PART FOUR: A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE
Interlocking stones.
That was the job. There were piles and piles of it next to heaps of sand
and bags of cement. David seemed excited. He had never done interlocks but it
was small potatoes to him compared to bricklaying. But the compound itself was
big. It would take him one week. But to impress her he said:
“I fit
do am for 5 days.”
Ifeoma,
dressed in house clothes, nodded. “I had someone that was supposed to do it but
I’ve not seen him for days.”
“Nah
my luck”, David said, “I go do am well.”
“I
believe so. Now let’s talk about money. I believe you get paid daily.”
David nodded. His current market
wage was 2,000 daily so this would fetch him 10,000.
“I will pay you 25,000.”
David’s jaws dropped. “What?”
“5,000 daily. 25,000 for the 5
days.”
He couldn’t believe his ears. That
was more than double what he earned. “But madam…”
“I know but you deserve it. You
saved me yesterday”, Ifeoma said re-assuredly.
“Ah, God bless you Ma. I go do
am well well.”
“Oya get to work. Come to the
house if you need anything.”
“Yes Ma.”
Ifeoma walked away. David was
beyond delighted. 25 cool thousand! He was already on his way to the top. Now he
would win Nkechi’s heart. He quickly surveyed the house. The woman was loaded,
he thought – an elegant duplex, ornately styled, rows of boys quarters
seemingly empty, an equally unused security house. An SUV, A latest model
Toyota Camry and a Honda Accord parked side by side at the car port. Everywhere
smelt of raw cash.
He wished he was in her
husband’s shoes, to be rich and happy with the love of a beautiful woman. He quickly
set to work, wondering where the woman’s husband was at the moment…
Ifeoma walked past Diana who was engrossed in her
cartoons on the 65 Inch Smart TV in the fabulously furnished sitting room. She
went straight up the stairs to her room, gently closing the door. Next she
undressed and went to take a warm shower.
For
a woman in her mid-40s, Ifeoma was still well structured and firm. That was
because she dedicated at least 3 times weekly to rigorous exercise and ate
healthy. She was 45 but could pass for 35. And even at that age, young men in
their 20s still ran after her. Much older men were no exception either. They all
wanted her attention. Attention she had refused to give for 10 months since the
incident…
As the
water ran over her smooth, naked body, Ifeoma felt a stab of pain and sadness
as she recalled the incident. She could never stop thinking of it. Every day was
a reminder of her loss – that unforgettable night when she got the phone call
that changed her life; the sight, barely an hour later, of the cold, hard dead
body; the realization that the man she had loved, had married and built a good
life with was no more.
She towelled
her body dry, walking back naked to the room. She sat at the dressing table and
instantly set her eyes on the small framed photograph of her husband, she and
their daughter. A once happy family until unknown assassins trailed her husband
to the front of their compound and pumped his body full of bullets. A tear
rolled down her cheek as she remembered his last words over the phone…
“Honey,
I think some men are following me…”
Minutes
later she had heard the gunshots that terminated his life.
No one
knew what really happened or why. The assassins were never found. There was
simply no lead. Ebuka was a business owner. Sure there could have been
competitors but there had been no enemy as far as she knew. The police was
still investigating but not as enthusiastically as before. The case had simply
run into a dead end.
The
effect on her had been terrible but was worse on the once lively Diana. At 4,
she just couldn’t understand that she wasn’t going to see daddy ever again. So she
became a sad, quiet girl, wrapped in school work and cartoons. As for Ifeoma,
she resigned her bank position and took over her husband’s businesses. She grew
and fought for it and now she was holding on.
Ifeoma
shook off the sad thoughts. She quickly dressed and made up. It was time to
face the day.
For 5 days David worked hard at the compound. He arrived
promptly at 7 am and worked till 6 pm. He impressed Ifeoma so much from the
first day that not only did she feed him 3 times daily with food from her
table, she also trusted him quickly enough to hand him the keys to the gate so
he could work even when she was not at home. It was not difficult to gain such
trust. David was kind, truthful and hardworking. He was also not into the vices
of youth. David’s only vice was his lust for Nkechi. It was not lust for girls
in general; his eyes were only drawn to her.
She was his Mona Lisa, his Holy Grail, and the Virgin Mary. He wanted
her and no other. But she still ignored him.
So he
worked hard. In those 5 days, he did great at interlocking. He also learned a
lot about his benefactor. She was a widowed mother. Friends hardly visited. She
lived alone with her quiet daughter. No maid. No security. Odd for someone in
such a big compound. He felt sad that after 5 days it would be over; he would
no more see her. He had come to like her as a big sister. If only he could find
a way to keep visiting.
On the
last day he took his shot. The job was over. Madam counted out 25,000 and
handed to him. He beamed in delight.
“Ah
thank you very much Ma.”
“You
did a good job”, she replied with a smile. “If you keep this up you’ll make it
in life.”
“Amen
Ma. But ma, I want ask, why you no get gateman?”
Ifeoma
stopped smiling. After the incident she had moved out and sold their house. And
when she had moved into this one, she had decided not to hire any gateman or
maid. She preferred to be alone with Diana. People were hard to trust.
David
noticed her discomfort. “Sorry Ma, I just dey think how I want help you. I fit
come dey wash cars for you, sweep compound and water garden.”
Ifeoma
smiled again. The boy was kind indeed. “What about your work?”
“That
one no be wahala. I fit dey come early morning before I go work.”
Ifeoma
thought for a moment. “Okay. It can work. Thanks again.”
David
was pleased. The woman was god sent.
She never came back. Infact she stayed out late till past 9 pm. He waited outside. When she returned, she mumbled something about things taking longer than planned. There was a half-hearted apology and an excuse about it being too late when he suggested they go to his room. Moments later, she disappeared into her house, leaving him frustrated.
PART FIVE: THE GROWING OBSESSION.
Loaded with cash, David finally confronted Nkechi.
“You
dey avoid me. E no good. Upon love wey I get for you”, he wailed.
Nkechi
looked him over. He was looking different – new clothes, a haircut, he even
smelt of some cheap Hausa perfume. Something seemed to be going on in his life.
She glanced around the compound and felt satisfied that they were alone.
“I’ve
had problems”, she said curtly.
“And
you no tell me? Me wey love you and ready to make you happy.”
“You
can’t afford me.”
David
laughed. “Baby, I fit give you anything wey you want. Just be my girl.”
Nkechi
looked him over again. He was clearly not her class, which was why she avoided
him. But the boy was a dreamer and wouldn’t quit trying. Well, if he wanted
her, then she would make him spend on her.
“I
need 10K.”
David
paused. That was a lot of money. But he had 21,000 naira left in his pocket. He
was rich. He looked her over again. She was damn sexy. She wore revealing
clothes, breasts almost popping out from her flimsy top. As usual she wore no
bra. He could see the outline of the nipples begging to shoot out. He imagined
his fingers grazing them. He instantly had a half erection as he stared
shamelessly at her breasts.
“Hey!”
she almost screamed. “Wetin you dey look? Will you give me or not?”
“Yes.
Yes. Small thing.” He thought quickly. This was his chance. “But you go spend
time with me for my room.”
“Okay
but not now”, Nkechi simply replied.
“When?”
“I
want to visit my friend first. When I come back.”
“Okay.
I go wait.”
The wait seemed like ages but worth it. David had never
been so excited. He couldn’t believe his luck. The girl of his dreams was
coming to visit. He was finally going to have the real thing. Goodbye to
abusing his hungry phallus with his coarse hands.
And
he prepared for it. First he washed down one bottle of medium stout for he had
heard it helped with performance. Next he cleaned his room like never before.
He sprayed his newly bought Hausa perfume until the entire room stank horribly
of it. He arranged things and hid dirty clothes. He bought a pack of juice. He
was ready.
He
waited. He already had a hard on while fantasizing of how he would have her. He
imagined having endless sex with her till they were both tired and satisfied.
As always he got an insane urge to jerk off but he resisted that. The wait was
over. Why spoil the imminent sex with jerking off? He was tired of that.
Surely, it couldn’t be compared to the real thing.
But
the wait became too long. Hours passed but no sign of her. He got sad, paced
the room, jumped at every sound outside, only to run out and be frustrated by
the sight of some other neighbour. At
long last he gave up. She was simply not coming.
He
lay down and tried to sleep but sleep would not come. He decided to go out and
burn his cash. He would get drunk and forget his sorrows. Maybe he would forget
her.
As
he made for the door, he heard a knock. His heart jumped. He instantly opened.
Nkechi stood there, pushing her teasing breasts towards him. Time stood still
as his heart erupted in joy. At last, she was here!
“Won’t
you let us in?” Nkechi quizzed.
Us?
David paused. That was when he noticed the thin, bland looking girl standing
beside Nkechi.
“Oh.
This is my friend, Chinenye. I hope you don’t mind that I brought her along?”
Sure,
David thought, by all means come with your friend. He mumbled something as he
let them in. disappointment washed over him. His hopes of having sex had been
dashed.
The
girls stood in the room.
“Chinenye,
this is my neighbour David.”
Just
my neighbour? David thought. He suppressed his anger. The thin girl said
something but he was not listening. “Please sit.”
“Uhm”,
Nkechi started, “We can’t really stay. Her parents sent us on an important
errand. Just give me the money and we’ll go.”
“But
we talk say we go…”
“I
know but something came up.”
David
seemed unsure. This was not how he planned things. Then Nkechi stepped close to
him and whispered in his ear. His ears froze instantly as she came close. The
feel of her was electrifying. Her breasts lightly brushed against his chest,
sending shockwaves of pleasure through his entire body. A low groan escaped his
lips as he gave up control and plashed sperm inside his boxers. The medium
stout was obviously not enough to prevent premature ejaculation. Gosh the
desire had been too much.
Nkechi
was smiling innocently. “I promise”, she said.
“Huh?”
he asked foolishly.
“I
said I’ll come back alone later but I need the money now.”
“Okay.
Okay.” He counted out 10,000 naira and gave to her.
The
thin, bland girl was amazed at what had just transpired. Nkechi winked at her
and they left as quickly as they had come, leaving David standing foolishly
alone with his thought. He heard the sound of their giggling outside. He didn’t
know they were making fun of him.
She never came back. Infact she stayed out late till past 9 pm. He waited outside. When she returned, she mumbled something about things taking longer than planned. There was a half-hearted apology and an excuse about it being too late when he suggested they go to his room. Moments later, she disappeared into her house, leaving him frustrated.
That
night as always, he was unable to sleep. He schemed and fantasized and jerked
off till his phallus got inflamed. Then around 4 am he slept. In his dream they
had sex under an imaginary shower in a palatial home.
David set to his new part time job diligently. Every
morning, he would appear at Ifeoma’s compound by 6 am, wash whatever car she
used the previous day, sweep the compound even when it seemed clean, and then
water the gardens.
Since
she usually left work by 7.30 am, David was given a spare gate key so he could
complete his daily tasks in her absence. Such was the trust he had earned.
Despite the fact that Ifeoma was a careful lady, she had quickly decided that
David had a good heart. His only fault was his status.
And
she was generous in her compensation. Every morning she gave him 1,000 naira.
It was nothing to her. Her business was raking in millions monthly. For saving
her SUV from probable loss, she was grateful to her and would show it.
For
David, the money became his fixed income. He would no more go hungry. Work
didn’t always come so it was nice to have this one. Every day, after cleaning,
he would go hustle for work. If there were none, he managed what he got from the
woman.
In
his free time he thought about Nkechi. But she ignored him still. He didn’t
know why. All his efforts and promises were in vain. And soon he found out. It
was the revelation one night that set him up for destruction.
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