SHADOWS (4)

The Okotetes walked
back to the car, holding hands and laughing, oblivious to the figure watching
them.

The person was wearing
a black hooded sweater, smoking.

The couple were now in
the car and George was about starting the car when Seun caught a glimpse of the
person through the rear mirror. The person was still watching them. Seun could
not see the face but was sure with the over six foot height and the way the
person stood, that it was a man.

She somehow felt like
she had seen him before or maybe know him.

“Look at this….” She
began. But he was gone.

George looked at her
first, turned to the back to see what she was pointing his attention to and
back to her again. “Look at what?”

She shook her head.
“Never mind, I thought I saw something,” she said.

“Darling, are you okay?
You look like you saw a ghost,” George asked, squeezing her hand.

She forced a smile.
“I’m fine. I guess I’m just tired.”

“Tired? Don’t be. We
still have something to do at home, you know,” he winked at her.

“Sure, I can’t wait to
be home,” she said with a smile, hoping her husband would believe it. He did
because he started the car and they zoomed off.

A while back, she was
looking forward to having an amazing time with her husband but all that changed
after she saw the man  in the black hood.

For weeks now, she had
been having the feeling that someone was following her, watching her every
move. At first, she had not given it much thought but it had continued.

She had told George
about it one day when she returned from work but he had dismissed her fears,
saying she was just tired or stressed from work. “Why would anybody be
following you? You didn’t do anything wrong. Unless as the celebrity that you
are, one of your fans needs your autograph,” George had said that day.

It had stopped…..or so
she thought. Only for the gnawing feeling to return a week back.

She was always looking
behind her as she walked or drove home.

This time, she would
not tell George, she decided. I’ll tell
someone else, someone who will believe me. Who do I tell?

**********

“They just left in
their car now,” the man in the hood said. He was on a phone call.

“I see,” the voice at
the other end said. “They think they can enjoy life while I rot here, right? No
problem. I will make sure they pay, both of them.”

“Then why are we wasting
time? You know I can finish them off with just two bullets. Two!”

“I know, Scorpion. Just calm down, I want to do
it my way…..no rush. Keep me posted.” The call ended.

The guy in the hood,
Scorpion, walked away.

*******

A
week later…..

George looked at the
files on his desk. There was no way he would finish them before 6pm. But he had
to keep at it if the presentation with their next client would go well.

It’s not like he could
not leave it to his staff to handle. Evans had asked him to do that but he
didn’t think it was right. Leaving all the work to the staff and taking all the
glory was just not right.

“That is one of the
perks of being a CEO or business owner. You do the thinking, sometimes
strategizing and leave your team to do the rest. Then, you go have fun,” Evans
had said.

“How in the world are
we partners? What kind of excuse is that?”

“Well, for one, I am
handsome and you can’t deny the ladies it has brought here. Not only that, I am
really smart. Lastly, I know when to work and when to relax. Go home, George.”

“We have to nail this
thing tomorrow…..”

“And we will. We have
gone through this countless times. Nothing will happen, nothing will change,”
Evans said.

“Alright. But to be on
the safer side, I’ll…..”

“You are a workaholic, George,
just admit it. You’d rather work than go home to your beautiful wife? I wish I
was in your shoes right now.”

“Well, you won’t have
to be in my shoes…..just get married.”

“And we are back to the
marriage talk,” Evans said. “I’m out, man. See you tomorrow; I’ve got babes
waiting for me at the club.”

George shook his head,
yawning. He looked at his wristwatch. 7pm. He brought out his phone and began
texting a message to his wife.

When he got home around
9.30pm, he met his wife still awake. She was sitting on the dining table,
writing into a journal she was yet to allow him see. He had decided not to ask
her about it again, when she was ready, she would let him read it.

He noticed she was
writing so fast, her face set like she was angry at someone or something.

“Welcome back, my
love,”

“Thank you.” As he came
closer, she closed the book and looked at him, smiling. “I wasn’t expecting to
meet you still awake; but I guess the writer in you is wide awake and running.”
She laughed. “Still not ready for us to see?”

“Nope,” she replied.

“Very well, then. The
story had better be a best seller and rake in millions for us,” he said. “I’m
sorry I came late. I wanted to….”

“I know,” she
interrupted, “and I completely understand. Should I bring you food?”

She was acting uneasy
for his liking and he wondered what was wrong. “It’s already late. I’ll have a
cup of tea though, if you don’t mind,” he replied, watching her intently.

“Sure, coming right
up,” she said and headed towards the kitchen.

What
could be the problem? Is it something she’s writing that’s getting her worked
up like this? He looked at the journal sitting on the
table a few inches from him. A sneak peak
wouldn’t hurt, right? He was just about to when….

“My love,” she called,
standing in front of the door of the kitchen.

Thank
God, he thought. “Hmmm?” he said, looking up.

“I’d be going to
Hannah’s place after work tomorrow,” Seun said, glancing at him briefly and
looked away. Still, he saw the look on her face.

So
that’s why she is like this. He walked up to her.
“It’s long overdue. I’m glad you want to.”

Her eyes welled. “I
feel like a bad friend,” she began, “I’ve not gone to greet her since she had
her child over a month now. I’ve been lying it was work and….” She sniffed.

“Hey, come here,” he
said, opening his arms. She went over to hug him, remembering he gave the best
hugs. “I know, baby, I know. It is hard for you but I’m glad you’re doing this.
You have to be happy for her.”

“I am,” she said over
his shoulder, “I think I am. I just want my own child, id that too much to
ask?”

He pulled her gently
apart so he could look at her. Tears were running down her cheeks. “You think I
don’t want that too? I want children but God’s time is the best, darling. And
by God’s grace, I’ll have those children with you, okay? Just be happy for your
friend.”

Seun nodded. “I will.
Thank you, my love. I don’t know what I’ll have done without you.”

George smiled and
pulled her in for another hug.

“Oh no, I forgot your
tea. Let me go and….”

“Don’t go anywhere,
just stay here! Tea will come later,” he said.

 

(To Be Continued)