Chapter 4 CHAPITRE 3

I stood in front of the door for a few seconds before going inside. Laetitia had Maeva on her thighs, so I went over and lifted my daughter.

Maeva: Daddy! Mommy's here.

Laetitia (looking at me): Good evening

Me (nervous) : What are you doing here?

Laetitia (looking surprised) : I came to see my daughter!

I don't know why when she said that, it really got on my nerves. Now she knows she has a daughter? Maeva was getting restless. Where's she been for over a month? I sent the little one into the bedroom.

Me (staring): Are you kidding me, Laetitia? Are you serious?

Laetitia: Oh!

Me: I'm not going to remind you of the time you left this house saying "she's your daughter, stay with her". And now you remember you've got one? What kind of mother are you?

She scowled at me. She's fucking pissing me off, sitting there with her hand on my cheek, glaring at me. I hope she found what she wanted when she left here, she looks pretty good.

Laetitia: David, who are you even talking to like that?

Me: We're two adults in this room, although I wonder if you really have one.

Laetitia (glaring at me): You can't insult me David, especially not you, you understand? A wretch like that!

Me: Unfortunate? Thanks, Laetitia, since you're the one...

Laetitia (raising her voice): Yes, David, yes, you're a real jerk. How long do you think I'm going to put up with your misery? I'm a beautiful girl, if I snap my fingers, you'll see men lining up here.

Me (chuckling): it's normal for cheaper products like you to attract a lot of customers.

She stood up abruptly, and I anticipated the slap she was going to give me. I dodged by blocking her hand and pushed her, causing her to fall back onto the armchair. She looks at me annoyed, but now I feel as if my feelings for her have suddenly vanished. It's as if I've just opened my eyes.

Laetitia (furious): Fucking David! Dog, are you insulting me? Take a good look at me David?

Me (staring): ...

Laetitia (getting up): This is the last time you'll see me here, do you understand? I deserve better than you and I've found a man who'll take care of me... (taking out her new phone): Can you buy me that? Can you pay for the clothes I have here? My sister was right to introduce me to him, I wasted my time with you.

Me: You're pitiful, Laetitia!

Laetitia : I pity you, I just came to see my daughter, don't think I still have your time.

Me (looking at her): Unworthy mother!

Laetitia (disgusted): Get out! Even that child was the biggest mistake of my life, having a child with a loser!

I couldn't believe my ears, I pulled her by the arm violently and threw her out, she kept talking nonsense, I slammed the door in her face. When I turned around, Maeva was still crying.

Maeva: mamaaaaan... I want to go with mommy!!!!

Me (taking her in my arms): hush my baby.

Maeva: Mommy left me again... I want my mother.

Pfff no but what a pain, Maeva screams, she turns red, I don't know what to do. How can a mother behave like that? She doesn't even deserve to have a child after what she just said. Maeva cried herself to sleep.

The next day, I gave her a bath and then breakfast. I asked the neighbor's daughter to look after her, as I had to go to the hospital to find Mom, who was probably alone. Once I got to the hospital, I spoke to the doctor who told me that they had to operate and that someone had vouched for her, I know it was Angelique. Thank God she's here, I still don't know what I would have done.

I talked to my mother, helped her have breakfast, then left her as things were going a bit better to go to Okala to work anyway. As I got off the bus my phone rang.

Me: yes guy?

Ben: Hey David, how are you? Gildas told me about your mom, that you'd been trying to reach me.

Me : Yeah, I just left her at the hospital.

Ben : Do you need me to help you out?

Me : No, don't worry, it's taken care of.

Ben : ah ok cool! Sorry I didn't answer before, I was busy.

Me: I understand!

Ben: Well, I'll stop by tonight.

Me : Okay, see you.

Click! I came home and found the guys hard at work, greeted them and got to work. I've got work to do and I've got to collect my salary at the end of the month, even if I have to start a new job.

That evening I arrived at the hospital to see Mom. When I went into her room, I found Ben and she was eating an orange. We said hello and I kissed Mom. I saw that there were shopping bags next to her.

Me: You shouldn't have bothered, man.

Ben: It's not me, I've just arrived.

I looked at my surprised mom, who was smiling at me, I pulled out the bags and there was fruit, yoghurt... and lots of other little things. I looked at Ben, who shrugged.

Me: Who brought this?

Mom: Your girlfriend!

Me: Was Laetitia there?

Mom: No, I'm talking about the new girl!

Ben: Who's that, man?

Me: I'll tell you about it, don't worry.

I appreciate Angelique's gesture, but I'm a little embarrassed that Mom thinks she's my girlfriend, and that she's taking it easy by coming to do the shopping, pay my mother's bills... I'll call her anyway to thank her. Mom checked on Maeva, we saw the doctor, and she can be out in a few days.

Ben: So who's this Angelique?

Me: My boss's wife.

Ben (raising an eyebrow): Really? And don't tell me... (laughs) you fucked her?

Me: Of course not.

Ben: You're kidding, David.

Me (getting up): Are you serious? She's my boss's wife!

Ben: So what? If I understand correctly, that's all she's waiting for... you don't care, you're going to quit.

Me: That's no reason to.

Ben: Come on! Since Laetitia left, I don't suppose you've touched a woman. What do you do? Do you spackle every night or what?

Me: ...

Ben (smiling): You're going to scare me! Anyway. Good news Monday, get ready to come to the company for a day of presentation and integration.

Me (arching my eyebrows): already?

Ben: What do you mean? Look David, I'm not feeling you, so if you're not ready just tell me? I've got the impression that your current predicament is keeping you on a tight leash.

Me (sighing): Not at all. It's just that with everything that's going on, I'm a bit confused.

Ben (looking at me) : But you know that this job could be the key to solving all your problems.

Me: Yes, that's clear from the salary we're offering.

Ben (holding me by the shoulder): I'm your friend and I want you to be happy, believe me! Your life will change, you'll have a good salary and money... but it'll depend on the efforts and choices you make. You've got to have the niack!

Me (frowning): choices I make? What do you mean? You're not hiding anything from me, are you?

Ben (looking at me): Not at all. Just be ambitious, give it your all!

I looked at Ben suspiciously. I was about to ask him another question when my phone rang. It's Angelique," I took a breath, cleared my throat and picked up.

Me: Hello?

Angelique (soft voice): Hi David, how are you? Am I bothering you?

Me : Not at all. How are you?

Angélique: Pretty good, and you? How's your mom?

Me: She'll be out in a few days. I was going to call you to thank you for your gesture. I don't know how to thank you for everything.

Angelique: I'm at your place.

Me (heart pounding): Excuse me?

Angelique: I'm at your place right now. I'm waiting for you.

Click! I stared at my surprised phone for a moment. Is she at my place? I spoke aloud, Ben looked at me, raising his eyebrows.

Ben: Who?

Me: The famous cougar.

Ben: Go for it, man!

He dropped me off at home, I arrived and Angelique was with Maeva and the neighbor's daughter. I was so embarrassed that she saw where I lived. She was wearing a tight little black dress that revealed her yellow thighs. I looked at her furtively before greeting them.

Maeva: Dad, you're here.

Angélique (smiling): She's really beautiful!

Me: Thanks. How's Nora?

Nora: Yes, I was waiting for you to come home before I left.

Nora is the neighbor's daughter, she must be 18, she said that looking at Angélique. I'm glad she stayed with them until I arrived, you never know. I told her she could leave, gave her 2000fcfa on the sly and she left the house.

Angélique (smiling): How was your day?

Me (sitting down with Maeva): Fine, and you?

Angélique (staring at me): I wanted to see you.

Maeva: Dad, can I have some milk, please?

Me: Yes, sweetie.

Angelique (getting up): Ah, I've been shopping for you.

I was opening my freezer when she said that and it was full, even the fridge. There was milk. I made some for Maeva and thanked her. We talked about everything. Maeva was tired, so I put her to bed in my mother's room.

Me (clearing my throat): Why are you doing all this, Angelique?

Angelique (staring at me): It makes me happy.

Me: Thank you, but I'm not comfortable with a stranger doing all this for me. We don't really know each other.

She got up and stood in front of me, my hands in my pockets. She's shorter than me, she ran her hand around the back of my neck, got up on her feet and kissed me.

Angélique (pulling on my lower lip): I want you, David.

Me: ...

Angelique: I think I've fallen for you.

Me: You're married and I'm younger than you...

Angelique (looking at me): So what? What haven't we seen before? I'm 38 and I don't even look my age.

True, she doesn't look her age, but she's still 10 years older than me in the joke. What's more, as I told her, she's my boss's wife and I've never done that sort of thing before. She starts kissing me again, caressing my torso (she's sensual, I must say), but I always keep my hands in my pockets. I don't want to spill over. Then Maeva came back into the living room.

Maeva (rubbing her eyes): Dad, I'm scared all alone.

Angelique pulled away from me and looked at Maeva, smiling. Maeva walked over to me, holding out her arms, and I bent down and carried her, giving her a kiss.

Me: I'll come and sleep with you.

Angélique (smiling): I'll be off, it's getting late. Kiss, the most beautiful.

Maeva: bye bye

She picked up her bag, gave me a look that said a lot and left. Shit, I was hot, she was really starting to get on my nerves, she's good. I went to sleep with my daughter, it was going to be a long night, I had a feeling.

A few days later, Mom came home and insisted that I call Angelique to talk to her and thank her. In the days that followed, I chatted a lot with Angélique by message, I like her, she's funny, she sometimes warms me up by message. I try not to get too involved in her game, even though I have to admit that I don't lack the desire to take her on, especially as I'm lying fallow at the moment.

On Monday, as planned, I arrived at the company at 9 a.m. Ben greeted me with a smile. I wore my only black suit. He introduced me to several people, and we went round the place, which is really big and well organized.

Ben (looking at me): at 10 a.m. the company's deputy CEO will arrive, as the CEO is away in Brussels. We'll have a quick meeting to get things up to speed and hand over the reins.

Me: ok, quiet.

We went for a coffee and chatted about everything. I was a bit hot, so I took off my jacket. Once it was time, I put it back on and tightened my tie. We went into the committee room, where there were other colleagues.

The secretary placed us around the table, there was a report and a bottle of water in front of each chair. I sat down next to Ben. I opened the document to find out what it was about. I was just starting to read when I saw the deputy CEO enter the room.

Angelique (serious): Good morning everyone and sorry I'm late!

She glared at me before taking a seat at the end of the table. I was just speechless! What am I getting myself into here?