Near Miss

ELEVEN

Since the wedding date had been set, Morenike had been dragged on endless shopping trips and appointments with event planners, bakers and caterers by her mother. Her mother was so excited she could as well be the bride. Tried as she did Morenike could not feel any measure of excitement. She tried to psych herself by thinking about how successful her husband to be is and how rich she will be. This thought led her to remember his frequent travels. For instance she has not been able to see him since the wedding date was set. They communicate on phone and he seems excited.

Morenike watched as her mother and the event planner tried to determine the best of all shades of pink. She could not stand it, so she escaped into her favorite fantasy. In the jungle just her and Seyi no kidnappers not danger just the canopies of tree branches that allow occasional sunrays that fall on the bronze floor of a millions of dried leaves. She thought of breeze carrying the dry leaves around them.

“Morenike! Are you even here?”

“Yes , Yes of course.”

Her mother held up a fabric that looks exactly like the rest for all Morenike cares.

“I think this is the prettiest, what do you think?”

“It is fine mum.”

“You have to be more enthusiastic than that. It is your wedding you know?”

Morenike almost burst into laughter. Like any choice from her will matter if it does not flow with her mother’s grand theme.

There was no time to sulk over Morenike’s proposed marriage. The next week at the agency made the previous weeks look like a joke. The agency got its models engaged in a photo shoot s***h fashion exhibition at the famous ocean view resort in Lagos. The team arrived at the resort early to take in the scenery. They got a tour of the place and breath taking is an understatement. The design of the resort reception is high end minimalist elegance with Black, silver and white as dominant colors and random pops of reds and maroons. The same theme is extended into the halls and lounges, but away from the main building visitors burst into a tropical world of vibrant colors from the umbrellas to the bikinis and jet skies. Stepping off that elevated ground the resort is beneath; down the steps with the ocean as its backdrop. The tour group broke into various interest groups allowing Seyi the opportunity to slip away and check the place out on his own. It was all fun and sightseeing that day before they all retired to their rooms to prepare for the activities of the next day. Seyi was paired with a guy called Blake with whom he will be sharing his room for the duration of the period of the outing.

The symbiotic relationship between politicians and Business men who will succeed in Nigeria is historical. This association is true of the relationship between Cole group and Senator Agbaja. Their relationship over the past decades has resulted in Cole group becoming the richest and most versatile group of companies in the region. Senator Agbaja in turn is the leader of the ruling political party with far reaching influence and very deep pockets. These great men have moved on to higher callings, serving the nation and putting resources together to serve mankind respectively.  They have relinquished the actual running of their business activities to trusted associates; their sons.

Kayode Agbaja left Abuja on a private business to speak with Poju Cole about the refineries that will be privatized and must be bought by the Cole Group. The Cole group is the greatest importer of petroleum product for the nation. If the refineries get into the wrong hands they may actually be repaired. Kayode is in Lagos to work out a strategy with Poju on how to bid and not lose.

Kayode is taking quite while to get to the resort, so Poju decided to look around to reduce his anxiety as it is the rule not to talk business over the phone. It is fine by Poju he gets to go to interesting places to conduct business. This place is looking quite interesting tonight. There seem to be some kind of fashion show going on tonight. Poju has a soft spot for models, maybe when business is concluded he would get himself a model to spend the night with.

After a few drinks at the lounge he decides to go and check if for kayode’s arrival; nothing. He would not have picked the place if he knew about the fashion event. Kayode will not be happy about the extra risk of public identification. The activities of the son of senator Agbaja is always news.

After just two glasses of wine and eyes full of models, prospects for later in the night he left the lounge to go see if Kayode Had eventually arrived. He had and business quickly got on the way. They deliberated behind closed doors for longer than Poju expected. Behind his mind he knew that he was missing the show, but he did not come for the show. He came to seal a deal that will ensure the flow of wealth to his children if everything goes as planned.

The day’s schedule had been grueling to say the least, and Seyi could not think of any place he would rather be compared to his bed at the end of the show even as his colleagues planned their grand entrance into the after party. He stayed back in the hall to avoid the people changing back in the rooms. He could not bring himself to even consider anything but sleep right now. He realized he was not the only one that stayed back. Some models have caught the eyes of fashion loving big shots. The hall was fast turning into a nest spotted by cozy couples here and there. Seyi had no choice but to leave and hope that those party-mongers would have left and he can slip safely into his bed. He made it to the corridor leading to his room without incident; the boys have all gone. He noticed foot steps behind him so he slowed to allow them pass. A young man with not one but two ladies on his sides glided by Seyi; a rich man, Seyi could tell by his assemble. He made it to his room Locked his door and it was light out.

Poju dropped off the less beautiful model in Kayode’s room and went off with the better endowed. His fetish for models always gets the better of him but this night is perfect there must be a celebration of some kind that outweighs drinking.

The room started to shake or so it seems when Seyi forced his eyes open. He realized Blake was shaking him. For a moment he could not comprehend what Blake was saying.

“Get up, Get up. They are rounding up everyone. Rita was found dead in a room down this corridor.”

“What…” Seyi mumbled.

“Rita! She was found dead in a room down there. We have to go to the reception.”

Seyi came to the realization of what happened when he got to the reception and saw the entire gang, the manager of the agency and many police officers.

Rita’s room mate and friend was bawling while recounting their little fun trip last night. For the life of her she could not remember the name of the guy that picked them up. She spent the greater part of the night and early morning with him but she cannot seem to give a cogent description. Seyi was especially shaken because he remembers seeing the ladies with the man after the show on the way to his room. He decided to keep this to himself because just like the broken lady back there he could not remember anything of consequence about the man, plus he did not want to draw any attention to the fact that he was not where he was expected to be, tempers may flair.

Back at the office Seyi recounted his experience to the manager just to corroborate the lady’s story about the dapper man who picked them up. The manager understood his caution, but still took him to the police station for a statement before allowing him to go home.