9

As he caressed her hand, she held her breath. She could feel her hands trembling in his.

"I've told you to relax," he said, his eyes fixed on the road.

"I am relaxed," she replied.

"You're not. I can feel your hand shaking. Relax. I won't hurt you. Never without reason."

He squeezed her hand gently in his palm. It felt warm and pleasing. It helped her let go of some jitters.

"That's it. Relax." He encouraged. Then he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it before releasing her.

She immediately covered it with her right hand again.

"Is there something on your mind that you will like to share?"

"No."

"Is there something you need to tell me?"

"No."

"Okay. Perhaps, it's something you need to confess?"

She have him a furtive glance, wondering if he already knew and was just acting like he didn't. She didn't believe he knew. With his temper, he wouldn't be sounding this cool if that was the case.

"Nothing." She said.

"Hmm. Okay."

She held onto her stand. It would be bad to draw attention to something he didn't know and get herself in trouble, just because she was afraid.

He didn't talk to her again and

 It didn't take long before he pulled up at the Mall. Then he took her to a clothing store and picked out a few dresses, skirts, T-shirts in red and blue, a couple of dress shoes in cream and black, two slip-ons, one Esmeralda wedge, a couple of flat sandals, and two ballet flats.

He also picked out some lingerie and pajamas, saying it just occurred to him to add those.

She tried the shoes and clothes on and he sat there in the fitting room, approving and disapproving with a nod or shake of his head if the item didn't turn out as he had hoped.

She was about to try on the pajamas in the changing room when her phone rang with Hilda's call. She texted the name of the mall to Hilda and waited anxiously.

On purpose, she delayed wearing the PJs until Hilda texted her that she was inside.

She quickly put on the PJs which fitted her perfectly. It felt good having to own all those pretty clothes and shoes just like that. But the fact that she was getting it for the price of being Donovan's girl, didn't make her leap for joy.

She met Hilda in the common room. They pretended their meeting was a coincidence.

Donovan observed them from his position on the long couch where he was transferring cash to his pleasure account.

 As the girls hugged, he focused on his task. He knew the girl was Boma's roommate. He had done his digging well. It was a bit weird that they just chatted and then she was suddenly there. But he didn't dwell on it.

 Maybe during their chat, they had discovered they were near each other and decided to meet and greet. He had no problem with that.

Hilda slid the ring into Boma's hand. Boma thanked her and she left. Then Boma slipped the ring onto her finger and drew closer to Donovan for his perusal of the PJs.

Donovan was done with his task and admired the pink sleek satin on her. He nodded and she returned to the changing room.

They rounded up the shopping and prepared to leave the boutique. His guys drew forward and carted the new items to keep in the car.

Donovan held her hand and pulled her close to himself, comfortable with playing romance as though they had the place to themselves.

Her bosom rested close to his chest. She could feel the nervousness resurfacing. His eyes rested upon hers before he enveloped her in his arms.

"You're forgetting something important." He said for her ears only. "I don't want to be the one to remind you or I will do that in a way that's not nice."

Without thinking, she knew what he was talking about.

"Thanks." She quickly said to him, knowing she was yet to thank him for the shopping. "Thank you for everything ."

"You're welcome. It's always good to be polite. And a guy will always love being appreciated, okay?"

"Okay."

Donovan patted her on the back, before breaking their embrace. He then took hold of her hand. "Let's go."

She followed him out of the boutique and they stepped onto the wide set corridors of the mall.

"I asked you before if there was something you need to confess to me about, but you said no." He stated as they walked.

"Yes." She agreed.

"Does that answer still stand?"

"Yes." She responded. She was more confident because she didn't think she had anything to fear at the moment. She wasn't doing anything wrong.

"Before we reach the car, I want you to make up your mind and tell me what I need to know. Because there is something that I need to know."

Her heartbeat started racing again.

"What- what are you talking about?"

"You tell me."

"I didn't do anything." She said in a voice that sounded whiny. Fear was gradually overwhelming her and it was daunting because she didn't know why she should be afraid right now.

"Hmm. What was your friend doing here?"

"She- we just met."

"What do you mean by that?"

"She- she was around when I chatted her up, so she decided to drop by."

"I see."

She wasn't sure he believed her. She hoped he did. It was scary how something so insignificant was starting to look serious with his questioning. She shuddered to think of what would happen if she messed up for real.

"So you still maintain that there's nothing to tell me?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

They walked quietly for a while until they exited the mall with its inflow and outflow of customers.

She briefly pondered on the reality of how no matter how expensive a place was, there would always be people who can afford it.

Outside, the sky had lost its light and artificial lights had taken over.

 Lots of cars sat outside.

 "Once we get to the car, Sweetheart, you will start telling me exactly what I want to know." He declared, his hand tightening on her wrist.

 Fear gripped her for real. She sighted the SUV and his boys hanging around.

 "Please, I didn't do anything." She told him, her voice starting to waver pleadingly. "I've not done any-"

 "Shut your mouth." He commanded, silencing her.

 The fact that she didn't even know what the problem was, gave her great distress. Everything seemed to be fine before. What was the problem?

The moment they reached the SUV, which was parked by the fence, he backed her up against the wall of the fence in a way that had her facing him with his hands on either side of her.

Trapped between him and the car, her chest rose and fell rapidly with fear as he pinned her with an austere gaze.

"Where is your ring?" He questioned.

She was almost squirming as she lifted her hand and showed him.

"Maybe I'm asking the wrong question, Sweetheart. So, let me rephrase that. Where was your ring?"

"It's- it's here." She answered shakily, terrified.

"Yes, it's here now. But where was it?"

"It's- I already showed you."

"When you walked into that restaurant, I didn't see it on you. I figured that I will deal with you later, and ensure that you learn how important it is as early as possible for your good. And now suddenly, you have it on you. Just like that? It took a few moments but I figured out why your friend was suddenly here. The only thing that will save you from serious punishment is the truth. Because this is your first blunder. So tell me again, where was your ring?"

Fear clouded her senses as she responded in the way she felt was best for her.

"I swear, it was on me the whole time."

As soon as the words left her mouth, instant regret washed over her as he slammed his hand lightly on the car in annoyance.

"Get inside the car!" He hissed, storming towards the driver's seat and dominating it. With shaky fingers, she opened her side door and slid in, aware that tears had filled her eyes and were spilling down her face.

He started the car, lashes narrowed with rage.

"Please, this is a misunderstanding. I swear, I had it on. Maybe-"

"Keep that lying mouth shut before I slap it shut for you." He said roughly, cutting her off. He backed the car off the curb and swerved onto the road. "Tonight, I am going to punish you until you learn to tell me the truth."

She started crying but she maintained her stand. "Please, I swear, I'm telling you the truth."

"I said shut the hell up."