CHAPTER TWO

Rachel POV

One of the things that made learning interesting is the fact that after every activity in a semester, there's always a break (holiday). Every course in a college is always a tedious one but being a nurse is more stressful. Apart from stress from weeks or months of block study, there's a need for additional weeks or months for clinical where you go to hospital wards and take good care of patients like they are your family. We seldom have long vacations like other departments but when we have one, it feels like a narrow escape from a dungeon.

Because of the stress of traveling to my hometown - which is too far from school, I had to discuss and get permission to stay with Mary for the time being, at least till school resumes. I didn't travel home not only because of the stress but I just couldn't afford to have that silly motion sickness. Whenever I travel, I always stop the driver on the highway either to vomit or retch-, and most times, it's always embarrassing. Instead of going through that, I'd rather enjoy my holiday with Mary and her family. At first, they were against me staying at a friend's place but they later had to succumb to my pleas.

Mary's family mansion is a beautiful place you'd love to live in. The décor speaks so much about simplicity and yet extravagance at the same time. The spacious living room had walls painted in different colors and sculptures from some well-known artists to bring out the beauty of the room. Staying with them was full of fun, from shopping to eating out. Mr. and Mrs. Agbor have been away since I came around-Mr. Agbor is a well-known architect in Lagos state and he had to travel to Abuja for a meeting.

I was in the living room watching a soap opera when Tomide came in dressed in a white Christian Dior shirt and a waist-fitting navy blue shirt. Tom- as I love to call him, looks like his father but not as handsome as he is. Sometimes, I wonder if he wasn't cut from the same coat as the other member of the family. Being rich is a blessing because despite not being good-looking, every designer he wears fits him to the brim.

"Hello, beauty" he prefers to call me beauty than my name. He said he always wants to remind himself that I'm more beautiful than his younger sister, Mary. I've tried several times to convince him to call me by my given name instead of 'beauty', but he's just too adamant.

"Hello too, Tom" I said, resigning to my fate of being called beauty.

"Where are you off to?" I asked when I saw him picking up his car keys off the shelf.

"I need to get some things for tonight's party" he answered.

"Party? Which party?" I asked, oblivious to what he's saying.

"I guess Mary didn't tell you that we will be going to a restaurant tonight for my friend's birthday. I don't know if you would like to come with us"

"Of course" I told him. I'm not a fan of parties. I prefer to stay in my room and read rather than partying but I didn't feel like staying at home today, going out won't be bad and at least, I would meet new people.

"Okay, then. You and Mary should make yourselves available and ready by the time I get back" he said and left the room. I got up immediately and went in search of my best friend. We have a party to prepare for.

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Sheraton India restaurant is one of the biggest and expensive restaurants in Lagos. Apart from having one of the best views, it's mostly visited by influential people from across the globe. I have never seen such a big building in my home town and I was wowed at the sight.

Tom came back at exactly 7 pm to pick us and we were both ready and anxious like a groom who is eagerly waiting for his bride at the altar by the time he came home. He didn't enter the house, he just called us via the intercom and told us to meet him at the garage. We would have tried to outrun each other if we hadn't put extra care into our makeup. I wouldn't have been this anxious and curious if Mary hadn't fed my ears about one of Tom's friends who is handsome and good looking and how he has the eyes of a python- I don't even know what she meant by that. She kept on ranting about how we needed to look good so we can give good impressions to her brother's friend. It seemed she had a crush among her brother's friends but I didn't bother to ask so that I don't ruin her fun.

It was as if we were the only reason he came back because he zoomed off immediately we entered his Lexus RX 350. As soon as we entered the environment, I couldn't stop the excitement in my belly. Visiting where you've always dreamed about or where you didn't know you'd visit anytime soon does that to one's belly. We alighted one after the other but I couldn't seem to move my legs. I was still in a trance when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"What are you waiting for? Come on, Let's go" I looked at her, trying to process what exactly was going on and where exactly I was.

"This is a very expensive restaurant, Mary. I can't even afford a drink here" I almost screamed.

"We can" she interrupted me and held my hand, pulling me towards the direction Tom took.

We were following Tom towards the door when he stopped abruptly and looked at us.

"Mary, just behave yourself when you are around my friends" he muttered. I almost burst into laughter. I might have been an only child but I know brothers can be so protective of their sisters especially from their friends.

"By the way, you both look stunning, especially you, Rachel" he said almost seductively. If he'd been my type, maybe I would have dated him. He was quite good with sweet words.

"Yes she does, so face where you are going before you hit your head on the wall" Mary interrupted and we both laughed. I was blushing as hell at the comment that had just been thrown at me. If I had been a light-skinned girl like Mary, I would have looked like a ripe tomato. There was nothing special in what I wore since I didn't have an appropriate dress to wear, I had to borrow from Mary. She's a bit fatter than I am but I'm curvier which made the clothing fit.

When we entered, I realized the interior view is even more fascinating than the exterior and I had to scan the area for any celebrity I might know. There were just a few people in the large room but when you look at them, you can guess the amount they have in their bank accounts. Tom muttered something to the waitress and she immediately ushered us to our seats. We were almost at our table when something caught my attention immediately. It felt so much like a dream. I can't possibly be seeing things, right? I had to pinch myself on the thigh to confirm what I've just seen. I can't believe I just saw my crush, the man of my fantasy- it just feels like I'm dreaming.