The Rise of Damola

Chapter 7- Home at last

Damola had woken up to room service knocking on the door. He instinctively stretched his arm across the bed hoping to feel Rachel and prove that what had happened the night before was not a dream but was met by empty space.

He opened his eyes and a pang of sadness hit him at the mere thought of her not waking him up to say good morning. He figured she had a shift and thus, had to go.

"At least she ordered breakfast," he said trying to console himself as he let the waiter in.

He hurriedly took his bath and ate breakfast trying his best to keep to his schedule. He had work to do. Today, he was going to the city to look for Ajala.

Damola was outside the motel at exactly 9am. Before leaving his room, he thought getting a taxi in a high end place like this would be hard but he was wrong. He found one almost immediately.

"Nottle Lodge," he said to the driver.

"Oga that place is far o!, Bring 1,500"

"I only have 1,000 on me o!, Ah! I have to be smart about this," he thought.

"No, I will bring 700 it's not that far now. In fact just go, I will stop someone else"

"No oga come now!, Bring the #1000," the driver said.

Damola smiled and got in thinking about the next problem at hand; how he was going to get back.

"We will cross that bridge when we get there," he whispered to no one in particular.

The journey to the Nottle Lodge went smoother than expected. He did not even notice that the car had come to a halt, if not for the driver's announcement.

"We have arrived," the driver said.

"Oh yes, here," He replied handing him the money before getting down from the vehicle.

Damola had only heard stories about the building before him and truth be told, words did not do it justice. He went straight through the entrance and was astounded by the sight before him. From the marble floors to the exquisite patterns on the ceiling,

"It does not look like Nigeria at all," he thought.

"Excuse me sir, are you looking for someone," said a man with a suit.

"Yes, his name is Ajala Fonahanmi"

"Oh yes Mr. Fonahanmi," he nodded, a sign of recognition flashing in his eyes.

"Does he know you are coming?"
"No"
"Please take a seat while I inform him of your arrival"

An hour passes by with Damola using his new phone to keep him company when he heard a laughter that could not be mistaken.

"I can't believe my eyes. Old boy!!," Ajala shouted pulling him into a bear hug.

"You did not tell me it was the Damola," he said turning to cuss out the man that went to call him.

"Please follow me let's go," he said looking at his friend.

"I am so sorry for the wait my man. I would have come in a heartbeat if I had known," he apologized as they entered the elevator.

The elevator came to a stop at the top floor were they both got down. They passed through a hallway covered in luxurious plush beige colored carpets, they only stopped once they reached a door that required a code to be unlocked. Downstairs had amazed him but up here was beyond compare.

"Ajala, how can you-"
'Shhhh,' he motioned to Damola by putting his index finger to his lips.
"I'm sure you have questions and I promise to answer them as soon as we get to my room but right now, the walls have ears," he whispered.