©Copyright.
This work belongs to Shalom David. Don't plagiarize any part of it.

About the book
A man is on a quest to prove his friend wrong and someone else is on a mission to prove his ideology wrong. It's a story of love, convictions, money, law of attraction, atheism and gambling.

Chapter One
Los Angeles
Mike was on the sofa. He was having a video call with his fiancée who had become the subject of the arguments in the house. The silver chandelier hung over his head cast down golden rays of light on him and gave him a somewhat surreal appearance. He was lost in his conversation with Sharon. He didn't even notice when Jake tripped on his outstretched legs and hissed, splashing his coffee on the rug and murmuring something inaudible.

Tunde stood up from the black settee and took the kitchen towel to clean the rug. It was his house but he did almost all the chores. Mike had come from Nigeria last month to pursue a huge business deal he always talked about when he was not talking about Sharon. Jake was his old time friend who had recently moved to his house to 'cool off' after spending three years in Moscow. He had been to over 30 countries and nothing a seemed to excite him any longer.

"How are your friends over there?" Mike asked Sharon over the webcam.

Her girly laughter resonated in the spacious living room. "They are fine. Troublesome as ever, Sheila is even here for the weekend."

To be continued (sorry, battery low)

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Saw the hint on your diary

kingphilip:
Following

Saw the hint on your diary

Thanks man. Jah bless.

Chapter One continued
"Say me hi to her." Mike said. "So hope you've been praying for me?"

"Duh... I always pray for you."

"And for my business deal right?"

Silence.

"Sharon?"

"I've not really been praying for your deal. But I'll do that today hopefully."

"This deal means a lot to me Babe. I need those equipments for my waste management company and the costs are so high. I need these guys I've spoken to in the U.S to invest in it. Please, let's join faith together. What? Are you actually pouting?"

"Mike I really miss you. You've been there over a month now and it feels like a year already and you said you'll probably be there for a year. I don't know if I can take this kind of long distance and time."

"I know it's hard. Please bear with me. That's why I make sure I call you twice a day. I know how emotional you can get when I'm gone. This will be over in no time. And once I get back, you and I will be married, Okay?"

"Okay."

"Tell your friends to take care of you for me."

"Yeah. Bye."

Click.

Mike closed the laptop. "Women and their emotional drama. She wants me to forget about the deal and stay in Nigeria so we can spend time together." He chuckled.

Tunde smiled. Even though he had been watching Africa Magic Urban, he had still been listening to Mike's call and felt for Sharon in a way.

"She's just missing your loving touch. She'll soon get over it." Jake said and sipped his coffee.

Tunde let out a laugh and clapped.

"Erm... We don't exactly touch, Jake."

Jake looked at him with the side of his eyes and sipped his coffee again.

"So what do you do together?"

Mike smiled. "We talk, we laugh, we visit each other at home, we take walks, we go to eat out, things that good friends do.".

"Interesting, and you're sure she isn't after your money?"

"She has her own business, guy."

Jake rolled his eyeballs. He adjusted his back on the settee. He was 6ft tall, well built, fair and had handsome features. He had thick lips and jet black hair that he took proper care of. He was 36 years old and had billions in his account. He was single.

Tunde was Jake's old pal. They had known each other for ten years now. Jake had helped him get his ICT business started then and had travelled to France. He had spent 2 years in France, 3 years in Dubai, 1 year in the U.S after that before he made a stop in the U.K and Russia. It was in Russia that he heard about his mentor's death and had come back to pay his last respects and mourn his mentor's demise. Both of them had been very close. Jake always stayed in his house whenever he was in the U.S. His mentor had willed his mansion in New Orleans to him and a lot of other assets. But this only made Jake more sentimental. He moved to Los Angeles in hope of getting over the loss of Major, as he called him.

Mike was now in his room rearranging his stuff. He was wearing woolen mittens and woolen stockings that reminded one of Santa. It was January 30th. His room was spacious and warm. He had organized all his files ready for the next day when he would be meeting with his future partners who wanted to invest in his waste management company back in Nigeria. Mike had a Masters degree in Urban Planning. He had done his first degree in Nigeria and his Masters in the U.S. He had met Tunde and Jake during his program and had kept in touch with Tunde after discovering Tunde was also Yoruba and didn't feel too big like Jake.

Mike was tall, lanky and dark skinned. He was intelligent but kept away from many social activities. He was always focused on work and other things that mattered most to him. He avoided social media like a disease and only used Skype and email to communicate.

For him, business was really important. That was one of the reasons he was proud of Sharon. She owned her own business. His definition of job was 'Just Over Broke'. He always praised her for her business acumen, her virtuous qualities that was lacking in this Indomie Generation. "Indomie girls will be like 'I'm hungry, take me to Tantalizers... Get me shawarma when coming over, Sweets, I feel like taking ice cream today'. I can't date such a girl." Mike will say whenever he was at her house. Sharon will pinch him and try shutting him up with her eye language but he will simply shrug and go on. He knew her friends and flatmates were Indomie girls and they detested him for judging them and comparing them to Sharon. But he did not care.

His parents had died when he was in his first year in Unilag. His father's lawyer had invited his extended family for the reading of the will. His father had willed the house in Lagos to Moses, his eldest son and and the plot he had in Abuja to Mike. He had then willed the plots in their village to their uncles who had envied their father for being a successful university professor.

His uncles had shown their disappointment. What about the cars? They asked. "What cars?" Moses had glared. "The SUV belongs to me and mum's Camry belongs to Mike."

They had left angry murmuring about boys of nowadays who no longer respected elders. How it was all Prof's fault. How he had raised his boys to believe they were greedy. How the boys were going to regret humiliating them in Lagos. Moses had taken a job in the university using his father's connection and reputation. He had then sponsored Mike's education and pursued his own lecturing career by travelling for Masters and PhD in the U.K. Mike had worked in a waste company in Lagos for two years before relocating to Abuja to start his own company. Their uncles continued to wait for their businesses to crumble and when they saw that the boys continued to excel, they gave up.

Chapter One continued
Tunde knocked on Mike's door. Mike opened with his right hand while using his left hand to stifle a yawn. He was already in his indigo sleeping robe and wore black thick woolen socks and a red muffler and cap.

"Sleeping already? It's just 7p.m". Tunde stated glancing at his silver wrist watch.

"Guy, I'm so tired and drowsy."

"It's the weather. Kpele. Stella the cook made chicken soup for dinner. Are you game?"

"I hope she didn't use gravy?"

Tunde guffawed and shoke his head. "Naija guy. Just come and eat."

Mike went back in to change and wore a warm Cardigan and long trousers. Tunde and Jake were already seated on the dinner table. Jake was drinking wine from his wine glass and didn't look up until Mike was seated and cleared his throat.

"Let's pray." Mike ordered staring at the chicken soup and checking to be sure there was no gravy. "Thank you Lord for this meal, please bless it and provide for us again, in Jesus name. Amen."

"Amen." Tunde answered.

Jake was staring silently at Mike when he finished praying. He was the first to dish the soup unto his glass bowl. They ate in silence.

"So tell me Jake, where will you be heading to after your vacation here?" Mike decided to break the silence.

"Jake is always on vacation." Tunde answerred him quickly.

Mike's brow furrowed. "And what about your businesses?"

"Have you ever read The 4 Hour Week Drive?" Jake said after carefully chewing his chicken wing.

"No."

"You should. Then you will understand how I'm able to be on vacation every time."

Mike wondered for a moment. "I always thought rich people had to work harder than everybody else. I mean, Dangote works even through the night."

"Maybe if he read The 4 Hour Week Drive, he would work less. I've learnt how to automate my businesses, delegate, cut down unnecessary activities and rest till I feel like working. Work for me is not something I have to do but something I want to do."

Mike nodded. "I should also read this 4 Hour Week..."

"The 4 Hour Week Drive."

"Yes, that".

Their cutleries made clinking sounds. Jake offered Mike wine but he declined. He only drank fresh fruit juice and Roselle tea.

"So, Tunde says you'll be meeting with your potential investors tomorrow."

"Future partners". Mike corrected and drank his soup.

"Right. So tell me more about this equipments you need to buy for your business."

Mike lightened up. This was the opportunity he was waiting for. "I've been able to establish a waste collection unit in my company, you know, house to house waste collection for a little token. But we still have limitations in disposing them. Non-biodegrable waste can constitute pollution to the community. We need to buy equipments to recycle the plastic, aluminum and glass. We also want to start producing organic manure from the degradable waste as well as renewable energy."

"Wow, that's big. And what is the estimated costs for some of these equipment?"

"I could purchase four of them for a billion naira."

"How much do you have on ground?"

Mike exhaled. "I just have up to a hundred million."

"Dollars or..."

"Why, no. Naira."

"That's not even up to half the required amount."

"I know."

"And you are sure these people are going to throw in their money into it."

Mike was looking at Jake now and he could tell from the way Jake was staring that he thought him unwise.

"I believe God will intervene."

"Let's leave God out of this. I'm sure he wouldn't approve of this move of yours."

"There are only few foreign companies in Africa that are into such level of waste disposal presently. Waste is money man, and Nigerians don't even realize this. Do you know what this could mean if I'm able to successfully acquire the equipment? This could change the country and make me billions. Waste is money man."

"I know waste is money, man." Jake stated mechanically. He was still staring at Mike in that strange way.

Mike swallowed hard. He turned to Tunde for help. "I just feel this is a right move. It has been my dream for many years now to get these machines."

Tunde jumped in. "How about just budgeting for one of them for the time being. I mean, Americans are scared now of investing in Africa, especially Nigeria. They just feel Nigerians are all corrupt and wasteful. Trump's 'Shithole country speech' has really infected the way people see us. Maybe you should just plan for the worst, in case these people let you down."

Mike sighed again. "It's Okay. I'll figure this out." He downed the last drop of soup in his bowl and said goodnight to them.

After he was gone, Jake poured in the last remains of his wine and held it close to his eyes to watch in fascination as the bubbles rose and vanished. The red wine settled minutes later.

"I thought you'd be interested in his deal. You could partner with him and own half of the stakes in his business. It's really worth it."

"I just don't like the way he behaves. He thinks like elders in the village who have to consult oracles before deciding anything."

"The guy is really nice. He just needs support."

"He is too outdated for my liking. That's how they start, by claiming they trust God will intervene and then go knee deep into bad debts and watch their business fold up."

Tunde stood up. "Just support him man, it won't hurt you."

"And have him say God take the glory? I'm having none of that shit."

Tunde walked away.

Following

Chapter One continued
Mike was on his bed now. He was wearing his sleeping robe and sat upright with his hands in his face. He was thinking. What if he made a bad choice by coming to Los Angeles? What if Tunde was right and the investors were really scared? He remembered now how one of them had expressed concerns about financial integrity of Nigerians. How he had been swindled several times by Nigerian business men with great business ideas only to find out they were fraudsters.

"I just wonder why they wouldn't simply invest in the business and stop their fraudulent ways?" The man who was called Pepper Smith said.

Mike thought deeply. Was this really a good decision he had made? Sharon had been skeptic since the first day he broke the news of his travel to her. He had expected her to be thrilled, but she kept on advising him not to rush, to take more time to think, to pray well about it because she had no peace. But he was so sure that this was exactly what his company needed now. He still had the profit estimation in his mind. His team had all sat down last year in September to plan carefully. Someone had suggested they take a loan from the bank, but he had quickly dismissed it. He hated debts with every cell in his body.

Someone knocked on his door. He waited again to hear it before going to turn the golden door knob. Jake was at the door. His right hand was on the wall and his left hand was on his waist like a pregnant woman who wanted to trouble her husband.

"Can I come in? Please?"

Mike looked into his eyes trying to find out what he really wanted. Perhaps he still wanted to scorn him, to tell him how foolish it was of him to abandon his company now in search of elusive dreams. "Look, if this is about the deal, don't worry."

"I just want to talk."

Mike paused and thought long before opening the door wide. Jake came in immediately surveying the room, as if he had expected to find something in particular. He sat down on the bed without Mike's invitation. Mike followed his cue.

"You know, I've never really known much about you except for what Tunde has told me. We only met twice the time you were doing your program 6 years ago and after that, it was always Tunde who kept in touch with you."

Mike nodded. He didn't feel like talking now. He wanted to do some brain work. He knew Jake wanted him to beg for help before he would assist. Tunde had already hinted him how Jake assisted some fellow Nigerians in their businesses and could do so for Mike if he played his cards well. By that he meant Mike needed to impress Jake and pretend to be cool with him.

"I was born in Adamawa State and came to Lagos for the first time when I was 15. I worked in the motor parks for 3 years before getting the privilege to come to the U.S." Jake said with a hint of pride in his voice. His skin was smooth and fair like ripe avocados and his hair smelt of coconut oil.

"I struggled for a while trying to get on my feet. It was a herculean task. This country can be really lonely if you can't seem to find your way. You have to have someone to support you. For me, it was my late mentor, the Major."

"Was he a real major in the army?"

"No, but it was the name all his mentees called him."

"I see." Mike nodded even though he didn't mean to say that. He meant to ask what exactly the Major was mentoring them for, but decided to mind his business.

"What about you? Tell me some things about yourself. I've really been a snob to you since you came but, I want to understand your views, your dreams and beliefs."

Mike exhaled before starting. He summarized his biography for Jake within 30 minutes. He told Jake about his father who had been a real hero to him, how his father had instilled courage, hope and faith in him. How God inspired him one day in Secondary school about waste management and how he started planning from then to become a name in the business. How God had opened doors of opportunities. How his uncles tried to plot against his downfall through black magic but failed and how God connected him to his soul mate, Sharon.

"I see". Jake nodded. It was his own turn to bridle his tongue. He wanted to ask Mike if God was sure this move of his was going to end well but decided to keep mute.

"We'll continue this discussion tomorrow." Jake stood up yawning and stretching. It was past 11p.m now.

"Good night Mike."

"Yeah, God be with you."

Jake laughed. "I don't think so."

Light out.
***

The next day Mike returned from his meeting and threw his files angrily on the center table. He walked to the refrigerator and took out some bread so he could make toast bread.

"How was the meeting?" Jake asked. He had been lying on the couch reading Playboy.

"Mad oh! These guys are offering to cover only half the cost and are requesting to own majority of the stakes."

"Hmmn. Well, you can keep trying."

Mike went to the kitchen and made his toast. He had it with fresh orange juice that Stella had prepared for him. He went to his room to change. He dialled Sharon's Nigerian line. She answered. They talked and laughed but he didn't disclose the outcome of the meeting. Jake knocked on the door while Mike was still on the phone and entered on his own. He sat on the bed and listened while they talked.

"Sheila is going back to Lagos next week. You know she is now through with her SSCE. I told her to stay with me in Abuja so she can learn some things in the confectionery shop, but she said she wants to go for an audition in Lagos." Sharon's voice said. The phone was on speaker.

"Well, allow her go if that's what she wants. I just hope she uses her time well. Advice her well before she leaves. The real world isn't as innocent as high school is."

"Yeah, I will. I have to go now please. Someone needs my attention."

"Okay. I'll call you later. Bye Love."

drewsman:
Following

Thanks Sir.

Please bear with me. Typing on phone isn't easy man.

Shalomdee:
Please bear with me. Typing on phone isn't easy man.

I can relate, it isn't easy.

Typing with a PC � keyboard is much easier.
The story is getting more interesting, more updates pls

Chapter One continued
Mike dropped the phone on the bed smiling. "I just needed to hear her voice to feel better." Mike explained to Jake even though he didn't need it.

"I can't imagine actually needing a girl's voice to feel better." Jake philosophized.

Mike turned to him. "Have you ever been in love with someone? Anybody at all? Male, female, family member?"

Jake thought for a while. "Maybe. I know I loved Major, but, it wasn't so mushy mushy."

"When you love someone, you feel good talking to them."

"Do you really love Sharon?"

"Of course."

"Why?"

"Why?? Because... I don't know. She's nice and good. There really doesn't need to be a reason to love someone. Love is more than a feeling, it's a choice."

"You can't just love without a reason. A mother loves a child because the child is hers."

"She still had to make the choice to love him, some mothers hate their children."

"So, you're telling me you just love Sharon without a reason?"

"Sometimes you can't really explain why you love someone."

"Yes you can. What are the good things you like about her?"

Mike smacked his lips and took a deep breath. "She's beautiful, humble, she's got wisdom of the ancients, she doesn't judge people, she's business oriented, decent, fun to be with and she loves God to a fault. The list is endless."

"There!" Jake snapped his fingers. "These endless reasons are what made you attracted to her. Without these reasons, you won't claim you love her."

"I admit her good qualities got me attracted to her, but to really love someone, it's got to go beyond that."

Jake shook his head. "Love doesn't really exist. It's just a word people invented to explain they like someone very much. I don't waste my time believing in it."

"You're a strange one Jake." Mike chuckled. "One of these days you will believe in love."

"I've met ladies all over the world. Some were exciting to be with, some really had value to offer me. But they didn't love me and I couldn't love them too. Sometimes I tried to honestly fall in love, but I just couldn't." He stood up and walked around the room. He was wearing a white robe and black trousers. His hands were in his pocket as he paced.

"Maybe one day you will meet someone who would change that." Mike insisted. "Whenever I'm with Sharon, I feel at home. Sometimes her hair is messy when I come to see her and she's got flour and margarine covered on her clothes, but I still feel happy to see her. She really makes me happy."

Jake turned to face him. "What about her? Does she love you as much? Can she hold on for you the same way you are ready to hold on for her?"

"Yes. Absolutely."

"Don't be too sure. A woman only wants attention and comfort. If you can't give her that, she'll fall for the next man who can offer her that."

"I don't believe that. Some women can be that way. But they're not all like that."

"I hate to break it to you Mike, but all women are the same."

"Are all men the same?"

Jake frowned. Mike, apart from being too religious was also too argumentative.

"All men are equal but some are more equal than others- in the voice of George Orwell."

"In other words, men are not the same in character, only equal in humanity. That goes the same for women."

"You are impossible to convince." Jake remarked.

"Thanks. So we do share something in common after all."

Jake headed for the door and stopped by the drawer to look at a framed picture. It was a medium sized frame with golden casing. A woman was smiling in the picture. She wore a simple blue Ankara gown with a fascinator made with the same Ankara material. Her red lipstick complemented her pure white teeth and her eyes were appealing, they seemed to beckon to whoever was looking, they seemed to have the wisdom of the ancients. Jake stared at those eyes for more than a minute. He didn't even notice Mike was standing near him now looking at him lost in her eyes.

"She's beautiful isn't she?"

Jake was startled. He turned away from the picture quickly and tried to shake away the guilt he was suddenly feeling.

"Even more beautiful is her soul. So innocent and pure."

"Is she a virgin?"

Mike frowned. "Not all virgins are innocent and pure. I'm talking of her soul."

Jake could not help staring back at the picture now. Her smile seemed more broader. She had an oval face and a straight nose that was not pointed and was also not flat. Her hair was woven underneath the blue fascinator. It was jet black.

"Have you ever tested her loyalty?" Jake said unaware of any other thing currently happening. He was still looking at Sharon's picture.

"I don't need to. I can vouch that she loves me and is loyal."

"What if she fails you?"

Mike laughed. "I can bet 50 million naira today that she won't fail me."

Jake's lips parted in a cunning smile. He faced Mike now.

"I can bet 1 billion naira today that she will fail you."

Mike shook his head.

"You don't believe me? Then let's bet. 1 billion naira will be yours if I can't successfully make her fall for me and fail you."

"No..." Mike shook his head slowly.

drewsman:


I can relate, it isn't easy.

Typing with a PC � keyboard is much easier.
The story is getting more interesting, more updates pls

Alright

Chapter One continued
"Why, because you're afraid you will lose her?"

"I'm not afraid of losing her. I know her and trust her."

"Trust is fragile and so are women."

"I'm not betting on her Jake."
.
"What about the deal? Imagine if you have 1billion naira to invest in those equipment before the year runs out. You wouldn't need to try convincing investors and you could have those equipment soon, go back to Nigeria and be a big boy."

Mike looked at Jake as if he was considering it. 1 billion naira screamed at his face as he stood near Jake before the framed picture. All he needed was 1billion naira, and here was Jake offering it to him. But he couldn't accept.

"Why do you want this bet?"

"Because I want to help you." Jake had begun to pace in the room. "I want to help you discover the true value of women, and give you a chance to get your dream. I've been really thinking of helping you out, I know what this dream really means to you. Give me a chance to prove that ladies are not loyal and that love is a facade. But I want you to bet first, then allow me test her on your behalf. What do you say?

Mike smacked his lips and looked at the ground. "Let me think about it."

CHAPTER TWO
"Kini? What sort of betting is that? I'd rather turn to professional football betting than bet on my girlfriend." Tunde said with a frown. They were in the Bowling Lounge cooling off after their game. Tunde was eating pizza and soda while Mike was having a smoothie. It was 4p.m on a Saturday.

"I've been thinking about this for some time. I think there really is no big deal to it." Mike replied. He was dressed in blue jeans and red T-shirt and had spectacles on.

Tunde gave him an angry look. "If you know how dangerous that guy is, you wouldn't want to get into any games with him."

A gentleman and his girlfriend walked into the lounge in each others arms. The lady wore a really short gown that stopped at her thighs. She looked Asian and had long hair that swayed as she laughed and threw her head on her boyfriend's shoulder. Mike thought of Sharon's hair at that moment. Her thick full and long natural hair that caught people's attention anytime she styled it to go backwards.

The gentleman bought soda for both of them and they sat down on one of the multicoloured sofas. The lady stretched her legs on her boyfriend's laps revealing her beautiful thighs. Mike looked away instinctively.

"How dangerous can it be?" He asked Tunde who was looking at his iPad. "I know Sharon will never betray me no matter what. Except if I'm dead."

"And you don't think he's going to use dishonest means to get her?"

"What will be the point?"

"Are you seriously asking me that?"

"Yeah. What will be his point in using dishonest means. He just wants to test her loyalty. It's not like he needs my 50 million desperately. The guy is already a billionaire. I'm the one who needs the money."

Tunde smiled and shook his head. "That guy is up to something. Honestly."

Mike shrugged. "It could work out well for us all. He'll get a chance to believe not all women are the same and I'll get the 1 billion naira I need for my business."

"What if she let's you down?"

Mike looked disgusted to hear that. "Sharon won't let me down. Besides, he told me I can still have my 50 mil if she let's me down."

"Jake actually said that?!"

"Yeah. Of course he said that." Mike said surprised that Tunde was shocked to hear Jake wanted him to keep his own money. Jake was a billionaire after all. He didn't need his paltry 50 mil.

Tunde nodded emphatically. "I smell this guy is up to something."

"I think this is an answer to prayers." Mike was smiling.

"You're just deluded. This is a bad idea. Look, I've known this guy for some time now. I know him more than you do. Jaka Shaibu is a good guy on a normal level. He's generous, cool, rich and intelligent. But he isn't the kind of guy to go into deals with. He's not the kind of guy you turn your girlfriend over to."

Mike wondered for a minute. "I really don't want Sharon to get hurt. I really don't want to put her through any games. But men, 1 billion fit slip comot for my hand oh!"

"What about the investors?"

"Dude, those guys are not smiling again. They are trying to take more than what I can give."

"Maybe it's wrong timing. I know you need these equipment. But maybe it won't be possible this time. You can drop some proposals and wait for other investors."

Mike tilted his head left and right to show he wasn't thinking of backing off without something to show.

"If anything happens to Sharon, will you be able to get over the guilt? Just think. I really haven't met her face to face but the little you've told me about her shows she doesn't deserve to be gambled with."

Mike covered his face with his hands to focus and think. His palms smelt of strawberry, milk and vanilla. "I need to calculate this carefully."

For no amount should one bet on something as sensitive as this.

Even for the 1 billion naira involved.

He might not succeed but he'll throw in the betting card and she may become angry and call it quit.

Chapter Two continued
Abuja
"Every day no be Christmas!" was the meme on Sharon's laptop. She had downloaded it from one of the Facebook groups where she learnt different recipes on making pastries and confectionery. She had just put on the computer now and connected it to her hotspot so she could read her emails.

Sharon was a graduate of Benue State University, Makurdi. She had read Food and Nutrition and had a First Class in it. Her father had wanted her to lecture, but she already knew she was destined to wet people's appetites not teach. Ever since she was in SS2, she wanted to own her own eatery. Every meal she made was excellent. Her mates used to call her "Midas Hands". She invented 'coal cakes', 'margarine and tumeric paste', 'groundnut butter', 'bean spice powder' and many other delectable ingredients and food. She was really creative when it came to food.

"If you become my wife, I'll be very fat." Her crush will tease her anytime she smuggled coal cakes, pancakes and honey candy into his bag. He will tell her this after he had eaten her snacks and she will smile with a satisfied calmness.

So when her Senior Advocate of Nigeria father insisted on her going for Masters in Nsukka so he could secure her a lecturing job there, she rebelled. She had never had any reason to rebel before. She was always a sweet innocent girl that did everything Daddy instructed. But this time around, she stood her ground. Instead of going to Nsukka after her NYSC, she took out all her savings, travelled to the FCT, purchased baking tools and food and began her confectionery shop 'Sweets and Joy'.

Her dad was angry with her and for two years never responded to her calls or messages. Then he started seeing her on magazine covers, T.V interviews and news headlines. 'Sweets and Joy' became a famous destination for lovers, families and colleagues. She got a better building and other outlets in Abuja. She got a Porsche for herself and started appearing in events to talk to teen girls about Entrepreneurship. Her Dad then dialled her number and when she picked, he said:

"Congratulations. Your stubbornness was worth it."

She came back to Lagos to see him, spent some time with him and bought him a second car before going back to Abuja.

Then her dad started asking her "how far about your marriage?"

"My marriage?" She would feign confusion.

"Yes. When are you bringing a suitor home? Shimave is your immediate younger sister and she's getting married in November."

"I will marry when God brings the right man, Daddy".

"Nonsense." Her dad would spew the word out as if he was spewing water on her face. "I have many friends here who have interesting sons..."

"Daddy! I thought only mothers bothered their daughters about marriage."

"Well, your mother left for heaven and entrusted that responsibility to me. I have only three daughters, but I want them to be settled happily when it's time."

"And God won't let you down, Daddy. We will all be settled happily."

"I pray so Sharon." He will say.

kingphilip:
For no amount should one bet on something as sensitive as this.

Even for the 1 billion naira involved.

He might not succeed but he'll throw in the betting card and she may become angry and call it quit.

Yeah, maybe. Thanks for following.

CHAPTER TWO continued
She began to pray for a husband. At age 25, she was not yet engaged. Almost all her friends were 'hooked' or already in their matrimonial homes. There were men coming around her to build friendship and ask for a relationship, but anytime she went back to consider their proposals, she will lose interest in the men. She just didn't seem to connect to anyone.

"Time is running out oh!" Her aunts would warn her when she tried to explain why she turned down another proposal.

"Be there forming princess. A woman doesn't have all the time in the world. Smart ladies get engaged before they graduate, these days men are really scarce."

"Don't become an old maid joor. We don't have old maids in our family."

"What about Tersugh?" One of her aunts will chip in. "He is handsome, well educated, responsible and he is doing well financially."

"Auntie, he drinks too much?"

"And so? There is no perfect man out there. It's either he drinks, or smokes, or chases girls, or is poor, or is a woman beater, or is into rituals. This one only drinks, his own is better. Husband na husband." Aunt Mimi will say.

Talks like these started getting to her. Everybody was suddenly ' advising' her to settle and not allow money deceive her.

"Money is good but a husband is better." They will say.

"What shall it profit a woman to gain the world and die a spinster?"

Sharon couldn't take it anymore. With pressure mounting from her family and friends asking her what she wanted to do with wealth and fame and no husband; she gave in. Tersugh, the rich handsome son of a senator asked her to marry him and she said yes.


It was the talk of the town. Tiv people carried the news from Abuja to Lagos to Benue to Nasarawa and Taraba. Event managers started advertising themselves on her Facebook timeline. Friends started jostling who would be her Bridesmaid. Fashion designers started becoming friendly. Family members were already calling her "Future Mrs Tersugh Shagbao", "Tersugh's Sweetheart", and many other names. But she was not at peace with herself.

Tersugh wanted the wedding rushed. They had only courted for four months when he started fixing dates for introduction and traditional wedding. The more he talked of their wedding, the more her heart weighed her. It was not as if Tersugh was not nice. He was a nice man. He 'spent' money on her the way he was expected to, he called her family members frequently and gave them generous amounts, he put her picture as his Facebook cover picture. He called her everyday and told her how much he loved her. But deep down in her heart, she knew he was not the one and if she ended up marrying him, she will never be happy.

She also started noticing some things about him. He was excessively jealous. "Where are you?" He will say on the phone when she picked.

"I'm at the office, why?"

"Are you with someone?"

"Yes, a client."

"He or she?"

"He. What does it matter?"

"Put the phone on speaker now!"

He embarrassed by his constant feeling of insecurity. He deleted all her male friends' contacts from her phone book, checked her email and Facebook messages. Picked her calls and warned her male callers not to disturb 'his wife'. He was unbearable. The last straw that broke her patience was his adamance that they have sex before marriage.

"Have I not already gone to see your people?" He will ask trying to unbutton her blouse when they were alone in his living room.

"I've told you. Let's wait till we're formally married." She will push him away.

He will come back for her skirt more determined. "You're always acting too holy. It's old school. Sex is a demonstration of love."

"I said, we will wait until we're officially man and wife. What's the rush? You'll be tired of sex when we finally get married."

"I want to have you now, Baby." He will say and a certain lust will set his eyes ablaze and he will start licking her earlobes.

One such day she slapped him and pushed him away. Picked up her bag and walked away.

"Come back Sharon!" He ordered.

She turned. "I can't do this anymore. I'm sick and tired of pretending to the world that I'm happy with you. Let's just end this."

He stood up from the cushion and went over to her and hugged her. "I can't do without you."

"Yes you can." She said and broke free from him.

"Sharon!" He called. "I know you think you're born again. But if you keep up with these so-called convictions of yours, I'm afraid you'll never be married."

"I want to be happy Tersugh. And I want peace of mind. If marriage can't give me that, then maybe you are right, I'll never be married."
***

Shalomdee:
CHAPTER TWO continued
She began to pray for a husband. At age 25, she was not yet engaged. Almost all her friends were 'hooked' or already in their matrimonial homes. There were men coming around her to build friendship and ask for a relationship, but anytime she went back to consider their proposals, she will lose interest in the men. She just didn't seem to connect to anyone.

"Time is running out oh!" Her aunts would warn her when she tried to explain why she turned down another proposal.

"Be there forming princess. A woman doesn't have all the time in the world. Smart ladies get engaged before they graduate, these days men are really scarce."

"Don't become an old maid joor. We don't have old maids in our family."

"What about Tersugh?" One of her aunts will chip in. "He is handsome, well educated, responsible and he is doing well financially."

"Auntie, he drinks too much?"

"And so? There is no perfect man out there. It's either he drinks, or smokes, or chases girls, or is poor, or is a woman beater, or is into rituals. This one only drinks, his own is better. Husband na husband." Aunt Mimi will say.

Talks like these started getting to her. Everybody was suddenly ' advising' her to settle and not allow money deceive her.

"Money is good but a husband is better." They will say.

"What shall it profit a woman to gain the world and die a spinster?"

Sharon couldn't take it anymore. With pressure mounting from her family and friends asking her what she wanted to do with wealth and fame and no husband; she gave in. Tersugh, the rich handsome son of a senator asked her to marry him and she said yes.


It was the talk of the town. Tiv people carried the news from Abuja to Lagos to Benue to Nasarawa and Taraba. Event managers started advertising themselves on her Facebook timeline. Friends started jostling who would be her Bridesmaid. Fashion designers started becoming friendly. Family members were already calling her "Future Mrs Tersugh Shagbao", "Tersugh's Sweetheart", and many other names. But she was not at peace with herself.

Tersugh wanted the wedding rushed. They had only courted for four months when he started fixing dates for introduction and traditional wedding. The more he talked of their wedding, the more her heart weighed her. It was not as if Tersugh was not nice. He was a nice man. He 'spent' money on her the way he was expected to, he called her family members frequently and gave them generous amounts, he put her picture as his Facebook cover picture. He called her everyday and told her how much he loved her. But deep down in her heart, she knew he was not the one and if she ended up marrying him, she will never be happy.

She also started noticing some things about him. He was excessively jealous. "Where are you?" He will say on the phone when she picked.

"I'm at the office, why?"

"Are you with someone?"

"Yes, a client."

"He or she?"

"He. What does it matter?"

"Put the phone on speaker now!"

He embarrassed by his constant feeling of insecurity. He deleted all her male friends' contacts from her phone book, checked her email and Facebook messages. Picked her calls and warned her male callers not to disturb 'his wife'. He was unbearable. The last straw that broke her patience was his adamance that they have sex before marriage.

"Have I not already gone to see your people?" He will ask trying to unbutton her blouse when they were alone in his living room.

"I've told you. Let's wait till we're formally married." She will push him away.

He will come back for her skirt more determined. "You're always acting too holy. It's old school. Sex is a demonstration of love."

"I said, we will wait until we're officially man and wife. What's the rush? You'll be tired of sex when we finally get married."

"I want to have you know, Baby." He will say and a certain lust will set his eyes ablaze and he will start licking her earlobes.

One such day she slapped him and pushed him away. Picked up her bag and walked away.

"Come back Sharon!" He ordered.

She turned. "I can't do this anymore. I'm sick and tired of pretending to the world that I'm happy with you. Let's just end this."

He stood up from the cushion and went over to her and hugged her. "I can't do without you."

"Yes you can." She said and broke free from him.

"Sharon!" He called. "I know you think you're born again. But if you keep up with these so-called convictions of yours, I'm afraid you'll never be married."

"I want to be happy Tersugh. And I want peace of mind. If marriage can't give me that, then maybe you are right, I'll never be married."
***

Are you talking about me, in your Diary
Nairaland just told me that you mentioned me!
Anyway can we be friends

Nephilim:
Are you talking about me, in your Diary
Nairaland just told me that you mentioned me!
Anyway can we be friends

You got me laughing out loud. Okay Bro. Nice to meet you.

CHAPTER TWO continued
Sharon finished reading her Emails at 2:40 p.m. She closed her laptop and got up from her study desk in her room. She shared the room with Sheila, her youngest sister who was in Abuja for holidays. She lived in Lugbe. She had rented the three bedroom flat a year after Sweets and Joy started. Her besties Frances, Adoo, Ene and Tuleh were also staying with her in the flat. Sharon was not used to staying alone in a house so she invited her friends to stay with her.

She was back early from work today. Ever since her first shop had become a success, she spent less time working. She had trained her workers to use her recipes and make the snacks just the way she did. She came to the sitting room. Adoo and Frances were seated watching King of Hearts on Telemundo. They were engrossed in it. Sharon laid down on the long settee and tried hard to follow the soap. It was futile. She hated Mexican soap operas. Her best T.V programs were kids programs on Disney Junior, Nickledeon, Jim Jam and Cartoon Network. She only loved movies that starred kids in them.

"I'll go and join Sheila so we can watch Annie together." Sharon stood up from the seat just when she had had enough of one of the actress' loud crying.

"Say hi to Mr Stacks for me." Adoo replied and she and Frances giggled together.

Moments after Sharon had left, they heard her phone ring. It was her message ring tone. Frances jumped and took it. She hissed when she saw who the message was from.

"It's from her Dumbo fiancé."

"Read the message na. Wetin in de yan?" Adoo who was the eldest lady in the flat and seemed to control all the others said.

"Wetin concern me concern Sharon love message?" Frances threw the phone back on the seat and went back to the T.V.

Adoo got up with an effort because she was huge. She took the phone and read the message.

"Babe, there's something I need to tell you about. I'll be calling you when it's night over there. I love you. Cheers."

Adoo threw the phone and hissed. "I've never seen a more unromantic dude than Mike. I wonder why Sharon didn't just marry Tersugh? We would have been cruising in Dubai by now."

"No go marry your own husband, Adoo. You too dey chuk mouth inside other people matter."

"Whatever."

CHAPTER TWO continued
Los Angeles
Mike tried reaching Sharon on phone but it didn't connect. Her phone was either switched off or the network there was bad. He put down the phone. His hands were sweaty. He was nervous. "To bet or not to bet? That is the question." He said aloud.

He was in the lawn seated on an iron bench and watching butterflies perch on the rosebuds in the nursery. His thoughts kept wandering from 1 billion to the equipment in Machine Agency to Sharon's soft and deep eyes to Jake's cunning smile when he said : then let's bet.

"Darn the consequences!" He said aloud once again. He was squeezing the plastic cup he had drank his juice from unconsciously.

Jake's voice came back to him in his mind. "If I can't make her fall for me in 4months time. You get 1 billion plus your 50 mil. But if I can make her fall for me and get into bed with me, I keep my money but you get your 50 mil. Either ways, you keep your money."

"How can I trust you will play fair?"

Jake smiled in that cunning fox way. He had a dimple on his right chin. "All is fair in love and war. Anyway, I give you my word."

"So does this mean you'll be travelling to Nigeria?"

"Yep. As soon we bet officially, I'll be on my way to Abuja. It's been five years since I visited. I'm sure many things have changed."

"So how exactly are we going to bet officially?"

Jake had taken up his laptop and signed into a site. He showed him the homepage of the site.

"Loverbet. The number one site where people gamble on the fidelity of their lovers."

"You mean a site like this exists in reality?"

"Yes. Welcome to the end of days."

Mike exhaled.

"It's simple." Jake went on to explain.

"You simply sign up. Request for a fidelity test. I accept. You stake your money on the site and I stake mine. The site will keep our money and pay you when you win."

"That's it?"

"Told you. Simple as ABC."