Chapter 5 The Meeting

The following day she woke up as usual to get ready for work. As she prepared, she wondered if Asher would stop to pick her after the previous day's outburst at him. If he did not, she would board a bus as usual. After all, that was what she used to do before he offered to convey her to work. However, she left the house on time as usual and boarded a tricycle to the spot where he usually picked her. As she alighted, she instantly sighted his car parked where he used to wait for her.

She quickly approached it, opened the door and got

"Good morning," she said.

"Morning. How was your night?" he replied.

"Fine," she responded.

His calmness after an argument or misunderstanding with her always made her feel guilty, she thought. As he drove, he cheerfully sang along with the music that emanated from the compact disc player as if nothing happened between them the previous day. He arrived at the entrance to the bank; she got out of the car and waved at him as he drove away. She paused temporarily to watch him drive away before turning and heading into the bank's premises.

Asher never referred to Imogen's phone after that first said he would and she felt a bit relieved that for once day. Also, Mr Felix did not call again as he Asher had been proved wrong about her phone been a Greek gift. She did not know why she felt upset whenever the thought of the phone given to her came up. Or, is it because the he might have a sinister motive? What was treacherous about a desire to date a woman and lavishing her with gifts?

Is that not the best way to have a woman fall in love with a man? After all, offering to take her to and from work was also a Greek offer that made her his lover. The thought amused her.

That weekend's Friday evening, at about eight p.m., as she chatted with friends on the WhatsApp social media, her phone rang. It was Mr Felix. She instantly sat up on bed to receive the call. She could not tell if she was happy to receive his call or not.

"Hello sir," she answered.

"How are you Imogen?" Mr Felix replied.

"I am fine sir," Imogen replied and gave a charming smile as if he could see her.

"i hope I am not disturbing you?"

"No sir."

I just wanted to know if you would be free to attend an occasion with me tomorrow at New York ."

"Sir, New York!"

She had never been to New York and the prospect thrilled her but she was hesitant.

"Is New York not too far from Chicago to attend a party?"She asked.

"It's just Two hours flight to New York. Traffic in Chicago can keep you for hours while trying to get from one place to another," He replied.

Imogen remained silent briefly trying to gather her thoughts. A yes would definitely be the beginning of more things to come. At twenty-nine years of age, she was not a kid and she should know that. A NO will end everything right there. She needed to give a quick answer. She did not know what to say.

"It's a private party hosted by a good friend and business partner," he continued when she did not respond spontaneously.

"Sir, I don't want to get into trouble."

'What kind of trouble are we talking about here? Do you get into trouble for attending a party?"

"No sir, it's just that...."

She didn't know how to tell him that what if his wife should find out.

"Don't worry, you are one hundred percent insured I assure you. No cause for alarm. Moreover, we are coming back the same day."

"Same day! How?" she said unknowingly.

"We will board a flight by Ten tomorrow morning and board it by seven back to Lagos," he said.

That means they would not sleep over at New York. The tought relieved her. The fact that she was going to board a plane for the first time in her life, twice in a day to attend a party overwhelmed her.

"All right sir, where do I meet you?" she asked.

Text me your address and bank account number.

My driver will come to pick you by eight in the moming so you can go out and quickly get a nice dress for the party," he replied.

"I will do that immediately sir," she replied.

"I look forward to seeing you tomorrow," he said and hung up.

She sent a text message containing her home address, account number and a detailed description of how to locate her two-bedroom apartment. There was no turning back now. Would she be able to cope with dating Asher and Mr Felix at the same time? Some of her friends had rich men who regularly augmented their income in order to be able to keep up with fashion trend and were still able to maintain normal relationships with their boyfriends. It was nothing strange. After all, she was not married to Asher and he had never once hinted at such.

Although they occasionally went out, their relationship was not as romantic as it ought to be.

Probably due to the kind of work they do. Was there anything bad in enjoying once life when the opportunity arose? As these thoughts pervaded her mind, a text message came into her phone. A credit alert of $500 from her bank. Her salary was about a $6,250 naira and she was receiving such an amount just for a cloth to attend a party. She made up her mind and money and thanked him.

instantly sent a text message acknowledging the Imogen anticipated the visit to New York so she woke very early that Saturday morning to take her bath and wait for Mr Felix driver. She was not sure of the kind of dress to buy. She also did not know it she was to buy the dress, come back home to wear it before heading to meet Mr Felix wherever she was supposed to meet him or wear the cloth at the boutique and head on from there. Nevertheless, if the he said the flight to New York was to leave by Ten, it meant that they had to be at the airport before then. At about a quarter to eight, her phone rang. It was an unknown number. She wondered who would be calling her that morning.

"Hello," she answered.

"Good morning ma," a masculine voice responded

"Good morning sir," she replied.

"Please, am I speaking to Miss Imogen?"

"Yes you are," she replied.

"I am Maxwell, Mr Felix driver. I was sent to pick you ma. I have parked in front of your bailding."

"Okay, give me a minute, I will be out to meet you," she said.