A moment after the press meeting, Kamara sat at his desk, papers strewn around him, the hum of the computer in the background. His gaze drifted from the screen being projected, no longer focused on the numbers or words of the male employee at the front presenting his ideas for the company's new project.
Instead, he sat there, still and quiet, as if the moment hung in the air. His lips tingled, remembering the warmth that had lingered there, a warmth that spread slowly, reaching places he hadn't known were waiting for it. His breath caught, not in excitement but in the soft surprise of it, the way it had unfolded without urgency—slow, deliberate. The faint taste of her lips seemed to linger, a memory more vivid than the fleeting moment itself, like something meant to be etched in his senses forever. His fingers flexed unconsciously, recalling how they'd hovered close, his hands daring enough to braced her soft skin, as though the kiss had carried all that needed to be said.
"What do you think ?" His gaze was drawn from the sight of her reflected image by Kelvin's call. He shifted in his seat, the muscles in his neck tightening as a soft, rasping sound escaped his throat, a brief interruption to the silence and stares of everyone in the room.
"What?" his brows raised as he looked at Kelvin to detail him.
"I was asking what you think about his presentation." Kelvin vivid out catching a gasp of relief from him. He watched as he flipped his fingers on his nose, more of a stress and he could tell something was wrong with him. He was distracted for a minute and a half during the discussion during the meeting, his gaze stood still while his ears fluctuated in their world.
"Um, I think it's good" he lied, not sure of what was being displayed. He could ask for it to be presented again but that would put him in a spot he did not want to be. And as it stood he was the one giving little to the words being said. His mind was still lost at the taste of her lips, it wasn't a familiar one nor was the feelings.
There was something extra, something chilling and exciting and each thought on it made him a bit nervous and curious at the same time.
That was the face of his wife but why was the kiss different? why does he think he had kissed a stranger.?
His inner doubts were interrupted by the buzz of his phone, he snatched it off the table and responded to it. Without much of a farewell, he walked out of the meeting after calling it to an end.
He hopped into his car and drove to a destination known to him, on his way his mind kept playing the scene of his lips greeting Kenitas lips, her breath still lingered in his throat as he groaned in frustration.
He shouldn't be thinking about her, his finger annoying turned on his music system, hoping a song would help him erase thoughts of her, and Just like that...
His breath came out in a short, rough exhale, shoulders tensed as his jaw clenched. That wasn't happening, even the music was an awful idea. The second he turned it on Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer came up and drastically his fingers greased against his nose.
Faith wasn't really in his favor, hopefully, it would on where he was headed.
After a short drive, he was at the front of a cafe a street across from where he parked his car. He stepped into the café, the familiar scent of coffee and baked goods tugged his breath as he walked by, his eyes scanned the room until they landed on a figure sitting at a small table near the window, fingers wrapped around a steaming cup.
Her short gold hair was first to be noticed, and her slim thick body sat still in the chair, waiting patiently for Kamara.
As he approached, she looked up, a slow smile spread across her face, equal parts recognition and surprise. Kamara pulled out the chair across from her, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the weight of the years hanging between them like an invisible thread.
"You look different," she casually said, her voice a mix of amusement and nostalgia. It had been ten to fifteen years since they last saw each other, actually fifteen if he were to recall clearly, their last meet was at the farewell party they held that night.
"And you look exactly the same," Kamara replied, though they both knew it wasn't true. She was not chubby but with the years she decided to drain off some weight, more for her health than appearance.
"Can you tell me what happened that night? what did you witness?" Kamara chased right in not wanting any more than the reason he was there to meet her. She had sent a call to him in desire to speak about that night and what she apparently witnessed.
"I don't know how to put this out, I should have said something years ago but I was scared ?" she began, her voice quieter as her eyes searched Kamara's face.
"That night I was at the rooftop as well" she narrated, her boyfriend had just called things off between them and she went up for a moment of peace. With arms stretched her eyes closed as a soft breeze swept across the rooftop, the stars were fading in the cloud, a sign of a big storm coming.
And at that moment she heard the steps of feet approaching so she went for the back of the mental vent, unnoticed she crouched watching Kamara and Emma argue over the issue of her slepongnwith someone else and just after their heated argument he walked out.
A second later she saw Beth walk in, her voice a mix of anger and desperation. Her words, though indistinct from the distance, carried the unmistakable weight of frustration.
At the other end was Emma with arms crossed tightly over her chest, her face set in a cold, resolute expression. Her hair whipped around in the wind as she shook her head, deflecting Beth's words like they were arrows aimed straight at her. Her lips moved in response, measured but cutting, the tone clear even if the specifics were not.
She could feel the tension crackling in the air, thick and heavy on their every word, she shifted slightly, careful to stay hidden behind the vent, but she couldn't tear her eyes away. It was like watching a storm brewing, the clouds gathering, ready to burst.
Suddenly, Beth stepped forward, her voice rising in intensity, her hands clenched into fists but Emma didn't flinch. Instead, she held her ground, her eyes locking with the challenge.
"That's what I saw that night" she concluded with a deep sigh, a relief to have gotten it out of her chest after years.
"You're saying Beth was the last person with Emns before her death?" a stroke of uncertainty hit him as he realized he had been lied to. A vivid memory of him questioning Beth flashed in, he had asked if she had met or spoken with Emma that night but she denied ever going such, even to the point of giving an alibi.
"I don't know much beyond that, before they could see me I sneaked out," the lady told with fingers striped at the tip of the cup's mouth.
"And why are you telling it now, why not then" A jet of flames erupted in his veins as he clenched his knuckles hard on the table. Why didn't she speak of that night or inform the police of what she saw while the investigation was on? For fifteen years his nights have been bothered by what really happened that night, his thoughts momentarily haunted by why his then-girlfriend jumped off the building. Guilts, of him being the cause all to find out someone else might be responsible.
" I was going to say something but I got an offer" she explained, having thoughts of the incidents at the rooftop and the speculation that her classmate's suicide might not be one, she decided to front the police on what she witnessed. But was stopped by Beth who offered her a better life, a sponsorship of her dream course and university. She couldn't say no.
Yes, she was selfish but there was not much she could do. Had she protested and challenged those in power they would have probably silenced her and she dared not.
"I'm scared still but I believe the truth should be out. The moment I was out of there I heard Emma fall off the building, it wasn't any coincidence" If not why would she pay you to silence her?
***
Just after that revelation, he drove back to the company to confront Beth. He wasn't going to waste time debating he needed answers and he was going to get it from her.
The bang on the door got Beth snapping at her seat, her eyes flinched at Ksmars who gave her a hard look like she had done something wrong.
"What's your problem ?" she asked between annoyed and startled. First, he left without informing her and now he barged into her office as if he owned it, well he did but still.
"I was with Ramatu just an hour ago"
The room felt smaller than it was, the air thick with unspoken words. He stood near the door, his fists clenched at his sides, eyes locked on her. She sat at the edge of the chair, arms folded tightly across her chest as if bracing for the impact of his words. Her face was pale, and she avoided his gaze, knowing what was coming.
"She's back?" her voice pitched out, quite on the low. Perhaps an intention to avert the conversation about to unfold.
"You were the last one to see her," he said, his voice low but taut, each word carefully measured to keep his anger in check. His jaw tightened, his breath coming out in sharp bursts. "Why did you lie to me, what happened?"
She shifted uncomfortably, her fingers gripping the fabric of her dress. "I don't know, I really " her voice faltered, but he cut her off before she could continue.
"Don't," he snapped, taking a step closer, the accusation hanging heavy between them.
"Don't tell you don't know cause you were the last person to have seen or spoken to her, now what I want to know is what really happened that night and did you have anything to do with her death?"
You were with her that night. What did you talk about? What did you say?"
Of course, she wasn't going to tell on herself. Whatever happened that night was going to stay there, she thought through as she narrowed her eyes, searching for a tear or two.
"You talked with her and all of a sudden you're doubting me? I've been your friend for years, I know you more and seek your interests more"
"But you also lied to me, I asked you if you met or spoke with Emma that night, and you said no. You denied ever meeting her or speaking to her. Now tell me doesn't that sound suspicious?" His voice rose with the intensity of the questions, the weight of grief and suspicion pressing down on him, twisting his expression into something almost unrecognizable. Her eyes finally met his, wide and filled with something between fear and guilt, but she remained silent.
For a long moment, the only sound was the ticking of a clock on the wall, each second stretching painfully. She swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly, but still, she hesitated.
"You think I had something to do with her death?" she finally asked, her voice loud and irritated. "You tell me why would I do that? I didn't tell you because I was afraid of this, afraid you were going to suspect I'd something to do with her death" she scolded out in a teardrop "Yes I met up with her that night but only to console her after that I left" she stood on her words, giving no space for doubts.
"Oh, but you did" Their faces flipped in the direction of the voice, and Kenita smoothly walked in and hung her hand on her hip. "You did do something"
"What did I do?" Beth's eyes rolled as she let out an annoyed sound through her sealed lips.
"You hired Abdul to sabotage my car 'cause you wanted me dead, not only that you also paid Sarah to take the blame for you" Kenita ended with a smooth slam of her palm on Beth's cheek.