--*--
Collins drove into the premises of Tony Brown party venue and he was amazed at how filled up everywhere was with different expensive care of different brands and makers.
As they walked on the red carpet leading to the entrance into the house, Collins took his time to count the cars in the compound, but he hadn't counted three cars before a particular sports car caught his attention. It was an Aston Martin, the first time he was seeing one. He badly wanted to touch it, but a second look at the car, he saw it had a customized plate. Obviously, it belonged to a bigger gun in the society. The bodyguards standing around it spoke volume.
"Are you nervous?" Bunmi asked.
"Of course." Collins replied. Who wouldn't be?
"Don't be. I am nervous too and you are my knight in shining amour." Bunmi said with a smile.
They were stopped at the security post where the security men ran checks on them, at the same time confirming the autenticity of their invite.
"You are welcome sir and ma'am." The security man admitted them into the elevator and few seconds later, they were ascending to only God knows where.
All through the flight, Bunmi never left Collins. Aside holding his hand tightly, she was always coming to adjust his polo or anything that need to be adjusted according to her.
"Breathe in and breathe out." Collins said as the elevator stopped on the sixth floor and by the time it opened, they were welcomed into a very big hall which was brightly decorated.
"Welcome sir. Welcome ma'am. My name is Malik." A light skinned man, more like a Morroccan or an Algerian than a Nigerian greeted them as they walked into the venue of the party.
Without being told, Collins recognized Tony Brown from the way he was exchanging pleasantries with everybody.
"Ah! Welcome my special guest of honor." Tony said as he approached the latest arrivals.
"Good evening Miss Bunmi." He bowed slightly as she shook hands with her and subsequently kissed the back of her hand. "And you must be Collins. Its nice to have you here." He shook hands with Collins as well.
"A nice party you have here." Collins complimented.
"Am glad you guys love it. Let me show you around." Tony said, more of a command than a request.
For the next five minutes, Tony introduced them to other guests and by the time they had met everybody, Collins had forgotten most of the people he met, but one thing he made sure he did was exchange complimentary cards with them all. Even though his card bore the office of a production manager, unlike others who were either Directors, CEOs, Managers and other high ranking entreprenuers. But he wasn't disturbed.
While he hustled to exchange contact with everybody, Bunmi only gave her card to a young lady who in turn gave hers to Bunmi.
"She is an event planner. I think she'll plan our wedding." Was what Bunmi said as they left the lady.
At the end of the tour, Tony Brown had taken them to the inner parts of the house, including the kitchen where they met those in charge of cooking and the last person they met was a popular DJ.
"Collins, can I borrow Bunmi for a while?" Tony asked when they returned to the hall where other guests were. "You can walk around the house, strike up conversations with anybody. And yes, there is a snooker board and a casino ground on the topmost floor. Go there, have fun." He added.
"I'll just grab a drink or two." Collins replied.
"Baby, here. Hold my phone for me." Bunmi said before she left with Tony to only God knows where.
At first, he felt empty while he continued staring in the direction which they went until a voice screamed in his subconscious. "Loosen up Collins. You are here to have fun." That was all he needed before he gingerly walked towards the bar where he requested for a mixture of his favourite drink. Even God knows he wanted to quit alcoholic drinks, afterall, he hadn't tasted them for almost a week, but here he was in a party where everything is in abundance. "Even God go vex if I no drink for this place." He thought as he smiled.
"A penny for your thought." A feminine voice asked bringing him out of his riverie and before him was a young lady, a little over twenty five. Dark skinned, tall and beautifully endowed in the right places. In terms of beauty, Collins knew the lady before him would give Bunmi a run for her money, but he waved it off.
"What are you doing all alone at the bar laughing?" She asked.
"I love laughing alone especially when am in a bar." Collins wanted to say, but he controlled himself.
"Am bored. My date went out quickly." He replied instead.
"Fine, then I'll be your date." The lady grabbed his hand and literally dragged him out of the party towards the elevator. She 'dragged' him not because she had power to, but because he had no choice except to follow her.
----
As soon as the elevator stopped at the topmost floor, she dragged Collins out once again and they walked toward a door outside which were to bouncers or bodyguards.
As they stopped before bouncers who ran checks on Collins, he decided to know the name of his new found friend so to say.
"What's your name?" He asked.
"Tha't unimportant for now. I need to get my money back." She replied.
"Wht money?" Collins asked. As his mind wandered into the likely scenario he is about to face. "If this lady think I am a fighter who would help her collect her money, ne OYO she dey o." He thought as they walked into a dimly lit room.
The hard stench of marijuana hit his nose and he felt like passing out, but to avoid the falling of hands, he dare not. He looked around the room and saw two ladies dancing almost naked. It is obvious they have been paid to entertain the guests, because, the way the moved sensually, everything about them oozed professionalism. Collins quickly took his eyes off the two ladies.
"Here is my defender. He is going to recoup all I have lost." The lady said to a group of people seated around a casino.
Collins laughed in his mind. He was no professional in the game of casino, and the obnoxious lady who came to drage him from his comfort zone didn't ask if he could play or not. "You never loose. You go loose more." Collins thought as he sat down.
He first of all exchanged pleasantries with the guys and judging from their names, he could point at three players whose parents are serving Senators. "So, this is how our collective wealth is being spent? No wonder wardrobe allowance for each senators runs into millions." He thought.
"I raise with 50k." A guy, an albino said. "I bet 60K." Another guy said.
Collins looked at his cards. "I fold." He said.
Everyone exchanged funny looks which later grew into serious looks. "I can see we have a professional tactician here." The albino guy said.
Collins smiled. He had a perfect game plan.
-----------
"Mr Tony, this is a bedroom." Bunmi said as Tony led her into a well decorated room. "What's this supposed to mean?" She asked.
"This is for us." Tony replied.
Bunmi took a few steps backwards. "Are you okay? Did you drink more than your system could take?" She asked.
"I am perfectly in my right senses. I have always wanted you to be mine Bunmi. I became you company's largest buyer just to make you notice me. I want you to be mine." Tony poured out.
"No doubt, we need help here." Bunmi said as she searched for her phone which was nowhere to be found. Then she remembered she had given it to Collins.
"I am okay Bunmi. Tell me yes or no. Become my girlfriend." Tony said angrily.
"No." Bunmi snapped.
"Why?" He asked.
"I have a boyfriend and I am closer to getting married to him. I don't know you and the age difference is a turn off. Try someone else." She replied.
"That Collins is your boyfriend right? I know what to do."
"Nothing must happen to him. Or else, I will make sure you spend the rest of your life in jail." Bunmi screamed.
"Good, but even if you won't date me. Get on this bed and let's have fun." Tony commanded.
"In your dreams." She laughed.
"Don't you sleep with politicians to land your company contracts? Why should my own be different." Tony asked.
"You need to read better news about people. SJC is about intergrity, we win contracts on merit." Bunmi replied irritatedly.
"Let's see how you win contract without proper financial backing. I will switch alleigance. I will stop buying from you. Let's see what you have then." Tony threatened.
"All because you want to get in between my legs? Mr Tony, am disappointed." Bunmi asked. "Is this why you invited me to your party?"
"Get out." Obviously embarrassed, he screamed.
"Thank you." Bunmi mocked as she walked out of the room.
----
Kike stood beside Collins at the bar as they discussed. Collins had used his experiences at playing casino with his broke friends and the various casino games he has played on his phone and computer, to win Kike and huge amount of money.
"So, my name is Kike. Kike Brown." She said.
"Are you related to Mr Brown?" Collins asked. "Your husband?"
"No, he is my brother."
"Wow! Never knew." He retorted.
"And now you do." She laughed. "So, tell me, what do you do?"
"Baby, I've been searching everywhere for you." Bunmi's voice interrupted them.
Collins excused himself and went to meet his girlfriend. "Whatsup?" He asked.
"Let's get out of here." She almost commanded.
"Why?"
"This party is a bad idea, how I wish I had listened to dad." She replied.
"Okay, will you at least meet my new friend?" Collins asked.
"No." She snapped.
"Fine! Let me pick up our phones." He replied as he returned to the bar to pick his stuffs.
"Is that your girl?" Kike asked.
"what's wrong with her?" She added.
"I have to go now." Collins said.
"Okay, can I have your number?" Kike asked.
A suprised Collins quickly collected her phone and punched in his number. "see you some other time." With this, he returned to where Bunmi stood.
"And thanks for the game." Kike called back after him as he exited the room.
---
The drive out of the estate was quiet as each of them was deep in their own thoughts.
While Collins tried as much as possible to keep his mind on the road, he still couldn't help but think of what could be responsible for Bunmi's sudden change of attitude.
"Let's go to your apartment." He heard her say as he turned onto the main road.
"Are you sure?" Collins asked, knowing fully well that she has never passed the night in his room.
"Yeah." She replied.
"What about the mosquitos?" He asked.
She smiled as she held his free hand. "I will survive wherever you are."
"Okay. And what about work tomorrow?"
"Jeez! You ask too many questions. I will call in sick tomorrow." She replied.
Collins kept quiet through the rest of the journey, and even the few times they talked, he avoided bringing up the issue of the party and the reason her countenance changed after meeting Tony Brown privately.
"Only time will tell." He concluded as he drove into his street.
--tbc--