'This would be interesting.' She thought to herself as she checked him out. His appearance looked and smell expensive, like somebody who could surely make her rich for the rest of her life.
"How?" She asked him straight away, trailing her index fingers down his arm in a flirtatious manner. Being rich was her life goal and she didn't mind getting down with a man that was probably younger than her son.
'What a perfect candidate.' The man thought to himself and smiled down at her.
"Follow me, then."
He said and lead her outside of the hall where the party was being held, towards the elevator which they rode to one of the hotel penthouses.
He lightly knocked on the door, listened for some seconds before indicating for her to go right inside.
She was a little disappointed because she thought tonight's adventure would be with the young virile man. Pity he was just the errand boy.
'If an errand boy could look this expensive then what would the boss himself look like' She thought to herself as she greedily ogled the eighteen karats diamonds and black sapphires white gold wristwatch he had on his wrist. She slightly hesitated before pushing the door open.
'What could be waiting for me at the other side of the door if not a horny old man... Maybe two? What's the big deal? I've had sex with far worse when I was in my prime. As long as I become rich, then nothing else matters.' She thought to herself as she confidently went inside.
The first thing that hit her when she pushed the door open was the icy temperature of the room and the putrid smell.
It was nose-pinching, throat-grabbing, repulsive. Like decomposing flesh mixed with something that reminded her of biology practical class back in high school.
Then she laid her eyes on the ghoul-like, gaunt creature hunched down on a chair and nearly fainted. She unconsciously cringed with disgust and started backing aways before she was frozen in place by the loud snap of the creature's bony fingers.
"You are avaricious and deceitful... Plus we have an enemy in common, which makes you the perfect candidate for my plan." The ghoul-like man said in a raspy voice.
"Pick that up and open it..." He indicated with a bony finger towards the bed where a manila envelope was lying.
She moved towards the bed on shaky legs and opened the envelope. Inside was some bails of hundred dollar bills, a ring, and the picture of Leonard Salvador, one of the people she hated most in her life.
When she looked up to ask what was expected of her, the dead man was no longer in his seat, like he was never there, save for the putrid smell that was still lingering in the air.
She started to greedily grab for the money when the voice from the party stopped her.
"Just one of those bails should be enough for now." He said with humor when he saw how she was greedily grabbing for the money.
"Do your job and you can have the rest... Give the ring to your son to touch Leo with then come back here in seven days for the rest of your money."
"Just that?" She asked, surprised at how little she needs to do to earn so much.
"Yeah, just that... My dad will be in contact with you."
"Your dad!?" She asked in surprise because she didn't want to believe that he was referring to the death man as his dad.
"Yes, my dad. Remember, the death man?" He said and laughed loudly at the shocked expression on her face.
Don't be shocked... Just know that I have eyes like an eagle and ears like a rabbit. Good day and I'll see you in seven days!" He said and also disappeared right in front of her eyes. Living behind, the ring and one bail of the money.
***
The persistent ringing of her phone brought her back from her trail of thoughts and she hurriedly picked the call.
"Did you do as I directed?" He asked her with his raspy voice.
"Yes, I did."
"Are you sure?"
Yes, I'm sure!... I gave the ring to my son as directed and I explained how he would use it to him.
"Then why is Aderinsola's grandson not on the news for the murder of Silver's granddaughter!?" He suddenly screeched into her ears. His voice that was raspy before now boomed in her head like a massive explosion, knocking her out cold.
***
Chris and Leo were childhood friends. They met Ladi who just transferred to their department from South Africa during their first degree at the university and the three of them have been friends ever since.
"Hey take it easy on that... I'm sure you know it's not water" Ladi cautioned when he entered into the gazebo that Leo and Chris were sitting and saw Leo taking his Hennessey directly from the bottle.
What's the matter with him?" He asked towards Chris when Leo didn't pay him any attention.
"Exactly what I was about to find out myself... He came in just minutes before you, slumped on the chair, and immediately started drinking... Didn't even say hi"
"Sorry about that," Leo said and put the bottle he was holding back on the table. He took a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh before dropping the bombshell...
"I'm getting married guys..."
"Huh?"
"Uhmm... What!?"
Chris and Ladi exclaimed together with shocked expressions on their faces.
"Why did you suddenly take such a decision?"
"Is Fola pregnant?"
They both asked him again in unison. They were all together the previous night and he didn't tell them anything about getting married before. So what happened!? Why the sudden change!?
"I'm not getting married to Fola. I'm getting married to the call girl from yesterday!"
"The who!?..." Chris asked with shock, his eyes nearly bugging out of their socket wondering if he heard his best friend right.
"What did you say!? Which call girl are you talking about!?" Ladi asked, his hand paused with the whiskey decanter he was about pouring into his glass in his hand.
"The same call girl from yesterday" Leo replied listlessly.
"What!?... Common man" Chris said, not believing what he was hearing.
"Is this some kind of sick joke or something? Cos if it's a joke, then I'm telling you, man, that shit is not funny!" Ladi said. His heart was beating faster than necessary because he was afraid of what might come out of Leo's mouth
"Guys I also wish this was all a joke. I wish I was kinda in a dream that I would wake up from.
"You're not joking!? Chris asked Leo stupendously. "But how is that possible!? You just met her not even twenty-four hours ago? How is this possible that you're getting married to her now!?"
"Yes, man... How is that possible!?" Ladi asked. "Please don't tell me this is some love at first sight shit!"
"She was a honey trap"
"A what now!?" Asked Chris
"A honey trap! It was all a setup! They wanted me to sleep with her so I would end up marrying her..."
"They!? Who are they!? This still doesn't make any sense to me." Ladi asked
Leo explained to his friends everything, exactly as grandpa had told him.
"... So if I want to stay alive, I would have to find this girl and get married to her in less than seven days.
"Listening to Leo talk, Ladi suddenly felt rage built up from inside of him like hot bubbling lava getting ready to erupt.
"Ugghhh!" He gave an animalistic growl from inside him and hurled the whiskey decanter he had in his hand at the wall. Shocking Leo and Chris.
"What the fuck man!?"
"Common man, chill!"
Leo and Chris both said at the same time.
"Fuck! I'm sorry. I didn't know what came over me... I didn't know where that came from" He quickly apologized to his friends.
'Where did that come from? What is the matter with me all of a sudden!? I don't even know this girl, so why am I suddenly acting crazily jealous because Leo is getting married to her?' Ladi thought to himself.
"I understand, but I'm the person getting married to an unknown woman, not you so cool it"