1 The meeting

After standing under the hot sun for close to an hour only being able to sell one artwork out of the five he brought out.

Wale became frustrated but because of his hustling spirit decided not to call it a day just yet.

The artwork he had sold was a drawing of a little girl bent over a smoking fire made with wood while using her mouth to fan the fire back to life.

He had spent atleast 15 thousand naira in finishing that work and he couldn't believe he just sold it out for a mere sum of 5 thousand naira.

That's what hardship made people do.

Thinking of the stress he went through in making his drawings stand out but only ended up being sold out cheaply to greedy men and some women who find it very hard to let money out of their hands and how unfortunate his life had been since he graduated from the university,

He went on to make his train of wishes as he settled under a mango tree which served as a shade for them who hustled in that area with a sachet of cold water in his mouth gulping it down harshly.

If only I had the opportunity to display this artwork in a reputable manner, then I'd see how these people will price something as good as this for even as low as 10 thousand naira.

He thought to himself.

While pouring the remaining water over his head and enjoying it's calming sensation,  he heard his name.

"Wale come o person dey find you" the voice said

Standing up abruptly with his sachet water still in his hand, he made his way to where his works were being displayed.

On reaching the spot he saw a man in all black with dark glasses standing by a car door.

Obviously a bodyguard he said mentally as he flung the water away.

"This man bin dey find you" a guy said pointing to the man in black.

"Yes Sir...are you interested in any of these?" He asked while dusting them over and over again.

The man in black didn't say a word as he opened the door revealing someone he never even dreamt of seeing in his entire life.

The bodyguard then  motioned for all of them to shift back although they weren't even close to the car.

At that moment Wale noticed they were more than four cars parking in a single line with guards standing at each door wearing scary faces.

As the popular Amanda Adeleke moved closer to where he stood.

Wale didn't miss the sound of camera's clicking behind him and how the place became a little over crowded.

Who wouldn't want to catch a glimpse of Amanda Adeleke. The most popular girl in Nigeria who's father was a vice president and who just happened to be in every single magazine and newspaper he ever came across.

Young girls adored her and guys crushed nonstop. He knew every inch of her face and every single thing on her body by just studying her pictures to represent them in art forms for interested buyers.

He had made lots of drawings of her and never for one day thought she'll ever get to see anyone.

"Omo dis girl fine like die" he heard someone whisper

"Ah swear.....oh baba God butter my bread" another added

"See her skin.....like say dem just remove am from fridge" Someone said

"Fresh like new born orange" added another.

The comments were super funny but Wale made sure not to laugh.

"Did you make this?" She asked a dumbfounded wale.

Wait did she just speak to me?. He asked himself while pinching his skin hard to know if this was a dream.

"You might want to stop that now before you hurt yourself" Amanda said giving him the most geniune smile he has ever seen.

You know that feeling when you see a celebrity and you can't chose between crying or smiling or laughing. You just keep having mixed emotions. Sometimes feeling giddy as well.

That was exactly what wale was going through. He hadn't been able to say a single word.

"Young man you're being spoken to.. don't waste our time we don't have all day " the man in black thundered as he shot dirty looks at wale.

Finally finding his voice. He nodded and at the same time saying "ye.....ye. ..Yes I made it" he stuttered as he felt his palm sweating.

Cleaning them hastily he made to move closer to Amanda but the guard pushed him back harshly.

"What did you do that for" she asked in her American accent looking at the guard disapprovingly.

"I'm sorry madam" he apologised stepping back.

"Pass me that.." she said to wale pointing at a drawing of her.

After passing it over he stepped back and watched as she caressed the frame.

"It's pretty" she said smiling

"Thanks mam" he said smiling back as he felt his hands sweat again.

"I love it...how much will you sell it out" she asked looking up.

Her gaze was intimidating to wale. Although he had seen her on TV and newspapers. He still couldn't believe how beautiful she looked.

How can one person be this pretty.

He thought. Her eyes were the brightest shade of black he had seen and her smile he'd pay to see again.

Her skin was indescribably pretty and her total presence screamed WEALTH. From her 6 inches expensive high heels to her baby blue jumpsuit which brought out her skin colour perfectly.

Then her hair flowing down to her waist made her look like a goddess to kill for.

"It's 15 thousand " he said after finding his voice.

"Wait...what?...You'll sell this for just 15 thousand? " she asked with shock written all over her face.

"No....no ...it's just a photocopy that's why....I still have the original." He tried to explain.

"Alright then " she said turning to a lady standing besides her with thick glasses that looked bigger than her face.  "Grace hand me my complimentary card"

After collecting it from Grace,  she stretched it towards wale and asked him to give her a call.

"I'd like to see how the original looks " she said after he had collected the card.

"Thanks ma." He said smiling.

"Make sure you call" she said finally as she climbed into her car and the bodyguard closed the door.

Bending down to pack his stuff together after deciding to call it a day, he looked up to see the lady who had earlier stood by Amanda's side smiling down at him with an envelope in her had.

"She said she'll take the photocopy just incase you forget to call"

Who were they kidding , there was no way he was going to forget.

"Okay" he smiled back handing her the drawing and collecting the envelope.

He looked at it closely to see what was written on it.

"Oh sorry, that's the money for this" Grace said raising the frame up.

She made a small laugh and walked into the car.

He didn't bother to count it as he knew she was too rich to want to cheat him.

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Vera.')