BURN for Better or Worse (COMPLETED)

Chapter 21

THANDIWE…

“How am I going to cope without you? I’m new here Tee, the work is complicated.” Ife woke up today and decided that she will sit on my neck, she has been following me around since morning, complaining about how she needs me to train her.
Her drama happened when Cele approached me and said I have been granted a week’s leave, one which I didn’t ask for. I plan on declining the offer. My son is not back with me yet and I would rather not be cooked up with Barbra in her house.

“Relax will you? I am not going anywhere.” Ife is too conversational, too energetic. I can’t imagine how they deal with her at home.
“Awesome, thank you Tee.” And these hugs she keeps giving me are not needed. “Honestly I hate this job, but you make it simple for me. Boss man is such a mood killer, he complained about my attire. Said I should wear skirts or dresses to work, he said I have a great body and shouldn’t hide it under long pants and cardigans.”
“What?” Cele is eyeing the child, no woman is safe from that man.
“Yeah,” a disgusted appearance takes full form on her face. “I guess it was a compliment?” She’s trying to convince herself, her eyes do not lie though. Whatever Cele said to her has her bothered.
“Ife you need to be careful,” I can’t voice out my assumptions about the man lest I get in trouble, but I can warn her to keep away from him. “You’re a big girl, you know when someone is doing something inappropriate. Report to H.R if someone does or says something that makes you feel uncomfortable.” This should help.
“You mean like the way Cele looks at me?” She asks, her mouth pulling a downward sneer. She’s seen it too, I don’t understand why no one has reported that pervert. “It’s as if he’s slowly undressing you with his eyes, I left his office feeling dirty. Like I had done something wrong. Is he always like that?”
“Yes, hence I said keep away from him. Whenever you find yourself alone with him, make sure you have some sort of protection. A pepper spray or something.” I send my direction with the hope that she will go with it, her head moving to and fro oozes me into relief. Ife seems like a smart girl, she should be able to avoid Cele or defend herself if need be.

My attention is instantly absorbed by the ringing phone. What does he want? 
“Ntuthuko?” The sun must be doing a vosho today, I haven’t heard from him in two days. I’m staggered that he has surfaced from the face of the earth.
“You need to come home, you’ve overstayed your visit.” I knew he would never call bearing good news, I was expecting to hear something about my son. Why is this man so evil? The man turned into ‘Shaka Zulu’ overnight.
“I am not coming home anytime soon, besides father-in-law wants me to stay.” I’m lying, I was told to stay away from him until Zulu comes back home.
“I am your husband Thandiwe and I want you home today.” He shouts, forcing me to move to a quieter place. Ife chases my steps, curiosity calling out to her. Fighting with the husband was not part of my routine today.
“Don’t talk to me like that Ntuthuko,” I sound calm because the angels are most likely singing a lullaby trying to keep me still.
“I don’t like your tone Thandiwe,” what tone? “You think because you have my brother fighting your battles, you can practise your sassiness on me? I am your husband, I paid your bride price. You belong to me.” The sound of his voice crashes through the phone in vocals of frustration. There goes my day… Only Ntuthuko can do this… Shatter you into pieces.

“Think whatever you want Ntu-” I stop mid-sentence as my eyes zoom in on the man sited on my chair next to Ife, his back turned. Ife is scrolling on her phone paying no heed to him.
Who is that? He can’t be a colleague, his clothes are dirty… Muddy... wet, like he has been swimming in a puddle of mud. There’s a pounding in my chest, time seems to have slowed down. Ntuthuko’s voice becomes background noise.
An eagerness to investigate arouses and begins to pull me towards him. Am I the only one who can see him? A dirty man in a place of business, how was he allowed in?
“Thandiwe,” Cele slides in front of me, blocking my view. A grimace on my face and exasperation enhancing through my veins, I tilt my head to peek over Cele’s tall build to find the man gone. It’s as if he was never there. Disarrayed, I take panicky steps to Ife, completely ignoring Cele.