The Lives We Lived

52: Reports & Envy

"You're right about that. Just keep working on it." Osa stopped in front of his office door.

The Assistant Regional Manager stopped beside him, nodding along to his words. "You're right. You know, if we had done this earlier, we could've seen realized more profits."

The problem was not the lack of ideas. It was lack of time to execute and oversee. While he focused on clearing the mess of the previous manager before him, he had left the work of manning the regional bank to the Assistant Manager, Yomi. They hadn't had time to align on deeper issues facing the bank, till now. Chioma was such a blessing in many ways. It would be perfect if he could trust her, but he would not allow himself to be swayed the way he had been the first time.

"So, when will we have the time to discuss this further?" Yomi pushed his glasses closer to his face, then straightened his dark brown tie.

"As soon as I clear the records. I'm on December now. It should take me less than a month."

"Clearing is one thing. Executing is another."

"Don't worry about that. I—" Osa spoke as he opened the door to his office.

There was someone there. Lawal sat on his black leather seat, glaring at them without a word."Yomi, I'll see you later."

"Sure." Yomi bowed towards Lawal. "Good evening, sir."

"When you people are not serious, how will you know the difference between afternoon and evening?"

"I'm sorry, Sir." Yomi bowed lower and left the room.

"Afternoon." Osa tried to close the gap between his table and the door.

He was careful not to add 'Good' to his greeting. Things couldn't be good while Lawal was there."No time for pleasantries, I see." Lawal leaned back in the chair.

"I wasn't aware that you would be visiting."

"Are you aware of Jesus' second coming? No man knows the day or Hour. So, you must be prepared because today is your judgement day."

"What exactly do you need?" Osa hurried towards his desk.

Everything was still as he left it when he went for a meeting downstairs with Yomi, but the files he had on his desk had been flipped open, and the picture frame of Kemi was much closer to his chair than he remembered. He was only thankful that he wasn't gone for too long. If not, Lawal would take it as a reason to snoop through his belongings.

The first thing Osa did was right the position of the photo frame. As soon as he dropped it, Lawal's hand short out and clamped around his wrist— at least the part of it that it could."How is your wife?" Lawal looked directly into Osa's eyes.

Osa couldn't remember anytime he had heard this man's voice sound so charming and caring.He collapsed the photo frame and placed it face down on the table. "She's fine."

He had to assume that she was. After she had cut the call on their last conversation, he had been unable to reach her. He'd tried calling her several times but it hadn't gone through. He raised the picture and stared at it before dropping it. He missed her dearly. He didn't like the fact that she was at Italy. He didn't like the fact that he couldn't be with his wife in the ways he wanted to.Kemi could see the distance between them, he was sure. 

But how would he explain it to her, when the therapist he had visited a few days ago, accused him of lying about Ruth to appease his cheating mind. And when the therapist had finally gotten around to believing that Mama forced Ruth on him, the man said he had enjoyed the activity but was now at conflict with his Christian morals. The solution provided: Sleep with the woman again, or another woman, without letting yourself feeling guilty. Osa wanted to punch the man. He would've punch the living day lights out of the greying therapist had he not felt betrayed by his sleeping body that gave in to Ruth's advances.