My frail heart skipped a beat or two as I came face to face with the guy who I met on these very stairs on the day of my interview.
“Good afternoon.” I greeted warmly.
“Afternoon.” He muttered and kept descending the stairs engrossed in whatever was going on in his phone. He walked past me and his arm brushed against mine. Heart attack!!
“Do you remember me?” I asked in a voice that was loud enough for him to hear me.
“No!” That was his only response. So annoying.
***
“Maybe he doesn’t know how to make sentences.” Ama drew her conclusion after I was done narrating all of the encounters with this guy.
Work was done for the day and we were taking a minute to unwind before heading downstairs.
“Yeah maybe. But then how did he get a job here?” Promise queried with both hands raised.
“Yeah, right.” Ama said slowly and picked up her handbag from the desk.
“Describe this guy if you don’t mind.” Promise continued as we started our journey out of the office.
“He’s got brown skin,very low cut hair and a whole lot of well trimmed beards. Oh, and a body from the gym as well.” I described with a shrug.
“There’s more than ten people who match that description here girl.” Promise said helplessly.
“Must be one of those low lives from the accounting department. They love to walk over people so do yourself a favor, next time you see him, just act like he’s another little speck of dust which you don’t happen to see.” Ama suggested and gave me a wink.
We got outside and said our good-byes as I crossed to the other side of the road as usual and got into a taxi.
On getting home today, I met Tina asleep on the couch with headphones in her ears.
I shook her to wake up. She was so excited to see me and was equally as eager to tell me all that she did and saw on her trip to Abuja.
On my part, I also narrated to her all of my experiences at work and the craziness of my fellow workers there.
Later that evening, chief sent a driver to drop her off at one of these Lagos big girls’ birthday party and security to look after her.
Tina is now a big girl oh! Rich sugar daddy, big house in Lekki, latest iPhone and expensive designer clothes, shoes and every other thing that is trending out there.
She even told me that chief was planning to buy her a Rolls-Royce before the year runs out.
I wonder the type of strong jazz that she’s using on this man.
***
“We’re out of paper Folake, I need you to go down to storage and get more reams.” One of the sales reps whose name I couldn’t remember ordered and I nodded while inwardly spitting in her face for what it’s worth.
Storage unit was also where the heavier photocopying and printing tasks of the company were done.
I returned in a flash since it was almost time for lunch and I didn’t want Ama and Promise to leave without me.
On our way to lunch, that was when we saw Mr grumpy and the sales manager who happens to be a lady laughing and walking towards the staircase together.
“The big dogs are off to lunch at an off-site location while puppies gotta pay for whatever the nasty canteen operators are cooking.” Ama said in a whisper before we walked into the canteen but I was too shocked to say anything.
“That’s the guy I’ve been telling you about na. The one with SM.” I finally opened my mouth as we sat down waiting for our order to arrive.
“You mean the supposed moron who couldn’t even say more than two words at a blow?” Promise asked in panic and I nodded in affirmation. The shock on both faces was getting me scared.
“That is the general manager!” Ama and Promise chorused in a bit of a yell making the people on the next table look at them like they were crazy.
My mouth went wide instantly as plenty thoughts ran through my mind.
“Are you two serious about this?” I asked chewing on my bottom lip nervously.
“Of course girl. If you’d mentioned that his car is a fancy black Mercedes, it would have helped.” Promise said running his fingers along his forehead slowly.
“It slipped my mind.” I said with a shrug.
Great! So the GM is a pompous little brat who walks around with a chip on his shoulder. No wonder he acts like he owns the place.
Ama and Promise went on to narrate how junior staff cower upon his arrival, his friendship with the sales manager being a major factor that destroyed his relationship with the HR and on and on.
His name is Alex and he is the best and brightest of his age at the organization. At thirty one, he has two PhDs with his name on it.
Even the managing director respects him. He’s literally a golden boy and a great asset to the management and share holders of the company as our branch under his leadership has become the envy of competition.
I listened with so much attention as they told stories of his greatness and stuff like that.
Lunch was over and we returned to work as usual.
I wouldn’t have thought in my wildest dreams that this Alex guy is the GM. He doesn’t give two tosses about anyone cause he thinks he’s more of a somebody than any other person.
My mind was changed and made up. When I run into him again, I’m supposed to greet respectfully and walk away not stopping a whole GM and asking him foolish questions that might end up getting me fired.
With all I have, I’m determined to keep my job whether the devil likes it or not.
On Friday evening, me and Tina decided to go out and have some fun in an elite club not so far from where we lived.
Chief’s driver arrived and we both jumped in like little kids.
We drank, danced and had plenty of fun all night before we were dragged back to the car by chief’s security men and taken home.
The next day, I had a terrible headache which didn’t get better until afternoon.
Tina who never settles down in one place for too long was already dressed and ready to leave for somewhere.
“Tell Chief I said hello.” I said as she made to open the door.
“Which chief is that one?” She asked with a laugh resting her back on the door.
“Hia! See question oh! Your chief now or how many chiefs do you now have?” I said in surprise while she made a funny face.
“I’m not going to see chief, there’s this old Bobo of mine than just landed all the way from the UK.” She said with dramatic hand gestures.
“So what about chief?”
“what about chief how?”
She fired back sounding somewhat annoyed.
“What if he finds out that you are cheating on him?” I pointed out with great concern.
“That man is old enough to be my father for God’s sake which means he’s not my speed anymore. I need to have some fun once in a while girl.” She responded and I shook my head in disbelief.
Tina is something else. Just using this man for his money not knowing that she’s playing with wild fire.
“I haven’t seen this guy in years and now that I finally got that chance, you want to play mom? Seriously? In case e still never clear you, chief is just a sugar daddy period! We’re in it for our personal benefits, he gets his and I also get mine in the process. Grow up for once!” She yelled angrily.
Chief would take everything away and she’d be back to square one if or when he finds out as the case may be.
She left home angry that day telling me that I meddle too much and if I’m not satisfied with how things are going, I should go ahead and get my own house.
I was just trying to get my best friend out of trouble before it’s too late but I guess she’d love to take a walk with danger.
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