“I am depressed.”

“Really… you must be joking.”

That was the statement that followed. Paul knew him too much to believe in what he was saying. After all, he was the goose that laid the golden eggs. He had reached the present height in the industry without much struggle. His olive skin was quite infectious to the eyes, pampered by his never ending stream of money. He was on the fast lane, money flowing in like a stream of water. He smiled often as compliments were never far off. Everything had opened in a way that was in stark contrast to his beginning the path that had brought his stardom.

He chanced upon music at a time when it seemed all was set for a career in the class-room. He was the son of a renowned professor and was already looking like a successor. It seemed he was set to defy the prediction of his mates who had always seen him as an entertainer. He had completed his masters of philosophy program in mechatronics but it seemed like a task that must be fulfilled rather than him fulfilling his dreams. His dream was already been lived albeit in secret. Music was his passion and he had loads of it in his laptop. He loved the creative prowess of the musicians but he was in awe of his ability to produce new sounds by combining two or music sounds. The switch from one sound to another and mixture of several sounds seemed the ideal for his music inclined mind.

He was twenty three when he stood on the podium to receive the plaque of acceptance into the hallowed academic profession. That moment seemed like déjà vu. He lived for the big moment but something dropped when he received the plaque. The reverberating sound of hands hitting each other seemed too ordinary and suddenly he realized that his many years toiling in private was deserving of more than a day of recognition. The cheer from the sitting academics did nothing to assuage the emptiness that settled heavily in his mind. His lips were dry and eyes weary and Professor Cherry’s teary eyes seemed too feeble to pacify his thoughts.

Hands clasped each other in warm handshake while he endured the varying effects of the pats on his back by mates and friends. His parents were on hand to celebrate him having flown into the country a day ago. His mind had travelled far beyond the environment. He was unsure of how to break the news of his disillusionment with the academic world to his father. The possibility of becoming a disc jockey seemed impossible to ignore and he kept thinking about it while sleeping. Words kept turning in his mind but they brought little comfort to him.

He remembered the tightening jaws and the strain of red in his father’s eyes when he finally summoned courage to tell him of his decision to abandon the academic line for an uncertain future in the entertainment sector. He did not understand why his father reacted angrily to his decision to abandon ‘his’ dream. He struggled to convince his father who was insistent that he had not sponsored his education to that point for him to condescend to the level of a lout. The word stung his mind and seemingly put off his ambition for a while. He thought of the possibilities before him.
He had the opportunity to continue building his authority in the mechatronics world. He could end up producing a ground-breaking research that would earn world-wide recognition. The idea seemed alluring enough but how long would it take. The thought of toiling away and possibly failing in that quest seemed enough to strengthen his resolve that it was time he anchored the ship of his academic dream.

On the other hand, he could build on his dream of becoming a disc jockey. The chance of success was high and the possibilities were enormous. He could easily become part of the esteemed clique of people who commanded the attention of others. Then, he thought of the possibility of combining both careers. He could but he was too knowledgeable to know that both pursuits would come at the cost of the other. One thing was sure, he craved for recognition.

The second meeting with his father was similar and more excruciating than the first. His father was pained and stopped short of laying a curse on him. Undeterred, he decided to pursue his dream. He got his first chance when a friend hosted a birthday party. He worked with the organizers and got the nod to entertain the guests after some persuasion. Many people knew about his decision to become an academician but few had come to the realization that he was no longer interested in building on his master’s degree.

The event was a huge success and he got so much accolades from those who attended. He felt elated and was already looking forward to his next invitation. A month after and he got no invitation. He was unfazed and took to playing and enjoying the tools of his trade. The realization of how good he was proved enough motivation to continue making beautiful distorted sounds of music. The more he toiled, the more he became aware of the need to break out of obscurity. He had ideas but the respondents were almost nonexistent. He was suddenly low on confidence and felt like the world was about crashing on him. His fears gathered steam when he realized his finances were thinning out.

He reacted rather poorly as his mind seemed to go on break that moment. He left his apartment, got to the street and found a bar. His mind was shut to the fact that his appetite for alcoholic drinks had never taken him to a bar. He sat in a corner and drank from the bottle of cognac absentmindedly. Strains of doubt filled his mind as he contemplated the changes he could make to have a turnaround in his life. The murmurings filled his ears as he contemplated the people seated in the bar. Then, he realized there was no background music. He knew music will enliven the room. Suddenly, he felt encouraged and stood up from his chair in search of the manager.

He found him in the storehouse and quickly presented his plan to play for them on select days. The manager was quite receptive to the idea and informed him of their challenge in getting a good music disc jockey. The thought of getting selected kept hammering in his head and he pleaded with the manager. He insisted on exchanging numbers with the manager and left with expectation of his call. He got on the street heady with joy knowing he had thrust his foot in the right direction.

He was right as things began to look up from that moment. The stint at the bar was the beginning of his affirmation as a disc jockey of note. Patrons appreciated him for his dexterity and gradually more people came around to hear him play. The only snag was the pay but he persisted and often got tips from patrons. Unfortunately, he had to keep his distance from his father who never failed to register his displeasure at the sad turn of events in his life each time they met.

Months passed and he continued his act of entertaining people. A man approached him at the close of work after one of such entertaining nights. His words were fluent and subtly nuanced. The man engaged him in a discussion. The time they spent was enough to tell that they had found a missing link in themselves and he promised to contact him soon. He was already eyeing a change in itinerary but didn’t call weeks after the man failed to honour his promise.

The call came at a time he least expected. His new client, Bernard, was a show promoter based in America. He was planning a multinational musical show and wanted him as the disc jockey on set. The news seemed too heavy for him to process at that moment and he thought of everything that could possibly go wrong.

He was relatively still new in the game and could possibly earn the outright opposition of people who had been in the scene for long. He knew how his audience would react if he played in a bar but there was going to be thousands of people looking out for every of his missteps.

The bill was pasted on various social media as an eagerly anticipated music festival and his name was on the bill. He was pleased to have earned such an honourable mention and then the comments started pouring in. His was the odd one as none of those who commented felt he was good enough. He browsed through the comments expecting a good one at least. He had fans but where were they. The possibility of being rejected stuck to his mind even when he tried making some preparations. Thoughts of opting out became increasingly attractive. He lost his appetite as the day drew near for his baptism of fire.

Bernard called a day before the event and informed him that he should be prepared as things might not go as planned. He dropped the call and felt some sunshine in his mind. He would certainly get less of the time and suddenly he became interested in leaving a lasting impression in the minds of those who would attend. His musical journey started because he loved music and that was not about to change. Doubts will always be there but he had no chance of enjoying this opportunity if he was not ready to face his fears.

He arrived the venue some minutes before the start to the exasperation of Bernard who called intermittently to know his movements. He was prepared when he got into the venue and confidence swarmed over him as he made his way to the stage to put up the first show of the event. Quiet descended on the crowd and suddenly it seemed reminiscent of the dim lighted atmosphere of the bar. He started slowly and could easily judge from the bland, frowning faces that his invitation was a mistake after all. He continued experimenting with the wheel until the moderator came on stage and issued a welcoming statement for everyone who had come to witness the show. His fingers were itchy and eyes glued to the wheel of steel. The first musical act came on board and sang. He got his chance afterwards and arrested the attention of the people who danced to the songs he played. It was the best of introduction as he played repeatedly. He was certain that winning the people had not been a tall dream after all.

He got on the internet as soon as he returned home. The comments rolled in and he got a lot of mentions from those who attended the event. Bernard called in the early hours of the morning and was in praise of his performance. Sleep evaded his eyes as he dwelled on how big he could possibly become on the back of his performance at that event. He was suddenly assured of getting the reward he wanted when he chose music.

Providence seemed to be in a hurry to reward him as he got more bookings for shows in the days and weeks that followed. The job at the bar gradually became an albatross in his quest to honour the invitations he got. He managed to juggle both commitments until he was forced to arrange a meeting with Justus, the manager of the bar and informed him of his desire to quit. Justus was not interested in letting him go and managed to convince him to stay by offering to double his wages.

He worked with this arrangement for a while. He was used to the scenery of the bar and it seemed like his lucky charm. He also had the opportunity to display his art in front of an audience that was interested in his wide range of musical collections.

He continued until a point when it seemed impossible combining his regular job and the stream of invitations that came his way. He resigned and became a self-employed disc jockey. He took the opportunity in its stride and started meeting up with other practitioners in the music industry. He joined some organizations and his network of friends and fans grew. His trademark as a quirky and unpredictable disc jockey gathered popularity and gave him a unique place in the industry.

His musical interest steered beyond the ones offered by the local musicians. His ability in playing music steeped in other cultures without veering off the pace elevated his appeal among the party going population. His fame went beyond the shores of Nigeria. He got his first international invitation from America. He accepted the invitation immediately. It was an opportunity to travel to a country that had given him an advantage which he could easily take up if his current journey fails.

It was a nostalgic experience when he touched down on the American soil. He was met on arrival by a member of the organizing crew who took him to a hotel where he stayed until the day of the event.

The event was a birthday celebration of a Nigerian living in America and had decided to mark the day with his old school mates. He played a prominent role and was quite satisfied with the praises directed at him. He enjoyed the moment and eventually got more money than he expected. He left the country afterwards and gradually, booking flights and switching time zones became a norm.

Beyond his regular invitations to events, he got interviewed on television and radio shows. His wit coupled with his academic background won him many admirers. He became a major influencer on social media and was courted by both individuals and groups. He got endorsements that firmly placed him in the eyes of the people. He also took to releasing his own music in collaboration with other musical artistes.

He had no understanding of how things went awry. He had not contemplated the possibility of unhappiness even as his stock rose. Its damp feet crept into his life in those moments he spent away from the spotlight. Those dry moments which caused him to dump the academics for a career in music appreciation. He felt he was missing out on something and the reason was somewhat hidden. He was happy with the successes he had achieved but there was a snag.

His busy schedule notwithstanding, loneliness gnawed at his mind. It hung around waiting for those moments when he needed a rest from his daily exertions and those moments when his mind yearned for something different. He struggled to keep his mind on the sunny part in those moments. The thought that he was single even with his popularity often played out in his mind when confronted with loneliness. He had not been in a relationship since his last ended after refusing to return to the United States for the continuation of his studies.

Alicia was more than a sunny spot in his life. She was a huge motivation and encouraged him while he was carrying out research for his master’s thesis. She was studying international business. He had big dreams for their relationship but she was kind of old-fashioned. Her parents took her to America when she was two and had since become a full blown Americana. She saw no reason for his desire to postpone his academic training for a flimsy pursuit in music and also his desire to return to Nigeria. She had asked that they separated the moment he announced his decision to leave. Each time he remembered that chocolate face, faint eyes and thin lips, he saw a need to still hold on to his faith that they might be back someday. Their conversations on social media hardly suggested the possibility of becoming partners once again even as they maintained a cordial relationship.

The thought of trying out a relationship seemed too tall a dream for his unsettled mind. Ladies hung around him but he knew they were mostly interested in his fame and money. He knew also that he was not prepared for the media attention that was likely to follow hence he showed little interest in getting a date.

He also thought of going back to his father to seek for his forgiveness. He felt he had not listened to what he was saying when he challenged his decision to leave the academic line. Was there a possibility that he had overlooked the reality of what he was jumping into? He called his parents once in a while but their discussions were devoid of career and work affairs.

As the years went by, he relaxed into the flow of the music world. He bought a house in the commercial capital and broadened his areas of interest. He delved into producing shows and this was the moment he became fully entrenched in the public consciousness. He had earned a name for himself and was getting whatever he wanted without much of a hassle. The feel of stardom was like a thick cloth that clad every part of him and it was something he was ready to hold on to. Stardom had been his ultimate desire and having achieved it, he was intent on staying on that apex for a long time.

Samantha came around at a time when he least expected to fall in love with anyone. Love was not something he was to dabble into. He had known it in a past that he did not want to return to but it seemed like every of his caution was laid to rest the moment he saw that beauty on heels. Dark, bold faced and eyes that screamed defiance, he was not immediately drawn to her. She was a syndicated entertainment journalist and a known presenter. She interviewed him once and why he forgot her, she did not forget him.

She tried to keep up with him every way she could as she would confess later. She was not drawn to his fame, but his personality which seemed inconceivable. He was oblivious of her keeping tabs until she came across him in a restaurant. He was sitting on his own when she approached him. She flashed a smile and requested to sit which he reluctantly granted. She did not introduce her profession, rather she tried to strike a friendly discussion with him.

He could easily tell that she was keen on remaining anonymous and this aroused his interest in her. She proved a good company and it seemed proper that he was interested in striking a friendship with her by the time she stood up to leave. He asked for her number which she gave to him without hesitation. She left and he finished his meal. He did not call afterwards. It seemed he lost all conviction after he left the venue of their meeting.

He met her on set the next time. He had been invited for an interview program and met her in the studio where she read out his profile without batting an eyelid. He was caught adrift when she turned to engage him in a conversation. He did his best to answer the questions while contemplating how best to approach her once they were done. He did not get his chance as she declined coming out once they were done. He waited till he got home before calling her. She answered and talked like there had been no hitch since their first meeting in the restaurant. She did not hesitate in passing the blame on him for not continuing their burgeoning friendship.
He was drawn to her. She seemed unconcerned about his status and was proud of her occupation as an entertainment journalist and presenter.

They talked for as long as time allowed and it seemed right that a date was fixed for them to meet again. She offered to host him which he found interesting. He was interested in her and it seemed right that she was offering him the chance of a closeted meeting.

She had suggested he took the popular ride hailing service, Uber. The Uber arrived in front of his house and they were off in the direction of the house. It was located in one of the prime estate in the commercial capital. He got off the car and knocked on the door. The door opened and he stepped inside. He thought nothing of the beautifully arranged but empty sitting room. It was quite chic and he sat on one of the chairs.

Suddenly, he heard her exclaim and she hugged him and expressed her joy at having him. He was confused on how to react and then he noticed that she was loosely dressed. Cleavage bared, a chiffon blouse that revealed her body.

She led him to the dining table and gave him wine to drink. He was keen to please her and played along with her every action. She went into the adjoining room and returned with a tray of food and she placed it on the table. Everything happened fast in his eyes as they relaxed after the meal. She tried initiating a conversation but he was thinking of something else. She was there for the taking and it seemed appropriate that she looked too beautiful to resist.
He leaned towards her and tried to kiss her which she resisted. He was excited and tried once again and she seemed caught between cooperating and objecting. He was strained below and it seemed the best way to relieve himself was to get into her. He grew excited by the minute and soon he was all over her. He knew not how long the fun lasted until he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He went blank immediately.

He woke up some minutes after feeling sore in his chin. He slowly came to consciousness amidst the throbbing ache in his face. He remembered what had happened prior to that heavy hit and then he scrambled to his feet. He was alone in a dark street. He felt his pocket for his phone and wallet and found it just where he remembered he had placed it.

He heard the sound of a car and flagged it. He got inside and told the driver the direction to his house. It was dark and it took quite a long time before he got to his house. He was worried about everything that had happened. How would he explain the fact that he was possibly kidnapped and released on the same day and then the fact that he was barely touched except for his hurting jaws? He alighted and was headed for the house when his phone beeped. He picked out rape amongst the letters and read the message slowly. It was Samantha and she was accusing him of rape.

It was a rude shock to say the least as he stood in the balcony of his house. He tried remembering the way they had interacted prior to the attack on him or rather on both of them? He dialed her number and she answered. Her voice was hoarse and looked like she had been crying. He asked if she was hurt and she maintained her accusation of rape. He reacted angrily and struggled to come up with answers. Immediately, he turned off the call and sat on the lawn.

His phone beeped and it was another message. She threatened to report the case to the police unless he presented himself in her house in a short time. It was beyond being ridiculous and he threw his phone away. He got into the house and sank into oblivion.

The next morning he woke up with a splitting ache in his head and headed outside. He remembered his phone and went in search of it. He found it on the lawn and turned it on. He had missed calls and then text messages. They were of mixed origin but he fished out Samantha’s and opened it. She was headed for the police since he had refused to own up to his crime. It brought back memories of the previous day and suddenly could not explain how he got involved in such a mess.

He went into the house and found his way to the bathroom. His appearance on the mirror in the bathroom was disheveled and immediately he had a bath and hurried out of the house. He got in the car and placed a call to Samantha. She did not answer and it got him confused. Where could he possibly find her since he was insistent on meeting her? It seemed rather strange that the jovial Samantha was screaming terror at him especially after a consensual sex.

His phone beeped and immediately he picked it. It was a text from an unknown number and he was intent on ignoring it. He decided to check the content after much debate and it was from a supposed acquaintance of Samantha. The messenger asked that he met him at a bar somewhere in the Island. He received the news with anger and tried Samantha’s number again. She did not pick and he got angry. He drove to the bar while debating how he was going to honour his other engagements. He was still unsure of what he wanted when he got himself a drink.

Everything seemed strange and it was stranger that he was taking a drink first thing in the morning. He knew how potent alcohol was in such circumstances. He left as soon as he was done. He was about boarding his car when a man approached him. He asked that he should drive anywhere he directs him. He looked in confusion at the man. The man informed him that he had requested his presence in the bar and reminded him of the allegation of rape hanging on his neck. He would have loved to confront the man but decided to let go after he urged him with his eyes.

He drove while the man directed him. He brought the car to a stop in front of an old bungalow and he followed his guide in. It was a fairly built house and the sitting room was sparsely furnished. He recognized the two men seated in the sitting room. He was surprised to see them and their faces were confrontational. He sat down and looked from one to the other.

One was bald, dark skinned and had greying beards. The other, much younger, had a shiny chin, braided hair and was a budding disc jockey who had once approached him for help in building his career. The bald one spoke first and addressed the matter immediately. He was displeased with his conduct. He made his point clear that he was confused on the allegation of rape and will prefer to discuss with Samantha rather than anybody else. The men watched him for a while before the bald one responded that they were trying to cover up his tracks but if he insisted, Samantha would come. He requested for Samantha and they asked him to wait for her arrival.

The man who had acted as the guide went out and returned some seconds after and informed them that he had called Samantha. He brought out his phone and tried browsing the net. He was unsettled and suddenly he felt exposed. Everything had happened in the reverse and now he loathed having fallen for Samantha.

He knew much about the rivalry in the industry and had kept to his path until this moment. He eyed the bald man who was staring intently at him. They knew each other, exchanged words briefly but had travelled different paths hence it was strange that he was facing them on a matter that was supposed to be a private affair.

Samantha arrived minutes after the call. She was dressed in a gown and walked past him and sat down on a chair across him. Their eyes met, hers was puffy and looked like someone who had been crying. She averted her eyes and turned to the others in the room. The bald man spoke and asked Samantha to recount her allegations.

He watched as Samantha talked about her inviting him to her house and him taking advantage of her. She also told of how she was rescued by a friend who visited. It was a whole new twist to the events. Their eyes met briefly and there was a defiance that he could hardly reckon with.

Seconds after and the younger of the two spoke. He was quite diplomatic, talking about my exploits and how much he respected his achievement. He went on to talk about how he had failed by using my influential stance as a basis to exploit a partner in the entertainment sector. The accusation stung him and he managed to control his emotion. They were watching him and the room was silent once again. The bald one, having assumed the role of an informal judge, asked that he responded to the accusation. It was quite disconcerting for him as he realized the possibility that he was trapped in a cycle.
He asked to speak to Samantha alone. The younger man objected but the bald one granted his request. Samantha stood up and led him outside. He was unsure of what they were going to discuss but his mind persisted nevertheless. He feared he was set to be persecuted for no reason and there was a way he would put to shame the antics of those who were in the sitting room. They got outside and she sat on a bench.

He faced her and she averted her eyes. She was unwilling to talk as he probed her for answers. He was close to getting angry after she refused to reply his persistent questioning. She glared at him and accused him that he had forced himself on her. She maintained that she was afraid that he could do something harmful to her if she refused. He could easily replay the scene and the possibility of her saying no to his attempt had seem remote. He was confused and she walked into the house as soon as he stopped questioning her.

He was contemplating his next action when the man who brought him came to call him. He said his presence was requested inside. He loathed facing the two men inside but he obliged. They looked assured and calm when he got back into the house. He refused to sit and stood by the wall.

The bald one challenged him to defend himself as they had spent enough time already laying the allegations. He refused to say anything and instead kept his eyes on Samantha. The man continued and said that they could easily resolve the matter in-house as they were interested in lessening the damage that could possibly be done to his career.

The word career piqued his ear. He was suddenly aware that he was possibly going through a planned trial rather than an emergency gathering. The thought of being black-mailed filled his vision as the bald man went on to list the condition for them to keep the matter away from the media. He was to retreat from the spotlight for a while and not attend events so as to avoid provoking the hurt of the victim of his excesses.

They assured him that being away from the spotlight would shield him from scrutiny which could bring the allegation to light. He was uncertain of where their confidence emanated from but he knew there was a possibility that they had something on him. He was exasperated. If there was any sign, it was probably in his eyes. He needed to be away from the bunch of fraudsters.

Immediately they asked him to leave, he did. He was hurting more from the fact that he had been fooled rather than cajoled into having a relationship with a lady that seemed good initially. Also, it seemed really crazy that he had taken a path that had resulted in the failure of many great men in the past.

He remained indoors when he got home. He thought about the false promises until the moment of realization in that sitting room where he learnt that he had been a marked assignment right. The possibility that he could end up losing out on his passion did not occur to him even after they had warned him to stop accepting shows.

He grew disenchanted with living as the days went by. He thought he was strong all along and his disappointment increased the more he thought of how much toll the ordeal took on him.

He honored an invitation after he had rejected several others. It was the marriage ceremony of one of his friends and the guy had appealed strongly knowing about his sudden lack of interest. He agreed eventually and indeed had a great time.

He was high in spirit by the time the ceremony was over and felt it was time he went back to do what he had always wanted to do. He felt some relief when he got off the stage and was commended. Many knew him already and they used that opportunity to get a camera shot with him. He felt good all of a sudden and it seemed like the recent past had only been a nightmare. He reveled in this moment as he took the journey home.

He arrived in his balcony when his phone beeped. It was a short text, “You broke the agreement.” He did not recognize the number and tried calling. There was no answer and he shrugged. He was reclining in the sitting room and turned on his phone data when he got some whatsapp messages. He opened it and immediately the messages poured in. They were pictures of him and Samantha in the process of having sex at her house. There was no display picture rather a picture of a half-filled glass. A text ended the stream of pictorial messages, “You wouldn’t want to get messy with us.”

He was angry to say the least. This was outright blackmail and immediately his mind went haywire. The merriment of the previous hours was quickly forgotten and he realized that he was up against persons who had rolled in the mud in the past and were prepared to throw him into a ditch. He was still stuck in this line of thought when his phone rang. It was a close friend and he wanted him to come to a bar as soon as possible. He didn’t think twice as he rushed out of the house. How was he going to face up with the blackmailers? He was angry but knew not how to solve the problem.

He arrived the premises of the bar and parked in the car-park. He saw his friend seated among a group of revelers. He was in no mood to talk thus he made a detour to another area of the bar and placed a call to his friend. He came out from where the others sat and soon they were together in the restroom.

“You are dull bro,” his friend said.

“I am depressed.”

His friend chuckled and seemed uninterested in the pain in his eyes. He probably looked like the domineering disc jockey of old and there was no way he could replace that idea with the new him. He understood little as he started talking about him not accepting invitations.

“You don’t understand me man, I got a big challenge.”

He got his friend’s attention and he made references to the fact that he was a subject of a false accusation. He said little else and by the time he was leaving, his friend knew very much that he could possibly not help him. He went home probably in worse condition than he had left. He struggled to sleep amidst a rush of nightmares. He woke up in a fit the
next day. He was on the brink and it scared him to wits end.

He got some clothes into a bag, packed some personal effects and left the house. He was headed for a change which he was not sure of. The possibility ahead looked remote but he was eager to come back stronger.


THE END

Akposb:
His phone beeped and it was another message. She threatened to report the case to the police unless he presented himself in her house in a short time. It was beyond being ridiculous and he threw his phone away. He got into the house and sank into oblivion.

The next morning he woke up with a splitting ache in his head and headed outside. He remembered his phone and went in search of it. He found it on the lawn and turned it on. He had missed calls and then text messages. They were of mixed origin but he fished out Samantha’s and opened it. She was headed for the police since he had refused to own up to his crime. It brought back memories of the previous day and suddenly could not explain how he got involved in such a mess.

He went into the house and found his way to the bathroom. His appearance on the mirror in the bathroom was disheveled and immediately he had a bath and hurried out of the house. He got in the car and placed a call to Samantha. She did not answer and it got him confused. Where could he possibly find her since he was insistent on meeting her? It seemed rather strange that the jovial Samantha was screaming terror at him especially after a consensual sex.

His phone beeped and immediately he picked it. It was a text from an unknown number and he was intent on ignoring it. He decided to check the content after much debate and it was from a supposed acquaintance of Samantha. The messenger asked that he met him at a bar somewhere in the Island. He received the news with anger and tried Samantha’s number again. She did not pick and he got angry. He drove to the bar while debating how he was going to honour his other engagements. He was still unsure of what he wanted when he got himself a drink.

Everything seemed strange and it was stranger that he was taking a drink first thing in the morning. He knew how potent alcohol was in such circumstances. He left as soon as he was done. He was about boarding his car when a man approached him. He asked that he should drive anywhere he directs him. He looked in confusion at the man. The man informed him that he had requested his presence in the bar and reminded him of the allegation of rape hanging on his neck. He would have loved to confront the man but decided to let go after he urged him with his eyes.

He drove while the man directed him. He brought the car to a stop in front of an old bungalow and he followed his guide in. It was a fairly built house and the sitting room was sparsely furnished. He recognized the two men seated in the sitting room. He was surprised to see them and their faces were confrontational. He sat down and looked from one to the other.

One was bald, dark skinned and had greying beards. The other, much younger, had a shiny chin, braided hair and was a budding disc jockey who had once approached him for help in building his career. The bald one spoke first and addressed the matter immediately. He was displeased with his conduct. He made his point clear that he was confused on the allegation of rape and will prefer to discuss with Samantha rather than anybody else. The men watched him for a while before the bald one responded that they were trying to cover up his tracks but if he insisted, Samantha would come. He requested for Samantha and they asked him to wait for her arrival.

The man who had acted as the guide went out and returned some seconds after and informed them that he had called Samantha. He brought out his phone and tried browsing the net. He was unsettled and suddenly he felt exposed. Everything had happened in the reverse and now he loathed having fallen for Samantha.

He knew much about the rivalry in the industry and had kept to his path until this moment. He eyed the bald man who was staring intently at him. They knew each other, exchanged words briefly but had travelled different paths hence it was strange that he was facing them on a matter that was supposed to be a private affair.

Samantha arrived minutes after the call. She was dressed in a gown and walked past him and sat down on a chair across him. Their eyes met, hers was puffy and looked like someone who had been crying. She averted her eyes and turned to the others in the room. The bald man spoke and asked Samantha to recount her allegations.

He watched as Samantha talked about her inviting him to her house and him taking advantage of her. She also told of how she was rescued by a friend who visited. It was a whole new twist to the events. Their eyes met briefly and there was a defiance that he could hardly reckon with.

Seconds after and the younger of the two spoke. He was quite diplomatic, talking about my exploits and how much he respected his achievement. He went on to talk about how he had failed by using my influential stance as a basis to exploit a partner in the entertainment sector. The accusation stung him and he managed to control his emotion. They were watching him and the room was silent once again. The bald one, having assumed the role of an informal judge, asked that he responded to the accusation. It was quite disconcerting for him as he realized the possibility that he was trapped in a cycle.
He asked to speak to Samantha alone. The younger man objected but the bald one granted his request. Samantha stood up and led him outside. He was unsure of what they were going to discuss but his mind persisted nevertheless. He feared he was set to be persecuted for no reason and there was a way he would put to shame the antics of those who were in the sitting room. They got outside and she sat on a bench.

He faced her and she averted her eyes. She was unwilling to talk as he probed her for answers. He was close to getting angry after she refused to reply his persistent questioning. She glared at him and accused him that he had forced himself on her. She maintained that she was afraid that he could do something harmful to her if she refused. He could easily replay the scene and the possibility of her saying no to his attempt had seem remote. He was confused and she walked into the house as soon as he stopped questioning her.

He was contemplating his next action when the man who brought him came to call him. He said his presence was requested inside. He loathed facing the two men inside but he obliged. They looked assured and calm when he got back into the house. He refused to sit and stood by the wall.

The bald one challenged him to defend himself as they had spent enough time already laying the allegations. He refused to say anything and instead kept his eyes on Samantha. The man continued and said that they could easily resolve the matter in-house as they were interested in lessening the damage that could possibly be done to his career.

The word career piqued his ear. He was suddenly aware that he was possibly going through a planned trial rather than an emergency gathering. The thought of being black-mailed filled his vision as the bald man went on to list the condition for them to keep the matter away from the media. He was to retreat from the spotlight for a while and not attend events so as to avoid provoking the hurt of the victim of his excesses.

They assured him that being away from the spotlight would shield him from scrutiny which could bring the allegation to light. He was uncertain of where their confidence emanated from but he knew there was a possibility that they had something on him. He was exasperated. If there was any sign, it was probably in his eyes. He needed to be away from the bunch of fraudsters.

Immediately they asked him to leave, he did. He was hurting more from the fact that he had been fooled rather than cajoled into having a relationship with a lady that seemed good initially. Also, it seemed really crazy that he had taken a path that had resulted in the failure of many great men in the past.

He remained indoors when he got home. He thought about the false promises until the moment of realization in that sitting room where he learnt that he had been a marked assignment right. The possibility that he could end up losing out on his passion did not occur to him even after they had warned him to stop accepting shows.

He grew disenchanted with living as the days went by. He thought he was strong all along and his disappointment increased the more he thought of how much toll the ordeal took on him.

He honored an invitation after he had rejected several others. It was the marriage ceremony of one of his friends and the guy had appealed strongly knowing about his sudden lack of interest. He agreed eventually and indeed had a great time.

He was high in spirit by the time the ceremony was over and felt it was time he went back to do what he had always wanted to do. He felt some relief when he got off the stage and was commended. Many knew him already and they used that opportunity to get a camera shot with him. He felt good all of a sudden and it seemed like the recent past had only been a nightmare. He reveled in this moment as he took the journey home.

He arrived in his balcony when his phone beeped. It was a short text, “You broke the agreement.” He did not recognize the number and tried calling. There was no answer and he shrugged. He was reclining in the sitting room and turned on his phone data when he got some whatsapp messages. He opened it and immediately the messages poured in. They were pictures of him and Samantha in the process of having sex at her house. There was no display picture rather a picture of a half-filled glass. A text ended the stream of pictorial messages, “You wouldn’t want to get messy with us.”

He was angry to say the least. This was outright blackmail and immediately his mind went haywire. The merriment of the previous hours was quickly forgotten and he realized that he was up against persons who had rolled in the mud in the past and were prepared to throw him into a ditch. He was still stuck in this line of thought when his phone rang. It was a close friend and he wanted him to come to a bar as soon as possible. He didn’t think twice as he rushed out of the house. How was he going to face up with the blackmailers? He was angry but knew not how to solve the problem.

He arrived the premises of the bar and parked in the car-park. He saw his friend seated among a group of revelers. He was in no mood to talk thus he made a detour to another area of the bar and placed a call to his friend. He came out from where the others sat and soon they were together in the restroom.

“You are dull bro,” his friend said.

“I am depressed.”

His friend chuckled and seemed uninterested in the pain in his eyes. He probably looked like the domineering disc jockey of old and there was no way he could replace that idea with the new him. He understood little as he started talking about him not accepting invitations.

“You don’t understand me man, I got a big challenge.”

He got his friend’s attention and he made references to the fact that he was a subject of a false accusation. He said little else and by the time he was leaving, his friend knew very much that he could possibly not help him. He went home probably in worse condition than he had left. He struggled to sleep amidst a rush of nightmares. He woke up in a fit the
next day. He was on the brink and it scared him to wits end.

He got some clothes into a bag, packed some personal effects and left the house. He was headed for a change which he was not sure of. The possibility ahead looked remote but he was eager to come back stronger.


THE END

I love long stories like this. I wonder why NL members don't fancy such

Ciara9251:


I love long stories like this. I wonder why NL members don't fancy such

good to have you here.

They do and read longer versions than this.

Nice story bro.


Good write up!

Hanabian:
Nice story bro.

Good write up!

thanks so much

Akposb:

thanks so much

U r welcome