Loving Lola

Chapter 16

Lola's POV

"You guys did what?!!!"

Suzy bellowed!

"Wait hold up. Um. You, Lola, kissed someone?"

She questioned for the umpteenth time when I had told her about the night I spent at Aldean's house.

She didn't even focus on the fact that I'd spent the night there.

"Please, what do you mean "me Lola". It's not like I'm some anti-love activist".

"Well you've almost been that way since college".
Speaking more softly, she added. "Ever since Samuel".

"Samuel is part of a history that should never be revisited. I have erased all that had to with him from my life. I'm happy that I was able to fully get over him".

She pulled me in for a warm hug.

"On a scale of one-to-ten, rate the kiss with your new meester". She said into my ear.

I gently pushed her off and gave her an eye roll.

"Well, I don't think I can rate it. But really, I'm still in awe. It's just like the kind that people talk about in novels and drama.
Talking about it even gives me goosebumps".

"Dear girl what can I say, this is a case of 'love at first kiss!'"

"What's the next step from here? Is this the end?" She asked looking serious.

"Everything happened so quickly that I don't know how to understand it.
I'm not going to dwell on it. It's not actually something that was supposed to happen but it did anyways".

"When he asked me to stay for dinner, I couldn't refuse. And I just decided to pass the night there since it was late and he had provided a room for me".
I told her nonchalantly, hoping she wouldn't ask more questions.

"If you say so. But I doubt this is the end. This is only the beginning".
"He's coming for my party tomorrow right? I can't wait to see the man that's got my baby tripping".

I chuckled and hit her arm.

"How was your blind date?" I asked.

Shaking her head she made a thin line with her lips.
"I was hoping you wouldn't ask".
Sitting up, she continued.
"Well he's cute and from a good family but girl that man, he's one conceited and egotistic fellow that I would rather not meet, ever again".

Laughing at her animated expression.
"All he spoke about was himself eh?"

"Yes. Like dude I don't care how many cases you've won or how many companies you counsel or how many degrees are in your bag.
Can you just tell me about yourself like you as a person?
I think that dude has been to way too much interviews that he doesn't know how to make a simple conversation anymore".

I sat and listened to her lengthy description of the date.

"What time should we meet in the evening to go clothes shopping? I asked remembering we'd been too busy to go get our clothes for her party during the week".

"Don't drive to work today, I'll pick you up around 4:20pm. Make sure you're done with your work by then because after getting our clothes, we have to get extra drinks and pick up the cake from the pastry shop at Ikoyi".

"Oh yeah. I actually have a lot to do today. I should get ready to leave now so that I can finish on time since I would be taking a half day tomorrow".

Aldean's POV

I was reviewing the designs that different architecture companies had sent me for the building I planned to construct for Schmidt holdings when I heard a knock on my office door.

"Come in".

"Hey Al". Damien greeted. "I just wanted to remind you about the party later tonight. I hope you didn't forget".

"Oh yeah. Lola's friends party. Is Dylan healthy enough to-"

"-Aldean, Damien I can't seem to decide. Should I go monochrome or I should just wear my new denim getup?" Dylan declared bursting into my office almost knocking Damien off at his boisterous entrance.

Damien poked his head from behind Dylan. "I guess that answers your question" and left.

Dylan looked back after him and back at me, raising an eyebrow at me, and lifting the two hanged outfits in his hands.

I frowned a little at him.

"You know what? never mind. I'll just wear whatever". He said backing away out the door and closing it behind him.

I smiled a little after he left.
It was good to see him hale and healthy again.

I was delighted to see Lola tonight and I had made sure to clear my schedule for tonight.

When I had screened the selected designs from forty-eight to five, I sent them to my dad via email to make the final decision.

The party was slated for 7pm and my watch showed 6:15pm. I got off my seat and went to take a shower.

Immediately I got out of the bath closet, I saw I had grown a shadow around my jaw and chin area.

I picked my shaving kit and was about to shave when I remembered I would run late if I shaved.

I replaced the kit and decided to go without shaving and rubbed my hand against the stubble I'd grown.

I looked at my reflection in the full length mirror in my room. Covered with just my towel, I was reminded of when Lola had come into my room and seen me this way.

Her expression was so comic that I wouldn't forget it in a long time.

I laughed at the memory while I picked the outfit I'd wear to the party.

I was accustomed on the staircase by a hysteric Dylan.

I frowned at what could be the problem, knowing he would tell me without my asking.

"We haven't gotten Lola's friend a gift, boss. How on earth could we have forgotten?" He said placing his hand on his head animatedly.

"Let's leave now. If we hurry enough, we'd get her a gift and get there fashionably late".
I said to him to relieve myself of him being frantic.

"Let's take the SUV". Damien announced coming out of the kitchen with a bottle of water in hand.
"I'll drive". He offered.

On the way to the mall, we all came up blank for what we would get Suzy, Lola's friend, as a birthday gift.

"Why don't you call Lola to get a clue of what she might like?" Dylan suggested. "You have her phone number right?"

I had retrieved her phone number from her business card when she handed it to me after her presentation at the hospital.

"She might be busy and not be able to pick up due to the preparations for the party".

Damien raised his brow at me.
"It's better to know we tried to get a hint, rather than getting her friend a gift that would be grudgingly accepted".

"Come on boss, Damien's right". Dylan called, nudging my arm from the backseat.

I decided to give in to them and dialed her number.

"Hello, Aldean"