Lola stepped right in front of the full length mirror. A satisfied smile worked itself over her made-up face. She loved the way she looked, stunning like she had always appeared. The deep orange pair of Givenchy pointed heels added to her height. The black pencil skirt moulded her hips ending just above her knees. It accentuated the curve of her hips making her slim waist obvious. A sleeveless black peplum top with deep orange underneath showed off the structural shoulders she was blessed with. Her hair was tied at the nape of her neck with just a simple black ribbon. Dangling from her ears were a pair of sparkling gems she found in her jewellery closet. A simple bracelet adorned the slim wrist with a side bag held to her side.

"Just perfect" she praised her image.

Before she left the room, she did not forget one thing. She did not forget to removed her wedding ring and keep it in the drawer where Joshua keeps his watches. She does not need the nonsense. He could sell it. It actually cost much. The money should help him pay his debts.

She had always been stunning. She does not have to be told that. Men had fallen for the irresistible look. She liked it but loved it more since Joshua was also enthralled by the way she looked when she got down the staircase. She swept past him, giving him a disdainful look over her shoulder. When she opened the door, she saw a woman standing at the entrance, her hands closed in a fist as if she was about to knock the door.

"Oh my God!" The woman squealed, her breath seizing. "Lola Kola-Daisi? This is unbelievable" She shrieked, hugging Lola. "It's nice to meet you"

"Oh God! Will you please take your filthy hands off me?" Lola, flabbergasted, pushed the lady away. "What's wrong with you?"

"I have been dying to meet you? You are prettier in person" The woman hopped on her feet, her eyes vibrant.

"Hey look here" Lola snapped a finger, her face contoured with repulsion. "Don't ever..."

"Good morning" Joshua greeted from behind halting her rude words.

"Good morning" Sandra greeted, still giddy. "How are you?"

"Fine" He returned her smile.

"I see your guys just moved in yesterday. I am Sandra" she held out her hand which Joshua shook. "Who are you?"

"Her husband"

"What?" Sandra screeched. "You are married? When? How?"

"Please, come inside" He offered with a charming smile. Lola rolled her eyes then went back inside.

They found Lola seated on the armchair, scrolling through her phone.

"When did you guys get married? There's nothing about it online. How did you do it? This is the biggest news of the century" Alarms went off in Lola's head. She hops the lady will not go and give the news to some blogger for big money.

"Actually we...." Joshua started.

Sandra cooed. "You guys are a beautiful couple. I actually stay here with my husband, Lanre. He's a banker so he has already left for work. We might be here to greet you. We got married about six months back"

"No one asked you" Came Lola's reply as she kept her phone away.

"What?"

"I said...."

"You guys have been married for a while. That's nice" Joshua cut in.

"Yes, we live in the first flat on this line. The guy in between is AY. I will not tell you about him but I will expect you to notice some things about him. Opposite you are some girls. About six of them" Lola wondered how six of them stay in a three bedroom flat. "They are oloshos" Sandra whispered with a sick look. "Mummy Purity is next to them" Lola rubbed her temple. She was already having a headache because of the lady's rant. "She and those girls give enough drama in the house. They fight almost every day and the last one, those opposite my house, are another family. A man, his wife and two adorable daughters. They....."

"Do you know you are actually delaying us?" Lola spoke. "We have somewhere to be. If you are jobless, you need to know everyone isn't"

Sandra's cheeks flushed due to embarrassment. "I am so sorry. I am just here to greet you guys and welcome you here"

"Now that you have done that, take your leave" Her proud eyes stayed on Sandra's face. The woman fidgeted under her gaze.

"I am here to invite you guys for dinner. I will be happy to see you guys"

"We are not interested. Leave now!"

"It's just...."

"We will try to make it. We are not promising but we will try" Joshua spoke again.

Sandra got up, ready to take her leave. Joshua did the same thing. "I will be glad, Mr?"

"Just call me Joshua or Josh"

"Okay"

"Thanks for visiting"

"It's my pleasure"

When they stepped out, the sonorous voice of a woman vibrated through the compound. They stepped out into the new day. There were more cars parked in the massive compound that she felt there was barely space for people to walk through. Lola noticed. There was a chubby woman with two kids next to her.

"Halimah!" The chubby woman, screamed at the top of her voice. "Come and move your car o! You this girl, it's too early for trouble"

A girl, thick and almost white in complexion came out. She wore bum short and a camisole. Her breasts danced in the camisole. "What's wrong with you?"

"Halimah, you have started again. You know I will drop my children at school this morning yet you parked your car behind mine. When you know you will not leave early, you should have parked it in that free space" The woman pointed at a free space.

"That space was not free last night. A car was parked there"

"You this olosho, if....."

"Don't even start that nonsense" Halimah cut in. "How dare you call me olosho?"

"Are you not one? Are you not? Sleeping around with married men and rich men? What are you? You are olosho! A prostitute!"

"Mummy Purity, you have started and I will show you what I am made of this morning"

"What a nuisance?" Lola murmured under her breath before entering the car. What sort of neighbours does she have? This place is like a barrack!

Lola had to meet her mother. She will visit her home after her outing with Haseenah. She has a shoot at the studio. A magazine wanted to have an interview with her and she was to grace the cover of that magazine. She had told Sukanmi to get her some new clothes for the shoots from one of her favourite stores in Lagos, Modan Luxury, a perfect place to shop for someone of her kind. There was a shoot for some jewellery line and some few works here and there but she will leave by twelve to meet Haseenah.

Joshua focused his eyes on the road while his ears picked every conversation Lola had on phone. She was making an appointment with some person. The drive was silent after her call. While he rode as if he was her driver, she pressed her phone and chatted away until her studio came into view. She had nothing to say to him when she proceeded to get down.

"I hope I get a reply soon" he said before she left. Deaf ears met his words.

Sukanmi informed his boss Lolu was around. She smiled remembering she had texted him in the morning that she needs to see him.

"How is the new bride doing?" Lolu asked when she walked into her office. He knows about her marriage. The curtains had been pulled apart. The bright beams of the morning sun entered with ease. Lolu stood by the window looking out at the city he had grown to cherish.

"Miserable" she murmured threading to him "Good morning" she said wrapping her arms around him.

"Morning" he gave her a soft smile. "You called to see me" he said after they pulled away.

"Yes because I want to talk to you"

Lolu skimmed his eyes to her ring finger. There was no ring in it. Where was her ring? His chest tightened like someone held his heart together with a rope. On Saturday, he had watched her announce with tears in her eyes her marriage to Joshua while his heart shatter into million unfixable pieces. Due to rage, he had broken his piano at home causing him to resent himself. For the first time, he considered himself a coward. He was a coward for not knowing how to show his feelings or say them out, for making her believe she was just a friend.

"Where is your wedding ring?" Lolu asked.

"At home" she answered nonchalantly getting a seat for herself

"Why did you remove it?" He sat down on the armchair opposite her.

"Because it reminds me of how miserable I am" she sat up, straightening her spine. "Lolu" she blew out air from her painted lips, glided her flawless finger over her face. "I don't like him. I don't love Josh. I feel nothing towards him. I don't know what to do. I tried to avoid marriage or commitment and I ended up in it. I am trapped. We are strangers and I just dislike him"

"You accepted him without pressure from anyone. It still baffles me why you agreed to marry him. Lola, is there something you are not telling me?"

"No. There's nothing"

"Then why did you agree to marry him? You don't even like him. You despise him" She said nothing, He sighed and continued. "You have no choice Lola but to give this guy a chance" Lolu surprised himself with the words that came out of his lips. Lola lashes fluttered up to look at him as he took the wind out of her sails. "He seem nice and not the type to put your fear to life. Life is full of risk. We take risk in everything even in the decisions we thought were right"

"You are telling me to" her breathing came out faster. Her heart constricted. "Give him a chance which is like putting my life and heart on the line"

A smile ignited on Lolu's innocent face. He stood up and met her.

"You are the one in it. It is your life" He sat on the arm of the chair. "It is you who will live in it for years. I am sure you won't want to continue this way. One day, you will get tired of the entire scenario and just give in. I can't promise he is the best but he should give you the best out of it"

"I am speechless"

"I know friend" he rubbed her shoulder. "But you will survive it. With God, it will get better. Just have fate in Him. I will take my leave" he said and turned to leave.

When he got to the door, Lola said "I am giving him a divorce paper. I am divorcing him today"

He froze. "What?" he spun around.

"It's what I am going to do, Lolu. I can't keep leaving in hell when there is bliss out there"

"You are not going to do that, Lola" he twirled around and took long steps to her.

"I am" she held his eyes giving him the chance to see she meant it and felt so miserable with everything happening at the moment. "I will and no one is going to stop me"

Lolu exhaled. "Do you know the repercussion of what you are doing? Joshua won't suffer a bit of it. You would"

"Lolu" she called walking to him. His eyes were full of worry which touched her heart. She rested a hand on his tensed shoulder. "You have nothing to worry about. I will be fine"

"No, Lola" he grabbed her shoulders. "You have no idea what you are doing. You are in a country where divorce is frowned upon. Do you know the things you would go through?"

"The world is changing. People should learn how to mind their business and stop sticking their nose into other people's life"

"What about your parents? Your family?"

"They will be fine. Just leave this to me. At least, maybe my mother will finally look at me"

He looked into her eyes. His wavering with concern. Lola's smiled, allowing his heart to judder in his chest. He felt his feelings pushing forward so he took his hands off her. Saliva could hardly go down his throat as his body hummed with emotions for the woman before him. He looked away then back at her.

"OK" he said. "I will leave. Take care hm?" he gave her a brief side hug then left.

As he walked away, he looked back. What was he doing by saying that? Was he giving her up for him? Was he giving up on the love he hoped to have? What is wrong with him? He headed out.

Just as he closed the door behind him, her phone rang. She glanced at the item and smiled before picking it up.

"Hello boo boo" she smiled into the phone.

"Lola!" Toke's sharp voice came. In a jiffy, Lola's smile shrunk. "What the hell is this everywhere?"

"What?" she frowned, adjusting in her seat.

"You went to the club yesterday?"

"Yes I did and what's the big deal in that. It is not like I robbed"

"This is so ignorant of you. The internet is going wild because of it. Gossip bloggers are posting your Snapchat video where you danced with that guy. You gave that guy a lap dance! A lap dance, Lola! Do you have any sense at all? Why will you do that for God's sake? You are married!"

"Toke" she shut her eyes trying to calm her nerves as anger found its way through her system. "I do not need to be reminded I am married. It is not like Joshua has an issue with that. And the bloggers and those gossip magazines and pages on Instagram are just doing what they are good at in order to make money. Why do we have to bother?"

"You are taking this so lightly. Don't you get it? You are married! That guy grabbed your bum and squeezed it" There was disbelieve in Toke's voice as if she was too shocked that her younger sister did that.

"I know!" she shouted. "I know I am married before I danced with that guy! I know I am married before I posted that picture! Will you all stop reminding me of that? Why don't you all understand? I do not want this thing called marriage. I have barely been married for a week and everyone expects me to be completely faithful and loyal to that idiot called a husband. Joshua could go to hell. I don't give a fuck! You can all say what you want! Just let me be!"

"Then why did you agree to marry him?" Toke shouted back. "No one forced you! You accepted the proposal. Stop making it sound like....." Lola ended the call and slammed the phone against pile of file.

Her breathing was heavy, chest rising and falling. Water gushed into her eyes. She held them back. She won't cry. They won't make her cry. A call came in from the reception. The receptionist told her the magazine were there to interview her. She got ready, put away her feeble and angry look and masked it with her confident proud one then headed out. It took a while for the shoot and interview to end. A question she expected had been asked. It was about the club and the video. I have nothing to say was her reply. It was few minutes to one when it ended. She was late for her appointment with Haseenah.

Haseenah Gerda, daughter to Usman Gerda, the Governor of Zamfara State, Nigeria. She was married to Ahmad Danlami, successor of Danlami Incorporation, one of Nigerian's moneybag business. They were into food production, textile production, constructions, and real estate business. Danlami Incorporation headquarters was located in Lagos, a reason why the couple moved to Lagos after their marriage.

"How have you been?" Haseenah asked as Lola sat in front of her.

"Good" she lied with her happy expression. "Wonderful and just the way you left me"

"I was worried. We are all worried you just grew distant"

"I did not mean to. I have family issues I am dealing with and I was enjoying my time with Ahmad"

Lola cooed noticing Haseenah's flushed cheeks. "It's been three years since you got married. Don't you think you should start having kids now" she teased.

Haseenah gave a nervous laugh. "We are trying"

"I hope to hear good news soon. I pray you get the best in it"

"Ameen"

They had a chat together. Haseenah had to leave because she needed to get home before Ahmad arrives. If Ahmad finds out she had left home, she will be in a trouble. It was just few minutes past three when they departed. Lola called her mother. Her mother picked after few rings.

"Mommy, I will be coming home"

"Lola!" Cynthia exclaimed that it shocked her. "So soon. You are tired of the marriage and coming home? Did something happen? You can't give up just like that! Marriage is not something you opt out from like clothes! It was your choice to marry him. So why are you leaving?"

Lola could hardly believe the sarcasm dripping from her mother's voice. Is she still angry at her? "Mommy, I am not coming home to stay again. Well, not for now. I want to see you. I want to discuss something with you" Cynthia exhaled hard on the other end.

"When are you coming?"

"Now. I am leaving R.S.V.P. I had an appointment there"

"Alright, I will be expecting you"

"And I will be taking my car back home"

Lola arrived home after calling for a taxi on Uber. Her mother was ready for her arrival. In the garden, a table was set with drinks and snacks in the gazebo. Her siblings were yet to return from school. Tenny and Kenny were out for a ride on water in their father's yacht. They planned a little party on it and had invited few friends over. Cynthia had still given her daughter the cold treatment.

Lola breathe out before saying, "I am sorry"

"You did not do anything wrong?"

"Mommy, I know you are angry"

"About what? I am happy with you" She feigned ignorance.

"Mommy please stop!" She voiced out unable to take it anymore. "Stop this!" She rose to her feet. "Do you think I like the fact I am married to Joshua? Do you think I am happy? I had no choice. I had to just marry him"

"What choice did you not have, Aralola?" Cynthia shouted back. "I am asking you a question. What choice did you not have? What are you hiding from me? It still baffles me you agreed to marry that good for nothing"

"Mommy, please" She took her mother's hand sniffing. "Trust me. I beg you to just trust me. I know what I doing"

Cynthia said nothing. She just stared at her daughter who pled silently with her eyes. Cynthia blew air from her lips then removed her hands from her daughter's hold.

"Why do you want to see me?" Cynthia asked after they sat down.

Lola willed her sadness to surface. The hollowness began, sinking deep into her heart. Tears brimmed her eyes before she held her mother's hand for comfort.

"He asked for a chance" she whispered, her voice broken from the water that pooled in her eyes.

"And?"

"I told him I am not giving him one"

"Lola" Cynthia placed a hand over her daughter's one.

"Mummy" a tear rolled down. "I feel dejected and sad"

"I know dear. I wish I understand how you feel"

"I am married mommy. My worst nightmare" Lola cried.

"We don't know why fate has done this, Lola. We do not know why your destiny is knotted with this stranger's one"

"We barely talk. OK" she sniffled. "I barely talk to him" She admitted. "I dislike him. I find it hard to create likeness for him because I feel he is the reason behind everything. If he had not appeared in my life then nothing of such will not have happen"

"I thought about you Lola" Cynthia wiped her daughter's tear stained face. "I thought about how you will cope with a stranger" her mother's eyes met hers. "You said he asked you for a chance" Lola nodded. "Give him a chance" a soft smile formed over Cynthia's face. Lola's eyes grew wide. Her mother nodded.

"Mommy even you? It is not easy after marrying him"