TASTELESS

CHAPTER NINE

"We have a special visitor coming in the afternoon. Please prepare for an interview." Andrew tells Kayla. Looking at the visitor's details on the computer, Kayla discovers that the special visitor is Joe, Mercy's husband.

'How comes?' she wonders.

"What kind of an interview will it be?" She asks Andrew, who is still standing beside Kayla's office table.

"We are his client. He is the lawyer who will represent us in a pending case at the court." Andrew says. Kayla looks at him surprised.

"A pending case?" She asks.

"Yes. Can I see you during break time?" Andrew asks. Kayla seems confused.

"See me for what?" She asks.

"Just a small conversation." Andrew insists. Kayla has a lot of work awaiting her and she doesn't understand why Andrew wants to see her.

"It's okay." She reluctantly agrees. Andrew winks at her and walks out.

'Wabaaabaaa' Kayla whispers and continues with her work.

*******

Orori is basking outside his home in the village. It is 8 am and the morning sun is shining magnificently. He looks okay, but deep inside something is disturbing him. His wife brings him some tea and sweet potatoes.

"I need to talk to my daughter." He says.

"Just let her be, she is now a grown-up woman. She can make decisions on her own." His wife says.

"I know she is grown up, but I don't trust my sister's daughter. I have a bad feeling." Orori says.

"Which bad feeling?" His wife asks.

"Witchcraft is real, my sister took Mercy to a witch when she was 6 years old," Orori says.

"You don't have to worry about that. I've been praying for Kayla a lot since she traveled to Nairobi. She is going to be okay. God's protection is enough for her." Orori's wife says.

"What?" Orori asks. As much as he is a known leader in the church, he doesn't fully believe in God. The fear he has for witchcraft surpasses his faith in God.

"One problem with you is that you don't believe in God's power." His wife responds. Orori puts down his cup of tea and looks at his wife.

"Which God are you talking about?" He asks his wife.

"I'm not ready to argue with you about that. But don't worry about Kayla." The wife reassures.

******

Joe is preparing to go out. His wife, Mercy, just returned from taking Vincent to school. She is in the kitchen washing the utensils.

"Why do you look gloomy today?" He asks Mercy.

"Vincent looked stressed. He should not have gone to school." His wife replies.

"I told you that everything will be okay, he is just a child," Joe says.

"A child who is stressed. Do you know how much it hurts to see him unhappy?" Mercy asks.

"I know, but we are solving that beby." He says. Mercy stops washing and looks at Joe.

"Look at you now. I warned you that we should not rush into this thing." She says.

"Come on! For how long will you keep on blaming me? You have a car, we have all this house. We have money in the bank. What else would you ask for?" Joe responds.

"You just asked what else I would ask for? Will the money buy my son happiness?" She asks.

"Vincent is just a child! He will be okay." Joe replies.

"How will I know he will be okay? I want him to be okay now!" Mercy replies angrily.

"It's okay," Joe says and walks out.

*******

Kayla is walking downstairs for a tea break. She walks into the boardroom and finds Andrew alone. He signals her to join him at the table.

"What are you up to?" She asks Andrew after taking a seat near him.

"How is everything? I am so proud of you." Andrew starts the conversation.

"Everything is good, thank you for asking," Kayla responds.

"Where are you staying?" He asks.

"I'm staying at my cousin's place in maziwa, why?" Kayla responds.

"Because as a company we are very concerned about our employee's welfare," Andrew says.

"Ooh really? But I am planning to have my place very soon. I need freedom." She replies.

"That is where I was going," Andrew says.

"Going where?" Kayla asks. She is curious.

"We usually make arrangements for our employees as they settle down. We give you some money which is deductible so that they can have a smooth kick-off." Andrew replies.

"Wow! I didn't know that. I would need that assistance." Kayla says. As they talk, another employee joins them, Andrew changes the topic to a different thing and that is how the conversation between Kayla and Andrew ends.

Later that afternoon, Joe arrives with his Range Rover Sport.

"He is here, get ready," Andrew tells Kayla. The meeting is set to take place in the boardroom. Andrew and Kayla walk down the stairs, then into the boardroom, and find the CEO already seated. Joe is in the reception area.

"Let us have all the records ready." The CEO tells Andrew.

"They are here Sir," Andrew responds as he points to a stack of papers held by Kayla. Lucia walks in with Joe.

"Welcome back my learned friend. Sorry for keeping you waiting." The CEO says. Joe is seated directly opposite Kayla. He looks at her and smiles.

'What is funny?' he asks herself.

The meeting starts with the CEO explaining the nature of the pending case.

"KRA says we have unpaid taxes, but according to our records, we have been very consistent in paying taxes. We got all the evidence here." He says and permits Andrew to continue.

Kayla is listening attentively as Andrew takes the papers, one by one, trying to explain how they paid taxes during the past year. While he explains, Joe seems to be absent-minded. He is furiously looking at Kayla.

"Hey Sir, it is your turn to talk." The CEO says, referring to Joe. Kayla folds her face so that Joe stops looking at him, but that does not seem to change anything. Andrew wakes up and shakes Joe, who gets up violently and reassembles his things.

"I'm done here. She wants to kill me." He says pointing at Kayla..