After her Maghrib prayers and duas, Nadia laid down on the couch in the living room, she smiled as she read through comments, reviews, and compliments. She was still scrolling through when the entrance door pushed open, "Abdallah is back" she said to herself,

She quickly adjusted her posture and sat well keeping her phone away, she was too engrossed in her phone that she didn't hear when he honked.

Nadia scurried towards his direction to help him with his suitcase when his tall and broad figure came into view,

"sala-" she said as she tried to collect his suitcase, but she was stopped when Abdallah stretched his right arm with his hand fully extended signifying that she shouldn't come closer,

"keep it to yourself" he said transferring his suitcase from his right to left hand. He placed his right hand into his corresponding suit trouser pocket before he continued,

"do you not have shame?" he asked,

"what?" Nadia asked lowly, confused as to why he asked her such a question out of the blue, "you can't just do anything you want because you have a name to uphold now" he said angrily, "I don't understand" she said with confusion clearly written on her face,

"Even if it isn't my choice, you're my wife now" he said, "and I can't let my name be toyed with" he added,

Nadia was still confused, she knows she hasn't done anything that might have infuriated him because she clearly avoided that.

"Take down the video that you made, where you were shamelessly speaking" he said raising his lips in disgust,

"so, it was about the food video, but there isn't anything bad in that, why is he so angry?" she thought to herself,

He turned as he walked towards the staircase, "I don't have a job that's why I decided to start making videos like that" she said, "but if you're not pleased with it, I'll never make such again".

Abdallah halted in his steps as he heard her speak, guilt engulfed him as she explained, he didn't know why he acted that way himself, it was very unlike him to lose his cool over trivial issues, "I'll get you a job" he said before advancing into his room,

"Did I just hear that right?" Nadia squealed happily. Regardless of what he said to her, she makes sure she doesn't get affected by it, now that he was going to get her a job, she was very much happy. No matter how much she liked making food videos, she still preferred a proper job. She just prays it works well, and would be a job she likes.

****

The next morning, Nadia woke up fully energized. After her morning prayers, she prepared breakfast for Abdallah, setting it on the table until whenever he comes down to eat.

Nadia is an early bird, so she prefers to do everything early in the morning.

She briefly arranged the not so dirty house, then went back to her room to get dressed.

Since Abdallah told her he was going to get her a job yesterday, she hasn't set her eyes on him. Even when she prepared dinner yesternight, she went up to his room to inform him, he told her he wasn't eating, but nevertheless she left his portion in case he changed his mind. Surprisingly, when she woke up this morning, the portion she left was cleared off.

Nadia wore a dark purple flay satin dress after applying her body lotion, she was gently applying kohl in her eyes when she heard a knock on the door, "Come in" she said as she quickly covered her hair with a small veil. The door handle moved up and down continuously, but the door refused to open. She scampered to unlock the door throwing off her veil in the process when she remembered that she locked it from inside.

The door opened to reveal Abdallah in his fitted workwear of dark coloured gray suit and tie, his strong and sweet-smelling cologne filled Nadia's nostrils, Nadia wasn't aware that Abdallah was equally checking her out, this is the first time he's seeing her without her veil on, and she looked beautiful, her thick black hair went down spreading over her shoulders, the purple dress fitted her perfectly. When their eyes met,

"Do I have to remind you that you're resuming your new work today" he cleared his throat,

"wait-" she said comprehending his words, "Really?" she widened her eyes in realization, "I'm so sorry, give me five minutes please" she said shutting the door at his face, so she could get dressed properly.

True to her word, five minutes later, Nadia came down. She was well-dressed now, she rolled a light purple veil on her head, wore a black low heeled shoe with a matching bag.

Abdallah was already standing by the door side, so immediately she came down, they both exited the house.

****

Abdallah drove towards Nadia's new workplace, the ride was very silent and peaceful. The more Abdallah drove, the more Nadia realized that she must have come across where she's going to start working because the route he was following was very familiar to her. Abdallah parked his car in front of a beautiful building,

"why are we parked here, is he hungry?" she said to herself as she looked at the building she loves going to,

"This is your new workplace" Abdallah said pointing at the Triple A café,

"My new workplace?" she asked again pointing at the Triple A café to be certain what she heard was correct,

"yes" he replied, Nadia pinched her forearm repeatedly to get herself out of the impossible dream, but no, it was real!, she is finally going to work at her most admired place.

"How did he get me to work here so fast, is the owner his friend?" she thought to herself, She was still dazed imagining things forgetting she was close to Abdallah until he said,

"Don't get down of the car" he said, "the media might be lurking around anywhere here, so I've to act like the best husband" he added lowering his voice that she barely heard him,

he unbuckled his seat belt and exited the car.

He walked towards Nadia's side before he opened the door. He stretched his hand for her to place hers before gently pulling her out of the car and closing the door behind. His large muscular hand fitted perfectly her long slender hand like it was made for each other as they slowly walked towards the café.

****

"She'll work here from now on" he said to the staffs that gathered immediately they heard he arrived, "she has excellent culinary skills, you all can bring your heads together to create new recipes and make this café even better" he said,

Nadia stomach twisted when she heard him compliment her, but she quickly put the thought aside knowing he might be doing it just because he's in the presence of the public. "Good luck" he said to them all,

"thank you sir" they all replied in unison,

He scooted close to Nadia, "I'll take my leave now" he whispered into her ear with his breath fanning her face as he ambulated out of the café. She stood in her position flustered not moving until a lady about her age tapped her,

"Mrs Abdallah, he's gone already" she said giggling,

"ohh, sorry" Nadia palmed her face slightly embarrassed,

"My name is Miss Ruqayya Muhammad, the chief baker in this wonderful café" she extended her hands for a handshake,

"Nadia Suleiman, your new staff" Nadia said shaking her hands,

"Everyone here knows you already, we are so elated to have the boss's wife work with us" Ruqayya said,

"He owns this place?" Nadia asked confused,

"You don't know your husband owns this place?" Ruqayya asked widening her eyes,

"Yes" Nadia said playing with her veil in embarrassment,

"Well he does"

"Any organization with the name 'triple A' in this Nigeria is owned by your husband, I don't know about other countries though" Ruqayya explained,

"ohh" Nadia said in realization,

"Yes, that's why every lady is very envious of you" she smiled,

"let's get to work" she said in a serious tone clapping her hands.

Ruqayya showed Nadia through the nook and crannies of the café, she also explained how things worked and important things to take note of.

It has always been Nadia's dream to work in a place like this, even if Abdallah is not nice to her, he has unknowingly fulfilled one of her dreams, she can't wait to break this wonderful news to Basma and Aaima.

zinat Abdulkadir ✍️✍️