LOVE AND LIES
EIGHTEEN
Tony had been able to con a man of $120, 000. A man called Walter, a Lebanese business mogul who inherited most of his wealth from his father, an oil merchant. Walter had made an arrangement to buy a house in Nigeria to facilitate his travel. How he got involved with Tony was a different story. Tony got the money and was not expecting the balance. He was able to get some of the money withdrawn and some transferred into his account through the help of a regional bank manager he had known for years.
He quickly got himself a Lexus GS worth 9.3 million Naira, rented an apartment of half a million, went on a drinking spree and had two to three heavily-breasted fair women to ravish every night. He drove around campus for few hours after he bought the car, cruising to show everyone that fate had eventually smiled on him. He later drove off to see Lara.
Laraโs house was just a stone’s throw from the campus. It was a storey building painted in blue and orange. A fresh lush of flowers rimmed it round. Lara was busy loosing her hair in her room, glancing through a copy of Genevieve magazine at the same time. Tony careered the car to a halt then ducked out proudly. Today he would prove to Lara he wasnโt a loser. He was destined to make it someday and that day had come. He told to himself proudly.
Ever since he became an internet fraudster making effort to con every gullible person that got tangled with him, his definition for success was money. If you arenโt rich then you arent successful. He would tell people that cared to know about his view of life. And that was the mentality of people in this part of the world we live. No one would appreciate skills and ideas until they materialized into money. Some would even tell you things like โWhat is this rubbish you do?โ
Tony was indeed one of those people who believed money is everything just like Lara his girlfriend. Now that he had got a man conned, dubed. He had tagged himself successful. He rattled his car key in his hand as he picked his way closely to the door. He gave it some soft knocks and a faint female voice responded from within. He examined himself. He had got himself a smart Nike T-shirt that cut him tightly smart to the waist over some Corduroy trousers. A pair of Moccasin shoes added a match while a gold Rolex watch gleamed from his wrist. A good appraisal of him showed he had spent some good money trying to look good. He had polished his hair and a waft of Vanilla perfume could be perceive each moment. Only his bony body structure and dark lips lent some contrary views that he had spent a good number of years smoking and hustling.
The door gabbled open. Lara’s pale face stared at him. She was in a boxers that gave out her large thighs and a small top that divulged the size of b****t. Tony smiled and smacked his lips lustfully as he stared down to her thighs.
โWhere have you been?โ Lara asked in astonishment. Tony had a way of vanishing from school only to return to bribe the lecturers or students who could help him resit his exams.
โTrying to make some money baby.โ
โReally! And how much have you made?โ Lara sneered at him.
โThatโs my car over there. I hit thirty-two em baby.โ
โThirty-two million? Are you kidding?โ Lara came out of her too to check the Lexus that was parked outside beside her car.
โHope you didnโt come to flatter me with a car you borrowed?โ Lara askes laughing.
โWhy should I? Anyway I came to spoil you. We are going to Nixon Hilton tonight. One of the expensive hotels in Lagos. โ Tony told her as they walked into the room. Lara still didnโt believe all that Tony had said.
โHurry baby. Go dress!โ Tony pestered as they sat on the bed.
โI thought you were joking.โ
โHow would I?” Tony hissed. Lara got up hurriedly and rushed into the bathroom. Few minutes later her phone began to ring. She rushed out in soaps to pick it.
โThis number has been calling me all day.โ She said as she place the phone to her ear.
โHello good afternoon.”
โGood afternoon.โ Lara replied.
โThis is Mr Niyi an official of LASEMA. Your husband Mr Kola was involved in an accident. He is at Amazing Grace hospital. He has been disturbing us to call you that you are his legal wife.โ
โReally?โ Lara panicked staring at Tony. He gestured at her that he wouldnโt take any interruption.
โBut I am busy now.โ Lara said at the other end. โI am in an exam hall. I will come when I am free.โ
โAlrightโ Mr Niyi concluded and hung up.
โThis guy was involved in an accident on his way to Ibadan. Oh God!โ Lara said looking alittle confused.
โHurry up now. Davido will be playing in one of their bars tonight. We canโt afford to be late.โ
โBe patient now.โ Lara eyed him and rushed back into the bathroom. She got out few minutes later and dressed up in one of her favourite party gowns that left her shoulders and thighs bare. They got into the car and drove off.
**********
They flew up the third mainland bridge and Lara was enjoying the comfort in the car. They careered down the bridge while a song was blaring from the car stereo. Lara enjoyed the view outside. She had longed for a time she would be spoilt just for once again in her life. The last time was when she hanged out with her friends a couple of weeks ago. It was a birthday party of a politician at the outskirts of the city. She had enjoyed the drinks, the food and mostly the company. She loved the friends she made that day. But she hadnโt been lucky enough to get a rich guy to take really good care of her. Kola had been trying anyway but he was only a little way different from the broke a*s niggas she had in school.
โ I saw a car in your compound.โ Tony asked, still nodding at the music from the stereo.
โIt is for me.โ Lara told him. โBut I havenโt paid for it all. I still have 600k to balance the man. Kola paid 600k for me. He promised to balance the man but now that he had an accident, I am not sure he can afford to pay anymore. She lied. Lara could orchestrate a plan to get some money so fast.
โNo problem. I will pay. When we get to Nixon Hilton, I will make the transfer to your account.โ Tony said and smiled.
Now my baby will have her own car!” Tony smiled broadly. Lara smiled back, eyeing Tony playfully.
โI still donโt believe you.โ Lara said still smiling.
โYou will believe me when we get to Nixon Hilton.โ
They got to Nixon Hilton and booked for one of the expensive rooms. Lara thought they were spending a night but Tony booked for two nights. They got to the bar and began to drink and eat. Tony smoked his weed while Lara was busy with Shisha. They ate several dishes and drank as many bottles of beer as they want. Davido was not coming. Lara had to hit Tony when she realized it was just a plot to get her.
โOkay I will compensate you for that.โTony said. โThere is a wine called Richebourg. Have you tasted it before?โ
โNoโ Lara shook her head.
โIt is one of the most expensive wines in the world. It cost a whooping sum of $6000. I will buy it for you.โ
โNo, make the transfer you promised me first of all.โ Lara countered.
โOkay, for the car?โ
โYes.โ
โAlright, let me have your account number.โ
Lara called out her account number and few minutes later she got an alert of 700k. She was dumbfounded. She stood staring at Tony for minutes. She got up, went closer to him and began to kiss him. She was extremely happy. She continued eating and drinking, shaking her body to music, playing everywhere.
Suddenly, her phone began to ring again. It was Kola. She defied it and later switched it off.
Few minutes later, Lara was drunk. She couldn’t walk herself. Tony carried her into the room. He undressed her and began to fondle her b*****s. She slept off unconcious. He sucked them many times before he went down and began a foul play. He pleasured himself before he suddenly stood up and went to his bag. He brought out a black calabash. He scooped out some black content and rubbed it over her v****a. When he was done, he got some water and washed it again into the black calabash and covered it. He put the calabash back into his bag and went out with it. He got into his car and drove out of the hotel. He came back an hour later and found Lara still snoring. He laid beside her and slept off.
To be continuedโฆโฆโฆ
ยฉ Emmanuel Erondu, 2019
Evil that men do lives after them