Perhaps she should not have asked him. Sewa flushed with embarassment as she stepped back into her bustling restaurant.

She stepped into the open kitchen and washed her hands, then pulled on her apron.

Making her rounds across tables, she smiled and collected each person's orders before returning to the kitchen.

She lined up each other on the walls and yelled them out, "Two plates of chips and fried chicken for table four! A plate of fried rice for table nine!...."

"Yes, ma!"

Sewa turned to look at her team of cooks. She hired a professional sous chef and three other assistants to help around the kitchen. Watching them work made her feel proud of how far she had come.

"Give me that," She said to Tomiwa, one of the assistants, when she noticed him struggling with perfectly cutting a big fish.

Collecting the hake fish from him, she grabbed her big knife and slice it open in half.

"Remove the bones," she instructed, setting her knife down.

"Yes, ma."

She watched him carefully remove the bones and cut it into perfect rectangular pieces. He was getting better by the day.

Her sous chef, Seyi, placed three perfectly dished meals on the counter and tapped the bell.

With a smile, Sewa hurried to the plates and started serving the hungry customers.

As a group of customers left, so did more pour in. The day continued to be busy and Sewa did not have time to properly think until the last customer left and she placed up the close sign.

"Good job today, everyone. Serve yourselves dinner before you leave, okay?"

"Yes, ma'am."

While they served themselves, Sewa picked out a bottle of chilled water from the refrigerator and drank. She wiped her mouth and settled down in one of the tables.

What would she eat for dinner? Pizza? Would they still be open at this time? The clock told her nine-thirty when she looked up at it.

Perhaps, she should noodles for herself when she reached home. She would add onions, red pepper, green peas and carrots inside and then, place a hard boiled egg on top. Her mouth watered at the thought.

Standing up, she called, "Seyi?"

"Ma?"

She grabbed her bag and car keys. "Don't forget to lock up o!"

"Yes, ma."

Stepping out the door, she waved, "Good night."

"Good night," they chorused.

Driving home through the heart of Lagos traffic, she listened to a discussion on a social topic playing on the radio. She cranked up the volume even though she barely listened to what they were saying.

Something about politicians and another about loan and China.

What difference did it make? Talk from morning till evening, the government did whatever it wants. It cared less about the people than the fingernail on their fingers.

Sewa sighed and turned the radio off. Her ears did not deserve the rubbish she heard from it.

She reached her apartment thirty minutes later. Peeling off her shoes, she remembered when she first moved in a couple of months prior.

Her mother had brought over a pastor and anointed olive oil to bless the large apartment in the complex building. Then she had Sewa gift the neighbors with food and introduce herself.

Sewa could care less about her neighbors and they seemed to have the same thoughts. Each wanted peace and quiet, and minded their own business.

She stripped off her dress and stepped into the bathroom to shower. Feeling clean, she put on a crop top and boxer then stepped into the kitchen to prepare herself dinner.

While the noodles cooked, she surfed through her phone amusing herself with comedy skits until she received a WhatsApp message notification from Niyi.

She froze and thought back to the request she asked of him. Perhaps, she should have just asked Seyi to go with her.

Funmi invited her to a social event but she suddenly cut off attending it because her mother forced a dinner date on her. With an extra invite, Sewa did not know who to invite to go to such a probably boring event.

God knows what could have possessed her to ask Niyi to come with her.

She bit her lower lip as she tapped open the WhatsApp application and opened Niyi's chat.

Yes.

She stared at the word in shock. He actually said yes? Even after overreacting and embarrassing herself?

Thank you, she texted back.

She could not believe Niyi agreed to go with her. Would he tell Elijah? It seemed like they told each other everything and must have discussed her.

Sewa glanced at the pot of noodles and hurried to check it. The water dried with only hot noodles steaming from the pot. Swallowing saliva, she rinsed a fork in the sink and started to eat from the pot.

The weekend of the event arrived sooner than Sewa thought. Should she cancel?

But... She was already dressed and Niyi would be at her door any minute now.

Perhaps she should cancel and blame it on menstrual cramps.

Checking herself out in the mirror, she could help but smile how lovely she looked in the white silk dress. The brown pursed and shoes popped out. Her make-up was simple and soft.

Her growling stomach made her lose her posture. She hurried into the kitchen for a snack. Bringing out the slice of cake that remained from last night rendezvous, she ate quietly and watched the clock.

Niyi should be here soon. Why was he turning up late?

She sat on the couch and turned on the television then crossed her legs. The Nickelodeon channel played Drama Club which did not even capture her attention as she glanced at her phone every two minutes.

The knock on her door had her jumping. Niyi was finally here!

Grabbing her purse, she hurried to the door and pulled it open.

"I was beginning to think you would not show up."

"I am sorry for being late," the tall dark man answered with a smile and a corsage. "How do I make it up to you?"

"By driving very fast," she replied unable to stop herself from checking him out.

Niyi cleans up well.