`

Copyright

Copyright @ Lani Leigh 2022

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names,

characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the
author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons,
living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication maybe

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior
permission of Lani Leigh.

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Chapter 1

Two years ago

The soft white Egyptian cotton sheets creased into the super
soft mattress of the elegant four-poster bed. The beauty of
the carved wood was lost on the person bending forward on
the bed, admiring their artistry. The art in question was of
the human kind—a naked woman with hands and legs tied
to the bedposts with the best silk scarves Paris had to offer.
Marring the otherwise perfect skin was a red birthmark on
the underside of her wrist.

A black blindfold covered the eyes. The artist couldn’t

decide on whether to use a gag or let the begging they would
soon start echo through the room.

Mmm… Decisions.

Pulling out the feather that had been placed under the
pillow earlier, a hand traced a trail down the torso, now
covered in a sheen of sweat.

“Did you follow my instructions?” Work and family

commitments had kept them apart for weeks. Working hard
to fan the flames of desire, she had sent a list of tasks she
expected to be carried out without question or hesitation.

A soft voice responded, “Yes, I did.”

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“Hmm. You’re telling me you didn’t lose control and cum

in the bathroom or the kitchen?” Odette watched the muscles
undulate on the pale, long slim neck. Chuckling, she had her
answer.

“I… I d-didn’t. I followed the instructions you gave me.

Caress my clit until I got to the point of cuming, then stop.”
Slim hands pulled at the bonds.

Running the feather over a nipple, Odette asked, “Did you

stop or you…?”

The cheeks of the woman tied to the bedposts went pink.

Naughty… “How many times did you cum?”

Swallowing, Jacqueline’s voice, soft and contrite,

responded, “I couldn’t control myself.”

“What were you thinking about while you were caressing

your clit?”

Breast heaving, Jacqueline groaned. “The day you were

cooking dinner, when you told me to strip and sit on the bar
stool and open my legs wide.”

Odette swallowed, “Go on.”

“I was twisting my nipples, there was a mischievous look

in your eyes. You informed me, you wanted to marinate the
vegetables you were going to use for dinner. You kneeled in
front of me, armed with a courgette.”

“Go on.”

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“You put a finger in me to check how wet I was. Then

you caressed my clit.”

Her nipples hardened as she listened, replaying the day in

question in her head.

Jacqueline continued, “While circling my throbbing clit,

you told me you were going to fuck me hard, as you wanted
my juices on the vegetables. I was so turned on. When you
plunged deep with the courgette, I screamed. When you put
your teeth on my clit, I came so hard I squirted all over your
floor.”

How could she forget that day? She couldn’t look at a

courgette the same way again. Dinner had been delicious.

Tut-tut. “I’m still disappointed.”

“I tried, but the imagery was so over-whelming.”

Odette shook her head. “Control. Where was that?”

“It was hard.”

It must have been hard, she was turned on already. “I am

still going to punish you.” Odette’s eyes fell on Jacqueline’s
breasts they looked fuller and felt firmer when her hands had
grazed over them earlier. Her eyes travelled down her legs,
anticipation was creating the moisture trickling between her
subject’s legs onto the bed.

Mmm… Yes she was wet. Wanting to tease her Odette ran
her hands over her abdomen, and ever so slowly, moved
down and circled over her folds. Amusement twinkled in her
eyes as Jacqueline pulled against the bonds.
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“Tee…” Her voice was soft and breathless.

“Um hmm…” Odette’s hands went up her chest and

tweaked a nipple. “Do you know how I am going to punish
you?”

Shaking her head, her girlfriend Jacqueline raised her

torso, pubis jutting forward, looking for something to relieve
the fire currently burning between her legs. “Please, do what
you want with me…”

I will, but not yet. “Naughty girls get fucked hard.” Odette
chuckled; she had come prepared. “Do you want me to fuck
you?”

Jacqueline licked her lips. “I do.”

“Do?”

“Tee, p-please, I can’t wait. My pussy is b-burning.”

Snap. Snap.

Reverberated in the room as she pulled and stretched the

elastic Velcro of her strap-on. Jacqueline’s breathing
changed; a deep sigh escaped from her lips. She recognised
that sound, licking her lips, she widened her legs. Yes, the
nymph was eager, ready and waiting.

Odette wasn’t ready to punish Jacqueline the way she

craved for just yet. They had the entire weekend to do that,
so why rush? Placing a leg on the bed, she bent down and
gently ran her lips over a nipple, which hardened
immediately on her tongue. The ragged breathing echoing in
the space between them told her more than any moan ever
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would. Her partner was here with her, in the moment

enjoying the sensations she was eliciting from her body.

Cupping Jacqueline’s other breast, Odette’s fingers

twisted the nipple ever so gently. Through heavy-lidded
eyes, she marvelled at the fullness and the faint zig zag of
veins on her delicate skin. Jacqueline’s breasts looked and
felt heavier than usual; her time of the month must be close.
Bending forward, she gently bit on a taut nipple.

Eyes shut with her blond hair cascading out on the

pillows like a fan, Jacqueline moaned. “Tee…”

Odette smiled as her eyes raked over her breasts.

“Mmm… I’ve missed this…” Taking another nipple into her
mouth and gently biting on it as it pebbled on her tongue.

“Aaah…” Jacqueline’s body arched forward, wide

radiant blue eyes full of desire stared at her, silently begging.

Bending closer, Odette kissed her neck. There were so

many pleasure points housed there, enough to make her go
wild. Her excited hands wondered down her torso, pausing
briefly on the slight curve of her abdomen.

“Mmm… Tee…” Jacqueline’s hands were pulling

against the bonds.

Turned on, Odette’s fingers continued to trace a trail up

and down her thighs before placing her hands between
Jacqueline’s legs. It was warm and dripping. Slipping in a
finger, she twirled it as the muscles contracted against her
finger. Gently pulling it out, she circled it over her clit.

“Aaah…” Jacqueline’s torso rose to meet her.

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The hum of the air conditioner faded into the background

as her ears caught the catch of Jacqueline’s breath. She
wasn’t ready to give her what she wanted; she was going to
toy with her a bit more. Making love to Jacqueline was
always an unhurried experience in sensuality.

“Tee… don’t stop…” Jacqueline writhed under her on

the bed.

I won’t. Pulling away, Odette stood and went over to the

bedside table. Her eyes gleamed; as one relationship expert
once said—sex was meant to be a game between couples,
ever changing, ever new. And she did her best to keep things
new and fresh between them.

This was their first time using a strap-on. Jacqueline had

hinted she wanted to try it, so here it was. A tangle of black
straps attached to a gold ring greeted her, reading the
instructions she placed the top-of the-line vibrating strap-on
into the harness. While Jacqueline was getting fucked
deeply, she Odette would have a clitoral sucker working on
her. It was a win-win situation.

Ready, she moved back over to the bed. “Are you ready
for me?” Putting her finger in Jacqueline’s pussy—tck, tck—
it was wet. “You’re so wet.”

A soft sigh echoed in the space between them. “Yes, I’m

so ready.”

Odette had done her sensual round, so this time she

wanted Jacqueline to feel her. Let her know who she
belonged to. Moving up on the bed, Odette positioned
herself between Jacqueline’s legs. Holding the dildo tight,

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she used the vibrating tip to tease her clit. “How does that
feel?”

Jerking, she groaned, pulling at her bonds. “T-Tee…

please. I. Want. You.”

You will have me, my pet. Without warning, Odette

plunged deep into her. She held onto the headboard of the
bed, plunging deeper.

“Harder… Oh. Yes. Tee.” Her moans echoed in the room.

Taking a hand, she placed it over Jacqueline’s clit and

circled it with every thrust of the dildo. Odette’s orgasm was
approaching as every thrust of the vibrator pulsed against her
clit. Soon there were mutual groans in the room, looking
down at Jacqueline, she knew she was close and untied the
scarf closest to her, this was looking like a big one. Judging
by the way Jacqueline was thrashing around on the bed, she
could tear the bedposts down.

Grunting, bliss radiating through her, Odette whispered,

“Oh my baby, I am cuming…” Stars and currents radiated
from her core as her orgasm ripped through her. Coming
back to reality, she pulled off the strap on and cuddled into
her girlfriend.

Propping up on one elbow Odette stared at Jacqueline,

long dark eyelashes fanned her cheeks. She was beautiful. A
sudden wave of emotion rushed through her as she bent
forward and kissed her on the forehead. For a brief second,
Jaqueline’s startling blue eyes looked alarmed. She blinked,
and it was gone in an instant. Making Odette think she had
imagined it.

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Holding her closely, Odette whispered, “I’ve missed you;

I hope I’ve been able to show you how much.” A wicked
smile was on her lips as she twisted a nipple in her fingers.

“Definitely.” Smiling briefly, Jacqueline tensed and

moved away from her.

Odette sighed. Things had been busy on her side lately,

and they hadn’t been able to see each other as much, hence
why she suggested this getaway, spending the weekend in
Paris. Use it as an opportunity to catch up with each other,
relax, have fun, visit the sights. Eat ice cream and do all the
things lovers do.

Soft, silky white sheets rustled against her skin as she

stroked Jacqueline’s neck. Desire building, she placed gentle
kisses all the way down, till she got between her thighs and
made her cum again, another intense one.

Holding her shaking body in her arms, Odette smiled. It

never ceased to amaze her how responsive Jacqueline was.
Recovering from her orgasm, Jacqueline cuddled into her,
her breathing shallow.

Closing her eyes, even though sleep beckoned, the

cacophony of chatter in Odette’s mind refused to quieten
down. Her stomach clenched with anxiety, she’d been
battling with herself whether she should come out and tell
Jacqueline the truth.

Keeping secrets hummed in her head.

Jacqueline stirred on the bed, opening her eyes, she

watched her stretching as she moved out of her embrace and
headed for the bathroom.
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Desire kindled a fire between her legs, holding on to the

feeling Odette turned over and laid on her back. Hands
behind her head, she looked up at the pristine white ceiling.
The faint hum of the air-con echoed in the distance,
dispersing air into a room heavy laden with the smell of sex.

Theirs had been one of those fairytale matches engineered

by a dating app. In app messages, became imessages, and
soon after moved to a real-life meeting, the chemistry had
been real from the get-go and grew. They had been going out
for the last eighteen months and she was ready to take it to
the next level. To do so, she had to…

Odette’s head turned as the bathroom door opened, face

flushed, eyes bright, Jacqueline walked out wearing a white
hotel robe.

Looking over her shoulder, Jacqueline asked, “I am going

to get a drink. Do you want one?” As she headed out of the
bedroom.

“Sure, just let me freshen up.” Swinging her feet off the
bed. “I asked them to bring up some snacks earlier.”
Energised, Odette headed to the bathroom and peed. Picking
up a face cloth, she cleaned up, applied moisturiser, brushed
her teeth, and pulled on a clean pair of knickers. Forgoing a
top, Jacqueline enjoyed staring at her breasts, so she would
give her an eyeful.

Odette’s eyes were thoughtful as she walked into the

living area of the hotel suite. Something was off about
Jacqueline, she had sensed it for the past couple of weeks.
Asking pointed questions hadn’t yielded anything. She
hoped the time they spent together would help her
understand what was worrying her.
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Jacqueline had her back to her as she stood by the table

bar, pouring drinks. Walking over, Odette kissed her on the
neck, making sure she her breasts stabbed into her through
the thin robe. Her tense shoulders didn’t droop. Odd.
Something was wrong.

Turning her head slightly, she stared at Odette, a cagey

expression on her face.

“Jac are you ok?” Was she ill?

Avoiding her eyes, Jacqueline handed her a drink. “Yep,

I am. Just a bit tired.” As her hand tightened around her glass.

The bright sunlight filtering into the room brought her

pale face into stark relief. Concerned, Odette asked, “Are
your parents okay?” Moving to sit on the sofa opposite the
drinks cabinet. Jacqueline worked in London but spent most
of her weekends when not holed up in Odette’s studio flat,
up north at home with her parents.

There was a tight smile on her lips. “They’re okay, as

okay can be, I guess.” Looking towards the windows of their
suite.

Odette frowned. What did that mean? Sitting down, she

turned and stared at the French skyline currently basking in
the orange glow of sunset.

Pulling the sash of her robe tightly, Jacqueline walked

over and sat on a winged back chair opposite Odette. Staring
into her drink, Jacqueline declared, “I’m pregnant.”

Choking, Odette gasped for air. Did she hear that right?
“You’re what!” The echo of her heart beat in her ears.
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“I am pregnant,” she repeated, scratching the red mark on

her wrist.

Odette’s gut clenched as she sat paralysed, unable to

respond to the burning sensation emanating from her crotch
as half of the brandy in her glass seeped into her panties.

Jacqueline’s blue eyes shone as she touched her face. “I

am 14 weeks gone; I did the twelve weeks scan a couple of
weeks ago.”

“You’re pregnant?” Vagina burning Odette stood up, the

room suddenly felt cold, as an icy breeze came over her. She
wanted to cover herself. “How? I mean, how can you be
pregnant? I …” Placing the glass on the table.

Focusing her blue eyes on Odette, Jacqueline took a sip

of her drink. “I had sex with my husband, that’s why.”

What the fuck!! “Husband!” Odette’s tummy did a three-

foot drop into the carpet. “You have a husband?” She could
hear the hitch in her voice as she rubbed the uninvited
goosebumps pricking her arm. She meant to say ex… right?

“Yes, I do.”

“What the fuck Jac.”

“Can you tone down the swearing?” Jacqueline

responded, placing a hand on her tummy.

Odette widened her eyes and stared. Was this woman for
real? Jacqueline went back home at least every other week.
There had been a few weekends they hadn’t been able to
meet up, as her parents were doing one thing or the other.
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Clutching on to hope, she asked, “You have a husband, or is

it an ex?”

“A real flesh and blood husband.” Jacqueline stared into

the brown liquid in her glass. “I was going to tell you, but I
never knew how to.”

A vice went round Odette’s head. “Really? When.”

Jacqueline with her blond hair and blue eyes, looked
beautiful and… Her voice broke in her thoughts.

“We were looking for the best time to break it to you.”

Puzzled, Odette’s heart hammered in her chest. “We?”

“Yep. My husband and I.” Taking a sip of her drink. “He

really likes you. We thought we could… you know… get
together.”

Blinking, Odette stared. Was this girl for real? She’d been
having a relationship with… “Your husband knows about
me?”

Nodding. “Yep, he thinks you’re cute. He once…”

He what… No… Waving a hand, Odette stood up, eyes

desperately looking for something to cover her chest.

“You automatically assumed I was a lesbian.”

“We had a long chat where we talked about our ex’s you
told me all of them were women.” For fuck’s sake, they had
met on a lesbian website. What was she meant to think?
Odette clenched her hands, the nails digging deep, trying to
draw blood. And now eighteen months later she was telling
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her what? Pulling a blanket off a chair, she wrapped it around

her shoulders.

Defiant blue eyes turned to her. “My husband thought it

was a phase I was going through.”

A… A phase!! Shaking her head in annoyance. “And you

decided not to tell me about this phase?”

Jacqueline shrugged. “We sat down and talked about it.”

How civilised.

“So, he allowed me to have a girlfriend.”

Odette harrumphed, how selfless of him.

“On the condition that he also found the woman

attractive.”

Her hands tightened their grip on the blanket. Each word

Jacqueline said, gouging a hole on her delicate woolen
armour.

“We both agreed when I got pregnant that would be the

end of my little escapade.”

Little! WTF!! Great, they just didn’t bother to extend the

memo to the third vertex of the triangle. Had she been some
sort of experiment? “Hold on, where is this husband of
yours?”

Lowering her eyes, her shoulders sagged. “He’s the

family I have been going back to see.” Taking a sip of her
drink. “My parents are dead.”
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Suddenly feeling dizzy, Odette bit on the inside of her

cheek. “So, you used me to fulfill some sort of… sexual
fantasy for variety.”

“We all crave variety in life occasionally.”

Running a hand through her hair. “You go home and

discuss our sex life with your husband?” Shit. The snapchat
videos she sent to her when she was missing her.

Jacqueline had the decency to go red. “He likes to hear

what we get up to when we’re together.”

Shit! Odette closed her eyes. What the fuck. Would she
stoop that low? Had she stepped into an episode of—The
Twilight Zone? Clenching her fists Odette stood up, staring
at her breasts, no wonder they looked bigger. It wasn’t
premenstrual swelling.

“It’s not a big deal.”

Eh. What!!

Scratching her wrist, Jacqueline said, “Look, I’m sorry,

we can work this out.”

Flaring her nostrils, Odette threw her head back. “Like

how?” What was there to work out? Her girlfriend was
having a child with her very much alive, hard penised
husband.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Jacqueline retorted, “I

was curious. I thought I was bisexual. But I guess I was just
curious. And…”

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Curious! Making a vow there and then, Odette’s heart

cracked, something pricked in her eyes. She had been
designing the… No, now was not the time to dwell on that.

Jacqueline moved over to where she was. “Whenever we

talked about children…” She stopped and shrugged.

“So, it’s my fault?” Odette countered, moving as far away

from her as possible.

“Yes, in a way.” She began playing with a strand of her

blond hair. “I have been pushing you to leave your minimum
wage job…”

What the hell!! Odette’s eyes bulged.

Jacqueline continued, “But you insist on staying there.”

Raising a hand, Odette asked, “Hold on a minute. What

has my job got to do with all of this?”

“Maybe if you had more ambition…”

“If…” Body tense, anger raged in her chest. “You never

complained about my job when I bought gifts for you or
when we were dining out at expensive restaurants.” Odette
needed to get out of the room, pulling the blanket closer on
her shoulders.

Jacqueline lifted a palm up in the air. “I just thought…

You know, like you guys do…” Raising her brows. “That
you were into…”

Slack jawed, words finally escaped out of Odette’s

mouth. “Into… What? Come on. Spit it out.” Anger boiling
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in her, walking back into the bedroom, she started throwing

her stuff into her suitcase. She needed to leave and get out of
here before the tears spilled.

Jacqueline entered the room. “What are you doing?”

Pulling on her jeans and top. “What do you think?”

“You can’t leave.” Her voice was petulant.

Heart breaking, Odette responded, “Don’t worry, I won’t

tell them to kick you out. My drug money will save the day.”
Yanking her charger out of the wall socket.

Her cheeks went red. “I didn’t mean that. Look, we can

work things out, we can…”

“Work things out?” Eyes blazing, Odette turned to her.

“It’s only a baby. We will just be apart for a while.”

“Are you for real?”

“You’re over-reacting.”

“Go to the father of your child. Leave me out of this.”

“I knew you would say that.” Jacqueline whined.

For god’s sake. Was this woman sane?

Jacqueline played with a strand of her hair. “Whenever I

asked you about children, you were always nonchalant.”

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Of course, she was, having a child wasn’t something to

enter into lightly, especially for people like them. She had
seen too many relationships go awry in their community.
“Well, it doesn’t matter what I thought now, does it?” Odette
responded.

“It does.” Jacqueline sighed and sat on the bed.

Sitting on the bed, Odette covered her face with her

hands. “I believed you when you said you had never been
with a man.”

“What did you expect me to say when I saw you? I was

curious…”

About? A thought started developing in her mind, no

Jacqueline wasn’t like that.

Playing with the sash of her robe, Jacqueline said, “…and

since my husband indulged me, I took the opportunity with
both hands.”

Odette shook her head. Aye mi. What had she stepped
into?

Arching a brow Jacqueline continued, “It was easy to

seduce you… you must have felt so cool pulling a blond
beauty like me.”

Taking a deep breath, Odette covered her eyes. WTF! The

underlying message wasn’t lost on her. Shaking her head,
she suppressed the memories from her childhood
Jacqueline’s words had triggered to the surface. How come
she had never seen this side of her.

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“Plus, I like black women.”

Hands shaking, Odette narrowed her eyes. “Was this

some kind of fetishisation game between you and your
husband?”

Jacqueline widened her eyes and shrugged. “He wanted

to know if you had thick lips.”

Fear gripped Odette’s stomach, what if she had recorded

their love making? No. Jacqueline would not stoop that low.
Stuffing more things into her suitcase. She needed to get out
of here.

Checking to ensure her passport was with her, she picked

up her bag, suitcase and left the suite.

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Chapter 2

Present day.

Chop…Chop… the newly sharpened knives cut through

the dry part of the onion, slicing open fresh moist vegetable.
The tears stinging her eyes, akin to the kind experienced
when cleaning the exposed skin of a festering wound with
antiseptic. Hoping to kill the germs… the angst. Eyes
watering, she rubbed them on the sleeve of her shirt.
Afrobeats blasting out of the speakers of her phone kept her
entertained. Her nose twitched as the heady aroma of cloves
and other spices infusing in oil filled the kitchen. She was
miming to Tiwa Savage’s melodious voice; it cut out just
where she was asking if the guy wanted money. Why did
calls come in when she was enjoying a song? Pressing the
green symbol, she put the call on loudspeaker.

“Enitan, we need to talk o.”

How are you too; taking a deep breath. “About?” This talk
could go on forever. “Mum, I’m really busy, I need to
prepare for the week.” Her eyes travelled to the blank page
of her word document staring at her from her laptop, which
was sitting on the work counter opposite her. She was zero
pages in on a thirty-page script she needed to write and direct
as part of her final project for film school. Unfortunately,
staring at the screen while cutting vegetables did not
translate into an increased word count.

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Rustling echoed in the kitchen. “Enitan, don’t give me

that rubbish. You’re always busy. Your husband was here
this afternoon with his family.”

Ah, this wasn’t a call to see how they were doing. Ex-
husband, please, raising her brows at the phone.

“They want to mediate; we all believe you were too hasty

with your decision.”

Oh really. Picking up a carrot, she sliced off the knobbly

end just like… shaking her head, trying to get back into the
conversation. Too hasty, she harrumphed… They were
wrong, she hadn’t been hasty at all… Echoes of all the words
of advice went through her mind. Be patient, he will change.
It was her fault he was like that. She needed to change her
attitude. Unfortunately, her well of patience had run dry. She
had got what she wanted from the doomed union.

Her mum’s controlling voice continued, “Come home,

let’s talk and resolve this.”

You mean the rent is due on the apartment and he can’t

pay it? Argh!! Times had changed. Zoom et al. had made
communicating easier. Mediation could happen anywhere;
they didn’t need to be on the same continent. “Are they
sending me a first-class ticket?”

Silence.

Of course, they wouldn’t. Well, she was having the time

of her single life. Nah, she didn’t need a man right now,
especially him.

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“Don’t be like this, nau. It doesn’t look good on us, he

wants to see his child. They want to see their grandchild.”

Of course, they do. “They can visit; I’m not stopping

them. I’ll be back when I finish my course.” Believe that and
you’ll believe anything.

An exasperated sigh echoed in the bright kitchen.

Enitan stared at the window, the cloudless blue sky was

deceiving, leaves were beginning to appear on the tree in
front of the building… the post-woman was parking her
van…

Rolling her eyes, she stared at the phone; she was past
being bullied by all and sundry. The time had come to live
her life on her terms. Having escaped from their clutches,
she wasn’t going back. The oil sizzled in the pan, awaiting
the next ingredient, the potatoes needed to go into the pot.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “Mum, if Kola wants to see
his child, he can come to England.”

“Eh, we know. You know things are difficult for him at

the moment. He isn’t working.”

And… Her eyes bulged, for real, whose side was this
woman on? He should have thought about that when he was
doing big manism and decided to share their home.

The stainless steel glinted as she started chopping the

potatoes and added some onions into the pot. Leaning
forward, she peered into the cupboard close by for more
spices. The corned beef hash was going to be delicious, a
ready-made meal stowed away in the freezer, available for

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them when she was running late. Her mother’s tirade was
ruining her cooking creation.

“Enitan, why are you doing this to me?”

I’m doing it for me and about bloody time. Her mother’s

image was everything and had always been more important
than her daughter’s sanity. Which at one point had been
hanging by a thin thread—living the lie that had been her
life—taking a toll on her mental health. The random
screening of a film on TV one afternoon when she had been
suicidal—speaking to her so personally—pushed her to take
control of her life. Her guardian angels must have pushed her
to go into the sitting room at that point in time. The essence
of the film had spoken to something deep in her soul.

“You have changed…”

No, I am taking control of my life…

“People are talking about you,” her mother continued.

So… I refuse to live the life you want me to live, she

hissed, sprinkling celery salt into the pot. Her eyes went to a
childish drawing on the fridge. How would her decisions
affect him? A notification from one of the dating apps she
subscribed to appeared on her screen. Her finger was itching
to swipe…

Her mother’s voice cut into her thoughts. “You want to

make us look bad in front of our in-laws?”

What was with the us? Her Father? Did he even know
who she was?

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“You need to come back home, o, what is the big deal

about that?”

Need! Mtcheww. Back home indeed. Enitan added water

into the pot. “Mum, I’m here on a course, remember? I must
go, there’s somebody at the door.”

“Too much education is what made you a bad wife.

You’re not submissive.”

What!!!

“It’s the woman’s duty to keep her house together.”

I did try to keep it together, oh how I tried.

Her disapproval crackled through the airwaves. “Or has

your aunty been putting ideas in your head? She is not your
mother o…”

Here we go…

“Look at her, she let a good man go…”

Enitan moved the phone slightly towards the dead zone

in her kitchen, the call dropped and Tiwa’s melodious voice
took over again. The postie was now sorting through stuff at
the back of her van.

Hands shaking, she laid the knife on the counter. Breathe,

Enitan breathe—one, two, three. Emptying her mind of the
angst her mother’s call brought to the surface. Going back
wasn’t an option, she owed it to her child to be physically
and mentally healthy. The anti-depressants the doctor had
prescribed were working, but she wanted to get off them.
24
 `

Looks were deceiving, to all outward appearances she was

the epitome of health. Just like the weather outside; it was
1C even though it was sunny with cloudless blue skies.

Pressing the switch on the kettle, she placed a tea bag in

a mug. Her ex-husband hadn’t been overly interested in her
or their child when she had been in Nigeria. Kids were no
big deal to him. He had them aplenty; boys and girls. What
he’d been more interested in, however, was her work and the
money that came with it.

She’d overheard him say he’d done her a favour by

marrying her. Letting his ego get the best of him had suited
her fine. But then the families started nagging her to make
him change his ways, rein him in. According to them, his
proliferation of children was her fault. As in, was she the one
sticking a penis into vaginas? Shio. If his parents wanted him
to stop chasing everything in a skirt, that wasn’t her job.

Her mother also refused to listen or accept that the man

was a… Give it time, be more attractive… yada yada.

Mmm, lovely… Licking the back of the spoon. It would

go very well with the wine her aunt gave her a few days ago.
Putting the spoon down, her eyes strayed to the clock, then
the mug. Tea could wait. It was time to go and pick up her
son.

Switching off the burner on the cooker, her tummy

clenched in anxiety. How would her son cope with the life
she wanted to live? Whatever the case may be, she was
determined to pursue her dream of becoming an independent
film-maker in the UK. Winning the Skyline scholarship had
been the first step, to her it had been a sign that she was on
the right path.
25
 `

Picking up her phone, she had a quick peek at the matches

from the dating app. One had dropped a hi, she had been
specific about her preferences, but somehow the freaks she
wasn’t interested still got through. Grabbing her coat, she
left the flat.

26
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Chapter 3

Einaudi was pumping into her headphones as she

soldered two pieces of metal together at her workstation. The
acrid smell of burning metal lingered in the air, pulling a
strand of hair off her face, Odette’s mind flashed back to the
past—they had been entwined in bed, sated after sex, when
the inspiration for the design she was working on, hit.
Unfortunately, Jacqueline had since walked out of her life.
The designer in her had dug deep into artistic reserves to
finish the piece. Staring blankly at the hot iron through her
safety goggles, she chided herself. Stop dwelling on the past.
Her show was coming up soon; she needed this piece
finished and on display.

Putting her tools down, she stretched her back, what she
needed was fresh air and sex. Abstinence was making her
cranky. Chuckling, she needed to go for a walk, pushing the
melancholy to the back of her mind. The deep and
atmospheric music she listened to while designing didn’t
help.

When she was at her workstation, her fingers took on a

life of their own, communing with the spirits who talked and
guided her hands. It was difficult to explain how she created
such beauties. Going into what she called a design trance and
when she came out, it delivered a beautiful gift every time.

The critics of-the-art world described her pieces as

mysterious, ethereal, and haunting. Inquisitors asked about
her inspiration, as every piece she’d designed was met with
awe and applause. Industry experts across the globe had been

27
 `

stunned at her pieces. Her business and reputation grew,

which helped solidify her position when she had opened her
own lab.

Her mother, bless her, whenever she read the applauds

insisted she had friends from the other side who helped her.
She couldn’t confirm or deny that assertion. Yes, things were
good. The old establishment of the trade didn’t know what
to make of her.

Her phone beeped, taking off her googles, she peered

close, a notification from her horoscope app, she skimmed
the highlights for the week. Sparks will fly, a dark good-
looking stranger will cross your path. It could be what
you’ve been searching for.

Hmm, she sighed, what she’d been searching was love, a

companion, someone to come back home to. As a staunch
believer of mindfulness, she never discounted events.
According to the Law of Attraction, nothing was random,
absently staring at the notification.

A shadow materialised next to her, disrupting her train of

thought. Swiping the notification, she looked up. It was her
summer intern/PA Hugo. She hadn’t realised she needed
one, but he’d proved invaluable so far. Good on the eyes
aesthetically—six foot, blond, blue eyed, a bit on the skinny
side, it didn’t stop the others in the office from swooning
over him. She wasn’t interested; she did not mix work with
pleasure.

Uncertain blue eyes stared in her direction. “Erm… sorry

to disturb you.”

28
 `

Turning down the volume, she looked over, brows

raised.

“Erm… You said I should let you know when the agency
sent over the pictures you requested.” Holding out the tablet
to her.

Pressing pause on the music, she snatched it off him and

swiped through the pictures. First one, no, the neck was too
thin, the next too long, others too fat, not the right skin tone.
“Nope.” Shaking her head. “None of them will do. Tell them
to send me another batch.” She wasn’t going to pay over two
grand for any of these.

Hugo’s face fell. “This is the third set they’ve sent to you
and…”

Drumming her fingers on the tablet. “Is that a problem?”

Raising her brows in irritation. “Hugo, your priority right
now is to find me my neck. None of those are fit for the job,”
she declared, handing it back to him.

He sighed.

“Anything else?” Her hands were on the volume button

of her headphones.

“You stand a better chance of finding the one you need,

gazing at people’s necks while out on the streets of London,”
he muttered, as he scrolled through the pictures. “This is the
fourth agency I have contacted.”

Her company was paying this guy too much money. He

was her intern, for god’s sake. Since when were they allowed

29
 `

to talk? “And there are loads more for you to contact. Hugo,
find me my neck.”

He stood there looking lost.

“Hugo, you know we need to get this sorted before I leave

for South America.”

His eyes widened. “Do you need me to come with you?”

Definitely not. “Find me my neck, then we’ll talk.”

A smile broke out on his face.

Dismissed, she pressed play, rolling her eyes at his

retreating back.

##

Hours later, the beep on her smart watch made her look
up—time to get active—needing to hit her step target, she
decided to get some fresh air. She was putting her things
away when her phone buzzed on her work-bench. Her eyes
narrowed at the name flashing on the screen.

“Jeremy Fox, to what do I owe this honour?”

A deep, throaty chuckle came through.

A face with a shock of ginger hair flashed in her mind.

They had been good friends at university, more so as his
friend Remi kept hitting on her. The die-hard player couldn’t
understand why she’d been immune to his charms. She had
an inkling Jeremy had been aware of the why. He’d always

30
 `

been empathetic towards her, as if they both had things they

were dealing with.

“I see you’re doing well. Royal warrant and all.”

Nodding, she had to agree. Well done girl, hard work pays
dividends.

“At this rate, I don’t think I’ll be able to afford a lapel pin
from your new collection.”

She burst into laughter. “That’s bullshit, Jeremy, and you

know it. What’s up?” He was successful, rich, and titled to
boot. He could buy her latest collection, a million times over.
Plus, his security company had most of the high-end vendors
in the district as customers, herself included. This couldn’t
be a business call, she never dealt with him.

His Scottish burr came over the airwaves. “What do you

know about the black tiara?”

Standing up, her hand tightened on her phone. As a

jeweller, she was aware of the fabled, mysterious Black
Tiara. Named for very obvious reasons. Staring at the blue
sky through her window, she responded, “Hmm, some
people believe it never existed, even though it’s listed as one
of the top missing tiaras of the world.” Tiaras went missing
for all kinds of reasons—theft and bringing bad-luck to the
wearers were the top two.

“True, it has been missing for a while.”

A while was putting it mildly. “According to the stories,

a black prince aka a black man, from an ancient land, went

31
 `

to an upcoming jeweller, possibly Garrard’s and asked them

to make two tiaras for his daughter.”

“Aye.”

She paused, trying to remember the details. “People said

he was an Arab.” Which made sense. “I mean, it couldn’t be
a real black man, could it? It was bang in the middle of the
slave trade.” She was met with silence. “Are you still there?”

“Yes, just listening to your melodious voice.”

Charmer, rolling her eyes at the phone. “Anyway,

according to the written records, the said prince turned up
with a black stone no one had seen before.” The story had
intrigued her when she first heard about it. “When asked
about the origin of the mysterious black stone, the man said
the gods of his land sent them down to him from the sky.”
Modern day debates raged on in the gem world about the
provenance of black diamonds. Not everyone believed in the
meteorite theory. But that story had started somewhere.

“I shouldn’t even ask how you know all of this,” Jeremy

responded.

It was her business to know these things, stretching her

back and neck. “Anyway, the prince came up with the design
he wanted, very exotic for that time.” Some people had gone
as far to say it was ostentatious. “Mixing the black stone with
diamonds and rubies. It was reported to be the most elaborate
tiara ever seen in the land.”

“Wow, I didn’t know that.”

32
 `

“Garrard’s have a copy of the original sketch…

apparently the Prince knew how he wanted them to be
designed. We are talking around the early 1700s before
pictures. Soon after they created the tiara, Garradd’s became
the royal jeweller.” Was he still there?

Jeremy’s silence was disconcerting.

“Wow, a free history lesson. I wasn’t aware of all this.

Intriguing.”

“The existence of the black tiara is an urban myth

amongst us in the trade.” It had been a wish of hers to hold
it in her lifetime, sitting back in her chair.

“Well, it isn’t. It exists.” His Scottish accent pronounced.

Na lie. Chuckling, she sat upright in her chair. “What do

you mean it exists…” Checking the date on her calendar, it
wasn’t April 1st.

Voice firm, he responded, “It was commissioned,

designed, and delivered…”

Her scalp tingled. Ok, he was in the business of finding

things. He wasn’t called ‘The Locator’ for nothing.

What sounded like a throat being cleared echoed over the

airwaves. “How would you like to be the person who
restores and authenticates it?”

What! Standing up. Was he pranking her? Her voice

lowered to a whisper. “Jeremy, how did you come into
possession of it?”

33
 `

“It’s a family heirloom; in the absence of an engagement

ring, I used it to propose to my girlfriend.”

Heirloom! A freaking tiara!!

Odette gasped. “Jeremy, are you telling me the black tiara

is real?” She hoped the lady said yes. Damn, that was some
grand engagement gift.

“Yes, a Prince of Ile-Ife commissioned it and the stone

was a black diamond.”

Jesus!

There was news circulating in the art world about the

discovery of the bones of a Nigerian Prince, along with a
treasure trove of artefacts, but this put that in the shade.

Wow! A black diamond that came from Nigeria in the

1700s. She needed to get her mum on the phone pronto.

Jeremy continued, “They weren’t discovered in the west,

until the 1800s so you will be working with a piece of
history.”

He could say that again, rubbing her hands together in

excitement. She would be part of history. Her wish… her
horoscope.

Her star sign had been right, her day just got better, the
malaise about her design and her missing neck forgotten.
“Oh my God, Jeremy… Hold on… family… are you
saying…”

34
 `

“Yes, it is a long story. I have Nigerian blood in me,

Yoruba.”

Her eyes bulged. Iro ni. “Wow. Can you speak it?”

“Yes, nau. Well, well. I bet even better than you self.”

Odette burst out laughing. What a surprise, the quiet

intense Jeremy. His curls had always intrigued her, making
her wonder if he was mixed. “Jesus. Jeremy, you need to tell
me this story over a drink. Like immediately.” Her hands
were itching to get working on it.

Laughter echoed from his end. “What will it cost me?”

“The drink or the cleaning?”

“Both,” he responded.

“Find me a nice Yoruba girl who loves to cook, and I will

give you a massive discount.” Laughing. “Till then, it is
mates rates.”

“I will find you one and send her over.”

Please do. Odette smiled. “I hope your girlfriend said

yes.”

“She did. A beautiful Yoruba girl from Ife.” The

excitement in his voice was clear.

Ire a kari o. By the time they finished their conversation,

they had arranged for the tiara to be delivered to her studio.

35
 `

Chapter 4

Nodding at the other parents, Enitan rubbed her hands

together as she stared at the sea of running children coming
towards them. “Mummy… mummy look at my drawing.”
Full of energy, her son ran up to Enitan at the gate of his
school, with his backpack on his tiny shoulders, brandishing
a piece of paper.

Bending down to hug him, she peered at the drawing—

colourful stick people, an orange sun, blue skies, and bright
green grass. She smiled. “Wow, this is lovely.” In the real
world, it was a crisp day, the sun was beaming in cloudless
blue skies, while the yellow stalks of daffodils swayed in
gentle breeze. Glorious weather for walking, she decided to
take advantage of it, rather than hop on the bus to take them
home.

Tugging at her hand, brown pleading eyes gazed into

hers. “Mummy, we are going to grandma’s house today,
she’s making me cookies.”

Is she now? No wonder he had come off the phone

yesterday evening excited after speaking to her aunt. As
usual, she was the last to know; she didn’t bother to ask how
they had orchestrated the visit. Her son and her aunt—his
surrogate grandmother—were as thick as thieves. Since she
didn’t have any pressing assignments, her zero-page film
script could wait. Changing tack, they headed towards the
bus stop.

36
 `

Thirty minutes later, they were at the front door of a huge

Victorian house. Hopping from foot to foot, her son knocked
on the door, his arms too short to ring the bell; the inviting
aroma of baking enveloped them and wafted into their
nostrils. Looking to her right, the kitchen window was open;
yes, her aunt was expecting her son. Various shades of
daffodils in the flower boxes in the front of the house
competed for dominance—yellow, pink, and orange petals
swayed as they waited for the front door to open.

Ruffling her son’s hair, Enitan’s mind wandered, it would

be nice for her to have a chat with her aunt, after the
annoying conversation she had with her mother earlier. Just
thinking about her previous life got her heart beating
erratically in her chest.

The door swung open, arms out wide wearing an apron,

was the most glamorous surrogate grandmother any child
could ask for.

“David, how are you guys? What a surprise.” Bending

down to hug him.

Enitan looked on fondly as they finally let go of each

other, holding hands as they walked indoors.

Her aunt was dressed in a blue long-sleeved t-shirt and

jeans, while her feet were enclosed in the slippers her son
got her for Christmas. Checking her watch. “I wasn’t
expecting you so soon.”

Enitan rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what I’m going to

do with you two o.”

37
 `

Turning, her aunt smiled at Enitan. “Thank you for

stopping by, I thought I would have to eat the cookies on my
own.”

David’s caring eyes widened. “You’ll get a tummy ache,

grandma.”

Her aunt nodded. “Exactly. It’s a good thing you’re here

to help me out.” Ruffling his hair.

Her pretty aunt had scandalised her family years ago

when she called off her engagement and came to England on
a Skyline scholarship to pursue a career in law. They had
never really had the chance to talk about why she did it.
Whatever the reason was, didn’t matter, she was now a
successful barrister, but had never married. Enitan wondered
occasionally if her aunt regretted her action.

When Enitan had walked out of her marriage and headed

over to England also on a Skyline scholarship, her mum had
been livid. “You have always been like her…” Her mum
would carp on.

Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree… but she
hadn’t dared say that to her mother. Instead, her mother had
taken it upon herself to say, the two of them were a disgrace
to the family. Marriage for women was the barometer of
success in their family, according to her mother’s rule book.
Banishing her mother’s gripes to the back of her mind,
Enitan declared, “Anyway, let’s go to the kitchen; smelling
those cookies is making me hungry.”

Narrowing her eyes, her aunt responded, “They’re not for

you, you’re a bit too big to be eating cookies and drinking
milk.”
38
 `

Eh pele o, grandma.

David looked up at the two women. “Mummy, I can share

my cookies with you.”

Enitan smiled as they ushered themselves into the bright

kitchen. Sunlight filtered through the windows as its beams
brightened the huge ultra-modern kitchen. A hanging rack
with high end pots and utensils covered one wall next to the
Aga. A gleaming counter housed a tall, eye-catching bouquet
of flowers in a brown vase on the island. Various herbs and
chilies basking in the sunlight dotted the windowsill, it was
welcome and homely.

The spacious Victorian house had been bought by her

aunt and her friend Becca, an architect years ago as a way
for them to get on the property ladder. The partnership had
worked, as neither one had moved out. Enitan knew they
were sitting on a fortune; most modern developers would
have turned the place into spacious flats in an instant. The
garden alone was a boon for her son whenever he came
around. They had even erected a basketball stand for him to
practice his hoops away from the vegetable patch.

The nondescript exterior hid an amazing interior that

would not be out of place in the architectural digest
magazine. When they renovated the house, the architect had
stripped out everything but kept all the high ceilings and long
windows on the lower floor. They had then extended
upwards. Becca stayed on the top floor, her aunt had the
middle, the bottom communal. The massive kitchen, two
reception rooms, an office and a guest room where Enitan
had stayed when she arrived from Nigeria before she got her
own place.

39
 `

The tangy aroma of something else bubbling on the Aga

permeated the air as they entered the kitchen. It reminded her
of home—in Nigeria.

“I’ve made dinner. If you can’t wait, you can take it home
with you.”

An excited David asked, “What are you cooking?”

“Your favorite. Rice, plantain, and chicken.”

Enitan’s mouth watered; her aunt’s rice was legendary.

Scrunching up his face, he turned to his mum. “Mmm…

Mummy, please, can we stay for dinner?”

Enitan rolled her eyes. “David, have you got homework

to do?”

Nodding. “Yes mummy.”

“OK, let’s see how you get on.” Setting up a stool for him,
next to a cosy two seat sofa at the other end of the kitchen.

The massive TV on the wall was tuned into one of the

news channels. The ticker at the bottom of the screen
declared… Lost tiara worth £30M found in the attic… Bank
of England keeps rates… Enitan tore her eyes away from the
screen as she went to perch on a bar stool.

“Use this for that hard work darling,” her aunt said, as she
placed a glass of milk and a plate of cookies on the stool.

40
 `

A big smile spread across his face as his eyes bubbled

with excitement. “Thank you, grandma.” Grabbing one as he
opened his notebook.

Returning to the kitchen counter, her aunt made two cups

of tea, taking a few cookies off the wire rack, she placed
them on a plate and pushed it towards Enitan. “Big baby,
here you are.” Thoughtful eyes gazed at her while taking a
sip of her tea. “Enitan, what’s the matter, you look pensive.”

Sighing, Enitan rubbed her fingers over her forehead,

sometimes guilt gnawed her, about the relationship she had
with this woman. It was and had always been better than the
one with her mother. Her aunt had always been there for her,
for as long as she could remember. “It’s mum…” Staring at
her cup. “She’s telling me I need to come back home. Kola’s
family wants us to sort things out.”

Lips pursed, her aunt placed her cup down on the counter.
“I see.”

“I’m not going to honour her request. It’s over.”

“I understand Enitan.” Her aunt looked over to her son.

“But he needs his father.”

True, but hers hadn’t stuck around and she was… “I

know, he never cared that much for him.”

Her aunt sighed.

“Right now, I want to get myself sorted out.” Taking a sip

of her tea. Come off my medication for starters.

“What’s your mum saying?”

41
 `

“I should come back to my husband’s house, that I am

making her look bad.” Now wasn’t the time to tell her aunt
what her sister thought about her. A pang of guilt rippled
through her chest when she looked at her son. How would
her actions and life choices impact him in the future? Was
she being selfish in seeking her happiness? Being who she
truly was.

Going over to the cooker, her aunt checked whatever she

was cooking in the pot. “Has he actually called you?”

“No.” Vanilla exploded on her tongue as she bit into the

cookie. Mmm. “The sudden reconciliation move is coming
from a place of desperation. The rent for our apartment is
due and he can’t pay it. His new wife—thinking he is a very
rich man—won’t cough up the money.” Doing Mr.
Traditional—I can have multiple wives—when he married
his new wife, he brought her to their apartment, declaring
they were all going to live happily ever after together.

A home she was paying for but hadn’t told anyone so he

could keep face, since he wasn’t working and couldn’t get or
keep a job. But he sure knew how to spend money. Even her
mum had accommodated him, calling family meetings to tell
her it was her duty to cover him, so that he wouldn’t be
shamed in public. With hindsight, thinking about that now
made her blood boil.

Had she been hypnotised? With such an enabling support

system, was it a surprise he hadn’t bothered working?

Her aunt pursed her lips. “I still don’t understand…

anyway, let’s not go over that again.”

42
 `

Good idea, she wanted to enjoy her cookies. Enitan took

a sip of tea. “I’ve always been meaning to ask you.” Her aunt
had been her confidant ever since she was a teenager. “Why
did you leave?”

A shadow passed over her face. “I will tell you one day.”
Looking over to her son, she responded, “I didn’t fit in. I
knew if I stayed, I would go mad.” Shrugging. “Literally.”

Nodding, Enitan understood, she was still struggling with

her own mental health. The years of living a lie had created
a strangling vice around her neck and head, which suffocated
her occasionally.

“Any way I wanted to discuss a new law that will be

announced shortly. It gives you the opportunity to get your
visa extended after you finish your course.”

Enitan’s eyes widened. Thank you, God. It was handy

having a relative who worked in the legal field. She took
another bite of her cookie and listened with rapt attention.

43
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Chapter 5

“I look forward to doing business with your company.”

The tall, blond, handsome man in a black, custom-made
Italian suit extended his hand towards Odette.

Extending her hand, she murmured her agreement. They

could have done this meeting over the phone, but one she
needed to get out of her office and two, she was following
Hugo’s advice. She might just bump into the neck she was
looking for.

Plastering a 100 watt smile on her face. “I’ll get my

lawyers to draw up an agreement and we can take it from
there.”

His eyes widened a tiny fraction as his gaze fell

downwards on her face and lingered.

Rubbing a hand over the base of her neck, she lowered

her eyelids as she watched his Adam’s apple bob.

He was sending out all the signals. She would play along
as usual, her perfume must have him spellbound. It was a
special blend from Penhaligon’s. When the time came and it
always did, she would let him down gently with just enough
promise of maybe if she came out of exile, he would be the
first person she called.

With his eyes focused on her bust, he asked, “Would you

like my driver to take you back to the Garden?”

44
 `

Smiling, Odette shook her head. “Thanks, Owen, that

won’t be necessary. It’s a beautiful day. I’ll walk. Helps me
come up with those awesome designs.”

Owen Bailey was one of the top diamond merchants in

the world. With her star in the ascension, everybody wanted
to do business with her, especially since she had now opened
her own gem lab.

His bright blue eyes crinkled. “If you say it that way, then
I won’t force the issue.”

Ten minutes later Odette, having swapped her heels for

walking shoes, was strolling leisurely along Farringdon
Street. Her eyes, ever mindful, took in the people walking
alongside her on the pavement. The road seemed busier than
usual for that time of the day. The pedestrians, undeterred by
the traffic, seemed to walk as slowly as possible, and there
were kids everywhere she looked. Must be half term or
something, she mused as she sided stepped a mother telling
off a toddler.

Bored with trying to find her neck, she looked over to the
other side of the road and sighted a Costa up ahead.
Excellent. She would stop, have a coffee, make some notes,
or just dump some ideas onto her sketchpad. One of her
prolific customers in the middle east, needed something for
his six wives, so she needed ideas pronto. Her eyes searched
for a table as she approached the coffee shop. Gratitude
singing in her heart, she sighted one and headed over.

“Tee… Tee.” A firm female voice made itself heard over

the sounds of the busy cafe.

45
 `

Narrowing her eyes, she looked around, two tables away

in a black leather jacket, one of her friend’s accompanied by
a small boy waved. Scanning the shop, she realised the
coffee shop was full of adults and kids. The kids were
definitely off school.

This time a warm, genuine smile spread over her face as

she walked up to Wemimo, a criminal barrister. They’d met
on a case years ago and had become good friends. “Hi
Wemimo, what brings you out of the chambers during the
day?” Pulling out a chair and dumping her bag on the table.

Grinning, she stood up and pecked Odette on the cheek.

“We have a life, if you must know.”

Odette chuckled.

“Anyway, it’s half term and I’m out spending time with
my grandson.”

Odette’s brows rose. She didn’t realise that she’d had kids
before…

Soft laughter escaped Wemimo’s lips. “Jimi, meet Tee, a

good friend of mine.”

Sitting up straight, the boy looked up from his book and

smiled. “Good afternoon, Tee.” There was a slight lisp, he
had lost one of his teeth.

Aww. Odette’s heart melted as serious dark brown eyes

stared and studied her. Smooth dark skin, he had a green shirt
underneath his denim jacket. He looked like a cute little
angel; she wanted to ruffle his hair and hug him. Her mind
briefly went to… shaking her head, she pushed the thoughts
46
 `

away. That was years ago, she had moved on. “Can I get you
another drink?”

“Oh, thank you. I’ll have another Earl Grey. Jimi, would
you like another milkshake?”

His eyes lit up. “Yes, please grandma.” Before turning his
cute eyes to Odette’s. “Thank you.”

A strange emotion came over her as he smiled at her. A

sudden ache bloomed in her chest. Walking towards the
counter, she stood in line, turning, her eyes went back to the
table. The boy, feeling her staring at him, looked up and
smiled. She returned the smile and turned her head. Kids
were cute, but having one was totally different. Plus, to do
that, she needed to be with someone first. The lady’s voice
at the counter intruded into her thoughts when she said.

“How can I help you?”

Should I have kids? Blinking, she placed her order and

returned tray laden to the table minutes later. Wrapped up in
her own world, she didn’t remember to stare at necks. A
good thing, as the place was busy with harassed parents who
just wanted to get a breather as they entertained their bored
offspring.

“Here we are.” Smiling at the young boy, as she placed

everything on the table.

“Thank you, Tee.” His face lit up as he swirled the straw

in his milk shake.

The strange feeling came over her again. Kids were so

easy to please. Looking away, she turned her attention to her
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friend; it had been ages since they had seen each other. Their
conversation soon turned to general beauty stuff. Jimi,
otherwise occupied, now had a handheld game console he
was buried in.

Wemimo placed a hand over hers. “How are you?”

Odette understood the real question. Therapy and security

had helped her move on. She was in a good place. Smiling,
she responded, “I’m good, thanks.”

Stirring her tea, her friend asked, “Anyone special on the

horizon?”

“You know me, no time for love at the moment.”

Wemimo put her cup to her lips. “That’s what you think.
When you find the one, you will find the time, trust me.”

Odette shrugged. “It is so hard to meet people these

days.” She had been travelling a lot recently that did not help.

“Have you tried online dating?”

Been there, done that and got a weird story from it.
Taking a sip of her chai latte. “Online dating isn’t all it’s
cracked up to be.”

Placing her cup on the saucer, Wemimo said, “Well,

someone in my office met his wife on Tinder.”

“Lucky man.”

“He had previous unpleasant experiences, though.”

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“Don’t we all.” People were too busy these days to meet

organically. “I might pause my subscriptions for a while.”
Odette responded, taking a bite of her cake.

Wemimo nodded. “Not that I would know.” Her brown

eyes twinkled. “I have been out of the dating scene for a long
time.”

Rolling her eyes, Odette muttered, “You don’t have to rub

it in.” She and her partner had been together forever.

She didn’t know why she continued with her dating app
subscriptions. Most of the dates had been disasters, pretty
but not intelligent. Some were condescending. It would be
great to meet someone the good old-fashioned way… Her
eyes strayed back to the boy. He looked up at her and smiled.

Taking a sip of her tea, Wemimo mused, “Shame you’re

not a man. I would have introduced you to my beautiful
niece.”

Now that was how it was done before dating apps. “Quite
unfortunate.” Odette laughed. “Find her someone in your
chambers.”

They both laughed out loud.

“Not being in one place for long doesn’t help, I suppose.”

Odette said, staring morosely at her drink.

“Where are you off to next?” Wemimo’s eyes were

curious.

People looked at travelling as glamourous, but the reality

was you’re in a country, attending meetings all day. Then
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entertaining at night, all the while trying to adjust to another

time zone. “New York, Mexico then Argentina.”

Tapping a finger on her nose, her friend said, “Maybe you

might meet someone on the plane.”

“Planes are boring.” And to be honest, it was hard to pick

up a woman on a plane. She faced stiff competition from the
men. Pun intended.

Wemimo’s phone buzzed on the table, staring at the

display, her jokey demeanour changed.

Curious, Odette turned her attention to Jimi and soon she

was consumed with hidden treasure, lives and levels as he
explained the game to her.

Her friend smiled at them as she spoke to her clerk on the

phone.

Jimi looked impressed when she’d played and managed

to move him up a few levels.

Earnest eyes gazed into hers. “Have you played this

before?”

Smiling, she put a hand to her heart. “No.”

Giving her a pat on her arm, he said, “Cool. I can’t wait

to tell my friends how I beat them.”

Odette beamed at the compliment.

Curious brown eyes stared at her. “But how did you know
what to do?”
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Kids of these days were super smart. Years of playing

chess and other mental games. “Do you play chess?”

He shook his head.

“Ask your grandma to download it for you.” She smiled.

“Trust me, you will win at all games once you start playing.”

Wide brown eyes brightened with excitement.

It was great to know she had helped someone with his

game, even if she hadn’t found her neck.

By the time she returned to her office, Hugo had another

set of necks for her to look at. Unfortunately, they weren’t
what she wanted.

Pushing the quest behind her, she prepared her teaching

notes, for her classes that week.

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Chapter 6

“That will be £5.50,” the lady across the counter

announced, her name conspicuously absent from her t-shirt.
For rice and chicken, that wouldn’t even reach half of her
tummy. Chai.

Enitan had stopped converting pounds into naira ages

ago, as the reality of being a student and single mother in
London dawned on her. No matter how hard things got, she
wasn’t going back to Nigeria anytime soon. Her freelancing
gigs were bringing in money, she had a lot to be thankful for,
so there was no point torturing herself.

In the spirit of living the life she wanted to live and was
going to live, she treated herself to lunch once a week. On
those occasions, she made sure she thanked God for the
abundance. However, today wasn’t meant to be her
splurging day.

She had been in class dissecting a film—the hero was

about to cook—when her stomach rumbled. What they said
about subliminal messages must be true.

Eyes glued on the screen, reaching for her bag, the hard
corners of her lunch box refused to materialise. Sighing in
frustration, she realised she had left her lunch in the fridge at
home. Getting herself and her son ready that morning for
their individual learning day had been a rushed affair.

Hunger gnawed at her tummy and it growled in protest as

she opened her—throw everything into it—bag, searching

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for her purse. “Come on,” she muttered. The hairs on her
neck pricked; she could feel the eyes on her.

Irritated ones, no doubt.

It was lunchtime, the eatery—All Grains—was filled with

busy office workers and students all working to tight
schedules. Tardiness from scatter brained women wasn’t
something anyone in a rush tolerated.

The lady at the counter was glaring at her and making

eyes at someone behind her. From her body language, Enitan
could imagine what was going on in her mind. Fluffy women
who couldn’t find their purses in voluminous bags…

Damn. Where are you?

Dumping her stuff on the counter, her stomach growled—

in stress, hunger—or both. Unfortunately, now wasn’t the
time to question it. The groans reaching her ears made her
face warm in embarrassment. Be patient people. She was
hungry too, she needed to eat.

The cashier, scowling at her screen, started tapping

something, most probably trying to figure out how to cancel
the transaction. Which could mean a call to the supervisor…
A tube of lipstick she had been searching for appeared, alas,
no purse.

She was about to say forget it, when…

“Look, I’ll pay for her lunch.” An irritated cut-glass

upper, upper English voice muttered behind her.

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On any other occasion, Enitan would have called it

melodious, charming… extremely posh. Instead, a sudden
wave of heat came over her. She had been the source of her
irritation. Probably impinging on her time, stopping her from
doing something more glamorous than picking up lunch.
Some PA no doubt, for some hotshot alpha male in the city.
Dumping the stuff back in her bag, plastering a fake smile,
she turned around, her apology already forming for the
oyinbo princess moaner.

The words got stuck at the back of her throat as a pair of

bored hazel eyes on a tall black statuesque woman stared
back at her.

Olódùmarè. Brown glossy skin reminded her of dark rich

coffee beans… the ones in those posh coffee shops she
walked by on her way to college. She oozed elegance,
confidence, and class. The very kind of woman who would
be irritated by someone like her… wasting her time. Even
her nose looked stuck up.

“I’m sorry… I mean, thank you,” Enitan mumbled,

moving to the side of the counter. A warm citrusy scent
wafted over; surreptitiously looking over, the lady was drop
dead gorgeous, high cheekbones, full lips, her boobs… her
boobs? Enitan swallowed the lump in her throat. Intrigued,
she shifted her mind and gaze away from the goddess in front
of her back to her bag. The purse, unfortunately, was
nowhere to be seen.

Her benefactor moved forward. “Can I have the chicken

quinoa medley, please?”

Chai… So that’s how the word was pronounced… kii-

noah. Since she couldn’t pronounce it, she never ordered it.
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Of course, she would order something like that. Compared

to her omo naija straight forward over-priced chicken and
rice.

All teeth out, smiling in relief at the posh lady, the cashier
pointed to the card machine. “That will be 15.50 altogether.”
Her eyes scanning the queue. “Next customer, please.”

Whatever anyone said, lunch in London was expensive,

and there was no such thing as street food. Back home in
Nigeria, she got lunch at the local buka for less than a pound.
Oh well, the time would come when she would stop moaning
about prices. Moving to one side, she smiled at her
benefactor who—dressed in black jeans and a black
turtleneck sweater—made the payment with her phone.

Enitan had been putting off pairing her debit card to hers,
coming from Nigeria, she still had misgivings regarding how
safe it was. Every week there was always a story of some
scammer doing things to people’s money through their
phones.

The smiling cashier handed over a receipt, her lunch

saviour joined Enitan at the other end of the counter where
they waited for their food.

Her curly hair was in twists, it suited her. Enitan’s eyes

surreptitiously gazed down her torso, fit and lean, no doubt
she spent hours in the gym, the life of the rich and idle. As
with all black people she met in the UK, she was curious
about her heritage. She looked mixed race.

Enitan’s curiosity had landed her in hot water early on in

her course with some of her classmates. One of the girls in
their group looked mixed-race with what she thought were
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strong Nigerian features. Intrigued, Enitan had innocently

asked, “Where are you from?”

The room had gone silent, puzzled she had looked around.
Had she said something out of turn?

The girl—Tina—stilled, jaw clenched, her lips set in a

tight line had responded, “I don’t know, I was adopted.”
Packing her bag, she walked out of the classroom.

Shame had washed over Enitan, trying to diffuse the

situation she had tried to go after her and apologise, but one
of her classmates told her not to.

“She will be fine. It’s just hard for her sometimes. As a

lot of you Nigerians all say, she looks like x or y.”

However, another black classmate had not been so

forgiving. “It’s bad enough white people asking us that
question. Why are you doing the same?”

Enitan had been mortified, that she had put her foot six
foot deep into it.

It was easy to figure out the roots of some people, others

were ambiguous. Like the lady in front of her, she had
thrown her with her accent. Was she mixed race, South
American… Indian?

“Thank you for bailing me out.” Enitan’s eyes lingered

on her face; her skin was so smooth. “I thought I would have
to drink water for the rest of the day.” Suddenly feeling self-
conscious, she made a very conscious effort to pronounce all
her t’s.

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 `

The lady shrugged. “No problem, it happens.” A tight

smile appeared on her lips. “We have to help each other.”

Abi, as one sister to another.

“Can I—”

“Order 226 chicken and rice,” the lady at the counter

called out.

Moving over, Enitan grabbed her lunch.

“Order 228 chicken quinoa medley,” another worker

called out.

Her benefactor reached out and took her order off the
cashier.

Armed with lunch, they headed towards the door. “Thank

you once again.”

“You’re welcome.” Amused eyes bored into hers as she

held the door open for Enitan.

“Thank you.” A sudden wave of something akin to

awareness washed over Enitan as she stepped onto the
pavement. “I really appreciate you bailing me out in there.
Can I buy you coffee tomorrow or lunch?” And stare at you
some more… Damn her perfume, was… That was it.
Seductive. She wanted to bury her face in her boobs… What,
Enitan…

The honk from a car echoed in the background as they

stood outside the shop. Pedestrians, glued to their phones,

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 `

walked past them. A few men from various races nodded and
smiled at them as they walked past.

“You don’t have to.” Curious eyes honed in on hers, then

languidly slid down her face before settling on her neck.

Cheeks warm and reluctant to go, Enitan asked, “I insist,

are you free tomorrow?”

Hazel eyes shook her head. “Unfortunately, I won’t be in

the area tomorrow.” Her eyes wondered back down to her
neck.

Was her bra showing or something?

“I am back in the area on Friday, though.” Talking to her

neck.

Have I spilt something on my top? Coffee? Confused,

Enitan looked down at her top.

“You have a beautiful, graceful neck.” The posh lady

murmured, gazing at it as if she’d just found gold.

Blood rushed to Enitan’s cheeks, people had mentioned

it, in the past, but coming from this beautiful woman made
it different. She tried not to formulate the right word in her
head.

Placing a firm hand on her arm. “Have you done any

modelling before?” she asked, ushering her away from the
entrance to let other people in.

Enitan’s breath caught in her throat, her arm sizzled from

the touch; all her known and now now newly discovered
58
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sexual neurons fired as warmth suffused to an area between

her legs. The pulse on the base of her neck beat erratically.
When she looked up, there was a hint of… amusement… or
was it awareness in her eyes? Was she… She knew…?

Tongue tied, she cleared her throat. “Erm, not really.”

That damn seductive scent held her in thrall. She couldn’t
think straight. What did that mean, it was meant to be a yes
or no answer. Most models in the west were stick thin, she
wasn’t by any stretch. But she was reluctant to let go of the
conversation she was having with the lady… who was
making her feel very aware, alive, and sexy. And horny,
where did that thought come from?

Her eyes darted to a piece of paper flying into the air; a

welcome distraction from the boobs she had been trying not
to stare at. Her expensive feminine perfume wafted over and
enveloped her in its subtle embrace… drawing her in…

“What do I call you?”

Blinking, Enitan tried to focus on the here and now. “Call

me?”

Thick black eyebrows shot up.

Wake up. Drifting back into her surroundings, she offered

her hand. “Call me Enitan.”

Taking her hand. “Eni-itan, mmm… mysterious, a

beautiful name.” A finger lightly caressed her wrist, it was
so subtle she might have missed it if she hadn’t been paying
attention. She had pronounced her name properly… Was it
mysterious because it wasn’t English or she actually knew

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what it meant? She must be Spanish, they knew how to

pronounce foreign names.

Gazing directly into Enitan’s eyes, she murmured, “You

can call me Tee.”

Her stomach did a strange thing that had nothing to do

with hunger. Reluctantly, letting go of her hand, Enitan
checked her watch, she needed to get a move on, her class
was starting soon. “Sorry, I need to get moving.” Enough
ogling for the day.

Tee smiled. “Friday it is then.” Moving aside to let

another customer enter the shop.

Their feet—Tee’s in expensive black fashion trainers—

walked in the same direction towards the traffic lights.
Looking away, Enitan moved for a pedestrian before turning
left, Tee did the same.

Her next lecture started in fifteen minutes, and she needed

to eat. Tee kept walking next to her. Trying to be friendly,
Enitan said, “I’m heading to the college, I have a lecture in
ten minutes.”

Tee’s head turned with an amused smile. “Same.”

Enitan’s eyes widened, not the PA she had assumed then,

maybe a fashion student, there were two other higher
institutions in the area, it was full of students.

“What are you studying?” Enitan asked.

A smile hovered on her full red lips. “Design. You?”

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Of course, it would be. “Film.”

Her hazel eyes widened with interest.

An old RnB song popped into Enitan’s head as she stared

at her long, lean, jean-clad legs. How did she get into those
jeans? “I might not bump into you again, but thank you for
buying me lunch.”

Her hazel eyes bore into hers. “Honestly Enitan, it’s

nothing.”

The way she said her name sent shivers down her spine.
Feeling guilty or bold, now wasn’t the time to query. “I
would really like to buy you a coffee sometime. What time
can you do lunch on Friday?”

Stopping by a lamppost, Tee pulled her phone out and

stared at something on her screen. Eyebrows raised, she
asked, “Does 1:30 suit you?”

Perfect, it coincided with her dedicated free time at

school. “Let me give you my number.”

Numbers exchanged, they parted ways at the next set of

traffic lights.

There was a spring to her step as she went into her

building, the cool air a welcome to her fevered state. Umm.
Umm. Umm. That lady had been hot. Finding a bench, she
sat down and tucked into her lunch. Chewing slowly, she
pulled out her phone and checked her messages. There was
a message from one of her dating apps. Putting another
spoonful of food in her mouth, she read the profile. Her
picture showed a headshot of a pretty, slim blond woman.
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Her interests were film, outdoors, reading, meeting people,

and cooking.

Jay: Hi Eni, I like your picture. Where did you take that?

She had used a picture of her standing next to some

greenery near her college.

Eni: A park in South London.

She looked at her watch, her lectures were about to start,

she would continue with the conversation later. Putting her
empty food container in the bin, a pair of hazel eyes kept
intruding into her thoughts.

Chapter 7

Standing in front of the fridge, her eyes scanned the

shelves, trying to figure out what they were going to have for
dinner. David was busy doing his homework, she still had a
lot to do on her film script. Unfortunately, that would have
to wait till after dinner. Her phone buzzed on the worktop.

Groaning when she saw the name. Not again, she refused
to let her mum raise her angst. “Hi mum.”

“Enitan, when are you coming home? You can finish your
course in your husband’s house.”

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While three people argued about the bathroom? Who

would sleep in the master bedroom? Nah. What part of it’s
over, didn’t she understand? “Mum, it’s over…”

“What about your son? You want him to grow up without

a father?”

Stomach clenching, she looked over to where he was

busy writing in his notepad. Her mum sure knew how to lay
on the guilt. She hadn’t taken her anti-depressants for five
days and one minute spent speaking to her mum had her
thinking of going back on them, as her eyes darted to the
medicine cabinet. Her hand tightened on the phone. She
wasn’t going back…

“He won’t be the first or last…” Her father hadn’t stuck

around when he found out she was a girl. Her own mother
had tricked him into thinking she was pregnant with a boy,
hoping to make him stay.

A memory intruded to the forefront of her mind. It had

been school time and her mother, forever angry and cursing,
had dragged her to her errant father’s place. They had left
her in the reception area of his office. Looking for the toilet,
she had stumbled upon them arguing.

Her mother’s voice was raised. “Why do I have to shout

and beg for money whenever her school fees are due?”

The irritated voice of her father had responded, “I never

told you to get pregnant.”

“You begged to have a relationship and sleep with me.”

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“From what I can remember, I did not force you to have

sex with me.”

Her mother responded, “You men are all the same, so

when you promised me the world, you were lying.”

“Of course. You were meant to be a bit of fun on the side,

and what did you do?”

“I believed it when you said I was the best thing to ever

happen to you.”

“I said those things to get into your pants.”

“I don’t know what I saw in you.”

Her father responded. “Neither do I. You wanted a child.

You’re the one who decided to get pregnant.”

“Whenever I asked you to use a condom, you refused and

said it didn’t matter. That I was your wife and we should
make a baby together.”

Her father countered, “The only reason I stayed around

was because you tricked me into thinking you were having a
boy.”

Enitan’s eyes had widened. If she could change into a

boy, would her father like her?

“So, she is still your child, you better pay or…”

Her mother’s whine coming through the phone shook her

out of her trip down memory lane.

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“It is your duty to be a good wife to your husband.”

Could she glare at her mum through the phone? Closing

her eyes. “He has another one, let her look after him.”

“You’re too hot-blooded; he’s allowed to have two or

more wives.” Her mother responded.

True, but that didn’t mean she had to be part of the

harem. Staring at her phone, was this woman for real? “Then
he should get another one.” If her absence had created a
vacancy, he needed to fill.

“You never have…”

Closing her eyes, she walked over to the dead zone in her
kitchen. “Mum, I can’t hear you. Hello…” Shortly after, the
call dropped. Leaving the phone on the counter, she put the
kettle on. Tea wasn’t going to cut it, but her mother wasn’t
going to drive her to drink.

She stared blankly at the lights reflecting through the

windows of her kitchen. Their current accommodation in a
block of flats in Peckham was a far cry from where they had
lived in Nigeria.

Finally waking up from the catatonic malaise she had

been wallowing in Lagos, she had pursued the scholarship
her aunt drawn her attention to. When the acceptance email
arrived, she slowly began to sell her belongings and landed
property to fund the move. Money, even though tight, wasn’t
an issue just yet, but she had to be careful.

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The universe insistent on helping her achieve her dreams

worked in her favour; her landlady had been okay with her
paying one year’s rent up front.

Her student visa limited her—if she was seeking paid

work—to twenty hours a week. But finding work that would
fit around school and her son had been hard, so on the advice
of one of her classmates, she had opened shop on Fiverr,
Upwork, LinkedIn and Facebook. The occasional
freelancing jobs she got from those sites helped with the
other living incidentals. Was it illegal? She refused to
deprive her smart son of good, wholesome food. By the
grace of God, she hadn’t gone cap in hand to beg anyone for
money.

Her mind drifted to the lady who had saved her that
afternoon. Her body came alive as she relived the feeling just
standing next to her had elicited. The way she had stared at
her made her tingle, but she couldn’t take anything for
granted. She could just be a friendly woman. She could be
misreading the signals. There were just too many things to
navigate in the adult world today, especially in England.
Sighing, she turned up the TV half listening to the news; her
phone pinged on the table. It was a message from Jay.

Jay: I like that top. The colour really suits you.

A smile hovered over her lips. It was nice to receive

compliments.

Eni: Thank you. How was your day?

Jay: Not too bad, thanks. Busy but good.

Jay: How long have you been on ee?

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E-encounters was the name of the dating app they had met
on.

Eni: Just joined.

She had been on it for a long while, no point telling her

that.

Jay: Nice. I have been on it on and off. I keep on saying

no more, but I go back. Seems harder for people like us.

She knew what she meant; most people were just after a
brief entanglement. And some others… were just perverted.

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Chapter 8

Relaxed and refreshed, Odette switched off the infra-red

sauna. Wrapping her body with a white fluffy towel, she
headed into her kitchen. The London skyline twinkled in the
distance through her floor to ceiling windows. It had been a
long day full of paying bills, buying precious metals, stones,
and writing reports. Designing and creating had taken a back
seat for the mundane.

Staring at her drawing pad she kept in her kitchen, she

rubbed a hand over her shoulder, what she really needed was
a back massage. In its absence, she’d made do with the
sauna. The next thing on her agenda for the evening was
food, peering into the fridge, empty shelves stared back, save
for the two bottles of Pellegrino, three bottles of champagne,
two eggs and thank God two tubs of her mum’s food.

Snatching them off the ledge, she peered in, jollof rice
and some efo riro with chicken and mushrooms. Mmm, that
would have to do till she did an online grocery order from
Waitrose. Setting them on the table, she pulled her phone
towards her and FaceTime’d her mum.

Her dad’s pale face popped up instead. “Àdùkẹ́ what’s

up?” He was on the sofa in his study.

“Hey Dad, I’m good. Just thought I’d call to say hello.”

“Or rather, she’s hungry and doesn’t know what to eat.”

Her mum’s voice cut in as her head entered the frame. She

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had been lying on his lap. He used his arm to steady her to
him as she leaned forward.

Whenever she saw her parents, it made her yearn for the
love they had. Devoted and crazy in love with each other. As
a teenager, their PDAs made her cringe, but with hindsight
as an adult, it got her thinking that they were lucky. After all
these years, they still had the hots for each other. It had been
love at first sight for her father, not so much for her mother—
a typical Nigerian woman with plenty yanga.

Odette smiled. “Not really. I am eating the last bit of rice

you gave me. I just called to say hello.” Not true, she needed
to restock her freezer. “I should be home this weekend.”

Her parents smiled.

“What, no hot dates in London, you want to hang out with

oldies like us?” her dad countered.

A face flashed in her mind, the dark, stunning, sexy lady

she bumped into that afternoon. Now if that lady asked her
out, she would drop everything. “Hmm no dates dad.”
Turning her attention to her mum she responded, “I need to
restock my fridge, and no one, in the UK cooks jollof rice
like you do.” Winking at her father. “Don’t you agree Dad?”

Her blue eyed, blond English father, who knew which

side his crumpets were buttered, grinned. “That’s true
darling.”

Her dark-skinned, brown eyed Nigerian mum rolled her

eyes. “What do you want? I keep on teaching you how to
cook this…

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“Mum, if I pay proper attention to it, I won’t need to come

home to eat it, will I?” Her mum, bless her thought if she
didn’t teach her daughter how to cook Nigerian food, she
would starve. She had always countered that both parties in
a relationship needed to know how to cook basic food,
period.

Her dad interjected, “Next time you come home I will

teach you how to cook a mean abula.”

Simultaneous “Yucks” echoed from the women.

Their palates united against amala which they hated with

a passion. How her English father became a connoisseur of
the dish was anyone’s guess. He went on to tell her about
making it with aubergines… Her eyes widened. Hmm,
maybe… just maybe… Their banter continued for a while as
they caught up on family business. She told them about the
tiara; her mum, the amateur historian was intrigued. Bidding
them good night, she put dinner in the microwave, secure in
the knowledge that her fridge would be full of food by the
end of the weekend.

Pulling up her phone, she quickly placed a grocery order.

Throat dry, her eyes strayed to her kettle in the kitchen. She
was about to make a cup of chamomile tea when she picked
up her phone again. Scrolling through her call log, she
looked at the time stamp and found the unnamed number.

Her fingers caressed the number on the screen, putting a

hand to her chest, she tried to calm her excitement. She had
been busy admiring the beautiful lady in front of her in the
queue at All Grains—she caught her eye when she walked
into the shop—when she noticed the cashier scowling.

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Figuring out the lady had left her money elsewhere, she
stepped in and offered to pay for her lunch.

Odette’s breath had caught in the back of her throat when

the beauty turned full face towards her. Heart-shaped face,
almond-shaped brown eyes, beautiful dark skin that begged
to be kissed, and her neck.

O-la-la. Chai. Her eyes had widened in awe. There it was.

THE NECK. The elusive one she had been searching
London for. Long. Graceful. Elegant. A canvas for her art.
Her fingers were itching to touch it, stroke it. A neck her lips
would like to explore and show the owner what erogenous
zones existed there.

Rein it in, girl, she murmured. For all you know, she
could be as straight as an arrow. Her gut fiercely disagreed.

Reliving their encounter, Enitan—what a beautiful

name—had been staring at her boobs in the shop with
interest in a way she would know. When their eyes met…
Damn, those liquid brown eyes had been full of awareness.

There was only one way to find out.

Navigating to WhatsApp, she typed:

Odette: Hope you have packed your purse for tomorrow?

She was pouring water over the tea bag when her phone
buzzed on the table.

Enitan: Hi Tee, how are you? Thank you so much for

bailing me out today.

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Odette: No problem.

Enitan: I have packed my purse, and I have made my

lunch too. Whatever happens, I won’t starve tomorrow.

Odette smiled. Then typed.

Odette: I’m sure a beautiful girl like you will not starve.

Enitan: Now I am blushing. This is London, I might

starve.

Not on my watch baby, I will feed you with a whole lot of

things. Loosening her robe, she typed.

Odette: Are you free tomorrow evening for a drink? I

want to discuss a modelling opportunity with you.

There was a delay… she was drinking her tea when her
phone beeped.

Enitan: What time?

A smile went over her lips, she was going to gaze at the
sexy neck again soon.

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Chapter 9

The mini heat wave, which had graced London that

afternoon, had evaporated into the air like an unwanted
memory, leaving a cold biting wind in its wake. English
weather was so unpredictable, she mused as she rushed along
the pavement. Shivering, Enitan wrapped her coat tightly
around her, trying to stave off the chilly air seeping into her
bones. Checking the time on her phone, she was running late;
her lecturer had delayed her with his feedback regarding her
course work—it wasn’t up to par—she could do better. In
her current stressed state, all her mind focused on was that
he picked on her—a lot.

Having sunk her life savings into this new phase of her
life, failure wasn’t an option. Their futures—her and her
son’s—depended on it. Resolve hardened in her heart,
England was her new reality, obstacles would be dealt with
ruthlessly, as she side-stepped someone on the pavement.

Networking as a single parent was difficult. The

entertainment industry was—without stating the bleeding
obvious—a social one, her Nigerian credits while
worthwhile in Africa, weren’t opening doors fast enough
here. Being friendly—another thing the lecturer had
complained about—wasn’t hard for her, she wasn’t shy
when she was happy. However, her depression dangling like
low hanging fruit on a tree wasn’t helping. Some days, trying
to be creative was like climbing a never-ending escalator and
it was showing in her work.

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Yes, she could do better. Her lecturer was right, as she

tried to focus on the map on her phone.

Turning the corner onto Dean Street, she clutched her

bag tightly to her side, as a crowd of people walked past her.
Stopping next to a mobile phone accessory stand, she looked
around for the name of the bar Tee had invited her to,
touching her neck self-consciously, if she could make money
from that piece of her anatomy, she was game.

While checking door signs, her mind flashed to a

magazine she’d been flicking through in her doctor’s waiting
room; a two-page feature spread about a woman whose sole
source of income was from her hands. Modelling things from
hand creams to rings, the said lady had even insured them
one million pounds, she had thought it was impossible but
here she was hopefully about to embark on something
similar.

But let’s get the job first before we start thinking of

insurance, chuckling as she came to a stop on the pavement.

Sighting the bar, she crossed over and headed towards the
entrance. Placing her hand on the door handle, she quickly
scanned her reflection in the glass, she looked presentable,
having taken extra care with her makeup. Black skinny
jeans, teamed with a green jumper. A black puffy jacket and
boots completed the outfit.

The dimly lit bar was bustling with activity, full tables as
far as the eyes could see, some patrons unable to sit were
standing talking by the bar. Raucous laughter and loud
chatter greeted her as she walked in, her head turning in
various directions, trying to find her host.

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A group of men by the bar raked their lustful eyes over

her body. Mother nature had blessed her with curves, boobs,
a clinched waist, hips, and a nice, rounded butt. It had
brought a lot of men to her yard. She was about to call her
when…

“Enitan, over here.” Tee’s posh voice cut into her

thoughts.

There was something so sexy about the English accent,

especially when it came out of the mouth of someone as hot
as Tee, one could just sit down and listen to her talk all day.
Throat tight, saliva pooled in her mouth as she approached
the table.

Tee was wearing a light green silk blouse, unbuttoned low

enough to show a hint of red lace. Her hair, out of the twists,
was now a riot of curls cascading down her slim shoulders.
Blond highlights shimmered under the lights. Glossy red lips
smiled from a perfectly made-up oval face. What would it be
like to have them on her… She should be the one modelling
not her, suddenly feeling diminished next to her.

Enigmatic hazel eyes leisurely wandered over her body,

pausing on her neck before settling on her boobs. This
woman was having a disconcerting effect on her. Was she
staring because she was into fashion or…

Staring into her eyes, Tee said, “You look lovely, Enitan.”
Licking her lips.

Nipples hardening involuntarily, a flush of warmth went

up Enitan’s cheeks as she tore her eyes away, breaking
contact. So, she wasn’t dead after all, those dates had been
with the wrong people.
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“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

No o. Of course not. Staring like you want to undress me.

And eat me. Taking a seat, Enitan blinked. “No, I’m just not
used to receiving compliments…” From a beautiful woman
whose lips I want on mine, to taste… Finally admitting what
was in the deep recesses of her mind.

Eyes focused on her face, Tee replied, “You should,

you’re beautiful.” Her lips glinted as the light bounced off
her red gloss.

Unbuttoning her coat, Enitan looked around for a waiter,

anything to avoid those knowing eyes and her tempting lips.

Tee tapped her phone. “What would you like to drink, my

treat.” Turning her head towards Enitan.

Fancy drinks and wines weren’t her thing, Enitan couldn’t

tell the difference between a Merlot and Cabernet, whatever
that one was. “Hmm, what are you having…?”

“Do you like red wine?”

Red wine, red lips… Nodding, there was only one way to
find out, watching as Tee tapped away on her phone.

“I have ordered a bottle of Syrah and some tapas.”

Cool, her eyes lingered on her lips. What would it be like

to… Her lustful reel was shattered when Tee looked up.
Their eyes met; in that moment, they both knew. Well,
Enitan knew without a doubt that she wanted this woman
sitting in front of her, she wanted to feel her, caress her skin.

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Cheeks warm, unable to maintain eye contact, Enitan looked

away, a good thing her dark skin hid her blushes.

Putting her phone away, Tee leaned back into her chair.
“So, tell me about the person below the neck.” Chuckling.
“That must sound so corny. Although I do want to discuss
that with you.”

Her posh mermerising voice drew her in, Enitan was

curious about her heritage, but now wasn’t the time to ask.
The soulful jazz playing in the background washed over her,
tearing her eyes off Tee, she noticed a waiter heading
towards their table, replete with a bottle of wine and two
glasses.

Smiling. “Good evening, ladies.” Placing the glasses on

the table, he opened the bottle, then poured some wine into
a glass.

Stretching her hand, Tee took a sip, closed her eyes, and
nodded. “Not bad.”

Satisfied, he filled both glasses. “Have a nice evening,

ladies.” Smiling, as he left to return to the bar.

Enitan stared, amused by all the theatrics, in Nigeria all

this razmataz never happened. She could be wrong, there
were some posh restaurants in Nigeria she’d never been to.

Still savouring the wine, Tee slid a piece of paper over to

Enitan. “Here are some agencies I think you should register
with. There’s enormous demand for a neck as beautiful and
graceful as yours,” she said, her hand gently brushed hers.

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The shiver making its way down her spine had nothing to
do with the cold, Enitan’s mind was elsewhere as unfocused
eyes stared at alphabets and numbers. Folding it, she popped
the paper into her bag. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. We must help each other get on.” Tee

relaxed back into her seat. “The company I work for needs a
neck model for a new range of jewellery.”

No wonder she could afford to pay for her lunch, a

working student. I bet she works over twenty hours.

Taking a sip of her drink, Odette continued, “Funny

enough, someone fed up with my intolerable demands told
me to go onto the streets of London and look for one.”
Laughing as she waved a hand in the air. “And bam, I
bumped into you.”

Enitan beamed; it went to show things weren’t random. If

she hadn’t forgotten her purse… This could be the other
source of income she’d been praying for. Ask for it, be
mindful and… receive.

Leaning forward, Tee asked, “So, tell me a bit about

yourself, Enitan.” Bringing the glass to her lips.
“Boyfriend.” She took a sip of her drink. “Girlfriend?”
Questioning hazel eyes focused on Enitan.

Lowering her gaze, Enitan studied Tee’s long, elegant

nails, everything about her was perfect. Aha, she had finally
broached the subject and the right one. Mmm. Enitan shook
her head. “You?”

Maintaining eye contact, Tee placed her wine glass on the

table. “Girlfriends yes… loads. Never had a boyfriend.”
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Loads!

“You’re shocked?” Her gaze intent.

Enitan eyes widened, her gaydar had been spot on.

“Are you some kind of player?” Shit. That came out all
wrong.

Tee laughed. “I must say, none of my girlfriends have

ever called me a player.”

“Erm… I did not mean to sound judgmental.”

“No offence taken.”

“It was surprise more like…” Her first crush had been a
girl who lived near her, in Nigeria. Her mum, taking an
instant dislike to the girl, had voiced her disapproval of them
spending time together. Had she suspected there was more
to the developing friendship? Doing all her best to force her
into what she considered…

“We are who we are.” Tee responded. “No point kidding

myself about being something or someone else.”

The words pricked her skin. While some of us try to be

something we’re not and we end up taking anti-
depressants…

“Enitan, are you ok?”

Not really, but hey… Her suppressed sexuality wasn’t

something she’d discuss with this sexy stranger. Blinking,
Tee’s voice pulled her out of what could have been a
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depressive journey down memory lane. “Sorry, I’m fine.”

Plastering a smile on her face, focusing on why she was here,
not the strange attraction developing between them. “So,
let’s talk about this modelling gig.” Taking a sip of her wine,
nodding as warm, spicy, blackcurrant under notes slid down
her throat. Not bad, swirling the wine in her glass as if she
negotiated modelling assignments regularly.

“My boss is willing to pay three thousand pounds once I

mentioned how special your neck was.”

The waiter came back with a tray of tapas, her eyes stared
at them unseeingly. Chewing the inside of her cheek, to stop
the blinking she was about to launch into, Enitan asked, “For
a week?”

Tee’s brows furrowed. “Nope, that’s the day rate.”

Hien. Sputtering, Enitan, placed her glass on the table.

For someone to take pictures of her neck!! Her neck. That
was millions of naira.

“Are you ok?” Leaning forward. “Is that ok?”

Screaming inside, Enitan blinked, okay ke. Being the omo

naija she was. “Can I get back to you on that?” She didn’t
want to act desperate. Plus, as a canny Nigerian girl, she
needed to find out if she was being cheated with that rate?

“Sure.” Sliding her phone forward, Tee asked, “Are you

free this weekend?” Tapping on something with her finger.

Wow, that was fast. “So soon?” She didn’t need to consult
her diary. There wasn’t a lot going on for a struggling student
like herself. But trying to keep up appearances, she
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responded, “Let me check my diary and I will come back to

you.”

The tapas were eaten in no time as they talked about

fashion and make-up. Enitan’s eyes widened when she saw
the time, the evening had gone by too quickly.

Enitan picked her coat off the back of her chair. “Thank
you for a wonderful evening. I need to get a move on.”

Tee placed a hand over hers on the table. “The pleasure is

all mine; I had a great evening. Let me order you an Uber.”

Her hands were so soft. An Uber from here to her place

would cost a fortune.

Voice firm, Tee tapped something on her phone. “I insist,

my boss would be annoyed with me if I don’t put you in a
taxi after keeping you out so late.”

Now, that was a very considerate boss.

Tee’s hands lingered on hers for a bit as they said their

goodbyes when her Uber arrived.

Damn, that woman was sexy and it was written all over
her face that she was into women. In as much as Tee was
into women, there was no way a woman like her would go
for someone like Enitan. Pushing sexual attraction to the
back of her mind, the practical part of her mind, was already
thinking of what she could do with the fee being offered to
her.

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Once at the back of the Uber, Enitan pulled out her phone,
ignoring a message from Jay, she checked the rates for
models.

The average was in the range of three hundred to five

hundred a day for people who had done it before. Here she
was, a novice being offered three thousand pounds. It was a
no-brainer she would take it. Before she offered it to
someone else. Even though she had given her the details of
other modelling agencies, she knew by the time they took
their cut she would be lucky if she saw four hundred pounds.
Without further ado, she navigated to WhatsApp.

Enitan: Hi Tee, thank you for a wonderful evening.

Je ki n pon le diẹ. The money would go straight into her

savings.

Tee is typing.

Tee: My pleasure Enitan, I had a great evening.

Enitan smiled, she had too. Adult company was hard to

come by when you were a student and a single mother. Even
harder when the company you desired was outside the norm.

Enitan: I will take the offer.

Five minutes later, her phone pinged.

Tee: Excellent. Let me know if you can do this weekend.

Preferably Saturday. Have a good night.

##

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Brows furrowed, Odette watched the taillights of the Uber

fade into the traffic. The postcode looked familiar, but she
couldn’t remember who lived in the area.

“Oh, well.” Putting her hands in her jacket. She couldn’t

decide if she wanted to walk home or grab a taxi.

Having spent most of the day on her bum, she decided to

walk. The roads were still full of people, not as much as
during the day, but enough for her not to be worried about
walking alone. And if she noticed anything funny, she would
grab a taxi. Stopping suddenly in front of a clothes store, she
pulled out her phone and dialled a number.

“All clear.” The voice responded.

Putting her phone back in her pocket, she continued her

stroll.

Enitan, wow, the girl was super sexy. Her innocent eyes
had reflected shock when she mentioned girlfriends. And her
instincts had been right, her eyes had widened when she
mentioned women.

The rate she had offered had been a gamble. OK, she
could have offered more, but she didn’t want her to be
thinking she was a creep or something. Most agencies in the
past had charged her over two grand a day and she could bet
the models got maybe five hundred if they were lucky. They
were cutting out the agencies, Enitan might as well have all
of it.

It was hard enough for students to find work to fit round

their schedule. Not to talk about, hmm she couldn’t assume

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she was a foreign student either. It didn’t matter she had done
her bit for the student cause.

Spying a gelato stand across the street, she stopped and

bought three scoops - caramel, vanilla, and mango.

She was looking forward to Saturday.

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Chapter 10

Hastily walking out of the main lecture, Enitan nodded at

a few of her course mates talking by the door. Her ever-
demanding lecturer was in a better mood after reviewing the
updated assignment, which now incorporated a lot of his
suggestions. Having taken the time to assess his feedback,
she realised he had been right. There was a spring in her step
as she walked along the busy pavement to where she was
meeting Tee for their rendezvous.

The sun was doing its best to brighten the sky while
playing peekaboo with the clouds. She had been looking
forward to this meeting for the past couple of days. Her
conversation with Jay was going well, but her mind had been
elsewhere. From zero, she was now flirting with two women.
A frisson of excitement went through her, she did not have
to pretend with them. They were women into women.

However, there was a real-life woman she wanted to

know better. Her curiosity was piqued, fancy meeting a
woman who liked women randomly on the streets of
London.

Stopping at the traffic lights, excited Enitan checked her

bag for her purse while waiting for the lights to go red.
Minutes later, spotting an empty table—at the coffee shop
next to All Grains—she swiftly walked over and put her bag
opposite her on the table. She wasn’t open to sharing. Her
eyes followed a man and a child walking past her; a smile
tugged at her lips followed by a pang of guilt.

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Her aunt was having David for the weekend, they were
going to a show at a theater in Covent Garden. He’d been
talking about it non-stop, she was picking him up from
school and then taking him there shortly after. Knowing her
aunt, she would want him dressed like the little gentleman
he was.

For the first time in ages, she had the weekend to herself,
the time was going to be used working on her dissertation
and housework. But hey, she could not complain, things
could be worse.

Her phone buzzed, she looked at the notification Jay.

Jay: Hey, what are you up to?

Eni: Just about to grab lunch. It’s been a busy morning.

Jay: Same here, busy I mean. What do you do if you

don’t mind me asking?

She was typing when a familiar citrusy scent wafted to

her nostrils. Putting her phone away, butterflies scurried in
her stomach as her date materialised next to her, looking like
one of those wealthy aristocrat students, who lived in
Chelsea or Sloane Square. Her hair was scraped into a bun,
showcasing an immaculately made-up face, expensive
loafers, black sweater, and blue jeans completed her
ensemble, as usual, she was handbag free.

“Hi Enitan, you look lovely as usual.” Bright hazel eyes

sought hers after leisurely going over her body. Her voice,
soft and seductive. As usual, hearing her speak made her
very aware of her Lagos accent. London was one enormous
market place, different accents were de rigueur.
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Moisture trickled below, yep she was attracted to this

lady. Coming from Peckham, in her Primark attire, her
cheeks warmed at the compliment. “What can I get you?”
Feeling flush, she held up her purse.

Tee pulled out the chair opposite Enitan. “A medium soya

latte please.” Lowering her lithe body into the chair and
crossing long, toned legs.

Enthralled, Enitan’s eyes lingered on the legs. “Would

you like anything else, have you had lunch?” The words
were out of her mouth before she realised it. Nurturing came
naturally when you had to ensure little people were fed and
watered daily. But the lady in front of her…

Tee’s eyes leisurely wandered over Enitan’s chest. If she

had been having doubts before, they were banished in an
instant.

Amused eyes settled back on Enitan’s face. “Mmm, I’m

good, thanks. Just the coffee… for now…”

The way she said it sent shivers down Enitan’s spine.

Heat working its way over her body, she pulled down the zip
of her jacket, letting out a breath. Phew! That lady is um um
um. She was staring, her neck pricked as she joined the
queue. The cool breeze coming from the chiller cabinet
didn’t do much to help fan the flames kindling in her body.

The young man taking orders behind the counter was

writing a name on a cup. Putting it next to the gleaming
coffee machine, he turned to her.

“Good afternoon, how can I help?”

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Scanning the display of cakes and pastries, she ordered a

lemon drizzle cake for Tee and a ham salad sandwich for
herself. If she didn’t eat the cake, she would. Maybe sugar
would help kill her raging libido. For real, sugar! Are you
kidding?

Tee put her phone away as she approached. “Thank you,

Enitan.” Taking the items off the tray. “It’s nice sitting here
with you, watching the day go by.”

This lady was charming. Enitan smiled, taking a sip of her

vanilla latte, a few men looked their way and smiled as they
walked past.

“Have you given my job any thought?” Clasping her

hands together. “Please say yes. I don’t want my boss to sack
me.”

Her boss would be stupid to sack a beautiful lady like her.

Enitan would hire her in an instant, stare at her all day. Use
her camera to make love to her, bring out her smile. Tee’s
voice interrupted her daydream.

Picking up a spoon, she stirred her coffee. “They can’t

wait to see the finished article.”

Coming to the decision to take on the assignment had

been a no brainer for Enitan, more so after calling one of the
agencies on the list and hearing what she could expect. Awon
ole, haba. One said maybe £300 if she was lucky.

Random people minding their own business had been

discovered on the streets of cities, signed up as models, their
lives changing overnight. Jumoke, the bread seller in

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Nigeria, Naomi Campbell in the UK, the list was long. If her
name could be added to the list, why not?

Tee put a hand to her chest, her clear polish dazzled in the
sunshine. “I won’t take up too much of your time. Are you
free to do the modelling we spoke about on Wednesday
night?”

What else was she doing, she would go. Nodding, Enitan
replied, “I can do this weekend.”

“Don’t forget to call the others.”

I already have, won’t be using them for a while. “I

won’t.” Enitan nodded. Excited about the money coming her
way.

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Chapter 11

The sun was streaming in through the curtains when she

opened her eyes and stretched on her bed. Her son would be
up soon, children, it seemed, never slept in over the
weekends. Savouring the quiet of the flat, she pulled on her
dressing gown, options for breakfast were running through
her head when she remembered she was alone that Saturday
morning. After doing her stretches, she went to the kitchen
to get some coffee. Their tiny two bed flat didn’t take her
long to tidy. David put his things away when he played with
his toys.

Her film stuff took up a corner of the living room. Soon

she promised herself they would move somewhere bigger,
as she put clothes into the washing machine. Ideally, she
wanted to live in the countryside; the schools were better,
houses cheaper and bigger. Taking a slice of toast and a cup
of tea, she sat down and spent an hour on one of her freelance
jobs. A short video for an up-and-coming fashion house.

Some of the modelling money would go into buying the

full version of the video editing software she used. It would
help her deliver her jobs faster and build her portfolio. If
there was anything left, it would go towards her equipment
fund.

They had agreed to meet at midday, opening google

maps she plotted her route, it would take roughly thirty
minutes to get there. Not bad, she didn’t have any other plans
for the rest of the day, other than return home, put on another

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load of laundry, work on her script and if time permitted,

study by watching TV.

Swiping her keys off the worktop, she took a tub of

corned beef hash out of the freezer and put it in the fridge for
her evening meal. The sun blinded her eyes as she stepped
onto the road, the crisp air a sharp contrast to her cosy flat as
she walked to the tube station. The train wasn’t too packed
as it pulled into the platform, her writer’s mind curious about
the passengers standing by the doors. What was going on in
their lives?

The dulcet tones of the train announcer pulled her out of

her mental inquisition. “The next station is Hatton Garden.
The doors will open on the right-hand side. Alight here for
the London Jewellery Quarter.”

Tee had mentioned she worked for a jeweller, so the

location made sense. The temperature as she emerged from
the station hadn’t changed, the fresh crisp gentle wind, a
welcome relief from the stale canned underground air.

The road she walked along was full of shops with

gleaming glass display cases full of gold, silver, and other
precious stones. All trying to entice the eyes of shoppers
through the reinforced glass. People gazed covetously,
browsing for jewellery or to stock up on their gold
investments. Men looking at engagement rings or jewellery
for their lovers. Women looking, hoping the piece of
jewellery they admired would be bought for them by
someone…

One of the first things she was going to do when she got
this money was treat herself to a gold necklace. Her ever-
practical mind, however, tutted. Her son needed a new pair
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of sport shoes, she sighed. Looking down at her phone,

Google Maps showed her destination was one minute away.

The breezy English lady’s voice declaring, “You have

reached your destination.” Echoed into her headphones.
Stopping, she looked up at the building, a three-storey
townhouse. Compared to the shops, this looked like an
office. A buzzer was next to a heavy reinforced steel black
door. Walking up the steps, she pressed on the button
labelled reception as she took in her surroundings.
Reinforced glass windows, CCTV.

A familiar voice finally responded, “Hello, how can I help

you?”

“Oh, is that Tee? It’s Enitan here for my appointment.”

Fidgeting with her handbag, certain in a dark room a camera
was watching her, this was a high value area. The film about
the heist was already in the works.

Tee’s melodious voice came back over the intercom. “Hi

there, let me buzz you in. I’ll be waiting by the glass doors
at the end of the corridor.”

A crisp citrusy scent greeted her as she walked through

the door leading into a white hallway; a set of glass doors
beckoned a few feet away. Her stomach did a funny thing as
Tee—dressed in blue jeans and a tight white T-shirt, which
did nothing to hide her boobs and taut abs—came into view.
Her glorious curls, free of restrictions, were snaking down
past her shoulders, her smooth skin, luminescent under the
harsh fluorescent lights of the reception desk, was devoid of
make-up.

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Enitan swallowed the lump in her throat, the woman was

beautiful, she couldn’t get over the fact that she was
interested in a Johnny just come like her. Schooling her face
to neutrality, she turned to her as she walked through the
glass door. “Good morning, Tee, thank you for giving me
this opportunity.” Ensuring she pronounced her t’s properly.

Tee chuckled, her eyes probing. “Enitan, you should be

the one thanked. You have saved my arse; my boss can be
very demanding.”

Closing the door behind them, they moved along the

corridor for a few seconds before Tee opened a door to their
right. Bright lights beckoned as they stepped into a big white
airy room, various pieces of lighting equipment were dotted
around the room. Looking around, Enitan recognised it for
what it was—a studio. Black and white stills adorned the
walls, hands wearing bracelets, fingers bearing rings.
Conspicuously absent from the montage were human necks
with or without necklaces. A stack of screens with different
backgrounds were in one corner of the room; empty display
cases were also stacked against a wall. Dominating the right
corner was an art déco glass coffee table decorated with a
vase of flowers, books, and folders. A bright yellow sofa
with an eclectic array of cushions had been placed in front
of it.

Walking over to the other side of the room, Tee switched

on the kettle. “Would you like a cup of tea?”

Rubbing her hands together, Enitan responded, “Yeah,

that would be great.” Allowing her eyes to travel down her
lithe body, as she bent to open the fridge underneath the
worktop.

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Putting a carton on the worktop, Tee turned and stared.

Cheeks warm, Enitan looked away.

Holding up the carton of oat milk, Tee asked, “Is this

okay?”

Enitan nodded, not surprised. This woman wasn’t

someone who would drink normal milk. Chuckling, she
looked around, curious to see what else she could find in the
room. An expensive high-definition camera had been setup
in a corner, essential equipment for anybody serious about
taking still or moving pictures.

Getting dressed that morning, she’d been torn about what

to wear, the little interaction she’d had with Tee, hadn’t set
off any red flags. But she had to be realistic, it was a neck
shoot. So, she opted to wear a camisole under her shirt, just
in case the neckline was too high.

Walking over, Tee placed two steaming cups of tea on the

coffee table. Pointing to the sofa, she said, “Sit down, I need
you relaxed. If you feel uncomfortable with what I’m asking
for or how I ask you to turn, please let me know.” Sincere
hazel eyes probed hers. “I mean it Enitan.”

Nodding, Enitan sat, reaching for one of the mugs.

“Oh, I forgot to ask if you take sugar?”

Warming her hands with the mug. “It’s ok.” A day

without sugar wouldn’t kill her.

Tee pulled out a folder from under one of the books on

the table. “Before we start, here’s a document we put
together,” she stated, as she handed it over to Enitan.
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Sipping her tea, she skimmed through dates, parties, a

statement of what services they were hiring her for and the
fee, 3,000 British pounds. Pounds o, not dollars. A day!!
There wasn’t a definition of what constituted a day, she
hoped it would be reasonable. See you already becoming a
diva, chuckling under her breath.

Handing over a pen, Tee asked, “Any questions before we

proceed?”

Definitely not. Shaking her head, Enitan signed it and

handed it back.

Tee’s elegant fingers picked up the pen and counter

signed. Picking up her phone, she asked, “Before we start,
can you give me your bank details?”

Enitan blinked; she was being paid today? She must be a

trusted employee if Tee had access to the company’s bank
account?

“I’d rather we pay you today. Otherwise, you’ll have to

raise an invoice, then go through all the rigmarole of
payment cycles etc., which could be over thirty days.”

Valid point, nodding Enitan reached into her bag for her
phone and texted over her bank details. Seconds later, her
phone vibrated, a notification for a deposit of £3,000 into her
bank account. This was real, sitting up straight on the chair.
She was ready for her first modelling assignment.

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Chapter 12

Hours later, Enitan got up, stretched and reached for the
bottle of water on the table. Tee, as she had come to find out,
was a perfectionist or a control freak. Her posh voice
complaining about the light being too dark, or the angle of
her neck, wasn’t right. She had even used makeup on her
neck.

“Relax Enitan, relax.” Tee murmured whenever she got

the angle wrong. “You’re too tense.”

Being in such close proximity with her didn’t help,

whenever she was close, her boobs were in her line of sight.
Whenever her eyes went there, all she could think of was
seeing them unleashed out of her bra. Being in a place where
she didn’t have to censure her thoughts, her imagination was
running wild.

The necklaces she had modelled were stunning. She could

understand why she wanted the right neck for them. Only
one word could describe them—beautiful. The designer had
enormous talent, the artistry so intricate, haunting, she had
never seen such artwork before. She didn’t dare to ask about
the price, they would be way out of her price bracket, even
with her newly earned cash.

Touching one of the gold necklaces reverently. “This is

beautiful Tee. Your boss is truly gifted.”

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Tee’s eyes lit up. “Thank you. I’ll pass on the message.”
The camera was still in her hands. “I think we’ll be able to
wrap this up soon.”

All good things must come to an end, wistful Enitan stared

at the blinds as the soft yellow glow of the streetlamps shone
through the windows.

“Sorry I kept you longer than I expected.”

Staring into the darkening evening dusk, Enitan

responded, “That’s ok.”

There wasn’t a lot waiting for her at home, anyway.

Based on the pictures on her phone, her aunt and son were
having a great time. All she had to look forward to later was
some reheated corned beef hash and maybe talking to Jay.

It was around 6:30pm when they finally wrapped up. A

hungry and exhausted Enitan stretched her aching neck,
which had been pulled into various positions for most of the
day.

Tee was wired and excited about the photo shoot. Putting
the camera away, she turned to Enitan. “What do you say
about us having dinner?” Her stunning eyes probed hers. “If
you’re up to it, we can go to a club later.”

Watching her packing stuff away, something bloomed in

her chest, even though it was a paid assignment, she’d
wished the day wouldn’t end. She’d secretly been wishing
they could spend more time together. Learn more about this
mysterious lady, maybe get a kiss… Hold on, what was
happening to her? When did she become this forward?
Chewing her bottom lip, clubbing? This posh woman’s
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version of a club could be cocktails at Nobu. Anxious, Enitan

looked down at her shirt, she wasn’t dressed for a night out;
she was about to say no… when that melodious voice cut in.

“If you’re not comfortable with what you’re wearing,”

Tee picked up a bottle of water and took a sip, “I’m sure I
can find a top for you to wear.”

Relieved, Enitan looked at her. “What do you have in

mind?”

Looking at her wristwatch, Tee said, “There’s an Italian

restaurant down the road we can go for dinner, my treat.”
Looking up at Enitan. “I’m sorry, I’ve kept you longer than
I should have.”

Don’t apologise. Her stomach rumbled loudly at the

mention of food.

Tee grinned.

“That’s alright, it was a privilege to wear those amazing

pieces.” Touching her belly, Enitan smiled shyly. “Yes, food
would be great.”

Putting the jewellery back into their cases, Tee looked

over. “We can go clubbing later.” Pausing, she stared at
Enitan. “I have a spare room where you can crash for the
night if you want.”

Spend the night, she swallowed. Enitan’s heart skipped a

beat in her chest, she had never spent a night away since she
arrived in the UK, apart from her aunt’s house. Anxiety
clawed one side of her brain, while the other burst into

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excitement at spending more time with this sexy lady whose

lips she had been dreaming about. But what if…

“Just a suggestion.” Tee shrugged. “It’s there if you

want. I don’t mind either way.”

Enitan stared at Tee, so far she hadn’t noticed any strange

vibes coming off her. When she arrived in the UK, going
clubbing had never been on the menu. David always came
first, plus once she had turned down a few of her classmates
to go on pub crawls, they had stopped inviting her out. She
hadn’t been to a club since she arrived, opportunities to
socialise with adults didn’t come round regularly. Taking the
bull by the horns, she decided to go for it.

This was a weekend to enjoy herself and let her hair

down. People dressed casually these days, looking down at
her top, it wasn’t too bad for a club. “Sure, let’s do the club.”

Eyes bright, Tee said, “Great, just let me put everything

away, then we can quickly pop over to my place.” Swiftly
putting the items in a box. “I’m house-sitting for my friend
who’s in Japan at the moment.”

Oyinbo people, just say you’re staying at your friend’s

place. Which one is house-sitting?

The road was empty of the hustle and bustle of the

morning shoppers as they emerged from the building.
Display cases empty, the shutters were now down on the
windows. Standing on the steps, Enitan wrapped her coat
tightly around her body to keep out the chilly air as she
watched Tee tap the security codes for the building. Their
Uber taking them to her house-sitting place was round the
corner.
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Ensconced in warmth at the back of the taxi, Enitan stared

blindly at the sights of London going by, hyper-aware of the
woman sitting next to her. Her nipples also made sure she
did not forget about the sexy lady… they were aching.
Whenever she looked over, she caught Tee staring at her, an
unfathomable expression in her eyes. Distracted by her citrus
scent, Enitan closed her eyes briefly. Who would make the
first move? She wasn’t even sure how to… Do you say…

Her dilemma was solved when Tee ran her fingers gently
down her arm.

“I’m so pleased you decided to spend the evening with

me.” Her voice was soft, almost a whisper.

Me too. A shiver went down Enitan’s body all the way

too… Swallowing, her eyes followed the hand, while her
mind imagined what those elegant fingers could do. When
she looked up, there was an amused glint in Tee’s eyes.

Cheeks burning, she pulled her bag close as the taxi

slowed and pulled up in front of an imposing block of
modern flats, one of those landmark buildings people saw on
the London skyline, Enitan’s mouth was agape as they got
out of the car.

Her eyes widened as she took in the multi-storey

building—imposing behind thick, black railings and a tall
gate—and its surroundings. The rent for a place like this
would pay hers for years to come… and this lady was house-
sitting here! The rich sure knew how to live, no wonder Tee
had that innate confidence of the privileged.

What could she want with a local Yoruba girl like her?

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Turning around, Tee placed a hand on her arm. “Oh, don’t

be intimidated, like I said, I’m just house-sitting.”

So, does that mean you’re staying here for free? Abi,
you’re just in the place to make people think someone is
home.

Even the air smelt luxurious, the cars parked close by,
inside the electronic gates were top end brands. The light
from the fading sun gleamed off the bonnet of a Bentley and
Bugatti in the parking bay. Eyes darting, Enitan watched as
Tee punched a number into an access pad; seconds later, the
dark, heavy metal gate silently opened, welcoming them
onto the estate.

The car free road was red tiled and smooth. No stray heels
digging into the chipped tarmac here. The manicured hedges
even looked different, the grass lush Mediterranean green for
this time of the year. A young couple carrying a Harrod’s
food hall bag walked in front of them. Of course, these
people will not shop at Aldi.

When they got to the end of the cobbled path, Tee placed
a fob on a set of glass doors, leading into a spacious climate-
controlled lobby.

The desk, manned by a smiling uniformed concierge,

nodded at them. “Good evening, ladies.”

Enitan smiled back, as if she came here all the time. Her
eyes were wide with wonder as she took in her surroundings.

Massive canvases of abstract art adorned brown walls,

while tall green foliage in unusual artistic pots were dotted
around the open space. Plush sofas were placed next to a
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waterfall, welcoming visitors while they waited for friends

or residents looking for somewhere soothing to relax. Bright
mirrors sparkled as they strolled towards a bank of lifts to
their left.

Awestruck Enitan looked around; the setup looked more

hotel than residential apartment block. “I don’t even want to
think what the rent is for a place like this.”

“Neither do I.” Tee shrugged as they waited for a lift—

set apart from the others—coming down from the 23rd floor.
There was a ding and the stainless-steel doors noiselessly
opened seconds later.

Waving her in, Tee said, “After you.”

“Thank you.” An expensive soapy smell, reminiscent of

high-end clubs, washed over her. Her nose twitched, had it
just been used, or did they pipe fragrance into the lift?
Studying the brown panelling, which contrasted against the
highly polished stainless steel. The rich were enjoying sha.

Tee, obviously used to such opulence, typed in a code, and

pressed the button for the 23rd floor. Wow!

Enitan’s child free weekend was getting more memorable

by the minute. From a very lucrative photo shoot to visiting
an expensive flat, she was going to enjoy every second of it.
Such opportunities were rare, well for her anyway. She was
still thinking about that when the doors opened, straight into
a massive living area.

A penthouse! Her eyes bulged, she had never been in one

before, staring at light brown flooring that seemed to go on

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forever. Its expensive polished sheen reflected under the

lights.

The scent from two massive lavender plants standing on

both sides of the lift welcomed them into the apartment. The
immediate living space alone was larger than her flat.

Black and white pictures of various cities decorated the

walls. Their beauty paled in comparison to the iconic
London skyline which beckoned through the floor to ceiling
windows. Leaving her manners by the lift, an excited Enitan
walked over, awestruck, touching the glass as she stared at
the lights twinkling back at her.

It was mesmerizing, omo she could say in her lifetime she

had been in a penthouse. Unable to help herself, Enitan
declared, “Wow, this is beautiful. You’re so lucky to be
house-sitting in such a lovely place.” Imagine shooting a film
in a place like this. The lighting was phenomenal, filming a
scene in this.

A strange expression came over Tee’s face, as she moved

towards a tall cabinet.

Excited, Enitan’s eyes darted around the room. What

looked like the kitchen stood to her left, majority of the
gadgets standing on the black granite worktops were a
mystery to her. “When is your friend coming back?”

Opening the fridge, Tee mumbled something.

Reluctantly moving away from the windows into the

kitchen space, Enitan bumped into Tee, who must have been
standing behind her.

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Grabbing her arm, Tee asked, “Steady on, are you ok?”
Pinning Enitan to her bosom.

The words she wanted to say stuck in her throat. Her heart
was doing a banjo in her ears. She was too close for comfort
as she stared at the lips she had been daydreaming about.
Enitan’s eyes roamed over Tee’s face, there was a dusting of
freckles on her nose, how cute. Blinking, she bit her lip as
she took a step back.

“I don’t bite…” Tee whispered; her eyes bright as they

went to her neck, before leisurely dropping to her bust.

I want you to bite me… suck me… Her nipples hardened;

her clit throbbed. Everything was out of cadence; this
woman was bewitching her, as her seductive perfume
washed over her. What was it? Enitan blinked. She needed
to move away from this woman.

Caressing her cheek, Tee whispered, “Unless you want

me to…”

Enitan’s eyes widened as desire exploded in her core.

Hot, molten need snaked its way down her abdomen and
something gushed into her panty-liners. Ok, it was clear as
day. The chemistry was mutual. Unfortunately, she was the
inexperienced one here… Something she wanted and desired
was being offered on a plate and she was questioning
herself… wondering…

“Do you?” The hypnotic, melodious English voice was

pulling her in.

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Yes! A nervous laugh escaped her lips. “No, I don’t deal

with vampires.” Trying to move out of her embrace and
break the spell she was weaving.

Tee threw her head back and laughed. “You’re so funny,

Enitan, and innocent at the same time.”

How could she be called innocent, was that because she

wasn’t versed in the art of seduction?

“Vampires aren’t the only ones that bite.” Tee pulled her
in closer, hazel eyes on her mouth. “There are so many
places on the human body, which respond to the subtle touch
of teeth.”

As in… Her breathing became laboured and more

moisture gushed into her panties. Please tell me where—her
clit willing to help her out, tingled in response.

Pulling her in closer, Tee whispered, “I’ve been wanting

to do this since I first saw you.” Bending slightly, her lips
moved down and took hers. “You’re incredible sexy…”

Her tongue did a gentle caress on her lips, before gently

biting on them and gently opening her lips, seeking her
tongue, deepening the kiss. Energy sparked into all the
dormant neurons in her body as the world turned on its axis.

Enitan, breathing shallow, sagged into her, as Tee

deepened the kiss and caressed her lips with her tongue.
Every time she did that her clit rose in appreciation. Her
nipples ached under her bra as Tee’s hands cupped her
breasts. However, shyness, uncertainty, lack of confidence
stopped Enitan from holding properly on to Tee.

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Pulling away, Tee licked her lips. “Let’s get you a top and
get out of here. If I stay close to you, we might not go out,
even though I am hungry.”

Closing her eyes briefly, Enitan tried to calm her racing

heart as more moisture seeped into her soaked panties—she
needed liners asap. Every fibre of her being was charged—
ready to explode—if she touched her again, she wouldn’t be
able to control herself. This was crazy. Shaken Enitan moved
back, trying to put some distance between them while
savouring the taste of Tee’s lips. “What’s the name of the
club?”

Tee’s eyes narrowed. “Hmm, you won’t know it. Well, I

don’t think an innocent girl like you would.”

That word again, Enitan blushed, innocent…

“Innocence is all about degrees, Eni…”

That was true, but she certainly wasn’t by any standard.

Tee winked at her. “I bet your weekends are normally

spent studying hard.”

And looking after a child. “Yeah, sort of.”

“Well, let’s help you have a weekend of fun; one you

won’t forget for a while.” Twinkling eyes raked over her
body once again.

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Chapter 13

Leaving her guest by the window, Odette popped into her

bedroom and sent an apologetic message to her mum. Her
heart beating excitedly in her chest. Damn. Her plans had
changed dramatically; she would not be home that evening,
there was a hot girl to explore. She left that bit out of the
message, instead she asked if John—the family driver—
could drop the stuff for her the next day. Hopefully, her mum
would understand.

Putting her phone in her pocket, she walked into her vast
changing room. Yes, her walk-in wardrobe was the size of
the average London flat, but that was her cross to bear. Shoes
for various occasions were stacked on one wall, handbags on
another, mirrors mounted at various angles to ensure she
looked her best at all times. Image was everything. Her
dressing table, replete with jewellery and expensive
perfumes, took up another portion of a wall.

Their reservation at the Italian was in thirty minutes,

humming to a song, she rummaged through the rails looking
for a blouse for her sexy guest. What was her story? Her
name was as much of a mystery as the woman herself.

Phew, the way her lips had responded, she had wanted to
rip her top off and stop with the banal niceties. Suck on her
nipples, have her lips trace a trail down that beautiful brown
skin. Her clit pulsed in the wetness of her knickers. Damn…
She had it bad.

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Their attraction seemed to be mutual, but Enitan was

hesitant, when they had kissed she responded, but her body
had been a bit aloof. Like something was holding her back.
Um, um, um. Whatever, the girl was sex on legs, with that
coca cola body Afrobeats singers crooned about.

She wanted to explore every inch of that body. Thinking

about what it looked like below the neck had helped keep the
shoot interesting. It had also taken longer than expected, due
to Enitan’s stiffness.

That girl was wound up so tight, what was going on in her

life? She had called upon all her reserves of control to finish
the photo shoot without touching her, caressing that neck…

Her hands stumbled upon a black shimmery, stretchy top.

She held it up, sex had been off her agenda for a while as she
had channeled all that energy into her business instead.

The club they were going to was owned by one of her

friends from her old exclusive public school. Olivia,
annoyed at her father’s insistent questioning on what was she
going to do with her life, had set up a string of clubs for the
upper crust society. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending
on which side of the family you stood on, the clubs were
doing extremely well.

Always one to support her friends’ businesses, she hadn’t

been able to make full use of her expensive platinum
membership for a while. Finding kinky women in London
was hard; although she had found that sometimes people
didn’t know they were kinky… it would be nice to set the
tongues wagging and create a bit of tension and gossip, plus
she had a new collection to unveil to the world and trending
anywhere was good for sales.
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Growing up, Odette had never fitted in; she’d always

been made to feel like an outsider. People in her father’s
esteemed circle had been alarmed when one of the most
eligible bachelors of the realm had fallen head over heels for
a Nigerian woman.

A lot of the privileged children of the peers in her father’s

circle had treated her with well-disguised scorn. To an
outsider, it looked like playful banter, but it wasn’t. Once she
realised the back-handed remarks for what they were, she
distanced herself and set herself up to be the best in her field.

She’d created her own fortune, which a lot of the people

who had looked at her like damaged goods couldn’t say they
had. They were all relying on their names and connections
to do absolutely nothing and expect a lot.

Pulling her mind to the present, she stared at a green

blouse, Enitan had looked great in the colour the other day,
her hand kept moving along the rack… A Yoruba woman to
boot. Her horoscope had been a bit accurate for once.

But she wasn’t sure about Enitan, was she lesbian, curious
or bi-sexual? She had learnt her lesson the last time. Holding
up the blouse, she chided herself, there was no point
dwelling on that issue, this was just a hook-up, if she was
game.

She’d promised herself she’d never to go with someone

who was bi again. Her heart and fingers had been burned.
The wahala was just too much.

In the meantime she couldn’t wait to get Enitan into her

bed and unpack that cool exterior. And hear her beg for
release.
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Chapter 14

Full of energy and simmering sexual tension from the

lovely Italian meal, Odette ordered a taxi to take them to the
club. Their Uber pulled up in front of an innocuous looking
townhouse in Chelsea. Looking out of place was the tall,
black, well-built man standing casually by the railings
leading up to the door.

As they stepped forward, Odette handed Enitan her

phone. “Please put this in your bag.”

Brows furrowed, Enitan stared at the phone.

“They aren’t allowed in the club. So, if you come with

one, you have to put it in a locker.”

Eyes darting to the man in the dark suit at the door, Enitan
asked, “What kind of club is this?”

Taking her hand, Odette responded, “Let’s just say it’s a

special club.” Shrugging. “Thought we’d do something
different.” Very different. They weren’t going for a midnight
picnic.

Enitan’s hand went to her neck.

Was she being presumptuous, thinking a girl like Enitan

would enjoy a sex club? Maybe she should have… Mmm.
Asking the women in her life on matters like this wasn’t
something she did. She wanted to see the relaxed Enitan, not
the tightly coiled, sexually frustrated one. Yep, she had

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sensed that from the get-go. People under-estimated the

relaxing power of sex. Moving closer, she pulled Enitan’s
chin up. “If you’re uncomfortable, we can go back…” Her
eyes dropped to her lips; she couldn’t wait to kiss them
again.

Enitan’s mouth moved closer.

Ah, she wants it too. Odette smiled as she pulled her

closer and kissed her lips. “Do you want to do this?”

Nodding, as she relaxed into her.

Good, watching as Enitan took her phone from her pocket

and placed it in her bag. Smiling, taking her hand, they
walked up to the man.

Cracking his knuckles as he puffed his chest, questioning

dark brown eyes stared at them. “How may I help you
ladies?”

Odette responded, “Copulatio.”

Pulling a tablet out from the breast pocket of his blazer,

he asked, “Number?”

“1929.”

Tapping the screen, he stared at Odette, then looked back

at the screen. Eventually, satisfied, he tapped on something,
soon after the click of the door opening, reached their ears.

“My colleague, will take your stuff off you and give you
a locker number, and some forms for her to sign.” Pointing
to Enitan. “Have a great evening.”
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“Thank you,” Odette murmured as they moved towards

the black door.

The door closed behind them as they made their way into
a reasonably sized foyer. Paintings decorated the walls—
from flowers to abstract art. The glare of the lights reflected
on the dark, polished wooden floors. The subdued sound of
music reached their ears, coming from one of the doors
dotted around the foyer. Another man in a suit was standing
next to a table with a tablet in his hands.

The man looked down at his tablet and turned to Odette.

“Is this your guest?”

“Yes. 1929.”

He nodded, swiped something on his tablet, and handed

it over to Enitan. “Sign this.”

Confused, Enitan turned to Odette.

Odette tried to put her at ease. “It’s just the rules of the
place. An NDA, the people who come here need to know
their privacy is protected.”

Nodding, Enitan took the tablet off the man and signed.

Odette whispered, “What happens here stays here.”

“Phones?” The man was staring at Enitan’s bag.

Handing back the tablet, Enitan nodded. “Yes, they are in

my bag.”

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Scanning the screen, satisfied all documents had been

signed, he pointed to a door. “Please go there and hand it
over to the lady in there. She will give you a locker.”

Odette moved aside while she waited for Enitan. Minutes

later she came out, looking around, curiosity burning in her
eyes.

“Done?” Odette asked.

Enitan nodded.

Picking up what looked like a wand, he waved it over the

ladies. Satisfied they weren’t holding on to prohibited items,
the man opened a door to his right. “Welcome ladies, have a
great evening.”

Nodding, Odette ushered Enitan through the door. Old

school RnB was playing in the background as they walked
into an enormous room. The lighting had been kept dim, just
like a night-club. People were milling around, talking,
scantily dressed waiters carried trays laden with drinks and
food. Odette scanned the room, she had requested her
favourite table—hidden away, but with a view of what was
going on in the club. Great. It had a reserved card on it.
Taking Enitan by the hand, she led them to their table.

A tall, handsome, topless muscle-bound waiter came

over. “Good evening, ladies.”

Enitan all eyes nodded. “Hi.”

Scanning the reservation card on the table, he asked. “The

usual ma’am.”

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Odette nodded.

It was very entertaining to watch Enitan take in what was

happening around her. People dancing to the music. A small
crowd had gathered to watch someone being tied up, people
crawling behind their Doms/Domme. If she couldn’t get it
off with Enitan tonight, at least she would get some
entertainment.

Enitan’s mouth was slightly open. “Is this a sex club?”

Come on, virgin. Obviously, otherwise, why were people

in a state of undress? “Hmm, yes I suppose so…”

“When you said adult, I did not know what to expect.”

Decadence and erotica. Odette placed a hand on her arm.

“Relax, it’s entertaining, to say the least. I come here on my
own most times.”

A frown marred her beautiful face. “To do what…”

Enitan’s eyes were glued on a couple in a darkened corner
of the room. Unless you looked properly, you wouldn’t
know the woman was giving someone a blow job.

Get off on watching other people, wishing I was with

someone else. “Watch. Observe. Imagine what’s going on
between couples. Did they meet here? Or are they an
established couple, here to live out some kinky fantasy?”

Enitan’s eyes widened.

The innocence. Chuckling, she noticed Enitan’s eyes

bulge when she saw another couple in a corner. Two ladies,
one on her knees. “That couple over there.”
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“Who?” Her neck did not move.

“The two ladies you’re staring at. They’re married to each

other, with two kids.”

Enitan’s head turned, shock written all over her face.

“How do you know?”

Now wasn’t the time to blow anyone’s cover, instead she

shrugged. All people had fantasies, no matter how mundane
they were. It was the fear of rejection and ridicule that made
most people lock them away and throw away the key.
“You’re into film, right?”

Enitan’s eyes, back on the couple, nodded.

“Then watching people and thinking about what is going

on with their lives should come to you naturally.”

Mouth open, eyes wide, she replied, “It does interest me,
just that I’ve never been in a place like this before.”

Most people hadn’t, and it wasn’t something you

discussed while eating cake and drinking earl grey. “Would
you have come to a place like this on your own?”

Voice emphatic. “Never.” Enitan shifted on her chair.

Most people wouldn’t, coming out to your friends was

one thing. Telling them you enjoyed going to sex clubs was
a totally different kettle of fish.

Their muscle-bound waiter was back, she nodded as he

placed an ice bucket with a bottle of rose Laurent Perrie on
their table, Odette asked, “Do you like Champagne?”
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Eyes bright, Enitan’s turned towards her. “Yes, thank

you.”

Waiting till the waiter left, she held up the glass and
watched as Enitan did the same. “So, tell me, Enitan, do you
have any kinky fantasies?” Clinking her glass to hers, taking
a sip of her drink, she kept her eyes on her.

Enitan choked on her drink.

Ooo. Interesting. “Are you ok?” If asking that question

got her flustered…

She nodded, blinking rapidly.

How sweet, she must have at least one fantasy. With a

body like hers, she must have been everyone’s—men and
women—wet dream at some point or the other. She certainly
was hers, what would her nipples look like… the curve of
her hips… Her sweet voice pulled her out…

“Erm… I don’t have any per se.” Enitan croaked, as she

tried to recover her vocal cords.

Coming out of her lust filled reel, Odette turned her

attention to the goddess at her table. “Really… mmm… let’s
see. Do you like spanking?” That was as mundane as it got,
a quick spank while twisting a taut nipple.

Unable to meet her gaze, Enitan looked down at her drink.

Amused, Odette watched as her eyes darted around the

room, they went back to the women who were now in a post
coital embrace. Hmm, shyness or… reluctance. “Has anyone

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spanked your bum during sex?” If her eyes could drop out,
they would.

“Not really…”

Yes or no, the ambiguous answer meant she had either

thought of it or wanted to try it. Maybe she was being unfair,
not everyone would or could talk about their sexual fantasies
with someone they’d just met. Dropping her gaze to her
breasts, unfortunately, she was wearing a padded bra. “If
I…” Licking her lips. “Were to spank you during sex, would
you say no?” Her hands tingled in anticipation. Already
imagining the warmth of her skin.

Enitan’s brows shot up.

Bingo. She could tell her imagination was in overdrive as

she fidgeted on her seat. The pulse in her neck throbbed. Was
she imagining them together? “What’s going through your
mind right now?” Daring her to lie.

Eyes wide like someone who’d been caught with their

fingers in the cookie jar, she touched her neck, then looked
down at the table. They hadn’t ordered snacks yet, so
unfortunately there weren’t any objects to help distract her
other than a red serviette. “Nothing…”

Her hands were definitely itching to feel that heavy curve

of flesh. Knead it, caress it. “Nothing really?” Moving in. “If
I come closer and caress your skin, will your nipples pucker
for me…”

Muscles undulated along Enitan’s elegant neck.

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Odette wanted to run her lips up and down that neck of

hers, introduce her to the erogenous zones located there she
didn’t know existed. “Will your core ache if I gently bite on
that hard nipple?” Odette lowered her eyes onto her breasts.

Enitan’s chest was heaving underneath her shimmery

blouse. Jaw slack, she parted her lips, but she remained
silent.

Lips that were begging to be kissed, but Odette wouldn’t

give her that satisfaction. This game was way more
interesting. Going straight for the kill. “If I put a finger in
between your legs right now, will it be wet…”

Looking down on the table, Enitan bit her lower lip. “No,”
she whispered, her chest heaving.

Really. Odette moved closer. “Prove it.”

Enitan stared at her askance.

This was a sex club, putting fingers in your own or your

partner’s nether regions was par for the course. “Take your
hand, put it in your knickers, and tell me how hard your clit
is.” That bud must have come out of hibernation by now and
be erect as a flag at full mast.

Blinking rapidly, Enitan’s mouth opened wide, unable to

hold her gaze, she looked down at her drink.

Hmm, was she offended? Let’s try something else. “Or

would you like me to do it?” Circling a finger on her
champagne flute.

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Licking her lips, Enitan’s eyes gleamed as their focus

shifted to Odette’s fingers. Caught out, she stopped and
lifted her glass to take a sip of her drink.

Aha. She would do it, even if she wanted to prove her

wrong. Enitan hadn’t got up in disgust or indignation yet.
“You’re so wound-up, Enitan… it’s coming off you in
waves. You need something… so …” Staring into her eyes.
“Take your hand, put it over your knickers, and tell me how
warm it is.” Pulling the table closer, her hands were now
hidden from view.

Lips pursed, she asked, “Are you forcing me to do

something I don’t want to do?” Her fingers tight on the stem
of her glass.

Odette stared, an interesting choice of words. “I can’t

force you to do what you want to do.”

Enitan’s eyes narrowed.

“I can try and persuade you…” Taking a sip of her drink.

“Will you let me put my hand in your knickers to feel how
warm it is?”

Bingo! Desire burned in her eyes, maybe she wasn’t bi

curious. “Have you been with a woman before?”

Placing her drink on the table, Enitan folded the red

serviette. “Not really.”

Really? What kind of answer was that? “Do you like

women?”

She stared at her drink for a while, then nodded.

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Hmm, Odette laughed and put her glass on the table.

“Were you a politician… before going into film, you always
say not really.”

Enitan giggled and took a sip of her drink.

Staring into her eyes, fingers circling the rim of her glass.
“So I ask you again, if I put my finger down there, would
you say no?”

Bright eyes darted to Odette’s fingers, Enitan shook her

head.

Finally, they were getting somewhere. However, she

wouldn’t get her wish. “Imagine they are my fingers.” She
watched, amused, as Enitan’s hands went under the table.
Odette focused her eyes on Enitan’s nipples, imagining them
hardening on the tip of her tongue. “Is it warm?”

Enitan nodded.

“On a scale of one to five, how wet are you, five being
very.”

“Five.” Her voice soft.

“Now put your finger over the pulsing bud for me… tell
me how it feels.”

With her breath ragged, Enitan whispered, “It’s n…”

“Not…” Odette cocked her head. “Really, not hard, not

aching to be touched?”

Her eyes looked dazed.

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“Gently move down and put a finger in that juicy honey

pot.” Her eyes focused on the movement of her arms. “Go
back up, gently stroke your clit…”

Odette watched as Enitan’s arms moved, her fingers still

hidden from view.

“Now start caressing that, it’s getting harder, isn’t it?”

Eyes glazed, Enitan nodded.

“Move your fingers up higher so that you are stroking

that tiny bud, not the folds.” Odette’s clit was pulsing as she
imagined Enitan’s fingers working below the table. “I can
just imagine it hardening in my mouth. Add some more
honey to it, Eni…” Moisture gushed into her panties.

Enitan’s ragged breathing echoed between them; her eyes

were closed.

I want to be part of this. “Open your eyes and look at me.”

Alarmed, Enitan eyes shot open.

Good, she listens. “That feels nice, doesn’t it?”

Enitan nodded.

“Fantastic. Now dip into the honey, move back up and

stroke it, have you found that exquisite spot? That part of
your clit that has risen erect looking for my teeth… begging
for…”

Enitan’s other hand snaked out to hold on to Odette’s arm.

“Yes. Tee… Oh…” Her body arched forward.
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Odette moved closer. “Tell me, how many fingers do you

want me to…”

The muscles on her neck were moving. “Tee… oh my…

two…”

Chuckling. “You greedy girl. Look at me Enitan. Keep on

caressing that bud for me.”

Eyes wide and bulging, she stared, wonder in her eyes.

She was close, closing her eyes, her arms moving to the
rhythm her fingers were strumming on the magical
instrument below. It was so erotic watching her. Pushing the
table away, Enitan’s other hand held on to Odette. Her body
arched, her scream when she orgasmed, drowned into the
noises of the other people in the club.

Chest heaving, Enitan slumped against her, her breathing

erratic. Holding her, Odette caressed her warm forehead and
waited for her to come down. Pulling her chin up, she said,
“That was so erotic, Enitan…”

Suddenly shy, Enitan tried to look away.

“Look at me.” She claimed her lips, biting gently on the

lower one as she kissed her deeply. Her nipples stiffened.
Reluctantly, she pulled away. “There’s nothing to be
ashamed of sexual release. You’ll feel better for it.” She
called over a waiter and ordered them some more drinks.
“You needed it.”

##

For the first time in her life Enitan, let her hair and basked
in the freedom of doing something naughty… so naughty her
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cheeks still went warm when she thought about it. If

someone had told her a week ago that she should masturbate
in a public place. She would have said, “olorun maje.”
Now… lowering her eyelids, she looked over at Tee. Her
skin glowed under the lights as she joked with a lady who
was talking to her.

Picking up her glass, she took a sip of her drink. The club
was an eye opener for Enitan, the music was great going
from one genre to the next. She danced with others,
sometimes alone, but all the while Tee kept her eyes on her.

A few people had asked if she wanted to join them, she

had gently, while smiling, said no. What better way to learn
how to network, than by saying no to a threesome in a very
polite manner. What would her mum say if she saw her now,
chuckling as she walked back to their table, sat down and
took a sip of her drink.

The wine and food had flowed through the night. Tee was
an excellent host. She couldn’t remember the last time she
had let her hair down and had this much fun. The
conversation had flowed between them, Enitan though
drinking didn’t over share. She just wanted to have fun…
enjoy the weekend… if she never saw Tee again, it would be
a weekend she would not forget in a hurry. Plus she would
have something to share with her grandchildren.

The lights dimmed a bit and the music switched to sultry

R&B. Grabbing her arm, Tee pulled her up and pulled her
close as they danced near their table. “I don’t think you’re in
a state to go back home on your own tonight.”

I agree. Enitan’s body tingled, pulling Tee’s face forward

she kissed her on the lips. “Thank you for a great night, Tee.”
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Looking around the club. “I will not forget this in a very long
time.”

“I hope not.” Kissing her on the lips. “Like I said, you can
stay in the spare room and leave in the morning.”

Enitan nodded. Moving back to their table, Tee beckoned

a waiter and asked for a taxi.

Shortly after, a waiter came to tell them their taxi was

outside. Tired after a long night out, Enitan laid her head on
Tee’s shoulder in the taxi and fell asleep. Once they got back
to her apartment, Tee poured two glasses of orange juice and
handed one to Enitan. Then led Enitan to the room she had
used earlier to freshen up.

Standing by the door, her eyes bright, Tee said, “I had a

great night. Get some sleep.”

Suddenly feeling shy, Enitan took a sip of her orange

juice and placed it on the table. “Thank you for a wonderful
evening.”

“Good night.” Tee put her hand on the door and closed it
behind her.

Phew… Omo, what a night. She checked her phone other

than messages from her apps, nothing. Her aunt had sent a
message earlier to say they were home and David was in bed.

Enitan rubbed her hands over her face and looked around
the enormous room, this bedroom alone was bigger than her
sitting, and dining room combined. The lavender coloured
sheets looked inviting on the large bed, whoever her friend
was, definitely liked the finer things in life.
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Swiftly taking off her clothes, Enitan headed to the

bathroom. Why did it have to be the size of some people’s
bedrooms? Bottles of expensive looking handwash and body
lotion from a brand she couldn’t even pronounce graced two
gleaming counter tops. Yes, this bathroom had two
countertops, no arguing or telling someone to hurry up
brushing their teeth in the morning.

The huge shining shower cubicle housed at least three

shower heads at different angles. What looked like the
controls for an airplane was on one wall of the shower. Not
wanting to show up her village self, she pondered on how to
get water out of just one faucet. After a couple of minutes
trying the knobs, she finally got one of them working.

Clean and refreshed, feet on a soft bath-mat, she pulled a

white towel from the warm rail and wrapped it around body.
Her eyes took in the toiletries, housed on another shelf,
replete with make-up remover, face scrubs, etc… Two
beautiful, handcrafted glass containers were filled to the
brim with moisturiser—one labelled day and another night.
Pouring some of the night into her palm, she sniffed it. A
soothing blend of chamomile, lavender, and something she
couldn’t describe hit her nostrils. It was enough to make her
want to lie down and sleep immediately. Clean, refreshed
and moisturised, she picked up the new toothbrush, brushed
her teeth and headed back into the bedroom.

Tee, the considerate host, had laid out on the bed, a silky
night dress, brand new pants and a silk scarf. Putting the
towel on the back of the chair, she wore the dress. The soft
silk was like a caress on her body. Money was good o. Now
she could understand why sexiness was associated with silk.
It put you in the mood, to be touched, caressed.

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Impressed, Enitan let out a loud sigh of satisfaction as her

body sank onto the incredibly soft bed. Closing her eyes, she
drifted off, but minutes later her eyes were wide open, her
body too wired to sleep. The area between her legs twitched,
looking for its homing device.

Her stimulated mind kept her entertained as it looped

through what it would be like to have Tee’s lips, hands and
her mouth on her body. That scene in the club had opened
the flood-gates of wanton desire in her. She had never
initiated sex; she’d never had the opportunity to. She had
never been with the one she truly wanted.

Unable to sleep, she rolled over; the silk caressing her

body like a lover. Like… Her eyes kept straying to the door.
Would she or could she? Tossing and turning she took the
decision, worst case, she would be turned down. Biting her
lower lip, she pulled back the covers, the wooden floor cool
against her bare feet did nothing to tamp the fire kindling in
her as she headed to the door.

What if she rejected her? Opening the door as quietly as

possible, she wandered into the dark, quiet living room,
trying to figure out where the other bedroom was.

Her journey of exploration ended abruptly as her eyes

drank in the scene before her. Tee was lying on the sofa, in
a long white t-shirt, she had changed out of the clothes she
had on earlier. A glass with brown liquid was on the stool
next to her. Her cat-like eyes opened. “Enitan, are you ok?”
Sitting up on the sofa.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Enitan murmured, “I

couldn’t sleep, maybe the bed…”

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Tee got up, her face devoid of make-up, shone in the

gloom. She smelt like chocolate as Enitan moved closer to
her, going while she still had the courage, she wrapped her
hands round her neck and kissed Tee.

Taking a breath, Tee pulled her in, her nipples stabbing

through the fabric of her shirt. “Are you sure about this?”

Nodding, Enitan kissed her some more.

Tee pulled her close and kissed her bare shoulder, then
stopped.

“Tee… Mmm…”

“Are you sure about this, Enitan?” Her bright eyes going
over her body were like fingers touching her skin.

Sure of what? Having those lips explore her body, men

she was damn sure of that. Enitan nodded.

Tee moved back, creating distance between them.

Enitan’s heart sank, she was going to reject her. Wasn’t

she good…

“Take that dress off.” Tee’s voice was firm, but silky soft.

Breath hitching, Enitan’s heart hammered in her chest.

Tee’s eyes were on her face. “I want to see you. Drink in

the beauty of you.” Her voice thickened.

Heat spread in her abdomen, feeling desired Enitan

moved back and loosened the sash of the gown she wore.
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The dress crumpled onto the floor in a silent heap, heart

hammering in her chest. She hadn’t worn the new panties as
her hands were going to cover…

Tee shook her head. “Enitan, put your hands down by

your sides.”

If she had known she would be on display, she would have

shaved. Mortified by the amazon jungle, Tee was staring at.

“You look beautiful, just the way a woman should look.”

Bright eyes lingered on her body with desire.

The look in Tee’s eyes as they hungrily took her in made

the moisture trickle down her legs. Her arousal permeated
the air between them.

Tee licked her lips. “Enitan, you’re a goddess that I can

stare at all day.” Her eyes started on her neck, went down
her legs and back up again.

Enitan’s nipples pebbled under that heated gaze.

Moving closer to her Tee, pulled up her chin and put her
lips gently on hers. Running a finger along her collarbone,
she whispered, “You’re going to tell me how to touch
you…”

More moisture snaked its way down her leg. Her breath
was like a caress on her skin.

Tee continued, “Where to touch you… so that all I hear

is you screaming my name.” She stopped.

Enitan’s heartbeat echoed in her ears as her clit throbbed.

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“Begging me to continue, begging me for more, begging

me to make you cum.”

Desire shot through Enitan’s core, the words opening her

up for the exploration she wanted this mysterious woman to
embark on.

Tee pushed her gently back on to the sofa. “Open your

eyes, I want to see you… I want you to see how much I want
you…

Her moisture sodden leg squeaked on the leather sofa.

“Enitan, you’re so beautiful…”

Her lips traced a trail along her neck before using her
tongue to swirl round on the hollow between her collarbone.
Enitan jerked. Her hands came up to grab hold of Tee’s face.

“No touching. I want you focused on the sensations of

your body.”

“But…”

Tee chuckled. “No buts…” Mischief gleamed in her eyes,

as her lips worked its way down her rib-cage, she blew air
over a nipple before moving lower to kiss the flesh
underneath her breasts, then nibbling on the underside of her
breast.

“Tee. Umm…” Her nipples and clit were sending

messages to each other. Her hands moved to…

“Relax…” Her lips moved up and her teeth grazed a

nipple.
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A jolt of desire travelled all the way down to the centre of

gravity and throbbed. “Oh.. Tee… Yes… more…” Heat
fired up on her body, she wanted those lips on her nipples
that were rock hard and wanting.

“Tee… Please…”

“Where do you want me to go?”

Enitan was lost in a world of lust, all that mattered was

something to latch on to her breast and a hand or a mouth on
her pussy, the need so great she tried to close her thighs for
relief.

Tee smiled. “Your nipples are so beautiful. I can’t wait to

do this.” And ever so gently, she took a taut nipple into her
mouth and bit on it gently.

“Yes… Tee… umm…” Enitan lost it as the stream

slicking on her thighs continued. She was lost in the
sensations Tee was eliciting from her body.

She moved on to the next breast while using her fingers

to play with her other one.

Her lips travelled down the curve of her abdomen, then

went round and round along the crease between her abdomen
and her pubic bone. Enitan groaned.

“Please Tee, I want you.”

“Where… Here?” As her lips went lower. “Or here?” Her

finger twisted on her taut nipple.

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By the time she moved lower and put a hand over her
folds, Enitan was whimpering. “Please Tee. I want you …”

“Like this…” Her fingers went into her. Enitan squeezed

tight, pulling her fingers out wet from her juices she swirled
it over her exposed clit.

Enitan shuddered, it felt so good. “Yes… please don’t

stop it.” Her breath ragged.

“Or like this…” Moving down as she clasped her tongue

over her folds.

A guttural scream came out of Enitan’s mouth and for the

first time in her life, she reached orgasm at the hands of
another person. A woman.

##

At some point during the night they had moved into the
bedroom where Tee had used a soft wash-cloth to clean
Enitan, before she continued on her exploration quest, she
lost count how many time Tee’s fingers and hands strung her
to bliss over and over again. Body languid and her clit
throbbing for an early breakfast, Enitan put a hand over her
side to draw in the warmth of the naked body beside her.

The bed was empty, her eyes flew open, temporarily

confused at her surroundings, memories of the night before
came flooding back. Rolling over to the other side, she
checked her phone. It was 10 AM. Damn. She needed to go
home to her son. Her night on the town was over.

Getting up, she headed to the bathroom, showered,

brushed her teeth, and packed her bag. Her stomach growled
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as the aroma of bacon hit her. Swiftly putting on her clothes,

she headed into the kitchen. Blue skies greeted her from the
bright windows, classical music was playing softly in the
background. Pausing, her eyes took in Tee, dressed in a
skimpy t-shirt, humming to a tune while dishing food onto
two plates. Her heart burst with… Don’t do pass yourself o.
This is what it would be like… This was just a sleepover, not
the beginning of playing house.

Tee, sensing her presence, looked up. A bright smile

spread across her face. “Good morning sleepy head.” Her
bright eyes dimmed when they took in the fact that she was
fully dressed with her handbag slung over her arm.

“Take a seat.”

Stomach growling, Enitan put a hand up. “I have to go.”

Putting eggs on a plate, Tee said, “Come on, you must eat
before you go. I insist.”

Let us eat o, I beg as her tummy grumbled. Nodding,

Enitan responded, “Ok. Thank you.”

Smiling, Tee put a plate of eggs, bacon, sausages,

mushrooms, toast and baked beans in front of her.

Enitan’s mouth watered at the prospect of sustenance

made for her by someone else. “Looks nice, I am starving.”

Winking Odette responded, “You should be, you

definitely burned a lot of calories last night.”

Enitan’s cheeks, above and below, went warm.

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Placing some orange juice and coffee on the table, they

tucked into breakfast.

Trying to make conversation, Enitan asked, “How’s your

course going?”

Odette popped a sausage into her mouth. “Hectic, it’s like

assignment galore. I also have to travel up north with my
boss this week.”

That must be hard, hopefully they paid her enough.

“What about you?”

Buttering some toast Enitan responded, “Busy too, with

never ending assignments. Those lecturers just like piling
stuff on us.”

Tee laughed.

Not wanting to be rude, Enitan helped to clear up, she

emptied the sink and put the utensils in the dishwasher.
Excusing herself to use the toilet, Enitan came out to see Tee
standing by the floor to ceiling windows, lost in thought.

On impulse, she went over to Tee and nestled in her arms.

“Thank you for a wonderful weekend.”

Tee pulled her closer. “Thank you, Enitan. I had a

wonderful time. Let me call you an Uber. What’s the
address?”

“You don’t need to do that.” Taking the tube and bus

would help her decompress from the weekend she had before
getting to her aunt’s place.
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“I insist.”

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Chapter 15

Sated from food and sex, Enitan relaxed in the back of

the car, lost in thought as she watched people and the
London skyline pass by. A strange pang hit her chest, when
she left Tee earlier, getting into the taxi she told herself to
get over it. There was no point kidding herself that this
weekend was the start of something grand. Women like Tee
had nothing to do with people like her. It was just a one-
night stand that started in a food shop. Abi.

The Uber quickly cutting the through the distance on the

quiet Sunday morning, most people were still in bed or
enjoying a leisurely late breakfast.

Thanking the driver, she exited the car and walked up the
steps to her aunt’s front door. The flower boxes on the
windowsill were beginning to bloom, cascading in a riot of
yellows, greens, and reds. She smiled at the display as she
waited for the door to open.

The clanging of the chain soon reached her ears. “Good

morning party girl,” her aunt said as she opened the door.
Showcasing her trim body in a black tee shirt and jeans, a
multi coloured bonnet completed her Sunday look.

“Nice fashion statement.” Enitan grinned.

Laughing, her aunt held the door open for her to step in.

“Hope you guys had a great time?” Enitan asked as they

headed towards the kitchen.

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Switching on the kettle, her aunt responded, “Yes, it was

fun. Great way to acquaint myself with the latest character
the kids are into.” Setting two mugs on the table. “Tea or
coffee?”

“Tea please.”

Cocking her head to the side, she narrowed her eyes. “Did
you go to a spa?”

Spa? “No, why?”

Squinting, her aunt responded, “It must have been a good

weekend. You’re practically glowing. NEPA could tap into
it and light up the whole of Nigeria for a month.”

“Haba.” Her clit tingled, aching or reliving all the

attention it had received the night before.

Putting tea bags into the cups, her aunt asked, “What did
you get up to?”

“Nothing much.” Orgasming from someone else’s

ministrations for the first time… Kissing a girl. “We had
dinner, then a group of us went to a club after.” A tiny group.
No way was she going to explain what kind of club they went
to. Heat rushed to her cheeks and somewhere else as she
remembered what she did. That was tantamount to having
sex in public… but it had been…

“Cool.” Winking. “He must have been a great guy.”

Pursing her lips. “Hmm… yeah.” The guy sure knew how
to kiss. Sighing.

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The floorboards outside the kitchen creaked, she looked

up as her aunt’s housemate, in a pair of pink lounging
bottoms and tank top, wandered into the kitchen.

Becca was half Indian and half Jamaican, if she hadn’t

been an architect, she could have easily been a model, 6ft,
willowy, dark thick long hair, edgy cheekbones that bronzer
and blusher make love to every time they touched her skin.
In a way, she reminded her of…

“Hi Enitan.” Nodding to her as she approached the fridge.

“You look great.” Pausing, she narrowed her eyes. “What
have you been up to this weekend? Spa?”

Wow! The sex must have been good. Stop kidding yourself
girl, it was awesome. Touching her neck, good sex must be
a great relaxant, especially when you did it with someone
who knew their way around a woman’s body.

“I’m just about to make some tea, would you like some?”
Her aunt asked.

“Sure, thank you.” Her megawatt smile focused on her

aunt.

Her aunt returned the smile.

Taking out a tub of yoghurt, Becca came over and joined

them at the island in the middle of the kitchen. Her hair, left
to its own devices, was a riot of curls cascading down to her
shoulders.

As long-term house mates, it was interesting to see how

well they got on, even taking turns to cook meals. There was
an easy camaraderie between the two of them. Shame that
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neither one had found a partner, as they seemed to have

embraced spinsterhood wholeheartedly, instead. Was that
going to be her life, too?

Coming back to the present, Enitan touched her face. Was

she really glowing that much?

“She spent the weekend with a college friend, and they

went out clubbing.” Her aunt declared, poking Becca on the
elbow as she placed steaming cups of tea on the counter.

Becca winked. “Someone needs an early night, then.”

Putting a spoon of yoghurt in her mouth. “I can’t remember
the last time I did that. You young ones have all the energy.”

“Look who’s talking.” Her aunt said, putting the cup to

her lips, shooting a smile at Becca.

Becca raised her brows at her aunt.

“Maybe we should go out clubbing instead of babysitting

next time.”

Becca nodded, she helped with her son, when her aunt
was unavailable. Between the two of them, they had her
back. David basked in the attention; it was like having two
youthful, doting grandmothers at his beck and call.

Trying not to choke on her tea, she wondered what they

would make of the club? Discussing her sex life with her
aunt—even though she wasn’t the preachy, spinster type—
was a no-no. Talking to her mum about her sexuality had
never been an option. And sadly, most probably never would
be. She had enough to deal with, the rivalry that existed

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between her mum and her aunt was something she could do
without.

With the sun streaming in through the blinds, they sat at

the island in the middle of the massive kitchen and caught
up on the latest gossip, doing the rounds in the UK and
Nigeria. It was endearing to watch the two women as they
talked about issues. Even when they disagreed on subjects,
it was handled in a loving and caring way.

Enitan was taking a sip of her tea when her son wandered
into the kitchen. “Mummy, you’re here.” Rushing over to
give her a hug.

Bending down, she pulled him in as she ruffled his hair.

“I hear you had a wonderful time yesterday.”

Nodding, he rushed over to a side table and came back

with a bag full of souvenirs. Enitan looked up, her aunt and
Becca were staring at her son with pride, they then looked at
each other and smiled. She was so lucky to have such a great
support system.

Packing up his things she got them ready to go back

home, the weather had chilled, and the streetlights were on
by the time they got back home. Walking through her tiny
living room, her mind re envisioned the penthouse she had
spent her weekend, their place suddenly looked cramped and
tiny. But at least they had a place…

Rummaging in the freezer, she brought out some mixed

vegetables to accompany the hash she put in the fridge
before her sex filled weekend. Her body tingled as memories
flooded her mind while she emptied the clothes that had been
stuck in the machine while she had been out.
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“Thank you, mummy.” Her son’s voice pulled her out of

her sex haze.

Face flush, she turned her attention to her son. Dark

brown skin, he had her eyes, but that was it. All the rest of
his features were all his dad’s. He would grow up to be a fine
young man. But she hoped he would be caring and
considerate. Breathing positivity into the air between them,
she willed it would be.

Looking at the time on the wall, it was late. “Put your

things away, I will bring you a cup of hot chocolate and you
can read to me before you go to bed.”

Eyes bright, he returned the toys he had taken to her

aunt’s place back into the various storage boxes in the corner
of the room. They had gone from having a living room the
size of their flat, to barely any space at all. But her son hadn’t
complained, he had taken the adventure of living in a new
country in his stride. If only for his sake, she needed to make
this move work. Her son’s future depended on her success.

Minutes later, on his bed, with her son’s head on her

shoulder, he read her a story about a black superhero.
Minutes into his reading, he fell asleep. Tenderness and love
bloomed in her heart as she gently pulled him off her and
covered him with his black panther duvet. Holding him tight,
she said a prayer and kissed his forehead. Murmuring
something in his sleep, he snuggled into his pillow, lost to
the world.

Getting up, Enitan took a sip of the now lukewarm hot

chocolate and closed the door behind her. Cup in hand, she
went to sit on the sofa, savouring the silence of the flat. Her
mind and body were in different places.
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Her first sexual encounter with a woman had been mind

blowing, and everything her romanticised mind had dreamed
about. Sure it had taken her a long time, but she had reached
there.

She took another sip of the drink. “Yuk, I need something

smoother.” Her eyes went to the bottle of Baileys on the
counter in the kitchen. Closing her eyes as her thoughts went
once again to Tee.

Even if they did not see each other again, she’d had a
wonderful weekend. Heat washed over her body. Whenever
her mind went to Tee, her clit tingled, wanting more.

Later that night, as she tossed and turned in her bed, she
could not stop thinking about how she had touched her, how
she had lost herself in her arms. Her pussy throbbed
whenever she remembered all the things they did. Her clit
missed the attention, her nipples missed her lips. Chai, that
lady, had taken her to heaven and back.

Turned on and unable to sleep, she got up, might as well

expend her pent-up energy and do some work on her final
assignment. Heading to the fridge, she poured some cold
apple juice into a glass. Grabbing the bar stool, she powered
up her laptop.

Her eyes fell on the prospectus for her film school, one of
the top ones in the UK, with some of the alumni heavy hitters
on both sides of the Atlantic. Keeping the whole one happy
family alive vibe—they normally reached out to the lecturers
about places for newbies to learn their craft. It was a tradition
that had been going on for years. A lot of the award-winning
directors acknowledged that their break had come from the
seniors at the school before them.
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The last time she had her one-on-one with her lecturer, he
had mentioned a few jobs going with some of the top
directors, looking for students to help them with some
projects.

Looking at her pointedly, he said, “It would be a great

opportunity for someone who was talented, dedicated, and
focused…”

Was he saying she wasn’t? She needed to be one of them.

Pulling up her assignment, she stared at her document,

two lousy pages. She needed inspiration, or was it
motivation.

Sipping of her cold apple juice did nothing to quench the

fires burning below, accepting she wouldn’t be writing
anything that made sense. Enitan closed her laptop and went
to bed. Unfortunately, her mind and body now in unison
were elsewhere, tossing and turning her body did nothing to
dampen the heat radiating between her legs. For the first time
in a very long time, she masturbated herself to sleep.

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Chapter 16

Odette was soldering metal at her workbench when Hugo

tapped on the door, putting the torch down she looked over.

Face flushed, he kept patting down his hair. “Erm, there’s

someone for you at reception. Says he’s got a package for
you.”

What’s up with him? Frowning at him, her phoned buzzed

on the table.

New message from Jeremy: The package is at reception.

Package?

The tiara…?

Yes!

Excitement coursing through her. She turned off the iron,

picked up her phone, and followed him out of the door.
Puzzled, as he continuously adjusted his collar and tucked
his shirt into his jeans. Interesting. By the time they reached
their destination, a convention she hadn’t been invited to was
happening at the front desk. Everyone, it seemed, was there.

When she sighted her visitor, she understood why. The

epitome of masculinity was holding court, seemingly
unaware of the effect he was having on the man and women
present. His build and demeanour, screamed security the
minute she laid eyes on him. Muscular broad shoulders,

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barely contained in his black suit, were paired with bulky

biceps that could easily lift most men off the ground.

Tall, dark, and very romance book handsome, no wonder

the ladies were in a bit of a tiz-woz. Hugo’s reaction was a
surprise. Interesting…

Plastering a smile on her face, she turned to her visitor,

her eyes widening when she sighted the cuffed briefcase.
Ah… Chuckling, there must be a lot of wet knickers right
now.

“Hi, I’m Odette, I believe you have something for me?”

Hard brown eyes stared at her as he pulled out his phone

from his breast pocket. Keeping eye contact, he tapped
something on the screen.

Her phone buzzed in her hand; she entered the code

Jeremy had given her earlier.

Nodding at something on his screen, the man said,

“Verification done.” Raising thick black brows, he asked,
“Can we go somewhere private?”

From the corner of her eye, she could see the effect his
deep, rich baritone had on the receptionist and the other
ladies. Hugo’s reaction was… Hold on, was Hugo gay? She
never knew she worked with such a highly excitable bunch
of people.

Cocking her head. “Sure, follow me.” The black tiara had
arrived. Her receptionist winked. Hugo stepped forward.

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Odette shook her head. “Thank you. I can take it from

here.” Nodding to the courier.

When they got to her office, she pulled the blinds and
locked the door. Ever cautious, the courier’s eyes darted
around the room, that’s when she noticed the earpiece. Her
friend wasn’t taking any chances. Placing the case on the
table, he took a key from his pocket and unlocked the cuff
on his wrist.

Click. Click. The sound jarring in the sudden eerie silence

of her office, as the case slowly opened to reveal it’s precious
cargo. Her nose twitched as a faint whiff of paint bloomed
into the air. Hmm, it must have been stored somewhere being
decorated, rubbing her nose as she walked over. Her hands
shook slightly as she pulled at the brown sack like fabric,
hiding the prize she’d been eager to touch.

Her breath caught at the back of her throat; the stones

sparkled as the light caught the surface. Heart pumping with
excitement, she picked up the tiara and moved it under the
lamp on her work desk. Her palms tingled as something akin
to static energy pulsed through her skin, sending a cold
shiver went down her spine.

The eerie exchange was broken by the continuous

beeping of her phone on the table.

Pressing green, she whispered, “It’s an incredible sight to

behold.”

“I don’t need to ask if you got it then.” Jeremy chuckled.

Distracted, her eyes travelled up to the ceiling, where a

colourful display of light was taking place. Each stone
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refracted a beam of light which seemed to dance to a tune of

their own making, red, white, grey. It was… breathtaking.

“Do you know how long it will take you to do whatever

you need to do?” Jeremy’s voice broke into her trance.

Holding it up in her arms, she mumbled, “I need some

time. I’ll get back to you.”

The courier assured his package had been delivered to the

right person, nodded, and saw himself out.

Awestruck Odette walked around the tiara, taking it in

from different angles. The black tiara, according to its
history, had been designed to be worn in at least four
different configurations. With or without the mysterious
black diamond sections. Dismantling it, it could be made
into a necklace. And the individual diamond sections could
be worn as a brooch or brooches. The possibilities were
endless. And yes, she wanted to test all of them out. Jeremy
and his bride-to-be might have to wait a bit.

But what a lucky woman, being proposed to with a tiara

that some art historians had valued to be in excess of thirty
million pounds. Very romantic…

Hours later, with the tiara locked away, she turned to her
sketch pad, trying to finish a design that had popped in her
head the night before. The inspiration spurred by Enitan’s
naked body. If she could mould her body, she would. Her
skin, was so smooth and soft. Just remembering how
responsive her body was made her heat wash over her body.

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Frustrated and getting no further with her drawing, she

pushed the pad to one side and focused on her bulging paper
in-tray and emails screaming for her attention.

The soft orange glow from her window greeted her when
she looked up, glancing at her watch, it was after ten.
Leaning back in her chair, her ears picked up on the
deafening silence of the building as she made the last
payment on her laptop.

As if waiting for a sign, her tummy growled, pulling out

her phone, she placed a food order via Deliveroo, she would
stay in her flat above the shop tonight. It came in handy when
she had an early start, like tomorrow, when she was meeting
with some diamond merchants from South Africa.

Rubbing a hand over her chin, she stared at the sketch in

her notepad, hoping for inspiration, narrowing her eyes,
something looked odd, turning the pad around, trying to
figure out what it was. That line… when… The hunger
gnawing in her stomach seemed to have taken hold of her
creative edge, frustrated she pushed it away.

Tidying up her desk for the night, she came across a post-
it note with Enitan scrawled at the top of the list.

Work had kept her busy, she had been to Germany and
Paris in the last two weeks. Enitan had been on her mind, but
one thing or the other kept her from reaching out. Too late to
text or too early to call. Or was it that, for once, she was
unsure. Keeping the distance meant it could not get serious
or complicated. Remembering how Enitan’s body had
responded to hers kept her aroused and alert when
negotiating with the guys in the various board rooms. There
had been times she had checked her phone on the off chance
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that Enitan might text. They hadn’t communicated since that

beautiful weekend they had spent together.

Frowning at the piece of paper… When had she written it

down?

Pulling her phone over to place it in her bag, her eyes

dropped on one of Enitan’s old messages. Something akin to
butterflies took flight in her abdomen, her face flashed in her
mind as she relived their time together. Taking the note as a
nudge, she sent a message.

Hey cutie, how are you?

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Chapter 17

Enitan placed a plate of sausages, mash, carrots, and gravy

in front of her son. Pushing the glass of squash away, she
stared at his face, scrunched up in concentration as he did his
homework.

Tired brown eyes looked up from his notebook. “Thank

you, mummy.” The expression changed into a smile when
he saw the contents of the plate.

“Come on, let’s put your stuff away. Go and wash your
hands, then we can eat.”

Eyes bright, he quickly closed his book and went to the

bathroom.

Putting his notebook into his bag, Enitan watched as he

skipped back into the small part of the apartment she had
designated as the dining area. David was tall for his age and
whenever she stared at him, she saw her ex. As usual, guilt
clawed her heart, pondering whether he would be okay with
her life choices. Pushing the thoughts to the back of her
mind, they held hands, said grace, and ate.

“Thank you, mummy, that was yummy.” Picking up his

plate to take to the kitchen. “Please, can I watch TV?”
Imploring brown eyes stared into hers.

“Have you finished your homework?”

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He nodded.

Poking the last piece of sausage with her fork, she

responded, “OK. Just for an hour, then you need to do some
reading.”

Feet propelling him to the kitchen, he rushed, “Thank

you, mummy.” Putting his plate in the sink, he sauntered off
to the sofa and tuned into his favourite channel.

Fifteen minutes later—plates done and kitchen tidy—

armed with a cup of herbal tea, Enitan sat at the table and
pulled over her laptop. Rubbing a hand over her face, the
jumbled text on her document stared back; her mind
otherwise occupied, refused to give up the words needed to
fill her thirty-page assignment. Unable to tune into her
creative frequencies, she dissected a film her lecturer had
given them as homework instead.

Since starting her course, she no longer just watched TV.

Everything was evaluated through the lens of structure,
lighting, and placement. Stretching her neck, she paused the
film and leaned back in her chair, staring ahead of her—there
was a massive cobweb on the ceiling—she needed to start
prepping for the other piece of work that would contribute to
her final project, interviewing past Skyline scholars.
Something along the lines of… A Day in the Life of… but
in the form of a documentary.

Her perfectionist lecturer had hmm’d and ahh’d, but

eventually relented. “OK, you can do something like that,
but do something different, make it so that people who don’t
get the scholarship think they are missing out on a life-
changing opportunity.”

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For once, she had to agree with him, the scholarship had
been a godsend opportunity for her. It was going to change
her life.

Racking her brain for a suitable tagline, she scribbled into

her notepad. Skyline where dreams are delivered. Skyline
where the limit is beyond the sky. None of them sounded
catchy enough to her ears.

Bored, her eyes drifted to the TV. The newsman was

droning on about the discovery of a tiara, the words Nigeria
and lost… caught her attention. Looking around for the
remote, she saw it on the sofa, by the time she went over the
conversation had ended and they had moved on to something
else. Pressing the remote, she switched off the TV.

Restless, walking back to the table, she rubbed her eyes,

her fingers poised on the keyboard, unfortunately her mind
kept straying back to her weekend with Tee. The touches,
the kisses… Whenever she closed her eyes to relive the
moment, her pants got damp and her tummy clenched,
whether it was from butterflies or something else she
couldn’t tell.

This wasn’t good, here she was losing focus, because of

a woman. Since their weekend, she hadn’t heard from her.

Her soft melodious voice echoed in her ears, pulling her

phone towards her, she stared at it, should she contact her?
Tee was way out of her league; she could have any woman
she wanted.

Rolling her eyes, thank god she hadn’t disgraced her

village self, trying to figure out the shower in that penthouse.

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She looked the type who had a lot of women on speed dial…
Why would she be interested in a JJC like her?

What if Tee saw her as a booty call? So, just enjoy the
ride. Enjoy your first entanglement with a woman, without
having to look over your shoulder.

Closing her eyes, she tried to invoke her smell, unable to

do that, her mind continued with its feverish analysis. Being
a player wasn’t just the reserve of men, Tee had mentioned
she had been with a lot of girls… The incessant buzzing on
the table made her open her eyes. Was it…

Sighing, she paused briefly as the caller id flashed on the

screen. Taking a deep breath, she pressed green.

“Have you thought about what I said?”

Her juices and X-rated memories dried like desert dust,

as she rubbed fingers on her forehead, it was time to stop
picking her calls.

“Mum, there’s nothing to think about. I’m done. It’s

over.” Her fingers kneaded the scowl on her forehead.
Breathe. In… out…

“Is that what you want for your child?”

Enitan closed her eyes. “Yes. He is my child; I know

what’s right for him.” But do you? He was conceived
under…

Clucking teeth, her mother responded, “You are using

your own hands to end your marriage.”

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Anger bubbled up in her throat. They were her hands; she

could do what she liked with them, clenching one of them
tightly.

“You’re willing to see the father of your child suffer.”

Father of others, too. Narrowing her eyes, Enitan stared

at the phone. He had a new wife, who shouldn’t and
wouldn’t want such to happen to her husband. Between
them, they could sort out the degree of suffering he should
be subjected to. Nonsense. “I’m not the only woman who
had a child with him.”

“But you are his wife, it is your duty…”

Swallowing a scream, Enitan’s heart raced in her chest.

Was her mother for real? “He has a new wife; she’s the one
who needs to take on that responsibility and ensure his
nakedness is covered in public.” The scheming gold digger
had been under the impression that he was loaded. Sorry, sis,
he deceived you. “It seems you’re more invested in this
marriage than I am.”

“I am only telling you what your duty is. You’re his wife.

“But he has another wife.” Abi. If wife was the issue.

“He is the head of the home.”

“Of course, in Nigeria.” That privilege didn’t extend to

the UK.

Pausing for a beat, her mother continued, “I’m sure it is

your fault he had other women.”

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Excuse me! Of course it was. He had more women than

he could handle before he met me!

“As a woman, you never tried to understand what it is to

keep a man.”

Was it possible to send a virus to her mum’s phone from

here?

“I tried telling you what to do…”

Clenching her hands into a fist. “I have had enough of his

wahala and men in general.” Hysterical, she continued,
“Maybe it is time to be with a woman.” They’d never had
much of a jokey relationship, but it would be interesting to
see her reaction.

“Mitcheww. Listen to yourself. Is this the time to joke at

a time like this? This is the reason your marriage failed. You
don’t take things seriously.”

Breathe Enitan. One… Two… Three. Breathe. I’m

Coming… the tune by Diana Ross started playing in her
head.

“Mitcheww. Heaven forbid; what kind of nonsense is

that?”

It wasn’t nonsense for her. It was reality.

“Men will be men; learn to accept it.”

No thank you, I won’t.

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“All your extra education is making you young women

selfish. How do you expect a Nigerian man to stick to one
woman?”

Shaking her head in frustration, she’d accepted enough.

“Selfish? For wanting your husband to yourself?”

“Look at you now, after one. No husband.”

So. No one said she had to do it forever, plus forever had

never been part of her game plan. Staring at the closed
bedroom door, she lowered her voice; her son could still be
awake. “Mum, don’t try and make me live your life. I am
done with him.”

A loud hiss came through the phone. “Know who you are
talking to, o.”

My mother. Who should support me. Luckily, she didn’t

not have to go through the civil courts to seek a divorce.
David’s dad had been vocal about his disregard for western
laws regarding marriages. “Please return whatever they paid
as bride price. I want to be alone, Auntie…”

“Mitcheww. Of course, you will mention her.”

Harrumphing. “And she is your role model abi, mitcheww.”
The venom in the voice was telling.

Enitan’s hands tightened on the phone.

“Look at her, no husband, no kids. You think that’s

normal for a woman?”

“Yes.”

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“Aye mi.” She snorted. “Ọlọrun mi o, kini mo ṣe lati yẹ

iru ọmọ yii?”

Please… Enitan wished she could shake sense into her

mum. Having a man was not an achievement conferred on
women by higher institutions. For goodness sake, the woman
was a highly respected barrister in the UK. Unfortunately,
that counted for nothing in her mother’s eyes. There was so
much animosity between her mother and her aunt. Enitan
suspected deep down her mother admired her sister’s guts
but would never admit it. As far as her mum was concerned,
being married was a badge of honour, the only thing which
defined a woman’s existence. Without the Mrs. title, a
woman was nothing useless, of no use to society.

Incensed, Enitan responded, “Excuse me, from where I

am standing, she is doing exceptionally well.”

“Mitcheww, tí kò ní ọkọ tí yóò fi ọ̀wọ̀ fún un.”

Enitan stood up. How much had it conferred on her

mother? But that was something she wouldn’t go into.

“Ehn. O n jẹ ki eto-ẹkọ rẹ ṣabọ ọkan rẹ. Ẹnyin mejeji ti kọ

ẹkọ pupọ … Abajọ—”

“Kini?” Spoiling for a fight. If she clenched the phone

tighter, it would break in two.

Moving into the kitchen, the signal dropped as she put the
kettle on. “Mio o gbo yin.” Ending the call, she tried to calm
her racing heart.

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Battling depression and at her lowest ebb, Enitan had let

her mother rule her life for so long she believed her
dictatorship could continue across the Atlantic.

Her mum had forgotten she was no longer a child and

didn’t live in Nigeria. She couldn’t boss her around
anymore. Finally getting a grip on her life and thanks to her
medication, she was done being told what to do by all and
sundry. Better still, as she poured water into a mug, she was
going to stop taking her calls.

Muttering under her breath in indignation, Enitan’s phone

pinged on the counter as she put sugar into her tea. It wasn’t
continuous, curious she peered closer, thinking it was from
her dating app, it was a text. Eyes widening her mother’s
tirade was swiftly forgotten, as butterflies scurried in her
stomach, followed by fear. Maybe her mum was right. Was
she becoming too liberated and westernized? Where was the
ingrained fear of conforming to what her society demanded
of her. Being with a…

Tee: Hey cutie, how are you?

Hands skating across the screen, her cheeks went warm.

Cutie… No one had ever called her that before. Come to
think of it, no one had ever given her an endearment. Rain
showered down on the hitherto dry patch between her legs…

Tea forgotten, she picked the phone, and typed.

Enitan: Good thanks. Just doing my homework. You?

Tee: Been a long day. I have been thinking of you.

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Enitan stared at the message. She had been too, but she
wasn’t going to own up to that.

Tee: I swear I can still taste you on my lips.

Clit tingling moisture seeped into her panties. You don’t

take things seriously. Her mum would swallow those words
when she realised how serious she was to see Tee again.

Enitan: That’s impossible…

Tee: It’s true.

Enitan: It’s been two weeks.

Five days and… she wasn’t going to type that.

Tee: It feels like yesterday

Enitan: You must have brushed your teeth by now.

Tee is typing…

Tee: I haven’t

Enitan: lol

Tee: I wanted to hold on to the taste of you.

Enitan’s nipples tingled. This lady was slick.

Enitan: That’s erm not practical.

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Tee: I wanted to taste you last thing at night and first

thing in the morning.

Enitan: Hmmm… haven’t you eaten since?

Tee: No. If I eat, my taste buds will get corrupted.

Enitan: You are such a charmer.

Tee: Spoil-sport, why did you shatter my reality.

Tee: You taste amazing.

More moisture seeped, it was no longer a dry desert but a

wet rainforest as she pulled her thighs together.

Enitan: Taste?

Her fingers had a mind of their own.

Tee: Yes, your lips above and below your neck have me
wanting more.

Enitan paused. How was she meant to respond to that!

Tee is typing.

Enitan stared at the screen; it went on for a while, then the

message came through…

Tee: Are you shy?

Yes. No.

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Tee is typing…

Tee: If I make you uncomfortable, please let me know.

Enitan stared at the screen, here she was a mother of one

stumbling into phone sex and not knowing what to type. She
ran a hand over her face and typed.

Enitan: Not really. I mean shy.

Thank goodness she was hiding away behind her screen.

Tee: You play your cards close to your chest. Which is

awesome, by the way. I love your nipples.

Ewo… Enitan’s body temperature went up a couple of

notches as a giggle escaped her lips.

She wanted to tell Tee so much, her first orgasm at the

hands of a woman. No. Her first orgasm with another human
being, full stop. 3D memories flooded to the forefront of her
mind, taking her back. Way back.

Closing her eyes briefly, instead of sharing that tidbit of

information, she retreated. She didn’t have the emotional
bandwidth needed to deal with a player like Tee. Deep in
thought, she stroked the screen, as if she could see what the
other party was doing.

Tee was a distraction, even though she enjoyed the

attention, she couldn’t let it derail her plans. If their
entanglement progressed any further, she aimed to keep it
casual. If she had endured her ex, dealing with this playgirl
would be a walk in the park.

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She was about to drop her phone when it buzzed in her

hand. It was Jay. Their virtual chats were going great.

Jay: Hi, how’s your day been?

Eni: Not bad thanks.

Jay: I can’t wait to meet you in person. I keep imagining

kissing your lips when I stare at your picture.

Enitan stared at the screen. It must be raining women

today.

Eni: Nice to know you like them.

Eni: Smiley emoji.

Jay: you know what they say about thick lips

Enitan stared at the screen; eyes narrowed.

Eni: Tell me more.

Jay: it means you have nice juicy lips below too

Jay: do you?

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Chapter 18

Odette’s nose twitched at the faint whiff of paint that

greeted her as she unlocked her office with the electronic
keypad. More noticeable since she hadn’t been in the office
for a while. Its insidious presence arrived when they opened
the briefcase the tiara had been transported in, and it refused
to budge ever since. Even after leaving the windows open
for long periods of time, the smell lingered in her workspace
like a low hanging cloud. Eyes darting around the room,
unease pricked her spine, whenever she arrived at the office
in the mornings, she swore things had subtly been moved
around.

Something about the sofa and cushions looked out of

place, but for the life of her, she couldn’t say what it was.

Her subconscious mind knew what her eyes could not see.
It was a case of the more she looked, the less she saw. Then
there was the spine-tingling issue with her sketch pad…

She needed coffee, her schedule for the last couple of

weeks had been punishing. South Africa, New York, and
Argentina, where Lady O had just acquired its first store.
Maybe her mind, still confused with time zones, was
imagining things. Walking over to her desk, shoving the
weirdness to the back of her mind, she booted up her laptop
and checked her electronic inbox. Top of the list amongst the
sea of messages was a message from Emma, their European
digital marketing guru. Skimming the message, yes, they had
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loads of neck shots, they needed to showcase the earrings on

a human ear, not white paper. Could they get the model in
again and do another shoot?

“Now that Emma,” Odette murmured to her laptop, “is a

brilliant idea.” There was something special about Enitan,
her soft youthful features and feminine essence made love to
the camera in a way that was hard to describe with words. It
was ironic that someone, with such a rare quality, preferred
to be on the other end of the lens. Always one for acting in
the moment, she pulled her phone over and sent a message
to Enitan. She had picked up on the fact that if she did not
message Enitan, she would not make the first move.

Odette: Hey cutie, how are you?

She was hoping for an immediate response. Come on, she

was a student.

Odette: We need your services again. It shouldn’t be too

long this time around. My boss needs some ear shots. Same
rate, OK?

She had decided to increase the rate. Enitan deserved it.

An hour later, she was responding to emails when her

phone buzzed. Pausing, she checked her notifications.

Enitan: Hi Tee. Long time.

Butterflies flew in her tummy. Yes, it has been. I don’t

bite you can talk to me or text me.

Enitan is typing…

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Enitan: Sure, please let me know when suits.

After a bit of backing and forthing on WhatsApp, they

eventually settled on late evening the following Thursday.

##

Sneezing suddenly, Odette’s nose twitched as she briskly

walked into her office the morning of the shoot. If possible,
the smell of paint was stronger. Every day that week when
she walked in she was greeted by the paint, as if someone
had been redecorating her office overnight. Narrowing her
eyes, she followed her nose. Could there be an open can of
paint in her office? Impossible, but the paint had to be
coming from somewhere, as she dumped her stuff on the
bare table.

Frowning, she stared at the empty space. Her sketch pad

was missing. Looking around the room, she sighted it on the
coffee table.

Ever since the tiara arrived, the issues with the paint and
her sketch pad had her scratching her head. Narrowing her
eyes, her heart hammered in her chest; how did it get there?

Hoping to prove a point, that she wasn’t going bonkers,

she’d set a trap. She’d left the sketchpad on her desk the
night before, having used it to write a list of supplies needed
for the office. Neck itching, she walked over—the smell
grew stronger—to the coffee table. Looking up at the ceiling
and in the crevices of the floorboards, she peered in to see if
anything was amiss. This area was ground zero for the paint,
it was strong enough for her to taste at the back of her throat.
Hands trembling, she picked up her sketchpad.

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Gasping, her eyes widened as she stared at yet another

drawing—a breath-taking design for a necklace, earrings,
and ring. Exotic, not the restrained kind of design worn by
the country set. This was bold, beautiful… intricate. It would
look awesome on a graceful neck like Enitan’s.

The first time it had happened, she had persuaded herself,

she had done the drawing, but just couldn’t remember when.
There had been times in the past when she designed stuff and
was shocked at the mastery when she assessed the finished
product. Her so-called friends…

But this… Goosebumps prickled on her arm, as her eyes

took in the eerie design. This time around, she was
convinced without a shadow of doubt something else was at
play.

Unease played havoc in her gut. This was different. The

alarms hadn’t gone off.

It was time to have a look at the CCTV feeds. This was

getting way beyond strange. Tapping an app on her phone,
she checked the tiara. It was still and glowing in the safe she
had placed it in. Leaving all the oddities behind, she went to
the conference room for her meeting with the representatives
from Christie’s.

Later that afternoon, leaning back in her chair, sipping

peppermint tea, Odette played the CCTV files for her office.
There were no strange things happening, the sketchpad had
been on her desk when she got up to leave for the evening.
So how, in the name of all things holy, had it ended up on
the coffee table, when she had arrived that morning? Moving
forward to her screen, she squinted, checking if there was
anything strange in the sequence she was staring at. The hair
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on her nape suddenly pricked, rubbing a hand over it, she

swiveled in her chair and stared at the coffee table, as another
faint whiff of paint hit her nostrils.

Questions were swimming in her head when the buzzer

for the main door went. All her staff had left for the day,
Enitan had said she would get to her by 7:00pm. And here
she was, spot on. Shutting down the CCTV recordings, she
got up to let her in.

Keeping it professional, Tee smiled as she let Enitan in.

“Good evening, Enitan.” She looked gorgeous in her black
dress and boots. Her dark brown skin looked fresh and dewy.
Was she going out later?

Rubbing her hands together, Enitan responded. “Thank

you for the opportunity once again.” As they walked into
Tee’s office.

Anything to keep you close. But Odette smiled. “Thanking

you.”

Most of the jewellery they were going to use had been

laid out on a table. Odette’s eyes drifted to Enitan, she was
frowning at something she was reading on her phone.
Grabbing the camera, she coughed. “Ready when you are,
Enitan.”

Looking up, Enitan put her phone away. “Sorry. Let’s do

this.”

It was late when they wrapped up, scrolling through the

pictures, Odette nodded. Emma would be pleased the ear
shoot was a success.

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Wanting to keep her near, Odette asked, “Let me buy you

dinner before you go?” Why did that sound so corny. Enitan
had been checking her phone most of the evening.

Distracted, Enitan looked up from her screen. “I’m sorry.

Thanks for the offer.”

Odette’s shoulders dropped. Oh well, I tried…

“I have to go.” Staring at something on her phone. “Got

an assignment to finish and there’s some group stuff I need
to deliver on.”

Fair enough, disappointed. “No worries, I just asked on

the off chance, anyway,” Odette responded, as she put the
camera stuff away. “My friend I was house-sitting for is
back, so I am back here at my flat.”

Enitan looked over; brows furrowed. “You live nearby?”

Odette laughed. “Above work.” Pointing to the ceiling.

Picking up her jacket, Enitan turned and said, “You know

what, let me buy you dinner. I’ll take you somewhere, you
wouldn’t have been before.” A smile hovered on her heart-
shaped face.

Odette’s eye’s widened, intrigued; she wanted to kiss

those lips. She was used to taking her dates out for dinner.
“Cool. What do you have in mind?”

Enitan smiled. “Nothing posh, I’m afraid. Have you tried

Nigerian food before?”

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Odette smiled. “Possibly.” Well, she knew without a

doubt Enitan must be curious about her heritage. She had
been called all things from Indian, Brazilian, South
American. But never Nigerian, she also liked playing her
cards close to her chest. When she needed to let people know
what it was she did; if it was going to give her some kind of
advantage. Otherwise, she told them to piss off in a very
subtle way. Moreso right now wasn’t the time to be telling
Enitan, she knew how to cook Nigerian food and could speak
Yoruba. Nah, there was plenty of time to get into all that
later.

“I am sure we can find something you like.” They set the

date for the next evening, Friday.

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Chapter 19

Feeling flush and excited, Enitan waited for Tee at the

station. She had sent a text that she was just approaching
Liverpool Street Station. Friday evening, the area was full
of rich city workers.

Plus, the poor ordinary folk like herself just out for a good
time on a Friday. Confidence and happiness soared in her
whenever she thought of the balance in her bank account.
Things were looking bright. For that, she wanted to show her
appreciation and take her benefactor out. And what a
benefactor. The last shoot she’d done, Tee’s boss had paid
her five grand. At the current exchange rate, she could buy
land, lay the foundation and fence it. Nigeria was no longer
on her radar for now, so she dismissed her musings.

She had a lot to thank Tee for—money, orgasms—a smile

hovered on her lips as she watched a couple hugging each
other by the entrance.

The restaurant they were going to, opened two weeks ago,
with great hype. One of the top Afrobeats artist’s had
dropped in on the open day. The reviews so far had been
great. Some die-hard people had gone as far to say the new
joint was now the current holder of the title “Best Abula joint
in London, if not UK.” As an abula foodie, she wanted to see
if the hype was justified. They made out that they were the
most authentic restaurant in London, with their food items
being delivered fresh from Nigeria every week.

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Nigerians knew how to exaggerate things just to bring

people in, but from the reviews, the latest one uploaded a
couple of hours ago bore the same sentiments—they had the
best abula in town at the moment.

Her phone buzzed in her hand. It was Jay.

Jay: Hey beautiful, what are you up to this evenin

Eni: I am going out with some friends. You?

Jay: I wanted to go out, but it’s a bit of a Billy no mates

evenin

Eni: Billy no mates?

Jay: lol, it’s an English saying. When you don’t have

friends to go out with.

Enitan nodded. With the beautiful picture on her profile,

it was hard to believe Jay led such a life.

Eni: I am sure people are queuing to go out with you. A

pretty girl like you will have men and women knocking at
your door.

Jay: True, but it’s you i want to take out for a drink.
You’re such a beauty. I want to gaze on ur lips and wonder
what it will be like to kiss them.

Enitan looked up, there was a sea of people coming in and

out of the station. Her phone buzzed.

Jay: d first time we meet, don’t wear a bra. i want to

watch your nipples harden under my gaze
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Eni: blushing face emoji.

Jay: i can just imagine them hardening in my mouth.

Enitan swallowed while her nipples hardened under her

bra.

Jay: but since you don’t want to go out for a drink with
me. i will spend the evenin imaginin

A tap on her shoulder made her look up, hazel eyes stared
down at her. Tee had let her hair down, as usual she didn’t
have a handbag. How could she cope with not having all the
things women kept in their bags?

Hastily putting her phone away and finally figuring out

how to speak, she opened her mouth. “Hey Tee, how are
you?” Her perfume wafted over, today it was something
warm, seductive, and intense. She was dressed in skinny
jeans and a blue long-sleeved woollen top.

“Much better, now that I’ve seen you.” Her eyes lingering
on her neck, moving in to give her a hug. “You look good,
as always.”

Na wa o. So women also knew how to toast like this.

But you have another one toasting you nau.

Enitan’s cheeks warmed. “Thank you. You’re such a

charmer.” Basking in her scent. Yes, so what if she was
wearing Primani, the beautiful lady in front of her said she
looked great. Nothing else mattered, even her mother’s
wahala faded away.

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Hand on heart, as she pulled away, Tee smiled. “Only

stating the obvious, cutie.”

Her heart did a banjo in her chest. “Let’s go. I booked a

table, as it gets really busy.”

They talked as they walked down Shoreditch and turned

down a little alleyway, home to quite a few eateries, a few
well-known chains, and a lot of ones she had never heard of
before.

A tall, handsome young man came to the door when he

saw them hovering by the entrance. Bright eyed, smiling, he
puffed out his chest, no doubt thinking two beautiful ladies
he might be able to hit on one of them before the night ended.

Enitan, leaving the problems of her ex behind, was full of

positive energy and confidence. Moreso, because she was
taking Tee out with her hard-earned money, smiled back at
the man.

“Table for two, ladies?” His eyes leisurely going down

Enitan’s voluptuous body. He had declared his preference.

Feeling mischievous, Enitan stared into his eyes. “Yes,

please.” Tee’s sniggering under her breath reached her ears.
Turning her head slightly towards her, she grinned and
winked.

“One second, please.” Pulling his admiring gaze away

from Enitan, the guy looked around the crowded restaurant.
Waiters rushed around with trays full of food and drinks as
the melodic tunes of Afrobeats played in the background,
keeping the diners—some swaying on their seats—
entertained.
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Cocking her head to one side, Enitan could swear she

heard some kind of pounding coming from the other side of
the room. Which meant what the reviews said was true—
they made pounded yam with a mortar and pestle imported
from Nigeria. To be a fly on the wall of customs, Enitan
chuckled.

The waiter turned to them. “Follow me, ladies.” Picking

up a couple of menus off a stand, before leading them to a
table in a corner.

“Thank you.” Tee murmured to the guy, as they sat

opposite each other.

Taking off her jacket, Enitan stared at Tee, hoping she

would like the food. “This place opened a couple of weeks
ago and the reviews so far have been great.”

Following Tee’s eyes as she took in the surroundings. The

décor had been created to replicate a buka, wooden tables in
between two benches was basic at its best. Massive potted
palms dotted around the place tried to give it a village
ambience. Unfortunately, the danfos, and the madness of
Lagos traffic couldn’t not be replicated.

The condiments at hand were maggi hot sauce, salt, and

dried red pepper. Knives and forks were available on
request.

Abula was meant to be eaten with one’s fingers. However,

nothing would persuade Enitan to do such in front of posh
Tee. Spoon and fork it would have to be, at least for now.
She’d read too many posts on Instagram where dates had
gone awry because of the way people ate. Her eyes drifted
back to her dinner date.
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Rubbing her hands together, Tee nodded. “It looks nice.”

Hmm, that was a very British response. She had learnt

that the hard way. Was it too down-market for her? Nervous
and trying to justify the visit, Enitan said, “I miss home food,
thought I’d come here and have something to eat.”

Tee placed a hand over hers. “Don’t worry, it’s okay.

Enitan, we will eat and enjoy the food.” Stroking a finger on
her wrist, she continued, “As long as I can sit and enjoy your
company.”

A fission of electricity went through Enitan’s fingers.

Damn, this woman was sexy. “You have a charming way
with words.”

“And you find it difficult to accept compliments.” Serious

hazel eyes stared into hers.

Tearing her eyes away, Enitan looked down at her hands.

It was true.

“Enitan, I am only saying the truth, you’re beautiful. I

enjoy your company.”

Her cheeks warmed; it was odd being the centre of this

woman’s attention.

Smiling, Tee said, “I understand being homesick. How

long have you been in the UK?”

Expelling a deep breath, Enitan responded, “I got a

scholarship and arrived eighteen months ago. I should be
finishing soon.”

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“Great. Do you have…”

Their waiter, full of smiles, came over. “Are you ready to

order drinks, ladies?” Staring intently at Enitan.

Smirking, Tee looked down at the menu.

Taking the initiative, Enitan said, “Tee, there’s a local

drink called palm wine, you should try it.”

Eyes wide, Tee looked up.

“The sap is tapped from the top of palm trees, then

fermented to make palm wine.”

“Sound’s interesting.” Turning to the waiter. “I’ll give

that a try.”

Happy with her choice, Enitan smiled at her other admirer

and said, “Two bottles of palm wine, please.”

Nodding, he pulled out his handheld device and tapped in

their order.

“By the time you come back, we’ll be ready with our
food orders.” Enitan gave him a bright smile.

White teeth blinding, the guy grinned. “No problem,

ladies.” As he walked away.

“That guy fancies you.” Tee chuckled.

“I know right.” Smiling, Enitan pushed the menu away,

she knew what she was having. Anxious, she looked over at

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her companion, who was still studying the menu. “Would

you like me to describe any of the dishes to you?”

Rubbing her chin, eyes lowered, Tee responded, “No

that’s fine, I’ll look, I’m pretty sure I’ll find something to
eat.”

By the time the guy returned with their drinks, they’d

decided. Enitan was having the abula with assorted meat,
while Tee went for the pounded yam with egusi and fish.

Nodding Enitan was impressed at her choice. Thinking

she would have gone for something safe and sedate, like rice
and ayamase or plain stew. Or even the grilled fish and
plantain. “That’s a very adventurous food choice.”

Staring deep into her eyes and lowering her voice, Tee
responded, “I am very adventurous in most things I do.”

Blood rushed to her cheeks. Why did it sound like she was
referring to something else? Considering their first outing…

Leaning back in her chair, Tee smiled. “You remember

that Nigerian fufu challenge a while ago?”

Enitan nodded.

“Never got round to doing it then, thought I’d give it a try

now.” Grinning. “Find out what I missed.”

Swaying to the music and sipping on their drinks, their

conversation soon turned to work.

“I’m doing the final dissertation for my master’s and then

I’ll look for work.” Enitan said, taking a sip of her drink.
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“Do you have to go back to Nigeria after your course?”

“Hopefully not immediately, I am working on changing

my student visa to something that gives me the right to work
for two years.”

“Cool.”

“I do some freelance gigs at the moment.” The

competition to get into the established film production
companies was fierce. She was determined to get a job, with
one of them. Hoping her newly found zeal for networking
would put her in the sights of the new upcoming ones. “What
about you?” Curious about what Tee did for a living.

“Same as you.” Shrugging. “I have a stack of

assignments to do, put in more hours at work and learn more
about jewellery,” Tee responded.

“You’re lucky to have the opportunity to work on what

you’re studying. Nothing beats real life experience.”
Remembering the necklaces she modelled.

“True.” Tee responded, rubbing her cheek. “What’s your

end game?”

Enitan raised her brows, confused.

“If money was no object, what would you like to do?”

Tee took a sip of her palm wine, nodding as she savoured the
taste. “This is good.” Picking the bottle, she stared at the
label.

Enitan took a deep breath, Tee had asked a deep question.

To be truthful, she wanted to set up her own production
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company. Produce her own films, shows, and sell them on to

others. It’s what she had been doing in Nigeria, albeit for
someone else. The pay had been reasonable, but they could
have compensated her better. Battling with depression, that
dream seemed unattainable, as she refused to sleep her way
to the top.

The thought of another man…

A shiver went down her spine. Taking a sip of her drink,

she stared at the vision of beauty in front of her. I bet she
doesn’t have to worry about what her future holds. It was
obvious she was born, bred, and buttered in the UK. She
didn’t have to think about courses and visas. Even if she was
studying and working at the same time, she must come from
a comfortable family. Which made her ask herself again,
what did she want with a local girl like her?

Pushing the negative thoughts away, she opened her

mouth, hopefully by talking about it the universe would
work to bring her dream into existence. “I want my own
production company—create stuff and sell it on to other
media houses. Or partner with others.” She was good at what
she did.

Tee nodded. “Good, sounds like a plan. Do you have a

name?”

Enitan frowned. “Name?” How could she have a name, it

was a dream. Something unattainable…

“Yes.” Eyes fervent, Tee leaned forward. “Figure out the

name of your company. Pray, meditate whatever suits you.”

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Ok. Enitan was all ears. Did Tee also believe in

manifesting? They had a lot more in common than she
realised.

Raising a hand in the air. Odette continued, “Stick it on

your fridge. Focus on that name every day, in the morning,
and before you go to bed at night.”

This was some advanced stuff…

“Remember this, what you focus on becomes your

reality.”

That was so true, Enitan could bear testament to that.

Raising a finger, Tee continued, “Beneath it, write the

first production you’re going to do.”

Enitan’s eyes widened; okay she knew about manifesting

your dreams but…

Tee paused. “Then every morning when you leave home,

tell yourself you’re going to your office, to wrap up your
production or speak to your investors.”

Hmm. “How does all that work?” If all this were true,
wouldn’t Tee have made a lot of money by now? She
wouldn’t need to be studying and working. Abi?

Intense hazel eyes honed in on hers as she clasped

Enitan’s hand in hers. “Act like it exists and the universe will
bring it to you.” Tee declared.

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Her hands felt so soft. “Do you believe in that stuff?”

Enitan tried to be positive and all, but this was taking it to a
whole new level.

Tee’s eyes shuttered. “I do, that mindset got me a lot of

things.” Looking over Enitan’s shoulder.

Intriguing. Enitan turned; their waiter was coming over

with their food.

“Abula,” Placing the bowl in front of Enitan. “Iyan and

egusi.” Depositing two plates in front of Tee. “Would you
like a bowl of water or cutlery?”

“Cutlery please.” Both responding in unison.

Going over to the stand, the waiter came back and placed
them on the table. “Enjoy your meal, ladies.”

“Bon appétit.” Taking her spoon, Enitan took a scoop of

her abula—amala, gbegiri and ewedu. The aroma hitting her
nostrils took her straight back to Lagos. Yes, she missed
home, but not her family or in-laws. “Ah… mmm.” A
satisfied moan escaped her lips as the tangy, spicy
combination hit the back of her throat.

Tee stared at her and smiled.

Amused, Enitan watched on in fascination as Tee

attacked her meal with gusto. She was adventurous! By the
time they finished eating, Tee looked very satisfied as she
patted her stomach.

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“That was delicious Enitan, it was spicy, the vegetables

crunchy, the fish was…” Putting her fingers to her lips. “I
definitely will be coming back again.”

Beaming in her praise, she’d taken this posh lady

somewhere different from the five-star places she was used
to and she had loved it.

###

Finishing their meal, Tee declared she wanted something

sweet since there wasn’t a lot in the way of dessert at the
restaurant. Settling the bill, Enitan gave the waiter a dazzling
smile as they departed. The cool air hit them as they stepped
onto the pavement, stars twinkled brightly in the night sky,
a lovely backdrop for their walk as they stopped to read
menus in various windows. Their conversation light, as they
wandered around Shoreditch, side stepping boisterous
groups of people coming out of the bars on a Friday night,
safe in the knowledge that they would have a long lie-in the
next day.

Moving on, an alley with cobbled stones and narrow

buildings—opened up to them on their left, Tee pulled
Enitan into her arms and kissed her gently on the lips. “I’ve
been wanting to do that all night.”

Shocked, Enitan leaned in and pressed her lips in and

deepened the kiss. Sighing, Enitan pulled away. “We’re
meant to be looking for dessert.”

“Hmm, I can think of better ones,” she murmured, her

eyes lingering on Enitan’s breasts. “Unfortunately, that will
have to wait. I spy some bars.” Pointing to a row of brightly
lit windows ahead.
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They found a quaint tiny wine bar hidden away, towards

the end of the alley. Soulful jazz music played in the
background as they headed to an empty table towards the end
of the bar. Staring at the QR code on the table, Tee pulled
out her phone.

Enitan’s eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, they were a

few groups, but it was mostly couples, drinking and gazing
into each other’s eyes. A pang hit her at the romance of it all,
the shared intimacy, looking at them with envy. No one had
ever stared at her like that. Okay, David thought she was a
superhero, but that was her son.

Returning her attention back to the table, her eyes locked

with Tee. Blood rushed to her cheeks. Tee’s eyes were very
disconcerting when they focused on her, they made her feel
exposed and out of kilter…

Breaking the moment, Tee smiled at the waiter, who

placed two glasses of wine and a plate of tiramisu in front of
them.

“Do you want me to bring another spoon?” the waiter

asked.

Smiling, Tee replied, “No, that’s fine, thank you.”

Nodding, the waiter left.

“How come no one has snatched you up?”

Enitan blinked, was she really asking that question? A lot

of men had come knocking on her door. Single and married.

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“You’re beautiful; everyone’s ideal—men and women.”

Taking a sip of her wine.

Twisting the stem of her wine-glass, Enitan pondered her

words. How was she going to answer this question?

“I like you a lot. I think of you all the time.” Tee declared.
“There’s just something about you.” Caressing her wrist.
“You’re sweet, innocent, and sexy. Trust me. That is a lethal
combination.”

I bet you say that to all the girls. She liked Tee too, but…
at the back of her mind she held on to the belief that she was
a player.

“I mean it, I would like to get to know you more.” Cutting

into the tiramisu, scooping up a portion, she put the spoon to
Enitan’s lips. “Open…”

Eyes widening, Enitan opened her mouth, this woman

was feeding her in public. Surprised, she obeyed as the bitter
taste of coffee liqueur hit the back of her throat.

“Mmm, I wish I could kiss you right now.”

Enitan looked down as her nipples hardened under her

bra.

“What happened to your last relationship?” Tee scooped

another piece of the tiramisu and put it into her mouth. Her
eyes stayed locked on Enitan all the while.

Did this lady realise that where she was coming from, she
couldn’t be who she really was and have the relationship she
really wanted? Some people did not know how lucky they
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were. So how do you tell a woman you fancied that the man
you had been with… “It didn’t work out.” There was more
to it than that.

“If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine.” Tee rubbed a
hand over hers.

Taking the lifeline, Enitan asked, “What about you? I

mean, you must have loads of girlfriends.” Who wouldn’t
want Tee? She was drop dead gorgeous, confident and she
could bet she didn’t have to keep the lights off to save
electricity.

Putting her glass to her lips, Tee took a sip of her drink
and stared. “Yes, I have had a lot of girlfriends.” She
shrugged. “It happens.”

So, she had been correct, no point in taking her seriously.

Gazing at her lips, Tee said, “I don’t have one now,

though.”

Enitan swallowed; she didn’t know what to read into the

answer. Instead, she asked, “Have you ever been in a long-
term relationship?”

“A serious, committed one?”

Enitan nodded.

Silence ruled for a beat. Jaw set, Tee’s voice hardened.

“Yes, we broke up after twenty months.”

Oh, it must have been serious. Tee’s demeanour had

stiffened.
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“It was a serious one. I was ready to go the whole hog.”

Tee’s hands were on the stem of her glass.

Did she mean marriage? “What happened?” Now wasn’t

the time to display ignorance with English idioms.

“She couldn’t decide where her fluidity was taking her.”

Eh. Perplexed, Enitan rubbed her chin, what did she

mean? I beg, plain English please.

“We met on a lesbian dating app.” She took a sip of her

drink. “Everything was great, or so I thought.” Tee’s lips
curled. “Unbeknownst to me, I was in a triangle.”

Enitan’s eyes widened. “Triangle?” Did Tee know about

Kola? How?

“With her husband.”

Heat went up her neck, throat dry Enitan asked, “What

happened?”

“Since we met on the app, I assumed she was a full-

fledged lesbian.” Tee closed her eyes briefly.

Fair assumption, that was why she was on them. To meet

a woman. Even though some men took it as a challenge to
still try and talk to her.

“We even spoke about ex’s. All women.”

Ok… And?

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A bitter laugh escaped Tee’s lips. “She threw it in my face

and said, and I quote ‘you assumed I was a lesbian.’”

Enitan looked confused.

“She was curious.” Dropping her head, Tee stared into

the depths of her drink.

“Curious about what?”

“Oh, Enitan. You’re so innocent.” Tee placed a hand on

hers. “Her sexuality.”

Hmm. It must have been a serious relationship, the

director in Enitan read the body language succinctly. Wow,
it was interesting to catch a glimpse of the vulnerable Tee
hidden away behind the veneer of confidence. Maybe her ex
couldn’t come out. There were loads of people trapped in
such relationships. “So what happened?”

“She got pregnant and expected us to continue with our

relationship as if nothing had happened.”

Enitan’s hands went clammy, if it wasn’t so close to

home, it sounded like one of those Nollywood movies.
Where the guy tells the wife, the pregnancy was an accident.
As in… “Oh. Was it her ex-husband?”

“No, they were very much married. Living together.”

Coming from Nigeria, that wasn’t different to people

having side-chics while married.

“She tried to blame me for getting pregnant.”

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A wave of heat went up her neck. Her situation was

different, she had left. But only… Was Tee anti-kids? “Do
you want kids?” Her heart tripped a little as she waited for
the answer. There were a lot of options these days… But why
was she interested? This was just a casual entanglement…
nothing serious was going to come out of this…

Raising a palm, her tone emphatic, Tee responded, “No.

I’m not cut out for kids. Running after little human beings, a
messy house. No, thank you.” Taking a sip of her drink, she
stared at Enitan. “What about you, have you given having
kids a thought?”

There was a tightness in her chest as Enitan reached for

her drink. Tightening her grip on the stem to hide her
trembling fingers, she said, “I’ve given it some thought.”

A sharp edge entered Tee’s voice. “Do you want kids?”

“At some point.” Which reminded her it was late, she

needed to head back. Luckily, her aunt was always ready to
have David, especially since she thought she was meeting
her new boyfriend. Guilty and ashamed, Enitan hadn’t
corrected her. The song, Keeping Secrets, echoed in her head
as she drained the last bit of her wine. This conversation was
going somewhere she didn’t want to explore.

Probably sensing her discomfort, Tee said, “This is deep

conversation, not suited for a night like this.”

You got that right, as Enitan breathed a sigh of relief.

Tee smiled. “Let me regale you with my tales of online

dating.”

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“Tell me, I’m all ears.” Knowing Tee, she would have
enough material to make a film.

Tee whispered, “I must confess, being here with you sure

beats meeting a random person via a dating app.” Putting
another spoonful of tiramisu into Enitan’s mouth.

Warmth spread through her nether regions. This lady

definitely knew how to say the right the things to make
Enitan go all gooey inside. Their conversation soon turned
to horror stories about the dates Tee had been on. Enitan
added hers and soon the awkwardness between them while
talking about children retreated to the background.

Looking at her watch, Tee’s eyes widened. “Wow, I never

knew it was this late. That’s why I love your company. Time
flies.”

It sure does when you are with someone you fancy. She
never wanted to leave when she was with her. But it was late,
Enitan had to work on her assignment and pick up her son.
“I need to get going. I have an early start tomorrow.”

“That’s a shame.” Grimacing, Tee pulled over her phone

and tapped on something. “I will get you an Uber.”

Enitan reached for her jacket on the chair. “No, that’s

fine. I’ll take the tube.” It was Friday night, people would be
around for ages, plus her line was part of the night tube
network.

“Nope.” Tee shook her head. “You’re not taking the tube.
I insist.”

Grateful, Enitan gave her the address.

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Pulling on her jacket, Tee took Enitan by the hand to lead

them out to the junction where the Ubers would pick them
up. There was a slight chill in the air as they stepped out into
the alleyway. Stopping abruptly, Tee pulled Enitan into her
arms. “I have really enjoyed our evening; thought we could
go back to my place tonight.” Hazel earnest eyes stared into
hers.

Of course you did. “I can’t Tee… I have…” The excuses

were coming out. Plus, she wanted to keep some distance
between the two of them. If she went with the flow, she
would go too fast with her and…

“I understand, hope we can do this again soon.” Pulling

up Enitan’s chin and bringing her lips down to hers.

Enitan sighed into her arms as she inhaled her perfume

while her lips wreaked havoc on her senses. Shit. The lady
could kiss as her tongue probed hers, then bit gently on her
lips. Her nipples hardened under her bra sent a message
down elsewhere; she wanted her hands there… The sound of
an approaching car broke her erotic daydream.

“Let me know when you get home, cutie.” Tee whispered

as Enitan headed to her Uber.

Eyes closed at the back of the car; Enitan’s phone

vibrated ten minutes later - a text.

Tee: Do you want to come over to mine next Friday?

A smile hovered on her lips as she typed.

Enitan: Can I get back to you on that?

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Tee: Sure. I’ll cook and you can explain all the hidden
messages in the film we choose.

Enitan smiled, she would like that, hopefully her aunt

could have David on Friday night. Excitement soared in her,
all thought of things going too fast were pushed to the back
of her mind, she was going for a date night.

Leaning back in her seat, she closed her eyes, she was
drifting off when her phone buzzed.

Jay.

From the conversations she’d been having with her, she

sounded like fun. It was easy to chat with her, from what she
had gleaned she lived in Surrey with a dog called Freddie.
She worked as a primary school teacher, which made her a
star in Enitan’s eyes.

Eni: Sorry I didn’t respond earlier, my friends showed

up.

Jay: No problem. Hope you had a great night.

Enitan paused and looked up, the Uber had stopped at a

set of traffic lights.

Eni: I did, on my way home. What did you get up to?

Jay: tried watching a film. I was thinking of you, so I

could not concentrate

Jay: wen are we going to meet

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Chapter 20

For the first time in a long time Odette felt the pang of…
regret or was it longing, as her eyes followed the tailgate
lights of Enitan’s Uber, wishing it would turn back and bring
her back into her arms. On a whim she had sent a message
to Enitan, her response minutes later, kept a smile on her
face.

Slamming the door of the Uber shut, Odette walked up

the steps of her office in Hatton Garden and let herself in.
Restless and full of energy, she paused in the hallway,
staring at the keypad on the wall, instead of going up to her
empty flat, she made a detour. It was at times like this when
no one was around her office washed in silence, that she took
stock of what she had achieved. Full order books, potential
manufacturing. Things were good.

Banishing the part of her that was missing Enitan, she

seized the opportunity to work on the tiara. Cleaning and
restoring such a treasure wasn’t something that could or
should be rushed. Tapping her code onto the keypad, her
eyes swept the room as she walked in; everything was in its
rightful place, even her errant sketchpad was on her desk.

Taking a bottle of water from the fridge, she made her

way to her desk. The original report from the designer of the
tiara made for an interesting read.

Tiaras have always fascinated people; it was ironic that

what was seen a wholly feminine piece of jewellery started
out as a head decoration worn by Persian kings.

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Staring at the original sketch from the 1700s, she tried to

imagine what it must have been like to create such a beauty.
Debate still raged on in the gem circles about the identity of
the first person who wore it. Yes, a strange black man had
commissioned it. Strange in that it had been smack bang in
the middle of the slave trade.

How had a free black man come into the possession of

something that valuable? Other questions floating around
had to do with the time lag between its creation and it being
worn in public. When it had been unveiled centuries ago, the
women of society of the time had looked at it in envy,
creating a race for the creation of elaborate tiaras.

What everyone agreed on was—the last known owner of

the tiara had been the Duchess of Waddesex. How it had
ended up there, in Scotland, was anyone’s guess. As the
Waddesex family had been impoverished royals, before one
of the son’s had married a foreign—thought to be
American—heiress. Rumour had it she had gone mad while
wearing it. There was no information about how it got to be
in her possession or who wore it after her.

Legend had it that many a person had tried to buy it. There
had been stories of grisly ends to people who attempted to
steal it. All in all, the mysterious origins of the black stone
helped add mystique and mystery to the tiara and here it was
in her office. At least one thing was real, it existed.

When the Duchess wore it, it caused a buzz due to the

unusual black diamond. And as with all things glam,
rumours started circulating that it was a harbinger of bad
luck and, with time, it was never seen again, hence its entry
into the lost tiara list.

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Reverently taking it out of the safe, she carried it and

walked over to her workbench. Switching on her lamps, even
though the stones had lost some of their sheen, it still cast an
eerie glow. Dark, brooding, mysterious. Putting on her
goggles, she started gently brushing away centuries of grime
and dust. It would be interesting to take the tiara apart and
see the various ways it could be worn, as per the detailed
photocopied document sitting on her workbench.

Pausing brush in hand, something was bothering her, but

she couldn’t put her finger on it as she continued with the
task at hand. Grime soon gathered in the crevices of her
workbench; the black stones were revealing their timeless
beauty. It was while holding up a piece of the stone to the
lights that she noticed the absence of the cloying whiff she
had come used to.

Narrowing her eyes. So where had the paint had been

coming from all this time? As if wanting to give her the
answer, a faint whiff drifted to her nostrils. Turning her head,
she looked around. Was her mind playing tricks on her?

Pulling a strand of hair behind her ear, she studied the

clasps and joints. After turning it around a few times, she
took the tiara apart. The diamond segments held it all
together in the circumference. Taking them out, one by one,
she laid them on her workbench and marvelled at their
beauty. This was a piece of jewellery that could be worn as
a tiara, a hair decoration or as a brooch. It was spectacular.

Her nostrils twitched, the smell grew stronger,

enveloping her like the embrace of a lost lover.

Rubbing her neck, she looked up at the time; it was past

midnight, time for her to go to bed. Reassembling the tiara,
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she looked over at her desk. Her sketchpad was no longer

there.

Bowels gurgling, she shook her and closed her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she opened them and stared at her
desk.

Nothing had changed. It wasn’t there.

How?!

Heart hammering in her chest, her eyes darted around the

room. It was lying open on… the coffee table.

Thump. Thump. Echoed in her ears as she tried to still her

shaking hands. Unable to control the shaking, she placed the
brush on her workbench while her gut did a see- saw on a
swing. This was getting beyond weird. This was no longer a
joke. Something was in the room with her.

The alarms hadn’t gone off. So how was that even

possible?

Trying to calm her racing heart, she ran her fingers over
the back of her neck. The hair itched as the initial faint whiff
became stronger. Eyes darting around the room, the beat of
her heart echoed loudly in her ears.

With her stomach clenching in fear, all she wanted to do

at call her mum.

Omo, it was time to japa.

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Not wanting to think about how the sketchpad had

moved, she hurriedly wrapped up her midnight assignment,
and packed the tiara away, back into the safe.

Trepidation belting out a beat in her heart, Odette walked

over to the coffee table. There had to be a rational
explanation for what was happening.

There was no such thing as ghosts, spirits or whatever.

Then how did your pad move?

The smell was so strong she could taste it at the back of

her throat. Feeling stupid, she looked around for a can of
paint she knew didn’t or couldn’t exist.

Hands shaking, she picked up her sketchpad, her eyes

bulged. “What the…” Gasping, her shaking fingers flipped
through the pages.

Since the strangeness had started, whenever she walked

into the office in the morning, there would be new designs
in her pad. She knew the last design she had seen the day
before, and here in front of her was another breathtaking one.
By the look of things, drawn right under her nose while she
had been at her workbench. So much for security.

Rubbing a hand over her eyes, thinking it would remove

the veil of… How had the thing, the person, or whatever
done the design while she’d been busy with the tiara?

How was this even possible?

An icy chill went down her spine. Nothing like this had
even happened before. Cleaning and authenticating old stuff
was standard practice for her business. But this… this was
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creepy… Her brain was trying to explode out of the back of

her head when a faint sigh reached her ears…

Whoosh. Whoosh.

Like… She closed her eyes, trying to make out what she
was hearing… The faint rustle of fabric being dragged on the
floor.

It was time to LEAVE. Jumping and alarmed, she spun

around to see if there was somebody else in the room with
her. The room was very empty. Heart beating wildly in her
chest, she gathered her things that were on her workbench,
closed the door, and sprinted up to her flat.

Locking the door of her flat, she put a shaking hand to her
chest, trying to calm her racing heart. Sagging into the door,
she checked the locks once again. Satisfied, she made a
beeline for her drinks cabinet, putting her phone on the
counter, she poured a generous shot of whiskey into a glass.
Taking a big gulp, she checked the time as she sniffed the
air, relieved the paint hadn’t followed her upstairs.

Trying to calm her nerves, she took a deep breath. She

needed to talk to someone. Rubbing a hand over her face,
she pressed 1 on her speed dial. It rang… she waited. Come
on, mum… please.

Her mom’s groggy voice answered, “Àdùkẹ́, kilo ṣẹlẹ o?”

Her mum would be alarmed, the last time she called like
this…

There was a hitch in her mum’s voice. “W-where are

you?”
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“Erm… Hi mum, I’m OK.”

“Is your security okay?”

“Yes.” Relief washed over her at the sound of her voice.

“But there’s something creepy going on in my workshop.”

Her mother’s strained voice echoed. “I-Is there a man

stalking you?”

No. She had put that episode behind her, but her parents
were still worried about her. Odette frowned; if only it was
that tangible. “Erm, nothing of the human-kind.” Finally
acknowledging what she had been thinking.

“Ehn. What do you mean, not human ke.”

You could take the woman out of Nigeria. But you

couldn’t take the nigerianess out of this woman. “I’ve taken
delivery of some old jewellery and ever since it arrived on
my premises, some very strange things have been
happening.”

“Ah…” A deep sigh echoed over the phone. Clearing her

throat, her mum said, “Hold on, let me go into the dressing
room, so I don’t wake your dad.”

What she called a dressing room was the size of most

people’s flats.

There was silence over the airways, her voice finally

returned. “OK, baby, tell me what’s going on.”

Letting out a breath, Odette explained to her mother—the

smell of paint, her sketchpad, the exquisite drawings.
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Her mom whistled. “Jesu. There is something there with

you o.”

Tell me something I don’t know. “Mum, at this rate, I have

enough jewellery designs for the next 20 years.”

“Are you sure they’re not your friends?”

Her mum had always been of the belief that her daughter
had friends from the other side. Especially when she was
young… Now wasn’t the time to get into that debate.
“Mum…”

“We have to ask nau, maybe they are trying to get your
attention.”

“Mum, that’s just your naija superstitions. This is

England.”

“Ok o. You think it is only in Africa that ghosts or spirits

exist?”

The words she had been avoiding to use, had been put out
in the open. She couldn’t answer the question. Esoteric
thinking wasn’t her forte.

“Hmm, this reminds me of the shoemaker and the seven

elves.”

Odette rolled her eyes. Sometimes… “Mum this is not the

time for fairy tales, there’s some serious shit going down in
my office and I haven’t got a clue what’s going on.” Damn,
would she get told off for swearing? Taking another gulp of
her drink, she waited for her scolding.

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“Pele,” her mother responded. “Well, you’re dealing with

a tiara made from stones—if as rumour has it—came from
the sky, what do you expect?”

Nothing. As far as she was concerned, that story had been

an embellishment used to create hype, which generated
interest… pushed the price… And before you knew it, you
had a piece of jewellery worth a king’s ransom.

“But your friend told you it’s a precious stone that was
given to someone by the gods of his land, Ile-Ife.”

“Yes, that is correct,” Odette murmured.

“You realise what Ile-Ife signifies?”

Hmm… “Of course.” Her mother had homeschooled

them about the history, culture, and traditions of her people.
Hence why Odette spoke Yoruba fluently and could swear
like an Ibadan woman if required.

“If that man over 300 years ago was a Prince of Ile-Ife,
then I’m not surprised by the things happening to you.”

Odette’s eyes bulged and widened, if they could fall out

of their sockets they would. Her fingers tightened on her
phone. “Mum, what do you mean?”

Her mum replied, “Do you think they’re just going to let
an ordinary woman like you take possession of something
that significant?”

There was silence on both sides of the conversation.

“What do you mean by they?”

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Heavy breathing came through the phone. “You’re even

lucky you touched it, and nothing happened to you.”

The strange exchange that happened when she touched

the tiara for the first time flashed in her mind. She would
keep that to herself, otherwise her mum would send someone
from her village to bless her building pronto.

“They must have some protectors or some whatever on

standby, monitoring things, while it’s with you.” Her mother
concluded.

Standby? A long, icy shiver of fear went down her spine.

Her mother, in her element, continued, “We are talking

about Ile-Ife, the cradle of civilization for the Yoruba people,
who, according to the myth, descended from the sky.”

Everything about the Yoruba people was extraordinary

and flamboyant. No wonder the design of the tiara had been
out of this world.

“We modern human beings think we invented security.

Invisible guards have existed since time immemorial.” Her
mother declared. “Sometimes what people think are
hauntings could be messages of importance to humanity and
history.”

She was about to roll her eyes, then stopped. Growing up,
her mum had told them what she thought were fantastic
tales… But now, with hindsight and what she had
experienced in her life, there was some truth in her mother’s
beliefs.

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How come she’d never thought about it along those lines?

It was strange how people in the West just looked at things
and shrugged it off as ghostly encounters. Never actually
thinking that it could actually be about protection. Spirits
trying to protect and keep an eye on their investments, even
though they had passed on to the other side. “Mum, if you
are trying to scare me, you have achieved your goal.”

Her mother chuckled. “Look at it this way, whoever it is

likes you.”

Excuse me! Who?

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Mum!” Odette blinked. Don’t worry, ke! “You were

worried when you thought it was a human being.”

“True.” Her mum sighed. “This is different.”

Okay o.

“If it meant to harm you, your friends would have sent it

packing.”

“Why do you keep talking about these friends?”

Sighing, her mum said, “My dear, when the time comes,
we will talk.”

Odette shrugged. What could she say to that?

“Whatever it is, is not out to harm you. They, or it, must

like you if they are giving you gifts.”

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This must be the most surreal conversation she’d had in

her life. Here she was scared witless about a ghost and her
mother was being so blasé about the whole thing.

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Chapter 21

It was just shortly after ten when Enitan knocked on her

aunt’s door.

Feeling energised from food and kisses, Enitan had a

broad grin on her face when the door opened.

Eyes widening, her aunt smiled. “Looks like someone had

a fun evening.”

“I did.” Enitan’s face beamed as she walked into the

hallway.

“You didn’t have to rush back. David could have stayed

over and you could have stayed out later if you wanted to.”

Enitan smiled as she walked towards the kitchen. “Thank

you Aunti mi. I’ve got an assignment I need to finish. I need
to focus and get it done this weekend.”

“Ah, I understand. It’s so good to see you enjoying

yourself for once.” Her aunt’s concerned eyes grazed over
her face. “You look relaxed and if I may say, happy.”

“Thank you.” Butterflies scurried in her tummy as she

relived the evening. “I need to get at least twenty pages in on
my dissertation and redo a piece of work my uptight lecturer
wasn’t happy with.” That man was the bane of her life.

“Maybe he likes you.” Her aunt grinned.

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Well, she didn’t. An incurable romantic, her aunt, saw

love pairings everywhere.

“It could be that… Erm…” Putting a hand to her

forehead. “Ah, forbidden romance trope.”

Enitan rolled her eyes. “This isn’t Nigeria o, the lecturers

wouldn’t do such.” And since when did she take an interest
in romance tropes?

“We’re all human, you’d be surprised.” Pausing in the

hallway. “Would you like me to make you a cup of coffee
before I get David’s things?”

“I’ll do it.” Enitan headed towards the kitchen. “Would

you like one too?”

Her aunt nodded.

How did her aunt cope with being alone? Had she given
up on love? Since she had been in the UK, all she noticed
her aunt do was take David out, go for functions at work, or
go out for dinner with Becca. No man, no dates. A real Billy
no mates.

Stepping into the kitchen, Enitan switched the kettle on,

as her eyes darted around the kitchen, as usual everything
was in pristine condition. Dinner must have been a grand
affair, as there was nothing on the dish rack. Craving
something sweet, her eyes darted around the counter tops
looking for her aunt’s iconic cake tin. That’s when she
noticed Becca on the two-seater sofa. “Hey Becca, sorry I
didn’t see you there.”

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Wrapped in her pink dressing gown, she was reading a

book, her long thick hair in twists. “No problem, how was
your evening?” Her hazel eyes were bright with curiosity.

Enitan smiled; her eyes took in an indent on the other

cushion on the sofa. Guilt bloomed in her chest, they must
have been waiting for her to get back. She knew Becca
stayed up late sometimes to keep her aunt company. Her aunt
was very lucky to have her as a friend and house-mate. “We
went to a new Nigerian restaurant. It was fun.” Staring at the
empty cup on the stool. “How come you’re home on a Friday
night?” Surely there must be men chasing after her left, right
and centre.

Avoiding her eyes, Becca shrugged. “Couldn’t put this

book down.” Holding up the cover of the book.

The best-selling thriller was all over TikTok, everyone

seemed to have an opinion about.

The ding of the kettle echoed in the kitchen. “Would you

like another drink?”

“Yes please. Decaff coffee.” She smiled as she placed her

book on the arm of the sofa. “Your aunt made some cake,
let’s have a piece before she gets back.” Pointing to the door
that led to a well-stocked larder.

Cake tin next to her, Enitan was spooning coffee into cups
when David, in his blue pyjamas looking half asleep, came
over and hugged her. Bending down, she kissed his forehead.

“You smell nice, mummy.” Snuggling into her arms.

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It was Tee’s expensive perfume he could smell on her.

“Thank you.” An indulgent smile on her face, as he wriggled
out of her arms, picked up his game console off a stool, and
went to sit on the sofa next to Becca. Enitan’s heart swelled
as Becca cuddled him and kissed his forehead.

Staring at the time, her hands swiftly made the drinks.

There was no way they were taking the bus home. For once
she could treat herself, there was no point having all that
money and not make use of it. Money was meant to be spent.

Putting David’s bag on the counter, her aunt asked, “So,

how is this new guy of yours?”

“Good, thanks.” Very good, to be honest.

“You look different.” Picking up a spoon and stirring her

coffee.

“What do you mean?”

“You have a permanent smile on your face. Normally you

scowl.”

Oh. Touching her forehead. Was that the reason her

schoolwork was all over the place?

Picking her mug of coffee, her aunt asked, “Am I going

to meet him anytime soon?”

Enitan opened the cake tin and lifted a slice onto her
saucer. Looking over at her son, Enitan took a deep breath,
well, she could meet… him. If the person did a sex change
and became a he.

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Bright brown eyes sought hers. “Are you seeing each

other again?”

Taking a bite of the cake, she nodded. Delicious. Yep,

next Friday I can’t wait. She kept that to herself. Let’s see
how it goes.

Smiling at her auntie trying to be neutral re gender and

progress, she responded, “Uhm well we are only just… you
know at the talking stage at the moment. We’re not dating
yet.” Thank God she was dark-skinned because her cheeks
went warm when she thought about what they had already
done, if they weren’t dating what would they do when they
did?

Her aunt shook her head. “What do you mean by you’re

not dating? You’ve been out at least five times, you told me
you met a couple of times near school.”

Another slice of cake went into her mouth. Mmm. This

woman forgot nothing.

“So, what more do you guys need to do to declare that

you’re dating each other?”

Enitan laughed and looked over at Becca. She was

engrossed with what David was doing on his games console.
Looking back at her aunt’s earnest face, she had learnt the
etiquette of the dating scene in London when she started film
school, from her course mates.

We are not dating, we are just in the talking stage. She

had rolled her eyes, yet here she was saying the same thing.
Would she have the opportunity to date Tee, be exclusive, or
would it just fizzle out…
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“Grandma, I burst through the next level of my game.”

Looking over, her aunt gave him the thumbs up. “Well
done, darling.”

Becca ruffled his head, which was resting on her arm.

David’s excited eyes stared at her aunt. “Your friend

helped me. When are you seeing her again?” Looking down
at his console.

Her aunt raised her palms. “I don’t know, she is a busy

lady. As we speak, for all I know, she could be in South
America.”

Enitan smiled, she was so grateful to her aunt for rising to

the occasion and taking on the role of grandmother for her
son. Giving him what most other kids his age had—a doting
grandparent.

Brushing the cake crumbs off the counter into her cup,
Enitan declared, “Come on, game boy it’s time to go home.”

An hour later, with David tucked into bed, she made

herself a cup of chamomile tea and booted up her laptop. Her
mind was too wired to concentrate on work, staring absently
into her notepad, she decided to call it a night and wake up
early instead.

Snuggling tight into her duvet, her mind flashed to Tee

and the kiss they had shared, feeling warm and fuzzy she
pulled into the pillow. Closing her eyes, she was drifting off
to sleep, when an image shone bright at the back of her eyes,
accompanied by a melodious voice and Tee’s words. A
sudden compulsion made her push the covers aside and head
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back into the living room. Picking up a piece of paper, she

wrote the name that had just popped into her head. Black
Diamond Productions.

Yep, that was it, sticking it on the fridge; taking another

look at it, she fired up her laptop, sat down and typed. An
hour later, while putting her stuff away, she noticed an email
from her lecturer. She sighed; what did he want this time?
Refusing to let the email dampen her mood, she put it to the
back of her mind. Whatever it was she would find out later,
as she headed back to bed. Staring at the ceiling waiting for
sleep to claim her, her mind went back to the email. Had she
failed? No point worrying about that now, as she drifted off
to sleep, visualising.

“Enitan, we need to incorporate the feedback we received

from the investors.” The deep, rich baritone was calm. The
owner of said voice had his back to her, studying something
on his laptop.

“What do they want this time?” It had been a continuous

process of rewrites, but the money they needed for the
production was close. The rewrites helped hone her skills,
some of the comments were productive.

“They said they are ready to sign the papers.” Still

keeping his back to her. Why did that silhouette look so
familiar?

“Enitan, just be patient and learn. I know it might feel

frustrating but…”

Why did this man’s voice sound so familiar?

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“I have lined up some great people, once you put this

through Black Diamond, the offers will start coming in.”

The chair he was sitting in was swivelling round, he was

turning to face her.

“Black Diamond will go places, especially once we get

funding for…” Distracted, he was scribbling on a post-it
note.

The table he was sitting on seemed to turn on its own as

he held up a yellow post-it note in his hand.

Jesu Christi. “Oh my God! It’s you…”

Femi Bakare looked at her, puzzled. “Of course-”

Her eyes snapped open, touching her forehead, she

looked around, she was in bed.

I claim it o, God, please make it possible.

The dream had been so real, before drifting off to sleep,

she had been visualising herself in her company working on
projects. Pieces of her dream came back to her, the man
who’d kept his back to her, teaching her for stuff. His face…

Could it come true? Could such a renowned writer and

award-winning director work with a small girl like her from
Lagos?

On one hand, she wished and wanted it, but the rational
part of her mind started sowing the seeds of doubt. It was
impossible, he wouldn’t come to a novice like her… She was

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imagining how exciting it would be to work with the man

when her phone rang.

Staring at the caller ID, she hissed. Why did Nigerians

call so early in the morning? Groaning, she picked the call.

“Enitan, your landlord is threatening your husband with

eviction.”

So. Was this why her daydream had been abruptly

shattered.

They had lived in a prime area of Lagos Island and the

landlord was one of those abroad, no-nonsense types. Any
small thing and there would be a letter from his lawyers in
their letterbox. The treatment of arrears had been written into
the contract. When they decided to rent the duplex, her job
had been enough to sway the landlord not to demand a
guarantor. Kola had somehow managed to use his last
contract of employment to kid the landlord into thinking he
was gainfully employed.

Why was her mum so invested? “Mum, isn’t it me you’re

meant to be supporting?” Have you ever asked how were are
coping in the UK?

“I am trying, but what are people going to say?”

Of course, people. Her image had to be protected.

A sniff came through the phone. “All the women in that

family cannot keep a husband.”

So. Her mother had ended up being a baby mama for her
father, who hardly showed up in her life. And he wasn’t even
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sure if Enitan was his. It had all been distressing and she had
retreated further into her shell. Relentless, her mother had
spent the best part of her life acting like Mrs. Adebayo and
even had tats with the other wives of her father on social
media.

When the famous man about town Kola Coker had shown
interest, her mother had been ecstatic. People in the industry
were full out curious about her—who was her boyfriend…
Or her sugar daddy.

When Kola came sniffing, she had played along and

reeled him in. The fact that he was a playboy made things
easier.

“He believes it will be bad for him if he has to move away

from there.”

The huge duplex they had rented had been his suggestion,
he persuaded her to pay the deposit and the initial rent, on
the promise that he would give it back to her once his deals
came through. Relieved that she would get her mum and
people off her back she had paid, it was only later she found
out that he was penniless and in debt. It was all a front.

This conversation was going nowhere, she really needed

to get up and do her housework. “Mum, have you returned
their money?”

“Ehn, I wanted to get your father…”

Father. He had never really acknowledged her, so why

would he now? “Kola said if I couldn’t accept it to leave and
I did.” It was time for her to shoot her own film. Don’t let

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someone else’s brush paint your own picture. Nothing was

taking her back.

It was too late anyway. She had gone over to the other-
side and wasn’t coming back.

Her mum was quiet, scheming and thinking what else she
could say to bring her back home. She had always been more
concerned about what people would say than what her
daughter was going through. Enitan never wanted a big
wedding, her mother wanting to flex, talking down her
objections had orchestrated it all. It had been her opportunity
to mix with some of the Nollywood stars.

“I still think you were hasty, sha.”

She wanted to say something but decided not to, instead

she pressed something on her phone. Next time her mum
called, it would go straight to voice mail.

She was having the time of her life; she had two women
toasting her. Please, she wanted to enjoy her life. Her mum
should leave her alone and not throw sand into her garri.

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Chapter 22

Closing the file on her desk, Odette stared out into the
distance. For once when she’d had arrived in the office that
morning, the smell of paint was conspicuously absent.
Something at the back of her mind was telling her the smell
held some significance. Whatever it was refused to reveal
itself to her.

The sun streaming in through the windows suffused her

office cum studio with bright light, even the errant cobwebs
beamed in the sunlight. Frowning at an intricate one—note
to self—she needed to get the cleaners in when she was in
the office.

Who or whatever was standing guard of the tiara was

very much around. Exquisite drawings appeared in her
sketchpad every day. At this rate, she would need another
one soon. The designs were intricate, whatever or whoever
was creating them was very artistic. All she had to do was to
figure out which metal best suited each one, gold, silver, and
the stones. Yes, she could see her clients queuing up for
these.

One part of her was flipping excited about the whole

treasure trove of designs. The other was freaked out, maybe
it was time to try and speak to the… What was she going to
call it? Was it just a matter of opening her mouth and saying
hello? Really.

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After the conversation with her mum, she had tried to see
if she could find the culprit, but it wasn’t to be. CCTV
yielded nothing, and to be honest, what did she expect?
Someone waving into the camera saying hi… Could modern
cameras pick up such ethereal beings? There was no point
kidding herself that it was human.

A faint chuckle echoed in her ear, jumping she looked

around her office. She was alone. However, the smell had
returned. Thankfully, her sketchpad was next to her on the
table. Paint was this phantom thing’s calling card…

Running a hand through her hair, she pushed thoughts of

her ghostly visitor to one side. There was a virtual stack of
assignments waiting for her to mark, thanks to her part-time
job, as a lecturer of gemology.

It had all started as a favour—being a stand-in part-time

lecturer. Teaching people the science behind gems and over
the years, it had become a permanent position. She enjoyed
teaching students and it was nice seeing them develop into
their own creativity. Plus, if she hadn’t been headed that
way, she would never have met Enitan.

A smile hovered over her lips, she enjoyed her company,

but she would see where things took them. Her eyes went
over to her empty workbench, the plan was to finish cleaning
the tiara by Monday. As she was leaving for a long business
trip the day after, a grueling three weeks that would take her
to South Africa, Europe, New York and Argentina. She had
set time aside on Saturday and Sunday to do the last bits,
take pictures, and get back to Jeremy. Everything had
checked out in her lab. Unfortunately, it could not confirm if
they dropped from the sky. Maybe she should ask…

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Tapping reminders into her phone to complete the

marking, she packed up and put all the ghostly shenanigans
behind her.

Enitan was coming over. Odette loved cooking, but it

could be boring at times cooking for one. She had decided
on cooking pasta with mushrooms and prawns, accompanied
by a nice bottle of white wine, creamy ice cream and fruit
for dessert.

Humming to Afrobeats, she was chopping fresh basil

when the doorbell went at seven o’clock. Tapping an app on
her phone, she checked the entrance. Washing her hands, she
checked herself out on a glass cabinet before going
downstairs to get Enitan. Opening the door, her breath
caught in her throat, she was looking absolutely gorgeous in
a red top, skirt and sandals. Good enough to eat. Steady on
miss. “Enitan, come on in. You look great.”

A shy smile appeared on Enitan’s face as she gave her a

bouquet of flowers.

Odette closed the door behind her. “Thank you, and my

favorites too.” Leaning in, she kissed her on the lips, teasing
her lower lip with her teeth, her perfume wafted to her
nostrils something warm and spicy. Mmm… “Let’s go
upstairs.”

The welcoming aroma of Italian herbs and spices greeted

them as they walked in. She headed to the kitchen to get a
vase for the flowers, while Enitan took off her shoes and
wandered into the kitchen. Her eyes darted around, taking in
her surroundings, her abode above the office was a spacious
one bed flat, the furnishing a mixture of IKEA and a few
choice pieces from Chelsea’s antique dealers.
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“This is nice and cosy.” Enitan waved a hand around the

room, touching the leaves of a huge potted plant in the
corner.

Changing the music, Odette murmured, “Thank you.”

“How long have you lived here?”

“A while.” Grabbing the bottle of wine, Odette poured

some into two glasses. “Cheers.” Holding up a glass.

Picking hers, Enitan responded, “Cheers, thanks for

inviting me over for dinner.”

Odette leaned over and kissed her on the lips. “Anytime

sexy. Your lips are so inviting.” Turning her attention back
to the stove. “I better keep on cooking, otherwise we won’t
eat.”

Enitan grinned.

With soft jazz playing in the background, their

conversation soon turned to how their week had been.
Lighting some candles Odette served up dinner; the
atmosphere was intimate and relaxed.

Leaning back on a bar-stool, Enitan rubbed her tummy.

“You’re a great cook Tee, that was delicious.”

“Thank you.” Picking up the bottle, Odette topped up

their wine. “I enjoyed the company and the meal.”

“You’re such a smooth talker, Tee.”

Odette laughed.
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Standing next to each other, they cleared up the dishes,

with Odette stopping now and again to kiss Enitan on the
lips. “Hmm, you smell so nice. I might just make you
dessert.”

Enitan burst out laughing. “Mm hmm, we are watching a

movie, remember?”

“Spoil sport.” Her heart singing, enjoying the moment.

Carrying a bowl of fruit in one hand, Odette took Enitan’s

hand and led them to the sofa in the living area. Switching
on the TV, she clicked on Netflix. Turning to Enitan, she
asked, “What would you like to watch?”

A thoughtful expression came over Enitan’s face. “Let’s

watch a Nollywood movie.”

Odette nodded, why not. It was about time she acquainted

herself with it.

“We can watch a movie I missed out on directing.”

“What happened?”

Enitan raised a shoulder. “Artistic differences.”

Put a bunch of creatives together and you had a breeding

ground for conflict. “Anything you want, girl, it’s yours.”
Passing the remote control to her.

Enitan grinned. “Hope you won’t kick me out after.”

No way cutie. “It can’t be any different to those

addictively bad movies we come across from time to time.”
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“Haha, you will be surprised.”

“Don’t worry, let’s watch it. If I get bored, I’m sure I can
make things livelier.” As her eyes settled on Enitan’s breasts.

Eyes twinkling with amusement, Enitan laughed. “You

have a one track mind.”

Throwing her hands up in the air, Odette responded, “You

can’t blame me. I have a sexy woman sitting next to me.
What else am I meant to do?”

Enitan shook her head. “You might find it a bit slow, but
um this is the stuff that I’m used to, and this is where I’m
from.”

Odette smiled. “Enitan, anything you want to watch, we

watch together. We can roll our eyes at the places where it
seems implausible. Then we can analyse it and you can tell
me what you would do better if you were the director.”

Enitan eyebrows shot up, a strange look in her eyes as she

nodded.

Hours later, fruit bowl empty, they sat talking about the
film they’d just watched. Odette highlighted areas where the
plot had been implausible. Enitan thought it had dragged on
for too long, etc. etc. but it made for a very great evening.
Enitan was passionate about her craft, speaking with
authority when she explained why things were done a certain
way. Unfortunately, it all came down to money.

“I believe if we had access to money, equipment etc. we

can be bigger than Hollywood.”

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Odette nodded. “So, how do you change the narrative?”

“We need investors, who want to see the industry grow

and develop. People who are passionate about film and not
too worried about losing money in the short term.”

Well, if this beauty, asked her to invest she would. Hoping

Enitan could stay awhile, and not run away so early, Odette
leaned forward. “I can play some music if you want, or we
can watch some old music videos on YouTube.”

Enitan looked over at her and smiled. “Yes, that would be

nice.”

Connecting her phone to the hidden speakers, she put on

a seductive RnB playlist. No point putting on house music at
this point. She wanted Enitan in her arms melting, moaning,
begging…

Odette’s eyes were undressing Enitan… To feel that soft

skin under her fingers, to hear her…

Her lustful reel was interrupted when Enitan grabbed her

hand and pulled her up into her arms.

Raising a hand, Enitan caressed her face. “You’re so

beautiful, Tee.” Pulling her head down, she kissed Odette
gently on the lips, as the music played its seductive tunes in
the background. Bobby V was asking, How did you get in
those jeans?.

For once, Odette was at a loss for words. The tables had
turned, she was used to being in control, making the first
move. Enitan holding her felt so right.

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Through a fevered gaze of desire, her eyes focused on

Enitan’s head as she pushed the top of her blouse to one side,
exposing a shoulder. There was a slight hesitancy before she
lowered her lips towards Odette’s neck. Using her tongue,
Enitan traced a trail over her collarbone. A hot swath of fire
went all the way down to Odette’s core.

Moving Odette’s blouse lower, Enitan’s hand grazed over

her bra, wonder and desire reflected in her eyes when she
looked up at Odette. “You’re so perfect, Tee, your skin is so
soft and smooth.” Her soft fingers were stroking the exposed
skin above her bra. By the time her lips grazed the skin on
the top of her breasts, she was all hers. “Aah…”

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Chapter 23

For the first time in her life Enitan, had someone she truly
desired in her arms. A woman. Someone she wanted to
explore. She could now experience what it was like to make
love to a woman. Not feel it but be the one exploring.
Experience what it was like to hear someone call out her
name with passion and need.

Have someone beg… moan for her. Someone like Tee.

Taking a deep breath, Tee’s perfume washed over her—

warm, fruity, like passion fruit. Drawing her in, making her
want to bury her head in her chest. Nibble on her skin.

Unbuttoning Tee’s blouse, she pulled it down and

unhooked her bra. They fell to the floor in a silent heap. Her
eyes feasted on the breasts of the woman she had been
fantasising about.

Dragging her eyes away from the pulse beating on Tee’s

neck, Enitan stared in wonder at the brown skin and dark
nipples. Her eyes widening as they pebbled under her gaze.
I want to suck on that; feel it harden on my tongue. This was
the first time being in the driver’s seat. Pushing Tee gently
back on to the couch, Enitan lowered her mouth, and
plastered soft kisses on the exposed skin before moving
down towards the nipple, staring at her.

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Running her tongue lower, she licked on the areola, her

body quivering with excitement. Unable to resist, she latched
on to the nipple; it hardened on her tongue. Molten fire raged
down her core, her clit ached.

“Enitan… That’s… hmm…”

Moisture gushed into Enitan’s pants, turned on she

continued on her quest, rolling her tongue over the taut
nipple, feeling bold she gently bit down on it.

“Eni… Aah…” Tee squirmed in her arms.

Curious, she looked up. Tee’s hazel eyes were burning

with need. Tee wanted her… Her. Enitan Adebayo…

Bending forward, she gently bit on the other nipple.

Tee arched up on the sofa. She pulled Enitan’s hands to

the waistband of her jeans. “I want to feel your hands all over
me, Enitan.” Her voice thick with need.

Emboldened, Enitan’s shook her head. “No rush Tee.”

She wanted to savour this experience; it might be her only
time.

“Do you like this?” Enitan asked, as her hands roamed

over her abdomen.

Tee groaned. “Aah… W-what do you think?”

Gently pushing Tee back on the couch, Enitan bent

forward, her lips planting kisses down to the underside of her
breasts. Pausing briefly, she ran her tongue over the crease.

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Tee squirmed. “Oh, my God. Enitan, that feels so good.”

Buoyed by the words of appreciation, Enitan continued

with her exploration. Her lips making a trail down to her
belly button, swivelling her tongue around and around while
snaking a hand up and pinching one of her nipples.

Tee moaned. “Eni… Y-yes please don’t stop.”

She wanted to see all of Tee, her fingers traced a soft trail
down to the waistband of her jeans.

“I need these off.” Enitan whispered, tugging at the

waistband as she pulled down the jeans. The red lace of her
panties came into view followed by her long lithe legs. Silk
smooth skin and red toenails. Her eyes feasted on the beauty
that was Tee, lying in front of her, half naked. Wanting her,
enjoying her touch.

Clit throbbing, Enitan moved closer and locked her lips

on Tee’s.

“Enitan… please.” Pulling her in closer, her taut nipples

stabbing into her blouse.

She wanted to show Tee who she was, show her she could
make her cum the way she had. Enitan’s fevered gaze rested
on the rise and fall of Tee’s breasts.

“Mmm, Tee. You smell so nice.” Placing gentle kisses on

Tee’s skin, she moved her lips down to her red panties.

“E-eni… A-aah…” Tee’s ragged breathing echoed in the

space between them.

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When she got there, she used her tongue to caress the top
of her pubic bone.

“Yes… O-Oh Eni-itan.” Tee was squirming.

The lights reflected on the shimmer of moisture seeping

through her panties.

Tee was wet for her. Moisture gushed into Enitan’s pants
as her clit throbbed in excitement.

Moving her nose over her folds, she breathed in her

essence through the red fabric. A mixture of her perfume and
a scent she couldn’t describe drew her in, enthralling her.
Making her want to bury her head in there and sip at the
essence of her core.

Hands shaking, she moved in and pulled down the red

panties covering the flower she wanted to see.

This was the first time in her life coming face to face with
a pussy, she wanted to explore. Taste. Touch. The last time,
Tee had taken charge, eliciting so much out of Enitan, she
hadn’t had the opportunity to explore Tee’s body. Her core
throbbed at the memories.

Her eyes widened as she stared at it. There was a soft

sheen over her folds.

Looking up, her eyes locked with Tee. Her hazel eyes
were bright. Entian put a finger to Tee’s lips, she sucked on
it. Pulling it out of Tee’s mouth, Enitan traced a trail from
her collarbone, down to her abdomen. Her fingers teased
around her belly button before moving down ever so gently
into her folds and into her tight, wet entrance.
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Tee gasped, “Oh my God, Enitan. Please don’t stop.”

The muscles of Tee’s walls clenched tightly onto the

fingers. Pulling her fingers out, she pushed them in again,
hooked up and fondled with the bulge of flesh.

Tee squirmed. “Enitan.” Her voice was guttural,

pronouncing her name like a real Yoruba woman.

Enitan smiled, amused.

Watching her fingers coated with her juices pull in and

out of Tee’s pussy made Enitan’s nipples tingle and ache.
Damn, remembering how Tee bit on them previously set off
a tiny orgasm, clenching her thighs she tried to ride the wave
without losing hold of Tee.

Taking one of her fingers slick with her juices she used it
to open up the bud that was playing hide and seek with her.
Twirling it around on her finger, she could hear Tee’s ragged
breathing.

“Enitan, p-please don’t stop touching me there.” Tee’s

bum rising in the air humping to the melody of her fingers.

Enitan looked down at Tee, took a taut nipple in her

mouth then stuck another finger into her and stroked her clit.

“You’re so good, don’t stop aah.. ahh.” Tee moaned.

She kept on stroking the bud, then she bent down and
gently bit on her clit. A gush of warm liquid hit her fingers
as Tee screamed into her ears.

“Oh my God Eni-itan I’m cuming.”

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Enitan’s eyes bulged in wonder as Tee thrashed in the

throes of her orgasm. Wanting to be part of it she pulled her
in her arms, kissing her forehead until she came down.

Pulling Enitan’s face towards her. Tee kissed her on the

lips. “Thank you.”

Enitan basked in her praise. “What did I do?”

“Mmm…. Enitan, your touch is so soft and gentle.” Tee’s

hazel eyes were bright in her face. “Let me show you what
you did.”

Dragging her by the hand, Tee led Enitan to her bedroom.

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Chapter 24

Buzz. Buzz.

A bee was buzzing in her ears, swatting it away with her

hand, she opened her eyes. She was in the UK, snuggling
into the warm body on her bed. The noise was an irritant,
taking her mind away from nice, warm, sultry memories.
Lips… breasts. Where was it coming from? Disoriented, she
cuddled deeper into Enitan’s warm body. Memories of their
night started replaying in her mind. Oh God, the girl had
taken her to heaven and back… It had been magical, her clit
began throbbing at the memory.

Enitan’s hands were so soft… whatever hand cream she

used, she needed it as her nipples hardened. Her warm sexy
replays were shattered when the phone vibrated on the
nightstand, turning over to pick up her phone she realised the
sound was coming from the other side. Shaking her awake,
Odette whispered in her ear, “Enitan, I think your phone’s
going off.”

A groggy Enitan murmured, “What do you mean my

phone has been going…”

“Your phone has been…” The bedside table started

vibrating again.

A look of panic bloomed in Enitan’s eyes as she jumped

up. Rolling over to the other side, she picked her phone off
the bedside table, staring at the number. Odette pulled the
covers over her chest, her heart pounding. It was 4am…

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Enitan checked the screen and pressed green. The first

thing she said was, “Aunti mi, kilo sele.”

Odette heard a voice on the other side, but couldn’t make

out whether it was male or female.

Enitan responded, “Oh my God, is he OK?” Her hand

went to her chest. “I’m coming now. I’ll get an Uber. I
should be with you in the next fifteen minutes. I’m really
sorry.” Putting the phone down, she jumped out of bed. Her
voice strained. “Sorry, I’ve got to go.”

Staring at her panicked face, Odette tried to figure what

was happening. “What’s wrong?” Her eyes settled on her
breasts as they swayed with her movements. She pushed the
sex thoughts to the back of her mind. Now wasn’t the time.

“Family emergency.” Still refusing to look her in the eye,

Enitan tapped something on her phone.

“Is there anything that I can do?” What was going on?
Things had gone from…

Eyes darting around the room, Enitan shook her head.

“No, I’m fine.” Bending down. “I need to go home. My son
is ill.” Pulling off her knickers hanging at the end of the bed.

Excuse me?

Odette processed what she’d just heard. No, she must be

hearing things. Pulling her head back in shock. “You have a
son?” A whole human being. Her eyes widening with every
word. Shit. She hadn’t meant for it to come out that way. But
they had talked about kids the other day and…

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Enitan avoided her gaze. “Yes, I do.”

What! “But…” She hadn’t seen that coming.

Picking her bra off the chair, Enitan clasped it on her

chest. “Look, I’ve got to go, something’s happened.” As she
pulled her arms through the straps.

“Hold on, when were you going to tell me…” The words
came out of her mouth before she could process it.

“It didn’t come up in our conversations.”

Excuse me! Feeling tainted, memories of Jacqueline came

rushing back. “I told you…”

“You’re the one who wanted to share.”

Was this girl for real?

Lips pursed; Enitan’s blouse went over her head. “Thanks

for a nice evening.”

Thanks… Narrowing her eyes, Odette searched Enitan’s

face, but she purposely looked away. “Look I did…” The
words died on her lips.

Pulling on her skirt, eyes down, Enitan shook her head.

“Like I said, thanks. I’ll see myself out.”

Where was this cold woman coming from? “Enitan…”

Making to get off the bed, Odette pulled off the covers.

Enitan shook her head. “Don’t bother…” Picking her bag.

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“Enitan… look.” Grabbing her dressing gown, Odette

watched as Enitan walked out of her bedroom. By the time
she had tied the sash, the hard slam of the front door
reverberated in the silence. Their night had gone from a
heartfelt connection to what… Maybe she was alone in
feeling the connection.

Enitan had a kid! Rubbing her eyes, she hadn’t expected

that. She had specifically asked about it. Her answer had
been she’d thought about it. Well, she had thought about it
alright. Why hadn’t she come out to say she had a child?

Had she been naïve to think Enitan had only been with
women? Come to think of it, she hadn’t talked about that
either. Standing by her window, she watched Enitan look
down at her phone while pacing near the entrance. Minutes
later she got into the back of an Uber. Needing to lie down,
Odette went back into her bedroom, pulling the duvet, she
moved to the pillow Enitan had used, her scent hit her
nostrils and all the memories came flooding back.

Damn.

After tossing and turning for a while, she knew she wasn’t
going to get any sleep. Why didn’t she tell me? Sleep
shattered, in anger or annoyance, she couldn’t tell which one
it was she pulled off the covers and headed for the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later she went downstairs, and tapped in

the numbers on the keypad for her office. Her plan had been
to work, she just hadn’t expected to start this early.

The lights automatically came on as she walked in, her

table was just as she left it the night before. And thank
goodness for once there were no strange smells.
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Walking over to the window, she stared into the darkness,

a car emblazoned with security drove by. A man walking his
dog. Everything looked so normal, sighing she turned away
and headed back for her desk. Picking up her phone, swiping
away the warning message that her battery was low. She
typed a message to Enitan.

Odette: Hope your son is fine.

She wanted to type in more, like why did you lie to me?
Lie was harsh, but it was the truth. Enitan had omitted to tell
her she had a child. Running a hand through her hair, she
pushed her phone aside. Arguing with herself was not going
to provide any answers.

When she worked alone in the building, she played music

on her phone but kept it low. Even though she had faith in
her security, one had to be aware of what was going on. And
after what had happened the other night, she had to be on full
alert.

Her mind was elsewhere as she took out her brushes and
prepared her workbench for the tiara. When she had
redesigned her office, she had commissioned a top
behavioral analyst to tell her the areas to locate a safe based
on certain behavioural criteria. To catch a thief, one had to
think like the best of them. Armed with that information, she
had then worked with Jeremy’s company to build it and hide
it in plain sight.

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Chapter 25

“You’re a terrible mother. You’re selfish, taking him

away from his…” The phantom voice of her mother echoed
in her head, as Enitan rushed back to her aunt’s place. Biting
hard on her inner lip, the pain was a welcome punishment as
she wallowed in her guilt. Wishing the car would go faster
and ignore the traffic lights.

The driver has nothing to do with the predicament you

find yourself in. You are the one doing this to yourself.

Guilt gnawed away in her gut; she had been busy having
orgasmic sex, while her son had been choking on a piece of
plastic. Ashawo. If she’d been with a man, that could be
forgivable.

But a woman. Abomination. No-No. The world would say

she was being punished.

You deserved to be punished. Taking your child away

from his father because you couldn’t keep him or understand
and learn that men will always be men.

Then Tee’s reaction had been… so judgmental. She

clenched her hands on her lap. You have a son? The delivery
of those words played in her head repeatedly.

Putting her head into her hands, she rocked back and forth
on the seat as the Uber driver, oblivious to the turmoil going
through her mind, cut through the traffic, shortening the
distance between her and David. Trying to calm down, she

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checked her phone. Nothing from Tee. Was she that

unfeeling?

Ok, so maybe she should have mentioned it when they

had talked about children… she’d had ample opportunity to
share. Why had she stayed mute?

Yes, why did you Enitan? Ehn? Why did you not tell the
woman you’re cavorting with that? You stuck your fingers in
her vagina, but you did not tell her you have a son? Why?

Because… Heat washed over her skin as she

acknowledged to herself, she’d purposely left out the
existence of her son.

Was it from shame or guilt? Turning the spotlight

inwards, she realised she couldn’t answer the question.
Annoyed with herself for what she had done. Too late for
that now, the cat was out of the bag, preening and sitting on
top of the duvet in the bedroom.

Things had gone so fast with Tee, the connection between

them was strong. She was developing deep feelings towards
her, even though at the back of her mind, she’d told herself
things between them was casual. So why are you so cracked
up about the way she reacted?

Tapping the screen, she checked her phone again.

Nothing.

Disappointment washed over her.

There she’d been thinking they had something special.

Was she just a casual lay for Tee? Of course, you are. You

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really think a super, super posh woman like that will go with
you local JJC? Come on Enitan, be real.

The car finally pulled up in front of her aunt’s place,

pushing the thoughts of Tee to the back of her mind, she
hurriedly thanked the Uber driver, rushed up the stairs and
knocked on the door.

Closing her eyes, she exhaled, her cold breath bloomed in

space in front of her fleetingly, as she waited. Studying the
retreating cloud, the clink of the key turned in the lock. The
door opened to her auntie in a blue bonnet and pink frilly
dressing. She smiled. “Enitan, come in.” Closing the door
behind them.

Becca, who was leaning against the door of the kitchen,

walked over and hugged her aunt. She then came over and
patted Enitan on the shoulder. “He’s ok.”

Relief washed over Enitan. “I’m so sorry he caused you

such a fright.” Looking at both of them.

Becca raised her hands and smiled. “Honestly Enitan,

don’t worry. Kids will be kids.” Patting her aunt on the
shoulder, she went upstairs.

Enitan stared at her retreating back, her aunt was lucky to

have such a friend.

Her aunt squeezed her shoulder.

Turning her head, Enitan stared at her aunt, she looked

tired.

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“He is OK, but you know how children are when they are
feeling down, they always want their mums with them.” She
smiled. “You go, I’ll bring some hot chocolate.”

Hugging her aunt, she whispered, “Aunti mi, thank you.”

“It’s ok.” Patting her back. “I am only doing my glam-ma

duties.”

Enitan nodded and headed to the bedroom, where her son

was recovering from his choking episode.

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Chapter 26

Odette stretched and headed over to her coffee machine,

placing a mug under the nozzle, she pressed start. The smell
of coffee soon permeated the air as the gargling sounds broke
the silence.

While waiting for the coffee to trickle through, she looked

over to her desk, relief warmed her heart. Her errant
sketchpad was where she’d left it the night before—next to
her monitor. Thank goodness. The ping of the machine
brought her back to the present. Something caught her eye,
frowning her eyes widened.

Her sketchpad was on the coffee table.

Unease made its way up her spine, confused eyes looked

back at her desk. It was still there.

Wait, had someone cloned her sketchpad?

Coffee forgotten, she walked over to the coffee table,

someone or something had rearranged the cushions. It was
subtle but obvious to her.

Hands shaking, she picked up the pad, a new one. A

replica of the one on her desk. She hadn’t bought it. Her
sketchpads were expensive and came from an old-fashioned,
long-established stationery shop in Bond Street. Come to
think of it, the place was so old, the place it had to be

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haunted. So how had a new one transported and unwrapped

itself in her office?

Okay, things in her modern secure CCTV’d building

were getting bone-chilling creepy.

“Erm, ok… I know you can hear me. Thank you for the
drawings…” The paint hit her immediately. So she’d got that
right.

“What do you want?” Her outburst was met with silence.

Come on, Odette, what do you expect, an answer?

Shaking her head, she walked back to get her coffee,

hopefully that drug would help dispel the ethereal thoughts
in her mind and wake up the rational, practical part of her
brain.

A feathery sensation—like soft, gentle fingers stroking

her scalp—made a shiver go down her spine. Alarmed, her
hand hovered over the cup. The back of her head suddenly
expanded and tried to expel itself through the back of her
skull.

What the hell was going on? Her heart hammered

erratically in her chest.

Bringing up her arm, she rubbed the back of her itching

neck, she could feel eyes on her. Someone was watching her.
Foot rooted to the spot, taking a deep breath, she picked the
coffee cup, needing something tangible to hold on to.

Mum, I hope I survive this encounter o. Why was it that

anything to do with Nigerians, they always had to add extra?
Haba.
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She had cleaned and restored so many old English and

European heirlooms, nothing like this had ever happened.

Odette, Adéríyiḱ ẹ́, Àdùkẹ́ don’t be afraid… Abi what’s

the worst that could happen… With both hands on the mug,
she turned to face the coffee table.

Sitting and fluffing the cushions behind her back, trying

to get comfortable as if she was entertaining guests in her
drawing room, sat a red-haired woman dressed in clothes
that must have come out of the costume department of
Downton Abbey.

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Chapter 27

Dawn light filtered through the curtains, pulling her

phone off the bedside table, Enitan checked her notifications.
Nothing.

There were messages from Jay, but she wasn’t interested

in those. Plus, she hadn’t told her she had a kid either. She
sighed; this was one huge mess.

All of your own making, keeping secrets.

All those words she’d said to her meant nothing; Tee was
just as bad as those smooth-talking men.

Stop checking. You clearly mean nothing to her.

During the early dawn, she had been angry with Tee for
not messaging and with herself for wishing she would text.
How come she hadn’t called? No matter what, even if she
had not given her the right information, the decent thing for
her to do would be to check on her to see how her son was.

Was she that heartless?

Why are you so wound up about the whole thing?

Pushing the angst aside, she stared at the peaceful face of

her son asleep beside her. Thank God he was okay.

Her aunt had been walking past his room and had heard
him coughing. “I realised something was wrong.” She had

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performed abdominal thrusts while Becca called the

ambulance out. Something had been stuck in his throat.

Not wanting to disturb David, she snuggled up next to

him in bed and fell asleep. The inviting aroma of bacon
wafted into her nostrils hours later. Opening her eyes, she
looked down to where David had been. Her son wasn’t in the
bed. Throwing off the covers, she headed for the ensuite,
brushed her teeth, and washed her face.

Berating herself but still unable to resist, she checked her

phone. Nothing.

That’s it.

Leaving her phone on the bed, she headed for the kitchen.
Sunlight gleamed on the stainless-steel appliances and the
black granite tops. An open bag of flour stood next to an
open carton of eggs on a not so gleaming worktop. The faint
murmur of the news from the TV, competed with the
conversation David—standing on a stool—was having
Becca, while they stood at the Aga making pancakes.

Curious, she looked around; her aunt wasn’t there.

Becca looked over and smiled. “Good morning party

girl.”

An excited David, eyes bright, grinned. “Good morning,

mummy. Look, I am making pancakes.” Using a spatula to
point to the heavy-duty non-stick frying pan on the Aga.

Intrigued, she went over and watched her son, with the
help of Becca, flip the pancake and add it to a pile on the
side.
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The floorboards creaked; Becca’s face lit up when her

aunt wandered into the kitchen soon after. Making herself
useful, Enitan made a huge pot of tea and set the table. A
proud David put an enormous plate of pancakes on the table,
telling his mum and grandma he made them himself,
thanking him for his efforts they all tucked in.

While Enitan and her aunt cleared away, David dragged

Becca away for a game of chess.

After their game, Enitan gathered their things together, it

was Sunday; they needed to get ready for their week ahead.
Put the shopping away and make their lunches for the next
day.

Her aunt came over to give her a hug. “Have a great week
ahead, Enitan.”

Bending down, her aunt hugged David tightly. “Be good,

young man.”

“I promise grandma, don’t forget we are playing chess

next time.”

Straightening, her eyes twinkled as she turned to Enitan.

“I better prepare.”

The bus pulled up as they got to the stop. The soft swish
of the doors welcomed them as they boarded. It was Sunday
evening, even though the bus wasn’t packed, it was full.
Eyes darting, she finally found two seats at the back end of
the bus. With her hand on his shoulder, she led David to the
back as the bus resumed its journey. Once seated, David took
out a book from his bag and soon was lost in a world of
fantastic creatures. Enitan, whose brain was still processing
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the weekend’s events, stared unseeingly through the

windows.

Fifteen minutes away from their home, her phone buzzed

in her bag. Hope bloomed in her chest as she whipped it out.

Jay: Hi Eni, how are you? You’ve been quiet over the
weekend. Hope you are good?

She stared at the message, here was someone who cared

even though they had not met in person. Maybe it was time
to correct that.

Eni: Just busy with schoolwork.

Jay: Oh yes, how are you getting on with your final

project?

Keeping her eye on the route, as she texted, their bus-stop

loomed in the distance. Dumping the phone into her bag, she
nudged David, who put his book back in his bag. Waiting by
the door, she thanked the driver as they alighted. The soft but
effective glow of the streetlamps illuminated the road ahead
of them. Grabbing David’s hand, they walked to the zebra
crossing, the headlights of the oncoming car slowed for them
to make their way to the other side. The blue lights from their
local Tesco Express beckoned, it looked busy from the
outside as they walked past it to their block of flats.

Dumping their things on the table, she gave the flat a five-
minute boost of heat. They had eaten before they left her
aunt’s place and even had some takeaway tubs she had to put
in her fridge.

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Children were always hungry, she turned to her son. “Are

you hungry?”

Eyes wide, he nodded.

“Ok, go and change and put your things away, I will make
you a cheese sandwich and some hot chocolate.”

Making a cup of hot chocolate for herself too, she put

everything on the table.

Face and hands washed, she stared at him as he came over

to the dining table. His brown bright eyes full of innocence.
A pang of guilt clawed her chest, she had been in someone’s
else’s bed, while he had been suffocating on a piece of
wrapping.

Grabbing him, she hugged him tight.

Wriggling in her arms, he asked, “Mummy, are you OK?”

“Yes, David I’m OK. I was worried when I heard what

happened.”

He nodded. “I’m really sorry mummy it was an accident.”

“Be careful next time.” She watched as he sat down

opposite her.

“I promise, mummy.” Tucking into his sandwich.

Minutes later, plate empty, he headed to the kitchen.

Yawning, he turned to his mum. “Mummy, can you read me
a story please?”

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“Sure, go and brush your teeth. I will be there in a

minute.”

Taking a sip of her now tepid hot chocolate, she brushed

the crumbs off the table and headed to her son’s room.
Kneeling, they said the Lord’s prayer, minutes into her
reading his favourite book he fell asleep. Kissing his
forehead, she got up and switched off the lights.

Closing the door gently behind her, she sagged into the
frame. The TV was still on, a blond woman was speaking
animatedly about a tiara, rumoured to be the most expensive
one in the world. Curious, she stared at the transcription at
the bottom of the screen, her eyes widened at the mention of
Nigeria, her body perked up a bit.

Just like the last time, when she realised this was
something interesting, the story moved on to something else.

Sitting on the sofa she checked her phone, there were no

messages from Tee. Stop it. Let her go. There’s plenty fish
in the sea.

Practicing what she preached, she grabbed her phone, she

responded to Jay’s last message.

Eni: Getting there, it’s just a lot of stress.

There was a brief pause.

Jay: what do you do for relaxation? all work and no play

makes Eni a very cranky girl

Enitan smiled; it was hard to relax when there was so

much to do.
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Jay: when was the last time you had sex

Ehn. Her eyes widened. Where was that coming from?

Eni: It’s been a while, what has that got to do with stress.

Abi.

Jay: lack of good sex makes people cranky. i can cum

over and make you cum again and again

This lady was hilarious, one minute she was sweet and
feminine, her punctuation on point and the next it was sex
talk with her capitalization and full stops dropping out of the
danfo like a conductor.

Eni: Nice one, you’re far away. Plus, we need to meet in

the flesh first.

Jay: don’t say things like that in d flesh

Jay: i want to run my hands over your shoulder, use my

lips to move your top

Ooo, this was getting exciting.

Eni: Please continue

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Chapter 28

The coffee cup hitting the floor jarred Odette out of her
shock.

Sitting ramrod straight on the bright sofa was the most

beautiful woman she had ever seen, and she had met a few
in her time. Her skin tone—similar to hers, probably mixed
race—glowed from within. Dark, luminous brown eyes
shone mischievously as her head darted around the room.
The lights of her office caught the bright ginger highlights of
her tightly curled hair, tumbling down her elegant shoulders.
Odette stared in awe at the halo effect; heart beating hard,
the strange woman reminded her of an angel.

“Wake up, Odette,” she muttered. Hands shaking, she

bent to pick her cup, thankfully it wasn’t broken. Grateful, it
had been a gift from her parents when she opened her lab.

Standing up, her eyes went back to the sofa, the lady was
still there, although the smell of paint was conspicuously
absent. Reluctantly accepting that this was real, her eyes
went over her again—dainty, small stature, smooth, unlined
skin. She would have turned heads in her time. Hold on, was
she saying that the person in front of her was a…

And her neck… Oh my word. It was graceful…

“I hope you don’t mind; I took the liberty of finishing that

design for you.” A soft, melodious Scottish voice reached
over.

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The hypnotic voice drew her in, fascinating her. That

design… you mean designs. She should thank her, she had
more than she could count, and the stranger had already
started on a new sketchpad. Feeling lightheaded, Odette
clutched the edge of the counter. Heart pounding in her
chest, was she going to survive the encounter?

Eyes twinkling, the stranger said, “Of course you are.”

Odette blinked.

The lady arranged the voluminous skirt of her light green

dress, the modest bodice was mixed with white, a beautiful
diamond necklace twinkled on her neck. “I like what you did
with the safe, very ingenious.”

This. Was. Not a dream. Someone who hadn’t walked

through the front door was in her office. Bypassing all her
security without the alarms going off.

How?

Keeping her face neutral, the woman also knew where the
safe was!! Had her security been compromised?

A smile hovered on the lady’s lips. “Not really. Peeked at

a few things, though.”

Really. Raising her brows, Odette stared at the woman.

Ginger hair glowed as she looked around the room. “Your

security is good. I like what you did.” Nodding. “It sure beats
that of some of the so-called high security museums.”
Grimacing, she picked a loose thread off her bodice.

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Excuse me. Who was this… person… Narrowing her

eyes, Odette stared at the hair, something stirred in her
subconscious… But it refused to rise to the surface.

Unease washed over her as she pushed against the

counter. What was she dealing with…?

Suddenly feeling lightheaded, Odette’s eyes went to her

phone, she wanted to speak to her mum. Surveying the room,
checking if there were other people witnessing the events
unfolding before her eyes. Heart hammering loudly in her
ears, she whispered, “Who are you?” The back of her head
was trying to push something out. Or was it her brain
expanding in her skull?

Either way, her brain and body were trying to understand

how someone could appear in a room without coming
through the door.

“Aye, my child. I am the caretaker of the tiara.”

Her mother’s words echoed in her head. The last known

person to wear it had been… “Caretaker?” Her voice hoarse.

“Aye.” The strange woman shrugged. “I didn’t mean to

scare you.”

For real! Hands shaking, Odette placed her mug on the

counter.

The strange lady rubbed her back. “Thought I would keep

an eye on it.”

Of course, why not?

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The lady frowned, turning sideways on the sofa as she

rearranged the cushions. “You need softer ones; they’re too
hard.”

For real. Too hard?

“Don’t you get backache?” A hand went to her back. “I

have to re-arrange them…” Pointing to the cushions.
“Anytime I sit here.”

Had she walked into a reading of Goldilocks? Transfixed,

Odette’s eyes followed her hands as she moved the cushions
around.

Satisfied, a loud sigh escaped her lips as she sank back

into the sofa. “Ah better. Where was I…?” Pulling on a loose
curl on her face. “Yes. Thought I’d make myself comfortable
and entertained while you were cleaning it.”

Odette’s jaw dropped.

“I have kept it under lock and key for over 300 years.”

Dumbfounded, Odette kept mute.

“It’s too precious and important to be let out of my

sight.” Piercing brown eyes bored into hers. “People in your
trade are known for switching masterpieces for fakes.”

True, rumours abounded in the art world about switches,

but she had put them down as just that. Rumours.

“My dear naïve child, you’ll be surprised with what goes

on in this industry of yours. Don’t get me started… from

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African art to paintings…” Her mouth hardened into a thin

line.

What had she walked into? Odette’s heart hammered in

her chest.

Brown eyes bore into hers. “But I’m sure you wouldn’t
dare do something like that, would you?”

Lai lai. A shiver went down her spine, with what had been
happening in her office lately, the answer to that was a
resounding no.

The ringlets of her hair glowed briefly as her laughter

tinkled in the air between them. “If I tell you what I have
witnessed...”

There was no point asking how. But she could say hand
on heart she would never do something like that. Her
reputation meant everything to her. She’d worked too hard
to get to where she was.

“Trust me, I have seen it happen. Everyone is out to make

a quick buck these days.”

Astounded Odette was lost for words.

Cocking her head to one side, the strange woman stared

at her. “I would like to think that you would not think of
doing something like that.”

Bewitched by her glowing hair, Odette shook her head.

“Good.” The woman nodded. “I kept away it for a reason.

Those stones are important to us.”
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Odette blinked. Us…

She wasn’t seeing things; her hair glowed, the curls

reminded her of… Jeremy. Was this woman related to him?

You couldn’t make it up. She had a full-fledged ghost—

what else could it be—in her work studio talking about
security and dodgy provenance.

Blinking, she tried to engage the rational part of her brain.

She wasn’t surprised. How could something as mysterious
as the black tiara not have something other worldly attached
to it? The black stones… never seen before at that time…
The story of how he had acquired them. Everything was
steeped in the supernatural.

Tiaras were supernaturally notorious. Some of them had

been locked away forever because of the bad luck it brought
to the wearers and the families associated with them.

Smiling broadly and leaning forward on the sofa, the red-

haired woman said, “I hope I didn’t scare you.”

Hope! Widening her eyes, she wanted to run into her

mother’s arms and bury her face on her shoulders. The only
reason she hadn’t lost control of her bowels was because she
was clenching her buttocks so tight, any errant farts had
retreated into her bowels in shock. “Erm, you playing hide
and seek with my sketchpad got me worried.” Putting it
lightly. She’d been scared shitless!

Chuckling, her red hair glowed under the lights. “Aye,

sorry about that. I can never resist a sketchpad.”

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Odette nodded, as if it was everyday she sat down to have

a friendly chat with a ghost to discuss drawings… Thank
goodness she was alone, otherwise her staff would think
she’d finally lost it. But hey, it wasn’t every day you got to
speak to someone who must have been alive in the late
1700s. Abi, what could she say to that?

Her eyes swept over the ghost—yes no point kidding

herself otherwise—her fingers were long and graceful. She
could imagine her playing the piano in her manor. How had
she coped looking like that back then?

“It wasn’t easy, but I won’t bore you with that right now.”

Was it a standard thing for ghosts to read minds?

“You remind me of someone.” Her voice whimsical as

she picked up the sketchpad and flicked through the pages.

Odette’s eyes bulged in their sockets. She was holding an

animate object in her hands and the pages were turning. But
she had moved the cushions earlier…

“I must admit, your designs fascinated me, thought I’d try

my hand at designing.”

Rubbing a hand over the goosebumps on her arm, Odette

blinked. Jesus, if that was trying, what would it be like if she
became proficient?

“It’s not surprising.” Dark brown eyes honed in on hers.

“Your people give you lots of inspiration.”

Her people…? Her mother’s words echoed in her head.

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Putting the sketchpad down on the coffee table, she

chuckled. “They warned me not to scare you…”

Jesus Christ. Great, so she had other entities here, too.

Odette’s eyes darted around the room. How come they had
never made an appearance?

The lady nodded. “Yes, those ones.”

So, it was true? She had never seen them… but she had
subconsciously always known something guided her hands
when she was designing.

Red hair shimmered as her head turned towards the table.

“Unfortunately, it’s hard for them to get…” Rolling her eyes.
“The attention of their charges these days, I mean your
generation.”

Raising her brows Odette, shook her head. They had

never contacted her directly. Was there a congregation of
people on the other side discussing pertinent issues about the
people on the other side of the veil?

“Yep, exactly, something like that.” Pulling a strand of

hair away from her face. “You’re all stuck into those phones
you carry around.” Pointing towards the table.
“Communicating with you people nowadays is like…”
Throwing her hands in the air.

Odette guffawed; this 1800 ghost knew about phones.

“Of course, I do.” Shaking her head. “Who do you think

invented them?”

Was she trying to say…

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“We knew about this years ago, it’s just…”

Was that years as in a few tens or the hundreds?

Tapping a finger to her nose, she chuckled, her melodious

voice tinkled with laughter. “I like your studio.” Looking
around the room with interest. “You also have the gift.”

“Gift?” Odette raised her brows. At this rate, she they

were going to disappear into her forehead soon.

“Creativity. The gods of your mother bestowed beautiful

ones on you.”

Hold on, her mother was a bible carrying Christian. Okay,

she did not go to church every day, but… “You know that
my mother is…”

“Yoruba? Of course.”

Why didn’t that surprise her? When she came to write her
memoir, Odette chuckled, how she would talk about this
episode.

“My father was Yoruba.” The strange lady declared.

“Wow.” Narrowing her eyes, Odette did some quick

math’s in her head. How did her father land in England all
those years ago? “What’s your name?”

Eyes crinkling, a wide smile appeared on her face.

“Orianda, Adetokunbo. The Duchess of Waddesex.”

Sitting in her studio holding court was the last known

person to wear the tiara in the 1700s.
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Chapter 29

Under the beady eyes of her unexpected guest, Odette

finished cleaning the tiara ahead of schedule. What was the
point of going to bed when the owner was beside you,
regaling you with tales from three hundred years ago?

Polishing the last stone, Odette held the tiara under the
light. With the grime of 300 years off their surface, it
gleamed in appreciation. She couldn’t get over the fact that
the thing was real and someone’s engagement gift.
Incredible. Job done, Odette got up and handed it over to the
Duchess.

Her eyes shone as she held the tiara in her hands. “Thank
you, my child. You have done a brilliant job.”

Odette beamed at the praise. The initial shock of having

a ghost with her had worn off. She’d been awestruck, the
shock would come later but for now… She cherished it.

“The new owner is a very lucky woman,” Odette

murmured.

“It was destiny not luck,” The Duchess responded.

Interesting. “Hopefully, she will not lock it away for

another one hundred years.”

The Duchess smiled but stayed silent as she turned the

tiara in her hands.

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“It might be forward of me…” What title do you confer

on an elderly ghost? Mama? “Please, we need to showcase
this.” An idea was brewing in her head. “A one-off show to
the world. For once, let’s put Nigeria on the map?”

Pausing and holding the tiara still, the Duchess looked

thoughtful. “Hmm.”

Since word got out that she was the one restoring it, every
art gallery and auction house in Europe wanted to buy her
lunch. There was only so much food a girl could eat. “The
art world is already abuzz with news of its discovery. Please,
can I do a segment on it?”

This would have been a great opportunity for Enitan to

showcase her film talent, but… She pushed those thoughts
away. Heat rose to her cheeks; shit this woman could read
her thoughts. Taking a deep breath, she focused her mind
back on diamond tiaras.

Her Scottish burr cut into Odette’s thoughts. “If we are

going to do this, it will be somewhere, I vet.”

Definitely. If she could come breeze in and out of her

highly secure office. She wouldn’t dare question her skills.

“I will speak to the others and get back to you.”

There was no point asking how she would do that or who

they were. Clearing up, she placed the tiara back in the safe,
under the watchful eye of the Duchess.

They said their goodbyes—her to the door, the Duchess

vanishing before her eyes. It was only after she evaporated

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into thin air that Odette realised she hadn’t asked how they
would communicate.

Odette chuckled into the silence of her office. “She

definitely knew how to make contact.” Staring at her
sketchpad.

The Duchess’s life story had been fascinating. Movie

material interesting; her mind had gone to Enitan. But she
hadn’t responded to her message.

Leaving her haunted office behind and needing to clear

her head after the strangeness of the weekend, Odette
decided to return to her penthouse in Strand.

The radiance of the blue skies was lost on her as the Uber
drove through the busy streets of London. Ticking off the
completed items on her to-do list, her eyes strayed to her
messages. Enitan hadn’t responded to her text—nothing.

Rubbing a head over her forehead, she stared out of the

window. A hollow, sinking feeling was developing in the pit
of her stomach. She’d never realised how deep her feelings
towards Enitan were until she stormed out of the door. Angry
at her…

Clenching her teeth, she replayed the words.

Not good.

Jacqueline’s betrayal had flashed before her eyes and

boom. She covered her face with her hands, her ex’s face
stuck to the back of her eyelids. Shaking her head, she
removed her hands; the Uber was slowing down as they
approached a set of traffic lights. Her eyes followed a mother
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pushing a pram across the road, a bright smile on her face as

she peered into the face resting there.

She wanted to see Enitan again, but the child thing had
been a shock. Closing her eyes, she relived their last time
together, her kisses, her hands, her tenderness… The car
moved again, oh well, if she didn’t respond she would reach
out to her one more time. Hopefully, whatever had happened
to her son wasn’t something serious.

“Thank you,” she murmured to the driver as she opened

the car door near the gates to her estate. The sun was hiding
behind some fluffy clouds as she walked up the steps into
her building. Nodding to the concierge, Odette walked deep
in thought to the lifts and pressed the keypad. Having
finished playing hide and seek, the sun was streaming in
through the windows as she walked into her penthouse.

An image of an excited Enitan flashed as she remembered

her staring at the skyline. Memories of making breakfast for
her the next day, she looked around at the vast space. Silent
and empty.

Walking over to the windows she looked out at the

London skyline, she’d done more with Enitan in such a short
time than any of her previous girlfriends. None of her ex’s
had ever been here.

A pang of loneliness hit, as she stared at the perfectly

curated sofas and cushions. What would it be like to have a
messy apartment, things out of place? Sharing dinner when
they got back from work. Closing her eyes, she breathed in
trying to remember Enitan’s smell. A smile hovered on her
lips as she relived making love to her on the sofa.

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Shaking off the melancholy, she checked her phone as she

walked over to the fridge, opening the doors, she stared at
shelves laden with food. On this occasion she wanted
company, on a whim she picked up her phone.

A long drive beckoned, driving helped with her thinking

and decision making. More so, she’d learnt to use the time
to meditate while the car was on cruise control.

Grabbing the keys to her Maserati off the wall, she went
down to the car park where her baby was parked. Having just
come back from the car dealer, they had valeted it and
polished to perfection. Her face beamed as her fingers went
over the bonnet, it was a shame in the UK one could no
longer do more than 70 miles an hour. The admiring gazes
she got from people when she was driving on the motorway,
made up for that restriction.

Sunglasses on, opening the door she got in and lowered

the top. She took off her hair band, breathing in deeply as the
gentle wind went through her hair.

What a weekend.

Putting on her favourite playlist, she pressed drive, drove

out of the car park and onto the streets of London. Basking
under the admiring gazes of men, women, and the police—
yep, one good looking copper smiled at her. Real shame it
wasn’t a woman. Bobbing to the music, she was soon on the
M6 taking her north, hours later she turned off the motorway
onto a slip road that lead to Greensworth. Minutes later she
turned onto an untarred road, miles long, which was the
beginning of their estate.

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Her ancestors had been the pioneers of the industrial

revolution, most of them engineers. Creativity in one form
or the other was in their DNA.

Bennett, her father, met her Nigerian mother in South

America. The daughter of doctors, she was there for her
medical elective. Her father—an incognito regular lad who
wanted to see the world—had fallen off his bike and was
rushed to the local hospital. When his angel of mercy
appeared, it had been love at first sight and touch for him.

Her mother hadn’t been particularly enamored by him

when she first met him. He looked like a bum, luckily he
didn’t act like one, as his charm and intelligence eventually
won her over. However, the English side of her family had
thrown up their hands in despair when he came home and
said he wanted to marry a Nigerian girl. As one of the most
eligible bachelors of his time, a lot of family friends had
lined up and coached their willing daughters, in the hope of
becoming in-laws to such an industrious, rich, and noble
family.

The fact an outsider from another continent stole him

from under their noses hadn’t gone down well at all. The
union had scandalised the country set for years. With some
concerned parents banning their off-spring from travelling.
Stating, they didn’t want any strays in their families.

Confident their love could surmount all obstacles; her

mother had ignored all the snide comments directed her way.
Busy building her career and looking after kids, she had
annoyed them furthermore by rising to become one of the
most sought-after experts in her field. Adding even more
money into the coffers of an already illustrious family.

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Her husband, knowing what his people were like, told

everyone this was his wife. They should either accept her or
bugger off.

As the years went by, things became better, she and her
brother grew up seeing how much their parents loved each
other. It was something she wished for herself.

Slowing down, she smiled as a horse came near the fence;

the countryside was glorious. She was truly blessed, in all
areas of her life. Coming out to her parents when she was
younger hadn’t been something she’d had to agonise over.
Which was surprising, considering where her mother was
from. She had hugged her, all her mom wanted was for her
to find somebody who would love and cherish her, and
someone whom Odette could reciprocate the same to.

Dusk was falling as she approached the black gates that

led into their estate. Tapping in her number onto the keypad
by the gate, she watched on as the gates slowly opened.
Someone would know she was home. She had sent a
message to her mum before she left that she was coming up
but she hadn’t received any responses yet.

Gravel crunched under her tyres as she parked her car

next to her father’s Bentley. Grinning, she got out and
stretched, it had been a long day. Grabbing her phone, she
walked over and opened the heavy wooden door.

Briefly closing her eyes, it was great to be home. The

huge hallway smelt of wood and polish taking her back to
her childhood. A wall housing her departed ancestors
greeted her as she crossed the threshold. Her father, dressed
in his shooting gear, turned around. A warm smile broke out
on his face as he opened his arms wide.
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Odette walked over and hugged him.

“My baby, how are you? What a surprise.” Holding onto

her tight.

Odette smiled; she was the apple of her father’s eyes.

Everyone in the family knew her mum always rolled her eyes
when they got together.

“Your mum kept that quiet about you coming up.”

Moving out of his embrace, she responded, “It was a spur-

of-the-moment thing. I had an eventful weekend, I had to
come up to discuss it with her.”

Alarmed eyes bored into hers. “Is someone hassling

you?” Rolling up his sleeves, ready to go into combat. “You
assured me your secu-”

Chuckling, Odette responded, “Nothing like that, dad.

I’m good.”

“That’s a shame.” Disappointment marred his face. “I’m

going to miss out on all the gossip first-hand. I’m sure your
mum will fill me in.”

Odette nodded.

His gaze stayed on her face. “Are you still driving that
Italian monstrosity?”

Yep, she knew what was coming next. She had let the
family down.

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“Dad…” He had been scandalised by her choice of car. If

she couldn’t drive one of theirs, she should have at least
chosen something British.

Concerned eyes took her in. “Are you eating properly?

You look gaunt.”

She smiled. “Dad, I’m fine, by the way, I found a new

abula joint in London. Right up your street.”

His eyes widened. “We must go, next time I come down.”
Looking at his Rolex—an anniversary gift from his wife.
“I’ve got to go. Ewan is here, we’re going to shoot.”

Kissing her father, she watched him as he walked out of

the door. The name he so casually dropped was the
Chancellor of the Exchequer. God knows what deal would
be struck today.

Dropping her keys on the table in the huge hallway, their

housekeeper, Jane, came over and hugged her. Jane had been
with them since forever and she was one of the people she
knew really loved her mum. She had learned to cook all the
Nigerian dishes her mom had shown her—including
swallow.

Smiling grey eyes roamed over her face. “Odette, what a

surprise. I didn’t know you were coming home.”

“Yeah, it was a spur of the moment thing.” Odette

responded, “You know me.”

Jane patted her arm. “I think your mum is in her study,

said she was working on something.”

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Odette nodded.

“I’ll come and bring you some tea and biscuits shortly.”
Jane said, as she headed towards the kitchen.

“Thank you.” Odette walked over to the part of the house

her mom used as her office.

Tall and dark, Korede Adeyemo was an elegant beauty

with a youthful figure, even after three children. If she hadn’t
been a doctor, she would have made a name for herself on
the runway with her model looks. Her father didn’t stand a
chance when he stared into those eyes for the first time.

A lot of Olodamares later, her mum’s eyes had bulged as

she listened to her daughter. At one point, Odette feared if
they opened any further, they would drop into her Earl Grey.
There had also been a lot of Jésù in the conversation.

Narration done, her mum pulled Odette close. “Are you

ok?” Touching her face. “Do you want me to get someone to
come and pray over your office?”

Um Hmm. That prayer session would go on for days.

“Mum… you accept I have friends and you let them run riot.
But now because something looking after treasure came, you
want to do what, exactly.”

“Your friends are your friends.” Her mum rubbed her

forehead. “This one I don’t know about it. I wish your
grandmother was alive.”

“Why?”

“I would have asked her what to do?”

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Staring at the empty plate of biscuits, Odette responded,

“Mum, I am ok. I am going to make silly money from this
visitation.”

“So, what’s happening next?”

Stirring her tea, Odette said, “She said maybe I can

showcase the tiara but she would speak to the others.” Did
ghosts speak to people? Duh you spent the weekend with one.
“Mum she was so blasé about it, like it was something she
did all the time.”

Her mother chuckled. “Remember, I keep telling you.

When you work with old stuff, don’t be surprised by what
you find.”

They talked some more and caught up with family stuff.

Draining her cup, her mum asked, “Any promising dates

on those apps of yours?”

Bright, curious brown eyes stared at her, her mum wanted

her to settle down and have kids. She wanted to be a
grandmother so badly. Her younger brother was still sowing
his wild oats all over the world. He was currently in Nigeria
on some kind of outreach program.

She had met someone outside of the apps but…

Staring down at her cup, she asked, “Mum, if when you

were dating dad, you found out something that shocked you
would you have left him?”

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Shrewd eyes stared into hers. “It all depends on what it

is.” Pausing for a beat. “Your father and I split for a while
when I found out who he really was.”

Uh oh. Odette’s eyes widened.

“I thought we had a strong bond, we shared everything

and the fact he hid that made me so mad.” She picked up the
spoon on her saucer. “I felt betrayed. Maybe I was a snob or
I was insecure.” She shrugged. “It was okay when I thought
he was an ordinary guy counting pennies.”

Odette’s mind went back to their conversation about kids.

Why would she hide something like that?

Her mother continued, “Relationships are complicated,

but when you meet the one, you know. You feel unsettled,
incomplete without them nearby. You think about them all
the time, wonder what they’re doing.” Checking her watch.
“Like now, I wonder what your dad is doing.”

Gossiping with his friend, no doubt.

“So, are we setting an extra place for dinner this

Christmas?” Her mum asked.

A nervous laugh escaped her lips. “Mum, I have to find

someone first.”

Her mother winked. “Why don’t you speak to your

friends?”

By the time she left home, she had enough food to last her
for weeks. The next morning, having not heard from Enitan,
she flew out for a three-week business trip.
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Chapter 30

Enitan bent down to give David a kiss. “Have a great day,

darling.” Straightening the backpack on his tiny shoulders.

His eyes were staring over her shoulder as he spied one

of his friends. “Thank you mummy.” Giving her a hug, he
sprinted away.

Her eyes lingered as she watched him talking to his

classmates. He was maturing so fast. Her guilt bubbled to the
surface, pushing it down, she walked away to get ready for
her day at school.

As usual, during her solitary walks, her mind went to Tee.

Park benches reminded her of their lunches. Trees reminded
her of their walks and their conversation. She hadn’t heard
from her again, and that was over three weeks ago. By the
look of things, their brief tryst was over.

Good riddance. She was moving on. Her online

relationship with Jay was progressing well. The other
evening they had got into talking about sex and she couldn’t
wait to meet her in person. One thing she could thank Tee
for was her first sexual encounter with a woman. She
wouldn’t be an inexperienced newbie in her next
relationship.

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Dark, grey clouds greeted her as she walked out of the

tube station, the turmoil in her mind, in tandem with the sky
above, over the meeting with her lecturer. Wrapping her coat
tightly around her, hoping it would hide her nerves, she did
the brisk five-minute walk to campus. Two minutes later,
fake smile plastered on her face, she knocked on the open
door of Bradley Stone.

The Empire Film School was one of the hardest to get into
in Europe. Competition for the limited spaces was fierce,
most of the previous students had used it as a stepping-stone
for greater things. Four alumni had received nominations at
the recent BAFTA’s. And that was not to talk about others—
Oscars, Emmy’s. Paying the privilege forward, previous
students came back to search for new talent—hiring or
partnering with them.

The pictures on the wall of his office showed Bradley

attended more award ceremonies than most actors; most of
his previous students liked to thank him for his role in their
creative lives as they picked up their awards. It was a fact
some people were born to teach; this man was one of them.

It went without saying, he knew her background—cheesy

Nollywood. A prerequisite for the scholarship had been to
send in a small clip of work she’d previously done.

Placing his glasses on his desk, Bradley looked up.

“Enitan, please come on in.” Clearing away a pile of papers
on his desk.

Chewing the inside of her cheek, Enitan walked in,

wandering what she’d done wrong. He was always harsh
about her work, there had been a time his feedback made her

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burst into tears. But she had done that when she was alone.
The last thing she wanted to do was cry in front of her son.

Coming to the UK and having to adjust to a new way of

doing things had initially been hard. Nollywood, even
though vibrant and innovative, had a long way to go, but it
was getting there. Exposure to the way the film industry
worked in the west had been an eye opener. Scripts were
tighter, the people more critical. Plot holes were frowned
upon. Getting people to look at your work and watch it
without their eyes glazing over was equally hard.

Leaning back in his chair, he waved to the seats in front

of his desk. “I’ve seen a marked improvement in your work
recently.”

Great, that was something, unbuttoning her jacket, she

perched at the edge of the chair. No point getting too
comfortable if it was bad news.

Rubbing the stubble on his chin, he continued, “You’re

very talented.”

Her eyes widened… Excuse me. She knew she was good,
but… Okay, she had received accolades in Nigeria, but that
had been home. Under someone else’s purvey… With all
that was going on in her life, she hadn’t been a bubbling
fountain of self-esteem. As with most creative people, she
was riddled with self-doubt.

“I know you believe I have been picking on you.” Grey

eyebrows moved up on his face.

Enitan rubbed the handle of her bag, of course you have,

and you know it. Was this his repentance… apologising…
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“I did that because if I didn’t push you. No one else

would.” Steepling his fingers over his nose. “You have the
capacity to do really well.”

Enitan’s jaw slackened. Her eyes wide, was this man for
real?

“Hopefully one of the things that drew you to come to this

school was…”

Relaxing a bit, her bum wriggled further into the chair.

“The fact…” Smiling at her. “Old students come back to

hire or partner with the current crop of intakes.”

Her hand went to her neck, the interview process for the
course had been so vigorous at one point she’d wanted to
give up. But her aunt, bless her, had encouraged her every
step of the way. Her words echoed in her head. “Enitan
nothing great ever came easy. Don’t give up.”

Staring at the faces on the school’s website, she had

promised herself she wanted to be part of that. And yes, the
draw of being picked to work with some of the big wigs had
been one of the reasons she had chosen the school. Who
wouldn’t? Some of the people in the industry she wished she
could work with, were old students. There had been
numerous testimonials on the school’s website.

After reading them, determination coursed through her;

her story would be added to the list, by the grace of God. The
chance to work with some of the movers and shakers of the
industry was an experience no amount of money could buy.
Well, unless she was the daughter of Otedola, since she
wasn’t, she would have to work her way to her millions.
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His voice cut into her musings.

Leaning back in his chair he continued, “Most of them

ask me for recommendations or students showing promise in
the class.”

Enitan’s heart was beating rapidly in her chest, what was

he trying to say?

Smiling broadly. “I have spoken to a few people about

you.”

Her hands went clammy.

“I believe you would be a great asset in their film

houses.”

Sweat broke out on her forehead as her breath lodged in

her throat.

“Two people have approached me to say they’re

interested in working with you.”

Mouth wide, Enitan slumped back into the chair; her

thoughts went back to the exercise Tee had told her to do.
Why did everything always come back to her?

Focus on what you want, and the universe will bring it to

you. Things were beginning to turn out the way she
envisioned.

“C-can I ask who they are?” Heart hammering like a yoyo

in her rib cage.

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Peering down at a piece of paper, he responded, “Well,

one of them is Femi Bakare.”

Enitan’s bag dropped to the floor; a tube of lipstick rolled

out. Her eyes stared at it on the floor, unable to get up.

OMG! Femi Bakare… was interested in her! The dream

where he had been holding a post-it note.

When it came to directors, he was up there, the guy had

won awards in the UK, America, and Africa. She’d always
said when she grew up, she wanted to be like him.

Scratching the back of his neck, Bradley said, “Before I

gave them your details, I thought I’d speak to you first.”

Excuse me! Oyinbo people sha. One of the big wigs in her
profession wanted her and he was going on about etiquette.
Pur…lease.

Picking up a cloth, he cleaned his glasses and put them

back on. “I also wanted to talk to you about a few areas
where I think you can improve on.”

Not knowing whether to go hug him, kneel or say thank

you, Enitan just sat stunned.

“You have a lot of talent.” Bright gray eyes probed her

face. “I think something’s holding you back.”

Her palms went clammy as his words hit home.

Scribbling something on a piece of paper, he continued,

“Resolve the internal issues you have with yourself and let

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your talent shine through. Build your confidence. You are

very good.”

You are good.

“I don’t know where you’ve been hiding yourself. I am

looking forward to seeing your name on the credits of some
very big movies in the future.”

Tears pricked her eyes. Words failed to come out of her

mouth. God forgive her, she had been moaning that he hated
her.

“Here are the details of the people who asked about you.”
Handing over a piece of paper to her.

“Thank you.” Hands shaking, she picked up her phone

and scanned the information onto the cloud. She couldn’t
afford to lose this scrap of paper.

“I am looking forward to watching that Skyline

documentary.”

Heart pumping with excitement and shock, Enitan spent

the next twenty minutes of their meeting discussing where
she was with her final dissertation. He gave her a few handy
suggestions, thanking him before she left his office she
walked out into the glorious afternoon sunshine. The clouds
that had covered the sky before she had gone into the office
gone.

After such a momentous day, the one person she wanted

to share the news with was someone she was no longer
talking to.

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Wanting to share her news with someone, she sent a

message to her beloved aunt.

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Chapter 31

The news Bradley had shared had kept her in a positive

mood all week. Even her son had commented on her bubbly
attitude when she had taken him out to buy new football
shoes.

“Mummy, you are so pretty when you smile.”

She knew what he meant; she wasn’t scowling. Well, she

did have a lot to be thankful for. Which reminded her she
wanted to look into scholarships for her son. Thanks to her
aunt’s friend—whoever she was, God bless her—he had
taken a keen interest in chess. A chess board was going to be
on his birthday list this year. She would do all she could to
encourage him, these were the things that could swing in
their favour when the time came for him to get a scholarship.
If things went awry with her papers and she had to return to
Nigeria, she was ready to put him in a boarding school, while
she sorted out her immigration status.

Turning off the burner, she quickly cleared up the

kitchen, having just finished cooking their dinner, anxious to
get back to work. It was a reading day, which meant no
lectures, nearly half of it had been used on housework,
laundry and cooking. She needed to do some work before
she picked up David, luckily, he was doing after-school
sports club, so she had time. Grabbing a cup of tea, she
adjusted her bum into the chair. Powering up her laptop, her
eyes widened when she went into her email. The people
Bradley had spoken about had reached out. A smile hovered
on her lips; their conversation still seemed so surreal.

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Stay positive girl, the future is looking great. Her eyes

swept over their flat, very soon they would be out of here.
But first she declared her gratitude for where they were. Yes,
even though it was small, a lot of things had been and would
be achieved in the flat.

Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply, blocked out all

noises and said her affirmations.

I am abundant. I am grateful and thankful for my flat. I

am thankful for my Skyline scholarship. I am grateful for my
girlfriend who loves me, adores me and my son.

Her eyes flew open, meditative trance broken; her mind

inevitably went to Tee. Was that it? What do you expect, that
was a big thing to hide? Plus, she wasn’t her girlfriend, they
were just acquaintances.

A woman who would love and adore her was going to

show up soon. Picking up her phone, Enitan stared at the
notifications—willing the person she was still thinking about
to send something.

No matter how many times she refreshed her screen,

nothing. Well, you did say you wanted to keep it casual.
Remember, what you say becomes reality. True, but she
didn’t realise she would miss her. Think about her all the
time.

She always came back to the same conclusion, there was

no point trying to justify why she had withheld that
information. It was done; she had messed up, she needed to
move on.

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Tapping her nails on the tabletop, she sighed loudly into

the silent flat. Annoyance still bristled within her, Tee should
have reached out to ask about what happened. Common
decency… Clenching her fingers, unresolved anger towards
Tee bubbled to the surface. The why was something she
didn’t want to focus on right now.

Sighing, she got up to put the kettle on, her eyes strayed
to the TV. Her eyes widened, there was a picture of a
beautiful tiara being shown from different angles. The ticker
at the bottom of the screen read… the famous black tiara. It
had been in the news recently something to do with the
origin of the stones being from Nigeria. On top of that there
was also talk about the discovery of a lost prince and some
artefacts. For once, Nigeria was in the news for great things.

Turning, she put a tea bag in a cup, by the time she looked
back, the segment had moved on, somebody had opened fire
on shoppers at a shopping mall in America.

Shaking her head at the tragedy, she looked away; her son
was having a sleep over at his friend’s house after football
practice. So, she had the flat to herself. Restless, she walked
over to the window and looked out—people carrying their
shopping, kids hanging out, around the railings below.
Turning away, she headed to the table, chiding herself, she
really needed to finish up her last assignment. If she didn’t
get that certificate, the offers would dry up. Stay focused,
girl, channeling the excitement she felt when her lecturer
gave her the news.

Pulling up her document, her phone buzzed on the table,

peering at the screen, her eyes narrowed at the image symbol
on the notification pane, picking it up, her mouth opened as
she read the contents.
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Below a screenshot of a message that hadn’t sent was

some text. Hi, I just realised that the message I sent did
not go through. Thought I would send it again. How is
your son?

Heart going a bit faster in her chest Enitan stared at the

screen, on one hand excited on the other still annoyed, but
she had sent a message. Tee must have been thinking about
her, if she had checked the status of the message.

All of their communications had been via text, she had

never called her before. On impulse she pressed the green
button, it rang for a couple of times and then she heard the
voice that had the power to make butterflies open their wings
in her tummy.

“Hello.” The voice was measured and cold, nothing like

the soft melodious one she was used to.

“Erm… hello.” Why was she dumbstruck?

There was silence.

“I’m sor-”

“I’m sor-”

A shaky laugh escaped Enitan’s lips. “Do you have time

to meet for a chat?” The silence on the other side was
deafening. She could understand if she said no, or maybe
not. Why was it important to her, for Tee to have the right
impression about her?

“When?”

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Now. That was pushing it, Tee could be at lectures. “Later

this evening?”

“Sure, we can meet at that bar at Dean Street.”

“What time?” At least she was open to talking.

“Whatever time suits you. Let me know.” And with that,

Tee ended the call.

##

Odette stared at her phone, hearing her voice stirred up so

many emotions.

Hungry and tired, she had been in a taxi on her way back
from the airport checking her work messages, spam email,
and some of the messages from her dating apps. Bored, she
looked out of the window, none of the people she was half-
heartedly responding to tickled her fancy. It was such an
effort, and she just wasn’t feeling it right now.

The taxi slowed as they approached at a set of lights, a

tall black lady crossed the road, something about her
reminded her of Enitan. She rubbed her eyes as tiredness
washed over her, she had sent Enitan a message, the least she
could do was respond to it. That was weeks ago, she must
have read it by now.

The lights finally turned green, halfheartedly she scrolled

to their messages.

Shit!

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Rubbing a hand over her face, she couldn’t read it. The
bloody message did not send. With all the crazy ghostly
things that had been happening in her office, she wasn’t
surprised.

No wonder Enitan hadn’t called, she was stewing in

anger. Thinking I’m a heartless bitch who couldn’t even
check if her child was ok.

Hoping for the best, she had sent a screen shot and asked
the same question.

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Chapter 32

Hours later Enitan walked into the bar on Dean Street,

waiters flittered around the full room with trays laden with
bottles, under soft muted lighting. Soulful jazz music played
in the background, perfect for the evening revelers seeking a
drink after work, talking with loved ones, or just nursing a
drink on their own. Eyes darting around the room, she finally
spotted Tee. Her heart skipped; she was with another woman
at a table. They were engrossed with each other. Studying
the body language, these two were more than friends, an
unusual emotion came over her.

It took her a couple of seconds to recognise it for what it

was. Jealousy. Clutching her bag tight, she walked over.
Every step she took felt like she was walking in molasses,
sticky and heavy.

Clenching her teeth, she berated herself, why was she

feeling so jealous, seeing her with another woman? There
was nothing going on between herself and Tee. It was just a
casual relationship.

Yea right, keep kidding yourself.

Keeping her face as neutral as possible, she approached

the table. The lady Tee was talking to looked up and smiled.
Enitan’s gut clenched as she gracefully stood up. At least 6-
foot tall, willowy, with blonde hair and blue eyes. With a
figure to die for, Enitan suddenly felt inconsequential next
to such a beauty. Curious blue eyes roamed over her before
looking back at Tee.

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“See you soon.” Her accent the same cut glass one as
Tee’s.

“Hi Enitan.” Tee’s eyes were trained on the back of the

lady that had just left.

This Tee was different to the one she’d been used to. The
one whose eyes lit up when telling her how good she looked
or when saying she had missed her. This cold woman was
someone she’d never met before.

Loosening her jacket, Enitan put her bag on the chair next
to them. “Thank you for seeing me.”

“You asked for this meeting.” Tee shrugged. “Would you

like something to drink?” Pointing to the menu.

Enitan tried to seek her eyes, but Tee kept those beautiful
hazel ones away from her line of sight. “I’ll have some red
wine, thanks.” Gut clenching, Enitan watched as her graceful
fingers ordered drinks through the app. Those fingers… she
closed her eyes, now wasn’t the time to be thinking about
that.

Minutes later, a voluptuous, beautiful waitress appeared

with a bottle of merlot and some tapas. Impulsively, a
hesitant smile on her face, Enitan placed a hand over Tee’s
as the waitress poured the wine into their glasses.

Tee didn’t flinch. Looking down at her hand over hers,

her face softened a bit, then it shuttered again.

“Have a good evening, ladies.” The waitress smiled as she

placed the bottle back on the table.

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Silence bloomed between them, removing her hand Tee

picked up her drink. “You wanted to talk?”

No time for pleasantries then. Steeling herself, Enitan

picked up her glass and took a large gulp of wine. “I am
sorry.”

Thoughtful hazel eyes finally sought hers. “For what

Enitan?”

Secrets. Holding back and putting this wedge between us.

Realisation dawned on Enitan at the depth of her feelings for
this woman.

Looking down at the table, Tee said, “It’s your life, we

are all entitled to our secrets.” Shrugging again.

Secrets, she sighed. Why did her words cut so deep?

Enitan stared into the red depths of her glass. “I’ve always
known I am a lesbian.” Finally, voicing it out loud to
someone for the first time in her life. “However, I could
never come out. It’s illegal back home.” Her eyes wondered
to Tee’s chest, her breasts rose and fell under her silk blouse.

A deep breath escaped from Tee’s lips.

The relationship with her mum had always been a rocky

one. “My mum, at some point suspected; she would ask me
why I didn’t have a boyfriend.” Most normal Nigerian
parents wouldn’t complain about boys not coming to see
their daughters. Their virtue had to be kept intact. Her
mother also complained about her dress sense. “My friends
think you are a boy o.” Her mother’s voice echoed in her
head. Dragging her mind back to the present, she looked up.
“She also complained about the way I dressed.”
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Tee’s eyes roved over her.

“The first person I fell in love with was a girl who lived
near me.” Enitan closed her eyes briefly, reliving those
feelings. “I don’t know if she suspected, but I think my
mother knew, forced me to wear more ladylike clothing and
did all she could to put a wedge between me and the girl.”
Mothers always knew, but they sometimes buried their heads
in the sand. “I went through university unscathed. I never
had a man.” Shrugging. “I wasn’t and have never been
attracted to them. A few girls I knew suspected I was lesbian,
but we never did anything. They never said anything either.”

The raucous laughter of a couple next to them jarred the

silence.

Enitan opened her eyes. “As an only child, I lost myself

in the imaginary world of movies. My passion for film
increased as I grew older, I dreamed of working in the film
industry.” Raising a hand in the air. “Luckily for me, after
my youth service, I got a job at one of the media houses.”

Tee’s brows raised.

“We all have to do a year of compulsory service after

university.”

“Ah,” Tee said, as she took a sip of her drink.

That dream came through for her as she worked her way
up the ladder. “Once I got enmeshed into the film industry,
my eyes opened to all incestuous relationships going on.” If
she did a film on who was sleeping with whom, the film or
series would go on forever. “I literally had to pull men off
me.” Shuddering at the memory. “The more I refused to
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sleep with them, the more they came on to me.” That’s when
the whispers started. “Then the rumors started—people
never saw me with a man.”

Enitan eyes focused on Tee’s lips as she put an olive into

her mouth. Their eyes met; Tee looked away.

As the rumours became stronger, putting on a façade, she

learnt how to flirt with men. But the pressure of living a lie
took a toll on her mental health. “My mum also put a lot of
pressure on me, for a grandchild.” Enitan took a sip of her
drink, the warm spicy notes, soothing as it travelled down
her parched throat. “I have always wanted children, I knew
the only way to make that happen was to go for a man who
wouldn’t have time for me.”

Tee stiffened in her seat.

Taking a deep breath, Enitan closed her eyes, the guilt

from her deceit gnawed in her chest. Yes, sure he was a
relentless… But she had reeled him in under false pretenses.
“Kola, my ex was or is a notorious playboy. God knows how
many kids he has. He saw me as a challenge, there was a bet
to see if he could get to me.”

“What the…”

Swallowing a lump in her throat, Enitan whispered, “I

was a virgin when I met him.”

Opening her eyes, a hand went over Tee’s mouth.

Enitan’s hand shook as she put the glass to her lips. This
was the first time she was owning up to her shit. “I t-thought
I could do it, be the person they all wanted me to be.” Her
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voice shook. “But I struggled to live the lie and slipped into
depression.”

Tee shook her head.

“As a result, I started taking anti-depressants.”

A loud sigh came from Tee as she took a sip of her wine.

A shiver went down her spine as she remembered her

past. “Luckily, for me I got pregnant quickly.” Thank God
for small mercies. “He would tell me to my face that I was
crap in bed. Saying old virgins were useless.” Raising her
palms, she covered her eyes. The feeling of shame and
inadequacy consumed her. Shaking her head, she continued,
“It was true. I had to endure him touching me.” Pausing for
a beat, she opened her eyes and gazed unseeing at the people
entering the bar.

“My mother tried emotional blackmail to get me to stay

and work out my sex issues. But once I had my kid, I put the
plan for my exit in motion.”

Eyes wide, Tee asked, “What?”

Breathing out loudly, Enitan continued, “You see, it had

always been my plan…” Raising a shoulder. “To leave once
I conceived.”

“Hmm.” Her hazel eyes widened.

Yes, she had been with someone under false pretenses.

Unknowingly, Kola had been a pawn on her own personal
chess board. Whether it had worked out well for her, though,
was up for debate. “I had always wanted to come to the UK
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and start afresh.” Covering her face with her hands. “With
my aunt’s help, I got a scholarship into one of the top film
schools in Europe.”

Leaning forward, Tee nodded. “Kudo’s to you girl.”

A weak smile hovered on Enitan lips; Tee was listening

to her. “He never wanted a court wedding, so nothing
stopped me from getting out when he brought another
woman to our house.”

Tee’s jaw dropped. “Another wife?”

Enitan nodded. “He said, if I couldn’t accept it, I should

leave.” Fortunately, or unfortunately, Kola had played right
into her hands. Having written the script, she had known
what the outcome would be. “I did just that. Left. It was a
relief.”

Placing a hand on Enitan’s with eyes full of compassion,

Tee said, “Enitan, I don’t know what to say.”

Warmth suffused through Enitan at the touch. “I feel

guilty, I never liked Kola. I went with him for selfish
reasons. Choosing him because he was a womaniser. I paid
the price, he didn’t work. It was worth it. I got my son out of
it.” Taking her hand away, she continued, “I can never tell
my son this.”

Tee nodded in understanding.

“All I can ever say is that it didn’t work out.” More

secrets… she sighed.

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Compassion reflected in the depths of Tee’s eyes. “That is

a lot to bottle in.”

Enitan placed her hands over her face, she had finally
owned up to her truth and the guilt. “When I met you it was
I could finally be myself, own up to who I really am.”
Removing her hands, she stared into Tee’s eyes. “You are
the first woman I have ever been with.”

Tee exhaled and pinched her forehead. “Thank you for

telling me all of this.” She looked down at the table. “I was
shocked, I didn’t mean for my words to come out the way
they did.”

A heavy weight lifted off Enitan shoulders, all what she

had been bottling up inside of her was finally out. If things
didn’t work out between them, at least it reaffirmed what she
already knew. “Thank you for listening. Like I said, I’m
sorry.”

Putting a hand over hers, Tee said, “I’m sorry too, Enitan.
I didn’t mean for my words to come out as harsh as they did.”

It wasn’t I don’t want to see you again, at least. She knew

not to push things.

Their conversation moved on to other stuff, feeling

vulnerable and emotional, Enitan suddenly blurted, “I have
missed you and all the good things that happened to me
recently, felt incomplete because I couldn’t share it with
you.” Had she said too much?

Leaning forward, Tee took Enitan’s hands in hers. “I’ve

missed you too, Enitan.” When she looked up, sincerity was
burning in her eyes.
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“Can we start over?”

Squeezing her hand, Tee asked, “How’s school and what’s

been happening to you?”

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Chapter 33

Odette leaned back in her chair, humming a huge smile

on her face. Reliving the previous evening with Enitan,
they had gone back to her abula joint. It had been four
weeks since their heart-to-heart chat, and things were
getting back to an even keel.

Enitan’s confession had been an eye opener. She admired

her courage to open up and make herself vulnerable to what
she might have expected. Scorn and criticism. It must have
been emotionally hard for her to do so.

We all have reasons for playing our cards close to our

chests. She should be the last person telling someone off
about secrets.

Standing up, she walked over to the window in her

office. The sun was trying to shine through some clouds; she
stared absently at the cloud formations. One of them looked
like the thinking face emoji, chuckling she moved away from
the window. She didn’t need the universe frowning at her.

Picking up her mug, she placed it under her coffee

machine. The chug, chug of the machine intruded into her
thoughts. Okay yes there was the child, but he was a part of
her, they would navigate that together if Enitan gave her the
chance. The distinctive aroma of coffee filled the air, her
mind was elsewhere as she picked up her espresso and
downed it. The hot bitter liquid, spurring her brain into

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action. She wanted a relationship, but Enitan said she didn’t

want to rush into things. Did that mean she wanted to keep
it casual? Odette had cancelled her dating app subscriptions.
She was playing for keeps.

Real life had delivered the woman she wanted and asked
for.

Walking back to her desk, she picked up her Chilly’s

bottle and took a sip of her cucumber and lime infused water
and signed into her laptop. It was approaching the end of the
academic year; there was a stack of assignments and
dissertations for her to read and mark.

Stretching her neck, her mind went back to the child she
met with her friend at Costa. If she was going to be truthful
to herself, she had yearned to wrap her arms around him.

She had always wanted children, but somewhere deep in

her, she felt she didn’t have the right to want something a lot
of people took for granted. Having kids.

It was something she hadn’t been able to discuss with

anyone, instead she made out that she wasn’t interested in
them, which helped hide her yearnings. She had figured out
very early on where she stood on the sexual spectrum. She
also realised how lucky she was landing in her family.

United, her parents had accepted her sexuality without

rancour. Her father had said, “It makes no difference, you’re
our daughter and we love you.”

Her mother had hugged and said, “I’ve always known,

and I am glad you could tell us about it without feeling
shame.”
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Comparing her life to Enitan’s she came to appreciate her

family. Yes, she had played the field, but deep down under
all the façade of confidence and success, all she wanted was
to settle down with a partner and have her 2.4 children. Yes,
bring home the bacon, go on holidays, PTA, the works.
Seeing that boy… his name escaped her lips. Pinching the
skin between her eyebrows, James… no. Ah Jimi.

Her maternal instincts had burst wide open that day and
since then, they hadn’t retreated. Suddenly she kept on
seeing children everywhere, including ones with two
mothers.

Restless, she stood up and went over to the kettle,

switched it on and placed a tea-bag in a mug. She had asked
the universe for a Yoruba girl, and it had delivered. It was
now down to her to deal with the beautiful accessories that
came with it.

The ping of the kettle took her attention away from the
windows, watching the sunlight beaming into her office.
Pouring water into her mug, she looked over at her desk. It
was strange to be drama free with her sketchpad, in a way
she missed the intrigue and the drama. The Duchess hadn’t
appeared to her again. Chuckling, most probably she was
casing out some other joints. Or watching over some forgers
with a beady eye, no doubt. Did she appear to everyone or
was it just…

The continuous buzzing of her phone on her desk

disrupted her thoughts. Mug in hand, she walked over, sat
down and stared at the screen. Truecaller proclaimed
Nigerian High Commission. Intrigued, she pressed green.

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A deep rich baritone inquired, “Good afternoon, is that

Lady Bentley-Wright?”

Straightening up in her chair, few people addressed her

by her title. Voice impervious, she responded, “Who’s
calling?”

“My name is Hamza Mohammed, the Cultural Attaché at

the Nigerian High Commission.”

Ok… And…

“I am sure you are aware of the discovery of the bones of

the Carpenter Prince of Ile-Ife.”

Sure, who hadn’t. “Yes.” For once, Nigeria was in the

news for all the right reasons—culture and heritage. And this
was a real prince, not the 419 type. No doubt, someone in
Hollywood was already writing the script. As far as she was
concerned, Nollywood needed to take the lead on this
project. If asked, she was ready to invest, she had educated
herself on the movie industry ever since she met Enitan.

“Well, as part of the cultural activities in place for the

return of the Lost Prince’s bones, we asked the permission
of the family to present the Black Tiara or The Nigerian
Tiara as some people have dubbed it to the world. A private
viewing to the art world, at the Nigerian High Commission.”

Odette’s eyes widened… Nigerian Tiara it had a nice ring

to it. But this was someone’s engagement present. When he
had sought permission was that from the living or dead
members of the family. Chuckling, she swiftly cleared her
throat.

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That made a lot of sense, it was an important piece of

heritage. If that tiara had come from elsewhere, the west
would milk it for all its worth.

She and the Duchess had discussed putting it on display,

nothing had been decided upon. See how I am addressing a
ghost like she is a friend.

“We have spoken to the family, and they agree…”

Paint tickled her nose, scratching the nape of her neck,

what she saw next was no surprise. Flame haired, in another
beautiful period dress, appearing out of nowhere was the
Duchess. Ok, so what did this have to do with her? The tiara
was going back to Jeremy. She had done her bit.

Puzzled, she responded, “Ok, but I don’t understand what

this has got to do with me?”

The smooth baritone continued, “The family agreed to the

loan of the tiara to the Nigerian people on one condition.”

Odette’s eyes went to the Duchess, who was busy moving

her cushions around on the sofa. Maybe she should ask her
what they used to stuff cushions in the 1700s. Staring at her,
but what about the security?

Nigerians are naturally superstitious, nothing will

happen, the melodious Scottish voice echoed in her head.

The deep baritone continued, “They want you to curate

the exhibition which we are planning on streaming to the
world, especially the people of Nigeria and Ile-Ife, in
particular.”

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Odette, eyes bulging in her eye-sockets, put a hand to her

neck as she looked over to the sofa. For real…

Hair glowing with a wide smile on her face, her visitor

nodded.

Oh my God! Me.

Once word got out in her industry that she was the one
restoring the tiara, news outlets had been in touch to speak
to her. The top tier art houses had tried to use all kinds of
inducements to persuade her to showcase the tiara with them.
The fact that it wasn’t in her gift to give permission hadn’t
bothered them.

There was a cough coming through the phone. “Can we

assume you will do this for your people?”

“Definitely.” Beaming. “It would be an honour.” He had

acknowledged her as one of them.

Issues of identity was something children of mixed

marriages had to deal with at some point in their lives. Being
made to feel they didn’t belong to either side. Pushing
terrible memories from her childhood aside, Odette accepted
the opportunity to represent that part of her heritage.

This was an enormous achievement for her. She couldn’t

wait to call her parents. Her mum’s chest would burst with
pride. Whatever village her mum’s relatives came from, they
would cook for the whole state that day.

The bespoke pieces she created were worn by royalty, the

rich people in the east and the super new rich of the west.
Rappers, black and white bought them for their lovers; the
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tech CEO’s bought them for the wives, mistresses and

lovers. Yes, if she ever spilled her stories, Hollywood would
be in business for decades to come.

Everyone who was somebody had a piece of her

jewellery. The eye watering sums she demanded didn’t deter
them. This was how she’d been able to turn her hobby that
she had started in school into a profitable empire.

When she got her royal warrant, her sales had gone
through the roof. Thriving on anonymity, she had managed
to hide the real face of the design house. She would have to
come out as her real self to the world when she spoke to
people about what the tiara represented.

The discovery of the Lost Prince, the artefacts, and this

tiara was going to put Nigeria on the map for decades, if not
forever. The sacrifice was worth it. Her security would just
get beefed up.

“Thank you.” His voice was full of joy. “We will be in

touch. Your country thanks you. Have a pleasant afternoon.”

Wow! Standing up, Odette danced around her office.

Hair glowing, the Duchess smiled. “Make us proud, little

one.” And with that, she vanished into thin air.

Ignoring the virtual stack of assignments and

dissertations, she picked up the phone and called her mum.

“Aduke are you ok?” Her mother’s voice was breathless.

“Mum are you ok?” Narrowing her eyes at the phone.

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“Mmm, yes, just having, erm, lunch with your…”

Coughing. “Your dad. Are you ok?”

Odette grinned and rolled her eyes. Sorry guys, dress up.
This can’t wait. Excited, she told them the news.

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Chapter 34

Eyes glazed, having re-read her work for the umpteenth

time. Enitan hit send. The thirty-page script for her
dissertation was now winging its way to her supervisor.

Yes, she had done it. The sleepless nights, the running
around after her son, the days of worrying about bills. It was
worth it. With this out of the way, she could now focus on
her freelance jobs.

The name she had chosen for her company, Black

Diamond Productions, was growing on her. Tee’s reaction
to the name had been odd, as her mind flashed back to the
day she told her.

Whenever they could, when their schedule allowed, they

had lunch at the nearby park near the colleges. Tee had
supplied the coffee, fruit, and sandwiches, they were sitting
on a bench watching other people walk by.

“I’ve decided on the name of my production company.”

Smiling at Tee, who was in jeans, black turtleneck, and a
black puffy coat. As usual, she looked expensively put
together.

“I’m all ears.” Her hazel eyes twinkling and indulgent.

“I did what you suggested. Meditated and a voice

whispered in my ears.”
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Taking a sip of her drink, Tee’s brows shot up on her face.

Excitement bloomed in Enitan’s chest, here she was with

her lover, a woman and discussing her dreams. Things were
good. “Tada….” Waving a hand in the air. “Black Diamond
Productions.”

Tee’s eyes had widened as she choked on her drink.

Concerned Enitan had tapped her on the shoulder. “Are

you OK?”

Patting her chest, Tee had croaked. “Yes, my drink just

went down the wrong hole.” Pausing, while gathering her
breath. “What a coincidence. I did an assignment on that.”

“Wow, isn’t that something.”

Odette had nodded, a strange expression in her eyes. They

had moved on to talk about other stuff.

Coming back to the present, she closed her eyes.

The night before, she had a very vivid dream, she had
been in the cinema and the name of her company had come
up in the long list of production credits at the beginning of
films. Dyolem Productions in partnership with Black
Diamond Productions. She woke up that morning with a
smile on her face, her dreams and reality were shaping up
nicely.

When Femi Bakare had spoken to her about a project he

was seeking funding for, her eyes had bulged. If she could
be part of that, she was made for life. All the money she had

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lost in her short-lived marriage would be pennies in the

ocean of her potential earnings.

Having that as part of her portfolio would open doors for

her on both sides of the Atlantic.

Jet-setting Femi was currently away at a high-end

resort—Twin Bliss, in Gobota charming a potential investor
to open his cheque-book.

In the interim, he had set her a task to apply to the arts

council for funding. Said funding came from the national
lottery. There was huge demand for film from the under-
represented people of the country. Her creative juices were
now flowing like a waterfall, while watching her son play in
the playground with his friends, an idea for a series had
popped into her head. Pulling up the note section of her
phone, she had started outlining it.

If she could get funding for her company, get the two-
year visa after her course, a great weight would be lifted off
her shoulders.

Wanting David to continue his schooling in the UK, she

had started looking into scholarships for him. Two of her
family members had been lucky with it, it was now her son’s
turn to continue the tradition.

Things between her and Tee were alright, but she didn’t
want to rush into things. She wanted to go with the flow,
keep it casual. Enitan had now formed a great friendship
with Jay. It would be great to meet her in person. See if the
sexual chemistry they had online translated into something
in the real world. Yes, she had two women in her life; so
what… it was her time. Time to explore.
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She was putting her washing on the clothes horse, when

the words Nigeria echoed from the TV. Pausing, she looked
up—a correspondent was standing in front of the Nigerian
High Commission. A tall, blond-haired lady was
gesticulating animatedly. Grabbing the remote off the
counter, Enitan turned up the volume.

The sketch of a tiara filled up the screen; everyone was

talking about it.

Holding her microphone tightly, the blond woman was

talking. “…The art world is abuzz at the discovery—thought
to be lost—of the fabled Black Tiara. Even more astonishing
is the fact that the stones used on it came from Ile-Ife, a town
in western Nigeria. As you are aware, the discovery of the
Lost Prince’s bones and the legendary artefacts—rumored to
be valued in the billions of pounds—caused a stir a few
months ago. Now in that same unfolding story that could
have come straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster, is the
discovery of the Black Tiara.”

Mitcheww. Enitan’s rolled her eyes, of course they would

mention Hollywood. Why not Nollywood? It was time we
started doing our own thing. She focused her attention back
on the woman speaking.

“In a one-off gesture of goodwill—and to the dismay of

the top art houses—the family gave permission for the tiara
to be put on a one-off display at the Nigerian High
Commission.”

Dismayed about what? And so. Well done family ojare.

Now that was a good move. It was a Nigerian national
treasure. If that tiara had been found in Europe, there would
be a podcast, tv series, film, play, you name it, they would
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milk the event for all it was worth. Picking a shirt from the
washing basket, her eyes went back to the TV.

The brunette lady in the studio asked, “Do we know why

this tiara is so special?”

Nodding, the excited the correspondent replied, “In the

1700s a black man now known to be a prince of Ile-Ife went
to Garrard’s and commissioned two tiaras for his daughter.”

Enitan’s eyes widened, two.

“What was so unusual about the commission were the

stones. Black stones that had never been seen before.”

“Where were they from?” The woman in the studio asked.

Hands gripping a shirt, Enitan waited for the answer.

Head bobbing, the blonde woman responded, “The prince

said the gods of his land sent them down from the sky.”

Olodumare.

“We now know that would have been the first appearance
of black diamonds in the UK.”

Enitan wished she could record the segment.

Black diamond… Black Diamond Productions. A

feathery sensation went over her scalp. Spooked and
alarmed, she looked around the room. Shaking off the
strangeness, she returned her attention to the TV.

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Pointing to a building, the blond woman continued, “The

art houses in the UK, New York, Berlin, and Japan, all asked
for the opportunity to display this mysterious tiara. The
reclusive owner declined; it is now on loan and will be
displayed at the Nigerian High Commission. The curator
will be Lady Odette Bent-”

The words cut off… But why were they letting an English
person talk about it? Here we go again, letting a foreigner
talk about our stuff. What would this person know about
Nigeria? Not to talk about a historic Yoruba artefact. It
wasn’t right. Oh well, hopefully they knew what they were
doing, as she picked up another shirt.

The lady in the studio apologised for the technical issues.

Fascinating. Her phone buzzed on the table. It was her mum.

“Enitan, bawo ni?”

Pursing her lips. “Mum, I am good.” Her ears were

waiting for the onslaught that was coming.

A deep sigh echoed over the airways. “We have returned

the money as you said o.”

Enitan took a deep breath; she was finally free.

“His mum was not happy sha. She believes you were
good for her son.”

Of course she was. Her salary had been good for them
all. “Her son will be okay. He has a new wife.” Who could
give him the sex he wanted and needed.

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“From what I heard, she has left. Saying he married her

under false pretenses.”

Na lie…

“Complaining up and down that he expects them to live

in a one bed flat on the mainland after the landlord in Lekki
served notice.”

Eya… Poor woman. Well, it was no longer her problem.

“How is my grandson?”

Pulling her head back, Enitan stared into the phone. Was
she okay? “He’s good. School is going well.” Her eyes
strayed to his bedroom door.

“My daughter, sorry if I came across harsh towards you

recently. I just don’t want you to go through what I did with
your dad.”

Enitan’s shoulders sagged. She pitied her mother; it could

not have been easy for her. This was the first time her mother
had talked about that. What prompted this outburst?

“I pray you find a man who will look after you and love
you.”

“Amin.” Only the man bit needed to be prefixed with wo.

Would she ever be able to tell her mum the truth about her
sexuality? Unfortunately, it wouldn’t happen.

Her eyes wandered back to the TV screen, someone was

interviewing a curator from Christie’s and they were
showing the sketch again. This tiara must be very significant.
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“Any way till we speak again. Ba mi kí ọkọ mi.”

Nodding, her mum logged off while her eyes remained

glued to the screen. Note to self, check google about the
tiara.

Her phone buzzed on the table; it was Jay.

Jay: Hey beautie how’s it going?

Eni: Not much, sent in my dissertation. Looking forward

to freedom.

Jay: That’s great. Does that mean you’ll have the time for
us to meet?

Enitan paused. Jay had been pushing for them to meet.

Something prevented her from pursuing it whole-heartedly.
What if the chemistry they had virtually fizzled out when
they met in real life? There was only one way to find out.

Jay: i can’t wait to hold you in my arms and kiss you

Someone else’s kisses invaded her mind.

Jay: you’re in my thoghts day & night. I know it sounds

corny, but it is true

Enitan grinned. Feeling bold, she typed.

Eni: What do you think about.

Switching off the TV, she checked the doors and headed
to her bedroom. After brushing her teeth, she switched off

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the lights and slipped under her warm duvet. Five minutes
later, her phone buzzed.

Jay: i want to hold u in my arms, kiss those lips of yours.

i will remove all item of clothing until your standing in front
of me in your bra and panties

Heat went up Enitan’s cheeks.

Jay: whts your favorite color for underwear

Enitan’s fingers hesitated. What are you scared of? It was

just an adult question.

Eni: Red, black, green. In that order.

Jay: i like red, you will be in red when we meet

Yes Madam. This conversation was getting steamy, she

was going to see it through. It was just text sex abi.

Eni: I take it you like red?

Jay: yes, it looks so sexy on black skin

Enitan nodded. Red looked good on women of all races,

to be honest.

Jay: I will caress your collarbone, then I will unhook your

bra, feast my eyes on those long nipples of yours.

In one of their previous conversations, Jay had asked her

to describe her nipples.

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Jay: How are you feeling right now?

She smiled, the feminine Jay was back. Playing along,

Enitan asked.

Eni: Here on my bed. Or in this imaginary embrace of

yours?

She stared into the darkness of her room. Her phone

buzzed.

Jay: i bet your nipples are hard right now in real life,
aching for my lips to bite them

Her eyes went to her bedroom door. Come on, Enitan, no

one is coming into your room. Relax.

Jay: touch one of them tell me how hard your nipple is

Putting a hand under her night-dress, she pulled at it. It

was hard, the more she twisted, the more her clit throbbed
on fire. Her phone buzzed.

Jay: i bet your pussy is so wet now. Isnt it

A ragged, “Yes,” escaped from her lips. She was so

horny.

Jay: ANSWER the question Eni

Her eyes widened. Someone was excited.

Eni: I don’t know.

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Jay: we need to remedy that. put a finger there and let me

know how wet it is. no playing with your clit.

Enitan hesitated, just as she snaked her fingers down her

abdomen, her phone buzzed.

Jay: on a scale of one to five how wet are you, five being
very.

Something sounded familiar about those words, pushing

it to the back of her mind, she got on with the task at hand.
Her finger went in, it was wet, her muscles needing
stimulation squeezed against her finger. Moisture trickled
down into her pants.

Eni: Five.

Her fingers, wet from her juices, snaked its way up to the
bud playing peekaboo.

A continuous buzz was coming from her phone, hands

shaking, her eyes widened. It was the call function of the
app. She put it on loudspeaker. Jay’s middle class English
accent said, “I bet you want to cum right now, don’t you Eni?

“Y-yes.”

“Move your hand to your clit and keep on circling it.

That’s what you’re doing, isn’t it?” Her voice was soft, like
a caress.

“Yes,” Enitan whispered, her voice ragged.

“Imagine me gently biting on your lips, then moving up

and sucking on that hard clit.”
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Squish. Squish. The scent of her arousal drifted to her

nostrils. “Ahh…”

“You naughty girl, I can hear how wet you are. Circle that
clit. Use your other hand to gently twist that taut nipple.”

A ragged breath escaped Enitan’s lips.

“Take your hand off that nipple and caress that clit and
cum for me.”

Following Jay’s instructions, her fingers worked on the

erect bud. Her fevered mind helped her paint the picture of
Jay’s blonde head between her legs. Blood rushing to the
surface, she screamed into her duvet. A gush erupted through
her pant and onto1 her bed, as her core erupted into a million
pieces. Jay’s heavy breathing over the phone brought her
back to reality.

Her voice was soft and breathless. “Eni. Oh. My. God.
I’m cuming…” Enitan’s ears picked up on what sounded like
rustling sheets. The heavy breathing finally became normal.
“Wow Eni, we must meet soon.” Ending the call abruptly.

Wow, what the hell had just happened, giggling. Her first
foray into phone sex. Her phone buzzed. It was Jay’s
username on Telegram.

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Chapter 35

Dissertation done; Enitan now had all the time in the

world to pursue work. With the help of one of her aunt’s
legal friends, she had registered her company at companies
house. An accountant had explained to her the records she
needed to keep and all the responsibilities that came with
registering a company in the UK. Also, the application for
her two-year working visa was being processed.

Reminding her that his door was always open, Bradley,

her lecturer, had put her in touch with an ex-student—a Brit
of Nigerian origin—who talked her through how to apply for
funding for her company. Which, in essence translated into
having a great script to pitch to the board.

With the threat and worry of her papers not being right,
sorted, she was writing every day, when not working on her
freelancing jobs, steadily building her portfolio.

Okay, a big movie hadn’t come in yet, but she was doing
short films for companies and her bank balance was growing
steadily.

The night before, Bradley had emailed about the

unveiling of the tiara. Since it had to do with Nigeria, she
might find it to be of interest. Bless him, she had plans to
watch it anyway, as it was being live streamed on TV.

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The tiara had garnered enormous interest across the world,

as it tied into the story of the Lost Prince. That historic
discovery had the western art world in a perpetual state of
excitement. Her film school mentor—Femi Bakare—was
hoping to secure the rights to shoot the film of the Carpenter
Prince of Ile-Ife. He had mentioned in his last email that it
was complicated. Enitan had smiled, dealing with Nigerians,
especially Yoruba people, could be full of complicated
wahala.

However, a who’s who list of the heavy hitters in Africa

had promised if he pulled it off, they would invest in the
production of what would be an epic drama. The African
movie industry was in agreement—such a project couldn’t
be headlined by a Hollywood studio. Remembering the
famous naija saying—Naija no de carry last.

Enitan still could not believe he wanted to work on it with

her. Why her? Why not girl, you are good. Stop putting
yourself down.

The story about the Lost Prince had everything, history,

suspense, tragedy, and all things in between, and to top it off,
was this tiara.

Kissing her sleeping son on the forehead, she switched

off the lamp next to his bed. He looked so peaceful; a smile
tugged gently on his lips as his long lashes fanned his cheeks.
Picking his empty cup of hot chocolate, she closed the door
gently behind her and headed for the kitchen.

Switching the kettle on, she put a tea-bag in her mug. Her
eyes caught the coat of arms on the Twinings box of tea.
How nice to be drinking the same tea as the royal household,
reading the words of the warrant. The ping of the kettle cut
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into her musings. Mug full, she switched off the lights and
appliances and headed for the living room. The unveiling
was starting shortly.

Mug in hand, she headed to the sofa and sat down. Getting
comfortable, she threw a blanket over her feet, ready to
watch what was about to unfold.

Her phone buzzed on the stool.

Jay: Hi sweetie, are you in bed?

Eni: No chilling watching TV.

Jay: i thought you were in bed. I wanted to hear your

voice

They had moved to chatting on Telegram, ever cautious

she kept her number hidden on the app. Their conversations
had become very sexual, she never knew women could be so
sexual.

Eni: When I go to bed, I will let you know.

Adding a smiling emoji. Looking up at the TV, the

program was about to start, Jay could wait.

The screen cut from the studio to a blonde-haired woman

standing near the entrance of a building. “Good evening. We
are standing outside the Nigerian High Commission for the
historic event that has united art lovers and historians across
Africa and Europe.” She started talking, giving background
about how the tiara had been created. The camera of the TV
station panned to the entrance of the Nigerian High
Commission. The correspondent started introducing the
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guests, as dark high-end cars dropped various dignitaries—

in elegant gowns, traditional Africa attire, glittering
jewellery and tuxedos—from around the world. It was like a
veritable United Nations of the art and academic world.

The presenter in the studio asked. “What is the

atmosphere like?”

The blond reporter looking around her responded, “It is

incredible. If I did not know otherwise, one would think
these people were attending an awards ceremony.” Her eyes
widened, as a member of the UK royal family was welcomed
into the building.

Enitan took a sip of her tea. Omo this was serious. Nigeria
was not playing o, so far the event looked impeccable. Thank
goodness this was being done in the UK, NEPA couldn’t put
a spanner into the works.

“And now, we’ll be handing over to our correspondent

inside the Nigerian High Commission.”

The screen beamed into a massive room with

whitewashed walls, replete with a dazzling array of colourful
paintings. Various bronze and wooded sculptures were
dotted strategically around the huge room. Light bounced
from the dazzling crystal chandeliers, swaying gently on the
ceiling. Two podiums—one covered in a black cloth, stood
in front of the room. What sounded like mid-tempo
Afrobeats could be heard through the speakers of the TV.

Enitan’s eyes took in circular tables with white and green

themed tablecloths awaiting their esteemed guests. Waiters
dressed in black and white walked the room, ensuring the
guests had a good supply of drinks and small chops. While
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ushers dressed in traditional Nigerian attire walked

dignitaries to their seats. She wished she could have been
there to represent Nollywood.

The camera panned to a part of the room where the

camera-operators and reporters from all over the world were
huddled, some busy scribbling on tablets or talking into the
camera ready to be aired elsewhere in the world.

Silence descended on the excited audience as an affable

tall, dark, handsome man in traditional clothes, paper in one
hand, approached the podium. He looked like a northerner.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, from around the

world and here in London. I am Hamza Mohammed, The
Cultural Attaché of the Nigerian High Commission.”

There was an enthusiastic round of applause, the camera

panned over some of the attendees. Black, white, all staring
at him with rapt attention.

“Thank you for taking the time to join us today.” Pointing

a hand at the guests in the room. Looking at the camera, he
continued, “I would also like to thank the people who are
watching this through the various other methods around the
world.” He waited for the clapping to die down. “We would
like to display the Black Tiara to the world.”

He looked down at his notes.

“The Black Tiara is so important because it was

commissioned here in the UK, by a Prince of Ile-Ife over 300
years ago. His mission when leaving Ile-Ife was to protect
the valuable artefacts entrusted into his care for safe-
keeping.” Pausing. “They had been removed to prevent them
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from being looted by the colonialists. The plan was to return

to Nigeria with them when the time was right.”

The cameras panned to people sitting in the audience,

some of the older ones shifting slightly in their seats, picked
up on the unsaid message. The younger ones blissfully
oblivious to the cultural sacking their forebears had done.

“But this tiara has the world abuzz because of the origin
of the stones. According to the legend, the gods of the
Yoruba people gave them to the Lost Prince.” Pausing for
effect, he looked around the room. “And now I will hand
over the microphone to the curator of this prized artefact,
Lady Odette Bentley-Wright.”

Lady? A real English aristo, not the fake ones from

movies. That made her father a…

Enitan’s phone buzzed, she looked down it was another

message from Jay. One thing she liked about her was she did
not disappear on her like Tee did from time to time. She was
always present.

There was a loud, rousing applause from people in the

room. Enitan’s eyes, along with millions of people around
the world, followed the graceful curves of the woman who
stepped onto the podium. Smooth café au lait skin glowed
under the bright lights. Diamonds glittered in her ears with
each step she took; complimenting the huge necklace
adorning her graceful neck…

“Hold on.” Squinting, Enitan moved forward. The gait

and the face looked familiar.

The woman looked like Tee.

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Putting her phone away, she ran a hand over her face. She
was seeing things. Nah, it couldn’t be her. It had to be a
sister, cousin. Doppelganger, that could be the only logical
explanation.

When the familiar cut glass accent spoke to her through

the TV. Enitan’s jaw dropped as her eyes widened in shock.

IT. WAS. TEE.

When the camera zoomed in on her face, her suspicions

were confirmed. Tee!

Tee!! What was she doing there?

Heart beating loudly in her ears, Enitan pressed pause

with the TV remote, picked up her phone and typed Lady
Odette Bentley-Wright into the search engine.

Baba o. Eyes bulging in their sockets, Google returned a

long list of articles for her perusal.

Aristocrat jeweller to royalty and the stars receives royal

warrant.

Enitan’s eyes widened Royal warrant!

Jeweller to the Saudi royal family.

Forbes…

Economist.

An article proclaimed she was the jeweller to most of the

royals in Europe. Everybody who was anybody had
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something made by Lady O, the name of her jewellery

company.

Tee had told her she was a penniless student learning her
trade. No, you jumped to her being penniless. But she had
said she was a student.

Heart beating loudly in her ears, Enitan’s eyes widened

as she read on.

The uber-rich flew her out to design bespoke jewellery

for them. Lady O was a star in the jewellery world.

Another article proclaimed Royal jeweller opens Gem

Laboratory.

The list was endless. She had hidden who she was in plain
sight. Her ever so demanding boss was none other than
herself, who she had been talking about in third person.

No wonder she had paid her that day of the shoot. She
controlled the bank account. Chai.

The blanket slipped off her lap as boiling anger coursed

through Enitan.

How! Why?

One of the richest men in Silicon Valley had

commissioned her to design Christmas presents for all
members of his staff. The list of articles went on.

Reclusive and elusive aristocrat entrepreneur, Lady

Odette Bentley-Wright empire now worth more the one
billion pounds.
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What!

Elusive went without saying, as there were no pictures of

her on the internet. For that to be the case, she had people
scanning the web on her behalf.

Enitan’s eyes bulged. Tee!

The same Tee. Mm hmm, this couldn’t be true. She

continued reading, her hands clenched, as red fiery anger
coursed through her veins.

Iro ni… The next article made her apoplectic with rage.
Ha. That was the last straw regarding this whole outrageous
charade.

Lady Odette was half Nigerian!

A fucking Yoruba woman.

Throwing the blanket off her legs Enitan, paced her living
room. No, this had to be a movie unfolding in front of her
eyes. Her Nigerian mother was one of the top plastic
surgeons in the country.

Enitan shook her head in disbelief.

Chai. Tears pricked her eyes. That bitch must have been
laughing at her expense the day she took her to that Nigerian
restaurant. No wonder she had eaten the iyan with gusto.
Heat washed over her body in embarrassment. She had taken
her to a buka and felt proud, while Tee must have been
sniggering behind her back.

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She banged clenched hands against her forehead. Why

had she kept this from her?

Going to the kitchen, she banged the counter in rage. Not

wanting to scare her son, she stopped.

So, all this was a game to her? Was she some kind of
social experiment? Had anything Tee said to her been real?

Hands shaking, she picked up her phone and pressed

record on WhatsApp.

Still in denial, her voice shaky, she spoke. “Erm… Hi

Tee. I am watching this thing about a tiara at the Nigerian
High Commission. I’m confused. Is that you on the TV… Or
do you have a twin?”

Moving closer to the TV she studied the necklace as she

tried to zoom in on her frozen face. She resumed pacing her
living room. Thank God David was asleep. She could vent
her anger in peace. Clenching her fingers, narrowing her
eyes, she so wanted to shake that woman right now.

Ten minutes later, she pressed record again on

WhatsApp.

“But that necklace looks like one I modelled for you. Oh

my God, it is you?”

Picking up the remote, Enitan increased the volume as

Lady Odette’s voice explained the origins of the tiara. Tee’s
voice echoed in her living room. The cameras, for the benefit
of the audience, were now panning on it from different
angles.

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Incensed, Enitan clenched her hands, after she had

opened and poured her heart out regarding her marriage, she
would have thought that Tee would have used that
opportunity to say something or share. But no, she had
omitted to tell her secrets, only for her to find out on TV that
she was somebody else.

A Lady. No wonder she spoke so well whenever she was

around her she had started enunciating her words properly.

Nevertheless, what the fuck.

How could Tee who she spoke to nearly everyday keep

this from her? She knew Femi was seeking to shoot the film,
she had told her.

This was unforgivable. Tee. Odette. Whatever her name

was had betrayed her trust.

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Chapter 36

With the cameras focused on her, Odette fielded

questions from reporters in the crowd after she finished her
talk about the tiara. They had agreed after she introduced it,
there would be a question-and-answer session. She took a
sneak peek at her parents; if they beamed any more their
faces would fall off. A sliver of guilt made its way to her
heart. Ignoring it, she turned her attention back to the
audience. There were the usual banal questions.

A reporter with red hair put up her hand. “Is it true that
this is not the missing tiara?”

What! There was an audible gasp as the room went silent.

All eyes swung to the mystery lady.

Looking down at her notepad, the lady said, “According

to my sources, there were two tiaras.”

Odette nodded; the reporter was correct. She had been too
excited when she first saw it to ask what had happened to the
other one.

Putting her pen to her lips, the lady continued, “What

you’re seeing there is a real tiara.”

Obviously. She had authenticated it.

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Pausing for effect, the lady continued, “However, my

sources say, the real tiara on the missing list hasn’t been
discovered yet.”

The silence in the room was pregnant with expectation.

“Garrard’s made two tiaras…”

Nodding, Odette murmured, “Yes, that is true.”

The mystery lady pointed to the podium. “This one was

designed for casual use.”

Gasps echoed in the room. Everyone most probably

thinking the same thing. A thirty million casual piece of
jewellery. Oh how the rich lived.

“The other one, rumour has it, was spectacular.”

Odette’s eyes went to Jeremy, who was looking at the

woman with a strange expression on his face.

Swiveling her eyes back to the reporter, Odette’s eyes

widened as her hair glowed briefly under the lights. The
Duchess?

Chatter broke out in the room, people pulled out their

phones and started talking to god knows who.

Could it be true that the real tiara hadn’t been unveiled

yet?

Yes… She looked around; there wasn’t anyone near her.

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With that revelation, Odette ended the Q & A. Excited

about the possible discovery of another piece of history, she
didn’t notice the notifications pop up on her phone, next to
her hand on the podium.

The waiters in the black and white uniforms came out

with drinks and canapes. Directors of various art houses
came over to where she was standing to gaze at the tiara,
locked away from probing fingers in a reinforced glass case.

With a bright smile on his face, the Cultural Attaché came

over. Bright brown eyes sought hers. “Lady Odette, that was
fantastic.” Extending a hand to her.

Smiling, Odette gripped his hand. “It was my pleasure,

sir. Thank you for the honour of presenting such a historic
icon to the world.”

“Thanking you for rising to the occasion. You’re the

expert.” Bright teeth gleamed in his dark, handsome face.
“Please, call me Hamza.” Curious eyes gazed at her.

Sorry, mister, you’re barking up the wrong tree.

Plastering a bright smile on her face. A hand suddenly went
round her waist, she turned to see the beaming face of her
mum, accompanied her father.

“Mum, Dad, please meet Hamza Mohammed, The

Cultural Attaché.”

Mohammed turned and extended a hand to her mother.

“Good evening, Your Grace.”

Her mother, in a nod to her heritage, was wearing an

evening gown made from Ankara and lace. The gele, was a
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 `

work of art that should be curated. How had she tied that on
her own?

Unable to hide the naija mum in her, she declared.

“Thank you for letting us be part of this.” Returning the
handshake.

Extending his hand, Hamza turned to her father. “Good

evening, Your Grace.”

Her proud, beaming father in a tuxedo pumped the poor

man’s hand enthusiastically. “Excellent delivery.” Unable to
control himself, he pulled his daughter in to a hug. “Well
done, my darling. I’m so proud of you,” he whispered.

Odette beamed; it had been a great night. They were soon

interrupted by some of her father’s friends. Grabbing a glass
of champagne off a tray, she walked the room, catching up
with business colleagues and art collectors. Unfortunately,
no matter what they said or tried to cajole out of her, the
answer was the same. The tiara was not for sale. Had the new
owner watched the unveiling?

It was after midnight when John, their driver, got behind

the wheel of her father’s Bentley to drop her at her penthouse
in Strand. It had been a fun filled evening, her ever proud
parents had organised an after party and invited a few of their
friends to their luxurious suite at the Ritz, with Odette in tow.
Refusing hadn’t been an option, even though she was having
a late lunch with them later, before they returned up north.

Her eyes opened as the lull of driving that had made her
drift off stopped. Jumping out, John came to open her door.

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“Well done, Odette, that was a beautiful presentation.

You have done us all proud.” His face was full of smiles as
he held the door open for her.

Grabbing her high heels, she got out of the car. “Thank
you, John.” He had been with her family since she could
walk. Yawning. “Please text me an hour before you pick me
up later. I need to catch up on my sleep.”

“Of course. Have a good night.” He waited by the car as

she used her fob to open the gate to her estate. Once in, she
turned and waved.

Minutes later, she was in her changing room taking off

her jewellery when her phone buzzed on her dressing table.
Too tired to shower, she picked it up, went to the kitchen,
and poured some brandy into a glass. Sitting on the bar stool,
she unlocked her phone and went through her messages.

Shit.

Enitan had sent loads of messages. Guilt made her heart

beat loudly in her ears. The excitement of the day was
pushed to the back of her mind.

Rubbing her forehead, she took a sip of her drink.

Somewhere at the back of her mind, she had wondered if
Enitan would watch the segment.

Come on, be real.

The word on the streets was all the Nigerian and even
African restaurants in the UK had laid on special events for
the unveiling of the tiara. The chance of Enitan missing such

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an important cultural event was slim. Hopefully she must be

proud and wanted to confirm it was her.

Her gut was telling her otherwise.

While chatting to Jeremy that evening, he had mentioned

a bidding war had erupted regarding the film rights of the
Lost Prince’s story. Through Enitan, she knew some of the
contenders.

Unease washed over her as she listened to the first

message.

The pain and hurt in Enitan’s voice forced her to pause.

“I can’t believe after I laid my life out to you, you hid this
from me.” Her voice was cracking.

Odette’s hand was shaking. Shit. She’s angry.

Another message ten minutes later, her voice angry.

“Chai, that day we went to the Nigerian restaurant, you must
have been sniggering behind me. You were toying with me.”
There was a bitter laugh. “No wonder you ate iyan and egusi.
There I was thinking you were brave.”

I didn’t. I really enjoyed the food Enitan. It was so

special. And all the times we have been back there.

Another message. “I don’t even know why I am bothering

with these messages. You’re so full of shit.”

Five minutes later. “You know what? Oshi, you

understand Yoruba abi? Ma tun pe mi mo o. Ma ti e ro o.
Tori ere ti a jo nṣe ti pari. Ah! Lẹhin ti mo ti ṣii soke nipa
aye mi fun e. Nipa ọmọ mi àti ọkùnrin aláìlọ́wọ̀ tí mo fẹ́. Sebi
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tori pe o tobi ju mi lọ? O le bọwọ fun mi to lati sọ fun mi nipa

ara rẹ. Hmm. Ma ti e ro lati pe mi o. Tee tabi Odette tabi
ohunkohun ti won pe ọ, you’re full of shit! Mii fẹ lati gbọ lati
o do re mo. In fact, I’m blocking you.”

That was the first time she had heard Enitan speak
Yoruba. Each word was like a cut on her skin.

Odette’s heart sank, picking up her phone she dialled

Enitan’s number. It went straight to voicemail. When she
tried to text, it did not go through. The picture on her profile
was gone. Enitan had followed through on her threat. She
had blocked her.

Tears pricking her eyes, she pulled up her diary, she

stared at her meetings for the next four weeks. She had to go
back to South America in two days. Gulping the rest of her
brandy, she tried Enitan once more, when it went to
voicemail, she went to bed.

She had messed up royally.

Tossing and turning on her bed, her fevered mind tried to

understand how Enitan was feeling. Betrayed.

It had never been the right time to tell her and she didn’t
she wanted to see where their relationship was going before
broaching the subject.

She was thinking about how she could sort things out
when she succumbed into the embrace of sleep.

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Chapter 37

Head in her hand, Odette stared at her phone; the meeting

was tedious to say the least. Plus, she hadn’t slept properly
the night before.

The firm of local accountants and lawyers she had

retained in Buenos Aires were busying discussing payroll
and employment law.

Her mind was elsewhere, she could not get in touch with
Enitan. All the messages she had sent were still there with
one tick.

Was Enitan ready to end their relationship because she

hadn’t revealed her identity? Hello. How would you feel?
Finding out the true identity of your lover on national TV.

She was careful opening up to new people who came into

her life after the trial. Hence why she cultivated her Tee
persona to perfection.

“Odette?”

“Yes.” Turning her head, towards the voice.

A pair of blue eyes stared at her through steel-framed

glasses. “I think we are in agreement regarding the next
steps.”

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Which were? Had someone taken notes? She had been

miles away. Straightening up in her chair, she focused on the
business at hand. Enitan could wait.

The Argentinian sun basking cloud-free in the blue skies

shone through the windows of the conference room. She was
in here to sign the lease for a new flagship store.
Experimenting, she wanted to see if she could manufacture
a new range and sell to the mass market. Not too cheap, but
not too pricy to keep it out of the pockets of the new
burgeoning middle class. Labour, although not as cheap as
China, was reasonable and she promised to hire local people
when she had been given incentives by the government.

Max, the local lawyer, turned to her. “Are you still up for
dinner tonight?”

No, I want to wallow in misery. Taking a sip of water from

her glass. She shook her head. “Sorry Max, maybe
tomorrow. I am shattered. I’m going to order room service
and crash.”

“Sure, I understand.” Turning to his assistant, he packed

up his things. Smiling. “Have a restful evening.” Picking up
his bag, they left the conference room.

Peace at last. Stretching, Odette slipped off her heels

under the table. The day had been very productive;
excitement coursed through her at the new upcoming
venture.

Pulling her phone towards her, she called Enitan’s

number again, same response. Sighing, she packed her
things and returned to her suite.

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Soaking her aching muscles in the bath full of lavender

bubbles, an idea popped into her head. Thirty minutes later,
relaxed and refreshed, she got out. Ensconced in a soft robe,
she walked into the living area of her suite and ordered room
service—Argentinian steak with salad, a bottle of their best
Argentinian red and fruit. While waiting for her sumptuous
meal to arrive, she picked up the phone. It was late in the
UK. “One could only try,” she muttered, dialing a number.

When the person picked, she said, “Sorry to call so late.”

“For you Odette, anytime.” The male voice responded.

“I need an address. I can give you their first name and

surname, and a rough idea of where they live.” Her Uber
account stored that information.

All business, Jeremy’s Scottish accent was absent. “How

long have I got?”

Odette smiled. “Today, if possible, but I can give you two

days.”

“Dare I ask why?”

She sighed. “It’s complicated.”

Jeremy chuckled. “Relationships always are.”

Odette closed her eyes; he was spot on.

“OK, I will get back to you.”

“Thank you.”

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##

Tummy grumbling, Enitan stood up from her desk and

walked over to the window in her kitchen.

Dark skies reflected back at her, a few stars twinkled as

she gazed into the darkness. Picking up a dishcloth, she
rubbed a smear off the window. She had one more hour of
work to do on one of her freelance jobs. Since finishing her
course she had gradually increased her freelance fees, her
clients hadn’t complained because they knew whatever they
gave to her she always did a fantastic job for them.

Even though she had finished school, seeking a full-time

job wasn’t something she wanted to consider yet. Having to
find childcare, explaining to people why she had to leave at
x. There had to be another way, for now.

That other way was to work from home and get great
reviews and referrals. She was also looking for ways to inject
capital into her new company. Her aunt had organised an
appointment for her with an accountant.

She could not stop thanking God for having her aunt close
by, a professional and a Skyline alumni. Whenever she tried
to thank her aunt, the answer was always the same.

“Don’t thank me. All the people I’m introducing you to

are all Skyline scholarship alumni. One of the things Skyline
always tells us to do is—we must all help each other. I am
just paying forward what was done for me and I hope you
will do the same to in the future.”

Enitan moved to put the kettle on, she was hungry.

Creative work was mentally taxing work.
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Putting a tea bag into a mug, she jumped when the buzzer
to her block of flats echoed in the space between her and the
door. Brows furrowed, she tapped on the monitor mounted
to the left of her door. There was a white man in a black and
white suit, holding a big box.

The buzzer went again. She pressed the talk button.

“Good evening, how can I help you?”

“Is that miss Enitan Adebayo?”

He had pronounced her name correctly. “Yes.”

“I have a delivery for you. I can bring it up to you?”

I didn’t order anything. It might be a…

“Or if you prefer, I can keep it by the door.”

His accent didn’t sound like a Londoner, it was…

Frowning and curious, she replied, “Bring it upstairs and
leave it by my door. Thanks.”

Eyes peeled, she watched the man enter the building.

Minutes later, there was a gentle thud by her door. Checking
through spy-hole she waited to see his retreating back and
watched him leave her building before pulling the chain.

Bending down, looking up and down the corridor, she slid

the box in and bolted the door.

Tea forgotten she opened the box. A beautiful bouquet of

white and yellow roses. Their scent hit her immediately,
these weren’t store bought roses…

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 `

Shit she didn’t have a vase. She would have to put them
in the sink for now. Going back to the box, her eyes
widened—a thick crystal vase and a plant with white
flowers. Even to her untrained eye, the vase looked
expensive.

Eyes darting, fingers roaming, she searched for a card.

Turning the box around she found a small white envelope
stuck to the front. Hands shaking, she opened the envelope.
There was one word on the card. Sorry.

A gamut of emotions went through her as she stared at the

card. This was the first time in her life, she had ever received
flowers from anyone. The romaticised version of this
happening in her head would have been a joyous occasion.
Instead, it had to be something like this that made her receive
them.

How had Tee found out where she lived? Every time she
had ordered her an Uber, it had been to her aunt’s house.

She would accept the flowers, she wasn’t going to throw

them away. But she was not going to unblock her fake arse.
afi boruko mi i ko ba je Enitan. Nonsense. Throwing the box
into her recycle corner, she cut off the ends of the flowers,
put them in her new crystal vase and placed it on the table.

Mmm. The vase shimmered under the lights from her

ceiling. They looked great in her flat and brightened up the
room. But if Tee thought flowers, we’re going to resolve the
issue, she had another thing coming.

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Chapter 38

The leaves on the trees along the road to David’s school

were full. The weather was warmer. Full of energy, David
was sprinting in front of her, keen to see his friends. The
school gates came into view, beyond them children of
various ages were running around in the playground. Some
of the older ones were huddled together talking. She nodded
to some of the parents as she approached the gate.

David stopped and turned to hug her. “Bye mummy.”

Sighting his friend, he ran into the playground.

“Bye David,” she whispered to his retreating back.

With all the time in the world, Enitan decided to walk and
catch the bus home, further down the road. She hadn’t
spoken to Tee or Odette, or whatever the name she called
herself again.

It was over. Mitcheww.

For the first couple of days after seeing her on TV she’d

been obsessed, googling, trying to find out more about her.
The more she read, the more her anger rose.

Another beautiful bouquet had arrived a week after the

first delivery. This time, there hadn’t been a card. Did she
think flowers would win her over? Oshi rada rada. Still
angry, she had wanted to throw them away, but decided to
enjoy and watch them shrivel, the same way her relationship

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had. The flowers, even though they had dried out, looked
stunning, so she kept them to decorate her space.

Full of anticipation, she had been disappointed when the

third week arrived and no flowers were delivered.
Confirmation that Tee had moved on to someone else.

That had been six weeks ago. Her illusions had been
shattered, but life moved on.

Good riddance. Life was awesome. Sweet Jay, who was

on her case, was helping her get over Tee. What better way
to get over someone? Femi Bakare, back from his trip, had
emailed her to set up a time for a video conference.

##

Pulling another dress out of her wardrobe, she twirled it

under the light. Hmm. Unable to decide, she dumped it on
the pile of dresses on her bed, as she searched for what to
wear for her date. She had dropped off David at her aunt’s
house after school. They were going to watch movies, make
popcorn and play chess. God help her aunt and God bless her
friend who had introduced her son to it. She wanted to hug
and pray for the woman—may she get all she wanted in her
life.

Staring at the enormous pile of clothes on her bed, she

sighed. She was going to have a job on her hands when she
got back later. After a lot of back and forthing, Enitan was
finally meeting Jay that evening at a bar in Soho. A bit of a
trek, but hey nothing ventured, nothing gained.

An hour later, coming out of the tube station, Enitan put

on Google Maps to find the bar they were meeting at. It was
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a busy Thursday evening with office workers going out with

their colleagues for after-work drinks. Office cleaners and
other people who did the work when the office people went
home to bed at night entered the various offices to start doing
their work.

Lights twinkled in the darkness, casting a yellow glow as

people went about their business. Checking her map again,
the screen informed her she was two minutes away.

The journey and what she was going to do that evening

was reminiscent of the time she had met Tee at the restaurant
where she’d offered her a modelling job. Even though she
had moved on from Tee, occasionally, things they had done
together, places they had visited made all the memories
come rushing back.

What they had was casual, more so because Tee kept her
distance. You never reached out to her either. After their
misunderstanding regarding her child, Tee had still been
distant.

With hindsight, it made sense, Odette did a lot of

travelling. The time she had told her she was going up north,
most probably she wasn’t. Probably was out of the country
designing jewellery for those people she’d read about online.

Reliving her time with her had to stop. It was over. Which
was why she was meeting Jay. Who knew what could come
of that, plus she had been very patient with her.

“You have reached your destination.” Echoed in her ears.

Feeling sexy and confident in herself, she walked into the

wine bar. The loud chatter of people milling around drowned
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 `

out whatever music was trying to make its presence known

through the speakers. Searching the sea of faces in the open
space, she tried to find Jay. Unfortunately, tonight the bar
was packed while the stale smell of chips permeated the air.
Didn’t they have an extractor? This wasn’t as nice as the
wine bar in Dean St.

Stop comparing. Going to Telegram, she typed in a

message.

Eni: Jay I am here. I can’t find you.

Looking around at the sea of faces, she couldn’t locate

her. Seconds later, her phone vibrated.

Jay: Come in, look towards your left. There are some
stairs, come down. I am at a table, towards the end of the bar.

Eni: OK coming down.

Excited and full of anticipation, she walked to the left of

the bar. The air was cooler and fresher as she made her way
downstairs while soft jazz played in the background.
Enthralled couples looking for cosier surroundings were
dotted on tables. Moving to towards the end of the bar, a
blonde head was staring at her. A hand went up, waving her
over.

Wow. Jay was exactly like her profile picture. She had
read and heard of horror stories of people who used pictures
from years ago and when they met, they were
unrecognisable.

A smile tugged her lips, her instincts about Jay had been
correct. She was genuine. Caring and sexy.
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Enitan moved slowly towards a square table surrounded

by four chairs. A smiling Jay got up on her approach, the
short sleeved blue dress brought out the colour of her eyes.

Wow, she was beautiful. Moving forward, Jay hugged

her. “Eni, wow your pictures don’t do you justice. You’re
stunning.”

Blushing, Enitan returned the hug. “Thank you. I should

say that to you.” As a cool crisp scent hit her nostrils.

Dropping her bag on a chair, Enitan took the seat opposite

Jay.

Blue eyes sought hers. “It’s great to meet you. And I love
what you did to your hair.” Her eyes roamed over her face,
then down her top.

A wave of heat washed over her. She hadn’t done much

to her kinky hair besides pack it up in a pineapple. Compared
to the first time she met Tee, meeting Jay… …stop
comparing, you need to move on.

Raising her hand, Jay pointed to the menu. “What would

you like to drink?”

Enitan’s eyes took in a bright red birthmark on the

underside of her wrist. Swiftly looking away, she focused on
the menu. “What are you having?” She had come prepared
to split the bill. Looking up, bright blue eyes stared into hers.

Jay smiled. “I don’t know. I’m still bowled over by your

beauty.”

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A smile hovered on Enitan’s lips. “Well, we don’t want

you dying of thirst now, do we?”

Throwing her head back, Jay chuckled, then looked down

at the menu. “Red wine, okay?”

Enitan nodded. Stop it…

The talk soon turned to how Enitan was getting on now

that she had finished school.

“I’m applying for jobs, hopefully something will come

my way soon.”

Jay nodded. “Will you have to go back to Nigeria? I know

visas can be hard to come by after courses.”

This lady listened. “That is true, but hopefully I will be

allowed to stay in the UK for a while.”

“How will you do that?”

“I will have to apply for another kind of visa. It’s

expensive, but at least I’ll be able to work and earn money.”

“That’s very true.” Her eyes were darting around the

room. Most probably looking for a waiter. “Have you been
looking for work?”

“Not yet. My papers limit me to twenty hours a week.”

“I’m sure you will find something soon.”

Leaning back in her chair, Enitan’s eyes fell on Jay,

rubbing the mark on her hand. She was pretty, but…
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 `

Turning those enchanting blue eyes on her, Jay reached

out and touched her hand. “I really like you, Enitan. You’re
beautiful and so sexy. I thought so before but meeting you in
person. Um.. Um..” Pouting her lips, she blew Enitan a kiss.

Preening from the compliment, Enitan looked down at the

table.

“Have you always known you like women?”

Thanks to Tee, she could say she knew what it was like to
be with a woman. She sighed. Everywhere she looked, Tee’s
invisible presence was there, intruding. Bringing her mind
back to the present, she responded. “Yes. You?”

“Hmm, sort of.”

Fair enough. Did they need to order drinks at the bar or

something? Enitan looked around to see if she could catch
the eye of a waiter. Picking up the menu, she checked what
the protocol was.

Rubbing the mark on her wrist, Jay said, “Hopefully, a

waiter will be with us soon.”

Out of the corner of her eyes, Enitan noticed a man

approaching their table. White, grey hair, middle-aged,
potbellied. His black suit jacket strained against his midriff.
A tray with a bottle of red wine and three glasses was in his
hands.

“Good evening, ladies.” His voice cheerful, as he put the

tray down on the table.

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Puzzled, Enitan looked over to Jay, who kept her eyes

averted. The man placed the three glasses and wine on the
table. Maybe he had the wrong table, they hadn’t ordered
yet. Her jaw dropped when the man then took a seat next to
Jay.

Ehn? Lifting her feet off the ground under the table.

Confused, Enitan’s looked over to Jay, blue guileless eyes

stared back.

“Erm, who are you?” Her eyes playing tennis as they went
left to right and back to Jay.

A lecherous grin appeared on his face as he gazed at

Enitan’s lips.

“Okay, what’s going on here?” Enitan’s eyes swiveled

from Jay to the uninvited man.

The man shrugged; his eyes were still locked in on her

lips.

This was getting weird. Thank God they had met in

public. “I thought we were going to meet, talk and get to
know each other better.” Or had she been worried about
meeting Enitan on her own? “Oh, is this your chaperone?”
Maybe this man was her brother. People were taking their
safety seriously these days.

Jay and her companion laughed. The man’s eyes

wondered down her blouse and focused on her breasts.

A huge black spider of unease went down her back.

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Pouring out wine into the three glasses, Jay sat back in
her chair. “Yes, that is the plan. For us to meet, talk and…”

Enitan’s brows rose. And. With a third person? Blinking,

Enitan pulled her bag towards her.

Jay took a sip of the wine. “Hmm, not bad.” She put the
glass down. “My husband got a bit too excited when he saw
you walk into the room.”

Ehn. Husband? People came on dates with their husbands

in the UK?

Putting her hand on Enitan’s she continued, “He changed

his mind and decided the two of us would talk to you, not
just me.”

Talk. Her paralysed brain couldn’t think properly.

Ebgami o.

Her husband picked up his glass and took a gulp of his

wine. Staring into Enitan’s eyes, he licked his lips.

A cold shudder went down Enitan’s spine. Us ke. What

had she signed up for?

“We have enjoyed talking to you these past months,” Jay

said.

“You kept us entertained in the bedroom,” the husband

added.

Enitan’s gut dropped to the floor. “W-what do you mean

by we?” Focusing her eyes on Jay. “Us…”

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 `

Nodding. “All our chats to you have been by the two of

us.” Jay’s eyes were bright.

“After that night-” the man started.

Bile rising in her throat, Enitan asked, “What night?”

The man responded, his voice loud and crass. “The night
you came hard from my messages with Jacqueline on the
phone.”

A couple of men on a table next to them looked over, eyes

wide, and smirked at her.

“I was fucking Jacqueline while she was speaking to you,

making you cum.” He unbuttoned his jacket. “She came so
hard, I told her we had to meet you asap.”

No. no. This could not be happening; the remnants of her

lunch made its way up Enitan’s throat.

Leaning forward, he said, “We have a proposition.”

Curiosity got the better of her. “And what is that?”

“Your visa is going to run out soon.”

These people had studied her.

“Come and stay with us. You will have fun exploring
your sexuality.”

Enitan’s eyes bulged. Doing what?

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Rubbing his hands together. “We will feed you, fuck you
to your heart’s content. Imagine having multiple orgasms
every day.”

See my life o. Do I look like I am hungry for orgasms?

“And where will I be sleeping?” And they said Nollywood
was crass.

The man responded, “In our bed, of course.”

Jay leaned forward. “You can make some money baby-

sitting Freddie when we are not fucking.”

“You need someone to look after your dog?” Since when

was looking after a dog babysitting?

Jay and her husband looked at each other and burst out
laughing.

“Freddie is our son,” Jay responded.

These people were parents?

“When we retire for the evening, the three of us will sleep

together every night.”

Was it something in the air or water that made people

mad? They had nearly recruited her into…

“We will make it worth your while.”

“There isn’t a lot waiting for you in Nigeria, is there?”

“Excuse me.” Enitan responded.

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 `

“She can lick you while I fuck her from behind.” He took
a sip of his drink. His nose was bright red. “Or we can get
another man to do you, while you two girls make out with
each other.”

See your life. Enitan’s jaw dropped. Was this man for
real?

“We would really like you to come back to our hotel

tonight.” Focusing his eyes on her breasts. “You know, let’s
get to know each other better.”

What the fuck had she let herself into? And there she was,
thinking this woman was genuine. Tee had not…

Gob smacked, Enitan turned to Jay. “I thought you said

you were into women.”

Jay shrugged. “Black women…”

Ehn.

“I swing both ways and…”

Obviously. Enitan pulled her bag towards her. She needed

to get out of here.

Jay leaned forward, concern in her eyes. “Are you OK?”

“We will pay you.” The man took a sip of his drink. “This
is a win-win situation for you.”

“I know you are short of money; it will be a great

opportunity for you.”

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 `

To be a sex slave?

“We can write to the home office on your behalf to help

with you immigration papers.”

As in. Dear officer, please let our sex-slave stay with us.

“From what I have read, there is nothing worth going

back to Nigeria for.”

Nah, it was time to japa.

“I know you Nigerian women love money; we can discuss

rates.”

WTF. Clenching her hands, Enitan decided now was not

the moment to make a scene. She needed to get out of there.

Grabbing her bag, she got up, ran up the stairs, and
walked out. Thick, acrid bile rose up her throat. Violated,
walking to a corner, she heaved against a wall. Pedestrians
studiously looked away, thinking she was drunk or high on
drugs.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled out her phone and tapped
on the Uber app. Hands shaking, she booked one to take her
to her aunt’s place.

Luckily an Uber was just round the corner. Minutes later,

mumbling, “Good evening.” She got into the back of the car
and closed her eyes.

What the hell had just happened? How had she been
sucked into all the rubbish those two had been up to?

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Pulling her phone out of her bag, she deleted the dating
app and the Telegram app from her phone. She didn’t want
to see or remember what Jay looked like. The image of her
husband having been the one sending messages to her made
her shudder. He had been the one who, through her fingers,
had touched her. It made her cringe.

She couldn’t tell anyone what she had just been through.
How do you tell your friends that the woman you had been
chatting to on a lesbian dating app had been a man? Or that
you had masturbated to those chats… No, she did not want
to think about it as bile rose in her throat.

Searching her bag, she looked for some chewing gum,

popping one in her mouth, she exhaled a deep breath.
Twenty minutes later, the Uber slowed down in front of her
aunt’s house, thanking the driver she got out and shut the
door.

Clutching her bag tight, she knocked on the door. Lost in

thought, the clanging of the key in the lock brought her back
to the present. The sound of the chain being pulled soon
followed. One would think her aunt lived in Fort Knox.

Frowning, her aunt asked. “Enitan, what are you doing

back so early?”

Overwhelmed with emotion, she ran into her aunt’s arms

and hugged her.

Minutes later, pulling her away, her aunt stared into her
eyes. “Enitan, are you ok? What happened?”

Nodding. “Nothing, I’m fine.”

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Probing eyes sought hers. “You can’t be fine. You don’t

look fine. Tell me what happened. Did somebody assault
you?”

Uh oh. Shit, she should have known…

“Did a man do something to you?”

Technically, yes, but it was my fault. “Auntie, honestly,

I’m fine, nothing happened.”

Her aunt took her by the hand. “OK, let’s go into the
kitchen and discuss this. David is asleep, so we can talk.”

Their footsteps made a soft whisper as they walked into

the kitchen. Enitan plonked her bag on the counter and
sagged onto a bar stool. Her auntie put the kettle on. “Tea or
coffee.”

When she had arrived in England. She had found the

consumption of tea hilarious. Chat, tea. Break-up, tea. Good
news tea. The world of the British people revolved around
those dark leaves. Unfortunately, today she was going to
break the tradition. “Sorry auntie, your tea or coffee isn’t
going to do it tonight. Do you have anything stronger?”

Her auntie stared at her. “OK I’ve got whiskey, brandy,

wine, vodka, you name it, I’ve got it. Or if you want me to
make you a cocktail, I can make you one of those, too.”

Enitan’s eyes widened. “Wow, I didn’t know you were

such a party woman, auntie. I have never seen you drink.”

Looking towards the window, her aunt responded, “The

job I do can be very demanding, and a lot, and I mean a lot,
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of my colleagues are high functioning alcoholics. I decided

a very long time ago not to succumb to the pressure of
alcohol.” Her eyes came back to rest on Enitan’s face. “All I
do now is drink tea and coffee, which in itself is some kind
of addiction, it messes up one’s sleep.”

Enitan nodded. She was debating whether to tell her aunt

what happened. Staring at the strap of her bag, her mind was
in a state of chaos. Now wasn’t the time to come out to her
auntie.

If she was bold enough to, would she go back and tell her
sister—her mum? Or would she keep it to herself? Would
she look at her in such a way that would spoil their
relationship and as a result, spoil the relationship her aunt
had with her son?

Secrets.

No, it wasn’t the time to tell her, when the time came, she
would. Calling upon the writer in her, she came up with
another story to tell her auntie. “I will have some brandy
please with some coke, thank you.”

Her aunt pulled down a bottle of Remy Martin XO from

a cupboard she’d never noticed before. It housed a veritable
array of alcohol. Grabbing some ice from the freezer, and a
can of coke from the fridge, she walked over to the counter
where Enitan was seated. Opening a cabinet under the
counter, she placed two crystal brandy glasses on the counter
and put some ice in them. There was a reflective look on her
aunt’s face as she poured a generous amount of brandy into
the glasses, the coke followed. She slid a drink over to
Enitan.

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After a short companionable silence, her aunt asked, “So

come on, what happened? I know something happened.”

Swirling her glass, Enitan responded, “I was meeting

somebody for the first time today. The image I had in my
head was totally different to what I found when we met this
evening.”

Her aunt nodded. “I take it this was from one of your

dating apps?”

“Yes.” Her mind went to Tee again, remembering her

tales.

“Oh dear, I keep on hearing stories about this, people

chatting for a very long time, and when they meet the vision
of what they had in their head versus what they see in reality
is totally different.”

Taking a sip of her drink, Enitan nodded. The fluid

warmed the back of her throat.

“Chalk it up as experience. One thing to take away from

it is you meet sooner rather than later in the talking stage. If
your expectations and illusions are going to be shattered, you
wouldn’t have invested so much time in the relationship.”

What her auntie was saying made sense, considering the

way she had met Tee.

“I take it this is someone new?” Putting her glass to her

lips.

Enitan nodded

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Her auntie put her glass down. “What happened to that

other man of yours, the one who always made you smile?”

Taking a deep breath, Enitan responded, “It fizzled out.”

Not really, I ended it. “Or rather, I should say they made out
to be something they were not.”

Brows raised her aunt stared at her.

“I thought we had shared a lot in the little time we had

been together, but I discovered that everything they told me
had been a lie. When I found out and the truth stared at me
in the face, I confronted them, and ended the relationship.”

Her aunt took a sip of her drink. “That’s a real shame,

Enitan, even though I never met him. From what I could see,
when you were together, you were happy, joyous. Your ideas
were flowing, some things you were talking to me about
showed you were in a good place.”

She was right, even David had commented on her good

mood.

“Did you ever ask this person to give their side of the
story about whatever they did to offend you?”

Enitan paused and stared at her auntie. “I didn’t give the

person the chance to speak to me. I blocked them on my
phone. We never exchanged social media handles, so I didn’t
have to block them there. I don’t know if they have one,
because the name they gave me and the name I discovered
are two different things.”

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“That’s a shame.” Her aunt nodded. “Well, unfortunately,

you’re not going to find out their side of the story, if you
don’t give them the opportunity to contact you and explain?”

Enitan rested her head on a hand. Did she really want to

give Tee an opportunity to speak to her?

To be honest, she didn’t want to. She was fed up with all
this relationship business. Her first foray into having a same
sex relationship had ended in disaster with two different
people. No, it was time to face her career and her son.

“Auntie, what you said is true, thank you for listening to

me.” Stretching on the stool, her back was killing her. “I’m
going to stay over tonight, if you don’t mind.” Trying her
luck, she said, “And it would be nice if I can have a full
English breakfast to mend my broken heart.” Putting a hand
to her chest as she took another gulp of her brandy.

Throwing her head back, her aunt chuckled. “Of course,

baby. I’ll make you breakfast tomorrow; you can stay the
weekend if you want. It’ll be nice to have the two of you
around.”

The floorboards creaked; Becca walked in, looking at the

two of them and the glasses on the counter. “Are you guys
having a party without me?”

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Chapter 39

The script she was working on to pitch to the arts council

was progressing steadily, her word count was on the up. She
looked at the time, she had a conference call with Femi
Bakare.

Rushing to her bedroom, she looked for something

professional to wear. Not flirtatious but nice. Green silk
blouse on and her hair up, she postioned herself in front of
her laptop.

Minutes later, Femi’s face appeared on the screen—dark,

good looking, nice shoulders. A deep, warm baritone echoed
out from the speakers of her laptop.

“Good afternoon, Enitan. It is great to meet you in person.

Even though it is virtual.”

“Good afternoon, Femi, it is an honor to meet you, and

thank you again for giving me this opportunity to work with
you. I promise you I won’t let you down.”

Femi laughed. “I hope after the end of the project you are
still saying the same thing. I can be a demanding taskmaster.
This film that I want to partner on with you, is very high
profile. The eyes of the world will be on us. We will have to
go over and beyond what is expected of us. Do you
understand?”

“Yes, I do.” She was doing something she loved, she

would give her all. “Can I ask the question?”

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He nodded.

“Have we got the money from the investors?” Her heart

was thumping in her chest. This was what she had always
wanted, her first major production would be something on a
grand scale. She was pinching her thigh underneath the table,
trying to wake herself up, to tell her this was real. She wasn’t
dreaming.

“Well, one of the reasons I asked for this meeting is

because I’ve got some news pertaining to you. Not the
project, but you.”

Enitan sat up and straightened. Heart pounding in her

chest, had she done something wrong? Had she been too
forward? Or had he decided he wasn’t going to go with her
again?

Femi grinned. “Oh, it’s not bad news. You don’t have to
look so worried, Enitan.”

She let out a jagged breath.

“You must know some people in some very high places

because a lot of people have spoken highly about you.”

Enitan let out a sigh of relief. Clenching her fingers, she

realised she was speaking to one of the foremost directors in
the world. He could see her body language and facial
expressions, straight off the bat. Damn, she needed to hone
her poker face.

“Do you have an accountant?”

Enitan nodded.
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“Well, the reason I’m asking is one of the conditions the

investors gave to fund our film was to give you a startup loan
for your company, Black Diamond Productions.”

Feeling lightheaded, her eyes widened in shock.

“I will show you the cheque in a minute. As I said you

have some cheerleaders in some very high places. When I
mentioned to the conglomerate of investors who I would be
working with, they were impressed. They went to check your
work out. When I mentioned you got a great
recommendation from your film school in the UK, they were
all ready to back you.”

Oh my God.

“They want to give you a cheque for 250,000 pounds to

get your business up and running. Thus, ensuring you will
put your all into this production we are about to embark on.”

Her mouth dropped onto the table as sweat broke out in

her armpits. What did she just hear? This couldn’t be true.
Her heart was banging in her chest.

“I hope you are OK Enitan.”

Robbed of speech, she nodded.

“The reason why I asked you if you have an accountant

is they will be able to tell you the best way to account for
this in your books. I don’t know the intricacies of all these
kinds of things, that’s why I have lawyers and accountants.”

She nodded dumbly, all the things he said we’re going

inside one ear and going out of the other. “I do have an
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accountant and my auntie is a barrister so I am sure that

between the two of them they will be able to tell me or direct
me to somebody on the best thing that I can do with this
money.”

Oh my God, did she just hear she had been given

£250,000 for her business for her to get up and running. For
her to start all the things she wanted to do. She didn’t know
whether to cry or scream.

“I am looking forward to doing business with you. Not

just this one, I’m sure there’ll be other things that I can pass
your way. Or tell people to contact you when they’re looking
for directors or writers. I know from the last time we spoke
you wanted to have your own production company, that’s a
good thing to want. I am sure as we work together, I’ll be
able to direct you and mentor you. As I hope you will do to
the next generation of incoming students at the Empire
School of Film.”

Nodding her head like a puppet, she promised herself that

she would do just that.

After that, they wrapped things up and ended the call. The
only person she could call to tell her the good news was her
auntie. She sent off a text to tell her she would come round
later that evening to give her some good news.

After dancing round her living room celebrating the

news she just heard, she looked up at the time, it was time to
go and pick up her son from school. Quickly going back to
her bedroom, she took off the green silk blouse she’d been
wearing and put on a warm hoodie.

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 `

She went back into the living room to swipe her keys off
the table, her eyes fell on the heavy crystal vase that had
arrived with the first ever bouquet of flowers she had ever
received from anyone and Tee.

Even though her aunt had mentioned she wouldn’t know

what had happened if she didn’t unblock her, she still hadn’t.
Focusing on her career was her priority.

She really wanted them to move from where they were to

the countryside. The research she had done into scholarships
for her child had been based outside of London.

If she never saw Tee again, one thing she’ll be grateful to

her for was she now knew and accepted where her sexuality
laid.

Smiling at the vase, she walked towards the door to pick

up her son from school.

Her phone buzzed; it was a message from her aunt.

Aunty mi: I also have some great news to share with you.
It will be a day of celebration. Putting the champagne in the
fridge. I can’t wait to see you and David later. Please come
straight from school.

Putting the things that she wanted to use for dinner back
in the fridge, Enitan went back to pick up her handbag, then
went to pick her son up from school.

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Chapter 40

Taking a sip of her peppermint tea, Odette hit send on

the last assignment she had to mark for the semester. Every
year she said she was going to stop doing it but she never
did. She enjoyed seeing her students thrive, shame she did
not have the capacity to do it full time.

Her eyes strayed to her watch, she had to go and get ready
for her friend’s party who had just received her silk. Her
proud and adoring wife was organizing a little get together
to celebrate the achievement. And what an achievement, she
was proud of what her friend had achieved, it couldn’t have
been easy. With nothing better to do, she decided she would
go and smile at some people rather than stay indoors and
wallow in her misery.

The misery, she sighed. Enitan. Beautiful and talented.

Her resume spoke for itself, good thing she had decided to
strike out on her own. Buying flowers and saying sorry was
not going to cut it with Enitan—a proud, stubborn Yoruba
girl. If her own mum was anything to go by, she still had a
lot of grovelling to do.

She had not unblocked her no matter how many messages

she sent, they just sat there in her WhatsApp with one tick.
Even though she had her address, she was not ready to go
there and invade her space, especially with her son around.
If she didn’t unblock her, she had no other choice than to
respect her wishes.

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Ever resourceful, wanting to keep her close, she had

contacted Jeremy for information. When Enitan entered her
life, she had educated herself on how the film industry
worked.

Now when she was watching films, she no longer looked

at it from the point of view of entertainment, it was viewed
through the lens of the casting, writing, to the directing. Yes,
Enitan had influenced her viewing habits.

She missed her.

But she didn’t know what to do. This was the first time in
her life she needed to win back someone who she had messed
up with badly. She didn’t know how to make it right.

After speaking to her dad, she had done what she could to
find out about what was happening in Enitan’s life and figure
out how she could help her from the sidelines. She reached
out to Femi Bakare, once she explained what she wanted to
do, he had looked at her strangely, but he promised to help
her out. Since she was also dropping a considerable amount
of money into his production company, he didn’t refuse her
request.

So if she couldn’t help her as her girlfriend… Girlfriend,

she ran a hand through her hair. Enitan… She couldn’t even
butt dial her and say she’d been drunk.

Her free time was spent plotting how she would get back
into Enitan’s good books.

Oh well, it was time to get ready for her friend’s party.

She had decided on a piece of jewellery for her friend. A
necklace and earrings, Wemimo had a long, elegant neck. It
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reminded her of Enitan’s. That woman was invading her

thoughts. An hour later, she nodded to the concierge at the
desk as she headed outside her gates for her waiting Uber.

Settling at the back, memories came flooding back, to the

time she’d been at the back of an Uber with her. It always
came back to her.

That had been a really nice evening, one she would not
forget in a hurry.

Lost in the memories of them together, she closed her

eyes and let the feelings wash over her. If she had helpers,
she needed their help right now. I want to see Enitan. Please.

The car came to a stop, opening her eyes, she pushed

down on the clasp of her clutch, and pulled out a crisp
twenty-pound note. Tapping on the driver’s shoulder, she
handed it over. “Thank you.”

The black driver turned to her and stared wide eyed at the
tip. “My sister, thank you. God bless you. All the things you
ask for shall come to pass.”

“Amen.” She opened the door. “Thank you.”

The murmur of voices drifted over to where she was

standing. Some guests were leaving the house, there was a
bright flash of lights, she could see people moving in the
background. The party was in full swing, holding on to the
present tightly, she walked up the steps and knocked on the
door.

She was admiring the colour in the flower boxes in the

front of the house when the door opened.
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Jaw dropping, her eyes bulged in their sockets,

threatening to drop on the floor. Standing in front of her was
Enitan and her friend’s grandson, Jimi.

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Chapter 41

The reception rooms were full of people, the caterers

hired for the event had set up shop in her aunt’s massive
kitchen. Waiters flitted around the rooms downstairs with
trays of champagne and canapes. The garden had been
rigged with a canopy and outdoor heaters; one could never
predict the UK weather. David, looking like a rich young
gentleman in his chinos, loafers and button-down shirt, was
the star of the occasion. Everyone asking him if he was going
to follow in his grandma’s steps.

Becca, proud of her aunt’s achievement, had organised

the party; her aunt had just received her silk. It was a great
cause to celebrate. Her auntie hadn’t wanted to do anything,
but Becca had insisted, telling her it was something worth
celebrating. There were not that many ethnic minorities who
were QC’s. So, if nobody else was going to celebrate, Becca
insisted her family and some of her close friends would come
together and celebrate with her.

Enitan always looked in wonder at how close her auntie

and her housemate were. Their relationship went beyond
house-mates, they were best friends. There was pride in her
eyes as Becca followed her aunt around the room speaking
to guests, making sure they had drinks, snacks and they knew
where the facilities were.

Becca herself was looking absolutely amazing tonight,

she had on a black glittery cocktail dress which did
everything to enhance her figure, as far as she was aware
Becca didn’t have a boyfriend. What man wouldn’t want

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her? It was a shame that she wasn’t seeing anyone. Maybe

she’d had her fingers burnt just the same way she had with
the two women that had briefly come into her life.

Her eyes lit up as her son came towards her to give her a
hug. “Mummy, this is a cool party, it’s great.”

Bending down, she pulled her son into her. “Yes,

grandma has done really well for herself, and we should be
proud of what she’s done as a black woman. She has
achieved a lot in England.”

David nodded, then cocked his head to one side.

“Mummy, there’s someone at the door.” A knock echoed in
the hallway. Holding on to his hand, they walked in tandem
to the front door.

Smile plastered on her face to welcome another guest,

Enitan opened the door.

What! Eyes bulging, her jaw dropped in shock.

Looking like someone going to the Oscars was Odette in

a dress that clung to every god damn curve of her body. Her
boobs…

Holding a bag. Her brain was still trying to process that

when…

David ran into her arms. “Tee. Grandma didn’t tell me

you were coming.”

Excuse me. What the… Her son knew Tee? How the hell
had that happened? Bewilderment flashed in her eyes as she
stared at the two of them.
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Tee bent and opened her arms to him. “Hey young man,
how have you been? Your grandma has been telling me
about all your achievements and all the stuff you have been
doing with your chess board.”

Jésù Kristi. Was this the woman she had been thanking?
Tee!

He beamed in her arms. “Yes Tee, I am really enjoying it,

my grandma said I should enter a competition. What do you
think?” David’s earnest eyes stared into Tee’s. “Will you
help me get ready for the competition?”

Excuse me, I’m his mother.

Smiling, Tee nodded. “Sure, we can talk about that.”

Dumb founded Enitan watched on, trying so hard to

understand what was happening. Tee closed her eyes while
hugging him.

Standing up, David still in her arms, Tee walked into the
house.

Confused and angry, through gritted teeth, Enitan asked

the obvious question. “What are you doing here?”

With an amused glint in her eyes, Tee held up the bag in

her hand. “My good friend just got her silk. I’m here to
celebrate with her.”

“You know my aunt?”

“Tee, what a lovely surprise.” Her aunt’s voice cut into

their conversation.
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“Wemimo, congratulations. You keep doing us proud,

girl.” Moving in to kiss her with David in her arms.
Wriggling out of her arms, she put him down. But he held on
to her hand.

Enitan’s eyes widened. Was this some kind of sick joke?

With a broad smile on her face, her aunt turned to David.

“I see you have found each other, don’t know what you did,
but he always asks about you.”

Tee laughed. “It must be my charm.”

Raising her brows, Enitan looked at her aunt, confused.

Pointing to Tee, her aunt declared, “Enitan, this is my

friend Tee. We can blame her for introducing your son to
chess and forcing the rest of us to learn how to play it.”

Enitan’s face, full of thunder, did not smile. “Tee. How

do you spell that?”

Sensing something else going on, her aunt’s criminal

barrister eyes narrowed. Staring at Enitan and Odette. “Do
you two know each other?”

Yes, very well auntie.

The pregnant silence was broken when Becca wondered

over. Eyes bright, she began, “Bab…” Noticing the people
standing, her eyes shuttered. “Excuse me…” She put an arm
through her aunt’s and said, “Someone wants to speak to
you.”

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Her auntie looked back at Enitan and Tee with a puzzled

expression on her face.

Pulling her hand, David said, “Tee, I want to show you

my new game.” Looking over at Enitan, Tee raised her
brows.

Enitan nodded. Now wasn’t the time to make a scene.

##

Odette followed him to a sofa in the kitchen and listened

as he showed her his new game. She picked up on his
enthusiasm, her eyes widened when he told her there was a
bug in it. This boy had talent, they needed to get him into
coding school asap.

They? Whoa, hold on.

He was Enitan’s son and from the look of things, she had
moved on. Did her aunt know her niece was a lesbian?
Following in her footsteps.

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Chapter 42

Fake smile in place, Enitan kept her face neutral as she

spoke to the guests, who came over to congratulate her on
her mother’s achievements. Now wasn’t the time to correct
them, as she kept an eye on David and Tee.

Someone needed to explain to her how this could have

happened to her? Of all the people to meet on the streets of
London, it had to be a friend of her aunt’s. How?

Her aunt, the criminal barrister, knew something was off

between herself and Tee. The looks she sent her way told her
she was going to corner her and ask probing questions. She
scratched her head, from where she was standing she did not
know how she was going to answer the inevitable questions
that were going to come from her aunt.

Did her aunt know Tee was a lesbian? How had her aunt
and Tee become friends?

OMG, no. Had Tee come on to her aunt?

How had her aunt with a career in law crossed paths with
Tee, an artist… Battling that conundrum in her mind, she
looked up, her eyes swiveled towards Becca, who was
looking at her aunt with love and affection. Feeling her eyes
on her, Becca turned her gaze towards Enitan, caught out she
couldn’t hide it fast enough. In that moment, Enitan realised
Becca liked her auntie. Shit.

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Did her aunt know that Becca’s feelings towards her was
one of being more than a friend?

Tearing her eyes away, she looked to where Tee and her
son were sitting, talking animatedly. This was beyond weird.

Looking at the time on her wristwatch, it was time to take

David to bed, party time was over. He had done his bit.
Taking a deep breath, she walked over to where they were
sitting.

Plastering a weak smile on her face, she turned to David.

“David, it’s time for you to go to bed. Say goodnight to your
new friend.”

He looked up from the game console he and Tee were

staring at.

Tee gently took it off him. “I think we have to stop this

game, your mum needs you to go to bed.”

Adorable brown eyes looked up at his mum. “Mummy,

please can Tee tell me the story about the chess champion
before I go to bed? Please.”

Enitan and Tee stared at each other.

Not wanting to deprive her son of a story, she nodded.

It was a good thing that her son needed to sleep. Once he

was in bed, she could thrash it out with Tee in peace.

Her heart softened as she watched Tee tell her son a story
about a young black chess champion. His eyes were bright
and as big as saucers as she continued the story. His eyes
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tried to stay open, but with all the excitement of the day, he
was soon asleep, most probably dreaming about the chess
champion she had painted so vividly in his mind.

“You’re good at this. A natural. Being a mother should

come naturally to you.”

Tee stared at her, a strange expression on her face. “Look

Enitan-”

“I don’t want to speak here. Let’s go outside. I don’t want

my son hearing this.”

Getting off the bed, Tee grabbed her clutch bag. “Of
course.”

Enitan swallowed; her perfume, her closeness—whatever

was affecting her. Waving a hand at the door, she waited for
her to step out. Taking another glance at David, Enitan
closed the door behind them.

Pausing in the hallway, Tee asked, “Do you want us to go

outside and talk?”

Enitan took a proper look at the woman in front of her,

her hair was down. A soft expression—almost vulnerable—
on her face. This was different from the confident, bubbly
woman she was used to seeing. Tee was deferring to her.

“Sure, that’s a wonderful idea, because I do not want

people to hear me when I’m screaming at you.”

Hazel eyes full of remorse stared at her.

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As they walked out of the room, she caught her aunt’s

face in the reception area and smiled. Grabbing a drink from
a waiter, they headed out the front door, went down the steps
and stood on the pavement, by the railings away from the
front door.

“Look Enitan, I am sorry.”

“For what? Tee, Odette.” Lifting her hand for emphasis.

“I don’t even know what to call you.” Enitan was looking at
a stranger.

Tee looked down at the pavement. “The last person to call

me Odette was my teacher.”

Enitan raised her brows.

“I should have told you about myself, after you opened

up to me about your son. I thought it was unimportant.”

Unimportant to tell me you are half Nigerian. No wonder

she had pronounced her name right the day they met. “What?
That you’re half Nigerian? Come on.” She pursed her lips.
“I didn’t ask about your heritage, because I upset one of my
classmates by asking that question when I started my
course.”

“Oh.”

“You must have been laughing behind my back.”

“Why would I do that, Enitan?”

“I don’t know anything about you, do I?”

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Tee grimaced.

Good, taking a sip of her drink. “I can’t even get over the
fact that you’re here. I never wanted to see you again.”

Fiddling with the lock on her bag, Tee murmured, “I am

in as much shock as you are.”

Enitan took another sip of her drink.

“I. I-”

“Can you imagine my shock, staring at the TV and seeing

you there talking about something so dear to me?” Her hand
tightened around her glass. No, there was no point talking
about this…

Tee looked away.

That was what hurt the most. “You knew my mentor was
trying to get the rights for that stuff. We discussed this.”

Tee looked up, her voice a whisper. “Yes, we did.”

“Oh my god, the assignment on the diamond. That was

you working on it.”

Silence.

“Yes. I don’t discuss my work, security reasons. I also

have to sign NDAs.”

Ah, she hadn’t thought about that. Surreptitiously, staring

at her, Tee looked beautiful tonight. “You betrayed me.”

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“I’m sorry.” Twisting a ring on her finger, Tee said, “I

should have given you the head’s up about the Nigerian High
Commission.”

Enitan nodded. “Guess I wasn’t that important enough,

was I?”

“You’re important to me.”

“I don’t think so. It doesn’t matter, anyway.”

“Enitan, I couldn’t tell you.”

Nah. “You didn’t want to tell me.”

“Plus, it made no difference…”

“No difference? Are you for real? You didn’t trust me

enough to tell me.” Enitan’s eyes stayed on Tee’s fingers,
twisting the ring round and round.

A grimace appeared on Tee’s face. “I actually prayed you

wouldn’t watch the program.”

A sarcastic laugh escaped Enitan’s lips. “For real.”

Tee looked away. “When I listened to your messages, it

broke my heart to hear the anger and hurt in your voice.”

Which heart, I beg. Is this not the same smooth-talking

Tee? Please.

Her voice catching, she continued, “I’m sorry, I hurt you

so much.”

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You hurt me a lot; you made me feel unworthy of your

trust… respect…

“I tried calling you, but you blocked me.”

Enitan leaned against the railings. “What do you expect?”

“A chance to explain, unfortunately I am still blocked.”

A wry smile on her lips.

Yes. “You hurt me. I was livid seeing you on TV. I

thought I was hallucinating.”

“I can imagine.” Tee looked down again.

Curious, Enitan asked, “Why didn’t you tell me who you

were?”

Tee shrugged. “We never talked about it. What difference

does it make?”

A lot, you’re a billionaire. What do you want with me?

Staring into her eyes, Tee said, “I want you, Enitan. All
of you, including David. You’re…”

Had she read her mind or something? Bringing her glass

to her lips, she tried to empty her mind.

“I had no other way of contacting you. I sent those

flowers to say I’m sorry. I am really sorry; I don’t know what
I can do to show you how sorry I am.”

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Enitan took a sip of her drink. Why had she stopped

sending the flowers? They had looked great in her living
room.

“You liked them?”

Enitan was freaked out.

Tee moved closer. “I want you back, Enitan. I want us.

Everything has lost luster, lost colour ever since you’ve
blocked me. It’s hard for me to concentrate at work because
I can’t reach out to you. Hear your voice.” Her hazel eyes
went over her face and down her body.

Enitan’s nipples hardened and her clit throbbed in

between her legs, when those heated eyes stared at her. Yes,
she had missed her, the feelings, the pull. It was still there.
She wasn’t going to make it easy for her.

Amusement flickered in her hazel eyes.

“You’re half Nigerian, you didn’t deem it necessary to

tell me?” Shaking her head. No. “I can’t get over the
deception.”

“What’s being half Nigerian got to do with anything?”

“Really?”

Tee ran a hand over her face. “Sorry, it mattered to you.”

Pausing for a beat. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

Enitan stared at her. “So do you understand Yoruba or are

you just one of those people who…” Taking a deep breath,

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she took a sip of her drink, staring at the glass she would
need another one soon.

Tee stared at her. “Yes, I speak Yoruba fluently.”

“Interesting.” Nodding, of course she would. She was Ms.

Perfect. Enitan was about to say something when the door
opened, her aunt came down the steps and stared at the two
of them.

“OK. I need to know what’s going on here.” Looking

from one woman to the other.

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Chapter 43

Odette watched on amused. How this was going to play

out? Did Wemimo know her niece was a lesbian and did
Enitan know her aunt was in a civil partnership with Becca?

It was the season for secrets. Her gut did a sharp dive.

Playing with the handle of her clutch, she wondered if she

should tell Enitan what she had done… Nothing makes us so
lonely as our secrets.

For once, she was going to sit it out. Smiling when she
remembered her friend saying if she was a man. The irony…
Life was full of surprises. Her friends had delivered. She was
here with Enitan in the flesh. Hallelujah.

“Enitan, what is happening here?” Looking from one lady

to the other.

Averting her eyes, Enitan opened her mouth to speak.

“Erm-”

One of the guests came through the door. “Wem, there

you are. Somebody needs you inside.”

Staring at the two of them, she muttered, “This isn’t over.

I need to speak to the two of you.” As she went back into the
house.

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Curiosity burning in her eyes, Enitan looked over at

Odette. “How did you and my aunt meet? I mean you’re a-”

“Lesbian.” Odette completed the sentence for her.

Enitan nodded. “Exactly. Does she know you’re a

lesbian?”

Putting her guard up, face neutral, Odette nodded. Shit,

why did she have to walk into this? “I don’t know where your
brain is going, but it’s nothing like that.” Trying to diffuse
the atmosphere she asked, “Are you going to unblock me?”
Her eyes roamed over Enitan, she looked so fucking hot in
her dress. Staring at her bare neck in disappointment. She
would adorn it with…

“Why should I do that?”

Moving her gaze away from her neck, she stared into her
eyes. “Because you missed me. You’re angry with me. You
don’t know what to do.”

A ghost of a smile tugged on Enitan’s lips.

She has missed me. “Even though I found out where you
lived, I didn’t want to intrude on your space. I wanted to
respect your privacy and that of your son.”

Enitan’s mouth opened into a silent o.

What was going through her head? What had she been up
to? Was there someone in her making her happy?

“Is there someone else?” Shit, why did she say that?
Odette’s heart pounded in her chest.
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She’d never thought about that possibility. Looking up

into Enitan’s eyes, a gamut of emotions flickered on her
beautiful face—anger and something else she couldn’t put
her finger on. Maintaining eye contact, Odette kept on
staring, hoping she would answer the question. “Have you
met someone else?”

There was a long pause as Odette’s heart hammered. If

there was someone, she would try her best to persuade her to
come back to her.

Enitan looked up at her. “There isn’t.”

A ragged breath escaped from Odette’s lips. There was

hope for her.

“Enitan, I have really missed you. I really want to make

things right between the two of us. Please, can you give me
a chance to explain?”

Enitan’s dark eyes stared into hers. In that moment for

Odette saw everything she was trying to hide. The hurt, the
pain.

Draining her drink, Enitan said, “I think we should head

back inside.”

Odette nodded. “As you wish, ma’am.”

Enitan gave her a strange look as they walked up the steps

to the front door. Before Enitan could turn the handle,
Wemimo and Becca were heading out with some guests.
Nodding and side stepping them, Odette and Enitan headed
inside.

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The caterers and their waiting staff were clearing up in

the kitchen. Putting her clutch on the counter, Odette and
Enitan joined in.

Enitan’s aunt kept giving her strange looks, it was

inevitable, a conversation was going to be had soon.

Shortly later after the caterers left, the four of them sat
around the island in the kitchen, elbows on the granite
counter, with a bottle of Remy Martin XO.

Wemimo looked towards her niece. “So, I’ll ask one

more time. Can you tell me what’s going on?” Picking up
her glass, she took a sip of her drink. “It’s obvious you know
each other.”

If only you knew how well, my friend. Odette took a sip of

her brandy.

Enitan took a sip of her brandy.

Odette stared into the amber depths of her glass. It wasn’t

in her gift to say what needed to be said; she had come out
to the world, so everybody knew who she was. It seemed in
Enitan’s family there were still some secrets that needed to
be revealed.

Becca, silent through everything, stared into her drink,

then looked up at Odette. Her eyes widened slightly. Odette
lips pursed, raised a shoulder. This wasn’t their conversation
or revelation. They were the supporting cast members in
what could be an emotional drama.

The silence was deafening.

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Enitan’s uncertain dark brown eyes sought hers. A rush

of emotion swept her, Odette wanted to hug her to tell her it
was going to be ok.

I love this woman. The voice was so clear, she thought

everyone heard it. Odette paused, finally acknowledging
what she had been trying to ignore all along. They would
work this out together. Leaning forward, Odette gave Enitan
a smile of encouragement and squeezed her arm.

Her friend’s eyes widened.

Enitan’s alarmed eyes stared at Odette’s hand on her arm.

Becca looked up, stared at them, and smiled.

“Oh my God.” Her aunt looked towards Odette. “No, it

can’t be.” Then she burst into laughter.

##

Enitan’s heart hammered in her chest. If she didn’t love

Tee, Odette or whatever her name was, she loved her then.
When she placed her hand on her arm, encouraging her,
comforting her, her heart had soared. She had expected a
reaction from her aunt, but her bursting into laughter hadn’t
been it.

Taking a deep breath, Enitan readied herself for the

onslaught. “Auntie, I have something to tell you.”

Enitan studied her aunt’s face to gauge what her reaction

would be when she came out with her secret.

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Would she be disappointed? Tell her to get out of her

house that she never wanted to see her again? It was one
thing to tolerate a lesbian friend, but having one in your own
family was different.

The grief of the impending loss gripped Enitan’s heart.

She didn’t know what she would do if her aunt started acting
strangely towards her because of her sexuality. Even though
she had spent a lot of time in the UK she was still a Nigerian
woman.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders.

“Aunty mi, Tee is the person you were referring to as the man
who made me smile a lot.”

A smile tugged at Tee’s lips when Enitan looked at her.

Shaking her head, her aunt looked at Tee, then focused

her gaze on Enitan, a sad expression on her face. “Enitan,
why didn’t you tell me? Why did you have to hide such an
important thing from me?” Her voice catching. “Did you
think I wouldn’t be accepting of you?”

Enitan stared at her aunt. “Auntie, I never knew how to

tell you. This is something that I’ve been battling with since
I was a child. Mum knew, I think she suspected, that was one
reason she pushed for me to get married.” Lowering her
voice, she looked towards the hallway, she didn’t want her
son to hear what they were talking about.

Her aunt put her hand over Enitan’s. “I’ve always known
where your sexuality laid. You surprised when you got
married.”

Enitan looked at her auntie askance. She knew?

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Why was Becca sitting in on this conversation? She kept

quiet. Now wasn’t the time to say somebody wasn’t family.
It was better for all of them if everything was out and in the
open.

Twisting the neck of the bottle, her aunt continued, “The

reason I left my husband-to-be was because I knew I could
not go through with what they expected of me.”

Enitan’s brow furrowed.

“I was highly stressed and depressed about the

relationship. He tried to understand why I was having cold
feet, about the impending marriage. Whenever he wanted
sex, I refused. He thought it was because I was saving myself
for our wedding night.”

The fridge groaned in the background.

“The clincher was the night he forced himself on me, I

did not want him to touch me. Even kissing was difficult. I
had an epiphany—this is what my future would be like.”

“All the arrangements had been done; the families had

sewn the aso-ebi. I came to the realisation, I couldn’t do it.”
Pausing for a beat, she took a sip of her drink. “I knew it
would be dishonest of me to do such a thing to another
person. I could never give them what they wanted. Being a
wife to a man.”

Heat went over Enitan and it pricked skin, she had done
exactly what her aunt was talking about. Taking a deep
breath, she poured brandy into her glass. Hold on, being a
wife to…

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Her auntie poured more brandy into her glass. “Thinking

I had no way out, depressed and suicidal, a friend introduced
me to Skyline. It gave me a glimmer of hope. Could I leave?
I poured my heart out on the application and it got fast
tracked. My confirmation arrived a week before the
wedding. I walked out and never went back. My whole
family disowned me, it’s one reason why my sister and I
hardly talk or see eye to eye. Because as far as everybody
was concerned, I brought shame to the family. I came to the
UK, I was free to be the person I needed and wanted to be.
Navigating the dating landscape in the UK was tricky, but I
could be who I was. Then I met Becca at a LGBT march. We
got talking and became friends, then lovers.”

Enitan stared at her aunt with a puzzled expression on her

face. What was her aunt saying? Becca.

Putting her hand over Becca’s, her aunt declared, “Becca

and I are not house-mates flat-mates. We are married.”

Enitan choked on her drink, the accusation in her eyes

when she stared at Tee. “You knew?”

Grimacing, Tee looked away.

Turning to her aunt, Enitan said, “You never told me.”

Covering her face with her hands, her aunt responded, “I

couldn’t tell you. I did not know how you would react
coming from Nigeria.” Looking up at Enitan. “You’re the
only family I have here and I did not want to lose you and
Jimi.”

Her aunt had given her son that name when he had been
born, and that’s the name she used when they were together.
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Her aunt was a lesbian? She could not get her head round it.
You’re just like her now took on a whole new meaning.

What was it with people and secrets?

But then a little voice echoed in her head, you kept your
secrets, you told no one you were a lesbian. You led
someone on and married that person because you weren’t
strong enough to leave.

Curious, Enitan turned to Becca. “Becca, how did your

family take it when you came out?”

“I have not been able to, they think Wemimo and I are
sharing a house.” She took a sip of her brandy and looked
away. “They will never accept us, it has been hard to live
with, but what can I do?”

Enitan got up from her seat and went to hug her aunt.
There were tears in their eyes as they held on tight to each
other.

Tee reached for the XO and gave everyone a top up.

Moving back to her stool, Enitan took a sip of her drink.

“How do you two know each other?” Moving her head to her
aunt, then Tee.

Her aunt stared at Tee and widened her eyes.

Please don’t tell me these two were lovers.

Looking towards Enitan, Tee shook her head.

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Picking up her glass Tee took a sip of her drink. “I met

your aunt on a case. I was a victim of a crime.”

Enitan’s eyes widening, covered her mouth. “Oh Tee, I’m

so sorry.”

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