I got out of the shower and stepped into an empty room,Charles had gone out.

"Wasn't I too harsh on him? Has he gone to drink? Does he even drink? He should drink sometimes I guess, we do have a bar in the living room.
I should have really just spoken to him when he apologized "

The towel I wrapped myself in, slowly left my body while I got myself a singlet and shorts from the drawer. They were Charles' so they looked big on me. I stared at myself in the mirror and almost laughed at my appearance.

I would definitely wear his clothes often, they smelled so nice and felt so nice. My eyes shut itself and I found myself thinking about my honeymoon and so many nights I had made love with my husband. Then I remembered

**flashback
"This is crazy hun, what's happened to the good girl I got married to? "
I decided to surprise my husband at work that day, well I had planned a very special surprise with the lingerie I had on.

Charles was so scared that he'd be queried about locking his office and keeping his clients waiting.
"We'd be really quiet, it's not as if I'm that loud, besides you made me bad " I replied giggling

We must have been a little bit loud, because his secretary moved away from her position.

After our little exercise I just couldn't control myself, I began to cry.

"Hey, what is it? Are you hurt? Did I hurt you? Are you okay? "Charles was so worried, I bet he would have called a doctor to examine me in his office

"I'm very happy you know, I'm just happy, God you're so good to me and I love you and I'm scared about so many things but I'm happy "

"Nne, most people who claim to be happy, usually display their dentition, I love you too, even if I don't understand what is happening now"he replied still confused.

I reached out and helped him fix his tie
"I told I've been having dizzy spells lately so I thought it was stress, so I took a live from work. Well Esther and I spoke two days ago and she advised I take a pregnancy test, i told her it was stress, you know I've been very busy at work, but then it hit me, When was the last time I saw my period Charles? "

His mouth formed a big O, he usually keeps track of my menstrual cycle
"That was 20th of April, how did I not notice, it's the 27th of May today, wow that means, we're having a baby!!!, You're pregnant!! God I'm going to be a father!! "

I just fell into his arms and started crying, I was just too happy. I was going to be a mom. I'd have my own child.

***Reality
A voice brought me out of my thoughts and I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. I must have looked ridiculous hugging myself,crying and smiling at once.

"Nne m are you okay? Is something wrong? "

I walked to where he was standing and threw my arms around him. i felt him tense up a bit, but then he wrapped his arms around me.

"I'm so sorry baby, I didn't mean to get you upset. O nweghi ihe ji koro mu na ya, nothing at all. She's nothing to me"

"Charles stop talking please, I am happy, just happy "

He held me tighter and for a while, I struggled to breathe. Then he let me go abruptly.

"Wait a minute, Victoria are you pregnant? "

I sniffed and shook my head vigorously.
"I'm not, I just love you and Christy, you two make me happy "

"I was so scared, I thought you were angry with me, I love you too"

I didn't know how long we stood there, embracing each other, but we broke apart when his tummy started rumbling vigorously.

The next day flew by like any other day. The usual work in the office, the gossip flying around about my being romantically involved with the boss.

"Ha ncha bu Ndi ara(They are all mad). Don't they know you're married. Stupid people, negodi Cynthia dika ukpala, osuokpo, that praying mantis. She has been the one spreading the rumor. My dear I heard she has been throwing herself at the boss ever since she heard, he divorced his wife"Onyi was irritated with what was going on but she just revealed to me something huge.

I never knew the boss was a divorcee, that makes sense of his sad paintings. His wife must have broken his heart

"Onyi don't mind them, just ignore them like I do. They'll get tired, inugo "

Jude didn't request for me, neither did I see him at work. I had a feeling that he didn't come at all.

Later in the day, I got a call from Jude, telling me that my idea was chosen by the board members. That I had to come for a get together organized by the board, he was considerate enough to agree with Onyi coming with me.

My eardrums almost ruptured when I broke the news to Onyi, she hugged me more times than I could remember and very thrilled about going with me.

"Maka Ndi jealousy, those gossips who are envious I have a special number for you all.
Onye ihe m na ewe iwe ya biko wegbuo ya"

I was amused by her funny way of taunting Cynthia and her colleagues, but when Cynthia walked out of the office I knew it had gotten to her.

"Should you be the one singing that song? I think their hatred is directed to me not you Onyi"

"My dear, you are now my friend, even though you are like akpi, so if they hate you that means they hate me too"she replied
I laughed at her statement
"I am not an akpi"Scorpion", I'm very nice biko"

"The older version of you was an akpi, so yours still an akpi"

Onyi kept making me laugh till we parted ways. Charles, hadn't rode to school with us that day. I suspected that he was probably sick, but somehow I couldn't help thinking about the boy.

I got home with Christy, only to meet presents in the living room. Charles was really a sweet husband.

Christy started opening the ones with her name on it, while I only took a
card that read
"To my Amazing wife "
and went upstairs.

Charles was in the shower, and I waited for him to get out before opening my card.

"She is a lucky woman you know, your dear wife"

He flashed me a huge smile like a five year old.

" I have good news too, remember when I told you about the meeting we had at work, where I contributed an idea. Well my idea was accepted by the board members and I'm supposed to go to a get together being organized by them. Also I'm going to be our boss's plus one, I don't know if you're OK with that. Onyi is coming with me as well"

He gave me a hug and I was pleased he was okay with me going out.

"I thought you got a new boss, you didn't tell me his name again"

"Oh, sorry it must have slipped my mind. His name is Jude nnamdi Okpara"

I watched his happiness turn into fear and anger in a matter of minutes.

" I don't think you should go, in fact you are not going! "
He was stopping himself from yelling and I was confused as to why.

My phone rang and it was onyi, I stood up and took my call
" hmm bia Victoria, I just heard something oo, that get together " we are going to. His ex wife is also coming. "

"Who's ex -wife, Jude? "

"Yes now, who doesn't know about that his wife who cheated on him" she paused then continued
"Ewoo sorry, I've forgotten that you stopped working for a while, I heard one rubbish talk this night from Chika, that she's your friend. Grace Maduka "

I turned to see Charles rubbing his palm furiously.

"Did you say Grace Maduka? "

His fingers came to a halt and his face paled.

" I hope Charles didn't do what I think he did"

***'*********************************

A/N: Don't get confused, two of the characters are named Grace, Victoria's childhood friend and Charles' business partner.

🤔Can't even tell why Charles is mad about a friendly get together with a good boss.