Sandra hurriedly zipped up her travel bag, glancing at the clock on her wall. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow through her bedroom window. Tomorrow, she would be on her way to Abuja to meet Mr. Coca, a prominent businessman whose influence could change her life. But first, she needed to shop for a few essential items.
Just as she picked up her purse, her mother appeared at the doorway, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Where are you going, Sandra?" her mother asked, her voice calm yet probing.
"I need to go shopping, Mum," Sandra replied, adjusting the strap of her bag. "I'll be traveling to Abuja tomorrow to meet Mr. Coca."
Her mother's eyes widened in alarm. "What?!" she exclaimed. "You're going nowhere, Sandra. Abuja is too far, and what if something happens to you on the way? It's dangerous!"
Sandra sighed, already anticipating this reaction. "Relax, Mum. I'll be fine. Nothing will happen to me, I promise. I've already made all the arrangements. Now, I really need to get going. Bye, see you later." With that, she kissed her mother's cheek and hurried out the door, leaving her mother standing there, worry etched on her face.
"Why is Sandra so stubborn?" her mother murmured to herself, sinking into the living room sofa. "God, please protect her."
Sandra ordered an Uber and stood by the roadside, checking her phone for updates. Within minutes, the car pulled up, and she slid into the backseat, greeting the driver curtly. The ride started smoothly, but halfway to the shopping mall, the car stuttered and came to a halt on a deserted stretch of road.
"What's wrong with the car?" Sandra asked sharply, leaning forward in her seat.
The Uber driver looked flustered as he stepped out to inspect the vehicle. "I'm not sure, ma'am. I think the car broke down. Let me check."
Sandra got out of the car, her impatience evident. "You've got to be kidding me! I'm in a hurry," she snapped. "How long will this take?"
"Please be patient, ma'am. I'll fix it as soon as I can," the driver said, crouching beside the car.
Sandra paced back and forth, muttering under her breath. As she moved away from the vehicle, a car sped by, splashing dirty water all over her pristine white dress. She froze, staring down at the brown stains in horror.
"What?!" she shrieked. "Are you blind? My beautiful dress! Oh, Lord, why today of all days?"
The offending car screeched to a halt a few meters ahead, then reversed and came to a stop beside her. The tinted window rolled down, revealing a sharply dressed young man with an apologetic expression.
"I'm so sorry," the man said sincerely. "I didn't see you there. Please forgive me."
Sandra wasn't having it. "Are you serious? You call this an apology? Look at my dress! Do you know how much this cost? You're a fool!"
The man's face hardened. "Hey, watch your tone. I just said I'm sorry, didn't I? What else do you want me to do?"
"I want you to move this thing you call a car and get out of my sight!" Sandra snapped.
The man sighed, stepping out of his sleek Lamborghini and approaching her. He was tall, with an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance. "First of all, this 'thing' is a Lamborghini," he said, gesturing to the car behind him. "And it can probably buy your entire generation."
Sandra's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Did you just insult my family?"
"You started it," he retorted. "I came to apologize, and instead of accepting it gracefully, you insulted me. Who's the fool now?"
Sandra's temper flared. "You know what? I don't need your apology. Just get in your fancy car and leave. Idiot!"
The man smirked. "You need help. Clearly, something's not right up here." He tapped his temple. "You should consider seeing a doctor before it gets worse." Without waiting for a response, he got into his car and drove off, leaving Sandra fuming by the roadside.
"What a jerk!" she muttered, shaking her head. "Calling me crazy? He's the one who needs help."
She stomped back to the Uber, where the driver was just finishing up his repairs. "I'm so sorry for the delay, ma'am," the driver said nervously. "And your dress… this is all the car's fault."
"Just shut up," Sandra snapped. "This wouldn't have happened if your car was in good condition! Take me back home. I need to change."
The driver nodded quickly, not daring to argue, and drove her back to her house.
Meanwhile, the man from the Lamborghini, James, arrived at his home, still seething from the encounter. He parked his car and stepped inside, only to find his mother sitting in the living room.
"Mum? What are you doing here?" James asked, surprised.
His mother smiled warmly. "Do I need a reason to visit my son? Sit down, James. I've been meaning to talk to you."
James sighed, sinking into a chair. "What's this about?"
"I've noticed you haven't been seeing anyone since your ex left," she began. "James, you're the firstborn and the heir to this family. It's time you settled down and got married."
James groaned. "Mum, not this again. I'll meet the right girl when the time is right."
"And when is that, James? You're not getting any younger."
"Please, Mum, can we not do this today? It's been a terrible day."
His mother frowned. "What happened? Did someone at the office upset you?"
"No, it's not that. On my way home, I accidentally splashed dirty water on a girl. I stopped to apologize, but she insulted me like crazy. I even got out of my car to show I was sincere, but she kept going off like a madwoman."
His mother chuckled. "What do you expect from some of these local girls? Don't let it bother you. Anyway, I need to get going."
James watched her leave, shaking his head. "I pray I never meet someone like that again."
Back at Sandra's house, she stormed inside, slamming the door behind her. Her mother looked up from the kitchen, startled. "Sandra! What happened to your dress?"
"That fool!" Sandra exclaimed. "He splashed dirty water all over me! Can you imagine? And then he had the nerve to call me crazy. Oh, Mum, I've never been so angry in my life."
Her mother sighed. "Sandra, it was probably a mistake. Calm down and go change into another dress."
Sandra huffed but did as her mother suggested. After a quick shower, she put on a fresh outfit and grabbed her bag again.
"Where are you off to now?" her mother asked.
"Have you forgotten? I told you I was going shopping. That fool delayed me, but I still need to get everything I need," Sandra said, heading for the door.
She arrived at the mall an hour later and spent the next two hours picking out items. Her cart was overflowing by the time she reached the counter.
"That will be two hundred and fifty thousand Dollars, ma'am," the cashier said.
Sandra frowned. "Two fifty? Are you sure?"
The cashier nodded, double-checking the calculations. Sandra sighed, pulling out her wallet. It was going to be a long day.