Shade of Lust (Episode 46 & 47)

 Episode 46
It really was so unfortunate that I deviated from my main
purpose of approaching her all because of love or perhaps
lust.

I couldn’t sleep that night. I battled with my thoughts as I
weighed every possible means of digging into Jessica’s past.
She really was very good at hiding things and I was slowly
realizing that behind her cheerful smile and acts, she equally
was a very ruthless lady, capable of doing anything to protect
her interest.
‘’jeez, how which direction do I take?’’ I wondered miserably.

Early the next day, I headed to Joe’s gym to open my fears to
my friend who listened patiently as I narrated the events of the
previous day to him.

‘’hmmmm Jessica is very smart. The lady was into you the
moment you stepped foot into her life but you thought you had
the game all figured out, giving her ample time to dig around
you. I really don’t fancy your position right now because she
has already dug around you. Any step you take might end up
getting you in a pit’’ he muttered carefully.

‘’so what do you think?’’ I asked nervously.
‘’I think she knows more than she told you yesterday. She
probably knows about your possible plan with your cousin and
I believe she stayed back to use you to achieve her aim or
maybe she also is in love with you and can’t afford losing you
no matter what’’ he added seriously.
‘’so what now?’’ I asked.
‘’simply keep calm and wait’’ he suggested.

Jude’s side of the story continues
Same day I woke up feeling so bored and a bit angry. I wasn’t prepared
for Tracy’s departure the previous day and I had no choice
than to start making my own plans.
‘’I have to see Kelvin today. He once promised to link me up
with a drug manufacturing company for my industrial training.
I have no choice than to stick with him now’’ I reasoned as the
scene I witnessed weeks ago in his house annoyingly played
back in my head.

‘’I must find a way to confront Jessica on my own. I can’t
keep waiting for Kelvin to act on it’’ I made up my mind.
By 12noon, My phone rang and it was Kelvin calling.
‘’hey bro, can you come over to my house right now?’’ he
asked.
‘’yes I will be there in an hour’’ I answered softly.

An hour later, @Kelvin ’s house
I walked into Kelvin’s sitting room, to see him busy with his
computer. He instantly smiled on seeing me.
‘’thank God you are here. We have a new million dollar deal on
the way’’ he announced happily. I forced out a smile as I
settled beside him.
‘’so what’s up with you and school work?’’ he asked with
concern.

‘’I’m still looking for a placement for my I.T’’ I answered.
‘’that shouldn’t be a problem. I will link you up with the guy I
promised you sometime back. The only problem is that his
company is located at Aba’’ he offered seriously.
‘’oh thanks, the location doesn’t matter’’ I thanked him with a
smile.

‘’Jessica wants us to have dinner at her place. I don’t know
how you feel about it but I think we are going to make
progress with it’’ he softly mentioned, studying me keenly.
‘’that’s cool. I can’t wait to share the same table with her’’ I
plainly answered without wasting any time, leaving my cousin
totally surprised.

I bet he wasn’t expecting such quick answer from me and I
knew he must be wondering what I really was up to.
I just couldn’t wait to be close to the lady who knew a lot
about my father’s dead.


......................................................................................
Episode 47
Jude’s side of the story continues

Yes I was totally excited over the news Kelvin broke to me. I
just couldn’t wait to have a one on one conversation with
Jessica. My head was just filled with many ideas and
thoughts.

‘’please I won’t want you to act arrogantly before Jessica.
Just be civil with her. I already have things planned out and I
still want you to leave the questions and investigation for me
to handle’’ Kelvin begged after breaking the news to me.
Of course I accepted all his terms to put his mind at rest but I
wasn’t ready to continue trusting him over Jessica’s issue. I
had to make my own plans and get my own act together.

Early the next day, I headed to Aba to meet Kelvin’s friend for
my I.T placement. I almost spent all day at the noisy city but
it was worth the effort at the end. I returned later in the
evening very happy to have settled that part of my life.

I returned to my hostel to continue with my plans for Jessica.
I planned confronting her with a whole lot of questions. I
planned throwing to her face that I knew she was with my
father the day he died. I planned giving her opportunity to spill
out the truth or have me and the law to deal with.
I already had wasted enough time waiting for Kelvin to act and
her body language on Saturday was going to determine for
me whether to press charges on her or not.

I had enough money to get the police to my side, I had enough
money to take my case to court and if possible get a search
warrant to go through her things.

Yes I knew my plans were quiet ambitious for a boy of my age
and it could lead to a fierce quarrel between Kelvin and I but I
was a very desperate boy who wanted nothing but closure on
his father’s death and I knew I could end up losing the little
money I had over it. I could end up running to Pamela for
financial aid but I felt it was worth the sacrifice to get to the
root of my father’s death.

Friday evening, I called my Tracy to speak with her like I
always did everyday but to my surprise her mother answered
her phone, leaving me a bit shocked as I heard her voice.
‘’Tracy was involved in a car accident hours ago. She can’t
speak to you right now’’ the old woman informed me. I
couldn’t believe my ears. I couldn’t even talk for some
seconds.

‘’what??’’ I shouted.
‘’there is nothing to worry about. She is in a stable condition. I
believe by tomorrow you will be able to speak with her’’ she
muttered to calm me down.

‘’so where is she right now?’’ I asked.
‘’we are at the national orthopedic hospital. Her left leg got
fractured a little’’ she answered, leaving me so scared.
‘’I will be there tomorrow morning’’ I promised after few
seconds of silence.
‘’is it necessary?’’ she asked.
‘’of course it is. I will be there first thing tomorrow’’ I breathed
strongly.

‘’very well then, when you get to Enugu, put a call through. I
will send someone to pick you up’’ she promised and hung up,
leaving me with my thoughts.
‘’dear lord, I hope her leg injury won’t be a permanent one’’ I
prayed solemnly.

Very early the next day, which was Saturday, I headed straight
to Enugu to see my Tracy. I couldn’t sleep the previous night
and I couldn’t even get myself to eat before embarking on the
long journey. All that was in my mind was to see my girl.
By 12noon, I was already at the hospital, holding Tracy’s hand
with great concern. The poor girl never believed her eyes when
she saw me.

‘’my mum is very wicked. She never told me you were coming’’
she breathed with great happiness while her mum who was
watching us from a distance smiled to herself. I couldn’t get
myself to smile. I just was so concerned over her state of
health.

‘’a fast moving bus collided with a taxi I took yesterday. I was
in the front seat and I got the impact of the collision on my
legs. It’s just a minor fracture but mum won’t let me go home
yet. She wants the best specialist to give my legs a hundred
percent before we go home’’ she explained softly.
‘’when I called yesterday and mum told me you were involved
in an accident, I almost fainted with fear’’ I said calmly. She
laughed.

‘’hmmmm I never knew you cared so much’’ She breathed with
great love while I stared into her eyes.