“Complicated”
Episode 9
By 10 am the next day, Ore was prepared; she had set up a workstation in her room and was ready to work. Right on time, the call came through—it was a Google Meet, and she had already received a link for the video conference.
The representative from Eclexia on the call was a woman. “Hi Oreoluwa, it’s nice to finally meet you. Prof. Henrick spoke highly of you, and we are excited to have you join our team. My name is Titilopeoluwa Fernadis, and I’m the COO of Eclexia Company.”
“Hi Titilope, it’s very nice to meet you. I’m looking forward to being a part of your team. As you might have seen in my CV, I have extensive experience working with some big organizations over the last five years.”
The meeting lasted for an hour as the two discussed every detail of the contract and managed to end the meeting on a positive note. Titilope apologized that the Managing Director, Mr. Fernadis, was indisposed at the moment but mentioned that Ore would be meeting with him soon. Overall, the meeting went well, and Ore resumed work immediately.
After the meeting, Ore felt energized and optimistic about her new role. The opportunity to work remotely for Eclexia, a company that seemed to value her skills and experience, was a refreshing change from the stagnant atmosphere she had been living in. The discussions during the meeting were thorough, covering the scope of her responsibilities, the expectations, and the tools she would use to collaborate with her new team. Titilope had been warm and professional, making Ore feel welcomed and valued right from the start.
Buoyed by the successful start, Ore began organizing her tasks and setting up her digital workspace. She spent the rest of the day familiarizing herself with the company’s systems and protocols. She also reached out to other team members, introducing herself and starting to build the professional relationships that would be key to her success in the company.
That evening, as she reflected on her day, Ore felt a sense of accomplishment. Not only was she taking a significant step forward in her career, but she was also carving out an independent identity that was not defined by her troubled marriage. This job was a chance to prove to herself and to everyone who doubted her that she was capable of great things.
The next step was to prepare for her meeting with Mr. Fernadis. Ore planned to thoroughly review the company’s recent projects and strategic objectives to ensure she was fully prepared to discuss how her role could support and enhance Eclexia’s goals. She was determined to make a strong impression, demonstrating her commitment and expertise.
As Ore planned her next steps, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. The challenges in her personal life were far from resolved, but she now had a professional avenue to channel her energies and reclaim her sense of self-worth.
After her meeting, Ore went to visit Darasimi. When she entered Darasimi’s room, she found her sister coiled up on the couch, clearly in distress. The two sisters exchanged looks for a few seconds before Darasimi looked away. Ore sat down beside her, feeling a mix of sympathy and helplessness. Though they had never been close, Ore certainly didn’t wish her sister any misfortune and struggled to find the right words to comfort her.
“How are you doing, Dara?” Ore asked gently.
“I’m fine, as you can see,” Darasimi replied dryly.
“No, you’re not fine. Mum told me what happened. I was angry at first, waiting to see you so I could vent my frustration, but then I realized it’s not your fault. We’re all just victims of Chief Akinola, who plays God with our lives just because he’s our father. But why did you come back, Dara? You should have just left the country or something.”
“How was I supposed to know he would go to this extreme? He threatened to kill Tobi if I didn’t sign the annulment papers. Who does that?”
“Dad has always shielded you; you are his favorite, his princess. You don’t know what the rest of us mortals suffer at his hands. Do you remember that girl Ade was following around? Ever wondered what happened to her? Father paid her to stage a cheating scene so Ade would catch her, which he did, leading to their breakup. Ade was heartbroken, and that incident turned our brother into a heartless womanizer.”
“I’ve always wondered what happened to Ade. He used to be a one-woman man, then suddenly he started playing the field,” Dara mused.
“Now you know. Father will do anything to have his way. My advice to you is to pull yourself together and move on. And you better be prepared for what’s coming.”
“What do you mean, be prepared for what’s coming?”
“If I know Dad well, you’ll soon be given away in marriage again.”
“I will never marry anyone chosen by him.”
“Well, all I can say is you should never have come back. Now that you have, you know you can’t run away and you can’t stand up against Father. No one ever has.”
The next day, Ore started her remote work, and it was her onboarding day. She had numerous forms to fill out and needed to provide various information to her new employer. After a fulfilling yet exhausting day, she took a shower and slipped into one of the dresses Temi had encouraged her to buy in Dubai, hoping that Adetola would be home for dinner. Their interactions were limited to brief exchanges at breakfast or dinner on some days, moments that felt as sterile as the environment around them. Ore tried to initiate conversations, hoping to find some common ground on which they could build a semblance of a relationship, but Adetola’s responses were always guarded, his demeanor unyielding.
When she got downstairs, she noticed only one place set at the table. When she asked the chef about Adetola, he informed her that he wouldn’t be home that night. Ore ate her dinner alone, her thoughts drifting to her time with Farouk. She remembered the breakfasts they had together in that quaint café; those moments felt special. She also recalled the sin she had committed with him. Ore couldn’t believe that after years of maintaining her integrity and living a righteous life, she had given herself to a stranger who had left without a word.
She had been unable to pray and thought about going to see her pastor to confess her sins, but she feared his disappointment in her, mirroring her disappointment in herself for succumbing to temptation. She knew this was a trap many fell into, especially those who were starved for affection—if one was not careful, it was easy to fall into the wrong hands.
After taking a few spoonfuls, she lost her appetite and decided to return upstairs to her room. There, she would finish some tasks in preparation for work the next day, trying to regain some sense of normalcy amidst the turmoil of her emotions.
A few night later, Adetola was having dinner with his friend Jaiye. After finishing their meal, they retired to the bar for some drinks.
“I really don’t know how to approach her on this. I’ve always treated her with scorn, so if I try to be nice now, she’ll suspect something,” Adetola confessed.
“You’ll just have to handle it in a business-like manner. But where do I come in? You know I’ll do whatever I can to help,” Jaiye responded.
“I know, and here’s my plan. I can’t even bear to look at Ore, let alone sleep with her. Even if I could, I can’t get her pregnant, as you know I’m sterile. So, I want to convince her to agree to artificial insemination or a surrogate, but it would be your sperm instead of mine. That way, I can get my father off my back, and in two years, I can walk out of the marriage.”
“That’s an excellent plan. I always say you’re a genius. And after you divorce Ore, you’ll marry Tiwa. She’ll be the wife that everyone recognizes,” Jaiye nodded approvingly.
“Yes, my love, that’s the plan if I can get Ore to agree to it. I suggest you start being friendly with her. Don’t think of her as a potential romantic partner but as a business deal. You’re good at negotiations, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Oh God, I wish there was another way.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll convince her. I have faith in you,” Jaiye assured him.
“I hope so,” Adetola sighed, deep in thought about the path he was about to take.
A few days later, Chief Akinola visited Darasimi’s room and confirmed what Ore had predicted: Dara was to prepare herself to marry one of his business associate’s sons within the next four weeks. Darasimi was shocked, but remembered Ore’s words: who can stand against Chief Ninola Akinola and win?
She now realized that the odds were stacked against her. She felt an intense hatred for her father and made a vow to herself that he would pay for what he had done to Tobi and her, and for forcing her into another marriage. She was determined to strike back where it would hurt him the most.
Thanks for reading,
Tbc
Jumie Naths
