Two weeks later

In a cozy apartment in Cape Town with the beautiful view of the sea, Gwen and Kwensima sit at the dining table enjoying breakfast prepared by the chef.

GWEN

 ‘’I really needed this trip. Thank you Kwensima, now time to go back and face the real world’’ I said.

‘’I am just glad you are better. A little distraction never killed anybody’’ she said as she squeezed my hand.

‘’I usually do not let certain comments bring me down but there was something about what Rhoda said. My own cousin’’ I said and took a deep breath.

‘’You have been down for some time. Early this year, you interviewed for a C.E.O position in a multi-national company, and it did not work out. Someone with way less qualifications was picked because of politics. To top it off, the man you were somewhat seeing had a whole family in another country. If his wife had not displayed at your house, you would have been a second wife like me. Oh My! Imagine if she displayed at your office?’’ Kwensima narrated.

‘’Forget Hassan, I usually do a thorough check with the men I meet. But with him, I let my guard down. I thought, let me try a different approach. You know… let nature run its course but same old bullshit’’ I lamented, still bitter about Hassan.

‘’And then Rhoda’’ Kwensima added.

Rhoda was my eldest cousin; her daughter Flora came to me for advice. You see, Flora is a twenty-five-year-old smart young lady. She managed to obtain a scholarship for her masters in France. The scholarship catered for 75% of her tuition, I was and still more than ready to cover other costs.

Unfortunately, Flora’s boyfriend gave her an ultimatum. Either marriage to him or her scholarship. Flora came to me for advice, the duration of the masters is just a year and half. I simply stated if her man can not wait, then she should consider her options. Any man that does not want you to progress is not worth it.

That was my mistake, my cousin Rhoda is a marriage soldier. She was furious at me, for ‘misleading’ her daughter. The morning I broke down in my office, she had appeared at my house, hurling insults at me. I have heard all those insults before, as a rich successful single 45 year old. What hasn’t been said to me? But it hurt that it came from my cousin.

‘’You will die alone. All your disgusting money, you sleep alone and you want to drag my daughter with you! Never! Flora will marry! You want to drag her to your level. Witch!!’’ Rhoda’s last words before she stormed out.

‘’Your money is now disgusting. Eii! Wonders shall never end’’ Kwensima uttered to interrupt my thoughts.

‘’Well, my money was not disgusting when she needed it for her husband’s surgery’’ I scoffed.

‘’Nor the time they had no place to sleep when their landlord threw them out’’ Kwensima added.

‘’I even forgot that one’’ I said

‘’Let us not forget. All the money they borrowed in the name of Flora’s needs and never paid back’’ Kwensima added.

‘’The funeral of the mother-in -law. Always issue receipts when you help people’’ I said and we giggled.

‘’Speaking of helping people, what about Elorm? that lady has served you well. Get her a car already!’’ Kwensima said.

‘’I tried, I suggested it to management. Company cars for executive assistants but they stated it was not necessary. The best I can do is grade her well in her next staff assessment’’ I added.

‘’That is too small, the best they will do is a 3% increment in salary. Mentor her, show her the ropes’’ she suggested.

‘’After my last experience, no more mentor-mentee troubles for me. I do not know what Elorm wants, she seems comfortable as my executive assistant’’ I said.

My last mentee got angry at me because I recommended a job position to someone else. She felt as her mentor, I should have recommended her. She clearly was not qualified for it. She then went to a blogger and created all sorts of rumors about me. It took a lawsuit to make her take her words back.

‘’Have you asked her? Take her out and talk’’ Kwensima said, referring to Elorm.

‘’If she needs my advice or some sort of guidance, she knows where to find me’’ I said.

‘’Does she know this? Walk the talk friend, don’t speak at women empowerment conferences when you are not doing anything about it’’ Kwesima added.

She was right,  Elorm has proven to be a reliable employee. I need to explore what other opportunities can be presented to her.

On a Saturday at 10:30am, Elorm and Nuerkie are seated in a restaurant waiting for Dede. It has been ages since they all met up. Anna, the last of the four musketeers had relocated to Germany for education.

ELORM

I stared at the menu, it was a bit pricey for me. But talking to my girls is always a form of therapy. Looking at my budget, I can definitely afford just a starter and a drink. Nothing more, nothing less.

‘’Don’t worry, order what you want. I will top up whatever is left of your budget’’ Nuerkie said.

‘’For real!! Awwwww, that is why I love youu’’ I said and hugged her.

‘’Where is Dede? I keep calling but she is not answering’’ Nuerkie complained.

‘’I am sure Papa Yaw is keeping her occupied. It is not easy handling a toddler” I said.

‘’It is not about Papa Yaw, she said she will drop him at her mother’s before coming. Moreover, she booked the date. I think Prince is back, she only wants to hang out when he is out of town. He probably surprised her and she can no longer make it’’ Nuerkie said.

‘’Well, that is too bad. Knowing Prince, there is no way he will let her leave the house without attending to all his needs’’ I added.

‘’As long as that makes her happy, I guess. So you still aren’t going to tell her about that night at Honeysuckle?’’ Nuerkie asked.

‘’Never! I will not be the one to destroy a happy home. Plus, I don’t know how to explain it to Dede’’

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Flashback

Some weeks ago, a few female colleagues and I decided to pass by Honeysuckle for drinks after work. One of them was a National Service Personnel(NSP)¹, a 23 year old baddie² who kept us all updated on trends in the office. Her name is Beryl, even Gwen who usually kept a straight face found her entertaining.

We were having a great time at Honeysuckle, laughing and dancing. I was exhausted so I just sat at the corner of our table and watched the others. I do not know if it was my hairstyle or the low lights, Prince, Dede’s husband did not recognise me. He kept paying for all our drinks. I noticed he came towards Beryl and danced with her, now this dance was not innocent. He stood behind Beryl and held her waist like he was in a trance. After, I noticed they exchanged numbers. He still had not spotted me.

The next day at work, Beryl received a huge money bouquet amounting to 5000ghs from him.

‘’Beryl, what did you do to him and he sent you 5000ghs just like that?’’ I asked

‘’After the money he spent last night, I knew this was an Odogwu³. I took his number sharp and snooped around a bit, oil and gas money! So he asked for a weekend getaway, and I told him. I can not just follow him like that, he must show me the way’’ she narrated.

‘’Do you know he is married?’’ I asked

‘’No way! Really? he said he is separated’’ she appeared shocked.

‘’I know his wife, she is a good friend. I didn’t want to approach him yesterday. I just wanted to observe his behaviour. But hey, you are an adult, whatever you say, it is your choice’’ I said. She thought for a while.

‘’I actually wanted to go on this trip, but you know what. I have a plan. Do not tell your friend yet. I will continue milking this goat and Friday, I will let him know that I know everything. Just get me evidence of his wife and kids if any’’ she pleaded.

‘’No, I will have to tell my friend’’ I said

‘’Then what happens? They will just fight and get back together. And if you are not careful, he will twist the story and you will be the villain. After all, you did not approach him when you saw him. He will say you were waiting for your gotcha moment. Madam Elorm, nothing good will come from you hurting your friend except pain, heartache and anguish. Let me get money for my rent from this idiot, at least something good will come from that. You can also blackmail him and get your car.  Everybody is happy at the end. I am such a smart girl, you have to even pay me for this advice’’ Beryl dramatized

‘’Be serious Beryl! that, I can not in good conscience do. Just cut him off as soon as possible or I will call him myself’’

‘’Oh El, just give me till Friday. I beg then I will be done with him’’ she continued pleading.

‘’How are you going to milk him without sleeping with him?’’ I asked

‘’El, I have my ways, you have to update your playbook oo. Pay for a masterclass, I will teach you.  If I had your body, all this bunda⁴’’ she joked.

‘’Free me Beryl’’ I said and turned.

‘’Elorm’’ she called

‘’What’s up?’’

‘’Look’’ she said

‘’Look where?’’ I asked confused.

‘’ What the hot body can do ’’ she sang the line from Ayra Star’s Hot Body while winding her waist. 

‘’I don’t know why I keep falling for this’’ I said and we both laughed.

I just shook my head and walked away. True to her words, he sent her an extra 5000ghs during the week.

I did not give her the pictures of Dede and Papa Yaw. On Friday, she video called him. She pretended she could not see I was in the background. I noticed a panic in his voice and told her he will call her later.

I do not know what Beryl said to him. But that weekend I found out he sent Dede on a weekend getaway. He then made a long post on Instagram about his love for his wife.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Back to the present

Nuerkie and I were almost done with our meal when Dede appeared.

‘’Ei Madam, why? If you wanted to cancel you could have’’ Nuerkie exclaimed as Dede sat down. She looked quite dishevelled.

‘’I am so sorry my dearies, Prince just appeared this morning from his trip. He wanted fufu for lunch so I had to quickly organise it for him. He didn’t even want me to come because he missed me so much. But I explained to him that I called for the meeting. And that it will be rude not to be present’’ Dede explained as she sat.

‘’Did you drive here?’’ Nuerkie asked.

‘’No, I was too tired to drive’’ Dede said. I felt she was lying. There was something she was not telling us.

‘’What will you order? The waffles are nice’’ I suggested.

‘’No, I will just get some chicken nuggets to go. I also ate the fufu so I am full. Let me just get a drink’’ she said.

‘’Just nuggets? the bill is on me today’’ Nuerkie said

‘’Oh, well if you are paying then let me get some loaded fries’’ Dede said

Dede chomped those fries like she had not eaten in days. It was bizarre for someone who said she had fufu before she came. Dede kept boasting about all the nice things Prince bought for her from his journey. And this year for real he will fly her to U.S.A with him this time. This is the fifth year we had heard of this promise.

NUERKIE

I offered to pay for Dede’s meal because I knew she was lying. Prince is probably starving her by now. All because he wants her to go back to the size 8 he married. She has gained some weight but she looked good. Moreover, losing the mommy fat is not for the faint-hearted.

With every passing day, I see the light dim from Dede’s eyes. She pretends to be happy in her marriage. She got married to Prince within her first year of work after service. He was one of her superiors at the oil company. He was seven years older than her. They got married after seven months of dating, he love-bombed her. He really spent on her, we told Dede to wait and give it time. But she had met her ‘prince’, and nothing we said was going to stop her. As soon as they got married, he ordered her to stop working and become and full-time stay at home wife. According to Dede, she was glad to do so. I know he just wanted to have control over her. For any woman, your wealth gives you some power.

‘’so Dede, since Papa Yaw has started school. I am sure you will be returning to the work force’’ I said.

‘’If I get a job that allows me to close early. I can not leave the house in a mess. Who will take care of Papa Yaw after school?’’ she lamented.

‘’Well, hire a cleaner for one. You know that is my brother’s business. I can get you one, and the first month payment is on me. I thought your mother said she was comfortable watching Papa after school’’

‘’Prince is not comfortable with other people in the house. Yes, my mother will gladly do so, but Prince is against it’’ she said.

‘’Oh okay, but the cleaner is not staying in the house. They come and clean and go. That can be arranged. If a 9 -5 will not be convenient, I need someone who can drive to the petrol stations once a day. I own these stations in town. You will just have a quick look at the finances. I will pay good money and you can do that in 4 hours. I will provide the car and fuel, we can negotiate your salary’’ I suggested.

‘’I will take it’’ Elorm interjected.

‘’Elorm, you are good but we all know Dede is a whiz at numbers plus you already have a good thing going at Oceans’’ I said

‘’I have to talk to Prince about it’’ she said

‘’We can start from 2000’’ I said.

‘’That is small ooo’’ Dede laughed.

‘’Dede, after service you have not worked. You have no working experience and this is not full- time. Part-time work with car and fuel at your disposal! It is a starting salary, with time, it will increase. Plus, you can keep this money for yourself, your basic needs. How much pocket money does Prince give you?’’ I felt my voice climbing and Elorm reached for my thigh under the table to calm me.

‘’See how you are talking to me. And that is why I will not work for you. See the way you sound because of 2000, common 2000 cedis’’ Dede retorted.

‘’Ladies, lets calm down. Nuerkie apologise to Dede’’ Elorm said

‘’Apologise for what?’’ I asked

‘’Your tone’’ Elorm said

‘’I am sorry I offered you a job. I am sorry for believing that my friend can achieve so much more. I am sorry’’ I said in a sarcastic tone and Elorm slapped her forehead in exasperation.

‘’Wow Nuerkie, wow! because of money you do not respect. Small food you are paying for so you can talk to me anyhow. Look, not all of us have rich parents whose businesses we can run. We will make it with good old hard work and determination. I love being a mother, something I will not trade for anything in the world‘’ she said and started tearing up.

‘’Dede, I am so sorry, I did not mean it like that. I just want more for you. I mean for all of us. You are so good with finance and figures, I want to see that brain in action again. Maybe I am not a mother yet and do not understand how these things work. Dede, I know Prince is your world but…’’ I felt Elorm squeeze my thigh again, hoping I do not spill the beans.

‘’But what?’’ Dede asked.

‘’But God forbid anything bad happens to him, what happens to your finances? Yes, his savings will keep you afloat for a while, but what will you do sustain it?  I am just worried’’ I said in a gentle tone.

‘’Worry about yourself’’ she said and stormed away. Elorm got up and followed her.

I felt sorry, angry and disappointed. I hope she opens her eyes one day.

ELORM

‘’Dede ..wait’’ I called after her as she walked briskly. She pulled out her phone to call an uber.

‘’Dedeeee’’ I said and hugged her, and she burst out crying.

‘’I called for this outing for two things. One, to get my mind off my challenges and just be a young woman for once. Not a wife, not a mother, just be a friend. Drink, eat and have fun. Not to be accosted by my own friend’’

‘’I know , I know. What is the second one?’’ I asked

‘’Prince is being ordained as an elder next week. It is kind of a big deal and we will be having lunch party to celebrate. I wanted to invite you guys’’

“Don’t worry, we will make it. And forget Nuerkie’’ I comforted.

‘’In as much as I hate her right now, she is right. Nuerkie is always right but she does not understand that not every decision depends on me. I have to factor in my husband and my child. It is not all black and white’’ she said as she cleaned her face.

I saw her uber get close to us.

‘’Aha Elorm, can you send me money for transport. I will pay back once I get home. I doubt if Prince will be awake to pay’’ she asked.

Well, I guess Nuerkie will definitely cover the full bill from the restaurant. I assured her as she entered the car. I left my phone at the table, I will get to it when I go back.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Back at the table, after sending Dede the money.

‘’You know you didn’t try’’ I said to Nuerkie.

‘’Don’t bring yourself Elorm, you too. Have you applied for the job I sent you last week?’’ she asked.

‘’No, they need a masters’ holder’’

‘’oh yeah, and how far with getting the masters or the car?’’ Nuerkie asked

‘’At this rate, my car fund is at 12,000 at the moment. With the way inflation is killing me, I might as well forget about the car’’

‘’Have you thought of putting it in a fixed deposit or something, so it grows. Or what about starting an online masters then, with time you top up’’ Nuerkie asked.

‘’A masters in what Nuerkie? I do not know my interest yet. I feel so lost.’’ I said.

‘’What about turning your mother’s achoomo⁴ business into a side hustle? Sell some at work, I do not mind you stocking up the shops for me. You are here crying you need money, and you are just sitting there’’ she lamented.

‘’How much money can we make? plus the carrying it’’ I moaned.

‘’Don’t give chance to small coins Elorm, start from somewhere. Just stock up once a week, repackage it, take an uber to work first day on Monday. Add it to the sales, bring your phone, let us do the numbers’’ Nuekie said and we calculated everything.

‘’I could be making 300- 500ghs a month, and more if I got bulk orders outside the office. But 300 is small money’’ I said.

‘’The 300 we calculated is for worst case scenario. In addition, it is just to introduce people to the product. It always starts from somewhere, that is the cost of your monthly data. Free money with minimum energy. Everybody in your house is happy. Auntie D makes more money. Hannah, the lady who occasionally helps her, gets more money as well. As you figure things out, make money’’ Nuerkie encouraged.

‘’What about Gwen? People walking in to buy all the time’’ I whined.

‘’Give it to the receptionist, tip her, come one El. You are smart, I beg. You will figure the logistics out. What do you have to lose?’’ Nuerkie said, exasperated

She was right. What do I have to lose?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

WORLA

My date with Jonathan was amazing. As soon as I said yes to the date, he sent a dinner dress for me to wear. He took me to a fancy restaurant in town, it was lovely to see the other side of him. It is weird, so Jonathan is my boyfriend. It has been a week already, I have asked him not to tell anyone. Let us give each other a grace period of one month before we tell everyone. He just can’t wait.

I was deep in thought when I got a call from Ama, another friend of mine.

‘’Worla, I didn’t know you guys opened the perfume shop on Sundays. I entered to look for you. I noticed there were no perfumes in the shop. Are you guys into wigs now?’’ Ama asked.

‘’I think you are at the wrong shop’’ I said.

‘’Really, let me just send a picture to confirm’’ she said and hanged up.

She sent pictures and I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was the shop, but instead of perfumes, there were wigs. Even the signboard of the shop’s name was changed to ‘’Sally’s Wigs’’. I felt a knot in my throat and my head began to feel hot. All these changes happened on Saturday? There must be some misunderstanding, I called Janice but the number was not going through. I decided to call her cousin, Jessica.

‘’Hello Jessica, I have been trying to reach Janice. I hope everything is alright’’

‘’Ah, you didn’t know. Janice has relocated oo. She handed the perfumes over to me. She gave the lease for the shop to Sally, our other cousin” Jessica said

‘’Wait, what?’’ I was confused.

‘’Is she owing you? She told me she does not owe anybody’’

‘’No she is not but I am a co-owner’’ I said

‘’Then just send me the contract so we discuss what to do’’ Jessica said.

I was stupefied, there was no contract. I was basically been sent up and down for this business. Janice occasionally gave me money saying she was using the profit to restock.

‘’Hello?’’ Jessica called.

‘’It was more of an oral contract’’ I said.

‘’I will see if I can reach her to verify’’ Jessica said.

I checked all my social media handles, Janice had blocked me. This is so embarrassing, I did not know who to call next. Mum and Elorm warned me about Janice but why? What did I do to her? Just then Jessica called back.

‘’Hmmmm Worla, I do not know how to put this’’ Jessica said.

‘’I do not understand. What did she say?’’ I was worried.

‘’Hmmmmmmmmm, she said her prophet told her not to trust her friends. That her relocation has to be a secret, that is why. Especially the people she works with. He said they are the energy sucking her life source. I am so sorry, I tried to tell her to call you but she will not listen to me. She even threatened to block me too..’’ Jessica narrated.

I just hung up, and lay on my bed. I heard Elorm enter my room. She was talking but I just couldn’t focus on her. Everything felt like a blur. Janice had been constantly talking about this new church for the past six months. It felt like a cult but I did not want to come between someone and their salvation. After all these years? What did I do to deserve this? I have always been a good friend. All the free deliveries I did with my car, even the customers I brought to the shop. Wow.

Now, I am the energy sucking her life source.

Hm….

Author’s Note

Thank you for the support and please, like, reblog and follow us on Instagram!!!! Today’ topic for discussion in the comments

“If you were Elorm, will you tell Dede about Prince? Or will you keep quiet? Or, be a businesswoman like Beryl and make money? 😂😂.

I will genuinely like to hear your thoughts!!

LEXICONS

1. NSP: abbreviation for National Service Personnel. After completing tertiary education (universities, colleges, etc.), Ghanaians are required by law to serve the nation for one year in various organisations.

2. Baddie: Originally from African-American Vernacular English (AAVE).
It refers to a confident, attractive woman who is stylish and self-assured.

3. Odogwu: A Nigerian (Igbo) word meaning “great man,” “chief,” or “hero.”

4. Bunda: It means “butt” or “backside.