I Want A Home – Episode 13
®18+ SNVL
© IRETI ADEDIPE
××××
The first vehicle ahead the Dartz black car Uzza was seated turned to the right route and the vehicle itself turned the same route before the third followed contrary to what Tom who continued inputting more commands on the system but none of it was working out, all his final attempt to hack the cars was a total failure.
He tried the more but still result to failure as the traffic light turned green and the vehicles moved along all the cars in the route.
“Damn it” he cursed loud and pick up his phone immediately.
“I’m unable to hack the cars, I think the security sensor is not responding to any of my commands” He announced the moment his call was answered by Margot.
“Yeah. I told you Tom, Uzza is just a complete tyrant bastard who is always trying to be careful. I told you hacking the cars might not work out” Margot told him.
“Goddammit, What do we do? They are already very much far away from my position”
“Don’t bother Tom, I get different plans to handle it. That’s why I’m on the private plane, if plan A isn’t working, Plan B will, and if B isn’t working, we got the third plan that will surely work” She answered him confidently.
And yes of course it’s the truth, the Uzza Tom knew two years ago wasn’t the same Uzza again. Tom thought after the brief silence between them and then remembered something.
“Wait, I think there’s another way to cause some distraction and separate the three cars” Tom announced before Margot could end the call.
“Okay Tom. How? What way?” She sound as if she wasn’t interested and finally zipped up one of the pilot shirt she had taken off on one of the dead body.
“They are still few meters away, I can cause some distractions before they reach the end of the lane near that bank”
“Anyways Tom, do as you want” Margot interrupted and end the call without listening to him anymore.
She navigated to her phone dialer immediately and dialed a call.
“Hey Margot” Vladimir called out her name from the phone.
“I hope you checked this properly Vladimir, this could be a trap for me and the rest of my men”
“Do not worry Margot, I have this handled absolutely, believe me you’ll get what you want this time around, and perhaps wasn’t it supposed to be believed that you died in that explosion?” Vladimir asked her and increased the speed of the truck he was driving.
___
Tom dropped the phone after another call he made and began to reload the last process which was still failing.
“Malik what the hell is happening over there? I don’t even have access to our database anymore” Tom shouted into the phone but there wasn’t any response from his supposed partner who was ought to help him from the control room on the ongoing call.
“Malik what is going on?” he shouted again but there wasn’t any response until he repeated the words and checked his phonel briefly if he had dialed the right contact before he began to hear Malik panting voice on the phone.
“What did you say Tom?”
“What is going on? I can’t hack the cars, its stopped”
“Tom, I’m sorry. I had problems with Arjun”
“Arjun !!”
“Yeah.. I think he caught me” Malik apologize, stammering and panting heavily.
“I lost control of the cars and the signals totally”
“Yes I know Tom and I think its better I handle it from here now” Malik added still catching his breath and turned towards the main control system immediately, he placed his palm on the desk after dropping the phone he already put on speaker as he breathe heavily before he discovered one of the cables connected to the left part of the control system was destroyed and before he remembered Arjun pulled the whole thing out when they fought. He was lucky to have taken him down with the help of the knife in his jacket, if not, Arjun could have choke life out of him.
“One of the control cables has been destroyed, I think that’s why the connection stopped” He announced with a clear voice this time.
“The cables !!” Tom rephrased.
“Yeah. And to bring the connection back, we have to regenerate the real power source into another control system. Goddamn it”
“What’s the problem again?” Tom asked following his raised alarm but no response came through until after 30 seconds of another silence.
Arjun stopped trying to connect the destroyed power cable immediately he sighted the surveillance footage on the big monitoring screen on the wall.
“what is it Arjun? Talk to me” Tom voice came through the loud speaker of the phone.
“There are intruders in the building and they are attacking us, Tom I think it’s the cops” Arjun answered him.
××××
“Yes James, I have the drive with me but I don’t have the tablet” Uzza continued speaking comfortably with his back fully rested at the back seat of the black vehicle moving on slowly.
Necessarily none of them expected an attack but they were ready and alert with their eyes clearly everywhere for anything amiss or contrary on their way. The three cars continued moving at a normal speed and all was fine as Uzza finally finished his call. Soon, they were getting close to another traffic point and they stopped, including the vehicles following the route.
The route of the road they took were separated into four and each sides has traffic lights that direct the coming cars on when to stop and when to move.
Vladimir stared at the street light inside the truck he was seated, expecting the light in the route he was driving to go off, he took a brief look at his digital wristwatch and tried to reduce his speed thereafter giving his men some time but he hadn’t reduced it much when the light turned off and he speed crazily towards the first car ahead Uzza, horning loudly to get the attention of all the cars waiting in the route like it was a brake failure. The first car he hit caused a bigger accident as the targeted vehicle itself moved to another direction.
“What the hell just happened?” Uzza cursed loud as there were noise everywhere already coming from pedestrian and some other people who quickly stopped their cars when the truck smashed two heavy cars so badly out from the road.
Uzza saw everyone ran to the accident scene as the truck driver himself rolled out from the half destroyed truck.
Vladimir made sure the first car he hit badly and the strange car that moves ahead him was struck and none of it will have the chance to let the people in it out on time. He made a signal through his fingers to pass a message to some of his men who were watching some distance away as he came out slightly injured too to let everybody see him, especially Uzza and his men who didn’t came out from the car.
The accident was so real and none think its was ever planned, even to Uzza who saw the clear accident. The men behind his vehicle all came down to check what has happened, each with their guns under their suit and jacket.
Benjie who was seated at the front seat wanted to unlock the car and come down too but Uzza who took a look at his wristwatch stopped him. “Let the men attend to it, lets proceed without them” he ordered.
“But aren’t we supposed to take precautions sir?” Benjie asked him from the driver side.
“This is just an accident, Coming down in the middle of an accident is not taking proper precautions Benjie, just continue driving. I have a plane to catch idiot” Uzza shouted on him and stared a look at the accident scene.
××××
Location- Uzza new Base
Detective Cougar fired a shot into the arm of the last standing man in the hall, he made a breathe in relief and walked towards the criminal he shot after he tossed the gun away from his reach and fired another bullet into his right knee when the supposed criminal hesitated to stand.
Louis walked up to him instantly with two cops rushing behind him and nodded twice to him before Cougar drag the criminal he shot, he raised him up with his sleeve immediately and smashed his back against the wall.
“Where is your drug lord?” Detective Cougar shouted on him.
××××
“Boss. We can’t enter the building anymore” one of Vladimir men said into the phone.
“And why is that? Uzza just left with only two guards in the car, I think he’s taking precautions and only been careful even though I believed the accident looks real definitely to him” Vladimir asked him and coughed in pretense.
“The cops are already in there boss”
“The cops !!”
“Yes boss. They just attacked the building”
“Attacked !!”
“Yes boss, I saw Detective Louis entering the building with some cops following the heavy gunshots”
“Huh. Okay. Fall back but don’t take your eyes off the building and find out what’s happening” Vladimir ordered quickly and hung up immediately without more word as two police officers walked up behind him among the gathered crowd round the accident.
“Excuse me sir, I think you need to come with us” one of the cops said to him.
“Officers, I already told you I..”
“Please just follow us” they interrupted him.
“Please go back, move back please” some of the cops around the two stumbled vehicles urged as ambulance already came to rescue three of the pedestrian who got hurt during the accident and a tape crossed around the area already to block the main road.
××××
“Your lordship, Uzza’s vehicle is fast approaching the plane now” Margot heard one of her men through the earpiece attached on her cloth.
“Good. what about the other vehicles with him?” she asked.
“None of the two cars are in position, I think there was some kind of accident on the way” he answered her.
“Uh.. Vladimir did a good job, anyways stick to the plan and stay in position” She ordered and smiled immediately she sighted the black car already coming towards the plane.
___
“what’s the status over there?” Benjie said into the phone he held with his left hand and held the wheel with the right.
“Oz is wounded but the rest of the men are okay”
“Good. Did you found out the identity of the truck driver?”
“No… the cops came almost instantly and just took him away”
“Uh.. Send some men to the police division and find out who he is, we must not give a chance whatsoever” Benjie ordered him and brought the car to a halt few meters away from the plane. He parked and they all came down immediately.
Uzza unzipped the button on his suit and glanced a look at his wristwatch again before he began to walk towards the already start plane.
The three of them entered the plane and Uzza made to sit down before the entrance to the plane closed.
“I want a fast flight straight to New York city now” Uzza announced in an order and sit down before Benjie walked to the pilot stands and the guard with them dropped the briefcase containing the money Uzza told him to arrange when they were leaving earlier.
Margot turned to the man they were both disguised as the pilot at the second stands when she heard footsteps behind them. She dropped the control headphone on her head quickly and stands immediately.
The first bullet she fired went directly into Benjie forehead and another went his belly as she hold unto his body, firing more bullet on his belly till she let go of his body. she adjusted the silencer on the gun without wasting more time and walked out from the stands, she fired three shots into the belly of the only guard immediately she rushed out and fired a quick shot into Uzza’s left shoulder before she took off her glasses hurriedly.
“Where is my drive Uzza” she called in anger While Uzza stared in shock. It took him more than 34 seconds before he realized what just happened as he winced in pains from the bullets.
××××
The day was getting gradually dark and everyone at the company already left work for their respective places except few members from the audition team Vivian supervised. The rest of the full day wasn’t pleasant at all and was an hectic day for her.
She finally decided to stop what she was doing after three hours of working to check out the phone that won’t just stop ringing, she inhale and exhale as she picked it up to check the caller.
There were more than 15 missed calls displayed on her phone and all was from the same caller.
She adjusted her sitting position immediately she saw the contact and sprang on her feet. She quickly redialed it.
××××
Uzza wasn’t ready to take it lightly or easy with Margot despite the pain from his shoulder when he attempted to take the gun from her. He grab Margot’s hand unexpectedly and easily immediately she shot and smashed his forehead on her face as the gun fell from her.
“So this is it old woman huh? You didn’t die in that explosion?” he shouted ridiculously in anger and sent a kick into her belly without letting her have any breathing pace. He rushed at her instantly before she could try take the gun and sent several punches into her belly.
“You.. are.. damn.. old.. witch” he cursed slowly as he sent more punches into her belly and face following each word.
Margot tried as much as possible to attack him back but he seemed more agile and had more upper hand than her. She felt stupid enough to have allowed him grab the gun tactically and easily like that from her hand as the plane moved.
She tried to resist him from pinning her head on the side of the window but he had more strength, he sent more punches on her face and every part of her body and finally smashed her head on the window before two loud sound of gunshots followed.
To be continued.
****
Episode 14
Uzza staggered when the first bullet went into his body and the second went into his chest before he could hit Margot with his elbow after pinning her throat against the small glass.
He finally fell down when the third bullet went directly into his chest again by Margot’s man who dropped the gun instantly and rushed forward to help Margot who was trying to catch her breath and stands with her hands on her throat. He wanted to help her stand on her feet but she tossed him away and moved hurriedly towards Uzza who had fallen lifeless, making a thud.
She began to search his body immediately and found the drive in the right jacket of his suit, she took it out and managed to stand up in relief but her expression changed from an happy mode to a confused one when she saw what just happened to the hard drive.
She cursed and managed to close her eyes briefly in anger.
××××
Steve adjusted the sets of books and some of the document he was asked to work on properly on his desk. He also arranged some of the old files he had worked on successfully in the past after checking out little of the content he needed to know by reviewing them in order to close the next deal the company sought-after successfully like he has always done without failing.
He took a minute to check all the content on the desk one after the other and adjust/changed the position of the architecture modeling appropriately on his desk. He carried the model and placed them behind the old files he just checked after staring at it for a long time.
The deeper image of owning a safe home with a woman he loves and having children ran through his mind. He stared intensely at the model for quite some minutes and returned back from his thoughts after Charles touched him.
The whole office was noisy and busy as usual with its workers but literally based on work and work alone. Over 20 minutes ago when Steve entered the building, he had received countless stares from most of the workers and especially Mr. Rodriguez, the cab driver who helped him some days ago.
He had to eventually make a brief discussion with the man and he was able to get from him truthfully that he told two other employees about the incident he saw some days ago despite the promise not to tell anyone about it.
“I just had to say few but I skipped most of it.. I’m sorry.. I’m sorry” he remembered the security man apologized repeatedly at the company main security entrance when he drove into the building.
He had nodded without asking the security man further questions and walked away knowing fully most of the company workers gossip all around and must have all heard about it, likely the only reason they keep staring at him. He at first didn’t bother about the whole rise when he returned from the company director office until he saw Vivian entering her office just immediately he walked out and close the directors’ door.
Although he seemed tensed seeing her around, he was still able to ignore some of the side stares from some workers.
“Mr. Steve, is it true?” he also remembered one of the workers from the production team asking him on his way back from the directors’.
“Huh.. What !! What’s true?” He asked back stammering as some of the workers sitting around the woman who asked the question immediately stopped staring and turned to their computers when Steve turned to their desks and made a glance at their faces.
“I meant.. I mean about the gay thing” the woman stammered too after 20 seconds of silence when Steve asked what she meant.
Instead of answering, Steve made a chuckle and turned away from their positions before walking away and thereby ignoring the woman and the whole full stares on him.
“You see.. I told you he’s a gay didn’t I ? Pictures do not lie” one of the women seated beside the other gossip silently as Steve started walking away from them without an answer to the question.
“No. I still do not believe its true, I thought he and Vivian had some affinity together” the third woman added too silently as they watch him leave.
“What the hell are you even saying? Didn’t you hear the news?” the only man in their midst interrupted them as Steve finally walked away, none of them knew he heard everything they said as he walked on silently and didn’t stop to turn back.
“What news?” the women chorused.
“goddammit” he cursed silently and walked on as they gossip.
“Yes Charles” he finally turned away from the computer and his thoughts was distrupted by Charles who called him again.
“So are you saying you no longer have clash with the evil drug lords” Charles asked immediately he turned to answer him.
“Oh common !! Should that got you laughing? Steve this is all about our safety and”
“How many times are you gonna ask me this same question Charles? Oh common, stop been childish” Steve asked and stopped laughing immediately he saw his reaction.
“I already told you all is settled Charles, I have nothing to do with the drug lord or any of them anymore” he added to support his explanation.
“You know what Steve?” Charles asked when he stopped laughing.
“I still find it difficult to believe your involvement in all this goddamn shit, you are such a prank Steve. I’d never imagined.. I mean all the ladies in this company are all vouching for an opportunity to get near you mehn. Everyone saw you differently for Christ sake”
“Charles I already explained the whole thing and I kept nothing amiss, I already apologized” Steve uttered back.
“Yeah.. Just exactly like I thought you could hardly kill a cockroach not to talk of a man” Charles defend with a face but lowered his voice more in order not to call the attention of the other colleagues close to their desk.
Steve stared a look at his face immediately and exhale, he was already getting tired of explaining himself the more to Charles who was really faultless.
He had looked like a saint to everyone of them and no one will ever believe he was totally otherwise. He finally made a sigh and raised his fingers like he was making an apology.
“I’m sorry for getting you involved in this Charles, I’m totally sorry”
“oh you don’t have to be sorry Steve, I think there’s more to what I already know. You’re really such a prank on hiding a lot about you” Charles countered him and turned back opposite direction to his main desk as Steve had to stop what he was about to say when his phone vibrated thrice, signifying a new incoming message. He unlocked the device to check the message after he made a brief look around. He read the content of the text silently to himself and stands up immediately. He adjusted his suit and walked out from the full connected desk without minding Charles who still gave him a look.
He returned the phone back into his pocket and started walking towards the entrance to Vivian office without minding the fierce stares from him. He was about to knock the door when its opened startling him and met Margaret smiling face at the middle of the entrance.
“Hi Steve” Margaret greeted him and moved backwards to let him enter the office.
“Hey Margie” he smiled back and called her nickname.
“Welcome back, we’ve missed you”
“Missed !!” Steve phrased the exact word and walk fully into the office as Vivian stands from her desk and rushed into his arms. She hug and hold unto him until Margaret was getting tired of the long hug and went out of the office before closing the door behind her.
××××
“Yeah Vladimir. What a plan indeed” Margot said in anger as she walked impatiently into the room in annoyance without minding Vladimir comments.
“The Hard Drive is totally destroyed your lordship, the bullet did a serious damage to the whole thing” one of the young girls in the room quickly announced immediately she and Vladimir walked inside.
“goddammit” Margot cursed loud in anger and paced round the room for a moment.
“You could have allowed my men handle the whole thing like I planned and let them do according to my Instructions Margot, this whole damn thing was your fault by stopping them to act accordingly to what I said” Vladimir told her.
Margot closed her eyes briefly and opened it almost in seconds, she exhale a deep breath and walked towards the computer the young girl was seated on. She took off the Hard Drive beside the laptop and stared at the bullet hole on it.
She hissed and disconnect the cables attached with the laptop immediately in more frustration.
“And how exactly did you let the drive got hit by a bullet? Its was all part of your fault.. All of this are all your fault” Vladimir pointed out as the whole room went silent.
“Oh common Vladimir, I lose almost all my men in that explosion and do you even know how its feels? I don’t think now is the right time to start pointing out the whole fault goddammit” Margot shouted at him as the girls and few of Vladimir men in the room remained mute.
“Lucy I need you to come with me now” she ordered one of the girls named Lucy as Vladimir said nothing other than the smirk he made after she shouted. The young girl stood up and followed behind her as Margot rushed passed Vladimir towards the door.
“Your lordship” One of Vladimir men entered the room and call out at the entrance before Margot could walk towards the door.
“Yes Fade. Anything?” Vladimir also called his name and turned to him immediately he entered.
“I’m afraid how this gonna sounds, Its Lord Nathaniel, we found out just as you instructed” he answered before Margot could get towards him.
××××
The new brand Corolla Camry speed up over-taking some of the ongoing cars as Vivian stared at Steve with disbelief after about 10 minutes of driving out from the company building. Its seemed like a longer day but quite short as she smiled often, taking a glance at Steve who barely could face the main road and concentrate on his driving. One thing had led to another from her office at the company and they were now heading home, probably to Vivian’s place.
“But I had to make a deal with him. I made a deal to find the drive and hand it over to him at all cost” Steve explained better when she gave him unsatisfied looks.
“Steve I can’t believe its been truly 31 months we’ve been friends and you hide all this away from me. I meant your identity”
“I thought we already talked about this Vivian”
“Yes we did but I still find it hard to believe a gentleman like you could.. I meant its ridiculous and..” She stammered and seemed to be out of words.
“Vivian listen to me okay. We talked about this already and I’ve explained everything to you, I’m.. I’m sorry Viv” Steve also stammered as he suddenly felt tension between them.
“That set aside, Steve can’t we just run away from all this?”
“We !!” Steve rephrased after her and reduced the car speed to have a long look at her face.
××××
Margot foamed the more in anger at the mere mention of Nathaniel right at the exit of the room, she turned to Vladimir who kept mute and stared a stern look at her. Of course she knew Vladimir thought Nathaniel was dead some years ago whereas he was alive and he controls a big drug business from the west.
Vladimir kept staring at her without taking off his eye contact or blink, his facial expression demanding for a vivid explanation.
Of course Nathaniel attempted to eliminate her some years ago, the scars from the bullets and machete on her body is always a remembrance to the pain she felt that unfortunate day as her mind made a flashback.
she almost died but she survived, she was on the path to the underworld but an old poor farmer from the Eastern part of the country helped her live back, she survived the cold blood Nathaniel and his men left her, she crawled with determination to survive, feeling the greatest betrayer, she felt the quest and the surge for revenge and her pulse reacted quickly to the farmer’s profound medicine, with inner strength and intensity, she survived few months after the poor farmer died and made contact with Vladimir who was once Nathaniel’s best friend.
“Nathaniel was supposed to be dead Margot, how on earth is he alive?” Vladimir said with rage without taking off his sight off her. He stared at her eyeballs, studying them and awaiting her response.
The fact that She choose Nathaniel over him some years ago wasn’t appealing and admist all circumstances, he wished for Nathaniel’s death as more than ever. He continued staring at Margot who still said no word or gave any response to his question as the whole room went silent.
Fade, one of the best handyman to Vladimir felt what was coming between the two drug lords immediately. He made few gestures to their men in the room and began to walk out from the entrance before Lucy, who was also behind Margot followed after him along everyone in the room, excusing the two drug lords.
To be continued.
Follow my Facebook page
Apologies for the late coming updates, Powers from Generators are majorly the 75% source of charging up my devices. I understand what delays in updates do cause but please bear with me as I want to be relevant in all stories coming from me. Absolute Thanks for understanding.
Story so far :
Steve Jones had all of a sudden refused helping Detective Cougar and Louis capture Lord Nathaniel who was the detectives main target, its seemed he’s now only concerned about his dream to have a home and he’s absolutely trying to avoid anything that will bridge the decision, mainly to the extent that he made another deal with Lord Nathaniel without considering what fate will bring him or what the future entails.
Uzza, the former right man and the successor to the deceased ‘Abdul Rauf’ who was killed by Sunny at the beginning of the story had also died and Margot, whose identity is yet to be very much revealed in the story has finally retrieved the Hard Drive she had lived up for after succeeding in killing Uzza who was only lucky to have had upper move than her but the drive unfortunately got destroyed when one of her men shot Uzza at the chest, the same place Uzza kept the drive right under his suit.
More from the past are coming to surface and more from the future revealed in this story.
Steve jones is a lonely man who only wants nothing but a home, probably one with Vivian and the drive he promised to get for Lord Nathaniel in order to have what he wants peacefully has finally been destroyed.
I hope you do remember the two Chinese hackers working for Uzza likewise? Do you Remember they aren’t dead and they wanted the drive too?
Do you remember the two Detectives majorly trying to arrest Lord Nathaniel wanted that Hard Drive too to make it possible for them to arrest the drug lord and dig into more top secrets?
****
Episode 15
“I still don’t believe all his properties are not acquired from those criminal acts Vivian, are you really sure its all from the income at the company?” Margaret pointed out to her friend immediately she dropped the drinks Vivian offered her.
She was dressed elegantly in an unofficial cloth, its was always one of the weekends when they spend most of the whole day together, gossiping about colleagues at work or neighborhood and discussing crucial or important issues and at times chill out together except recently when Margaret turned against the idea of clubbing.
“I’m sorry Vivian, that’s not gonna happen” she will always turned her down whenever she said they should chill out in club, dully knowing Vivian will mess up totally if she takes in too much alcoholic which can result to the unexpected.
Few minutes ago when she entered Vivian’s compound, she felt thriving, she felt the change and the live echoes of the whole house, she felt the total difference of happiness that had deduce from her friend few weeks ago, Vivian was dressed perfectly in an African attire that match out her beauty, an elegant south African cloth and most importantly the air in the house smells good, especially the aroma coming from the kitchen.
They changed from one discussion to another and moved from one side of the house to another, they talked about work, the terrible news announced on the TV some hours ago, they talked about politics, about the economy and until finally Margaret was able to force her into discussing about Steve, the only discussion she felt Vivian was trying to avoid or prevent them from discussing.
“Margaret, I thought I already told you not to talk about this again. This is not a conversation I wanna have with anyone, you should have noticed I was trying to avoid it” Vivian finally answered her after re-checking what she was cooking.
“Vivian I don’t want you to forget that aside being your colleague at work, I’m also your best trusted friend and I cannot mislead you especially on this issue or any matter”
“There you go again with your chip chap talk this afternoon Margie, I think its of the best interest if we could just stop and not talk about this”
“I’m sorry Viv, I know.. I just.. Has your aunt know about this?” Margaret stammered and faced her.
××××
Steve stared at the mirror the up tenth time as he adjust the tie in his inner suit. He was looking manly and extremely handsome with his hair curled backwards and his huge muscles reflecting on the suit. He concentrated on making himself look good as he took another look at himself before the mirror again.
“You are looking good man” Charles finally commented after a long moments of silence between them.
“Huh” Steve said and turned back to face him as if he didn’t hear what he said.
“I said you are looking good, Vivian will surely be impressed”
“Oh !! Are you sure about that? Are you sure she’s gonna be?” Steve asked him repeatedly, surprised Charles was finally making a conversation with him after the twist of words that led to a long silence between them.
“Yeah, I’m sure she will cos you are looking good” Charles added and stands from the edge of the bed he sat, he walked towards the same mirror and stands beside Steve.
He adjusted his own casual shirt and placed his waist belt appropriately as he took a look at himself.
“Thank you for doing this for me Charles, I really appreciate it” Steve said and turned to walk away from the standing mirror whereas Charles maintained his stands without replying him.
“Lets start going then, I think the day is far spent already” Steve said and started buttoning up his suit after a brief look at his wristwatch.
“So are you finally proposing to her again?” Charles asked silently.
××××
“Oh common Vivian, it isn’t like Steve is coming to propose to you” Margaret said and laughed as she apply some little makeup on her face.
They were already at Vivian’s main bedroom after a long discussion at the kitchen and both were seated at one side of the bed, directly facing the mirror as they apply makeup.
“This has nothing to do with Steve or anyone Margie, I’m just dressing up.. I meant” She stammered and turned to Margaret who suddenly burst into laughter.
“Don’t tell me you forgot he once made an attempt which you turned down”
“Steve never did Margie, I already asked him about the whole thing at the restaurant and he said No, he wasn’t”
“Hmm he wasn’t”
“Yeah. But who knows if he’s gonna propose this time?” Vivian asked rhetorically and smiled.
“And you did believe him when he said No”
“of course I didn’t.. But its was so weird you know” Vivian answered her and dropped one of the makeup kits.
“Hmm. You seemed happy about this Vivian, I can see you’re in a hurry to see him come in, and I can see your ears vividly alert to hear the bell at the door isn’t it?” Margaret laughed and teased her.
××××
Few minutes later.
Steve and Charles were seated opposite sides to Vivian and Margaret at the dinning sets. The whole four of them were looking astonishing in beauty and their lips were the only thing moving as their teeth chew the food served by Vivian few minutes when they came in after a brief neutral discussion between them.
“How’s the food Charles?” Margaret asked loud, breaking the long silence when the four of them were almost done. She was seated opposite Charles and Vivian was seated opposite Steve as they dropped the cutleries.
“The food is good” Charles answered her and faked a smile.
“Just good !!” Margaret rephrased.
“I meant its delicious” Charles said and smiled as he took a look at Vivian who just finished up a glass of wine all at once.
“What about you Steve? How’s the food?” Margaret inquired after 15 seconds.
“The food is delicious, I enjoyed it” Steve answered too and smiled.
××××
Vladimir emptied the full cup of the alcoholic wine at once and poured more into it. He raised the full cup and turned to face Margot who was standing few distance behind him, he managed to control his fury and threw off the remnant of the cigarettes he smoked from the main roof of the building down into the air.
“So you betrayed me twice Margot, you betrayed me for him despite all I’ve done for you” he said loudly after 10 minutes silence that seems like an hour between them.
“Nathaniel was supposed to be dead but you lied to me. You deceived me and you choose him over me the second time”
He shouted louder and turned to face Margot who put on a strong face but didn’t look into his furious eyes. She knew exactly how he must have felt, she betrayed him even more than twice. Truthfully Nathaniel was supposed to be dead and she was the one to have eliminate him years ago but she didn’t know how exactly she couldn’t kill him when Vladimir gave her the chance.
Years ago, the three of them are members of a powerful drug groups headed by a Russian lord named Fedor, meaning Powerful ruler of the people. The three of them were his handy man and they handle most of Fedor’s most dangerous deal all around the world, especially Nathaniel, Fedor’s most trusted man which Margot fell in love with.
Vladimir developed hatred, anger, jealousy, an unusual feelings and urge to kill Nathaniel whom he saw as an enemy that took all that belongs to him. Margot heaved a sigh as she remembered the first time they just met but her thought was disrupted when she heard Vladimir broke the glass cup he was holding.
He began to move towards her immediately and she got to quickly look into his face.
××××
Steve took another weird look at Charles who pretended like he didn’t see him as they all walked to have a seat after the meal.
“What’s it with my attire Steve? Its one of the African attires my mother brought for me from South Africa” Vivian joked back as they all walk to seat and burst into Laughter after Steve joked about her dressing.
“Its obviously good, you look pretty in it honestly” Charles smiled too and commended after taking a glance at Vivian and back to Margaret, deliberately avoiding making eye contact with Steve who looked awkward and tensed from his position. Charles smiled again and took his seat beside Margaret who was the first to have her seat before Vivian took hers.
“Really !!” Vivian smiled cheaply after what Charles said.
“Yeah. You’re beautiful and perfect in it Viv, that was barely a joke” Steve answered her before Charles could respond. He finally took a look at him but Steve avoid it too and took out a ring box from his inner pocket immediately with courage.
He made a faint sigh as Vivian turned to him, wondering why he wasn’t seated yet when they already did.
Lo and behold, without much words or camouflage, without having to make or present a blossom acts of surprise, Steve went on his knees before Vivian and repeated himself twice.
“Vivian, will you marry me?” he finally took courage and asked feeling tensed as he opened the ring box.
*****
Episode 16
“We are doing this with or without him, the only thing is to make our investigation clear” Detective Louis pointed out.
“Yes Louis, we have to eradicate this entire drug business completely from this country” Detective Cougar also joined as they await one of the officers coming with Max.
The two of them stopped talking for awhile immediately they sighted max and the officer coming towards them.
“Uncle, you necessarily don’t have to do this, I can just return back on my own”
“Shut your mouth now Max and listen to me” Detective Louis shouted loud and ignored the whole stares on him as he moved closer to Max.
××××
The cool and bright atmosphere had changed quickly almost in few minutes the two cars were packed opposite sides. Viktor was seated beside Lord Nathaniel at the back seat of the vehicle, thanks to him, the drug lord had uncovered most and top secret that were kept away from him, along some hidden identity of some drug lords he’d never heard of.
The rain began to pour just immediately Lord Nathaniel came down from the jeep and he was quickly accompanied with an umbrella by Sunny who also came out from the driver side of the jeep.
Three of the drug lords’ men quickly positioned themselves at each sides of the jeep and at the back with their guns alert to fire anytime.
The large size of the umbrella Sunny brought out was big enough to cover both him and the drug lord as the rain suddenly began to pour heavily with each step they take forward but he stayed out and cover lord Nathaniel fully before they finally reached the car behind the jeep.
The back seat door was opened immediately by one of the guards also surrounding the second car and Lord Nathaniel stepped inside before Sunny covered himself with the umbrella.
He took few step backwards behind the car and brought out a pistol just as the men surrounding the car also brought out theirs, anticipated and wondered why Lord Nathaniel’s men surrounded most of the tactical points with guns.
“I do not appreciate you crossing my path Nathaniel, you are over-stepping your boundary by doing this” An old African tall dark man said immediately Lord Nathaniel stepped into the car.
“I haven’t done anything my lord, I am only carrying out some investigation and annihilating all of my past mistakes. Is there any offense to that?”
Lord Nathaniel turned to him and smiled after a glimpse at the old man’s face. Reminding him of the occasional occurrence between him and the drug lord he met in the drug business, his wrinkled face do tell a lot and describe much about the old man who had become physically weak and his thoughts was distracted when the old man spoke.
“And you tamed on doing that by interfering in my business isn’t it Nathaniel?”
“of course not Lord Tyrus, the interference was only coincidental. No one dared interfere in your business but I huh noticed recently that after Fedor’s death few years ago. There were things left undone and Fedor himself made some grievous mistakes back then which he didn’t correct before he died and I huh believe I should correct them before another future clash would occur” lord Nathaniel answered him and made a weird face.
“Lord Fedor’s past mistakes as nothing to do with you Nathaniel and you are not the right person to correct it even if he did” The old man pointed out in a clear and stern voice confidently, unsure of what was coming.
“Lord Tyrus, with due respect I want to commend you for your efforts and all that you’d done all this years, especially for me and the rest of the gang, following Lord Fedor before he died. I must say you did magnificently well in staying beside him and raising his drug business more higher than it should but don’t you think its high time you stepped down for our units?” Lord Nathaniel said louder even though there were no distance between them at all.
“And why should I do that Nathaniel?” The old man gathered his brow together and asked, making a strange look as different thoughts suddenly ran through him.
“Are you saying you’d…” He added and made a chuckle and a smile that soon catch up and disappeared almost immediately he stopped talking.
“Yes Lord Tyrus, you must have noticed countless numbers of strange deaths recently and I’m sure you ignore their deaths without proper attention because you believe and see most of the victims as likely enemies, especially some of the politicians involved. So if you don’t want to end up like most of them, I suggest you step down now easily or I’ll have you dead like I killed many of your kinds few days ago”
Lord Nathaniel threatened and faced him without blinking as Lord Tyrus looked around the vicinity briefly following a thunder strike as the rain pour heavily and the rain poured the more.
“Nathaniel you are just about to start a war by doing this, I’d advice you to stop now when there’s still a chance for you” The drug lord said and faced him directly.
“A war !!” Lord Nathaniel chuckled and exclaimed.
“The war has already begun Lord Tyrus and its wasn’t start by me. This inevitable war was started by the members of the Six wings you belong over some years ago”
“What is it you want Nathaniel? Starting a war isn’t the solution to whatever the problem is, you surely cannot handle the consequences” the old man interrupted him and stared at his face.
“Starting this war gives me the right answers Lord Tyrus and that is exactly why you kept quiet despite that I had already killed two of the members of the six wings and you never made any move to counter it” lord Nathaniel flared but said slowly as he brought out his phone and dialed Sunny’s phone who was still standing behind the car with an umbrella as cover from the rain with his eyes fixed on the drug lord.
In less than 2 minutes, gunshots sounded sporadically outside the two cars almost immediately lord Nathaniel raised the phone up. Lord Tyrus became terrified at once and took a quick glance around, only to see his five bodyguard surrounding the car already dead.
He froze and stared a look at Nathaniel who returned his stern look with a smirk.
“What do you want from me Nathaniel?” he froze and stared a look at his main eyeballs, his words were slow and the confident he felt before disappeared the moment Nathaniel brought out a gun.
“Good. All I want from you is the list of the men I told you earlier before this meeting was arranged. Give me this list and I’ll let you be” Lord Nathaniel ordered and dropped the phone down as he cocked the pistol he brought out and pointed it directly on the old man’s skull.
××××
“Yes aunty, I told him Yes” Vivian shouted the second time and jumped with excitement as she showcase the ring on her finger to her aunt.
“Wow !! Steve finally propose?” Her aunt exclaimed and asked as if she didn’t hear Vivian correctly again.
“Yes aunty.. He did” Vivian replied her with excitement as her aunt watch with bewilderment.
“I thought you didn’t like him Viv, what’s this all about?” asked her aunt.
“I think things changed aunty, and some things are beyond our control sometimes, I didn’t before but I love him now and I want to marry him”
“Holy Mary…!! When suddenly has Steve became a man you decide to marry and when exactly did he become one of your type or belongs to your class?” she asked as she watched her move round happily.
“Aunty I.. I.. !!”
“Its okay Vivian, its right you are better coming to see how good Steve is and any woman would grabbed their chance if they’re given a slight chance before you atleast” her aunt added when she stammered.
“But I’ve been wanting to ask you Viv, what is going on with Steve? I think I might have heard some inappropriate things about him”
Her aunt asked.
××××
Vladimir opened the door to the big hall and entered almost immediately the men in the hall quickly went on their feet with respect when they saw him walk inside. He brought out a cigarette instantly and light it as they all paid attention to him, wondering what he’d come to do at the hall, leaving the rowdy place silenced.
“Your lordship, I think it’s time we leave here, there is a report upfront from our base and they seemed to be encountering some problems they can’t handle without you” Stone broke the 2 minutes silence Vladimir took to finally light the cigarette.
“What problems are they encountering Stone?” Vladimir asked him after one more minute.
“Its seemed to be some issues you need to attend to boss” Stone answered him.
“Gather yourself, all of you. We are going to attack one of our enemies” Vladimir announced and began to walk around the hall, ignoring what Stone said as he began to give them further instructions.
××××
Steve walked out from the police headquarters as Inspector Kelvin followed him out. He had a smile on, one which could vividly describe or tell that he was happy and for the first time in his life, he felt peace and felt contended, he felt propitious and tranquility satisfied with a feeling of comfort within him.
He turned back and nodded to answer the inspector who had already bade him well before he noticed his phone vibrated, he heaved a big sigh in relief and smiled as he began to take one step after another down the staircase of the building.
He couldn’t believe despite every circumstances that Vivian will say yes to his proposal the day before after several deliberation with Charles who one at a point almost discouraged him from making a move to propose the second time. A move he thought Vivian wouldn’t take but reject.
He smiled to himself the fourth time almost forgotten he wanted to answer his ringing phone by the time he got near his car. He took a look at the phone screen instantly as it was still ringing and saw Vivian’s number displayed.
“Hi Viv” he uttered elevated immediately he answered the call and felt nervous with her response.
“Hi Darling Steve” Vivian’s response came through.
“Dar.. Darling !!” he stammered after her as he opened the car door.
“Yes hi darling, aren’t lovers supposed to call themselves that?” he heard her asked.
“Oh !! Of course. I love that, that’s the right.. I mean what lovers should call themselves” Steve stammered after her.
“Yes I huh.. Where are you?” Vivian asked again after she smiled and waited 10 seconds before she did, noticing the anxiousness on the phone between them.
“I just came out from the police headquarters and I’ve talked with the inspector” Steve replied her and move his legs playfully with the car door slightly opened, feeling nervous and anxious as well.
“So” Vivian said.
“So I told him what’s necessary about the whole thing and I cleared the restrictions on the house” Steve answered her and stepped into the car but only with his left leg placed inside, his right leg was still outside the car as he sits with anxiousness.
“oh !! I’m happy you did Steve, at least my aunt can now stop asking me several unnecessary questions and Margaret atleast will stop disturbing me”
“And What questions is your aunt asking Viv?”
“Oh.. And is it necessary for you to know?”
“Of course I need to Viv, is it all about me? I need to know everything” Steve asked and finally closed the car after stepping inside fully.
“oh.. Are we already talking as lovers now Steve?” Vivian teased him as their conversation continued.
___
Steve speed over and halt after 20 minutes of driving from the police headquarters as his phone continued ringing, following the long discussion between him and Vivian.
He finally decided to park the car as he saw the caller displayed on the phone. He’s feelings changed immediately and his smiling face soon disappeared and turned a frown immediately he parked well and change the car gears.
“Lord Nathaniel” He called out immediately he answered it.
To be continued..
A Story written by Ireti Adedipe
