CHAPTER 4

          If only my husband could always be like this, I thought as my mind flashed back to that kiss he planted on my lips this morning. It had been long he had kissed me that way, the way I wanted to be kissed, with love, want and passion. Thoughts of the kiss just kept occupying my mind as I got ready for work. My face had turned a bit red already considering my fair complexion. I could feel flutters in my stomach. Why was I attaching so much importance to that kiss? Acting like a girl who just had her first kiss. I decided to shut down my thoughts as I scurried towards the front door. I had a feeling it was going to be a great day and I could only anticipate what the day had in store for me.
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          All through my drive to the store, I watched closely for any form of difference on the way, but there wasn’t. With a smile, I parked at my shop’s parking lot and alighted from the car.
          To my utmost surprise, Mrs Alison wasn’t at work yet. I could not tell if I was relieved or terrified. With what happened the previous day, I could no longer decide what I thought about Mrs Alison. The respect I had for her had reduced drastically and the fear took the better of me. She could desire to fire me I thought, or better still report to her husband and I risk going to jail for attempted rape. Both ways I will get fired and maybe jailed too. With those thoughts flooding in, I shook furiously nearly slamming my fist on the office table. But that would have brought attention towards me. I resigned to fate with that and started going through the pile of papers placed on my desk.
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           Who was I seeing? No it couldn’t be I thought to myself. He wouldn’t have come here, he didn’t even know here. I shook as I glanced towards his direction again. He looked more handsome than I could even admit. He did not stop looking good and wearing the best the fashion world could offer. It was no other person than Mr. Eric Alphonsus.
I sighed and said a short prayer to God in my mind as I approached him. We had a lot to talk about and too many unfinished businesses to attend to. My stomach curled into a knot as I drew closer towards him. If this was the anticipated package for the great day I had expected, this one was too big a surprise. Was I dreaming? It really was him. I had to pinch myself to reality.
          “Hello Mary, long time no see”. Mr Eric uttered interrupting my thoughts. I froze in my tracks as I heard his voice. He still had that effect on me that he had when we were in the university. How we did not end up married still remained a mystery to me, and it felt like the past was coming to haunt me. I shut my eyes briefly and smiled back at him, extending my hand for a shake. “A handshake?” he asked amused by my gesture, he chuckled and pulled me in for a hug. “I am a married woman I whispered in his ear and we are outside by the way i concluded.” Amused once more, he asked “A married woman?” he did not speak further and opened the door to my store and let me in. I sighed as I walked in. it was going to be a very long day. I could only wish we resolved things and he went far away never to be seen by me because truth be told I …. “What a nice bookstore you got here” Eric said interrupting my thought for the umpteenth time. i smiled at him and thanked him for the compliment.
Now it was my turn to keep secrets. I well could not tell my husband that I saw Eric Alphonsus it would start up a quarrel and I could not handle that from my husband.
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          “Mr. David, how are you this morning?” Mr. Ferdinand my colleague said. “I’m very well thank you and how is your family?” I replied politely. He was my closest friend at work and the only person I related to well. “Is madam around?” Ferdinand asked. I shook my head in response. Why was her name coming up all through this morning? She was really a terror to me now`. I wished sincerely that she never showed that beastly side of her. It was frightening.
 “Good morning Mr David” I heard from one corner of the office room. I turned my head in the direction of the voice to see who it was. And lo and behold, it was the she-devil herself. “Good morning Ma.” I greeted back walking towards where she was standing. I had a feeling today was going to be another long day. She instructed me to go up to her office and wait for her. I feared for what was likely to happen. Hope fully, she wouldn’t try what she did the last time. I was in deep thought now. Why did she have to be this way? I had too much going on already and the least I wanted was some female trouble. What was really happening to me? Was I destined to really have a tough year? First it was numbers, blood and now a she-devil. What exactly was this? temptation? trials? I couldn’t figure it out yet. It was all jumbled up in my head. It felt like a war was taking place right inside my head. Was I going out of my mind?
I waited in her office for close to half an hour before the door knob clicked and she walked in. unlike earlier; she was smiling whole heartedly and walking more majestically into the office. I sighed as my hands began to shake, goose bumps formed on my skin. It was like the room had become minus twenty degrees Celsius. I was freezing inside.