THE ONE I LOVE- EPISODE SIX

    Evening.

    Stella walked into Diamond Hotel smartly, composed and beautiful. He greeted the receptionist, smiling. “Weren’t you the lady of the other day?” The guy accused her.

    “Sure I am.” She replied.

    “How come you didn’t come back with your friend? The post have been occupied, I’m sorry.” He said.

    “We got a better oppurtunity that same day. I now work as a manager in a construction company.” She replied.

    “That’s awesome. I’ve been looking at you, you look beautiful.” The guy was happy for her.

    “Thanks so much.” She grinned. “The boss said I should come here to see her. Is she still around?” She asked.

    “Yes, let me give her a call.” The receptionist smiled and picked the receiver.

    “Pretty angel.” Stella noticed a soft touch on her shoulder.

    She turned back and saw a tall man in his early fifties in a yoruba attire and cap. She was surprised. “Excuse me, how could you have touched me?” She accused.

    “Because you are beautful.” Senator Komolafe replied her, smiling.

    He had two body guards behind him. One was carrying his briefcase while the other was holding nothing. “Thanks sir but it’s wrong to touch someone like that, I hate it!” She hissed angrily and faced the receptionist.

    “She said you should come over.” The guy smiled.

    “Thanks so much, I’ll see you before I leave.” She grinned.

    “I’ll expect you.” He smiled and waved at her.

    Stella walked as fast as she could and finally got to the front of her office. She heaved a sigh before she knocked. “Come in.” Feyi addressed her.

    Stella walked in slowly, putting on her cheerful facial expression again. “Good evening.” She greeted.

    “Yeah… em… Stella. How are you? Sit down.” She said and dropped the pen in her hand.

    “Thanks.” She sat down.

    “Do you know him before?” She asked Stella.

    “Him…” Stella pretended, reapeating the ‘him’ as if she didn’t know whatvshe was talking about.

    “Don’t try to lie, don’t dare try it. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?” She stood up.

    “I don’t.” She continued pretending.

    Feyi smiled and picked up her phone. “Kate, where are you now?” She asked.

    She received her response and dropped her mobile phone. “You don’t know Tolani right?” She finally let out.

    “I know him, he’s my close pal.” She replied.

    “So you can still tell me you know..” she couldn’t conclude her sentence because of the knock at the door.

    “Come in.” She quickly said.

    Kate walked in. “So she’s the one?” She asked as she moved closer.

    “She’s the one oh.” She replied, clapping her hands together.

    “So you’re the one that wants to destroy our plan right?” Kate questioned and walked closer. She could now see her face properly.

    “Can you see the small cockroach. I’m sure it was because of her Tolani reacted to me somehow till we got here. I’m sure she’s the one.”

    “Leave story, do that thing now.” Kate said to Feyi.

    “Alright.” She replied and collected Kate’s iPhone from her. She dropped it on the table and picked up her own phone and called the security department.

    “There’s a theif here, she came to steal iPhone. Your presence is highly needed.” She said quickly.

    Stella stood at once, surprised at their action. “You better sit!” Kate pushed her down.

    “What’s the meaning of this?” Her heartbeat increased.

    “What?” Kate slapped her instantly amd pushed her away.

    Just then, the security agent came into the company and headed into Feyi’s office. While that was going on, Tolani walked into the company and went to meet the receptionist. He asked if Stella was around and was told she was around.

    He headed to her office too. He was hearing shouts from her office as she approached the office. Feyi stood aside while Kate was beating Stella up, and the security men when Tolani barged into the office.

    “What’s happening here?” His anger arose as he sighted the condition in which Stella was..
  
    “She came here to steal this iPhone.” Kate replied.

    Feyi stood aside, crossed her hands together and was breathing uo and down. “This is a lie.” He tried to interfere but was stopped by the security men and Stella was taken outside.

   
    Feyi and Kate waited in the office as she was been taken away. “My conscience won’t let me rest.” Feyi complained.

    “The press will soon be here, you better don’t act stupid!” Kate shouted.

    “I didn’t want to do this, you pushed me. I’m not feeling like myself again. I just felt she was dating him and was jealous but now…” she was impatient,  not happy with what just happened. I don’t think it’s uo to what we’ve just done.”

    “Use your brain! Don’t you want to marry too? Have you forgotten Godwin’s issue in England? He left you! For how long do you want to be like this!” Kate shouted.

    “I’m not just feeling good about it.”

    Just then, professor; Feyi’s father also arrived into the company with the aim of coming to greet his daughter and met the scene. The press were almost in the hotel to write and take pictures. Tolani was just running helter skelter while Stella was weeping.

▶◀▶◀▶◀▶◀▶◀▶◀▶◀▶◀

    “What’s happening here?” Prof interrupted.

    “She stole an iphone.” One of the security men replied.

    “I didn’t!” Stella shouted.

    “Shut up! You did..” Kate shouted.

    “Alright. There’s something I’ve been told to keep as secret because something like this might happen and today, we shall all see.” Professor said.

    “‘What?” Tolani was breathing heavily.
   
    Professor smiled and picked his phone. He called his engineer and told him to meet him in the next ten minutes. The engineer’s office wasn’t far from that hotel.

    Not quite long after, he arrived with his laptop in his hand and a bag. “What happened?” He quickly asked.

    “Follow me.” He said to the guy and told every one of them to remain downstairs.

    The Engineer folllwed him into Feyi’s office. “There’s a secret I want to leak. The cameras we placed here, how can I watch the scene that happened in this office recently?”

    “Hope you really didn’t tell anyone there are cameras in this hotel?” The guy asked.

    “I never told anyone. Weren’t you the one that told me to keep it as a secret then because of something like this?” He replied.

    “That’s good sir.” The engineer smiled and sat on Feyi’s seat.

    He brought out another laptop from his bag and left the one he brought in on the table. “This is the laptop I told you about,  the other day. That was why I tod you real security department is needed here. It’s a big Hotel.” He placed the laptop on the table.

    “Do you mean everything that happened is here?” Feyi’s father asked.

    “Sure. White men have gone crazy, the cameras are even recording us as we are talking here presently. It can be used easily to get a criminal. As it is recording, everything is being sent into this place.” He smiled.

    “‘White men have really gone crazy..” Prof smiled too. “I just came to check on my daughter, then met that scene of a thief out there.” He continued.

    After some minutes, the engineer set up the system and sound system to produce sounds, what was said in the office.

    He checked what happened in just thirty minutes back and both discovered she was lied against. “If we produce this video sir, your daughter might also suffer…” The guy uttered.

    Prof was mute, he didn’t know what to sat next. “Why do you keep calling yourself an engineer, you’re more than this!” He said.

    “To protect myself. Some desperate people may want to steal some files and camera works from me.” He explained.

    “There’s no way we won’t leak this video because without it, no one will believe.” He said.

    “That’s exactly what I’m thinking about, people won’t!”

    Prof sighed. “Let’s go, we must show it, at least she decided to destroy someone. I heard the press are already on the way.”

     Both walked and kept talking till they got downstairs. Everyone was silent on seeing Prof. “Did she really stole the phone or not?” He faced Kate and asked.

    “Yes sir, he did!” She exclaimed.

    “What of you, Feyi.”

    “Dad… no… I mean.. Yes.”

    “Yours isn’t sharp, it’s uncertain. Are you sure?”

    Feyi was quiet this time.

    The engineer displayed the video before them all to expose the truth, at least if that would convince them. Then, the truth manifested.

*****

    “Meeting you today is like I made heaven, but the humiliation you passed through is getting me annoyed seriously.”

    “Tolani… Thanks for..” she hadn’t stopped crying as Tolani drove her home.

     “Stop this! At least we’ve all known the truth and the truth has manifested. There were no press officials there to record or take pictures. You’ve been justified, you’ve been vindicated.” He tried to cheer her up.

    “Thanks Tolani. When did you return?” She changed the topic.

    “It’s been a while. I searched for you, I called your mobile numbers and even came to your house but none was up to no avail. How have you been? I’ve really missed you!” He smiled.

    “I missed you more. I thought you’d just shun me, thought you wouldn’t talk to me because of what I did to you.. then.”

    “No, I should be the one thanking you for that because ot was a great oppurtunity to gain more. Manchester is a nice place.” He grinned.

    “All thanks to God.” She replied.

    “So how have you been? How’s mum and dad?” He asked.

    “Mum is just getting better whike Dad died years back.”

    Tolani was shocked. “That’s bad.” He shook his head sadly. “So how have you been? How is Fave?”

    “We are all fine.”

    Both kept talking till they got to Stella’s house and exchanged mobile numbers and greeted good night.

♥♥♥♥

    STELLA walked into the house briskly. She was already tired and had pains all over her body. To say, it was a bad day for her. She removed the handbag from her left shoulder and carried it with her right hand. If she had known, she wouldn’t have visited Feyi’s place.

    Was she cursed? Or what on earth prompted her to visit Feyi without giving it a second or even a third thought? She entered into the living room and flung her bag on the sofa. She sat down and unbuttoned the first button on her shirt. She wasn’t beaten so much to the extent of having bloodstains, but, had to nurse her cheeks due to the slaps she had received.

    “Why are you like this?” Favour walked out from behind with a tray of malt. She sat beside her and gave her a long look. “Stella what’s with your face?” She dropped the tray suddenly, expressing her surprise.

    She didn’t see her face before asking her why she was like that, she was just asking her the reason she was late from work. “What happened? Who slapped you?” She was concerned, she had seen fingers’ marks on her cheeks. She stretched her right hand, wanted to touch her face. “It was a bad day, really bad day.” She replied sadly.

    “Bad day? What really happened? Talk to me.” Favour was more serious than had ever been. “I visited Feyi’s place.” She finally let out as she faced her properly and removed her wrist watch. “Which Feyi?” Favour hardly let her finish speaking before cutting in again.

    “No, let me start this way. I met Tolani today.” She exhaled and dropped her wristwatch on the sofa. Fave was shocked. “Are you serious? What happened?” She smiled.

    “This is not an issue to laugh on.” She said, stretching her hand forward to stop Favour from smiling She must have really had a bad day. Favour concluded within herself. “Alright. What happened after?” She enquired.

    Stella continued her explanation and explaind everything that happened to her friend. She was weeping as she talked. “It seems this thing’s a curse. What caused my father’s death happened in the hotel because he was accused of stealing, so I was.” She wept bitterly.

    “See, we won’t be cursed. It’s destiny that can never be changed, not even by the greatest man in the world, but by God. Favour cuddled her as she stood up and pulled her to herself. “Weep no more, we have a destination, we have a promise land.”

★★★★

    She walked into my life and left footprints that can never be casted out not even by a strong wind nor by a heavy rain. Her beautiful smile, humble behaviour and all. I tested her, thought I’ve met the one whom I’m going to love till death. I met her, though I found it difficult to love, her presence in my life turned away my sad and bad moments; restoring it with greatness. I just left drinking, made it a past, made it a story but lost her. Tobi kept weeping on his seat. He hadn’t tasted anything since he had been told by Stella that Tolani was her love.

    What could made him happier than having her to him? He thought all was well but never knew the battle would continue. He picked his mobile phone and stared at her mobile number, he couldn’t make a call through to her. He was devastated and heartbroken, he wished he never loved.

****

    Feyi sat down close to Kate as they were before Prof. Feyi was already weeping, she never wished to do what she did. She had told Kate earlier that she didn’t want to go that much, embarrassing Stella for what she didn’t do, but Kate was adamant as if she was Feyi herself.

    Both couldn’t speak, they were just downcast. “I’m really surprised you could go to this extent because of a guy!” Prof repeated himself angrily.

    He was very umbrageous at what the ladies had done. He could read from Feyi’s expression and repentant mood that she didn’t mean to do that. The video had also exposed it that she wasn’t in support of it but her jealousy also made her fall into the pit of regrets. “Kate! The first day I set my eyes on you, I thought you were a blessing to my daughter, but now I see you were sent to ruin my family.”

    Omolara walked out of the balcony into the living room. “Feyi!” She exclaimed and sat down, she was staring at her with a disappointing look.

    She was Prof’s wife- Feyi’s mother who had travelled for weeks before she returned the morning of that day.

    None of the ladies could talk. It didn’t seem as if Kate was repentant, she just kept her head low, and playing with her fingers.

    ****

    It was another day at work, Stella sat down on her chair and prayed. She glimpsed at her wristwatch and raised her head again, gazing at the same direction she had been gazing at. “Why is he not yet at work?” She wondered and sighed.

    She was uncomfortable by not seeing him on seat. It was after thirty minutes she was forced to pick her mobile phone and called him. The phone kept ringing but he didn’t pick up the call. “Would he not come to work?” She kept wondering until her phone rang. It was Tolani.

    “My night was fine and yours?” Stella asked, replying Tola’s question. “I’m already in the office, I’ll try if I can come there this afternoon.” She replied him again. “Alright, no problem.” She ended the call.

    She dropped the mobile phone and glimpsed at Tobi’s seat again. “Why is he like this?” She was getting unhappy. She didn’t like it if she’d be an excuse to someone’s happiness. She tried his mobile phone again but then, it was already switched off.

    “So he really meant his words..” she said softly and dropped her mobile phone.

    Tolani called her to meet him at Lexyland Foods by afternoon.

*****

    Tobi had finished packing his belongings that morning. He was seated on a couch and staring at the mouth organ in his hand. That would be the first gift he’d receive from her. He wished he could buy her a gift too but he wished to leave the state that morning.

    Being around her would still be making him feel for her. If he should call his boss, he might beg and persuade him to come back to his place of work but it would be difficult for him because he had started loving Stella.

    He blew the mouth organ faintly and remembered his mother again. The first time he’d blow a mouth organ was when he was beside his mother and she was happy and laughing with him. His thoughts couldn’t hold back his tears as he continued blewing it.

Love is a mighty thing.

****

    “At least, I’ve been told to leave your place today and Dad has fired me.” Feyi said to Kate as she came out of the room with her luggage.

    Prof had ordered her to pack her things out of Kate’s house and move back to his house. He had also fired her from his hotel and made sure he called her account manager to cancel any transaction concerning her account.

    “Do you know I couldn’t sleep?” Kate asked Feyi, looking sad.

    “Just because you didn’t feel like sleeping right?” She questioned her and hissed. “No, was just imagining if what I did to that lady was done to me. Let’s go and beg her, we need to apologise.” She said to her, looking serious.

    “We should go and apologize? Never knew you could say this!” Feyi was surprised. “Yes, I’ve started feeling bad. It wasn’t a good thing. But, how come your dad didn’t tell you about the hidden camera?” Kate asked.

    “I can’t reply that question because I equally don’t know.” She replied.

    “All the same, thank God it was there. If not..” she stopped amd shook her head.

    “It seems you’re serious with what you’re saying.” Feyi stared at Kate and clapped her hands together. “I’m really serious! I’ve thought on it. Why on earth do we call ourselves christians when we won’t show we are.” She said.

    “Alright, let’s go and do that now because there’s no possibility that dad’s going to let me out of that confinement.” She hissed dryly.

    “We need to get Tolani involved, we’ll apologize to him first.” Kate stood up and adjusted her camisole.

♥♥♥♥♥♥