Lola's POV

"Sir please!"I heard a light plea from the next table, right beside the one I was serving.

I immediately shot my heard towards them and noticed the hands of an elderly customer tightly wrapped around the wrist of Dora, a new employee here in this restaurant....

The old man shot her a flirtatious smile as he kept pulling her towards him.

Darnn!!

I just hated men like him.

Dora was far younger than me. She should be three or four years older than my little sister.

She should definitely not be put in a situation like this. From the look on her face, she was confused and scared at the same time.

Yet old fart bag here, still shamelessly clung unto her.

"Excuse me"I said politely to the family on the table I was attending to and boldly walked towards Dora.

I approached them and I noticed the man notice my presence and stare at me.

As soon as I halted in front of them, Dora finally notices my presence and I could see the relief on her face.

Before I spoke, I shot daggers through the man's head as he stared at me with an irritated expression.

"Is there a problem here?"I asked in the most sweet and soft voice I could make.

"Absolutely not.. You may leave."The elderly man hurriedly spoke in a dismissive manner.

Uhhhh, he is even more shameless than I thought.

I rolled my eyes with a scoff before looking back at them.

The expression on Dora's face immediately told me that I had said that out loud.

Well.. Shitt!

"What?" He shouted, letting go of Dora's hand and leaping off his seat in anger.

"What did you just say?"He yelled again, making all eyes in the restaurant focus on us.

"Sir, did I say something to upset you? I just asked for what the problem was"I spoke feigning ignorance and worry.

"Don't dare take me for a fool, you stupid girl."He spoke as he moved towards me, enraged and pointing a finger at me.

"Sir, I don't understand...."I trailed off before moving towards him and whispering...

"...are you not a fool?"I completed shooting him a quick smirk before changing back to my helpless looking face.

"What?"He yelled again...

"You stupid bitch!!"He yelled before raising his hands and slapping me right across the face.

Ouchhh!!

That definitely stung.

"What is going on here?"I heard a loud deep voice speak from behind me.

I slowly looked towards the direction of the voice and I recognised his face all too well.

"How dare you hit her like that?"He spoke with every word sounding authoritative.

He immediately grabbed my hand and gently pulled me behind him as he looked straight into the elderly man's eye.

"Hey, you... Call the police"He spoke as he signalled to Dora who still looked as confused as ever.

Police?

"No...no... Let's handle this my way"I heard another voice from behind me...

What were they doing here?

Before anyone could utter a word, he already walked towards the man and gave him a resounding slap.

"Jesus!!"Kola, who was standing in front of me and I chorused as I squinted my eyes.

He raised his hand again and I widened my eyes in disbelief...

I might lose my job, today...

"Guyyy... Guyyy.."Kola yelled as he hurriedly rushed to grab his arm.

The elderly man yelled as he still struggled to give him another slap.

"Call the police, yes... Call them. This is assault... This mannerless boy just hit his elder" The old man yelled as he looked around, calling out to people while he held his cheek.

"Oh, now it's assault?"He asked still struggling with Kola.

"I said Call the police"The elderly man yelked, as he headed towards Dora in fury and I immediately rushed towards them and stood in front of Dora before he could reach her.

Dora just whimpered as she stood behind me in fear.

"Leave this place, Dora"I told her and shoved her away.

Kola couldn't hold him for much longer and as much as I would have loved that this man be taught a lesson, he could still be old enough to be my father.

I immediately walked towards Kola and looked at both of them.

"Peter, please stop. He is not worth this"I spoke to him but he barely listened to me.

The old man just continued playing victim and yelling to the crowd.

"Officer, take them"

We all shot our head towards my boss who folded her arms in rage as she stared at us in annoyance with two police men behind her.

"Take them all"

Oh, shit!!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"I swear, I would have killed him with my bare hands" I heard from the phone as I chuckled, still pressing the glass of ice cold water against the side of my face.

"Relax.... Peter almost did... I thought you both were the calm ones of our group?"Kola asked as I noticed the way Derin scrunched up his face on hearing Peter's name.

"I'm willing to fight when I need to" Derin responded shooting me a wink.

"Ewww"Kola spoke as I smiled into the tablet on the table.

"Are you alright, babe?"Derin asked with worry evident in his voice.

I shook my head.

"Hm..hm... the side of my face hurts so much, and my head is pounding" I said out in a child-like voice with a pout, ignoring Kola's irritated look from beside me.

"Shit!! I can't stay here anymore" He responded.

"Rita, book me a flight to Lagos"He yelled out and a laughter escaped my lips.

He was just kidding. I know he had a lot to do there.

I heard Kola scoff as he shook his head at us.

He's just jealous...

"Where is Peter, by the way? He is taking forever in there" I asked Kola as I looked towards the door.

I noticed the look Derin gave me from the screen of the tablet but I ignored it and shot him a smile instead.

"Well, there he is." Kola spoke as I looked towards the door and noticed Peter coming towards us.

"How's your cheek? Has it gotten better?" He asked standing next to where I sat.

"Yeah" I responded, moving the cup away from my face.

"It's still a bit red" He said as he moved his hand to touch my face.

Well, this is awkward.

I gently moved my face away from his fingers before using my eyes to signal that he looked at the table.

Derinsola's face wasn't hiding his jealousy.... not even a bit.

His lips were curled into a frown as he stared at us.

"Hey man" Derinsola called out to him as I forced a smile up my face.

"Heyyy! Didn't see you there"He spoke with a smile on his face which almost looked genuine.

"Yeah, you didn't" Derinsola responded.

I looked at Kola who just glanced at them before concentrating on his phone.

"You know, I am not really comfortable with..." Derinsola started as I bit my lips knowing what he was about to say...

But Kola cut him off.

".....my battery is running out, dude... We'll have to talk to you later" He spoke out before hanging up the call.

Well, isn't Kola a life saver?

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"We spoke to your boss and explained the situation, so you can get back to work, without any troubles" Peter told me as I let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness, I thought I was fired back there" I told him as he shook his head.

"Nah... nah.. we took care of it. And if you get there tomorrow and you experience any troubles, just give me a call, okay?" He asked as I nodded in response.

"See you around, Lola" He said before walking away, towards his car.

You know, Peter is actually a really nice guyy...

I'm sure there are millions of girls out there waiting for someone like him.

And I am also glad that things didn't get too awkward between us...

"You know, I don't quite like you, right?" I heard that annoying voice of another of Derinsola's friends.

"The feeling is mutual" I said back with a tight smile as I turned to face him.

"...and I still don't understand why my friends are so hung up on you" He said again...

They have eyes for good thingss..

Hehehehe...

"Your point isss....." I asked, urging him to conclude whatever speech he was teying to make.

"I just hope you have thought deeply about what you are getting into" Kola spoke as my face immediately formed into one of confusion.

What did he mean?

What was he talking about?

"Are you guys in some sort of cult group or something?" I asked feigning shock.

"Haha... Very funny. But..... but .... I hope you guys are happy" He said as I raised an eyebrow.

"And this better not be for money, Miss Lola. I swear I....." He spoke as I felt a pang in my chest.

Ohhh, that is what this is about.

I'm still a swindler to him.

"It's not."I told him sharply before turning away.

"Goodbye..." I said again before walking towards the opposite direction.

I really don't blame him for being careful but it just hurt me.

I walked down the road and Kola's words rang in my head.

It is in the past, Lola.

It shouldn't bother you.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Uhhhh, it's been so long we've gotten together like this" Kosi told me as she sat down next to me with moisturising sheet mask on our faces.

It was the first time in a while since Kosi and I have some girl time to ourselves...

Usually, I'm always working, or with my mum and my sister, or she is working, or I am calling Derin....

Honestly, I kinda missed her...

I missed her advice, her craziness and her braiding my hair...

She is the only one that does it the way I like it.

"How is Kachi?" I asked her as she sighed.....

"He's fine... I guess" She told me as I felt the worry and sadness laced in her voice.

There was an awkward silence right after her response...

I knew something was bothering her... I just didn't know if I should ask...

I would want her to talk to me about it when she feels she is ready to tell me.

"You know.... One reason I was rooting for you and Derinsola is because I thought he would always be here, with you." She said I suddenly knew what this was about.

Kachi had left back for work last week.

I guess the whole long distance thing is taking a toll on her.

"Long distance is hard. I really hate it"She said again as I immediately sat up and pulled off my facial skin care mask before moving towards her and wrapping my arms around her.

"But you love each other, Kosi. And that is really all that matters." I told her as tightened my arms around her.

As I told her, I tried to convince myself it was that easy too.

"Yeah. I guess" She spoke doubtfully.

"But let me gooo" She commanded, playfully...

"Nevurrr!!" I raised my voice back in a playful manner, still wrapping my arms around her.

"I said Let me go, you this playful child"She said with a slight chuckle.

I just grabbed unto her tightly and let out a daring laughter.

"Lola, Oww....You want to squish me to death" She laughed as I laughed back...

I was happy that sad vibe was now all over.

Aren't I the best friend in the world?

However, our playful moment was interrupted by the sound of my phone ring....

I immediately let go of Kosi and stood up, hurriedly navigating my way to the dining room, where my phone was.

Why was I this excited and in a hurry to get my phone?

Derin has been so busy in Abuja that we almost never get to speak anymore.

He is always working and when he has the time, he tries to call me.

And I would always want to be available to pick his phone call.

I immediately grabbed my phone on the table and I noticed the name on the screen.

It was himmm....

A smile crawled it's way to my lips.

"Heyyy" I spoke immediately I answered the phone call.

"Heyy.. Heyy" He said like he was in some sort of hurry.

"Are you okay?"I asked him.

"Yeah. I have just a minute till my next meeting but I couldn't wait another minute before I asked you something.."He said while breathing heavily....

What? What? What do you want to ask me?

I am so dang curious.

"Ohh, what is it?" I asked in a more calm manner than I would have asked.

"Okay, so I came here because my dad decided to retire from the company and he asked me to take over the company."He said but the excitement in his voice dropped.

Well, he doesn't seems thrilled about that.

But I.... I did...did not, I just have a mixed feeling towards this news.

I am happy for him, if he was. But wouldn't that mean that we would see each other even lesser, now.... or that he might need some rich ass daughter of a billionaire to match his own image?

I was so confused but I decided to keep it together.

" Oh my.... That is wonderful, I am so happy for you, babe"I said with a wide smile on my face, despite the fact that he wasn't even here.

"That is nothing, Srisha... The best part is..." He continued with excitement bursting back through him.

There is more?

What could it be?

"....I want you to come here for the celebration party, here in Abuja" He continued as I widened my eyes at his words.

"What?" I found myself saying without thinking.

"Yes Srisha. I want you here for the weekend and you can meet my family as my official girlfriend this time" He said as I stood there taken aback by his request.

Well, damn.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Hello guysss

I know, I deserve to have my head on a chopping blockk...

But, I am swampeddd... This is even the first time since my last update that I actually opened Wattpad...

Buttt, I am incredibly sorry for the late update....

However, I can't promise I'll never do it again because I'm in my penultimatum year and thing can get a little crazy and hectic....

Anyways, for everyone who still stuck around despite my 11months late update, I love y'all💓😚☺️, and I am deeply sorry for the delayyy....

Byeeeeee guysss,

Ifeh_love💖