Heart Break

Vanessa ordered more drink, wishing she could stop remembering.

She wanted to wipe off all memories. All memories of him.

Everything they had both done, everything they did that she remembered was an evidence that he had a place in her heart. In her life.

And she wanted to show him, to prove that she was not what or whom he thought her as.

She would show him.

After finishing another glass of her drink, she began to feel better.

Dickson, the bartender, came and sat beside her, "Vee babe, why are you drinking so much like this, too much sugar isn't good for you".

Vanessa did not want to answer his question, instead, she fixed him a glare.

" I've told you to stop calling me that".

"Awwn, c'mon, I know you like the name, besides it's not that bad, compared to what you are doing right now."

"There's a reason for everything."

"What's your reason?"

"Well...." Vanessa's explanation was cut short when two guys entered the bar.

"Who here is Vanessa Richards?"

Vanessa's head shot up, but before she could reply, Dickson asked,

"Why are you looking for her?"

"That is none of your business, where is she?"

"I'm the Vanessa you are looking for, what do you want from me?"

One of the guys answered "Boss said we should bring you to him".

"Ummm, who is 'Boss'?"

They gave her looks that said what 'kind of stupid question is that?'

"Raymond Elvis"

She sneered, Go and tell your 'boss' that I don't have any, ANY thing to do with him".

"Sorry miss, but our orders were to bring you to him, whether you like it or not".

"And I said I am going no where".

The first thug turned to the second, "call him".

The second guy brought out a phone, dialed a number, and put the phone on speaker. Meanwhile, Vanessa was seething with rage. The person on the other end picked up the call.

"Vanessa darling",

" I am not your darling, what do you want?"

Raymond chuckled, As furious as ever, well babe..."

"Don't call me babe".

He sighed on the other end, "Vanessa, I'm sorry".

"Of course, you are, the same way you've felt sorry the last six times".

"It was a mistake".

"No, you are a mistake, WE should never have happened".

"What do you mean, Vanessa, are you calling it off?"

This time, it was Vanessa's turn to chuckle.

"Guy, it has been off since the day I saw you making out with Leila, or whatever you call her".

Raymond sounded exasperated, "Vanessa please", on the other end, Vanessa heard muffled sounds, and Raymond, removing the phone from his ear, replied, "shut up, can't you see what I'm trying to do?'

"Raymond, who is that?"

Oh, no one". Guilt was etched in Raymond's voice.

"Raymond, who is that?", Vanessa repeated.

He replied, "I said no one," raising his voice a notch higher. She raised an eye brow but did not say anything.

"Well, are you coming or not?"

"No".

"No, what?"

"I'm not coming, I don't want to ever have anything to do with you, and I don't want you to ever call me again".

"Why?"

"Why? Are you asking me 'Why'?"

"Alright, no prob, but at least allow me to pay for your drink."

She looked at her cup, looked at Dickson, before looking back at the phone. "How do you where I am or what I'm doing?"

Raymond did not answer but he cut the call instead. Without saying anything, the two guys dropped six thousand naira on the table where Dickson was and left.

Quickly, he grabbed the money and put it in his trouser pocket and smiled at Vanessa but she rolled her eyes at him.

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

Michael Craine stared at the phone screen for a long long while. What he saw made him furious, but she had made herself clear this time. Sitting down in his officer, he wondered if he should call her but decided against it. He did not want to worsen the situation, as bad as it was. Pressing the intercom, he called his P.A

"Laura, I need you to do something for me".

"Yes Sir, I'll be right there now".

Twenty seconds later, a tall, fair brunette entered his office, "Sir, you called for me".

"Yeah, uhm, I want you to carry out a background check on someone for me".

"Okay sir".

"Here is the information", he handed a piece of paper to her.

"Sir, is there any other thing you need?"

"No, that would be all for now , thanks".

"You're welcome sir".

After Laura left, Michael sighed into his hands. He had noticed what Laura as trying to do. But he really did not have time for that. Well, he never ever had time for that. But still, the twenty two year old lady never gave up.

Still, he had to admit that he was not actually looking bad. At twenty four he was already a CEO of Craine Enterprises.

He had been dealing with Laura for as long as he could recall. She always wore skimpy clothes to wok. Now she was wearing a short tight black skirt with a strapless top. It could be called nothing but strapless. Putting the image of her in his head aside, he got back to work. He had two more appointments for that day and it was already 1:35pm.

Vanessa cursed as she dropped the hot pot of rice. Since she woke up that morning,everything had been going wrong.

First, she had woken up late that morning. She was to resume at work by 8:00am but woken up around 10:41am, with headache due to the excess amount of wine she had drunk the previous evening. She then noticed that few amount of her money was missing but she had no idea how. And now this.

Burnt rice.

At least she did not die in her sleep. After managing to salvage little of the rice hat wasn't burnt, she decided to clean the mess she had made of her room. After an hour or so, she noticed that her phone was ringing. On checking who the caller was, she saw that it was her best friend, Trey.

She answered, "Yes?"

"Well, good afternoon to you too".

"Sorry, afternoon, how are you?"

"Great, and you?"

"I'm fine".

"Are you at home?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I'll be right right over," and he hung up.

Vanessa sighed into her hands.

Fate was a bitch sometimes.

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

At the knock on the door, Vanessa practically flew to the door. She opened the door and threw herself on Trey.

"Whoa , Whoa, whoa, cool down babe".

"Hi, sorry, how're you doing?"

"I'm good" He let her down, making sure her front brushed his. Vanessa noticed this and frowned.

"What?" he asked her.

"Nothing".

"What?" he asked sarcastically, "won't you let me come in again?"

Vanessa blushed, "oh, sorry come in".

He smiled, "You look cute today".

"Really? She asked dryly.

"Yeah, don't get me wrong babe, you always look cute, but you REALLY look cute today. What deodorant do you use?"

Vanessa gave him a look of mock horror, "are you serious?"

Trey did not reply but only smiled. "Do you have plans today?"

"No, why?"

"What of Raymond?" He said the name with reluctance.

Vanessa sighed. "He's history".

Interested in the details, he asked "What do you mean?"

"Please don't bother, I don't want to go there".

Trey closed the door and locked it, he then faced her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Babe, don't tell me not to bother, I'm your bestie, you should be able to confide in me. Now", he said in a commanding tone, " sit down and tell me what happened. Tea?"

Unable to respond, she nodded.

He set about putting a kettle of water on the gas in the kitchen, while Vanessa sat, watching him.

"You fit in the kitchen".

"Hmm?"

"I said you fit in the kitchen".

He smiled wistfully at her, "I'll take that as a compliment".

"whatever".

Trey poured the hot water in Tea cups, put a bag of Lipton in each cup and gave one to Vanessa.

"Thanks". She put in two cubes of sugar and three teaspoons of milk, stirred it and rested back on the couch.

"You're welcome. So, story time".

"This isn't funny Trey".

"I know , I know, I'm sorry, continue".

Okay, well two weeks ago, Raymond sent me a Text. By Mistake".

"How do you know that it was by mistake?"

"Cool down mister. Well, the message read that he couldn't wait till Wednesday, to take me to Hillux Hotel. But we had made no such arrangement. I did not reply but I started suspecting that He was cheating on me. Then that Wednesday, I went very early to see him in his apartment but met him with Leila. They were in the kitchen making out. I accosted him and he said that they had been seeing each other for the past three months. Then last week , He sent two guys to me, telling me to meet up with him, apologizing for what he did, calling it a MISTAKE!!!"

She took deep breaths and continued.

"And the Imbecile was stalking me, can you believe that?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, He was like 'at least allow me to pay for your drink'. But he wasn't there with me, he was talking on the phone. And how did those guys find out where I was?"

"Well, you've got a point there. So what did you tell him?"

"What do you think I told him? I told him that I don't ever want to have anything to do with him, and he shouldn't call me again".

"Has he?"

"Has he what?"

"Called you again?"

"No, but he has tried texting me. But I did not reply any of his message".

"That's good, really good".

"Are you relieved for me?"

He doesn't deserve you".

Vanessa noticed that he dodged her question.

"I don't think I even deserve anyone".

"What makes you think that?"

" I mean, apart from Raymond, what other guy have you ever seen even flirting with me?"

Trey squatted in front of her.

"That's because you haven't paid them attention. If only you notice how much they ogle you. I have so many guys to contend with".

Vanessa thought she didn't hear well.

"What ???"

"What?"

"What you just said?" she asked.

"That I have so many guys to contend with?"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, that's true. Look babe, you're smart, beautiful, cheerful, everything in one package. Or do you think I would sit down and pretend that I don't have feelings for you or just be your best friend till we both grow old and grey? I can't do that Vee".

Vanessa could only stare at him.

"Why don't I give you time to thinks about it, hmm?"

She nodded.

"So", he stood up, "what would you like to eat?"

She shook her head.

"Nuh uh, not when I'm around. Pasta?"

Vanessa shrugged, "whatever you want".

" I don't like that answer".

"Yes, Yes, Yes, please".

"Alright, Pasta coming up".