Chapter 7 Chapter Five

Chapter Five

"It is okay to tell a white lie to protect a friend, lover or ally but also keep in mind that that lie might be the destruction of that relationship"

**************

Late March

Lekki

Lagos,

Amanda.

"Cheers to Mandy's Glam, I know it's going to be a success Mandy.  Everything you do is brilliant" Denola said proudly as he clinked his champagne flute with Amanda's.

Amanda grinned at him "I'm going to do everything to make it work, everything. I already have a list of clients and some competent staffs, I know that very soon I'll be able to pay back that loan" Amanda said taking a sip out of her drink.

Hakeem shook his head "Some months ago,  you two met right here.  Denola was heart broken and you were furious.  Look at you two now, best friends" he said with a small smile.

Amanda pinched Hakeem's cheeks playfully. "I'm glad I walked in here that night, fuming with rage and looking for the person in charge. To our friendship" Amanda lifted up her glass again.

Denola and Hakeem agreed and raised their glass. "How about your car,  did you manage to get a new one?" Hakeem asked curiously.

"I don't need a new car now, I don't even have a house of my own. I think it's best if I focus on my priorities first. One is to work harder so I can grow bigger, the second is to give Denola the money he loaned me with interest and the third is to get a new apartment, that's all for now. I can get another car sometime in the future" Amanda said.

"I love how you think, you're not like those empty brained girls that hang around me" Hakeem complimented.

Amanda chuckled along with Denola. "You know you don't have to get another apartment in a hurry, I enjoy having you around. I don't mind you staying for a few more years" Denola said.

Hakeem rolled his eyes at the two of them,  he still had doubts about their friendship. "He's just saying that because of your cooking skills, he brags about it all the time" Hakeem teased.

Denola laughed "I swear Hakeem you're something else, don't listen to him Mandy. He's insane" Denola said dropping his drink on the table.

Amanda nodded a little smile on her face. "Well, there is truth in his words. You brag about my cooking all the time" Amanda said.  Denola nodded in agreement as he watched her play with her hoops earrings.

She looked stunning as always, tonight her hair was up in a bun, her long creamy neck was in view. She was putting on a sunflower print chiffon blouse and blue jeans that did wonders for her curves.

The more he stared at her,  the more he wondered why there was no man in Amanda's life.  She was beautiful, brilliant , talented,  why was she still single?

They never talked about their love life, his was nonexistent and she was secretive. He could bet that she could be in a relationship and he would never know.

"Denola...are you listening?" Amanda asked pulling him back to the present. "I'm sorry I didn't get that last bit you said" Denola picked up his glass again and downed his drink.

"I said I'm not in a hurry to move out, I'm just bothered that soon you'll have a new miss and you'll need a lot of privacy" Amanda said watching him carefully.

She didn't want to admit it but she was curious, she wanted to know if he was seeing someone else.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there, I'm going to go downstairs to get some chicken suya.  You want to come with?" Denola asked getting up.

"No, sorry.  My heels are killing me,  I'm going to wait here. Remember I don't like onions in my suya" Amanda said bringing out her phone from her clutch.

Denola turned to Hakeem. "You coming?" he asked. Hakeem smirked "So I'm the alternative right? Of course I'm not coming, I'm not your side chick" Hakeem teased.

Denola rolled his eyes "I swear you're so dramatic, I wonder how I put up with you.  Would you like some suya?" Denola asked.

Hakeem shook his head "I don't feel like having any meat tonight" Hakeem said. Denola nodded and left the room.

Amanda busied herself with her phone. "So Mandy, where are you from?" Hakeem asked.

"I'm from Anambra state" Amanda replied her eyes still stuck to her phone. "You moved to Lagos from Anambra?" he asked.

Amanda nodded "Yes, in search of greener pastures" Amanda said getting uncomfortable with the questions.

"Denola.....I've known him since I was eighteen. He's not really open to a lot of people" Hakeem said. Amanda set her phone aside and paid attention to what he had to say.

"If he lets you into his life, his home, his everything. He really cares about you" Hakeem said.

"I care about him too" Amanda smiled thinking of how much of a friend Denola had been to her.

"Don't hurt him, be real with him.  Don't be like that betraying bïtch who fücked him up" Hakeem said.

Amanda sighed "I'm not Teni and I'll never be Teni" Amanda said. Hakeem nodded "You're nothing like Teni, Teni's betrayal hurt him. Your secrets and your lies however will destroy him" Hakeem stood up.

Amanda looked at him surprised "What are you talking about?" Amanda asked.

"I know a woman who is hiding secrets when I see one, secrets begets lies, lies destroy everything" Hakeem said before he walked over to the bar.

Amanda looked down at her toes. He was right, this Amanda Arinze was built on so many lies.

Those lies hid her ugly past,  she couldn't ever tell Denola the truth. He would never look at her the same again.

Denola walked in minutes later with two wraps of chicken suya. "Where is Hakeem?" he asked sitting beside Amanda.

Amanda faked a smile "I don't know, must have wandered over to one of his girls" she said.

Denola grinned "You know him too well already" He responded handing her a disposable fork.

"Can we leave now, I'm tired.  I'll eat the suya in the car" Amanda said. Denola nodded.

"Sure,  it's past eight already. I didn't want to say anything because you looked so happy. Congratulations bee" he said.

"You're welcome bug" Amanda grinned causing him to laugh.  "You're so cheeky, you're worse than Hakeem. I'll go look for Hakeem before we go" Denola taking her hand.

Amanda smiled when his hand touched hers,  she couldn't help the pinch of guilt she felt.

She wished she could be a better friend to Denola but she couldn't really, unless she opened up to him.

•••

"If you don't recognize the offer on the table and claim it immediately, someone else will see the potential in the offer and seize it"

**************

Early April

Victoria Island

Lagos.

Denola.

"Mum, I'm not coming. I'm tired and I really don't want to socialize today" Denola complained as he entered the living room. Amanda looked up from the lifestyle magazine and saw that he was talking on phone.

'Denola! It's just ten o'clock in the morning. What's making you tired, were you out partying all night?' his mother asked suspiciously.

"You know I don't do that, I really don't want to come to the estate today" Denola said.

'You don't have a choice, it's a family dinner. Just your grandparents, your dad and your siblings. You must be here!' she said and ended the call.

Denola groaned annoyed and dropped the phone on a foot stool.  "My mum doesn't know when to give up I swear" he said.

"What's wrong?" Amanda asked concerned. Denola rolled his eyes.  "She's organizing a dinner and she wants me there" Denola said.

Amanda sat up.  "Looks like it's no longer a choice, you're going" Amanda said. Denola nodded before getting up again.

"Would you like to come with me,  I don't think I can do this on my own today.  Usually Teni and I go together" Denola said.

"I'm not Teni" Amanda said narrowing her eyes at him. "I know that, you're better than Teni. I want you there" Denola said.

Amanda sighed "I can't meet your family, what are we going to tell them. I'm the girl who is living with you, they'll think I'm another Teni" Amanda said.

"Come on, we'll tell them you're my best friend. We don't have to tell them we live together" Denola said.

"What if they hate me?  you said you have snobbish relatives" Amanda asked looking a little worried.

"They won't hate you,  look at you. You're smart, independent and you own your own brand.  Plus my mum is a good cook,  she'll want to show off her recipes. It won't be that bad, I promise" Denola said placing a hand on her shoulder.

Amanda rolled her eyes before agreeing. "Okay,  I'll go with you. What should I wear?" Amanda asked.

"Something nice" Denola responded before walking away. Amanda got out of the chair and followed him.

*

"Relax you look beautiful" Denola said wondering why Amanda was looking tensed.  She was perfect, there was absolutely nothing to worry about.

"This is a first for me Den, I'm not tensed......well I am but just a little" Amanda said straightening her kimono. She was wearing a black knee-length dress and an African prints kimono.  She'd opted for sandals rather than heels, she didn't want to fall over from nervousness.

Denola pinched her round cheeks playfully  "You're here for me not for them. If they don't like you,  that's okay. I like you." Denola said taking her hand. Amanda smiled feeling a little relaxed after his speech.

"Let's go before my mum comes out to ask why I'm stalling" Denola said leading her into the house.

Denola's family home was extravagantly designed. Expensive chandeliers were hanging everywhere, the marble tiles sparkled under the lights. Amanda looked around appreciating the decor,  she understood why Denola didn't want this extravagance in his home. His family home looked and felt more like a five star hotel then a family home.

"Wow..." Amanda gasped amazed when she saw an aquarium built like a wall in the living room. The multi colored fishes that danced in the water fascinated Amanda.

"Are you for real, there's a freaking aquarium in here" Amanda said walking over to the aquarium. Denola rolled his eyes "I know right, honestly I wonder why every time I come here.  Why the extravagance? we don't even host guests here" Denola said.

Amanda looked around "You don't host guests here?" Amanda asked. "No we don't,  remember that huge building we passed after we went through security checks at the gate?" Denola asked.

Amanda nodded remembering the magnificent building. "Well,  we call that one Mayfair palace. That's where we have guests, parties and every other function. We have only family dinners here" Denola explained.

Amanda looked awed "Oh my God, you must be swimming in money. How big is this place?" Amanda asked.

"So big, I think it should be named Mayfair community rather than estate" Denola said sarcastically.

"Brother Denola!" Amanda turned when she heard the squeal.  She saw a little boy run over to Denola and jumped excitedly.

"Aj" Denola lifted his little brother into his arms. "God, you're getting bigger. What is mum feeding you?" Denola asked curiously.

His little brother laughed "Lots of food, drinks and chocolates" He responded wrapping his arm around Denola's neck.

"I failed my maths test, daddy was not happy" Ajose whispered. Denola sighed hoping his father was not pressuring Ajose like he had been pressured as a child.

The kid deserved to enjoy his childhood. "I'm sure you'll get it right next time, you did good in English right?" Denola asked.

"Yes, in diction and spelling too!" Ajose responded excitedly. "In that case, you're due for a gift.  How about we go out together next weekend?" Denola said with a small grin.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Ajose said excitedly. Amanda watched them with a small smile before turning to look at the aquarium again.

If only she'd had an elder brother like Denola.

"Well well well...look who decided to show up.  King Mayfair" Jadesola came into the sitting room.

Denola dropped Ajose carefully before turning to his sister. "So you got back from Sydney and you couldn't even come to my office to say hi?" Denola crossed his arms against his chest.

"I've been busy" Jadesola said eyeing Amanda suspiciously. Her brother had never been home with any other woman asides Teniola.

"Too busy for your own brother, wow.  Thanks for the love sis" Denola said arching a brow at his sister.

He knew she'd never admit she was in the wrong, Jadesola was as stubborn as a mule.

"I'm not the one who left his family" she said with a tiny smile. In that moment Amanda saw the resemblance between Denola and the petite girl  in the room.

"Jade, not tonight please" Denola sighed. Jadesola clicked her tongue "Where is mum?" Denola asked.

"She's where she is" Jadesola said.  Her eyes settled on Amanda like a hawk. Amanda smiled at her but Jadesola glared.

"I'm going to go get mum, Aj come on" Denola said . He turned to Amanda who was looking very uncomfortable. "I'll be right back okay?" he said.

Amanda nodded and sat down on a plush cushion. Denola left the room with his little brother while Jadesola stayed put.

"Hi, Jadesola right? Denola talks about you a lot" Amanda smiled at Jadesola. When Denola spoke of his sister, she imagined her as another version of Denola.  Calm,  level headed and composed.

Jadesola was nothing like her brother, she was beautiful, wild and had a daring look in her eyes as if she was waiting for a fight.  Her chocolate skin was designed with lots of tattoos, there were piercings on her lips, eyebrows, nose and several on both ears.

Amanda wondered if she had more, her eyes took in Jadesola's wild red hair and also wondered what her parents thought about it. Denola always talked about how strict his parents were.

"Are you done looking?" Jadesola asked irritated. Amanda flushed a little embarrassed "I'm sorry" she muttered. "You have interesting tattoos" Amanda complimented.

"Fück you" Jadesola hissed. "What are you doing here, who the hell are you, are you a work thing or another gold digger?" Jadesola asked rudely.

Amanda looked at the rude girl perplexed. "Look I don't know what the hell is wrong with you or what I did to you but could you please behave, for the sake of your brother. I don't want problems" Amanda said.

Jadesola scoffed "You don't know your place, you're just another bïtch.  A gold digging whörë. Glad to see my brother's taste hasn't changed" Jadesola said and left the living room.

Amanda gasped, she felt a sting in her chest.  It was anger, anger that everybody assumed she was out to hurt Denola.

She couldn't take it anymore, she wouldn't take it anymore. She was going to leave him,  leave his house, she had to.