Chapter 5: Chapter 5

"I hope everything is set for the Fashion Week?" Lisha questioned.

She was having a meeting with her design team for the Lagos fashion week that would start in few days time, though they'd presented their designs during the cross cultural exchange and exhibition at Rakuten fashion week in Tokyo the previous month, then Lisha had been the only designer from Nigeria out of the six emerging designers from Africa and Japan that were formally invited and did participate in Japan - Africa Fashion and Cultural Exchange. That had actually earned her the award of the 'Best Designer in Africa' and as such they were meant to present the same designs during the Lagos Fashion week to be held at the newly renovated world known multi million dollar monument, The Muson Centre, Lagos.

"Yes ma," they all chorused.

"Okay then, ensure nothing happens to it, you can leave then," she instructed and they all left the room in the few minutes that followed.

Lisha sat on her office chair as she opened the water bottle and gulped down its content, she sighed as she looked at the cerulean sky through the shutters, just then, she remembered the launch party at Heineken House later in the day, it was getting late already and she had to go home to prepare for the launch party.

While packing her stuffs into her bag, the door creaked open and it revealed the entrance of Jimi.

"Yes, gym, how may I help you?" She inquired and Jimi smiled before sitting on a sofa.

"You're going for the cocktail reception right?"

Lisha bobbed her head as she zipped her bag.

"What type of foolish question is that? You should know I'll certainly go there," she replied while eyeing him.

"That's true, so, I'll be going too and I want you to be my date," he scratched his neck and Lisha laughed out loudly like a maniac which got Jimi wondering if her madness had started again.

"So, you want me to be your date?" She queried and Jimi nodded.

"Okay then," she picked up her bag and proceeded to stand up leaving Jimi wondering if she'd just accepted, not that he wasn't expecting her to show her crazy side.

"You're not saying anything?" He questioned again and Lisha stood up.

"Okay, you don't like that answer right? You want me to…"

Jimi cut in, "No, it's okay"

"Good then, if that's all, can you leave my office, 'cause I will be going home to get dressed"

He stood up and that made her halt her steps, "Oh, that's even true, should I come pick you at your place?"

Lisha scrunched her brows before shrugging, "Wait, can't I pick you up?"

Jimi erupted into laughter before shaking his head, "It should be the other way round, so, your address?"

She gave a tight-lipped smile before responding, "Adeola Hopewell, Victoria Island, find out the house number yourself." She headed towards the door with Jimi still standing in his position pondering on how he'll get the house number, maybe he'll call his secretary or…

"Are you planning to sleep in my office?" Lisha shouted as she poked her head back into the office after noticing he hadn't stepped out yet. He snapped out of his thoughts and smiled before walking out.

They went their separate ways and Jimi decided to go to Folakemi's office to ask for Lisha's address but before he could get there, he sighted Nikki who flashed a grin at him. She was looking enticing in her blue floral loose top and jeans that hugged her curves and presented her nice shape, truly she deserved the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, the one she'd earned the previous year.

"Hi," Nikki greeted with a wide smile while wrapping a curl of her hair around her finger.

"Nikki right? I tend to forget your name," Jimi admitted and she grinned.

"It's not a name to forget actually," she fired back, she was somehow annoyed that he found it so hard to register her name and Jimi nodded.

"Yeah, anyway, can you tell me your address?"

Nikki raised her eyebrows while wondering why he wanted to know their address, "It's House no.33."

"Good, um, can I have Lisha's contact number?"

She wrinkled her nose as she thought, 'Why would he ask for Lisha's number?'. She wanted him to ask for her number and not Lisha's.

"Um, why? You know my sister is a psycho, a freaky crazy person so she might just rip off my skin if she finds out I gave you her number without her consent," She persuaded and Jimi smiled.

"We have a date this evening and I forgot to take her number earlier on," he told her and Nikki's eyes widened in surprise, she lowered her gaze and sighed. A date with Lisha? Why her?

"Oh okay, let me have your phone."

Jimi handed her his phone and she punched in Lisha's number before returning it to him.

"Thanks."

"Um, you…" he walked away before she could complete the sentence. Nikki bit her lip as she watched him enter the elevator.

She turned away and decided to go home, she had to talk to Lisha and ask her what was going on.

************

Miracle jumped on Lisha immediately Gran opened the door widely for Lisha.

"You're home early," Gran stated as she walked back to the living room while Lisha trailed behind her with Miracle's hand wrapped around her neck.

"Yeah, I have to attend a launch party later." She dropped Miracle who walked up to the only chaise lounge in the living room, their living room was a cozy one painted in cream; Lisha's favorite color, infact everything in the living room was cream including the two sofas, a love seat and chaise lounge that was directly opposite their Plasma TV, the center rug was also cream and the small bookshelf that served as a pathway to the dining room.

"Oh okay." Gran sat by Miracle who quickly plopped into her laps as they fixed their gaze on the cartoon they'd been watching earlier. Most times, Lisha do wonder if Gran understood any thing in the animations but yet she always chatted with Miracle and at times they discussed about the cartoons. They were the closest in the house, even Miracle wasn't as close to her mother like she was with Gran.

Though Lisha had been a tad bit closer to Gran considering the fact that she was the one who raised her but when Nikki appeared with her pregnancy, the love had been transferred to her and the baby not like Gran really showed her love before but the little attention was still something to her. She smiled before walking up to her room, then she dumped her bag on the queen- sized bed that occupied only a few portion of the room. Lisha's room was the biggest in the whole house due to the fact that she created a small space in the room for her work which included sketching, sewing and other stuffs related to designs.

She walked into the bathroom and had a cold shower with her troubles reflecting on her face, couple of minutes later, she wrapped her towel round her petite body and walked out of the bathroom, then, she heard her phone ring. Picking up her phone, she realised it was an unknown number, while wondering who it could be, she picked it up before sitting on her egg chair; the one she always sat on while looking out at the moon in the starry night.

"Hello."

"Hi, it's Jimi," the voice came from the other end, Lisha sat frozen as she dabbed her wet hair.

"How did you get my number?" She shouted, even Gran and Miracle would have heard her voice downstairs.

Jimi smirked from the other end, "Calm down, I got it from Nikki"

"That girl will get it from me today," she mumbled but Jimi heard faintly.

Lisha tucked her legs beneath her before continuing, "So, what oo?"

"I only wanted to let you know I'll be at your place soon."

"Okay then." Lisha hung up before he could even think of replying or saying anything more.

She got up and went to her wardrobe, after opening it, her eyes roamed about and she decided to go with a red lovely maxi gown. While tucking her small body into the clothe, Nikki barged in.

"I really need to start locking my door, ehn, see the way you just barged in like a trailer," Lisha jested as she walked up to Nikki.

"Help me with my zip," she told her and Nikki complied before asking her what she'd actually come for.

"So you've gotten so close with the CEO that you guys have decided to go for dates?" She raised her right eyebrows with a thin smile.

Lisha whirled around before replying, "Not really and this date isn't what you're thinking, it's the launch party for the fashion week and you know designers, entrepreneurs and fashion patrons were invited, so, we just decided to go together."

Nikki released the breaths she hadn't realized she was holding as a triumphant smile crept up her lips. Lisha walked to her shoe rack, trailed it and smiled crookedly before picking one of her shoes and threw it at Nikki.

"What's this na?" Nikki complained as she stepped back but that gave Lisha the privilege to pick up her shoes and start throwing them at her sister one after the other.

"Why did you give him my number without my permission?" She threw her black wedge; the one she'd intended to wear at Nikki who quickly dodged it.

"Sorry nau," Nikki begged and Lisha stopped while smiling sheepishly at her sister, before Nikki could bat her eyelashes, Lisha ran to her and pulled her ear.

"It hurts," Nikki pleaded but Lisha smiled like the devil she was and smacked Nikki's head before letting go of her.

"Gosh, you're evil," Nikki shouted while rubbing her ear as she jumped on Lisha's bed.

"I like that evil word, you know." She sat on her dressing chair and smiled at Nikki who was glaring at her through her wide mirror.

"Ehn," she whirled her chair and turned to Nikki who still wore her glare, "Reduce that frown before it destroys your pretty face, so, I want you to do my makeup"

Nikki's frown disappeared instantly as she jumped off the bed, she walked to her sister and placed the back of her right hand on her neck.

"You're not hot, so, what's wrong?"

A smile tugged Lisha's lips, "Nothing, just decided to try make-up, you know I don't even know if it'll fit my face."

Nikki stared at her sister in astonishment. This was the first time Lisha would ever consider make-up since forever, she never really cared about her appearance, most times she dressed like the crazy person she was and when asked, she'll simply say designers are meant to dress crazily, hearing her deciding on it this evening got Nikki flabbergasted. Why on earth would she just think of make-up? Is she trying to impress her date or what? Thoughts like this crossed through Nikki's mind until she felt Lisha's slap on her laps.

"Ouch, is your hand made of metal?" Nikki complained as she rubbed her laps.

"Thank God you know, oya, come and make up for me jare, that stupid Gym will appear soon."

Nikki swallowed her uneasiness and decided to throw her thoughts behind her as she proceeded to start Lisha's Make-up.

"Don't allow it to be too much oo, make it nude or perhaps like a witch."

Nikki chuckled softly, "You know that witch's own will fit you, you're kuku a witch before."

Lisha smiled at Nikki before proceeding to stand up, knowing Lisha would probably slap her or beat her, Nikki disappeared to the end of the room while giving her sister a pleading look.

"Okay oo, just come and do the make up," she sat down and Nikki walked back slowly.

"Promise you won't act crazy"

"I won't," she assured and Nikki increased her pace, immediately she got to her sister, Lisha pinned her neck and scrubbed her face with her hair brush.

"You promised na," Nikki whined while still trying to wriggle out of her grip.

"I'm still keeping to my promise," she smiled wickedly before dropping the hairbrush on her dressing table.

"I won't do your make up again," Nikki snapped her fingers at her and Lisha smiled sheepishly before grabbing her hand.

"Will you do it or not?"

"I will."

She dragged Nikki with her and they both walked to Nikki's room, it was right beside Lisha's room so they got there quickly, Nikki's room was like half of her elder sister's room.

"Start!" Lisha ordered as she sat on Nikki's dressing chair, after eyeing her, Nikki brought out her make-up kit and proceeded to start work on her sister's face.

Couple of minutes later, Gran walked into the room with Miracle trailing behind her.

"Lisha, a guy is waiting for you downstairs," Gran said as Nikki arranged her make-up kit.

Lisha turned to Gran whose mouth remained agape upon seeing her look, "Wow, Lisha, this is amazing"

"Thanks." She turned to take a look at herself in the mirror and she stunned herself, Nikki had really transformed her face and yes, it fitted her perfectly.

"So, tell me, who is that handsome guy?" Gran teased while Miracle walked over to her Mom.

"He's sha somebody."

"Gran, he's the CEO of MAPLE," Nikki corrected, earning her a scowl from her sister.

"Wow, this is actually new, a guy never came for you, it's always Nikki, at first when he told me he was here for you, I corrected him and said Nikki but he insisted on you."

The words sank into Lisha who threw a scowl at Gran. She knew what she was insinuating. Gran ignored the scowl with a dismissive wave.

"Anyway, don't keep him waiting and don't ruin the date oo, you know it's your first date," Gran shouted before leaving the room.

Nikki turned to Lisha before talking," Come to think of it, you never entertained a guy in this house, what am I even saying? you've only dated two guys and it didn't last than few months," she ended it with a mocking chuckle.

The words sparkled Lisha's temper but she decided not to say anything but rather walk out of the room, she went to her room and picked her clutch purse before putting on her wedge and headed downstairs.

While descending the stairs, her eyes met with Jimi whose eyes didn't waver from her, he kept gaping at her like she was a cherished possession of his.

Awe transformed his face as he gawked at the exotic beauty in front of him, she was looking ravishing in her outfit and he couldn't help but gawp at her.

"Close that mouth before I smack it," Lisha brought him out his trance, he didn't even realize his mouth had hung open while he took in her beauty.

"Wow, you look ravishing," he complimented and Lisha's cheeks flushed.

"I don't have to thank you," she replied and Jimi shook his head before his eyes met with Nikki who was right behind Lisha grinning at him .

He waved at her and Nikki opened her mouth to talk but Jimi turned to Lisha, "Let's go"