Few weeks later. Dare.

"Stick around for a while then in two hours time, close for the day."

My boss addressed, on his laps was the secretary I already told you about. At first, he had known too well to hide it from us, but now, he had brought his adultery to work. Even though he already had two kids and wife. Kids who were not doing fine financially. I have no idea why someone could be so inconsequential to give what would sustain his family to a side chick. Pleasing a sidekick at the detriment of his own family. How dumb.

"Do you want to join us?"

He nudged me back into reality. Oops. Why was I still standing there?

"Sorry. I'll go now."

I turned and walked towards the door.

"Goodbye, Dare."

I heard the secretary call. I didn't want to turn to her but twould be nothing but an insult since she was the mistress of my boss.

I turned to her and nodded, but then she winked seductively at me. I turned away immediately and walked out of the office.

She had been giving me some worthless and dimwitted signals. And if I do have the opportunity, I'll beat the pulp out of her for thinking that I would stoop so low to consider such lady with no worth as her. Such slut!

I began to walk towards the public staff room when I heard the door to my boss' office opened again. Then I heard my name,

"Dare."

I halted. Twas masculine. My boss. There was nothing to be scared of. I turned and hurried to him but our paths crossed.

"I can see that Dayo likes you."

He started, placing one of his fat hands on my shoulder. He is plumpy and round. 5"5 with protruding belly from beer, eyes dark and deep, scanty moustache and elephant's face.

"I don't think so. She's your..."

"Do not like her back. No matter how hard she tries to have you, do not give in to her. If you want to keep your job. I know you're smart."

He tapped my shoulder again and walked away. I stood there for a moment wondering what had just happened. Was I just threatened because of that annoying Dayo?

I grunted in frustration and turned to walk in the direction of my table but then I had a change of mind. I walked towards the exit. About to step out, someone called at me again,

"Dare."

The heck!, I almost yelled but then looked. Twas Chigozie. The guy who always got my back at work. If I was to take an unofficial off, he was always the one I could call and be there for me.

But I don't know why, the same odd feeling I have towards Lara is the same I have towards him. I don't know why I feel like I can't trust him. Maybe there is something inside of me that needed attention.

I put my hand in the air and twirled it at sequence to signify that I'll be back soon. I just needed time to think about the disturbing things which had been happening to me lately. I needed solitude.

There was a brick bench outside the building which was under a large mango tree. The front of the building was bare, striped, and naked except for few trees and of course food sellers scattered about several ends of the fences.

This is typical of majority of the abandoned project in Lagos, Nigeria. Especially in areas like Mushin like mine.

Twas said that where the PHCN office is situated today ought naturally to be a Public Highschool, but then the government abandoned the project and handed it over to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

Though everyday, we've seen people come and go in the name of investing or bringing several other firms to that ground, but little outputs were put into consideration.

And what do I really care? The last thing I would do is fight for a government which doesn't even care for the life of mere protesters. A military government in disguise. Most times, I agree with my friends that Nigeria is but a joke.

I sat on the bench under the tree. It's soothing that I'm the only one there. I've never had the mind for trouble, neither would I ever have. I'm a Christian and it's quite important to follow the teaching of my Lord. Who is called Jesus Christ.

I brought out my phone and unlocked it. I haven't heard from Kola and it's been over weeks. I've even gone to his apartment and I was told that he already moved out. And his phone number had been out of coverage.

Also, since few weeks now, I haven't been able to log in to the Top-face dating app. I ran out of data because of the other financial needs that arose for my mom. But now that I have data, it's better to figure everything out.

I turned on the data and waited for messages to load. Twas as though I was dead and resurrected. Twas as though I'd been gone for several years. The messages on my W******p alone was enough to drain all the percentage of the poor battery.

After a few moments, I received a notification of an email bank alert. My eyes widened as I opened the email first and saw...

Transaction Notification

Account Number: 04356xxxx

Transaction Location:E-CHANNELS

Description: TRANSFER BETWEEN CUSTOMERS

Amount:500,000.00

Value Date: 14-Oct-2020

Remarks:000017201019141711983926755080|GTB-|637387138277938144||KOLA ADEFARASIN REF:000017201019141711983876755080

Time of Transaction:15:21

Document Number:0

I stood up and tried to understand what was happening.

"This is Kola! What's happening? Why did he send me 500k. How am I supposed to understand this?"

I kept muttering. I wanted to shout for joy but I couldn't find the need from the depth of my consciousness, like something wasn't right.

I felt the need to open the Top-face app. I did and started reading the chat...

DO YOU HAVE A BIG COCK?! I HEARD THAT MOST OF Y'ALL AFRICANS DO

DO YOU WANT TO SEE PICTURES?

WITH EVERY SENSES OF CURIOSITY.

LOOKS SUMPTUOUS. I WANT TO CHOKE ON IT.

IT'S RATHER WIERD TO BE APPROACHED BY A LADY BUT ASIDE YOUR BIG DICK, THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT ATTRACTED ME TO YOU. YOU WRITE POETRY. IT'S IN YOUR BIO. I LOVE POETRY AND WOULD LOVE YOU TO WRITE ONE FOR ME SOON. YOU KNOW, I'M 42 AND I'VE DATED GUYS FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE BUT NEVER TRIED OUT AN AFRICAN. THERE ARE LOTS OF THEM HERE IN CALIFORNIA BUT THEN, I DON'T KNOW WHY I FEEL DRAWN TO YOU ESPECIALLY. TELL ME, DO YOU HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT?

YES

THEN THAT'S GREAT. HOW MUCH AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO PREPARE A VISA AND BUY TICKET FOR CALIFORNIA OVER THERE?

1 MILLION NAIRA.

"Crazy Kola..."

I muttered. 1 million is way too much. I ignored and kept on reading,

I'LL SEND YOU $10000 FOR EVERYTHING AND CLOTHES YOU WOULD NEED FOR COMING HERE. IN FEW WEEKS, YOU SHOULD BE HERE, I'LL BE BACK FROM UK ALSO TO RECEIVE YOU. AND DO TELL ME IF YOU NEED OTHER INFORMATIONS OF THE PERSON YOU'LL BE STAYING WITH IN CALIFORNIA. I'LL SEND NECESSARY INFORMATION SOON.

DO YOU USE PAYONEER OR PAYPAL OR DO YOU WANT A WIRE TRANSFER. I'LL TALK TO MY SECRETARY AND HE'LL DO IT RIGHT AWAY.

WIRE TRANSFER.

SEND YOUR BANK DETAILS.

SHOULD I BE WORRIED, THE NAME ON YOUR BANK ACCOUNT IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT ON YOUR TOPFACE'S

"Why didn't he call to ask for account details. Is it what I'm thinking?"

I sat down. My thoughts were now assorted. I was caught between anger and disappointment. But I can't be sure yet. I kept reading, probably he was leading her on,

I COULDN'T USE MY ACCOUNT. I'M SO BROKE THAT MY BANK ACCOUNT HAS BEEN SUSPENDED. SO, I'M BORROWING MY FRIEND'S FOR THE MEANTIME. YOU SHOULD NOTICE HOW LONG IT TAKES ME TO REPLY YOU.

"Kola!!!"

I grunted. Then I noticed that they didn't chat anymore for that day. For once, I noticed the profile picture on my profile, twas now Kola's. I couldn't help but read the succeeding chats,

KOLA: WE WOULDN'T BE CHATTING HERE ANY LONGER.

THE WOMAN: WHY? AND THE PICTURE ON YOUR PROFILE CHANGED

KOLA: YEA. THAT PICTURE IS MT FRIEND'S. HE HAS BEEN USING MY PHONE ALL THIS WHILE. BUT THEN SINCE HE COULDN'T TALK TO YOU, I COLLECTED BACK MY PHONE. AFTER ALL IT'S MINE.

THE WOMAN: BUT THE FACE ON THIS PROFILE NOW, OWNS THE DICK PICK SENT PREVIOUSLY?

KOLA: ABSOLUTELY.

THE WOMAN: HOW ABOUT POETRY, CAN YOU DO IT?

KOLA: LET'S LEAVE THAT UNTIL I ARRIVE AT CALIFORNIA. MY PAPERS WILL BE READY SOONEST.

THE WOMAN: *LICKING TONGUE EMOJI*

And that was the end of the chat. I didn't know what to think or believe, but the only thing that was so conspicuous was that I had been betrayed by Kola again. How dumb am I! Couldn't I had listened to Lara!!! Why had God allowed it? Should I just stop believing in him?! Didn't he give sinners second chances, am I nor taking after him?

"No, not again, Kola! Not again."

I yelled.

"My opportunity!"

I kept muttering, not certain of what to do anymore. Then suddenly, my phone rang. I looked at it,

ONYX

That's my mom. I answered,

"Hello, my baby. How are you today?"

"I'm fine."

"What I'm about to say, you might not approve of it but I want you to do it for my sake."

I paused for a while to think then shot,

"Don't tell me it's about your brother."

"Unfortunately, it is. He wants to see you tomorrow. Please for my sake."

I sighed. I knew I could never deny her.

"Fine."I succumbed.

"Thank you. Your child would always respect you. I love you baby."

I dropped the call to resume my plight when I heard from behind me,

"You don't look fine, Dare."

I turned. Twas the annoying Dayo. I stood up at once, I didn't have strength for her drama.

"Bye."

I walked off the bench and headed towards the office building again. I could see my boss standing at the door.

What the fuck! Was that a test?!