His Identity

“Don’t think about it, just let it go”, Rodrigo said.

They were in her office. He tried comforting her as best as he could but she just couldn’t shake off the disgusted feeling within her. After she saw the offensive magazine, she ordered the security men to send away all the reporters from the building. She couldn’t deal with them and seeing them around her building was a constant reminder of Edmundo’s infidelities.

“The thing is, I’m not bothered about what he does with his life. All I’m concerned about is that my name gets dragged together with his. I’m not so comfortable with that”, she said, pacing about.

Rodrigo walked towards her, taking her hands in his. The only way he knew how to comfort her was to touch her. His touch was like a drug to her, halting every discomfort within her. Just like he suspected, she stopped pacing as she rested her head on his chest.

He stroked her hair, loving how soft it was. Rita gripped him tightly, fearing that he would go if she held him loosely.

“It’s okay, don’t think about it. Just continue with your life and never stop being the sweet woman I’ve come to love. Please, do it for me”, he said, cupping her jaw.

He kissed her very gently, drawing her closer to him. Rita sighed into the kiss, loving how gentle he was.

“Okay, I’ll try”, she said once they broke away.

“That’s my girl”, he smiled, tracing her jaw.

“You should get going, people would begin to wonder why you’re staying too long in here”, she smiled.

“One day, I’m going to hold you in my arms openly without any fear whatsoever. That day would come soon, I know it”, he smiled.

“I believe it too. Please, never stop loving me. I’d die if I don’t see you and feel your touch”.

“No you won’t. Instead, you’ll remain strong and patiently await my arrival. You’re a strong woman Rita, you just haven’t realized it yet”, he smiled, pecking her lips.

Just then, the intercom gave a scratching sound. Rita knew a message had just arrived for her and she dreaded what the message might contain.

“Ma’am, your father is on his way to see you”, Yasmin said.

“Alright, thank you for the heads-up”, she said.

“You’re welcome ma’am”, Yasmin said.

“I should get going”, Rodrigo laughed.

“I don’t want him to see you here, my father is smart and he’ll easily piece everything together”, she said.

“You’re strong, smart and beautiful. Hmmm what other traits are you hiding”, he smiled, gripping her waist.

“Well.. let’s see, I’m sexy”, she said, seductively.

“I already know that and I can’t wait to explore that when we’re finally free from all this hiding”, he said, his hands creeping towards her breasts.

Rita slapped his hands away, laughing as she moved away from him to prepare for her dad’s arrival.

“And you are a delectable man. Any woman would love to have you”, she said.

“I only have eyes for you my darling. I’ll be on my way now before your father has me for breakfast, please call me if you need anything and I mean anything”, he smiled, kissing her.

“You’re just so naughty. Now shoo or my father would really have you for breakfast”, she smiled, watching him leave.

Few minutes later after she was settled in, her father walked into her office. She was used to him by now walking in this way. He never knocked and the only time he did was when he was sure she had a guest.

“Father”, she beamed, giving him a kiss on his cheek.

Even though her last meeting with her father ended on a sour note with her walking out on him, she was still glad to see him. Even while growing up, she was closer to her dad than her mum, a bond that they still seemed to share even up till this very moment.

“You’ve been a naughty girl in recent times, you know that”, he says, taking a seat.

“Oh father. Are we still on that? I’m sorry. It’s just that most times, I really don’t agree with you and mum on most things”, she said, mixing a drink for him.

Her father was one man she knew could take a drink at any time of the day. He was strong and he usually joked that the drinks made him stronger.

“Nothing as lovely as martini on a cool morning”, he said, taking a sip of his drink.

“So father, what brings you to the company?”, Rita asked.

She wasn’t fooled, she knew that her father wasn’t here for merely a visit. There was something that brought the old man here and she was itching to find out what that was.

“So a father can’t see how his daughter and the company is faring anymore? Is that what you’re saying?”, he laughed.

“No father and you know that’s not what I mean”, she smiled.

“Well, you got me. That’s true, I came to see you about the company”, he said, placing the cup on the table.

Rita sensed that this was an important issue. Never had she seen her father abandon a glass of martini before. If he could do that now, it was a serious issue.

“What’s wrong father?”, She asked quietly.

“The stocks. It’s not really moving in our favor. I got the reports from the financial manager yesterday and I’m sorry to tell you this but the company is gradually dwindling”, he said.

Rita sat back on her seat, going over what he had just said. She was a bit surprised because ever since, she had never gotten any report of this manner before. This was quite a surprise to her and she hated discovering it from her father in this manner.

“Father, how bad is it?”.

“Bad enough for me to come here personally to deliver this news”, he said, stroking his moustache.

“What are the odds that someone’s been stealing from us”, she said, completely out of the blues.

“High if I must say but by God if what you’re saying is true, I would find the person even if it’s the last thing I do”.

Rita remained quiet, thinking over his words. The more she thought about it now, the more she was convinced that someone was indeed stealing from them. For many years, the company had been doing well then all of a sudden for a few months now, they’ve been experiencing some difficulties.

“We will find this person together father, I promise you that”, she said.

“I knew I could count on you. You took my traits after all”, he smiled, downing his drink in one gulp.

He rose up to leave, tucking his phone in his breast pocket. Rita escorted him our of the office, promising him that whoever was behind this would be discovered.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

When he left, she sat down, thinking hard about how to go about this issue. She knew that it wasn’t going to be easy but she was determined to find who it was at all cost.