Pearls of Love (Episode VIII)



I was sitting on the executive chair, facing two large windows, covered with a transparent curtain, from there you can see the beauty of the sky, sometimes with closer noise of aircraft as the fly by. If you stay by the window you can easily look into the city, faraway from where the company was located.

I was feeling very tired and there was the sour feeling somewhere in my right knee. I only hoped it wasn’t malaria. Malaria is one illness I had too often and it terrifies me, I am usually scared of the the kind of attacks I get from malaria, I pray it doesn't kill me someday. If you've ever been down with malaria, you will probably understand what I am saying.

I can’t remember the number of times I have asked God for a last chance to live when I have malaria. Each time the illness resurfaces I often think it was worse than the last time.


I stole a quick look at the family photograph on the wall, we took that picture at the beach during the previous Christmas. 

“So what are you up to?’ She asked, cutting off my thoughts. I think I had been quiet, almost forgetting I was on a call.

“I just finished a meeting, and sitting down to plan for the rest of the day”

“Ok" She didn't sound like her usual self.

"Are you okay?" I asked, hoping there was nothing wrong with her job. There were too many job loses and no one is sure about their jobs anymore. 

"Are you very busy?” She asked.

"Sure, but not too busy for you though, hope there's nothing wrong?"

"If you don't mind, I will be coming over to your office"

I wasn't expecting that, though, not like I was surprised, of course, she comes to my office sometimes unannounced. 

Somehow, our jobs have not been an hindrance to us enjoying a good relationship, probably the way we started. I have heard of couples being too busy to the extent it affected their marriage, but up till then, our busy schedules has not been a problem for us in enjoying good relationship with one another. 



The only problem I was going to have is concentrating while she was around. Well she sounded like it was very important, I wasn't going to stop her. The office was big enough anyway for the both of us.

Somehow, it reminds me of our school days when sometimes she would spend time with me during my lectures, and sometimes I go to stay with her too when I had free time, even though that was a more difficult task for me, with all prying eyes wondering what I was doing in their class with their most beautiful student. Honestly, those days, spending one hour apart was like a year apart.

“Promise you will allow me work, there’s so much on my desk right now” I said meaning it.

“Don't worry, I won't disturb. I just need to talk to you" 

 "You are sure you don't want to talk about this over the phone?" I asked trying to persuade her not to come.

"You don't want me to come then?"

"No.. no.. please come" I had to quickly say that, because I know she could just decide not to come anyone and grudge me for it, and moreover I wasn't sure how important it was. 

"I should be in your office in about forty minutes if I don't run into traffic"

 “Okay then ”, I answered, checking the time on the wall and my wrist almost at the same time, hoping the whole day would not be wasted.

“Should I bring some doughnuts?” She asked. 

I thought the call was over, we had been talking for more than five minutes, she could have almost finished what she wanted to talk about

“Sure, I can do with some” I replied.

“What about the kids?” she continued. 

 "What about them?" I asked becoming impatient

“I mean how they will come back from school?”

“Dele will pick them home.”

“Thanks dear, I really want to be with you now, thanks for allowing me to come”

"Alright then... I quickly hang the phone up, before she remembers something to say again.

Immediately after the call, I called Gladys to put down some notes for me. I would have preferred typing such memos by myself to avoid unnecessary errors, but I would have to attend to some other things before Ann arrives or I may end up not doing any other thing the whole day.

The investigation was making head ways and we just might crack it before the end of the week. Putting up the report would be another hectic one.

I report directly to the company’s MD, and most often no other member of the company has access to such fraud reports except the MD and external people like police and fraud investigators. 

On rare occasions when fraud is related to misappropriation of funds by the company MD, the Law Enforcement Agency, fraud section are usually invited to investigate such cases. All through my career in the company I never wrote that kind of report at any time, it’s not an easy report to write anyway because apart from the fact it could cost you your job if it goes wrong, you may also be staking your neck out if such a MD is not just a thief but a murderer. That’s one of the risks involved in my job, in spite of the respect the job earns.

As I refreshed my e-mail, I noticed a mail from Ackerman, my publisher, just as I was trying to open it, Ann walked in, she had made her hair. She looked so radiantly beautiful than I had ever seen her. She was holding a nylon, I guess with doughnuts and drinks it.

“You look stressed up” She said as we hugged. “Please take it easy I don’t want you falling sick”.

“Thanks”. I knew I was truly stressed up, “I think I already have malaria. I will take a break as soon as am able to figure out something about missing fifty million fraud, I think we are making a headway, anyway.”

"Hmm! That's some huge amount" "But you need rest babe" She said touching the back of my neck with her palm to feel my temperature. 

"Thanks"

“Sorry dear, maybe you need to run some tests?”

I waved it off, “I will get over it”

“As usual” She mocked.

“You made your hair?” I asked.

“Yes” she answered. “I decided to re-touch before coming here”

“Yea, I was beginning to wonder if you were still coming”

“Why didn’t you call?”

“Taking my time”

I worked quietly after that for about one hour, and decided to close for the day. From the office,  I made some withdrawal using the ATM, then we went to Above and Beyond, to buy the clothes I needed, we later got back to the house around six.

Peter and Pat were with the nanny, I think they were watching Nickelodeon. I preferred the channel permanently on CNN to keep conversant with news across the world. All these news about Iraq and America war was everywhere, they are continually aired that you soon get sick of it. 

After exchanging pleasantries with the Nanny, I went straight to my room and Peter followed me up. I was expecting Pat to follow us;

"Where is Pat?" 

"She is with my mummy, I think mummy is doing her hair"

"Hmmm"
"Daddy, why did you say hmm" Peter asked.

I just said it, I answered. He has a way of questioning everything you do, and if you don't give him the right answer he wants, or understands, he would keep asking you. 

You know, Pat looks so much like her mom, they are both very beautiful, a lot of people think she looks like me, but I think she looks more like her mom. She easily reminds me of when I newly met Ann, so innocent, beautiful and adorable!

Sometimes, I do wonder what could separate me from my family, especially from Ann, maybe not even death. Sometimes looking at her alone solves all the problems I have on earth including money problem.

Right there, I felt like going down the stairs and carry her up in my arms the way I used to carry her back then in school. I suddenly forgot about everything else, not even my work, not the fifty million fraud case I was battling with, nothing at a time like this can stop me going back into my thoughts of several years back, years back when I met Ann and how we had been all through those years.

Categories: Short Stories & Articles

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