CHAPTER 49 A

CHAPTER 49

(The following day Andy's sponsor, Tunji Adebayo, shows up at his place....)

ANDY : it’s so good to see you...
TUNJI : same here sir...(Giving Andy a handshake)
ANDY : please, have your seat... What should they offer you...Champaign, whiskey...?
TUNJI : (sitting comfortably as he puts down his suitcase)....any one will do sir.
ANDY : okay.

(Andy goes to his intercom to ask his kitchen staffs for a bottle of Champaign...)

TUNJI : sir, I heard a gubernatorial debate is being organized for you?
ANDY : yes. In fact, it’s in the next few days.
TUNJI : oh, I see...I trust you're very ready for it.
ANDY : of course I am...
TUNJI : my staffs will sure be there to broadcast it live.
ANDY : oh really?
TUNJI : yes.
ANDY : that will be great!
TUNJI : I wish you the best of Luck sir.
ANDY : thank you my friend...your wine will be here soon.
TUNJI : thank you sir....
(As they were discussing, Tunji opens his briefcase checking the dollars that are placed there. Andy noticed the money in the briefcase...)

TUNJI : oh my God...(Looking at the bundles of note in the suitcase )...this boys totally screwed up...(Brings out his phone and dials)....hello?....what is wrong with you people, you gave me the wrong box...(Listens)...this is the one with the fake dollars...is this the one I asked you to put in the car?......you must be very stupid!....(Hisses and hangs up then looks at Andy, who is now back at his seat)...I'm so sorry sir....
ANDY : hope there's no problem?
TUNJI : at all sir. My boys carried the wrong suitcase from the office, that's why...
ANDY : (cuts in)...did I just hear you say fake dollars?
TUNJI : em sir...we use it for some delicate matters.
ANDY : (moving closer to take a better look)...so those notes, as crisp as they look, are fake?
TUNJI : very fake sir...I only use them to deal with unwanted leeches...please sir...(Closing the suitcase)... I'll get back to you...(Standing up)
ANDY : oh no, there's no problem, and please you don't have to leave because of that...let's chat a little before you go...
TUNJI : okay sir....
ANDY : I know you're a very busy man...
TUNJI : hmm....(Sits down)...
ANDY : so tell me how's business?
TUNJI : going so well sir....
ANDY : but there's something I want to ask....
TUNJI : okay...(Paying Andy more attention)
ANDY : Are you not afraid you may be cut with these fake dollars?
TUNJI : (laughs)...oh sir, I don't use it illegally.
ANDY : oh...
TUNJI : that's why I can't give it to you. I'll bring the real ones myself tomorrow...
ANDY : I'll appreciate that a lot...



Kola's house is situated in the Government Reserved Area, a place he bought after he got back from the US. It’s a five bedroom duplex with a beautiful garden.

Earlier during the day, he had ordered for some dishes from Da'Cassles' to serve his guests.

By 4pm, some of the guests started arriving. Stan came with Susan, both casually dressed.

Kola had excused himself, to pick Bukola up while his guests were arriving.

Kurt came alone,  dressed casually in a white muscle-top and a fitted pant, making him look taller than his usual 6.4ft. He had just gotten a sporting-waves haircut, giving his mustache and beard a clean, round cut. Showing off a fine skin that has not been tanned.

Kurt has always been a man of few words when he's with strangers, but a different person when he's with his loved ones.

Susan was surprised when she saw Kurt walked in. She looked at her husband suspiciously....)

SUSAN : Stan...
STAN : yes Hun...(Turns to look at his wife)
SUSAN : is there something you didn't tell me? 'Cause, Kurt just walked in...
STAN : oh....(Looking at the entrance as he sees Kurt walking up to them)...you mean Jide...
SUSAN : I see you already confirmed that?
STAN : honey, we'll talk when we get home.
SUSAN : hmm mm...
STAN : (standing up to greet Kurt)...hey man...
KURT : Stan...(Hugging him, he sees Susan)...Suz...
SUSAN : hi Kurt...or Jide.
KURT : Kurt please...(Smiling)
SUSAN : hmm...
KURT : how's your son?
SUSAN : very well, thanks...and yours?
KURT : hmm...he's fine....(looking around in other to change the topic) where's Kola?
STAN : somewhere around I guess, I didn't meet him when we got here.
KURT : okay...em Stan can I see you for a moment?
STAN : of course...(Turns to his wife)...excuse me darling.
SUSAN : alright dear...
KURT : (going to a corner with Stan)...what happened Stan, why didn't she come with you?
STAN : oh...should have called you yesterday...she's got plans....maybe with Jordin, who knows...
KOLA : shit...
STAN : some other time, man...
KOLA : yeah...(Feeling really disappointed)
STAN : we'll talk about it...

(They walk back to where Susan is...)

SUSAN : (giving them a very stern look)...Stan, now I understand why you wanted Bukola to come...(Nodding)...hmm mm...and you Jide...(Changes her mind)...no, both of you, you've got some explanations to give...

(As they were talking, their attention was drawn by one of the guests who couldn't but exclaim Kola's arrival.

Kurt, Susan and Stan looked up only to behold Kola walking in with Bukola. They were shocked...)

SUSAN : Bukola?
STAN : (turns to his wife)...I thought you said...
SUSAN : (cuts in)...I thought it was Jordin...
KURT : (chuckles and shakes his head)...hmm....
STAN : (turns to Kurt)...and Kola...what's he doing with Bukola...is this one of your...
KURT : (cuts in)...no Stan. I know absolutely nothing about it.
STAN : that's weird...do they...
KURT : (chuckles as he cuts in)....Kola is just trying to play with me. Don't worry.
STAN : (shrugs)...okay.

(Kola walks in, greeting all the guests one after the other, not letting Bukola's hand go. He introduces each of them to her one after the other.

When he got to Kurt's corner, Bukola was shocked to have seen Susan and Stan...)

KOLA : (turns to Bukola)...I know you met my Boss...(Pointing at Kurt)
KURT : (extending a handshake to Bukola)....hi Miss Haastrup...my pleasure to meet you once again...
BUKOLA : hmm...(Putting up a fake smile even as she admires the way he looks tonight)
SUSAN : (holds Bukola from leaving with Kola)....em, excuse us please...(Pulls Bukola to a side)...Babe, what's up? I thought you were going out with Jordin...
BUKOLA : no, I didn't say that...
SUSAN : (cuts in)...yeah but I didn't know it’s with him....are you trying to get at Jide or what?
BUKOLA : who is Jide? Where is he?.....(Looking around pretentiously)
SUSAN : don't play smart with me Bukola. That's what you're trying to do, I know.
BUKOLA : whatever...and you, what are you doing here?
SUSAN : it’s okay we'll talk about it later, 'cause even I didn't know how Stan got to know all this...let's go back, Kola has gone...

(They both walk back to where Kurt and Stan are...)

KURT : (looking at Bukola as she walks up to them).....you look extremely beautiful...
BUKOLA : thanks...(Scornfully)
KURT : you know...life can be funny...who knew we were gonna meet here...
BUKOLA : wait a minute...(Getting really serious)...you told Kola to invite me isn't it?
KURT : (surprised)...I wish I did...
BUKOLA : of course you did...how could I have been so stupid...

(As they were talking Lara walks in, she locates where Kurt is and walks up to him immediately...)
LARA : hi darling...(Giving him a hug)
KURT : (not responding to the hug)...hi Lara.
LARA : won't you introduce me to your friends...
KURT : em...Bukola, Stan, Suz...this is Lara...Lara this are my very good Friends...
LARA : nice to nice you...I'm his wife, he forgot to say...
(Before she finished making that sentence, Kurt pulls her into one of the rooms...)
LARA : what? Why did you embarrass me like that?..(Trying to release her hand from Kurt's)
KURT : Lara, enough of this farce...we are not married and you know that. So then, why are you telling them you're my wife?
LARA : well is that not what we've been saying for about five years now? So...
KURT : (cuts in)...so it’s enough! I agreed to do that just to save you from the shame that, that pregnancy would have brought to you and now, I want to live my life! It’s enough!
LARA : you are shouting for God's sake!...(Looking around)...Kurt... you promised Uncle Lekan you were going to help me get through this...you promised him...
KURT : (cuts in)...Yes I did, but now I'm done. I need to live my life....I've tried.
LARA : but that's why I said we should make it real, let's be together...
KURT : no Lara! I can't do this anymore...
LARA : what of Ladi? This will break him, he can't stand seeing us apart, I'm very sure...
KURT : I'll take care of Ladi...I'll be a father to him, but not a husband to you.
LARA : no...no, please Jide, you know how I feel about you...don't do this to me...
KURT : stop it!....(Walks away from her and back to Bukola...)



(Meanwhile, Kola had gone back to Bukola, talking to her…)

KOLA : hope you’re enjoying yourself?
BUKOLA : yeah…em…Kola?
KOLA : yes?
BUKOLA : I didn’t like what you just did…introducing me to your friends as your very special friend…
KOLA : yes, because that’s because you are my very special friend…it wasn’t like I introduced you as my fiancé, did i?
BUKOLA : you can’t possibly do that…
KOLA : not yet, right?
(Before Bukola could answer, they were interrupted by Kurt…)
KURT : em…Bukola, sorry about that…
BUKOLA : why apologizing all because your wife came to…
KURT : (cuts in)…she’s not my wife…please, can we go somewhere to talk?
BUKOLA : how can you deny your wife….
KURT : (cuts in)…she’s not my wife for God’s sake Bukola…
KOLA : em….Kurt, this lady here is my guest. I didn’t bring her here just so you can bother her, so please let her be.
KURT : Kola, stay out of this…
KOLA : no i  can’t. this is my house, this is my party, not yours so bug off.
KURT : Kola…(changes his mind about what he wanted to say)…anyway…(he walks away quietly)…
BUKOLA : (not feeling so good with the way Kola spoke to Kurt)…you know what, I really want to go home now.
KOLA : oh come on its…(looking at his wristwatch)…just 7:30pm…its not like you’re going to work tomorrow…
BUKOLA : yeah, I’m not feeling too good.
KOLA : let me take you to my room so you can rest…you know I can’t leave my guests here and take you home…
BUKOLA : no, no, no, it’s okay. I can


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to be continued...