POISON & WINE (Preview)

5; Selcouth-ly Screwed

Abuja.

Mariam went back to the hospital and took Madina. On their way back to her home, she changed her mind to go to a hotel and get themselves pampered instead. Maybe she was all wrecked with her medical checkup thinking she was pregnant. That is probably what caused all the havoc and shambles in her head to follow an unknown man, a poor one at that, albeit slightly handsome.

Madina said nothing inside the car after seeing how out of disoriented and bedlamized she looked. She knows how to handle Mariam at all times and had she talked to her earlier, she wouldn't have given her an answer. Mariam is going to tell her whatever it is that is bothering her when she feels like but for now, she is just going to be a supportive friend and wait till she is ready. Going to the hotel? Probably a brilliant idea. Something Mariam is always inundated with.

Mariam does that whenever she gets tensed or after moving on from a clingy protector. Once in a while she gets stuck with an insanely rich man because there are some things she hasn't finished yet with him. But it was never because there was a short for her next protector. She's got an endless list filled with stinky rich men ready for just a glimpse of her, she knows that too. She is quite selective when it comes to that.

She is currently with one of the richest men in Africa. A fifty year old man with a large family he always proudly pose with in the camera whenever the need arose. He has four wives and thirteen children but he wanted Mariam Abdou Baldé. He's been on the list for more than three years, she only gave him a chance about a month ago. She's already thinking about giving him the red card, not with the clinginess. Her next protector is supposed to know about his position that very day. That will have to wait though.

She was allowed inside Transcorp Hilton Hotel without hassle. Who are they to do that? It's a done job. No one has been able to say No to Mariam ever since she stepped into the harlotry circle.

They went to the spa first and passed a reception area with comfortable chairs and sofas, warm décor —dark wood, thick carpeting, plush seating, lamps, cozy colors— cosmetics and beauty products for sale, brochures for spa products and services, bowls of potpourri, incense burners, lit candles. The place is highly expensive like the clients. It smells opulent too; eucalyptus, lemongrass, fresh-cut flowers, aromatic soaps, acetone, nail polish, shampoos and conditioners.

They got themselves treated to facials, manicure and pedicure before Mariam asked for head massage. She was still tensed because even with her eyes closed for the facial, her muscles were taut and strained, her brows were bunched in between her brows in perplexity. Madina was becoming more and more curious at what was wrong with her friend. What disoriented her so?

After they were done with the spa, Mariam requested for a room at the top floor in the hotel where they could view the city from a balcony while they sip expensive wine and eat pasta. In between sips, she would get tipsy and ramble on and on about what happened to her at the hospital when she ran out like the devil was right behind her, chasing her for her life. As if he was not supposed to be afraid of her.

Mariam removed her clothes and stayed in her sport bra, a small panty shorts she wore beneath her jeans, as soon as she walked inside the suite. Madina watched from the foot of the bed as she sauntered outside to the balcony with that beautiful curvaceous body of hers, the sun slowly setting down the horizon. She sat down on one of the two resting chairs outside, folding her lean ivory legs on the low table in front of her.

Madina stripped herself too, wanting to give her friend as much support as she could. Something is terribly wrong with Mariam, she needs to do something.

Their order arrive few minutes later, spaghetti bolognese with chicken salad and their expensive wine in ice bucket, two flutes. Mariam excitedly started consuming her food before her appetite vanished the next second then went for the wine. She closed her eyes and savored it, she's always loved French expensive red wine. Right now, all her senses have shut down and she is only connected with her wine. It never seize to amaze Madina how she marveled at the tastes.