Tunde Allison was Mike's only friend, as far as he could tell. Their near four years friendship had not been anything associated with distrust. They had got on very well on social front. But that was where it all ended. Mike had kept his personal life very personal. Tunde knew he had no slight insight into Mike's real world of women. Though he had known a handful of women with Mike, but it was true that Mike had always ensured he kept his distance.
But as he sat that morning, away from office work being on leave, on the open-air balcony of his fabulous apartment, a gin and tonic in his hand, a worried Tunde reminisced on the dream he had about Mike. He gnawed a thumbnail, a bad habit he'd carried with him since childhood, chewing the nail to the quick.
He knew Mike had not had anything close to a love affair, let alone a serious one since he knew him. Not even with Harriet his current girlfriend. He had tried to find out why Mike couldn't seem to keep a relationship, but Mike had always told him to steer clear of that part of his personal life. This had almost caused a strain in their friendship sometimes back, when he had tried to probed further than Mike liked. He seemed convinced Mike was using women and dumping them at will.
He had tried all he could to push the dream out of his mind but all to no avail. Even though he had woken up without having a clear remembrance of how the dream went, but the message the dream posed was not lost on him. Mike was or could be in some kind of danger because of something that bothered on his relationship with a woman. It was something to do with an aggrieved lover. He had to talk to Mike about this when next they saw he concluded.
* * *
Harriet cleared her desk as fast as she could. She had no intention of staying a minute later than 4 O' clock. She wanted to be home early to change into a befitting dress for the evening, and to achieved that, she reckoned she had to be on the road early enough in order to beat the ubiquitous traffic jam on Lagos roads. It was an evening she had waited for all day.
She had not been able to contain her excitement through out that day. She was convinced Mike was up to something great. That could only be his reason for his choice of meeting place for the evening. At first, she had wondered why Mike had settled for D'Ellas Kitchen, considering its location. But now she felt better about it. What could be nicer than a great news broken in a posh restaurant?
Harriet was certain she was appearing her best as she sat at the back of the cab en-route Victoria Island where D'Ellas Kitchen was located. She had on a green evening dress that fitted her like second skin, with her backside well accentuated by the dress. She had been home earlier than she thought she would. The traffic on the roads had not been heavy for a Friday. Heaven seemed to be working out everything in her favour. That had to be she reasoned, as she stared out of the car window. Dusk was creeping in already.
She kept staring out of the window to stop herself from screaming at the elderly taxi driver, whom she felt was not doing enough to get her to her destination as fast as possible. Or how else could she explain the way all the vehicles, big and small, going their direction sped past the taxi? She promised herself nothing, no one would foul her happy mood for the evening, so she busied her eyes taking in the roads.
Harriet was so relieved when the taxi driver finally announced they were in front of D'Ellas Kitchen. She was inside the restaurant in no time. And after a check at the cashier desk, she was seated at the table for two, Mike had had reserved for them. And as soon as Harriet had walked in, she'd fallen in love with the restaurant view. Mike's fabulous taste was evident once again.
Harriet was still taking in the cosy ocean view afforded her by the location of their table when Mike walked in some fifteen minutes after her arrival. He kept to time once again. She could not miss him as he walked in. Even the Face cap he had on was not enough to fool her. The ease with which he located her, as he waved before walking over, made her believe Mike must have personally come in to reserve the table.
She could not but once again admire his masculinity. Mike stood at six-foot plus. The aura with which he carried himself would not be lost on any woman. He would qualify for anyone's definition of a ladies' man. He was donning a Ralph Lauren polo shirt on a Bertone Straight denim jean. He oozed confidence as he moved over. Harriet could see heads turning to watch him. She felt proud to be his woman.
She rose to her feet to welcome him with a kiss but Mike tactfully refused the gesture. The first sign of trouble which that evening which Harriet missed. She also did not suspect anything when Mike took his seat without waiting for her to sit first like he had always done in the past.
They were mid way into their meal when Mike said, "Harriet, would you realise the reason we are here, at all?"
"Nope" Harriet said smilingly, before adding "But I can't wait for you to tell it all."
"Really"
"Yeah"
"May I ask you one question? I just want to be sure I'm right about this."
"Go ahead, I'm all ears." returned Harriet
"Do you truly love me?"That was the last question Harriet expected Mike to ask. But since she had no doubt about her love for him, the reply was very easy. With eyes full of emotions, she looked into Mike's eyes.
"Yes, Mike, I love you."
"How much?"
"With all of me"
"Good. Let's get this over with then" Mike said rising to his feet. He cleared his throat and with a raised voiced said, "Hello everyone. Can you all give me your attention for a few seconds?"
It was almost automatic as heads turned his way. He waited long enough to be sure he got the utmost attention of everyone who cared. Then he went on, "I'm so happy to be here this evening. And even happier for what I'm about to say."
Harriet was gushing with excitement as Mike crossed to her side saying, "It's my pleasure this night to be with this woman who loves me with all she represents. It is true that I've known her for just about three months. And for those three months, she has been a good woman and all she has let show convinces me that she truly loves me. But just to be sure, I'm going to ask her the same question I asked a moment ago. I want you all as my witnesses."
Mike could catch tears of joy welling up in Harriet's eyes. He was beginning to enjoy the moment.
"Harriet, do you truly love me?"
"Yes, Mike, I love you with all of me," Harriet replied mustering enough will to stop the tears in her eyes coursing down her cheeks.Mike knew what he was doing. He knew a lot of people would hate him for what he was about to do. But he was prepared. He had carefully chosen this location. He was more than certain that no one here knew him. And to be double sure, he had kept his disguise on well. A good part of his face was shielded by the cap he had on. No one would remember what he looked like the very moment he walked out of here, of that he was very certain. But he wanted all he would say to live long in the mind of everyone, after he was long gone. So, he resolved to carefully choose his words.
He took Harriet's hand in his and helped her to her feet before saying, "Thank you, Harriet for loving me. I'm so glad you do." And turning to look at all the eyes fixed on him, he continued, "Your love for me is behind all I'm doing tonight. If you hadn't shown enough to make me realise you love me, I'm sure we wouldn't be here this evening. As there would have been no reason do this at all."
At this point, Harriet's heart was beating so hard that she could hear it as it rammed against her ribs. She felt she was prepared for this, but now she realised she wasn't prepared well enough. Of everything that existed in the world at that moment, only Mike's lips mattered. She had her eyes riveted on them. She was dying to hear him say those words that began with 'Will you m...'
She could hear Mike saying, "I'll like to reward you for the love, care and time you have invested in me for the past three months by giving you this."
Everyone waited as Mike dipped his hand in his pocket. But they were partly disappointed when Mike brandished a cheque leaflet instead of a ring. He handed Harriet who didn't know what to think or expect the cheque leaflet. Her heart was palpitating. She was just rooted to her feet staring at Mike.
"I'm sure no one expected me to bring that out. You all would have preferred I brought out a ring." Mike let out a wry laugh and continued, "I'm sorry to disappoint you all." And turning to face Harriet, he continued, "Harriet, I'm glad you told me earlier you were prepared for the truth about tonight. The signed cheque in your hand is for two hundred thousand naira for whatever discomfort my action tonight might pose. The truth is, I'm not here to do any silly thing as proposing to you but to let you know this is where the journey ends for you..."Harriet felt her head do a wild spin. She had to hold on to the table to keep her legs from caving in under her. She practically lost her mind. She could not stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks, but they were no longer tears of joy. They were hot tears of a pained agonized mind. She could not think as much as she wanted to use her sense of reasoning. The only voice that screamed in her head was telling her to get out as fast as she could. She could not raise her head to meet anyone's eyes as she half ran out of the restaurant. Her world had just crashed when she was least prepared!
Mike not minding the hate he knew everyone around must reserve for him at that minute took his seat. He took a sip from his drink before picking up the cheque leaflet which Harriet had left on the table before she stormed out. He was the happiest man in the world. He was feeling great about how he had handled the evening. Four heartbroken women now. More to follow. He was master of the game he called 'Make-them-love-you-then-break-the-heart', he reasoned. He rose to his feet to leave. The search for his next victim had begun already.
