Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)… Part 27, 28, 29, 30

The rice kids of lagos part 27

Danladi woke up with anger boiling in his stomach. He had not been this angry in a very long time.Not when his best friend had walked off with his business ideas, not even when Leila had rejected his proposal for marriage. This was a brand new anger.Who would have thought that he had been flirting with disaster? He, a world renowned figure had been harbouring fantasies about a common LovePeddler who did not have the common decency to own up to her trade. He would deal with her.As he strode into the office that morning, he noticed the reverence from his staff. As one rushed to carry his bag, his secretary rushed to make him black coffee and another girl rushed to bring him the abridged version of today’s news. He knew she must have spent several hours going through the newspapers he liked only to scan for topics he could be interested in. Most days, he appreciated these people, his loyal staff. But today, they irritated him. They were like flies on Shtt.He smiled at that thought. It was Addy who used to say that. For a brief moment, he wondered if she was awake or still sleeping. He had to remind himself that he was mad at her but it seemed that the girl had found a way under his skin.He was going to ensure that he got her out of there. He would show her the Gabbo treatment. She would curse the day she met him. First, he needed to talk to her then; he would to make her beg. He was going to make her pay for the humiliation he had experienced with Zacharia.He picked up his office extension.‘Davis. Get Aduke to this office at 12 noon. Tell Agatha to book the conference room for the meeting’Nobody made a fool of Danladi Gaddo and got away with it.To Be Continued…

the rich kids of lagos part 28

The second Aduke opened her eyes from slumber, she shut them again, wishing to recapture the brief reprieve that sleep had brought. Her mind began to whirl, thinking of her many problems. As she began to worry, Tessy rushed in beaming from ear to ear, she was followed by Simisola and a less interested Anita who had already seen Addy when she had come in the night before.‘Hey girrrrl! welcome back. How was your trip?’ asked Tessy‘Hey Tess, Hi Simi. How r u guys doing? Responded Aduke
‘Are you jet lagged or just unexcited to see us?’ asked Simi
‘I’m just tired. Simi’ said Adduke
‘Awwh, poor baby. Hope you realise now that living the high flying life isn’t so easy. You are lucky that you own a Spa, you can just walk in for a massage at any time’ said Simi
As the Spa was mentioned, Aduke’s heart rate picked up very fast, she knew she had to quickly sort out this mess with her Aunty.
‘I only manage the Spa, Simz. Said Addy in a low voice.
‘Anywaaay, where are the goodies? Where did you go and what did you buy? Asked Tessy, who was already looking around for the tell-tale sign of travel cases.
“No goodies oh, just did a bit of sightseeing, ate, slept and here I am’ answered Aduke
‘You are joking right? Asked Tessy, who could not believe that Aduke had not shopped
‘No. Seriously.’ Said Aduke
‘Leave the girl alone Tess, this was not a shopping trip. Perhaps she was too busy with her lover man’ said Anita with a huge wink.
Just as Aduke began to respond, she got a text message
**** The Boss would like to see you at 12 noon, will send a driver for 11.a.m., confirm location.****
Aduke read the text and hissed aloud, and then continued to banter with her friends. A short while later, she excused herself and prepared to meet with her Aunty at the Spa. She had made up her mind. She and D.G were over. He had treated her so unfairly.
‘I’m done with the bipolar fool’ decided Aduke.
*******
After contemplating her decision for several minutes, Simisola decided this is what she must do. She had to chase the scent off her because if her father ever found out that she had a lesbian lover, her freedom and lifestyle would be over. She could not stand the thought of having to move back home and live with his third wife.
This, she decided, would be the perfect way to respond to the tip-off she had gotten that the most popular blog in LasGidi was about to splash her name all over social media.
‘Hello, my name is Simisola Owen-Browne. Am I on to Belinda?’ she said
‘Yes, this is she’ responded a soft voice.
‘I have a tip off in exchange for the post you wanted to put up – the one about me’ said Simi
‘I hope its juicy’ said Belinda
‘I think so, it’s about Danladi Gabbo and his new lady love’ said Simisola
‘He has a woman associated with him? And I don’t know this? Are you sure about this? Do you have proof?’ asked Belinda in a rush ‘How old is she?’ she asked
‘Yes. They just got back from a romantic trip to America and it looks like it could be the real deal for them. She’s only 28’ said Simi. She knew she had to sell something hot to Belinda. This was the best she could do.
‘Do you have a picture of the ring? Do you know where the ring was bought, how about the shopping spree receipts? Asked Belinda, excited to have a hot story
Simi paused and wondered who had said anything about an engagement ring. She decided to be silent about this.
‘I don’t have any additional information’ said Simi
‘So this is all you have?’ asked a disappointed Belinda whose mind had begun to work on a headline that would catch the attention of many. This was the breaking news of the century. Any news regarding rich billionaires always had humongous hits. Danladi Gabbo, his fiancée and their 21 year age difference were about to make her rich.
Look, I’m, just doing you guys a favour here’ said Simisola into the phone ‘it’s not like you are paying me any money, now you want a picture. I will see what I can do about sending one to you on Whatsapp. But, you better know it that you owe me one’
‘No sweetie, we are even. After all, I’m cancelling the lesbian story aren’t I? said Belinda sweetly
‘Whatever.’ Said Simi
‘Yeah, whatever ! I know your Daddy would not like that type of article sent to him or would he? Taunted Belinda
‘I’m sending you some pics on Whatsapp. I just don’t have a picture of them together. ok? responded Simi
“This is fine, my photoshop experts will sort that out. Don’t forget to send her full name too’ said Belinda.
‘Ok, when will it be out?’ asked a curious Simi
‘As soon I can confirm that Gabbo is in the country, the story will be up’ said Belinda. She tried to confirm all stories before publishing. Sometimes though, she was too tired to go into details.
‘And this means no bad articles about me?’ asked a hopeful Simisola
‘Be rest assured, dear. I’m a woman of my words. Plus, I think that this alliance would be mutually beneficial to us both for future projects.’ Said Belinda.
Simi waited to be sure that the Whatsapp Picture and messages had been delivered to Belinda’s number before she switched off the phone. Thank God for Aduke and her story. That girl was a life saver.

the rich kids of lagos part 29

Around 10.30, an apprehensive Aduke walked into street of the Spa expecting to meet an angry Aunty Tokunboh in the Spa Office. She was surprised because the Spa was locked with was a sign stating that the Spa was closed for maintenance. Aduke realised immediately that she was in bigger trouble than she had envisaged and knew she had no other choice but to visit her Aunt at home. Before doing this, she rang Titilope, the lady she had left in charge of affairs.
‘Titi, how are you? Asked Aduke
‘Aunty Aduke, we are not fine oh. Madam is very angry with everybody, she has locked the shop’ said Titi, informing Aduke of recent developments
‘The Spa. I’ve told you many times, it’s a Spa not a shop’ said Aduke
‘Aunty Aduke. We don’t have work, you are there saying it is a Spa’ responded Titi, hotly.
‘I’ve been to Nail Studio and Barazahi in search of work, but no work. Big Madam said it is your fault that she’s is closing the place down. She said you have chopped all the money’ said Titi in an accusatory tone
‘But I only borrowed it. I’m going to return it soon’ explained Addy. ‘Is she very angry? Asked Addy
‘Ha, she’s angry o. She kept saying she will call your mummy to report you. I think you should call her o. Then return the money so that she can re-open the shop and we can get our jobs back’ advised Titi.
‘The Spa’ corrected Aduke again
‘Ok. bye Aunty’ before she could respond, Titi had cut the line.
Immediately she terminated the call, Aduke hailed a taxi and headed to her aunty’s house. She figured out that from the look of things, it was unnecessary to place a call before the visit.
‘Ah, Aunty Aduke, long time’ the Maiguard hailed her as she paid her taxi fare.
‘How are you Musa. Is Madam in? asked Aduke
‘Yes. But she have visitor’ said Musa in poor english
‘Them Plenty?’ unconsciously lasping into the pidgin english she knew he would easily grasp.
‘No. Just one’ said Musa
‘Okay. Make I enter greet am. Wey Carol? Asked Addy, referring to the housekeeper who managed the home front when her Aunty Toks went away on her trips.
‘She dey backyard’ responded Musa
Aduke quickly walked to the back of the house to look for Carol.
‘Ha Aunty Aduke, where you go? Madam don vex for you o, she say you don chop her money. Said Carol the minute she saw her.
This was why she liked Carol. She knew that with Carol, she would get the blow by blow account of event as they happened.
‘She vex reach that one?’ asked Aduke
‘Aunty Aduke, if na me be you, I go just enter and kneel down, dey beg.’ Advised Carol
‘The wahala big reach this one?’ asked Aduke again
‘E pass oh. Madam talk say you tiff money’ said Carol. Addy could see a bit of doubt in Carol’s eyes. It seemed like Carol believed her boss.
‘I no tiff, I just borrowed the money, but, let me enter.’ Said Aduke.
As she stepped into the living room, she met Aunty Tokuboh and her best friend – Kikelomo looking into an iPad. They were engrossed in whatever they were looking at.
Aduke assumed it was pictures of a wedding on Bella Naija because this was one of their favourite past times. However, the seriousness on their faces made her doubt it.
‘Good morning Aunty, good morning Aunty Kike’ greeted Aduke
The two ladies startled because they were not expecting anyone to walk in on them. They looked at each other and hissed at Aduke.
‘Good morning Madam Celebrity’ greeted Aunty Tokunboh sarcastically
‘How was your trip back Aunty’ asked Aduke, hoping to start on a peaceful note
‘No, I should be asking you how your own trip back was. I hear you have been flying in private jets across the globe’ still sarcastic
Aduke’s insides quaked. She wondered how her aunty had discovered this information in so short a time.
‘I don’t know what you are talking about ma. My phone has been bad. That’s why I wasn’t getting your calls and the screen crashed, so I did not see the text messages.’ Explained Aduke
‘Shut up Aduke. I don’t want to hear any of your lies. Exclaimed Aunty Tokunboh vehemently
‘Kike, can you hear her silly lies?’ turning to her friend Kike who quietly looked at Aduke. It was a look Addy couldn’t place. It was respectful and enquiring at the same time.
‘She ran down my business so she could give the money to her new fiance and she’s here telling me lies!’ said Aunty Tokunboh who looked like she was ready to slap Aduke.
‘Eeeeehhn, Toks. Don’t say that that one o.. Gabbo will buy your business three million times over’ responded Kike, irritated that Toks would even consider that a part of her shop money could have been given to Gabbo.
‘That man is very wealthy. You know him now. Remember that wedding we went to where they gave out gold plated phones? He was the one who gave out the souvenirs. Don’t you remember how he was spraying Sunny Ade that day? Your Spa is a speck in the ocean of his businesses oh’ said Kike with delight.
While this conversation was going on, a confused Aduke had begun to wonder if the two ladies were witches, how did they know about Gabbo? How had they known she just got back from a trip? Who was this new fiancé they referred to? She decided to stick to her lies.
‘Where is the money you misappropriated Aduke? Why did you do this to me? I did your mother a favour by hiring you and this is how the both of you repay me. Is this good Aduke? Asked an emotional Tokunboh
‘Aunty, please I’m sorry but I have all the money back. My friend tried to get me to invest in a Spa related business but I found out at the last minute that it was a scam. I’m thankful that the money had not gone. I have it all, aunty.’ Aduke held her breath, hoping her aunty would fall for the lies.
‘What is your friend’s name? What is the line of business? How dare you take a decision on my business without consulting me first? So, it’s true that you have been passing my business off as yours eh? Asked Toks in a rush
‘Tokunboh, ni suuru, be patient. As long as your business does not go under, we are fine. The young lady said she still has the money. All other things are beside the point. You have to be nice to her now, she will be able to bring you some more high end clientele’ said Kike who gave Aduke a very warm smile.
Aduke reciprocated Kike’s smile with a blank look. What exactly was this about? What did Kike know that she didn’t.?
Her phone beeped again. Why where the girls pinging her. She saw the text message indicator flash and clicked on it. It was from Davis.

the rich kids of lagos part 30

**** The driver said the Spa is locked and there is no one in your house. Alhaji can’t be kept waiting. please confirm location NOW! ****
Just as she was about to text a response to him, an older lady walked in with a tear streaked face. It was her mother! Aduke wondered why Aunty Toks had gone to this length.
‘Aduke! Where have you been? Why did you have to worry us all?’ asked her mum as she burst into tears again. The old woman had feared that something bad had happened to her only surviving child. Tokunboh’s messages had been frantic.
‘Mummy, I’m fine. Ekaaro ma’ greeted Aduke
‘Aunty mi, Ekaaro. Don’t mind her, she walked in just now. I had been frantic with worry. In fact, the shop has been closed because we did not know where she had gone to.
‘Good morning ma’ greeted Kike
‘Good morning’ Her mum faced her with a scowl ‘Aduke why did you do this?’
Addy was confused, suddenly unsure of what ‘this’ encompassed’. She decided to stick to her lie.
‘It was a friend who wanted to introduce me to a business idea but I found out it could be a scam. Like I have told aunty Toks, I have all the money’ explained Aduke.
‘What money?’ asked her mum, confused.
‘Aunty mi, the Spa has been run aground oh, Aduke took a lot of money out, Aduke’s friend nearly scammed her,’ said Aunty Tokunboh
‘You mean you spent your Aunty’s money? How dare you? Asked her angry mother
‘Mummy I have all the money!’ responded Aduke
‘In fact, why did your aunty not meet you at home? Where did you go? Why did your aunty not meet you here in her boy’s quarters? Asked her mum
‘I-i-i…’ words deserted Addy.
‘Aunty mi, please read this.’ said Tokunboh as she passed the iPad to her Aunt.
Aduke wondered what they were reading.
‘Eh! Aduke. You went to America with a man! You went without telling either your aunt or myself? And you are planning a wedding too! Where is Peter? What happened to him? Asked her mother in a rush.
At this point Addy knew it was not coincidental that some of the facts were right. She leaned across and took the iPad from her mum’s hand and immediately saw a picture of herself in the red dress. She had been posing for Tessy when Chijioke had suddenly caught her attention and had snapped the picture on his Nikon camera. It was a very good shot but what was it doing here on Belinda Splinkeji’s Blog?Why was there an accompanying picture of Danladi Gabbo and another one of the interiors a private jet with her picture in the same red dress photoshopped into it. She quickly read the story beneath:
Meet Danladi Gabbo’s new Girl:
We can authoritatively tell you that multibillionaire, Alhaji Gabbo has mended his broken heart and the fast action super glue who did the work is pretty Aduke Shapade, the owner of a Spa in Lekki Phase 1. The two lovebirds were recently seen exiting from a popular jewellery shop in California. In-house sources say he has contacted Lorraine Schwartz to design their wedding rings. Details of their whirlwind romance would be up in subsequent posts. Remember, you heard it first here.
‘These are all lies! I am not planning a wedding! I have never been to California!’ Shtt! Is this why everybody has been pinging me? I’m sorry I need to go.’ said Aduke getting up. She was deaf to the cacophony of voices that tried to stop her as she walked out. Just at that moment, a strange number called her.
‘Hello’ she said, frantic and not thinking.
‘Is this Aduke Shapade? We are from Entertainment Television we would like to confirm a story.’ Said the voice ‘Do you know Alhaji Gabbo and did you travel with him?’ asked the person
Without thinking, ‘Yes, but I did not go to California wi….’ They had cut off! The line was dead.
Her phone immediately began to ring again and she ignored it. On the third ring, she checked and saw it was Davis
‘Shtt Aduke, where are you. This place is a mess. The boss is raving mad and your absence has made things worse’
‘Has he heard..? she asked
‘Yes, he has heard and has seen the blog post’ Davis response confirmed the worst
‘Shtt’ said Aduke
‘Exactly’ responded Davis
‘You guys need to meet but you cannot come here. There are a couple of journos waiting in the reception downstairs, hoping to get a statement’ said Davis
‘Shtt’ said Aduke again
‘Quite frankly, he’s asking for your head on a plate. I’ve never see him so angry’ said Davis. He sounded sorry for her.
‘It’s not my fault. I don’t know how this happened. Shtt.’ Said Aduke, feeling sorry for herself.
‘Will confirm if this meeting is still needed and would confirm the location to you’ said Davis as he rang off.
To Be Continued…