Chapter 21 (Not So) Good Samaritan (3)
Things had just happened in a flash. The stranger spilled the contents of her handbag, her previous dress fell out, a black pair of heels, a book, coupled with some crumpled sheets of paper and some wads of money which she intended giving her younger sister for her tuition fee.
He smirked, picking up the money, and thrusted her out of the car with her property. Elaine landed on the floor with her butt. She winced as pain embraced her to the top of her head.
Staggering, Elaine gathered herself to her feet, dumbfounded on the pathway. Her mouth was unable to utter a word. She had been harassed, robbed, and thrown back to where she belonged. She wrenched her head back to the road hoping to catch a glimpse of his plate number but hazy smoke oozed from his tailpipe tailing behind him.
She scoffed at herself. She had been a fool for trusting him. Bracing up against the need to spill tears, she picked up her scattered book, and dress and placed them into her Fendi bag. Kicking the sheets of paper past her, she swore a curse word.
It was all Gary's fault. If he hadn't picked that particular hangout, this wouldn't have happened to her. Had it occurred to him that she had done him a favor by pulling him out of his shell?
If only she had stayed back at work, she wouldn't be faced with all of this that was happening to her. She sniffed back bitter tears as she hurriedly put on her heels and walked into Transcity Club.
And just as she'd known, Willow let down her wrath on her. Willow was the boss, the middle-aged and elegant woman who gave out tasks to younger ladies at the club.
"Where the hell have you been at?" Willow surged out an angered dab at Elaine.
"Sorry, Willow. I rushed out to get some drugs," Elaine couldn't think of a better lie.
"Some drugs?" Willow arched her brows, surprised at Elaine's words. She was chubby and pretty. But she prided in her authority which endeared most clients to her. And by this, she passed on jobs to those under her.
"You lying to me, bitch?" She didn't like jokes being played on her.
"No, Willow. Now, why will I ever lie to you?" Elaine fidgeted. She needed more lies, she'd been gone for possibly four hours straight.
"You were supposed to grind the groove like we'd planned out. You scuttled out to get some drugs?" Willow was appalled.
"Now, tell me, what's up? Did you meet the doctor, where are the drugs?" Willow added.
Elaine didn't know what to do anymore. She couldn't fake the act anymore. She broke into a sob. "I got robbed, Willow... Al..all my money...I've been robbed. All my money has been taken from me and... It was my sister's tuition fee...," Elaine stammered as she cried.
Willow's tensed gaze softened on her. "You've been on this game for how long?" Her voice still held a tinge of cold.
"For five years." Elaine sniffed.
"Good. You better pull yourself together and play smart. You're not a girl anymore. Tell Leila to get you something sexy. You'll work the groove till dawn, at least you will be able to come up with some cash and my payment," Willow told her.
Elaine nodded, wiping her tears away. She was grateful in a way that Willow was being kind to her. She was usually a pain in the ass.
"Elaine," Willow called out to her, stopping Elaine in her tracks.
Elaine snapped her head to her. "Know any man named Gary?" Willow asked.
Elaine's heart jumped into her mouth. What the hell! Gary came to her workplace? She never mentioned where she worked to him. How was it possible?
"There are lot of Garys, did he mention any last name?" Elaine threw in.
"Gary Hall... Hallway. Yeah, that was what he called himself. Typical, classy and wealthy. Where did you get yourself such a fellow?"
Elaine's heart rolled and somersaulted. It was him! She tried to calm the rate at which her heart was beating. Her fingers were visibly shaking, Willow caught that quickly.
"Are you alright? You sure you can work the groove?"
"Yeah, I can."
Willow continued from where she stopped. "Told him to drop his digits since he insisted on having no one else but you in the VIP section. Had me wondering how you struck such a man. I must commend you though. I hope he returns," Willow said.
"I hope so," Elaine huffed to that as she watched Willow turn away to attend to other business of the morning.
It was 2:20 in the morning but Elaine couldn't feel her legs move. She was swallowed up in her thoughts without realizing that she was about to swoon.