"Winning" by Jack Welsh

@trisurface,  reading from the very first post, i think the thread is all about having fun, using your imagination and creativity, weaving a lovely fabric of fiction tinted with supsense / romance/ intrigue from the different posts. I think it's just a game, there so many of such writing games here on nairaland.  don't lets overdo with rules and regulations. Lets just have fun.

Moving on with the story


Several hours later,
Saturday 6pm

Jane stifled a yawn as she attended to the last customer on queue at the store. She swiped his credit card on a P.O.S terminal, issued him a receipt and smiled politely as she bagged his purchases “Thanks for shopping with us, please come again” The customer nodded in return and she watched as he limped to the exit with his purchases. Jane leaned back in her swivel chair, sighed and closed her eyes.

“Are you okay Jane dear”? Lola from Aisle 2 hovered around her like a mother hen.
“Just exhausted, my shoulders and back hurt like hell”
“O.K, turn around girl and feel my massaging power”
Jane moaned in pleasure and relief as Lola’s knuckles worked out the kinks in her shoulder and back.
“I’m going to miss you Jane”
“I would miss you too Lola, but I would keep in touch by email, I’d miss everyone here as well” she said as she looked around the store with part nostalgia and part relief.
“I’ve learnt a lot in the last two years that I’ve been here”
“Of course Jane! You’ve worked in 10 different departments, since you started your internship. I think your grandfather’s idea of you interning and learning from all departments before assuming a position in management was a good one”
“Yeah Granddad is such an astute businessman,  from nothing he built a chain of 100 mega stores like this nationwide and worldwide, I guess he wanted me to know how it feels working at the bottom before moving up, and I’m definitely moving up! As soon as I resume as Country Manager next week, I’m getting a furnished apartment, a car and a driver, I can’t wait!” Jane said dreamily.
Lola chuckled “See her! Already daydreaming, come on girl, I’m taking you out to dinner, the office gave you your send off party yesterday, but as your best friend here, I’m taking you out for a great dinning experience! My treat!
“Gosh Lola! Thanks! Give me a few minutes to tidy up and grab my stuff”

********************************

Brian sat in a secluded corner of the restaurant, his table shielded by potted palm fronds. He curled his tongue around his lips. The escargots had been delicious. He closed his eyes as he sniffed the red liquid in his glass like a connoisseur “Excellent wine” he murmured. He opened his eyes and paused in shock, his wineglass held in mid air, his eyes round in wonder as he stared at someone a few tables away.
“Impossible! This has to be fate, this is the second time, I’m seeing her in less than 48 hours” He signaled a waiter, whispered to him and pushed a wad of notes into his hand. The waiter smiled “ Of course sir, I’d do that right away”
Brian watched as the waiter approached the table where Jane and another lady were seated.

@ banderas,
u write well banderas, er dont mean to criticise but writing in paragraphs makes it easier to read, also from the previous posts, jane is the target of brian's affections, jessica is the sister.

2ndly, checked out your profile, u are sooooo cuteeeeeeeeeee, i'm totally crushing on you! Would be back with my update on the story.

@ banderas’s post
Nice one, the plot thickens


Moving on with the story:



Tom dropped the phone. “This is going to be an interesting reunion” he mused as he made reservations for three at Brian’s favorite Italian restaurant at the Palms. Memories flooded his mind and he smiled pleasantly as he reminisced. He, Brian and Itse were such close buddies in high school that they had been nicknamed “the three musketeers”. Their teenage years had been fun; they played pranks, shared good times as well as sad moments together. Their friendship was envied by all, they hardly quarreled except for one time when Brian and Itse fell out over a girl, shortly before Brian traveled abroad with his family in his fourth year in high school.

"Itse and Brian, the two greatest Casanovas of the 21st century! It wasn’t difficult for those two to get any girl they wanted” Tom sighed wistfully and wished he had the charisma, charm and looks of his two friends. In high school, girls often threw themselves either at Brian or Itse but never at Tom. Tom sometimes felt jealous that he had average looks whilst his friends looked like potential GQ cover models, but he consoled himself that of the trio, he was the most intelligent. He was always the top of the class, throughout his school years. His exceptional intelligence had helped him to establish the leading private investigation agency in the country, which was currently ranked the 2nd best on the continent and the 10th globally.

Now that Itse and Brian were going to renew acquaintances, would they still revert to their womanizing philandering ways? Tom’s mind wandered to Brian’s request for a background check on a Jane, he wondered what Brian had in mind for her. “Anyway we are meeting tonight maybe he’d talk about that” His thoughts were interrupted when his secretary brought in some files, several inches thick. “Please get me some coffee Mary, from the size of this files, it’s going to be a long day” He leaned back in his swivel chair and began to read.

If you like suspense and intrigue, Try these authors : Dean Kontz, Partricia Cornwell, Agatha Christie

Parable of Dollars by Sam Adeyemi

“What a georgeous hunk” jess thought as she watched  brian slide into the back seat.  “ So Brian what do you do? Are you a banker? because you ‘re dressed as one” Jess asked as she drove out of the parking lot. Brian hesistated momentarily before answering “ I’m actually a business owner, he said, his eyes hooded as he flicked imaginary lint off his crisp suit. “ Where are you ladies headed?” Jess glanced at Brian from the rearview mirror and wondered at his quick change of subject. He’s hiding something, she thought.

“So how did your meeting with your client go?” Jane interrupted before Jess could reply Brian. “I have been waiting at that mall for almost an hour, and i hope your meeting turned out successful, to make up for my long wait in that rain".

Jess grinned from ear to ear “ i got the contract dear, i would gist you later she said exicitedly, “how about picking up some chinese food to celebrate? And Brian you are welcome to come along unless of course , you have to get home to your familly”. Jess winked at him.  “I would love to come, besides i’m not married, he replied with a smile in his voice, but his eyes were on Jane.