NEMESIS (PART THREE)
There was a loud knock at the door, making madam Gold to wake up from her lazy doze. It's was mid day and she didn't go to work on the day. Her children were in school and the neighborhood was tranquil, giving her an opportunity to take a quick nap
The knock came again, more impatiently now. She sprang to her feet and used a piece of wrapper to cover herself properly. As she dragged her feet to the door, she wondered who it could be at that time of the day. She wasn't expecting anybody. Simply put, she hardly had visitors at all.
She swung the door open and was taken aback by the figure before her. She rubbed her eyes just to be sure that they weren't playing pranks on her.
There at the door stood Ada, looking squarely into her face. She looked haggard but her face still had it's characteristic beauty and innocence. Her eyes were red and tears were dropping freely. He two hands were held together at her back and her lips trembled softly.
Madam Gold starred at her in shock and disbelief and was soon overtaken by goosebumps. But after few minutes of silence, she was able to recover some composure and decided to face the issue squarely:
"How did you find your way back to this house? What do you want? Won't you leave me alone? I have settled you so you don't have any business here. It's like you aren't grateful that you left my house with your life? This time around you may not be that lucky. You are playing with fire!" Madam Gold thundered.
Ada said nothing. Only her tears flowed. Her breathing was heavier and their was obvious fire in her eyes.
Madam Gold waited but Ada wasn't saying anything. She sighed and turned to go but Ada held her back with her right hand with such energy that defiled her age. She brought out a liquid in a container which she was holding firmly at her back earlier. With her left hand, she started emptying the content on Madam Gold's head
The liquid had an itching and burning sensation. Madam Gold started wailing as soon as the liquid made contact with her skin. It was like her skin was burning and peeling off. She was twisting and turning in pain, crying for help but there was no good Samaritan in sight. Ada emptied the whole content on her and walked away.
Madam Gold screamed and woke up, sweating profusely. What a dream!
It had been months since she got rid of Ada but her heart was not at rest. This was not the first time she ruined a promising young life but this one felt different. She hardly had a good night rest of late. It had been nightmares upon nightmares.
Her children kept asking when Ada would return, especially the two younger ones. It took her 10 years to conceive again after the birth of Junior. She later had two more children named Silas and Timothy.
Ada had connected to her children in few months of being with them than she had connected with them all their lifetime. Despite her wickedness, Ada still loved her children dearly and it showed in the way she related with them and took care of them like her own. Her children loved her too which irked Madam Gold sometimes.
Since Ada left, her children wouldn't let her have peace. All their questions centered on Ada; when would she come back? She was already planning to go to the village and bring another person. Maybe that would make them forget Ada faster.
Madam Gold's phone rang, bringing her back from her wondrous thoughts. It was one of her colleagues at the office calling.
"Mama Gold!" The female voice from the other end of the line hailed her. "You don hear the latest gist?"
"Wetin happen?" Madam Gold's tone was flat.
"Them don change our branch manager with immediate effect oo. I hear say the new branch manager go report this morning".
"They have changed Mr Odili? When? How? Why?" Madam Gold asked in shock.
"You dey ask me like say na me get company. When u reach office u go get the full gist. I just say make I tell you." The other voice said and the line went dead.
Madam Gold held the phone to her ear for few more seconds as the reality on ground sank into her subconscious. The news greatly troubled her. She was one of the managers at the establishment, a position she had neither the qualification nor the expertise to occupy but got there by virtue of her romantic affair with her boss, Mr Odili.
She knew her position might be threatened by this new development. She swore to tie down the new boss under her apron so that she could continue to enjoy her undue benefits. She knew she was beautiful and could make any man moan so hard. She vowed to use that to her advantage.
Two weeks into the managerial change, she was at the office when she got a call informing her that Silas and Timothy were involved in a building collapse involving their school building. They were amongst the few children trapped in the rubbles. Though they have been rescued, they were in critical conditions at the hospital.
She had left the office without hesitation, got into her car and drove off to the hospital description that she was given. On her way, another call came in: A campus cult group went to rob in one of the hostels around campus and raped some girls. The police came in and made some arrests. One of those arrested was her son, Junior.
Jeez! She was going crazy. Not knowing what to do, she decided to get to the hospital first before attending to Junior's case.
At the hospital's waiting room, another call came in that she was urgently needed at the office. She had dashed out into her car but found out she was short of fuel. She left the car, picked a taxi and rushed back to the office. On getting there, she was told the new branch manager needed to see her.
When she got there, the branch manager, without compliments handed her a letter. Her heart banged incessantly against her chest as she tore the envelope in microseconds. It was her sack letter! She dejectedly starred at the letter as if the words in the letter would charge as hot perspiration broke out on her face.
The branch manager had addressed her, "Our company is at the brink of bankruptcy due to gross mismanagement. The company hierarchy thought it wise to effect changes in the structure as well as personnel. You are one of those affected by the staff shake up because you are not fit for the position you occupied. Because of your incompetence, your services are no longer needed here. Best of luck in your future endeavors."
.
She turned to leave but the branch manager called her back:
"Least I forget, the former branch manager is under investigation for fraud related activities and as a close ally of his, you are advised to get ready for questioning when the time comes."
Her head was spinning as she made to leave the office. She suddenly became uncomfortable in her high heeled shoe that was making a disturbing sound on the floor as if it was trying to leave it's imprints on the sands of time. She missed her step and nearly fell, holding unto the door frame for support. People around saw her but no one cared.
She came out of the office a deflated woman. She walked down the stairs. In fact, she wasn't walking, she was dragging her body. Then she realised the level of burden she was bearing.
She had lived above her means because of the largess from her former boss. She lived in a three bedroom flat and drove a Honda crosstour.
She realized that It was November and her rent would soon be due. Her account balance was almost red. Her former boss didn't fulfil his last promise of two million naira to her before his removal. Her children were in the police custody and hospital respectively. Where would she start from? She knew she was in trouble!
She was so absent minded as the dragged herself outside the office premises and attempted to cross the road without watching properly. The unrushing car spotted her late and hit her. She felt Unconsciously and was rushed to the nearest hospital....
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I really hope someone is reading these long story postsπ
MC Jellof.