A NEW HOME

We are driving out of the club with Ejay, along with an annoying number of bodyguards. I thought he was going to let me go and look for a house myself, but the jerk had his plans. I was shocked when he told me that he had taken care of it, but either way, I am glad. This is a good start. It was a new beginning for me. It was a good opportunity to work out my plans. I will be able to concentrate on my music and private life with the little time I will be getting out of the club. I have a lot of plans already, and I hope I succeed. I can't fail. I can't afford to fail.

It's about twenty minutes since we left the club, and we are now driving slowly in a gated community. Security is so tight here, as I can see. In less than two minutes, we pass a few more apartments, and the driver hoots at a black gate labeled No. 13, 1st Hurlingham. I am guessing this place is called Hurlingham. A soldier opens the gate, and we drive in. A very clean tiled compound and a two-story apartment.

"You like it?" Ejay asks as we get out of the car.

"Yes, but isn't it too big for me? And how much are they charging?" I implore.

"Relax. Let's see the inside first." Getting inside, I have nothing to complain about. It's beautiful; anything would be just fine in my situation. I mean, all I wanted was just something out of the club where I could bring my friends if they wanted to visit. A tranquil place that can help me cool off from what I have experienced in the last couple of days

"Here." He hands the key, and he shoves the other copy in his pocket, and I don't care to ask any questions.

"Don't you want to check upstairs? The kitchen?" He asks when I drop my bags on the floor and fall on the couch. "It's fine. I will explore that later. Are you staying for long?" I ask.

"Why? Does my presence bother you that much?"

You must be so dumb if you haven't noticed, idiot! You should have never come into my life in the first place. I am sure I would be happy somewhere else. But you had to save me. Save my foot! I compose myself and refrain from saying what exactly I feel. "Of course not. I just realized I have a lot to do in just a couple of hours. What time are you expecting me in the club?" I ask.

"Five at the dot, from tomorrow. You can take an hour off today to organize everything." He says.

That is so not him.

"Thank you," I say.

"I am leaving. I have some business to take care of. But before I do, let me remind you about the rules. No boyfriends. No investigating about your past. And no playing games with me. Don't think of playing with me. And the only place you are supposed to go without the bodyguards is inside this house." He says.

"You don't have to remind me. Because every time you do, it proves that you don't trust me one bit." I play nice and hurt.

"Are you seriously talking about trust? Cut the crap, will you?" He says. He knows that I don't trust him, and that is something that I probably need to work on.

"Well, I have nothing to hide from you, Ejay. Absolutely nothing?" I try to convince him.

"And I do?" He stands up, and I do the same.

"Don't you?" I ask.

"What are you insinuating?" He asks, scratching his eye.row.

"Why don't you try and make me understand why you do not want me to find out about my past? Because that is the only problem I have with you. Why do you want me to live under this shadow of myself?" I ask in a way that I deem unsuspicious.

"Because I say so, period. And stop nagging me about that because you are beginning to piss me off." He is totally pissed. Something about me recovering my memory is a threat to him.

"Then how can we have a relationship if we don't trust each other?"

"Don't make me laugh, Gia." He walks close to me. "It's you who need to earn my trust, not the other way around." Exactly, because there is nothing to trust you for, you monster.

I nod my head. "Fine. Aah, before I forget, there is someone who wants to meet me." That got him curious, but not as much as I expected. It may be because he knows he has control over my moves. Maybe he installed cameras in this room so that he could monitor me closely. And the bodyguards outside will be his eyes and ears outside this house. I feel suffocated already.

"He or she?" He asks.

"I have no plans to screw up, believe it or not. It's a she. Her name is Nelly. Apparently she was my best friend, according to her. She wants to come over and stay with me for a few days." I xplain.

"A few days, huh? And then what?"

"And then nothing. She said she was my best friend. I couldn't refuse to meet her. I promise, I won't ask her anything, and I will avoid talking about my previous life." I say.

"You better remember the rules very well. And if she becomes a nuisance, I will get rid of her. She will disappear in thin air." That is a warning. A warning that makes me fear for the life of my best friend. I don't know how I will do it, but I will let her know that I don't want to remember my past. I must be very careful from now on, because I have a feeling that Ejay does not trust me. He might be setting up a trap for me. "I will be going now. I will send you a roommate in the morning."

A what? I did not ask for that, did I? What the fucking roommate for? "May I know who you are sending?"

He looks at me in an odd way that I can't explain. "Your friend." The jerk smirks and walks out, leaving me to enjoy this little freedom.

I feel like I have just left a jail cell. This feels so good, and if he sends Nora to be my roommate, then it will be so beautiful here. But why give me a roommate? I did not ask for that. Anyway, I have a lot of packing to do, but before that, I better call Nelly to ask when she plans on coming. I chatted with her on WhatsApp yesterday and promised to call her today after confirming with the moron Ejay, but of course I didn't tell her why. I dial her number and wait for her to pick up.

"Gia Wilsons, is that your bestie?" She says it with excitement.

"Yes, Nelly it's me. How are you?"

"I am excited to see you again. Tell me, can I come right now?" She says.

"Are you sure you want to come just now?"

"Of course. I am dying to see you, gal." She says.

"Okay. But just like I said, I don't remember anything, so don't be surprised if you find me boring." I explain my situation.

"What matters is just seeing you. Who knows? I might help you remember something. Don't you want that?"

Oh, shit! This early? I am dying to know that, but I have to be cautious. I cannot risk the life of my friend. And since she knows nothing about this double life and my captivity, I should be the one to be careful.

"Actually, Nelly...aah?" How do I tell her without sounding odd?

"Bestie, what is it? You can tell me anything." She speaks when I fall silent.

"You know what? Just get here first. We will talk when you arrive."

I think that is the best way.

"Cool, dear," she says.

"So I am not even familiar with where I am staying. I don't know how to direct you." I state.

"Don't you have someone who can direct me? Just your address; I will find a way to get there."She asks.

"Hold on." I walk outside and call one of the six bodyguards Ejay assigned to me. Two or three would have been enough, but that black monkey had to suffocate me with a squandron of six of them. I hope they don't expect me to cook for them though. I swer won't and i give no fuck if they sterve to death. That will even be better for me.

After the bodyguard whom I did not care to ask his name give the direction, I cut the call and stroll inside to make a list of the things I need to buy for cooking. My friend whom I don't even remember is coming to see me so I have to cook. I carry by bags upstairs, choosing the best bedroom out of the three and settle my begs in the walk-in closet.

I know this game I am playing with Ejay is dangerous. Today I just confirmed that he does not trust me either. He did not even force a kiss on me before he stormed out unlike other days. This feels like a very dangerous road I have chosen. I am starting to get scared already, but this is not the time to entertain fear. It's too early to let fear creep in me. I will not allow myself to be shaken. I will keep holding on to the faith that all my efforts will be worth it in the end. I am not doing this just for myself. I am doing this for the innocent souls suffering in the hands of this despicable lunatic, Ejay. They don't deserve what they are going through. Nobody deserves that.