I closed the door and *zoom* like flash; my shoes were on the floor, my feet on the couch and I was sipping a can of yogurt.
"Ah, this is the life."
The standing fan at high speed and the force of its propellers whooshing air into my baggy top. 'So comfy, no wonder she is always wearing big tops'.
I let myself submerge into the peace and quiet but Someone just had to knock and break into my solidade.
I opened my eyes and sighed. Can I ever have some peace of mind in this place?
The knock came again, louder this time.
"Coming!"
I rose, grumpily from the couch and went over to sit behind my desk.
"Come in, it's open."
The knocker pushed the door gently, his face popping up from behind it.
For a split second, my heart stopped… 'Oh dear god, It's him'.
Tall, sculpted and cursed with porcelain skin and double eyelids. He flaunted a dark low cut hair complimenting his oval face, pointed nose and firm hot lips.
'Oh My God, he is in my office. Math is in my office. HOW DISGUSTING'
Let me introduce him. This is Baron Mathews, an igbo man by birth, but his Mother is French, so that's why he looks like that. The steamy hot body of an African man and the beauty of a la France. Every living being with boobs in this station is mad over him… except me.
Maybe it's because I have no potency when it comes to men or I'm the only one who can see beyond those big smiles of his.
Dark, dirty, sick maniac who can't have enough of women. I will never forget the day I caught him in the girl's bathroom doing it with my secretary. He couldn't even wait till work closed.
I shuddered. 'DISGUSTING'.
"Noni, are you still here?" he reached out to touch my face. I latched him by the wrist.
"Don't get ahead of yourself."
I flung his hand aside.
"You are sexy when you are angry"
No reaction
He tried something else.
"Don't be like that," he leaned close. "But it's okay, it makes me..."
His lips hovered close to my ears, he whispered. "Hard."
I smiled.
"Waaaw, you have already run short of words haven't you? I mean why else would you tell me what you told Maria, Chimdimma, Ije, Rose, Jacinthe… should I go on."
He pulled away, scrunching his nose. He wasn't happy.
"I'm here to get the file for John Doe 2.8."
I smiled again, even broader.
Head down, I peered into my desk locker, took out a flash drive and gave it to him. He turned, walked to the door and touched the handle.
"Don't lose it in the girl's bathroom."
He jolted but only for a moment before he opened the door and left.
"Hahahaha." I laughed. "That ought to teach you. Even the walls have ears, it's unfortunate that people like you don't realize that."
I got up, locked my door and returned to the couch. Today is a slow day, so I might as well enjoy it. I closed my eyes.. Sleep stole me.
****
The sound of metal bars slamming against each other escaped into my office, so loud it woke me. I stirred tiredly on the couch attempting to return to sleep. Unfortunately, I slipped off the couch and landed hard on the floor.
"Ahh!" I groan, turning over painfully.
I managed to sit up. My phone had fallen out of my pocket and was lying beside me. I picked it up and switched it on. It started booting slowly. I had to wait. After all, I needed its torchlight. This room gives me the creeps right now.
Booting completed. I tapped on the torch icon. Instantly, the room was flooded with light. I got up from the ground and glanced at my phone screen.
'8.30pm'
'Eight thirty pm… Huh'
I swayed my chair, sat down and glanced at my phone screen again.
'Eight thirty-one pm… EIGHT !!!!' I sprang from the chair.
"Oh my God, how in hell? No, no time for questions now. I need to get out of here, or I will miss the last bus."
I grabbed my purse and my pistol, unlocked the door and flew out. Racing down the stairs like a mad man.
"Good eve..." the guard tried to greet me, but I breezed past him as fast as the speed of light.
He must have turned to look at me, but I was already outside the gate, down the street and standing at the bus stop.
It was empty, not a single vehicle in sight. Just the residents of that vicinity walking around.
'Damn, I'm done for? How the hell will I get home?'
I opened my phone lock and went through my contacts. There was no one. No one at all that I could call.
"Huh." I sighed. How convenient.
'Come back home' Her words flashed through my mind.
'Maria Udom.'
Yeah, her place is just a few houses away. I could walk to hers and…
I heaved. There seemed to be a sudden weight of melancholy hanging on my shoulders.
'Do I really want to do that?'
I looked at the time. '9.00pm'
'I really don't have much of a choice, do I?
I recollected my spirit and started for her place; walking slowly.
Maybe it's just me, but the closer I got, the more restless I became. I thought it would stop but when I walked into her street, fear began to crawl up my back.
Maybe this is a mistake. Maybe I should just crash at a motel.
"No, Noni, you can not keep on running. Sooner or later you are going to have to face that house, plus she said he's gone. She'd never lie to me.
I exhaled and continued.
I made it. The gate was open, I stepped in and shut it. Our duplex was right in front of me. It still looked so beautiful. The grass and the flowers surrounding the front yard were still so fresh. Did not expect anything less from Udom, the goddess of housekeeping.
I walked towards the garage first. I wanted to be sure she was around before I went in. It was there, her red Beverly parked safely in our giant space. Satisfied, I went straight to the door and knocked. The door opened on its own.
Something is wrong.
'It's quiet… Too quiet'.
I pushed the wooden door ajar, just a little more and then slipped through. My ears were up like a rabbit listening attentively. Taking my steps bit by bit. I knew the house well. I was the one who gave her the building plans for it.
There were three rooms on the ground floor; a huge parlor leading to a dining room which was connected to the kitchen, and then a door leading to the outside.
I went to the kitchen first. It was empty. Two unwashed glasses of wine in the sink. I took a small sniff of the content in the glasses. The wine was still fresh, which means it was used not less than an hour ago. I left the kitchen for the stairs that lead to the first and last floor of the building.
Immediately I stepped onto that first floor, I began to hear it. Heaving sounds of heavy breathing. It was coming from the last room. The closer I got, the clearer it became, another sound following it, a continuous moaning sound.
I stopped and relaxed.
'Stupid girl, to think she is so caught up in this she left the whole house open' I grinned, waving my head.
I thought of turning to go but I didn't. Something just didn't feel right. I listened to the sounds again. It was singular and that isn't supposed to be so, judging by the weight of the moan. I need to take a look at least.
"Huh" A sigh escaped my lips. Notwithstanding, I continued walking stealthily until I got to her door. The sounds were loud and clear now, undoubtedly it was coming from one person. The door was wide open. I stepped into the room.
The sight that met me struck me dumb.
'OH MY GOD'
She turned her head and looked at me; naked, beaten, battered, bruised and covered in blood.
He was on top of her, having his way…
I didn't know when it fell out of my mouth.
"Jesus Christ."
He stopped and looked up.
"Noni." it came like a frightened whisper.
He pulled away from her hurriedly and stood up. I stared at him. Naked Miller; body stained with her blood.
"How could you?"
Tears streamed freely down my cheeks.
"Noni, you… it's not what it looks like."
"HOW COULD YOU?!!!"
I yanked out my pistol. He staggered backwards immediately, stepping on the red pool beneath him.
"Noni, please don't do this… calm down, I can explain." He begged.
I glared at him.
"Burn In Hell." I squeezed the trigger.
BANG
Headshot.