''Oh Okiemute, even as you speak, my heart is hurt but what can I do? Should I kill the goose that lays the golden egg? If I don’t have money for that baby you are carrying tomorrow will you allow me hear word? Will you allow me drink water and drop cup? You think I am happy over this? I fought this thing as hard. I pushed as much as I could but…''

''You did not fight hard enough Ken!''

''Oh baby I did, believe me when I say I did. I spoke all the grammar to no avail. I talk sotay spit nearly finish for my mouth…''

''YIMU!''

''My dear, sometimes we have to let go of what we have so that something better can come in. That is the case with this unfortunate contract. This small contract of 350k can cost one future contracts. It can lead to loss of job. It can give people ammunition to use against …''

''Against who?''

''Okiemute nor be so oh!''

''Against who nah, why are you afraid to talk? Say the name and let the devil be ashamed''

''Okiemute, are you a stranger in my affairs? Would you say you don’t know this contract is from my wife's company?''

''I said it!'' Okiemute yelled in triumph.

There was a slight pause and Kenneth felt like slamming his phone against the wall. Then Okiemute spoke up again ''who rescinded the contract?''

''It is the new management''

''It is a lie, she did - your wife did! It is Natalie!''

''The name is Natasha and she does not have the power to do that. No one wants me to have that contract as much as Nat''

''Perhaps she has heard something and she is trying to scuttle my effort. I will not allow it!'' she yelled.



TBC

?

***
Kenneth had been on the call in the last minute and it was not going anywhere. From asking the plumber to leave, the matter had entered the promise he made to Okiemute about having their baby in the States. No sooner had it entered that one before it veered off course and touched on the numerous lies he told. Next it was the promise he made to meet with her parents in Sapele.

Ken's head was reeling but Okiemute continued to talk like an annoyed parrot. It went on and on until Ken had to steady himself from falling over a chair!

''Listen dear, please be careful because of your condition'' Ken warned.

''My condition is fine''

''I am pleading with you because of that bleeding incident of that time''

''Spotting and not bleeding besides the doctor said it was mere implantation going on. There is nothing to be worried about again. I've been getting along just fine ever since''

''Okay oh. Can we handle this later this weekend?''

?

?

''Wow! This is poor oh! Who gives a contract and comes back to take it with another hand?''

''My dear, that is what I am going through. This new director is set in his ways and unfortunately I see people licking boots like hungry wolves. The man is tribalistic and all those people that have been forming friends are beginning to show their true colour. They laugh with you in one breath and snort the next time you pass their back’’

''May God help us. Wolves in sheep clothing'' Ken stared at his meal and hissed in frustration. The moment Natasha began to speak, his appetite flew out the window. He tried to push harder to see if she would take the fall for him, but she remained adamant ''my dear, there is no other way around this thing oh!''

''I hate situations like this. I hate when people make me look silly. I have given that job out already. The plumber is already on site. I have given the go ahead for the materials to be bought and now see what I am hearing. Why can't they allow this one go? Why can't…''

''My husband, this matter is beyond me. It almost seemed like a done deal, but the inner caucus (a small group of senior staff members who found favour with the past director) has agreed it is best I let this one go. We cannot afford to fight those leeches. They are claiming right and truth be said, most contracts have been lopsided due to our favourable position with the previous director. These new vipers are claiming the bounty must go round but my joy is that this contract is chicken change. Can you compare this to the last one I got you?''

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5 months later

''Ebube, he was at the verge of moving to the IT unit. The young man was anticipating that move more than anything in the world and that’s why I am perplexed. I don’t know if…''

Then Ebube placed her index finger over his mouth and whispered ''Shh! It's not your fault; you did no wrong so you shouldn’t feel guilty. If someone got me a job and asked me to help at his home, I'll jump at it. I'll jump so high, my head will touch the ceiling. Do you realize how hard it is to get a job in this country? Let it go hon'' then she removed her finger from his mouth and smiled at him.

''You are right, you are right there. I will scrap the plan to call him. Thanks for the advice. Goodnight now''

''Goodnight honey'' then Charles got up and walked out of her room. As soon as he shut the door behind, Ebube made the sign of the cross and heaved a sigh of relief. She didn’t realize on time but she was already beginning to sweat sef. She hoped to God Charles didn’t take note of it. She wiped her forehead with her daughter's uniform and threw it on the floor. She would have to wash it the following day. Next she reached for her phone and deleted Wole’s contact from it.

?

''Yes, especially when it's done at the bottom of a dress. Once I'm done, I'll iron it and you wouldn’t notice the difference. Any ways, what's eating you hon?''

''Wole quit today''

Ebube stopped for a second, she was clearly in shock but she was a bloody good actress. Her brows furrowed like she was trying to recall who that was but Charles helped her out ''my PA, the guy who helps with the computers and …''

''Oh, oh, oh, what a shame! What was his reason?''

''No clue''

''There must have been a reason''

''Well it was the usual generic resignation letter devoid of any plausible reason and wait for this…sent via email''

''The nerve that young man has! Is that not the same man who came here this weekend?''

''Spot on''

Then Ebube began to laugh. Once she was done, she cut the thread with her teeth and pushed the uniform aside ''I told you not to impose so much trust on that fellow, didn’t I?''

''I'm afraid you did; I wish I'd listened''

***

That evening there was a knock on Ebube's door as she was hemming her daughter's uniform ''come in'' she replied. Charles strolled in but leaned against the door like he was unsure of walking further. Ebube stopped for a minute and frowned at him ''I don’t bite'' she joked.

''I know'' he paused for a minute like he was unsure then he continued ''something happened today at work that's just got me thinking…''

''Thinking about what?''

''The irony of life and how fickle minded a man can be. I also thought of how ungrateful a man can be - thoroughly ungrateful. Mrs Otabor referred to the behaviour as brash. Sometimes the sheer magnitude of man's ingratitude baffles me''

''Going philosophical on me ehn?''

Then Charles smiled and moved closer. He sat on her bed and watched as she continued to hem away ''wouldn’t a tailor have done a better job?'' he asked.

''I quite agree but I'm not doing badly, see'' she showed him what she was doing then continued ''there is this neat finishing you get with hemming''

''What do I know?''

She wasn't even keen on attending the party in the first place but she needed to correct Tonia. Now she had to attend this party unless Tonia might take offence and feel she had not forgiven her. In the meantime, she sent a reply thanking her and promising to attend then she continued to finger her phone.

Instinctively, she called her father-in-law and thanked him for the package but the old man did something his wife would never have done. Some women were naturally wired that way; they knew how to switch and start the pretence. Unfortunately papa was not so he replied in a perplexed tone ''thanks for what my daughter?''

''Ken has just gone to pick the package from GIG''

''What package my daughter? I didn’t send anything oh!''

Then Nat had to look for another lie to cover up. Some seconds later and with the lie in place, the pair continued to laugh over the phone. After Nat ended the call, she looked out of her window and continued to smile. She knew Ken wasn’t the poster child for the most faithful husband but she had nothing on him.

Besides it could be anything else. He might be running a business deal he didn’t want her to know about. He might have gone out to have a good time with his jaiye jaiye people. He knew she didn’t really like him hanging out with those married men that acted like bachelors but Ken always swore that there was nothing to it.

And so Nat shrugged her shoulder and reached for her lotion. She was not even going to mention it but she would watch him closely. She wasn’t going to lose sleep over this one - rara!

?

The moment Nat got into her room, she took off her office clothes and stepped into the shower. It had been a trying day for her. Besides her tooth, something happened at work. A close friend from work just returned after her maternity leave. She was a lady in her late twenties and although Nat was happy for her, in times like that, she felt like a complete failure. A year ago, the lady had her first child and no sooner had the child started crawling, before another belle enter. The lady had confided in Nat and another colleague about wanting to terminate the pregnancy but Nat reprimanded her in the strongest language.

On that day, the woman kept crying because she was not prepared for another child so soon. She kept saying she was not where she wanted to be professionally. She mentioned how she had put off writing her professional exam because of the pregnancy and now she was ready, another one had shown face. She continued to blame her husband who didn't allow her rest then she entered her doctor who didn't put her on a stronger contraceptive.

As the shower washed off the lather from Nat's body, she continued to think. Why is life so unfair to me? Look at someone who wanted to terminate her pregnancy yet I'm begging God for common one. Is it something I'm doing wrong? Is it someone I offended? Is it something I did in my past? But the scriptures said God is faithful and he forgives a repentant soul. Surely he isn't counting my sins against me.

That was a long time ago plus she had left that life behind. She had been faithful to Ken ever since and the moment she said I do, she meant it! Almost immediately, her phone began to ring, so she rushed out of the bathroom and reached for it. Then she smiled. If she had known who the caller was, she might have ignored it and continued to enjoy her shower time. It was another colleague who had been annoying her but she gave the lady a piece of her mind earlier that day.

Tonia was her name. She was a boisterous, dark skinned lady who spoke more than she thought. She was also the chief proponent of natural hair sisters team and this further annoyed Nat who loved her Brazilian weave. She (Tonia)had even managed to recruit Tochi to her crew but Tochi was formerly a deeperlifer so that move would have been much easier for her. Besides Tochi was aka gum personified so she didn’t mind.

Nat would have continued ignoring Tonia but she was the sort of person who would drag her nachi hair around the office and keep singing ''length check'' then the ladies would admire the massive growth and start nodding their head in admiration ''it's grown since the last time abi?'' Tonia would ask.

''Yes it has'' the ladies would reply.

?

Immediately, Ken stood up like a bullet ''Jesus Christ!'' he exclaimed, ''when did this start? Are you in pain? Please sit down if you're standing. Is the blood much or just a bit? Where are you calling from? What did the doctor say?''

''Ken, I'm at home''

Then he yelled at her ''why are you still at home?''

''Are you not hearing me? I said I just woke up and noticed it now now. I don’t know if…''

''You are careless!'' Ken thundered.

''How am I careless?'' Okiemute asked in a weak voice.

''Where is Fejiro?''

''I don’t know where she is''

''You are opening mouth and telling me you don’t know where she is? Look at the tone with which you are answering me; obviously you are still keeping malice with her. You see why I insist you need help? You cannot and should not live on your own in this your condition. You are in a delicate state and the farthest thing from your mind should be keeping malice!''

''You are talking as if Fejiro does not work. Would she have been here if I needed her like right now?''

''I don’t know about that and don’t answer me in that tone. She closes early and could have been home by now. Perhaps she would have noticed something earlier on. Perhaps she would have been helping around the house and you wouldn’t have to exert so much pressure on yourself''

''Ken, I'm pregnant and not dying. Pregnancy is not a disease''

''In any case, you should be speaking to me from the hospital. You should have called a cab or something''

''I just woke up like right now. I say let me tell you before anything else''

''Let me tell you, if anything happens to that pregnancy, I won't be smiling with you''

''But I don’t even know if… ''

''I'm on my way'' Ken replied then he hung up on her before she could say another word.

?

''I would if I could reach him''

''I could email you his emergency contact number or better still, I could make the call myself and ask him to give you a quick call''

Charles thought about it for some seconds but he already knew what his answer would be. Wole had disappointed him and he was not going to call the young man. Wole was indeed an ungrateful soul! He looked at Mrs Otabor and gave her the grim verdict ''I'll pass on that. I think the young man has made his decision and we ought to respect it''

''If you say so. Well that’s me off for now, I'll file this straight away and with your permission commence closing down formalities for Mr Wole Akinleye''

''Good one. You know, I didn’t believe it before but now I know there are truly people who are troubled from the village. I mean there is probably an old woman somewhere peering into a broken mirror with red frame and calling out some individual's name''

''Oh no!''

''I'm telling you or someone fanning herself with the young chap's photo''

Then Mrs Otabor began to laugh, she picked up the email from the table and continued laughing as she exited the office. And in the silence of his office, Charles shook his head in pity ''wasted opportunity'' he murmured. ''Complete waste!''

''Good one, so perhaps you may have another number for Wole. I mean my PA. I'm going crazy here; the young man is not at his desk and this is past 11. It is very unlike him. He is hardly ever late and in the event he is, he would leave me a message''

''Hmm''

''Surely you should have another number for him or a number for his next of kin or like an emergency contact?''

''I take it you don’t know then''

''Know what?''

''He didn’t tell you?''

''Tell me what?''

Mrs Otabor lay a sheet of paper before Charles and announced in a grim tone ''it was sent yesterday at around 12 midnight. Of course, I only received it this morning''




TBC

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''God will provide the job that will not put you under tension. I strongly believe God will reward this move of faith from us. We can manage a registry wedding, I'm not big on a white wedding anyway''

Then Wole looked at her and smiled. She was trying to be helpful but she had lied. No one loved a white wedding gown as much as Tania. She had even showed him the type she liked. It was an ivory coloured mermaid gown with sweetheart neckline.

She had seen the design on David's bridal, but they were trying to replicate the design with a local tailor who specialized in wedding dresses. The more Wole thought about these things, the sadder he became. Then he sighed but said nothing else.

?

''Na so we see am oh! My dear nor be by my power sha''

''You sure know what this means don’t you?''

''Sadly I do T. I cannot trust myself to handle things the way I did today. It was strong will on my part and of course timely intervention from you''

''I believe God in his mercy is trying to pass on a message. Wole, we must be meek enough to receive it''

''My dear, when the bible says Joseph left his coat and ran away from Potiphar's wife now I can appreciate that scripture. Bone that thing, you women are strong oh!''

''Hmm, I can only imagine what you went through. God is trying to tell you to leave that man and his job offer alone. Who knows what will happen if that woman succeeds? Her husband has been a blessing to your life oh! If such news ever gets to him, I'm sure he would die''

''God forbid bad thing!''

''Mr Uzoh is a quiet fellow but who knows what he would do in the event such brazen attempts gets to him?''

''My dear it is better imagined''

''And may it forever remain in our imagination. Wole, it is time to sever the cord that holds you and that couple. I am sorry you will have to pay with your job, but I feel it is the right thing to do. This rubbish has gone on for far too long and there is no end in sight. I know it will be trying at first but we cannot continue as before''

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gal10:
Saved by Tania!!Talk of divine steps...Charles is digging wole ahd Ebube's graves and they are clueless. ..ken is the real bad guy!!! But his wife's runz obviously never end! ! FantasyIsland all your stories are hits from "once upon an island" to the "unloved wife" to "I is for infedility R is for repercussion'' and now this!! Yet you remain in hiding..not loud!! Abeg Fantasy ti take over!! Like all your stories, subtle lessons played out so real!!! May your depths keep bringing out deep expressions on paper and your ink never run dry!! Big hug

Hugs too.

''That’s impossible, I could never do that. Tania knows what is going on between us. I mean she knows everything there is to know and that's why she is out there. If I were you, I will open this door without much ado. Tania was against this visit today and I bet she is here to take me home''

''Let her wait, she can't break down the door besides you are here to help my child''

''The same kid who came to tell us a minute ago that you had a visitor? In case you don’t know, Tania knows Ada, she is a teacher at the nursery section in your daughter's school. Ada may not recognise her because she didn’t attend that nursery school. Please open this door ma'am before Tania comes here and creates a scene. She has nothing to lose as neither you nor your husband employs her. You don’t want that in your home; you know how you women behave''

Ebube scoffed but she knew she couldn’t dismiss his warning like that. Women could be quite unpredictable and she didn’t want Tania banging on her door or doing something nasty. She knew what she could do in her hey days if she wanted to disgrace a rival. Hell, she knew what she could do today! And so she opened the door in defeat. As Wole reached out for the handle, she placed a hand on his ''we need to see again'' she whispered, ''not here though, like somewhere more secure, please''

Wole said nothing in reply; he simply opened the door and briskly walked out.

?

''The gateman allowed her in''

''I've got to go ma'am'' Wole announced. By now he was fully dressed and he was some steps behind her. He was ready to sprint once she opened the door.

Ebube ignored him and continued to whisper ''Jesus Christ, why did he allow her in?''

''I don’t know why''

''And you say you don’t know her?''

''Yes'' Ada answered in an exasperated tone.

''Call Loveth for me'' Ebube replied. She turned around and ignored Wole like he was a piece of furniture. Then she picked up her white bra from the floor and wore it. Next she wore the dress and secured the rope in front ''I'll deal with it, be right back''

''I've got to go ma'am '' Wole repeated.

Almost immediately, there was knock on the door before someone tried to open it. The handle rattled and something so small startled Wole. He didn’t want to be caught in the same room with Ebube whether she was dressed or not.

?

Contd

She moved even closer until there was no space between them. It happened so quickly and Wole remained rooted on the spot. Then she locked her arms around his neck and kissed him. Actually they kissed, it was deep and sweet.

They kissed again and again then Ebube reached for his arm and placed it over her &%£$! then Wole exhaled and stroked her there, next he stuck a finger in. He didn’t mean to do it but it was instinctive and he hated himself for doing that. Ebube moaned and pushed her legs open and they continued to kiss until a knock interrupted them.

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pryd:
The die is cast..

Hello Pryd.