The Wedding Contract

Episode 4

Anthony sat in his office thinking…he just got off the phone with his father who reminded
him that he had just 19 days left to get a girl that would agree to marry him….he stood up and walked to his window..he looked out and a scene caught his eyes…a girl on her knees begging his gateman…he wondered what
was going on and decided to go check…

“what is going on here..??” he asked they turned and were shocked at who they saw..
“oga…its this dirty nonsense….
“will you keep quiet there…young
lady..what is your problem..?” tony asked…she turned but did not look at him…

“sir…i came because of the sweeper job…i..
“you..??” tony exclaimed….
that was when she raised her head…immediately she saw it was the man that almost hit her with his car…she stood up and was leaving but he called her back… “hey…don’t go…i’ll give you the job.”
ifaechi stopped and turned around..
“you will..??”
“yes..just follow me to my office so i’ll make it official..” he said ifaechi was a bit hesitant…the last time she
followed a man to his office he wanted her body….anthony noticed her hesitation
“i’m a nice person…i won’t hurt you.” “okay..” ifaechi said and followed him..they got to his office…

“please sit down..” he said gesturing with his hands…he asked her a few questions…. “okay..ify…can i call you that..??”
“yes sir..”she replied shyly..

“(smiling)…okay..you’re good to go..you canstart now..if you wish..”
“no problem sir…thank you sir..” “you’re welcome”…he said as he watched her leave his office….he returned back to the file piled up on his desk….

ifaechi was happy she finally had something to do aside working at the construction site…the
money would really help her but one thing was bothering her…how she would go about asking for an advance payment…what if he
refuses to give her and even fire her for askingsuch…she sighed…she had to try…she went to the lady who anthony directed her to for her uniform…..

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working hours were over…the workers had gone home…that was how Anthony liked it…being the last person to leave..he’d go
around and check if everything was in order before leaving..he did his usual routine then got into his car and drove off…on his way
home he saw ifaechi walking..he stopped beside her
“hello ify…”
“ah..sir..good evening..” she greeted “evening…kedu ebe i bi..(where do you live? )..come in let me drop you.” he said
“ah…you speak igbo..??”
“a little…learnt in school” he said smiling…”come in”
“eerrm…sir…don’t bother..i…well..i’m not going home yet..” she lied…she didn’t
have a place to stay….she had been staying in the hospital since she left the village
“then where are you going…i can still drop you..” he insisted
“eerrmm…i..its..hospital..”
“hospital..??..why..??” he asked
“my…
“you know what…?..just hop in…i’ll take you
there..”…she got in and he drove her to the hospital…she came down and turned to thank him when he noticed he was also coming down…
“eerrmm…sir…what are you doing..” she asked
“coming in to see your mother of course..”
he said…he liked her simple nature…she was not like the other girls he had met…he felt the urge to help her…he followed her to her mothers room….

“wooow…its this serious..??..why did you say the doctor has refused to treat her..”
“money ooh…sir…the money..i don’t even know how to get it..” she lamented
“how much is it..??”
“six hundred thousand naira…see how huge the amount is..?” she said as she fell on the
chair..sadness suddenly enveloped her…
“hmmmmm….come to my office
tomorrow…i’ll see what i can do..” he said
“heeeeyy ” she screamed as she fell on her knees..”thank you…thank you ooh..God bless
you..”
“its ok..its okay..”

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anthony told his father about the demand of shoe supply as the public has began to order for more..(oh..i forgot to tell you..they owned a shoe producing company)…

“that’s good son..very good but we have a more pressing situation at hand..have you seen the girl..??…you know if you don’t get married in the next three weeks…i mean 19 days…we’ll
loose alot ooh…” his father said
“i’m still looking father..”
“can’t you pick one of those your numerous girls or something…?”
“no way…you want them to come and finish me and reduce me back to square one…those ones are for pleasure….they love money
too much…i want someone simple..someone who…

he stopped as he remembered
ifaechi…he smiled