LOVE AND LIES
EIGHT
Nkiru was in her black blazers over a white shirt and black skirt. Her face had a patch of powder that made her face glow while her lips also glowed with the red lipstick she added. She looked really pretty with the long strands of of Bob Marley that danced and flew about her back. She also wore a smile that got everyone staring and smiling back at her.
She carried herself gracefully to Nonso’s office and creaked the door open. Nonso was already seated. He was in a three-piece suite over a tiny stripe- blue shirt that had a flowered tie running down from the collar to his navel. His cream face was attractive and also lent a good match to his well-trimmed hair cut. He showed Nkiru to a seat and she settled herself gracefully into it, pulling and adjusting her skirt in the process.
Nonso examined her face and was lost for a while. He wondered how God could have blessed a lady with such enormous beauty. He smiled as he examined her adorable oval face with attractive eyelashes and lips. He then brought his gaze down to her b*****s. He was uneasy for a while. Her white shirt had given out their rounded shape, filling up the shirt. Nonso could not help staring at them for a while.
“Why did you call me, Nonso? Nkiru broke the silence. She adjusted her blazers to shield the size of her b*****s if that could stop Nonso from staring.
“Yes I called you because I needed to have a long talk with you.” Nonso came back from his reverie. ” The loan you collected from the bank, Nkiru.You have collected a sum of 1.5 million. How do you plan to pay back urgently because I overheard the bank will be dusting up on all these old loans?
“I told you before the end of this year. My husband is making serious plan for that.”
“You know how I helped you with this loan. It is against the regulations of the bank.”
“Yes. I really appreciate Nonso but just help me till the end of this year.”
“But I can really help you Nkiru. I mean write off the loan.” Nonso told her and stood up. He went closer to her and leaned against the table.
“Go back to your seat Nonso. I am not comfortable with you sitting so close to me.” Nkiru protested.
“I don’t think that is a problem.” Nonso said raising an eyebrow.
“Yes it is. Anybody can walk in. Beside you know I am married. I am definitely not comfortable with it.” Nkiru said tiredly.
“Nobody breaks into my office just like that you know.” Nonso bragged. ” See babe, I really want to help you. I can write off this your loan. Just give me a chance.”
“I can’t give you a chance. I am a married woman Nonso. When are you going to get this into yourself?”
“Okay just a round baby. Please.” Nonso begged passionately. “A round. I will be fast and gentle with you.”
“You are asking me for a round, Nonso. Am I a prostitute?” Nkiru was suddenly taken aback. A fierce scowl was suddenly drawn on her face. She hissed and clapped her hands in astonishment.
“For you to know how serious I am” Nonso said before he hurriedly dug his hand into his b****t pocket, brought out his cheque book and wrote a cheque of 1.5 million. He handed it over to her. Nkiru stared at it and smiled.
“Nothing in this world will make me have an affair with you, Nonso. I will stick to my marriage vows no matter what. Do you think I am a money freak? Go to hell with your money Nonso!” Nkiru rose, adjusted her skirt in anger and was ready to leave. Nonso hurriedly held her by the hand, pulled her closer and embraced her tightly, enjoying the erotic touch of her b*****s in a hurry. The glint in his eyes carried a shocking lustre of lust. Nkiru fought violently
“Leave me alone, you God-forsaken monster.” Nkiru screamed hitting him in the face and everywhere. Nonso finally let go when he couldn’t bear the pain anymore and when he realized other staff and customers had begun to notice their noises within. Nkiru dashed off with heavy footsteps, pulled the door open and banged it noisily after her. Nonso watched her leave in anger before he went to his chair and threw himself into it with a heavy sigh. He had never in his life met a lady so committed and loyal to her marriage like Nkiru. He had lost count of how many married women he had had an affair with after he had enticed them with money or threatened them with the likelihood of losing their job. Nkiru was indeed a different one. She seemed to be bent on the worst. Nonso rocked his chair thinking about every possible way to deal with Nkiru.
************
It was noon and the long queue of customers in the bank had begun to reduce. Hooting and whirring could be heard outside. Bankers had begun to wear tired faces. They were simply hungry and tired.
Kola drove in at half past noon and called Nkiru via his phone. She got her bag tiredly and hung it across an arm, dug her legs into her shoes and strolled off. She informed her friends proudly that she was going for lunch.
“Make I follow you abeg. I am also starving.” Judith shouted after her.
“I am going with my husband. He is waiting for me outside. I am sorry about that.” Nkiru said smiling happily.
“Really! So it is a date! Wow! That’s nice. Love nwa tin tin.” Judith teased jealously. Nkiru smiled and walked away. She got outside and found Kola staring from the car. She ducked in and they later drove off into the sun. They got to a fast food restaurant and they settled into two vacant chairs around a table.
“We need to talk about this loan, Kola?” Nkiru broke the silence. ” I am really worried.”
“When did you begin to be so worried about that?” Kola stared at her before he motioned at a lady who was one of the attendants.
” I thought we agreed the end of this year.” Kola added.
“Yes Kola but the bank is digging up on some of the loans collected without due process, Kola. I could be putting Nonso in trouble.”
“So what do you suggest we do? I don’t have enough cash now.” Kola sighed. The lady brought two plates of rice with chicken and they began to eat.
“Let’s sell my car. We can dispose it for 700k.”
“Why do we have to sell your car?” Kola became worried. “Has it become such urgent?”
“You won’t understand Kola.” ‘Nkiru said worriedly. “I need to save myself of some insults.”
“Who is trying to insult you?” Kola looked more worried. The look on his face suggested he wanted more explanation.
“Baby you won’t understand. The way Nonso talks to me these days I don’t like it, all in the name of I am doing you a favour. Just let’s sell my car. You have promised to be driving me to work.” Nkiru said. “Or will you be tired of doing that?”
“No.” Kola sighed. It suddenly occurred to him that Nkiru was serious about her suggestion.
“You can buy me a new car when you get bigger contracts.”Nkiru said and smiled.
“Yes I will.” Kola answered between mouthfuls. They ate in silence. Kola settled the bill when they were done and he drove Nkiru back to office.
He was not concentrating, he was busy thinking how God could have blessed her with such a wonderful woman as Nkiru but without the fruit of the womb. It would have been wonderful if she had had a child the first two years of their marriage. He wouldn’t have lost his patience to fall for Lara. He hissed as he drove back to his office. He could remember the very day he met Lara. He was driving home from office and Lara was in the sun waiting for a cab. He pulled over and picked her up. He didn’t pick her because he wanted to have an affair, he picked her up because he only wanted to help. But that very day, Lara was caring. She noticed he was worried. She noticed he wasn’t happy and she spent the few minutes they were together asking concerned questions. That was how he fell for her. The result of it all was a boy. Kola sighed as those thoughts sailed through his mind.
” There is absolutely nothing perfect in the world, not even a perfect marriage.” He told himself and shook his head in regret.
To be continued…….
ยฉEmmanuel Erondu, 2019
