The Mystery Woman

1.1

Darkness was rapidly enveloping the sky and it left a chill on her spine. Her normal route home was looking deserted as it normally was after 6pm and she was getting a little scared. Mr Maxwell, her boss kept her late that evening amidst all her pleas. She sighed. The job was okay but the hours were killing her, 7am to 5pm Mondays to Fridays where her normal office hours but as her boss’ Personal Assistant she left the office by 7pm approximately three out of the normal five working days. 2

As she crossed a narrow street two blocks from her house, she began to wonder why she was feeling scared. She looked at her watch, 7:30pm. This is the usual time I’m around here, why am I feeling this way today? She thought to herself as a sports car zoomed past her. Suddenly she began to have an eerie feeling. She looked backward and unconsciously increased her pace. It was as if someone was watching her, she could feel it, someone following her. The hairs on her neck stood. 3

She rounded the corner to her house and almost ran as the terrace of the Luxurious Flats came to view. She hurriedly greeted the watchman at the terrace and made a beeline for the elevator. She was finally able to let out a relieved breath as she closed and locked the front door of her two bedroom flat. 4

Who was following me? She thought as she dropped her handbag on her mini dining table. 5

“Marcy….”6

She jumped and turned around sharply. Who was that and how did he enter her house?! In seconds, her questions were answered as she saw a smug looking Nick sipping orange juice in her kitchen.7

“What do you want?” she said as she warily watched him. It irritated her that he looked so at home in her kitchen. The fact that he was back into her life again made her shudder but she put on a brave face determining in her heart that he would not get to her this time.8

He raised a questioning eyebrow and slowly smiled. It made him both attractive and sly at the same time, which irritated her further. Why does he have to look so handsome after all, he has put me through she thought to her self. He had now stood up from the kitchen stool, took a few steps to her and was circling her like a wild cat would circle its prey; goose pimples had now begun assailing her flesh. He snickered and said in a mocking voice:9

“Baby, you look like shit!”10

“What do you want Nick, just say it and get out!”11

He smiled again as he lackadaisically leaned on the wall adjacent to Marcy.12

“You know what I want baby, stop stalling okay?”13

Marcy sighed dejectedly and looked at him pleadingly. 14

“Nick I don’t have any money now, I’m broke.”15

He shrugged obviously not buying her explanation16

“You should have thought about that when you decided to call it quits without cleaning up your shit babe.” He folded his arms and cocked his head, “It’s not my business okay. All I just need. Mind you, need not want, is 20,000 naira and ill be out of your life for good.”17

Marcy looked at him and her eyes began smarting as tears threatened to pour out of them. She knew of course that he was lying, those were the exact words that he used to extort a total of 40,000 naira in the previous week, and she knew he would not stop until she came back to him on her knees. 18

2.19

Every body has the right to do whatsoever they please with their money, right? Mark sighed, he knew that was a fact but whenever he saw the pretty lady who came to office on the average of three times weekly to withdraw her money, he couldn’t help but wonder what she did with it. 20

She always had this sad look about her whenever she came and was noticeably reluctant to withdraw her money. But she did it any way, just as usual.21

Mark decided that this was the day that he would get to know her. He looked at his watch and smiled. It was 1pm and time for lunch. After telling his superior where he was going through the office intercom, he got up from his seat at the customer service stand just in time to catch up with her as she moved from the counter and was about to exit the twin security doors. He stood along side her and pressed the exit button of the door in front of him just as she did hers. 22

Just as they exited the door she was about to bump into a hefty man when Mark immediately pulled her back. The man, a notorious trouble maker whom all the staff knew gave her the eye as she was about to apologise and nearly pushed her aside when Mark intervened again,23

“Good day Mr Martins.” He said with a calm voice24

The man, who obviously hadn’t noticed Mark’s presence before looked at him, grunted and went into the bank.25

“Thank you so much.” The lady said with a shaky voice as they descended the front porch of the bank. “I don’t know what I was thinking”26

Obviously, thought Mark. The girl was obviously in another place. It made him all the more curious. He smiled, hoping it would calm her tight nerves. He extended his arm and said27

“No problem, my name is Mark.”28

She looked at him for a moment, smiled, took his hand and said,29

“I’m Marcy.”30

He held her hand a tad longer then released it. An awkward moment passed between them. Marcy obviously trying to get away and Mark thinking of what to say, Marcy cleared her throat, 31

“Um, nice meeting you and thanks again.”32

She turned and took three steps towards the gatehouse when Mark called out.33

“Where are you going?”34

Immediately the words were out of his mouth he regretted uttering them. Marcy stopped, turned and looked at him quizzically. Now I’m in for it he thought, that was a wrong line man! He fought for something to say to right his wrong move35

“I ... I meant to say that since the clouds are gathering and you’re on foot, I could drop you of where you’re going …”36

Uhgrr that sounded awful too! He felt like smacking his head. 37

Marcy just stood there looking at him. At that moment, if she had walked out on him, he wouldn’t have blamed her. Granted, what sane girl would accept that kind of offer from a stranger? With her arms crossed, she slowly walked back to him. Her face held a curious and amused expression; Mark didn’t know what to make of it. She stopped directly in front of him and looked him in the eye38

“You work here. What makes you think you can leave your job and go off dropping a damsel who may or may not be in distress?”39

Hmm so she’s intelligent too she noticed my official pin. Only a sharp girl would have taken note of all the details on a guy in a short while considering. He smiled and relaxed a bit, 40

“It’s my lunch time so I’m free to use it to drop a damsel who is going to be in distress in the next few minutes”41

It had begun to drizzle at that time. He smiled triumphantly at her and she coyly dropped her eye lids.42

“Come, my car is just by the corner” he began to walk towards a grey coloured Peugeot 504. She hesitated a bit then followed him.43

3.44

Marcy was amazed at herself. She was not one to enter the car of a stranger, but here she was seated, and on the move with this guy she had just met a few minutes ago. I wonder what Jessica would say about this. She spied a look at him as he navigated the vehicle out of the banking premises. He’s handsome. Though that was not the main reason why she accepted his offer to drop her off, it was his smile, it made her feel comfortable. It made her feel he could be someone reliable and one she’d like to get to know. Don’t trust you r instinct sweet cheeks, remember where it got you! She sighed and focused on the road which was being washed clean by the heavy rain which had begun to fall.45

“So, you didn’t tell me where you where going” he said breaking into her reverie.46

“My office; 5 Jackson Street, Independence Layout.” She dully replied47

He looked as if he wanted to say something then but he kept it to himself and nodded affirmative. In the next 10 minutes, they where in front of a three storey office complex and the rain had subsided to a drizzle. 48

Marcy immediately turned towards him, thanked him again and left the car without waiting for any comment from him. She walked up the steps of the front porch of the building expecting to hear the car drive away but didn’t. Refusing to look back, she walked into the reception, past the receptionist who was too busy to notice her and into the rooms that where owned by her company.49