Chapter 2

**Benjamin Ajua

I'm so glad I ate for free tonight. That witch Carla thought I was going to pay the bill... Not even! That'll teach her to order expensive stuff on a first date with a man. The taste of it!

At this hour, all my friends are already there and waiting for me. Strangely, we are used to telling each other our days in turn. I get into my car after a few minutes. I swing a beautiful song, before starting.

I arrive home, and from afar, I see Ally laughing. Something funny happened? Because he's not the type to laugh like that, even when it comes to funny stories.

I get out of my car curiously. I walk towards him with great strides. I can't help knowing the cause

– Dude, what are you laughing at? I ask him

- You won't believe. Hey lord.

He continues to laugh...

He's going crazy or what?

Six minutes already... He said nothing. Shit! I continue my way without adding anything. I climb the stairs at high speed.

- A little witch there ruined Rick's plan. You can't imagine the state he is in right now. After spending a lot on her, she gave him sleeping pills.

It's Alexis' voice. I pause for a moment to better understand what he means.

– Alexis, who suffered this?

– Rick... I don't know if he's okay right now

I pass it running.

I arrive in front of Rick's room. I knock the first time, the second, but he doesn't open the door. What shitty girl dared do that to our friend?

– Rick! Rick! It's me... Open the door, it's me man

I wait for slow footsteps in the room.

I wait another five minutes... He finally opens

- Dude, are you okay?

- It's not okay. Alexis didn't tell you anything? I suffered the unimaginable today with a witch there... If only God allows me to catch her...

He speaks to me while gritting his teeth. I listen to it without saying anything. I didn't know that it was this story that he suddenly had. Oh fuck!

– No but, this girl deserves to be stubborn man. I will hurt him! I will hurt him!

- Calm down man. He told me

– I can't calm down, you know very well that it's serious

– No, we are big boys. With our team, we will find her. She will pay dearly.

Someone suddenly enters. It's Nervy...

- Guys, I'm sorry for what Rick went through. I am really sorry. But we're going to find that girl.

At the same time Alexis returns. We are now four.

– I think we will find a solution to our problem. Nervy continues. We are unanimous. And if one of us has a problem, it's all of us.

"We can't give up on this fucking witch!" I scream

- She must pay us dearly! Also yells Alexis. We forgot Ally...

– The shit, he will come and advise us to drop it, with his stupid stories there. Reacts Nervous

- You're right. I say in turn, while the others nod

– Show us his picture, asks Alexis

- This one...

I look at the photo first. I automatically swallow saliva. But, she's the girl I was with earlier...?! Oh what a waste!

- Guys, I was with her earlier...

- WHAT?! Shout out to others

Rick lunges at me and starts giving me quick punches. I try to explain myself but nobody wants to understand. I get a peek

– Eyiii...

Someone comes to separate us...

- Calm down... He said

It's Ally.

– Can you imagine that he is the one dating Carla's witch? Explain Rick before giving me another kick in the stomach

- The fight!!! Shout Alexis, the shit, instead of separating us

In the blink of an eye, I knock Rick down and punch him in the forehead as well. Ally starts laughing. I take this opportunity to give it a second, then another.

- It's over now! Shout Ally

Rick stands up, staring at me nastily. I fix it too. He must be stupid to attack me, instead of trying to understand the story.

I end up going to my room. I even forgot what I had to do. My eye is starting to hurt. I don't know if it's really his hand that did this to me. I can't believe it. Looks like a hammer

I hurry to cross my mirror. I stand in front. Oh shit... My eye is swollen. What am I going to do now to be able to flirt with other women? Oh but, he will pay me dearly for it. It's not my fault that I could hit on the same girl as him.

I throw myself on my bed after treating my eye. A few hours later, someone knocks on the door.

- Please...

I remain silent. It's him. Rick. I wonder what else he wants, after shaming me in front of everyone.

- What do you want ? I ask her with a serene face

"Man, you know, I apologize for my behavior earlier. I made the mistake, forgive me...

I sigh deeply

- No worries bro. You are forgiven, we are together

"Then I would like you to help me get this girl. You know she ate my money and ran away.

- WHAT? I can't.

I jumped out of bed at the same time.

- You can do it

- I will not do it. If that's why you came here, get out!

He stares at me firmly, before kicking my teeth and running out of my room.

- Hey...

I find myself on the ground with my mouth all bleeding. Next time I'll kill him. Whore ! It's badly educated dare to play with me.

*carla

I'm embarrassed.

I can't take this shame anymore. I'm handcuffed in a mess. My arms hurt.

- Come free me! I did not do anything! You are mean. You are wizards!!!

- Calm down ma'am. Calm down. A policeman told me

– How can I calm down? I did not steal. I did not kill! It's another one that leaked and...

– They are not wrong to have done so. On the contrary, you should lower yourself. You are wrong.

He turns his back on me.

I start crying. It hurts badly. I can't stand this. How will I do now? They took my phone, my bag. I don't even know how to inform our boss.

- What is your name? Another policeman asks me from behind

– Carla... I said with a sigh

- Why are you here?

I swallow saliva. It's shameful to say it.

- Its good. Does it cut me

- How do you think you'll get out of it?

- I do not know. They took my phone and nobody wants to listen to me. Can you help me please... please

He smiles before touching my shoulder

– In life, it's a win-win situation. You understand what I mean

I sigh softly...

- Untie me then. I understood well

He smiled again before untying me. I start thinking for a moment.

- I will be back. He said to me before turning his back on me

He comes back twenty minutes later...

– I paid your restaurant bill. And then I settled your case with the police station. You are now free.

- Thanks a lot. So...

- I'll meet you outside. let's go out

I sigh deeply before leaving. I was really afraid to spend so many days here.

He meets me outside with my phone.

– I would like to get to know you better. You're so pretty to be arrested here. Call me Jeremy. I am Congolese

- That's nice of you. Carla is my first name. I am Gabonese

- Pleased, Carla. Here. It's my business card. Let's make an appointment for the weekend, at 6 p.m. Hope to see you

- Thanks. Take care of yourself. bye

I turn him back happily. Finally, I will be able to breathe. This man from Ajua will regret it all his life. I wonder what he has in place of his heart.

I arrive home late. Not everyone is there. I open the living room door and walk into the kitchen. I'm still hungry. It's all me. I eat like a slut, and I don't care about other people's criticisms.

I plug in my phone while I eat. Barely lit that I see several missed calls from my men. Multiple WhatsApp messages. I hope I missed them all. I like having several friends. I don't know why, but I'm like that. Everyone takes care of me as best they can, and in the end, I lack nothing. I know how to handle them all. Nobody can surprise me. And I don't care if one of them dares to fall in love. I'm here for the money, not for the love.

Since I was 16, I have managed several men. That's my nature. Cheating is in my blood, and I'm proud of it. I don't want to get married anytime soon, because I love my infidelities. Risks mean absolutely nothing to me, because all work has risks.

– Carl?

I get up with a start.

It's our manager who just arrived. Our team of independent women is managed by her. She invests in our elegance, and then profits from the percentages.

"Where have you been since then?" I tried to reach you so many times, but you were unreachable.

- Madam, uh

The others suddenly enter. I wonder where they all come from at the same time. Estelle my best friend throws herself on me.

"We missed you honey. What happened to you ?

I take a few sips of my juice, before explaining the whole story to them. They are surprised

"If it hadn't been for a certain man, I don't know what they would do with me.

- Shit! Shouts Mrs. Olivia, our manager. But Carla you amaze me. You really amaze me. You made a rookie mistake. You should know that you never go on a date with a man without his own money. You must have had something on you!

- I didn't know... I said, taking my place

– Ohhhhh... The others are amazed en masse

A silence ensues.

Estelle takes me by the hand, into her room. I already know what she wants. She doesn't like me having problems.

"I want revenge on the man who put this shame on you. He must pay us dearly.

- I am for.

- Show me his picture...

I go back to get my phone. I search for a moment, before showing him the photo of that crazy Benjamin. Fortunately, I always take pictures with my men, even if it's the first day.

- There she is...

"I seem to have seen him once before. His name is Ajua?

- Yes

- Count on me, girl. If I meet him, my ass will help me. That'll teach him to behave. I don't even know what I will do with him. Count on me girl

- Thank you darling

* **

The weekend...

It's six o'clock. Time for the meeting with Jeremy. I don't know what's on his mind, but this meeting will allow me to know everything about him.

I rush to start. Madame Olivia helped me get it back. This woman does so many things for us, and she teaches us even more about men.

(...)