100 Days With Mr Romero

FLASHBACK:Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Judy sat in her office staring directly at Gideon’s office. What was Roderick telling him? She wondered as she strained her eyes to look further than it could see. She hated Gideon’s appearance lately and there was nothing she could do about it. The atmosphere at work was clouded with grief and sorrow. The people seemed moody and were careful with their laughter and jokes. Ryan was dead and Emma had vanished. Gideon was at the early stage of his grief and his terrible state had spread amongst the staff inflicting them like an infectious disease. Suddenly, Judy’s phone began to ring. She looked around mischievously, grabbed her phone and hurried to the reception.

“What are you saying?” Judy screamed over the phone. She was standing in the reception. “We can’t meet in the office.” she said. “It is too risky. ” she added. She lowered her tune then entered a vacant corner by the reception. “You know what? ” she suggested to the person she was having the conversation with on the phone. “Why don’t we meet in our usual spot instead. ” she said. “I’ll be there at exactly 6pm she told the caller while nodding. She then walked out of the corner. She looked around as if she was scared of people eavesdropping but the people were entering and exiting the building doing their thing. No one heard her she thought then heaved a deep sigh and made her way to her office.

Even though there was not much to do in the office, Judy didn’t want to leave. She needed to prove to Gideon how responsible she was especially at such a difficult stage of his life. She stopped scheduling meetings and sometimes did nothing the whole day. After closing for the day, Judy hurriedly left the office area after stopping a cab that had just dropped someone in the office area.

As Judy sat in the cab, she kept biting her lower lip and hitting one foot which was producing a rhythmic sound. She felt the driver was driving too slow or maybe she felt so because she was in a hurry. She was the only person seated inside the cab. The driver adjusted his mirror and caught a glimpse of her tensed mood from behind. “Are you okay? ” he asked her and Judy pretended not to hear. The man still went ahead and asked her again. “Are You okay ma’am? ” he said. “Just shut up and drive. ” she thundered making the driver a bit shaky. “Sorry. ” he managed to say. Such a cruel beautiful lady he thought and drove her to the outskirt of the city. He had seen more rude customers after all. When they reached the outskirt of the city, Judy got down, paid him and began walking towards the man waving towards her. Before the cab driver left, he had waved and smiled at Judy who smirked instead.

“You are late. ” the man Judy went to meet told her after she walked to meet him. “I was in the office when you called. I had work to do. ” she answered. “What were you thinking? ” she said staring at him while his hands were folded across his chest. “You wanted to show up in the office? Are you this dumb? ” she screamed at him. “Judy I am not a child so talk to me with respect. ” he argued. “If you want some respect and you are claiming to be a man then stop acting like a child. ” she replied looking the other way and sounding harsh. “You are one nasty bitch but I will put up with all your drama. ” he assured her. “You know why? ” he asked and Judy knew he wasn’t requesting an answer. They had the same goal after all. “Gideon is grieving after all . ” He said. “So I am sure no one will suspect us. ” the man added and Judy nodded.

“So for now, we lie low. ” the man further said. “Yea I know what next to do. ” Judy replied. “I want this more than you do. ” she added. “I just came to town. I needed to talk to you before I leave. ” he said. “I wasn’t sure whether you could make it here that’s why I offered to turn up in your office instead.” he told her. “Well henceforth you can’t mention coming to the office again. ” Judy warned. “Relax Judy. ” he said smiling wryly. “Our chance of getting caught at this moment is very slim. ” he assured her. “That’s right but we can’t take our chances. ” she replied pulling her jacket to cover herself properly.

“Let’s talk. ” Judy said. The man lead her to an eatery at the outskirt of the town. Judy could swear not even a soul there was familiar. They start and began conversing in low tunes.