The President’s Wife episode 13
TITLE: THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE
WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI
CHAPTER 13
Zara refused to tell Lere what transpired. Instead, she went to see her sister Adanna. They were very close; the three sisters. Uju was Zara’s chief bride’s maid. Because Adanna and Zara were closer in age, their relationsh¡p was tighter.
“What nonsense? Lere that pulled your birthday stunt in front of his colleagues is the one that is sleeping around in the office? I think you should tell him or better still report a case of harassment to the management of his company.”
“But what if he is telling the truth?”
“A man that wants to sleep with his colleague’s wife is telling the truth? You are being emotional. No problem, investigate then. I have a friend that works in the company. Let’s call her together and ask about your husband.”
They called the lady. She knew Lere. She said every girl dreamt of ending up with him but he didn’t show any interest in them. She confirmed what Adanna said about Raymond; he was the chronic womaniser. He was married but claimed to be single in the office.
Zara decided to end to all the nonsense once and for all. She went to Lere’s office, and requested to see Raymond. He came out to see her at her request. She smiled while telling him, “the next time you will approach me for a relationsh¡p or try to slander my husband to me, I will report you to management. If other females fell victim to it in the past, I will never. Stay away from Lere and me going forward.”
“You think you can scare me? I can see you are still a child. I give you full authority to report me to management. They do worse. As per your husband, that promotion he has worked hærd for, he will not get it. If I have had you just once, I would have promoted him because he is a hærd worker. Since you refused, he will remain in that position for a long time.”
“Is that so? You are now God that makes the final decision. My husband, Lere, will get his promotion. Watch and see. You did it to others and got away with it doesn’t mean you will always get away with it. This is the last warning I am giving you. Make any attempt after now and face the wrath.”
“Come here,” he dragged her close to him, “what will you do? You gave all this s-×iness to a Yoruba man to enjoy. I have imagined how you will be in bed for months now. The way Lere smiles when guys are talking about s-× makes me realise he is having a good time. Why give it to someone who doesn’t deserve it?”
“Now you have crossed the line you will receive my wrath,” She walked away from him and left the building without seeing Lere.
When she left the building, she stopped the recorder she had on her to record their conversation. She wrote a letter to the Managing Director requesting disciplinary actions to be taken against Raymond for s-×ual harassment of his subordinate’s wife. She also requested discretion in handling the case.
The Managing Director listened to the tape and summoned the head of Human Resources. When the head of Human Resources heard the tape, Raymond was placed on suspension with immediate effect pending investigation. They continued their investigation and discovered he had done the same to his other colleagues. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much they could do; his father was a shareholder of the company. He was removed from that sensitive department and sent to a redundant department. Raymond was ashamed of being caught redhanded.
When Lere found out what happened, he marvelled at his wife. He was glad the matter was resolved but he felt she should have told him about it.
“He bragged if I tell you about it, you will confront him which will result in you losing your job. He was right. I handled it myself and he fell into my trap. He should have asked himself why I came to see him concerning this and be cautious. But because he believes he is God’s gift to women, he put his sense on the back burner and shot himself in the foot.”
“You have proved to me you are a woman of integrity. I hold you in higher esteem than I initially did. Thank you for preserving my dignity.”
Lere didn’t want Zara to work in the bank but she was insistent. She attended over ten interviews but didn’t receive a callback. When she was tired of sitting at home, she went to learn to bake. Lere loved she had chosen another path; he was mistaken.
The offer letters poured in. She had to choose from fourteen banks. She considered her options and the one that best suited her career plan and her home front. She chose NIM Bank Ltd. It was a new bank and her impact will be greatly felt.
After her orientation, she was posted to Corporate banking. The first day she entered the department, she knew she had to step up her game or she would be intimidated.
She told Lere she needed to buy clothes for the office. He gave her some money. Zara told him it wouldn’t be enough for all she needed to buy. She asked for more. He grudgingly gave her a little extra. She needed to buy shoes, handbags and clothes. Lere refused to add to what he gave her. This caused their first quarrel.
Zara complained to Adanna about the way she felt when she saw her female colleagues. “Can you do what they do? You can’t compete with them. I saw sales in one big boutique, 75% off. It is genuine sales. Zara, once I get married, I want to import clothes and open boutiques all over Nigeria. I love shopping and I know what most women want. We will go to the boutique on Saturday.”
“How far with Andy? When is the wedding?”
“His continuous travel is the problem. Don’t worry, he has assured me when he comes back this time, we will do the introduction and then traditional. He wants me pregnant after the traditional before he does the white wedding.”
“Why? That’s not right. You get pregnant after he marries you properly.”
“Hapu ya. I know how to handle him. I have stopped giving him my body, it is not for free. If you want it, do the needful. That’s why I have a blank cheque to go shopping. He is ready to do it.”
That Saturday Zara and her sister shopped. They went from boutique to boutique looking for good deals. Zara was able to get some nice items on her budget. Adanna was right, she should remain focused on her work.
On Monday morning, Lere dropped his wife, Zara, in front of her office. This was their daily routine. Whenever Lere finished early, he would stop to pick Zara up. If not, she joined a colleague to go home. He lived close to her. He was her department head and had taken a liking to her.
On the days Lere travelled for events, she joined her boss to come to the office. The boss’ wife joined them in the morning too. They were an interesting couple. They talked from the beginning of the journey until they got to her office. It was interesting to see married couples who were good friends after being married for years.
Lere had never met the boss in question, although he was aware he picked up his wife and brought her home until that morning.
Unfortunately, his wife began her leave so didn’t join them that morning. Lere was very uncomfortable with the man taking Zara to work. He told the man to not to bother, he would bring Zara to work. He forgot to give her something at home. Zara was surprised and also embarrassed. The boss understood and left.
“Why did you stop me from going with him?” Zara asked.
“You will no longer ride with him. That man drives an SUV; a brand new SUV and you never told me. I will drive you to work and pick you up. I don’t want any man around you.”
“What are you saying? We work in the same office so if he had intentions he would have declared them since. He is not like Raymond. Joining him to work and back saves me transport fare. You are being unreasonable. When you are not around, how will I go to work?”
Lere didn’t respond as he went into the house to get the car keys. He entered the car and waited for her to get in. He wasn’t ready to have her close to a man that oozed cash. He looked rich; even his perfume was very alluring. If he allowed Zara to remain in close contact with him, he will strike.
“Lere, I asked a question before. What is the plan when you are not available?”
“See Zara, I am not stupid. Never you think I am stupid. You might have an interest in this man because he has money. I said I will take you to work and bring you back. Why must you go with him? Has he asked you out? Are you having an affair with him? Tell me.”
“Lere, you are very funny. Have you seen the ladies in my office and how they look? Trust me, if he is interested in anyone it won’t be me. I am not his type. Is it with the clothes I wear every two weeks that anyone will be interested in me? I am focused on my job. No one, seeing both of us, will believe we are husband and wife. You dress very well but you are not willing to make me look good. I am not bothered; when I start making good money, I will take care of myself.”
“So you want to be like the other ladies that follow men to look good? Those ladies that sell their bodies to clients so they can wear expensive clothes and pieces of jewellery? I didn’t know that was what you wanted, now I know.”
“Lere, I am not begging you to do right by me. It is not a problem, I can fend for myself. I will go to work with a female colleague since you don’t want me to go with my boss. Just keep your distance from me. All you have said today has made me realise you don’t know me.” and she stopped talking after that. They drove in silence to her office and she didn’t say a word to him when she came down from the car.
Zara went to her boss to apologise for her husband’s behaviour that morning. He said he understood. “He is a handsome guy, both of you perfect together. He is insecure, you know. The problem with insecure people is that they can be very overbearing. I would suggest you don’t ride with me anymore, I will get someone to take you home from here to help you.”
“Thank you, sir. But it won’t be necessary. He will do it himself.”
Lere got to Zara’s bank very early to pick her up. He waited in the parking lot, she didn’t come out until 6 pm. He tried making small talk on their way to the house but she gave him the cold shoulders. She hærdly ever reacted like this. He left her alone. When they got home, she made food, served him and stayed back in the kitchen to eat her food. Lere felt she was being childish and ignored her too.
She took a bath, put on her sleepwear and left the room. Lere waited for her to come back but she didn’t. He came to the sitting room, but she wasn’t there. Then he checked the guest room. It was locked. He knocked, but she didn’t respond. He was upset, she was taking it too far.