chapter one

SNOW

Everything was going smoothly until he began to undo my zipper. The flashes came more violently than the last time and I had to push him so hard that his head smacked the head board. I turned away from him and tried to blink away the black blotches that began to blur my vision. One part of me wanted to cry out in frustration but the inbuilt mongrel in me took over and I swirled around to face him. My vision was beginning to clear up and I could see that he was writhing in pain.

What a baby

Although I felt sad for his master piece of a head but I didn't have it in me to apologize.

"would you look at you." I said crawling on all fours to him. "just a little bit excitement and you're nursing your poor head. I wonder how you'll be if I relieved the total package."

He let go of his head and sat down right to let me get closer to him. "I was just surprised is all."

I straddled his legs.

"I was trying to figure you out and now I know what you've got. I think I can take you on full force." He drawled and tried to kiss me but I quickly put my finger to his lips and pushed him backwards. Every time I got into these kinds of situation, I unconsciously hoped I could get rid of my trauma and move on every single one of those times but it ended up this way, sadly. A normal person would cry and weep but I usually come up with a backup plan to save face and I was going to do just that.

"what is it again this time," the true venom behind his words was laced with a seductive smile.

"I have a particular spec that I have for any man I want. One,you must be very,very,very patient and two... you must have a knack for suspense."

"suspense?" he asked sitting up.

"mhm."

"what about suspense?"

"let's do this." I said adjusting on his legs. " how about we take the action from today since we are partly drunk and postpone it to another day to have our fill and maybe subsequent times till we get tired of each other?"

"another day?" he scoffed slightly looking disappointed.

"mhmm." I hummed moving slightly to entice him to give in.

"subsequent times?"

" mm....think of it like a harmless fling."

He snorted humorously.

The worthless piece of junk!

I tried as much as possible to hide my boiling anger," what's so funny about what I just said."

He busted into a laughing fit and I was growing more annoyed. Apparently, he'll be one of the few I would be doing this to with an extra amount of gusto.

"would you hurry up and tell me what you think other than laughing...." Like a hopeless baboon with enough quantity of laughing gas to fly the whole country.

" are you scared of having sex?" he blurted amiss laughing.

"what?"

"is this your way of getting over your phobia? Patient? Suspense? Bullcrap?"

Oh how much I was itching to burst his pride bubble.

"is that a yes or a no?"

He kept on shaking with laughter and I tightened my grip around his neck," yes or no"

He stop laughing and looked up at me and I fixed him a smile.

"no"

Time seemed to go on a standstill and I could feel the walls of my lungs closing in on each other. I slowing pulled myself off his legs.

'come again.' I whispered blinking rapidly.

'I said no. in other words me and you: ice queen, snow can never work as a casual fling.'

'as a casual fling you say.' I nodded brooding on the new dimension his answer took. ' so the whole thing would suffice better than a fling?'

He chuckled and put his hand on the pillow. 'I didn't say casual fling because I was hoping you'd say we should do the whole thing. I'm out right refusing you, snow."

'ah' I nodded smiling, 'look at you being all corky.'

He shrugged.

It just wasn't the fact that I couldn't deal with the rejection, what was killing me with annoyance was the fact that he was actually being corky about refusing me. A nobody, feeling corky about rejecting me. Ha! I chuckled at the perfect irony of life. It was just the hang over of finally saying goodbye to parents that drove me to the club to find some kind of solace. Either try getting over my trauma for a start or ride on someone else's feelings. I was just going to pick someone as usual and try getting over my trauma and ask them out and later laugh in their face if the trauma plan fails. It was a harmless hobby.

But here he was taking away the joy, I derived from my passionate hobby.

I kind of felt offended.

Then again I thought, they could only be a few of my kind in the world who took pleasure in hurting people's feelings and this man couldn't possibly be among. There were two things involved. it was either he had a heart of stone like I did or he had an ulterior motive. There was only one way to find out.

I raised an eyebrow at him.

He raised his back in confusion.

'do you have any more things to say?'

'mmm....no' he shook his head.

'then what are you waiting for?' I gestured at the door,

'get out'

I waited patiently for his reaction.

First, it was his eyebrows then the beads of sweat forming on his forehead and finally the throbbing vein in his temple all that was left was a word or two to confirm my suspicion.

'didn't you hear what I just said?' I corked my head to the side. 'get out.'

'does that make any sense to you?'

'what are you talking about?'

'you telling me to get out. You can't possible ask me to do that."

I popped my eyes and mouthed, "why?"

"duh," he said ," I booked and prepared this room."

Bingo!

The malicious rat has been caught by the cat...or lion. Either way I'm awesome.

I nodded more enthusiastically enough to arouse suspicion,"right, duh!"

" you have to forgive me. recently my mind has been focusing quite quizzically that it's almost scary."I got up redoing my zipper, putting on my shoes and picking my belongings from the bedside table. "I promise I'll leave immediately without causing anymore problems."

He slightly relaxed his shoulder. I slowly made my way to the door and freezed with my hand on the door knob of the bedroom door. I counted to five and suddenly swirled around to face him, " buuuuut..." i swung the door wide open to reveal a startled Maggie," I'm afraid I have to take everything that belongs to me." Then to Maggie I said," search the room and don't stop until you find something worth keeping and that rightfully belongs to me."

"What do you think you're doing who is that?" he yelled sitting upright.

"To put it briefly, she is my personal assistant, advisor and most importantly my body guard."

I turned to Maggie, "What are you doing standing there? Make it quick".

"Yes ma'am" she nodded.

He suddenly jumped off the bed and ran forward to put a hand in Maggie's way. "Stop right there or I'll make you rue the day you crossed paths with me."

Maggie looked down at the hand blocking her way and back to me, like she was asking my permission to proceed to the offensive.

I chuckled. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Not just anybody can badge into here without my permission to search my personal stuff."

"Okay. Let's give you the benefit of doubt that I didn't get to formally introduce you to Maggie and get right down to it. Maggie is a former MMA championship title holder in different tournaments. She's won two different titles in both China and South Korea. She's capable of things your excuse for a Man can never dream of. If I give her the go ahead she can reduce those things you call arms to nothing more than a twig. So if I were you....I'd drop them down and save myself the embarrassment."

I raised an eyebrow at him and slowly, he let his hand drop.

"That's more like it."

Maggie zoomed pass him and began to ransack the room.

He seized the opportunity and gripped my arm instead. "Call her to order and ask her to stop invading my inner space, right this instinct."

"First," I began staring daggers into the hand that was gripping me, "Take your filthy hands off me. Just because I let you touch me for the slightest of seconds doesn't mean you get to touch me whenever and however you please." He let go off me.

"Second, why are you getting all worked up? Anyone who's paranoid might be deceived to believe that you are throwing a fit so we won't go ahead and find the stuff no one should find."

He worked around in circles," I have nothing to hide here. "

"Then chill and let me hunt for treasures. Arghh!" I snickered.

He shook his head in panicked amazement,"you're insane."

"Yeaahh, I get that a lot."

"Can I reinstate this so you can stop this madness? I have nothing to hide. I have nothing in this room outside my clothes, phone and wallet. So just stop."

"So you mean nothing other than those items you mentioned is yours?" I inquired tapping my chin.

"nothing." He jumped in to reply

"hmmm..." I continued tapping my chin. "Are you sure?"

"I am....totally sure."

I pondered on it for a couple of seconds before nodding, "right. I guess you have nothing to need my help searching..."

He answered me like he was treating a lunatic case in a psycho hospital. "Exactly"

"That's really nice because now I can focus my energy on looking for what belongs to me."

He put his hands to his face and paced the length of the room in frustration.

"I found something." Maggie announced behind me.

"uuuhhh." I clapped my hands in excitement and he blanched. "Let's see." I put out my hand without taking my eyes off him and Maggie gently placed something in my hand. Still holding his gaze, I brought the object up between our line of vision and he swallowed. "Give it back. That's mine."

"Thanks for making it faster by cutting to the chase. I'm really curious though." I let go of his gaze and turned the camera in my hands,"Why your camera would be here, I mean. Care to explain?"

"It was for a purpose but the purpose failed and the camera is clean so you can give it back." He said before cautiously adding, "Please."

I nodded and put my tongue in my cheek," I think you really know me well. I get thorn in between when people apologize. I get." I paused feigning emotional" Sentimental. It's true we didn't get to do anything that's enough to destroy my image so I should give it back...."

Without letting me finish he jumped to get the camera from me and I pulled it off the way, making him lounge forward, stumbling to keep his balance.

"But what's really, really, really getting on my nerves is the fact that you attempted taking compromising clips of us having fun. It's so overwhelming that I don't think I can let this slide by making a rational decision." I turned the camera again in my hand and found a company logo. "So this is company property, huh. I wonder what would be in this apart from a steamy session between a goddess and a no body; I have to know because I need to make a hasty decision."

"There are company clips in there that are worth my job so give it back, "He tried to charge for me but Maggie pulled him by the scruff of his neck and flung him to the other end of the room.

I took out the SD card in the camera and went over to him. I bent to his level and whispered. "The saying of 'when life gives you lemons make lemonade out of it' isn't really for everybody. Especially,dimwits like you. How can you possible make lemonade from spoilt lemon when you have no clue on how to sweeten it afterwards."

I put the memory card between my teeth." Maybe, it would have been better to just throw away the lemon than have a stomach ache." I crushed it to pieces and he whimpered. "Next time choose the kind of persons you wish to go up against with great care. Not everyone can be as generous as I am. " I stood up, dropped the camera on his body and sashayed out of the room without looking back.

When we were a safe distance from the room, I stopped and turned around to face Maggie with a straight face. "Anxiety pills", I demanded taking calming breathes. She took them out of her suit with haste and grabbed a bottle of water from a trolley that was rolling by. I swallowed the pills and used the water to wash it down.

"My psychologist friend said the pills will overtime not be able to calm you." Maggie said taking the bottle away from me and putting the bottle of pills back in her suit jacket. "You should think about visiting her sometime."

I pause mid stride and swirled around to face her. "Take a good look at me." I said," do I look like a mental case to you?"

"of course not its just..."

"then what would I be doing in a psychiatrist's office?"

She opened her mouth to reply but I cut her short," instead of blabbing your mouth and spurting things that don't make any sense you should pick up the phone and answer whoever's disturbing my peace by this time of the day.

She nodded and quickly brought out her phone to check out the caller id.

"it's the manager from the radio station. He's still insistent that you make an appearance in one of their prestigious programs. I know you are totally against the idea but he keeps on calling..." she struggled to end the call and I put out my hand to stop her. " on the contrary, I'd like to make that appearance on the program. I smiled as wide as a cat.

"but you know the hidden agenda behind them wanting to have you there, I suggest we just forget about your hobby for just this once and head back to your room so you can get some rest, they aren't worth the trouble."

I scowled at her.

Maggie was hired by my grandparents six years back when some group of people attempted to kidnap me. For the fact that I was really picky and didn't like unnecessary crowds, so instead of employing a whole battalion, they went for someone who had it all; skills and brain inclusive. A year ago, I made her to take a compulsory business management course online so she could be of better use to me because apart from my grandparents and incompetent brother there wasn't anybody not even my so called parents that I could turn to when It came to pressing issues that involves taking decision that would change my life and that of the company that my grandparents were going to put in my hands. I couldn't say that I saw Maggie as a friend because of her being very reliable. But since the passing of my grandma, she had become one of the closet to me and even more so when my grandpa passed too. Everyone knew my kind of personality; I didn't keep anyone as friends talk less of people that would be able to influence decision making on my well being. But Maggie was at the level where she could think of getting me a psychiatrist and also tell me what's good for me like not accepting the manager's invitation to his radio station.

And most of the time I usually had my way.

"I know nothing good would come out of it but I need a channel to vent, so pick up that call and tell the manager that I would be present if only he gave me the time and address for the program. Now run along and do as you've been told. I'll be in our room."

I knew she was having a hard time not rolling her eyes but she excused herself and made the call.

I turned away from her and plugged in my ear pods and played rihanna's what you came for.

***********************************************************************

"Where is the manager?" I heard Maggie ask one of the radio station staff who couldn't take her eyes off me. Before she could mutter a word, a stout looking man hastily made his way over to us.

"Miss Snow. You're really here." he breezed passes Maggie and came to stand in front of me. I took a step backwards and he put forward his hand. "It's a pleasure to have you in our facility."

I took his hand by the tips and an electric zing went through me. Immediately I could read right through him and just like I had reasoned it, nothing good was going to come out of being in the station. I let go of his hand.

"I extended the invitation and called out of courtesy but I never really imagined you actually showing up."

"I'm really surprised myself that I'm actually here."

"What could have possible changed your mind?"

"Let's just say I've decided a carrier in philanthropy would make me cooler," I smiled tightly.

"Well that's ..."

"Can we just get this over with? I heard it's supposed to hold by 9 and I have other appointments lined up so I've got no time for chit chat."

He mirrored my tight smile and gestured ahead," this way please. The studio you'll be using is not too far from here."

We got to the studio and the manager asked us to wait outside. Through the transparent sound proof glass, I saw the manager walk over to the lady that was sitting behind a mic going through some papers and took a seat on the desk in front of her. The manager put out his hand and the anchor lady put her hand in his and hid it under the desk.

"Holding hands, giggling, smiling ...., Maggie, I smell the horrible smell of office romance."I commented watching them with a side long glance.

I noticed the anchor take a sneak peak at me. I made a show of looking around. "Maggie how good is your lip reading?"

"one of a kind."

"then decode everything they say."

"is that the snow?"

"in flesh and blood."

"I thought you said she wasn't going to make it? What did you do to make her agree?"

"I'm not sure. Probably the fountain of love that I have for you."

"eck! That's disgusting."

"It's a phase and everyone has to go through it. You're no exception."

"gross. I am never doing that. Not in private and definitely not in public."

"you didn't add definitely to the private." I turned to Maggie and noticed the corner of her lips lifted up slightly in a sly smile." If you went through this phase, as stiff as you are, then for sure I can be no exception."

"I went through that phase."

I paused, open mouthed at her,"you're joking right."

"you said I'm stiff. You should also know I suck at cracking jokes."

I stared at her in confusion. "you've been really chatty lately.... Its scary."

She opened her mouth to say something but I interrupted ." we've missed most of the conversation. I'd rather listen to them than listen to you. Into a horror movie." I said indifferently.

She nodded and went on.

"I know right. This is the opportunity of our lifetime to make it large. We've caught some big fish and we have to use it. We need everything we've got to make us being together a reality. To be frank I've gotten sick of my fatty wife so you have to make it work, okay?"

Anchor lady nodded.

Maggie turned to me. "what do you think they are planning?"

"she's going to breakup with him." I noted. When I noticed Maggie was staring at me so I turned to her. "what? Its glaring isn't it? I don't care what they want to do with me but manager guy Is getting used."

The manger stood from within the studio and waved me to come in.

"Whatever happens, don't lose it." Maggie whispered to me.

I smiled at her like she was insane,"You of all people know that I can't promise you that. That's the main reason they insisted to have me in here."

I made my way into the studio and took the seat one of the producers directed me to. He handed me a pair of headphones and I carefully placed it on the table.

"snow?"

I tucked my extensions behind my ear and turned to face the person who called me. Anchor lady.

"yes?"

"wow. I'm Nisha the anchor for the show." She took a deep breath and laughed nervously," I can't believe you're actually here. This feels surreal."

"yeah, I know. I understand you."

"you do?"she asked.

"totally. I mean its not every that you can get to meet a celebrity."

She blinked and looked at me in disbelief. After a second She cleared her throat," I meet celebrities much more often than the average man."

"Because of the radio station or should I say the really devoted manager?".I smiled at her.

"The manager," she looked me dead in the eye," Is very good at what he does... for the company." She emphasized the company part and smiled at her.

"I know right, his work ethic is envy worthy. I'll have to say he is a very devoted man." I nodded while emphasizing every word.

She lowered her head," miss snow.", then raised it," this is our first time meeting and you're, should I say, being exceptionally rude."

"yeah, I get that a lot; from shallow minded people especially."

I swear I almost saw dark sooth escaping her ears and I smiled in satisfaction. Even if I went away defeat, this little moment would take me for the rest of the week until I had to kiss ass again at the company.

Before she could make a comeback one of the producers began the countdown until the on air sign came up. So she picked up her headphone and I followed suit.

"5...4...3....2.... and we are on air."

"hello Nigeria and welcome to your favorite radio program,ask celebrity!" nisha began and I adjusted in my seat. I listened to her make her way through what seemed like her normal routine and couldn't help but admit that she had quite the personality on air.

"last week, we had one of africa's greatest personality on radio and it was no other than the eccentric tonto dike. You would agree that we had fun asking her question that we were dying to ask and got answers to them. It was a memorable experience just like the others and today isn't going to be an exception because we have another celebrity that has been trending quite recently on our hot seat. Would you belief it if I told you that we have nigeria's youngest corperate heir and social media celebrity..... snow on set!" she exclaimed and jingled the tambourine with less enthusiasm than earlier. I was surprised she didn't let her anger from earlier on make her flop or less excited. It Almost felt like her goal was what was giving her the propelling force keep on going.

"miss snow, welcome come to the program."

"it's a pleasure doing the little I can to help society." 0405514998129846

She snorted lightly and the whole studio freezedand my smile widened.

"what was?" I demanded.

she looked startled."hahaha." she laughed nervously," I was breathing too heavily into the mic apparently I was so awed at your generosity and forgot my self."

Smooth

"it's not a one man thing. I get that a lot."

She scowled at me and flipped her papers.

"lets get down to the actual business of the day. Miss snow I know this is like the first time you've been in this studio and on this program but I'm sure you heard at least a little from around about this program so we don't have to go over the rules right?"

"actually, I haven't heard of the program. I didn't know it existed until early this morning. Because of the insistent calls for booking."

I could picture everyone cursing at me right now but It didn't really matter. All that mattered was that surge of superiority when I trample on people that feel they can trample on me.

"okay here are the rules of the program. Just answer all question both me and our callers will ask, okay?"

"if I don't feel like answering something you can't force me to." I chuckled.

She looked me over before she went on to calling out the station call lines and social media handles.

"oh we have our first caller. Good morning. Your name and question please."

"my name is Isabella and here goes my question. Miss snow. You've got a really weird name and I would've he said your parent must've been out of with when they were naming you. But I got to know you had a Nigerian name and you changed your name recently. I'd like to know why you changed your name how you got the new name."

"first off, I took down the name because it was a name my parents gave to me. I know it's cruel to say it that way but I'm not one to mince words. If I don't like something I say it plain and simple as it is.

"second, how I came about the name was very funny. All thanks to my personality I didn't have a hard time choosing. I didn't want my name to be regular because I'm not a regular person..."

"I can attest to that,"she chuckled playfully but I could see through her.

I ignored her and went on," so I did a little research. I didn't go far, I just went straight to social media and to hate comment. After analyzing and summarizing everything. I came up with key words; bi*ch, cold man, unwavering, unstable and a host of many others. So my name had to be based on this word. At first thought, Elsa...queen bee of ice and all but then again I thought it was going to be too cliché so I went for something unpopular and unexpected. Snow. Elegant yet harzadous. Cool story right?"

If it was left to her she would have ignored me but her carrier was ahead of her so she had no other choice but to agree with me. " very cool. Let's move to the next call. Hello and good morning. Your name and question please."

"hi everyone. My name is keke and miss snow. I'm a very big fan."

"good to know." I kept the reply short and simple.

"with the way you vlog and make insta videos, one might think your grandparents and your brother are the only family you have..."

"actually they are the only family I have left. But my grandparents are gone so it's just me and my brother."

"what about your parent?" I heard nisha ask and I ignored her.

"do you want to know any other thing?"

"if you say you only have one sibling which is your brother then who is anna_ophicial?"

"who Is she?"I retorted.

"ehm... well she's someone who's claiming to be your sister." The amused caller said

"oh! you mean that anna, I almost forgot a leech like her existed."

The caller snorted and I felt like I've met someone who takes life almost like I do. " if she is my sister then everyone in the world my sister. Is that enough to tell you how I feel about her?"

"very much." The caller snickered and hung up.

"I think its only the caller that gets you but on our social media handles here almost everyone is confused because if you ask me that was not completely a straight forward answer."

"is this some kind of detective program?"

"if you think of it that way then.... Who am I to refute, right?"

"suit your self."

"you haven't answered my question."

"she is just bounded to me on paper."

"not that one. The one about your parent."

"what about it."

"what do you think of them if you don't think of them as family?"

I pulled my lips into a flat line and calmed my inner being. She was brutally mistaken if she thought she had me in a pickle. "just like that anna girl, I think of them as paper product. Can we not dwell on one question and move on? You might have time but unlike you I'm a very busy person."

"miss snow you're being way too intense." She said with a smug smile.

"I couldn't care any less." I smiled at her.

" we have another caller. Your name and question please."

"miss snow."

I leaned on the table," I like people who defy orders."

"you're grandfather passed away may his soul rest in peace. According to rumors they've signed all their shares to your name and very soon the new CEO will be named. In your opinion, who do you think is going to be the next?"

"that's an absurd question. Who is the present CEO? Me. Who will be the next? Most certainly me."

"there will be a due process to appoint the CEO, how are you so sure about it being you again?"

This particular caller was no doubt someone from the company. If they thought they were putting me in a tight corner then they had a lot of things to learn about me. Instead of feeling cornered I used the opportunity to show whoever was deluded to think they could dethrone me that I was a formidable foe.

"because this is my specialty. Kicking was what I was born to do." I smirked.

The caller hung up and I relaxed in my seat. I felt like half of the battle was already victorious.

"wow. You sound so capable."

"yeah. That's something not everybody can pull off. Sometimes some weak people just love to leech off people to get what they want." I swung my first blow and it hit anchor lady a little hard.

"what are you saying---"

"some people need others to do their dirty job while they sit down behind a microphone and talk all day. Its either their host find other host for them to feed on or they feed on the original host with a little token for the favour."

I made a show of looking straight at the manger who was standing still eyes popping out of his socket. Everyone's eyes followed mine and they started to mummer among themselves.

"why do I feel like she's targeting someone in the studio."

"could it be nisha?"

"why is she staring at the manager?"

"why is he standing like that? Its so suspicious."

"no way! Nisha and the manger?"

"I always had that weird feeling."

"they've been acting really strange with each other."

"no wonder manager has been so devoted in nisha's program project."

"isn't he married with kids?"

"so he's been crossing her!"

"do you think she could be making it up?"

"no way! You heard her earlier on. She said she calls a spade and spade."

"if that's the case then that's absolutely disgusting!"

"so she was being proud for nothing? So sad!"

I watched her fidget with her papers before she spoke into the mic,"let's go for a commercial break..."

"is that what everyone one does when they feel cornered? Go on a break? I'm sorry if I put you on the spot. I was just being curious because at my age some things are just a mystery and I can't help but be curious----"

"what are you waiting for? I said we are up for a commercial break!" she yelled at the producers that were standing idly. They scrambled to put something on and when the commercial began to play nisha turned me.

"woah.. don't look at me," I raised my hands. " I felt you guys wanted some drama but I didn't know the kind of genre you wanted." I pulled the head phones from my head. " I guess your plans fell through because of me. Sorry---" I stood up from the chair and the producer began the count down to being on air.

"----not." I added and then turned around to leave.

" you piece of crazy a*ss bullshit!" she yelled at me and everyone gasped. Apparently the on air sign came up and anchor lady just blew away her career into the mic for messed up me.

Day ...........finally made.