THIS WORK WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED BY ME ON NAIJASTORIES.COM UNDER THE PSEUDONYM P.J. BURRE


Copyright © 2016 by Tee Chudley
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not he reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review

They say the moment you are about to die, your life suddenly flashes before your eyes. Like a quick summary of what sucks, and what rocks, all that has ever been monumental to you slides by within those few seconds while the weak throbbing of your failing heart serves as a soundtrack.

But I think they lied. Whoever “they” may be because when I first got the call that my Dad died, my life didn’t flash before my eyes. It didn’t happen when I attended the first two formal dinners hosted by our own Patreco Inc and Servace Oil. It didn’t happen on my wedding day, neither when I had the twins, nor tonight. Tonight of all nights, why isn’t my life flashing before my eyes? Because at each one of all these moments, I felt like I was dying. Right here, right now, I feel the same.

How did we get here? A minute ago, I was in my tight tight jeans, and comfy sneaks, strolling to class from the cafeteria telling Jide just how amazing it feels, to be finally submitting our final thesis, telling him how much I missed Nigeria, and that I couldn’t wait to go home.

“You sure about that? Jide asked, with his brows arched, and lips slightly curved. Meaning he didn’t believe me

” look Jide, nothing feels better than being back home. Can’t wait to talk to my dad!” just the thought of my dad got me super excited.

” you spoke with your dad this morning,” he said

” come on,I mean real time! Seeing him face to face… ” I snapped

” ha-ha! Got ya!” he laughed. Then continued ” come to think of it, this time last year, you couldn’t wait to leave our – er – what did you call it?” paused, thinking then continues ” yeah… our forsaken Naija”

“Whoa! Don’t be dramatic. I said that?”

” can remember vividly. You were uspet from speaking with your mum, and you said something about the subsidy removal affecting your dad’s company,”

” oh yeah, that was the day our flights were confirmed.” I smiled, relieving the memories of how excited I was when I found out my masters program was to begin 3rd of June and Jide had won the scholarship too.

“Yeah… so, you see humans can’t be satisfied? last year, you couldn’t wait to jet out of Nigeria. Today, you can’t wait to leave halifax.” he shook his head, and pulled me off the walkway, towards his motorcycle which got me thinking, my dad would go ballistic if he found out I have been biking all around halifax, Canada. Oh, how I missed that man.

” no, don’t say that.” I countered, as I fastened the helmet beneath my chin..

” the truth is, Canada is amazing. people here are nice, and you can get doughnuts of every flavour, everywhere you turn… but honestly, I wish I had prepared for the weather by spending a day or two in a walk in freezer.

“You clown!” Jide burst out laughing, then said seriously ” you are totally right. I swear, I can’t wait to be back home too!” he said, starting his bike, and we zoomed off to our off campus apartment.

We ordered dinner from an Italian restaurant and toasted to our last days in Canada. I was really excited, but I could see that Jide had something boggling his mind, and it took him till the last day, when we were about leaving for Nigeria, before blurting it out… “now what?” he said

“What?” I asked

” Simi, now we have our masters, we are going home, back to the way things used to be, now what?” he asked

I knew what exactly he was talking about. Here in Canada, nobody knows us. Nobody cares if Simi’s father was an oil businessman, or if Jide was just a poorman’s son, who managed to live above average, and who’s intelligence gets him by. Here, we were unknown, and our relationship could flourish undeterred.

For a moment, I feared going home, and having my mother yell at me, telling me about standards, and the reason why my Louboutin is 5inches heeled. “It is called Standards” she would say “the few inches that set you apart, and stand you out. You shouldn’t be squatting in a Louboutin. You should look for someone who stands as tall as you” trust me, when she says squatting, she means financially.

She believe a man’s heights and standard, is defined my how swollen his pocket is. Needless to say, mom hates Jide, and his starch stiffed shirts… as she usually referred to him.

I wish I had remained in Canada because, two weeks later, dad died, and Mom was prepping me for the first formal dinner with the partners. She didn’t even give me a moment to mourn my beloved dad.

.

.

[/b]PART THREE[b]
I think I know why the dog howls at the moon. There’s always a need to hold on to something in a lonely world. If the moon refuses you, at least, the rest of the world loses sleep.

“Hmmmmn! Kill me now!” Toni said with her mouth full of cavair, bringing me out of my thoughts.

What?” I asked.

“I think this is where cavairs come to die!” she said,

” I’m not really feeling it tonight” I told her, and she was shocked

“The only person I know who hates cavairs, is that boyfriend of yours, don’t dare catch the disease from him” she warned and in a second, she disappeared into the small crowd that filled the Ade- Hanson’s large and loftly piano room, mingling with those that mattered, like the socialite that she was. There she goes, my best friend and ally.

I was once again left alone with my thoughts. Toni was right though. This was the posh cocktail of all posh cocktails. No expense had been spared in putting everything together, and while the who is who’s of the society mingled, soft jazz music was being played by a life band that was led by the grand piano which was the centre piece of the party.

She was also right about Jide’s distaste for cavairs. He says rich people love spending money on weird things, and if he were here, he wouldn’t go near any of it with a long pole.

Jide, where are you? I thought to my self.

I sighed as a waiter walked past me, and reached for a glass of scotch.

Ever since we returned to Nigeria, I hadn’t seen or heard from Jide. I called and left him messages. I even went by his house, and I just haven’t been able to get a hold of him.

Dear God, I hope all is well. I thought to myself.

“Ah, champagne, the drink of champions” He said. His deep baritone voice bores right through to a woman’s belly. I was scared out of my thought.

“You again,” I sighed, taking a sip, as I glared at Dede Ade-Hanson, the son of our host.

“No this is Glenfiddich, scottish whiskey, and it’s not in a champagne flute. What’s tripping you up.” I seemed firm on the outside, but my innards were all slippery, busy melting for a handsome guy.

“Yeah, me again.” He said, shaking his glass of whiskey. “Can’t you play nice? This is just like primary school, class five, France in 2002, and all the other times all over again ” he said.

Dede was referring to all the times our paths had crossed. We never got along mainly because our dads weren’t friends, but when you are a member of the inner circle, even if your are arch enemies, your paths are bound to cross, because the inner circle is very very small.

” Well, thats because I don’t like spoilt rich kids” I quipped

“Well, incase you haven’t noticed, I’m no longer that fat Diddy everyone loved to pick on” He replied.

He was grown up all right. Six foot four all male, with no single shred of baby fat. He looked dapper in a suit too. Looking at him made me feel things I shouldn’t feel.I really need to see Jide, I thought to myself.

” Well, I guess I could make nice, considering the fact that your dad is seemingly making moves to acquire my company” I said rather dourly.

” And considering the fact that we may end up working together” He added thickly. His gaze followed every delicate curve of my body, making me feel as if the word “together” was a double entendre.

I reached for another glass of scotch, and immediately took a swig.

“Hmmm… take it easy on that scotch. its rather stiff for a lady.
You seem a little tense and you are favouring your left side too” Dede observed, eyebrows arched in concern.

“Who made you my doctor?” I retorted

“Come on, be nice,” He replied as though he were correcting a naughty child. I let it slide, and played nice.

“It’s nothing. Just a little back ache. I’ve been through a lot this past few weeks” I sighed. Just talking about it gave me slight relief.

“Yeah. I can imagine. Come here.” he said, pulling me close to his all manly frame. I leaned in for a hug, but his huge thumbs went for two node points at my back. I don’t know what he did, but my spine cracked, and I felt much better immediately.

” Oh my God! My backache is gone!”

“You’re welcome,” he said, pleased with himself.

” Wow! That was-”

“Awesome?” he cut in

“No. I was going to say weird! What did you do to me you alien!” I smiled at him, and in response, he leaned in and kissed me.

I could taste his scotch, cavair, and something with a hint of coconut. I was melting in his strong arms, as I suddenly felt woozy.

It ended just as abruptly as it started.

“And how was that? Hope it wasn’t weird. I have been longing to do that all evening.” he said. His lips, stained with my lipcolor, caught the illuminating ball, and glistened.

He was expecting an answer, a reaction, or something but I just stood there, staring at his lips, thinking about his dinner that I just tasted, his scotch, utterly dumbfounded.

“There you are!” Mom said, and saved me from that awkward moment. She waved at Dede, and acted as though she noticed nothing. Mind you, mum never misses a thing.

“There are some investors I’ll like you to meet” She said, as she ushered me along. I scurried off with her, put myself together, and left the sixteen year old version of me behind with Dede. I was a lady once again.

It had been a more hectic night than I would have imagined. Now I understand mum, when she says dinners like this, is where intelligent people come to close deals.

For most of the night, business was just mentioned casually, but as conversations went, it was clear, to those who pitched, who was winning, and who was losing. At the end of the night, we had agreed on 49 – 51 percent. and despite all the charm, and the adulations my dress won, Patreco was holding 51 percent of Servace oil.

I felt really bad within myself, wondering what dad would do at this point, but mum said we had the best bargain, and that she was proud of me and how well I handled the big guys.

I had more reasons to feel turmoil. I needed to sort out things emotionally. I needed Jide to restore some sort of order within me because, at the end of the night, I had lost 51percent ownership of my company, and nearly that much percent ownership of my heart, I headed straight for Jide’s house in shomolu.

PART FOUR

On stepping out of the cab that took me all the way from Victoria Island to Shomolu I stood out like a sore thumb in my extravagant outfit. I couldn’t find time to change my clothes before coming over. All that was in my head was Jide. He was my peace, and I needed to find my peace.

I crossed the narrow gutter that stood between his house, and the streets, and ignored the small crowd that stared at me from a safe distance.I greeted the neighbours who sat outside, enjoying a non existent ambience, because there was no light.

“Evening aunty o, welcome” a plump woman with a baby suckling on her breast answered, while waving off mosquitoes with what appeared to be her blouse.

” Abeg, Jide dey house?” I asked her, and was answered by someone else all the way from the long narrow communal corridor.

“Ah aunty Simi, na you? Welcome o!” he hailed, walking towards me. Godfrey was one of the neighbours who quickly became my friend, over the couple of years I had been a regular visitor in their face to face compound.

“Godfrey, good evening o” I said, walking into the dark corridor, and towards Godfrey.

” Aunty long time o. Wetin my guy do you now? We no even see your break light.” he asked, swinging his arms.

” No problem o, na work cause am” was all I could say.

” Aunty na where you dey from come na? You are looking taken away o. Choi! Jiddddeeee! Na you o!” He said, as I walked past him, and went to knock on Jide’s door.

Two knocks on the door turned to five, till I found myself standing for five minutes before all the shuffling noises in the room silenced, and Jide came to the door.

Jide had his body in between the door, so I wouldn’t come in. He was five feet five, and very lanky. Those were some of the things my mum and friends usually complained about him. His height and his stature was just not good enough for them. But I didn’t mind. I wasn’t looking for Mr Prefect, but Mr Right.

Being three good inches taller than him, and also, with the additional help of my heels, his position was pointless. I had a clear view of his room already.

“Can I come in?” I asked.

“Yes, yes,” he said, widening the door, and moving out of the way.

I walked into his little apartment, so picollo, it was just a little bit larger than my shoe closet. I never really put it to mind. I only cared about my Jide.

The bed was un made, and I wondered why. He cleared a part of it for me to sit, while making a phone call.

” Hello, how far?” he said after the person he called answered seemingly on the first ring.

…..

” Okay, please just wait there. Wait for me. I’ll be with you shortly”

…..

He ended the call, and placed the phone on his study table. He looked flustered. Jide was never flustered, and what’s with the messy apartment?

“Simi, I can explain” He started. Obviously referring to his deserting me the moment we got to Nigeria.

” How?” I asked, trying hard not to cry.

” I called you. I left you messages. I lost my dad. Everything is falling apart! Where were you? Where were you when I needed you?” I was shaking uncontrollably.

I don’t know how I managed to survive without him. But seeing him, and revisiting all that was happening, was difficult to handle.

“I’m sorry Simi. I’m sorry about your dad.” he said, drawing me closer, as he sat beside me.

“Jide, what happened? What is going on with you?” I asked, finalling letting go of my emotions, as the welled up tears flowed freely.

” I can explain, I promise you” He said again, wiping off my tears.

We sat there for minutes until the door flung open, and he suddenly let go of me. I looked up to see a fair skinned lady with a towel wrapped around her bosom.

“Jide what is the meaning of all this!” she yelled

” S- sarah… I- ” Jide stammered

” How can you keep me waiting like that in the bathroom. You know it’s a public bathroom. You were supposed to join me, and you just let those neighbours of your’s to be shouting at me. I don’t like it” she was truly upset with him. She noticed me after she was done with all she had to say.

“And who’s our guest?” she asked smiling.

” Please, pardon my manners, I didn’t really see you there. Hope he’s entertained you?” She smiled from ear to ear, revealing her beautiful well of dimples. I was shocked out of my mind. Too shocked to say anything, as I shook her hands.

” The name is Sarah- ”

Jide cut her short. ” Um s- Sarah, S- Simi, er, ”

He was perspiring so much, the room was getting stuffy.

” You can explain right? That’s what you want to say? I asked, and he nodded, while I rose up from the bed. I took off my shoes, and folded them under my arms.

I walked out of Jide’s apartment, and out of Jide’s life. I never knew my night could get any worse, after leaving the party.

But as I walked barefoot, on the muddy streets, allowing my beautiful dress get soiled, I began to wonder, who opened Pandora’s box, why was it all falling on me, and when would all the misery end…?

I must follow this story to the very end, so help me God.

Lemme make my bed first, then discharge Sarah before Simi walks in here barefooted and blow my cover.

Lovely work from a lovely teechudleyy. I trust you, dear..

LOL! Joecutie... dont play those games. Thanks for reading jare. Will try to put up installments on time.

teechudleyy:
LOL! Joecutie... dont play those games. Thanks for reading jare. Will try to put up installments on time.

You're always welcome, sweet.

Update ooo,.,nice story!

Teechudleyy, where are you na? Coman update biko.

Update will be soon. So sorry I've been away for so long....

PART FIVE

"Carve your heart out yourself
Hopelessness is your cell
Since you've drawn out these lines
Are you protected from trying times?

Man it takes a silly girl to lie
About the dreams she has
Lord, it takes a lonely one
To wish that she had never dreamt at all"

I sang along to Dashboard Confessional's music that was blaring from my speakers. It couldn't be loud enough, no matter how high I raised the volume. The music screamed my feelings much louder than I could. I'm such a stupid girl.

Stupid! Stupid!! stupid!!!

I punched hard at my pillows till feather downs poofed out.

I didnt even notice when Mama John came into my room. She turned down the stereo, and I turned around to see her face tightly screwed in a frown. She has been truly worried about me.

"Mama, my song!" I pouted like an 8 year old

"Simi, are you trying to bring down the house?" she chastised.

" Ha-ha! you are too funny mama. As if you don't know all these rooms are sound proof" I replied.

I moved towards the ipod port, to turn the music back up, and she gave me a look that said I wouldn't dare. I stopped.

"ooh, what do you want from me?" I complained, falling face first into my bed.

"These are the clothes you asked me to prepare for tomorrow's board meeting." she said, and hung the garment bag in my closet.

She sat on my bed, and asked.

"Why dont you stay home tomorrow. I'll make you soup, we will do some singing. When last did you sing like you used to?"
She stared at me searchingly, like she was trying to bore into my soul.

I told her everything, immediately I got home on friday. She knew all was not well, even though I tried so hard to keep it all bottled down.

" Mama, I have told you before. Tomorrow, the new partners are coming. We have to formalise all the business we discussed on friday. I cannot be absent for anything" I sighed, and fell into my bed again.

" what about the other issue? The er- er-" Her voice trailed off, and I laughed.

"Mama, look at me, like I told you, I have no time to mope over Jide. By 8 o'clock, Toni is coming to pick me up, and we are going to party. I'm fine. I promise you" I protested, a little too much.

I couldn't make sense of all that had happened.

Jide was the one sane thing in my world. We were in Canada together all lovey dovey taking the world in our strides. Now... He can explain?

Toni came around and squeezed me in a tight tight sequins dress.
We went out clubbing and even though tomorrow was a big day for Servace oil, she promised me it would do me a lot of good.

She was right. Club OK banged my ears deaf. I popped two bottles of champagne, and then gave it away. I danced with a neanderthal and couldn't careless.

"Babe... " Toni shouted in my ear

"What" I shouted back laughing. I wasn't drunk, I was happy

"Come on! Look who's here!" She sounded so excited, I was excited for her.

I ran off with her, and she practically thrust me into the broadest hardest chest in town.

Diddy.

"Easy there lady" he chuckled and held me up.

"You. Are you following me around?" I queried, but I didn't really care much about his coughed out answer.
I dragged him to the dance floor, and coaxed him into dancing.

We danced all night. We slow danced, we even tangoed and the crowd circled around us.

I stayed glued to his frame for support when i got too tired and We talked for a long time into the night, I didn't even notice Toni was gone.

I woke up the next morning in my bed.
It was a miracle.
When I rolled around to do my usual stretch, I rolled into a hard body I was beginning to get used to.

interesting

PART SIX

When the lightening flashes
When the thunder crashes
Where do the little birds go?

Shell shocked doesn't even cut it. I crawled out of bed and ran out on the freak show I found lying next to me. How did that happen?
Mama John gave me the stink eye when I went downstairs for my hot cup of coffee. I ignored her.
The coffee was so soothing, I poured out another. The loud bang in my head should subside before I get to work.

Even though mum who is supposed to be my backbone was no where to be seen, my Sequined bianca louboutin pumps gave me all the pomp and power I needed. I would definitely slay as smoothly as my pretty shoes.

I walked in 30 minutes before the scheduled time for the meeting and seized the opportunity to hold a tete a tête with the Servace Oil Board.

I could see each one of them sizing me up, deciding if they could be led by this little me.

My father taught me well. Dad says calm them down, get informal before getting formal and feed their weaknesses.

I ordered honeyed tea cakes round the room asked after barrister Diekolas son in France while we all dug in. I broke the ice, and the foodies and sentimental slowly warmed up to me.

All that changed immediately Patreco Inc came in. It felt like an hostile takeover and not a merger. Even their lawyer wouldn't look me in the eye.

Wasn't this man just feeling me up last Friday? I thought.

It took me a minute, but I eventually took back the reins.

I told them a subsidy removal might be having a back breaking effect on us at the moment, but we work constantly to ensure we maintain a leading client base. Our foreign clients are willing to pay our proposed price per barrel and we are focusing on them.

The merger was to give us a breather, we merely needed liquid funds to maintain our regular business flow.

I went on and on till mom walked in, accompanied by Diddy. When did they become best buds?

He had on loafers and his shirt wasn't tucked. His blazer was the perfect blue. Navy. He was clean shaven.

I should be upset that he was crashing this crucial meeting with his starch stiffed shirt. Instead I was taking in details of every inch of him and getting sweaty in my thigh.

I paused for a minute and then asked the barrister to make some inputs.

I listened with rapt attention while Dokun Ade-Hanson spoke. He's the slightly older, more mature and lesser good looking version of Diddy.
He was deliberating on our new name.

Patreco-Servace? Because they now own 51%? Or Servace-Patreco in honor of the deceased who put in all his life building a thriving multi million naira empire?

"Late Shola Oladokun" I chipped in. I wouldn't let my fathers name be changed to "deceased"

"Yes. Thank you madam. Shola Oladokun was a great man who has left behind a legacy in this industry. We at Patreco wouldn't mind the arrangement. We also know a complete name change would be additional paper work let alone rebranding and reintroductions. This is only a necessary formality that should be ticked off the agendas of this meeting" He said

Everyone nodded in agreement. We unanimously agreed on Servace-Patreco oil.

While discussing ideas on the logo design, I noticed I had licked two tiny packets of stevia. Having Diddy in the same room gave me so much discomfort. I was spending 50% of my thoughts trying not to think about him, so I nicely excused myself.

I went into daddys huge office, and walked into the kitchen. I leaned on the marble counter top and took a deep breath.
What am I doing in the kitchen? I should be in the toilet throwing up.

I took a gulp of mineral water. It was off. It wasn't Voss. I put it back in the fridge.

"Simi. You here?" I heaved a huge sigh hearing Diddys voice call out. I quickly shook the teenage girl off and walked out in calculated strides.

"You." It wasn't supposed to be a statement but I didn't know what to follow that with, so I stopped abruptly.

He was facing the literary section in dads shelf, his back turned at me. I found myself looking at his lopsided Behind. They weren't lopsided. I just needed to find faults.

"This is from the renaissance China." He said, admiring daddy's impressive table and walking towards me in the process.

Daddy's gigantic table looks so beautiful and intimidating. I couldn't believe I would be sitting at this table everyday henceforth. I looked at daddy's framed portrait hanging just over the directors chair.
Old man smiled reassuringly at me. All would be well.

" what are you doing here?" I asked. I sounded a bit too harsh. I almost said sorry but then remembered mum says Kings are never sorry.

"Hey you. Just wanted to check up on you" he smiled. That devilish smile.

"I'm fine" I stated, dusting nothing off my skirt, and walking towards the door.

"You sure? You seemed a little out of sorts out there. Completely unlike you" he winked as if there were some inside joke we shared.

"Unlike me?" What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know, loolapahlooza! Seize the day!" He accompanied his foolishness with funny gestures. Am I supposed to get the joke?
He paused. Searching at my blank stare, he gasped

"You don't remember a thing! O.M.G!"

I sensed the laughter about to erupt before he burst out. I walked out on him, and went back to the board room completely riled up, and wondering what happened last night. And why is proximity to Diddy making me sweat in funny places?

If I lacked composure earlier, I was even worse off on getting back. Thankfully, the meeting had come to a close.

PART 7

There's a snail at the bottom of my garden
And his name is Christopher crawl
He crawls all day, he crawls all night
He's slowly crawling up my wall

There's a snail but it wasn't Christopher crawl in the nursery rhyme. It was Dede. It suddenly felt as if he was following me, and crawling right into my heart.
I got into my office the next morning to find Diddy perusing one of my dads books.
"Good morning" I said rather sternly, wondering how he came in, what he wanted and who let him in.

"Good morning ma'am. Happy to see me I see" He said, walking towards me as I shut the door.

"What are you doing here?" I snapped at him
"Wh-" he laughed "what am I -?" He shook his head, still smiling as if I was making a joke.

"Wait. Are you stalking me or something?" I was in no mood for his boyish charms.

Diddy was the kind of guy who goes about life like its a fun ride. He's daring, charming and perhaps a little too immature. He was born into a large family with money. He lived comfortably all through his life and acts like someone of great importance.

"Wow. Following you?" He scuffed, saying something else under his breath

"I'm sorry. What was that?" I confronted him.

He shook his head, massaging his temples.

"What did you say? " I stood in his way, before he got a chance to turn around and leave. I noticed him staring at my low cut blouse so I stepped back and went to sit in my gigantic chair.

"I said nothing. Don't get so hung up" he said and made for the door.

"Hung up? You don't have the balls to say it. You're free to leave" I taunted almost on top of my voice.

He stopped in his tracks, swung around and walked towards me. He had such a strange serious look that nearly terrified me.

"You know what? I'm tired of you!"

"I'm sorry what -"

"Don't interrupt me."

I shut up immediately. It felt strange because I wasn't used to taking orders.

He continued. "You're not nice to me. You scowl at me all the time. I'm following you? I'm Dede Ade-Hanson!"

" I know. You don't -"

"I said don't interrupt me!" He slammed his palms on the table.
"Yes. I like you. I'm here in your face and you don't see it. You don't remember the other night? Remember this."

He leaned in and covered my lips with his. It was a long hard kiss. He took out his anger on my lips. He parted my lips with his and thrust his warm tongue right through, stroking mine with his. It was so electrifying I couldn't help but kiss him back. I receive all his frustrations with my mouth willingly responding to him but he pulled back and the kiss ended just as abruptly as it started. Making it the second time.

Diddy turned around and walked away. I didn't know what to do. Stop him? Or throw a book at him. I was too shocked and almost petrified. He stopped at the door and turned around.

"I was only checking out how we could share the office as agreed in the board meeting but Conference room 2 works just fine. Have fun."

His voice was sombre. I felt like a bad person. Its true we agreed I would share the office with the representative from Patreco Inc. I didn't think it would be Diddy.

Honestly, I had only been over reacting because I felt he had been invading my space from the day we met again. With unsolicited kisses, to crashing in my bed. I had forgotten my partner could well be Dede. I had been expecting to see Dokun or anyone else. Who would have thought Diddy could be the office type?

I felt worse than guilty.

We had our first in house meeting as Servace-Patreco. Dede easily filled the spot of a financial strategist making some serious sense all the way. I was worse than judge Judy. Dede could be a business man if he wanted to.

Throughout the meeting, not for once did he look at me, or address me directly even though I tried hard to catch his attention. I was hoping I could apologise telepathically. All I got was a well defined jawline. A beautiful jawline no less.
I knew what I was feeling and I was eager to admit it especially since he told me he liked me too.

Jide who?

Lol... wat if Jide comes back to beg, and blames the devil like men usually do

She has fallen inlove,and i think her mum is the one pushing diddy towards her

Moyarh:
Lol... wat if Jide comes back to beg, and blames the devil like men usually do

Lol! Devil don't suffer o.

kayspark27:
She has fallen inlove,and i think her mum is the one pushing diddy towards her

No comments. Loool!

teechudleyy:


Lol! Devil don't suffer o.

Lol. Na true now. Its the easiest excuse in the book.

Moyarh:


Lol. Na true now. Its the easiest excuse in the book.

Yeah. Basically everything bad is d devils handwork. But its d devil in us. I guess.

teechudleyy:


Yeah. Basically everything bad is d devils handwork. But its d devil in us. I guess.

I guess so... there's usually tht force that pushes us to do something we KNOW we will regret. In the end, its all a matter of choice. I guess.

teechudleyy:

No comments. Loool!

. Ok naw

Interesting,keep it coming.

PART 8
Those who hang around corridors are going nowhere, coming from nowhere

Its been a month since I had my encounter with Diddy. Everyday I drove into the parking garage at work and I think to myself, maybe today I'll get a chance to speak with him. My hair was always laid like blessings and glory, and I took extra care to dress myself to the hilt, businesswoman style. Yet, everyday, I left work thinking I'll get a chance the next day.

I made all excuses in the books but he avoided me like a plague. Whenever I sent for him over an urgent business matter, he face times me with concise straightforward answers.

There were no unnecessary smiles... No dimples.

His office, which used to be the Conference room 2 was only two offices from mine. I couldn't go to see him so I also acted like I had filed him away in a "do not open" folder. I was going out of my mind.

"Good morning" Tonia hollered from the end of the hall. Ever since our legal department grew twice its size, there has been a lot of hollering in hallways.

I waved in response, and opened my office.
Dennis had resumed already and busy with his World of War craft or whatever role playing game he was into nowadays.

Dennis was my newly employed assistant. He was a Chemical Engineering student having his mandatory one year industrial attachment with us.

He adapted to me almost immediately and with him around, I was sure things would get done just the way I wanted. Most importantly, my table was never cluttered.

The only thing I disliked about Dennis were his fliers. There was always a power packed program in his church that he was sure would do me some spiritual good.

"Morning madam" he said as he sprung up from the comfortable sofa that had soon become his favorite spot in my office.

My office was on the 14th floor overlooking the bay, and you could see The third mainland bridge. The vast curtain walling gave us a clear view of the Lagos metropolis, and the rising and falling ocean waves.
The sight of the vehicles heading towards the mainland was not as beautiful. They were stuck in a terrible traffic as usual. Our floor was blissfully high enough and my office sealed off from surround sound so I couldn't hear the furious honking of horns and terrifying spitting matches that would be going on down there. I was thankful for that peace of mind, and for the fact that I never had any need to face that road rage.
Dennis wasn't sitting there for the view, he was there for the strong WiFi reception he could get on his laptop.

"Morning Dennis, what do we have today?" I said, walking towards my table and placing my purse just beside me as I settled into my chair.

"You have these to sign" he placed the papers on my table. They were the field documents I amended the day before.

"Skype meeting with Harriburton from East London, by 10:00am, a presentation meeting with the general board, and madam needs you to sign this, and this." He finished.

Mum was the madam. She was the chairman appointed by the Servace-Patreco group and I was the director but she was just as involved in everything, its hard to know my place.

I asked Dennis to remind me of the 10:00am meeting by 9:45, and to inform Mr Zikora Ndiche we were speaking with the foreign clients together.

I looked through the ammendments I made to the field documents and realised it was flawed majorly. Right from page one, everything was reverted to the way it was initially. Barrel production claim was doubled, field tickets and the receipts submitted didn't match. I wasn't even supposed to see the field tickets myself. It just came to my office by mistake.

I picked up the phone, and punched in Zikoras office. I got the secretary.

Zikora came in before I dropped the phone

"Good morning. That was awful fast" I said

"Good morning. What do you mean?"

" Never mind" I replied. Apparently, Zikora wasn't in his office as his secretary had claimed.

"Please what's this travesty? I made comments on the previous documents your department asked me to sign. I see nothing was done." I said calmly

"I noticed those too before bringing them to you. But Barrister asked me to leave it that way" he explained confidently.
"I'm sorry what?" I couldn't imagine his stupidity. When. did the legal department control Oil and resource?

"Madams orders" he said.
"Okay". I replied calmly and told him to get ready for our meeting by 9:15am.

I had already left my office and was going straight to the barristers office before I realised Zikora probably had something to tell me, that made him come to see me.

Not that I couldn't send for the barrister, but the man reminds me he isn't my mate by keeping me waiting whenever I sent for him.

This was too urgent.

The adjustments being reverted on the documents were an aggressive message from probably my mum and I needed to make my feelings known.

I got to the barristers office and found him chin up, in a heated discussion with the two of them. It was the in house meeting of all in house meetings between the barrister, my mum, and Diddy.

They all fell silent when I walked in and shut the door.

"Am I interrupting anything?"

lovely write up, feeling for jide and I hope he will be back for simi

Mario1983:
lovely write up, feeling for jide and I hope he will be back for simi

oddly enough i feel for the guy too. Thanks for taking time to read...

teechudleyy:
oddly enough i feel for the guy too. Thanks for taking time to read...

uwelcom

PART 9

Yet each man kills the thing he loves
By each let this be heard
Some do it with a bitter look
Some with a flattering word
The coward does it with a kiss
The brave man with a sword

"Good morning" I greeted them all, staring pointedly at my mum.

"Oh.. er Simi " Mum stuttered, blinking furiously. Ive never seen her so out of composure so i asked again

"Am I interrupting anything?" I was trying hard to keep my cool but i knew for sure my face betrayed my feelings

"Well, we didnt know you were in already. Its just this urgent issue we need to sort out. We should go to your office" Diddy answered me this time. He tried to sound so casual, but it just didnt suit him at all. Barrister just focused on the documents in front of him as if they would give me the answers I was looking for.

"Oh. She knew, we left home together" I said then laughed. I looked at the papers in my hands and just shook my head.

"Are we doctoring our finances now?" I asked point blank. I was met by an awkward silence which further aggravated me. What I found most irritating was that Diddy was in an inner caucus with my mum, and i was the figurehead director in my dads company.

"You can sign these yourself!" I said, handing the papers to my mum and walking out.

I was baffeled. For way too long I had been kept out of the loop of things. I was the director but mum the actual madam. I didnt mind. This wasnt a power tussle. I just wanted to know what was going on.

At least I had Mr Zikora Ndiche and if i could look past his odd colored tie, he was actually a genius. After our long meeting with the foreign investors I began considering transferring Dennis to his office. He could learn a thing or two on Chemical Engineering before returning to school.

"Ma'am" Dennis waved bringing me back. Apparently, i had been in a deep thought for a while.

"Yeah boy, what do you want?" I said then nearly regretted it immediately. He had on that corny smile and held in his hands one of those glossy A5 papers.

"Church program?" I asked
"Yes ma'am. But not just anyone. This one is special and I will be performing with my drama troupe" he said.

I just stared at him. So much innocence, so much expectations.

"Okay, I will try and make it" I said half heartedly, sorting through my desk which was actually perfectly organised already.

"Its tonight. You already promised you would come" He sounded so disappointed I felt terrible. Theres no way i would attend one of those shindigs.

"I made no such promise"

"You said you would try. Please" he was so persistent, so I ignored him. He understood the gesture, and walked back to his work station cum entertainment centre. Before he left, he dropped his glossy paper on my table and said

"Directions. Just incase"

"Yeah right " I said to him, cross checking some work i just pulled up from the office database.

Mum walked in. I didnt look up to acknowledge her but i could smell her just as well.

"What was that drama?" She queried, claiming the chair in front of me and sending Dennis out of the office.

"Drama?" I said finally staring up at her.

"Mum. I dont know what is going on. This is not the first time I'm seeing such irregularities" I was frustrated. I wanted to say much more... but she wouldnt let me.

"Would you just let me speak?" she snapped at me

"No! You would have spoken many weeks ago. What are you guys up to? Are we committing fraud now?" I asked helplessly

"FRAUD? Would you just calm down?" she said

"Im calm. But I'm not laying my signature on any papers! This is not the first time I'm seeing so many irregularities. Boosting figures, false claims, Secret meetings, WHAT ARE WE RUNNING HERE? " I rose to leave and she stopped me.

"The only reason I didnt tell you was because of your hot headedness. Theres no secret. Its the normal way the business has always been run " She explained

"Run? since when? Because im sure my dad would never commit fraud!"

"Oh so mum is the fraud? listen, theres no fraud. You dont even know whats going on. You dont even know what we were talking about. You know what, we will talk about this at home" She said, and got up to leave.

"Yeah right. " I muttered underneath my breath.
I am going anywhere but home tonight. Just then, Dennis walked in giving me a bright idea.

Toni was in Denmark, and she would be there for two more weeks. Lodging in an hotel would be so lonely and just as bad as staying at home except i wouldnt have mum barging in on me.

I could go for something that takes my mind off things.

"What time is that your program again? " I asked Dennis and his face lit up.

Captivating,thumbs up.

Church program hmmmm, hmmm my guy where you are at