Dear Jesus,

"Well, I guess break's over. Let's head back inside before your Mom thinks we've been kidnapped," I said, trying to lighten up the mood.

"Who was that?" John asked.

"My bestie, Kathlyn Taylor. You met her during the love feast, remember?"

"Oh! I do." Then I thought I heard him mumble, "She's the pretty one." Maybe I was imagining that. So I forced myself not to ask him what he said. It was a much greater struggle not to think too deeply about it. I mean, it could have just been my imagination, right?

Five minutes later, I was trying to clean the center chandelier. John, who I discovered has a phobia for heights, was helping me to steady the stool I climbed on. Thank God Mommy Sarah had given me jeans to wear. If not, the dusty chandelier would have stayed in its dusty glory.

The small bell above the entry door jingled, signifying that someone had entered. We weren't supposed to have any customers today cos we weren't officially opened.

"We are sorry but we aren't open yet," I heard Mommy Sarah say. My back was to the door so I couldn't see who she was talking to.

"We came for Radiance, ma'am."

I lost my balance and toppled over out of shock because that was the voice of my human bestie, Kathy.

Mid fall, I braced myself and prepared for impact upon hitting the floor.

John caught me by my waist.
I don't think I could have gotten more red.
I'll forever be thankful to you Jesus for melanin.

He is light complexioned so a small tint of pink flushed his face.

I regained my center of gravity. Clumsily though.
I mumbled incoherent apologies all the while avoiding his eyes. 

By the time I got over my shock and turned around, I found three pair of entertained and ready-to-burst-into-hysteric-laughter eyes staring back at me.

Not only Kathy, but also Gen and Pris were there. That explained why they came so fast. Gen must have brought them in her convertible.

"Don't. You. Dare. Laugh." I mouthed to them.

Three of them came over and hugged me.
Thank you Jesus for my friends.

We all sat on a round table. Mrs Sarah brought us chilled malt drinks. We thanked her. I made sure to introduce her as John's mother.

"We got so worried when we saw the News," Genevie explained.

"What News again o?" I asked, confused.

"This," Gen said and showed me her iPhone news.

NEMESIS CATCH UP WITH GENERAL OVERSEER OF REDEEMER'S LOVE CHURCH AS HOUSE BURNS DOWN.

Oh bother! This is why I detest news or anything remotely related to it.

"As you should know, that news is not totally true. Our house didn't burn down completely. Only a part was scorched. That's all."

"And why didn't you call us? My house is only a few blocks down your street," Kathy asked in a hurt tone.

"I didn't want to bother you guys yet again."

"Oh! And yet you swiftly called that hunk over there to come to your rescue," Gen said, dreamy-eyed as she stared at John who was arranging drinks in the bar section.

"My, my. Radiance, he's so off your league. Is he your boyfriend?"

I chocked on the malt I was sipping.

Kathy laughed. Out loud. Successfully drawing attention.

Boyfriend? Hunk? I looked in his direction.
Well, she's kinda correct about the hunk part if I want to admit, but I'd rather not give her the wrong impression as per the boyfriend part.

"Easy," Pris said as she helped to pat my back to reduce my sporadic coughs.

"He's only a friend. And I didn't call him. It was what I'd call divine arrangement."

"Whatever." She dismissed with a flip of her palm. She sat up and steepled her fingers on the table.

"Anyway, about the news circulating the media. I think it's high time we resolve it once and for all. And guess what? My Dad flew in from LA yesterday. He's a shareholder in Twilight News. We could use his influence," she continued.

"I don't know."

"Yeah you do. And we're going to his office right now." She stood up and grabbed my hand, gesturing for me to get up. I sighed and obliged.

I took permission from Mommy Sarah. Being her usual cheerful self, she agreed, insisting I get back home early enough.
John seemed somehow uncomfortable about the whole idea but I didn't have the chance to talk to him.

"Call John if anything goes wrong," Mommy Sarah called after our retreating figures from the door of the restaurant.

"And you claim he isn't your boyfriend," Gen teased me. She was smirking and poking my abdomen playfully.

Thankfully, she wasn't at hearing shot from the restaurant.

I groaned dramatically while they all giggled together, taking pleasure in seeing my discomfort.

What do I do with her? Her popular traits hasn't left her totally. And her teasing was becoming a Pita (Pain in the ass).

She drove her sleek convertible down the busy Mangrone Straight Highway.

Priscilla was dropped off at a store cos she said her mom had told her to get something on her way home. Since it wasn't far from her house, she urged us to go on without her.

Genevie drove into the heart of Mangrone Strait town. The buildings became more well defined. Sky scrapers, in their tall glory, dotted the bright sky.

Kathy kept gaping and ranting excitedly about this building and that structure. We were both seated at the back of the vehicle.

"Keep it down girl. You're going to talk our ears off," I said to Kathy as she started to point out yet another building to me as it slowly whisked past the car.

"I just can't help myself. Have I told you guys that I'm choosing Architecture as my major in college?"

"That's a nice course," Genevie commented, her hands gripping the steering wheel and her face focused on the road.

"I always knew you're going into the artistic direction. Where precisely are you applying to," I asked though Kathy had some time ago told me that she wants to go to Harold College.

"Well, my parents can't afford Harold College. It's way too expensive because it is a private uni. So, I've decided to go to McChynne College."

"No way!" My lips broke into a wide smile.

"Yes way," she replied with a smile on her face.

We held hands and squealed together.

Genevie was viewing our drama from the rear mirror. I caught her rolling her eyes.

"Besties for life selfie," I said as I took several selfies with Kathy.

"I'm so happy, right now I feel I could burst,"

"Hey!" Genevie slammed the brakes and honked the horn so suddenly. We all lurched forward. This time around, I felt like I would really burst.

"What happened?" I asked. I strained forward on my seat. All I saw was a car's bumper a few inches from the front of Genevie's convertible

"Sorry girls. I wasn't looking at the traffic light. Didn't know that it turned red."

"Keep your eyes on the road girl. Don't get us killed."

Genevie snorted. "Look who's talking. You haven't the slightest idea of what driving is about," she mumbled under her breath.

"You said?" Kathy looked in a way that convened mock challenge.

"Nothing!" Genevie shot back, giggling.

Genevie's convertible drove into the underground parking lot of Breloft Corporation.

The skyscraper was a really lofty edifice. I suspected that its peak soared the heights where clouds floated unrestricted.

She, being the daughter of the founder and largest shareholder of the group of companies had a special parking spot.

We entered into the building and it took all the restraint I could muster to stop my head from rotating three sixty degrees in awe filled assessment of the interior of this building.

We entered the elevator and got to the fifteenth floor where her Dad's office was located.

There was a nice, drop dead gorgeous brunette at the lobby.

"Oh! Hi Genevie! Good to see you around. I rarely see you these days," she addressed Genevie animatedly.

"Hello Neville! I'm sorry I haven't really come visiting. I just completed my SCE a few days ago. And since my Dad wasn't around, I had no reason to come here," Genevie replied.

Miss Neville looked us over, then raised her eyebrows at Genevie as if to ask who are these not-in-your-class-dudes who are staring as if they got accidentally teleported to Mars?

"Neville meet my friends, Radiance Abraham and Kathlyn Taylor. Ray, Kathy, meet my Dad's personal secretary, Miss Neville Stanhope."

"It's nice meeting you, ma'am," Kathy and I said, almost simultaneously.

I shot her the warmest smile I could muster. I saw her facial features morph into recognition.

"You," she said gesturing at me, "You are the daughter of Rev. Kennedy Abraham of Redeemer's Love Ministries,  aren't you?"

I gulped and my saliva literarily dried up. Uh-oh! Here comes a party pooper. I was found out. She probably heard the news too. What must be going on in her mind?

"Um... Yeah she is, so what?" Genevie's stand was in my defence.

"Nothing," she said curtly. Her face held sympathy, like she understood. She gave me a smile, somewhat sad and gave me a handshake. "It's nice meeting you, dear."

I almost exhaled at that.

"Is my Dad still in?" Genevie asked.

"Yeah sure."

"Well then, let's go see him."

"He's currently in a board meeting. It will take about ten more minutes for him to be through. Can you girls wait?"

"We'll wait in his office."
Genevie took us to his office. It was high class standard. Absolutely professional and stunk of money. Had a dark grey and dark purple theme.

"Wow!" I exclaimed as I took in the scene.

We sat and talked.
Genevie is going to a prestigious college in New York, her father made sure of that. Apparently, he wants his heiress to acquire the best sort of education that the world can offer.

"I'm going to miss you guys so much. That's why we must spend quality time together," she said.
I told them I'll be working as a waitress at Sarafoods for the rest of the break.

According to the agreement, Saturdays and Sundays are my free days. The remaining days of the week for me will be packed with loads of work from 8:00am to 6:00pm. They agreed to come over as often as they can.

Mr Bryne came in few minutes later and hugged his daughter.

He was a lanky and proud business man in his late fifties. I could spot a few strands of his well oiled curly hair greying. He wore a designer navy blue suit, branded golden wristwatch and a wire rimmed glasses.

We greeted him and Genevie went ahead to hit the nail on his head. He gave me a chance to speak for myself.

After some moment's contemplation, he picked his mobile and contacted the Manager of Twilight News, ordering him to make immediate corrections to the scandalous news that had spread like wild fire.

I thanked you in my spirit for making this possible.

Genevie drove us back home, firstly dropping Kathy off at Shalom-Eloh estate.

Since her house was just a few blocks from mine, I caught a glimpse of our house. It looked deserted and empty even from the outside.

The damage wasn't too obvious but I knew the insides would be in shambles. I was hoping I'd still meet Dad there but I didn't.

When I got to the Walker's villa at around 5:00pm, I met them all in the living room.

"I'm sorry for staying so long. The traffic was high," I apologized when I sensed that they were on the verge of worrying about me.

I helped Mommy Sarah and Mom in the preparing of dinner.
After a quick dinner, we sat together to talk and pray.

Mom had fetched some clothes for me when they went to the house on her way back from her school.
I blushed in embarrassment when she openly commented on what a cluttered mess my wardrobe was. Just great!

"Hey guys! Are you seeing and hearing what I am?" James voice rang loud in excitement as he pointed at the TV screen.

Each pair was involved in conversation, Julia and Sarah about cooking and redecorating, Dad and Mr Walker about the contacts and cost of repairers, John and I about the encounter with the demonic serpents in the park. Only James was watching the eight o' clock news.

His call grabbed our attention and our gaze fell on the LG tv  screen.

A yelp of delight escaped my throat at what I saw.
An eloquent female newscaster was droning on about the situation on ground.

"... And the news agency wants to assure the affected party that such error will not occur anymore in our future publications and broadcasts. A written apology and renumeration for damages will be given to the Redeemers Love Ministries' Superintendent. We offer our sincere apologies.
Next up, the board of directors, Greenville real estate, have voted..."

Jubilations and happy jumps lifted from the small audience in that cozy living room.

In my state of excited euphoria, I made a stupid error.

I jumped and hugged John. It was impulse and he was the closest to me.

When I realized my slip, I disengaged completely embarrassed for making a fool of myself for yet the second time today. My face heated up and I made a mental face palm.

Thankfully, everyone else were still too happily engaged in their jubilations to notice.
John was... well I don't know what his expression was like cos I didn't look up. Shocked I guess.

To save myself, I said I wanted to go to the toilet. I looked in the mirror and sighed.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I went to bed, to couch with a huge blanket draped over my body recalling my adventure of today and whispered heartfelt praises to you for everything.

***********
Is that smile still on your face?☺️
Say cheese! 📸
Perfect shot! 👌

Finally, the whole scandal is resolved. All because she has the right connection.

Say Father connect me!

Hallelujah! The thirtieth chapter of this book is here! Right now, I'm like 🥳🤯🤭💃💃💃🤸🤸🤸
It's all glory to Jesus.✨

Make me extra happy by voting, commenting and sharing this story en masse.
Let me look at my notifications💌 and shed actually tears of joy!😭
I know you guys won't disappoint me. You people are wonderful!😘

I love y'all but Jesus loves you most. 💖💖💖