Ebere rubbed her sweaty palms against her red gown,she was really nervous sitting opposite her one time crush. The red gown hugged all get curves and had a v-neck that exposed a little cleavage. She never knew she had such clothes in her wardrobe until Gift came over,the little rat didn't even allow her to finish,she had picked a dress,shoe and a matching purse.

"You look beautiful I must confess" Jidenna complimented. He was wearing a simple tuxedo and he really looked dashing, not like there was ever a time he didn't look dashing. He had the looks and body of a model.

"Thank you" Ebere replied and averted her gaze from him as she took a quick swipe over the fancy  restaurant he had brought her too. Time didn't allow her know the name but the interior was totally fascinating,fancy light bulbs,the array of meals and snacks displayed via the showcase was tempting. The cool breeze coming from the air conditioner and the soft music,Ebere liked it,somehow they managed to keep everything simple but yet classy. They weren't so much people in the restaurant,so Ebere felt a little bit at ease.

"You are nervous" Jidenna said,it wasn't a question. He stared right in her eyeballs daring her to counter him.

"And why would you say that?"

"You've been running your hands over your dress,eat up darling,your food would soon get cold"Jidenna said with a little smile.

" I am not your darling"

He only laughed at her childish reply and took a spoonful of his rice.

"So how is life treating you? Got a boyfriend?" Jidenna asked.

" No,you? Don't you dare lie"Ebere had the threatening look on her face.

" You remind me of her"

"Who?"

"Tamara"

There was a brief silence, Ebere sipping slowly from her glass while her eyes were still fixed on him and on his part he stopped eating. Ebere recognized the soft music playing at the background,No stress by Wizkid.

"My jam" Jidenna muttered.

"You don't look like one who listens to Nigerian songs anymore"

" So am supposed to be carrying a placard on my head indicating I listen to them?"

" Haha,very funny"Ebere rebuffed him.

" You are still sassy as ever. Tamara,you remind me of her."

"Where is she now?" Ebere found herself asking.

" She died last year"

There was a brief silence that was only interrupted by the waiter when he came to serve dessert.

"I'm sorry"

"It's fine"

"You should wear more these clothes you know,red looks hot on you and damn,you really have a killer body"

" You don't know what you are talking about"Ebere chuckled.

" I'm serious"He replied. Ebere looked into his eyes and saw the seriousness in them but then she looked away,it was unsettling.

Another of Wizkids song started playing again.

"Still crushing on Wizkid?" He asked and Ebere smiled,the grin really wide.

" I've gotten over it"

Jidenna cocked his eyebrows dramatically and Ebere laughed. Yes,there was once a time she was crushing hard on the singer,it didn't help matters that the singer was cute and she still liked him but the craziness had reduced.

"You still speak to Tobe?" Ebere asked,her brother and Jidenna were inseparable once.

" Yeah , sometimes,you know work and responsibilities but we still talk when we can"

" How long are you staying?"Ebere asked

Jidenna chuckled" Do you really want to see me leave so fast princess?"

" Not that,just asking, stop reading meaning into stuffs"

" Well it's you and everything you say matters to me. I don't know how long I'll stay though"

" Oh"Was Ebere simple reply

" Already missing me darling?" He teased.

" You wish and I am not your darling"

Her emphasizes on the last word made him laugh.

Ebere digged into the desert of yogurt,it was really cold and nice,she was engrossed for a minute and then paused when she realized that Jidenna was yet to touch his but was rather looking at her intently.

"What!?" Ebere asked, wondering if she was rushing the dessert or she had it at the corner of her lips,damn that would be embarrassing.

"I'm content with watching you"

Ebere scoffed

" I would really advise you to take your stuff, Mr content"She continued with her yogurt ignoring his chuckles.

"I'm serious though, you should wear red often, it makes my blood boil"Jidenna said all of a sudden in a low suggestive tone.

" Pervert"Ebere muttered and they both laughed.

***
"What is this am hearing and seeing about you and a lady?"Muhammad's father yelled angrily.

" What lady father?"Muhammad asked rather calmy.

" Don't try to play stupid young man, what is this?"The older man asked as he threw copies of pictures on the table. The two men were in the study room,it was Mr Sani Bello's favourite place in the house,he was always studying and reading.

Muhammad picked up the pictures and his eyeballs nearly left his sockets,the first was a picture of him and Ebere at the ice cream joint,another was the day they sneaked out of an event and then the most recent one,the one he was staring deeply at her,it looked romantic but with the problem at hand,he knew it was a catastrophe.

"Answer me young man! Or have you lost your tongue?"Mr Sani banged loudly on the table with his fists.

"She's my friend" Muhammad finally replied. It was then he thought fully about it, Ebere was just a friend but he knew he felt more than that.

"A friend that you go out with always?" The man asked.

"Have you been following me father?"Muhammad asked.

" You are a fool"

There was silence for a while.

" A bigger fool than I thought,you think you are from an average home? You are my blood and wherever you go, people have their eyes on you, I had to pay off the journalist to avoid getting these out, what were you thinking?An Igbo woman?Are you mad?"

So he knows

Muhammad's head hung low not in shame but in deep thoughts. Was he excepting his father to approve of him and Ebere?They were just friends and he was already getting into trouble.

"Because of these,you are getting married to Hadiza by next month"

" But.."Muhammad tried to protest.

" No buts"The man cut him short. " Just leave Muhammad,I don't want to pour my fury on you"He warned.

Muhammad left shutting the door quietly behind him. Behind the cameras and smiles, Mr Sani Bello was not one to toy with,he was ruthless when he wanted to be and that was why,his orders were never opposed.
**

Ebere chuckled as she stepped down from her car,she was 10 minutes earlier by God's grace cos Gift was cracking her up with jokes.

"Excuse me" A soft voice stopped her. Ebere recognized the lady as Hadiza,the same lady that came with Muhammad to the bank the last time.

"Hey,good morning" Ebere greeted. Hadiza was draped in a lacy material,due to the cold,she had a fur cardigan on.

"Good morning. I am Hadiza Musa" She introduced herself. Ebere noticed the tone and hostility in her eyes but she ignored it.

"Okay,I am Ebere Monalisa Kalu" Ebere replied.

"Your name is of no importance to me,I just came here to warn you,keep her pathetic self away from Muhammad,if you just know,we have been together for years and by next month our marriage will proceed,you are just a mere distraction and a means to rebel against his father"Hadiza warned.

Ebere chuckled,never had she thought a woman would be so stupid.

"Miss Hadiza,I don't think you have any business with me,the person you should be speaking with is your man not me"Ebere replied calmly,she wasn't in the mood of dent anything,she wasn't even in any relationship.

"You think you can toy with me right? Just keep away,he doesn't love you and how well do you even know him,do you know his battles?I know Igbo people are desperate but it will never work"Hadiza concluded and walked away.

Ebere stared as the retreating figure made her way into the red range Rover. Was it true she was just a mere distraction?

Just then Ebere's phone churned and she thought it was message from Gift,it was a notification from her news app. She clicked on the hottest story and she stood still as she processed the news before her,it was the news of a possible engagement of Hadiza and Muhammad,the source had written

"Childhood sweethearts Muhammad and Hadiza seem to heading towards the path of marriage as their both families seem to be having quite a lot of meetings. According to our source who prefers to be anonymous,she said that marriage between the two love birds is inevitable....."

Inevitable?
The word kept ringing in her mind,she closed the app,she wasn't lying after all.

***
Hello people 😁😁
Who missed me?
Okay,so this my book have been receiving love and am grateful to you all,both my silent readers and my active ones. Thank you..