'Tell me about that your bobo jo'
'My bobo?' it sounded strange to her.Jacob could not be her bobo,yet,treat her this way.
'I mean Jay,that guy that keeps every lady on their feet whenever he talks' Lucy supplied,raising her glass to drink.
'C'mon he's fine'
'Just fine? Whats rocking between you two,the bobo likes you now,its very obvious' Janet eyed her.
'Lucy,abeg mind your business for here o'
'And you Jane happen to be my business'
'Your head is hot from drinking,i guess'
'Okay,finish your meal,and lets catch a movie'
'Catch what?No,am not seeing any movie,am going home to rest' she countered.
'Last i remembered,i wasn't seeking your opinion,its an order,so finish your drink ma'am Jane' she pushed her plates. 'Besides you've done nothing to make you tired,lazy woman' she laughed loudly,causing eyes to look their way.
'You are a trouble bag and you know it'.
'Sha,do fast jare' Lucy said.
'Wait o,you have to change this your outfit to something simpler o,or doyou have new motives for this movie thing again.
'Maybe,i do have motives,na you know,my feet is hurting me jare.'
'I didn't ask you to wear that o,you can see am comfortable in mine' Janet laughed at her and finished her drink too.
Lucy signalled to the waiter who brought their bill,telling him to keep the change.Naija babe for real.
Janet walked behind Lucy,she searched for Jacob with her eyes,but he had gone,she was sure he hadn't seen her.
So much for meeting with some foreign clients,the lady he just had lunch with was more than that,she thought quietly,Lucy drove and she sat beside her like a dummy,listening to her with her body,while her soul pondered about Jacob Smith.She knew what she was going to do.
Jacob Smith drove home in his Bentley Rapier 2012,playing a cool music and humming quietly,the car had been a dream toy for him,but now having a Rolls Royce was on his mind,he was only taking his time.
He knew what was expected of him as the number three buisness man in Nigeria,a tycoon like him had to be careful of what to wear,places to eat and ladies to be seen with,and he was trying his best to remain good.
Lunch with Katherine was cool,and he enjoyed his meal,but Katherine could be dangerous,a lady with class,money,power and influence and who knows how to make use of them is no plaything.
His mother had been dissappointed with the break of the relationship,it wasn't so easy for him too,but he had to move on,agreeing to have lunch or dinner with her again sounded silly to him,but he was a man of his words.
He arrived home late in the afternoon,made some calls,and retired to his private library,he called Jane's mobile,the phone rang but it was not picked,he dialled their home telephone,the same thing,he settled on the chair making himself comfortable and selected some books to read.
He had been consumed with it,as reading was a passion for him,the brass knocker sounded,he looked up from his book,it was Ruth.
'What do you want' he asked flipping the book to another page.
'Dinner is ready sir'
'I'll eat here,you can bring my food'
'Your food is on the table sir,madam and Aunty Jackie are waiting for you', she replied
'Did you hear me at all' Jacob said,closing the book.
'Yes sir,i heard you'
'Then leave'.
Ruth left the library,Jacobs eye went to the clock hung on the wall,it was thirty minutes past seven,he was so engrossed in the book,that he didn't notice the time.
Leaning on the chair,he stretched his leg out,Jackie came in.
'Hello kid brother' She drawled
'Hello Jackie'
'I am fine and how was your day' she asked,looking all over him.
'Cool as usual'
'Dinner is ready and we're waiting for you' Jackie said
'I am having mine here'
'Here? Why?'
'I just want to be alone'
'Are sure you are alright?' she asked again.
'Eagle eyes am fine,i just want to eat here,by the way i like your hairstyle,its new and it looks good on you' Jacob said,touching her face.
Jackie kissed his cheeks, 'Thanks brother,i'm glad you like it'.
Ruth came in bringing Jacob's food on a big tray,Jacob opened each covered bowl,assessing its content,
'Whats in the jug?'
'Orange juice sir'
'Freshly made?'
'Yes sir'
'Its okay,you can leave,bring Jackie's food here' he said,asking her with his eyes.
She nodded.
'Mummy is not going to like that' she said,drawing out a chair to sit by him.
'She doesn't have to like everything okay?'
'Jacob you are taking this far,and i do not want any trouble between you too.You know daddy would not like it too' she said,setting her tray on the table.
Jacob ate with Jackie chatting all through.
'I guess you have a date tomorrow' he asked.
'Yes,i have a date with Danjuma' she said picking some plaintain.
'Danjuma? The same Senator Danjuma?'
'No,Danjuma Khalid is the Senator's first child,he is a Barrister'
'Am sure mummy introduced you to him right?'
'Yes, she did,and there's nothing wrong with that.'
'Why does she like to matchmake self,she'll be so happy you're going out with him unlike me' he picked a napkin and cleaned his mouth.
'I don't know much about this girl of yours,but i hope you're making a good choice dear'
'Thats what i expected from mummy,but she wouldn't give Jane a chance,thanks for your love' he sipped his juice.
'You're welcome anytime,am through,let me call Rose so that she can clear this place,you don't want rat eating your books.' She pressed a bell by the table,and Ruth came in.
'Clear this table' Jackie said standing up.
'Yes ma'
'Jackie i'll be in my room,i want to use the shower' he said leaving the library. 'Clean this room too,and close the door before leaving.'
Janet sprawled on her bed,covering herself with her baby pink duvet,she skipped dinner because she had two popcorn refill at the cinema,the movie was interesting,but she was not feeling it,her body sat there watching with everybody while her mind kept playing out,the face at the restaurant.
Who was the elegant lady who had Lunch with Jacob this afternoon,everything about the lady screamed c.l.a.s.s.
They looked a perfect couple together,those were the kind of women,Mrs Smith would gladly approve of,little wonder the woman rejected her friendship with her rich son.
Her phone rang all afternoon,but she hadn't picked it,she was lost in thought,she remembered his response this morning,when she called him,an all afternoon meeting with foreign clients?how many of such meeting or was it Lunch had he lied to her about.
She was wasting her time.
Thank heavens,Jacob sighed as he landed on his kingsize bed for two,he had just come back from the kitchen where he went to get iced water when he bumped into his mother,he had expected her to say something,but she just said 'goodnight' instead and walked away,he didn't know what he would have done,if she just started any unnecessary sermon about Jane.
Good!,that reminded him,she had not returned his calls,since afternoon,the blinking dot on his phone alerted him,that must be a missed call from Jane,he guessed,reaching for his phone on the dressing table,he scrolled through his missed calls,he was dissappointed that it was his bossom friend Durojaiye.
Just as he was about returning the call,another call came through,it was Durojaiye again,he picked it at a glance.
'Hello Jaiye' he said into the mouthpiece.
'Hello Jacob,did you get the mail,i sent earlier' came Jaiye's voice from the other hand.
'Yes,i did,but i have not gone through it' he had seen the mail,but had left it hoping to do that tomorrow.
'Do go through it tomorrow,so that you can get back to me,i have to work on it on Monday, it means a lot to J&J.'
'Okay,thats fine with me'. Jacob answered.
'Now,thats that,whats boiling tonite baba olowo' Jaiye said
It never cease to amaze Jacob about Jaiye's flexible nature,one minute,he is frank and the next he is laughing like a baby.
'Boiling? for where?'
'Make we enter club now,saturday night things o' Jaiye said again.
'Forget me for that one,am on my bed already'
'Okay,now,me and Femi them don dey go,if you change your mind,na FIJB we dey'
'Goodnite boss' Jacob said laughing,
'Na you be boss o,sleep well'
Jacob dialled Janes' number again,it was switched,he didn't want to get worried over nothing,he hoped all was well with her and her family.
He reached for the bedside lamp and switched it off.
To be continued at 7:30pm.
