The late-night Lagos air was thick with the smell of rain-soaked dust when Uncle Sly stepped out of his black Benz. Street boys loitering nearby immediately shifted some in respect, others in fear. His name carried weight.
His suit was sharp, his Bible tucked under his arm like a prop for his next Sunday service, but Sly wasn't coming from any prayer meeting tonight.
Inside his office a soundproof, dimly lit space behind the gospel label's recording booth he poured himself a whiskey drink the golden liquid caught the light as he swirled it slowly.
"So... she's back in the city," he said, his voice low but heavy
Across from him sat two men one in a crisp Ankara shirt, the other in a leather jacket. Street muscle.
"Rhema?" the one in leather asked.
"Don't say her name like that," Sly snapped, his polite church-elder tone slipping for just a second. "That girl... is a walking problem and problems must be handled before they become headlines."
He leaned back, letting a smile creep over his face the smile everyone saw on TV when he donated to orphanages, or handed awards to "upcoming gospel stars."
"The thing about talent," he continued, "is that it can be nurtured... or it can be buried we will decide for her."
The men exchanged glances. They knew "buried" didn't mean forgotten in the industry it meant gone.
"Did you set that stuff for me"?
"Yes I did infact she's waiting prepared for you" the man in Ankara said....
Okay then..... Just like that he turned and left
Inside
The girl couldn't have been more than sixteen her school uniform was wrinkled, her eyes glassy with the kind of fear that already knew she was in trouble
Uncle Sly paced the room slowly, one hand in his pocket, the other swirling a glass of whiskey.
A gospel instrumental played faintly from the studio next door ironic, like a hymn
"Do you know why you're here?" he asked his voice sound kind but terrifying.
She shook her head.
"Because God gives beauty to be... used." She said with a shaking voice
He stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. The girl flinched. He smiled.
"Good girl"
"No one will believe you when I'm done and let you leave not the police not your parents everyone thinks Uncle Sly helps little girls sing in the choir." Hahahaha.....He said laughing happily
Past: Back when rhema was still 16
It was supposed to be the biggest day of Rhema's young life her father gripped her hand as they walked through the tall glass doors of Sly Entertainment.
"Uncle Sly will make you a star," her father whispered with pride, not noticing how the receptionist avoided his eyes"
"But you never told me you're taking me anywhere so I could tell mom back at home I thought you just want me to help with the churchs work"
"C'mon who doesn't want the best for there children" you singing for only our members to listen to is not enough my child let the world hear your voice....
Inside, Uncle Sly was waiting in white agbada and a gold watch, and that smile that never quite reached his eyes.
"Ahhh, so this is the angel voice you told me about"he said, letting his gaze linger too long.
He led them into his soundproof office... thick carpets and the smell of expensive cologne, and a wall of gold records.
At first, it was all talk about music he asked Rhema to sing she did, voice trembling, filling the room with the hymn her mother taught her.
Sly clapped slowly, leaning back in his leather chair.
"You're special," he said softly. "Very special"
Sly: "Daniel you know your daughter is a very gifted child right"
Daniel: I know right
Sly: Don't you want to check out on you members in church?
Daniel: oh right that's true
Then he dismissed her father with a casual wave.
"Let me talk to her alone, so she can be comfortable."
Her father hesitated, but Sly's charm was oil on troubled water.
When the door clicked shut, the air changed.
The gospel track still played from the speaker, but it now felt like mockery.
"Come closer," he said, his voice lower now. "I need to teach you... stage presence."
She took a step forward.
He reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder firm, and flirty
His eyes didn't leave hers as his thumb slowly traced along her collarbone.
"You know, in this industry, talent is only half the game," he murmured. "The rest... is knowing how to make powerful men happy."
Rhema froze "Don't look so scared," he said, leaning in, his breath warm against her cheek. "I can protect you. But protection comes with... understanding."
"This isn't what my father asked me to do here sir" can I leave now ?
Leave to where haha don't you want to be a star anymore?
The soundproof walls swallowed the outside world whole no one would hear if you screamed and she understood, right then, what kind of man Uncle Sly really was.
This is r**e attempt sir pls do well and respect yourself. She said out loud with all the courage left in her meanwhile deep down she's scared to death...
Uncle Sly's smile didn't fade. If anything, it widened slow and mocking, like a predator amused by its prey's last attempt to fight back "Respect?" he chuckled, circling her like a shark. "You think this industry runs on respect? No, my dear… it runs on obedience."
His shadow stretched long across the plush carpet as he moved back to his desk, pouring himself another glass of whiskey, every motion deliberate designed to show her he wasn't in a hurry.
"You've got two choices, Rhema" he said, finally turning back to face her. "You walk out now, and every studio door in this city shuts in your face… or you stay, and you learn how things work"
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. The room seemed smaller, the air thicker. The soundproof walls felt like they were leaning in "I… I want to go home," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sly's gaze hardened he walked back to her, leaned close until she could smell the alcohol on his breath, and whispered, "Home? There's no home after this... your father brought you here he knows exactly why so don't pretend like you're some lost little lamb."
The words cut deeper than she expected her own father...? He knew this man was going to do something like this to her but he still left her alone with this crazy man... tears filled up in her eyes she could not say anything not just because of what they meant, but because a part of her feared they might be true. Maybe her father sold her out but she's finding it so hard to believe
He straightened his shirt gesturing toward the locked door "think carefully, girl. Once you step out… you're nothing." And besides you won't be going anywhere actually
Rhema's hands trembled, but she clenched them into fists she didn't know if she had the strength to fight this man but she knew one thing she would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her body or touching her
A few minutes passed, and Rhema couldn't open the door. She pulled and twisted the handle desperation clawing at her chest, but it wouldn't budge her breaths came in quick panicked and shivering
When Uncle Sly finished his whiskey, he stepped closer his shadow swallowing the dim light he leaned near her ear, his voice low and cold. "Are you done with your foolish daydreams?"
Rhema pushed him away.
That was the moment something in his eyes snapped he grabbed her and yanked her toward him his grip like iron in an instant, she was flung onto the couch the breath knocked from her lungs she struggled, kicking and thrashing her cries for help echoing through the walls.. but no one came his presence loomed over her, the air thick with danger and the sour stench of alcohol.
Rhema's heart pounded so hard it hurt. All she could think about was surviving the next second.
Sly rip of her clothes.... Unzip her bra displaying her tiny boobs standing her grabbed it and shove his mouth in it sucking it and biting it at the same time
Rhema cried....wailed but no help came
Rhema's mind raced, searching for anything....anything that could help her...her hand brushed against something cold and solid on the side table. Without thinking, she gripped it tight.
As Sly leaned in, his breath hot against her cheek, she swung with all the strength fear could give her the object connected with a sickening thud.
He staggered back, eyes wide in shock, then crumpled to the floor, a low groan escaping his lips. Rhema's hands trembled, but she forced herself to act she spotted the keys dangling from his belt, yanked them free, and scrambled to the door.
Her heart hammered as the lock clicked open she bolted into the hallway, the sound of her own footsteps echoing like a drumbeat urging her to run faster away from him, away from that room, away from her life..