Chapter 3

Zara.

We drove into the big black gates of the place called 'The L Hotel'. I couldn't believe that Louis had his own hotel.

There were several buildings in the compound with series and series of rooms and balconies. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

"You own this?" I asked with the shock I was feeling, very evident in my voice.

He chuckled lightly "Of course. I didn't really want to be CEO of my dad's company. I wanted to have my own chain of hotels so me and my dad made a deal, I run the company and he lets me use my trust fund to buy my hotel which of course worked in my favor because now, my money is long!" He said obviously very proud of his achievements.

"I don't even want to ask how much the hotel is" I said grinning, knowing that a snarky comment is coming.

He started laughing "Do you want to die? I saw the way you almost fainted when you heard the price of your phone. You'll just die if I tell you this one."

Didn't I say it?

I blushed a bit "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked playfully. He just smiled while bringing the car to a stop.

"Come on you know I was only joking." He said and I smiled at him as he pinched my cheek in an affectionate manner.

"Let's go" he said, getting out of the car and I followed suit.

I followed him past the doors which opened on their own and then we entered the lobby. It was so beautiful, I'd been to a hotel but none as grand as this one.

There were a lot of people either sitting or working and I had already fallen in love with the place.

He took me to a staircase that went down. I knew we were on the ground floor so that meant we were going underground.

We came to a place which looked like a bar, though the lights were still bright and it wasn't as busy as the lobby.

He lead me to a booth that had a long sofa, where three men were sitting, drinking and chatting away. They hadn't noticed us yet.  But these men were so beautiful. They looked like they were sculpted by the gods.

One was very slim, dark skinned and was wearing a glasses. Another was also dark skinned and had a full beard. They were both wearing suits meaning that they were supposed to be at work.

But one of them stood out.

He was wearing a long sleeve senator's outfit, with an Hausa cap sitting on his head. He might be Hausa.

He was very dark, had a beard and so handsome.

My heart was suddenly beating very fast.

I was called back to reality when I heard Louis say

"And what are these criminals gossiping about." He shouted and they all laughed coming to give him bro hugs one by one except the guy that I was ogling at before.

He was staring at me!

I felt like flying. But I behaved like I didn't notice him, just because you know...

They all started staring at me and I felt like the ground should open up and swallow me.

Louis suddenly looked at me and back at them and started snapping his fingers in their faces "What are you guys looking at now?"

The one on glasses finally spoke "Who's this?" He asked my cousin and they all turned to look at him. Louis shook is head at looked at me.

"You guys cannot see fine girl and remove your eye abi? Zara come closer nah" he told me and I reluctantly went closer to the booth. I was so shy that I felt like running away.

Once I was beside him he held me across my shoulder.

"Guys, meet Chizaram Okafor a.k.a Zara. She's my cousin. She just came to Lagos yesterday." Louis introduced me and I noticed all of them were holding their breaths.

"Jesus. Guy I was busy thinking you've replace Lola again. Was about to stage an intervention. So we will know if its you or your village people that is crashing your relationships." The full beard guy said making them laugh and I even chuckled myself.

The beard guy stood up, coming to his full height and he was actually very tall.

"I'm Tayo señorita, at your service" he said shining his teeth at me and doing a mock bow and I smiled at him.

"Eyys its okay, Mr Tiara." The cute guy teased Tayo.

"Don't mind the fool" Louis said and I chuckled. These guys were so hilarious.

Tayo sat back down looking at them angrily. "You guys should not be calling Tiara anyhow."

"Keep quiet, lover boy" the glasses guy said, standing up. I noticed he was also very tall too.

"I'm Lanre. Nice to meet you." He said formally, giving me a smile and stretching out his hand which I took very lightly.

He sat back down and I was greeted with the cute guy I was ogling at before.

"My fair lady. I'm Aminu, Garba" he said while stretching his hand out to me. I took his hand but instead of a shake, he brought my hand to his lips and kissed it, leaving sparks where his lips touched.

My whole body was decorated with goosebumps and I was finding it hard to breathe.

"Here have a seat." He offered which I obliged. Louis had already gone to sit between Lanre and Tayo so the only space left was next to Aminu.

Aminu sat beside me. Too close beside me that our bodies were almost touching. I felt like there was limited air in that particular atmosphere because breathing was suddenly hard.

"So Tayo, why did you call me at this unholy hour of the morning?" Louis asked Tayo.

"Please ask the guy, just thank your stars that I don't have an important meeting today." Aminu said with a deep, annoyed voice.

"Guys chill. First of all, the lady has to take something." Tayo announced making Louis roll his eyes.

"Zara will you take anything or should i order for you?" Louis asked and I was thankful he decided to, because if another person asked me I would have said No.

"Please order." I told him and he nodded.

He called the bar man and whispered something in his ear making him disappear at the speed of light.

After this, Louis and his friends started gisting again and I just sat there observing. My mother always told me that a lady should be seen not heard and that a lady shouldn't be too loud in a gathering of men.

Within seconds he was back with a cold pinkish drink in his hand and he handed it to me.

I took a sip and it was divine. I could notice the bitter taste of alcohol, it was subtle but there.

"You like?" The one called Aminu whispered so that only I could hear. I nodded fast, hoping that he would leave me alone. But he didn't, he kept on whispering.

"So how are you liking Lagos so far?" He asked, still whispering. His face was so close to mine making me feel weird.

I looked down, playing with my drink. I just couldn't look at him. "I just got here yesterday, I haven't gone anywhere" I said with a low voice.

"Maybe I can show you around sometime" he whispered again. His voice was really doing something to me. I was shivering.

"Aminu!" I heard Louis shout making Aminu face him quickly. Louis looked angry

"What are you doing?" Louis said making Aminu laugh.

"Can't I talk to her again? Eh?" Aminu said in between laughs and I almost smiled. He wasn't just talking, he was flirting.

Louis sighed "Bro, we need your attention here, Tayo wants to say something." He said obviously very annoyed. He was acting protective and I found it kind of cute.

Aminu finally left me and focused on their meeting and I was somewhat relieved although he was still really close to me.

"So Tayo what is it please?" The glasses guy, Lanre asked making all of them, including me, look at Tayo in anticipation.

Tayo started grinning like a cat, looking at all of them one by one before saying.

"I'm getting married!!!"

All of them instantly stood up and started hugging him one by one, hooting and screaming while Tayo started looking shy all of a sudden.

I just sat there smiling at them. This was really great news and who ever she was, was so lucky.

When they had finished congratulating and teasing Tayo, they sat down again and started asking for details.

While they were doing so and my cousin got distracted again, Aminu turned back towards me.

"Can I see your phone?" He asked and I didn't think, I just took it from my lap and gave him because I thought he wanted to look at it.

He started tapping on the screen and after some seconds, he gave it back to me and turned back to his friends.

I wondered what it was that he did, but I refrained from asking him before Louis would say that I'm talking to him and get upset.

"So guys I'm having an engagement party here at the hotel. I'll text you all the date when Tiara fixes it." Tayo announced while everyone got up to leave. We started walking towards the exit.

Louis looked at him funny "You're paying for this place don't think its free oh" he told him and they all laughed.

Tayo jabbed Louis with his elbow "Can't you even use it as wedding gift? You and money."

"Seriously Louis likes money too much. Even more than me." Aminu butted in and I found myself chuckling.

Lanre pointed at me "See your cousin is even laughing at you." And I started laughing.

"Please he's my brother, I can't join you guys to oppress him." I said making them all laugh, including Louis.

"Well if it's wedding gift, I'll buy but you are paying for the hall but I'll give you discount. You're shaa paying." Louis said. Louis and money ehh.

"I don hear oga." Tayo said as we all stepped outside the hotel.

We all said our goodbyes and before I turned to leave with Louis, Aminu winked at me and I felt like melting into a pool of goo.

Louis and I got into his car and drove back home, since the day had already ended.

I sat down in the car with Aminu at the back of my mind.

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