When we got back to Lagos, things were no longer the same between Nina and I. That relaxed working relationship was gone, replaced by a tension so thick, I thought other staff members could feel it. But nobody seemed to notice and things went on as usual in the office.
Her attitude had changed. She became very critical of my work and nothing I did was right anymore. At meetings with others in my unit, she would knock down any ideas I had for improving our section. She complained my team and I were lazy, that we were not working hard enough. I knew that could not be true considering our sales figures which kept growing by the day.
But when I pointed that out to her, she shut me up.
“What is there to brag about such figures?” she shouted at me. “Do you know our closest rivals sell more than twice that amount and if we are not careful will soon take over the market? You better sit up and face your job squarely if you want to continue working here!”
Later, Dan, my assistant came to me to enquire if I had offended Nina.
“I don’t understand her attitude these days,” he said shaking his head. “She used to be full of praises for you and was always commending you on your work. In fact, I was even beginning to get jealous of you, of the way she was always praising you. Now this. Na wa for Madam o!”
I had not told him or any one for that matter about the incident at the hotel room in Abuja so he didn’t really know what was responsible for Nina’s changed attitude towards me.
I however, took everything she was doing in good faith and just got on with my work. I reasoned that with time, she would forget about the whole matter and we would be back to the way we were. How wrong and naive I was!
The proposal
About a month later, things came to a head between Nina and I. It was after our weekly meeting where she had been as combative as ever. At the end of the meeting, we were all filing out of the room when she told me to stay behind.
I sat down again, placed the file and the pen I was holding on the desk and waited. She stood at the window of her office which overlooked the inner courtyard of the office complex, not speaking for some minutes. I looked at her warily, wondering what she was up to this time.
Then she turned and faced me.
“You know, you are one of the few guys I’ve met who have ever turned me down,” she stated, adding: “Usually I get what I want whether it’s a man, money or anything. You can say my parents spoilt me and never denied me anything right from my childhood. So, your turning me down in Abuja was a new experience for me and it made me really angry.
“It has also made me have a new respect for you. It shows you are not someone who can be pushed around and I like that. I like a man with guts, with strength of character which you seem to have. I can’t stand weak men. All this has made me love you and want you more,” she said, pausing briefly.
Then she continued: “I’m a very forgiving person so I’m giving you a second chance. I want you as my lover and I’m ready to do anything to get you. Meet me at my guest house this weekend and you won’t regret it. I often go there to relax especially when I need a break from my husband.”
She paused again, then sat down and went on.
“There’s something you need to know about my marriage.
“It was an arranged marriage. My father and Willie’s old man were childhood friends and to cement the bond between them, they decided, without consulting us, that we should marry. If I had refused to marry him, my father would have disinherited me. I don’t love Willie; I just tolerate him. Besides, he doesn’t even satisfy me in bed. As a passionate woman, I need a strong man who can give me fulfilment. You look like the kind of man who can do that.
“If you accept this proposal, I will reward you handsomely. I can make you very rich, you know. Or don’t you want to be rich? You want to remain a worker for life? I have the power to make or break you. I will talk to my father and he will make you a director as well as shareholder in this company and the others that belong to him. I know you are ambitious so be wise, Ken and make the right choice. You should know the implication of failing to do what I want. You could lose your job you know, among other things... “
I listened quietly, not saying anything until she finished speaking. Then I said:
“I need some time to think about this, Nina. Give me a few days and I will let you know my decision.”
She seemed satisfied with that. She came over to me and embraced me, the strong designer perfume she had on filling my nostrils with its musky scent.
Later that night at home, as I lay in bed, the words that kept going round and round in my head was her threat concerning my job. I loved my job and enjoyed the perks that came with it. I did not want to lose it especially not now with the situation in the country at the moment with so many graduates roaming the streets frustrated, with no hope.
Getting another one like this would not be easy and I had a lot of responsibilities. My father was dead and I had to help my mother in training my younger siblings. If I lost my job, how would I be able to meet their needs?
On the other hand, how can I have an affair with my boss, who happens to be my best friend’s wife, the same friend who was responsible for getting me such a plum job in the first place? Will I ever be able to look him in the face again after doing such a terrible thing to him?
I turned on the bed, sighing wearingly. I was in a difficult position and the more I thought about it, the more confused I got.
“God, please help me,” I prayed silently, turning off the light so I could get some sleep.
The rendezvous
That weekend, I kept the appointment with Nina. I had no choice as it was either that or I would end up joining the ever-increasing number of the jobless in the country. Her guesthouse was an apartment in a block of flats somewhere on the outskirts of the city. It was on a quiet street and in a discreet location.
Nina was waiting for me when I arrived.
“Welcome, honey,” she greeted, giving me a peck on the cheek as if I was her husband returning home from a hard day’s work.
She looked so excited to see me that she was all over me, hugging and kissing me. She later went into the kitchen and returned with a tray of cold drinks including a bottle of choice champagne.
“What are we celebrating?” I asked, amused as I accepted a glass of the bubbly drink from her.
“The beginning of a sweet relationship,” she replied, smiling. She came over and sat on my lap and kissed me again.
“You don’t know how happy I am to see you here today, darling. I feel like I’ve won a million dollars!”
She put on some cool music and dragged me up to dance.
“So, what made you change your mind?” she queried as we danced to the slow blues.
I shrugged.
“You were right. I’m very ambitious and I will be foolish to let a golden opportunity like this pass me by,” I replied.
“Is that all?” she asked looking up at me, a little frown creasing her smooth brow. “Don’t you like me? Is it just my money you want?”
“Of course, I like you. I won’t be here with you, dancing and holding you like this if I didn’t,” I assured her.
She took my hand and said: “Come into the bedroom then, my love and show me how much you like me.”
I lay on the bed and watched as she quickly undressed. Later, she came over to unbutton my shirt, running her hands over my chest and kissing it. As she was unbuckling the belt on my jeans trousers, the bedroom door burst open.
We both looked up to see Willie standing there. Nina jumped up from the bed, a shocked look on her face.
“Willie! What are you doing here?” She snatched a wrapper from a chair and quickly covered her nakedness.
“I should be the one asking that question,” he said as he came into the room, shutting the door after him.
“What are you doing here in this strange house, in bed with my best friend?”
“We...we were having em..having a business... discussion,” she rambled on, clearly flustered. She looked at me then, a scared look on her face, seeking support from me.
“It’s true. Ask Ken. Is it not true, Ken? Were we not discussing plans for...”
“Shut up woman!” Willie shouted. “You are still giving excuses after I’ve caught you red-handed. Look at you. You should be ashamed of yourself. Forcing yourself on my friend like a bitch in heat,” he said, a look of disgust, anger and pain on his face.
“That’s a lie. I did not!”
“I feel sorry for you. For your information, Ken came to me and told me everything; what happened in Abuja, how you’ve been harassing and threatening him if he refused your advances. He even has a recording of the conversation where you invited him to this place. I was the one who told him to go ahead and meet you here, because I wanted to see with my own eyes the kind of woman I married, the type who jumps from one man to another, who has no respect for the marriage vows we took before God and man.”
He told her he could no longer stay with a woman who could sleep with his friends behind his back and advised her to come home and pack her things and get out of his life forever.
Turning to me, he said: “Ken, let’s get out of here. I can’t bear to be in the same room with this whore,” he said.
The following week, I resigned from the company and together with Willie, set up a business of our own. Some of our friends who heard the real story behind Willie and Nina’s break-up have blamed me for it. Some believe I should have handled the issue more discreetly even agreeing to Nina’s demands, without involving Willie. But I have no regrets about what I did. Willie’s friendship means more to me than any job and a true friend should never have an affair with the other’s wife. Or what do you think?
Send comments/advice to 08023201831 or psaduwa@yahoo.com.
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