Dawsk Page 4

  “What something else?”

  “I’m saving up to travel. I even got my passport ready. I want to go somewhere beautiful, like Korea, or the Caribbean islands where I can just relax.”

  Nadia laughed out so loud, her body shook.

  “Why are you laughing?”

  “Wow. Joke of the century. You, Oladeji, you’re going to travel?”

  “Yes. I plan to next year.”

  “When you could not even leave your job for a night out with me?”

  “This is different.”

  “Sure.”

  We arrived at Aiden Essien's Mansion thirty-five minutes later. It was located in a secluded area at the outskirts of the city on a windy hill surrounded by mahogany trees. His nearest neighbours were not to be seen because they lived about a mile or two from him. It gave the occupants the needed privacy and as Femi had put it, the perfect place to hide precious secrets up their luxurious sleeves. I handed the security guard at the gate my invitation before we were let through. He pushed a button in his hand. The gate slid open to let us in. Nadia drove in slowly, a twinkle in her eyes. Stepping out of the car, I took in the sight of my surroundings.

  “This is one large property,” I voiced out.

  The mansion was designed in a modern aesthetic way. The massive pool looked like an artificial lake. It sat in front of the four-storied building that spanned a great length. A few steps from the low hedges was a fountain with water spewing out of a statue of a boy carrying a water pot. To the far left were two greenhouses and to the right a tennis court. Everywhere was lit in total brilliance.

  Nadia and I took careful steps as we walked to the main arched entryway made of stunningly designed columns. I drew in a sharp breath of sweet smelling fragrances when the cold air from the foyer hit me. There was idle chatter from guests emanating from the den which definitely looked like a lounge. The place had glimmering pendant lights, coffee coloured couches, a bar running along the walls in a semi-circle and soft music coming from a grand piano.

  “I feel like I died and I went to heaven,” Nadia said.

  “If that’s how you feel, how do you think I feel?”

  I moved over to the bar where I could have a clear view of the man on the grand piano. He had changed his rhythm and now played a jazzy tune.

  “Are we still in Orient city?” I asked, not quite sure.

  Nadia had already struck up a conversation with one of the men who stood next to the Christmas tree. It was apparent from the way he looked at her. He only wanted one thing from her. But she was oblivious to such, and even if she did notice, I was sure she did not care.

  I wondered what her boyfriend would think about her flirting with another man, and so openly, without shame. I spotted the medical director talking with someone, his gorgeous wife by his side.

  “What can I get you? Wine?” the male bartender asked me with probing eyes.

  “No, thank you. I had a bad run-in with alcohol not too long ago. I’m still recovering.”

  “Some juice then?”

  “That will be nice.”

  He poured some juice into a wine glass and slid it my way.

  “Thank you.”

  He replied with a smile and dashed to his right.

  “What can I get you? He asked the lady who walked up to the bar.

  The waiters moved around, serving expensive looking drinks and finger foods to the guests. My eyes darted around, and I could spot one or two Nollywood movie stars having a laugh with other guests. Then I spotted a popular senator having a tete-a-tete with Aiden. It was the first time that night I saw Aiden.

  Why did I imagine he would be waiting at the front door?

  My eyes were fixed on him. I wanted them to wander, but like a magnet to metal, they were stuck to his frame. I was sure every woman in that room desired to be by his side, if only to bask in the self-confidence he exuded so effortlessly.

  He turned around, and his gaze met mine. He abandoned his talk with the senator and strolled with poise in my direction.

  I took in every bit of him from his hair to his shoes. His suit fitted his body so perfectly.

  I gulped hard. “Hello,” I managed to say. “You made it.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  My voice was unrecognisable to me. I was just glad I could still use my words and form them into sane sentences.

  He leaned in and kissed my cheeks. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t show.”

  “I thought so, too, but here I am. You have a beautiful house.”

  “Thank you.”

  His smile unnerved me.

  “Did you come with anyone?”

  I wondered if he had asked me to know if I came with a significant other in male form.

  “Yeah, my friend Nadia. She’s the one standing over there looking likes she owns the place.”

  He turned around to look at Nadia, who was now busy talking to another man in a suit too small for his body.

  “I hope you enjoy the party. You look lovely by the way,” he told me. “Excuse me.”

  He was gone, and Nadia replaced him in a split second.

  “I’m having the time of my life,” she said, moving her head from side to side.

  “I bet.”

  “Someone said there’s going to be a magic show.”

  “Okay.”

  “What?” she asked, scrutinising me.

  “Nothing. Nadia.

  “Lighten up.” She took rapid gulps of her drink.

  “I’m gonna ask you a question, Nadia and you better answer truthfully.”

  “Go on.”

  “How many drinks have you had?”

  She stared at the empty glass and said in a hushed tone, “This would make it my third. Or fourth.”

  “We just got here, Nadia. Why are you doing this to me?”

  She laughed for a while and stopped when she looked at my face.

  “You used to be better than me at this. I saw you one time doing that…”

  “Don’t you mention that,” I said remembering the stunt I had pulled at a party with fire, a funnel, a two-litre jar of something called Aqua.

  “You used to be the goddess of alcohol.”

  “Well, I’m retired now. I need you sober to drive me home.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “What kind of question is that? Of course, I’m sure,” I replied.

  “I’m gonna go dance with that man.”

  “Don’t get carried away.”

  Nadia waved her hand in dismissal and went back to her partner. When the charming waiter walked past her, she took another drink.

  “Goddamit, Nadia,” I swore under my breath.

  “Hi, I’m Billy.”

  The blonde haired man with a neat moustache who walked up to me introduced himself. He offered his hand for a handshake, and I took it. He flipped it and kissed it.

  “Nice to make your acquaintance, I’m Simisola Oladeji.”

  His brown eyes settled on my cleavage.

  “You have the prettiest name, Simisola.”

  “Thank you, Billy. Are you a friend of Aiden’s?” I inquired, forcing my hand from his grasp.

  “No, just here for the sights.”

  It was evident he did not want to talk about Aiden. “You know I’ve been observing you from afar ever since you walked in.”

  “Is that so?”

  “As a matter of fact, yes. I just have to say you are the most beautiful woman I’ve seen here tonight.”

  “Whoa, flattery. I thought that was extinct.”

  “No, I do not flatter you. I bet if your beauty were divvied up among ten girls, those girls would still be the prettiest girls.”

  “Now you’re going too far.”

  “No.” His voice sounded harsh.

  “Okay. I believe you.”

  “Now we are acquainted, Miss Simisola, how about we skip this party and head for somewhere more private? Let’s get to know each other better. Let’s say my place, huh? A l
ate dinner, some drinks and maybe breakfast?”

  There it was. The annoying punch line to the whole joke.

  “No,” was my brusque answer. It startled him a little.

  “It’s just a friendly offer.”

  I almost told him to shove his offer up his rear.

  “Yeah, I’m going to have to decline Billy. It was nice of you to come around and say those things and make your nice offer.”

  He gave me a twisted smile and picked up his drink. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”

  “I’ll take my chances.”

  His grin died down quickly as he moved to sit alone on a leather sofa.

  After the exuberant magic show by a man named Stevie Wonder, Nadia came running to me.

  “Simi! Simi!” Nadia was almost out of breath when she got to me. “You will not believe who I just saw. It’s IK. IK. Can you believe it?”

  I refrained from telling her I’d already seen him.

  “You have to come with me to talk to him. I don't know what to say.”

  I looked her over. She looked sober.

  “Okay. I’ll help you,” I told her as an afterthought. I was afraid she might act too strange in front of him.

  Ikponmwosa Best, popularly known as IK, was Nadia’s favourite Nollywood actor. He was the classic example of the whole tall, dark and handsome package. But what Nadia admired most in the actor was his voice, a deep sonorous sound that made her melt each time he talked. So she said. The actor was just as he was on the screen only he was chatty. And not even the right type. For about an hour, he yapped about nonsensical matters and made rather dull jokes that made me want to rip my ears out. Nadia laughed at all his jokes, which I attributed to her being definitely under the influence: the influence of lust.

  When the clock struck twelve, there were hollers from a few guests. Everyone wished each other a Merry Christmas. Even Billy came over to wish me a Merry Christmas.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to accept my proposal?”

  “I’d rather die.”

  He walked away, glancing back at me a few times.

  I could not find Nadia anywhere to wish her a merry Christmas. I searched for her in the confines of the party area, and after turning up with nothing, I broadened my horizon. One of the female waiters with short hair and massive breasts had seen her and pointed towards the entrance hall of the house. I continued walking and searching until I came to an area on the floor where it led down to a basement. A part of me wanted to go down, and the other warned against it. If anyone had spotted me staring down, moving from one foot to another, he or she would conclude I was up to nothing good. In the end, I chose to satisfy my curiosity. I ambled down the spiral staircase. It seemed to go on and on as if unending, but when I stepped on the last step, I was amazed by the view before me. Right in front of me was a hallway with a ceiling painted like the Sistine Chapel.

  The first room to my right was the wine cellar. It was not a very large room, and it smelled a little like wood husk which made me want to sniff in some more of the air. My head snapped back when I thought I heard something move behind me. Of course, it was wrong to snoop around in someone’s home, but by god was I going satiate my curiosity.

  At the end of the corridor was a reddish brown door. It looked ominous. Something urged me to go back, to not open the door. Yet I found myself turning the handle and pushing. Part of me expected a horrific sight to come into view as I peered in. I breathed out and pushed the door wider.

  The library was filled with so many books it took quite a while for my eyes to adjust to them. There was a step ladder leaning on the bookcases which stood from floor to ceiling running through the length and breadth of the room. It was dark save for the light from the lamp on the hexagonal table.

  Libraries in people’s houses were usually located at the living quarters, in the light. Why was this one here? Several books occupied the table and were bookmarked in several pages. I sat on the white leather chair and whistled. It was the most comfortable thing I had ever sat on. One of the books with a red hardback beckoned to me. On the front page was the title ‘An In-Depth sight into the Realms of the African mythology by Professor Rufus Edem’.

  On one page of the book, bookmarked was a drawing of a statue depicting the warrior god Sango. He had two long straight horns protruding from his head and held a sword with one hand and a decapitated head in the other side. Underneath this picture was a series of notes. I flipped the pages and found clippings of letters about the god Ikenga and the goddess Obba. There was another bookmark for the goddess Oyá. The last marker had less information about its topic. My eyes caught a white square door in between bookcases. I dropped the book back on the table and stood up, ready to fully satiate my curiosity.

  What was behind the door?

  I was almost within reach of it before I was arrested by a voice from the corridor.

  “You shouldn’t be here.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  The look on Aiden’s face sent shivers down my spine.

  “I was just admiring your library. It’s really grand,” I said, moving away from the door.

  “You should not be here, Miss Simi.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll be on my way.”

  “Merry Christmas.” His voice became less threatening.

  He made room for me to pass through the doorway. I caught a whiff of his scent as my body brushed his slightly, and my involuntary reaction to this was a tingling sensation.

  “Yeah, Merry Christmas.”

  “Can you…” His eyes conveyed sadness as he spoke. It baffled me.

  “I’ll find my way out, thank you. Sorry for invading your home. It was a lovely party.”

  “Thank you for coming.”

  I could feel his eyes watching me as I ambled my way up the staircase. It wasn’t just about my snooping around his basement that ticked him off. It was something else.

  When I got back upstairs, I found out most of the guests had already gone, and the few who were around were just the hired help who were cleaning up the place. Nadia’s location still remained oblivious to me. I went in search of my purse and found it still sitting at the bar where I kept it. I fished out my phone and dialled Nadia’s number. At first, it did not go through, but the second time, there was a ring. I patiently waited for her to pick up. The moment she did, I wasted no time in getting to the point.

  “Where the hell are you, Nadia?”

  “I’m busy.”

  “What did you say?”

  “Oh, Oladeji, is that you?” There was a loud hiccup in the background.

  “Yes, where are you?” I asked fuming.

  “With Roland. He’s such a nice guy.”

  Enraged, I almost shouted, “Who in God’s name is Roland?”

  “My new boyfriend. I met him at the party.”

  “What about your old boyfriend?”

  “He’s dead and gone to me.”

  I was asking all the wrong questions. “Where are you? Are you still at Aiden’s house?”

  “Not in the building.” There was a shuffling noise, and I could hear Nadia asking her partner where they were. He gave her an answer.

  “We’re in…” she said.

  I halted her.

  “I know where you are!” I yelled into the mouthpiece. “How am I supposed to get home when you’re halfway through town?”

  “You can use my car. Oh, wait the key is with me. Sorry.”

  I ended the call before she could make out her unnecessary apology and tried to calm myself down. There was no use crying over spilt milk. I had to be solution oriented. There was no other choice than to get a cab on the road. I looked at the time. It was a few minutes past one.

  I strolled down the hill, by the side of the road. A few cars sped by, but none stopped when I flagged them down. There were no cabs in sight, yet. I cursed Nadia silently for putting me through such a situation. My legs hurt from walking such long a distance on high heels. I had a right
mind to pull them off and continue my journey with my bare feet, but all sorts of the dangerous objects could be lying on the ground, ready to snap at my leg.

  A black Mercedes stopped after I flagged it down. A big mistake. Inside the large black vehicle were three men in almost matching attires and they appeared to be drunk. Yes, it wasn’t Christmas until people succeeded in choking themselves with food, drowning themselves in alcohol and finally getting diabetes. The one in the back was sprawled halfway across the seat and did not turn when I spoke to the driver.

  “Hey pretty, where are you headed?”

  “Just down the road,” I answered.

  He and the scrawny man in the passenger seat laughed. The man in the driver’s seat had to be the ugliest person I had ever seen, with two swollen lips and a scar running down his jagged face. The bling-bling around his neck did not help the issue at all.

  “Come on, sweetie, are you headed our way?” he repeated. His breath smelled of alcohol.

  “I’m afraid not. I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” I said and resumed walking.

  They drove up to me, and the driver stuck his misshapen head out.

  “Let’s drop you off.”

  “No, thank you.”

  “I insist,” the man persisted.

  “I’m almost at my destination.”

  “We insist,” he said.

  Ignoring him, I moved on, my head straight and eyes forward. When I heard the car engine stop and heard the car doors open and slam shut three times I froze. I forced myself to turn around, and I saw them, all three of them staggering as they progressed towards me.

  Unconsciously, I doubled my pace and almost ran, but I had forgotten I was on six inches. The story of the abducted women came to mind. The men caught up with me in no time.

  “You shouldn’t run away from us, sweetie.”

  “Stay away from me!” I yelled, watching them cautiously. I took off my shoes and held on to them.

  “Don’t come any closer or else...” I warned, my voice shaky.

  I aimed my shoes at them prepared to use it as a weapon in case they tried anything funny. Or not funny.

  “We’re not going to hurt you. We just want to give you a ride.” The man who had been on the passenger seat laughed and his friend joined in.