Chapter Three

At Crystal home, a bar downtown with a unique interior setting of a classic local beer parlor. Nero loved the atmosphere there and always go there anytime he wants to cool off over drink. The weather was cold too, so he had a good reason to thirst for liquor. He put on a blue shirt, ripped jeans, matching shoes and a face cap to cover the scar he sustained from the incident that took places weeks ago. The bartender knew his favourite and had served him as soon as he arrived, Nero pushed it back to him and said

"Squeeze in some lemon juice please". Bartender nodded and took it back. Nero drew a stool and sat to wait for his drink to be ready. A lady walked in shortly, dressed in a transparent tight gown revealing her curves. Nero was tempted to look but he didn't want her to catch him staring at her, so he pulled his phone and pretended to be busy. She smell really nice that Nero wished she can stand there forever so he could sniff her.

"I love your jeans" she said, Nero looked at her to be sure she was talking to him. "The colour is really giving".

Nero smiled and said "oh thank you. And u smell nice I must say", she grinned and turned away.The bartender had placed Nero's drink infront of him.

"What's the content?" She asked inquistively.

"Trust me you don't wanna know" Nero replied before taking a sip, he frowned at the harshesness of the liquor.

"Can I have a taste" she asked, Nero nodded

"Sure" passing it to her. Nero could see through those dress, every single detail. He was getting really aroused but fought to get rid of the thoughts coming to his head. She picked the shot and emptied it into her mouth without showing any reaction

Nero expressed surprise "now that is what we call gulp".

"Yea, that's some lessons. You don't sip you gulp. Take it in all at ones". She replied

Nero smiled "so now you are teaching me how to drink".

"Yea, and I can teach you more than just how to drink" she said seductively inciting Nero.

Nero asks "what's your name?" Looking romantically into her eyes.

"Tega" she replied.

Nero pulled his pocket and dropped some cash for the his drink on the table and gleamed at the bartender, who picked the money and smiled at Nero in gratitude, knowing he had also dropped a tip.

"Tega let's go to a place I can learn more". Extending his hand to her, she grapsed his hands and they both walked away.

Paulson has been released that night after weeks of being detained at the police station. He also got suspended and had his licence seized. He has been silent on his wife; Naomi, all through the journey to back home. She had left their baby with her mom so she could run around for his bail. She went through alot to get him out. Immediately they got home Paulson instigated the argument and both shouting on top of their voices at each other.

At the sitting room "Naomi you put me through all this". Paulson said to her

"I did nothing, you attitude impetuousness got you this. See the embarrasment you brought upon us" she replied.

"You were flirting with him. If I hadn't come in at that time" he snapped.

She Interrupted "excuse you" paused and continued "my anger isn't about the allegations but how on earth did I marry an ungrateful person".

Both continued to lock word. Paulson made emphases on his job, how Naomi caused the whole incident.

Nero woke up to the sound of a soft music playing in the house that morning. He had connected a speaker to most rooms even his sitting room; incase he crashed on the sofa at night; and had set an alarm to ring every 5am in the morning. He believed a perfect day starts when you wake up to a soft music and not necessarily that he loved music alot.

He lazily sort for the control box on the bedstool and offed the alarm. Waited for extra 5 minutes to regain strength after saying a short prayer, then sat up to look back on his bed only to realize the lady he brought back last night wasn't in bed. He was surprised and tried to recall her name as he stood to check the bathroom.

"Tega" the bathroom was empty. He rushed out to check the kitchen and other room but she was gone. Now he's getting scared, he rushed back room to clear off his greatest fear at the moment. He checked for his wallet and documents to make sure it was safe, gave a sign of relief when he saw everything was intact, including his jewelleries.

Then another course of worry of her where about. The last thing he remembered was taking a shower after, puting on a short and she had already dozed off before he got back to bed. He wondered if she was safe and why she left without her money, she had charged a 100 grand. He started reminiscing on their intimacy last night. She was really good he thought, and every single moment was so pleasurable from start to finish. Her soft skin and her melodious moan which gave it another level of delightful satisfaction.

He wanted to get up to prepare for work but remembered it was Saturday, felt relieved, then climbed back in his bed and slept off.

Nero ran a tech company he founded just few years ago and had already a dozen of workers aside his casual staff. The company is fast growing and had boomed more than expected. Aside the company, he had managed a furniture and fabric manufacturing company his mom had willed to him. He was barely 14 when she died after a brief illness. His mom's relatives had managed the business until he was old enough to take over. He had sometimes wondered why his father and mother ran separate businesses.

He recall his parents fought alot while growing up and sometimes his father hit his mom. This is one of the reasons he wasn't in good terms with the father. Even though he is the only family he has left but they were never close.

Their relationship got worse when his father took a new wife. Yonu a young woman and a single mother of one. Nero hates her alot and can't stand her even for a minute, but had loved his son Didi, who was a little fond of him. She came in when the boy was about 10 and its already 3 years down the line. The union had given him a sibling he never had but had worsened his relationship with his father. He barely picks his call or honor his invitations to his castle or office to spend time with his father.

The doorbell rang waking Nero for the second time that morning, he checked his time and it was already 9am in the morning. "I thought I only slept for five minutes" he thought out loud. Got up and grabbed a rope to cover his bare chest before heading to get the door.

To his greatest surprise, it was the same woman he met in the club that walked him. She looked feeble and not as glamorous as the last time he saw her. Without been said he knew she had gone through alot lately.

"Hey" he said showing his bewilderment.

"Good morning" she said so calmly and avoiding his gaze. "My name is Naomi, I dont know if you still remember me". He had offered her a seat but she declined. She had come to apologize on behalf of her husband.

"We are almost breaking apart. He hasn't been himself ever since the incident, he deeply regret his actions and wished he could make amendments. He lost his job and this had put him into depression lately, he really loved that job and that's the only thing he does to take care of the family. Please" she makes to kneel down but Nero stopped her.

"No madam you don't have to do that" he said.

She continued almost in tears "please forgive my husband, save my marriage. Please give us our lives back" she begged.

Nero had pretended to know what she was talking about when she said lives back. He had hand in whatever happened to then but he knew his father was responsible. Ever since he left the hospital, he had never for once thought about them or asked what after them. He had moved on after the incident. Nero was surprised his father went this far, he his father was influential but didn't know he could go really petty with his powers.

"It's alright ma'am. I hate to put you through all this and I'm really sorry on what you had to go through. I can assure you that everything will be sorted out, you really have to trust me". Nero said to her softly to make her feel better, he hates to see people suffer or cry, especially women. He made her a cup of tea before she left. He then went further to wash off and prepare to go pay his uncle a visit at the office.

At the hospital, he had called his uncle many times to inform him he was coming but he wasn't picking. So Nero figured out he was at the hospital.

He walked in on his uncle making out with one of the nurses, he gown was already up to her waist revealing her bare butt. They both jerked up on seeing him, Nero had rushed out knowing he had embarrassed them, he wished he could unsee what he just saw as he waited patiently outside the door for them to tidy up. The nurse had come out covering her face in shame with her palm, as she walked away. Nero waited for some minutes before walking in into the office.

"I am really sorry uncle" he said as soon as he entered.

"Don't you knock idiot" Ovie snapped.

"Don't you lock your doors, imagine if it was someone else that walked in that's unprofessional uncle". Nero said as he sat

"Which one. The door or the make out?" Ovie asked snarkishly, Nero tried not to shoe his disgust, he didn't have time for that, after all he knew those nurses are the ones throwing their selves at him. He had come concerning Naomi's case.

"That's not my problem Nero. It is between you and him , go talk your father to undo what he had done. Don't bring me into this" Ovie said to him as he sat down.

"Uncle please, aside the fact I don't wanna face him but you and you even though I'm his son but you are his brother. He listens to you alot".

Nero was able to convince Dr Ovie to do it after so much persuasions. He knew his uncle Ovie would do anything for him. Both had a little chat until emergency came in and Dr Ovie had to excuse himself and rushed out to attend to it.

Latter in the evening, Nero had headed back to bar where he was last night in search of Tega, hoping to see her again. He wore a thick black jacket and tucked in a 110 grand inside. He waited for a hours to know sign of her then began asking the bartender if he knew her. The bartender didn't know her by name but after Nero gave a physical description of her he was able to remember.

"She comes here once in two weeks especially every second Friday in a month, I don't know much about her but I heard she works in a hotel down the street. You know she's a stripper right?" The bartender asked and Nero nods.

"Did she dope you sir? I know people that can track her down if you want" Nero gave the bartender a disdainful look and replies

"What other job do you do aside this bar" Nero's gaze was insinuating and mean that the bartender had to avoid his eyes.

"Get out of trouble and don't involve in any evil" Nero said to the bartender, tipped him and left.

Nero had packed his car and strolled down to the hotel he was directed to. He felt there was no need since it was close. Just at the entrance of the gate, he saw her walking out of the building. He paused and waited for her to approach knowing she was coming his direction. She was really tart up and looked ready for her little business tonight.

"Tega" he called her as she was almost walking pass him. She told to the direction of the voice. "It's me the gut from last night" he came close. "You left without your money" Pulling out a bundle of cash from his jacket and extended it to her. "It's yours I came to give it to you".

Tega smirked and said "yesterday was my birthday, consider it my birthday gift to you".

"Happy birthday but I insist you have it still" Nero persuaded but she was refused. After several failed attempts he asked for another night of pleasure with night. She hestiated before accepting.

"Thank you. I left my car at the bar we were last night. Maybe we could go for a drink first since we have all night" Nero suggested.

She nods is concurrency "sure".

They both strolled to bar for some drinks. At the bar took so much liquor, Nero made so many attempt to refrain her but she was too stubborn. She was highly intoxicated to even walk. Nero knew he had no choice than to carry her home. He knew taking her back to the hotel could be risk, because many men would want to take advantage of her in the state. He lifted her to his shoulder and took her home.

The next morning Nero got up first, he turned to see she was still asleep. He managed to off her shoes before laying her in bed and covering her to sleep last night. She looked so cute and dovish in her sleep that he couldn't stop staring at her. He wondered how she ended up in such a messy business. If she has a family at all and if they knew her well about. Nero knew he was falling inlove with her already

Still lost in thoughts, Tega opened her eyes and caught his eyes. Nero tried not to be awkward

"Good morning" he said to her.

"Why are you staring at me like that. It's creepy" Tega said looking at him cringily.

"I am sorry, just making sure you don't vanish this time".

"What's that supposed to mean" she blurted out.

"Hey don't yell at me young lady, I am not the one that dissapointed last night".

"Fine" she said calmly, got up and headed for the bathroom. In the bathroom, she wondered what kind of man he was. Most men would have either left her in that bar for other vultures to feed on her or would have taken her home and take advantage of her in her intoxicated state. She was really impressed by him after she checked again and saw she was intact. She cleaned up and headed back to the room to accomplish what she came for.

Nero was in bed and on his phone when she came out. She began to undress until she wad left with only get undies and walked seductively to Nero, who had refused to look at her all the while. She mounted to be and began to rub on Nero's body to get his attention.

"What are you doing Tega. I didn't bring you here for sex".

Tega blurted infuriatedly "then why did you bring me here to waste my time".

Nero dropped his phone and looked into her eyes. He could sense the rage in her eyes but he wasn't moved, he gentily came closer and gave her a kiss on her forehead and said to her softly.

"You took so much last night, you must be thirsty and famished let me go get you something to drink and eat". He got out bed

Chills ran down her spines. Nobody has ever been this nice to her before. She tried so much to hide her emotions. Nero's phone rang. It was his uncle Ovie. He wondered why he called do early. Dr Ovie sounded serious over the phone. He asked Nero to rush down to the hospital immediately that there was an emergency. Nero panicked and before he could ask further questions, Dr Ovie had hanged up on him.

He became more nervous and said to Tega who was curious to know what was going on.

"I'm sorry I have to go. Please do make yourself comfortable. I have food in the fridge, make yourself something and" paused and said softly "please be here when I get back. I am begging you okay".

Tega hestitated and nods. Nero proceeds to take his shower hurriedly. As he dressed his phone rang again, it was his father Ejiro. Fear gripped him, he put the call on speak out,

"Hello big brother" that was the voice of his step brother on the phone. Nero had lost breath on hearing his voice, he panicked. "Can you hear me brother" his voice cracked.

"Hi Didi, are you ok? What's going on?". Nero could hear him crying on phone "listen Didi I'm coming okay?".

It's been months since Yonu passed, Didi had moved in with Nero. He had refused going back home since then. Tega was still keeping distance from Nero. He had decided to let her go seeing she wasn't giving in but still loved her so much regardless.

He was driving to meet with Ovie. He said he needed to see him privately for a serious issue. Dr Ovie wasn't just his uncle but his personal doctor. He usually ran a free check up on all the family members monthly. Nero hoped whatever he discovered was low blood sugar level or anything of sort.

Dr Ovie wasn't smiling to welcome him as he usually does whenever he came to his office.

"Good day uncle " he sits. Ovie looked at him for a while then said.

"I had to check twice to be sure but sadly it is". Nero was confused

"What twice?".

Ovie exhales deeply and shakes his head, "Nero you are family I'm not going be professional with you. I know it can be managed but I'm utterly dissapointed in you".

Nero blurted out "now uncle stop okay. Stop scaring me. Say something please".

Ovie nods, picking a paper from his desk as he stands, then throws it at Nero and said

"You are HIV positive".