CHAPTER ONE ‘Olad’ EDITED

OLA

I walk down the street in content as there were no reporters here waiting to attack me with questions. I honestly could not deal with them right now.

It sucks to be followed around because I'm a successful model and also the managing director of the best skincare products company but it definitely didn't suck to receive credit alerts for being beautiful, popular and all.

I arrived at the event most successful business men and women were invited to and soon enough, the attention was on me. I exchanged formal greetings with those who approached me and when I saw my mom speaking with an Indian. I decided to join them. She was early today. 

"Hi Mom, good day sir" I greeted pecking my mom on the cheeks and strecthing my hand towards the man for an handshake. He was quite attractive. He shake my hand with a smile on his face.

"Hello there gorgeous, nice to meet you" 

"Nice meeting you too Mr-" I replied honestly but cut myself short since I didn't know his name. He seems nice and I would like to know him if I had the time..

"-Rahul" he offered and I smile.

"I have to get going now. See you later" I say my eyes lingering on my mom. Hoping she comes to me. I was a bit nervous about what would later happen today.

You see.. I was going to see my father today after twelve years. 

My so called father abandoned me and Mom, he didn't cater for our needs when grandma and grandpa turned their backs on us. Just because he had a perfect family and he didn't want to ruin that. He was selfish!!! I hated him but I wanted to show him that I was better off without him, that I had a company alongside with mom and it was better than his. 

I wanted to show him that I was doing well without him.

Suddenly feeling emotionally exhausted I went to sit on an empty table. I drank two cups of red wine.

I rubbed my forehead and sighed.

I had a bad feeling about this. I was nervous.

I needed reassurance from Mom but she was busy at the moment.

Realizing that I was alone I drank alone but felt anxiety when I felt eyes staring at my back. I wonder if they wonder why I was sitting alone. 

"Hey" I hear a familiar voice said before patting my back. It was Sade Johnson.

We were acquaintances, we drank a couple of times and had fun together. But that was it. The attraction never led to us to being friends and I was fine with that. I didn't need unnecessary drama in my life.

"Sade Johnson" I acknowledged.

"Why are you here.. sitting all by yourself?" She asked raising an eyebrow. 

"Nothing" I replied honestly. 

"Anyways" she state, taking a glass filled with expensive champagne. She take a sip from it and I stayed still, feeling quite annoyed by her action. It felt almost rehearsed.

Despite feeling annoyed at her we were quite similar; Ambitious, confident, smart and pretty except for the fact that I wasn't controlling. She was. But I sure was manipulative.

"I need your help" she continued after having a taste of the champagne. I scoffed. I considered her a fool. Why did she think I would help her when we had no business together. We did have good times together though..

The look on her face sold her out. She needed my help urgently. 

She knew me better than I thought and I had a feeling one of the reasons she was being overly-confident was that she knew I was going to be interested in whatever she wanted me to help her with. And I was curious to know whatever it was too..

She brought out her purse and checkbook I watched her write something in it before handling it to me. To make her see that I'm not easy, I ignore her streched hand towards me and lean against my chair.

"What is that?" I ask with a smirk as I watched her pull her hand back, embarrassed.

"A check of Five million Naira. All you need to do is fill your name" she said waiting for me to react but I didn't. Five million Naira was nothing compared to what I had. She could've done better.

"I'll pay you twenty million when you finish the job" she spoke and I was hooked now. I knew she would do as promised after all, i knew she always kept her word.

"What do you need my help with?" I ask staring at her face as she started talking. I was scanning her face for deceit, lies but I only found nervousness and anger?

"My son is being scammed by his fiancee. Her name is Lola Ogunnupebi, she wants to get pregnant for him so her child will get everything my son and I have ever worked for and I will not allow it" she spoke slamming her fist on the table in anger.

"Quiet" I hissed when I noticed people were starting to look our way. She gave me an apologetic look before proceeding.

"I want to you distract him, do everything you can to break their relationship.. sleep with him if you have to" she said and I frowned at the last statement.

She was indeed desperate to tell me to sleep with her son if I had to, but that was not going to happen. 

I'd seen him a couple times in business events or even parties but we never ran into each other not to speak to talking to each other. This was going to be a tough one but I was going to do it for twenty five million Naira. What's the worst that could happen?!

"Here" she said placing her business card and cheque on the table and I quickly put it in my bag. "I expect to see changes starting next week" she said getting up from the table.

"Why me though?" I asked feeling slightly guilty for what she asked me to do for her.. to her son. Why would she want me to break her son's relationship?

I understood where she was coming from though. I couldn't picture some girl marry my son for everything we both worked so hard for.

Why couldn't she just tell him then? 

'She doesn't want to hurt him.. directly' I state the obvious to myself.

Anywayy It's her choice. All I have to do is break a relationship just like mine was broken and I would relish in every single pain they feel and I'd also get paid twenty million naira.

"You're beautiful and smart. Also I trust you wouldn't do something as foolish as falling in love with my son" she said a bit sternly.

I nod curtly now having little time to assess her beautiful and sexy body. Despite having having a grown up son she looked beautiful and young. Maybe it has to do with the fact that she gave birth as early as sixteen. 

"Don't fall in love with my son" she said seriously before walking off and I just glare at her retreating figure. 

Like hell.. I'm not careless. 

I shook the thought out of my head and decided to think about it later but now I wanted to focus on the party. I was waiting for my coward of a father to show up so mom and I can shock him.

I felt better now that Sade and I talked. Her words made me feel confident and good about myself.

"Honey" I hear my mom's voice behind me. I turned around and smile when I saw it was indeed her.

"Mom" I breathe, standing up before going to hug her.

She wrapped her hands around me, pulling me close to her. It instantly made me feel secure, I was glad I had her.

We pull away shortly after and she smile at me "It's okay. We're going to be okay"

I hug her again but pulled away when I heard her say;

"He's here sweetie"

I let out the breath I was holding. I can do this.

I look over to the direction mom was facing and saw him. 

Anger surged through me as I watched him be happy.

There he was with his perfect little family. His wife was pretty, elegant and confident. He had two children too who looked good. A boy and a girl. They looked happy and it made me angry, how could he be happy despite what he did to me. to us.

"May I have your attention everyone?" I hear a man speak from the podium. He looked nervous as eyes turned to him, giving him their full attention.

He's probably new to this.. 

Everyone made themselves comfortable on the chairs where their names were written. Ours were in the front, the special seat. We sat anyway.

"Normally my father would be the one making this announcement but he's a bit unwell so he asked me to do it" he said a little less nervous now. Mr Gabriel was the one who would make this announcement, and this was probably his son..

The security finally opened the door letting the media in. One thing was certain, we were live.

Mom grab my hand pulling me closer to the front. We were going to be called up on stage soon. She gave me a soothing smile and I smile back.

The media were just four thankfully. And they were just recording us, not really asking questions.

It was an order from Mr Bayo? I was not certain but he wasn't really a fan of cameras, plus he owned this place.

"Over the years there's been no actual skincare products that were made without chemicals, Even the ones that were made didn't work properly for the skin but OLAD company have managed to look aside every other company's idea and maintain customers skin with their 'all in one' products.." he kept talking but I stopped listening. 

Many people were now murmuring about OLAD company, judging it but it didn't make me nervous. Not anymore. We deserved the best award.

"Ladies and gentlemen I present to you Mrs Adele Smith and her daughter, Ola Smith" The moment those words were said. I stood up in pride and held my mom's hand softly before we reached the podium.

Everyone applauded except for some jealous people. I wanted to look at my so disgusting father but I didn't want him to see that I'd been paying attention to him.

We finally reached the podium and mom held the mic with her other hand, still not letting go of my hand.

"Thanks to all of you who supported me and believed in me, without you I don't think I would've gotten this far. And to my beautiful and intelligent daughter, thank you for the ideas and for been there for me.. all the time" she said hugging me and I heard the crowd go craze in excitement.

We pull away when my Gabriel came forth with an award.

Best company in skincare.

Mr Gabriel hugged and kissed my cheeks. He's been like a father to me, he's a nice man. He then handed the trophy to us.

Mom and I held it together and the crowd went mad with applauses and the media where it front taking our pictures and also, our photographer. To take pictures of this day.

We took pictures with Mr Gabriel too. And I used the moment to stare at my stupid father, he looked surprised and hurt. His wife and children on the other hand were clapping, for us.

I look away from him and followed mom back to our seat. But we were bombarded by many people congratulating us. It was overwhelming.

After a while we decided to leave since there was nothing else to do here.