Chapter dedicated to tamunosakiogaree guys check out her book THE VOID BETWEEN HEARTS and trust me it's bae.

~~Somi's POV~~

Today is todaying.

Yesterday, Madam Busayo had recommended me as she promised, for a more permanent job as a cook in one new place where they do only all those fitfam and healthy food meals for a select clientele. She kept apologising that it was short notice because the interview was today but I let her know that any notice was notice-enough. Plus, I just did it and I'm starting next week!

Just like that o. It's on probation for the first week sha, but who cares when I'll be working with the cute, polite, intelligent Dr. Jeff.

I have been smiling since we alighted the taxi and crossed the street. Sarima had noticed too and I have been on her neck about Jk and one fine girl I saw on his Instagram.

Bubbles. I mentally chuckled.

"Is this where the driver is supposed to pick you up at?" Sarima asked, looking to the left and right as if she knew what vehicle Adams sent his driver with.

Adams and I have been talking on the phone a lot lately. I even told him that I was at the brunch and saw them-Amina and himself. He explained to me that it was an arranged engagement and he wasn't into her.

Wasn't convincing but I let go, not wanting to seem like an entitled leech already. We just started talking.

Finding out that I knew about Amina seemed to make him even more impatient about us seeing each other again.

Me too.

"Somi is Adams_"

"Wait. He's calling, let me take it." I hushed her.

"Hey, he just pulled up at the junction. A black SUV. His name is Wale." Adams' voice filtered into my ears and the hairs on my neck respected it instantly.

"Oh, okay. I just got here too." I breathed

"Have you seen him yet?"

I did a quick visual scan of the area. Black SUV. Black SUV. Bla...

"No. Maybe he went to the wrong junction?" I said.

There was a small pause, Adams didn't say anything. I just heard his breath.

"Uhm... you know what, Somi? Share your location and I'll come get you now."

"Are you not at work?"

"Yes, but I hate the idea of you standing there. Last I remember, that area is not very safe."

"Can you just call him and_"

Sarima nudged me hard with her elbow, right where that foolish man hit me with his car door. "Ouch!" I turned my head towards her and I saw the gigantic black jeep slowly rounding the corner a few metres from us.

She mouthed sorry.

I rolled my eyes and waved at the driver.

"Somi? What happened? Are you okay?" Adams asked from the other side of the call.

"I see him... Your driver, he's here." I said, massaging the stinging spot.

"Great." He sounded relieved. "Can't wait to see you."

"Me too." I blushed

"Okay." He said

"Yeah. See you." I smiled, hanging up immediately because we haven't yet figured out how to end conversations without being awkward.

"Sorry." Sarima says immediately my phone leaves my ear.

"Na wa for you o. You and that idiot now, who better?"

"I said sorry na." She gave me the stink eye.

"I said sorry na." I mocked, imitating her voice with a sneer. "If una no kill me today, then I no go ever fit die again."

"Abeg shift all this one na because say_"

"Shut up." I shushed her as the big car came to a halt in front of us. "Behave."

"Hello, Wale," he waved as the windows wound down.

"Hello, yes, Somi." I smiled my angel smile. Wale reciprocated, nodding as he unlocked the doors.

"See you. Be safe." Sarima said.

Sarima was busy staring at the car, like she'd not seen a fine car in her life before. See this village girl.

I opened the door and got into the back seat. The difference in temperature was so heavenly and I could almost hear my skin sizzle. The leather chairs felt so sturdy yet so soft, the car was so automated and I had to pinch myself to borrow some class from my memory of Amina.

"See you later." I said to her and closed the door.

She waved until the car moved away, heading to Adams office where he managed assets.

Lagos was happening outside the tinted windows, people going about their day, buses bursting out from different lanes, but in a luxury vehicle, seeing Lagos was very different from the danfo experience. The elite have a different Lagos from the rest of us and today I was elite.

Today I have made it.

"Miss, do you want any refreshment? We have some snacks here." Wale said, pointing at the array of nuts and sweets lined up beside him.

Yes, Cashew Nuts.

"No. Thank you, Sir." I replied instead.

"Okay," he said. "You're welcome."

Wale looks like the average driver of a rich man. They always look humble and polite. But also educated. Danfo drivers have nothing on the manners of these guys. I watch him through the rear-view mirror, it reminds me of me and Adams the day he dropped me at my faculty and I smile as a wave of butterflies begin to flutter again.

"Are you comfortable, Miss?" Wale caught me looking at him and smiled.

He probably knows I was there to see Adams and also probably knows that Adams is engaged to Amina. He must think I'm one cheap girl.

How many 'cheap girls' does he have?

"Yes... Thank you." I smiled a half smile and he nodded.

Even if he knows about Adams' engagement, he doesn't know that I know. So if anything, His Oga is the hoe.

We're both hoes.

"We're here, Miss." Wale announced a few minutes later.

I look up at the building through the window and I can't even see the top. That's how high it was. All glass. Like all the other high-rises in the city. The vibration of my phone distracts me from feeding my eyes.

"I see you." It read.

Where is he?

I looked up, looking for him outside the window.

"Jesus!"

The knock on the other window startled me.

Adams.

He walked around, smiling, to my side of the car and opened the door.

"Welcome, ThatSomi," he said, calling me by my instagram username. I laughed.

"Impressive effort." I said. Then he took my hands and I stepped out of the car dramatically.

"Thanks, Wale." Adams gave a small nod and led me away from the car.

"Is this all your office?" I asked.

"Well_Kind of. Depends." He said.

We walked into the lobby and to the elevator. Adams walked very quickly across the floor and he had my hands in his so I had to keep up the pace else it would look as if he were dragging me.

Everyone that passed smiled and called him sir, but they didn't look too happy about me. The ladies in particular. I know their type. They like him, they want him, but they don't have a chance and now they think I'm an undeserving leech taking their prize.

Young girls like me, who are broke and beautiful, don't have very good PR in Lagos. So, I don't blame them. It's even worse knowing that he's engaged.

Thank God it's just engaged.

Sarima would never. I thought with a smile.

Well that's why I'm Chisom. Afterall, I was jejely on my own before all these started.

"Excuse me sir," A tall dark lady on a low cut approached us and Adams paused, She spared me a glance then continued. "Umm, I just got back from the meeting with the Trison oil management and I got the ownership documents which I just forwarded to your email. They're expecting a response from you soon."

Seemed like she was his assistant.

He nodded, then said. "I'll reach out to you later for more reports on the meeting. Thank you."

"Alright sir," She waited for us to go into the Elevator before turning around.

The elevator doors shut and we're in it alone, my hands still gripped in his.

"When are you going to let go of my hands?" I asked.

"When your pulse stops racing." He said

"Who's scared?" I smiled timidly.

"The artery in your wrist begs to differ."

He was right, my heart was pounding. I felt very out of place. And really, having the boss hold my hand made me feel better about the stares and the smirks littered around.

I squeezed his hand.

"I look like a poor intern who has found favour in the eyes of the billionaire CEO."

"Somi!"

"But it's true na. Your staff are looking at me like I'm one hoe."

"No way!" he laughed

"What? I'm serious."

"Somi," he turned to face me. Actually we were face to chest so I looked up. "I want you to feel comfortable here." He emphasised.

"Okay, I'll try." I smiled.

The tension was so thick in the air, I wondered if it was just me that was feeling it.

"That's it, the smile that keeps me up at night." He peered at me from under his lashes. "ThatSomi, you're beautiful sha."

"Adams!" I shoved him, looking away.

"What?" He asked calmly.

"I told you before. Stop saying things like that."

I'm quite sure my face was scarlet now, from all the blushing.

"So I should not say my mind or I should lie?" He asked.

Ding!

The elevator doors opened and I just decided to let my reply go.

"Just down this hallway." Adams said, still holding my hand.

The hall-way had lights placed at strategic places so it was dim, but bright enough to see the way. It was also so quiet. Only the sounds of my unsteady breaths and the reverberation of our footsteps on the rugged floor could be heard. The rug, a rich burgundy shade made my light skin in my black sandals pop against the richness. It looked so beautiful I couldn't help but look down after every few steps. The walls were like ceramic.

I touched it. Cold. Marble.

Further down the hall, picture frames hung on the wall with inscriptions describing who the photographed people were.

Adams.

"Look at you!" I stopped, immediately fangirling over the huge portrait in front of me. He wore his signature hair and beard trim, looking so dapper in a navy blue striped suit, I don't know what they call it but it doesn't look regular at all.

This is recent. It read: Executive Director Hassaid Groups

"Is this a recent portrait?"

"Yes, why?" He asked

"You look exactly the same. It's unlikely that you have looked the same way for longer than recently."

"Smart." He remarked.

I chuckled, "It's common sense, Adams."

"Doesn't make you any less smart." He said and I rolled my eyes.

"And you're the executive director?" I asked, "I mean I pegged you might be special since everyone was calling you Sir, but this is_I should be calling you sir too." I chuckled.

"Alright, madam." He bowed. I punched his chest lightly, laughing. "C'mon, let's go." He said, pulling me further down the dimly lit hallway until we came to a door with his name on it. It was the only door on that floor.

"The moment of truth." I whispered dramatically.

"You'd succeed as a narrator for those true crime shows Amira is crazy about. I'm sure you watch them too, most of you people do."

"Well, I don't. Cable TV is a luxury for now. I'm poor, remember?" My smile was tight.

"Alright, Cinderella." He opens the door into a stunning, stunning, jaw-dropping, office. "This is it. Where I manage my family's assets."

"Manage me, Sir." I said, walking into the office wide-eyed and jaw gaping.

I hear his laughter in the background but I'm just too blown away. The hallway overflows into the space with the rich rugging. The furniture is badass wood, maybe Oak or something expensive. Imagine wood so polished that I could see my face in it.

"You're like rich-rich." I added.

"Sit down please," he unbuttoned his suit jacket, showing me to the seat directly opposite from him.

"Thank you." I sit down carefully.

"Your most beloved billionaires have sat in that seat." He said

"I tap grace." I answered, chuckling. "I'm so proud of you. You're so inspiring. Like what! At your age?"

"First," He smirked, "I'm not that young. Secondly, anyone can do this if they were given the opportunities I was given."

Mr. Humble.

"I've said my own sha. So what are you going to offer me? You don't expect me to eat your files abi?"

"Champagne?"

I giggled.

"Punch?"

"Does it have alcohol in it?" I asked

"What? You don't drink?"

"I don't drink on first visits to strange men's offices."

"Touche!" He laughed. "Okay, how about I take you somewhere else? Somewhere... less strange?"

"Where?"

"Anywhere." He said.

"Serious?"

"Yeah. Where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere that's not my reality?" I said as a joke.

He smiled sweetly. "Do you want to go shopping? I mean I've barely had work to do today and might need to be somewhere else too."

I avoided his eyes.

"Do I make you feel uncomfortable?" He asked calmly.

"No," I smiled at him, nodding my response.

He stood up to my surprise, "Let's go. C'mon."

I followed him up. "But I just got here," He stood over me and I let out a small chuckle, totally out of breath.

"Believe me, you don't want to stay here and pretend to be interested in what goes on, around."

"Okay." I chuckled.

He stretched out his hand to me and I placed mine in it as we headed back out of the office.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Sarima's POV~

I huffed impatiently, un-squinting my eyes from the numbers on the card. The room was dimly lit due to the low current that had lasted for two days without interruption. It would be a totally different case if it were the standard full power.

This was the third time I guessed the missing number on the recharge card and failed. I'd mistakenly cleaned off one of the numbers from the MTN card I got while scratching it.

"Wetin be this?"

I looked up to find Onome grimacing at the fufu Homa had bought for her.

"Why e con flat like wetin I go fit carry fan myself?" She quizzed again, staring from her sitting position up at Homa, who was wearing an annoyed pout. "Nawa"

"I'm not going out again o, shebi I told you that 50 naira fufu is usually small around here__", she murmured the rest of her complaints, adjusting her blue jeans playsuit and dropping the nylon she came back with on the centre table.

My playsuit.

"Homa, is that not my cloth you're putting on?" I frowned at her.

A sheepish smile immediately rested on her face.

"I thought you already saw me in the morning." The change in her tone was sheepish.

"My wardrobe has become your boutique abi?" I wasn't falling for her pleasant smile. I planned on wearing this playsuit anytime I was going to see Kene. Now everyone has seen it on her body first.

No wonder she'd been so nice to me today, constantly apologising even when she wasn't at fault and not complaining anytime I sent her on errands.

I'd been too preoccupied. I hadn't noticed it on her this morning before she left for her work.

"You've tried nau" came my sarcastic comment.

"Abeg una get garri for this house, before this soup go col' finish__" Onome questioned no one in particular, seeming only interested in the soup she bought from a fast food restaurant in the street.

"Yeah__lemme get it for you." Homa dashed into the kitchen to make the eba for her as an escape from me.

I focused on the unused card in my hand as I tried to remember the numbers I'd already guessed so I wouldn't repeat them.

"Guess who's back bitches!" Somi flung the curtain at the entrance out of her way as she breezed into the dimly lit room.

I and Onome's head snapped to her figure at the door on her announcement. "Your one and only Somi-licious," she dipped in a dramatic curtsey, dropping the many shopping bags she held on the floor.

We both grinned at her. Onome started reaching for the bags.

"Ehn ehn__ehn ehn" she shook her head disapprovingly, shifting them from Onome's reach. "No do."

"Ahn ahn, person no fit see again?" She still reached for the bag ignoring Somi, who rolled her eyes at her and Immediately wore her smile back.

"Sha__ me and you no dey wear the same size," She concluded, settling on the bed to pull off her sandals.

"I no just blame you," Onome replied.

Somi chuckled. She was looking happy and, of course, very beautiful. The meeting with Adams must have gone well.

After our initial visit to the market and her supposed new place of work, she'd gotten a call from Adams to meet up.

"Adams sends his regards," she directed at me.

I nodded.

"Wow, let me see that," Homa, who had gotten out of the kitchen on hearing Somi's voice, grabbed the black stiletto Onome brought out from the bag.

I enviously eyed how well my playsuit fitted her before focusing on her face.

"This is mad!" Homa exclaimed, inspecting the shoe, and then squinted her eyes to read what was written on the label. "69,000 Jesus!"

My eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

"You say?" Onome grabbed it from her to confirm.

"69,000 naira Somi, how much is our rent?" I questioned.

"What?" She seemed surprised, too, collecting the rest of the things from the bag and inspecting the prices with a frown. "He must have slipped these ones in, while we left, I picked cheaper things. I didn't know these ones cost this much."

I'd already made my way to the bags she brought, abandoning the recharge card and my phone on my sewing machine.

I checked out some of the dresses from the bag.

35,000__40,000

Really?

They were' beautiful, no doubt, but the prices. Omo

"You mean he spent this much on just dresses, shoes, and accessories for you?"

"Mehn, I don't even know." She reached for her phone and started texting. I'm guessing a message to him.

"Hmm cake," Homa brought a carton of cupcakes from another bag. "This your hang out abi date was lit o"

"My fren drop my cake and shift," Somi gave her the stink eye.

"Dah one concern you," Homa replied, still smiling as she got one out of the carton.

There was a bouquet of fresh roses too.

My phone began to ring, and I reluctantly went to get it from the sewing machine.

Unknown number.

I swiped to the green icon.

"__And she answers," came the familiar voice of Ayo from the other end.

Oh

"Hey," I spoke up guiltily, going out to the balcony because of the noise from the girls in the room.

"Do you just dislike someone even without getting to know that person?"

I remained quiet, staring at the tiny insects gathering on the dimly lit bulbs of a house downstairs.

"I guess I should just stop. I've bruised my ego enough__ I'm sure you wouldn't have picked up if you'd seen my name on your phone screen__."

"__I'm sorry, it's not really how you think__I__, well__"

"__Sarima, it's fine. I understand if you don't want anything to do with me, you don't need to come up with excuses, and all__it's okay" He sighed.

He was good at this guilt-tripping business.

"Okay, fine, let's hang out," I held my breath.

A pause followed.

"You really don't have to, you know."

"I insist, except you're not interested" I cringed at how I sounded.

"Wow," he sighed again. "She means it" He spoke like I wasn't within earshot.

"How about tomorrow?"

"No, I'll be occupied__ let's make it next week."

"Next week__my schedule next week is kinda tight. Oh__yeah, there is this event. My friend has an engagement party. I'd like you to come with me, please"

My heart sank.

I was expecting something else. I just wanted us to hang out quickly and go our separate ways. I didn't want to be known among his circle of friends.

"I'll think__err, okay__alright"

"So easy?" He chuckled.

I was surprised as well.

"Big ups, thank you!" he repeated like I was doing him a big favour. "I've got something to attend to. We'll talk some other time if hopefully, you pick up."

I chuckled, "I will."

"Alright, bye."

"Bye."

The call disconnected.

Arrrghh!

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