Pretend Husband

I can't believe its 1st November already, just few days to December, and then this year is over , Just like that!! Linda thought as she walked down the market lane, she looked at her left side and saw a couple nudging their young one into the car, and she signed and muttered, ' and I'm still single, what am I going to tell my parents this Christmas again? I made them believe I will be coming home with my husband, I don't even have a boyfrie..

Hey watch it !!!

Opps, am so sorry please, I wasn't looking " Linda apologized to the young man she stumbled on

Its alright, its the end of the year and alot of people have a lot on their minds, the young man replied and smiled.

Linda looked up at him and was wowed to see the colour of his eyes, deep sea blueish.

Its not the kind of eye colour you see in Africa, talk more of in Nigeria

Oh yeah, I know, its hereditary actually, my mom is from the States

Linda blushed in embarrassment, she couldn't believe she actually said that out loud,

My name is Chris by the way, the guy said extending his hand for a handshake

Sorry, but I don't shake strangers, but my name is Linda

Ohh, the man said with a little air of disappointment but brightened up immediately and added' you have a beautiful name, sorry but do you mind if I get your number?

I would really like us to meet again and talk

About what exactly? Linda asked sharply

Woow, calm down OK? Let's just get to know each other, that's all, maybe you could actually tell me what you were thinking of that made you bump into me a while ago

Linda who wasn't looking convinced at all began to shake her head in the negative, but the guy was quick to say' Don't worry, you don't have to give me your number if you don't want to, here is my card, He said bringing out a card from his pocket and tucking it in into Linda's palm, please call me anytime you feel like, He smiled, then started walking away but turned and said, I will be waiting for your call Linda.

Linda felt chills hearing him call her name, it sounded sooo, she paused thinking of a word,` sexy? She finally turned to look at the man and was mesmerized to see that he had wonderful features even though she was looking at him from the backside

He had nice long legs that looks athletic, he was wearing tight jeans so she could very well see his thigh muscle through his jeans anytime he took a step, his backside looks so firm, touchable and hard

If my hands gets in contact with it, it' She paused and screamed, Aaaaargh, what's wrong with me? I can't believe am daydreaming about a guy I just met, a total stranger, Gosh I'm so stupid.

When Linda got home that day, after making food with the stuffs she bought from the market, she sat down to eat but felt something plastic in her buttocks, she stood up and checked her back pocket only to see the card the guy Chris gave to her, the card says, " Mr Christian Nduka, CEO of Apple Beauty

Apple beauty? That kind of rings a bell, she said and picked her phone to google it

Oh my gosh!!!, Linda said as the ball of garri which she had already moulded to swallow fell off her hand back into the plate.

So a apparently, Apple Beauty is a multi million company that deals with making of beauty cosmetics for both men and women, and it says in google that the founder is one Mrs Clarissa Magnus, could that be his mom? Linda wondered " but how come the difference in surname? Maybe his parents never got married to each other?

Or maybe they divorced?

Mehn this guy is loaded, gosh

I can't Believe I acted so stupid in front of him, ` I don't shake strangers? She said out loud and scoffed' that would be the most stupidest thing he must have ever heard, and I even refused to give him my number, this girl you must be very stupid and unserious, to think that you're actually in need of a husband ASAP and you still have the mouth to say you can't give a guy(a potential husband) your number

She said, hissed and signed, should I give him a call or what now?

I think maybe I should wait for some days, I don't want him to think am desperate or something (although I actually am).

Christian, what's up with you sonny? You haven't been able to finish a half glass of wine since you got here, I hope you are alright?

Yes Dad, I'm alright

Is it work? Are you having problems with your mom?

No no dad, it's not work at all, and Mom has been at her best behaviors so far

Mr Chinedu studied his son for a while and finally asked, Who is she?

Who? Christian asked feigning ignorance

The lady that has got you thinking, who's she?

Chris who was about to deny but looked at his dad and knowing that his dad knows him too well scratched his head instead and said, her name is Linda

And?, Mr Chinedu asked when he wasn't bringing any forthcoming information about the lady,

That's all I know about her, Dad' Christian said and took a sip of wine

You don't have her number? Address? Nothing else?

Well, apart from the fact that she's really cute and very beautiful, there's nothing else, Christian said, sighed and continued, She wouldn't give me her number, didn't even want to handshake

Why? His Dad asked obviously amused

She doesn't shake strangers, Christian muttered

Hahahahahah, 😂😂, she must be a tough one, The Dad said laughing

Dad, this isn't funny

Sorry sorry, the dad apologised and added, so what's your plan? What are you going to do Sonny? Sitting here and thinking won't help anything, you've got to find a way to see her again since it really seems you like her

Well, I gave her my card, and told her to call me whenever she feels like

Hahahahahah 😂, the dad laughed even harder this time

Sonny, you should never tell a lady to call you whenever she feels like, cause she will end up not feeling like, well not that they won't feel like calling, but they really love to pretend alot, as if they don't care, they have alot of pride

I hope am not the subject of discussion here, A young looking white woman with blonde hair and very deep blue eyes said interrupting the conversation between father and son

Mom, what are you doing here? Christian asked surprised

Chrissy son, that's not a way to greet your momma, no good afternoon, no welcome,

Madam Clarissa, as she is popularly called said with an air of disapproval

Well, you barged into our conversation in a not so good way, so how do you expect us to greet you? Mr Chinedu said sipping his drink and his wife, Madam Clarissa scoffed

Dad, did you know mum was coming back to Nigeria today? Christian asked still surprised

The dad turned to him and said sonny, I have been living with your mom for more than 30yrs, nothing she does, unexpected or not, surprises me anymore

Christian shook his head and looked at his mom who was helping herself to a glass of wine

So what were you guys talking about, Madam Clarissa asked,' or should I say 'who'?

It's nothing mom, it's no one,. Christian said standing up suddenly and walking towards the door

I have to go now, I have got to meet up with Henry,

Be careful sonny, the dad said

Ok dad!!

And open your eyes and look for a beautiful girl to bring home, the mom chipped in

Whatever mom!! , Christian answered before finally leaving the house

So, what were you guys discussing before I got here

It's none of your business woman

Seriously Edu!!? Clarissa said calling her husband the short form of his name

Well, on a second thought, I actually think it has alot to do with you, Mr Chinedu said and proceeded to tell his wife what was troubling their son.

Few minutes after,

We've got to do something about this, madam Clarissa said

No woman, we do nothing, just leave him to hustle for his own woman

Do you realize that this is the first time, he's telling us about a lady he likes?

Practically, I was the one he told, I just decided to let you in, Mr Chinedu said as a matter of fact

Madam Clarissa who was standing akimbo scowled at her husband, then smiled in a sharp way as if an idea has occured to her, she hurriedly carried her bags, 'I have got a plan, She said happily and ran out

Bia nwanyi aa ( come this woman), don't do anything stupid, Mr Chinedu shouted after her

Mba ooo ( No oo), Madam Clarissa answered in Igbo language which sounded funny to her husband and he chuckled.

Throughout their years of being together as husband and wife, she has always tried to speak Igbo and is obviously getting good at it, but the way she mixed her British accent with the language won't stop sounding funny to her husband.

__________________________________

Linda rolled around in her bed and covered herself with the bedsheet even more and just then her alarm started ringing

Ohhh, it's morning already? Linda muttered switching off the alarm, she stood up and walked to the kitchen to have a glass of water,

She looked at her reflection in the mirror and said' it's Monday and it's time for work

Having had her bath and taken breakfast, she was making final touches on her makeup before her phone started ringing

Hmm, who could this be? She mused looking at the unknown number

Hello, she picked up

Hello, is this Miss Linda Obinefo? The caller whose voice sounded like a foreigner asked

Yes, this is Linda Obinefo,

The voice sighed and said rather happily, this is Madam Clarissa, the owner of Apple Beauty, I would like to meet with you Miss Linda

What? Madam Clarissa of Apple Beauty? Linda asked shocked

Yes dear, see I'm going to send you a message with the address and time, I'm aware that you are self employed and you have workers in your shop too, so I have choosed the perfect time for us to meet, just meet up with me for just few minutes, I promise not to take much of your time

But what for? If I may ask?

Linda queried confused

I will let you know when we meet ok ?

Well, o ok ma, Linda answered reluntantly

Madam Clarissa got off the phone and smiled happily at herself, took a heap of document from her table and headed out.

Linda who still couldn't believe she just spoke with the founder of Apple Beauty was still holding her phone in a shocked way.

I haven't called the number her son gave me, so how did she get my number? She mused' and what does they want from me?

Just then her phone made a buzzing sound and she opened the text message` By 2pm at Queen's street in lekki

But lekki is quite far from me, She mused

Her phone buzzed almost immediately- ' don't worry a cab will pick you up and also bring you back home' the next text message read

Well, I'll have to go to work and direct Maryann and Rose on what to do before I leave, She soliloquised and left for work

That afternoon madam Clarissa opened the door to her son's office and dropped a document in front of him smiling

What's this mom? Christian asked

Go through it Chrissy, she replied

Christian was shocked when he opened the first page to see a photo of Linda, mom? How do you know her? He asked standing up

Well your father told me about her and I decided to help you finde her, her name is Linda Chiamaka Obinefo, and she's 27 yrs old, works as a fashion designer, she has two girls working for her and she lives in Yaba, Madam Clarissa said smiling proudly

Christian looked at his mom incrediously and asked

How did you find out about all this?

Clarissa took out a chair, sitting down she said, remember I told you I had an investigator boyfriend back in the days, well he still comes in handy.

It took him only two weeks to gather all these and the only clue he had was that her name is Linda and you both met at the market lane, Madam Clarissa stood up and added, anyways I invited her over for a meeting, She looked at her watch and said, it's almost two o'clock, she should be here soon, she turned and left the office leaving her son dumbfounded.

When Christian finally found his voice, he picked up his phone and dialled his dad's number

Dad!!! I can't believe you told Mom about Linda, he screamed into the phone the moment his dad picked up

Uh ohh, has she done something stupid?

Of course she has, you know your wife, she's currently having a meeting with Linda right now

Wow, she found her?, I have always known my wife to be quite capable, His dad replied sounding proud

But Dad, she's having a meeting with her, what for?

Don't worry I will call her now and tell her not to say anything stupid, but Christian, you should be grateful and happy your mom found her for you, the dad said and ended the call.

Yes I am, Christian muttered...