EPISODE 1 - TO LOVE A MR: DIARY OF A MISTRESS

Written by Chika Labelle

It was 2:05pm and as usual, the scorching sun of Lagos was at its’ peak and thanks to the fuel scarcity, Paul couldn’t afford to turn the A.C on, so here I was in my pretty dress, make up running down my face, trying to calm myself down by fanning myself with a magazine.

Despite the irritation I was feeling, I was ecstatic. Why wouldn’t I be? My boo had just returned from one of his numerous trips outside the country and I was on my way to see him. He had been away for about three weeks but to me it felt like three months, this heavy Apapa traffic wasn’t gonna dull my happiness. I bought a bottle of water from the dark, sweaty guy who had been tapping at my window for about a minute, I wasn’t sure I needed it, I just needed him to stop interrupting my thoughts. I asked Paul to turn down the music, traffic and loud music is a terrible combination.

I dozed off for a minute or so I thought and was awoken by Paul’s voice informing me that we had arrived at our destination. It was 3:15pm, I looked up and saw the massive building that is my boo’s office, I got down and adjusted my dress, ignoring my already messed up make up and made my way towards the reception. The security guard greeted me with his ever happy smiling face, “Madam long time, you travel?? I don miss u o!” I smiled and started to fill the visitors log book, not like I needed to though cos everyone here knew I was the boss’s baby.

Sam the security guard said again, “Madam I don miss u o!” And I replied, “ Sam I heard you the first time, I’m too tired abeg, don’t worry I’ll see you when I come down” I walked to the elevator, the ride up felt like a really long one, I couldn’t wait to see my boo, I got out of the elevator and was greeted by the secretary’s deep and husky voice, “Aunty welcome, Oga told me you were coming today, I don dey wait you” I never understood how such a small framed woman could have such a deep voice. I laughed and said, “Patricia my love, how are you? Where is he?”

“Aunty he is in the conference room, wait in the office.” I stepped into the tastefully furnished office and a wave of cool breeze hit my face, it was well needed after hours in that scorching sun, I sat down and let myself relax, Pat’s head popped in five minutes later, “Aunty do u want anything, tea, water or your favorite cappuccino ?” I said no and continued to wait.

Truth is, I really wanted the cappuccino but I was too excited to take in anything, I swirled the chair around, browsing through the channels, playing with my hair, then I heard the door open, I had my back to the door but I knew it was him, that fragrance, it was his signature creed perfume, I inhaled slowly and heard him say, “Hello Nkem” my name is not Nkem but in my language it means ‘mine’ and it was his pet name for me, I turned around, and there he was, tall dark and handsome, my joy knew no bounds, fuck butterflies, I felt the whole zoo in my tummy. I stood up and said, “I missed you temi”

“I missed you too sexy” oh how I love it when he calls me sexy. I ran into his already waiting arms and I knew I was home, this was love, no doubt about it, I felt at peace, this was where I belonged. We kissed for about ten minutes and just broke into laughter at the same time, I have no idea why we were laughing but it felt good. We sat on the couch and just smiled sheepishly like teenagers. He picked up his phone, dialed a number and after a few seconds said, “Ade take the things in the trunk of the car into the car that brought Helen.”

He hung up and I asked,

“What things?”

“The things I bought for you my love”

“Awww thanks boo, but why is Ade moving them to my car, aren’t we leaving together?”

“No Nkem, go and wait for me at the guest house, I’ll be with you in about an hour” I squeezed my face and raised an eyebrow and he knew instantly that I wasn’t pleased. “I have a short meeting, I wont be long”

“Promise ?”

“I promise, I’ll call the manager now and let him know you’re on your way”

“Ok baby” I kissed his cheek and stood up to leave, he grabbed my ass and sat me on his laps, turned my head around and planted a soft kiss on my forehead. I smiled, stood up and left. I gave Patricia some money on my way out, I heard her say something that sounded like thank you but I wasn’t listening, my heart was racing, my thoughts running wild, I could already imagine the things that were gonna go down this evening, the anticipation alone was enough to do it, I felt it, wet, between my thighs, I smiled, I couldn’t wait.

I arrived at the guest house in no time, I asked Paul to take my things back to my place, I called my flat mate Sandra to confirm if she was home, she said she was and I informed her that Paul was bringing my things over. I wouldn’t need the car again cos my boo was gonna drop me off at home, I gave Paul some money and he left, he had been driving me around for three years now and definitely deserved a tip every now and then. I walked into the reception and met a beautiful receptionist whom I recognized from my last time here, she smiled, and said, “Good afternoon ma, my manager asked me to give you this,” she handed me a key.

“Thank you but how did you know it was me your manager was referring to?”

“How can I forget you ma? You’re too pretty na” I laughed and climbed the stairs. I knew she didn’t remember me because I was pretty but because I had tipped her heavily the last time I was there. Our room was on the first floor, it was the same room every time, I could locate it with my eyes closed.

It was 5:50pm, well over an hour since I got here and he still hadn’t come, I had taken a shower, slipped into the Victoria secret lingerie I had been saving for today, had lunch and was just moping and the TV, I was starting to get impatient, I lit a stick of dunhill switch to calm my nerves and help resist the urge to call him, closed my eyes for a bit and heard my phone ring, It was him.

“Hey baby, where are you?”

“I’m sorry Nkem, I won’t be able to meet u up, something came up”

“Something like what temi? Something like what?”

“My wife called, her mum was in an accident and she’s really upset, I need to go be with her” I felt a sharp pain in my chest, I knew it was anger, I was really angry and hurt, I dropped the phone on the bed, don’t think I ended the call cos I could hear him call my name, I felt dizzy, I was really angry, when was he gonna put me first? When???

….To be continued” Next Wednesday