Journey to 'I do'

Chapter 9

Woke up today ready for another round in Lagos. Slipped into an all black ensemble today, no bright colors. The office awaited, and I dived into my tasks, giving this presentation my all. It's a race against time with the deadline on Friday, and I'm putting in double the effort to outshine the competition.

The office buzzed with activity, and Rachel, my work bestie, added a touch of humor to our day. We chatted about the usual office drama, Rachel poking into my office space to tell me that the "lovebirds" were passing by and I should "look stylishly." This woman is a clown.

As the day settled into a calm evening, I returned to my hotel room. Called up Bimpe to make plans for our meetups the next day. We settled on a lunch break and an evening hangout after work.

After talking to Bimpe, I decided to freshen up, ordered some room service, and cozied up in bed to continue working. The soothing sounds of the Quran played in the background, keeping me focused. As fatigue started setting in, a call disrupted my quiet evening. To my surprise, it was Muhammad. We have never had a phone call before! We exchanged awkward hellos before the conversation started to flow better.

"I'll be in Lagos tomorrow night. Planning to find you on Thursday."He informed me, which kind of made me excited.

"Don't get ahead of yourself. I'm a busy woman, remember?" I responded.

He let out a hearty laugh at my response, "Alright, alright. I'll catch you when you're less busy, then."

The call lasted for over an hour, and it left me both shocked and smiling. It was refreshing, the easy flow of conversation between us. Eventually, I called it a night, looking forward to whatever Lagos had in store for me tomorrow.
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The following day, I decided to hit the office an hour earlier, gearing up for a productive start since I knew my lunch break was reserved for catching up with Bimpe. As the clock struck 1:00 pm, I made my way downstairs, where Bimpe stood outside her car, practically jumping with excitement.

"Bibi, my love!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my enthusiasm.

"Aishat of London," she playfully teased.

"Fool, you know I hate that name," I replied, rolling my eyes. Laughter filled the air as we embraced once again.

Bimpe had plans for our lunch break - a quick stop at Miskay and then Ashluxury for some shopping before satisfying our hunger. Bimpe's love for shopping knew no bounds, thanks to the dangerous combination of a rich daddy and a rich zaddy. I couldn't help but admire her unapologetic indulgence in the finer things. Love it for her!

As Bimpe and I embarked on the day's adventures, the car resonated with old Nigerian hits, creating a soundtrack for our journey. We caught up on each other's lives, discussing dreams, goals, and the essence of uplifting one another.

"I'm thinking of starting my own beauty line. It's been a dream." Bimpe said to me nervously.

"That sounds amazing, Bimpe! You've got the skills and the vision for it. I'll be your first customer honestly" I replied excitedly. Our conversation delved into dreams, aspirations, and how we could help each other achieve our goals.

Post-lunch, I returned to work, and Bimpe and I planned for her to meet me at the hotel after I closed for the night. A soirée awaited us, celebrating Bimpe's friend's 30th birthday at a bar.

Once home, Bimpe was already at the hotel reception when I arrived. We headed up to my room, where she revealed her extra touch – a makeup artist, Tennycoco, and a hairstylist. The next few hours were a blend of good vibes, banter, and some explicit jokes. The sassy hairstylist added a unique flair to the atmosphere, roasting us and keeping the laughter flowing.