12. Wifey vs Side Chick?

"Baby? Are you okay?" Eve put her hand on his forehead. Her hand felt cold and perfect.

He nodded, she looked like a goddess with her robe on. He looked at Michael who was staring at him. She kissed his forehead and told him to help his baby brother get ready for school.

Troy swallowed. Eve handed him a glass of water. She had a smirk on her face.

Troy’s eyes widened. His wife chuckled, kissed him, and said thank you.

The rest of the day went by quickly. Troy had insisted on his wife driving his car and dropping off the kids then himself at work.

His day was relatively unexciting until the end of the day. Troy checked his watch and just as he was about to call his wife, he got a call from Jennifer’s desk.

"Yes, Jen? I thought you’d have slipped away quietly by now."

"Hi Mr. T, Mrs. T called to say she hasn’t forgotten you. As for me, it’s the witching hour, so no point in leaving the office now. Oh, & Miss Chenjerai is here to see you."

"Please serve her coffee. I will be right out," Troy packed up his laptop, put his phone and office keys in his pocket, picked up the black jacket of his suit, and briefly glanced at himself in the mirror behind his desk.

Satisfied that his zip was firmly and properly in place he loosened his tie fractionally and left his office.

His eyebrow rose slightly. Jennifer shot him a disapproving look as he made his way to the round table that was a few metres from her desk.

From where he stood, he could see quite a bit of thigh and bust. It was borderline tasteful particularly as he was a very married man. He had to get her out before his wife arrived.

"Ritah," he kissed her cheek as close to her ear as he could aim. She swung her face to look at him and his kiss landed on the apple of her cheek.

"Troy, ende uriku vaira mazuwano (you’re really showing off lately (and not making yourself available))," Ritah pouted.

Her makeup was perfect, she’d had it professionally done.

By his contrite expression she’d nailed the look she was going for. This was going to be like taking candy from a baby.

Her smile was predatory for a few seconds as she relished the thought.

Jennifer dropped her desk tidy noisily. As both Ritah and Troy turned to see what the commotion was about she apologized profusely blushing. Noisily she also put her pens and bits of stationery back in the desk tidy.

Troy turned back to Ritah with a guarded facial expression. "Things have been a bit tense. What with Eve getting sick and the boys wanting to pamper her 24/7…"

Troy watched his old friend grimace twice. How had he missed that before? "Otherwise, how are you? Sort out any of your man issues yet?"

Ritah frowned and shook her head sadly. "Ko hausi kutsvaga mukadzi wechitwo here (Aren’t you looking for a second wife)? At least you know kuti ndino gona kukupa vana (that I can give you children)."

Troy laughed. "She’d kill you in your sleep and get away with it. Prenup yakapenga shamwari (My friend, the prenup is hectic). Ndikabatwa chete zvatopera (Just getting caught is the end of my marriage). She gets everything and ndino tangapatsva (I start from scratch)."

Ritah coughed, "Ndinenyota (I am thirsty). Your secretary hana kunidpa kana tea (Your secretary didn’t give me anything to drink not even tea)."

Jennifer placed a tray of teas and biscuits on her left. "Boss, coffee?"

Troy shook his head. "No thanks, Jen. Ritah?"

"Earl grey, no milk, two sugars. Ko why was your wife kuward yemaBP patients (Tell, me, why was your wife in a ward for High Blood Pressure patients)? Mwana mudiki hanzwi BP (Someone as young as her does not suffer from High Blood Pressure)."

"Asi, you went to go see her?"

"Of course, I was there yesterday. Visiting hour yemakuseni (The morning visiting hour). Wanga urikupi iwe (where were you)? I certainly did not see you. The nurse even said she wasn’t sure who Mr. Tinovenga was. Shame on you."

As they spoke Jennifer prepared a cup of tea. "Thank you, Jennifer. I am sure the sugar has melted now."

Ritah reached for the teacup with her right hand while waving dismissively with her left hand. Troy glanced up at Jennifer to find her shooting daggers at the back of Ritah’s head.

Ritah’s fingers coiled around the small white china cup. Her red nails starkly contrasting with the teacup.

"Ko, business yake irikuita here (Tell me, is her business going well)?"

"Nidzvozvo, you know how things are these days," Troy answered noting that he was being watched very carefully.

Her hands were poised just above her breasts as she held the teacup. His mind compared his wife’s bust to the one before him and found his companion’s lacking.

It wasn’t tiny, it was decent, but it held no appeal despite the attractive packaging. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say that this outfit was planned. The low-cut bodice of her blouse exposed a generous amount of cleavage, the dark fabric contrasting with the caramel brown of her skin.

Her long skirt hugged her curves even as she sat. Troy was glad that slit he’d seen walking to the table was only on one side.

His wife wouldn’t understand that he wasn’t interested. ‘Speaking of wives, where was his?’ He glanced at his watch.

"Asi urikuda kundi dzinga (Do you want to kick me out)?"

"No, not at all. Just curious. I can’t wait to hold my wife and feel her body against mine. Knowing kuti (that) she’s home and waiting for me just…" his voice trailed off. Troy looked up and into the hall to find his wife looking at him.

"Just chi-I (what)? Nemawondero a-arikuita (with the way she is losing weight..). Kwakanaka (Is everything okay)? We both know you like vakadzi vakati simbeyi (We both know you like women who are bigger in body)."

"Ari kusimba zvinofadza (she’s gaining weight at a rate I am pleased with)," Troy replied smiling knowingly at his wife.

"Hesi (hey) Ritah!" Eve’s hand whipped in front of Ritah’s face stopping millimetres before her cheek. "Sorry, I’m feeling slightly dizzy." She raised her hand to her face and sat on Troy’s lap.

Troy felt his control slip. What the hell was going on? Every time he saw his wife his hormones went into overdrive.

He pulled her close and kissed her temple. Eve turned to face him and kissed him on the lips.

She made a sound of satisfaction in the back of her throat when their lips met. Troy resisted the urge to pull her closer.

When she opened her eyes, she smiled at him and rested her forehead against his. "Hi! I’m sorry I’m late. The boys insisted on coming with me, but they hadn’t bathed yet. Michael said he tried calling you on our way here."

Troy looked around for the boys and found them looking at him from the doorway. They ran and hugged him. Jeffrey’s green eyes lit up when he saw the protective hold Troy had on his wife.

Both boys greeted Ritah with long hugs and ran to Jennifer’s desk and hugged her as well. Both boys were dressed in their pyjamas and opted to sit on the sofa next to Jennifer’s desk.

If Troy hadn’t been so wrapped up in his wife, he would’ve noticed the scowl on Ritah’s face and seen her slip a few brown flakes into the coffee canister.