Two weeks later.

Toyin was bored out of her mind. She wanted to get out and party, but Sofi was not available. Sofi was super busy with work these days. Her company got a new CEO and the man who is a UK IJGB has been a huge pain in the neck for her. 

Sofi spends all her time and energy on scheming or coming up with new ways of maneuvering the new Boss without getting fired. Small company problems, Toyin couldn't relate. Arcon Inc. is so big that she probably wouldn't notice if there was a change in top management. Maybe the guys in the US Head office would experience some direct changes but she couldn't say the same for the rest of them working in Europe, Middle east and Africa. She was worried about Sofi, she has never seen her friend so apprehensive about her job before.

She called Bisola and her cousin, Farrah they met up at Baylor's Lounge for grilled croaker and drinks.

By 9:30pm Farrah had to leave because she had a 'video call' date with her Fiancé. Bisola was looking tired already but Toyin was not. She wanted to stay out longer, the weather was nice and the night was still young but these dry girls were dulling her. As soon as Bisola went to the bathroom she grabbed her phone and chatted up Osaze.

TY: Hey

Sugarcane: Read...

TY: It's me

Sugarcane: Read...

TY: Toyin

Sugarcane: Miss me?

TY: No

Sugarcane: Bye

TY: lol

Sugarcane: How are you doing?

TY: Good

Sugarcane: what are you up to?

TY: Hanging with my friends

Sugarcane: Why are you texting me today tho? Are you bored?

TY: ......Yes

Sugarcane: Come to your shayomaster naw

TY: typing......

Sugarcane: Forest rooftop bar, Ikoyi.

TY: typing.....

Sugarcane: I promise, I won't take you to my house again or make you do shots.

TY: lol. That's odd.

Sugarcane: ...except that's what you want?

TY: mad man!

It was a nice little eccentric rooftop bar, off Awolowo road with many plants. The entrance was hidden and didn't have any branding. She almost felt overdressed for the bar with her sleek hair, white jeans and white satin top.

The bar was not crowded like the one she was coming from, there was a wide screen showing football. He looked very handsome today in the warmer lighting of this bar. He was wearing a grey T-shirt and blue jeans with Pams as usual.

There was a bottle of Hennessy on his table and he was smoking. He put it off when he saw her.

"Looking good" He scanned her with a smile on his face.

"She flipped her weave and batted her eyelashes at him" The waiter brought the menu to her as soon as she was settled.

She has made peace with the fact that she is sexually attracted to him. He was not her type, and she did not see any future with him but she stopped blaming alcohol for that Friday night.

However, that doesn't mean she is going to act on the attraction again. infact admitting the problem has given her more control over the situation because now that she knows he is dangerous she will put in more conscious effort to not misbehave around him, or fall for his tricks.

She ordered for a martini. Just one glass, no more. She reiterated in her head.

"It looks like you want to follow me home today again," He said when he heard her choice of drink, looking up from his phone. He was always on his phone.

"I was fine the other day. It was you who made me do shots."  She had gotten rid of Bisola earlier, by claiming she was tired and wanted to go home. Bisola didn't even hide her relief when she informed her she was ready to leave. She and Bisola do not  gel like that. Whenever Sofi is not around and they don't have much to talk about so bringing their night out to an early end was kind of a win win for both of them.

He smiled at her again. His smile was beautiful. She wondered how he could have such pretty smile and be a complete wild monster in- Stop. stop. stop.

"As long as you don't throw up on me again" He feigned a frown.

She closed her eyes dying of embarrassment then mouthed 'I am sorry' to him. She didn't want to remember that part. 

"You know you owe me a shirt right? That was my favorite t-shirt"

"Is this one a favourite too?" she smirked.

He chuckled "Please don't vomit on me today. Just tell me to take off my shirt if you want to see abs"

She laughed hard. "Don't worry I am not getting drunk today. I have learned my lesson"

"But you came back"

"What?" The music was getting louder.

"You said you learned your lesson yet here you are hanging out with me again" He had that look in his eyes again. The look he had in his eyes when he cornered her the day she went to retrieve her watch.

The bartender brought her drink, interrupting them.

"So, what do you do?" She quickly changed the topic.

"I am a software developer" He answered. "I'm a freelancer"

She sipped her drink quietly.

"You?" Her mind skipped when he asked. She hadn't decided on how personal she was going to get with him. It's not like he is a love interest.

"I am a chemical engineer" She answered shocking herself for saying the truth. Why was she so comfortable with him?

He paused. He wanted to say something but he changed his mind. She wondered what he was thinking.

When she was about to finish her drink he said he was hungry and wanted to buy food.

"Isn't it late?" who eats around 11.

"I don't sleep early, plus I woke up 3pm today so?"

"Where are you going to get food, most eateries close by 10pm and this is 11:30pm" She tapped her watch. Today she wore a slim piaget she gifted herself for her 25th birthday.

He beckoned the waiter to bring the bill. "There's always food to buy on these streets of Lagos even if its 3am"

The waiter brought the bill and he gave him his card. She asked for hers but the waiter said it was already included in Osaze's. She protested bringing up the other day he paid for all the drinks. That must have cost him close to 50k.

"My treat" He winked at her.

"Don't think it will make me follow you home" She sneered.

He laughed. "I know you are bigger than a couple of drinks, your wrist watch alone can feed me for 3 months and-" He moved closer to her on the couch. "I don't know why you agreed to go with me that day, but I am certain it has nothing to do with my paying for your drinks or you being too drunk" He lowered his voice when he said the last part.

Ehen! He has started deploying his antics.

When the waiter returned his card, he stood up extending his hand out to help her up from the couch.

They walked along the street for a while, a couple of shops and street vendors were still open. Finally they found one street indomie vendor. There was a long queue and it was finally their turn. 

He ordered for stir fried indomie and gizzard. When the vendor started mixing up the ingredients, she started craving for it too. It looked good, but she does not eat carbs after 6pm so she was conflicted. He caught her salivating.

"Stop looking at my food like that" He nudged her with his shoulder. If you want, better talk now, I'm not sharing mine with you." He warned.

She hesitated a bit then he added "Stop forming, it is cooked properly. It is safe"

She nodded. Too embarrassed by her own long throat to voice out the yes.

The Vendor rolled his eyes as he tossed the spicy chopped gizzards in the air.

"Where are we going to sit?" She asked as they both picked up their foam packs and water.

"Sit ke? Do you think this is Cactus" He looked at her from the side of his eyes then added  "I know you're a Cactus-Yellow Chili-Shiro kind of babe."

He was right. Those were all in her top 10.

He found a bench behind the vendor's stand and pulled it out towards the street.

"I can't eat here. it's..." She looked around, there was open gutter, there was homeless guy sleeping on a carton, dirt littering everywhere. "It's dirty"

The vendor eyed her when he heard that and she eyed him back too. Did I lie?

"Why is he looking at me like that? He can't even buy ordinary plastic chairs and tables for his customers with all the money he is making"

Osaze signaled her to stop talking as he stabbed one gizzard with the plastic fork in the pack.

"What?" She lowered her voice "I Know one pack of Indomie is 60 naira, the Gizzard he used can't be more than 200 if we adjust for cooking gas, water and condiments he is definitely making a minimum profit of 500 per plate" A plate of the gizzard special is 1000.

"Leave him alone he probably has to pay the Alayes of this street, the policemen, etc"

She felt a little bit bad for criticizing the Vendor. However, she didn't take back what she said because the vendor eyed her earlier.

"We the regular customers are not complaining. Leave him for us like that" He stabbed another gizzard with the tip of the fork now wrapped in noodles. "Better eat up, cold indomie is garbage"

She finally conceded and sat beside him on the bench "You're a regular here?" Their arms brushed lightly as she dropped her bottle of water on the floor.

"Yeah my house is just across the street from the other end. Should we go there and eat"

"How is that your room different from this place?" She said casually.

He spit out the food in his mouth breaking into a fit of laughter, almost choking. She opened his bottled water joining him in the laugh.

"You're queen of savage," He nodded in defeat. "but I like it"

When they finished their midnight meal. She called an uber. He waited with her for the ride before he walked to his house.

⬇️⬇️⬇️ vote for ya girl.