Chapter 5

After breakfast the next morning, and after Vicky left for school, I asked Kisi what she recommends I should wear if we go to the market. She shrugged and replied, “It doesn’t really matter. It isn’t a problem for women of color, or at least not very often. But from what I hear the odds are quite high you’re going to have men caress or grab your butt no matter what you wear. I don’t understand it, I don’t know how or when it started. But the men in this country seem to assume they have every right to do that. I’ve heard they’re trying to pass a law to make it illegal. I’ve also heard it has been in the works for years and there is a lot of opposition to it.

I’m having a hard time getting all worked up about it. I mean, what the hell! I’ve already been raped by three black men if you count the police chief, and I do, and it’s been made clear to me I can expect it to continue to happen often. I’d rather get my ass groped than eat my daughter’s pussy.

With that subject mentally disposed of I asked, “Kisi, Todd and I were talking last night. We need to know how you feel about ... about what we’re thinking. Sweetheart, I don’t even know if it’s possible. Todd’s going to check into it at the legal office at work. But if it is possible, what would you think if we tried to adopt you and take you home with us when our contract here is up?”

For the longest time she sat there in shock just staring at me. She finally shook her head as if to clear it and exclaimed, “Oh no! You don’t have to do that!”

“I know we don’t have to. Kisi, we have quickly become very fond of you. You’re such a good person. You’re intelligent, we love having you around. And you’ve had such a difficult life. We’d love to do whatever we can to make your life a little easier.”

After a long pause Kisi quietly replied, “It would be like a dream come true. But my dreams seldom come true. I can’t imagine how this one can. You can’t even communicate with your embassy. And Mr. Boateng’s company spent a lot of time and money on my education and training. I have to assume he’d oppose it. But if by some miracle you and your wonderful husband can make it happen I would love to be your daughter.”

After a long heartfelt, tearful hug I went upstairs and got dressed. When I went back downstairs I asked Kisi if the market is near enough to the compound that we can walk or do we need to ask Abam to drive us. She said, “It’s less than a mile. But if you buy a lot you might want to have the car handy for the trip home.”

I thought about that for a moment and decided I’d like to walk. I’d like to see more of the area and get to know it a little better. I suggested that unless she’d really rather not walk I can tell Abam we may need to call him and ask for a ride home after we finish shopping. She was fine with that so I found Abam where he seems to spend most of his time, in the garage. I explained our plan. He tried to convince me to let him drive us to the market but eventually he agreed to be waiting for my call and come for me when we finish looking around the market.

We were all ready to walk out the door when my cell phone rang. I have a call from Mr. Mensah in the Personnel Office. I answered and while he didn’t actually make it an order he made it clear that for our own protection he wants us to take the car to the market. When we get there Abam can follow us at a distance, provide security and help carry our purchases if necessary. I gave in. I guess he makes sense. While I was explaining to Kisi I heard the car start and back out of the garage. I guess that’s that.

When we got outside Abam was waiting by the door of the car. He opened the door for us and he asked Kisi if we have a particular area of the market in mind. She replied but not in English. It didn’t matter since I didn’t even know various sections of the huge open-air market have names.

It only took about twenty minutes to get there and find a parking place. We got out of the car. It seems to bother Abam when we don’t wait for him to open the door for us but he didn’t say anything.

I looked around. There are rows and rows of kiosks covering what must be at least fifty acres of land. There are a lot of people wandering through the rows of shops but it doesn’t look crowded. Kisi started to lead the way to one of the rows of booths but when we were about fifty feet away from the car Abam said, “Ma’am. I hope the reason you intended to walk here today was not because you don’t trust me. I give you my word, I would never report anything you say or do to anyone. I’m trapped working for the company just like you are but I made it very clear to them I refuse to spy for them.

“Also, I suspect the car has bugs planted in it. But when we are out of the compound and away from the car you may feel free to speak your mind.”

“Thank you, Abam. I believe you and I trust you. I appreciate your honesty. Now, shall we go shopping?”

Abam very nearly smiled and replied, “I have two questions, ma’am. I’m sure you’ve been made aware of the way attractive white women are treated in the market. For the most part I can keep them away from you, though it’s likely some will get past me. Do you wish me to intercede?”

I sighed and responded, “I’m not even worried about that anymore, Abam. Not after everything that’s happened to me this week. As long as it doesn’t get out of hand leave them alone. I wouldn’t want to start something with the locals.”

“Yes ma’am. My other question is, do you have cedi? While I understand that in most countries the dollar is a welcome currency, in Ghana they frown on accepting foreign currencies. If you need some there’s a currency exchange just a block down from here.”

“My husband exchanged all of our dollars in the finance office at the company on his second day at work. But thank you.”

The groping wasn’t as bad as I’d feared. It was a common occurrence but the market isn’t very crowded today and when I was groped it was usually not much more than some man sliding a hand gently over a cheek. After the first half dozen times it happened I hardly paid any attention to them.

We didn’t come to the market looking for anything in particular, just so I can look around. I saw many unusual and interesting items being sold, things I might want to buy three years from now if they actually let us go home. Things that would make good souvenirs of our time here. But we walked around for almost three hours and didn’t spend a single cedi. We enjoyed ourselves, though. It might be fun to come back with Todd if he can promise not to get all upset every time a local man caresses my butt.

We only went down two long lines of stalls so there’s a lot more to see but the crowd seems to be growing and we were both ready to return to the compound by the time we reached the end of the second row.

As we were nearing the car I said to Abam, “You really don’t have to get the door for us, Abam.”

He actually smiled for the first time and replied, “Yes I do, ma’am. It’s my job. And I have no doubt if I didn’t the company would become aware of it and I’d lose my job. You’re a very nice young woman. I think I’m going to like being your driver. I want to keep this job.”

“Okay, I understand that. I don’t suppose I could talk you into calling me Lexi instead of ma’am?”

He smiled again and said, “Same answer, ma’am.”

“Well, now that I’m starting to get to know you a little better I’m starting to like you so I wouldn’t want you to lose your job either. I’ll try to behave.”

We arrived at the car and he opened the door for us. I guess I’ll get used to it but it makes me uncomfortable. It isn’t like I’m someone special. I’m just a fucking sex slave.

Lisi and I talked about some of the more interesting things we saw at the market all the way back to the compound. She offered to make lunch but I’m not very hungry and it’s only about two hours until dinnertime so I suggested we make some tuna salad and have sandwiches and a cold drink.

She thought that was a good idea but our plans changed as we were entering the house. My phone rang. It’s a call from the less than pleasant Mr. Mensah from the personnel office. I didn’t think anything of it when I answered it. He ruined what has so far been a pretty nice day when he said, “I’ll be there in fifteen or twenty minutes. I want you to take a quick shower and wait for me in your bedroom. Is that clear?”

FUCK!!! Him too? I wonder if I’m available to all the executives who work for the company. I sighed and answered, “Yes, sir. That’s clear.”

“Good. Be fully dressed. I want to watch you get undressed for me.”

“Yes, sir.”

I’m at least grateful he’s coming in the early afternoon. I pray he’ll leave before Vicky gets home from school.

I told Kisi about the phone call and that I’m going to have to pass on the sandwiches. She held my hand and quietly said, “This is so wrong. You are such a nice person. No one should treat you like ... like this!”

I can’t argue with that. But I suppose that could be said of all the women and girls living in this compound. I shrugged and said, “Women have had to put up with this kind of treatment by powerful men throughout human history. Being a sex slave sucks but least no one has suggested Vicky and I should be taken back to the city jail to entertain the prisoners. I guess I’ll get used to it. Mr. Mensah said he’ll be here in fifteen or twenty minutes. I have to take a shower. You should go to your room and stay there until he leaves. Okay?”

She nodded. She looks like she’s about to start crying. I squeezed her hand and quietly said, “It’s okay. I’ll get used to it. Don’t let it get you down.”

I took a quick shower and got dressed. I made it just in time. I was pulling the bedspread and top sheet down when I heard the front door open and close and then the sound of footsteps on the stairs. I stood in the middle of the room facing the door and I was surprised when I realized how calm I feel. I dread what that ugly man will do to me but there’s nothing I can do about it now. I have to keep reminding myself I have to do my best to please the ugly bastard and get him out of here before my daughter gets out of school.

Mr. Mensah came into the bedroom and looked me over closely. I’ve only met him twice now but our first meeting when he picked us up at the airport was quite lengthy. I have yet to see him smile and he certainly isn’t smiling now. From the look on his face I have to assume that for some reason he hates me. Maybe he just hates all sex slaves.

He came into the room and walked around me slowly without touching me. After circling me he sat down on the bed and said, “Undress.”

I took my dress off and placed it on a nearby chair. I reached behind my back to unfasten my bra. I tossed it onto my dress and turned back to face him. I wouldn’t call the look on his face now a smile exactly. I guess it’s halfway between a smile and a leer.

I reached for the waistband of my panties but paused to slip my shoes off. As I started slowly sliding my panties off he said, “I wanted you the moment I saw you at the airport. There are a lot of beautiful females living on this compound but I doubt if any of them are as beautiful as you and your sexy little daughter. You two are going to be in high demand for a long time.”

He stood back up when I was naked and got undressed. Then he sat back down and said, “I hear you’re pretty good at sucking cocks. Show me.”

I knelt in front of him but before I could move in between his legs he reached out and explored my breasts for a moment. While he was doing that I was looking at his cock to see what I have to deal with. Much to my surprise it’s a pretty average looking cock! It’s no more than seven inches long and at the most it’s an inch and a half in diameter. It’s a nice cock but I was starting to think every black man in this country has a massive cock. Except for the white man being raped at the jail every cock I saw that day looked very much like Mr. Boateng’s. And that prick Mr. Boateng traded my services to in exchange for a large discount on whatever the hell he’s selling maybe wasn’t huge but his cock was well above average. I guess that guy and Mr. Mensah are about equal.