Caught between kings

Chapter 7: crumbled hope

“love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired"

Mark Twain

Joy's pov

Yes dear, and that is why I want you there, maybe you can get to know one or two producers that will help you with your career dear, she said dreamily.

Maybe.. I said with a sad voice

Joy you don't have to give up on your dreams because of what life throws at you, she said while standing up and walking towards me.

Yes Joy, you are one of the strongest lady I have seen, said Uncle Joe, I started blushing because I thought he was busy watching the football game showing on TV, I didn't know he has been paying attention to all the discussion between my aunt and I

Thanks uncle, so where is Benjamin? I asked

Oh dear, he went to his friend's house for a sleepover , she replied

Wow, he must be all grown up now, I said

Yeah he is, she replied

She stood up and went to the kitchen to check on what she is cooking

I sat there looking at the TV, but my mind was elsewhere, the event tomorrow is going to be big with so many rich people in attendance, how am I suppose to act, hmm tomorrow is going to be a long day, I'm getting scared already

Joyyyy..,

Yes aunt,

Where is your mind dear, are you okay?she asked worriedly

Yes I am okay, I murmured

I have been calling you for 10seconds now, she explained

I am sorry aunt, it nothing, I just remember that I have not called Lucy to tell her that I am in Lagos already, I explained, she looks like she wants to know more but her husband called to come to the dinning already, I took a deep breath.. That was close , in fact when did uncle Joe leave the sitting room?

Joy let's go lunch is ready, she announced

Okay, I replied sheepishly

The dinning was full of different Nigerian dishes, she really went out of her way to make these, there is egusi soup, ogbono soup, white soup, vegetable soup , fufu and pounded yaw, she also made different fruit juice

I pulled out a seat I sat on it, wow! aunty you remember my favorite, I beamed

How can I even forget when your face always lighten up when you see it like a new born baby sucking the mum's breast for the first time , she said mockingly.

Oh aunt,,,

Joy is it true that you practically ate vegetable soup everyday for three months? Asked uncle Joe

OMG, was it that bad, I said shyly

Not really...buttt it was baddddd, she said stressly

I was just eleven and a bad picky eater, I have changed you know

Oh we know, they chorused it,

We started eating our food, I obviously went for my vegetable soup and fufu, we ate in silence and I enjoyed the sweetness that comes with the delicious vegetable soup, when we finished aunty and I did the dishes after which I followed her to her office to put things in order for the ceremony, I help her with organizing all the things we need for the ceremony, the staffs were prep on what is expected from them, the rules were laid out and I also got to understand what my role is in all these, my aunt was so anxious because she does not want anything to go wrong on the most important day of her career.

Everyone gather around, I have a very important announcement to make concerning tomorrow, she spoke through the mic, we did as she said, I stood beside her to show how supportive I am

Tomorrow is a very important day because tomorrow will determine how far this catering establishment will go, I know we all have put in our very best to get here so please let's not mess it up, she pleaded

So for tomorrow my dear beautiful niece Joy will be my assistant supervisor, so she will be one serving the most richest elite in the event , please welcome her, she said clapping her hands while handing on the mic to me,

I was take aback because I didn't know she will put me on the spotlight like, I took the mic from her to introduce myself to the rest of the staffs

Good day ladies and gentlemen, my name is Joy and as you have been told I will be working with you tomorrow, please help me so that together we can achieve all that we have set out to achieve, thanks, I said with the confidence of a primary school girl, I hate being called upon unannounced.

There was a round of applause and that made me to smile because I thought I messed up

The rest of the day went by quickly, we got home at 9pm and met Benjamin playing game with his ps2. he ran to me and gave me a big hug, I held onto him tightly and kissed is cheek which made him to blush like crazy.

Cousin you are treating me like a kid, he said pouting

Hmm really, so now you are a big boy, I tried mimicking his voice

Yes of course I am, I am eleven already, mum is always treating like a baby and dad said I will only be a big boy when I turn 18, but not you too Joy, he whined

Okay big boy, I miss you cutie, I said pitching his cheeks

Ouch cousin, he screamed painfully

I laughed all the way to my room to shower after which I went downstairs for dinner, and after dinner I went back to my room, I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and get ready for bed, I cleaned my face with my face towel and lay on the bed, I checked my phone and saw ten missed calls 7 seven from Lucy and three from a number that I don't know, so I decided to call Lucy because I know she must be really worried about me, I have not called her since I left Abuja, so I dialed her number, it started ringing and she picked

Hello, she said weakly

Hey babe, how are doing dear? I asked

Babe I am doing great, you scared me joy I have been calling since morning, she said angrily,

I am so sorry Lu, I slept off and my phone was on silent, please forgive me my darling, I said sweetly

She was quiet so I continued, babe you know I will never deliberately ignore your call right?

Yeah! Yeah! I know honey bunch, she said sweetly

Awww, I love and miss you Lu , I said with so much affection

I love you too Joy, she replied

So what is going on, why did your aunt invite you? She asked

Well it looks like she needs my help with her catering business, I replied

And guess what? I asked

Joy you know I am not good at guessing, so tell me, she said

The event she is catering for is at the Michaels, oh Lu God has finally answered my prayers because tomorrow I will be meeting Zubby and am really happy dear, I said with tears in my eyes

Calm down Joy, I don't want you to get ahead of yourself and and get hurt okay! She said

Lu I know what I am doing, is not like I am going to ask him to have s*x with me, it just a fan meeting her celebrity crush, I explained

Okay babe, please don't forget your worth dear, She said proudly

Yes mum, I said jokingly

Don't mum me Joy, she scolded

Okay sweetness, we will talk tomorrow, I love you

I love you Joy,

I hung up, but I can't stop thinking about what Lucy said about Zubby, still I decided to let the uneasiness go because nothing can take away this joy I am feeling in my heart right now,I fell asleep feeling really happy about tomorrow .

I woke up to the sound of the alarm reminding of the start of the long day ahead, I went to the bathroom to do my morning routines and also to get ready to go with aunt to her restaurant to get the things we need and head to the Michaels

I stepped out of my room and descended down the stairs to meet aunt, I entered the sitting room and saw her at the dinning dishing out breakfast,

Good morning aunt, I greeted

Morning darling, how was your night? she asked

It was fine and yours? I asked

It was short, I barely slept a wink dear, I was so worried about today, she explained

Sorry about that, and you need to calm down aunt everything will go as planned, I said

I hope so Joy, I can't bear to lose this, I have come to this far to fall back, she said

You will not fail aunt

Okay let eat because we will leave by 8am and it 7:45 already dear, she suggested

Okay,

We started eating, we left immediately after we finished, we arrived at restaurant at 8:50am and everything has been loaded in the buses so aunty Ebo just drove ahead and led the way to the Michaels which took 40minutes to get there, I climbed out of the vehicle in order to help the other staffs bring out the things we need and we started setting up immediately, I saw aunt discussing with a very beautiful woman that is in her mid 50's, I was about to go to her when one of the staff called out to me to help her move the drinks to the kitchen,

When I entered the mansion I was awed by how beautiful the interior is, I was brought back to reality by the staff I was helping, I walked to the kitchen timidly to put the drinks in the freezer, we worked very fast and everything was set before 12pm, we had extra 15minutes before the commencement of the event, so I went to one of the guest room to change into my waitress cloth, I look funny because the outfit kind of look big on me but still I have to manage it because I am just filling in for someone. I stepped out to start my runs because it 5minutes pass 12pm, I went to the kitchen to grab my trial of drinks before stepping out to start serving the guest their drinks, I finished with the first trail I went in to get another, I stepped out again to continue serving when all of a sudden I saw aunt waving to me, she signaled for me to come over which I did, she was with a very masculine man, when I got closer I recognize the man instantly.

Mr Chidi chikere please meet my niece Joy, she is an aspiring actress, she is talented,hardworking and humble, she introduced

I just stood there smiling like a clown, how is he going to take me serious when I am dress like a comedian,

My name is TChidi Chikere , nice to meet you dear, he introduced himself

My name is Joy Lou, and it a pleasure and a dream come true to meet you sir, pardon my dress code I know I am under dressed for this meeting, I said jokingly to light the mood

Joy you are very beautiful I must confess, the clothes could not even hide your beauty, he complimented

I was a blushing mess because of his compliment

Thank you sir, you look good yourself, I said shyly

Mr Chikere, my niece here is a very good girl and she can act if given the opportunity to, I will really appreciate it if you give her a chance to show what she can do, pleaded aunt Ebo

Aunt Ebo is really trying to help me with my career, she is really a mother.

Okay I promise to look into it, Joy this is my card please call me and I promise we be discussing business very soon, he said

I turned to aunt to get an approval from her, she instantly nodded her head so I collected the card.

Thank you sir, I Will do just that, I said appreciatively

Okay see you, he said while he was waved over by another guest

Joy, did you see that, I am sure that its the first step in the right direction, she said with so much hope

I hope so aunt, I replied shakely

This one is real don't spoil it dear, she warned

Okay Ma, I replied

I turned and made my way through the crowd, after I have I finish serving the drinks in my trail, I made my way to the kitchen to collect more drinks.

I heard people laughing and playing in the kitchen, so I decided to peep and see the people making so much noise as if they are babies, all of a sudden my heart started beating fast, sitting on the kitchen counter is no other, than Zubby and his friends, I dropped the trail on the floor and entered the kitchen to say hello, but I could not help what came out of my mouth

OMG... I can't believe this, Zubby in the flesh, you are so cute , please can I get a huuuug... I stammered

I was so nervous because they turned and looked at me with the face that say WHO. THE. f**k. ARE.YOU

I came back to my senses when I saw the look on their faces, sorry my name is Joy Lou your my biggest fan, Zubby please can I take a selfie with you , that is if you don't mind? I murmured like an i***t, how can I even ask for hug like that, he must think I am some horny slut looking for who to f**k her or something, but I can't help it he so handsome and masculine, OMG the media did not do him justice, his lips, his eyes and his chest I could not take anymore of this excruciating fantasies anymore, I need to touch him so bad, so I did something much more stupid than the first.

All of a sudden as if I was possessed I threw caution to the wind and ran into Zubby's arms, he was so warm and his scent was practically driving me insane, he was was so stiff, and his stiffness brought me back to reality and all of a sudden his friends started laughing, the next thing I felt was Zubby pushing me out of the kitchen, I landed on my butt but hit my arm against the door, I heard a c***k sound and an unbearable pain shooting through my arm, the next thing I know I was sobbing.

I don't want to cry in front of Zubby, but I was hurt and I could not help it, I don't want to spend one minute in this house because Zubby has destroyed three years of my fantasy about him in just a single minute, so I stood up and look at him with the most dissapointing look I have ever given to anyone in my 23years of living and my feeling towards him as of this very moment is nothing but hatred.

I hate you Zubby and you are so cruel, then I ran off, I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, immediately I saw a bus loading to go back to the restaurant, so I pleaded with the driver for me to go with him, he agreed so I joined him in the bus, I cried all the to the restaurant, what I feel right now towards Zubby is pure hatred. I know aunt will be looking for me all over but I can't spend another minute there, I am so heart broken, I will wait for her at the restaurant afterall the event is almost over.

I just sat on a chair in her office and cried my eyes out, how did it start?, when did it start?, why did it start?, what did I see in Zubby that made me fall for, yes he is loaded but that has never been the reason for what I feel for him, I know I am poor but I am contended with what I am able to earn on my own, Zubby's wealth is the last thing on my mind.

How am I suppose to face Lucy now, God is this a cruel joke, I was not expecting him to love me but a little kindness would have been good.

Oh my God! I left my aunt there, I am sure she will be disappointed in me, I can't stay here, I need to go back to Abuja, it already 4pm, I checked my phone to see if there is any flight leaving for Abuja and I got lucky there was a 6pm flight.

I took a taxi to my aunt's house in lekki, when I got to her apartment, there was no one at home because I the key under the door mat, I rushed into the guest room and packed my things into my bag and left the house in the same taxi that brought me.