chapter one

Mimidoo stepped down from the car, as she waved Kimberly goodbye.

Kim had insisted on dropping her off, she was glad she did, it was going to be her first day at work and noticing some traces of nervousness Kim had followed her so as to give her the moral support she needed. All through out the ride Kim had read out some "first day at a new organisation tips " for her even though she thought it was not really necessary, after all this wasn't her first ever job.

"Lols... She love this girl so much" she thought as she smiled at her own little way of showing support.

She stared at the massive building in front of her before making her way into it. She stood before the elevator pondering if she should make use of it or take the stairs, she did the latter, being in a confine space scares her alot especially when  alone.

After about ten minutes she finally got to the seventh floor where her office is located. She would   be working in the ICT department in the state secretariat and honestly that was a dream come through, she is starting as a level eight, step three civil servant.

When she had gotten to Benin-city, she had   worked  in a microfinance Bank and even when Kim offered that her dad could help her secure a spot in the  ICT department in the state civil service commission she had refused, she had always been an independent girl even at a tender age, she believes in achieving her purpose and dreams all by herself rather than cutting corners, for her those are the major steps in developing oneself.

She want to be able to beat her chest one day and say proudly to anyone who cares to listen that she did it all by  herself.

She finally agreed to accept help from Kim's dad when she could no longer bear the sexual pressure that came with the job, and worst still, her boss had always  wanted to use her as a bait to get wealthy male customer and when she refuses to their advances it was hell for her, her boss would humiliate her and called her a failure at times she goes home with half pay at the end of the month. When she quitted  her job she had cried herself to stupor.

Kim had took  her to their  pastor's wife Dr favour, when the situation was getting out of hand. Dr favour had  adviced and counseled her, and also told  her there was nothing wrong in accepting  help, she opened her understanding using scriptural references that at times divine help were sent by God to make things easier for his children, and that was how she finally got to accept the job offer.

When she saw the numerous benefits and incentives that came with working in the government sector she had chided herself for being stupid all these while, the freedom and peace of mind that comes with it was something else.

"Good morning Mimi" Tina greeted happily as soon as Mimi stepped in.

"Morning Tina, hope you slept well" she replied, Tina had been friendly with her right from her three weeks training program when she learnt they were going to be working together.

"Yeah I did"

She went to her own cubicle and sat on her chair making herself comfortable. She hasn't been assigned any duties yet and her other two colleagues haven't arrived yet. The office was  large  and spacious, she was sharing the office with three others and in her own honest opinion this was a total waste of space because the office could accommodate four more desk without being chocked up.

"Mimi please can you help me create a template for these so I can enter in theses figures, I totally forgot about it last week and they needs it latest 1PM, I'm sorry to bother you please but I have to run off fifty copies of a document for the next meeting and I'm not even done with proofreading and editing it" she explained as  looked  at Mimi expectantly.

"That not a problem, let me have them"

Tina passed the handwritten format to her and soon she got busy with work.

At about Forty minutes  she was done and just then Tina came back from delivering the documents to the HOD's office.

" Are you done" she asked Hoping to take it up from her.

" Yes, I just finished"

"Wow, that was fast, how long have you been doing this" she asked as she moved her chair closer to examine it

" Hmmmm can't really say, but I can say right from two hundred level, then I engaged in graphic designing for small businesses, book cover design, course registration, project research, typing of assignment etc so I can earn extra cash for my self, I was a scholarship student." She added the last part, then wondering if  it was really necessary she said that.

" No wonder, because I know Nigeria  university  cannot teach you like this, I graduated two years ago and mehn I was a complete failure in my field I had to make use of my service year to learn some aspects and when I began gaining my ground in the field my service year came to an end so I had to go back home, on getting home my dad already had a spot kept for me here.... I was a little bit sceptical at first but I decided to take on the challenge and develop my self more, tho most time I do ask for help with some certain stuff oh" she added the last part in whisper and they both smiled.

" That nice, l learnt mine by developing myself early and then  I do volunteer to work free of charge in some cyber cafe in my area, those ones was happy they have seen somebody to use, but they don't know I was the one using them" she said and they both laughed

" I can help put you through some few stuff whenever we are less busy, that's if you are interested" she offered

" Why won't I? See this girl oh, something people do for money,I have someone who is willing to help.. with all pleasure my dear" she said hitting her hands on her laps and Mimi laughed at her dramatic display.

They were not having much work that day so they busied themselves gisting about random stuff, works, how the organisation operates and when it was  2pm tina decided they go home, she was a little bit sceptical at first because they closing time was stipulated to be 4pm. Tina had laughed and told her that here they don't actually follow that order always and she they came down she noticed most offices were locked and like half of the cars in the parking lot were gone, confirming what Tina had said earlier.

She got home some few minutes to three, she meet Kim lying on the couch, her laptop lying carelessly on the floor beside it was empty packs of chocolates and biscuits.

"Foodie" whispered, Shaking her head and smilling.

"Welcome" Kim greeted

" Thanks my daughter" she replied smilling mischievously.

" This one is mad abi" she asked no one one in particular " well na my fault, that's what happens when you greet your juniors" she continued

" Madam hold it there oh, who is your junior? Abeg what did you cook? Or you did not cook?"

" Your hand cut abi you employ me as your house girl"

" You know you are jobless na so you are supposed to be occupying yourself with house chores na" she said

She jumped from the chair when Kim threw the book she was reading at her playfully.

" I'm not jobless I only decided to take the year off to figure out my life" she  corrected for the umpteenth time, she knows the fowl understand but just want to tease her.

" Rich kid problem, na because your papa rich na, if to say you come from the slum like me public holiday you go dey find work" she completed and they both laughed.

Mimi and Kimberly has been friends since freshman year at Benson Idahosa university, among the other three girls who she shared a room with then, Kim was the only one who was friendly with her, the others  always stereotyped and look down on her because she was a scholarship student and from a not so  well to do family. Their casual chitchat and random gisting had metamorphosed into  something serious and that was how they became best of friends and almost inseparable. When they had finished school and served, Kim had offered they stay together and she gladly obliged she couldn't have imagine going back home to  continue living with her parents.

She dished a meal of rice and stew Kim had prepared and  they both dived into it hungrily. When they finished eating Kim had given her  the gist on  the fall out she had with her boyfriend.

Mimidoo had advised her to apologized to Raymond cause she was at fault but her friend had refused. She decided not to stress herself again concerning them because before you know it they will be all over each other again as though they never quarelled.

Jason had just finished feeding the birds and decided to take a little stroll round the compound till they will be done so he would take off the feeders and drinkers to avoid them messing it up.

His phone ranged and when he saw the caller was chisom he groan in frustration. He detest the way she calls him every now and then, they had made it clear that their relationship was more of friends with benefits but seems she has started catching feelings and that doesn't sit well with him.

"Hello" he answered on the third ring.

"How are you doing" she asked.

"I'm fine"

"Are you at home"

He thought of giving a negative response but decided against it immediately, he could make use of some company tonight. Smirking he gave a positive response and told her he misses her company.

He could hear the smile in her voice when she gladly informed him she would be there in ten.

He went back into the house and headed to the kitchen. He decided to make dinner of scrabbled egg and yam, chisom arrived  immediately he just finished cooking and they sat together in the kitchen to eat.

"Why are your boobs looking bigger" he asked smilling mischievously.

Chisom looked down on her boobs and smiled, "pervert" she thought.

"So you have been looking at my breasts since " she asked

" Yes na they are looking enticing and you are looking very hot today, is like Philip is really sending you  plenty euro these days"

" Indeed, that one has been acting up these days, but that is his business" she try to sound nonchalant but deep down it was eating her up, as the remembered the way Philip her Italy based boyfriend has been treating her, her eyes watered.

They met in an event in Lagos and when they discovered  they both lived in Benin-city they  quickly exchanged contact, they hooked up twice before they started dating and three months later, he travelled to Italy. He has been in Italy for six years now and their relationship had continued tho with many up and down, that doesn't mean she hasn't been with other guys, she had specifically kept him as a plan B so as not to loose out at the end if perhaps none of her secret  relationships  works out.

He came back from washing the plate and he hugged her from behind, fondling her Bretst seductively, she closed her eyes in ecstasy as she felt the impact of actions, he swirled her around and grab her ass squeezing them roughly, she tried to kiss him but he skillful avoided it as he took of her shirt, exposing her bare breasts. She tugged at his shirt and when she brought her hands down to take off his short, she discovered he has already done that and was even wearing a condom on his already hard member, her eyes widened in suprised and he chuckled at her expression.

Their make out section continued as they blindly found their way to the bedroom, he rushed her with so much vigor and soon she was moaning under him as he pounded her furiously, he turned her roughly and placed her on all fours as he took her from behind and finished her off. He rolled of her exhausted, a minutes later he stood up to take his bath and when he was done he went to the sitting room to watch TV.

She joined him ten minutes later after rinsing herself. she noticed how irritated he became when she became touchy and clingy. She felt hurt by it but pretended all was fine, they had both agreed on the friends with benefits stuff from inception and it hasn't been a problem until recently when she noticed she had began to catch feelings, for him it was no string attached and she promised to change the narrative no matter how long it takes, she would make him hers and not even his attitude towards her will deter her.