ashley." He said and Dwayne kicked him in the face and he spat out blood.




"Where's she?" Dwayne fired on but he shook his head.




"Take them away and take care of them." Dwayne ordered and the men in suits dragged them away.




"Noah and Tom should stay." Dwayne continued sounding really upset as he clenched his jaws repeatedly.




"Do you know where she lives?" Dwayne asked referring to me and I shook my head like a robot as I was still trying to process everything that just took place.




Who I'm I even dating? And why would Ashley send someone to kill me? And who are these guys that shot them? There's too many questions in my head right now.




"Get to the chutzpah, the manager will take you to her." Dwayne said in finality before the guys jogged down the stairs and out of the house.




"Are you okay?" Dwayne asked as he returned to the bed where I was still sitting with my hands on both knees.




"No I'm not okay Dwayne, someone just tried to have me murdered under my own roof and then some sorta super heroes suddenly intervene. I don't understand anything that's going on here." I said slowly shaking my head in dismay.




"Okay first of all, the 'super heroes' are paid contractors who do this type of jobs and they're always a few blocks away from where you and I are." He explained.




"You mean they've been following me?" I asked in Surprise.




"More like watching and protecting you. Remember those guys who tried to make a move on you in the parking lot the first night we met?" He queried and I nodded for him to keep talking.




"Well me and the guys taught them some really nice lessons after the pepper spray." He said sounding fulfilled.




"But why?" I asked as everything still seemed unclear to me.




"Because I love you Doll."




"No, not that,I mean I know that. But why you got these guys in the first place? Who or what are you running from?" I asked and he scratched his head indicating that he was actually hiding something from me.




"It's for protection and.." he made to reply but was cut off by the sound of his phone vibrating from his pocket.




"Yeah, okay." Was all he said as he ended the call and returned the phone in his pocket. At that point, I dared not ask him who was on the phone with him or to continue with whatever he was about to say.




"Let's go eat dinner first before anything else." He said taking me downstairs.




After dinner, one of the guys returned to the house so he could drive us to where they're holding Ashley. Gosh! These guys behave like the FBI! How on Earth did they capture her so quickly?




After a long drive downtown to where the others were waiting in what resembled an abandoned warehouse to me, I saw Ashley in hand cuffs. They didn't beat her up like I'd expected.




"I don't have much time to beat around the bush on this matter so I'm going to ask you all at once. Why'd you want to kill my girlfriend?" Dwayne barked angrily at Ashley who couldn't even look me in the eye.




"You could say I'm jealous of her but nah I'm mad at her." She responded without any remorse




"Mad enough to kill me?" I yelled angrily and rushed to pounce on her but Dwayne held me back whispering in my ear for me to calm down.




"How's Erica's face now? Pretty?" She said again and this time around, one of the men slapped her hard on the face shutting her up. Better!! could it be that she had something to do with the rashes on Erica's face?




"Take care of her." Dwayne ordered and led me out of the room.




"What are you going to do with her?" I asked in fear.




"Relax, I'm not going to kill her if that's what you are worried about. I got stuff worse than death for her." Dwayne assured me calmly and I didn't even realize when I'd let out a deep breath.




"Let's go home now and catch some sleep." He added soothingly with his hands over my shoulder and took me back outside to where the car was parked. I don't really care what he does to her as long as he ensures that I don't see her anymore.




😎 Unknown




Last night was a big night for me. Today, I got woken up from my sweet sleep by my sweetheart who wanted to inform me that my phone's been ringing like forever and I'm also running late for work.




"I'm up! I'm up!!" I yelled frantically like a mad man as I sat up on the soft and comfy bed while my girlfriend only shook her head walking out of the room.




"Hey Nic. Why are you calling me so early in the morning." I frabbed angrily on the phone as I realized who the caller is- my younger sister Nicole.




"We need to meet. You're still in Florida right?" She asked impatiently.




"Yeah what's wrong?" I asked with great concern.




"I'll tell you everything when I see you just gimme an exact location." She continued tiredly.




"I'm in Orlando. I'll text you an address where we can meet." I added removing the phone from my ear so I could check the time as she told me of her ETA.




"I'll see you in a bit Travie." She said and hung up.




"Beautiful morning to a beautiful woman." I said lightly tapping my girlfriend's butt.




"You're late for work already." She said instead as I buried my face in the crook of her neck.




"But that won't stop me from making us breakfast before I leave Doll."




"Just go to work D. I'll eat at Erica's place when I go to see her." She said lovingly.




"Sure thang." I said in a mumble as I busied myself with placing soft kisses on her neck.




Wanna know who I am? Then let's do a proper introduction. I'm Travis Givens. Son of late Daniel Givens who was a pillar in the automotive industry of Detroit. Givens Spares and Autos is the name of our company and my mom cheers the board as CEO until her retirement before I can take over.




Yes I am living under an assumed identity (Dwayne Martins) because I wanna see what life is like without the affluence and stuff.




My sister Nicole is the only one that knows about this whole issue because I trust her more than anyone else.




***




"Travie, long time no see. You even cut your hair. You look unrecognizable." Nicole said taking off her sunglasses and settling into the seat opposite mine.




"You look different too. Are the rumors of the plastic surgery true?" I asked as I took a closer look at her.




"Maybe, maybe not." She replied with a shrug smacking on her gum.




"Not bad at all. You're doing this for that rapper uhm.. what's his name again?" I said pretending to be thinking hard.




"Lil Xx" she confirmed my suspicions and I laughed so hard making her frown a bit.




"It's not funny you know? It was just a fling." She added as I kept laughing at her.




"You can laugh all you want but we're not so different you know. You ran away from home, faked your identity just so you could find some new fishes." She ranted raising both hands in the air.




"Alright, alright you got me. What brings you to The FL?" I asked as I stopped laughing and got serious.




"Mom is out buying Shares and offered me a large amount for mine." She announced leaving my mouth wide open in Surprise.




"And what did you tell her?" I asked almost in a yell.




"I'm never considering it Travie. Don't think I'm stupid cause I understand exactly what she's trying to do; to permanently outdo us and lay permanent hold of the business." She explained and I only nodded indicating that she was right and sensible for the first time in forever.




"I need to know why mum is doing this but I intend to find out. I've asked Rick to look into this matter on the side." I also said. Nicole has a whooping twenty five percent shares in the business while I have thirty percent and my mom and Meyer now have control over forty five percent.




"We need to stop them Travie. Just come up with a plan." Nicole stated plainly.




"And I will have to be in Detroit so I can get some information out of Diane." I suggested but then my mind flashed back to Kiki. I might have to cheat on her again. So help me God!




"Wanna see what my chick looks like?" I asked with a smirk.




"If you got it,it ain't a question." Nicole sang with a laugh and I whipped out my phone navigating through the photos app.




"This your new spec now? Wait, Is that butt natural?" She continued blabbing admiring Kiki's photos as she kept scrolling.




"She's beautiful right?" I asked already knowing what the answer is going to be.




"This chick is a thousand times better than Diane would ever be. Where'd you meet her?"




"None of your bidness girl." I responded with a little scoff.




"I'd pay a million to look like that Travie. Can I meet her?"




"Sure but not yet. She's gonna recognize you and everything goes south from there. I need to tell her about myself first before you can meet her."




"Fair enough brother. We need to find out what mom's motives are before we can plan and make our own move." She said putting on her sunglasses and getting up from her seat.




"I'm gonna see you soon." I said as I disengaged from the hug and watched her walk away to the waiting car before I turned round and walked back to where my own car was parked.




I got inside and dialled Rick's ( my security guard) number and what he had to tell me was too shocking for me to believe.


Read Episode 10 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/when-i-fell-in-love-episode-10/

Episode 29

Secrets Revealed


So yesterday was fun, Diamond got to spill almost everything in her pretty little mind before falling asleep in the kitchen. I had to drag her to her room. Thank God Jude didn't return.


I got to discover that her dad had houses in the interior parts of Lagos where he hides some of the money he has been able to steal in form of gold bars plus other secret properties.

He was actually having extra marital affairs with my mum and some of the money he stole was in her possession. That explains all the money my mum usually brings home whenever she returns from so called 'Dubai'.




She even gave me specific details of the hotel that they always meet at. Turns out that her mum doesn't know about all this.




Jude on the other hand, had a girl he was supposed to marry. Her name was Viv. (So she was the girl that they were talking about the other day).Jude beat her one day and she accidentally slipped and fell from the stairs leading to her death.




The fiancee was also pregnant with Jude's baby and as such, they covered up the murder declaring her missing. Diamond however has the videos of the murder and the cover-up.




Turns out, everyone's secret was out in the open.

All I needed now is the necessary proof. And I need to get the word out. I hope that the pizza guy will be back soon so I can find a way to get the information across to Francis and my dad.




I got out of the bathroom to find Diamond sitting up on the bed with head buried in her palms.




She has a hangover and turns out she doesn't remember anything that happened yesterday. She slept all through the afternoon till the next morning.




My mum visited in the afternoon. I got out to meet her in the sitting room waiting for me. I was so irritated by her presence. What does she want?




I descended the stairs and stood at akimbo opposite her with a frown plastered on my face.




'What do you want now mum?' I asked angrily

'Jude says you have been giving him a tough time' She replies quickly in a surprised tone not the usual 'Im the boss' tone.




'I don't owe you any explanation mum, I've done everything you want now you want to turn me into a Slut? That's not happening! You better run from me! I yelled and stormed out of the room.

You should see the look on her face! Shock mingled with surprise equals something priceless.




I was surprised that I had such boldness in me. I'm done bowing to all her demands. Their days are numbered anyway.




I was resting on the balcony of the building's third floor when I saw her cars driving out of the residence. Good riddance! I'm sure she will think twice next time she wants to give me any orders.




I have more on my mind than to waste my time to think about my mum's dramatic and selfish lifestyle.




I got back inside the moment her cars were outside the gate. What a relief!




I got into the house and saw Diamond sitting on one of the sofas watching TV. I joined her in the seat close to her. She was still suffering from the after effects of the drugs.




I partly pitied her because she was a nice person and partly blamed her for possessing such evidence but chose to stay quiet about it. Jude killed someone, that's really scary! I need to get out of here before I also end up in a body bag.




Dinner was ready and we both sat on the table to eat without saying anything to each other. She sat there playing with her food. I guess those are still among the side effects of whatever was in that pizza.




Francis' POV




Me and Sam are currently in a hotel room as we are watching a video of Jude's father and Marie's mum kissing in a hotel. In case you are wondering how we got to know about their affair, the waist chain I gave to Marie at the wedding reception was both a GPS and listening device. Her father had it customized and imported from China.

Turns out that Diamond was telling the truth after all. (Truth Drugs work)

We now have something against Marie's mum.




Two Days Later 🙃

Marie's dad, Sam and I were at a birthday party where Marie's mum happened to be the planner. We have paid someone to dress up as one of the caterers and lure her out to where we were.




She finally walked into the Janitor's closet with the caterer who immediately ran out and locked the door from outside.

We emerged from hiding to see her banging on the door and yelling for help. The music in the main hall was too loud so nobody could hear her.




Author's PoV

Hi Sarah! Davis says (Davis is Marie's dad).

She turns immediately towards him as soon as she heard his voice

'Why I'm I not surprised? So this is your doing huh!

Now open this darn door because I have an event to get back to. She yelled angrily. She was also frightened as well.




Davis took a seat with Sam and Francis standing on both sides. While Sarah stood there red with anger and fright.




Davis nodded looking at Sam who opened the laptop and placed it on the table turning the screen towards Sarah whose eyes and mouth opened wide in shock before she regained her normal composure.




So you want to blackmail me too? She says laughing sarcastically




Francis and Sam turned to look at each other with surprise and disappointment. Both of them had expected her to be shocked and quickly agree to turn over the evidence to Davis but Sarah was tougher than that.




Well, you can go ahead and do what ever you want just open the door. She added with standing at akimbo.




'You're bluffing' Davis interjects as he dips his hands into his jacket pocket and takes out a Cuban cigar while Sam helps him to light it.




No you're the one who is bluffing. Sarah adds as she takes a seat with a little smirk on her face.




I have the upper hand here no matter what you do.

She continues with a sly smile playing on her lips.




Fine! Davis says as he turns the laptop screen towards himself, quickly punching a few keys and within seconds the video was sent.




Sarah realising what had just happened rushed over to him and snatched the laptop from him smashing it on the floor.




Davis wasn't bluffing. He meant business.




Too late Sarah, I want my daughter and the evidence or heads will roll. He spat out venomously and hit the table before he goes to the door and unlocks it with Francis and Sam behind him.




Sarah sat there frozen and batting her artificial lashes as she fought back the tears that threatened to fall down her face.




Her hardwork of lobbying to get her boyfriend (or man friend) to the position of governor was now impossible. Once the news gets out, the party would drop him and Jude's mother is going to kill her.




I won't give up the evidence. She said to herself as she walked out the door through the hallway and into the main hall where the guests were busy with their dancing and eating spree.




She walked out quickly from the hall straight to where her car was and got in shutting the door violently yelling at the driver to get going.

The driver complied as the car fought it's way through the multiple cars in the parking lot.

Read Episode 30 Here>>
https://beat.com.ng/my-mums-gateman-episode-30/

Crestaria:
Just be careful girl

Thanks Lipstick

You're welcome

Episode 10

Folake:

According to him, he used to live there some time back and paid the rent for three years and only lived there for a few months before he moved out to a better area. In which case, the house still has about one year and eight months rent left. Whoa!

Alex really has money to throw around. That house must cost about a million per annum and he paid for three whole years and then left it to waste? Geez!

I called Ama to meet me in the restroom as usual and she even brought me the money that they'd promised to give me which I was no longer in need of presently.

On my way to the restroom, I'd already made up the story I was going to tell her and Promise. A well fabricated and memorized story.

As far as she knows, the house belongs to the friend of a friend who is moving to the states to pursue an MBA program. They didn't want the rent to waste so my friend asked and the owner said I could move in since I didn't have money for rent.

She bought the story hook,line and sinker and was so eager to go check out the house at the close of work.

At 5:09, Alex emerged from his office and left while I also closed for the day rushing to meet Ama and Promise who were already downstairs waiting for me.

The three of us boarded a taxi and landed at my new place.

We explored every inch of the house, unpacked, ordered pizza and ate together before they finally left at a few minutes to eight leaving me alone in the big house which wasn't exactly something new to me.

The bedroom I'd chose to sleep in was really spacious and had a king sized bed in it which bounced as I jumped on it. I didn't even have a duvet or something to cover the mattress. The closet took up all the space on an entire wall. Even queen Elizabeth won't even have enough stuff to fill it up. My bathroom could qualify as a whole apartment on it's own.

Taking stock of what was in the house, I found out that there were no pots, plates or any other utensils in the kitchen. Just a big empty refrigerator, cabinets, and other kitchen appliances too numerous to mention. The counter top shined like it was made of glass as the bright lights on the ceiling reflected on it's surface. Everything in this house was perfect.

Just as I sat there planning on how to get these things, my phone started ringing. It was Alex calling. Wow!

Alex calling my phone? That was one thing I wasn't expecting.

We spoke for minutes about some random things which had nothing to do with work.

Here I was thinking that he wanted to give me some assignments not knowing that he just wanted to talk.

He was interested in finding out how I felt about the house and blah blah blah.

By the time he ended the call, I realized that we'd been on the phone for a whole forty six minutes and ten seconds. Whoa!

It's surprisingly easy to start a conversation with Alex and the guy sabi crack jokes no be here.

***

I went to bed with a smile on my face thinking about the new house and all the funny things Alex told me on the phone.

Needless to say that I was officially having a crush on my boss! I was crushing on the almighty pompous Alex Oluwoye!

Fast forward to the weekend where I was just returning from my shopping for kitchen items and some foodstuffs. That was when I met one of my neighbors for the very first time.

His name is Edward and he lives in the flat closest to mine. He's a typical Lekki top boy driving a fancy red Toyota plus the normal fake designer outfits. Fake life no go kill person.

He seemed nice but the downside of the whole issue is that he's a playboy and was trying to ask me out on the very first day of seeing me. I simply told him that I have a boyfriend. So annoying!

I brought all the things I bought inside and within minutes, I was already cooking. Thank God for the constantly running generator in the compound, the electric cooker did it's thing as I made soup, stew and cooked rice refrigerating the unused portions.

Boy! This is the life man!

I turned on the smart TV in the living room and switched to a music channel dancing and jumping up on the cold marble floor which was like some kinda glass.

Before I went to bed that night, I called my mom and told her about the happenings of the week from the time Tina kicked me out, me lodging in the hotel, and my 'friend' getting me a house.

First of all, like any typical Nigerian mother, she was annoyed that all these things had happened and I didn't bother informing her. But overall, she was so overjoyed and now that I have my own place, she could finally come to Lagos and visit anytime she wants.

***

On Monday morning when I arrived at the office, the first person that came to the office was The HR. Her name is Catherine and I remember being told from the jump that she's Alex's ex girlfriend.

Ever since I started working for Alex, she's never showed up here looking for him except on days when the department heads meet in his office.

She's a tall, beautiful, light skinned chic and she smelled really nice just like person wey dey chop better money. Imagine wetin Baba allow mek im pass am by.

"Good morning ma'am. How may I help you today ma?"I greeted nervously but she was just so calm.

"Morning. I'm looking for Mr Oluwoye." She said curtly. That's Alex being called by his surname just to show that she remotely feels nothing for him anymore. Omo!

"Hold on ma let me get in touch with him." I said as I dialled his office phone and informed him that the HR was outside the door.

He told me to let her in which I did. Within minutes, they came out of the office together and strutted past my cubicle like they were going somewhere important.

It took close to an hour later before Alex returned this time around with that his friend who's the head of advertising and marketing. They both had tired expressions on their faces like people going through a lot.

Throughout that day, all department heads took turns to come over to Alex's office and I just assumed that something big was going down.

After all the running around, Alex called me into his office to inform me of the situation on ground.

According to him, the company is currently being dragged by it's own brand influencers as they've not been paid for rendering their services for months now and the brand ambassadors are also threatening to disown the brand.

"Someone is embezzling money at the center and we need to find out ASAP." Alex said running his fingers through his thick beards as he continued narrating the story.

"So how do we find out who's behind it?" I asked cluelessly as I was lost staring at how his lips moved while he spoke as they were partly covered by his beards.

"We have to follow the money. Which is why I won't be in the office for the rest of the week. I need to go to the headquarters tomorrow and attend the meeting with the influencers and ambassadors just so we can figure out a way to calm them down. Plus, I've got to take a look at the audit report myself." He concluded and started swivelling in his chair with such confidence.

"So what will I be doing here these few days?"

"You're my backup. You'll keep an eye on everything and everyone here while I'm gone. Plus, I'll be buzzing you every now and then if I need anything." He responded and I inwardly rolled my eyes at him.

Here I was, wishing that he'd tell me to stay at home and relax till he returns to town. Mtchew!

But come to think of it, I'll miss him oh! But why would I miss him na? Even though he's now a nicer human being, he's still very pompous. How can I be missing him? Is he my boyfriend or what? I quickly crossed that thought off my mind the moment I realized that he was looking at me so intently.

"Are you okay?" He asked casually and I nodded coming back to my senses.

"So I was saying something. Were you even listening to me?" He queried raising his brows slightly.

"Sorry, I got carried away. What were you saying please?" I inquired shyly rubbing my palms together.

"Wanna go for dinner at Kebari's?" He asked with a straight face which forced me to say yes without thinking. Wow! Table seventy four here I come again!

Read Episode 11 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/couldnt-pretend-episode-11/

Episode 7

Lea

After a couple volunteers finish reading a few pages of Romeo and Juliet, there is a class discussion as to whether or not Juliet should have agreed to marry Romeo.

Unlike in my previous lessons, I sit quietly at my desk, staring at nothing but the whiteboard a few meters in front, and do not contribute to the class discussion.

Mr. Sepriars – sensing my lack of enthusiasm – throws a few questions my way, but I answer them as quickly as possible before returning to my silence. I'm not usually like this, actually, I'm never like this.

However, everything that's happened in the past day has been surreal. I'm still in disbelief that I don't have my own home to go to tonight.

Fidgeting in my seat, I accidentally knock over my pen, which lands on the floor with a quiet 'ping'. A few faces turn in my direction to see what has happened as if I've accidentally dropped a nuclear bomb.

Oh come on people, it's a pen, stop looking at me like I'm a criminal; it's not my fault I'm clumsy.
Clumsy...

My thoughts go back to yesterday night when River was teasing me for my misfortunate trip in the Parkers' living room.

"Right, class, homework!" Mr. Sepriars claps his hands together excitedly, and I resist the urge to groan as I retrieve my pen.

I don't want homework right now. I need some food and some sleep. That is all.

I turn to the first page of my planner. Underneath the lines that I've randomly scribbled on, I reluctantly write ' Friday – English Homework' and wait for Mr. Sepriars to continue talking.
"Since we're on the topic of romance, I would like you to compose a poem with the title 'What love is'.

The poem should be at least three stanza's long and should be completed without any assistance. Overall, it should be under the genre of romance." Well, duh.

He pauses his speech as the bell rings to alert us it's the end of school. "You're dismissed." He finishes.

I start to pack up, returning my stationary to my pencil case and sliding Romeo and Juliet back into the plastic wallet in my folder.

Burying everything into a bag that Marissa kindly allowed me to borrow, I push myself off the seat and walk into the aisle between the desks, only to freeze in my place.

River's foot is touching mine, our arms are side-by-side, we're squished between the desks either side of us, and I don't dare move.

***

River
Busy in conversation with Ky behind me, I feel someone oddly close to me to my left. Twisting my head, I see Lea's petite figure beside me, of course; I knew I would bump into her at school eventually. I sense my leg against hers, my fingers only inches from hers, our arms smothered together; we're both trapped in the aisle.

Stepping backward to allow her to move further down the aisle ahead, she offers me a quick apology before walking out of the room.

"What was that all about, mate?" My eyes turn to meet Ky's who is standing beside to me.

"Oh, nothing. Just some kid who helped me out at the library." I reply, unbothered.

"Dude, you go to the library?" Jake asks from behind me, sounding shocked that I would do something like that.

Jake and Ky couldn't care less about education or what grades they get in their end of year exams. It's sad actually, because they're pretty clever.

This is mainly because both their families are loaded, so, they don't feel the need to work if they've got all the money they could ever want.

But, that's what makes me different to them, I like working, I like getting good grades. Deep, deep, deep down, I'm a nerd.

I guess that's something Lea and I have in common. Well, I'm guessing she's a nerd anyway.

"Yeah, I needed a new book." I wave my Romeo and Juliet copy in their faces.

I'm not lying. I did go to the library yesterday after school to get a new copy of the book, since I lost the other one. However, I obviously didn't meet Lea there, I just looked for the book, checked it out, and went home.

"Whatever man. Are you going to the party tonight?" Jake asks.

Instead of looking at me, his eyes are fused to Rachel Darey's backside as she leaves the classroom, I have to snap my fingers three times in order to bring him back to reality.

Meet Jake, the player who's probably slept around with more girls than those who have befriended me on Facebook, and that's a lot of girls.

Then, there is quiet and innocent Ky, who is most definitely the complete opposite of Jake. He has only loved one person before in his life, and I don't think he's over it.

"Who's party is it?" I ask.

Just as Jake is about to open his mouth to speak, his lips seal shut straight away. My eyes narrow at him in curiosity, then turn to look at Ky.

"Who's party is it?" I question again, this time hoping for Ky to answer me.

"Nick's," He says, an icy feel to the way he says it.

My fists clench in angst at just the sound of his name.

"No, I'm not going," I grit my teeth.

"And why the heck are you going?" I aim the question at Jake, regretting it instantly. My problems aren't his problems, he can go wherever he wants.

"To get free drinks and trash his house," Jake replies.

My fists unclench at his response. I shouldn't be angry at him, he doesn't feel it the way I feel it. And he doesn't hate Nick the way I hate Nick.

As soon as we walk out of the classroom, Georgia skips towards us, through the crowds of students in the corridor, and wraps her arm around mine when she reaches me.

Tugging at my hand, she pulls me lower while standing on her tiptoes and plants a rushed kiss on my cheek. Great, I've got strawberry scented lip gloss stuck to my cheek.

"How was English, babe?" She questions as we begin to walk at a faster pace through the corridor. A few students move aside to allow us to pass.

"Okay," I answer through a yawn.
It takes a certain mood to keep up with Georgia, and right now I'm not in that mood. These days, I don't really want anyone's company apart from Jake and Ky's, and more often than not I just want to be alone.

"Did you hear?" She begins her regular gossip session that the boys and I have grown accustomed to. Sometimes it's alright listening to the latest news of our school, but like I said, I'm not in the mood. "Nick has personally invited some girl to his party, I think he likes her."

Just the mention of his name makes my mood dive even lower.
"Who?" Jake asks.

"I'm not sure of her name," Georgia shakes her head and shrugs.

I hope whoever this girl is, she's clever enough to stay away from him.

I place my books into my locker, only leaving my planner in my school bag, and gently close the door shut. I'm suddenly curious to find out whom Nick's 'girl' is, and whether all this gossip is actually worth all the attention, especially from a curious Georgia.

"Why'd you care so much, you afraid she's gonna take your spotlight?" I ask her, teasingly.

"I don't care. I just..." Her unfinished sentence trails off her tongue and I lose her attention to something else in the corridor. My eyes follow the same direction that hers are glued, but I don't get what she's staring at.

"There she is," her eyes are fixated on whoever she's talking about.
Maybe not a curious Georgia, but a some-what jealous one.

"Where?" I ask.

"There," She points discreetly towards the opposite side of the corridor, towards a girl who's busily rummaging through her locker, a girl that is...Lea!

She's pointing to Lea! Innocently standing at her locker, placing the necessary books into the metal cabinet and then shutting it with as little sound as possible, Lea is completely oblivious to the fact that we're talking about her.

"You mean, Lea?" I ask surprised, turning to Georgia to make sure she has pointed at the correct person.

"Yeah, you know her?" Georgia nods.

"She helped him out at the library," Jake answers Georgia before I can.
Lea now turns away from her locker and starts to stride down the corridor, carefully dodging around people who get in her way.

I watch her back intensely until she eventually disappears from my view. I feel the need to advise her not to go to the party; Nick's intentions are never good.

He's just going to use her, that's all he's ever done. He uses people, and doesn't take responsibility for his actions.

I think you should tell her not to go.
"I need to run, see you later," I call towards the boys and Georgia, before following after Lea.

***
Lea
As soon as I reach the car park, I spot Marissa leaning against her red

Ford that's parked on the front row, her phone that settles in her hand is pressed up against her ear and she's in deep conversation with whoever is on the other end. When she spots me, she waves for me to come over. Once I'm close enough, I can hear her speak through the phone.

"Yeah, she's right here," Marissa speaks, outstretching her arm to hand me the phone.

"Who is it?" I mouth towards her.

"Your mum." She mouths back, and I take the phone from her clasp.

"Hey, mum." I greet through the phone.

"Hi sweetie, so are you sure you want to stay at Marissa's house tonight?" She questions.

At lunch, both Marissa and I agreed that she'll convince my mother to let me stay at her house for the night, since my parents would never let me go out to a party, ever. Marissa's parents are both doctors working the night shift today, meaning we'll have the whole night to enjoy.

"Yeah, I'm sure, don't worry." I feel a little guilty for lying to her, but sometimes what they won't know won't hurt.

"Okay, well, I'm sorry if this sudden move has put you off a little. It's only temporary until we find a permanent house." She sympathises.

"Mum, it's fine. Don't worry. I have to go now, but I'll talk to you later." I quickly change the subject before she gets into the flow of her 'parenting lectures'.

As I listen to her shed her goodbyes, and a list of precautions I should be aware of to make sure I don't get killed or kidnapped tonight, I sense someone behind me.

I look up to see Marissa's surprised expression as she stares uncertainly at whoever is hoisted very close to my back. I twist around to face whoever it is. Bad idea...

They are far too close behind me, so when I do turn around, I end up smacking my head against their chest and tripping over my feet, landing butt first on the pavement. Straight after slapping not only my butt but also my palms against the solid, rough ground, I wince in pain and embarrassment.

"Oh, fnck me." I cry, still sat unmoving on the pavement, rubbing the dirt off my hands and onto my trousers.

Well, they technically not your trousers.

"Language!" I hear my mother shout through the phone that is now sprawled on the ground beside me. My eyes widen, remembering she's still on the phone. I quickly reach to press the end call button.

"No thank you, clumsy."

Uh oh. I know it, I just know it's him.

The embarrasment is revealing itself as a bright blush on my face. Mortified, I don't look up, but out of the corner of my eye I see his hand outstretching towards me. My eyes dart to his to see whether he's being serious, or playing an annoying trick on me.

However, I'm terribly surprised; he's smiling, his expression angelic as he holds his hand out patiently to accept mine.

Read Episode 8 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/mr-popular-and-i-episode-8/

Episode 8

UNKNOWN:




I woke up the next morning feeling very guilty as I looked at Diane who was sleeping peacefully in my arms. I messed up real bad. There's a girl who I love like my life depends on it and I've just cheated on her.




Freeing myself from her hold, I stood up scratching my head and walked straight into the bathroom with my phone hoping to get in contact with my main girl.




She picked up at the third ring sounding both upset and worried at the same time. Gosh! Girls can be a real pain in the neck.




After I'd finished up with the call, I hurriedly showered and dressed up sneaking out of the house undetected by Diane who was still sleeping prolly dreaming of all the sweet nothings that I'd told her last night. Right now, I need to get out of town and await for positive responses from both my security guard and Diane as well.




Kiki




I woke up at about eleven in the morning stretching tiredly on the bed.




My eyes widened in Surprise as I saw Dwayne sitting on a stool beside my bed watching me with a small smile on his face.




"Hey sleepy Doll." He greeted baring his sparkling white teeth.




"How'd you get inside?" I asked cluelessly.




"Front door. I got an extra key." He said raising a key in the air.




"I don't remember giving you an extra key to my house." I ranted.




"Well, I borrowed it from the bunch." He said with a shrug.




"You mean you stole it." I clapped back hitting him on the chest.




"How'd you get to Detroit so fast anyway?"




"I took a flight back and forth." He said proudly.




"You're kidding me right?" I asked in disbelief raising both brows.




"Real time serious." He responded with a smirk as he got up from the stool and climbed into the bed with me.




"So what were you doing there this time around?" I asked with a great deal of interest.




"Family business." He stated and I nodded losing interest in the topic instantly as he began kissing on my neck and turning me on. Gosh!




"Do you know how much I've always wanted to do this with you?" He asked in a whisper as he flipped me over getting on top.




"You don't say." I managed to voice out slowly in a moan.




***




Two weeks later......




"Girrrrrrrrl I'm so glad that you're back in action." Erica screamed ecstatically jumping up and down to the beat of the Chris Brown song which was banging loud from the clubhouse.




"Me too Darling." I yelled happily as I whipped out my phone to make a video for my Instagram.




In the middle of filming our dance video, the entrance door opened and Ashley walked into the room looking pretty morose. Urgh!




"Hey Ashley Sweetie, how was your time on hiatus?" I mocked with a little chuckle but she stood there unable to say anything.




"I think the cat got her tongue." Erica joked and we both started laughing.




"She reminds me of a Joyner Lucas song uhm...'pretty with a face full of scars and a..."




"Mouth full of cavities" Erica completed and we started up another round of laughter.




"I got plans for the both of you." She spat out angrily and stormed out of the room as we kept laughing.




"Need y'all onstage now!" Our manager screamed as he opened the door and popped his head in. Man's got zero chill.




"Just a sec." I replied applying some lipstick."




"Where's Ashley?" He asked as he walked into the room.




"I got no idea." Erica replied with a voice that depicted no iota of emotion as we both got out of the room heading out to the stage. I've missed the poles.




***




"Hey D! What took you so long to get here?" I yelled to Dwayne over the loud trap music as we disengaged from our kiss.




"Got held up by a customer plus, I took a cab down here." Dwayne said sounding really stressed out as he took a seat in the VIP.




"I'll see you later. Gotta get back to work now." I said and turned round walking out of the VIP shaking my hips to the beat.




"What up Sweetheart?" A dude who looked like some gangster hailed and took hold of my wrist dragging me back.




"Hey boo, care for a dance?" I offered and he smiled widely holding up two hundred dollar bills.




I got closer to him and he stuffed the money under the lacy bra that I was wearing.




As I danced for him, a little something in my head told me to look at Dwayne's direction in the VIP. I'm sure Dude's already at his boiling point but I paid no mind to that.




I rounded up for the night and returned to the dressing room where I changed back into the mini skirt and matching crop top I had worn earlier on and walked back into the club to meet with Dwayne.




"Someone wants to stay pretty for someone." Erica joked as we got back into the clubhouse and noticed that my makeup was still untouched.




"Mind your bidness B." I said sticking my tongue out at her.




After drinking some water, she bid me and Dwayne goodnight before leaving with her boyfriend.




"I don't like this dress." Dwayne said as he took a closer look at me.




"Why's that babe? What's wrong with my clothes?" I queried also taking another look at myself.




"Shows off too much skin." He declared.




"Seriously? I'm a stripper Dwayne. I mean you saw me minutes ago...




"Flirting with another guy in my presence. No qualms." He cut me off looking away. Gosh, this dude is just too jealous.




"I wasn't flirting with him D, I was only doing my job." I said pleadingly.




"Let's get out of here." He said coldly standing up and together, we walked out of the club hand in hand.




"You're my woman now Doll, and I'm a very jealous lover. I think it's time for you to quit this job." He said calmly and my eyes widened as perplexity set in immediately.




"You can't just tell me to quit my job Dwayne." I protested as he started up my car pulling out of the parking lot.




"This is my only means of survival Dwayne. I dropped outta highschool remember?" I ranted on.




"Then start a business." He chipped in.




"It sounds easy for you to say Dwayne but I don't got no skill, no educational qualifications and no business experience." I yelled like I was going to cry.




"For how long do you want to do this job uhn? Forever? Look, I can take care of you even if you don't wanna do anything else for life Doll. I just hate the fact that I gotta share you gangsters, thugs, old men and the likes of em." Dwayne preached on and I shut my eyes tight as I took in everything he was saying. This is why I didn't want to get in a relationship.




"I'll think about it D." I said conclusively and he kept quiet speeding up the car.




***




As soon as we got back home, me and Dwayne showered together before heading back downstairs to have dinner.




A few minutes into the meal, my phone rang and I discovered that it was Jason- Erica's boyfriend calling. Erica just developed some pretty bad rashes all over her face and has been rushed to the hospital.




Me and Dwayne quickly dumped the food we were eating and rushed over to the hospital.




By the time we got there, she was already asleep. Well, according to the doctor, it was some kind of allergy to some chemicals contained in her makeup.




He went on to explain that she hadn't been rushed earlier to the hospital then her face would have been permanently damaged for real.




That's ridiculous. We've been using the same makeup products for years now and nothing of such nature has ever happened. I'm gonna have to find out which of the cosmetics could have caused this.




This is so scary!




***




I left the hospital the next evening after Erica woke up and insisted on going home since her face was almost back to normal though it looked a little bit swollen with scratch marks from the excessive amount of scratching she did before being rushed to the hospital.




Getting back home at about seven in the evening, I found Dwayne who had left the hospital earlier in the morning busy cooking dinner prolly to bring to me in the hospital.




"Is that for me?" I said with a little smile pointing at the delicious looking chicken salad in a to go plate on the countertop.




"You wish! I got me a new chick in the ville." He smirked wrapping his arms around my waist.




"Bet she gon be ugly and scrawny." I mocked before claiming his lips for a kiss.




While we were still absorbed in the kiss, the sound of glass shattering on the left wing of the house forcing us to break the kiss.




"Did you hear that?" I queried in fright.




"Sure did." Dwayne replied and took out a knife from the rack while I ran to the living room and brought out my gun from under the couch where I usually hide it.

Read Episode 9 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/when-i-fell-in-love-episode-9/

Episode 28

The Pizza




I stayed in bed all morning and only went downstairs when Diamond informed that Jude was out. I couldn't stand looking him in the eye.




It was already lunch time so we sat down and ate together before heading over to the living room to watch some TV.




The wedding reception was all over the news. I was being labelled as the bride who didn't smile. The presenter commented on my father's absence from the wedding reception of his only daughter as well as my social media haitus. (They even had photos of the forged wedding certificate). I wonder how they got it.




I changed the channel after watching for sometime. Let's watch a movie instead.




We were enjoying the movie so much that we didn't realize how much time had passed already.

We only realised that it was evening when the maids came to inform us that dinner was ready.




Jude was not yet back and I wasn't interested in finding out where he had gone to.




We finally went upstairs after dinner and I ensured that I locked the door properly before going to bed. I didn't want last night's incidence to repeat itself.




🌞The next Afternoon 🌞




I was having a nap when Diamond came in to inform me that my pizza has arrived.(but I didn't order any pizza. I don't even have a phone)




'Maybe it was some kind of mistake' I thought to myself as I followed her downstairs quietly.




I got outside to see the pizza guy. He was from Lala's Pizza Place. (one of my favorite pizza brands. But I haven't ordered anything from them in a while)




I saw their logo on his uniform but when I took a second look at him, I realized that he was wearing a Bob Marley face cap which was not part of the uniform.




Maybe it's a sign for me to know that the pizza comes from someone who knows me well enough or it could also be a trap.




I collected the pizza after signing the receipt. One of the guards came close and tried opening the box but I slapped him hard on the face.




'How dare you try to infect my food?' I yelled rudely at him as I was laughing inside.




'Sorry Ma' He managed to say as he regained his balance.




I saw the surprise on the pizza guy's face and I gave him a side smile raising my brows a bit.




'Because of that, you get to pay him' I hissed at the idiot.




'Its three thousand nine hundred naira sir' the pizza guy added quickly.




He gave the pizza guy dead glares as he kept fiddling with the old worn out naira notes in his hands which kept falling on the tiled floor. He picked and counted it up and handed it over to the pizza guy who confirmed and said goodbye.




'Serves you right, you nosy little prick' I sneered at him and walked inside with the pizza box.




I walked with it into the kitchen. Thank God Diamond wasn't in the living room. I had to confirm if this pizza was a trap or a message.




I opened the pizza box to reveal the 8 triangular slices of pepperoni pizza (my favorite topping).

Just taking a look at it now brings to mind the iconic taste of the most popular pizza of all time which was staring me in the face.




The salty and slightly spicy taste of pepperoni pizza holds its own against waves of melty, gooey cheese and gets ever-so-slightly crisped in the hot oven in such a crave-worthy way that no one can resist pulling them straight from the smoldering heat and dropping them directly into your mouth.




My mouth watered immediately. I put my hand into the box and picked up a slice which I dropped in the plate that I was on the kitchen counter.




Underneath the remaining seven slices was a folded piece of paper which was pinned to two of the slices.




I picked up these slices and dropped them in another plate before removing the paper.




On it was written 'Safe slices, pass the rest to the sister, she'll tell you everything you need to know'

It dawned on me that this pizza was actually from 'My Rescue Team' ( I chuckled inwardly as I realized this)




I crumpled the paper and threw it into the bin as I walked back upstairs to get Diamond.




In a bit, I returned with an excited Diamond into the kitchen. I hurriedly picked up the plate which contained the safe slices and took a slice while she digged into the box and took hers.




I returned to the counter and dropped the jug of chilled fruit juice that I had gotten from the fridge.




This pizza is so good... She sang out with a wry laugh as she took another slice and I knew that whatever was in the pizza had started taking effect.




'You wouldn't mind if I asked you some personal questions would you?' I queried with a sly smirk as I stood at akimbo facing the now stunned Diamond who was staggering like a drunk.




This is going to be a whole lot of fun.

I better lock the kitchen door!

Read Episode 29 Here>>
https://beat.com.ng/my-mums-gateman-episode-29/

Crestaria:
Which wedding? This one na one time yoruba demon

Thanks for the update.

Walai 😂

Episode 9

I arrived at my cubicle and found Alex sitting on one of the waiting chairs reading a newspaper.

"Good morning sir." I greeted looking at the floor to prevent any eye contact.

"My office." He said rather calmly, his tone depicting some concern.

"Sit down and tell me everything." He ordered as he also took his seat and I followed suit.

This would be the first time since I started working for Alex that I'd be told to sit in his office. Things have really changed and I wasn't as nervous as I would have been with the old stone cold Alex.

I narrated everything to him and he empathized with me
assuring that it's just a phase that would soon pass.

I felt relieved that he actually cared like a normal human being and he didn't pressure me all day even though I was really distracted from work.

Just when I thought things were beginning to work out fine, the devil decides to use Tina and mess me up.

Where on earth do I stay now? What crime did I commit? How many days would my little savings be able to afford a hotel? Where do I get money to afford rent in this Lekki? How do I tell my mom that I'm homeless in Lagos?

Later in the day, Ama and I met up in the ladies room and she consoled me.

She would have loved to have me move in with her but she's currently living with Promise. That was shocking to find out sha but they both promised to help me with some money before the week runs out and I couldn't be more delighted.

That day before he went home, Alex gave me twenty thousand naira to check into a hotel for the night. My people, I was shocked to the core. So Alex has a human heart that actually cares about what someone else is going through huh? Wow! Just wow!

With the money Alex gave me, I went back to my former home where I was staying with Tina before she decided to kick me out, packed my bags and thanking the gatemen for being so kind, I boarded a cab, alighted at a cheap hotel in town and checked in for the night.

My prayers all through the night was for God to provide for Ama and Promise so they could give me the money they'd promised so I in turn could add to what I have and get a house even if it meant sharing a room with ten people as long as I have a roof over my head.

I dared not call my mother or my elder brother and tell them that I'm homeless or else, my mom would freak out and start convincing me to come back home.

The next morning, I woke up and reluctantly got ready for work skipping breakfast even though I was somehow hungry, I just didn't feel like going anywhere to buy food.

Alex on the other hand loaded me with work without giving me any room to breathe which got me so annoyed. I was so hungry, exhausted and upset at the same time.

Before it even got to five, Alex had already left which was rather too early.

By the time I finally dragged myself out of my cubicle, it was almost six so I decided to find somewhere and eat first before returning to the hotel.

As I got down from the taxi on the main road and was making the trip back to the hotel which was located on a dirt road, I spotted a fancy Chevrolet parked by the fence of a school building along the dirt road.

The person resting on the hood of the car was Alex's part-time driver. I've seen him in the office a couple times where he'd come asking to see Alex and introduced himself as his part-time driver.

He was calling my name which made me wonder how on earth he knew my name.

Could it be that Alex sent him or he's out here chasing girls?

Hesitantly, I walked over to where the car was parked to hear what he had to say.

He introduced himself as Wahab, the part-time driver and like I'd guessed, Alex had sent him here to come and get me. But how did he know exactly where to find me? Has he been tracking me or something?

Now Alex asked him to bring me. Haba! What for? it's past seven in the evening and all I want is to return to the hotel and rest from all this wahala.

Just as he was speaking, my phone rang and I realized that it was Alex calling. Speak of the devil!

I picked up and he told me that he'd sent Wahab to get me so I got comfortable with following him to wherever he was supposed to take me.

Driving into one fancy area like that which was just like the area I was living with Tina, Wahab pulled up outside the gates of one of the houses and honked for the gateman to open up. This must be where Alex lives.

We drove in slowly into the residence which comprised of several other well lit flats with cars parked in front of each building. Me and Wahab alighted from the car and he went and unlocked the front door of the building his car was parked.

"Oga tell me say make I carry you come this house. Him talk say him don renew rent for you." Wahab announced as we got inside the living room which was already furnished and had a large TV screen plastered on the wall.

"Shey you dey whine me ni." I said tiredly.

"No be joke madam. Na wetin oga say make I tell you be that." Wahab reaffirmed.

This must be one of those houses that come already furnished and cost a fortune to rent.

I couldn't believe what he just told me as it was too good to be true so I decided to call Alex.

"Do you like your new house?" Those were the first words out of Alex's mouth as soon as the call connected.

I was just too amazed and couldn't thank him enough.
Where do I start from? I wanted to jump and scream out loud but since Wahab was here, I kept cool.

The house had three bedrooms, a dining and a nice kitchen. If this is a dream, then please don't wake me up.

After we were done inspecting the house, Wahab handed me the keys and drove me back to the hotel where I decided to spend the night since I'd already paid upfront for two days and I didn't want my money to waste.

All night, I kept turning on the bed with a giant grin on my face as my excitement couldn't let me get any sleep at all.

I only realized that I'd finally dozed off when my alarm roused me the next morning.

For the third day in a row, I skipped breakfast as I packed my bags and checked out of the hotel that morning officially moving to my new crib.

The Uber pulled up outside my flat and helped me carry my bags to the front door which I quickly unlocked, carried my bags into the living room, locked up and reentered the Uber this time heading to work.

I arrived two minutes before Alex came in. I spent almost an hour in his office thanking him and he in turn made me promise not to tell anyone that he was the one who got the house for me.

It was quite understandable why he wanted anonymity in this matter because people will misread a simple kind gesture for something else.

But wait oh, could there be another reason why Alex just dash me house like that? Because I don't want any conditions that I can't fulfill at all.

Read Episode 10 Here>>
https://beat.com.ng/couldnt-pretend-episode-10/

Aprishyn06:
Chai. Omoh

Sad but it's well

Crestaria:
This is so bad for you girl. I trust you will find a way around it. Tina no try at all.

Thanks Lipstick

Omo, Folake has suffered

Episode 6

Lea

After hiking the streets for ten minutes, I eventually arrive at school just before the bell rings. I rush towards the senior corridors that are trafficked with students huddling around their lockers, getting books out for the day of lessons to come.

Thankfully, the girl I need the most is waiting patiently by my tall, blue locker, looking down at her phone as I approach her.

"Hey Marissa," I call, slightly out breath from the number of stairs I've had to climb.

Her head shoots up to face mine and she looks at me with inquisitive eyes, probably wondering what happened to me yesterday after she left. Entering the code into my lock, the locker clicks open. Inside sit most of my books and my pencil case, which I luckily didn't take home last night.

What catches my eye, however, is a small folded note in the corner; it was probably threaded through the gaps of the locker door.

"Hey, how are you?" She asks, concerned.

"Well, apart from being homeless, I'm okay," I offer her my best forced smile as I reach for the note.

She leans back onto the locker behind her, "I know, I'm so sorry, it must suck. If you need anything though, I'm here."

My forced smile turns genuine, "naw, don't get all mushy on me. It's fine, don't worry about me." I wave dismissively as if it's not a big deal, but the issue is constantly circling in my mind.

Where are we going to live after we've outdone our stay at the Parker's? Where are we going to get money from? How long is it going to take before some sort of normalcy comes back into our lives? Jabbing those questions to the back of my mind, I look down to inspect the contents of this small piece of crumpled paper.

In messy handwriting is a message, which reads:
Hey, Lea. Come to my party tonight? Starts at 8pm.

16, Widow Drive, Brentary.
You can invite as many friends as you like
- Nick Convey

Well then, these past twenty-four hours have been strange, but I didn't think it would reach this amount of strange. The only way I could describe Nick Convey is the all around golden boy - he has the looks, along with the charisma, and is very athletic. I don't think there's a single succesful sports team in this school that doesn't brag of having him on board.

What is strange about this situation is that I don't really know him. If I remember correctly, a few years ago we were lab partners for a semester, but he didn't speak much and I definitely didn't open any conversation that wasn't chemistry-related. So why would he all of a sudden invite me?

"Ris, read this," I hand her the note.
After hastily reading it, her confused expression matches mine.
"Since when have you been friends with Nick?" She asks, still staring at the writing.

I shrug, "like, never, really."
"Well," her eyes slide up to meet mine again, and she's wearing a quizzical look on her face. "You going?"

"Ha. No way in hell would my dad let me, you know how he is." I reply, taking the paper from her and tossing it back into my locker.

"Mhm," she hums, most likely weary of my father's strictness.
Checking my planner for the lessons I have, being Math's, Biology, Chemistry and finally English, I take hold of all the folders I need. When I look upon my yellow English one though, I remember that River is in the same class.

"But," She pauses until she's gained my full attention. "You can always use the 'I'm staying at Marissa's house' excuse, eh?" Her eyebrow arches, making me laugh.

"Would you come with?"

"Any excuse to get out of the house," she responds, to which I laugh even more.

"If I lived in a house like yours, I would happily stay in."

She says something back, but I catch something out of the corner of my eye that distracts me. Of course it's River, and of course, I would spot him out of a bunch of people in the crowd. He's walking with his friends, namely Ky and Jake.

They're laughing about something, oblivious of the girls who are staring in their direction. Just as I'm about to look away, River's eyes meet mine.

They are outlined with a few creases caused from the contageous grin he wears.

I'm the first one to look away, still pissed off with what he said in the car this morning, it was rude and uncalled for. It'll be best if I stay away as far away from him as possible.

Although I have to live with him for now, those gorgeous eyes aren't going to bother me, or that chiselled jaw, or that muscular and Dorito -shaped back...stop!
***

The school day passes by faster than I thought it would, and before I know it, the bell for the last lesson rings. Pacing through the school, I head to the languages department. Upon opening the door to Mr. Sepriars English room, I am reminded that River is in the same class by his marked presence. He's the first person I spot, sat in the far left-hand corner at the back of the room with Ky in front and Jake beside him.

His arms are folded and rested on his desk as he looks out of the window to his left, overseeing the football fields in the distance where the lower year are currently practicing.

I look down to the ground, trying to avoid eye-contact with anyone, as I do normally. Walking around a few desks, I reach my allocated seat, which is right in the middle of the room, and drop my bag near the leg of the table.

Lowering myself onto the seat, I sense a pair of eyes on the back of my head. So, in a sneaky attempt to see whose eyes they are, I lean down towards my bag to unzip it, only to quickly glance backward. River is staring right back me.

Immediately, I look back to my bag, grabbing a few items while trying to ignore the subtle increase in my pulse.

Taking a black pen out of my pencil case and opening my planner to the first clean sheet of lined paper, I start scribbling random lines to pass the time until Mr. Sepriars finally arrives. He pushes through the door with difficulty, holding a dozen folders in one hand and clutching his briefcase with the other.

Placing the folders and briefcase onto the table, he claps his hands together to silence the mummers sounding throughout the class.

"Quiet please!" He calls and a hush settles over the classroom.
English, the only subject that makes sense to me. It's a shame that today, although I hate to admit it, River's presence behind me is awfully distracting.

"Please turn to where we left off in Romeo and Juliet yesterday," He instructs us while rubbing black pen marks off the whiteboard with a whiteboard rubber.

I open my folder and empty my Romeo and Juliet novel from the plastic wallet in the front, turning to the appropriate page before resting my chin in my palm. I have a weird urge to glance back over my shoulder at River again, but I don't.

"Right, Angela, you start us off." Mr. Sepriars orders the girl in front of me to start reading, and so she does.

Although I find the language of Romeo and Juliet impossible to follow, and I have no clue as to what the hell is going on half the time, it depresses me how tragic the ending it.

If only I could find my Romeo, but instead of dying because of poor communication, we'll live happily ever after.
Lea, focus!

"Thank you, Angela," Mr. Sepriars stops the girl from reading any further, and I've only realised that I've been zoned out and missed a whole two pages just lost in my thoughts.

The teacher searches the room for another reader before his eyes land on someone behind me. "River, you read next please."

Absolutely every head in the class – including mine - turns towards him, watching him straighten in his chair and clearing his throat. Just for one second, our eyes meet, but he turns his head to the book in his hands.

"O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night, like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear; beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!

So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, as yonder lady o'er her fellows shows.

The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, and, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."

Right, I'm sure in the past there have been times where I've admired him from afar, simply due to his good looks, but now having actually been introduced to and spoken to him, his voice sounds so much more intriguing, making me want him to continue reading more. His voice, although quite deep, possess a husky softness that is more than pleasing to the ears.

"Thank you, River." Mr. Sepriars stops him before he can speak any further, much to my dismay.

You will hate me, yet I can't help it. I glance over my shoulder once more and catch his eyes. He's looking at me, and it makes my heart beat just that little bit faster.

Read Episode 7 Here>>
https://beat.com.ng/mr-popular-and-i-episode-7/

Episode 7

Kiki

"How were you able to convince him to follow you?" I queried Erica as I dropped my mug on the table.

"Nothing much, just that you were dying and needed him to come hear your last words." She said in a duh tone and I gave her a heavy punch on the shoulder earning a little yelp of pain.

"So have you told him?" Erica asked as she returned to taking a sip of her coffee.

"Not yet Eri." I replied rather passively.

"You have a few more days before I spill the beans to him by myself." She ranted as I kept raising my brows at her.

"I'll tell him tonight okay?" I said in defense.

"That's your choice B." Erica said taking a cookie.

"I saw Ashley today. She looked like a million bucks." She joked and threw the cookie at me.

"Obviously." I laughed clapping my hands.

"I'm gonna miss you on the pole tonight." She added and my mind flashed back to the fact that I was still on suspension.

"I'm gonna miss me too." I said with a scoff batting my lashes. My mind's not at rest.

***

"Hey Doll!" Dwayne greeted giving me a peck on the cheek as he walked into my living room.

"Good evening D." I also greeted with a little smile.

"How was work today?"

"Went well, how was your day?" He replied grabbing my lil waist.

"Was okay and boring. Also, remember that I've been suspended from work." I said faking a little frown.

"Oh my bad!" He whispered in my ear still grabbing my waist.

"I wanna tell you something D. Let's sit down first." I announced and he sat down on the sofa dragging me to sit beside him.

"Go ahead Doll I'm listening." He said after a little silence had set in.

"Well, I Uhm.., I'd be lying if I said that I have not been thinking about the kiss and uh hoping for a replay." I stuttered nervously rubbing my fingers.

"Oh that, me too Doll." He said smiling broadly.

"And not just that, over the past few months of our friendship, I've started developing a great deal of feelings for you Dwayne and I would be happy if you made me your girlfriend." I stated boldly looking him in the eye.

"Tell me you're joking." He said laughing so hard.

"I'm dead serious Dwayne." I said in a whisper.

"Thought you didn't do boyfriends ey?" He dragged on placing his hand on his chin.

"Why do you have to so unserious and annoying right now?" I said with a little frown.

Acting on my intuition, I grabbed his face with both hands and pressed my lips so hard against his and he responded immediately. I sat astride on his laps and this time around, I totally dominated the kiss.

I could feel the bulge again in his pants as he pressed his body against mine squeezing my backside.

Breaking the kiss for a minute to catch our breaths, he finally said;

"I'll be your boyfriend Doll." He said in a husky voice and Immediately claimed my lips for another breathtaking kiss as I clawed at his t-shirt trying to get it off.

"Let's go all the way." I whispered in his ear.

"Lemme lock the door first, hold that thought." He said and I reluctantly let him go lock the front door.

He returned from locking the door with a big fat grin on his face as I motioned for him to come closer with my fingers.

Dwayne carried me from the couch and jogged up the stairs kicking my bedroom door open with his right leg.

Dropping me on the bed he shut the door and took off his t-shirt before walking over to the bed.

****

"Good morning Doll." Dwayne greeted sweetly with a little smile as he walked into the bedroom carrying a tray full of food.

"Morning D. Is that breakfast?" I questioned stretching tiredly on the bed.

"Nah! It's lunch." He announced and my eyes widened in shock.

"C'mon I'm just fooling around with ya." He said with a chuckle and I breathed a sigh of relief.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's afternoon already cause of the marathon I ran with him last night.

"Get your butt up and eat something." He said slapping my backside.

"Ouch!" I winced pretending to be in pain while he kept smirking and arranging the stuff in the tray. I didn't waste much time in sitting up and joining him.

"Ain't you going to work today?" I asked between mouthfuls of the delicious eggs.

"I will after I finish breakfast with my new new chick." He said giving me a wink. Gosh! The butterflies in my stomach started flying in perfect formation as my heart skipped a beat and I couldn't help but smile shyly.

"I love you Dwayne." I declared for the very first time ever.

"I love you too Doll." He responded and brought his face closer for a kiss which I didn't hesitate to comply to.

In a matter of minutes, we finished breakfast and Dwayne cleared the table before heading back to his place to get ready for work.

I stood there before my mirror smiling sheepishly as thoughts of all we did last night kept replaying in my head. I can't believe I just asked a guy out for the first time ever. I have a boyfriend after about six years alone. Darn!

***

"So did you get to tell him last night?" Erica asked as I returned to the kitchen where she was sitting with the boiling hot box of pizza which the delivery man just dropped by.

"Well yeah I did." I replied a little bit passively as I was occupied with the pizza which I was trying to serve.

"Be serious for once B." Erica said snatching a slice of pizza from the box.

"I'm serious. I asked him out, he accepted and we even went as far as doing the nasty." I explained sticking my tongue out at the last part.

"What?" She finally said after a long loud yell.

"Would you just calm down. You're gonna make my neighbors report me for noise disturbances." I whisper yelled and she covered her mouth with both hands.

"Sorry B. You're fierce bebé! How'd you go about it?" She inquired and I filled her in on every single detail.

A few minutes after Erica had left, I called Dwayne but he wasn't picking up so I decided to drop by at his workshop before taking a stop at the grocery store so I could get some stuff for dinner.

When I got there, he wasn't in and the shop was locked too. I tried calling him again but he wasn't still picking up so I decided to go to the grocery store and get items for dinner instead. I was pretty worried about his whereabouts plus this isn't the first time this is happening. Could it be that his mom is sick again?

UNKNOWN:

Today I'm supposed to finalize the talks of our partnership deal with Meyer which I've not been able to come to terms with the fact that my mum is seriously pushing this deal.

I instructed my security guard who was sitting in the front seat of the car with the driver to do some research and dig up dirt on Meyer for me. Whatever it takes, I'm not going to let him control my father's company.

Also, I needed to get in touch with my haughty younger sister Nicole. She has a whooping twenty percent of the company's shares. If she will agree to sell those shares to me, I'm going to have the upper hand in this matter. The foolish girl was not picking up. I'll call her later.

For the sake of this matter, I'mma need to get back in good terms with Diane. Hopefully, she could tell me something that I need to know about her dad's dirty dealings.

"Hey baby girl." I greeted as soon as the call connected.

"Baby why are you doing this to me? You haven't been taking my calls or replying back to my text messages. Where are you?" Diane bemoaned on the other end of the phone.

"I'm sorry about my behavior babe. Let's meet at my place in an hour or so. I've missed you." I said bluntly and hung up the phone before dipping my hands in my pocket to confirm if the contraceptives were still intact. I need to get my hands dirty if I wanna win this.

Read Episode 8 Here>>
https://beat.com.ng/when-i-fell-in-love-episode-8/

Episode 27

Marie's POV cont'd

We finally stopped kissing as I turned to look at the direction of the sound. I didn't even think that someone else would be in this room.
Oh my God! It's Glory standing there with a big smile plastered on her face.

I hugged her tightly whilst muttering things like 'ive missed you' or 'how have you been'.

I took a look around the room and realized that we were in a small storage space where unused equipment were dumped.

Francis locked the door as Glory explained everything to me about how my father had actually hired her and some others to look after me and how she and Francis as well as Sam and others are working hard to get me out of the current situation. They knew all about the evidence and stuff.

I also took out time to narrate my own ordeal over there.

I didn't know the location of the house I was staying at but I knew it was in a GRA kind of area. All they needed to know was my exact location so they could keep an eye on me directly.

I told them about Jude's sister who happens to be the only one with a little bit of sympathy for me.

'I think she might know something that could help pin my mum since she was also her mother's friend.' I opined.

They knew about her already. Truth is, Jude's father is a corrupt politician, all we had to do was dig up dirt on him and by extension, my mum.

Francis brought out a beaded belly chain made of pearls. It was beautiful but I wasn't a fan of waistbeads.

'Whats this for?' I asked surprised as he passed it on to Glory.
'It will help us track you at all times' he says as he turns his face to the wall.

Glory helped me unzip the tight dress and put the jewelry on my little waist.

I wished Francis was looking at me right now to tell me if it looked good on me but he was too much of a gentleman to look at the naked me, I thought to myself with an eye roll.

He only turned round when he was sure that I had fully dressed up again.

He cupped my cheeks assuring me that things are going to be alright. But all I saw was pain in those beautiful eyes even though he was taking it so well. He appeared to be hurting even more than I was.

I drew him closer and kissed him again not minding the fact that Glory was in the room.

I lifted myself off the ground as I wrapped my legs around his waist and deepened the kiss.

He had to stop the kiss so I could return to the reception since I've been gone for a while. That was when reality struck me.

I was gonna leave him again and return to that Godforsaken arranged marriage. Tears streamed down my face as I held Francis' hand in mine squeezing it slightly as he opened the door for me to go out.

I said my goodbyes as I stepped back into the hallway to find Diamond coming towards me. Turns out that the reception was already over and she has been sent to come and find me.

We linked arms together as we walked back into the Hall where people were busy taking photos, exchanging goodbyes and packing up stuff.

We walked outside and got into one of the waiting vehicles and the convoy immediately started driving out fighting it's way through the crowd of people outside the event center.

As soon as we got into the house, my period started. I didn't have any tampons. Thank God for Diamond as I got into her room where she gave me some pads and aspirin.

I thanked her as I got into the bathroom to freshen up and put it on.

Some minutes after we had gotten into bed, a knock sounded on the door. I turned to look at Dismissed and found her sleeping peacefully beside me and I didn't bother to even answer the door.

After two more violent knocks, the door creaked open and Jude walked in. He turned on the light and walked towards the bed.

'What do you want?' I asked angrily
'I want you b**h. It's our freaking wedding night' he spat out angrily.

'Point of correction loser, it is your wedding night. You are married to whoever signed that old signature on your wedding certificate.' I half yelled in a single breathe.

He scoffed and gave me a slap in the face. By now Diamond was already awake as I squeaked when he hit me.

'Enough of it now, you crazy wife beater' She yelled as he raised his hand to hit me again.

'The next time those filthy hands touch me, that will be the last time you have hands! No get out' I yelled at him as my voice crashed into weeping.

He stormed out of the room angrily as I sobbed while Diamond drew me into a hug patting my back consolingly for a second before also storming out of the room probably going after her idiot of a brother. She seemed really upset.

I sat up in bed wiping off my tears continuously with the back of my palm. Diamond has been gone for a long while now and curiosity was eating me up. I wonder where she went to as I stood up from the bed and walked quietly out of the room to find out what is going on.

As I got down from the last the last stair, I overheard them arguing heatedly. Diamond sounded so angry as she yelled as if she was going to bring the roof down.

How dare you Jude? She yelled at the top of her voice.

Diamond-You wanted to rape her? You wanted to rape your own wife?

Jude-They forced me into this D!!

Diamond-She was also forced into this too dammit!! Do you remember who her father is?

Jude- Her mother should have thought about that before forging her signature on that marriage certificate.

Diamond- Remember Viv!!

Jude- Don't you dare bring her up!!

That was the last sentence I was able to understand as the started to yell in what sounded like Yoruba.

( I don't understand Yoruba even though I'm a Yoruba girl. My mum never allowed me to learn)

It sounded so strange to me. Whatever they were saying, I'm sure it was very serious but there was no way to find out. I turned back disappointedly and headed back to Diamond's room.

Who was Viv? I thought to myself as I got into the room and lay down on the bed. I didn't even realize when I dozed off. I was so tired anyway.


Read Episode 28 Here>>
https://beat.com.ng/my-mums-gateman-episode-28/

Aprishyn06:
Ja nice one

Nice to know you're reading with us

Crestaria:
Lost and found. That must be Glory?

Well done and thanks for the amazing updates

We're going to find out

Episode 8




"Print that report and bring it to me at Kebari's when you're ready to leave." Alex ordered and hurried off before I could even say a word.


"Yes your royal pompousness." I mocked rolling my eyes when I was sure that he was far off and couldn't hear me.




I abandoned everything I was working on and printed out the report, stuffed it in an envelope and at exactly five, I left the office heading to Kebari's.




It was easier to find him this time around as I had his phone number from the other day he called.




"Was beginning to think that you'd never show up." Alex remarked sarcastically as he saw me and all I could do was smile shyly..




I get it now. Alex telling me to bring that report to this place was just a set up.




Table seventy four must be reserved because we sat at the same table as we did the other day and this time, he ordered for okro soup prepared with snails alongside semovita while I ordered for pepper soup rice. I would've opted for soup sha but my nails would make it a challenge to try that as I hated the idea of using cutleries to eat soup.




There was a whole lot of meat in my plate and I wished I could just take some home. So yummy and cooked to perfection. This time around, I dropped my forming and did justice to the rice as well as all the meat after all, no be me dey pay.




We finished eating, and then talked at length about our lives. Turns out that Alex is the first of three sons for his mom who's now late and four for his dad.




I on the other hand was the only daughter and second of four children.




Alex dropped me off at home a few minutes to nine that night.




"I had a great time. We should do this often." Alex said coolly earning a little laugh from me.




We said our goodbyes and I stood there watching him drive off. As I turned to go inside, I realized that the front door was locked so I searched for my keys and unlocked the door. Tina was not in like I'd suspected.




Since I came home with a full stomach, I didn't bother going to the kitchen but just walked straight into my room, changed up and went to bed.




A new day came and I was getting ready to go to work, Tina returned that early morning looking rather upset. When I asked what the problem was, she refused to say anything so I just got on my way to work. One thing about Tina is that she's the queen among drama queens so why bother with her?




As usual, the day went by smoothly and I did some catching up with Ama and Promise before finally coming back home only to meet Tina in the same sour mood.




"Hey T! What's up?" I hailed as I sat down on the sofa opposite her.




"So you're finally back. You left the house without even leaving even a cup of boiled water for me. And the house is just so dirty. Take a look at the white tiles turning into something else." She ranted and I was taken aback.




"Tina calm down na. You were not in last night and besides, I didn't even know when you would be coming back. As for the floor I mopped it on Sunday." I said pleadingly.




"Oh spare me that." She yelled angrily and stormed out of the house angrily.




What could've come over her? Because the Tina I know never speaks to me with such contempt and disrespect.




As I couldn't quite wrap my head around what was going on in her kingdom, I went to the kitchen and found everything squeaky clean. The fridge and the cabinets were all locked. Not even a single spoon was anywhere in sight.




So Tina is locking up the foodstuffs that I also contributed money to buy? No pressure. I went upstairs, changed up and got on the road. I ate rice at a small restaurant far from where we lived and came home to sleep.




By now, Tina was back inside the living room and didn't even respond when I told her 'goodnight'.







The next day, I woke up at the sound of my alarm clock and got ready for work. I'd run out of soap and I didn't even remember to buy that yesterday so I went to knock on Tina's door.




After waiting so long for her to open the door, I asked to borrow her soap and my people, that was when I finally heard Tina's mind ho ha!




She screamed at me calling me a pest, a parasite, you name it. She complained that the house, the food and even most of the clothes I wore belonged to her. She called me poor, wretched and whatever name she could think of.




I left her without saying anything and returned to my room where I took my shower without any soap and got dressed in tears not knowing what to do next.




If someone would have told me that Tina of all people would one day walk all over me like that, I would have never believed them.




After all the things we went through together back in school. Back when she had nothing. She wore my clothes and shared a bunk in my hostel every night since she couldn't afford to pay her rent after her dad died that year.




As I sat there thinking about all the things I've done for her too, I was so annoyed and decided to also confront her and give her a piece of my mind.




We argued for almost an hour before she resolved that the only way to solve all her problems in life was to kick me out of the house.




She threw my things out while the gatemen helped me pack them up. One of our neighbors who came to resolve the issue only got met with insults upon insults by the brat.




I left my things with the gateman who helped me carry them to their post as I promised to come back for them in the evening.




As late as I was, I still got to work. Like I supposed, the time book was already closed. It was already 8:37 by the time I arrived. Alex was here already and that has never happened before.

Thank God I had told him on the phone that I was having problems back home.


Read episode 9 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/couldnt-pretend-episode-9/

Episode 5
Lea

After having a fast shower and brushing my teeth with the toothbrush and paste that Brenda left for me in the bathroom yesterday night, I tip-toe back to the bed where the clothes lie, trying not to get the floor wet.




Unfortunately, I leave a trail of water droplets that fall from the tips of my waist-length blonde hair. When it's wet, it turns a dark shade of brown and the strands stick together to make me look like a drowned rat.




Yet when it's dry, the wavy strands present a mixture of chestnut brown hues with blonde highlights. I run my fingers through the wet fringe, pushing it away from my face to get a clear view of the clothes.




River's girlfriend has expensive taste in fashion.




The white top is from Chanel , probably costing her a fortune despite its averageness.




The skinny denim jeans seem newly bought from

Armani and match the off-white trainers perfectly. As cringe-worthy as it is, seeing as I don't have any underwear of my own, my mother had to borrow a few pairs from Brenda, who reassured her they were brand new.




Sighing at the situation, at how embarrassing it is to borrow underwear from someone else, I drop the towel from around my body and start to get dressed. Once I've finished, I look in the mirror of the dressing table and smile in satisfaction.




Everything fits just fine and the clothes look quite nice.




Quickly, taking into account the time that I read from the clock hanging above the bed, I tidy the guest room, neatly folding my clothes and placing them in the wardrobe, hanging the towel back in the bathroom and making the bed to how it was yesterday.




Heading towards the door, I take a deep breath, turn the golden handle, open the door, and walk across the landing towards the stairs.




Climbing down, I think of what to tell Marissa about this situation.




Yesterday, she knew that I would spend the night at Malcolm's house, however, she doesn't know whose dad he is.




Should I tell her?




When I reach the downstairs hallway, I stand a little lost in the spacious entrance, eyeing each door and corridor that trails away to another part of the house.




Well, there are ten doors and three corridors. Which one leads to the kitchen or dining room? I have no idea.




"This way, clumsy." I only realise now that River has been walking behind me on the stairs, his steps completely silent.




He strides past me, walking through the corridor directly behind the stairs and I hurry to keep up with his fast pace.




Now that he's dressed in tailored grey trousers and a blue-stripped shirt that clings to his upper body, my eyes can't help but glue to his back, watching the way his muscles contract and relax antagonistically as he walks towards an open-plan dining room.




It's the backs, boys' backs are my weakness I swear.




Stop staring at his back, Lea. Creep.

"Good morning," I smile, unwillingly tearing my eyes away from River and towards Malcolm, Brenda and my parents.




"Morning, did you sleep well?" Brenda asks through a smile that exposes her polished, white teeth.




"Yes, thank you," I was about to mention how I slept like a baby, but with River in the same room, I gather as little information as possible would be better. I don't want to get teased by him anymore.




Especially now since I know he has a girlfriend.




Who is she? I wonder.




River takes a seat at the dining table, closer to his parents, and I take the last available seat beside him, closer to mine.




As we simultaneously sit down, our arms brush against each other. It shouldn't be a big deal, but the stupid butterflies are setting of miniature pieces of dynamite in my stomach.




I glance towards the variety of foods in the middle of the table in order to distract myself. Cereals, bread, butter, marmite, jam, orange juice, apples, bananas, and the lists go on.




Untangling my intertwined fingers in my lap, I reach my hand out for an apple, only to freeze immediately when River's does the same thing. I move my hand back onto my lap instantly, sensing a heat wave overwhelming my cheeks.




To my surprise, River still grabs an apple only to place it on the empty plate in front of me, before getting one for himself.




Well isn't that adorable?

Instantaneously, my heart beats a tiny bit faster.




He takes a large bite into his apple as mine is still standing on my plate - I don't even want to touch it, afraid that it'll disappear when I do and the whole gesture would just be a pigment of my imagination.




However, my stomach grumbles, as if on cue to my thoughts. Cautiously, I lift my hand and wrap my fingers around the red skin of the apple, holding it up to my mouth. I take a bite, finally convinced that the apple is real.




Thanks dickhead, the apple tastes great.

***




"I better get going, I'll see you later." He nods at both his parents and mine, before placing the core of the apple on his plate, pushing himself off of the chair and tucking it back under the table.




"River, you are taking Lea with you, aren't you?" Malcolm questions, raising both his eyebrows expectantly.




No, please, God no. I don't want to. No!




I imagine how awkward and heavy the silence would be around us his car; I wouldn't be able to handle that. So, I shake my head at Malcolm.




"Oh no. It's fine, seriously. I'd prefer to walk." I say hesitantly.




"Don't be silly, dear, you don't know the way from our house." Brenda dives in.




Ah, crap.




I am squeezing my hands together so tightly that I'm pretty sure the circulation to my fingers is cutting off. Please, I do not want to go.




"Yeah, I'll take her." River declares as if it's no big deal to him.




It isn't a big deal, Lea, you're just a drama queen. Chill.




It's just a simple ride to school, it'll be fine.




"I'll be in the car." He tells me as he walks away from the dining room and through the corridor.




I watch him until he rounds the corner before turning to my parents and the Parker's.




"Have a lovely day, thank you for breakfast," I force a smile.




While they throw their goodbyes at me, I stand from my seat, leaving my half eaten apple on the white, clean plate, and push my chair back into its original place - tucked under the table. Brushing a ringlet of hair behind my ear, I follow the same suit as River.




Just as I'm about to head out the open front door , I catch a glimpse of myself in a large, round mirror hanging on one of the walls in the hallway, situated just before it.




Running my fingers through my damp hair that still makes me resemble a drowned rat, I frown at how unattractive I look.




Then, I shake my head and laugh at myself in disbelief. I've never cared about how I've looked before, never. I know I've inspected myself in the past to see my appearance, but never have I ever

cared.




***




The traffic lights ahead of us turn from green to orange, and finally red. River presses the breaks of his Mercedes convertible and the car immediately jerks to a stop, causing my body to heave forward but luckily it's caught by the seat belt.




"Would you slow down? You were going seventy miles per hour on a forty road," I say, glaring at his face that's focusing directly forward at the car in front of him. One hand grips the steering wheel whilst the other is rested on the hand break, ready to press it down when the lights turn green.




"Is the good girl scared of a little fast driving?" He teases, pouting his lips in a mocking manner.




"Yes, I'm scared. But you're not going to think I'm a good girl in a minute if you keep driving like a maniac!"




"Is that a threat?" He raises his eyebrows, facing me this time.

"Well done, Einstein." I scorn.




"What are you going to do about it?" He asks smugly, never believing for a moment that I'll do anything to him. "Are you going to hit me?" He leans a little closer to me. "Or maybe you're going to do something that only a bad girl does." He smirks.




I'm quite sure the butterfly's in my stomach have taken ecstasy by the way there are fluttering.




"Pervert!" I shout, moving away from his capturing eyes. "Now move, the light's green!"




He chuckles, "it's a joke, chill out."




His head turns back onto the road and he presses down on the gas and the car zooms through the streets so fast that the world outside the windows is blurred. I grasp the edges of my seat as the speedometer rises to seventy miles per hour, seventy-five, eighty.




"Okay, stop! Pull over! Now!" I yell, really pissed off.




The car slows and smoothly comes to halt beside the sidewalk and I undo my seat belt frantically.




"You're a dickhead!" I say angrily, trying not to scream. I hate fasting driving, I don't even want to think about the accidents that can happen because of it.




"You're really that scared?" He asks.

"No, I'm just a damn good actress. What do you think?" I pull the handle of the passenger door, but it's locked. "Open the door, River." My words aren't loud but are vexed.

"I'll stop driving fast, you don't need to get out." He says, but I shake my head.




"I'll prefer to walk. Please, open the door." I tell him, sternly.




"One thing before you leave," he fidgets in his seat until most of his upper body is facing mine. "You tell nobody about staying at my house. Okay?" He speaks patronisingly.




I wasn't planning on saying anything, but when he says it like that, it sort of hurts. I don't know why, but it hurts.




"I wasn't planning on telling a soul." And with that, I get out of his car and close the door behind me.

Read Episode 6 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/mr-popular-and-i-episode-6/

Episode 6

Kiki

"What part of 'stay away from my man didn't you understand?' " I queried with my hands on my waist.

"You sound really ridiculous right now. I never saw a poster on his forehead indicating that he's your man Kiki. Quit tryna pick a fight with me because it's not going to work." Ashley clapped back at me.

Aw man, the audacity!!

I landed her a hot slap on the face and as I was about giving her a second slap, Dwayne intervened and grabbed me by the wrist.

"Calm down Kiki, you're going to embarrass yourself." He said calmly holding me tight.

As I was still trying to hear him out, Ashley seized me by the hair which hurt like hell. I forcefully pushed Dwayne aside and tried to free my hair from her grip. By now, a small crowd has gathered in a semi circle around us cheering us on as I shoved Ashley to the floor and sat on her punching her repeatedly messing up her face and hair.

Again, Dwayne lifted me off of her while I kept kicking the air trying to get free from his grip.

The bouncers have now arrived and tried to get the situation under control. The manager and the owner of the club also came in and directed us to follow them to the back of the club where we could sort things out.

"You caused this Dwayne." I yelled pointing my finger in his face.

"No you did because of your crazy jealousy." He yelled back.

"What the heck were you two talking about?" I ranted.

"Why don't you just ask her." He replied bluntly and settled down on a waiting chair in Larry's office where we were.

"Enough of the yelling now guys. Kiki and Ashley; you are both suspended until further notice." Larry spoke angrily and sternly.

"She should be the only one getting suspended because she first slapped me." Ashley cried and I eyed her from head to toe with utter disdain. Her face was full of bruises that might leave some scars. Duh!

"Enough of it y'all. You should be grateful that I'm not firing you instead." Larry said sounding even more upset.

"That'll be all for now." Larry finally said after a long and awkward quiet in the room. Dwayne was the first to storm out. Followed by Ashley before I finally decided to join them.

***

Outside...

"Dwayne! Dwayne wait up!!" I called running after him in the parking lot.

"What now Kiki?" He turned round and asked throwing his hands up and I looked down at the floor unable to say anything.

"Oh you thought I was about to ask her out? I'm not that cheap or stupid you know. I'm just sorely disappointed."

"Then why was she with you?" I yelled fighting back tears.

"She was the one who came asking for my phone number okay? Wait, why I'm I even explaining myself? I don't owe you any explanation Kiki. You can get back to flirting with those old men in there or something." He rapped angrily and walked away to his car leaving me speechless.

Gosh! I've messed up big time.

***

"I'm so mad that I missed all that action." Erica said as we exited the gym the next morning.

"You don't say." I answered without any shred of interest in my tone.

"I messed up Erica." I continued as I sat in the car.

"Nah, you messed her up. It's just unfortunate that Dwayne had to be dragged along in the senseless quarrel. You gotta talk to him and sort it out." She said calmly before returning to the energy drink she was taking.

"He's not been taking any of my calls or replying my texts." I whined.

"Why don't you just go to his house then?" She asked sounding a little bit annoyed with me.

"I don't think I can face him after last night."

"Why are you so timid and shy around this dude anyway? The Kiara I know is fierce, resilient and doesn't feel any iota of shyness around anyone but with Dwayne it's always about running away from your emotions because you're scared of speaking up or getting turned down." Erica yelled angrily.

"Alright, alright I'll talk to him mum" I said sarcastically and she only replied with an eye roll. Nasty attitude!

***

At Dwayne's place....

I landed a strong knock on the door and in a flash, the door creaked open and Dwayne's face peeped out.

"Good evening D." I said calmly with a little smile.

"C'mon in." He said completely ignoring my greetings.

"Dwayne I'm sorry for creating a scene last night, it was nothing to write home about. I know I'm not your girlfriend and I had no right to be mad or jealous because I saw you talking to someone else. I don't wanna lose you because of this madness Dwayne. Please forgive me." I apologized as hot crocodile tears flowed down my face ruining my makeup. I call em crocodile tears because I'm not sorry that I fought with Ashley.

"I'm not mad at you Kiki. What else do you wanna hear?" He responded coldly without sparing me a glance.

"At least look at me." I said standing up from where I was sitting and occupying the remaining space on the two-seater sofa he was sitting on.

"I know what you look like already Kiki." He said as he scanned my face for a second and looked away again.

I felt totally rejected and slowly, I got up from the sofa and walked towards the front door.

"Good night Dwayne." I said without looking back or expecting a response and walked out of the house. As soon as I got outside, real tears starting pouring down my face. I sat there in the car for several minutes bawling my eyes out and repeatedly hitting the steering wheel in annoyance.

I finally gathered enough strength to drive back home where I spent the rest of the night crying silently until I fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up with a migraine so bad that I felt like dying. It's prolly because of all the crying that I did last night. I struggled to get my eyes open but couldn't get them to adjust to the brightness of the room.

My head hurt like hell and I felt so weak and nauseated like I was going to throw up on my sheets as I struggled to sit up holding my forehead which banged with pain like it was getting repeatedly hit by a maul.

Gathering all the strength I had left, I held the walls for support until I got into my bathroom and took a pee. I couldn't find any aspirin in the cabinet so I decided to contact Erica so she could get me some.

After placing the call to Erica, I returned to the bathroom and showered with some hot water before returning to bed.

A few minutes later, my phone rang. It was Erica calling to let me know that she's outside waiting for me to come and open up for her.

I managed to get to the sitting room and open up for her. She looked really worried and breathed a huge sigh of relief when she saw me. She brought me some water from the fridge for me to take the aspirin with. I had a temperature as well thanks to crying all night long.

"Don't do this to yourself Kiki, no man is worth dying for." Erica said in pity after placing her hands on my forehead to feel my temperature.

"He's so mad at me Eri." I said in a frail voice.

"And so freaking what? You're better than this. C'mon where's the Kiki I know?" She said biting her lower lip.

"What if, what if I helped you get him back? But with a price of course." She suggested biting one of her long painted nails.

"Just name it Eri." I said eagerly and impatiently.

"Okay number one, you're gonna eat something first." She pointed out and I nodded waiting for her to say more.

"And number two, you're gonna tell him how you feel about him within a week or I'm gonna tell him myself."

"Deal!" I quickly replied with a nod.

"Good, let me make us breakfast first cause I'm starving." She yawned and walked off into the kitchen while I lay down on the couch to rest a bit till she's done with the cooking. I don't know how Erica's going to do it, but I'd be happy if she can make Dwayne to actually forgive me.

After struggling to eat the eggs she was able to prepare, Erica left for Dwayne's place. I knew for sure that he'd be at home since it's a Sunday.

About an hour after she left, I heard the sound of a car pull up outside in my driveway. Since the front door was unlocked, I turned on the couch fixing my eyes on the door which opened up and a very worried looking Dwayne followed by Erica who was smiling broadly at me.

"Hey Doll! How are you feeling?" Dwayne spoke as soon as he got to where I was lying down on the couch.

His countenance was rather sullen and his voice full of gloom.

"Not good D." I said batting my lashes like I was going to cry. So much drama! He squat down and placed his hands on my forehead feeling my temperature which was still a little bit high. His touch alone can make me feel better.

"Are you still mad at me Dwayne?" I asked as he sat down on one end of the couch and placed my head on his laps.

"No I'm not. I can't stay mad at you forever." He answered shaking his head.

"Alrighty then, I'll call to check on you later B but remember that you have just seven days and your starts now. Tick tock! tick tock!" Erica who has been quiet ever since she came in said lightly tapping her wrist with a finger.

"Thanks so much Eri." I said as she turned round dramatically grabbing the door handle.

"Don't mention. Remember tick tock!" She sang and walked out of the room.

"What does she mean by that?" Dwayne asked sounding lost.

"It's a girl thing. What did she tell you that made you come?" I asked diverting from the main question.

"That you got sick and needed me to come take care of you or something like that." He said rather casually with a little shrug. I have a feeling that he's not telling me everything that Erica said.

"You wanna eat something?" He asked stroking my hair calmly.

"Yeah, just make me anything you can." I said as he made me sit so he could get up and head to the kitchen.

Yessss!!! I've gotten my man back!! But there's still a little problem though- Erica's seven days ultimatum. How do I bring myself to tell him about my feelings? Gosh! I'm so dead for real.

Read Episode 7 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/when-i-fell-in-love-episode-7/

Episode 26
The Reception/Reunion

Marie's POV


He climbed on the bed and looked into my eyes feeling satisfied that he was able to make me cry.

He smirked and turned his back towards me as he lies down.

'Till we get married' he says with a scoff before turning off the lights.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I sat up on the bed hugging my knees.
I stayed like that all night not sleeping for a second. In case he tries anything funny while I sleep.

💥Two days later 💥
It's currently the wedding day (my wedding day)
The makeup artists are busy working on my face, my nails and my hair.

I looked into the mirror and couldn't even recognize myself.

My makeup was every shade of wrong. The bright red lipstick was too garish making my fake smile too insipid.

It looked as though I was some witch as the nail extensions looked like wolverine's claws.

I wore an ugly red dress. I considered it ugly because it revealed my back, my breasts (my nipples were almost visible) and had an opening which had my right thigh in full view. It was so long that it swept the floor behind me.

The dress was edged with white frills. Huge diamond earrings were fastened to my ears and the brown 24 inches long lace wig was swept over my right shoulder.

I hated how I looked right now in every sense of the word as I kept looking at myself in the large polished silver mirror.

I looked at the golden clock on the wall. It was 1:56 in the afternoon.
I wonder when the so-called wedding was going to start or have they changed their mind?

The makeup artists took my hands and led me downstairs to meet with Jude, his family and my mum who stood up and applauded the moment I came down the stairs.

I looked at my mum with disgust. How on Earth was she enjoying this?

I looked at Jude's mum who looked overjoyed, his dad was checking me out, while Diamond had a sadder expression, I know she pitied me. She was the only one in her right mind.

Finally, my eyes landed on Jude, who was smiling so wide that his face could have torn up any minute.
I looked at him with a blank facial expression followed by an eye roll.

I finally got down and they took turns to squeeze me in hugs which I didn't bother responding to. I stood there like a statue.

I looked closely at the paper on the table before me. It was a marriage certificate bearing my name and old signature.

They didn't even let me sign it. I'm guessing my mum did that. She was the only one in the room who knows what my signature looks like.

I was so disgusted. I felt like throwing up. I had PMS. My stomach was cramping up and my head hurts.

They were busy drinking and celebrating the wedding. It was not my wedding. I wasn't even allowed to sign my own marriage certificate. That's crazy!!

It was finally time to get going to the reception venue where the guests were waiting for us to arrive.

I just hope I don't go crazy today.
I've greeted a thousand people already and I need a break.

So many guests and dignitaries were present at the event including the Lagos State governor, his wife and the deputy as well as other commissioners, Special advisers etc.

Jude was the last person I wanted to be close to right now. But I had no option as I had to play along, nuptial photos and all that nonsense.

I skipped the nuptial dance, feeding of the groom and all the kissing and sh-t. I was thinking about Francis all through. Where was he? And is he going to feel when our wedding photos surface online.

I needed to get out of the crowd and clear my head outside. My mum was following me and I stopped to hear what she had to say.

She was so happy about the wedding and how her plans were falling into place.

I was about to give her a piece of my mind when one of the ushers at the event came up to inform me that more guests had arrived and were looking for the bride.

I followed her and she stopped opposite the hallways and pointed towards one of the corridors where I was supposed to find the so called guests.

I had a bad feeling about this. I mean I was getting scared as I walked down the empty hallway. I didn't see anyone. I yelled hello but still no response. Then suddenly, one of the doors opened and a hand pulled me into one of the rooms.

I wanted to scream but he shut me up with a kiss. Geez!! It was Francis!! I finally relaxed as I reciprocated immediately wrapping my legs around his waist with his hands on my butt.

We kissed like our lives depended on it.
I mean you can't blame us. We have missed each other for what felt like forever.
I wanted us to stay like that forever.

The sound of someone clearing his/her throat in the room brought us back to reality. (Geez, someone else was in the room)

We finally stopped kissing and turned breathlessly towards the direction of the sound.

Read Episode 27 Here>>
https://beat.com.ng/my-mums-gateman-episode-27/

Episode 25

Wedding Plans/ In His Bed Again

Marie's POV cont'd


We arrived at his father's house and judging by their reaction, it seemed like they already knew everything about me. His mum was just like mine, grumpy and proud. His dad looked like the crooked politician he was.

It was so boring and I felt very uncomfortable when his father kept giving me some lustful glances. Diamond's tight black dress wasn't helping matters as it showed every curve.

This man was having a feast staring at me. I tried my best to pretend like I didn't notice.

What is wrong with this old man?
It finally dawned on me that the real reason I was here was to see the plans they have made for the wedding reception.

I felt like throwing up everytime the wedding was brought up.

My mum was the event planner as you would guess. She arrived late and was trying to play nice with me.
I shifted away from her. I preferred sitting with Jude instead of her. I kinda detest her even though she is my mother.

After all the planning was done, I finally heaved a sigh of relief and I couldn't wait to get out of there.

These people are just plain crazy.
I sat in the car looking outside. I didn't want to look at the smug fellow who will soon become my husband in a few days.

He kept blabbing about one thing or the other all through the drive till we got home.

I opened the car door and walked out quickly. I got inside and saw Diamond watching TV in the living room and I took off the stilettos which were hurting so much and joined her immediately.

I wanted to ask her why she didn't join us in the white wedding planning stuff but I kept my mouth shut.

Jude came in later and Diamond greeted him passively without even looking at him for once.

She was watching a Korean drama which I wasn't a fan of but I stayed anyway it was better than going back into Jude's room where he was currently.

After some time, I started feeling sleepy and asked Diamond if I could bunk up with her and she agreed with so much excitement.
She behaves like a kid. I smiled and went upstairs to her room to change up. (I still don't have anything to wear)

As I sat down pondering on what to wear, Diamond came in to inform me that the clothes which Jude ordered had arrived while I was away.
She only forgot to inform me earlier.

She brought out bags full of clothes, underwear and shoes and dropped them on the king size bed.

I picked out the blue and black clothes and shoes that were inside and gave the rest to an overexcited Diamond who squeezed me in a bear hug.

We finally went to bed. A knock was heard on the door and Jude's voice sounded on the other side of the door.

Diamond was already fast asleep so I decided to go answer the door.

'What is it?' I asked angrily.

'You're supposed to be in my room with me not here' I said angrily.

'Im not coming, go back to sleep Jude' I replied coldly and tried closing the door but he held the door back and dragged me out towards his room as I kept on screaming for him to leave me alone.

What is he trying to do? Why is he dragging me into his room.

He dragged me into the room and locked the door behind him as he pushed roughly me on the bed and walked towards me licking his lips.

My heart started to beat very fast as he kept approaching the bed. What is he going to do? I didn't realize that I was crying silently until the tears started streaming down my face.
'Dont come closer I warned' but he didn't budge.

Read Episode 26 here>>
https://beat.com.ng/my-mums-gateman-episode-26/