MISSING PIECE (Part 5)

The bar was almost closed. Few men arguing, some beckoning on call girls to come closer to them. To the far right, a well dressed, fair-complexioned lady sat alone, smoking and drinking. She wore a short green gown, stud earrings, black heeled shoes and black purse. Her hair was packed in a high bun, her manicure and pedicure well done. Her bright red lipstick she had on shone from even a distance. Her appearance gave her the classy look buy her mind was far off…..

Flashback……
“I’m sorry but I cannot marry you. We have to end this”, he said. She was stunned. Was this the important thing he told her they had to discuss?
“What? Why? Please, don’t do this to me”, she pleaded.
“We can’t continue again, I am now born again”, he insisted.
“Please, I’ll become born again too. I promise. Don’t leave me alone. Anything you want me to do, I’ll do it.” Where would she start from?
 “It doesn’t work like that. I have preached to you to no avail. You have to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and you need to leave those friends you move about with.”
                She stopped. “Hold it. Is this your way of telling me to leave my friends? I’ve told you, those are my homeboys and homegirls. I can’t leave them”, she replied defensively.
“You can’t serve His and mammon”, he said, “But I’ll be praying for you.” He stood up and left.

She smiled wickedly. I’ll make sure you pay for everything. This is just the beginning.
************
“Hey hon, sorry I’m late”, he said kissing her on the lips before taking a seat beside her.
“No problem. It gave me enough time to strategize.”
“Hmmmm…..I see.”
“And who are these?”, she asked pointing to the two men being him.
“They work for me.”
“Ohhh! And what’s the alpha position?”
He snickered. “Down, of course. Don’t you trust me? Now why did you call this meeting?”
“I trust you”, she replied, touching him fondly. “Back to business…….”

********
“Come and buy your pepper and tomatoes”, Jacinta called to passersby.
“Dem dey come ooo.  Make una run ooo”, someone shouted. There was pandemonium everywhere. What was going on? Some fierce-looking men walked towards her not minding others.
             “What is it again?”, she muttered.
“You are still here abi?”, their leader asked angrily.
“Oga Linus, I told you I’ll come and see you. I don’t have the money yet”, she explained.
“I see.  So I should run into debts because of you ehnn? The other day you came crying and begging to give you time, I obliged. Look at the others, they pay their money. You are just being stubborn.”
“That’s not true, you know it.”
He turned to the boys with him. “Destroy this stall. Throw her things away”, Linus commanded.
“No no, please. How will my children and I survive?” She knelt before Linus. “Please, help me.”
             He stooped, whispering to her ears, “A beautiful woman should not be suffering like this. I tried to help you but you were proving stubborn. See what your stubbornness has brought you.” He stood straight. “Destroy everything!”
              She cried and screamed as she watched the destruction. She tried to salvage as much as she could but Linus and his boys stopped her,  stomping on all the wares. It was too much for her.  The last thing she remembered was promising to buy her children something different before she succumbed to darkness.

To be continued……..