A Very Sticky Situation (Completed)

53: Lotion

Ana's POV

Shutting my entrance door, I put on a pair of gold sandals and stroll past the veranda in a black kaftan-like dress with gold drawings on the body, wrists, and collar. My attire screaming 'Ike' thus these are his two best colors if I'm not mistaken.

I beam as I catch sight of the male and female sharing giggles as they lounge on plastic white chairs in the compound, two cups of orange juice on a matching table as they exchange silly jokes in the morning.

Quietly trudging to them, I almost succeed in my plan to scare them but that gets destroyed as the ever-present alert Oluchi whirls backward as she senses my presence drift towards them.

"You are set to go already," she observes my clothing, smiling at me, pure happiness radiating on her face as she feels contented sitting beside the man she loves.

"Oh, good morning Ana," Joe startles, noticing me and glancing at his phone's screen, raising his head to peer at me in concern. "It's only 8:06 am and you are leaving for work?"

"Yeah, and how is that bad?" I question, lending him a baffled stare.

"I don't know, I just feel like you should rest more if possible quit work for the moment hence you are due in a month or less," he continues in a worried tone.

"Joe, there's no need to worry," I blurt, touched and having the urge to laugh at his concern as he pouts in a sleeveless orange shirt and khakis, assumably never had his morning shower.

"I'm your friend, it's my responsibility," he grunts.

"Joe, it's fine," Oluchi consoles, chuckling as she rubs his muscle shoulders striving to ease his stress. "She's a woman, not a child."

"But, but---"

"No buts," I laugh, stopping his statement. "You heard her, it's fine."

"On a serious note though, why so early?" Oluchi quizzes gaping up at me in a red hoodie that exposes her toned thighs.

"Today is the first day of the week duh," I scoff, proceeding with my answer. "And we are taking on the production of the lotion today."

"Oh, no wonder," she understands, offering me an encouraging glance. "Good luck my dear."

"Still that doesn't make you go early, you are the manager," Joe argues.

"She has to be on the ground during the production process thus the CEO is always absent," Oluchi counters.

"True that," I concur, clutching the bag on my shoulder and ready to depart.

"Can I drive you?" Joe invites, rising.

"No, there's no need, I'll book an Uber," I decline his help.

"It's more convenient if I drive you, you know you can't trust most of these drivers," he insists.

"Dude let the lady have a breathing space for goodness sake," Oluchi groans, tugging on his arm to sit.

"Okay, at least let me walk you," he suggests in a pleading stare.

"No problem," I sigh, not having the heart to reject him. "See you when I get back Olu,"

"See you later love," she waves and I nod in acknowledgment as I bring out my phone from the pouch that's the same shade as my dress.

"Ana wait," Joe halts me as I want to go through the gate he opens for me.

"Whatsup?" I query, doing as he says.

"I just want to say thank you, Ana," he flushes. "I've thanked Ike but I also want to thank you for looking out for me and joining me back with the love of my life, though I was denying it, I'm thankful, and I appreciate the gesture."