IRENE

I was seated in a large red chair. After about two hours of face beat and hair treatment, I was ready for the shoot.

"Pop out that hip." The photographer instructed and I did just that. "Yes, like that. Oh I like that."

He took several shots as I changed my poses at intervals.

"Finally, the boss is here." I whipped my head to the side as the photographer said that whilst hanging his Camera on his neck.

Following the direction of his gaze, my eyes landed on a girl probably my age or a bit older. Hispanic I guessed.
A frown dented my perfectly made up face. I looked behind her to see if there was an older person but there wasn't anyone behind her.

"How's the shoot going?" The girl asked as she sank into a chair beside the photographer with a clipboard in her left hand.

I watched as the photographer rushed to show her the photos we had taken. "She's really good." He said to her and she nodded.

"She's Irene, of course she knows what to do." Crossing her legs gently, a small frown etched her brows and disappeared as soon as it came. It was as though it never came.

"We're going to be needing green contacts." She said nonchalantly and it was my turn to frown.

"Excuse me?"

She got up and walked to the end of the room and plopped herself against the wall. "I'll rephrase my sentence. You're going to be putting on green contacts."

My frown deepened. "I don't wear contacts. I never have." Was my crisp reply and the look on my face was telling her off.

"There's always a first time for everything Irene. I'm certain green would accentuate your curves and lips."

What? Accentuate my curves and lips? How on earth would just a pair of contact lenses do that?

"I'm not wearing them." I said dismissively, in a tone that screamed end of discussion but I was met with the surprise of my life when she uttered her next words.

"You've been paid Irene so you have to do it." And may I mention that she said it so calmly that it irked me to the bone marrow.

"If you wanted a miss emerald eyes, you should have hired a model with green eyes. How hard could that be?" I was fuming and I knew I had to calm down. My anger was a time bomb and once it had reached it's peak, I'd blow up and things wouldn't go well.

She took long annoying strides and stopped abruptly stroking her jaw. "True, but I wanted a black model with green eyes." She turned to face me with a smirk.

"There's always Shade Onam and a few others." I was already getting uncomfortable in the dress I had on. I also noticed that all the workers were silent.

The entire working area was silent that a pin drop could be heard clearly. It was as though the workers knew that two time bombs would create a massive explosion.

The look on her face was priceless, I had won and wiped away her smirk. "It doesn't matter now, I've already paid you."

Who put this kid in charge?

With the last ounce of patience and tolerance left in me, I spewed out those words I knew I'd regret later on.
"Get it over with."

A look of fulfilment replaced her gloomy look and I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes. Too bad Eugenia wasn't able to watch our little drama. I had her stay back to rest. She was up all night attending to my emails and was exhausted.

I took a deep breath as I walked to the dressing room and thought about Theodore. What would he suggest in this situation?

He'd definitely tell me to calm down. I got the contacts in no time and boy did it feel weird. I couldn't wait to get the shoot over with.

Thirty minutes and we were done. I had no other wish at that point than to leave the hall. It was getting suffocating.

Heading out the giant French doors across the walkways, I bumped into a figure and permit me to say it was a very masculine one.

"And we meet again, Irene." My face morphed into a graceful smile.

"Dylan." I called out his name as he gave me a side hug. I was met with his ocean blue orbs that seemed to drown me slowly into endless pits of nothingness.

"How was the shoot?"

My smile faded immediately as I thought about miss drama.

"I'm guessing it wasn't good after all." He replied his own question.

"She's just so full of herself." I said looking away as we got out of the main entrance to the building.

"Who?"

"The teenage girl who's brand I was modeling for."

"You mean Vanessa?" He asked arching a brow.

"I don't know her name. I think she's Hispanic though." I confirmed she was Hispanic from her accent.

"It is her."

"She's a handful." I rolled my eyes as I remember how much attitude she was giving me.

"I know." Dylan stated briefly and paused in front of the exquisite fountain. I also halted and we stood there for a while watching the magnificently beautiful splash of water.

"Her mum is dating my dad. They have the hall for the shoot for free." I nodded my head in understanding.

"Do they live with your dad?" I asked him as I turned to face him.

"Only her mum does. She lives with her dad somewhere in west Africa. It's either Ghana or Nigeria."

I'm certain green would accentuate your curves and lips.

I scoffed loudly causing Dylan to cast me a wary look which I laughed off.

                     ➪➪➪➪➪

I pushed open the door of our hotel room partly excited that we would be heading for Paris the next day and would return back to Nigeria the week after.

"Irene, you're back." Eugenia stated not looking away from her laptop.

"No kidding." I mumbled and walked to the water dispenser to get a drink of water. Eugenia was munching on a big bowl of popcorn as she watched Stars and Sores. That girl was always eating like she never got tired of it.

Wait, Stars and Sores?! With April Waje as it's leading actress!

I plopped down beside her on the bed and shoved a handful of popcorn into my mouth. "Isn't this Stars and Sores you're watching?" I asked Eugenia and she nodded.

"Yeah it is." She replied nonchalantly barely looking my way.

"It's April you are paying this much attention to. I hope you know that." I was really surprised. The Eugenia I knew would never give anything relating to April a second glance. That's how much she dislikes the girl.

"The fact that I do not like April personally does not mean I don't appreciate a job well done. April is very good at acting, in a few years, she'll be one of the most wanted actresses in the world. That's if she's serious."

To be really honest, it was very true. April's acting was surreal, it was as though she wasn't acting but her last movie outdid it. Stars and Sores was a hit. She bagged so many contracts  worth millions of dollars after starring in Stars and Sores.

She had also been nominated for best female actress for the coming AMVCA. I wasn't really close to April but there was this aura surrounding her that made me curious, disturbed even.

"Are you even watching this?" Eugenia snapped me out of my little reverie.

"Yeah, I am." I eased into the teddy bear beside Eugenia and gave my full attention to the movie.

THEODORE

I didn't go to school because we had to go see my grandfather and it was an opportunity for me to sleep in. I woke up some minutes to ten and boy, I felt completely refreshed.

I sent a message to the gang group chat on WhatsApp telling them that I wouldn't be going to school. That done, I got up from bed and walked lazily to my bathroom to brush my teeth and have my bath.

Fifteen minutes later, I headed downstairs. "You're finally awake, how was your night?" My mum asked from the dining table.

"My night was great. I feel refreshed." I responded as I strolled towards her. "Where's everyone?" I asked looking round the empty dining hall.

"They've all had breakfast. Your dad went out with Tony to get something, Dayo will be here soon. 

I placed a soft kiss on my mum's forehead as soon as I got to her. Doing that wasn't very difficult as I was towering over her.

"C'mon sit down and have breakfast." She offered and I gladly accepted her offer as I plopped down on one of the dining chairs and started having my breakfast in no time.

The entire house seemed oddly quiet and even the workers were no where to be seen. "Where are all our workers?" I asked

"I gave them the entire weekend off as we won't be back till Sunday evening so I'm guessing they've all left to see their families." She replied as she poured me a glass of juice to go with the sumptuous meal.

"Hurry up with your breakfast so you can get ready. Your father will be back anytime from now." I nodded as I took another spoonful of rice.

"If it isn't my favorite mummy's boy." I snapped my head up instantly at the sound of that voice.

"Brother Dayo!" I called out and rushed to hug my eldest brother. Our last encounter wasn't so nice and I wanted to make up for that. I wasn't in my right frame of mind then and genuinely regret it.

"Look at you," he whined as he ruffled my hair. "You look way older than the last time I saw you." I had to roll my eyes at that. The last time he saw me was the month before.

I also had to bend slightly to give him full access to ruffle my hair as I was about two inches taller than he was.

"Adedayo, how are you dear?" My mum rushed to him and he engulfed her in an embrace.

"Mum I'm fine and I'm certain you are too, I can see dad's caring hand on you." Mum smiled and pulled him towards the dining area and I sat down to finish my meal while they talked.

"When will you bring her home?" Mum asked him and he chuckled.

"When she's done with her service we'll come together." He responded and I snapped my head up.

There's a her?

"There's a her?" I voiced out and they both turned to me.

"Of course there is." Mum stated with a smirk on her lips. "Your brother will be thirty next year."

I focused my gaze on him. "You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend you're so serious about." I feigned annoyance.

"I have no excuse Theodore, I'm sorry." I smiled. "You'll get to meet her soon anyway."

"I can't wait!" I pumped my fist into the air.

"Wale go upstairs and get ready." Mum said to me and I got up.

"Before you go, I got something for you." Brother Dayo said and that got my attention.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Dayo, you're spoiling this boy. Always getting him something all the time." Mum scolded.

"Says the lady that got him a brand new Range rover on his eighteenth birthday. This kid has three cars mum and so do I." He replied.

"I didn't get the other two cars for him." Mum defended herself. "Your father got the Rolls Royce and Tony got him the Benz."

He merely shook his head and got up. "Give me a minute."

He returned moments later with a big box which he handed over to me. "What's in it?" I asked.

"Why don't you see for yourself?" I opened the box and pulled him into a big bear hug as I spotted the content. It was the Play Station 5 he got for me.

I already had the PS 4 but due to the issues I had faced in the past two years, I barely used it.

"You got him this Play Station again. The one he has is in his closet eating dust yet you got him another one." Mum chided.

"Mummy come on, this is the latest edition. That one is already old." She simply shook her head and walked into the kitchen.

"Thank you so much bro, I really do appreciate it."

"Wale go and get ready!" Mum yelled from the kitchen and I scurried up the stairs with the box but not without saying yet another thank you to brother Dayo.

His words were, "What are brothers for?"

                        ➪➪➪➪➪

We landed about an hour ago and drove a long way through the busy city of Lagos. As a result of the traffic, we spent more time on the ride home.

I had spotted Lucy before we left and she told me she would be staying at the workers quarters even after we were gone. I wasn't able to ask why as we were already leaving for the airport. I made a mental note to ask her when we return.

By about 3:30pm, we pulled into a empty route leading to the outskirts of Lagos state. We drove for a few minutes on passing by trees and a gigantic silver gate came into view.

My anxiety heightened as we drove into the extremely large compound. This had to be the place.

The amount of cars parked made it seem like cars were being sold in the premises. Ranging from Toyota products to Honda products and from Mercedes Benz to Nissan and so much more.

As soon as my feet touched the ground, a different air hit my skin, we call it fresh air. The place smelled of freshness as there were so many trees around.

A few servants came to help us with our luggage and our driver joined them in taking them inside.

My brothers and I trailed behind our parents as they headed for the entrance of the ridiculously massive building.

The massive building didn't just look like a castle, it was a castle. With tower like structures and a large fountain designed in form of  three large sea lions spitting out water from their mouths.

The surroundings was very tidy. My little observation session was cut short as I heard the sound of the gigantic French doors being pulled opened.

An old lady ushered us into the quiet hall and we all followed her even into the dark hallways that held large picture frames of my supposed grandfather.

A quite slender man with a large mass of gray hair that complimented his gray facial hair also. He looked strict, like a disciplinarian and my anxiety quadrupled.

The lady stopped in front of a door and turned to my parents. "He's in there."

My parents nodded and they both walked in asking us to wait outside for them. From the look on Tony and Dayo's faces, it felt as though they were also a bit anxious.

We waited patiently as I feasted my eyes on the large plaque hoisted above the door frame of the room my parents just walked into.

Chief Justice Eliakim Irede Thompson (1980-1987)

What I just saw pricked my interest. How on earth would I not have known that my Grandfather was into law? It lowered the anxiety I felt and increased the anticipation.

Just immediately, the door opened and both my parents walked out.
"She will lead you to your rooms." Mum said referring to the lady that lead us into the house. I didn't even realize she was still with us.

"Mind you, you might not get a room to yourselves. There are so many of us, do try to endure till we leave. Am I understood?"

"Yes sir." We chorused and he walked away with mum leaving us to the old lady.

We followed the lady up the long stairways and yet through another hallway. She halted infront of a door and turned to Dayo and Tony.

"Both of you have this room to yourselves. You're to come down for dinner by Six thirty sharp." And without saying another word, she walked away and I followed her.

She halted when she got to another door. "This is going to be your room. Your room mate will be sent to you when he arrives. You're to come down for dinner by Six thirty sharp." She said and walked away before I could respond.

I pushed open the door and walked into the dark room. Not comfortable with the darkness, I put on the lights from the switch.

The room had a royal feel to it. With a king sized bed in the middle of it, a dressing table and mirror, A study table, a large wardrobe and an adjoined bathroom.

The room decor was quite neutral and modest though brown remained dominant. I sighted my luggage beside the bed and I walked to it and opened the bag. A sigh of relief left my lips when I saw that my customized camera was still in good shape. I had an odd urge to take it along with me in case I find something fascinating to take a picture of.

I heard some sounds from outside and I walked to the window and drew the curtains to have a view of what was going on. A lanky figure was taking pictures of the fountain. I tried spotting the face but I couldn't get a clear view as a result of the distance between us.

The figure disappeared among the trees and I returned to my luggage and began to do some arranging.

I rested a while after arranging my stuff and headed downstairs by six.
I was walking the hallways quietly when a loud voice called out.

"Adewale!" I paused. That was my name but the voice was unfamiliar.
"Adewale!" The voice called out again and stood rooted to the sport.

"Ma!" A response came. I definitely wasn't the only person bearing that name around here then. I continued my walk down the hallways and got to the dining hall in no time.

Meeting nobody there, one of the servants served me my meal which I had and that was only because I lied that I had a headache and I wanted to go to bed. I returned to my room after the meal, I knew I wasn't ready for a family dinner.

Walking into my room, I met someone standing and examining the room with a bag pack hoisted over his shoulders.

"Hello?" I called out and he turned to face me.

I could properly take in his physical features. He was chocolate skinned, tall and slender, funny how we were of the same height. He had a mass of black curls and lastly, a playful smile rested on his lips.

"Hi there." He called out and I recognized his voice to be the voice that responded to the name Adewale.

"Adewale?" I call with uncertainty. I couldn't be so sure.

"Actually the name is Toby Adewale James-Thompson and I'm going to be your roommate."

He sank into the couch and crossed his legs and watched me so enigmatically. "What's your name?"

"Theodore Adewale Oyedele-Thompson."

His eyes lightened up and a very genuine smile touched his lips. "We have the same surname."

"We're related." I stated.

"We have the same middle name." I gave him a long look and shrugged.

"Coincidence."

I slumped on the bed still watching him as he was now fiddling with the zip of his bagpack. "Where is your luggage?" I asked.

"Right here." He pointed to the bag pack in front of him.

"You can't be serious."

"Oh I am. It's just two days, you don't expect me to come with my entire wardrobe." He responded with a nonchalant shrug. I glanced at my family sized traveling bag and decided to drop the topic.

We were raised by different parents. My parents would always say to pack for the unexpected and I'm guessing he wasn't taught in that way.

"My baby." I heard him mutter and I returned my attention to him. He held a black Nikon camera in his hands. He placed it on the study table.

So he was the photographer I saw downstairs.

Well hello room mate.

Myself and this guy seemed so similar. From the look of things, I would  definitely enjoy my short stay here.

*

Hey y'all, it has been so long. I'm so sorry for stalling, I haven't been well and I still haven't fully recovered but I decided to make time to drop an update.

So what do you think about this chapter? Please let me know in the comment section.

I really do hope I did a great job with this chapter. I have dropped hints in this chapter concerning my next book.

Also, I'd like for you to know that my Collab with UjuritaElliana has begun. April and Toby are her characters.

I'm not sure when the next chapter will be published but I'm hoping soon.

vilalove09 and I_am_Jazzy would be proud of me 🤧.

Alright then, happy new year all.

Stay safe 🌻

Word Count: 3461