I have been going back and forth trying to ignore the elephant in my life that is suffocating me every single day, that I decided to take the bulls by the horns. From our previous meeting, I took his number, promising to carry out his wishes and contact him in a few days to discuss a way out.
"Hello… Can we meet today in the evening?"
The perfect way and day for me to deal with this whole bullshit occupying my time and tearing apart the world I had created for myself. With luck, it won't take weeks in this to-and-fro saga that I know nothing about; hopefully, I am not going to be in the dark anymore. I realized he was infuriated and frustrated since I didn't heed him when he came calling. I understood his last lashing out, his abrasiveness, and his actions that I did let the assaults slide. If he tries to pull off one of his tricks again, though, he won't like what will be coming his way.
"Oh, good."
Leaving that dangling, I would like to know what he thought. Could he hear the uncertainty in my voice? I don't know if I had thought it through. I was feeling underprepared; it is like going to war knowing very well no matter what you do, it's a loss, and you get scarred for life if you come out of it alive if not dead. Dealing with him felt that way, not knowing what's coming your way, despite checking every loophole. It's futile; there is always a surprise, just like going in blindly. There were these people that I didn't need in my life, let alone them snooping around my business. People who you would rather forget and bury them in the little graves you've secured for them. He was one of those people, from a life I didn't ever want to go back to. Ever.
"Wonderful, see you then."
Wow, I didn't expect that. It went smoothly. I have to do some more thorough background checks on him now. What he is up to, what he was up to, what he had been up to, the kind of people he hangs around with, those kinds of things. The only way I knew how wasn't working for me. After hours of scrolling through everywhere I could think of, all that was coming across was his body clad in expensive suits plastered on every site I checked. Doesn't he come out of those things? No wonder he is grumpy and all; talk about people changing. He hated those, more so ties, hanging from his pockets rather than the neck, evolving fashion and taste I take. Since social media wasn't working, maybe I needed a professional for this; to get an insight of what am getting myself into, or rather got myself into already, maybe I will stumble upon something useful like the root and cause of all this bizarreness because he is going through a lot of trouble for this.
Making a mental note to contact David: my tech guy. I met him at a summit and I had to convince him to work for me freelance, he is that good. I need him to do a background check to know what has been keeping Rahim busy all these years, plan B. He won't know what hit him when he loses all the leverage he has on me. Can't wait for Friday to see how this unfolds. Continuing with the wishful thinking, 'if only he could allow himself to put aside the man pride and ego; get to talking maybe we could get to a point of mutual understanding, find a way out of his predicament without me being involved with my ex inlaws.' I just can't believe it yet, if he is the same person doing all this, my guard should be up, a notch higher after the previous spectacle but am willing to face him and show no fear; face masks should suffice for now.
I couldn't say am not looking forward to the meeting, as much as I wanted it to be over. Hours have passed, and I don't know if I should call him first. Wait for him to do the deed? Even if I did invite him out, or should I confirm if he changed his mind, I doubt he would do that. My whole day has been overwhelming, can't wait to have a long weekend rest, hopefully no drama, although this evening should decide that for me, I have to try as hard as I can to sway it my way. About tonight, I have to achieve something, to leave me with some peace of mind, what I have been craving this whole time. I can't live under pressure or surveillance anymore after I have tasted freedom. It has been a free roam without too much care because no one was watching and now that I have a target on my back, it was too much to handle.
"What's up with the twitching and checking your phone every time your fingers aren't typing? So unusual for you, don't think?"
"What do you think?"
"Unusual for you…"
This girl always gets on my nerves and bores me to death like all the time and this is bad timing. She is efficient enough as my personal office assistant, and that's it! Not a personal life assistant if only she can get the difference between the two, I had yet to ingrain it in her brain. She always had something to say and poked her nose where it wasn't wanted, too bad I can't get rid of her. She's good at her job; the way her mouth runs around clients helps sometimes, she knows what to say to them. Work is efficient and perfect, a major reason why I keep her around and to be honest, I don't think I can replace her. I came to admit we were kind of a pact not unless she wanted to quit, but firing her was out of the question. She is a cousin to a friend whom I owed a favor, turned out Alice was what I needed after introducing us.
"Don't you have anything important to do apart from watching me? It's three; you can leave early."
"You look on edge."
"My shrink now?"
"Is there anything I can do before I leave?"
"Lovely evening."
Getting rid of her is better than her grating on my nerves. Our work for the day is done and being a Friday, she deserved to leave early. My mind drifts back to him, he is supposed to confirm.
"Lovely evening and weekend ahead," she says with coyness in her voice.
"You still here?"
Alice leaves for her desk as my phone vibrates, picking it up, Talk of the devil.
"Hello…"
Not that I was expecting gruffness, but, his voice shouldn't be so smooth and casual. Not after our fabulous last encounter, to say the least.
"I will pick you up, is that okay?"
Why was he nice? I had to think first and fast, I didn't know where he was taking me and that was dangerous. Going with my car will be an easy escape, but I wouldn't want to be compromised, or my baby caught in between, I love Vanessa (Van). Should I ask where we are heading to, is it dinner or drinks? Drinks sound better than food. I might chop him with a knife or poke him with a fork while having dinner, you never know your level of anger management. The silly polite conversations I will be forced to have while I can't express my opinion. Well, you know when you feel like smashing someone with the glass you are holding instead of pouring a drink into them? I hope it doesn't reach past that degree.
"Still there…. Up for drinks or dinner?"
I had sunk into my thoughts again; with him, it's always calculating, and I hate being sidetracked.
"Drinks sounds fine."
"Fine, see you then."
Acting civilized, I see. Why go through all that trouble when you can be yourself through and through? Since every coin has two separate sides, let's see what's up for me tonight.
"I am out officially."
Startled and jerking me from my train of thoughts, she is still here jeez.
"Good, have fun."
She leaves as I gather my stuff, rearranging everything for a hectic and crazy Monday before leaving for home. I wanted to meet up after office hours, but he is Rahim his time is up, and I wasn't going to start an argument with him about it. This gives me more time to mull over my predicament before I meet the executioner, meaning going home first and resetting.
******************