Oblivious to the fact that some people were worried about her,Stella slept in Zara's room after dinner.
In the middle of the night, she woke up to ease herself but she met someone still wide awake. Mr Ebenezer sat in the sitting room,her back facing her,the lights were off but there was light emitting from the television.
'Why was he watching TV this late?' Well,That wasn't her business. She ignored him and kept walking to the bathroom.
But when she came out,he was facing her,in fact! He almost colluded with her.
"Stella" he called softly. Stella looked at him for a while and knew that he had nothing meaningful to say to her,she made to leave but he was standing in front of her.
"Your mum,hmm I don't even know what to say about her..but don't let it affect you in the slightest, always be a good girl"
'Oh acting like a good father figure now,aren't we?' Stella didn't need his advise at all,she didn't have an iota of respect for this man even though she was her friend's Father. And now,they were alone and he was blocking her way,making her uncomfortable. She wanted to scream,'get yourself out of my face!'
Mr Ebenezer placed his hand on her shoulders but she withdrew herself away from his touch.
"What's wrong?" He asked,looking really ignorant while trying to touch her again.his gaze had something evil in them as his eyes raked through her body. Stella felt disgusted.at this point, this man that had an air of nobility and looked like a learned man only looked like a fool in her eyes,yes,a big fool!
"Don't touch me" she said, feeling irritated. Her little face showing her anger.Mr Ebenezer smiled,this little girl was cute even when angry. Her red lips pouting and her fingers clenched. Her light skin was so smooth that he wondered what it would feel like to run his hands on it.
"Come and sit down with me for a while" he told her.
"No" she refused without hesitation. If she could she would have pushed this man out of the way,why was he pestering her in the middle of the night?and just then,his hand 'mistakenly' fell on her chest!
That was it! She fiercely slapped his hand away. Bloody perverted fool! Her eyes were red with anger.he had also sexually harassed her one time ago like this which made her hate him and avoided coming to this place
"What are you doing!?I'm warning you,stay away from me!" She said angrily,her voice not too loud in order not to wake Mrs Ebenezer and her friend.
Mr Ebenezer's eyes darkened.this girl wasn't a naive teenager at all.but he liked girls like this, young, soft,innocent. He looked around to be sure no one was around and eavesdropping.
"See..you're no longer a kid,I will give you money to get whatever you want for yourself.come with me,you will enjoy it.no one will know"
Stella stared at him quietly and Mr Ebenezer thought she was seriously considering his 'proposal',he smiled in his mind.sure,they always fall at the mention of money. He knew she would be obedient.
But just then..
Stella slipped away with the speed of lightening when she noticed that he has been distracted for a while.she ran to Zara's room and closed the door behind her,locking it.she was panting and when she turned, she was startled to see Zara sitting up on the bed,she was awakened by the slamming of the door just now.
'Um..'
"Why are you panting like a rat who jumped down from a plane?where did you go?" Zara asked,her eyes still drooping.
"I went to the bathroom and um..I heard a strange sound and became scared ,that's why I rushed back". Stella said, climbing unto the bed.
" scaredy cat"
Zara laughed and went back to sleep.
Stella stared into space for a while,only God knows what would have happened if that man had tried to force himself on her.she couldn't wait to leave this place in the morning.soon,she drifted off to dreamland.
Nicholas threw himself on the bed,looking very tired.the day had been hectic.his bare upper body was such a beautiful work of God's creative excellence,with a broad shoulder and well defined biceps.
His long legs dangled at the edge of the bed as he laid down casually.the weather was cold but he didn't seem to feel it.his eyes were closed and one couldn't tell if he was already asleep or not,he looked like a calm before the storm,peaceful.
The room was just simple and decent with everything well arranged.a picture of a woman smiling brightly and that of his favorite celebrities hung on the wall. He lived alone here .
The phone on the table lit up,someone was Calling. He stood up and picked the phone.
'Cecilia'
He dropped the phone, this call wasn't important, why was she calling him so late in the night? Although she calls him sometimes to ask him if he got home safely and he appreciated it,only few people would care about a small figure like him.he thought she was calling him for the same reasonk,but he just wanted to close his eyes and sleep now and not be 'bothered'.
So,he ignored it and fell on his bed again feeling somewhat guilty.
The phone rang again, the person on the other hand was persistent. This time, Nicholas frowned. And with a grumbling expression picked up the phone and picked the call.
A young lady's sweet voice rang out.
'Hello'
'Nick?'
"Yes,what's up?" Nicholas's cool voice answered, even his voice was attractive.
''I am sorry for calling you at this time.but I am kind of stranded. Pls,can you come pick me up?I have been trying to get a taxi but it's already so late and I can't find anyone"
"Pleaseee.."
Nicholas narrowed his eyes.kind of stranded? If he had known that she was calling him for this, he wouldn't have picked the call. It was so late and a young girl was stranded, she could be in danger and he would feel guilty if he ignored and she fell into danger.
He Suddenly remembered the 'little' girl he saw earlier when he was in traffic. She was hugging her body probably because of the cold weather but she still had the luxury to doze off while sitting there.
At first he thought it was a mentally deranged person but on a closer look he changed his mind.she wasn't dressed abnormally and though he couldn't see her face clearly because it was night time ,she didn't look unkempt.
Was she stranded? For a moment, he thought of going over to her but he had a passenger in the car and just then,the traffic light went green and he zoomed off.
"Are you there?" Nicholas snapped out of his thought, oh,he remembered he was still on the phone with someone.
"Please,I will pay you well" the other party pleaded.
And yes,Nicholas was a commercial driver.
"OK,where are you"? Nicholas asked and he received the Address.
" okay, I'm coming " he said.
"Thank you" the other party cooed and the call was disconnected. It was obvious she was happy.
Nicholas stood up,his tall frame particularly eye catching. He bent down and picked his keys on the table and went out.he drove steadily through the lonely road till he got to the location.
A young girl in her early twenties stood there,she turned around when she heard the sound of his car and walked towards him.
"You came" she smiled,her bright eyes carrying a charm that could melt hearts.
"mm" Nicholas didn't bother stepping out of the car.he wasn't so happy after being sleep deprived yet he wanted to scold her for staying out this late.the girl got into the car.
"Thank you so much and I'm sorry for the inconveniences" she said.
"How're you doing?how's your day?" She tried to strike a conversation with him but he didn't say much.
''Good,it was not bad'' he spoke little.
Cecilia pouted.he didn't even ask her where she went to and how she got stranded. He was being cold to her.
Is he still angry with her?but looking at his handsome side profile, she didn't know what to think.he was just like this too the first time she saw him.did he always look this cold?
They reached her apartment and she paid him.Nicholas looked at the money and knew it was more than enough for only one Ride.she was really generous.and looking at her dress,he knew she was either rich or came from a rich family.