SHADOW OF THE PAST

24 True Identity 2

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Zoe cast a hateful look at her. She suddenly felt she was pretending to be Diana.

“Why are you hiding your true identity?” she asked with a stern look.

Tomisin wasn't herself, so she couldn't comprehend what Zoe was saying at that moment.

“Oh, you want to have him back through pretense?” Zoe continued with a stern voice. “You can't… You lose him the day you signed those papers… It will be better if you leave quietly… Else, you will regret staying around him… Because, I, Zoe, won't watch Femi fall in love with a heartless woman like you ever again.” she threatened and stepped out of the ladies walking majestically.

Tomisin, who was just recovering from the food she ate, was stunned by Zoe's words. She wondered if all that Zoe just spew were true. She stared into space as Zoe's threat kept ringing in her head.

••• ••• ••• ••• 
Zoe went back to her seat flashing a fake smile at Femi. Femi had received a message from Fashola informing him to meet him at the headquarters as soon as possible. Femi immediately knew that it would be an urgent matter related to work and he must be there as soon as possible.

“What took you so long?” he inquired as Zoe took her seat before him.

“I was having a running stomach… I guess I ate something that doesn't go with my belly earlier.”

“Oh, sorry dear. How are you feeling now?” he asked with so much concern, and Zoe was excited that she was gaining Femi's attention so fast.

“It's better,” she replied rubbing her tummy with her hand.

“I need to drop you off at your house. Because I needed to be somewhere as soon as possible.”

“By this time of the night? Where do you have to be that is so important by this time of the night that couldn't be shifted till morning?” Zoe interrogated worriedly.

“Fashola needed my presence at the headquarters. So, I have to be there now.”

“Okay,” she replied and picked up her clutch bag, ready to leave.

Femi stood up alongside Zoe and went over to wish the celebrant a ‘Happy Birthday’ once again. He retrieved an envelope from his trouser pocket and handed it over to Banji.

“Accept my little token of love…” he said flashing a smile.

Banji gladly received the envelope, and said, “Thanks so much Mr. Femi. God bless you sir.” he appreciated and Femi bid him goodbye. “Goodbye, sis…” Banji waved to Zoe and she waved him back in return as she left the restaurant with her hand gripped so tight to Femi's hand.

••• ••• ••• ••• 
After the party, Tomisin went back home with Bianca. Tomisin didn't utter a word all through the ten minutes drive to Bianca's apartment. And Bianca noticed, but she felt she was too stressed because of the work and the preparation for the party.

Without changing to her nightie, she lay on her bed feeling restless. She shared a separate room with Bianca, as the house is a two-bedroom apartment. Her mind was just ruminating over the threat Zoe gave her to the ladies.

‘You lose him the day you signed those papers… It will be better if you leave quietly…” those words flashed through her mind once again, and she wondered what Zoe meant.

“I signed the papers… Does that mean am Mr. Femi's wife? But… His wife is dead… What exactly is wrong with this lady in particular? Why is she threatening me over this man? Does she think am into Mr. Femi, because I look like his wife? Why is she feeling insecure?” she soliloquized? “Who cares if she's in love with him, she can have him so far his wife is no more,” she concluded with her shoulders shrugged. She waved off the thought, stood up from the bed, and went into the bathroom to have a shower before going to bed.