Chapter 8
Anable took longer than she often did with clients as the Nigerian dealer drove their business appointment in the direction of developed interests. Anable concisely made it clear that he was not after a boyfriend because she was happily having someone already in her life, therefore she could only settle for one-minute paid-up scenarios of romantic convenience. The Nigerian gentleman bragged of being wealthy to an extent of affording a beautiful and classy lady like her, but she laughed it off saying that Trey would shoot him if he dared try. She also made it clear that it was the wrong place and time as this would make her suspicious of his motives for continuing hanging around. Furthermore, Trey reminded her, time and again, never to tolerate anyone for long whilst in the custody of huge sums of cash for fear of being duped. Her phone started to ring and she realized that it was Trey. Anable had to ask him to leave, but her voice conveyed a subtle invitation.
"Hi dear, what's up" she answered her phone.
"Cool my love, are you in the office?" inquired Trey.
"Yep!" she briefly replied.
"Listen my love. I will not make it home tonight; I have to wait for a sensitive consignment from Indonesia at a tricky spot" he explained as he cooked up an alibi.
"No problem darling, as long as you keep in touch, but our sheets will miss you tonight, so when will you be home lovey?" she teasingly demanded a response after acknowledging his statement.
"Will let you know my love, but anytime tomorrow, I suppose" he responded.
"It's all good, play it safe, don't wanna lose you honey" she romantically uttered.
"Alright my queen, we'll be chatting, keep safe too" he extended his sentiments.
"Thanks for caring darling" she acknowledged.
"Bye, my love" he extended valedictions.
"Bye sweetheart" she ended the conversation.
Anable walked to the door and locked it. He pulled off the 2 x 1 metre landscape painting from the wall. Behind it was a secret safe which she unlocked and orderly put the stashes of the 8 million rands from the just-ended deal. The security within that building was tight to warrant any panic sensations. Soon after completing that she reached for her phone, and went for her conversation history before calling. That call was going to the Nigerian gentleman who had just left the building.
"Hello," he answered.
"Hi, were you serious that you can afford an expensive lady like me?" she inquired rhetorically.
"Why not? Am I cheap myself?" he responded with a question-answer.
"How much are you going to give me?" she asked seriously.
"As much as you want, you name your price" he responded boastfully.
"Just 50k and valid for just one night because my man ain't around" she responded trickily.
"Just for a night?" he inquired curiously.
"Of course, how much were you expecting to pay?" she continued.
"5k per night" he responded abruptly.
"Then go and sleep with your sister for that baby milk change" she replied as she dropped the phone.
Anable was never going to settle for less given the extravagant behaviour of the men in his life. Earlier on, Sam had parted with 10k for just a quick session at Pretoria Guest Lodge. Above all, she was a big fish's queen to swim in small ponds. What she had to comprehend was that most Nigerian men, no matter how rich they might be, were not given to spending money loosely. The West Afrikaners were known for searching for money tirelessly, but not given to spending it recklessly. Only women who came into their lives on a commitment basis stood an unguaranteed chance to dig deeper into their tightly secured pockets. A minute after hanging up, a message alert tone buzzed on her phone. Upon checking, she realized that the Nigerian had said that he can only part with 50k should it be a serious relationship. Whilst she was still trying to figure out his intentions, her phone rang. The Nigerian gentleman was calling.
"Stop wasting my time, what do you want?" she inquired angrily.
"Don't be mad, what if I have serious business for you?" he asked with a dose of rhetoric.
"Then shoot straight to the point" she responded.
"I can part with such a huge sum of money if you agree to have sex with me all night before a camera" he explained the developed thread.
"Over my dead body, unless it's just for an hour or two, but my face won't be exposed" she replied with conditions.
"Deal?" he asked.
"Don't be fast, I am not a bitch mind you, above all, I'm not desperate, I have a better someone and also make my own money" she egotistically responded.
"Better than who? Don't be so sure! So, what's your position?" he egocentrically inquired.
"We can do it tonight if you're ready, but payment first or no deal?" she made herself clear.
"Venue?" he asked.
"Electronically transfer that 50k first" she demanded.
"I don't risk with money, what if you play me?" he expressed his concern.
"If you're not interested, just leave it" she intransigently replied.
"Will only pay you when all is set at the venue" he uttered.
"In that case, I am only available before midnight, I don't go out at night unless, with my lover, it's just that he is not around" she explained her conditions.
"Is that a deal?" he asked for confirmation.
"Deal, but be on your best behaviour, otherwise you'll go back to Nigeria in a coffin, this is South Africa, mind you" she accompanied her confirmation with a bout of threats.
The two agreed on the terms and conditions of their scandal. Anable who had earlier on been with Sam on a similar escapade was set to be with someone else at the same venue. It seems her out-of-hand habit that Sam engendered whilst she was still a teen was not going to annihilate loosely. The coming of Trey into her love life had not made a durable impact as far as faithfulness was concerned. Their romance was still fragile, let alone shrouded in trickery and cheating. What was evident was the fact that she prioritized Trey. What was also convincing was the fact that she needed him and was not prepared to risk losing him willy-nilly. However, what was love if it was all about money? Yes! What was respect if it was not applicable when one was out of sight? It remains to be seen if ever there was going to be a genuine shift of persona. In any case, real transformation is a process and not a fly-by-night event.