WHAT LIES BENEATH
Episode 31
By AMAH’S HEART.
My mind was finally made up after three weeks of indecisiveness.
I asked her to wait after work that I will like to see her whenever she was free.
She agreed, I waited through out that afternoon but no news from her.
She only came to inform me that she will like to leave early due to some emergency.
It was on a Friday, which means all through the weekend I won’t get an answer from her until Monday again.
I said okay and she left.
I was still trying to exercise patient until Monday but at the same time I kept wondering to myself if what I planned to do was right.
I trust her and feel very comfortable around her so that’s a go ahead key for me.
During that weekend Eziaku called to inform me about the task I asked her to help me sort.
“The person I sent has gotten back to me. Sir, Would you like me to come over to your place or I should just say it over the phone…”
I wonder what is up with her adding sir to every sentence even after I asked her not to but rather see me as a friend.
On the other hand is cool.
We’re just on a casual mood, nothing serious attached.
“Over the phone will be fine Ezi. Kindly tell me what you were able to dig up…”
I replied calmly.
wanting to come over to my place shows that Eziaku had been in Abuja all this while.
She can be so unpredictable.
I don’t want such closeness again.
I regretted the first one and wouldn’t want another love triangle with her.
“I thought as much that you may not want to see me but I’m coming over by next week Saturday. I have three nice customers that I need to attend to this weekend if not I would have rushed down today. What I discovered is not something we can talk over the phone. It will also be an opportunity to see you again…”
“My woman is around Ezi and I’m not in for any drama after the last one that we both experienced…
I said trying to discourage her because I really don’t want any closeness with her again.
I don’t care how she feels or takes the news, I want everything with Eziaku to be normal, no emotions attached.
I was still trying to say something when she interrupted.
“I know that may be the reason for you not wanting me to come over or in general you just kind of hate me after what happened in the past but me I don’t care. I’m not coming to fight or take you from your woman. Tell her I used to work for you as a cleaner and wants to come and say hello. Also tell her that I can make different international and local hairstyle incase she wants a stylist or she knows people that might be interested. I can cook, wash and clean, not for free but my charges are fair. Tell her anything that won’t put negative thoughts in her head. I don’t even fall into you people’s class or league so nobody will see me as a threat. I’m coming o. Tell your girlfriend or wife that one of your house help wants to come and clean up the house…
I kept quiet as I marvel at this girl’s boldness.
She will speak her mind without fear whenever she feels like and does not care what anyone thinks.
That is one of the fun fact about her and a rare quality I admire in women. Not the ones that will blab on and on without making proper sense.
Anyway, she won. She sounds unstoppable and another deep part of me wants to see her
“…. hello sir. Hope you’re hearing me? I would have love to buy something and come but you may end up throwing it into the dustbin and wasting my money. If you still want something, tell me so that I can buy it for you and I can also buy for your woman or wife. You will see me next weekend…
I asked her not to buy anything and she agreed.
Since her coming is next weekend, I will have enough time to think her coming over properly.
If I change my mind and don’t want her around I will tell her straight up or inform her that I won’t be around through out the weekend and I’m busy during the week days.
She can even choose to keep whatever she finds out about Oby to herself.
I’m not too eager to know and i don’t need it for anything except to clear my doubts.
Let her not feel like the news is too important for me because is not.
On Monday, Angela appeared lively and happy. I caught her smiling to herself, I wonder what was new on her list and while she seems so happy.
She had a new hairdo, a new wristwatch, a different nail polish.
I’m begining to notice alot of things about her lately. Things I don’t even take knowledge of before.
The treat I gave her sometime back that she was over excited was a gift bag that contained a dinner dress and a mini box of jewelry, a dot diamond ear ring and neck chain.
It was quiet expensive but Angela deserves it. She put so much efforts to her job and make sure we don’t loose clients. She tries to be on top of her performance and does not do eye service as some staff will do.
Angela was real and hard-working. I increased her pay few months ago after traveling to kaduna and signing the big deal with Alhaji.
After noticing that she was sad at some point, it made me decide to give her a treat and I couldn’t think of anything except to buy a fine dinner dress and top it with the jewelries.
I can’t remember when last I went shopping for a woman.
That was during the time of Eziaku. I also used to do that for Oby before things took another turn.
I enjoys buying things for any woman I love, like or admire.
Angela case was different, I know I was beginning to find myself thinking about her ones in a while but I only gave her those things to encourage her for several jobs well done.
If anything ever happens between us which is very possible due to the way she keeps coming into my thoughts. I will love to see her in that dinner dress.
Is a lovely gown and she also confirmed it.
If I ever planned on having anything with her, I will ask her to wear that dinner gown for our first outing.
I know she will really look beautiful in it.
Mr Peter have finally concluded and we both sealed the deal.
He even wanted a virgin plots of land for a big project he planned to build on.
After the conclusion, he paid up twice without further delay.
I was happy as usual for a huge sell as I transferred the main money to the former assets owners and keep my interest just as agreed.
It was after then I made up my mind to talk to Angela which took me sometime in concluding if I truly want to do that.
When I finally asked to see her was on Friday and it was the same day she left early due to some emergency.
Resuming this Monday, I was wondering if she still remember me asking to see her for personal reasons not official.
That was the same time she knocked and entered my office.
I asked her to sit down and she did.
“Sir, I’m sorry that I couldn’t wait up on Friday. I seriously needed to rush to somewhere. And since you said anytime I’m free and it wasn’t about work and nothin so serious I was relaxed a little… now I’m here, hope is not too late?
I smiled and try not to show how uneasy what I’m about to ask her may seem.
“The emergency you rushed out to attend to hope is not very serious…
I asked while trying to get my mind ready for the question.
She replied that it wasn’t really serious. Is something she handled perfectly.
I breathed deeply and looked up at her fully
“Okay, I have something I want to ask and I really do want you to feel free with me and answer. I’m good with any reply you give but be sincere with it… alright?
She nodded with a straight face.
“,…What I’m about to ask you is… what do you think of…
I paused and breathed before trying to continue.
But as I try to continue she began to speak. Mistaken the whole thing I wanted to say.
“, Well sir, I knew you might be suspecting but yes…is true. I guess he spoke to you about me… Mr Peter is a nice man aside the fact that he’s very cute. We connected so well from the first day he came and we have been talking and chatting over the phone. You want to know what I think about him, I like him alot too. We went on our second date this Saturday. I’m sorry but my running off on Friday is to go mini shopping for the lunch date and it was awesome. I couldn’t think of what to wear and there was no time to make my hair, do manicure and pedicure and also get my dress with shoe ready. I end up wearing the beautiful dress you got for me with it’s chain…he loves it and wouldn’t stop flattering me…
She blushed and continued
“…I know I shouldn’t be saying so much but is worth sharing. Is been a very long time I went on an actual date with a caring man like Peter and this one was really good, we had a great time. He ones said he will speak to you about me but I asked him not to. Because I really don’t know how you will feel about me and a client having a thing. I don’t know that he finally did…
Words dry off from my mouth as i listened to her.
I can’t believe I was about to ask her what she thinks of going on a date with me. Which I know she will say yes since she had always shown interest in me.
My next would have been asking her to wear the dinner dress I got for her.
I was late to the show because she did is not only dating one of our young fine clients, she also wore the dress I bought for her on a lunch date with him.
I felt somehow jealous as she talks about the guy but she seems happy and that is something I shouldn’t overlook because of my selfishness.
I was beginning to like and admire her recently and since is been a while I had anything with a woman, trying another relationship with her won’t be a bad idea.
She will only needs to stop working with me in order to keep the flame of passion burning and not mix work with pleasure.
Angela would have been a good start, I have worked with her for about two years now and she is a happy soul and lovely lady in every aspect.
She was bold enough to come to make her feelings known to me when i had no interest in her at all.
And when I finally did, she was already taken.
I can only wish her well and kick my feelings for her into the trashcan.
She was only my worker not a maid. She should go live her best life with whoever she likes and who will also reciprocate the same feeling she has.
I never had any conversation with Peter concerning her but somethings are better left unsaid
“Is alright Angela. I’m not a bit offended… I’m happy for you. Just be careful out there and don’t allow anyone to toil with your heart and emotions…
“Thank you so much sir. God bless you for everything…
She showered me with lots of praises before finally leaving my office to hers.
I gasped out while staring at nothing.
This was another kick on the butt. A good thing that I haven’t concluded with what I was saying before she started spilling her weekend getaway with her Mr Right.
Work continued until weekend came.
Eziaku called to remind me that she was coming that Saturday.
I did not have much to say, I only replied with “alright”
I had no serious plan that Saturday except to relax at home and watch soccer game show just like most Saturdays.
She finally came, I went to the door and opened for her.
She looks a little different on a fine Ankara made gown with a beautiful hairdo.
“Hey Ezi.. how’re you doing?
I managed to say as she walked in.
“Good morning Sir, I’m fine…is nice seeing you again.
I curved a smile as I ushered her into the sitting room.
“… you added a little weight from the last time I saw you. Eating well and living a healthy life must have gotten you like this. You also changed the sitting room setting and chairs too… God has been good to you in the aspect of business… the evidence is written everywhere around you…”
I was grinning as she went on and on talking after sitting down.
“…is your woman around, let me greet her first before anything!
“No, I’m home alone Ezi…
She sat properly and dropped her mini handbag on the arm of the chair and a yellow colorful bag that looks like it has a plate inside beside her leg.
I was happy seeing her but I refused to show it fully. Watching her get comfortable was satisfying.
“What can I offer you Ezi…?
I stood up and began moving towards the refrigerator.
“Anything but to be sincere I want to eat, can I… am I allowed, is okay by you…
I turned to her and said.
“Uhmmm, I will have to heat up the food in the microwave. I only took a simple breakfast. But I have food stored in the fridge. You will have to give me some minutes…”
She quickly interrupted while lifting the yellow bag up.
“No sir…I have my food here. I brought my own food, I was only asking if is okay for me to eat it. I didn’t cook at home, planned goin to the market whenever I leave here. I bought this food from a special African kitchen around my side. Should I go ahead and start eating…
I was stunned at first by Eziaku bringing her own food.
Why will she do that?
“You don’t trust me enough to give you the least thing as food.. that’s why you brought your food along?
I said, a little bit crossed with her.
” No…ah ah, why will you think like that.. I used to eat here before. I even enjoy your cooking so much and also love watching you cook too. I only decided to buy my food because I don’t know if you have any cooked food available and also if your woman is around I will not want to start demanding for food… I really didn’t want to bother you by asking you to give me food but the main reason for bringing this food is because is being a while I have been wanting to buy that woman’s roasted plantain and fish. I was the first set of people to buy it this morning and if I don’t I may not be able again this weekend until next one. Hope you understand now…
I waved all her explanation off.
“Whatever! go to the dining and eat your food please.
She stood, thanked me and carried the food to the dining.
“… will you also like some juice or water or did you bring your own drinks.
She began to laugh, I smiled back as I brought a pack of juice and a bottle water from the fridge to her.
As I was about to turn she opened the plate of rosted plantain and grilled fish.
The aroma and the whole food package was mouth watering.
They added some sliced green leaf on top like vegetable.
She turned to look at me, I quickly looked away but my curiosity was on a high level.
“Where did you say you bought this… and for how much?
She took the first plantain with her disposable fork and looked up at me.
“You mean this food, is around that bustop close to where I live. A plate like this is six hundred naira. But if you go with a your own plate then is five hundred. I eat it like three times last month, is very good… you need to try it. Please come and join me so you will understand what I’m saying… or let me take out some into a different plate for you just for tasting…
I asked her not to, I will look for the place whenever I’m ready and buy mine.
I left her to eat while I returned to the sitting room.
I went on watching my soccer game untill she was done and came to sit in the sitting room.
“I really enjoyed that food…is good to eat a different thing ones in a while. If you have joined me it wouldn’t have been enough for me but I wouldn’t mind.
I smiled and said
“Let’s get to the main business of the day… what did you find.
“Nothin serious, Oby’s father was ill after falling from a coconut tree. The local massager helped to straighten his kneecap that was affected but after then he uses a walking stick for support as he goes around his daily business. Oby’s mother now frys and sell garri in ekwu market to support the family. The second daughter got pregnant for one man and had to move in with him but she opened a restaurant in front of her husband house after giving birth to her baby. I don’t really know much about Oby only that no one is sure if she is still in school or not because over a year now she has not come home to see her parents. Even as some of her mates went for Nysc after graduation she wasn’t among and we don’t know where exactly she is or which man she moved in with…
She suddenly stood and stand attention like an officer with a saluting posture.
“… reporting from Eziaku of the most high, this was the information I was able to gather sir. Hope our work is done or should we proceed to another location in search of Oby?
I began to laugh at her acting.
“No, thanks for the report. that will be all for now officer Eziaku of the most high”.
She saluted me while battling with laughter.
She took her sit and went on laughing.
“Thanks for the information Ezi. I appreciate…
She nodded while grinning seriously.
I was already enjoying her presence and wish she can stay longer.
But she said she was going to the market.
She asked if I’m still interested in the plantain and fish. I nooded quietly and told her I will look for the place and get it.
Eziaku stopped at the door, looked up at me and said.
“I will buy and bring it for you next weekend…if you don’t mind.
I told that it was fine and asked if I should give her money or not.
She didn’t answer the last part as she smiled and left.
I was already counting days to weekend where I will get to see her again.
I didn’t ask about her supposed husband to be, Uche or what exactly happened.
She will talk when she is ready. Let me wait until weekend again before seeing her.
As for the information on Oby, I have already disposed it.
She finally confirmed my doubts.
