CHAPTER 1

Anita Baker, a 24-year-old woman, recently graduated from university. She is the first daughter of her parents and has five younger sisters. Her father is a banker, while her mother is a trader. She has a fair complexion, and is beautifully shaped with curvy hips. Among all her sisters, she is the only one with a white complexion, as the rest of her sisters have darker skin tones with some having a fair brown complexion. She resembles her mother but is far more beautiful, which often leads her father to accuse her mother of infidelity. He doubts he is truly her father as she is so white, but her mother has always reassured her that she is indeed his child.

Her father even threatens to run a paternity DNA test on her as he cannot comprehend why she is so much whiter than the rest of her sisters. Her immediately younger sister, Flora, a 22-year-old dark-skinned beauty, also dislikes her even though she is two years older. About four of her sisters harbour resentment towards her except for her youngest sister named Glory who genuinely loves her.

They say blood is thicker than water, but in her case, it seems that water is thicker than blood. Her father, Mr. Joshua Baker, continues to support her education, even though he accuses his wife of cheating on him and forcing another man's child upon him. Nevertheless, he still sends Anita to university to study business administration.

Anita is overjoyed as she completes her final exams and the results are exemplary. Because of her father's constant accusations towards her calm mother, Mrs. Tonia Baker, Anita has refused to enter into any relationship with any guy asking her out. She only goes out on dates but ends up rejecting their proposals.

Her best friend at the university, Temisa Patrick, has also advised her to give love a chance, but she refused. "My father constantly accuses my mother of cheating on him and yet he still goes back to her and gets her pregnant to birth the six of us. Mother says he loves her, but his insults to her daily don't show us that he truly loves her." She spoke these words to her friend when they were in their second year of university.

Guys are vying for her attention, handsome and well-to-do guys, but Anita feels they only want to exploit her. She fears that once they take advantage of her and break her virginity, they will discard her or accuse her of cheating, just like her father constantly does to her mother, pushing her and her mother towards depression.

Anita sits in a private room with her best friend, preparing for their final convocation. "Anita, I am so happy. Finally, we will be leaving this school. I cannot explain how much I have missed home," Temisa says.

"Me too," she replies faintly, knowing it isn't entirely true as she dreads going home and facing her father's constant insults towards her and her mother again. Her three younger sisters, Flora, Esther, and Favour, always try to torment her by calling her an outcast. They are jealous of her looks, even though it isn't her fault.

Anita shakes her head in sadness and Temisa notices.

"What is it, girlfriend? You don't seem to look happy, even though you're graduating as one of the best students today in our university?" Temisa asks, standing up from her seat facing the mirror and walking over to Anita who is sitting on the couch. However, Anita shakes her head again and averts her gaze from Temisa, not responding.

"What's the problem, dear?" Temisa approaches and crouches in front of Anita, although she knows what the problem is, as Anita has told her why she has a general dislike for men and considers them to be scumbags.

"Don't worry, when I get home I can talk to my mother to allow you to come live with us, even if it's just for your internship, until you get a better job to support yourself."

"Thank you," Anita smiles faintly, and Temisa responds, "You're welcome. You know you're like a sister to me, so you don't have to worry or cry much. Graduating with a first class is no joke, so you should be happy, as today is your most blessed day. Come sit here, let me apply some makeup on your face." Temisa pulls her up from her seat and Anita smiles faintly and walks over to sit on the seat facing the mirror in their shared private room.

Anita comments, "You know I don't like makeup," as she sits and watches Temisa open one of her makeup kits and start preparing her brush.

"I know, but today is your lucky day, so you should look lovely when receiving your awards. So no excuses from you, just do this for me okay, as it will make you smile throughout today and lighten your mood."

"Okay," Anita responds, and she looks at her beautiful reflection displayed in the mirror as Temisa starts applying the beautiful brown powder on her face.

Temisa starts on Anita's eyelashes first and after that, she switches to work on Anita's cheeks and nose, applying the beautiful makeup powder. When Temisa finishes applying the makeup, Anita is stunned by her new look in the mirror as she has never worn makeup before. Seeing her new reflection in the mirror, she's speechless as she now understands why Temisa has so many boyfriends.

Temisa is the daughter of a billionaire, as her father works in the Benson Group of Companies. The Benson family is one of the wealthiest in their country. Anita has read about the Benson family and wishes she can work for them, which is why she studied so hard and read day and night to graduate as one of the best students in her university.

Anita has thought of asking Temisa if she could help her ask her father for a job at the Benson Group, but she fears that if she did that, it might seem like she's trying to gain a favor that she didn't earn. It might make others see her as a gold-digger or a woman selling her body to men to gain favor from them. So, she decided against it and chose not to ask Temisa for her father's help again.

"Done now. Don't you see how lovely you look in the mirror, oh my god! I am the best makeup artist here on campus." Temisa fans herself with her hand while Anita smiles at her.

"Don't hype yourself up too much because of me, girlfriend. Yes, you did well but I still don't like makeup," Anita admits.

"Tar, shut up. I'm hoping a handsome guy will see you today and ask you out," Temisa giggles. Everything about her is about guys, as she changes boyfriends every month and she's ruthless when it comes to multiple relationships. She doesn't care what her fellow ladies have to say as she also doesn't believe in love but rather spends time dating different guys. Well, she never admits to sleeping with any of the guys she goes out on a date with, which is something difficult to believe, as she's always seen with different guys, some at the beach, some in a restaurant, and some in a club house, taking different photos with them. Yet, she claims she's still a virgin, after Anita also told her she was a virgin. That was something difficult to believe as Anita didn't believe her either. A virgin is supposed to be calm and keep to herself, so no guy will take advantage of her, but Temisa, she dresses provocatively, wearing short shorts, crop tops, and all sorts of seductive and tempting clothing. She's a dark-skinned beauty, sexy and curvy like Anita, but she isn't jealous of Anita being white and light-skinned as they're in the same department and studied the same course, making them become best friends.

Anita is more intelligent than her, while Temisa is the party-hard type.

"Let's go out now, I'm sure most of our families would have arrived," Temisa says as she quickly packs her remaining things and makeup kits into her box and zips it closed. She has rented the room they stayed in, so they stayed back most of the time in the room even though the school is on holiday.

It's their final year to say goodbye, so Anita takes out all her bags and boxes as she's already going back home after the awarding ceremony. They step out to witness the university's final event and the awarding of the best graduating student.

Anita Baker is called up and awarded a first-class award and recognition for her academic excellence, while Temisa is all smiles as she claps for her friend who steps out from where she's sitting among the crowd of groups of friends and families that attend their convocation ceremony, to go and receive her awards.