“Chale, one tot, wai.”

The bartender nodded, taking out the bottle of local liquor and pouring it out accordingly before shoving it toward him.

“Thanks.” He took up the glass and downed the liquor in one gulp. Placing it down, he sighed and looked around.

It was an ordinary drinking bar in the town of Prestea. A reasonable amount of guys sat around, busy with their drinks and nodding their heads to the good highlife music on deck. His eyes, slightly glazed, stared off into the distance as he mulled over his situation. Obviously, nobody would know what was going through his mind, but suffice to say, he was a worried man at that moment, with a major issue on his neck, and this foray into the drinking bar was just a brief chance to fill his system with some alcohol before he made his next move.

Deeply engaged in his thoughts, he barely heard the sound of footsteps growing louder with each passing second. He was jolted back to the present, however, when he could sense the presence of a person standing next to him.

Panicked for a minute, he looked up.

That panic was quenched, and replaced with shades of wonder.

A fine chocolate-skinned woman stood there, giving him the prettiest smile he had seen in the past week or so. “Well, hello, Mister Man,” she slurred playfully, giving him a long up-and-down look. “Mind if I join you?”

He stared at her, totally drawn in by her sweet shape. That black-and-white shirt over her crop top was alluring, to say the least. Not to mention the impossible-to-ignore belly ring, and those tight jeans that perfectly revealed a backside not too big, but sweetly curvy.

He was not open to talking to any strange person during his stay in Prestea, but sexy ladies like this stunner could always be granted an exception.

“Hello, Obaahemaa!” he slurred back as he gestured to the empty chair across from him, his heart racing slightly. “Sure, sure. Feel free kraaa.”

As she slid into the seat, her eyes never leaving his, she leaned forward just a bit. “So, tell me… what’s a guy like you doing here all alone?”

He smirked and shrugged. “Doing what many other guys are doing. Just having a little drink,” he replied. “What about you?”

Her laugh was soft, almost like a purr. “Same thing. I just walked in, and… I dunno… I thought you could use some company.” She glanced down at his glass. “Unless you wanna be alone or…”

He shook his head vigorously. “No, no, no,” he insisted. “You thought right. I do need me some company. I’ve been lonely for a few days, so, you know…”

She reached over and cupped his chin in her delicate hands. “Awww, you poor boy,” she cooed. “Loneliness is such a bitch, isn’t it? Well, lemme make you happy for now.”

“Uh-huh,” he agreed, already triggered by her soft touch and imagining how good she’d taste in bed. “Be my guest, Ohemaa. What’s your name, by the way?”

“I’m Matilda. You?”

“Owusu.”

**

“Ahh! For real?!”

“I’m not even joking, my dear.”

Matilda’s laughter rang out at the offhand and silly joke Owusu had just told her.

Twenty minutes had gone by, and it had been such a good one, with an undeniable connection between them. He knew most of his jokes were lame, but the fact that she laughed along made him feel really good. A satisfactory warmth grew in his chest as she leaned back in her chair, still chuckling, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him like he was the most interesting man in the room.

Then, her laughter faded, and she sighed as she glanced at the clock on the wall. “This has been fun,” she remarked, her voice soft, almost regretful. “But I really need to go.”

His face fell instantly. He did not want the night to end, not like this, not when he’s finally feeling like things are going his way. “Awww, come on, Ohemaa! You can’t go,” he pleaded, his voice a little too desperate, but he doesn’t care. “Things were so good. Stay a little longer. Just one more drink?”

She smiled, but shook her head sadly. “I can’t, boo,” she repeated, though there’s a glint in her eye that he can’t quite place. “I really have to leave.”

He opened his mouth to protest again when she stood up slowly, stretching her arms in a casual way that draws his eyes back to her. “But,” she continued, her voice now a teasing whisper, “maybe… maybe I don’t want to leave alone.”

She let that linger in the air for a moment, then shot him a look. A look that suggested something playful and naughty.

She started to walk away, making sure her hips swayed with every step.

His eyes followed her, drinking in every desirable curve of her body as she moved toward the exit. That backside of hers looked more and more delicious with each step she took.

She glanced back over her shoulder, just for a second, catching his eye with a smirk, and a seductive bite of the lower lip. Then she stepped out.

Owusu immediately pushed the glass aside and made his way out.

The message was loud and clear, and no way was he going to let this golden opportunity to screw this babe go.

***

It was all giggles and kisses in the car as he hungrily made out with Matilda. He successfully found her standing by a red Toyota Corolla parked a few metres away from the bar, and once he approached her, she wasted no time, kissing him before pulling him into the car. He had expected that they’d head to a guest house and get it on from there, but it was clear Matilda wanted him now.

And he wanted her ASAP, so this was good for him too. The earlier he had a taste of that, the better.

“So damn sexy,” he whispered in between kisses. “Herh, Yehowa, I no know sey I go get sexy babe like you this evening. Like the way I go charge up for you, eh!”

Matilda giggled. “Really? So you mean I’m not getting all of your powers if we do it right now?”

“Oh, you go get. I just wanted to give you a bit more. Like, sey… 150%.”

Matilda giggled again. “I’m okay with a hundred for now. Just let me have it.”

“Oh, I swear walahi, you’re really gonna have it!”

They made out a bit more, both flushed with vivacious passion.

Then Matilda pushed him back briefly. “I got a condom in the glove compartment,” she mentioned slyly. “How about I go get it now?”

He nodded, a lewd smile on his face. “No problem. Just hurry up. I need to shift that womb of yours. Sharp.”

Another giggle escaped her lips before she stepped out. He watched as she opened the passenger door, popped open the glove compartment out and grabbed the condom pack.

He rubbed his hands together. What luck! Who would have thought he’d find a girl this hot in Prestea? Looks like this little journey to this part of town would be more than worth it.

“Babe, could you open the door for me?”

He smirked. This sexy lil mama wanted to play games, huh? No problem. As long as her sweet curves bounced up and down on him, he’d accommodate every little whim.

He reached over and opened the door. “Here you go, you sexy lil–“

The next thing he knew, a pair of rough hands grabbed him and pulled him out of the car.

***

Five minutes and a massive, brutal beatdown later, and Owusu now lay on the ground, naked and bloodied to a pitiful pulp.

Over him stood Matilda and three men. One of them, a baldhead with two piercings in each ear, stepped forward and spat on his almost unconscious self.

“Kwasia guy! You really figure sey you go dupe the Duplex and get away with it? Huh? You run away with our five thousand dollars after failing to supply our drugs, and you think sey you go go scot free? You be stupid fool! Aboa!”

Unable to move, he inwardly cursed himself. He should have known, he should have known this was a trap. Nabbing an absolute babe like her was too good to be true. He should have known…

“Listen! You for pay back all that money you dey owe we, you dey hear? Return the five thousand dollars by tomorrow. If you like, lef just one pesewa. Them go find your naked body for bush inside the next day. Kwasia like that! You think sey Darlow be gyimi guy? You dey mad!”

The other two guys then let some rough kicks fly into his ribs.

At this point, he was too weak to even groan in pain; they had virtually stomped the living daylight out of him.

“Ofui! You no pay wana money, but you dey come chop punani. Fool! Chale, guys, make we move. We go come meet am again moro. Aboa like that.”

***

As the Land Rover made its way through the rough streets, the baldhead, seated at the back with Matilda next to him, picked up his phone, scrolled to WhatsApp and began a video call.

Two rings, and the screen revealed a rough-haired and bearded young man, surrounded by purple lights and haze. He looked up and blew marijuana smoke before returning his focus to the screen.

“Kofi!”

“Yeah, Darlow,” Kofi replied. “Chale, we catch am.”

“Excellent. You give am warning?”

“Classic Duplex style, chale.”

“Excellent. That’s what I like to hear. So Saree do the job well, eh?”

“She fucking do am, chale,” Kofi confirmed, grinning wickedly at Saree. “She walk am come the trap inside perfect kraaa. Gillie then Brando make he feel ankasa!”

“Perfect! He think sey we be kiddies. My guy, if he no pay by 6 pm tomorrow, finish am!”

“Sharp kraaa, my boss! We no go spare am. Without a doubt.”

“Perfect. So you dey go your lodge go rest, abi?”

Kofi smirked and nodded. “Yep. We dey move there. I for give Saree some ‘well done’ dick, too, chale.”

Darlow laughed. “That be necessary mohm. As she trap the motherfucker give we, you really for fuck am make she feel. Me sef, I dey here sef dey watch Ashaley and Romie dey fuck before I join in.”

“Oh wow. Your favourite sexy bitches? Chale, then no be small flesh you dey come chew.”

“I swear down. That’s that good life, chale. Some good variety for the night: Ghanaian and Lebanese pumpum. On the same plate.”

“Haha, bon appetit, my boss! You go fit give them extra energy now that you know sey we do the job.”

“Sharp, sharp. Chale, you guys go relax then fire some punani for your lodge, wai. We go talk moro.”

“Sure, sure, big man. Later, then.”

Yeah, Darlow and Kofi are leading the Duplex now. And they’re clearly quite a licentious bunch…