There is shuffling of feet outside the door then there is a knock and three staff enter the office “ Good morning Madam” says all three at the same time “Good morning” Becky answers. “ Sit down all of you, we need to get this over with soonest. Remember we have more orders for later in the day and the day after” As they settle down on chairs around her table, Becky rises from her chair, to adjust the air conditioner to high, now that there are more people in her office. Earlier, she had reduced it when it appeared like she was going to freeze. She has never liked too much cold.

Rebecca Amah, many liked to call Becky is the Head of Operations at the Cuperial Hotel located at Victoria Island in Lagos. The Cuperial is a luxury one hundred and twenty five bedroom hotel with a long-standing reputation for providing impeccable service to its guests. The hotel offers a range of accommodation options to suit every business or leisure traveler. All bathrooms are en-suite and designed for maximum comfort. Its shareholders have not spared any expense in keeping up its wide and varied standards. Whenever Becky talks about the hotel, she tells you everything is designed to stir your sense and sensibility. Becky has been at the Cuperial now for eight years, has done very well for the hotel as well as for herself. She is one of the few fastest rising staff. She had worked her way speedily and vigorously up from her first appointment as the Front office supervisor to the position of the Operations manager six year after. She is hardworking and full of drive. Those who worked with her had to learn to move and be up to their job at all times including odd hours.

Becky has not always been like this. Six years of marriage that could be said to be a brutal one had seen her gearing up on self education and self-improvement. She had to work extra hard for strength and perseverance. Her determination at self-improvement in the face of all odds had seen her rapidly growing in a job that she loves so much and still finds very exciting. Becky’s marriage had been hell on earth. Tadde her husband was a hard man who believed in spite of his education that women should be seen and not heard. They were like items and must remain silent until their opinions were sort, which if left to him would never be needed. He was cold and unloving. The marriage had been arranged it seemed, between the two families since Becky was a toddler. Tadde’s mum had even gone ahead to pay her bride price as she said, with constant gifts of clothes, fruits, yams and books when Becky stated elementary school. In the secondary level, Tadde’s family had taken total responsibility of her education and up keep. It was a marriage sealed from heaven, everyone agreed. What they did not take into consideration were the two involved. While Becky was timid and obedient, Tadde was hard, cold and closed up. He was a quiet man yes and so very deep that you could never guess what he was thinking or what his plans were. He had few friends.

After her diploma in catering and hotel Management, she got married and Tadde would not allow her to work. It took three years before their first daughter Anna arrived. She lit the world for her mother; who dotted on her and spoilt her rotten. Her presence helped her remain sane in a marriage that was growing more hostile by the day. Dora was born a couple of years after. After Dora, the dam broke. Tadde accused Becky of filling his house with Females. He said she was selfish and a witch. She had planned it all to ruin his life and make him a laughing stock. Dear God. Just thinking about it made her want to cry.

Becky did all she could to pacify him in an attempt to make her marriage work. But as the days turned to weeks and then months, her marriage became a matter of life or death as Tadde became in addition to his coldness, bad tempered and violent.

Becky was barely twenty six when her marriage ended. On one cold night, It took the timely intervention of neighbours to save her from death when Tadde almost threw her three story down from the balcony. And why not, there was not a single refined bone in his body.