VALENTINE: The morning after

Osayi sat on the bed in her hotel room at Four Point Delux, waiting for Mensah, who quickly dashed out for a brief business meeting with his partners at K lounge. He had made plans for the Valentine’s Day. A perfect valentine setting, with Rose flowers and petals arranged in an art form to create an aesthetic semblance, a bottle of chardonnay in an ice bucket with two goblets set beside it, a red velvet cake and a box of Ferrero Rocher, her favorite chocolate. The entire room, engulfed by the raspberry scented air freshener didn't intrude in her reverie as she was lost in thoughts.

Five years ago, Osayi would have been the happiest girl in her clique given the circumstances. But today, she wasn't feeling the vibes from Mensah. In truth, she was bored with the regular "dinner for two at luxury restaurants, all-expense-paid trips to choice cities and countries, every weekend shopping at glam malls; not forgetting the spa treatment ‘et al and yes the sex was soulful.

Mensah gave her the pampering of her life but she was BORED! She wanted something different, she wanted not just to be the one seen with him at parties held by crème de la crème of the society, she wanted so much to be the ONE. The ONE to bear his last name, the ONE to bear his kids, the ONE that will be called MRS MENSAH BOATENG.

She had always hoped that after every dinner date, surprise birthday parties, vacations, time out and weekend getaways, he would pop the big question. But he NEVER did.

This valentine season, Osayi was having none of it. She was going to confront him; because she was tired of being his girlfriend and she wanted a promotion desperately. After all, she has been serving him wifely duties and she pretty much deserved a raise in status.

Osayi jolted out of her state of melancholy, opened a box of chocolates and munched on a crunchy chunk. If she was going to face Mensah, she had to be ready for him. She was starving and fainting wasn't part of the plan. She grubbed on more chocolates and later ordered Lasagna and Chicken Saltimbocca.

Mensah had no meeting to attend, he had plans that would surprise Osayi, he knew she was getting bored in the relationship and she never failed to hint him she wasn't getting any younger. The last time they attended her cousin's wedding, he noticed how she kept wiping her eyes with her handkerchief and when he asked what the matter was; she simply replied "you know I get emotional at weddings and you know damn well Osaretin is my baby cousin". He didn't miss the sarcasm and emphasis on "baby cousin" she continued in a dramatic gesture “ I planned on using her as my maid of honor, obviously I can't anymore" and when Mensah tried to console her, she snapped, telling him it was his fault that Osaretin wouldn't make the train list.

Mensah was heartbroken because he loved Osayi and was ready to make her his wife but he couldn't bring himself to tell her. He knew she was anxiously waiting in their hotel room for him to come back and do the needful but it was never going to happen. He knew he was being selfish; he would rather die than see another man marry his Osayi. He was going to keep buying time…..

Osayi and Mensah first met at a graduation ceremony. Osayi had accompanied her friend Tessy,whose sister was also graduating. Mensah couldn't take his eyes off Osayi the moment he sighted her. Osayi, who was dressed in a leopard skin bodicon dress, matched with a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti high heeled sandals, looked unarguably appealing. She exuded sophistication and class as she slithered through the crowd.

Mensah could swear, she knew she had a magical effect on people. The way she smiled and flipped her weave turned Mensah on immediately; he knew he had to have her, no matter what it took.

Osayi, oblivious of her secret admire, innocently smiled and laughed at the jokes her friend, Tessy was making. “Tessy the clown”, as she was fondly called by her close friends; made jest of unsuspecting victims; describing their shoes in a caricature manner and the way they posed for the cameras, pouting their lips in a comic way. Osayi had had enough laughter and was going to ease herself of some urinal pressure in the lavatory when Mensah ambushed her.

"Hi" he greeted, unfortunately, Osayi was in no mood for pleasantries; she grunted under her breath and moved on quickly. Mensah waited patiently until she came out looking relieved. Osayi noticed him standing outside but breezed past him. Mensah was fast on her trail "hey, excuse me beautiful" he shouted after her and that got her stopping abruptly. She hated such compliments, especially, coming from a random male admirer. She turned and faced him angrily "Excuse you? Stop being a douche bag by calling everything with a vagina “beautiful”, she hissed and she stormed off.

For a moment, Mensah was stupefied. In his entire life of wooing ladies, he had to admit, this was his first encounter with “Lady gaga” as he immediately formed an alias for her in his head. Mensah had never experienced such rudeness from any woman, giving his good looks, model physic and British accent. He had it all; from money, fame to class. Who didn’t know Mensah Boateng? She had to be a novice in town to have treated him like trash. Mensah smiled mischievously because he knew already, how this was going to end.

Osayi found Tessy with her family members, apparently getting ready to leave for the graduation party. She looked so upset, Tessy couldn’t miss it. “Hey babe,sup witcha, why are you looking so worked up, did someone splash poop on your face?” Naturally, Osayi would have smiled at her attempt at a joke but she was so upset she didn’t even crack a smile. “Can you imagine, a certain dude tried to stop me for a chat on my way to the ladies and I ignored him, but the clueless thing, waited outside till I came out and tried his luck again”. She stopped and rolled her eyes like a Barbie doll, then continued. “What got me really upset, was him trying to be romantic and calling me “beautiful”. “How dare he ca……..” Tessy interrupted immediately “my dear, that’s not enough to upset you but knowing how you usually get upset over little things, I’ll say that was a grave offence, and that guy needs to be castrated for trying his luck. So come on, let’s go do some justice to him”.  Tessy was actually laughing at herself, when Osayi tugged at her arm. “That’s the guy coming down hall”. Mensah stood by the entrance of the hall waiting for his driver, who had gone to get the limousine down the drive way. Tessy opened her eyes and mouth wide in surprise. “MENSAH BOATENG?” she closed her eyes and opened it again in mock display. “Osayi, you just struck a goldmine and you want it to go to waste?” Osayi was confused; she looked over her shoulder again to be sure it was the same person Tessy was ogling. As though reading their minds, Mensah walked boldly towards them.

‘Hi, I am Mensah Boateng, CEO, The Concept Group” he extended a handshake and Tessy quickly took it and did an introduction for two, as Osayi was obviously still put off. Mensah found it hilarious the way she pouted her lips feigning anger. “Where are you girls headed, if you don’t mind I can have my driver take you wherever you want”. Tessy  wanted so much to be seen with Mensah, she could already picture herself on the pages of  the latest edition of Vogue magazine, but she comported herself knowing she was going to get bashed as Osayi already gave her the daggers. “errr, actually we…….” as Tessy was just about declining politely, Osayi cut in rudely.

“I drove us down here, and I’m sure, you do not expect us to dump my car just because you are trying too hard to be a gentleman. Pray get over yourself and stop being a nuisance”. Tessy couldn’t hide her disappointment; she was embarrassed for the gentleman. She quickly apologized and grabbed Osayi’s hand; she was practically pushing Osayi through the crowd, to the parking lot.

Tessy, started to rant the moment they were alone. “Do you for heaven’s sake; know whom you just spat on? That was Boateng Mensah, CEO of the concept group,I'm sure you heard that from the horse’s mouth". She continued, this time raising her voice “He is a multimillionaire, a ladies man, and to crown it all, HE IS SINGLE AND SEARCHING for your information. Madam Osayi Okojie”.  

“Stop shouting girl” Osayi shut her up and got into the driver’s seat of her 2015 Toyota Camry Sedan car.

Tessy angrily got into the car while slamming the door very hard. Osayi was peeved “Hey! Just stop already okay? I can’t remember getting a damn kobo from you when I bought my car. So mind my door pls”.With that, she turned on the music so loud, their ears literary shook to the beats.