NELLY
"Nelly meet my boss, Mr Alexander Echi."
I freeze instantly as I hear that name. There was only one Alexander Echi I knew and that was my ex best friend and ex boyfriend as well. Or could there be another? I question in my mind.
I raise my head to see who the Alexander Echi being introduced to me is, and the face that greets me is the same face I thought I would never have to see again. It was the face that tormented me for months before Chike came to my rescue; my ex boyfriend, Alexander Echi.
"Mr Echi, meet Nelly Okafor my friend, and companion for the night." Chiamaka continues with her introduction, oblivious to what was transpiring between me and Alex.
Behave yourself Nelly Okafor. Don't act like he still affects you. I say this to myself before stretching out my arm to shake his already out stretched one.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Okafor" Alexander says, trying to conceal the fact that we know each other, but I didn't wa
IRISMonday morning had me and Enyinnaya preparing to return back to Nigeria.The night before it had been quite sensational and even more rigorously so, with me, having to constantly remind my heart that it's not supposed to catch feelings, or feel something for Enyinnaya and, also having to remind my body that it must not get used to his touch.Enyinnaya, who didn't seem to have even the smallest idea about my emotional battle, made my war even more difficult with his good loving.I knew he was good in bed since he was the best lay I ever had however, time seemed to have added to his skill making him even better than before. While we loved up, I noticed he paid attention to my body like it was some course of study he needed to write an exam on. He knew where to touch to exert response from me, he made love to me like he knew my body too well, even more than I did. If I wasn't so busy dreaming about the night before while folding my clothes,
NELLYWas there a worse way to start a Monday?Had to breakup on Saturday, met an annoying ex on Sunday, and then discover your close friend is nothing but a lieing little traitor.What's more?You decide to go to work just to clear your head, but, you remember there is absolutely nothing for you to do since, your boss who went on a business trip ask that you do nothing at work until, she returns from her journey, so you are stuck at home, with a broken heart to nurse and damaged relationships and friendship to heal from.Life sulks. At least, for me, it does.This wasn't how I wanted to start a new week, but I found myself here anyway, and the only thing I can do is to handle it one at a time.The beep coming from my phone wakes me up from my reverie. I check the caller ID and it is an unknown number, but somehow the number seems familiar."I hope this person doesn't make my already not so good day worse." I solilo
ENYINNAYAMiguel's sure thing is playing from the music player of my car."Iris, wait." I try to stop her from going into her house, when we reach her gate. "We need to talk""But we are talking now, aren't we?"You know what I mean Iris, don't act like you don't know.""But I really don't know." She replies and I feel awkward about how to let her know what I want from her. It's never so difficult to voice my opinion or thoughts about something but I can't hide the fact that I am having difficulties now."Tim, Swift, excuse us" I address my driver and the guard present with me."Yes sir." They reply in unison and make to leave, but Iris stops them.""There is no need for you both to leave." She turns to face me "You are already at my place, if you want to talk privately with me just come in and don't inconvenience others around us."My driver and Swift look at me as if seeking for confirmation f
ENYINNAYA"What did you just say?" Iris asks, laughing and looking at me like I one would look at an insane person trying to act normal.It was more than enough to get me angry, but I still don't. I continue with the conversation."I don't know how it happened, but it's the truth. I really like you, Iris.""Enyi!" She exclaims, cutting my name short. My heart constricts immediately."What is wrong with you? " She questions."I don't know what is going on with me. What I know is that I have strong feelings for you, I can't say it's love yet, but I know I don't want things to end between us like this.""So what are you trying to imply?" This time her face looks so serious like she is eager to hear what I would say."I'm saying let's give us a chance to explore this. We don't know where it would lead." I surprise myself when I add "please" a word I barely used. But, with Iris, I couldn't count how many times I ha
NELLY"What document is that?" Chiamaka asks, referring to the the document on the table."And what's your business with it? Ehn? Why should I tell you about my job after the stunt you pulled on me with the help of your brother?""I'm sorry nah. But I already told you why.""It's an important business contract with another company. From what I can see here, the contract is a done deal.""Then that is good news. Congratulations.""Then that is good news congratulations" I mimic her words, making a funny face as I do so."Haba, sorry eh. God knows I had good intentions when I did what I did, or would you have rather let me watch you commit suicide and then love with the guilt of knowing you would and not trying to stop it? Besides, you can't say you didn't enjoy your time with my brother, I know he's a good man.""And I've told you for the umpteenth time, that wasn't a real suicide note.""That was too real not to be
IRIS"Good morning ma" Nelly greets as I pass by her office. "And congratulations to you on a successful closing."She gets up from her sit and follow me loyally into my office."Thank you Nelly. Just bring the documents to my office. Have Mr Abbah call for a meeting on my behalf. Tell him to slate it for twelve noon today. And don't forget, we both have to meet with the managing director of Amadi group of companies, today.""What time would that be ma?""That would be by six p.m""Ehm ma?"I notice she has something to say to me, but she's reluctant to say it."What ever it is you have to say, just go ahead and get it out. I don't have time to dally around.""It's about the time you choose for the meeting, I don't think it would be convenient for everyone.""And why not?""That is supposed to be the time for lunch break, and I'm sure most of your employees already have plans laid out for
NELLY"Oya spill! Start talking. What exactly is wrong with you?" Iris asks, just as Mr Amadi's managing director, leaves the restaurant where we had our meeting."Nothing is wrong ma." I briefly wonder where her questions is coming from."Oh, come on! Don't act so petty with me. I have been watching your expressions throughout the day and the look on your face isn't bright, neither are your actions encouraging."So that was it. Iris was quite the observant type so it was quite difficult to hide things from her."I'm just not feeling too well, that's all.""That's all, really? Do you expect me to believe that, Nelly? Especially when it's so obvious that it's a lie?""But that is the truth ma. I just feel a little sick." I insist."First, stop with the formality. Second, why do I have a feeling that this has something to do with Chike Eze?"I flinched.Her eyes widens, letting me know, she had see
CHIKE"Guy you got to stop this rubbish. This is alcohol not water. Besides, that lesbian isn't worth you hurting this way." Obinna tells me, referring to Nelly as the lesbian."Just stop. Don't talk about her in that way" I warn Obinna angrily, surprised that I could still defend her even after everything that had happened between us."Guy! You are not still standing up for this babe, are you? Come on, you can't have loved her so much in such a short time.""But I did anyway. I did fall in love with her without taking any shield. I was being careful, I was being extra careful. Love wasn't supposed to come in yet, I was just expected to stop her from doing something stupid to herself, bring her out of the sea she was gradually sinking into, and very wisely leave her or stay if I choose to, but I don't know how I let my feelings take control of my actions."I had just confessed to the fact that my relationship with Nelly was planned ahead of t
Two weeks later Iris If anyone had told me making preparations for a wedding would be this chaotic, I would have totally disagreed with them, but not anymore, and the most annoying thing about the whole situation was that Greg and I already hired the service of a wedding planner but it didn't look like it. It felt like everyone was out for my neck; the wedding planner and her employees, my fashion designer, make up artists, hair stylist, Greg's family and off course Nelly and Alyssia. The only person that did not add to the chaos was Zinnia, my half sister, well not entirely so, cause I had been disappointed to know only few days ago that she had not returned to Greece as we had previously thought but had been living a quiet life in Abuja for reasons I still don't know. "I honestly think you should go with the nude colour, red feels too sharp against your dark skin." Okay, scrap all I said about Zinnia not adding to the chaotic state of my wedding pla
NELLY To be honest, I got furious when I heard what Enyinnaya said to Iris. It hurt that the one person she was bold enough to tell her feelings could not appreciate her for it let's alone reciprocate it. My reactions to the situation wasn't called for but I had acted out of impulse and I most certainly will not start regretting it now.I watch as Iris tries her best to hold back her tears. To say I'm not surprised by her actions, would be a deliberate lie.I settle down beside her, take her both hands in mine and gently squeeze them. "You know you don't have to cry over that jerk, right?" She nods. "I really didn't want to let my feelings go this far, but somehow it did and every time I see my stomach, I am reminded of him. It's bad enough that I am in love with someone who can never love me back, but what is worse is that I am carrying his child." "So you don't plan to take out the baby anymore?" I am silently praying for her to say ye
Enyinnaya'If the plan doesn't work, change the plan, never the goal.' That is one quote I can never forget in a hurry. For me it was more than just a good quote, it was actually a business strategy that has helped me through difficult times in business and now, I intend going by that rule, but this time not in business but in romance.The goal was in this case is to make Iris mine, so if asking her to be my mistress wouldn't work, then perhaps something else would, I just have to change plans and that is exactly what I am going to do.*****"Good afternoon sir" Iris gateman greets me when he is standing by my car door."Good afternoon" I greeted in return."Oga," he begins. "If na my madam you say look for, she nor dey oo""What do you mean by she not dey?" I ask the gateman ."Wetin I mean be say, my madam nor dey house na, so, just they go back now." I know he is lieing. Iris must have commanded him to not allow me into
Enyinnaya'If the plan doesn't work, change the plan, never the goal.' That is one quote I can never forget in a hurry. For me it was more than just a good quote, it was actually a business strategy that has helped me through difficult times in business and now, I intend going by that rule, but this time not in business but in romance.The goal was in this case is to make Iris mine, so if asking her to be my mistress wouldn't work, then perhaps something else would, I just have to change plans and that is exactly what I am going to do.*****"Good afternoon sir" Iris gateman greets me when he is standing by my car door."Good afternoon" I greeted in return."Oga," he begins. "If na my madam you say look for, she nor dey oo""What do you mean by she not dey?" I ask the gateman ."Wetin I mean be say, my madam nor dey house na, so, just they go back now." I know he is lieing. Iris must have commanded him to not allow me into
IRIS"This one that you invited me to your house, what happened?" Nelly asks, after making herself comfortable on a sofa, in my sitting room."A lot happened. A fucking whole lot." I utter without a pause in between my words."Hmm." She frowns for a while and continues. "This lot that you are talking about, I hope it's something good, because I'm tired of hearing bad news already.""Bad news? From who? About what." Her choice of words draws my attention so I curiously question them."Before I begin talking to you about that news, first tell me about that very fine and expensive car I saw in your car park. It's yours right?" She questions me, gleefully.I nod in response."Heyyyyy!!!" She exclaims and jumps up from the chair she had been sitting down on. "Babe! That is a Ferrari portofino!! Bitch, a Ferrari fucking portofino!!! Gurl, you rock, and real good too. Damn, that car is as hot as hell. Tell me more about it. I want to know ev
IRIS"Babe are you ready now?" Gregory ask me while he tries to keep himself busy with the magazine on my puff in my sitting room."I will be in a minute." I yell out in response to him, from my bedroom.For the past one month we had been together, Gregory Malik had been nothing but loving and affectionate towards me. He had proven Nelly wrong and even she was beginning to like the idea of me being in a relationship with Gregory. I was really enjoying this alter ego, and one beautiful thing about this new side of him was the fact that he was completely selfless and quite obsessed with me. He had gone ahead to involve himself in everything regarding my life including my business too, and though initially I had felt it was an invasion of my private space but I soon came to the realization that if I had plans of being together with Gregory for a long time, then I had to learn how to accommodate him in not just my heart but also my life."How do I look?" I
ENYINNAYAA lot of questions run through my mind as I sit in my office, with my iPod in my ear, Omah Lay's Bad influence sounds directly into my ears, while I keep staring at the picture of the lady that is my screen saver; Iris Adelana.She is dressed in a white bum short and a bikini bra. Her long, full hair that is left unpacked forms an afro on her head, giving her diamond shaped face, a fullness. Her black skin glowed with the wetness of the beach water on her skin and, an added effect from the sun of that afternoon. Her long, legs ended in foots that were bare of any foot wear except the beach sand on which they stood. She exuded innocence, femininity and strength in one picture, she was no doubt a siren, and I am the victim; the one who she had trapped in her spell."Iris Adelana, what are you doing to me? even now." I mutter, lost in my thoughts of her. Everything with her was like an unadulterated magic, her smile was pure and even if she tried to hide
Iris"Gurl, are you really pregnant?" Nelly asks me, the minute we get to my car.I laugh, but it's short."I'm not pregnant joor.""Ehen? So why did you lie to him about being pregnant and risk loosing the contract?""He was being unbearably rude. I would have struck that his big mouth with a slap, but managed to hold back because I don't want the media to have a field day off my personal life.""But you know we need that contract na, you have a goal remember?""Well, you are not wrong. We need that contract, but longtech needs this partnership more and I'm sure they will not be foolish enough to let this opportunity go.""Well, from what I saw, Mr Folarin is definitely foolish. So?""Calm down, I have a plan, even if Mr Folarin is foolish to let this go, I'm not stupid enough to just sit back and do nothing to stop him." I smile mischievously, as an idea pops up in my head.."And what is this plan? It's ob
IrisThree Weeks LaterThe vibration coming from my phone had me hissing at my phone for interrupting my beautiful sleep. I ignore the phone and return back to sleep, but the continuos ring doesn't give room for that."Who could be calling me this early in the morning?" I grumble, while reluctantly standing up from my bed."Ooh, Nelly!" I grumble, after Checking the caller ID and finding it to be hers. "Why is she calling me this time around eh?" I ask nobody, thus there is no response."Good morning ma." She greets."What do you want?" I don't bother to greet or try to be courteous."Wawuu! Girl what's up? Did I chase after you with a gun in your dream last night?" She's trying to play funny, but I'm not exactly in the mood for that, so I just decided l to bluff her."Abeg say what you want to say joor and say it quick ooo because I need to get back to bed.""Heeee! Madam Iris, it's a weekday, I'm sure you s