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I cleared my throat. 'Well, the truth is I'm in love with you.'

She stared at me briefly. 'Are you sure about that?'

I nodded. 'Sure, I am. I've thought over it for some time and have come to the conclusion that I am.'

She shook her head and resumed her eating.

'I don't believe you.' I was surprised. 'It's the truth, Ruth.'

'Hmn, that sounds poetic. Were you good in literature?'

I chuckled. 'Not exactly. I only managed to have credit pass in it.'

'My mind says you'll be good in writing poetry.'

I grinned. I had no doubt she was deliberately digressing. 'Back to the main issue, why don't you believe me, Ruth?'

'Believe you in what?' she asked.

Now, she was teasing me. I grinned again. I would play the game the way she wanted it.
'Why don't you believe I love you?'
She shrugged. 'I don't know. I just don't believe that you do.'

I sighed. Her answer was not encouraging, but neither was it totally discouraging. I however found it unsatisfactory. What I wanted was an outright yes.

The door to the office was opened and Martha came in. 'Well-done. Uncle, director wants to see you.'

I sighed and nodded. The discussion with Ruth on my heart feelings would have to be at another time. I stood up to go and see madam.

'Good day, ma'am,' I greeted.

'Ah, Francis, how are you?' 'Fine.'

I took the seat she offered me and looked at her expectantly. 'Yes, Francis. The reason why I called you is rather private.'

I nodded without saying a word, wondering what the matter could be.

'Do I have your words that whatever I discuss with you will strictly remain confidential?'

I wasn't the type that gossiped or let my tongue loose. Even if I was, I would not tell her that I would make whatever she told me public, would I? 'You have my words, madam,' I said.

She nodded. 'There's this little challenge I have. At thirty-nine, I'm not getting younger. All along, I would have preferred to marry and settle down, but no eligible man came my way. When I say eligible man, I mean single and capable young man, not old or married men. So, I've decided that what I need is just a child.'

She paused to assess my attentiveness. I was very attentive, so she went on. 'Yes, I need a child, but not just any child. I don't want adopted child and I don't want fertilization from an anonymous sperm donor. I don't mind someone like you to be a donor. In a nutshell, I want you to be my donor.
That's why I've called you.'

I was astounded. I found what she was saying to be amazing. I had read a lot about sperm donor, IVF and fertility treatment. But I never imagined I would be at the center of an issue such as this.

Then, I faced her and spread my hands. She spread her hands too.

'Alright, here we go.'

She jumped down on me. Somehow, I lost my balance, and we fell down, with her on top of me.

'Oh, I'm sorry,' I managed to say. 'I lost my balance.' She quickly got up from me.

'I'm sorry for all the troubles,' she muttered.
I tried to smile it off again, got up on my feet and dusted my clothes. 'I hope you're not hurt,' she said anxiously.

'Oh, no, I'm okay. What about you?' 'I'm fine.'

'Good to know that.'

I wore my shoes and picked my phone, wristwatch and tie from where I had kept them.

'Thank you very much, Frank,' she said. I smiled again. 'You're welcome.'

We returned to the office to pick our personal effects. Phew! What an eventful day it was.
Three hours later, I was in the comfort of my mini flat home at Agege when Ruth called my line.

'I want to thank you for the troubles I caused you the other time,' she said. 'You're thanking me for giving me troubles?' I asked, bemused.

'Oh, no. What I mean is thanks for all that you did the other time.'

I wanted to tease her, so I feigned to be ignorant of what she was saying. 'What did I do?'

She laughed briefly. 'Thanks for being such a complete gentle man.' 'I still don't understand what I did, ' I said.

'Really? Alright. Just know that I appreciate it. Goodnight.'

'Thanks for calling,' I said quickly. 'As for whatever I did, I would gladly do it again. You're welcome.'

'Thanks and goodnight.' 'Goodnight, Ruth.'
It was three days later I finally told Ruth about my feelings. We were in the shared office together and it was during lunch break.

'Ruth, I think it's high time I told you what's nagging at mind,' I started.

She stopped from her eating. 'What's that?'

I cleared my throat. 'Well, the truth is I'm in love with you.'

She stared at me briefly. 'Are you sure about that?'

Good you escaped this. Providence must surely be on your side. Now, go and sin no more.

I thought quickly, my mind racing even as my heart pounded. The confined space, the silence beyond the stall, the thick air—it all felt charged, on edge. I looked over the wall, locking eyes with her.

“If you don’t mind,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm and confident, “I can climb in there and help lift you out.”

Her eyes met mine, weary and vulnerable. “That would be appreciated,” she replied softly.

“Alright then,” I said, more to myself than to her.

With no time to waste, I yanked off my tie and tossed it aside. My shirt came untucked in one swift motion. I removed my phone, my wristwatch, my shoes—each item discarded like layers of formality peeling away under pressure.

The wall before me was high, rough, and narrow, but adrenaline surged in my limbs. Thank God I had a lean frame. I braced myself, found footing on the adjacent pipe, and climbed. It wasn’t easy. My fingers slipped once. My knee scraped concrete. But I made it.

I praise You, Oh Lord of heaven and earth

I praise You, Oh Lord of heaven and earth

Heaven and earth, heaven and earth

Heaven and earth, Oh, heaven and earth

What could be happening? I stood up and moved towards the passageway that led to the toilet.

'Frank!' she called my name again. 'I'm here. What happened?'

'The door is jammed.'

I got to the door and turned the knob.
'The key is stuck in its hole. I could not turn it and the door remained locked.'

There were some inches of space between the door and the floor, andbetween the door and the asbestos roof.

'Remove the key and pass it to me under the door,' I said. 'Let me try to open the door from outside here.'

'That is the problem,' she replied. 'The key is stuck and could not be removed.'

I sighed. 'This is serious.'

'I've been trying it for the past few minutes,' she explained. ‘I couldn’t get it turned or removed.’

'Now, what do we do?' I asked. 'Do I get a carpenter to break the door?' There was a couple of seconds’ silence. 'I don't know,' she replied.

I looked up at the space between the door and the ceiling. A slim human body could conveniently pass through.

'You will have to pass through the wall,' I said. 'You just have to climb up and pass through that space.'

'I'll try,' she said.

There some seconds of silence.

'I can't climb it,' she said. 'It's too high for me.'

‘You have to try. Try again.’

Several seconds later, she still said she could not climb it.

I thought fast. 'If you don't mind, I can come in there to raise you up.'

'That will be appreciated,' she replied.

Lord, we thank You for today, the last day in June, 2025.

We commit the coming month and months to Your able hands, we shall enjoy peace and prosperity in Jesus name.

Jesus is the way to the truth. The joy of serving Jesus in sincerity is deep.

This, I know.

Oh Lord, my God
How excellent is Your name
In all the earth, how excellent is Your name!

How excellent is Your name
How excellent is Your name
How excellent is Your name
Oh Lord.

How excellent is Your name
How excellent is Your name
How excellent is Your name
Oh Lord.

Martha left the office. ‘I suppose this is our pay,' Ruth said and grinned.

I grinned too. The food would have to wait until work was finished. About fifty minutes later, the task was completed.

'Phew!' Ruth exclaimed. 'Now, I can breathe properly. 'Yes,' I teased.

She put her food pack in her handbag. 'I'll take it home.'

She stood up. 'Meanwhile, I'll have to go to the ladies.'

I nodded. 'It's alright. I'll wait for you.'

Apart from the security man at the gate, we were the only two remaining in the office. Apezlinks Advertising Company occupied a bungalow at Oregun, Ikeja.

Since I started working for the company about two years ago, I must say I was quite fulfilled. The gap that I felt should be filled in my life was that of picking a life partner. At thirty-one, I was certainly eligible to become a married man. Esther broke up with me about four months ago, and I had not got a replacement in my heart since then.

On one hand, my mind went for Ruth. She was pretty and dedicated to work. Since the past six months, when she started working for the company in the same Accounts department, I could see that she would be a good life companion.

But I had not got enough conviction (or was it courage?) to express my heart desires to her. Maybe in a little while, I would do so. It was about ten minutes ago that Ruth left to ease herself. I wondered why she had not returned. I was still wondering when I faintly heard her call my name.

What could be happening? I stood up and moved towards the passageway that led to the toilet.

Praising God brings divine favours.

Praising God makes ways, when there seems to be no way.

I hoped she was not that choosy in that regard, but even if she was, what was my business?

'Good afternoon, Frank. Have your seat.' 'Thank you, ma'am.'

She read the document she was holding briefly before she stopped to stare at me.

'How far with the auditing?' she asked.
'We're through with the third quarter of last year, and have just started the last quarter.'
She nodded and glanced at the clock in the office. It was few minutes to five in the evening; it was few minutes to the official closing time.

'You must finish the last quarter before you and Ruth go home today. Remember, everything must be finalized tomorrow before the final presentation on the day after tomorrow.'

I nodded. She was right. 'Yes, madam.' 'Alright, you can go back to your job now.' 'Yes, ma'am.'
I left her office. Back in our office, Ruth was still busy with the calculations. 'Madam said we can't go home today until we're through with the last quarter of last year auditing,' I told her.

She made a face. 'Will she pay us for overtime?'

I chuckled. 'I'm sorry, I can't answer that question.'

We continued with the work. When it was exactly five, Martha popped in again. She held two nylon bags.

'Madam said I should give the two of you this,' she said as she handed one to me and one to Ruth.

'Thank her on our behalf,' I said.

The bag contained a pack of fried rice, a bottle of mineral drinks and a 50 cl bottle of water.

Martha left the office. ‘I suppose this is our pay,' Ruth said and grinned.

The Love Tangle







© Copyright 2025

Frank is a hard-working guy who wants to settle down to a simple married life. He gets an unusual request from his boss, Ms. Judith Aka, and he agrees to grant it. His heart goes for Ruth, and he roots for her. Things take different dimensions.
For one, Ruth is not the kind of lady he thinks she is. His marriage to her provides a lot of comfort, but he soon realizes that there are grievous thorns on the bed of roses.



Formerly titled The Love Grotto.





This story is dedicated to the almighty God, the Alpha and Omega.









I needed to concentrate on the figures and get them right. In accounting, accuracy of figures was the watch-word. I just had to start all over again. There would be no respite until the figures were correct and I was satisfied.

My colleague, Ruth, was working on some other figures. We had the task of getting everything right.

As I was going through the figures again, there was a soft tap on the transparent glass door. Martha opened it and popped in.

'Well done,' she greeted Ruth and me that occupied the office. Then, she faced me, 'The director wants to see you.'

I nodded. ‘Okay.’

'Right now,' Martha added.

I nodded again and stood up. I knew the director she meant was the Finance Director.

'I'll be back,' I told Ruth and left the office. The Finance Director's office was by the right, just after the office I shared with Ruth. It was my turn to rap softly on the door before turning the knob.

'Good afternoon, madam,' I greeted her.

She looked up from the document she was reading. Ms. Judith Aka was in her late thirties. She was a pretty woman in every sense of the world and I wondered why she had not got wedded to a man. I hoped she was not that choosy in that regard, but even if she was, what was my business?

War doesn't do any good.

Humans should embrace peace.

So much fuss about a bra.

The story is quite interesting. Let's see where it ends.

Interesting. The old spinster is trespassing. Why take interest in a young married guy?

OT2024:
.. "Yes, you’re a little chubby, sure. But you’re also beautiful. And soft. And warm. That’s not a bad thing at all."

I like this part. It shows that being fat can be beautiful.

No.

If gay is evil, so is lesbianism.
Period.

Following....

Following.....

Ride on

Following

Following.