Chapter 1
Tuade and Adeola arrived at Nkechi's favorite breakfast spot, a cozy café nestled in the heart of Victoria Island. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filled the air, welcoming them as they entered.
Nkechi, seated at a table near the window, waved excitedly as she spotted them. "Tuade! Adeola! Over here!" she called out, her voice filled with excitement.
Tuade grinned as they approached Nkechi's table, his heart brimming with happiness. "Well, well, if it isn't my glamorous celebrity sister," he teased, a playful twinkle in his eye. "I'm honored that you could make time for your hardworking brother in between your shopping sprees."
Nkechi laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, Tuade, you know me too well," she replied, her smile infectious. "But there's only one thing in life more important than shopping, and that's family."
Tuade chuckled, pulling out a chair for Adeola before taking a seat himself. "You're right, Nkechi. And speaking of family, Adeola and I have some exciting news to share," he announced, his voice filled with anticipation.
Nkechi's eyes widened with curiosity. "Oh? What is it?" she asked, leaning forward eagerly.
Adeola reached for Tuade's hand, her smile radiant. "Tuade and I are engaged!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement.
Nkechi's face lit up with delight. "Engaged? Oh, congratulations, you two!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with joy.
Just then, Nkechi signaled the waiter and asked for a bottle of Moet Chardon champagne. Moments later, Mr. Oluwole, the café owner, appeared with the bottle in hand.
Nkechi jumped up from her seat, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. She leaned in and planted a kiss on Mr. Oluwole's lips before turning to Tuade and Adeola with a grin. "Tuade, Adeola, I'd like you to meet Mr. Oluwole," she said, her voice filled with pride. "He's my boyfriend."
Tuade's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the revelation, but he quickly regained his composure, offering Mr. Oluwole a friendly nod. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Oluwole," he said, his voice laced with politeness.
Adeola, ever supportive, stepped forward with a warm smile. "Congratulations, Nkechi," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. "You've managed to catch the most elusive eligible bachelor."
Nkechi beamed with pride as she poured glasses of champagne for everyone. "To love, family, and new beginnings," she toasted, raising her glass in the air.
Chapter 2
Nkechi smoothed down the sleek fabric of her new designer dress as she waited nervously for Mr. Oluwole to arrive. They had agreed to meet at one of the trendiest restaurants in Victoria Island, and she couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in her stomach.
As Mr. Oluwole approached, Nkechi's heart skipped a beat. He looked impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his smile warm and inviting.
"Good evening, Nkechi," Mr. Oluwole greeted her, his voice smooth and charming.
"Good evening, Mr. Oluwole," Nkechi replied, her cheeks flushing slightly.
As they settled into their seats, the conversation flowed easily between them. Mr. Oluwole was a captivating storyteller, regaling Nkechi with tales of his travels and business ventures.
At one point, Mr. Oluwole leaned in closer, his eyes fixed on Nkechi's. "You know, Nkechi, I did a little research on you and your family," he confessed, his tone serious.
Nkechi's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh? What did you find?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Mr. Oluwole smiled knowingly. "I know that your family came into their money from winning the lottery," he replied, his gaze unwavering.
Nkechi's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She hadn't expected Mr. Oluwole to know about her family's financial background.
"But here's the thing, Nkechi," Mr. Oluwole continued, his voice gentle but firm. "Money like that won't last forever, especially not at the rate you're spending it."
Nkechi's heart sank at his words. She knew deep down that her extravagant shopping sprees were unsustainable, but she couldn't seem to stop herself.
Mr. Oluwole reached across the table and took Nkechi's hand in his. "But I have a proposition for you," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.
Nkechi's eyes widened with interest as she leaned in closer to listen.
"I've noticed that ever since you started your shopping sprees, the sales in my retail shops have gone up significantly," Mr. Oluwole explained. "It's not just your shopping, but your friends are trying to match your shopping as well."
Nkechi's heart swelled with pride at the thought of influencing Lagos's fashion scene.
"And so," Mr. Oluwole continued, "I would like to offer you a job as a professional shopper at my malls. I'll give you a daily allowance of $20,000, but there's a catch."
Nkechi's eyes widened with anticipation. "What's the catch?" she asked eagerly.
Mr. Oluwole smiled. "You'll need to motivate your friends to match your shopping," he replied. "And the items you buy, you can keep for a week, but after that, I'll resell them in some of my other stores."
Nkechi's heart raced with excitement at the thought of working in the world of fashion. "It's my dream job," she exclaimed, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "I gladly accept!"
Chapter 3
As Nkechi and Mr. Oluwole sat sipping their coffee in the cozy café, he turned to her with a gleam in his eye.
"Nkechi, my dear, I have another proposition for you," he began, his voice low and serious.
Nkechi leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "Oh? What is it?" she asked eagerly.
Mr. Oluwole smiled, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "I go to Istanbul every year to get my suits custom made to the latest fashions," he explained. "I was thinking, why don't you come with me this year? You could have a few designer dresses made to set the trend of Lagos fashion."
Nkechi's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect. "Istanbul? Designer dresses? That sounds amazing!" she exclaimed, her mind already racing with ideas.
But Mr. Oluwole wasn't finished yet. "That's not all," he continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "I have another proposition for you."
Nkechi's heart skipped a beat as she leaned in, eager to hear what he had to say.
Mr. Oluwole took a deep breath before speaking. "Nkechi, I know about your plan to find a rich husband, and I must say, I'm not offended by it. In fact, I'm impressed by your ambition and how well you've charmed me."
Nkechi's eyes widened in surprise at his words. She had expected him to be put off by her intentions, but instead, he seemed to admire her for them.
"And so," Mr. Oluwole continued, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small velvet box, "I've decided to offer myself as that millionaire husband."
Nkechi's breath caught in her throat as she stared at the box in disbelief. Mr. Oluwole opened it to reveal a stunning diamond ring, even larger than the one Tuade had given Adeola.
"Nkechi, will you marry me?" Mr. Oluwole asked, his voice filled with sincerity.
Nkechi's heart raced with a mix of emotions—shock, excitement, and a hint of doubt. Could she really marry a man she barely knew, solely for his wealth?
But as she looked into Mr. Oluwole's eyes, she saw nothing but genuine affection and admiration. And deep down, she knew that this was her chance to secure her family's future, to ensure that they would never have to worry about money again.
With a smile, Nkechi reached out and took Mr. Oluwole's hand. "Yes, Mr. Oluwole," she replied, her voice filled with determination. "I will marry you."
If you enjoyed Fortunes and Follies,
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