Chapter 7.

"You worry a lot dear. It's okay. I will be fine." Flora was desperately trying to stop Chris from going to confront Lily.

She had cooked up a story, saying that Lily kicked her out of the house for revealing all her wicked deeds to Chris. He was really mad now and hot breath was coming out of his nostrils.

"That girl is a witch," Chris said, trying to restrain himself from matching off to her apartment. His eyes blazed with fury.

He turned to Flora. "Are you okay?" he asked, taking her hand gently.

She thought she would melt. He had lean, pretty fingers and nice hands. She shook her head in disbelief; she couldn't think of a human being that also got attracted to people's hands.

"You're not? Should I take you back to the hospital?" Chris had interpreted the shake of head as a no.

"Oh. No no. I'm okay really. Just a few days rest and I will be perfectly fine," she said quickly, snapping out of her fantasy.

"Okay," he said, standing. He gave her a tour of the house. "I will have to go back to the office. I'm sorry, we don't have much here in terms of food. I will give you money to buy food..."

"No no," she cut in immediately. Of course he didn't understand her mission here. She fully intended to continue living with him and wanted to create a good impression right away. Who knows, he might eventually marry her. Flora smiled inwardly. God had been so merciful, giving all her plans a straight path.

"I will manage anything available and cook," she said sweetly.

"Huh?" Chris raised eyebrow. "Wow, nice," he said, impressed. He was a big fan of girls that cook.

She nodded, smiling contentedly and headed for the kitchen cabinets to investigate. Nothing much.

"Just a little money for foodstuff will do."

"Okay," he said, removing his wallet from his pocket. "Hope this is enough."

She nodded.

"So... What's your favourite food?" she asked, stealing a shy peek at him.

Chris laughed. "Only mama can make that the way I want," he said, dismissing the question. "Please feel free to call me if you need anything else."

"Okay. Just come home early and drive carefully," she said, reaching out to adjust his tie.

He carefully disengaged her fingers from his tie. "We dismiss as early as 4pm and I always drive carefully. Thanks for your concern."

He was out in few minutes and drove back to the office.

Wow! Flora threw herself on the sofa. She loved it here. Even the air had a certain alluring fragrance. Everything was very pretty and inviting... Except for the lilies. She would make sure those were discarded once they got married.

Married? Oh my goodness! She buried her face in her hands and giggled happily. She would Finally have a home, a real home to call her own. She would try really hard to play the virtuous woman and most definitely wouldn't let this opportunity slip!

Back then in her 2nd year in college, almost all the ladies were crushing on Chris. Some even stalked him, but he never seemed to notice all the upheaval he caused. He maintained that kind of cold, aloof attitude; totally ignoring all their advances. It seemed almost impossible to get his attention.

She chuckled. She had first seen him at the HOD's office. Being the assistant class rep, she was there to help compile the attendance and decide who should write an exam or not. The HOD happened to be a customer at the bank where Chris worked.

Flora moved to the fridge to pour herself a glass of orange juice. She sipped it as she surveyed the room. She had tried really hard not to stare at him then. The closest word that described him in English was, "perfect." He was roguishly handsome. He had those kind of looks that portrayed a hard hustler; really tall and a bit muscular. He had twinkling, intelligent eyes that made you think he could see right through you. Flora still couldn't believe he fell for her ploys.

She had seen him a second time when he came to see their HOD in the lecture hall. All the ladies were moping and asking if he was the HOD'S son. With that air of arrogance about him, he didn't even care to spare them a single glance as he walked outside with the HOD.

If anyone had told Flora that she was going to meet him alone, she wouldn't have believed it. Just imagine her luck when she saw him walking out of the bursary a certain day. She had gone to introduce herself. Heck! She always thought of him since the first time she saw him.

He continued staring at her until she was through with her introduction. She had been with Lily, who stood off disinterestedly. After her introduction, Chris nodded, then without saying a word, turned on his heels and walked away. She was mad! Just what did he think he was, to treat her like that?

She didn't tell her friend who he was and Lily didn't even care to know. Lily had concluded that whoever he was, even if he was the President's son, he was totally devoid of manners and had zero regards for simple courtesy.

You could imagine her shock when she saw Chris and Lily together in the school cafeteria about 3 months later, laughing their hearts out. According to the petty details she gathered from Lily; he had seen her in the school bursary and tried to engage her in a conversation as she waited for her receipts. Then he said she looked familiar, if they had met before.

She said that she had retaliated for what he did to Flora- stared at him without responding. He introduced himself as Chris and extended his hand for a handshake, which she ignored, collected her receipts and left. Lily had said that she enjoyed the look of embarrassment on his face. Served to deflate his bloated ego. She chuckled at the memory of how they had laughed when Lily narrated the story. But then, Lily had deceitfully procured the guy for herself. She had somehow managed to win his heart, effortlessly. It was so unfair.

She didn't really tell Flora how the whole business went, but it was obvious that she played the tough, hard to get Lady, while Chris chased her around, doing her every bidding. Flora fully intended to do the same. She would never give away her emotions for a second. She would make him do the chasing! She giggled excitedly. Here was her chance and she most definitely wouldn't mess it up.

Her phone rang, the jarring sound intruding rudely into her reverie. It was Chioma, one of those snobbish girls that treated her like trash. Chioma was some sort of unofficial leader of the trending ladies at school. For some reason, Lily totally detested them and had forbidden her from having anything to do with them. She never really had much to do with them anyway, though she craved their approval. No matter how hard she tried to belong, they always treated her like an outcast. All thanks to Lily.

Very well, right now, she fully intended to tell Chioma what she had done. She had single-handedly garnered herself a rich boyfriend and previously another lady's guy for that matter. It was no mean feat, especially when the guy was Chris, who seemed immune to all feminine wiles and caprices. Certainly, nobody in their group could do that. This would invariably command their respect and make them hold her at high esteem. At the third ring, she picked.

"Hello," she drawled, crossing legs and sipping her orange juice.

"Bae," Chioma said through the phone. "This one you just disappeared, udo adikwa?" she asked in that mocking tone.

Flora was mad! Chioma had called to insult her? She probably thought that Flora had not been coming to school because she couldn't afford the latest fashion to show off during Student's Week. She decided to correct that impression right there and then.

"Yes dear. My boyfriend asked me to stay with him for sometime, so I've not been able to come to school." She moved over to the fridge to pour more orange juice, making a lot of noise with it so Chioma would hear. Then, she closed the fridge with a bang.

"Hmm. Are you serious? Tell me something. When did you meet him?" Chioma asked excitedly.

Flora nodded with satisfaction. The babe spoke more respectfully this time. She fully intended to give her every juicy detail of how she snatched the guy from Lily. She hated having little girls underestimate her.

"Actually, he was Lily's guy. I snatched him from her," she began, looking smug.

"Hiayeee!!!" Chioma was going wild. "Like seriously! Nekwanu Flora. Tell me something biko."

She smiled with contentment and began the story right from when she saw Lily and Chris in the school cafeteria.

<<<>>>

Iyke thought final year was supposed to be stress free. Haba! All this project crap was getting on his nerves. He was also very hungry and the sun was not helping matters at all. He would have to cool off with video games first, then buy food, shower and study afterwards. That was if he didn't spend the whole time on the video game. He chuckled, scratching his head sheepishly.

The stupid man he called his project supervisor, was simply very annoying. He had vowed to make the whole process very miserable for him. Iyke hissed in annoyance, dabbing at the sweat that streamed across his face. He looked up at the house as he approached. The curtains were open.

Huh? The curtains were always drawn whenever they were out. Maybe Chris was home already. He glanced at his watch, 12:30pm. A lot too early for Chris to be home. He hoped everything was alright. As he moved closer to the house, he heard a female voice coming from the parlour, giggling excitedly and narrating stuff.

Chris brought a woman home? He listened carefully. Oh that sounded like Flora's voice. She was probably back from the hospital. She didn't go home? He made to open the door, then stopped on his tracks. What did she just say? Who was she talking to?

"Wait let me come na," Flora was saying, "I then stole her phone and texted Chris, telling him to leave her alone and not to even call. Nne eeh, he fell for it. I already had plan B in case he decided to call, but he didn't and that made it smoother for me."

Iyke was going crazy at the door. He didn't know what to think. Was she talking to herself? He peeped through the keyhole and saw Flora sitting on a sofa with legs crossed, sipping orange juice. She was on the phone.

She giggled, as Chioma hailed her. "So, Chommy Bae. I went to see Flames and paid him to call Chris. He introduced himself as Lily's fiance and warned Chris to get lost," she continued unabashedly.

Flora was enjoying the praises. Imagine how her popularity would grow after this and of course the girls would never say a word of it to Lily. They didn't even talk to her at all. "And God worked for me that day eeh. Chris met Flames beating me for not paying him fully."

"E no make na. You suppose pay him," Chioma criticized.

"It was all an act I put up when I saw Chris's car coming," Flora lied quickly. She must maintain her new status.

"Hmm. This sharp babe," Chioma said with admiration.

"Come see the way he paid off Flames without even bating an eyelid and drove me to his house. If you see the way I finished Lily eeh? Right now, I'm sure he would strangle her if he happens to see her anywhere, even in the dream." They burst into laughter.

"So, how far have you gone now?" Chioma asked with curious excitement. "Hope you have shown him a lot of skin, done a few woman magic... You grab na," she added, giggling naughtily.

"No, not yet. But soon," Flora said quickly, her cheeks heating up at the mere thought of it. Phew! That was one thing with those girls. They had dirty minds and chased every man in a car. "I want to gain his trust fully, before making another move."

"Okay o. I just hope you can finish up without leaving trails. Hmm, babe I didn't know you're this sharp o," Chioma said with an exaggerated tone of awe.

Flora smiled with satisfaction. "His friend is even too inquisitive and gets in the way sometimes. I will have to get rid of that one soon enough. When I'm done, I will return to school in style. I will paint the campus red."

"Hiayeee!!! Do everything necessary dear. I will duly inform the ladies, so everyone can officially accept you into the fold. Do fast biko, we are waiting o," Chioma saluted, thoroughly shaken.

And to think that the Lily girl was said to be Flora's best friend. Hmm, things were happening in this world. "Please call me whenever you're ready to return, you hear?"

"Sure thing," Flora drawled, smiling smugly. She had taught the little lady a thing or two.

Suddenly, she heard someone at the door scream, "Blood of God!"

To be continued...

Glossary

Udo adikwa? : Hope everything is okay?

Nekwanu Flora : See Flora