Chapter 4
1107 Words
Chapter 4
Stepping into Cactus Restaurant, Farida’s gaze fell on her two friends, Sobechi Utibe and Alera Beke, lounging around a table.
In a pinstriped black suit and grey-framed eyeglasses over her eyes, Sobechi sipped coca-cola through a straw. Honey-skinned Alera had her head down, her eyes behind gold-rimmed sunglasses fixed on the phone in her hand. A quarter-full glass of Chapman rested in front of her.
“Hey ladies.” Farida called out, smiling.
Sobechi rolled her eyes. “You’re late.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. Seven minutes late.”
Alera tore her gaze from her phone. She grinned, a white-toothed grin. “Don’t listen to Sobechi. You know how bankers are...”
“What? How are bankers?”Sobechi asked, eyes round in pretend outrage.
“Uptight.” Farida answered, drawing back the third chair at the table and falling into it. She traded a smile with Alera.
With her blond wavy weave tumbling down her back to her backside, her orange African print mini dress over avocado-green platform sandals, plus the rose flower tattoo on her right ankle, Alera looked every inch like a famous singer.
“Is Yomi still on your case about the money?”Alera asked.
Farida shrugged. Opening one of the bottles of water on the table, she replied, “He says he needs it. He’s remarrying soon—”
“So he doesn’t have money of his own to marry his girlfriend?” Sobechi asked, glaring.
“The three million was his.”
Alera cut in. “Which he put into One Plus One when you were both married. He’s crazy if he thinks he should get it back. You’re too soft, that’s your problem, Farida.”
“If it’s me, I’ll tell him to go and jump into the River Niger.” Sobechi clapped one hand on the table.
Farida inhaled air. Her friends hated Yomi. But they didn’t understand that she needed to pay him back. She just couldn’t ignore his request. He had given her the money when she was going through a rough period in her business and for that, she would always be grateful.
To change the subject, she asked, “Guess what happened to me today?”
“I can’t guess.” Alera muttered, her eyes returning to her phone.
“Out with it. I’m on my lunch break. Get to the story, abeg.” Sobechi said.
Farida poured water into a glass, took a gulp of the icy water. Delicious. Refreshing.
“What happened?” Sobechi yelled.
Farida grinned. “Kurt Achike is my client.”
Alera ripped her sunglasses from her face as her eyes rose to Farida’s face. “Kurt Achike, the Breaker of Hearts—”
Sobechi stared. “One of the infamous sons of Zik.”
“Kurt is your client?” Alera shook her head from one side to the other. “How did that happen?”
“He’s Osita’s second cousin.”
“You’re telling me he needs help meeting women?” Sobechi sank back in her chair.
Farida glanced at her friends’ shocked faces. “He says he’s serious about getting married. I guess he no longer wants to be the Breaker of Hearts.”
“The world is ending.” Alera gasped.
Farida laughed, falling forward. “Alera, you’re not serious.”
Sobechi leaned toward Farida. “I’m a happily married woman but I just need to know... is he as fine up close as everyone says?”
Farida closed her eyes and took in a breath. Opening her eyes, she exclaimed, “Yes.”
Alera guffawed at Farida’s awestruck expression. “I see he made an impression.”
“I won’t lie. He did. But I’m not his type—”
“And he’s your client.”
Farida sighed. “Yes, Sobechi, he’s my client. I hear he’s the first son of this Zik Achike.”
Sobechi scowled at Farida. “This Zik Achike? That’s an Igwe you’re talking about, madam. And Kurt is the Crown Prince. Don’t you know anything about Igwe Zik Achike and his four sons?”
Farida raised both hands, palms out. “I don’t, I confess.”
“Well, Zik Achike is a trained pilot and he owns many thriving businesses, one of which is Zik’s Air. He studied briefly in Germany and there he met Kurt’s mother. They didn’t marry, though. But, to please his father, he returned to Nigeria to continue his studies. Here he eventually met Diola, his present wife. She’s Leke and Toke’s mother.”
Alera eyed Sobechi. “How do you know so much about them?”
Sobechi rolled her eyes. “You girls have forgotten that my husband, Joshua, used to work with Toke Achike in Zik’s Air.”
“Oh yes, yes, right.” Farida nodded. “Well then, tell us more. So there’s Kurt, Leke and Toke. Who’s the fourth?”
Sobechi settled into her chair, enjoying the attention. “Well, Zik Achike finished his education in the States—”
Alera interrupted with a naughty wink. “And he impregnated another woman.”
“No! Shut up and listen. He met a close friend, Gabe Scott. Gabe had a young son. Soon after Zik came back to Nigeria, Gabe and his son started visiting and staying in Zik’s house. One day, on the road to Nsukka, Gabe was attacked by kidnappers. They demanded a ransom. Zik paid but Gabe was already dead.”
Farida wagged her head from side to side. “Oh my goodness, no. That’s terrible. What did Zik do?”
Sobechi shrugged. “The police later caught and arrested the kidnappers. But they were killed in jail.”
Alera slapped one hand over her mouth. “Who killed them?”
“I don’t know. Some people say Zik paid to have them killed. Others say that he killed them himself. Anyway, Zik adopted Gabe’s son. So Zik’s fourth son—technically, the third because he’s older than Toke—is Jon Achike-Scott. Now, among the four guys, only Toke is married. And he’s the only one working for his father. He’s CEO of Zik’s Air. He’s also a State Commissioner and Joshua said that he’s to be the next Governor in a few years. The other brothers have their own businesses.”
“Interesting.” Farida murmured, her hand stretching out to pour more water into her glass.
Sobechi eyed the menu, murmuring, “We’ve got to order soon. I have to be back to the office in about an hour.”
Alera huffed. “We’ll be done before that.” She funneled her fingers through her long hair.
“What’s up with you, Alera? How are you coping with this scandal?”
“You mean, the stink my boyfriend, Daniel, is causing all over social media? My dear, wetin I go do? You wan make I cry? He’s making a fool of himself. I’ve told him so many times that I’m not dating anyone else but he doesn’t believe me. He keeps harassing my male friends, accusing them of sleeping with me. Look, look...”Alera stabbed an orange-painted nail at her iPhone on the table. The screen lit up. “He’s sent me over fifteen texts since I’ve been sitting here, asking me where I am, what I’m doing, how long I’m going to be here and all that crap.”
Farida sighed. “I’m sorry, babe.”
“You should have let Farida fix you up too. She brought Joshua and me together. And remember, she warned you that this Daniel wasn’t right, you said no, it’s him you love.”
Farida nudged Sobechi in the side. “It should be her decision, Sobe.”
The screensaver of a beautiful Golden Retriever appeared for a moment on Alera’s phone before it vanished.
Farida laughed. “No wonder Daniel is acting out. You love your dog more than him.”
Alera grinned. “Macho’s always been there for me. I can’t say the same for Daniel.”
“You need to see the boot of her car. Filled with dog food...” Sobechi threw her eyes to the ceiling. “Nature’s Recipe chicken or something like that...
“Poor Daniel.” Farida mumbled, her lips curving into a smile.
“Daniel has more things worrying him than her love for Macho.” Sobechi made a gesture with a finger, rotating it by the side of her head. He’s crazy.
Farida patted Alera’s hand. “Don’t worry; I’ll keep an eye out for someone good for you.”
“No more talk.” Alera shrieked. “Let’s order, please.”
- Writer
