OKEZIE

(...continued...)

On the road to the office, the oga’s deputy who was in a separate vehicle from Okezie and the security men, put a call through to the oga and told him the situation. He didn’t fail to mention his observation and asked for leniency and a listening ear so they could find out why he did what he did and others who could be involved.

  “It is ok but you don’t expect me to appear soft before that boy.”

  “No sir. Be as tough as you can. I will be the one pressing for him to be heard.”

  “Be here as soon as possible.”

                Back at the office, everybody waited for the thief to arrive.

                When Okezie was brought in, people scoffed and made side comments. The oga came out and asked him, “What where you thinking?”

  “I am sorry sir.” Okezie said, with tears running down his cheek. “It was the devil.”

                The oga asked for Okoro to be released and called Okezie into the inner office along with his deputy, secretary, accountant and few other senior staff. They closed the door behind them. The others who didn’t get the opportunity to go in stood outside the door and eavesdropped.

                Inside the inner office, with shame in his countenance and remorse in his voice, Okezie told them the truth. He told them how he had fallen in love with Nkechi, had tried all he could to win her affection but failed, and was misguided by his friend to steal,.

  “I deeply regret my actions,” he concluded. “I am sorry.”

                The office secretary was the first to speak.

  “So you stole this money to give to a girl?” she asked and burst into laughter.

                The others followed suit and laughed.

  “what a woman can do to a man is unspeakable,” the accountant said.

  “It is not our fault,” the secretary answered.

                Okezie was at a loss. He looked from one person to the other. It was the oga who called them to order.

  “This is not a laughing matter at all.” He said. “You stole and you will pay for it. We will be lenient in your punishment because you did not run, you produced the stolen money and you came out with the truth without pressure.”

                Okezie didn’t have the guts to beg for mercy. He was guilty and being in a discipline-oriented environment, he welcomed any punishment they would mete out on him.

  “I will have you fired without any prosecution or imprisonment,” he said and asked the others what they thought.

                After sampling opinions, they arrived at suspending him from the office for a six weeks without pay, after which he was free to resume if he wanted. He thanked them for letting him go. With the intercom, the oga gave orders to the security men to take him back to his house. Outside the office, nobody spoke to him. They just watched him pass by. Okoro met him in the car park with the security men but was so angry that he did not even look in his direction.

  “Okoro..” Okezie called.

  “Why are you calling me?” Okoro asked. “You set me up.”

  “You know I can’t do that. I may have taken what doesn’t belong to me, but I can’t frame you for it.”

  “So where are they taking you to? To prison?”

  “No. to my house.”

  “so you will go free.”

  “I received suspension without pay.”

  “Hmm.”

                Okezie entered the vehicle and they drove off.

                When they got to his house, Okezie alighted and they drove off.

(....to be continued...)

Chinedu Isaac