"My friend, can't you see that palace is a beautiful place to stay."
Ara hugged her friend tightly, smiling really hard that she couldn't contain her excitement. "Seriously girl, it's really so beautiful. I'm floating right now. Floating as in floating." She tightened her hands round her friend more.
Ara's friend spoilt her mouth, sounding like she was almost in tears. "Awnn... I want to float with you. Should I come?"
"Hey!"
"Hmm..." Ara muttered in her sleep.
"Hey, you should wake up."
"No....not yet."
"Okay, let me go then."
"Hmm...ehnn!" Ara slowly opened her eyes seeing the unexpected. If she had mentioned floating in her dream, then truly, she was floating. But on what? If she had thought she was hugging her friend in her dream, then reality just dawn on her. Staring down at her was Prince Ire with his brow up. Quickly, Ara got the message. She immediately withdrew her hand, sitting upright. Her butt sinking into the couch that wasn't as soft as when she laid on it to sleep. She couldn't believe she had been hugging Prince Ire's waist thinking she was hugging her friend. Gosh! What stupid dream can cause.  She rolled, stretched and rolled and rolled until...
"Ouch!" She had hit her butt on the soft rug. Ara cried out, causing Prince Ire to just roll his eyes at her. She wondered why she was still able to roll knowing the couch wasn't as big as that. It was then Ara realized she fell from a giant bed that was tall enough for someone to climb to reach the roof of the hotel. She was expecting Prince Ire to at least say sorry, but instead, he just stared at her. "You sleep too much. This is 5am already. You should be up on your feet."
Up what! Are you kidding me! 5am to do what exactly? Ara thought in her mind. She actually thought it was eight in the morning. Why would he wake up so early when he isn't going to work? Hey Ara, he doesn't even have one. Ara thought because she had not seen him leave for work in few days she had spent in the palace. Ara looked up at his wet hair, realizing Prince Ire had his bath already. He was dressed in a black jean and a blue polo watching news. That was what Ara could never sit and watch with someone. Goddamn news where everyone is watching zeeworld, Telemundo, or even Africa magic.
"I just brought you on the bed an hour ago when when I woke up." Prince Ire explained, checking some papers beside him.
Ara looked at him a bit surprise. "You mean you've been awake since 4am?" Doing what? Aren't you tired from yesterday's journey? Ara didn't say that out. Prince Ire shot her a look, but decided to just reply her.
"My work does not permit me to sleep like that," he said.
"Hmm... You work?"
This time Prince Ire didn't reply, getting Ara to realize she was talking too much already. Prince Ire took a paper out of the papers he was searching and got up with his phone. He dropped his atm card on the bed, facing Ara. "I want a suit and a pair of shoes I will be wearing today. Everything shouldn't be more than twenty thousand naira. You should probably see nice shoes of 8k, 10k and a better suit for 10k as well."
Ara wanted to laugh but swallowed it. "Sir, are you buying new one with 20k or I better pass my neighbour?"
"I better pass my neighbour?" Prince Ire repeated looking confused. That sounded local to him. "What's that? I'm just hearing that for the first time. Just get me something nice. And I don't think I want that with the way the pronunciation sounds."
So you self know. Ara couldn't hold it anymore. She eventually burst into laughter, covering it up with a fake cough. "Sorry sir. I cough like this everytime I wake up in the morning. I'm happy this morning, that's why I'm laughing."
"It's okay," Prince Ire said even when he knew a patient with a chronic cough doesn't cough like that. He carried the only thing he brought to Abuja which was his laptop and walked towards the door. "I will be at the library unit. Your breakfast will be sent exactly by seven. Make sure the suit and shoes are available by eight. Whatever you need to get done, get it done by eight. The event starts by ten but I want to be there as early as nine. " Then he left. 
Ara couldn't believe Prince Ire was trying to wear a suit of eight or ten thousand naira to where senators, Kings and big men were coming to. Are you sure he's really a Prince? Ara questioned herself. All the sons of rich people she had met like to purchase expensive things to feel among, feel respected and meet up to their status. Ara wondered why he was different? Even her, she couldn't wear anything cheap anytime she was in the gathering of rich people. She couldn't let anyone look down on her. If she couldn't afford to get the type of cloth she prefers to wear, she would rather stay at home and avoid people looking down at her dress or looking at her like some outcast.
Ara hissed rubbing her butt. It was a bit painful but thank God for the soft rug. She got up and went back on the bed she was floating on. The bed was so soft. Ara had never slept on such bed before in her life. It wasn't the type of bed that it cloth had ripped off leaving you to bend from one side to the other and could even cause back pain for you. That was the kind of bed they had in their home. How could you be sleeping on a bed and at the end suffer back pain? Ara shook her head and rolled and rolled on the soft bed over and over again. See correct bed. "Life is beautiful! Chai! There is money in this country." She couldn't believe people book room in a place like this every single day, yet where she came from, the song she heard from people everytime is the song of....No money, no money. Ara laid down flat with her chest on the bed, legs spread and hands spread to contain the whole bed, yet she couldn't because of how wide the bed was.
Ara got up and reached for her phone. Despite still trying to sleep, she suddenly doesn't feel sleepy anymore. She wondered why she dreamt of her friend in such a place like this. She had it in mind to call her and thank her for adding her to the group that made her start working in the place now, but she was just too busy and kept procrastinating the call. Now she needed help on where to order Prince Ire suit and shoes because she knew she couldn't order from Jumia at that time.
"Hello..." Ara said immediately her call was picked, but the next thing she heard was a long, high-sound coming from her friend.
"Doyin calm down na. What's this one you are crowing like a cock. Anyways it almost six."
"Your enemies will crow like a cock."
Then the two friends laughed.
"I've missed you actually. I lost my phone three days ago, but babe just got me one yesterday to use for the main time so I retrieved my sim too." Doyin explained.
"Oh! That means even if I had called you, it won't go."
"Yea. But that my IPhone 6plus pained me o. I'm now using one Tecno like that. I think Spark4."
"Sorry dear, but you enjoyed it more unlike me. I had to give Omoh because of her dance shooting and all. Besides, Spark4 is a new phone now."
Doyin laughed. "She sees you that way ni abeg. One sister will not comman swap one rugberugbe phone with me. So what's up?"
Ara cleared her voice. "Doyin I have gist for you but before then, I need your help. I'm in Abuja right now, where can I get correct designer wears for men? I need a correct suit and nice Italian shoes."
"That's not a problem at all. I got one for babe at Kosaz stores late last year. They deliver when you want them to. If you want it now now...I mean right this minute, they are at your doorstep now. Go check. They appear and disappear like a Flash."
Ara burst out laughing. "Abeg jhoor! Are you the one selling it or why is your own too much like this."
Doyin laughed too."You think I'm doing this for fun. If I bring them customers, I have my tip. But sincerely, they will deliver exactly when you want your stuff. It was 350 US Dollar with 10% off when I got the suit then. So I got it around hundred thousand plus. I guess they are doing 30% off now. And they have nice Italian shoes too. So, everything alltogether, you will need like at least one hundred and fifty I guess."
"Okay. Order it for me from the money I have with you. Will forward twenty thousand naira to you. If they have ladies wear too, I need something classy."
"Don't worry," Doyin chuckled. "Trust me. I know exactly what every guy likes. Sexy and classy. Wait... Ara, you are saving this money for a reason. Why are you taking out of it now?"
Ara smiled. "Don't worry, will forward that 150k back to you this week. In fact this month, be expecting 400k gbam!"
"Ehnnnn!!!!!" Doyin shouted. "Ara, sweetheart, babe, show me the way my love."
Both friends burst into laughter, laughing at each other. Ara told her the gist was for another day but Doyin still went on and tease her. Before the call was ended, Doyin promised her the whole thing will be delivered by seven at the hotel. While Doyin warned her to be careful, Ara knew she wasn't losing because the King gave her more than enough. And the instruction was.....
"I know my son. He doesn't like spending money on material things and some certain things. He count them as waste of money which is different with the kind of family he is from. He's a Prince and I wouldn't want him appearing cheap. Taking care of you, I'm sure he will do that part well. Here is the money to get him quality things."
•••••
To Ara's surprise, after she was done and was fully in her dress. She didn't know what to say. She knew this dress was going to cause trouble the moment she saw it. She couldn't tell why Doyin picked such a dress for her. Sexy and Classy my foot. Though Ara knew this was exactly what Doyin loved wearing, but not her. She selected her clothes carefully because of her stature. It was beautiful though, but her back was too exposed. Her cleavage were showing a little. It was a short gown reaching her knees, yet had a small slit at the front exposing little skin from her extremely fair lap. Ara wasn't feeling comfortable, but she had no other cloth to wear for the event.
When she was done dressing, she heard a knock realizing Prince Ire hired a stylist used by one of his sisters to get her hair and makeup done. After the lady was done, Ara couldn't recognize herself in the mirror. She had always been the one doing her make up by herself, but at that moment, she knew there are skillful people on earth. Who just by beautifying your face brings you happiness without them knowing. "You are so beautiful." The stylist had said several times, staring at Ara without blinking, hoping she was a guy instead.
Ara was unapologetic beautiful. The make up made it more obvious with her looks attracting everyone who mistakenly glance at her direction only to intentionally brought back their eyes and stare at the beauty passing by all over again. As usual, Ara felt a bit embarrassed because it was obvious every eyes were on her, but she was growing to love her body and was used to it. The gown clung to Ara's hips, bringing the glory of her body to limelight as she became the highlight of people's attention. But that didn't mean anything to her. She just hope the Prince will appreciate her effort in looking good.
Getting to where their car was parked, Ara cleared her voice to get the attention of the tall figure standing with his back to her close the car. "Hmm.... Sir I'm here."
Prince Ire turned around. "Don't ever keep me---" That was where he could stop because he was instantly swooned by Ara's beauty. He suddenly became muted and swallowed the rest of his words, trying to compose himself still. If he hadn't seen Ara without make up, then he would have thought it was just the makeup doing. So he knew with or without make up, Ara could always swoon any guy with her natural beauty. As much as he loved the dress, he would have loved for Ara not to appear in such. Her dressing was going to call too much of attention. Quickly, Prince Ire recovered, moving towards the driver's seat. "Don't ever keep me waiting. And if you are gonna accompany me till this event is over, I won't appreciate that type of dressing." He brought out his atm card. "We are buying you a new gown."
"Huh!" Ara gaped at him. She was expecting a compliment and not what came out of his mouth instead. What type of man are you? Every man likes this.
"Not me."
"Huh!" Ara looked at Prince Ire, surprised again. "Did I say anything?"
"You said that loud. Not every man appreciates you exposing yourself."
Jeez! It was Ara's turn to keep mute and face forward. She was totally embarrassed and decided not to say a word as Prince Ire drove out of the hotel.
Doyin... You are error. Never pick anything for me again.