Countless glittering stars twinkled down at the city. Like luminous stones on a black fabric, they pasted against the canopy of black with the moon there to brighten the night, but the brilliant lights from buildings concealed the silvery glow of the full moon. The silky curtains twirled to the silent melody of the breeze that journeyed from the lagoon into the diplomatic suite through the Opened doors of the balcony. The light of the room were dimmed.

The iPhone X that laid on the nightstand shrilled through the silent room out into the night over the stone baluster. It vibrated, flashed and rang louder disturbing the sleep of a beauty in between the rumpled blanket and bedspread. She moaned, pouted and rolled over on her back, the sheet tangled around her bare petite body. The ringing tone halted allowing her to relax back into the comfortable bed. There was a comfortable silence she liked. Without thinking, she drew the blanket over her face ready to fall back into slumber. Again, the phone rang into the tranquillity which she swore at. Sluggishly, she rose in bed, her hair, a tangled mess, fell over her face. She held the sheet to her bare body with manicured hand and answered it.

"Kiki" a voice called. She sensed the urgency and plead in it.

"Lola" she husked out rubbing her eyes to get rid of sleep. She pushed away the tresses that obstructed her view.

"I need your help. I can't say a word to anyone at home. I am at the police station"

"Doing what?" she moved to the end of the bed. Her legs dangled from it.

"I got into trouble for violating traffic rules. Instead of keeping it cool" she sighed. "You know me"

"You were rude" Kiki's eyes wavered to the wall clock. It was few minutes past seven. "Where is the police station?"

"Ikoyi"

"That's a journey from where I am"

"Please" She whined.

"OK, I will be there but I might be late"

"I don't care. Just come and bail me out" the call got disconnected.

She noticed the stack of naira notes on the nightstand. Three bundles caused her dried lips to move up. Her client had left it there. Before she dropped the phone, she noticed the alert of five hundred thousand naira. Her grin became wider. That was the reward of the work she does, a work many might consider bad. She hopped out of bed, jumped into shower where she washed away sweat and the smell of sex.

The body-hugging red dress was sultry ending just below her rear end, back wrapped in smooth shining skin exposed to the eyes of men to admire and drool over. Black five inches heels lifted her small physique high giving her confidence. Her hair, a tumbling glossy wave of black with a parting at the centre, cascaded down her naked back in elegant curls. She walked, head high and petite shoulders pulled back. Her painted lips quivered up a bit into a knowing smile, enthralling eyes meeting the eyes of men that gazed hungrily at her. She enjoyed the attention, something she was used to. She tossed back her hair away from her elegant shoulders, swung her hips lazily causing her perfect backside to dance.

Outside, her 2017 Toyota Venza was ready. It was a gift from a senator she met during Christmas. It was just few days of outing and pleasure in bed and she got millions of naira and a car. It was easy, very easy. One of the easiest way to get money and keep up with her needs. She doesn't need to be under a nagging boss. She does not have to arrive early to work except she has an appointment. She was her own boss. Dress to kill, go to the bars, clubs, hotels, resorts, restaurants. Men are everywhere. They will admire her and walk up to her. She had no worries. The money came daily either from a man she slept or sleeps with. She was privileged to get anything she wanted with ease. She flashed a slow smile at the valet who held the key. He flushed, his smile a little bit shaky as he opened the driver's seat.

Lola hopped to her feet at the sight of Kiki. She had beamed, jumped and hugged her friend. Kiki walked up to the inspector, threw him her flirty smile. Few minutes of talking, making the policeman stutter and flush, and few thousand naira notes, her friend was out.

"Thank you" Lola spoke hugging her. Kiki teetered on her heels before she gained balance.

"Well, it was nothing. What happened? What are you doing in Ikoyi?" They swept across the lot to sit in Kiki's car.

"Well, I was angry. Angry at some guy I met and decided to take a drive around Lagos."

Kiki's eyes lit up. "You are finally with someone?"

"No" Kiki's smile faded, her eyes narrowed. "I met him during new year's eve in Tarkwa Bay. His name is Joshua but call him Josh. You were not in Nigeria then. You left for Tahiti. We met again at a family dinner and he had been on my neck. My grandparents wants me to be with him but I am not interested. The most annoying part is that my grandparents are forcing him on me"

"They need to. You really need to be with someone"

"That does not mean they have to force him on me! Is it a by force by fire thing to be with someone!"

"Please, spare me that. You are never interested. When will you be?"

"I don't think I will ever be"

"Really Lola? I do not know why you are like this but you need to get someone"

"Why do you all believe a woman's life have to revolve around a man's life? Why do I have to be with someone? Why do I have to get married when I am happy without a man?" When she had given one man a chance, he ruined it. He gave her something that has been haunting her for the past five years and will keep haunting her for eternity.

"Is he handsome?"

"Yes, he is. He has the looks and knows how to charm a woman but he is not "boxed up" and he works in ExxonMobil. He had stolen everyone's heart in my house except my mother's but....."

"No but" Kiki raised a finger. "If I have a man working in such a big company, I will be grateful forever. Do you know how much they pay fresh graduates per month? A million naira or more is not a joke"

"We met today and I insulted him. You know, my razor tongue made me lash him. He was angry"

"What did you tell him?"

"That he was not my type of man. I can buy him and buy his family. His family is nothing compared to mine"

"You did not say that Lola?" Kiki's eyes went wide with disbelief.

"I did" Lola gave a careless shrug.

"Lola! You need to do something to that tongue of yours. Those words can hurt anyone"

"Don't you get it Kiki? I don't like him. He keeps coming back"

"And you wanted to push him away?"

"I think I did cause if you had seen his eyes today, they were lethal. They could murder if they were given the opportunity. He is not even from a good class. He puts on those second hand clothes. Yuck!" she made a look of disgust. "He is just not my type"

"You are yet to accept those that are your type. The rich ones that come day in day out, you did not give them face for once. It is now Joshua you will give face"

"Oh! Oh!" Lola hopped in her seat tapping Kiki's lap, her eyes wide with remembrance. "I met someone at my father's event last Wednesday"

"And?"

"Well, he has good looks and the money but...."

"Don't put but Lola. Don't!" Kiki raised a hand irritated.

"Will you calm down and just listen to me?"

"What does the ma'am have to say?" Kiki rested in her seat and crossed a leg over the other.

"We went out on Saturday. The same Saturday I was meant to go on a date with Joshua"

"You went on a date with Joshua?"

"No!"

"What do you mean?" Lola narrated what happened last Saturday and her friend sat dumb and speechless. "Lola" Came Kiki's sympathetic cry. "How could you do that to him? I mean Joshua"

"Excuse me?" Lola bats her lashes.

"You left him for almost three hours in a restaurant waiting for you with the hope that you would come and later, you walked in with another man"

"So?"

"Who does that, Lola?"

"Me" Lola aimed a hand at herself. "And why should I give up a man like Shawn for a good for nothing like Joshua?"

"You know what I have given up on you"

"Good"

"How's Lolu?"

"He is fine"

"It's been long since I saw him"

Kiki smiled. Lola was really oblivious about the feelings that guy had for her. The girl had allowed her likeness for him as a friend blind everything he shows her.

"We can always plan an outing but not anytime soon because my schedule is tight for this coming week"

"Did you hear from Adeola and Osas?"

"Yes, this morning. I have been trying Haseenah's number" She referred to a Hausa friend of theirs who had gotten married. "It was unreachable. Are you sure she is alright?"

"I hope so. I called her last night. She did not pick my call"

"I will try her number again"

Kiki picked her phone to make a call instead a call came in from Lola' phone. Her grandmother was calling.

"Yes" she said with a little frown.

"Lola!" Rebecca cried into the phone.

"Grandma" Lola sat up at alert at the way her grandmother's voice trembled. Kiki saw the way her eyes narrowed with worry and loss of nerve.

"Your grandfather!" she cried louder.

"What happened to him?" panic came before worry. "Is he alright?"

"He just passed out. He... he....." the call got disconnected.

"Jesus!"