What lies beneath episode 29

WHAT LIES BENEATH
Episode 29
By AMAH’S HEART.

arriving Abuja was on a Sunday, but I was just in time to clean and tidy up the house.
Set out working cloths for the week.
My Mom called to know if I arrived safely.

“Yes Mom, I got home by 3pm.

“That’s great… thank God for journey mercies. Austin, my dearest boy, if you don’t fancy Amanda, that my friend’s daughter I have another I will like you to check out. Like two different ladies…

I shaked my head saddly, I can’t believe I still have to go through this with my mom’s again.

“No… no Mom… Please I’m serious. I don’t feel any real spark with Amanda… Like I told you back in Lagos I’m taking my mind away from women for now until I’m emotionally balanced. Dad’s right…I need time Mom. Stop worrying or trying to hook me up with ladies, I’m not ready and if I try to force it just to please you I may end up hurting the Lady. You wouldn’t want that neither do i. please, allow me to be for now Mom. I don’t want to keep going over this with you. I’m no more your teenage son… I’m grown Mom. I’m a man…let me make my own decisions and if I need you or dad’s help I will definitely ask….

My Mom agreed to leave me alone for that period but she promise to come for me if after sometime she found out that I was still slow in making decisions.

I was very happy that I had that conversation with her and she agrees to let me be.
That was a great relief, I can finally breath from all the talk over women and marriage.

Another thing I was happy for is that Amanda sent a message that she couldn’t make it as promised.
She intended seeing me off to the airport but didn’t show up.
She told me that she had rift with her old boyfriend but he called saying he was coming around that day and will like them to work out things.
I told her to take care and also wish her the best.

I was already planning on leaving earlier to avoid her before her message came in.
I hate to be pushed over the edge, I don’t like hurting people’s feeling natural. Especially those close to me.

That is the kind of life I have lived and tired of already.
Caring about what others feel and making sure I try to handle each situation well without hurting anyone but at the end I’m the one that gets hurt.
Some of them don’t care about my own feeling. They sometimes hurt me beyond word.
Maybe I need to put on more tough skin and put everyone in their rightful place. Enough of all the wh0le unwanted drama that keeps popping up in my life.

I resumed work the following day which was a Monday.
Angela was happy to have me back as she couldn’t hide her excitement.

I spent three weeks in Lagos and I enjoyed my journey except for Mom’s marriage talk every now and then.
My head is cleared and am in a wh0le new mood.

My Mom was right, acting like I was mourning was totally unnecessary. I’m done with all of that.
I did not know how I got myself into all of the mess I recently experienced two months ago with Eziaku.

That was the hight of it all, no more such emotional and physical breakdown because of a woman.

I have been dealt with because I open my heart freely to everyone.

That too is changing.
I’m embarking more on Mom’s keenly advise. To seek God more than before and focus on being me
At the right time every other thing will fall in perfect place which includes having a family of my own.
Which will be a prayer answered for my Mom and ofcourse for me too.

After two weeks in Abuja, the unknown caller started calling again.

I decided to block the number after trying to call back and no response.

I didn’t back down on my life to do list.
I created time to study and pray.

I needed God more than anything and I believe so much that he had the best interest at heart for me.

I starts my day by asking him to take control and I end each day with total Thanksgiving to him.

I hanged out with chuka few times and also got to meet his new born baby.
Baby number two.
I got real busy with work and focused on it.

I noticed the kind of clothes Angela wears to work, it was more like a clubbing attire not work clothes.

I called her attention to it and asked what was going on with her new line of clothing, she was just smiling sheepishly without a good answer to the real question.
I asked to readjust back to appropriate dressing to avoid sed-cing our clients with her looks.
She began to laugh seriously.
I made it sound funny but I never laughed so she will see that I was serious.

One Thursday, I was working late as usual when she knocked and came to announce that she was leaving.
I said okay without looking up from my laptop which I was working on.

She stood for sometime, I did not really pay much attention how long she was standing in front of my office table but what I noticed is that she walked to where I was and stood.
I looked up from my laptop and looked at her.
Her shirt buttons where down, revealing alot of cle-vage and even the stripers b-ra she was putting on.
“What’s the problem?
I asked confused on why she was standing very close to me.

“I’m about to do something, hope you won’t mind? She said moving even more closer.
I raised an eyebrow and was about to ask her what it was when she bent over and tries to k-ss me.

“Hey…hey Angela. What are you trying to do…. are you sure you’re okay?
I asked as I gently pushed her away from me before standing.

“Sir, I have waited for so long hoping you will ask me out…but that’s not forth coming. I know you’re my boss but you’re also single just like me. I can’t keep quiet anymore or keep hiding my feelings. I like you a lot and is more than likeness. I can’t keep it anymore… I know this is kind of awkward because I’m a female and is mainly a man’s duty to ask a woman out but I have waited far too long…if I don’t express how I feel I may explode in,side. I thought you will notice the flag i kept waving but it seems you didn’t or you did but choose to ignore. Forgive me if you feel offended with the way I come at you…I wish you will put my feelings into consideration. You probably likes me but don’t know how to go about it…I can’t hold it in anymore….

I scoffed and took several feet away from her.

“Angela, listen… you’re a very beautiful lady, Smart, intelligent and almost every man’s dream. I enjoy working with you and trust you enough to handle things in my absence for several weeks. That’s the level I rate you in my affairs and haven’t done so with anyone. One of the things about me is that I don’t mix work with pleasure and it won’t start now. But that does not make you irrelevant or your beautiful words unnoticed. Thank you for liking me but I will like our togetherness in this office to remain work relationsh¡p… please. Can you do that for me?

I said the last part smiling, she smiled back and nodded before saying.

“I can resign if that’s okay by you. If you feel we working together is hindering our togetherness then I can resign right now so that nothing will come in the way of our happiness. I can’t think of another man… all I think of is you…I don’t know how to work normal around you. I don’t know…

I gasped out

“Is okay… maybe you should start by buttoning up, readjusting your skirt and taking your mind off me entirely because Angela I won’t lie to you nothin is going to come out from the wh0le fantasy you created of me in your head. If you want to resign is alright, nothin will happen…I will go ahead and employ another person to replace you. Angela, there must be a man out there who will love and adore you but I’m not that man. Let’s stick to work only and God too to bring that special someone that is our soulmate on our way… alright?

She nooded again, gently turned and left the office while buttoning up.
I breathed deeply and sank hærd on my office chair.

Some ladies will be wanting who doesn’t want them while the ones I want will rather choose another.
Irony of life. Very pathetic.
Angela came to apologise the following day for her words and actions yesterday.
She also thanked me for the advice and promised to stick to only work and nothin else.

Three months later I traveled to kaduna state to finalize a business deal with one Alhaji, a new recommended client who has several houses in one big estate in Abuja but was based in kaduna.

He put me in charge of his properties and entrusted some others to my care.

That was huge and a big win.

I promoted Angela, increased her pay and added more allowance.
I also employed another staff.
At the end of five months I had three staffs which includes Angela heading the new employees.
She was doing her job more better than before and I was truly impressed for such good performance
I was able to finally change my car to something more better.

I didn’t sell my old car, having two cars in my garage is not really a bad idea.
I can drive anyone I choose or feels like.

I celebrated with my staffs on the arrival of my new ride.

I was driving back from work one night, just as I got to my gate i noticed someone was standing beside it.
This was around 9pm in the night. I noticed that it was a female.
I flashed my car light on the person, she used her hand to shed from the light.

“Who are you and what do you want?

I shouted out to her from my car, she sluggishly moved closer to where I parked.
I saw who the person was.
What in God’s name is she doing here?

She knelt down beside my car and started pleading while crying heavily.

“My father is critically ill, we try using native medicine but instead of getting better it got worst…I don’t know who to go to or where. I have been the one calling you all this while…I even traveled all the way down to plead on my knees for your forgiveness. I know we wronged you deeply and probably left a deep scar I’m begging you in the name of God that you severed to find it in your heart and Forgive us…me especially. My father is dying…he has been admitted in the hospital for the past three months and doctors are demanding for big money before they will commence the full treatment on him. They gave us just a month to look for the money or they will throw him out. My mother has high blood pressure because of too much thinking…I have gone through every means but couldn’t find a help. I can’t even graduate from school due to some financially and personal problem. Our lives are in disarray…my mother is dying due to thinking and nobody to help. Please…I don’t want to lose my both parents… please, I’m crying and begging you to save us… help my father. I’m begging you… please sir… please…

I replied back to her with a tone I wish will sound like thunder strike to her ear drum.
This Oby really have gut to come to my house and ask for my help.

“I don’t have any business with you, I’m not sure I even understand anything you just said. let this be the last time I will see you around my vicinity. Take this warning serious for your own good because I won’t look back in getting you arrested for trespassing. infact I’m calling the estate security right this minute…

As brought out my phone to call, her cry started going high.

“Please don’t call oo. I’m begging you… forgive me sir. my parents are going to die if nothing is done. I have not eaten and I don’t have anywhere to sleep tonight. Please allow me to come in,side and sleep, first thing tomorrow I will leave. I’m so hungry… I’m going to faint soon.. my eyes is turning me, I’m really hungry… My intestines are at war in,side my stomach. Please, I’m pleading for the sake of my parents Forgive me… forgive oo….

She was wailing heavily like a professional mourner as I called the estate security line to quickly come over and take her away.

I wined up my glasses and waited for the securities to arrive right in,side my car.
I sat in,side watching her perform her numerous drama.

She even rolled on the ground while crying heavily and shouting that she was hungry and also needed a place to sleep for the night.

Tbc