Chapter 33

Pat came back to an empty and lonely house after a well spent time with Nelly, she tried calling Olivia but her number was busy, she decided to wait for while before trying again. She dropped her bag on the table in the sitting room and lay on the couch. She had a lot to think about and execute. Things were not really moving at the pace she wanted it, but she wasn't blaming anyone, if only Nelly would slow down, and try being patient. They had discussed this while at the hotel and it brought a lot of argument, even though it was resolved. As she lay there, her mind keep moving from Mike to Olivia. She was so engrossed in her thought, coupled with the tiredness, that she slept off. In her dream, she saw herself at a church dressed in a wedding gown, looking beautiful. She was matching in with lots of beautiful ladies but could only recognize Olivia. The entire building was filled with a lot of people and they were all clapping and cheering her.  When she got to the alter, the man that stood beside her was Mike, while the priest was a woman. She was surprised when at the point when the priest said they should kiss, Nelly appeared from nowhere and shot at her, she watched the bullet coming directly to her forehead without moving. Suddenly, Olivia pushed her down and the bullet passed. She woke up in fear, not knowing what would prompt such dream. As she wasn't such a religious person, she felt it was just one of those nightmares. Her phone rang, she took it, Olivia was calling. She greeted her and told her she was back home. Olivia did not say much but promised her she would be on her way. She wouldn't know when Mike would come back, so she was to use the opportunity to discuss and record. Pat took her bag after the call and walked into the room, where she continued her sleep.

Miras reaction when she heard the name was indifferent initially, she looked around to see whom it was that Mike was shouting for. She sat there lost as to why he was smiling and walking towards her. Suddenly, he realized the indifference, he paused, meanwhile Brains had initiated introduction.

Mike, meet Olivia, I have told you about her; Olivia Mike my friend.

Mike couldn't move, not even a hair on his head was able to move. He was imagining how two different person's would look the same and answer the same name. He tried his best and shrugged it off a bit to avoid embarrassment. Mira was the first to welcome him while he responded coldly. It didn't take quite long that Mira excused them and left. Mike being a little bit relaxed, wanted letting Brains know the state of confusing he was, but how would he prove it, he wasn't with any of Olivia's picture. Mike and Brains had a lot of discussion especially on how he saw Paris. Brains also asked if he was able to reach Lucy. Mike carefully avoided the question and they carried on with other issues. 

Mira got home to rest, she was not happy the way things were going. She had thought it was just infatuation, but it was becoming obvious she was in love with Brains. She wouldn't stay an hour without his thought in her mind. Her love for him was growing fast, but the reciprocating was tilting towards the name Olivia than herself as a person. Yes the semblance was 99.999, but the character wasn't same. All she wanted was for him to love her person, the name would be sorted out. How she would do that was yet to be planned. She thought of Lucy, she had become a regular in the hospital, she was even known as his girlfriend. That wasn't much a threat, she could handle her without difficulty. All she needed was to shower him with love and probably win his love for her person, not the name. She recalled what happened at the hospital, everyone calls her Olivia, she saw the conviction on Mike's eye, he seemed so sure of Olivia that if not for her little drama... Wait a minute she thought..  she was about to solve a puzzle. Brains was in love with Olivia, he met Mira and felt she was Olivia. Mike might also have found himself in the same position. ... What a conflicting scene. She had made up her mind and she would stand by it.

Olivia got the house, she met Pat in the kitchen, she was preparing something to eat. She looked worried as her face wasn't bright. Olivia could only think of one thing, the marriage plans and the fact that she hadn't pulled out of her marriage. She suddenly felt she was the one at fault for not moving fast so that she would move on. Pat welcomed her and told her to go change and come help her as she prepares a meal for them. She was making a fish soup, a cat fish she bought on her way back home. Olivia went in and changed to something casual, she came back to the kitchen. Meanwhile she had already placed her phone on recording, awaiting when she would initiate the discussion so she would tap on the start button. She would have loved to do that in the kitchen but on a second thought, she decided to wait till they get to the dinning. They talked much on general issues and finally they were done cooking. Pat served them the meal and they took them to the dinning. The first few minutes was quiet, before Olivia calmly asked her the question. Pat explained in details every step of the plan and answered all questions asked, she did so innocently without an iota of doubt that there might be something fishy. Done with the recording, she tapped the stop button, quietly kept the phone on the table. She was happy now and was ready to proceed without fear of blackmail.

Chase told Alicia not to go back to the Hotel, she was to locate a busy bar in town. Alicia nodded and made a U-turn at the round about, she then negotiated to the right, entering the next street which led to Paris Club. She drove slowly with her eyes searching for a space within the numerous cars that were parked everywhere. The club was always lively in the evenings and it continues till early hours of the mornings. She was able to spot a car that was on reverse, it was leaving the parking space it occupied. She waited behind a little allowing it to drive off, then she eased the Peugeot into the space. She turned off the ignition and they came down. The place was beautiful, cars were well parked in line the marked spaces. The bar was an open one with raffia huts. It was facing a major street on one side while the other faced the water front, making the environment cool. Alicia and Chase were able to locate an empty table where they sat down. Chase took his time to watch around, he saw some men sitting with ladies at some tables, some ladies standing almost half naked at the back entrance. There were other ladies sitting at some tables alone. The waiter came and took their order, and in feww minutes brought them. Chase demanded for Heineken while Alicia asked for Guinness stout. They drank and discussed. It wasn't long that they finished the first bottle, the waiter was called for the second bottle. As they drank, Chase noticed a young man that was arguing with a lady near a Range Rover sport. He was tall and huge, dark in complexion. His gestures seemed intimidating as Chase would notice. Suddenly he saw the guy slap the lady. He excused himself from Alicia and was walking down to the spot when the guy opened the Range Rover back door and entered. That was when Chase noticed the car was on while the driver was sitted. As soon as the guy shut the door, the car moved. Chase was already so close to the spot, he wanted to turn back, but hesitated. He went to the young girl, brought out a clean white handkerchief and handed itbover to her. Already the lady was crying, she took the handkerchief and wiped her eyes. Chase talked her into joining him at their table and without much pressure, she accepted and walked down to the table. He introduced her as a friend and told her Alicia was his colleague. The waiter was called to bring her a drink, while they talked. Chase asked her what happened between her and the guy that slapped her. She told him her name was Brenda, and that the young man was... She paused and looked around; Chase noticed she was being careful and asked her to stop talking. He had noticed two other guys and a lady sitting close by and suspected they might be spys. He gave a sign to Alicia and she excused herself. He then asked Brenda to spend the night with him. Brenda's eye was thrown wide open, as she heard that. Chase asked what it would cost him to enjoy her company, she told him and they negotiated, arrived at a price and sealed the deal. Little did Brenda know Chase was more interested in information than her body. They finished their drinks, Chase paid and the three waked down to the car. Alicia did not take time to arrive the hotel, she left them and went straight to room. Chase took Brenda  to his room, had her take her shower and relax, he then called the bar and they brought the drink she wanted. They drank and discussed, then he asked her to tell him what she was avoiding to say at the club. Brenda told him not to be too fast, she made him understand that the guy he saw slap her, was the most dangerous guy in the city and everyone feared him. He would make anyone disappear at a snipe of his finger. She was being careful as he was always after her and had threatened to make life unbearable for her and anyone around her. She accepted to follow him because she saw she could use Alicia as an alibi. Chase was more interested in the guys name, and the stories were becoming too long, he went straight to the question.

What's his name?

Tim she responded

Chase shifted from his seat and came close to her. He felt he was dreaming. He only needed to hear her pronounce the other name, but he had to hold himself together.

Tim what, does he have any other name? He asked

Yes he has Tim...Tim eh ehm Moore

Chase stopped the questions and cleverly diverted to pretensive love story, praising her beauty and encouraging her not to fear. He finally excused himself and went to see Alicia. He got to Alicia's room and told her everything. Alicia marvelled at the story. What a stroke of luck she thought. She then asked him what the next line of action would be, Mike told her he would date the girl until he found out details of Tim and possibly whom he was working for. Alicia told him the need for them to be careful even as she accepted to play her role as a sister and a friend to Brenda. She was to be seen more with her than Chase. Chase moved back to his room. Brenda's mind was all made up to sleep with Chase and get her money, the love topic he was preaching was not what she needed to hear. She had heard so much love talk from men since she went into this business. The same love Tim was preaching and even threatening, what she did not know was that Chase had no plan of sleeping with her. She had already changed into something sexy and seductive, and lay on the bed. Chase came in, brought out some money , counted out the amount they agreed and paid her. He told her he only loved her and wants her company. She was shoked, but she thanked him and his the money in her underpants. She then lay down and slept off. Chase watched her for sometime, then took a pillow and blanket which he spread on the floor and lay down. He thought of the best possible way to go about this, he must plan and strategically handle this so as not to put Brandas life in danger. Such men as Tim could do anything including kill to have their way. He knew he would be safe,.Alicia wouldn't be a problem but Brenda needed to be protected all through. He tried all night thinking out plans that could work for him, this took him time as it was so late in the night before he slept off. 

Mike left the hospital late that evening back to the Hotel, where Lucy was waiting eagerly. She had been bordered that he was not back yet. Her fear was that he may have found out about her and Brains. She heard the knock on the door and opened, Mike stepped in with tiredness written all over him. He had been calling Olivia and she was not picking, that had made things worse for him. He sat down on the bed with face that looked worried. Lucy went close to him, held him by his shoulder and asked what the trouble was. Mike told her he was feeling headache and needed rest. He lay on the bed the way he came in, his mind was on Olivia. His phone rang, he took it and picked the call, Olivia was on the line, she apologized for not picking his call. Mike accepted her apologies, one thing is certain, His Olivia was still in Africa and that made him more relaxed. But he would love to know if she was a twin, the semblance was much that there is a maximum chance that she might be twin. It was not a topic to discuss on phone so he let it be. He would find out all he needed once he gets back to Africa, including the Gold platinum card. He looked at Lucy who was now sober, he asked her if she would love to have a drink, she nodded and he called the bar for a bottle of scotch. While waiting, they discussed at length on his visit to his friend, although he did not tell her the side that made him moody, he only told her he was doing fine. She knew he was hiding something but she never bordered, she was not there for relationship, she was there for the money. The waiter brought their drink and they took to their fill and slept.