Osas was his junior in secondary school. He was two years ahead of her in class. She had been a first year student when they met. She was a cute little girl, weeping under the staircase because it was her first day at school and she was yet to like it. He could still remember those eyes, filled with tears, looking up at him as water dripped from them. Her dark lengthy hair had been divided into two and tied into two piggy tails. She was hairy, very hairy. Her hair, with its root dark and tip brown due to the bleaching agent in relaxer, poured past her small shoulders. It was one thing that fascinated him and drew him to her.

The sudden shout of a man startled him out of his thought. He jerked, nearly turning around to see who had done that. He realised he was standing inside the warehouse. It was massive. He can't call it large but extremely massive. He could have stopped, looked around in awe and smile at Osas's success but he does not want attention, a thing he never liked.

Men loaded a truck with goods that needs to be delivered. Cartons of Coca-Cola products were thrown in the air. It get caught in the air by the man at the other end. Another man throws it to the man by the truck before it was arranged into the truck. Osas was a distributor for different drinks. She sells any kind of drink from the most expensive wine to the cheapest soda and gin. There were sections for sodas, champagnes, wines, cognacs, brandy, whisky, gin and other kinds of drinks.

Osas had told him her office was in the first floor on his left. He needed no one to tell him before he journeyed up the flight of steps. He met her receptionist who announced his arrival before he went inside.

"Welcome" She greeted him with a wide smile.

There was something sunny about her smile that had him grinning back. She stood by her big disordered desk, a hand on the phone. She was bent slightly to the side, a posture that enhanced her hips, enhancing her gentle curves.

"How are you doing?"

"Great" She beamed. "I have been expecting you. It's been a while since you called today" She held out a hand to hug him. It was brief, a thing done out of friendliness but the innocent contact had quickened his heart.

"I had a place to be at urgently" They drew away. "You have done well for yourself. This is a massive warehouse. How many years now?"

"Since I gave birth to Esosa. Please have a seat" she said as she sat down.

"I am proud of what you have become"

"Thanks Senior Jafar" She teased. Both bursted into laughter at the memory. Back at secondary school she calls him Senior Jafar. It was the school rule that juniors include senior to their seniors' names. But now, they were mature, whipped by life and successful.

They got into business. Jafar had come to order drinks for his cousin's upcoming wedding. The wedding was in two weeks. They needed a certain brand of drink for the event. They had come to a conclusion and Osas had said the drinks would be delivered two days to the wedding if that would be convenient.

"How about six days to the wedding? There are other events before the wedding like the pre-wedding party, kamu and all"

"No problem. You will get them" She scribbled down on her note.

"You should come" He said out of the blue.

"Where?" She looked up from her note.

The familiar feeling rushed back. A sense of déjà vu hit him at the same time. She had looked at him the same way when he had told her twelve years back to follow him to his graduation party. He could see the teenager then. The girl who had gazed at him with shock in her wide eyes. She had not expected him to ask her. Many students had thought the girl he will go with would be Teniola in commercial class because they were so close, many thought they were dating.

Jafar smiled. He had always had a beautiful smile, Osas thought. His mouth was full and sensual. It was what most of her friends at secondary school had spoken about. "I wish I know how those kissable lips of his would feel" Ije, a classmate back then had said and Osas had been angry due to reasons she never knew. "To my cousin's wedding. It's in two weeks"

"Jafar, I...."

"I will not take a no for an answer. It's been a while Osas. And I want us to hang out some time soon. How many years now? Seven? Eight?"

"Eleven years" She answered.

He laughed. "That's so long"

"Really long"

"So you will be there?" He dipped his hand inside his suit and brought out a card.

"Maybe" She watched as he slipped the card through her desk. His eyes held her. There was something about the way he looked at her that had her pulse staggering then quickening at a speed no different from a sprinting antelope. He had looked at her that way before, many times back in the days, gentle and long.

"That's the invitation. I will be expecting you"

Before she could protest, he was already out of the office. She dropped back into her seat. Now, what will she wear?

-----

Lola swept down the staircase without acknowledging anyone. It's been days she ate breakfast or any other food with her family. She had isolated herself and refused to speak to anyone including her mother. In spite of what she does, the wedding preparations went on in full swing. Family and friends had been informed. The wedding bell kept jingling. She had given up on shouting and throwing tantrums. The burnt wedding dress had been replaced with the same style and from the same designer. Now, the wedding was a day away.

"Oh Lola" Rebecca turned away from the maid she was giving orders to. "It's good to see you" She rushed after her granddaughter. "The hairstylist will be here today by five to make your hair for tomorrow's pre-wedding party. You have to be home before five" She ranted after Lola who had refused to stop. "I have chosen the perfect hair for your wedding" She gushed. "It will look so beautiful on you"

Lola cat walked down the staircase. Just in time, a driver coerced her car into the driveway, coming to a standstill in front of the staircase. Lola marched down, swinging her body, head high as she wore her sunglasses. She paid no attention to her grandmother's words. The driver handed over the key to Lola. She entered the car and drove away leaving her grandmother, who was not surprised her granddaughter had not paid attention to her, at the end of the staircase.

"I want some attitude" Lola told the model from behind her camera. "Attitude" She emphasised. The model gave a pose that was not what she wanted. She tried not to hiss or bark out with rage. "We take a break" She hollered in a crisp tone, shoving the camera into her assistant's hand.

As everyone shuffled away, Lola headed to the model. "When I say attitude, I want you to bring out that bitch in you. It does not have to be bitchy. I just want some attitude. Like this" She showed the model a pose. "It has to also be sexy. Do you understand?"

"Yes"

"Take a break" She waved a hand and twirled away.

The photo session lasted few more hours after which she had a pre-birthday photo session which took two more hours of her time. It was some minutes to nine when she finished work. Kiki had invited her out. Not in the mood to be home, she went to meet Kiki at their hangout. The atmosphere at home was choking. It was killing her slowly from within and no one saw through her cold façade. That wedding can't take place. She can't marry that man. Why does she have the feeling that irrespective of what she does, her grandmother's determination will win it all? It's not like they can force her down the aisle to say I do. She can choose to refuse him in the church.

She slammed her hand against the steering. God! She grounded her teeth. They were driving her mad. She fumed. Her breathing increasing. She just want to twist that old lady's neck until she can breathe no more but that will lead to life imprisonment. There has to be something she can do. There should be a way to escape the whole wedding folly.

Then the idea popped into her head. Lola had almost gone still. Why had she not thought about it? It would shock them more than saying no at the altar. Hilarity began to rise in her cold heart, warming it up until it bloomed into happiness. It's not like they would know. She found herself smiling. Something she had not done for days. Doing that would be the best. Lola leaned into her seat. She slammed the accelerator. The car zoomed into the superhighway. It was time for some shopping.

-----

"Did anyone see the bride to be?" Sarah asked no one in particular as she walked into the family room. She had her joggers and sports bra on indicating she was just coming from her morning jog. Daisy walked next to her. The blend of different voices bounced across the expanse creating a very noisy atmosphere. She huffed, still panting from her morning jog.

"She should be in her room" Mofe answered nonchalantly as he typed away on his phone. He laid on the sofa with no aim to do anything, as if there was no wedding to be at in few hours.

"I did not see her there this morning when I went to wake her up for our morning jog" She made a gesture with her hand, the other on her slim waist.

"What do you mean you did not see her in her room this morning?" Rebecca asked, walking down the staircase. Damijo strolled next to her.

"I doubt if she came home last night because I checked on her last night and she was not in her room. Her bed was empty"

"What do you mean her bed was empty?"

Sarah rolled her eyes at her grandmother's questions. She took a seat, taking out her phone from her jogger's pocket. "I found it empty last night and the same this morning. Not just her bed, she was not in her room and her car is not in the garage"

"And she might have gone on an early morning ride on the yacht" Kenny added as she sprawled lazily on the armchair.

"I went there this morning. Mr Tombra has not seen her"

"Jesus Christ!" Rebecca exclaimed. Her eyes went wide. "I hope this does not mean one thing"

Sarah slapped her lips together. "She can't run away grandma. She might be home this morning. It's not like it's the first time she spend the night outside the house"

"No" Rebecca waved a hand. "I have a bad feeling about this. A very bad one" She turned away. "Cynthia!" She shouted. "Cynthia!" She called out again.

"Stop being a nuisance old hag" Cynthia answered appearing at the deck. "What is it this early morning?" Cynthia rested on the baluster. She could see every activity going on in the living room from upstairs.

"Lola did not come home last night"

"What?" She rose from the baluster gently as the words sank into her brain. She still had her nightwear on. Rebecca nearly swore. Why is no one ready for the wedding? Why are they trying to disgrace her?

"You heard me Cynthia" Rebecca gnashed out. "Your daughter did not come home last night"

"That's impossible" Cynthia threw a hand. "I checked her in her room last night and she was there"

"Acting innocent won't stop the wedding from taking place. I know you know where she is"

The accusation had Cynthia flipping. "Do not throw such accusation to my face!" Cynthia bit out with rage.

"You know where she is" Rebecca accused, her voice firm.

"I have no idea where she has gone to"

"Don't you lie to my face!"

"She has not spoken to me for days. You all know that. I really do not know where the hell she has gone to"

"I knew you have an influence on her. You must have influenced her into run away. You are to be blamed"

"Don't you put the blame on me" Cynthia's voice increased in volume. "It is yours" She threw back her accusation. "You know she was not interested in the marriage yet you went on with it"

"Because it is....."

"Enough!" Miracle shouted. "Enough of the argument please! It's what you both do all the time. This is not the time to argue. This is the time to look for Lola and not argue. Can you for once put your argument aside and allow us to search for Lola. I knew this would happen. I told you grandma but you won't listen"

"Not you too" Rebecca uttered at the accusation.

"Throwing blames at one another will not find Sister Lola" Samson spoke. "Mummy. Granny. Please just try to stay out of each other's hair until we find Sister Lola"

Both women gave themselves one more deadly stare before looking away with their noses in the air.