SWITCHED ☆☆ Episode 1 Sandra Okoye groaned when her phone rang and She knew better than not responding to her P.A’s call whom she knew was either at her door waiting for permission to barge inside or outside in one of her dramatic Limosuine to get her to one of those crazy movie Promotions which she dreaded attending. “Yea?” she croaked. “Wake up sunshine! “Whatever…, what time is it?” “It’s 7am, I’m almost at the hotel you lodged in and I need you to kindly prepare before I get to the door and see something I’m sure you don’t want me seeing.” “Get me espresso on your way here…” “Like I need you to tell me that.” Pamela giggled. “One day you’re going to be so drunk on Caffeine you’re going to need Valium to put you back to sleep.” “Well, just in case you don’t know, I was sleeping before you woke me up with your annoying voice.” She snapped and hung up before Pamela could say anything else. She sighed and closed her eyes to rest her head on the vanity trying to get her thoughts together before a masculine hand flung itself over her. “Hey baby…” “Marvin, not now…” she tried to push him away but he pulled her closer and held her trapped beneath him. “I have a Movie Promotion in London by 8.” She protested when he started kissing her. Didn’t this man just know when to stop? Just because she’d agreed to let him lodge with her tonight after his constant begging didn’t mean she wanted him to start acting like he was a permanent boyfriend. “Marvin, you have to leave. Now.” She succeeded in pushing him away and reached for her robe. Hurriedly putting it on with trembling fingers, she avoided his eyes as much as possible. Marvin slumped back into the bed and looked at her. ”It’s still him isn’t it?” Sandra frowned. ”What?” “Bayo. And you’d rather be with him ‘cos he gets you all those contracts, all those things I can’t give you and he doesn’t treat you the way I do.” Sandra was furious. ”I can’t believe you have the guts to say that into my face Marvin.” She went to pick his clothes from the floor and flung it at him. ”Get out! Get out and don’t call me!” “But baby…” “Get the F- out of my room, out of my hotel and out of my life” Marvin didn’t know why Sandra had snapped at his statement and wondered if she was having her terrible mood swings again as usual. But it wasn’t like he hadn’t told her the truth. He was going to give her time to chill off. He was sure before night time, She was going to be calling his cell phone telling him of how she didn’t want to spend another night at her house because Bayo had a way of always getting on her nerves, making her cry and he was sure the same man was responsible for the little bruises he’d seen while she was sleeping after they’d had sex last night. But she would never say. She just liked to act bossy and bitchy when he hit the right notes. He grabbed his boxers and struggled to put it on since he was sure she intended to drag him out as well with the way her eyes threw daggers at him. “You know we can always talk about this baby…” “Talk my a-s. There’s nothing you’re saying to me that I’m gonna sit down here and listen to.” She snapped and went towards the door opening it wide for him to find his way out. Was this how far she was going to humiliate him and herself as well? It was like her moods got better of her whenever she was angry and she often forgot paparazzis could be hanging around taking mental notes of what was going on in the life of a celebrity like her. He threw on his checkered shirt and jeans and pulled on his timberland boots. He hated to admit she was the one who bought him his boots and half of his wardrobe. She’d been the one to pay for their dinner and this hotel where she lodged or probably the benefits of shooting a popular movie in London where she was the supporting actress. He doubted Women in Nigeria treated their Men like she did to him presently. She would come calling, he knew she would. And he would let her suffer a little before he gave in once more. Immediately he stepped out, she banged the door behind him and locked it. He bounced off and dusted it off his shoulders. He had enough cash to keep him for the day. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Sandra sank into the bed and tried to kill the very emotion that threatened to surface once Marvin stepped out of the room. The way she’d been killing every emotion just as Bayo had trained her to do over the years. She knew the reason why she had pushed Marvin out of the room. It was because he had said the truth right to her face. She liked Bayo because of what he could give her and that was why she had agreed to move in with him in the first place. The man himself enjoyed what she could give him. She was the face out there that people loved to see not minding that she was being controlled by a slave master. He dictated what she would do and which show she could go for even if she was reluctant to accept such a role. He was her manager who showed her the way and she knew that without him, she would be on the streets. Where he’d found her. And so, she had to please him, but the times when she felt she would die if she stayed with him one more day, Marvin filled up that space while the b-----d was out in his bar getting drunk and bloated. Sometimes, she just hated the sight of him and couldn’t stand him. Right now, there was nothing to do about it. She had to endure just like she’d been enduring him for 10 years. He’d been the one that was there for her, sending her to school, acting school, getting her the necessary contracts and letting the whole world see that he had her back anytime. He was quite older than her. Divorced and had no kids. She remembered the first time she’d seen him, he’d been so charming, so caring, taking care of her and giving her the assurance that he would do things for her. But after a while, he started getting drunk, he would spend late nights outside, sometimes, she’d see the tabloids of entertainment magazines and news where records of his visit to strip clubs were detailed and out of anger, she would yell at him and he would get emotionally violent and hit her or try to rape her. Options of leaving him often came up but she realized there was no way she could or he’d track her down and hurt her. Or the only people that were dear to her heart whom nobody knew about. She had achieved so much in her life. In the space of 10 years, she’d been a model, featured in some known TV shows that aired internationally, a well known actress in her homeland Nigeria, Ghana inclusive and this new movie that had been shot in London and Nigeria had been one of her major breakthroughs that she’d always dreamed of. Then why after so much achievement, after all of these did she feel like there was so much more to life than what she was presently experiencing? Why did she feel like she hadn’t seen it all? Why did she feel amidst all these freedom that she’d always dreamed of ever since she was 5, she wasn’t fully liberated? Why did she sometimes feel trapped or better still, someone was pulling the strings of her life as a puppet when that was what she’d tried running away from in the beginning? Why did she feel the hole in her heart was getting larger? The knock on the door disrupted her thoughts and she yelled knowing it was Pamela but she had to be sure it wasn’t some psycho who was on the loose for actresses like her or someone who she wasn’t ready to see. Whoever she saw had to come through her Personal Assistant or Manager. They seemed to have had her life sorted out for her better than she did for herself. “It’s Pam, your clothes and your cup of coffee, so please open up.” Sandra noticed her sense of humor and opened up. “I knew you might not open up if I was the only one at the door.” She shrugged and strolled in as Sandra snatched the cup of espresso from her and opened it taking a sip. “Nice.” “You’re welcome.” Pamela said and went to drop her clothes on the bed turning to look at her and at the same time, glancing at her wristwatch. ”Do you know what time it is? I’ve been up since 5 in the morning trying to work on your appointments and send responses to those executives who want you to show up on their red carpet with your co- stars. I had to explain you’re still promoting your new movie “Pink Curtains” but will see you at the premiers tonight. And then your emails keep filling up not to talk of the few fans I have to answer on your behalf ” She looked up to watch Sandra but she seemed to have picked the fashion magazine Pamela had picked for her on the way before coming there. Pamela groaned. Did this woman have to make life miserable for her? She pulled off her trench coat and heels leaving her in a cream chiffon blouse tucked into a black pencil skirt so as to enable her mobility. Maybe if she set the bath running, her boss would be forced to go to the bathroom. Goodness, they were running late and even if Sandra wasn’t going to fire her, Bayo Alade could. “Sandra, we have to be out here by 8 a.m to meet your co- stars.” “What if I’ve changed my mind? I mean what if I don’t feel like? I mean I have a choice don’t I?’ She didn’t bother looking up but kept sipping her coffee and skipping through the pages mumbling some words to herself whenever a particular bag caught her attention. Pamela sighed rubbing her fingers on her throbbing temples. The cons of this job. For crying out loud, was she going to play the role of a psychologist while she played P.A? Just when she was still thinking up her chances of convincing her boss, Sandra stood up, threw the book on the bed and headed into the bathroom. Pamela sank into the bed relieved. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;; Bayo Alade smiled into the camera as the lights kept flashing and he wondered why the woman beside him seemed to be acting stiff and unperturbed as her arms lingered on his waist. They stood as a couple briefly acting like they were happy and though she looked beautiful as usual, he knew she was trying to ignore him and if not for the red carpet movie premier tonight, she wouldn’t even come close to him. He knew she’d lodged in with some guy into the hotel some nights ago and for a while, she refused to sleep in his apartment but preferred the comfort of her trashy lover but he wasn’t going to bring up the topic now. Let her enjoy her night. Let them both enjoy their night of celebration. “You look great.” he complimented briefly as the other actors moved away slightly to take pictures alone. “You’re not so bad yourself.” She replied not even looking up at him. “I didn’t see you last night after the party..’ “Neither did I…” She was about moving away from his side when his grip tightened on her waist so much that she flinched. “Bayo, you’re hurting me.” “You’re not going to leave me without a kiss would you baby?” She knew he wanted to take things the hard way and so she stood still when he planted a hard kiss on her lips. She hated him when he was so dominating and acted like she was nothing more than an object to him, and the way he kissed her like he was reminding her of her roots and how far he’d brought her and so she’d better behave. When he broke free, he smiled. A cynical smile. ”You’re sleeping in tonight with me. Understood?” “Why, your hookers haven’t been satisfying you so well recently?” She smirked when she saw how her response had done well in hitting the right spot and she strutted off going to greet one of her co- stars with a brief hug and taking a picture with him. ‘;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ; “Jeremy just knows how to set the place on fire.” Kristen Stacey the main actress in the movie ‘Pink Curtains’ where Sandra had starred as a supporting actress giggled as one of the actors that starred alongside them as the main actor kept giving hilarious responses to friends that were throwing questions to him about his role in the movie. “I can see that.” Sandra responded and smiled before sipping her vodka and orange. Kristen Stacey was the white woman who had played a best friend to Sandra in the movie even though racism and other dark secrets had kept them apart. Rumors had began to spread that the movie was an award winning movie for Kristen, the Screen writer and the director. Kristen was an American but she had played her role well as a British student with an accent that she’d taken weeks to master very well and the little time Sandra spent with her, She knew she was a pleasant woman to be with. In her early 20s, this would be her first movie award with the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Shailene Woodley, not to talk of the black young girl of 9 years old that had been nominated for an Oscar last year. Sandra began to wonder if winning an award was what was missing in her life. Maybe if she strived towards that, that empty feeling, that cold feeling of loneliness and fear would leave her alone. Maybe she needed to achieve something. Maybe it was the peak of things she needed to aim for. “I heard there’s an after party tonight…” Kristen whispered after sipping her Magarita and winked. ” We get to meet lot of other stars…” “Like Denzel?” Sandra teased. Kristen’s eyes widened and she giggled pushing Sandra gently. ‘You’re so funny.” It seemed Kristen thought everyone was funny and if she didn’t know better, she would have thought she was naive. “You know who I’d like to meet?” “Who?” “George Clooney.” She winked. ”That guy is gorgeous!’ she swooned. “And too old for you.” “Sandra! Who said anything about liking him? I said I’d like to meet him. Maybe act a movie with him or something…” “Oh and then, he’d be your Uncle or your father in the movie except you’re talking behind the scene stuff…” Kristen giggled and shook her head. ‘I’m not that naughty. Talk about Hugh Jackman, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth..” Sandra raised her hand. ”I get it…., goodluck with that.” “Well, well, well…., If it isn’t our great Nigerian actress..” A woman’s snare disrupted their banter and even without looking up, Sandra knew who it was. Her ‘arch’ enemy Demi Reeves, a popular actress who she was sure had more chances than her since her mother was black and her father white and both were citizens. The same woman had been the one whom she had once caught Bayo cheating with at a time when their relationship was almost hitting the rocks. Demi Reeves seemed like she wanted to compete with everything she had and wasn’t going to be satisfied till she was beneath her. Probably because Bayo still chose to stay with her, that must have hurt that He chose her over a popular and pretty actress like her and the fact that Sandra had made it from her modeling career into the acting world. Not many models did. “And I believe you were just passing?” Sandra tried to ignore her. “Infact, I’m here to congratulate Kristen here who seemed to overshadow everybody in the movie.” The biting remark left a bitter taste to Sandra’s tongue but she shrugged not revealing anything. “Thank you Demi. But I couldn’t have done it without the rest of the crew and sweet Sandra here.” Kristen giggled pressing her hands into Sandras’ obviously ignorant of the little misunderstanding between the 2. ” Demi raised an eyebrow. ”Indeed. Don’t get drunk you two.” she strolled off. “Get lost b***.” She mumbled under her breath before smiling at Kristen. Things like that were not worth her time and she wouldn’t let it. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Anu stared at the letter in her hand and tried not to curse and cry at the same time. Never in her wildest dreams would she imagine herself as part of the staff that was going to be relieved of their jobs in the coming year and the cruel director had waited till February such that she’d set down her guards. And now, they were just going to throw her into the street because of some so called problems? Where was she going to start from, how was she going to start picking up the pieces with a child and two parents to take care of? Her mother had told her about this bank job she had taken in the first place and how she had advised she set her hands on something else just in case anything happened and caught her unawares. Well, now that it had caught her unawares, she could almost feel her mother gloat. But knowing the kind of mother she had, she knew she wouldn’t. Her parents were not going to be happy that she’d lost her job. There was only one person she knew must have even been praying for her to get fired. Teniola Ever since she got the job 2 years ago at the time Teniola was 8 and had announced it to the house, she’d seen the fear and anger in her daughter’s eyes because it meant there would be no mummy and daughter time like before anymore. Her mother was going to be the one to fill in for her whenever she wasn’t home and most times by the time she returned, the young girl had gone to bed. Saturdays and Sundays were her only free days though sometimes, something always came up. She missed spending time with her daughter too and she wasn’t surprised many factors were playing a role in preventing her from settling down with the man of her dreams. She’d fallen in love with a young man who had shown interest in her when she was working as a teacher but when he found out she had a daughter, probably from a careless past life, he pulled back soon enough. Then, there was her Managing Director of the bank where she worked who found it convenient to ask her out since it felt like since she had a daughter and that posed as a slim chance for her getting a suitable suitor, it’d benefit her to date him since he was married and had kids as well. She was sure her rejection had incensed him to enroll her name in the list. She couldn’t find enough words for him. The conductor brought her mind back to the present yelling out her bustop for those who were interested in getting down from the bus. “O wa o.” She responded and adjusted her things and her letter into her hand bag and looked out of the window as the sunset orange settled over the horizon suddenly making that area of Lagos look so beautiful. Her mind snapped back to the present when the bus stopped and she hurriedly got down before the conductor had any chance to utter swearing words at her. When she stood at her bustop, she sighed and patiently waited before she crossed the road and began walking down her street. She suddenly wished her life would be beautiful like the sunset orange which she’d observed in the sky as the bus drove by, not ugly and depressing that she wondered how she was going to survive the rest of the month.