Without Glass Slippers

Chapter 2

Charles believed in two to tango, he believed in two starting every story, he believed in love at first sight if not he wouldn't have met the love of his life he lost at the birth of his third son, Kitan's father. He only kept a single photograph of her in his study room and gazed at her from time to time when his grandchildren drove him mad with the decisions they made, leaving him confused at how to react and occasionally when the memories of his sons sent him into an oblivious depression and grief, punishing him with the impression that he was just a man who had lost the light in his life, to know no joy —his family. Sometimes he thought he was being too hard on the people around him whenever he noticed the deliberate distance they created by cutting him off as part of their priority and nevertheless he still believed that being hard was needed to get that respect and reverence and not to be taken for granted. Charles, the way he was had zero-tolerance for misbehavior, strict and a disciplinary man—deep down in his heart he was as soft as cotton. No one except Alexander had that gift of patience to see through Charles' ice concealed heart despite how Charles drove him to the brink of madness with the way he expected him to live his life or which Master's program to take. All in all he remained the closest person at hand that had a little patience for Charles.
He inhaled a lungful of air as the early morning breeze swept over his face while he stood in his penthouse. He could get a better view of the entire house from that point. He watched the gardener trim the over grown pink hibiscus shrub and water the plants he added manure to and pulled out the weed. He moved to the yellow petal bush that over grew more than any other plants in the house, he pushed the shears in between the stalks and snapped it so hard that they fell to the ground immediately the blade went through the layers of the wet stalk. Every stalk that fell to the ground had a yellow flower attached to it creating a yellow and green pattern that reminded him of the outfit Caroline Ejiofor's had worn when she agreed to have dinner with him. She appeared in a green and yellow flower print Ankara trouser she matched with a white chiffon blouse.
"I just have to tell you, you're so beautiful". He said when she took her seat and spread the napkin over her lap. She smiled and said thank you and kept her eyes on the copy of spice magazine the waitress had placed before her. Charles would be amused about the way she spoke with disgust from her admirers that looked at her and wondered if she was married, the confidence in his approach. It was what had first attracted her to him that April day, a year ago at Eko hotel and suites, the rain had made the afternoon seem like it was dusk with the way the clouds wore an indigo color. She was returning from her three month vacation in New York. She was jet lagged and didn't notice Charles at first, standing next to hear at the cashier point booking a room to spend the next three days. If he were in a suit or an agbada she might never have noticed him and if her bank service hadn't gone off, adding to her problems of the day.
He surprised her when he offered to clear off her bills and refused her when she insisted she could sort herself out just fine when she really wasn't going to a place to lodge until the service came up. Caroline stared at Charles, at the arch of his brows that trickled with strands of small grey strand in between the black ones, when he asked if she would join him later for dinner much after she had settled down and rested and after she showed up she requested for his account number to make a transfer of payment and she only gave up her argument when he told her not to bother about it. He loved her smile from time to time, even when he wasn't watching her closely he just had that feeling that she might laugh at the slightest joke he made and despite how close they had become he still felt that there was something about her, something about the way she carried herself with so much dignity and elegance, her taste of fashion, her opinion about the unwise decisions of the government. He figured there was something that kept her going, she lost her husband four years ago to a natural death, the misery and grief that enveloped her was no match happiness that filled her now and because of that Charles thought they had a few things in common; they had both lost a loved one, felt the need to be positive minded and put prayer above all things yet he felt that wasn't just all about her that met the eyes. It was only once when he asked her if she ever bore her late husband a child, she didn't feel comfortable talking about and when she chose to leave it unsaid he didn't push her with his curiosity rather he found himself wondering why she decided not to talk about her late husband's heir. He was completely lost in thoughts that he didn't hear Maxwell Ovie, his personal assistant, tap at the glass door for the second time. He stepped into the Penthouse and placed a brown mug on the rail for Charles. He looked down at it, surprised for a while that he chose to bring him coffee instead of his regular Richmond green tea. Maxwell looked away to the view before them when Charles lifted the mug to his mouth and took a long sip of the coffee that wafted in the air around them.
"I didn't hear you come in". Charles spoke pushing one hand into his pocket.
"You must have been lost in thoughts perhaps".
He gave Maxwell a sharp look and scoffed when he didn't grovel and look away like the Gardner would when he scolded him for forgetting to mow the lawn. His guts were too big for a personal assistant who could look at his boss straight in the eye and tell him what contract to decline or accept.
Charles put down the mug on the rail again and stared down as water ran through the hose, falling gallantly on the fresh crème leaves of the white hibiscus around. "You brought me coffee".
"It's freshly brewed". Maxwell replied ignorant of the point Charles he was trying to make.
"You brought me coffee". Charles stated again, this time he wore a stern as he looked down at the mug haphazardly. Maxwell gave a languid shrug as he stole a look at Charles to see if he really meant the stern expression.
"I thought you needed a little change".
"Hmm change is good, the coffee tastes nice where did you learn how to brew coffee this good? Hampton?
Maxwell laughed and wished it was possible, for all he knew that was one out of a million simple things a person should know.
"I just happen to be a personal assistant". His reply came out vague leaving Charles perplexed for a while. He always found something amusing in Maxwell's response in a serious conversation or a question that required a straight forward answer; and sometimes those vague responses only told how serious the condition could be.
"Caroline Ejiofor extends her greetings".
Charles shot him a stare for a while with his brows raised with inquiry, not looking away until Maxwell caught the sardonic expression on his face.
"Do you have to make her sound so formal?"
"Well you wouldn't have chosen her amongst a good number if she weren't and come to think of it, it's only two weeks to getting married so the formality is necessary".
Charles gave a laugh as he drained the entire coffee and looked at the residue of milk below the mug. "You always give reasons for everything".
"I'm glad you've known me too well sir". Maxwell answered with a wry smile as Charles' gaze remind in the mug.
"You are smiling into a mug sir?"
"Apparently Maxwell, have you informed the rest of the family about the news?" Charles asked changing the subject quickly. He felt that the feedback would be negative but he still wanted to know if the response would prove him wrong or keep his prediction right.
"Yes I did pass the message across to them; they appeared to be shocked at first reaction and eventually they all showed nonchalance".
A sudden silence beclouded Charles and drove him into the oblivious part of his mind that made him wonder if his blood line detested him, indeed he expected their disappointment after all he was able to predict them. He felt the need to drown his thoughts in a book or something to take his mind away from the stress of trying to convince his relatives to show some love when he needed them to. He let out a small sigh and let go off the mug when Maxwell asked him for it and left after he gave an assurance that he was fine when Maxwell showed concern; but the truth was that he wasn't nearly comfortable and still he couldn't question their choices, he could only live with it. He pushed the disappointments that surged into his mind when he realized there was nothing he could do to change the past and the way they felt about him, his grandsons in question saw him as that father that would question the decision of his son becoming a priest over being a doctor or a lawyer. They thought it was best to keep the distance since he could be nit-picking and despite that he yearned for their presence but pride wouldn't give way to let that happen.
He walked away from the penthouse when the lawn mower came on with its usual noise that never failed to irritate his ears. He chose to indulge himself with books he found in library shelf, books he hadn't touched and judged by the covers, and when time had passed he retired to his bedroom to be left alone until sleep found him afterwards.
***
Stress was an understatement for what Alexander was going through as he spent his entire day assessing files and sending PDF reports of the company's annual marketing to the director.
The receptionist had come in at several times to ask if he needed anything and he left at Alexander's response that he would call for him when he needed him and hours had passed after the receptionist and every other staff had gone home he still found himself on his swivel chair, before his laptop preparing a power point presentation at the order of his boss. Finally he left the office form the drive of hunger, stared at Charles' last text message on his phone instructing him to come home as if he sensed that he made plans to spend the night at some anonymous friend's place. He dropped the phone into the pigeon hole and ignited the car driving off to find a responsible restaurant that had something good to show. He thought of Papa's grill or Kobs that only sold finger foods and small chops; he dreamt of something bigger like Egusi soup with assorted meat and corn meal but he felt should be satisfied with whatever food he was able to get at the time of the night as most classy restaurants might be filled with trusty customers and the average ones that tried to look nice might have all closed down.
The night life seemed pretty nice as he drove along Admiralty road. The brackish water that seemed dark glistened amber from the street lamps erected at the side of the road with cars driving at the same speed rhythmically as if every person had coincidentally planned to take it slow at that point.
He took a turn at Papa's grill store and parked, rushing to make it to the order stand and get his meal so he could be on his way to avoid the Lekki- Ajah traffic. The automatic door slid apart as if he called out open sesame and he walked in preening into his phone and watching his way to avoid running into someone as he walked. He found the order stand empty, as a matter of fact the customers this evening were fewer than he expected and he felt as if luck was at his side and when he approached the marbled slab, the attendant gave a small welcoming smile and asked him to place his order.
"Spaghetti special please". Alexander answered not taking his eyes off his phone for a second, he seemed attracted to whatever his boss was commending him for about the power point program he had created. She pulled a microwave plate off the stacks and turned to dish the spaghetti special he had requested for with a can of monster into a white paper bag. She slipped in a flyer she picked from the side of the straw shack and informed him that his bills was one thousand- two hundred naira and he gave an affirmative smile as he pushed his hands into his breast pocket with so much ease on his face which faded away when he realized his credit card wasn't there. He pushed his hands into the pockets of his trousers and pulled out his hands with disappointment as the search came to no avail. He could have sworn he was sure he set eyes on it before he left the office—yes when the security had come to him begging for assistance and he pulled out two crisp thousand notes and handed it to him, afterwards dumping his wallet in the drawer.
He looked at the attendant as her face was drawn up in a 'tick-tock-do-what-you-have-to-do-quick' expression. He bit his lip as he thought of what he was going to say to her since she had already packed up his order. It seemed to be as if he was just like the crop of broke people that walked in pretending to have left their wallets at home or having a restriction of bank accounts. She thought him to be a tramp. She didn't look surprised as he ran hand into this hair and let out a sigh of disappointment of not knowing the next step to take. He turned to her with a wry smile upon his face; after summoning the little courage he had, she tapped her fingers over the marbled surface and that was when he knew he was really deep into a mess. "Hey I'm sorry I think I kind of left my wallet back at the office so I don't know if you can hold on to this while I rush back and go get it, If you don't mind".
She kept tapping her fingers and let out a loud exasperated sigh and stopped the tapping when she felt the need to let her rage explode. "If I don't mind, I'm sorry I mind if you pay what you owe because I'm not as stupid as you think I am. You waltz in here dressed up like a working class Oyinbo graduate claiming to have left your wallet at your office; congratulations but I am not falling for that lie anymore and besides this is Lagos classy restaurants have become smart". She cried with a sarcastic laugh and he had no choice but to laugh and shake his head with self pity after he recovered from staring at her with surprise.
He looked up to her again with the same surprised smile on his face and pushed himself to the counter. "Well I'm afraid you're totally wrong if you think I am a hooligan that wants to run away with your food without paying. The thing is me leaving my wallet isn't a deliberate act, in fact I don't think I should even be bothering you about how I left because I am to an extent carless? So I'd put down my home address, my office address and my phone number and work number as well, I can't promise you to come back here this evening because the traffic would be building up by then and it will be a total waste of time and effort so you're free to wreck my life with your calls or pay me a visit and embarrass me to pay what I owe, if you please. It is permission from me".
His suggestion made sense but she was too upset to thin through it right away, the scowl on her face didn't make it seem as if she would agree to it until she pulled a strip of paper from her apron with a pen she pushed towards him. He took the paper from her and stole a glance at her, guessing the reason why she was this harsh must be that she must have encountered series of tricks like this and would get mad at any customer's little excuse of not being able to pay for what they ordered. She watched him write down all he had promised to release and handed the paper towards her with a blank expression on his face. If he had been a tramp she might as well not even know because he didn't look like it.
"All these are not enough proof that you're not a scam".
"Well I wrote down four numbers and two addresses". He said and stole a glance at her name tag and looked at her for a while. He wasn't surprised why her anger stirred up pretty fast. From what he knew most Yoruba girls had that neutral madness that needed a little thing to trigger it.
"If I were to be scamming you one out of the numbers would be wrong if you called me now, Teniola".
She gave a dead expression as he called her name with so much effrontery. She slipped the paper into her pocket and handed the bag to him without saying a word. He had given her the information she needed just in case he decided to run away and not pay. He thanked her for her patience at the dying minute and made for the door.
"I really hope you comply, I just got this job recently and I don't wish to lose it soon. I have helped you so you should help me".
He gave an affirmative nod and walked away with the automatic door closing behind him. Then she pulled off the apron and walked into the kitchen, hoping and praying that he would not disappoint before the manager realized that she had defaulted.