22/01/2024
WRONG NUMBER (EPISODE 21 -23)
“This…. is ….beautiful, I… love it” he said with enthusiasm. “Thank God” I said to myself and sighed heavily.
“I can’t believe you guys put all this in place within a week” he said while checking out the rooms.
“Nothing is impossible once there is money on ground, although the interior decorator was good at what she does, she made things easier for us” Mr Paul explained.
“This is so sweet, lovely and homely” he said facing me. “I’m glad you liked it”
“Thank you” he mouthed.
I already bought some food stuff on our way to the airport. He already told me he loves Nigerian dishes. I went to the kitchen and prepared Semo and egusi with vegetable soup.
An hour and half later I was done and dished the food. They were surprised when I called them to the dinning. We all ate and Daniel eyes was on me through out.
“This is what a good food taste like, I think Lizzy we’ll have to come and learn from you” Mr Paul said jokingly.
“Who’s Lizzy” Daniel asked
“Mr Paul’s fiancée” I replied him.
I noticed he sighed, like a sign of relief, and I wondered why he sighed. “Really, how’d love to meet her” He said with a wide smile.
“Me too” I said.
“Don’t worry you’ll meet her, she’s longing to meet you both. I’ll arrange that later” Mr. Paul assured.
“Seriously this meal is delicious, I can’t remember the last time I tasted home made food. I wish I would get to eat more of this” Daniel said
“That means you’ll need a cook or better still a wife. I only prepared this to welcome you home” I said while clearing the dishes.
“Mmm!” Daniel exclaimed. “What?” I asked.
“Nothing” he said shaking his head. Then Mr. Paul chirped in.
“I think its not a bad idea, if you can still fill in the gap before the so called wife show up”
“Mr Paul!” I called out giving him a wicked grin.
“I’m just saying “ Mr Paul said raising his hands up.
“Paul let her be, I’ll get a great cook, I’m sure you can help me with that” Daniel said teasingly.
“Of course, I have the finest chef on my finger tips” He said playing along and they both laughed.
“Whatever” I said and packed the dishes to the kitchen.
I was still washing the plates, when Daniel joined me in the kitchen. He offered to help but I declined. I told him he should just go and rest.
“I noticed you and Paul are now very close” He said with a pinch of jealousy in his tone.
“Yes we are, you know we worked hand in hand while you were away just to put all these together” I gestured with my hand.
He kept silence for awhile while watching me clean up the kitchen. “I’m glad he’s engaged” He said.
“Who?” I asked
“Your Mr Paul” He replied.
“Is that while he sighed when Mr Paul mentioned his fiancée” I thought then I replied him.
“Really! My Mr Paul!”
He just smiled and walked out of the kitchen without giving me a reply. “I think Mr Paul is right, this guy is up to something” I said in my mind.
I joined them in the living room, we chatted for a while, he gave both I and Mr Paul what he brought for us from the states. I thanked him for been thoughtful.
“I want to use the restroom” Mr Paul said and excused himself.
“When next will I see you” Daniel said immediately Mr Paul left the sitting room. “Next week”
“That’s too far, this your work is taking much of your time. It’s just that I don’t like
couples working together in the same place, I would have employed you” “Couples!” That ramg in my head but I pretended as if I didn’t hear him.
He was surprised at what he said too, it was a slip of tongue I guessed. He tried to figure out if I heard him but trust me I made sure my face was blank. There was no expression on my face for him to read.
“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. So says the scripture” I thought.
Mr Paul was back before he could say anything.
I checked the time it was few minutes past 5pm, I told them I was leaving. Daniel suggested they take me home, but I declined. I advice him to rest. Mr Paul already offered to spend the night with him, just to keep him company. And I liked the idea.
They drove me to the park outside the estate where I took a cab to my house. Daniel paid the cab man.
He called when I got home, but he didn’t mentioned anything about the “couples” statement he made earlier.
I thought about it for a while on my bed that night. "Maybe he’s actually interested in me, maybe he had finally ended things with his American girlfriend" I thought. I said my prayers and slept off.
EPISODES 22
During the week, I got a call from my ex. I wondered why he was calling me. I didn’t pick the first time, but he called back and I picked it. He started with this apology speech. He spent close to ten minutes, apologizing.
I told him I did not have anything against him, I believe everything that happened between us happened because we are never meant to be. If we were meant to be together, then he wouldn't leave me for someone else. But I was surprised at his response.
“No no no, don’t say that, we are meant to be, it’s the devil's work” “Devil’s work indeed” I hissed, his words were starting to p**s me off. “That girl hypnotized me, I wasn’t in my right senses” He tried explaining. “Tunde will you please spare me all this sermon. I have things to do”
“ Please don’t hang up on me, I’m very sorry. Pamilerin please I want you back in my life.
“Now you make me laugh, what happened to your golden….. girlfriend?”
“She’s no longer in my life, she almost destroyed me. Antonia is not a wife material at all, she's a gold digger”
“So I’m now your rebound girl right, you are my past and I want you to remain there! Please find yourself another girl cos the number you just dialed it’s not available”
“Pamilerin, please…. Okay, let’s meet and talk things through”
“I’m sorry I can’t meet with you, I don’t have that luxury of time”
“Pamilerin, I know I’ve wronged you, I made a mistake please forgive me this time. You can yell at me, you can even hit me. I just want you back in my life” He pleaded.
“That will never happen, not in this life, not even in the next!”
“Pamilerin please don’t say that, I still love you. I never stopped loving you” He pleaded.
“Tunde! In Justin Beiber's voice; Go...and… love... yourself! I don’t care about you anymore, I’ve moved on and you should do the same”
“Pamilerin….
“You don’t like Pamilekun, do you suddenly become a dullard, because the last time I checked you are the second best student in my set. It’s like you’ve
forgotten everything you did to me or you need me to refresh your memory?”
“I know, I now realized my mistake, it’s just that I still love you, no other woman can understand me the way you do”
“Since you refuse to understand a simple English that ‘it’s over between us’ then I need to press the red button” I said and disconnected the call.
That day I was so p**sed, he ruined my mood that day. Tunde’s call opened a fresh wound.
****
Daniel called later in the day, he noticed I wasn’t in a right state of mind. He ask what the problem was. Initially I told him it’s nothing, but he pestered me so much that I eventually opened up to him.
“I don’t think that guy worth all the stress you are putting yourself through” He said.
“I know, but he made me remembered everything I went through in his hands, I mean he treated me like a piece of thrash”
“Do you still love him?”
“That will make me the dumbest girl on earth if I still love that kind of a guy. Not after everything he did to me!”
“Then put him in his place, and take your mind off the past. Don’t allow him destroy your happiness” He advised.
“Okay, I will do as you say. Thanks” “Now I want you to smile”
“Thanks, your words had already melted my anger” I smiled. “I’m glad to hear that” he said.
We changed the topic and we talked for a while. He also made plans for the weekend. And I promise to see him on Saturday.
After that day, my ex kept on calling but I ignored his calls.
EPISODE 23
Daniel insisted I come visit him at his office. I went on a Friday since we close early, I had to fix another day for my private coaching.
The receptionist directed me to his office.
The staff were all busy in their cubicles. Most of them have their eyes and hands glued to their system.
I met his secretary, she’s young and beautiful, all smiling, I had no choice than to compliment her. I told her I wanted to see her boss. She asked for my name, I told her and she just told me to go in that he was expecting me.
I entered into his office, he stood up immediately he saw me and hugged me, as ushered me to sit on the sofa. There’s a center table in front of the sofa. I saw some packs of food on the table. He joined me on the sofa. I commended on his well furnished and organized office.
“Your office always remind me of Harvey Specter in ‘Suit’ Tv series. He was elated that I actually rated his office as that of the office we saw on Tv. Clearly he was a fan of the Tv series as well.
He told me he already got us lunch. There were two packs, he placed one of the pack in a small tray and put a pack of juice beside it and handed it to me.
We ate and chatted at the same time. After eating, he cleared the packs and disposed the packs in a waste bin in his office.
He checked his wrist watch, then called his secretary on the intercom, he told her she can leave since it was already 5pm. I told him I’ll be leaving soon but he asked me to stay for another hour since he won’t see me the next day, and that was because I have a wedding to attend.
He was busy giving me gist about some things going on in his company. Then his phone rang, he told me it was her younger sister, Sharon calling. So he took an excuse and picked the call.
He told her his friend is around, I heard him mention my name. He gave me the phone, he said his sister wants to speak with me.
I took the phone and we exchanged greetings. Her American accent was so strong compared to that of her brother. She thanked me for everything I did for his brother, she told me she missed Daniel, that she had no choice than to come visit him in Nigeria and I told him we will be glad to have her here. I gave the phone back to him when we were through.
An hour later we left the office. He wanted to take me home himself, but he was not yet familiar with the route. He called his company driver who drove us to my house.
Both of us alighted when we got to my house, he followed me in to say ‘hi' to my folks. He met my mum and one of my siblings. My dad was not yet back. I introduced him to my Mum as a friend.
He left almost immediately, I saw him off to the gate. He entered into the car, he thanked me for the visit, I also thanked the driver too and bade them good night.
****
Weeks later, I got a call from Mr Paul, he said he’s at the hospital with Daniel. “Daniel is down with Malaria” He informed me.
“Huh! Mr Paul you almost gave me an heart attack, malaria!”
“You know the fever is alien to his body, he never had malaria before” “That’s true, I almost forgot he’s new here”
“He’s been tested and the doctor attending to him has commenced treatment” “I’m coming over, which hospital?” I asked.
He gave me the description and I cut the call. I got to the hospital, I called Mr Paul, who met with me.
“How is he?” I asked immediately I sighted him.
“He’s better now compared to when he just got here” He replied. He led me to the private ward where he’s been treated
He smiled when he saw me. “Paul called you?” I nodded.
"Paul, how could you, I don't want her to see me in the state" he queried Mr Paul jokingly.
"If she doesn't see you in this state, who will? And you are all smiling immediately she walked into the room" He teased Daniel.
“How are you feeling now?” I asked.
I’m much better, he said and held my hands. Thank you”
"Malaria brought a full grown man to the hospital. Welcome to Africa, Nigeria to be precise” I said and we all laughed.
“How come he had malaria, the whole mansion was fumigated before his arrival nau?” I asked Mr Paul.
“Mosquitos are everywhere my dear, fumigation or no fumigatio. And more so the place was fumigated over two months ago or so”
“Maybe the fumigation should be monthly then or else this Mr new comer here will have to visit the hospital every month”
“Geez! Are you referring to me?” Daniel asked facing me with a funny look. “Yes, Mr JJC”
“What’s the meaning of JJC” he asked Mr Paul who was just smiling. “Daniella, Let this man be nau” Mr Paul said laughing.
“Lips sealed” I gestured with my hand.
A nurse came in to give him drugs. “Have you eaten sir” The nurse asked.
“No he hasn’t taking anything since we got here” Mr Paul answered the Nurse.
“He has to eat something before I can administer the drugs, since he’s no more on IV fluid” The nurse explained.
“I’ll go get him food now” Paul said.
“There’s a cafeteria downstairs” The Nurse informed and directed him. He thanked the Nurse and left.
“I’ll be back in thirty minutes time” The Nurse said and left the room.
Some minutes later, Mr Paul came in with the food. Daniel refused to eat, he said he doesn’t feel like eating.
“Daniel please try, you heard the Nurse, she won’t give you your drugs if you don’t eat” I beckoned.
“I just don’t feel like eating, my taste bud is bitter” He said in a tired tone.
“Sorry... that’s malaria for you, you just have to force yourself or should I feed you?”
“No, don’t feed me” he said feeling embarrassed.
“Let her feed you, trust me it works, you’ll finish the food before you know it. Daniella, go ahead and feed him” Paul said and ushered me to the side of the bed.
I fed him and he ended up eating half of the food. The nurse came by later and administered the drugs.
He was discharged later in the evening and was told to come back the next day to take his remaining injections.
Mr Paul drove him back to the Mansion while I returned home because it was late already. I called him when I got home to ask after his health.
“I’m feeling much better now” He said.
“Good, make sure you eat and take your drugs” “That’s if you’ll come feed me”
“Seriously! I was begging to feed you earlier, now you want me to come feed you”
“That was then, just promise you’ll come tomorrow” “Okay.…I’ll see you tomorrow big baby”
“My God! Three names in a day, this fever has ruined my ego” He said and I
laughed at his joke.
I promised to check on him the next day. I called Mr Paul too and thanked him. He has always been there for Daniel and I appreciate it.
To Be Continued....
