Rain Can Never Know

By Michael Afenfia

Rain Tamuno is a brilliant young employee in Edozie Express, the largest construction company in the Niger Delta. Befriended by Chief Rowland Edozie, owner of the company, she experiences a meteoric rise in her career.
As her professional life flourishes, her personal life descends into turmoil. Forced to confront a traumatic episode from her past, Rain cannot come to terms with the fact that her mother chose her assailant over her. As she struggles to mend their fractured relationship, her relationship with David, her boyfriend, is threatened by her best friend, Annabel.
When sudden death occurs amid Chief Rowland Edozie’s quest for a diabolical solution to a life-threatening problem, Rain’s life is put at risk. As her world begins to crumble, she grapples with coming to terms with who her friends and foes are.
Rain Can Never Know is an intriguing story of love, lust, secrets and betrayal. It is about family, friends and faith.

Michael Afenfia’s fiction skills are on autopilot, and this story, like his previous novels, is flawless. How he manages to minimize collateral damage with so much fusillade flying around is a wonder. When the author asked me to read proofs and revert in two weeks, I thought maybe three – and delivered in three. No, not three weeks, but three days! Where this autopilot is headed, one can never know.
Emmanuel Frank-Opigo, author of The Song of Our Father

Michael creates a masterful and powerful web of suspense, deceit, love and betrayal in this book. Every page reveals twists and turns that keep you guessing. Set in Yenagoa, written in prose that is relatable and takes place in an office setting that mirrors Nigerian realities. Michael has written a novel that would keep you on edge till the end.
Eriye Onagoruwa author of Dear Alaere

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paperworth Books
• Release date: Dec 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005176723

Michael Afenfia

Michael Afenfia is a diversity, settlement and inclusion practitioner based in Saskatchewan, Canada.He is the author of the novels, When the Moon Caught Fire, A Street Called Lonely, Don’t Die on Wednesday and The Mechanics of Yenagoa. Rain Can Never Know is his fifth work of fiction.Michael studied Law and Business Administration.When he is not writing or speaking to newcomers to Canada and locals about race relations and immigration, he mentors young creatives in his home country, Nigeria. At other times he can be found watching television, listening to music or travelling.

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EPILOGUE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WARIF

To the unforgettable memory of Oronto Natei Douglas (1966–2015). For the privilege of knowing him and the many ways he taught and inspired me to be a better version of myself.

Too Many Happy People

Not enough happy people,

That’s what I told myself.

Not enough sugar, not enough spice

Not enough summer, not enough sunshine,

Never enough of anything,

To make the sweetness last longer

Until you came my way

And I realised I could smile again.

You placed a hand over my eyes,

You said I didn’t need to look back,

Because your promises were enough.

You said I didn’t need to speak,

Because words sometimes hurt

Or come out wrong…

Especially those rambling denials

Of something everyone else knows.

You said I didn’t need my head,

When my heart was enough…

But it’s never that easy,

So we keep going back, and forth.

I didn’t need to calibrate

Or make sense of anything,

And that was more than enough.

But I was afraid, afraid of letting go,

Afraid of happy mornings

And even happier nights

Afraid of happy people

And how they stare…

Afraid of loving you

And maybe someone else

But I fell, so hard it made my head spin

Now I’m dancing on happy feet

Singing to happy songs long ago deleted

Trying to get it into my head,

That I am one of the happy people.

PART ONE

1

Rain didn’t like her job. She didn’t care very much for her role or lack of it in Edozie Express. Her fervent prayer every morning she showed up for work was that her boss would notice her frustration and do something about it. She believed she was way smarter than the rudimentary and repetitive tasks required of her as his errand girl and nothing more. Her most complex duty was working the broken coffee machine for Chief Edozie and his unending stream of girlfriends and business partners. Why he wouldn’t allow her to replace the machine was something she could never fathom. It was as if he derived pleasure seeing her struggle and humiliate herself every time his visitors wanted coffee, and that happened several times before the end of the day.

Most of the girls that came looking for him were young, really young. They were rude and snooty to her all the time, something she found befuddling because she knew a good number of them. She recognised some of the girls from her alma mater, the Federal University, Otuoke, and others she bumped into now and then in the streets, at parties and places where she hung out in Yenagoa.

As for the people he did business with, she doubted if the women even knew her name, and they never acknowledged her greeting. With the men, however, it was different. The nice ones didn’t look up at her as she poured them coffee. The not so nice ones smiled at her. The bad ones ogled her whenever she walked into Chief Rowland Edozie’s office with coffee or when she walked out of the office with empty cups. Those that found ingenious ways of slipping their business cards between their teacup and saucer were the very bad ones and those, she never spoke to David about. He would never admit it whenever it came up in an argument, but David had trust issues.

The monotony and redundancy in Edozie Express were killing her, but every time she brought it up with Human Resources, they said the same thing – her case was different. What they always couldn’t tell her was why her case was different, and why she was made to carry out the most basic duties in the office of the chief executive officer despite her qualifications and position in the company. Another thing she found troubling was that her salary was anything but basic even though her duties and responsibilities around the office were.

What she would consider the most difficult aspect of her uninspiring and often nonchallenging job, was being asked to bring files from the office to the house on the days her boss chose to work from home. On those occasions, it wasn’t just Chief Edozie sending her on meaningless errands that got to her; his wife and children took the opportunity of her presence on their turf to order her around like she was a common slave. For Rain, the challenge was staying calm because she had been told the unpleasant end of those who dared to complain. She was warned that any outburst on her part, no matter how mild would mean the end of her job, and she needed the job and the money it paid.

Rain, buckle my shoes, I like the way you do it.

Rain, fetch my school bag, I don’t know why I didn’t bring it out from the room with me when I was coming out just now.

Rain, count how many beads are in my bracelet, I just feel like knowing.

Rain, comb out my hair, you combed it five minutes ago and I feel like it’s messed up already.

Rain, check that the guest toilet is flushed, I know that it is, but you can never tell.

Rain, help carry my fabrics from my friend Adanna’s car outside. She didn’t come with her house help.

Rain, can you confirm if this orange juice isn’t too sugary for me before I drink it? I don’t want to get fat.

Rain, I need more cream in my coffee.

The request for more cream was made yesterday in the house. Rain was bringing his wife the cream that she asked for when her phone rang. It was an important call from home she had to take. Her boss’ wife was mad that Rain placed the caller above her coffee. In annoyance, Mrs Edozie did the unthinkable. Her action was the final straw that broke the camel’s back. Rain’s back had long been pushed beyond the wall and it emboldened her to speak up against the tyranny and mistreatment of the family.

Yesterday I cried when I got home. Sir, I cried because you made me feel small and I haven’t felt that way in a long time.

Rain looked at her boss straight in the eye. She had requested to speak with him privately after clearing up his lunch and he obliged her. She didn’t know where the courage had come from but she knew it was something that had to be said or she might be rude to his wife the next time they met and she didn’t want that to happen.

I made you feel small? Chief Rowland Edozie asked, perplexed.

Well, not you but your wife, Rain continued calmly. She made me feel very small sir, like I was worth nothing and she did it in front of your children.

When did this happen? A baffled Edozie asked Rain, trying not to act perturbed by the sudden show of bravery from his always respectful and docile executive assistant. He knew he was entitled to get angry at her effrontery and scold her, but then he thought against it. He didn’t like the look Rain gave him or the completely broken expression in her eyes as she spoke. She was almost in tears and everyone who knew him, knew that he turned totally squidgy whenever a woman started crying in front of him.

Yesterday. At your house. A now agitated Rain replied. The calmness was out the window.

Was it the incident with your phone?

That call was about my mother, and you know sir, that I wouldn’t have taken that call if it wasn’t of utmost importance. Her condition got worse, and she had to be rushed to hospital.

I’m sorry to hear about your mother, but you must know how my wife feels about people not doing exactly what she wants them to. And to make the matter worse, you were holding the cream for her coffee while talking on the phone. What if spit –

Sir, my mother’s life –

But you know how fastidious Madam can be. And about the phone, I thought I gave you money to buy a new one? I even asked you when she left the dining table, if you wanted the latest iPhone.

It’s not about the money or replacing the phone with a more expensive one sir. You see sir, the way your wife yanked it from me and tossed it against the wall so hard it shattered into pieces; no one has ever done that to me before. And your kids, they just stood there laughing like I was some foolish house girl who never gets anything right. She humiliated me in front of your children and household staff. I doubt I’d get over it, Rain said, crying as she spoke.

They were in the large office Chief Edozie occupied in the penthouse of one of the most impressive pieces of real estate in the heart of the sprawling Yenagoa business district.

Look Madam Rain Tamuno, I don’t know what all the fuss is about. My wife broke your phone and I immediately gave you money to replace it. If your mother is sick, go and see her. In fact, take the rest of the day off and tomorrow too if you like. The way Chief Edozie said it; Rain knew the conversation was over, but she had one more thing to say.

Sir –

And on your way out, you can stop by the accountant’s office. Tell him I want to see him. I’m sure there will be hospital bills to pay when she gets better and is discharged from the hospital. Let that be my contribution to solving your family problem.

Sir –

You are still not happy? Chief Edozie didn’t hide his exasperation. I expected you to say, ‘thank you,’ that’s what we were taught to say as children when someone did something nice for us.

Thank you, sir, Rain mouthed. Like always, his gift had bought her silence.

Young lady let me tell you what I have noticed about you these five months or so you have been here as my executive assistant. You are full of foolish pride and impatience. In your mind, you think that you are smart and that you can run this company if I let you. Let me tell you now that you cannot, and you don’t know anything.

Sir, I graduated with a second class upper in –

Young lady, I know that already. I also know what I told you when I asked you to come and work directly for me as my assistant. I have good plans for you Rain, but you just go and take care of your mother first and when you get back, you and I will talk. For now, please leave my office so I can strategise on how to make money to keep my businesses afloat before my staff turn on me.

2

Rain wanted him to do a bank transfer straight into her account, but the accountant insisted on giving her cash. She put the white envelope in her beige Givenchy handbag. The one she was forced to buy on credit three months earlier from a member of her church who only sold very expensive Italian shoes and bags. She went through the trouble of locating the woman’s house one Wednesday evening after work. She had to because that morning, she had overheard one of Chief Edozie’s girlfriends saying she could never be caught dead carrying a ‘cheap ass’ handbag.

I thought Gucci was spelt with double C, abi there’s another designer called G-U-C-H-I that I haven’t discovered yet? The girl whispered to her companion just loud enough for the other people in the room to hear their conversation.

Babe, don’t you trust our Aba boys again? There’s no brand they can’t imitate, came the response from her friend. In fact, just last week, one girl in my hostel was holding the exact same bag I was carrying. If I didn’t look carefully because I know her history like I know the back of her hands, I wouldn’t have realised it was a G-U-S-I and not a G-U-C-C-I she was torturing my eyes with.

Their laugher haunted Rain for the rest of the day. Especially after she Googled what was inscribed on her bag and Google came back with a – ‘Did you mean: Gucci,’ response to her search.

Mr. Wakama wanted her to count the money before leaving his office, but she told him she didn’t have to. Besides the fact that she was in a hurry to get back home and pack a bag for her sudden trip, she didn’t want the accountant feeling like she didn’t trust him not to have tampered with the money. If he told her that the envelope contained three hundred thousand naira, then three hundred thousand it was. It didn’t have to be a penny more or a penny less.

So, when are you expected back in the office?

I don’t know. I guess it would depend on my mum’s condition. What I know is that I wouldn’t want to stay for more than one or two days. Padrino has been very generous, giving me money and time off to travel. The last thing I want to do is take advantage of his kindness by staying in Port Harcourt a minute longer than is necessary.

I would say take your time though. It’s not as if you do anything meaningful here so even Padrino wouldn’t miss you that much, the accountant said with a sardonic grin on his face.

Rain knew he was teasing, so she let the jab slide. Mr. Donald Wakama was one of the few people in the office she really got along with and about the only person she was comfortable discussing her predicament with because he said she reminded him a lot of someone from his past. He said they had the same passion for life and exhibited the same healthy restiveness when things weren’t going at the pace they wanted.

The accountant was in his early fifties, but he had a young soul and a charming personality that matched his dark and handsome facial features. For someone well over six feet and slightly padded around the waist, he carried himself with a lot of athleticism and class. He dressed really well and was liked and respected by everyone in the office, although Rain was always quick to remind him that all that love was because he controlled the exchequer. The younger guys called him Zaddy, and Rain did too whenever she passed him along the hallway. If Wakama was alone, he would sing the nursery rhyme –

Rain, rain go away,

Come again another day

Little Donald wants to play…

That always cracked Rain up.

You know Mr Waks, I’m very grateful to Padrino for the opportunities I’ve had so far. The car, the apartment, the US visa even though I’m yet to make the trip, Rain chuckled.

I promise you Rain, one of these days, Chief is going to call you and say, ‘get ready, tomorrow we’re going to America.’ He does that to me all the time.

Rain smiled broadly, already thinking of the prospects. I’ve gained so much in such a short time. I remember not too long ago, David and I didn’t have five hundred naira to our names, and paying our bills was a major problem.

You don’t say.

"True story. There were days we couldn’t afford Indomie noodles and eggs for breakfast, and we weren’t sure where our next meal would come from. Things were really tough, but that’s no longer the case with David and I. Chief Edozie changed our lives. The only thing left is for Padrino to assign me a respectful task around here so I can feel useful. Zaddy, I can’t wait to contribute my quota to the bottom-line like the rest of you guys do. I want to feel like I’m a part of the success of this company before people start talking."

You know what I think, Olivia Pope? Donald Wakama ribbed again and Rain didn’t take offence at his attempt to lighten things up. Besides, he wasn’t the first person to reference her resemblance to Kerry Washington and the similarity in carriage she shared with the fictional character she portrayed in the award-winning television series, Scandal. Like Olivia, Rain was a problem solver who thrived on challenges. That was why she wanted so desperately to get involved in the operations of Edozie Express.

I’m sure you’ve told me before, but let’s hear it.

You’re starting to let office gossip get to you. We all know you’re not sleeping with the boss. I’ve worked with Chief for so many years, and the one thing I know is that he never dates any of his staff or employs any of his girlfriends in his companies.

What does Chief want from me then? Rain asked helplessly. Why did he bring me here? Why is he paying me so much money for doing almost nothing?

You bring lunch and serve one of the most powerful men in Yenagoa coffee from Monday to Friday, that isn’t doing ‘nothing.’ It’s a very important job if you ask me.

I can tell you’re full of jokes today Zaddy, but this is a serious matter. Mr Waks, I know you’d say I have such a crazy imagination, but I don’t think his wife likes me very much. You know how some wives get with other women working for their husbands? Well, I get that vibe from Mrs Edozie every time our paths cross.

What vibe? Mr Wakama asked, sitting up straight in his chair.

Hostility, Rain said. She’s hostile, rude and obnoxious, and I don’t know for how much longer I can take it."

Be patient Rain. Padrino has told you he has a job for you when you get back. Let’s wait and see what he’s got. I have been here longer than you. I’ve seen things, and I know things. You see me, I’ve learnt to do my job, mind my business and stomach the insults. After all when I’m giving my landlord my house rent or paying my children’s school fees or buying shares would anyone refuse to accept my money because I was insulted before I got paid my salary?

The landlord that would do that hasn’t been born yet, Rain concurred.

Exactly my point!

***

Rain Tamuno got into her Hyundai Accent. She got it in her first week at the company and she was over the moon about the car. She still was. Every time she drove in the elegant silver sedan, she thanked her lucky stars that her path had crossed with the mighty Chief Rowland Edozie, construction giant, media mogul and philanthropist. Rain still hoped she wasn’t going to wake up one day to discover that her life in the last couple of months had been a dream. It would be a sad day when she’d have to go back to her old life of desperation and want. Well, mostly want, because she really hadn’t gotten to the point where she was desperate and would do anything to catch a break when she met the chief.

She still remembered that day like she did every single line and scene from her favourite Kunle Afolayan movie, The Figurine. She had accompanied her boyfriend David Spiff III to the barbershop in the Ebis Hotel, the most expensive barbershop in the city, to redeem the first of his prize of four free haircuts. David had won the prize when he participated in a radio call-in programme a week before for knowing what year Mohammed Ali retired from boxing. Rain insisted on accompanying him just to be sure the entire episode wasn’t a hoax, but more so because she wanted to be there to tease him if it was.

It turned out the prize was real, and her boyfriend, D3, was really going to get his free haircut in Avalanche Man Salon, a place frequented only by the rich, famous and powerful in Yenagoa.

On that day, Chief Edozie was there for grooming as well. He had come with his sons, and like D3, they had to wait their turn. The TV was tuned to AIT, and a special programme on the Nigerian economy was being aired. It was a subject that was dear to Rain’s heart. Her final year thesis in Federal University Otuoke was centred on economic forecasting, national debts and deficits, and the impact they had on governance, so she was very comfortable talking about the economy.

Five minutes into the documentary, Rain found herself interjecting the narrator’s baritone voice and reeling out facts and figures on the subject matter from the top of her head. The way she went about it and the confidence she exuded while speaking, it was obvious she wasn’t a show-off, but someone sound and knowledgeable in the workings of the economy and passionate. She argued with some of the experts interviewed for the programme and postulated theories of her own that sounded very plausible.

Although she hadn’t set out to impress anyone, it turned out she did just that. Her armchair analysis impressed Chief Edozie who sat quietly in the VIP section of the shop. She didn’t know who he was at the time, but when he handed her his card and asked her to see him the following week she hesitated. Her boyfriend was only a few feet away, and it didn’t seem appropriate that she accepted what appeared like a proposition from another man.

She was going to return the business card because it was the sensible thing to do, but D3 nudged her not to, and Rain was glad he did. A lesser man would have acted differently, and how different their lives would have been if David had played the jealous boyfriend card.

3

You don’t know Rowland Edozie? David had asked when she read out loud the name on the card for the umpteenth time on their way back home from the salon.

I’ve heard about him and Edozie Express, I just didn’t know what he looked like. I might have seen a grainy picture of him and that’s all.

Babe, the guy is a mogul, David couldn’t hide his excitement. Whenever you hear anyone talking about the Dangote of Bayelsa, you just know that they are referring to Chief Edozie. Girlfriend, this could be huge for you!

Rain wondered why D3 was acting like she had won the lottery or that she had been invited to Aso Villa to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Why do you think he asked me to see him?

To work for him, why else? David gave her a look of surprise, and she immediately felt guilty that she didn’t share in his excitement or optimism about the scheduled meeting. Chief Rowland Edozie owns the biggest construction company in the region. Rain, the guy is loaded! Apart from building roads and bridges, he has stakes in television, radio and print media. You know what you should do? Google the guy’s name and you’d understand why you should be fasting and praying before your meeting with him next week.

You’ve concluded I’ll make the meeting.

Who in their right frame of mind would pass on a chance like this? Madam, It’s a no brainer. You impressed the guy with all that talk about the stock market being bullish and bearish, NASDAQ, GDP and Fortune 500 companies. You should have seen the way the guy was drooling over you at the salon, David laughed out loud.

Was he really? Rain wanted to believe that her boyfriend was just clowning around, but then his countenance changed, and he wasn’t laughing any more.

Reviews for Rain Can Never Know

[Kenneth Awom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very vivid story that captures your imagination! Would highly recommend...