Welcome to one of the newest features on Ladies' Talk. Lola's Diary details the life of a young black career woman in her search for love. Lola is fictitious name and the details of her diary is also fiction. To contribute ideas to Lola's Diary, please email kemisola_yusuf@hotmail.com  

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July 2002...

Monday - July 1st

Diary, today was quite uneventful again! My whole life is just about work, work, work.... Sometimes I am scared I might never find that one man who I want to spend the rest of my life with. I wake up in the morning and head for work. Then I work all day with men who sometimes forget that I am feminine! And then head back home in the evening...What a Life! That reminds me...there is a new guy in the office today...not bad looking actually...He is supposed to be a new member in my team and reporting to me. I hope those babes in my team don't eat him alive!

Thursday - July 4th

Something quite interesting happened today...the new guy...by the way, his name is Bernard...I don't know how to explain it but I seemed to have felt something charge in the air. Actually, he came over to clarify some accounting procedures and we somehow drifted to talking about other things....He loves watching plays and writing poems. I find that very interesting...very different from most men I have met. Really, diary...I had to catch myself because I was becoming so engrossed that I forgot we were in an office environment...and that I am his boss!

Tuesday - July 9th

Bernard asked me to watch a play with him at the Muson Center on Friday. I've been thinking... reason tells me to thread softly with this guy. My heart tells me to go out have simply have a good time...Hmmm? By the way, Jide called me today...He is in Lagos! I can't believe that he finally came back to Nigeria. I never thought I would see him again. Those funny butterflies in my stomach rose when I spoke to him ... does this mean I am still in love with him? No use hoping for dreams to come true because I am sure he has come home to get married or something. He didn't say much except that he would like me to have dinner with him on Saturday. Seems to be an interesting week?

Friday - July 12th

Diary, I am sure you have been dying for me to give you the gist of my outing! Well, it was went far better than I expected. The play was lovely...well organized. Then we went over to St Elmo's to have some ice-cream. I am really getting to like Bernard. He is older than I am and just finished his masters in the States. We talked about arts, life and our views on almost everything! I had fun... actually laughed a lot more than I have in a long time. I don't know...I just feel so free and easy around Bernard. He makes me act so natural...no need to act up etc. I caught him staring at me a couple of times when he thought I wasn't looking...I wonder what he was thinking... He dropped me off with a little peck... wasn't that so different from most of my other dates! Funny enough...we didn't even discuss work...

Saturday - July 13th 

Dinner with Jide was interesting. I am so worried that I still feel so attracted to him. He seems to want to settle in Nigeria for good. Does this mean we get a second chance at what we thought would never work out? Convenient enough, he doesn't have a girlfriend now but that doesn't mean I should just rush back into his arms! Bernard called to thank me for the evening ...

Monday - July 15th

Why do I feel so funny around Bernard at work? I was actually trying to avoid being alone with him today. Just when I thought I was the only one having dreams about us, he sends me this "Thinking of you" mail. I should actually thread carefully here because our working relationship but my emotions are acting differently. I sent him a mail saying "Me too". I know I shouldn't have but that was how I felt then. I am looking forward to tomorrow... and not because of all the work sitting on my desk...

Tuesday - July 16th

Jide invited me to a housewarming on Saturday. Have nothing scheduled...so I should go. Bernard wants me to attend a poetry recital with him Wednesday evening. I never knew I was an arts person... till now...

Thursday - July 18th

Let's skip how the recital went and go straight to the kiss. Yeah, I have dreamed it many times but it was absolutely much better than I dreamt. I just don't know where this is all leading ...

Friday - July 19th

Unbelievable! Bukky confided in me today that she was falling in love with Bernard. She said they had gone out a couple of times and had got quite intimate. She wanted my opinion on going into a serious relationship with another team member. I was so dumbfounded that I had to ask her to give me time to think about it. WHAT! Infact, I want to believe that Bukky is joking. But why would she? This is serious. I must act not only SMART but FAST. I cannot be taken for a ride!