Betrayed

She could almost taste the fresh evening breeze

 hitting her face. It was her favourite spot in her favourite beach. Few people came to this part of the beach she called it the corner shed. It's one of the bamboo compartments made close to the water front but this one had no electricity. It was also the last in line, the best view it offered were the giant rocks coating the shoreline. She concluded awhile ago that these rocks were placed by man though they seemed to fit naturally.

The gentle whistle in the air brought thoughts of her lover to heart. They had met here that fateful evening when the butterflies stayed out late. It was a night of love like no other. She had really hoped to meet someone special that evening and it happened. It was to her a divine arrangement. It has been three years since that evening and he had taught her things she wished she never knew. They did the naughtiest things together; they did all but rob a bank. She calls him her love, her life and her light. Now she was pregnant.

Tomorrow he would join her at the Muritala Mohammed Airport. He had to tidy up the loose ends in Abuja. Someone very nearly disrupted their plans. She wasn’t sure what he would do to that fellow but she feared for such a being. She was scared of him a times but he probably couldn't hurt a fly. He spoke few words, every word that left his lips were calculated. As his words are so are his actions – difficult to predict. He told her life taught him to be smart to survive.

"Tonight it's goodbye." She said to the thin air.

They had perfected plans to move to Ireland. A new life beckoned. "Love is perfect." She said to herself clasping her palms. A lean voice in her head added, "And dangerous."

In an instant she remembered why she came out here. She needed to clear her head, to get rid of the guilt. Straight out of the university she met SJE one of the country's leading businessmen. She has been with him for six years and has risen to become his personal assistant. She literally decided who he saw and who he didn't. Since she met her lover she had laid her hands on a lot of company funds. She took them piecemeal, SJE never suspected a thing. Now that he was out of the country they executed their master plan to make it big. Months to this time their travel papers had been arranged, contacts had been made and the wait for the perfect time began. SJE was sure to notice several millions gone.

"Well, the deed is done!" She said to herself.

"Who knows what SJE did to raise capital for his business?" She sat still for a moment willing herself to defeat her conscience. "I can't go back now... I can't!" She protested.

"I'm sure he must have defrauded somebody, I mean, he is from a wretched background!" With that she let out a wicked grin and took a long sip of her apple beer. It was settled.

Their flight was scheduled for 8pm. She was there at some minutes to 4pm. Her lover was to arrive from Abuja at 5pm. She arrived early so he could see her waiting for him, a sign of love and commitment. She sat at the lounge for local arrivals and gazed around appreciating the renovations carried out. She rubbed her belly as the baby called her attention from within. She had left all to follow this man. Her parents were not in support of their relationship. They made it known from the first day they met him. She didn't think much of their opinion though, she always thought they never agreed with her on issues that matter and this was another confirmation. Fear began to settle on her. What if her boss knew all this while and had set a trap? She lowered the face cap she was wearing as if to cover her identity. Then she took a deep breathe in and said to herself, "Relax."

Minutes passed after 5pm but he didn't show up. A number of people had walked passed her into the warm embrace of their family and friends but not her lover. She began to feel sweat on her palms, a clear sign that she was tense. After about forty minutes of anxious wait she headed to the information stand. To her shock, he wasn't even on the plane. The attendants had to help her to a chair. She had called his lines but he wasn't picking up. She wanted to scream for help but something in her held her from doing it. Her situation was unexplainable.

It became clear; she had been duped and dumped. How could she have been do blind? All the money they got was transferred by him to the foreign account. How could men be so heartless? He was nothing when she met him, true he was the brains but now that he was full, he left her. He had this charm in his eyes that made him somewhat irresistibly handsome. She knew he had other partners but prided herself as number one. Now he had run off with some dirty girl!

Thoughts of death and suicide filled her head. She had less two hours to decide her fate. She was doomed to spent hard time in jail if SJE were to lay hands on her. "I can't go to jail, not with this innocent child." She said imagining her baby born into the prison warden's hands. She got up fast, "No!"

She decided to get on the plane. "At least I have my papers." She said searching through her bag to be double sure. Questions flooded her mind. "Where will I stay? How will I cope with no money? What do I do?" Within her she knew her only chance was to get on the plane and avoid deportation at the border. "I will bounce back. I will live." She said to herself reassuringly.

She was now seated at departure lounge, the time became annoyingly slow. A couple cuddled each other laughing wildly as they shared fun moments. She hated them. She called him over and again but with similar results - no response. Finally the call was made for the passengers for her flight to get on board. She removed her face cap and put it her bag. She noticed the red light peeping on her phone. Her heart raced. Could it be that he called? She grabbed the phone with lightening speed. It was an e-mail, from SJE. She bit her lower lip trembling in fear as she opened it.

Tears streamed down her eyes as she read the final words "... and now you will join him." There was a tap on her shoulder, she looked up and there were two uniformed men behind her. She got up quietly and bowed in surrender.

Author's Note

You are only as good as the company you keep. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." A good man no matter how hard he tries will get stained if he keeps pigs as friends. If your friends are suggesting little crimes to you, it is a clue that you need to watch it. Big crimes always start small and all crimes end in shame. Also, we must strife never to bite the hands that feed us. Are you absolutely faithful and trustworthy where you work? Are you an accomplice to fraud? Remember Proverbs 17:13 says “Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.” Let’s work diligently, faithfully and blamelessly. God bless you.

picture courtesy:  https://pixabay.com/en/love-relationship-ice-fire-749677/