“Not yet.” Chief Okrika replied, “I want to hear your own side of the story first and confirm some facts before I finally speak with him. I know you‘re an intelligent girl who knows on which side her bread is buttered. You couldn‘t have landed Edward otherwise.”

Could people be so two-faced? But she will play along till she got what she wanted. “Can we meet somewhere to discuss this?”

“Of course, I was about to suggest the very same thing.”

“Will your wife be there?”

“If you want her to be there, then she will. Let‘s meet at the Federal Palace Hotel. I can book a room or reserve a table at the restaurant any day you want. I‘m free this evening.”

“I‘ll prefer the restaurant. Tomorrow afternoon by two will suit me better. Is that fine with both of you?”

“Any day and time you choose is OK. We want to find a solution to this problem Edward is having with his business, and if possible, find ways of saving your relationship.”

“Thank you,” Gladys replied with a curled lip. “I‘ll be there.”

***********

When she went into the office the next morning, Gladys headed straight to see Ola. She was going to meet with Chief and Mrs. Okrika that afternoon and wanted to be sure of how to go about it. She couldn‘t decide on whether to confront them with her suspicions or to take a different tack. “You‘re finally back at work!” Ola screamed as she stepped into her cubicle. The girls hugged tightly, almost falling on the desk. They laughed and straightened up.

Gladys sat down on one of the seats. “It‘s nice to know that you missed me so much. How is Azeez? And ahem, I can see that the seed you guys planted is growing.”

Ola fell on her in mirth. “You‘re so funny, Gladys. But yes we thank Allah for blessings.” She rubbed a hand over her growing belly.

“I thank God for you too. How‘s the office?”

“You took your sweet time, I expected you yesterday. It‘s as usual, but let‘s not talk about that yet. I can see you‘ve been doing some shopping. The new dress looks great on you.”

Gladys wore a black wraparound sheath she‘d bought in one of the stores near their hotel in New York. Ola smoothed a hand on it and then settled back on her seat in the wide hipped posture typical of pregnant women.




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