Lola finished dressing up. She took her phone sending two messages to two different people

We need to talk

She sent this to Monica

After talking to your dad about the proposal,he asked me to meet him in his office today. I will call you for meet up after speaking with him

She sent this to Daniel. She left her room going to the sitting room to meet Sarah engrossed on the movie she's watching

"I will see you later,take care of the house"Lola says

"I will"Sarah replied nodding "I have apologize to Monica and now we are cool"

"That's good"Lola replied bending down to wear her stiletto properly

"Did my mom called you?"Sarah asked

"No why?"Lola asked looking confused

"When I went over to Monica's place,mom called informing us Christian is bringing a woman home next week and she want all of us there"Sarah said and Lola chuckled

"My mom told me about it. Aunt Victoria called too but I will be very busy next week. I have a court case"Lola says

"Too bad,you will miss the get together. Raphael is coming home too and Jide"Sarah said and Lola shrugged

"I will see them during the wedding time"Lola said "see you later"she added walking out of the house.

She took a cab that took her to the Oge and sons industrial company. Lola came out of the cab looking at the gigantic building before her in awe. This is not the first time she's going to step her foot in this company but she always have the feeling like it's the first time.

She went inside the building to meet different people of different races clad on a befitting corporate dresses. Everyone were walking hastily like the building is on fire. No one spare her a glance everyone in haste. She took the lift to the 10th floor.she remembered vividly that's were Mr Ogechukwu's office is located. She came out of the lift to meet his secretary

"Good morning"she greeted respectfully

"Morning ma'am. How can I help you?"the polished Secretary asked

"I'm here to see Mr CEO. He's expecting me"Lola replied. The secretary nodded dialling some number,she talked with the person on the phone before ending the call

"You can go inside"The secretary said and Lola gave her a curt smile.

She gently pushed the door open and met Mr Ogechukwu lazily sitting on his rotating chair,his suit nicely placed on his chair left clad on a button up shirt and a jacket

"Miss Taiwo"Mr Ogechukwu said standing giving Lola an handshake. He gestured Lola to sit down and she did.

"I thought about what you said"Mr Ogechukwu said and Lola nodded. The similarities between Daniel and his father is very obvious for a blind man to see,Daniel took his height and every other physical features except for his skin colour. Mr Ogechukwu is fair in complexion while Daniel is caramel, Daniel took his mom skin colour

"So. What do you think?"Lola asked giving him her undivided attention

"It's a nice idea but it won't be easy. I'm more at a disadvantage"Mr Ogechukwu said and Lola got confused

"My company went into bankruptcy and the Fairshare industrial company gave me an helping hand. The money used to lift the company back mainly came from the company"Mr Ogechukwu said and Lola nodded understanding where Mr Ogechukwu is heading to "I wasn't the one that proposed the marriage, Mr Ozokwor did. He thinks letting his only child to marry my only son will stopped his money going into waste like that. He believes I won't be able to pay him back"

"This is complicated sir. Have you tried talking to him. This is for the wellbeing of the two parties involved, any of them might feel like ending the marriage if it's not right for them"Lola said

"I briefed him about it and he said he will see me in my office"Mr Ogechukwu said and his telephone rings,he picked the call muttering a 'let him in'

The door opened and Lola saw a short round man,the man is slightly obese he is an opposite of Mr Ogechukwu. Mr Ogechukwu is a tall lean man filled with muscles of old age while Mr Ozokwor look like a malt bottle

Mr Ogechukwu and Mr Ozokwor exchange greetings. Lola's eyes finally landed on a man standing behind Mr Ozokwor,he's probably in his thirties and it's obvious he is Mr Ozokwor's lawyer

The four of them sat down and Lola briefed them again about the reason of them meeting up.

"Having a loophole is not a bad thing"Mr Ozokwor said slowly massaging his hairless beard

"I thought so too"Lola replied

"The loophole can be made very simple. Whoever turn away from the agreement will pay the sum of five billion naira"Mr Ozokwor said. Lola and Mr Ogechukwu's eyes went wide

"That's too much. It will lead one of the party into bankruptcy"Mr Ogechukwu said dismissively

"The reason why Mr Ozokwor here wants five billion naira paid is because it will prevent the agreement from getting nulled"Mr Ozokwor's lawyer known as Felix said

"I don't understand"Mr Ogechukwu asked and Mr Ozokwor chuckled quietly

"This arrangement for our children to marry and join our companies is to strengthen and grow our business,them growing apart will cause a lot of havoc to the two companies and to prevent them from doing that this loophole must be made. Non of them will be able to rise five billion naira individual and end the marriage,so they will be stuck together"Mr Ozokwor explained like the good business man he is. Everywhere went silent everyone taking in what Mr Ozokwor said

"So the loophole is just to calm the two parties down, it's not really a loophole but a trick to make them stay together"Mr Ogechukwu said and Mr Ozokwor's face lit up in a sinister smile

"That's it."Mr Ozokwor said

"It's a deal done then. It will be left for our lawyers to draft out this new contract"Mr Ogechukwu said and Lola almost face Palmed. This is not what Daniel was expecting

"Yeah that will be great"Mr Ozokwor says.

******

Monica quickly took a cab that took her to her apartment,she didn't waste time thinking about what happened between her and Daniel and rushed into her room to get herself ready for the date. She threw her previous clothes on the floor changing into a short gown. The applied powder and lipstick to her face and lips grabbing her phone,she also applied her perfume.

Suddenly hearing a knock on her door. She  quickly went to get the door and met Israel standing at the other side of the door. He's clad on a black chinos trouser and a royal blue button up shirt. He has a very wide smile plastered on his face.

"Should we go?"Israel asked

"Yes"Monica replied smiling back at him. She locked her door following Israel to his car. She entered his car and fell in love with the car stereo immediately,the car look cool and costly. She's not the type to know car models so she couldn't place a name on it.

Israel entered the driver's seat and drove out of her apartment out of the school campus. They drove silently each of them in their own world,Monica noticed Israel is a very focused driver

They finally stopped in a very posh eatery. Israel came down from the car immediately going over to open the door for Monica like a gentle man. Monica smiled at his kind gesture.

They entered the eatery and took a seat,the waiter rush over to meet them immediately taking their orders

"This place look fantastic. The colour combinations is beautiful"Monica said and Israel smiled

"I'm happy you like it"Israel said and Monica gave him the bad eye

"I love it not like Mr"Monica said and they both bursted into laughter. Soon enough their order came and they started eating slowly.

Monica suddenly felt a chair making a shrieking sound and the last person she expect to sit next to her did. Her mind wandered back to the day she went to the club and the blood in her face drained immediately

Israel look from Monica to the man sitting beside them looking confused. He felt what the man did is rude

"Michael what are you looking for?"Monica asked seething

"I saw you and I came over here,who's this gentle man"Michael asked and Israel frown immediately

"It's non of your business Michael! Get out!" Monica said angrily and Michael laughed

"Is he your new sex toy? Does he know about us?"Michael asked and Monica gaped at him. She can't believe what just came out of his mouth

"Michael you better get out of here before I do something we will both regret"Monica said threatening and Michael raise his hand up in a mocking manner

"I will go if you spare me your five minutes"Michael said and Monica snorted scowling at him

"Get out!"Monica warned again. Israel gently placed his hand on Monica's arm

"Give him the five minutes and dispose him. I wouldn't mind"Israel said and Monica gave him a grateful smile

She stand up walking out of the eatery and Michael tagged along immediately. Michael pushed her to the wall immediately they left the eyes of everyone in the eatery. Monica whimpered at the pain emitting from her back

"What do you want?"she asked trying to control the tears coming out of her eyes. The impact was very painful

"Give me your contact and we will talk about this"Michael said in a threatening voice.

"We have nothing to talk about and I'm not giving you my contact"Monica said and Michael sneered pinching Monica's arm painfully, rubbing her back on the wall causing her back to bruise. Her eyes glisten tears threatening to fall "give me your contact now!"he roared and Monica jumped fearfully

"Give.... Give.... Me..... Your.... Pho....pho..... Phone"Monica said fearfully and Michael smiled triumphantly. He handed his phone over to Monica and she typed her contact in it,Michael called and confirmed it's her's before walking away.

Monica almost fell on the floor but she controlled it. She wiped her tears away before walking back into the eatery. She met Israel patiently waiting for her

"Who is he?"Israel asked as soon as she sat down

"Someone I don't want to talk about"Monica replied and Israel nodded respectfully letting her be

They finished their date in less enthusiasm,Michael really spoiled the mood and now Monica wished for nothing but being wrapped up in her bed

Israel drove her back to her apartment and Monica came down from the car

"Thank you for today I really appreciate"Monica said and Israel smiled

"I should be the one thanking you for letting me to take you out on a date"Israel said and Monica smiled genuinely

Israel took a great step closer to her wrapping her in a hug,she hug him back before taking a step back. Israel lean down to kiss her and her heart start panicking,her mind wandered to Daniel and she turn her face immediately, Israel's lips landed on her cheek. Israel cough shortly at the awkwardness

"See you tomorrow"Monica said taking two steps back

"See you tomorrow"Israel repeated and Monica rushed back into her apartment

******

Daniel saw his phone screen lit up,he took the phone and met a message from Lola

It didn't go as planned, this might really get bad for you. See me tomorrow

Daniel reread the message twice before throwing the phone into the bed. He got anxious immediately