Episode Eight: “To Turn a blind eye.”

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Rachel stood  in front of Austin with her head down like a chastised child and Austin as the father. “What are you doing here? Working as a waitress, does Vicky know?” Austin asked in disbelief. “is this something a senator’s daughter does? Much less, a daughter in-law of the Aiyedehins?!”

“Will you relax and let me answer?” Rachel snapped, fed up with his rant. Austin stared at her in disbelief.

“I am still older than you, I hope you know that” he pettily pointed out. Rachel looked at him incredulously and shook her head.

“Brother in-law” she sweetly smiled. “I am just working here to get experience. It’s nothing much so neither do my father nor Vicky need to know.”

“Why are you doing this when your father and Vicky have enough money for you to use?” Austin asked suspiciously.

“As I said, experience. Just don’t tell anyone” Rachel confidently lied.

“I’m not sure. If anyone important finds out, it will be a huge problem. Everyone will be upset, why don’t you just quit now?” Austin reasoned.

Rachel looked hesitant. “I can’t. I am scared that if I get comfortable and Vicky finds out, I will be left with nowhere to turn to. I don’t want to quit” Rachel said stubbornly. “please don’t tell anyone.”

“Why would I not tell? We aren’t that close” Austin said, finding pleasure in keeping her worried. “we aren’t friends, we are barely even family and the reputation of our group could be in jeopardy if you were found out.”

Rachel looked horrified that the company could be in jeopardy just because she works in a restaurant. Austin hid a smirk of pleasure.

“I will have to think this through thoroughly” He said and Rachel bounced to his side nervously. He smugly turned to her.

“Please help me” she pleaded desperately.

“Rachel! Hurry up!” a co-worker yelled and Rachel turned to him. Austin just held his smug look while Rachel shot him a pleading look before rushing back to work.

Austin clasped his hand, feeling mischievous over this new information. “I wonder why I sensed a strange feeling of desperation attached to her” he mused. He shrugged it off and left.

At the house, Vicky arrived early and occasionally looked out the window to see if Rachel was coming. He got tired and gave up just as Rachel arrived.

Rachel looked a little zoned out as she was worried about her job secret coming out. She jumped once she saw Vicky.

“Good evening” she greeted quickly.

“Good evening, are you alright?” Vicky asked. “you look tired.”

“Um, I’m fine. Thanks for asking” Rachel said and went inside. Vicky watched her leave then stayed in the living room.

Minutes later, Rachel went downstairs to do the dishes. “Do you want me to get a maid who will take care of the house?” Vicky asked loudly.

Rachel looked up in surprise then answered, “no, I’m fine doing everything.”

Vicky didn’t say anything and dropped the remote. On his way up, he said, “thank you, for the food. It was…nice.”

Rachel looked at him in more surprise and he left. She quickly grabbed the flask she gave him and opened. It was empty. She saw a sticky note close and she knew it wasn’t the one she wrote on. This one was blue.

Thank you for sharing your warmth and care.

Your grudging friend, V.

Rachel couldn’t help but grin widely and in the corner of the hallway was Vicky, he had stayed to see Rachel’s reaction to the note and he smiled a bit.

At Rachel’s room, she kept smiling at the note and placed on the vanity opposite the wardrobe. Her smile fell when she remembered Austin.

“He won’t tell will he?” she wondered. She tried to reassure herself that he wouldn’t.

The next day, Rachel packed food for Vicky again and this time, they exchanged a glance that Patrick did not miss. He eyed them suspiciously.

After work, Rachel went to see Prieye. “Your brother in-law found out about your job?” Prieye asked incredulous. Rachel nodded upset.

“Then quit!” Prieye exclaimed, “your brother in-law concerns are right. The wife of a wealthy CEO working as a waitress, the journalists will have a field day.”

“I can’t quit” Rachel moped.

“Why not?”

“I’m scared that if everyone finds out the truth, I won’t have a job to hang on to.” Rachel said. “I need the fees to pay my school fees, my father doesn’t want to pay for my education.”

Prieye sighed, “you have a rich husband, he is supposed to pay for you. I am surprised your dumb husband hasn’t picked up on that, the semester is starting in a week.”

“Yeah, oh well” Rachel shrugged and got up. “I have to go. I see Testimony every day in the afternoon before I return to the house.”

“let me follow you” Prieye said and got up.

“Okay, I am really worried about Testimony. I really want him to be close to me but Vicky will be suspicious. I can’t figure out what to say to keep him close to me” Rachel said worried, “and school is resuming for him.”

“Your worry too much, just feel your body” Prieye exclaimed. “your body is warm.”

“I’m fine” Rachel brushed off her concern. Close by was Austin who just bought something and was about driving away when he saw Rachel and Prieye.

“Rachel” he grinned to himself and drove slowly at their side. He got their attention but honking. He grinned innocently at them, “hello.”

“Who is that guy?” Prieye whispered to Rachel.

“That’s Austin” Rachel whispered back and politely greeted Austin. “Hello Austin, aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

“I’m on break. I am still thinking about telling Vicky and the family” Austin said, teasing Rachel. “I guess I can keep silent based on what you can do for me.”

“Huh?” Rachel said in disbelief. Prieye shot Austin a dirty look.

“What the heck do you mean ‘what she can do for you?’ she is your sister in-law?!” Prieye promptly blew up and looked at Austin. “You are blackmailing her and trying to get her do something dirty with you? You shameless little–”

Rachel hurriedly slapped a hand over Prieye’s mouth but words had already been set while Austin stared at them with a stunned look.

At the office during lunch time, Vicky opened his food again and saw another stick note. It said, “A hungry man is an angry man, I hope you eat and not get angry.”

Vicky smiled in amusement and quickly hid the note when Patrick came in. Patrick eyed him suspiciously.

“What do you want Patrick? You are not supposed to be barging into my office like this” Vicky coolly asked.

“I’m sorry boss but I just wanted to have lunch with you” Patrick said innocently then added. “and ask a few questions.”

Patrick watched Vicky eat his food suspiciously. “Stop staring at me” Vicky huffed. “what questions do you have?”

“You and Madam have changed. You aren’t rude to her anymore and you are actually eating her food” Patrick said curiously. “what changed? Did you sleep with her?”

Vicky coughed out the food at the last sentence and looked at Patrick incredulously. Patrick, on the other hand, got a face full of food. “Eww” Patrick grimaced.

“Sorry what?! What sort of question was that?” Vicky demanded feeling incredulous. “did I what?!”

“I was just wondering but it’s fine if you haven’t done anything” Patrick quickly said, wiping his face. “just thinking that everyone will start pressing for a grandchild and stuff.”

“Patrick, stop talking” Vicky deadpanned. “I–we haven’t done any such thing. The only time we have ever done anything remotely close was the kiss at the wedding.”

“So will that be the end because you will need a child–” Patrick said but shut his mouth once he saw Vicky’s warning glare. “I’ll leave now.”

Patrick got up to leave but turned around. “Do you think that Rachel had a lover before marriage because girls like those touchy–” Patrick was met with Vicky’s stern glare and nodded. “got it.”

Patrick finally turned around and left but succeeded in making Vicky wonder if Rachel had anyone she liked before getting married.

With Prieye, Austin and Rachel, they had taken a seat to talk and Austin assured Prieye he didn’t mean it like that, he was only joking. Prieye gave him some serious stink eye, “I hope you were.”

“You are oddly sensitive about this” Austin noted.

“The sort of same thing happened to her mom” Rachel explained.

“Oh, I’m Austin. It seems you have heard a lot about me from Rachel” Austin said.

“I have heard a lot, how you insulted her, bullied her–” and for the second time today, Rachel slapped her mouth shut. Austin stared at them amused while Rachel smiled apologetically.

“You must share a lot of secrets with her” Austin mused. “Either way, I’ve decided not to tell anyone but I think you should quit.”

“I will, semester is starting soon anyways” Rachel said regretfully then added gratefully, “thank you Austin.” Austin suddenly realized this secret meant a lot to her and nodded.

“I have to go” Rachel said.

“To the house?” Austin asked.

“No, somewhere else. Bye” Rachel said.

“I can drop you.” Austin offered but Rachel refused and went on her way. He turned to Prieye, “so what’s your name?”

“Prieye.” She answered and got up. “and now, I should go since the only person linking us is gone.” Prieye turned to leave but paused and looked back.

“Also, treat Rachel a bit more kindly. You don’t know what she has gone through” Prieye said and left, leaving Austin confused.

At the house, Rachel arrived and slept off in the living room. Vicky came in minutes later and saw Rachel sleeping. He stared at her as Patrick’s questions about her having someone she liked came to mind.

“Why am I even thinking about it?” he asked himself and went inside. When he came back, he saw Rachel already woken up and doing the dishes.

“Good evening” she greeted, “why didn’t you wake me up?”

“You looked really peaceful” Vicky awkwardly answered, “and besides, it’s rude to disturb someone’s sleep.” Vicky turned on the TV but Patrick’s question kept bothering him.

“Okay, um” Rachel said, “my university will be resuming next week so I will be going.”

“that’s good, good luck. Ope can drive you there” Vicky offered.

“Okay” Rachel quietly responded.

Vicky finally decided to ask. “Um, what was your life like? Before the marriage?”

Rachel paused and remembered how she struggled to pay for her fees and her father’s maltreatment then her mother and her brother.

She smiled, “it was tough but it wasn’t so bad.”

Vicky turned to her. “It was tough?” he asked curiously.

Rachel realized Vicky knows nothing about her family and tried to cover up. “Um, I just meant that things were tough for me looking like this but my family helped me get through it.”

Vicky nodded and asked, “did you, by any chance, have someone before the marriage deal? Did you have someone you liked?”

Rachel looked at him curiously and Vicky turned away embarrassed. “Not really” Rachel answered. “I was a bit busy so it never crossed my mind to date. What about you?”

Vicky felt a little relieved that she didn’t like anyone and looked at her. “Someone I liked?” he asked, “ever since my accident, women have steered clear of me.”

Rachel looked at him sadly. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to be, you had nothing to do with it” Vicky said and rolled away. Rachel watched him leave and looked at the sticky note in her hand.

In Rachel’s room, she looked at her books and at her mirror which had Vicky’s notes on it. She smiled.

At Vicky’s room, he laid on the bed and glanced at the sticky note on the wardrobe. He sighed to himself and stared at the ceiling.

The next day, Vicky woke up and came down. He looked around and was surprised not to see Rachel. Patrick looked around too.

“Madam is not in the kitchen, I wonder what happened” he said. Vicky looked concerned and went to Rachel’s room.

Vicky peeked into Rachel’s room and saw her huddled in the bed. He came inside and looked at her face. He saw her shaking and touched her neck. “You’re burning up.” He said.

“V-V-Vicky?” Rachel stuttered feverishly. “sorry, I can’t make any food today.”

“That’s alright. You’re sick, I should get you some medicine, or a doctor. This could be serious” Vicky said worried. He was about to go when Rachel stopped him.

“Don’t get me a doctor, that will be too much. I think some fever medicine will be good” Rachel said with a dry throat.

“Are you sure?” Vicky asked.

“Yeah, I will just take it and sleep.” Rachel said weakly. Vicky reluctantly nodded and zoomed off, taking a glance at the sticky notes on her mirror. He smiled and left.

“Is madam alright?” Patrick asked, standing in the hallways.

“She is sick. Buy some fever medicine now and some food, she needs to eat before she takes any medicine” Vicky said.

“Yes sir” Patrick said and left.

Minutes later and Patrick returned with the food and the medicine. Vicky took them to Rachel and forced her to eat in front of him, though he was running late.

“You should go, I have eaten and I promise to take the medicine” Rachel said.

Vicky looked hesitant but he left. He arrived at the office but he felt uncomfortable. Vicky tried to distract himself with work but he had enough of feeling worried and left the office.

At Austin’s office, Austin was talking to his secretary. “What about the clearance document from Vicky? Isn’t he done?” Austin asked.

“Mr. CEO is not around today” His secretary replied.

“So? Get it from Patrick then” Austin asked impatiently. “I need it urgently.”

“I will try but I heard that the CEO is not doing any work today because his wife is sick. That is why they said he went home early” his secretary said.

“Rachel is sick?” Austin asked in interest.

At the house, Vicky stayed close to Rachel, watching her sleep. “I can’t believe I left the office and my work to watch over her” Vicky said in disbelief. “what was I thinking?”

Vicky just did his work at home while checking continually on Rachel. On one occasion, he heard her phone ring and took it. He saw the name Ugochukwu on it.

“Who is this?” he asked almost jealously. He glanced at Rachel then answered the call.

“Hello Rachel? Where are you? The boss is not happy” Ugo said.

“Who are you?” Vicky asked.

Ugo paused, “who are you? This is Rachel’s phone.”

“I am Rachel’s husband.”

“Rachel’s husband? Rachel isn’t married.”

“She didn’t tell you? She got married weeks ago” Vicky said and looked at Rachel.

“Wow” Ugo said in disbelief. “Anyways, is she okay? She hasn’t come to work?”

“Work?”

“Yes, she works at the restaurant. Don’t you know?” Ugo asked confused. “Are you really Rachel’s husband or is this a joke?”

“That’s enough, Rachel is sick. She has a fever and won’t be able to come to work today or tomorrow for now.” Vicky answered a bit angrily.

“Okay” Ugo said. “tell her to please call when she feels better.”

“May I know what she works as?” Vicky asked.

“A waitress? Okay, just tell her” Ugo said and hung up. Vicky stared at Rachel confused.

“You work as a waitress? Why?” he asked.

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So Vicky ended up finding out in the end, what will he make out of it?

Comment your thoughts on the story.

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