“Her father has shown up? Ei, this man too!” Deladem wondered, his spoon in his hand as he and his twin sister sat at the table, just about done with their dinner. “So he just shows up after like five or six years and just expects her to come running to him? Ei.”

Delasi shook her head, her eyes on the phone screen, where Becky had typed out a long, angry message on the group chat. “Mmm-hmm. And apparently, he’s not sorry for what happened.”

Deladem’s eyes grew wide. “Ah! Seriously? He’s not sorry?”

Delasi shook her head. “As far as this message goes, nope.”

“Ah, but this man! How can you not be sorry? After you ran away and caused your wife to fall into depression and die and you totally abandoned your children? Ei, na which kind mind this man get?”

“Hmmm. It’s shocking. But Becky’s really angry, judging by the message she’s put up. It’s a bit scary, to be honest…”

“Yeah, yeah. We need to get her to calm down,” Deladem agreed. “The way this matter can heat her up, someone should check up on her. Let me try and call her…”

Delasi watched as he quickly got up from the table and headed to the living room to get his phone. She knew it was more than just seeking to check on their friend; he wanted to end the conversation as quickly as he could.

If that wasn’t the standard way he acted around her.

She sighed, watching on as he took the phone and tried calling Becky. Anything to try and avoid talking to her.

He slowly walked back towards the dining room, shaking his head as it appeared she was not answering.

Hmmm. That aside, I really hope someone gets through to her. I’m sure Asor will be in touch with her. And Clarence too… ei, wait! Clarence sef…

The memory of seeing him in that Uber that evening sprung to mind. She was not in doubt that it was Clarence she saw in that car; it was definitely him. But the question remained: why would he be hanging around Shalom Temple on a Saturday afternoon?

As Deladem placed his phone down, she blurted out, “Erm, Dela?”

He looked straight at her. “Yeah?”

“Umm, as far as you know, has Clarence been meeting with Bishop Gordon for prayers or something at church?”

Deladem squinted, then shook his head. “Not that I know of. Why?”

“Because I saw him around the church this afternoon when I went for rehearsals. He was in an Uber coming from the church, and I was just wondering why, because it’s not something you’d expect, to see him around our church, since he’s a Methodist and all.”

Deladem had a look of wonder on his face for a moment, then he shrugged. “Ehh, maybe he was just going there to pray. After all, he doesn’t need to see Bishop directly. Just come and pray or something. And it’s just the choir rehearsing, and… uh…”

She looked on as he drifted off, his eyebrows suddenly furrowing together. Was there something he was remembering?

After a few moments, he looked at her. “Um, remember when we all came over for Sunday service a while back?”

She nodded.

“If I remember correctly, when Bruce and I came to the restaurant, you were with some of the choristers, right?”

“Oh yeah, yeah! Lovia, Felicia and Irene!” Delasi recollected. “I even introduced them to him before we went over for the items… wait a second…”

Now it was occurring to her.

Lovia, Felicia and Irene.

True. Clarence had been introduced to them.

Was he… was he there to see one of them or something?

But… but it was just an introduction. It wasn’t like they exchanged numbers or anything. Surely he hadn’t jumped to chasing one of them this quickly…

“Because when we joined him, he pointed in your direction and was like, your choristers are fine girls, and I was saying that he, instead of coming to pray to God, he’s watching girls. So na he make serious all along? Ei, Nii Ayi Addy paa…”

Well, well, well! That was a surprise.

Delasi shook her head in amusement and disbelief. So Clarence was actually chasing one of her friends?

“Wow, Mr. Clarence Addy!” she laughed. “So small intro I did for him and he’s already making his move? Wow, this brother…”

“Hmm! Augusco guy wey dey like pick sharp moves diɛɛ, I no see some before,” Deladem remarked. “But I wonder which one he’s going after.”

Delasi’s face turned thoughtful. “Hmmm, well… out of the three girls, two of them were in church when I called before getting there. So… it could be Felicia or Irene. But… who could it be?”

“Hmmm. I guess you’ll have to investigate it.”

“Oh yeah! I most certainly will. It definitely is one of those two. I’ll find out soon enough.”

***

“Mr. Martinique, I don’t understand! I just don’t understand-“

“And it is not your job to understand what I do! This is my company, and what I say goes! You have no right to question me!”

Bruce shook his head, rubbing his eyes while the verbal battle above him and Quaye raged on. Mr. Bortey was in the office of the boss yet again, questioning him on why he had it out for Bruce so much.

Bruce had come to meet a small sheet of paper on his desk that morning. It was from the boss, and it had a number of duties which he was supposed to complete before the end of day.

These requests included creating elaborate PowerPoint presentations for internal team-building sessions and conducting in-depth market research for products unrelated to his department.

These were tasks other people were paid to do, and as far as he knew, those people were in the office. None of them were on leave or had any emergency. So where was this coming from?

Just as he took his seat, he received a call from Mr. Martinique, who was as straightforward as could be. “I hope you’ve seen the list of assignments on your desk. I expect you to be done with them before the day ends. No excuses! Or there will be hell to pay!”

Bruce didn’t even get to put in a word before the call ended.

His boss arrived later to find him reluctantly undertaking the market research and questioned why he wasn’t doing his regular tasks. All it took was for Bruce to show him the note and inform him what had been said to him, and the elderly man flew into a rage.

Now the entire office could hear him and Mr. Martinique having a go at each other, and honestly, everyone was rooting for Mr. Bortey. They were just as fed up as the Finance Director was.

“Sir, with the greatest of respect, the fact that this is your company doesn’t mean you can do with your employees as you please. Bruce already has a lot on his plate. This department has financial statements that must be completed and submitted before the week ends. You can’t just dump other assignments alien to his department on his desk. It’s not like those supposed to carry them out are absent, they’re all in the office. You’re not being fair, sir, you’re not. I don’t do this, but sir, with all due respect, you’re just not being fair to Bruce. He doesn’t deserve this!”

Bruce, along with Quaye, were in their workspaces, their ears cocked and following every word.

A moment of silence followed after that argument. Bruce shook his head. “I sure sey he just go tell am sey make he lef ein office,” he muttered to Quaye.

“Abi if you be witch diɛɛ, so norr,” Quaye replied. “He no get any sensible logic behind the nibbies he dey do, so he no get anything talk.”

No sooner had he spoken than the loud, piercing voice of Lorenzo Martinique echoed.

“This is my company, and I’ll do what I see fit to run its operations. Now please, get out of my office.”

“Sir-“

“Out! Of my office! And let this be the last time you confront me on this matter, do you understand? Leave! Now!”

Bruce and Quaye shook their heads. Just as they expected. The man, for whatever reason, just would not accept he was being unreasonable.

A couple of seconds later, and Mr. Bortey returned to the office. He looked at Bruce and shook his head and sighed. It was clear from the look on his face that he was tired and resigned to this unfair status quo.

“See, Bruce, I don’t know what else to say,” he commented. “I really don’t. I don’t know whether he’s jealous of you or he’s seen something in the spirit about you… I don’t know. But it’s just madness at this stage. Because how do you do this? Huh? And when you ask him why he’s doing this to you, he’ll never say anything. He’ll just sack you from the office. Who hasn’t tried to talk to him? Miss Charway, Frank, Lawrence… we’ve all spoken to him. This man won’t budge.”

Quaye folded his arms and shook his head. Bruce simply sighed, his head resting against his hand.

“Bruce. At first I said that this shall pass, and you should just concentrate on your work and do what you need to do. But now, I’m tired. Look, I’m sure you’re looking for another job, just try and get a new one and leave this place. It’s not worth staying here. This man has made it clear he’ll be wicked to you just because he can. I really don’t want to lose your services, but it’s not worth you going through this hell. So please, do wild and find your way out.”

Bruce nodded and quietly answered, “Yes, sir.”

Yeah, it was obvious he needed to get out of Sandfeld as soon as possible. This torment would not be ending any time soon. The sooner that ‘movement’ by Deladem worked, the better it would be for him.

***

“… so you realize that the ways of God just cannot be understood by us. Because in the grand scheme of things, if you truly think about it, there’s no way a holy, righteous and just God should be using tainted people and situations to bring about His glory. I mean, look at Judah. He went to sleep with his daughter-in-law and got her pregnant. I mean, seriously. There’s no way- if it was me, there’s no way the Saviour of the world should be coming through that bloodline. Absolutely not. But God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, and honestly, we should be grateful, because if He chose only perfectly righteous people, we’ll read the Bible and just give up and say we can’t do this Christianity thing. Because we’ll never be able to match up…”

Wednesday service was ongoing, and as always, you could count on Bishop Gordon to passionately teach the word of God to the congregation before him. The auditorium was partly filled, but most of the congregants present had their notebooks and pens busy as they penned down what the man of God had to say.

One of the congregants was Delasi, who was seated among her fellow choristers. As she jotted down some notes, she turned to her side.

Next to her was Felicia.

She looked to the front.

Irene was seated in the first row, busily tapping on her iPad.

For a moment, her attention waned off the words of Bishop Gordon, as she began to reflect on what she and Deladem had discovered.

From the look of things, Clarence was chasing one of the two girls. The question was, who?

Could it be Irene? It could be. She’s a proper cutie. Adorable baby girl. And she’s a Ga girl too, so it’s likely she and Clarence would bond paaa on that note. I can see why Clarence would go after her, I mean, she’s soooooo cute! Irene diɛɛ, stop oo! And she complements him too, since she’s not that tall. They’re about the same height, so that would be a sweet height. Hehe.

But then, abi she just broke up with her boyfriend. And the last time we asked her, she was like, she’s not ready to get into another one just yet. So would she be open to any proposal from him? I don’t think so. She may be a sweetheart, but she knows how to draw the line. If she’s not interested, she’ll make it plain. Hmmm…

Or is it Felicia? She’s another fine geh. My sweet momee! And Clarence has already proven he likes chocolate girls. Like that stupid Veronica girl. At least Felicia would be a wayyy better upgrade on her. She’s always been talking about helping her man when he’s in a bad place. That would apply to Clarence perfectly. She’d be a real helpmeet to him if she’s the one, that’s for sure…

But then, would she be open to moving with Clarence? She did say she prefers a guy in Shalom Temple since she wants to stay here and raise her kids here. And I know Clarence doesn’t mind visiting here, but he di3, he’s not leaving his Methodist church. Sooo… would that work? Anaa one of them will compromise their position. Hmmm…

Who could it be that Clarence is trying to woo? Who could it be…

“Somebody say ‘heavvyyyyyy!'”

“HEAVVYYYYY!”

The loud response to Bishop Gordon’s call snapped Delasi out of her investigative trance. It was time to let her thoughts settle and get back to what was being preached.

“Mmm, went off for a bit there,” she murmured to herself. “Let’s get back to the sermon. I’ll find out who Clarence is going after eventually. I most certainly will.”

So it’s either Felicia or Irene that’s in a fling with Clarence. I guess we’ll find who it is soon. And yeah, Bruce needs to leave that company quickly…