THE CO - WIVES

Chapter 1

Jackie.

I was seated silently in the office all alone, thinking about nothing in particular. It was on a Friday morning and My boss hadn't arrived yet and he had a very important appointment and I couldn't stand in for him as the client had made it clear that he needed to meet the boss, not his assistant.
"Jackline kindly leave my husband alone. You have no idea how much I have spend on him to be where we are. If you really value your life, stay away from James!"
Two days in a row, Joyce had texted me. I had no intention of snatching my boss away from her but she had started putting ideas into my mind.
James was a nice person. He valued me as his PA. I did almost all his job in his absence. He would leave most of the appointments for me to handle. I was so engrossed in my thoughts such that I didn't hear him come.
"A penny for your thoughts?"
He startled me. That made me to wake up from my reverie.
"I'm sorry sir, I got carried away by my thoughts."
I said as I adjusted my desktop and concentrated on it.
"No problem Jackie, just do your job."
He said as he opened the door to his office.
James had been kind to me. Since I landed a job in his office as his personal assistant, two years ago, he has been nothing but nice to me. Never once did it cross my mind that he will ever see me in another perspective, maybe as a wife or something close to that.
I had been fighting between telling him about the messages his wife had been sending or not. I knew he would probably be furious and confront his wife and I didn't want to be the reason for a broken home.
As far as I was concerned, I was working hard for the money because I needed it to support my mum and my younger bro who was in high school. I was their only source of income and I wasn't ready to lose my job.
My boss was finally through with the day's appointments and he was on his way out. He passed by my desk and I pretended to be busy on my computer. I could feel his piercing gaze but I presented to be busy on the desktop.
I heard footsteps and he was standing a few steps near me.
"Jackie, I have been observing you these past days and I can tell something is really bothering you. I am your boss and your friend as well and anything that hinders you from doing your job perfectly also bothers me. Kindly open up."
I looked up at him and saw a friend in his eyes. But I couldn't bring myself to tell him about his wife's texts.
"Just tidy up your desk, I am taking out for lunch. You have an off for The rest of the day so don't leave your handbag. "
He was serious. That wasn't the first time he was taking me out for lunch. We had gone out for lunch severally but we always kept the lunch dates as they were. No strings attached.
I kept my stuff aside and picked my handbag and followed him out. We got into his car and he reversed out of the parking, then as he exited through the gate, I asked him where we were going for lunch because I was used to just going in the nearby cafe for lunch.
He just smiled and signalled me to belt up.
I knew better than ask my boss any more questions therefore I belted up and waited for his next instructions. After all he was my boss. Wasn't he?😇
He drove towards Thika road, past Ngara, pangani, muthaiga then towards roasters. He took the u-turn just past roasters and drove inside garden city mall.
He parked and led me towards one of the luxurious cafés.
We took our seats and he told me to order whatever I wanted to take.
I ordered chicken and fries and a glass of juice. He ordered the same food as mine and we ate in silence. All through, I was battling with the thought of telling him about his wife's texts but I didn't have the courage.
"Now that you have the whole afternoon out of work, why can't we go to the club upstairs and have two drinks before we go home?"
I was shocked to hear him say that to me. I never imagined that my boss will take me out for drinks.
I accepted because I had nothing to do the whole of that afternoon. We went to the club and secured a place in the VIP. I wasn't a club girl but I had to do that to please my boss.
He ordered for a Martini and I ordered a glass of red wine.
James let out a sarcastic laughter and told the waiter to bring a full bottle of fourth street.
Our orders came and we started drinking. At first I was shy and as time went by, I became free with him and started dancing to the tune.
My boss was a talkative man. He was outgoing as well and he loved good life. By the look of things, he was a gentleman. Never once did it cross my mind that we will ever drink on the same table. Funny enough, it was already happening.
He would occasional cheer me up after dancing and encouraged me to dance even more.
Alcohol was taking the better part of me already. He signaled me to sit down next to him and I staggered towards the couch.
"Jackie, when are you planning to tell me that Joyce has been texting you?"
That question made me choke on my drink.
I was shocked beyond words. I wondered where he had learnt that from.
I hadn't told anyone about it and I was sure it was a secret deep inside my heart.
"Who told you so sir?"
I hadn't lost my manners after all the drinking I had done.
"Let's just say I have my own ways of finding out things!"
He told me.
"Sir, I don't want to break your family that's why I kept quiet. I hope that won't bring problems between you and your wife. By the way, what makes her think we are dating?"
I asked him.
"I don't know but she is pushing me too far already. I value my employees and I will do anything to protect them, both at work and outside."
His eyes had suddenly became red.
He folded his fist in anger and I could see he was really worked up.....
He gulped down a glass of Martini and he seemed to calm down.
I didn't say anything.
I just looked at him, waiting for his next move.
He told me not to reply to her texts and just stay calm.
We finished with our drinks and he ordered for more food for me to take home then he dropped me home. I was petrified when he hugged me and smooched me.
I got rooted to the spot.
It's like I needed something more. I watched his as he retreated to his car and he drove off.
I staggered up to my house, thinking so much about the hug and smooch.
I ate my take away and took a shower then slept because I was supposed to travel the following day to go to the village and see my mum.