MY MARRIED GIRLFRIEND
CHAPTER 6
I dropped the call angrily, got out of the house, took a bike and went to Steve’s house. I banged the door like a mad man, and he came and opened. As soon as I saw him, I grabbed him by the throat and pushed him against the wall.
“Steve, are you mad? Are you crazy? Why are you blackmailing Larisa?” I asked, angrily, shaking him like a ragdoll.
“Get your hands off me.” He said, pushing me and freeing himself from my grip. “So, this is because of Larisa? You are a chicken. You are weak and I have outgrown you. I am doing what you don’t have the courage to do.”
“Are you ok? Can you hear yourself talking? That woman is carrying my baby.”
“So? Is she your wife? Listen Val, I hope you are not planning on a future with another man’s wife oh? Let me tell you. This is a rare opportunity for you to make money, good money.”
“But I don’t want to do things your way. Can’t you see that?” I asked, still in anger.
“Let me paint this picture for you and maybe you will start having some sense. The child that Larisa will have for you will never be yours. According to the law in most countries, any child a woman has out of wedlock when she is married, legally belongs to her husband. That child will never bear your name and you will have no claim over him. Once Larisa’s puts to bed, she will dump you and that will be the end of you.” Steve spoke.
“How is that your business? Leave my matter in my own hands.”
“It’s my business, Val, it’s my business because we are friends. Actually, I am the only real friend you have.”
“I don’t want your help, Steve. Stay away from me and Larisa. I am warning you. Stay away from us. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I said and stormed out of his house.
As soon as I left Steve’s house, Larisa called me.
“Hello, Val.”
“Larisa”
“Where are you?”
“On my way home.”
“Alright Val, let us meet in your house. I am on my way there already.”
“Ok”
We got to my house almost at the same time. When we got to my apartment, she asked that I give her a glass of cold water. After she had drunk, we started talking.
“What are we going to do now, Val?”
“Larisa, don’t give him a dime. Don’t give him any money. He doesn’t deserve it.”
“What if he tells my husband?”
“He won’t. He is just bluffing. He won’t do anything.”
“But what if he does? Val, I don’t want to take any chances. I think we should negotiate with him?”
“Larisa!! You want to negotiate with that criminal? So, you think if you meet his demands he will stop coming? He will keep asking for more and will instead make life miserable for you.”
“So, what should I do now? I am scared. If my husband finds out, all hell will be let loose. He might kill you or throw you in jail. He will definitely divorce me, and you can imagine the scandal. Please, let’s do something.”
“Larisa, leave it to me. Let me handle it my way. Don’t bother, I will take care of everything. You should just relax and take care of our baby. I don’t want anything to happen to her.”
“You think it is a girl?” She asked, smiling.
“Yes, I don’t just think it is a girl, I want it to be a girl.”
“You are strange, Val. Most men want their first issue to be a male. How come you want a female instead? You are strange, my love.”
“Yes, Larisa. I am strange and that is why you fell in love with me. Anyway, like I said, leave Steve to me. I will handle the idiot, okay?”
“What should I say next time he calls me?” Larisa asked.
“Tell him you won’t give him a dime, and that if he ever calls you again, you will throw him in jail.”
“Are you sure, Val?”
“Yes, I am sure, very sure.”
I escorted Larisa out of the house, and she drove away. I went back home and thought of many things. I loved her madly. But why should I? She was someone’s wife. Why was life like this? I thought of what Steve had said. To an extent, he was right. I had no future with Larisa. I would never have any claim over that child she is carrying. She was already legally married. I was confused and I didn’t know what to do. Anyway, there was a more urgent issue now. Steve had to be dealt with.
The following day was Sunday. Back in Larisa’s house, she was all alone at home, reading a novel. Her husband had taken the kids to a park. Her phone rang and it was Steve. She became very angry as she picked the call.
“What do you want, Steve?”
“My money.”
“No money for you.”
“You are not serious, are you?” Steve asked.
“Damn serious”
“You are not afraid of the consequences of your refusal to pay me?”
“I am not. Do your worst.”
“So, you mean…”
But Larisa ended the call. Steve was mad with anger, and decided that one way or the other, he was going to get Larisa to pay the money. He called me.
“Val, I have just called Larisa and she said she wasn’t going to give me a dime. I know you are behind her actions. Why are you doing this?”
“Ohh!! She said that?” I asked, laughing. “She did a fine job. If she was here now? I would have bought her a bottle of beer.”
“You think I am joking, right? You think I can’t tell her husband everything?” Steve asked.
“I dare you to, Steve. I dare you. Why do you want to reap from where you haven’t sowed? Until you are asking for a hundred million. Have you ever seen one million in your entire life?”
“Is that all you can say?”
“That is all I can say. Now get off my phone before I slap you through the phone. Larisa will give you no money. I will personally see to it that you get nothing. Foolish man.”
I don’t know what gave me the sudden burst of courage. I knew I was taking a risk by daring Steve’s resolve. However, I would rather die than allow that idiot have a hundred million. I was hoping he doesn’t bother us again. But I knew that was highly unlikely. Steve was a careless and rash somebody with a terrible upbringing. Life had also been very hard on him. Those factors had made him develop a terrible attitude and he could do anything to survive.
The following day, I was at work when my phone rang. It was Steve. He said he was calling me to see if I had reconsidered his proposal that I join him to scam Larisa. He said he also did some investigations and discovered that Larisa’s husband had another family overseas and was hiding it from Larisa. He said he was going to blackmail him too. He urged me to join him blackmail both of them. He told me we could make millions from them and leave this city for good. We could travel out of the country and start new lives.
As enticing and feasible as his proposal was, I didn’t buy it. I refused to buy it. I told him point blank that I wasn’t going to involve Coolvalstories myself in anything or anyone that had to do with blackmail. He got very angry and dropped the call. But before he did so, he promised me that I hadn’t heard the last from him. He said he was going to make my life miserable for refusing him this opportunity to become rich forever. He promised me in no uncertain terms that some way or the other, I was going to pay dearly for my actions.
I only learnt about this later, but Steve had already started blackmailing Larisa’s husband. Unfortunately for him, Mr. Adewale was also making life difficult for him. However, this time around, Steve was smarter; he didn’t use his real number or name, and he used a voice changer app each time he called Larisa’s husband. He was asking for another hundred million from Mr. Adewale. Mr. Adewale laughed at him and told him he would pay just a million. Steve was frustrated with anger. All his plans were not working.
Frustration usually leads to desperation, and desperation could be dangerous. It could make the frustrated person develop a very dangerous mindset. That was the mindset Steve had developed. Since all his plans were failing, he decided to embark on a journey of revenge.
Two days later, I came home from work after a long day at work. When I got into the compound, most of my neighbours were in front of their houses. They looked at me in a strange way that I couldn’t understand. Anyway, as usual, I ignored them. I climbed the stairs, got to my apartment, opened the door and froze.
“Welcome home, Mr. Babalola.” Larisa’s husband said. He was seating in my favourite sofa with two armed men by his side, waiting for me.
TO BE CONTINUED…
