Must Read: The Rich Kids Of LAGOS (16+)… Part 14

As Aduke locked gazes with Alhaji Gabbo, she wondered if he could read her mind. His gaze was very intent as it was impenetrable. He looked like a man whose next move could not be predicted. Aduke felt she had to be careful around this man. Before she could utter a word, Tessy jumped in and began the introductions.
‘Hi, my name is Theresa Obum, you can call me Tessy and this is my best friend, Addy’ Aduke did a double take as she wondered when she and Tessy had become best friends.
She gave a perfunctory smile, wishing that they could return to their tables now that they had introduced themselves but she saw that the waiters had added two seats to the table, one either side of the Alhaji. She was irritated when she saw Tessy sinking into one of the seats. All attempts to catch Tessy eye and remind her of their own party failed.
As they sat, Alhaji Gabbo introduced himself. He cracked a joke about not remembering the last time he had to introduce himself and the entire table laughed.
Aduke wondered why they laughed, it wasn’t a very funny comment. It seemed that they would all laugh even if Alhaji coughed but that was none of her business, she needed to get back. She could hear the crowd on the other side. It seemed that she and Tessy were missing out on some fun moments.
Before she knew it, ice cold flutes of champagne were served to herself and Tessy and they were promptly forgotten.
The men around the table went back to their business discussions. They seemed to talk in a lot of codes because she really couldn’t decipher what was being said. They discussed shipping, oil and gas contracts and politics. When she had been seated for about five minutes and could not contribute to any of the discussions, Aduke wondered why she was there. She decided to do something about it. She coughed discreetly to get some attention.
‘Alhaji, we came here with some friends who would probably be wondering where we went. We need to get back to them’ she sounded bolder than she felt
‘Oh? you are leaving us so soon? I thought you would be spending the rest of the evening with us’ said Alhaji. Aduke wondered why he felt familiar enough to put his hand on her thigh.
‘Yes we would have to leave because we’re for a farewell party for one of our friends’ responded Addy as she stylishly shook her legs, hoping to dislodge his hand.
A quick glance at Tessy showed a slight frown on her face but Aduke did not care. She needed to leave this place.
‘Yes Alhaji, she’s right. They would wonder where we have gone. We could go to them briefly and make an excuse if you prefer’ offered Tessy
‘Hmmm Addy, which table would you like to seat at? Ours or yours?’ asked Alhaji. He flipped the script by asking Aduke to choose
‘Ours sir. We won’t like to intrude on your business discussions’ The whole table went silent, as though she had committed an offence. They all waited for Alhaji’s reaction at this effrontery.
Danladi Gabbo burst out in laughter and said ‘Okay go, it seems we have succeeded in boring you. Enjoy your evening’ he said
‘Bye Alhaji, enjoy your evening’ chorused the girls as they left the table.
As soon as the girls walked off, Alhaji beckoned to Davis, his trusted P.A.
‘I want a background check, her office and home address, political affiliations, everything, She seems interesting. Give them a little something for their time’ whispered Alhaji.
‘Yes sir’ Davis smiled.
He loved it when Alhaji got interested in a girl because he knew the petty cash would go up. Alhaji never spared expenses when he chased a woman and Davis knew he would make some good money from this. He was a happy man. He loved the perks of his job.
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Even before the girls got to their table, Aduke knew Tessy was mad at her. She could feel it in her movement but didn’t care. She wanted to have some fun with young people not some old boring men.
‘Hey Addy, you guys were gone for so long, we thought you had left’ said Simisola
‘Yeah, we wondered where you guys went’ this was Chijioke, a childhood friend of Simi’s. His girlfriend, Chinenye was the reason for this hang out. She was returning to the United States after spending the Christmas holidays at home.
Aduke had silently wondered the necessity for these ‘farewell’ hang outs since she knew they would soon be home for Easter, a bit of the summer and all year round at the slightest excuse. She felt they actually lived on the planes rather than in LasGidi, New York or London.
‘Oh we just popped outside’ responded Tessy. Addy was amazed at how easily the little lie had come to Tessy.
‘Well, now that you are here, I think its time to know you a little better. Simisola has gone on and on about you’ said Chijioke as he faced Aduke
‘Hope she has said only nice things’ replied Aduke
‘Weeeeeell, I won’t tell you. Try to redeem yourself’ said Chijioke with a glint in his eyes
‘Nothing nice? not even a little bit?’ she decided she liked him. He had an easy way around him and looked like he genuinely wanted to put her at ease.
Addy did not notice that time had passed, some people had left and just a few of them were left. She had really enjoyed Chijioke’s company.
She was unaware that she had spent the evening discussing her life, dreams and visions. She was surprised that a stranger could have gotten so much out of her, and so soon too. The last person she had been this free with was Peter. She was happy that she had a new friend.
Aduke excused herself to use the restroom. As soon as she got up, so did Tessy and Chinenye.
‘Looks like there is an exodus to the restroom’ teased Chijioke. ‘Let me step out for an important phone call’ he said as he got up too.
Addy smiled and waved him off.
Tessy and Chinenye looked like their faces had been hewn from granite and Addy wondered why. It was such a lovely night out. How could anyone not be enjoying themselves? Aduke looked around some more and noticed that Simi’s face had the same countenance. She wondered if she had missed something and she looked round for Anita.
Anita seemed to be having fun. She was seated beside Carolyn, another friend, who was hanging on Anita’s words with an adoring look on her face.
‘Ok ladies, lets go’ she said
As soon as they were out of earshot, Chinenye turned to her ‘Look here lady, I do not appreciate any husband snatcher waltzing in, trying to steal my man. CeeJay and I have dated for five years now, our families know each other and the only thing remaining is a ring. I will not let you toy with that. Not now, not ever. Look for your own man okay?’ she said through gritted teeth
‘Do you mean Chijioke? I’m sorry, but you got it wrong, we were just gisting. I’m not trying to sn…..’ before she could conclude, Chinenye interjected.
‘Shut up! I’m a woman and I can read people very well. You have set your sights on CeeJay and if you think your no-name Buttocks can snatch my husband, you have another thinking coming, I will not take it!’ she said, still angry.
‘Tessy, tell her I have no interest in her guy. We were just having fun’ Aduke turned to her friend, hoping for a bail out.
‘Well, it did look a little funny back there’ said Tessy. Addy was amazed that Tessy didn’t have her back. Just this evening, Tessy had introduced her as best friend!
‘Tess!!!’ cautioned Aduke
‘I’m just saying it as it is Aduke. Nene, she doesn’t mean any harm. Don’t worry. I know her quite well. said Tessy to Chinenye
‘Just warn her!.’ Chineye turned round and marched off
‘Tessy, what was that for? You should have had my back’ said an irritated Aduke
Tessy dragged her by the hand into the restroom
‘What was that nonsense you pulled at the table with Alhaji?’ said Tessy, as she changed the topic
‘How do you mean?’ asked Aduke, surprised by the sudden change of topics
‘You were rude back there. I told you to consider the networking possibilities. What you did is NO way to make friends’ responded Tessy
‘I wasn’t! Did we come here for him? We came for this nonsense party and now I’m wishing we had not come out today’ replied Aduke
‘Well, you were gifted with an opportunity many would beg for but, you messed it up. We really would have been better off at home. At least I won’t have proof that you are as stupid as you look!’ yelled Tessy
‘Tessy, what’s that for? asked an angry Aduke
Tessy inhaled deeply and exhaled in a whoosh. She tried to calm herself down
‘I apologise Addy. I was out of line but you need to learn to take my cue on some matters okay? said a contrite Theresa
Aduke looked at Tessy and nodded. She nodded more for peace sake than in agreement to what Tessy said.
As the both of them stepped out of the restroom, they saw a young man was waiting for them with two white envelopes addressed to them.
‘Good evening ladies, Alhaji asked that I should deliver these to you. He said to tell you he is grateful for your time.’ said the man
Tessy silently collected the envelope and signalled that Addy should take hers too.
‘Thanks’ said Aduke as the man walked off.
There was no time to discuss the incident because they had already gotten to the table.
Addy stuffed her envelope in her bag and made conscious efforts to ignore Chijioke.
‘Ad, whatsup?’ he had told her he would create a special name for her, different from what everyone else calls her and had jokingly settled on this earlier on in the evening.
‘Whatsup? Did I say something wrong? Why the change of attitude? he queried, open as usual.
‘I’m just tired Chijioke’ responded Aduke
He watched her for a bit and suddenly seemed to figure it all out. ‘Okay’ he replied tersely. The evening quickly went downhill from there and she was thankful to leave at 1.30a.m
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