Chapter Two.

Throes of Love.

Chanel smiled as she held her father’s hand. He was cold today she felt. He had been going in and out of sleep for the past few days. She wanted him to be okay. She wanted him to be fine. She had been praying for him since but she didn’t see any change. She cleaned tears that had left her eye.

She was happy that she had not heard from Alfonso since and he had returned the money to her.

“Babygirl,” Her father breathed out after some time. Her head shot up immediately, she had fallen asleep.

“Daddy. How are you ?” She asked, making her grip on his hand firm.

“No how are you? You look like you haven’t slept in days, ” Her father said smiling at her. She didn’t know how he managed to smile through the pain he was going through.

“I’m fine, daddy. Everything’s good,” Chanel said trying to convince her father. She didn’t want him worrying about her at all.

“Chanel the doctor has said,” Her father said before he coughed. He let out a long wheezing cough before he continued. She made to stand up and get him water, but he held her hand softly.

“Don’t go anywhere. ” He said, tiredly. She hated to see him struggling. “I feel it. I don’t have time. I’m tired. Baby, your mother and I have always loved you. ” He said, causing tears to build in her eyes.

Chanel could not hold back the tears she had been keeping for so long. 
“Daddy stop. Don’t talk like that. You’ll be fine,” She said and she didn’t know if she was trying to reassure herself or him.

“Shh,” Her father said before he held her hand again. “I love you too much. Live your life, ” That was what he said before he fell asleep again.

Chanel cried there on the bed. She didn’t know how to feel. Her father was dying right before her eyes. She noticed he looked paler than before. The doctor told her the facts but she didn’t want to believe it. He told her father was dying. It could be any day for now. His body could no more fight.

---

Chanel woke up to the persistent beeping of the machine in her room. She was confused at first before she realized what was happening.

She heard her father’s cough. That was when she felt him holding her hand.

“I love you, baby. ” Her father said, his grip on her hand slowly loosened.

Chanel hurriedly got up from her seat. She ran to the nurse at the desk.

“There’s something wrong with my father!” She shouted. The nurse stood up and hurriedly made her way to the room.

“Clara page Dr. Lisa. ” The nurse made her way to the room with Chanel there standing at the doorway.

Everything felt like a dream before her. She was watching everything in slow motion. How the doctor came in. She was checking her father. The nurse stood beside the bed, looking hopeless.

The minute the doctor walked up to her and gave her the bad news. She felt herself enter into a pit of darkness. That was it for her.

---

Alfonso had walked into the hospital. He had been directed to the room. He was meant to see her father. Just before his eyes, he watched how she almost fell to the ground, if he didn’t catch her.

“What happened to her?” Alfonso asked the doctor. He feared the worst. He hoped her father was not dead.

“Who are you, if I may ask?” The doctor said, looking at Alfonso.

A few nurses came and helped her into a stretcher before she was led away.

Alfonso held out an outstretched hand. He smiled at the doctor and he had turned on his charm. He noticed the way the doctor blushed.

“My name is Alfonso De Rosa. I’m her husband. ” Alfonso said, lying through his teeth.

“Well, that’s good to know. She needs someone. Her father, your father in law has passed. He has been severely ill which you know. ” The smile on his face faltered. This was not how it was supposed to go.

“There’s also something I’ll like you to know. If you could follow me to my office. ” The doctor said leading him away from the room.

****

Chanel coughed as she woke up. She tried to remember what happened to her. She knew she had been in the hospital with her father. Her father. Oh, God! She remembered the machine, the doctor. She didn’t believe the doctor.

Just then, Alfonso walked into the room. What was he doing here? How did he get here?

“How are you feeling?” Alfonso asked, walking to her side.

Why was she in a bed? What had happened?

“I’m okay. What are you doing here? Where is my father?” She asked the question that had been racing since.

“I came to see you. ” He said. She didn’t even bother asking how he knew she was here.

“Where is my father?” Chanel asked, more firmly this time. She sat up on the bed.

“The doctor said you have not been eating right. Your body is lacking some nutrients. Have you been skipping your meals?” Alfonso asked, changing the subject.

What? He was confusing her. Why was she here?

“Where the fuck is my father?” She shouted, taking the needle out of her body.

“Chanel I’m so sorry. ” Alfonso started.

“No..no! ” Chanel shouted. She was not going to believe it. Her father couldn’t die yet.

“Chanel, calm down. ” Alfonso said holding her down. He held her down.

Chanel was sobbing in his arms. Her tears didn’t stop coming. He held onto her as she cried. He couldn’t help but feel bad for her. His heart broke as he watched her. He never knew the feeling of losing a parent. He hoped he would never know the feeling too.

---

“What?” Chanel shouted as the doctor handed her a cheque. She couldn’t believe it.

“Miss Brown. I’m sorry, but that was your father’s wish. He didn’t want to spend any money on the drugs. He didn’t want you to waste your last pennies on him when he was going to die at the end. ” The doctor said, making Chanel sit down slowly.

Chanel let the tear slip from her eyes for the umpteenth time that day. Her father had not been taking the drugs. No wonder he never looked different. He wanted her to keep the money. She didn’t know whether to be pissed or annoyed.

She stared at the cheque. It was worth over fifteen thousand. All the money she had been depositing for weeks and weeks worth of drug supply. They had not been used. All the time she had to endure with all those arrogant ass men. She had felt so violated when they would touch her or look at her like she was an object. 
What would she do with this money?

Chanel cleaned her eyes after a while. She was told she would be good to go home. Not that there was anything wrong with her, but she wasn’t going to spend time in the hospital. The doctor told her to start eating well and she would, that is if she had any appetite.

“Chanel, let me drop you home. ” Alfonso said, holding her arm.

Chanel was only confused because everyone seemed to continue addressing him as her husband. They were looking at them dreamily this particular time around.

“It’s fine. I can manage. ” She said, checking the time on her phone. She would take the bus back home. It wasn’t too late.

“I wasn’t asking. ” was all he said before he held her hand and they walked out together.

“Stop! Leave me alone. ” Chanel said once the elevator doors closed.

“Chanel! Just let me take you home. I don’t want you alone. ” Alfonso said, looking torn. There was a way about him. The way he looked at her.

“And I said it’s fine. I don’t want to go anymore with you. I don’t want to owe anyone anything. ” Chanel said, crossing her arms on her chest.

“I will return your money. ” Chanel said when he didn’t say anything after a while.

Alfonso only looked at her before he looked away.

“Yeah...I’ll let you return it if you let me drop you off. ” Alfonso said bargaining.

Chanel nodded. She decided she would let him take her home.

---

Chanel stared at her father’s grave. She placed the bouquet she held on the grave. She used a tissue to clean her nose. It had been three months but it still felt like yesterday.

She let her father know he would forever be in her heart as well as her mother. She stayed a few minutes, asking why he didn’t accept any treatment. She asked the same question each time she came.

Chanel made her way home. She had to find a new job. She would maybe work as a sales attendant.

Chanel was not surprised when the money she sent Alfonso was sent back to her account. She expected it from him. He was pitying her. It was a Friday night. Mr. Manuel. A man she met while she worked at the club, invited her dancing. She really didn't feel like going, but she had been cooped up at home all these months mourning her father. 

Mr. Manuel had been the first man she met while she was struggling for money for her father’s treatment. He had given her 5000 dollars. She couldn’t believe the amount of money, men decided to spend just to get into a woman’s pants. They probably all had more money than sense. Or maybe he was trying to impress her.

Chanel quickly got ready. She opted in wearing a completely backless dress that reached mid-thigh. It was red and it complimented her skin tone. She wore heels and her dropping earrings. Before she made her way out, she put on her coat.

---

It was a new club called La Rosa. She didn't know why that name had a ring to it that she couldn't place. It had been recently opened by young men. It was Mr. Manuel that told her this. She liked the vibe the place gave off.

“Mr. Manuel. ” Chanel said, getting to her feet once she saw him.

He kissed her cheek and held her waist. 
“I told you to stop addressing me as Mister,” He said smiling at her.

Chanel only smiled before they ordered their drinks and began talking. She had told him about her father and his sickness. He felt bad for her, asking if she needed any help to start.

---

Alfonso knew he was drunk alright but he couldn’t believe the red-haired beauty. She had just lost her father three months ago and here she was. She was with a man who looked very moneyed. Was she into that business again? Just how much did she need?

Her back was completely naked. Everyone could admire it. Her back. The back that belonged to him. She was his and she was acting like a fucking puta.

“What the fuck?” Jose asked him, laughing. He noticed from afar the way Adela and Anissa were dancing on the dance floor.

Draven had not taken his eyes off his wife for a second. It was like he was waiting for something to happen. They had all come here to celebrate the opening of the club. It was the latest club in town. It belonged to Jose. He named it after his daughter.

They were patiently waiting for his parents to arrive. He wasn't sure if his brother was going to show up. Angelo always liked to keep to himself.

Alfonso watched how she laughed. It was like he was asking her to dance, but she declined. He didn’t make his way to the dance floor alone though. He grabbed another girl. That was when a guy made his way to her.

He watched the look of horror that clouded her face as the guy touched her naked back, it was like he was telling her to move. Alfonso didn’t miss the gun in his hands.

How the fuck was he allowed in with his weapon? He could see how scared she was but she stood up, following.

---

Chanel knew she was going to die. She had only come here to forget the pain she was going through for one night. Just one night. This man had pulled a weapon on her and he was leading her to God knows where. She knew she was going to be raped or killed.

She realized the area he led her to now was dark. She could hardly see or recognize anything.

“If you so much as speak. ” The man whispered and she felt the cold metal on her head. She whimpered as his body pressed her into the wall.

Chanel almost cried out when his hand, squeezed her ass. He groaned into her neck and she could not help, but notice the strong smell of alcohol. Was this how it was going to end for her?

Chanel wanted to push him off her, but she was afraid of him killing her. When his lips moved towards hers she turned away. She felt him being pulled away from her so she screamed, squeezing her eyes shut.

The sound of a gunshot never reached her ears and she opened her eye. Only to see the man lying on the floor with another man punching him. The second man stood up and kicked her captor.

She knew that cologne from somewhere. Was it? It could not be! Alfonso!

“This is how you mourn your father. ” Alfonso said, grabbing her arm tightly making her cry out.

What? She was confused. What was he talking about?

He pulled her away from that place and led her outside.

“You dress like a fucking prostitute. ” He said taking off his jacket and putting it over her shoulders.

Chanel frowned. Who was he to talk to her like that? She didn’t care if he had saved her, but he had no right to speak to her like she was nothing.

“My dressing is none of your concern. ” Chanel said, handing him his jacket.

The look he shot her made her rethink her taking off the jacket. It was chilly outside. She noticed he had this fire in his eyes.

She could tell he wanted to make a phone call. He did. She listened while he was speaking. Maybe a brother. Or a friend.

Alfonso more like shoved her into the car when his car arrived.

“The way you dress is my concern. If I had not come through, that man would have had his way with you. ” Alfonso said, scaring her with the truth.

“Don’t. Stop. Stop the car!” Chanel shouted. She didn’t want to remember what happened to her. If Alfonso didn’t show up, a stranger would have raped her.

“Don’t be raising your fucking voice at me. ” Alfonso gritted out as he drove. 

“I will do whatever the hell I want now stop the fucking car!” Chanel swore. She would open the door. She didn’t care if anyone got injured. She was blinded by rage.

Alfonso stopped the car alright but she didn’t expect it when his fist connected with her neck. He held her in place, squeezing.

“Are you fucking calm?” He asked and that didn’t make the fire in her eyes die.

“Okay, I’m ready when you are. ” Chanel didn’t stop digging her nails into his hand, but she eventually slipped into a dark dark place. She knew there was no way she was coming out any time soon.