Redemption - Episode 2

 

Lucas:

"A bar really?" I ask my brother dearest who is grinning at me.
"Come on. You don't have to take anything. I am tired of the drama at home. I need a break" he tells me as the both of us get out of my car. I give him an unsure look and he punch my shoulder playfully.
"Don't be a spoilsport bro. I just have about a month with you then I am off to our branch in Benin." I guess going in there won't hurt . My dad is already making preparations for Luis to start working in his company in Benin. And get this, dad wants him to start from the lowest level to get experience. Yeap. Typical of my father but Luis hates the idea. He doesn't see why after leaving the university with a second class upper, he should have to start from the scratch in his own father's company. I should just endulge him to cheer him up.
"Fine. A few drinks won't hurt" I say and the big grin on his face tells me it will. I shake my head at him as we walk towards the classy bar. My phone starts buzzing in my pocket and I pull it out to see my boss's name on the screen.
"I have to take this call. Go ahead and order for me" Luis pat my shoulder then walk in without me.
  The sound of loud music coming from the bar makes me move out of the bar to take the call.
"Boss" I say as way of greeting.
"So the artist last night loved your mix and guess what?" My boss cheery voice say from the other side of the phone but I get distracted as sweet melodious music filter into my ears. I turn to the direction of the voice and my eyes meet a girl sitting just by the gate of the bar

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/redemption

. That voice is raw talent. I study the girl and notice that she is fidgety and glances inside the bar every two seconds like she's impatiently waiting for someone. I can only see her side profile and my eyes trace her face and I am fascinated by her small pointed nose. She must have felt someone watching her because she suddenly stops singing and turns to my direction. It's like a sledge hammer just got rammed into my chest. She's beautiful. No, scratch that. She's breathtaking. My heart starts a pitter patter sound in my chest and I rub it to try and stop it.
Her eyes finally stop on me but she quickly averts her eyes like she's shy. I almost go to her and beg her to keep looking at me but my boss's voice get me out of my thinking.
"Lucas! Are you still there?" He's asking and I bite down on my lip, tasting the metal of my lip ring.
"Yes boss. You were saying..."
"You got referred to Jake!" He announces and my heart skip a beat.
"You're kidding me" I say suspiciously because Jake is a fucking big celebrity. How? who referred me to him?
"I ain't kidding kid! The artist last night is tight with Jake's wife. He played the mix we did for him and Jake's wife loved it. She gave the Mix to her husband and bam! You just became famous!!" My boss squeal and I know he isn't kidding.
"My God!" I breath out and my boss chuckles.
"You deserve this kid. You have been working your butt off, now see how God favoured you"
"Wow. This is huge."
"Yeap. The thing is, you will have to move to Port Harcourt. That's were Jake is having his new album made. He wants you there by the weekend next week." I am overwhelmed by the news right now and leaving home should be another good news as I would be far away from my dad but I feel like I am needed here. There's nothing for me here so why am I hesitant? My eyes involuntarily move to the girl at the gate and I see she's with another girl her age and she looks agitated. She seems to be shouting at the girl who just joined her. What's wrong?
"Okay boss. I will get back to you. I am kind of in the midst of something" I tell my boss and end the call. I start moving towards the two girls when I hear Luis holler at me.
"Lucas. I have been waiting for you. What are you still doing out here? You won't believe who's here" the grimace on his face tells me I won't like who's here. I am about to ask when Anita burst out of the bar with her too tight dress and mile high heels. She staggers to where I am standing with Luis.
"Baby. You came" she kisses my lips sloppily and I pull her away from me in disgust. She's the daughter of dad's closest friend and she's been on my case since we were just kids. She's beautiful but totally not my type. She's a drama queen and loves to be the center of attraction.
"Anita, what are you doing here?" I ask silently. I can see in my peripheral vision that the girl I was just eyeing is looking at the scene Anita is causing.
"You didn't come here for me?" She pout and I bite down on my bottom lip.
"Come on Lucas. She's too drunk right now. Take her home. We can have a brother's day out another time." Luis gives me sympathetic eyes and I lick my lip ring in frustration. I look to the girl I so wanted to get to talk to, with that amazing voice of hers then back to Anita. I groan in frustration and I hear Luis chuckle. I throw him a murderous look and he raises his hands upin surrender.
"Come on Anita. Let's get you home." I grab her by the waist and pull her to my self as I walk her towards her car. I get her key from her purse then settle her into the passenger seat before walking back to the driver's side of the car. My eyes go back to the girl at the gate before I finally get into the car and drive out of the bar.

**************
Benedicta:
"I can't believe you spent three hours in there! I have been standing here waiting for you" I scold Ade who looks a little apologetic.
"I would have been out since but I lost our transport fare and Johnson already left." She doesn't even have the boldness to look me in the face as she tells me this. Dad would be so angry at me. I can't believe i let Ade talk me into this problem.
"How do we get home now? We can't possibly trek. We are already late." I ask but Ade just shake her head. My eyes move back to the guy who has been outrightly staring at me for the past five minutes. There's a woman with him and she's all touchy feely. My heart feels a little weird right now.
"Wow. That guy is hot" Ade has the guts to say and I throw her a murderous look. I can't believe she can still ogle guys in this situation we are in right now. I don't know why but I keep watching while Ade rack her brain for a solution. The guy drives pass us with his girlfriend and I finally move my attention back to Ade.
"I can't believe you lost our t-fare. I am never following to any place ever!" I tell her.
"Excuse me" a smooth deep voice says behind me and I turn to see a man. I think he was with the guy who kept watching me earlier.He's tall and muscly. Not too much muscles like the hulk but enough to make his T-shirt hug his body in a nice way. He has chiseled jaws and he has a stubble. His lips are pink and they look soft.
Ade clear her voice beside me and I realize I am staring and the stranger knows that I am. I turn my face away to hide my embarrassment.
"What do you want?" Ade question.
"Well, I couldn't help but hear you guys have no money to get home. I wouldn't want two beautiful girls to get stuck in a place like this. So, I am offering to help" he says and his eyes to leave me.
"Well that will be great"
"We don't need your help"ade and I say at the same time. I shoot Ade a look to shut her up but she keeps talking.
"You see, her dad is going to be so worried right now. We'll need a ride to the Pentecostal Church just at the next street." Ade tells him. He nods then smile.
"I'll get my car and be right back" he jogs away from us and I fire ade.
"What's your problem? Do you know if he's a ritualist or something! I am not getting into a car with a stranger." I fold my arms in a stance.
"Come on Bennie. Don't be stubborn. Do you want to walk and waste more time? Besides he's a well known guy. His father owns the engineering company that deals on motor parts.

Read " The fill-in wife " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. He's super rich and I think he likes you." Ade tells me. I feel my resolve weaken when I reason that my dad would be worried.
"Fine. Text Juliet and tell her we are with this guy so in case we go missing, he can be apprehended" I tell Ade who rolls her eyes at my hinking but does as I ask. The man drives to us and comes out to open the passenger's door while looking at me with a big smile on his face. That smile does things to my tummy but I slap indifference unto my expression. I start walking to he back seat but Ade quickly enters the back seat and shut the door. What a friend.
"Come on. I don't bite" the stranger say while gesturing for me to enter the passenger's seat. I sigh and reluctantly enter.
"Thanks"He whispers to me as I brush pass him to get into the car. My breathe hitch at the contact and the smell of his cologne makes my brain spin. I send a silent prayer to the heavens to save me from temptation as I hear Ade giggle from the back seat and the stranger start the car.

So who remembers Jake from 'stolen innocence'?

Well I thought to bring him in.

What do you think?