The next day Ugochi was in the office when Ijay’s call came through. She debated telling her about the happenings of last night for just a moment before making her decision. The matter was weighing so much on her mind, she needed to confide in someone.
“Hey girl,” she said into the receiver. “How are you?”
“I’m fine o. I called you last night to ask if you got home okay but you didn’t pick your call. I called you several times, hope you’re okay?”
“Girl, na plenty matter I meet for house o,” she began, and then launched into what happened.
Ijay sighed deeply when Ugochi finished recanting her story. “You mean, he slapped you? Like, he actually raised his hands to you and hit you?”
“Yes o. Na so I see am.”
“I’m speechless. I mean, that is so unlike Ikemefuna.”
“I thought so too.”
“What reason did he give for doing that?”
“You know, the usual now. Something like he didn’t know what came over him, he was stressed at work, I was out late, etc. I knew all that was just smoke though because he started asking me some strange questions. Ijay, I think he saw me with Frederick yesterday. I think that was why he flew off the handle like that.”
“Wow, wait a minute. What made you say that? Did he tell you he saw you?”
“No. At least he didn’t say it out, he was just asking me some strange questions like did I go out of the office or something like that. Anyway, I think something is up, something he knows that he’s not telling me about.”
“But….I don’t know how he could conclude it was something shady, at least if he saw you there, he must have seen me too.”
“Yes, that’s true girl! I didn’t even think of that. You were there with us the whole time now.”
“Exactly! I don’t think you have anything to worry about on that front. Our plans will proceed as outlined.”
“Hmmm, I hope so because I really don’t want him to know about this decision I am taking. I need everything to be perfect and in place before I tell him about it.”
“I understand girl. We’ll get it done.”
“Thank you dear. I know I can count on you.”
“You know I’ve got your back dear. Meanwhile, I don’t want you to worry about a thing.”
A thought suddenly popped in Ugochi’s mind. “Wait, Ijay!” she said “Remember, you stood up for like five minutes to use the rest room, so technically, you were not with us the whole time. What if he saw us then? What if it was during that period he saw Frederick and I? Sitting together? Discussing cozily?”
“Oh my goodness, I totally forgot that. Oh, you’re so right. He could have seen you guys then.”
“Oh, this is bad, this is so bad.”
“But wait now Ugochi, we are just assuming that’s what he saw. What if it was something else entirely? What if it had nothing to do with your lunch with Frederick?”
“Oh baby, I don’t think so. I have this gut feeling this is what it’s all about. He saw me, Ijay. He saw me.”
“Okay, calm down. Let’s deal with this in a logical manner. What if you’re right? What if he saw you? What then? You can lie your way around that. Just tell him he’s your colleague, or client or something. He doesn’t have to know what it is all about.”
Ugochi calmed down a bit and thought about it for a minute. “That’s true,” she agreed. “I can always lie about it, and then I’ll pretend to get angry because he doubted me.”
“You go girl. You see? It will all work out.”
Ugochi sighed deeply. “Yes, I believe so. I’ll wait for him to bring it up though. I won’t.”
“Good. I have to get back to work now. Keep me updated?”
“Sure.”
They dropped the call and Ugochi laid her head on her office table. This is getting too complicated for me. I just want to do right by myself and by Ikem. At least, what he doesn’t know can’t hurt him, she thought to herself.
Ugochi was very wrong about that. What Ikem did not know could hurt him, and it was in fact hurting him. He managed to hold himself in check until lunch break, while his stomach churned with anger and disappointment.
He did not want to conclude though, he had to confirm what that bastard Donald saw before he took any action. He had never tolerated a woman cheating on him and he was not going to start now. She cheats, she goes.
Lunchtime came and Ikem bolted out of his tiny office cubicle as if pursued by demons. He paid no mind to his colleague Wale calling him to probably chat about last night’s game, and he stared Bibi, the sexy bombshell who was always making calf eyes at him, down as he quickly exited the building. He had thirty minutes to meet up with Donald and get to the bottom of the matter.
Five minutes later, he was seated across Donald at a small café. It took monumental control to keep from smashing his fist into Donald’s smug face.
“So, what did you see?” Ikem asked when they were both settled.
“Guy, why are we going over this matter again now? I already told you what I saw yesterday. I just felt it was my duty to tell my guy when I think his babe is stepping out on him. What are you taking it out on me?”
“I’m not taking it out on you. I just want to be absolutely sure of what happened.”
“Okay, I’m going to say this just one more time, and then I’m not going to talk about it again. By the way, why didn’t you ask your babe now?”
“She denied it,” he said. He didn’t like the gleam in Donald’s eyes so he explained further. “Okay, she didn’t deny it because I didn’t ask her straight out but she lied to me all the same.”
“Hmmm, interesting. Why didn’t you ask her?”
“I needed to be sure before accusing her of cheating.”
“Okay then. I saw her with this very sleek guy, handsome, you know? And looking very rich and put together. They were seated side by side, he was talking to her about something and she hung on his every word, looking at him adoringly, like lovers, you know?
So, I checked them out for a few minutes, and then left. That was when I called you. I didn’t hang around cos I didn’t want her to see me. That’s it.”
Ikem’s fingers were drumming a nervous rhythm on the table. He studied Donald for a few moments. “Did you see them kiss, or anything?”
“No. That’s all I saw.”
“No suspicious touching?”
“No. But come on, Ik, I’m not a kid. I know when a man and a woman got feelings for each other and those two were sending off serious vibes. Come on, man.”
Ikem checked his time. He needed to get back to work. “Okay.” He stood up and offered his hand to Donald for a handshake. “Thanks for having my back guy.”
Donald clasped his hand firmly. “Anytime, anytime.” he said as he pumped enthusiastically.
“I’ll see you around.”
“Sure. Are we still on for the game tomorrow night?”
“I’ll let you know.” Ikem said and walked out.
Donald watched him go with a wicked gleam in his eyes. Your girl is the most faithful in the world, eh? We’ll see how both of you handles this now. We’ll see, he laughed gleefully.
To be continued
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