There's a problem.

“Are you feeling better?” Jessie says, over the phone.

“Yes, better than last night.”

“Sorry, once again. We're still looking into who did that to you.”

“There's no need. It's the past. I'll just have to be careful next time.”

“Will you be free tomorrow?”

“I don't think so. I have to be in the studio.”

“Not a problem. Where's that?”

“At my house?”

“Oh. Thought I could just watch you sing,”

“Why not? I'd send you my location.”

“You don't have to. I don't want to bore you.”

“You are not a bore. You're an amazing person in my chill. Though the end of last night was a really bad experience.”

“Ok, deal. How is your husband by the way?”

“He's aight. Though still trying to control himself after what happened.”

“I can imagine what he said about me?”

Myla chuckles. “He said nothing about you, but he did ask me about James. And I was like . . . I shouldn't be telling you this,”

They laugh and talked all night.

...

“There's a big problem.”

Jamal walks to Michal seated at the computer. “What's that?”

“Your wife was drugged by someone. I did some findings, and the same person sent another being to pursue her to the party in order to distract the guard from getting in.”

Jamal, asks in gritted teeth. “Did you find out who the f-cker was?”

“No, I haven't traced the soul, yet. Still need one more move. I think, you should interrogate her about the movie industry. There must be some alignment to it, because the party was full of cast members from there.”

“Did she ever tell you about having a disagreement with someone from there, or something else? Because, I've heard a huge number of celebrities who were drugged, because they refused to accept a deal or threatened to tannish an image.”

Jamal sighs heavily. “I have no idea. I've been so busy, and she has said nothing to me about the details of the project.”

“You have to talk to her. Dialogue is very important. And lack of it, is poisonous.”

“As for the drug, she was lucky the doctor said it was not to kill her. Probably just to ruin, or assign someone to sleep with her? I don't know.”

“If I find out who's behind this, I'm going to triple a bullet in the head.”

Michal looks at his friend remorsefully. “Calm down. We're going to find a solution.”

. . .

Myla walks Jessie to her studio, while they discuss things.

“Step out of your world, sometimes and see the other side of the universe. I mean . . . who loves being hooked, when you have a lot of money to spend.”

Myla's brows crumble as she enters the studio, Jessie following behind, carefully.

“Don't get it.”

She looks around, and says. “Look at this place! This house is luxury everywhere I go. I mean, can your husband be any rich?”

Myla laughs, completely spacing out what she said earlier.

“It's a shame sometimes when I think of it, that he knows me, more than I know myself.”

Jessie chuckles. “I would say the same, though. 'Cause anyone will love this place. And his designer must be a very professional one.”

“Anything for the lady he loves.” Myla winks, walking through another passage, leaving them separated by a glass.

“So, common! Give it in!”

“Yeahhh . . . I got this.”

She reads throw a single line first, and starts singing.

After 45minutes, she comes out to meet Jessie.

“It was incredible!”

Myla grins, coming to a stop close to her. “Thank you.”

“Sorry for my manners, Jessie. I'd to go and do some lunch to entertain my guest, first before anything.”

“No, I was already entertained my your songs.”

Myla taps on her shoulders playfully. “Let's get out of here. I'm tired.”

They move out and Jessie can't seem to take her eyes off the house decor, even though she came this direction.

“I'll still make lunch for us, ok?”

“Okayy, If you insist.”

She enters the kitchen with Jessie, and the lady ogles the beauty of it.

“I keep being befuddled each time I get around this house. This is . . . overly spacious for a kitchen.”

Myla just works around silently, as she opens countertops to get out her ingredients and into the freezer to get phone stuffs.

“I've been wondering; who else leaves here other than you and Jamal?”

“The maids. But, they aren't home. I gave them some duty out of town, for the African market.”

She nods. “Oh, I see.”

After the kitchen, they move to the dining, eating some pasta, green, red source, and lemon by the side.

Obviously, a drink accompanying the ladies. Jessie taps on her phone occasionally, and puts it down.

“How do you manage all these?”

“I've been managing that, since I was 19years old. I think, it's nothing stressful, like you think.”

“It is stressful! When I got married to my ex husband, who's now back with his ex,”

Myla spits her drink, which spills on the glass forniture and stands the glass on the table to wipe the stain at once.

“I'm so sorry. Couldn't imagine you were once married. You look so . . . young.”

“Young, because I didn't let our divorce weigh me down. I was happily married, but it ends up that people change, and now, I'm happily divorced.”

”That's horrible.”

Jessie sips her drink. “Nothing to worry about.”

“I will never imagine leaving my husband to any woman. It's a pain I'd bare for the rest of my life.”

Jessie looks at her with concern.

“Myla?”

She looks up to hear the lady Jessie, patiently.

“Mmm. Is there something on my face?”

“Not that. Actually, I think you shouldn't let your emotions carry you away. Jamal is a man, that has the pride every man naturally has. Added upon, he has money, and can be extra bossy towards you, completely forgetting your dreams, rights as a woman.”

Myla squints at her as she talks.

“You seem to have kept your contract from him, and I'm not sure he'd give you the go ahead to carry on with the project.”

“What's this supposed to mean?”

“No offense. You love him a lot to satisfy his needs, but are you ready to give up your career for him?”

“It won't go that far. He's my husband, and he loves me, too. To an extent to support me, yes. We'd talk things out as we've always done. No big deal.”

“They naturally don't give space for dialogue. Feeling manly, disrespectful and... I don't want that to happen with you. I've been married before and it's horrible to be looked down on, because you're a woman?”

“Stand your ground, and if he tries shit, tell him off. Life doesn't circulate around men. Besides, do you think he's going to be as devoted as you are? With all the riches, power... Gurl open your eyes, and start living.”

Myla blinks her eyes a number of times, trying not to believe this lady just said that to her.

“Jessie, I respect you, but right now you're intruding and that's offensive. I understand what you went through, but it doesn't work that way everywhere.”

“I know my husband. He's a good man, and deserves my subjections. Even so, that doesn't mean he'd be so mean to stop me from archiving my goals, because they are his, too. We talked about this before marriage and he agreed to it. Why will he change his mind, now?”

Jessie raises her hands in a surrender.

“My bad. I must've been carried away by my past, trying to be caring, that's all.”

Myla sighs, digging with her fork into the cheese on her plate.

“Nevermind. Not to forget, my husband will be holding a party against the ending of the week. You have my invitation.”

Jessie smiles pleasantly. “Thank you. Though my schedule will catch me up, but I'd try to make time.”

“No problem. Take it easy.”

“I can't believe I've eating this far without giving my compliment. This is one delicious meal, some classy restaurants can't serve their clients.”

“I'm flattered.”

“I mean it. You cook so well.”

“Thanks, Jessie. I appreciate.”

To be continued...