Chapter Five

The air smelt of dust and rain. The clouds above were dense with moisture and lightning flashed in the sky now and then. 

People rushed up and down the busy streets, trying to find ways to get themselves into the comfort of their homes before the rains poured down. In one corner of the road, Amanda stood with numerous bags and cartons. Her mother squatted by a corner, close to a shop wrapped up in a duvet, shielding herself from the shivering cold that came with the winds.

"We have to get a place to pass the night momma", Amanda dished out with frustration written all over her face.

"I thought you had plans already"? Her mother asked with her eyes widened with shock. "Didn't you make headway with Wolf today"?

Amanda turned to her mother and shook her head grudgingly. Tears gathered in her eyes as she tried to get their bags under a store shed, hoping to shield them from the drizzles gradually coming down.

"Amanda, didn't Wolf do anything about his promise"? Her mother persisted.

Amanda tried to shrug off her mother's questions but it was paramount that she answered.

"No Momma_______he did nothing about the rent; instead, he took from me the little I gathered ". Her voice shook with anger and she struggled to make out her words.

Estella(her mother) rained curses on Wolf, speaking vehemently.

"Take it easy mum_____ you know your health issues are getting worse. Just calm down ".

"Look at what you are going through, child______It weakens me, Amanda." A lump rose in her throat and she swallowed hard, sniffing so hard to force back the tears that gathered in her eyes.

Amanda lifted the last set of bags and set them next to the others, then she sat on the curb, next to her mother. She snuggled up to her now sobbing mother and put her arms around her.

"It's okay momma. I know we will eventually be fine. I ain't complaining. Or am I"? She tried to force a smile on her face, to make her mother relieved.

Estella let out a sigh of relief and whispered: "you're doing way more than you should be doing. I wish Wolf's case could be dealt with once and for all. I wish he'd die or be caught by the law. He is human. Why does he act like a god"? Anger swelled up in her belly. She was very devastated by the conditions Wolf was putting her daughter through.

Amanda looked away for a few minutes and her eyes caught a signpost that showed a motel was around the street bend.

"Let it go mum. I have it figured out. You are my priority and I will see that I do all I can to give you the life you deserve, momma".

Estella hugged her tightly and Amanda planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Come on ma_____ I have an idea about where we could spend a few nights till I come up with a more permanent solution".

"Where is that"?

"Over there ", she replied, pointing towards the signpost.

Estella looks ahead and her eyes catch a glimpse of the message on the post and she shakes her head slightly in disapproval.

"A motel is not a good place to be, Mandy", she muttered.

"We do not have a lot of choices, Mother. It is just for a few nights till I figure out what we could do about this whole situation ".

Estella put her head down in between her arms and lamented.

"Mum______mummy"!You have to snap out of that mood. We are going to be alright. I'd just have to flag down a taxi that would get us there before this rain comes down heavy upon us and our pieces of luggage".

She gently pulled up her mum from the curb and nudged her towards the road lane where they could be seen by a taxi.

A cab pulled up in front of them and a young man highlighted from it and paid the cab man with so many notes. The cab man yelled out to him and kept thanking him.

The man walked briskly past Amanda and her mother but not before Amanda caught a view of his face. Her head rang with recognition of the man; he was the same guy who had embarrassed her that night, a week ago.

She stood, lost in thoughts as she recalled the events of that night. Then another thought struck her, he was her next assignment; as designated by Wolf.

She had to catch up with him and know where he was headed before proceeding to lodge her mother into the motel.

She was so engaged in her thoughts that she didn't hear her mother calling out to her, asking her how much she would be willing to pay the cab driver.

A loud yelling of her name jolted her awake.

"Where did your mind travel to"?Estella asked with a quizzical look.

"I am sorry Momma. I was putting some thoughts together". 

"Hmmm________you are getting me very worried sick. I do not want to lose you too, Amanda".

Amanda got closer to the cab man, "has she told you how close we are to our destination"?

He gestured towards the signpost and nodded.

"So, how much?"

"Twenty bucks," he said without hesitation "I am doing it for the culture", he added with a smile.

Amanda helped her mother get seated in the back seat before gathering their backs and piling them up in the trunk.

As they drove the short distance to the motel, Amanda wondered where her experiment disappeared to. She hoped to bump into him again before it became too late for her.

       ************************************

"Good evening Sir. You're welcome to the Aston Martin Villa".

Brent scanned the receptionist from head to toe and concluded that she looked slightly attractive.

"How may we be of help, sir"? She asked slightly embarrassed by his gaze.

"I am here to see Whitney", he answered nonchalantly.

"O___kay" the receptionist stuttered while fixing her gaze on the computer In Front of her. "Whitney _______who, please?"

"Brighton"? He replied with a bit of confusion, hoping he was right.

"Yes______ I have Whitney Brighton here. That would be room 213. The second-floor sir".

"Thank you" Brent muttered and walked down the hallway.

"Enjoy the rest of your evening sir" she chuckled behind him.

Brent got to the door and tapped gently on it. Whitney's voice came from inside, beckoning for him to come in.

He walked in and found her lying in bed cuddled in her pillows.

"You invited me over for a talk, and you are still in bed"?

She sat up and stretched out, yawning as well. Her hair was let down and her silky nightwear did little job of covering her body frame. Her nipples stood out in the nightwear. Her full lips caught his gaze. 

She stared at him quizzically "Do you like what you see"?

Brent put his eyes down and looked away and with the most condescending voice he said:

"Get dressed Miss. I don't mix business with pleasure".