Tope smiled at the female figure walking up to her table and sat up straight in pride as she watched the lady glare at her while sitting opposite her.
"Hi. Care for a drink?" Tope said with a provoking smirk.
"Shut up. Why did you call me here? You know how I detest seeing you."
Tope scoffed. "Oh, please. You and I both know that I detest seeing you too, so the feelings are mutual, baby girl."
"What do you want? I already told you that, I don't want to see you again."
"Oh, but it will be very hard to get rid of me so easily, don't you think?" She said, smiled and ran her fingers in invisible circles at the rim of her wine glass.
She looked up at the lady and laughed. "Oh, chill. I'm not going to kill you, am I?"
The lady chuckled, looked down at the table, shook her head and loomed back up at Tope.
"Honey, you should be the scared one here. You're playing with fire. If you don't kno
I am so sorry for your loss, Janelle. I wish I could be there with you right now." Tara said from the other line of the phone.Janelle sighed and rubbed her palm on her forehead, trying to subdue the pounding head ache. Sleeping had been far from her for two days now. Ever since she had to see her father's body parts in a plastic bag, the memory had not left her. It stuck with her like a second skin. She nodded, closed her eyes and tried to lean against the door frame of her room. Feeling dizzy was a consequence of poor sleep."I know. Don't feel too bad about it. You're working and I can't let you put a pause to your work on my account. Have fun in Italy.""It's not fun if you're feeling this down. Gosh, I'm so sorry.""Tara, it is fine. Really.". There was a long sigh from the other line. "Yeah, what's going on now? What are the police saying a
"Are you fucking shitting with me right now?!" Candace exclaimed, earning stares from nearby customers who then shook they heads, passed curious glances and went back to what they were doing. Janelle shrugged and stirred her drink, looking rather bored with the drink and equally disgusted by it. Candace reached out to hold her hands. "Oh my God. Who would do something like that? Does he have any enemies?"Janelle sighed. "I don't know, Candy. I don't think he does. He was a very wonderful man. And maybe he has competitors. You know how these business world is?""Sure. Babe, I'm sorry. I'll do anything to help. What about the picture? Have you taken them to the police?"Janelle nodded. "Yes, I have. I–" Her cellphone rang and she looked down at it with surprise written on her face. "Hello, James.""How are you?"
When she opened her eyes, it was a different place from where she thought she would be by now; Heaven. But the soft bed and the thing pierced in through her veins weren't the things people see in Heaven, is it? At least she was thought that in heaven, there is no pain. She felt the pain in her head. She sat up, slowly and looked around her. Hospital. From the look of it, she was in the hospital. There was a man’s head resting on the edge of the bed and she didn't have to see the face to be sure of whom it was. But as her free hand brushed against it, the person shook and came alert.Denzel.She smiled up at him weakly. "Hey.""Hey. How are you feeling? The doctor said there were no internal injuries.""Oh." Thanks God. I looked around the room as if searching
She was completely lost in her own world, tracing invisible lines on the tattoo at the left side of his chest while they lay on the floor in silence. What just happened was something none of them had dreamed would happen. And not now. At least she's sure he was thinking the same thing because even after that passionate lovemaking in his living room, no one was saying anything. How had a simple discussion about designs led from funny to jealous then passionate all of a sudden? Janelle should have been sleeping with James. But she had never slept with James since she got engaged to him and one part of her only wanted to paint this picture with the sexually frustrated brush. Denzel chuckled and she lifted her gaze at him. He smiled down at her. "I should be hanged." He said to her. She smiled, then laughed and that was enough to rais
"What?" She asked, looking shocked. And at the same time, feeling curious to know whom it was."Who is it? Who did it? Catherine sighed. "Let's go inside, Sunshine." She said, leading the way to Janelle's bedroom. Janelle followed slowly behind her mother, thinking if this was something she probably didn't want to hear."Mum? Is it something I shouldn't hear about? If it is–""Calm down, Janelle. The whole evidences led to Tope. The model you have been having issues with.""What?"Caroline nodded. "I knew she could be the one. I suspected it. I just–""You just what? Is this what you've been keeping away from me? Why do I have the feeling that you know more than you're telling me?""What are you talking about?""The night daddy was murdered. What happened? If Tope should be the culprit then, I'm confused. What connection does she have with daddy? What do you know about i
Breakfast was quiet and boring as usual. The only time this morning ritual gets way livelier was when she was eating with her friends. And that only happened on rare occasions is she happened to visit them while they were eating and not the other way round. Catherine wasn't the kind who entertained friends during breakfast. Especially Janelle's friend, Tara. The woman thinks Tara is bad influence but Janelle thinks otherwise. Just because someone is free spirited, doesn't make them a bad influence. Catherine looked up from her tea and smiled at Janelle."I found Nana in your bed this morning. I didn't want to wake you up since you were actually sound asleep. I guess yesterday's events wore you out?" She asked.Janelle shrugged. "I guess.""So, why was she in your bed instead of hers?"Janelle looked at her mother. "Mum, it is not a strange
"How are you feeling?" James scoffed, sucked his front teeth while looking away like he was trying to keep his temper in check. Denzel leaned forward, his hands on the table, clasped together. "Mum and dad arrived earlier. They're on their way to see you. Dad is trying to–""Just save me the whole headlines, will you?" James cut in. "I'm sure that when dad gets here, I'll hear it from him." James said with a raised eyebrow."James, listen–""No, you listen, Denzel. I'm not done with you yet. When I get out of here, you better find a perfect spot that will suit your body. Because you'll be dead for boning my fiancée."Denzel sighed. "I know. But for the main time, let's focus on getting you out first."James chuckled. "Yes, please do. So I can facilitate the punishment you deserve." 
"She is with me." Denzel said over the phone. Then nodded. "Yeah, she was asleep when I left her room." He paused and glanced towards the stairs leading to the room Janelle slept, digging his hands into his pocket."I will let her know you called. Maybe she's still asleep. No problem, ma. Okay, bye." He hung up, sighed and went straight to the bar for a drink. It was almost dinner and he had ordered the maids to make for two but Janelle wasn't out yet. He contemplated going up to check on her, since she fell asleep very upset. But as soon as he heard the sound of her footsteps down the tiled stairs, he decided against it, sitting back on the stool. But it was one of the maids.°°° Janelle sighed and shook her head. "You don't understand. Wh