₦airaland Forum

Slyvesterjosh:
Hmm, another twist, may God save us from @milliademi be b4 she twist our heal also. Lol

LOL. Told y'all I was crazy.

“..............

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Dele took a deep breath and went to join Seyifunmi in the dining area. He walked towards their table and met a man sitting in his chair. Seyifunmi looked up and he saw a look on 'please save me.” He went around to face the man.

“Hey baby.”, he said and kissed Seyifunmi's lips.

“Hey, love.”, she answered.

“Hello, good evening.”, he greeted the man and extended his hand.

“Good evening. I’m Alisdare. Seyifunmi and I were classmates back in Yale.”, the African American man greeted his American accent evident and shook Dele’s hand.

“Really? So what brings you to Nigeria?”, Dele said and sat in the chair closest to Seyifunmi and instinctively put his hand over hers on the table.

“Well, I came here from personal reasons. You see, I lost someone and I’m here to get her back.”, Alisdare said with his eyes locked on Seyifunmi’s.

“Wow, I would never have pegged you as the romantic type.”, Seyifunmi said.

“Well, you don’t really know me. Do you, Seyifunmi?”, Alisdare asked.

“Well, it’s been nice meeting you, Alisdare. My girlfriend and I have a movie to get to. So we wouldn’t mind if you excuse us.”, Dele said and stood up.

“Oh alright.”, Alisdare said and stood too.
“Seyifunmi, please don’t forget what we talked about.”

“Good bye, Dare.”, she said shyly and joined them on her feet.

“Bye, Shay.”, he said and left. Dele glared at Alisdare as he left.

Slyvesterjosh:
Seriously! This story has started draining me walahi, dunno what to expect anymore.. @milliademi ma pa mi na.

I hope it's not getting boring.

Mapelblacq:
The story should av been titled "space(talking about the solar system) of secret" the secrets are just damn much. who the hell is angela again? abeg make she no kum spoil tinu ownn. or is chris really a cnt put it in his pants,2wice backstabbing cunt? OP who was d person chris kissed at that cafe, where tinu traced him to?

ROTFL

Let's not get too hasty about Chris.

Wait and find out love. As per Space of Secrets, I'll take it into consideration.

Boom Shaka boom boom.

Who is Angela?

What will happen with Ose and Rose and Mayowa?

What will happen to Chris and Tinu's marriage?


Let me know your thoughts. Comment away babies.

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Ann2012:
Tinu should calm down na

Thanks for the update

You're welcome dear

Is it Tinu or Chris?

Mapelblacq:
OP, please who is this biabiani, yomi and folarin(i cnt really recall). damn, i love ur choice of words keep it up.

Thanks dear.

Bibiana was Ose's sugar mummy/girlfriend. Yomi is Bibiana's husband. Folarin is Bibiana's son.

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Tinu crossed her fingers and knocked on the door of his home office. She heard him say come in and she inhaled and walked into his office. He looked up and looked right back at his laptop. She wondered how long their silent treatment mode of fighting would last because she was getting tired of it. She exhaled and said, “Hey.”

“Hey. Is everything alright?”, he asked as he typed away.

“Yeah. I mean no. I’m not sure.”, she said as she took small steps towards his desk.

“Interesting. The nurse said your therapy is going on smoothly. You’re taking your classes online. The children are settling down perfectly in school. And Chris is well Chris. So what could be wrong?”, he asked till typing. Tinu was in awe of the man before her. How could someone be so expressive and tender and very demonstrative of his feelings at one point and be so artic cold the next?

“Hello?”, he said.

She sighed and continued, “Everything is not alright with us.”

“What makes you believe that? We are in the same room, having a conversation. What is wrong?”, he said looking at some documents.

“The mere fact we are having this conversation is what is wrong.”, she said.

“Hmmn. I don’t see anything wrong with this conversation.”, he said and continued typing.

“Chris, will you f***ing look at me while I’m talking to you!”, she shouted in frustration.

He looked up at her and said, “I’m looking at you.”
“Chris, I…”, she stuttered.

“Yes?”, he said impatiently.

“Im sorry for my outburst when mum and Margaux came over. I’m sorry for doubting you. I’m sorry.”, she said with her head bowed in shame.

“I thought I told you to only apologize when you mean it.”, he put in and continued typing.

“For Christ’s sake, I mean it.”,she shouted.

“Then why don’t I believe you?”, he said and looked at her.

“Chris, what sort of mind game is this?”, she asked.

“It’s not a game. Tinu, it’s what you do. You say one thing and do another.”, he shouted and stood. He crossed the table and walked to where she stood.

“What are you talking about?”, she asked confused.

“I know what you asked Michael to do. I found out.”, he explained.

“Oh, that?”, she flipped aside.

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”, he pointed out crossed.

“Excuse me, if I decide to be a good wife and protect my marriage and family.”, she defended.

“Good wife? You think you were being a good wife?”, he said and laughed.

“Yes. I was being a good wife.”, she asserted proudly.

“No, wait. You actually think you were being a good wife. You’re kidding me. You were being an immature, jealous, insecure woman who thinks so little of her husband that she has to go behind his back to screen applicants.”, he burst out in her face. “Tinu, you disrespected me before my employees.”

“I was trying to protect you from another Tamara.”, she explained contritely.

“I don’t need you to protect me!”, he retorted.

“But..”

“But nothing, Tinu. I’m the one to protect you not vice versa. If you’re going to protect me like this, then don’t.”

“Thank you.”, Rose said. She proceeded in the direction Felicia had pointed her. She met Mr. Koko's secretary and she was asked to wait. She didn’t do waiting well, so she decided to pull out her all-time favorite Jane Eyre. She probably knew each word I the sequence they followed each other but that did not deter her from reading the book again and again. She just loved it.

Her reading was interrupted when she smelt her namesake, the flower. She wondered how there could be real roses in Nigeria. She shook her head and put it down to someone wearing designer perfume. Her initial thoughts were confirmed as she saw one of the security men carrying a vase of white roses. She gawked at the full bouquet in the hands of the man like every other person in the hallway and nearby offices.

“Mr. Shola, who get am?”, a male voice called out from an office.

“Na Miss Rose o.”, the man hollered back and walked towards Rose’s office. His response earned swoons and sighs from ladies and everyone proceeded back to work. Rose watched the man enter Rose’soffice. She sighed as jealousy bit her guts. Rose always had it all.


Rose smiled as Mr. Shola dropped the crystal vase on her desk. This had Mayowa written all over it. She mumbled a thank you to Mr. Shola who duffed his hat in response. She didn’t get too chatty with her subordinates but she made sure to be polite. She fished for a card among the beautiful, sweet smelling flowers. She found the brilliant white envelope and brought out the card in it.


“Despite having the same name as you, their beauty pales in comparison to yours, my beautiful Roselle. Mayowa.”


He definitely did bring her joy. She smiled and sat in her seat. There had to be about three dozen long stemmed roses in that case. She picked up her cellphone and dialed his number. He picked up almost immediately.

“Did you like the flowers?”, he asked.

“Stop smiling.”, she quipped grinning herself and she swirled herself in her chair.

“Im glad you like them.”, he said gloating.

“Theyre beautiful but you didn’t have to. Like Mayowa they must have been…”

“You liking them is what is important. Have dinner with me tonight.”, he interrupted.

“Mayowa, I thought we agreed to take a break.”, she whined.

“Roselle, you stated a thought. There was no consensus ad idem. You said there’s no more excitement. I want to bring the excitement back. Don’t deny me a chance to fight for us. I don’t want some guy to snag you before I realize you’re worth it. So, dinner?”, he stated.

It was difficult to remember why she wanted a break when he was saying all the right things. She sighed and turned to see the beautiful flowers.

“They are really breathtaking, Mayowa.”, she sighed.

“Should I take that as a yes?”, he asked.

“Pick me up from work at 8.”, she said. And she heard him breathe a yes.

“It’s a date, Roselle.”, he put in.

“See you.”

“I love you, Rose.”

“I love you too.”, she answered and hung up.
She looked at the flowers and squealed in ecstasy.

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Yomi glared at his son wondering if he could have had a son any more like himself. The boy had put a scissors to his passport and looked at him square in the eye. The only thing Bibiana, his slut of a wife, had given him children of his own. They all had the Badmus nose. What Folarin lacked in complexion for being dark where he and his other two children were light skinned, he made up for in attitude. Yomi had to be brain dead not to notice every inch of Folarin's sour attitude was from his own side of the gene pool.

Folarin began to rebel ever since he saw him hit his mother. He knew it was wrong but he couldn’t help but be angry at Bibiana. She had taken his chance to be with the woman he loved. He rsented her for showing up to the wedding even after he had paid her to leave. He hated her for that and he made sure she knew how much he hated her.Folarin's rebellion only grew worse after she died. Yomi knew he’d give himself a heartattack if he tried to be a Hitler to Folarin’s Gadaffi.

“Go to your room and stay there.”, he sighed.

“No. I want to go to Grandma’s place together with Tómiké and Diméjì. I’m not leaving them alone. Who knows? You might kill them like you killed mum.”, the boy smarted.

“What on earth gave you the notion that I killed your mother?”, Yomi asked in anger.

“We both know you hated her. You beat her every day and when you didn’tbeat her, you called her names. I know you sent people after her.”, Folarin shouted.

Yomi looked in shock at his son. Just how much did he know?

“Are you going to kill me now you know I know?”, the boy said.

Yomi didn’t know whether to be ashamed his son thought he’d kill him or to be afraid of just how much Folarin knew.

“I didn’t kill your mother.”, Yomi said softly.

“You’re lying.”, the boy roared in anger and tears. “You killed her and took her away from us. She’s the only one that ever loved us. You pushed her to run away and you killed her.”

“I didn’t kill her. I pushed her away, yes. I sent people after her, yes. But I didn’t kill her. I asked them to bring her back, back to you three. She kept on running. She told my men she didn’t want to come back to any of us, that she was tired of being your mother and my wife. She ran away with another man and they had an accident.”, Yomi explained.

“Why should I believe you?”, Folarin sobbed.

“Because if I wanted her dead, I’d have killed her before she had any of you.”, Yomi said.

Hi, you have an amazing story going on here. I'm in love with it. Please update soon.

P.S. IT'S REALLY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

*******************

Dolapo looked at the colour swatches and sample materials on her desk and decided to give into sleep's call. She walked over to the lovers seat she had brought into her office for this exact purpose and laid down.

Just for 15 minutes, she told herself.

Sleep claimed her as soon as she closed her eyelids like a properly orchestrated ambush. For the first few minutes it was just peaceful nothingness until inks of color began to warp into her consciousness taking her back in time to a few months ago.

She saw herself sitting at a bar. The bar was all too familiar with it's dark brown wooden counter and the sexy white bartender whose shirt had a few buttons undone. She looked at the different shapes and sizes of glasses in front of her.

She had wanted to try different cocktail. She had had a Negroni, an Old fashioned, a Margarita, a Pina colada, a Manhattan, a Sex on the Beach and now she was trying a Bloody Mary. This was her least favorite. Like clockwork, she saw herself cringe as she sipped the drink and the bartender stiffle a laugh.

"Are you mocking me?", she slurred.

"I, most definitely, am not.", he answered in mock deference.

"You are. You're mocking me. I could have you fired for this." she said trying to sound outraged. "Where is the manager?", she hollered.

"Now now dear. We don't need to disturb the manager.", a sultry voice from behind her called. She turned and met the owner of the sexy voice.

"Oh my God.!", she exclaimed. Right in front of her was one of her celebrity designer crushes. "Ok, Julian.", she turned to face the bartender. "I think I'm drunk and seeing things. I just imagined Leo Smith Anderson. Can you call a cab? If I'm already hallucinating, then my hangover is going to be one great one.", she said.

The man behind her burst into laughter. "You must have had quite a lot to drink.", he put in and slipped into a stool beside her.

“Somebody pinch me.”, she squealed and closed her eyes in anticipation for a pinch.

"I'd rather kiss you but then since you asked for a pinch.", he said and pinched her arm.

"Oh my God! I'm not hallucinating.", she squealed even louder. Julian was afraid the pitch would break the glasses hanging behind him.

Out of the blues, a blonde lady stormed up to Dolly and her companion. She stamped her feet so hard as she walked that it was a wonder that she didn't break the heels due to the impact.
"So this is why you cancelled dinner. To Bleep with some cheap black slut!", she screamed drawing attention to them.

"W-wait, did she just call me cheap and a slut?", Dolapo asked the bartender and turned to face the blonde girl.

"Stephanie, calm down. This is not what you think.", Leo stood and said to the blonde woman. He stretched out his arms and walked to her slowly as if she were a terrorist holding the detonator to a bomb.

"Leo, I trusted you and you did this. Why?!", she said slowly on the brink of tears. Dolapo was fazed as she saw the girl go from 100 degrees Celsius to 0 degrees Celsius in a nanosecond.

"And you've met Stephanie. She's a regular here. She's manic. She goes from 0 to 100 in a second. She can be in a relationship with you by eight, breakup with you before lunchtime and go on a first date with another guy before rush hour. Anything she says, blame it on her being psycho.", Julian explained as he wiped down the counter.

"Ok? Can I get something stronger?", she asked still bewildered.

"How about some scotch?", he asked.
"That'll be fantastic.", she answered.


Moments later, she was wasted and clinging onto Julian as they walked- no, he walked and she staggered- through the crowd on the dance floor to the VIP area where Ashley was having a conversation with a man.

"Yo, Ash!", she hollered.

"Hey, who's this with you?", Ashley asked.

"This here is Julian. He's a bartender. His shift is over and we're going to his place to continue the cocktail tasting. Do you think I should go.", Dolly slurred.

“Of course dear. Have fun.”, Ashley chirped and continued her conversation.

The terrifying part of the nightmare was seeing the people in masks and the bright light. They were so eerie. And she always woke up then.

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Tinu looked at Chris and muttered an I’m sorry again. He didn’t say anything just like the ten thousand other times she had apologized. He looked out the window like the sight was novel. She knew he was angry. His clenched jaw told her that loud and clear. He couldn’t blame her. He had kept her in the dark for so long. It was only natural for her thoughts to go haywire.

“Chris, please. I’m sorry.”, she begged. Silence.

“Chris, I’m sorry.” Silence.

“Chris, na. I’m begging you. Please talk to me.”, she pleaded. Silence.

“So you’re not going to say anything?” Silence.

“Christopher Levi Oduah, please I’m sorry.”, she begged again. Still silence.

Her eyes met those of their driver in the rearview mirror and the man looked away disappointed. She sighed and touched him.

“How did you know it was me?”, she asked.

“When next you plan to be a jealous and paranoid wife, try to work on disguising your voice if you know you’re going to be yelling at waiters.”, he answered.

“Chris, you left me no choice. You shut me out. I mean you changed your password. You changed your password. What was I supposed to think?”, she asked.

“You were supposed to f***ing trust me! Goddammit!”, he yelled as he turned to face her. He sighed and raised the barrier between them and the driver.

“I made a mistake with Katrina but you’ve hung it over me like a banner like all I ever do is cheat. Tinu, if I want another woman I won’t hide it. I never hid my relationship with you. If I had another woman, you won’t f***ing think it, Tinu. You’d know it like you know your name. You have no idea what I’m going through. If I don’t tell you, it’s to protect you. And protecting you, Temi, Tóminí, Chris, Margaux, Monique, Mum and everyone in the family is my job. Especially you and the children. It is my job. It is my job to worry. It is my job to protect you. I failed you that night and I don’t want it to happen again. Please, Tinu. Don’t make this harder than it already is. Trust me. If you can’t do that, then let’s call this off. I can’t live knowing you don’t have faith in me.”, Chris ranted in anger.

“Im sorry. I trust you.”, she said in tears.

“Tell me that when you mean it.”, he said and looked out the window.

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Rose inhaled and exhaled as she stepped out of the elevator. She was resuming as an editor at FDL publishing. She’d be working under Rose but she didn’t mind if she got to see Ose. She had heard from her father’s PA that his book launch was later on that afternoon. He already had a terrible impression of her. She had to right it. She walked towards the receptionist and waited for her to end her call.

“Hello.”, Felicia greeted.

“Hi.”, she answered nervously. “I am Rosanna Amaechi. I’m a new editor. I was supposed to resume today.”

“Oh, another Rose. I’m Felicia Olu-Philips. I’m an editor too but our receptionist is under the weather and Mr. Koko asked me to fill in here till the temp arrives.”, Felicia explained.

“I like your voice.”, Rose gushed.

“And I like your accent.”, Felicia squealed back and they shared a laugh. “Mr. Koko is presently in a meeting upstairs. So just head down the hall to his office. His secretary will tell you what to do. I wish you a lovely stay here.”

“Thank you.”, Rose said

One last episode before I call it a night.


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Yomi Badmus smiled at his children and left them wondering if their father was going mental. Folarin wanted to gouge out the woman’s eyes. Two years and he was already smiling with another woman. He hated her and he hated his father. The woman picked up Tómiké and all he wanted was to pry his sister out of her hands.

“Folarin, can’t you greet?”, his father bellowed.

“Yomi, it’s ok.”, the woman said.

“It’s not. Folarin greet now.”, his father said again.

“Or what? You’ll kill me like you killed mum? Go ahead. I’d rather die than greet her.”, he answered leaving his father and his fiancee shocked.

“How dare you?!”, his father shouted, enraged. The next thing Folarin knew, he was on the floor from the impact of his father’s slap.

“Yomi, stop this.”, the woman said as Tómiké started crying.

“Count yourself lucky she’s here. Go to your room and pack your bags. You are leaving for England tomorrow.”, his father said.

“Yomi, there’s no need to ship him off. You can talk about this.”, the woman pleaded.

“Folarin is my son and I know what is best for him and how to handle him, Bólá.”, he put in. Folarin sighed and left the room. The only downside was that he wouldn’t be able to protect Tómiké and Diméjì from his father. No, he wouldn’t go to England if he could help it.

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Rose wasn’t in the same room as Mayowa. She was back in Ose's house. His living room to be precise. She knew he had almost said beautiful. So he did notice. She smiled at the thought. He wasn’t so immune then. She thought of how to get closer to him. The editing phase of his book was over. The only thing that would bring them together is the book launch preparation. And she was sure he’d avoid like a plague after what happened. She felt Mayowa shake her and she asked what happened.

“Have you been listening to me at all?”, Mayowa asked.

“Sorry, I was just thinking about how to deal with a chapter.”, she answered.

“So you don’t mind if I bring my case files when next I come to visit?”, he asked sarcastically.

“Of course, I mind. I’m sorry.”, she apologized as she sat up from leaning on him.

“Then, I don’t get this. Rose, you space out a lot these days. You claim you’re thinking about work. You brought up the no work rule and yet you’re breaking it all the time. Roselle, I’m not stupid. Are you tired of me, already? I know you. You space out when you get bored. If you want to break up, do it and stop playing on my intelligence.”, he said.

Rose had never been this conflicted. She had been the one to make a move on Mayowa while they were just friends. If she broke up with him, she’d lose him as her friend. On the other hand, she wanted to be free so she could be with Ose.

“Mayowa, is this your way of saying you want us to break up?”, she asked coolly.

“No, Rose. You’re different, Rose. You’ve changed. At first I thought it was something I did but now I know it is something else. You have this dreamy look in your eyes and I know I didn’t put it there. So, tell me, Rose. Is there someone else?”, he asked.

“No, there isn’t.”, she answered. “But you’re right. That excitement I used to feel is gone. I … we should take a break.”

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Tinu sat restlessly in the back of the taxi as it followed Chris’s car. She had to know what he was up to. She would not be fooled a second time. He lied that nothing was wrong and moved them to a different house and sent the twins back to the boarding house. At first, she had thought it was a security threat but then the hushed phone calls started and the secret meetings. He even instructed his new secretary not to let her into his office without announcing her presence and gaining permission. He ceased her car keys and asked the guards not to let her leave the house. She had had to beg a maid to let her leave this morning. She knew something was off and she’d be god-damned before she took it sitting down. The taxi slowed down and she saw Chris’s car pull up by a café and Chris got out of the car. The car then drove away.

She got out of the taxi, garbed in a blue niqab. She’d have preferred black but then that was what her maid could get from her friends on short notice. She walked into the café keeping an eye on Chris as he sauntered towards a table. She took a seat at a table not far from his and ordered a cup of coffee and a bagel. She saw Chris check his watch and bring out his phone.

Please, don’t let it be a woman. Please God. Just let it be some office problem or even a security threat but not a woman.

The waiter dropped her order in front of her and she waved him aside rudely. She stared at Chris as he dialed a number and brought his phone to his ear. She couldn’t hear what he was saying and she groaned in displeasure. He turned and looked at her. She instinctively called the waiter in her best Hausa accent.

“I ordered a cappuccino not a latte.”, she said.

“But ma’am, you said…”, the waiter asked confused.

“Are you calling me a liar?”, she asked and her phone vibrated. “Get lost.”, she told the waiter, who left more confused. She got a text from Chris.

'Where are you?’

She angrily replied. ‘Where did you leave me?’ She saw him sigh and rub his neck in exasperation. She took a sip of her latte and nodded in appreciation of the properly brewed beverage. She took a bite out of her bagel and almost choked when she saw a woman walk up to Chris. He rose and instead of a handshake that she hoped for, Chris kissed her on the cheek. She swallowed the sob that almost left her lips. She was right. He was a no good, two-timing, backstabbing, can’t-keep-it-in-his-pants, cheating son of a bitch. She was about leaving when she got another text from Chris.

‘Before you go off getting stupid ideas, come and join us at the table.’

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Rose chided herself for being so clumsy. She hissed in pain as pressed the cold towel to her abdomen, pelvis and thighs. All in the name of seducing Ose, she was going to have scald scars. His girlfriend must be a witch. She sighed and staredf at her reflection. She had never gone this far for a guy. But here she was disrespecting herself and hoping secretly to get some. What was it about this guy?

Is he a sex magnet or what?

“Rose, I found some honey…..”, he had burst into the bathroom to find her standing in her underwear. “God, I am so sorry.”, he apologized and shut the door hurriedly. Rose cringed in embarrassment.

Mama don cook èfó for him.

He didn’t even stop to stare. She didn’t have killer curves, she knew that. But her selling point was her even toned complexion and her flawless skin. Apparently, Ose was a gentleman on all levels or his girlfriend was a witch like she had earlier thought. She sighed and grabbed her top from the towel rack. This mission was an epic fail. She’d never get with Ose. She could see it.

Ose tried as much as possible to get the image of Rose in her underthings out of his head. The downsides of a photographic memory. He could remember everything. The subtle curves, the dip at her waist, her pert ass, her even complexion and her long legs. He wondered what those legs would feel like wrapped around his waist as he… He groaned and berated himself. He had seen her close to wearing nothing. The last thing he needed was to mentally have sex with her. He paced and tried to put together an apology. He groaned in annoyance. His mind didn’t seem to want to work on anything else than on Rose in her underwear. He sighed and took deep breaths. His body and his mind were headed in the same direction. God, it had been so long. It had been two whole years since he thought of anyone like this. Ever since Bibiana, he had taken a break. Well, his grief forced him to take a break. He didn’t need another Bibiana with a crazy husband or boyfriend.

“Ose.”, she called softly. He turned to see her fully dressed but his filthy mind went straight to mentally undressing her. He shook his head vehemently to get those thoughts out of there.

“Im so sorry. I should have knocked. Please, I am totally sorry.”, he apologized.

“Um, thanks. I’d rather not talk about it.”, she said and tucked a stray strand of her weave behind her ear. “I saw the honey and aloe vera. Thank you. I left them on the counter in the bathroom.”, she said and walked towards the sofa her bag was sitting on.

“Please you can keep them. My conscience will not let me rest if im the cause of a scar on your beautif… on your skin.”, he said. He slapped himself mentally for practically letting it slip that he thought her skin beautiful.

“Ok. Thank you.”, she said in shock. He slapped himself again. She must be appalled.

“I’ll get them.”, he said and left for the bathroom. He had to leave. He couldn’t stay there and see the look of embarrassment on her face.

Fejirose David Lawrence, you are a big fool. An idiot, a lust consumed idiot.

I totally hate you for the "to be continued."

But you have a great story going on here. I love it. And your choice of words is making me swoon and sigh.

Please update soon.

“Tinu, calm down. It’s nothing.”, he soothed.

“Its not nothing. With Tamara and the accident, I knew something was off. Now the body guards? Chris, I’m not stupid. Is it Katrina?”, she asked.

“Tinu, calm down. It’s nothing. Even if there’s a problem, I can handle it.”, he said as he began to stand up from kneeling on the sofa.

“Chris, please. We’re in this together. Don’t pull the stuff you did with the cancer. Please tell me. It’s not just your job to worry. We’re one flesh. What ails you ails me.”, she put in.

He smiled and wondered if he should tell her about the threat he received. “Tinu, I…”

Just then, Monique and the children came rushing in and out of the room, followed by a heavily pregnant Margaux and Mrs. Oduah.

“Chris, tell mum that I’m pregnant not dying.”, Margaux said as she slowly sat on a sofa.

“Chris, tell your sister that being pregnant requires lots of tender loving care.”, Mrs. Oduah retorted.

“Chris, tell mum that she’s smothering me. I can’t breathe at home without Frank and my mother-in-law offering to breathe for me. When I come home, I don’t friggin want a ventilator.”, Margaux complained.

“Ok. I think Chris is the wrong person to complain to. He’s suffocating me.”, Tinu chipped in.

“You almost died. Your case is different.”, Mrs. Oduah and Margaux said together and Chris gave her an in-your-face look.

“I didn’t almost die. I just had fractures.”, Tinu said defeated.

“Shouldn’t you be resting?”, Margaux asked.

“Look who is talking.”, Chris and Mrs. Oduah said.

“Tinu, they’re ganging up against me.”, Margaux whined.

“If I slap you. Were you not just supporting them? You better leave me alone.”, Tinu retorted. They all burst into laughter.

Chris’s phone chimed and he picked it out of his pocket. His eyebrow rose in curiosity and wonderment at the strange MMS he received. This was his official line. Who would be sending him an MMS? He opened the message and blood drained out his face. He saw himself, Tinu, his mum and Margaux laughing just like they had just been seconds ago. A message followed the short video. “Pick who is more important to you or lose them all.”

Tinu looked at him and saw the look of despair on his face. She instinctively snatched his phone out of his hand. As she did, she accidentally locked the phone.

“Tinu, give me back my phone.”, he shouted and snatched it back while she tried to unlock it. She was shocked he had changed his password.

“What is going on?”, Mrs. Oduah asked.

“Chris, explain.”, Tinu said.

“It's nothing.”, Chris lied.

“I don’t know how lies flow so smoothly out of your mouth to the people you claim to love. I know you’re hiding something. “, she scoffed and said.

“Tinu, stop exaggerating.”, Chris defended.

“Is it another woman?”, Tinu asked.

“Tinu!”, Mrs. Oduah chided.

“How can you think that?”, Chris asked in anger.

“I don’t know what to think. It’s like you’ve been keeping me and the children away from the world. You claim we are not in danger. So, are you hiding another infidelity from us?”, Tinu fired.

“Tinu, calm down.”, Mrs. Oduah pleaded.

“Yes, Tinu. Calm down before you say something you’ll regret later.”, Margaux said.

“Calm down? He’s changed his password. You saw him snatch the phone out of my hand. So, Chris? What gives?”, Tinu said.

“Forget it”, Chris said and made to leave the room.

“Chris, if it is another woman I swear I will kill you. I swear on my life. I will kill you and your mistress.”, Tinu vowed.

***************
The elderly man looked at his wife and knew he was in for one hell of a night. He most definitely wasn't going to bend. He wasn't a child to be told to apologise for his words. He was in a perfect frame of mind when he said what he told his daughter-in-law.
"Tomi." Silence followed his call. "Tomike" Further silence. "I know you can hear me."

"Anthony, what do you want? Your dinner is before you. Your office is upstairs and the bed is well made. I've told you so long as you don't make up with Charles things won't be the same. I've been begging and grovelling for two years. You're so proud and wicked and selfish and right now I don't give a shit anymore. For your information, I'm leaving the house tomorrow on an indefinite vacation. You can have the house together with your gigantic ego. I hope it fits!", she snapped and left the dinning room.

He stared in shock as his wife left. He had been told that when women had been married for so long and were secure in the marital home, they practically began to call the shots. He had never heard Tomi curse in over three decades.

Well, she'd get over it.

*************
Dola looked at the tray in her hands and giddily pressed the doorbell again. She had finally gotten the hang of making chocolate chip cookies and she decided to share it with her neighbour's children Nothing gave her more joy than having people enjoy the meals she prepared and making children happy. And you could never go wrong with chocolate, right?

"Olori buruku wo l'on te bell bi eni ti o ri bell ri?", her neighbour cursed. Dola gasped and gulped and answered, "Sorry to disturb you ma, it's your neighbor."

"Were yen tun soro?", the woman shouted and pounded her way to the door and unlocked it.

Dola believed the woman didn't hear her and beamed at her. They had not quarrelled hence she couldn't possibly be the object of the woman's hostility but the glare on the woman's face was slowly convincing her otherwise.

"It's me, ma.", Dola greeted.

“I know it's you. Ehen? What do you want?”
Dola faltered a bit before continuing, "I was baking and I had excess cookies so I decided to give my babies."

"Ehn? Your babies? Abi what did I hear you say? Your babies ko, your babies ni. Go and get your babies from the coven you sacrificed them to. Oh, you want to donate my children too like you did with all the children you could have borne your husband. No thank you. I don't want.", the neighbor hurled.

"Mummy James, you…"

"Kini? Be doing like angel that cannot hurt a fly but your witchcraft doesn't work on me. Save it for your husband. Go and give him the poison you concocted. My children will not be sacrificed too. Go and find some other children.", the younger woman put in and slammed the door in her face.

Dola's heart wrenched and her lungs released all the air in them. Her knees buckled and her hands grew unsteady. Her brain managed to get her feet to move. Tears racked her body causing her to shake all over. The tray fell out of her hands. She bent and tried to pick the cookies but she couldn't get her fingers to move coordinately. Tears clouded her vision as tried unsuccessfully to pick the cookies and put them back on the tray. While her fingers kept on fumbling the assignment before her, she was in another time.

She recalled how her mother-in-law spoke to her just the day before. The woman had called her a basket, an unprofitable venture. Now her neighbor saw her as a witch. All she had ever wanted was a happy family. Like the one her parents had. A loving husband and one child. She didn't want to jinx it by asking for more than one. But now she felt like everything they said about her was true.

She didn't feel his arms encircle her or hear him call her name. All she heard was the voice of her mother-in-law and her neighbor saying ‘basket, unprofitable venture, witch.’ She was suddenly jostled out of her thoughts when he shook her.

"Dola…", he called concerned.

"They're right.", she answered and stood up.

" Who is right?", he asked hoping his thoughts were wrong.

"Everybody. Mummy, Eve, James's mother. Everyone is right. I am barren. I can't ever have children.", she croaked

"Dola, don't say that. We are to think positively.", he chided and stood to face her.

"Ofere, you don't believe that, do you? Think positively? Who invented that brain washing technique? I have to hand it to them. They're good. Think positively? Think positively about what? We've been thinking positively for 10 years! 10 years! I've not even had a stillborn, only pseudocyesis. I've been thinking so much that my brain goes on to deceive me and make me believe I'm pregnant.", she ranted. She paused for breath and continued, "I mean…." Her voice broke and fresh tears hit her. "I'll never forget the look on your face when we discovered that I wasn't really in labour but just my body making me believe I was pregnant."

"Dola…", he called softly.

"I'm just tired, Ofere. I'm tired.", she put in finally and broke into sobs. "One child, Ofere, just one and I'll be content. I won't ever ask for anything else. I want my arms to cradle and rock a baby too. A baby that I gave birth to. Is it too much to ask for? I can't count the number of times I dance at people's baby dedications and naming ceremonies. I see the way you play with the children when you come to check up on me in the children's department. The joy and the ecstasy on your face is something I never see here at home. I want to be able to give you that. I… I… feel s-s-so useless as a wife and…."

She broke down as sobs overcame her. He hugged her close.

The door opening snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up and saw a timid Ashley entering her office.
That's a first, she thought.
Ashley was always the bold and never back down kind of girl. She never admitted wrong or apologized. The only people Dolapo had seen Ashley bend her will for were Charles and her late grandfather. She wondered what Ashley would say. Probably another justification for her treacherous act.

"Hi, can I come in?", Ashley's voice said a little above a whisper.
"You're already in. Please take a seat and let's get on with it. Not all of us run five star restaurants that get patronized by the creme de la creme. Some of us have to rack our brains before we make any money.", Dolapo sassed.

Why on Earth did I say that?, she chided herself for being rude.

"Inspiration's scarce?", she asked as she walked to the desk and sat on a chair in front of it. "Remember whenever you couldn't think of anything, we'd buy ice cream and watch animation or live action fairy tale movies.", she said hopefully.

"I doubt you left your chef's jacket and your hat just to come over here to reminisce. Let's cut the chitchat, Ashley. Why are you, here?", she snapped.

"Dolapo, I'm trying here. Meet me halfway.", Ashley pleaded with a soft voice.

"Oh! Were you hoping to come here and tell a few stories from the past and I'd sweep what you did under the carpet and you can go on merryway?", she whisper-yelled.

"Dolly, I..."

"No, Ashley! This isn't about you. This is about me. About what you did to me. I still don't remember what happened that night." A few tears ran down her face and she hurriedly wiped them off.

"Every night I re-live what that bastard did to me. But it's all vague. All I see are scary pictures. And you were there. You were sober. You knew I was drunk, you knew I was a virgin and you let me go with him. Friends are supposed to protect each other, to save each other. And you stood there and let me go with him.", she ranted.

"Dolapo, I'm sorry. I'd write it across the sky if I could. Forgive me.", she whispered.

"Wow! That's a first.", she said with her voice poisoned with cynism. " Are you dying or something?"

"No. I realized just how much I hurt my best friend and how much I'm miserable without her.", Ashley answered.

Feeling the ice and anger in her heart melting, she said, "All that mushy talk won't work on me."

"Yes, it will.", Lydia's voice piped up from the door.

"What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't miss the reconciliation and reunion of two friends.", she answered. "Plus, I need my life back."
"Ever since you guys fought, she's been working us to death like a slave master.", Lydia said to Ashley.

"That's not true. Get back to work. I don't pay you to watch reconciliations and reunions.", Dolapo answered.
"See what I mean. Slave master.", she muttered and left the office leaving Ashley giggling.

"It's not funny. I don't get why you're laughing.", Dolapo snapped, irritated.

"Because you haven't changed."

"Well, people don't change in the span of two months."
"I'd beg to differ. Dolly, I'm sorry and I miss you. Can we kiss and make up already? I'm sorry I left you with Julian or whatever his name was. I'm sorry for not protecting you or saving you. I'm sorry I proved unreliable. Please. I've said sorry 5 times already. You know how had it is for me to say that word. Please forgive me."

"I'd think about it.", Dolapo said and crossed her arms over her chest. "If that's all I'm very busy."

"Dolly, please."

"Ashley, I said I'd think about it."

Ashley sighed and left the room. She knew she could never tell Dolapo what really happened that night. She'd despise her. And if Charles found out, she knew she'd lose him.

Ann2012:
Well done OP

Come and take pizza with coldstone ice cream

Where

daddio:
Okay.

Sooooo, the ice cream nko

Hey! Yes, I've come again. I love your description.

I only have one thing to correct.

In colloquial Yoruba, it will be more appropriate to say, "Babajide, bo agbada e" not "re"

"Re" creates the impression of his rather than your.

onosbaba3310:
Updates loading, dropping this night

Can't wait

Please forgive me. I'm tired. I'll drop something later in the week hours of the morning.

So will she be coming to the book launch? You never mentioned a plus one.”, she pried.

“No, she won’t be there.”, he said casually.

“Why not?”, she asked.

“Id rather not talk about it. “, he put in. “So, this is the end of the road for us.”

“It doesn’t have to be.”, she said suggestively.

“I don’t think I’m writing again if this doesn’t work out.”, he said.

“Ose, do I have to hit you before you get it into your head that your book will be a success?”, she threatened.

“Sorry, I’m faithless. I believe when I see things.”, he explained.

“If you say so.”, she said and picked up her mug. She lost her grip and doused herself with hot tea.

“Oh my God.”, she screamed.

“Sorry.”, he said and ran into the kitchen to get an ice pack and a napkin.

“Please, where is your restroom?”, she shouted on the brink of tears as she gasped for air to relieve the pain she felt.

“Down the hall. Last door on your right.”, he said.

✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴✴

Tinu hated being in a wheelchair not only because it made her feel handicapped but because of the unnecessary attention Chris doled on her. He had her moved into their room and carried her like her legs were the ones in a cast. She refused and stood against this care but he refused to listen. He was with her constantly as if he didn’t have a big conglomerate to run.

“Chris, please let me be.”, she begged.

“Tinu, you can’t afford to stress your neck .”, he argued.

“I don’t walk with my neck.”, she countered and push him with her right hand.

“You need to move your neck to see where you’re going.”, he said and bent to pick her up.

“Chris! Christopher Oduah put me down this instant.”, she shouted shaking her legs and hitting her back.

“Atinuke Oduah, stop shouting and acting petulant.”, he scolded and carried her out of the room. She sighed resigned.

“Chris, you should go to work and stop babysitting me. It’sbad enough I have a nurse and bodyguards, I don’t know why you want to breathe down my neck. Please let me be.”, she complained.

“Tinu, you’re my wife. It’s my duty to take care of you.”, he answered.

“Chris, if you keep on 'taking care' of me, I’ll run away.”, she said exasperated.

“And I’ll find you wherever you run to.”, he said.
“Chris, please. Go to work. I’ll be fine. I won’t die before you come back.”, she begged.

“Tinu, I’ve told you. I’m with you till your neck is healed.”, he explained.

“Is there something you’re hiding from me?”, she asked. If she didn’t know him well, she’d have missed the look of trepidation that flashed in his eyes.

“Of course not.”, he answered.

“Christopher Oduah, you are hiding something from me. Are we in danger?”, she asked agitated

“Tinu, calm down. It’s nothing.”, he soothed.

Chapter 3

"No, I don't want chiffon. I want crepe. Yes crepe. Nothing else will do. This is haute couture, not some low end mass production.", Dolapo explained to the textile dealer on the line.

"Obviously.… I know….. That's why I do business with you.… Thank you so much! Have a lovely day. Bye.", she sighed and put the receiver back in it's cradle.

She sighed again looking at the incomplete designs on her death and grunted in displeasure. This was the Lagos fashion week. Designers and critics from all over Africa and a few expatriates would be in attendance. She had to make an impression. But inspiration was playing hide and seek with her. She turned and looked at the waste paper basket heaped with crumpled paper. She grunted and groaned. She'd pull her hair out if she grew it long. She ran her hand through her short hair and sighed. She needed a trim, and probably she'd have the barber shape her edges. Unlike most ladies, she loved short hair and left her hair all year round in Anita Baker. She loved that she could get it wet and dry anytime she wanted.

"Inspiration, where are you?!!", she groaned. While she had designed the silhouette of some dresses and she couldn't decide on a fabric, she was unsure of others. She lifted one design of her desk and held it to the light. Unsatisfied, she crumpled it and tossed in the direction of the waste bin. The crumped bolus hit the heap of paper and toppled some rejected balls just as her secretary walked in.
She stared at the mess and then at her boss and friend.

"You know that crumpled up paper might have been the cornerstone design.", the secretary said.

"Lydia, I'm so not in the mood for your jokes.", Dolapo groaned and put her head on her desk.

"Well, the day just got worse. Ashley's here to see you."

"I don't…."

"She said and I quote, 'Tell Dolly I won't leave until I see her. If she doesn't come out, I'll create a scene. I'll get the boys' brigade and have them play all night and all day till she decides to see me'. End of quote.", Lydia recited.

"I'm not in the mood for Ashley's drama right now.", Dolapo answered rousing from her desk.

"Me neither. But if she leaves and returns with the boys' brigade. Noone will want to know she was in the wrong. Everyone will assume you stole her husband or something. And this close to the LFW, you don't need bad press.", Lydia advised.

"Fine. Let her in." Lydia turned and left. Dolapo tried to arrange her desk but gave up when she was making no headway.

She relaxed in her seat and tried to look unfazed by Ashley's visit. They hadn't seen each other in months. Not since Ashley proved she was a unreliable friend.

Ashley had treated her to a fashion show in Johannesburg as a late birthday gift. She hadn't even been expecting such a gift. At least, not since she refused to donate her eggs for the IVF Ashley wanted. The trip was a shock and a reminder of Ashley's selflessness in their friendship. Ashley didn't despise her refusing to donate her eggs and she was grateful because she didn't know what she'd do without such a friend.

Bile rose to her throat as she thought of what Ashley did to her. The most annoying part of it was that not did she not apologize, she also justified her actions. These last two months had shown her what she'd do. She'd live her life like nothing happened and probably get recognized by a renowned designer and/or fashion magazine.

daddio:
@ OP, no com do O RI IYAWO KO IYA'LE FOR HIA O, SHEY UNA NO GO FEED US HIA TOO?

NA POPCORN N GROUNDNUT I GO SEND UNA NO BE ICE CREAM AGAIN.

It's a great job sis, just please make it veeeeeeery hot so that we can enjoy it as we've been doing before.

God bless your sense.

Amen.


Please it's ice cream I want. I'll drop something this night. I have a test so I haven't gotten around to writing much. What I posted on Divide is something I've written since February.

onosbaba3310:
Thanks, noted bro

*Exasperated sigh* I'm a sis


You're welcome

He looked at her suspiciously and didn't say a word. He knew where she was headed or so he thought. He was confused when she said nothing even after dinner. He eyed her curiously but she gave nothing away. He thought she had forgotten about it.

She didn't bring it up until later that night after she had sated his hunger for her.

"Charles?", she called from where she laid on his chest.
"Yes, baby?", he answered as he ran his fingers back and forth her arm with one hand behind his head, lounging in post-coital bliss. She had taken him to the edge of paradise and back with her mouth. He had set out to make love to her but she taken control and pleasured him in every way possible. He wished he could lie in bed with her till kingdom come but he had to go to work. He wanted to sleep. They were up for a while and he had to wake up early if he was to beat traffic. But her dainty fingers running from his chest to the top of his V were keeping a certain member of his body waiting on standby, ready to keep a vigil if need be.

"Ash, go to sleep. I need to wake up early.", he mentioned when she didn't answer him but kept moving her fingers like the temptress she was.

"Honey, I need a favor.", she said softly.

I knew all that wasn't for nothing, he thought.

"I'm not giving you my BMW for two weeks.", he put in stifling a yawn, thankful she had stopped her ministrations.

" That's not it.", she said smiling.

"Ok? What is it?", he asked.

"Promise me you'll say yes.", she said.

"No can do, madam. The last time I made such a promise I was highly embarrassed.", he mentioned.

"Come on, karaoke at our anniversary was not such a bad idea.", she answered giggling.

"Sure, it's not. You weren't the one who had to sing Whitney Houston's I will always love you.", he commented, making her laugh harder.

"Charles, I'm asking for something really important to me.", she begged.

"Ok, I'll try as much as to grant you this favour, if I can.", he said feeling a lot like the biblical King Herod. He really hoped she wouldn't ask for someone's head.

"Ok, fine. Charlie, can you make up with your father? It's been long enough." She felt him stiffen under her and continued before he could refuse her

"I love you and respect you for fighting so hard to defend me but my reputation is at stake. People will see me as a horrible wife who stands by and watches as a son keeps malice with his father. I'll be branded a confusionist. I beg you Charles in the name of God, in the name of the love you have for me and in the name of our unborn children, please make up with your father."

"If that is what you want.", he said sighing.

"Yes, it is my love.", she smiled thinking she had gotten her way.

"I'll do it. I'll go over to the house and apologize for being stiff-necked…"

"And pig-headed", she contributed.

"On one condition.", he added.

"Let's hear it.", She added and rubbed herself against him.

"Ashley, no distractions.", he said and stilled her provocative movements. She smiled at getting caught. "Since we're preaching reconciliation, I'll go over to my parents' when you make up with Dolly. When not before.", he said and kissed her good night and rolled over to the other side of the bed before she could tempt him to go another round.

Ashley's world shattered around her. How was she supposed to make up with Dolapo?

daddio:
Thanks for the update, abeg, I fit get more? I go buy una ice cream.

Should I send my address so you can deliver the ice cream?

************
He stormed out of the closet and into the room with his wife hot on his heels.

"Charles, please.", she whined.

"Ashley, no. I'm not going to that house. I'd rather die than go there. If he doesn't apologize, he can as well forget he has a son.", he spat and sat on the king size bed turning his back to her.

"If this is about what he said, it's water under the bridge. I mean I don't even remember anything he said…"

"Well, I do. I will not have him disrespect my wife. If not for mum and grandma's pleas, I would have resigned the following Monday. You're my wife and I won't let anyone use you as a doormat, do you understand? Not my father, not anyone!", he snapped.
She smiled and went to kneel in front of him. She was ecstatic that he was so protective of her but two years had passed and he was still feuding with his father. She didn't want to look like the kind of wife that created rifts in families. It was time to bury the hatchet and mend fences. She'd do whatever it took. Even if she had to result to African Wife tactic 101

"Honey!", she called and took his hand in hers and kissed it.
"Ashley, get up.", he said knowing where she was headed.

"I'm comfortable like this. Oko mi, olowo ori mi, ife mi, ayo mi, idunnu mi, enibiokan mi, ololufe mi…"

"Ashley, stop this. I'm not going there and that is final.", he said snatching his hand out of hers. He knew he'd do whatsoever she asked if she kept that up.

"Charles, I beg you.", she begged.

"Ashley, I have work to do. Let me know when dinner is ready." With that he walked out the room.

There are more tricks up my sleeve, she thought and went straight for the kitchen to change dinner plans.




*************
He opened the dishes one by one and looked at her smiling at him, trying to play innocent. While he practically grew up abroad, he loved traditional food. Seeing all his favorites on the dinner table in one night made him know just how serious Ashley was.

"Really? Efo riro and pounded yam, Chicken pepper soup and abacha? Emotional blackmail is what you're resorting to next.", he accused.

"Of course not. I just made my husband's favorites, that's all. I don't believe I did anything wrong.", she said and began to dish his food.

Ok, I'm wondering what's next.

Sorry, I'd like to pinpoint a few things. Kindly permit me to.

1) I feel the appropriate translation for Gbe iresi kana should be Start cooking the rice.

2) It's Omi ti ho, not Omi ti o

Thanks.