His Obsession

Chapter One

Abeni's POV

Living in Los Angeles was the dream, well my parent's dream. I was a young African woman who had left everyone and everything i loved behind for this dream. After years of planning and saving. Finally I was here, in search of a greener pasture. I didn't know what to expect when I first arrived but I was glad things were working in a way for me. I had a roof over my head, i had a job although it wasn't my dream job but at least it was something and most importantly i could afford to eat daily. I was grateful because it was hard for most people like me to get such opportunities.

I worked as a Janitor for a five star restaurant called Roi. The pay was okay, it paid bills. At least I was able to pay my tuition fee and send whatever i had left to my parents in Nigeria.
"Benny, table 16." Our manager yelled at me, i quickly grabbed a cleaning trolley and rushed into the restaurant. I noticed a scene being created by a very beautiful woman, she was crying while yelling at a man who sat with his legs crossed, typing away into his phone and drinking his whisky. There was another woman sitting in front of him who i guessed could be the reason the other woman was upset, she to be seemed annoyed by the scene unfolding before her but said nothing.

The aura of the man screamed dominance and power, i couldn't see the full view of his face but i was sure he was a handsome man, he dropped his whisky glass and stroked his stubble, almost immediately two body guards rushed in and dragged the woman away. I rushed to their table and picked up the broken glass of plates, cleaned the floor and then scurried away before the manager would yell at me for being slow.
The restaurant closed late as usual, i and my colleagues cleaned and arranged the whole floor. I prayed i would still be able to get a bus home, i glanced at my watch and saw that it was five minutes past eleven. We finished up thirteen minutes later. Riley and i changed from our uniforms and walked out of the restaurant. "I'm so glad tomorrow is our off day." Riley sighed obviously filled with exhaustion. "Me too, gosh my back hurts." She groaned and put her hands over my shoulder as we walked down the road hoping we would catch the final bus back to Skid row. Riley and i ran to the bus stop so we would catch the bus in time but it seemed we had missed it, Riley groaned as she held her stomach, she was having cramps and now we were basically stranded, i looked around hoping for a miracle but none came. "I think I'm just gonna order an Uber and go over to Steven's, you wanna come with?" i shook my head, i hated being an inconvenience to anyone and i just really wouldn't be comfortable at her boyfriend's house. "I'm sure a bus is gonna come" i said filled with a little bit of hope. "I'm gonna order right now." Riley ordered her Uber and he came within four minutes, we hugged and she rushed into the car while gripping her stomach in pain. i looked around me, it was silent and i was beginning to wish i had accepted Riley's request.

I glanced at my watch, the time was 11:49. I couldn't afford to pay a huge amount for an Uber from where i was so i decided to walk to a reasonable distance and order the Uber from there. I began my walk, i was glad the next day was an off-day for me so i could rest and have some me time. I scratched my neck as looked around frantically filled with anxiety. I glanced at my watch over an over again whilst i walked and finally i realized that i had walked for over 30 minutes. I ordered an Uber and placed the location at the end of the street i was about make a turn to. I was almost at the street and my legs felt as though they were about to give out. I turned into the the street and i shivered, it was too lonely and quiet, it scared the shit out of me. I fastened my pace, so i would meet up with Uber at the end of the street.

I was halfway through when i heard voices coming from an alley up ahead. It sounded like a person was pleading, i stopped in my tracks and walked slowly wanting to be sure of what i had heard. The alley was by my right and i tried peeping to see what was happening. I saw a man raise what appeared to be a gun, pointing it towards a man on the floor.

Although it was very dark and i couldn't see any of their faces, i was able to understand what the situation was. The banging sound of the gun, shocked me and i clamed my right  hand over my mouth, tears dropped from my eyes as i shook with fear.

My phone began to ring and i glanced at it, the Uber app popped up on the screen with a picture of the driver and his number plate. I heard the one of the men who had killed the other man say "go check who it is." immediately i heard that i quickly took one last look at the plate number and bolted towards the end of the street praying to God that the Uber man had the patience to wait for me, my phone rang again and i picked it up immediately. "I'm almost there please.... please wait." I looked back realized i was being chased by two men, i got to the end of the street and recognized the number plate of the car. It was parked lazily at the entrance of the street.  I hopped into the car and screamed "GO! GO! GO!" the driver was startled but stepped on it and zoomed off.  I tried to look through the rear windshield to know if they were still chasing me but i couldn't see anything clearly. As i heaved a sigh relief and rested on the seat something bumped the back of the car. I heard it or rather felt it, i glanced at the driver, waiting to see if he would stop the car to check for anything unusual but i saw that he wasn't bothered which calmed me down.  "are you okay ma'am?" i was startled by the Uber drivers voice, i put my hands on my chest and sighed. "i am, thank... thank you." he drove me home. I paid and literally jumped out of the car. Running to my room and slamming the door shut. I jumped on my bed, tired, exhausted and frightened. I tried to sleep but sleep wouldn't come, i kept hearing the sound of the gun go off. i was glad i didn't see anything clearly due to the darkness but i was damn sure a person was killed. I grabbed the sleeping pills on the bedside table and took it, minutes later i drifted into the abyss of sleep.

25th of July 2023
Thegloryy