Oh, I had a proper job this time where I could utilise my degrees in law. Luckily, I worked closely with the lawyers at my former job so the transition wasn’t all that difficult.
Tunde and I agreed to end our relationship. I was at the point where I wanted to share something real with someone and we both knew his wife was never going to agree to a divorce. We still remained good friends though. I wasn’t stupid enough to let a billionaire like that go out of my life. I was basically his handbag but without the sex. He asked several times but I refused to connect him with any girl I knew. I wasn’t about to pour sand into my garri with my own hands. Life was perfect, wasn’t it? Until it wasn’t.
I had a very busy week at the office and I just wasn’t in the mood for any hangouts with any of my colleagues after work. I knew the only place I could get peace was Tunde’s getaway house on Banana Island and I drove there.
I didn’t have to call him before hand because I had a key and I knew he made it a rule to never bring any girl to the house to avoid trouble. Well, any girl except me. I got there and as expected, his car wasn’t in the drive way which meant he was at work. I let myself in and made straight to the kitchen to fix something to eat before he got back and just then, I saw these legs that went on forever but could use a little lotion bent over the fridge looking for God knows what. In this harmattan, a girl can forget her moisturizer?
“Hi. Do you need anything?”
Just then, she turned and gave me this ‘who be this?’ look
‘I should be asking you that. Who are you and how did you get in here?’
Where did Tunde pick this ratchet one from?
“I have my keys. I’m assuming Tunde left you in here on purpose because the doors were locked. Did he head back to the office?”
‘Who are you and how can you ask me stupid questions? What do you mean you have your keys and me, his girlfriend doesn’t?”
Now my problem with this chic is that I could have been anyone. His wife, his sister, any one but babe was just concerned with announcing that she was his girlfriend. As if!
I walked away while she was still screaming at the top of her voice and went into Tunde’s room. As soon as I locked myself in, I sent a text to him.
“You left a mad dog here. Come and get it out now.”
Five minutes later, he called but I refused to pick. I wanted him to stew a little. It wasn’t like I was jealous or anything because I knew that animal wasn’t girlfriend material. I was just mad that my plan to enjoy a peaceful evening had been ruined.
I must have dozed off because I heard a knock that could only have been Tunde.
‘Zoey. Babe. Please open the door. It’s me.’
He obviously thought I was mad because it took me a few minutes to open the door as I was a bit disoriented at first. When I did, he rushed in, enveloping me in an embrace.
‘Zoey, I’m sorry. I brought her here because I wanted to pick up something but then the Minister came into town and I had to rush to him. You know he is my father’s friend and I can’t treat him like I treat the others. I’m so sorry’.
“It’s fine. She ruined my evening, that’s all.”
Just then, the girl walked into the room screaming like a banshee.
‘Tunde! Who is this prostitute and what are you doing with her?’
I inhaled sharply as he turned to look at her.
‘What did you say?’ He asked, deathly calm.
She knew she goofed because she didn’t open her mouth to say anything.
He then walked to his drawer, pulled out some notes and handed it to her. The money was about 20k ‘For your trouble’.
See how girls miss their luck. He pressed a bell and one of his guards came in to see her out. The girl looked like she was about to cry and she looked at me to beg on her behalf. I looked away so she would know I also didn’t want her there.
I followed behind them as I wanted to head to the kitchen and fix us something to eat. While I was making our dinner, I felt his hands around my waist as he planted little kisses on my neck and ear.
‘It’s all your fault, you know. You ended things between us and I’ve been looking for someone like you ever since’.
“No. We ended things and you can stop searching. You can’t find anyone like me”.
‘Obviously. What are you making?’
“Rice and chicken sauce. I didn’t want to eat out”.
‘Don’t feel like either and if you weren’t here, I’d have been spending unnecessary money. Money that isn’t exactly flowing in this Buhari’s government’.
I laughed at that but he was right. Money was a bit tight and has been since the new administration came on. I had an idea which had been dancing around in my head for a few weeks and I figured now was the best time to bring it up. Well, after he had eaten.
“Why don’t you help me cut the chicken into bits while I sauté the vegetables. The rice is already cooking and it shouldn’t take long to get soft. That way we finish up quickly and eat. I’m starving”.
Soon we were having dinner and as I brought out two bottles of red wine, he knew I wanted us to talk.
‘What’s on your mind?’
Due to the recent plunge in oil prices, a lot of indigenous oil companies couldn’t cope and had to lay off their staff and those who still couldn’t were left almost defunct. At a board meeting held to determine what my company could do to stay above the fray, we decided we would go radical by placing a bid for one of the refineries in order to produce and refine our petrol instead of importing and also acquire one of the indigenous oil and gas companies.
We prepared to make our bid to the NNPC and also make a move on one of the failing indigenous oil and gas companies.
I was so swamped with work that I barely looked at my phone all through the day. I got a call from reception saying I had a visitor. Now, few people knew where I work and even those that knew wouldn’t leave their office to come disturb me. I almost told the receptionist to tell the person I wasn’t in the office but I decided to see who it was.
As I stepped into the reception, this beautiful lady with ice cold eyes was seated reading a magazine. Without being told, I knew she was the one who asked to see me. She looked familiar but I wasn’t sure who she was. I walked up to her and introduced myself and this lady, fine as she is looked me from head to toe and sneered.
‘So this is the lady screwing my husband. At least, you look better than the reports say’.
I struggled to keep the shock from showing across from my face. I had never been insulted like that before. “Excuse me, who are you and who’s your husband?”
‘Tunde and don’t act like you don’t know which Tunde’. I chuckled.
“I’m afraid you have the wrong person. Luckily, it’s almost time for lunch. Why don’t we go somewhere and talk?”
She looked like she was about to curse me out then changed her mind and sat back down. I excused myself to pick up my handbag and shut down my system.
“Your wife is here and she looks ready to fight”.
I called Tunde while I was driving as she drove hers as well.
“I’m taking her to Inzaghi for lunch. Anything I should know about her so I know how to approach her? I’m not even going to ask how she found out where I work. It’s a good thing she didn’t cause a scene”.
‘Babe, calm down. It was good thinking asking her to lunch. You’ve brought down her defences because I’m positive she was spoiling for a fight. Just calmly talk to her’.
We got to the restaurant and both ordered our meals.
‘So if you aren’t the slut sleeping with Tunde, who is? I heard you stay at my husband’s house in Banana Island.’ I smiled.
“I stay there when I need a place to fuck my girls. I don’t sleep with your husband and I don’t sleep with men”.
The shock on her face was priceless but I needed her to not suspect me. A woman like this could be dangerous.
“I know who she is though”. I continued.”
I’ve been warning Tunde about her but the man’s a bone head. I know you want to get rid of her, as do I. Tunde is not only my client, he’s also my friend. But I have an idea on how to get rid of her, if you’re interested, that is”.
Tunde: Hey babe, how did it go with Oyin?
Zoe: It went well, I guess. She was pretty pleasant when I told her I’m not the one she’s looking for. Oh, BTW, I’m a lesbian and I usually bring my girls to sleep over at your place because it’s discreet enough
Tunde: What…? Oh! You told her that? You’re insane, Zoe. Did she buy it?
Zoe: After I hit on her? Damn right she did. I was probably a guy in my past life.
Tunde: LOOOOOL. Oh she’s calling me now. BRB.
I was about to fix myself a drink when my phone rang. It was Alex. I was supposed to have called her to tell her everything that had happened but the day ran so fast and I sort of forgot.
“Babe, wassup?”
‘Zoe, are you home?’
“Yeah, why?
‘Please come over’ and she hung up.
I wondered what the problem was. Alex is the stronger one between us but when she sounds like she did over the phone, complete with sniffles, I knew something was definitely up.
I quickly packed my overnight bag filled with my clothes for work tomorrow and my emergency makeup bag. To be honest, I was scared. The last time she sounded like this was when her dad had a heart attack and we were in school at the time.
I drove like the devil was after me to her house in Chevron Estate and let myself in as I had a key. My girl was curled in a foetal position crying like somebody died.
“Baby what happened? What the hell happened?”
‘I caught him with another girl. They were having sex and he was fucking her like he didn’t have any care in the world.’
I sighed. Alex had just started dating this guy- her first boyfriend after years of being a lesbian and she had obviously just found out how much Nigerian guys could be dicks are.
I almost wanted to welcome her to the world of heartbreak in the hands of men but it wasn’t the right time.
“How? Weren’t you at work the whole time?”
‘I left work early because he had not been feeling well and wanted to see if he was better. The door was open and I heard noises coming from the kitchen. They were having sex in the fucking kitchen, Zoe. I made sure they saw me then I left. How could he do this to me? I thought we were good. Sex between us was so amazing.’ And she started bawling all over again.
I held her till she drifted off to sleep. Seeing as she’s way bigger than I am, I decided against carrying her to the bedroom and got a duvet to cover her with. I knew she’d wake up with a head splitting headache and I left a bottle of water and some Aspirin by her side. Just then, the doorbell rang. Standing at the door was the reason I was in Alex’s house.
“You better have a damn good reason for showing up here. I just finished rocking her to sleep and I have no intention of waking her up.”
‘Zoe, please listen. It was a mistake. The girl is my ex and when she came over, I don‘t know what happened. I didn’t mean to hurt Alex. I love her.’
“Good. Now take your substandard love and get the hell out of here. If she wants to see you, she’ll contact you. God night!’ And with that, I slammed the door in his face. I got in just in time to hear my phone ring. It was Tunde. I knew why he was calling but I wasn’t going to pick. The time wasn’t right.
Due to the recent plunge in oil prices, most indigenous companies continue operations and as such, had to close shop. My company decided to acquire one of such companies. I was elected to head the team to handle it and I knew just the company we had to get. We had found out that the company was undergoing some distress anyway and my company bought controlling shares in the company. We had started the process of take over and we had to meet with the other company. We got to the company and because we were being expected, we were ushered in immediately.
‘Zoe? What are you doing here?’
“Oh. Good morning. I’m here for the meeting. I believe your assistant must have told you about it”.
‘Oh she did. She just didn’t know who she had been corresponding with’.
“Oh well, I guess not all assistants can be as good as the one you let go off”.
With that, I walked away. That was my former boss. The one who terminated my appointment because he found out I was dating his best friend. His troubles had just begun but he didn’t realise it at the time.
My phone buzzed as a text came in. ‘You haven’t been picking my calls. What’s wrong?’ It was Tunde. I deliberately avoided his calls because I knew he wouldn’t agree to my plan if he found out. “In a meeting. I’ll call you back when I’m done”, I texted back.
We sat down in the company’s conference room and went over the details of the acquisition. I knew it was an offer that the CEO couldn’t refuse because while he made sure he paid the employees’ salaries as and when due, the company wasn’t getting new businesses and whatever money he had left was spent globetrotting. Still, it was more than just an acquisition. It was a hostile takeover and he said so.
“I understand why you think that way but look at it this way. We’re not laying off any of your workers except those who want to leave. You’ve got engineers here. We’ll make sure their skills are fully utilised instead of sitting behind a desk. I think that’s very fair. Just that the name of your company will cease to exist. We bought controlling shares after all. It’s ours to deal with as we deem fit”.
There was some uproar as the CEO and other top officials didn’t like what was proposed and the arguments dragged on for long. We didn’t come to an agreement and we had to schedule another meeting.
As I was leaving, my phone rang. It was Oyin and I groaned. I just wanted to go home and relax, not sit and talk with the wife of the man I admired.
“Hey girl. I was at a meeting. What’s up?”
‘I wanted to have drinks. Are you free?’
“Not really. I need to head home and work. I’ve got a lot to deal with before tomorrow. Raincheck?”
‘Yeah, sure. Talk to you later’.
She sounded funny but I wasn’t interested in fraternising with her. Not after sleeping with her husband. I’m many things but callous isn’t one of them.
I got home to someone in my kitchen- Tunde. He had a key to my apartment, not so much because he got it for me but because I needed a spare to be kept with someone for me. Alex had one and he had the other. He was making fried rice back when we were dating, I had let it slip that I could do anything for fried rice and it became a weapon he used when he wanted something from me.
“Whatever it is, the answer is no”.
The laughter that followed was one that warmed my bones but I didn’t want him to know that. I didn’t know what he wanted but I knew it was something I going to struggle with.
‘You don’t even know what I’m here for.’
“Maybe, but I know it can’t be good. You’re cooking fried rice for heaven’s sake!’
After I had changed into something comfortable and we had settled to dinner, I waited for him to broach the topic. He took his time and I realised it was something I wouldn’t want to do.
“Tunde, whatever it is, the answer is no. I know it’s something I’ll have issues agreeing to. So no. whatever it is, don’t ask. I don’t want to tell you no so don’t ask”. He sighed and I knew I won this round but I’ll pay for it later.
We finished dinner and as he did the dishes, I brought out a bottle of wine and glasses. As we relaxed, I told him about the meeting at my former office and the arguments that ensued. We talked well into the night and I didn’t want him to go when it got too late.
Besides, I had missed having his body next to mine but he had to go back home and I had to do some work.
‘You bitch! You told me there was nothing between you and my husband and I believed you. You sent me on a wild goose chase looking for some girl that doesn’t exist. You better watch your back, bitch.’
That was the text I got this morning from Oyin. I’m not sure how she found out but I wasn’t ready to respond to it. Besides I was late for work. I got to the work and almost immediately I was swarmed with working out the final details of the acquisition. I spent the whole day so busy that when it was time for a meeting between my company and the target company, I almost didn’t want to attend it but I had to. Just as I got to the board room, I saw my previous boss waiting alone.
“Where’s everyone? And why are you the only one here? Where’s your team?”
‘I understand you’ve met Oyin, Tunde’s wife?’ And in that instant I knew he had told Oyin everything. I wasn’t going to dignify him with response but I knew it was time to put an end to this game for good.
“Yes I have. Pleasant lady, too. We hit it off real good”.
‘Does she know you are sleeping with her husband?’
“Was. I was but I suspect you already told her. Be sure to give her the updated version”.
The meeting went on smoothly and everyone at least got what they wanted and was satisfied, at least. Because of how good I felt, I decided to treat myself to a lovely dinner. I quickly sent a text and was off to the restaurant.
She came in two minutes after I did looking like she was planning to kill me.
‘Yov’ve got some nerve, you know? Knowing that I want to hurt you and you still invite me. Shouldn’t you be running away?’
I chuckled. “Well, you’ll only end up hurting yourself in the long run because what you’re looking for, you won’t find it.
I’m sure you’ve heard I was having an affair with your husband. That’s why I got sacked from my previous job. Well, I was. I’m not a lesbian but it’s true. Tunde does have a girl he’s sleeping with but it’s nothing serious.
What is actually serious is I know you’ve been sleeping around since you came to Lagos and I’ve got the evidence to prove it. You fucked the wrong person, Oyin. Remember Nick? Here’s what’s going to happen. You will call Tunde and tell him you’re going to grant him the divorce. I know him. He won’t fight you for any of his properties nor for the custody of the kids. You will call him tonight.”
And if I don’t?’ She asked.
I smiled sweetly. “Well, you know what happens and Tunde will believe me. I’m not petty so he’ll know I’m not telling lies. Why are you still holding on anyway? You don’t love him. If you’re scared he’ll let you go just like that, then you obviously don’t know the man you married, and even if he’s going to prove difficult, I know how to talk to him. Let him have his divorce and you’ll be free to fuck Nick any time you like.”
Watching the myriad of emotions across her face was sort of painful to watch but I wasn’t about to stop now. Besides, she wasn’t getting the short end of the stick. She put a call through to Tunde, asking him to wait a bit in his office as she was coming over to sign the divorce papers and then with as much dignity as she could muster, she stood up to leave.
“Oyin, be careful of Nick. He’s a user”.
She looked at me with an eyebrow raised and mumbled her thanks. With that, she walked off. As I settled down to enjoy my dinner which had just arrived, I flashed back to when I found out about Nick and Oyin.
Nick was Alex’s ex. The same one she caught in bed with another woman. Oyin was that other woman. After Alex dozed off, she woke up later in the night to drink some water. By that time, I was awake. For someone who spent the whole evening crying, she didn’t have any headache of any sort. Because I was working, she came to join me at the dining table.
“Hey babe, you’re awake. Feel better?”
‘I guess. I’m however still trying to process the fact that I found him with Tunde’s wife’.
I stopped. “Who? Whose wife?”
‘Tunde. your Tunde. I can never forget that face. Not after seeing her pictures splashed all over Linda Ikeji’s blog and Bella Naija. I will recognise that face anywhere. I saw the texts between them but I refused to believe it was anything serious. I figured he’s a man entitled to a little flirt here and there so he doesn’t feel imprisoned. Hell, he doesn’t even the money to be a cheat. I’ve had to loan him almost half a million naira. Only men like Tunde can afford to be Casanovas. I guess he’s just a user and now he’s found someone bigger’.
My mind was still reeling from this information and I tuned out. I knew it was just what I needed to put my plans into motion and all I needed was patience. And waited. I was brought back to the present by the waiter asking if I enjoyed my meal. Poor guy must’ve thought I didn’t like it when he saw the distant look in my eyes. I told him I loved it and he moved on.
After dinner, I stopped by the wine store to get a bottle of wine. It wasn’t celebratory. I wasn’t going to do that until I heard from Tunde which I hadn’t. I half expected to meet him at the house but I didn’t.
Since the next day was a Saturday, I decided to stay in and do some spring cleaning and cooking. By the time I was done, it was early evening and I was spent. I had just had a shower and was settling in when the doorbell rang. It was Tunde and he looked subdued. He also had a bottle of 1787 Chateau Margaux with him.
“Babe, are you okay? You look like hell” I said as I we sat down on the sofa. My heart was beating so fast but I couldn’t betray my feelings. “Oyin better nit have fucked with me”, I thought.
‘Oyin signed the divorce papers. She said she was tired of fighting and wanted to live her life in peace.’.
I heaved a sigh of relief. “That’s a good thing, right? I mean, you’ve wanted this for a long time and now, both of you can move on.”
‘Yeah. She asked for some properties but they are the ones I was going to give her anyway. I mean, I was married to her for 15 years. She deserves something. Besides she doesn’t know the full extent of my assets so it’s so biggie’.
“So what’s the problem? Why are you looking so sad?”
‘I’m not sad. I just don’t know how to broach this. Zoe, I love you and I want you to marry me. You get me, just like I get you. I love what we have and I don’t want to give it up. Every time I spend I spend with you is just… . I love you, Zoe. Please say yes. I know you feel the same way. Say something, Zoe. Say yes’.
I was speechless as he brought out the biggest and most gorgeous rock I have ever seen. This was even better than I expected. The plan was to warm my way into a permanent position in his life. It would have meant I would be a mistress but I didn’t mind. I loved this man completely. As he slipped the ring into my finger and held me in his arms, I knew that even if the truth about his divorce came out, we were going to be alright.
THE END.
