BELLA'S MEMOIRS (ENTRY #6)

ANNIVERSARY DINNER

Dear Diary,

Dating Okechukwu was much easier than I had thought it would be. We always had an amazing time, either hanging out with his friends or just chilling at his place listening to music …or sleeping. Okechukwu loves to sleep and the nature of his job doesn’t even help. He would rather sleep all morning and then stay up overnight working. He hardly headed to the office earlier than noon every day.

Well according to him he worked better at night, I hadn’t spent the night again since the first time I stayed over at his. He always sent me home no matter how late, I thought it was very noble of him. I had too much free time on my hands. I was done with NYSC and my dad and I had agreed on a more than generous monthly allowance till I figured out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life…career wise.

That day I was lying idle in Okechukwu’s house, it was 11am and I had come over after going to my morning dance class session in Victoria Island.

Okechukwu: Don’t tell me you are on instagram again.

Me: What do you mean?

Okechukwu: I mean you need to start doing something more meaningful with your time.

Me: You’re tired of spending time with me right?

Okechukwu: Stop being unreasonable. That’s not what I am saying and you know it. If you don’t engage yourself how are you supposed to figure out what you want to do?

Me: So what should I be doing?

Okechukwu: Get dressed. You are coming to work with me.

Me: I don’t have clothes here.

Okechukwu: Go and take a shower we’ll buy something for you to wear on the way.

Three boutique and a long argument later, I was clad in a blue jumpsuit, cream blazer and nude shoes and ready for my day on the job with Mr. Ferrari. Our first stop was a corporate client, the company was launching a new product and wanted an activation event, Okechukwu’s company was pitching to plan and handle the entire campaign. I was in shock for most of the meeting. Okechukwu was so unprofessional, picking his phone in the middle of the meeting, using street lingua, slouching in his chair with his legs crossed. The company seemed to be pitching to him instead of the other way around, but the young man knew his job, that I couldn’t deny.

I was in shock when the meeting ended and they told him the contracts would be sent to him. Left to me he didn’t deserve the contract. After the meeting I let him have it.

Me: What was that?

Okechukwu: What was what?

Me: You were so rude and unprofessional!

Okechukwu: What do you mean?

Me: Picking your phone in the middle of the meeting, slouching in your chair, using informal language.

Okechukwu: But I got the job right?

Me: That is not the point! You could have been civilized and still gotten the job.

Okechukwu: Coming from the instagrampreneur. What do you know about closing deals? I am in an industry where you have to act like you don’t need it to get it. Marketing is about seduction, my arrogance seduces clients because they feel I don’t need their account so they pursue me. There is a method to my madness.

Me: You have an explanation for everything.

Okechukwu: Ok let’s not argue we are late for the next meeting.

On our way to the next meeting he gave me a brief on the company and the project and ran me through some of his ideas for their brand extension campaign. They were so exciting I could wait to see their reaction after his pitch.

When we got there Okechukwu introduced me as his Head of Business Development and then said:

Okechukwu: Ms. Ayo-Kessington would be making the pitch to us. It’s her account.

I turned a bright cherry red… I am sure I did. How could he do that? There was no way I could pull it off. I glared at him and he whispered in my ear “Show me how it’s done professionally baby”.

My voice was shaky and I was nervous and stuttered a lot but I was able to make a little sense. They were quiet when I finished…like they weren’t convinced, and then Okechukwu made a “stupid’ comment asking if they were appalled by my presentation or mesmerized by my good looks. They all laughed and then he gave them a summary of the proposal with his usual casual arrogance and they were sold. I was humbled by the whole incident and was very quiet on our way home.

Okechukwu: Did you have a nice day working with me?

I shrugged.

Okechukwu: I am sorry for putting you on the spot but I just wanted you to understand why I do some of the things I do. My behavior sometimes is a strategy it’s not always because I don’t know better ok?

I rolled my eyes.

Okechukwu: Moral of today’s lesson; don’t tell me how to do my job! I am the best there is don’t ever doubt that.

Fact 1: Okechukwu was never going to change and I just had to learn how to deal with it.

At the end of the day, I realized that I had enjoyed the experience and it made me hungry for more. I began rehearsing my presentation skills in front of the mirror and that day was a day I would never forget because it marked the beginning of my journey to discovering myself.

Aunt Linda: Bella! My in-law Okey is smitten oh! He talks about you all the time!

I blushed. I was over at my dad and stepmom’s house for dinner and Aunt Linda was there. We were all in the kitchen.

Ms. A.: Bella so when are you going to tell your dad about Okey ehn? You know if he finds out I knew all along I would be in trouble oh.

I wanted to tell my dad about him but I was scared he’d ask to meet him and I wasn’t even ready for that. There was no predicting Okechukwu’s behavior plus I knew my dad would ask a zillion questions. I didn’t need a prophet to tell me that my dad would have a problem with the fact that he wasn’t a graduate and I really needed my dad to approve of him.

Me: I will tell him soon, I just need to make sure it’s the right time.

Ms. A.: I know the best time to tell him. It’s our 5th anniversary this weekend and we are having a little soiree, you should ask Okechukwu to come.

Me: Ok I will.

I had no intentions of doing so. I really needed Okechukwu to be ready when he met my dad and so far I knew he wasn’t.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

It was the day of my parent’s anniversary dinner and I had successfully avoided making any plans with Okechukwu that day. It was a Saturday and I had come up with the excuse that I had a bad case of stomach cramps with it being that time of the month to avoid inviting Okechukwu infact I didn’t tell him about the party at all. He offered to stop by at The Villa on his way to the event to check on me but I told him not to bother because I was at my parent’s place in Lekki.

After the party started he called me several times and I didn’t pick, obviously because I knew I wouldn’t be able to explain the music in the background.

In the middle of the party, the house keeper came to me to inform me my guest was in the compound. I was sure it was Vanessa, I had invited her. When I got to the compound I was stunned to discover it was Okechukwu.

Okechukwu: Wow! What a miraculous recovery. I came to give you this.

He was holding flowers and a bottle of champagne. I smiled at the sight of the bottle then he said

Okechukwu: Someone told me alcohol helps with the cramps. Hence the bottle.

Me: Thank you so much baby. This is incredible.

Okechukwu: I guess it would have been except I feel a little stupid because you are clearly fine.

I was about to come up with an explanation when my stepmom who had come out to receive a phone call or something spotted us.

Ms. A: Ah Okechukwu! You made it! Bella said you had an event so you couldn’t come. Come on in the party is in full swing.

Okechukwu: Thank you for the invitation. We are right behind you.

Ms. A pointed to the package in his hand

Ms. A: Is that for us?

Okechukwu was quick in catching up to what was going on I had to give him that

Okechukwu: Yes ma’am

He held out the flowers and champagne to her which she accepted with a wide grin.

Ms A: How thoughtful of you! Apparently most people didn’t know they were supposed to bring presents to an anniversary party.

She turned to me and said

Ms A: This one is a keeper Bella.

She spun around in her long evening dress and went into the house not knowing the amount of havoc she had just caused in my relatively new relationship.

Okechukwu: What was that about? Were you supposed to have invited me to your parent’s anniversary party?

I nodded.

Okechukwu: So why didn’t you?

Me: I just thought it would be too much for you meeting everyone so soon. We have only been dating for a few weeks.

Okechukwu: So you lied about being ill instead? That’s not the reason Bella. You’re lying when you lie you curl your fingers into a fist I know that about you by now. Tell me the truth.

Me: I was nervous…

Okechukwu: About?

Me: About you meeting my family especially my dad and my grandmother.

Okechukwu: Why? Do you think I can’t handle myself around them? Is that how little you think of me?

Me: It’s not that! It’s just …

Okechukwu: Just what Bella?

Me: They ask a lot of questions …

Okechukwu: So? I don’t get it.

I lowered my gaze and stared at my feet. How was I going to tell him that they would have a problem with his educational qualification and probably his profession as a party promoter? I had heard the stories of my stepmom and The Duchess and unlike Ms. A, I knew Okechukwu’s ego would never allow him put up with being treated like that. The truth was I was scared his ego was stronger than what he felt for me at least for now and from the previous conversations with my dad about love and marriage, I knew Okechukwu did not fit his idea of the right man for me in more ways than one.

Me: Let’s go in we can talk about this some other time.

Okechukwu: No we are talking about this now? Why don’t you want me to meet your family are you seeing someone else?

How could he even think that was it???

Me: Of course not!

Okechukwu: So what is it? You are not sure you want to be with me? Or you want to keep your options open or are you ashamed of me…

At his last statement I looked away

Okechukwu: That is it right? You are ashamed to be dating a college dropout organizes parties and carnivals for a living. I grew up in Owerri not America and I don’t have a foreign passport or accent or an Ivy League education so I am not good enough to date a trust fund baby?

Me: No one is saying that! That’s so unfair.

Okechukwu: No one has to say it Bella. I’m out of here.

He started walking away from me, I ran after him and grabbed his arm. He looked back at me with raw anger in his eyes. I didn’t know what to do so I pulled him towards me and pressed his lips to mine. It was our first kiss and he resisted for bit then he gave in. After a few seconds he pulled away from me.

Okechukwu: Bella…

Me: Let’s go.

Okechukwu: Where?

Me: Anywhere.

Okechukwu: Your parent’s party…

Me: Please.

He took my hand and led me to his car, where we were going I had no idea and I didn’t care. I was with him and that was all that mattered.