STORY BY DEBORAH PAUL
MY DESIRE
EPISODE 5
I immediately set to work, I packed all the dirty clothes that were littered everywhere and put in the washing machine, then immediately started mopping the house.
Mercy didn’t help me to do anything, not like I was expecting her to do anything though, even at her house I have never seen her lift a cu-p before talk more of washing it.
it was funny how rich some people can be, while some people are struggling to even have a thousand naira.
When I was cleaning Josh’s room there was money almost everywhere, on his bed, on his mirror table, un-der his bed … and it wasn’t small money.
I packed all the money I saw in his room and kept on his table, then cleaned the room and left.
I got downstairs and told mercy how much I saw while cleaning the room.
MERCY
so where is my own cut?
SONIA
what cut?
(I asked in shock)
MERCY
don’t tell me you didn’t carry the money
SONIA
why should I carry what’s not mine? I left the money on his table.
MERCY
Jesus have mercy, are you from this part of the world?
SONIA
wait, you weren’t expecting me to take that money, were you?
MERCY
of course, why won’t you take the money…. by main looking at this building you will know this man is loaded and wouldn’t even notice if one million goes missing.
SONIA
I can’t believe I’m hearing this from you, please I’m going to clean the kitchen then go wash the clothes I put in the washer……you can seat here and keep imagining money that isn’t ours…. excuse me.
I excused myself and went to the kitchen, like why would mercy even think of me like that? why should I take what is not mine? I have never stolen in my life before ……
I finished cleaning the kitchen and went to wash the clothes I had in the washing machine….. it was almost 3pm when I finished with all the house chorse…. damn I agree the house is indeed big.
MERCY
it’s 3pm already, why is he not back from work yet?
SONIA
how would I know?
MERCY
I’m hungry, is there nothing in this big house for us to eat?
SONIA
I don’t know, should I go and check?
MERCY
are you taking permission from me? madam go and look for something for us to eat ooh, I’m starving.
I got up without saying a word, I went to the kitchen, I opened the freezer, luckily for us it was stock with different food and soups….. I brou-ght out a bowl of egusi soup and kept it to unfroze before I can microwave it.
I put water on the fire and made poundo yam flour, before I could finish the soup was okay to fetch from it, so i took a plate dish some soup in it before returning it back into the freezer.
Soon lunch was ready, I took it outside for us to eat, immediately mercy joined me at the dinning.
MERCY
why did you put just two meat?
SONIA
how many should I have put? you are lucky I even put meat that is not ours
MERCY
you are just too modest and it’s not good, this man is rich, why can’t you just allow us to enjoy this money.
SONIA
I should make something clear to you mercy, this man is my boss and not my husband or brother, I can only do this or that if he ask me too…. not with my own mind okay?
MERCY
okay okay, I hear you, we fit chop now?
SONIA
if you like
We ate our food quietly till we finished eating, I cleared the dishes, washed the plates while she sat in the living room watching movie.
I joined her later on, I didn’t know when I fell asleep, it was the sound of Joshua’s car that woke me up from sleep….. I looked around and noticed it was night already.
I jumped up immediately, he wasn’t supposed to come home and meet mercy again, I mean he didn’t employ the both of us, so how would I explain to him that my friend followed me because she thinks his a ritualist.
I immediately got up from the floor and stood dusting my body like there was sand on it…… I started to wake mercy up, but she hit me with her leg telling me to let her sleep more.
Joshua opened the door and entered, he looked very tired and exhausted.
SONIA
good evening sir
JOSHUA
evening, how are you?
SONIA
I’m fine sir….how was work today
JOSHUA
work was fine….
he looked at mercy who carelessly slept with her legs wide open
JOSHUA
And she is?
SONIA
she’s my fine, she came with me to….
JOSHUA
it’s okay…. hope your girls have eaten? I forgot to drop some money when going out.
SONIA
we heated some soup and made poundo yam to eat for lunch.
JOSHUA
which means you girls haven’t had dinner
SONIA
No sir, we slept immediately after eating, I’m just waking up.
JOSHUA
that’s alright, I usually don’t cook because I’m always busy, but since you are around now you can be cooking so the rest can eat too.
SONIA
okay sir, sorry sir where is my room
JOUSHA
I don’t like it when I’m address as “sir” Bobo should have told you that already, you can call me JJ, I will appreciate that… as for your room, you can take any one that you feel comfortable with…. you have seen the freezer, whatever you girls want to eat, you can microwave and eat… I’m going to bed.
SONIA
Sir… sorry, I mean JJ
JOSHUA
what is it?
SONIA
are you not going to eat anything?
JOSHUA
I’m fine… that reminds me, I asked you not to bring anything right, I’m sorry I was in a hurry this morning so I forgot a lot of things… remind me tomorrow to give jack sone money to take you out for shopping, so you can get whatever it is you need … and make sure you get good stuffs, I wouldn’t want you looking like this to serve my friends wine whenever they come visiting.
I kept quiet, what should I have said? he already told me in a polite way that I dress like a local woman so what else could I have said?
He excused himself and went inside, I turn to my friend and kick her very ha-rd on the foot and she got up.
MERCY
why did you wake me up?
SONIA
how can you be sleeping like a lousy woman? my boss was here fee minutes ago, this was how you were spreading your legs like someone who is having se-x.
MERCY
your boss is back? why didn’t you wake me up? where is he?
SONIA
he has gone upstairs, he said he was tired and going to bed.
MERCY
babe you know how much I wanted to see him, you should have woken me up na.
SONIA
madam, if you know you are hungry you better follow me to the kitchen else I will just go inside and bathe, then sleep.
MERCY
no, you can’t do that to me…. I’m right behind you
I headed to the kitchen and she followed me, I heated some food for us to eat before going to bed.
STORY BY DEBORAH PAUL
MY DESIRE
EPISODE 6
JOSHUA’S POV
I’m the kind of person that gives you a test before employing you, all my staffs and the ones that have worked with me in the past, had to throu-ghsome test that they all pa-sses fortunately for them.
So why will Sonia’s be different, like I always say, I don’t care about the gender of the person coming to work for me, all I care about is your personality.
When Sonia walked up to me that very day at the school to ask me to employ her, I admire her courage, she didn’t care If I was a ritualist or anything, she wanted to work….. I thought she even came to beg for money not knowing madam came seeking for a job.
When I got home I discussed it with Jack and he advice me on what to do…. I was seating in my living room taking a cu-p of coffee when I saw her at the front door…. yeah my house is covered with camera, even outside my gate.
Jack came inside to inform me that the lady we discussed about the previous night was outside the gate….. I sli-pped my coffee before keeping it on the table
JOSHUA
why did she bring someone to an interview?
JACK
Maybe the young girl got a cold feet, and her friend decided to boost her up.
JOSHUA
nah, the girl I met yesterday didn’t look like someone who could easily get a cold feet.
JACK
then, maybe they just wanted to be at the safer side, you know this country is no longer safe?
JOSHUA
tell me about it…. please get me a note pad and a pen.
I picked my cu-p of coffee again and sipped…. jack went inside my room and brou-ght what I asked for.
I wrote down something on the note pad and to-re it, I handed it over to him and asked him to give it to her.
The next day she came to the house with her friend again, I was having an early hour meeting with some client when she came….. I saw her from the front gate camera.
I got up and immediately started to scatter my room, it was something I plan to do the previous night but because I don’t sleep well in a dirty environment I decided to leave it till morning when I will be going to work.
I made sure I scattered enough money that eyes will see and won’t be able to witstand.
I made the room dirty and left without discussing any form of contract with her, I wanted to see if she was neat, and humble….. other people will leave the house like that because I haven’t told them how much I will be paying monthly as their salary.
I got back from work and stopped at the security post, that’s where all the CCTV camera room is….. he showed me everything that happened in the house for the day…. I was surprised that she didn’t touch any money, all she did was arrange it in a safer place.
Well she pa-ssed my test and I was impressed….. I went into the house, spoke to her a little and went inside to sleep…. making money isn’t easy at all.
SONIA POV
The next morning I woke up and made breakfast even though I didn’t know what he would like to have for breakfast…. I’m a good cook, mom never taught me anything beci she hated me for killing dad but when I moved to the city, I was always around people that I know I could learn something from….. I learnt how to cook pretty well.
I thought to finish cooking before I go up to his room to wake him up, but he came downstairs and straight to the kitchen.
SONIA
good morning sir
JOSHUA
Morning
SONIA
I’m just rounding up with breakfast, I was about coming to your room to inform you
JOSHUA
what did you cook?
SONIA
I didn’t know what you like so I cooked a lot of things
JOSHUA
I will take beans cake and pap if you have it…. that’s what I want.
SONIA
it’s custard that is available, should I make that for you?
JOSHUA
it’s cool with me….. I will be waiting in the living room.
He made a cu-p of coffee for himself and went out….. I decided to make beans cake, I didn’t think he would demand for beans cake so I didn’t make it.
When it comes to fast cooking, I’m awonder woman on that, I immediately set to work and before minutes I was done with everything.
Funny enough my madam who said she came to protect me was still inside sleeping.
I served Joshua his food, he ate and went upstairs, few minutes later he came back all dressed.
JOSHUA
I’m going to wire some money into Jack’s account, so get ready, he will come pick you up by 1pm
SONIA
okay sir, but sir…. sorry I mean JJ…. is there anything you will like me to cook for you for lunch?
JOSHUA
I’m too busy to start driving from work to the house just because of lunch… I can easily get food from any restaurant close by.
SONIA
okay
JOSHUA
but you can cook white rice, egg and fresh fish stew for me in the evening…. I have craving for that….. is there anything you need that isn’t in the house? so can take you to the market after you are done with your shopping?
SONIA
I already made a list of them, should I bring it?
JOSHUA
That won’t be necessary, I’m already late….. send me your account number so u can send you money for the food stuffs
SONIA
just send all the money to jack, I don’t have an account and I don’t have a phone either.
JOSHUA
you are joking right? you don’t….?
(he paused)
I’m off, see you when I come back.
SONIA
have a nice day, make alot of money, and make sure to soar high.
I didn’t even know why I told him, that, he turned to look at me…. he nodded his head and left.
I cleared the place he ate before I went upstairs to wake my friend, it was time for her to home.
JOSHUA’S POV
Before I got to the office my PA called me and asked me to hurry to work immediately, I wonder what was going on because she sounded so tensed on the phone.
I tried to make her tell me what was going on but she hung up…. I told my driver to speed up, I was eager to know what was happening at the office.
my PA was waiting for me at the parking lot
JOUSHA
What’s wrong Amanda? you sounded so tense on the phone and why are you standing out here?
AMANDA
(she took in a de-eper breath)
sir, you won’t believe who is in your office right now.
JOSHUA
I don’t know but I’m guessing he must be a very important person for you to be p@n-ting like this.
AMANDA
it’s Mr Kunle Coker
JOSHUA
(Shocked)
shut the front door, you are kidding right?
AMANDA
I wouldn’t even dare…conmon, common let’s go inside, his waiting for you.
I immediately started to go inside my office, Mr kunle Coker in my office? do you know how long I have being on this Man’s case? his a business man, his name is everywhere…. if Mr Kunle gives you a contract, just go and rest, your family won’t suffer again…. there’s this contract I have been bidding for, for the past one year… I just hope and pray his about to sigh that deal with my company.
story continue
not edited