Book Excerpt - The Christmas Ultimatum by Unoma Nwankwor

“Mr. Rice. What are you doing here?” she asked, wrapping her arms around herself.
“It’s nice to see you again, Ola. To answer your question, this is my office.” He extended his hand.
Olanma hesitated at first and then took his hand in a firm handshake. The first and last time she saw him, was when he came to visit Zara in New York. She was still sore over Derrick and that day he must have smiled at her funny because she’d let him have it. She was not going to be another girl that he could add as a notch to his belt considering his reputation. Olanma had stormed out without as much as a backward glance. She had since apologized to Zara but didn’t expect to see him here today.

Bloody Chunk by Uche Peter Umez

I knew his kind. I also knew he’d come over to my table, so I didn’t look up when he said, ‘May I?’
‘Enjoy,’ I replied, sipping my drink.

‘Hm, Chapman.’

I turned – yet another lusty playboy, though all I could think of was a bloody chunk. ‘I’m not the kind of woman you’d want to have in bed.’

Short Story - Two-timing by Uche Peter Umez

As Chinedu nibbled on my navel, I couldn’t help thinking about his wife.

‘Can you keep a secret?’ I whispered.

Chinedu paused, studied my face, then scoffed. ‘What secret?’

[Web Series] Waiting... Episode 8

“Hello, Dara speaking, how may I help you?” I was answering my work phone so I added a little bit of fone to it.
“Hello, Dara speaking, how may I help you?” the person responded mimicking me.
“Tayo, I swear, you need Jesus. What phone are you calling me with?”
“I’m in one of our conference rooms, I have jist for you,” she said.

[Web Series] Waiting... Episode 7

“What happened? Did you see a ghost?” Tayo asked as she got behind the wheel.
I couldn’t even bring myself to speak, I was angry at myself for unknown reasons but all I knew was that I wasn’t going to get tangled in another Adeosun web. I guess Tayo got the cue because she dropped me off at home and said to call her tonight if I wanted to talk or she would call me in the morning.

[Web Series] Waiting... Episode 6

The week back at work was brutal; it felt as if I was gone for a year rather than a week with the amount of work I had to catch up on. My only weekend plans involved me not leaving my apartment, a movie marathon and my comfortable college sweatpants. Friday came later than expected but I was still grateful because I hadn’t had any downtime at work since the week began.

Drabble - Unsavoury by Uche Peter Umez

‘How savoury is it?’

Chinelo stopped chewing and turned around to see who had spoken to her.

‘Too much fat,’ the stranger grumbled, scanning the table where the small chops were laid out.

Chinelo stared at the samosa trapped between her fingers and, imagining a speck on her lips, she dabbed it off with a serviette.

[Web Series] Waiting... Episode 5

A week later, we were back in Dallas, relaxed, happy and not so excited about going back to work. We were at baggage claim waiting for Lola’s luggage when I saw Kola walking towards our direction with his fiancée. I knew what she looked like from stalking her Facebook page numerous times and I was surprised to see her because for the whole year Kola and I dated, she never visited or maybe she did.

Short Story - Hotel Rooms and Showers and Sneaking Around Like In a Cheap Movie

By Sifa Asani Gowon

Hand in his thick, wavy hair, he glared at his reflection in the hotel bathroom and hazel eyes stared back, vacant. Steam from the shower fogged up the mirror and ran down in rivulets, making his image appear as distorted as he felt.

[Web Series] Waiting... Episode 4

It was about 5pm that evening and I just wanted to get home since I knew that Kola wouldn’t be able to get to me there because my security was on the lookout for him. I got into my car and started driving home, didn’t even stop to buy dinner, indomie was just going to have to do for that night. I quickly scanned the street before I entered my building’s garage space to see if Kola was waiting for me and I didn’t see him or his car.

[Web Series] Waiting... Episode 3

Tuesday morning, it still felt like nothing happened. I got up, got ready for work, made coffee for both of us and we went our separate ways after several kisses and I love yous. I wanted to be angry but I loved this man and I didn’t know what I was going to do about the situation. I knew what Tayo told me, I hadn’t called anyone to confirm or talk about it because I knew Tayo wouldn’t lie to me but I also didn’t want to believe it.

[Web Series] Waiting... Episode 2

I was so glad we were taking off and finally on our way to our vacation destination. I had had a stressful year with work and every other nonsense I had allowed into my life. I couldn’t help but think about Kola and everything he put me through that year. I had met Kola at a friend, Tolu’s birthday dinner, about a year and half ago. He was introduced to Tolu through another friend who lived in New York and since Kola was moving to Dallas, Tolu was helping him sort of settle in. We spoke for a bit since we were seated next to each other at the dinner and it was a big table. At the end of the night, he asked for my number and that was the beginning of my romance with him.

[Web Series] Waiting... Episode 1

It was 4:23 pm on a Thursday evening and all I could think about was leaving the office so I could get to the spa as quickly as possible. My friends and I were going on a vacation to Cozumel, Mexico and I couldn’t stop thinking of how much fun we were going to have.

Short Story - Call Center Proposal [It is the Will of God]

By Nnandez.

“Good morning. Welcome to to Prytel Wireless. My name is Tunji Lekan. How may I help you?….”

Yes, this is me, back at my job at 2:30 am, a time other normal people would be asleep. Honestly, I must admit that if, say, my father were Bill Gates, meaning I wouldn’t have to work a day in my life (C’mon, seriously, how many of us would bother working if our father was the richest man in the world?), I would probably be awake at this time of the day, making sure that all the clubs in Lagos knew my father has plenty, plenty money. And more money than that.

Short Story - My Baby Left Because I Cried

By Kem Nathan-Gaul

That baby meant so much to me. Luke and I had tried really hard to have a child. We had been married for three years and had two miscarriages in that time. We called them accidents. Maybe Luke felt that by calling them accidents, they would feel less real to me and therefore, less painful. Not true. I smiled and said, “Yes, the accident…”, only because I wanted him to move on and change the subject. Perhaps talk about hockey or one of his patients at the hospital. Finally, that one month when we didn’t hope, pray and wish; it happened. I got pregnant.

Short Story - Love, Sex and Other Things

By Kem Nathan-Gaul

Life wasn’t always like this and I haven’t always been this type of lady. Once upon a time I was young, innocent and calculated. Somehow, at some point, things changed. It was supposed to be a business meeting after work on a Friday night. Peter and I fixed an appointment to discuss how our two companies could work together. Since it was Friday night and also an informal meeting, I thought to pull Lisa along.

Short Story - Still Being Played By The Madam

“Wait Wait.” My husband picks up his phone. “Mrs. Bamidele is calling,” he said still looking at the screen.
I start kissing his ear and trail it down to his neck just the way I know he likes it. “Tell her you’ll meet with her tomorrow, today is our day, now?” I whine as he starts to get up from the sofa.
“Babe you know I have to go!”

Short Story - A Deliverance of His Third Leg

By Tola Odejayi

It was a few minutes short of midnight at the bus stop on the outskirts of town. The late night vendors sat hunched over their wares, their flickering candles and dim bulbs doing little to relieve the brooding darkness. People quickly disembarked from the slowing trickle of buses arriving, and they hurried away to the safety of their houses before the wickednesses of the night came out to stalk the town.

Short Story - Love's Pain Part 4

I was so exhausted from the whole day that since it was Friday and Tunmi couldn’t go to school because of her cut, I decided to take the day off and rest. By 8:30, the house was empty, it was just Tunmi and I in the house and she was still sleeping. I took a quick shower and started the laundry so I could go back to bed. As I lay in bed, I couldn’t help but think about Malaysia.

Short Story : Love's Pain - Part 3

I quickly run out of the kitchen towards the front door with Lolu right behind me and with Fola leading us to where his sister was. I tried to think of what I should have grabbed from the house depending on what happened to her but my mind was too occupied worrying about the safety of my child. Quick glances up the street and I see her bike sprawled on the floor, next to where she was sitting cry.