(Episode 3)
Christmas in November –
Tiana: “You can go over there and wait for him!” she pointed to a bench where visitors sat, dryly she walked over there ignoring the missed calls from her boss. It was better to ignore then get the deal done than pick up with nothing to show and get tongue lashed.
She pressed silent again as the call came in. Fury would have been emitting from her boss at that moment. Those who were around her at the office bore the brunt; she would be for sure breathing down the neck of everyone. The nickname she had earned for herself was “Bitter and lonely!”
At the age of forty five she was yet to marry. They had never seen her with a boyfriend before. Rumour carried on its back that she was a lesbian. Some people believed she was a witch who wasn’t allowed to get married. It was obvious that in her younger days she was very beautiful but old age and bleaching had strung out that beauty. The veins in her translucent body was green and not hidden, the different types of bleaching creams had murdered the cells and melanin in her body. At forty five her body was wrinkled had the semblance of an over ripe fruit.
Comfort was so pressed. The meeting had lasted for hours. Eyes scooted to doors with drawings on, describing male and female restrooms, without wasting anytime she ran to that direction.
Comfort had returned to her seat. The phone in her hand was on silent. She didn’t want to feel guilty about not picking her boss’s number.
===
Comfort: “I wished Israel would call!” before she could finish the wish, the door flung opened and the tall elegant head of operations marched out with others following. Comfort didn’t know when she had gotten up and started following him.
Mr. Clem: “How can I help you?”he said not looking at her as he headed straight to his office, she had to jog to keep up with the long legs.
Comfort introduced herself,
Comfort: “I’m here concerning the proposal by Bluebird PR firm! I just want to apologi…” he paused and told her to hold her breathe then faced the Tiana, his secretary, and asked,
Mr.Clem: “what are my schedules for the rest of the day?”
Tiana without looking at a book like a programmed machine told him the schedules. It lasted for five minutes, “that’s all, sir!”
He shook the head,
Mr.Clem: “Okay good! Follow me to my office” he gave Comfort the folder in his hands,sighed and followed him behind. In an abrupt manner, he stopped, “So you kept me waiting right?”
Comfort: “I…I…” she stammered.
Mr.Clem opened the door and she followed in,
Mr.Clem: “Meet me at the lounge down tall so you’d convince me why I should choose your firm over others! Good day!” Comforted collected his card and left the office.
With a heave, she felt relieved. At least she got a chance to make up for almost missing out. But wait! did he ask her to meet her at the lounge at night?
Her phone beeped, it was a text from Israel, excited she opened it, “Let’s meet by 7pm!”
Comfort: “Oh,my God!”
….
They placed Jerry in a special room. It was the clinic of their family doctor, one of the best but expensive private hospitals in the country. The doctor known as Jegede and his team were attending to Jerry. Iya Loja was busy pacing around and crying,
Iya Loja: “Ah omo mi ooo! Nothing bad should happening to him ooo!” she placed her hand on the head, the nurses were busy, the hospital didn’t have many patients just a few who belonged to the upper class for a card was five thousand naira. One needed to be pretty rich to afford that in the current economic state. The driver and gate man were seated in the waiting room, “Alexi shey you aff call skief?” she turned to the driver,
Alex stood up and quickly,
Alex: “Righ away,ma’am!”
She gawked at him,
Iya Loja: “So you just sitting down an watching me crying an ya head not telling you what to do? Mtchew!”
Alex: “ sorry,ma’am! “ he dialed the number as she resumed crying.
….
Chief Audu was in bed with his new love, Esther. Esther was dark in complexion petit in nature. Everything about her was small asides her b*****s and buttocks; it was a case of a saloon car carrying the behind of a van. That was the most noticeable part of her and she made it more conspicuous by pushing it out in her gait. Audu was used to the habit of keeping concubines and most of them being undergraduates and those with ample buttocks enticed him more- he referred to them as , “My spec!”
Esther was a student of Law and very beautiful. Audu had met her few weeks ago when he had gone to the shopping mall down town. When he saw her from the rear view of the car, he liked her. She was with friends they had just finished shopping and were taking selfies to be shared on Facebook,Instagram and other social media platforms.
Audu: “Hello, ladies,” he wound down and stared at them with his well carved white side boards. They needed not to be told that he was a millionaire. Esther looked disinterested and stepped aside. It tripped him the more. He was one that loved challenges. He never dated girls that he got easily. One night stand and that was all, “done for the day?” They were four in number; they smiled at him except Esther, “We could go for a shopping spree you know?” It was like feeding a dog with its favourite bone they jumped at the opportunity. Esther reluctantly joined them but she turned him down when he asked for her number,
Esther: “I don’t give strangers my number. I’m sorry!” he smiled and dropped them off.
For months he kept paying them visits on campus and how Esther fell for him; she couldn’t say. It was like magic. Audu was an old hand in the game.
Esther: “How did I even fall for you?” she stroked the hairs on the bare chest.
Audu: “I’m an old gun, baby!”
They both laughed
Esther: “sweerie, I called you all through last night but you didn’t pick. I was almost tempted to come over here!”
Audu sighed,
Audu: “really?”
Esther: “Yes na! I had missed you for too long. We didn’t see for good two weeks, a whole two weeks! I was dying for your cuddles!” he sighed and she gawked at him, “Or were you with someone else?” he nodded, she paused then turned away.
Audu: “C’mon baby! Stop being naughty,” he touched her but shrugged off, moved closer, “I was with my wife!”
Esther: “Huh? Your wife at the guest house? How do I believe you? She usually doesn’t come here!” she turned staring at him,
Audu: “Hmmm. Yes that’s true. I got home last night and my house had turned into a nightclub By Jerry. We had to come here to sleep!”
Esther giggled,
Esther: “Oh oh!”
His phone rang; as he attempted to stand up she smothered him with kisses.
==
Audu: “What?” he said on the phone,
Alex: “yes, sir. We rushed him to the hospital!”
Audu dashed into the car and zoomed off leaving Esther, who was fuming of been left alone.
….
Felix sat on the chair made of steel with others, the head was buried in his shoulders,
Felix: “I swear! I won’t touch my wife again!” he whispered, “Jane, I didn’t mean to hurt you! I’m sorry!” covered the face in his palms. The hospital was crowded. It was a government hospital. A nurse came out dark complexion but it was thick that one felt it would rub off the white gown she wore. Mercy appeared on the tag,
Mercy: “ Please, who is Mr Felix? Felix Desmond!” Felix rose up and identified herself, “follow me!”
…..
Felix entered the doctor’s office and he wore a sullen face,
Doctor: “Have your seat!” he looked worried.
Felix: “How’s my wife feeling?” he dragged the chair and sat.
The doctor shook his head and sighed.
