5 Where I can only think about her

SALIM As soon as the plane landed, I tried to get out not just because I was late for the company’s dinner, but also because I was scared of that woman’s beauty. She was very beautiful and looked like she had been sent down by the devil himself. If you stared too long at her eyes you would never be able to look away. So I didn't. I tried to put on my coldest act but I still felt my heart beating way too fast, maybe it was because of the way she was staring at me and maybe it was something more. My father always said women were poisonous snakes, covered in very fine skin. They come into your life, make you feel good, rip you off of your heart, money and then leave you shattered and a little broke. I always believed him. My mother, being the number one reason for his distrust in women, and also his theory about love being nothing more than a foolish fabrication of romance novels, movies and fairy tales being instilled in human minds from the beginning of time. It had been twenty two years and I still saw the hurt in his eyes whenever he spoke of her. I never think of my mother. Sometimes I do but I make sure it's fleeting and never leaves a mark. She didn’t exist to me. “Take me to galaxy,” I said to the driver as I got into the car. I sat quietly at the back seat and the name ‘Hadizat Farouq’ kept ringing in my head over and over again. I was perplexed because I had better things to think about but instead I kept thinking of her. Thinking of her felt useless and worthless, for all I knew I might never see her again. In fact if God answers prayers I hope to never see her again.she seemed like way too much trouble. One thing I was sure of was that she was going to call me, all the women I had ever given my complimentary card to, never hesitate in calling me, and she’d be no different. I'm not sure now why I had given her my complimentary card. No it wasn't because deep down I wanted her to call me. It was my father's retirement party and I was already running late. I got to the party quite late. All the guests were already there, looking like they always did, dressed in over prized suits and dresses, and the party elegant as always, with the finest wines, food and service. As soon as I entered the room, I ransacked the place with my eyes, for the most important person in my life, the strongest and most inspiring man I knew, my father. My father wouldn't waste an opportunity even if it was in a retirement party. "Son, power and connection is all you'll ever need. Everything else will follow if you have these", my father would always say. He was a man who had seen better days. His experiences and regrets have shaped his entire life and I couldn't blame him. I couldn't help but agree with some of his wise words as well. “You’re here,” I heard him say from behind me. I turned and in front of me stood a very tall, well-built man, in a very well-tailored suit. With a nose resembling mine and eyes as clear as the morning, he didn’t look a day over forty. “Good evening Dad, and congratulations ” I greeted him with an automatic smile on my face. “Thank you Son. How was your flight? I’ve been waiting for you. Walk with me, there’s someone I want you to meet,” he said excitedly leading me forward. My father had a very unique way of showing affection, I had been away for two months, and his “I miss you” was same as his “I’ve been waiting for you”, I understood him, because I wasn’t any better than he was. I followed him wondering why he was so excited. “Salim, this is Fatima Aliyu,” he introduced me to a way too fair, way too skinny woman who wore a black long dress and a navy blue veil. She had a confident look on her face, the kind you would see on the face of a super model. She was tall too and to compliment her looks, she had the fakest smile anyone could ever wear. “Fatima, this is my son Salim,” her gaze was eye piercing and almost intimidating. Almost. “Hello, how do you do Salim?” she asked, now grinning. “I’m good. How are you beautiful? .” She blushed and then laughed. I wasn’t really a flirt, but I knew just the cheesiest lines to use on women like her, and I was quite the expert in complimenting women who needed compliments to breathe. “I’ll leave you two now to get to know each other,” my father winked at me and I raised a brow in disapproval before he disappeared into the crowd with a mischievous grin on his face. I wasn’t sure exactly what his motives were but I was going to play along, like I always did. I walked with Fatima to the balcony, where we sat down ‘to get to know each other.’ “So tell me about yourself” I said as we sat on the bench on the balcony. She blushed as she took a sip from her wine and sat on the bench. “Well, I don’t like to talk about myself, but since you asked, I’m the first daughter of Aliyu Isa Asabe of Marvel team limited.” The moment she said whose daughter she was I understood it all. My Father had been hoping to partner with Marvel team for years, and now that he had this opportunity, I was positive he wouldn’t let it go. He didn’t care much for women, but good business deals, oh he loved them. Strangely, I wasn’t the slightest bit hurt that my father was using me to get what he wanted. I’d do the same with him, if the tables were turned. The rest of the night passed by as Fatima kept yammering on and on about herself. Lord, it was frustrating. It was like she was reading a really long pre written speech about her. For a person who didn’t like talking about herself, she had a lot to say. It was my fault for asking, and I regretted it, but realised something that night; I really didn’t like her but it didn’t matter, it was just business after all.