Chapter 1

Jacob crouched on a wedged chair spewing a crystal tumbler of colorless wine, it gave off a sickly flavor that smoldered his nostrils. His head kneeled like a sack of wheat, letting strands of his jet-black hair hanging on his face, his eyes were filled with tears that blurred his vision.

He clasped the freezing tumbler against his lips, and in one swift motion gulped down the wine like a brew of medicine. He felt a tingle of being whack in the back of the head with a club and tilted his head back taking a deep breath in trying to stop himself from barfing.

Jacob had already taken a few shots of the whiskey but the vile liquid still made him gag. A bit of spittle dropped on his red skinny lips, he dabbed it off and moaned. He already had a few shots of liquor. He wasn't used to the taste or smell of alcohol. Liquor wasn't for him.

Jacob never touched alcohol even though he had a bar that comprised a large exhibition of liquor in his vast living room.

Jacob leaned his back on the chair reliving the friction of his muscles and letting out a sigh.

A piece of music was flowing from the studio, and it thumped loudly in Jacob's ears, it dawned on him, that he's at a club, and he jolted out of his reflections.

Almost everyone was on the dance floor, dancing to the tune of the music. It's a disco. They twirled, whirled, and switching sides, they threw their hands in the air, moving their bodies like an uncoiling rope.

As the beats were playing fast, they moved their feet as they belonged to the music feeling so joyful like a shot of adrenaline to the heart.

the disco ball light twirled above - launching a very shade of the rainbow into the darkness.

Jacob stared at the slender and full-figured ladies downing his wine with smiles beaming on his cheeks, he dropped the cup feeling unsettled. Listening to the fast beats, he was feeling the urge to dance, but he didn't want to rise.

The enthusiastic youngsters tossed out empty bottles on the floor. Few of them were hopping high holding and sipping a bottle of liquor. Carried away with the beats, they flung the chairs and tossed the tables.

some of the ladies spitted out chewed gums jumping and laughing stupidly and their hair was rolling as they shook their heads.

They disposed of sticks of cigarettes and their packets which got crumpled as they stepped on them.

The club waitresses sold packets of cigarettes to everyone they came across in the room. Their red short sinewed leather skirt conveyed their hips, and their blouse was divulging their figure, that most of the male customers ogled at them like they were glued to a TV. Their crimson lipstick shone on their lips which were rolling as they were chewing gums. Their hairdo was orange and pink colored.

A waitress moved toward Jacob's table with a small tray of cigarettes. The vibrating red tray in her hands glowed under the lighting. As she got closer to the table, her lips curved into a seductive smile while her hips swayed a lot more than necessary.

She had a blessed body figure and looked attractive like a model that is irresistible not to ignore. Although, Jacob didn't feel amused.

The packets of cigarettes were tastefully arranged in the order in the tray, but Jacob scrunched his face at the sight of it and turned away from the waitress and her endeavors to seduce him.

The waitress was dissatisfied fighting back the tears in her eyes. She wanted to earn more income for the night. She walked away bobbing her head.

Jacob suspected she might be heartbroken, but he didn't feel bad and continued sipping his wine.

He heard the entrance doors open, and he stared at the doors noticing some ladies stylishly dressed, running in and dancing wildly carried away by the fast beats of the music. After which, some party boys, walked into the room wearing designer jeans with curved chains hanging on each pair sagging down their waist. They were swaying their body to the music tune as they were heading to the stage floor. There was no more room, they slipped in among the crowd.

The boys jumped high, their limbs had so much vigor. They were screaming as if, from a mountain top and stretching their arms to the ladies' waist. Jacob noticed and the ladies putting their arms over their shoulders as they dance.

A string of Jacob's memories with Maya flooded in and his heart sank. He tried to fight back the tears and an image of Maya kissing his best friend Raul flashed in his mind, He could not hold back the tears anymore, they ran down his face in streams.

Darci had a sculpted figure which was twine-thin. She plodded into the room in a short leather strapless dress. Her waist was pointy and she had a burnished complexion.

A pair of arched eyebrows looked down on sweeping eyelashes. Her delicate ears framed a button nose. The gorgeous lady was walking arm in arm with a noble Brazilian man, Fabio.

He was tubby, he always held his red Brazilian walking stick. His puffed stomach was drooping in his lemon-colored stripeless shirt. On his shirt, was his designer's black jacket. His britches, were baggy as he had large legs.

The sixty-year-old man had strands of grey hair, his grey beard concealed his chubby cheeks. The wrinkles on his face reflected his age.

A set of dazzling, angel-white teeth gleamed as Darci wore a wild smile. Her constellation blue eyes were so inviting, the men, could not resist staring into them. Nonetheless, Darci did not want to be admired by the boys and men. She gets uncomfortable around perverts, and with attending such clubs.

Darci stared at the gleaming bulbs, and around the room like she was examining it. Her heartbeat incessantly feeling nervous about how her date with Fabio will be.

Jacob could no longer contain such heavy memories of him and Viviana. He sprang off the chair suddenly, dropping a few bucks on the table. He walked from the table, reaching the doors.

Scurrying out of the room, he brushed off Darci, she nearly staggered and Fabio hastily held her by her waist. The bun of her hair, loosed, and Strands flew across her face. Jacob halted to see if she was fine, but catching sight of Fabio gripping her by her waist, he felt stiff and didn't mind the scowl she was making, and he exited the room.

Infuriated, Darci. She attempted yelling at him, but Fabio jerked her back softly. He lighted tobacco in his lips and the smoke was dissipating around them. Darci wrapped her nose with her handkerchief. She loathes the whiff of cigarettes. She was coughing quietly.

Darci swerved to Fabio. "He is rude. I want to give him a piece of my mind!"

"Forget about him. Let's, focus on what we came here for." Fabio's cheeks were melting into a huge smile.

He stretched his hands to her waist, she got jittery and felt like walking from him. spotting an empty table in the middle of the room, she said,

"Let's go sit there!"

Darci moved toward the seat, Fabio was ogling at her as she strode, and he joined her at the table.

Fabio's eyes were running down her chest to her hips like a scanner. Darci comprehended and leaned slowly backward placing her handbag on her hips as if adjusting on her already comfortable seat smiling nervously.

Fabio's eyes still stuck on her, She pulled herself closer to the table opening the bottle of champagne slowly. She turned her face slightly peeking under her lashes if the old man was still ogling her.

His eyes were now focused on the bottle of champagne, his lips curving with excitement to have a drink.

The tightly woven cover of the liquor tumbled, and a light smoke escaped into the air. Darci held the hefty bottle filling up the tumbler.

"Want some?"

"Nah! I don't want wine." He advanced closer to her, "I want you."

He held the curls of her hair sniffing it calmly. It had the fragrance of lemon.

Darcy's heart drummed loudly against her ears.

"I knew it will come to this moment." She drew in some breath and exhaled. She stared at Fabio contemplating in her mind.

"Anyways, I have to do this."

She was starting to feel nauseous.

It was 9:54 pm. Jacob sped down the highway heading to the city bridge. His eyebrows were furrowed like he was gonna run someone over. Few vehicles were driving by, the highway was not crowded. The street lights gleamed the roads. Huge billboards stood by the roadside advertising a Toothpaste brand.

Jacob was deep in thought to notice.

On reaching the city bridge, he screeched his car closer to the bridge on two wheels like a maniac and parked his car.

His car was a red Range Rover sport model. It looked alluringly new.

Ry, his Friend loitered at the bridge waiting for an hour. Jacob texted him as he was driving out of the club asking him where he was.

Ry was disgruntled with his rash ride. In a fit of rage, he approached Jacob's car. "Do you want to get an accident?" He screamed.

Jacob came out of the car and he slammed the door. He stood near the bonnet, shoving the car with his canvas boot. He got bored and he heaved a sigh. Strands of his hair fell on his face, he flung the strands to the side and started towards the bottom of the bridge.

The bridge was hewn with granite stones. Beneath it, the water swelled and declined.

He stood on the bridge bowing his back as he kneeled his arms on the bars. He gazed into space, trying to fight back the tears prickling his eyes. He could hear the river flowing. The scenery of the bridge was a hand upon his shoulder, a sweet palpable.

Ry stood at the edge of the bridge staring at him quietly with his hands sank into his trousers.

The bridge was shrouded by a forestation that ventilated the air, the subtle breeze was flowing softly caressing them.

"I thought I could replace Maya by wooing or letting myself fall for any lady in the club but watching how lustfully the ladies danced with several men, only reminded me about Maya's betrayal." Jacob's face reddened slowly. He clenched his fists gnashing his teeth, "I felt like I was staring at Maya looking at those girls, and I envisaged gripping their necks." He sighed and sniffed gulping down his tears.

A few cars drove past them, and the pitch vibrated in their ears. The heavy breeze shook Jacob's shirt vehemently and his hair was flying over his face.

Ry grimaced.

"It's been two years. I thought you have moved on from Maya."

Jacob swiveled to Ry howling,

"How can I move on when it's hard forgetting about her betrayal and her deceit? How can I forget that she made a fool out of me? I do not blame her. I was weak." he bowed his head down weakly.

"Guess what? It's frigid, you might catch a cold. Do you think Viviana knows how you are? Or that she is thinking of you?"

" I try hard not to long for her, nor think of her, but it feels like I'm being suffocated each time I try to erase the lovely memories we shared. "

Darci looked into Fabio's eyes wondering how to diss him. She didn't want to stay with him any minute longer, all she kept thinking of, was running off. She felt like a bird kept in a cage.

Fabio stretched his hand to her hips, and Darci abruptly sprang to her feet. Feeling astonished, Fabio looked at her with a tight frown.

Tears welled up in Darcy's eyes. "I just can't. Please don't force me." She shrugged her shoulders, "I don't want to indulge you." Her voice was cracking. Tears threatened to obstruct her vision.

Fabio looked at her with eyes of pity and rose to his feet. He stretched his hand to her cheek. Her tears trickled down her cheeks dropping on his finger.

"Okay, I'll permit you to leave. I didn't know you are a virgin, I wasn't informed." He pulled out a bundle of a thousand US dollars and handed it to her.

Shocked was Darci. "Is he just gonna let me leave? Am I free to walk away from this place?" She thought, staring at his face as if scanning him.

Darci was frozen, she didn't realize when Fabio placed the bundle in her palm until he spoke, "It's my gift to you."

She was mum for some minutes debating in her mind if to accept the cash or not. She knew deep within her, the cash will be of great use to her.

Her lips curved into a smile. "Thanks." She left the room heading outside.

It was starting to rain. Although, there had been a husky wind, which was a clear signal it was going to rain.

Darci was always nervous about rainfall

ever since the time she took ill drenched by heavy rain last year October, she has been frightened to catch a cold or even a slight fever.

Her legs swiftly hurried to the roadside, her arms wrapped around her chest shaking as the rain was dropping on her. She looked side by side at the road trying to halt a cab but all the cabs were swiftly driving past her. She was feeling bad and tears were streaming down her cheeks as she felt sorry for herself.

The breeze blew, she could feel the cooling wind freezing her. She shivered like a leaf as if the wind was swallowing her.

"What am I going to do? How am I going to go home now?" She fidgeted staring in despair.

Darci could no longer feel the rain on her, she got confused and curiously turned to her side to see Fabio's guard hanging an umbrella above her.

"My boss wants you to come to join him in his car." His voice sounded stiff.

Darci looked at Fabio's Lamborghini truck, and she replied curtly, "I don't want to."

The guard abruptly gripped her elbow wearing a menacing stare. Darci was taken aback. "My boss wants you to come with him."

Enraged, Darci screamed pulling his hand away, "I said, I don't want to!"

She had a very firm look.

The guard deliberately rolled his jacket hanging by his left pair of pants and Darcy's soul hopped at the presence of the pistol in his trouser.

"You better come with me."