CAUGHT IN THE ACT BY GODFREY EMUZE
CHAPTER FIVE
A week later, Charles was sitting in his office thinking about how exactly to win his wife back. He had called her a few times in the past week and although they didn't talk much but at least she picked up each time he called. He once had a lovely relationship with his wife but now they are like familiar strangers and it's his entire fault. Still brooding over his marital dilemma, his thoughts were interrupted when his secretary called to inform him that the MD wanted to see him. He wondered why the MD suddenly wanted to see him since he didn't have any scheduled meeting with him.
'This had better be good, I sincerely hope I'm not getting fired' he muttered as he left his office. As soon as he entered the MD's office, he saw a familiar friend sitting across from the table and she smiled at him, he suddenly wished he was anywhere but inside that office with her. He shifted nervously from one foot to another as he waited for the MD to speak.
"Sir, you called for me…" he said breaking the awkward silence.
"Yes, please come in. Remember Alexander and co, the multinational archi-firm building lots of elite estates and luxury houses… This is Mrs. Zubair, their contact person who will be handling their account with us. Madam please meet one of our top executives, Charles Omonigho," he said gesturing between the both of them.
Charles managed to mutter a greeting to her, "good day madam, it's a pleasure to meet you," she replied 'likewise'.
The MD spoke again, "Charles will be the one to handle your account from our side, I'm sure you'll enjoy working with him, he's one of my best executives," he said smiling at Charles.
Mrs Zubair looked pleased, "that's alright, I believe our working together will be productive for the next few months."
"I'm sure you'll like this one but just in case you don't like him we can always assign someone else to you," said the MD.
She glanced at Charles before speaking, "so is he familiar with the contract and our terms and conditions?"
"I'm sure both of you will work something out, a win-win situation for both firms," the MD said with a smile.
The MD looked at Charles when he spoke again, "so I need you to take her around the office premises, please make her feel very comfortable. And in proper time, you guys should come up with a smooth contract for both firms."
Charles managed a smile, "of course sir, we'll get right on it." He said as he gestured for her to come with him. As he ushered her out, the MD called him back.
Just a minute Charles, "I understand that if this deal goes well, they will hand over their Elite estates and luxurious houses in Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt to us to manage for them. I need you to familiarize her with our policy and packages. See where we can be flexible and let's have a good MOU regarding their account. Please I need you to be at your best."
"I will sir," he assured him before joining Mrs. Zubair outside.
About half an hour later, Charles was done showing her around and they headed back to his office.
"please do come in and have a seat, make yourself comfortable. So tell me, did you know this was my firm?" he said as he ushered in.
She looked at him amused, "well I wasn't sure until I came here and saw you. Besides even if I knew this was your firm, I didn't ask your boss to assign you to our account."
Charles just stared at her in disbelief, "so you are telling me that this is all a coincidence? Of all the people at Alexander and co, they had to send you in particular?"
"well just like you, I'm one of the best at my firm that's why they sent me. If I had known that I would have to work with you, perhaps I would've declined. I'm not exactly thrilled to see you."
He shrugged, "well you are here already so we have to find a way to work together amicably."
"Before we get down to business, I want to ask you a question, why have you been avoiding me?" she asked.
"I'm sorry about that, I just had to stop seeing you," he answered.
"So that's why you cancelled our trip, you stopped picking my calls and stopped showing up at our rendezvous point. So what exactly happened?"
"My wife happened, she found out I was having an affair," he said quietly.
"I'm sorry about that but at least you should have called me and explained things instead of just blocking me out like I was never part of your life," she said angrily.
He looked apologetic, "Peju, I'm really sorry if I hurt you but I hope you can understand that am in a difficult situation."
"Please say no more! I get you, you aint the first man leaving me hanging alone in the rain but perhaps you will be the last. My husband, your Gym-friend, left me for over 2 years for his secretary with 2 kids to care for alone. He kept moving from one mistress to another, travelling round the world with them and spending all the money we made together without looking back. So when you came along, I found solace and hope again but I guess it's useless going after men that are hooked on another train," she said fighting back tears as she stood up to leave.
"Please Peju, I'm sorry but you can't leave now. We have so much work to do and we haven't even started yet," he pleaded.
She looked backed at him with anger in her eyes, "work? Is that all that matters to you right now?" she shook her head in disbelief as she walked out of his office.
Jenny was sitting at her dressing mirror finishing up her makeup, she had a huge smile on her face. She finally had a reason to dress up and get out of the house, she felt so beautiful and desirable, It's been a while she felt that way. She heard Comfort knocking on the door.
"come in…so tell me how do I look?" she asked with a smile.
Comfort smiled back, "you look stunning, absolutely beautiful. So tell me, who is this mystery man that's making you blush so much."
She blushed some more, "he's a writer so he's more of a colleague. We've been corresponding for a while now, he's based in the states and this is his first time of visiting Nigeria as an adult."
"I can tell you are really excited to meet him, seeing as you are going all out to look pretty."
"Well this is our first time of meeting physically you know and one of the reasons he made this journey is so we could meet up and spend time together."
"One of the reasons or the major reason?" she said and they both laughed.
"He's really nice and he has been so sweet to me so I really want to make a good first impression, help me pick out a dress."
"Happy to help," she said as she checked through her closet and held up a little black dinner dress.
Jenny looked excited, "wow, I love it…sexy but not slutty."
"Well I hope you have a good time but I just pray this dinner does not extend to a private after party, because I can see the excitement all over you." She said gesturing with her hands.
She shrugged, "and what if it does? What's the harm in that?"
"Don't joke with me girl, you and I know you are not that kind of woman."
"Well the perks of been goody-goody…sometimes I wish I can just give in and do as I please," she sighed.
"Besides Charles is still waiting for you," she chided.
"I just want to forget that part of my life for tonight and have a good time."
Comfort nodded in understanding, "I hear ya, enjoy your dinner and be home in good time," she said and they both smiled as Comfort left the room so that she could finish up.
Jenny was delighted as she made her way into the restaurant, it was simply exotic. The ambience looked really great and they had lovely chandeliers lighting up each table. She approached the receptionist and gave her the name under which the reservation was made and she was directed to the table number. As she got closer to the table, she couldn't help but smile as her date stood up to welcome her.
"Wow, we finally meet! You look absolutely breath-taking darling," he said with a smile.
She smiled back, "well thank you Mr handsome, you clean up nice too."
"Well what can I say…I try to make an effort when it's really important," he said as he pulled out a chair for her to sit.
"That's really nice, so tells me, how was your trip?"
He beckoned on the waiter to come take her orders before he responded, "long and tiring plus horrible airplane food but seeing you now it's all worth it. You look even more beautiful in person," he said and she smiled.
"It's nice to finally meet you too and thank you for inviting me out, it's been a while I had a night out."
"I can't describe how happy I am to finally meet you, I've been looking forward to this moment for months, to finally meet this amazing woman that stole my heart," he said with a wink.
She blushed, "it's good to see you Bob."
"Wow, she finally said my name and it sounds so beautiful on your lips," he said in excitement.
"But of course I like your name better than the nicknames you use online, Bobby Aderemi Douglas," she replied with a smile.
"Well social media affords us the opportunity of anonymity and to assume any persona we want, while that is fun, I still prefer to be me any day, any time."
"You are right and I'm glad I got to meet the real you behind the chats and video calls. You are so much in person than I imagined," she said, blushing.
"Same here, Speaking of chats, you didn't sound so fun the last time we talked and you promised to tell me everything, remember?"
"That's true, a lot of things has happened in my life lately and I really don't want to bore you with the details, it'll ruin our dinner. Let's just talk and have fun tonight."
"Ok darling, I can understand if you don't want to talk about it tonight, you can tell me another time after all we still have time to spend together during and after the conference."
"Yea, that's true. Speaking of the conference, are you nervous about the reviews?"
"Not really, I'm prepared for anything. Expect the unexpected."
"Sounds like fun!"
"Yea and I heard there will be an award presentation at the end of the conference so I'm sure we won't be going home empty handed."
"I really share your optimism just that Africans have a way of disappointing beautiful expectations though this might be different."
"Hopefully this will be different," he said and they both laughed.
"So tell me, what's your plan while you are here? I could show you around town if you have time."
"Of course I'll always make time for you sweetie, I'm all yours" he said excitedly. They talked some more and even ordered for dessert after the main meal before calling it a night.