Lone Errands

EPISODE 5

Chapter 7

The Indonesian dealer whom Trey had picked from the airport had mastery in precious stones and drug smuggling. She was exclusively into big deals such that whenever she came to South Africa, which she did almost every fortnight, it would be about transactions involving big sums of money. Trey was introduced to her by his late friend who was shot by law enforcement authorities whilst trying to escape amid a home raid for illicit drugs. He had established himself as a prominent and successful figure to such an extent that the source of his enormous wealth rose the eyebrows of criminal investigation detectives. His unbecoming was a failure to bribe the bunch of police officers that had replaced those he had gotten used to.

His immense wealth had made him not only powerful and influential but also arrogant to an extent of addressing police officers as “toothless dogs.” On that fateful day, he had just assigned Trey to deliver a huge consignment of drugs to some of his big buyers. When the detectives stormed his home in search of cocaine and steroids, as per a suggestion box tip-off, he flew out through the garage door, jumped into his car, and started the engine of the BMW immediately. As he was on the verge of reversing out, the pursuing corps ordered him to stop and get out immediately, but he continued reversing, knocking and severely injuring one of them thereby inciting deliberate gunshots that rattled the car windows with some finding themselves into his body. The auto-reversing vehicle had to be stopped by the drywall of his yard. He died on the spot and a treasure box of diamonds valued at 65 million rands was discovered upon a rigorous search of the house in the aftermath.

When Trey returned from that assigned errand, he spotted a crowd of people outside his yard with police vehicles blocking the street, a phenomenon that made him make a U-turn and speed off. It is from that tragic incident that Trey resolved never to involve anyone in his dealings. He always told Anable that there were enemies everywhere hence the need to play it solo always. He also made it a policy to befriend and patronise the senior law enforcement officers around him. Unlike before, when his deceased friend was sold out, the corps, were by then more desperate and corrupt such that they would not easily harass or victimize anyone making huge sums of money illicitly as he did. They would rather follow someone up for a bribe and not apprehension. Unlike his late friend, who referred to the corps as “toothless dogs”, he then referred to them as “hungry hawks.” He believed gone where the days when policing was about justice, principles, and ethics. Policing had gone to the dogs, and that was a favourable development for outlaws like him. Nonetheless, he remained vigilant as he still viewed them as enemies who needed to be silenced or brought close via bribery for one to be exempted from their onslaught.

The Indonesian dealer grew to trust him greatly owing to such influential configurations. Having inherited a staggering fortune from his grandfather’s estate, he resolved to play it smarter than his late friend. He believed that history repeats itself because people never learn, and often used this statement whenever he cautioned Anable, who by then was still a novice in dirty survival skits, though she had learned to hold her fort as a solo and smooth operator within a short space of time. Furthermore, his billion-dollar estate was an alibi of huge sums of money made from his corrupt errands. It also became Anable’s scapegoat from any perceivable suspicion. She was safely covered as a billionaire’s PA and queen to be casually touched.

The death of his friend at the hands of law enforcement authorities chronicled the beginning of a different chapter in his life. It led to a scenario where most of the former’s business partners became his. As inhumane as it may sound, that tragedy became a blessing in disguise on his part. The Indonesian became closer to him than ever before since they could now deal directly. Their relationship realized a major boost when Trey got a share of Herbert’s billion-dollar estate. At that juncture, he would afford illicit procurements worth thrice what his late friend could. That ensured that the Indonesian dealer would make quicker returns than before. As life provides, one thing often leads to another, the two’s business relationship spilled into an intimate relationship. Apart from being rich, Trey was highly handsome and charming by nature. Very few ladies would resist his looks and seduction. He also had an eye for cute women. The Indonesian dealer was five years older than him, but she still looked appetizing and tempting. It did not take much, but mutuality and seduction for the two to be naked before each other. This would mean that whenever she was in South Africa, she would be at Trey’s mercy. Having been widowed, she had no inhibitions, after all, no one can overcome the call of nature when it comes to such matters. She had three kids who were still at Junior school back in her country. Her husband was a construction mogul who had invested greatly in real estate to assure posthumous security for his surviving family. He used to travel to South Africa with her, during which he would engage in drug deals in her presence. He smuggled in cocaine and steroids and smuggled out diamonds and gold. She got so accustomed to his illicit side hustles that when he kicked the bucket she easily continued from where he had left. Being in her early thirties, quenching her s****l needs was her biggest challenge, but it was not easy for her to remarry or have an open relationship in Indonesia since it would force her to leave their matrimonial mansion, let alone disenfranchise her from the nominal title as the heir, which only a fool could risk. Her business trips to SA became a great opportunity for undoing those circumstantial yokes. Since she could spend 3 days thereabouts every time she came to SA, she found herself desperately enticing male housekeepers for romance in the lodges and hotels where she made reservations. It so happened that when she was introduced to Trey, by his late friend, she envisaged seducing him, but it did not happen overnight owing to Trey’s instinctive arrogance and ego. Upon the death of his friend, which ushered in a period of direct business dealings between the two, their relationship realized an electrified growth as she manipulated the situation through frequent business trips and exaggerated charm, developments that saw Trey going for both hook and line. It remains to be seen whether their double-faceted relationship did not get into Anable’s nerves in the long run.

Chapter 8

Anable took longer than she often did with clients as the Nigerian dealer drove their business appointment in the direction of developed interests. Anable concisely made it clear that he was not after a boyfriend because she was happily having someone already in her life, therefore she could only settle for one-minute paid-up scenarios of romantic convenience. The Nigerian gentleman bragged of being wealthy to an extent of affording a beautiful and classy lady like her, but she laughed it off saying that Trey would shoot him if he dared try. She also made it clear that it was the wrong place and time as this would make her suspicious of his motives for continuing hanging around. Furthermore, Trey reminded her, time and again, never to tolerate anyone for long whilst in the custody of huge sums of cash for fear of being duped. Her phone started to ring and she realized that it was Trey. Anable had to ask him to leave, but her voice conveyed a subtle invitation.

“Hi dear, what’s up” she answered her phone.

“Cool my love, are you in the office?” inquired Trey.

“Yep!” she briefly replied.

“Listen my love. I will not make it home tonight; I have to wait for a sensitive consignment from Indonesia at a tricky spot” he explained as he cooked up an alibi.

“No problem darling, as long as you keep in touch, but our sheets will miss you tonight, so when will you be home lovey?” she teasingly demanded a response after acknowledging his statement.

“Will let you know my love, but anytime tomorrow, I suppose” he responded.

“It’s all good, play it safe, don’t wanna lose you honey” she romantically uttered.

“Alright my queen, we’ll be chatting, keep safe too” he extended his sentiments.

“Thanks for caring darling” she acknowledged.

“Bye, my love” he extended valedictions.

“Bye sweetheart” she ended the conversation.

Anable walked to the door and locked it. He pulled off the 2 x 1 metre landscape painting from the wall. Behind it was a secret safe which she unlocked and orderly put the stashes of the 8 million rands from the just-ended deal. The security within that building was tight to warrant any panic sensations. Soon after completing that she reached for her phone, went for her conversation history before calling. That call was going to the Nigerian gentleman who had just left the building.

“Hello,” he answered.

“Hi, were you serious that you can afford an expensive lady like me?” she inquired rhetorically.

“Why not? Am I cheap myself?” he responded with a question-answer.

“How much are you going to give me?” she asked seriously.

“As much as you want, you name your price” he responded boastfully.

“Just 50k and valid for just one night because my man ain’t around” she responded trickily.

“Just for a night?” he inquired curiously.

“Of course, how much were you expecting to pay?” she continued.

“5k per night” he responded abruptly.

“Then go and sleep with your sister for that baby milk change” she replied as she dropped the phone.

Anable was never going to settle for less given the extravagant behaviour of the men in his life. Earlier on, Sam had parted with 10k for just a quick session at Pretoria Guest Lodge. Above all, she was a big fish’s queen to swim in small ponds. What she had to comprehend was that most Nigerian men, no matter how rich they might be, were not given to spending money loosely. The West Afrikaners were known for searching for money tirelessly, but not given to spending it recklessly. Only women who came into their lives on a commitment basis stood an unguaranteed chance to dig deeper into their tightly secured pockets. A minute after hanging up, a message alert tone buzzed on her phone. Upon checking, she realized that the Nigerian had said that he can only part with 50k should it be a serious relationship. Whilst she was still trying to figure out his intentions, her phone rang. The Nigerian gentleman was calling.

“Stop wasting my time, what do you want?” she inquired angrily.

“Don’t be mad, what if I have serious business for you?” he asked with a dose of rhetoric.

“Then shoot straight to the point” she responded.

“I can part with such a huge sum of money if you agree to have s*x with me all night before a camera” he explained the developed thread.

“Over my dead body, unless it’s just for an hour or two, but my face won’t be exposed” she replied with conditions.

“Deal?” he asked.

“Don’t be fast, I am not a b***h mind you, above all, I’m not desperate, I have a better someone and also make my own money” she egotistically responded.

“Better than who? Don’t be so sure! So, what’s your position?” he egocentrically inquired.

“We can do it tonight if you’re ready, but payment first or no deal?” she made herself clear.

“Venue?” he asked.

“Electronically transfer that 50k first” she demanded.

“I don’t risk with money, what if you play me?” he expressed his concern.

“If you’re not interested, just leave it” she intransigently replied.

“Will only pay you when all is set at the venue” he uttered.

“In that case, I am only available before midnight, I don’t go out at night unless, with my lover, it’s just that he is not around” she explained her conditions.

“Is that a deal?” he asked for confirmation.

“Deal, but be at your best behaviour, otherwise you’ll go back to Nigeria in a coffin, this is South Africa, mind you” she accompanied her confirmation with a bout of threats.

The two agreed on the terms and conditions of their scandal. Anable who had earlier on been with Sam on a similar escapade was set to be with someone else at the same venue. It seems her out-of-hand habit that Sam engendered whilst she was still a teen was not going to annihilate loosely. The coming of Trey into her love life had not made a durable impact as far as faithfulness was concerned. Their romance was still fragile, let alone shrouded in trickery and cheating. What was evident was the fact that she prioritized Trey. What was also convincing was the fact that she needed him and was not prepared to risk losing him willy-nilly. However, what was love if it was all about money? Yes! What was respect if it was not applicable when one was out of sight? It remains to be seen if ever there was going to be a genuine shift of persona. In any case, real transformation is a process and not a fly-by-night event.