Withered Flower - Episode 3

Chief Mezu picked up the copy of the “City People” he had just bought from Traffic. It was not a habit of his to buy such soft-sell magazines but then again, it was not every day that you saw your wife on the cover of a magazine. The Headline read

“Ten Politicians’ wives you didn’t know had real jobs”

Where they got these headlines from, was beyond him. He thought.

His wife had always been his pride and joy. When he met her, she was a student at the University, studying for a degree in Physics. She went on to become a Teacher and then a Lecturer at the University of Abuja.

When he started making money from Government contracts, he had asked her to resign and take care of the home but she was very happy with her job and insisted, so he left her to it.

He remembered when he had first asked her to marry him (He never dated her) and she had quickly said “no”. He had been stunned because he was catch in those days and could not understand why any woman would say no to his request.

It took interventions from her family and friends for her to finally accept his proposal. He had vowed that she would be his only wife, even though tradition allowed him marry another if he so chose to. For now, he will stick to his numerous girlfriends. Speaking of girlfriends, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.

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Iyeke dropped the call and looked over the balcony at the people going about their businesses below. It wasn’t as busy, since it was a public holiday but busy enough. Chief had just called and wanted her to follow him to Abuja. She had explained that she was at a friend’s and would not have time to go home and pack her things.

Kprung! Kprung!!

She looked at her phone. Chief doesn’t waste time. After explanation of why she couldn’t travel, chief said he will send her money to buy all she needed at any nearby store. He had just sent her N200k and she knew he would settle her heavily after the trip. Once, he had paid N2Million into her account after one of their trips to South Africa. She was broke and needed this trip. She had to find a way out of this.

“Emem I have to go, that was my Nana (the name she called her grandmother)”

“What is it? Is she okay? Emem asked startled.

“It is my cousin again. I am just tired. I will call you later to let you know what’s up”

“Why don’t you wait and travel tomorrow. Isn’t it too late? Emem pleaded.

“No if I leave now, I will get to Benin before nightfall. Please say me well to Nkem and I will see you two on Sunday” She said as she hugged her friend and headed out the door.

Chief was already on his way to the Airport and if she was to make it home, get her things and meet him there, she had to leave now. Emem was up to something she knew but she was not about to lose making money this weekend for the unknown. Whatever it is, has to wait till Sunday.

She hailed a taxi. “Ogba”.

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Chief Mezu ended the call and dropped the phone on the seat next to him. Good girl. He thought. If there was anyone he could count on to follow him on his trips on such short notice, it had to be Iyeke.

She was a beautiful girl and he could not understand why she was still single. So many times, he had toyed with the idea of taking her as a second wife but he respected his wife too much to do that to her.

Well, Iyeke wasn’t complaining and neither was he. He picked up the magazine and opened to the post about his wife.

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Emem waited patiently for her husband to come up the stairs. She had seen him having a conversation with one of the neighbours downstairs.

“Welcome babe”. She called out from the kitchen as soon as she heard him enter the house.

“Thanks bae. Where is Iyeke?” he asked looking around the kitchen.

“She left, said something about her grand mum”.

“And you let her go? Kene will be here anytime from now”. He said with a frown.

“Relax, she will be here on Sunday” she responded smiling.

“How do you know?”

“Because according to Chief Mezu’s itinerary, he is supposed to be attending a function in Lagos on Saturday”.

“What has that got to do with him?” he asked looking at her suspiciously

“Because she didn’t go to Benin to see her grand-mum but escorted chief to Abuja” She hugged and gave her husband a full kiss on the lips.