Chapter 8

The Pawn_Athan Ayo

The master date seat was elaborately perched on the raised platform of the hall. It was a seat exclusively decorated for Ajuri and whoever his date partner would be. But as fortune would have it, Jenny had found herself goaded by the cheering crowd to fit into these shoes.

Not wanting to create a dramatic scene that could ruin the classy gathering of the night for Ajuri or throw herself in controversial light, she had reluctantly taken a sheepish walk to the podium. This time, her mind was racing with different thoughts and she felt her pores beginning to discharge mild sweat. Laura is certainly not comfortable with this scene playing before her eyes, she thought. She knew it. She had just met her gaze which grew from the anxious and expectant craving face of a child to that of a stone cold beast. For a moment, she felt herself disappointing her real intent and hurting Laura even more. No, it's Laura's night. This Ajuri must be crazy, she thought out loud, as she subconsciously found Ajuri within a close eyeshot. Jenny knew she was now on the podium and within the reach of this crazy fella.

''Have you gone nut?'' Jenny whispered to Ajuri who stood almost an inch taller, dressed in a glistening fitted black leather jacket with a grey vest underneath and a black leather pant. ''It's Laura's night, dude. I ain't even on intimate terms with you.''

''Oh Jenny,'' Ajuri whispered in hushed volume while grabbing Jenny by the waist, ''we can always from somewhere.''

''You've invited me here to have me embarrassed, or what the fuck are you up to?'' Jenny asked, tilting her head backwards to examine the intent of Ajuri, who now an arm clasped around her waist.

''Come on, Jenny,'' Ajuri scolded, placing his index finger across Jenny's lips to shush her, ''Leave Laura out of this.''

''She's just a kid who needs pampering,'' Ajuri asserted as he locked his fingers with Jenny's. ''She will be fine.'' He continued, this time, planting a peck on Jenny's forehead.

The dramatic display of affection and inaudible chattering by the duo on the podium sent the gathering to frenzy and they burst out applauding the moment Ajuri garnished all with a peck on Jenny's forehead.

Jenny felt trapped in the drama as much as she felt oppressed by Ajuri's clout and the unfair advantage he enjoyed by having the aristocratic gathering behind him. She could do very little to stop him, lest she found herself in the media controversies afterwards. For once, she wished she had never accepted the invite from Laura. She understood Laura's intent to have her presence on this occasion, but she found herself hurting the teen's intent more than appreciating it.

In the midst of the frenzy, Jenny took a moment to have a long gaze at the gathering and combed through with her eyes. She found Laura, broken and dismayed, she still maintained a beastly look and refused to join in the frenzy. But, much to Jenny's shock, she spotted Benji grinning and applauding excitedly. Could it that Benji had a hand in this? I don't trust that bastard, she thought.

A soothing lullaby blared from the stereo and, Ajuri, still having his hold on Jenny, rocked her gently to coax some dance steps out of her. Each couple at their table followed suit and tangoed. Jenny wouldn't just be comfortable with the twist of things, as she shot her gaze towards the direction of Laura, who was just storming out of the hall in a fit of ire. Jenny thought of wrenching herself from Ajuri to storm after Laura, but the silly Ajuri had her firmly within his clutch

The eventful night was making a gradual retreat to have a rest, but the White Castle bustled on with high spirits and verve. Jenny was reluctantly still within Ajuri's custody. She had her escape plan up her sleeves, but she would rather play along and avoid any screw-up that could lead her into controversies afterwards. She would manage the situation smartly, but then she felt entrapped by the immense wealth and clout surrounding her. In this very moment, she had lost control of any reasonable decision of her own.

Jenny, managing to keep her head up, danced along with Ajuri who still had his hands firmly clasped around her hips, rocking her gingerly back and forth and coaxing some dance steps out of her feet. It was not long before Jenny slid into the groove and the duo pattered from some ballroom to ballet. While she cringed at Ajuri's moves, yet she maintained an affected composure and drank many toasts to different spirits through the night.

Jenny felt heavily tipsy and was almost drunk out of consciousness. Strangely, she could feel her back scratching against leather couch. She snapped her eyes wide open. No, she had not been dancing on a couch; she had been on the dance stage all night. How did this couch manage to appear on the stage? She gathered some strength and sprang up to have a closer peer at the surrounding space. Adjacent the couch, she sighted an antique-styled French bed with a water duvet neatly draped over it. Across the room was a mini bar stocked with well aligned bottles of wine, and above is a chandelier of coloured bulbs lightening the seemingly serene room in a sinister fashion.

She was beginning to gather her vision together while she sat up to examine the mystery room she had found herself. Tossing her head sideward and away from the bed, she sighted a masculine figure gingerly walking out of a door within the same room. He was bare to the underpants and looked macho and poised to launch an attack. Jenny's heart skipped a bit while she peered closer to examine the figure. And in a flash, he made a lunge at her as if to attack. She startled to bits and reclined in a reflex under the pressure of her predator. It was Ajuri. She could clearly see the face now. She instantly felt irritated at the sudden transition from the stage to the bedroom. This scum has managed to smuggle me inside here, she resented..

''Fuck it,'' she snapped, ''you think I'll play your silly game in your fucking room, too?''

''Shush.'' Ajuri whispered, placing his index finger across his lips. ''You're all mine for the night, bitch.''

Ajuri was all over her. He clamped her to the extreme of the couch, almost giving way to no breathing space. He got a firm hold of her nape and began to fondle her from the rear. His fingers slithered down her shoulder ball as he caressed it to disturb her shoulder-length gown.

Jenny would have none of it as she made a nudge and squealed to free herself from the clampdown to no avail. Ajuri had overwhelmed her to a tiny space of breath.

''Shut up, you bitch!'' Ajuri scolded, crashing a slap across her Jenny's face. ''Cut off the pretence and let me in.''

Ajuri relaxed his clampdown a bit and made to drag one of Jenny's legs to reposition her to lie flat on the couch. In a flash of hope, Jenny capitalised on the little freedom and smashed Ajuri's head with a wine cup. She had managed to pick up the cup from the side table close to the couch.

Ajuri staggered backwards, allowing Jenny more freedom of space. He clutched his bleeding head in pain.

''You scum,'' Jenny boasted as she made towards the door, ''you don't mess around with me.''

The bleeding regardless, Ajuri scampered after Jenny in a struggle to stop her from taking the exit.

Jenny was quick to the door. She flung it open and made to step out, only to discover that she had opened the wrong door. It was the door to the bathroom.

Suddenly, Jenny felt herself crashing down again under the weight of Ajuri. She was down and resigning to fate this time. Ajuri was sure to take charge and inflict more injury. I've probably run of luck, she thought.

Ajuri relaxed his grip and briefly tended to his bleeding head. Jenny took the chance again and launched a cynical kick at his genitals. Ajuri went down sprawling in agony.

''Silly scum!'' Jenny snapped as she made a quick dash for a different door. This time, it was the right door.