AFTER ALL THESE YEARS Episode 22

This is beautiful, I love it he said with enthusiasm.

Thank God I said to myself and sighed heavily.

 I can’t believe you guys put all this in place within a week he said why checking the rooms out.

Nothing is impossible, once there is money on ground, although the interior decorator was good at what she does, she made things easier for us Mr Mike explained.

This is so sweet, lovely and homely he said facing me.

I’m glad you liked it

Thank you he mouthed.

I already bought some food stuff on our way to the airport. He already told me he loves Nigerian dishes. I went to the kitchen and prepared Semo and egusi with vegetable soup.

An hour and half later I was done and dished the food. They were surprised when I called them to the dinning. We all ate and Henry eyes was on me through out.

This is what a good food should taste like, I think Lizzy well have to come and learn from you Mr Mike said jokingly

Who's Lizzy Henry asked

Mr Mikes fiancee I replied him.

I noticed he sighed, like a sign of relief, and I wondered why he sighed.

Really, how’d love to meet her

Me too I said.

Don’t worry you’ll meet her, she’s longing to meet you...

both. I’ll arrange that later

Seriously this meal is delicious, I can’t remember the last time I tasted home made food. I wish I would get to eat more of this Henry said

That means you’ll need a cook or better still a wife. I only prepared this to welcome you home I said while clearing the dishes.

Mmm! Henry exclaimed.

What I asked

Nothing he said shaking his head.

I think it’s not a bad idea, if you can still fill in the gap before the so called wife show up

Mr Mike! I called out giving him a wicked grin

I’m just saying  Mr Mike said raising his hands up.

Mike let her be, I’ll get a great cook, I’m sure you can help me with that he said teasingly.

Of course, I have the finest chef on my finger tips he said and they both laughed.

Whatever I said and packed the dishes to the kitchen.

I was still washing the plates, when Henry joined me in the kitchen. He offered to help but I declined. I told him he should just go and rest.

I noticed you and Mike are now very close he said.

Yes we are, you know we worked hand in hand while you are away just to put all these together I gestured with my hand.

He kept silence for awhile while watching me clean up the kitchen.

I’m glad his engaged he said

Who I asked

Your Mr Mike he replied

Is that while he sighed when Mr Mike mentioned his fiancee I thought

Really! My Mr Mike!

He just smiled and walked out of the kitchen without giving me a reply.

I think Mr Mike is right, this guy is up to something I thought

I joined them in the living room later, we chatted for a while, he gave both I and Mr Mike what he brought for us from the states. I thanked him.

I want to use the restroom Mr Mike said and excused himself.

When next will I see you Henry said immediately Mr Mike left the sitting room.

Next week

That’s too far, this your work is taking much of your time. Its just that I dont like couples working together in the same place, I would have employed you

Couples! I thought. I pretended as if I didnt hear him.

He was surprised at what he said too, it was a slip of tongue I guessed. He tried to figure out if I heard him but trust me I made sure my face was blank. There was no expression on my face to read.

Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. So says the scripture I thought.

Mr Mike was back before he could say anything.

I checked the time it was few minutes past 5pm, I told them I’m leaving. Henry suggested they take me home, but I declined. I advice him to rest. Mr Mike already offered to spend the night with him, just to keep him company. And I liked the idea.

They drove me to the park outside the estate where I took a cab to my house. Henry paid the cab man.

He called when I got home, but he didn’t mentioned anything about the couples statement he made earlier.

I thought about it for a while on my bed that night. "Maybe he’s actually interested in me, maybe he had finally ended things with his American girlfriend" I thought. I said my prayers and slept off.

Henry insisted I come visit him at his office. I went on a Friday since we close early, I had to fix another day for my private coaching.

The receptionist directed me to his office.

The staffs are all busy in their cubicles. Most of them have their eyes and hands glued to their system.

I met his secretary, she’s young and beautiful, all smiling, I had no choice than to compliment her. I told her I want to see her boss. She asked for my name, I told her and she just told me to go in that he was expecting me.

I entered into his office, he stood up immediately he saw me and hugged me, he ushered me to sit on the sofa. There’s a center table in front of the sofa. I saw some packs of food on the table. He joined me on the sofa.

He told me he already got us lunch. There were two packs, he placed one of the pack in a small tray and put a pack of juice beside it and handed it to me.

We ate and chatted at the same time. After eating, he cleared the packs and disposed the packs in a waste bin in his office.

He checked his wrist watch, then called his secretary on the intercom, he told her she can leave since it's already 5pm. I told him I’ll be leaving soon but he asked me to stay for another hour since he won’t see me the next day, and that was because I have a wedding to attend the next day.

He was busy giving me gist about some things going on his company, then his phone rang, he told me it was her younger sister, Sharon calling before he picked the call.

He told her his friend is around, I heard him mention my name. He gave me the phone, he said his sister wants to speak with me.

I took the phone and we exchanged greetings, she thanked me for everything I did for his brother, she told me she missed Henry, that she had no choice than to come visit him in Nigeria. I gave the phone back to him.

An hour later we left the office. He wanted to take me home, but he’s not yet familiar with the route. He called his company driver who drove us to my house.

Both of us alighted when we got to my house, he followed me in to say hi to my folks. He met my mum and one of my siblings. My dad is not yet back. I introduced him as a friend.

He left almost immediately, I saw him off to the gate. He entered into the car, he thanked me for the visit, I also thanked the driver too and bade them good night.

Weeks later, I got a call from Mr Mike, he said he’s at the hospital with Henry.

TBC….