7. Lord Of Escape Routes

'Turn around.'

Her shoulders stiffened, she grimaced, exhaled and did as said.

'Deborah? Who Deborah? You Deborah?' She asked with a thick yoruba accent, smiling insanely as his brows furrowed.

'Stop all the acts.'

'But I am not actor sir.' She face palmed herself.

'Oh, you Deborah Matthews the actor.'

'What? Are you playing games with me?'

'Games! Ah hah!' She clapped cheerfully, dragging his hand to the pool table where other men were.

'Here is game.' She added, also pointing at the ones playing cards.

Miracle chuckled and tapped Kingsley's shoulders.

'This can't be Deborah, she's not as retarded as this. Although she's hot.' His eyes went down on her and his face churned up, recalling her terrible accent and bad English.

'Definitely not, I think you're just obsessed with Deborah.'

'Never.' His face furrowed in suspicion, confusion and embarrassment.

Oh gracious God, they bought her story.

She sighed, she had succeeded in convincing them except the bad boy who seemed to be seeing through her. He had an amused yet laid back aura. The way he lethargically exhaled smoke from his cigarette told her that he was aware and her acts did not confuse him. However, he was too lazy or found it amusing to talk. He walked off to the bar and his friends followed, leaving her behind. She sighed again in relief.

'Hey Deb--'

She covered Angelo's lips before he could complete her name.

'Don't call me, just give me a sign. I'm going inside, maybe I'll help with cleaning.'

His brows furrowed but he shrugged.

'Do whatever you like. Moreover, it's your day off.'

'I'll do just that.' She hurried away, taking the hall down but not quick enough. She bumped into the Politician she had been trying to avoid.

Oh Lord of escape routes, why have thou forsaken me today?

She rolled her eyes, it was about time she spoke to him.

'What?'

'Just what? I waited for you in the fanciest restaurant in Enugu. You stood me up and you ask me what? Do you know how embarrassing it was?'

'I didn't know this was all about your ego!' She spat visibly disgusted.

'Don't play the victim here.'

'What if I am? What if something happened to me that day yet you did not have the courtesy to ask?' She turned, noticing for the first time that the hallway was empty.

'Because you rejected me calls!'

'Yes I did. I'm not freaking interested in you! Stop pestering me. I'm not a prostitute or side chick.' She violently dug her fingers into his chest.

'Carry your libido back to your wife. She'll probably appreciate it.'

His eyes darkened as his arms tightened round her.

'You're hurting me Mr Desmond.' She winced but he did not care.

'You're freaking hurting me!' She yelled and he tore her shirt, kissing her lips down her ears and collarbone. She pushed him, disgusted by his sloppy kisses and alcohol soaked breath; disgusted by him but he did not move. He shoved her against the wall, placed himself between her legs with his hands roaming in inappropriate directions.

She was in a nightclub but in the loneliest of place.

Who would save her?

She would be raped by a sex deprived politician, a no good one at that. She was not the best of humans yet she did not deserve to be defied in such manner. She struggled, giving up as he held her hands above her head and pulled his zipper down with the other. Her eyes closed as tears cascaded her cheeks and she prayed to be over with it but it did not come.

It did not?

She opened her eyes to see him groaning on the floor while Kingsley punched the guts out of him. In her life, she had never been so grateful to see Kingsley Ndubuisi.

'Tell me if this doesn't come out in the news tomorrow.' Kingsley clicked the cellphone camera, taking photos of the half naked Politician. He slid it into his pocket, pulled out his jacket and covered her.

'I'll send this to the press before dawn.' He turned to her reassuringly but she shook her head to his surprise.

'You don't want me to?'

She nodded, she should be grateful, should have said thank you at the least but she was in no mood for any acts nor did she want him to discover her identity, she turned and ran into the workers lounge, leaving him dumbfounded.

'I'm sorry, I don't know what got over me.' Mr Desmond pleaded, trying to hold his legs but he kicked back.

'Tell that to the lady.' He spat.

    It was one hell of an adventurous night; from trying to escape the boys, pretending, being harassed by Mr Desmond to Kingsley saving her. She pecked Angelo goodnight because she knew it irritated him yet she liked the way his ears turned red each time she did.

The cool breeze knocked on roofs as palm trees danced to its melody, she spun happily. She did not know why all of a sudden she felt free and lightheaded, bending, she removed her heels since they made her feet numb with pain, pulled her wig and was about to continue her journey home when her nose caught a trace smoke in the air. She turned and froze.

He was on a polished black motorbike.

'You work here.' He stated, lighting another cigarette.

'What do you want?' She asked, looking about for his friends.

'Don't worry, they are not here.'

She sighed, realizing that she just sighed.

It did not mean that they would not know before dawn.

'Stephen what do you want to keep this to yourself?'

'Nothing,' He shrugged, started his motorbike and left but the way he said it was a nothing with promises. She trembled in discomfort, maybe her secret would be exposed by dawn.

She rolled her eyes, the idiot did not even have the courtesy of giving her a ride. She should be grateful that he had not asked for anything yet, she reprimanded herself and trekked all the way home.