SHOOTING FATE

°°CHAPTER NINETEEN°°

•NINETEEN

Tomide gave Diane tickets to the Lagos fashion week which his client had given to him so the two tickets she had planned to share with him were given to the secret couple Tony and Oge. How it started Diane didn't know but she guessed after Tony had given her a condition for Tomide's travel information in exchange for Oge's Instagram name after pressing for her number which she wasn't sure she should give to him.

When she had gotten back to Lagos she knew they were probably closer than she had guessed. It had low-key made her jealous and sometimes yearning for Tomide's presence but her now boyfriend was stubborn to appreciate and realise he had feelings for her.

Diane came downstairs ready to head out for the last day of the fashion week with Tomide, Oge and Tony but stopped when she saw Mr Remi Macaulay standing in the middle of the general living room watching the news on CNN. Overjoyed to see her padi she ran to him and jumped on him, video calls were not so enough as he was always busy with one conference or brunch or dinner or the other. But this time it was a vacation with his wife and she didn't know they were returning early as Mr Remi wouldn't stop posting on his instastories as a pro he has become after many lessons from Diane.

"Didn't know you would come early." She released him from her tight hug

"My princess... Your mother was homesick. She said she would prefer the beach house in Lagos."

"Haaa. I would pick vacation out of Nigeria over our beach house in Lagos."

"Tell her o." He said as he looked at Mrs Fola as she walked into the house with the maids behind her.

"Abeg there's no place like my home, my country." They shook their heads at her statement.

"Good evening." Diane cheerfully greeted.

"Bawo ni?"

"Fine..."

"Heading out?" Mr Remi asked looking at her two-piece outfit.

"Yeah... Have a show to catch." She said checking the time "Have a lovely night...chat later." She said walking out of the house.

Diane got to the venue after the red carpet because she did not want to be interviewed like the first day when she stammered her whole words. Tony and Oge stood at the side waiting for her and Tomide who she hasn't seen since she came.

"Tomide is inside with Latox." Tony said a little still pissed that she got there ten minutes late.

"Thank you.. and sorry haha. Help us beg your boo."

The evening went by well, two performance by artists and a display of renowned brands throughout the night was satisfying to Diane's eyes. Like her partner that was on and about helping and working she sat and looked at beautiful pieces and matches walking down the runway in their elegance and poise.

When the night was over the group of five went on to get dinner and hang out for a while before calling the night the actual night it was. Diane enjoyed the evening and she couldn't be more excited to be in their midst as she was tired of the lame narrative of a rich man's kid being saucy and belittling even though she might be a little of both she didn't want to be so unapproachable like some have made themselves be.

~~~~

The Family themed beach weekend seemed fun as an idea until it was actualised. Mr Remi Macaulay, Mrs Fola Macaulay, Derin and her husband Tolu with Tiara their beautiful baby girl, Folu and his girlfriend Mimi who was a shocker to everyone as Folu seemed serious with her and reserved whenever he was around her, then Diane with herself alone she wasn't ready to introduce Tomide to her family as she wasn't prepared for its outcome. Then there were her two distant cousins who came for holiday with their rich uncle.

It has been a disaster after the first night of fighting for the room to stay as they were only four rooms. But they made memories on the beach, shooting TikTok videos and reels to last them a year, throwing bants at each other, especially between Folu and Diane, swimming and having a family party in which they were all litty kitty even Mrs Fola turned up.

Times like this made Diane admire her family, how they may be rich, have everything connections and money, how things were given to them at the snap of a finger, and how things just aligned for them because of the name Macaulay. She admired how different they were from the big rich Lagosians she has come across as she grew up. Went to masquerade balls, and parties of different kinds where only the affluent met to interact. She might have grown up attending those events because they just had to but she was thankful Mrs Fola wasn't one to familiarise herself with fellow big women of Lagos. There are so many wives' names one would mention with her knowing only one.

Diane enjoyed how simple their life was. How it wasn't a must to be married to a conglomerate son of one ridiculous empire. How welcoming and accommodating they all are. The narrative of the Rich and affluent Lagosians wasn't subscribed to them.

As she sat on the barstool watching Mr Remi and Mrs Fola dancing to the music, she wondered why she lied to Tomide about her surname, she also wondered why she still felt lost in the family, why she always felt like an outsider when it was evident how much she was welcomed in the family.

Folu wouldn't be on her neck forcing her to join the company so it could be the family company, Derin wouldn't even make her the Godmother to her daughter or talk with her like they were besties, Mrs Fola would not take her side when Folu was being a bitch or look after her well-being just because she wanted her husband to know she appreciated the fact he slept out and brought in a child that isn't hers. Mr Remi would never have brought her Mum to live in the same compound as Mrs Folu, he would never buy her a BMW or gift her dresses from her mother's old closet that she used to wear and parade the house when she felt like a princess.

This made her appreciate her family more. She stood up and walked to Mrs Fola and Mr Remi took their hands and joined their ugly dance step. Her family was so many prayer points and she didn't want to take them for granted anymore. She promised herself to love them as they love her.

~~
Lesson learnt: no matter the family you are born into, separated or not adopted or not, love them because they are closet to you than any other.

Tell a family member you love her or him today.

I love you

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See you soon.