Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Jonny surpassed everyone’s expectations. He was a tireless worker. No doubt, he was a rookie at the job. But great oaks grow from small acorns. So slowly he took to the job, like duck to water and proved himself. His confidence was great, and his skills surprised Miriam. He was filled with brilliant ideas. Though most times, he appeared eccentric. Miriam was greatly impressed by his astute thinking and discernment. She rewarded him and Jonny rose up the ranks. Soon he had to himself a lavish and gorgeous apartment, an official car and a handsome salary.

With all the money he earned, Jonny was rich and screamingly comfortable, and had a lot of women at his beck and call. Yet his eyes were still on Miriam. It was not really her money he wanted; it was her he desired. The lust to sleep with her had not waned. It was still as ferocious as ever. It was an obsession. And so, Jonny continued to wait, stalking at the corner, laying his traps and plotting his game. It was not very long, before Miriam’s air of bossiness towards Jonny started to disappear. As time passed, she came to respect Jonny even more. Though she was ensconced by Jonny, who had succeeded in lulling her into a false sense of safety, she still made sure she maintained the sizeable distance that was healthy and important. She never allowed herself to trust him completely. Jonny was a man after all, and the whimsies of men, their quaint and inconstancy, make them the unlikeliest people to trust. So she remained indifferent towards him.

That evening after work closed, Miriam strolled to the parking lot to drive home. She entered her black Mercedes car and put the key in the ignition and tried to start it, but the car juddered and stopped. What’s wrong with the car? She asked herself. It was only last week the car had returned from Audu’s, the mechanic. And she was naïve with cars. She stood by the car idly, fiddling with the keys, not knowing what to do. A wave of frustration swept through her, as she bubbled with rage. She opened the bonnet and fiddled with the wires and went inside the car. She tried to start the car again, but it wheezed and jerked. She came out of the car and planted her hands on her waist, morose. The harmattan cold was already coming, the breeze blowing on her face and swaying her hair. She stared at the car and chocked with fury. A thin layer of dust had covered it. She fumbled her handbag and searched for her phone. She would call Audu and give him a piece of her mind. Audu was already speaking on the phone, when Miriam heard the feet clumping behind her. She ended the call and turned. It was Jonny. He was standing beside her.

‘Is anything the matter? You look red-faced,’ he said.

‘It’s the car,’ Miriam said blandly, pointing at it frustratingly. ‘It won’t start.’

‘Oh, I see,’ Jonny said, walking over to it. ‘I am not very good with cars. But let’s check out the battery.’ Jonny fiddled with the wire that connected to the car’s battery, hitting the battery a few times with a stone.

‘Try starting it now.’ Miriam went into the car. She tried to start the car, but it would not respond. She stormed out of it with with anger.

‘Audu is an incompetent fool!’ she cursed. ‘This car just returned from his workshop last week. I see he doesn’t know what he’s doing anymore.’

‘It’s not his fault,’ Jonny said calmly. ‘Trust me, these things happen often. One can never trust these things. They are unreliable.’ Miriam furrowed her face. Darkness was coming and she needed to go home.

‘Join me and let me drive you home,’ Jonny said, as a smile beamed on his face. ‘It would be my pleasure.’

‘Don’t think I’ll turn down the offer. After all, I’ve no other choice,’ Miriam replied. She went with Jonny and climbed into his car. Jonny eased up the road; he turned on the cassette player and Lucky Dube’s: House of exile filled the air, his crisp and vibrant voice, booming from the speakers. Once in a while, Jonny joined in the music. He was a fine singer. He maintained a chatty mood with Miriam and Miriam’s anger softened. Miriam looked out of the window and watched the houses that looped together, the crowd of traders, beggars, hawkers and the pedestrians on the road as the car whistled past them.

‘That’s my house over there. The next block,’ Jonny said, looking at Miriam.

‘You live in a fine neighborhood. You’re a man of lavish taste. But are you driving me to your house or to mine?’ Miriam asked him.

‘Of course, I am driving you to your house. We just happen to live on the same road,’ Jonny said. ‘I was thinking we should stop over at my apartment and you can know it.’

‘If I agree to stop over at your apartment, it’s because you drove me home,’ Miriam said. ‘It’s getting dark and I won’t spend more than ten minutes.’ Jonny looked at Miriam and smiled.

‘Few minutes of your time are all I ask. You don’t know how much that means to me. I feel very proud,’ he said. Miriam looked at him briefly, and then looked away. Jonny was full of gallantry, but most chivalric men were dangerous. It was important she checked her emotions whenever she was around him. Jonny slowed down and halted the car at the driveway. They climbed down from the car and walked towards his apartment. His apartment was fabulous. Miriam was astounded by his esoteric and lavish taste. She moved over to the clever and breathtaking paintings on the wall and ran her fingers on one of them.

‘This one is exceptionally beautiful,’ she mustered. ‘I didn’t know you loved paintings.’ Jonny’s face beamed with a smile as he switched on the light. He went over to the stereo at the corner and slid in a disc, and a soft music filled the room. It was a soulful and sentimental song. Miriam recognized the singer, it was The Corrs’ What can I do? She had always loved the song. She mumbled it briefly and stopped. She stared at Jonny with a suspicious look; his choice of the song was premeditated. Jonny appeared to know the right kind of music to play at every moment.

Jonny went over to the bar and filled two glasses with wine. As he returned his eyes fell on Miriam’s protuberant backside, and his heart missed a beat. His lust for her was getting more intense, and he would do anything no matter how desperate and weaseling to shag her. He stood beside Miriam and stared at her.

‘You didn’t ask me what I studied at the university,’ he said as he handed Miriam a glass of the wine. Miriam stared at Jonny, impressed by his smarmy displays. Such pretensions from men who wanted something from her were not strange. Jonny continued to pray for Miriam to drink the wine. He was sure she would get drunk. She had told of her weakness with alcohol in one of her moments of misguided utterances.

‘I studied Fine and Applied Arts. You didn’t even look into my CV. I almost got first-class honors. I suppose the lecturers didn’t want that to happen. Painting is my life. I am an artwork buff. I love the freedom of expression that comes with painting. Look at the one over there. Painting is appreciating God and nature.’ Jonny was pointing at the artful portrait on the wall.

‘Of course, I know what you studied but that was of little consequence to me. I wanted you to have the job. In this country, who really cares about what you studied at the university anyway? It’s obvious we’re used to putting square pegs in round holes,’ Miriam said impassively. ‘The canvas is great. So is the African woman.’ They were talking about the painting of the beautiful and nude African woman. ‘Personally, I love paintings. Do you love Picasso or da Vinci?’ Jonny stared boldly at Miriam and remained silent.

‘I would take da Vinci,’ he said after a light pause. ‘However everyone knows those men were in the world of their own. But I’m not a bad painter. I can hold my own. These are all my paintings.’ Miriam’s eyes widened theatrically. Jonny looked at her and noticed the surprise in her eyes.

‘I see you’re surprised. You didn’t think I painted these ones? You could be my next model. You could pose right now and I’ll paint you for free. It would be my pleasure.’ He was staring into Miriam’s eyes. Miriam removed her gaze from him and looked away. Her heart was beating fast. It was strange how Jonny was making her feel uneasy. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, and took a few steps away from him.

‘We’ll talk about that some other time,’ she said. ‘Your lush apartment and offer are both tempting and enticing. But I must go now.’ Jonny chuckled and stared at her and closed the space between them.

‘I know I shouldn’t say this. But you’re so beautiful and I really love and want you.’Jonny’s stare was deep and penetrating. Miriam stared back at him and then looked away.

‘I’ve told you not to flirt with me. You must never love or desire me. I am your boss and someone’s wife. It’s disrespectful and senseless.’ Miriam’s voice was firm and plumpish. ‘I respect your right to have feelings but it shouldn’t be for another man’s wife.’ Jonny looked away crestfallenly. At the surface, Miriam’s voice was brusque and officious. Still he could discern the emotions beneath her terse exterior.

‘I will try to remember that,’ he said coolly. ‘But you haven’t tasted your wine at all.’ Miriam looked at the half-full glass of wine and swished it in the glass.

‘It’s alcoholic, isn’t it? I don’t drink alcohol. It makes me tipsy.’

‘Of course, I know you’re a teetotaler. Trust me, it’s not alcoholic. It’s a grape wine. You’ll love it,’ Jonny said. Miriam sipped the wine from the glass slowly; the tang was sharp and spicy. It tasted really good. She smiled at Jonny and raised the glass to him and they clinked together. She chugged the wine down her throat. Jonny smiled slyly, as he strolled to the bar to refill his glass. He returned with the bottle and offered Miriam more wine, which she obliged him. They talked about a business deal for a few minutes, and then he offered to drive Miriam home. But Miriam was mellow; she had lost her soberness. Her eyes were dim and half-opened. She was feeling giddy. Jonny looked out of the window, and the sun had hidden underneath the clouds. He stared at Miriam’s stunning breasts and caressed her cheeks. Miriam raised her face and smiled at him sheepishly. His plan had worked perfectly. Miriam was drunk and vulnerable. Before him was his long-awaited chance. He ran his hand on her smooth face, and Miriam remained calm. He drew her close to his body, and she came freely into his arms. Miriam stared into his eyes, her breath reeking of alcohol. Jonny swept her off her feet and entered his bedroom.

Miriam sprawled on the bed, her eyes half-closed as Jonny unbuttoned her blouse. He dug his hand underneath her skirt, uncovering her thighs. He caressed her thighs and kissed her, running his hand masterfully on her glossy skin. His hand followed the strips of Miriam’s undersized bra that plumped up her breasts. He unfastened it and Miriam’s succulent and cone-shaped breasts unfurled from the tight cup, and danced in his face. Jonny stared at them and clucked excitedly. His lips curled round her dark brown nipples, offering Miriam delicious bites as she moaned. His hands moved slowly on her skin. Miriam was lost in the ocean of sheer bliss. Jonny’s moaning interspersed with his deep breathing as he began to thrust slowly and deep into her.

Miriam fell soundly asleep after the sex with Jonny. It was not an act she had done consciously, on her own volition. She woke up hours later, somber and peeved at what had happened. It was incredible that she had succumbed to the lull of the alcohol and the brief, rash feeling of infatuation and had had sex with Jonny. She looked at her dress on the floor and scalding tears streamed on her face.

‘What have we done?’ she asked Jonny tearfully, covering her body with the bedsheet. Jonny stared at her with an air of conquest and pomposity.

‘What does it look like we have done?’ he asked her back baldfacedly.

‘You’re shameless and worthless!’ Miriam barked. You’re not better than a dog! You took advantage of me? I’ll sue you for this! Believe me. I’ll make you pay! You’ll regret the day you set your eyes on me!’ Miriam seethed with clenched fists. Jonny remained calm and indifferent.

‘You cannot do anything about this,’ he replied instead. ‘No one would believe what we did was not consensual. What do you think the world would make of such a raunchy affair? I bet your family’s name and reputation and that of the empire you and your husband have built will suffer. Besides what will your husband and children think of you? Look, I’ve made a video of our sweet time together. I think you should see it.’ Jonny played the video from his phone, holding it up to Miriam’s face. Miriam was aghast. As she watched the video she could not believe how absorbed and passionate she had been and how thoroughly she had moaned and enjoyed the sex. The unexpectedness of how she clasped Jonny, her hands wrapped around his sweaty back, as he thrusted into her, filled her with horror. She shut her eyes tightly, and hot tears streamed on her face.

‘This is my trump card. So you must do as I say,’ Jonny said smugly. Miriam moaned bitterly.

‘What have I done to you? Why do you want to ruin me?’ she asked him.

‘Dress up now!’ Jonny ordered her.

‘What have I done to you?’ Miriam asked him, clutching his leg. ‘I’ll give you all the money you want. Please don’t ruin my life and family.’

‘Get up and dress up now!’ Jonny barked again. Miriam glared at him with her eyes full of hate, as tears trickled down her plump cheeks. She stiffened her quivering lips and imagined the pain a child must feel when he is beaten and ordered not to cry. She sprang to her feet and quickly began to dress up. Jonny walked beside her, as they made to his car. They climbed into it and he drove off in a cloud of dust. Miriam continued to sob bitterly, pleading with him.

When Miriam reached home, she lay on the bed, deeply troubled by Jonny’s video and the seediness of what she had done with him. She hated and blamed herself. She felt like a cheap harlot in her own eyes. She sat on the bed and wept all night. Then she tried not to think about it, but Jonny’s stinging words kept preying on her mind. She rose from the bed and paced around the bedroom, sobbing. When she finally slept, it was the briefest she had ever had. She woke up, horrified and trembling as cold sweats trickled down her body. She rose from the bed and ran her hand across her bleary eyes. She was feeling fatigued and drained.

The leaves of the almond tree were rustling from the cold breeze of the harmattan with the tapering branch of the guava tree, close to her bedroom tapping her window. When the thin rays of the morning sun streamed into her bedroom, Miriam rose exhaustedly from the bed. She staggered to a corner and yawned. Her permed hair was disheveled. She entered the bathroom and turned on the shower. She continued to sob in the water, as the water trickled down her flesh and gurgled through the plughole; just as the neighborhood’s rooster crowed pompously in the distance, in the same manner that was eerily reminiscent of Jonny’s.