Chapter 55

When Susan simply laughed, Anne disappeared again. When she was gone, Susan took her phone and slid into her WhatsApp. She had been busy selecting pictures and typing a short message to send to someone before Anne's knock had interrupted her. But now that Anne was busy in the kitchen, she took her phone, selected the pictures she had taken last night and sent them to the WhatsApp contact she had selected, then she smiled sinisterly and focused on the TV as she began to imagine how effective what she had just done would be on the recipient.

At the club, Violet was in the busy makeup room, seated before her mirror, minding her business and applying her makeup. Then she paused when her phone released a message notification sound. She had to be on stage in the next ten minutes and she wanted to look her best as usual. 

Thinking that it was probably another SMS from Stephen, she picked up her phone, unlocked it with her pattern and discovered that it was a WhatsApp chat from a strange number. Sliding into WhatsApp, she realized that ten pictures which had been sent to her had automatically downloaded. As she began to view the pictures, her eyes widened in shock then narrowed in anger, disgust and jealousy as she went through each nasty image of Stephen and Susan. 

The pictures contained dirty images of Susan's private part with Stephen's dick lodged deep within her, Susan's breasts on Stephen's face who had his eyes closed, Stephen's dick trapped in between Susan's boobs, Susan sucking Stephen's dick and so many other dirty postures between both of them. Violet began to breathe hard. She was furious. As she scrolled to the bottom, she saw a message from Susan, saying:

"Do you like what you see? Oh, of course, you don't! It irritates you greatly, doesn't it? I am only showing you all these to let you know that I'm in charge and can do whatever I want with him. Thank you for taking good care of him, but girl, this dick is so good that you'll never get it. Never! You are history! He doesn't even think of you once he's fucking me! If he's still calling you, it's only because he feels guilty, nothing more. Don't be fooled, he doesn't love you. I've always been the one for him and even if you succeed in fucking him, all he'll ever see is my face and all he'll ever moan is my name. So, stripper, look elsewhere because this man is taken and will always be mine! And so that you know, do not tarry in hope that he will come for you, because I'm here to stay!

P.S.: So you know, if you dare post these on social media to humiliate me, I'll make sure you pay for it even though it's the last thing I do. You know that I've the connection, so I'll advise you be a smart girl and not do anything stupid! Tata!"

Violet clenched her fist around her makeup brush and her other fist around the phone while she ground her jaw in anger. She would have squeezed her phone so hard and made it explode if she could but she was not that powerful. Dropping her brush on the table, she typed just two words:

"Enjoy bitch!"

Then she rushed her makeup, put on her mask, got up and stalked out of the makeup room with the curious eyes of the other strippers following her. 

When Susan read Violet's reply, she threw her head back and laughed out loud.

"What's so funny?" Anne asked from the kitchen.

"Nothing jare! It's just this movie!" Susan answered, feeling proud and satisfied with what she had just done.

                                                                                      ★★★

The next night, as Violet stood in a dark corner, smoking while she waited to get on the stage immediately after the Stripper who was using the stage was done with her performance when she heard a near-familiar voice beside her.

"So, it's true, you are indeed a stripper."

Violet turned her head sharply and her eyes narrowed in displeasure when she saw Susan. "You!" She hissed.

"Yes, me." Susan smirked. "Hello!"

"What are you doing here?" Violet asked tersely.

"Oh, I came to see you." Susan said as her eyes swept the club. "And I also came to confirm something too. And not only have I confirmed that you are indeed a stripper like I heard, you also smoke! How wonderful!" Susan said in sarcasm.

Violet turned to face her then blew a cloud of smoke right into her face. "You can choke on that!" She said as Susan began to cough and desperately fan the lingering smoke in front of her face away until it dissipated.

"I'm not here to show off or tick you off, even though I enjoy doing so. I'm simply here to tell you in person to back off!" Susan said when she could clearly breathe again.

"So, your annoying messages and dirty pictures weren't enough, uh? You had to bring your obnoxious ass down here too to make your point clearer! Touché!"

"I just wanted to make things clear between us, Violet. Let's picture this scenario that I'm a landlady who simply went astray for a few months and you were just a caretaker taking care of my house while I was away, but now that I'm back, I'll like to let you know that Stephen will always be mine as long as he still feels anything towards me!"

"Point taken but what baffles me is if you are so certain of that, why go through all this stress?" Violet asked with a smirk. "Insecure much? Well, if it's any consolation, I don't need Stephen, so you can keep him for all I care! I'd also advise that you leave, I need a clear head for my job!"

"You do enjoy stripping, don't you?" Susan asked as she watched the performing stripper on stage.

"I don't see how that's any of your business!" Violet retorted, threw the cigarette to the floor and crushed it with the sole of her heel shoe as her name was announced. "I've got a job to do and I'm good at what I do, so buzz off! You just might get jealous of my relationship with the pole too."

"Shameful, isn't it? To have to sell your body to the view of all these men!"

"I'd rather do that than leave a man on the altar, so you can drop dead for all I care!" Then she turned to squarely face Susan, eyeball to eyeball. "Now, listen up bitch, I want you gone before I finish my first round or I might just pound you into the floor!" Violet threatened. "You can call my bluff and tarry if you want to."

"Oh, you don't have to worry, I'll leave quite alright. This place is not my kind of place anyway and I might get nauseated if I linger a minute more." She said haughtily and Violet ignored her, slipped on her mask and went up to the stage. 

As Susan turned and walked out of the club, she bumped into Jerry and they paused, stepping back to give each other surprised looks.

"Susan?" Jerry uttered.

"Jerry." Susan said, giving him a sly smile. "Just the very last person that I expected to see..."

"You visit here too?" He asked.

"No, It's my first time actually... What are you doing here? Does your fiancée know that you patronize such a place?" Susan asked with a sly glint in her eyes.

"I'm not here to patronize their services, Susan, I'm simply here to see someone, so don't go getting any ideas in that head of yours." Jerry stated calmly.

"And I think I know just who that might be."

"Right..." Jerry murmured.

"Anyway, I've to run now, but keep this in mind, I intend to even a score with you, Jerry. So, I'll watch my back if I were you." She said as she walked past him.

He turned partially to follow her with his gaze. "What's that supposed to mean?" Jerry asked, puzzled.

"You'll find out when the time is right! Tata!" She fluttered her fingers at him and hurried away.

Jerry watched her get into a cab then he shook his head and walked into the busy club. When he walked further into it, he found Violet on stage, pole-dancing, and when she sighted him, she fixed her gaze on him all through as if she was specially dancing for him and he had to fold his arms and watch her as he waited for her to finish her performance.

When she was done, she got off the stage and approached him. "That was a beautiful performance." He commended in a loud voice above the blaring music.

"Why are you here?" Violet tersely asked Jerry as she made her way to the bar now to quench her thirst.

"Well, you sound cold to me, is something wrong?" Jerry asked in surprise as he followed her to the bar.

"That doesn't answer my question, Jerry, what do you want?!" She reached the bar and ordered for a drink now.

"I've been calling your phone for days but you refused to take my calls, what's wrong?" He stood beside her, facing her sideways

"Nothing! I just don't wanna speak with you, that’s why! I'm forever shutting that part of my life that I had with Stephen up! So, no offense!" She took a long drink from her bottle.

"Me included?"

"Everyone. No exceptions!" She stated.

"Are you kidding? Why are you punishing me for what I had no hand in?"

"It doesn't matter, Jerry. My seeing you will only remind of Stephen and especially that bitch, Susan!"

"Susan? What do you mean?" Jerry asked, puzzled.

"She has been taunting me."

"I saw her leaving the club a few minutes ago. Was she here to see you?" Jerry asked.

"Yes." She replied.

"What for?"

"What else? To remind me to stay clear of Stephen of course."

"Now, I get it. I knew that bitch was up to no good!" Jerry said.

Violet chuckled. "At least we agree on two things- that Stephen is a complete ass, and his girlfriend is a bitch! So, why are you here?"

"Erm... I actually have a message for you, Violet." Jerry replied.

"If it's from Stephen, I don't wanna hear it!" She quickly warned.

"No, it's from his father."

Violet's brow drew together in surprise and confusion. "His father?" 

"Yes."

"What's going on?"

"He wants to see you... Wait, that's actually an understatement. Stephen's father wants you to come to the house in preparation for his thirty-fourth wedding anniversary with his wife."

"Why? I don't even know him."

"Neither does he know you too." Jerry stated.

"Then why would Stephen's father want a total stranger in his house?"

"Well, he is a very strict and loving man and he sees just beyond what other people see. He has personally asked me to invite you to his anniversary, and we all will be traveling over to the house in three days’ time. It's a big house and will be filled with relatives, friends and loved ones. Trust me, it's usually fun."

"And how am I sure that this is not a setup?! How do I know that Stephen did not connive with his father to ask you to do this?!

"I don't think so, Violet... Stephen doesn't even know about this."

Violet gave Jerry a skeptical look for a moment as she considered his invitation then she said, "I'm not coming."

"Why?" Jerry asked in surprise.

"I don't know what this is all about but my guts isn't comfortable with it and when my gut isn't comfortable about something then I don't trust it."

"You have to believe that I'm not trying to set you up, Violet. If anything, you should trust me."

"I do trust you, Jerry. What I don't trust is why Stephen's father would ask you to invite a total stranger to his house. Who does that?"

"Violet, I wish that I can answer your question but I'm also left in the dark about what this all about and I don't know what to think of it too."

"Jerry, I still can't come. If I oblige the invitation, Stephen would still think that I love him, and that bitch will try to rub every single thing in my face, not to mention that if I stay a day anywhere near Stephen, I'd go crazy too. Do you know how hurt I'd feel having to see him every day for two weeks around that Susan? I might just lose it and do something nasty to her because she has really been begging for it."

Jerry smiled. "Honestly, I'll like to see you beat her ass, but if you are going to do that, you'll have to be there."

"I'm sorry, Jerry. I really can't." Violet finished her drink and placed the bottle on the counter. She looked puzzled and nervous

Jerry searched her eyes for a moment and asked, "You don't really mean it, do you?"

"Yes, I really do mean it, Jerry! I just can't." She said firmly, looking away.

Jerry sighed now. "Not that I thought convincing you would be that easy but I didn't expect you to turn me down...but all the same, no hard feelings. Just in case you change your mind, we'll be converging at Stephen's block on Friday evening to move. But if you miss us and still decide to meet us at his parents' house, I'll send the address to your phone once I leave this place."

"I don't think that will be necessary, Jerry. I'm not going to change my mind." Violet resolutely said.

"Okay then...thanks for the time, Violet... And as for Stephen, I really think he still deserves a second chance. You might not know it, but he does love you." Jerry said, leaned forward, kissed her on the cheek and left while she remained at the bar and watched him go.

Unconvinced, Violet murmured to herself as she fully turned to the bar and ordered another drink. "If he did, he won't still be screwing his ex." 

                                                                                     ★★★

The next afternoon, Susan was dancing in the apartment to very loud music when someone knocked. At first, she didn't hear the first and second knocks, but when the person impatiently pounded on the door a third time, she stopped dancing, angrily stalked to the door, yanked it open and barked:

"WHAT??!!!"

Esther flinched at Susan's furious tone then quickly collected herself and stared at Susan in surprise. "Aunty Susan, na you?"

"Who else does it look like?! Why were you pounding on my door like an animal?!"

"Abeg, no vex (Please, don’t be upset). I wanted to inform you about something. Please where's aunty Violet, I've not seen her for three days now." Esther asked, trying to peep into the apartment.

"She doesn't stay here anymore!" Susan hissed.

"Ha! Na wetin happen? How come she pack commot like that and she no even tell me bye-bye? (What happened? Why did she even leave like that without bidding me goodbye?)"

Susan swept a haughty look over Esther. "Are you asking me?" Then she scoffed, shaking her head. "So that thing became friends with someone like you! Why am I even surprised, after all, birds of same feathers flock together. Do you even know how you smell?! You smell of pap, urine, baby puke and wretchedness!"