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Following the tracker, the taxi driver drove out of the Island, and entered into Ikeja. Minnie kept observing the tracker, as it brought her even closer to him. After more than forty-five minutes, the tracker came to an end.

"Please, stop!" She said to the driver, who immediately screeched the taxi to a halt.

Peeking out, she was met with the lone road, and due to the lack of lightening, she could not recognize her surroundings. Only two street-lights were on, while the others seemed to have short-circuited or simply burned out.

This is typical of Naija roads.

She wondered why Alexander would call her out to this isolated street, at almost midnight, but she trusted him, and knew that he must be close by.

Anyway, she came prepared for him. After all, she had a lot of questions to ask him, and he had a ton of explaining to do.

"I'll come down, here," Minnie said to the taxi driver, who studied her for a while, wondering why she was alighting at such a deserted place.

"Are you sure, ma'am?" He asked, just to confirm, and Minnie nodded with a smile.

She brought out her pause, and paid him, and he drove on.

Standing at the side, she clutched her purse close to herself, as she scanned her environs for him, but all she was surrounded with was darkness. Her heart began to drum in fear, as the cold air slapped her exposed arms, and she shivered.

"Where are you heading to, ma'am?"

She almost jumped out of her voice, when his voice came from her side, and she looked up from her thoughts, and met with Alexander's face.

Alex stood few feet from her; dressed in a three piece suit, and he had his hair neatly palmed to the back. His face sparkled, and his lips curved into a smile.

In a nutshell, he looked so adorable, and gorgeous.

Dressing in suits certainly fitted him perfectly, as the jacket hugged him perfectly, and the tie highlighted his beautiful tower-like neck. Those trousers, men, they wrapped around his strong legs in a striking and sensual way.

She bit her lower lip, and leered, "Baby, what is this all about?"

He held his hands up to stop her, as he shook his head, and his smile curled into a boyish smirk. "No, Fire, that's not the line. This wasn't what you said that day."

Her smile fell slowly, as she looked around herself, and the realization hit her, all at once.

The road, the streetlights, the motor park, and the closed kiosks and shops. She was standing in the same spot where she and Alexander had come across each other.

She looked back at him, and chuckled.

So, he was planning to re-enact their first meeting.

"Really, Alex?" She said amidst her chuckles.

His smirk deepened, as he nodded. "C'mon, go ahead."

She chuckled at what he asked her to do, but after realizing that he meant it, she muffled back her laugh, and faced him.

Just as she had said that day, Minnie whimpered, "Nothing."

And, just as he had replied that day, Alexander smiled and said, "But, you can't stay here. You ought to have a place to go."

As he spoke, memories from that day flooded into her mind, and she could not help but smile at how she had snapped at him. She wouldn't have known what would have happened to her if she hadn't met Alexander that day.

When she stood at the full park that day, she had no idea that the bike man who walked up to her, would become the man who she would forever love.

Alexander walked to her, and took her hands in his, and their eyes clicked. "Baby, go ahead."

Minnie laughed, "Seriously, baby?"

"Yes, Fire."

She rolled her eyes at him, before saying, "I will find my-" but her words were caught up when she recalled what she said that day, and how she had yelled at him to leave her, but he still stayed.

She had asked him to leave her alone, but he never did.

Alexander never left, despite all the times she kept pushing him away, and even after leaving, he just never walked away from her.

He never gave up on her.

Minnie looked up to his eyes, and felt hers moisten up, and she parted her lips, "Alexander, I can't."

His smirk disappeared and was instantly covered with worry, "Why, baby?"

She smiled sadly, "That day, I told you to fuck off, but you didn't."

He laughed at this, "I told you before right, you can't get rid of me that easily?"

She could help but laugh at his humor, but then she became serious again, as she raised her fingers to touch his face, her fingers brushing the stubble of his beard, which scratched pleasantly against her skin.

"Alex, I couldn't have gotten this far if not for you. You never left me, no matter how hard I pushed you, you remained, and put up with my shit," She uttered.

He smiled, and placed his hand on her waist, and pulled her close to his body.

"Minnie, you were the one who changed me," He spoke up, "Two years ago, when I walked up to you, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. You came into my life, and I was never the same again. You became the reason for my passions, and your arrival brought a new meaning to me."

Her eyes were wide with amazement at his words, and she was swept off with this that she didn't realize how glassy her eyes had become with the tears that threatened to break out.

"Dominique, I love you so much. Your love is a drug in my system which I would gladly remain addicted to for the rest of my life. You drive me crazy, and cause my heart to go wild. Fire, I want a lifetime with you," He admitted.

"Alex,-" She tried to speak, but he placed his finger over her lips, sealing her words in.

Minnie was surprised at his move, but she decided to follow through, and watch him. He turned her around, until they were facing the road.

Suddenly, the entire street lighted up, as all the streetlights came on all at once, and Minnie gaped.

Almost immediately, the large LED screen advertising board came on, and the words which flashed on the screen were; "Will you marry me, Dominique?"

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Minnie blinked severally, as the words sparked in her eyes.

In disbelief, she spun around to Alex, but her jaw fell when she saw him down on one knee, and he held up a ring box to her. In the box, there was a sparkling silver ring, which shone in the night. Her heart flipped once as she couldn't believe it, but Alexander was asking her to marry him.

Suddenly, she was too stunned to reply. Never had she ever imagined that she would be asked this question.

But, now, Alexander, the man who had turned her own heart against her was asking her.

Alexander looked at her; his heart fluttering and his pulse racing. Her silence was killing him. He wanted her to say anything, just anything, because he was dying with the tension inside of him. Not knowing what she was thinking, didn't help much, as he was left considering so many options.

What if she refused him?

What if she did not love him enough to marry him? What if she realized that he isn't worth her love?

All these uncertainties crossed his mind, and without realizing, his sweat pores had broken all through his body.

He loved her, and could not imagine living his life without her in it. She made him crazy, and everything he thinks of her, his heart would stupidly jump in excitement, and his desire would burn fiercely.

He couldn't describe the way he feels whenever he is with her. He was crazily in love with her, and he would never get tired of telling her that, never.

Blinking, Minnie finally got her tongue back, and without hesitating, she answered, "Yes, I will, Alex."

Alexander's eyes went wide, and he blinked once, "You-You accept?"

"Fuck, I do. I really do, baby," Minnie exclaimed, "Now, slip that ring into my finger."

Just realizing that he still held the ring, he laughed once, and slipped the silver ring down his finger, and almost immediately, she ran into his arms, and he embraced her tightly.

Alexander kisses the side of her head, and then nibbles along the shell of her ear, earning a giggle from her, his voice a raspy whisper, "I love you so much, Fire."

Her nerves tingled as the warmth of his air came over her delicate neck, and she brought her face to his, and with a grin etched to her face, she said, "I love you, too, Alex. More than you can ever think."

He cupped her face in his palms, and planted kisses over her face, trailing from her forehead, down to her jawline, before finally greeting her lips in his.

Behind them, they could hear slight footsteps, and they broke out of their kiss, and turned around to see Paul, Noah, Andrew, Genesis, Anastasia, Tatiana, and Sharon standing and watching in awe.

"So, I take it that she said yes?" Paul asked.

Alexander and Minnie exchanged glances, and smiled.

This was enough to convince them, as they all jumped in excitement, and hugged each other.

Minnie's eyes crinkled at their edges as her smile deepened, at the fact that her friends had all worked with Alexander, and none of them mentioned anything about this to her, even after seeing how worried she was.

"How long were you all in this?" Minnie asked.

"Dom, it was way back," Genesis replied.

Minnie looked back to Alexander's face and caught him staring at her. "Thank you, baby," She mouthed to him.

"No, Fire, thank you," He replied, and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Aww, you guys are so cute," Tatiana gawked, "And, you're making some of us jealous."

Andrew eyed her, "It's your fault for remaining a spinster till now."

"Says the overlong bachelor," Noah chimed in.

Andrew scoffed at him, and attempted to catch him, but Noah dodged this, and they all erupted into laughs.

"C'mon, we have to get back, before they start looking for us," Sharon stated.

"Oh, must we?" Paul grumbled, "Those parties aren't my thing."

Sharon agreed, "He's right. They are too boring."

Alex and Minnie laughed at this, and they all scoffed at the couple.

"My brother has just broken out of the bachelors' club. This calls for major celebration!" Andrew implored, and the others agreed with him.

Minnie and Alexander exchanged glances, and chuckled.

"C'mon dude." Noah cajoled.

"Alright, guys," Alex raised his hands in surrender, "How about we go have a real party?"

They all howled in response, and Paul and Sharon shared a high-five clap.

"Now, we're talking!" Andrew said.

Alex threw his eyes to Minnie beside him, and smiled, "Are we good to go, fiancée?"

Minnie fluttered her eyelashes, and with a coy smile, she said, "You bet your sexy ass, fiancé."

Groaning at this, he rolled his tongue over his lips, moistening it. Cocking his head to her, in a rugged voice, he whispered, "My ass is waiting for you, beautiful."

She chuckled out, as she gave him a playful slap on his chest.

Meh, she was the world's luckiest woman. She had the best man, the best family, and the weirdest clique of friends.

Despite all, she was thankful for her life, and even if she was to be reborn in another lifetime, she would still be born as Dominique Adams.

"C'mon, lovebirds, we are getting really uncomfortable with all this lovey-dovey acts," Anastasia pointed out.

"Leave them alone, Madame, and go get your own, so that you too can do your own lovey-dovey things," Genesis answered Anastasia.

Noah came in-between the girls with a smirk, "In case any of you ladies are interested in having lovey-dovey, I am available."

Paul and Andrew scoffed at him.

"See this brostitute," Paul hissed, and everyone cut in laughs, including Noah, as all they began walking down the quiet road, all chattering amidst themselves.

Alexander had his arm over Minnie's shoulders, while Tatiana walked side by side with Andrew and the others dispersed themselves as they strolled down the road.

"All drinks will be on me tonight," Andrew announced.

Paul disputed this, and asked, "What drinks?"

"Vodkas for the ladies, and stouts for the men," Andrew said.

Everyone exclaimed out loud, as their voices trailed off into the night.

"What's wrong with my choice, guys?"

Minnie's voice came up, "Everything."

Everyone erupted into laughs which trailed on as they disappeared down the highway, and into the night.

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In the background, Minnie's voice sounded, echoing over the stillness of the night, as she spoke;

Two years ago, when I had made the decision to leave the brothel, in no way was I prepared of everything that happened. Broken, and caused to roam the earth with hates was who I was, before I was struck by cupid's arrow. All my life I had to live with the hurt that John's actions caused on me. All I hurdled in my mind was nothing but vile towards everyone I met, but he still found me and changed me.

My personal despise of the male species made me lock up every emotion I had, but once I had met Alexander Canaan, everything changed.

He loved me without knowing who I really was, and even after finding out, he just never judged me, and he kept on loving me.

Despite the fact that everyone else saw me as a whore who was with him for his money, he just never listened to them. Through the trails, and blockages that life threw at us, he just never gave up on me.

All I ever wanted was to be away from everyone, and make sure I don't return back to my life of whoring. However, on meeting Alexander, I realized that my wants and my needs are not the same.

As, all I ever needed was to be loved, and to learn how to love. All I ever needed was to forget my past, forgive those who had hurt me, and move on to the future. All I ever needed was more than just getting away, than running. All I ever needed was freedom, and freedom did I get.

The future holds so much in store for me. I know that many battles will still arise in the future. People will question my pasts, and the world will resist my movement, but I will not be discouraged.

I will never stop fighting for the weak ones, and I will never stop encouraging others to keep the fire burning.

No matter what the world says, I will face them with honor, dignity, and pride, and tell them that I am a Dominique. I wasn't born a quitter, and I will never give up.

THE END

Wait!! Don't go anywhere yet. Go on to the next chapter.

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Lovelies, do not forget to leave a like and probably some comments before you go. Thanks.
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