Echoes of the past - Chapter Three




     "What 're you planning to wear to the party?" Feyi asked Teni as she came into her room. "You 've got to look your absolute best. You never know who you can meet at such events. "     Teni hid a smile. Getting Teni hooked up to a guy as quickly as possible was her new goal especially since she started dating Banji a few weeks earlier. Teni didn't see the point of starting a relationship. She had less than a year to stay after all but Feyi had brushed her excuses aside.  "Just wait until you fall in love and you 'll change your mind." She had such a serious look on her face that Teni had to resist the urge to laugh.      Teni was amused. She had had a total of one and half relationships in her life. The first one had ended because the guy felt she wasn't as seriuos about him as he wanted and the second which she called 'the half' didn't even take off properly because her boyfriend, if she could call him that, was insecure about her ambitions and couldn't understand why she would want to incur so much expense to attend LSE.   "What kind of a party is it going to be? Very formal?" She asked Feyi. It had been almost six weeks of leisure and ease and although she was grateful for the opportunity to relax that Feyi had provided but she was also looking forward to starting work at Feyi's dad complany, Vantres the following week.    "Evening affair kind of thing. It's taking place at Navagne hotels and gardens, that's one of the coolest five star hotels around."  "That means I 'll have to get a dress." She didn't think she had anything suitable to wear. Not to that kind of party anyway.     Feyi's eyes lit up as she surveyed Teni's figure critically  "You know what? We are practically the same size and I 've got a couple of dresses that I 've not worn yet. They 're really lovely, I 'll show them to you....." She stopped as she saw Teni shaking her head "Why not ?"  "No thanks" Teni said firmly. She felt it was time she began to decline some of the freebies the Ola-Daniels nicely threw her way ever so often otherwise it was going to take some serious readjustment when she returned back to the UK. "I 'll definitely be able to sort out a dress for myself."  Feyi frowned slightly as she eyed Tanya's set face  "I 'll be more than happy to accept a dress from you. Why can't you do the same?" She rolled her eyes. "You'd better lose that attitude. You 're my friend and you 've got to be free with me."      Teni looked at Feyi's exasperated face and smiled. She could not help loving this girl. "It's sweet of you to offer and not to worry, next time, I shall raid your wardrobe."      She was happy they were starting work at KH a week from then too. She was getting low on cash and getting a new dress and accessories would set her back some more and there was absolutely no way she was accepting money from either Feyi or her dad.



     Teni murmured her thanks as she took a glass of wine from a passing waiter. Banji and Feyi had stepped out for a walk in the gardens and she had assured them it was okay to leave her for a few minutes.      She looked around at the beautifully done up function hall of the five star hotel. Everything looked glitzy and glamourous. The ladies all appeared to be trying to outdo each other in various designs of evening dresses and the men looked sharp in their tuxedo's. Everywhere was lit up, the chandeliers that hung from the ceilings adding a magical glow to the hall.      She was glad she had made the effort to look good. The wine coloured evening dress she had bought for the occasion made her spa pampered skin glow. Feyi and her had spent the afternoon at the hair dressers and then had a full body work up at the spa. Teni knew the new hairstyle suited her face. That was another thing she liked about Lagos. They had superb hair dressers that could fo all sorts of things to her hair type and the prices were much better than what she had been paying in the UK too.        She allowed her eyes to move around the room. Some couples were on the dance floor and others were lounging around and talking. They had already had dinner and there had been a few formal presentations before that. The host of the evening, the man that Uncle Kola referred to as Akeem Kadiri had made a speech, thanking everyone for attending and especially appreciating the staff of Ka-Tell whom he said worked tirelessly to make the company what it was. Apparently there had been another party that had been held for all the staff of Ka-Tell but this was a smaller party for senior staff and Akeem Kadiri's friends. Teni was impressed by the guy's charisma. He spoke confidently like a guy that was very used to addressing crowds. She had also glimpsed his wife from afar. The lady was so pretty and Akeem Kadiri and her looked absolutely loved up.     Her eyes caught a familiar looking face and she almost did a double take as she recognised the man she had almost crashed into. She stared at him for a moment, hardly believing her eyes but yes, it was certainly him. He looked even more attractive in his impeccably cut tuxedo that accentuated his broad shoulders and lithe frame. He had a glass of wine in his hands and he was watching the couples on the dance floor with a lazy half smile on his lips. At that moment he looked towards her too and before Teni could look quickly away, their eyes met. There was a flash of recognition in the guy's eyes as they stared at each other for a moment and then he smiled. Teni smiled back in return and then looked quickly away. She felt embarrassed that he had caught her staring. She looked around the hall before casting a subtle look in his direction again. His eyes were still on her. She made sure she didn't allow her eyes to meet his this time around.   "Hope you 're having fun,Teni?" Deji asked as he joined her a few minutes later. "Where's Feyi?"  "Oh she popped out with Banji." Teni said and he made a face.    "Do you want to dance?" Deji asked with a twinkle on his eyes.   "Why not?" It was good to see him looking so relaxed unlike the busy guy he was all week. She told him so and he laughed.  "It's been a little hectic at Vantres with dad trying to shift more responsibility towards me but hopefully things should ease up a bit soon." He led her more towards the centre of the dance floor and placed his arm lightly around her waist as they started dancing.   "Hmmm....you can move." Teni teased "I thought it was just Wall Street indices that you know."  He laughed "But you 're one business minded lady too. Dad's says you 're a natural. We 're really looking to having you join Vantres next week."  "Me too." It was time to start putting all the business skills learnt at LSE to work. She enjoyed her talks with his dad and they could sometimes go on for hours discussing the merits/demerits of business ventures and mergers going on in different global corporations.        The music changed to a faster track and they changed their dance steps to go with it. She loved dancing and was impressed with Deji's moves and they both laughed and teased each other as they kept up with the fast beats.      "Whoa! We need to do this again soon!" Deji laughed as the track ended and he led her off the floor.   "Defo."     Feyi was still nowhere in sight and she excused herself to go freshen up in the ladies. She looked at herself in the mirror in the bathroom. Her face looked flushed with all that dancing. She touched up her powder and applied a fresh coat of lipstick to her lips before making her way back to the function hall. She was a little startled to see the handsome stranger now standing at the edge of the room where she would have no choice but to pass by him as she entered the hall.   "Hey, we meet again."  Teni smiled a little self consciously "Hi. Surprise."  "Very pleasant surprise." His eyes roved over her appreciatively "You 're looking very different today but I definitely can't mistake that face anywhere."  "So sorry about the last time....." Teni began.   "Hey, no need to apologise again. You were more affected than I was." He grinned and Teni could not help staring at his chiselled attractive face. The guy was such a looker and he probably knew it too. "I've thought about you quite a few times since then." His eyes flicked over her again as he extended his hand towards her "I am Fola Lawal."   "Teni Davies"   He held her hand just a fraction longer than necessary before he released it.  "Pleased to meet you, Teni. So are you a friend of the Kadiri's?"   "Not really. My hosts are family friends of theirs and I just came along. What about you?"   "I work at KH." He focussed his dark long lashed eyes on her. "So how long have you been in the country?"   Teni smiled "That question again. How do you know I've not been here all my life?"   "Remember I 'm the guy you traumatised and almost ran off the road by driving on the wrong side?"   Teni knew he was teasing her but she felt embarrassed. "It was really silly of me to....."   "I'm only kidding. But hey, you 're too easy to tease!" He looked at her with dancing roguish eyes "So tell me,  how long have you been here?"   "Two months....." Teni began but just at that moment, she saw Feyi coming towards them. "Here comes my friend, I 'm staying with her and her family."     Feyi got to where they were and Teni introduced them. They both knew who the other was and they all made small talk for a few minutes.   "Nice meeting you again, Fola." Teni said as she prepared to move away with Feyi.  "The pleasure was all mine." His eyes met her's and held it for a moment. "Can I have your number?" He asked.      Teni felt a flutter of excitement in her stomach at the look in his eyes. She gave him the number and he handed her his complimentary card. He gave her a small wave as she walked away but she was acutely conscious of his eyes following her as she walked across the hall.  


  "I still can't believe Fola Lawal was the mystery man you almost ran into!" Feyi said again as she stared at Teni. They had gotten back to the house about an hour earlier and were both lying on Teni's bed.  "I had no idea who he was at that time. I still don't know much about him." Except he was one of the most attractive men she had ever seen, she added silently.   "That guy is a good example of who not to get involved with." Feyi sat up a little. "He has a list this long....." She widened her arms as much as she could. "Of women that he has dated." She shook her head. "Nah, my advise is, stay as far away from him as possible."   "That bad?"   "He's worse. I know he's really hot and all that but he has such a reputation with women." She grimaced "Yet those ladies can't seem to get it and keep throwing themselves at him."   Teni didn't know why she was feeling deflated by the info Feyi had given her. "I certainly don't see myself throwing myself at an obvious player."   "But did you see the way he was looking at you? He was so obviously attracted to you and I don't think you 've heard the last of him."   "If he has that many women after him as you say then he won't have time to go after an unwilling one." She had thought him a nice guy but hearing half the things that Feyi had said about about him had just about put her off him.   "Maybe....but he's known as a charmer." She leaned over and took hold of her IPad from the table "Let me just show you a few things about him......"      She typed quickly on the key pad and his profile came up. Teni stared at the now familiar handsome face. He was dressed in a dark business suit but that didn't take anything from his rugged good looks. She read through his profile. He was respected in coporate circles and was described as a strong factor that contributed to the success of Ka-Tell, the telecommunications arm of Kadiri holdings or KH as it was popularly known. Besides his business profile, there was quite a bit written on his social life as well. He had been linked with a lot of beautiful women and like Feyi had said, was regarded as a playboy in social circles.   "Aha, there she is!" Feyi said triumphantly as she brought up another picture.      Teni glanced at the picture of Fola and a very beautiful woman at some function. The lady was looking up at him with adoring eyes while he appeared to be looking straight at the camera.   "This is Anjola, Fola's on, off girlfriend for a few years. He's had a number of relationships in between their breaks but she still sticks on."  "How come you know so much about him?"  "I had a friend that was seriously crushing on him so she used to follow every little detail about him." She laughed as she saw Teni's face. "No, not Pamela or Nicole!"   Teni relaxed. She could just imagine if Nicole had been the one. She would have been mad to hear he was even talking with Teni.  "So did he date her?"   Feyi shook her head. "Nah, the guy was dating this hot newscaster then and didn't even look in her direction. Of course he has long broken up with that newscaster chick since then." She sat back against the pillows. "But I heard he is a whiz kid when it comes to his work. Many companies including Vantres has tried to lure him in the past but he has stuck with KH." She shrugged. "It's just his private life that is another matter."  Teni had heard enough. "Well, good luck to him and his girls. Getting involved with a player is certainly not on my agenda."      But as she lay on her bed later that night, Fola's face flashed before her again. The roguish way he smiled and the way his eyes always seemed slightly amused. There was just something about him that made her want to know the real guy behind the attractive and sophisticated veneer, but maybe she was mistaken and he was nothing more than a guy who was aware of his sheer good looks and knew how to use it to good advantage.  


      Teni paused by the balcony as she made to take her ringing phone out of her pocket. She waved across at Uncle Kola who was sitting on one of the of deck chairs in the garden below. Deji and Feyi were playing a game of basketball at a court a little distance away. She loved this view from the balcony. She could see many parts of the rolling well maintained grounds on which the Ola-Daniels house was biult.      She looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Fola Lawal. She debated within herself if she should take the call and decided it would be immatured not to. She was very capable of dismissing him nicely.  "Hey." His deep smooth voice came over the phone as she connected the call "How's your day going?"   "Very good, thank you and your's?"  "Good." He replied. "It was really nice seeing you at Navagne yesterday. Could hardly believe my eyes."  "It was a surprise for me as well." She was startled as she felt something soft rub against her ankles. She looked down and smiled. It was Lulu, Feyi's tabby cat. She bent down and stroked its silken hair and the cat purred softly.  "Hope you 've had some time to rest up after that late party?" She asked as she straightened up again.  "Yep. I've been up for a while though. I had some paperwork I needed to complete but that's nicely sorted out of the way now."  "You 've worked for KH for a while?"   "A few years. It's a great place to work in."   "I can see that, since you take work home." She said drily.   He chuckled. "Doesn't everyone do that? But anyway it's a habit I'm trying to break." She could still hear the amusement in his voice "How long are you in the country for?" He asked her.   "I've still got some months to go. I'm actually starting work at Vantres on Monday and I'm really looking forward to it."   "That's great. What role are you going you be working at?"   "I'm a business analyst so I'll be working along that line."  "Vantres is doing well. I'm sure you 'll have a good time," He paused. "You must have done a bit of sight seeing since you arrived?"  "Some. Feyi's been doing her best to get me to as many places as she can manage."   "Mmmm......Have you been to Marijas yet?"  The name sounded familiar but she was not sure and she told him.   "If you 've been there, you'd definitely remember. It's one of the most beautiful strips of private beaches around these parts. It also has a lovely restaurant that serves the most amazing fresh seafoods."   "Sounds good."  "I'm sure you'll like it. What's your day like tomorrow? I could pick you up and we could spend some time there."  "Um....I don't think that will be convenient. I was planning to familiarise myself with some work related stuff tomorrow. I need to get into work mode for next week."   He didn't push. "I understand. Maybe we could do it next week?"   "Maybe."     Teni disconnected the call a few minutes later. My scalp is not going to decorate your belt, Mr 'So very attractive' Fola Lawal she thought to herself as she walked down the stairs on her way to join the others in the garden.






© Osaradeyemi.blogspot 2013

All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from osaradeyemi.blogspot.