-  Hope's POV -

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As promised, here's a new update.
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I was so worried.

I was so worried and it was all because of Henry. The bike man stopped me at the gate leading to the compound and for the first time since my stay in Lagos, I didn't argue with a bike man with the amount he called like I was a child not knowing the prices from one destination to another in Lagos.

I was that worried.

I walked through the gate and of course, Mama Anderson and ancient of days was seated out, doing their usual gossip routine.

"Good afternoon," Mary greeted. I lifted a brow and promptly stopped on my track. I wanted to comment on what she'd eating to greet me this hot afternoon. Then it occurred to me that I was in my disguise, meaning they weren't aware I was Cherry.

"Afternoon," I swallowed my pride and greeted back.

"Are you looking for someone?" Mary asked again in a sweet tone. I almost placed my index finger inside my ear, to clean it.

"Yes," I snorted. "Christy."

"Oh," Mary frowned and I walked away from her to the door leading to the room I shared to Christy. I knocked a couple of times before noticing the padlock on the door.

"It's as if she's not around," Mary hollered from where she sat.

"Do you know her?" I feigned ignorance.

Mary nodded, "My very close friend."

I almost choked on my on spit as I stared at her dumbfoundedly. "You don't mean it."

I didn't waste time and moved over to Baby's door. I gave it a small knock and got ready to hold my breath cause Baby's room even with how fancy it was, usually smelt of cigarette smoke. Baby soon opened the door and his eyes widened with fondness after seeing it was me.

"Hope!" He chirped, "Come in."

I walked into the room and to my surprise, smelt really really nice. "Baby, watin dey sup? Girl dey come visit you today?"

"Why do you ask?" Baby asked, as we both sat down on his bed that was quite high cause of his tall bed stand. Looking at his flat screen TV that was resting on its television stand, I could tell he was watching a movie.

"I'm not smelling any cigarette," I said to him.

"Oh," Baby waved his hand. "Imagine, JK knew I was smocking and gave me the scolding of my life. So I thought about my health and thought it wise to stop."

"Thank God for Jackson in your life o, cause e be like say na only him you dey hear now." To be honest, I wish I was joking cause I wasn't. The same way Baby was always preaching to Christy to stop sleeping around, was the exact same way Christy and I usually lecture him that all smoke was smoke and shouldn't be used for enjoyment. "Speaking of Christy, where is she."

"Do I know? She told me she was going to do her hair. Since morning o." Baby did some snapping with his index finger and thumb to demonstrate his claim.

"I want to show you something," I wriggled my brows at Baby, then shoved my hand into my pocket and brought out my new phone.

"Jesus, Cherry who dash you iPhone?" Exclaimed Baby.

"You're mad," I said inbetween chuckles.

"Henry gave it to me last night. Sorry," I decided to correct myself. "Early this morning."

"Wow, na iPhone13 be this o. You know how much?" He took the phone to access it. "When I talk say girls get plenty benefit. One wink, guy don fall."

"You've forgotten I'm disguised as a guy, right?" I reminded Baby. I reached for my phone and decided to dial Christy's number. One ring and I could hear whispers.

"Bros Jaleel don do your phone?" Nothing like hello in this one dictionary.

"No, I pray. I never go yet sef. Henry got me an iPhone 13, Christy, an iPhone13!" I squealed on the phone.

"Why would he get you that?" Christy voice was so strained it pulled me out of my future excitement. Why was she sounding like that? "How? Why? When?"

"What are you doing? When are you coming back?" This wasn't some gist I could say on the phone. "My money never long reach for me to buy bundle of airtime for gist."

"They are almost done with my hair jare, soon." Christy said on the phone. "Later na."

The call ended with her strained tone and I fell into deep silence. Baby didn't even have my time as it was obvious his attention was on the laptop he had on his lap. Probably speaking to a new client.

"Baby, I want to talk to you. Like man and woman talk, best friend talk, bro to bro." Baby still wasn't focused on me as he typed something on his keyboard.

"Can you see how your own words contradict each other?" Baby kept typing on his laptop. "Man and woman, best friends, bro to bro? Oga choose your struggle, I dey busy like this so."

"Serious na," I wriggled my body in a childlike manner, then reached for his laptop and pulled it away from him.

Baby glared at me. "Guy, you know how much I go loose if I no reply that client?"

"Why are you doing yahoo yahoo sef, when you've got Jackson."

"As what? No, I've got him as what? Football?" I knew he wasn't really angry when he decided to lay in bed instead of trying to fetch his laptop from my hold. "Someone that will discard me after the movie collab."

He fell quiet, staring at his fingers and pricking his nails. He was being emotional right now and I felt bad for bringing up the yahoo topic. "Stop staring at me like that. What do you want to talk about?"

I let out a small smile and swallowed every commented I wanted to say concerning him. "It's about Henry."

"What about him?" Baby kept staring at his fingers.

I let out a sigh. "I don't know, I-I think..... I think I'm falling for him."

This got Baby's attention for real this time. He lifted his face and stared at me with a really cold and unbelievable expression. "You can't do that, he's Christy's."

"You think I don't know that? I almost yelled at Baby. "You think I don't know Christy likes him? You think I haven't tried to ignore this feelings? I fucking know Christy likes him and that's why I'm trying to not fall for him. Go easy on me Baby, Henry isn't even making things any better!"

I buried my face in my palm as I tried to calm my outburst. I felt Baby's hand on my back, soothingly bringing me to comfort. I lifted my head with a sigh and stared at him. "What did Henry do?"

"Made me fall for him?" I gave out a sad chuckle at my own words. "The way he stares at me, the way he talks to me, the way he worries about me for little things like showing up a bit late. Last time we went to this tatoo parlor and I slept off. The next thing I knew, I was in bed. He carried me all the way to my bedroom which he assigned to me at his place and didn't even wake me up when we both knew he had a schedule and needed my presence as his bodyguard. Quite sure I'm getting fired by the way."

"He did all that?" Baby asked me and I nodded with a sigh.

"How do you expect me not to fall for him when he almost kissed me and I almost let him." I tried to say. "You can't deny how hard I've tried for Christy's case, Baby. Yet Henry won't listen nor bat his lashes whenever I mention her."

"Wait, hold up. My ears got one thing only." Baby stretched out his hands to stop me from speaking further.

"He almost kissed you?" He asked with a scrunched face and I nodded. "Why? Does he know?"

"I doubt Jackson would tell him, he gave me his word and I don't think Henry knows either." I said with confidence. "But you can help confirm from JK, you both are close."

"We are not that close," Baby looked at his side with a frown. "But I'll help you confirm."

I nodded, thanking him with my gaze. "What if he's gay?" Baby asked, making the atmosphere a bit lighter.

"Then he'd be disappointed," I laughed, checking the time on my phone. "Seriously, why is Christy taking so much time? I need to get to Filmzy. Hey,"

Baby lifted his hands and gave me a smile. "I know, I know, I won't tell Christy what we've just discussed."

"Thank you," I breathed, then got up from his bed. "I should get going, don't want Dorcas' wrath."

"What would she do? Fire you twice?" I laughed at Baby's words. I really did miss him and Christy a lot. "Do you want a ride?"

"Nah," I winked at him, then pointed at his laptop. "Your client is waiting. Baby please, abeg, check my phone for bros Jaleel store and dey give me update. Tell Christy why I comot early. Atleast, I try wait for her."

"No problemo," Baby said reaching for his laptop and placing it on his lap.

Time to get fired.

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I stared at the industry in front of me while wondering why my luck was so hard. Just a little mistake and I was getting fired. How did I know? Dorcas was a lady that ruled with an iron fist. I was quite sure she doesn't condone mistakes like leaving her brother defenseless.

Over thinking no fit solve problem.

My head might be right. I was probably over thinking things. It might not even be about what I was thinking. But then, why did she call for me?

To get update on Henry.

That was probably right. Maybe all she wanted was update on her brother. It has to that. It must be that.

I stepped into the industry, cooed at some famous people I met on my way to the elevator. I got into the elevator, looked at the shiny buttons and pushed my designated floor.

Once the elevator 'dinged' I got out of it and strolled down the hall till I found myself at the door leading to Dorcas' office. I took deep breaths, readied myself for the worst, before giving the door a slight knock.

"Come in," Dorcas' voice said from behind close doors. I dragged a shaky breath then opened the door. Dorcas was fixed on her usual seat which was behind her desk. She gestured for me to have my seat at the chair which was provided for visitors and was located at the front of her huge desk. I sat down, waiting for the worst. Dorcas didn't help matters as she didn't speak up immediately. She kept staring at me, studying me.

"Do you know why I'm analysing you?" Dorcas added with a straight face while leaning on her office chair. I shoot my head, feeling really confused at the moment. "Why my brother likes you."

"Wha—" I coughed, choking on my spit. "Sorry ma'am, but what?"

Dorcas lifted a brow at my reaction, sighed and leaned forward with a frown. "I'm doubling your salary."

My eyes widened, "What?!"

"You heard me," Dorcas sighed, leaning back on her chair and rotating it slowly. "Unfortunately, your services are worth two hundred thousand naira."

Wow, I was dumbfounded. And here I thought I was getting fired but it turned out I was getting my salary doubled. What have I done to get two hundred thousand naira from the industry? I could hardly protect myself talk more less of Henry.

But who was I to reject two hundred Kay?

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What do you think of this chapter and the conversation Cherry had with Baby?

Was it right for Baby to call Henry, Christy's?

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Word count 2034

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-Eddy