Nine

                                    

                                          
She was sure she knew the older man from somewhere. He was seated at a table with other elderly people, Kachi and his bride-to-be sitting opposite him. The man shook his head at something the stunning woman beside him said and then he smiled. Ijeoma turned to her companion whose gaze had tracked hers and was now on the couple. 
"Those are Kachi's parents," Azu said, dropping the glass he'd been sipping water from. 
"I think I know that man. I've seen him somewhere."
"He's a notable fellow. I'd be surprised if you didn't know him. That's Governor Obiagu, he will be running for the next presidential election."
Her eyes widened at the name and power the man wielded. She really knew him. It was him, Agu. That was the name he'd insisted she called him during their few sessions. The man was one of her talkative clients, sharing so much details about himself that it was hard to forget him. Most of the clients she had preferred to be anonymous and she had always wondered why he talked so much about himself. She had wondered if it was because he was such a powerful man or because he was just foolish. Maybe it was a mix of both. 
"You do know him," Azu intoned. "What's wrong? You seem shaken."
"Nothing, I'm fine."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Maybe you know him too well. Is he a client of yours?"
She grimaced in reply, picking up her glass of wine. 
"Do we have to go? I don't want to create a scene." His gaze hardened now, as if just remembering what sort of work she did, and disapproved. It was such bullshit since he was also a client of hers, so what right did he have to look at her like that.
"It's not like he would recognize me." She glared at him. "But if that doesn't sit well with you, Mr. Hypocrite, you can take me home. I don't want to embarrass you and my work here is completely done." She threw in another glare and a hiss before looking away from him. Thankfully, the music and cacophony of voices covered her raised whisper and their table companions were wrapped up in themselves again.
Ijeoma pushed back her chair, not giving him anytime to recover or say anything in reply. She was halfway to the elevator when her wrist was grabbed. She already knew it was Azu so she immediately drew back. "Don't touch me."
"What did I do wrong? And how am I a hypocrite?"
"You're judging me as if you're not a client of mine too." She continued walking to the elevator, stabbing the call button harder than necessary when she got there. 
"I'm not judging you. When did I say I was?"
"You didn't have to say anything, you looked at me like I was scum."
"Really? I've not once thought of you negatively so why would I look at you like that."
"Whatever. Please just let me go. This is way past my working time already." She got into the elevator as it opened, giving him a wide berth and taking a spot at the very edge but the stubborn man still ignored all the space and stood beside her. He was close enough that if she moved their bodies will touch. 
He exhaled loudly. "I'm sorry. I'm not sure how I looked at you, but it offended you so I am sorry."
She chose to ignore him, realizing that this situation was not worth her anger and all she wanted was just to go home. The rest of the ride was silent. He walked behind her to their room, hanging by the door while she packed her things into a small overnight bag that was on the bed. Ijeoma carefully removed the jewelry he had once again adorned her with, adding them to the ones of yesterday. She set it aside on the bed then lugged her bag to the door.