Bem calmed down. "Please, Añuri. Please, hear me out. It's eleven years we've known ourselves. Before all these – sex, business – we were good friends. All I ask is that you see me in that light now – your friend who's been with you through thick and thin, and allow me just this one favour."

He spoke gently, appealing to her emotions. He was successful.

After a long silence, she mumbled, "This can't be good."

"I'm aware. If it could be any other way, I'd make it so. I promise you, Mbong won't be here for too long. I'll double my efforts to find her something else."

And if she decided she did not want to leave anymore, pondered Añuri, what then? Just how much potential damage does granting that favour hold for her? What if Mbong suddenly got a super-inflated idea of her own worth? All it took was one day of husband and wife evaluating her value and deciding that she was dispensable after all, and all she'd work and sacrificed so hard for would go down the drain.

"Let me think this through, Bem." She said, "I'll get back to you ASAP."

The next day, Añuri came to work looking much the same as she did the day before, except that a purple tank-top substituted the white one she wore on Monday. Mbong was already waiting at the reception. A situation Añuri had been alerted of a minute earlier by her assistant-cum-informer, thus giving her the opportunity to check her make-up and put on an air of importance before their meeting.

Mbong's sparse body was all covered up in beige trouser suit, her hair done in a bum, not one strand out of place. She looked very pretty and young (but Añuri would be the last person to notice). She stood up when Añuri entered the room.

"Hope you haven't been waiting for too long?" Asked Añuri, feigning concern. Had she known that Mbong would be so prompt, she would have come in after noon.

"No. it's only been ten minutes really. Bem dropped me off. He said he's an appointment to catch, so I said I'd better just follow him here." Giggling, Mbong narrated.

Her voice, as always, irritated Añuri in no small measure. It was so nasal Añuri wondered if snorts were stuck in her nose that she had to speak and breathe through her mouth all at once. She had initially assumed it was out of bashfulness, but later concluded that Mbong was only playing at meekness. She was not impressed.

"I was to be in that meeting too. Lucky you, I'd a change of mind." Said Añuri, playing at niceness, but not quite pulling it off. "Let's go to my office. Njideka, please bring us some coffee or tea as Mbong prefers."

When they were seated, and had politely exchanged pleasantries, the serious talk begun.Añuri asked Mbong for her CV, which she handed over with such flourish, Añuri fought hard not to let her resentment show. Focusing on the CV instead, she noted Mbong's qualifications, and her first thought was: good, an accountant to the rescue. On reconsidering, she disregarded that. She wanted Mbong close, but certainly not that involved. The idea was to do to Mbong beforehand what she anticipated the woman had in stock for her – bring her in, prove to Bem how inconsequential she was, and when Bem came running back to her, boot him to high heavens. (Or, maybe not. But he'd pay somehow for all the times he gave her hopes he had no intention fulfilling and for ever making her feel inferior to Mbong) – not play herself out of the field.

"I think there's something here for you." Said Añuri.

"Really? Thank you. And please, anything is fine. I'm not very choosy."

"Maybe you should." Quipped Añuri, smirking.

If Mbong had any inkling that she was being put down, it was well masked. She went along with Añuri, flashing even, polished teeth that just soured the older woman's fun.

"This place is structured such that Bem is the field man. He's in charge of marketing, publicity etc. I oversee admin., aided by Njideka, who can more trouble than help. Your duty would be to supervise Njideka. The girl suffers from youthful exuberances – you know, over-enthusiasm and all, which can really be good if harnessed. That's what you'd be doing – fine-tuning her.

"I understand you won't be here for too long. That's why I was thinking to give you something reasonably uncomplicated so we wouldn't be handicapped when you've to leave. It's all right with you?"

Yet another flash of teeth and a few nods from Mbong.

"Fine. One more thing: here, we are all business. Within these walls, Bem ceases to be your husband. He is strictly your boss. And I'm not that woman who eats dinner every other night at your home. I, too, am your boss. That is saying that there may be times I'd address you in an angry tone or probably ignore you, but I promise it won't be frequent," She smiled then. Mbong followed suit. "When this happens, don't take it to heart. It's the work pressure. Can you handle those times?"

More nods. "Yes. I believe I can."

"You can start today. I'll work out your salary with Bem before COB today. What else can I say, welcome aboard." She stretched forth her arm for a handshake, Mbong grasped it. Her grip was so weak, Añuri was tempted to roll her eyes.

"Thank you very much, Añuri."

"You're welcome. Any questions? Comments?"

"No." Then she tittered. "Well hmm, yes. This stays between us, right?"

"Yes, of course."

"Well, em." Another titter and a sigh. "I'm positive Bem has a woman – a girlfriend if you may. Now, where would shady associations likely to feel safest? Not our home for sure. So, I tell myself, why not check out their territory?"

Suddenly, her voice lost its timidity, every sentence emphasized.

"Please, don't get me wrong. I'm not here to build a fence around Bem. I just want to keep things in perspective, so no one forgets that I'm in the picture and would always be there. You do understand, don't you?"

Mbong slowly smiled that smile again. This time, it carried the full weight of what she aimed to convey. Añuri eyed her.

"Yes, I do." Replied Añuri, rising to the challenge.

The end!