Sandra reclined on her bed, the cool air of the evening brushing against her skin. Her thoughts drifted to the money Mr. Coca had given her not too long ago. It had been a significant amount, enough to make her feel like she was on top of the world. She had spent lavishly, treating her friends to luxurious outings, buying herself new clothes and accessories, and covering what she deemed "necessary expenses." Yet now, as she stared at her account balance, she felt a wave of regret wash over her. Only a hundred thousand dollars remained, a far cry from the fortune she once had.
Her heart sank as she thought about the situation she was currently in. She was standing at the counter of an upscale mall, the shopping attendant eyeing her with a mix of impatience and politeness. Sandra glanced at the total displayed on the register: two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The number felt like a slap to her face.
"How will I pay this now?" she thought, her mind racing. "I was so sure everything would cost fifty thousand dollars at most. How could I have miscalculated so badly? I can't just disgrace myself here. Everyone's watching." She swallowed her pride, trying to maintain her composure.
"I'm waiting for your payment, ma'am," the attendant said with a professional smile, though there was a hint of urgency in her tone. "We have other customers waiting, and I need to attend to them. You're the only one holding up the line."
Sandra fumbled with her phone, pretending to process a transfer. She tapped at the screen aimlessly. "I think my network is bad," she said with a nervous chuckle.
"You can use your card to pay," the attendant offered.
Sandra's chest tightened. "I... I forgot my card at home," she stammered, her voice betraying her growing anxiety.
The attendant's patience was wearing thin. "Please step aside, ma'am, until you're ready to pay. I need to attend to others."
Sandra moved away from the counter, her face flushed with embarrassment. Anger bubbled inside her—not at the attendant, but at herself. "Why do I do this to myself? Why did I blow all that money just to show off? Spending a million dollars on a party at the island just to impress people—how stupid could I be?" she muttered under her breath.
Desperate for a solution, Sandra thought of Mr. Coca. He had always been her financial safety net. She quickly dialed his number.
"Tell me, sugar baby," Mr. Coca's smooth voice greeted her. "Why do you sound so cold? What's wrong?"
"I have a problem, Mr. Coca," Sandra said, her voice trembling slightly. "I went shopping, and when the attendant totaled everything, it came to two hundred and fifty thousand. I don't have that amount on me right now."
Mr. Coca chuckled softly, his tone reassuring. "Is that all? Send me your account details, and I'll take care of it."
Relief flooded Sandra's body. "Thank you so much, Mr. Coca," she said, her voice brimming with gratitude. She ended the call and quickly sent him her account details.
Minutes later, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and saw a credit alert for one million dollars. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Jesus!" she exclaimed loudly, drawing the attention of everyone in the mall. Realizing her outburst, she quickly smiled and said, "Oh, my bad. Sorry for the scream!"
She called Mr. Coca immediately. "Goodness, Mr. Coca! You sent me one million dollars!" she said, her voice filled with excitement.
"Of course," Mr. Coca replied casually. "You deserve it."
"I can't wait to see you tomorrow," Sandra said, her voice soft and playful.
"And I can't wait to see you too, baby. I'll call you later; I have to get back to work," Mr. Coca said before ending the call.
With a newfound confidence, Sandra returned to the counter and paid for her purchases. As she walked out of the mall, her arms laden with shopping bags, she ordered an Uber to take her home.
Back at home, Sandra's mother eyed the numerous shopping bags suspiciously. "How did you afford all this?" she asked.
Sandra shrugged nonchalantly. "Mum, you ask too many questions. I have money."
Her mother raised an eyebrow. "The last time we spoke, you said you'd spent all the money Mr. Coca gave you."
"Yes, but he sent me more today," Sandra said, a smug smile on her face. "When I go to Abuja, I'll ask him to open a big boutique for me. I'll be a boss lady. I'll also ask him to get me a car because I'm tired of ordering Ubers. Oh, and I'll tell him to buy me a house on the island. I've outgrown the mainland. This house? It's too small for me now."
Her mother stared at her, speechless. Sandra breezed past her, carrying her shopping bags to her room.
Later that evening, her mother called out, "Dinner is ready."
"I'm not hungry," Sandra replied from her room.
"You've hardly eaten all day. What have you had?" her mother pressed.
"I had some snacks. I'm fine, Mum. Good night."
Her mother sighed, shaking her head as she walked away. "What kind of child is this? She doesn't even listen to me anymore."
The next morning, Sandra woke with a start. She glanced at the clock. "Oh, Lord! It's past ten! My flight!" she exclaimed, jumping out of bed. She rushed through her morning routine, quickly packed her bags, and called for an Uber to take her to the airport.
As she was about to leave, her mother asked, "When will you be back?"
"Next week, Mum. I promise," Sandra said before hurrying out the door.
At the airport, Sandra's excitement was palpable. She breezed through check-in and boarded the plane, her mind filled with thoughts of Mr. Coca. Upon landing in Abuja, she immediately called him.
"I'm at the airport," she said.
"I'll send my driver to pick you up," Mr. Coca replied.
True to his word, the driver arrived promptly and took Sandra to a luxurious hotel where Mr. Coca was staying. The moment she stepped into his suite, she ran into his arms.
"I've missed you so much, Mr. Coca," she said, holding him tightly.
"I missed you too, baby. What would you like to eat?" Mr. Coca asked, his voice warm and affectionate.
Sandra grinned. "I want iyan and efo riro with turkey and beef."
Mr. Coca laughed and placed the order before heading to the bathroom for a shower. While he was gone, his phone rang. Sandra glanced at the screen and saw the name "James" flashing.
"Hmm, his son is calling him," Sandra said to herself. She smirked, placing the phone back on the table. "Poor boy, you'll have to wait. I'm not done with your dad yet."