Chapter One

We were at Klems, a famous eatry in Bridgeport. The girls wanted some ice cream, it wasn't my thing but I tagged along anyway. I could not afford to be left alone in the apartment, I needed some time off the thoughts of my encounter with Tom.

I had thought that fate had finally smiled on me when I met him. It turned out that Tom was married and had three kids. How he managed to fool me, baffled me the most. Juanita thought I didn't do a thorough research, Sonia opined that I was too emotional.

We discussed as they ate the ice cream and I nibbled at some cookies as I fiddled with my phone. Then, this handsome, tall, light skinned man walked into the eatery lugging a travel bag, he also had a back pack. He was prolly returning from a journey or on transit. He walked straight to the counter to order food. "He's handsome" Juanita said excitedly, Sonia who had also unconsciously halted her gist with Juanita retorted. "Yea, but not my spec".

Juanita who seemed to be bent on winning the argument nudged me on the shoulder as she demanded to know what I thought about the man who had already sat on a table just opposite ours. I told her he was fine and went back to my phone.

I was just engrossed in strolling and sauntering in and out of my social media walls. I really needed distractions. The girls argued on the attributes of an attractive man while the dude feasted on his plate of jollof rice but seemed to avoid the chicken.

Having eaten about half of the food, he signalled to one of the waiters who walked up to him, "The chicken is not really grilled, it's half done." He stated calmly. He cut into the meat with his fork and complained about the blood in the meat which is visibly red. The waiter apologized profusely and promised to get him another meat.

She left and he continued eating his food. I went back to my phone. After what seemed like fifteen minutes, I saw the man walking directly towards where I sat holding his phone, his luggage was still at the table where he ate. He stood in front of me, said hi to us and introduced himself as Sylvester but said we could call him Sly, Juanita led the introduction as we all said our names.

He asked that my friends excused him to talk to me. He stated that he lived in Linca but was in Bridgeport for an official training which would last for a month. He demanded for my contact which I reluctantly gave him. He went back to his table, took his luggage and uneasily left the way he came in.

My friends who had barely waited for him to step out began to make faces at me. We laughed really hard.

We were in our two bedroom apartment seeing a movie when I got a phone call from an unknown number. Your guess is as good as mine, it was Sylvester.

I took the call, "Hi Gwendolyn" he said softly, I managed to smother the strange and inexplicable excitement that his deep voice created in me as I responded with "Hi Sly" indifferently. We chatted till late into the night, Juanita whose sole aim of seeing the first few scenes in a movie is to lull herself to sleep was already fast asleep on the couch, Sonia who had just seen the movie to the end whispered that she was going to bed and requested that I wake Juanita when I had ended my call.

It was at that time I remembered to check the time, it was past 1am. We ended the call and he promised to call later in the day as we had some unfinished witty discussions. It felt like Sly and I had been friends for ages. I looked forward to his calls.

Gradually, I began to get fond of him. He was in town for a training which lasted two weeks. Two days after we had met at the eatery, he fixed a date with me, it was scheduled for 7pm. The whole day had me fantasizing about how the date would go.

I could hardly concentrate on the day's lectures. We got home in the evening, I informed the girls about the date and told them about my inability to decide what to wear.

They swung into action. Sonia opened my wardrobe and began to look searchingly at the wears. Juanita who was a professional makeover artist promised to give me a look that would make Sly gush over me. "This red gown would do the magic" Sonia interrupted. Juanita protested as she sprang up from the bed and made for my wardrobe. She unhung a black turtleneck blouse and a denim shorts. Sonia who had been patiently staring at her stated that it was a dinner date and not just a hang out.

I actually had no opinion on this, I had not gone on any date before. Tom who was my first boyfriend never took me on a date, "I love me some private time in my private space" he would always say. I wasn't okay with it but I loved him anyway. Little did I know that he was just being cautious about getting caught out there with me.

My phone ring tone jolted me back to the girls' argument. It was Sly, he was at the gate. I alerted the girls and they fretted about my unreadiness. Sonia suggested that I go out to meet him and then crave for his indulgence. I stepped out in my red crop top which revealed my bellybutton adorned with diamond stones.

I wore the crop top on a chiffon bumshorts. As I got close to the gate, I sighted a Mercedes - Benz GLK - Class. No other car was parked closely so I knew it was Sly. I never knew he could afford such a luxury car. He alighted from the car, spread his arms and smiled as I approached. I walked into his arms as we hugged, he pecked my forehead. It was the warmest embrace if I have had, his cologne was quite peculiar. It stirred this urge to have a longer embrace and probably something more.

"I am so sorry, I am yet to get dressed" I muttered. He said it was fine and handed me a tiny bag. He got me a beautiful feminine perfume. I thanked him and walked back to the apartment, I could see him from our glass window watching me sway my hips. I got into the room and the girls couldn't wait to know what we discussed and see what I came in with. I was attended to like a bride who was about to be wedded. Having me get into another relationship was all my friends wanted desperately because they knew how difficult it was for me to get over Tom.

Juanita finished the make over and we unanimously chose the red gown. I stepped out looking really elegant in the red gown and matching gold shoes and a gold purse. Sly who waited in the car, alighted and opened the car door, he grinned on as he held the door while I got in and sat down. He got into the car and held my hand, he locked his fingers in mine as he drove off.

He drove into a luxury hotel and resort in the town. We settled in, there was a soft music in the background. Sly had made a table reservation for us. The waiter came with the menu and we placed our order. Sly ordered chicken and chips while I ordered roast beef and fried rice. I noticed he really loved chicken.