If you haven’t read Mr Shaun’s Women part 3 [click to link]
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So here’s the last part of Mr Shaun’s Women.
-theFiliac
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“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” – The Holy Bible
We were together just once, Mr Shaun’s daughter and I. And it wasn’t only because it did little to satisfy my hunger for the older lady Shaun; it just didn’t feel right. As it turned out, my conscience was still kicking, even as it took its last few breaths.
Luckily, I had just been a passing fancy, a momentary crush; as fleeting as a heartbeat, one of the many I concluded she must have had. The spoilt little girl was over me the second I climbed off her.
She went back to her nasty ways, calling me names when she wasn’t totally ignoring me. It would have greatly angered me if it hadn’t deeply pleased me.
Mrs Shaun apparently was out of town for a while. Mr Shaun’s daughter had been away on holiday and only just returned in order to resume for school in about a few weeks. She was a student in a university nearby and would be going to school from home.
I could immediately see how that would get in the way of what Mrs Shaun and I had. We would never have the house to ourselves again. She would not dare to be seen in public with another man, which meant hotels were out of it.
A few days later, while I was still mourning Mrs Shaun and trying to bury myself in her stead under all the work I could find to do, Mr Shaun called me into his office. He looked and sounded excited.
“My daughter’s coming home today.”
I raised an eyebrow at the emphasis Mr Shaun put on the words ‘My daughter’. I remembered he had two of them, but clearly, this one was special. Perhaps she was the younger—the youngest of Mr Shaun’s women.
“She got into the country yesterday,” he said. “Her flight from Lagos is by 11.45. I’d like you to pick her up for me. Take the Range, I’ve told her to look out for it.”
I wasn’t keen to be around another one of Mr Shaun’s spoilt and obnoxious daughters. I was going through withdrawal, the last thing I needed was another Mrs Shaun lookalike giving me reason to want to harm her physically; since I couldn’t do it with my fist, I would turn to the only other weapon I had.
The long drive out of town to the airport with nothing but my own thoughts was refreshing. It gave me plenty of time to indulge in my new favourite pastime, self-loathing.
I was a good man once, you see. A short while ago I would have been the first amongst a multitude to cast the first stone at an adulterous woman. I couldn’t even imagine sleeping with another dude’s girlfriend, let alone cheat on mine.
And just like that, I had become this person. I couldn’t even blame it on alcoholism, peer pressure or drugs. I had never given into any of those. Until I met Mrs Shaun. And I couldn’t darn well blame it on her now, could I?
….
Someone rapped lightly on the passenger’s side window of the SUV as I sat lost in my thoughts. I had shut my eyes in half-sleep; those seats are mad comfortable. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the harsh sunlight pouring in. I frowned angrily.
What silly joke was this? I pulled the window down and stared at the girl.
“Ibironke, what are you doing here?” I asked harshly. I was not looking forward to driving back to town with her along for the ride.
The girl looked at me in confusion for a long moment, then she smiled a beautiful smile. It was Mrs Shaun’s mature smile, with Ibironke’s perfect teeth and gorgeous lips, and Mr Shaun’s caring, sincere eyes.
It was impossible not to love this one.
“I’m sorry, I guess nobody told you. I’m Ronke’s twin sister.”
I had never felt so embarrassed in my life, especially since she had repaid my mean brashness with sweet kindness. I jumped out of the car as quickly as I could and helped her load her boxes and bags into the back of the Rover.
“I see you’ve met my sister,” she said as we drove out of the airport. It was just as well since I was still feeling too stupid to start a conversation. Thankfully, she had a forgiving spirit.
“Yes,” I said meekly.
“She can be such a handful sometimes.”
We shared a knowing laugh.
“So you’re dad’s new PA. He has told me a lot about you.”
“He has?”
That was when I realized Mr Shaun and I never spoke about his family or mine. Probably because the first time he asked about mine, I was too ashamed to tell him I hadn’t seen or spoken to them in years. It’s not something I like to talk about, and Mr Shaun was reasonable enough not to push.
“Yeah, he says you’re really hardworking. That you’re different from all the others and he trusts you with his life.”
It felt as though someone strapped a mechanical claw around my heart and squeezed. The pain those words caused me were physical; my heart bled. And even though the air-condition was on, I suddenly couldn’t breathe. I turned it off and pulled down the windows.
“Hope you don’t mind,” I croaked.
“It’s okay. I love the feel of the wind in my face.”
They sounded like words from a love song.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Ibidunni.”
Such a lovely name too.
“And forget not that the Earth delights to feel your bare feet, and the Winds long to play with your hair.” – Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
….
In the days that followed, I became increasingly drawn to Mr Shaun’s awesome daughter. It was clear to anyone who was interested to see, that she was Mr Shaun’s love, and why.
She was also an Economics major and her father was only so glad I could help out with her school work on the weekends, even though it was really just an excuse to spend time together; her grades were nearly as perfect as she.
I taught her a neat little trick for working with numbers though. She was so thrilled when she got it that she hugged me close in excitement and pecked me on the cheek. It was an innocent enough hug-and-peck, but I swear we both blushed a little when it was over. There was awkward silence for a few seconds then we both started to laugh.
Neither of us knew exactly how it happened, but we started to really like each other—like really really like each other.
Her evil twin sister didn’t care one bit about what was budding between us. By now she was used to the sweeter version of her being everyone’s favourite. Ibironke was content as long as she got to be bitchy to everyone and do as she pleased. She also got a lot more stuff; sort of like a bribe, I guess.
Even though Ibidunni and I were home alone a number of times, I did everything possible to make sure we didn’t have sex.
But we’re only human. Ibironke was always going off with boyfriends and coming back late at night drunk and reeking of fornication. Naturally, one day it just happened. It was passionate and gentle; nothing like I had ever felt or imagined.
I was afraid the lovemaking would make things weird between us, rather it drew us closer. We didn’t do it often, but every time we did, it was more special than the last.
Once again, everything was perfect with the world.
I went to the house one Saturday afternoon to drop off some things I had picked up for the kitchen at Mr Shaun’s request. Ibidunni opened the door, she had been expecting me. She looked lovely in her thin strapped top and shorts. I had barely had time to take in her gorgeous legs when she jumped me with the familiar warm hug, and we kissed.
I shut my eyes and smelt her hair as I allowed myself get swallowed up in her lingering embrace. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world, that hug. Then I felt the vile presence and opened my eyes.
There stood Mrs Shaun, back from her extended trip to the South, with a look of Death on her face and fire in her eyes. She looked so old and tired; nothing like her fresh, young daughter. What had I been thinking?
“What’s going on here?” she said coolly, causing her daughter to let go off me as speedily as she could manage without looking too guilty. ”Take those bags to the kitchen and get Mariam to start with the cooking.”
“OK, ma,” Ibidunni answered dutifully and went off sheepishly with the bags.
Mrs Shaun stared at me for a full minute before turning and walking away silently. She was a smart woman. This was not the time or place to thrash this out.
On Monday I got the call. I had known it would come, when the twins would be away in school. I went straight to the house as Mr Shaun instructed. I didn’t even press the doorbell before Mrs Shaun pulled the door open for me to enter. The moment I shut the door behind me, she slapped me hard across the face.
“Are you insane?” she screamed. “What do you think you’re doing?”
I stared at her without saying a word. I was so angry at her I was deathly close to calling her bad names.
“Where have you been?” I simply said.
“That is none of your business!”
“Then it is also none of your business who I fall in love with!”
“Oh my God!” Mrs Shaun put her hands to her head. She couldn’t believe her ears. I couldn’t believe my ears. Did I just say that out loud? ”My daughter! You’re in love with my daughter?! Have you no decency? No shame? No regard for a man who took you off the streets and took you into his home?!”
“Maybe you should ask yourself the same thing.”
She swung at me with her flattened palm once more. The first slap had stung badly, I was not about to suffer a second one. I grabbed Mrs Shaun by the wrist and flung her forward. I merely wanted to unbalance her a little, to warn her not to raise her hand at me again, but in my anger I had forgotten how lightweight and fragile she was.
Mrs Shaun went flying into the marble wall head first.
I heard the thump and then the beating of my own heart, threatening to break out of its cage. I watched her as she staggered towards the living room; everything was in slow motion now.
I followed her, not sure what to do, hoping she was alright. Eventually, she stumbled into the couch. Her hand came away and I saw the huge gash on her forehead, the blood was just starting to pour out.
“I’m sorry,” I said, “Let me take you to the hospital.”
“Don’t touch me!” she yelled.
“I’m sorry, It was an accident.”
“Tell that to the police!”
“Mrs Shaun….” She had never let me call her by her first name. “Please, don’t do this.” How could I possibly explain assaulting Mr Shaun’s wife to the police? They wouldn’t believe me if I told them she slapped me, and why. Nobody would; not even Ibidunni.
But I had bigger problems.
Mrs Shaun picked up her phone and dialled a number. “Oh my God, Honey!” her voice had suddenly gotten teary and she was sobbing heavily, there were tears streaming down her face now—blood and tears. She was talking to her husband. “No, I’m not okay!” she hollered, “Your PA just tried to rape me!”
Shit!
Just then there was a knock on the back door. “Madam, you dey a’right? I dey hear noise for outside for here.” It was Layi, the Gardner. He had never liked me. If he walked in and saw the scene, he would thwack me on the head with a rake and hold me down till the police got there. If he was feeling charitable.
I turned on my heels and ran. Thankfully, the security guard at the gate hadn’t heard anything; there was a long driveway. I drove straight to my apartment; I would have a few minutes to pick up a few essentials before the police thought to come there.
There was no point trying to explain. Mr Shaun had warned me about his family in the most subtle of ways. He had said, in not so many words, do not f*ck with my women.
It was my word against that of the wife of one of the most reputable business men in the country. Ibironke would come forward and claim that I had coerced her into laying with me as well, even though she was not a minor. Her sister might not, but she wouldn’t believe I ever really loved her; she would be too disappointed to stick her neck out for me.
I made it out just in time. I could hear the approaching sirens as I bounded in the opposite direction. I didn’t get everything, but I got most of it. Some clothes, my cash, my papers, my ATM card. I took a cab to an ATM in a different district—too risky to be driving around in Mr Shaun’s car—and withdrew the maximum limit for the day. Too bad I couldn’t empty my account.
….
I’m on a bus now heading out of town, far away. It’s a place I’ve never been to, and I know no one there. I can’t tell you where though, lest you snitch, or become an accessory to an attempted crime. I’d rather not even tell you my name.
If the police ever catch me, I’ll be spending the rest of my life rotting away in a maximum security prison somewhere, getting raped, no doubt. Luckily, I’ll be dead in like two years.
Instinctively, I look at the time on my Movado wristwatch; it was the first gift Mrs Shaun ever gave me. I wonder how much I’ll get for it if i can pawn it. I just hope it can’t be traced back to me; one of the advantages of living in a third world country; they’ll probably never find me.
I know I messed up big time. I could have had the awesome life, retired young like Mr Shaun’s last PA and set up my own firm, be my own boss.
Instead, I chose to mess with Mr Shaun’s women.
….the end….
-theFiliac
“Everyman builds his World in his own image. He has the power to choose, but no power to escape the necessity of choice.” – Ayn Rand
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