His Identity

“Please no visitors today Yasmin except if it’s very important”, Rita said through the intercom.

“Yes ma’am”.

“And please call me the head of the Health department, I need to have a word with him”.

“Alright ma’am, I’ll send him up”.

“Thank you”, Rita said before switching off the intercom.

Few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Matthew Dallas, the Head of the Health Department of the Anderson empire walked in.

“Good morning ma’am, you sent for me”, he said.

Even though Matthew was a bit older than her, he still addressed her as if they were of the same age group.

“Please sit down. You really shouldn’t address me like that. Rita is fine please”, she smiled.

“Don’t worry about it ma’am, I’m perfectly okay with it”, he said.

His salt and pepper hair was styled neatly to the side, accentuating his face. He was a handsome man, gradually ageing. Rita couldn’t remember when he began working for the organization but she knew that it had been a long time, longer than when she began working.

“Okay, so the reason why I called is that I would like to include someone into the Health system. I would love the person to benefit from the organization’s health system”, she said.

“That’s not a problem Miss but if I might ask please, who is this person”, he said.

Rita didn’t know whether to divulge this information or simply remain quiet about it. She chose the latter as she didn’t trust him not to divulge the information to someone else she didn’t trust.

“Let me just hold on to that information for now”, she smiled.

“Alright ma’am, whatever you wish. I would need the person’s details before I begin due process” he said.

Rita didn’t know anything about Camille except for the little Rodrigo told her. She was at a crossroad on what to do but she vowed to get this information at all cost.

“Okay, give me a day or two let me get this information then I’ll get back to you”, she said.

“Alright ma’am”, he said, taking his leave.

When he left, Rita summoned Yasmin to her office. She wanted to find out whether Rodrigo was still within the building. She couldn’t trust the intercom. After all, it could be tapped. She couldn’t take that risk and preferred her to come physically.

“Yes ma’am, you sent for me”, Yasmin said.

“Yes. Do you know if Rodrigo is within the building?”, She asked.

If Yasmin was surprised by this question, she hid it well. Thinking about it now, Rita realized how awkward it sounded.

“Yes, he’s downstairs. Do I send for him?.

“Please do. And Yasmin, let this little meeting be just between us”, Rita said.

“Yes ma’am, I perfectly understand. Rodrigo would be with you shortly”, she said as she left the office.

Rita relaxed on her chair. She congratulated herself on how well she handled the issue. She had to look for a way to get the information from Rodrigo without him suspecting and the best way she could do that was to summon him here. She was going to be a distraction to him. Even though she hated using him this way, it was for the best. She wanted his mother to have the best care.

He arrived a few minutes later and seeing him afresh each day stole her breath away. It was as if every minute away from him made him all the more handsome. He was dressed in his official work clothes which made him smart and handsome.

“Hi, I’m sorry I sent you all the way up. I just need a little of your time” Rita said.

“No ma’am, you don’t need to apologize. I’m at your service any day”, he smiled.

“Please have a seat”, she smiled.

“Thank you. I hope everything is alright or do you need rescuing”, he chuckled.

“Ha ha, very funny. No kind sire, i do not need rescuing. What I need to do now is ask you some questions” she said.

He had a confused expression on his face. His mind turned, thinking about all the possible things she could ask.

“Okay, please go on”, he said.

“So, I’ve been thinking a lot about what you told me about your family and I think I knew your mother somewhere but I can’t quite place where. Could you tell me a little bit about her, maybe I would remember her that way”, Rita said.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

She liked the way she began the conversation. It was smooth and she knew that he wouldn’t suspect a thing.

“Well, she hardly ever talks about her childhood days but there was a particular day she just spilled it all out. My mum comes from a large family, she’s the second child of six children. They lived in a large farm house on the outskirts of the city. Sometimes, I take a drive there just to see how the old folks are doing. That’s really all she’s ever told me”, he said.

“Ohh wow. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to pry but did she ever have this ailment. I mean, when did it begin?”, Rita asked, surreptitiously jotting some things down.

Rodrigo thought about this for some time. His mother’s ailment truly began about three years ago when he was still on the streets, looking for a job. Ever since he had gotten something to do, it has been manageable especially with his fat salary coming in.

“About three years ago”, he finally said.

Rita gasped, covering it up with a cough. Rodrigo left his seat, rushing to help her. Rita grabbed his hands as the cough continued for the worse. Somehow, she found herself sitting on his laps and he on her chair.

“Are you alright”, he said, smoothing her hair.

“Yes, thank you. I just had something stuck in my throat”, Rita smiled.

He continued smoothing her hair and she couldn’t help it when she laid her head on his chest, she fit so well in his body and she wondered if fate wanted her to be with him.

“I should go, anyone could walk in here”, Rodrigo said.

“No, please stay. Just for a moment, I really missed you”, Rita said, burying her face in his chest.

His cologne soothed her nerves and she wished she could stay in his arms for as long as she liked.

“I don’t know what I’m doing. I think I need to tell you the truth”, he said.

Rita sat up but still on his lap. She could tell that whatever he wanted to say was serious and for that, he needed her attention.

“I love you Rita Anderson. I know it sounds crazy, knowing I only recently began working for you but that’s how I feel. I’ll understand if you don’t feel that way about me. After all, you’re engaged but I just needed you to know, to get it off my chest”, he said, stroking her face.

Rita kissed him, taking him by surprise. Rodrigo drew her closer and together, they explored places they couldn’t dream of doing few weeks back. Rita gave everything she had into the kiss, silently telling him that she felt the same way.

She didn’t know how they were going to manage it, but they would try. After all, there was no harm in trying.

“I love you too Rodrigo, from the moment I saw you, I’ve always loved you”, Rita said when they finally broke away.

“It’s risky what we’re doing but I can’t seem to stop myself especially when I’m around you”, Rodrigo said.

“Shhh… Don’t think about it too much, I know it’s still early but let’s take it slow. We’ll figure everything out along the way. Trust me on that”, Rita assured him.

He kissed her again, this time slow and sensous. She could get used to this, get used to the feel of his arms around her body but like a switch had been turned off, she remembered she had work to do.

“I should get back to work Rodrigo”, she smiled.

“Must you”, he groaned, burying his neck in her bossom.

“Yes, I must”, she laughed, hitting him playfully on his head.

“You smell so good, I could eat you”, he grinned.

“Rodrigo!, I never knew you had such a naughty mouth”, Rita laughed.

“You’d be surprised at the other things I could do with it”, he smiled, pulling her lips to his.

There was a knock on the door which startled them both. Rita scrambled to her feet but Rodrigo wouldn’t let her go.

“Are you crazy, you need to let me go. Someone is at the door”, she whispered.

“I know but you need to calm down first. Anyone could easily see you were up to something, your pulse is beating rapidly”, he said.

Rita knew he was right, she needed to stay calm if she was to hide what they were doing. She took a deep breath before she felt some calmness return to her.

“That’s much better”, he said, placing her on her feet.

She adjusted her dress, combing her hair too. When he certified she was okay, she gave a huge sigh of relief.

“I’ll pick you up at the close of work today. I’ll be downstairs if you need me”, he said, stealing another kiss.

Rita nodded, kissing him back. The persistent sound of the knocking drew them apart as she walked towards the door to see who was behind it. When she opened it, it was as if all her fears had finally come to the surface. Edmundo stood behind the door with fury in his eyes.