Tag: Friendship

The Dice #35

Dunni grapples with Moses’ absence while distancing herself from Tade, who seeks reconciliation after his dishonesty. As they reconnect over shared experiences, Dunni contemplates moving forward while navigating her emotional turmoil and safety.

Days blurred into weeks. Then they turned into months. The absence of Moses lingered in Dunni’s life like the slow, painful removal of a bandage from a raw wound. Every word, every moment, was a reminder of him. Moses seemed to be everywhere—his name would pop up in casual updates from Ola. At first, Dunni had taken his calls, but soon she stopped, and Moses, catching on, gradually disappeared until there was nothing left of their connection.

She threw herself into work, continuing her volunteering with young artists, and added volunteering at a women’s shelter she had recently found. Anything to fill the void he had left behind. One would have expected her to make up with Tade, but still, she couldn’t bring herself to answer any of his calls or see him, no matter how many messages he left. Even when she saw Toni at the art club, Dunni ensured she was always occupied with another parent when he showed up. One would think Tade would get the message, but the more she avoided him, the more persistent he became, his calls multiplying as if he could wear her down by sheer insistence.

Dunni tried to rationalize his actions, to understand why he’d hidden his family’s wealth from her. But no explanation eased the sting of betrayal. She had always despised being blindsided, which had shaken her to the core this time. How could she trust Tade again after this?

She reluctantly agreed to dinner with a fellow volunteer from the women’s shelter tonight. She was exhausted, her mind clouded with too much to do, but she had run out of polite excuses to cancel. While waiting for Joy, she distracted herself by scrolling through her phone, aimlessly flipping through old pictures. Then she saw a photo of her, Moses, and Ola taken in their first year together. The three looked so young, confident, and certain they could conquer the world. Her heart clenched painfully at the sight of Moses’ face. What would her life have been like if things had been different?

She dropped her phone on the table, frustrated with herself. Why was she torturing herself like this? For every step she took to push Moses out of her mind, she seemed to take ten steps backwards, dragged back into the aching void he had left behind. She had lost her best friend.

Looking around the restaurant, she saw strangers laughing and smiling, their faces bright with joy. But how many of them, she wondered, were carrying their own silent burdens, masking their pain with laughter and busy schedules?

She sighed, lost in her thoughts, when she suddenly felt a presence beside her. She looked up, and Tade was standing in front of her.

“Can I sit?” he asked.

“I’m expecting someone,” Dunni replied, her tone clipped.

“No worries. I’ll leave as soon as she comes,” Tade said, ignoring the cold edge in her voice.

It was on her lips to ask how he knew her dinner companion was a woman, but she held back. The sooner he left, the better.

“Tade, I don’t want to do this here,” she said, her voice weary.

“I’ve tried so hard to see you, and you’ve made it impossible. I didn’t realize it could be harder to meet you than the governor of Lagos.” He chuckled at his own joke, but Dunni wasn’t amused.

“I can’t be bought,” she said, her tone flat.

“I know,” Tade replied, his voice soft, filled with remorse. “I’m so sorry. Tell me what I can do to make it right.”

“You can’t just walk back into my life, apologize, and expect everything to be fine,” she snapped. “It’s not fine. I almost lost myself in this relationship, only to find out you lied to me.”

“Tade, it’s over. I can’t go back to what I thought we had.”

Tade nodded, his expression one of deep regret. “I understand. I should have told you the moment you said yes. I wanted to, but things kept happening, and then time passed, and I was scared. I could tell you afterwards if we married quickly, but that was wrong. I should never have taken that choice from you—it was yours to make.”

He paused, looking at her with a vulnerability she hadn’t seen before. “All my life, I’ve been judged by my family’s wealth, and I wanted to be known for what I’ve achieved, not for what my mother’s money could buy. I loved that you wanted me for me, not for my status. When I realized you didn’t know who I was, I wanted it to stay that way. Every day, I fell deeper in love with you.”

His sincerity and the raw emotion in his eyes chipped away at the walls Dunni had built around her heart. But she wasn’t ready to let him in. Not yet.

“I don’t know if I can return to what we had,” she whispered.

“Please, just think about it,” Tade pleaded gently. “I’m willing to wait.”

Dunni glanced at her watch, wondering out loud what was keeping Joy.

Tade hesitated, then with a sheepish grin, he confessed, “About that… I kind of arm-twisted Joy into setting this up. She’s my cousin’s best friend.”

Dunni couldn’t help but laugh at his boyish grin. “So, if Mohammed won’t go to the mountain, the mountain comes to Mohammed?”

“Exactly,” Tade said, his grin widening. “So, can I join you for dinner?”

“Do you need to ask, considering you’ve already invited yourself?” Dunni teased, a small smile playing on her lips.

Dinner was surprisingly pleasant. Tade opened up about his family, his upbringing, and how he’d built his hospital after returning from the U.S. He shared stories about his first marriage, the grief of losing his wife, and how he had struggled with widowhood. Despite his wealth and the seemingly perfect life he portrayed, Dunni realized that Tade had faced his own challenges, and things weren’t as glamorous as they appeared from the outside.

They fell into a routine, meeting for dinner once a week and catching up on life. While Tade was still trying to win her back, Dunni had moved on emotionally. She wasn’t interested in rekindling their romance—friendship was all she had to offer now.

During one of their dinners, Dunni ran into Dr. Larry B., the doctor who had delivered her as a baby.

“Good evening, sir,” Dunni said, curtsying like any well-mannered Yoruba girl.

“Ah, Adedunni Adesida! How are you? And how’s your mother? And your siblings?” Dr. Larry B. asked warmly.

“They’re all fine, sir. I thought you were in America?”

“I am, but I’m here for my annual free medical service initiative. How nice to see you!”

Dunni realized she hadn’t introduced Tade as he was about to leave. “Oh, Dr. Larry, meet my friend, Tade Braithwaite.”

Dr. Larry’s interest was immediately piqued. “Braithwaite, from Lagos?”

“Yes,” Tade replied, sensing the curiosity in the doctor’s tone. “My late father was Olanrewaju Braithwaite, and my mother is Molade Thomas. Do you know them?”

Dr. Larry’s face paled as if he’d just seen a ghost.

“Are you alright, sir?” Dunni asked, concerned.

“I… I have to go,” Dr. Larry stammered, his voice shaking. “My guests are waiting.”

And with that, he hurried off, leaving them both in stunned silence.

“I thought that was weird,” Dunni commented, her brow furrowing. “Do you think he knows your parents?”

Tade shrugged, his eyes scanning the bustling restaurant around them. “A lot of people know my family. I hope he isn’t one of those with an axe to grind. The business world can be ruthless, not for the faint-hearted. I didn’t know much about my father, but my mother and grandfather. They were cut from the same cloth—strictly business, no room for sentiments.”

Dunni leaned back in her chair, the candlelight flickering between them. “I’m in the business world too, remember? And it’s not as bleak as you’re making it. Sure, it’s tough, but there is always a way.”

Tade raised an eyebrow. “It depends on what that way is. Try bidding for and executing government contracts. Now, that’s a whole different beast—lucrative, yes, but it’s not just about your expertise. It’s all about connections. Friends and family turn on each other all the time. Betrayal is a currency. Sometimes, people don’t just lose money—they lose their lives. The pressure breaks them, heart attacks, strokes. It’s not uncommon.”

“Our experience at Architex Designs seems to be different.”

“You architects must have it easy. From what you’ve told me, your contracts seem to come purely from recommendations. You don’t have to wade through the murky waters.”

Dunni smirked. “Moses got our first government contract through a recommendation, yes. From a job we did for a bank. Ola and Moses used to handle the contract chasing, but now it’s all on Ola. I keep offering to help, but he always refuses.”

Tade shook his head, his tone serious. “Let him handle that side of things. You might be shocked at what really goes on behind closed doors.”

“If that was supposed to scare me, it hasn’t,” Dunni said, eyes gleaming with challenge. “If anything, you’ve just lit a fire under me. I’m going to ask Ola again.”

Tade groaned, rubbing his temples. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I can see the wheels turning in your head already. I’ve just set you on your next contract mission, haven’t I?”

Dunni bit her lip to keep a straight face, but her mischievous grin broke through.

“I’m not buying that innocent look, Dunni. I know you too well now.”

She laughed, her shoulders shaking. “You’re catching on fast. But seriously, I’ll be in Abuja next week for a conference. Maybe I’ll try my hand at some lobbying while I’m there.”

Tade’s expression shifted, concern clouding his features. “Drop the details of your conference location for security reasons. When do you leave? I’ll get a bracelet sent over, nothing flashy, but something to track your location without drawing attention.”

Dunni tilted her head. “Tade, I’m going to Abuja, not a war zone. Yeah, there’ve been some bomb blasts, but the government has it under control.”

Tade’s eyes narrowed. “What news do you listen to, baby girl? If your government has it as ‘under control’ as you say, we must live in different countries. Wear the bracelet. It’ll help me sleep better at night, knowing I can track your coordinates if anything happens. Phones can be taken or smashed, but no one notices cheap jewellery.”

Her mind flashed back to a memory—Moses had once given her a necklace with a small heart pendant embedded with a chip for emergencies. He was always cautious, especially after the abduction of foreign workers from a construction site in Northern Cameroon a couple of years back. He’d insisted she wear it whenever she travelled, citing incidents of kidnappings by MEND militants in the southern part of the country.

“I actually have something similar,” Dunni said, tapping her chin. “Moses gave me a necklace with a tracker. He was paranoid back then, too, after that kidnapping of the oil workers. It hasn’t left my drawer in years, but I think I’ll take it on this trip.”

Tade nodded approvingly. “Good. Take the necklace, and I’ll send the bracelet as a backup. Wear both.”

Dunni chuckled and raised her hand in a mock salute. “Yes, sir. Anything else, Commander?”

Tade smiled, but his eyes held a seriousness that lingered as they finished their dinner.

The Dice #34

Dunni tossed and turned all night, sleep eluding her. Tade’s betrayal gnawed at her—he had hidden his family’s wealth, a truth he had kept from her. His calls had been relentless, but she couldn’t answer. And today, Moses was leaving, the thought of it tearing her apart. He had been away six long months out of the country, but this felt different. It felt final. Their strained relationship only deepened the ache in her chest, and she couldn’t understand why it had come to this. Moses had been a constant in her life for so long that she couldn’t imagine a world without him.

As the first light of dawn crept into her room, she was almost grateful. She scrambled out of bed, moving slowly as she readied herself for work. Today was packed with meetings, and she was determined to wrap them up by 3 p.m. so she could rush to the airport to see Moses off. The plan was to meet Ola and Moses at the airport after sharing a farewell dinner at Cactus Restaurant the night before. She had gone through the motions of that evening, trying to maintain a facade of normalcy, pretending that everything was as it should be.

But the day slipped away from her faster than she anticipated. After her last meeting in Lekki, she raced to her car, eager to beat the traffic and get to Murtala Mohammed International Airport. But as she hit the Third Mainland Bridge, the standstill traffic stopped her. A tanker accident had blocked the road, and despite no casualties, the wait for it to be cleared felt like an eternity. Desperation clawed at her as she realized she wouldn’t reach the airport in time. She texted Ola, heart heavy with disappointment, and reluctantly turned her car around.

But halfway through her retreat, something inside her snapped. She spun the car around again, determined to get to that airport no matter how long it took. If she missed Moses, it wouldn’t be because she didn’t try; it would be because fate had decided it wasn’t meant to be. But at least she would know she had given it everything.

At the airport, Ola stayed by Moses’s side while waiting for check-in. Moses kept glancing at the entrance, his eyes betraying the anticipation he couldn’t hide.

“Dunni’s been stuck in traffic for four hours,” Ola informed him, his voice heavy with the weight of the situation. “She had to turn back.”

Moses’s shoulders slumped, disappointment etched on his face.

“You need to let her go,” Ola said gently but firmly.

“I know,” Moses replied, his voice low, staring into the distance. He could fix anything—anything but this. His heart clenched at the mere mention of Dunni’s name, a pain he knew would only dull with time. Until then, he would wear his grief like a heavy cloak, carrying it with him as he moved forward.

He hugged Ola tightly before walking to the boarding gate, not daring to look back. He would have seen Dunni walking through the revolving door if he had.

She arrived just as Ola was leaving. “You made it,” he said, a touch of surprise in his voice.

“Yeah,” she replied, her tone hollow. “But what good did it do? He’s already gone through the gates.”

“Yes,” Ola confirmed, watching her carefully, trying to gauge her emotions. She simply shrugged, her voice empty. “I made it, though.”

Ola handed her the small pair of dice Moses had left for her. “He asked me to give you this,” he said softly.

And that was when Dunni’s composure shattered. The tears came, a torrent of grief she had been holding back for too long.

“I’ll walk you to the car park,” Ola offered, knowing no words could ease the pain between these two friends who were so clearly meant to be together yet were now worlds apart.

The Dice #33

Dunni slipped back into her four-inch heels, discarding the comfortable ballerina flats she’d worn for her lunch break. As she sank deep into her chair, the urge to scream clawed at her throat. Tade’s deception gnawed at her, a raw wound she couldn’t ignore. Why did he feel the need to hide his family’s wealth? Was it some kind of twisted test? The thought that she was on the verge of calling off their engagement was no longer just a fleeting notion; it was a real possibility. Trust was sacred to her, a non-negotiable foundation, and he had shattered it. Maybe he’d hidden his wealth because he was tired of being pursued by women only interested in his money, but that was no excuse. Not for her.

She paced across her office, momentarily forgetting that the walls were glass. The world outside could see her turmoil, but she didn’t care. The tension inside her was boiling over.

Grace walked in, breaking Dunni’s spiralling thoughts. “I just sent your presentation for the Abuja trip,” she said.

Dunni halted in her tracks, trying to shift her focus back to work. “Thanks, Grace. I’ll go through it.”

But as Grace left, Dunni found herself standing there, unable to shake the frustration gnawing at her. When had her life become so complicated that even her work, once her sanctuary, was now under threat? She had always prided herself on keeping her personal life separate from her work, but here she was, embroiled in a lover’s spat in the middle of a Monday afternoon. She rolled her eyes at herself, feeling the weight of her tangled emotions pressing down on her.

“Are you good?” Moses strolled in, his voice casual, but his eyes searched her face with concern. He was just as he’d always been, her steady rock, but something between them had shifted. The friendship they once shared felt distant now, almost foreign.

“It’s…” Dunni began, but the words stuck in her throat. She and Moses were no longer in that space where she could pour her heart out to him. “Never mind. It’s just something silly, but I’ll be fine.”

Moses nodded, but his eyes didn’t leave her. “I came to get you for the strategic meeting. You’re 15 minutes late.”

“Oh dear.” Dunni’s heart sank further. No wonder Moses was concerned—she was never late. Ever. It just didn’t happen. She wanted to crawl somewhere and cry. Nothing was the same anymore. She couldn’t share her frustrations with Moses, couldn’t let him tease her until she felt better, couldn’t let him reassure her that she was just overthinking things.

“I’ll be right behind you,” she said, grabbing her laptop. She hurried to the meeting room, pausing just outside the door to take a deep breath, pull her shoulders back, and force a calm she didn’t feel.

“You’re just in time for the Kakawa Housing update,” Ola said as she entered.

Dunni forced a smile and began her presentation. The project was on track, despite a few setbacks, and the team was working hard to meet the deadline. Her words were crisp, professional, but her mind was far from the task at hand. She threw a grateful glance at her assistant for ensuring the presentation ran smoothly, even as her own thoughts were in chaos. Dunni prided herself on her work ethic. Being a partner in the firm wasn’t a license to slack off; it was a call to excel. But today, everything felt off balance.

As the meeting wrapped up, Ola cleared his throat. “We have an announcement to make. One of us is leaving Architex.”

The room fell silent. The staff exchanged confused glances. With an attrition rate of zero over the last year, the news hit hard.

“Moses, one of our senior partners, is leaving us,” Ola continued. “Tomorrow will be his last day in the office, though he’ll work remotely to close out his projects and hand over responsibilities within the next month.”

The shock rippled through the room, a collective gasp followed by Dupe, the receptionist, bursting into tears. But Dunni felt paralysed. Moses… leaving? She turned to look at him, but he avoided her gaze, staring at anything but her. The revelation slammed into her like a freight train. She had thought about leaving, sure, but she had never imagined Moses would be the one to go first. The thought twisted her insides, leaving her breathless.

“Moses is relocating to the US for a new role,” Ola added, his voice a distant echo in Dunni’s ears.

A pain settled in her stomach, sharp and unrelenting. It wasn’t just a colleague leaving; it was like losing a part of herself. She remembered the first day they all met, their National Youth Service year, the shared dreams that led to the birth of Architex, the late nights and hours of unending work that brough Architex to the outstanding company that it was.  It has always been the three of them. But Moses had been her anchor, her closest friend, the one constant in a life full of change. How could she imagine a life without him? Every memory she had of the company, of her growth, was intertwined with Moses. He was the common thread in the tapestry of her life.

The staff began to share their memories of Moses, each one more emotional than the last. Dunni barely heard them, her thoughts a blur. When Ola had made the announcement, Moses had finally looked at her, and the raw pain in his eyes mirrored her own. But then he quickly looked away, and she could feel the distance between them grow even wider. Moses loved Dunni with a depth he knew he could never feel for anyone else. He was certain that no one would ever come close to stirring his heart the way she did. He would carry the regret of not seizing the moment 16 years ago—or even just two years ago—when he had the chance to tell her. Instead, he let her slip away, hidden in the fog of their friendship

Finally, it was Dunni’s turn to speak. She stood, her hands trembling as she faced the room, but her eyes sought out Moses. “We all will miss Moses,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “I wish you only the best.”

The words were simple, but they carried the weight of everything she couldn’t say. Moses and Ola knew she wasn’t taking it well. But Dunni would never admit just how much she would miss Moses. In another world, in another life, she might have told him the truth, but here, all she could do was put on a brave face and hide the storm raging inside her.

As she listened to others recount stories of Moses’ kindness—the cinema tickets that saved a marriage, the lunches he bought for his team, the quiet acts of generosity she had never known about—Dunni felt her heart break a little more. How could she live without him? Moses was her confidant, her true friend, the one person who understood her better than anyone else. The last two weeks had been difficult, but this… this was unbearable. She was drowning in a pain she had never known.

When the meeting ended, the staff left the room slowly, leaving Dunni, Moses, and Ola behind. Ola quickly explained that he had only found out that afternoon and then excused himself. Ola knew what Dunni needed without her saying a word. knowing they needed this time. They had been in each other’s lives for so long.

Moses and Dunni stood there, the silence between them thick with all the words they couldn’t say. Ola watched them, puzzled that Dunni couldn’t see it—that Moses was her lifeline, the air she unknowingly depended on. Their connection was so seamless that everyone else just assumed they were together. Yet, life had its own way of twisting their paths, leaving Dunni too stubborn, or perhaps too scared, to admit that her feelings for Moses went beyond mere friendship. Some bonds, no matter how deep, were simply not destined to be anything more.

She had so much she wanted to say, but instead, the words tumbled out almost carelessly, “When did you know you were leaving?”

“Does it matter?” he replied, his voice steady, his gaze fixed on her, hands buried deep in his pockets as if to anchor himself.

“Were you planning this when you visited my place two weeks ago?” she asked, her voice quivering with the weight of everything left unsaid. She didn’t want to revisit the painful memories, the way their once unbreakable friendship had vanished like smoke in the wind.

“No,” he said, his tone flat, almost distant. “I had the offer months ago but turned it down. I only reconsidered yesterday when Solutions Experts contacted Ola, questioning if our company was in trouble because one of our partners was seeking work with them.” His words were matter of fact, but they hit her like a blow.

Dunni felt a pang of guilt and looked down. “I was upset,” she admitted quietly. “It had become difficult to work together, and I thought it would be easier for everyone if I found somewhere else.”

“You don’t have to anymore,” he replied, his voice softer but tinged with finality. “I won’t be around to bother you. I have to go—I have a lot to do before my flight leaves tomorrow night.”

Dunni’s heart raced with everything she wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t come. She wanted to plead with him to stay, to promise she’d end her engagement if that’s what it took—anything to make him change his mind. She wanted to cry, to run into his arms and find comfort in the safety of his embrace. But she did none of those things.

Moses gazed at Dunni, his eyes lingering as if trying to capture every detail, every expression, to carry with him for the rest of his life. The thought of never seeing her again tore at him, a pain he could barely contain. But the moment shattered as Dunni whispered, “I have to go,” her voice trembling. She turned and quickly walked out, desperate to escape before her emotions betrayed her.

The Dice #31

Returning to work, Dunni felt she was stepping onto a battlefield, and her power dressing was the armour she needed. She chose a white three-quarter sleeve, flowery Hawes and Curtis shirt, perfectly tucked into a black pencil skirt that hugged her curves. Her eye makeup was flawless, with kohl-lined eyes that made her gaze sharp and commanding. A final touch of plum lip gloss, and she was ready. Satisfied with her reflection, she knew she needed her confidence at its peak to face, Moses, after what had happened two weeks ago.

She didn’t know what to expect but had already decided to inform them she would be leaving at the end of the month. It was the best decision for everyone. She doubted they could ever work together as smoothly as before, and she wasn’t sure their relationship could return to the easy banter and seamless collaboration they had once enjoyed. “I can do this,” she told the woman, staring back at her in the mirror. Nothing was holding her back now, not Moses, not even Tade.

Slipping into her four-inch black Louboutin heels—though she wished they were six-inch so she could tower over everyone—she grabbed her phone, checked her messages, and headed out, driving into the usual Lekki-VI traffic. Tade had sent a reminder about meeting her for lunch, which brought a small smile to her face. He had never visited her office before, always picking her up and having her car sent home. But today, she was glad he would be there. Introducing him to Moses and Ola seemed like a good idea, a subtle way of showing Moses that she was serious about her relationship with Tade.

Parking in her reserved spot, Dunni gathered her Michael Kors bag, laptop bag, and a thermos flask of tea, juggling them all as she locked her car and walked up the stairs to the reception. Sarah, the receptionist, greeted her with a broad smile, gushing with congratulations on her engagement. Dunni noticed a slight shift in Sarah’s demeanor, almost like she was dealing with a celebrity. She brushed it off, thinking it was just her paranoia after being away from the office. Even the security guard was more attentive than usual, making her wonder if her absence had caused this.

Her heels echoed in the hallway as the elevator doors opened on the first floor. She walked to her office, setting down her bags and debating whether to change into flats, but decided to keep the heels on for the extra height she felt she needed today. Instead of turning on the air conditioning, she opted to open the windows, craving the freshness of natural air.

She called Gladys, the junior architect assigned to her, who appeared in her office almost before she had finished dialling.

“Welcome back, ma!” Gladys greeted her, again showering her with congratulations.
Dunni looked at her, puzzled. “Was my engagement circulated in the weekly update on the intranet? Why does everyone know I got engaged?”
Gladys looked equally puzzled. “It wasn’t on the intranet, ma’am.”
“Then why does everyone know about it?”
Gladys hesitated before answering, “The blog.” A triumphant smile spread across her face as she said it.
“Oh, that,” Dunni replied dismissively. “Don’t believe everything you see there.” But the look on Gladys’s face made Dunni pause. “You don’t know, do you?” Gladys asked, her voice laced with disbelief as the reality of the situation dawned on her.
“Know what?” Dunni waved her hand dismissively. “Let’s focus on work and ignore those bloggers who make a living off lies. If Tade is a billionaire, then I’m a zillionaire,” she joked, laughing as she turned to her laptop and began the day’s work.

Meanwhile, down the hall, Ola shared the blog link his wife had sent him with Moses. Moses was unprepared for the wave of pain that hit him when he saw the picture of Dunni in her fiancé’s arms. Something about it felt wrong, tearing at him in a way he hadn’t expected.

“Mystery woman revealed. Lagos billionaire bachelor Tade Braithwaite, son of Molade Thomas, is set to tie the knot for a second time after the devastating loss of his wife,” the blog read.

Moses handed the phone back to Ola, trying to mask his emotions. “You can’t believe everything these blogs say. They peddle lies for clicks. At least now we have a name for the mystery guy. Dunni’s been keeping this from us—makes you wonder if she had something to hide.” He tried to smile, but it was forced. “I guess we’ve been too hard on her in the past. She’s always complained that we scare off her suitors before they even get a chance, and now, the one she keeps secret proposes.”
Moses smiled ruefully. “Man, I’m seriously considering that offer in America. I don’t think I can keep working like this. Seeing her daily will constantly remind me of what I’ve lost.”

Ola looked at his friend, understanding the depth of his pain. As much as he wanted Moses to stay, he knew the daily grind of seeing Dunni would tear him apart. “You have my blessing,” Ola said softly.
“Some companies have already reached out, asking if we were in trouble,” Ola admitted. “Why?” Moses asked, concern lining his voice.

“Dunni’s been applying elsewhere,” Ola said, the reality sinking in.
“That’s not good for us,” Moses agreed. “Let me call to accept the US offer and start the paperwork. I’ll try to arrange for an immediate start if possible. That way, Dunni does not have to leave.”

The Dice#27

Moses stared at Dunni pretending he was hearing what she was saying. Nodding at each interjection while his mind was far away. Last night was the most miserable for him and Dunni coming today was the final thrust onto his bruised heart.

Completely lost in thoughts, he was brought back to the present when he felt Dunni tapping him or the electrifying sensation from her touch.  ” You were not listening”, she reprimanded. He tried a small smile with the lame excuse of his body telling him to call it a day. He had thought she was here to let him know she had changed her mind and was ready for a relationship with him but she was still stuck in the best friend status bla bla that he was not prepared to hear.

Moses smiled at  Dunni’s cute pout that always disarmed him. “You can stay and let yourself out. I have to go upstairs.”  He could see the drop on her shoulders but was impressed with the front she put up, a brave smile and forced excitement. “Sure, I will let myself out. You go and have the much-needed rest.”

Dunni watched him go sadly and wondered if this was the beginning of the end of their friendship. She shuddered and willed that it was not real, and she would just wake up and find that she was in a dream and all the thoughts about the death of the beautiful friendship they had shared were simply what it was, just a dream.

The sound of a text coming through her phone was enough to convince her this was happening and not a dream. She could tell it was from Tade from the ringtone. She sighed she’d told him she was dealing with an emergency and would not be available this weekend. She liked that he was so understanding and did not pressure her into the details, which she was not ready to give at this stage.  What good will come out of sharing the details when the problem persists.

Dunni let herself out, realising that this problem might eventually destroy her relationship with Moses. All previous optimism was lost.  And with that realisation, she became angry with Moses for not understanding and for letting himself get carried away with feelings and complicating their relationship.  By the time she got home, she was no better than before she left, and this made her sadder. She was angry that she could not be there for her friend at a time he needed her the most like he had always been for her.

She played about with the thought of breaking her engagement with Tade.  Her engagement to Tade barely 48 hours ago was the best thing that had happened to her, she was still processing it and now Moses springs this on her. He was unfair and thoughtless to have pulled this stunt. How could he have done this to her just when Tade asked her to marry him? She knew she was not being rational but her thoughts were all over the place and nothing was making sense the way she wanted it to.

Tade was okay. He was easy on the eyes, a perfect gentleman who loved her. Maybe Moses and she would have had a chance, but she could not hurt Tade for something that could fail. If Moses and her were to happen they had 16 years to have done so. She had always compared most guys that came to her to Moses, he was the pedestal to which all men in her world had to live up to, even if she did not know it at the time, and they had always fallen short but with Tade, this was different. Moses was out of the country and there was no need to bounce things off him, to have carried him through the process of her relationship and not blindside him. Still, she was also the one who had guarded the relationship away from Ola and Moses, in the days he was known as, “Mr Flowers”. Her relationship with Tade was something real and she was not going to trade it for a whim, being away from her this long had clouded Moses’s judgment. If he was with her, he never would have pulled the stunt of proposing to her. Yes, she applauded herself for discovering the root of the problem, being away from her made Moses lose his senses. She would have reset it should he have been around like she had always done.

Dunni let herself into her house, exhausted. Her mind was a cacophony of what ifs, what shoulds, and should nots. She tumbled up the stairs crashing into her bed, curling into a ball and wept her heart out.

                                                 ***                     ***

Dunni’s eyes fluttered open, and she immediately felt puzzled, realizing she was still wearing yesterday’s clothes. Her head throbbed as memories from the previous day came flooding back. Staggering into the bathroom, she could barely recognise the face with the bloodshot eyes, smudged mascara, and dishevelled hair staring back at her through the bathroom mirror, hardly recognising. “What do you really want?” She questioned the face staring back in the mirror trying to come to terms with the harsh reality of her life but was only rewarded with silence.

The thought of calling in sick and staying home from work crossed her mind. But she knew that if she did, her partners, Moses, and Ola, would come to her like Navy SEALs on a mission, worried about her well-being. Despite struggling to get ready for work, she decided she would go in late after calling her mother. Her mind was in turmoil, and no solution seemed to bring her peace.

On her way to work, Dunni made an impromptu decision to take a detour, leading her on a four-hour drive to her mother’s house in Ibadan.

She poured out her heart, seeking guidance. Her mother’s advice was straightforward and wise. Marriage was about love, respect, and a shared future. When the initial romance and butterflies faded away, the friendship between the couple would sustain the marriage. Dunni had to make the decision, as she would be the one living with her chosen partner.

Her mother shared her perspective on both Tade and Moses. While she didn’t know much about Tade, she emphasised that Moses had loved Dunni for a long time, and she had witnessed his dedication and affection. Dunni was surprised to learn that Moses had been visiting her mother regularly, even before he left for China and had asked her mum permission to ask Dunni to marry him when he returned from the trip.

Her mother cautioned Dunni against sacrificing herself for the sake of Tade’s daughter, as love for the child alone wouldn’t be enough to sustain the marriage. She reminded Dunni that she wasn’t marrying the child, but rather Tade, and if her feelings for someone else surpassed those for her chosen partner, she might regret her decision.

Dunni listened carefully to her mother’s words, her mind churning with thoughts and emotions. It was a difficult choice to make, and she knew that whatever decision she reached would shape her life and future happiness and some people would be hurt in the process. The road ahead was uncertain, but she understood that she needed to be honest with herself and choose a path that aligned with her heart and aspirations. Discovering that Moses had already resolved to propose before his departure for China left her in a state of emotional turmoil. Her initial belief that his prolonged absence was clouding his judgment faded away like a puff into the thin air.

The Dice #26a

Experiencing love and being loved in return is nothing short of a miracle.

“What about Becca?” Dunni asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.

“What about Becca?” Moses responded, more confused than ever.

“I thought you were into her. I thought she was the one you were proposing to,” Dunni replied, attempting a small laugh as she wiped away the tears streaming down her face. Moses sighed with relief, finally feeling like he was getting through to her.

However, his relief was short-lived when Dunni asked brokenly, “Why now?”

“It’s not now; it has been forever,” Moses said, taking her hands in his, never breaking eye contact. He felt at a loss, unsure of how to convince her. “I have been telling you all my life, but you never took me seriously. Our story should be written into a book and made into a film. I bet it could win the Oscars.”

“Because you were not,” she screamed, hitting his chest with her small fists, crying uncontrollably.

Moses gazed at her with increasing worry. Dunni was becoming more distressed by the moment.

“Tade proposed last night, and I said yes,” she said, lifting her left hand to show him the sparkling solitaire diamond engagement ring adorning her index finger. However, she realised that the ring was not there. She left it on her dressing table. “The ring is upstairs,” she said lamely, not accustomed to wearing it.

Moses felt a pain in his heart unlike anything he had ever experienced. His heart momentarily stopped as he struggled to breathe. “The guy you met about six months ago?” Moses asked, disbelief evident in his voice. “Please tell me this is a joke,” he pleaded.

Dunni shook her head, tears falling involuntarily.

“Is that what you want?” he croaked, tears welling up in his eyes, his voice breaking with emotion as he swallowed hard. How had they reached this point? Was the universe playing tricks on him? Dunni was his world from the moment she entered his life. It had always been her and no one else. He had tried two other relationships, but they couldn’t compare to Dunni. And now, what? He ran his hands over his head and across his face. This couldn’t be happening. He needed to do something. He stared at her, unaware that the tears on her face mirrored his own.

Pulling her into a fierce embrace, he felt her offer little resistance. “If Tade will make you happy…” he began but couldn’t bring himself to finish his sentence. He wasn’t ready to let her go. How could he ever survive without her? She was his breath, his oxygen, and this was not just a cliché or words from a romance book. This was his reality. He had no life outside of her. The house he built had her input because he had always envisioned their future together. He had insisted on bringing her on as a partner in their firm to ensure she wouldn’t be lured away by another company.

Dunni is an exceptionally gifted architect, and while her hard work had earned her a leadership position in the firm they had built together, it was her beauty, personality, drive and sense of humor that had captured and won his heart. It had always been Dunni, his entire life. His heart felt torn apart. The thought of her marrying someone else was unbearable. There had to be something he could do. He had to convince her to give them a chance. She couldn’t simply jump into a relationship with a guy she had only recently met and discard someone she had known almost her entire life. There must be something in her heart for him.

Moses stepped back, lifting her chin with his fingers, looking deeply into her eyes, silently willing her to give their love a chance. He was devastated when she looked away. That was the answer he needed. If she couldn’t meet his gaze, she wasn’t ready to fight for them. He kissed her forehead, defeated, stood up and let himself out. His heart hurt so badly, and he struggled to breathe.

The Dice#23

“Why is such a beautiful, accomplished woman like yourself still single?Don’t tell me all the eligible guys in Lagos are blind.” Tade teased.
Dunni had always detested people who referred to her looks. She often argued that people rarely refereed to a guy’s looks in discussions but more to their accomplishments. She was vocal in pointing that out to whoever cared to listen. Tonight, this was not the case, she strangely latched onto his every word and turned mushy all inside.

The last couple of months had been all that she could dream of. Tade was attentive and kind, and they found time amidst their busy schedules to be together. It was customary to wake up on weekends and drive to his place, where they met without Toni. He rarely talked about himself, and that was one aspect that bothered her a lot. She would talk her head off about her family. Still, when she asked about his family, he grunted intelligible words or found a way to talk about something else. She knew he had a twin sister who was married and lived in the states.


“I could say the same, why a handsome, incredibly wealthy medical doctor, despite being a widower, has not to be snapped up by the Abuja sharks and Lagos cougars.”
She loved the sound of his laughter, deep like the waves of the ocean, a low sound building up to a crescendo and filling the space between them.


“You make me sound like a slice of meat on the market.”
“Unfortunately, I think that’s the truth. Take a slow turn to your left, my right. There is this woman about your age sitting with a guy in a white kaftan whose been stealing looks at you since we came in. I feel so sorry for her companion.”


Tade snapped for a waiter and discreetly looked in the direction Dunni had pointed.
“That’s Made Brown, the chairman of the board of directors at Lekki Consultant Hospital.”
Your hospital? She asked, eyebrow raised in question. “She looks young.”
“Being born into a pool of trust funds from your great-grandparents has perks.” Tade laughed, but it was a little bit tight this time, “please excuse me. I need to say hi.”


Dunni sipped on her glass of wine while she looked around. The Oceanview was one of the highbrow restaurants on Victoria Island, and a meal here could probably buy her house. How does someone in the medical profession afford such a lifestyle? She should be asking those questions, but she’d never broached the subject for some reason. Maybe because she also had money that she worked for and was not handed down to her, so why should someone else’s source of wealth be scrutinised by her. She rationalised, and Tade’s could have been handed down to him.


She had to know. It’s not like she was a social climber or gold digger; after all, she could afford a reasonable lifestyle on her own. It is not like Tade moved in this circle. However, his clients appear to waltz in and out of the corridors of power, the creme de la cream of Lagos and Abuja society, old money, new money, and the political and ruling elite.


Who is Tade Braithwaite? She shrugged. With time she’ll get to know all she needs to know. You never approached your client without digging into who they were. The voice in her head chastised her.
It sounded too intrusive doing that to someone close. Where is trust? She argued. In business, you want to know all the possibilities that could come up. You were prepared not to be blindsided. Matters of the heart were vastly different from the cold calculation of money and service-changing hands.

Dunni had no idea. Tade had been sitting before her for a couple of minutes until he snapped a finger in her face.
“Where’ve you been. Dunni managed a small laugh.
“Nowhere. No idea I had zoned out. How is Made?”
“She should be okay as long as she keeps out of my affairs.”
Dunni could see the rigid set of his jaw. He looked displeased but tried to hide it. She wanted to know more about this Made that seemed to upset him and his background.


The food came, and they delved into the sumptuous meal of mashed yam with spicy fish sauce and grilled lamb chops. All her questions were pushed to the back seat of her priorities.
“This is exquisite. I did not know what to expect. Dunni closed her eyes, savouring the mashed yam’s softness and the spicy sauce’s sweetness.
Tade inhaled sharply, and he wanted to kiss those lips. No human should look this sexy over a simple meal.
Dunni opened her eyes like a daffodil in the morning sun. “What, she asked, mouth opened, oblivious to what she was doing to Tade?”
Tade let out a soft growl. Did she have any idea what she was doing to him?
“Nothing. I am not sure how long I can keep away from you.”
“Are you travelling somewhere?”
“No. I am not thinking of it, but would you mind a weekend trip to Idara Resort in Calabar?”
“Too tempting, but I have got so much work this weekend.”
“You work so hard. Do your partners ever consider a lighter load for a woman?”
“Is work about gender or capability?” Dunni asked, mustering all the self-control she could. One thing she could not stand was a reference to her gender when it came to working. Working with Ola and Moses must have blinded her to the sexism out there.


“I am sorry, Dunni. I did not mean it that way, and I was looking for more time to spend with you.” He took her hands over the table, looking into the depths of her liquid brown eyes.
“You do so much to me, and I never thought I could feel this way again.”
Dunni smiled. It felt good to be desired, but she wanted more. She wanted him to fall head over heels in love with her. She wanted him to ask her to marry him. Dunni knew she said she’d go with the flow, but she wanted to become Mrs Braithwaite.
“I love you, Dunni.”
Before she could respond, Tade was on one knee, just like how he was the day she fell in the superstore a few months ago.
He had this beautiful ring with a diamond solitaire in a blue ring box. She knew it was a diamond with many colours reflecting in the light.


Was this man telepathic? How could he know the two questions in her heart just now? She loved Tade and had questions that needed answers but could wait.
Dunni hated Tade’s Tarzan and the damsel in distress moves but also liked how he looked out for her and how she’d become the centre of his universe along with his daughter. Here was a man who had suffered so much loss and was still willing to put out his heart, and it only made her melt for him.


“Yes, yes, I will marry you.” She imagined Moses’s disapproving look and dismissed it immediately.
Tade slipped the ring into her left middle finger. He cupped her perfectly sculptured round face in his hands. “I promise always to make you happy.” Dunni could not be happier as she gazed into his eyes and lips, wondering if there would be any magic if he decided to kiss her. Dunni had never been kissed, and Benji’s sloppy kisses in university days indeed cannot be counted. She still gagged from the horror of swapping saliva.


“Promise me you won’t hurt us – Toni and me.”


“I promise,” Dunni assured solemnly like she was taking a vow. She was not someone who took promises lightly, and she knew she would stand by her words through rain or sunshine.


Tonight was her night. She could read the question and hesitance in his eyes. She moved closer to him, bidding him kiss her, oblivious to all the others in the restaurant. They were just in their world. The fire sparks and tingles on her feet were none like she had imagined. The kiss was slow yet demanding, simultaneously sensual and chaste but with promise. They probably would not have stopped without the flash of a camera.


“What was that?” Dunni asked, more shaken from the emotions she felt than from the surge of flashes from the camera.
Tade swore, “let’s get out of here.”
Dunni did not fail to see the death glare Tade directed at Made on their way out.
How could such a beautiful moment be abruptly broken?
She knew enough body language that all was not well, and her 15 minutes of romance was just a commercial interlude on reality highway.


Dunni loved the feel of Tade’s hand around hers as he marched out of the restaurant like a man on a deadly mission. They were intercepted by the restaurant manager rushing out to apologise. At the same time, two huge 6 feet 3 inches men led the cameramen out of the premises.
“We will credit your account with us as compensation for the unfortunate disturbance,” the distressed man offered.

Who is Tade? Too many questions were racing through her head and now did not seem the appropriate time to ask. He was like a totally different person after the flashes of the camera. Suddenly there was this air of someone accustomed to wealth and influence around him. Had this always been there, or was Dunni only noticing it.

The Dice#17

“Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.” Robert H. Schuller

Two months went by, and Dunni did not hear from Tade much to her disappointment. He had sent flowers and a thank you card to her office the following Monday after lunch at his place.
Dunni dug into her bag frantically searching for her phone that was ringing somewhere from the depth of her bag. In frustration, she emptied the contents of her bag on the table just as the ringing phone stopped ringing.
There you are she spoke to her phone and grimaced at her lack of social interaction that she was now talking to her phone. She needed to do better, start going out and meeting people rather than spending her weekends behind her drawing board and back to the office again. Moses was still away in China, and Tade had totally ghosted her.
The call had not ended, it was the battery to her phone that died—another rummaging on the table in search of her charger. Dunni was organised in everything but the contents of her bag. Receipts from months before used and new tissues with ideas and drawings barely readable were part of the items on the table. A cosmetic bag with items enough to fit a suitcase yet never used was all part of the contents spread on her table.
She had attempted housekeeping many times, but it only took a couple of days, and all the discarded items were back. Her designer bags were to die for on the outside, but the inside was a no go area.
Ola walked in, with his eyebrow twitched to the side in question.
“Looking for something?”
“Don’t go there.” She warned him with the scariest of looks that she could muster.
Ola guffawed. “Here, you can have mine.”
“Are you stalking me now?” She took the charger from him gratefully, swirling her seat around to plug the charger into the socket behind her.
“Thank you, that’s what I missed while you were away.”
“Moses was trying to reach you. He was the one on the phone.”
“Now it makes sense you walking in with a charger.”
The guys knew her like they knew themselves, and that was one of the joys of working together. They had a synergy that worked and could even tell what the other was thinking.
This had worked for several deals and negotiation they had to make. So, when Dunni had to handle the company in Ola and Moses absence, she was filled with pride at the fantastic job, despite her lack of faith in her abilities.
“How is Mr Flowers doing?”
“Fishing for the information you won’t get?” Dunni replied, masking the pain of rejection that haunted her. She has been regularly checking her phone from any message from Tade but none. It was not like they planned any after her visit, but she just assumed texts and calls will follow just as it had been before their lunch date. Not that it was a date anyway.
She wondered if she was so out of the dating game that she missed the signs. It was all there, or so she thought that Tade was into her, but she must have been wrong.
Its hurts. Dunni wondered if she was desperate? If there was just a parent-teacher relationship. Why had he sent the flowers to her office?
Thankfully he’d been smart to sign the card with his initials, TB and that she was grateful.
Rubbing her temple with her fingers in a cyclical motion, which she did whenever her migraine started.
“I am eager to unmask the mystery guy. You know he has to pay respect to us and gain our approval before…”
Dunni did not let him finish when she replied too sharply than she intended.
“So you can scare him away like you all did to the guys on campus.”
“We did not scare anyone away. I guess the guys coming did not have good intentions and did not want to get into trouble for nothing.”
“My point, they did not have to think of you guys to come to me,” Dunni argued.
“You never complained before why now?” Ola asked bewildered at Dunni’s outburst.
“I am doing some soul searching. I think guys stayed away because they were afraid of you guys while it was cool on campus. It’s not cool anymore.”
“Hey! You don’t need to get worked up. We did nothing to scare anyone then and obviously we are not doing any of that now. But since when did you start bothering. I got the impression you were happy with your life the way it was.”
Toni kept mum. She had shared too much.
“Does this have to do with the mystery, Mr Flowers?”
“That’s not open for discussion.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, boss.” Dunni did that whenever she wanted to get rid of Moses or Ola or get them off her case. They both hated that term. They were all partners, and no one was a boss.

The Dice#13

“Women fall in love in a man’s presence. Men tend to realise they are in love in a woman’s absence.” Unknown.
Todays’ write up if for Omoyemi. Thanks for your comment. That was enough to ginger the next post.

Moses called Dunni’s mobile phone for the umpteenth time. He was exasperated that he could not reach her as her phone was switched off for the last two hours. A boarding call was made for his flight, he picked his bags, checking his surrounding that he had not left anything and joined the other passengers as they made their way to the final check-in.

Moses journey was not scheduled until a fortnight away. However, bidding for the project had come earlier. He saw the email that afternoon about their apologies to reschedule to an earlier date as the project time had moved. It was a good thing for the overall project from a business perspective, even though he had to drop everything and hop on the next flight.

This is one contract they desperately wanted. Architex Designs was not the only one bidding, there were architecture firms from London, US, and Dubai. They knew they could do this and would get the contract. This was one shot they were willing to take.

He could have waited until the next day. However, they were not ready to take any chances. Beijing was about seventeen hours away by direct flight. Unfortunately, there was no direct flight available, and he had to settle with connecting flights at two stops. The bid, according to the email, was in five days’ time. Ola who could not up, and leave would join him in a couple of days.

They had decided when planning the bid earlier in the year that Ola and Moses will handle the Beijing project.

Dunni had another project, she was handling up north of the country which was clashing with the dates for the bid. Hence, they agreed that while Moses and Ola will handle the Beijing project, Dunni could face the Kakawa housing project in Kaduna located along the Kaduna – Zaria road.

The project was a 3-4 housing units for a Stone milling factory that opened up about four years ago. They had employees moving from all over the country and where having problems with accommodation.

The company opted to build houses and rent to their employees through a subsidised scheme. This they found was cheaper compared to the annual housing bonus they paid.

Dunni was excited to get started with this project, it was a block of twelve flats each, and they had twenty of these blocks to design.

It was a hectic time for their firm, and everyone was pulling their weight.

*******

Placing her pillow over her head to block the bright daylight that streamed through her half-closed Venetian blind. Dunni reached out for her alarm to stop the shrilling noise that filled the room shattering every dream of any extra minutes of sleep she desperately needed. She groaned as she hesitantly dragged her sleep-deprived self from the comfort of her bed and trudged to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Staring at a pimple on the left corner of her cheek, she took out her face mask and rubbed it on her face. She grimaced at the additional minutes she needed to add to her morning ritual today. If she failed to attack the pimple today, she would be paying dearly by tomorrow.

She went downstairs to get a glass of warm water to drink and settled for a quick fifteen minutes yoga routine. That was all she could spare this morning or else she will not be able to beat the early morning traffic.

Forty-five minutes later, she dashed into her car, throwing her lunch and handbag to the passenger seat. Turning on the radio, she drove off towards Victoria Island, joining the already building traffic on the Lekki – Epe express road.

“Morning, she greeted the security guard cheerfully as she drove through the gates and stopped to have a brief chat with Dupe the receptionist.

“That’s such a lovely hairdo you have,” Dunni complimented her beautiful weave and was rewarded with a broad smile from Dupe.

“Thank you,” said Dupe. “You should try braiding yours one of these days. Come to think of it, she said with a crease across her forehead, “I don’t think I have seen braids on you before.”

“A look of terror flashed through Dunni’s face.

“Is it that bad,” Dupe asked with a chuckle.

“You have no idea. I can’t stand the tension on my head. You guys that can are lucky. I tried many times but failed. The farthest I got was spending 6 hours to braid and loosening it all the next day. The pain was just unbearable.

Moses and Ola would attest to it. Imagining engaging two clueless men to lose braids. Nah! Braids are not for me.”

This was news to Dupe, she recently joined the firm and loved the relationship among the partners. She found it hard to believe they were just friends. Nonetheless, there was nothing to show if they had been romantically involved.

“Was this recently?” she asked, curious as she tried to wrap her head around the other two bosses struggling with a woman’s hair. The thought was too hilarious that she could not help but release the pent-up laughter.

I know! Smiled Dunni, that was many years ago during our undergraduate days.

“Wow!

And you are still together,” Dupe gushed who had a secret crush for Moses, even though he never had as much as treated her in any way but professional. However, this did not stop her from daydreaming of a possible romance brewing with one of the Bosses. The picture of Moses loosening braids was not only hilarious, but it was also getting her all mushy.

“Any idea if Moses or Ola is in yet? I did not see any of their cars in the parking lot.”

“Ola arrived a few minutes ago, but Moses is yet to come in this morning.”

“Thanks. I have run along.  I have a couple of skype meetings this morning.  Please hold off all my calls till 11:00am.

She popped her head through Ola’s office on the way to hers. He was in a meeting on the phone, so she waved and gestured ‘talk to you later’.

Dunni set up her laptop for her skype meeting and presentation to Emesem, a housing development firm in Calabar. She had met with them last month and scheduled a skype meeting with their MD who was away in Italy but did not want to delay the start of the project. The outcome of the skype meeting would determine the next course of action and when she had to fly down to meet the Engineering and Project Management team.

Although she found the skype meeting strange at first, she was able to adapt quickly. This was not without some hitches.  An instance was when, for a weird reason, the image coming from the other end was upside down on her screen. It was halfway through the meeting she blurted out her problem. Only to discover, it was just a button she needed to click, rotate and it was fine.

Apparently, Emesem is a tech-savvy company, so using technology to work for them in 2013 was a no brainer. Dunni was still getting used to using the computer for her drawings and scaling. She preferred her drawings by hand. Although the tech world was not a comfort zone, she was ready to stretch herself to get this contract.

Dunni was all done with her meetings when Ola walked into Dunni’s office just as she concluded the skype meeting.

“All good?” he inquired.

“Perfect! I just sealed the Emesem deal,” squealed Dunni with the delight of a child.

“Fantastic! Great job, Dunni. Let me know where we can pitch in if you need help,” Ola offered with a smile of genuine pleasure lightening up his face and showing off his 5 o’ clock shadow.

“I have got this one. The MD loved all, but one of the designs sent and wanted two or more adjustments, and they are good. I will be flying to Calabar in ten days’ time,” Dunni replied, smiling with self- satisfaction.

“Where’s Moses, I have not seen him this morning?” she asked, changing the subject.

“I think he tried to reach you on the phone. He is on his way to Beijing.”

“Beijing! Dunni asked a look of surprise filling her round face. “Have I lost track of time? I thought Beijing was scheduled for three weeks or so away.”

“Two actually. Moses received an email yesterday scheduling an earlier date with apologies that the project was ahead of their schedule, which is a good thing business-wise. I don’t know how many projects happen that way. Still, the little experience we have, we know how projects are usually delayed. He got the first available flight last night. I would be going tomorrow.”

“Hmm, it would be nice if our competitors are not able to respond as quickly as we did.”

Dunni was excited at the prospect of clinching that contract but not sure why she felt so despondent at the thought that she missed Moses call before he left.

Swivelling her chair around to take her handbag from the side table by her right. She dug frantically into her handbag for her phone. Not successful in locating the phone, she started bringing out items from her handbag, a transparent cosmetic bag, pens, small notebook, sticky notes, face wipes, a novel, a bottle of water and a black poker dot neck staff.

Ola watched bemused. “Why don’t you just go for a suitcase? With the number of stuffs, you women carry in your handbags, it’s a wonder you don’t suffer from back and neck pain.”

Dunni ignored his comment. This was not the first of such discussions, and it won’t be the last. “There you are! Oh no, it is switched off.” She laughed, showing the screen to Ola.

“I wonder why you have a mobile phone when you cannot be reached at all times.”

 “You want to join Moses on that bandwagon?” she gave him the stinky eye. Moses always complained that with a mobile phone, you were always meant to be reached. “I will improve, it’s not something I do deliberately but maybe my subconscious rebels against this thing. No respite from the world.”

She switched in her phone, and several messages started popping in.

“You see! She said triumphantly how a sane person can keep up with all these distractions.”

“Welcome to the new world. You may be the only one living in the 16th century,”

“Whatever, she rolled her eyes.”

Dunni eagerly searched for Moses message on her phone. A smile spreading across her lovely face.

“Moses should be here to see this smile on your face.  If I did not know better. I will think you have fallen for him.

“In both your dreams,” She replied, typing out a message.

“Really Dunni. What is so repulsive about Moses?”

“You guys have become family. It just does not happen.”

 “It does not happen, or you won’t happen?”

She looked at him suspiciously. “What are you up to Ola, Did Moses put you up to this?”

“Nothing,” he raised his hands in mock surrender. “Just thinking it will be nice to keep you in the family and not lose you to someone crazy dude out there.”

“There are no crazy guys out there. Enough talk about the little or no romance in my life. Maybe, just maybe there I would have time to meet the right guy with you and Moses off my back.”

“Are you saying we are responsible for chasing guys away? I am hurt.”

“No, I am saying you guys keep me working so hard that I have no social life.” She giggled, knowing that was not true.

“That’s is something to work on when we get back. I will get Moses on it.”

“Grr, what did you say you wanted.  And when do you leave?” Dunni changed the subject from her to business. She never liked it when the guys zeroed in on her case.

She was a little petrified to be left to handle the company alone. It was not something she had done. She had always had the guys with her. They all made the decisions but sought each other’s input.

As if reading her thoughts, Ola said ‘you’ll be fine while we are gone and ramp up our profit margin.

“Will you be good for the period we are away?” He asked, looking out for her welfare.

“Would you have asked Moses this question, if he was the one seating here?”

“Dunni don’t bring up the sexist card, please.  I am only looking out for you on the honour of our friendship.

“I will be fine,” she said, putting on her big girl hat even when she felt far from it.

“No worries. I have this covered. All should be fine with the rest of the team we can handle any of the projects that can’t wait while you are both gone.”

She checked her phone to see if Moses had received her message, but it was still showing undelivered.

“What time does Moses flight arrive in Beijing?” Dunni asked scrolling through her phone hoping by some magic she’ll receive a message from Moses. He’d barely left for twenty four hours, and her world had become so small and empty. She sighed, taking her eyes from the phone to Ola.

“I don’t have the details, although I think it’s a fifteen hour flight. Moses is on a connecting flight which may take longer.”

“I will be on the lookout for his messages and keep my phone close by,” she said with a laugh at her lame joke.

Ola stood up to leave with a knowing smile on his face.

“What’s that smile about?”

“What smile, he asked innocently. He was not about to let Dunni know what she was yet to realise herself.

 “You have this mischievous look in your face,”

 “I think I just had an ‘eureka’ moment?”

“What’s that – a design?”

“Nope – but nothing to worry about.”

Dunni shrugged and went back to her work as he left her office. She had to energy to siphon any information Ola was not willing to give.  It was always a failed mission. She could hand tie Moses and blackmail him into telling her. It was a different ball game with Ola.

“See you later and we’ll keep our meetings via skype,” he said, closing the door after him.

Ola thought to himself. Dunni was in love with Moses, and she did not even know it. He may be wrong, but time will tell.