Drowning In His Lies

Chapter 3: He Doesn't Recognize Me

The boardroom smells like new money.

10:00am. Sharp.

The door opens and Tola says, "Mr. Jaden Cole is here."

He walks in.

Black suit. White shirt. No tie. That same walk — like he owns the world. Two men behind him carrying laptops. He is taller than I remember. More handsome. More dangerous.

He looks straight at me and smiles. That smile. "Good morning. You must be M.C. Jones. I'm Jaden. Jaden Cole."

He doesn't recognize me.

Of course he doesn't. The girl in the pool club had long natural hair, cheap makeup, a tight red dress from Yaba market. This woman in front of him has a short bob cut, red lipstick that costs 45k, a Chanel blazer, and eyes that have seen hell.

I stand up. I stretch my hand. My nails are sharp and red. "Mr. Cole. Welcome to Starlight Media. Please sit."

His hand touches mine. His hand is warm. Mine is cold as ice.

We sit. Tola starts the projector. "So, Starlight Media has 4.2 million active viewers on YouTube, i********: and..."

I am not listening to Tola. I am looking at him.

He is looking at me too. But not with recognition. With interest. With that same hungry look he gave me that night at the pool club before everything went wrong.

"Ms. Jones," he interrupts Tola. "Your eyes... have we met before?"

My heart stops.

Tola looks at me. The whole room looks at me.

I smile. The most beautiful, deadly smile I have practiced for one year in the mirror.

"I don't think so, Mr. Cole," I say softly. "I would definitely remember a man like you."

He laughs. "You would?"

"Yes," I say. "I never forget a face. Especially a handsome one."

He leans forward. He is falling already. Men like Jaden always fall for a little praise.

"So," he says, "should we have dinner tonight to discuss the contract? Just you and me? My hotel at Transcorp. 8pm?"

Just like that. Same line. Same trick. He used it on me one year ago. "Come to my hotel, let's discuss your modelling job."

Tola is shocked. She looks at me like, Madam no go!

I look at Jaden Cole. One year ago, I would have said yes with my heart beating. One year ago, I said yes and he destroyed me.

Now?

I smile wider.

"8pm," I say. "I will be there."

Because revenge is a dish best served in a hotel room where no one can hear him scream.

Tonight, Jaden Cole will learn that the girl he left to drown... learned how to swim.