CHAPTER 5

Amaka's POV

I continue with the rest of the day working and feel Simon's gaze on me frequently.

Why does he always look at me? I ponder but do not ask him.

My phone rings. I unlock it and see that Maureen calls. She has obviously taken Jason to school, but I do not want to chat with her about him here.

Feeling Simon's scrutinizing gaze on me, plus the fact that Joseph is in his office monitoring me, makes me uncomfortable.

"Hello, dear. I'll call you back later," I tell Maureen, and she replies, "Okay."

I look at Simon, and he frowns before looking away. I do not understand why he frowns, but then I hear the buzzer sound.

"It's break time," Simon informs me, and I sigh. "Okay."

I turn off my laptop and stand from my chair. "I think we'll be going to the cafeteria, right?" I ask as he rises from his chair.

"Yes. Or you can request your meal here." He grins, and I chuckle back. "Fine. I'm still new, so I'll go to the cafeteria."

I exit Simon's office, sucking in a deep breath of fresh air now that I am not under surveillance.

My day has ruined by meeting my baby's father.

How can I tell him we have a child? How can Joseph claim not to know me?

Is four years too long to forget someone?

I try not to sob as I walk to the elevator to go down to the second floor.

As I arrive at the elevator, I enter and look back, seeing Joseph step out of his office.

My heart skips a beat, and I look away from him, wanting to shut the door and leave, but the security man tells me to wait.

"Hmm." My eyes narrow at the security man as Joseph enters the elevator and joins me in going down to the second floor. We do not speak to each other. Luckily, a female staff member is in the elevator with us, and she seems nervous to be in the same space as the boss.

Joseph has grown taller than the last time I see him. As much as I try to look away, my eyes still travel to linger on him. But he spares me no glance at all. How ruthless of him?

Joseph walks out with perfectly measured strides, maintaining his stance as he enters the second-floor hallway. The security men greet him as he stops to speak with them, but I march away, feeling upset at being ignored.

My year of being pregnant. Going through that journey alone. The fact that my parents have sent me away.

I want to confront Joseph about it all, and he cannot pretend he does not know me.

I move to the counter and request my meal. They serve free lunch, and I order a plate of jollof rice and fried chicken lap—one of my favorites.

As I turn to take a seat in the cafeteria, I see Joseph looking at me. But he quickly looks away as our eyes meet.

I swear I see a look of longing in Joseph's eyes. He seems lost for a moment, like he admires me. But he looks away, moves from the security man he speaks with, and goes to take his seat.

I sit two chairs away from Joseph's seat, but his eyes are on me. Each time I look at him, he gazes away.

A waitress goes to serve Joseph's lunch, but I have not known they have waitresses. Most staff do not wait to be served and just request their meals.

As I sit alone, lost in my thoughts, I decide to speak to Maureen about this first before confronting Joseph again. He might have moved on—I guess he has, since he is so obsessed with sex. He has wanted to sleep with me until I give in, but he changes after that night.

"Hi, may I join you for lunch?" Simon asks, snapping me out of my trance. I can feel Joseph's gaze on us, along with some other guys in the cafeteria.

Many staff come and go. The space is vast.

"Sure," I tell him, and he sits across from me.

"How do you enjoy the meal?" he asks, and I chuckle back.

"It's nice," I say, feeling Joseph's gaze on us.

"Okay, I'm glad you like it. So can I get your personal phone number to call you after closing time?" Simon asks, and I look at his face.

"Why? I don't need any calls," I reply, and he grins.

"It's just a harmless call to check up on my colleague. Nothing else." He says, and I nod.

"Alright. I'll think about it. Maybe when we get back to the office, I'll give you my phone to put in your number," I tell him, and he grins.

"Alright." Simon waves over the waitress to bring him lunch and orders the same food as mine. We sit there eating. I finish my meal and rise to return to my office.

I can still feel Joseph's gaze on me, and I try not to look at him as I exit the cafeteria and go back to Simon's office to sit in my chair. My mind fills with numerous thoughts.

I resume my office work, helping the company advertise their new products online. I finish with all the new products available and sign out. I pick up my phone and sign into my son's account.

I look at Jason's photos and videos and recall Joseph denying he knows me.

I do not apply too much makeup to my face, so why can Joseph not remember?

Simon comes into the office, and I quickly sign out of my son's profile, put away my phone, and wait until 5 p.m. when the company closes.

It is not a new company after all. I have thought they are just starting, but it is a branch of their main head office on the island.

I think about Maureen putting my son in school and her going back to her husband's house.

They have got married, because he has paid her dowry; they just need to do a church wedding.

Maureen is not obsessed about the church wedding, so she wants to go live with her husband since he has invited her over.

She will be packing her bags tomorrow, and I do not know if I should tell her about my trouble or not.

It is closing hour. Simon rises from his desk and comes over to meet me.

"I haven't forgotten to ask for your number," he says, and I agree and take his phone.

I give Simon my number, and he tells me he will call tonight. I shake my head, pick up my black handbag, and flee the office.

As I get out, thankfully Joseph is not in sight, so I make my way into the elevator and leave the building.

I look around the parking lot and see only three cars there. I sigh, look forward, and exit the premises. I hail a cab, get in and go back home.