Chapter Four:Seduction To-Do List

Tequila chapter four: Seduction To-Do List

The Artist's POV

My head collided with Sassy's Mum's. My jeans trousers unzipped as we both rush in a hurry to see the cause of Sassy's piercing screams.

"What's wrong Sarah!" Sassy's mum shouted while shaking her arms, looking at her face for answers.

"Ma, it's nothing serious. You should not worry yourself" Sassy said excitedly, not the sight we expected with that gravity of shouts.

'knock' Sassy's mother gave her a knock on the head before chastising her silly behaviours. With another knock and what seems like a warning look, mummy Sarah left the room.

"Do you want to give you mummy a heart attack?" I asked zipping my trousers and sitting on Sassy's king-size bed covered with 'Disney princess' bedsheets.

"Wasn't she the one that gave birth to me with this DNA, keep that aside and guess what?" sassy asked hopping around the room all excited which in her crazy mind calls dancing.

"I.."

"Don't guess, you have an email from Vince and a DM too, this calls for a celebration! Let me go get cold water!"

"Coldwater?"

"Did you give me any wine Miss? Will soon become a celebrity?"

"Hahaha, you're funny and impossible. Let me see the email" I was awestruck, was feeling everything and nothing. This is the first time in my entire life as far as I can remember to get asked to participate in something big, I am beyond happy. Kept smiling while I secretly wiped a lone tear of joy.

"Sassy we have a problem"

"Yes, we need to get you new sexy wears, padded bras, shoes..."

"For God sake, I insulted my Boss before I even got the job. what should I do?"

"Calm down will you?"

"I am trying to, just confused and scared! I got one of the most amazing opportunities that can ever be thrown at anyone, especially an artist in Nigeria but school is still on and you know how hard my mum and Anya can be"

"Do you want to go?"

I rolled my eyes at sassy she knows how badly I want this. I chewed on my newly polished nails as I laid on the bed and stare at sassy who was busy folding her clothes acting all aloof. I love painting so much, murals, 3D, expressions It's my passion and my damnation. Being a successful Artist is difficult and to be honest, since I got into University, I only occasionally draw couples and girlfriend's portraits as birthday gifts and I can't do that all my life, this deal with Dante might be my bridge to success.

"You should stop holding unto me for your decisions you know, you are an artist. Take this chance and prove to your parents what a talented and creative person you are and for Mr Vince to contact you despite the insult, it's either he doesn't mind or is in desperate need of an artist" she advised. I gave her a tight hug setting for home before it gets too dark.

Trekking down when a loud car horn jerked me from thoughts of recent events and the fantasy of working with freaking hot Dante Esparaza!

I shifted from the road and looked back to see Timi behind our Dad's old Blue Beetle which he leaves at home when going for his military assignments.

"Timi, what's up" I greeted after sitting going around to sit in the front seat, increasing the volume to Tiwa Savage's "All Over " latest hit.

Now because of you wey, I get goosebumps

(All over, all over)

This feeling got me falling

(All over, all over)

E get as the something dey do me for body o

(All over, all over)

I make you make we spend this money o

(All over, all over)

Timi and I sang along with our awful voices"

"This one that you sound excited, do I have to ask you, Dr Timi? Timi always gets this look that makes his light-skinned face light up and ears seem bigger when he is excited.

"Guess who won the Fifa glam championship, "he asked excitedly pulling up to our crescent

" Is it Vincent?" I asked knowing the football and PES game rivalry between them.

"Spoilsport, not this time around, It feels damn good to see Vincent twisted face Maybe Jessica was my lucky charm today" he winked at me.

"You, on the other hand, seem too quiet today, I just won free money for us you know" he grinned and I couldn't love my big brother less.

"Timi the thing is..." He turned off the engine after he finished listening to the drama unfolding in my life

"Hanahahaha, that was funny and it's not even April Fools Day" was his reaction which wasn't shocking at all knowing my crazy brother. I am still wondering how he managed and became a Doctor amidst his party life, still a miracle. Always jokes about everything and never caught not having fun unless it's work time. such energy!

My words wouldn't make him believe beside it's still unbelievable to me too, I pulled out my phone and showed him the email Manager "Vince Ramon " sent me. He became all quiet and serious reading and browsing some things on his phone before he spoke.

"Wow, sis, proud of you. This is pretty big. Will still call a friend in Lagos and confirm this information. Yeah, when will you be travelling to Lagos then?"

He asked following me to the kitchen

"Uhmm, didn't send a reply yet.

Mummy and Anya, don't think they will permit me after the incident that happened..." I shrugged and turned fetching jollof rice from the food flask to our plates.

"What! Are you insane is, you are going. I trust you will be in good hands and safe, yeah. Just tell mum you had a school project or internship and your boy can even get you a letter that will complement the email, just don't get pregnant please this one that the crew are fine, now what do you think of this genius idea" He teased, patting my shoulder lightly.

"On second thought maybe you should come back pregnant, you will be the first International baby mama in our family and it will be the highlight of the century. Sha, take your share of the game bonus and buy yourself pizza or shawarma, don't sleep too deep, need you to open the gate around 3:00 am. Lost my spare key" he said laughing before taking his plate of jollof rice to the dining table.

Timi is the firstborn of the family, a resident Doctor then comes Anya the tech one that has an obsessive love for cars and meets me Zuri, the young Artist who has no idea of what she is supposed to make out of her life.

I read through the documents and sent an acceptance reply. Shortly the contract was emailed to me which I signed without reading the whole policies and blah blah blah. Woke up the next day to my plane tickets and full documents including 2000$ pay! this was enough motivation because if this money gets converted into naira..whoa.

Convincing Mum wasn't as hard as I thought, thanks to Timi's help. He called some friends to help him confirm the validity of everything and they confirmed it was safe and clear. Not everything out there is a scam after all.

"Yeah, Timi is with me. He offered to take me to the Airport. I parked everything, no swimsuits I am going to work not for an island, beach vacation or a pool party. Is there anything I need to know about Airports that I don't know already .okay bye"

I ended the call with Sassy, said my goodbyes to Timi. The Airport was not parked with much people I pushed the trolley with my box, a simple peach go-to side bag and my school bag which contains some of my Art supplies, system and makeup kits.

" Attention Passengers, Flight A72 please come forward ..."

The flight was uneventful, but the window views amazing. Murtala Muhammed International Airport was crowded with people moving up and down.

Vince emailed me that he will send a driver to come to pick me up the hotel but can't see anyone yet, I can see a man holding up Mr Zuru Panda but I am Mrs Zuri and Daddy is somewhere far couldn't be for him. I sat on the arrivals chairs waiting for my chauffeur with my box close to me.20mins later, no one came. Getting bored, decided to take a tour of the Airport. It was when I was about to post a picture I took with an impressive sculpture that I realized my phone was still in flight mode.

Shit, the phone kept vibrating with messages from Vince, Before I could dial back, my name was announced over the announcement mic to the whole Airport.

"Miss. Zuri Panda your attention is needed"

"Miss Zuri Panda please report to the Complainant Counter"

This is so Embarrassing, I acted cool it's not as if anyone knows me here and headed for the complaints counter.

It was all the chauffeur's fault. He misspelt my name and thought I was a man. He wasn't even smiling, he is lucky I wasn't some business's person, spoilt brat or busy celebrity, I could report this poor service.

"MMrsPanda, " he stammered with a Yoruba accent where he was waiting for me.

"That's me, sorry for causing the delay " I smiled but he scowled, taking my luggage to the booth of a car that can easily pass for a cab ignoring my attempts to make small talks during the ride to the hotel.

Mr Vince met me at the reception, he has this stern and annoyed look, the driver has other errands considering the project is just for a week. I apologised not wanting to get on the bad side of my mafia Boss for the second time. Mr Vince set me up with a Potter who showed me the Set and my room. My simple but classy hotel room was overlooking the beach and I could see a born fire party already kicking, tempting but I will rather sleep in and have enough energy for the shot tomorrow. Maybe Dante will see how hardworking I can be and fall in love with me within 6 days! That's when an idea came to my head. Remembering the scenario from an interesting movie I recently watched 'Seducing Mr Perfect'.

Removing my sneakers and hopping on the bed too soft bed, I took out my journal and wrote on a new page

'Seducing my Spanish celebrity crush to-do List'

More like it. I have just 6 days and need to make great use of it. I went through YouTube videos searching for 'fun activities to do on an island to make someone fall for you' 'How to seduce a celebrity' and so many unmentionables. In no time I got the Perfect list.

Called Mum, Timi and Sassy before I went to bed with a big smile. Dreaming of our cute half-caste biracial kids with Dante all night.