*EPISODE 10*
(CLICKED)
While Leo was driving Precious home, he kept staring at her wondering where he had seen her face before.
“Why are you staring at me like that?.” Precious asked wondering if all was well.
“Have we met before?.” Leo asked.
“Oh yes. We just met at a club last night. Can you now focus on the road?.” Precious replied.
“That’s strange. I’m sure I’ve seen this face somewhere. But I just can’t recall where in particular.” Leo thought to himself.
“It seems like you love clubbing and you are fond of patronizing prostitutes.” Precious said looking away.
“Hahahaha.” Leo burst into laughter. “Then is it safe to say that you love clubbing as well as getting yourself completely drunk?.” He asked.
“Well, that’s not funny.” Precious said clicking her tongue at him.
“And you think yours was funny?.” Leo questioned.
“Can you please focus on the road and stop talking back at me?.” Precious said.
“Have you heard of Click date app?.” Leo asked trying to satisfy his curiosity.
“Yes of course. That was the matchmaking site that connected my friend with her current fake husband.” Precious said rolling her eyes.
“Fake husband?.” Leo asked looking at her with curiosity.
“Yeah. Rather than finding true love, she chose to go into a one year contract marriage with the guy she met on Click date app.” Precious said.
Hearing this, leo quickly slammed on the brakes and his car drew to a halt.
“What’s your friend’s name if I may ask?.” Leo asked with curiosity.
Precious was completely confused as to why Leo suddenly brought the car to a halt.
“Her name is Tricia Balogun. But why did you stop the car?.” She asked looking at leo with lots of curiosity written all over her face.
“I said it. Now I know why your face looks familiar. It’s because I know you and we’ve met before.” Leo said smiling profusely.
“Where exactly?.” Precious asked folding her arms.
“You were present at Jeff and Tricia’s court wedding right?.” Leo asked smiling as if he had won a lottery.
“Yes of course I was there. After all, Tricia is my best friend. And I wouldn’t want to miss her wedding for anything. Be it fake or real.” Precious said. “But, how did you know that Tricia got married to Jeff?. Because from what I know, their court wedding was extremely private. It was a very quiet wedding that had few relatives and close acquaintances in attendance.” Precious said.
“Well, the thing is, Jeff’s wedding was rushed. And the vibe and everything wasn’t there. It was more like everybody were minding their business.” Leo said.
“Yeah I know. Maybe because the marriage was based on contract and not true love.” Precious said rolling her eyes.
“Well, I’m Jeff’s best friend. And more importantly, I was the one who added Jeff to click date app. So it’s safe to say that, I’m more like the force behind the whole matchmaking thing.” Leo said.
“Really?. Same here. It was I who added Tricia to click date app.” Precious said not believing her ears.
“What a beautiful coincidence it is. I’m leo and you are?.” Leo asked stretching forth his hand for a handshake.
“I’m precious.” She said putting her palm into his.
“Nice meeting you Precious.” Leo said smiling profusely at her.
“Same here Leo. And please forgive my manners and the way I talked to you earlier. I thought you were…you know…?.” Precious said not knowing how to put it.
“It’s fine. We are both at fault here. I also owe you an apology for thinking you were….you know?.” Leo said smiling and they both burst into laughter.
Back at Jeff’s house, Tricia was preparing breakfast when Jeff’s mom walked into the kitchen to join her in cooking.
“Good morning my wife.” She greeted from behind walking up to Tricia who turned wearing a bright smile.
“Good morning Mom. How was your night?.” Tricia enquired.
“My night was splendid. And that’s all thanks to you my darling daughter in-law.” She said placing her palms on Tricia’s shoulder.
“Mom I’ve done nothing to receive all these praises from you.” Tricia said bowing her head.
“Shhhhh. Don’t say that my child. You’ve done a lot for me and my family. And I feel so indebted to you for helping my son overcome his past and helping him embrace love again.” She said lifting Tricia’s face with her palm.
“What do you mean by helping him embrace love again?.” Tricia asked looking steadily into the eyes of Jeff’s mom.
“Has Jeff not made mention of kemi to you?.” She asked surprised.
“Not yet mom. Who is Kemi?.” Tricia asked with curiosity.
“Hmmmm.” Jeff’s mom took a deep sigh and walked few steps to the left corner of the kitchen. Then she paused and walked back to where Tricia stood.
“Kemi was Jeff’s best friend and one time lover. They were both fond of each other and they were literally, inseparable. I don’t know how to put it. But the love they shared was surreal. It was immeasurable and undescribable. My son built his entire life around Kemi who he described as the woman of his dreams. He said he found joy and fulfilment being with her. And her existence brought him nothing but peace of mind. He brought her home and introduced her to us. Afterwhich, they both started planning on getting married. But surprisingly, she got missing the very day we were supposed to pay her family a visit in order to carry out her marital rites. And since then, my Jeffery has been blaming himself for being the cause of her disappearance. He decided to punish himself by not getting married with the hope that Kemi would one day return to him. It wasn’t easy trying to talk him back to his senses. My son almost ran mad. He waited for her return for good five years. And I was beginning to lose hope of ever seeing my grandchildren before God sent you into my home. I really don’t know how you did it. But I want you to keep doing whatever you did that made my Jeff to give love a second chance.” She said.
“But why mom?. Why does Jeff blame himself for kemi’s disappearance?.” Tricia asked.
“That’s because, they agreed they would both be traveling to her place during the weekend. But an important business appointment came up and Kemi had to go alone.” She said.
“So Jeff thought if he had gone with Kemi, then she wouldn’t have gone missing?.” Tricia asked.
“Exactly.” She nodded.
“But that’s not his fault in anyway.” Tricia said.
“Unfortunately, Jeff thinks otherwise. Kemi’s disappearance still looks strange to me. There was no accident or any call demanding for ransom. We just heard that she didn’t return home. And that was it.” She said.
“That’s strange. It’s more like she’s still alive somewhere.” Tricia said.
“Well, that doesn’t matter anymore. Because you are now here. And Kemi is now a thing of the past.” She said smiling at Tricia. Who gave her a quick smile.
“Unfortunately mom. I have no place in Jeff’s heart. I know this is a contract marriage. But I don’t know why I’m jealous of Kemi. I guess it’s because I’m no match for her and I can never be like her judging from how Jeff treats me.” Tricia said to herself.
While they were having their breakfast in the dining, Tricia kept stealing glances at Jeff. She didn’t know if what she felt was pity or jealousy. But all she knew at that moment, was that she felt something in her heart. She kept staring at Jeff till he raised his head and his eyes caught with her stare. And immediately, Tricia looked away hurrying over her food.
“Weirdo.” Jeff said smirking at her.
Later in the day, Jeff was in his office when leo came knocking at his door.
“Yes, come in.” He said focusing on the documents in front of him.
“Jeff my man.” Leo hailed walking into Jeff’s office.
“Leo.” Jeff responded with his eyes fixed on the documents.
“Why is your whole attention focused on that document?. You are making me feel jealous.” Leo said pulling out a seat in front of Jeff.
“That reminds me. Why were you late to work today?. I dropped by at your office when I arrived in the morning and I was surprised to have met your absence instead.” Jeff said closing the file before him.
“Well, that’s because, I had a strange and unusual encounter with someone today.” Leo said blushing from ear to ear.
“Hmmmmmm!.” Jeff sighed placing his elbows on the table with his chin resting on his folded hands. “Why do I feel like there’s something fishy about this particular someone whom you encountered?.” Jeff said casting a suspicious look at Leo who burst into laughter.
“Come on man, as weird as this may sound, trust me, nothing fishy happened.” Leo said smiling profusely.
“Did I say something happened?. Or is someone’s conscience biting him already?.” Jeff asked still staring at Leo.
“Okay okay. So what happened was that, I went to the club last night, and I met this girl whom I mistook for all those hook up girls. So I negotiated with her and took her home. But she fell asleep the moment her head rested on my bed…..” Leo said.
“…..sounds like someone I know.” Jeff interrupted referring to Tricia.
“….so I left her to sleep hoping that we would get into work this morning. But guess what, she turned out to be precious. Tricia’s best friend.” Leo said.
“You don’t mean it.” Jeff said with his jaw dropped in surprise. “How did this happen?.” Jeff asked totally surprised.
“I’m as shocked as you are. But the good thing is, we got to exchange contacts. And I’m hoping that something might spring up from there.” Leo said.
“So you were the guy she was telling Tricia about on phone. I didn’t get to hear her own side of the conversation, but from the way Tricia talked, I could easily tell that something was wrong.” Jeff said.
“Tell me did she say bad things about me?.” Leo asked leaning forward.
“How was I supposed to know when I only heard Tricia’s part of the conversation?.” Jeff asked relaxing back on his seat.
“Speaking of Tricia, tell me. How did it go?.” Leo asked adjusting his seat.
“How did what go?. Please Leo I would prefer if we don’t talk about Tricia and all her dramas.” Jeff said placing his palms on his forehead.
“Why?. What happened?. Was she hot and seductive last night?.” Leo asked dying of curiosity.
“Seductive?.” Jeff scoffed. “It was more like a knock out or boxing experience.” Jeff said.
“Really?. So you both had it hot hot?.” Leo asked feeling excited.
“Cut the crap dude. Tricia’s dramas are way beyond me. And like I said, I rather not talk about it.” Jeff said with a serious tone.
“Okay. If you don’t want to talk about it then let’s forget about it. So, how about your mom?. How are they getting along?.” Leo questioned.
“As they should.” Jeff replied.
“Arrgh. You are such a joy killer. Is that how to gist someone?.” Leo lamented looking frustrated.
“That’s because this is not a drinking joint where people gossip. This is an office where only business transactions are meant to be discussed.” Jeff said.
Few moments later, Jeff was getting ready to meet with some foreign investors.
While he was arranging the necessary files and documents needed for the business negotiations and agreement, he then discovered that he had left one of the files that contained some important documents at home.
Jeff knew that going back home to pick those documents, would only keep the investors waiting. Now he was left with no choice, but to seek the help of Tricia.
