Chapter 33
Chichi literally dressed to kill in her neon green playsuit that highlighted her glowing skin and hourglass curves. She had practically drenched herself in baby oil so that her body glistened in the bright sunlight. She completed her look with a pair of silver sandals and a matching YSL purse. Her honey-blonde beach waves wig fell loosely down her back, complimenting her caramel skin tone perfectly. Her sterling silver jewelry glistened as she moved.
It felt good to dress how she wanted without feeling the need to impress anyone, and it was so empowering for her to embrace her sexuality so unapologetically. Another thing she was happy about was that she’d finally ended her contract with Mama J after getting the internship job with Dare’s company. She was as free as a bird, and she no longer needed to sell her body to be able to take care of herself or her family.
As she stepped out of her apartment, Dare and Tiara drove up to her place in one of his sleek jeeps that looked like a vehicle out of a mafia movie. Chichi locked her front door, then strutted towards the vehicle to join the grinning couple. She was happy for her friend who had found love in an unexpected place. Dare was so good to Tiara and Chichi secretly wished that she would also find a guy who would love her wholeheartedly, ignoring her flaws and all.
“Who wears stilettos to a barbecue party?” Tiara asked as Chichi climbed into the back seat.
“Me,” she replied cheekily. “And I am not apologetic about it. Hey Dare.”
“What’s up, Chichi?” Dare greeted. “You look smashing.”
“That’s the idea,” Chichi laughed.
They chatted lightheartedly as they drove to Osbourne Estate in Ikoyi, an exclusive residence for the filthy rich in the city of Lagos. The security men at the estate entrance let them through after Dare supplied them with a passcode that he’d been provided with a few minutes earlier by Chief Bamiloye. As they drove into the opulent neighborhood, the ladies couldn’t help but admire the sheer splendor of the estate. The streets were spotless, the houses were huge, and the atmosphere seemed different from the one they’d left behind outside the gated community even though they were still in Lagos. It was like entering another world.
“This place is unbelievable!” Chichi commented. “You mean this is Nigeria?”
Dare laughed. “Yes, the same Nigeria we’ve been driving in all morning. My vehicle cannot cross from Africa to Europe or America.”
“I don’t even know what to say,” Tiara said, her jaw hanging open as she took in her surroundings.
They arrived at Chief Bamiloye’s residence and his property was an expansive 50-acre piece of land that comprised of a three-story all-white mansion built to resemble the kremlin, a six-bedroom guest house, a two-story building that served as the staff quarters, an Olympic size swimming pool in the back, a mini-golf course and a well-tended vegetable garden from which the Bamiloye’s harvest fresh vegetables to make their meals. It was a small paradise in the middle of a heavenly place.
There was valet parking set up in front of the residence and an usher was waiting to lead them to the Chief’s big backyard where the barbecue party was taking place.
“I see you two rocking matching outfits like you’re the Couple of the Year,” Chichi remarked when she noticed that Tiara and Dare were both dressed in matching pastel outfits. Tiara rocked a peach-colored mini chiffon dress with handkerchief hems, while Dare dressed in a cotton shirt of the same color over a pair of tan cargo shorts. His shapely feet were encased in a pair of light brown moccasins while Tiara wore a pair of brown woven platform sandals with a straw shoulder bag to match.
“Now I feel overdressed,” Chichi complained.
“You’re not overdressed, Chichi,” Tiara assured her. “You look fabulous.”
“She’s right,” Dare agreed. “I’m not sure Chief or any other guy at the party today would be able to get their eyes off you.”
“When you say, ‘any other guy,’ does that include you?” Tiara wanted to know.
Dare pulled her close and nuzzled her neck lovingly. “You’re so cute when you get jealous, but you do know that my eyes only see you. Every other woman pales in comparison to you.”
“I heard that,” Chichi laughed.
“Sorry,” he said with a laugh.
“You devil! You better keep your eyes on me, or I’ll pluck them out,” Tiara teased him just before his lips descended on hers.
“Ew, you guys! Get a room!” Chichi complained playfully.
“Sorry, darling. I can’t seem to get enough of this guy,” Tiara giggled.
“Neither can he get enough of you,” Dare said with a wink.
“Ugh! Is this what I’ll have to put up with today?” Chichi asked as she walked ahead of them towards the backyard of the impressive mansion.
“Don’t worry, I’ll introduce you to some eligible bachelors here,” Dare assured her. “That way, you too can have someone to get all mushy with soon.”
Chichi smiled. “Mushy is good. I can do that.”
“Welcome my friends!” Chief Bamiloye greeted them enthusiastically with open arms when he spotted the trio.
They exchanged pleasantries with the jovial billionaire who was all too happy to have them there. His eyes lit up even more when they landed on Chichi.
“My goodness, Chidinma! Your beauty is breathtaking!” He exclaimed in unabashed admiration.
For the first time in a very long while, Chichi felt shy. The way Chief Bamiloye’s eyes roamed over her body made her feel naked. “Thank you, sir,” she replied modestly.
“Don’t thank me, my dear. It’s the truth. Perhaps you don’t hear it enough, but you are a very beautiful woman, Chidinma.”
Chichi felt a bit awkward with the way he flirted with her openly. Wasn’t he a married man? Why was he drooling over her like some hungry bulldog?
“Come, come, let’s get you something to drink,” Chief Bamiloye said as he reluctantly tore his eyes off Chichi to lead them to the buffet table where guests were helping themselves to an assortment of delicious meals. There was a makeshift bar nearby, so they went there to get themselves some drinks first.
“Your friend is following Chichi around like a lost puppy,” Tiara said quietly to Dare who chuckled in response. “Good luck with introducing her to the eligible bachelors here.”
“Don’t worry, Chief has wandering eyes. The moment he spots another cute lady, he’s going to leave Chichi alone, and we’ll be able to steer her towards age-appropriate men.”
“You think Chief is too old for her?”
“Don’t you?”
Tiara shrugged. “If he’s got money, then he’s age-appropriate.”
“Stop,” Dare laughed. “Everything isn’t about money. She might end up liking him for real.”
“Possibly, but unlikely. Chichi likes her men young.”
“I don’t believe it!”
Dare and Tiara whirled around to see who had spoken. To their utter horror, they saw Mama J standing there with a plate of juicy ribs on her plate and her mouth wide open in surprise.
“Greg told me that you two have gotten back together but I didn’t believe it. I just had to see it for myself to know if it’s true,” the overdressed matron said in an awestruck tone.
Tiara thought she would be sick. Why was this woman stalking them? What did she have to do to get this pesky woman off her back forever?
“What are you doing here, Jemimah?” Dare asked her coldly.
“Dare darling, as you can see, you’re not the only billionaire I know,” she replied with a smirk.
“I’m happy for you,” he told her dismissively. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a few people to say hello to,” Dare said and began to lead Tiara away from Mama J’s hateful glare.
“Your coochie must be fire,” she remarked snidely as Tiara passed her. “Because that’s the only thing you have going for you. Even Greg was raving about it for days.”
With the speed of light, Dare moved away from Tiara’s side swiftly and grabbed Mama J firmly by her elbow. He led the startled woman away from where Tiara stood, looking at them with a stunned expression on her face. When they were out of earshot, Dare leaned close to Mama J as an extra measure to make sure no one heard him.
“Now listen to me very closely because I will not have this conversation with you again,” he said menacingly through clenched teeth. “I don’t understand your obsession with Tiara and why you have a problem with me being with her but let this be the last time that you will show up out of nowhere to insult her in my presence. She is no longer one of your girls and she will never be again! The sooner you accept this, the better for you.”
“Oh please!” Mama J scoffed and snatched her elbow away from his grip. “Aren’t you even ashamed? Do you realize that some of the men here may have slept with your so-called girlfriend before?”
“I don’t care.”
“Well, you should. When your friends find out that you converted one of your playthings into a partner, they’d laugh at you.”
“Let me worry about that.”
“She’s beneath you!”
“And you’re beneath her,” Dare fired back. “Trust me, Jemimah, you don’t want to lock horns with me over my choice of girlfriend. You’re not my mother or even my friend for that matter, so you don’t have a say in this. Back off.”
Mama J sniffed derisively. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have met her.”
“And I have rewarded you handsomely on different occasions for that. Neither Tiara nor I owe you anything. Leave us alone.”
“And if I don’t?” Mama J asked daringly.
“If you don’t, I will blow the whistle on your not-so-discreet drug trafficking business that you run with Greg.”
The blood drained out of Mama J’s face. “What?” She whispered incredulously.
“Yes, Jemimah. I know all about your side hustle.” Dare said confidently. “And I know people who are powerful enough to bring you down and lock you in a place where the sun doesn’t shine.”
Dare’s threats scared the shit out of Mama J, and she was smart enough to know that he wasn’t bluffing. She might hate Tiara very much, but that wasn’t enough reason to put her head on the chopping block.
“Whatever,” she said flippantly in an attempt to recover from her initial shock. “Don’t forget that I know stuff about you too,” she countered bravely. “If I go down, so will you.”
“Nah, Jemimah. I like kinky stuff just like every other guy out there, but you, you’re neck-deep in two shitty businesses that will bury you alive if you don’t tread carefully. Besides, I don’t think Greg would be too excited to be ousted because of your petty vendetta against my girlfriend.”
He was right and Mama J knew it. Greg would kill her first before the authorities did. He had an image and reputation to maintain, and he’s always told Jemimah that he was ready to destroy anyone who tried to ruin him or mess with his bag. As much as she hated to admit it, the usually confident matron knew that she had to concede defeat this time.
“Fine,” she said nonchalantly. “You two can go fuck yourselves in your disgusting never happily ever after.”
“Thanks. Now, go away,” Dare shooed her away like a nasty insect.
Mama J squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and marched out the backyard like a proud monarch exiting a gathering of peasants.
When Dare returned to Tiara’s side, she was eager to find out what had happened between him and Mama J.
“Is she gone?” She asked.
“Yes, forever.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that she will not be bothering us ever again after today,” Dare said confidently.
“Are you sure?” Tiara was skeptical.
“One hundred percent.”
“Wow, what did you say to her?”
“Never mind about that. Just know that she won’t disturb us again. Come on, let’s go get something to eat.”
“I’m starving.”
“So am I.”
Tiara was relieved to know that she never had to worry about running into Mama J again or getting embarrassed by the jealous woman in a public place. Now she can finally enjoy her relationship with Dare in peace. Phew!