Phoebe had thought that what she would have with the stranger was going to be a one night stand and what a night that had been.

She was glad when she found him gone the next morning but later started missing him. He really had so much stamina.

He reminded her of her ex lover Richard, she thought again. She did not know why she could not seem to stop thinking about Richard.

She got up and washed up. Then as she prepared to go out, she found a note under her door.

She picked the note and read it.

It read:

Phoebe love,

I have wondered what became of you since the last time we saw.

The manner in which we parted did not please me at all. Afterall, we have known since forever.

If we were no longer going to be lovers, at least we could be friends.

Meet me at the pub behind the Catholic church.

And before you refuse, I have information that you would not want me to leak. I saw you in the celebrity column of a popular magazine with a renowned personality. Your name was linked to his. I just have a few questions I would like to ask.

See you there at 7pm.

Your love,

Rich.

Richard! How had he traced her to this place? She had thought that she would never hear from him again. Now this. She knew that all his talk of being friends was just superficial. He just wanted to blackmail her. Now that he knew that she was having a thing with Jason, the billionaire, he would want to blackmail her.

Why had she not thought about the possibil of Richard seeing her photo in a magazine when she had decided to go out with Jason but for how long was she going to keep hiding? Afterall,she had not done any evil or something to be ashamed of.

If anything, it was Richard who should be ashamed. He had committed so many atrocities but the society would not frown too much at his behaviour but would at hers.

How was she going to see him now and how would she respond to his demands if he was there for blackmail as she was suspecting.

She left at the appointed time to meet with Richard.

'Hello, pretty!'

'Richard, I do not have time for any pleasantries. Say what you have to say and let me leave', she responded cutting Richard's greeting short.

'Ho oh, not so fast. You have not seen me for a while and you say it isn't ideal for us to exchange pleasantries? Where are you learning this? From the company you have been keeping?'

'You are not fit to buckle the sandals of the company I have been keeping lately. So let's not go there. What information do you say you have for me?'

'I thought that perhaps you will take me to your house and shoe me some hospitality before we say anything. You know that I have missed you terribly'.

Phoebe felt that Richard must have totally lost it. How did he think that she would want to have anything intimate to do with him?

As though reading her thoughts, He said, 'I know that I hurt you terribly and you may not want to forgive me but I have never forgotten about you. No woman is quite like you, you know. None of them could take care of me the way you did. Do you suppose we could get back together?'

Phoebe was sure now that he had gone totally berserk.

It must have shown in her eyes for he laughed hysterically.

'Oh don't worry. You cannot blame a guy for trying, you know. I know that you are now moving in higher circles. So you might not want to give the likes of us the time of day. But you will have to pay for the luxury you are enjoying now. How serious is this Campbell man? Do you foresee marriage in the picture in the future?' he asked looking at her seriously.

,'What has all this got to do with anything?'

'A lot. A lot my dear Phoebe. You have climbed high in life and your circle of friends have changed but you have forgotten all about me and by the way, do you still remember Carol your friend who was instrumental to breaking us apart? She is now married to one young man's.

'Yes I know. She got married to Palmer. Palmer is one of the men who rescued her from your evil plot to degrade her. I was present at the wedding and Carol and I have kept in touch. You need not bother yourself about that's, she said impatiently.

'Lets get back to this Campbell guy. I learnt that his wife left him but that she is back now and your competition is higher now, isn't that right?'

'You seem so we'll informed. So why do you need any confirmation from me?'

'You know it is because I know what your intentions are. And if my guess is wrong, then you are foolish not to set your cap on him'. Richard said smiling.

She looked at him in surprise, not knowing what to make of his statement. He was confusing her. First he said something about her going to pay for riding in high circles and now he was telling her that she would be a fool not to do just that.

Richard looked at her and found that her confusion was bringing him great merriment.

But time for business.

'Since you would want nothing to exist between us anymore, You will have to pay me off. Whether you end up marrying the Jason guy or not is your business. But you will have to give me two million dollars to keep my mouth shut about what I know of you and another two hundred to say goodbye to me and all that we shared'.

Phoebe could not believe her ears. The guy has lost it totally it would seem. How was she going to get such an amount of money?

She knew she could raise it if she decided to task her wealthy lovers but she liked doing her things in a subtle manner. This would seem like enforcing her demands.

'And what exactly is it you know about me that is worth such an amount of money?'

'Oh, you don't want to know. I assure you.

Have you forgotten how we lived together and you decided that I was not rich enough and you started dating your married boss because of his money and when I found out about you, you decided to jilt me but unfortunately for you, your boss' wife hot wind of your affair and it caused so much of a scandal that if you had not run away to Lake District, it would have made headlines and once the wife knows you are here, it is possible she would bring the fight here to you and it would spoil the image of those you are currently having an affair with. And if they happen to be married men, I can assure you that they would not want to be exposed and invite the wrath of their wives'.

Phoebe's mouth hung open. How had he twisted what had happened between them this way? And the way he said it, if it had not happened to her, she would have believed him. He sounded so convincing.

'You know that was not what happened!' she exclaimed.

'Yes, but who else but you know what the real truth is and I can assure you that I would be believed. The women will look at you as a threat and the men would not want anything that would endanger their marriage or reputation. So darling Phoebe, you had better make your choice.The money or I squeal what I know'.

Phoebe knew that he was speaking the truth and that no one would believe her especially with the way she had carried on since she came to this town. The women would want to protect their husbands from her and alot of them are married as Richard had rightly guessed. And the men would no longer hold her in high regard anymore if they had before and they would start avoiding her. And if that happened,where would she be?

She knew she could raise the money but raising to pay a villain like Richard for what she was innocent of was what was infuriating her. But she knew that she had to be wise about this and find a way to do away with him.

'You and I know that your claim is false but like you said,nobody else knows it. I do not have a commitment relationship with the man you want me to set my cap on or on any other, not that it is any of your business but that does not mean that I would want to be painted in a bad light before them.

I also do not have that kind of money and do not know how to go about raising it. Could you bring it down a bit? say like a million each? It would still be high but two million would be a bit easier raising than four million' she said,her brain running riot.

'That is the amount I want. I know Jason is not the only person you are having an affair with and he alone can afford to give you that amount and though it does not concern me how you raise the money, you can ask all the other men for money and come up with more than the amount I am demanding'.

'Okay. But you will have to give me time to raise the money. But how sure am I that you will not come back and blackmail me for more money?' she asked. She knew that that was exactly what he would do. He could not be trusted. Someone who could stoop as low as this to blackmail another for what she was innocent of and even before then, who had deceived gullible ladies who were desperate for love and attention, to having a relationship with him where he fed off them and depleted their resources. That kind of person was capable of alot of things and she had to be careful where he was concerned.

'What is going on in that little head of yours? Are you thinking of double crossing me? You better not think about it. Because it will spell doom for you' he threatened.

'I was racking my brains on how to raise such a huge sum of money. It is not easy you know and I have to devise means to that'. she said.

'That had better be the case, my darling because I shall be watching you and any wrong step, I shall not think twice about doing away with you. But in the meantime, we could have a good time together. Remember how it had always been between us?'

Phoebe had had enough. She felt nauseated.

'Richard, one thing at a time. Let me see how I can raise the money. You already have many female friends that satisfy your basic need and If I tell you that I am in the mood for such rubbish, I would be the liar of the century'. she said walking off.

'I give you four days. We shall meet here at same time after four days. Be ready by then'. he said and winked at her.

She just kept walking away because she felt so furious and bitter that she could have said or done what she would have regretted.

Phoebe got home with the intention of locking herself up in her room and crying her eyes out. Life had not been fair to her at all. Just when she thought that her lot was about to change, Jason's ex wife resurfaced. It would not have been a problem if he had shown any animosity towards her or if her relationship with him had been a committed one. Then she would have exercised full tights over him and hastened their wedding and Rebecca would have found that she was late in trying to come back into his life except she wanted to be the other woman.

That seemed not to be enough, Richard had also resurfaced with his selfish demands and threats.

How was she going to overcome this?

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she did not see the person sitting on her doorstep.

She nearly bumped into him but missed her step as she caught sight if a shadow on the doorstep too late but he caught her and she ended up in his arms.

He kissed her thoroughly before setting her on her feet again.

'You'd better be careful where you step'. he said smiling.

Phoebe looked flushed. She had not known who was kissing her but she had responded all the same because she had not cared. She had just wanted to escape the feeling of desperation that was eating her up. Though she may have instinctively known that it was the stranger with whom she had had a marvellous one night stand.

'Who has done this to you? Why are you so distracted and anxious?'

She wanted to hide the whole issue from him but she didn't have anyone to confide in and did not want to disturb Carol with her problems. Carol must have her own issues to deal with.

She burst into tears.

The stranger took the keys from her and opened the door and ushered her gently in before going in after her.

In the distance, a pair of eyes watched them go in together.

He sat her down and got her a glass of water.

'You cannot tell me it's nothing. What is the problem be ause I do not need to be a fortune teller to know that something has got you so worked up that you seem confused.

Phoebe looked at him and saw that he was really handsome or maybe it was just that she was seeing beauty everywhere Richard was not present. He had really polluted the night for her.

'It is just me ex boyfriend's, she started trying for a neutral tone.

'Yes, what about him?'

'You know it is really none of your business. Why are you so concerned?'

'I know we are just strangers to each other. But that does not mean that I like people maltreating women'.

'Says the guy who picked up a woman and spent the night with her though he didn't know a thing about her'.

The man looked at Phoebe for a long time.

'I am Romeo. What is yours?'

'I preferred it when you were just a nameless stranger to me, you know!'

'What exactly do you want? You just a caused me of taking you the other night without even knowing anything about you and here I am trying to remedy the situation and you are still objecting'.

Phoebe burst into tears. She did not know if it was her hormones a ting up or if she was reacting to her lot in life. If only Jason or some of the other single wealthy male friends she had could act half as concerned as this stranger she did not want to have anything to do with anymore, then she would be very happy and consider herself lucky indeed.

'He wants me to get him $4m to keep his mouth shut concerning what he knows about me'. she blurted.

'And what is his thing he knows about you that is worth such an outrageous sum of money?'

'He saw me linked with Jason Campbell in the papers and assumed that we were having a thing and if I didn't want him coming between us and ruining my reputation before him, then I would have to give him that amount'.

'I know that it is none of my business but are you romantically involved with the man? Jason, I mean?'

'We are in an open relationship. Each of us is free to have other partners or see other people if we so desire. He has been weary of women since he broke off with his wife who eloped with his best friend. So he does not want any attachments'.

'But you would have wanted your relationship with him to be different, more involved!' he stated in a matter of fact manner.

Phoebe looked at him shocked. How had he been able to read her so effortlessly?

'I can see that you are surprised. Don't be. I have been with you for just a night but I could tell that you are not a bad sort at all. So, he does not want any attachments' but you want it but you would rather be with him till he realizes that he wants you for more than sexual gratification but for keeps?

There is a danger in it because he may still be secretly in love with his ex wife and if she comes back, then you will have wasted your time.

Secondly, he may already have someone else in mind. Though if that is the case, he would have stopped seeing you. Because a man who loves another would want to be with his love always and with no other especially if the love is strong and if it is novel.

But you have to be careful. If he does not love you till now, what is the probability he would love you later? And do you love him or the idea of being with him?'

'Not that it is any business of yours but I do not love him but I would like to be his wife'.

'And what plans are you making towards that?'

'I had thought of something but his ex wife suddenly resurfaced and the way he acted was as though he still had feelings for him. I had just come from a date with him the night I met you, where he met his ex wife again after their divorce and I was really sad and broken by what I felt was his residual feelings for her. He should despise her for what she had done. There should be no soft spot left in him for her'.

'Are you sure you have not fallen in love with this Jason guy? Because you sound very much like a woman in love'.

he said looking at her broodingly.

'I am not in love with him. I am just frustrated. All my plans seem not to be working and now, my villain ex boyfriend is blackmailing me!'

'That was why I needed to know if you are in love with Jason or not because if you are not, then what ever the fool wants to reveal should not affect you'.

'If you are not in love with Jason, then whatever your foolish ex boyfriend has to reveal about you should not affect you at all. Jason was not expecting you not to have had a past now, was he?'

'No. But Richard, that's the fool's name. He cooked up the story'.

'Really? Then why are you so bothered?'

'It is because the way he said it, he nearly convinced even me. He twisted the whole story to favour him'.

'You are not making much sense. Maybe you should tell me everything'.

'We met when we were still teenagers. I fell in love with him and we grew on each other or so I thought.

After high school, we started co habiting. He didn't have a job and was not really very brilliant at school and so did not want to further his studies. I wanted to,very much. I started working and enrolled part time.

He stayed home and I thought nothing of it when he would come home and say that he had gone round but couldn't find a job.

I footed his bills,bought all the clothes he wore and the food he ate. Everything he needed, I provided because I felt that he loved me just as much as I did him

My friends told me that Richard may not be the man he appeared to be and that they were suspecting some movements he was making but I wouldn't listen.

He made plans with some goons to rape one of my friends to death, Carol is her name who was particularly against his behaviour and had caught him red handed and told me.

He felt that she should not have snitched but she was rescued and is currently married to one of her rescuers.

I set a trap for him and he fell into it. He deceived gullible women and ladies with promises of everlasting love and they foolishly give him their life savings. Slaving for him while he goes about like a pimp.

I had dated my boss when I found that my wage was not enough to take care of his ever increasing demands and wants. I wanted desperately to satisfy him. I did not know he was aware of it. It took me a while to reach that decision but I did it for him but he used it against me at last and now he is saying he would tell the whole world how little virtue I have so that the women would beware of me and the men would lose their respect for me and want nothing to do with me since they would not want their images to be tarnished.

You have seen Jason, he would not want a dent on his name. Any such info about me and he would call it quits and how would I fulfill my dream of being his wife? There is enough competition as it is. I do not need that to disqualify me'.

'But someone who sincerely loves you would never mind any of the rumours whether they are true or false. How can you be happy with Jason even if he marries you when the both of you do not love each other?

If Richard had not come up with this now, it could come up in the future,then what? A divorce?'

Phoebe had not really thought that far but then he would have gained the fame she wanted and would demand a handsome alimony from Jason and be settled for life.

She said as such to Romeo, the stranger who smiled.

'Forget about Jason for a minute. What do you want to do to Richard? Ate you planning on giving him the money?'

'What else can I do though I know that he would definitely come back for more. He is that kind of person'.

Then she looked at Romeo in shock. 'And why am I revealing all these to you? You could turn out to be another Richard and double my troubled', she wailed. How could she have been so foolish in her weakness and fivulged all these things to this stranger?

'I could but I will not. Come here', he said calmly and his eyes were so sincere that Phoebe found herself calming down and moving towards him. Was he hypnotizing her? she thought before she was embraced by him.

'Would you want me to do away with Richard?'

She was shocked, though the thought was really appealing but she did not want to be responsible for the death of any one.

'No. I do not want him to die. I would not be much different from him now would I if I did that?. But I would teach him a great lesson if I could', she said.

'Then you would. I shall help you with that's, he said as he took her lips into his. He had wanted to do this since they had come in.

He just enjoyed kissing her. He wanted her for himself and did not care for Jason or Richard or whatever other names they go by.

Though he was impatient to penetrate and thrust into her,he took his time. Giving her much pleasure. Seducing her and silencing her protests though Phoebe knew that the protest was half hearted. She liked being with this Romeo stranger and his name really became him.

'Romeo', she said tasting the name on her lips and it tasted like honey to her or maybe it was his lips on her that tasted that way.

He heard her say his name in a breathless whisper and felt that she was driven by desire like he was and he felt glad.

He had never felt so good as he did now with any other girl. He always took his sexual prowess for granted.

There must be a first for everyone.

They kissed passionately till they fell on the bed.

He continued to tease her tongue. Then her breast that were now as hard as rock in her desire and dark pink as though filled with the blood that was pumping in her veins.

His tongue stroked her nipples and one hand kneaded her buttocks and caressed her thighs,moving up and down her legs and moving with delibrate slowness up towards her v- region and she moaned, as she arched her waist to accept his hands but he moved his hands away again. The dance continued for a while. He could see that her thighs were now wet with her fluid.

She could stand it no more.

'Take me. Take me now! Please I can't endure any more of this torture'.

She said twisting her waist and causing his hard length to touch her core which was overflowing with her wetness.

He groaned and thrust into her as he captured her nipples with his lips again.

Phoebe thought that she would die of pleasure.It was as though she had dissolved into many tiny pieces of liquid flame.

The pressure built up sooner than she wanted. She had wanted to prolong the whole pleasurable ordeal but Romeo was not helping matters as he continued to tease her breasts and her lips with his mouth and his hands were not idle either.

She also did not want to be out done as her hands moved round his back tracing the line of his spinal cord and holding tight to his buttocks and pressing it deeper into her as she opened her legs wider apart as though she wanted to swallow the whole of him.

He felt himself drowning in her and soon they both lost the battle to prong the pleasure as they rolled over the edge and found themselves falling into a bottomless pit of unending and unendurable pleasure.

Then the crash and the tortured breathing.

Phoebe did not want to admit it just yet but Romeo was the best lay she had ever had.And she who had just wanted a one night stand with a stranger to help her forget her frustrations was now thinking of ways to make sure he remained her lover.