“What do you want with me, and who are you?” I asked, vexed.

“Calm down young man. My name is Mr. Agbor, and I am Faith’s fiancée.”

“Ohh!! It all makes sense now. So, this is it? It is because of Faith that you asked these hoodlums, these thugs, these drive-by shooters to bundle me and bring me here like a common criminal?”

“Calm down, young man. I need to talk to you.”

“Talk to me? So, you think this is the right way to talk to me? Maybe you don’t know who I am. Let me introduce myself to you. My name is Veron Arrey. I am a celebrity of international repute. I am not a common criminal. Do you now grasp the distinction?”

“One thing with you actors is that you think everything is a movie. This is not a movie, my boy. This is reality. Whether you are an actor or not means nothing to me. You may be famous, but not as rich as me. I am extremely wealthy, so wealthy that your female colleagues, I mean actresses run after me. I have even sponsored the production of several movies. So, calm down and listen to me.” Mr. Agbor tried to reason with me.

I realized that though the man had fearsome thugs, he might not be a bad man after all. I decided that I would keep my anger in check and listen to what he had to say. However, I still hadn’t forgiven him for bringing me here like this.

“What do you want?” I asked, this time in a calmer tone.

“I know you are dating Faith.”

“What’s the big deal?”

“I want you to stop dating her?”

“Why? She is a grownup woman and can do whatever she pleases.”

“You don’t understand. I want you to stop dating her because she will destroy you.” Mr. Agbor spoke. 

“Destroy me? Like seriously? How will she do that?” I asked, amused. “Just tell me you want her all for yourself and I will understand.”

“I don’t want her all to myself. I am in a tight corner and my hands are tight.”

“If your hands are tight, what’s strange or new about it? You are a rich man, and the hands of most rich people are tight, very tight.” I cheeked. 

“Don’t misunderstand me. We are not here to argue semantics. What I mean is that Faith has me in a tight corner.” 

“What do you mean by that? Is she blackmailing you?”

Mr. Agbor explained everything that had happened between him and Faith. He said he had met Faith at a seminar and, struck by her beauty, had immediately fallen for her. Soon after, they started dating. He had good plans for her and wanted to make her rich and successful. Faith however, had other plans of her own. She instead wanted to exploit him. So, she started blackmailing. She recorded naked pictures and videos of him and had been blackmailing him ever since. He said his life was taken away by Faith and now he lived completely by her dictates. 

“That was foolish of you to let your guard down because of a beautiful woman.” I told him.

“Watch your tongue, young man.”

“I am sorry, Mr. Agbor. But may I make a proposition?"

“Yes.”

“Why don’t you kill her?”

“Young man, I have told you times and again that this is not one of your movies. She isn’t dumb. She has already anticipated that move and had told me that should anything happen to her, the recordings will be released by a third party she had given copies to.”

“Now, I understand. But let me tell you this. I will never allow anyone blackmail me. Anyone tries that with me, I will shoot out their heart.” I bragged.

“Keep reading your movie script, actor. If someday you are faced with a similar situation, you will understand what I am talking about and what I am going through.”

“I am sorry, Sir. So, why did you bring me here. I don’t have your tapes, I don’t have your recordings, I didn’t know about this part of your story with Faith until now.” 

He told me that he needed my help. He said he was sure Faith hadn’t given copies of the recordings to anyone. He said he was sure she had them in her phone and her laptop. Since Faith loved and trusted me, or so she claimed, I should try to get access to her devices and make sure to delete anything that had to do with him. He said if I did that, he was going to reward me handsomely and I could also keep the four million Faith had given me. 

“How did you know about the money?” I asked, surprised.

“I have my ears on the ground. She actually blackmailed me to get that money. You can keep the money and I will add more to it. All I want is my freedom.”

“What if I don’t succeed?”

“But you will. She loves you and she trusts you. I know all about your little escapades in hotels in Douala. I know everything.”

“Ok, Sir. I will try my best. However, there are no guarantees. I will just do what I can. But I will advise you to come up with a plan B, just in case I fail. It now makes sense to me why a good-looking and wealthy man would adhere so foolishly to the whims and caprices of such a young lady.”

I was driven home by Mr. Agbor’s henchmen. This time around, there was no animosity amongst us. However, no one talked to the other I was driven home. As soon as we got to my home, I recognized my car. It had been neatly parked in front of my house. I got off the car, took my keys from one of the men and walked into my house. 

I immediately went to the bath to freshen up. I wanted to calm my nerves. After I had bathed, I got something from the fridge and ate. I looked at my watch and it was about 6:00. I went to my expensively furnished living room and turned on the TV. But I had no interest in the TV. All that was in my mind was my encounter with Mr. Agbor, what he had told me about Faith and the task he had given me. 

I weighed the advantages and disadvantages of carrying out the task. It was a necessary and logical thing to do. Mr. Agbor had good intentions towards Faith, but Faith, out of greed and selfishness, was instead blackmailing him. It was only logical that I come to the aid of a fellow man and end all these, especially given the fact that he was innocent. 

But Faith loved me. She had shown in every possible way that she loved me. Won’t it be a major betrayal to get hold of her devices and delete The Agbor tapes? I was confused. I was so confused that I didn’t know what to do. I poured a glass of wine and took it to the balcony as I continued contemplating. 

Blackmail is a crime. So, in spite of the fact that Faith loved me, I couldn’t support such a criminal lifestyle. Why was she torturing poor, unfortunate Mr. Agbor who had nothing but good intentions towards her. That was wicked of her, very wicked. But then, I hadn’t heard her own side of the story. It may be different. But I didn’t think Mr. Agbor could be lying. How was Faith able to have four million in just a few days if it was not an act of blackmail? What kind of love would make someone give a lover four million on such a short notice?

Mr. Agbor had promised to pay me handsomely if and when I successfully do the job. That was enough motivation for me. I was an actor and I needed money to keep up with my celebrity lifestyle. I couldn’t let an opportunity like this to pass me by. Besides, Mr. Agbor, though he had behaved calm and desperate, could be very dangerous. A man like that was not to be toyed with, and for a celebrity like me, it was an advantage to have a man like that on my side.

I went back into the living room and started watching CNN, but not before I had come to the conclusion that I was going to carry out Mr. Agbor’ s task to the latter. I dialed Faith’s number. After a few rings, she picked.

“Hi babe.” She spoke.

“My love. How are you?”

“Great and how are you too?”

“I am good and that is enough for me. There is something I wanted to ask of you.” 

“What is it, babe? Do you want me to come over and spend the night?”

“No, I want to come and spend the night at your place instead.” I spoke.

“What?”

“Yeah, at least for a change. I have been bored these days, living the same routine every day. I need a change.”

“But babe, you know my house is not as good as your own. You are a celebrity.” She sounded worried.

“Celebrity? So what? Are you saying I don’t have the right to spend the night in my girlfriend’s house?” I asked, pretending to be annoyed.

“No, I didn’t say that babe. You can come oh. In fact, let me prepare something for you. You haven’t had dinner, have you?”

“No, I haven’t. But don’t bother. We will eat out. Just get ready so that I can come pick you up.”

“Ok babe.”

My plan was to take her out to a choicy restaurant, feed her well, take her to club later and make sure we dance and take alcohol. I wanted her to be very exhausted so that as soon as she got home, she will hit the bed. I wanted to carry out the task that night. 

An hour later, I horned in front of her house, and she came out of the house looking hot and sexy. She got into the passenger side, and we headed for Rosy Restaurant. After having a hearty meal at Rosy, we drove to Platinum nightclub, got some seats and ordered drinks. The last time I was in a club, I had fought with some guys. So, today, I tried to be as good as possible because I had a task at hand. 

As we sat drinking, someone came behind me and covered her both palms on my eyes. The person wanted me to figure out who she was. But I was unable to. Faith found it very amusing and laughed until tears ran down her eyes.

“Faith, please tell me who it is.” I begged.

“Nope, you are on your own in this. Figure it out for yourself.”

“Please na. Ok, it’s Sandy.”

“Nope.”

“Claire.”

“Nope.”

“Oh, I got it now. It’s Ashley.”

“Yeeesss!!” Ashley exclaimed and took her hands off my face. 

I blinked rapidly as she came around to greet me with smiles. A hot number was played and I got up and danced with Ashley. The dancing was very romantic, much to the annoyance of Faith. I am sure Ashley wanted to make Faith feel jealous because she danced with me like we were in bed. Luckily, the music ended halfway, and we took our seats again. 

I made sure not to take too much alcohol. I had a task at hand that had to be completed that night. So, I had to remain as sober so as not to have any distractions. Talking of distractions, one of the girls sitting opposite us had her legs opened wide and she wasn’t wearing anything under. As much as I tried not to look, I couldn’t help it. My eyes kept going there. She seemed to be doing it deliberately because when she noticed I was looking at her, she spread her laps wider, closed it and then opened it again. I had had enough. 

“Let’s go home.” I told Faith and Ashley.

TO BE CONTINUED…