Nichole’s Office
Meanwhile, Nichole was writing a handing-over note that she would pass to whoever would take over from her for the five days she would be off when she heard a knock on her door. Before she could ask them in, the door opened to reveal two women with cynical smiles. She furrowed her brows and maintained eye contact with them.
“Hello, Mrs. Bailey,” Evelyn greeted her followed by Lorene.
Then, Nichole gave them a cursory response, “Hi,” and continued with her work.
They looked at each other and grimaced as though she was a piece of shit.
Then, Evelyn inquired, “Mrs. Bailey, won’t you offer us a seat?”
“What about the seats in your offices? Have they suddenly gone bad?” The blunt, Nichole asked them and fixed her gaze on them.
Then, the intruders exchanged glances and Lorene gave her a nod. She proceeded by making the purpose of their visit known.
“Sorry, Mrs. Bailey, if we barged into your office. We just need you to give us Mr. Bailey’s contact if you don’t mind.”
Then, Lorene, who felt like she had not hurt her enough, chipped in, “Yes, Mrs Bailey. Especially now that you are happily married. You can release his contact so that we can hook up with him.”
Thereafter, she scrunched up her nose to mock Nichole.
Now, Nichole, who understood their intentions at once, made it clear to them, “Oh! That won’t be a problem. He badly needs women like you. Take his contact.”
Now, the miscreants locked eyes as she swiped her phone to get Mr. Bailey’s contact.
“This is his number,” she said and called out Mr. Bailey’s contact without delay.
Instantly, they took and saved it on their phones before they walked away without appreciating her.
“I told you it is possible. She has no reason to keep it away from others. I think you should start by sending sweet love messages introducing yourself before you give him a call.”
“You are right. I will do that right now.”
Meanwhile, after Stephen typed the message he would send to his woman, he got a love message from a random. The romantic message was capable of causing a Saint to sin. So, he gave the sender an officious response.
“Busy right now. I will get back to you soon.”
(Ding)
Lorene’s face beamed as she got a message alert on her phone.
“Wow. He replied at once.”
“Then, he must be a gentleman to reply out of his busy schedule,” Evelyn commended him.
Now, the elated Lorene held her phone close to her chest and said, “This weekend will be fun-filled. I can’t wait.”
“Wow! Take it easy,” Evelyn exclaimed and advised her.
“Oh! Thank you, Evelyn, for your support.”
“I am delighted to be of help.”
At The Registry
Stephen and Jude got to the court with their nose masks that were enough to hide their identities. They dressed very decently, courtesy of the shopping that Jude did when they began to nurse the idea of going to the registry to have fun with Arthur’s disappointment.
Firstly, Stephen was out to ascertain that he truly attempted but the marriage was struck out due to the absence of the bride. Secondly, that he would choose another date. Or, most probably, he would not appear because he was dead. If, for any reason, he showed up, he would look at him in the eyes and say; (Coward. You were not bold enough to say you were interested in her.)
‘I will have the last laugh today,” he thought when they stepped into the registry.
“Are you sure of what you are saying, Jude?” Stephen asked him when they scanned the audience and Arthur was not there.
“Sure. I trust my intel,” Jude assured him.
They sat on the registry pews at different ends, not wanting to attract attention to themselves. Meanwhile, four couples were married that day. While Jude was waiting to see Arthur and his brother’s wife walking through the aisle, Stephen was waiting for the registrar to announce something like – Due to the absence of Arthur and Nichole, this marriage is hereby struck out.
After the fourth marriage, Stephen was impatient. He signaled his partner and they walked out of the registry.
Then he demanded, “How did you hear about that scumbag’s marriage, Jude?”
“I am certain that today is his marriage ceremony. Let us find out the exact time from the clerk.”
“It is all right,” he agreed and they walked to the court clerk for inquiries.
“Good day, Sir,” they greeted him in unison.
“Good day, gentlemen,” he responded.
“How may I help you?” he inquired.
“We are here for Mr. Arthur Bailey’s and Nichole’s marriage. What time is it today, please?” Stephen asked him anxiously.
The clerk looked at them before he checked his old register.
Then, he looked up and announced, “Mr. Arthur Bailey’s marriage took place two days ago. You can check the information board for their photographs.”
At that point, many thoughts like, ‘Who did he get married to? Does that mean that he was not killed? If yes, does that mean that I will not have the privilege of mocking him?’ came to Stephen’s mind and he was deranged.
They walked towards the Information Board. Their eyes scanned through the sea of photographs of couples on the information board. Apart from crooks like him and his partner who had ungodly plans, no one bothered to check the information board for wedding photographs. They were just there for record purposes.
“Look at them,” Jude pointed out in a soft tone as soon as he caught sight of Arthur and his wife’s photograph.
Stephen followed the direction of his eyes and spotted the photograph too. Now, butterflies had filled his stomach. He thoroughly looked at the photographs before him and wondered in dilemma.
‘Was he not killed? Did Arthur get married to Nichole’s double or ghostly double of a living person? Because I am sure I have her in my custody,’ he thought after he ascertained that the lady in the photograph was Nichole.
His partner broke his reverie when he whispered, “I probably did not get the date right. What do we do, Boss ?” he asked him.
“Let’s leave here. I need to visit the house. You can return to the underground by yourself.”
“It is all right, Boss. Be careful.”
“I will.”
They walked out of the registry in trepidation and took different taxis to their different destinations. Now, Stephen’s head was spinning, and he did not know what to think of. To his dilemma, he did not carry his partner along in his ambition to colonize his late cousin’s wife. Presently, he was alone; he had to go to his house alone to take a look at the woman in his house.
‘Did she escape? If she did, the janitor would have alerted me,” he pondered as he sat absent-mindedly in his chartered taxi.
“Here we are, Sir,” the taxi driver announced when he got to his destination.
“It is okay. Take,” he paid the driver and walked to his house.
Meanwhile, he was vigilant with his environment and different thoughts beclouded his mind.