THE LAST CARD

"I know you won't believe me on this one, but this is the truth. I am not proud of what I did."

What a sugar-coated, pathetic apology!

"Yeah, sure! I mean, sorry is written all over you; that is why you are still here to prove you are sorry, right? Spare me the crap and get out of my way." I warn.

"I do not expect you to believe me, and I am fine with that. But just this once, Gia, believe me. Don't take this as coming from an enemy. Your enemies are right under your nose; be very careful." She says it in a weird tone, but I believe I have seen much worse of this deceptive face to fall for this.

"Yeah, I know. I am looking at one right now. You hate me so much just because of Ejay? Someone who can not even respect you?" I state. I don't even know why I'm wasting my precious time with this bitch.

"You are so wrong. I am no longer your enemy. About Ejay, what we have, sorry, actually, had What we had up until yesterday goes way back. It is a long story that you cannot understand. But it is over now." Did he break up with her already? The way she says it makes it sound like she is really hurting. The look in her eyes says it all. But then again, before I fall into her trap, I remind myself how many times I have fallen victim to deceit.

"You love him! That is why you have hated me with so much passion from the beginning."

"No. This is not love. You better go before he starts calling his spies to ask about where you are."

She is right. I better get going and stop listening to her nonsense. It's not love, my foot! I am not your enemy, my black ass! She thinks she can fool me. She susch a nkt...

I stormed out.

Minutes later.

As we drive to the club, I cannot help but think about what Mayleen said to me before I left my house. I know I should not be bothered by this, but I am. She is no longer my enemy. Since when? And if she is not, then who are these enemies she talked about? It's not like I have a lot of people in my circle. All I thought ever since she came to my house was that Ejay sent her to be his eyes and ears on me. To watch me and report my every move to him. Was I wrong?

Or what changed in her?

After about thirty minutes, I hear Rjay calling me, notifying me that we have arrived at the club. I get out of the car without saying a word to him and his fellow goons. Their ugly faces annoy me to the core. What did I do for God to punish me this way? I am a shadow of myself, and on top of that, it seems I am surrounded by enemies, some of whom I don't even know, if Mayleen was right. This life sucks. I am getting suffocated by everything and everyone around me. I feel like I am living in a cage. I have a good career and I have money, yet I cannot seem to enjoy life. I am a prisoner of my own life. God, please, if it is not too much to ask, show me some light to get out of this mess. Untie me from the bondage of this monster. Don't they say that there is always light at the end of the tunnel? I need to see that light right now. This is becoming too much for me to handle.

My friend Nora asked me a few days ago how it feels to be on stage entertaining people. How it feels to move people into my own world of music like I do. Where do I get all that energy? My answer was that music is my passion. And if you are doing something out of passion, it definitely turns out awesome. You don't need to look for energy, courage, or motivation somewhere else. You just let that passion drive you, and everything falls into place. It is not just energy that I feel when I am on stage; it is power.

I have the power to make people not just hear the message in my songs but rather feel the message. The power to control people's minds and feelings through music It is such a sweet feeling that I cannot explain, but I love it. Music has been everything to me since I embraced it. It brings me joy and fulfillment. If I had the option to live in this world of music, I would, without a doubt and without thinking twice. Music is my everything. Music completes me. I bow slightly like I always do at the end of my performance, and standing straight, my eyes meet with raised glasses towards me, while some are clapping and cheering. I say a loud thank you and blow them a kiss, handing the mic to Ejay to say his final word as we call it a night.

In the crowd, I spot Nora, but like all the girls, she has company. I miss talking to her, and I will as soon as I can. "Shall we?" Ejay says to me as the crowd starts walking out of the entertainment hall. It's time for these hungry sex dogs to squelch their thirst. I wish they could break their legs along the stairs; that way, the girls will not have to experience the torturous pain of this BDSM nonsense tonight. The word itself sounds horrible; I can't even imagine how painful it is. "You are lost." Ejay says, wrapping his hand around my waist, and I snap out of my own thoughts.

"I was just thinking," I say.

"About what?" He asks as if he has the word concern in his vocabulary.

"Don't get me wrong, but isn't there even a single day that the girls get to rest?" I ask.

"The resting means I won't get money." The shameless monster replies.

"You and I know that you have more than enough money. I am not saying they rest forever. Just a day or two will not make a difference." I state.

"You have so many demands." He starts pulling me with him out of the club.

"That is not a demand, Ejay. I am just suggesting. In the end, it is your decision. Just think about it." We walk in absolute silence to his office, and he locks the door behind us. "So, how do you intend to punish me for what happened yesterday?" He asks, taking off his coat and hanging it on this swivel chair.

"Aren't you even sorry for that?" I implore.

"Ejay does not apologize to anyone, and besides, you are punishing me for that, aren't you?" I forgot the mighty Ejay does not apologize to anyone. He has the right to do anything he wants, and nobody has the right to question him. Ruthless, unapologetic jerk! You will meet your match someday.

"Okay. So... I... have been nominated to attend a show in Mombasa." I say.

"And?" He walks close to me, banking all his ears on what I have to say.

"It's a one-week extravaganza show." I say.

"And you expect me to let you go? For one good week?"

"It is just a week. Please?" I plead.

"What are you willing to give for me to allow you to go?" His question scares me, but I remain strong. "Let's see," he says, pushing me to the wall and resting his hands on my thighs, caressing them. "If you can offer yourself to me right now, if you agree to have sex with me right now, I will grant your wish. Allow me to have you just the way I desire, Gia!"

Sex? Gawd, please, not now!

I swallow rough and dry, jerking away a little and annoying the shite of this hungry, insatiable sex manic!

"So, that is how it is going to be? Can we strike deals for sex? Our relationship will be based on deals. What if there are no deals?" He stares at me, as if reading my mind.

He smirks. "I know how this little head of yours works, Gia. So what is it in return for me? It better be cock-arousing or else." I don't know what cock-arousing means, but I am offering all that I have. I have given it a lot of thought, and I have no other option. This is what he has always wanted anyway. I hope it will be worth the sacrifice in the end.

"I am waiting." He says that when I took too long to say anything, his eyes were on mine.

"Me—the whole of me! I will return as your exclusive submissive woman."

His jaw drops to the floor!