The trail
1913 Words
She sighed tiredly as she walked into the room with Daren following behind her, carrying the baby. She sat on the bed dejectedly with her face looking downcast.
“Love, the baby needs a bath,” she heard him say as he placed the baby on the bed.
She could see him undressing the baby who was about to cry and she smiled wryly. Daren had proved to be a very caring and supportive husband. With him beside her, she was pulling through her postpartum days easily.
She thought about Jerry and her heart skipped. Why does everything have to happen this way? She thought and her eyes welled up.
“Love,” Daren called again as he stood up right and he could see her staring at the baby.
She raised her head towards him and stood up at once.
“The baby needs a bath,” he reminded her.
“Oh,Um..yeah,” she muttered and took the baby from him.
He stood for a moment watching as she proceeded to the bathroom with the baby. What possibly could be wrong with Melisa? He thought.
After having a good night shower, they both retired to bed. He placed his arms around her as she dragged the duvet over their bodies.
“The party was fun,” he said and she smiled wryly.
“Yeah, it was,” she acknowledged.
“I guess Toyosi was angry about what happened. She left the party earlier,” he said and she sighed.
“That’s her problem,” she said, unconcerned.
“Hmm,” he mumbled.
“Love, who was that young man at the party, um..what’s his name again?” He asked.
Her heart jumped into her stomach and she swallowed hard at once.
“Um..Oh, Jerry,” she managed to say.
“Yeah, he seems to know you really well,” he said.
“Oh, yeah. Um..he..he is Rita’s close friend. Kind of like her ex boyfriend,” she replied at once.
“Oh.. okay. I don’t know why I have an odd feeling about that young man,” he said and her eyes bulged.
“Why?..you don’t even know him,” she said with a chuckle.
“Yeah, but I don’t like him. There’s something weird about him,” he said and she kept silent.
“Come, let’s catch some sleep. We’ve had a long day,” he said and she curled into his arms slowly.
All through the night, she couldn't sleep. Thoughts about Jerry were killing her and she needed to keep him out of sight. As soon as it dawned, she stood up from the bed and hurried to the bathroom to take her bath.
“Love, are you going out so early?” Daren asked from the bed.
“Oh..Um, yeah. Rita called. There is an emergency. She needs me right now,” she said as she proceeded to the wardrobe to get changed.
“What about the baby? She’s yet to be awake,” he said.
“Um, I..I'm not taking her with me. I will be back before she wakes,” she said.
He frowned as he sat up right.
"What sort of emergency would make you leave your one month old baby behind?” He asked in a rather high tone.
“Love, It’s too early to go out with a baby!” She voiced out angrily.
He kept silent and let out a sigh as he saw her dressing up in a black dress.
“What if she wakes up and cries? Who’s gonna breastfeed her?” He asked.
“There are milks in the bottles and the maid is going to help me bottle feed her,” she said as she brushed her hair.
“My mom wouldn’t like this, she and grandma would get angry over this,” he lamented.
She scoffed as she gave him a stern look.
“It has always been about your mom and grandmother, right?” She asked.
He pulled a long face as he heard her words.
“Really?” He asked in a rather high tone.
“Oh, I’m not in for this baseless argument,” she cried as she picked up her black bag and hurried out of the room.
“This is not Melisa, no,” he said, shaking his head.
**
Diana hurried over to the balcony where she could see the black car driving out of the yard. She had seen Melisa stepping out of the foyer that morning and she wondered where she was heading when it’s not yet sunrise.
“Lisa, I know there’s something up those sleeves,” she said with a smirk. “And I’m gonna find out soon,” she said as she hurried out of the balcony immediately.
*
She honked as she drove slowly towards the left side of the road where she could see Rita standing in front of her boutique. She was dressed in a black sweatshirt and black jeans with a black facecap over her head.
“Hop in,” she urged as she stopped the car beside Rita.
Rita stepped into the car and heaved a sigh.
“Wow, I never knew it had to be this early,” she complained.
“I need to get it done before everyone in the mansion wakes up,” Melisa explained as she continued driving.
“Isn’t this going to arouse suspicions from your husband?” She asked.
She kept silent and sighed.
“I’m just so confused, Rita,” she cried.
“Look, you shouldn’t give Daren room for suspicion. You need to put yourself together and be bold. Act like everything is normal.” she advised.
“I will try,” she said with a nod.
*
Diana slowed down as she saw the car park beside the boutique and she watched carefully as the young Lady by the roadside stepped into the car.
“That’s Rita, That’s Rita,” she said in sheer excitement.
“Now, I need to know what these two are up to,” she said with a smirk as she increased her speed while trying to catch up with Melisa’s car which was already moving at a fast pace.
Just then, a white pathfinder overtook her and it rammed into a blue corolla which was right in front of her. Both cars stopped in front of her and a heated argument ensued between both drivers.
“s**t! Take your damn cars out of the road!” She yelled in frustration as she horned incessantly.
It became a chaos and other vehicles piled up on the road to help settle the fight between both drivers.
“Oh, this is crazy, this is crazy!” She yelled as she hit on the steering wheels violently.
By now Melisa would be far gone and there is no way she could trail her any longer, she thought as she began to pant in frustration.
*
The car came to a halt in front of the Golden Villa hotels and suites. Melisa quickly disguised in a long black jalabiya and a black scarf wrapped around her face. She stepped out of the car after Rita and she put on her dark glasses as they proceeded to the edifice before them.
Her heart cringed as they stopped in front of the hotel room.
“How am I sure we can trust this guy?” She asked as she looked at Rita.
“He won’t try anything stupid. I’m here,” she assured.
She heaved a sigh as she felt her heart beating fast. She watched as Rita knocked on the door and they both waited a few seconds before the door was opened.
She gulped as they walked into the room and she could see him walking to the bed with his back facing her. He was shirtless and she could see his thick biceps and abs as he turned to face them.
A smirk appeared on his face and her heart cringed again as memories of the r**e surged through her head.
He sat on the bed and began to smoke with his sexy round eyes gazing at them.
“You girls ain’t gonna sit?” He asked with a smirk.
“No, we didn’t come here to have fun. State what you want and let’s get out of here,” Rita voiced out angrily.
He scoffed and put the cigarette away from his lips.
“I want my money,” he said and the two ladies glanced at each other.
“We ain’t paying you that huge amount of money. 1 million is what we owe you,” Rita said and he scoffed again.
“You guys broke the deal in the first place. I did a good job, she got pregnant and never paid my balance fee. My baby was born and I wasn’t informed..,” he related with a chuckle.
Melisa made a bump fist as she became irritated by his words.
“I will give you the money. But you will stay out of sight, if possible, leave the country,” she said at once.
He chuckled and stood up from the bed.
“Leave the country? On your mere 3 million naira?” He asked with a scoff.
“I will make it 10,” she offered and Rita’s eyes bulged.
“What! What are you doing, Lisa?” She asked in disbelief.
She sighed and nodded.
“Leave it to me,” she whispered.
“10 will do,” he said with a smile.
“I need you to stay out of my sight. You have to leave and never return!” She said with her body shaking violently.
“I will. You’re a good girl, and you know it,” he said with a smile.
She hissed and looked away from him. She reached for her phone in her bag and typed a few words into it.
“Input your account details,” she urged.
He smiled and took the phone from her. She watched impatiently as he typed his details into the phone and handed it over to her.
“Done,” she said after a few minutes.
He smiled broadly and walked back to the bed. She looked at Rita who was wearing a long face and she sighed.
“Let’s get out of here,” she said and they both walked out immediately.
“Babe, you shouldn’t have offered him such a huge amount of money. What if he comes back for more?” Rita asked as they stepped into the car.
“He isn’t going to come back for more. If he does, I will kill him,” she threatened and her eyes bulged.
She sighed and leaned her head on the car seat tiredly.
“Rita, my life is a mess,” she cried.
Rita touched her arms and shook her head.
“No, your life is not a mess. You did the right thing,” she assured.
She wiped her tears and sniffed.
“Right now, I’m worried about the transfer I made. Daren will be aware of it,” she said anxiously.
“How?” She asked curiously.
“We’re both spending from the same account,” she said.
“Oh, then you better find a lie to tell him,” she said.
She sighed and nodded.
“Now get changed and let’s get out of here. The sun is rising,” Rita urged and she nodded again.
- Writer
