Chidinma was surprised to find out that working with Onyeka Michael wasn’t quite as unpleasant as she had thought it would turn out to be.
After she got over her embarrassment on the issue of thinking he was her son’s schoolmate, she found it fairly easy to establish a friendly rapport with the young man. Onyeka was careful not to intrude too much into her official work time, and they spent many productive hours poring over personnel and patient performance records.
The hours spent in each other’s presence made them more aware of each other. Onyeka would watch Chidinma furtively, marvelling at her flawless, buttery skin. She always seemed to glow from the inside, and he had to stop himself a few times from reaching out and stroking her arm. When she concentrate on the files before her, her brow barely furrowed; there would only be a small inverted V between her eyes, eyes he had noticed were delicately slanted and ringed by naturally long lashes. Her nose was long and pointed, towering regally over soft-looking full lips. Chidinma was a beautiful woman, and he spent many hours admiring her without her knowledge. He had never been physically attracted to an older woman, so it was a novel experience for him.
Onyeka wasn’t the only one looking when he was being observed. Chidinma kept their conversations professional and pleasant, but she had also had the opportunity to observe him more closely. Up close, his appealing features were even more breath-taking and she had found thoughts of him crossing her mind at the most inopportune moments. But she had also noticed his flirty behavior with other female doctors and most of the nursing staff, and she was determined to prevent any similar behaviour towards her. Their prolonged association was already enough to set tongues wagging. He was definitely younger than her; but she had not found out exactly how young. She was relieved there had been no crossing of personal boundaries yet, but the day it happened, it took her by surprise.
“So all this while I was here thinking your husband must be a lucky man.” Onyeka suddenly said during one of their joint work sessions.
Chidinma looked up from the file in front of her, flustered. “What?”
“I said I thought you were married and your husband is a very lucky man.” Onyeka smiled. He picked up his phone and waved it. “But I just found out otherwise.”
Chidinma frowned. Just like her son, Onyeka seemed addicted to his phone. He spent most of his time chatting and chortling at the replies he received, but he had always kept it aside during their work sessions. She ignored the implied compliment in his words and focused on the phone.
“Chatting while working? I thought we agreed that wouldn’t happen again. And if you’re gossiping about me with nurses…”
“No, I swear I’m not.” Onyeka assured her. “And I wasn’t chatting. I just noticed a response to a question I asked earlier. And it wasn’t a nurse. It was actually Nonso. Your Nonso.”
Chidinma’s brows lifted. She was not aware her son and the young auditor were on chatting terms. “You’ve been chatting with my son?”
Onyeka grinned, looking pleased. “I knew that might surprise you. I’m connected to Nonso and some of his friends on Facebook. We exchanged contact details on the day we met. I’ve been giving them some advice; you know, kinda acting like a big brother, advising him on what to do, setting him straight, that sort of thing.”
Chidinma was unsure how she ought to feel about the news that her son and Onyeka were chatting regularly. It crossed her mind that the young auditor could influence her son negatively given his fondness for flirting and women, but she also realized Nonso’s attitude towards her had changed in the past few weeks. He seemed more respectful and had not really given her a reason to be recently upset. What if Onyeka was responsible for the positive change? She sometimes felt her son needed a male to discuss certain issues with.
“I see.” She said shortly, still warring with her emotions. “I wish I had known though.”
“I apologize if I took liberties.” Onyeka said hastily. “But I promise not to abuse that privilege. I only found out you were divorced when I asked Nonso about his father.”
Chidinma looked away, and rifled through the open file on her table. “Yes, we’ve been separated for years now.” After a pause, she continued. “It was a bit hard for Nonso to get used to.”
Onyeka nodded and leaned forward. “Yes, he said as much. But we’ve been talking about it and I think he understands these things happen sometimes.”
Chidinma felt a wave of sadness wash over her. She had struggled for years with guilt, wondering if she wasn’t selfish to have put herself first before her son’s need for a complete family. But her husband’s incessant and badly-hidden lying and cheating ways had become too much to ignore. She knew Nonso had also been aware and she had been afraid her husband was setting a bad example for their child. It had been a difficult decision to make, but it was one she would repeat without hesitation. She truly hoped Nonso would stop being angry and grow to understand her actions.
As though he had felt her sadness, Onyeka reached forward and touched her hand. “Don’t worry, Chidinma. He’s just going through a phase; he’ll be fine.”
Chidinma pulled her hand away immediately, but her fingers tingled where he had touched her. “Yes, I hope so. And it’s Doctor Chidinma to you.”
Onyeka grinned. “Of course, Doctor. Chidinma. Ude.” He stressed each name and she had to struggle to swallow a smile. “I’ll be a good boy.”
Chidinma nodded and slid the file she had been looking at in his direction. Onyeka sobered down and began to go over the file, taking notes, but Chidinma watched him for a few more moments before starting work on another patient file.
Whoever Onyeka Michael was, he was worming his way into her life. First, through her work and now through her son.
Just how was this new chapter in her life going to end?
Check back at afternoon for the next episode.
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