What To Do

RAYMOND 

At the office where I relaxed, my thoughts raced again. Ever since my marriage to the woman, it felt like I was a thief hiding a piece of gold from its owner so that I wouldn't be caught. This applied to the fact that I wasn't legally married to Eleanor even though it looked like it was legal. 

A sigh ran out of my mouth for the umpteenth time and I heaved another sigh, sitting up on the chair as I thought about what to do for the woman I am married to. 

She was still a nursing mother and I understood that, but she also needed to have a job. 

Something to do when she was finally ready to work and as the case was, I didn't have the slightest idea what that would be—which caused a sigh running out of my mouth. 

Just as I was thinking, my phone beeped. 

Looking at the screen of the phone, I discovered a message from my bank. An investor had finally made the payments we've been waiting for all these while and from the look of things, we would finally get on with the real deal. 

Good news, at least. 

Something to finally make my day. 

Once again, I relaxed my back on the chair and sat up the next moment, fixing my gaze on the screen of the computer and then stopping when my phone started to beep again. This time around, it was a call from the investor who must be calling to ask if I had at least, gotten the payment. 

“Good morning, Mr. Mark. How are you doing today?” 

“Good morning, Mr. Jefferson,” he sounded from his end. “I am doing very well. Thank you for asking. I wanted to know if you at least got the money I sent to the bank details you shared with me. Before we begin the real deal.” 

“Yes, yes,” I confessed. “It came in a while ago. Thank you for choosing to work with me. You should also know that you have nothing at all to worry about because, on our part, we'd begin the real deal. My PA, Tessa, will reach out to you in a short while. Thank you once again, Mr. Mark.” 

“That's alright, Mr. Jefferson—” he said and there was me who waited patiently for him to end the call. “Have a nice day. I'll be expecting a call from your PA in a short while—” and with this, the call ended, leaving me with my thoughts while I centered my gaze on the screen of the computer once more—waiting to be done with a few tasks before calling Tessa who needed to come into the deal. 

In a short while, I settled the tasks and was ready to reach out to the woman. Without thinking twice or hesitating, I dialed her office from my end, relaxing my back on the chair while I waited for her to be there. 

In between waiting, I thought about Eleanor. 

And the baby. 

A child I found myself drawn to, for no just reason. 

At first, this marriage was supposed to be strict but look at me, questioning my feelings for the woman over and over again. Did I have to be so weak? And to think that I didn't want to have a thing with her after the many issues I had with the former women in my life. 

Who knows? This might bring more issues into my life. Now a scoff ran out of my mouth and I heaved a sigh, looking up at the door where a hand knocked on. 

“Boss. It's me—” 

Tessa. 

She announced and I asked her to come in. 

“How is it going, Tessa?” I relaxed my back on the chair, pointing at the seat right opposite me. “Take a seat there.” I added and she did as told, a smile on her face while her hand dropped a bunch of documented files on the desk. 

“I came as soon as I saw your call.” 

“Yes, Tessa—” I sat up. 

“Thank you for coming but this is important also. The man who represented the company from the other time I was away. The one you held a meeting with on my behalf during my honeymoon, do you recall?” 

“Yes, yes. His name was Mark.” 

“Good.” I gave a nod. 

“I'll need you to reach out to him and handle his needs. He paid some money into the account a while ago. Mine, which will be sent to the company's in a short while. This is what you should do, do you understand?”

“Yes, yes, Mr. Jefferson. I understand perfectly,” she said and got on her feet, pointing at the documents she dropped on the desk a while ago. “These are the files you asked for. I have compiled them in one and will need you to sign on the last one before you return them to me. Is there something else I can do for you, Mr. Jefferson?” 

“None that I can think of—” I let out. 

“You may return to your office and let me know when you need help. I'd do the same on my end.” 

She walked to the door, stopped in her tracks, and turned around to look at me. “I forgot to add that Old Jefferson has called so many times since morning but I explained to him that you're busy. Can you reach out to him when you can? I'll let him know the message has been passed.” 

“Sure. Thank you.” 

There was nothing much to do here, after all. 

Picking up my phone, I thought about it. 

Was I ready to reach out to him? 

What if he wanted to talk about my contracted marriage? But why should I be scared? The last time I checked, there was no way he would know. 

The documents were safe in the safe where I put them. And those of Eleanor's were safe as well. A sigh ran out of my mouth and for the second time today, I felt bad for doing a thing like this to the old man. But what would he have had me do? I didn't have a relationship and my brother would deal with the investments if he laid a hand on them. 

“Hello, Dad.” 

“Hello, son—” he chuckled from the other end, making me confirm that nothing was wrong and he did not make any discovery. “How are you doing this morning?” 

“Very well, Dad—” I let out. 

“How are you doing too?” Standing on my feet, I walked to the window side, stretching my tired legs. “Tessa told me you called too much today and I'm wondering if there's an issue you might want to discuss with me.” 

“Oh, no, son. You have nothing at all to worry about. At some point, I got bored and wanted to talk about Rhett with you. Did he reach out to you maybe? Perhaps, he's still acting like the nuisance that he is and would need to be stopped. What do you think?” 

“No, Dad. Let him be.” 

Rhett was right, after all. 

There was no need to fight too much with him. 

Not to the point that he would finally have access to the documents even though it was impossible. 

I didn't want to see that—not for any reason. 

“Are you sure?” 

Snapping out of my thoughts, I gave a nod as though the old man was with me in the space. 

“Yes, Dad. He has not reached out to me in a long while. Maybe not long but since the moment we saw last at your place. I'm certain at this point that he's resorted to his fate.” 

Or maybe he was coming up with more plans. 

The Rhett I knew would not give up like that. 

Not just like that. 

This thought alone caused a dent in my countenance. “I'll need to get back to work, Dad, if you don't mind. Is there something I should do for you before I leave?” 

“No, nothing, son—” he let out. “Enjoy the rest of your day, mm?” The call ended, leaving me standing by the window and turning around in seconds while I rushed back to the chair where a seat was taken. 

What was I supposed to do? 

Nothing. What was to be done, after all? 

Placing my phone on the table, I knew I had to do something. Something for the woman I am married to, just so the public is convinced that I love her with all my heart and this is not in any way a sham. 

There was no way I would know what to do if I didn't ask, at least. As I heaved a more frustrated sigh one last time, I abandoned my thoughts and faced the screen of the computer even though there wasn't much to do. 

Before the end of the next hour, I was done for the day. 

Not just done but more than ready to arrive back at home. This way, I would ask a few questions about the thing she had passion for and would love to do. Was it not early, especially when this was not in any way my agreement with her? Why was I being so nice? 

I had grabbed my briefcase and was ready to leave the office space when my phone started to ring. It was at this point I recalled that my phone was not in my hand—I had almost forgotten it in the office. 

Running back to the desk, I picked it up and led my way to the door one last time. 

“Yes, Matthew. What is it?” 

I walked out of the office, stopping at the door of Tessa whose office was open. 

“I'm leaving.” I whispered and started to walk away, waiting for Matthew to speak. “Hello?” 

“Yes, boss,” he now sounded. “I was calling to let you know that I might have a piece of information or even two regarding the project at hand. Myself and the other men. Where and when do we see? I don't think your wife should be at this meeting because this is not going to be easy for her to take in. We need a man, first.” 

What was he talking about?