Chapter 1

Nora sat still looking straight through the window, her mind in chaos. It was a bright and clear morning but to Nora it was another day filled with sadness and stress.

Picking up her tote bag, she headed to the door, locking the door safely, she made her way to the class.

It's 8 o'clock and her class starts by 8:30. It is still early, so she decided to walk to school. Her phone rang she picked it up,

“Hello mom, good morning," she greeted, trying to mask her secrets.

“Nora dear, how are you?” Mrs Victoria asked in concern

" Am fine mother,” she replied, then silence followed, she knew what's happening, her mom always call her anytime she feels that Nora is in trouble or doing something wrong, not wanting her mom to begin her long sermon she interrupted her

" Mom am late to class, we'll call later and besides am doing well and best, don't worry about me,” she reassured, Mrs Victoria sighed

" If you need anything don't hesitate, I know I'm not doing enough but I'm trying, just read and become successful for yourself and for me,” Mrs Victoria advice and Nora agreed, Nora felt happy that her mom still cares though she knows that she, herself is into material things and she needs more.

Ending the call, Nora increased her pace, she didn't want to be late.

“Nora! Nora!" A clear voice called and Nora turned to see Oliver, Oliver and Nora have been best friends since junior high school. She waited for Oliver to catch up with her.

“Are you still going for the part-time job?" Oliver asked walking beside Nora

" Yh, I need more money,” Nora replied and sighed

" Your Mom doesn't know right, cause she won't agree to this?” Oliver asked frowning staring at Nora deeply

Nora avoided her gaze and Oliver glared at her hard

" Don't tell her," Nora muttered, “so how is your university life?" She changed the topic instantly.

“Kind of fun but full of stress," Oliver replied, cooperating with her act.

Nora felt grateful that Oliver didn't dwell on that conversation and smiled, Oliver really has a way of making her happy.

A message popped on her phone, her smile faded and she became gloomy again making her remember her life for the past three weeks, it all started….

Chapter 2

Working in a bakery shop, Nora walked in after delivering the suspended orders, she was really tired, her mind clouded with the presentation Mr Amobi asked the class to be prepared for, she hadn't gotten enough time to read so she can't even remember the exact topic, she was really angry and hopeless.

“Maybe Oliver will be of help," she remembered and smiled thankfully, staring outside her gaze fixed on the clothes on the mannequin, she became excited and envious.

Nora has a little obsession with beautiful and sexy clothes, being born from a moderate family where her strict Mom wasn't a fan of trousers nor did she like girls who expose themselves in the name of fashion. But to Nora, her mom was always overreacting, the cloth was a little revealing with a high slit along the leg and stopped at the thigh, she stared at the price tag #15,000

“That much," she muttered and frowned checking her account balance, it wasn't enough then she remembered that the month is ending by next week and she'll be paid her salary of #25, 000.

“I'll wait patiently," she decided as a young man walked in

“Good evening, sir," she greeted, giving a professional and friendly smile.

The man smiled back and pointed to the bread

“Are they today's bread?" He asked, smiling fully mesmerized by Nora's black beauty.

“Yes, I will wrap one", Nora replied and the man nodded after paying the gentleman asked.

“Pretty, can I get your number?" He asked.

“Sorry I'm not interested in any," Nora replied, still smiling professionally.

The man felt disappointed and embarrassed so he left and Nora sighed, the smile fading away.

Nora boss walked in and Nora greeted him, the boss looked around till his eye rested on Nora

“I've told you many time, stop calling me sir rather call me “Chucks”," he warned, Nora nodded

The man approached Nora silently and Nora's heart raced from fear.

“So have you thought of what I asked you?" He asked, smiling but to Nora it felt creepy.

" Sir there is nothing to talk about, I'm still young, you're twenty seven years older than me, you got a wonderful wife and five children, your first son is already older than me so is your first daughter, I'm not engaging myself in any relationship with you,” Nora explained standing her ground and looking straight at Mr Chuck's face.

Chuck stared at Nora for a long time, his thoughts unknown, he just smiled as if understanding and walked away, Nora sighed and thanked God.

Chapter 3

It's two weeks after that incident, Nora sat quietly in the bakery shop waiting patiently for customers when five weird guys entered at once, Nora panicked but she tried to remain professional

“Good morning Sir," what do you all want?” She asked

" Hello pretty, we just want money,” the bald guy among the five men replied and before Nora could scream or as if sensing the lady's next action, a gun was pointed at her.

" Dare scream and you're dead,” another one ordered and Nora shut up, begging for her life

“Open the lock, the bald one ordered, Nora obediently did so, she watched them take all the money that's in there and her heart wretched but she couldn't do anything.

“That's all, please spare me," Nora begged earnestly in tears, another guy approached her but was stopped by the bald one who seemed to be their leader.

“We were asked to leave her for the man," the guy mumbled and the one approaching frowned but understood.

Nora fell to her knees immediately they left,

“What's happening, what did they mean by those words? They took all the money, what will I tell my Boss?”

Nora asked herself, her body kept shivering and her mind disoriented.

Her phone rang, it was her boss

She kept her gaze locked on the screen, the ringing tone sounded like a ticking bomb to her, she refused to answer, she didn't know how to explain, he would think she was lying. Scenarios of thought and unimaginary action kept flooding in her mind.

It was the first time such a thing happened to her so undoubtedly, she was at loss.

Time flew fast, Nora still at that same position got shocked and she sprang up immediately the door was pushed open revealing her boss

“What happened here, why didn't you pick up my call?" He asked with anger as he walks to the counter to pick up money as usual ignoring Nora but on sighting nothing, he turned to Nora

" What's the meaning of this, where is my money,” he asked his voice getting stronger

" Sir..sir,” Nora's voice was caught off immediately Chucks slammed the table.

" Sir, I was robbed, I swear I am not lying,” Nora rushed to explain before Chucks concludes

“Is this a new trick cause it's not gonna work," Chucks asked not giving Nora a chance.

" Sir please check your CV camera, I won't lie to you,” Nora defended sincerely

" Even if I check my camera, it doesn't explain the way my money will be returned to me,” Chucks muttered sitting down lazily and looking straight at Nora who knelt down looking pitiful

That instant a thought crossed Nora’s mind, “isn't my boss acting strange?, why is he still composed and calm?, an amount of more than #300,000 is stolen and in this hard Nigeria economy, he is still composed and relaxed. Did he have a hand in this? or am I overthinking this?.

Nora couldn't help this thought

“What?, you are gonna pay me back my money, whether stolen or not," he threatened.

“Sir you don't wanna hear what happened, you don't wanna see how it all happened, you don't care if I died while protecting your money, you don't want to know how I was threatened, you don't care for my life and still you want a student that is still this young to pay for money that I don't have nor steal?" Nora asked, her fear turning to anger as she challenged his words

“What, I do as it so pleases me, you wanna call the police, you wanna report me to society or your parents, anything you do as far as I want to lock you up then that's easy with this whole evidence, for the camera I can corrupt it or remove it to clear the little evidence you got,” Chucks cornered his tone lazy but powerful

Nora stared at him for a long time and sighed.

“What do you want?" She asked staring at him unfriendly and disrespectful

“What can you give?" He asked, lust clearly imprinted in his gaze

“My salary please cut #5000 every month, I know it isn't enough but It will buy me time to pay you fully," Nora muttered and Chucks frowned without a word he stood up locked the store door and faced the cautious and shocked Nora

“Dare scream and you'll suffer in prison," he threatened.

Chapter 4

“Sir please, don't do what you are thinking of doing," Nora begged creating distance between them

" You thought I was playing?You understood the hints but still dared to provoke me?” Chucks asked and Nora gaze widen but before Nora could think of something she got pinned down by her boss

" Sir don't, I.. my first time.. sir …I .., Nora begged trying her best not to scream. Staring at the man's victorious and luscious face. Nora felt nauseous but she couldn't do anything, it's her first time in that sort of situation she could only silently dream of help.

The way Chucks pulled out a condom told her the fact that he was ready, he knew of these, why will a man carry condom everywhere he goes.

Nora resisted and fought back but couldn't push away the irritating and wicked man, she was ruthlessly defiled by her own boss and ended up weak,numb and sore. She cleaned her tears and shifted far away from him, the boss chuckled at her silly movement.

“I don't wanna hear this from anyone else, if you ever stopped working because of this I'll trace you to your school or house and send you to prison, this should be kept between us, I really enjoyed myself, if this keep up, you'll pay off all the debts," Chucks threatened and smiled eerily, he threw twenty thousand to her, “get a new clothe and eat, am generous right,” he asked wearing his clothes and walking away leaving Nora to resume her sobbing.

Chapter 5

And that's how it has been for three weeks now

“I'm coming to work today," the message from Chucks left Nora sad

“Nora, are you listening to me?" Oliver asked worried

" Yes I am,” Nora replied but Oliver wasn't convinced

" Nora you've been acting strange for three weeks now, are you sure you don't wanna share with me?” Oliver asked, very worried and sulking.

" Not now, maybe later, maybe never,” Nora replied with uncertainty and Oliver sighed.

" Seriously Nora?” Oliver asked angry

" Let's go, we are gonna be late?” Nora changed the topic and earned a long look from Oliver who was now doubting if Nora ever took her as a friend. Oliver being Oliver, ignored Nora and walked away from her, sulkily and worried.

Throughout the whole lecture, Nora was troubled when the lecture for the day was over, she picked up her bag and went to work as usual but she was so reluctant and kept hesitating.

Walking in to see Mary, her co worker that works in the morning till she is off campus then take over the night shifts

“ How was business?” Nora asked, picking up the store uniform.

" As usual but Mr Chucks said that your uniform is changed to the ones in the wardrobe, goodbye,” Mary muttered and left immediately, she was really tired

Following the instructions, Nora went to the wardrobe to pick up a uniform that looked so immoral. She like exposing clothes but not naked clothes, she threw it into the dustbin immediately, her brow furrowing as she cursed her boss

Speaking of the devil he walked in to see the action.

Nora stared at him and ignored him, going back to her work, Chucks who was now used to her 360 behavior change towards him was already used to it, going after her he held her waist, his hand sliding across the legs

Nora felt repulsed but held back because she knows Chucks has limit of enduring things

“You threw away the clothes, I handpicked for you?" He asked but Nora, who wasn't interested in talking to a beast, ignored him.

“You are getting braver right?" He asked and smirked. Nora knew how timid and scared she felt inside, but if she kept showing her vulnerable side to him he'll trample on her over and over again so she has to act though while making sure her plan follows.

“Okay then," Chucks mumbled and pushed her to the table, Nora frowned from the impact but covered up as Chucks dragged down her skirt ready to take advantage of her again.

“Customer is coming," Nora replied coldly making Chuck halt in his action and with a furious face he glared at the incoming customer and walked away, Nora's heart that was racing uncontrollable normalized, her body shivered and she rushed to the bathroom to vomit in pure disgust.

Chapter 6

“Hi, it's you again,” a guy stated. Nora walked out of the bathroom to see a guy though his face looked a bit familiar but that's it.

“You remember me right?" He asked and Nora denied

“Okay don't worry, just remember my name is Fred you can call me Freddie, what's yours?" Fred asked

“Stella," Nora lied and the guy smiled

“Stella, wow it's a good name," the man praised but Nora was silently waiting for him to order what he needed and leave.

After chatting a little with Nora who wasn't cooperating he left sadly, Nora was so grateful.

Opening her phone, she played a video of the first night Chucks raped her and those 5 men incident, she finally downloaded that video to her phone from the CV camera before Chucks will delete it.

She has secretly been listening to Chuck's every discussion on phone or with friends waiting patiently for hints because she felt that Chuck employed or sent those 5 men to do that to her because she refused his advances, so he decided a more brutal way to mark her as his.

Finally luck paid on one particular day, Chucks ordered for a home delivery as he usually do sometimes but this time around in the morning, Mary wasn't around so Nora went in her place, Nora dropped it on his front door and rang the doorbell as he always instruct them to and leave but this time around Nora didn't leave but hid

The door open and the bald guy picked up the delivery

Nora gasped, her body shivering.

She knew it, it took her by a little surprised because she had suspected it already, taking out her phone, she put on the video and sneakily walked to the window, the six men sat together and chattered happily, Nora gaze were sharp, tears slipping down her cheeks, she didn't stop till she zoomed in all their merry faces then ran away before she is being noticed.

Chapter 7

Nora sat beside Oliver who kept watching the whole video on Nora's phone with disbelief.

Without a word Oliver dragged Nora to a pharmacy

“Run HIV test, infection test and pregnancy test on my sister, no matter the amount I'll pay,” Oliver asked the pharmacy who immediately got to business

“Oliver am fine," Nora comforted but got a sharp glare from the furious Oliver

“Do you want me to face you?" Oliver asked, Nora knows best than to provoke Oliver so she shut up after the whole results came out

Oliver looked at the results and sighed

Luckily you aren't pregnant, you're negative and just a little curable infection.

" You don't mind me telling someone about your situation, can he be of help?" Oliver asked

“If he can then no problem," Nora replied watching Oliver make a call.

“It's now late so what next?" Nora indirectly asked immediately Oliver cut the call

" He lives around here, he is a higher cop and he'll be of help,”Oliver replied holding Nora's hand

" I'll be grateful if you tell him to keep everything as a secret,” Nora urged and Oliver nodded and smiled in return

Freddie walked towards Oliver

" You called,” Fred asked his gaze shifting towards Nora, Nora seemed shocked but hid it immediately

" Hi Nora or Stella” Fred greeted with a smirk and a wink, his handsome frame really eye catching

" You came fast, Woah Oliver praised not reading the room tension and atmosphere

“How do you know my name is Nora?" Nora asked her brow raised up

“I've already investigated before approaching you, your boss and his friends are one of our suspect for illegal drug selling, Fred explained and smiled

“Wait, wait, you both know each other?” Oliver asked dumbfounded, her gaze darting between the two.

“He kept flirting with me,” Nora explain with a deadpan expression and Fred didn't deny, leaving Oliver in awe

“Yh she is beautiful," Fred replied and smiled more.

" Are you gonna help?”Nora asked, she was really embarrassed and nervous but is good at masking emotions.

" I wanna watch every video till the last,” Fred replied, his whole demeanor becoming mature and responsible. Nora knew he was serious right now

“Staring at Fred while he watched the NC scenes with a straight face left Nora totally ashamed and Oliver noticed it.

“Aren't you gonna skip those parts,she's embarrassed,” Oliver muttered

" During ecstasy and pleasure, he won't hold back in taking his drugs so I need to watch every action,” Fred replied, his gaze not leaving the phone.

Chapter 8

" Got it,” Fred muttered and looked at Nora who avoided his gaze immediately, who wouldn't, after your whole naked video had been played to him, she felt her little pride was destroyed, so embarrassing.

" You have seen what you are looking for,” Oliver asked on behalf of Nora

“Yh but I'm taking this video I hope you won't mind, don't worry, it's gonna be kept private, no one will hear or see it but it's needed," Fred asked.

Nora looked at Oliver who nodded so did she as Fred smiled and walked away

“Is he really trustworthy?" Nora asked and Oliver nodded

“Yh, he is my cousin, you two haven't met before because he was always far from home,” Oliver explained and Nora smiled

" Okay,” Nora agreed

" Now tell me about how you met Freddie?” Oliver asked and Nora unknowingly smiled.

………..

Nora stopped coming and Chucks got so angry, he called his friends together to cool off but who would have thought that he would be surrounded by cops

Without much thought, the whole friends ran, each aiming through the window but Freddie already thought of it and they were all caught with Chucks who kept claiming he was innocent and want to speak with his lawyer

Chapter 9

“Do you still wanna find a job ?" Fred asked

“Am not sure,after that incident," Nora replied and Fred smiled in understanding.

“You should get over it with time, if you like bakery job and need money, since you have that knowledge, then why not try baking from you room in hostel then sell it to your classmates and make money, it's more safe and easier,”Fred advised and Nora smiled at first but frowned again

" What's wrong?” Fred asked

" It needs a lot of capital but I'm not with much,” Nora muttered and smiled making Fred sigh

“I thought it's something bad, I will send money to you but through Oliver, is it okay," Fred asked and Nora, understanding the reason for that, smiled.

“Okay,"

Nora walked out of Court House, with a smile, she got avenged, her mother and siblings were patiently waiting for her.

“Are you okay now," Mrs Victoria asked

“Yes, I won't hide any other thing from you mother," Nora replied and Mrs Victoria smiled.

“You really need to limit your obsession with material things," Oliver chipped in and Nora groaned but smiled in understanding.

Fred walked towards them and they all smiled

"Thanks for helping my daughter and saving her from that beast," Mrs Victoria appreciated

“No no, you misunderstood, we are just repaying favors, she made my hard work easier and I helped her back, simple,” Fred replied and Mrs Victoria still appreciated, he chatted a little before leaving.

“Nora dear, how much do you need now?" Mrs Victoria asked searching her bag

“None mommy, Fred helped me, so I started baking in school so I've money to take care of my need instead use the money for my little siblings," Nora muttered

“Are you sure?" Mrs Victoria asked worriedly and Nora nodded.

“If you need anything come to me," Mrs Victoria reminded and forced a little gift into Oliver's hand, Oliver smiled in return and left with Nora back to school, her mother left for home with her little kids.

Fred stood by the far end, his gaze locked on Nora till she was out of sight.