Chapter 1
Bam Bam hurriedly pulled on her shoes, got down from the car and rushed to the rear to confirm her fears. Her eyes widened as the reality hit her. Yes she was right. The wide dent on her bumper which now dangled on loosely sent shock waves down her spine. She suddenly wished her eyes were deceiving her.
"Wow! That looks bad. I'm very...truly sorry maam."
A deep masculine voice said behind her. Bam Bam turned to meet the gaze of a ruffled middle aged man who looked like he had not slept in days as her brain tried to calculate his net worth.
"You are sorry? You drove into my baby and you are sorry? Are you blind or drunk? What were you thinking?!"
"Baby?" His face mirrored his confusion as he tried to figure out the link between the car and her baby;
"Ehmmm I am Sorry for this. It wasn't intentional. I don't even know how this happened."
He scratched his wild uncombed hair and Bam Bam took a step away from him. A look at his old car which begged for maintenance pushed his status further down the class she had initially placed him.
"Listen, I don't need your sorry. It won't fix my car so just call your mechanic or I call the police!"
"Police? I have never been involved in an accident before. I am very sorry madam."
"I don't care!" Bam Bam shouted at him. The man gave her a weird look and took a step backwards.
"It's only a bumper and it's not like anyone died." He muttered.
"You're joking right? Only a bumper, Do you know how much this car costs? Please don't even try to get me angry."
Her blazing eyes ran over him again. The man was obviously too impoverished to recognise that he had driven into the newest model of a Bentley! Sighing with exasperation she decided to call her PA to come get her. He would have to handle the issue of the car later. Right now she needed to get to her appointment.
"I agree it's my fault but you don't have to yell at me. As for my mechanic I don't think he can fix this type of car."
Kene explained while battling to keep his eyes open. He didn't have to be a luxury car dealer to know he had dented an expensive car being driven by an obviously difficult woman. Going by the way she was eyeing him, he knew a day in jail might be added to his growing list of misfortunes. He sighed
"What did you say to me!"
The woman's high pitched voice jerked him back to reality. Why does she like yelling? Kene asked himself as he glared at her, taking in her sophisticated jewelry, fitted trouser suit and shoes that reeked of prices that would definitely pay his annual rent.
Kene looked around for any oncoming vehicle but none was insight. They were on a deserted road and the evening weather was becoming chilly. Being the peak of the rainy season, he sensed it would rain any minute. You need to find a strong rope; kene commanded his tired body. He turned and slowly walked back to his car which was behind the woman's glistening expensive car.
Bam Bam ignored the man, walked over to the drivers side her car and pulling the door open, grabbed her phone. She tapped the blank screen and sighed when she saw the no network coverage symbol.
Was he leaving? He won't dare!
She dashed off towards him as fast as her heels would allow but stopped when she saw him battling with his car boot. What is he doing now? She asked herself as she watched the ensuing battle, confused.
What in the world! Why was he approaching her with a rope? An alarm went off in her head as she took short steps backwards and away from the man and his rope.
Kene walked past her and stopped behind the Bentley. After a brief pause, he undid the rope and bent down to closely study the damaged bumper.
"Hey! What do you think you are doing?"
BamBam rushed over and tried to grab his hand but he edged away.
"Listen lady, If you don't let me hold that bumper up I will leave you on this lonely road and go home. I don’t have time for this. Let me hold this darn thing up so you can drive your baby to your mechanic..."
“There's no way I'm letting you put th-that thing on my baby! No way!”
A heavy rain drop landed on her nose as lightening flashed.
“Do you have a better idea?"
"Are you in anyway abusing me? You must be very troublesome! You ruined my evening and you are here yelling gibberish at me? If you knew you had no driving skills why did you get both yourself and that rickety car on the road!"
Just then a loud rumble was followed by heavy rain torrents and Bam Bam screamed out. Shielding her hair with her hands, she ran for the safety of her car. She jumped in and closed the door only to hear the passengers door bang shut. She whirled round on her seat and saw the crazy man shaking rain off his shirt inside her car. Bam Bam screamed again. A startled Kene turned towards her;
"Woman you need to stop screaming!"
“You must be insane! Get out of my car!"
"What? In this rain? No way!"
"Get out! Get out this minute! This is all your fault! Go to your car!" Bam Bam pushed and hit him with her handbag.
"You're joking right? My car leaks when it rains so I'm not going anywhere. Besides if you had let me tie up your bumper we would have left this place before the downpour. Now you want to chase me out. Why are you this wicked? Stop hitting me joor!"
"Wicked? So now it's my fault your car leaks? Guess it's also my fault you are a reckless drier who should have his licence withdrawn huh? Just get out of my car! Si na my car rituo this minute! I said get down from my car or I will make sure you are dealt with so mercilessly that you will not forget me in a hurry!"
Kene's mouth dropped open as he turned to stare at the lady beside him. Her command of his local Igbo dialect and the fire in her eyes left him speechless.
