I don't know how to feel ever since baba dropped on me the news of my marriage but I could only hope my future husband was okay, that he would treat me well. We were meeting later in the afternoon and I had purposely left that part out when I told my best friends about the marriage yesterday because I could imagine them especially Kemi, the typical Yoruba girl getting me all prepared for what Ada would have insisted was a date.

I knew though, that it wasn't a date, it was more like a meeting. I was meeting my future husband and I was suppose to act well mannered and all even though that wasn't the kind of person I was. Maybe baba thought that was the kind of person I was, even though I wasn't. I could only hope he was also well mannered otherwise, he wouldn't like what's coming for him.

Al ameen, one of the handsome, single and rich son of Alhaji Hussein. I couldn't fathom how Baba could even imagine I would be good enough for someone like him. Dressed in an abaya, with a scarf wrapped tightly around my head and a sandal. I felt pretty bland compared to the guy in front of me whom was dressed in just a well sown and ironed Ginni paired with a cap which he had removed and placed on the table earlier.

"Assalam walaykun." I said as I finally got something out of my mouth.

"Walaykun salam." He replied, I nodded.

"Okay. See, I have virtually no interest in being here with you but it would be rude to skip this so here's a few things about me because I know there's no way out of this, we are definitely getting married. Firstly, I'm not into you. Secondly, I have a girlfriend and thirdly, you are not my type." He said.

Taking a deep breath, I muttered "Must you point out in three different sentences that I'm not good enough for you."

"Yes, I must cause I don't want you getting ideas in your head." He said.

"Ooh right, I wasn't even having none before and I'm also not interested in you. I'm just as tired and angry at this whole setting like you are." I replied.

"Good, cause I'm getting married to Halima a week after our marriage."

"What! A whole freaking week. Why don't you just get married to both of us on the same day." I replied sarcastically.

"I would have done that but I wanted to make it a special day for her and besides I don't think your father would accept to see his only daughter married off like that so with respect to your father and my real finance, I wouldn't be doing it that way."

"Well great! See you at the wedding." I stood up as he slid a complimentary card in front of me.

"What's that for?" I ask

"It would be weird not to know your finance digits weeks away to your wedding." He said as he placed his cap on his head and stood up, gracing me with his back as he walked away.

I slumped back into the chair as I sighed deeply. "My future looks so bleak."

How long does it take to actually call someone back." I pondered as I paced my office, worried. I had called Segun over 24 times and he still hadn't call back. My phone vibrated on my desk as I rushed to pick it only to find out the call wasn't from him.

By noon, I had called ten more times and he still wasn't picking. Growing worried, I called in the receptionist and Kelechi as I picked up my bag to go and check him at his house.

"I'm closing early today, take care of the hotel and get me those records I couldn't work on today tomorrow morning. I want to see them on my table when I resume tomorrow.

"Okay ma." They replied as I carried my bag and left the office.

Getting to Seguns apartment was no issue since there was no traffic, a small smile graced my lip as I parked in the parking lot. I could already imagine living here with Segun and I couldn't wait to be Mrs Lajide. I brought out my extra key and tried to open the door but it was locked from inside which could only mean that he was in.

Sighing, I knocked. I waited patiently as it took a few minutes before I heard him ask groggily.

"Who's there?" He asks.

"It's I, Kemi." I replied.

Immediately I said that, I heard sounds behind the door and then a little argument before the door was flipped open. In front of me stood a young woman, a young woman whom even though was just clad in a sky-blue shirt I recognised as Seguns was very beautiful. Her face was beret of any makeup but I could tell she wasn't one not to use it, her fixed hair was placed in a messy bun but I knew that she looked more like a person who would go out with straight or bouncy hair rather than messy hair. It was then that I noticed her eyes which was livid with anger.

"Who's she?" The lady and I ask simultaneously.

"Who's she?" The lady asked again, this time her voice had a higher pitch.

"Eerhmmn..." Segun stuttered as he scratched his head. Unable to form a coherent word as I was scared I would break down in front of him, I gave him a sad smile, shook my head as I removed his proposal ring from my finger and threw it at him.

The girl stared at the two of us trying to grasp what was happening and a split second later, she gasped realization dawning on her.

"How could you get engage to someone else you pig, I can't believe you have been using me to fulfil your needs all this while." She screamed and as I turned to walk out, I could hear the bastard try to defend himself as tears fall from my eyes.

I never knew heartbreak could hurts this much, all thanks to segun for making me understand and feel what it felt like. I wondered what I was going to tell my parent who had already started planning and picking the color of my wedding clothes. I was just thankful we haven't started sharing the invitation card because I just couldn't imagine the shame and embarrassment I would have had to go through calling everyone to tell them that the wedding as been cancelled.

I cry some more as I realize that maybe, I had just been a fool all along and a thing he thought he could play with.

I am shell shocked, I just couldn't believe it. I tried to replay everything that had happened through the past few months with the Norman's project and I still found it hard to believe that I had been denied a promotion again while my assistant had gotten a promotion.

The meeting has been over for almost five minutes and I still hadn't moved a bit from my where I was seated. I try to concentrate as I had a quick glance through what happened earlier.

I left home early because the CEO; Mr Ariyo had called a meeting with all head, assistant and some major officers for all department of the company. I was the second to arrive and I took my seat glancing through my to-do list for the day as everyone arrived.

Mr Ariyo was the last to arrive, he walked in gracefully as he could.

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen." He said in his usual calm demeanour.

"As you all know, I'm not always available or rarely even in this company but I hope you all know I'm well aware of everything that happens in this company. I get a report on how every department is faring and I know which one is doing good and bad.

However, I have noticed that during this past few month that some departments have done exceptionally well. That's the strategy department and the creative department." He paused as everyone acknowledged the department by clapping.

"I would love to honour the people who have done such a good job by awarding them with a promotion especially Mr Oluade who has done such a fantastic job by closing the Norman's deal. Congratulations and I'd love to present to you everyone, your new production manager." He announced.

That was the moment my world come crashing, how could my assistant be promoted for a project I had laboured so hard for. True, he had helped with the project but I was the one who had spent sleepless nights researching over the project and now my assistant had gotten promoted over my sweats.

I didn't listen to anything Mr Ariyo said anymore or even knew when he left. It was 10 minutes after before I finally left the board room.

Mr Ajagbe beckoned at me as I passed by his office.

"Good morning sir, congratulations on your promotion sir."

"Ooh yes, yes. Thank you. I wanted to talk to you about the new project we just started working on."

"Ooh yes sir, what about them?" I asked resigned.

"I'd be handling over the files to your new boss. Make sure you work very hard on it, okay?" He said.

"No." I muttered

"What was that?" He asked.

"You heard me sir." I said, I didn't know what came over me but I suddenly felt rebellious.

"Excuse me?" He asked confused.

"No sir, you excuse my behaviour right now but I need to say my mind. I'm not your slave sir, after working my butt off on a project. You and my assistant got a promotion for it? What about me?"

"But... you are female my dear, you are already the head of the strategy department. Any post higher than that will raise brows and also it might scare any suitable suitors off." He tried to reason.

"Well sir, my personal life is none of your business and I definitely don't want a man that's threatened by my success sir. This is my second time of deserving a promotion and not getting it in the past five years of working for this company and rather than staying and not getting the rewards I deserve for working hard on a project then I'd rather leave and go to where I would be appreciated.

Good day sir." I finish off as I walked out on him, I marched straight to my car and drove off but it didn't take me a few seconds to finally break down.

When I eventually stopped crying, I decided to video call Aisha and Kemi. Aisha picked up first and the first thing I noticed was her downcast expression.

"What's wrong?" I asked, automatically forgetting about my own problems as she told me all about her experience with her soon to be husband.

"Wow, such a jerk. I still think you should think about this very well and tell Baba you don't want this. It would be difficult to get out after the marriage." I advised.

"You don't understand, there's nothing I can do. I just have to get married to him, I have been betrothed to him. There's absolutely nothing I can say to Baba that will make him believe he's not good for me.

Also, I tried talking to mama but the only thing she kept saying was that I would learn to respect and love him just like she had learned to love and respect baba despite his stubbornness and pig headedness." She lamented as I sighed deeply wondering what could be done.

"It's alright, everything's going to be fine." I muttered to her even though I was anything but sure everything was going to be fine.

"Have you heard from Kemi?" I changed the topic.

"No. I haven't tried to communicate with her but I also haven't heard from her which is weird." Aisha replied thoughtfully.

"I know, right. I have been trying to connect her to the video call but she's not accepting the call, same way she hasn't been picking voice calls." I said.

"I really hope she's fine though."

"She will be, I will just drive over to her place and probably sleep there. Should I pick you up on my way." I ask.

"No, I have some things planned with mama tomorrow morning regarding my introduction so I can't."

"It's alright, take your time. Rest well, I will give you some feedback on how she is later. Goodnight." I said.

"Goodnight." She ended the call.

*****

It has been three weeks since I found out my fiancé has been cheating on me and a week since I suspecting that I might be pregnant. I didnt want to believe it, we had sex only once and we had concluded we would not do it again until marriage.

I could still remember his points as he argued with me six weeks ago that having sex was okay since were getting married and I fell, I fell for his trick, lay in bed with him and might have gotten myself pregnant. I didn't know how I was going to cope and I certainly didn't know how I was going to tell my parents or even my friends.

I knew my friends were going to support me but I was just too embarrassed to tell them, I knew my child would never suffer since I was more than okay financially. I was what you would call a successful young lady working in one of her father's hotel as the general manager and yet, I couldnt help but be worried. I must go and see the doctor today.

PRESENT

Eating the food Shade prepared was a huge effort on my part as I could feel my parents disappointment in the air. Once my dad was done eating, he washed his hands and waited till we were all done eating. Once Shade was done clearing the table, he started "Have you told segun?"

"No sir?"

"Why?" My mum asked.

"The wedding won't be holding anymore. He was playing me all along ma, he was cheating." I choked on my tears that was about to fall.

"Oh my God." My mum lamented.

"So, what do you plan to do about it?" Dad asked.

"I dont know sir." I muttered, gaze down. The silence lasted for a few minutes, it was a sign that he was thinking about what to say or do.

"Okay, I'm only letting you off so easily on this because you have been a good child and I believe whatever happen was a mistake you made. So, don't stress yourself about it. Just take care of yourself and always seek your mum's help. If you feel things are not easy for you to manage at the hotel, you can always ask for my help." He finally replied as I burst into tears.

"Thank you, dad. Mom?" I called, wanting to know what her stance was.

"What other choice do I have and besides which mother doesn't want to see her grandchildren." She said sniffling.

"Thank you very much ma, I love you." I stood up to hug her, weeping against her bosom. Dad stood up to join the hug.

"We love you too, my princess." He said. "...and we would love to meet our grandchild." He added.

Telling my friends about the pregnancy was an easy enough, and I have to admit I am a lucky girl for getting off so easy. Ada turned very protective, making sure I never miss my drug or doctor's appointment and helping me out at the hotel since she hasn't gotten a new job yet. Aisha also tried to always be there despites her wedding preparations.