Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

TOWANDA'S POV.

It was a hot Saturday afternoon, I had that great weekend feeling, I wanted to pull up a crazy look. After breaking up with my shorter- than-me, broke, cheating boyfriend I'd decided that I'd just focus on looking pretty, always up to date with fashion, and focus on my modeling career. It was only me that mattered.

I had braided really long blonde braids that hanged up to my ass* .I put on a black and pink sweatpants, a black crop top matched it , with open heels, I didn't care if they made me too tall. Over-glossing my lips was a recent secret I'd found out, that it makes my smile extra angelic. I put on some sunglasses then headed to town.

Being gorgeous in my outfit gave me a lot of confidence and I didn't mind walking in the streets as if I was Miss world on the runway, once I reach any bank ,I'd peep to have a look at myself through their mirror like walls.

As I walked, I noticed a car, not just any car but Lexus, latest version that I'd just seen on the internet, it was kind of following me but I just assumed that it was going to be parked, so I ignored and swayed my hips side to side , faster, thinking I'd increase the distance between myself and the machine, but no, the driver hooted at me, and lowered the window, I still didn't believe it was me he was hooting at, must have been a mistake but anyway I stopped and he parked .

" Hello gorgeous,"

Damn! his voice was so deep, sexy deep!

"Hello," I replied fighting the urge of smiling as I scrutinized his face very fast but first I noticed his dimples as he smiled back, then his brows!

I didn't understand why the heck he had so cute brows and he didn't need any of that but anyway back to his long lashes , I must admit he was a piece of cupcake, strawberry flavor, to be precise.

"Mind getting a ride?" He asked as he smiled, that unique smile, that only he possessed, only his upper teeth showing, "or maybe I should have introduced myself, I'm Troy,"

I was still processing what was happening, he was too hot to approach me, if that was what he was doing. I kind of stared at him for a while, without saying anything, just surprised that such a hotty was talking to me.

"Hey,"

He shouted a bit and awakened me from whatever reverie I was having, before I could answer I felt my sling bag leaving my hand, it was snatched from me by a street child, before I could pull it back he was already a meter away through an inner street, I just screamed as he got out of his car to chase him, I couldn't run with my high heeled shoes. So I just watched him run together with some other people that up to now I think they were part of the plan of my bag being snatched and they'd act like they are chasing their thief friend.

They faded from my sight, I stood beside his car so worried, because, my phone, my money, school and national ID were in that bag. Tears formed at the edge of my eyes as I saw him come back without my bag and mad splashed on his white tee .

"I'm sorry princess I couldn't catch him, I hope he didn't hurt you,"

" Towanda," I said with a slightly higher tone, fighting back my tears.

"What again?"

"My name is Towanda, I'm not princess. My father is no king"

I was angry at him because if he hadn't distracted me , my bag would have not been snatched and I would be having my expensive phone with me. He stared at me and smiled half-way ,

"Such a unique name, "

"Ava Towanda. You knowing my name doesn't bring back my bag you know."

"I'm so sorry and I know it's my fault princess, I mean Towanda." There was slight heaving in his voice.

I fought back my smile, " none of that brings back my bag."

"Okay can we talk while in the car because my clothes are stained?"

"No, get in the car alone I'll talk through the window."

" Okay, " he got in and looked out," how much have you lost?"

I felt like I should lie to him but I brushed the thought, I wanted to double the amount.

"Ten thousand, my phone and both my school and national ID."

"Are you a student?"

"Oh please Mr. Can we focus on first things first."

"Okay, I'll help replace the first two, get in the car," he said this time with no smile,

maybe I'd been so hard on him but whatever, I'd lost my everything.

Anyway a smile lit up on my face when he mentioned replace but then I remembered he was a stranger, and quickly I thought that he might be a killer, because most killers in movies came in such like a package, good looking and in an expensive car, I imagined how he could drive away very fast and kill me then throw me in the ocean.

" No! Hell Never !" I said with finality

"Wait, Towanda it's about your bag and valuables, okay , you have five minutes to choose if you are coming with me or you suit yourself, Ava Towanda!"

I had to quickly debate and make the right decision, I felt so annoyed with how he talked to me, wasn't sweet at all! He left me with no choice and I hated so much making a man think that he has won.

"Okay!"

" Meaning?"

The audacity! Can't you see I'm beyond offended!

"I'm going with you stranger!"

He just smiled his killing way and opened the door for me and I slipped in. He pulled out of the parking lot and we drove away, fighting my anger to go down my throat, because I knew I'd be so rude if I didn't calm down.

"Are you always this beautiful or it's your angry face that makes you this beautiful?"

I rolled my eyes as I turned to face outside, he was really on it, on my nerves. I didn't bother to answer anything to him, I kept praying that he wasn't a devil worshiper that might give me as life sacrifice, I hoped to get my money and if he could buy me even a cheap phone I'd be thankful, I was too broke!

"So Ava means life , right?"

I stayed silent, biting my nail

" I'll assume you've answered,"

" What of Towanda? Matter of fact I love that unique name ,"

I cleared my throat to calm myself down and act like I was preparing to answer something close to what he expected, I twitched my lips and said,

"Can we just talk about important things?"

"Oh I can see your name ain't that important, so about your bag, is that more important than knowing who you are riding with in the car?"

It hit me hard that I'd even forgotten his name, and his tone made it seem like a dangerous man.

"I'm a Christian and my mother is a prayer warrior, you won't sacrifice me ."

I found myself saying it firmly , deep within I said the grace, soon as I finished he burst out laughing loud as if it was a joke made by Tiffany Huddish.

"Girl! Damn! That's funny, I'm also a Christian, d'you remember my name anyway."

I felt so stupid

" No,"

" Troy, and I won't harm you princess, I mean Ava Towanda."

"Okay, Ava means life , Towanda means peaceful running water."

"Wow."

"Yeah." I smiled at him," and why are we getting out of town, excuse you!"

"Ava Towanda, my clothes are dirty Incase you are blind, I couldn't go to the bank dirty."

"So you trying to say you are going to your home?"

"I'm not trying , we are going. AVA Towanda!"

" Enough with my name after every statement Mr."

I don't know why I wasn't tensed anymore and all I was thinking of is if he was a good guy I should get laid that day because it had been so long before my cobwebs were cleaned ,besides he was way cuter and muscled than my ex, I couldn't mind even if it was the first day, God knew I might have not reached the next day and I might have never seen him again. I was lost in thoughts of him and I hitting it, I didn't notice we were already parking in his huge compound with the cutest mansion I'd ever set my eyes on.

"You're not going to come in?" He asked and winked ,

Damn!

...and smiled

"I won't hurt you I promise."

I gathered courage and stepped out of the car , I really didn't believe I was just chatting with the owner of that house, and like six expensive cars, machines parked outside.

"I hear ladies say staring is rude , does it apply to you?" He asked then laughed and led the way,

I was so embarrassed, he didn't really have to, although I also didn't have to act like I'd just landed in heaven, it was just a normal place on Earth. I didn't say a word , I just followed him as he led the way.

"Want something to drink?"

"No!" I firmly said as I sat on the comfy couch, as I surveyed the super classy living room.

"If I were you I'd ask for some wine, it helps you calm down, plus added advantage of expensive wine which I'm sure ..."

"Excuse you!" I cut him," are you saying I can't afford expensive wine?"

That was gross! But kind of true

"No, Ava Towanda, I'm going upstairs to freshen up."

I didn't say a thing but in within I whispered whatever! I did some first thinking and honestly I needed that wine, and the truth was I knew I couldn't afford it , when he was Midway the staircase he asked again,

"Are you sure you don't need some wine?"

"No, I want ."

I felt so bad for admitting I needed wine.

He again wore that smile that seemed to say I've won again , you lost girl. He opened the bottle of Dom Perignon Rose, I'd never had a chance of drinking such wine, I only saw in movies or internet, now that I was given a chance, I grabbed it.

"Next time don't be shy to ask for what you need," he said as he poured some wine in the glass, "Especially if it," he moved too close to my ear, "if it heals your craving soul, Ava I'd go for it ."

He sounded so seductive and the limited distance between us made my heart race and heat rushed fast through my spine to the back of my ear.

"Eeeeew! Your tee stinks, could you just freshen up and let's leave."

"Okay ,Ava Towanda!"

Whatever thing he had for my name, I didn't know. He glanced at me one more time and went upstairs. I was now alone, nobody watched me , I didn't really need the glass, so when I finished the one he'd served me, I just drunk directly from the bottle, it kind of tasted greatly different. Brought a nice feeling.

I was already getting tipsy by the time he came downstairs, he'd just changed his tee but had the same trouser, his cologne was just on point , it blew me away.

"Damn! You are already drunk, you drunk it like water."

"Troy," I stood up and moved closer to him, "if it heals your soul, go for it!"

He smiled at me and I didn't even blush, I looked him straight in his eyes, I was tall enough ,I felt him moving his lips closer I carelessly let him kiss my lips. I didn't believe I kissed him back, he pulled me closer by my tiny waist, and kissed me more, he just turned me on with his slow kisses.

"You are so beautiful Ava Towanda," he whispered, kissed deeper," can't get enough of you"

His breath tasted mint like, but I was sure mine was more of the wine, had taken almost half of it and apparently I'd forgotten just how much wine got me turned me on.

I felt like I threw myself on him

Screw that!

It was him who kissed me first anyway.

Before I knew it ,he'd carried me , bridal style, upstairs, up to this huge room with a king size bed , he carefully lay me on top of the white duvet, he crawled up to my lips, kissed me slowly deeper and I just was amazed by his tricky way of him caressing my lips with his then kiss deeper, I didn't realize that I quickly helped him pull off my sweatpants,

But whatever! I was deep in the moment,

He went down on me! And I swear it was my first time, I'd never thought it would be with so much pleasure. Before I was on my peak he stopped and it kind of irritated me,

"You like it?"

"Yes stop stopping just get in" I ordered him

Before I knew it, I felt him inside me...

~~~

I'd never had such a girl who passes out in the middle of everything .I was scared when she suddenly closed her eyes maybe I was being too hard on her or it was just alcohol. So I pulled out, and then I heard the door bell ring.

I wasn't expecting anyone, and my boss wouldn't come to his other house at such a time on weekends he'd always spend his time with his naughty wife and daughter in his other mansion.

I peeped through the window and it was him! I had done one silly mistake of taking her to the master bedroom, I had to quickly dress her and carry her downstairs and lock her in the guest room. As I went to open the door I saw her heels , I had to again go and hide it, the Governor was already impatient constantly ringing the doorbell. Soon as I opened it he stormed in.

" What took you so long?"

"I was in the bathroom sir!"

"Okay, I left my diary in the study room have you seen it ? It's so important."

It hit me that he might be writing his secret devious plans in the diary, if only I'd known earlier I'd already had a clue of who he really was .His dark side .

" No sir, but I can help look for it."

"It's black and about 200pages."

If it was so important until he left his family to come for it, it meant that it was so confidential and no one had to read it. I went upstairs and rummaged all rooms I couldn't find anything, every worker was on leave as usual on weekends so nobody helped me look for it, it was just him.

We spend a lot of time looking for it, I making sure he doesn't walk to the guest room .We went to the study room where spent more like an hour looking for it with no success. He was so stressed and restless about. He told me to leave him alone in the study .

~~~

I had to figure out how I was going to sneak Ava Towanda out because from the look of things he was going to spend the night there if we don't find the diary. As he'd said it wasn't at home, not his office not other places that he goes to.

I tiptoed to the guest room to wake her up but she was so deep asleep, she only turned and slept more .I organized the other rooms after locking her in the guest room.

~~~

TOWANDA'S POV

I woke up with a heavy headache. The room where I was in was too furnished to be my cheap bedsitter, I got off the bed and walked to the bathroom, and hell no I wasn't at home. The bathroom had a huge bathtub and two white towels on the wall hunger. Different shampoos and shower jells. It definitely wasn't my bedsitter.

I remembered that I had followed some Troy guy to his place, I looked at myself in the mirror and I saw the trace of my drooling. I washed my face and tired my braids back, I put on my heels and headed to open the door.

It didn't open! So many thoughts crisscrossed my mind , I thought that maybe he'd kidnapped me and drugged me to lock me in that classy bedroom. I shook my head hard to try and remember what had happened, I just remembered the wine bottle. I craved for it but it wasn't time for craving, it was time for figuring out where the stranger was and how I was going to get out of that room. It hit me hard when I remembered I'd lost my bag. It made my blood race and I found myself knocking the door hard, yelling,

"Get me the heck out of here Stranger!"

Before I could yell again and hit it, he opened the door, his face didn't wear much confidence as he did before,

"What the heck..." I started yelling and he covered my mouth with his palm and walked me to the bed, I was shocked with his sudden worries. When he pulled his palm of my mouth I couldn't wait and yelled again but before I could complete one word, he covered my mouth again and whispered,

"Could you just talk slowly ,my boss is here."

"Your boss, the one who told you to kidnap me?"

"Please, not now, here is a sixty thousand cheque, I hope it will cover everything you lost earlier."

I took it with both hands and smiled, " thank you."

"I didn't know you have manners," he muttered and smiled, " Just do me a favor, tiptoe with me so that I sneak you out, and here," he gave me a paper that had his number, " call me once you get a phone."

Before I could even complain why I had to remove my shoes and tiptoe like a thief, he'd pulled me and tiptoed so I followed suit until we stepped out, I then put my heels on and put the paper and cheque in my sweatpants' pocket that by luck had a zip. I zipped it and turned to walk away without a word because I was annoyed with the tiptoeing thing without a proper explanation. As I was almost halfway towards the gate, from behind I had a common voice call me,

"Young lady?"

I turned and saw Governor Blake standing with Troy. I was a bit confused, might he be his son, but I again recalled him mentioning something about his boss being around, I had to quickly think,

" Yes sir."

" Come back here."

When I reached closer to them ,Troy excused himself and , I remembered I had taken some wine, I moved a little further from him lest he smells alcohol from my breath.

" Let me look for it, maybe it's in one of the cars,"

For a moment I thought he was looking for a gun to finish me off but I brushed the thought off when the honorable governor said,

"Troy had said you wanted to see me"

I had to be bright.

"Oh yes sir , I was looking for a chance to be signed in in your modeling agency, Moon."

Was I that brilliant, damn!

"But you know it's on a weekend and it's not my work to sign you in, there are people who will approve if you are able or not."

"Yes I know sir but it's so corrupt to get in there, is it okay to pay for just an audition and you are not selected?"

"What! They charge young ladies to get auditioned?"

"Yes ,matter of fact, I paid six thousand and I was never selected."

"No, that's very wrong. I will correct that. What's your name?"

"Ava Towanda , sir,"

"Wow , let me just write it in my online diary, spell it."

"Ava, A-V-A , Towanda, T-O-W-A-N-D-A."

"Good , next time you go there , everything will be okay."

Troy from a distance getting out of a black Prado yelled with joy,

"I've found it sir," he said raising a sparkly black diary then walked faster to hand it over to him.

"I'll take my leave sir."

"Okay, Ava Towanda!"

I walked away very fast.