“Cece, I’m telling you, it works. I am a goddess to that man. Goddess of his d*ck!”

They both cackled at that.

Cecilia had come to visit Lara in Boris’ house. Under normal circumstances, this was an absolute no no, but given the spell that Boris was under, everything was fair game. “I don’t know when the last time was that my appetite has been fed over and over anytime I want. Anything I want, I get. Thank you so much for that recommendation.”

“You better bring my finders fee wai, na thank you doesn’t buy atsɔmɔ.”

“Don’t worry friend, I got you.”

“Never let Sarah hear about this oo. Norkor might let it go because of her whole ‘men are dogs’ agenda, but Sarah will instantly unfriend you. Her happily married self will cut you off, fast.”

“She should clear off. All the money she and her husband have, has she ever thought of trying to help me out? All she will be saying is that I should stick with Clarence because he is a good man. Clarence who can’t even be bothered to return my calls in time or even be the first one to call. Its been about eight weeks and I’ve barely heard from him. Abeg let me enjoy benefits wai, na a girl deserves to be kept.”

“Thankfully, from the call we just ended, they’re having a good time getting a ‘massage’. What kind of children do they think we are?” 

Cecelia then took Lara’s hand. “Friend, real talk, what is the matter with you? I’ve heard you talk about all the good stuff you’ve gotten with Boris’ money, but what I have heard is not sounding right to me kraa. Clothes and makeup? That’s the best you could do?”

“What do you mean? It’s not like the guy has Dangote money, what do you want from me?”

“Think bigger, girl. Aren’t you the one who keeps saying you want to be independent? You know that side hustles are the wave in this modern Ghana, but you’re over there buying clothes. Haven’t you wanted to start a cooking business for the last five years or something? Why haven’t you used your newfound powers to get the appliances you need to start?”

Lara pondered the question for a while. Cecelia made perfect sense, but Boris was still her best friend. As much as she was enjoying him, it was not her plan to leave him desolate. What Cecelia was suggesting would lead her down the path of doing exactly that.

“Chale, he’s still someone I care about. I can’t do that to him. I’d rather do that to the sugar daddies who keep chasing me. At least them deɛ, I can chop their money and run, so it won’t be an issue.”

Cecelia snatched her hands away from Lara’s. “What! Are you serious? So you’d rather turn the person you care about into your sex slave slash bomber, but you won’t try to get anything useful out of him? Instead, you would rather try to get something useful out of the person you don’t have any power over? Chale, ass dey pass your own oo. Those sugar daddies have realized that they have options; they won’t wait for you while you mess around, and they don’t give squat until your first action with them. They will use you proper before they start paying.”

Lara still looked hesitant, so Cecelia took her hand again. “Look, I’m not saying you should bankrupt him. I’m simply saying that you should rethink what you’re spending this free money on. You know this is not meant to last forever.”

Lara sat in thought while Cecelia pulled out her phone and scrolled through instagram reels. “Look, look, kwasia cat. How do you see a trap and walk into it like you think you pass God?”

Lara looked over and laughed with Cecelia, but she continued to think about what Cece had said. If she had already gotten this far with Boris, she might as well get something more permanent out of it while she still had time.

Somehow, they’d both missed it while they were watching reels, but there was a green icon at the upper corner of Cecelia’s phone, and it was blinking. It was the icon that a call is in progress.

**********

Boris was seated at the table at Rooster Queen, sipping on his milkshake. Lara had woken up in a mood, and he’d offered to take her anywhere but she chose this place, which hadn’t done anything to stop her bitching. She was currently in the restroom, and he was looking over his bank account, wondering how he was going to manage for the next few days before he was due to leave.

He was also coming to terms with how wasted this time had been. His plan had been to catch up with old friends, maybe try and go to some of the newer places, and then try to get a jump on some of the coursework for the coming semester.

Instead, his house had been turned into Lara’s pleasure house, and he’d done nothing but her bidding, often to his own detriment. He never said anything for fear of hurting her feelings, but he was really unhappy with how this vacation had gone.

Nevertheless, he enjoyed banging the hell out of her, and had actually considered making it official despite his better judgement saying no.

He was in the process of getting the waitress’ attention when he saw someone waving frantically at him from far across the room.

The person got up and headed towards him, and he finally recognized that it was Sarah.

“What are you doing here? I didn’t know you’d come back!” Sarah hugged him happily, seemingly over excited at seeing him.

“Yeah, I came for holidays, but I’m meant to go back in a couple of days.”

Sarah looked around to make sure she was good to speak, and then she said, “Look, I saw you and Lara when you guys walked in. I need to talk to you.”

Boris looked concerned. “Is everything alright? Can you sit?”

“No, not here. I need to speak with you without Lara around. You’re not safe.”

She took his phone and called herself on it. “There. I’ll text you. Please, don’t tell Lara you saw me here.”

She took both his hands and gave him an apologetic look, and then she scurried back to her spot across the room.

Confused was an understatement for Boris’ reaction, but he sat back down.

Lara came back out with her mood reduced to a look of sadness. Boris picked up on it but chose to move on until she was ready to talk.

She ordered pancakes and waffles with chicken, and then she looked at him. “So you won’t ask me what’s wrong? Can’t you see I don’t look okay?”

Boris sighed and looked at her, saying nothing. Lara continued her tantrum. “You’re supposed to care about me oo. You see me like this, but you don’t care to ask if I’m okay. Hmm. Yoo.”

Boris went back to sipping his milkshake in peace, but then Lara changed tact. “I’m sorry, Boris. I’m just really worried about something and I’m scared to say it.”

Boris focused his attention on her and stopped drinking his milkshake.

“There’s a school for pastries which has been showing up on my instagram timeline. I think I want to go and learn pastry-making there.” She took out her phone and showed Boris pictures of the school and their work on instagram.

“Wait, aren’t you already good at baking? Why do you need a school again?”

“Boris, in Ghana here, they like certificate oo. I want to do wedding catering, but most of the event planners and the wedding organizers ask for certificates before they hire someone. Also, there are some stuff I don’t know how to do, and it will be easier to learn it there.”

Boris looked at his account again, but rather than admit he’d reached the end of his rope, something inside him seemed obsessed with giving her what she wanted. He waved off his concerns about his finances. “Fine, I’ll send you the money.”

Lara lit up like a seven year-old and bounced up and down in delight. “Thank you bestie! Aow, God bless you for me!”

She immediately cooled down. “Also, there’s one more thing. Please, I really want to take this flower arrangement class too. It will help with my dreams of becoming an events planner. I’m good at décor, but I need to learn the flower arrangement so that I offer more to the clients.”

Boris was a little worried about the prospect of the burden on him. “Lara, youtube is a thing. You don’t need that class. Certificate doesn’t matter in that space.”

“Shwɛ, you deɛ you don’t know. If you’re not a big company or an experienced professional, the clients ask for certificate oo. Please, Boris. I really want to get out of that house, and I can’t do that if I’m not making my own money.”

Boris still looked apprehensive, so Lara played her ace. “I know how you’ve been trying to get into my backdoor each time you’re f*cking me. If you do this for me, I will open her up for you.”

Boris’ face lit up. “Will you open both at the same time?”

“Only if you promise to rent a place for me. If you do that, I will let you get into whichever door you want, and you can cum in anyone you like. But only after you’ve rented the place.”

Boris sipped on his milkshake, now looking excited. “Start looking for places.”

Lara smiled within herself. He’d always been acting holy, but this drug had turned him into a real pervert. Of course she would never give up her ass, but she sure loved knowing what power this drug had given her over him. “Please send me the money for the school. Your special treat will come tonight.”

Well, for one, Cecelia is not a friend to be proud to have. Look at that unwise counsel she’s dishing out! And two, Sarah’s definitely letting the truth out! How will it go?