Chapter 2 Two

KEMI HAD REALLY outdone herself this time. She looked around the house, taking in everything she had done herself.

Her engagement party wasn't a big one, but it was quite expensive.

Okay, maybe a little more than just 'quite'.

It had taken her exactly three weeks to make everything look so perfect.

It would have taken less than three weeks if she had not waited for her best friend to assist her. But she should have known better.

Ivonne was always too busy to even have lunch with her. Their friendship was a rather complicated one.

Though they met up in Ivonne's office-as Kemi's parents were business partners with them as well as major shareholders-but other than that, they kept in touch through calls and video chatting before bed.

Just thinking about it was enough to make her shoulders slump. She pursed her lips as she stood at the entrance of the door, welcoming guests. But for some reason, Ivonne seemed to have chosen death.

Kemi's phone vibrated and she quickly fished it out of her pocket. She hurried outside the house, far away from the loud music playing to answer her call.

"Ivonne!" she sneered into her smartphone. "Where are you? I don't like this. It's been almost an hour. You better get here fast or,"

"Don't kill me just yet." The voice came from behind and Kemi turned to see her best friend. Her eyes dropped lower and she took in Ivonne's outfit.

She was wearing a red v neck halter dress-her breasts fully displayed. The gown hugged her curves perfectly-clinging to her like a second skin. With silver block heels and her red pick-and-drop hair held up in a bun, she held a small silver purse and put on light make-up as usual.

"Oh my God!" Kemi found herself saying. "Are you mad?" she asked with playfulness in her tone. She eyed her boobs once more. They were very large and the outfit placed them on the market.

"A little decency would be nice. You're gonna give every man a boner there."

Ivonne's lips curved into a huge smile and she pulled a stunned Kemi into a hug.

"Well you're not looking bad yourself," she said and pulled away.

Kemi was wearing a white long-sleeve jumpsuit that hugged her breasts and small round hips. Her black shoulder-length wig laid across one of her eyes. She looked real sexy, and her small lips painted red added more to it.

Being a short lady, she wore a four inches maggie heel. Adding to her five'five.

"I thought you weren't going to come." She stated.

"Oh c'mon, I wouldn't miss your engagement party for the world!" Ivonne said with burgeoning excitement.

Kemi grinned, "Uh-huh. Come on, let's get you inside before you get stolen," when Ivonne giggled, she continued. "It's a good thing you didn't forget."

"Tell me about it."Ivonne said in a small panicky voice. Her eyes darted around as she avoided Kemi' s gaze.

"I knew it! You forgot, didn't you?" Kemi asked. Her index finger in Ivonne's face.

"N-No. Blame Patricia."

"Ah!" she placed a hand on her forehead and the other on her waist. Of course, blame the P.A. It was a thing with Ivonne.

Kemi couldn't call her 'irresponsible' as that was not even in the least of bad things to name Ivonne.

"No really. I knew there was something I was forgetting but I couldn't quite place my finger on it. I even put it in my schedule–"

"You put my engagement party on your schedule?" Kemi interrupted with a frown. "You're supposed to know that by heart. How could you? Ivonne, you'll never seize to amaze him." she shook her head and reached down to hold her hand.

"Come here."

Kemi rolled her eyes as she dragged Ivonne inside the house. She made her way to the stairs, not stopping for a second to attend to the guests. She had plenty of time for that.

***

"That is it, ooo," Ivonne threw her head back, emptying her glass for the third time while telling them what had transpired in her father's house.

"I don't even know what I'm going to do at the moment. I feel so confused and...lost." she added with her lips turned down.

Her brother, David was the first to speak, "So...my sister is dating Nelson Mandela?" He burst out laughing and no sooner, Kemi joined in. Both earned a frown from Ivonne.

"I'm sorry...i'm very sorry but, of all the names in the world, Nelson was the one you picked?" Kemi asked in between laughs. This was poor coming from the queen of liars.

Ivonne shrugged, "When he said to bring a boy home, my mind went straight to the Nelson in our company that's getting married next week. I wondered why a girl in her right mind would take him home to see her parents, hence the name. But what else was I to do?" she grumbled, shaking her shoulders vigorously.

"I had to say something," she pointed out. "Did you miss what he said, bring a boy home and we will discuss the matter!" With a groan, she took the bottle of champagne. Filled her glass to the brim, and gulped it down.

"Take it easy, Amaka. Drinking won't solve anything right now," David snatched the bottle from her.

"I honestly can't believe your father is doing this to you," Kemi said with quiet empathy and slowly she shook her head. "It's a good thing I'm the only child, I already have the company all for myself."

Ivonne glared at her.

"But yeah, this is about you, not me," she backed off quickly with a show of her hands.

"He knows very well that Daniella would wreck that company," David mused.

"Yeah, he said so himself," Ivonne chipped in. Her voice was distant, sounding lost in thoughts.

"Then why is he doing this?" David groaned.

"He said something about me and Daniella bonding" her brows twitched and she pursed her lips.

"Puh-lease!" Kemi scoffed. "That is never going to happen."

"Uh huh." Ivonne gave a nod.

"I'm just going to leave you two to talk. Maybe let off some steam together. I have to go downstairs to check on the guests," Kemi said and rose to her feet.

She reached for her drink and gulped it down. Placing the glass on the table in front of them, she turned to Ivonne, "Don't you dare go anywhere. I'll be back in a few minutes,"

Ivonne raised both her hands in surrender "Yes, Ma'am."

Kemi smiled and turned to David. She leaned down and placed a kiss tenderly on his lips.

Ivonne looked away immediately. Their sweetness could very well blind her for life. When she heard the door close, only then did she face her brother.

"Fucked, is not enough to describe your situation." David announced with a gloomy sigh. He leaned back on the couch and crossed his legs.

They were in his study.

Ivonne watched him for quite sometime, lifted her chin and asked what David still considered to be a very dumb question.

"Why are you getting married?"

At first he paused, more like froze as his body stopped all possible movement. Then slowly, he turned his head to hold her gaze. Confusion settled on his brows.

"What?" he asked breathlessly.

"I said why-"

"Jesus! I heard you for the first time. Can't believe you were gonna repeat that." he hung his head in shame for her.

Ivonne rolled her eyes. "I mean it. Okay. Then answer this," she leaned forward, "Why marriage?"

David furrowed his brows and his lips curled, "Er...What?"

"I mean you can stay single." She threw one hand lifelessly in the air. "Have kids. No cage,yet you still choose to be held a prisoner. I'm curious as to why you made that decision."

David blinked even as he still gaped at her, "You think marriage is a cage?"He asked and she nodded. Not sure why he found that surprising but he did.

"You cannot possibly find being together with the one you love as imprisonment." he informed and when she looked the least convinced, he leaned back on the couch.

"Let me break things down to your level," he began. "Have you ever fallen in love?"

She couldn't help the small smile that crawled on her lips "Do you even have to ask?"

"It's obvious," he informed and she shot him a sideways look.

"I clearly think that marriage adds unnecessary pressure to couples. It's either they are perfect or nothing." Ivonne spoke the words with a hint of disappointment in her tone.

"Love doesn't have to be perfect, Amaka," David pointed out. Still couldn't believe his little sister had that mindset all along.

"The couples don't have to be perfect. It's all about commitment and communication, responsibility and at the end of the day, you being able to make sacrifices and understanding when you're wrong-"

"Ugh!" Ivonne scoffed. "It feels like geography class all over again. Please make it stop." she placed her hands over her ears while shaking her head.

"Stop being so dramatic!" David huffed. "I'll be honest, I never wanted to get married. I didn't even believe in love because I had no time for it. But everything changed when I saw Kemi. I have to say, it was love at first sight. I love everything about that girl. From the top of her head, down to her toes."

Ivonne gulped. She smiled and folded her arms as she listened to him.

"I'm marrying her because I want her to be mine. I want to wake up each morning with her in my arms. I want her to stay with me forever. I want to grow old with her. Whenever I think of children, I see them with Kemi by their side."

Ivonne was at a loss for words. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.

David seemed to notice this and chuckled. "Seems crazy right? I know."

"Woah!" She managed to say. "Well, good for you."

"Trust me, I understand if you haven't felt that way for anyone. You have a big problem, sis. Best you notice it now before it's too late. I should say it's partly your fault," he said nonchalantly with a raise of his shoulders.

Ivonne was taken aback and recoiled at his words. She furrowed her brows and pushed her head forward "My fault? How exactly do you mean?"

"Well for one, it's not your fault you're a workaholic. You grew up with it. Then it became your fault when you harboured that spirit even after leaving your father's house." He narrowed his eyes.

"Mmm," was the only thing Ivonne could reply. She knew all of this already, but listening to it again and remembering their horrible childhood made her heart so heavy.

She clenched down on her jaw. "I still don't understand how I have a part in this being my fault."

"Do you have to be so impatient all the time?"

"Patience is not something I exhibit brother, you know this."

David just shook his head, "You really need this vacation, Amaka. Try to take a break from everything. Just go out, have fun. Do you know you're seen as a demon in that company? Like...literally the whole staff hates you," he laughed.

"And do tell, you find this funny because?"

"Ugh! You are such a killjoy!" he teased. "Have you ever heard of your nicknames?"

"Nicknames? What are you on about?" She asked with a brow raised. Her curiosity reached a new height.

"They fear you like a god who has come for blood," he continued laughing. "They literally call you anything that means 'witch' not minding the language."

"Are you being serious?" She became amused.

"You think say I dey joke?" *(You think I'm joking?) "They won't tell you because you'll fire them."

She shrugged, "True."

If she was supposed to feel bad about that, they might want to try a lot harder to get a remorseful feeling from her. 'Cause right now, she was feeling hot!

"Anyway, what was I saying?" She turned her attention to him and watched him think for a while. He scratched his neatly cut beard and swiped his tongue across his small pink lips.

His hair was cut down to the root and the edges were neatly visible. David was a very handsome man. He was fair in complexion and tall. Maybe about six feet. A few inches taller than Ivonne and Daniella. The two were five-ish.

He wasn't too built in body size. But she had seen his rock hard abs and also heard too much about it from Kemi.

One of the disadvantages of your best friend dating your brother. You get to hear about their sex life–she cut her thoughts right there!

"Ah yes. Sorry about that, I think I'm a little drunk. I was about to say that you should go out and have fun. Plus, you think you're happy being single? Think again little sister."

"Whatever! I don't need any man in my life, and the only reason I need one now is because of the company-"

The door opened and Kemi rushed in looking a bit shaken up. "Your Mother is here with Daniella. Let's go and meet them."

"Alright. How about my Dad? Is he here?"

"No my dear. I'm sorry he didn't show up," Kemi cooed.

"Nah it's fine. He already told me he wouldn't be able to make it, he's still recovering. But he'll turn up for the wedding. Let's go." David stood up and held her hand pulling her to him-

"For the love of God! Go already." Ivonne groaned.

Kemi grinned, her dimples popping out on both sides of her chubby cheeks, making her look cute.

Ivonne considered her brother a very lucky guy. He had a cute Fiancé and a gorgeous little sister.

"I'll be down in a minute." she said, " I just...just need to gather my thoughts."

"Ok. I'll be back in a few," Kemi yelled as she pulled open the door.

After they left, Ivonne reached for the champagne and filled her glass. She gulped it down in one sip.The talk with her brother actually made her feel funny.

The way he had described Kemi being with him was lovely. He almost made her realize how much she had denied herself all these years.

Almost.

She couldn't even remember the last time she was in a relationship. For some reason, men were only interested in her money and status while she was only interested in sex.

She did remember being cheated on once, in her own bed. The moron brought some girl to her house. She threw his ass out and got rid of the bed. Not like she even liked him enough to care.

He complained a lot and talked too much. Besides, it was just their second day of dating. It was because of a blind date that Kemi set!

During the date, she'd texted a lot, talked little, insulted his speech, and barely paid attention to him. And then when she paid attention, she condemned his outfit, ridiculed his sense of humor and left early without even telling him.

The next day, he somehow found her house and she left him all alone to go to work and when she returned, the moron had a girl riding him.

The ones that she mingled with were the ones she met in clubs. They were just there to have fun and so was she. In order to not drive them away, she would talk less. And that satisfied her.

But she wasn't getting any younger. August next year would make her twenty six years old.

Ivonne stood and began to pace the large room.

For once in years, she didn't think about paperworks, products, programmes, and firing people. Instead, she thought about a man.

One who could give her what she desired; her father's company.

Ivonne huffed. Placing both hands on her waist she paced for a while, thinking about what to do.

She turned her attention to the direction of the door when she heard it creak open. "Kems, I've been-" she stopped and her hand dropped in disappointment.

Her elder sister, Daniella stood there in a long sleeve, yellow gown. Her long legs on full display, she complimented it with block heels and it would take a miracle not to stare hard and long at them.

Her black round eyes darted over Ivonne's body and her crimson lips curled in a smirk.

Her face was perfectly pancaked with makeup, she was after all, the face of the company but Ivonne had the brains.

"You shouldn't mistake me for anyone else, dear sister. That's not a nice way to show love." Daniella said, making sure to gag after the 'L' word.

Ivonne rolled her eyes. She didn't want to talk with this drama Queen.

"What do you want, Daniella?"

Ignoring the question, Daniella closed the door behind her. Still holding her gaze, she sashayed towards the couch, sat, then poured herself a drink.

"Mmm," she hummed once she tasted it. "This is so good. I think I'll get this at home. Mike would love it!" She smiled up at Ivonne.

Ivonne arched a brow at her. Where exactly was she going with this?

"I don't suppose you came here just to tell me about Mike, correct?"

Daniella frowned "What? No, not in the slightest. I'm here to rub it in your face that you're a loner," she giggled while Ivonne scoffed.

"We both know that I am more than qualified to manage Dad's company. I have the brains for it."

"Well, nevertheless, I'm not giving it up without a fight." Daniella hissed.

"I'd love to see you try because no matter what, I'll still bag that company."

She thought for a while before sipping her drink, "I know."

Well, that was surprising.

"We both know that this 'bring a boy home' thing is just for show. I don't know what he wants to prove, but why don't we dance to his tone a bit". She faked a grin and giggled.

Not wanting to agree with her, even though she had no choice, Ivonne took her purse and walked towards the door.

"Are you leaving because of me? Oh don't bother. I don't plan on staying long." Daniella said, and quickly finished her drink.

She turned back to face her sister who stood up and held her gaze. Daniella looked a lot like their mother. Her small black eyes, oblong face, pointed nose, and pink small lips. Her flawless fair skin. She was busty, but didn't have curves like Ivonne.

Maybe that was one of the reasons why she hated her. That or the fact that their father loved her more?

Who knows?

"Don't let me ruin the rest of your day, little sister."

"No, don't worry about me. I just hope your presence here doesn't bring bad luck to the couple." With that, she walked out.

Walking down the stairs, she continued to think. Now more than ever, she needed a guy. Not just any guy, but a Nelson.

Why was her father doing this? He was trying to build something between herself and Daniella, but it was too late for that.

Plus, was he trying to imply that just because she was a girl, she wouldn't be able to handle the affairs of the company? The discrimination between males over females made her want to puke. It was obvious her

brother wouldn't be facing this if he were interested in the company.

But David wasn't interested in a skincare company. He loved mass communication. After leaving Dad's Company 6years ago, he had opened his own radio station which was doing really well.

"Uhm hello? Is this mic working?" She was just in time for Kemi's speech, or whatever it was meant to be.

Kemi hit the mic a few more times, "Can everybody hear me? Hello?". She said again, this time with a little pout in her voice.

"It's working," David said as he stood beside her holding a mic.

"Ok," she grinned. "On behalf of David and myself, I just want to say thank you, to everyone here. I'm sure you all have more important things to do at this hour but you chose to drop that to celebrate with us. Thank you so very much.

"Also... a special thanks to my bestie, Ivonne Johnson. I know she'd rather be in her office right now working her brains out as usual... I just pray it doesn't run away one day."

That made everyone laugh. Ivonne took a glass of wine from a waiter and raised it up, "To David and Kemi, and I hope my brain doesn't run away either."

"Cheers!"

Everyone cheered and the DJ continued the music. It was the cool jazz that Ivonne enjoyed.

From the corner of her eyes, she could see her mother and Daniella talking with some couples.

Daniella wore her fake smile. She was doing that thing where she smiled while her eyes widened and kept saying 'oh my gosh' in a purr.

Glancing down on her black wristwatch, she read it was 9 pm. She felt like going home, to the comfort of her king-sized bed.

"Ivonne," Kemi held her hand to gain her attention. "What are you standing around for? Come on, let's dance!" She wiggled her hips to the rhythm of the music.

Kemi was a terrible dancer, so Ivonne quickly stopped her before any of the guests could see.

"Kemi, I want to go home. I need to lay down my head, I'm just so tired."

Her black eyes immediately found Ivonne's. She searched her face for something, Ivonne wasn't quite sure what it was.

"Are you ok? Can't you stay for just a few more minutes? We could talk... oh.. we'll talk tomorrow as it is Saturday, but for now just feel the music. Have a drink. Don't think about anything."

Ivonne watched as she began to wiggle her ass, bending her legs and making herself shorter despite the heels she was wearing.

"Alright... but just a few minutes more."