Chapter 4

Rhoda POV

My joy knew no bounds when I realized that I had my own child. I was actually worried about my husband and his company. I felt that the company would slip from his hands if we don't act fast. Seeing the child lifted all my hopes and I was glad that the whole family accepted her.

I still felt that we still had a battle to overcome but I couldn't figure out what the main battle was not until the day Tracy, my husband's secretary came to pick up something for her boss.

The way she spoke to me that day, sent shivers down my spine. She assured me that she'll make me pass through hell and warned me to take the child to wherever I brought her from.

I kept on wondering how she got to know how I found the child because no one apart from I, Lugard, and Chole knew about the incident. I wanted to suspect my husband, but we had all vowed not to tell anyone the real story. Then how did Tracy find out? I waited for Lugard to be back from the office.

I confided in Chole, and she also suspected that Tracy must have heard the news through Lugard. I just had to wait for him to be back from work.

Two hours seemed like a whole month to me and finally, Lugard was back from the office. I patiently waited for him to have dinner and also freshen up. When we were about to sleep, I confronted him.

Lugard POV

I was a bit scared when my wife told me that she had an important question for me. When she asked me if I had told my secretary anything about our baby, I wanted denying it at first, but I summoned courage to tell her that I did.

"Lugard, why would you do such a thing?" Rhoda asked furiously and I knew that something bad had happened earlier, but I couldn't figure it out quickly. "That lady is a threat to our marriage and our home. She is completely an outsider, and I don't see any reason why you should have informed her about this development. I am so disappointed in you." She said angrily.

I was so confused. Tracy? A threat to my family? How was that possible? I refused to see reasons with my wife that my secretary was not to be trusted.

"By the way, what did Tracy say to you?" I asked after some minutes of silence. It took her some time before she replied to me.

"It seems she is goanna expose our secret to everyone, if we don't act fast. She said that she is going to make me suffer if I don't return the baby to wherever I picked her from. I wonder who gave her the guts to talk to me that way. Actually, I was completely lost in thoughts and confusion and I just stood there transfixed, not knowing what to do. I wish I had returned back to my correct senses; she wouldn't have gone scoot free. A slap would have been enough to correct her mistake and then remind her of her place. Why on earth would she speak to me that way?" Rhoda said angrily. I never knew that my wife could be so upset. I tried my best to calm down the situation.

"I am so sorry for what happened. I seriously take the blame. I will correct things as fast as possible. I will speak to Tracy and warn her against such statement again. Trust me, it is just an empty threat." I assured her and gave her a little tickle on her waist.

She smiled happily and told me that she had forgiven me. She didn't fail to warn me to stay away from Tracy and I kept wondering how that was going to happen because we were too close to each other. She was my companion at the office and without her, work would be quite dull and boring for me. It seemed she was also addicted to me and somehow, I had begun to have this little feeling for her, but I tried as hard as possible to control my emotions. I didn't want anything that would destroy my marriage and my reputation. I loved my wife, no doubt but it seemed Tracy was about to snatch that soft part of me, and I was fully aware that if I wasn't careful, things may fall apart.

Rhoda POV

I was relieved to hear my husband say that he was going to warn his secretary against talking to me anyhow. I and Tracy were actually not in good terms. She had been my husband's secretary for a very long time even before we got married. I heard that she worked as a receptionist in the company before she gradually worked her way up to become the secretary. I knew that she had a soft spot for Lugard, but I didn't mind because I trusted my husband so much and I knew he wasn't going to cheat on me. I and Lugard were just like bread and butter before and after we got married. He was really a strong man, and I appreciated his efforts.

Tracy thought that she would definitely become her boss's wife and so did everyone in the company. I can vividly recall the first day we met. It was Lugard's birthday, so I decided to visit him at his place of work to give the wonderful present I had bought for him. The receptionist put a call across to her boss telling him that one Rhoda Charles wanted to see him, and I was ushered into his office immediately.

I entered his office, singing a happy- birthday song for him. He was so happy and was grinning from ear to ear. We hugged so tightly for a long time and after the hug, I went ahead to give him the present I had with me.

When he opened the bag, he screamed at what he saw. He was surprised at the gift. It was a big pack of chocolate, two pairs of Italian shoes, two pairs of trousers and two pairs of shirts. He hugged me and appreciated me for the nice gifts. As we were hugging each other, we heard a knock on the door and soon, a lady appeared before both of us.

The lady stood at the door post, confused at the whole situation and I noticed that she was lost in thoughts. She later got her senses back and apologized for interrupting us and made to leave the office, but Lugard called her back.

"Hey Tracy, come on, it's fine. Well, I think this is the right time I introduce my fiancée to you."

"Your what?" Tracy asked with a trace of shock on her face. I guess, she didn't realize when that question flew from her mouth because she apologized immediately.

"So, meet my fiancée, Rhoda and Rhoda, this is Tracy, my secretary," Lugard said and both of us said 'hi' to each other.

"You look beautiful," Tracy said as she scanned me with her eyes from head to toe. I felt embarrassed but I still fought hard to control my emotions.

"Thanks". I replied and shifted my gaze away from her and stared at Lugard's lovely photograph that hung on the wall.

"Sir, I think I'll take my leave now," she said and quickly jolted the door open and ran out of the office before Lugard could reply her.

After she had left the office, I turned and looked at Lugard who was still staring at her. "You've got a beautiful secretary here," I said and used my hand to hit the table so as to get back his attention.

He turned to me and gave a weak smile. "Yeah, she is a nice girl." He replied.

"But she didn't seem happy to see me," I said, trying to hear what next, he'll say.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied.

"Well, I don't think so. Tracy can be cold sometimes. She is a very nice lady. She can be so hilarious and funny. Maybe, she is not in her best of moods today." Lugard replied.

I decided not to disturb him much, so I changed the topic. We discussed about his birthday, and we later agreed to go out on a date. That day was one of the best days ever because that night, Lugard proposed to me, and I gladly accepted to be with him forever. I can't easily forget that experience. It was a great one indeed.

Rhoda POV

My joy knew no bounds when I realized that I had my own child. I was actually worried about my husband and his company. I felt that the company would slip from his hands if we don't act fast. Seeing the child lifted all my hopes and I was glad that the whole family accepted her.

I still felt that we still had a battle to overcome but I couldn't figure out what the main battle was not until the day Tracy, my husband's secretary came to pick up something for her boss.

The way she spoke to me that day, sent shivers down my spine. She assured me that she'll make me pass through hell and warned me to take the child to wherever I brought her from.

I kept on wondering how she got to know how I found the child because no one apart from I, Lugard, and Chole knew about the incident. I wanted to suspect my husband, but we had all vowed not to tell anyone the real story. Then how did Tracy find out? I waited for Lugard to be back from the office.

I confided in Chole, and she also suspected that Tracy must have heard the news through Lugard. I just had to wait for him to be back from work.

Two hours seemed like a whole month to me and finally, Lugard was back from the office. I patiently waited for him to have dinner and also freshen up. When we were about to sleep, I confronted him.

Lugard POV

I was a bit scared when my wife told me that she had an important question for me. When she asked me if I had told my secretary anything about our baby, I wanted denying it at first, but I summoned courage to tell her that I did.

"Lugard, why would you do such a thing?" Rhoda asked furiously and I knew that something bad had happened earlier, but I couldn't figure it out quickly. "That lady is a threat to our marriage and our home. She is completely an outsider, and I don't see any reason why you should have informed her about this development. I am so disappointed in you." She said angrily.

I was so confused. Tracy? A threat to my family? How was that possible? I refused to see reasons with my wife that my secretary was not to be trusted.

"By the way, what did Tracy say to you?" I asked after some minutes of silence. It took her some time before she replied me.

"It seems she is goanna expose our secret to everyone, if we don't act fast. She said that she is going to make me suffer if I don't return the baby to wherever I picked her from. I wonder who gave her the guts to talk to me that way. Actually, I was completely lost in thoughts and confusion and I just stood there transfixed, not knowing what to do. I wish I had returned back to my correct senses; she wouldn't have gone scoot free. A slap would have been enough to correct her mistake and then remind her of her place. Why on earth would she speak to me that way?" Rhoda said angrily. I never knew that my wife could be so upset. I tried my best to calm down the situation.

"I am so sorry for what happened. I seriously take the blame. I will correct things as fast as possible. I will speak to Tracy and warn her against such statement again. Trust me, it is just an empty threat." I assured her and gave her a little tickle on her waist.

She smiled happily and told me that she had forgiven me. She didn't fail to warn me to stay away from Tracy and I kept wondering how that was going to happen because we were too close to each other. She was my companion at the office and without her, work would be quite dull and boring for me. It seemed she was also addicted to me and somehow, I had begun to have this little feeling for her but I tried as hard as possible to control my emotions. I didn't want anything that would destroy my marriage and my reputation. I loved my wife, no doubt but it seemed Tracy was about to snatch that soft part of me and I was fully aware that if I wasn't careful, things may fall apart.

Rhoda POV

I was relieved to hear my husband say that he was going to warn his secretary against talking to me anyhow. I and Tracy were actually not in good terms. She had been my husband's secretary for a very long time even before we got married. I heard that she worked as a receptionist in the company before she gradually worked her way up to become the secretary. I knew that she had a soft spot for Lugard but I didn't mind because I trusted my husband so much and I knew he wasn't going to cheat on me. I and Lugard were just like bread and butter before and after we got married. He was really a strong man and I appreciated his efforts.

Tracy thought that she would definitely become her boss's wife and so did everyone in the company. I can vividly recall the first day we met. It was Lugard's birthday so I decided to visit him at his place of work to give the wonderful present I had bought for him. The receptionist put a call across to her boss telling him that one Rhoda Charles wanted to see him and I was ushered into his office immediately.

I entered his office, singing a happy- birthday song for him. He was so happy and was grinning from ear to ear. We hugged so tightly for a long time and after the hug, I went ahead to give him the present I had with me.

When he opened the bag, he screamed at what he saw. He was surprised at the gift. It was a big pack of chocolate, two pairs of Italian shoes, two pairs of trousers and two pairs of shirts. He hugged me and appreciated me for the nice gifts. As we were hugging each other, we heard a knock on the door and soon, a lady appeared before both of us.

The lady stood at the door post, confused at the whole situation and I noticed that she was lost in thoughts. She later got her senses back and apologised for interrupting us and made to leave the office but Lugard called her back.

"Hey Tracy, come on, it's fine. Well, I think this is the right time I introduce my fiancée to you."

"Your what?" Tracy asked with a trace of shock on her face. I guess, she didn't realise when that question flew from her mouth because she apologised immediately.

"So, meet my fiancée, Rhoda and Rhoda, this is Tracy, my secretary," Lugard said and both of us said 'hi' to each other.

"You look beautiful," Tracy said as she scanned me with her eyes from head to toe. I felt embarrassed but I still fought hard to control my emotions.

"Thanks". I replied and shifted my gaze away from her and stared at Lugard's lovely photograph that hung on the wall.

"Sir, I think I'll take my leave now," she said and quickly jolted the door open and ran out of the office before Lugard could reply her.

After she had left the office, I turned and looked at Lugard who was still staring at her. "You've got a beautiful secretary here," I said and used my hand to hit the table so as to get back his attention.

He turned to me and gave a weak smile. "Yeah, she is a nice girl." He replied.

"But she didn't seem happy to see me," I said, trying to hear what next, he'll say.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied.

"Well, I don't think so. Tracy can be cold sometimes. She is a very nice lady. She can be so hilarious and funny. Maybe, she is not in her best of moods today." Lugard replied.

I decided not to disturb him much so I changed the topic. We discussed about his birthday and we later agreed to go out on a date. That day was one of the best days ever because that night, Lugard proposed to me and I gladly accepted to be with him forever. I can't easily forget that experience. It was a great one indeed.