UPSIDE DOWN WORLD
There’s no secret in life. The next day many of the national dailies bear the news on the breakup of the relationship between Felix and Mary. Why would national dailies be interested in the private life of these young people?
Felix failed to understand that he’s gradually becoming a sort of celebrity. Recently Mary’s role in the startup initiative of an International Financial Centre had projected her as a rising female voice in the business arena.
Many young people had begun to see these two as worthy role models. While some others on the left wing were full of jealousy. Either way their relationship at this crucial time found its way into the media. Felix didn’t like this but Mary didn’t care at all. She wanted a life. She believed it’s better to be alive unmarried than die while pursuing a marriage. Everyone to his or her own opinion.
One of the benefactors of this crumbling affair was Dr Koyejo. Life is about seizing opportunity as it comes and he grabbed it with his two hands. The hedge is down. Someone’s loss becomes another person’s gain.
Dr Koyejo was far more romantic than Felix. A woman needs more care than money. The doctor gave her top notch care, like she’d never had all her life.
You know what it is to pamper one with affection? That’s what he did. And he did it with such dexterity Mary was quick to forget Felix. For the first time, she’s living without fear or apprehension of foreboding evil.
She was happy she finally had the boldness to do away with the burden of Felix. Mary was not one of the girls easily controlled by money.
Felix on the other hand sank back into his old workaholic mode. With full impetus he did his work and built up new projects. He further researched into the components that will make the International Financial Center a world class.
Himself, Mary and other stakeholders met regularly to discuss the way forward; strictly business.
Felix is a very principle gentleman who live by a high standard of self-esteem and respect. After doing all he could to make Mary see reasons why their marriage should come to be and she refused he respected her choice.
Being the gentleman he’s he continued with his obligations to Mary with no string attached. It was in one of their discussions he told her to continue to lead the new startup because he wanted her to succeed even when they don’t marry.
As they were in the board meeting Mary looked at Felix for the umpteenth time. She wonder what kind of man he’s. She expected him to raise dusts and fight dirty. Instead he had moved on with his life. Could Mary also tell herself sincerely that she’s moved on with her life.
Mary remembered Felix promise which couldn’t pass the test of time: “I don’t break promise. Having given you my promise: I’ll wait for you until I have the confirmation that you’re married. Until then I hold my love true for you, till the gang of oceans dry up and the mountains melt.”
She was lost in thought when she was called upon to contribute to the discourse. To save her face Felix quickly rose and speak for her.
After the meeting as they stepped out, she walked close to him to thank him.
“I’ll always be there to defend you; for your success church girl.” He smiled as he walked to his car.
As she got home, her phone rang and she couldn’t mistaken who’s on the line. She guessed right. Koyejo seem to have unlimited call credit. He will call her morning, afternoon, evening and night. He isn’t like Felix.
“I’m calling you just to let you know how much I care.”
“I know you care my doctor.” She smiled.
“I want you to remember the outing.”
“I told you my dad wouldn’t allow me go out except he approves.”
“Are you kidding me? Big girl like you.”
“That’s my house rule sir. We don’t break our house rule.”
“Old and archaic rules are giving way to modern rules. An eighteen year old girl is free to be with anyone. I was raised in the West.”
“We play by different rule,” she replied.
“When love is there we find middle ground,” he replied. “Don’t you think so?”
Mary was quiet for a while. She’s beginning to love Dr Koyejo and she felt like throwing caution into the air. He’s from the West she thought. She had never met or seen a man as entertaining as Koyejo. Life was boring and he seem to be the life wire she needed this moment in her life. He’s become her Mr Motivator. This is what she calls him.
“I feel like seeing you my expensive perfume,” he said. Mary smiled back on the phone.
“I’ll check on you at the hospital tomorrow while coming from the office.”
“No, let’s make it an outing.”
“Let’s not go there,” Mary was firm and he acquiesced in order not to lose her offer.
At Felix’s end there’s a bolt in his domain. Jessica the daughter of a royalty came on scene. She was Felix’s school mate who had been abroad this past decade. They only get in touch by phone as old friends. She’s unmarried.
She got a hint of Felix’s failed relationship through another friend.
“How did you know his relationship has failed?”
“The news is everywhere in the print media.” The friend answered Jessica.
Quite frank she’s been a good girl right from school. She’s one of his few female old school mates he’s in contact with.
Really, Jessica had affinity for him and her first instinct was that she wouldn’t want him hurt. She wanted to be of help above all else. She’s always on the phone to make him happy. In no time, they began to have more time to talk and discuss intimate things. Then Felix realized she too wasn’t into any relationship.
“We will be thirty two next birthday. What’s holding you too as a lady?”
“Destiny seem to be keeping me around for you – maybe or maybe not.” Jessica teased him.
In about a month later, Jessica moved down to Nigeria to be closer to Felix world. Although the reason she gave him was that she’s around to see her parents and to try one or two businesses in the country. To an extent that’s true.
She’s a royalty and many of her brethren held political offices in the country one time or the other. Money and influence weren’t her problem, she could foot her bill. She also could be said to be a powerful lady based on the strings she could pull around. Settling down back in her home country was easy for her.
Her coming to town was a relief to Felix. In life, there’s never any void. Her affection was growing within him but he was being very careful. There was a space within him no one had been able to occupy. The church girl was still holding the ace in a region of his life. Though the church girl is gone to save her head but her vestige is still much abounding.
Here comes Jessica the dovelike lady of high pedestal into the life of the CEO of Experon Payment System. Jessica unlike Mary was of the aristocratic family she knew how to handle power and riches gracefully. If married to her, she would manage the pressure around him as an emerging force among the younger generation of rich guys.
What Mary lacked, Jessica seem to have. This is an intriguing phase. What someone tossed away becomes a new found opportunity for another.
We hope they all find bountiful joy in their new relationships.
Watch out for Part 23
Author: WALE ADEWUMI
