MY TREASURED DESIRE

CHAPTER NINE: Princess Reese Chang’s Prowess!

Reese’s Royal Guests’ Mansion Room, Nri City.

Reese's Reminiscences

I was in the mansion allotted to me… every comfort was available, but it seemed incomplete... And, I recalled one day, two years ago –

Alex and I have just left a Class at Harvard University, and I was simply bored. Somehow, I did not want to ask him for anything that looks like I desired his assistance or bonding. He was just a dude who uses everyone to blackmail me, but I wanted much more love and honour from him, which he was too stingy to give (so I used to think) – But he was offering material things that I do not desire! Assurance that makes our relationship get a name, is what I want! What now, our eyes met again as if it was that auspicious time. I shivered a bit, and a thought came to me. ‘Why are men so blind? You read everything else, but do not see what they should see.’

Then, he seized the moment's opportunity, asking: “Beautiful girls love pieces of jewelleries, don't they?”

In my heart, I replied, ‘Of course we do. I love pieces of jewelleries too.’ But I parted my lips and what I heard myself saying was: “Is that question for me, or for us?”

“Of course, it is meant for that beauty with brains who is bored right now. I could take her out on a drive to a top-of-the-pack jewellery shop, for window-shopping... What do you say, Princess of Achaia?”

I did look at him with silent admiration, in his Armani Casuals... He was stunning, looking expensive, but not so loud. I saw his classy, customized Lamborghini Aventador, but I had not got the opportunity of being driven in it. I wanted to jump at the offer, but I resisted the urge and said coldly...

“What makes you think I want to drive around town with you. Why would that be?”

“My unfailing humble instincts, Dear Princess,” he replied with so much confidence and glee, unruffled. But he refused to answer the second part of the question, for he must think he can hide his intentions!

“What if I say I am not bored, and I am okay the way I am?” I continued, coldly.

“Then,” his brownish eyes squinted as he seemed to be coming to get me, saying, “This ‘so-called Caucasian African’ will throw his arms around the snob and give her a kiss to remember! Then, your puzzles will be solved at the Holy Place!”

I looked at him and imagined the “Holy Place”. He must be tacitly referring to our Wedding… without a proposal. Preposterous! I opened my mouth to say something, but two lovely female classmates came before me to ask for permission to go out with “my boyfriend” for just one day! I became uncomfortable: I felt jealous, but I must hide it, somehow! So, as I picked my bag, the next person I saw hugging me gently was Alex... I blushed, and as co-students started to cheer, he embarrassed me with a peck on my neck. Then, he announced: “Should we use your Aston Martin or my...”

I knew that he would continue with the romance, which is usually so fleeting. So, I quickly interrupted him by saying, “Let’s go, Bully,” rolling my eyes and gently removing his arms from my body – to stop his adventurous intents.

Of course, I was pretending. I was dying to have a drive, in that Lamborghini Aventador. I also wanted to go to the jewellery store... But who made me his ‘girlfriend'? The Caucasian African Guy is full of tricks. Did he ever propose to me? Neither will his awesome presence give anyone else the confidence to try. Thank God, I also need no one else... Why can't he just pop the question and we'll take it from there, as civilised people?!

He has not released his rib-cracking jokes for me lately. We soon got to the WOW car. Alex’s car gave two beeps, the headlights flashed, and the doors folded up like wings, inviting us to be its guests. The cute Lamborghini Aventador that was customised for Alex Junior is a mid-engine supercar padded for greater safety, built on carbon-fibre monocoque, and available as a coupe or as a roadster with a movable top... The Aventador non-turbo 6.5-liter V12 engine sends 740 horsepower and 509 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels via a seven-speed single-clutch automatic transmission.

Dr. Alex Junior courteously guided me to the passenger’s seat, before coming to take his seat beside me on the driver’s seat... His fragrance was a temptation for me when he helped me to put on my seatbelt... giving me a peck on my cheek for the job he did. Though I loved it, I protested, but he only smiled to further increase my heartbeats.

As he fastened his own seat belt and caused both doors to securely lock, he pressed some buttons on the radar to stabilise the temperature within the lovely machine. He took another look at me and smiled. I asked him, “What?” And he responded in his thick British Accent:

“Having you on the passenger’s seat reminds me of a report my Palace P.A. gave to me when he came to resume duty an hour behind schedule, after taking his Caucasian Ovcharka to the Veterinary Doctor.”

“What does Ovcharka mean?”

“It is a kind of shepherd dog,” he replied. “The P.A. calls it a ‘Russian Bear Dog,’ but I know that some of us prefer to call it Caucasian Ovcharka”.

I smiled a bit, expecting some rib-cracker shortly. I am aware that Alex Junior is always amiable with his workers, and they share a lot of warm discourse. So, Alex changed his voice and started speaking like an indigenous Nigerian, assuring me that he does not want to change the report:

“Oga, I was driving down the Onitsha Market Road o, and I had sped a bit before grinding to a smooth halt, obeying the traffic light. Then, a corrupt traffic Policeman just hopped into my Toyota Camry’s passenger seat and slammed the front door awkwardly, asking me to move along as the green light came on. The door locked itself, being faulty. As usual, the traffic warden wanted ‘a tip’ under duress, insinuating that I just broke the traffic law… Suddenly, he saw my big Russian Bear Dog - its fur patterns make it look like a hyena – just behind the officer’s seat. Its tongue stuck out menacingly, dripping saliva! The Officer knew that the dog was looking at him.” Dr. Alex Junior used his own voice to narrate that a dialogue ensued:

Traffic Policeman: (Shivering in fear as he noticed that I did not care about him.) “Ah, you carried a dog with you?”

P.A: (Speaking in Nigerian Pidgin, with a frowned face) “Yes. I carry a dog. Na offense?”

Traffic Policeman: (Feeling breathless and more uncomfortable, he shifted on the passenger seat.) “Nna, where una dey come from?” (Nna – addresses a male person while Nne is feminine).

P.A: “From Hospital.”

Traffic Policeman: (Fake care) “Ah, Sorry – You sick?”

P.A: (Scaring the guy, nonchalantly) “No be me. Na the person wey the dog bite we go visit o. E remain small for am to die sef!” (Interpretation: Not I, we went to visit a victim of the dog bite who was nearly dead meat!)

Traffic Policeman: (Terribly shaken) “Enyi, what makes the dog’s head be shaking so strangely like that?” (Enyi means “friend”).

P.A: “He does that when he is preparing to bite someone.”

Traffic Policeman: “Nna Biko, Does the dog know you… I mean, can you control it?” (Biko means, please!)

P.A: “No be my dog? Yes nah.” (Is it not my dog? Yes, I can.)

Traffic Policeman: (Sweating Profusely) “This door, how do you open it?”

P.A: (Mocking the guy,) “You no know how you take enter?” (Did you forget how you entered?)

Traffic Policeman: (Voice shaky) “Nna, as you drive, I have been fiddling with the door - No sign that it can open.” The dog was now getting impatient, giving a rising growl. Its tongue was almost at the left ear of the Traffic Policeman, who slid forward again… The P.A. kept mute. “Nna, I take God beg you – Open the door make I comot. I am not charging you for anything. As in, Police is your friend, inugo?”.

P.A: “I know. How much will you pay for intruding into my privacy?

Traffic Policeman: (Using his bare hands to clean his sweats and clean it on his uniform,) “Nna, I never hustle anything o… The road is dry! Na only ten US dollars I get. Slow down and open this door, Abeg!”

P.A: (Matched his foot on the accelerator,) “You are not ready. In five minutes, the dog will taste your ear!”

Traffic Policeman: (Voice shaky) “Nna, Okay, Okay, Okay… I no see well. No be ten, na one hundred dollars dey here. Pleassssse!”

P.A: “I am a kind person. Bring the one hundred dollars.” He collected the cash, put his hand on the Dog’s Head, caressing it. “Charlie, see the hunter being hunted!” He brought the car to a halt and pushed the door open. The Policeman flew out in a funny way, not forgetting to slam the door behind him, and started cursing:

Traffic Policeman: (Voice still shaky, as a boy who missed death by whiskers) “Nna, God punish you, i***t… E no go beta for una and your wicked bingo. Badman!”

As Alex and I burst into serious laughter, I realised that he had been driving since. We drove into Washington Street: we checked on a Big Chain Jewellery Franchise there and returned to the Harvard Community – to one of the University’s certified Jewellery Stores – Signitas. According to the Customer Relations Manager who promptly came to attend to us, Signitas was founded by Harvard graduates. She explained: “Our Harvard University jewellery is beautifully engraved in your choice of yellow or white 18K gold or sterling silver. 24K gold is available upon request. We offer free engraving for jewellery personalization. You are also free to look through our collections. You can get the best designs in the whole of America here.”

Great pieces of jewellery, truly so: My family is into Diamond Mining Partnership with some African Governments, so, I was trained to identify the original collections. Alex asked if Signitas has top-notch diamond wedding rings in stock. I was enticed to see his high-end taste: The two premium diamond rings he chose, and we inspected their originality, have a price of only $9,500,999 a-piece. He asked me to choose, I blushed. But the beautiful Manager begged me to show her the one I would cherish, in case... In my mind, I said ‘In case of what?!’ But woman to woman, I told her the customised details I would love to be hand-crafted on my own ring... Plain Wishes: that was just for the saying, I was telling her... But she took the details, to my surprise, ignoring my warning that we only came for window shopping!

I chose one great piece, which he also loved. But how can I expect him to buy me an Engagement Ring… Just like that? He said the truth: Window-Shopping. However, he swiped his Platinum Card, and bought two diamond-inserted Harvard Graduates’ Pendants on the spot: one was for him. Trust me, I stubbornly rejected the purchase when he showed them to me in the shop... I truthfully told him not to “impress” me with reckless spending...

We drove out again, and as he informed me about one of his humble friends' restaurants in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he noted: “It is about three minutes drive from where we are.” And we drove for about 130 seconds, and suddenly, he squeezed his face. So, I traced the direction of his gaze: About 4 hefty men in the black suits were dragging a man out of a building and yet another 15 heavy guys in suits were following them. Alex moved near the men and parked well at the side, begged me to stay in the car, and dashed out.

“Alex,” I called, but it seemed so late. He had moved to the scene to tell the bodyguards to stop maltreating the guy on the floor. But they pointed into the building, instead. He entered... I could not leave him alone in such danger, so, I took the key, moved out of the car, and pressed the lock button. The display that followed attracted unwanted attention to me... I also entered the building and found out that it was a top-notch Restaurant...

But no one seems to be hungry!