“I’ll fix up your cast right away. You’ll be using that arm in less than two weeks.” His right hand hung limply from his shoulder, but he winced in pain as I examined it.
“Maybe we can catch up sometime and reminisce about old times. I just moved to Orient city though and know no ‘cool’ places. The only site I visit is my new home, in Ugbe Boulevard. Do you know it? “
“Do I know it?” I asked sarcastically. “I live there.”
“What a pleasant coincidence. I guess I could drop by, say later today?”
I hesitated, but then I remembered it was Femi. Sweet old Femi. But one could not be too careful, after seven years, he could be a psychopathic killer on the loose.
“Yes, I guess you can.” He took my phone number with a smile etched on his handsome face while I prepared to put a cast on his arm. Before leaving, he promised to call.
I went back to the ER, helping where I was needed. Within four hours, calm had nearly returned to the hospital, and I was hungry.
I scurried to the elevator in time to stop it from closing up.
The man in the elevator with the expensive-looking pitch black suit was headed to the same floor. His dazzling blue eyes seemed somewhat familiar. A warm cerulean blue. Standing a little over six feet and towering over my meagre height of five feet four inches, he paid me no attention. His left hand slid out of his pocket to reveal a ring with the initials too small to be seen.
“It’s not yet visiting hours. You're here to see someone, I assume,'' I said to get some information out of him.
“I’m here to see Doctor Osayande.” His voice was also vaguely familiar. His gaze was still fixed on the lights on the elevator buttons.
“The medical director? Why?”
“I need a favour from him.”
“Oh.”
He smiled at me then returned to staring at the buttons.
We were almost at our stop when I said “You look really familiar. I feel like I’ve met you before. But I would remember. Your eyes are peculiar.”
This time his smile-slash-chuckle suggested he was in on some inside joke.
I could not make heads or tails why.
We both came out of the elevator and headed left towards the cafeteria. A lot of heads turned to stare at us when we entered the room. But I was not the one they were ogling at. It was my elevator buddy who now had one hand in his pocket and had unbuttoned his suit jacket. He was beckoned by Doctor Osayande who was already relaxed on one of the comfortable blue and apple-green coloured chairs.
I bought a sandwich and sat far away from them, watching them as they spoke to each other. Some of the female and even the male nurses kept on staring at the man who was talking to the medical director. It was clear as day to see why the female nurses drooled as they stared. The man looked like he just stepped out from a photo-shoot. Except it baffled me why the male nurses stared.
Nadia, who finally tore herself away from the liaison with the new male cardiac nurse, placed her tray of food on the table and sat next to me.
“How was the surgery?” I asked.
“She’s going to be alright. Her husband has not left the chapel. He’s still praying.”
She looked up from her juice and tilted her head.
“Oh my god! Am I awake or asleep?”
“What?”
“What do you mean by what? Didn’t you see him?” She pointed at the companion of the medical director.
“Yes, I did. He said he needs a favour from the boss.”
Nadia laughed at me. “How do you know that?”
“He told me.”
“Aiden Essien talked to you? Wait, what kind of favour would he be asking for? He already has everything.”
Aiden Essien. The name sounded familiar. “Who’s he?”
Nadia picked up the sandwich from her tray and took a huge bite from it. “I cannot believe what just came out of your mouth. Who is Aiden Essien?”
“You can’t blame me for not knowing him. Must I know everybody?”
“He’s a billionaire. Like a real one, not like those posers on Instagram. Come on, I’ll tell you who he is.” She brought out her new tablet from her purse and typed in Aiden Essien on the search engine and immediately, several pages sprung up. “He’s the sole heir to the Jaeger fortune. He’s currently the CEO of the Jaeger Group. I think Forbes named him youngest billionaire in Africa this year. I cannot believe you sometimes, Oladeji.” She hissed and continued eating.
“Jaeger, isn’t it German or something?”
“Yes, his father named his company after his German wife, Alexis Jaeger. Apparently, she was the only child, and her father had money like sand on a beach.” I took the flat glittery tablet from her and scrolled downwards.
“The rich will always marry the rich and then get richer. Why do you think he named his company Jaeger? Marriage is a business deal to them,” Nadia went on.
There was a picture of Aiden Essien that captured my attention. He was smiling, a sort of shy smirk with a couple of skyscrapers behind him. The smile was captivating.
Looking up from the tablet, I met his gaze. I glanced away as if I had been caught doing something terrible. When I turned back, Dr Osayande waved at me as if he wanted me to come over to them.
Nadia beamed, shuffling in her seat. I wanted to knock the excitement out of her if only to stop her from looking so childish.
“Dr Osayande,” I greeted him and remained standing.
“Mr Essien, this is Simisola Oladeji. One of, if not the best nurse we have here in St. Cloud. Simi, I’m sure you already know who this is.”
“Yes.”
Aiden stood up and offered his hand. “Miss Simisola, I’m Aiden Essien. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
There was that smile again. What was he smiling about?”
“Aiden has supported this hospital for a long time, although he prefers to remain anonymous. He is here with invitations to his annual Christmas Eve party, and he would like to invite you as well. You should count yourself lucky because you are the only staff member he’s giving an invitation. You can meet me later in my office to get it.”
Dr Osayande drank the dregs of his diet coke and stroked his rough stubble.
“Thank you, Mr Essien.”
“You can drop the formality and call me Aiden.”
“Ai...Aiden,” I stuttered wondering why out of all the personnel in the hospital I was the only one singled out to be invited to a prestigious yet private party of such a man.
‘‘The party will be held at my residence. The details are all in the invite. It will be a delight to have you.”
“I’ll be there, maybe. I may be occupied. But, thanks.”
He looked amused by what I said and laughed lightly as I walked away.
“What did he tell you? Spill it, Oladeji.” Nadia squeezed my arm so tight as if doing that would force the information out of me.
“He invited me to his party. On Christmas Eve.”
Nadia’s subsequent reaction to my words made me nervous. She looked like she was having a stroke.
“Are you okay?” It was my turn to squeeze her arm.
“Did you just say Aiden Essien invited you to his Christmas Eve party?” Her voice turned squeaky.
“Yes,” I replied, finally taking the last bite of my sandwich.
Nadia let out a happy squeal that tilted a few heads in our direction.
“Shhhh.” I hushed her, looking back at the people who knew not when to stop staring and mind their business.
“What was your reply?” she asked after calming down.
“I told him maybe I would attend his party.”
"Maybe?” Nadia spoke in an alarmed tone.
I shrugged and said, “I may decide to come in here Christmas Eve.” ‘
"But you are free that day and the next. The hospital will not collapse without you.”
“Maybe it will.”
“Damn,” she huffed sadly. “You know you need t
his. You need to go out and meet new people.”
“I’ll think about it.” I handed her the tablet from the table, and she placed it back in her purse.
“Look who just came in? The son of a bitch. Whenever I see him, I just want to wring his neck till every breath is sucked out of him. God will definitely punish him.”
Nadia hissed like a snake as she threatened to murder Nicholas, in the hopes of reinstating my misplaced self-esteem from that regrettable night.
Nadia sometimes did not know when to quit, but she could murder anyone for me. All I had to do was say when. And it made me feel better.
In one swift moment, it all came to me when I saw Aiden smile, the shadow of a nurse passing by clouding his face. I had recalled bits and pieces but had doubted them. Now, it all made sense.
He got on his feet and steadily made his way out of the cafeteria.
I shot up so fast I made Nadia gasp and went after him.
“Mr Essien! Aiden!” I called after him.
He spun around gracefully and waited as I ambled towards him.
“You helped me that night.”
“Yes, I did. You were pretty drunk.”
“I never got to thank you. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he spoke, moving in the direction of the elevator.
"Where are your bodyguards? Are they downstairs?"
"What?"
"You've got a ton of money. I was just wondering why you're here alone."
He laughed. "No, I can take care of myself. Trust me."
How foolish.
"Why were you at the bar?" I found myself asking.
He placed a hand on his chest and answered, "Rich people have problems too."
A smile played on his bow-shaped lips.
“Why me?” I demanded to know.
“Why you?” He cocked his head.
“Yes, why invite me to your party? We’ve met once, and you can’t call a drunken conversation a proper one.”
“Because I find you interesting, Ice Queen.”
“That’s your answer? You find me interesting?”
“You don’t like my answer?”
“Just being sceptical.”
“To be honest, the invite was not meant for you, but after seeing you again, I strongly felt you should have it. It is much more preferable than inviting another old man.”
"I guess I can accept that.”
He tossed me a crooked smile.
“Goodbye, Simi,” he said as he entered the elevator.
“Yeah, goodbye.”
The invite was a brilliant silver card that had the faint smell of vanilla and strawberry. Accompanying the card was an expensive bottle of champagne. Nadia yelped and begged, almost going on all fours when she realised I was allowed to bring just one more person along.
“You have to take me with you, Oladeji. You have to.”
Her eyes moistened with pretend tears as she pleaded.
“Alright, but I’m drinking the champagne.”
It was exactly twenty minutes past seven pm when I left the hospital. It gave me ample time to go to the market and get the necessary items I needed to prepare my favourite food; yam and vegetable sauce. For a long time, noodles and a never-ending supply of toasted bread had been the only thing I ate. It was easy to prepare, and it filled my stomach. As I walked through the superstores that sold the needed ingredients for my food, my stomach growled disturbingly. I quickly bought what I needed and took a taxi home.
The CCTV screen on the wall and the lights came alive as I stepped into my living room space, a half-eaten chocolate bar in my mouth.
I took a quick shower and then got ready to cook. After an hour of sweating over the cooker, my doorbell rang shrilly as the song played from the surround system. It was my favourite song from Teju’s new album.
I checked the screen to find Femi there, shifting from one leg to another. The doorbell rang again.
“I’m coming!” I yelled as I adjusted my blue slacks.
“You’re right on time, Femi,” I told him when I opened the door. There was a sweet smile on his face as he stepped in.
“On time for what?”
“Dinner.”
“Oh yeah. I can smell your cooking. Smells delicious.”
“Thanks.”
I steered him towards the dining room, but he changed course and sat on the chair close to the kitchen counter, his arm rested on the dark green marble.
“How’ve you been?” he asked.
“Good. Where have you been all these years?” I asked as I set the table for two.
“I’ve been around. Been busy with countless things I never knew existed.”
“Around is not a place. You just dropped off the face of the earth halfway into our second year. No number, no address or nothing.”
“I had to leave on short notice. My parents are to blame really.”
“Still…” I rolled my eyes.
“I tried contacting you, but you guys moved, and I could not trace you.”
“Still…” I repeated
“I’m here now, aren’t I?”
His question went unanswered. He flexed his arm as he stood up, and his dark blue cotton vest went up. A mark I once saw underneath his stomach years ago that was only a stretch of birthmark had become widened and more pronounced.
“What happened? It’s larger now.” I asked as he dragged the vest downwards to cover it up.
“Nothing.”
His short mysterious answers only left me more curious.
“Nice painting.”
Femi stared at the painting at the top of the wall in the dining room.
“This is one of my favourites, painted by the artist Ovo. Two others are in the living room. Have you heard of him?”
.“I haven’t.”
“He’s really famous. I’m surprised you don’t know him.”
He shrugged.
. “It’s amazing how he captures people’s emotions on canvas. Captivating is it not?”
“Yes, it is.” Femi tried to sound interested but burst out laughing.
“I know nothing about art,” he confessed.
“I won’t hold it against you.”
He helped me in bringing glasses and bottled water from the fridge and placed them on the table. We talked as we ate.
“I thought you were going to be a biochemist, invent an elixir of youth, discover some cure for something,” Femi teased.
. “I find nursing rather fulfilling.”
“Helping people has always been one of your strong points.”
“And you?”
I emptied the water in my glass down my throat, surprised by my thirst.
“Believe it or not, I’m a private detective now. I actually got here to work hand in hand with the Orient City Police Department.”
“No, kidding. “
“Yeah.”
“What’s the case?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Cause I may have to kill you.”
“Ha, that’s hilarious. You’re a spy now? Tell me. I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
He studied my face carefully before speaking.
“Um, this is really hush-hush business. There’s been a series of abductions. Three young women. All were taken at different times without any ransom being given. Two of them in broad daylight.”
“Is there a connection?”
“None whatsoever.”
“Wow. Who would have thought tiny Femi would become a detective?”
“Who indeed?”
He tried to hide his smile but failed to.
“This is absolutely delicious,” he commented on the meal.
“Thank you.”
“And how are your sister and her family?” Femi asked after a while.
“They’re alright. The twins are all grown up now. I can’t wait to let Ava know you’re back."
“I really missed you guys, oh. To think we�
��d meet again like this. How random.”
We finished eating and cleared the dishes.
“Dessert?” I asked.
“Yes, please.”
I brought out a medium-sized chocolate cake from the fridge, one of the many experiments of my sister’s that reached my grasp, and we ate in the living room. Femi spotted the card on the coffee table and asked, “What’s this?”
“An invitation.”
He read it. “Aiden Essien?”
“You know him?”
“As well as you can know a billionaire. You got invited to his party?”
“As you can see.”
“You know him personally?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Are you going?”
“Yes, with my friend, Nadia.”
He leaned backwards. “I don’t trust these rich folks. They always have something up their sleeves.”
“How are you sure Aiden has something up his sleeves? Are your detective senses tingling?”
“The rich are different,” he answered.
Probably because they got all that money to spend and throw fancy parties.
“Of course.”
His lips parted to form a smile.
“I really missed you Simi,” he said, his voice conveying the truth with each word.
Chapter 3
By seven thirty pm on Christmas Eve, Nadia arrived at my place and blasted her car horn to hurry me up.
I put my hair in an up-do and squeezed my feet into a new pair of pumps which paired nicely with the sea blue flapper dress. I was pulling out my big guns.
Nadia did not hold back either. She went all out, from her makeup to her red dress and stilettos on her feet.
“I’m so happy you agreed to take me along, Oladeji,” she said as she drove.
“It was nothing.”
“Well, thanks.”
When she sped up on the highway, I got carsick.
“Slow down, Nadia,” I begged.
She chuckled silently. “Why don’t you get a car, Oladeji? This public transportation lifestyle doesn’t suit you.”
“I hate driving, you know that.”
“Is that one excuse?”
I ignored her question. “Besides, I could always use that money for something else. Buying a car is the least of my worries.”
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