Pelumi's Memoirs -18

Dear Readers,

I apologize for being kinda MIA these few weeks. The demands of Summer came calling. *Covers Face*

Looking to post more frequently but guys, we'll have to strike some kind of deal.

If you are interested in knowing what the deal is, let's meet at the comments section. Lol.

Happy Reading.........

                                                                                                                     ****

Pelumi slid into Ivan's Mercedes Benz car.

"Thank you!" she said to Ivan who had opened the passenger door, held it open while she took her time getting in and shut it after she was comfortably seated.

She could smell leather mingled with a fruity scent.  Must be the air freshener. Her gaze rested on it minutes later and she smiled.

"Are you okay?" Ivan asked.

"Yes, I am. I guess I'm just a little tired." Pelumi replied.

"Alright then, let's go eat. That should give you extra strength."

She watched as well-groomed fingers switched on the air conditioning in the air and adjusted the temperature.

"Is it too cold?" Ivan asked her when she sat with her arms folded at some point.

"No, the temperature is just right." She replied.

I'm only one call away. I'll be there to save the day

Superman's got nothing on me

I'm only one call away

And if you're weak I'll be strong.........

Ivan looked to the side. What was this song Cool FM was playing at the moment? A song that conveyed all the thoughts running in his head currently.

They were both quiet in the car as the song played on.

Ivan decided to break the silence.

"So why did you choose to work at Ferguson and Fletcher?"

"Well I didn't want to work in the bank. Don't blame me but you know, I'd heard tales about the marketing targets saddled on everyone who works in a bank whether you worked in HR or Corporate finance. 


I couldn't deal. I also considered consulting. Although the thought of traveling frequently and working at a client's site most of the time seemed appealing, I wasn't sure that's what I wanted. 

Since a beggar has no choice, I was in the process of applying to KPMG, PWC and the likes, when a friend told me about Ferguson and Fletcher. Actually, she had a lot of glowing reviews that got me thinking it might be worth it to apply. Story of my life!" Pelumi laughed.

"I'm glad to hear." Ivan said to her smiling.

"We're here! Let's go eat."

She was going to open her passenger door when Ivan stopped her. "No, please. I'll get it."

Pelumi frowned. Were there still men like this who held doors up and down? A Nigerian man for that matter? She had to be dreaming. She had been independent most of her life. Her mother had raised her to be independent and here she was being treated delicately by a man? 

She saw bright lights everywhere when she got out of the car. "Ruby's Place!" Pelumi uttered, thinking out loud.

"Yes, this is one of my go to places for Nigerian cuisine here in Ikoyi." Pelumi nodded and smoothed down her shirt. She had touched up the makeup on her face before joining Ivan on the ground floor.

They stood at the fountain area inside the restaurant waiting to be directed to their table.

"Table for two?" The waitress asked.

"Yes." Ivan replied her.

"Follow me please" she instructed.

They had just gotten seated when a guy walked up to them.

"Ivan Akenzua! The CEO himself!"

The guy hailed.

"Slayer! Slaying everything in sight since the 1980s."

Ivan shook his head. "Olisa, meet Pelumi."

"Hello, beautiful!" Olisa held out his hand to her. She shook it and said a small hi.

"I was on my way out when I thought I saw someone who looked like you just walking in." Olisa explained.

"Gotcha. Go ahead Olisa, we'll talk some other time." Ivan told him.

Pelumi wondered why he had called Ivan a slayer. What kind of nick name was that?

"Don't mind Olisa. He's got jokes!" Ivan said.

He handed her the menu and watched her while she went through it.

"How old are you? I know ladies don't like being asked their age but I've been trying to guess. He laughed self-consciously. "Twenty-five?"

"Nope, twenty-six turning twenty-seven in about five months." Pelumi responded.

"Ah, I'm close enough. I'm thirty-four. Do you think I'm old?'

Pelumi laughed. "Not at all. I thought you were older."

Ivan frowned a little, clearly amused. "And why is that?"

"Well, you are so accomplished and you're just thirty-four?" 

Ivan shrugged. Being born into a wealthy family came with its privileges but he kept the thought to himself. 

"So, what are you in the mood for?" He asked, looking into Pelumi's eyes, unable to tear his gaze away from her full pink lips.

 ****

Naetochukwu and Itoro were seated in the living room laughing hysterically when Pelumi walked in.

"Yo, cuz!" Naetochukwu exclaimed rising to hug his cousin.

"Yo yourself!" How did your Abuja trip go? I really thought you were going to surface when I was in the hospital." Pelumi stated.

"Hey Pelumi!" Itoro said, rising to clear the glasses she and Naetochukwu had been drinking from.

Pelumi replied her friend gesturing with her hand. "Hi Itoro. How did your day go?"

"So, so!" Itoro responded.

"Mehn, I'm sorry cuz. But you know, that's why I kept checking on you. Texting and calling. I thought you had accepted my peace offering!" Naetochukwu explained looking sober.

"You are forgiven." Pelumi said to him.

"Ah, thank goodness. Good grief!

But you know, Abuja is where all the money is. I met these folks when I was there. Mad connections! I had such a busy time!"

Naetochukwu picked something that looked like a brown object from Pelumi's hair.

"Mr Busy. Be there forming important person." Pelumi said rolling her eyes at her cousin.

"Cousin Dearest, don't be like that o!" Naetochukwu replied with a pleading look.

"Oh, go away!" Pelumi exclaimed, laughing, when her cousin didn't stop making funny faces. She laughed harder when Naetochukwu didn't stop and Itoro joined in laughing too.

"You shouldn't make me laugh so hard. My sides are still healing." Pelumi announced while still laughing hysterically.

"Oh, my bad! Do you feel better?" Naetochukwu asked, concerned.

"I'm still mending. It will take a little while. That's what the doctor said."

"Got it. I'm just grateful you are alive and well." Naetochukwu sighed.

Pelumi nodded in agreement.

"So, where are the goodies from Abuja? The kilishi I requested, did you bring it with you?"

"Oh dear!" Naetochukwu remarked. "I had completely forgotten."

"Really?" Pelumi asked him

“‘Ogbuefi’ like you, forgetting things?" Pelumi teased.

"What were you guys both discussing when I walked in though? Itoro, what was this dude telling you?Don't mind him o. He has a sugar coated tongue. He's here forming correct guy! It's all packaging!"

Naetochukwu feigned a hurtful look. "My emotions are wounded. This is just so cold, Pelumi. I mean, you are just going to 'de-rep' me in the presence of this beautiful damsel?"

"Ish!" Pelumi retorted. You are speaking English Language. Oya, where is my kilishi? Biko, no time for story o!"

"Know what ladies? We can grab some suya this weekend. What say ye?" Naetochukwu announced.

Pelumi hi fived Itoro. "Now, that's what I'm talking about!"

Naetochukwu cleared his throat. "So, Pelumi, who just dropped you off? Start talking!”

"Somebody." Pelumi replied.

"Touché! Like I don't know it's somebody?

It's quarter to 12am. I hope that somebody knows that you need adequate sleep at night considering you have to be at work in the morning."

Pelumi eyed her cousin. "When did you start sounding like my mum? Abeg, shift jor!"

Naetochukwu burst into laughter. "Somebody cannot play with you?"

Pelumi shoved him a little and side stepped him to walk into her room.

She turned back sharply. "It's late, Naetochukwu. Do you want to sleep here?"

"Sure. I hadn't planned on staying so late. But since yours truly chose to walk in at 11:45? What could I have done?" Naetochukwu stated spreading out his hands.

"Whatever!" Pelumi said, before walking off.

She was spent! She replayed the events of the night while she took a shower.

Ah, Ivan was a gentleman. He had treated her so very well like she was some sort of exquisite flower. There were no airs and they'd had many things to laugh about.

***

Tired, Ineye drove to Banana Island before realizing that he needed to punch in a code at the gates leading to the estate.

He picked up his phone and dialed Nkoyo's mobile number.

"Hey, Ineye! Are you outside?"  Nkoyo asked.

"Almost. I’m at the gate leading in. Okay lemme give you the pass code."

"Thanks!" Ineye said.

When he finally parked his car right outside the Akenzua family home, many thoughts ran through his mind. He was feeling somewhat jittery considering the fact that Tare hadn't been picking up his calls. She hadn't even replied his texts for one day since the last time he saw her. But as a confident guy, he couldn't let his worry show.

Ineye looked at the house while still seated in his car. The house was huge. If not that he knew the Akenzua family came from old money, he'd have said they probably made all the money they had from looting public funds like many of the rich Nigerians he knew.

He stepped out of his car and walked towards the gate. He tapped on it and the gateman opened the gate.

"Good evening." The gateman greeted.

"Good evening. Is Nkoyo at home?"

He barely completed his sentence when Nkoyo came out of the house.

"Hi! Hi!” Nkoyo greeted.

"Hey! What's up?" Ineye gazed at Nkoyo who was dressed in a gold halter neck top and black Capri pants. She looked great.

"So, I didn't tell you earlier but Tare was just made the President of the International Women's Consortium. This was just a get together I thought about. Call it a happy hour after work to celebrate."

Ineye nodded and smiled.

"Follow me, mister." She told him, beaming.

Ineye's eyes scanned the well-groomed garden they walked by. Such beauty!

He held the bottle of wine in his hands. Nkoyo hadn't collected it from him.

The smell of suya suddenly wafted into his nostrils.

Seated at the poolside were about a group of ten.

He saw Tare from a distance. She was laughing with people he guessed were her friends. They were about six ladies and four men. He followed Nkoyo's lead and they soon joined Tare and her friends.

"So... you know.... I was going to turn down the position o. You know me. I hate publicity. I....."  Tare was caught in mid-sentence when she saw Ineye.

He saw the expression of shock on her face.

Davido's Fall On you was playing.

Good Lord! Ineye thought. He had always alleged the song was funny. The 'Banana fall on you' line cracked him up so much.

He turned to Nkoyo. "Nkoyo, you said to bring a bottle of wine."

"Oh, you can give that to Tare."

"Okay...."  Ineye said hesitating.

He was going to say hello to Tare when one of the guests stood up and jumped in front of him.

"Hi ya! My name is Bimbo Cole." She batted her eyes at him. He called it the googly eyes.

"Ineye Ogbeha." He said to her. He looked at her and looked away slyly.  She had on a long weave and a face full of makeup. She was attractive but wasn't his cup of tea.

Tare walked up to him.

"Hi!" She said

"Hey you!" He replied and gave her the bottle of wine. Congratulations. Nkoyo gave the good news me about five minutes ago”

"Oh, thanks! It’s nothing more than adding extra activities to my already busy schedule."

Ineye laughed.

"Well, you get to be a big time society woman."

Tare covered her face with her hands.

"God help me."

Her life was a busy one. Too fast paced if anyone cared to know.

"Would you like something to eat?" Tare asked him.

"The smell of that suya seemed very appealing when I walked in." Ineye replied.

"Some of my friends also came with some dishes." Tare added. "Shola brought this lasagna that tastes like heaven. You should try it."

"Well, let's roll!"  Ineye winked at her.

"Excuse me." Tare said to him. "Be right back."

Arms akimbo, he watched the guy in charge of the suya roast the meat to perfection.

When he turned his head, he saw Tare watching him keenly where she stood talking to a lady. One of her friends, he supposed. He raised a brow.

She bit her lips and looked away.

Ineye wondered how someone could be sweet and also an enigma at the same time.

"Tare, we need to talk. Whenever you are ready. I'll wait however long it takes."

Ineye voiced out when Tare sat beside him.

"I'm sorry...." Tare muttered.

Ineye kept quiet. He wanted her to get it all out.

"I was a jerk the other day. I...."

Her voice trailed off.

Ineye smiled at her in a reassuring manner.

"We'll talk. Like I said, when you are ready."

Tare swallowed. She really was sorry for the terrible way in which she'd treated him in recent times.

Ineye saw a woman who appeared to be in her sixties approach them. She had on an orange and yellow tie and dye dress that was embroidered in the front. His eyes widened when he recognized who it was.

Good evening ma, he stood and bowed a little to greet Nengi Olivia Akenzua. The woman was a beauty even though she had aged from when he last saw her which was almost two decades ago. Gracefully aged was more like it.

"Wait o, I know this face!" Nengi exclaimed.

"You are an Ogbeha right?" Ineye nodded. "My God, look at you!" She hugged Ineye. "How are your parents?"

"They are doing well. They live in Ebonyi state now."

"Ah, is that so? I'll love to connect with them again. Let me leave you both to continue catching up."

"Tare, is Liyel coming tonight?  Mrs Jonathan told me her husband is looking for a company that can help manage their brand. I'll like to discuss with him." Nengi stated.

"Your daughter invited him I believe, but you know your son. He might not show up until later tonight."

"Okay, I'll call him."

"Ineye!" Nengi said patting him on the shoulder. "I'll be inside. Let me not interrupt the fun here."

Nkoyo made a face and they all laughed.

"What would you like to drink?" Tare asked.

Ineye played with the bead bracelets he usually wore on his left wrist.

"Sparkling apple cider will do."

"A'ight!” Tare said. You got lucky. This is about the last one. She arranged her loose hair strands and handed him the bottle of sparkling apple cider.

When Ineye turned round, he saw that the party had been joined by another guy. Recognition dawned on him and he whistled.

He wiped his hands with a paper napkin and walked towards Liyel.

"Liyel Akenzua, what a pleasure seeing you after all these years!"

Liyel squinted. He eyed the guy who stood about 5 inches shorter. He was dressed in a blue navy blue shirt which was tucked in blue jeans. He had on a brown belt and matching brown shoes.

His beard game was tight. It wasn't bushy like some other guys he knew.

"Ineye. Ineye Ogbeha from...."

The name rang a bell in Liyel's head.

"Oh!!" Liyel exclaimed.

"My man!"  He slapped Liyel on the back and hugged him. "Mehnn! Where have you been all these while?"

"Long story for another day." Ineye replied.

"I got you bro!" Liyel responded.

He was biting into the hot and spicy suya when he saw Celeste walking towards the pool area swaying her hips.

Good gracious! He thought. Who invited her? He looked at Nkoyo who was dodging his gaze.

"Nkoyo, but why?" He asked softly.

"Sorry?" Ineye retorted.

"Oh, not you. I was talking to this nosey sister of mine." He said, pointing at Nkoyo.

Ineye chuckled.