Chapter 3: Chapter 3

"Valley, you are fucken late!" blared Martins our group president. I rolled my eyes. As if I needed a reminder. "You know how important this meeting is Val. You should take it more seriously"

"Martin, I'm sorry for being late. Something came up. Can you not remind me how poor I am with time? Thanks" I moved fast past him into the hall where the meeting would hold. I could feel his glare at my back but I didn't give a hoot about him.

We weren't the best of friends, owing to the fact that he had wanted my position for his girlfriend, but I had won the vote of the majority against her. Ever since then, he always looked for a way to remind me how unfit I was for the position not to mention my late habits.

During the meeting, I tried as much as possible to pay attention, for the minute's sake. But my mind kept trickling back to the card and its owner. I could feel his hot gaze on me that night. I wasn't into oldies but there was something about his scrutiny.

There was this confidence that he exuded especially when he puffed out that smoke from his pipe. Thinking of it now, I could feel my core throb from obsessive need. I didn't catch a very good glimpse of him due to the distance but, I could tell he was a fine specimen of a man. Even at his age, which made it more enthralling. He must be a money god to possess such pizzazz even up to that age.

For one to look that suave in middle age, you have to be well baffed up. Only the thought of it makes me more curious. I don't know what kind of man heightens a lady's hormonal reaction from the far corner of the room with just a mere glance.

"Val?" I blushed and looked up at Donald the brainy mouse of the group. He was looking at me as if waiting for me to answer a question. I smiled awkwardly, feeling embarrassed at my drifting thought in such an important meeting "Sorry, I was...woolgathering" I had an apologetic look on.

"It's okay, I was just saying you should record this part of the speech I would make now, coz it would be forwarded to the chancellor for our project funds"

"Oh, I would do that" I looked away and fumbled in my bag for my phone. I brought it out and hit on the record button before I gave him the signal to begin. I tried not to look at the President who I know would be giving me nasty looks for my untoward behavior.

By the time we finished the meeting and I breathe a sigh of relief and stood to leave, Donald trudged to me to give me his usual sermon on the mount "Sis Valeria, are you okay? I noticed you were very distracted during the meeting"

"Yes, Donald I am. Thanks for asking" I continued packing up my stuff. I know where he was heading with this and honestly, with the way I'm feeling now, I wasn't in the mood to stand and listen like the other days.

"Sister Val, you know whatever it is, Jesus would take care of it" I nodded hastily and hung my bag moving through the other seats to leave the room with him at my heels. "I know Donald and I really appreciate that, but I truly have to go" I pleaded with him with my eyes.

"When are you going to come to the church? you promised last week"

"I know Don, I would, I promise. Can I go now?" he hesitated for some time and slowly nodded but not before releasing one of his never tiring Christian pamphlets. I smiled at him and left, hoping he doesn't run after me.

Donald was one of the reasons I fear coming to these meetings. He wouldn't let me rest after the meeting without incessant preaching about Christ, like I wasn't a Christian. I have often wondered why I was the only one in the group he often preaches to.

Some more raucous people needed this salvation yet he focuses on me. If I dare mention it to Mandy she would taunt me with jokes that he was into me and was just using the Jesus stuff as a means to get to me, knowing I gave him attention because of it.

He was a cool guy, but definitely not my spec. "Look at who we have here" I was startled and swung around before face palming myself. "Mandy! Stop fuckening crawling up on me. You scared me" I told her through gritted teeth. She giggled and swapped my arm.

She was on a short jean skirt and long-necked yellow swead top. Mandy was a very curvy slender bitch which often got me jealous. But the irony of it all is that whenever I tell her, she would roll her eyes at me and tell me how much she wished she had my figure. I wonder what is there to jealous?, God help me!

Who jealousies big boobs and butts?. Every guy wanted a slender bitch to toss around during playtime. Not me, I sometimes wish I would sleep and wake, and have all my fat dissipate from me. That's the only magic I wouldn't really mind. Well, that's what I think.

"I was looking all over the place for you and here you are looking like you saw a ghost."

I huffed out aloud "Was at the meeting. Afterward, Donalds as usual."

She shook with mirth "Maybe you should just fuck him so he would know peace and let you be"

"Mandy! Anyone could hear you" I looked around frantically if anyone had overheard her. Thank God today everyone looked serious and minded their business.

"What? I speak the truth. I wonder why you chose to be blind to the obvious. The guy is depraved and needs a little good coochie for his salvation"

I snickered at that even though it was gross. Imagine me and spunky Donald in bed. Never. What a sore sight. "Don't say that Mandy. Donald is a saint"

She scoffed. " You think so. Wait until he handles you in bed. We will know who the Saint is"

We turned a corner and headed for our next class.

~

I was whipped by the time we finished for the day. Mandy said she wanted to see the course advisor and left for his office. I was stuck to the stance she left me watching her ponytail green hair bounce on her head as she rushed towards the staff office. Recovering, I hastened to the car to wait for her, not wanting to attract any unwanted attention to myself.

I had so many of my college colleagues that have been on my neck for a relationship, whom I keep turning down at every turn. They never give up. They would wait till a time like this to corner me to a nook and resume their horrible pleas.

Entering the car, I picked out my phone and dug through my bag until I found the fancy plate. I smiled and quickly dialed the number. I didn't want Mandy to know for now until I'm sure this is what I think it is.

After the second ring, a sexy female voice came through the phone "Can I speak to Mr. Cameron?" I asked and she redirected the call.

"Hey," I heard a powerful raspy masculine voice come on.

"Hy, it's the lady from last night. You gave me the waiter___"

"Hey, Kittie" He didn't let me finish. I was glad. But what's that? Kittie? Urgh! What's wrong with these men?

"Are you there?"

"Yea. Yeah.." I crooned scratching the nape of my neck as if I was seeing him. I was dead nervous.

"Okay, I'm at work now. Can we meet tonight?"

"Uhmm..."

"Good, I will send my chauffeur to pick you up by 7, don't be late. Got to go" just like that the call was unceremoniously hung on me. He didn't even let me speak. Damn! A girl deserves her reprieve at least. What a narcissistic bastard. Who told him that I would be less busy? Don't be late?

"Yo! Girl, sorry for keeping you, that scad was acting all busy when we all know he does nothing but dig his sick_ass face in the dump of students"

"Mandy stop, you make the man look so jobless" I forced out a smile to conceal my inner turmoil.

"Let's go. I need a good rest after last night" she said hopping into the car.

I stirred the engine and drove off the parking lot to the house.

"So Mandy, I met this guy last night. You know, the guy that bought the Champagne"

She was listening intently. "You met him?"

"No, yea...I mean not like physically but I...He gave the waiter his card to give to me. I called him up and he wants us to meet up"

She shrugged. "It's a good thing then. Isn't that what you have always wanted?"

"I know I'm just telling you."

"Well, for me I'm okay as far as you are. Also, I'm relieved now because this evening I would be going on a date with Fredrick. You know the French guy?" she looked at me for a response. I nodded.

"He wants us to go for a date on his yacht and he insisted I come alone. I was feeling bad that I was going to tell of you such an experience and wouldn't share it with you. Tsk, but now, I can breathe fine knowing you would also go on a spree yourself"

Wow. A yacht ride. I knew the guy she talks about. She had met him sometime last month, in one of the numerous parties she is being invited to, by her boyfriends. She said he had asked her to go to Paris with him but she had declined because he's a married man. The man was filthy rich.

"I hope you have fun," I thought out, my eyes on the road ahead. "And be very careful too"

Mandy shook her head and relaxed more into the seat " Val, when will you stop with all the horrible thoughts?. Remind me to raid your movie catalog. You have been seeing too many horror movies lately"

"I know right? But all the same, be very careful. You know what they say about yachts" she flicks me a ruthless look and looked away with a rueful smile "Focus on the road Val, you have gone crazy"

We soon reached the house and I pulled in close to hers.

"Oh, I can't wait to get married and have my damn bloody kids" she mused and went towards the door where she stood and watched my neighbor's kids as they jumped about the meadow in front of their house.

"You and kids, Mandy. With all your rapacious behavior, I wonder how you would do with kids" I pushed her off gently to open the door.

"Wait until you see me with one" she waved at Timothy, the youngest kid, who giggled and ran off to hide.

"What did you make?" she asked flinging her bag on top of the couch to make her way to the kitchen.

"You will find nothing but canned foods and milk" I called after her while flipping down on the couch. I picked up her bag and placed it on the brown withering couch. I need to clean up. The house was beginning to ooze with dust and dirt. I have been procrastinating, but I seriously need to. Imagine if I had a visitor and they beheld my apartment in this form? Have I told you about my dirty clothes? Story for another day.

"Valeria, when are you going to grow up and stop being a spoilt brat? Who leaves plates in the sink for up to three days without a wash?" rambled Mandy as she exits the kitchen with bread in her hand and a glass of milk in another.

"Sorry bitch, it's me. I'm the person that can do that"

Five hours later, I was standing in front of my mirror giving a final touch to my face when I heard the doorbell ring "I'm coming" I shouted and picked up my bag to run to it.

A man in a black unbuttoned suit was on the other side when I opened it.

"Ms.Valeria Briggs?"

"Here I am" I looked disconcerted for a while and almost wished I had begged Mandy to stay until I'm gone.

"Let's go" that was the only thing he said and turned about to leave the porch.

I locked my door and followed after him uneasely. If I was going to a slaughterhouse, this is me volunteering myself for free sacrifice.