INSATIABLE DESIRE

Chapter 1: The k********g

TAMMY

I'm clad in my grey sweat pants and a white T-shirt as I pace around the house. If this continues, I'm definitely running mad. It has been four days...four full days since my little angel Myra disappeared. I suspect kidnap but by who? Who's that heartless being who would time my girl to alight from the school bus then take her away? If Caleb is the one behind this...God so help him! He'll have me to deal with! That bastard! I've reported everywhere starting from the police stations, radio stations and TV stations but I'm yet to get any report concerning her. 

I've also tipped the cops about my suspicions and they're working on tracing him. However, his phone is unreachable and I suspect he changed his line.

Myra is a beautiful and charming little kid who's only five years old and in kindergarten. She's my only daughter and she means the world to me. She's the same reason why I've taken two jobs so as to fed for her.

Caleb!

Shit!

He's another asshole. A stupid bastard for lack of a better word!

After Myra's dad passed away, Caleb was there to offer me a shoulder to cry on. Myra was only a year old then.

Caleb made sure we lacked nothing and before I knew it, we were deeply in love, a few months after my husband's death. Call me dumb! Call me anything.

I deserve all the insults and name calling.

I was deeply in love with Caleb such that I didn't realise he came in our lives with a mission.

A mission to swindle me.

My husband had left everything under Myra's name therefore when I informed Caleb about it, he was somehow unhappy.

He tried everything possible to talk me into sweet talking our lawyer to transfer everything to my name but I was adamant.

Caleb felt that I didn't love him enough that's when the bad blood between us started.

Myra was only three years old then and since I didn't want to lose Caleb, I did everything he asked for thinking he meant well for us.

Urging my lawyer to transfer every single penny and property into my name is the worst mistake I ever did.

How I wish I knew.

A call comes through as I reminisce and I spring onto my feet going for it. A private number is displayed on the screen and I receive the call with shaking fingers.

“Tamara.”

The unmistakable deep voice which used to give me goosebumps sometimes back is clearly heard from the other end.

Thank God it doesn't intimidate me anymore.

“Caleb? Where's Myra? Where's my daughter you son of a b***h?”

I rant amid clenched teeth.

“It's cool that you know I have her... It's also cool that you know I'm a son of a bitch...you know why? Because you'll never set your eyes on her again...never!”

He mocks from the other side.

“Caleb please, we can talk this over. I'm sure we can agree on something. Please let me have my daughter back.”

I plead with him.

“In your dreams woman... Forget about her and just move on. She's now mine.”

“Caleb please! She's all I have. It's okay then. I'll transfer the remaining plot to you. Please don't hurt me any further!”

I try to reason with him.

Despite the fact that that's the only plot I own after foolishly allowing Caleb to trip on me and swindled the rest of the property and money,

“Now you're talking. Call me when that's done.”

“But Caleb, your number is unreachable. How will I contact you? Please, let me talk to myra.”

“Oh, that? I'll call you after three days. Just make sure everything is set by then.”

And he hangs up!

“Bastard!”

I mumble amid clenched teeth.

Caleb is a two timing bastard. How dare he take my kid away? I'm sure Myra willingly followed him because she's the only one he knows as a dad.

Caleb and I have scored to settle after her fooled me two years ago. Now he wants to take away the only property under my name!

I wonder why he derives pleasure in misusing me. He's just a lazy person who can't wake up and work for a living.

Despite the fact that my late husband left alot of inheritance for us, right now I have nothing except the plot of land...all thanks to Caleb. Love why?

Loneliness why?

All thanks to him I'm now working day and night to ensure I provide for Myra.

Another call comes through and I frown when I notice it's my boss from the flower shop.

I've already asked for her permission to skip job till I find my daughter.

Furrowing my brows, I pick the call and try to remain as calm as possible.

“Tamara..”

She sounds tired.

“Yes ma'am. How are you?”

“I'm fine Tammy. It's just that the work here is too much and knowing that I don't have any other assistant, things are getting tough. I think I'll just employ someone else to take your place.”

She says.

“But ma'am, my daughter is missing and...”

“Tammy, this is a perishable goods business. Flowers are going bad for lack of attention. If you were in my shoes, you'd understand. You either report to work tomorrow or I employ someone else.”

Before she hangs up, I'm already overtaken by emotions and I cry a river after the call disconnects.

God, why me?

Why's everything wrong happening in my life?

I'm somehow glad that the night job doesn't take most of my time since it's a baby care job. I take care of kids whose parents are working over the night. Atleast I get to sleep as they sleep because most of them are over two years and don't need my attention as such.

Life has given me lemons but with time I've learnt to squeeze lemonade out of them.

Agrrr!

A third call comes through as I lie down on bed, thinking of how I'll convince my lawyer to do the transfer of the property to Caleb's name.

Caleb Samuel!

That name gives me goosebumps. I've been to hell and back because of him and when I thought I had healed, he pops up from nowhere and starts trouble again!

I pick the call and the strange number displayed on the screen gives me yet more chills.

“Madam!” The voice is not so familiar.

“Don't you dare succumb to him this time round. We've tapped your calls and we're trying to come up with his location.”

Oh! Now I remember the voice. It belongs to the cop at the OB desk in the police station. But how will they be able to trace someone who's calling

through a hidden number?

“It's okay sir. Thank you.”

He hangs up as I sit up from the bed. Finally, there's hope at last. There's light at the end of the tunnel...

*****

*Seven Years Ago*

“Hi beauty...”

I look up from the scanner only to be met by a cute pair of eyes.

“H... Hi.”

I tremble as I reply.

Talk of being tongue tied. I've never seen such a handsome young man all my life.

It's been a year since I got employed in this cyber cafe'. My employer, Mr. Rufus doesn't come oftenly so most of the time, I'm all alone serving customers. I get to meet several of them, some who are here to surf, some to make copies of their documents, others to be helped in scanning their documents and storing them in memory cards or flash disks.

Since I started working here, I've never met anyone as handsome as the god standing in front of me.

“Tamara right?”

He sweet voice brings me back to reality.

“Y...yeah.. how did you know my name?”

He lets out a calm laughter before replying.

“Pleasure meeting you Tammy. I'm Robin Rufus.”

“Robin? My boss's son? You're welcome sir. I thought you were outside the country?!”

I say excitedly.

I've heard so much about Robin from his dad and I just say he has made his dad proud.

“I came back yesterday and decided to come and see how my dad's business is doing.”

He says as I let him in and show him where to sit.

“So Tammy, tell me, how's business?”

I take him through the day's sales and everything else. To be sincere, I'm already crushing on him but I can't just make the first move. After all I'm just a poor employee with nothing on her name except the few bucks I make every month end.

“I can see you understand the business very well. That's why dad left you to manage it. Thank you for being loyal to my dad as he takes care of his other businesses.”

He says.

“It's nothing sir. I derive pleasure in doing this business. Atleast, it's all I can do to pay me Rufus for rescuing me from the streets.”

Whenever I remember my past life, tears fill my eyes but I'm not going to show Robin my weaker side and start crying in front of him! Hell no! He might mistake me for a cry baby that I'm not.

I'm beginning to warm up to Robin as time goes by. He's such a cool and collected guy and fun to talk to. I'm careful to maintain the boss employee relationship but he doesn't seem to mind. Just like his father, he's treating me with utmost respect.

Closing time is approaching and customers aren't steaming in as usual.

“Can I take you out for dinner?”

Robin suggests.

I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out of it.

“Don't say anything dear. I don't bite and I promise to drop you home as early as possible.”

Well, it's not like I don't want this.. man! I want to go out with him like right away!

I nod in agreement and I request him to drop me home to change and freshen up first before taking me to wherever he wants to...