Chapter Five

Zara almost jumped out of her skin when she heard her phone ringing. It took her several seconds before she could gather her wits enough to stagger to her feet to answer the call.

It was Jade.

"I thought you won't pick my call, where the hell have you been?" "Where have I been? Zara knew she sounded so asinine. "Hey, for the past one hour, I've been trying to reach you but you were not picking up your calls." Zara's eye flipped open as she heard the words one hour. "What's the time? Zara asked confused. "Um, it almost six o'clock_ where are you?" Jade asked in a teasing tone. "I can't believe I slept for so long." Zara said to herself, "Geez! You were sleeping?" Jade asked. "That should not be your problem, why were you calling?" "I wanted to drop by but when I called you, you were not picking and the call was going to your voice mail." Jade said. "I'm so sorry girlfriend I was so engrossed in my sleep that I never knew you called." "Apology accepted." Jade said. "Wait a minute, did you even think I was apologizing?" Zara teased. "You silly girl just wait, until I get you. Are you going to one Mr Best's welcome party?" Jade asked. "Yeah, mom and dad are going and I need to go because dad wants me to close a business deal there." "Wow, but that kind of sounds bad going to a party for business, girl, parties are for socializing." Jade said feeling bad for her friend already. "Well, I don't have a choice." Zara said with a frown on her face as she studies her fingernails. "Okay, so that's that for that. So, what are you going to wear or who are you wearing?" Jade asked. "I really do not know but what I have in mind is something simple, you know? Something that will make me look elegant and different from the usual." "Hmmn, I think I know just what you want while don't we go to Tiara's Coutour, I think they will have just what we want."

"Yeah, I think so too after all the Best are wealthy and influential, many people will want to dress to impress but we, we will dress to express just simple, elegant and unique." Zara said, explaining what she feels and wants.

"Exactly, Zee, that's what I want and need too." Jade immediately agreed to what Zara suggested and they both laughed at their mutual understanding of each other.

"Okay, so we will see tomorrow, right?"

"Yup," Zara replies and Jade blows a kiss and ends the call.

Zara sighs heavily and walked to the standing mirror at the other side of her bed, she looked at her reflection in the mirror and said, "That was a whole lot of sleep, Zee."

She has never imagined herself sleeping without being disturbed by one dream or the other, or a nightmare, for a long time now but she is grateful for this much needed sleep.

Well it feels good to have enough sleep, she thought.

She unlocked her phone and saw Jade's numerous voice notes and missed calls, she played one of the voice notes and carefully listened to it. 'Zee, where the hell did you keep your phone? This is damn frustrating message me when you are available.' hmm that was the last massage and Jade already sounds frustrated.

Her eyes went to her phone screen and she saw that it was over six o'clock, then her stomach rumbles and instantly she remembered, that she had not eaten since she came back home from the gym. She wore her slippers and admired herself in the mirror again before she walked out of her room. This will be the first time in many months will she be having dinner with her parents at home.

Before, it was either she and her mom or she and her dad and sometimes she did prefer to eat out with Jade.

Dinner was already served by the time she got downstairs. Mr Coker was seated on his chair at the dinning alongside his wife Mrs Coker.

"Ah! Here comes my baby girl Zara, come and join us it has been a while since we had dinner together as a family." He called out happily as he saw Zara coming.

"Good evening daddy, I never knew you were back." Zara said a bit happy, it's rare for her dad to be home by this time.

"Even I did not know you were at home, come and sit beside me my princess." Zara sat down beside him as he instructed.

Zara watched her mother sceptically and smiled at the maid behind her, "What are we having for dinner?" Zara asked the maid.

"Chicken casserole with Macaroni cheese." The cook replied diligently with a respectful smile. Zara returned the smile. Why do we not eat more of the African dishes, good God I'm tired of this, Zara thought.

"I will have macaroni cheese and milk." Zara said to the cook with a warm smile.

"You better eat healthy my dear, I won't like it if your sylph like structure be ruined," Mrs Coker retorted.

"My princess should eat what she wants anytime she wants to, her body structure is the best." Mr Coker replies his wife and Zara held back her chuckle lest her mother becomes angry with her.

"Don't worry about my shape, mum I'm not prone to fat." Zara said, pleased with herself.

Mr Coker watched the two ladies but said nothing more. Zara was served her meal and she eats quietly with her parent, the only sound heard was the chattering of plates and spoons.

"Have your mum talk to you about Best's welcome party?" Mr Coker asked after finishing his meal.

"Yes, she had and she missed no words in making me understand my role at the party," Zara said a bit annoyed.

"Don't hide your annoyance my dear, you are with your daddy and you can be you and no one will scold you." Zara smiles at her dad, that's why she loves him more than her mom he always takes her side even if he knows that she was wrong at times.

"You see my dear, I was supposed to tell you about it or be the one to close the deal but when I investigated, I found out that Mr Best has always been intrigued by young female entrepreneurs who represent their family's business well and knowing your capabilities, I'm certain that you will do better than any other female at all." Her father explains.

"You don't need to praise me, dad, I know my capability and what is expect from me, moreover, mom has told me everything I need to know and I promising you right now that I'll try my best to book an appointment with Mr Best at the party." Zara assures.

Her father looked at her with love and admiration, he trusts his instincts and know that his daughter will always make him proud and victorious.

"Coffee?" asks Zara on seeing the tired look on her dad's eyes.

"Please, I sure need that." he replies and she walked out to make him a cup of coffee.

Zara returns with a cup of coffee she made for her father, "Here you go, dad."

"You did not ask the maid to make one for you too?" he asks on seeing her with only one cup with her which she was already offering to him.

"No, and this was not made by a maid but by my hands and moreover, I'm just waking up and don't need coffee." Zara said with a calm smile.

"Okay, enough of the talk, please taste and analyse my handiworks." Zara said with great anticipation as she watches her dad lift the cup to his mouth.

Nodding his head in approval, he exclaimed with delight, "Oh wow! This coffee is great just how I love my coffee dear, is tastes great." He commends as he takes more of the coffee.

"Thanks for the compliment dad, I've been learning how to cook of resent and the servants have been of help too. So, do you like it?" Zara asks giddily like a child waiting for candy.

"I love it dear, I never knew you made such nice coffee. Why don't you be my coffee girl so I'd pay you." Mr Coker asks teasingly.

"My crafts are expensive and you may not be able to afford it." She teased him back and they both laughed out loud.

"I think I'm keeping you away from your dearest wife and it over eight o'clock my favourite TV serials comes up by eight and nine respectively, so, I have to go, I'll see you tomorrow?" Zara said and stand up. Her father was so deep in his thought and Zara's voice brought him back. "I dont think so because I have a very early flight to catch but don't worry, you can go, you have really kept me company." her father replies and smiles at her and she walked out from the living room, heading to her bedroom.