Life's a Bitch and Then You Die

By Antonia Woodward

In a rich Nigerian house, Jane, her husband William and her son Jason are in a hostage situation. Jane and Jason hide in a safe room and witness the intruders beat her husband to death. They want to kill Jane and her son too, but all they find and take is a photo of the family.
In reality, Nigeria is no longer a safe place for them. With help from her late husband’s foreign friends, she escapes Nigeria with her son. In Australia, life is challenging as Jane tries to support herself and her son. Her fortune changes when she returns a wallet she finds in the park to a bar owner, Martin, who offers her a job. One night while working at the bar, she meets Derrick, unknown to Jane that he was stalking her. Soon, they are married and Jane reluctantly signs a prenup. Derrick is controlling in every aspect of her life. Jason is off to a boarding school, further isolating Jane. She finds herself at a breaking point with the physical, psychological and financial abuse and the constant threats of deportation. Jane, trapped and suspicious, finds the family photo the killers stole on the fateful night hidden in Derrick’s office.
Jane is confused, but she can’t completely disregard the possibility that Derrick killed her husband. She sets out to investigate and hatches a plan to free herself and her son, putting their lives at risk. Locked in a desperate battle for survival, she finds out she is pregnant.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Feb 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781528972826

Antonia Woodward

Antonia was born in Edo State in Nigeria. She moved to London in her 20s and trained as an approved mental health professional/social worker where she gained a wealth of experience working in mental health. Antonia has always wanted to be an actor and a writer. She did a few courses with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and other drama schools in London. In 2017, Antonia moved to Australia and then studied at the New York Film Academy. Antonia’s inspiration has been her family.

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About the Author

Antonia was born in Edo State in Nigeria. She moved to London in her 20s and trained as an approved mental health professional/social worker where she gained a wealth of experience working in mental health. Antonia has always wanted to be an actor and a writer. She did a few courses with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and other drama schools in London. In 2017, Antonia moved to Australia and then studied at the New York Film Academy. Antonia’s inspiration has been her family.

Dedication

I dedicate this book to the men and women who have had to leave their native lands to seek political asylum, refugee status and economic migrants, especially those who died trying.

Copyright Information ©

Antonia Woodward (2021)

The right of Antonia Woodward to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528950800 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781528972826 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2021)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

INT. LOCAL BAR – NIGHT

JANE, 35, beautiful, intelligent and dresses smartly. Originally from Nigeria. Jane is behind the counter serving. Jane chats with her friend and owner of the bar, MARTIN, 35 and gay.

MARTIN

He fancies you.

JANE

I thought you are gay and have a boyfriend?

MARTIN

Not me silly…that one. My boyfriend dumped me for a rich lady.

JANE

That sucks. Want to talk about how your boyfriend became straight?

MARTIN

I don’t want to talk about it. Look.

Jane laughs but Martin points to the direction of a man looking at his phone and sipping beer. Jane follows Martin’s eyes to the man. Derrick, 45, smartly dressed, suddenly looks up.

JANE

Shit! He just caught me looking at him.

Jane quickly looks away.

MARTIN

I think he likes you.

JANE

Fuck off. Why do you always think that when a man looks at a woman, he fancies her?

MARTIN

Because I know these things.

JANE

Really? How come your boyfriend ran away with a woman?

Martin shakes his head in disappointment.

JANE

Sorry. I’m an idiot…shit! He is coming.

Derrick approaches the bar and lifts his hand for attention.

DERRICK

Please, can I have another beer?

MARTIN

Sure, sir. Fosters…? Oh, no.

Martin deliberately drops some straws on the floor.

MARTIN

I just made a mess here. Jane, please, could you help this gentleman?

Martin smiles and ducks under the counter. Jane realises what Martin has done. Jane smiles at Derrick and at the same time, kicks Martin under the counter.

JANE

Sorry about that. A pint?

DERRICK

Yes, please. Thank you.

JANE

No problem.

Jane pulls the pint as she gives Martin, who is smiling, another kick.

MARTIN

Awwww.

JANE

Are you all right there?

Martin sticks his middle finger up at Jane. She continues to smile as she hands Derrick the drink.

DERRICK

Thank you. And you don’t have to apologise.

Before Jane could reply—

DERRICK (CONTINUES)

Your face looks so familiar, but I can’t…

JANE

I don’t think so.

Martin is up arranging the straws on the counter. Derrick nods and starts to walk off. Derrick turns back straightaway.

DERRICK

Are you sure you did not go to St Kelvin Primary School in Sydney?

JANE

I wasn’t born in Australia. I came here a few years ago.

DERRICK

Wow! You have to have a chat with your father on whether he played away from home because this girl looks like you.

JANE

What?

Martin laughs out loud, but quickly collects himself.

DERRICK

Sorry, that was a bad joke.

JANE

You Australians have a strange sense of humour.

Derrick and Martin smile in agreement.

JANE (CONTINUES)

Is there anything else we can help you with?

DERRICK

No, thanks…oh, actually, yes. I’d like to buy you a drink to apologise properly.

JANE

Don’t worry. I wasn’t offended.

DERRICK

I insist. Sorry, I am Derrick Henderson.

JANE

Nice to meet you, Mr Henderson.

DERRICK

Just call me Derrick. So, what time should we go out for this drink?

JANE

Sorry, I can’t. Not allowed to drink with customers.

DERRICK

I am no longer a customer when I leave here. So?

JANE

Sorry, my boyfriend won’t like…

Martin suddenly jumps into the conversation.

MARTIN

She doesn’t have a boyfriend.

Martin smiles awkwardly and returns to what he was doing. Jane is shocked and gives him a dirty look. Derrick smiles and winks at Martin who shrugs his shoulders.

JANE

Martin, I trusted you.

Martin looks sheepish. Jane looks mad.

FLASHBACK TO 3 YEARS EARLIER.

INT. DINNING – NIGHT

LAGOS, NIGERIA

WILLIAM, 40 (Jane’s husband), Jane and JASON (Jane’s son) are having dinner. On the walls are posters of William’s political campaigns for Lagos State Governor. FELICIA, 20, housemaid pours water into glasses and collects the used plates.

FELICIA

Madam, is there anything else you want me to do?

JANE

No. Go home.

FELICIA

Thank you, madam.

Felicia leaves.

JANE

The election is in two days. How is the campaign going?

WILLIAM

Really well. Everything is on track for me to become the next Lagos state governor.

JANE

Seriously?

WILLIAM

The polls today say I am 20% ahead of the other candidates. It will be difficult for them to catch up now.

William looks happy and proud. Jane looks impressed.

JANE

Darling, we must celebrate. It feels like an election in England when I lived there.

WILLIAM

Trust me, this is nothing like England. Well, let’s wait…

They are interrupted by commotions from outside.

SECURITY GUARD

I already told you my boss is not here.

INTRUDER 1

Open the gate.

SECURITY GUARD

No.

William and Jane stand up to investigate, but they hear gunshots and screams from outside.

SECURITY GUARD

Boss, run. Run, they