7| Afterwards

Her agonized yell resounded throughout the whole house, and Daniel covered his ears with his palms as they throbbed to hear her aloud curses.

He despised hearing a woman curse, and he also had been an advocate against the abuse of women, but he had just followed in the steps of the men he had once hated. He had hit her, and he deserved every single curse word she uttered against him.

It was wrong to hit a woman, no matter what might have fueled his anger; he had no right to hit her. He had been enraged upon seeing her with that man, and his anger had blinded him from seeing where his actions were leading him to.

Derin is his wife, and she ought to not be as loose as she was with that man. After all, his parents had vowed that she was of the best home training, and she was not a loose woman. So, yes, it came as a surprise to him when he saw her out there in the mall with him.

He tried to convince himself that what he had done had been to prevent her from becoming promiscuous, but his conscience would not hear of that. He kept recalling how he, on his own part, had pushed her away. He had neglected her from the very beginning of their union, and he had scorned and disregarded all her peaceful actions towards him.

The marriage was the cause of everything happening right now. If only, his parents hadn’t forced the idea of settling down into his head, then maybe he wouldn’t have had to hit the woman they made him marry.

He clenched his jaw as the images of his earlier actions haunted him, and he moved to his bed, and crashed unto it as his head swirled around. He shouldn’t have, but he had. She had done nothing wrong, but he had. She must hate him, well, more than she already does hate him.

Daniel was troubled with the guilt of his actions, but he was at crossroads of what to do next. He had never had to wrong any woman, or hurt any tender flower like her, and he definitely had never had to straighten his way with anyone.

The more he thought about this, the more his head cracked, and the pain of it filled his head. He needed to calm down, before he ended up losing control of himself. And, this was only possible if he could get his hands on his drags.

He needed to be high, before he could think of anything else.

So, Daniel stood to his feet, and walked out of his room. On walking past her room, he noticed that she had gone quiet and this calmed the sensation in his head, but he still needed to get to the club. He scooped the keys on the center table into his hands, and was soon out of the house.

The gateman noticed him come out, and he instantly knew that Daniel was about to go out. Therefore, he ran to the gate, and began sliding the bars open.

Daniel got into his car, and with a quick reverse, he pulled out of the garage, and drove off.

Ever since his return from the states, few months ago, Club Elite had been his second home. This was where he could be truly happy, and truly free. His friends were there, and so were his hobbies.

Life had been particularly hard on him since he left the states. He was faced with an alien career, and forced to take up the job of the whole company. Adding to this, he was also made to become a family man – all in the name of becoming responsible.

In order for a man to keep his sanity, he had to ensure he took little breaks of happiness to do whatsoever he desires, and live the life he wants, even if this was under the influence of alcohol.

On getting to the Club, Daniel drove to the entrance, and got down. He threw his keys to the valet who had come forward, before he walked into the buzzing Club Elite.

Inside, he searched for his friends and saw that their usual table was empty. He was about to conclude that none of them were around, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Dude, you’re early today.”

Daniel knew that voice very well, because this was the voice of his best-friend, Dapo. He spun around and met with the six foot black African punk.

This was Oladapo Silver, but his close clique call him Dope. Dapo is a professional and talented chef, who also happens to be the author of several cook books. He owned “The Dope Kitchen” and “The Silver-Stone Hotels”. Both enterprises happened to be the best in the entire West Africa. He also headed ‘Day Highlights Printing Press”, a publishing company.

Dapo’s friendship with Daniel dated years back; they first met when they were both four years old, and instantly became friends till date.

“Man, what’s up?” Daniel and Dapo greeted each other with their special handshake.

This was something they evented when they were little, their own special way of greeting each other, and they kept it till date.

Dapo waved over a steward, and the young boy brought in his tray; some two glasses, a bottle of brandy, and two wraps of codeine.

Daniel reached in to the tray, and swabbed the two wraps – he tore one and inhaled it, before going for the second one while Dapo watched.

“Are you okay, dude?”

Daniel cracked a laugh, but didn’t reply his friend’s concerned question. He, instead reached for the bottle; uncorked it, and poured into a glass, and downed the contents at one gulp.

His tongue was hit with the sour taste of the drink, and he fringed as he forcefully gulped it down. The steward watched him in surprise, but he knew best than cut into the customer’s choice.

Dapo sighed, “So, tell me, Daniel, did you have a fight with anyone?” He asked and reached for the other glass, and filled it hallway with the brandy.

Daniel cursed under his breath. His friend knew him even more than he knew himself, and no words go by without him knowing. Dapo wouldn’t let the matter rest, and so, he chose to let him have all the information.

“You’re right, like always,” Daniel said.

Dapo laughed. “Who was it?”

His shoulders fell as he recalled how he had ruthlessly cut the stripes into her beautiful skin. No doubt, he was a beast. He had mutated into who he had feared he will become.

“I had a fight with my wife.”

Dapo’s eyes were on him; scrutinizing him deeply, before he shook his head. He was about to comment on this, when Daniel’s phone buzzed in his pocket.

Daniel downed the remaining contents of the bottle before reaching into his pocket, and bringing out his cellphone. He slid the phone open, and his eyes glanced over the message. He snorted and returned the phone into his pocket.

Dapo followed his every action with his eyes, “Who was that?”

“Just my secretary, Linda,” Daniel replied. He noticed another steward walk by with a full tray, and he waved the boy over, and took another wrap of the codeine.

He moaned in pleasure as the substance went deeper into his brain – soothing his nerves and raising him higher than he really was. The feeling he had whenever he got high on drugs was incomparable to being simply drunk.

Cocaine was his perfect escape from reality – to be over the clods; floating and not caring about a damn thing.

This was perfect as he had to forget about Derin, about his family, and about his secretary’s stupid reminder. She had texted that he had a football league coming over to consider placing him in their club.

As much as he desired to take his hobby to the next level, he wasn’t ready to follow a club that wasn’t ready to view him on his true capabilities, instead of his public image.

Linda, on the other hand, was a piece of work herself. She’s absolutely sexy, and no man in his right senses would deny any of her advances. No man, except for him. He, Daniel Lanre Craig Hartley refused to fall for her seductive moves. This confirmed the fact that he was no normal man.

However, he can’t deny the fact that he had considered riding her one day.

He took another long drag from the wrap, and he made sure he relinquished himself in the feeling before it’s gone. He missed the special pleasure that came along with being high on Cocaine.

As his mind waivered off into complete nothing, he recalled that moment in the University of Arizona – in the class of Human Attitude and Survival.

☆☆☆☆

That day, just like every other day, they were being lectured by Professor. Boring – his real name happened to be Burring Bann, but due to his un-fun attitude, the students all chose to nickname him that.

He was speaking on the dangers of addiction, and Daniel couldn’t forget that majority of the class weren’t actually listening to him as a lot made fun of him, and others simply did their thing.

However, the interesting thing about their professor was the fact that despite the noise and the absolute disinterest the students had for his course, he still kept lecturing anyway.

"Cocaine, known as coke is the most popular killing machine that you youngsters call fun."

Prof. Buring began his sermon on Psychological Problems of the Human Brain due to addictive substances. Despite introducing it orally, he went ahead to write this on the board. His bold handwriting sucked, and annoyed most of the students.

"But profs, fun doesn't kill, your class does," A boy from Daniel’s side had remarked, and the whole class busted into laughs.

But, the Professor was indifferent to this as he was used to his students attitude, and so, he let out a half smile.

"Ah! Ah! Jonas, if you find my class so kill fun or, as you all say killjoy. Then I suppose you wouldn't mind keeping Ms. Anita company in the detention room," He commented.

The boy, Jonas, who had made the remark, huffed as he placed his feet on his desk unmoved by what the professor said.

"Love to profs, it will be a pleasure to be with all those slim bitches, for four whole hours," He joked as he stretched his hands to his sides and, they all high-fived and fist-bumped him.

This was however too much for the Professor to bear, as his lips pulled out into a frown, "Jonas! Out of my class," He yelled out, his hand pointing to the exit.

Jonas stood up sluggishly and stalled out of the lecture room, with his head in the clouds.

With Jonas out, the professor smiled and adjusted his glasses before facing the silent students.

"Now that Mr. Jonas is out, can we continue with the lesson?" He asked and as he guessed, they all murmured indistinctively, but he was satisfied with this as he faced the board.

"Now back to our lesson, Cocaine stimulates the brain in the same way that a real accomplishment does, creating a rewarding feeling. This is the main reason people who get addicted want to get high on cocaine over, and over again."

☆☆☆☆

A few drags a day, doesn’t necessarily indicate an addiction now, does it?

Just because he normally had swipes of Cocaine a day, did not mean he was an addict. He could control himself once under the influence – something many can’t.

“D man! D square!” Ken called to the duo from the entrance of the club.

Both Dapo and Daniel turned their heads just in time as their friend strutted in.

Kennett Emmanuel, the owner of the luxurious and prominent Club Elite, and a member of Daniel’s close circle of friends. He was broad, and dark skinned – this a quality that got all women turning their heads, apart from the obvious buoyancy of his pocket. Dressed in his usual business attire – a three piece suit, and a dark sunshade – which seems to be his every day wear despite owning a fashion store.

On getting to his friends, Ken’s face scrunched up at their actions – he eyed the wraps with disgust, and frowned.

He hated the lifestyles his friends led, and particularly despised seeing them get high on drugs. He also never gets tired of rebuking them, and everyone else believes him to be the good sheep in the clique.

Severally, he had threatened to leave the clique, but he had never brought himself to doing that.

“What are you shameless beings up to?” He asked, and as usual, both Daniel and Dapo cut into a chortle.

“We’re shamelessly shaming ourselves,” Daniel replied, and they shared a laugh again, but Ken scoffed at this.

Dapo stopped laughing and became serious, after noticing Ken’s angered glare, “Dude, we were just having a slight drag. Nothing harmful,” Dapo said.

Ken groused at this; his nose in the air as he eyed them. Both Dapo and Daniel shared another laugh – mocking him.

“Wouldn’t hurt to join in, would it?” Dapo said amidst his laugh, offering an unrolled wrap to Ken whose lips fell and he folded his arms.

“You both are so pathetic. You’re here wasting away, while you could be productive to your nation,” Ken preached, but they both huffed at this.

Daniel faked a yawn, “Boring…,” and once again, he and Dapo shared another laugh.

Ken balled his fist, and rose them up in the air, “Why, you little-” he scoffed at Daniel.

“C’mon Ken, cool off,” Jonas cooed from behind Ken, and he forced the dude’s hand down.

Jonas Brooks, the crook of the clique. He is the CEO of The Brooks Computer Academy, one of the most successful and popular computer academy in Africa and rated the fastest growing computer establishment. He also owns Beckett online mall, which is also a major mall in Africa. In addition to these, he owns shares in big companies like Goggle Inc., Sheraton, among others.

The four men have one major thing in common – they are all rated the Top Youngest African Entrepreneurs who became billionaires before thirty and Most Successful Bachelors in the Business Industry according to Forbes.

None of the friends are over the age of thirty – Dapo was twenty-three – Ken, twenty-five – Jonas, twenty-seven – Daniel, twenty-two.

The friends have been together, right from the diaper changing days, all the way into adulthood. However, the friends weren’t exactly grownups as neither of them was responsible in their ways, not even Kenneth Emmanuel, as Jesus, he is the worst playboy in their midst.

He may seem responsible, and different from the others, but when it comes to women, he instantly becomes a leveled sweet talker, and an undiluted gentleman. Ken had a talent with women – he always gets any woman he desires to have. Just with a snap of his fingers.

Dapo, on the other hand, wasn’t too good with women, but he’s the best when it comes to lightening up a situation. He is the king of jokes, and there is never a dull moment with him around. He and Daniel had been together, before the other two joined the clique – he was Daniel’s best buddy.

Jonas is the smart one. His cunny attitude always puts them all in the best places of life. With him around, no one could think of duping or scamming them. He was a leveled hacker in college, and he dropped out to flourish his skills. He is however, not lacking in any fun – always there to make a silly moment sensible, or sillier.

And, Daniel, well, he is the strength of the group. He is the stem that holds them all together. Their friendship stands on his strong roots, and all the guys consider him to be the physical superman with lots of enemies around.

There is one more in this clique, and this is Katherine Hartley – from her name, one would guess that she is related to Daniel Hartley – well, this is absolutely true as she is his younger sister.

Despite the fact that she’s a lady, she never misses out on the lifestyle with the guys. She also happens to be a fun-lover like her brother and his friends.

Katherine is a successful cover page model, and a singer signed to one of the best records of the century ‘The MYB Record Label’. Surprisingly, MYB stands for Mind Your Business, but despite this insulting humor, MYB stands one of the respected records around.

Just a year younger than Daniel, Kate happens to be an ambitions and self-independent woman. Apart from this, she is a major feminist.

“So, who’s up for a real party?” Jonas announced, and they all roared in response, exception of Ken who scoffed as they walked into the VIP area of the club.

The cellphone of the bedside table, beside Derin’s bed, buzzed.

She twisted and turned on the floor where she had slept on, as her ears picked up the ring of her phone, but she ignored it and continued sleeping.

The cellphone buzzed again, and she groaned out, before tearing her eyes open, but shut them back as a piercing pain cracked through her temple.

“Ouch!” She winced.

The phone buzzed once more, and she peeled her eyes open – this time, a bit slower, in order to adjust to the luster in the room. She pulled herself up unto her butt, and she rubbed her eyes – still under the weight of her slumber.

She placed her palm on the floor, and instead of the soft comfortable mattress, all she could feel was the cold, hard floor. She scanned her environment and gasped – she was on the floor; on the cold tiles of the bathroom floor.

Pressing her palm to the floor, she lifted herself up to her feet, and leaned to the wall for support. The skin around her eyes burned as the pain ripped through her body. She walked to the basin, and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Her sight made her to blink once – her face was swollen, and she had a black left eye – there were dried splotches of tears on her face, and dried blood stuck all over her. Her entire face was a mess, and this was no thanks to her husband – Mr. Shittass Daniel (whatsoever his fucking name is) Hartley.

She raised her hand to her face, and touched her swollen skin, as she recalled how Daniel had hit her, and assaulted her all because he had seen her with Bayo, her friend.

On a major thought, what was he even doing at the supermarket in the first place and why did he have to barge into her conversation with her friend?

Moreover, he never liked her, why get into a fight with someone she considered her friend who truly liked her?

Also, why did he acknowledge her as his wife in the presence of Bayo, and what’s with his recently grown reference of calling her, and him an item?

No matter how hard she tried to be strong, she couldn’t fight back the tears that came to her eyes as she recalled these things. She squeezed her eyes, and the tears rolled down her cheeks.

She turned the faucet on, and the water gushed out. Placing her hand under the water, she scooped some and splashed it on her face.

The feeling of relief came over her as the water met with her pained skin and she instantly became refreshed. Water is truly life, she thought and her eyes trailed to the bathtub at her side, and her lips pulled into a slight smile – having a bubble bath would be perfect now.

Her phone rang, and distracted her from her thoughts, and she recalled that this was what woke her up. She let out a dejected sigh, and tore her eyes from the bathtub, before walking out of the bathroom.

“Hello?”

Bayo’s voice came up from the other end, “You finally picked!”

She was taken aback as she hadn’t expected a call from him, not after what happened the previous day.

How one earth did he get her number?

“Bayo?”

“Yes, it’s me, sweetheart. How are you? Why haven’t you answered any of my calls? I was really worried something had happened to you.”

Despite his worry, her mind was set on how he managed to reach her.

“How did you get my number?” She asked, and a short silence followed.

His laugh cut through the silence, “C’mon, through Facebook, how else would I get it?”

“Facebook?”

“Yes. I looked up your name, and luckily I found your account. I was even more fortunate that you placed your actual number on your profile.”

She bit her lip. “Oh, right. But, I haven’t visited my profile in a long time.”

“Well, I’m glad it still exists, if not, I might have never been able to reach you.”

She laughed. “Sure.”

A long pause followed, and Derin wondered why he trailed off, but his voice came back up.

“Can you now explain to me how the man I had punched in the face, turned out to be the same multi-billionaire, Daniel Hartley?”

Derin blinked repeatedly, “What do you mean?”

“I mean the man that called his wife, the dough head that I had hit in the supermarket. How did you end up with him?”

“Him?” Her nose wrinkled up, and she chewed on her lower lip, confused on all that Bayo said.

Yes, she was aware that she wasn’t married to a pauper, but she just had never let the thought be that her husband was a multi-billionaire.

“Hey, sweetheart, forget I asked,” Bayo’s voice cut through her thoughts, “How about we meet up for launch tomorrow?”

In a stance, her confused look turned into that of surprise as her eyes went wide.

Bayo wanted to go on a date with her.

Was he really asking her after all these while? How could she even be sure that this was going to be a date?

Wait, was she going to go to a date with a man whom her husband had literally had a brawl with?

That would be simply causing another fight, and then, she’ll end up with the battered face.

“Hello, Derin?” Bayo called from the other end of the line.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Bayo.”

He laughed. “You trailed off gain.”

“I’m sorry,” She apologized.

“No worries, Sweetheart,” He responded, “Now, what do you say? Can we have lunch tomorrow?”

She sighed. “Sure thing.”

“Wait,” His voice croaked in disbelief, “You’ll come?”

“Yes.”

He laughed. “Then it’s a date. I’ll text you the address.”

She nodded to herself.

“Derin, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She hung up, and placed the cellphone back on the bedside table.

She was crossing the limits here, but she couldn’t just lock herself up at the fear of what Daniel would do to her.

No matter who he was, he didn’t have a hold on her freedom, and on her life.

If he can be stubborn, then she can also become as stubborn as hell.

Her eyes sauntered to the bathroom, and she remembered her bath. She smiled to herself, and walked to the bathroom.