NYSSA
Without any hesitation, I rushed back into the compound after seein’ Darius off. My legs led me to the entrance of the livin’ room after lockin’ the gate, and now I rushed back into the house.
For a moment, I thought Darius lied to me ’bout the code. What if it’s a lie? I imagined, stoppin’ in my tracks for a moment.
“No,” my mouth said. “No.” I walked to the dinin’ area for a glass of water after which I started walkin’ to the door of the office with the bunch of keys in my hand.
Suddenly, the livin’ room door was pushed open. In fear, I turned back around to meet the gaze of my husband who had a briefcase in his hand. “Kazmir,” I mouthed, smilin’ at ‘im and retracin’ my footsteps. “You’re back. How did I not hear when you came back?”
He shut the door. “Baby?” He called, smilin’. “I was back from the moment you walked into the compound. Darius was here, wasn’t he?”
“Yes, he was!” I changed direction and caught up with ‘im. “Are you back from work or are you ’bout to leave again? And where is your car?”
The man moped at me. At this point, I was scared of gettin’ caught. A lot went through my head but I held back myself from speakin’, normalizin’ the breath runnin’ through my lungs as well. I don’t trust Kazmir, so why should I feel okay around ‘im?
“Nyssa?” He was in front of me, cuttin’ short my thoughts. “Is there somethin’ you want to say that you don’t know how to say? What is the matter with you, baby?” He took the case from my hand and took my other hand in his. “Talk to me. I am your husband and will be willin’ to hear you out.”
My mouth shook, and I shook my head. The only thing I thought ’bout was Lysander and the safe in that office. What is goin’ to happen now? Me, gettin’ caught? What if Darius said a word or two ’bout my request for the code to his boss? I should have known that the young man would do somethin’ like that! Finally, I smiled, looked up, and let out. “I should be askin’ you why you keep askin’ if anythin’ is the matter, Kazmir. I don’t think I have an issue. Do you want to tell me?”
With a smile on his face, he handed over the case back to me. “I am sorry. I just imagined somethin’ went wrong with you,” he said, takin’ a seat on one of the dinin’ chairs. “Can I get somethin’ to eat? I have closed for today. Will be with you until the end of this week. Doesn’t it sound good to you?”
As well as ‘im, I faked a smile and gave a nod. “It’s perfect, Kazmir. I’d love to have you around in the house, after all. But have you heard from Ember since the last time she was here?”
“When was the last time she came to the house? I don’t think I recall.” He sipped some water from the glass I used a while ago, lookin’ up at me who was leadin’ my way to the kitchen for a tray of his meal. “I’ll be sure to place a call to her as soon as this evenin’. You need some company, after all. Or don’t you?”
“I do,” I walked out with his tray of meals. “Thank you, too.” With a smile, I walked away from ‘im, catchin’ up with the door of our room and walkin’ into it. In moments, I returned the key to its spot, heavin’ a sigh of relief and thankin’ God also for not makin’ me get caught by a man I don’t trust, will ne’er trust.
Soon, Kazmir was in the room but I was at ease. From the look of things Darius didn’t do anythin’ while all I waited for was for Kazmir to leave the house. But why did he say he’ll be spendin’ the rest of the week with me? Who said I needed his company? For all that I knew, I didn’t enjoy stayin’ with ‘im anymore, unlike before when I looked forward to his company.
Now, it was only Lysander I wanted to see and also spend time with. What is wrong with me? The door opened and I looked up, also wonderin’ how I didn’t notice the man I am married to, drive into the compound. “Would you like to go on a date?”
“No-” I shook my head and relaxed again on the bed. “I am fine, Kazmir. We can see a movie here in the house and that should be all. You know?” He smiled and took a seat next to me, while at the end of the day, we talked ’bout how things were goin’ at work, and for the first time since I came back from the hospital, I understood why Kazmir didn’t always stay in his place of work.
Accordin’ to ‘im, even though I didn’t believe: he claims to have chains of restaurants in the City. It sounded good to my ears and the reason why he made good food here in the house even as a man, was beginnin’ to make some sense. “This is beautiful, Kazmir,” I said at the end of the conversation. “And is Darius handlin’ all these restaurants with you? Do you trust ‘im enough?”
He nodded, chucklin’. “Yes! Darius is the most loyal man I’ve worked with in all my life. I don’t see a reason why I shouldn’t trust ‘im.”
I nodded, contemplatin’ whether the man told Kazmir ’bout what I asked for, and also if the code I was given was the right one for the safe. Confusion set in but I maintained composure, lookin’ forward to the day the man I am married to will leave the house.
And finally, the day came.
Kazmir didn’t leave the house entirely. In his words, he wanted to go for a long walk which meant I had all the time in the world to spend with myself. When I bid ‘im a goodbye, alongside a ne’er genuine kiss – I led my way to the bedroom to get the bunch of keys that had the key to the office.
When I was inside the space, a smile came alive on my face. I heaved a sigh at the thought of not havin’ enough time and now, started headin’ in the direction of the safe. When I caught up with it, I smiled once more.
There was nothin’ I did not think ’bout, especially if the code I was given was the right one.
What if Darius was a trap? What if this was a way to catch me? I wondered, brin’in’ alive the code I was given and takin’ the safe in my hand.
“I hope it works,” I murmured, inputtin’ the code with my eyes closed. “I hope it works.” I said once more and the next thing I heard was a sound. My eyes were still shut and I didn’t know what to think. Did the safe open? I wondered, slowly openin’ my eyes and lookin’ at somethin’ – somethin’ I am not certain I want to see.
“Wh-what?” With shock on my countenance, the word ran out of my mouth, forcin’ me look around so I am not seen. “What?” I asked again, not shuttin’ the safe. There was no way I would keep this to myself, the more reason I walked out of the office, shuttin’ the door , and headed to the livin’ room where I would wait for ‘im. For all that I know, it was high time I faced the man and got the truth out of ‘im.
-with the evidence that I’ve got, of course.