CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN.
For the first time, Adele and Jamal drove to work in the same car and they planned to use the main entrance to get into the building. TOGETHER.
They were accompanied by a convoy and when they arrived at the building, guards dressed in black suits and sunglasses surrounded their car while some stood on a line at the entrance into the building. Everyone around was alerted and we’re ready to greet the CEO and his wife.
Jamal had told Adele about that protocol before they left the house and had promised her it was only for that day because she looked very terrified.
“Baby.” Jamal called calmly as he placed his hand on hers. “Are you sure you don’t want to go back home and think about this? Are you sure you are ready to deal with all the attention?” He asked, concerned. They were both seated in the back seat of the car. Adele stared blankly into space for a while before turning to look at him with a reassuring smile on her face.
She understood what he was talking about and she knew deep down, she wasn’t ready. The attention she was going to get was definitely going to be overwhelming. From the moment she had been announced as Jamal’s wife, her social media accounts had been blowing up with followers and messages in her dm. Almost every app she opened had an ongoing conversation or post about her and she was already exhausted.
She knew her colleagues would never play with her the same, they would not talk to her the same. The atmosphere would be different, but she wanted to try.
“Like I said, I’m gonna try to handle it. However, if I see that I can no longer handle the attention and the pressure, I’ll stop working.”
“I hope that happens anytime soon.” He whispered audibly and Adele snorted.
“In your dreams.”
“It’s time to go in.” Said Jamal, looking at the screen of his phone. He slid the phone into the inner pocket of his tux jacket and sat still, waiting for his side of the door to be opened.
A few moments later, the door was opened, followed by Adele’s side. She gracefully stepped out of the car with her handbag on her left and her head held up high.
Jamal had prepared her mind for what she was going to witness and experience, so she wasn’t too frightened, but that did not stop her heart from beating so fast. Jamal soon joined her. He opened up his left arm by his side and without any hesitation, she slid her right arms around the arm and they both made their way in.
As they walked, the guards lining the entrance bowed to them. Once in the building, everyone stopped whatever it was they were doing and bowed to the both of them.
Sean walked ahead while three other guards walked behind them. They went over to Jamal’s private elevator which took them to Adele’s department floor.
“Mind if I walk you to your office?” Jamal asked and Adele instantly shook her head.
“Not at all.” She said with a sweet smile. When the elevator door opened, they all stepped out.
“You guys can wait here.” Jamal told the guards and they nodded.
He walked Adele to the office she shared with her colleagues and when they walked in, everyone stood up and chanted a unanimous “Good morning, Mr and Mrs King.” greeting.
“Good morning everyone.” Jamal replied while Adele just nodded at her colleagues. “Baby.” Jamal suddenly called and Adele’s eyes shot open as he looked at him. “Ba…” Adele quickly cut him off by covering his mouth with her palms and looking around nervously. She could see her colleagues trying to hold in laughter.
She gave Jamal a fierce look that caused him to shrug and raise his brows.
“Please call me by my name while we are at work.” She pleaded and he nodded before she took her hands off his mouth.
“Understood, baby.”
Adele’s shoulders sagged. She bit her lips hard and shook her head in dismay. “I look forward to having lunch with you, my love.” He kept teasing her and Adele had had enough. She turned and began pushing him out of the office. Jamal chuckled.
“I love you.” He blew her kisses before walking out of the office.
Adele was so embarrassed that she didn’t know how to look her colleagues in their faces. It was already enough that they had found out she was the wife of the big boss, now he had come into her office and caused a scene.
“I’m so sorry about that.” She apologised.
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about, Mrs. King.” Lois said in a formal tone.
“No no no, please. Don’t call me Mrs King. Adele is perfect. Please” She pleaded, but she found everyone shaking their heads.
“No, that can’t happen. You are our boss’ wife. We need to respect you as much as we respect him and that includes addressing you properly. Henceforth, we’ll call you Mrs. King. Please understand us.” Kyle pleaded and everyone nodded at Adele who had no choice but to agree with them.
She was well aware of the fact that Jamal wouldn’t like other employees calling her Adele at the Conglomerate, so she had to get used to the name.
“Why did you hide such vital information from us?” Kelly asked calmly.
“Personal reasons.” Adele replied.
“Ah… I see.”
Just then, Grace, their HOD walked in and the moment she saw Adele, she halted on her tracks and bowed to her.
“Mrs King. What a surprise! I didn’t expect to see you here.” Grace said with a surprised look on her face.
“You shouldn’t be surprised. I work here, so I have to report to work regardless of who I’m married to.” Said Adele with a corny smile. “Henceforth, I’ll be watching you closely, Grace. You’d have to change your ways and treat the people below you with more respect. You have three mercy chances. You lose it all, I’ll ask my husband to have you fired and that will be done within the twinkle of an eye. So beware.”
Everyone in the office was awed by what was going on. Kelly couldn’t help but smile at the threat.
When Adele sat on her desk, Grace stormed out of the office. Everyone gave her a thumbs up and she just smiled at them. Kelly, as usual, rolled her chair over to her and leaned close.
“She’s going to chase her soul right now, I saw it walk out of her body the moment you mentioned getting fired.”
Adele laughed hard at Kelly’s joke.
She had known Kelly would come around even when everyone tried to act formally around her.
The rest of the morning went on smoothly. Adele and her colleagues did their work smoothly even though the atmosphere was not as lively as it used to be. Kelly was the only one who didn’t talk to her differently. The other girls treated her like she was a goddess and she hated it.
“So, are you going to eat lunch with your hubby?” Kelly asked in a whisper and Adele shrugged.
“Don’t know. He hasn’t invited me.”
“What do you mean by that?” Kelly creased her brows. “You are his wife and you don’t need to be invited before you go eat lunch with him. Just go upstairs and have someone get food for you both.” Kelly explained with all seriousness and Adele looked at her, amused.
“He could be busy.”
“The man I saw calling you baby, the love of my love and blowing you kisses doesn’t look like the kind of man who would be too busy to make time for you. I feel like he would stop whatever meeting you are in if you go up there.”
And Kelly was right. Jamal would cancel a scheduled meeting with the president of the country if Adele told him to do so.
“Adele!” A sharp voice called from the door and the next thing Adele heard was the sound of heels clicking towards her. She looked up and was surprised to see Shannelle rushing towards her. She quickly stood up from her chair and hugged the excited girl.
“Shannelle, what are you doing here?” Adele asked in surprise.
“Well, the thing is, I took permission from Jamal to take you out.”
“Take me out? Where to?”
“My wedding dress fitting. I don’t wanna go with mum. She’ll pressure me into buying something I don’t like. Please come with me. Please.” Shannelle pleaded with her best puppy eyes and Adele’s heart melted.
They were now on good terms as sister-in-laws, but Adele didn’t know if she was comfortable enough to spend time with Shannelle one on one.
“Please.” Shannelle pleaded yet again and Adele found herself nodding and saying yes. Shannelle squealed in excitement.
“Guys.” Adele called looking at her coworkers. “I have to take a rain check. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
“Have fun.” Kelly told her as she picked up her hand bag.
“I will. Goodbye.”
The two girls left the office and Kelly leaned on the backrest of her chair and let out a heavy sigh.
“This office is blessed.” She whispered audibly.
“You can say that again.” Ward remarked as he took a big bite on his slice of pizza.