Lotanna wanted to be in love, always fantasizing about a happy marriage and a house full of kids. She never expected to turn pregnant when she met 'the one,' and she certainly never expected 'the one' to be engaged to someone else.
Desperate to lea...
I started a catering business catering for the working class, especially mothers, who didn't have the time to get lunch or prepare food for the family. It was convenient for me because I could work from home and spend time with the kids.
Before Christa left, she gave me tips and ideas to follow. First, I had to develop a business, create an online page, and post whatever I prepared. Which meant I had to cook meals immediately. I wasn't that good at cooking Nigerian dishes, but these days everything was on YouTube, and Grace also agreed to help whenever I needed her.
Cooking was all I did today. The day was almost over, but not before I gave myself a treat. I had almost everything I wanted, yet I believed one thing was missing - a man. Spending time with my kids was great, but I also needed to feel the warmth of a man once again. I needed to get out there, so I took myself to an Indian restaurant. Christa was the one who suggested it, even though I was not a fan of Indian dishes.
Getting a reservation or table seemed impossible, but I was lucky enough to find one after waiting for almost thirty minutes. I found a seat at one of the more centrally located tables; not my first choice, but it would do. I picked up the menu and looked through it. Then, I placed an order for tandoori chicken and chips with a chilled glass of Chapman.
A few minutes into my meal, a dashing young man walked up to where I was seated. He looked like he was in his mid-thirties. He was slim, well built, and wore a blue polo t-shirt with khaki shorts — thanks to the hot weather.
"May I?" he asked, pointing to the chair across from me.
"Yes, you may," I replied with a sheepish grin plastered on my face. The man cleans up well. I could feel my cheeks burning out with excitement. I put down my cutleries, sat back, and looked at him as he sat down. "Is this how men pick up ladies these days, or do you just want to sit here?" I had to ask.
"Really?" He asked in a lazy drawl that belied the dancing delight in his eyes.
Even with the graceful grin on his face and the sophisticated way he leaned on the chair, something about him made my heart skip. Not just one beat, two.
"Well, I saw a beautiful young lady sitting alone, and I couldn't let that happen. That's how stars do." He winked at me.
I could not help but laugh. "So the new pickup line is a line from that song by... what is his name again?"
"Skibii."
I nodded. "Well, thanks for being a gentleman. May I continue my meal? I would not love to see it go to waste."
A smile flashed on his face, and I could see that he had somewhat pink lips. I put my hand against a sudden attack of butterflies in my stomach. Lord, could he be the one?
"Why don't I just stay here with you while we get to know each other?"
We got to know ourselves alright — to the point that I even forgot to finish up my meal. I found out that the young man was a mobile business owner, whatever that was, and he was into importing exotic cars and selling them to politicians and the wealthy.
Time ran fast, like a hundred-meter race, and soon enough, I had to go home and check on my girls. "It was nice getting to know you..."
"Daniel. Daniel Igwe and your name?" He asked.
"Lotanna Lewis." When his hands touched mine, the shock wave that ran through my spine made me jolt slightly.
"So let me have your number. Maybe we can hang out some other time. We both will eat your cooked meals, of course."
Where has this sweet man been? I asked myself. "Of course," I answered and took his phone to type in my number. I could see him taking out some money to give to the waiter by the side of my eye. Was he paying for my meal?
══✿══╡°˖✧DANIEL✧˖°╞══✿══
That was so fast. The young woman did not look like someone that was going to budge. I walked back to where the guys were sitting. "Oh, boy! She gave me her number," I said excitedly.
"Just like that?" Philip asked.
"Look at me? Do I look like the guy a lady would not want to give her number?" They all shook their heads. "And the best part, guys, she is an American — the best way to get a green card."
They all burst out laughing like they did not believe what I had just said. I knew that this was the only chance I had to get myself out of this country and get a better life.
"Wait, Daniel. How do you intend to pull this off? Did you tell her you are into fraudulent activities? Does she even know you have no job?" Philip asked.
I walked toward him and tapped him on his shoulders. "Guy, all I have to do is play my cards well. She does not need to know all that."
"If you get this green card, then what? Dump her like you have done to so many ladies out there?"
"Philip, what is your problem? That you were not the one who met her? The lady loves a gentleman, and we all know I am the gentleman here."
"After what you did to Aisha, you call yourself a gentleman?"
Philip never gave up because he reminded me of how I assaulted a woman. "She caused it, snooping around on my phone. That is not right. I am a man."
He chuckled, "This pride of yours will lead you to your downfall. Besides, no girl will date a broke ass guy like you."
"Watch and learn, brother." I winked at him. I was not sure how to make the lady believe me, but I ran out of cash, and I needed a buoyant woman to be in a relationship with. And what made this even more exciting was that she was a foreigner. I had to be very convincing to get her to marry me. She was my ticket out of this country.
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