While seated behind the lush glass desk in his office, on the sixth floor, Gerald smiled when he turned to the middle pages of the newspaper and saw a whole spread of photographs from the 70th anniversary celebration of Rand's Boys High School. He was not usually enthused about Mondays - no matter how hard he tried over the years, he was simply a mess every Monday morning. However, he had come in quite earlier than usual today. He did not have much to do for the week in the office because most of the cases of the month had been handled by the formidable team the firm had in place. He had also sorted out many of their top clients the week before. Therefore, he was in the best place for the trip his friends had suggested. Moreover, as a managing partner, he had some liberties and privileges that allowed him some space - he was also a founding member of the firm and that hinted more power.
He was still pouring over the newspaper, as he was interested in what the details they had published about the anniversary. He read the five-paragraph article that accompanied the photo spread, which was placed on the left side of the spread. Definitely, the year group would not go without very good publicity to shed light on the school and on the old boys, whose prominence needed the spotlight. They had really invested a lot in the anniversary celebration and indeed made it a very definitive one. He laughed undertone when he saw a photo of himself, Gyasi, Lancelot, and Nurudeen. It looked like a great reunion, group of old friends having a great time. Well, the band was back together. He scanned through the pictures, identifying other persons he had missed at the event last Saturday. He had not realised that Dr Joshua Annan, a colleague lawyer and academic.
He continued his perusal of the pages to see more of what he had missed while he was speaking with his friends. He, Nurudeen, Gyasi and Lancelot spent about thirty minutes discussing a lot of issues that related to their memories, the present and the future they had. Surprisingly, the conversations explored almost all their lives in a short period. They only had to go because they had to go - because the conversations kept stirring and highlighting more things they had to discuss. It gave them premise and purpose for their trip, which they hurriedly planned when they were about to leave. Gerald was still feeling mixed about the encounter on Saturday. Something about seeing Nurudeen again the way they did haunted him. In his mind, he would have wished that they met under better circumstances - not at this point where it looked like they had not cared to be part of his story and to help him as much as he needed. It felt weird to see that they did not do their best to keep up with the one who needed them the most. On the other had, he was happy that Nurudeen survived that stage and state and thrived to become who they met on Saturday. The only issue was that his happiness was eclipsed by the truth that they had long forgotten a friend, a brother, and did not serve the duty of being a Good Samaritan to that brother.
A knock on his office door interrupted his thoughts. The door clicked open. He did not have to call the person in - he always hated that "yes! Come in" scream, and thus, made it a policy that for his office, you knock once and enter. It was his new assistant, a paralegal he had picked in one of the most well-attended interviews the firm had held in years. Nancy was simply bright and she was interested in working in the law firm. Gerald's subsequent inquiry into her vision and dreams indicated that she did not want to be a lawyer who practiced but one who was into research and academia, supporting law firms to achieve their organisational vision and mission. That really won Gerald over.
She walked into the rather large office, which had French windows all around, and exposing the beautiful view of East Legon. From his office, Gerald could occasionally see a jet landing or taking off the runway of Kotoka International Airport. He always told his colleagues that the view allowed him to think, to strategise and to reflect.
'Good morning, sir.'
'Good morning, Nancy! How are you doing today?' Gerald asked while he was closing the newspaper to attend to Nancy.
'I am very fine, sir. How are you too?' She responded. While Gerald replied, she set a cup of cappuccino which Gerald was literally addicted to. She also laid down three folders which contained the details of three major research Gerald had tasked her with. One of them was on one of the newest multinational corporations that had just set up in Ghana. Gerald was the proactive type who fished out for clients and proposed them to the firm. This traits earned the firm a lot of big wigs in politics, the petroleum industry, construction, entertainment, and even sports.
'And here is your schedule for the day.'
'A schedule? On a Monday? Young lady! Don't push my Monday blues into violence,' Gerald said with a smirk. 'I hope it doesn't include any client meetings?'
'Oh no. It doesn't,' Nancy replied.
While they spoke, they could hear some voices from afar. The office was airtight so it meant that some people were probably screaming on top of their voices outside his office.
'Why? Who could those be?' Gerald asked.
His question was answered with probably the most embarrassing situation of his life.
The office door barged open and his wife stormed into the office, while the front desk secretary followed her in, flustered and frustrated.
Gerald grimaced and rose from his seat. He saw the front desk secretary's frustration. She was about to talk when Gerald raised his hand to signal her pause.
'How is it that they're telling me you are not here when you are actually here, seated right in this sanctuary or den of yours?!' Essie was as loud as she was when she was angry about a situation.
In all diplomacy, Gerald responded. 'It is so because I ask them to do so when I don't want to be disturbed and that order applies to everyone including my family. Nancy, Gloria, excuse us now!' The two ladies followed the order and left the office immediately.
'Gerald? You've not been home since Friday! What is happening? What do you think you are doing? What is going on? Why are you treating me like this?' Essie poured out. 'I am confused! Is it that you don't want me anymore or you don't wanna marry me anymore or what? I keep asking since that last argument if you were okay and you said you were but what is this? You barely speak to me. And now you've spent almost four days outside the house! What is happening? If there is anything I have done, I am sorry but this is unacceptable! Gerald?'
Gerald simply sat and stared at her. He was not smiling, neither was he frowning. He simply stared at her while she ranted even more.
'If you are done, you know the exit. This is not the place to solve marital challenges. We will see each other at home.' Gerald's reply sent shocks to Essie.
'What do you mean?'
'Essie, I am even about to leave the house for you for more days. You should have thought about our marriage carefully when you committed that silly mistake you want to underestimate! Now, it's either you get out or you will see the brunt of my wrath manifesting in the form of security officers carrying my wife and throwing her out of my place of work. I respect you too much. Let's maintain that while the love is out the door!'
Tears trickled down Essie's cheeks.
'Gerald, what you mean? What are you doing to us?' She asked painfully.
'We said for better for worse. This is my worst so deal with it because I dealt with your worst a month ago. Now, respectfully, get out. Go home and go and look after our kids. Make sure no harm comes nigh their dwelling. Be their Jesus,' Gerald replied with a ton of nonchalance.
He walked out the office when she didn't leave after a minute.
No comments:
Post a Comment