Journeys

Chapter 1 "Do you believe I won't know?" Toina yelled as she stamped her feet on the ultraslim Mk2 Gioia white polished tile while frowning and folding her hands under her armpit. "You little screwball, won't you answer me? I heard a few rumors first. I didn't believe it until I saw him right in front of our house. It is maddening to me how all this happened without me hearing a thing. I didn't even notice it. " She stood with one hand on her forehead and the other on her waist. "Tonia," Anna called, as she raised her head, with a guilty look, "I didn't plan to keep this away from you. I swear, I didn't know when I would definitely tell you. I don't know how to tell you. It wasn't my plan to keep it away from you. " "But you did, Anna, you f*****g did." Tonia stated, giving her a deadly glare "Yes, I know. I'm sure I kept it away from you. You don't have to remind me. She said, shouting angrily, not minding the dead-kit glare her friend was passing her. "Why is she angry? Was it for herself, her friend, or everything? " She thought in her head. There was a silent eruption between the two ladies in the room. The temperature in the room was obviously rising by now. "Tonia, you should know I'm not like this." Anna broke down. As much as I don't keep things away from you, you should understand that it is more and more than I can handle. She paused a bit, trying to paraphrase her words before her, since she don't want another problem to add up to what is still on ground, she cleared her face and continued. "I didn't have it in mind to date Tony. I never once nurtured it in my mind. She paused a bit as she continued, do you remember that very day we both went to the club? If you could recall, you had an impromptu call that made you leave immediately. I dropped the glass of wine that was with me on the table. Unknown to me, that very same glass of wine had been drugged the moment I dropped it on the table. I remember that I felt dizzy and that was the end. That was the only thing I could remember. As Anna stated, Tonia's eyes were wide as saucers and continued. I woke up the following morning to see Toby all dressed and grinning wickedly at me. I was stark naked before him. I was about to say something when he cut me off and showed me some pictures of me naked. He told me he didn't touch me because I was unconscious, which I was pretty much aware of. She paused a bit and then continued. I signed a contract with him which stated that I must be his girlfriend, or else he would post my nude picture. He also threatened that he would kill my parents and you. He told me he was aware that my parents' business was at the brink of falling apart, and the only way I could save myself and my family from him killing us was to sign a contract with him. My career is even the least bit. I had no option but to sign the contract. I couldn't tell you then because it was a shameful thing. She narrated with quilt in her voice "What a sadistic scheme," Toni seethed through her teeth and she continued. Because he asked you out and you said no to him, he pulled out this string. She said this angrily and paused for some seconds by now tears was following freely on Anna's face. "Hush babe." Tonia bent down as she used the handkerchief near her to wipe the tears off her friend's face. The tears didn't stop flowing; they were flowing freely. Tonia hugged her and continued talking. "I can't even imagine the pain you've gone through, Anna. I promise you, I will sort this out. Okay, tell me whenever he calls you, just inform me. Trust me on this babe. " Tonia assured her. "She..he..will..post..kill...you." She babbled on nonsensically. "It is okay, hun, he is not going to post it. He won't touch us. Not even a strand of our hair. " She said this even though she had literally no plan at that moment. She knew she was going to figure it out. She knew she was going to come up with an idea. Her heart was trashing itself in its confines by this point. She was all riled up by everything, everything that is happening presently. She knew she must come up with a great and good plan. She was also aware that Tony was not someone to joke with. Toby was the one person everyone feared. The cops are also in search of him. She knew she must not act rashly. If she did, it would definitely cost her life, Brianna's parents,and even Brianna herself. She was frustrated like Anna. Tonia went up to the sub-zero refrigerator in the dining room. One of Celline Don's songs, "Courage," which Anna used as her ringtone,this made Tonia stop since she was closer to her phone. She picked up the phone from the table and checked the name. "Speak of the devil, bloody Toby," Tonia said, seething through her teeth as she walked back to where Anna was sitting. "Who? She held an ashen face as the realization hit her that it was Toby's call. For a second, she forgot to breathe. "It's okay, right? Pick it up and let's hear what he has to say," Tonia said, holding her shoulder. "He-hello," Anna said with a cracked voice, obviously terrified. She wasn't sure what would happen, but one thing was certain to her: she was going to get laid. Or wait, did he by chance hear what I and Tonia said? She paled for a sec. "No, no, that is not possible. She screamed in her head. "I want to f**k you brainless till all you can do is scream out my name, and I want that tonight. I will send you the location and time. Do not try to get there late, not even for a second. Once you get there, go straight to the receptionist and ask for me. She will direct you to my room". He said as he cut off the phone. Emotions rilled up in her; fear, disgust, confusion. What did he say? Tonia brought her back from her state as she (Tonia) scrutinized her expression. "He said I should come over this evening, that he would send me the address and I should be late." She answered slowly with a low and terrified voice, even as low as it was that Tonia could still hear her whatever she said. "Anna," she called, Anna still can't look up as her eyes fixed on the tile, as if there was something important for her to pick up from the ultraslim Mk2 Gioia white polished tile. "Perfect timing," Tonia said with a wicked smile, Anna looked up at him and said, "What is it? Don't do anything stupid, Tonia. I can't afford to lose. I will just lay low till there is something I can do. " Anna said,with a half-pleading, half-stern expression. "Babes, don't you trust me? Just have a little faith in me. I will sort this out." Tonia assured The beep from Anna's phone cut Tonia off from what she was about to say. It was a text message. "It's a text message from him," Anna said as she opened the text, "at Benmaks Hotel and Suite by 8 in the evening." She read it out loud a bit so that Tonia could hear her. At Benmaks Hotel and Suite, Anna was seen entering the hotel, heading to the reception. "Good evening, and welcome to Benmaks Hotel and Suite; my name is Nicky; how may I assist you today?" The receptionist spoke professionally. "I'm here to see Mr. Toby." She answered the receptionist, going straight to the point. The receptionist gave her a disapproving look before quickly changing her expression and faking a smile. "You could use the elevator, and the number of the room is 120 on the last floor." Not minding the look she gave her, Anna moved into the elevator, made her way to room 120, brought out her phone, and texted room 120 to Tonia, only for her phone to be collected from her.