That was easy.
She didn’t have another physical contact with him before his loan was approved and he traveled out on his business trip. But, he sent her a card and a bouquet of flowers to show appreciation for her help.
They were nice flowers and she placed them on her table for three days. She however had not been able to reach Kate on phone to talk about her ‘package’ for her. She wanted to thank her and get some insider information about her brother. But, again her phones were off and she was not responding to mails. This time, she drove to her home to see her and talk. But, when she got there the place was empty. There was no lights on and the gate was unmanned and locked.
She was slightly peeved, but again she realized she was a married woman and was probably with relatives since her husband was not at home. She probably didn’t feel safe or comfortable staying all alone in the house.
She had driven away after leaving her a note.
She will have to wait till when she gets back in touch. In the meantime, she can piece together her own mental profile of her Prince Charming. She had a couple of weeks of peace to do the day-dreaming, there won’t be any Izuchukwus standing before her desk and making her heart go pitty-patter.
It was thus a surprise when he called her from Rio on touching down. At first she had wondered how he got her number, then realized he must have lifted it from her “call-card” which she placed at the bottom on all her mails.
‘Ingenious devil!’ She thought to herself. Sharp guy…..
From that day on they spoke almost every day. She always wishing he would call, and him heeding her wish. It was like they had a telepathic connection. He asked her everything, seeking her opinion on a number of financial issues and even non-financial ones. And it was a good thing she had done deeper reading on his file and done some independent research of her own on business and commercial trends in the emerging BRICs region. They were becoming even more familial even if less physical contact.
He was always updating her on his progress and the challenges he was having. As much as she could, she offered professional advice and worked some contacts she had to help him out of some knotty situations. It was the least she could do as his Account Officer, she tried to justify to herself. But, it was slightly more than that. She knew it and accepted that fact too.
Everything was going fine and according to plan from the reports she gets almost daily.
The telephone conversations were easy for her. However, she imagined how it would be like when she finds herself with him again. She fantasized about the moment and what she was going to do and say. It was these thoughts that pre-occupied her break-time shifts. Fantasies about a man she had only met once – and that on the recommendation of a friend she had not heard from in weeks.
She was in one of such sessions when her phone buzzed. It was him calling. They just spoke last night. But, she didn’t mind him calling her again.
“Hi, Olamide. It’s me Izu,” the voice had the same balmy effect it always had on her. “How are you doing? I hope all is well and you were able to tie-up the stock option deals?” He planned to buy into a number of local hotels around Brazil, the better to aid his business plan. If he owned shares, he can have better rates and deals for his clientele whom he brings in to fill them on trips to Brazil.
“Yes, I did and it is all set up. Look, I was able to finish up here in record time. I am heading back to Nigeria tomorrow and thought maybe you could pick me up at the airport…..”
The coin dropped!
And, she could hear herself hyper-ventilating. She only hoped he couldn’t hear from that far away and that the trans-Atlantic buzz of the phone connection will obscure her irregular breathing pattern.
She was able to bring herself under control and answered in the affirmative. She wanted to see him, God! She wanted to see him again.
They had arranged the time, and she noted with a wry sense of anticipation, that his plane was scheduled in for nine in the evening.
‘Classic textbook move. You ingenious devil!’ She murmured under her breath as she cut the call.
****
One night.
It was all it took for their relationship to fully set sail.
Izuchukwu had brought some exotic and quite expensive gifts. And she, fueled by her long afternoons of fantasies and anticipation for a day like this, had fallen headlong into the script. She needed very little persuasion really.
They had gone from the airport straight to a restaurant on Isaac John in the GRA area. They had a nice meal and he had spoken endlessly. With the help of the food and wine, the tension between them melted away. Within minutes they were talking and laughing at each other and the jokes they told. It was simple and it was easy. It was like they had known each other for the entire span of their lives. She noticed curiously also that Izuchukwu was now more comfortable looking at her fully in the eye. His confidence was most absorbing and that angelic smile, most endearing. On her part, her heart also tugged along at a more respectable jog. Comfortable at the pace at which it was been led.
The night had a ring of magic to it. Just like in the movies, it was like everything was purposefully laid out to unfold, both willing actors in a well-scripted scene. She knew in her mind how the night was going to end; the timing and everything only points at one end to the script. Nonetheless, her more rational mind valiantly tried to raise the flag of caution, but only feebly.
It was a lost battle.
So, it was that she found herself inviting him over to her flat for a night-cap – a drink to set him off on his way home.
“It is late and I don’t think that will be proper, Olamide.” He sounded unconvincing in his refusal of her offer. He was like a kid who was reluctant in letting go of candies already at hand in exchange for promised lollipops.
So, she had pressed and cajoled and he had finally accepted. Not like she was convinced it wasn’t what he really wanted in the first place. She had driven the short-haul to her flat at Surulere, and the rest like they say was history.
One night.
The first of a seven-day romp…..
***
When he got home he planned to tell his wife everything. He had played his rope too long and now he can’t rein himself in anymore. He had lost grip of the line and was flailing around at the mercy of the waves. He knew he was in a different game with Olamide and he needed to talk it over with Oz and ask for forgiveness for what he had done. Worse, for how had felt towards her. But, in the end he did not have the courage to tell Oz that there was another woman. How could he when she was so happy to have him back home? Her emotions she had poured into the sex they had from almost the moment she stepped into the house and dropped off the sleeping Daphne. They had shed their clothes like it was a burning scourge on their skins. The drink she brought and the meal he had prepared all forgotten as primal desires took control. She screamed with every thrust as he had taken her by the wall of the living room, both of them making a mess of the living room as they thrashed about in their sweaty mating.
He couldn’t tell her. He couldn’t put her through so much pain, especially when he took a better look at her and saw how skinny she had gotten in the three weeks he was away. She had explained to him when he asked her that she had been ill and had been in the hospital almost all the three weeks. His heart had called out for her and in the moments he was with her, all thoughts of Olamide were relegated to the background.
He was lost and knew no way out of his dilemma.
***
That was months ago. And he had continued to live his double life. He loved his wife, but eventually owned up to the fact that he also loved Olamide. It was complicated. Actually, it was worse than complicated. Where it will all lead he couldn’t tell, but he knew deep down it couldn’t be good. But, he couldn’t keep himself away from Olamide, and he couldn’t tell her also that he was married.
He was stuck in the middle and with no sense of direction. He couldn’t move forward and he dared not head back, so he found himself marking time at the same point.
He was careful not to change his routines. He went to the office every morning as usual and came back home every day, as much as he can help it. On days when he didn’t, he spent them at Olamide’s.
They also had lunch every week day. And Saturdays when he was supposed to be at the club with his friends, he spent half of the day with her.
That was how he lived his life for about eight months until things started coming apart at the seams.
It had started with Olamide.
***
They were lying cuddled on her sofa watching TV as usual that Saturday afternoon. Oz was away for the weekend on some function with her colleagues at work.
“Izuchukwu,” she had called in that tone she uses when she needed something. He had sensed that something was up with her for a while. And now, he was certain that whatever it was that had been eating her up was about to be revealed.
“Hmmmmmm,” he tried to feign semi-interest in hope he would scale her off.
“When are we going to get real with ourselves?”
He had dreaded the question himself. But, he knew it was only going to be a matter of time before it surfaced in their relationship. Eight months are a long time. He had rented and furnished an apartment, so he could take her to his place. But, he knew it would only be a matter of time before she begins to yearn for more stability and security in their relationship.
He had rehearsed many times how he was going to handle the situation when the time came.
And now, the moment of truth was here.
“Olamide, how real can we get? This is real, me sitting here with you. Us….” He let the rest of it trail in hope that the open-ended reply will defuse her current line of thinking. But, she didn’t bite at the pill.
“I want a steadier relationship. I want to know I can invest more of my time with you…hope for a future with you. I can’t keep on like this for longer. We have dated for eight months and in all that time, I haven’t been introduced to a single member of your family.” She extricated herself from him and sat up.
Instinctively, he knew this was going to be a watershed moment.
“It is not like I do not want you to meet them….”
“Then why haven’t I?” She cut him off. She was getting a bit plucky, “we have never attended any function in public together. I have never been invited to your house when they are around. I don’t even see pictures or anything of theirs at your place.”
Now he was really caught. He couldn’t have hung Oz’s pictures or Daphne’s at his place. He also had not put any picture of his parents or siblings – it would have given a feeling that they were all witnesses to his sin and were judging him. His conscience didn’t give me such latitude for that.
“I am sorry baby, I will try to address that soon.”
“You better do,” she looked coyly at him and rested back in his arms, “seeing that you’d soon become a daddy.”
He froze.
His hands must have squeezed her too hard, because she extricated herself from his grip again and got up.
“What is wrong?” He couldn’t answer her directly at first. For a few moments, he just stared blankly at her. How could she be pregnant?
“You can’t be pregnant.” It was all he could say as his head threatened to explode.
That was how everything went downhill.
***
I consider myself more of a poetry craftsman. Only started writing prose seriously in July. 2012. I also like to think I am a very friendly person- weird to some people.
However, weird only means I am unique and that makes me happy whenever I hear it. You can follow my works on www.shaiontheprowl.com or via twitter @shaiontheprowl.
Moskeda Lounge 