"Amihere," Mamle called his attention as he came on a flying visit to her house. "Can we talk about something really important?"
"What's on your mind? Just let it out. I'm listening."
"I would love to break away from the partnership I have with Kwei Fosu," she said.
"That will be a breach of contract," he replied. "You might have to pay him a lot of money for doing so."
"What do you suggest then?"
"Just hold on until it's over and don't renew the contract," he said. "That will be more appropriate." Suddenly, he turned his whole attention towards her.
"May I know the reason for this sudden change of mind?" Spilling the beans would mean discrediting his friend. It would be prudent to wait for the appropriate time to let him know what was going on.
"I told you this agreement between your friend and myself wasn't going to work, didn't I?" she said to Amihere. "Why has he taken so much control over my life and become over possessive overnight?"
"I don't know what has come over him. He had good plans," he replied.
"Which have turned out bad now, obviously."
"Oh! Don't be so upbeat about it, Mamle. He'll get over it."
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
"Is there something I must know before it's too late? When you begin to talk this way, I mustn't let it pass." Mamle was still hesitant.
A few days after their discourse, Mamle came home after work so distraught.
"Amihere, I'm serious about changing my mind," she said.
"I knew it would come to this one day. What is the reason? If I may ask?" Mamle could not find any good reason for her decision. Howbeit, he was glad they had discussed this beforehand. Perhaps it might have escaped her. Amihere smelt rat. Mamle needed this opportunity so badly to build up her self-esteem.
"Don't you think you can trust me enough to tell me what's going on?"
"I don't want the friendship between you and Kwei Fosu to go sour," she said, sighing heavily.
"It already has. By keeping this to yourself, you think it would help in any way?"
Amihere refused to coerce her to open up. His only concern was Kwei Fosu. As Mamle tried to help herself by absenting herself from work and withdrawing further from him, things grew worse. He opened the way for her to fumble and disgrace herself many times because he was only toying with her life.
Testing the waters
"What's on your mind? Mamle?" Kwei Fosu asked, sure he had her where he wanted now. "Can you not let me in before you do what I fear you might do soon?" How did he know what she was planning to do? Could he read her mind?
She gawked at him, contemplating whether to let him in. Telling him would be disastrous and so will keeping it from him.
"Please don't tell me you want to quit this job. It befits you well; your curves, your face…." he said, holding her hands and going down on his knees.
"Please, Kwei Fosu, don't make it so difficult for me. You two are good friends. I don't want to ruin that."
"Oh! Amihere? He's not a threat? I hope you know he's married?"
"Married?" she asked. "I thought you said he had never fallen in love?"
"I meant,,,, Errrr…Errrr…." Now stuttering. If he was married, how did he find it in his heart to be so kind to her? Where has his wife been all this while as he stood by her side? It was true there were no strings attached to their friendship and she had not fallen in love with him, yet, the fact that her heart missed a beat when he mentioned that he was married meant she felt something deep inside for him. It could be in her subconscious.
"Why are you so worried about him being married?" he asked, raising his eyebrows at her. "That disqualifies him and gives us a chance, doesn't it?"
"Us?" she repeated and slumped her shoulders. "I told you I didn't want any trouble between you two. If I must fall in love, it must be with someone else."
"I know how to handle such issues. Leave that to me." Kwei Fosu had given himself away. He had told her recently that Amihere had never been in love. Why would he suddenly say this?
"You have ever had problems with women, haven't you?" she asked, testing him.
"Several times, but obviously, they didn't work out. If they had, I would not be asking you out."
"What about Opokuwaa?" she asked. "You have been looking at her in a special way. I could bet my life on the fact that there was something going on between you two?"
"There was. Now, it is no more." Mamle took his confession with a pinch of salt. Old flames! she thought and suddenly remembered what her kind colleague had told her the day she fell down flat on the runway.
"Did you sleep with her?" she asked, glad she was making progress in catching him by his own words.
"I don't have to answer that," he said, embarrassed. His answer might have helped her make a conclusion though. She might have to get more out of him soon in order to make a general impression about him, yet, he refused to barge. Reading between the lines was the best part of the game he played with women and Mamle was not going to take him by surprise.
Doubts
After work, still in her cubicle, whilst making a video call to Amihere, her stare was so nerve wracking that it was expedient to find out sooner than he would have done early on.
"Do you want to tell me something?" he asked her.
"No, no…" ogling too much for comfort and absent minded too. Is he really married? Should I ask him? This is personal? What if he tells me what I don't want to hear?
"There certainly is something on your mind. Tell me what it is," he asked, probing further for answers.
"I might want to quit this job," she said.
"I saw it coming," he replied
"How did you know?"
"Your sudden disinterest and apathy told the whole story before you spoke," he said.
"I'm sorry about that. I hope I've not disappointed you?" she asked, sorry she could not live up to expectation.
"A little bit, but the ball is in your court. I can't decide for you."
Withdrawing
Day by day, Mamle made excuses for her absence until Kwei Fosu became tired of it all.
"I've seen and heard it all before," he said. "You had better get on with what you are trying to do that you are so afraid of. You had better shoot me in the foot than kill me softly." Mamle wished he would never utter such words, remembering the zeal with which she made the promise never to break the contract.
"You know what this means, don't you?" he asked her.
"Yes I do," she replied with a sigh. "Unfortunately."
"It's the requirement of the contract. I have paid big money to our clients which you will have to pay back." Mamle could not make any promises, neither did she have any inclination to plead with him. Using people's words to blackmail them was Kwei Fosu's pastime activity.
As a matter of necessity, Mamle truly did quit without Kwei Fosu's knowledge and permission. He was at her doorstep begging her to come back every single day she opened her eyes to a new day.
"I wish I could continue," she said. Kwei Fosu's face lit up.
"What prevents you from doing so?" he asked. "I hope you're not quitting because of me?"
"Don't ask me such questions," she said, irritated. "I just needed a change."
"You can't lie to me.Your demeanour tells it all. You're trying to leave me, aren't you?"
"You're not the reason I'm quitting," she said.
"Then tell me the reason why you want to throw away this great opportunity?"
"You! Kwei Fosu, It's You! And you know it!" she yelled, poking her finger in his face.
"I'm not going to give up on you even if you quit," he yelled back. "I will give you one reason not to quit and even if you do, let's say goodbye in a memorable way." moving closer to her and pulling her chest closer to his, placing a light kiss on her lips.
"Stop it, Kwei Fosu! Stop It!" she said, protesting and pushing him back involuntarily.
"This is what I do to those who are stubborn," he said. With his eyes becoming red shot and looking different and diabolic, Mamle tried dodging his muscular grasp and failed. Now, caught in his arms permanently and feeling so helpless, her heart raced fast.
"We must necessarily say goodbye," he said. "So you don't owe me anything."
"I will pay you back!" she screamed.
"How?" he whispered. "In a year's time? With your life? With a loan? On a work and pay basis? Heh? I'm teaching you the best way to do so."
"I don't want it this way," she insisted.
"I decide!" he yelled angrily, almost squeezing her neck.
"You're killing me," she said
"I'd love to do far more than that since you want to leave me…." Gritting his teeth and looking like a scarecrow. Suddenly, Amihere appeared.
"Let her go!" he ordered. Kwei Fosu stopped in his tracks.
"What do you want here?" he said, disappointed. "You again?"
"Let her go! I will pay every pesewa she owes you!" he said confidently. Mamle was lost for words. All that money? What had she done to deserve all the good he was doing for her?
"Alright!" he said, defeated, eyeing Mamle lustfully, and looking discontent. Mamle ran into Amihere's arms moaning.
"It's alright Mamle," he said, holding her hands tightly. "I should have done this long time ago." He stepped forward and gave Kwei Fosu a blow in his ribs. He held them, moaning.
"How dare you!" he said. "I'll pay you back in your own coin!"
"Come for your money and don't bother her anymore. If you do, I'll send the police after you." Amihere would do anything to rescue Mamle from his friend who had turned evil overnight. Perhaps he did not know him too well. Kwei Fosu truly followed up for his money in his Lamborghini. How on earth could Amihere produce such a huge sum of money for a woman he did not have any ties with? Disappointed, the contract abrogated, he departed defeated.