"Where is she?"
On fast feet, Ishtar began to search for her mother-in-law everywhere she expected her to be; in and outside the mansion premises.
From a distance, far beyond the wide paved compound, there Bob Lee's mother was, in a flower garden collecting different colors of fresh flowers to put in flower vases which she stationed almost in every corner inside her bedroom.
On very quick feet, Ishtar approached from behind her, displaying a gloomy no nonsense face, pretending to still be angry irritated by her betrayal.
Out of instincts, "Oh Ishtar, good afternoon!" Speaking loudly and smiling guiltily, mother-in-law turned around, all humbled.
Still aware of the pain Ishtar displayed in her sudden behavior during the early morning saga; dripping tears which she accompanied with anger filled words she was spitting from the deepest part of her injured heart, and how she walked out of her presence after, mother-in-law was forced to give a break the act of flower harvesting she was doing.
She walked politely towards her.
"Was also planning to come and find you after here," as mother-in-law walked politely with a special kind of attention, she tried to wheedle Ishtar into relaxing immediately after reading anger that was written on her face.
"I'm here to tell you that my husband doesn't remember a single word he spoke under the influence of alcohol, not even the drama he put up," metres away from her mother-in-law, Ishtar was standing with her hands wrapped while she informed her.
"That silly boy is pretending!" Angrily irritated by the embarrassment her son caused to her, mother-in-law tried to prove that she was not at all on his side.
"He's not," Ishtar strongly said, "and I want you to keep it a secret from him that I, his wife, knows something about his infidelity."
She sounded so serious and aggressive on instructing her mother-in-law.
Somehow mother-in-law showed worry, "You sound scary! Hope you're not planning on doing anything foolish?"
But Ishtar, displaying an anger description, courageously stopped at nothing to remind her, "am the victim in this remember!" "Besides, what's the point when both of you took my loyalty for granted?"
Deep breathing, calming down her sudden bust, she asked her mother-in-law, "Which harm do you think I'm capable of causing to my husband? In your arms I grew up."
Mother-in-law sighed out of shame.
"I love my husband, Ishtar made it more clear to her, "It's my duty to protect him."
Silent for a few seconds, much aware of the unwavering love Ishtar revealed to her son from childhood, "You can do as you please," mother-in-law responded.
Giving more clarity, she used her hand and drew a zip sign from the right hand side of her mouth to the left, a signal that she was going to do exactly as her daughter-in-law pleased _ to stay silent about it.
Suddenly, a faint smile quirked corners of Ishtar's mouth.
With too much confidence, "It's about time for me to bring some people to their knees and put them where they belong," in her mind she spoke.
She turned back and gently headed to the mansion to finish her unfinished business; to prepare an energy giving meal her husband requested for.
"What exactly is boiling on this girl's mind?" At Ishtar's back in a distance as she was walking on, mother-in-law stuck her eyes, wondering in a thought.
"Damn," Nadia Browne blurted and suddenly stopped the car by the road side when the phone call she was trying to make was not answered.
Worried on the face, she stepped out of the car,
"It's three days now... he's can't be doing this to me!" Three anxious steps on the right and two steps on the left, looking tormented and confounded, she angrily screamed out loud, startling the passers-by.
"Am sorry," noticing people's eyes stuck on her, she immediately apologized, stepping back into the car.
"Unless it's an emergency, you don't call my phone in the morning," comfortably sitting in her office chair, Sonia spoke as soon as she put her mobile phone on ear.
"I need your help!" Nadia couldn't wait to ask.
As Sonia was opening her mouth to ask about the kind of help she needed, "Good morning, Sonia!" Bob Lee suddenly opened her office door, giving very peaceful smile.
Un expectedly when Sonia startled, "oh, am so sorry I startled you."
So fast up on her feet, "good morning Sir."
"We have a meeting in England tomorrow at 10am," he communicated, "be ware _ we'll be flying the four hour journey with my jet at 2am in the night."
Alright Sir, "Sonia gave a nervous smile.
Immediately when she placed the phone back on ear after Bob Lee had left, "so your boss is alive and healthy!" Desperate and angry, Nadia spoke behind the phone.
"I don't think I understand what you're talking about," Obviously Sonia was confused.
"I heard him speaking to you _ for three days that man has not been answering my calls!"
"And you feel entitled? You and I know he's married!" Sonia frankly told her.
"For the times he switches my body in positions while am naked, calling me baby, honey, sweet pie like he doesn't know that Nadia Browne are my birth names _ he forgets he's married?" Nadia rudely argued, "I am his woman too he must keep that in mind."
This made Sonia wonder why Nadia was barking at her, "but you seduced him, right?"
"Are you really my friend?" Nadia asked.
Feeling drained, "besides, how does your relationship even concern me?" Sonia asked.
"Of course as my best friend I expect you to render me your shoulder when am crying!" It turned to be a battle of words.
"What does that mean?"
"It means I don't care anymore," sizzlingly, Nadia answered, "I'm coming at your work place right now!"
"Nadia," Sonia blurted and stood up so fast, "you can't do that!"
"It's difficult to access your offices without an appointment, just make sure you approve me at the reception," Nadia turned the call off.
In a gesture of confusion, "damn!" as soon as the phone was cut off Sonia blurted again, looking so worried.
Minutes later, Nadia Browne was a guest in the building down at the reception.
"Am here to meet the permanent secretary's office," and she presented her identity card followed by a plastic smile.
Coincidently, immediately after she handed in her identity card, the wide automatic glass main entrance which led into the enormous skyscraper building opened.
"Guess who is here," a loud whisper from a worker to nearby colleagues saturated and all of them switched their eyes at the entrance.
Here Ishtar was, walking her way in.
known for her charming and ease of manner, highly loved and respected, "oh my gosh, it's Ishtar...," super excited were the employees.
"Eight months seems like a life time when you're not around," words to express how she was missed were spoken on hugs, bows before her and continuous smiles.
In an open-mouthed gaze when Nadia turned her head to see who had captured attention of everyone including the receptionist whose face was all covered behind a blissful smile, "Ishtar!" She exclaimed in surprise.
"Ideed she's a beauty," having known her by face from the wedding card back in the days, Nadia, deep within, jealously complimented.
"But I am more beautiful."
In joy, everyone was welcoming and greeting her as she walked along to meet the elevator.
Seeing Ishtar physically for the first time at that time kept Nadia's mind in circles.
"Excuse me Madam!" As her attention was still drawed to Ishtar's looks and presence, the receptionist called.
Nadia did not hear.
Ishtar, in an elegant overall black dotted red cotton dress which eased and warmed up her protruded bump, majestically stomped her white sneakers on the marble floor, gratefully responding to all warm greetings until she entered the elevator.
"Madam!" Nadia startledly turned, back to her senses when the receptionist called once again, "do you have an appointment with the permanent secretary?"
"Y Yes of course I do," she replied stutteringly with her eyes still peeping to the elevator side where Ishtar went, "please tell Sonia Nadia is here."
As the receptionist held the phone on his ear to communicate with Sonia, "this is a good opportunity for me to confront Ishtar," Nadia thought.
"Excuse me!" Immediately, respectfully, the receptionist handed Nadia a visitor's card.
In a rush, Nadia couldn't wait to get into an elevator which took her to the executive top most floor where the offices of the boss and secretary based.
Nervously, Sonia was already up on her feet outside her office, impatiently waiting for the elevator to aproach. Her eyes couldn't go off the counting numbers which kept ascending on top of the elevator door.
As soon as the elevator approached and the door opened, Sonia grabbed Nadia and quickly took her by the hand straight into her office.
"You can't do this to me, his wife just came in a few minutes ago!" Sonia complained.
"Just pretend am only your visitor and leave the rest to me."
"No way! I mean _ you know the efforts it took me to be here today... I can't start risking my job like this!" Sonia was afraid.
"Calm yourself down. Look, me and you are best of friends, right? We live in the same neighborhood on the same apartment block and I've just came to visit you with a problem. Anything beyond that you don't know, okay?"
Nadia had to convince Sonia
However, unsettled with gestures of torment by indecisive thoughts, Sonia kept signing as her eyes moved here and there, seeming too worried.