Chapter 5

Jason turned and twisted weary, he couldn't sleep.

Even with the cold weather outside, he was still sweating profusely on his king-sized bed.

With firm resolve, he got off the bed,

illuminating his room, he entered his bathroom thinking how much he needed the cold shower.

Fighting so hard to forget that his psyche has been ruined because of the late-night incident as he preferred to call it in his head.

His greatest fear was if the victim was dead. He'd be a murderer, a heartless one.

Jason knew he couldn't stomach such truth, Sean, too. But Sean had done well to relinquish the blame on both of them promising Jason that the victim was collapsed and their impulsive decision to flee the scene was the best.

Jason knew keenly a part of his mind didn't believe that sorry excuse but he needed pacifying at the moment and Sean did.

Once he was done he wrapped his clean towel around his waist and sat on his bed. The image was so vivid in his memory.... and sent shivers down his body now with the effect of the alcohol gone.

He thought of sending supplications to the one above and maybe his conscience would let him sleep but decided not.

Jason dialed Sean's line, it rang and went straight to voicemail.

He tried again till Sean picked. In a rough voice, he answered.

"Hey... Jay, why are you calling at this time? It's 4:am in the morning?" Sean croaked in a coarse voice.

"Man I can't sleep... Don't you think we should report the incident to the police?... What if he's Dead? I keep seeing the image in my dreams and my conscience can't bear it. I wonder if he's still lying there or if someone found him already?" He asked in a panic.

Sean muttered a curse "Look, Jason!" He called firmly, knowing his friend had no iota of twisted nerve in him. Jason hardly could stomach leaving his parents as Sean did, not to talk of murdering someone else in cold blood.

But Sean knew it was the best decision they made, to run. Jason's father was a no-nonsense man and Sean was on the verge of signing a life-changing record deal. If this incident pointed back to them then they were both finished.

Dealing with the Nigerian police and victims' family was frustrating and strenuous. Sean had a first-hand experience of how tumultuous it could be when involved in an accident.

"You did nothing alright? It was raining hard and he was on the road at such time so who's fault is it?... No one at all okay?!... Not you, not me, and certainly not his, so quit beating yourself about that. I'm sure someone must've found him alright? And we can't risk going to jail and involving our parents. Or would you?" He asked breathlessly knowing the answer already.

"Of course not! Dad would disown me. He should never hear of this..."

"Thanks, man. I'll try to catch some sleep" Jason spoke as if his whole life depended on it.

********

He always loved how quiet and beautiful the surroundings were. That was what prompted him to purchase the house.

Its tranquility and green pastures were exhilarating, a nice runaway from his overwhelmingly imperative mother. Jason thought as he climbed the stairs leading to his large condo which he once shared with his now ex-girlfriend.

He was on his way to pick up his property as Charlotte sternly requested last night at the club.

Jason sighed, he already concluded within himself that he'd pack his things and leave the house for Charlotte. She was a lot to handle especially now he was mentally traumatized.

After last night's incident, Jason couldn't bring himself to drive a car at all, his fear rose to its peak drawing visions of the event which never ceased to replay in his troubled mind.

Prompting him to bring along Cornan his driver whom he had severally dodged in the past whenever he traipsed with his guys. He knew Cornan reported back to his mother but he had no choice now, it was his best option.

Dipped his hand into his left pocket and took out his spare key but surprisingly the house was already open, so he pushed himself inside lazily.

With indignation, Charlotte stood in the living room facing him with a stern look.

"For your information, I don't need you begging or trying to explain yourself to me at all... Just spear me the long talk. Go inside there and take your stuff, all of it!" she gestured immediately Jason stepped in.

He was startled by her sudden early morning outburst but at the same time relieved at her statement. He too had no energy to argue or try to explain himself to anyone, though on a normal day he would have wooed Charlotte from the beginning.

That was what she made him do every time he offended her... He'd go to the extent of serenading her. He was no musician but he knew two and two.

In a resolution, Jason walked past her and into the large peach-colored room they both shared.

He recalled how she insisted on the peach color saying it was mature and sexy at the same time, Jason was always reserved so he never wanted a choice of colors to become the reason for another fight.

Once he entered the room, the bedsheet was rumpled, indicating she'd been lying around the whole morning and just woke.

Memories of them in that same bed flooded his mind... Charlotte was game when it came to intimate stunts. She wasn't his first girlfriend nor his second. He'd lost count of how many they were.

But Charlotte was a true seductress. She needed not to wear the most expensive clothes nor perfumes. She just knew how to wreck his whole being.

She was like a glass of red wine, and he was addicted to her. Until yesterday...

Once he recalled the incident. His bowls rumbled, he felt nauseous.

Jason slowly sat on the bed and took large breaths until he was stable enough. He stood, grabbed his already packed luggage, and stormed outside the room.

"So you just want to leave like that?" Charlotte asked standing at akimbo.

Jason stopped on his track and turned towards her.

"No apologies? No goodbyes?..." She shrugged in wonder.

"Wow, Jason that's real mature of you. And after the disgrace yesterday you want to play the "I am the one hurt" card?."

"Char... I thought you didn't want to hear anything from me, so am respecting your decision. If this is what you want us to do then who am I?" Jason spoke with resignation.

He was really tired of the back and forth movement with charlotte. She always did find a way to make him the bad guy and she the saint. And other times she'd be so sweet and alluring that he'd run out of his mind.

He loved Charlotte, no doubt.

"Really?... So if I tell you to leave, you will just up and leave without fighting for our love. Just like that?... Mh?... Who am I supposed to stay and cuddle within this  large empty house?!" She whispers yelled. Running her polished acrylic nails down her braids in frustration.

"She always looked good on them," Jason thought subconsciously.

"I don't know. Please I don't have the strength to fight with you anymore. I think we just need time apart from each other... then we can know where this is leading us. Am tired from last night and I have my project to submit" Jason lied and took his bags to leave.

Charlotte lurched at him in fury.

"Oh, you've gotten fed up with me now eh? Now you need time apart to settle in with a new one" She chuckled bitterly.

"Listen Jason. You're stuck with me okay..." She followed his regretful gaze peremptorily, noting the flickering emotions in them but she wasn't giving up.

Being intimate with Jason came in handy for Charlotte who quickly noticed his despondent behavior. She needed his full energy and attention so she revised.

"You know that no one can rev you the way I do. Mh?" She purred in a sweetly sedating voice, ardently drawing Jason's full attention to her torrid self.

She forcibly drew Jason closer and cradled his face in her soft palms. Then slowly with dexterity, ran it down his virile torso then back to his face once more.

Jason was electrified. He inhaled deeply. With carefully intoxicated eyes he watched her as she started her style of seduction.

Placing light wet kisses on his lips prompting him to give in to his herculean desires.

Charlotte took a wisp of his soft curly hair,  closing the unwanted space between them,  she launched at his plump lips, attacking with such ferocity that caught Jason off guard.

Without many fights, he gave in to his ardent needs. A smug smiled tugged at Charlotte's lips as he reciprocated the tender kisses. With newfound confidence, she showed her cards knowing she was on her way to have him right between her legs.

Jason was the full package, she wouldn't want to let go easily. Who would pay up her tuition when the time came? Or the huge monthly allowance he paid her out of love for her? She thought.

She just had to give him what he loved so much and pretend she loved him to death. And it was enough to make him her slave.

She owned nothing until she met Jason. Being the only child and son of the country's deputy senate president, he was fortunate enough. He always had a silver spoon since birth and Charlotte barely survived while growing up.

Jason bought the current house which they both lived in but in her name. He wanted a place where they could stay together and away from prying eyes. The university hostel wasn't the best place for them since males and females were separated.

He was so soft on the inside but was very stubborn to his parents. They hated that he spent a lot of his money on her or as they thought that he spent it on random girls and parties.

The light kisses on the lips turned heavy and needy. They were almost sucking each other's throats out now and Charlotte intently wrapped her long sleek legs around his waist prompting him to grip both of her legs and pushed her to the wall nearby, his luggage forgotten.

Her short nightdress was covering almost nothing as he kissed and caressed every part he could. They both moaned into each other's throats.

Charlotte rubbed her middle on his, spawning a frustrated groan from Jason as he sucked her tender neck down with vigor.

Charlotte bit her lower lip in tremor, with a smirk she spoke.

"I told you, no one else could rev your engine like me, baby. I'm a fuckin Maserati" she murmured into his ear.

Flashes of his car ramming with a hard figure and the smell of gas enveloped his mind at the mention of a Maserati.

Jason cringed in fear and regrets.

Forcefully he unsnarled both of them, letting Charlotte stand on her feet. She staggered a bit while Jason sighed in frustration turning his back to her. She was confused.

He never refused her advances before, and if he ever did, it meant something was wrong somewhere.

So she moved to face him.

"What's the matter? am I rushing you?..." Concerned but containing her disappointment.

"You know we can take it slow, I understand you don't want to be here right now but bet me, baby, distance is only going to make our situation worse," She said tracing her thumb over his lower lip before placing a peck on the already swollen lips.

"C...char please stop it, I have to go now. I can't...." He gulped wearily.

"I can't do this right now am sorry okay? We'll talk later" He grabbed his forgotten luggage and opened the door before Charlotte who was starstruck at his indifference.

"If you walk out that door just know we're done for good Jason!" She threatened.

He spared her a glance turned and zoomed off. Charlotte was livid.

"Something must be wrong with Jason to make him so aloof towards her," She thought.

***

Mrs. Olivia came downstairs after being on the line with her husband.

Dressed in a knee-length Azure-colored gown worn with exquisite jewelry highlighting her fair skin. She looked spectacular.

She always outdid herself and everyone else, that was why her colleagues at the embassy loved her.

She was a generous soul exuding a strong aura and charisma wherever she was. Afar people thought she was a hard nut to crack and so some avoided her while the ones who came closer loved her the more.

She searched around for Jason but he was nowhere to be found.

"Have you seen my son Jason?" She asked one of the maids.

"Yes ma'am, Cornan said he was driving him to campus early this morning. Talked about submitting his project" Zara reported.

"Really?" Olivia inquired, surprised.

"Well go on with your chores, I'll just give him a call later" She strode off to the garage.

She noticed the new red mustang owned by her husband Ernest. Wondering why it was uncovered and parked wrongly.

Ernest got the car as a gift of gratitude from one of his political associates after a successful election but Ernest was hardly a lover of cars so he never drove the mustang.

She decided Jason had been making use of the car for a while now because her husband wasn't around. She knew her Ernest would disown Jason for touching his span-new Mustang.

Ernest and Jason weren't like the typical father-son type. Especially when Jason hit teenage age and the exuberance began.

Ernest being a man of discipline and morals made sure to show his son how he despised his late-night keepings, running off to "God knows were?" For months, not caring about his education. Jason was a very smart young boy but hot-headed. Being exposed to high life at a young age, he never wanted to do the things his age mates took as pertinent.

So his father became very strict and cold towards him. Ernest lost all hope in his son.

As shocking as it may sound he was once prompted to adopt a baby girl who would be his heir and take care of him and Olivia when they eventually get older.

But Olivia wouldn't hear of it the umpteenth time. She threatened to leave him. So Ernest resigned to fate. But his relationship with Jason never got better they avoided each other like a plague.

He could only control his son through threats of signing him off his fortune, and that was enough to get Jason back on track. Or at least, halfway back on track that is if you add his attending lectures once in two weeks and paying someone off to write his project and the rest.

Olivia Bestman shook her head in appraisal and set the ignition, swiftly drove off to her office. She wasn't much of a workaholic, unlike her husband who hardly stayed at home.

She ran a side business of her own apart from working in the Swiss embassy. She owned three shopping plazas around the state.

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