Thanks to the guys that have been checking the babyrocka blog, the viewership is rising, and that's cool. The comments helped a lot too. Latest gist on the story. . . .
Lovers To Rivals It was the hard knocking on her door that finally drew her from her recollections, and shaking off her shadowy thoughts, she turned from the window with a, “Come in.”
Nnena entered, a bulk of papers in her hand. “You have to look at these,” she said, dumping them on Sasha’s desk. “These are projections, figures. MetroGold want the first production line to be running in four weeks. Just how are we going to fix this in time?”
Sasha rifled through some pages, frowning when she saw what the trouble was. But she looked far from willing to help when she looked up at her colleague. “So why bring it to me?”
Nnena fair-skinned face held some scorn. “Well, you worked on it for longer. If Kade was here I’d have probably asked him. But we both know why that is no more possible, don’t we?”
Sasha folded her arms, scowling. “Now what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh please,” Nnena snapped. “Everyone knows it was your fault Kade left. We’re not all as thick as you obviously believe we are. I for one know how you strung him along, played with him and then dumped him when you decided the game was getting boring.” She was shaking her head, her eyes filled with hatred as she held Sasha’s gaze. “We could never understand what he saw in you. We warned him, told him you were bad news…”
“This ranting isn’t all because of your concern for the MetroGold contract, is it?” Sasha mocked. “It’s actually about you. Kade chose me. You could never forgive me for that.”
“I could never forgive you for breaking his heart,” was Nnena’s reply. “Kade was a nice guy, he didn’t deserve that. And now we’re all stuck with a deal we just might end up losing if we don’t get it wrapped up by the contracted time. I’m sure you know the implications.”
Both women glared at each other for several moments. At last Sasha threw up her hands. “What do you want me to do! I didn’t know he was going to resign. And for your information, Kade and I had been having problems for weeks. I decided, finally, that the relationship couldn’t continue. If that sounds callous to you, then you can keep your opinion. You and the rest of the gossip club.”
“Don’t you worry. We have better things to talk about than Ms. Broom-stuck-up-her-ass,” Nnena sneered. She pointed to the papers scattered on the desk. “You’d better fix that. Rumours are already going round that Gabe is not happy with you at all. We lose this, and you might lose your job. I guess he’s beginning to figure out that you’re costing him far more than you’re worth.” She shrugged with a mocking smile. “I always knew you were overrated.” And with that parting shot, she left the office.
The next day was a Tuesday. Sasha found herself driving to the state-of-the-art skyscraper that housed the ZanziCorp offices. The company was half-owned by South Africans, and was worth billions of naira. It was tough enough getting past security, but she was finally at the ground floor reception. She stated her business, and was given a visitor’s tag and directions to the twenty-first floor offices.
His secretary was beautiful. Slim, graceful and with a pretty smile. Her suit was well-cut, perfectly fitting and riding high on her knees. Sasha was getting over the fact that he even had one – and then one that was so high maintenance. She was beginning to understand the level of his career progression.
“You’re here to see Mr. Ojo,” she said in a voice that was cultured, well modulated. “You didn’t have an appointment, but he will be able to see you in about twenty minutes. He’s in a meeting right now.”
“I’ll wait,” Sasha said, lifting her lips in response to the other girl’s courteous, white-toothed smile. The secretary went to work on her computer, and Sasha looked around the room. Clean, classy decor, obviously expensive. The seats, the paintings on the wall, the plush rug underfoot. Sasha’s inner annoyance at Kade was growing by the second. With a secretary like that and an office like this, what in the world would he possibly miss about AdSolute – what could he miss about her?
It was two months since that last time they’d seen and spoken, and not even a text message had passed between them. She was really surprised he had agreed to see her. She knew she’d have been turned back at the gate if he hadn’t. The very thought was galling.
When he appeared a good half hour later, he was in the company of three other men – two were white, all dressed in dark, power suits, sharing handshakes and those solemn nods that only passed among men who respected each other for their power and money. Kade saw them to the exit of the reception area, and agreed to meet them for lunch later in the week. He looked so at ease and in charge of things as she regarded him with interest and a bit of awe. But she kept this out of her expression as she rose to her feet to face him as he finally made his way towards her.
“Sasha. Good to see you.” They shook hands automatically. He even smiled. “It’s a pleasant surprise.”
“Is it?” she asked, her eyes searching, sceptical. He invited her into his office, telling his secretary to hold all calls.
Kade’s inner office was impressive, far better than anything she could hope to have at AdSolute. The furniture was minimalist, but every item of it spelled taste, style and high expense. A wall-to-wall picture on the window gave a gorgeous view of the Lagos skyline, and Sasha bit on her lip with envy. He indicated a seat, and she took it, crossing her legs elegantly. Being a fan or short skirts herself, she knew she was giving him a healthy eyeful. “You’ve really moved up, Kade. No need to ask how you’ve been getting on.” She looked meaningfully around.
He shrugged. “Perks. That’s all they are. The pay doesn’t hurt either. But that’s not why I chose the job. Enough about me though, how about you?”
“Why don’t we quit the small talk, Kade,” she said coolly. “You know why I’m here.”
She watched him go to settle into his chair behind the desk, and it struck her how much this all suited him: the so-called “perks”, the surroundings. He even looked different. He had always been well turned out, always seemed self-assured. But there was an aura about him that she didn’t recognise, like a cold, invisible wall she could never penetrate. Why was she feeling a tinge of regret?
“Well, making a wild guess I’m quite certain you’re not here to beg on your hands and knees for me to take you back,” was his sarcastic reply. “So I guess this is all about the MetroGold deal. Unfortunately, I can’t help you if that’s the case. You see, as we speak, ZanziCorp is showing a serious interest in making a bid for it. And I’m in charge.”
Sasha’s mouth was gaping. “Kade, you can’t do that! I mean, that plain goes against the grain!”
He merely shrugged. “What can I say, Sasha? My loyalties have changed.” He leaned forward, elbows on desk as he smiled expressionlessly. “Just what did you come here to do, Sasha? Convince me to come back to AdSolute?”
“No… I…I wanted to ask for your help. We’d reached a dead end and I figured only you could – .“ She shook her head at him. “And now you’re saying we’re going to be fighting over this contract?”
“From lovers to rivals, huh?” he murmured, before glancing carelessly at his watch. “Sorry, Sasha, but I have an important appointment in ten minutes.”
She sighed raggedly, as with shaky feet she rose. “You really hate me, don’t you?”
“Wrong, Sasha. I’m totally indifferent. Like you once said to me, it’s very hard to turn down a profitable proposition.” He was standing and striding to the door as he spoke. When he held it open to her silently, she had no choice but to walk with dignity, to where he stood.
“You were always a cocky sonofabitch, Kade,” she said softly, “But I never would have imagined you’d turn into such an asshole.” And with that, she swept past him and out of the room.
http://babyrocka.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/lovers-to-rivals/NB catch up on the whole story by clicking on the August archives
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Author
. So it'll come when it'll come. I'll check out your own excerpts, never fear. NL readers are a bit slow in encouraging writers, the whole lit thread is on its last legs 
, but with people like you, maybe we can bring it back to life!! 
, it's that stage where the stuff is flowing and one can hardly get any sleep till it's all written down. Speaking of, there's more. I'm glad you admire the Sasha character, I didn't want her to be so mean that she wouldn't be likeable. Once again, your feedback meant a lot, thanks 
) Au revoir!
