The President’s Wife episode 14

TITLE: THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 14

The next morning, he observed she never came into the room to prepare. He was awake and quickly got ready. She sat in the sitting room reading a book waiting for him to come out. She had made food for him in his food flask. They left for work. She didn’t say a word to him. The silent treatment lasted for a week with her moving some of her personal effects out of the room. This was their first major fight.

Lere missed her. He missed her in the bedroom. She still cooked for him but he needed warmth at night. He tried to talk to her, but she didn’t give him the opportunity. He tried to talk to someone to learn how to destroy the brick wall. He turned to Stella.

“What did you do? What are her complaints?” Stella asked and Lere replied honestly. “Guy, this girl chose to marry you when other men were interested in her. Why are you harassing her and being fearful she will be stolen from you? She is your wife for goodness sake. If you don’t want her to form a bond with another man, buy her a car and get her a driver. You are making more money so you can lease a car for her. Treat her like a princess so she would not consider another person. That is how to be a man in the life of a woman that you love. With the little you have, you will show her how much she means to you.”

“Thanks, Stella. I have some money saved and we have a big project at work we should conclude next month. I will make some money there. I can buy her the car then. I don’t want her to drive, I will get her a driver so she will sit at the back as the car owner. Let me see who will approach her then. But she moved out of the room and locked her door at night. I am tired of the cold without her, how do I convince her to forgive me before I get the car?”

“She likes surprises, doesn’t she? Surprise her in her office. Flowers or whatever might thrill her. She will forgive you.”

“Flowers? I saw some at a supermarket.”

“Life flowers. Do you think she is cheap? You must make a good impression and it has to cost you. You can add expensive chocolate. She will be wowed and forgive you instantly. Trust me. There is a flower shop at Ikoyi. Make it a large bouquet. The guys in her office will know you are a man who is capable of taking care of his wife.”

“Now you are talking, I will take it there myself. I will do it on Friday so the weekend will be the bomb. We will check into a hotel.”

“You are crazy about this babe.”

“I love her very much; she is my everything.”

Friday afternoon, Lere came to Zara’s office. He told the receptionist downstairs he wanted to surprise his wife. He appealed to them to allow him to deliver the items to her himself without informing her. They agreed after confirming she was on the seat.

Lere walked into her office for the first time. He hid his face behind the bouquet when he got to her table. He stretched out his hand which had a card in it. She didn’t know who it was. Zara took the card and read it. It said “I am sorry”, she looked up and saw Lere standing there offering her the flowers and a box of chocolate. Tears swelled in Zara’s eyes. She stood up and hugged him while the staff on the whole floor were clapping at the r0mantic gesture. Zara became shy. Lere told her he will pick her up after work that evening. The quarrel ended that day. It also improved her status in the office.

Lere took Zara to work every day. On the days he couldn’t, he hired a car to drop her off and pick her up. Two months later, he bought her a brand new vehicle, employed a driver and gave it to Zara as a birthday gift. She was over the moon. She was now a car owner and also chauffeur-driven.

She took the vehicle to show her family, they were all happy for her and praised Lere. Lere had proven to be what he had promised to be. He was good to his in-laws and they loved him for all he did for them.

Zara was able to convince Andy to open an account with her bank. She went with her boss to his office for negotiation and account opening. Andy received them very well. He invited his partners to join the meeting. The negotiations went very well and they agreed to open the account. This was a breakthrough for Zara because they were expecting a deposit of five billion naira which the bank would place a lien on and give them a loan of four billion naira. The amount to be made by the bank was huge.

The partners stated categorically they opened the account because of Zara. She is the soon-to-be sister-in-law of their partner. When they were leaving, Andy called Zara aside and said to her, “Why do you dress like this? How can Lere buy you a brand new car and leave you looking like a maid? Look at your phone. He should do better. I will send a new phone to you tomorrow. Also, I will ask your sister to take you shopping. Even though you rejected me, I still love you and I want your progress. I also love your sister; she is a good person, very submissive and sharp. I don’t want my partners to think I am marrying down. I want to finish your father’s house in the village before I marry your sister, that’s what is delaying us. I will also move them to one of my houses to live in. I am an Igbo guy and I know my responsibility towards my in-laws. Lere is trying but he has taken good care of you, you looked better when you were single than now you are married. I will let him know too. Let me see you off.”

Zara was vexed in her spirit. He was right, she didn’t dress well or look good. Her salary wasn’t much as an entry-level staff and she had to save for her MBA and also for the future. Lere was making money but he didn’t spend so much on her. He did not give her money for her personal needs and it wasn’t in her nature to ask. The last time she went to see her parents, her mother thought she was pregnant because she had added a bit of weight and darkened. All her salary could afford her were cut and sew suits she wore to work and substantial savings.

True to his words, Andy sent her the latest and most expensive Nokia phone and some money. She didn’t want the money so she called her sister and told her what transpired. “He told me,” Adanna mentioned, “Lere no dey try at all. Mumsy was asking if you were pregnant. Anyway, Andy doesn’t want you coming to his office looking the way you did. No more cut and sew suits henceforth. Behind your office they sell clothes. Maybe we should go there to shop. I was told they were far cheaper than these boutiques. I am waiting for the wedding so I can start the business. You will be my number one customer.”

“Definitely. I want to show Lere everything Andy gave me and let him know how I am going to lose the account because of my dressing.”

“Bankers go to his office, doesn’t he see how they dress? Even him, he dresses well, doing fine boy.”

The discussion didn’t go down well with Lere. He asked why Andy would gift her a phone and money if he didn’t still have an interest in her. He was very uncomfortable with the whole scenario. He tried to emotionally blackmail her to return the phone and money. She refused. She told him to say whatever he wanted to say but she needed Andy’s account and would do anything morally right to please him.

“So, you will go against my wishes?”

“I want to keep my job and I am ready to leave the marriage if my job is at stake.”

“What did you say, Zara?”

“You heard right,” and she walked away from him. Lere was dumbstruck by her boldness. She was going to defy him.

He changed strategy. He accused her of having an affair with Andy behind his and her sister’s back. He called Andy and asked him to stay away from Zara and their marriage. Andy laughed at him and ended the call. He had never seen Zara so adamant. He seized her new phone. She allowed him to have it that weekend.

On Monday, before she left for work, she collected his two phones, his laptop and car keys. Lere looked for these items and couldn’t find them. He had to search for the spare keys to the car. He was angry as he drove to the bank.

When he got there, he asked the receptionist to tell her to bring his things. Zara asked for her phone back before he can get his items. Lere didn’t have a choice but to release the phone to her. The driver brought out his items. Lere was still livid with anger. He decided he would have to report her.

Lere reported to Adanna. Adanna told him the truth. She was very aware of what Andy did for Zara because he told her his intentions immediately. She told him how disappointed everyone was with the way Zara looked now compared to when she was single. Her hair wasn’t always made, her nails were ch¡pped, her shoes made noise due to cheapness and overuse and many more issues.

Lere felt he was been ganged up against. He was still offended by what Zara did that morning. He called his mother and reported to her. The mother supported her son but told him to use wisdom. “She is stubborn but she can be controlled. Don’t fight her, make her believe you are seeing another woman and she will be subdued.”

“Do what? I can’t do that, Zara will divorce me without waiting to find out if it is true. I can’t take that risk. Someone that they are saying is not looking fine, all the men are eyeing her. If I clean her up now, the men will definitely take her from me. I will not allow it.”

“So, what will you do now?”

“I will buy her another phone and return the phone Andy bought. She went shopping with her sister on Saturday, she came back with many clothes. She locked them up in the other room. She should do as she likes. She even bought one cream and soap that has white written on it. I didn’t say anything. I will not say anything. I will refuse her food and any conversation with her until she begs me. Then I will give her my conditions.”

“Get this girl pregnant? What are you waiting for?”

“I want her to get her confirmation of employment before she gets pregnant. With this Andy’s account, she will be confirmed. Her probation period is supposed to end next month.”

“Then she can get pregnant now. You will have peace and she will have peace.”

“That’s what I will do. I will stop pulling out. But this week, I will crumble her by ignoring her and locking her out of the bedroom. She should go and stay with her new clothes. I will reject her food too.”

His mother knew Zara was stubborn and her son was so in love that he will be the one looking for her. The best thing was to get her pregnant.’

It didn’t work as Lere planned. He asked Zara to move her things out of the room. Without asking why she obeyed and moved into the guest room. Then he rejected her food twice, and she stopped cooking for him. They became strangers in the house. She woke up, got ready for work and left the house before he came out to leave for work. When she came home, she stayed in,side her room and didn’t come out until she was leaving for work the next morning.

On Friday, she packed a bag. She sent Lere a message in the evening. She said:

Hi Lere,

My family just moved to Gbagada. I want to spend some time with them there.
I will be going to work from there too. It is closer to the third mainland bridge.
Have a nice weekend.

Bye.

Lere was furious. This was not the reaction he had anticipated. He believed something was giving her the confidence to defy and disrespect him. Was it because she was meeting rich people she had no interest in him anymore?

Zara’s family was glad to have her in the new home. It was a duplex, a very big house. Adanna had on an engagement ring given to her by Andy. Andy wasn’t the r0mantic type, his idea of r0mance was to spend money on his girl of interest. It showed on Adanna and Zara was very happy for her.

“Do you ever regret not marrying Andy?” Adanna asked Zara the first night in the new house.

“No. I love Lere. He is a bit crazy and overly jealous but I also know he loves me. He does all these things because of the love he has for me.”

“He is too possessive. He called Andy and asked him to leave you alone. Andy laughed when he told me the story. He said you are the only prized possession Lere has that is why he doesn’t want anyone near you. He added, that he may be doing what he is accusing you of that is why he is this scared you might do it. I told him I doubt it. Lere loves you too much to do that.”

“Lere will not do such; I trust him. He fears I will leave him for a very wealthy guy. He says every woman has a price. I don’t bother to explain to him anymore. I am waiting for my confirmation so I will receive a lump sum of money. There is a parcel of land for sale in Ikorodu, I want to buy a plot and keep it. The remaining money I will give daddy and mummy half of it and use the other half to change my weave-on, buy makeup and also perfume.”

“Andy bought me six bottles of perfumes on this his last trip. He said he loves perfumes. I still have three unopened bottles. I will give you two. I also kept this pair of shoes for you, it is tight for me because of my fat legs. It should be your size. And this bag. He bought it for me but I think it is too serious. You can have it.”

“Won’t Andy be upset if he sees me with these things?”

“Why will he be upset when he knows I owe you more than I can ever repay you? Lere gives you love and r0mance, Andy gives me money. Even the s-× isn’t anything to write home about. It is only when he is less busy that it is enjoyable, which doesn’t happen often. What is s-× compared to money? I want to tell you something but you must promise to keep it a secret”

“What is it?”

“I think I am pregnant. The last time we were together before his trip, we had s-× without protection. I told him I wasn’t safe and he said, “and so what?” I allowed him thinking he withdrew. I haven’t had a period. I told him yesterday he will take me to the hospital tomorrow.”

“Did he sound happy about it?”

“I don’t know. He just asked how many weeks late I was and I told him. I took the pill. I don’t want to go alone with him, would you come with me?”

“Now I know why the bribe. You want me to go with you to the clinic.”

“I fear what his reaction will be. Andy can be unpredictable.”

“We will go tomorrow then. We have to leave early; I know Lere will be here to take me home tomorrow but I will shock him. He won’t meet me at home. I have to give him something to worry about. We will not leave together. I will leave before daddy and mummy come downstairs, you will meet us at the estate gate. You understand?”

“Very much. Lere will be angry tomorrow not knowing where you are. He will go mad thinking you went to be with a man.”

“That’s my intention, to teach him a lesson.”