The results
1038 Words
Nora's POV
Max left me alone following the botched lovemaking. We existed as housemates, we breakfasted and lunched together but hardly communicated.
He fulfilled his promise to my granny. Her surgery happened one week after our union. One month after the surgery, my grandmother was on the road to recovery. She gradually put on the much-needed weight.
Max bought me a car, hired live-in-house help. My husband was an enigma to me.
He was moody, downright cruel, arrogant, trampled on people's feelings without care but a giver on the other side. His generosity astounded me, l witnessed as he built a house for a handicapped child who lived on the street. He failed to mention it to me, l saw it on the news like everyone else.
Exactly a month after my marriage, l woke up to good news. The results were out, l was at the top of my class. I drove to my granny's house, found her on the porch, knitting booties. I hugged her, kissed her all over her beloved face.
The wrinkles were fewer, she smiled more often, she was happy which gladdened my heart. “ Booties? You are back to your business?.”
“ No, these are my great grandchild’ s booties.”
l laughed at her silly joke. I showed her the results. “ Thank you Lord, baby you should start going to church, this is mercy..”
l pointed to my chest, “ me? I'm not a church person granny, l pray to God in my own way.”
She wagged her finger at me, her expression stern, “ everybody is a church goer, you young people neglect the church and run after unnecessary stuff.”
Yippee my granny was back. We cooked up a storm to celebrate. Matilda, granny's helper joined us, we had fun. I bade them goodbye in the afternoon.
My happiness overflowed, granny and Cathy’s congratulations felt inadequate somehow like l longed for another person to reinforce my success.
I drove to Ratliff Group of Airlines. Max and l were not friends nor were we enemies. I had the urge to show him my accomplishment.
I parked my car beside his, stepped out and headed to his office. The same security guard who showed me the way last time smiled, when he recognised me.
“ I heard you got the job at The Ratliff Restaurants miss, congratulations.”
Poor man, you have no idea l'm your boss’s wife. I smiled back, acknowledged his compliment and moved to the right elevator this time. The receptionist ignored me.
I pressed 29, reached the floor, knocked on the door written CEO in gold letters.
Nobody answered, l pushed the door, found myself in what appeared to be a secretary’s office. The door in front of me opened as l looked around the room.
Max's gorgeous secretary almost dropped the file when she found a stranger in her space. Her beautiful eyes glared at me from the top of my head to my shoes. The shopping saved my ass, l knew l looked good even though her attitude said otherwise.
She circled the table and remained standing, her nose in the air.Today my behaviour was top notch. “ I'm sorry, nobody was at the desk when l came in.”
Her neutral face said she did not recognise me. “ Do you have an appointment with the CEO? If you don't please leave. How did you end up here anyway ?.”
Before I answered her she dialled a number.” Rick, l found somebody in my office, how did she get in?.” She listened for a moment, “ ok, if she works for Ratliff Restaurants she has to make an appointment like everybody else.”
She put the receiver down and her stare told me to get out.
Her flat, bored voice irritated me. I grinned at her, “ l don't have an appointment but l believe my husband will see me.”
Her nostrils flared, “ your husband? Who is your husb…?”
Our heads swivelled as the inner door opened. Maxwell Ratliff stood there looking dapper, hands in his trousers pockets.
His dark eyes clashed with my brown orbs. He indicated with his head l should follow him inside. I gave the secretary a big saucy smile and disappeared into my husband's office.
The said husband planted his butt against the table, crossed his legs and arms. Worry lines marred his face, what was eating the dude? “ Stop daydreaming, what brings you here?.”
I fished my results from my bag, handed them to him. He scrutinised them, sighed and handed them back. “ You did well, congratulations.”
Well, what did l expect? Chocolate? Flowers? “ I'm sorry for the disturbance, l guess my joy clouded my judgement. Bye bye.”
I shoved my results in my bag, pivoted and headed towards the door.
My arm was pulled roughly, my body turned around, my bag thrown somewhere. My head bumped into a solid chest. I raised my head to protest, ferocious lips took mine in a volcano hot kiss. A hot tongue invaded my mouth, it latched on mine and sucked until l moaned, hands roamed on my ass and hips.
Max groaned and halted the kiss. We breathed on each other's face, out of breath. “ Don't walk out of me again Nora, stop courting trouble. You walked out on me on our wedding day, left me with blue balls, don't do it again, hm?.”
I nodded, my nose rubbed against his. “ Tonight we have to discuss something important, l will try to leave early, congratulations, you deserve everything beautiful. I'm sorry you caught the tail of my ranting session. I was upset with Zoey not you.”
Max kissed me softly, he then stared into my eyes like it was his first time seeing me. He then hugged me tightly, rocked me side to side, then let me go. I had the mind to test his temperature. This behaviour was out of character.
I exited the room, the secretary eyed me balefully, her envious glare obvious as l swung my bag and hips, l slammed the door on my way out.
- Writer
