The Sales girl episode 8

She’d broken off their relationship before he
landed her in the morgue. I was glad she never
married him.
The guy before that was Richard and he was truly
rich even beyond my comprehension. Toyin
thought she had hit the jackpot when he bought
her a stunning Rolls-Royce Ghost as a birthday
present and I enjoyed the fun-filled rides we had in
that sleek car. But not long after, he tried to turn
her into a glorified housemaid and he hadn’t even
popped the question yet. Every minute, he would
call and ask the most ridiculous favours until Toyin
realised he was just plain lazy.
It pained both of us when she returned his car and
broke things off.

“Darling, this is my younger sister Dami. Dami,
meet Bello.” Toyin smiled.
He extended his hand and I gripped it in a
handshake.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I said.
A few minutes after we had eaten, I signalled Toyin
with my eyes before excusing myself from the table
and going to the ladies’ room. The stalls were
empty and the room smelled like lavender.
Moments later, she joined me.
“I know what you’re thinking.” She said before I’d
even opened my mouth.
“That’s Bello?” I exclaimed in shock.
Toyin sighed and checked her reflection in the
mirror.
“Listen, I learned my lesson already. Bello is
perfect.” She said.
“Honestly, how did you two even meet? The man
looks like he wouldn’t know what fun was if it
slapped him in the face.”
She tossed me a warning look.
“Hadiza introduced us. I know he looks a little…
serious,” She noticed the look on my face. “Okay,
very serious but that’s a good thing. He has plans
and aspirations, I need someone like that. Besides,
he has a steady job as an investment banker plus
he’s really nice and quite funny too.”
“Really,” I stretched the word. “I wonder what the
punchline of his jokes are, facts and figures?
Exchange rates?”
“Oh shut up, Dami.” Toyin sighed.
I decided to let it go, still unconvinced. If she felt
this was right then I wouldn’t argue. When we
returned to the table, I played the role of the
friendly future sister-in-law. I noticed he barely
smiled but he didn’t look outright mean, which
should count for something at least. He was
attentive to Toyin and seemed to genuinely care
even though he wasn’t an overly affectionate
person. As I headed home, I thought maybe I’d
been too quick to judge him as a bad match for
Toyin.
***



I was in a happy mood after the restaurant, with
my stomach full of rich, tasty food. But my elation
sank slowly when I arrived later that night at the
dorm to find Chioma already inside. Even worse,
she looked completely devastated. I dropped my
purse and immediately went to her side of the
room.
“Chioma, what’s wrong?” I asked.
She looked up with tear-filled eyes and silently
handed me the item she held in her hands.
I frowned as I took it.
“What is…?” My voice failed me when my eyes
landed on the photograph. My fingers shook as I
stared at it in disbelief.
“No.” I whispered, still staring.
The picture was blurry, but I could recognise that
face anywhere. It was Nonso and he was tied to a
chair, looking unconscious as blood seeped
through a cut above his eyebrow. The background
gave no hint of where the place was.
“Wh-when did you get this?” I asked.
“I found it under the door when I came in. I’ve
been trying to call his number but it’s switched
off. Oh God, I don’t know what to do. I only saw
him yesterday, I can’t believe…” Chioma sobbed.
My knees felt weak and I collapsed unto the bed.
Nonso… how on earth did this happen? Who would
have done this? The questions ran through mind
as sleep evaded me. I heard Chioma tossing and
turning all night. We’d decided to go to the police
first thing in the morning because it was too late to
go anywhere tonight. I’d just forced my eyes shut
when I heard my phone beep with the message
alert tone. It was from a private number.

You are mine alone. No one else should get too
close.
In that moment, I realized that what happened to
Nonso had to do with me and I was instantly
shook and terrified.
The next morning, Chioma and I went to the Police to report the incident. We answered all their
questions on when last each of us had seen him
and what we knew of his whereabouts. Nonso went missing the day before he and his friends were to
go out for the weekend. I remembered him inviting me with that broad smile on his face. I felt even worse because I never got a chance to call him, he
must have thought I wasn’t interested in his
invitation at all.
I sighed as we left the Police station. We have to
find Nonso no matter what. An idea began to form
in my mind and I knew it was risky but I couldn’t
let him suffer for something he had no idea about.

Whoever was stalking me saw Nonso as a threat
but if I could find a way to get him out of this
situation, no one would have to get hurt. I braced
my mind for what I was about to do. I need to find
this mysterious man and deal with him once and
for all.