Chapter 31
Aline Vega. 34. Advertising consultant. British-mexican resident of Nigeria. An astrology fanatic. Beautiful and financially  grounded. Victor's other lover. I knew everything to know about her. That was my advantage now. I was going to hold the bull by the horn.

I moved back to the others. "I've got to go. I have some work stuff to do."

Imade gaped. "On a Saturday?"

"It's urgent. I'll be back in an hour or two. Don't wait up."

Victor watched me like a hawk, and I made sure to return his unnerving gaze.

Imade groaned. "You're going to miss the volleyball tournament."

"Even if I played, I was still going to lose, so it's better to skip any of that."

"Fine. Don't be late."

Tife sent me a questioning look, which I ignored, as I made my way out. He already had enough problems of his own. I didn't need to drag him anymore into this.

It took me exactly twenty two minutes to get where Aline lived. Clicking my sandals briskly against the ground as I walked, I immediately rang her doorbell, when I got to her house number.

The door opened revealing a splitting image of the woman Yvonne sent me the pictures of. I stared at the fair skinned, red haired woman standing face to face with me. "Aline Vega?"

Aline wore a guarded look. "And who might you be?"

I stretched out my hand. She handshook me cautiously. "I'm Nara Nwankwo. I need to talk to you. It's about Victor. Victor Adekola."

Aline's mouth parted. Her green eyes widened, then she ushered me in. I finally caught her attention. "Come in. Let's talk inside."

I followed her obediently. I really didn't know what to say or how to convince her to be on my side. But I was desperate. Desperate of a way to save my friend, without letting her directly get hurt. Aline directed me where to sit, and I did.

She crossed her legs and watched me curiously. "What do you have to tell me? Is Victor in trouble again?"

My eyebrows furrowed at the last part of her sentence. Trouble? I shook off the thought and cut to the chase. "I know Victor's your lover. And I desperately need your help. He's a con man and a criminal. He's using my friend and I want to help her. I can't tell her because she's a little unstable, but you can talk to him. You know him. We can work together to threaten him however we can. I know this is a lot to take in, considering—"

Aline interjected. Her eyes were unreadable and she wore a passive look. "Considering?"

I continued slowly. "Considering if you have feelings for him."

Her soft laughter echoed lightly. "You must be mistaken. It's Miss Nwankwo, am I correct?" I nodded, and she went on. "Victor is a gigolo. You know what that is? I pay him for sexual favors. My husband's the Mexican ambassador to Nigeria. He's an older man and he fails to meet my sexual needs. He's never around, but Victor has been there to make my every night worth it."

I blinked. I paired my best friend with a gigolo? Oh God. "But he's a lawyer? How could he—"

Aline rolled her eyes. "He's a failure when it comes to the law business. He ruins cases and can't seem to hold a damn job. That's what pushed him to his new improved business."

I was too lost for words. I stared at her, letting those shocking words slowly sink in.

Aline seemed to find all of this to be amusing. "I'm surprised that your friend doesn't know. He always makes his intentions known. It's either he wants something from her or he may actually like her. We can never know. He was always such a sly bastard when we were together."

I mumbled. "I put them together. I had no idea what he was."

Aline's lips curled up. "Oh honey, look what you've put yourself in. Let me give you a word of advice. Give up. Victor has a way of sucking a woman into his world. If your friend is as unstable as you say she is, then you need to overlook it. You wouldn't want anything to happen to her now, would you?"

I hissed. "Why are you telling me all of this? Aren't you afraid that I'd blab to the world? I didn't know ambassadors' wives were always so open about their dirty secrets."

"There's no point hiding it. I dare you to try any of that. I'm only telling you this because I don't see you as a threat. You're a smart woman. You wouldn't risk your life for something so trivial." I caught the warning look in her eyes. Seeing that I had gotten still, she chortled. "It's not like my affair with Victor is some kind of secret. He's like a prize to me, so I take him every where. I show off his handsome face to my inner circle. It makes me feel good. My husband's 62. There's not much a young woman can do with such wrinkly disaster. Besides, I'm only doing what my husband usually does with his Peruvian girlfriend, so why should I care?"

I gawked at her, but it seemed like she wasn't done talking. "It's time I excorted you on your way out. I'm sorry I couldn't be of help to you, but I'm sure that you'd think of something."