The road chose that moment to get cleared and my phone vibrated. A tightening in my chest made me cautious. It was best I deleted the text without reading it. But—I sighed—I couldn't. Sweat broke out of my face and I returned my phone to my pocket. Kemi already got my address and was waiting for me. How did I ever forget my wallet in the bag? I glanced at the cabman. He didn't look like one to work without pay.
***
Simply put, I was at the end of my wits. Having to collect my wallet from her with the cabman watching made me uncomfortable. And having to explain Kemi's presence to my brother bruised my ego. Tola struggled with laughter when I told him the story behind my spotted suit. I clenched my hands. I wouldn't have bothered explaining if I wasn't trying to get Kemi to stop wriggling her hands.
"I'm sorry you had to miss your interview."
I grunted. I would believe it if he got rid of the laughter on his face.
"Won't you invite her in?"
"No, thanks." She smiled nervously. "I only wanted to return his bag."
"Yes." I wasn't about to give her more news to tell her sister, or sisters as the case may be.
Tola shrugged. "Okay." He glanced at her. "But you don't mind me getting you water or soft drink?"
"You're kind but I'd rather you didn't. I live around."
"Really? Funny how I've never seen you."
She laughed. "I know right."
I cleared my throat. "Tola, don't you have to prepare for tomorrow's Bible study?"
He blinked. "Yes, I do. I didn't think you—" He paused. "Thank you. Please have a nice time, Kemi. I'll have to leave you two."
"Thank you so much."
I smiled. "Thank you for coming. I didn't even realize I left my wallet."
"It's nothing. I figured you might not want to come back to Shellar so I thought of bringing it." She looked down. "Since I live around."
"Okay. Do you mind me seeing you off?"
"You don't have to."
"I want to. It's the least I can do."
She smiled. "Thank you. You know, I couldn't help wondering if things would have worked out differently if I hadn't told you to go home and change."
I frowned. Things sure looked different now that I knew she knew about me.
"Or what do you think?" She asked.
"Maybe it was intentional."
She stopped. "What are you talking about?"
I shrugged. "I met your sister at an eatery. I didn't make the connection until today. I know you know about the missing money and the fact that I've been labelled a fraudster. " I shrugged. "Whatever made me think I could get a job. It seriously didn't occur to me that my employer may have seen the news. Now that I'm thinking about it, you probably did me a favour. And in that case, thank you, Miss Akinrinde."
"You're wrong."
"Sorry?"
"Only two blogs labelled you a fraudster. And they didn't even outrightly call you that. They were only speculating. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying I believe them or you, I'm just trying to say that it had nothing to do with what happened today. I didn't even hear about it until Sarah told me."
I wasn't about to tell her the explanation changed nothing. "Okay."
"Imagine my shock when I saw your picture and it was the same man who took me for someone else."
"You didn't look too shocked to see me today." I flashed back. "I guess you did."
"I definitely was."
"Aren't you afraid all these might be my way of getting you to trust me after which I'll milk you dry?"
She laughed. "If that's true, then I must tell you that you've got the wrong person. More so, you don't strike me as a fraudster. A fraudster wouldn't stick around till now. Especially not when his picture is all over town."
I swallowed. "Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"You're welcome. So, do you have a plan B now that you couldn't attend the interview?"
"No. I thought God was going to take care of it."
She smiled. "Okay. You can go back now. See ya."
"See ya."
***
Seven months to the deadline and I was yet to pay a dime. The offering Mum's church had collected for me had gone into an investment that could only pay less than a quarter of the debt. Despite my brain's constant warning, I had taken a fancy to the Bible. Not like I expected anything to come out of it, I just liked seeing the many promises that had failed to come to pass. Isaiah 54:4 was my favourite if one ignores the part referring to widowhood. I sighed.
"Uncle Jay."
My gaze softened. "Hey, baby. What's up?"
"Mum said I should ask if you'll eat rice or eba?"
"Rice is fine."
"Okay. She also said you have a visitor."
I raised a brow. Few people knew where I was. And I was in contact with fewer people. "Male or female?"
She spread her hands. "I don't know."
"Okay. Go ahead and tell her I'll be out soon."
She smiled and nodded.
Nothing prepared me for who I saw. Sarah. I blinked several times and stared at Shade who shrugged and returned to the kitchen. Her husband flashed a light smile before taking Beauty out of the sitting room.
"Good morning, Mr Agunbiade."
"Good morning, ma."
"I hope you're having a wonderful weekend?"
"More or less."
"I know you're surprised to see me."
Understatement of the year. I smiled. "Hope you're not here with the police?"
She laughed. "No, I'm not. And, I apologize for my behaviour at the eatery. I don't know what came over me. Please forgive me."
I shoved my hands in my pocket. "Sure."
"Won't you have your seat?"
"Thank you. I feel more comfortable standing up."
She smiled. "I understand. I'll just go straight to the point. Kemi told me about you."
"I see."
"You might feel relaxed to know your brother gave me the directions to this place. Kemi and I went to his place yesterday."
"You could have called instead of going through the stress of coming here."
She picked her phone. "I have a job for you."
I grinned. "You don't have to convince me to take the job. I'd gladly take it."
"You might want to hear me out."
"Okay."
"A friend of my boss needs a driver." She paused. "You came to mind when I got to know."
My heart sank. "A driver?"
Her gaze faltered. "I'm sorry. But I already told them you'll be interested."
I swallowed. "I don't know."
She dropped her card on the table. "You might want to think about it. The pay is half a million per trip. All you have to do is come with a car—a very nice car—and your driver's license. Believe me, Jay, I would have denoted my interest if he had not emphasized a male driver."
I gasped.
"Please get back to me as soon as possible."
I stared dazedly at the closing door. I knew I should have said something because I already had an answer. I always knew I would be a driver—just kidding. But, I'd gladly accept the offer. I picked the card and texted her. I got a job which paid that much per trip without writing an application. I looked up. Thank you, God.
THE END
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