Consequences

Chapter 59

I was speechless and kept looking at the card he had placed before me.

"Your husband or ex-husband knows a thing or two about this. He does it quite frequently."
"What?" I gulped hearing this.
"Your husband makes frequent trips like the one you're about to make. Perhaps you should get some ideas from him first."

"I will, dad." I was angry hearing my father tell me Ola made frequent business trips. I excused my dad and went to my office. I immediately got on the phone and dialed his number.

"My complicated darling, what's happening to complicate your life now?" He shouted.
"Ola so I'm complicated, abi?"
"I know you have a problem."
"And how do you know that?"
"I just know you are bothered about something. So tell me what is bugging you enough to call me?" He asked.
"Ola shebi na only to find my trouble naim you come this life do, abi?"
"Come on now baby...,"
"And who is your baby, Ola?"
"You, of course."
"For your information, I'm not your baby o."
"And who else is out there?"
"Shebi, Miss K dey? And who knows maybe there are others too."
"Na you give them to me?"
"And how do I know how you connect with them? Maybe when you make your frequent business trips."
" Business trips? What are you talking about?"
"Ola tell me you make frequent business trips without informing me?" I asked.
"We'll talk about that when I see you, okay?" He asked sighing.
"So my father was right?" He didn't answer my question and this  to me meant my father was actually right. I was extremely angry with him.

"Ola, how difficult is it telling you make frequent business trips? Who's the complicated one here?" He still kept quiet, "Anyway, I'm about to make my first business trip. I thought I should let you know."

I cut the call and went back to my father's office, more angrier than when I came out of it. My father noticed it.

"You are angry, Tola. What happened?" He asked.
"Nothing." I said, sitting down and taking the credit card and flight ticket. After a few minutes I got up and told him I was on my way to the airport. He told me goodbye, but I stood staring at him. He noticed it and asked me what else I needed. I had to ask him if he also kept my mother in the dark about his trips.

"Dad is it difficult telling mum you're going on a business trip?" He leaned back on his chair and smiled.
"Well I've done it several times and your mother made  a scene out of it."

"I understand, dad. Thank you."

"Tola, you don't have to make a scene out of it, okay?"

"Thank you. Then I'll just pretend it never happened." he nodded.

"Good luck on your trip and safe journey." I walked out and closed the door and went back to my office. I called one of the company drivers to prepare a car for me. When I was ready I left for the airport.

Sitting in the car while I was being driven to the airport, I kept thinking about how living in Abuja would be like. I had never been there and didn't know anyone. But making it a place I could go and settle down, just to be far away from Ola, enticed me.

I got to the airport and boarded the flight that would take me to Abuja. I was a little tense as I didn't know what to expect from the meeting I was going to attend.

About an hour and a half later, the plane landed at the Abuja airport. On reaching the  exit gate into the main terminal, I saw a man holding a paper with my name written boldly on it. I walked up to him and smiled.

"Welcome to Abuja, madam. How was your flight?" He was the driver sent to pick me up.

"It was fine." I replied.

"You must be tired," he asked smiling at me. I nodded. "Then in that case  I shall take you to your hotel so you can relax."

 I followed him out of the airport and when we got to the car, he opened the back door. I got in and he closed the door and started the car. We were soon on the road that would take me to my hotel. As he drove I took the time to ask him if  he knew anything about the meeting.

"Madam, the only thing I can tell you is that a lot of important personalities will be attending." He replied. I looked out of the window and wondered whether it was going to be a meeting filled with the 'who is who' of the business community.

"It looks like the cream of Nigerian business will be there, abi?" I asked still trying to understand the type of meeting I was going to attend.

"Well madam, I mean, expect to see some of the faces you see on television...,"

"That means it will require a certain kind of dressing to be there, abi?" I interrupted.

"Yes madam."

"Then I need a befitting dress. Can you take me to where I can buy one?" I told the driver. I could see him staring at me in surprise through the rear view mirror.

"Ah madam, you must be tired now. " He grumbled.

"No, I want to do my shopping now. Do you have a problem with that?" The driver  didn't reply immediately. I took it to mean he was thinking of what to do next.

"This must be Airport road. Aren't there any nearby places where I can buy a new dress?" I asked, insisting.

"Let me take you to the nearest shopping center." The driver replied. I relaxed, as he continued driving. When he got to a filling station he stopped.

"Excuse me madam, let me just fill my tank  so we can continue the journey."

"Okay."  I answered. When he finished he kick-started the car again and headed out of the filling station. He had just entered the road when a speeding car coming from the left hit our car. The car swerved out of control and stopped  abruptly making me hit my head against the window. I fainted.