Chapter 8
1295 Words
Chapter 8
Farida put her car in Park, snatched her handbag off the passenger seat and climbed out of the car. Slamming the door, she glanced over across the road to Alera, propped up on the bonnet of her black Pajero Jeep V6.
“At last, you’re here.” Alera called out, crossing one ankle over the other.
Farida smiled and darted across, to stand in front of her friend. Her glance zipped over Alera. She had on a leaf-green sheath dress, black Ray-Bans covering her eyes and her blond weave was styled in a centre-part and fell down, down to her hips.
“You look as amazing as ever.” Farida said and embraced her friend.
“You too, darling.” Alera said, grinning. “I love your outfit and I’m glad you’re here.”
“So...” Farida pulled away. “What’s the story about the randy bankers?”
Alera chortled and then said, “They paid me to entertain them at their event and somehow, for some reason, they think it gives them the right to ask me out on dates.”
Farida glanced around. Two muscled guys in dark clothing stood in the near distance, a few cars away. Their eyes were trained on Alera.
“I’m guessing those scary looking guys behind are your bodyguards.”
Alera wrenched her glasses off her face and rolled her eyes. “You guessed right. One of the things I hate about being famous.”
“You’re still on break, right?”
“Yes, for...”Alera eyed her watch. “...for ten more minutes. You’re late.”
“But at least, I’m here. Have you spoken to Sobechi today?”
Alera shook her head. “But my guess is... she’s busy... as usual. And anyway, her office is all the way in Ikoyi.” She glanced into Farida’s face. “How was your meeting with the consultants?”
“Good. We’re on course. Things are looking good.”
“That’s fantastic! So, what’s up with you?”
Farida shrugged. “Well... I transferred five hundred thousand naira to Yomi and two hundred thousand to my dad.”
Alera whistled. “That’s a lot of money, Farida. You’re too generous. That’s money you can’t afford to be spending now... not with this show you’re working on.”
“I know but I can’t just ignore the both of them.”
“Okay then... I hope that amount satisfied Yomi.”
Farida hissed. “No! I received a text from him on my way here that said that the money I sent him was too small.”
“Too small! That greedy creature... he’s forgotten all the years you took care of him with your income from One Plus One... greedy rat! Goodness, guys these days... wow...”
“On that note...” Farida angled her head to the side to gaze at her friend. “How are things with Daniel?”
Alera raked the fingers of one hand through her hair. “Getting better. I think. At least for now. I don’t get him, really I don’t. I’m the most faithful girlfriend in the world and yet no matter what I say to him, he doesn’t believe me. Look...” she waved her hand. “I don’t want to talk about Daniel. Give me fresh gist, Farida. Em... has the almighty Kurt Achike gotten his matches?”
“Yes. He came in this morning. I met him on his way out in the reception area. Alera... he looked even more handsome today. How does he do that?”
“That’s because you’re already half in love with him.”
“I’m not!”
Alera sniffed. “You are. Don’t deny it. Just don’t forget...”
“He’s my client... I know that.”
“You need to get a man... how many years has it been since Yomi?” Alera shook her head. “Farida, please...you need some oil to grease your creaking hinges.”
Farida punched Alera lightly in the arm. “Excuse me? Creaking hinges?”
“All I’m saying is... find a man. You’re a matchmaker... match yourself with a guy... and stop dreaming about Kurt.”
Farida gave a tiny grin. “Nosa offered to give me a full body massage today... at his place.”
“Wow. I like how that sounds. Did you say yes?”
“I don’t know, Alera... the guy works for me.”
“So? If it doesn’t work out, you can fire him.”
“I don’t think you’re meant to do that.”
“Just enjoy yourself for now and don’t worry about the future... that’s all I’m saying.”
Farida smiled and then, from the side of one eye, she sighted a quick movement. A man in a silver Volvo, glancing their way. She turned to look closely in his direction. He ducked out of sight.
Still eyeballing the car, Farida asked Alera, “Did you come here with Daniel?”
“No. Of course not. I’m at work. He’s in his office.”
Farida pointed. “Isn’t that his car?”
Alera pivoted around and stared. “The silver Volvo? It looks like his...”
“I saw someone that looked like him in the car a moment ago.”
“It can’t be...” Alera concentrated on the car. “It does look like his... no, no... I refuse to believe it...” She pushed her body off the bonnet of her jeep and started to march toward the car.
Farida followed. Could it have been Daniel?
Alera shoved her fingers through her hair. She exclaimed, “It’s his car!” and moved closer.
She glanced in through the driver’s side window and hissed. Rapping her knuckles on the glass, she yelled, “Daniel! Get out of the car!”
The man sat up, scowling.
“What are you doing here, Daniel? Get out right now and explain yourself.”
He unlocked the door and got out.
Farida stared at him. To think he had degenerated to actually stalking Alera... wow... This was just too much. He had a good job—he worked as a manager in a telecom company. He wasn’t bad looking—average height, square-jawed, quiet-looking with serious eyes... why was he this insecure? Granted, Alera was a beauty and she had many, many suitors... but still...
“Why are you following me, Daniel?” Alera shouted.
“Who says I’m following you? I came here to visit a friend.”
“Which friend? Which friend?”
“You don’t know all my friends.”
“Daniel, you followed me here. What is wrong with you?”
“Who says I—?”
“Stop! Admit it...”
He frowned and glanced away.
“Have you seen me with another man? Is there another man standing beside me right now? What is wrong with you, Daniel?”
“How else am I supposed to know what you do when I’m not there?”
Alera gasped and then clapped her hands. “You’re actually justifying your behavior!”
“I know there’s someone else.”
“Daniel, for the millionth time... I am not seeing any other man.”
His eyebrows came together. “I don’t believe you.”
Alera’s eyes narrowed. She planted her hands on her hips and muttered, “I refuse to talk about this with you here. Get back in your car and go to work. We’ll talk at home.”
“I’m here. I can just stay...”
“Daniel!”
Farida gazed into her friend’s face and caught the molten stream of rage beneath the surface, about to erupt. She’d known Alera for many years... for a lot longer than Sobechi. Over twenty years ago, they’d lived on the same street. Alera’s mother had had a bad reputation. Everyone on the street knew she entertained strange men in her house. Her father was a classical music teacher, working in Port Harcourt and only home on weekends. The other kids on the street loved teasing Alera about her mother... making dirty jokes, calling her names.
The day she’d met Alera for the first time, Alera had been on the verge of throwing a huge rock at one of the pranksters. Fortunately, Farida had been returning from an errand for her father and had been at the scene just in time to prevent a teenager’s head from being split apart.
Alera was quiet, yes, but when she blew her top... she BLEW her top. It was time to prevent another bashed head.
“Daniel, you need to leave now.” Farida stated.
Daniel glowered at her. “Excuse me, Farida, this does not concern you.”
“She’s my friend. It concerns me. You’re making a scene. Leave.”
“Butt out, Farida.”
Farida aimed a finger at the bodyguards who had moved closer and were now standing right behind Alera. “These men will beat you up if you don’t leave, do you understand?”
“They wouldn’t...” Daniel muttered, flicking his eyes over the two men.
“All Alera has to do is give the order... you’re a nuisance, Daniel.”
Alera was breathing hard, her chest heaving with emotion.
Daniel watched Alera for a second, switched his gaze to the bodyguards and then hissed. Unlocking his car, he leaped inside and ignited the engine.
“Good choice, Daniel.” Alera said, voice thick with fury.
The Silver Volvo zoomed out of its parking space and into the road.
“He’s such a... a...” Alera was almost incoherent with rage. “How could he... he...”
Farida sighed. The things people do to those they claim to love... she had been happy with Yomi in the early years of their marriage. But then he’d started to complain that she had no time for him, that she worked too hard on her business. And one day, out of the blue, he moved out.
Just like that.
- Writer
