John turns to the door realizing who just walked in, his face a mask of anger, so was his ”Oh, speak of the devil” he says shaking his head ”I call his name and he shows up out of nowhere like he owns the place. And what is even more laughable is the fact that you suddenly called her ”your Boss”, like since when did you both become chummy-buddies. Your Boss? Now you come to defend her honour when you have been the one tarnishing her image since you came here, and as if that is not enough , you dare to cross boundaries and yet you tell me I am the one crossing boundary by speaking to your Boss that way, like.. are you out of your mind Brian eh? Because I believe you are. I do!!!’ he says
Brian is still at the door, his eyes darts to me, I shake my head, telling him to calm down mentally.
If only mind reading was an actual thing. He looks away from me; his gaze rests on John, his eyes dimmed.
”John, again, did you just speak to my boss like that, in that manner, in that tone?”
”It is like you are mad!!” John flares up
Brian has a silent smile on his face as he shakes his head, he rubs his lips slowly with his head bent, he shakes his head again..he takes a slow step towards John ”Oh John, you really do not want me to repeat that question. I am trying so hard, so hard to be calm…but..you aren’t helping me, you aren’t even helping yourself. Again, did you just indirectly insult my boss?”
”Thunder eh? Will fire you. I repeat you are mad Brain the he-goat,” he repeats pointing his right index finger at him, shaking it in his anger.
His eyes as been seeing red ever since he overhead the conversation between Brian and Ikena, about her wearing his shirt and he had walked in and saw her the next day.
Adora was definitely in his house, Brian’s house and in his shirt? That only meant one thing.
They were fxxking each other.
Since when? When did that happen? One minute they were like cats and dogs and the next they were lovers? In what century did that happen? When?
Or did they always pretended to hate each other but in reality they always liked each other? Or, somewhere between the fights and banters and the swords flying over head they found a mutual ground of likeness.
How was that even possible? They went from 0.01 hate to sleeping with each other, that was likeness 2.0
What the fxxk?
What the actual fxxk?
Damnit!!!!!!!!!
”Infact Brian, you are more that mad. You are a bastard, a conniving corny bastard!! You have no place in this company; neither do you have one in this office or close to her. Who gave you the audacity, the effrontery, the liver, chei God!!!” he touches his head as he holds it.
He wants to explode out of hate for this guy.
It wasn’t enough that he came and moved everyone’s attention (which wasn’t much) from him to himself. The little prestige he had in the company as the Go-To-Guy was gone since Brian came.
All the ladies flocked around Brian wanting to kill themselves over him. Every office or cubicle he walks into that there are ladies, it is always about Brian this, Brian that….oh-sexy-hot-fine-Brian.
He is sometimes tempted to smash the ladies’ head to the wall.
Then when he is with the guys, with the exception of Peter, every other guy wants to be like him. They are either talking about how well he dresses, how classy he looks, his shoes and his swatch.
It was unbearably annoying.
If that the girl Peter was pinning for wasn’t into Brian, he was sure Peter would like the guy too.
Boma? That was another story. He is all praises for the guy since he told that Layefa dude that Boma was the best at Tech.
Fool!!! The layefa guy still asked that Brian should tag along.
Everyone simply has likes him, what was so likeable about the fool Brian. Nothing.
He has a pretty face? So what. He works out? So what?.
He, John wasn’t bad either, and if not because of Brian, all these girls would love him …they would, if they all came down from their high Trojan horse and stop pretending like he isn’t worth the chase that is.
But that is just part of his anger.
Why the hell did he not just die, why the hell did Frank mess up..why?
Damnit!!!
If he had his phone still with him, he would have called up that fool to give him an explanation on what the hell happened.
But no phone, no fool and still a bigger fool here staring at him.
What’s worse, is the fact that the lady he had begun eyeing is the same one he, Brian went behind his back and is having…
Argh!!!!
John folds his fist..
Why Adora why? Of all people why him? Why Brian.
He had been the one who has been nice to her when that fool was nothing but an ass to her, a literal pain in the ass.
He has been the one trying to make sure she felt okay and comfortable when she came, making sure things were done when she wanted, attended to directives from her when this…fool of a Brian refused to take up his post as PA ..
He had been the one who offered to take her home, spending his money to go pick her only for that fool to attack him instead and forces his way to take her home.
He had been the one to help her clean up the mess Brian the he-goat put her in. he had been the one nice to her, really nice to her from his heart.
Him, him…HIM!!!
But what does he get? To be looked away from only to stare at that fool?
Why him Adora? How, when…why? Just why.
He thinks to himself,
So that fool Brian has touched you, kissed you, made love to you and had you already when he was wishing to taste her and have her for himself.
Brian already had her?????
Argh!!!!!
He was angry, so angry he could damn the consequences and rush the maggot who is staring at him.
His Boss? His boss?
The one he, Brian already screwing. The one he, John should be screwing.
The one he was trying to soften her up to stand by her side so she depends entirely on him. But as usual, pretty he-goat Brian turns from hater to lover…
And he shouldn’t hate him? He shouldn’t try to smash his head to the wall behind him and pray it squashes into a mass of nothing but blood and condensed cells?
He shouldn’t look for ways to make sure that he suffer, and suffer so much pain he can only imagine and beg to never feel again.
Why Adora?
He had liked Adora, since the first day that he laid eyes on her going by her house to drop documents that that fool refused to take over. He had known then and there that he wanted her for himself. She was so beautiful he could make out the way her curves would look within that silk she wore to come out in the morning. She was a breath of fresh air, she was just the kind of girl he wanted for himself,…and despite knowing she was his Boss and his superior albeit in another department, he knew getting close to her was a priority , and he had jumped at the offer when she asked for help and when she met Brian whom he had met only a few days before when he resumed and the nonchalance attitude he pulled when he came, he already hated him and he had been too happy to see that she hated him too and elated to see that they both hated each other, clawing at their throats and eyes and wanting to make sure they were apart and never under the same roof…
Now, out of the blue…. Just when he thought she was like the rainbow in his raining sky.
She is wearing his shirt, probably after a round of sex, even Ikena saw her in his shirt. It meant that they didn’t care that someone found them in that state…
Argh!!! He winces in pain, his chest was hurting out of anger..
Brian comes here, into this company and all he has succeeded in doing is making a fxxking name for himself, the guy everyone loves…
Except him, and Mr Emeka.., apparently because he isn’t obviously in Mr Emeka’s good books else Mr Emeka wouldn’t ask him to keep an eye on the fool and make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid when they went to that Layefa’s IT company, and he was happy to oblige him.
So it was two against one, it should do.
But somehow, Brian succeeded in making even fat fool Layefa like him enough to sign him up for the program, picking him. Mr Emeka wasn’t happy about it. But it wasn’t his fault, how was he to know that the fool was kinda smart, Tech smart.
Hell!!!!
Brian has too many surprises rearing up, and it wasn’t good. No it wasn’t.
And he had had such good plans to wipe the smirk off his face, and Frank was going to take care of it, but what does Frank do?
Mess up!!!
Allowed the dead to rise …
Oh,. He would send the dead back to where he came from. Yes!!! Frank must have failed, maybe his boys were amateur, maybe Brian had God smile on him.
Or ,maybe Ikena has a hand in this somehow , he could smell it. That attack in the toilet wasn’t normal, no it wasn’t.
Ikena wasn’t just an ordinary driver, he could swear it. His choice of words he used when asking him questions, his strength, wasn’t just that he was strong, it was the way he channeled it to towards him, he was tactful, precise.
And his anger, it was personal, too personal for just a driver and Brian his passenger.
He has to get to the root of it. Something wasn’t right, not, it wasn’t.
He needs to find out who Ikena is, who he is to Brian and their connection and how the hell he got whiff of frank..
And how he knew about the attack and to connect him to it. He can’t be just a driver to have access to that information, where did he get tech from to trace it to his number. How..
And Brian asking him if he had gotten information on the attack..
Or wait, was he a cop?
No!!!! no.
Whatever the situation is, he needs to get rid of Brian, the more he is around him the more he keeps fxxking up his life, making it miserable, making him less visible..
Brian needs to be messed up big time and he needs to do things himself, Yes!!!!
He just has to look for a way to talk to MR Emeka, there has to be something to do to him to make sure that he is gone and gone forever. Even if it means him writing on his tomb stone himself and pouring in the last dirt of the earth on his coffin and tell him to go screw himself in hell. He would. He would.
Brian has not only stepped on his toes, he has taken her, the one he wanted for himself, and that..that was fxxking painful. It hurt like hell. It hurt like burning coal.
Oh, he needs to think of a better plan.
Frank fxxked up.
But he wouldn’t , no.. Brian has to pay for usurping his status in the company and then for getting with the lady he liked…
This just doubled his hate. He hates him sooo much he wouldn’t mind running a knife through him himself right now.
Oh, you just wait Brian, you just wait..
The plan I will have for you, it would be something that you wouldn’t be able to come out from, no!! and dead men don’t talk.
”Brian, Brian Andrews!! You are mad!!!” John repeats again, his hands folded in a fist. He cannot contain his anger, neither can he control his mouth. He simply refuses to.
I flinch. This wouldn’t end well if I do not step in.
Brian, Brian wouldn’t be able to control his anger for so long, and I still didn’t want a face-off between both men, not on my account and most importantly , I didn’t want one on Brian’s. Besides, this was my office, I would get a query from Mr Emeka, …and worse, asked to explain what he met by his questions.
”I swear eh Brian…if your mama born you well eh, interrupt me again!!!”‘ he challenges him
”John!!” I say sternly ”I will not have you talk to me rudely in my office and ask me stupid questions. Who the hell do you think you are, why would you come into my office and speak to me that way? I will run this by Mr Emeka, in the main time, get out and do not come back until you have a letter of apology signed by you and by Mr Emeka” I point to the door ”You will not insult or talk to my PA like that either, what is the matter with you, what has his mother got to do with this ? what?”
John stares at me incredulously ”You can’t be serious Ma’am, I mean you cannot be actually serious . So because I ask you a direct question it is speaking to you rudely? I only asked you Ma’am what is wrong with you , I haven’t even yet asked you the real question and you are calling it an insult? Okay, let me ask you the direct question Ma, what the hell is going on between you and that fool standing by the door and you call it insubordination?” he points to Brian.
I blink ”What the hell is that supposed to mean John?”
”what it means, what is going on with you both? Because I know something is, I know it. So what is going on between and the bastard by the door?” with his finger still pointed to Brian, he looks at me.”
”Have you gone mad? What kind of question is that?”
”The kind of question that need answering …so will you tell me or you would tell Mr Emeka the answer to that question.?”
Oh, spill it Adora, spill it. Tell me how you were screwing the guy and ended up in his shirt that a fxxkign common driver sees you in it.
Dammnit!!!
”You will not ask me such a stupid, uncalled for and totally absurd question. You have crossed boundaries and you need to apologize to me for even seeking to ask me that.” I point at him, anger in my eyes, but within…
Dear Lord, how did he know.
He laughs annoyingly ”Me, you are the one crossing boundaries or rather allowing a fool to step in where he shouldn’t ever dream to. Me, crossing boundaries? Madam…I do not think you understand what that means”
”John I will not have you insult me, and Yes!!! You really have overstepped. What audacity do you have to question me that way, and why would you even think about something like that. You dare to ask me what is wrong with me? Since when do we have a relationship like that that warrants you to talk to me like that?” I scream at him. Brian is quiet, too quiet.
”Madam!!! I will speak to you the way i want because it is as if you do not know your place. Of all people to have a thing with it is him, this church rat, this displaced human being. Him,..of all people and then you think you are alright? After all the tantrums and bickering your guys have done and I thought, infact everyone thought you both hated each other but nooooooo, all I see now is you both getting all chummy that he calls you his boss. Where the hell did that come from eh? So you both was just pretending all the while right? Acting like you hated each other but in reality you both probably have more platonic feelings towards each other right?”
He gets angrier, it is evident…
“Of all people – of all people. You choose him?” he shakes his head ”Something Ma, is really wrong with you. All he has done is ruin your day, and yet you…” he exclaims ”something is really wrong with you Ma to follow this mannerless person whose mother obviously had too much times on her hands stroking her husband’s balls she forgot to teach him some sense. He lacks it, and he must have gotten hiss senselessness from his mother too, and it is surprising because I expected more from you Ma with your class and poise and your…I-do-not-take-nonsense-from-no-condescending-fellow-named-Brian,…now you are the one talking it, pun intended, literally from him like a starved horny person who sees clean and better guys but choose to go after the scum of the earth. See why, I cannot even understand you ma…with your class and prestige, you acted like a common, cheap, prostitute and-”
He didn’t finish.
Before I could blink, Brian has his hands around John’s collar and with one quick move he smashes him to the wall as he lifts him up against the wall, he speaks, but his voice is quiet, very quiet that I cloud hardly hear the words as he speaks, I gasp and rush round the table to them, touching Brian’s hands..
”Drop him down Brian!!!”‘ I exclaim
”You asshole, you fxxking asshole, you …you-let me down, let me go, you maggot!!!!” John spat.
But Brian holds his tighter, causing him to wince in pain and he struggles to let go. John continuous to scream at him, I am afraid the staff will hear and come rushing in. ”Let me go you bastard!! I will make sure you regret this I swear! Let me go damnit!!!” he struggles more, now I am afraid more for him now..
I turn to stare at Brian, I see him vibrate in quiet anger. i had seen Brian angry before, especially when he and John are at it, and it is usually when John tests him, but right now, this anger was different.
Fear grips me.
Brian flexes his jaw, I see the vein pop out and then go back.
”Brian, put him down right this minute!!” I order but he ignores me, John is spitting more venom.
”Brian!!!!!”
He isn’t listening to me, no, his eyes are on John ”I can tolerate you insulting me, getting all up in my face with whatever you are. But I will not, absolutely will not seat back and listen to you insult my mother, no. don’t go there, don’t even dare repeat that because it would be your face I would smashing to this wall….”
”Let me go you bastard!!!!” John chokes
Brian moves him out and then slams him again to the wall, John groans, I let out a tiny scream..
”Bastard!!!!”
Brian takes him out more and slams him harder, the wall shook..
”Jesus Brian!!!!” I gasp in fear. The anger in his eyes is too real, I almost felt the heat radiating from his body.
He speaks quietly, through his teeth.
”And another thing John, that would be your first and then your last time you dare to talk to Miss Adora like that. Your last!! ”
”Brian ” I touch his hands ”Please let him go, you do not need this…to disrupt the change you have begun in you, it’s not worth it, I can handle it”
”fxxking Bastard!!!” John chokes from the wall he is been raised against..still struggling to be let go off, Brian held him tighter, his muscles twitching.
God knows I haven’t seen him this mad before, and I am not sure I want to again.
If only John would just shut up. I felt like slapping John myself, maybe now I understand the reason why Brian wants to shut him up every time he rears his ugly head. John was annoying, I never knew how much until today and …right now, John deserves to get the shaking up of his life talking about someone’s mother like that, I wouldn’t let it slide if it were my mother, but still..
This was a company, this was my office, and the work ethics doesn’t involve washing personal linens outside, much less tolerating fights.
And I did not want the management getting whiff of this, Brian already has a dent to his image because, well, he must have stepped on Mr Emeka’s toes and he isn’t too pleased about him being here. And well, he stepped on mine and I made sure to let Mr Emeka know I wanted him away from my office and the company , but that was before I got to know him, and maybe want him more around than i have ever wanted any one.
So this- this would be bad for Brian if Mr Emeka would get word of his exchange with John, it would just be another push he needs..
Whatever issues Mr Emeks has with Brian, I do not know but..it sure runs deep. Brian doesn’t need another reason to give to Mr Emeka to accelerate his push through the door. I do not want him to leave, not even on my account because he was trying to defend my honour.
And if, if…it gets to Mr Emeka that we possibly may be having something together,. It may also jeopardize my work here. And I have worked hard to get to the place I am, I wouldn’t want some office love affair to be the reason I got fired, or he got fired.
But, where the hell did John get that from? Who told him? How did he know?.
Aside me and Brian knowing I was in his house, no one else knew.
Well, everyone knows I go there to work on the client’s designing with Brian, but they do not know we have…well..a-kind-of feeling towards each other least having a thing with each other, least sleeping over. So where the hell did John get that from?
Was he following us?
Or did Ikena tell him?
It wasn’t me, and …Brian and him aren’t exactly chatting buddies to spill such mushy details.
Was it Ikena? But why would Ikena tell him, he wouldn’t right.
Oh this was bad, this was really bad..
”Brian let him go please” now I begged.
He turns to me, for a moment, actually realizing I was standing close to him and my hand on his arm, he looks into my eyes, I hope he reads the fear in them.. then his hard eyes wavers for a second.. then he looks away, I literally see him taking a deep breathe, he closes his eyes for a tiny breath of a second and then opens it.
I see him struggle with control, then a more seconds pass, I see him relax, so did his features..
He turns to John, looking at him intently ”The only reason I am not going to really make you regret everything you have just said right now is because of her. But by God John, by God…I beg you to refrain from such vulgar words towards me, towards my mother and especially towards Miss Adora. Today you are lucky, and today…I really do not want to take ten steps backwards when I am already moving forward. So please, please do me this favour, you stay out of my way as I stay out from yours. I offered you a hand of friendship but you refused it and you spit on it on a daily,. I do not want to be friends with you, not anymore. There is something seriously wrong with you and I only hope that you get help because you need it, for real. Whatever bad blood we both have towards each other should have evaporated. I am still surprised how it became from water to thick black liquid. i came here to work, I may have not liked it here and maybe did whatever just to bail, that was then. This is now. I will not allow you jeopardize my good intentions towards everything here, no john I will not.
So let me repeat again for emphasis; if my being here upsets you in anyway, I am sorry. If my attitude when I first came sort of thwarted the pyramid you had of yourself here, hell, I am sorry. If I, in anyway made your life unbearable or made you a shadow to the glow you had here, whatever it was, I am sorry. If my smile pisses you off, I am sorry. Fxxk!! If you do not just like me just because, heh, I am sorry. But I am not sorry for being this me right now, I am not sorry for trying to change, I am not sorry for trying to make things right, I am just sorry that you choose to hold on to things that don’t make sense and fights and quarrels that I have come to realize was totally immature and uncalled for and if I have instigated you to feel anyway that caused you to act out, really act out. I AM SORRY JOHN. But this is where my apologies end. I won’t keep apologizing to an obnoxious ass who isn’t ready to let bygones be bygones especially when I didn’t exactly do anything to him directly on purpose. That is the truth. I had nothing against you from the start, the people I directly lashed out were Miss Adora and Mr Emeka and My Fath-”
He pauses, I look at him, wondering what he was about to say, and why it sounded like he was about to say his father.
He shakes his head and then continues ”This is where my apologies end with you John. And I won’t apologize further; I never did anything to you, Never!. So if you want to continue with this behavior, fine. Go ahead, everyone is entitled to their opinions and as well as their actions, but I beg , I really pray that you leave me out of it, leave my mother out of it and as well as Miss Adora. ”
He lets him go and steps backwards, John crumbles to the floor, and then raises himself up, his eyes in slits as he stares at Brian, me and then back at Brian.
”If you think your-”
I walk to John ”Get out!!!” I stay sternly as I grab his shoulders as I push him towards the door.
He looks at me as he gets there ”You were with him..why him?”
”Who told you that, where in the world did you get that from huh?” I shout at him
”You deny it? Or it is the truth?”
”Get out John and stuff your questions in your rectum” I point to the door ”The next time you come into this office, you better be holding a letter of apology..or you do not cross my part. I want you off my team, I will speak to Mr Emeka to take you back to your department, I thank you for your help. But I do not think it’s a good idea to work under me again”
”Because of him, you chase me out because of him?”
I step closer ”No, because your attitude stinks John, simply that. Get out from my office John Efegor.”
He throws a look at Brian, who is stairing at him, then he looks at me.., without another word, he turns and walks away, slamming the door in my face. As soon as he leaves, I cover my face with my hands..
”crap crap crap!!!!” I repeat
I feel his arms around me
”No Brian, no!!!” I push him away
”Adora!!!”
”No Brian…stay away. This is all wrong , all wrong. Where did he get that from, how did he find out..this could cause me my job, both our jobs. This could ruin my reputation. Dating a colleague, and worse my junior staff. Do you know what that means?”
”Adora?”
”No Brain, this was a mistake, it was. I think we should..-‘
”What?”
I look at him ”I think we shouldn’t have even thought about it and then …”I trail off, he steps away from me
”So you are breaking up with me?”
”What do you want me to do? Just imagine, we have only begun dating for a weekend and see how the wind blew it to the walls who have hears and he, John comes up and see how he insulted me, insulted you..insulted your mother”
”And I set him straight, I won’t allow someone disrespect you, nor my mother”
”Well that is the problem”
He frowns ”I should seat back and let a mad man disrespect my woman and the woman who gave birth to me? Are you fxxking serious right now Adora?”
”Don’t you dare speak to me like that” I point at him
”Then stop thinking like that. Why would you think I would let it go. I won’t. Even if you weren’t my girlfriend, I will not allow a man who has little respect for himself disrespect a lady. I have respect for my mother and I love her immensely, and I have begun to care for you too Adora, you can ask me to do anything else I will, but don’t ask me to do nothing when you are been hurt verbally and otherwise.”
I sigh ”Did you realize how angry you were, did you see the way you manhandled him?”
He turns away and then rubs his mouth ”I know I can lose control sometimes and let my anger take over me but…you saw him, I was literally trying to control myself but he was just pushing and pushing and I lost it”
”And you don’t need that,..you were trying to be a better person, so be a bigger person next time and walk away, take the higher road. Whatever hate he has for you right now as intensified even more”
”He wants you Adora, that is what I see here, that is his anger, not that the social media boss is having a thing with her PA, is that the social media boss he wants for himself is having a thing with the PA he hates”
I am shocked ” And why would you think something like that, he is just angry-‘
”Adora , I am a man. We know when someone has their antenna on for lady”
”that’s not possible. He has just always been a nice guy and all up until today”
”He has always been a nice guy because he was hoping to get with you Adora, it’s rainbow clear.”
”I don’t think so, he is just angry. How can he like his Boss, I am technically”
Brian chuckles ”I think that doesn’t count. You are my Boss and I , your PA, literally your errand boy, two to three levels down, and yet, you are my girlfriend right? ”
I stare at him
”Right?’
”Brian?”
”Come on Adora, you can’t possibly break up with me, over that? Okay, I am sorry, I would walk away next time, I wouldn’t let it get this far. Please, this means a lot to me, for the first time-”
”So you are guilt tripping me?”
”Adora????”
I sigh ”I really love my job”
”So its priority over feelings right?”
”Brian?” now I call his name ”You can get fired, John hates you, Mr Emeka isn’t your biggest fan. You don’t need me to add pepper to injury”
”I can take care of myself “‘
”Great, you can take care of yourself. who will take care of me when you are gone?” I say without thinking
He walks to me, touching my hand
”No…Brian” I tell him shaking my head
He pulls me to himself despite my reluctance
”Briannnnnn”
”Please, don’t kill something about to be beautiful because of this”
”You don’t know that, you don’t know anything Brian” I try to pull away, he doesn’t let me go, he tries to peer into my face
”I know I want you, I know I want this and I know I would rather let go of my anger and dine with the devil just to prove that I will do anything to make sure I do not threaten our relationship again.”
”Brian?”
”No Adora, let me talk. I like you a lot, a whole lot than yesterday and I like you more each passing minute. I want this, I want u..us..this”
I am staring at him ”it’s against the company’s rules, our jobs-‘
”Fxxk the company”
”Stop swearing” I jab him with my finger, I go back counting the buttons on his shirt
”Fxxk that too” he chuckles
I had to smile ”You are stubborn”
”For what I want, yes. And you are beautiful” he caresses my face, his eyes boring into mine.
I smile again ”You know you aren’t helping the situation right, saying that, looking at me like that, touching my face like that” I sink into him as he holds me tighter
”Yes, the idea is to confuse you with my charm, get you to do anything I want” he brushes my lips with his thumb ”is it working?” his voice is quiet.
I swallow…”Maybe, a little . Yes!!”
He smiles before he leans in to kiss me ..
”No Brian” I turn away ”This would be bad for us and-”
”Ssshhhh..come here” he turns my face to his and then captures my lips in a kiss.. I dissolve in his arms..
After a few minutes he talks against my lips, ”See, this is all that matters, nothing else does. This moment, these kisses, the way you cling to me and I you. The smell of your air, the scent that comes from you, the way you taste in my tongue, the way my heart pounds with you near… the way you call my name when you groaned that night…even without all of you, I want this, I want you..now, tomorrow, for as long as it takes…so this is all that matters..this…right now..you Adora!!” we kiss again
”And we need to get back to reality and deal with the issue at hand, of how he found out, what if he tells Mr Emeka..that-”
”That what? that we are sleeping with each other ? Like what if he comes to ask you?” he cuts me
”Yes.. what do I then do?’
”Tell the truth!!”
”What?” I pull out to face him, he has a mischievous smile on his face
”What?”
”You aren’t serious are you?”
”Actually I am!!!” he says pulling me back to him and walking towards the table, he perches on it and then pulls me between his legs
”Why would I do that?”
”Just tell the truth!!”‘
”That what, yes we are..having a thing?”’
” He may want to know if we are screwing each other..” Brain shrugs ”Maybe he wants to get a high from it” he laughs
”Not funny”
”Okay okay, not funny but for real though, if John tells him, the next question would be…are you both sleeping with each other?”
”And?” I ask him
”Are we?” he throws back at me
”what sort of question is that?” I frown
He smiles ”Work with me princess, technically, we haven’t had sex…” he says..i blush, then I turn red ” So if he asks if we are sex-ing each other. We aren’t, your answer is no!! get it?” he finishes
Now I understand ”You think you are smart Brian Andrews”
”No baby, I am smart and technically, you wouldn’t be lying, even if you were put infront of a lie detector”
”Wait, he would do that?” I open my eyes wide
He laughs ”Ofcourse not, I don’t think so. This isn’t the military baby, it’s just a company with its code of conduct, don’t get dramatic” he laughs kissing my cheeks
”Oh Brain, not funny. I don’t see why you are making light of it”
”Let tomorrow worry for itself. Don’t worry, we would cross the bridge when it comes, for now…I just don’t want this getting ruined because of that, I rather I face that and keep this than lose this..”
I smile ”You make it hard ”
”I know” he pulls me back into a kiss
A knock separates us quickly from each other..
”Mr Emeka wants you both in his office now Miss Adora” this was the Tombra as she opens the door and puts her head in.
I exchange looks with Brian, I swallow and turn to her ”Thank you, we would be there shortly”
She looks at him and then back at me, her eyes settles back on Brian, there is a frown on her face before she closes the door.
We don’t say anything for a few seconds..
”Breathe babe, just breathe” he says, I realize he is back to standing infront of me right now.
He pulls me towards the door and the opens it and ushers me outside, he whispers behind me as we stand infront of his door, I knock and hear his voice ushering us in…
”Breathe princes, it’s us two, remember that” he takes my hands to his lips and the brushes my knuckles before he drops it, putting his hands into his pocket.
I say nothing , because I have nothing to say.
I open the door and then step in, with him walking in behind me, Emeka looks up, his eyes angry..
*
”Did you just see what I just saw?” Tomiwa nudges Tombra
”Yes, and when I went to call them that Mr Emeka was calling them, it looked as though I just broke them away from doing something they shouldn’t be doing. ”
”So you think, you think that she is the one he zoned out on thinking about her when we were talking to him earlier?”
”I don’t know. But…look at the way he kissed her hand..why would he do that? I mean, he hates her, she hates him right?” Tombra doesn’t understand it
”I know right?”
”When he comes out, I will ask him, he can’t like her, maybe, may-”
”He just felt like kissing the hand of the lady he detests?” Tomiwa laughs ”My dear, there is something up with those two jor..”
”That wouldn’t be fair, it wouldn’t be” Tombra frowns ”when he gets out, I would ask him what was he meant by doing that”
”I too would like to know what he has to say too”
”Look at them, busy bodies” Temi says to them as she folds her hands coming to stand infront of them, blocking their view.
”Mctheeeeeww!!” Tombra sighs loudly ”’look here Temi, don’t start, not now..” Tomba warns her with her index finger before she gets up and pushes her away, Tomiwa sighs and follows her friend.
”Temi not now!!”‘ she mimics her ”Nonsense’!!!” she walks away going back to her desk. ”where the hell is that John sef, since morning?” he wasn’t at his desk, infact he hadn’t been anywhere.
*
”Hello, excuse me, is something wrong?” Ikena taps the table to get the attention of the receptionist who is distracted by the man who just walked to the table, he points at the picture he gave to the young man ”This picture, have you seen him?”
The reception turns to him and then back at the picture, his eyes darts to the man standing there waiting to be attended to..
Why the hell does he look awfully familiar …
And this picture…
Why did it seem as if he has seen that face; the man’s eyes, his eyes were awfully cold and yet familiar, like he had seen him before. But he isn’t sure.
He frowns deeply…he could swear he has seen this person before, but where.
He looks up at the man standing beside the man who gave him a picture, he is surprised, because, he didn’t remember lodging in a visitor who looked like that, so why did he come down from the stairs..who was he..
Why did those eyes look so similar with the eyes of the man in the picture?
”Hello?” Ikena taps impatiently ”it’s a simple yes or no Sir..” he says ”I do not have all day, have you seen him?”
”He probably needs glasses ” the deep voice chuckles
Ikena turns to the man beside him; he seemed elderly, with grey temples and an afro and beards complimenting the slight grey dancing at the edges.
Ikena turns away from him, as he replies ”Maybe he does need one”
The receptionists is looking at the man beside him, Ikena turns back to look at the man again, wondering what the receptionist is looking at.
”One moment Sir” he holds his index finger up at Ikena as he directs his words to the man beside him ”Sir, I am sorry but, how did you get into the premises without going through the front desk and yet you are coming down from the stair case?”
”You are kidding me right?” Ikena says to the receptionist ”Can you please look at the picture to see if you know who that guy is, if you have seen him and then if he is here, it is a yes or no so i can get out of here!!!!”
The receptionist ignores Ikena, how did this old fart get into the building ”Sir, how where you able to pass through here and i didn’t see you? Who are you? And if you came to see someone here what room is the person staying so i can confirm your visit, because i do not remember you checking in and i also have been on duty all day. So?”
The elderly man with the grey ends looks at the receptionist, he smiles..Chaplan obviously did a good job, even the fool for a receptionist couldn’t recognize him, he smiles more, deepening his voice slightly..
”Sorry Son, you were busy with the stranger when i came and i had to use the men’s room, someone directed me to one upstairs”
”Visitor’s convenience is on this floor not on the first Sir, you didn’t answer the question”
”You have got to be kidding me” Ikena says, calm down man, don’t lose your temple, the guy is just trying to lose his job ..he tells himself.
But he has no time, if Frank or Vampire isn’t here, he needs to check other places people said they had seen the car…
”Sorry Son”
”I am not your Son Sir, there is a reason the reception is there to attending to walk in customers, you do not just walk into a hotel and go upstairs because someone directed you without first approaching the desk”
”You do realize you are speaking to a guest, what if i want to rent a room…is that how you will talk to a paying customer?” The man asks
”You aren’t one now Sir..and i will not allow someone make me lose my job, do you know what would have happened if my boss was to find out a strange guest was in the hotel without identification or lodge properly..i do not want any trouble” the receptionist says
Oh, but you didn’t think of that when you accepted cash to let me use your conference room earlier.. Money lover. Ignorant fool.
”Very well, My name is …”
”You know it would only take a second to give me an answer” Ikena is impatient as he flicks the picture still in the receptionist’s hand…”Only a damn minute”
The receptionist turns to Ikena notices his change of tone, realizing that the man before him is angry..
”I do not know, he looks familiar, strangely so” he admits rubbing his jaw , ”i just can’t place where i have seen this face, he looks like someone i know or have seen, recently..maybe it’s his eyes… but, i do not know, he looks different…with hair and mustache ..i do not know. Maybe it’s just my mind playing tricks on me” he says shaking his head
”Think Man, think!!!”
He frowns staring harder ”I can swear he looks familiar but i do not know where i have seen him, i am sorry” he hands the picture back to Ikena who takes it
”Maybe i can help you with that” The elderly man says turning to Ikena ”I have an eye for people, maybe i can help you with that” he points to the picture Ikena is holding,.
He was liking the look Chaplan gave him, it wouldn’t hurt to act like a concerned citizen would he.. he would just take the picture..squeeze his eyes, twist his mouth, rub his temple and then nod his head a few times and go ”I think i know who this person is…and bla bla blabadash. ” and if the man asks him to direct him to him…
Oh well, there is a mad man he saw on the street two miles away, he would direct him to the area, tell him to cross the road and enter the bush part…
Oh it would be so much fun to see his face and realize that he was just sent to hang out with a man who is insane, who may chase him around.
He laughs within himself..
Yes!! He loved this new look… who could refuse an elderly man, whose grey hairs looks like he has so much wisdom buried in his head.
He stretches out his hand towards Ikena, spreading it open…
”Let me take a look, i can be of help.”
Ikena looks at his open palm and then stares up back to the man, he takes the picture and then proceeds to give to him.
Just then the door opens, they all turn towards the door and in walks in Mikel and the one Alex had beat down, his black eye is still evident..
They walk to the reception table, looking him and the stranger man over before they ignore them and stare at the receptionist.
”Here to see the occupant of room 307 please”
”A second please” The receptionist says as he picks up the phone and dials the room
Ikena’s hand which was close to the hand of the elderly man’s is withdrawn as he stares at the two men.., he frowns, the vibes he was getting from them were not friendly..not one bit.
He puts the picture back into his pocket as he waits…
”No answer”
”What do you mean no answer, dial again. He did not check out did he?”
The receptionist types on his keyboard shaking his head ”No, no one has checked out from room 307, the occupant paid till tomorrow. ”
”Okay, maybe he stepped out?”
”Eh, maybe ” He said.
The two men exchange looks , sighing the first one turns ”Okay, we would be in the waiting area. We would check back soon” they turn and leave, The elderly man is smiling, Ikena realised that when he turns away from the two men walking towards the door written ”Waiting Area”
”How about this car, seen it parked here in this hotel?” Ikena brings out his phone and then gives it back to the man at the reception. When he had gone back to the church streets and had followed the girl to her uncle’s house, he had asked for picture of the taxi that was stolen by Vampire, it was the picture he was showing him in his phone.
Now the man nods ”Yes, yes,. I saw this car parked in the garage last night, ”
”Show me?”
He nods but then stops ”Who are you first. Why is this so important, is the person a criminal, are you a cop?”
That got Alex’s attention as he turns to look at the man.. his smile waning down to a frown..
Ikena stares at the man, it wouldn’t be good to reveal the purpose of why he is asking, especially when he said he saw the car parked in the garage, it meant two things..
Either Vampire had passed through here and had since left or…he was still here, and telling this man he is with the forces and that the man in the picture was a vicious criminal wouldn’t be good, …it would give him a scare and that scare would alert others and it might get back to Vampire and that would mean he losing him.
And he wanted to catch him so bad and then make him pay.
And it would be dangerous for the man too, Vampire would definitely come back to kill him, and he didn’t want more casualties on his head,
”No. I am just looking for a friend of mine, his wife is worried sick, hasn’t been home all day..just wanting to make sure he didn’t get into an accident or something. He got a five weeks old child, i just want to make sure he is safe…”
”Okay. ” he nods sympathetically. Then he turns to the elderly man ”Wait here sir, i would be back.”
”Sure” The elderly man nods, but his eyes doesn’t leave the strange man.
Then the receptionist beckons to Ikena as they leave the building.
Alex stares at the retreating back of Ikena, a frown still on his face…
Strange!!!
Really Strange.
He could swear he knows that face from somewhere, he could swear it.
He turns walking to the door where Mikel and the other went. As he enters, he walks to their table where they have a drink and their attention turned to the screen where a match is going on, he pulls out a chair and then seats down.
They look up at him with a frown ”You dey Mad? My friend, you fool! You better get out of here you old man, can’t you see that two grown as men are enjoying a game of football by themselves” this was Mikel, his colleague sneers at him with his black eyes.
He doesn’t budge, instead he pulls his grey goatee, his smile reaching his eyes…
”Yes Mikel,. Yes, i may be old. But you are the one with the fxxked up eyes you cannot tell who is seated infront of you.”
”How did you know my name?” Mikel is shocked as he is on alert, his hands goes to his waist where he has a gun hidden, his second does the same, but this time he puts the gun on his legs..
”Fools!! I thought i trained you maggots better than that.” He says leaning back and crossing his legs ”In a second, one bad move would have gotten you both licking your balls..while your head would be protruding from your asses. Don’t be a fool Mikel, take your hands away from your waist and Chike, you want another black eye, this is a public place you mongreal…you pull a gun on a old looking stranger? I knew i was surrounded by morons” he says
Mikel and his colleague’s mouth drops to the ground.. when they finally realize who he was
”Fxxk me!!” Chike says
”Boss, is that you? I will be damned. What the fxxk!!!” Mikel he laughs covering his mouth
He smiles, ”I know right, i look like a cute old man, i should have paid him more for a wonderful job, that chaplan of a guy is great assert”
”More like the hound, but the grey version of him” Mikel says
They laugh…
”Put your gun away Chike” Alex snaps
He does so quickly, mumbling a sorry.
”So, you guys mind telling me why you are here, I gave you a job to do….is it done, because I find it out to believe you killed all 50 boys this quickly.”
Mikel is shaking his head ”they are all heading to the place I sent them to, telling them the boss wants to have a meeting with them, I should meet them within the hour”
”Okay, so what are you doing here?”
”Actually, I came because he called me” he points to chike who is shifting on his seat
”Okay….you remember what I said Chike….either you got news for me or you put that gun in your mouth and pull the trigger”
”Boss…Bobo and Keme… and Koko haven’t been home. They have been missing since that weekend. No one at school had seen them.. and they didn’t exactly have a family…just a cousin or two or an aunt or uncle.. they haven’t been home”
”I said no concrete information, I will kill you myself.”
”Boss..’ Mikel steps him
”Don’t Boss me” Alex pulls at his goatee
”I do not know where else to look. ”
”the cemetery, the police station damnit”
”I went there but Boss I cannot go in. So, I met a new recruit, told him I am looking for my brothers and stuff, fed him a sob story and shit. He said he would check if the recent boys they arrested were among them, I gave him some pictured. Waiting for his call”
”And when would that be?”
”Anytime now”
Alex shakes his head ”It better come and with some news or else”
Chike is quiet
”So you bring Mikel to protect you, no one can protect you from me you know that right?”
Chike looks at Mikel ”Boss, you know Chike is one of our best guys on the field. he made a mistake, he wants to make amends”
”I will decide on the amending Mikel.. now, you go take care of those boys as soon as you leave here, and one other thing”
”What Boss”
”I need you to get rid of that Cab I came with, must be parked in the garage, get me a ride from the safe house”
”Ford?”
”No, something befitting a Literal elderly man like myself” he smiles ”Maybe a sedan or …just something not too flashy, we have some stolen cars right? Just pick one less shout for me and bring it for me, then tonight, you boys should come take my stuff away from here..we will all reconvene in the safe house, we need to restart operation in another base”
”Okay Boss”
Alex places his hands on the table, his mind drifts back to the reception area, he closes his eyes for a second, something was tugging at him, his head…
” I swear I have seen that face before somewhere” he says to himself
”Boss?” Mikel asks, he opens his eyes..”What, who?”
”The man at the reception, looks familiar, did he to you?”
”No..” they shake their head
”I swear it, I have seen his face before ”
Chike’s phone rings ”It’s him” he tells them ”Yes…okay..yes….WHAT THE FXXK. WHEN..FXXK. thanks?” he leans back, his eyes filled with fear as his hands shakes
”What?”
”They are dead, Keme and Bobo. Robbers, they are dead. ”
”Fxxk!!!” Mikel curses
”All three of them?” Alex asks
He shakes his head ”Koko, he is in jail, barely walkable”
”That means they got to them, that means, they must have drilled Koko to get information about me, that means Koko was the one who pointed them to the right direction……that means Koko might who he is.” He rubs his jaw…
”Get to Koko, find out who the ”He’ is, then tie up loose end. I do not want him breathing more than today”
”Boss, how do I do it, he is in prison, police everywhere…how?”
”That’s your business,” he says getting up. ”Mikel. See why I do need you to take care of those 50 boys…see !!!!! now Koko led the police to me…see!!!” he says
Turning away he stops in his tracks as it dawns on him,…
”That man, he was the one who came to me for prayers saying that his daughter was dying and he needed help to take her to the hospital…he is the one…the only stranger that visited the church before the incident. Yes!!! The man with the dying child. But what the fxxk was he doing here looking for a man in the picture, who was the man in the picture and which car was he going to look for in the garage??”
He is walking quickly to the door, Mikel and Chike notices his strange movements chase after him as they all run out of the hotel, heading to the garage…
”Boss what is it?” they called out
But Alex doesn’t answer, he is ahead of them as he cuts right entering the car park leading to the garage, where he parked the cab he stole from that man.
*
”This is the car Sir, you are looking for right? Red, same dent to the side, even the numbers and all. This is the car right?” The receptionist points to it telling him.
Ikena looks at him, and then the picture, cross-checking the numbers. This was definitely the car.
Either Vampire abandoned the car here and left or..he was still in this hotel. Which meant that he had to be careful not to alert him in any way…
Which meant that if he was here, he definitely would be harmed and possibly not alone, and there were civilians here, which might lead to a collateral damage.. if he knew monsters well, he would use them as barricades and shield…
No one else will die on his account.
He shakes his head ”Actually, this isn’t the car. My friend’s own is maroon, not exactly red. ”
”Oh, but I thought, but the plate number is thesame now or was I mistaken, let me see the picture again”
Ikena shakes his head” Yes you are, no there is no need. I will have to go check other places, thank you”
”Okay Sir, I hope you find your friend so you can take him home to his family?”
”Yes, I hope so”
They turn to leave, walking out of the garage when they meet Alex, Mikel and Chike running into it.
”What is wrong, what is the matter?” The receptionist begins to panic as he almost made to run himself
Ikena was on alert as first as they ran into the garage…wondering what was happening..taking a second to assess the situation.
They were not obviously running away from something, that much was evident as no one was behind them. They were running to something..to what and then why?
He looks at them… observing them, watching their eyes dart from one to another, the two men..they look at themselves.
Curiosity.
Ok, they too do not know why they are in the garage. Strange, then why did they come, why did they run down to the garage for no reason.
He watches them. Unless they followed him…the grey haired old man. But why…He follows their eyes…
They both look at the man, the elderly man who is in front of them…
Recognition..then curiosity…
Ikena frowns, he thought they didn’t know each other…
His senses pick up a vibe. Being in the force for so long can make you get vibes, good and bad..you just get a vibe. And right now, he was getting one and it smelt. In fact, they all smell, and their stench was reeking of filth all up to the high heavens…
He follows his eyes, the man with the grey edges. He was staring at the car… then their eyes meet…
And holds.
Recognition.
VAMPIRE!!!!
***
TO BE CONTINUED.
