THE PHOTOGRAPHER 14 --by Rose

Adenike had given up on calling the boys. She had just left their house and headed to the hospital where Bode was admitted. She blamed herself for everything, she should’ve been more discreet, she reasoned. She should’ve charged the boys to attack Udeme when she was alone and not with her love. But she was a woman in love and she couldn’t imagine him in the arms of another woman, an ugly one for that matter. She hissed. She prayed with all her heart that Bode would be alright but that wasn’t her only fear; the case was a criminal case and she was quite sure it had been reported to the police. Knowing the qualifications of Udeme as a Lawyer, she would investigate to the end those behind the attack. She shivered at the thought of being jailed for years, she had to find those guys, she had to cover up her tracks. This was the first time the boys had messed up and it disappointed her greatly, she had to think of a way to end Barrister Udeme Edwards for good; that would be her only saving grace. If she was able to do that in a more subtle manner like poisoning, something that wouldn’t raise any suspicions she was sure to cover her tracks neatly.

She quickly got information from the nurses explaining her relationship with Bode and they kindly directed her to one “room 54”. She climbed the stairs hurriedly, she couldn’t wait to see him; the man that rocked her world. She smiled as she approached the room remembering all the vacations they had spent together in each other’s arms. He was very generous; he took her along some of his business trips in America. Although their affair didn’t affect their working relationship, it affected her greatly. She had come to fall in love with him. Sighing, she touched her golden necklace which Bode gave her as a Birthday present, an expensive gift it was, such as none had ever given to her before and that was even before they started their affair. He had shown interest in her the first time he laid eyes on her during her transfer from Artmaster branch at Abuja, he persisted for a month or two. She blinked trying to remember. It was quite fun to be chased around, but she had been forewarned by her colleagues of the flirtatious lifestyle of their boss; she had ignored them actually, not believing one bit of it because he was just too loving and caring.

However, their predictions had come to pass after their first night, where he unleashed all his bottled lustful passions on her, it was never the same anymore. She came to discover she wasn’t the only woman in the company Bode had an affair with. She shook her head angrily as she remembered how vulnerable and naïve she had been. Wondering for a second if trying to kill another woman for a man who cared less for her was the right thing to do. She shrugged as she opened the door, maybe she was right or wrong but she was simply a woman in love who was standing yet another time with another competitor.

‘’Ah!  Nike you are here,” Mrs. Thomas welcomed and beckoned her for a hug, it was long she had seen the woman. They exchanged pleasantries before she slowly looked up at the other skank who stood there looking like an angel when in reality, was a devil. She chose to ignore her. She hadn’t come for that. She had come to see how Bode was faring. “Mama what happened to him? I just heard of this occurrence early this morning. I would have come earlier but I had to do some things.” Nike sympathized with the woman, the woman smiled kindly tapping her on her shoulder. “My child, you should be happy he is alive. He’s well and would be discharged tomorrow. It was her friend that almost killed my son.” The woman pointed to Nadie and left Nike wondering her friend? The woman noticed the confused look in her face and went further with her explanation. “Udeme or whatever she calls herself almost got my son killed. Just look at this, she hasn’t been here for him, she dumped his body after those hoodlums hurt him and left with another man.” Now that was some gist, Adenike thought. This was quite confusing; what other man? Clearly Mrs. Thomas was quite confused.

Nadie froze where she stood, this woman talked too much, she was scared of the worst now. Everything could blow back on her face because Adenike knew the truth about her. She wondered how the lady had even located the hospital. She had to do something real fast. Now she had gotten herself a place in Mrs Thomas’ heart, she had to remain there for a long time. She prayed and hoped her plan worked. She had to excuse herself and breathe in some fresh air to let go of the tension she was feeling now. She had to think! And act fast. “Mama let me get some drugs at the pharmacy, I’ll be back.” The woman smiled, admiring her hard work and love for her son Olabode “Alright don’t be long, we still have a lot to discuss.”

Adenike watched the half cast lady with utmost disgust, obviously she hadn’t taken her warning, she had come back for Bode once again abandoning her fiancé who loved her more than anything in the world. She had to think of something, she would teach that girl a lesson. She had to be put in her rightful place where she belonged. It was with Duncan and not Bode. Noticing the distant look in Nike’s eyes, the woman tapped her again, wondering what went on in her mind, keeping that aside she continued her story. 

“So you see, Udeme is a real whore, she wants to put my son in trouble, she is as good as married and yet she still sleeps with another man, if not for her friend, Nadie who told me everything, my son would wake up and continue dancing to her deceitful tune.” Adenike felt shocked as the woman recounted all what Nadie had told her to Nike, Adenike couldn’t hold it any longer, she stood up and paced around the room. Something wasn’t right at all. Noticing the troubled expression on Adenike’s face, the woman inquired concernedly. “What’s going on Nike? Don’t you believe me?” The younger woman paused for a while thinking of a reasonable answer. She was too shocked to think. Nadine was a devil in a blue dress; she had just succeeded in painting the Barrister black in front of Bode’s mother. “My!” She mused, Nadine was a bloody liar and a betrayer, coward of cowards! Her thoughts paced. She had fed Mrs Thomas with lies concerning Udeme, and knowing Bode’s mother well, she would act on that. Suddenly she felt sorry for the poor girl whom she had tried killing, she wondered how she would’ve felt knowing that the real person that deserved that bullet, Nadine, was walking about freely. She shook her head gently and sighed, Nadine was more dangerous than she thought, she could kill, she was engaged to be married within a month and she was here frolicking with another man, who was in love with her friend, her friend she had accused wrongly.

The opening of the door brought her back to reality, when she looked up, she decided to take her leave for further plans, for now, she had given up on Bode, she had a new fight knowing who her real enemy was. Nadine was a betrayer who loved to play dirty and dirty would the game be, she smiled mischievously and her thoughts echoed, “Let the game begin!”