CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

McKenna needed more than anything her favorite bar and her favorite milkshake but she neither had the time or the means to get there, moreover she still had to meet Tony for the date she was already dreading.

Her priority was to get the Elvis contract and to draw attention away from Donna Jackson, whom might as well be the devil incarnate. McKenna flagged down a cab and entered.

McKenna took out her cell phone and called Tony.

'Hi. I know I am late but where are you?'

McKenna told the cab driver to make a U-turn and they headed to the location Tony gave to her – the Army barracks barbecue fish stall, the best fish joint as far as McKenna was concern but the only upside was that it was always noisy and McKenna needed some quiet.

When the cab stopped at the entrance of the Army barracks, McKenna called Tony to meet her. She planned to gently dismiss him in thirty minutes, get home and have a much deserved rest.

Tony wasn't what McKenna expected. Honestly, McKenna pictured him as a stout pot-belly man in his early forties with bald head but when this tall good-looking guy with dark eyes approached her, McKenna was taken aback and almost told him he was mistaken. He couldn't be the annoying Tony.

When it became apparent that she was wrong, McKenna suck in air to at least breathe and steady her thoughts before talking.

'Your picture did not do justice to your impeccable beauty and delicate structure, McKenna' Tony was standing so close to McKenna that she took a step back. He looked almost intimidating and did he just call her structure delicate?

'You must be Tony' McKenna muttered

On a closer look, Tony's skin reminded McKenna of dark chocolate, the sweet ones she eats when she was in a bad mood. His eyes were black and predatory, like a summer midnight sky and they sent chills to McKenna's spine. His eyes were the first black eyes she has ever seen and her heart skipped a beat, whether it was fear or excitement, McKenna did not know.

He hovered over her for like a minute or two like he was taking inventories of his latest soon to be conquest. McKenna's heart missed a beat again but now McKenna is sure, it was fear with a little hint of excitement and it frightened her.

He was wearing a black pant with a blue t-shirt and a pair of men black sneakers with patches of white spot. He had a smug on his face and made no attempt to wipe it. His cologne was strong scent but pleasant. Without notice, he backed away and smiled.

'Did I disappoint? With that expression on your face, I am comfortable to say that you like what you see' Tony tucked his hand into his pocket and the smug appeared again.

'Are you always this arrogant?' McKenna asked with a shaky voice she hoped Tony would not notice.

McKenna regretted not dressing up for this meeting. Her work outfit seemed inferior and too professional for dinner with this man that was obviously so full of himself. McKenna was finding it difficult to make up her mind. So, it was uncertain whether she liked Tony or hated him.

Tony knocked on the driver's window and handed a couple of thousand naira notes to him. The driver smiled brightly and thanked Tony enthusiastically. The driver came down from his car and helped McKenna with the handbag she left inside the car while he still sang praises to Tony. Tony turned and walked away after the driver drove off, leaving a shocked McKenna standing at the spot clutching her handbag.

'Are you coming?' Tony yelled without looking back

It took a minute for McKenna to talk and dissipate her shocked expression and in it stead was anger. She walked behind Tony in a haste paying no attention to the fact that she was on heels and was likely to lose her balance and fall face first to the ground.

'Mr. Tony!!!' McKenna voice froze time.

Tony stopped and turned even almost bumped into McKenna that was standing so close to him now. The smug on his face loosened but just a bit but McKenna remained angry.

'I can pay for my own cab ride, thank you very much… And you are so full of yourself and I have had it up to here from arrogant entitled jerks who think they can get away with anything…do not chat me on Instagram or call me, if you do, I will find you and force feed laxatives to you' McKenna fumed but Tony's eyes narrowed.

'Wow…you are really…really bad at threats, McKenna. Laxatives…laxative was the best threat you could come up with. Even the way you are standing doesn't encourage fear and your face looked like you were about to offer me chocolate'

McKenna was taken aback and she couldn't speak. Tony removed his hand from his pocket.

'I am going to do something I rarely do. I am going to teach you how to effectively threaten someone and get them to take you seriously. Now stand upright, it will make you taller, narrow your eyes…please stop smiling…move closer to your intended recipient, pout and make sure to voice out each word with precision and bone chilling coldness, none of your sweet soprano voice for Christ sake you are threatening someone not trying to get them fall in love with you. Now, give it a try' Tony instructed McKenna.

McKenna stood upright earning another inch; she narrowed her eyes and pouted. When she opened her mouth, every word was laced with ice as intended.

'Mr. Tony, if you ever text me on Instagram or call me ever…again, I will look for you and believe me I will find you and I will end you' McKenna took a deep breath and asked 'was that better?'

'Yeah, I actually believe you. Good job'

'Thank you'

McKenna was exhausted and when she turned around, people were starring. She had caused a scene and Tony didn't seem to care.

'Great, now everyone is looking at us' McKenna muttered

'I could take you away in my royal stallion, just say the word' Tony said nonchalantly

McKenna wanted to object but the alternative was much worst – trekking a distance to get a cab on heels!!!

She followed Tony to his car, it was a white Honda and it was beautiful and new. He opened the car door for McKenna. It was a nice gesture.

'Where do you want to go?' Tony asked

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