Chapter 1: Graduating

Anita Baker, a 24-year-old lady, just graduated from university. She is the first daughter of her parents and has five younger sisters following her. Her father is a banker, while her mother is a trader. She has a fair complexion, is very beautifully shaped, and possesses sexy, curvy hips. Among all her sisters, she is the only white person, as the rest of her sisters are dark-skinned, with some having a fair brown complexion. 

Anita looks like her mother but is more beautiful; sometimes, her father accuses her mother of cheating on him and doubts that he is truly her father because she is so white. However, her mother always remains silent about it and tells her not to mind her father, assuring her that she is really his child. Anita's father even threatens to run a paternity DNA test on her, as he cannot understand why she is so white, unlike her other sisters. 

Her immediately younger sister, Flora, who is a 22-year-old dark-skinned beauty, also dislikes her, even though Anita is two years older. About four of her sisters hate her, except for her youngest sister named Glory, who genuinely loves her. They say blood is thicker than water, but in Anita's case, water is thicker than blood. 

Anita's father, Mr. Joshua Baker, does not stop sending her to school, as he only accuses his wife of cheating on him and forcing another man's child on him so she could marry him. Nonetheless, he still sends Anita to university to study business administration. Anita is very happy as she writes her final exams and her results finally come out in flying colors. 

Due to her father's constant accusations towards her calm mother, Mrs. Tonia Baker, Anita refuses to accept any relationship from any guy asking her out to be his woman. She only goes out on dates with them but ends up rejecting their love proposals. Anita’s best friend in university, Temisa Patrick, has also advised her to give love a chance, but she refuses and says, "My father constantly accuses my mother of cheating on him, and yet he still goes back to her and gets her pregnant to give birth to the six of us. Mother says he loves her, but his daily insults do not show us that he truly loves her." 

Anita shook her head as she spoke to her friend when they were still in their second year at university. Guys are eager to have her—handsome and well-to-do guys—but Anita feels they only want to use her, and once they win her over and break her virginity, they will dump her or accuse her of cheating, just like her father constantly does to her mother, wanting to send her and her mother into depression. Anita sits in a private room with her best friend, preparing for their final convocation.

"Anita, I am so happy! Finally, we will be parting from this school. I cannot explain how much I have missed home," Temisa says.  

"Me too," Anita faintly replies, knowing it isn’t entirely true for her, as she hates home and knows she will be facing her father's constant insults towards her and her mother again. Meanwhile, her three younger sisters, Flora, Esther, and Favour, will want to torment her, calling her an outcast because they are jealous of her looks, as if it is entirely her fault.  

Anita shakes her head in sadness, and Temisa notices.  

"What is it, girlfriend? You don’t seem happy, even though you’re graduating as one of the best students today in our university," Temisa asks as she stands up from her seat facing the mirror and walks to meet Anita sitting on the couch. But Anita shakes her head again and stares away from Temisa, not responding.  

"What’s the problem, dear?" Temisa approaches and crouches in front of Anita, even though she knows what the problem is, as Anita has told her why she hates men in general and sees them as scumbags.  

"Don’t worry; when I get home, I can talk to my mother about allowing you to come live with us, even if it’s just for your internship until you get a better job to care for yourself," Temisa proposes.  

"Thank you." Anita smiles faintly, and Temisa responds, "You’re welcome. You know you’re like a sister to me, so you don’t have to worry or cry much. Graduating with a first class is no joke, so you should be happy, as today is your most blessed day. Come sit here; let me apply some makeup on your face."  

Temisa pulls Anita to stand up from her seat, and Anita smiles faintly and walks to sit in the chair facing the mirror in their shared private room.  

"You know I don’t like makeup," Anita says as she sits and watches Temisa open one of her makeup kits and start preparing her brush. 

"I know, but today is your lucky day, so you should look beautiful when collecting your awards. So no excuses from you. Just do this for me, okay? It will make you smile throughout the day and lighten your mood," Temisa says.  

"Okay," Anita replies, and she stares at her beautiful reflection in the mirror as Temisa starts applying the lovely brown powder on her face.  

Temisa starts on Anita's eyelashes first, and after that, she switches to work on Anita's cheeks and nose, applying the beautiful makeup powder. As she finishes making her over, Anita is stunned by her new look in the mirror, as she has never applied makeup on her face before. Staring at her new reflection, Anita’s speechless as she now understands why Temisa has so many boyfriends.

Temisa is a billionaire's daughter, as her father works for the Benson Group of Companies. Since the Benson family is one of the richest in their country and Anita has read about them, she wishes she could work for them. This is the main reason why she studied so hard and read day and night to graduate as one of the top students at her university. 

Anita has thought about asking Temisa if she could help her ask her father for an application at the Benson Group, but she knew that if she did, it might seem like she was trying to gain a favor she didn't merit. It might also make others see her as a gold digger or a woman selling her body to men for favors. So, she thought against it and decided not to ask Temisa for her father's help again.

"All done now! Don’t you see how sweet you look in the mirror? Oh my God! I am the best makeup artist here on campus!" Temisa fans herself with her hand while Anita smiles at her.

"Don’t over-hype yourself too much because of my girlfriend. Yes, you tried, but still, I don’t like makeup," Anita admits.

"Tar! Shut up. I am hoping a handsome guy will see you today and ask you out," Temisa giggles.

Everything about her revolves around guys, as Temisa changes boyfriends every month like pants. She is ruthless when it comes to multiple relationships and doesn’t care what her fellow ladies say, as she also doesn’t believe in love but instead spends time dating different guys. Well, Temisa never admits to sleeping with any of the guys she goes out with, and that’s hard to believe, as she’s always seen with different guys—some at the beach, some in restaurants, and some in clubs—taking different photos with them. Yet she claims she’s still a virgin after Anita also told her she was a virgin.

Anita didn't believe Temisa because a virgin is supposed to be calm and keep to herself so that no guy will use her. But Temisa dresses hot, wearing bum shorts, crop tops, and all sorts of seductive and tempting clothes. 

Temisa is a dark-skinned beauty, sexy and curvy like Anita, but she isn't jealous of Anita for being white and light-skinned, as they're in the same department and studied the same course, which made them best friends. However, Anita is more intelligent than she is, while Temisa is the party-hard type. 

"Let's go out now; I am sure most of our families will have arrived," Temisa says as she quickly packs her remaining things and makeup kits into her box and zips it closed. 

They rented the room where they stayed, so they hung out there most times, even though the school is on holiday. It's their final year to say goodbye, Anita then drags out all her bags and boxes, as she is already going back home after the awarding ceremony. 

They step out to witness the university's final event and the awarding of the best graduating student. Anita Baker was called and awarded a first-class award and recognition for her academic excellence while Temisa is all smiles as she claps for her friend. Anita steps out from where she is sitting among the crowd of people attending their convocation ceremony to go and receive her award.