Jude drove until he stopped at a place and asked Shanty to wait in the car. He then ran across the rode, spoke with some men and Shanty could see he collected something from them and then returned inside the car and resumed driving. Shanty stole a glance at his face and wondered if he wanted to talk.
"Ask me whatever you wish to ask me Shanty" he said without looking at her.
"What you have with you; what's that?" She asked and he looked at her and did not say a word until he stopped near a restaurant and got down. "Want to eat something?" he asked and she nodded. "Come down then" He offered and they both alighted the car and headed into a restaurant. It was raining by then. When they got inside and sat down to eat he said, "I know you knew what i, what my boss is into before you accepted to be one of his concubines" She shook her head. "You joking with me now? Common you are a prostitute and you are familiar with men like me, men like my boss. Don't appear surprised if you see me engage in shady stuffs. Now eat up for I would like to be in my house before nine"
*******
Vero gasped and withdrew from her window. She stared steadily at the face of her friend Anita and saw she wasn't bothered about the situation instead she was smiling and probably expecting Vero to do the same.
"What's with the face?" Anita asked ignorantly.
"The boss is here? To look for me?" Vero asked, not sure if she was asking Anita or herself. She looked out the window again and saw that he had dismounted his car and leaning on it, ofcouse waiting for her. "What is he doing?"
"Waiting for you" Anita answered.
"Waiting for me? How sure is he that I am home and that I'm aware he is in my place?" asked Vero. Without answering her Anita made her way out of the parlour. "Where are you going!" Vero was alarmed.
"To welcome him ofcourse" Anita said but before Vero could utter further word she was out of the house and heading towards the packing lot where Charles was with his men. Vero could see them through the window as she waited to see what would happen. She could see that Anita and the boss were having words and shortly the boss bent over his car and brought out a sealed box and handed it over to Anita and then his men held the door for him as he entered. His convoy left the compound. Vero was eager to know what transpired between the boss and Anita. Shortly Anita walked in and standing near the door asked, "Should I come in or am no longer welcomed?" When she asked this Vero reached with her hand and dragged her in, locking the door she faced her.
"Anita, here is my house and you don't do what you want. What was that all about; going to collect..." she paused as she stared at her hand and seeing the sealed box in her hand and asked, "And what is that?"
"How will I know what it is. Well, he says he did not come to waste time but that he was heading somewhere and felt it would be kind of him to say hello. He handed this to me and said it was for you" She handed the gift to her and she hesitated before she collected it and tore it open.
"Wow" Anita exclaimed with both palms covering her mouth.
"What's the excitement about?" Vero had to ask.
"Are you blind? this is way too expensive than any of us could ever imagine. Look at it very well, it is pure cold, laced with diamond. You are going girl" She said and went further, "This piece of wristwatch could cost nothing less than a hundred thousand dollars, that's close to a hundred million naira. Girl you are a goal" She went further to examine the piece and Vero said, "What am I going to do with this, wearing that amount on my wrist?"
"You sell it then" said Anita.
"Sell it? It's a gift, I can't just sell it" said Vero.
"So you value him?" asked Anita.
"What are you talking about? I value the gift" Vero said.
"You value the giver of the gift also" Anita said and sank on the seat.
"Let me ask you; how come you know how much that is worth?" asked Vero.
"Don't be silly; boss deals on these too and I have had the opportunity of being invited to help with the shipping. You think he doesn't know you need something this valuable. He values you, can't you see that?" Anita was getting too excited and Vero was begining to think she was becoming too loud. She reached out and got hold of the wristwatch.
"What will you do with it?" asked Anita
"I'm keeping it. I'm not wearing such a thing on my wrist. I will keep it until I decide what to do with it. Also I'm grateful for this; this also means I will have to call him to thank him. This is weekend and I know he will be expecting that I call him" She took the wristwatch inside the inner room and returned to sit with her friend Anita.
That same night something terrible happened. While they were about to sleep seven able bodied young men forced their way into the estate, shooting sporadically, engaging in a firce battle with the security personeels and then forcing their way into the flat belonging to Veronica. Both ladies were already awoke and fearful by the time the armed robbers forced themselves into the flat. They ordered both ladies to lay on the ground and they did. The thieves then demanded for the golden wristwatch that was brought into the house that afternoon. They forced Veronica to her feet and forced her to lead them into the inner chamber where the wristwatch was and then they took it.