"Everyone you can take a break" she shouted after the last shot, her voice strained from fatigue.

"We needed it" her assistant said as everyone moved around to get something to eat. She smiled at Sukanmi then looked back at the computer.

"We have been working for over six hours" she said.

Two years ago, after her arrival from California, her father had opened a photography studio for her. She had studied photography in University of California, Los Angeles. It was her dream, her passion and something she loved doing with all her heart. Within that year, she had gained her stay in the photography world, documenting events and places, performing photo shoots and taking pictures of events. She loved to convey emotions through photographs.

"Here" he gave her a bottle of chilled water.

"Thanks" she smiled.

"The pictures are nice" Sukanmi looked at a picture displayed on the screen. "Jamie got the right models for the job. I love their poses especially the fair skinned. She had this unique way she flows with the camera"

"The camera loves her. You all did a wonderful job"

"Thank you ma" Sukanmi blushed at the compliment.

"Madam" someone called from behind. Lola turned around to look at who the voice belong to. "Mr Lolu is here to see you"

"Lolu?" she got up heading out. Sukanmi returned back to work. "Sukanmi, you can continue the shoot. What is he doing here?" she stepped out into the corridor.

"To see you" Lolu replied lifting his body from the wall with a crooked smile.

"That's unexpected. You should be at the hospital" Her eyebrows went up with that pride she refused to let go, that pride that had become a part of her.

"I am done for today. I had a morning shift"

"How are you?" She smiled.

On her way to work, he had called her and they had sorted things out.

"Great" He fell in step with her as she headed to her office. "So who was the woman you showed your Ninja skills yesterday"

"Who told you that?" Amazed, she granted him a brief look over her shoulder.

"Rosie"

"How did she know about that?" She bellowed.

"You are on the tabloids again" He mimicked her voice.

"What?"

"Theirs is a video of the woman beating you up. Have you checked instagram? You are trending pretty well"

"Well" She shrugged. "It's not the first time I am in the tabloids"

"You were there on Sunday for slapping Honourable Gbadegbo"

"The old pig was making advances at me and was touching me" She grinded out" And about that woman hitting me, she rammed into my car and thought the best thing to do was hit me with her car door"

"That's so rude of her"

"Very" she nodded her head. "She slapped me and I slapped her back. She hit me and I gave her a black eye"

Lola paused prompting him to halt the same time. "Can't you see the traces of her fingernails on my neck" She tilted her head to the side a bit to show him the invisible marks.

"There's nothing there" he laid a hand on her cheek. The skin there was soft and tender to feel.

"I covered it with makeup. My body still stings from her beating. That bitch!"

"Sorry"

"I am surprised mommy and daddy did not get the police to arrest her. How dare she slap a Kola-Daisi?" Her chin went higher with her nose in the air as if she was sniffing something in the clean atmosphere of the room that had her scent.

"You are so full of yourself"

"I know. How was your trip?" she asked, her eyes soft and smiling. He liked the glint in her eyes, happy he was the one behind it.

"Well, great"

"So you will be coming tonight?" she took few steps back and leaned a hip against the edge of her table.

"Yes under my mother's supervision" His hands sank into the deep space of his pockets.

"Why?"

"Because I told her I will be meeting the guys tonight and she said Akinlolu whether you like it or not, you must go. Despite how much I protested"

"I am glad she did so"

"Meaning?" He tilted his head a bit to the side.

"If I she did not force you, I won't see you there"

"You should understand my mother's motive. She wants me to mingle with a girl there"

"And what is the problem with that?" Her hands went around her chest.

"Even you?"

"Yeah, even me. What about Ife? You guys are dating right?"

"Yes and she ended it this morning"

"What? Why?" She raised a brow.

"She said I am not romantic. I do not care and even if I care, I don't show it. I am this, I am that"

"I agree"

"What do you expect me to do, babe? I am not just that kind of man"

"You better be or else women will never stay with you"

"But you would?"

"Don't dream or hope" He chortled.

"I heard you fought with Dunni Rahim at Lanke's birthday party"

"News fly fast. She was been so annoying. I hate it when people feel they are more than others"

"Says the one who always have her nose in the air and behaves like the world revolve around her"

"You don't mean that right?" she gave him a pointed look.

"I meant that hundred percent"

A hard glare was her reply. He listened to her fight with Dunni. When she wanted to go back to work, he followed her and watched her work for a while before leaving for home. Meeting her was luck, being friends with her was a blessing. Many might consider her a brat but she also had her good side. The only problem he was having with her was her refusal to be with someone.

The shoot ended after the sun had set. She left immediately after a little conversation with Jamie Jolade who was pleased with her work. Driving through Lekki, she listened to the late night program that streamed from the radio. She had opened the windows allowing the cool night breeze into the car. She wanted it. She wanted to feel it against her skin because it calmed her mind down.

She walked into the restaurant, her bag in hand and heels clicking the floor as she matched over to whom she had come to see. She caught the eyes of many. There was something about her walking step. She always had her nose in the air, shoulders raised high and there was something different about the way her body swings. She sighted Osasere. Her painted lips broke into a smile.

She was full of splendour, something she had gotten from her mother. She had a tall figure, slim and curvy. A pretty oval face, seductive round eyebrows, short nose which was cute, brown eyes that had a charm of their own and plump lips made her facial features. With a glowing skin, the colour of cinnamon, and a dent on each of her cheeks, she was a beauty.

"I hope I am not late" she said settling into her chair.

"No" Osasere replied in her mellifluous voice as she rested her phone on the table. "How have you been?" she smiled up at her friend.

"Fine, work has taken a big toll on me. I am famished" she grabbed the glass of water in front of Osasere.

"I will order something" Osas called for a waiter. "You were saying something on phone yesterday about ending up in the police station again" Osas continued once they had placed their orders.

Osasere had been her friend for over a decade. They had met in her first year in junior secondary school. Osas was her two year senior and two years older than Lola but that had not been barrier in their relationship. When that incident had happened nine years ago, Osasere had been one of the few friends who did not run away or turn their backs against her. She had been the one who had contacted her during her stay abroad and had come to meet her in California during holidays.

"It was one stupid woman like that"

It had taken her few minutes to explain her ordeal from the day before.

"But you know you were harsh" Osas said. "And rude"

"It was not my fault. She bumped into my car" Osas laughed.

"You don't admit your fault, Lola"

"Because it was not my fault and mummy was expecting me to apologise and feel sorry. Over what? I did not do anything wrong"

"It's alright. I missed you. That's why I called to meet you"

Touched at heart, Lola cooed then leaned forward "How are work and your daughter?"

"Esosa is fine. Work is going on well. At least, the sales and demands are increasing every day"

"That's good news" She gave Osas a reassuring smile then took her hand and squeezed it.

Lola sighed then rested into her seat. Osas could see what was coming. "I am angry and my mood is so sore right now. My heart feels so heavy with many thoughts running through my head"

"Why?" Osas flipped her hair, black elegant waves cascaded down her back.

"It is about marriage"

"And you are pissed"

"You know me so well"

"It is showing on you. Are they forcing you?"

"No. It is just a suggestion"

"Then why are you angry"

"The fact that I know I will end up with a man someday annoys me. Men are deceitful"

"You still have that theory of yours" Osas laughed again. "Not all of them. You have to end up with one"

"My parents' marriage had not been a good example neither was your relationship with Juwon and Ehimare"

"My relationship with Ehimare was not meant to be"

"He refused to accept your daughter. He was selfish and Juwon dumped you without a single word when you got pregnant for him with Esosa"

"But I gave Ehimare a chance despite what Juwon had done"

"It still does not change anything"

"It does sweetie and about your parents' marriage, it's theirs and not yours"

"My dad was not totally faithful. He has a family out there. It hurts to know my siblings and I are not just the only children he has" she balled her fist. God, she dare not get angry. She knew the outcome of doing that.

"You have to think positive"

"Don't you get it?" Lola barked out. "Can't you see where I am coming from? Despite everything that had happened to me, I keep going back to where it started from. It started with a man. I did not love him. I just wanted to give him a chance and what did he give me? He gave me pain. He left me with something I will remember forever"

"That guy was a sociopath, Lola" Came Osas's calm reply. "He was crazy. You should not make him get into you all the time"

"You think it is easy? I am still having nightmares. He keeps appearing in my dreams all the time and I try to push him away but I never succeed" She was shaking, trembling. Little sheen of sweat dotted her forehead.

"Lola" Osas leaned forward to hold her hand. Lola jerked her hand away.

"I am scared of been played. I keep thinking this way. I find a man. We fall in love. We make it into marriage with laughter and joy. Then suddenly he changes. The caring and loving man begin to fade. Or the faithful man begin to cheat on me. I will give him my everything and then he pays me back with infidelity or something worse. The lies upon lies. Until they pile up like a mountain and there's no more lies to tell again" She drank water again. "Look around us. Look at the world we live in today. Marriages around us are collapsing at the thinnest hitch. They don't even give me hope"

"I understand you are scared but you have to put that fear aside. Let it got. There are good men out there. For how long will you think that way?"

"I......." she halted when she saw them walk in. A woman and three young adults.

Anger, resentment and hatred clouded her mind. They rippled through her. She snorted. They had grown up. When last had she seen them? Five years, six, seven, she can't remember. The youngest should be twelve and the oldest should be nineteen. That's wonderful. His money show on them especially the girls. They were flawless. She clenched her fist. Osas noticed and followed her eyes. They fell on them and she knew who they were.

"They look good and grown up" Lola said, her eyes still on them.

"You hate them"

"I won't deny that especially the woman"

"Temptation is what men hardly fight even when they are married. I think that's what your father had gone through to end up with her"

"She is his mistress. Now they have three kids and there they are, grownups and enjoying the money they did not sweat for" venom coated her voice. "Do you know the pain mummy had gone through, the sleepless nights and the way she cried?

"Do you take your drugs?"

"I do. I have to" this time, she looked at her friend. Osas saw the pain, the gloominess over her eyes and how hard Lola was trying to fight many things. "Do I have a choice?" a sad smile graced her lips.

"Are you better?"

"I was so I stopped for a while until that day in California" She looked back at them.

"Take your eyes off them. It will make you angrier. Have you taken it today?"

"No, I was too busy"

"Lola" Osas leaned forward "You shou...."

"I will leave" Lola stood up taking her bag. She can't take their sight anymore. They caused an inner turmoil that was becoming a wild tidal wave in her.

"Then we will meet or talk on phone"

"Alright, good bye" she gave Osas a quick hug and left.

In her car, she trembled. She felt the tetchiness and tingling. The racing thoughts in her head caused a tightening in her chest. She knew the symptoms. Before it began, she reached for her bag with shaking hands. As she searched for the bottle, her skin grew damp. She turned the bag over and poured out its content. She found it, took out two and swallowed with water she had found in her car. It gave her an ease she was getting used to, an ease caused by the pills, an ease she will never get without them. But there was a question, how long will she hide it? How long will she keep using what reminded her of events she can never forget? How long will she fight her inner demons?