They made their way into the hall with Prince Ire holding hands with Ara. Ara smiled and muttered. "I feel really special tonight. Thanks to you." She chuckled slowly, looking down at their hands joined together. "The book as well. I'm on my way to know the dick from the real. I hope something is written about gentle and closed off guys too. I would love to know the kind of persons they are. Hmm..." Ara whispered and coughed, causing Prince Ire to finally look at her with a quick smile that lasted longer this time.
"You are really naughty actually. I've not read the book, but if you are interested in knowing more about gentle guys, there should be a book for that too. I mean books, cause their personality can't contain a book. They are more than just their looks. As in, we are more than just our looks." He threw a wink at Ara getting a blush from her.
Ara laughed and coughed. She couldn't help staring at Prince Ire as they walked together. He looked so relax, so free and extremely handsome whenever he grace his face with one of his smiles. He was putting on another black suit today and it fitted so well. Ara noticed he did something to his hair which had some nice and few curls. It gave him a different look, but not until she noticed he was putting on a round shinning white ear stud magnet on his left ear which gave him a bad boy look. Ara smiled and coughed again, realizing she was yet to reply the Prince. What's her own with books? She wasn't done reading the one with her, now books. "Hmm..." She cleared her throat. Ara knew exactly how to escape. Turning to Prince Ire with one of her magnetic smiles, she said. "I just remembered I have a book like that at home. I will just wait till I can get my hands on it."
Both knew that was a big lie.
Prince Ire laughed getting few people stared unbelievably.
Clutching her purse tightly with her heart beating really fast. Derin almost fainted when she saw Her Ire standing next to a beauty who looked totally into him. Her eyes were soaked in tears that she couldn't take what she was seeing. Is this why he has not been picking my calls? Ehnn! A tear rolled down from Derin's eyes that she couldn't understand what was happening to her, but she immediately dab her handkerchief on her face so as not mess up her make up. She intentionally forced the governor down there so she could see him when she heard he was in Abuja. Derin finally released her hands from her purse and brought out her phone. She immediately dialed the number that sited on her recent call log every blessed day.
"Bisi, I thought you said Ire hasn't move on. Why is he here with someone?"
"Oh! One extremely fair girl like this. Tall with big hips. I heard she's very pretty. That's the girl that just started working for him. I've not met her yet, but someone from the palace told me. Don't worry, I will do all the findings when I get back to the palace nextweek. Just call Ire yourself."
Still watching both Ara and Prince Ire together as she talked on phone. The description Bisi gave Derin made her eye Ara with hatred and was instantly consumed with jealousy because it was all true. With her voice already shaking, Derin replied. "I told you he stopped picking my calls one month ago. He won't reply my text, my chats and all the Dm I sent to him." Derin was finally crying. "I miss him. What should I do?"
Bisi hissed, a bit annoyed. "What's with the cry! I told you when you were signing that stupid contract. But I know he's not the kind of guy that jumps into girl that easily. Besides, that girl is far from someone Ire can date. She's not even in school yet. She's just one illiterate with a Goddamn body. Stop dreaming of nonsense and stop crying like an infant please."
"Okay." Derin ended the call dialing Prince Ire's number immediately.
••••
Caroline couldn't believe her ears. "You mean they still see each other? Please, I know you guys are not in good terms so don't phrase anything up."
Ayoola drank the wine in his cup. "Its one month they last saw now. I don't know why he suddenly changed to her."
"Because he finally realize she's a total bullshit!" Caroline said really angry at Prince Ire. "And you too!" Caroline faced Ayoola who instantly raised his two hands up in surrender. He knew Caroline could start giving him some serious beating.
"What have I done again?"
"What have you not done! Why didn't you tell him from the start that you knew Derin. That you've slept with her and she's a total bulldog! Like, men I don't get you guys."
"Girl calm down. She's a good girl. Your cousin loves her. And she loves him too." Ayoola replied sincerely. "How do you expect me to say such the moment I realized she meant the whole world to him back then." He explained.
Caroline calmed down. "But what about now? He knows and he's angry with you. Even the girl left him at the end. Wait... What are you staring at since?" Caroline turned around and immediately shook her head. "Don't even go there."
"Caro, I like that girl."
"He likes her too." Caroline almost yelled. "Wait... Is something wrong with you two liking the same girl?"
"I never like Derin. Is just a one time thing and that girl over there, I met her first."
Caroline laughed. "Is not about meeting a girl first. It's about who is smart enough to get her first. Just don't try something stupid again," she warned and left him.
••••
"You are not picking your call?" Ara asked Prince Ire who acted like he didn't know his phone was vibrating. He shrugged it off and Ara did too because at that moment, she was really enjoying herself with Prince Ire. Ara realized he smiled more that night allowing her to tease him and laughed at him. Ara couldn't help laughing at herself whenever she lied to him knowing he knew and he wouldn't say anything giving her more ample time to embarrass herself. She realized how caring Prince Ire can be and how annoying he was sometimes. Comparing him to Ayoola, to Ara, she couldn't see any flaw in Ayoola. He seemed to perfect. At the back of her mind, Ara wish Prince Ire was just like his friend.
Prince Ire's phone vibrated for a shorter time again. Ara realized it was a message from the same number that kept calling. Prince Ire picked it up and instantly, Ara knew something was off. His mood suddenly changed. He looked straight and Ara followed. "Excuse me please," he said in a rush and left her alone.
It's her. The person who had been calling. Ara thought seeing how the lady stared back at Prince Ire from afar. She looked familiar, but Ara couldn't remember where she had seen her. She was a bit chubby, more fairer than her, classy, tall with full burst and pretty in her own image and body.  This time, it was Ara's phone that beeped. When she saw the message that came in, she almost yelled, totally consumed with excitement.
"Hmm..." Someone cleared a throat beside her. When Ara saw who the person was, she hugged her to her body. "Congratulate me Caroline."
Caroline laughed and hugged her back. "Congrats Ara," she said before Ara finally released her.
"What's the happiness all about?" Caroline asked wondering why Ara was so excited.
Ara smiled with her full teeth in display. "I got my first salary. Hundred thousand naira in a week. Just like that. It's looking really real actually." She drank the juice Prince Ire didn't finish. "I'm on my way to be a millionaire if I can get this for a whole year."
Caroline smiled sweetly at Ara really surprised by the intensity of her happiness. Just hundred thousand and she's this excited. This time around, Caroline wasn't smiling again. She stared back at Ara with a serious look. "I'm Ire's cousin. I don't know why he doesn't want me to tell you, but this time, I'm telling you cause I need a favour from you."
Ara suddenly became quiet, totally lost in Caroline's face which held a serious look. Ara just nodded not knowing what to say. Caroline got it as a way to speak on. Then she said, "how would you like me working a visa for you and sponsor your degree education to study French abroad?"
Ara was shocked by the confession. She immediately weigh what Caroline could worth and not let herself be deceived by some sweet talk.
Caroline smiled at Ara's reaction, pointing to her small Gucci bag sitting on the table. "That bag cost me 1.8million naira. This human hair cost me five hundred thousand naira. Everything on me right now is close to three million naira. Ara I have trust fund, I get paid every month from my family's business and I work as a Neurosurgeon." Caroline stopped, looking at Ara who shock was written all over her face. She didn't say all that to boast or make Ara self-esteem dropped. She wanted Ara to know she was in good hands and she was capable of fulfilling her promise. All she needed was her help.
"Hey!" Caroline snapped her fingers together getting Ara's attention. "Here is a blank cheque if you want money instead."
Ara dragged the cheque back to Caroline. "I would love to help, but please I want nothing in return. I have plans for my education. That's the reason why I'm here working."
Caroline smiled. "Are you sure about this. My cheque is going.. going... going..." She joked.
Ara laughed. "What's the favour?"