My name is Tiwalope Akinwunmi. This is my story…

I am a 29-year-old, five feet, eight inches tall dark-skinned (ebony) lady. I am a second-class upper graduate of Economics from the University of Abuja. However, I currently work as a cleaner in one of the numerous motels located in the outskirts of Abuja. This story is about how my previously pleasant life became miserable.

It all started on a humid Wednesday morning in July 2014. I had an appointment for a job interview on that fateful day. I was wearing a fashionable black blazer matching a black skirt, a white dress shirt and black high heels. Before leaving the house, I asked Lewa to check if I am appropriately dressed for the interview. She said, “You look great my sis.” I was scared about the interview but I tried to stay motivated. I lived with Lewa, my twin sister in a two-bedroom apartment in one of the supposedly middle-class areas of the city of Abuja. She is also dark in complexion but with puffy natural hair. My twin, Lewa is a banker in one of Nigeria’s new generation banks. We pretty much grew up on our own because our father left us at the age of 3 and our mother, being a businesswoman was always on the move. Anyway, enough about my sister and our upbringing for now…

…back to that Wednesday morning. I was afraid because of my previous job application experiences. I had applied to numerous companies with barely any feedback. Once, I was luckily invited for an interview but it was a nightmare.  The hiring manager attached a “condition” to getting the job. He wanted anal sex! Over my dead body, I could not do it…never! Though when I told my childhood friend, Nancy about it, she said “No big deal nah. Na so all the ladies for Abuja here dey get job o.  Shine your eye babe.” I was not really surprised by her response. She has always been quite promiscuous. She is a professional hustler and “runs girl”. Nancy is a civil servant in the Ministry of Works and Housing. We grew up in the same neighborhood before she briefly relocated to Lagos with her parents. They came back to Abuja when we were about to enter secondary school. Since then on, we have been quite close.

Anyway, to continue from where I stopped about that Wednesday morning, I called my “cab man” and was ready to go. He arrived in his old model Toyota corolla after about 20 minutes. Sulaiman, my “cab man” tried to start a playful conversation on our way to the interview but I was not in the mood at all. All I could think about was the interview! My stomach was rumbling and I started getting nervous. As Sulaiman spoke, his voice faded away. I was in deep thoughts, fully engrossed…anticipating how the interview will go. Finally, we got there. Standing before me was a 12-storey building painted in cream and chocolate color. It was an oil and gas servicing company. I was interviewing for the position of an Economist.  As I got into the building, a receptionist with a strong accent directed me to the 10th floor – to be interviewed by the Chairman of the company. Wow! That was unexpected.

I got to the 10th floor and knocked on the door of the Chairman’s office. A tall, dark and handsome man with a neat haircut opened the door. Lo and behold, it was Idris Thomas. Idris was my classmate in secondary school. He was a lady’s man. All the girls wanted to be with him. His looks had not changed much over the years – his deep dimples, charming smile and nice body structure were still there. He offered me a seat and asked if I cared for a drink. Instead of a formal interview, we discussed about the universities we attended and he asked about my twin sister, Lewa. I went home that day, feeling on top of the world. I was very happy. I knew I had an upper hand since the Chairman of the company was my “mate” in secondary school. When I got home, I told Lewa all about the interview. She was excited and our hopes were high about the job.

Fortunately, I received a call from the company on Friday of that same week that I got the job. I immediately called my boyfriend, Rikky to inform him. He was very glad to hear the news. Rikky is a fair-complexioned guy with an average manly height with wavy dark hair. We met at the University of Abuja during my 2nd year of studies. He is a secondary school teacher. Despite not having much, he takes care of me as much as he can. Shortly after hearing the good news about my job offer, Rikky came over to my place to rejoice with me. As we celebrated, I asked him for some money to change my wardrobe since I will be starting a new job at a lucrative company. He said, “I broke o…Babe, abeg try manage the ones you have for now.” I was pissed and told him that I could not dress shabbily to work, especially for my first week. He later agreed to give me the money meant for his younger brother’s medication. Rikky’s younger brother suffered from sickle cell anaemia.

At weekend, I went shopping with Nancy. I told her all about the interview and the job offer. She was really surprised that the Chairman of the company was Idris Thomas. Nancy and Idris never really got along in secondary school. They had a cat and mouse type of relationship, even though some of us felt Nancy had a crush on him.

My first week at work was great. I got to see Idris everyday and I found out that he was single. Awesome! I yearned to get closer to him. He was so intelligent and well-spoken – a perfect gentleman.

In the evening of the following Friday, Idris called. He asked me out on a date to the club. Of course, I said yes. He promised to pick me up by 10pm. I was so overwhelmed. It was like a dream come true. After the phone call, I told Lewa that I was going on a date with Idris that evening. Lewa was not comfortable with the idea. “Don’t sell yourself cheap sis”, she said. I ignored her statement. I was too excited to even pay attention to her babbling. In a short while, I was set. I wore a short yellow dress with silver heels and a matching silver purse. At about 9.50pm, Idris called and said he was waiting for me outside in his car. I hurriedly stepped out to meet up with him. He was driving a black, shining Mercedes Benz. On our way to the club, I was too shy to talk. He finally broke the silence and asked if I was enjoying my new job. I said, “Yes, of course. It’s been great.” He told me not to hesitate to inform him, should I have any problems.

We arrived at the club. It was one of the most luxurious and upscale clubs in town. We met some of his friends there. They all came along with their girlfriends. I felt so special to be Idris’ girl (at least for that night).  We had fun and danced the night away. By 3am in the morning, he dropped me back at my place. It was an amazing night! I could not sleep – thought about him all night long. I was daydreaming or should I say nightdreaming (hahaha) about my prince charming, Idris.

As time went on, Idris and I started hanging out often. I also began to ignore Rikky. I stopped picking up his calls and avoided him like a plague. He came to my place severally but I instructed Lewa to tell him that I travelled. Because of Idris, I had made up my mind to dump Rikky. I felt he was not on my level anymore. While hanging out with Nancy, she asked why I decided to dump Rikky. She said, “Babe, why you do that Rikky guy like that? Na nice guy o. All that glitters is not gold. Try rethink the matter o.” I was quite shocked. I did not expect such advice from Nancy, the expert “runs girl”. I ignored her advice though. I was already falling in love with Idris. Besides, why should I be listening to this “ashawo” girl?

After several dinner dates and club hangouts with Idris, he finally invited me over to his home. I looked forward to this invitation so bad and now, the chance is here. I quickly started getting ready. I wore a short jeans skirt with a pink top and comfy black sandals. It was a cool Friday evening; slight rain drops were falling. He sent his driver to pick me up around 8pm. Idris’ home was a huge sprawling all-white mansion in a very upscale neighborhood in Abuja. And he lived alone, wow! He came out to meet me and invited me in. His living room was tastefully furnished with some of the most luxurious leather furniture I have ever seen. So good was the ambience of the atmosphere, that I immediately wished I could live there forever. He grabbed a bottle of Moet from his wine bar, served us some and asked if we could go up to his home theater to watch a movie. I said, “Yes, of course.” The home theater was big – could probably sit about 20 people comfortably. The movie screen was so large; definitely more than 120 inches. I screamed in my mind, “Haa, this is the life! See enjoyment!” Anyway, we started watching the movie. It was a romantic movie starring Patrick Dempsey (McDreamy). We watched for a while, sipped on our drinks, then suddenly, Idris started caressing me. My heart was racing but I wanted it so badly too. With time, I was fully relaxed. We kissed romantically and one thing led to the other, we ended up having a steamy sexual experience in the home theater. After that, he said (in a hushed tone), “Baby, that was great. Can you please sleep over tonight? It is already so late.” I obliged of course. We had sex till daybreak on his California king size water bed, with soft plush dark brown beddings.

Two days after the experience at Idris’ home, he asked me out formally. He wanted me to be his girlfriend. Wow, dreams do come true! Idris satisfied me with monetarily. I went shopping every weekend and I slept at his place regularly. Life was literally awesome! Meanwhile, Nancy was still disturbing me with her “Rikky advice”. She called me and said, “Babe, I dey tell you…no leave that Rikky like that o. The guy don try for you and I think he can still make it. Be patient o.” I had already started ignoring Nancy’s calls because of this Rikky issue. On this particular day though, I was so annoyed by her usual “talk talk” that I responded to her saying, “Abeg, leave me jare. You are just jealous. Have I ever advised you on how to deal with your numerous sugar daddies?” She kept silent. After this instance, Nancy stopped calling to talk about Rikky.

One day in the office, the receptionist called to tell me that I had a visitor. I went out to meet the visitor – guess who? It was Rikky. I was immediately furious. I dragged him by shirt outside and said, “This guy, why you dey stalk me everywhere? Leave me alone. I am done with you. I cannot be managing with a guy that has only five shirts and three trousers. Abeg, free me jare. I no wan see you again.” Rikky begged; tears dripping from his eyes. He said, “What did I do to deserve all this? I loved you and I still do. My younger brother that had sickle cell anaemia died recently and I called you severally. You never answered my calls. Tiwa, why now? This is unfair. We have been through a lot together. You want to throw all our memories away?” I got angrier and said, “Shut up my friend. See how you are crying like a baby. What is my business with your younger brother? That disease was going to kill him anyway. Or was I the one that killed him? Wait for me.” I went inside, wrote him a check of 250,000 naira and went back outside. I said, “Take this! (throwing it at him – check fell on the floor) Are you happy now? I have paid you back for everything o. Now, leave here and never come back again.” Rikky was dejected, his face had turned very pale and his eyes were red. He left the premises without the check and I picked up my check. I thought, “See this mumu guy. I be wan even help am small. Abeg, carry go.”

My relationship with Idris was splendid. I had fallen head over heels in love with this dude! I hardly slept at my place anymore. We dined at expensive restaurants, took weekend trips out of town and we became regulars at the VIP sections of several clubs in town.

One Monday afternoon, Idris decided to leave the office early. He told me he had an appointment with his doctor and that he will call me when he gets done. I had a spare key to his home, so I decided to surprise him with his favorite meal of pounded yam with vegetable and egusi that evening. So, I left work about 2 hours earlier than my usual closing time. On getting to Idris’ home, the main gate was open and the gateman was nowhere to be found. I drove in anyway. The main door to the house was also slightly opened. At this point, I started getting scared. I thought, “What is going on here? Idris should not be at home. Hope we are not getting robbed.” I silently opened the door and went in. When I got in, I was shocked at the presence of a cyan-colored leather Michael Kors handbag on the center table of the main living room. “What? What is this?”, I thought. I could not even think clearly. Lewa, Nancy and I all have this same type of bag. We decided to buy the same color because it was so unique. Now, I am thinking, “Did I forget this bag here? I don’t think I have ever even brought this bag here.” I was so confused. While being disturbed by my thoughts, I decided to look around the house carefully.  I hoped no stranger was committing an atrocity in the house, especially since I did not see the gateman at the gate. Hmm. As I approached the master bedroom, the door was slightly open and the light was on…

Shiiit Happens guys! Watch out for Tiwa’s ordeal – Part 2.