CHAPTER ONE

*

LAGOS, NIGERIA.

*

This Lagos traffic was crazy.

We have been stuck on one spot for over two hours.

I swear one could go to sleep, wake up, maybe even get pregnant and give birth and this traffic would just be getting warmed up. I mean, I am still trying to understand it... is it that there are too many cars on the streets of Lagos or...there are actually too many cars? It didn't just make sense with the hype of Lagos of being the land of opportunities and the Governor claiming ''Bawse'', shouldn‘t this be a problem to be tackled? Or well he doesn't get stuck in traffic. He got jets for those kind of things.

I shake my head.

I look at my wrist to check the time; it is a few minutes past 3pm. My flight was in another 3 hours.

Gosh I hated Lagos!!!

I have been here for what? over three year .and boy was I glad to be relocating.

I had been praying and waiting for a transfer and thankfully my prayers were heard.

In lasgidi..as Lagos it fondly called, If you had to meet up anything .. say work, appointments, family functions, even dates... you would have to wake up much more earlier than you intend to. And you might still end up going home later than you ought to. So you are basically tired all through and there ain't no escaping it.

And God knew I wasn't built to be a super hero.

Nooooooo! !!

I want to wake up by 7am latest and be at work before 8am no hassle. I want to close by 6pm and have enough time to go out and crab a bite, hang out with friends, watch a movie in the cinema, go for a party or go clubbing if I wanted to and stay out late and still have time to get a decent sleep when i get home and be rested before the circle starts all over again.

But here? C'mon!!

You can‘t even sleep till 5am..unless you want to be stuck in traffic for hours and what's worse -when your home is so far from your place of work.

It literally sucked.

And I hated every part of it; the crowd and congestion, the not-so-easy-life and hardly any time to make your money and enjoy it in peace without the stress of the city. Well maybe because it only applies to us.

The Elites and Governors and their officials obviously live in the high end of this Lagos so...guess they jet it all the way or have the road cleared for their sakes.

Oh Darn!!! They probably have special routes they take that not even a pin of traffic exists.

Hay!!! God knows I must make money and get there oh! !!

I guess Bruno Mars was singing my mind when he said "I want to be a billionaire so frigging bad, to have all of the things I never had " ...and erm... the part where he said " I want to be on the cover of Forbes magazine, standing next to Oprah and the Queen" that was my jam. That is my motivation.

Sighing.

I love the city; I mean I love lagos, it has its perks and beauty and great things. I do love it, but..Mehn! The hustle is hard for the hustlers.

I sigh again.

I flip the magazine I was reading trying to while away time somewhat.

It didn't matter I left home early hoping to beat this darn traffic. Now I have to suffer through it.

"Just for today girl! Leave through just for today"...I console myself.

The horning was like a misplaced serenade to my ears.

I pick up my phone and decided to listen to music placing my ear plugs in my ears, tapping my fingers and feet to the beat as I nod my head with the flow.

Despite it all,I sort of loved my life.

I was the youngest and brightest female in the company. I graduated with honours and the best of my class from one of Nigeria's prestigious University and proceeded to do Masters abroad. An Economist by discipline, Masters in accounting. I worked in a bank after I came home and served my father's land. I proceeded to work as a chartered accountant after another two years in a financial firm. I was one of the most sought after and I was good in what I do. No doubt.

I am beautiful and intelligent. Quite articulate but feisty and a no nonsense person.

There is a reason I am the way I am. Often times, men had tried to oppress women, delegating them to the background and to the kitchen calling it their only place. And that they can't amount to anything other than be good in bed, the other room if you will, good in the kitchen, that is be able to make a darn good meal, and birth children and submit to their husbands in everything 'Submission' means.

I roll my eyes.

I hated it, especially when they said "We couldn't be equal to men"

I cringed hearing that.

"We couldn't do what they do or did and excel in it"

So I told myself.

"I am gonna prove them wrong"

And by God I did.

I got into school, i let go off all distractions, i scaled through. .topping my class.. and ended up as one of the best graduating students. I didn't relent.

I became what I dreamed, now I could easily equate myself to any man.

I earned my achievements without laying down on my back for no man.

So I didn't give a shit about them.

I didn‘t need them really.

I was my own person. My own boss...'Sort off'.. And I got to where I am with hard work literally.

I worked hard. I make my money.

I don't need a man to control me.

Infact, they felt quite intimidated by me and I relish in that fact.

Life was good!

I sigh again.

I was so glad to be relocating to Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Never been there but I hear it's quite okay, maybe in a few years it would become as congested as Lagos but for now I would make do.

I had left the bank and the financial firm for a year now. I needed something more flexible and more pay and more time for myself.

The consulting firm /social media house company in Lagos was just it. With my flair for social media consulting and managerial skills, I was a good candidate and to be honest.....I loved it.

I got to do what I loved. I got to meet people and make their dreams come through. I got to have time for myself too. I got to travel every now and then. And the perks of the jobs was just divine.

As a social media manager, my job was quite simple but tasking. I have to give that spunk and spark to your company, do alot of rebranding .and reconstructing.

To attract consumers/customers, keep them engaged, interested and keep them coming back.

Everyone loves a good advertising..

And a year later. I am being transferred to Port Harcourt for a two years contract to do a rebranding work for a construction/House designing company.. "J.K Andrews Construction and Housing Design Company'.

Owned by one of the top politician in Nigeria who had hands in every profitable business in the country as well as a few oil blocks scattered across the country. And that was equalling a multi - billion naira upcoming company amongst many others- well it would be when i am done with it.

They had called specifically requesting for me.. well specifically for the best hands who can make the company into what they wanted it to be....awed in the eyes of others.

Another company i had done good job for referred me to them or them to me. Either way works.

"Something about hard work or good work pays" I smile

Okon ' s voice broke into my thoughts.. "Hain which kain thing be this naw?" speaking in the nigerian pidgin dialect.

I knew he wasn't talking to me so I ignored him.

He winds down and flagged down a motorcyclist passing through the narrow way only them could venture.

"My brother abeg...you see wetin dey cause this traffic?" He asks waving his hand indicating the throng of cars bumper to bumper against each other.

The motor-cyclist had slowed down. He wasn't carrying a passenger so he gave him a minute of his time.

"Na police oh! Accident happen for front..between one truck driver and taxi man. One woman goods just scatter everywhere for ground nyakata!!! People they fight dey burst eye ,dey punch belle, one break head, blood just dey fly everywhere. Police dey separate , people dey shout, road just block because cars just park anyhow. Police won arrest.. people dey bribe police, money dey exchange hand, people dey shout, stepping on that woman's goods, see tomatoes, pepper , fish, meat scatter everywhere .

The woman done hold the police man for nicka and person wei jam am crush him goods.. she be strong woman oh..chai, she fit dey beat her husband for house see how she wedge both of them for nicka... belike say she be police woman for her former life " he laughs "Oh boy eh I done watch drama tire I say make I dey go oh..so my brother, no movement till tori end oh"

He briefly summarized the cause.

I wondered how he was able to deduce it all at once..

But being a typical Nigerian. ..it was expected. Stopping and enjoying the scene was just what they were good at. Better get first hand of the story than being told.

Typical.

I shake my head again.

"You mean am?" Okon asked

"My brother na so oh..." He replied with a thick yoruba accent..

"Hain that means before road go clear na die.."...okon said more to himself than to the man.

"Just off car relax..or you stop bike begin go your way...abi madam no go mind I go carry am for back..."...He said indicating me and tapping his okada seat and smiling at me "Abi her ekebe no go enter my okada, chai fine woman....oyinbo pepper, better pikin" he exclaims excitedly.

If I had to reply him he would have a bad day for the rest of the day if not his life but I wasn't in the mood to suffer his foolishness.

I didn‘t bother justifying that with a reply.

Okon laughed, " E be like say you won dig your grave oh. Leave my madam oh, because if she start with you, you go wish say ground open for you you die na na na"

Good thing Okon knew me very well.

The horns of other motorcyclist coming behind him prompted him to continue on his way..

"Okay naw"...He said waving and speeding off

"Thank you my guy" Okon waved back.

"Bullocks!!!!" I cursed.

"Hmmm madam, I hope we make it in time for your flight..." he switched back to English.

"Hopefully, we may if this clears up some.."..I replied staring out of the car window.

I go back to reading my magazine.

We were there for another two hours and I was literally fuming. Plus I was tired and not in the best of moods.

*

By the time we reached the crux of the traffic, remnants of the spoils still littered around, people still gathered.

The bashed cars had been moved to the side to allow other citizens go through. The woman was wailing by the corner holding on to the culprit of her dismay. The policemen were dragging among themselves. Apparently money had exchanged hands but not everyone was carried..

It was a poor sorry sight.

Okon slowed down abit, to enjoy the moment. I didn't look up from my magazine.

"Step on it okon, I am already pissed...don't provoke me more.." I flip the page of the magazine. "Don't worry in due time you can buy the home video. .I bet some twisted director would get inspired by this and equally bag desperate upcoming actors to do the flick and sell it cheap for good measure.."

He laughed and sped up when he got an opening.

"Madam you are funny oh"

I don't reply.

*

We got to the airport a little after my departure time.

Luckily for me, the flight got delayed. Apparently some confederates where enroute to board the plane as well.

"Hain thank God oh Madam, if not waiting for another flight would have been something else"

"Hmmm. " I murmur

"Okay Madam, safe trip"

"Hmmm"

"Bye bye oh" he says sadly

"Okon we both know that you are happy to be rid of me, no more Madam screaming your head off, Madam giving you a hard day and making your day miserable. So I know Okon, you don't have to pretend" I tell him without looking at him.

"Ha Hain Madam" he says scratching his head.

"Take care of yourself. " I tell him working away.

I knew I didn't have eyes at the back of my head but I could swear I would see him smiling and jumping for joy if I turned.

But I didn't. Maybe because I didn't want to see it.

I wasn't a bad person. Really I wasn't .

I think!.

*

Port Harcourt, Nigeria…

*

I had sent my things earlier. I had just an overnight bag with me.

We touched down Port Harcourt at about 9pm and i was totally beat. Apart from having an official car, a stay in a staff house for VIPS, -I was getting extra bonus packages which was super awesome. .which I was told was all in the acceptance of the job. There was one one glitch that wasn't pleasing to my ears.

I was getting a male PA. A frigging Male PA!

Name: Brian Andrews

Why didn't they just transfer my PA to Port Harcourt with me, but MD wouldn't allow it.

I liked Tina. She was smart. She knew what her duties were and left little to complain.

I knew I was a hard ass but. She took everything in good faith.

You know what they say "What couldn't kill you will make you stronger"

And over the years I had learnt to appreciate her little effort. And she was a good PA.

Men? I really don't like men.

Okay i didn't hate them per see, I like men okay, I mean.. who doesn't? I liked Jude, my first crush.

I liked Sebastian, he was okay. And I liked Chukurdi during my service year, he was such a cute guy.

But you know, I only liked them from a distance, because I didn't want to be distracted.

Sighing..

What i meant was that i didn‘t like men that way when it comes to working environment.

They usually claim superiority, and I wonder how they would tend to react when a woman was above them.

But I wouldn't care less. If they did their job well. I am sure we wouldn't have any problem. But that was never really the case.

As I begun to rise in my position and achievements, I get alot of stumbling blocks from males who felt a woman like me shouldn't be given the position and achievements I had gotten.

They felt that the highest I should go should be an errands girl for some big boss, help to file papers and clean up messes and bend over when they need me to.

So it's a slap to their faces when I not only bag awards, I command respect amongst my other female colleagues, that I walk into a place and despite exuding good sexual appeal because I am fine. When I open my mouth I spew intelligent and brilliance and when I put my hands and head to work...it turns to magic.

So it's a slap to their face to see that I rise and keep rising and a few people like my MD realised that I am better than a few men put together so he gives me the respect he knows I deserve, so I didn't need any validation from other people.

I worked hard to get to where I am and I would keep working hard, and the fact that I had to let go of other leisures just so I could get ahead in life was the hardest decision in my life.

So, I didn't need some three legged person to come and tell me I can't be anyone I wanted to be or I can't be at the top just because I got two firm breasts, a rocking body and talk like a woman.

Hell!! I was a woman. I am a woman and I like the fact that I can be equal to them.

My parents didn't put me through the hard work to have me curl back into my shell and be beneath a man and throw away my dreams.

No!!.

They wanted me to be something greater than I am and by God I made sure I achieved that and I would keep doing so.

And I wouldn't suffer any man who would dare try to make me feel less than I am. No way.

God help that man.

Yes, I hated men who would try to pull me down or who wouldn't do their jobs but would want me to be a woman and cut them some slacks or better...

Hell No!!!

I would put that man in his place.