Suspects: murder case

Chapter 55

Chapter 55

I had an urgent meeting that I needed to attend to hence I sent a cab to pick up Kristy from work. It’s almost 22 and I have just pulled up in front of the house, stepping out of the car, I grab my backpack and walk towards the front door. I slid the key in the lock, walking in silently, surprised at how I miss being with her. We text almost all the time during the day and her messages warm my heart even though we are constantly arguing about silly things.

I climb the stairs to find Stella asleep, I stare at her for a moment, studying her as she sleeps. She looks fragile and so peaceful. I remember thinking she was mean and heartless but knowing her now, my perception about her was slowly changing.

Changing into my pajamas, I climb into the bed behind her and tag her back to my chest and she startles awake.

‘’Hey!’’ I whisper.

‘’I got tired of waiting.’’

‘’I am sorry, the meeting took longer than I thought it would.’’

‘’I have left some food for you on the table.’’

‘Don’t worry about me, I am fine.’’

‘’You are sure?’’

‘’Yes,’’ I drop a kiss to her neck before pulling her closer, ‘’Go to sleep Mrs. Mumbi, we will talk in the morning.’’

‘’Alright,’’ she sleepily hums. ‘’Good night.’’

‘’Good night.’’

My teammates and I are sitting in the boardroom for our weekly marketing meetings, I am checking up on them and obtaining progress reports just to make sure we are all moving in the same direction, the meeting started at 9- it’s almost done.

‘’Mrs. Zulu, you haven’t given me an update on the task that I gave you,’’ I intently stare at her.

Mrs. Zulu is a media planner in my department. I gave her a task to work on an advert for our social media platforms for a product that we are yet to launch in the next few weeks.

She clears her throat, ‘’I have been unwell so I haven’t yet started working on it but I will do it by next week.’’

I tap my fingers on the desk as I stare at her, ‘’you know I hate incompetency? It’s been almost a week and this is what you are telling today when this advert is supposed to start running by Tuesday next week.’’

‘’Mrs. Mumbi, I’m so sorry, I will work on it over the weekend.’’

‘’Damn right you will,’’ I click my tongue.

She blinks, ‘’I always do my work on time, I just fell Ill and---.’’

‘’This meeting is dismissed, let’s meet on Tuesday same time, I hope I get better results next time.’’

People start walking out of the board room but Mrs. Zulu stands still gawking at me.

‘’And then?’’

‘’I don’t like how you talked to me in front of everyone madam.’’

‘’I don’t care about you think, I grab my laptop, march out and slam the door behind my back.’’

Thirty minutes later, I am in my office going through the files that my P.A left on my table when Daddy P walks in, shutting the door. He stands in front of my table glaring at me.

‘’Good morning!’’

‘’Mrs. Zulu told me what happened in during the meeting.’’

I look up at him waiting for what he will say next.

‘’Child, this place is a home to a lot of people, here we are a family, we don’t yell at each other, we don’t belittle or insult each other instead we find ways of helping each other so we are on the same track. You might be good at what you do but that attitude will be the downfall of you- get rid of that attitude child or I will do it for you. Ask your friend Jada, I don’t condone disrespect.’’

I lean back against my desk, ‘’I am sorry daddy P, I just got carried away.’’

‘’I hope this won’t repeat itself.’’

‘’It won’t.’’

‘’And you should apologize to Mrs. Zulu.’’

‘’Sure.’’

‘’Great.’’

He turns on his heel, pausing at the door, ‘’Have a great day child.’’

‘’Thank you.’’

When he leaves, I head to Mrs. Zulu’s office, I hate apologizing but this has to be done.

‘’Come in,’’ she says when I knock at her door.

I walk into the office, ‘’Hello.’’

‘’Hello.’’

‘’I came to apologize for what happened earlier this morning, I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that I am sorry.’’

‘’I am pregnant,’’ she responds.

‘’Huh?’’

‘’And my blood pressure has constantly been high the past week that’s why I wasn’t able to do the work. Madam P told me to get a few days off, she might have just forgotten to tell you about it but all in all I am sorry.’’

‘’It’s okay and I am sorry too.’’

‘’Sure.’’

When I leave her office, I spend the next hour signing off marketing materials from ad designs to copy before heading out for lunch. Driving to the mall, I get some lunch for Daniel and me before driving to his office. He has been so good I am surprising him at his office. Getting to his office, I hear voices. I push the door open and step into the office, stopping when I see Daniel sitting with a woman in his office, a bottle of wine is between them.

‘’Babe!’’ he exclaims when he notices me.

I frown, ‘’Hello.’’

He stands up, ‘’what are you doing here? You didn’t tell me you were coming.’’

‘’I didn’t know I was supposed to call before coming to visit my husband.’’

‘’That’s not what I meant,’’ he lightly kisses my lips.

‘’What did you mean?’’

The lady who looks up and clears her throat obviously waiting for an introduction.

‘’Babe this is Meira, a business associate, Meira this is my wife Stella.’’

‘’Oh, nice to finally meet you madam,’’ She extends her hand towards me.

‘’Oh!’’ I exclaim shaking her hand.

‘’I brought lunch, I thought you would be free but since you are busy I better leave.’’

‘’You don’t have to leave.’’

‘’I don’t want to disturb you guys.’’

‘’You are not disturbing anything, we were just having a business meeting.’’

‘’I will see you at home.’’

‘’Stella! Babe!’’

I walk out ignoring him, I don’t know why but my heart is almost bursting with anger right now. I know I have no right to feel this way but I can’t help it, that woman obviously likes Daniel and that doesn’t sit well with me.

Daniel

‘’You have a beautiful wife,’’ Meira says after Stella walks out.

‘’Thank you.’’

‘’She doesn’t like me right?’’

‘’She doesn’t even know you, why would she hate you?’’

She laughs, ‘’I too would be insecure if I had someone as handsome as you for a husband.’’

‘’Brining this wine over for this business meeting was a bad idea, she obviously got the wrong picture.’’

‘’If she divorces you, I will be right here waiting for you.’’

‘’This is not funny Meira, can we please keep this relationship strictly about work.’’

‘’I can’t help it Daniel, you are a great man and I like you.’’

‘’I am married.’’

‘’I don’t mind.’’

‘’I think we are done for the day.’’

‘’Alright, look at my proposal and give me feedback.’’

‘’Sure.’’

‘’Bye handsome.’’

‘’Bye.’’

*

‘’Her father broke her heart long before any boy had a chance to.’’

Daniel

17:-00, I turn off my computer, grab my bag and walk out of the office. I have had such an exhausting day, my day was filled with meetings and strategy lessons. I just want to get home, shower and spend time with Kristy. I love getting home knowing she is there, our nights together are usually fun, we talk about random stuff and share about our day. And speaking to Kristy, she has been quiet on me for the last couple of hours, she has not responded to any of my texts nor has she answered my calls. I know she must be angry with what happened earlier in the office. Even though our marriage is fake, I promised Kristy that I would not mess around with any other women during the duration of our marriage and I will keep my word.

Meira is just messed up, she is a business associate I met a week ago and she instantly told me she likes me and she doesn’t mind if I am married or not. I didn’t tell Kristy about this because I didn’t think it was important. But with what happened today, I guess I will need to address this issue and distance myself from Meira, I really don’t want to get Kristy upset.

On my way home, I stop and buy flowers for Stella just to show her that I appreciate her and I will not do anything to jeopardize the relationship that we have created the last couple of months. Walking into the house an hour later, I see Kristy sitting in the living room watching television- a bottle of wine and a box of pizza on the table beside her, I strode across the room, handing her the flowers then I kiss her full on the lips but get no response from her. I withdraw and kneel in front of her.