Chapter Four

Nero needed some minutes to catch his strength in the car after a long drive. The atmospehere was humid with the environment muddy and damp. Few people were walking across the streets. It rained heavily that afternoon but that wasn't exactly the reason Nero had dressed in very thick hoodies and a cap. Nero alighted from his car and walking straight into the pub he was told.

It been 2 months he tried reaching Tega but she has been avioding him, she never responded to his messages or picked his calls, he was told she no longer walked in Crystal homes hotel and everyone who knew her there didn't know her whereabout. It's been a touch time for Nero even though his uncle Dr Ovie had been involved and had supported him the best he could but he still feels that heaviness. Recently he had resorted to hitting the gym in other to clear his head, though it passed but it didn't entirely work.

Though it was against his standard, he had to pay the bar attendant as his favorite bar to help him track Tega. They had gathered the information that she moved to place, and always comes to this particular pub every weekend. Nero opened the entrance door, exhales deeply before walking in, he stood at a spot to look around for her. He spotted her at corner busy with her whiskey, she was easy to find because of her usual revealing dress fashion sense, her gown was so revealing and transparent, immediately his body changed, his feet became weak like his body has been heavy on it. he felt really angry but tried to suppress it, hissed and started walking towards Tega.

"I wasn't expecting you" she said to Nero as he drew the seat and sat next to her on her table.

"must be hard to find me here and this is stalking", Nero grinned and replies

"You don't say, Tegs" hearing him call her that brought this sensation to her body. Tegs is the nickname he gave her and she secretly loved it.

"You need to leave me alone" She said to him. Nero looked into her eyes and says softly

"Trust me I want to. I really do" Tega felt the tenderness in his eyes, she could see he had really changed, she could tell the sadness in voice. Even in those thick hoodies, she could she his shoulder had grown broader and that made a little sense to her.

"Is everything ok with you?" she asked, Nero signed, rubbed his temple, reached for the pocket in his hoodie, pulled out an envelope and dropped it on the table, right at Tega's front. She looked at it and frowned.

"Money, is that money. Well sorry to disappoint you but I no longer whore around".

"Is good to know you dont but that is not money" he replied.

Tega picked the letter and asked

"then what is it?".

Nero went calm as he looked deeply into her eyes and said in a low tone

"Did you know?"

"Know what?" Tega replied expressing surprise. Nero looked away and that felt really weird. She opened the envelope, pulled out a paper and read. Her quickly dropped the paper and began to breath heavily. She couldn't believe what she just read now. Her head felt heavy and her vision was blurring. Nero could sense the tension but was still looking away like he wasn't concerned. He knew he felt the same way the moment he got to know. After some minutes of silence, he said softly to her

"I have been careless over the years so I wouldn't know how it came. We may have had sex only once but it was unprotected. I came to make sure you are free". After awhile of she trying to suppress her emotions,Tega stood up, grabbed her bags and as she makes to leave, Nero called her

"Tegs" She paused and turned to look at his face. Her eyes were already covered in tears,

"please don't do anything stupid, we gonna be fine". Tega just ran her eyes over him and started walking away, he could see the tattoo at her back as she went out of sight. Nero wasn't sure he has seen the tattoo before on her, yes he remembered her nice boobs and curves but what he admired most was her pretty face. He knew he had missed her so much.

Nero picked up the paper and inserted it back to the envelope and put it back inside his hoodie. He reached for Tega's abandoned whiskey and gulped it in to the last. He longed for more, he took off his cap, he then snapped his fingers at the pub attendants to bring him some more.

The hallway was almost dark with just a little flash of red light that flunctuate. Vera, a girl about 18 and another little girl about 16 years old, were escorted by a huge guard down the verander. The girls were scared to their bones, Vera held the other girl's hand to comfort her knowing this was her first time. Vera has been here for over 2 years now and almost used to the cruelty given to them. They got to a door and the guard signaled them to stop.

"Vera to the next room", he said authoritatively to Vera. She released the other girls hands and whispered to her ears.

"It worst than you imagined but you have to be strong". Vera then left and entered the next room. The girl got more scared when Vera went out of sight.

"Mabel" He barked at her, she jerked in fear

"Remember your training, don't trouble chief do you understand" Grace nodded

"Good" He opened the door, pushed her in and shut the door.

Inside was an ugly elderly man, his stomach were bloated and his face reads ruthlessness all over it, he was sitting on the bed and was stack naked, Mabel wanted to scream out loud at first but she remembered that was a serious offence. The man said with his deep breezy voice

"You are late" Mabel began to panicked. He said again

"take off your clothes and come to the bed immediately". Mabel began to shed tears, the old man laughed, stood up and started walking towards her. She started moving backwards.

"I love resistance little girl. you know you are helpless and hopeless at the point". he said to her,

Mabel cried out "Please let me go. please". As he was almost close enough, Mabel turned to reach out for the door but it was locked, she hit it hard and screamed "Vera help, Vera".

The old man grabbed her by her neck, pulled her close and hit her on the face, she cries in pain and fell at the door, he grabbed her and hit her on the face again and she lost consciousness, the man caught before she fell, then lifted her to his shoulders and threw her on the bed.

Vera went downstairs the hall looking exhausted, her hair scattered and her makeup was ruined with dry tears on her face. She looked around the hall in search of Mabel but she couldn't see her around. she went to squat at a corner of the hall waiting for Mabel to come out so they go back to their rooms together.

After some minutes of waiting, she noticed an unusual movement amongst the guards as they keep moving upstairs and rushing down. She hoped Mabel didn't get herself into trouble. Vera shut her eyes and prayed secretly for Mabel. Not quite long, she started to hear footsteps, she opened her eyes hoping to see Mabel, but an elderly man and one of the guards came down the stairs, they discussed audibly.

"Things like this usually happen, it's not my fault she was stubborn" The elderly man said, his voice was cold and mean.

The guard responded "Sir we don't care what transpired, you wasted our resources and you owe us. You need to pay so we cover up traces"

The elderly man laughed "Nobody knows she exists but nevertheless, I will write you a cheque to get rid of that thing".

Vera's heart began to bit hard on those words. She was experienced and could guess what those words mean. She could feel her soul breaking into pieces as they discuss. Another guard walked downstairs with Mabel's lifeless body dangling on his shoulders. Now she had confirmed her fear, she bent her head and sobbed bitterly.

The alarm rang, it's 6:30 in the morning, Nero thought it was high time he stood from the bed, because he has snoozed the alarm 3 times. He had cancelled the gym for the day, so he went straight to the kitchen in his boxers to make coffee for himself, placed a kettle of water and lit the gas for it to boil. He walked back to his to pick his tub robes cos he was feeling cold, then his doorbell rang. Not sure he was expecting anyone that morning. He picked his phone to check the door camera. It was Naomi, he hissed and went to get the door.

"Good morning" Naomi said walking inside.

"Good morning" Nero said, shutting the door behind her. Naomi's eyes caught to his hairy full chest and firm breast, it was sexy and so masculine.

"why are you here?" Naomi snapped back, she was surprised at his tone because he has never sounded this mean before, she always thought of him as jovial. She noticed everything has changed about him, his gestures atleast.

"I am here to thank you for sparing my husband"

Nero frowned and interrupted "excuse me", Naomi could sense his disgust.

"I am sorry I came to early, I was told you leave early and come back very late" she replied

Nero nods "Oh great I see you have great details about me, all thanks to my stupid staff".

Naomi saw he was already getting infuriated, she started feeeling embarrassed and wished she never came.

"Alright I will just go". Nero goes and get the door open for her and as she walked out he said to her.

"Don't hesitate to call me if you ever needed my help" He said and shut the door before Naomi could even respond. Nero acted out of character for a reason. He was a great psychic, going to meet her without a shirt on was a test. Now he was sure Naomi didn't just come to show gratitute. He knew Naomi had a crush on him, so he needed her to hate him and die those feelings. He headed back to the kitchen. The water in the kettle were almost dried, so he quickly offed the gas. He has lost his appetite for coffee already. He stood still glaring at his kettle, that he didn't know when Didi walked in.

"Good morning big brother" Nero jerked awkwardly, smiled at Didi and said

Hey, did you sneak on me?"

"you are always always absent minded, and you were not like this before big brother" Didi shakes his head and headed to the fridge taking out a bottle of water. Nero remembered the first day he met him, 2 weeks after he heard his father had married secretly, Didi is unusally confident and outspoken for his age, and this is one of the things he liked about the boy. Didi had gulped in the water so loud, Nero knew he was hungry so he asked him

"what would like to eat let me place an order?"

Didi took out the bottle from his mouth, belched and replies "No I want home made noodles, let us cook" Nero looked at him and smiled at his guts, he knew he has been distant from Didi. They usually play and cooked together in the kitchen until the incident. He thought it was high time he made up for those times he was absent. Didi is on holiday now and school will resume in 2 weeks time. Nero had enrolled Didi in a violin and computer private lessons to be keep him busy until school resumes.

"what time do you have lessons today?" Nero asked as he picks a pot from the cabinet.

"By 10, I am not sure, maybe later. Wait which one are you asking?". Nero ignored him, goes to rinse the pot in the sink and placed it on the gas.

"I miss watching my mama cook" Didi said. Those words stung Nero, what Didi didn't know is that Nero despised his mother so much. He feigned a smile and replied

"Me too" He remembered he was talking to a kid, so he added, "you gonna be fine Didi, I am sure your mama is proud of the grown man you are becoming".

"I wish she was here to see me grow" Didi said.

Nero looked at him and asked softly, "What about your dad, I mean your real dad?". Nero knew it was kind of inappriopriate to ask a little boy such question but he was curious.

"It was just us" Didi replied. The alarm rang. Nero knew he was late for work, so he hastily made the noodles and goes to prepare for work.

It was a sunny Saturday morning, Nero was driving back home after he had dropped Didi at Uncle Ovie's house. He had complained about loneliness to Dr Ovie severally, so he had asked Nero to bring him to his place for weekend. Dr Ovie understood what Nero was passing through and he doesn't expect him to be emotionally avaliable to any one.

Nero drove into his compound, his gateman waved at him in greeting, he could hear his dogs bark and hitting on their cage. To his surprise, Tega was at his door entrance. She looked all emanciated and gloom, Nero could guess everything wasn't right. He parked, waited for his gateman to go close the gate and entered his house before alighting from his car. He walked passed her without looking or saying anything to her , unlocked his door, entered and left it open. Tega hesitated before entered, shutting the door gentily behind.

Nero was standing, with both hands in his pocket, almost at the centre of the living room staring at her devotedly as she walked in. The living room was large and of modern decor, with numerous paintings on the wall. It had mainly black and Ash color items except for his golden sofa. It really warm and smells good. There was a black woolly rug in the centre of room and the ceiling was of mirror quality, reflecting every single details of the living room.

Nero noticed her eyes were red and swollen, he wondered if she ever sleeps at night or just cry. Tega caught his gaze and looked away, his physique has really changed more than she imagined the last time he saw him, but none of that mattered to her at the moment.

After a minute of silence "I checked twice" Tega said and streams of tears began dropping from her eyes, Nero could feel the pain in her voice, he wish there was something he could do to help the situation. he kept staring intently at her with some much tenderness as she spoke

"I dont know what to do. I think I am doomed" she bent her head and began to sob. Nero pulled his hands out of his pocket, walked to her and gentily pulled her head up to his face with both hands. Tega's eyes were closed as she sobbed.

"Look at me" Nero said calmly, she hesitatedly opened her eyes. They were filled with tears, though she was still avoiding his gaze.

"You are never alone on this and I promise you Tegs" those words melted her heart. She rolled her eyes to meet with his. His eyes were super catchy and seductive, she wondered how someone could be this perfect.

"Why are you nice to me?" she blurted out thoughtlessly in a broken voice. Nero grinned, put down his hands and walked a step backwards away from her.

"Why am I nice to you?" He repeated snarkishly. "Have you ever seen anyone am not nice to?".

"You know what I mean" Tega snapped, Nero nods, she hiccupped and said sobberly

"I am a bloody tart".

Nero frowned at her "No. Don't you ever call yourself that again, especially to my face". Tega looked away to avoid his stern gaze. He said again

"Please go to the bathroom and wash your face, you can change into something more comfortable from my wardrobe, while I prepare some breakfast for us".

Tega yelled tearfully and intent emotions "now this. This is what I am talking about. You are too nice to me." She hiccupped again and continued

"nobody has ever been this nice me. It strange but somehow I love it". Nero instantly drew to himself and hugged her tight. He has never seen someone this vulnerable before, all he felt was pity and wondered what she had been through. He vowed to himself, to protect and be there for her always.