Chapter 14: A warning From The Past
1271 Words
The next morning, Ruth arrived at the office early, determined to finish her work before the day's activities began.
She had barely switched on the computer when David walked in.
“Good morning, sir.”
“Good morning, Ruth. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. How is the report coming?”
“I finished it yesterday. I want to practise another one today.”
David smiled. “You are improving faster than I expected.”
Ruth grinned. “I told you I would learn.”
“I remember.”
For a moment, David wanted to stay and talk with her, but he had a meeting to attend. He picked up his folder and headed for the door.
“Ruth, if you need anything, let me know.”
“I will, sir.”
As he left, Ruth shook her head with a little smile. Sometimes, her boss could be surprisingly caring.
She had no idea that someone else was thinking about her too.
---
Across town, Vanessa sat in her car outside a shopping complex. Mama Nosa was beside her, looking impatient.
“Have you found out anything about Ruth?” Mama Nosa asked.
“Not yet,” Vanessa replied. “But I know David is getting attached to her.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I know him. He has never defended me the way he defended that girl.”
Vanessa's face tightened as she remembered their last telephone conversation.
Mama Nosa leaned closer. “Then we need to be careful. If David discovers another plan to hurt Ruth, he may make things difficult for us.”
“I know, Mama. I'm not going to make the same mistake Tonia made.”
Vanessa picked up her phone and called someone she knew at the company. She did not ask the person to sabotage Ruth or steal anything. Instead, she wanted information about Ruth's new position and the work she was learning to do.
After the call, she slipped the phone into her handbag.
“Let's see how well our village girl can manage when things become difficult,” she said.
Mama Nosa smiled, but there was worry behind her expression. She knew Ruth was no longer the frightened girl who would quietly accept every insult.
---
That afternoon, David returned to the office after his meeting and found Ruth studying a document.
“Still working?” he asked.
Ruth looked up. “I'm checking the figures before I submit the report.”
“Let me see.”
She handed him the pages.
David examined them carefully. There was one small error in a total, but the rest of the report was properly arranged.
“You've done well,” he said. “Check this figure again, and it will be ready.”
Ruth looked at the page and quickly spotted her mistake.
“Ah! I see it now. Thank you, sir.”
“Don't worry about making mistakes. What matters is learning how to correct them.”
Ruth nodded. His words reminded her of how much her life had changed. In the village, mistakes often brought insults and punishment. Here, she was beginning to understand that she could learn without being made to feel worthless.
Just then, David's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and frowned. It was Vanessa.
He stepped away before answering.
“What is it, Vanessa?”
“David, I need to see you.”
“I don't think we have anything left to discuss.”
“Please. Just one meeting.”
He was silent for a moment.
“I'm busy. If there's something important you need to say, you can say it now.”
Vanessa lowered her voice. “I want us to talk about our relationship properly. You cannot throw away everything we had because of one misunderstanding.”
David's expression hardened.
“This isn't one misunderstanding. I've made my decision, Vanessa. Our relationship is over.”
“So you're choosing Ruth?”
“I'm not discussing Ruth with you. My decision about us is mine.”
“You will regret treating me this way.”
“Goodbye, Vanessa.”
He ended the call.
When he returned to his desk, Ruth was carefully correcting the report. She did not ask who had called him, and David appreciated that she gave him space.
But as he watched her working quietly, he realised something important.
He could not keep allowing the problems between him and Vanessa to spill into Ruth's life. If he truly wanted a future with Ruth, he needed to settle his past honestly.
---
Later that evening, Ruth received a call from an unfamiliar number.
“Hello?”
“Ruth, na me, your village neighbour, Mrs. Efe.”
Ruth sat upright. “Mama Efe! Good evening. How are you?”
“I dey fine, my daughter. I called because I heard something today, and I thought you should know.”
Ruth's smile disappeared.
“What happened?”
“Mama Nosa has been asking people questions about you. She wants to know how much money you earn and whether you are still working in David Osayande's house.”
Ruth closed her eyes briefly.
“Why can't she leave me alone?”
“I don't know, my daughter. Just be careful. You know how she behaves when money is involved.”
“Thank you for telling me, Mama Efe. I will be careful.”
After ending the call, Ruth sat quietly for a while.
She had hoped that leaving Ugonoba would give her peace, but Mama Nosa still seemed determined to interfere with her life.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Ruth?” David called.
She quickly wiped her eyes, although she had not realised they were becoming wet.
“Come in, sir.”
David entered and noticed her expression.
“What happened?”
“Nothing, sir.”
He gave her a knowing look. “You don't have to tell me everything, but don't pretend you're fine if you're not.”
Ruth hesitated before telling him about Mrs. Efe's call.
David listened without interrupting.
“I don't want to fight with Mama Nosa,” Ruth said. “I only want to work, learn, and build my future. Why won't she allow me to do that?”
“Because some people find it difficult to accept that they can no longer control someone,” David replied. “But you don't have to fight her to prove that you've changed.”
Ruth looked at him. “What should I do, then?”
“Keep doing your work. Don't give anyone a reason to accuse you of something you haven't done. And if anyone threatens you, tell me.”
She nodded slowly.
“Thank you, sir.”
David wanted to comfort her, but he stopped himself from assuming she needed anything more than his support.
“You're stronger than you think, Ruth.”
She managed a small smile. “I'm trying to be.”
“I can see that.”
For a moment, their eyes met. David felt the familiar warmth in his chest, but this time he did not try to explain it away.
He was beginning to understand that loving someone meant wanting them to feel safe, even when he could not solve every problem for them.
As David left the room, Ruth returned to her notebook with renewed determination.
She would not allow the past to decide her future.
And somewhere across Benin City, Vanessa was still searching for a way to regain control of a man who had already decided to walk away from her.
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