The Odds Are Against Me - Episode 13

 

The next day, I was at work, my colleagues all trooped to my office to wish me a happy birthday. They surprised me with a cake and sang for me; I was overwhelmed by their love. We cut the cake and ate all together. After we were done, we moved to our respective positions. An hour after, a colleague entered my office and greeted me, while I was fixated on my laptop.

"Good morning to you", I said too and raised my head up to catch a glance of who it was . It was the nosy colleague, Oyinda. I was in for it again. She took a seat and laughed.

"If you don't want to offer me a seat, don't worry I'll do it myself", she said.

"Err, you already did that. I'm sure you didn't come here to execute any business stuff with me. As you can see I'm busy", I said.

"What if I came for one?", she replied, asking rhetorically.

"Then, you could have forwarded it to my mail or brought it in a form of proposal, arranged in a file", I said.

"Sorry, I don't follow protocols. That's why I am unusual", she said. I looked at her with so much meanness and laughed. I closed my laptop, and gave her a go ahead gesture, so she would speak and let me be.

"Err, how come you didn't come to work yesterday? Everyone comes to work even on their birthday

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. I was just wondering what happened", she said. I laughed, hit my hands on the table and clapped. 

"Oh really?" I replied, gazing at her closely.

"Yes, why didn't you come to work? Just tell me you are dating our boss to quench my curiosity", she said and smiled.

"How is your curiosity my business? And how is my life related to your curiosity?!", I shouted furiously in a low tone. She adjusted a bit, in fear on how I raised my voice at her. I calmed my self down.

"I am sorry if it got to you, but my business is my business", I said and stood up. She replied it's okay and left my office. I was relieved a bit. They seemed to be on my case. 

While I walked around the office to talk to some people on business ideas I have proposed and other works we have been able to handle, some of my colleagues eyes were fixated at me while I walked by, as if something had happened. I was overwhelmed by rigorous work activities that day, because I interviewed a lot of applicants due to job opening made by my office. After I was done with work, I checked my time and it was 8:30PM. I had always closed earlier than that. I picked up my suit where it hung on the chair, and carried my suitcase. Everyone had gone except our receptionist. She has to wait for the last person to be done, before she leaves the office. She had a breath of fresh air when she saw me. All the while, she was busy with her phone. She picked up her bag from the table immediately she saw me.

"I am sorry for keeping you this late. Have you ever kept this late before?", I asked.

"No, Sir. I had always left before 7:00PM", she said.

"Oh, okay. What if I offer you a lift? Or would you be able to go on your own?", I asked.

"I don't mind if you do", she said. We dashed out of the office and she locked the doors. I waved at the two security personnel. They waved back and one came to open the gate. We entered the car and drove off. The traffic was hectic and I decided to branch a restaurant with her. We ate together and continued our drive. I dropped her at the bus top where she was to highlight and we waved at each other. I got to my house by 10:15PM, when I checked my wristwatch. I honked, and my gateman opened the gate.

"Welcome, oga", he said. I nodded in a reply. I came down from the car, and a young lady was coming from where the gateman sat. She came closer to where I was, and I looked closely to know who it was.

Read " Living In The Ghetto " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. It was Lola.

"Hey, what are you doing here at this time?", I asked.

"You think all you did yesterday was funny, eh?. You can't just leave me like that", she said.

"Really? Last I checked, I never had anything to do with you", I replied.

"But you know I love you", she said, came closer and held me by my shirt. I noticed my gateman was staring at me. I freed from her grip and walked away. Immediately, I got to my door, I opened it, and she hastily entered, and sat on my sofa. I quickly put on the light and gazed at her for few minutes. I walked close to her, and sat beside her.

"The heart wants what it wants", I said to her.

"Yes, my heart wants you", she replied.

"But my heart doesn't want you. It wants Funmi. And she wants me. If I marry you, I'll cheat on you", I said. She turned and looked into my eyes.

"I don't care if you do", she said with a teary eyes.

"Then you don't love me", I retorted.