C4 4

***ANGELA

The first thing I notice when I open my eyes is that I am not in my hotel room. Already it is too quiet. Elionne always wakes me up with music. And the sheets smell masculine. The door of the bathroom opens and I see him coming out putting on his T-shirt. I still had time to see his bare chest. I look down in intimidation.

- Finally awake!" he remarks cheerfully.

- What time is it?

- Nine o'clock. I didn't want to wake you up.

He seems too cheerful this morning, which leaves me confused. I look under the sheet. I have all my clothes on. Nothing has happened. Unless...

- Did we...

I make movements with my fingers between him and me.

- Slept together? he finishes my question. No. You fell asleep on the couch so I drove you here. I slept on the couch, don't worry. Breakfast just arrived. Shall we have it together?

- I... I'd rather go back to my room. I have a headache.

- Okay, I'll walk you home.

- No, I'm fine, thanks. I'll be going soon. It was really nice of you to let me sleep here.

- No problem.

He helps me out of bed by holding my hand. I am immediately struck by his scent. Men who smell good have always been a sore spot for me. I thank him again and go back to my room. Elionne is still listening to music. When she sees me, she jumps on me.

- Oh my God, tell me you did it! How was it? Did he do it right? Did you scream with pleasure?

- What? What the hell are you talking about?

- Last night when I came home he answered your phone, informing me that you were in his room. Did you do it or not?

- We didn't do anything, Elijah. I just slept in his room because I wasn't feeling well. That's all. Nothing happened.

- Is he gay?

- Cut the crap," I said, dropping onto the bed.

- But I want to understand. How a man who has a woman in his room doesn't touch her.

- He's a gentleman, that's all. He gave up his bed to me and slept on the couch.

- But you must sleep with him before we go back.

- Hoorr... you piss me off Elionne. I'm gonna take a shower.

- And you can shave your fanny while you're at it.

I throw a pillow in her face. This woman is terrible.

***COLLINS

- Have you listened to the demo?

- Yes, and it's a blast, bro. We're waiting for the rest. I love it. Omar can confirm."

- "Yes bro, confirms Omar. The lyrics are deep. You're not done yet but I know it's going to be a beautiful story you're going to tell there."

- Where did you get that one from?" resumed Lemuel.

- That's crazy! You're not going to believe this, but... this woman inspired me to write it. In fact, it's about her. About us.

- "So the story in the elevator was real? Asks Omar."

- Yeah. That's where we met.

- "Wait, wait, are you... in love?" asks Lemuel this time.

I look at the picture of her asleep in my laptop and I have this distinct feeling that yes, this woman does not leave me indifferent.

- In love, I don't know yet. But... there's something about her that attracts me.

- "Big buttocks?"

- Stop it Lémuel, you're silly.

- "But don't forget that you have a bride in Morocco," Lémuel reminds me.

- I don't want to talk about that, or even think about it. Well, I'll leave you to it. I have to go see her.

- "Give her my best and tell her to keep inspiring you. Your audience misses you. Bye."

I hang up the phone laughing. I still look at the picture of that woman in my cell phone. Last night I couldn't help but immortalize her. The image of her asleep was too beautiful for me not to remember. This is really a first for me to do such things with a woman. And strangely enough, I like it. I still want to spend time with her.

The receptionist informs me that the car I ordered has arrived. Today I really want to visit the city. I pull my cap down to cover my face and go to the door of the room of... what's her name again? Angie. I knock and it's her friend who opens the door. I lower my head. If she's a fan, she must have already watched my videos. There's a chance she might recognize me.

- Hello, I would like to see...

- Angie?

- Yes, I would like to see Angie.

- One moment I'll call her.

Rather than going back inside, she stays on the spot looking at me.

- Uh, something wrong?

- I feel like I know you.

- You saw me with Angie the other day.

- I know, but I'm not talking about that. You look familiar.

- It must be a resemblance.

- Hm! She growls without conviction.

She ends up returning. The moment after, it is Angie who appears. My heart gets carried away at her sight.

She is beautiful in her flouncy dress and loose hair.

- Hello again," she greets me a little shyly.

- Hi! Uh... do you have any plans today?

- Not really. Why not?

- I'd like to see the city... with you. Would you like to?

There is an indecipherable gleam in her eyes. She's surprised, but there's more to it than that. She finally looks down.

- Yes, she does," her friend replies promptly, appearing with a cell phone and a purse. Here... go away, she orders her friend.

She rolls her eyes, retrieves her belongings and joins me at the door.

- So where are we going?

- I have no idea, I say as we walk to the elevator. I just want us to get out of this hotel for a while.

- I feel like we're going to get lost.

- No, we're not. Trust me.

- The last time I trusted a man, it ended badly.

- I'm not that man.

We exchange a look. I sense the confusion in his. I begin to be too, so I look away and press the button. The elevator doors close.

We have spent the day visiting all the big stores in town and tasting the snacks, just to see which one is the best. Now we are sitting under a shed on the beach in another town. Grand-Bassam, if I'm not mistaken about the name. We tasted a very good dish of braised rabbit. I laughed at the face she made at the first bite. She hadn't eaten it for a long time. A group of girls behind us, who had been listening to music up to that point, put on a sound to me. Angie and I exchange a look and go off into a fit of giggles. By the way, we heard my music all over the places we went. I was surprised myself to see how much my music was listened to in this country. It made me happy.

- Do you agree with me that this artist follows me everywhere?

- Yes this time I admit it. Maybe it's a sign.

- A sign of what?

- That maybe you should finally like his music.

- Zouk is not my thing.

- It's not zouk. It's French RnB and Rap.

She squints her eyes.

- Tell me, you wouldn't be gay?

- Oh fuck! Why? Because it's weird to see a man praising another man so much.

- Because it's weird to see a man praising another man so much, especially when that man is making romantic music.

- Lord forbid. There are way too many beautiful women out there for me to be looking for the hard ass of a man like me. And to get back to what you said, I just like the artist. His lyrics speak to me.

- What, when he says there are too many beautiful women to settle for one?

- No, he doesn't. When he says that there are too many beautiful women to settle for one. But that he knows that there is, somewhere in this world, only one who will make him forget all the others.

And I think this sentence has just taken all its meaning. I have a sudden urge to kiss him.

- Ah, let's hope when he finds her he dedicates a whole song to her so we know.

That's what I'm doing, baby.

- Say, can we consider our day as a date? she suddenly changes the subject.

- Uh, why?

- Because I've been on the worst dates of my life for the last three months and I've come to think that I'm the problem. So if this is a date I would be really happy about it because I loved my day. It would also reassure me that I'm not a jinx.

- We didn't do anything special though. Were the dates that bad?

- Between a man who lives with reptiles to which he has given each one of them first names, a 40 year old man who still lives with his mother because he is not yet financially stable enough to get an apartment, not to mention the fact that it is this mother who buys and washes his underwear, and another who is already married to three women with 21 children and who is still looking for a fourth wife, I think that yes, it was catastrophic. Ah, I also forgot the illusion seller who practically lives in the airplanes.

I'm laughing at his story, but especially at the look on his face.

- I had never heard anything like that. It's crazy.

- And me, who lived it, how do you think I felt? It's all the fault of my best friend who wants me to find a man at all costs. She even dragged me here by force.

- Well, I am grateful to her. Thanks to her, I met a woman like you.

She raises her pupils towards me. A fleeting glimmer crosses her eyes before they return to a normal state. This woman is like honey.

- We should go for a dip before we leave," I whispered to end what was becoming a very intimate moment.

- Yes!

I walk after her, hands in my pockets, enjoying the effect of the sunset on her skin and her hair flying in the air. She picks up things in the sand. Slowly, I start humming this new composition that tells what she and I have been going through since we met. I don't know what will happen next, but I'm enchanted by what has already happened. Watching her rains words and phrases into my head. I sing in a low voice

in order to memorize better. I'll make the recording in my laptop once I'm in my hotel room.

- Is that you singing there? she asks suddenly, turning around. You have a beautiful voice. Now I understand why you like the other artist.

- That's a bit of it.

She smiles. I notice not far from us, three young girls who just point at me. I perceive some bits of their discussion. I think they suspect that it is me. One of them is sure, but the other two are not. They decide to come and check. Damn! If they recognize me, I'm done for. I don't want Angie to know who I am. For once a woman likes me and not the star, I don't want to ruin it. If she finds out who I am, she might not want to be around me anymore.

- Angie!

- Hm?

As soon as she turns around, I take her by the waist and I crush my lips on hers. She tenses up on the spot. I hear the girls walking away. I would normally call it quits but instead... I deepen the kiss. Angie relaxes and opens her lips. My tongue finds its way to hers and it is in a whirlwind of sensations that I revel in the exquisite taste of her lips. The soft moan she lets out makes me twice as hard in my jeans. I end the kiss before I no longer have control of myself. When I release her lips, I start to fear her reaction. This was not on the agenda. I am afraid that she gets carried away and does not want to see me anymore. I meet eyes shining with desire.

- I... I'm sorry," I stammer. I don't know what came over me.

She lowers her head. I wait for her to say something but nothing.

- We should go home now, I finally say to end this discomfort.

- Okay.

The way back is done in silence. She doesn't seem to want to talk so I don't insist. She finally falls asleep against the car door. I activate the voice recording in my laptop and I start to sing softly so as not to wake her up. She has awakened something in me, this woman. A flame. I want to go into the studio and sing all those things she provokes in me. I'm capable of putting out two albums with everything that's going on in my head right now.

- You have a beautiful voice," she compliments me as soon as I pull into the hotel parking lot.

- Weren't you sleeping?

- Yes, but I was awakened by a sweet melody. I didn't understand the words but it was beautiful.

- Thank you!

We go up to our floor in silence. The embarrassment is still on her face. I walk her back to her room.

- Angie, I'm sorry again for what happened.

- It's not a big deal. It's not like we committed adultery," she jokes with a smile that reassures me.

- You're right. Have a good night.

- You have a good night too.

I go back to my room, lighter but mostly with a thrilled heart.

***PATRICK AGNIMEL

This rape story is seriously starting to piss me off. If this family doesn't watch out I'm going to put them in jail. From the father to the children to the mother. They all piss me off. And that Collins guy who isn't there. That kid deserves a beating. Disappearing at such a crucial time in his career. I'll deal with him later. Right now I'm waiting for the proposal from the family of the famous victim. My lawyer and I are in court at the request of the judge. The other family is also present. We are standing at the entrance of the judge's office.

- Please sit down, he allows us. Here, Mr. AGNIMEL, the family LAROSE here present has informed me of a proposal which would settle all this history amicably. Indeed, your son... where is he? He was supposed to be here too.

- He... He fulfilled a professional commitment, your honor.

- The Larose family is asking your son to marry their daughter since he dishonored her and got her pregnant. It is their only condition to close this story. It is up to you to make a decision. It's either that, or we continue the trial and I will have to give a sentence.

- Is this a joke? They can't demand a wedding. Look, your honor, we dispute the test results that were done and we refuse to give in to this blackmail.

- Is that your final answer?

My lawyer quickly speaks up.

- We will confer with your honor and give you an answer later.

- That's fine. You may leave.

I get out of there without further ado. The lawyer catches up with me soon enough.

- Mr. AGNIMEL...

- I said no, no marriage.

- Yes, I understood that. Only we must proceed with strategy. I have observed the girl well and she is about to crack. Let's just find a way to make her do it.

- I know what to do. I understand that they've done this whole charade to make their daughter the wife of a super star. So if they see their plan fall apart, they'll go ballistic and there's a chance they'll do things that will work against them.

- And what do you have in mind?

- Follow me.

As expected, the press is here. They all come at me at the same time.

- Mr. AGNIMEL, is it true that Collins will marry the victim as restitution?

- Of course not. Collins cannot marry another because he is already engaged. It was supposed to be his turn to announce it, but events dictate. He is currently in the middle of preparing his next album, after which the wedding to the only woman he loves will take place. We promise you that this story will be cleared up in a very short time.

I signal to the lawyer to go back and talk to the judge. I break through the crowd of journalists who are still asking me questions I can't answer.

Lémuel welcomes me at the door, his cell phone in his hand.

- Dad, what's this about marriage? You know very well that Collins has no one in his life.

- Yes, he does, don't forget that," I say, walking towards the stairs. I've already contacted my friend.

- So you were alluding to Priscilla ? he says, following me into my room. But between them it is not really what one can call a relationship.

- They're already seeing each other. We'll just speed things up.

I turn to him.

- Now tell me where he is. He must return or it will be the end of his career.

- Daddy...

- Listen, this is no longer a question of caprice. I know he is in Ivory Coast. If I didn't say anything, it's because I also wanted him to rest. But now we are at a turning point. Either he comes back now so that we can finish with this rape story, or it's over for all of us. We'll all be out of a job, you understand?

He looks down.

- He stays at the Hotel Ivoire.

- Good. Order me a plane ticket. We'll come back by jet. I hate being alone on a plane.