CHAPTER 1 BETTER OFF

NORA

"Hey love."

The clouds grumbled above, a distant fading growl heralding what was either going to be a downpour or a drizzle, Nora wasn't sure.

"Baby." She clutched the phone dearly to her ears. Dan's voice was the relief she needed from this web of confusion that lay before her in the form of car photos and plate numbers.

"You still busy? When you coming over?"

" Umm..I guess I won't be free for a little longer. Miss me?"

" I do. But take your time. Okay? We can see tomorrow and have wide sex, do crazy stuff lovers do." His voice was raspy--hungry.

It did things to her, things she wasn't sure she was ready for at the moment. Her stomach sang with delight.

'Fuck'

" Okay. Uhh ..See you tomorrow then. Bye bae"

" Bye," he ended the call and she wished he didn't.

She wanted to talk to him somewhat, some more.

Heck she wanted more than that.

Now she couldn't refocus.

She couldn't put a stop to the naughty thoughts he just implanted in her mind; they were running around like unchecked mice now in her brain.

And this chilly about-to-rain weather wasn't helpful, at all. "Fuck this."

The clouds rumbled again in agreement.

She stood from her desk. She could attend to all these later.

She fished for a trenchcoat, choosing the brown one this time, before she fetched her car keys and headed out of the building.

She had gotten to Dan's place, her eyes and mind dancing with excitement, with all the things that would go down tonight. The fact that she was surprising him was just the garnishment she needed, to bring her in-the-moment fantasies to life.

She could imagine the surprise in his face, morphing into a mischievous sparkle in his eyes as he kissed her and then..

She parked her car, some distance from his yard.

She got down and passed The lawns and gardens which had been trimmed to control the aftereffects of the rain fall.

Grass had a tendency to shoot once it was rainy season.

Dan's place was a condominium. And his apartment was at the upper floors.

She took the walk to his floor and paused when she saw two footwears.

Dan's timberland, she knew; but the red heels beside it?

Her heartbeat skyrocketed as a cloud of doubt hovered over her mind.

Who was around? Dan didn't have female siblings

Her heart was beating like a heavy bass drum, making her taste aridness.

Maybe he was just in with a friend. Silly Nora. She had to keep her insecurities and doubts in check. Dan hadn't given her reason to doubt him over the years.

He wouldn't do it now.

She turned in her keys which he had given her. She carefully pushed the door open, pulling off her heels to ensure she didn't make a sound.

As silent as a shadow

As stealthy as a cat.

Her handbag in hand she crept forward, past the living room with the fluffy rug at its center and into the bedrooms, the sound of her heartbeat nearly drowning out her hearing, her senses.

But she heard it.

"Fuckkkkk. Mmmmmm. You feel so good." A female voice moaned.

"You like it? You enjoying my cock bitch?" Dan's unmistakable voice sounded, followed by a slap. " You like it."

"Yes yesssss. Harder...go harder baby. Oh. I thinkkk I'm gonna cummm."

Nora's bag dropped to the floor, her legs weakened underneath her.

Her mouth had gone completely dry now, and she felt her world spinning.

The shadow demons from two years ago coming back to take away her happiness, once again.

Once again.

With a shaky breath she breathed in and breathed out but it wasn't achieving the desired effect. "Fuck." She mumbled to herself.

Her eyes teared up. What would she do now? What would she do?

She had to confront him at least. Find closure? There had to be a logical reason right? She just wanted answers.

She neared the door when the lady's voice came again.

"You know I give it to you in a way that insane bitch can't, and yet you are still with her?"

" Are you going to throw a fuss now? I don't have anything to do with her. She's lost herself. I think it's better she joins her dead family, since she can't move on from their death, she's just a shell of her former self now. I am truly disgusted."

" Then fucking break up with her and stop trying to lay it off."

" I will do it," he grunted. " Don't spoil the fun."

" When?"

Nora taking her bag, opened the door with firm resolve coursing through her.

Dan and the woman turned, shock racing like garrons across their faces.

"We are ending things now dear, you don't have to worry about that." She said.

" Fuck me." Dan flew off the lady, his 'teenie' dangling like a falling stick. "What the hell Nora! How did you?"

"How did I come in unannounced, without informing you? Or how did I manage to catch you fucking another woman just now? Discovering you for the wretched man that you are?" She raised an auburn brow. "Which is it, Dan?"

The bewilderment didn't leave Dan's face, it glued to him like a second skin.

The lady had cowered underneath the covers, more ashamed than Dan of her naked body being publicly displayed. But her glare on Nora was palpable.

Dan scratched his head. "You should have...told me you were coming, Nora. For real. I--"

" You would have sent her away? Better still, you wouldn't have let her come. So you can keep your pretence. You make me sick."

And that wasn't an understatement. Her stomach, once churning with naughty delights at thoughts of what she would do with her man, now burned with distaste and disgust.

She felt nauseous.

Dan's eyes glazed over, something like remorse flashing in them."I didn't mean to do this Nora. It was the Devil's work. I don't have anything doing with her"

" Dan!" The woman threw a pillow angrily at him " You are such an ingrate!! You've been fucking me for months now; and all of a sudden it's the devil's work!!"

But Dan didn't afford her even a gaze.

"We are done Daniel. Goodbye." Nora said.

Dan made to walk towards her, when she raised her bag as if to swing it.

"If you dare take a step towards me. I will use my bag on your face!"