THE EVIL THAT MEN DO.

FLASHBACK TO (PT 8)

"My able Senator, I hail you, sir."

Skenge hails Senator Akinseloyin in the living room of the latter, where they are sharing one of the most expensive and finest liquors.

"Don't flatter me, Skenge. I have a feeling you came to see me for money. Oh! And before I forget, how's the surveillance on that sturbbon man going?"

"All good, sir; we should nail him since he's committing adultery, and it can be used against him. If he doesn't want to flow with us, he's going to have to bend the hard way."

The senator takes a sip from his liquor glass and shakes his head in amusement.

"You see, I've been in this political game for many years and have dealt with many people with different kinds of characters, so nothing ever surprises me anymore. I have to admit it; I didn't see this coming. I thought he was a saint."

"Senator, I'm sure you know that it's very hard to find a man who doesn't cheat. You must have had your fair share over the years, too. I can't say I blame the man; being with a woman for a long time can be boring at some point. You know, right?"

"You better keep your stupid mouth shut before my wife hears you and thinks you are telling the truth. Do you want me to keep apologizing for the next five years? I've never cheated on my wife, and that's God's own truth. Don't put me into trouble; I have absolutely no idea what you are saying."

He calls out to the top of the stairs,

"It has always been you for me, honey. In case you are eavesdropping like you usually do, ignore everything Skenge said; he just doesn't know better."

The Senator winks and smiles at Skenge.The latter responds with an understanding smile and moves closer to the Senator, dropping his tone to a conspiratorial one.

"There's a reason I came to see you."

AThe Senator drops his glass on the table and shifts closer to Skenge, his eyes dancing eagerly in their sockets.

"What's the matter?"

"Sir, it's about Michael."

"Oh lord! Won't this boy be the end of me?

What has he done again?"

He asks, groaning out loud.

"Actually, he didn't do anything, at least not what you think."

The senator sighs in relief and places his right palm on his chest to steady his nerves.

"Well, why didn't you start with that? You almost gave me a heart attack. What did he do?"

"I apologize, sir; I was just trying to build the story."

"The next time you feel the need to build something, head to a construction site and leave me be. Out with it already."

"He asked me to run a check on a particular girl."

"Why would he say that? Has he ever done that before? All the girls he moves around with are just for fun; why would he need a background check?"

"I wondered too, but that's not the issue."

"What is the issue?"

He places a file he has tucked into his armpit since his arrival on the table, open, in front of the senator.

"What's this?"

He asks, briefly scanning a few words from the open file.

"Well, in the course of my investigation, I discovered something troubling about the girl. This part of the file I'm showing you is not included in the copy I gave Michael. I thought you should see it first."

The senator leans forward in his seat and scans the content on the file again briefly.

"Is this supposed to mean something to me? I don't know any of the names on here."

He says with a frown.

Skenge downs the drink in his glass, sets it aside on the table, and proceeds to fill the Senator in on his discovery.

"No, you don't, but I'll like your permission to address the issue as soon as possible."

"Skenge, you know I always trust your judgment, but you still haven't told me what's bothering you. What did you find out exactly?"

"Sir, I'm bothered because the girl in question is the cousin of the girl to whom Michael leaked her nudes."

"Hmmm."

The senator comments, leaning back in his seat.

"According to you, this detail is not in the copy you gave Michael. I assume he doesn't know that they are cousins."

"No, sir, he doesn't."

"So, what's the problem? Michael is going to move on from his current love interest, like he always does. I don't see a problem here. Why are you bothered? As long as he keeps his acts clean and the media doesn't get a hint of it, I don't see a problem."

He bends conspiratorially toward Skenge and whispers,

"I've slept with two sisters in my hey days too; that didn't stop me from moving on."

Skenge shakes his head in disagreement.

"I'm afraid it's deeper than that, sir."

"Skenge, what is deeper again? You have come with your stress."

"You know the girl, my senator."

The senator sits straight.

"What girl? Michael's newest plaything?"

"The girl whose nudes he leaked."

"What do you mean?"

He asks, squeezing his face.

"Sir, the girl's name is Lara; she was one of the girls who spent the night with you the day you had your political rally. The day you said you wanted a twosome."

"Ah!"

The senator shouts in panic, rushing to cover Skenge's mouth with his hand, darting his eyes fearfully up the stairs.In a low whisper,

"What if my wife hears you?"

"I apologize, sir."

In a whisper,

"In conclusion, sir, you and Michael have both slept with her."

"I don't think that's actually a bad thing. I don't even remember the girl. I see so many of them when I travel; is she busty? God knows I love busty women; I just get to dip my head in between the boobs like a small boy in an adult body. Loosen up, Skenge; that's nothing to worry about; Michael will be done with his plaything really soon. There's no course for alarm."

He smiles and pats Skenge's shoulder playfully.

"I discovered during the course of my investigation that meeting Michael might not have been a coincidence on her part. I heard from reliable sources that she intentionally placed herself in Michael's way to notice her, and you know how he is; he doesn't care about anything else once he sees a woman. I'm worried; I don't know what her motive is. I need to investigate this further with your permission."

"What mission could she have beyond gold digging?? She She tried to blackmail Michael for money, and he called her a bluff."

He waves his hand backward.

"She dares not try anything anymore."

"I have a nagging feeling about her; why don't you let me investigate further and start by speaking to the manager of the hotel you lodged in at your last rally? In the course of that, I'll assign two of my boys to keep an eye on her."

"Skenge, I really don't appreciate that. I'm a politician, and my opponents want my head. An investigation or something like that could draw negative attention to me. Leave her be; she's not a threat. She's gone for good. Imagine the headline on the news that I had a twosome with the same girl my son leaked her nudes. How can I spin that positively, I ask you?"

"You of all people know how well I can be discreet."

"Skenge, I said you should leave it. I don't want to ruin my legacy over something so trivial."

"Okay, sir."

"In the event that I so much as hear that you so much as pass by that girl's neighborhood, there will be grave consequences. Do you understand?"

He bows respectfully.

"I do, sir. I'll back off."

"And by the way, I need you to organize four busty ladies for a trip to Zanzibar next week. There's a world peace conference happening, and I want to enjoy it like a vacation. What's the point of going to Zanzibar if you can't have a little fun?"

"No point, sir. Are all the girls for you?"

"Sure, you see, I've had two somes and three somes, now it's time to upgrade. My ambassador friend says it's one of the best experiences a man should have."

He says this, smiling mischievously.

"Okay, sir. I will get to it."

"Don't forget to get them to sign the nondisclosure agreement while you are at it."

"Sure, sir, I won't."

PRESENT DAY.

Skenge finishes his narration and walks to the window to get some fresh air. The exchange and story-telling have drained him. He was not as agile as he used to be, and he dreaded the day he would not be able to do anything for himself and be carried around like a newborn with no willpower of his own. Hopefully, God will show him mercy and kill him before then, maybe in a few years.

Michael stares at his father incredulously.

"Is it true, Dad?"

Mr. Akinseloyin looks down in shame and nods his head.

"I'm sorry, son; I didn't expect something like this to happen. I was just trying to protect my family; an exposure like that could have threatened everything we have."

"I can't believe this. Lara is a sex worker; how did she lose it? Just how?"

Camille asks herself the rhetorical question, placing her head in her palms.

"Skenge."

Michael calls out to him. He answers and comes back into the room.

"What's it, Michael?"

"Is that all you discovered about the case?"

Shaking his head,

"Majorly, Lara just wanted to be in a wealthy family. She thought she could warm her way into the family as a mistress to your dad, but he doesn't keep any. She set her sights on you next, and of course, we all know how that went. As to her motive, I can't accurately specify; it could be payback for her nudes that you leaked or her cousin dating you; I'm not sure. I'm still conducting a few investigations to round up; I'll let you know as I progress."

"Thank you so much, Skenge. I'll be in touch."

"Okay, perfect."

Skenge drops the file on the bedside table and walks out of the room, whistling a tune and ignoring  Mr.Akinseloyin as he exits.

"Michael, can you just let me say something?"

His father asks, looking at him painfully.

"I didn't foresee any of this; I would have done things differently if the thought had crossed my mind that she could harm you."

"Please, get out, Daddy."

Michael orders his father, turning his back to him.

"Son."

"I said, leave, Dad."

He bellows weakly from his position.

Camille walks over to Mr. Akinseloyin, who looked broken in that moment, to pacify him.

"I think you should leave for now; I'll talk to him when he's calm. He doesn't need to be shouting this much right now with his fragile condition."

"Okay, Camille, thank you. I hope you believe me. It's true I acted in my own selfish interest, but I never thought the outcome would be like that. Please call me when he changes his mind."

He turns and walks out of the room slowly, looking defeated.