The night ended in a blur as she could barely remember anything said afterwards. Debby arrived home late which was unlike her and she just walked straight into her room after greeting her mother. Mrs Olatunji being home alone was puzzled as she watched her once lively girl now a saddened daughter by the events of life, walk slowly into her room.
Ever since Marcus's death, she has continually watched her once excited girl who radiated hope to everyone around, become a shadow of herself and this alarmed her greatly. It's being almost 10 months and there has seem to be no improvement to her mood. Although she was pleased that Debby started working at a big company. She normally gives her mother 70 thousand naira every month from her salary as her mode of contribution to the family. At first, Mrs Olatunji refused insisting that Debby saves her money but her daughter would not have it any other way.
Her husband had gone for a night prayer meeting with the other pastors in the church. it was a pastors only meeting all night . She got up from the sitting room and followed her daughter into the room.
"Why are your eyes red as though you have been crying?" She quired her daughter. " I thought you promised me that you would make an effort to live your life. That is what Marcus would have wanted for you. If I had seen the future, maybe there would have been no engagement done. See how sad you have become for almost a year. Do you want to kill me?".
"Mummy I am fine. I am just overwhelmed by work. That is all. You worry too much ma".Debby got up from the bed to hug her mother, trying to distract her from her nagging.
"Are you sure?" Mrs Olatunji questioned
" Yes Mummy I am. Stop worrying!" Debby replied.
"Then let me go and make dinner for you" Mrs Olatunji turned to leave the room. "Mummy don't worry about that.
I have had dinner".
"Since when did you start eating outside?You don't want to eat your mother's food?"
"Mummy stop with all this conspiracy theory. I had dinner at work as per my boss request ".
"Oh! It's okay, let me leave you to take your bath and rest. Goodnight"
As her mother exited the room, her phone rang and it was an unsaved number calling. With much hesitation, she picked the call after the second ring.
"Hello" the caller said.
"Hello" she answered
"Are you home now?"
The voice was calm and very familiar. But how did he get her number, she asked herself. It was her boss Adebola.
"Yes sir. I am." She answered again.
"It's okay. I just wanted to make sure you got home safe. Have a goodnight rest".
"Thank you sir. You too sir"
"Goodnight Debby".
"Goodnight sir"
It was strange but it was comforting. The tears and sadness was no longer there but the request he asked of her lingered in her thoughts as she replayed the events in her mind.
"I would like to marry you". He said.
"As you know, a lot of people assumed that i am gay since I do not have wife and it is affecting a few of my investors mindsets towards doing business with me. Hence, I need a wife from a good background in my arms for show when I attend the investors dinner in two months time."
Why would a man want to impress or correct a notion by doing something wrong? She was not brought up that way. He did not believe in love, neither did he find her attractive.
"Don't get me wrong, I don't like you. You are too thin and plain for my taste. But your decent background is a convenience for me. I don't want girls who have eyes to drain a man or an unintelligent dimwit in my arms while speaking to future investors. It's bad for business."
She would go to him tomorrow but he gave her a month to think about it. She would wait till his ultimatum is over and explain to him that she couldn't live a lie. Neither is marriage a business transaction that you get paid for. Marriage is a covenant relationship as she was taught, a holy union not a business proposition.