Falling In A Second

The meeting

The girl was sleeping soundly with a hint of smile on her face.Maybe because she thought she had finally found love.She might look a whole lot more beautiful if she had less make up on,but all her true beauty was covered by the several layers of makeup.Se was not his type at all,neither were all the other women he had been with.They wore expensive perfumes,heavy makeup,want a man they can control and act completely helpless and weak,the only reason Desmond puts up with them was becauae they paid the bills and gave him cash,sometimes his conscience bugs him and he feels bad for decieving these women but then he reminds himself that a guy has got to survive somehow besides it was an exchange of service,they took care of his financial needs and he takes care of their emotional need,they all had one problem,loneliness and he helped them have a good time.Usually he will wake up early and serve them breakfast in bed just to make them feel good but not today,today he will plan his mission to king Azuka' s palace and tomorrow,he will rub the palace. Desmond dressed up,took one last look at her latest client,she will pay the bills and find her way home from the hotel when she wakes up.She wasn't going to like this one bit but Desmond knew how to flatter them and make them believe everything he says.He left the hotel and walked the street whistling and smiling.He was in a good mood.

Three men were seated counter of gentle breeze bar with their backs to the door and Desmond recognised them immidiately he walked in,one of the men,probably their leader said" about time you showed up, we've been waiting here for a while".Desmond looked shocked because he had no idea how they could have seen him with their backs to him but as he got closer,he realized that bar counter had large glasses that reflected any one caming through the door.Desmond squeezed himself between them and ordered scotch,he took a long sip before saying" sorry I kept you waiting but I was busy,so,what does the boss have for me?".The leader spoke"you'll get to the palace by boat and leave the same way,an old dark blue pick up truck will be waiting for you at the shore,you deliver and you walk away,how you enter and leave the palace is your problem,you get caught,you're on your own". Desmond shook his head" yeah yeah,I know the drill, anything else?".The men look at each other and one of them said" you back out at any point,you are dead meat".Desmond said nothing,they emptied their glasses in one gulp and took their leave,half way across the room,the leader turned back and said" oh I forgot,the drinks are on you,you know,for keeping us waiting".

Desmond grudgenly took out ten thousand note and gave the bar tender.He walked to the little appartment he rented from miss B,the compound looked deserted which was good,he had time to think and plan before his neighbours got back.Desmond got under the shower,turned it on and closed his eyes,he didn't take his clothes off,he thought better this way.At two hours later,Desmond placed two items on his kitchen table,a gun and a knife,he had no intention of running into trouble or killing someone but if he did run into trouble,then he can use the gun or knife to buy enough time to get out.He made himself supper which consisted of bread,sardine and a bottle of cold beer.He was a terrible cook.He will have to go to bed early, tomorrow will be a long day.

Nile looked at the picture in her hands,it a picture of her mother standing at the shore and staring beyond the sea,the looked so beautiful it was hard to believe she was gone.Sometimes she wondered what her mother would think of her if she were alive,would she be proud of her or disappointed,her thoughts were interrupted when the door was pushed opened and Martha walked in" you need to get ready my princess,the guests are waiting".The maid looked even more excited than Nile,it was her 20th birthday and the whole palace had been decorated beautiful,Nile had wanted a small dinner of just her father,herself and the maid but he father would have none of it.He wanted a grand celebration.It was not just her birthday but the day she will be bethrothed to Vinnie.Her father had explained to her that Vinnie knew more about the kingdom than anyone else and he could be trusted to take care of her and the people.The king and pleaded with her to so this to safegurad their lineage and keep the kingship in their family.Becausr her father had no male child,Nile had to marry a befiting man who knew the customs and traditions of the kingdom,a man who could fight and lay down his life for the kingdom.Nile had insisted on talking about it with Vinnie at least to get his take on the matter and get to know him beyond the uncle she had known him to be.After a day spend with him talking,she had discovered that he was not a bad man,while she wasn't in love with him and didn't think she will ever be,she realise they were both not crazy about the idea of marriage but like her Vinnie was doing a favor to a friend he loved so much,so she should kind of be grateful to him.Never the less,Nile couldn't help feeling sad,she had this heavy feeling in her chest and it seemed that all her dreams of love,adventure and happiness were fading away.If only life was a fairytale,how she wished all the romance novels she has read could actually happen in real life,but it doesn't,her knight in shining armor wasn't cami ng,so she had to put aside her all this nonsense and face her reality.

Nile got dressed with the help of Martha,she wore a long pink sleeveless Ball room gown that fitted her body to perfection.It was a gift from vinnie.ahe put on her mother's pearl earrings and took one last look at herself in the mirror." you look so beautiful my princess,just like your mother" Martha said almost crying,she looked at Nile with so much concern" I just can't believe you are getting engaged,oh how time flies,seems like only yesterday you were a toddler and I was cleaning up after you,now,you're gonna be a bride" by now she had burst into tears,Nile hugged her,after a while,she gently ceases from the hug and walked to the window,she stared towards the sea and said" I can't believe am getting engaged either,I have no idea what am doing Martha,will I never know what love is,will i ever be truely happy?". Martha walked up to her" I know things seem bad now but believe me,everything will fall in place,you'll see". Before Nile could comment,Uncle Jerome,her father's elder brother turned the door knob genly and without caming said" my princess,it's time".Nile wiped her eyes gently,smile at Martha and followed her uncle,she stopped at the start of the stairs and waited to be announced,at the end of the stairs was a the throne room and all the guests.The king's servant in waiting shouted" princess Nile,princess of Amassi kingdom". Everyone turned towards the stairs as she walked down and was received by her father who hugged her,kissed her forehead,complimented her and ushered her into the throne room.Her father was going to make a speech after which Vinnie would put the family bethrothed ring on her finger,making her his fiancé,Nile almost threw up in her mouth at the top.

Desmond had never been to the palace but he knew something wasn't right,it was too quiet,as if everyone had left for some reason.He had planned on getting through the kitchen dressed as a farmer delivering vegetables but the kitchen door was locked.Luckily for him,an upstairs window was opened,Desmond climbed to the window,pushed it gently and looked inside,the room was empty,he got inside.He looked around and discovered that it was a lady's room,there were hundreds of romance novels arranged on a small shelf and almost everywhere was pink.What was it with girls and pink he wondered?. Desmond started searching around the room ,the boss had told him that the diamond was in the king's Chambers but still Desmond decided to search this room,maybe he might see something valuable for himself.As he turned to start from the drawers,he tripped on a large teddy bear left on the carpet and fell before he even had time to balance himself.Unfortunately,a lampstand by the bed was pushed as he fell and it fell on the carpet and shattered.

While king Azuka was giving his speech,a loud noise was heard from Nile's bedroom,everyone turned towards that direction,Uncle Jerome said" continue my king,I'll go see what's happening". Nile said almost too quickly" am caming with you uncle". Her father stopped her immidiately" no princess,just let your uncle handle it". But Nile insisted,she didn't think it was anything serious but she needed some air" it's ok dad,it's my room so just give me a few minutes to check ok? besides I left a gift for Vinnie inside,I'll just get it". Before yet father could peotest further,Vinnie touched him and told him to let it go.Nile and her uncle quietly climbed the stairs and when they got to the door,her uncle pushed it opened with force and to her greatest surprise,a man was in her room.A young,very attractive man was kneeling by her bed picking up pices of her lampstand.Her uncle motioned her to stay back but she pushed past him and went inside,the man still kneeling lifted his head and their eyes met,in that instant it felt like no one else existed in the world,like everything else disappeared and they were just lost in each other's eyes.Nile had no idea how long they stared into each other's eyes before her uncle said" stand up slowly young man with your hands up". Desmond obeyed,he had no choice,he had been so lost in this girl's eyes that he hadn't thought of what to so,this had never happened to him.Before he could think of what to so next,he heard footsteps caming towards the room,if he is caught,he was done with,Desmond grabbed the girl real fast and pressed his knife to her neck" anyone cames theougj that door,she dies".Uncle Jerome nodded and put down his sword as Desmond demanded,Desmond pressed one hand on the girls mouth and knife in the other hand,jumped over the open window and they both landed on a bed of roses in the garden,the girl fell flat down and Desmond landed on her,they stared at each other again until Desmond heard shots from the window and a voice saying" stop shooting,you might hurt the princess". Princess? she was the princess? Desmond quickly grabbed her again before the escaped,this time he bind her hands, feet ans mouth and carried her on his shoulders.He ran towards the shore where his boat was anchored.There was no there boat at the shore probably because the guests had used the road,Desmond got into the boat with her and headed for the other side.