DANIEL POV
I stood in front of her, not willing to let her pass. I can't believe that we are going to fight again, this time, for something as silly as who would do their laundry first.
"Get out of my way you lowly slave." She barked. "Your queen wants to do her laundry."
"Rose, I am warning you." I responded, angrily. "Wait your turn or I'd release the beast in me."
"Who is afraid of a chicken?" She said, laughing loudly.
That remark crushed my morale to the lowest. Apart from calling me her slave and a poor guy, she has now resulted in calling me a chicken. I'd show her what this chicken can do.
I took a defensive stand and she mimicked me in a mocking way, laughing to her heart content. I felt like an actor in a show that didn't have the slightest idea of how the script was executed. How can I let a woman intimidate me?
Rose turned around and went to the living room, leaving me in the defensive position I took. I will surely teach her a lesson. I'd make sure she loses her job for the humiliation she has caused me. She has made a fool out of me, and I'd make her pay.
***
We were done with our laundry, and she was in her room doing whatever girls did in private, while I was in the living room watching a movie. I had my glass of orange juice, but to be honest, my mind wasn't on the movie playing before me. I was deep in thought, planning my revenge.
Rose had prepared Egusi soup with semo, a real delicacy. I'd drug her again, making her sleep throughout this night and into tomorrow morning. By the time the effect wears off, she would be hours late to work, and by then, the manager would have no choice but to sack her for incompetence.
The plan was perfect, and simple. Rose had dished out a portion of the food to eat, but left it in the kitchen and went to do something in her room. This was my chance.
I rushed into my room and took a pill out of the sleeping tablets I had left. I grinded it into powder and tiptoed to the kitchen. She was still in her room. I gently noted how the plate covers were kept, and opened it slightly, putting the entire powder into the Egusi soup. I used my index finger to mix it well, then tried to return it to its original look.
I kept looking back at the door to ensure that I wasn't being watched. After I was done, I quickly washed my hands, and went to continue with my drink. As I passed through the kitchen entrance, Rose walked past me into the kitchen. She grabbed the food and walked into her room. I smiled knowing fully well that my plan was in motion.
I relaxed on the couch, feeling fulfilled. I took my orange juice and continued sipping it while enjoying the movie I was watching.
***
My eyes opened to the sound of my phone ringing repeatedly. I was wondering who was disturbing me in the early hours of the morning. I unlocked my phone only to discover the time was 9:30AM. I nearly screamed my lungs out.
How?
How did it happen?
Why didn't my alarm wake me up?
I opened my call log with trembling hands and saw 28 missed calls from the manager. My notifications showed about 32 unread messages. It is over. I have lost this job. It's better I don't even bother going. But how? How did I oversleep? Why did I oversleep?
I heard a scream from Rose's room, and figured that the effect of the drug had just cleared and she was fully awake now, in the same situation as me.
I was still holding the glass tumbler that I drank the orange juice from yesterday. It was as though I got drunk and slept off, only that I don't feel the hangover I've heard people talk about. But orange juice can't get me drunk right?
Rose's door flung open, her hair was in a mess. She looked like a witch that had just returned from her midnight journey.
"I don't understand how I slept till this late. Daniel, what did you do?" She yelled at me.
"What did I do? What did you do? We are in the same situation here. What did you do to me?" I yelled back at her.
"23 missed calls and 18 messages. It's over" She lamented, tears beginning to form at the corner of her eyes.
"At least you are from a rich home. What do you think would happen to me? I'd go back to poverty." My body shivered as I thought of James.
"So you really think I came from a rich family? You must be joking. You don't know anything about me." She yelled back, her voice breaking. "I'm already on my last warning."
I basically started laughing. She turned to look at me with dangerous eyes, like she was ready to attack me at that very moment. Truth is, I couldn't help but laugh. It was funny how she was already on her last warning. She's getting kicked out for sure.
"So that means you're getting kicked out." I smiled at her.
"In your dreams." She responded sharply.
But even I could tell she wasn't confident.
"I guess we will find out at work today. My plan worked and…." I stopped mid-sentence. I've already said too much. This mouth of mine would put me in a lot of trouble one of these days.
"What plan?" She asked, her full attention focused on me.
"Nothing. And besides, it's none of your business." I responded immediately.
"You better spill Daniel." She yelled, grabbing the lamp next to her. "Right now, my conscience isn't functioning, and I don't mind smashing this thing on your head."
I could see the seriousness in her eyes. I couldn't risk getting her pissed off in this state.
She began making her way to where I stood.
"Yeah, I drugged you. What are you going to do about it?" I said, hoping she wouldn't take my words seriously.
She stopped, dropped the lamp and started laughing. She laughed as one possessed by an evil spirit. I won't deny that I was scared to the bone. I have seen this kind of laughter in movies. It doesn't end well with who was being laughed at. I just hope she doesn't try something stupid.
"You know, I also drugged you as well." She confessed.
My body froze on the spot. I can't believe that she had the guts to drug me. So we were drugging each other without knowing.
"You did what?" I yelled.
"You did the same as well." She replied, her tense body now relaxed.
"So…you had the audacity to drug me?" I said, not believing she could try such with me. Where did she get the drugs from?
"It goes both ways sweetheart." She replied, smiling lightly.
"I can get you arrested for this. Seven years imprisonment for you." I barked.
"Do your worst darling. We are both going in for it." She said, her smile becoming wider.
Why the sudden pet names?
I ignored her and walked into my room, rushing to prepare for work as fast as I could. I heard her door close a few seconds later. She's probably doing the same thing as I am.
How would the manager see me? An incompetent worker that comes extremely late on his second day. This is not how I had planned this day to go.
I brushed my teeth, had my bath, dressed in a suit I had bought with my salary advance yesterday, and stepped out of the house within twenty minutes. As I wanted to walk out the gate, Rose came running. She stopped at some intervals so as to balance herself and avoid falling. The company's car had been here earlier and left. I can't believe these security guards didn't wake us up. I believe they are just here to occupy space.
I walked out, and Rose followed closely behind. It was a good thing I had noted the road that led to the company, and also, I saw a cab passing by. I flagged it down, and after mentioning the company's name, the driver affirmed that he knows the way to the company, and I hopped in.
Rose hopped in too, with me trying to give space between us. I really hate her right now. She is the reason I might lose my job today. I just feel like pressing her neck. I just hope I don't get fired.
The cab rolled into the street, and down the highway. My heartbeat increased the closer we got to the company.
This may be it!
TBC