Not Safe To Be Loved - Episode 3

Later that evening, Harriet alone to her thoughts sat on the bed in her room. She had a king-size bed with two regular pillows and a five-foot-long body pillow that she could wrap herself in when she slept. She had on an extra-large Jockey T-shirt and boxer shorts. She was not one of those women who slept nude. With the shirt loose around her shoulders and her legs wrapped around the pillow, she lay in bed that evening and ruminated over something Mike had said earlier that day over lunch. She could picture Mike as he fed her a spoon of ice cream. And she remembered the smile that had greeted his face when he’d said, "I’ve a great surprise for you tomorrow, doll." Doll was his pet name for her.

All her efforts to make him give her a hint had come to nought. Mike had insisted she should wait till the next day. And she had tried all she could to figure out what the ‘great surprise’ would be. Only one thing kept coming to her mind. Would Mike be proposing to her? Even Ngozi had suggested the same thing when she had sought her opinion. What surprise could be greater?

She reached for Mike’s photograph on her bedside table. “Mike I would marry you, if that’s what you want. I love you.” She said as she raised the photograph to her lips for a passionate kiss. She could not resist the urge to hear Mike’s voice at that point. She picked up her cell phone and dialed his number…

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Mike returned to the house after seeing off Tunde, his bosom friend, who had come around for a game of FIFA 2013. He had lost the evening’s game. Tunde had won by five to two.

He was clearing the glasses and the bottle of the Ciroc off the table when his phone rang.

"Hey doll," Mike said into the phone, "I’m not doing too good."

"Anything?" Harriet queried.

"Nah. It’s nothing serious," Mike said smiling, "Tunde just beat me black and blue." 

"Oh that. Get over it, dear. There’ll be another day." 

"Alright. I’ll comfort myself with those words."

"Maybe I should help beg him on your behalf to take it easy with you next time. You want me to do that?" Harriet said amidst a wry laugh.

"That won’t be this evening. He’s dragged his big head off my apartment."

"Poor you." 

"Hmm… How was your day by the way?"

"With you playing a role in it, it was a great day. Thanks for the lunch, dear."

"You’re welcome, doll."

"And your day at the hospital." 

"Good"

"Can you guess what I have in my hand right now?"

"Let me see… My picture?"

"Oh, you’re right again! …And you still don’t want to tell me what the surprise you have for me tomorrow is all about? At least give me a hint.”

"No. If I let it out now, then it’ll no longer be a surprise tomorrow. It’s got to wait. But I promise you, it’s something you’re least prepared for." 

"I’ll be prepared," Harriet said 

Harriet said good night and hung up afterwards. Mike could not help a laugh as he cleared the table. "Let’s see how prepared you’d be." He thought as he headed for the kitchen. "If only you knew…"

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N.B: I’m sorry this week’s episode came later than you wanted it. My Internet Service Provider shared in the blame. Thank goodness it was a date after all.  

Let’s keep up next week yet again…  Catch y’all!

  

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Not Safe To Be Loved - Episode 2

Harriet turned just in time to see Ngozi, the only friend she kept at her workplace, stopped by her cubicle. 

"It looks like someone would rather be elsewhere than here," Ngozi said.  

"Hmm... But how did you figure that out?" Harriet returned with a smile on her face. 

"It doesn't take a clairvoyant to tell, you know. It's written all over you. I watched you return from the bathroom with some justice done to your looks... So, let's have it."

"I'm going out for lunch," Harriet said pulling a face.

"I know that too, Miss. Tell me the part I don't know," Ngozi probed further.

"Okay. Mike's taking me out for lunch. Are you satisfied now, Miss Tell-Me-What-I-Don't-Know?" Harriet said casting Ngozi a side glance. "And now that you know, would you say I look good to go?" She concluded with a girlish giggle.

"Your mirror didn't help?" Ngozi returned. "Anyway, I'll score you forty out of hundred."

"What!" Harriet almost screamed.

"Yes. But the score could rise, if you promise to get me something when returning."

"That's it?" Harriet said as she clicked on the turn-off button on the computer in front of her.

"Yeah,that's it."

"Okay, I promise you something nice."

"Now you're talking. Let's see, hmmm... Now, don't go fretting over what score you'd get. You look good enough to make Mike fall in love with you all over again."

"Oh, thank you!"

"She's welcome."

 Just then, Harriet's phone rang. "Hello, ...Okay, I'm on my way." She said into the phone.

"That's he calling. I've got to go, girl," Harriet said rising to her feet. "Can you please help me drop this with the Personnel Manager?" Harriet said handing Ngozi a file.

"No problem," Ngozi replied as she started to walk to her own desk.

 Harriet picked up her bag and made for the door.

"My regards to him. And don't forget our deal,"Ngozi said now seated at her desk.

"I'll sure remember that," Harriet said before stepping out of the office.

 Harriet Effiong was a large-eyed petite lady. When then the breast genes were passed out in heaven, Harriet had been in line for an extra helping of eyes instead. She was near flat-chested, and so most of the time had no use for bra. But what she lacked upfront, she made up for with well rounded buttocks. She could not help her back-side wiggling as she descended the marbled stairs. 

She was always excited at the thought of seeing Mike and that afternoon was no exception. He was the best thing that had happened to her in a long time. She always felt lucky to have come across him. God must have brought him her way to make up for all the wrongs she had suffered in the past, in the name of relationships. Mike must be God-sent. It always felt like she had known him all her life. But the truth was they had met for the first time only just over two months ago. Less than three months! But she loved him like her life depended on that. Who wouldn't be? Mike had not only showered her with care and gifts, he had not spared his time too. 

As Harriet stepped out of the firm's lobby, she could see Mike standing by his car outside on the street. She knew he was standing there waiting to open the car door for her to step in. A handsome face and a gentleman. She must be the luckiest.

"Is the queen ready to go eat with me?" She heard Mike say when she got closer.

"Yes, my king," She managed to say with a grin.

"Good, but first this man needs a warm embrace."

 She could not resist falling into his outstretched arms. Afterwards, Mike with a bow opened and held the car door for her. She stepped in feeling truly like a queen. And it felt real great.

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 N.B: Let's make it a date again next week Friday. Who was Mike? Was he all Harriet felt about him? The coming episode has the answers! Catch ya...

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Not Safe To Be Loved - Episode 1

   

Chapter 1 


He dropped the intercom and looked around the office. He noticed one of the window blinds was still down. He rose to his feet, crossed to the window and slid the blind up. He always wanted to be able to take in happenings around from his office. He watched as the early morning sun filter through the blind streaming into his eyes. He could tell it no doubt promised to be a scorching day. He checked on his gold-plated wristwatch as he moved back to his desk. The time stood at seven twenty. There was still time before his morning round. And that time would be enough to go over his plans for the evening, once again. He knew what to do already but he wanted to be sure, if there was a yet better way to get around things.

He sat at his desk, opened the bottom drawer and searching through it produced a big brown envelope. He ran his fingers over it, as if feeling its contents. After some thoughtful gaze at the brown envelope, he opened it and brought out two smaller white envelopes. The white envelopes were identical, except that one was marked 'X'.

He spread out the contents of the marked envelope on his desk. In it were five photographs. Faces of five different women stared back at him from the pictures. They were beautiful women in every sense of the word. Women who a lot of men would give anything to have. Women who had loved him. Women who existed in his past. No, they were never part of his life, he reasoned. They were just victims of their own passions. They were victims of his little game. He continued to stare at the pictures until in his subconscious mind he saw the smiles etched on the faces of the women fade off gradually before disappearing totally and replaced by tears. He watched the tears course down their cheeks and could not help as his lips formed into a satisfying smile. The tears gladdened his mind. Tears and heart-aches were all they deserved. He felt no pity for the common fate that befell them. It was all they deserved. Five down, five more to go, he thought within himself.

He returned the three photographs into the marked white envelope and picked up the other white envelope. He brought out the only picture in it and sighed. She was without more beautiful than the first three faces. She had not gone the way of the first three women too. No, not yet. She loved him from all he could tell. He should be happy to have a woman like her as girlfriend. A beautiful woman who breathed his love. Any man in his shoes should be glad to be unreservedly loved by a woman such as this. But he was not any man, he reasoned. To him, being loved by a woman was nothing he cherished. To him, it was a problem.

He ran his finger over the photograph, crossing an imaginary 'X' as he let out a wry laugh before placing the picture back in its envelope. Until he was done, it would still be kept separate from the other three. He replaced the two white envelopes in the big brown one and hid it away in the bottom drawer. He again checked on his watch. It was time to begin the day's work. He rose to his feet and made for the door.


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To be continued...

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