₦airaland Forum

sebak: Beautiful piece, thnx dearie. More ink 2 ur pen

Thank you

Don't forget to drop your royal pence.

I can imagine what Mrs Douglas is about to tell Raymond.
Ride on sir.

Clears voice abi is it throat.

16


<a href="https://exceptionalstar.files./2014/07/wpid-images_4.jpeg"><img title="images_4.jpeg" class="alignnone size-full" alt="image" src="https://exceptionalstar.files./2014/07/wpid-images_4.jpeg" /></a>



Kelvin opened the door for her before going to the other side and driving out of the premises.

'Where are we having lunch?' Katherine began.

He had tried to keep his promise to reprogram so she could start eating lunch.

'In a Chinese restaurant. ' He returned and glanced at her purposely for her reaction.

She frowned. 'Their meal doesn't really go down well with me.'

'Me too.' He told her with a smile.

Katherine glared at him.

He laughed. 'I was only pulling your legs.'

She chuckled and pointed at the car sound system. 'Can I put it on?'

'Sure.'

Lara George's Dansaki fill the airwaves. It was one of her favorite gospel music. She didn't know he favoured Nigerian gospel song.

'Kel, I've noticed you hardly make use of your driver. You seem to know the roads well.'

He nodded. 'I can drive from Lagos to Benin, Portharcourt, Calabar and so on.

'Don't tell me! ' She exclaimed totally awed.

'I already told you.' He returned gleefully. 'I studied geography in high school but when I made my mind to come to Nigeria, I did geographical study of the country and with time I got used to everything I learnt though it wasn't easy, most of my drivers in time when they saw how interested I was tutored me. When I am not the mood, I make do with the driver.' He took a turn and the car sped up.

'Splendid. I used to hear people say, when you know how to drive in Nigeria especially Lagos, you can easily drive in other part of the world. '

'I agree dear. '

Soon they were past a bridge. He took a minor road which looked familiar to Katherine and then brought the car to a halt in the parking lot of one of the best eateries in lagos, the very same Mr Franklin, Kelvin's father had taken her to.

She beamed, unbuckled her seat belt and opened the door.

'Oh no...Katherine.' He groaned. 'You must learn how to be a lady.'

'I'm sorry.' She told him when she stepped out of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

'Why are you grinning? ' He asked as he took her hand.

'I have been here with your dad.'

Kelvin bobbed his head from side to side and then chuckled. 'I bet I am gonna treat you better than he did.' <em>He was not gonna let his Pop beat him to a treating her right.</em>

+++

'Mmmmh...' She muttered, dabbed at the edges of her lips and swallowed. 'In all my entire snacks-eating life, I have never had anything so nutritious-deliciously tasty.' Katherine expressed after the second bite.

'It is a snack for everyone, I love this drink more, it is an extract of soya beans and other combo, I love the icy flabby tantalizing feel on my tongue.' Kelvin expressed.

Katherine nodded her head in agreement.

A couple of minutes later, Kelvin disrupted the silence.

'What is the craziest thing you've ever done? '

'Craziest thing.' She repeated thoughtfully and then scooped from the cup. 'When I was fourteen, I had one of  the best celebrated birthday any fourteen year ever had.'

'Oh yeah? '

'Yep, to show the extent, scenario like this often happen in my class. Two students get into a disagreement which leads to exchange of words. Another student in an attempt to calm the situation may say. "You two should stop quarreling for peace sake! "
One of them will give a short laugh and say-  "How can I stoop so low to quarrel with someone Katherine did not consider inviting to her birthday. I have been reasonable by exchanging words in the first place."
With that he or she walks out.

'Huge.' Kelvin exhaled amused.

'There was this guy in my class he was either a son to a minister or a senator...I cannot remember which exactly. ' She chuckled. 'He asked me out a couple of times but I turned him down. On a particular day, I was on my way to the cafeteria when he fell in steps with me.
"Hi Katherine.'' I glanced at him but didn't attempt to reply because I was pissed by his sweet talks over and over again. This guy had gone out with half of girls in my senior grade and some in the higher grades.

"Katherine why are you treating me like this? I don't go through all these long process with other girls. I want you to be my girl, please stop and look at me."

I obliged him.

"I am making myself so cheap when you stand to gain a lot by being the girl to the minister's son"
Ah-ha!Now I remember. ' Katherine chuckled. 'He was the minister's son.'

Kelvin bobbed his head before taking a scoop from his drink.

"I am not a rag that can be used and dumped by the minister's son, how many times do I have to tell you that? Besides I am not on the same level with your many girls and I - am - not even in your level.'

"Baby girl, I understand you are best the class and all but  that's the message I have been trying to pass, let's be in the same level or betterstill, teach me how to be in your level. You're too beautiful and intelligent for any sane guy to use and drop." He grinned. ''We would play safe if that is what you're scared of.''

'Play safe!' Kelvin gasped and went wide eyed.

She nodded before proceeding. "Everything you said passed through my left ear and out to my right ear." I told him.

''You don't believe right?' He unstrapped his school bag and opened it to fetch a carton. "This phone was given to me on my last birthday but since I have one already, you deserve it." Since I was sizing him up from head to toes with my eyes, he went ahead to say. ''In case you think am lying, here,'' He brought out a Samsung galaxy whatever. ''When you have this phone in your hand, you have to promise to be mine.''

I took the phone from him, I look at his grinning face that was like that of a cheshire cat and then examined the phone. I raised it up right above my head and gbam! right on the floor.

"Katherine!" They onlookers exclaimed exasperated.

"If you ever disturb me again, I will not only smash what you came with, your head is not spared." With that I marched off to the computer room.

Since then, he maintains a distance and stare in such a way I wish I knew what was going through his mind. But then, he became better behaved.' She concluded and looked at him.

Kelvin laughed. 'At least the guy wisened up because I believe that threat hook, line and sinker.' He winked at her.

Katherine lowered her gaze rather shyly and laughed.'Your turn Kel.'

'When I was in high school, there was this bully in my class, tall, huge and rounded like a ball. He counted himself to be handsome 'cause he was always going around with a mirror and a lip gloss , when he was not doing the bullying stuff, he was checking himself out.'

Katherine laughed before sucking in her drink.

'We suffered in silence and avoided him like a plague. One day, my immediate younger sister came home and told me the bully had asked her to be his girl and when she had politely turned him down, he threatened to deal with her.
I shuddered at the thought of what he meant when he threatened to deal with a girl. I didn't care much about what he did with other girls but not my sisters because I had sworn to protect them in time past. But how in the world do I protect my sister from a guy am scared of?' He heaved like in was in the situation presently and Katherine giggled eyes not leaving his dramatic face.

'That same day, I hurried to visit my bestie and told him, he was helpless too but we were determined to find a solution.
The following day, I was on my way to watching a couple of drama in the school theatre when I saw the bully with his hands around my sister's neck and her back against the wall. I sprang like a spring and launched several kicks until he freed her to clutch his legs and then I delivered a anger -propelled fist to his jaw.

He growled and when I pulled my sister up and was about to flee, he grabbed me and pushed me against the wall and then went back to my sister who was ready with a perfume-looking rechargeable stun gun mum had given her for self defense. In few seconds as came down writhing, I scrambled to my feet and we ran out.

That same week, we were to have a prom night.

I lent a magazine from a neighbour and advertised in it were masks and costumes. Like a bolt from the blue...' Kelvin snapped his fingers. 'I was brain stormed. Then, I loved watching wrestling. You watch wrestling, don't you? ' He wanted to know how to go about his next line of narration.

'I do.'

'Do you know the name of the names of the wrestlers that came into my mind?'

Katherine shook her head.

'Sting and Golddust .'

'Oooops! Those two have dreadful costumes and mask.'

'I hurried to my bestie and told him of my plan and together we did finishing touches. That same day, went to the local complex and didn't have to empty our savings box to get what we needed. We did our training which included taking a pair of our shoes to the cobbler to triple its sole, we did voice training amongst others.'

Katherine eyes sparkled in amusement inspired by imagination.

'We were to capitalize on his reflection weakness. When we got to the prom, we stayed at a strategic place where we could see the happenings at prom without being noticed. We even had telescopes.' Kelvin chuckled in remembrance.

'Just after ten minutes, he left the room, we didn't have second thought of his destination. We hurried to the gent, to hide behind its door. Thankfully, the light switch was close and my bestie's left thumb posed just above it.

The bully entered, looked at his reflection, washed his hands and as he took a Kleenex,&nbsp; my bestie switched off the light and we stepped out. He turned at the sound rather taken aback and on seeing us, he screamed like a teen who just woked up in a room occupied by wild, black cats.'

'Kelvin! ' She chided at the analogy.

'It took great discipline for us not to laugh.'Kelvin laughed and Katherine joined him.

'I went ahead to lock the door and in a husk voice said. 'It's a shame that a bully can scream like a child. Your bullying days are brought to an end for we are bully hunters and the cries of your victims have reached our ears. We are here to take you to the land beyond to be a slave.'

Katherine stifled laughter. 'I'm sure he must be shivering.'

'Yes Kathy, like a bucket of water that was power kicked. Also, he urinated on his body.'

'Ha!' Katherine gasped and covered her mouth as she burst into bouts of laughter.

'He went down on his knees and begged with tears rolling down his cheeks and swore to change. My bestie and I exchanged words like we were considering his plea. I told him to lie on his belly, my bestie and I produced whips. We lashed him twenty four times, twelve each before we warned and asked him to leave, he ran out like a bat from hell.'

'Ouch... bad boys. ' She managed in between bouts of laughter and held her sides. 'I... hope I don't crack my ribs. '

'As soon as he left, we laughed long and hard.' He beamed.

'Did it end in a live happily ever after?'

'You bet it did! He became so introverted in such a way that most of the students were ready to part away with priced possession to find out cause of change. We dared not share our secret. '

'What is the fate of your sister or is sisters when it has to do with guys now?'

'No guy mess around with my sisters except he wants his ribs cracked.'

'Seriously?' She said bemused and pretended like she was examining his arms for muscles.

'Dead serious, it's actually two sisters. 'He informed her.

'Lucky sisters with a brother with bully whipper hands.' She joked and glanced at her wristwatch. 'Jeez!'

He followed her cue. 'Wow.' He said unperturbed. 'I will give my left hand  to know why time flies when one is having so much fun.'

Katherine smiled as picked her purse and he quickly stood to pull out her chair.

He paid the bill with his visa card and they walked out hand in hand.

She decided she was going check her reflection at the mirror. She had not being happy neither had laughed so long and hard in absolute abandon in over half a dozen years.

+++
***
'Sir, your flight ticket is booked for tomorrow 8pm, the traveling agent extends his greeting.'

'Thank you Anita, put a call the secretary of the council of exporters Hawaii for me.'

'Yes sir.'

He ended the call and exhaled.

He had asked to have a last lunch before travelling to Hawaii for two weeks but she had come up with good excuses that he couldn't refuse. He hoped that when he called  her later in the day to see him off to the airport the next day she won't refuse.

+++

This is a masterpiece though I had to read with my dictionary. I was humored too.

Hameenat94: D story is takin shape nw nd pls ure elaborating more on Katty nd Kel... Wat abt d other family? Lets knw more abt dem.. Katty previous boss i.e. D man dat was sacked.. Y she is hiding her family... More abt Kel family... Nd lastly I wish 2 knw y her dad died... Interesting story...

Hmmm... Each update will throw more light. Did you say her father? Have I written about him?

Keep your royal pence coming, I might update depending on how filled the bowl is.

kingphilip: nice piece queen still following

Thank you darling.

toykathy: Queenxter, why nau? I tot i wud read anoda update 2nyt b4 sleepin. Is update once daily now? I'm gettn addicted 2 dis story

I'm afraid I don't have the luxury of updating every day talk more of more than once a day.

LarrySun: I think that should be hugging someone tightly and lifting him/her up in the process. I'm not sure though.

Oh... OK. Thanks

Daintydaisy: Neva knew ur back, nyc work as usual queeny

Thank you dear.

ESIXLOVE: chei!!, what an incautious way of unveiling ones beastliness.
To think that someone will be smooching his fiancée's relative inside his fiancée's compound beside his fiancée's fish pond is disdainful and beastly.

You can say that again.

Nneka and Zizi, thanks.

Go Rachel, let that spirit lead you on.

Can my fellow writers please describe what an Italian hug is?

Hope you enjoyed the above update, do not forget to criticise, comment and contribute. Do drop your royal pence, thank you.

*-*
She had thought it was a figment of her imagination until the door bell rang the third time.
Hastily, she dropped the knife she was holding beside a divided portion of yam on the tray before heading for the door.

'Hello Kathy.' His smile was dazzling, so was he in chinos trousers under multicolored T-shirt and leather sandals.

'Kelvin.' She gasped, stared and then hugged him. 'What a surprise to see you!'

'If I knew my coming here would have earned me a hug, I would have been here a long time ago.' He beamed as he took in her dressing of black straight cut gown that stopped just above her knee, he knew her face was void of anything yet she looked stunning.

Katherine chuckled before she took his hand and led him inside. 'Welcome to my abode.'

'Thank you.' He told her and glanced around.

Kelvin noticed the sitting room was well furnished and homely but was void of photographs. '

'Please sit. What can I offer you sir? ' Immediately she corrected herself. 'I don't have variety you can chose from, so I will offer you what I feel you will enjoy. '

'Whatever my ADG says.' He said and sat back on the sofa.

She came back with a minitray containing a cold can of strawberry juice. She set it on the side table beside his seat and brought it to his front.

'How come you did not come with a tumbler, we should share?'

'No,' She sat. 'I was actually making breakfast before you arrived.' She picked the remote. 'What TV station would you like to watch while am away for few minutes?'

'I will join you in the kitchen.' He picked the can and stood.

'This is serious. ' She chuckled at his serious expression before leading the way.

<em>You know what is been said about living the life of a fire brigade. She was an example. </em>So he thought to himself. Everywhere looked tidy.

Kelvin adjusted one of the dining chairs so he could watch her.

It was past eleven.

'We will have boiled yam and egg stew.' She began peeling the slices of yam, dividing into sizeable cubes and dropping them in a bowl of water.

'Can't the yam be sliced and cooked without peeling?'

She flashed him a smile, 'Some people actually do and peel after cooking, even back in secondary school one of my teacher told us that cooking yam with the peel gives the nutrient zinc.' She transferred the washed yam into the pot of boiling water and added salt before placing the pot lid. 'It's all about choice.' She glanced at him.

He watched for a moment as she emptied the yam peel in the waste bin. 'Are there other ways of preparing yam?'

'Ha...plenty of ways.' She brought out tomatoes and pepper from the fridge.

'There is roasted yam, fried yam which are sold in some part of the city. We also have pounded yam which is eaten with choiced soup. It can cooked with beans too. White or plain yam like am cooking now could be eaten with egg sauce, garden egg sauce, vegetable stew and locally, with palm oil, salt, grinded fresh pepper, onions and some people add some kind shredded vegetables to it. Hmmm...' She halt from slicing the onions thoughtfully. 'There is yam porridge, peppersoup and others I don't know about.' She concluded and wondered if he could cook.

'Let's eat it with the local type.'

She laughed. 'Fresh pepper might be too hot for you.'

He pouted making Katherine chuckle but said nothing and looked on as she sliced the tomatoes, diced the pepper, broke three eggs and beat in a bowl.

Satisfied after checking with a the yam with a fork, She drained the water.

'What we will use to eat the yam is egg sauce.' She glanced at him before setting the pot on fire.
She added little groundnut oil, salt, pepper, stirred before adding tomatoes. Barely two minutes, she added the eggs and stir.

'I don't like to add seasoning to my egg sauce.' She told him.

'You almost sounding like my  sister.' He smiled at her before inhaling deeply. 'I am so loving the aroma.'

Kelvin helped her set the table.
They eventually sat to eat after she said the prayer.

He complimented her on the meal and assisted her in rinsing and wiping the dishes afterwards despite her protest.

+++

They later strolled around the house and out to the estate.

Kelvin told her about how he started out in Nigeria.

She mainly listened and avoid saying things that will make him want to broach what she minded discussing.

They shared pineapple and water melon, played scramble with Katherine winning, teased each other, laughed long and hard, even at a point Kelvin had tears in his eyes before he eventually left past the hour of 2pm.
Not forgetting to tell her in no small words how much he enjoyed himself and how well she fed him.
+++
***

Kelvin was lying belly down on the rug of his sitting room, his upper body supported with a throw pillow watching the world news on CNN.

'Sir.' The house keeper called to gain attention.

He looked at her. 'Your meal is served.'

'Ouch! I am sorry I forgot to tell you I won't eat lunch because I'm still filled from what I ate out.'

'Was it a business lunch? ' She asked smiling.

'No, I went to see a very good friend.' He beamed.

'That friend must have really filled you real good for that smile lightens your face. Continue your news now.' She excused him.

Kelvin chuckled as he directed his eyes to the LG 84-inch LED TV but his mind drifted to the beautiful lady he had spent the better part of the day.

One of the reasons that prompted him to visit her was when the admin director told him he had refused her official accommodation.

She had told him in their conversation that the house was hers and she did leave alone. Not wanting to pry further, he couldn't ask for long.

He sighed. Visiting her had left him exhilarated but confused, more confused. Who in the world do not keep photographs in their sitting room?

He exhaled and closed his eyes.

<em>Dear Jesus, you know it all, you know my heart. You know why you've placed us&nbsp; on same path. I feel like there is a lot she going through or masking. Lord please... guide me and help me not to run ahead of you.</em>

<em>***</em>
+++
Katherine placed a mug of gingered tea on the dining table, pulled out a chair and sat.

She had never had a guest in her house, he had surprised her and she liked it.

Her brows darkened. He had favored her so well beyond measure, one who had believed in her abilities so much and threw caution to the wind to give her opportunities. Thankfully God had helped her and all she had learnt from her family.

She felt good friendship with him but she was not going to forget who she was, what had happened and what the great book says about the heart of man.

She was cautiously afraid.

Katherine lifted her mug and sipped.
<em>What will people say if they ever hear that the boss had being in her kitchen and had helped rinsed and wiped dishes </em>

She beamed.

+++

lanicky: I'm here sis....I've bn busy outside nairaland.

Ao's u sis...*hugs her*

*Embrace her * I was worried. I'm glad you're fine.

Following

Any idea of where Lanicky is?

kingphilip: wow queen great piece you've got up there
I think they'll b gud together sha

ride on dear continue it's in u

You and your compatibility eyes! Thank you dear.

chii8: Dat Terry isnt just silly,hes a spoilt brat,i hate his guts,killjoy,oloshi,anuohia mmadu.

Please calm down.

ifyude: Well done Queenxstar,keep it coming

Surely will. Thank you dear.

You nailed it dear. The lessons are learnt and taken to heart.

I'm seeing all those who chop, clean, dust bombom and walk away. It's not fair o

Pure case of absolute power corrupts.

godwah: Ok thnks nd God bless

Bless you too Sweetie.

Ziziola: Hmmmm....... Loving this kind of boss and assistant relationship that is moving somewhere

Time will tell. Good to have you here dearie.

nnekamezor: I was jst imagining d scenario ooo

I am glad they made you smile.

kingphilip: y squeezing him again wen he will still get drenched in da rain

Very funny.

Dorisbest: Impressive. Queen, you too much

While you're a darling!