CHAPTER
ONE
In Uyo, perhaps more than any other
city in the world there are certain streets whose names are synonymous with
beauty. Shelter Afrique is one of them, the houses are made of grayish brown
bricks situated in the beauty of the mountain sides. The trees and shrubs in
front of the houses grew in curve, like an arm reaching out to embrace each
other and the vast swimming pools by the side of the houses, whose water
reflects the azure of the skies and rippled in the breeze. And rightly so- the
rents for the suites of houses in this area are reputed to be highest in the
city.
Miriam Macaulay was probably more
familiar with this street than anyone else who rented a house on it. She had
lived here for over two years after her medical school. Her house was two storeys
high. Downstairs holds the sitting room, the kitchen and the gym. The middle
floor was the guest rooms with their own bathrooms, and on the top floor were
her own private quarters with a sitting room and bedroom. Her bedroom is vast
with a huge bed that sits at the middle of the room; the curtains have a pink
background with blue flowers over it that complimented the royal blue couch
that sits near the window and the brown marbled floor that sparkles as if it
were robed with oil.
It amazes her, how she pushed her
fears aside and strived to become a reputable young specialist doctor she is
now. She didn’t lose her enthusiasm of making it in life after her family
members took away all the earthly possessions of her father; after he, her mother
and brother died in a ghastly motor accident.
Grief , grief was all she feels
since that day. It is the worst feeling in the word. That makes you feel
hopeless, scared, angry, frustrated, alone, afraid and just all around jaded.
Time heals all wounds. They say but for her, the saying seems overly wrong. It
has been eleven years but still she can’t take away the feelings of grief for
her loved ones and that feeling of rejection from her extended family. As she
cuddled up herself on the couch lost in lost thought through the warm afternoon
of July, as she leaned her elbows on the sill and chin in hand, she stared out
into the brightness of the day. As she’s two floors up she gets a good view of
the whole neighborhood. A moving van parked in front of the house opposites
hers got her attention. The house has always been deserted and it was a good
thing if someone is moving into it.
The alarm clock on the night stand
jolted her from her thoughts. Oh! Its 3 pm already she gasped. If she is to
make it early to work she has to get ready now. She thought as she worked into
the closet where her clothes were hung according to the colors and some where
neatly ironed and folded on the layers of board at one side of the room. She chose
a royal blue skinny trouser and a white top with yellow and pink designs with a
flat black shoe to match. When you talk about matching colors Miriam is the one
person that is good at that. She laid the clothes neatly on her bed and went to
shower. The splash of the cold water on her body made her shiver and sent her
stretching like a jungle cat. This was
the other side of her nature; the one that no one else saw-the sensual side.
Miriam stepped out of the shower and patted her skin dry before smoothing in
her body lotion. At twenty-seven her body was meant to have started undergoing
the process nature calls ageing according to the laws of science, but even
without having to look in the mirror her body still holds the luminous firmness
and an allure that few man can resist. She bit her lips at the thought and she
tensed suddenly. She can’t afford to let the thought of male sex and their
desire flood into her mind now. No she can’t. She doesn’t care about them and
the desire they bring. She has been careful over the years to build up herself
as a highly sexual woman. It was an image well constructed that no one even
thought to challenge it. And no one ever would. What matters now is her job and
to bring down those ruthless people that deprived her of her rights. Revenge,
she rolled the word in her mouth that all that matters. And is not for the
feeble.
Clad with her clothes she let
herself out of the house. She could feel the gaze of her gate man on her. Who could
resist the flawless light brown skin and the perfect curves that sits exactly where
they are meant to be. Even with the hardship and struggles she went through her
skin still have that sleek look. She took a cab ride to the Teaching hospital
as she was in no mood to drive. When she got to her destination, she dug her
hands into bag and was surprised not to find her wallet. As she fumbled through
her bag, trying to explain things to the cab driver and scrounge up enough cash,
a man walked up behind her and handed two one thousand naira note. Enough to
take care of the fare, she took the money and settled the cab driver.
‘’Thank you very much for saving me
the embarrassment, but how did you know that I was hooked,’’ she said as she
noticed the smirk on his face. ‘’permit me to say that I eavesdropped,’’ he
said. His face still holding that smirk but more arrogantly now. ‘’Thanks for
the help but I will have to pay you back let me have your address.’’ The smirk
still not leaving his face, he reached into his pocket and pulled out an old
receipt and wrote down an address. ‘’You can drop the money here he said
arrogantly.’’ I wonder what all these acting up it for? He asked himself. Why
wouldn’t this lady take the money and forget about returning it but since she
wants it that way I bet I will have to dance to her tune. She took the address from him and gave him a befitting look. He smiled and went out of the hospital
building.
‘’Damn! She spat I’m grateful that
this man rescued me but he has an attitude.’’ She tried to suck up all those angers;
with her head held up she walked into the hospital.
It was already seven in the evening
when all the ward rounds were completed. The work took all the energy from her as
usual and being the only specialist available she has to report again in the
morning. She took a cab straight home, got some money and drove straight to the
address on the piece of paper. She found herself standing in front of an
orphanage that had a sign out that said ‘’ ACCEPTING CASH DONATIONS TO FEED THE
HUNGRY.’’ She got infuriated. Does this guy really think she can’t pay back the
money she thought? She couldn’t place the reason why the actions of this man could
affect her the way it is now. Probably because of that arrogant smirk on his
face always. She sighed and walked and donated the money. She entered her Honda city -class 2012, and
slot in a Banky W’s CD and drove back home. She just needed a warm bath and
sleep, food was not in her mind right now. Since her body is the kind that
takes on weight easily, Miriam had always been careful of what she takes. She
slept off immediately her head touched the pillow.
She woke up the next morning
feeling light and refreshed; she went through her normal morning ritual. She
settle on a black elegant dress with a deep ‘’V’’ neck that stopped just above
her knees. She wore her makeup light not wanting to appear as the hospital
clown. And her hair tied up in a high pony tail. Around her neck she wore a
fine sliver necklace suspending a craved letter ‘’M’’ pendent made out of
quality materials. It nestled right in the hollow of her chest, making her skin
more radiant. Miriam’s policy has always been ‘’to look awesome at all times,
you never know who you might meet.’’ As she let herself out of the house the
cold air flashed on her and made her shiver a bit. The morning was cold due to
the rain that fell last night that she didn’t even notice until now. This
season has always been her best. She got
into her car and drove off to work. She parked her car in her reserved space
and went straight to her office to drop her bag before she began the ward
rounds. She looked at her wrist watch and sighed, is just eight o’clock am
thought it was already nine. As she walked into the office, she met Ana her
friend and assistant and Nurse Jane giggling about something but stopped when
they caught sight of her. She has grown fond of Ana over the period of time
they’ve worked together. She has proven herself to be trusted and they’ve
developed a bond. And ever since she has taken her as her younger sister and
she confines in her when anything seems clouded to her.
‘’What’s with the giggle ladies,’’she asked smiling at them. Before they could open their mouth to talk. A man
walked into the office cutting them short with his baritone voice. ‘’Good
morning ladies,’’ he said as his voice cut the silent in the room. Immediately
Miriam looked up and saw the stranger of yesterday staring back at her. His
initial expression was that of shock and surprise which he replaced quickly
with his usual smirk. ‘’May I know who is Miss Miriam Macaulay,’’ he said.
Miriam turned to look at Ana and found her and Jane smiling and looking
dreamingly at him. Feeling disgusted she removed her face from them and turned
to the stranger. ‘’Is the person you’re looking at,’’ she said.
‘’Oh! I’m pleased to meet you.’’ I
am Dr. Bassey, I was sent by the hospital chief to meet you. He acted as if
they haven’t met since Adam. Little did Miriam know that the stranger that put
an edge on her nerves yesterday was going to be her co-worker. How is she going
to cope with such an egoistic man.
