Monday was hectic and hot. It was just eleven am, yet Joseph had attended five meetings already. Walking up to his table, he took a sip of his coffee and removed his jacket.
Omar came in without knocking, looking handsome as usual in a suit that fitted him like a second skin.
"Woah, bro what if I was with a woman?", Joseph jested.
"You don't sleep with women when you are completely sober. And you don't have sexual relationships with your workers", Omar stated proudly.
He playfully pushed Joseph and sat on his seat. Joseph laughed and occupied a seat at the other side, reserved for visitors.
Omar raises Joseph's cup of coffee and takes a sip but immediately grimaces and asks, "Damn. Bro, ever heard of sugar before? Your drink tastes like something the devil made".
Joseph raises an eyebrow and asks, "Why are you here?"
"I was window shopping and decided to tease you a little bit", Omar jokes
Joseph, shaking his head, replied, "Last time I checked, you don't play around during working hours".
Muttering whatever, Omar said, "I have a meeting with the CEO of this company in the next twenty three minutes".
Joseph smirked and said, "Nice try bro but I don't have a meeting with you till Friday"
Omar rolled his eyes and mused, "Your assistant seems to be slacking off. Maybe she's tired of working for a man who doesn't appreciate her beauty?"
Joseph shrugged and called in his assistant to explain herself. The two friends walked into the meeting room with their teams to conclude the present deal.
After the meeting, Joseph saw his friend off. Only for him to walk into his office and meet his mother.
Ignoring her and sitting on his chair. He picks a document and pretends to be busy.
"Are you going to sit and watch me like some creep? Why are you here?", He spoke when she did not say anything but continued to watch him.
His mother had changed a lot, even though she still looked very beautiful with those green lenses that could trap one's soul forever and an hourglass figure that she spends so much time and money to maintain, but she looked older and tired. Like she's stressed out.
She felt hurt by his words. Her son would not forgive her for what she did fifteen years ago. Even though she had done so many ugly things in the past, she's glad that she was able to give him a decent life and that was enough to make her happy.
Smiling, she spoke, "How are you son? Are-"
Cutting her words off, Joseph asked clearly exasperated, "Cut the chase and tell me your reason for ruining my afternoon".
She sighed and said, "I want you to attend a party with us"
Joseph chuckled darkly and spoke, "Why should I go with you. I am a businessman and I only attend parties if I would be meeting potential investors"
"There's someone I want you to meet", she replied calmly
He did not say a word to her afterwards but she sat there and watched her son work for a few more minutes before leaving.
As soon as she left, he threw the document on the floor. Caging his head between his two palms, he thought of his father and the quality time they spent together.
For the past ten years, he had been looking for his father but has made zero progress. He even employed a private investigator to help look for his father.
He traveled to his childhood home to find his father, but was disappointed as he learnt that his father had left after the house was taken and did not tell anyone of his destination. He promised to look for his father at all costs.
A knock on the door brought him back to reality. His assistant informed him of his meeting with a journalist.
"Sir, you have a meeting with one Miss Angela Davis, who is an entertainment reporter at Daily Times Magazine. Should I let her in?". His assistant spoke courteously.
Telling her to let her in, Joseph continued his work and mumbled a 'come in' when he heard a knock.
Angela Davis was dressed in a two piece suit and red heels to match her trousers. She packed her hair neatly in a bun. And wore little make up.
When she walked in, she was shocked to see the man she had slept with yesterday. She awkwardly cleared her throat.
Joseph raised his head to look at the same woman he had fucked last. The same woman whose tear streaked face haunted him.
He slept with her. He had used her, just like her ex did.
After a minute or two of staring into her orbs and finding himself getting lost by every single second that passed. He still could not take his eyes off her.
Clearing her throat again, she spoke, "Good afternoon sir. I am Miss Angela Davis and I am your journalist for the next two hours, shall we start the interview?"
Joseph smiled and responded, "Of course.Thank you for coming over".
If she wanted to act like she did not know him, then two could play this game.
She gets to work immediately, she settles the camera she came along with as well as her recorder. After testing her equipment and was satisfied with her work.
She helped him fix his crooked tie and arranged a few documents.
Satisfied with her work, she sat away from the camera and gave some introductions to the audience before asking him some questions about his work place.
They finished early. There were still thirty minutes left. Glad to have completed her work in time, she packed her things and thanked Joseph before trying to leave but was stopped by Joseph.
She groaned mentally and turned to face him with a strained smile on her face.
Joseph smirked and moved close to her. Helping her shut the door and leaning toward her, he whispered seductively, " I want you to fuck me till I'm ripped into two", raising his head a little to watch her reaction, he continued, "Do those words sound familiar?"
Angela closed her eyes, opening them the next second, she spoke.
"I am so sorry you had to listen to all the nonsense I blurted out yesterday. Oh and am sorry for making that sloppy move on you, but I want you to understand that I do not go around looking for men to fuck. I was just very sensitive at that time. I deeply am sorry sir and it will never happen again".
Before Joseph could gather his thoughts, she had run out of his office.
If Angela knew that her colleague would be interviewing the man she had slept with yesterday, she would have declined the offer instantly.
But how could she have known? She did not care to check who the interviewee was; she thought it unnecessary.
As she walked out of the building. She prayed that she would never have to meet the CEO again.
Angela murmured some curses as she struggled to push the heavy doors. The security man was not there, this time to do the pushing.She murmured a few greetings to some workers she's familiar with, as she covered the short distance to the elevator. She pressed the number four and patiently waited for the short ride to end.She got to her apartment and entered her passcode, before cussing again for being so forgetful. She hated the dark. How could she have forgotten to switch on the light in the foyer? Again."Happy birthday!!!", Angela is taken by surprise by the large congregation that squeezed themselves to fit into her little living room.Her house in entirety is not small, she enjoyed the space she called her habitat, even though people had frequently called it a studio to offend her.But it seemed too tiny for the many people in the room. Sophia was at it again. She had invited the whole news station for her birthday.Her best and only friend, Ali Sophia, hails from Nigeria, whose
"Were you able to persuade him?", Mr Benjamin asked as he sliced his steak with his knife."Maybe. Maybe not. I cannot tell what that boy thinks in his head", Hilda replied to her husband's question.Mr Benjamin chuckled and wiped his mouth clean before sitting in a more relaxed position."We did this to him. We shouldn't have married so soon. Maybe we rushed things too much", He stated the obvious.Hilda got married to her lover, immediately the divorce procedures with her former husband were concluded. She did not think for a second, the pain her decision inflicted on her poor son."Psst. He is no longer a child. We made decisions that gave him the life he is living today. Tomorrow, he will be making decisions that might be tougher. He has to grow up"Hilda grumbled before taking a sip from her drink. Mr Benjamin looked at his wife in pure amusement. Even though they are fifteen years older now, she still had the same effect on him. With those green eyes that secretly called to him
"Babe, let's go shopping after work." Sophia started with a small smile on her lips as soon as she got to Angela's desk."What for?" Angela raised her head as she questioned. She was taking a short nap as she had nothing else to do for the day."My Auntie is at it again. She has invited me to a party and I want you to come with me as my date", Sophia wrinkled her nose "Come with me"Standing to her full height, Angela soothed her pan trousers with her palm and led the way to the restroom with Sophia following behind.Shutting the door, she entered one of the rooms to ease herself, while her friend busied herself, checking all the stalls for prying ears."Can't you just ditch this one as well?", Angela murmured as she exited the stall and proceeded to wash her hands."I have a strong feeling that my Auntie will cut all my favorite outfits with that shrill voice of hers. But that won't happen because I'm going and you, baby girl is my date". Sophia wore the puppy look on her face and a
Jake did not come for a booty call, like she had suspected earlier. He had so much to drink at some bar and came to her house, smelling and looking like a complete mess. He's drunk."Don't stand there like some moron. Help me in", he slurred.How did she miss that? She should have spotted his drunken state over the phone. It would at least prevent her the headache of having to spend the night with a drunk man, under the same roof.As she watched him struggle to balance himself but failed at every attempt, she wondered if she could hurriedly close the door on his face and lock the door. Would she succeed?Or she could throw some hate speech at him and watch him leave in denial. And she had every right to make him feel hurt. This guy meant the whole world to her, before he broke her heart a million times. She loved him with all her might but he saw her as a tool and got rid of her, when he found the tool unneeded."Very well. You can stay mute as long as I will be here", overenunciatin
"You have been sour all day. What is it?", Omar asked Fyodor with a smile warming his features.Fyodor groaned as he harshly pulled his tie loose, he had a rough day, to top it all, he got a call from his father."My father has invited me to some party, now of all times. There's no time to socialize, the company is preparing for its annual inspection! God forbid those heartless prosecutors find a problem with our services". The other men laughed as they watched Fyodor lament like an overgrown baby."What party?", Omar asked grinning.He had a feeling he knew the exact party Fyodor was talking about."The Duncans. Do you know the most annoying part? My whole family would be attending. Including Ivan. I would definitely be grizzled before the end of the day!"The other two gave each other a knowing look and made sport of Fyodor. Omar covered the short distance to his fridge and threw a bottle of beer for his friends."We are invited too", They said in uniform.Fyodor exhaled in relief
Fyodor disgruntled as the blaring sound of his bedside alarm filled his ears. He had set his alarm to wake him up in time to catch his flight at exactly 6am.He had a meeting to attend at 9am and could not afford to be late.Just like every other Friday, the trio had partied away and left for their respective homes in the wee hours.He rolled to the other end of the bed and wore his slippers before noisily walking to the bathroom to get ready.He looked back at his image in the mirror. He needed more sleep. He looked like a ghost, with red puffy eyes and dark circles underneath them.He snorted as he lined the bristle of his toothbrush with toothpaste and raised his head up to fill his mouth with the brush."Jesus christ!"His mother laughed at her son's shocked expression as she stood behind him and made more scary faces."Mother, you scared me!""Sorry scaredy baby", she laughed again.Fyodor smiled and began to brush his teeth. He was whiling away time he didn't have. After washin
"You seem disturbed. Is it about your brother?" Mrs Babanin has been stealing glances at her son, as he chopped the vegetables they needed for an omelet.He did not seem to be in a good mood at all. They always had small talks whenever they worked together."It's nothing we can't handle", he muttered as he let out his frustration on the vegetables.His brother made trouble wherever he went. He felt the urge to knock off a tooth or perhaps teeth? Or he could leave his face battered or break a leg? He really needed to vent his anger on him. Or something.And the so-called brother was nowhere to be found."Things would have been better if I were the one with the child. At least I would be giving you a little brother", She tried to lighten up his mood."Or sister" The thought of his 55 years old mother with a baby bump exhilarated him. He couldn't help it when he burst into fits of laughter, his mother followed suit.Once they had calmed down, Fyodor honestly said, "It would not hurt to
The room was lit. That was one way to describe the vicinity adequately. It was a large hall with a huge chandelier placed at the very center and four smaller ones at the four corners of the room. The clatter of glasses against another is heard as people conversed cheerfully.Every man and woman present are dressed like royalty. With the women most especially, they took special care to even the tiniest features they possessed.Most of them have their hair permed to perfection, others left it unruly in a fashionable manner.They all wore expensive shiny dresses and the men in decent tailored suit.Angela sat by her friend and listened to her account her last meeting in the Editor in chief's office. They are currently seated side by side on a round table with other occupants."And he said in a gruff voice, 'Miss Sophie, you mustn't need an Editor all the time. You are a reporter, you must have your way with words'", Sophia laughed at her own words with Angela following suit."And I have
Her feet felt heavy with every step she took afar, her heart was drumming wildly within her ribcage and it felt like she was nauseous. As she ran, all she thought of was Joseph, he'd definitely misunderstood. Fate was cruel. Too cruel. Things were only just beginning to look bright only for this to happen. Angela didn't even care when her legs stopped moving or when her butt cheeks found comfort on the floor. She cried as the turnout of events replayed in her head, mocking her. When Joshua had noticed her unenthusiasm in whatever he had to say, he had proceeded to physical contact and just before she could have acted on his inappropriate manner of touching her, he had forced their lips to merge and enforced a rhythm. Angela regretted her decisions, she shouldn't have acknowledged his message when he'd sent it and even if she had, she ought to have picked a cafe that was packed with customers, not to reserve the most remote seats just so they do not get distracted easily with the da
The next morning, they took a bath together again. Even though Joseph's eyes twinkled with interest he didn't do anything out of question. He still respected the distance between them but he was insanely aware of her naked body throughout. After the bath, he made breakfast while Angela watched.Angela was happy. She was so happy that she couldn't control it when a tear slid down her face because she thought she wouldn't see a day when Joseph would be capable of taking care of his daily needs, talkless of another. Even though she had promised Joshua brunch, she ate a lot. After breakfast, they cleaned the dishes together and that was when she saw it again. That undeniable gaze that said it all. She had noticed it when they were taking a bath and how it didn't disappear when they broke their fast. Joseph would secretly watch her and shyly take his eyes somewhere else when she caught him.She held his hand in hers and smiled before she whispered with all alacrity, “I'm all yours. Foreve
Like a cycle, days turned into weeks and weeks to months but Joseph still didn't get better. He still said close to nothing to Angela. He'd rather spend his time in his study. He had turned lean with time, as he barely ate. He barely associates with anything or anyone apart from his study. Angela has had enough. She didn't care what Joseph thought anymore or what her next actions would incite. Because he was slowly losing it. He needed help. And so, that fateful morning, after preparing a hot soup with easily digestible contents, she marched straight to his study and tried to force her way in but the door was locked. With no other plan but to scream, shout, cry or even use force if she had to, Angela marched towards the familiar corridor. Her next destination was his room, still no Joseph. She forcefully pushed the slide-in door that led to his bathroom and there he sat. Joseph sat like a fetus in its mother's womb as he wept. Like a child.Her eyes lost all the fire and she somewha
“Oh, I've always had a thing for grotesques but for work, it'll always be romance”, the writer chuckled to the camera as he adjusted his sitting position a few more times to look good for his audience.“What inspires your books then?”. Angela read out loud, totally uninterested. Joshua, the writer looked at nothing as he tried to form the right words or what he believes is right. “Love inspires my book”, he smiled to himself like he had just found something no one would ever find. “Love is real. Now, not the kind between siblings or relatives. The simple attraction you feel towards someone you don't even know too well”. He frowned as he continued, Angela almost thought he was already possessed by what made some writers write so well. “That wanton feeling is power. It's so powerful and beautiful and there's a lot to unravel, so yeah. That's why I always find myself writing about it”. He smiled finally, awarding himself marks for a test no one gave him. Angela nodded when she was su
Mr James Wilson was buried on Friday. A very sunny Friday. It was so sunny that Joseph wished that it was raining. They had set up a small gathering, rather too small for a man established as Mr James. But still, many came to pay their respects, some even flew in that morning just to pay their last respect to such a kindhearted man like Mr James. As the priest said the prayers and Mr James' coffin was leveled into the ground, Joseph only prayed to wake up from this dream. He still hadn't accepted the news. He still remembered the conversations he'd shared with his father prior to his surgery. The words he had shared with Angela up to the time he had patiently waited to be reunited with his father once again. Alive. Not dead. But Dr. Murphy's downcast look had ruined it all. Joseph had waited patiently all for nothing. Had believed Angela's words before the surgery, all for his father's death to drive him to the end of time. He had killed his father.No. Not the doctor, at least J
Accuracy. That was definitely Dr Murphy's best word. He was always accurate. He knew the human anatomy like the palm of his hand. As a career man, he was never wrong, and has never lost a single patient during his thirty six years of treating patients. Dr Murphy was literally known as an aldonis in the surgery room.As he scrubbed in and entered the operation room, he said a little prayer to God that he’s kept his nickname this long. Inside the OR, he shook his head vehemently like a boxer ready for battle and whispered “Let's do this” to himself after washing his hands and went in where a nurse came forward to help him wear his sterile gown.A nurse eyed his scrub cap knowingly and turned to share smiles between her colleagues. They all knew Professor Murphy to be present for only very important surgeries and whenever he wore the specific cap on his head, it meant real business. That means the patient on the table would survive no matter the cost. The patient's lucky, she concluded
Morning came, even though Joseph was sore, his whole muscles ached and he had barely even slept, he was glad that an hopeful day had come. A day, he was allowed to dream. That morning Joseph prayed. He hadn't prayed for a long time but he found himself kneeling on the floor as he prayed for a successful procedure.Omar and Fyodor, Angela and Sophia had spent the night at the hospital but Omar had to leave because he had a meeting that couldn't be postponed, he had to be there. But he promised to return as soon as he could.Joseph watched Angela quietly from his side view, he hadn't said anything to her after crying at the garage, now, they were no different from two strangers. Or that was what he thought. She was saying something to Sophia before Sophia left to take a phone call.He watched her as she rubbed her eyes sleepily and sank deeper to the seat, she raised her legs from the ground and folded them to cross one another. These past few days, he had been rough. Very rough with he
Joy. Ultimum joy. Not the kind you feel after bagging a million dollar deal or getting a scholarship but the kind you feel when a ray of sunshine graces your head and suffices your skin with vitamin D, the kind of happiness you feel when the calm breeze grazes the short hairs on your skin. That kind of joy that bubbles from within, that shows itself even when you have a straight face. And that was all the duo felt as they watched intently.Fits of laughter, though weak, rumbled from Mr James chest as he watched closely. Upon his request, his son had transformed his hospital room into a cinema room. The lights turned off, except the lights sourced from the machines attached to him, Mr James relaxed into his bed folded halfway to allow him see the screen comfortably. Joseph was surprised when his father told him where he'd kept all the video clips in his house. He had thought naturally, that clips as such would have been lost. His parents hadn't parted in good times and his mother clea
And there he sat. Like the dutiful son that he will always be. After the little episode at the garage, under the pretense of getting some air, Joseph returned to his only reason for both his unshed and shed tears of agony. Joseph adjusted the duvet that covered his father's body a few times. Afterwards, he'd stand and walk around a few times, he'd grit his teeth a few times, sometimes, torturing his poor nails as well. Only to look outside the window again, rake his hair frustratingly and then sit again. Joseph messed up the routine a few times, willing to do everything to while away time, he only wondered when his father would wake up again. He had to try again.He had to try to convince his father again. He just had to do something. His hands raked his hair again before a sob broke out. A second followed.“Son”, though hoarse, his father’s voice called out. Joseph jerked up immediately and covered the little distance between them.“Big man! Big man!!” His voice was hoarse too. May