It was indeed his plan to save his investors interest at all cost. Adebola was that money conscious and he always kept his guard up about everything. He was a man sworn off love for reasons that cut him deeper than a knife's sharp edge. Watching the relationship between Debby and himself threatened his vow. She was worse than a grieving spouse and he hoped she would not fall in love with him or make their relationship a complicated matter. Besides he could not handle complications at the moment because leaving a legacy is what matters most to him.
The following week, he had his personal assistant Felix leaked photos taken at the hotel between Debby and himself during their private lunch which she had no idea about obviously, to a renowned blogger and the whole country, most of all his business associates was lit in gossip. Several calls of congratulations came in which he feigned ignorance to and laughed about it and calls of concern from his close associates who knew he had sworn off love like he had earlier told them. His mother did not bother calling him because he had told her, he would be getting married soon. He guessed she must have concluded that this was the lady in question.
However, the most disturbing of calls was the one from Rev Olatunji, his pastor and Debby's father. Seated in his office that afternoon, Adebola adjusted his blue neck tie as he pressed the answer button on his mobile phone.
"Hello good afternoon sir" He greeted heaving as he waited for the attack.
"Mr Adebola good afternoon. How are you and your family?
"We are very fine sir and yours?"
"We are alright but it's just that a popular blog published a story about my daughter and yourself claiming that the once gay man is now in a relationship. It is so disturbing that church members are calling me to congratulate me on your engagement to my daughter which I was speechless about". The pastor lamented.
"I am so sorry sir. I didn't know how that happened. I would make some inquiries to find out the blog and straighten out the issue as soon as possible"
"I am so disappointed at the way the press is labelling my innocent daughter as a gold digger who works for you. You know she recently experienced a loss and I don't want anything to make her devasted."
"Once again, I am so sorry sir. I would fix it as soon as possible"
" Please get right to it, at least until she accepts your proposal, lets try to be discreet about it. Please inform me as soon as it is done.i do not want my daughter to walk in shame over something she has no power over".
"Please once again i deeply apologized for every iota of embarrassment this publication may have cost you, your family and ministry."
"It's alright. Enjoy the rest of your day" He ended the call, leaving Adebola smiling like he won a trophy. This was his plan all along, put pressure indirectly on the Olatunji's who dislike scandals until Debby is forced to marry him to save face. Moreover, he was a member of the church and he was doing nothing wrong. He let out a moment of laughter at his Victory and got interrupted.
The intercom system on his office table rang out loud. He immediately knew who it was before answering it.
"Yes Felix what is it?"
"Sir Miss Debby is here to see you."
"Please send her in"
She walked in as usual with her neat appearance of a black skirt and a brown shirt with another set of black flats. She had her hair woven in braids to the back. It would have been more appealing with a few touches of makeup. This girl obviously lacks fashion sense and her aura is still gloomy. But Adebola could not be bothered about it. His company needed saving and this skinny accountant could save it.
"Have you gone online today" she asked taking a seat opposite his direction.
"Good Afternoon Debby, Anything I should see online?" he asks.
" There is nothing good about the afternoon. There's a picture of both of us from the dinner last two Saturdays calling me a gold digger and I am wondering who took the picture?"
"I know, your daddy just called me" he pressed his face into his palms signaling his distress and the emotion in the atmosphere turned as usual. He has gotten better at manipulating the emotions of Debby and this made his insides giggle in joy.
"Am so sorry. I have not even thought about the effect it will have on you and your investors. That's so selfish of me. I am so sorry." She apologized, stretching her hand across the table to take his left hand into hers for comfort. He shook his head as a sign of acceptance.
"It's okay Debby, I will need to speak to our PR department on damage control. Your father is really angry with me and I need to fix that as soon as possible.
Taking a deep breath, Debby stood up walking towards the glass framed walls overlooking the Lagos island.
"There should be no need for a PR statement. The story did not come from a reputable news agency but a gossip blog. Do not give them anything more to talk about except the truth in pictures."
"I don't understand Debby. How do we do that?" He turned his rotating chair towards her direction.
"Rather than tell them, what's true and what isn't true, we get married Instead. A small occasion, infact in our living room. I will speak to my father about it tonight. There's no need for the delay before it comes out that we are having sex which we are not. Let's do things the proper way. That way, you can release official photos of our wedding and at the same time quench the "gay' rumours".
Once again acting as though this was not his game plan, Adebola pretended the more.
"Your father would never agree to it. I don't even see how it would work. I can convince my mother with one phone call but your Dad, he seemed like a disciplinarian"
"Leave my father to me and work out the logistics. Like I said, I will speak to him tonight and you will get a favourable outcome".
"Debby why are you doing this to help me?" Adebola asked honestly because a part of him was scared about her quick acceptance of help two weeks ago.
"It's good to offer a helping hand and I want to help". She replied smiling.
"Thank you very much for the help". Adebola stretch out his hand and she walked right to him and shook it.
"Let me get back to the office, so I can finish up my financial invoices for the week" Debby excused herself, almost reaching the door, Adebola spoke to her.
"Would you have dinner with me tonight? I mean in here, in my office? She smiled understanding what he meant.
"Of course I will. Now I understand why you eat privately here. The invasion of your privacy is so alarming."
"You can say that again. Thank you for understanding me. I appreciate you Debby"