The Puzzle - Episode 5

HOW THEY MET

Roseline raised her left wrist to check the time again for the umpteenth time. She was running late for work. Her husband had left the house very early in his car to catch up with a business appointment. She had started the engine of her own car about an hour later but the engine was not ready to cooperate that very day. At exactly 7:15am, she decided to go pick a bike with her daughter in order to drop her first at her school which was not too far from their estate. By the time she got to the bus stop where she was supposed to catch a bus to her own office, it was around 7:35am already. "Oh God! I will be so late," she muttered. And just then, a car pulled over.

"Hello madam," the man behind the wheels greeted. "If you don't mind, I can give you a ride to your destination."
"Huh" Rose scoffed, and answered, "Never mind sir, I'm waiting for a bus."
"Why stress yourself, seeing that you are running late already? Hop in, it's just a favour, I don't mean any harm, I just wanna help," the man reiterated. Rose doesn't like entering strangers' cars not even a man at that. She is fully aware of the effect her beauty has on men, so she does not want to give the devil a chance in anyway but this morning, she was really running late, her supervisor will be around again after he had been away on his annual leave for some weeks, she would not want to give the impression that she had been coming late to work while he was away..

Roseline had no choice than to take the man's offer since she concluded that he seems to be harmless. "Thanks," she replied and entered the car.
"It's my pleasure madam, I don't like seeing women go through any kind of stress, you women are our mothers, you know" He added laughing

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-puzzle

. Rose managed a smile, she determined to be a 'closed system' all through the ride.
"I have watched you standing there for about five minutes before I pulled over to your side," the man continued.
"Really" Rose asked surprised.
"Yes madam, I was on the other side of the road where a vulcanizer was attending to my flat tyre. I saw the way you kept checking your wristwatch and biting your lips continuously, I sensed you were so much in haste and I really wanted to help... By the way, my name is Michael, I am a medical doctor, I work in one of the private hospitals in town, Fountain Hospital precisely, I am sure you must have heard of it before. "Yes I have," replied Rose, "it's a big one with lots of staff," she added. Michael smiled...
Rose then asked, "are you heading there right away? It's not too far from my work place."
"Oh yes! I'm going to work," Michael answered as he turned into the road that leads to the hospital. "Where do you work?" He asked.

"Harmony Microfinance Bank," she responded.
"I see, I know the bank so well...
He dropped Rose at her office. She was really grateful, seeing that Michael was not the promiscuous type of man. Some men would have insisted on collecting one's phone number or even ask for a deeper relationship.

Read " The Honeymoon " by the same author ( Moyosore Teniola )

. "I didn't even tell him my name, yet he didn't press for it" she thought... She said a hearty thank you to him again as he made to move. "Don't mention madam, it's my pleasure," he said smiling and zoomed off.

"Thank God," Rose sighed as she entered her office and noticed that her boss's office was still locked. Just as she settled down, about to pray, she thought she saw someone that looked like her boss.  She peered through the transparent door again and indeed, there he was.
The door opened and he entered wearing a funny look. "Not so fast Rose, I saw the guy who dropped you but I promise not to tell okay?!" He said jokingly. Rose sighed and thought "at least he didn't complain about my lateness." Then she said aloud, "Welcome Mr. Williams, so good to have you back. And the guy? He only gave me a lift, nothing else, I don't know him neither he me"
"Oh, I see, it's better. Glad to see you again too. How have you been?  And by the way, why are you late?"
"Oh Jeez!" Rose murmured.

**************************
How was your day friends? 
Am sorry today's episode came late. Power outage issues...
Do you think the lift Michael gave was a harmless ride?
Eager to read your nice comments.
Happy weekend to you all!