by Eu Aristos
"Well... I lied... Just wanted to surprise you…"
"Oh... You succeeded then." She smiled sheepishly.
"Where are you at???" Basil asked.
"Uuuuhhhmm..." She didn't know what to say. Meanwhile she was already on her way out.
∞∞∞
Getting to the location, Nelson was already there. She couldn't drive because she never loved the stress; the online taxi service was for her preferable.
"Hey..." He smiled pushed his seat back and stood up in a bid to welcome her.
"Hey..." She returned the smile. They hugged and she sat down.
"Sorry I was so hungry so I was already on my way here when you called.” Nelson said.
"Uhmmm...So you were hoping to catch a new fish over a dinner eh?" She said with a jealous tone.
"No no... Why should I catch a fish when I have you?" He shied in. The attendant approached them with the menu. She ordered a meal and watched him as he did same. At that moment, he seemed to her that he was gentle in actions. That was just a thought which she didn’t want to believe.
∞∞∞
"So you wanted to talk about something??" Nelson said as they finished their meal.
"Oh yeah..." She drank some water. "Just to invite you for the event" She lied.
"Well...You sounded more than just what you said now." Nelson sounded a bit pushy.
"We were instructed to invite friends since it wasn't the typical holiday period and people wouldn't be home..." She lied.
"Oh... But they could have done a better job with the date."
"Uhmmm... It’s OK if you don't have the time. We'll be fine."
"Time? For you I'll create one. Yes there's a lot going on now, but creating time for whom and what we love should be fundamental." He smiled.
"Yeaa..." She loved that thought from him. He saw it, and so ordered a bottle of their best wine. Silence reigned until the wine was popped and poured
"Cheers..." They both said.
"I love you Nk." Nelson blurted out. She stared at him, holding unto her glass of wine, not knowing what to say. "I always did from the first day I set my eyes on you..." She felt uncomfortable and so wanted to change the discussion.
"What's it you say you do again?" She interjected.
"Will your love be dependent on it?" He joked.
"Maybe..." She smiled.
"Real estate; It’s more like a family endeavor. We own, lease, rent, sell, buy, design, construct, demolish etc."
"Oh... That's big." Nk nodded
"Nel Consults"
"Sorry...?"
"That's the name of my company."
"Thought you said it's a family endeavor?"
"Yea... Still.... We are all independent."
"Uhmmm..." She sipped
"My Dad was and is still good at what he does." He said as a proud smile broke from the side of his lips. She smiled back then looked away. For the first time she observed the restaurant they were dining in. The beautiful combination of peach, oxblood and black marveled her. She wondered why she hadn't been there before. The sitting areas were more like a big hall with distantly spaced tables. The roof was made of transparent glass giving the impression that you were still sitting outside.
"Why are you reluctant about loving???" Nel broke her thoughts. NK looked shocked from the question. But she feigned a smile.
"Sorry?"
"You know what I'm saying..." He looked mean.
"Why do you not love me? Do I not look man enough? What's it you want?"
She was silent. The waiter came up with bill. Nk collected it and paid in cash. She had stopped earlier on her way ther to use the ATM. Nelson was dumbfounded.
"There are a lot of things you do not know Nel." Nk said. "So many valleys that feels like it will take ages to fill. Give me time" He watched her hands akimbo as she spoke. Sensing it could be late already, Nk checked her wristwatch. It was 9:30pm. She breathed out with her mouth while making a sound.
"I need to get home. There's work tomorrow." She said.
"How did you come?" Nelson looked withdrawn.
"The taxi guy; he is outside.” She said as she tried to stand.
"You paid him to wait?" He asked with eyebrows raised. Nk nodded in affirmation.
"But I could have just dropped you."
"Not necessary." She feigned a smile while yet trying not to please him. "Good night" Nelson. She pushed her seat backwards and stood up. Nelson did the same.
"I'll walk you out". He offered.
∞∞∞
In the taxi back home she brought out her phone "Hey you bae." She called Vicky.
"How far cupcake." Vicky said.
"I'm OK." She scratched the back of her hair.
"This one you are sounding so down?"
"I am tired."
"Oh owk; how was work?"
"Just the normal..."
"Nice.... Sorry I missed your call earlier." Nk apologized.
"Yeah you sure did. I was just checking up on you.”
Guess what... In fact, guess 'whats'..." Nk tried to pull her legs.
"What are you talking about? You know how much I am not the type to guess."
"I had Dinner with Nelson." Nk said.
"Oh....wait.... Woooow!" Vicky shouted. "How was it? Did you click? Did you.... You know.... Like... Do you like him?"
"Abeg abeg abeg... We just ate that's all. I'll just say he's a good guy with a broad proud-like shoulder."
"Uhmmm... That sounds boring...” Vicky confessed.
"But there's more..."
"What's it? You kissed...?"
"Kiss gini? Basil is back!" She sounded livelier.
"What?! How come?!" Vicky queried.
"I was surprised too. But he said he wanted to surprise me. In fact, he called at the time I was going to see Nelson. I just told him I was going for a family meeting in respect to my grandfather's retirement ceremony and he promised to see me tomorrow. He even showed interest to be there for the event." Nk sounded happy.
"Uhmmm... OK oo." Vicky wasn't excited.
"I know you don't like him... I understand... But…" She said while trying to reason with Vicky
"You don't... understand... any...thing.... Nk" Vicky stressed.
"Vicky.... What haven't you told me? I don't like the way that sounded."
"Don't worry... I hope you are happy with him sha."
"Uhm, how was your day..?" Nk decided to let it rest.
"Mine was OK. Killing the monthly fowl so... I'm just piping low." Vicky said calmly.
"Oh... Be strong girl..."
"Thanks. Talk later; got to pick this call from Harry, he's been acting weird since yesterday."
OK. Seems I have a call too. Good luck. As soon as Nk dropped the call, a call that was waiting on her side cut too. Since it was an unknown number, she ignored calling back.
∞∞∞
Chapter 10
A part of her wanted to believe that he was just acting naughty. But she had seen such attitude one too often and knew it always ended the same way - in tears.
∞∞∞
"Hey wake up!" Said the harsh voice after they poured him water and made him sit on the chair. From his feeble and weak eyes he could barely see them. A bunch of guys were smoking weed. It looked like a busy area... The roof above them was of palm leaves and the seats made of wood. His weak mind couldn't pinpoint where he was. The environment was shaking in his eyes. Whatever that lady sprayed on his eyes must have been really strong.
"Hey wake up!" The assailant poured water on him again
"Oga go come tomorrow. Leave am make im dey sleep." A heavy voice said.
"But im need to eat." Said the bucket-wielding man in defiance.
"Eat watin? Leave am joor. Maybe sleep sweet pass for am." The voice continued.
"Where.....where.....am I?" Kunle murmured. No one gave him a response. His head felt heavy and he soon fell back asleep.
∞∞∞
Getting home,
Nk did the normal rituals and was soon on her bed. The call came in again. She stared at the number tiredly and dropped. Her second mind demanded she picked it up.
"Hello...." She said
"Hello Aunty Nk" She was surprised the little voice knew her name.
"Yes??? Who's this?"
"Na Frankie..." She sat up.
"How... Frankie... how are you? Who gave you my number?"
"Na uncle Kunle... But we nova see am since afternoon after we come see mama." The voice she was hearing sounded like it has been crying....
"Where are you now Frankie..?"
"For...for..." He stammered... Soon he started crying.
"Calm down... Where are you now?"
"Hospital..." He could only mutter again.
"OK. Stay there... I'm coming." Oh.... She hated that she had to drive herself. But this looked like a good reason to and off she went to locate little Frankie.
∞∞∞
"Hey Frankie...." Nk called out. Frankie ran and hugged her. The sensation of that hug felt good; extraordinary, like it was meant to be. Also there was a Detective, and the security detail. It wasn't hard locating the hospital. But getting to the ward where mama is was hard. She had to sign and sign papers of attestation. Security was beefed up by Kola who, after Kunle went missing, saw this as a high profile case.
"Good evening ma'am." Kola said when she walked up to her.
"Good evening Sir." She hung her Chanel handbag better.
"I'm detective Kola from the CID of the police."
"Owk sir, I'm NK." Please where's Kunle? What happened?" She didn't have time for pleasantries.
"From what we know, bystanders who witnessed what happened claim he was kidnapped just in front of the dustbin area." He answered with head tilted to the left.
She bit her teeth hard.
"Are you in anyway related to him?" Kola asked with his hands in his pocket.
"No no... Just his former employer..."
"...Why was he sacked? Was he a shady person?" Kola was straightforward with his question
"Is that necessary?" She asked with a folded face. He gazed at her.
"What I can assure you is that he isn’t. He wasn't sacked for any misdemeanor." She added.
"OK." Kola nodded.
"But you know Mama the elderly woman who this case is surrounded?" Kola asked pointing at Mama through the window. For the first time Nk saw Mama since the incident. Her mood went from bad to worse. Tears dropped from her eyes. Frankie held on to her hands and Kola was silent. That spoke enough for him to understand. He moved away.
"Have you eaten?" She asked Frankie. He moved his head negatively.
"Let's go get you something to eat."
∞∞∞
From the other side of the table, Nk watched Frankie as he munched the meal. He seemed hungry... But all of a sudden, he stopped, staring at the meal.
"What's it???"
"Na Uncle Kunle."
"Hey... excuse me... From now on, you'll have to begin speaking clean English."
"OK." Frankie nodded.
"We will find Kunle. He will be fine. But until then, the Detective has permitted me to keep you." He smiled but soon frowned.
"Do you want to eat some other thing?" Thinking that would help him through.
"No... I'm fine."
"How did you get my number?"
"Uncle Kunle made me memorize it."
"Why..?" She seemed surprised.
"He said anytime I have any problem and he's not there, I should call you." he replied, playing with his food while not looking her.
"When did he tell you this???"
"This morning while taking me to school" Frankie answered innocently.
"Owk..." She nodded. Kunle was smart enough to know that things could go south. She imagined. Did he foresee his kidnap? Sensing he was done eating, Nk stood up. "Let's go" she instructed Frankie.
"Can we go to mama?" Frankie asked.
"It’s late dear. We have to go home so you can change and have some rest." Frankie had no option. "We will come back to see mama right?" He asked.
"Sure. Let's get home first."
∞∞∞
Vicky knew too well where Harry's attitude was pointed at. She wanted not to believe it but knew how detrimental that would be to her sanity so her mind built hypothesis to support her claim that Harry was cheating. A part of her wanted to believe that he was just acting naughty. But she had seen such attitude one too often and knew it always ended the same way - in tears. Harry was a sound businessman; an importer and distributor of quality sanitary goods. He was always in and out of town and she wanted to believe she knew his paroles. But the past days he has been closed up about it. The call this night wasn't surprising. He sounded cold to say the least. Her phone rang. It was Nk calling.
"Hello Nk what's up?" She rolled on her bed.
"Sorry I am disturbing your sleep."
"No I'm not sleeping.... "
"Uhm... Owk, you aren’t sounding fine though. What's wrong..?"
Silence greeted her question.
"Talk to me Na." But still, Vicky didn’t say anything.
"Well... Since you don't want to talk, I just want to let you know that Kunle has been kidnapped."
"What?! How?!"
"We don't know..."
"Eeyaaa... That's bad oo. But how do you come into it now???"
"He was my former employee. The little Boy from mama called me. He's with me now; sleeping though. We are headed for your house now. In fact we are on your street now."
"Shit... Owk... I'm waiting." She stood up from her bed and went down to open the gate, forgetting her heartbreak feelings. In seconds Nk drove in.
"Hey... I was just wondering if those clothing your little nephews left here last time was still available." Nk said as they went into the house.
"Yeaa... I still have them." Vicky replied her while walking behind her.
"Good."
"See... It is you who told me to dash those cloths out that is now asking for it. I hope you like my stubbornness the more now" Vicky taunted with a laugh. "Get him in na..." Vicky said while pointing to Frankie.
"No we should go back to my place." Nk said.
"Shut up. It’s late. Past 12am and you wanna get back on the road? Not happening!"
Nk saw that resolute face and knew she couldn't fight it. She went back to the car and carried Frankie. Inside the house, they changed him and lay him in one of the rooms. They both sat at his side.
"Do you think you can do this?" Vicky asked Nk while staring at Frankie.
"I don't know... I just feel some kind of personal connection to him." Nk said as she stared at him.
"Uhmmm.... He looks like you sef..." Vicky joked.
"Hahahaha, Gerrout…" Nk joked as they stood up. Stepping out of the room, they closed the door behind them.
"What's it you didn't want to say on phone???" Nk asked
"Uhm, mtcheew..." Vicky hissed and went back to being silent.
"You know you shouldn't hide things from me."
"I think Harry is cheating!" Vicky blurted out.
"Uuuhhh... That can't be possible. Not the Harry I know." She held on to the door knob.
"Uhmmm, men change NK" Vicky consolidated her claims.
"I know but not Harry. He is so in love with you...or so I thought" she rolled her eyes.
"I wanted to believe that too." Vicky affirmed. "But as usual... I'm seeing the signs already. He's becoming increasingly distant."
"Oh... I see... Let's hope it’s not true. He's a businessman for crying out loud! Cut him some slack girl. He’s trying."
"Maybe... it just hurts because he was the longest."
"Na lie... what about Victor..?"
"Mtcheeww... That one... Forget am joor. He was dating himself" Vicky said as she eyed Nk. They entered Vicky's room finally. "I'm so tired and sleepy.” Nk said as she dropped on the bed.
"How do you combine all this with your trave
l this week..."
"Aaaaarrrrhhhggg!" NK screamed into the pillow. "I don't even know... Let me just wake up tomorrow first." She said finally.
"Today you mean?" Vicky corrected. “Goodnight joor.”
∞∞∞
5:27am
"Hey wake up!" Kunle was ordered
"Tawaii!" a hot slap landed on his cheek. Kunle jerked up with might. His mouth was sealed and his hands and legs tied to the wooding seat.
"Uhmmmmmmmmm...." He tried to speak.
"Shut up." In seconds, the boss entered.
"Good morning sir..." They greeted the boss as he walked in. His fragrance filled the room. He was adorned in white and he used a white handkerchief to cover his mouth.
"So this is him?" He asked.
"Yes boss." One of his men responded.
"Is he awake???"
"Yes..."
"Hey..." The boss called out to Kunle who was weak and so was silent.
"Hey..." He kicked Kunle gently on the lig.
"Uhmmm..."
"Open your mouth." The boss instructed.
"What do you know about the 5000sqm land at no 15 Grand Avenue?"
"I don't know what you are talking about." Kunle said weakly. The boss looked at the guy standing close to Kunle and with the speed of light he punched Kunle on the face.
"Aaah! What did I do?!" Kunle asked amidst his pain.
"Let me rephrase. Where is the document for the land at number 15 Grand Avenue?"
"I don't even know about any land. Who owns it? I think you’ve got the wrong person."
"Tawai!" Another slap from one of the boys graced his chin. "You don't question the boss!" He said.
"Now... I'll give you two options. One, you get me the documents and see Mary live or two, don't get me the documents and see her killed, together with all you loved ones. That includes your young VP employee at that company, Little Frankie..."
"No no no.... What do you want?!" Kunle pleaded.
"The document..!" The boss roared.
"I don't know anything about any document! Where do I get it?"
"Tawai” They slapped him again. "Don't raise your voice on the boss!" The assailant said.
"You don't, but maybe, someone else does. Have you asked Mary..?"
"His eyes widened. It was you who did that to her..." Kunle spoke with so much pain in his voice.