The rich also cry

THE RICH ALSO CRY

CHAPTER ONE

Deborah had an aura about her; you could not walk by her and not take a second look at her. She was a beautiful woman with a flawless chocolate colour skin that glows under the rays of sunlight. To surmise it all she was a beauty to behold. During her two-year stay at the polytechnic, she had rebuffed countless offers of marriage, although she was just twenty-one years old.  She had three female younger siblings. Most times her mother would advise her to pick one of her numerous suitors and settle down.

 She knew that what her mother actually wanted were grandchildren, males to be precise, to compliment her for not having sons of her own, but she was not ready to be intimidated into getting married or raising children to please anyone but herself.

Her father was bitter about not having sons but he neither supported nor distant himself about his wife’s views of an early marriage for her being his eldest daughter. He was a learned and enlightened man. He believed in his daughter and knew that at the right time, she would settle down and so he was not ready to cajole her.

She vowed not to jump into marriage except one that would provide comfort for her and her family. She was from a bourgeois family where they never lacked the necessities of life, but could not be regarded as a wealthy family.

After her diploma, she took up an appointment with one of the new generation banks for her one-year industrial experience scheme. Her father helped her secure the job, being a banker himself with one of the older generation banks.

Rotimi the son to the Chief Executive officer (C.E.O) of the bank was an up and coming young man. He knew his father would retire very soon and would hand over the business to him and he worked vigorously towards making sure he learned every aspect of the banking business, which made him a workaholic. He had his fair share of womanizing but he kept them discrete. He also knew that for him to command more respect within the banking industry he had to be a married man, and he toyed seriously with the idea of settling down. He also had a taste for beautiful women but most of his present women did not suit him because he regarded most of them as bedmates and opportunist. He enjoyed their company because of the vices he indulged in, which he kept very secret.

It was during one of his frequent visits to one of the bank’s branches that he saw her. He was with Mr Alonge the bank’s branch manager when Deborah brought a file into the manager’s office. After she left he inquired from the manager who she was and was told that she was on industrial attachment. He immediately picked interest in her and from then on frequently visited the branch on one excuse or the other.

Deborah never acknowledged his presence at the bank, all she knew was that he was one of the big boys of the bank and she never thought of him as any other thing than that, but she noticed how the other women seemed to dance around him whenever he was around, even the manager seemed to want to please him.

On further enquiry she found out that, he was the heir apparent of the bank and she said to herself, this is one big fish beyond my reach. She unconsciously envisaged herself as the wife of someone like him. She would have all she ever needed in life, comfort, luxury items, money and all.

She was jolted out of her reverie by the bank’s messenger who told her that the branch manager requested her presence in his office. She imagined what the man wanted this time as she stood up from her desk to answer his call. When she got to the door, she breathed in, knocked on the door, opened it and walked in.

He sat in front of the manager as she walked in; she greeted him and stood waiting for the manager’s comment.

“Deborah,” he called. “I want to introduce you to our managing director, Mr Rotimi Alabi.”

He paused for a while allowing the name to sink in properly. After getting the effect he wanted from the name, he then introduced her as one of the industrial attaches.

“I’m pleased to meet you sir,” she said and then waited for them to give her further instructions but they just kept quiet. Rotimi then spoke.

“Actually, Miss Deborah I was wondering if you will have the chance to accompany me to a lunch date this afternoon.”

“Sir, I don’t understand you,” she blurted out.

“I have a lunch date this afternoon with some company executives and I was thinking of having you accompany me. It is not an official request though, it depends on if you have the chance.  You will also act as my secretary to take down some important notes where necessary. So, what do you say?”

“Sir, it is an honor to be accorded such opportunity.”

“Do I take that as a yes?”

“Yes, sir.”

“That settled; I will have my driver come back for you by two this afternoon then,” Rotimi said.

She said, “All right sir,” almost stammering.

The manager then excused her and she left the office. When she stepped outside the office she could hardly hold her breathe. She! Of all people she thought, to escort him to a lunch date, with the high and mighty of the business world. Wow! Was she lucky? She went back to her desk and sat down; she slapped herself on the cheek to make sure it was not all a mirage.

Inside the manager’s office, the men discussed further.

“Mr Alonge, what do you think?” Rotimi said.

“I think she is worth it. She looks well brought up and young sir. Her father is a partaker in the industry, and I think he would be happy to have a fellow as you, date his daughter.

“Mr Alonge, I must confide in you. I am looking beyond that. I have to start thinking of settling down. Therefore, the search for a wife just began.”

“That is very thoughtful of you sir.”

“I have to be on my way now,” Rotimi said, stood up and reached for the door.

The manager also stood up and escorted him out of the office. On his way out, Rotimi sighted Deborah, waved her and with Mr Otedola by him, they went out of the banking hall.

That singular gesture gave Deborah the assurance that it was real. She pondered. Was he really interested in taking her to the lunch date or was it a prelude to something else to come. Time will tell she thought, and then she made up her mind to play her cards right.

She could not contain herself that day at work while she eagerly anticipated the arrival of the driver to convey her. She also did not bother telling her colleagues because she still had some pessimism about the whole issue, also because she knew some of her colleagues most especially the females who contested for his attention would envy her.

Femi was the charming fellow of the area. Everyone knew him because he was amiable and convivial. He had recently finished his youth service scheme and was in the labour market searching for a job.

He was quite handsome and he had his fair share of attention from most of the girls around his neigbourhood. He was also very caring and that was what really made him a cynosure. He would chat with anyone in respective of class, creed or status. He was also from a middle classed family and was his Mummy’s pet despite his twenty-six years on earth; she adored him and would do anything to make him happy, also because he was the last born of the family.

Some few hundred meters from his home was a thriving eatery, which he normally frequented in the evenings to while away time and unwind. He frequented the place so much that it became his second home. If you were looking for Femi at home and he is not there, just take a walk down to the eatery and you will see him, either chatting away or just relaxing in the comfortable ambience. He became so friendly with the staffs that he was granted liberty and unrestricted access to everywhere within the premises, including the kitchen.

Most customers to the restaurant thought him to be a member of staff as he freely associated with them. He also took the pains of becoming the restaurants public relations officer for nothing. He would walk up to customers ask them how they felt, if they were satisfied with the service rendered, what they expected of the establishment and a host of other complimentary remarks he passed on, to the extent that any day he was absent, they all felt it, both usual customers and staffs alike.  He always thought to himself that someday he hoped to open chains of restaurant of his own and he was glad to use his time at the restaurant as gaining experience. People must always eat he said to himself.

Some few minutes before two o’clock that afternoon, the driver arrived and asked of her from the security man at the entrance to the banking lobby and he was directed to her desk. She sat on her desk entering some data into her computer when the driver got to her desk and greeted, “madam, good afternoon.”

She looked up to see who greeted before answering.

“Good day sir, how may I help you? She also noticed that he was putting on the usual bank’s drivers uniform.

“Madam, I am looking for Miss Deborah Peters.”

 “I am, and how may I help you?”

“My boss asked me to come and pick you for the meeting ma.”

“You mean the Managing director?”

“Yes, madam.”

“Just give me a minute let me tidy up my desk and log off and then we can be on our way.”

“Madam, I will wait for you outside,” he said and turned away.

She logged off, made her way to the restroom where she applied some light powder on her face, checked her hairdo on the mirror on the wall to make sure it was all right. What she saw did not impress her much; she quietly cursed herself for not visiting the salon the previous weekend. She finally finished up, and then went to her immediate superior to inform her that her attention was required at the head office.

Her superior was surprised. She wondered why an ordinary temporary staff’s attention would be required at the head office and she did not know about it.

“Who wants you at the head office,” the woman queried her.

“The managing director,” Deborah replied.

“What will the MD need your service for?”

“I don’t know ma,” she lied.

The woman looked at her inquisitively and then said.

“Wait let me check with the manager.”

She stood up, left her office and went to the manager’s office to liaise with him on the matter. When the woman left, Deborah smiled, she knew issues like this were not treated with levity. The woman wanted to be sure of what was going on.

Minutes later the woman came back with a grin on her face and said she could go.

 As if you have a choice on the matter, Deborah said inwardly, but she still thanked the woman and went outside to meet the driver.

When she got outside, she sighted the driver standing by a brand new, current model, golden beige, Honda Accord LX car. She walked towards him. As she got closer, he opened the back door for her to get in. She could hardly believe she was getting a first class treatment.  She had initially intended to walk to the passenger’s seat by the driver, open it and sit by him in front, but she was being directed towards the back seat, usually referred to as the owner’s corner. She stepped into the car and he slammed the door. He got into his seat, started the car and skillfully maneuvered the car out of the bank’s premises.

Rotimi sat in his office eager to hear news of there arrival.  He once was tempted to phone Stephen his driver, to find out what was keeping them but he thought otherwise. He felt that would have given his intentions away too soon. It would also look absurd to start asking his driver what held them up when he knew what Lagos traffic was all about. Moreover, if there were any problem the driver would have contacted him.

Away from that, he thought of how he was going to date her without making her feel he was trying to use his influence as her boss. He decided that he would ask her out for dinner after the meeting with the executives. That day was a Tuesday.

Femi was bored at home; his Mother had gone to the shopping plaza, where she has a supermarket she managed. His dad died a few years ago. He was the only one at home. His elder sisters were both married, while the eldest of the family his brother was in Canada. The cable TV he was watching held no fun for him at that moment so he decided to go down to his joint and hang out. He opened his closet, put on one of the tee shirt his brother had sent to him, his sunshades and then his sneakers. He looked at himself on the mirror and he liked the image of what stared at him. He smiled and left his room. He secured the doors to the house and started the short trek to the restaurant.

   Rotimi was almost going out of his mind waiting for his driver to knock on his door. What is wrong with you Rotimi he thought? Have you never seen a beautiful woman before? Why is this particular one freaking you out?  Then the expected knock came on the door. Unconsciously he started walking towards the door to open it when the driver walked in, with her closely following behind.

 “She is here sir,” the driver said.

“Thank you Stephen, you can go. I will call you when we are ready.”

The driver nodded, turned around and went out.

“Good afternoon Sir,” Deborah greeted Rotimi.

“Afternoon Deborah,” he replied. “I hope you had a smooth ride down here.”

“Yes, Sir. Actually, sir, it was one of the best rides I ever had,” she said truthfully.

 Her father had a nice car but it was an imported used car and so was her Mother’s, compared to the banks which was brand new. Briefly, she reminisced on the drive. The comfort she experienced while been driven down to the head office. She had felt as if she was in another world. The shock absorbers of the car were so good she hardly felt the bumps on the road, coupled with the smooth running of the car, which had an automatic transmission and made driving pleasurable. One could barely hear the sound of the vehicle. The music system was something else, and as if the driver knew she needed it, he slotted in a Phil Collins CD. The output from the speakers was incredible; it was as if she were in a live concert

“I am glad you enjoyed your ride here. We are supposed to meet with the executives of a sugar factory. Actually, it is just a consolidation meeting. The bank played a roll in helping them acquire the new production machine line and some other equipments needed for the upgrading of their facilities. Its one of those unwritten rules in the corporate world you know. We have lunch dates such as this from time to time.”

She knew about them since her father was in the system and even if he was not, she had read enough novels in the past involving executives and lunch dates, where they go to discuss trivialities instead of the business they are supposed to. This was where the executives gossiped while lunching.

All the while, she was still standing.

“Forgive my manners. Please sit down.”

 He beckoned her to sit on the comfortable couch, strategically placed in his office, instead of the normal office chair placed in front of his desk.

“Can I get you something to drink meanwhile?”

“No sir, I am okay.” Deborah replied.

When she sat down, she began to wonder why she was really brought there. She knew she had nothing to do at the lunch date than just fill a vacant chair and his manners were not that of a boss talking to a subordinate but that of a man about to woo a woman.

His phone rang and he picked it. She could not hear the other side talking but she assumed he was talking to his lunch dates.

 “Let us meet at the ‘La Capitano’” restaurant he said. He described the location for them and he ended the conversation with, “meet you there in twenty minutes or thereabout” and hung up.

When he finished on the phone, he turned to her and said, “Those are our lunch date I just spoke to.”

  He did not have to tell me she thought, but he did, and that gave her an insight as to what to expect from him in the nearest future. The man wanted her as a lover. She then began to appraise him. He was not as handsome as much as she would have wanted though, but most of all he was rich and that was something to treasure. It was not as if she was really after his money, but come to think of it, which woman will get a chance at having a man with all that money and reject it for poverty or just a normal life, in the name of searching for love? Very, very few, she answered as the thoughts raced through her mind.

Love, she thought, for her it was not in her dictionary for now. She had seen what love had done to some of her friends at school of both sexes. In one instance, a friend of hers was hospitalized because her boyfriend jilted her. She had never fallen in love with any man and she vowed not to just yet, unless she was sure he was the right man for her before letting her mind roll away. On the other hand she pondered, how would you know who was right for you, to allow your mind flow away with him? It was a hard decision to make and she decided to forget about that the issue then and concentrate on what was on hand, which was the man she was in his office and about to go out on a date with, who she also had the belief was about to ask her out.

He walked towards her and sat beside her. She flinched a little when he sat.

“Tell me about yourself Deborah,” he said.

“What do you want to know sir?”

“Call me Rotimi.” He said.

“Sir, but you know that is impossible. How am I supposed to explain calling my boss by name? Moreover, not just a boss, but the main boss. That would be making a categorical statement sir.”

“Tell whoever cares to know that I asked you to do so.”

“Sir, you know that is impossible.”

“All right then Deborah; I will go straight to the point and not beat about the bush.”

Here it comes she thought.

“I asked you to accompany me to the lunch not because you have any special task to perform, but because I wanted to spend some time alone with you.”

He paused allowing his words to sink in, but she said nothing; what was she supposed to say at such a time. She closed her eyes temporarily and thought. He is rich Deborah, even if you do not love him now; you might grow to love him later. He can provide all you will ever need as a woman. Give him a chance but play hard to get, but not hard enough to scare him away her inner voice said and she opened her eyes.

“Deborah, are you with me?” Rotimi asked.

“Yes sir, I am. It just came to me as a shock.” She said.

“I am sorry if I caught you unaware but I have had these feelings for you for quite a while and that is why I normally frequent your branch.”

“Can I ask you a question sir?”

“Yes, you can and please call me Rotimi.”

“All right Mr Rotimi,” she said, because she still found it a bit difficult to call him by name out rightly. “The branch manager, is he also in on it?” Rotimi looked puzzled and showed it. “I mean does he know your intentions towards me sir? Sorry, I mean Mr Rotimi.”

“I am afraid he does. Please can we go for the lunch lest we keep our lunch dates waiting? We can discuss this some other time at your convenience should you want to, say over dinner, if you would not mind.”

 He picked his briefcase up and beckoned towards the door.

She looked at him, smiled and said, “I guess that will not be such a bad idea,” as he opened the door to the office, allowed her to step out while he held the door down for her.

 As they both stepped out, they chatted on. Workers in the bank wondered whom the new woman was that got the boss so enraptured in a discussion he did not care who was around. They walked out of the bank and immediately the driver saw them approaching, he went and collected his boss’s briefcase from him and then ran back to open the cars door for him. She was impressed, and she stole a quick glance at him but he seemed not to notice. Why should he she thought, when he was used to receiving such treatments, because he did not seem to care what the driver did, as long as he took him to his destination. How lovely it would be to have servants at her disposal. What a wonderful life it would be for her she thought, as she opened the other door and sat beside Rotimi at the back of the car. The car eased out of the parking lot under the skillful hands of the driver.

Femi was in no rush to get to the restaurant and so he walked leisurely while viewing the scenes as he passed by, most especially the ever-busy Lagos traffic. As he strolled, he greeted some of his acquaintances and admired some of the beautiful girls that passed by him. He complimented a few of them on their good looks, nice dress and so on. He enjoyed having fun that way.

He finally arrived at the restaurant; he greeted the security man at the entrance, and then the door attendant. He decided to sit down outside to recoup his energy before going in to greet the other staff members. Business at that time of the day was dull because most people were still at work and only few workers, the big boys, the yuppies as they were fondly called who normally come for their lunch at that time were present.

Minutes before Femi arrived; Rotimi’s lunch dates had arrived and were inside the restaurant chatting as they waited for him to arrive. About five minutes later, a car pulled into the drive way and the driver maneuvered it into a parking spot. He got down and opened the back door.

Femi watched the drama and concluded that he must be one of those company executives, as he was used to seeing them. He was about to turn his gaze away when Deborah came down from the car. He then refocused his attention back at the couple. She must be a colleague he asserted, because couples do not go out corporately dressed he reasoned. He assessed her and concluded that she was a beautiful woman and quite young too.

Deborah came down from the car, turned around and for a brief spell, her eyes locked unto his. She could not understand how she felt at the intense gaze of the man on her. She smiled, removed her gaze from him, now that is what I call handsome she thought, referring to Femi who briefly charmed her, taking her mind away from why she was at the restaurant in the first instance.

 Deborah and Rotimi walked towards the entrance after he came round to where she stood. The door attendant opened the swing door for them as they strolled in.

When they got into the restaurant, Rotimi gazed around trying to find his lunch dates. He saw them beckoning on him to join them.

Immediately Deborah saw them, she knew this was more or less a date for men who used it as an opportunity to unwind and stay away from their hectic business schedules. There were two men and each had a female companion. They walked over to them. The men stood up and shook themselves while exchanging pleasantries. She took a seat, which had been reserved for them. She greeted the two other women. She noticed that the other women looked much older than she was and that the other men were older than Rotimi.

When the men sat down, Rotimi introduced her to them as his personal assistant. The men then greeted her again, complimenting her on her good looks. They in turn each introduced their female companions to her. From the introductions, she deduced that the women were both employees in the company and their lovers as well. That was the game of the corporate world.

They signaled the waiter and ordered lunch. While they waited for lunch to be served they chatted. She felt odd amongst them being a novice to their world, so she kept quiet and gave her input only when a statement was directed at her.

Meanwhile outside, Femi felt he had rested enough and decided to go into the restaurant. As he walked in, he enquired from the door attendant if the manageress was in and he answered in the affirmative.

The manageress Lola is a very good friend of his. He guessed her to be about his age mate or probably a little older. You could never tell with women, they seem to look older than their age. He could not tell, but they had a good rapport and at times, he spent hours chatting with her when she had little to do, most especially in the early hours of the day, when business had not started in earnest and he was around the premises.

As he walked in, he noticed the place was a bit busy. He exchanged greetings with the staffs as he met them and they responded amiably. He went to the ice cream section and ordered a cup. From the way the sales girl over filled the cup you could tell he was a special person at the eatery. He sat with her on the high stool and chatted with the girl as he licked his ice cream. Flickering his eyes here and there, watching every movement in the hall.

“You seem to have some good business this afternoon; the place is almost filled,” he said.

“Yes Femi, business is okay. Most of our customers are the usual for this time of the day. The yuppies of the corporate world.”

“Yeah, I know. This is their usual lunch hour.”

“Right now, we have some dining with their babes.”

“Ah, ah, Jane. How do you know the women with them are their babes?”

“I am a woman Femi and I know how I behave when I am with my guy. It’s quite easy differentiating a lover and an ordinary friend.”

“I give up Jane I give up. You know better. Anyway, is Lola in her office?”

“Yes, madam is in. She asked of you immediately you left yesterday.”

“Don’t mind your madam. She kept me in her office waiting for almost thirty minutes and forgot I was there. Let me go and check on her, I will see you later.”

 He got off the stool and proceeded to her office. Her office was a little room close to the main banquet room and you had to pass by the diners to get to it. As he made his way towards Lola’s office, he sighted the diners Jane spoke of. The man and woman he had seen earlier on while he sat outside were included. On getting closer, he noticed that she was the youngest of the lot and she hardly spoke while the rest of them chatted on. As he got almost parallel to where they sat, he turned his eyes to catch a better glimpse of her once more.

Deborah had started getting bored with the conversation and she wished they could just finish up and get the hell out of the place. She sat there like a Mummy, as if she was not among them. They took their time as if they did not care about going back to work; unconsciously she glanced at her time, it was almost four, which meant that they had been there for close to two hours. As she raised her head up, her eyes met his gaze once again and she felt funny inside her.

How could a stranger make her feel the way this man did. She met his eyes and it bore into her until he passed on. When he got to the door, a few meters from where they sat, he paused for a few seconds, knocked on the door, turned the knob, opened it and entered. As he entered, he turned his face her way to give her one last glance before going in. Deborah smiled, wondering why he made her blush by merely staring at her.

As Femi walked into Lola’s office, he also smiled knowing he had made the woman feel uncomfortable by his intense gaze at her. Many times, he had done that to women just to keep them wondering why he stared at them intensely that way. To him he was just having fun, but this girl was a knock out, not in the sense of being a potential Miss world. She was beautiful all right but it was something else that attracted him to her, something he could not pin point. He suspended thoughts of her as he saw Lola busy typing on her keyboard with rapt attention on the computer monitor.

“Hi beauty,” he said as he approached her.

“Hello, Femi. How are you today? Before you answer me, what happened yesterday? I told you to wait for me and you left.”

“Lola, I waited for almost half an hour.”

“Femi, you know how it is sometimes when those nuts heads in the kitchen muddle things up, it takes a miracle to sort them out.”

“Sorry for leaving, I got tired of waiting. You seem to have your hands full today as I see.”

“Yeah, sometimes business booms and sometimes it’s slower than usual. Have you eaten Femi?”

“Yes Mummy, I have eaten and I just had a cup of ice cream for dessert.”

“Cut it out Femi,” Lola said jokingly.

“Yes, Mummy.”

“Stop it Femi before I strangle you and choke that ice cream out of you.”

They both had a laugh over it and he watched her as she tried to finish her task while he kept her company with jokes. By the time she was through and they came out of the office the diners had left.

“Damn it,” he said aloud.

“Damn what?” Lola asked, looking at him and expecting an explanation for his outburst.

“They are gone,” Femi said.

“Who is gone? What are you talking about Femi?”

“There was, this beautiful babe, she was…”

Lola interrupted him.

“Femi, please let me hear word, oh. You and your talk of beautiful babes always.”

“Lola, you need to have seen this babe. She was something else!”

“I know Femi they are always something else. My prayer is for you to get a job quickly, so that the time you spend admiring babes can reduce drastically.”

Both of them went by the new diners and went out to the main section. It was getting closer to rush hour and she liked being present at the main section to supervise things herself.

At about four – thirty p.m., Richard and his companions stood up to leave the restaurant. Deborah was already fed up with her companions at dinner and she wished she had not come at all, at least not with the company she kept. From time to time during the course of her stay, her mind wanders away to the man that had sent shivers down her and she looked at the direction of the door expecting him to come out again but he did not. As they stood up to leave, she instinctively looked at the direction of the door expecting to see him come out, but the door remained shot. Well, he was one of those numerous admirers of hers, except for she also admired him, and with that last thought, she left the restaurant.

Outside the restaurant, the men shook hands while the women exchanged pleasantries and phone numbers, which was somewhat perfunctory as they all left with their respective male companions, she inclusive.

While in the vehicle, Rotimi asked her if she wanted to go back to the office. She told him that she did not inform her superior that she would not be coming back.

“I asked a question,” he said sounding commanding. He then repeated the question, “Do you intend going back? It’s almost five.”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Yes, you do. I virtually own the bank.”

“Well, if you put it that way, I would not mind going straight home.

He told her not to worry, that his driver will take him back to the office and then take her home. He also told her that he would explain to the manager why she could not come back that day and then asked her for a date that weekend, which she gladly accepted. He gave her his phone number and collected hers.

When they got to the office, he collected his briefcase and instructed the driver not to bother entering the premises that he would walk in instead. When he alighted, he told the driver to take her home. She thanked him for the dinner, waved him off as he turned away to walk into the bank’s premises.

“Madam, which area are we going to?” the driver asked.

“Call me Deborah,” she said and then told him the neighborhood she resided and that she would direct him to her house when they got to the area.

 The driver drove off.

During the drive home, she made up her mind to play along with Rotimi but guard her heart against heartbreak. She decided to get as much as she could out of the relationship until it came to an end, which she knew was inevitable. She then reclined properly and enjoyed the music from the speakers as they blared out soulful music. Occasionally she made passing comments, which the driver responded to in order to keep the atmosphere friendly. She also wanted to be amiable towards him because she knew she might be riding with him for a while.

The driver jolted her out of her reverie.

“Miss Deborah we are almost around your neighborhood,” the driver said.

She sat upright and wished the drive would not end, she felt so relaxed, but it had to end now she thought and then gave him descriptions at every intersection until they arrived at her home. Before she got down from the vehicle, she asked him his name. “Stephen,” he said. She thanked him for the smooth drive and he left. She stood outside as she watched the vehicle negotiate a bend and disappear from her sight, still finding it difficult to believe what had transpired all through the afternoon. She then turned around and went into the compound with elegance. 

CHAPTER TWO

The next day she went to work as usual and the first thing she received when she resumed duty was a query from her supervisor for not returning the previous day back to work. She did not know how to defend herself because she felt Rotimi should have informed them. It probably skipped his mind she thought and so she apologized to the woman and promised her it would not occur again. Unknowing to her Rotimi had told her manager who felt it was unnecessary to inform her supervisor. The day went on as normal and Rotimi did not call her. She felt a bit worried and wondered if he had reconsidered and was no longer interested in her or had viewed her and felt she was not his type of woman.

 Different thoughts rammed through her brain as she sat and imagined her dreams of a splendid time erode her. What a fool she was, to have thought that such a man would take her seriously when he was used to women clamouring for his attention. She was not her usual self and she longed for the closing hour so she could go home.

That night, while watching TV at home with her mother and siblings, a call came through. She looked at the screen of her phone, Rotimi’s name showed on it, and she quickly answered the call.

 He apologized to her for not calling her on time stating work and a series of meetings that day as the cause. He also fixed that week’s Saturday for their dinner date, which she accepted. He asked her if it was okay for him to come to her place to pick her up.

“You are free to come. My parents do not bite. Moreover, I am a big girl,” she said.

“Am I glad to hear that? I will be there at about five in the evening. Before you ask, I can find the place; Stephen gave me a vivid description of how to locate your house, down to the colour of the gate and the building.”

“I bet he did, he is such a nice person.”

“Oh yes, he is. He is indispensable. Sorry I have to cut you off. I have some place to go with some friends now. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday. Take care my beauty; I can hardly wait for Saturday.”

 “Take care also,” she replied and hung up.

 The phone call changed her mood. Mrs. Wilson noticed the glow on her daughter after her conversation on the phone and asked.

“Is he the one that brought you home the other day?

She was not surprised her Mum had asked the question, she had expected it sooner.

“No, Mummy he is not the one. That was his driver.”

“Do you want to talk about it dear?”

“Not yet, Mum. This particular one needs watching, to see how the drama unfolds.”

“Why keep me in suspense Deborah. Ok dear tell me. What is he like?”

“All I would divulge for now is that he is a colleague, but on a higher level, even much higher than daddy.”

“My dear I hope you will consider him?”

“Consider him for what, Mummy. You have started again oh. That is why I did not want to tell you anything in the first place.”

 Her mother apologized, they changed topic and chatted on. Her siblings focused on the soap opera they were watching on TV with rapt attention while they waited for their father to arrive.

At about some minutes to five the evening Rotimi and Deborah were supposed to go for the dinner date, Rotimi arrived in a metallic black Toyota, Land cruiser Jeep and parked outside Deborah’s home. He dialed her number, and when she answered, he told her he was outside her home. She said she would be out in a few minutes.

 Just as she said, she came out a few minutes later. On sighting her, he came out of the Jeep and approached her.

“Hello beauty, you look gorgeous,” Rotimi said.

“Thank you and you are welcome to my humble home.”

“Are your folks in?”

“Yes, they are,” Deborah, replied.

“Don’t you think they have a right to see the person taking their daughter out?”

“Sure, they do. I was thinking you might not want to meet them. He looked at her curiously and then she said, “at least not just yet.”

“Why not?” he said and motioned for her to lead the way. She turned around and they both went back in to the building. Her parents were in the living room with her other siblings except for her immediate younger sister, Naomi, who had gone out to see a friend within the neigbourhood.

Immediately he got within speaking range, he greeted Mr and Mrs. Wilson.

“Good evening sir, evening ma,” he said.

They both responded to his greetings.

 “Daddy, Mummy, meet Rotimi my boss,” Deborah said.

  “Pleased to meet you son, her father said before commenting further. “Deborah said you are in the banking industry.”

“Yes sir, I am.”

“What exactly do you do there?”

“I manage the bank sir.”

“Oh, that is good. Which of the branches would that be because I know the manager of the branch she works; he has been a friend of mine for years.”

“Actually, sir, I oversee the whole network of branches sir.”

“You must be at the head office then.”

“Daddy.” Deborah intruded, knowing if she did not, they would not leave on time.

“He is the managing director of the bank. His dad owns the bank.”

Immediately she said that her father observed him again and asked

“Are you Rotimi? Rotimi Alabi.”

“Yes sir, I am.”

“Jesus Christ!” Her dad then stood up. “It’s nice of you to come to my home. The last time I saw you was about eight years ago, when you were still at school. You came home from England for the banks five years anniversary and your dad introduced you to us as his heir at the party he hosted for bankers. Yes, I remember the face now. How is your dad?”

“He is fine sir.”

“Daddy! Deborah shouted this time. “We have to leave.”

“Oh yes, Oh yes.” Mr Wilson said. And as he said that, Deborah prodded Rotimi out of the sitting room. He yielded to her gesture and bade goodbye to the Wilson’s as they went out of the house.

“Bye son. You are welcome into my home anytime.” Her father said.

By then, they were almost outside the house and out of earshot.

Back inside, her Mum felt elated that her daughter had hit it big. The managing director of a bank and a likely suitor for her daughter. Her father was very glad he was in the same industry as he was and was least concerned about the financial aspect of his life or status in society.

   Outside, Rotimi and Deborah quietly walked to the car, got in and he drove off. As the vehicle meandered its way through traffic, he spoke.

“Your parents are nice people.”

“Thank you,” she said and kept quiet.

“What is bothering you? Why are you not speaking?”

“There is nothing bothering me. I have nothing to say.”

 “All right then. Let’s start with…” he paused and then said, “How was your week at the bank?”

“It was the same as last week and every other week preceding it, very monotonous. You just sit at a desk and perform the same assignment all day, everyday.”

“It looks to me as if you don’t enjoy working at the bank.”

“Do you want an honest answer?”

“Yes I do.”

“I am not as passionate about the banking world as my father is. It is too rigid for me. I don’t find it interesting.”

“Why did you decide to serve at a bank then?”

“Who else got the place for me, my father of course?”

“And you accepted. Was it to please him?”

“No, I accepted because there were thousands looking for an opportunity to work in a bank and I got it without sweat. Therefore, not taking it, would be taking things for granted.”

“I see. What would you like me to do to liven up your stay at the bank?”

“I don’t really know. l am glad it would be over very soon, so I can go back to school, where the fun is.”

“What kind of fun would that be?”

“What kind of question is that? You of all people should know that school is the best place to catch your fun at your youth.”

As they chatted on, they arrived at the restaurant. It was a Chinese restaurant. 

The security man directed him to a free parking space. He parked; they got down and made their way into the restaurant. It was a cozier restaurant than the one they lunched in, the other day. It was first class, and by the look of the kind of cars around, you could tell the kind of people that were dining in.

He had already made reservations for them at the restaurant. Immediately he entered, the waiter approached him and ushered them to a table that was inconspicuously located from the view of other diners and dimly lighted. They took their seats while the waiter gave both of them the menu list. Deborah took one look at the menu card she held and got confused as to what to order. She waited for Rotimi to finish ordering, after which she told the waiter to get her the same as his; she decide that she would eat what she could of whatever junk they brought for her and leave the rest.

After the waiter left, she told him that she had never been to a Chinese restaurant.

“Really!”

“Yes, never. Why would I want to spend so much money eating Chinese food when I love Nigerian dishes so much and they come far cheaper,” Deborah said.

He smiled at her and said; “one of the things I like so much about you is your frankness.”

“Thank you, but I never knew speaking out your mind could command discipleship.”

As he was about to reply her comment, the waiter arrived with the first set of meals. One look at them and she knew she would not be able to ingest most of them. She managed to pick through the meal and was glad when it was over. She also suggested to him that next time, if there was a next time she thought, he should consider taking her to a conventional eatery, where she would appreciate his noble gesture. When the meal was over and they sat over a bottle of wine, they got talking.

Deborah, he called and she looked straight at his face. “I like you and would love us to be good friends.”

“Are we not already friends?”

“We are, Deborah. What I meant was for us to be very close, probably intimate should be the right word. I want to be there for you always. I want to take care of you. I really do not know how to place my words he said and then he dipped his hand into his pocket, brought out a small case, and handed it over to her.”

 She collected it and opened it. Inside it was a gold wristwatch, a necklace and bracelets

 “I want you to have it as a token of my affection for you; I also want you to give me a chance to express my love for you.”

As she admired the gift, she thanked him for his gesture.

“This is beautiful. Thank you very much,” she said. She stood up, went to give him a peck on the cheek and returned to her seat.

“Please can we leave here to somewhere livelier? This place is restrictive.”

“Restrictive?” He said.

“Yes,” she said. “It is too formal for me. I want us to go somewhere uninhibited. You know, where we can move around, and chat freely.”

He signaled the waiter, asked for the bill, which he promptly settled and they left.

When they got outside, he asked. “Where to now?”

“Let us just drive around, go to places, window shop and just kill time,” she replied.

 They drove to the beach, spent time chatting and getting to know each other better. He then took her to a self-service restaurant where he bought snacks for her to take home.

On the way home, they branched at a supermarket where he bought some wine for her father and a perfume for her mother. He also gave her some money for shopping, after which he finally took her home. This was about nine in the evening.

When they got to her home, he apologized for not being able to come in with her. He asked her to extend his greetings to her parents, kissed her on the cheek and told her he would call her the next day. She got down from the car with her paper bags and made her way into the compound.

It did not take long for the news to spread around the bank that she was having an affair with the MD. It started as silent whispers and graduated into an open-air discussion. She now had more friends and foes alike within the bank. While some came closer to her hoping to see what they could accomplish using her to seek favours from Rotimi, others admonished her out of plain envy, most especially the women.

The manager accorded her special privileges and she became the unofficial manager of the branch. Rotimi made no secrets about his affair with Deborah. He sent Stephen to pick her regularly and some times, he came personally to take her out for lunch.

He showered her with gifts and money. He saw to it that her weekends were spent in his arms. Deborah on her own did not allow the affair to becloud her good judgment. She saved money as it came her way for the rainy day knowing the affair might abruptly end someday, because she still had pessimism about the affair. She wanted to have something to show for it while it lasted. Her bank balance swelled enormously and she made no mention of her savings to even her closest confidant, her mother. She also did not flaunt her new status as the boss’s lover at work; she was her usual self and sometimes pretended she had nothing to do with the man at the helm of affairs.

She became friendlier with the bank manager and she made sure she aided him in any way she could by passing on some vital request he made casually to Rotimi.

Her stay at the bank virtually ended. Her one-year attachment scheme was over and in other to celebrate it; he took her out for dinner. After they had dined and sat chatting, she decided to probe into his world. She felt she could now ask him some of the questions she had always avoided when she was still his employee.

“Honey,” she called, she was sometimes amused when she used the word. She knew she did not love him, but she liked him enough to wish she could someday fall in love with him.

“Yes sweetheart,” he replied.

“I have been meaning to ask you this question for a long time.”

“Shoot it out,” he said.

“Whenever we are together, you sometimes cut short our stay and run off saying you have to be with some friends.”

He looked at her quizzically and said, “yes, go on I am listening.”

“Why is it that you never mention taking me to meet these friends of yours?”

She read the look on his face and knew she had touched a sensitive spot. Probably the friends he always talked about were women he did not want her to know about she thought. She did not really give a damn, because she knew she never expected him not to have them flocking around him.

“It’s not like that Deborah. I just thought you would not want to be amidst guys, drinking, clubbing and stuffs like that.”

“How would you know when you never asked,” she said. She noticed the strained look on his face after speaking and then to calm his frayed nerves she added, “I guess you are right. I like being with my man alone and uninterrupted,” and that brought a smile to his face.

She raised the packet of juice in front of her to fill her glass up, when the feminine voice intruded.

“So, it is true Rotimi.”

Rotimi glanced up to meet the cold eyes of Evelyn staring down at him. She was completely oblivious of Deborah’s presence. Evelyn was one of Rotimi’s numerous lovers. She was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist.

“Hello, Evelyn. What brings you here?”

“What brought me here Rotimi? What kind of a dumb question is that? By my last check, I recollect this place been a public place and not your home.”

She still did not acknowledge Deborah’s presence until she said, “so this is where you bring your baby mistress to, isn’t it? You denied having an affair with her despite the rumours. You said she was just an employee and that her father was a friend to your father. Now I can see you are also her guardian and lover as well. Just look at you, shameful idiot.”

“Look here Evelyn, I suggest you watch your choice of words or else…”

     “Or else what? She interrupted. “You cannot do more than a dead rat that you are, you fool. You chase everything in skirts just to satisfy your insatiable and crazy sexual perversions.”

 She then turned to Deborah.

“My dear I am sorry if I upset you by my choice of words, but I hope you are good enough to satisfy his weird passion and please don’t get hooked or you’ll be sorry. You both should have a nice time,” and without saying anything further, she left.

Deborah was so embarrassed she wished the ground would open up and swallow her. She looked around to see if other diners saw what transpired but was happy to notice that they were all enveloped in a world of their own. Thankfully, she stood up.

“Rotimi please take me home,” she said

“Deborah, I am sorry,” he apologized.

“Please, please Rotimi, not now, some other time may be. Please, just take me home.”

He obliged her. He stood up and they made their way outside the eatery and to the car. He unlocked the door; she got in and sat down. He turned round to the driver’s side, opened the door, climbed in, started the car and drove off.

While driving he tried to explain to her that Evelyn was his ex-lover, that they no longer dated, and she was only trying to get back at him that way. Deborah sat quietly listening to him.

 When they arrived at her home, she opened the door murmured good bye and walked into her compound without as much as a backward glance.

Rotimi knew she was deeply offended. He decided he would give her some time to cool off and then call her, probably bribe her with a gift. He felt like strangling Evelyn for what she had just done. He started the vehicle and drove off.

Deborah went in, greeted her family members and went straight to her room. They were so engrossed in the cable TV they were watching and seemed not to notice her disposition and she was glad. She was not in the mood to answer questions.

When she got into her room, she threw her handbag on the floor and collapsed on her bed. She ran back through all Evelyn said. She then repeated the words used in describing her ‘baby mistress’ that was what hurt her most, being referred to as a ‘baby mistress’.

She also reiterated some of Evelyn’s other statements, ‘Sexual perversions, get hooked’. What did she mean by that? She and Rotimi had made love a couple of times and she never noticed anything unusual about him, so what was Evelyn ranting about. After a while, she slept off. She woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and not as bitter as she was the previous night.

The next day, towards evening, Rotimi called on her at home and apologized to her. He also gave her a cheque for a large some of amount to go shopping with. She forgave him and thanked him for the gift. He left, promising to call her the next day.

When he left she looked at the cheque again. Fifty thousand naira. “Hmm!” She exclaimed, “another addition to my savings,” she whispered and shook her head while smiling and hitting the cheque on her cheek.

She neatly folded the cheque in two and tucked it into the right side pocket of the denim skirt jean she wore as she approached the main door to the house.

Femi got a job with one of the telecommunications company in town as a customer services manager. He was very elated about the job and he put in his best. This made him very popular and adored both by his superiors and by subordinates at work.

The frequency at which he visited his favorite spot diminished drastically. He was there only on weekend’s full time. He also joined the league of workers who came occasionally for lunch. Although the restaurant was farther from his office, he still decided that if he was to dine in any restaurant it should be one that he is well known, coupled with the fact that the company’s car was at his disposal.

He was thoroughly missed by both the workers at the eatery and some of their loyal customers that knew him, although they were happy for him when they were informed that he had started work. Some were astonished because they thought him to be a worker at the eatery.

 Two months after the incident at the restaurant involving Evelyn, Rotimi’s ex-girlfriend. Rotimi and Deborah settled their differences and everything went smoothly. She had also disengaged from the bank. She visited Rotimi at his office occasionally when he was too busy to come and see her. She also noticed a form of withdrawal in him, now that she was his confirmed lover, although the gifts and money kept flooding in, to compensate for his absence most times.

At a particular stage, for almost two weeks, she did not see him and so she decided to pay him a surprise visit at work that Wednesday.

 She arrived at the bank and as she was already a known figure, she did not have to go through protocol to see him. She exchanged pleasantries with Stephen whom she met chatting with some of the security officers outside the building, within the banks premises and those she met on her way to his office.

Meanwhile in the office Rotimi was with one of his casual lovers who came to collect the money he promised giving her. The last person he expected to see that morning was Deborah, because he had spoken to her the previous night and she never mentioned coming to see him the next day at work.

As Rotimi’s secretary saw her, she was at a loss as to what to do. It was too late to warn her boss of Deborah’s presence. She did not know the relationship between her boss and the woman with him, whether it was business or personal, but she knew her boss had numerous girlfriends who usually came to visit him. Deborah chatted with her for some few minutes before she left the secretary’s desk and headed for Rotimi’s office.

She got to the door and knocked. She did not wait for an answer; she turned the doorknob and walked in.

Rotimi was about to query the intrusion but kept mute when he saw who the intruder was. He immediately stood up to welcome her.

“Hello darling,” he said, smiling as he held her and moved her towards the couch in his office, temporarily ignoring the woman he was with previously. Immediately she sat down, she spoke.

“Rotimi, what is happening to us?”

 He was flabbergasted at the question she threw at him.

“How do you mean sweetheart?”

“You never come to see me as before, Rotimi.”

You know its work sweetheart that is why I often call you.

There is a vast difference between chatting over the phone and being with someone physically. To add sarcasm to her statement she looked at the direction of the woman sitting at his table and asked, “Is she also part of your busy schedules?”

He turned his head, following the direction of her eyes.

“Come on sweetheart, she is just a casual acquaintance of mine.”

“That is what I expected you to say Rotimi.”

“I can introduce you to her if you care.”

“No thanks. I just came to see you but I can see you are very busy right now. Maybe I will come back some other time when you are less busy.”

 She stood up and carried her bag. He tried to persuade her to stay on, but she was adamant.

“Some other time Rotimi and next time I will remember to call and inform you that I would be coming,” Deborah said.

“Come off it darling. You know you are always welcome to my office anytime.”

“Yes, I know and that is why I am in this precarious situation right now,” she replied as she approached the door. See you honey she said as she got to the door. As she was about to open it, he said, “Wait let me get Stephen to take you home.”

“Don’t bother honey, I will leave the way I came, thank you. Take care of yourself,” she said casually without any emotion attached to the statement. She opened the door and left his office. On her way out, she cheerfully exchanged pleasantries with his secretary and left.

After Deborah left, Rotimi went back and sat down at his table. He kept quiet for a while and ruminated. His thoughts were obstructed by the feminine voice that emanated from the woman that sat in front of him. He was oblivious of her presence. He immediately opened his drawer, brought out a bundle of crispy five hundred naira notes, counted some out of it and handed it to the woman.

“I will like to be alone, right now please. See you are at the club,” he said to her.

“Take it cool lover boy; she is not the only woman in the world. Does she expect you to have only her?” The woman said, as she made her way to the door.

Deborah was in no mood for pleasantries as she left the bank. She barely said a word, but waved those she did not wish to offend or transfer her annoyance towards.

When she got outside the building, she met Stephen still chatting with the security officers.

“Are you leaving so soon?” He asked her.

“Yes Stephen, I have some other places to visit,” she said.

He stood up, saw her off to the banks premises entrance and turned back.

After Stephen left her, she was confused. She did not know where to go; she did not want to go home and be alone, it would dampen her mood further and she did not feel like going to her Mum’s store either, so she decided to go and spend her day idling away at some eatery. Immediately she recollected that the restaurant she and Rotimi had taken their first lunch together was not too far away. She walked towards the bus stop and boarded a bus heading towards that direction. This was almost close to lunchtime.

 She arrived at the place, went in, bought a pack of mini juice, went and sat down close to the semi-tinted window so she could get a better view of passersby while she pondered over her affair with Rotimi.

She had not really caught him so to say in any wrongful act, but she suspected him of promiscuity. He provided her with enough money and as at the last time she checked her bank statement, she had close to three hundred thousand naira and she intended to have the amount swell further. She considered it as money for the future and so she was going to keep playing along even though her heart bled. She wanted them to be a perfect couple, and she was optimistic that things might still change for the better between them. Probably he was trying to lay off the women in his past. Damn her she cursed. How could she be making up excuses for him?

Femi drove the company car at top speed through the bridge. He wanted to be off the island and down to the mainland in record time, take his lunch and get back to work. Due to the light traffic at that time of the day, he normally made it to and from in less than an hour including the time spent eating.

He packed the car, did not bother to lock up because he knew the security man would never allow any other person than himself leave the premises in that car. He exchanged greetings with the security man and walked in. Immediately he entered and the staff members sighted him, his name rented the air. He approached them and made his order.

Deborah was so engrossed in her thoughts she barely noticed anyone walk in, despite the fact that she had a good glimpse of the parking lot and could have sighted him when he drove in from where she sat.

Femi collected his tray of food and approached a table. He walked right by her. He did not recognize her because at that same time, her gaze focused on a scene outside and her face was partly turned away.

He sat down about two tables away from her, but close enough to see her if he directed his attention at her while eating.

He was almost through with his meal when she turned her face inwards towards the sales area, then he saw her properly and immediately recognized her. He peered intensely to make sure she was the one. It is her all right he confirmed. He then relaxed and knew that he was bound to be late for resumption that day. He studied her very well and his heart went out to her. She sat there oblivious of the intense gaze and scrutiny she was being subjected to.

He noticed she was not waiting for anyone in particular and that she seemed to be dabbling with her drink. That was a sign of someone not in a hurry to leave. He watched her closely. He could not see her face directly but something told him she was troubled.

At that moment, one of the sales girls passed. He beckoned on her and asked her to get him a piece of paper and a pen quickly. The girl hurried away and came back with one. He told her to wait and help him deliver the note to someone. They knew what he was all about and she smiled.

He hurriedly scribbled on the paper. “This too shall pass my grandmother use to say. So, whatever the problem is, it too shall pass. Cheer up and put on a smile. Despite not smiling, you look lovely; I can then imagine you with a smile. Words will not describe your looks then”. Underneath the note, he wrote “from a concerned fellow”.  He gave the note to the girl and pointed towards Deborah, sitting by the window.

The sales girl collected the note and as she was about to leave he told her not to tell the lady whom the note was from, that she should just give it to her and move on.

He watched the girl move towards Deborah, delivered the note and then walked away.

Deborah was stunned when she received the note from the sales girl.

She looked at the note folded in two for a while and then she opened the note and read it. She smiled, read the note once more, and then glanced around to see if she could see the sender of the note. When her face came to rest on his, she immediately knew he was the one that sent the note and the memory of that first day flooded back.

When Femi saw that his note had made the desired effect, he stood up and approached her. He arrived at her table and greeted her.

 “Hello, Miss. My name is Femi Davies and I am very glad your countenance has changed. You have to forgive us men. We simply cannot do without you women but we always continue with our misdemeanours, knowing fully well it hurts those who love us. Whatever he might have done to you, I on behalf of the men folk ask for his forgiveness.”

While still standing he continued to speak.

“As much as I would have loved to sit with you and be properly acquainted, duty calls. My bosses will scream blue murder if I take an extra minute out of the hours I signed out to them. I beg to take my leave madam, and I hope that the next time we meet, if we do meet again, you are a happier woman than you are today.” He bowed his head and turned to leave.

Many questions seeking for answers ran through Deborah’s brain at the same time. Does he work here? Why is he always here? Is it coincidence that both times she came to the restaurant he also happened to be there? Since she did not ask any questions, she expected no answers. As he was about to leave she said, “My name is Deborah, Deborah Wilson and thanks for lifting up my spirit.”

“You are most welcome Mademoiselle Wilson,” he said.

She liked the way he pronounced her surname instead of her name.

“Can I ask you a question before you leave Mister Davies?” She also called his surname.

“Sure, Madam.”

“What made you think my problem had to do with a man?”

“Women do not sit alone in restaurants for the sake of it. If the problem were between herself and a fellow woman, she would never brood over it. Only a man would make a woman sulk the way you were. I am sorry to use that word on you. I really have to leave; my work place is quite a distance from here. Good-bye,” he said and scampered off.

She watched him leave and wished he did not have to go. She peered outside and saw him approach the car that was packed very close to the window she sat overlooking the pavement outside.

He was correct; any other person sitting where she sat would have seen him come in.

He opened the door of the car, waved at her, got in, turned the ignition, engaged the gear, checked the rear view mirror, reversed the car and drove out. She waved him back and in seconds, he was out of the premises.

Funny enough she felt relieved after the chat with him. He was as a sedative administered on her, which immediately sent her to sleep. She temporarily forgot about Rotimi. She liked the new acquaintance of hers she thought; he was a charming fellow she could tell. Most men would have asked for her phone number, address, or some kind of rendezvous but he did not. She wished she would come across him again. She had been healed by a note and a few encouraging words. She read the note, then reread it, and then neatly folded it and carefully tossed it into her bag. She stood up and left the restaurant.

As Femi drove off, he cursed his job for the first time. He had an opportunity to get to know her but his job would not permit. He knew she had a date, probably the man she came to the restaurant with months back. He really did not care; after all, he could not snatch her away from him even if he wanted to, because he would not match him financially. He was a beginner; they were long in the corporate world. He would have wanted to have her, at least as one of his platonic female friends. He preferred having female friends than male friends.  He believed that the more the male friends you acquired, the more trouble you roused. He really would have loved to have her as one.

He then focused back on getting to work on time. He checked his wristwatch and saw that it was already resumption time and he was still on the road and a good five minutes drive away from his office, if traffic was favorable.

Deborah and Femi did not meet again. On two occasions, she had gone to the restaurant hoping he would show up but he did not.  She did not have the fortitude to ask after him, so she virtually gave up on meeting him.

Her relationship with Rotimi was also back on track, as usual, he had bought a gift to pacify her and more money, after she had abruptly left his office the day she met the woman there. She was by now used to receiving money from him, to compensate her for spending very little time with her. She gladly accepted and saved most, spending very little, knowing the money saved would come handy someday.

Rotimi did not want any further scandals. His escapades with women and other vices were now carefully and covertly done. He wanted Deborah for something other than the usual flings he had with other women and so he was not ready to lose her. He had also introduced her to his parents as his lover, which he never did with the other women in his life. Her parents had also taken to him and he was very generous towards them. He knew they were not from a poor background and so he never gave cash to them. He did not want to insult her father’s uprightness. He channeled the cash towards Deborah and her younger siblings while he bought gifts such as expensive packet shirts and ties for her father, whom he knew, as a banker would cherish greatly and feminine apparels for her mother.

What they mostly looked forward to hearing from them was the day they would announce their intention to get married.

Deborah had the feeling that any moment Rotimi might pop the question. She also knew that she had somehow made it difficult for him to do just that by her nonchalant attitude towards the subject of marriage whenever it cropped up.

Her mother had severally asked her what kept him from asking her hand in marriage and she had answered her Mum saying that she had hinted him that she wanted to further her education, that marriage was not her priority; probably that was what held him.

 Her mother would ask, “What stops a married woman from going to school?”

“Mummy it’s not convenient being married and attending school, most especially when you are this young,” she would reply with a gesture referring to herself.

“My dear, I don’t think Rotimi is serious. If he were, he would have sorted the issue out properly with you and both of you would come to a compromise. Remember, my daughter, men like him do not remain single for long. Right now, I bet there are hundreds waiting for him to walk up to them and ask for their hand in marriage.”

“I bet there are Mum, but they are definitely not me.”

Whenever they had this discussion, it always ended that way. She would get annoyed and when her mother noticed she was getting edgy, she would skillfully switch topics.

A few weeks after the discussion she had with her mother over the marriage issue, Rotimi invited her for an evening out; after his return from England, from a seminar he attended.

They were in an exclusive restaurant. After the meal, as they chatted over a bottle of wine, he brought out the small case and gently slid it over to her. She took one hard look at the case and back at him.

“Open it,” he said.

She took the case and opened it. Glittering under the candle light was the most beautiful gold ring she had ever seen, it had a small light shining on it. On closer inspection, she saw it was some kind of stone carved on to it.

She looked up at him, as if waiting for him to explain the kind of stone it was. She had actually never set her eyes on real diamond and so she could not decipher a real diamond from an ordinary gem, instead all he said was, “would you marry me?”

She heard him right, for she had expected that question from him, but it still came as a shock to her. She looked at him with disbelief not able to utter a sound.

He remained calm and watched her, allowing her to assimilate what she just heard him say.

When she regained her composure, she said, “thank you for the ring, it is very beautiful. I never saw one as beautiful as this, but I am curious to know the kind of stone on this beauty I am holding.”

Rotimi was stunned; he did not know what to make of what she was asking. Was it that she did not hear what he just said? He still went ahead and told her. “Its diamond my dear Deborah,” he stressed her name and repeated its diamond.

“Thank you very much for the ring, its lovely, I love it, and yes, I will marry you.” Deborah said.

It was Rotimi who then expressed his surprise at her. He thought she had not heard him initially. “You will marry me,” he said to affirm what he just heard her say.

“Yes, Mr Rotimi Alabi, I will marry you.”

Rotimi stood up from his seat, went over to her and requested for the ring, which she gave back to him. When he collected the ring from her; as if she knew what he was about to do, she stretched forth her left hand and he placed the ring on her finger. He then bent low to give her a kiss on the cheek. He went back to his seat feeling already like a married man.

When he sat down, he said, “I guess we have to start making formal arrangements and all.” He started to blab on about the wedding proper, on how it was going to be grand, suits from here, bridal gown from there, which musician they were going to call and so on. When he noticed she was not as enthusiastic about all what he was saying, he paused, looked at her and a look of consternation appeared on his face.

“What is the matter,” he said?

“I would love to marry you Rotimi but I never said it would be tomorrow. I still feel I am too young to delve into marriage; moreover, I have to first complete my higher diploma. You never know tomorrow.”

“Is that all you are worried about?”

“Yes,” she said.

“We can work that out; you can go to school as a married woman, that way the hounds will keep away when they know you are married.”

“How about children then? That means I will have to put that on hold until after completion, because I definitely would not want to go into labour while writing an examination.”

That got him laughing.

“I can just imagine you with a protruding stomach walking to lecture halls. No, I know all these. We can wait for children until after all that,” Rotimi said.

“One more thing darling.”

“What is that?”

“I would not want to be a baby factory for anyone, neither your parents nor mine. Having children is our prerogative not theirs.”

“Precisely how many children would you want to have sweetheart?”

“Three, probably a fourth one can come when I get too lonely at home, and the other ones are a bit grown and never around me,” she said and smiled.

“Three is fine with me darling. The smaller, the better.”

They chatted some more before finally leaving the restaurant and heading home to break the news to their respective families.

CHAPTER THREE

The wedding as expected of a wealthy family was the talk of the town for weeks. The traditional wedding and the main wedding were held one after the other.

Deborah did not have much to say or do about the whole affair she was more as a puppet being paraded as a wife. Rotimi’s parents took care of the whole arrangement. Despite the fact that she did not keep much friends, she had an entourage of girls as her bridal train. Even her bridesmaid was one of Rotimi’s cousins.

The press gave the occasion its deserved coverage and clips of the wedding were aired on Television. As a wedding gift, Rotimi’s parents bought a car for her. The gifts she received on her wedding day were so many that they were transported in a van to Rotimi’s house.

They traveled to America for their honeymoon. It was her first time of traveling out of the country. She enjoyed every moment of it; she wished it would not end. She also wished the love; care and attention he showered her those two blissful weeks will continue until death do they part. She had the feeling that she would grow to love him and she vowed to make her family a happy one, when they settled down fully to marital life.

Femi was leafing through the pages of an old society magazine a client had brought to his office and forgotten when he saw her face staring at him from the glossy page he held.

He looked intently and immediately recognized her as the same woman he had spoken to some months back at the restaurant. She was wearing a wedding gown, and the man by her was the same man he had seen with her the first day he set eyes on her. Deborah she had called her name the second time he met her, he remembered vividly. He then ran his eyes through the column.

Lucky girl, you finally resolved your problems and got him hooked. What a beauty. I wish you marital bliss. Too bad I could not have you for myself he thought and continued to read the other sections of the magazine.

Deborah and Rotimi came back from honeymoon and Rotimi immediately went back to work. Deborah opened the gifts, sort and put them in their proper places. Those she did not need now she kept in the store.

The house was an elegantly built duplex with a spacious compound and a well-preserved garden, which gave a serene ambience. They had house helps in the form of a driver, a gateman, two security men and a house cleaner, altogether five in number.  They all lived at the boy’s quarters, except for the house cleaner that had a room in the main house.

She got the driver to teach her to drive with the utility vehicle before she started to use hers. She already knew the house helps during her courtship days with Rotimi.

It was as if Rotimi was trying to make up for the two weeks they traveled out of the country, he always came back home very late. She was always at home everyday with just satellite TV as company and Justina the house help to chat with sometimes. She was barely a month old in marriage and she had started getting bored. She knew it was wrong of her to visit her parents home frequently for it would seem as if she was still nostalgic, even though she was. She had to understand that her home was now with Rotimi and no longer with her parents.

She did not want to seem like a nag but she knew she had to find time to sit Rotimi down and discuss their future, hers in particular. She had to go back to school. That was the agreement they had before they married.

Two months of sitting at home had taken its toll on her. She did not have many friends except her school mates back at school then and so she hardly went out. Rotimi was never around. She never knew who his friends were, except the multitudes she saw on their wedding day and she could not decipher the well-wishers from his intimate friends.

Whenever he came back, he was so tired he just jumped onto bed and slept off, very early the next morning he was gone. Even their romantic life started to deteriorate.

The entry form for her school came out for the higher diploma courses and she bought one, filled and returned it.

She could not resist the urge to remain lonely so she decided to visit her mother at her shop.

Immediately her Mum saw her approach, she stood up to welcome her daughter and they hugged.

 “Deborah my daughter, because you are now married does not mean you are barred from coming home to see your mother.”

“I know Mummy; I just felt it would be too early to start running back home.”

“Nonsense my daughter. How can you say a thing like that?”

Both women went inside her shop to sit and chat. Deborah kept quiet for a while and her mother looked intensely at her and spoke.

“My daughter, marriage is not a bed of roses, there are difficulties at times; we just have to scale through them and grow stronger. So tell me my daughter. What is the problem?”

“Mummy, I have not had the opportunity of having a husband for weeks now. What I have is a bedmate that does not even perform the functions of one.”

Her mother looked at her with a worried look on her face and then asked, “What do you mean by that?”

“Rotimi comes back home everyday very late, jumps straight on bed, sleeps off like a log of wood, only to wake up very early the next morning and disappear.”

“Ah! It is too early for that. Have you talked to him about it?”

“When would I have the time to do that Mummy? Is it while he is asleep or where? You are not following me mummy. I have only our house helps for companion and probably cable TV too.”

“You have to talk to him Deborah. Wake him from that sleep or better still be adamant about talking to him before he jumps to bed.”

I tried that a few times, but all he says is why are we women so ungrateful. After all, he provides enough money to make me as comfortable as any woman could be. So, what more do I want from him, or do I want him to baby-sit me to the detriment of his work? I made him realize that he always made time for us when we where courting, why is the time no longer there. He would just shrug it off and tell me to stop being a nag and allow him get some sleep so he can wake up early the next day. Since then I have left him alone. I have purchased the form for admission to a higher diploma course Mum.

“What for?” Her mother asked

“To further my education of course.”

“To further your education!” her mother repeated.

“Yes, mummy”

“What happens to your marriage then?”

“Nothing mummy, before I married him, I told him I wanted to finish my higher diploma and he gave consent before I agreed to marry him. At that time, we also talked about delaying childbirth until I was through.”

“Hmm! You children of nowadays, what you do in the name of women liberation is worrisome.

Are you sure, that is not what is bothering him?”

“If it is, why doesn’t he speak out? After all, we discussed it before wedding. The way he is going about it, is it the best way to solve any problem if there is any at all?”

“I will discuss with your father when I get home and we shall see what can be done about it.”

“You wanted me to get married; now I am,” Deborah said sadly

“Don’t talk that way my daughter. As I said every marriage…”

She interrupted her mother.

“But, they ought to have at least some years or even months of marital bliss before they start having misunderstandings.”

“It does not work that way. You might have them now, so you would understand each other better in future.”

“Thank you for your words of advice mum. I guess I have to be on my way.”

“My daughter I did not offer you anything.”

“Have I now turned into a stranger that you will be offering me drinks when I come to your shop. If I wanted something I would have taken it from the fridge, you know that.”

“Why don’t you stay until evening time, when it is cool enough to move around?”

“I came with my car mum.”

“I see. Please try to talk things out with your husband. Make him understand you married him because you love him not because you expect him to keep you like some interior decoration.”

She smiled when her mother said that.

“You just hit the nail on the head Mum. I am an interior decoration, to be viewed when the owner so desires. Goodbye mum, please extend my greetings to Naomi, Esther and Ruth. Tell them I will come to take them out this weekend.”

“I will and please always come often to see me dear,” Mrs. Wilson said.

As she spoke, Deborah made her way out of the shopping plaza to where she parked her car. So much for money she thought. She felt so empty and unhappy inside of her; no wonder most rich men’s wives had affairs outside.

That weekend, on a Sunday after they had come back from Sunday service, they sat to have lunch. She decided to bring the topic up again.

“Rotimi, we have to talk.” It took her a lot of strength to speak up.

 “About what, Deborah. You always want to talk.”

“Rotimi, why did you marry me?”

 She asked the question with a force that startled him.

“What kind of question is that? You are asking me why I married you.”

“Yes, why did you marry me? Because I now feel more like an item in this house than your wife. We no longer spend quality time with each other; you use work as an excuse. As if it is not this same job you were doing before we got married.”

“What exactly do you want me to do Deborah?”

“I want you to behave as a husband does to a wife, show some love and affection.”

“I provide you with whatever you need, don’t I?”

“Yes, you do, but those are material things. The Rotimi I knew back then is not the same as the one I see in front of me right now. For Gods sake Rotimi, we have not even made love in weeks and you hardly noticed nor care.”

He looked downcast as if she had hit a sour point and then he blurted the words out, “I am sorry sweetheart,” he said.

She then picked that particular time to inform him about her plans to return to school.

“I have bought the form,” she said.

His countenance changed when she dropped the news.

“What form?”

“For admission to a higher diploma course.”

“Where is it?”

“I have submitted it already.”

“You bought the form and submitted it without telling me.”

“I bought the form over a month ago and submitted it; you never gave me a moment of your time. Remember we already discussed it before our wedding.”

He nodded in acknowledgement and then stood up. She asked him where he was going to and he said, “Out.”

“Can I come along?”

“No sweetheart, I…”

She did not allow him finish his statement, before completing it for him; “Have to meet some friends,” she said.

He did not comment, but noticed the sarcasm in her statement. He turned away from her, went to get his car keys and went out of the house.

She sat still for a while and wondered what had gone wrong. Probably he felt he had made a wrong move by marrying her. On the other hand she thought. What could be the problem? What is she not doing properly as a wife? She searched her brain trying to figure it out. Surely, they could work things out amicably, whatever the problem was if only he would just discuss it with her.

 She called Justina, who promptly came and cleared the dishes away from the dining table.

Her admission letter came. She showed it to him about three days after she received it on a Sunday and as usual, he showed no enthusiasm. He just said, “That is good. When do you start?”

“The new session begins next month. I have to go and pay my acceptance fee and start my registration,” she replied.

“Let me have the estimated bill when I get back from work tomorrow and I will make some funds available to cover your expenses.”

She showed it to him not because she wanted him to pay for her. She could afford the tuition fee. What she wanted from him was for him to share in her happiness but that was the least thing he had on his mind. All he ever thinks is providing money for this provide money for that.

 Well if he thinks that is what makes a man a loving husband, then let him continue to provide the money. She had started being inured to his behaviour.

By then, she had enough money in her savings account she stopped bothering to ask for her bank balance. The money held no more happiness for her; it was a kind of a reminder to the life she now lived. Money marriage she called it. She had never had any course to withdraw money, there was always money made available to her. If only she could buy love and happiness with the money, she would she asserted.

She finally resumed school. Platonic was not even a good enough word to describe her marriage now, because there was not even an iota show of affection from Rotimi except something he had to do perfunctorily. She concentrated on her schooling, while he faced his job. She sometimes accompanied him to occasions that required her presence as his wife. She never spoke to her mother again, about her marital misery and so her parents naturally assumed all was well with them.

Rumours of his affairs with women started to render the air. She knew them to be true, but she never said anything about it to him, since she never caught him and he was covert about them. Some times she caught whiffs of feminine perfumes on him, when he came back home.

Deborah took solace in her schoolwork. She made some friends at school but never had anyone intimate. It was close to lunchtime and she felt like having a snack. She decided to go to the eatery where she had first dined with Rotimi. She had been there on few occasions since she resumed school but not because she hoped to come across Femi but to unwind and mope over her matrimonial problems.

Due to workload, Femi found less time to visit his usual eatery for lunch. Most times, he tried going, but he normally got back late to work due to traffic congestion. That afternoon he had gone out on an official assignment so he decided to branch out and have lunch before resuming back to work. He had almost two and a half hours of free time to himself.

He parked his official car outside the building and walked in exchanging greetings with the staffs. Some made comments about his infrequent visits these days and he answered simply, “work my dear, work.” He asked if Lola the manageress was around and was told that she went out, but would be back soon. He ordered his lunch, took it to a table and sat. He was in no hurry to leave, since he had enough time to himself that day.

Deborah arrived at La Capitano, parked her car and strolled in. She went straight to the sales counter and ordered her meal, collected it and made her way to the table she liked to sit at. As she approached the table, she sighted him and involuntarily stopped midway. Her heart skipped and her knees buckled under her feet. He was a few tables away from where she intended sitting.  He had not seen her and she took that opportunity to admire him. He had this boyish look about him. He smiled as he ate as if he had no problems in the world. She was about to move on when he saw her.

He recognized her instantly and waved her, then beckoned her to come over and join him. As if he had a hold over her, she walked straight to his table, meanwhile thinking of how she was going to let him know she was married in case he developed funny ideas about attempting to woo her.

When she arrived at his table, he said, “hi”.

She replied his greeting and sat down, displaying her hand conspicuously so he would see the wedding ring on her fingers.

“It’s been quite a while Madam,” Femi said.

The way he called her Madam made her feel very old.

“Yes, it has been,” she concurred.

“Almost three or is it four months now and you have not changed one bit.”

She was surprised at his statement. How was she supposed to change in months? He saw the puzzled look on her face.

“They say when a woman gets married she adds a little weight because someone else starts thinking for her.”

How did he know she was married? Well, the tabloids did carry her wedding. Maybe that was how he knew. He kept on talking as she started to take bites from her snacks.

“I guess you worked it out then,” Femi said.

She looked up at him and saw in his eyes that despite the fact that this fellow was a stranger; somehow, she felt she could unburden herself to him. She really needed to talk to somebody about what she was going through and as if he read her thoughts, he said, “its not what you expected from it, is it?”

That got her amazed. Is this guy clairvoyant or what? She thought.

She was about to take a bite off her meat pie when she paused on hearing his last statement.

“Madam, I am sorry; it’s just that I always express my feelings the way I see them,” he said.

“Please feel free to express them. After all, as you rightly said, they are your feelings.”

 That was the first statement she made after exchanging pleasantries.

 “Are you not rushing off to work today, because you seem quite relaxed?” She said trying to change the subject.

“No madam, I have enough time today to listen to you.”

“Listen to me?”

“Yes. If you don’t open up to someone, you would be bugged up with it inside of you and that hurts more.”

“Please, Mr...”

“Femi, Femi Davies,” he said.

“All right Mr Davies, please cut out the madam stuff, it makes me feel like an old woman.”

“All right madam, I will cut it out if you call me Femi.”

 Deborah took a glaring look at him and then said okay.

“So, Deborah, lay it on me.”

“How is it that you still remember my name?” Deborah asked.

“I never forget the name of a beautiful woman. Most especially one as gorgeous as you are, my apologies to him.”

“Apologies to whom?”

“Your husband of course.”

“Why?”

“For making such compliments behind him.”

And that gave her the opportunity to ask him.

 “How did you know I was married?”

“A client brought a magazine to my office about a month ago and I was flipping through it when I saw your picture.”

“I have been married for months now.”

“Yeah, I know. It was an old edition; I just used it to kill boredom while I was less busy.” He paused a while then continued. “I am sorry to say this Deborah, but you are not cut out for his world.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you want it rough or smoothened?”

“Now you are getting me more confused.”

“Do you want me to say it as I see it in black and white?”

She nodded.

“I assume you are from a humble background and he from a wealthy home, silver spooned from birth. He has his craves and indulgences, whims and caprices which you certainly are not into, considering your family background. Naturally, every woman wants the good things of life. Most, to the detriment of the four-letter word, ‘LOVE’.” He pronounced the letters separately.

“In your case, you want it not because you have avarice for money. However, naturally you wanted comfort, now you find out that you cannot have your cake and eat it.”

“What are you trying to say Femi?”

“I am saying my dear woman. You lack love in your life despite the money and comfort which you have now found out not to be of any importance in your life.”

Femi looked at his wristwatch. It was fast approaching his check out time.

She saw him check his wristwatch and knew probably it was time for him to leave and somehow she felt so at ease with him she wanted him to stay longer.

“Are you about to leave?” She asked.

“Not yet, it’s just that I have to drive back to the island.”

“Where do you work?” she asked

He brought out his complimentary card and handed one to her. She read it.

“Can I have this?” she said after reading it.

“Yeah”. How about you, what do you do? Wait let me guess. You either run a supermarket, a boutique or just a rich husband’s housewife.”

Deborah looked at him not knowing whether to take the last suggestion as a mockery or not, but she noticed he said it innocently then she answered, the latter and school.

“Oh, you are in school. That’s nice!”

“Yes, trying to complete my higher diploma.”

“And how are you coping with the vultures?” he asked.

“No problem really. I can handle them fine.”

“How is he taking it?”

 By that, she knew he meant her husband.

“Actually, he does not give a damn whether I am in school or not.” She had already spoken before realizing what she said. She then tried to correct herself. “I meant that he does not…”

“Deborah,” he said. “You don’t have to explain your statements to me. View me as an elder brother and feel free to chat with me about your problems. I have to leave you now because I see I have not allowed you to enjoy your meal. Maybe some other time we will have enough time to chat. You have my number; call me when you need a listening ear.”

He stood up and as he was about to leave he said, “Thanks for keeping my company. I look forward to seeing you again.” He said goodbye and left her alone. She replied and waved him as he left the restaurant.

After he left, her appetite suddenly came back and she knew within her that this was to be the beginning of a friendship between her and Femi. He made her feel very comfortable and she wished she had opened up to him completely. Something told her she could count on him as a friend. She then made her mind up to call him later.

As Femi was about to enter his car, Lola drove in. he waited for her to park her car before approaching her.

“Hi, lovely,” he said and she gave him a smile.

“Hi, handsome. What is happening? We hardly see you these days.”

“I was looking for work, now I have found it and that same work now keeps me enslaved.”

“Well, it’s the money we are all after, to keep body and soul together. How are the babes? Hope they are not distracting you so much now that you are a big boy.”

“Not really, I manage to keep them in check.”

“Anyone special yet?” Lola asked.

“Not yet, but I promise you, you will be the first to know when she comes along.”

“I surely will love to know the woman that will enthrall you.”

“There is one that ought to have, but I lost her to a rich man.”

“Wow! You mean your charm did not work on her.”

“Nope. I never got the chance to charm her at all, and as I speak, she is in there dining.” He pointed at the restaurant. “Remember the day I came to your office a while back and shouted when I came out that she was gone.”

Lola nodded and said, “Yes, I do remember.”

“Well if you walk in right now, she is sitting at my usual table. In case she is no longer sitting there when you get in, she is dressed in a blue denim jean trouser with a white tee shirt, she also has braids on as her hairdo and lastly she is the most beautiful human being in there right now.”

“Really!” Lola said.

“Yeah, just Let me know when next I see you if she is not the bomb. I have to skip babe, see you.”

He excused himself, walked back to his car, got in and drove out of the premises. She watched him walk away wondering how they had managed to remain platonic friends despite their closeness. She knew if he had asked her out, she would have gladly accepted. She shook her head, smiled about her lust for him and went in.

Deborah watched the scene from inside. She had seen Lola drive in, Femi walk over to her, the chat, Femi pointing at the building while still chatting and then walking away. She could not place the woman’s face but she knew she had seen it somewhere.

Immediately Lola walked in she glanced around and her eyes met Deborah’s. She smiled as she moved towards her. When she got to where Deborah sat, she said hello, Deborah replied and then she introduced herself.

“I am Lola Shadipe the manageress.”

She extended her hand for a handshake with Deborah.

“I am Deborah Wilson,” she replied as she received the handshake.

 Lola spoke on. “I know somebody whose comments I hold in high esteem and he says that you are the most beautiful soul in the restaurant right now and I am afraid I must concur with him. You sure are very beautiful. Enjoy your meal,” she said and was about to walk away when Deborah said, “Please thank him for the compliments.”

She stopped on her track and replied, “I never said a he said so.”

“Women don’t normally pass such comments on each other,” Deborah replied.

“I guess so. Anyway, if I do see him again I will tell him you said thanks. If you will please excuse me, I have to get back to work,” Lola said and left Deborah.

She watched Lola leave. She knew Femi passed the comment. They were probably good friends she thought. She stood up and left the table, her snacks barely half-eating.

On her way back to school, she thought seriously about her matrimonial home. She knew love no longer existed between her and her husband, not like it was ever really there but she sincerely wanted to salvage her marriage, but Rotimi’s behaviour was making it impossible for her. She was very confused and she needed sound counseling and advice on what to do.

As Femi drove back to work, he wondered why most women always go for the false facade money builds around most men. Why they could not remove their eyes from materialism and focus on building a relationship that would last a lifetime. He wondered why such a young woman as Deborah would rush into marriage only to start experiencing marital agony at such an early stage. He felt sympathetic towards her. He wished there was a way he could help alleviate her anguish. On the other hand, she was a married woman, getting too friendly with her might be misconstrued. Well, if she asks for his advice and a shoulder to lean on, he would be there for her. He would act as a big brother. He smiled, stretched and tilted himself towards the rear view mirror, then whispered at the face staring back at him from the mirror. “You have a soft spot for her”. He then focused his attention back on the looming traffic jam ahead of him.

News of Rotimi’s escapades with women started filtering into the columns of soft sell magazines. He was constantly rumored to attend wild parties with women flocking around him. He never seemed to notice her anymore. She could not bare it any longer and she had to confide in her mother once again.

Her mother discussed the issue with her father and they made up their mind to meet with Rotimi to hear his side of the story. They called him and told him they would be visiting him that weekend at his home. She had told them the only day he would be available was a Sunday and so they made an appointment for Sunday afternoon. On the said day, they came. After dining, they all sat down to a round table discussion. Her father brought up the subject matter.

“Rotimi my son, it was with great joy and euphoria when I received the news of your marriage proposal to my daughter Deborah.” Rotimi’s countenance changed and he brazed up for whatever comments Deborah’s father might utter.

“I am not one to jump into conclusions until I have heard both sides of a story. My daughter made me or rather us,” he looked briefly at his wife and continued, “Believe that all is not well between both of you. Is that a fact?”

Rotimi kept silent for a while, glanced towards Deborah before he spoke.

“Sir, I do not have any reason to believe that any disagreement whatsoever is going on between your daughter and me, or that any is brewing so far.”

Deborah’s father turned to his daughter; meanwhile her mother watched the unfolding drama, she knew within her that things were not well. She could see it in her daughter’s eyes.

“Deborah,” her father called. “Can you repeat what you told us again in front of your husband?”

Deborah sat up from her reclining position on the sofa and with tears, almost welling up on her eyes spoke.

 “Daddy, Mummy it was not my intention to bring it up to your notice but I had to. Rotimi and I have been living in this house for months, more like refined enemies, except for that, we have a kind of unwritten agreement to speak to each other. He treats me like a leper even in the bedroom.”

Rotimi interrupted her with an outburst. “You said you did not want children, and what is marriage all about if not to raise children and have a family. You chose your school over us.”

 Deborah interrupted. “I told you before we got married that I wanted to complete my education and you agreed.”

“What the hell for? After all, there is enough money to take care of your needs.”

“It’s not all about the money Rotimi. We discussed it and you agreed. You never said a child was the problem, you just shut me out of your life, and then you go around with all sorts of women.” He looked at her and she continued. “Yes, do you think I don’t know? I just kept quiet and allowed you to indulge in them, if that is what you wanted.”

Her parents watched the both of them as they exchanged words. Her Mum nudged her father to stop them but he allowed them to express themselves oblivious of their presence, while trying to construe certain points from their statements.

 “You think dropping money for my upkeep is what makes me happy? How about love, attention and other things that make couples stick together,” Deborah said.

“You know how work is Deborah. If the money were not there, you would complain. Are you willing to exchange comfort and luxury for companionship?”

“Yes, Rotimi, yes I will.”

“I am sorry if you feel that way, but I cannot baby sit you and neglect the bank. I have also conceded to you the time you will spend at school, maybe after then we can be a happy family and you can do what comes natural to you as a woman, make babies.”

Mr Wilson coughed to attract attention and they both stopped talking. Everywhere was once more quiet. He cleared his voice and spoke.

“Rotimi my son I am not here to take sides with either you or Deborah but I have to let you know that every marriage has its downturns. Good communication, patience and understanding are the keys to a healthy married life and I can see all is lacking between you two. Rotimi, I have been a banker for decades but I have been able to sustain a family life, so has your father. May be your generation and ours are distinct, but certain basic principles still have to be adhered to in marriage.” He turned to his daughter.

“I guess you both did not come to a logical conclusion about what you wanted before getting married. Well you are both married now and have to both sit down and iron your differences out like matured adults. It is unwise for third parties, even though they might be parents, to always come and settle disputes for their children. I must tell you, it is unhealthy. Therefore, I suggest you both try to understand each other and live happily. You both still have many years ahead of you. Please try to make amends and work things out. If you would not mind, we have to be on our way home.”

Rotimi thanked them for making time to come visiting. They saw both of them off to their car and they left.

Immediately they left, Rotimi turned right away and walked briskly back into the house. Deborah followed him taking her strides calmly.

As she was approaching the living room, she saw him swinging the key to his car. She knew he was on his way out; her parent’s intrusion had destabilized his plans for the day. She asked him where he was going. His answer did not surprise her because she expected such from him.

“You went and reported me to your parents so they can come and whip me, or what?”

“If you had listened to me, it will not have resulted to that. You use our not having children as a reason for your behaviors. Rotimi, Long before that, you exhibited your traits, even while we were dating, but I was too blind to notice then. Now that I am your wife you behave how you feel, when all we need to do is have a little patience and then everything will be all right.”

“Deborah, if you want everything to be all right. Drop out of school and get pregnant.” Rotimi said.

Deborah stared at him intently and replied. “Darling if I decide to do that, who will get me pregnant? Is it you that hardly notices me on bed or Angel Gabriel? Secondly, do you really believe that quitting school and getting pregnant is the solution to this problem? I thank you very much for your selfish advice, I will think about it. Have a nice time with your women, darling,” she said sarcastically as she turned away from him and casually walked away towards the staircase and into their room.

This time he was the one that got the shock. He least expected her to react the way she did. He watched her ascend the staircase until she was out of sight. He stood still minutes after she left him not knowing what to make of her statements. He then hissed and walked out of the door to his car and drove out.

When Deborah got into the room, she sat at the edge of the bed for a while, and then she lay on the bed, and then brought her two hands locked in each other to rest over her face palms facing the ceiling for a while deep in thoughts.

She resolved to call Femi the following week. She needed someone to talk to; her parents were out of the question now, they held no clue as to how to solve her problems. She also knew that going to his parents was out of the question. Somehow, she felt, probably this stranger might hold the key to happy moments.

She stayed in that position and unconsciously went into fantasy. She imagined herself happily married to her loving husband. They had three children and were on a holiday by the waterfalls on a lovely spot. Her children strolled off and she was with her husband when he suddenly grabbed her from behind and kissed her hair. She raised her hands up over her shoulders to touch him by the nape of his head as he kissed her all over. She was getting excited. She wore a smile on her face and felt on top of the world. She closed her eyes as they kissed. She turned to face her husband eyes closed still in each other’s arm.

The sound of their children approaching made them put a stop to their romance and as she opened her eyes to look at the loving face of her husband, the face that stared back at her shocked her and that jolted her out of her reverie which made her open her eyes.

She looked around her and immediately realized that she was daydreaming. She did not know what to make of it. The face that stared back at her was that of Femi, a man she barely knew and not that of Rotimi her real husband.

She turned her face towards the wall where the wall clock hung. It was almost six p.m., which meant she had been lying down for over an hour. She clutched the quilt on the mattress and then let go of it as if it was the cause of her woes. Despite her hard stance and resolve not to allow her precarious situation get to her, she broke down completely and allowed the tears to flow freely from her eyes unhindered down to the bed.

After a while, she sat up, wiped her eyes with the back of her right hand, stood up and said softly, “Rotimi you will not succeed in wearing me out. Instead, I would leave you and get on with my life.” She took her handbag and her car keys, checked her purse to make sure she had some money in it, and then she opened the door and walked out of the room. She was hungry and she felt like going out for a snack.

CHAPTER FOUR

 Much as she needed a friend to confide her problems in, she found it difficult to call Femi. She did not know how he would feel or view her if she called him.

In the home front, her relationship with her husband deteriorated to the extent that all they did was greet each other. Rotimi was hardly around. Even the Sundays that he usually spent some time, he was never at home except to sleep.

She had decided during the week to take her juniors out that weekend to her usual eatery. She went to her parent’s home to pick them and they went out.

Femi was at the restaurant having a pleasant time. He sat outside by the garden to relax since it was a cool evening and sipped from the pack of Don Simon juice he bought.

He was watching the activities outside; families came and left with their loved ones. He thought of what he was missing not having a lover. He knew how difficult it was for him to take a liking to most of the women around him; they did not meet his taste. His affair with most of them was platonic.

At that moment the car breezed into the compound; he took a casual glance at the occupants in the vehicle as the car parked and then he removed his gaze to focus his attention on some other scene, still pondering over his non-existent romance life.

Deborah parked the car. Her siblings came down and waited for her.

Femi focused his attention back on the occupants of the car that just came in. He saw the girls come out and wait for someone in the car. Probably their mother he thought as he saw that the person had a feminine hairdo on and wondered what must be keeping her in the vehicle.

Deborah was not used to driving with her shoes on. She normally took them off and put them back on whenever she got to her destination. She felt more comfortable driving bare-footed; except when she had sneakers on.

When she came out of the vehicle, Femi was surprised to see that she was the one. His heart skipped a bit. If he had taken a good look at the eldest of the three girls initially, he would have noticed the semblance between her and Deborah.

 As beautiful as Deborah and was dressed in jean trousers and a body-hugging blouse with a nice shoe to match and so were the other younger girls with them. They must all be her sisters he assumed. They were already approaching the entrance. If she had looked his way, she would have seen him but she did not. It was her younger sisters that saw him instead. As the door attendant opened the door for them to walk in, the sister took another glance at where he sat and walked into the building. He would give them sometime to settle down with their meals before going in to say hello to them he reasoned.

Deborah and her siblings ordered their meal. The sales people served them and they carried their respective trays to an available table. Her usual table was taken. As it was a Sunday, many people were in, spending quality time with their families and loved ones.

As they sat down to eat and chat, Naomi, Deborah’s immediate younger sister spoke.

“Debby.” which was how her sisters normally referred to her, “did you notice that man staring at us as we came in?”

Her sister immediately reproved her.

“What man, Naomi? Is that what you do at school? Notice every man staring at you. You have to ignore them; men will always stare at anything in skirts. Its lust for your body they are after not love.”

 “Debby, I don’t think he was looking at me; it was you he was staring at. I noticed the intense gaze.”

“Naomi cut that subject out,” Deborah rebuked her; “do you want to corrupt Esther and Ruth? Please allow them to enjoy their meal.”

The two younger girls giggled at their eldest sister’s remark. Who were they going to corrupt they thought. They were both high school leavers and they had boyfriends.

Outside the building, Femi allowed them precisely twenty minutes by the count on his wristwatch before he stood up, drained the remainder of his juice while standing, dropped the pack on the table and approached the main entrance to the restaurant. The door attendant opened the door for him.

As he got in, he paused, looked around and saw where they sat. Ruth who sat facing the entrance first sighted Femi and called Deborah’s attention to him.

“Sister Debby, the man Naomi was talking about is now in the building.”

“Which man?” Deborah asked. “Are you also into noticing men?”

Deborah and Naomi had their backs to the entrance, so they could not see Femi approaching.

“Sister Debby,” Ruth spoke in hushed tone. “We saw him when we got down from the car; he was really staring at us. He is coming towards us now.” About then Deborah and Naomi turned their heads simultaneously.

“Don’t turn; don’t turn sister Debby or he will know we are talking about him,” Ruth said.

Her comments were belated because Deborah started smiling when she saw Femi. Naomi was a bit puzzled as she noticed a kind or recognition on her sister’s face. She kept still until Femi got to their table.

“Well, well, I see you got here a family of beauties,” Femi said, as he hovered over the table. Deborah still wore her smile as she greeted him.

“Hello, Femi.”

“Hi, Deborah.”

The other sisters greeted him and he responded.

“Hello ladies. I am most pleased and honoured to be amongst this setting. May I join your table he asked?”

“Of course,” Deborah answered and he slid onto the seat occupied by Ruth and Esther. Naomi watched in amazement wondering where her sister had met this handsome man. She felt that since her sister was married he would be interested in her. She nudged her sister for an introduction. Deborah smiled and heeded.

“Femi, meet my siblings, beside me is Naomi my immediate younger one, Ruth is by you, and then Esther the youngest of the family. Girls meet Femi;” she paused, because she did not know exactly how to introduce him. Femi noticed her dilemma and bailed her out.

“I am Femi Davies; a friend of your Sis.” He shortened the word.

They said they were happy to meet him. He did not waste time in asking about her husband and that calmed any misgivings her sisters might have about him.

“He is fine, he went out and I decided to bring my younger ones here for a nice time, and here we are.”

“That is very thoughtful of you; he then directed his attention at Naomi. Hello pretty,” he said, Naomi blushed, as he spoke on. “I believe you are a student and in school. Which of them if I may ask?”

“I am in my first year at the Lagos State University.”

He turned to the other girls then said “Jambites” I presume; they nodded, and then went back to “Deborah, how are you coping with studies?”

“I am doing okay, a little stress here and there, but I am managing to cope.”

Femi enlivened the atmosphere for the women. The sisters took a liking for him instantly. He cracked jokes as they became properly acquainted. He made her forget her matrimonial problems temporarily. He spent close to an hour chatting before telling them that he had to leave, because he had been at the eatery for a long time. They were sorry to see him leave. He told them that someday he would ask their sister to invite them again so they could spend some time together.

He stood up and as he was about to leave, Deborah seized the opportunity to escort him out. She told her sisters to wait for her while she saw him off.

When they got outside, she told him that she had thoroughly enjoyed the evening and would love to see him again. He saw the expression on her face and knew something was amiss and asked.

“Are things okay with both of you?” She kept silent for a while before shaking her head.

“I thought as much he said. You should not have been here alone with your sisters if things were smooth; it should have been you, him, and them, or just both of you. I told you to call me when you needed a listening ear.  Maybe you do not trust me enough to divulge sensitive information about your marital life, or is it because I am still a bachelor and you feel I would not have the least idea about matrimony.”

“It’s not that Femi. It’s just that…

He did not allow her to finish her statement. “All right then. Call me within the week and let me know when you feel like talking, even if it is a weekday, I will take an excuse duty from work.”

“No. You cannot do that, Femi.”

“Try me. I really have to get going. Please do call me.”

She saw that he did not move towards any car.

“Where is your car? She asked.

“You mean my official car, because I don’t have a car of my own. I came on foot,” he said and before she could ask why, he told her. “I live within the neigbourhood, so I normally walk down here on weekends. Some kind of light exercise, you know. See you and take care of yourself.”

He moved away from her walking backwards and then turned when he was a few meters away from her. She watched him for some minutes and as she was about to turn away, he turned around again still walking backwards and waved her. She waved back at him. He turned again, backing her and then raised his hands up over his shoulders and waved again, this time his hands facing forward as if he was waving someone in front of him.

 She smiled and waved back even though he could not see her and then went back into the building still smiling and shaking her head slightly. How he breathed life into her she thought as she approached her table.

    Immediately she got back to her table and sat down Naomi asked, Debby, who is that guy?

A good friend she answered back curtly, her tone suggesting to Naomi that she would not entertain further questions about Femi. Naomi kept quiet temporarily, knowing she would enquire about him some other time from her sister. Once more, the sisters had time to themselves.

As Femi trekked home, he kept pondering over Deborah’s case. How could she have blindly allowed herself get into such mess marrying such a man. She should have known better. Most of these super rich kids were spoilt brats and only their peers; spoilt rich girls could match their indulgences, if at that they, many still never made good couples.

Deborah sat with her sister’s absentmindedly. Her thoughts were on how she would open up to Femi. Should she tell him everything or just what she felt he should know? Naomi noticed her sister was no longer with them in essence and she spoke.

“Debby is something the matter?” Deborah was so entranced in deep thoughts she did not hear her sister. Naomi had to tap her lightly on the shoulder and ask again.

“Debby, what is bothering you? You don’t seem yourself.”

She woke from her pensiveness to watch her sisters staring at her and smiled. She did not want to make her sisters worry over her. She assured them nothing was wrong and they went back to chatting.

They sat at the eatery a while longer, after which she went and bought some items to be made into takeaway for her parents, before they finally left at about nine in the evening. She took them back home, not bothering to get down from the car to go in and greet her parents. She bade her sister’s goodbye and drove back home.

On her way home, she wished she could just sleep in her parent’s home, in her room, on her bed and be as happy as she was before she got married, but now it was not possible. She had to go back to that big melancholic house and remain lonely and estranged.

She woke up the next day; long after Rotimi had gone to work. He must have come back very late the previous night. She was fast asleep and did not notice his presence until when he woke up this morning. She had gotten used to sleeping on her side of the bed and making sure that she kept to her side.

It was not as if she was sound asleep after he woke up. She was not in the mood for even a perfunctory greeting, so she pretended as if she was still asleep as he went about preparing for work.

When Deborah stood up from bed, she said her prayers and went to the lavatory to ease her bowels from all the junk food she took the previous day and then took her shower. She got dressed and went downstairs to prepare breakfast. As she was preparing breakfast, Justina her house girl came into the kitchen and volunteered to prepare it for her. She told her to leave it and continue with her chores. She liked to fry her eggs herself, for only she knew the quantity of oil she used and the right amount of pepper and salt.

After eating, she went back upstairs for her books and car key. When she got outside, the driver was about wiping the water away from her car, so she waited a while longer for him to finish up before finally leaving for school.

At about one that afternoon she had no lectures so she decided to call Femi. She sat in her car away from any form of distraction and dialed his number.

Femi was in his office when the call came through. He picked his phone checked the number, but it was an unknown number before answering.

“Hello, Transcorp communications. Femi Davies on the line, how may I help you?”

Deborah was first stunned at his answer, and then she quickly realized that he did not have her number. He had never asked and she never offered to give him.

“Hi, Femi it’s me,” she said.

When Femi had the feminine voice, his tone changed. “Hello madam, your voice sounds familiar but I would really appreciate it if you could throw a name at me.”

“Do you happen to know any Mrs. Deborah Wilson Alabi?” The sound of the word Mrs. infuriated her as she said it.

“Ah! That Mrs. I definitely know. Hello Deborah, how are you today? I am sorry I did not recognize your voice. It’s because it’s my first time of hearing it over the phone.”

“I am also sorry for not bothering to give you my number,” Deborah replied. “How is work today?”

“Fine,” he answered. “Are you at school?”

“Yes. Right now, I am sitting in my car. I don’t have lectures right now. And you?”

“Sitting in my office, thinking about what to do to kill my lunch hour.”

“How about lunch this afternoon then. I will foot the bill?”

“I doubt it; I will not be able to make it. Before I get out of this place, drive out and get back, my lunchtime will be over. How about Wednesday then, I will be free almost all day. I have an outdoor assignment and I don’t necessarily have to resume back to the office if I so wish. Would that be fine with you?”

“That would be splendid,” Deborah said.

I am sorry I cannot make it today. Don’t worry; I will make it up to you by buying instead.

“No, no. I am asking you out. I will foot the bill,” Deborah replied.

“All right ma, if you say so. Wednesday it shall be then. I will call you to let you know when I am through with my clients. I presume this is your number.”

“It is.”

“I will store it then. Take care “Mon Ami” and fret less, lest you age faster.”

“I will not,” Deborah replied.

“Is that a promise?”

“Yes.”

“Bye for now then, I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday. Please come with enough cash, because I am a very difficult person to please. An epicurean to be precise,” Femi said.

“A what?” She asked not understanding the meaning of the word he said.

“One who enjoys fine food and drink, he explained, and good things don’t come cheap ‘Senorita’,” he said.

“Oh, that. Anyway thanks for warning me in advance; I will remember to come along with a bullion van filled to the brim with enough dough to satisfy your appetite.”

They laughed over her statement, said byes and she ended the conversation.

After the line went dead, Femi reclined on his swivel chair; put his feet on his table towards the edge so as not to disturb the laptop on the table. He started to think about Deborah’s situation.

 Evidently, her marriage was not blissful. She felt trapped in it and she did not know how to go about salvaging it. Had she tried to talk with her husband to solve their differences or was he the unyielding type? Probably they never loved each other and both had different reasons for getting married. He was not bothered about her husband’s reasons for getting married to her. He probably wanted a woman he could keep at home and still have his fun outside; it was hers that bothered him mostly. Was it because of his wealth? She did not look like the type who would be after riches. She was not from a poor home, so what prompted her rushing into marriage is what he could not fathom. Why could she not wait to finish her studies before getting married?

He sat all through lunch pondering over her issue. Well, that, he would know soon enough when she explained what she was really going through. A knock on the door jerked him back to life and away from his thoughts.

“Come in,” he said. One of the workers came in with some documents. He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost fifteen minutes past his lunch break hour and he got down to work.

Deborah felt a little relieved after the phone call, it was as if her burden had been lifted away by mere booking a lunch date with him. Why did she always feel this way whenever she spoke or came across Femi? He was a likeable fellow, but that was no reason for her to feel euphoric about a meeting with him. Ordinarily she should have felt awkward at the idea of a rendezvous with a bachelor considering the fact that she was a married woman. Instead, she felt happy without inhibition and looked forward to meeting him.

Surprisingly she woke up very early on Wednesday at about the same time as her husband. They greeted as usual and went about their normal routines, he preparing for work and her for school. She was in a very good mood that morning and it radiated all over her. She even spoke to him as if they had a good rapport and all was well between them. He was also surprised at her that morning. He answered some of her casual questions about work and the current economic situation in the country. He had a feeling something was up and probably she wanted to ask him something nasty but she gave no indications as to such. It was when he announced his departure and she bade him goodbye that he felt at ease and quickly walked out of the room before her disposition changed.

She also noticed that her good moods put him off. So, you want me to be upset so that you will feel comfortable around me she thought. She then murmured, if that is what you want dear husband, your wish will never be granted in Jesus name, Amen. I intend to be as happy as I can be; have a lovely day as I intend to she said, as if he was still in the room with her as she went about preparing for school.

It was almost three p.m. and she thought he was not going to make it again since he had not called by then. She was once tempted to call his number, but after dialing, while she was being connected, she ended the call.

She had one more lecture for the day, but she did not care to attend because she knew she would not be able to concentrate. She was also very hungry because she only took little cornflakes that morning in anticipation of a heavy lunch in the afternoon.

Femi knew Deborah would have given up on him calling. He did not expect to be engaged until that time. His clients were very meticulous and they took time in accomplishing the business they were transacting. At about thirty minutes past three, they were through and immediately he walked out of their office, he put a call through to her.

Deborah got into her car started it and drove off the school campus. She still had to eat, Femi or not.

Her phone rang as she was on her way to the restaurant. She fumbled for her bag, opened it and answered the phone without checking to see who was calling.

“Please forgive me,” he said. “I have been tied up with some clients since morning; I just came out of their office. I had to skip an offer of lunch with them.”

 How could she be angry with him when she was really looking forward to the meeting and she smiled?

 “Don’t worry about paying the bills; I will pay if the lunch date still stands,” he said.

“It does if you still want it, and as I said, I am footing the bill. My bullion van is right behind me, as I drive,” Deborah said.

“Are you driving?”

“Yeah.”

“I will be on my way to the restaurant now. I will drive the James Bond style and meet you there in a moment.”

“Please Femi, drive normally so when we meet, you would still be able bodied.”

“All right, I will still drive like ‘James Bond’ in Femi’s style.”

“I believe that should mean carefully,” Deborah said.

You just scored a hundred points Senorita. See you,” he said.

She was glad she would not be dining alone after all.

Femi arrived some minutes after Deborah. He walked into the restaurant and immediately sighted her where she sat. She waved him on as she saw him. When he got to her table, he gave her a bow and said, I am deeply sorry for any inconvenience my delay might have caused your highness. Forgive thy humble servant. It shall never happen again.

 She smiled and answered, “You are forgiven, but if thou make it happen again, I shall see to it that thy head is dismembered from thy body, slowly, So that ye shall feel such excruciating pains, ye shall beg to die.”

“Yes, your majesty. May I take a sit your majesty for your noble servant is famished?”

“You may, if it so pleases you.”

“Thank you, your highness,” he said and sat down and they had a good laugh.

 “I ate very little this morning in anticipation of a good lunch and I am famished now Femi.”

 “What would you eat so I can go and get it?” Femi asked.

“Remember I am paying Femi.”

“Yes, I know you are.”

She told him what she wanted, brought out some money and gave it to him. He went away to get their meals. As he left, she admired him from where she sat; he was so full of vigor. In minutes, he came back with hers and left again to get his.

When he came back, he slid the change back to her and they sat down to eat in silence. During the course of the meal, they exchanged glances and winked at each other as if they were kids and she enjoyed every moment of it.

 Immediately after the meal Femi said, “Hit me.”

“Hit you! I don’t understand what you mean,” she said sounding confused.

“I said hit me with what has been bothering you these past months.”

“Oh! That you mean. What a funny way to say it.”

 Before she spoke, she breathed in and he reclined as she told him everything, right from how she met Rotimi until as they both now sat in the restaurant. He listened intently; not obstructing her until she was through and then he asked her a question she least expected him to ask.

“Why did you marry him? Don’t tell me you loved him or thought you did, because it is evident from your statements that there was not an iota of love in you for him when you agreed to marry him.”

She was silent for a while, and then she answered truthfully. “I never loved him but I thought I could grow to love him. In that, you are right. As for why I married him. Hmm! She exclaimed, it was not really because of his money but what I thought the money could accomplish.”

“Such as?”

“You know, comfort, material wealth and so on.

“Now that you have the comfort and so on, why are you still groaning? Or rather what more do you want?”

“Femi, now you are beginning to sound as him.”

“I am not sounding like anyone, I am trying to reason the way he views you. You wanted comfort, money, status and you got it, then you want to be pampered, cuddled and loved. You cannot have your cake and eat them at the same time Deborah.”

 What you are going through is the same thing most women in very wealthy homes go through; some learn to take it as they see it. They console themselves with the money, status and comfort that come with it, at the expense of the love they thought they could get and lead on their lives, while obstinate ones like you suffer heartaches, because they do not want to compromise. The men know it and so do the women. That is the world of the rich, they pick at will and with their wealth backing them up and they always get what they want. The women are just figureheads; you either join them or beat a retreat. What will it be, Deborah?”

“Femi, are you telling me that what Rotimi is doing is right?”

“Nope, I never said that. What I meant was in the eyes of the kind of society we live in he has done nothing wrong; you either join him or remain perpetually in an unhappy marriage.”

“What if I choose not to join him and still have my happiness?”

“You met him, you married him, you both know each other very well, and so you should be able to answer that question yourself, but if you want my candid opinion I think what you are looking for is elsewhere. Hence, you have to start looking elsewhere for that happiness, Deborah.”

 She was stunned by his response and asked him what he meant by looking elsewhere.

Femi sat upright, moved his face closer to hers and said, “I don’t mean to upset you, but that is the way most of the women catch their fun, they also have extra marital affairs.”

“Never.” Deborah shouted. “I will never do that. That is adultery.”

“I never said you should. I just lay the options out for you, or better still, maybe you should do as he suggested, get pregnant and quit school.”

“I cannot do that.”

“You see, both of you are not willing to come to a compromise.”

“However, we discussed that issue before marriage and he consented.”

“Who would not give consent? I personally will too, if that was what stood between someone like you and me. On the other hand, if I loved you dearly, I might be willing to wait for you to complete your studies as planned. This definitely means that both of you have no love for each other. You got what you thought you wanted, comfort, luxury, and so did he, a wife. Why not make the best of it my dear.”

Deborah’s spirit dampened all of a sudden. It was not hearing the truth that bothered her, but the realization of what lay ahead of her. She would spend the rest of her life being the wife of a man for the sake of bearing children for him, attending functions, being his hostess, all because she wanted to be the wife of a wealthy man. No, she would rather give the wealth up for happiness. She would not be any man’s concubine, for that was how she viewed such a marriage.

Femi distracted her thoughts. “What is the matter? I hope I have not hurt you more with my utterances.”

“No. Actually, you have brought to light what I have been shying away from and I am most grateful for that.” She kept quiet again while he watched her and then she spoke.

“Can I ask you something Femi?”

“Yeah, sure, go ahead.”

“Will you remain a friend always?”

Femi smiled. “I will be there for you when you need a shoulder to cry on don’t worry and I will have my shoulders well padded to absorb all your tears.

She laughed and said, “thank you.”

They set aside her issue and chatted on. They spent hours just sitting and chatting until it was night. They then had dinner and left with a promise to keep in touch regularly.

Femi and Deborah met regularly at the restaurant almost every week. Within a few months, she hardly noticed Rotimi’s existence as her husband. Femi was always there to chat and make her laugh and they never discussed about him all through their meets.

Unknown to Deborah some staff from Rotimi’s bank had dined once at the restaurant and had seen her so relaxed chatting with Femi and naturally had concluded that he was probably her man friend.

Rumours about his wife having an affair spread within the bank, although no one could muster enough courage to come out and say it boldly.

Rotimi had a quarrel with one of his girlfriends at a club about her behaviour with some of the men around and she had insulted him about it, saying if his wife could have an overt affair and he could do nothing about it, why should he bother about her that was just a bedmate to him? Rotimi had told her to watch her tongue but she had kept at it, and in anger had left her at the club and went home.

When he got home, he went straight up to his room and met Deborah sleeping. Jealously, he stared down at her body and wondered if truly she was having an affair. He then concluded that she probably was, after all he had not slept with her in a long time. He felt like waking her up and prying the truth out of her. What right did she have to have an affair as a married woman he reasoned still staring at her sleeping figure and then he left the room and went to sleep at the guest room?

Deborah heard him come in; she knew the night was still young and that it was unusually early for him to be back at that time, it was barely eleven. For a while, she heard no movement from him and since she had her face to the other side and backed him, she could not tell what he was doing, suddenly she heard the door open again, he went out and she never heard him come back in until she slept off again.

When she woke up the next morning, which was a Sunday, she noticed he had not slept in the room. She stood up and while still in her sleeping gown went round the house searching for him. She finally found him in one of the guest rooms still sleeping. She gently closed the door and went back to her room. She could not make out anything of the new development. Time will tell how long this would last she thought, and then she said her prayers and stood up to prepare for Sunday service.

He was still sleeping when she went to church and by the time she came back, he had woken up. She met him sitting in the living room watching cable TV. She walked up to him, greeted and sat down. He grudgingly answered; she was in no mood for that, so she ignored him, stood up and went to change her clothes to something casual.

She came back and went into the kitchen to prepare something to eat. She met Justina who told her that Rotimi had eaten and that she had prepared rice and stew if she would be interested.

She scooped some and took it herself to the dining table. After eating, she went and sat in the living room to watch TV.

They sat watching in silence for a while when suddenly he asked. “Where do you always go to aside school?”

She turned her attention away from the TV, looked at him and said, “are you asking me or someone else, and since when did you start to bother about my movements?”

He did not mind her questions instead he reframed his and asked again, “where do you go to apart from school and whom do you see?”

“I go to wherever pleases me and see whomever I choose to see.”

 She kept quiet and tried to concentrate on watching the TV without success. She was so furious, she felt like a wounded lioness. How dare he ask her such a stupid question?

 “That confirms it then,” he said.

She looked at him again and asked, “Confirms what?”

“Give a woman some breathing space and she jumps from one bed to another. You can never satisfy them.”

“I beg your pardon Rotimi; I hope you are not insulting me.”

“Insult you or you are the one embarrassing me by going out with other men.”

“Me? Go out with other men? Do you think I am you that go about sleeping with anything, everything in skirts forgetting you have a wife at home?”

“Is that what gave you the courage to flirt around?” Rotimi said.

    “Rotimi, since when did you start to care whom I see or sleep with. Was I the one that asked you to abandon me for your mistresses outside?”

“So, it is true then that you have a boyfriend.”

“Yes Rotimi, I have a boyfriend and that is where it ends, just friends and nothing more. I enjoy being around him because he makes me forget I have an uncaring husband.”

“Therefore, you belittle yourself by going out with all those riff raffs at school in the name of keeping company with friends, boys who are out to milk you, forgetting you are a married woman.”

“Is that why you ran away from your room? Please come back to your room, oh. I should be the one to leave your room for you and probably occupy my rightful place in the guest room, then you can bring in those trash you call women. I should have listened to what that woman said before we got married.”

“What did you say?”

She repeated it aloud. “I said, Mr Rotimi Alabi; I should have listened to what Evelyn said about you, they were all true. “Your crazy sexual perversions she said”. Remember she also advised me against being hooked. Hooked on what? I probably should have asked her then. I know people are hooked on alcohol, marijuana, and narcotic such as cocaine, heroin, and so on. Instead of running away from me, you probably should have tried initiating me.”

Rotimi’s face wore an angry look.

“You don’t know what you are talking about,” he blurted out.

“Oh yes, I do, Rotimi. The night outs, friends I never meet. For Christ sake, you are a banker and you are supposed to have fellow bankers come visiting, but they never come. You are always going out to meet your so-called friends. Don’t they ever want to come to your home? What are you hiding?”

“Stop this nonsense talk or you will regret it.”

“Regret you say. Can a man who is down fall down again? No, he can only stand up. I am full of regrets already and they are too many to count.”

 She was by now hot-tempered and freely spilled out her hearts contents. All she had bottled up for so long.

“You have a wife whose birthday passed without you knowing. A wife who lives like a recluse with her husband. I regret ever setting my eyes on you. I regret ever setting foot in that stupid bank. I regret and curse the day we got married. I hate you and this stupid house. I wish you could just drop dead.”

She spoke so fast she did not see him get up and before she knew it, he was by her. He slapped her twice and pushed her to the floor.

“Shut up you harlot. Ungrateful bitch. What do you want from me?”

    The slap dazed her and she could hardly believe she was on the floor. Justina who had been listening from the kitchen heard the slaps and ran out to help her madam who was on the floor. She helped Deborah get up as she rubbed her cheeks.

“You slapped me Rotimi,” she said.

“Yes, I did, and I will do more than that if you open that dirty mouth of yours again.”

Deborah walked away to her room, took her car keys, carried her valise and came back downstairs.

“It is obvious you don’t want me in your life Rotimi, probably that is why you have been ill-treating me. I will leave your house for you. You know where to find me,” she said as she dragged her bag towards the exit.

He did not bother answering her. Justina pleaded with her not to go but she was adamant. When she got outside, she opened the car trunk dumped her valise in it, entered the car, started it and drove out of the compound. The gate man and the driver were outside chatting when she came out. They were surprised to see her with the valise because she never said she would be traveling. She knew Justina would explain to them the little she could even though she cared less.

After she left, the employees sat outside discussing the event, they knew their boss had for quite a while not behaved as a man should behave to his wife.

 Deborah’s parents and siblings were shocked when they saw her crying as she came into the house with her luggage. They tried to calm her down at the same time quizzing her for information.

She finally spoke and told them all that recently transpired between her and Rotimi. They were at a loss as to what to do. They asked her to go to her room that they would settle the issue later. During the drive home, she had made up her mind not to continue with the marriage.

She spent close to a week in the house and Rotimi never showed up to ask for his wife. Her parents then decided to visit their in-laws to find out what was going on.

Her parents arrived at the Alabi’s residence. After exchanging pleasantries and refreshment was served, The Deborah’s father cut out formalities and went straight to the matter. The Alabi’s were thoroughly surprised that Rotimi could behave in such a manner to his wife. They apologized on his behalf and promised to look into it. Mr Alabi senior immediately called his son on the phone and asked him to see him without fail that day.

The Wilson’s left the Alabi’s residence and went home. When they got home, they briefed their daughter on the outcome of the meeting, who boldly told them that she would rather die than live a second longer with Rotimi. They begged her to calm down and forgive him, that she should not make rash and irrational decisions out of annoyance. She told them she was ready to be an unmarried woman for life, rather than live with Rotimi and if they were not going to accept that, then she would live home. She blamed her mother for instigating her to an early marriage against her wish. Her father pacified her and told his wife to let her be for a while, that because she was still angry she was not ready to listen to anyone.

Deborah withdrew into her shell; she spoke very little with her parents and occasionally with her sisters. Whenever she got back from school, she would go straight to her room. Her siblings had to take even her meals to her. She switched off her phone which made it impossible for anyone to access her including Femi.

Femi had tried unsuccessfully for weeks to get through to her. He sometimes sent text messages and the delivery report always came back later, unsuccessful. He thought it unwise to go looking for her at school and so he gave up trying and assumed she had traveled out of the country.

Three weeks after the incident, the Wilson’s and the Alabi’s gathered at the home of the Wilson’s in an effort to try and salvage their children’s marriage. Rotimi was present and so was Deborah. All the parties said their bit. When it got to the turn of Deborah to speak, she refused to comment much, she simply told them that Rotimi had tortured her emotionally and psychologically for the last nine months and if she spent a day more with him, she should not be held responsible for any action she might take. She said she did not love him anymore and wanted to be left alone.

The families then decided to give her sometime alone to allow her see reason why she should go back to her husband’s home. They made Rotimi apologise to her with a promise to care and love her as a wife ought to be loved and cared for. She thanked them profusely for their love and support and wished them a safe drive back home.

 As far as she was concerned, Rotimi did not feel any remorse for his action. She knew it was only his ego that was bruised, because she had the guts to walk out on him, where other women would have stayed and remain enslaved because of money and that was what really brought him. Despite that, she doubted if he was interested in having her back in his home. She as well resolved never to go back to being his wife. She would go to the house whenever she was up to it to carry her remaining personal effects.

After the Alabi’s left. She was in her room lying on her bed when her father knocked on her door, walked in, and sat by her on the bed. She stood up to sit beside him and he asked for her candid opinion.

“Deborah.”

“Yes daddy.”

 “How long do you intend to stay separated from your husband?”

 She saw the distressed look in her dad’s eyes and paternal concern for her well-being before she spoke.

“Daddy, do you love me?”

“Of course, my daughter, you know I love you with all my heart and every member of my family.”

“If you love me daddy, then I want you to understand that Rotimi does not love me and will never love me. I also never loved him; firstly, I wanted to please you and Mummy, and out of my stupidity, I decided to get married to him. Dad I was blinded by the desire to be very comfortable and so I threw all cautions to the wind. Despite that dad, I really wanted the marriage to work, honestly, dad I did, but he would not let me. Daddy I do not love him and I do not want to go back. I want to finish my studies, fall in love with a man and then marry him because I love him not because of what he has to offer me dad.”

“It’s all right my daughter. I will do whatever brings happiness to your life. Your happiness is mine as well.”

“Thank you daddy. I love you,” she said.

“I love you too my daughter,” he replied and they hugged.

As her father was about to leave, she said, “his name is Femi.”

Her dad stopped abruptly. “Whose name is Femi?” He queried.

 “The man Rotimi accused me of dating. I just want you to know that he is a very good friend and I like him very much, but that is all there is to it dad.”

Her dad walked back to where she sat at the edge of her bed and said I believe you my daughter. You have never had any course to lie to me, ever, and you will not start today. You are a grown up woman now and should know what is best for you.

She stood up and embraced her dad again. She spent some seconds enclosed in his arms before he let go off her and left her room.

She had never felt so unburdened in a very long time. Immediately her dad left her she switched on her phone and Femi’s message came in instantly.

“I have tried to contact you with no success, I will only understand if it’s the moon you went to. If not please call me whenever you get this message. I miss the laughs & smiles.”

After reading the message, she reread it, and then called him.

Femi was at home, in his room when the call came through.

He saw her name on his phone screen and a smile lit up on his face he then Okayed the call.

“Well, well, if it is not the woman gone AWOL. Hi, what has been happening in your life lady?”

“Hello Femi, how have you been?”

“I am okay. I guess you are trying to tell Mr Bachelor to go take a hike meanwhile and allow the owner to handle his property.

“Ha, ha,” she smiled. “Very funny. On the other hand, it is the contrary. It’s not something we can discuss over the phone. I will call you later to intimate you of the goings on in my life, probably over a bottle of wine.”

“Wine! That sounds like good news to me. Oh yeah, I can see the rewritten headline, ‘The blossom of marital bliss’, Episode two,” he said and laughed.

“Very, very funny,” she said, dragging the words slowly. “Anyhow, take care Femi and stay trouble free. Bye for now.”

“Be seeing you,” he replied.

CHAPTER FIVE

The following week Deborah got back to her normal self. She became the boisterous woman they knew her to be in the family and then her parents realized that she had been an unhappily married woman. She became the little girl they had always viewed her to be. She now wore a permanent smile on her face and she regularly took her younger ones for outings.

She phoned Femi and booked an appointment for that Sunday at the eatery. She decided that she would take her sisters along but she would have them sit at a different table in order to have some privacy with Femi. She asked him if it was all right for her to come with her siblings and he was even more delighted at the suggestion. He told her not to bother about the bill that it would be on him.

That Sunday the whole family went for Sunday service in their father’s car. They came back and spent the afternoon together until it was time for her and her sisters to go out.

She called Femi and told him that they were about to leave home. He told her that he would be at the eatery in about thirty minutes and he hung up.

Due to less traffic congestion on the road, Deborah arrived at the eatery in about fifteen minutes. She ordered ice creams as they waited for Femi to arrive. Ten minutes later, as they were chatting he arrived.

They exchanged greetings. She was so delighted to see him that she had to restrain an urge to hug him.

“Wow! Whenever I am around you ladies, I feel so honoured,” he said as he sat down. “How are you coping with studies Naomi?”

“I am doing great,” Naomi responded.

“Esther, Ruth, how is sitting at home?”

The girls laughed and Ruth answered, “thank God for ‘DSTV’.” He then turned to Deborah. “How is the husband and when are we expecting the addition?”

He was so engrossed in asking the questions he did not notice that the other girls had frozen at the question he directed at Deborah. They were not sure of Deborah’s response and they expected her to show her annoyance, but to their greatest surprise, she shrugged the question off and she then opened her purse, gave Naomi some money to buy what they wanted and told her that she would be at the garden outside with Femi.

Femi told her to remember that he was footing the bill; He collected the money from Naomi, gave it back to Deborah, brought his out and handed it to Naomi. They left the three girls to enjoy themselves and went outside to chat in privacy.

Femi followed her behind as if he was her bodyguard until they got outside. He located a table in an isolated spot and they sat. Femi asked what she would have. When she told him, he stood up and went to get it. When he came back, they sat down to eat. He watched her eat. Not wanting to be curious, he allowed her enough respite. When she is ready he reasoned, she would divulge all he needed to know and so he patiently waited, but he was ill prepared for the way she came out with it.

“I have been living with my parents for close to a month now,” she said and then paused to watch him assimilate the news and see the effect it would have on him.

Instead, he smiled and said, “You don’t tell me.”

“I just did.”

“Why? Why are you staying with your parents when you are supposed to be with your husband?”

 “Somehow, he heard that I had been seeing a guy. He came back one night and refused to sleep in the room with me. The next day he insinuated that I was promiscuous. I told him I was not, that he was the one sleeping around. I told him it was true that I had a friend but we were mere friends. He said that I had belittled myself by going out with a student, probably a riff raff who was out to milk me. He said some very nasty things and then I flared up and gave him a piece of my mind. The next thing I received was two dirty slaps and a shove. I stood up and left his house and I have been out ever since.”

She stopped to watch his reaction but she could not comprehend what went on in his mind. His face was expressionless except for the smile he always wore on his face.

“Has he come to check for you?” he asked.

“He once came with his family to plead.”

“And what did you tell them?”

“That I wanted some time to think about it.”

 “You have had almost a month to consider your options, which is enough time. So, what is it going to be then?”

“I thought about it the day I left his home Femi. I am not going back; at the appropriate time, I will seek for divorce.”

“Are you positive that is what you want?” She nodded her head affirmatively. “Then I wish you well and Gods guidance.”

“Amen,” she said.

“They have money; a divorce might not come easy.  If or when it comes, you might work out with nothing. This is not the United States or some Occidental country where alimony is adhered to, you know.”

“I have told you previously Femi; I have realized that my happiness does not lie with money, its accoutrements or what it represents. I have also not been as foolish as you might think. I have always thought about the rainy day. All I ask from you is your understanding and to be there for me as a friend, or is it too much to ask?”

 “Really, it is not. Nevertheless, remember that I somehow fueled your separation. I am that last straw that broke the camels back. Fraternizing with you in the first instance was not healthy and I should have known better.”

“Femi I am surprised at your comments. We have been simply good friends.”

“Yes, Deborah I know that. In our eyes, yes good friends. In the eyes of the staff members here or any other person that might have seen us together, it could have been something else. In our society married women are not supposed to fraternize with male friends, except probably their husbands friend and there are boundaries to such friendship. In my case, I probably over stepped a bit.”

She read the look in his eyes and she did not like what she saw.

“What are you trying to say Femi?”

“May be we should curtail our meetings to the barest minimum or possibly communicate by phone henceforth.”

She was shocked at his statements.

“I cannot believe my ears Femi,” Deborah said.

“I want you to understand me Deborah. If you go ahead with this plan of yours, the world would think I instigated you.”

“Are you backing out on me Femi? I thought you once said your shoulders were well padded and when I needed a shoulder to cry on, they would be available. I see they are becoming floppy.”

“It still is and I will always be there for you to lean on Deborah.”

She took a hard, long look at him. She understood what he was trying to imply, but the thought of losing him, his companionship, and friendship infuriated her more and gave her more drive to go ahead with her plans.

“Femi whether you concur with my actions or not, meet with me more, less, or not at all. I will do what comes right to me and makes me happy. It has been wonderful talking to you today,” she said annoyingly and stood up abruptly. “I guess I have to be on my way.”

“You don’t have to get annoyed over what I said Deborah.”

“That is correct I ought not to get annoyed, that is why I choose to leave rather than get angry,” she said and left him.

“Deborah. I am sorry,” he said but she was already on her way towards the entrance of the building.

    She went in to the restaurant, hurried her sisters up, and told them to buy some take away for their parents at home. Her sisters where surprised Femi did not come back with her, they thought probably he was waiting for them outside. When they came out of the restaurant and did not see him, their confusion grew.

 Femi still sat on the chair when they came out. From where they had sat, it was easy to see the parking lot without been seen. She did not give as much as a glance towards his direction. Her sisters got into the car and she drove out of the restaurant.

On their way home Naomi cunningly made a statement.

“Why did Femi leave without coming back to say goodbye?”

She asked the question and made it seem as if she was asking no one in particular. Deborah heard her but was too busy with her own thoughts to bother about Naomi’s query.

Was she right in walking out on him that way? Should she call him later and apologize for her behaviour. No, she would not. He was right, he was trying to condemn his actions but damn him; he was damn too blunt about it. He should have considered her feelings too. After all, she defended him and stood for him despite her precarious position. She did not deny his existence.

When Naomi saw that Deborah did not answer, she kept quiet and let her be as they drove home in silence and so did the girls at the back. Except for the soft music that blared from the car stereo, the atmosphere was serene.

After watching the car drive out of the premises, Femi stood up and lackadaisically made his way home immersed in thoughts. Had he finally driven her away? He should not have been too hard on her. He should have given her some kind of support. All she wanted to hear from him was a little word of encouragement, instead he went on pestering her about what the society condoned and did not.

She had just been through months of hell in her matrimony. Femi why were you so self-centered he queried? Right now she was angry; he would give her sometime, and then call her to apologise for his remarks he concluded.

He arrived home, greeted his Mum and went into his room. While on his bed, he continued with his thoughts. Ordinarily he should not have been bothered about her annoyance; After all, she is another man’s wife. But, why was he, or was he getting emotionally attached to her. True, they had had interesting moments together. Is that enough reason for us to bond that much he pondered? He then decided that he would call her later in the night.

Deborah was in her room that night when the call came through. She picked the phone and saw his name on the screen. She refused to answer it. The phone rang about three more times and then stopped ringing.

An hour later, the phone rang again. She then decided to switch it off. How ironic she thought, her husband whom she was estranged from and pleaded with her to come back home barely called. Instead, a friend whom she just annoyingly stormed away from keeps calling. If you do not want to be seen talking to me because of the world, then don’t talk to me discreetly on phone. I have nothing to hide dear Femi she thought as she lay back on her bed to sleep.

Femi knew she deliberately refused to pick up her phone. Well he had at least tried to call her and apologise. He could not do more than that. Moreover, he did not know her residence and so there is no chance of paying her a visit. He lay back on his bed and went to sleep. The next day was a working day and the first day of the week. He had to get enough sleep in order to wake up in time to beat the Monday traffic congestion.

 Femi tried a few more times to contact Deborah but was unsuccessful; he then assumed she was no longer interested in communicating with him. Better for her he thought. Maybe she would work things out eventually with her spouse.

Deborah concentrated on her studies. She had now lived with her parents for close to three months and she had not gone back to her husband’s house ever since the day she left, to pick her remaining possessions. Rotimi tried calling her a few times but she refused to answer his calls.

It finally dawned on him that she was no longer interested in the marriage. Apart from the rumours filtering around most especially within the banking industry, that he had caught his wife with another man and had sent her packing. Nothing negative was said about him.

Rotimi continued with his nocturnal and amorous activities. He sometimes brought his women home when he was not in the mood to take them to a hotel and he intended spending the night with them.

Memories of Deborah dwindled and Femi got on with his life. Although he frequented his hang out, mostly on weekends to unwind, on no occasion did he come across her.

Deborah was at home in her room reading a novel when her father sent Esther to call her. He wanted her to help him procure some personal items from the supermarket. She obliged him and went along with Esther her youngest sister.

Femi’s birthday was approaching and he wanted to mark it with a few of his friends and colleagues. It was the coming weeks Saturday. He decided to buy some of the items he would need on that day such as wine and some canned beer at the ‘Mega Plaza’, a large retail departmental store located at Victoria Island.

Coincidentally, Deborah and Esther were shopping there as well when he arrived. He was in no hurry to shop, so he decided to look around as well. He moved around from section to section. He was close to the wine section when he had someone shout his name.

Deborah focused on her shopping while Esther tagged along enjoying her surrounding; Esther sighted Femi and impulsively shouted “Brother Femi,” and then briskly walked towards him.

The name sent a shock through Deborah. She thought her sister was trying to play pranks on her and was about to caution her sister when her eyes followed the direction her sister moved towards. She was momentarily transfixed to the spot she stood.

 Femi looked up and saw Esther walk towards him. He received her with open arms and she fell in to embrace him.

“Hello cutie,” he said, “it has been quite a while.”

“Brother Femi, ah. Why did you leave us that day without coming to say bye?”

 He had no answer for her, so he apologized.

“Forgive me your highness,” he said and bowed.

Deborah had composed herself and watched the drama from where she stood.

Such a likeable fellow she thought and at that moment, she knew she had missed him terribly.

Femi walked hand in hand with Esther towards her. As they approached, every step they took made her heart skip. She began to search for words to say. By the time he got to where she stood, she still had not found what to say to him.

“Hullo,” he said in a husky voice. “You look like you’ve been to the Caribbean islands. You look as pretty as always.”

Thank you was all she could mutter as he spoke on.

“ I will be having a little get-together next week Saturday, I was wondering if you will be able to attend. You and your siblings of course.”

He said it casually as if they saw each other the previous day. She still kept quiet as he continued to speak.

 “If you will not be chanced, you can at least bring the girls and I will return them to wherever you say I should return them to, and at the exact time you want them brought back. It’s a daytime gig.”

    She still did not say anything. Esther then spoke, “Sister Debby, say something now or why are you just staring at him like that.”

The innocent girl Deborah thought. She did not know what was going on between her and Femi.

Femi spoke for her instead. “Your sister is trying to consider my request. Remember it was made impromptu.”

Deborah then spoke. “We will think about it Esther and let him know before Saturday if we would be able to make it or not.”

Esther grumbled and said, “We will attend Sister Debby. I will tell Naomi, she can take us if you will not,” and before Deborah knew it, she was asking Femi about the party’s venue.

Deborah knew if Femi told her she would not have an opportunity to meet him again because Naomi will definitely attend with or without her.

“All right,” she said, “don’t worry your head Esther, we will attend. I will get the address myself.

Femi noticed Deborah’s inability to communicate with him. She said she would attend, may be she would call him he reasoned, and decided it was about time he took his leave.

“It’s been nice meeting you ladies, I look forward to seeing you at the party. I must take my leave now. Please extend my regards to Naomi and Ruth. Nice meeting you again Deborah,” he said then turned and walked away.

Even a dummy would know something was amiss and Esther was no dummy.

 “Did I just notice civilized friction here Sister Debby? Because I don’t know what else to call what transpired here.”

Her sister’s words got to her; she excused herself and moved quickly away from her towards the direction Femi went. She could not sight him and frantically searched around. She was about giving up when she heard his voice from behind.

 “Are you looking for something?”

“Yes,” she said.

“What is it? May be I can help?”

 “You don’t have to bother I already found him.”

“Him,” Femi said puzzled.

“Yes, him, you. I was looking for you. I wanted to ask you where the party is taking place.”

“That’s no problem its taken place at the paradise hotel, you can’t miss it, at the banquet hall. Is that all?”

   “Yes, that is all,” she said.

As he was about to move away she spoke.

“I am sorry for the way I left you the last time and for not answering your call.”

“No, Deborah. You don’t have to apologize to me. I am the one that ought to apologize for not giving you the moral support you needed at that time and that was why I tried to call you that night. Please forgive me.”

They stood and started chatting, as if making up for the time they had missed each other’s company.

Esther who had been looking for her sister finally found them and gave them some distance alone. She could not decipher what went on between her sister and Femi. All she could deduce was that she noticed that her sister seemed to glow whenever she was around him.

They kept chatting unmindful of where they were. Femi suddenly swept his face around and sighted Esther some meters away watching them. He beckoned on her to come over. She did, and they went round shopping together. They parted outside the supermarket, with a promise to meet the next day at their usual spot.

As they drove back home, Esther furtively glanced at her sister. Deborah noticed it and asked. “What is the matter Esther? Why are you stealing glances at me?”

 “Am I not your sister? Or don’t I have the right to look at you?”

Deborah knew her sisters very well and she could smell when something was amiss.

 “Out with it,” she said.

“Sister Debby, are you still married to uncle Rotimi?”

 Deborah looked ahead as if Esther was referring to someone else, because she least expected the question, but she answered cheerfully.

“Officially, yes. Emotionally, no.” She had barely relaxed when the one she never expected, came.

“Do you love him?”

That got her confused and she showed it by the way she squeezed her face and repeated the words. “Love him. Love whom?”

“Come on Sister Debby, Brother Femi of course.”

The question was like a bomb thrown at her and she had to search for a proper place to park her car off the road. She found a suitable spot, veered off the road and parked the car. She turned to look at her sister before asking, “what made you say that Naomi?”

“Sister Debby I am seventeen years old and not a baby.”

 Her sister nodded her head, then smiled and said, “I like him a lot baby girl and that is as much as I can say now, remember I am still a Mrs. and I am not supposed to talk of loving any other man but my husband.”

“Yeah, yeah. However, right now both of you don’t seem to be on speaking terms.”

“Esther, can we have a change of topic please,” Deborah pleaded.

“If you say so,” Esther replied and laughed.

“Thank you,” Deborah said as she turned the key on the cars ignition, checked her side view mirror, brought her head out of the window a bit and turned her head backwards to check approaching vehicles on her side before entering the road once more.

Femi and Deborah met at the restaurant as agreed and they spent hours chatting. Their friendship picked up from where they left off.

It was now months and Rotimi felt he had given Deborah enough time to make up her mind. He started to call her to ask why she had not come back home. She told him she was not ready to come back. He was enraged and asked why.

“I am not ready to come back,” she insisted.

“You mean you enjoy living with your parent’s as my wife,” Rotimi asked.

“Yes, I do, and I don’t feel like a married woman any longer.”

“I see. So you can have the freedom to go frolicking with your boyfriends.”

“I can see that you have nothing better to say to me. Good day Rotimi,” she concluded and cut the connection.

Her phone rang a few more times but she refused answering and when it rang again, she switched it off.

Rotimi hired someone to stalk her. He wanted to find out whom Deborah was seeing. For weeks, she was stalked and on few occasions, was followed from school to the eatery where she met Femi. This was reported to Rotimi who connived with one of his high-ranking police officer friend to have Femi arrested when next he and Deborah dined. They did not have to wait very long because Deborah met Femi at least twice every week, on any convenient weekday and then weekend.

Femi and Deborah had a rendezvous that ill-fated Wednesday afternoon for lunch.

Rotimi had set in motion, unknown to her, plans for Femi’s arrest. Her stalker had instructions to phone him immediately they met and he was to inform his police friend who would then have his men arrest Femi. He knew he had no legal grounds to arrest Femi for seeing his wife; but unlike in civilized countries, if you have money in Nigeria, you could bend the law to suit your purpose, which was what he was doing. He wanted to subject them to ridicule and humiliation.

Deborah was already in the restaurant; she ordered a drink and light snack as she waited for Femi’s arrival. She did not notice the man who sat a few tables away from her looking at her intermittently.

About fifteen minutes later, Femi arrived, ordered his meal and sat down to eat. Immediately, the man at the table watching over them, left to make a call outside.

After eating, they got chatting. Precisely twenty minutes later, some plain clothed police officers walked into the restaurant with the man. He pointed at their table and left.

Deborah and Femi were not bothered about the men that walked in. As they kept on chatting, the men got to their table, excused them, showed their identity cards and asked if she was Mrs. Deborah Alabi.

The sound of his family name being used on her made her feel nauseating but she grudgingly answered, “yes I am. And how may I help you officer?”

One of the other men spoke. “Madam you are wanted at the station for questioning.”

She was confused and she asked, “are you sure, this is not a mistake here officers.”

“No madam.”

“Why am I needed at the police station?” She asked

“Madam, You will know when you get there,” the officer replied.

 Femi then stood up to enquire further from the officers, but instead of answering his question, he was asked to accompany them, which he did.

The other diners noticed that something was amiss but did not interfere. One of the staffs noticed something was wrong and immediately alerted Lola the manageress who came to enquire what was wrong from the officers. She was told that it was a minor matter. She was annoyed at the fact that they were making a commotion in her restaurant and she voiced it out vehemently.

Some of the officers accompanied her in her vehicle while another in Femi’s. Somehow, Deborah had a feeling that the set up had something to do with Rotimi but she kept silent until they got to the station.

When they arrived at the station, they told her to wait while they went and reported to their superiors. Minutes later, they came back and asked Femi his name and relationship with Deborah.

He told them his name and that he was a friend of hers. They asked if he knew her husband and he replied that he did not. Femi was also getting confused. He wondered if he was the one that was brought in for questioning or Deborah. Meanwhile, the type of questions that were thrown at him finally made Deborah understand what was going on and she immediately voiced it out.

“Rotimi put you all to this, not so?” she said.

The men ignored her and continued to interview Femi.

“Mr. Davies,” one of the officers said, “you are been detained for associating with a married woman secretly without her husbands consent.” He then turned to Deborah, “Madam you can go.”

“This is preposterous; associating with a married woman,” he repeated and smiled. “Nigerian police officers will never stop concocting offences,” he said.

  “Nonsense,” Deborah said simultaneously. “You come into a restaurant where I was having lunch with my friend, bring us here, and then you accuse him of associating with me.”

“Where is the accuser or should I say who is accusing him. Is it I or is he accusing himself?”

“Madam, I am sorry we will have to detain him until the petitioner gets here.”

“You mean Rotimi,” she corrected.

“Madam I don’t know what you are talking about, oh.” He then spoke to Femi. “Sir, you will have to wait behind the counter.”

 He then beckoned on Femi to get up and follow him. Femi smiled, shook his head and followed the man while he imagined what his colleagues at work would say when they hear about the incident, that he was arrested for having lunch with a married woman.

Deborah shouted. “You cannot detain him. What the hell for. What is his offence?”

She was confused and immediately she called her father and explained what just happened to her. It was already getting to about four that evening.

She waited. By the time her father arrived, it was getting to about five. The station had started dwindling in the number of officers around.

Her father tried to secure his bail but he was told the arresting officers were not available, which was a ploy used sometimes by police officers to frustrate those who came to bail or find out why their relations or friends where detained, to enable them extort more money from you.

Rotimi had paid the men handsomely to make sure that they did everything possible to frustrate a bail, so Femi could spend a night at the station.

When it was around seven, Femi knew bailing him out that day was going to take a miracle. He also realized that it was a set up and so he called his mother who immediately came to the station.

His mother almost brought the station down with her outburst when she heard why her son was being detained. She screamed at everyone in sight, blaming Deborah for her son’s predicament.

They could not secure his release that day. Rotimi never turned up as planned. Femi told his mother to go back home that he would sort himself out. She reluctantly agreed to go and later came back with his dinner, before finally departing.

Deborah’s father left for home promising to come back the next morning. Deborah slept at the station refusing to leave Femi alone.

Very early the next morning, her parents came and Femi was released after her dad had parted with the sum of two thousand naira. His mother came later on and met them chatting outside the station. She scolded him for getting involved in such a mess. She perfunctorily thanked Deborah’s father. She chided Femi and told him to stay away from Deborah. She did not even allow both of them to talk, as she made sure he got into his car and dashed home for a quick bath.

After Femi and his mother left, her parents consoled her. Her father drove straight to work from the station, while her Mum drove to her shop. She promised them she would not fuss over what happened and they advised her to go home, take a hot shower and rest.

She got in to her car and instead drove straight to Rotimi’s house. She still had her spare keys to their room; they were attached to her car keys. She knew he might be expecting her to call him, but she would not give him that satisfaction.

Justina and the other house helps were surprised to see her. They gave her a run down of what had been going on since she left, most especially Justina. She only smiled as they talked. They thought she was back. She went up to the room and parked her belongings. She wrote boldly on a piece of paper, “Bye for ever you devil” and then placed it conspicuously on the bed. She went out and called Justina to come and help carry her belongings to her car.

When she was through, she gave Justina the spare key to the room to hand over to Rotimi when he arrived home. He gave her some money, wished her well and left. Justina was unhappy to see Deborah finally leave and she displayed it by folding her arms, tilting her head sideways as a sign of solidarity, while her countenance showed how depressed she was.

That night at her home she called her parents and told them her mind was finally made up, that the marriage was over and she would get a lawyer to file for divorce. Her parents said nothing. They knew nothing they said would ever persuade her against her will and so they gave her their support.

In addition, that night at the Davies residence, Femi’s mother kept scolding him as if he was a baby reprimanding him for dating a married woman when there were millions of willing and available unmarried women around. He tried explaining to her that they were ordinary friends, but his Mum would hear nothing of such. She wondered how he could be ordinary friends with a married woman to the extent of lunching together. She forbade him to see Deborah again and went as far as threatening to disown him if he went against her wish.

Rotimi was thoroughly briefed about what transpired at the station. He was also told that his wife had spent the night at the station with Femi. He was also told that his wife and Mr Davies based on their deduction were mere friends.  He expected a call from Deborah but was surprised that she did not call. He wondered why and for that, he did not go out that night. 

That morning he went to work as usual and still there was no news from her. When he came back that day if he had observed his employees countenance he would have noticed that something was amiss, because they were unusually quiet. He read nothing to it until he opened his room and one quick glance around told him something was wrong. As he approached the bed, he saw the piece of paper lying on it; he picked it up and read it, and it then dawned on him that she might not be coming back.

Greedy bitch he thought, if you think you can make money out of me, you had better start thinking otherwise. He crumpled the piece of paper and threw it into the wastebasket by the bedside. He made a mental note to consult with his attorney as soon as he arrived at his office the next day. He did not feel too good about what was about to boomerang at him and so he decided to stay at home. He had underestimated her. Unlike most of his other women, she was about to jilt him instead of the other way round.

  The next day Femi called Deborah and explained to her what transpired between him and his Mother. He pleaded with her to understand him that they might not be seeing each other for a while. He promised to keep in touch with her by phone as often as he could. She told him she understood and wished him well. She did not bother telling him of her decision to end the marriage; she felt it was not necessary, so she bade him goodbye and cut the line.

After talking with Femi, she felt disheartened. Here she was about to lose both her husband and a very dear friend. She wondered why all this was happening to her.

CHAPTER SIX

Deborah asked her father to make an appointment with his attorney for her. Her father did not ask why. He assumed it was because she wanted to file for divorce. He did and then told her that she was free to check the attorney at his office anytime before ten in the morning or after four in the evenings by which time, he would have come back from court sittings.

The next day she went to see her father’s attorney. She woke up very early so she could catch him on time and discuss with him before heading to school.

Rotimi had also contacted his attorneys and they all said the same thing. If she filed for divorce and eventually the marriage was annulled, she would be entitled to some form of alimony no matter how little, and considering his status, it would be substantial. The only choice was to refuse her the divorce or if he had any good proof of her infidelity, then a divorce might be granted with less to pay her.

He was also made to understand that our laws concerning divorce was not as stringent as in the western world, but if he decided to pursue it vigorously, it would make headlines and would be bad for the bank’s image, it was therefore imperative that he made a wise decision.

In the law chamber of Otedola & Co., Deborah sat with her father’s attorney; a middle-aged man whom she assumed was the senior partner in the firm and briefed him. He quizzed her thoroughly and she answered his questions to his satisfaction. He then asked her how soon she was ready to begin the proceedings and she emphatically answered him, immediately.

She told him she was not interested in his money and that all she wanted was to be rid of him and free to live on her life. He advised her against such notions. He told her that since he had failed in his obligation as a husband she was entitled to compensation. He told her that he had a daughter almost as old as she was and would not permit such to happen to his daughter. He said that they were going to make sure she got a better bargain than just walking out of the marriage without benefits.

She gave him all the necessary information he required, thanked him and left for school, feeling delighted.

Rotimi was in his office with some guest when the messenger from the law firm of Otedola & Co. knocked on his door, walked in and asked of him. He identified himself and the man said he was asked by his employees to present him with the envelope. The messenger handed the envelope to Rotimi.

He collected it, read the write up on the envelope; it had a stamped address of a law firm on it. He thanked the man and excused him; the messenger left. He then opened and read it.

It was not the notice in itself that surprised him but the fact that she had drawn the first blood and caught him unaware. His visitors were surprised at his change of mood after receiving the letter, but he calmly continued with their discussion. After they left, he picked the letter again and perused it. After reading it about the third time, he reached for his phone and called his attorney.

Femi’s visit to the eatery reduced drastically and so did Deborah’s. They both avoided the place in order not to accidentally bump into each other. He missed her company terribly but had no choice than to stay away. Most times, he wanted to pick his phone and call her but thought otherwise. He went on with his work and she with her studies.

A few weeks after the divorce notice was handed to Rotimi, his lawyer responded by going to her attorney’s office, stating that their client Mr Rotimi Alabi still loves his wife dearly and was not willing to undergo any divorce proceedings with his client. They said that he was willing to settle amicably with his wife and have her back in his home.

Barrister Otedola immediately read the danger sign and assumed what they wanted was to avoid settlement and media damage to their clients reputation and his bank at the expense of the poor girl thereby leaving her in an emotional turbulence. He told them that he would contact his client and get back to them. They exchanged pleasantries as colleagues afterwards and left.

When they left, he called Deborah and briefly told her what transpired. He asked her to come to his office the next day for discussion.

Deborah went to her lawyer’s chamber the next day and after discussions told the barrister that she wanted no part of his life even for a split second and that she would go to court to have the marriage annulled.

Barrister Otedola repaid the visit by Rotimi’s lawyers where he briefed them that his client was not willing to continue with the marriage and that they had no other option than to seek the courts intervention in nullifying the marriage. He gave them seven days to reply.

They called his bluff and after seven days, he did not hear from them. He gave them a further seven days and still there was no communication from them, after which he formally filed for divorce at a magistrate court and sent a copy to both Rotimi and his lawyers.

A hearing date was set for the divorce proceedings. Meanwhile, her first year Exams approached and she had to focus on her examinations after which they went on holidays. Luckily for her the hearing fell within her holiday period and she braced up for it.

Her parents were solidly behind her, while one could not say the same for the Alabi’s who were peeved at the fact that their son could not handle his marital affair successfully, until it had to degenerate to the extent of going to court. They wondered why he had not opted for an out of court settlement with her, instead of a public intrusion into their private life. To defend himself he lied that she probably would have gotten a large chunk of his estate, but if he could prove infidelity she would get little.

On the day of the hearing, her mother accompanied her to court. The court had other cases to handle and theirs was about the fourth case to be called. All the while, they saw no sign of Rotimi. Her lawyer told her to be calm and answer all questions truthfully, that if she did that, she would not falter whichever way a question was thrown at her. She nodded.

Her mother sat with her and they held hands.

When the court clerk called their case up, they stood up and headed for the front but still there was no sign of Rotimi. His lawyer then sought for an adjournment claiming that his client had traveled out of the country. The magistrate then adjourned the case for a further three weeks.

Deborah knew he was in the country but was only shying away from the court and so did her lawyer, but he told her to be patient. He knew Rotimi could not evade the court for long. If he did that, the magistrate might charge him for contempt and annul the marriage in absentia.

On the second court date, Rotimi still failed to turn up; his lawyers gave illness as an excuse this time. The magistrate told them that if he failed to turn up on the next date he would nullify the marriage and award judgment.

Before the next date, Rotimi’s lawyers went to her lawyer to negotiate for settlement out of court. He knew if he sought Deborah’s opinion, she would collect less and as her attorney, he took it upon himself to negotiate on her behalf. The lawyers wanted her alimony in form of an outright settlement instead of monthly payments. He told them to meet in three days time by which time he would have consulted with his clients.

He called Mr. Wilson and informed him. Her father told him that he would discuss with Deborah when he got home and inform him of her decision.

When he got home, he called Deborah and told her what happened that day. Deborah told him all she wanted was a divorce. The next day her father called his attorney and gave him the power to negotiate on her behalf.

Barrister Otedola set the ball in motion; he tried that day to garner as much information about Rotimi’s wealth, in order to enable him negotiate properly.

On the said day, Rotimi’s lawyers came, surprisingly with Rotimi in attendance. It was the first time he saw the man at close view and immediately saw the arrogance in him. He then decided to start negotiating with a very high demand before finally settling for what he had in mind.

After much haggling, Rotimi finally parted with a severance amount of two and a half million naira for her. He did not want the media to make a fuss over the divorce and so they decided to see the magistrate in his chamber and have the marriage secretly annulled. They agreed to meet with the magistrate the next day. Rotimi made a cheque out on her name and handed it to her lawyer who duly gave him a stamped receipt.

After the day, Barrister Otedola felt satisfied. He got more than what he expected from Rotimi. He had initially thought of a million naira and his fee of about seventy five thousand of what she would get. Now he would be getting almost two hundred thousand naira.

He phoned Mr Wilson to intimate him of his success. He was glad to receive the news. He asked if he had told his daughter, and he said no. He was elated, he said he wanted to be the one to deliver the good news to his daughter.

On his way home, he bought a bottle of wine to celebrate with his daughter. That night when Mr Wilson got home he called his family together and broke the news.

“My dear wife and children, I am happy to announce that your dear sister and my lovely daughter, is now free to carry on with her life.”

They all looked at him not understanding where he was driving at and his wife asked, “what are you saying darling?”

“I am saying that our dear Deborah has relinquished her status, as a Mrs. She is now a confirmed divorcee at such a tender age.” He laughed as he used the word divorcee on his daughter.

Deborah was surprised and inquired.

“Daddy, is that true?”

“Yes my dear and that is why I bought this wine to celebrate with you.” She went and hogged her dad.

“Thank you daddy, you are a wonderful. I will always love you, and you, and you too,” she said pointing to her siblings and mother. “Daddy, divorcee is just an adjective as far as am concerned. It is not embedded on my forehead,” she said and they all laughed over her statement.

After they dispersed, he called Deborah aside and gave her the whole story and the amount involved. He expected his daughter to be elated at the figure but she showed no sign of delight.

“What is the matter my dear? Are you not happy with the news?”

“I am daddy, it’s just that I am not so keen about the money aspect, I am just so happy about the separation, I feel unshackled.”

“Are you saying we should return the money?”

“Ha, daddy. I never said so, oh. You are a banker; I know you have a thousand and one ways of investing the money. As for me, I just want to finish my studies and start life afresh.”

The following week she received a formal notification of her divorce from the attorney through her dad. Her dad also wrote a cheque to cover his legal fees and collected her alimony on her behalf. He showed it to her; she took a casual glance at it and told him to bank it for her. She was not so sure, but she knew she had almost as much as that amount in her savings.

Later that night in her room, she lay awake on her bed thinking. Only one thing made her unhappy at that moment, which was that the person she would have loved to share such good news with, was no longer close to her. At that moment, she felt a strong urge to be with him, see him and chat with him again, but she could not summon enough courage to call him.

Deborah’s marriage with Rotimi was now an issue of the past. She got on with her life, finished school and went on to partake in the youth service scheme. The memory of Femi was now like a blotch in her mind, refusing to erase permanently. She occasionally thought about him, but they never saw again.

Femi finally left his mothers home and got an apartment of his. His independence now secured. He had a girlfriend but none ever gave him the satisfaction he required in a woman. He wanted a woman he could call a friend and the only person that came close to that was Deborah, another man’s wife. He never heard about her divorce with Rotimi; since it was done hush, hush. Since he did not know her home or anyone close to her, there was no means of knowing how she was, except he called her and that was something he was reluctant to do. So, they never saw.

Deborah finished her youth service scheme and came back home. She did not bother seeking employment; she already made up her mind to set up a business of her own. She sought her dad’s advice and he advised her to go into the sales of essential commodities. He had contacts with many of the commodities manufacturers since he interacted with them as a banker. He told her he would get dealership agreements with some of them for her, but firstly they had to obtain a big shop in a good location.

She saw it as a good idea and was delighted with the suggestion. She also told him that she wanted her mother’s store to operate as a big supermarket and she wanted to open a boutique.

Her father told her to go slowly with her dreams, that gradually she would attain them. He also told her not to forget that she was a woman and that while building an empire she should watch out for a suitable man to stand by her. She smiled at him and promised to be on the look out for one.

The following week she set out to work. She took her car out and went to the mechanic to have it serviced. She had left it for close to a year and her parents had done nothing but occasionally crank the engine up for her and leave it idling.

She then set out to find a store while her dad worked on the dealership agreements. She finally found a suitable one after weeks of searching. Her dad paid for it and they did some renovation work to put it in proper shape in readiness for the influx of goods.

A month later her business started. She employed a few labourers to help with carrying of goods. As her business continued, it blossomed. Due to her fathers influence she received goods from many manufacturers on credit basis, sold, and paid as at when due.

It got to a stage she could not cope with the magnitude of the business, she had to travel outside the state to meet with manufacturers. She then employed a manager to run those tasks while she concentrated on the sales aspect.

Her mother had now expanded her supermarket and she regularly supplied goods to her. She also made her mother a sub distributor for most of her goods.

Femi’s mother had a particular good, that was constantly in demand at her store but she found it difficult to procure them easily. Even when she did, her suppliers would treat her shabbily despite the fact that she was paying cash for them. She then heard of Deborah’s store from one of her colleagues at the market and that she usually stocked that item. She decided to try the place.

She went with her driver in her van. When she arrived, she found the goods but was told they were reserved for another customer. She begged to have some sold to her but she was refused.

Deborah was out. When she came back, she met the woman pleading with her staff. She immediately recognized the woman as Femi’s mother, but the woman barely recognized her. She moved closer to find out what was wrong.

As she got nearer, she asked the sales girl what the problem was with the woman. The sales girl explained to her. Femi’s mother then turned to her asking if she was the owner of the goods. She said she was not, but that she knew the owner. Femi’s mother then explained that she needed some, that her supplies were completely depleted.

Deborah then told them to sell some to her and gave her a date to come for more if she still needed. She said she still wanted and that she did not mind depositing for them in advance.

Deborah refused her deposit but promised to keep some for her. She thanked Deborah profusely and prayed for her, her husband and children. Deborah smiled.

The woman finally left, a very happy woman. Deborah wondered how Femi was, but she could not bring herself to introducing herself as the same woman she had told her son to stay away from at the police station.

Femi’s mother became a regular customer of hers, buying all sorts of good from her. She as well gave the woman sub distributor status and supplied her, choice goods. The women became very friendly and on many occasion, Femi’s mother had invited her to her home, but she skillfully evaded the invitation claiming one appointment or the other but promising to find time to pay her a visit someday.

On a particular occasion when Femi came to visit his mother. She told him how Deborah helped her and how they had become friends, even though, the woman in question was young enough to be her daughter. Femi smiled and thanked the woman in absence for easing his mother’s worries, promising to find time to accompany her to thank the woman personally someday.

Deborah told her parents about Femi’s mother. She also told them that the woman did not recognize her and that they had become friendly.

“What if she later on finds out that you are the same woman she behaved irrationally towards at the police station?” her mother said.

“Well Mummy, I don’t know and I really don’t care. I just helped an elderly woman and she took a liking to me, simple. I would have done it for any other woman.”

“How about Femi?” Her dad asked

“I don’t know daddy.”

“What do you mean by you don’t know.”

“I really do not know dad. I have not set eyes on him for a long time now.” Her parents looked surprised and simultaneously, they asked why.

“Nothing,” she replied. “We lost contact.”

 Her parents looked at each other and smiled. She wondered why they were smiling but did not bother to ask them; instead, she left them and went to her room.

She never heard about Rotimi again for a while until she read in a soft sell magazine that the MD of one of the banks who a few years ago separated from his wife, had privately married one of his lovers who got pregnant for him and refused to get rid of the pregnancy. She knew they were referring to Rotimi even though no name was mentioned. “Serves him right. I wish them fun together,” she said, laughed and began to feel sorry already for the woman.

Most weekends her siblings and sometimes her father usually come to the store to assist her in any way they could, after which she would take them out for a treat.

Deborah finally decided to follow Femi’s mother to her home one particular weekend, after much procrastination. The thought of seeing Femi again made her stomach churn. Oh, how she missed Femi so much. She decided to take her siblings along and afterwards they would go for their usual treat. She also felt the woman had a right to know whom she was and maybe she could get a chance to see Femi once again. 

Femi’s mother told her driver to take her goods to her store and deliver it to her sales girls and that she would ride with Deborah home. She told Deborah where she lived and gave directions as they went on.

When they got to the house, she knew why Femi usually walked. It was not far from the eatery.

When they arrived at her home, Deborah and her siblings went in. Femi’s mother went into the kitchen and brought drinks for them. As they drank she talked about her family and then finally about her last son who until recently lived with her.

So Femi had moved out, she thought. His mother had not said anything about his wife and so she assumed he was still a bachelor. Somehow, the news pleased her, as if she was wishing him to be a bachelor for life.

She got a chance to study the woman closely and knew that it was maternal instinct that must have made her behave the way she did at the police station. She was overly protective of him as her last-born child.

She was so filled with emotion she could not summon enough courage to reveal her identity to his mother and so she had to postpone it once more.

They finally finished up and she and her sisters left to have their fun. While they were in the car, Naomi asked.

“Debby, who is that woman?”

“She is one of my customers.”

“Do you normally visit all your customers or is she so special?”

“Sort off,” she said curtly.

I guessed so because if I am not mistaking, in the picture frame I saw hung on the wall in the living room, the young boy on her laps bears a striking semblance to a certain Mr Femi Davies.

“Naomi,” her sister called her name. “You are something else.”

“Am I correct,” she asked?

“I guess so.”

“Do you still see him?”

Nope.

“Then why did you come to his home?”

“Because the woman wanted me to come and somehow I wanted to.”

She looked at her younger sister and then smiled and said, “I know you are a grown woman now and so you will understand how I feel.”

Her sister smiled back and nodded.

 I miss him very much Naomi, he is the only male friend that has ever made me feel so relaxed. There is no moment of sadness with him around; it is always laughter upon laughter.

“I know,” Naomi said.

“So do we,” her younger ones who had been listening in on the conversation said from behind.

“Wow! I now have grown up women all around me Deborah said and they all laughed.

“Why don’t you call him then?” Ruth said.

“I cannot,” she answered.

“Why not Sis?”

“Because I don’t know if he misses me as well. Moreover, he is a man; he would have filled his life with lots of other women.”

They chatted on, then switched over to their respective love life, and only stopped chatting when they arrived at the eatery.

As they were dining, her father phoned her that he had arrived at the store so she need not bother coming back. He said he would lock up for her. She promised to bring some snacks for him and a bottle of his favorite wine. After dining they made takeaway for their parents and went back home.

That same day Femi paid a visit to his mother. She told him that her supplier came and that she came with her sisters.

 Femi was stunned and said, “you say she came with her sisters.”

“Yes,” his mother answered. “Is there anything wrong in that?”

Femi’s sixth sense was working overtime now and he queried his mother further.

“How many sisters?”

His mother was now confused and she asked. “Why are you asking questions about her, Femi?”

 Femi ignored her question and instead repeated his.

“Mummy, how many sisters did she come with?”

“Three of them,” she answered, “if that makes you happy or are you interested in any of them.”

“I never said that Mum. How can I be interested in people I never saw?”

 Femi instantly sensed the woman in question might be Deborah. “Anyway, what did she say her name was?”

“My son I don’t know her name, I always refer to her as my daughter.”

 If he had asked if she knew the name of any of her sisters, his mother would have told him because she heard them mention there names as they chatted.

In Deborah’s case, they mostly called her Sis, for short, except for Naomi who called her Debby, but she was not to know this.

“I will love to see the woman who has helped lift my mother’s spirit so much.”

“That would be lovely Femi. We can go there together next week Saturday.”

“One last question Mum. Do you know if she is married?”

“I think so,” his mother said, “but I have never seen her children.”

Femi then assumed she was still married to Rotimi. He felt disheartened, but since he had already promised to follow his mother to thank her, he would not shy away from that.

He spent more time with his mother before he left.

As he left the house, he wished time would pass and the following week’s Saturday would just appear. He wondered how his Mum was unable to recognize Deborah; on the other hand, he reasoned that she was so hysterical that day he will not be surprised if she was unable to recognize anyone she met on that day at the police station.

Deborah was in the cubicle she used as a make shift office doing some paper work. Her laborers were loading and offloading goods to respective customers and suppliers when Femi drove in to the premises with his mother at about two o’clock that Saturday afternoon closely followed by her driver in her goods van to purchase some items for her shop.

Immediately they alighted from the car Femi sighted Naomi by a desk making out what he guessed were invoices of some sort. He immediately knew the woman in question was Deborah. What an irony, the same person who aided in his break up with her is now bringing him back to her.

Naomi was so engrossed in what she was doing she did not see him move towards her.

His Mum thinking he assumed Naomi was Deborah immediately said to him, “That is not her, oh. That one is her younger sister, but they look alike.”

Without thinking, he answered her, “I know.” And that got his mother puzzled.

“You know?” she asked.

“Yes, I do Mum. We have met. Her name is Naomi.”

By then they were almost at Naomi’s table were she sat under an awning, writing, oblivious of who came and left the premises.

When he was almost at her table, he said, “hello Naomi.”

 The voice made her look up and on impulse she stood up from what she was doing, came round the table to hug him. She then greeted his mother before questioning him.

“Where have you been all these years? I don’t understand why you have to wake up one day and just disappear from us without reason and then you reappear.”

“All I can say is I am sorry. Explaining will not undo the damage done. Please kindly accept my apologies.”

“I hope this is the last of such apologies. Debby will be glad to see you, go ahead she is in the office.”

“Do you think so?”

“I know so,” she answered and pulled him along, leaving what she was doing.

His mother was truly shocked for words. She knew her son would explain what was going on later on to her. They went into the warehouse, Naomi arm in arm with Femi while his mother tagged along behind. As Naomi approached the office, she shouted to Deborah.

“Debby, I have a wonderful surprise for you.”

Deborah looked up from what she was doing and through the small louvered window sighted Femi coming towards her office with Naomi and his mother behind. She did not seem too surprised because she knew he would someday come, It was the speed at which it occurred that baffled her. She quickly decided on how best to react to his presence before her, and then decided to relax and comport herself as best as she could.

When he got to the entrance to the office he stood there, gazed at her for some seconds before saying hi.

“Hello,” she replied and then directed her attention at his mother and greeted. “Good afternoon, ma.”

His mother replied, “good afternoon my daughter.”

Deborah stood up and wanted to go and personally see to his mothers need when Naomi felt the need to give them some privacy.

 She then called Femi’s mothers attention.

“Ma, Let us go, so I can see to all your needs.”

 As she said so, she turned around and moved away, her gesture implying to his mother that she should follow her.

When they left, Femi moved into the office from the doorway where he stood and she sat down back on her chair. They sat silent for a moment before he spoke.

“You never change Deborah. You still look the same way I saw you the last time except for some minor but visible difference.”

She stared at him for a while before saying, “what are those minor but visible differences.”

“One, you look more beautiful. Two, happier and lastly, richer of course. If all I see around me is anything to go by.”

She smiled at his statements and then thanked him for the compliments. He then asked, “Am I safe here?  I just escorted my mum to thank you.”

She was puzzled at his question, it then dawned on her that he probably did not know she was now divorced and single.

“You have nothing to worry about as regards been re-arrested if that is what you mean. The only person that might do that now is probably my dad, but he is not a callous person.”

“Forgive my intrusion once again, but I would give anything to know how you have faired these past years. You, your husband, your family. I know I have no right to ask such right now, but could you please fill me in, within this few minutes I have with you.”

Why would you be interested in my welfare after all these years?

I have always been interested in your welfare Deborah, even while we never saw but I could not bring myself up to calling you. My Mum, she does not recognize you I presume.

Deborah answered by nodding her head.

“You still went ahead and rendered help to her.”

‘I was just doing business,” she answered frankly.

“How have you coped?” He asked again.

“I have been divorced for the last two and half years,” she said to him casually.

He took the news coolly and then asked, “Why didn’t you call me?”

“What would you have done Femi?” That was the first time she had spoken his name.

Femi kept quiet then said, “Would you give me the opportunity of dining with you once more?”

“Why would I do such a thing?” Deborah said.

“Because, this is not the right place to scold me. Please say yes,” he begged.

“No,” she replied.

“All right then, would you eat the food if I bought it and brought it here for you?

She looked at him queerly and said, “What kind of a proposal is that?”

“I will continue to ask all sorts until you give me a yes to one.”

As she was about to answer Naomi interrupted her.

“We are through Femi and your mum is waiting for you by the car,” she shouted from where she stood afar off.

“Please tell her I will be there in a minute.” Femi responded.

“All right,” Naomi said and went away.

He made a face suggesting he was still waiting for her answer but she said nothing.

“If you will not dine with me, I will invite Naomi instead and have her pass on my messages to you.”

That was the last straw, because the last thing she wanted was to give Naomi a chance to be with Femi alone. She knew Naomi was fond of Femi and will not say no to his offer of dinner with him. Better her instead, she thought. At least for old time’s sake and a chance to smile and laugh which he always made her do.

He stood up. I guess you are still mad at me then. I will call you sometime, at least now I know I will not be harassed for calling a married woman, although that is subject to if she is willing to answer my call. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to chat with you once again.

As he said that, he turned away and was at the door when Deborah said what about your mother.

He stopped dead on his track, “and what about her he asked?”

“Remember what you said to me years back.”

As you rightly said Deborah, years back. I was younger and you were married then. I am now independent and no longer under her roof and most of all; the impediment to your movement no longer exists. Please Deborah I ask you once more, let me be your friend once again, I really missed your company.”

“Ah, I see. The company,” Deborah said mockingly.

“Nope! Not just the company, mostly you. I never stopped missing you.”

She smiled at him and said, “mummy is waiting for you.” She remained silent for some seconds then finally said call me.

He moved closer to her, surprisingly, planted a kiss on her cheek and said, “Thank you.”

She was short of words to reply when he said good-bye. Her left hand still caressed the left side cheek where he had kissed her and instead of waving with the other hand, she placed it on her right cheek.

He retreated backwards as he was fond of doing and then turned, put his hands on his lips and blew her another kiss. She did not notice when Naomi came and stood by her.

“Don’t let him go this time Debby,” she said as she put her arms on her sister’s shoulder.  “Don’t,” she repeated and they both went back into the office to chat.

As Femi got into the car, his mother had barely allowed him to maneuver his car out of the premises before asking.

“Do you mind explaining what just went on?”

“No,” he answered.

“No,” she replied.

“Yes mum, what is there to explain? You asked me never to see her again and then you brought me back to her.”

His mother was confused. “Do you mind explaining your statement?” she asked.

He turned to look at his Mum. “You even threatened to disown me if I continued my rapport with her.”

His mother then asked. “Was she the woman at the station some years back?”

 He nodded.

“Jesus! I did not know. Moreover, she has being so good to me. I owe her an apology.”

He did not respond to her statement and she then asked him about Deborah’s husband.

“I think she is divorced.”

His mother kept silent a while, and then said, “Why? She is too young to be a divorcee. How about her children?”

“She does not have any.”

“Maybe that is why they separated then,” his mother concluded.

“Mummy that is not why they separated.”

“How do you know that Femi?”

“I know Mummy. I know more about her than her so-called husband ever did.”

“But you said you were only friends back then.”

“Yes, we were and would probably have ended up as enemies, thanks to you, but I guess you have redeemed that.”

Her next question surprised him very much.

“Do you like her?”

He turned to look at his mother strangely and she noticed from his mood that he was not willing to discuss Deborah’s topic any further and so she switched topics. He dropped her off at her shop and then went straight home.

Deborah had never felt so happy in years and it showed in her behaviour for the remainder of the day. Her two youngest sisters had gone back to school. It was just her and Naomi who was now a senior student at the University. She decided to close early if her dad did not come that day so they could both go out together and have fun, and she chose to go to the eatery she and Femi usually met, as a reminder that he was now back into her life.

When they got there, they ordered their meals. They were served and they carried their meal trays to a table to sit, eat and chat.

“Debby, now that Femi is back into your life, what next?” Naomi asked.

“What do you mean by what next?”

“You know what I mean Debby. You are still young and attractive. Yes, you have had a failed marriage but that is no criteria to remain unmarried for the rest of your life. You need a man back in your life.”

“I am not rushing back into what I came out of.”

“I am not saying you should do that Sis. What I am saying is that you need a man around you. You are not made of steel, are you? Deborah acquiesced by nodding her head. Then allow a man back into your life,” Naomi insisted with a firm tone.

Debby pondered about what Naomi had just said and replied, “You mean I should agree to every man that comes my way or request for a date until I get what I want?”

“No Debby, I am been specific. I am saying you should define your relationship with him now that he is back and you are single.”

Deborah was very surprised at Naomi’s insinuation and she stared at her.

“Don’t look at me that way Debby, it’s the fact. Stop beating about the bush. I know both of you like each other, then why don’t you both come off your high horses and do the right thing.”

“Naomi, what makes you think he likes me enough to want to be my lover?”

“It is right there in his eyes Debby, unless you are too blind to see it, help him, all he needs is a little shove from you. How about you Debby, do you want him?”

 “What if he has a woman in his life already?’

“You just evaded my question Debby. So what if he has Debby? Always put it in mind that whoever she is, he knew you before her. You both had a special bond together, but then you belonged to someone else and now you do not. I believe that was what stopped him from airing out his feelings for you back then. Please give it a thorough thought and don’t allow your happiness to pass you by this time around. It is not for nothing you both keep bumping back into each other, there is more to it than meets the eyes.”

“Thanks for your advice Naomi; I see you are becoming an expert counsel on relationships. How about you, how is your love life?”

Naomi smiled at her sister and answered. “My dear sister I am doing fine. So far, nobody has won my heart yet, completely that is. When I come across one, I will let you know, someone as handsome, caring and loveable as Femi.” She then jokingly added, “Incase you decide you don’t want him, I am ready, willing and available. I know he will make a very good husband.”

Deborah took a hard look at Naomi.

“Just joking Sis, just joking,” Naomi said.

They chatted on until they left the restaurant and drove back home.

 

CHAPTER SEVEN

Femi called Deborah that night and they fixed an appointment for the next day at their usual eatery where she had dined that day with Naomi.

After talking to her, he watched a bit of television, then went to bed and fell into a trance.

He spread his hands over the bed trying to touch her, but his hands felt no one. He opened his eyes to find out why she was not there only to recollect that he had been dreaming about her all night.

Ever since he saw her the previous day, he had not felt the same. He had thought of her constantly. He was convinced he had feelings for her but how real they were was what he could not tell. He was also at a loss as to how she felt for him.

He knew Deborah liked him, but is their affection strong enough to make them lovers. Somehow, he never viewed her as a divorcee and that gave him the impetus to forge ahead with his friendship with her.

He arrived that day at the restaurant some twenty minutes before she arrived. He chose a table where he sat obvious enough for her to see him the minute she came in.

He watched her as she approached him with a smile on her face. He reciprocated and waved her on to his table. She got to the table and sat down opposite him, put her elbows on the table, her hands up to support her chin and she gave him a glancing stare.

“Hi Deborah,” he said.

“Hello Femi,” she replied with her hands still under her chins.

“You look very beautiful Deborah.”

“Thank you,” she replied.

“I suggest we buy snacks and take away.”

“Take away?” Deborah asked.

“Yes, we will take a drive down to the beach so we can chat while the cool evening breeze blows us.”

“That sounds like a nice idea but how will you get back home.”

“Deborah, remember I don’t live within this neigbourhood anymore. I came with the car, so we will just drive in tow down to the beach.”

“All right,” she said and he went to buy snacks and juice for them to take along with them.

They arrived at the beach, found a spot, and rented from the beach keepers. After snacking a bit he brought up the topic.

“Now can you please fill in the blank spaces?”

Before she could ask any question, he concluded, “the missing piece. What I don’t know until date. Such as the divorce if you do not mind, the current man in your life.”

“Hmm! My divorce, there is really nothing much to say about that. We separated, simple, and we have not set eyes on each other since then, even coincidentally, but I know he has remarried; about the man in my life? None.”

“Why is that?”

She shrugged the question off.

“I think I have answered your questions, or am I here for interrogation? How about you, tell me. What have you been up to and the woman in your life.”

He breathed in deeply and said, “I have been working, nothing so special,” and he kept quiet, knowing she was eagerly expecting him to talk about the woman in his life. Before she could ask, he spoke on; “we have been dating for some months now.”

He studied her face hoping to register her feelings but saw no expression.

“That’s nice, at least for once, you have owned up to having a lover. She must be something special and very beautiful I presume. I know you like pretty women,” Deborah commented.

Her comments caught him off guard. He probably expected her to show some form of jealousy. Unknowing to him she did feel repulsive about his affair but she hid her feelings. He had a right to lead his life the way he wanted, have a woman, be gay, a gigolo, and an addict of some sort or whatever. They were mere friends and moreover, had lost contact for a while. She had no hold over him and she would cherish his friendship for as long as she could.

“Do you love her?” she asked.

“I like her a lot. However, I cannot speak much for love.”

“Why is that?”

“Love for me I believe is one way. For example, how can you love Miss A and think less about her when you are with Miss B. Do you get my drift?”

“I don’t,” Deborah answered. She understood what he meant but wanted him to expatiate further.

“What I mean is you should want to be with that which you love and no one else.”

“You have a problem Femi.”

“I do?”

“Yes, you do Femi.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I hope to one day see the woman that will win your heart all the way.”

“She is there all right and some day I will have her,” he said.

“I hope and pray so,” she said.

They chatted on moving from one topic to another until it got dark. They felt like staying on further but the beach was not a place to be, after dark in Lagos. They got back into their respective cars, promising to call each other within the week to fix a time for their next rendezvous.

Femi and Deborah became inseparable. Whenever he was free, he was at her store. He even started to have his lunch breaks at her store sometimes. Many times, he gave her suggestions on ways of improving her business and helped with certain business chores at times.

His relationship with his present lover suffered due to this and he frequently had misunderstandings with her. She complained that he was available only physically whenever she was around him and not emotionally. He neither denied nor confirmed her allegations; most times, he parried her accusations skillfully.

On a particular occasion, she questioned him about rumours she heard about his association with another woman. She told him that a friend of hers had seen both of them and was sure they had something going between them. He acknowledged he had a female friend but that they were merely good friends. She refused to believe him and he told her he did not give a damn whether she believed him or not, as far as he was telling her the truth.

Femi’s sabbatical was due and he went on it. He spent most of his time with Deborah at her warehouse helping her with her business and within a short period, they were out of space to accommodate goods. He helped acquire a new merchandising deal for her. She eventually got another store and employed a storekeeper to operate it.

During one of their lunch, they discussed the business together.

“Before long, you will be one of the richest young women in town,” Femi said.

“Thanks to your dynamism for that, but of what use will it be if I am so rich and I have no man or children to share it with. The richer I become the farther the men will go away from me Femi, except those who feel they can get something out of me, financially I mean,” Deborah said.

“That is sad, so what do you suggest, relinquishing all and becoming a pauper so that a gentle man can notice you.”

“Perhaps,” she answered and smiled.

“Too bad, and I was just about to propose another deal for you with my company.”

“Femi you have brought me enough business deals. I am wondering how I am going to be able to cope. Yet you are about to propose more.”

“Of course, Deborah, this one does not involve bulky goods but your money flows in. An office space is what you need. I have been thinking about it for myself but since I have no one and enough bucks to run it, I might as well pass it on to you.”

“I am sorry Femi but I will have to decline for now. Maybe someday when I have a husband to aid and help supervise it.”

As they were chatting, a figure came and stood by their table looming over them. Femi looked up and his face met with Funmi his girlfriend. He smiled at her and as he greeted her, he noticed another female figure standing by. He assumed they were together. She responded to his greetings, looked at Deborah and then at Femi. Femi then introduced them to each other.

 “Meet Deborah a good friend of mine. Deborah, meet Funmi my girlfriend.”

“I’m pleased to meet you,” Deborah said. “I have heard so much about you and you are every inch what Femi said.”

“Thank you, Funmi replied. “Although I have not heard much about you, I have seen you for quite a while.

Deborah was stunned and so was Femi and she asked, “Where have you been seeing me?”

“In his room,” Funmi said with a slight trace of displeasure.

“His room?” Deborah repeated. “I have never been to his home let alone his room.”

Oh, my dear, He has always had you even if you did not know it. Funmi turned to face Femi and said, “I see she is quite a beauty and you have always loved beautiful women. There must be something in her I do not possess, whatever it is I wish you good luck in your so-called friendship,” and as tears was about to stir in her eyes she turned away and her skulking friend went away with her.

Immediately they left, Deborah asked him what all that was all about.

“I don’t know,” he answered.

“What do you mean by you don’t know. Your girlfriend walks in on us, and talks as if I have been sleeping around with you, accuses me of being in your bedroom and you say you don’t know. Come of it Femi, be straight with me.”

“All right, do you really want to know?”

“Of course I do.”

He breathed in and started talking. “When we parted the last time, I thought it was over and I was not going to see you again so I had a sculptor draw a feminine face on a wood and carved the name Deborah on it. It is a very beautiful piece. I had it placed right across my bed so I would see it immediately I wake up in the morning and before I went to bed as a reminder of our friendship. We have been having these misunderstandings lately between us. She often accused me of withdrawal from her and once told me her friends had seen us dining together. I did not refute dining with you but I told her we were friends nothing more but she did not believe me.” He then paused to watch her response.

“I seem to always put you in trouble Femi. So, what are you going to do now?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing!” She exclaimed.

“Yeah. I was expecting her to do that long ago. I did not know how to make her understand my feelings for her had waned because I did not want to hurt her. It makes it bearable it’s happening this way I guess.”

“I never knew you to be as hard as this Femi.”

“Sometimes the hard way is the only way. You have to be, if not you lose what you want and I am not about to lose you again, now that I have found you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Deborah, the first time I saw you walk out of that car with Rotimi was the day my heart went out to you and ever since then, there is no day I do not think about you, even if for a split second. The second time at the restaurant when I advised you to settle with whoever your boyfriend was, I secretly wished I were the one.”

As he was about to speak further she interrupted him.

“I hope you would not mind taking me to see your creation of me in your room.”

“What did you just say?”

“Yes, Femi. I want to see it, please.”

“If you say so, whenever you please just say so.”

“If you care to show me now I would be glad.”

“Are you sure you want to see it now?”

“Yes, I do.”

“All right then,” he said. They finished up and left the restaurant to his apartment, a two bedroom flat in a block of four. He opened the door and ushered her in.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” he said as she walked into the living room.

She took a quick glance around and commended his hygiene. “Very tidy, that is good.”

“Do you care for something; I have some juice in the fridge.” She stared at him, her eyes sending her message.

 He decoded her intense gaze to mean, I thought we just dined and said, “I guess you just want to see the image then.”

She nodded and he led the way through the anteroom into the main door to his bedroom, turned the knob, opened the door and they walked in.

As she strolled in, she saw the sculpture conspicuously placed at the foot of his bed on the opposite wall. She moved towards it and placed her bag unconsciously on his bed as she passed by it. When she stood in front of the piece, she felt it and admired its beauty. It was the picture of a woman lying down semi nude.

All the while, he stood some distance behind her and watched as she admired the artwork. After some minutes, she turned to ask him.

“Why don’t you replace this motionless piece with reality?”

“And how am I supposed to do that?”

“By taking the real one in place of it,” and as she spoke, she turned away from the sculpture and walked towards him. When she got to about a foot away from him, she stopped and looked at him straight in the eyes. He did not know what he was supposed to do and she sensed it in him. She then raised her hands and put it on his shoulders. That singular gesture spurred him on and he extended his arms and drew her closer to him.

The feeling of their bodies producing warmth close to each other brought out the unspoken affection in them and they kissed clinging to each other.

He stopped kissing her, looked down at her and asked, “Do you think I am doing the right thing?”

“That depends on what you consider wrong or right,” she answered. “If you are referring to your show of affection, as far as am concerned it is the best thing that has happened to me in years.”

“You don’t say.”

“I just did.”

He then kissed her again, then carried her up, and gently placed her on the bed.

“I love you Femi. I have always loved you.”

“I love you too,” Deborah he said.

They spent the remainder of the evening lying in each other’s arms confessing their love for each other. Deborah reluctantly left Femi’s home that day. She told him she wished she could spend the whole day just lying in his arms. He told her he would also love that, but for the fact that she did not inform anyone she would be staying over, she went home. He told her his home was free for her to come at any time she desired. She left his home a happier woman.

On her way home, she recapped the day’s event. She felt as if she was dreaming. She slapped her face lightly twice to make sure all was real. Femi finally confessed his love for her. Does it mean she would now be his lover? How would Femi’s mother react to her dating her son? She knew she would not encounter problems with her parents. They knew Femi already and they would be glad to have him amidst them.

Would the affair lead to where she wanted it to lead was what was uppermost in her mind, or was it just a relationship that would someday end? She had to tread carefully so as not to hurt herself once more.

After that day, Femi and Deborah saw more of each other but he never invited her to his home. They went outing a lot but on no occasion did he give her any hint of wanting to take her home and that worried her. She did not want to ask him because she felt that would be too forward of her and so she let the issue lie temporarily until the right opportunity arose.

They were dining during one of their outings when she summoned the courage to ask him.

“Femi, why is it that you never invite me to your home?”

Femi smiled and answered. ‘I don’t have to invite you. I told you, you are always welcome anytime.”

“No, Femi, it is quite different from actually inviting me, or are you scared of something?”

“Yes, I am,” he said.

“What might that be Femi?”

“I don’t want to just invite you and then you go. I would prefer you always go and then come.”

“I think I am confused here,” Deborah said. “Could you please break it down for me?”

“What I am trying to say is that I want you to be mine forever and if I can’t have all of you, then I don’t want a bit of you.”

“How would you know how much of me you can have if you don’t try finding out?”

He looked at her then told her to finish up so they could go. She asked him, “where to,” and he just replied, “finish up and let us go, it is a surprise.”

She finished her drink and they left. She did not come with her car because he came to pick her at home. They drove in silence and she tried to guess where he was taking her. As they went along, she saw that they were not heading towards the direction of his apartment but towards his mother’s home, she got curious and asked.

“Are we going to your mother’s home?”

“Yes. There is something I need to tell her.”

“Suddenly in the middle of our dinner, you remembered that you had something to tell your mother.”

“Yes sweetheart it is very, very important.”

She kept quiet as he drove on. He noticed her mood had changed but he ignored her. As they got to the house, he parked the car in the compound and they came down. When they got to the entrance of the house, he stopped her and said, “Before we go in to meet my mother, there is something I would love to ask you.”

She was not so enthusiastic about whatever he wanted to ask her but she perfunctorily told him to go ahead.

“I am listening,” she said.

“Will you marry me?” femi said.

She thought she heard the word marry, but her annoyance at his interruption of their dinner and her lackadaisical attitude towards the impending question made her not concentrate on what he asked and so she kept quiet a while trying to grab if that was what she heard. She watched him looking at her with expectancy but all she did was ask him what he just said.

“I asked if you would marry me, Deborah?”

That hit her straight and she answered, shouting. “Yes, I will marry you Femi Davies.”

He smiled, embraced her and said, “Thank you my love. Now I can tell my mum what I wanted to tell her. Can we please go in?”

Hands joined together and she leaning on him, they knocked the door and went into the house. His mother was glad to see her. Surprisingly, when Femi formally introduced her to his mother as his future wife, she stood up and danced around the house jubilantly, asking immediately about the wedding date, when he proposed only a few minutes ago.

They sat and discussed for some few more minutes before they left her. When they were outside the house, his hands on her shoulders as they approached the car, he asked. Would you mind if we stopped by my apartment.

“No,” she answered humouredly.

“Why?”

“Because, you just said my apartment.”

“Oh, sorry dear, I meant to say, do you mind if we go home briefly before I take you to your parent’s home.”

“Hmm! That sounds better. Yes darling, please take me home, I can hardly wait to get to bed.”

They both smiled as they got into the car and drove off.

Six months later Femi and Deborah married and a year afterwards; she gave birth to a baby boy. Femi resigned his job and took over the running of the business.

THE END