Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Paula was caught in the morning traffic and she was late for work already, no thanks to the night she had passed at the lodge. The drink she'd had contributed to the mess. She regretted her action. She had wanted to please her client and her boss, but she had overdone it. She looked at her face in the mirror, and she hated how awful she looked. She did a quick make-up in the traffic. Her cell phone rang severally, but she turned a blind eye to the calls. She did not want to speak to anybody until she got to the office. Alice’s call came through, and she decided to pick the call.

“Hello, Alice.” She sighed, stressed out.

“Pal, where are you?” Alice fidgeted within the confines of her office.

“I am in traffic.”

“What happened? You did not call back at the office yesterday. You didn’t pick my calls and you were nowhere near home.”

“I am sorry, Alice. I will gist you all that happened when I get to the office.”

“You better begin to think of what to tell Mr Jones. He is mad at you.”

“Thanks pal.”

Paula ended the call and sighed repeatedly. She knew she was in trouble. She had resolved to tackle it whichever way it came. The traffic became freer the moment her car drove past the check point that was responsible for the traffic congestion. She heaved a sigh of relief as she sped on full motion, disappearing through the smooth road of the FCT. She arrived at the bank premises and hopped out of her car after she had driven to a halt. She headed straight for the building. Information had it that she reported to her branch manager when she arrived. She gestured greetings to her colleagues as she briskly walked to her boss’ office. She knocked and then walked inside. The man was at his desk. He did not look at her twice.

“Good morning, sir.”

“You are late.”

“I am sorry, sir. It was the traffic.”

“Where exactly did you go yesterday?”

“Sir, I was at Chief Morris' lodge.”

“Will you shut your dirty trap?” The man bolted to his feet. “Chief called me and was angry you never showed up.”

“I did, sir.”

“And you never returned to give me feedback.”

“But sir—”

“Keep quiet! I tried your phone up until this morning, but you did not pick.”

“Sir, I passed the night at the lodge with chief—”

“You failed to close the deal, and I am going to relieve you of your job. Get out of my office right away!”

Paula was confused; all she'd heard sounded more like a nightmare and she prayed she woke up from it. The boss returned to his desk the moment Paula left the office. He wanted to make a call, but changed his mind.

Theo strolled around the neighbourhood. He breathed the serene air of the FCT. The sun shone mildly in the sky. The traffic of motorists was visible on the road. A few hawkers displayed their wares to the motorists. Theo found his way to the bar after a short walk. He sat down and ordered for a bottle of alcohol. While he had his drink, he ruminated on the affair he'd had with Paula the previous day. The imagery of their foreplay on the sofa and on the bed played back in his head...

“Chief, I am surprised,” Paula said.

“Surprised about what?” Theo asked.

“I was expecting an old man with grey patches on his hair.”

“What do you think of me now?”

She chuckled. “You are handsome, and with a youthful exuberance running in your veins.”

Theo emptied his bottle and set his glass on the table. He smiled at the conversation he'd had with Paula. He wished he had told her the truth. But the deed had already been done and there was no way he could remedy it.

“I know Paula will come looking for me,” he said to himself. “I promised I was going to be at her bank, but I have no idea where her bank is. Come to think of it, where on earth could I have gotten two hundred million?"

He ordered for another drink and filled his glass. He gazed around the bar, at people drinking, having a gist and laughing. Everyone seemed to be having fun. The sound system played at the background, and two young ladies entertained the guests with their dancing.

When Theo had drank to his fill, he retired to his lodge where he sat in relaxation. He rested his head on his palms, and his crossed legs rested on a stool in front of him. In his hand was a glass filled with drink. His drinking rate had increased tremendously since he moved to Abuja. He drank an average of eight bottles of alcohol per day, unlike when he was at home and could stay a whole day without a drink. Signs of depression were beginning to take a toll on him, and he felt drinking could help. He was aware of his gradual addiction against his wish. Although his glass was filled, he could not find the appetite to drink.

Paula burst into the room without knocking. This forced Theo to spring on his feet. He had known Paula would come for him, but he'd never expected she would come at such an odd hour of the night like a thief.

“How dare you tell my boss I never came?” she yelled.

Theo was consumed with guilt and could barely hold her gaze. “I am sorry. I never saw your boss. I have no idea who he is.”

“What is happening here?” Paula was confused by Theo’s comment. “My boss was mad at me at the office. He claimed I never saw you, and here you are telling me you don’t know my boss.”

“I am sorry," Theo said regrettably. "I should have told you the truth.”

“God! What should I believe?”

She held her head in dizziness and gently walked to a seat. Theo tried to attend to her but she turned him down.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She glared at him. “What is the truth you want to tell me?”

Theo summoned courage to tell Paula the truth, even though he knew it would not go down well with her. “I was not the client you were supposed to meet.”

“Are you not Chief Albert Morris?”

“I am...” He did not feel comfortable consenting to the name. “I was surprised when you walked into my lodge the way you did.”

Paula became more confused. She found it hard to believe what Theo had said.

“I am sorry I deceived you,” Theo repeated.

“Tell me you are not Chief Morris!” She got on her feet. “Tell me again you deceived me. Do you realize you have put my job on the line by your action?”

She broke into a sob.

“I am sorry, I really am.” He took out his cheque booklet and wrote her a cheque.

“What do I need a cheque for?” Taking the cheque from him, she tore it to shreds right before his face. “Mister, I am going to make you see hell if I eventually lose my job.”

She walked away from Theo. He was powerless to do anything to save himself from the trouble he had roped himself in.

Paula greeted her boss as he arrived at the office. The man mumbled to himself and walked past, to her disappointment.

Alice called Paula to her office for a word. “Pal, rumours are spreading about you. What is going on?”

Paula sighed. “I was deceived.”

“What exactly happened?”

“The client I met was the wrong person.”

“How come, didn’t you go with the right information?”

“I did. I am yet to come to terms with how the mistake happened.”

“So you didn’t close the account after all.”

“No, and right now my job is hanging on the line. Any moment from now I may be relieved of my job.”

“Don’t say that, pal.”

“I have been warned. Besides, I greeted Mr Jones but he did not give me a reply.”

“Pal, I still don't understand how you allowed yourself to be deceived.”

“It was the receptionist. I think she gave me the wrong room number.”

Alice could not still come to terms with how her friend had fallen so cheap. “Pal, I still feel baffled at the strange happening.”

The next day Paula called at the hotel to have a word with the receptionist. She walked up to the young lady. “Good day.”

“Good day, madam,” the receptionist greeted.

“I hope you recognize this face.”

“No, madam.”

“I was here a few days back to see Chief Morris Albert.”

“Now I remember.”

“Please, I want you to help me check how many Chief Morris Albert is on your register.”

“Why are you asking, ma?”

“I suspect there is an impostor hanging around in your lodge. The last time I came here on an appointment, I ended up in the wrong hand. And you told me Chief Morris Albert's lodge was room one-twenty-two.”

The receptionist went through her records and came up with her findings. “Madam, there are two clients with the same name.”

“You mean two people bear Chief Morris Albert?”

“Yes. But one is spelt as H-e-r-b-e-r-t, while the other is spelt A-l-b-e-r-t.”

“My God!” Paula heaved a sigh. “What room is the other chief?”

“Room forty-seven, ma.”

“Can I see the chief?”

“I am sorry, he left this afternoon.”

“My God!” Paula was greeted with a shocking disappointment at the discovery. She tipped the receptionist for availing her with information, and then she took her leave.

Paula walked out of the branch manager’s office with an envelope in her hand. She was far from happy. She walked straight to her office and did not notice a colleague greeting her. She began packing her belongings in the office.

Alice who had followed her at a distance soon walked into the office. She noticed her friend’s mood. “What is it pal?”

“Take a look.” Sobbing, Paula handed Alice the letter in her hand.

Alice took the paper apprehensively. “What is it?”

Paula sniffled. “Read.”

Alice quickly read through the letter. “What? Sack letter?”

Paula nodded and settled in a chair. “I blew it all up. I fell in the wrong hand. Now the worst has happened.”

“I am sorry, pal. It is not the end of the world still. God will make a way for you.”

“My life has been a vicious cycle of pains upon pains

”

Alice petted her friend as she sobbed. Paula recalled how long it had taken her to get the job she had just lost. She shuddered at the frustrating years of coping with unemployment. In the blink of an eye, she was back to square one, or so it seemed.