₦airaland Forum

Chief of Staff? Ms. Morgan, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker?

I smiled. Well, that was good news. I didn’t know that Ms. Morgan had connections with Abuja politicians. This was a lofty connection.

“Congratulations, madam,” I found myself saying.

“Thank you. That brings us to the second development. You and I will be relocating to Abuja in the next few days.”

My eyes popped out. Relocating to Abuja? I never envisaged that. Gosh!

“As my P.A., you will go with me. Any objection to that?”

My mind was in a frenzy. I was sure T.K and my friends would be surprised by the sudden turn of event. Wasn’t I surprised too?

“Of course, no objection, madam. I’m only utterly surprised by the turn of event.”

“I know you will be. I’ve been in the process long before now. But it’s not too late that my good friend and big aunty, Bukky, has given the appointment now. It’s all for good.”

I smiled and nodded.

“My businesses, of course, will continue. This is just a political appointment that will not last for long. I mean in four years’ time, there would be another general election. Well, for now, I will make hays while the sun shines.”

I agreed with her. It was always good to make hays while the sun shines.

“So, you have to start preparing to move,” she went on. “I will be taking the mid-day flight to Abuja today and will be back by Friday. But the next time I go to Abuja, we’re going together.”
I nodded. The scene was too fast-moving. It was like watching a movie.

“It will be a pleasure, madam, to continue to work for you. Once again, congratulations to you.”

When I got back to Linda, I shared the news with her. She had been told about it, but she didn’t know whether to be happy or not.

“Why?” I asked in surprise. “You are supposed to be happy.”

Linda shook her head. “Madam told me I’m still in her employ, but I’ll remain in Lagos.”
I thought over that and shrugged. “Well, as long as you remain her employee, nothing is lost.”

“What if she’s actually planning to get rid of me?”

“Oh, oh, don’t be so negative. I think there’s nothing to fear about. On my part, I’m really happy for her.”

When it was few minutes to eleven, we left for the local wing at the MM Airport. Madam had already come prepared with a valise in the booth of the SUV. She had done all her travelling arrangements and was just to board the mid-day flight by a local airliner.

As she moved out of the lounge to take the flight, Linda and I bade her farewell and went back to the car park.

My mind was still in a frenzy. In the last hours, so many things had happened. I could still see that Linda was moody. I tried to chat her up but with little success. We returned to the Allen store. I realized I would not have much things to do for now, till I joined Ms. Morgan in Abuja. Before she left, she had said I should oversee the store’s manager at Allen. How exactly was I going to do that?

I sat where I used to sit, just before her office. The manager, Alfred, came to meet me.

“So, you’re the little boss, now,” he said jovially.

“Oga madam already instructed that I should report to you.”

I smiled and nodded. I soon found out that he was a friendly man who was ready to defer to a much younger man. Things went well at the store for the rest of the day. About two p.m., Ms. Morgan called to inform that she had safely arrived Abuja and resumed office. She said I should let her know if there was any problem.

I decided to wait till eight p.m. when the store closed before I too would close. I had to call T.K to tell him I would be coming home late. I would reserve the details of what had happened till I got home.

About seven p.m., I got a call from Lawyer Becky.

“Right now,” she said grandiosely, “I’m by the door of your flat. Where are you?”

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The following morning, I got to work few minutes to eight. The plaza had just opened and a sales girl was arranging items on the shelves. She seemed thorough and meticulous in what she was doing.

“Good morning,” I greeted.

“Good morning, sir. Welcome.”

I paused. “Can I help you?”

She seemed surprised by my offer. “Help me? Are you not Madam’s new manager?”

I smiled. “Not exactly. I’m her new P.A.”

“Yes, but it’s not your job to arrange goods for sale.”

“I know. I’m only asking if I can assist you.”

“Assist me?” She looked uncertain again. “Ah, no. Thank you very much, sir.”

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Elizabeth. But you can call me Betty.”

“Okay, Betty. Have a nice day.”

“And you too.”

I left her for the space just before Ms. Morgan’s office. I could always sit on one of the three chairs there. That would be my ‘office’ for now, I told myself amusedly.

My phone beeped to announce a WhatsApp message. I checked it. Surprisingly, it was from a number I had saved as Neighbour Lady. That was Lawyer Becky aka Mummy Favour. I read her message:

Thank you for all the troubles yesterday. I really appreciate all you did. You are a rare breed.

I smiled at the message. A rare breed? Just because I tried to kill a scorpion?

‘Good morning, madam’ I replied. ‘Don’t mention it; it’s a pleasure.’

I will really love to appreciate the gesture, she wrote further. A good turn deserves another.
Now, this was getting interesting. How exactly did she want to appreciate my gesture?

‘As I stated yesterday, you don’t have to bother. It’s okay.’

She didn’t reply again.

Some minutes later, my phone rang. It was Ms. Morgan on the line.

“Good morning, madam”

“Good morning, Tayo. Come to the Opebi store.”

She disconnected the line. I had to leave Allen for Opebi. I met Linda by the car at the car park. This time, madam had come in another car, an SUV.

“Good morning, Ms. Linda,” I greeted her.

“Good morning, Tayo. How’re you?”

“Fine. How are you too? How was your night?”

“Lonely.”

I caught a tone of wistfulness in her voice. I only smiled and moved into the store. Madam was sitting where the store manager was supposed to sit.

Ms. Morgan was a sight to behold in her grey skirt suit. The perfectly tailored cloth hugged her curves in all the right places. The jacket fitted and accentuated her bust down to her waist. She was in a sitting position but I was sure the skirt would be knee length, showing her smooth knees and skin.

Her hair was styled in sleek up do. The makeup was not loud. Rather, it was subtle and natural. Even as she sat, this woman that should be in her late forties exuded confidence, poise and sophistication. She was an epitome of elegance and beauty; and a vision of power and feminity.

“Good morning, madam.”

She smiled at me as if she appreciated my sublime thoughts about her. “Good morning.”

She pointed at a chair for me to sit.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

She nodded. “There are new developments I want you to know. Number one, I’ve got an appointment.”

That was a surprise. An appointment for madam? What appointment? What did she need an appointment for, with this thriving business?

She smiled at me. “I know you’re wondering what I’m talking about. Yes, I have a new appointment. Do you know Mrs. Bukola Abdulahi?”

I thought briefly. Of course, the name was familiar. Wait a minute, was that not the prominent woman in the national assembly?

“That must be the deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives,” I said.

She nodded. “That’s good. I can see that you are current. I’ve been appointed as the Chief of Staff in her office in Abuja.”

Chief of Staff? Ms. Morgan, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker?

I sighed.

“Can you help me check everywhere, please?”

Check everywhere?

That would take some time. Besides, T.K might come anytime from now. Well, no problem, I could easily explain things to him. But I would need to go back to our apartment to pick up my phone and to lock up the flat.

“I will be back, madam.”

She looked at me anxiously. I nodded reassuringly and left her. Back in our apartment, I picked up my phone and locked the flat. T.K had his own keys.

I went back to Mummy Favour’s flat.

“I think you should check the other bedroom.”

There was only one bedroom left. Briskly but thoroughly, I searched the room which I rightly suspected belonged to her two daughters. I even used the flashlight on my phone to get better illumination of the wardrobes and under the bed. The scorpion was nowhere.

“I think you can relax,” I said. “There’s no scorpion around here.”

“Thank you so much for a thorough job,” Mummy Favour said.

Her tone had changed. There was no more apprehension. Rather, the voice was cool and soothing.

“It’s okay, madam. It’s a pleasure.”

Suddenly, I noticed things I had not noticed before. It must be because I was preoccupied with the search for the scorpion.

When Mummy Favour first came to call me, she was wearing gown. By my second time of coming, this time around, she had changed to bum short and skimpy top. Where had she got the things she wore? Were they not from the same bedroom and wardrobe she had dreaded?

The bum short was a stylish, flattering piece of clothing that was designed to showcase and accentuate her curves. It had a high waist and a snug fit. It showed that she had big hips that tapered down her legs. The top was sleeveless and was made of lightweight, flowy material.

It showed clearly that there was no bra under the clothing as her voluptuous breasts jiggled each time she talked or made a movement.
Was I imagining things?

“You have allayed my fears,” she said. “You did such a meticulous work and I’m impressed. Sit down at the dining-table and let me serve you dinner.”

I smiled wanly. “That is kind of you, madam. But, don’t bother.”

“Oh, but it’s hard to find a meticulous young man like you. You need to be appreciated.”

“Maybe another time. My brother will soon come around. I need to go back to our flat.”
She looked a bit disappointed.

“Another time,” I said assuredly. “For now, goodnight.”

“Good night. Thanks for your time.”

I left her apartment. Something seemed amiss. Could the woman had made up the story about scorpion? Why did her mood change from apprehension to relaxed, affable mood? Why did she change from the gown she was wearing to seductive, revealing wears? Her later mood and smile also looked coquettish. Were all these my imaginations?

It must be my fantasies. I was always good in fantasies. The woman had always been acting ‘decently.’

She was almost snobbish. From all intents, she was a successful lawyer who probably did not need a man in her life. What made me think she had suddenly changed? What made me think she was interested in me, a very young man who had hitherto been jobless?

What a request! And why couldn’t she kill it herself?

“You need to be fast,” she urged.

Mummy Favour was a divorcee with two teenage children. I suspected the two girls to be between the age of twelve and fourteen. They were in the boarding house. That was why she needed my assistance, I reasoned.

I remembered my first acquaintance with Lawyer Debby. She had pressed our doorbell.

“Hi, I’m Lawyer Debby, your next door neighbour,” she had said like a lady saying she was thr Princess of Wales. “I misplaced my key to the gate. Do you mind opening it with yours? I’ve got urgent appointment.”

Luckily, the key to the gate was one of the bunch of keys I had.

“Let me have your number,” she had said as she was driving out. We had exchanged numbers since then.

That was months ago.

“Okay,” I found myself saying. I followed her to her flat and her bedroom. I could see what looked like fear in her face as we entered the place.

“There,” she pointed. “That’s the wardrobe. I found the scorpion inside it.”

I nodded. “Can I get a stick or something?”

“Sure.”

In a jiffy, she left the bedroom. I quickly looked around. Her bed was in a disarray. She was certainly not a very tidy woman, for how would you describe the way she littered some of her bras and undies on the bed?

You better focus on why you’re here, I told myself. You’re here to kill a scorpion, not to observe how someone did not arrange her bras.

She soon came back with a mopping stick. I took it from her and opened the wardrobe. She was behind me, almost hiding at my back as if scorpion would bare fangs and spit out poison.

“I saw it in the last compartment, among my shoes.”

I scanned the area she said. I could only see pairs of shoes; many pairs of shoes. I would have to carefully bring them out one by one.
This I did. I also checked the inside of the shoes.

There was no scorpion.

“Check the other compartments,” she put in.
There were two other compartments where she had her clothes. There were also many of them. She must be a clothes freak. I had to be careful in checking the clothes as the scorpion might be hiding inside one of them. I removed the clothe one by one. I even brought out the ones she hanged. There were two big leather boxes that were closed and locked. There would be no need to check the inside as they were safely locked.

Still, there was no sight of any scorpion.

“Oh my God! Could it have escaped?” she asked.

“It’s possible,” I muttered.

I had searched the whole wardrobe without finding it. She pointed at under the bed. I lifted the mattress for a better view. Nothing was creeping there.

“There’s no scorpion in this room,” I declared.

“Oh God, it must have gone somewhere,” she offered, perceived fear still on her face and in her voice.

I sighed. “There’s nothing to worry about, madam.”

“But, it’s still hiding somewhere,” she asserted.

I sighed.

“Can you help me check everywhere, please?”