My Dream Marriage

“I am just concerned about the welfare of our future generation. Moreover, I support campaigns against global warming,” I say. “Yes sir. Green energy should now be the norm of the people.”

“Michael, have I ever told you a childhood story?” I ask. “No sir, you never talk about children,” Michael says. I crease my brows and touch my chin, deep in thought. “Do you know why I don’t talk about children?” ” Sir, can it be because of that child that kept crying his lungs out that day we had gone for a worker’s retreat? Yes, sir, that must be the reason,” Michael can lose his mind sometimes. I remember that day I had decided to take all of my workers for a retreat during one of the holidays. They were allowed to bring a member of their family along or a close friend. The vice president had then a few months old baby and she decided to bring him along. At some point they decided to go hiking and because I am not a fan of hiking I had decided to stay back. So as a gentleman I offered to babysit. The baby must have been colicky, he kept crying without any reason at all and by the time they came back, I was shaken and exhausted, having said and done everything that could calm the baby, all that seemed to fall on deaf ears.

“Definitely not that one Michael,” he bursts out laughing and I smile slowly reminiscing the events of that particular day I’ll live to remember. “I am not afraid of babies, but I know I cannot make a good babysitter,” I say. I really can’t handle babies crying non-stop.

“You are right sir,” he says and I smack him on his shoulder. “Do you have children Michael?” I ask him. He shakes his head and I smile. “So you want to laugh at me while you haven’t even touched a baby yourself. At least for me I babysat for a few hours,” he nods, agreeing with me. ” Sir, about the childhood story you wanted to tell me.” “Yes, before you questioned my babysitting skills.” He clears his throat, “I was never born in Sura City. I was born on this island. My grandfather was a well known businessman here but he died suddenly when I was still a child. His business collapsed thereafter and my father told me that before grandpa died, he told him to move out of this city to Sura City to start a new life. Whenever I asked him why grandpa wanted him to move out of here, he only said that it is because his rival lived in Sura City and that he could find solace there rather than here.”

“Did he say who the rival was?”

“No. When I was still a small boy he always told me to wait and that he could tell me when I become the right age to take over his now new business. My father wanted me to take over the business at twenty seven but before that could happen, unfortunately he was taken away by death. One of his close confidants worked at the same time with the enemy. He knew all of my father’s secrets in business so he made the enemy take the next move when he least expected,” I say. “So I had to take over then. I had to fight all those who were in top positions in his company to be the CEO. Director Maish and the court favored me since I had experience in handling a business. My father had made sure I get the necessary education and experience since when I was thirteen. It’s like he knew such a time would come.”

“Sir, I have never known about this to be honest. This is quite a childhood story,” Michael says yawning.

“Alright, I think we are done for today but before you retire to bed, I want you to schedule a meeting with Mr. Lee tomorrow. Afternoon would be fine. After we finalize the deal, I would want you to concentrate on that fully. Now you have a good night, see you in the morning,” I tell him.

“Goodnight too boss,” he says as he takes his phone to make a call while I proceed to my room.

I get into the shower and instantly my thoughts about my business fly away. Really, I should be ashamed of myself. Thinking about a married woman. Edward is really a luck guy. He surpassed me by marrying the woman of my dreams. Yesterday was one of the best days of my life. I wasn’t expecting that she could be at some a place all by herself. Why would she stay alone when there is more on this island she could explore, although she told me that she liked serenity more. I know for a fact that Edward is too busy to give her the needed attention. I hope she is happy.

*****

Ouch! Great. What a way to wake up in the middle of the night with lights still on, falling off the couch and almost hurting my elbow. I should have known better than sleeping on the couch. I look at the bed and no, Edward is not yet home. I feel a bit thirsty. The water jar that I usually fill with water is empty and now I have to go to the kitchen to get some. I need to fill my jar and also drink some.

The kitchen lights are off and I switch them on and I jump off with fright noticing a figure in the kitchen. “Valen, what are you doing here?” I ask unsure why she is here in the middle of the night. “Oh, I came to drink some water, I was feeling thirsty,” she says. “I mean, why are you in this house at this time of the night?” “Well, I am your husband’s business associate and I came here for work,” she sneers. “Where is Edward? Is he here?” I ask. “Yes darling Neera. Your husband is in the study.” She answers. I don’t want to hear anything else from her. I put the jar and the glass at the nearby table and head for the study.

“Edward, when did you come?” I ask the moment I step into the study. “Oh Neera, you are here,” he seems unbothered. “Yes, and I am asking when did you get here. I have been waiting for you for ages. Have you had your dinner?” “Why? You already know that I have a project at stake and that’s why I can’t be sleeping all the time,” he says. “I know that, but you can’t just work every day until this late,” I say. “I was with you yesterday, wasn’t I?” ” I don’t mean that. I am just worried that you overwork yourself. Should I bring you something to eat?” “Don’t bother. I already had dinner. You can go back to sleep.” He says. “What about you?” “I’ll come as soon as I am done here. Now off you go. And Neera, we have visitors in the house who would be staying with us tonight.” “Oh, I saw Valen just a few moments ago.” I say. “Oh you have? Jones is also here too. Maybe you’ll meet him in the morning.” He says. “Okay, see you soon,” I say. “Goodnight.” I leave the study and go back to the kitchen to fetch my drinking water. I meet Valen on the way accompanied by Jones who I have no idea where he has been. “Hey Neera,” he acknowledges. “Hey,” I say. I pick up my water. I was thinking if it was only Valen here with Edward, then I couldn’t have gone back to bed. I couldn’t have just left a woman who has a crush on my husband alone with him. I don’t know if Edward knows this, if he is smart he will have noticed that Valen has a soft spot for him. I couldn’t also persuade him to leave his work when he is bound on finishing it. He even invited his colleagues to burn the midnight oil.

I will just have to sleep because I don’t know when Edward will be done. I am kind of used to him staying up late anyway.

I stretch my body and touch the other side of the bed. Edward didn’t sleep here last night, again. I get off the bed, put on my flip-flops and leave the bedroom. In the study, there isn’t anyone. I check all the rooms but there isn’t anyone. The kitchen is neat just like I saw it last night. It’s not so early in the morning so I decide to make breakfast. If he went out early in the morning then when he comes back, he will find breakfast ready. I make pancakes, toast and sausages, and white tea, just like Edward likes it. I set the dining ready and sit on one of the chairs to wait for him.

Moments pass by but he is not yet here. The door opens and Grace enters with bags of grocery shopping. “Good morning Neera, why are you up so early? I thought I would come back and find you still sleeping,” she says. “Good morning too, I couldn’t sleep considering the fact that Edward was working until late and when I woke up I couldn’t find him,” I say. A car stops outside, Edward is here, finally. The door opens again but my anticipation is cut short when Alex enters, it seems like he went back to work early. “Is he at work?” I am getting fed up with his cycle of work, work and work.

“No ma’am. Actually I am from the airport,” he says. “Airport? Why?” “I had to take Edward because he had to fly back to Sura City. He had an emergency that couldn’t wait so he left immediately,” he says and I swear I have no words to say. So, he was in the house, couldn’t even bother to tell me that he is leaving. I could have even gone back with him.

I just turn to the pancakes furiously and eat with all the hunger that I don’t know where it came from because I eat every food on the table. Grace and Alex look at me as if I have grown horns. “Take it easy Neera, you will choke on your food.” I pay no attention to them. I just run up the stairs, two at a time. I get my phone, and go back to find my solace at the stream. It’s better here than the house. I need to cool down before I can listen to what Edward has to say to me. For now, let me lie down on this rock and think about this.

My phone rings and I look at the screen. Azila’s name flashes on my screen and I smile. “Hey, how are you doing? I miss you,” she says excitedly. ” I miss you too and don’t worry about me I am fine,” I say. “I don’t know but I think you sound a little off, did Edward do anything to you? Because if he did, he will have to contend with me.” “Oh Azila, we both know that you won’t do anything to him, he is Edward you know.” She chuckles from the other end, “I know he is Edward but, you have no idea what I can do,” she says. “I know you well girlfriend, just be careful with what you are going to do to him, but hey, he didn’t do anything because he isn’t here with me actually,” she says. “Oh he is gone to work, I know,” she says. “He went back to Sura City this morning.” “What! So you are still in Marina? Couldn’t you come back with him? Wait. Don’t tell me that you haven’t had enough of that Island so you decided to stay back,” of course not. “Yeah, there is this place I wanted to visit today so I couldn’t go back with him. So can I talk to you later when I come back? I was just preparing to leave,” this conversation is not doing me any good. “Alright, take many pictures when there. Talk to you later okay?” “Bye,” I hang up the call.