Chapter 5

Roberto couldn't contain his anger at Lucia. He had never been embarrassed before like she did Today. He didn't bother waiting for the rest lectures because his mood was spoilt already and sitting in class would be a total waste of time.

“Serve me some tea!" He yelled at the maid, standing before him.

"Yes sir," the maid said, shivering like a jelly.

Lucia flooded his mind again. He couldn't understand what was going on with him anymore. He couldn't stop thinking of her and of how beautiful she looked. Her ass fitted perfectly on her slender body. Her boobs stood taut on her chest and were round and full. He knew it because he was experienced in things of the sort.

He was called the husbandman and was always changing women like he does to his wardrobe every month and he never went out with a lady more than once before getting into her Honeypot. they tripped for him and made no hesitation in giving him his desire. Though he was a flirt, he went out with only gorgeous Ladies and the luckiest of them gets to meet him quad times before he breaks up with her.

Lucia was different. She gave him no chance to even speak to her and it Infuriated her because now he wasn't flirting. He feels a stir in him every time he lays his eyes on her and he never felt such with other people who were even more beautiful than she is.

"Am I falling in love?" He Asked himself, as he sat in the swiveling chair. The maid brought in a cup of tea and placed it on the small table beside him.

"Is there any other thing sir?" The maid asked with her head bowed in a slight manner.

"You had better gotten your ass out of here," Roberto roared at the maid and watched her scurry out of his presence.

He continued with his brooding, "I can't surely be in love. No, it just isn't possible! I have never fallen for anyone and it won't start with her," he assured himself, nodding continuously.

"Then why are you desperate to be with her. She isn't as pretty as your ex right?" an inner voice asked him with a sarcastic laugh that shook him to the marrow.

"Well, It's just an attempt to get into her," he said to himself, trying to calm the spirit troubling him.

"If that is it, then why were you jealous when you saw her with another person?" The spirit asked again.

This time, he spared it no response and instead, yelled at it. “Get the hell out of me!

The voice stilled and went off without a trace.

"Why were you so saucy to Roberto? He was only trying to be friends with you, Lucia!" Jackson chided her as they strode from the University to their workplace.

"And why shouldn't I be saucy with him? I never said I want to be interested in any rich guy and can't you see he is only flirting with me?" She asked Jackson who was kicking some Peebles on the floor.

"Come on girl, you shouldn't judge him just like that. It might not be the way you are taking it," Jackson said with a blank look.

”Whatever, all I know is that I am not interested in him," she said, frolicking her eyes with indifference.

They got to the cafe where they worked and were surprised to see some police officers speaking to their colleagues.

Lucia's heart skipped a beat as her gaze fell on them. Diverse thoughts ran through her mind.

"What are you going to do, Lucia?" Jackson asked with fright in his eyes.

“I have no idea. What if they recognized that I was the one who killed those officers and is here to get me?" She asked with a mixture of anger and fright.

"I think we should go in first and then if anything happens, we run."

"Alright. Let's do that." Lucia took a deep sigh and then pushed the glass door that led into the shop.

The police walked up to her the moment she stepped in. "We are searching for some people, Jackson and Lucia! Do you perchance know them?" One of the officers asked with a bright smile that kept Lucia's heart at ease.

"Yes, I am Lucia. How may I help you?" She asked as she strolled into the counter.

"There was some murder at the venue of the societal elites yesterday's night after the event had ended. Do you perhaps know or see when this happened?"

Lucia thought for a while, thinking of the best answer she would give to him. "Murder! Oh my goodness! I never heard of any murder! And I wasn't at the place when that happened. I had gone already," she said with a flabbergasted grimace to make her claim more believable.

"Oh, thank you and we appreciate your time. Jackson works here as well, is he here?"

"He's over there," she pointed to the door and watched their eyes follow her eyes.

They walked up to him and engaged him in the same discussion they did with Lucia.

Lucia returned from the staff office where she went to change into her office wear. Jackson was laughing and she didn't understand why. "What's the laughter all about?" She asked as she took over from the staff on duty.

"It's nothing!" He responded with a childish grin that Infuriated Lucia.

"Fuck off!

Lydia had just finished her meeting with the president of the World Bank and was heading to the park where her chauffeur was waiting for her beside the 2021 rolls Royce when a man from nowhere ran and fell at her feet.

"Who are you and what do you want?" She asked as she gave him the devil's eyes.

"I'm sorry ma! It's Mr. Kim. Don't you remember me ma?" The man said with teary eyes.

"Mr. Kim? I'm so sorry but I don't know you and I don't remember hearing the name anytime before now," she responded, twitching her nose gently and then walked away with a devilish smile. She was smiling because she knew she was a good actress and deserves some accolades. It thrilled her and at the same time made her so upset.

This was the man who made her lose over a quarter billion dollars in the last year. She had given him an ultimatum of a year to pay back the money and by the deadline, he hadn't even up to half of it. Now, he was here, canvassing for another contract. It puzzled her how some people sometimes take my silence and calmness for stupidity.

"Let's go!" She said to the chauffeur, who started the car and then drove off before you could say, Jack Robinson.

The car zoomed out of the premises and all of a sudden, the man started to laugh.

His laughter rang in the air as he exchanged high fives with his son.

"Were you able to get the cheque from her bag in the car?" He asked, staring at his son with some great expectations.

"Yes, daddy!" The boy responded with a light giggle that tickled him and made him want to laugh again, but he knew another noise From their end would make the guards suspicious.

"That's good of my son!" He said and stretched his hand to collect the cheque from his son. The boy took out the cheque and his father let out a devilish grin.

The duo jumped up and was making merry at their luck and wise character.

He was the boy who was pleading with Roberto to please help convince his mother to assist them unknown to Roberto that it was a lie and fable he gave them.

The boy had taken himself and hidden under the car while the chauffeur went to get some snacks. He got into the car and was able to get the cheque. Now, he was out and it was all good.

"A hundred million dollars," he giggled with excitement as he was about to receive the cheque from his father.

"I would only give you this on one condition?" The boy said with a devilish smile.

His father frowned at his son's request because he knew he was so greedy. "Twenty percent is twenty out of hundred and I want it immediately before I hand this cheque to you!"

"You surely are kidding me with that word of yours? Twenty percent? We never made such an agreement! Why are you so greedy when you know the purpose the money's going to serve.

"I am not kidding you dad and neither am I joking here. I didn't agree to receive any payment because you never told me the money is as huge as this is. Deal or no deal?" He asked and turned his face to another corner when his father's gaze met with his. It was blackmail.

"Fine! Deal! Would you hand me the cheque now?" The man asked with haste in his voice.

"Come on dad! I'm no fool to believe you just like that. I haven't seen at least half of the fee!"

His father muttered a curse and then fiddled a bit with his phone. "I have sent it already!" He said, sticking the phone in his son's face, and just then did he give him the cheque.

"Asshole!" He muttered and went off.

Roberto sat in the huge living room feeling bored and a little stressed out. He was tired of pressing his phone. A thought swirled past his mind and he loved it. He smiled and then jumped to his feet. He picked up his phone from beside him and then dialed a number, so fast that it marveled the maid standing beside the settee.

"What's up friend, do you still need a stripper at your new club?"

"Yes, why do you ask? Have you anybody interested in it?" The person at the other end asked.

"I might just get someone after all but it would be for one night only!"

"A night! Why do you expect me to hire a stripper who would work for one night only and nothing more? Nah! I don't think that would be possible."

"I would pay you for it! Two thousand dollars!"

"Are you fucking kidding me? You are offering to pay me to hire a stripper you would bring?"

"Yes, and I want you to offer her nothing less than seven hundred dollars. I want you to offer her something she wouldn't be able to refuse."

"Alright boss!" His friend responded and then hung up.

Roberto smiled at himself.

He walked to the door and then signaled to one of the staff who walked up to him with haste.

"You sent for me sir?"

"Yes, I did. Prepare the car for me. I'd be driving somewhere."

"Alright sir, I'd get it done now!" the chauffeur said and left his presence.

He felt ecstatic as he waited. He couldn't wait to exact his revenge on Lucia for humiliating him in front of over three hundred persons. He still gets angry when he remembered it but the anger was at a subdued rate.

Lucia was attending to some customers when the door of the coffee shop opened.

"Welcome to Mark's coffee shop..." She trailed off and her countenance changed.

It was Roberto.

"Hi, Lucia! What's up with you!" He asked as he helped himself into one of the chairs.

A waiter walked up to him, bearing a menu in his hand. He reeked of excitement as he had never imagined that Roberto Avanti would ever show up at his workplace.

"Hello sir, what would you like to have?" He asked.

"I'm sorry but I would love it if I was attended to by Lucia," Roberto said with a smile.

The manager winked at her to express his wish for her to go and meet him. She refused at first but was left with no choice when he continued to stare at her.

"Good afternoon, how may I help you?" She asked with a forced smile.

"Please seat before I make my order," he said, pointing at a chair in front of him.

She obliged him.

"I have a job offer for you, but it's just for a night," he began and watched how she paid no attention to him.

He continued anyway, "you would be working as a stripper for that night and you'd earn almost a thousand dollars."

Her face brightened up when she heard that and instantly, her brain began to way her options. Self-dignity or a thousand dollars?