The Hired Lover

Chapter 1~ The Beginning

Tuesday, December 9th, 2014. 2:34pm.

"Can't you drive any faster?!!" Anthony screamed at the cab driver. "This is the fastest I can go, there's a speed limit for this lane". "Okay then, Fine! You can stop here." The cab man stops and Anthony gets out of the cab. "Stupid speed limits..." he mutters to himself as he walks quickly ahead. But the speed limit was not the only thing upsetting Anthony that afternoon, he had a lot on his mind, starting from his driver's incompetence which he was going to deal with at the end of the day, but most of all he had a greater problem which he was going to share with his uncle, Mr. Baron Peterson, The CEO of Tasty Stuff, The biggest and still growing restaurant in Lagos, Nigeria. He walks until he gets to his uncle's restaurant, He goes in and walks straight to the office of the CEO. But then just before he gets into the office, He sees a strikingly beautiful woman walking towards him, whom he already calculated in his head was in her late 20's, he stared at her all the way from her beautiful afro hair to her beautiful legs pausing around her hips to get a good glance and while he was still lost in her beauty, she speaks up, "Excuse me sir, is there a problem?" "No not at all." Anthony replies looking stunned. "Do you want to see the CEO?" she continues. "Yes" "Do you have an appointment with him, Sir??" "Yes, he is my Uncle and he is aware I'm coming." "Sorry sir, I still have to call him to confirm, Can you sit and wait, I'll call him immediately?" She says directing him to a seat. "Young lady, I just told you he is my uncle and he is aware I'm coming." Anthony says to her impatiently. "I'm sorry sir, I can't risk my job." She says picking up the telephone and dialing the CEO. The CEO picks up and tells her to let him in, "You can go in sir, he is waiting for you." Anthony ignores her and goes in. Inside is his uncle very happy to see him. "Mr. Anthony Peterson, after two whole years, this is when you remember to visit your old uncle." He laughs and embraces him warmly. "Uncle Baron, it's not everyday two CEOs get to meet." They both laugh. "Please, take a seat, To what do I owe this pleasant visit?" "Uncle, there's a big problem." "What is the matter? Did you get your employee pregnant?" Mr. Baron teases. "No uncle... I received a call from my dad at the office, he said everyone would be coming home this Christmas for vacation and we are all going to meet Jack's fiancee because he is coming with her." "Is there a problem? Jack is your little brother, you should be happy for him." "I know uncle, I am happy for him but you know what this means, my father is going to make the vacation terrible for me if I don't go with a woman too." Anthony says and his uncle begins to laugh. "Uncle, what's funny??" "The situation is, my dear nephew, you are right to be worried, I would too if I were you. I do wonder too, why out of the very beautiful women in Lagos and even in the whole of our country, you have not found a wife or even two like your uncle here." He laughs and continues "So what do you plan to do? Do you have a woman?" "No uncle, I don't. You know since Olivia left me, I haven't found another, and the vacation is in two weeks. That is not enough time to find a good woman for me." "That's very true son, buh what if you start now, just leave your office work for once in your life, go to places, meet women, have fun. Maybe, who knows, you could just find a good woman." "Uncle, have you been watching American movies with Aunt Shalewa?" His Uncle laughs and continues "No, Anthony but these things do not happen in American movies alone, you are a good looking young man and rich too, you are every woman's dream. Give yourself a little time to go out and mix with the ladies, have you got any friends? -No!" "Of course I have friends uncle, Emeka is just the closest to me." "Yes, I remember Emeka, that naughty man, that was disturbing your cousins at Shalewa's birthday party last year. I was just looking at him from my own corner of the party..." They both start laughing and the mood lifts "Which one of my cousins? Rose?" Asks Anthony in curiosity. "No, Beatrice, Shalewa's first daughter as beautiful as her mother." He makes gestures with his hands in the air like he is carving out his wife. "But uncle, even a blind man can see you love Aunt Shalewa very much, then why did you take a second wife?" His uncle laughs. "Tony, my favorite nephew, sometimes it is good to mix meals, not just for your nourishment but for your enemies to know you are feeding well!" They both laugh as Anthony stands to leave "Uncle, I will do as you have advised and I will let you know my progress within the week." "No problem, don't forget to go with Emeka, he has eyes for good things" "Okay uncle"Anthony replies and embraces him before leaving the office. The secretary is still there and asks him to have a nice day. He ignores her once more. "Such a scumbag." she mutters to herself and goes on with her work.