Chapter 5
1164 Words
Amaka's POV:
I continued working through the rest of the day and felt Simon's gaze on me frequently.
*Why did Simon always look at me?* I wondered but didn't ask him.
My phone rang. I unlocked it and saw Maureen calling. She had probably taken Jason to school, but I didn't want to chat with her about him here.
Feeling Simon's scrutinizing gaze on me—and knowing Joseph monitored me from his office—made me uncomfortable.
"Hello, dear. I'll call you back later," I told Maureen, and she replied, "Okay."
I glanced at Simon, and he frowned before looking away. I didn't understand why he frowned, but then the buzzer sounded.
"It's break time," Simon informed me, and I sighed. "Okay."
I turned off my laptop and stood from my chair. "I think we'll go to the cafeteria, right?" I asked Simon as he rose from his chair.
"Yes. Or you can request your meal here," Simon said with a smile, and I smiled back. "Fine. I'm still new, so I'll go to the cafeteria."
I exited Simon's office and sucked in a deep breath of fresh air. I no longer felt under surveillance.
My day had ruined itself the moment I met my baby's father.
*How do I tell Joseph we have a child? How could he claim not to know me? Was four years too long to forget someone?*
I fought back sobs as I walked ahead to the elevator for the second floor.
As I reached the elevator, I stepped in and glanced back. I saw Joseph exit his office.
My heart skipped a beat. I looked away from him and wanted to close the door and leave, but the security man told me to wait.
"Hmm," I thought. My eyes narrowed at the security man as Joseph entered the elevator and joined me on the way down to the second floor.
We didn't speak to each other. Luckily, a female staff member rode with us, and she seemed nervous to share the elevator with the boss.
Joseph had grown even taller since the last time I saw him. Though I tried to look away, my eyes still lingered on him. But he spared me no glance at all. How ruthless of him?
Joseph strode out of the elevator with perfectly measured steps. He maintained his stance as he entered the second-floor hallway. The security men greeted him as he stopped to speak with the two of them, but I marched away. I felt upset that he ignored me.
My year of pregnancy. The journey I endured alone. The way my parents sent me away.
I wanted to confront Joseph about it all, and he couldn't pretend he didn't know me.
I moved to the counter and requested my meal. They served free lunch, and I ordered a plate of jollof rice and a fried chicken lap—one of my favorites.
As I turned to find a seat in the cafeteria, I caught Joseph looking at me. But he quickly looked away when our eyes met.
I swear I saw longing in Joseph's eyes. He seemed lost for a moment, like he admired me. But he turned away, stepped back from the security man he had spoken with, and went to take his seat.
I sat two chairs away from Joseph, but his eyes stayed on me. Each time I looked at him, though, he gazed away.
A waitress approached Joseph to serve him lunch. I didn't know they had waitresses; most staff requested their own meals.
As I sat alone, lost in my deep thoughts, I decided to speak to Maureen about this first before I confronted Joseph again.
Joseph had probably moved on. He had obsessed over s*x. He pushed me to sleep with him until I gave in, but he changed after that night.
"Hi, may I join you for lunch?" Simon asked, snapping me out of my trance. I felt Joseph's gaze on us—and so did some other guys in the cafeteria.
Many staff entered and exited the cafeteria. The space stretched vast.
"Sure," I told Simon, and he sat across from me.
"How do you enjoy the meal?" Simon asked, and I smiled back.
"It's nice," I replied, still feeling Joseph's gaze on us.
"Okay, I'm glad you like it. So can I get your personal number to call you after closing time?" Simon asked. I looked at his face.
"Why? I don't need any calls," I replied, and Simon grinned.
"It's just a harmless call to check on my colleague. Nothing else," Simon said with a smile, and I smiled back at him.
"Alright. I'll think about it. Maybe when we get back to the office, I'll give you my phone to put your number in," I told Simon, and he smiled.
"Alright." Simon waved over the waiter to bring him lunch, and he ordered the same food as mine. We sat there eating. I finished my meal and rose to return to my office.
I still felt Joseph's gaze on me, and I tried not to look at him.
I exited the cafeteria and returned to Simon's office to sit in my chair. My mind swirled with numerous thoughts.
I resumed my office work and helped the company advertise their new products online. I finished with all the new products available and signed out. I picked up my phone and logged into my son's account.
I scrolled through Jason's photos and videos and recalled Joseph denying he knew me.
I hadn't applied much makeup to my face, so why couldn't Joseph remember?
Simon entered the office, and I quickly signed out of my son's profile, put away my phone, and waited until 5 p.m. when the company closed.
It wasn't a new company after all. I had thought they just started, but it was a branch of their main head office on the island.
I thought about Maureen putting my son in school and her heading back to her husband's house.
He had paid her dowry, with only the church wedding left.
Maureen didn't obsess over the wedding, so she wanted to go live with her fiancé since he had invited her over.
Maureen would pack her bags tomorrow, and I didn't know if I should tell her about my trouble or not.
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Closing hour arrived. Simon rose from his desk and came over to meet me.
"I haven't forgotten to ask for your number," Simon said, and I agreed. I took his phone.
I gave Simon my number, and he told me he would call tonight. I shook my head, picked up my black handbag, and fled the office.
As I stepped out, thankfully Joseph stayed out of sight. I made my way to the elevator and left the building.
I looked around the parking lot and saw only three cars there. I sighed, looked forward, and exited the premises. I hailed a cab and headed home.
- Writer
