Dark Shadows

Chapter 1

THE clouds where Lizzy had parked turned darker, the morning forecast had said otherwise, but who really get to predict God's work? She pulled up past her office's street with a raging speed, enough of Priston's enterprises for today. She'd had a hell of a day with the Devil, her boss, her coworkers smirks wanted to make her scream the words-- "I QUIT" but no, you cannot afford to be jobless in such a country like our Nigeria.
She remembered screaming at her gateman before leaving, calling him names no one loves to be called, making her assistant cry her eyes out over the phone "you need to be smart, you're no better than a primary four pupil" were the words that might have brought Chioma to tears and then the terrible traffic had made her curse the "slack" driver out loud. Some idiot had even locked her hair with his car keys, she had surprisingly overlooked it. All the way back to the office, she'd either screamed or shouted at everyone on her "way", swearing at them or their Mother even with their ancestors altogether. Only then did she realize that every single day for the past three years had been like that,Perhaps, everyone else aren't the problem, she thought to herself; maybe I am actually the troublemaker.
Adams opened the gate at the sound of the honk, and then closed it right behind him, he ran towards the Prado. "Welcome" he said, being so careful not to use the word "Madam", he had become so conscious of it after several corrections, the last one had been with a slap, no one would love to have the slap again, not even a fool. He had avoided conversations that might make him say the dreadful word and so often engage her with gestures. She wasn't going to accept too much respect but she had slapped him anyways, is there any respect from slaps and insults? Which could bring no other answer but for the fact that his boss was still single at her age and accomplishments yet addressing her as that could make people think she is older. He went to his room just by the gate after telling her about the mails and visitors that came by, he had expected the usual reply-- "don't they know that I will be at work?" and she always end her rant with words like "arrant nonsense" or "uneducated fellow". But today was different, she said "Okay" and had even let a smile slip through the corner of her lips. He couldn't believe his eyes, she didn't even complain about the compound or his clothes' combination and, She had smiled!!! Something was not right, he thought or rather, everything just became right, she seem to be in a good mood today which had not happened since the past two years he had spent working for her. All he could pray for was that "days like these shouldn't end".
She flung open the fridge for a bottle, Adams had been confused by her sudden niceness, she'd seen that expression before, he had the same when she slapped him. Maybe smiling does fit her, she was going to try a little bit of kindness this time, do all those online motivation stuffs, she would stop blaming others for her own brokenness, not to expect perfections from humans "that's why God made us humans and not gods" the man had said, maybe do a little forgiving she'd hear from one of Jay Shetty's short clips ----- to herself first and then to others. Maybe she will one day find herself and hopefully find a husband.
She mused at the thought of it, of having to attend all her colleagues' wedding parties and anniversary, of hearing the whispers of gossip about how she wasn't able to keep a man. Gossips fly around that she is involved with Adams her gateman, she had laughed out at the unthinkable rumour. Her mother had stopped her from throwing a party for her thirtieth birthday "you should be having it in your husband's house, with a child in your womb!!". Her mother had not succeeded in making her as desperate as she got after getting Shade's wedding invitation. She had fought back the tears that lingered on her face, remembering that she had attended Shade's christening in the next compound. Sometimes, life can be so unfair.
She'd make well for herself, bought the Prado and the house few years back, built a solid career at Priston's and so being the vice president of the firm she couldn't wait for Mr Solomon to retire. Raised by a single mother and a Dad she never knew, she had seen life in its most ugliest form and so those nights without supper, days without a meal, those tears she had seen her mother shed had pushed her into what she is today, into what no one could ever think she'd become.
Checking the face of her phone, she saw missed calls from Tola. She touched the screen to redial, Tola picked up immediately as if she was waiting for the phone to ring. "Hey babe!!", they spent the next five minutes gossiping about their colleagues, Linda Ikeji's rumour and trending issues. Then the next question that popped up was "Do you know any dating site?"
"What do you need it for" she asked.
"What else, for dating now" Lizzy replied "I've been single for too long"
Tola reminded her of her previous decisions, of the men she had curbed all through her college days and most especially of Dayo. "Dayo was a good man, you know?"
"But now he is doing fine with a wife and two kids" she replied "Thank you for reminding me of my regrets". She ended the call after the reassurance that one day she would find her soul mate. "My regards to your hot security man" Adams!!! Lizzy thought. Tola still think he is the most handsome man ever, flirting with him anytime she gets the chance plus he had proved to be a threat to her previous boyfriends, tall, dark, broad chest, heavily built with a smile that could melt a lady. The kind you see in black Americans' television shows. She's had to assure and reassure them that there he is just her security man who is pretty good at his Job. Maybe too good for a security man in Nigeria, but no, she wasn't going to stoop so low.
Dayo was a good man, the best so far. He had been every lady's dream, well built and disciplined. She had gone on few dates with him, slept over at his house some few days and unlike her previous relationships, he didn't force her for sex. But she had capsized the boat of her love life herself. She'd chosen her career over Dayo and then here she is, at the peak of her career but lost the only love of her life.
The door bell interrupted her fantasies and brought her back to her reverie only then did she hear the sound of the rain, it was Adam, he had her dried clothes on his left shoulder that suddenly looked broader. He just gestured to give her the clothes, thank Goodness, she would have iron-dried her clothes to work the next day, but he had saved her the trouble. She stretched her hands to collect them, she took them and waited till he turned to leave. "Come in for some coffee" seems to just fly out of her mouth, maybe she wanted to get to know the person that guards her house better and no unusual feelings attached. He had his most serious face on. "Okay" was all he said and then stepped in.
He sat where Lizzy motioned him to sit and watched her walk pass the room into a hallway. He couldn't help but wonder why her boss has suddenly become nice to him, she'd smiled at him earlier and now had asked him to come in for tea. Two events that had never happened for the past two years he had worked for her, she was definitely up to something and he is going to find out soon enough. Then a second thought crossed his mind---- maybe he was getting fired. But no one gets fired over taking coffee overrides the thought.
Adams' thought was interrupted by the sound of Lizzy's footsteps, she was holding two mugs in her hands, magic mugs that has her picture inscribed on them, her face reminded him of her father but she doesn't know that and she might never know. They spent the next thirty minutes talking about how life had treated them separately and surprisingly, she couldn't help but notice his fluent way of speaking, he spoke with so much confidence that made her ask, "You speak so much good English to be a gateman, did I miss something during your interview?" he smiled and just said "You never cared to ask much, you were just so desperate to get someone to open your gates".
As embarrassing as Adam's statement seemed to be, he was right, she hadn't cared about so much except for her work, and not seem to care about who secures her house. Thereafter, they talked about his background, schooling and how on earth an handsome educated man ended up being a security guard. He had however said little about himself, and even little in general. She thought he was just shy at first but then remembered she had slapped him few weeks ago. He might be angry about the incidence and for anything will she stoop so low to apologize to her gateman for correcting him. But still, Lizzy found herself calling out to him at the door being ajar as he leaves, "I am sorry for hitting you the other day" she said, "you made my day, thank you". He smiled and gave an acknowledged nod, while the door closed behind him.

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