Tunde managed to park his 2022 Chevrolet Silverado Classic in the only available spot just before another car attempted to claim it. He had been patiently waiting for five minutes and was on the verge of giving up when a Sienna pulled out, freeing up the space for him.
He stepped out of his car and was immediately engulfed by the loud music coming out of the bar. The parking lot was chaotic, with cars haphazardly parked and couples huddled together under the starless sky and the obscured moon, which provided the perfect cloak of darkness.
He glanced at his gold wristwatch and noted the time: 10:15 p.m. He would have been in bed, but his friends Ayo and Gbenga had persuaded him to join them for a night out during their routine video calls. In their words, "You only live once. Allow yourself to live Tunde."
At the end of the conference call, Tunde had agreed to meet up with them, as his wife, Angela, and kids were in Italy for the summer holiday. However, he mentioned he'd be running late because it was the last Friday of the month and the end of the second quarter, so he had a long meeting scheduled with his auditors.
He entered the bush bar through the flower gate. The fences were made of flowers and neatly trimmed. Tables and chairs were arranged under the dark sky, with lights illuminating just the bar and stage. A live fuji musician entertained the crowd. Female dancers, clad in short Ankara skirts and bras, swayed to the rhythm. Tunde dialed Ayo's number and spotted him as he stood up from the center and waved him over to join them.
He approached the table, and the men rose to greet him with handshakes and hugs. After exchanging pleasantries, Tunde settled into an empty chair. The table was adorned with drinks, and to his surprise, Ayo and Gbenga were accompanied by three ladies. One of them was affectionately pecking Ayo, while another sat on Gbenga's lap. Tunde presumed the third lady must be for him.
"Chairman! Chair, my friend. Tunde the multimillionaire. Tunde dollars," Gbenga affectionately called out. "Wassup now, my G. See, life is too short to spend all of it working. This is Friday night. Sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself."
"That's right, Tunde. Have fun," Ayo chimed in and signaled to the bartender to pour some drinks for Tunde. The bartender arrived with a glass and a bottle of alcoholic wine and poured a generous amount into the glass he offered Tunde.
Tunde accepted the glass from the bartender and took a sip, feeling the wine soothe his nerves. The girl seated beside him giggled incessantly. She attempted to touch him, but Tunde gently removed her hands. Leaning back in his chair, he stretched his back and savored the drink from his glass.
The men spent the next thirty minutes discussing life, family, and work, with Tunde passionately expressing his love for his wife and kids. After a while, he started feeling strange. Sensations of sickness and drowsiness overwhelmed him. Unable to comprehend what was happening, he realized it was time to head home. As he attempted to stand up, he fell back into his seat. Ayo and Gbenga rushed to his aid. They assisted him to stand and guided him to the parking lot. With the help of his car key, they located his vehicle.
"I can drive myself home. Give me the car key," Tunde insisted as they reached his car.
"Nah! Not in this state," Ayo insisted. "I'll drive you home and make sure you're safe and sound. Right now, we'll get you inside the car and make sure you're securely strapped in."
They carefully placed Tunde inside the car and securely strapped him in. Ayo signaled to Gbenga, who nodded in understanding. The lady who had been vying for Tunde's attention all night joined them in the car, and Ayo took the driver's seat, steering the car towards Tunde's house. Upon arrival, with the assistance of the lady, they carefully carried Tunde into his bedroom and laid him gently on the bed.
"Now it's up to you, Bukky. Don't mess this up. Do what must be done and make sure you get the video evidence we need," he instructed, his voice filled with disdain. "This bastard always thinks he's better than all of us just because he's lucky to have married a girl from a rich home. He's always bragging about how much he loves her when we all know he just doesn't want to cheat on her, so she won't leave him and send him back to the gutters where she found him," he added, spitting on the floor in disgust.
"Don't worry. This is my job, and I know just what to do. By tomorrow, have the rest of my money ready," Bukky affirmed.
The next morning, Tunde woke up with a pounding headache. He attempted to open his eyes, but the room spun around him, forcing him to shut them tightly once more. After a few minutes, he cautiously reopened them to find someone drawing the curtains, allowing sunlight to flood the room.
"You! I remember you from last night. Can you explain to me what happened and why you are in my house?" Tunde demanded, his voice rising in alarm.
"Easy, Mr. Tunde. Nothing happened last night, so you can rest easy. You haven't cheated on your beloved wife," she reassured.
Tunde breathed a sigh of relief, but his eyes remained fixed on her as she stood up from the bed and walked over to where her handbag was. She opened it and pulled out a bundle of money, showing it to him.
"This is $2000 dollars. I was paid to sleep with you and make a video while at it. I guess you already know by who". She brought out a cigarette and placed it in between her lips. She reached for a lighter and lit it.
Tunde couldn't believe what he had just heard. He closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to process the shocking revelation. "Did Gbenga and Ayo spike my drink?" he questioned, his eyes still closed and his mind racing with disbelief, but Bukky remained silent.
"Why didn't you do as they asked since you've been paid handsomely?" Tunde inquired as he observed her puffing on her cigarette.
She dropped the cigarette on the tiled floor and crushed it with the sole of her stilettos. "I had a change of mind when I saw the picture of your wife and kids," she explained, reaching for a picture frame on the table. "Angela was my school mother back in secondary school. I was preparing to do what I was paid to do when I saw the picture. I couldn't bring myself to betray a woman who convinced her father to sponsor me through secondary school on a scholarship after my father died in my first year. So, there you have your reason."
She picked up her bag. "Have a nice day, Mr. Tunde, and when Angela comes back, tell her you ran into Bukky Adeola."
Once she was gone, he gathered his thoughts and dialed his friend, the commissioner of police, providing a detailed account of everything that had transpired. He instructed the commissioner to arrest Ayo and Gbenga for further investigation, promising to come to the police station once they were apprehended.
Ayo and Gbenga were arrested, charged, and subsequently sentenced to 10 years imprisonment following a thorough legal process.
