Chapter 4 Greek gift

After work, she went out and met Asher already waiting for her outside. She got into the car and greeted him. He answered and cheerfully drove out of the premises.

"Hope you liked it?" He asked.

She was surprised at the question. How did he know it was a phone in the nylon bag? He could not have seen it with her and right now, the phone was in her bag. She looked at him.

"Okay, I can see you don't like it. Anyway, it is not everyone that likes cakes the way I do."

"Oh! That. It was nice," she replied, feeling relieved that he was not referring to the phone.

How could she tell him that she was so engrossed with the phone that she forgot the cake on her dressing table? And as she spoke, the cake was still there, she thought.

"I can see you don't like cakes."

"To be frank, I don't really fancy cakes. Mince pie, scotch eggs and others, yes. For me, cake is weddings and birthdays only. But, the cake tasted all right," she said, lying to please him.

"Where is your phone?" He asked.

Her heart skipped when he asked. It is not as if she never wanted him to see it, but she wanted it to be at her convenient time.

"It's in my handbag," she said.

"I'm surprised it's in your bag."

"Why?"

"Because it's the first thing you play with once you get into the car. So, I am surprised you are not doing

It was as if a spirit wanted the phone displayed. At that moment, her phone began to ring. She looked at him and hesitantly brought it out of her bag to sner it. Immediately Asher saw the phone, he ew it was the Greek gift. She answered the phone without looking at the screen.

"Hello" Mr Felix voice came on line.

"Hello" she answered without adding sir because she did not want Asher to know she was speaking with him.

I am deeply sorry for not calling back as I said I would. The meeting did not end on time and by the time it did, it skipped my mind. Don't worry, I will make it up to you," he said.

"All right. Have a nice day," she replied and disconnected.

She could not put the phone back in the bag, so she held on to it.

"So that's the Greek gift," Asher said.

"Stop using those words, they are irritating," she said annoyingly.

"Sorry,' he replied curtly and drove on.

No one spoke, until they arrived at her bus stop. She came down, said good bye and left.

Asher stared at her as she walked away. He smiled, shook his head and leaned forward to tune the car stereo to a station that played good music, increased the volume and drove away.

When Imogen got home, she called Mr Felix and apologized for the way she ended the conversation with him abruptly. She explained to him that she was at a place where she could not speak freely. He responded by telling her that he did not notice any unpleasantness or haste in the way she spoke to him. She thanked him for his understanding and he promised to call on her by the weekend. After ending the conversation with Mr Felix, she asked herself what she was doing by encouraging him to be promiscuous.

Was the gift really a Greek gift as Asher had said or an honest appreciation? She would soon find out she thought as she undressed to take a bath.