My eyes clouded. No, it couldn't be. I returned my gaze to my phone and there it was—the debit alerts with a new balance of nineteen naira. My hands trembled. Zara couldn't have duped me, I had to be mistaken. I dialled her number with shaky hands. I didn't think I could hyperventilate but that was exactly what happened. My legs grew weak as I got redirected to her voicemail. How could I have missed the signs? Zara is–was–my girlfriend and our relationship just clocked six months. She had asked for my debit card and I had given it to her because, in her words, 'I want to prepare you the most delicious dish you've ever tasted. But, I have little money left with me. Can you lend me some money? I'll return it when Joy pays for the lingerie she ordered'. Like the fool I was, I told her not to bother paying back. The grin on my face when she left in the morning could not rival the misery I now felt. The money she withdrew did not belong to me. I was supposed to help several people invest their money in foreign exchange. My life passed before my eyes and I groaned. I'm ruined. And it's all Zara's fault!
***
I tapped my foot impatiently while nodding my head. How was I supposed to tell my brother's lawyer he sounds gibberish to me? My hair was gradually turning to dreads due to neglect and my eyes were bloodshot. I was owing a sum of money none of my family members had ever owned and Mr Hassan was telling me to keep my cool? It wouldn't do to tell him his suit was not well-tailored. I mean, what kind of a client would that make me? And that was why I kept quiet. Even though he applied too much hair gel, making his hair look like it recently passed through hell. Not like it was burnt or anything, it just looked more rumpled than the folds of his neck.
"Jay, are you listening to me?"
I cleared my throat. "Yes, I am."
My lawyer stopped offering his services, though not outrightly, when he discovered I couldn't pay him. He might deny it but that was how it looked to me. A perfect explanation of a bastard in a sleek suit.
"Your clients won't believe you if you tell them your girlfriend eloped with–"
"Ex."
"What?"
"Ex-girlfriend."
His brows rose. "Sorry. I didn't think it mattered."
"It matters."
"Okay then. Telling them your girl–ex-girlfriend eloped with the money will get you imprisoned faster than telling them you're a fraud."
I frowned.
"Jay, I'm trying to tell you your personal life is none of your clients' business. The agreement you signed with them is binding, irrespective of what your girl–ex-girlfriend did."
My lips twitched. I was starting to doubt Mr Nweke's competence. Did he think I didn't know? Why else would I be in his office?
"Barrister, you're not talking about the case I filed with the police? Can't we do something with that?"
"This is Nigeria. And I'm not trying to tell you something you don't know. Looking for your girlfriend–"
My nostrils flared. "Ex!"
"Sorry. Can you give me her name? It will be best if I address her by that."
"Zara."
"Cases like this take a long time to get resolved—if they ever do. Unless something extraordinary happens, she might never get apprehended. You can't rely on the police. They are the same people who will arrest you once your clients start filing cases against you."
"What do you suggest?"
"You need to keep your cool because—"
"Barrister, I'm sorry but I'll appreciate it if you can stop repeating words. My life is already messed up and I don't think a lot of grammar will help me."
He raised his chin as something close anger flashed in his face. I sighed. I might just have lost the one person who could help me.
"You have three options. You can repay them, declare bankruptcy, or tell them the truth. But, you have to know they can sue you, and that can lead to the ruin of your reputation."
I blanched.
"I know it sounds shocking but there is little we can do. We have nothing to prove your innocence to your clients. There's no record of your conversation with your—with Zara or a witness that can prove that all this was not planned. If the money had not been paid to your account and if she had taken the debit card of your business account without your knowledge, I might have been able to help. Even then, I wouldn't be able to do much. Except prove your innocence. And that does not get your debt paid."
I dropped my chin. "I feel like running away."
"You won't be the first Nigerian to do it. No wonder our international reputation is terrible. Fraudsters, liars and cowards."
I glared at him.
"I meant no offence."
"If you are trying to accuse me of planning with Zara to defraud my clients, then I think you should know that I'm taking a lot of offence."
"Don't misunderstand me. Apart from the fact that you're my friend's brother, I take my job very seriously."
"That's good to know."
"Another thing is, are you insured?"
"My life insurance can't pay a quarter of the money. And I can't even get that unless I'm dead."
"Not that. Theft insurance or insurance covering unfortunate occurrences."
"No."
"I think you should declare bankruptcy."
I laughed.
"What?"
"If I sell everyone in my extended family, we might not be able to pay the debt."
"That's serious. Your brother was telling me you have some valuable assets."
"If he's talking about Lanre's yacht and Sean's duplex, he has been deceived. I don't own any property."
Mr Gumiel sat back in his chair. "This is serious. What will you do?"
"That's why I'm here. What should I do?"
***
Each weary step brought me closer to home. Sweat trickled down my face, soaking my dark-brown shirt. Thoughts of suicide filled my mind but I knew I couldn't do it. Some might call me coward, and maybe it's true. My phone vibrated and I wasn't surprised when I saw the caller ID. It was time they all knew the truth.
"Hello, sir. I was about to call you." That was not a complete lie because I was going to call him.
"No, I've not met with the trader."
My heartbeat increased erratically. I couldn't possibly tell another lie.
"I wish I can say everything is fine but it's not. I got robbed, sir. The money was stolen from my account."
My lips trembled. "No sir. It's not just yours."
"Yes sir. I've reported it to the police. Actions are being taken to track the culprit, sir."
"No, no, not at all." I swallowed. "I plan on repaying. The contract is binding."
My hands shook with the subtle threat in his words. A loud honk sounded to my left and I closed my eyes. Death might be a very good option. A picture of Zara flitted through my mind and my heart heaved with pain. She had been the perfect girlfriend. I scoffed. I had even planned on proposing to her. I absent-mindedly stared at the lady who walked past me before looking away. My gaze returned to her and there it was. The couple tee. I was beside her in three seconds. My veins boiled with excitement and anger. I had found her.
"Are you alright?"
My grip on her loosened and my mind grew blank.
She raised a brow. "Do I know you?"
"No. I...I took you for someone else."
I clenched my teeth as her grip on her bag tightened.
"Okay. You'll have to excuse me."
I slowly let out my breath. "I'm not a thief, you know."
"I didn't say you were."
"Of course, you didn't."
Her eyes widened and she must have wanted to roll them.
"Goodbye, Mr…"
"Jide. Jide Agunbiade."
"Okay. I hope you find the lady you're looking for, Mr Agunbiade."
"More than hope, I will."
Maybe I shouldn't have sounded so confident because a week later, I was yet to hear anything about Zara. My back ached from having to lie on the bed for a long time but I wasn't about to admit it—not to myself and especially not to my brother. He had done all he could to get me out of his guest room to no avail. My phone was off and so was my life. The door opened but I didn't bother opening my eyes. It was most likely Tola trying to talk me into getting up.
"Jay, you have to see this."
I groaned.
"Jide." His voice tightened. "I'm serious."
I opened my eyes my heart wavered at what I saw. Tola looked stricken. He handed me his phone and I must have passed out because the next time I opened my eyes, I was dressed in a hospital robe.
"Mummy, he's awake."
© ADENIKE ONI 2020
Next episode will be released on Tuesday (20/10/2020) by 17:30 GMT. Stay tuned. Kindly drop a comment if you liked the story. And don't forget to share with others. Thank you.
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