Part eighteen

Monae's POV

Kicking a pebble beside my left foot, I crushed the small pile of the leaves that had been parched from severe exposure to sunlight with my black Nike Vapormax runner shoes.

In doing so, I felt the sun burn on me. Particularly the side of my face that was facing the sky. The sun is shining unusually bright and intense today, it's hard to decipher if it's morning or afternoon and I desperately want to get out these sweaty clothes I'm suffocating myself in, the sun isn't doing anything to help matters.

"I wonder what the time is."  I say to no one in particular and take a big gulp of the bottle water in my hands that was finished. I just drank it's last content and walked over to the dustbin on the side of the street pavement in our estate.

My phone rang when I made an attempt to toss the empty plastic bottle in the bin. I paused and fished it out of my tank top pocket, among granola bar wrappers which I should even dispose off but that will be after I check who's calling.

"Hey Rox."

"Where are you girls?"

"In the estate and not too far from home."

"Good, you two should come back home right this minute."

"Is something wrong?"

"No my dear and come back quick, I'll hang up now."

She hanged up before I could probe further. Her voice wasn't panicky over the phone, neither did she sound over excited if it wasn't anything bad like she told me.

I had a hunch it was something that involved either Imo or myself and that was why she didn't want to say it. Maybe she wanted to surprise us or something. I don't know, but whatever is, Roxie has successfully managed to arouse my desire to know and even more since she doesn't have a reputation to be laconic.

I had my eyes glued on my phone like it was going to give me answers to my thoughts and didn't hear Imo spring from behind me till  I felt a tap on my shoulder.

I jerked back in fright and turned around to see who it was, only to realize it was her. I let out a relieved breath, placing my hand on my chest and rolled my eyes. "Gosh, you scared me."

I didn't see that coming, she was across the street, talking with her friend who happens to be new around here and wasn't expecting her to suddenly come behind me when she should have rather, in front of me.

It is Saturday, I was in bed and sleeping obviously when Imo came to mine and woke me up from bed after sprinkling droplets of water on my face. Can you imagine that? You can picture the look of exasperation on my face, waking up to that.

That wasn't even the worst part, Imo was unapologetic she had ruined my sleep and only giggled when I was groaning in bed. She really can be annoying sometimes but I love her, anyway.

So, that's how come, I ditched my sleep at 5am to join this silly sister of mine to go for a run and exercise when we could have used the gym at home.

We were on our way back after having a good time under the pretext of running when Imo met her friend. I had to excuse myself and give them their privacy to talk or rather catch up, they seemed to have a lot to.

I didn't see her since my head was lowered and staring at my phone for me to know she was done till she creeped me out just now.

"Who was that?"

"Roxie, she wants us home."

"What does she want?"

I shrugged my shoulders. That was what I was trying to figure out silly. "I'm as clueless as you." I answered her, putting phone back in my pocket and removed all the wrappers.

I threw them in the bin and faced Imo. She had also pulled out her phone and wasn't looking at me, her lips closed and parted like she was smacking her lips after applying lip gloss as she typed on her phone in concentration.

It must be work related, I thought to myself. I also had this desire to pull out my phone as well, to continue my search on that cute dude who got me drooling over him when he over to visit daddy two days ago.

He was very cute or should I say ravishing? I don't know which to choose because honestly, he fits every adjective out there that describes a perfectly sculptured human being, I mean handsome.

Michele, that's his name and I learnt from dad after I had told him, Krupp is his surname. Mr Michele Krupp's cute visage has invaded my mind without him knowing. His face is imprinted in my memory, like a stamp to a letter.

I had tried without success to search him up on social media. My search came up with different accounts of people bearing his name but weren't him. If it wasn't for daddy knowing him, I would have said that guy issa ghost or an immortal who decided to visit me and scatter my senses away.

Yeah, that's what is happening to me. I found myself drawn to him, he's mostly on my mind and I can say I've thought more about him than I have anything else since last Thursday.

For an odd reason, I want to get to know him more. I don't know but there's something about him, something that makes me feel we've already met before he came over to ours. Hard as I try, I can't figure if it is true or it's just my illusion because I'm curious to.....

"Nae! Did you just space out."

I shook my head in response and fell quiet.

"You said Roxie wanted us home didn't you?"

"I did." I replied and placed my hand on her shoulder. I opened my mouth to speak but kept quiet, she looked at me curiously and with a pouty lip. I stifled a laughter by placing by covering my mouth seeing her, Imo can be so inquisitive for her own good sometimes.

I had nothing to say too, I think I wanted to mess with her. She swatted my hand away from her shoulder and rolled her eyes playfully. "Be serious Nae, c'mon tell me what you thinking."

"Okayyy, lets race each other from here till home." I suddenly came up with that idea, we came out for a run and it wouldn't be bad if we ended with a run besides, we didn't run much. Our time out was more of sightseeing than exercising.

Imo smiled, liking the idea. "What does the winner get?"

"The loser becomes the winner's puppet, she does whatever the winner wants."

"I'm up for it." She gave me a thumbs up and got ready to sprint had I not held her hand, drawing her back. We both gotta be equal if this was going to be fair.

"Leggo!" After making sure we both were ready, I yelled and broke into a run the same time she did.

Imo was taking the lead with just a small margin between us, that was only because she was lighter than I was.

What started out as fun soon become a competition, Imo and I wanted to win so badly. I managed to by pass her and turned my back to stick my tongue out at her childishly.

That was something I shouldn't have done. I shouldn't have turned back to look at her, Imo's expression changed from amusement to that of shock and panic.

I was confused initially, I thought she might have seen something but when I turned to look in her line of vision, I panicked myself.

Speeding towards me was a car, terror washed through me and I stopped in my tracks, the feeling had rendered me numb and clouded my senses. I couldn't help but scream and shield my face with both hands, waiting for the worst to happen.

For split seconds, I saw my life flash before me and I heard my scream muffled with that of Imo's.

********************************************

Michy's POV

"What the hell!?"

"Boss please come down."

"No, you don't tell me to come down! I gave you a simple job and you couldn't perform it!"

"I'm sorry boss, I tried my best and managed to save her from the car before it it hit her."

"Mnh so where's she now? Did she sustain any injuries?"

"No, I took the fall for her and she's now home. She and Imogen thanked me for saving her life before she took Monae home and  don't worry I followed them closely to make sure nothing else happened to her."

"Good. Uh and one more thing, did you see the face of the man behind the wheel?"

"No but I wish I did. With how everything happened so fast, I couldn't see and from what I saw before the attempted hit and run, the glasses are tinted."

"Mnh okay, we will talk more later, I still have some questions to ask but for now, go and tighten the security and your watch on her. After what happened, I'm sure those behind it won't rest if she's who they want."

"Alright boss, I'll give you updates later." I brought the phone away from my ear and pressed the end button, hanging up the call.

Taking her earring on my bed, I stared at it closely. I stabbed at it, venting all my anger and hurt on it like it was Monae or that man behind the wheel.

"You're such a silly girl!" I said, stabbing the earring with my index finger. I was pissed at Monae, I thought she knew better. I thought she was wise, why did she have to go out and play chase me on the street meant for cars?

She could have gotten herself killed for God's sake! If it wasn't for the timely intervention of Alex, the new guard I have hired to follow her, she wouldn't be no more.

I would have lost the woman of my dreams just because of her carelessness and silly fantasises. Like who does that? Who plays chase me on the street?  She can be such a child and even children have that common sense not to that.

Just stop! I run my hand through my hair, getting up from the bed. I shouldn't take my anger on her like that, I shouldn't let my anger take the best part of me and insult her. I can't bear that and besides she shouldn't even be the recipient of my anger.

"It should be that man behind the wheel." I thought out loud as I paced back and forth in my room. The man who was so poised to run her over with his car. I feel disgusted, with him, who would want to end the life of someone especially a lady as innocent as Monae who has gone through a lot in life?

I unconsciously ball my fingers into a fist just by thinking of that. Anger and disgust filling my whole being, all I can think about is tracking him down whoever he is. It isn't going to be easy, it is a difficult task putting everything into consideration.

The car glasses were tinted, it was impossible to see his face. Alex didn't look closely at the car because he was saving Monae for him to find something that we can use to search for him.

Think, think, think! You're a great business man because of your great logical skills, apply it here.

Wait. I stopped pacing when an idea hit me. Mr Winchester's is top notch, one of the luxurious ones housing most of the wealthy and affluent here in New York.

The owner of such a prestigious estates will go out of his way to ensure the security of his tenants, plus their wealthy and that is a must. In doing so, he will install security cameras and other devices in every corner of the estate, the place where the failed hit and run was going to be is no exception.

And if I want to track him down and make him pay for what he wanted to do, I need to get the footages of all the security cameras at all the vantage points. I'm positive there's going to be something we can use, hopefully, I wish they have a record of his number plate. It is going to be easier to find him with that.

"Yes!"