Prince Ire couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face after reading Ara's message. He wasn't expecting that though. He knew Ara's mom was trying not to let him see her. He wasn't a baby who finds it difficult to understand something as simple as that. He told himself he would have to wait and he wasn't in a hurry this time around. Ara not coming back wasn't their agreement. He told her she would resume back to work the next day and here was the day almost coming to night. This was the same reason why he never trust people too much.

He had to drive down to their shop and he was glad he met her. Only for her to disappear again. This time, he knew she must have told her mom something for Intentionally taking such act. Prince Ire locked his phone and finally lifted his head up. Only to be face to face with Ara's mom. They looked at each other for a second before Prince Ire finally spoke up. "Good afternoon ma." He greeted with a bow even though beneath him, he feared being rejected. He was used to being accepted in the circle of people who knew his identity.

"Good afternoon sir," Ara's mom greeted with respect. He was a Prince from what her daughter told her. And without anyone telling her, she knew men of status either young or old need to be treated with respect in whatsoever condition. "Please have a seat and let them get you something cold from the freezer. What drink would you prefer?"

Without introducing himself, Prince Ire seemed to realize Ara had done that already because of how her mom approached him with lots of respect. But at first, Prince Ire thought with how hard and strictly those eyes were looking, he was going to be scared away, but he wasn't. Just looking at Ara's mother, apart from the shape Ara inherited, Ara doesn't take after her mom's fierce spirit at all. Instead, she was too cold, gentle and take things too easy. But matching Omoh's behavior with their mom, Prince Ire concluded Ara's younger sister took after their mom. Thinking of what he could say, he wasn't good with lie, but depending on who you lie to, Prince Ire replied. "Actually, Ara told me her mom does all these and have always wanted to learn how to bake ma. That's why I'm here."

Ara's mom just stared at Prince Ire in return with different thoughts running through her mind. She wasn't Aramade who would be easily fooled by that. That girl doesn't resemble her one bit. She just took after her Dad with that gullible brain. Ara's mom spoke up. "Please seat and let them get you something to take. I know you are here for Ara and I just sent her an errand. She will be back in few minutes."

"Oh!" This time, Prince Ire couldn't talk. He knew Ara's mom just lied. Mothers would always be the same with some characters. They know you are lying, and they will also do the same by lying to you in return just to get the truth out of you. That made Prince Ire remember when he liked playing football back in secondary school days. He would sneak out after he had been warned severally by his mom. One day, he came home only to lie to his mom he left some minutes ago, while his mom kept repeating she saw him at the gate when he left in the morning. She said it to the point that Prince Ire believed his mom was telling the truth, only for his mom to confess to him later that she used brain for him. Don't forget I'm a lawyer and I'm your mom.

Susan who couldn't stop looking at Prince Ire was wowed by his gentle looks and calmness. She couldn't stop thinking about Prince Ire grabbing her and just take her to bed. Just a look at his hot body, she concluded he would be damn good in bed. The egg she was trying to crack was successfully cracked but both the whitish liquid and the yoke went inside the water she was using to mix her flower.  "Ah!"

"Alubosa!" Ara's mom who had been watching her gave her a hot slap. It was the second time of her making those simple mistakes after wasting the first flower by adding too much water because she was watching Prince Ire. "They will not concentrate again!" Ara's mom shouted. "That's why they don't know anything. Their brain is full of men. You better ask me, because that stupid thing you want to die for is what I'm tired of today. Somebody will work like a clock, only for someone to come and grab me like a dieing hen! Don't finish me o!"

As much as everyone wanted to laugh, they couldn't because they will be doomed with words for the rest of the day. Where Prince Ire was, he couldn't help it. Ara's mom was quite funny with her words. He thought he would be bored but he wasn't. Omoh who finally got to Prince Ire with his drink and a plate of chocolate cake, ended up laughing, covering her mouth so her mom couldn't hear her. "If I'm caught, I will be doomed till I go to bed this night." This time Prince Ire noticed Omoh smiled at him. "So, it's my sister you've been coming here for. In case she has not told you about me, I'm Omolade. I'm her sister. Nice meeting you sir. And I'm sorry for---"

"Omolade!"

"Jesus Christ! Your mother in-law is calling me." She left immediately, thinking Prince Ire was Ara's boyfriend. As expected, their mom gave her some serious beating with her eyes.

Prince Ire couldn't help smiling. Omoh was quite friendly and if not because her mom called her, he knew she wanted to apologize for how she treated her those times. Prince Ire who knew nothing about baking wish he could assist them. He decided to think of someone he could call. Even though Prince Ire knew sometimes, he would flop up with food, he was still good at making small chops well. After the third ring, his call was picked. "Toby how far? You fi show?"

Toby had to laugh. It been long he listened to his friend speak pidgin. He felt like he was hearing him speak a strange language. "Wait, this one you are speaking pidgin..."

"I'm at oshodi right now. I need you to assist me where I am now. Don't come with your car please. May be take a cab. And you are just a worker or think of something." Prince Ire cut him off, switching to his refined English grammar.

Toby laughed again. "Guy, relax. You should know it been long I entered a cab last. But wait, wetin you dey do for that area Prince? And this one that your guy is pretending, what's the gist? Send me the address first. Will reach in thirty minutes."

"Thanks guy. Your next bill is on me."

Toby laughed. He knew Ire can be funny when he wanted something. He shook his head. "Ire this promise will have repercussion. I spend hundred thousand on one seat."

"Think about the future. Save Toby. You will soon get married and start having children. And when the next outing comes, you will have to sit on a half seat if I'm paying for the next bill. Lemme send the address." Prince Ire dropped the call without waiting for Toby to reply.

In forty five minutes, Toby arrived. They thought he was just another customer, but he knew what to do just like Prince Ire explained to him. He smiled at Ara's mom explaining the Prince called for him to assist them.  Toby didn't dress in one of his expensive shirts but putting on one of his old t-shirts and a new Jean he barely put on. He didn't come with his car and he tried not to look expensive at all. Even though Ara's mom didn't want to agree, he knew exactly how to win people's heart.

"Mommy, you should ask me if I even know about baking and all these at all." He tried to convince Ara's mom. "You are trying to make donut with that flower. The egg, the milk, sugar, butter, but where is the vanilla essence? She's trying to make mango juice without icecubes and that won't bring out the thickness. While she's trying to make meat pie but I can't see her sliced potatoes."

Ara's mom smiled. She was so happy. Very impressed by Toby and immediately accepted his help. "You really know what you are saying. Oya come come. We need hands here. Prince thank you." Ara's mom yelled, thanking Prince Ire who was jealous by how Ara's mom suddenly accepted Toby and vowed where he was that he would have to learn all that too. Toby threw a wink at Prince Ire. I'm good at that. I'm winning your mother's babe already. Without Prince Ire telling him, he saw the resemblance.

Toby made them laugh with all the paparazzi he did while working. He played a song from his phone twisting his waist to it. He told them it helped him work faster and truly he surprised them all. They all could finally concentrate by switching from Prince Ire to Toby. In ten minutes, he was done frying all the donuts. He helped Ara's mom with the crispy fried chicken she was trying to make again. She was impressed. "You will have to tell us where your shop is so I can tell my customers to also patronize you. Your work is really good."

Prince Ire winked at Toby from where he was. Immediately, Toby knew how to answer. "Yes ma," he replied shortly. He wasn't lying about that. If Ara's mom wanted to have the address to his shop, he would definitely give her the address to his mom's shop because he learnt everything from his mom. He learnt how to cook because his mom would always scare him with him ending up with a wife who can't cook with how the world is going today. And because of that, he upgraded from cooking to baking and doing small chops. He loved the baking most.

When it was around eight in the evening, Ara came back. She was surprised seeing Prince Ire still waiting and even seeing Toby with flower all over his apron. She had to first laugh. As she was about mentioning his name, Toby waved at her, shaking his head in the process. She got it and laughed really had this time. Ara's mom wondered why she was laughing, but Ara quickly talked before her mom could ask her why all because she wouldn't want to lie to her mom.

"Mom please, you can't be enjoying the fun alone."

Almost everyone laughed too because Toby was really entertaining them.

They were through with their work when Ara got back. Everything they made was collected by those who ordered for it and finally they were closed for the day.

Prince Ire phoned Toby who didn't leave empty handed. Ara's mom thanked him with money but Toby refused it. It was funny what Ara's mom was giving him but he couldn't laugh. He had to collect the chicken she gave him because she insisted on giving him something. He wouldn't reject that in the first place. He liked chicken. Even when Prince Ire begged him for one, he carried everything home.

After they closed their shop, Prince Ire offered to give them a ride home but Ara's mom refused and nothing could change her mind. She didn't want to bother him anymore after the help he already rendered. He didn't want him to feel uncomfortable like he had to do that for them. Ara's mom who wanted to see if Prince Ire would wait or take his leave realized he really wanted to talk to her daughter and he seemed like a serious man. He really helped them today and she was grateful to him. Ara's mom called Ara to corner after the shop was locked. "He seems like a good man," she said. "He really helped us today. You can see him but make sure you enter the house before ten. It's 8:00pm already. I will cover up for you."

Ara was so happy. She couldn't hide the smile. "Thank you Mom. You are the best."

Ara's mom stared at her. "So I'm right about your relationship with that man. You are dating him shey?"

Ara laughed. "Mommy."

"Aramade o... 10:00pm."

The two women laughed.

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And this is where we are stopping for today 😊 I hope you enjoyed it?
Till tomorrow. Thank you so much for reading 😘😘😘😘😘 all for you😄 I heart you ❤️