3 The Fuente II

My work, everything else was going good. I got to meet my colleagues, even though not as I should, normally. They were nice, everyone was at least. Well, aside the elite trio. Nothing was good with them, all they did was get in my way, and do nothing but to show hate. They cautioned everyone, to stay away from me, or anything linked with me. I was good though, I got to focus on my work even more. I was fully focused. Well, almost fully focused. I did do my work, mind my own business, but that Lucy, Joe's girlfriend. She was everywhere I turned. I couldn't miss her, she was always in sight. I did my best, avoided her at most, but I was no James Bond.

I knew sooner or later, I'd get caught up. But it wasn't 'sooner'. One day, I got off work early, I put everything in order. I got in the elevator, and hit the button down. Right before the elevator slid close, Lucy pressed it and stopped it from closing. She stepped in, with a blatant 'look who I trapped' expression on her face. She slowly pressed my hand, which was still on the button, and the doors slid close. I moved to the corner, faced forward, not a single word, just utter silence.

"You hate me, yes?", I heard her soft silky voice say, I turned and faced her.

"Me?", I tapped my chest.

"Hi, Hello. Yes, you...You hate me", the smile on her face fade a bit, as she folded her arms and gave a serious look.

"Oh blimey, No...I don't hate you", I said.

"Well, explain why you been avoiding me", she said.

"Oh...that...well, it's 'cause of your fella, your fancy man", I said.

"Wha-what? Wait what? Me?"

"Yeah, the lad that warned me off...Joe innit?".

"Oh my...Joseph Akuma", as she sighed. Looking thwarted, and turned in the elevator in sheer disbelief. She faced me, shaking her head.

"Joseph is my brother, not my man! Ewww!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't know. He just warned me to stay away from you. I thought it was because you were his woman", I said.

"Well, now you do. So apologize", she held her hips, stood, waiting for the apology.

"What? Apologize for what exactly?", I asked.

"You didn't treat a lady properly. I consider it disrespectful. Regardless of what you did or whatever, I want you to apologize", I said. I stood looking at her. The audacity. To demand an apology, for basically nothing. The elevator opened, she walked out, frowning. I also stepped out, not sure what to do or say.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me?", I said.

"No", she blatantly replied and walked on.

"Fancy a cuppa? When's a good time for you?", I said to her. She turned, still wearing her frown. She looked at me, toe to face.

"Saturday's great", she said. Then she grinned at me, then she walked out. I don't know what was in her mind, but me, I had me self a date. Not a distraction I'd want, to go on a date with a colleague, but, what could possibly go wrong?

I got outside, ordered an Uber ride. While I was waiting at the parking lot, I heard someone call my name. I checked to see where it was coming from, or who. When checked, I saw a lady colleague, standing by her White, SL Class Mercedes. This short, bronze skinned woman has a responsible feel about her.

She had a triangular face, a small nose, and small lips. Her brown eyes are prominent and she had neat eyebrows. She had closely braided, dark brown hair. She had pierced her left eyebrow. She had short arms, a lean torso with very large breasts, long legs, and average-sized feet. She had a Māori-style tattoo on her right arm. She usually wore very short sleeved clothes that were mostly neutral-coloured and well-fitting, and she wore no jewellery. I went up to her. She was standing, looking frustrated beside the car, with the door ajar. When I got to her, she barely summoned a smile, to look welcoming or for some reason I don't know.

"Hey, Anwar", she said with a squeaky squirrel-like voice, waving her stylishly.

"Hello...uhmm, You", I said, because I didn't know her name.

"So I really need to get home fast, but the car won't start. I don't even know, like I got it checked just two days ago. I just...", she muttered.

"Okay, don't worry. Just get in, open the bonnet for me also", I said, as I moved to the front of the car. I put my phone in my pocket, then I opened the bonnet, and told her to start the car. She did. I told her to start the car again. She did.

"It's not even starting", she said. So scrutinized everything, and saw the battery connector had tripped off a bit. So I adjusted it, and told her to start the engine again. She did. The car started, I closed the bonnet, and walked to the side of the car.

"Oh my days, thanks a bunch", she said with joy.

"Sure, I reckon that's all innit?", I said.

"Yeah, Gotta run now though. Sabrina. That's the name", she said. She closed her door and reversed out of her parking spot, before driving off.My phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my pocket, and saw my Uber notification. I concluded the ride had arrived, and it did, and I went home.

The next morning, in office. I was met by another colleague, surprisingly. A male colleague this time. This average height, pale skinned man has a passive feel about him. He had a triangular face, a broad nose, full mustache, and puffy lips. His dark blue eyes are big and he had bushy eyebrows. He had straight, light blonde hair which is worn in a French braid. He had weak arms and small hands, a muscled torso, wide hips, weak legs, and average-sized feet. He walked up to me, stretching out his hand with a smile before he got up close.

"Anwar, What's up?", he said, talking slowly. We shook hands, he held his hand by my elbow.

"I'm good mate, you?", I said.

"I'm fine. My name's Ryan by the way. Ryan Wilfred. You can call me Ry", he said.

"Ah, that's lovely. I'm chuffed to meet ya", I said.

"Yeah, uhm I came to say thank you, for what you did for 'Bree' yesterday", he said.

"Bree? Who is that?", I asked.

"Bree, oh Sabrina", he said as he chuckled a bit.

"Ah, sure. She's your skin and blister innit?", I asked.

"No, she's my girlfriend, she's Sabrina Adenuga", he said.

"Oh, my apologies. I thou-", and the next thing , I got shoulder rammed. I turned and realized it was Joe, he gave Ryan a stern look which made him pale and walk away. I wondered, why he was so problematic, but also feared.

"Sorry to hit you, but I wouldn't have, if you remained where you belong", Joe said. Then I got rammed again, twice, intermittently. It was Mo and Meshach this time around.

"Leave, before you get into trouble", Mo said.

"Fucking dreg", Meshach said. Another lady walked past me, eyeing me as she walked to Joe. This orange skinned woman has an untrustworthy feel about her. She had a triangular face with a softly shaped jaw, a narrow nose, thin lips, and her brown eyes were slanted. She had medium-length, dull, brown hair which is straight permed.

She wore complimentary eyeshadow and vivid lipstick. She had a piercing on her right eyebrow. She had a long neck, narrow shoulders, weak arms and weak hands, a slender torso with modest breasts with a typical waist, plump hips, weak legs, and small feet. She usually wore clean, tacky clothes that were neutral-coloured and loose and flowing, and she wore a steel amulet.

"Hey baby", she pulled him in, and kissed him.

"Go, Ashley!", Mo and Meshach cheered.

"Thought we agreed to stay away from the dreg?", she said, as she stroke Joe's beards.

"Yes baby, but some need to be put in their place", Joe said. He gestured for them to leave with his head. She joined them, and then, they walked away.

I turned and went back into my office. I sat for some moments, brooding. What to do, my strategy, how to acclimatize to the spite and disdain. They all hated me, I mustn't hate back. I could somehow make them understand, we are not kids, we aren't in high school. I had to do something about it, if I didn't, they'll keep causing hindrances. I really don't want anything affecting my work. As I thought, I heard a knock on my door. But I said or did anything, the door was opened. It was Lucy. She walked in, taking foxy steps. She dark eyes shined, with her black matching mascara. Her curvy hips were well fitted in her black ripped jeans. Her lipstick matched her red fitted blouse. And I couldn't help notice the motion of her bosoms.

"Hey, Anwar", she said. Then she smiled, so mesmerizing, I was down for the count for the rest of the day.

"Yeah, so I came to ask. I'm coming to pick you right?", with a raised eyebrow she asked.

"Oh, wow...", surprised by the question I was.

"Just kidding, but wait, how are you gonna pick me up? Uber?", she said, and she cackled.

"Yes, Uber. I don't have the luxury of my own car. Plus, I don't want to rely on my parents'".

"Hey, calm down tiger. I understand. Jeez", she said, rolling her eyes.

"We'll talk on phone, yeah?", I said.

"'We'll talk on phone yeah?'....with your lame accent. Here's my number", she said. Took a pen from my table, and wrote her number. She slid the paper to me, then turned and started her cat walk.

"Hey Lu", I said. She stopped, then turned to look at me.

"You, look ravishing", I said with a smile to her. And watched her turn red, blushing. She smiled continued walking her way out.

"Stop looking at my ass, I know you looking", she said as she shut the door. I laughed to myself because she really got me. Plus, I was excited for some reason.

I thought of all the feels and memories, from the very start. But with the death of Lu, I don't even know what to feel. I still didn't know what to tell the detective , who was still sitting, glaring at me and waiting for me to say a word. I didn't trust him, not anyone, especially a police officer.

"You were seen at the crime scene, with the body, what happened?", he asked me. I only glared at nothing, and kept mute.

"Look lad, you have to spill some beans. All your colleges have pointed at you as the culprit. Well, except for three. But this case won't go down, until someone goes to jail. So tell me, what or who you saw", Nas said. He was sounding more frustrated, and serious.

"I need me a lawyer", I said, just audible enough, as I sat up.

"Bloody hell, a lawyer? What do you think this is? Suits? Well it isn't. There's no Harvey Specter!, and you get no fucking Annalise Keating. This is Nigeria. And the parents, Lucy's parents aren't going to let this die off. Now drop this cheeky OCD attitude, and tell me something", he said.

"Ah, Detective Nas. You must be knackered innit? As I said, I need me a lawyer", I said to him then folded my arms as I leaned back.

"Alright lad, but I warn ya, lawyers are bad for business", he said. He got up from his seat, he was really agitated. He looked at me, then walked to the door.

"It was a fratricide", I said. He turned, with his eyes wide open in shock. He immediately came back, and sat on his chair.

"You mean Joe, killed her?", he asked.

"Yes, Joe killed Lucy". I replied.

"What?!", Nas exclaimed.

"He just found out she was pregnant", I said.

"Bloody hell, Whose?", he asked.

"Me", I answered.

"Well, I was meant talk to Ms. May, but now I have me self a chitchat with Big Joe", he said. He got up, took his coffee cup and sipped it, dropped the cup right back, then went out of the room.