READ EPISODES (3, 2 & 1 ) HERE
Episode 4
Barely three weeks after afolabi had gone to serve; Helen resumed school for another session. Hence, afolabi paid visit to her hostel, when he came to Lagos. She had shared all her experience, talked about her friends with him but she didn’t tell him about a friend she had just met, Benjamin, he had showered her with so much money.
She couldn’t tell him, because she felt he wouldn’t like the idea of her fraternizing with a guy that was very rich. She had met Benjamin when she was going to the hostel, she had just received a lecture, and heading back to the hostel.
On her way to the hostel, Benjamin had stopped her, he inquired where the VC office was located, she gave him directives on how to locate the office, but it was way too complicated for him, he couldn’t understand, the school was very big.
So he invited her to join him in his ride so she could direct him and promise to take her back to her hostel. For a moment, she pondered his request, and after a few minutes she obliged him. They chatted and got to know each other. Soon he was at the VC’s office, he went in and was satisfied with what he had accomplished, and then he took Helen back to her hostel.
Benjamin was an Engineer; he worked for a prominent multinational. He was one of the managers. He had come to unilag (University of Lagos) because he wanted to hold a program in unilag to enlighten the student about engineering.
So the VC was very pleased with the initiative and had given him the go ahead. So the only challenge was to get a venue for the program. So he had gotten Helen’s contact and disclosed what he had come to see the VC for, because he felt Helen could be very helpful.
He had just dropped Helen at his hostel, before the melancholic thoughts of the happenings in his life came rushing in. He had enjoyed the conversation he had with Helen. He was cogitating; “how I wish I could turn back the hands of time, I would have done things differently, I would have made the right choice” he said this ruefully.
If there was a cure for his present predicament, he would have gladly given anything to get it, even if it was going to make him bankrupt. His career was booming, but his marriage was hell. Just Last year, around this time he was a happy man. Just a wrong choice had turn things around, had made him the sadist. Benjamin was a jovial and intelligent guy. His greatest asset was his mouth.
He was very witty, he had a sweet mouth so to speak; but his Achilles’ heel was that he loves money too much, money comes first for him. He had this notion that Rich girls needs fine boys like him, so he had set out to exploit any one that comes his way. His friend call him “Fine Ben” not because he was so handsome, it was just because he knows how to find his way to a lady’s heart. He was a likeable and gallant fellow
Benjamin was catching fun chatting and laughing with his friends when one of his friend pointed out a girl, “fine Ben, see that gal, she is the daughter of Chief Obinna, the owner of BELLIES, he is a business mogul, he’s got investments in virtually every sector, he is super rich”, his friend goodluck said. Benjamin gaze riveted on her, appraising her. “This girl no fine jare, but she go hold cash oo, see her pakage” Benjamin said.
Since then Benjamin had set his mind to befriend or possibly marry her. His friends knew Benjamin didn’t like the girl, but was after her because of her father’s money. He was a sharp, witty fellow, who got this captivating assuring smile that could set a girl’s heart on edge. He has the most fantastic carriage.
He dresses well and everything looks good on him. He started making advances, he was on her case. Chidinma played hard to get. She wasn’t has easy has Benjamin had thought, but Benjamin wouldn’t give up. His friend had advised him to forget about chidinma because he doesn’t love her, they expressed their reservations vehemently, but afolabi was blinded by money he couldn’t see reasons with them, consequently he threw all caution to the wind, he wouldn’t give up.
Chidinma was not that beautiful and she was quite short too, though it was obvious that she had seen very good days and her dress and skin oozed of wealth, she didn’t have the body or shape that would arrest immediate attention. To make up for this, she would invest so much in clothes, make up and jewelries. She was always shopping with her friends buying clothes, make ups and jewelry. She dresses expensively.
At last she gave in, she accepted Benjamin proposal, he was very excited that he took his friends to a restaurant, told them to order anything they wanted; that he was going to foot the bill. His friends knew that it wasn’t Chidinma that made him happy, but the fact he is going to be the son-in-law to a wealthy man. He is going to take advantage of her father’s wealth.
He was so elated that day. They subsequently married after few months of courtship according to Benjamin’s plan. Their wedding was the talk of the town, where everybody that mattered were in attendance, government officials, governors, many politicians, expatriates many wealthy business man and many well wishers.
The whole town knew who was getting married and the media also covered it, it was indeed a big deal. Later on the couples traveled to Canada for their honey moon, it was really splendid, Benjamin felt on top of the world; at last his dreams have started to become a reality. Wow, great. This just the beginning he thought. Their honey moon lasted for two weeks, they had wanted it to continue but of course they have to re-engage with regular life.
They returned to Lagos, Benjamin planned on staying in a flat on the mainland in Lagos for the time being, till all his expectations had come true, but chidinma had insisted they should live on the island, hence Benjamin used all his savings to rent an apartment in VI at least to impress his wife until he begins to unfold his plans.
Benjamin was an engineer in a prominent multinational company, he was just a normal staff and he also had a start-up business which was doing well at least for a start. He was optimistic Chief-his father-in-law would be very instrumental in making his business a house hold name, a prominent business.
He was very good, and intelligent that he was promoted to a manager in the company, sheer hard work had gotten him that position. This is how they started their marital life until reality hit both of them.
To be continued…
Next Episode: The Unexpected Fall
Disclaimer: This is a work of friction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictions manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events is purely coincidental.
By Tosin Oyetayo (tosinoyetayo2015@gmail.com)
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