WHAT LIES BENEATH
Episode 18
By AMAH’S HEART
“Here… you have to call your Aunty that you’re alre-ady at the bust©p so that she can give you the house number or s£nd someb©dy to get you… the number is not written on the paper.
She nodded, collected my phone and dailed the person’s number.
I guess she has a lot of numbers sto-red in her head.
I watched her in silent dial the woman’s number and asked me to show her where to s£nd the call because she wasn’t used to big phones like mine.
I s£nd the number and gave it to her when it began to ring.
She spoke with the woman in Igbo after introducing herself again and where she was at the moment.
After sometime, she hand the phone back to me.
“She said is number 13. Is not far from the bust©p. Thank you for everything… God will bless you. I will get down here and trek to her place since she said the place is not far from the bust©p. But before I go I want to give you some of the plantain, oil and garri that i brou-ght from the village…
“No…no… thank you Ezi. I can get those things here in Abuja, plea-se don’t… I’m alright. You don’t have to trek to the place, since there’s no taxi around, take a bike instead. This is 9pm, the sign over there says bikes are not allowed into the estate from 11pm…
She waved it off and said
“I’m not taking any okada. All this big city okada will charge too much. I will carry the big bag on my head, Then carry the other two bags in my hand. Don’t worry you will see the way I will carry it. If you know the kind of cas-sava and firewood I used to carry on my head back in the village you will un-derstand that this load is nothing to me.
She opened the door and I followed suit to help her re-move her luggage from the back of the trunk.
“Will you like to have my number… just in case of anything you call me. And you can aswear visit sometimes whenever you’re free…
She interrupted and said.
“Thank you sir. I have been wanting to ask for your number since but I didn’t know how to ask. I thought you will not like it…
I try to get pen and paper in my car to write the number
“,If you cannot find any biro just call it out. I have alot of numbers registered in my head…ones I get phone now I will start putting them inside the phone. I thank God that this my aunty said she has work waiting for me. I will save enough money from the job to buy phone…
I was able to get writing sheet which I used to write the number out for her.
I called a bike man, even with her objection I ignored.
I paid the bike man, told him the street and number she was going to.
It was after the bike man left with her and her luggage I reversed my car and zoomed off into the main road.
I got to my house few minutes pas-s ten.
I was exhausted beyond word, the whole house was stuffy.
The remaining banana that Ezi and I ate and remained went into the fridge.
Other things found their right full place.
I turned on the whole air condition, had a long bath before going to be-d.
I knelt and said prayer of gratitude to God who brou-ght me back safely.
I dozed off immediately my b©dy t©uçhes the be-d.
The rest of the days in the week was super occu-pied for me.
I was mostly leaving early and coming back late
I had lots of piled up work, as I try to get new client which was a bit difficult.
I lost both money and clients within the period that I was away.
Some of the Properties owners collected their as-sets and gave it to another agent.
I was still having some properties left even though taking back what entrusted to my care was another big loose for me but I have learn to be grateful in the little.
The following weekend, I hanged out with chuka.
I gist him how it all went down with Oby. He was dumbfounded. He couldn’t hide his shock.
He also thanked God that nothing happened to me.
It was during the process of relating the whole event to him I mentioned Ezi, that it was the lady that helped me with her friends when my car got stuck in a pothole.
and also one of her friend was among the guys set to beat me up but he recognized me and that was my saving grace.
It was within the cause of our discussion I thought of Ezi fully.
I silently hope she was alright and probably started the job her aunty had waiting for her.
The following week I also buried my head with work.
Within two weeks going to three that I returned I have not been able to lease or sell any property.
Business was indeed looking bad for me no matter how I try and strive to remain afloat I still find myself sinking.
I was stressed out and bec@m£ down, I decided to take a break and rest for sometime.
This was after several weeks of hustling and working ha-rd with no positive yield.
The following week, I had a client who just returned from California and wanted to acquire a pri-vate property for herself.
She was one of the first person serious in doing business with me in months.
Looking at her she was well to do, very pretty and matured too.
I showed her different properties in my care for her to make her Choice.
She finally did and paid off immediately.
She told me six months from now she will get another one for her dad.
She was thinking of gift to give him for his sixtieth birthday she couldn’t come up with anything.
Her Dad has everything, different cars and expensive paid trip and vacations.
The only thing suitable is getting a property for him in Abuja.
She owes some of her success story to him and will want to celebr@te him with something bigger this time.
Her house was worth lots of millions but she wants something more for her Dad in few months from now.
I try to avoid getting close or personal with my clients but I noticed that Stefanie wanted to be close.
She invited me out for dinner after buying her house.
At first I didn’t want to go but since it was a harmless invite and most importantly we still have future business deals.
I have to secure the bag properly because she was a big clients that other agent will want to talk into doing business with.
I went out for dinner and she refused me spending a dime.
She told me about her past relationsh!ps and how she got married to a very rich man in California but divorce him after two years when she realized that she can’t cope with his attitude.
She got richer from the divorce settlement and decided to return back to the country, get one or two establishment before thinking about her next move.
Stefanie was very pretty and rich too. She has a sweet accent and a lovely b©dy.
Most men will not let her sl!poff from their hands but as for me I didn’t want to mix business with plea-sure.
At the same time I didn’t want to loose her due to future business plan we had.
I try to pl@yalong with her.
After dinner d@t£, another weekend c@m£ she invited me out to a fine resort and boat ri-ding.
After then, She one day called me to come over to her house and see how beautifully she decorated it
I knew the whole thing was getting too much but I drove to see her anyway.
The whole place was outstanding. I couldn’t help but commend her taste of styles.
The house had an outside pool, where I sat watching her swim just like she wanted.
I declined the offer to join her but agreed to sit and watch with a bottle of chaddon, a very expensive drink.
Each time, I find myself drawing more closer to her but I kept warning my eyes not to let her get into my head.
She c@m£ out of the water with a bikini, walked to where i sat and k!$$£d me.
“I have been wanting to ask… when do you intend k!ss!ngme, having memorable fun moments in be-d and taking me out for a weekend getaway or don’t you find me attrac-tive enough…
She asked sitting on my l@p and c@r£ss!ngmy che-st.
“,uhmmm… no Stefanie. You’re very attrac-tive and beautiful too…I..
“Shhh, Let’s go inside then and mess up the be-d.
I g@sped out confused as she led me into her well furnished ap@rtment and straight to her be-droom.
She carefully un-bu-ttoned my shi-t and we went on k!ss!ngright on her be-d.
I paused as it was leading to more dee-per intimacy.
What was I even thinking by agreeing to follow her in here.
“Why do you st©p, don’t you want me… because I really liked you Austin and want us to be more than just business p@rtner or whatever you maybe thinking…is more than a month alre-ady. You like me and I liked you too what is the problem? You told me you are not married…or is there another woman somewhere. No tell me…I want to know the reason for your withdrawal. Because is ha-rd to see a full b!own man rejecting my kinda person… tell me what is it?
I ru-bbe-d my two palm together and said.
“Two months ago I ended my almost four years relationsh!p. It was not a nice story to tell so I made up my mind to trade carefully. Sincerely, I don’t think I’m re-ady for another relationsh!pbecause I haven’t fully gotten over the last one. Stef, this isn’t about you but me…I really don’t want you to feel dejected later on. I like you a lot and I don’t want you to feel hurt… plea-se try to un-derstand me…
She took my hand and put on hers th!gh before placing hers on t©p.
“Ofcourse I un-derstand you darlin. How will you know if you’re re-ady or not when refused to give another a chance. Like you said is over two months. I’m not your ex and not after what you have rather I’m re-ady to spend on you. When I like someb©dy I go for him and I have never gotten rejected before untill now but I un-derstand your Stan and will like you to loos£n up and try me out. I’m not like any lady you have had in the past… I’m clas-sic, sophisticated, beautiful and rich. What else can a man want that I don’t have. I want you Austin and I hate to be turned off after coming out open to a man with my intention and affection. You wouldn’t know what you are missing if you don’t try…
She began to ca-ress my b©dy all over again after removing her br@ and flinging it to the floor
No matter how I struggle to stay alert I was loosing it.
I don’t want to do this yet I find myself falling back to her be-d and getting entangled again.
Suddenly my phone began to ring.
That was a saving call.
Whoever was calling was about to save me from this entanglement.
Business or not I’m going to pretend like it was a serious call.
Even as I try to stand she mount on t©p of me and continue with her well learned handwork.
“Stef… Stef…I nee-d to get the call. It could be a client…
I managed to say.
“I don’t care who the caller is, this was the wrong timing for whoever that might be. I can even pay you double of whatever the client is re-ady to offer. I want this moment to be for us alone… Look at me… aren’t you hungry to eat me? I should be enough and nothin else should matter or come before me or my de-sires…
The call ended. I bite myl-ips angrily.
Stef was pla-ying the head, Lord and Chief over me and ma-king me not to have a say anymore.
I don’t nee-d this kind of authoritative woman always want to be in charge but yes I nee-d the business she was offering which is acquiring a property for her father.
Is a whole big deal for me, counting that I haven’t had a fair business ever since I returned from Oby’s village aside hers.
It was because of all of that I’m pla-ying along but I was getting choked up alre-ady.
I don’t know how much I can take anymore.
She was very pretty and all and I like her free spirit but I’m still not re-ady for a relationsh!pwith another woman.
Mentally I’m not re-ady. Women are very unpredictable and I find it difficult trusting any.
Stef can turn out tomorrow to become another nightmare for me.
I want to stay away from anything woman and do not know how to end this whole thing with Stefanie without hurting her feeling which may even make her withdraw the business offer that I was alre-ady counting on.
After some seconds the phone began to ring again.
“That maybe emergency. Just a second sweetie…I will return back to you. Let me just know who the caller is. My house maybe on fire and someb©dy is calling to alert me. My parents maybe in trouble and so many other possibilities. I won’t concentrate with you if I don’t take the call. Is just few second and I will be right back…
She straightened and sat aside.
“Take the call but don’t keep me waiting.
I k!$$£d her ma-king her smile as I rushed to my phone.
It was three missed call alre-ady from a strange number.
I quic-kly called back on the first ring the person picked, a man’s voice.
he asked me to wait so that he can give the phone to someb©dy.
“Hello…is me…me Eziaku. Can you hear me…is me Eziaku. plea-se can you s£nd your address plea-se…I really nee-d your help. It wasn’t what i expected I met here…is a long story sir. plea-se… Can you hear me..
I thought of a way to act so that I can run off from here.
“Okay… okay…yes. yes… you said two cars did what? I will call you the line is breaking. You said acci…what? Oh my God… really..
I ended the call without ma-king it known but I continued speaking like I was on phone.
“Accident…oh what? Accident… How come. Hey…is she ok… is she alive? plea-se I’m coming right away… don’t panic I’m coming now. Which hospital are they taking her to… okay… I’m coming…
I turned and looked at Stefanie
She couldn’t wait for me to drop the fake call when she asked.
“Who had accident…?
I continued with the lie.
“Is my cousin sister. She c@m£ visiting me few days ago and decided to go out today and get things for herself. I just got a call that she was knocked down. I pray nothin happens to her…oh God. I nee-d to run…I nee-d…
I began to bu-tton up and re-adjust myself.
“As much as I hate this unnecessary interruption with pas-sion I still have to let you go because your cousin’s life is involved. I hope she is ok… maybe I should drive you there so that i bring you back here after seeing her and we can spend the night in each other’s warm.
I told her not to worry that let me go first and check on her
Due to the way the caller sounds I can’t predict the situation.
But I will let her know when I’m a bit settled.
I ran off after getting my car key.
That was how i left Stefanie and the premises after she almost lured me to an inti-mate affair.
I called the number again the guy said Eziaku wasn’t with him at the moment that I should call back.
I told him to flash me when Eziaku is around
I waited because I didn’t want to drive back home.
She later called and gave me the necessary information I nee-ded to get to her.
It was quiet a distance to get there. I did not care about that.
I was relieved to be out of Stef claws as I also wonder on Eziaku’s distress call.
Tbc