100 Days With Mr Romero

“He’s still not answering his calls?” Estelle asked, watching a pacing Emmalia from where she sat, rocking Rayn to sleep.

“No, still no answer,” she told her. “Gideon promised that he would be home early today. He said he was finishing up with work and will be home early, so what’s holding him back?”

“Calm down, maybe he had something to finish up at work, he’ll be back soon-” She paused Emmalia raised her hand.

“Hey, it’s me… I wanted to ask, is my husband still in his office? My husband? My husband is your boss… Mr. Brynch!” Emmalia snapped after the secretary kept asking her questions which only provoked her. “This is Emmalia speaking,” she said, this time in a much gentler tone. “He already left? When?” Her tone went back to its high pitch. “Hours ago? Ok, thank you… No, no problem, it’s fine.” After that, she ended the call, an annoyed look on her face.

“Is he on his way home?” Estelle asked.

“I don’t know.” Emmalia shrugged. “But I doubt it. According to his secretary, he left hours ago. It’s a thirty-minute drive from the office to home, even the traffic wouldn’t hold him for hours, he has gone to only God knows where and that’s why he isn’t answering my calls,” when she finished she was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling in anger.

“Calm down Emmalia-”

“I’m not even angry, I’m just disappointed. I was hoping he would be home early, then we could watch a movie or something. He used to make time before coming home early, but lately… I hardly even see him nowadays, he is out early in the morning and returns when I’m off to bed. Give me Rayn, you should go sleep, I’m heading up.”

“Ok,” Estelle muttered, handing a sleeping Rayn over to her. “Goodnight.”

“Night.”

When Gideon returned home that night Estelle was waiting for him in the living room, looking worried. She didn’t see him at first, so he used that moment to check himself out in the mirror placed at the entrance of the living room. He ran his fingers through his hair to make them a little less rough-looking before he proceeded. “Hey, why are you still up by this time, it’s already late.”

“Gideon, where have you been?” She rushed to him. “Emmalia has been worried sick about you.”

“I’m sorry,” He apologized. “But you shouldn’t have waited.”

“Go apologize to her, not me. She was looking forward to you two spending the evening together. She even baked some cookies in excitement and you disappointed.” She raised her hands to stop him before he could provide any explanation. “Any explanation you have, go give it to your wife. I’m going to sleep, goodnight.” She pinched his arm on her way out.

“Ouch, that hurt.” He sighed. “Goodnight Estelle.” After she was gone, he proceeded upstairs. The passage was dark, but a bright light seeped from the small space under the door of the master bedroom. “She’s still up?” The moment he opened the door, Emmalia’s eyes flew open, scaring Gideon.

“He finally returns,” she muttered, sitting up while rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “I thought you planned to stay out till the next morning. Did you have fun, wherever you went?”

He shook his head. “Sorry, I had a busy time at work. I had to stay back.” He let out a yawn. “You should go back to sleep.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Had a busy time at work? That isn’t what your secretary said when I called.” Gideon froze, he turned around slowly to face Emmalia who was now fully awake. “What, cat got your tongue?”

“You called my secretary?”

“Of course I did, I wasn’t supposed to? You said you would be back early yesterday yet you weren’t and to make things worse… excuse me.” She pushed the duvet back, turning to see the time clearly on the big clock behind her. “It’s a few minutes to two, you came back even past your usual time. So, are you going to continue with the lie or you’re going to tell me where you’ve been? And please don’t lie to me again, you’re already making me sound like an insecure wife.”

“Fine, I lied, I’m sorry. I went out for a drink with the boys. It’s been a while and I decided I would go out with them tonight. We stopped at the club, had a few drinks, got to talking, and here I am. I wasn’t with my watch so I didn’t check the time.”

Emmalia softened after that. “Then why didn’t you say so at first? Why did you have to lie? I’m not your mother Gideon, I won’t beat you if you decide to go clubbing with your best friend. You shouldn’t hide stuff from me, I’m your wife.”

He smiled. “I know, I’m sorry. Am I forgiven?” He took off his tie, walking over to her slowly.

A smile pulled at Emmalia’s lips, but she shook her head and said in a firm voice, “Don’t even think about it, you stink of alcohol. Also, my mouth is bitter, you can’t kiss me.”

“Urrgh,” he grumbled. “I have missed you. We should go out sometime Emmalia.”

“We could go on a date this Friday?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I was thinking more like a week at Hawai? Just the two of us, we could leave Rayn with your parents and Estelle?” He suggested.

“No, no, we don’t need to do that. I agree that we need to make out more time for each other, but we don’t have to travel the whole way to Hawaii for that. Whenever you’re free, we could go out with Rayn, have a little picnic at the park. OK?” Gideon let out a low grunt as a reply. “Will you be free on Friday? My mum is holding a small party for the new shop, she wanted to know if you’ll be able to make it.”

“Sorry, I’ll be too busy, you go with Rayn.”

“I knew you would be busy,” she muttered. “Anyways goodnight,” she said and rolled to her side. “Off the light whenever you’re done.” Gideon sighed, wishing he could say more so they wouldn’t just go to bed with her being disappointed.

“Goodnight,” he said instead.

~~~

Gideon sighed in relief as no news of him came out in the papers, that has been the only thing on his mind that morning. He was extra careful last night and had taken Judy to the VIP section for privacy, but sometimes they still managed to catch a little snippet of him. Nothing happened between him and Judy last night, but it almost did. It was why when he felt the sudden urge to kiss Judy he knew he had to get the hell out of there. Judy was a beautiful woman, he had come across hundreds of beautiful women, but since he met Emmalia he had never been attracted to a single one, till Judy.

She entered his office that morning with a bright smile. Her smile wasn’t the only different thing, Gideon was well aware of her dressing that day. Usually, she wore a decent-looking gown and always had her hair straight, but that morning it was obvious that she had gone the extra miles in her looks. Her hair was curled and styled to the side now, which did justice with the aid of the makeup she had on in helping to pop her eyes out. Her body was wrapped in a gown that was a little on the inappropriate side for what one should wear to the office. The black gown was short and tight, it also didn’t help that she wasn’t wearing any bra and he could see her nipples. “Good morning,” she greeted in a cheery voice. “How was your night?”

He cleared his throat. “Good.”

“I wanted to thank you for last night. I’ve always wanted to enter the VIP section, but it’s always fully booked whenever I try. Also, I had fun last night, I can’t believe I got to party with Mr. Brynch himself. I know it’s crazy, but whenever you are free, if you want, we could go out again?”

“No, no Judy, stop. This isn’t the club anymore, we’re back at work, you can’t speak of last night.”

She pouted, but it was quickly replaced with a smile. “Oh, I understand.” She opened her bag which hung from her shoulders and brought out a black tie. “I just wanted to give you your tie, you left that in the club yesterday before you hurried away. I was calling you back, but you were in such a hurry you didn’t hear me.

“Oh… that’s where I left it. Listen, Judy, can you not tell my wife about last night?”

“Last night?”

“Yeah, she wouldn’t like that much, so can you not tell her?”

“Sure.”

Gideon left out a sigh of relief. “Good, you may leave now.