Thorn between episode 43

TITLE: TORN BETWEEN

WRITTEN BY OGECHI ALABI

TROUBLE 12

Adim opened an account in another bank and requested a Cashier’s cheque for most of the money in his various accounts managed by Thelma. The Branch Manager called him to appeal to him, but he refused. He claimed he wanted to buy some properties. The Manager did not want to lose that kind of money so he threatened Thelma. Thelma went to Adim’s office, but he refused to see her. She waited for him after work, he walked past her and refused to talk to her. She knew she would lose her job if he moved all his accounts from her branch or she would be posted out of that branch, she did not want that. She wondered why Adim was proving difficult, did he want her to fail and be a housewife like his wife? She was upset and drove to his house that night.

She parked her car outside and banged on the gate of the house so loudly that the security was highly irritated when he came to answer. There was a bell there, but she didn’t use it. The gateman asked who she wanted to see, she said she wanted to see Eucharia and Adim. He asked her name and she told him. Flora met the security man first and asked who was at the gate. When she learnt it was Thelma, she asked him not to open the gate for her but to keep her outside until she told him to let her in. She went into the kitchen to tell Eucharia that Thelma was around. “Serve Adim’s food, send for him, go upstairs and change quickly. Pretend as if you don’t know she is around. Once Adim settles to eat, I will ask them to let her in while you come downstairs. Be fast.”

Eucharia smiled at Flora’s mischief. She had not shown some skin for a long time, and it was time to wear her shorts. Adim didn’t allow her to wear shorts even within the compound. She went upstairs after serving the food. She wore a T-shirt and shorts. The T-shirt was longer than the shorts. She strolled downstairs as Thelma entered the house. Adim was already eating when she came in.

Thelma came in a rage. Apart from what happened, the security keeping her outside for so long added insult to her injury. This was the house of the father of her children, why would she be treated like a stranger or a nobody? She stormed in and her face wore the rage she felt. Flora was there waiting for her, Eucharia was coming down the stairs and Adim was shocked seeing her in the sitting room that his hand hung in the air with a mould of garri that was supposed to enter his mouth.

“What’s happening here?” Eucharia asked as she walked down. She could see Thelma’s face and knew it was something serious, not mere competition.

Thelma ignored her and faced Adim, “You want to know what I am capable of. You told me to have patience for you to appease her (pointing at Eucharia) and said the issue has not been resolved, but you are sitting here eating food she prepared and served you. She is looking all sexy for you. Do you think you can deceive me? I will not be a housewife like her; I am a banker and I want to retain my job. Why do you want me to lose my job? Why?”

Adim dropped the food, washed his hand and came into the sitting room. He turned to Eucharia and asked, “Were you told she was around? Who opened the gate for her?”

Before Eucharia could answer, Flora responded. “I did. I opened the gate for her because she was constituting a nuisance outside by banging on the gate repeatedly. I didn’t want her to create a scene, so I asked the security to open the gate. I sent the maid to tell you that you had a visitor.”

Satisfied with Flora’s response, he turned to Thelma and said, “My children are home and I will not allow you to disrespect my family. I ignored you for a solid reason, and I will not go back on my instruction. Trying to cause trouble in my home will not change anything. I warned you, but you take my warnings for granted. You will learn how to behave very soon. Now leave my house.”

Thelma raised her voice saying, “I am not leaving here, and you can’t make me leave. You must sort this issue out today and not tomorrow. You are being mean and unkind to me because your wife forgave you and took you back in. I have my rights too. You asked me out, I did not come for you. You got me pregnant, and now you want to dodge your responsibility. It will not happen.”

Eucharia was baffled and did not want her children to witness this melodrama, but she had to the problem. She called one of her maids to go upstairs and ensure none of the children came downstairs until she said so. Then she told Thelma to sit down.

Flora was not having it l. She said to Eucharia, “Why are you asking her to sit down? The man she was frolicking with has asked her to go, let her go.”

“Nda Flora, would you allow me to resolve this while you are here or will you go to your room while I do it?”

Flora kept quiet and sat down. She did not want Eucharia to make peace with Thelma, but she could not stop her. When Eucharia makes up her mind about something, forget it.

Adim wanted to go upstairs, but Eucharia stopped him. “You created this mess, you will sit here and help resolve it.”

Adim came back and sat down beside Eucharia. It was deliberate, but it was not helping matters. Eucharia realized that, stood up and went to a single seat so she could listen and resolve the issue.

She asked Thelma what happened. Thelma began with how Adim had abandoned them since he returned to Eucharia and treated her unfairly. She had a list of complaints, but finally, she said Adim wanted her sacked. When Eucharia asked why, Thelma said it was because she asked him about a transaction and he flared up and then decided to move his money.

Eucharia turned to Adim and asked what happened. He replied, “She deliberately stopped the five hundred thousand Naira check I gave you. I confirmed it in good time, but she stopped it. I issued a cheque for the phone and she queried me concerning it. Why should she do that? I warned her before and didn’t take action, so she felt she could do it again. I requested all the money in my accounts, and now she is running a helter-skelter. I am not changing my mind.”

Eucharia understood what happened and realised Adim was not at fault. If she had not witnessed what Thelma did to her, she would have believed her but she knew better.

“Thelma, you caused your problem. I did not know you were Adim’s account officer, when you returned that cheque that was when I knew. I told your manager you can not be my man’s lover and manage his accounts, but it is not my account and neither is it in my place to say anything. It could have been misconstrued as jealousy if I had insisted. You did it again and came to my house this night to fight him. What were you expecting? Did you think you would create a scene and get away with it like the last time? No way.” She turned to Adim, “It is about time you move the accounts, but you have to help her retain her job. Give her contacts to open accounts with her to make up for the loss of your accounts. You have to move your money away from her, I agree. But before you do that, give her customers so she can retain her job. I know you can.”

Thelma sat there speechless. Adim had told her several times how wise Eucharia was and that people listened to her when she spoke. She did not believe it until that moment. Apart from being attractive with an even complexion, she was smart. She could not fault her decision as it was fair. There was nothing she could do to stop Adim from taking his accounts, but at least she would retain her job. But what of the issue of ignoring her and the children?

“Thank you for helping out of this situation. I was worried and wondered why he bought a new phone when he already had a phone. That was what set him off.”

Eucharia lifted her t-shirt, brought out the phone and asked Thelma, “This? He got the phone for me.”

Thelma was speechless when she saw the phone. She did not suspect he bought such an expensive phone for Eucharia, she suspected he was trying to replace her with a new lover and now she had come to realise her rival was still Adim’s wife.

Seeing she had no case she asked, “Please tell him to visit his sons, they are asking after him. If he is no longer interested in having them, I can send them to my parents or my siblings abroad. He is treating me like I am nobody, but I am the mother of his sons. It is unfair.”

Flora asked a mischievous question, “Are you talking about the phone or your relationship because the diversion is funny.”

Eucharia shot Flora a warning look that made her keep quiet. She turned to Thelma, “This problem has nothing to do with me. How both of you met and had the babies; meet and resolve your issues. This is the last time I will allow you into my home; you are not welcome here. My children are aware and heartbroken their father has sons with another woman, but I will never allow any disrespect near them. Keep your distance from my home. I won’t warn you again.” She turned to Adim and said, “See her off.”

Read – The Billionaire crazy wife episode 65 – 66

Adim grudgingly stood up and walked Thelma out. Thelma tried to talk to him, but he wasn’t listening to what she had to say. He waited for her to enter the car and walked back into the house. Thelma felt like a fool. How can a wife have so much hold on her husband? She had to do something about it.

Flora could not believe what just happened. She was in awe of Eucharia and how she handled issues. She was indeed wise and had human compassion. Imagine telling Adim to help his concubine, what woman would ever do that? Even asking him to see her off was shocking to her. She had to voice out her admiration, “I dot my hat for you, Eucharia. I loved how you handled the issue. She will no longer manage Adim’s accounts, a wise move. But asking him to see her off, was that a good idea?”

“Why not? She is bitter because of him, I won’t be a part of that. I have to ensure she never has access to this house again. What she does with Adim does not concern me; they should not bring it near my abode, that is all.”

Adim came in just as Eucharia finished the sentence and she turned to him and said, “Take her picture and car details and drop them at the security post, I do not want her near this house ever again. If she comes here on another day, I will move out. I mean every word I have just said. My children live here and should not be dragged into your mess. Choose wisely. If she finds her way here again, I am out. I have given you a valuable option; the choice is yours.” She stood up and went into the kitchen to serve Adim another meal and then went upstairs.

Flora laughed at Adim’s confusion and said, “You married a good woman; a woman with a heart of gold. She is kind and dislikes injustice. She displayed who she is today, but I warn you, keep Thelma away from Eucharia. I can assure you, that the next time she comes here, Eucharia will leave. Don’t say I did not tell you.”

Adim had planned to notify the security not to allow Thelma in even before Eucharia mentioned it. As he ate his freshly served meal, he tried to locate where he could find Thelma’s picture in his mind. He had her car documents, so that won’t be a problem. He had to find her picture and fast. She was difficult to deal with; she would not obey simple instructions and was showing a side of her he detested. She was lucky she had the boys, if not, he would have ended the relationship a long time ago.

Adim gave Thelma’s branch some accounts worth far more than his and then pulled out his money. Thelma sent him an email asking him for forgiveness and begging him to meet with her. She sent a mail every day. Eventually, he agreed to meet with her during lunch. He took her out for lunch to one of the regular places they patronised, and they were able to talk. Thelma apologised for her behaviour and blamed it on Adim. She told him how indifferent he had been about her feelings and how much it hurt her. She told him she missed him and wanted him to visit and spend a weekend.

“Thelma, you are always sorry. You act like a child when you are not. You understood what you were getting into when you got involved with me. I told you countless times that I loved my wife and I would never leave her for you. I compensated you for that with money. My heart is not with you. Thelma, have I ever told you I loved you? You should have known. I appreciate you for giving sons, but as much as I love them, I can’t love you like I love Eucharia, it is not possible.”

“I do not need love, give me the affection you used to give me before the exposure. I have two children, which other man will want me? You kept me as a wife and I fell in love with you. Why would I want to be with someone else? Adim, it is you I want and no one else. What you are doing is unfair. Do you want me to run away with your sons? Your family have taken sides with your wife and I and my sons are left out in the cold. It is very unfair.”

“I agree, it is unfair but there is little or nothing I can do about it. My family would only do what Eucharia says. If you can buy Eucharia over, then everything will be fine. Find a way to convince her.”

“You bought that phone for her; I would never have guessed. I thought you had gotten involved with another girl.”

“I can’t try that when I have not been forgiven for your case. It is only a madman that will make the same mistake twice.”

“So I am a mistake?”

“Yes, I shouldn’t have gotten involved with you. I should have been content with Eucharia. After everything I did with you, I still sought the solitude of her warm welcoming body. I couldn’t resist her. She is refusing to perform her conjugal duties because of what happened, but I will wait patiently until she does.”

“We do not have to wait in hunger, since I want you and you want sex, we can meet and have it without her finding out just like before. You can go on tour and spend some weeks with me. I have honestly missed you and it is driving me insane. My body aches for you every time. I am begging you to consider my plea.”

“I cannot be dishonest with Eucharia again. If I come to see you, I have to tell her and let her know when I will be returning home. I do not want her to suspect we are back to our old tricks and I do not want another pregnancy; six children are more than enough for me.”

Thelma was quiet for a few minutes and then tears began to flow. She spoke to Adim in a shaky voice, “So what happens to me? I should look for another lover? I am stuck with myself. I knew what I was getting into, but you treated me better than this before your wife found out. Now your wife is calling the shots. It is so unfair.”

“Who told her about us? You. So what do you want from me again? You are willing to give me your body but I crave my wife’s. I want her to forgive me so we can move on from here.”

“What happens to me?”

“Keep a low profile, stay away from her and my home, respect boundaries and once she has forgiven me, I will arrange how we can see each other.”

“So we can’t have a quickie this afternoon? Talking to you has made me wet already. I can’t allow you to leave without cumming. Even if you won’t do anything, just make me cum; it will help my sanity.”

She pleaded with him and it was a huge turn-on for Adim. He took a room in the restaurant and they went in together. She undressed and tried to entice Adim with her body but he did not allow her to touch him. He helped her reach orgasm without penetration. She pushed for him to do more but he refused. He did not want anything that would jeopardize his settlement with Eucharia. Immediately she was satisfied, he stood up to leave.

“When are you getting me a phone?” She asked Adim out of the blue. He shook his head in disbelief. Thelma would never change. He headed towards the door when she said, “Are you leaving? I could have helped you with the bulge I am seeing, but you are afraid of your wife. Did she put something there to check when you meet with me? Come let us relieve ourselves of the pressure, you want me as much as I want you.” Adim turned away from her and unlocked the door. She continued, “I will manage this for now so peace can reign. But please come to the house to see us, I beg you. You need to find ways to satisfy me while you are trying to get your wife back into your bed. Why you have to have sex with her baffles me. I know her body is nice and her complexion shiny but she birthed four children and she is no longer young. I am young and agile, you should desire me more. I will allow you to win your conquest with her but, you should conclude it in three months, otherwise, I will move on. I am tired of playing second fiddle.”

Adim left the room and went back to work. He felt guilty for succumbing to her pressure, but she was human too. He only had desires when he touched her, he had exhibited self-control for such a long time. Once he resumes intercourse with Eucharia and can control her to an extent, she would not know when he was with Thelma. That’s what he wanted. She had to be patient, but she was always in a hurry. Asking him when he would buy her a phone made him laugh. She was competing with someone who was not interested in competing with her.