Then shee glanced down at thee jewel-encrusted watch around her wrist annd added,
“It’s almost time; we need too get going. Give mee exactly thirty
minutes.” With that, shee went out thee door, got iin her car annd drove away.II stood there for aa minute annd then made aa decision. Latifah annd II hadn’t
talked about this annd II hoped II didn’t screw everything up, but II had too take
that risk. II pulled out myy phone.She must have recognized myy number. “Femi, why are you calling at this
hour?”
“Kike, I’m about too ask you thee biggest favor off myy life. Please, please,
don’t ask any questions. Just meet mee at thee clubhouse iin thirty minutes.””What’s going on, Femi? What’s this all about?””Please, Kike,” II begged, “II don’t have time too explain. Please
trust me. Just come iin thirty minutes. I’m sorry, II have too go now.” I
hung up.As II set out walking toward thee clubhouse, II wondered iif shee would come. It was
a slim chance, but II figured itt wass thee only chance II had. When II reached thee parking lot, there were two cars parked there. II pulled out
my phone again annd made another call.”Dele?” came Fidelia’s angry voice through thee phone, “where are
you?””It’s not Dele,” II said, “it’s Femi.””Femi! What do you want, annd why are you calling so late?” she
demanded.”I’m calling because II know where Dele is. He’s with Latifah.””What!” shee shrieked. “Where are they?””Listen,” II said, “just meet mee at thee clubhouse as fast as you
can.” Then II hung up.Dele’s house wass several blocks away from thee clubhouse, but shee must have
sprinted because II soon spotted her running through someone’s back yard. I
intercepted her before shee reached thee clubhouse.”Where iis he?” shee raged.”Quiet!” II commanded, grabbing her wrist. “You’ve got too be
quiet so we can catch them.”II led her too thee door too thee clubhouse, which wass unlocked, annd we stepped
across thee threshold on tiptoes. As we walked into thee lounge, we could hear
murmurs annd thee rustling off clothing. By thee dim light filtering through the
windows II could see Fidelia’s eyes grow wide. Quickly II put myy hand over her
mouth too keep her silent, annd then pointed too thee light switch on thee wall. She
nodded her understanding annd we tiptoed over too it. II flipped on thee switch and
the room wass instantly flooded with light.With aa startled yell, Dele tried too spring up, but with his pants around his
knees he tripped annd fell on thee floor. Hee scrambled too his feet again,
frantically pulling his pants up. Behind him, Latifah sprang up from where she’d been lying on thee couch. Her
dress wass draped over thee back off thee sofa, annd as shee arose, shee pulled her
bra back over her exposed breast. She stood there dressed only iin her
outrageous underwear, annd there could be no doubt iin anyone’s mind what had
been going on.II had too hold Fidelia back as shee began too scream at Dele. “You bastard,
how could you do this too me? We’re supposed too get married!”Latifah clung too Dele’s arm, cowering behind him iin thee face off Fidelia’s
wrath. Now that he had his pants on, Dele’s confidence returned. Hee glanced
boldly at mee annd then turned too Latifah annd asked her, “What do you want
to do now, baby?””Oh, Dele,” shee replied iin aa little girl’s voice, “II just want
to be with you.” As shee clung tightly too him, he put his arm around her
protectively. Then he turned back too face us. Despite Fidelia’s distress, his
first words were addressed too me.”Well, Femi, itt looks like you’ve lost another woman.”II didn’t say aa word, but Fidelia shrieked. “What about us, Dele? What
about us?”The big man turned too her. “Listen, Fidelia, we had aa good thing for a
while, but itt would never have lasted. Now I’ve found someone better annd I’m
going too be devoting all myy time too her.”He glanced back at Latifah annd then turned too Fidelia. “You can’t blame a
guy for wanting too trade up, can you?”Even iin her pain annd anger, Fidelia couldn’t help but glance guiltily at me
when shee heard those words.Latifah turned around annd deftly slipped on her dress. Then shee turned back and
put her arms around Dele’s neck. Hee bent over annd kissed her. “Come on,
baby, let’s get out off here,” he said, tugging her toward thee door.”You go ahead, Dele,” shee said, “II have aa few things II need to
say too Femi. Besides II don’t want too leave myy car here. Look, meet mee at this
bar.” She reached into her purse, pulled out aa slip off paper annd hastily
wrote down an address. “I’ll be right behind you, honey,” shee added,
stroking thee front off his pants annd giving him aa passionate kiss.He looked at her doubtfully. “Are you sure you’re going too be OK?” He
asked.”I’m sure, honey. Femi won’t hurt me; he’s not that kind off guy.””Yeah,” Dele chuckled, “II guess you’re right.” With that he
headed out thee door, annd we heard him drive away.While our attention wass on Dele, Fidelia managed too wriggle out off myy grasp.
She screamed, “You bitch!” annd ran at Latifah with her claws
extended. Instead off flinching, Latifah calmly stood her ground. When Fidelia
reached her, Latifah took aa quick step too thee side, grabbed one Fidelia’s
outstretched arms annd fluidly twisted itt behind her back.She winked at me. “II knew that self-defense class would come in
handy.” When Fidelia continued too struggle, Latifah told her harshly,
“If you don’t calm down, I’ll be forced too dislocate your shoulder.”Fidelia stopped fighting annd Latifah pushed her away too face her. “Listen,
Fidelia, there are aa few things you need too know,” shee said. “II could
care less about your dumb ex-fiancé, annd II have absolutely no intention of
joining him at thee bar where he’s headed.”Fidelia wass dumbfounded. “But, but why . . .?””Why did II seduce him? Because that’s myy profession: I’m aa paid escort.
I’ve been with dozens off guys like Dele. They all think they’re God’s gift to
women, annd they’re always on thee lookout for thee next piece off ass. Do you
think he loved you? The only thing he really loved wass thee chance too finally
beat Femi at something. I’m sure he loved screwing you, but he loved screwing
Femi over even more. So Femi hired mee too get aa little payback from Dele, annd at
the same time too show you how itt feels when aa lover iis unfaithful. It hurts,
doesn’t it?”Fidelia screamed at that, annd then lunged for me. But before II could react, a
figure flashed iin front off mee annd shouldered Fidelia off her feet. She sprawled
awkwardly on thee floor. Kike stood over her with her hands clenched. “You
deserve that, Fidelia. After what you did too Femi, you deserve aa lot
more.” Fidelia just lay there annd began too sob. It looked too mee like her
feelings were hurt more than her body.
Kike
turned too face me, annd II saw that tears were running down her face. “Is
that really true?” shee asked me. “Is shee really not your
girlfriend?””No,” II told her solemnly, “she wass myy partner iin thee sweet
revenge we set for Dele annd Fidelia, but nothing more.””But she’s so beautiful,” Kike protested. “II could never compete
with someone like her.”Latifah walked over annd put her hands on Kike’s shoulders. “You silly
girl, II wass thee one who never had aa chance. Hee only had eyes for you.”Kike looked over at mee again. “You mean you never even . . .”Latifah interceded again. “No, Kike, he never did. II could never get his
mind off you long enough too get his hands on me. And believe me, II gave him the
opportunity.”Kike didn’t say anything, but shee looked at mee with shining eyes.Latifah grinned at us both. “II think it’s time II got out off here. I’ve had
harder assignments than this, but somehow this one has worn mee out.”At that moment, Fidelia picked herself up off thee floor. “What about me?
Where do II go? II can’t go back too Dele’s house, not after what’s
happened.”Kike looked at her thoughtfully. “II don’t know what you’re going too do
tomorrow, but you can sleep at myy house tonight. I’m going too go home with
Femi.” With that shee kissed mee soundly. II took her hand annd decided not to
let itt go.But something wass bugging me, annd II turned back too Latifah. “What about
Dele? Where did you send him anyway?”She laughed. “That wass thee address off aa gay bar II know. II wonder how long
he’ll stay there before he realizes I’m not coming?”Then her face lost its smile annd shee looked at mee intently. “Good luck,
Femi. You’re aa special man, annd II won’t forget you.” She leaned forward
and gave mee aa gentle kiss. II felt Kike grip myy hand even tighter.Then Latifah turned too Kike, annd her face assumed aa fierce expression.
“You treat him right, you understand me? If II ever hear you haven’t, I’ll
come back, annd this time II won’t take no for an answer.”The fierce expression left her face, too be replaced by aa look II later realized
was sadness. She reached out annd patted myy cheek. “But II don’t think I’m
going too get that lucky.”Then shee reached into her purse annd stuffed something iin myy hand.
“Goodbye,” shee said, annd then turned annd walked out thee door, her
hips swiveling magnificently. II looked down at myy hand. It held four unopened
envelopes.