"How dare you
Nimi? How dare you?” He began to shout. "Jaiye, did you just slap me? Did
you just lay your hands on me?" I was still astonished. ''Now listen to
me, you are going to keep your mouth perfectly shut until I am done speaking.
Any other word till I ask you to speak will amount to you getting the beating
of your life'', he said. I just sat down
on the sofa with my mouth open. This felt like a Nollywood movie sincerely. He
started, “let me tell you the magnitude of what you did today because I don't
think you understand it. Our Executive Director came into the country yesterday
and came to the office today after about six month’s absence. The main agenda
of the meeting was maintaining office decorum and image and how he was looking
for somebody to use as an example no matter how high up. Now he had some
international investors visiting at the time you came in to display your
madness and they all stood there watching while you embarrassed yourself, me,
my Executive director and the whole company. Are you getting the picture?” I
sat there quietly not knowing what to say. His next slap geared me awake. Answer
me when I am talking to you. Are you freaking getting the picture? ''Yes Jaiye,
I am,'' I said shakily in the midst of my tears. Better, so imagine how
unsurprising it was when I was called into his office few hours later. I was
given a letter of summary dismissal due to breach of office policies without
any settlement and even forfeiting my current salary. They are also going to be
suing me for damages for causing them to lose a big investment deal. Can you
see how you have destroyed my life? “Yes I can, I am sorry'' was all I could
mutter. Did you just say you are sorry? His face was so tight and astonished
and I could feel the anger coming off him in waves. You don't get to apologise
my darling wife. No you don't. By the way, congratulations on the pregnancy, isn't
that why you came over? ''Yes it was'', I whispered. Okay good. I married you
just six months ago and you managed to finish my life in such a short time
right? Do you realize we have no savings? I put everything together to
buy us this house last month and I was supposed to start saving afresh this
month and now you are having a baby? ''Jaiye I am sorry, the slaps hurt a lot
but I know how angry you are and I feel bad.'' You feel bad? The slaps hurt? Oh
my darling, you haven't seen the beginning of hurt. You will feel and
experience every pain I am experiencing trust me. Your one regret in life will
be that you married me. That is one assurance I can give you
