CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SIX
I took out a bottle of soda from the freezer.
I stared down at my flash and phone on the counter as I chugged down almost half of the bottle. It still felt surreal. I picked up the phone and checked the message again for the umpteenth time since I left the interview grounds. If this was a dream then whoever makes the mistake to wake me would be dead before they can even get the chance to say sorry.
My eyes shifted to the flash on the counter. I dropped the phone down and took my time to stare at it. The flash was a reminder of two things today. First, it saved me when I had no other means and second… it reminded me of the stuck up….woman, who either desperately wanted to be dead or was just too dumb to make the same mistake two consecutive times.
I remembered how she pushed away from me like she was stung by a bee. She arranged herself and went back to her unfinished conversation as she descended the stairs like nothing happened a few seconds ago.
“uhmm hello?” I called out. But she kept on descending the stairs. I gritted my teeth and went down the stairs maneuvering to stand in front of her.
“hello?”
She scowled at me for a second before asking the person on the line to hold on.
“hi?” she retorted.
“uhmm so… so maybe you haven’t noticed but I saved your head back there and it would be polite to at least say thank you after rudely pushing me off like that.”
“do you expect me to hug you because you saved me?”
“err, I think you kind of hugged me back there.” I stated for no reason.
“yeah you can tell I was so delighted. Yay!” she said indifferently and moved to step around me. I put out my hand to stop her. She looked down at the hand and back at me.
“say thank you.” I said.
She looked me over. “no I’m not.”
“I saved your life!”
“the award ceremony is holding at banana island. You deserve a gold medal.” She said sacarstically. She choked to the left and when I moved to block her, she swirled around and skipped down the stairs continuing with her phone call.
Amiss my being infuriated at the childish act, it felt funny too maybe it was because I got a job or today was just too eventful to waste my time on horrid feelings.
My phone vibrated agaisnt the counter causing me to jerk out of my head.
It was my mom.
I took a deep breath. For two days now, her calls kept coming in non-stop. I was too busy with chief douglass’ project that I couldn’t take her calls. If I did, I’m a hundred percent sure that it would destabilize me as I knew the one reason why she would be calling me in that manner.
“hi mom.” I said putting the phone to my ear.
“where have you been that your phone hasn’t with you?” she demanded.
“busy.”
“busy? Busy!”
“yes mom, I just said that.”
“so now, you’re too busy to attend to your old women.”
“uhh… first, you’re nothing close to old and second that… doesn’t sound right.”
“who cares?!” she yelled.
“apparently I do.”
She groaned.
“So what’s up? Why did you call?” I asked out of courtesy.
She took in a deep breath. “I wanted to know how my favourite son is doing.”
“again, I’m your only son and child so I have no other choice but to be your favorite. So tell me.”
“tell you what?” she laughed nervously.
“you know what I want to hear.”
“that I love you?”
“eww. Gross! Not that, the other one.”
“which other one?”
“you know what I’m talking about mom stop with the games.”
“seriously I do….”
“how much?” I demanded.
“how much is what?”
I pinched my temple, “ I’m going to hang up now since you don’t want to start talking and I won’t pick up even if you try to call me back. Bye mom.”
“wait!” she exclaimed. “I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you okay!” she said.
Like you had a choice.
“I’m listening.” I said taking out another soda to aid me in assimilating whatever was to come.
“so don’t yell at me because I didn’t do it on purpose, okay.”
“just say it.”
“promise me!”
“I’ll promise you that if you promise me that the amount you’re going to call won’t bring out steam from my ears.”
There was a little pause before she breathed out.
“so you know my committee of friends, yeah?”
“of course, it always starts with them.”
“don’t be rude to me.”
“what did they make you do this time?” I asked uncapping the soda bottle in preparation.
“so you know lola’s mum and angela.”
I didn’t know them and I didn’t care to but for the story to go on, I had to say, “ yes.”
“so they remarried.”
“yay! I’m so happy for them,” I smiled widely, “ was it the ashwoebi?” I demanded.
“not just the ashowebi.”
“it’s the total wedding process!”
“why would you be involved in a wedding process that is not even yours in the first place!” I yelled.
“don’t yell so loud. I can tolerate a moderate one but don’t yell too loud alright.”
“what did you get apart from the ashwoebi? And how much Is the ashwoebi?”
“is that neccesary?”
“you’re about to ask me for money, and I’d love to know where my money is going and why it’s going there.”
She heaved a sigh of exasperation and went to narrate,“so the two weddings happened separately. Lola’s mum had five ashowebi and angela had six.”
“are you f*cking kidding me?” I exclaimed.
“language young man!”
“I’m so sorry but I can’t help it! How much were there.”
“well thank goodness they slashed the price or else, it would have been fire.”
“how much?”
“A little over a million?” she said in less than a whisper.
“jesus christ!”
“I know right! It’s so absurd…”
“but you bought them!” I bellowed
“I had no other choice! I’m in the committee of friends I couldn’t afford not to.”
I chugged down the rest of the bottle and flung it half way across the room.
“that’s a million down.” I said settling back down with another bottle of soda, “what more horrible news could you have?”
“we needed to arrive the wedding with a lambourgini for lola’s mum and a rolce royce for angela.”
“don’t tell me you rented out those insanely expensive cars for ordinary one day event!”
“I didn’t rent them…”
“thank you lord.” I said bowing my head.
“… I bought them...”
“WHAT!” I yelled scrambling to pull open the freezer, ducked my head in and counted backwards. I felt I was going to go insane.
“I sold one lambourgini off but no one wants the rolce royce so I have to keep it. Donnie?”
I could hear my mother frantically yelling for me.
I charged at the phone like it was my mom standing there, “why would you buy something…”
“…donnie this is not the time to space out on me! I put the house as collateral and they are going to seize the house in…”
“you did what!” I yelled again prancing round the counter where the phone was.
“the house… as collateral!”
“oh my god mother. O. my. God!” I exclaimed with my hands to my head.
“what have you done.” I kept on saying. “I said what have you done for some stupid party for those fake mannequins you call friends!”
“I’m sorry.” She barely said.
“to who? To me?” I demanded. “sorry for yourself! Better still say that to dad.”
She began to sob.
“dad begged you before he passed on. You promised you would do whatever you want with your life but you would never lay a finger on that house! How could you, f*ck!”
“I’m sorry.”
“F*CK!” I yelled again. I stopped prancing and gripped the counter. “are you overestimating me mom? I don’t have that kind of money! Have you ever for once tried to imagine where I got the money to fund your ridiculous spending habit? At this rate, you’re going to kill me too!”
“what do you mean by too?” she demanded stopping her sobs. “what are you trying to insinuate?” her voice began to rise. “in case you’ve forgotten, your dad died because he had cancer! And I’m sorry to disappoint you but you can’t buy cancer if you’re trying to say I’m the one who killed him!” she yelled.
“I didn’t say that…”
“you thought it! And I’m very offended right now! I’m sorry that I have low self esteem and impulsive buying issues but I promise you that in my next life I will run as far away as possible from you but for now. You have to deal with me…” she paused before adding “or rather the situation. I have nobody to turn to and they are taking the house in the next 48 hours…!”
“hold up!” I said calling her to a stop as I scrambled for the phone. “how many what?”
“48 hours!”
She said it once but the words kept echoing in my head.
“how much?” I asked almost automatically.
“a hundred million.” I swallowed and let the phone slide out of my hands to the floor. It was at this point that my life began to flash before my eyes. Memories of my dad taking me around the insanely large family mansion that was passed down to him by his father down the family tree began to flood my eyes. The mansion was part of my family’s legacy as he would always tell me. it wasn’t something that could be pawned just for the fun of being pawned!
My dad’s brothers.
This was the opportunity they’ve all been waiting for and my mom was about to give it to them on a platter.
I couldn’t let that happen and I equally didn’t have that amount of money stashed up somewhere.
I ended the call with my mother and went ahead to scroll through my contact list.
She tried calling me a few times but I rejected her calls and continued frantically searching.
Nothing. I had no one. Most of the people on the contact list were the ones who asked me for little favors here and there and the ones I tried calling didn’t want to help.
I was still scrolling down the list when my finger freezed over a particular name. I put the phone to my fore head and squeezed my eyes shut. I didn’t want to call him but he was my last option and I didn’t have any other choice.
I willed myself to bring the phone to my ears.
“hello?” he answered after a few rings and I shivered.
“I need to talk to you.” I said.
“you know where and when to find me.”
********
The iron doors to the warehouse pulled open to reveal Dozie.
A slow smirk spread through his lips. “Hard man!” he exclaimed slapping me on the back.
I scowled at him before stepping around him and strolling into the warehouse.
“Asuk, go out and see if the boy came here to rat us out.” Dozie called out his voice echoing through the empty space. I ignored him and kept on advancing deeper. When I got to the intersection, I halted.
“Don’t bother!” I heard Tobi say. I turned to the direction of his voice and kept going in. It wasn’t long before I saw him sitting at a table with Tommy and Asuk at his side.
“Well if it isn’t my favorite person.” Tobi said putting his legs on the table and slouching into his seat. “I knew that the time would come when you would terribly miss us. I didn’t expect it to be this soon.”
“I want to talk to you…” I looked at dozie whose ears were wide open as flanks and then added, “…alone.”
“Alone?”Tobi asked. “Since when did we start doing lone man business?”
“I’m not really here for business.”
Tobi put his tongue in his cheek and looked me over, “What does that mean?”
“Can we just talk in private?” I said impatiently, “time isn’t on my side right now”
“Wow! I almost forgot. You’re a busy man now you’ve gotten a job.”
“How did you know I got a job?” I demanded.
He got up from his seat and strolled over to where I stood. He looked me dead in the eye,“I know a lot of things and I have my ways. You of all people should know that.”
My jaw ticked in anger. I could tolerate keeping surveillance on certain criminals who stole from the public but doing it on innocent was a huge turnoff for me. As much as I wanted to punch a large into his face, I inhaled deeply and unset of jaw. It wouldn’t do me any good to get angry.
“Can we talk now?” I asked despite myself.
He looked at me eye to eye like he was trying to access me before he smiled, “of course we can…”
I heaved an inaudible sigh of relieve
“…over an expensive bottle of henessey that is.” He added walking over to resume his seat again. “Asuk get us a bottle.”
Asuk nodded and jogged off to get it. He returned with a bottle and two beer glasses.
“Tobi…” I began to say. But he raised his hand signaling me to stop and then motioning Asuk to pour us both a glass.
“There something about discussing business issues over a bottle of expensive goodness.” He took the bottle from asuk, “I got it for chicken change of eighty thousand naira by the way.”
It took me all the self restraint in the world to not roll my eyes.
He stopped and looked up at me, “am I boring you out? Of course not because you off all people should relate.”
He paused and waited for my reaction. I retained a blank expression.
“I’m calling you proud.” He stated, it felt like he wanted to call me ‘piece of sh*t’ but he didn’t. That went a long way to say that he still needed me. I looked around the ware house, it there was no sound of movement or any sign of live apart from theirs.
I turned to him, “where’s the new programmer?” I asked.
His eye lid twitched, “we got one. I few minutes before you walked in, why? You want to fill in?”
“of course not. Like you found out, I got myself a job. Why would I want to?” I pointed out.
He nodded in deep in thought. Then suddenly, he looked up at me, “you wanted to talk in private yeah?”
Finally!
“yeah.” I nodded.
He gulped down the whole glass and gestured me to a corner, “let’s talk then.”
I followed him.
“what is it?”
“I need you to lend me a hand I’ll pay you back in cash.”
He thought of it for a moment and then nodded, “okay let’s hear it, what kind of favor?”
“you know I just got a job but I haven’t received a pay check yet…”
“normals.” He commented in between.
“…I will in the long run but I need help in the next 48 hours or else my mom and I will be screwed.”
“you haven’t specified the kind of help you need.”
“I need you to lend me some cash…”
“Yo everyone!” He immediately turned to where the others were, “ His majesty, king of the peacocks here wants to lend some cash from us low lives!”
“Oh for f*cks sake!” Tommy exclaimed.
“What did you do that for!” I yelled
He started backing away from me. “Next time when you want to ask for alms do it the right way. Ever seen a beggar, strutting like the king of the jungle asking for help?!”
“I’m not asking for alms…”
“If I say you’re asking for alms!” he said over my voice, “then you’re asking for alms. Jeez where did you grow up? Beggars have no choice that includes you.”
“you guys have no other choice but to help me.” I said from nowhere.
Tobi stopped in his tracks, Dozie screwed his face at me, Asuk looked up, and Tommy said, “bro, you messed up!”
“See what I’ve been complaining about?” Tobi said. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“I spent almost all my life slaving away for you that I don’t have any friends to turn to so you have no other choice but to help me. You bought yourself a bottle of Hennessey and gulped a whole glass in less than a minute 100 million will be chicken change for you!”
“You need 100 million? Isn’t that too much?” he smirked, “This is unlike the other times although I can tell you’re having mummy issues…”
“Tobi…” Tommy warned.
“Don’t interrupt me when I’m talking.” He snarled at him
“It’s true that I have mummy issues, again.” I spoke up making them to turn to me. “I know I should be ashamed but it’s happened so many times that I’m immune to the shame.”
“yeah.” Tobi said, “it’s about time you noticed you’re a worthless piece of shameless sh*t!” he flung at me.
“I wish I had all day to stand here and let you talk trash to me but unfortunately I can’t afford you that luxury.” I paused, “are you helping me or not?”
Tobi scoffed, “you…”
“Are you helping him or not?” Tommy stopped him short.
“What is your deal?” Tobi turned to him, “who’s side are you on?” he demanded.
“…On your side unfortunately.” Tommy muttered.
“You son of a…” he charged at him but dozie came in between them.
“Cut it out you guys!”
“I told you I don’t have time for this!” I yelled in between the chaos.
Tobi’s head snapped to me. He pushed Dozie off him and charged for me.
“For chrissakes!” dozie cursed.
“what if I said you have time for this?” he demanded standing face to face with me. “that will be very unfortunate for us both.” I shrugged
“what?”
“you can’t afford to play around right now.” I arranged my stance, “you see, my mom put our house as collateral for a hundred million dollars and I knew about this just today. We have only 48 hours before our house is gone, and I have 48 hours to still be ready to do anything to save the house and you have just 48 hours to ‘help me’ and after those 48 hours, I will be in dispensable and uninterested in whatever you have to say. After hearing this, it’s left to you to decide if it’s play time or business time.”
We stared at each other for what felt like ages before the corner of his lips lifted up in a slow smug smile, “this is why you disgust Me.” he spat.
“I know.” I smiled impatiently. Tobi could be very unpredictable sometimes just as much as he could be rash in taking decision.
I didn’t know what came over me to say what I said but it was too late now because tobi had already caught on the little idea I tossed at him. I was willing to do anything and at the same time not everything to save my family’s legacy. I somehow wished he kicked me out and yelled at me to never come back but then again… I was silently hoping he didn’t.
At that point I didn’t know what I wanted any more.
“so are you helping me?” I asked.
He looked me from eye ball to eyeball before slowly replying, “yyyyno.”
And at this point, I knew exactly what he wanted. He couldn’t afford to kick me out. At this very point, I knew without a doubt that he needed me. I had re-dug my already forgotten grave all over again.
“what do you mean by that?” I demanded.
“it means what it means. I’m not going to help you because unfortunately I don’t run an NGO.” He said walking back to his seat stopping briefly at tommy to mutter curses before taking a seat.
“alright then. I better go find help someplace else.” I said turning to leave.
“I thought you said you had no one else to ask for help because we made you friendless.” He hurriedly said making me to stop in my tracks.
When I turned around he was standing, gripping the sides of the table.
“did i? oh right I did.” I said pretending to be deep in thought, “maybe I should just let them have the house. I can always buy it back in a year’s time. You see I’m high on demand at the moment so my pay is very competitive.”
“the f*ck!” tommy wiped his face in frustration.
“I have the money.” He announced.
“of course you do, if you didn’t then I wouldn’t waste my time coming here.”
“you ugly *ss pr*ck of a bastard!” he snared.
“can we refrain from bringing dead and living parents into this? I’m still a peacock remember.” I pointed out, beside myself with anger.
“can we just get to the point?” tommy said.
“I’m not a money lender…”
“obviously…” I said turning around to leave.
“…but I pay my employees handsomely.” He immediately said after me.
I stopped in my tracks. Finally.
I braced myself before turning to face him.
“what is that supposed to mean?”
“he wants you to work for him?” tommy said to me and tobi stuck out his leg and struck him in the shin. Tommy exclaimed “what the hell was that for?”
“who gave you the right to stop me mid conversation?”
“I have the right to speed up conversation to save myself the time and energy. Besides we had no choice after all the crappy and sappy programmers that tainted this place with their foul and inexperienced selves!” he yelled back tending to his assaulted shin.
“so what about the programmer you employed just a few minutes before I stepped in.” I asked sarcastically.
“there is no such person, that one is a pisser for an excuse.”
“will you shut the f*ck up!” tobi bellowed moving to kick him again but asuk came in between and held him back.
“What now?!” he yelled pushing him away, “the puppy all of a sudden feels energized because his mummy shows up?”
“Can we just talk business now…” I began to say but Tobi charged for me midsentence.
“you want to talk business? Alright then let’s talk business!” he turned around, stormed back to his chair and pulled it back to sit. He poured himself a glass.
“Can we start stating facts? Facts have to be laid down before business commences, you agree yeah. Now let’s start with the known fact that you come from a superbly messed up family with a superbly mentally messed up mom who you use as an excuse to do things you feel are shitty…”
When Dozie raised his hand to speak Tobi cut him shut, “…and for the love of God anyone who tries to chip in will get a pot size hole at the back of his head before even coughing!”
Dozie slowly lowered his hand.
“Go on.” I prompted.
He turned to me mouth agape.
“My mom is mentally messed up, I come from a messed up family, all true facts. Then go ahead, I’d like to know what other facts you have in store that I don’t know about. Or maybe I should be the one stating the facts… you guys feel directionless without me on the team. I’m one of the best if not the best out there that you can lay hands on for all we know. There is this stupid probably million dollar gig you have that has no future unless I’m on it with you guys. You people need me and I need you guys too as much as I hate to admit it. What other facts are there to admit to?”
I stopped to take a breather.
“there is one more.” Tobi said.
We all waited for him, “you’re a shit hole.”
Everyone hissed and sighed in exasperation.
“you’ve said that a couple of times already that I might even use it as a suffix, donnie the shit hole.”
“you’re a shit hole…”
“oh come on…” tommy exclaimed.
“you’re a shit hole that we need… tommy the next time you cut me short I swear I’m going to make you regret it.”
Tommy pulled an invincible zipper over his lips.
Tobi slowly turned away from him and stared at me.
“so now we are all shameless, what else is left?”
“for me to join in the parade?” I asked.
“I thought that was clear from the start?” tobi asked relaxing in his seat.
I exhaled slowly. “This is a onetime thing.”
“Tommy is going to draw a contract for you so you can review it all you want.”
“So when am I getting the money?”
“After you sign the contract…no funny business here.”
“The only funny business I do is for you guys not against you guys.”
“Ha!” Tobi exclaimed.
“So what next?”
“Do you have free time now?”
“Yes I do, although I’ll have to step out for a bit and speak to my mom.”
“oh you’re speaking to your mom in here.” He said poking the desk with his index finger to emphasis
I stared at him in awe and slowing turned my body to face him, “are we really doing this?”
“I don’t trust you.”
“I don’t trust you either,” I retorted.
“That’s a nice way to start business.” Tommy commented walking away, probably to start writing the contract.
“Now we know where we stand so you know you’re taking that call here where we can all hear it. Or do you have any shameful thing you feel we would pick up if you talked to your mom out here?”
“ha ha very funny.” I said and brought out my phone.
“Donnie!” my mom yelled the minute the phone rang.
I took the phone away from my ears and then took it back.
“hey mom…”
“what the hell happened to your phone! It wasn’t going through all of a sudden…”
“I had cardiac arrest after the bad news you told me, so I’m calling you from the land of the dead!”
“Donnie!” she scolded.
“Why? Are you scared that that might be true and you’ll have no one else to clean after you when I’m gone?”
“Stop spewing rubbish.”
“Or what you’re going to disown me?”
She let out a sigh of exasperation and I almost felt sorry for her. This was her fault and also not her fault at the same time. I couldn’t help it but to act nasty. The sole knowledge that I’m going back to the same hell I barely escaped from was eating me alive. The best and only thing she could do for me right now is to be my vessel whenever I wanted to vent.
“Seeing as you have the time to joke,” she began to say, “ I bet you found a way to help me out of this.”
I swirled my body halfway around to meet tobi’s eyes and he mouthed, ‘you’re welcome’
Sighed, “yes I found a way.”
At my mom’s end the place went silent.
“Did you hear what I just said?” I demanded.
“I heard you.” She whispered.
“Then…”
“It’s nothing. It’s just that the thing you said earlier on keeps nagging at my conscience…”
She trailed giving me space to fill in.
“What thing was that… I don’t remember.” I said feigning ignorance. It was probably the one of the… ‘Have you ever for once asked me how I came about the money’outburst.
“The thing about how you got the money…”
“I was just frustrated forget about it…”
“…how did you manage to get the money?” she interjected
“Does that matter right now?”
“Yes. Yes it does son. It’s alarming that one minute you’re complaining you don’t have such money home and abroad and then the next, you’re calling to tell me that you found a way…”
“I got the money. I got the money, that’s what’s most important right? Can we cut out this sappy episode, I’m feeling exhausted.”
She went silent again for a few seconds before saying, “whatever you’re doing, baby… make sure… make very certain that it’s honest and something you’re proud of.”
I scoffed, “something I’m proud of?” I scoffed again. “Let’s have this conversation when you can be proud of every decision you make.” I hung up and stuffed the phone in my pocket. At the corner of my eye I saw Tobi looking at me. I turned around to face him.
“Had fun eavesdropping on a shameless family?”
“More or less but since all of us here are shameless I can as well admit to it… it was very entertaining.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Can I now hear more about this infamous gig?”
“Let me start off by saying it’s a family issue. The unending battle of…”
“Can I at least get a seat…” I cut him short gesturing at my standing self.
He stared at me and I was almost completely certain that he was deaf.
Tommy noisily dropped a seat behind me. I turned around, adjusted it and took a seat. After arranging myself in it, I looked up. Tobi’s hands were clasped together on the desk. I looked up from his hands to his unwavering patient stare. I looked up at Asuk then at Dozie at his sides and back to him, “what is the hold up?”
“Are you done?” he asked nodding.
I nodded to myself before replying, “Yes… I guess I am.”
Tobi blew out air and stretched his hand behind him and Asuk placed a tablet in his hands.
“As I was saying.” he began placing the tab between us, “this is a family issue, and from what I gathered, it is a sibling squabble to be exact. The details aren’t still clear but the little Intel we have is… our target is planning to start something big and bottom line, our client doesn’t want the target to succeed in it.” He stopped.
And I looked up at him when he didn’t go on. I raised my eyebrows at him, then at dozie and asuk.
“is that it?” I asked.
Tobi just kept staring back at me.“so what? You want us to finish off the target?”I asked in bewilderment. “Tobi,” I said sitting up as upright as I could, “when I said I would do what you asked me to do… I said that with my present skill at the back of mind. I didn’t become a heartless assassin overnight.”
“You never seize to surprise me,” he began leaning into me over the desk. “I think you’re mistaken here. I seriously believe you’re the one with the rotten mind here not me…” he trailed and put his hand to his chest, “…did I ever mention killing anyone here?”
“why did you hang off like that?” he demanded, “what did you expect me to think?”
He slowly shook his head at me and tapped on the screen of the tab. It lit up and I picked it up.
I looked over the profile of the young man on screen, “who is this?”
“That is the brother of our target. He’s a blabber mouth and it’s still surprising how our client couldn’t get a thing from him about the big project our target is launching soon.” He paused before going on, “you see, he’s the closest thing to our target so he knows a lot about our target…”
“…I’m sick of that the target target target. The target this, the target that, don’t they have a name?”
I stopped to look at him, he was smirking like crazy, “what is that look on your face?”
“Trust me, you wouldn’t want to know.” He said.
I stared at him deep in thought and squint my eye in even deeper thought. Tobi wasn’t usually the one to bluff in serious cases like this. If he said I wouldn’t want to know then it actually meant I wouldn’t. Whatever was the case I didn’t care to rack my brain to check who among my acquaintances would make me regret taking the deal.
“Whatever.” I finally said. “It’s not like I’m going to meet them. My job is usually behind the computer screen. Which brings me to the question…” I paused, “what did ‘target’s brother tell you? Above all,why…are you telling me all this?”
“Our target’s brother didn’t as much us tell us anything, he was lonely so he wasted our time instead of looking for means to get laid.”
“One brother he is…” I commented.
“Which brought me to the conclusion, it was either he was just too loyal even when he was drunk or… he doesn’t have any idea about what’s going to happen.”
“Oh really.” I said scrubbing my chin, “that’s very disturbing but what’s more disturbing is the reason why you’re loading me with all this information. I feel it’s more an ulterior motive than a show of our comradeship.”
“It should disturb you alright.” he grinned this toothy grin, “you see everyone here has an idea of what we are working on…. Which means everyone here is…” he trailed leaning into his seat with his arms spread.
Then it clicked and I scoffed to myself, “…an accomplice?”
“An accomplice! What a nice choice of word! I like it. I like it my comrade accomplice…” he snickered.
I rolled my eyes inwardly. Now I have two people in my life that are in serious need of a mental asylum.
“If you don’t have a clear target why am I really here…”
“To do what you know how to do best. Being our eyes and this time additionally our ears.”
I stuck a finger in my ear and rubbed noisily causing him to scowl at me.
“sorry.”I said and cleaned it on the desk. He looked down at where my ear mucus could be and right back at me.
“I want you to know what your job description is…”
“which is?”I asked.
“…to keep shut for the time being.” He retorted almost immediately as he leaned forward. He took a deep breath after staring at me for what seems like forever then leaned back.
“your job description will be communicated to you after we have more intel on the gig and after you’ve signed the contract.”
“okay then.” I said slamming my hands on the desk and pulling self from the chair, “I guess that’s my cue to leave.”
“not yet.” He announced. “you still have a document to sign.” He smiled at me.
I stuck my hands in my pocket, “I’ll stand while waiting.”
After an hour of reviewing the contract and making amendment admist tobi swearing at me, I folded my copy and stuck it in my jacket pocket.
“I’ll be off now.”
I nodded at him and swirled around to leave.
“one more thing…” Tobi called out.
“…argh, for chrissakes if you keep this up I might be mislead to thinking you love having me around.” I said turning back to face him.
“ha.” He said.
“what is it?”
“about you changing overnight…”
“that can never happen to me…”
“I can’t guarantee you the same for myself.” He said.
And my subconscious took that little intel and stored it somewhere safe.
“is that a threat?”
“barely.” He smirked then his face relaxed into an intimidating stare.“ and never forget that I’m an expert in finding out where it stinks the most.” His eyes dropped to the spot where I left my ear mucus. “try your best not to irritate me…in anyway.”
We stared at each other for what felt like ages before I turned around. I was almost leaving when I remembered the power move I wanted to pull on him.
“ah, before I forget.” I said digging my hand into my pocket and bringing out a card. I dropped it on the desk. He stared at it for a moment before pulling it to himself. Slowly, he turned it to face him. He brought it to his face and scrutinized, “doctor Clarence?” he said confused. Tommy stooped down to get a better look of the card.
“specializes in, PTSD, impulsive habits and…” he squinted at the last part and snorted, “…anger management?”
I could hear tobi’s teeth rattling.
“you’ve got the nerve…” he began but I put up my hand to stop him.
“that’s old news. You can call me nervy or whatever you wish but you have to book an appointment,” I said nodding at the card in his hands. “…you’re showing signs of sociopath tendencies and that might affect the good work ethic you have going on.” I added and quickly swirled around strutting towards the exit.
“you son of a….!” he yelled pushing back his chair
“tobi!” I heard tommy calling out probably holding him back. I couldn’t hear the rest of the chaos but I left the building with my heart in my chest.
*********************************
When I got home, the first thing I did was email my mom Dr Clarence’s contacts with some demeaning write-up to make me feel better. The minute I clicked send, an email dropped in. I opened it and smiled. It was from my new job.
I was added to the company’s forum.
I clicked the link and I was directed to the site.
Admin: Message from the president. You all are belatedly welcomed to this company.
Edward: yay!! I’m so excited.
Wow, edward got in.
Tamira: me too. Let’s work hard everyone!
Buki: cringe.
She got in too? My life is about to get very interesting.
Admin: can we leave out all the pleasantries. We are going to do that when you start on Monday. All you have to focus on now is to bring an incredible idea to the table come Monday. Have a nice day everyone.
Then the admin clocked out.
I didn’t wait for anymore. After the meeting chat I logged off. Right on cue, the next email popped in. it was from tobi.
We got better intel on the target. All we have now is that she is in her early to mid twenties and she goes by the name snow. She’s the CEO of Gill Corp. I’m sure you know of her. If you don’t there is an attached picture. Try your hardest not to fall in love, accomplice comrade!
I smacked my forehead in frustration.
I went ahead to open up the attached picture and I was almost startled out of my wits.
Well if it wasn’t miss suicide mission. I zoomed into the photo. There was no mistake that this was she and she was this.
I opened my search engine and typed in snow… what sane nigerian went by that kind of name. I shook my head.
A couple of articles came up with her face splashed everywhere. Apart from her great accomplishments business wise, nothing great came out of her social life. She was even called the brazen queen. They were right on that one though. On her profile it said, CEO of Gill corp hotels.
So I wasn’t wrong after all.
It was really her.
Wait a minute. I thought.
Was this the reason why tobi felt I wouldn’t like to know the name of the person I was working on? I scoffed to myself, looks like he was beginning to lose his touch after all. I wasn’t even moved the least bit. Did he think me saving her twice would count as me having some feeling of empathy for her? Unbelievable!If I ever had second thoughts on this she would be the reason why I’d still push through with it.
“Look at that face!” I exclaimed speaking to no one in particular as I pointed at her smirking face on the screen, “does that look like something that needs empathy?” I scoffed again.
I settled to sending back an email to him.
Falling in love? Oh please. If I ever thought of withdrawing, she’d be the main reason why I’d put up with you. I hope you take that card seriously.
I typed and sent.
Madness! I thought before going back to my new task as an employed programmer in this country.
I picked up my flash that was lying at the side. I didn’t bother to think of a project or idea, though. This was good enough for me. I gripped the flash tighter in my hand; I was going to make the most of my job. This was the first legal job in my whole life as a full timer, I wasn’t going to mess it up for anything in the world. I planted a huge kiss on the flash.
I felt like a ten year old again when my dad fist took me to the amusement park.
On Monday, I rode my power bike to the site that was communicated to us through our mail.
I briefly stopped at the gate for inspection. I took off my helmet and let the security guy check my iris and take my biometrics absentmindedly as I stared at the state of the arts piece of art staring me in the face.
When he was done, the gates opened up for me and I went it.
The area was vast; the recreational villa kind of large. The buildings were all pristine white and all story buildings. I drove past the track. It crossed my mind that the company was probably having it in mind to start manufacturing cars. That would be awesome and kind of thriving in this kind of country. But looking at all the premeditated surroundings the well arranged and thought out sections, I had no doubt that my boss was ready for business.
I pulled into the underground parking lot and parked my bike.
At the front desk, I got my ID from the receptionist and proceeded to the elevator. I stopped at the floor where the receptionist asked me to stop by first.
When the elevator doors opened, I walked into a room with about 20 persons in it. I adjusted my hooddie and felt almost too conscious of myself as I looked for a vacant seat.
Getting awed stares whenever I entered a room wasn’t a new thing to me. it’s not that I’m being conceited or anything but I wasn’t too bad to look at.
The minute I took my seat, someone else pushed the person sitting beside me and sat gripping my arm. I flinched and moved to the side to put a little distance between us.
The short hair, big half bored half intrigued eyes and the cup of coffee, “bukki?”
“You didn’t forget my name,” she said then proceeding to tapping my nose, “that was nice of you.”
“That’s not me being nice. It’s just me being me. It’s not my fault that I have a good memory.” I muttered slowly prying her hands off me.
“I heard that,” she said through gritted teeth, “but I will let it go because you look so irresistible in that hooddie.”
“Can you cut it out?” I heard someone say to my side.
“Edward.” I said not the least surprised that this was happening to me. I might as well get used to it as we’d no doubt be working in the same department.
“Yeah that’s me. Now can you let him go?”He said to me and then to Bukki.
She stuck out her tongue at him.
“Seriously, now you’re being childish. Before you go back to flirting, have you found out what you’re billion dollar idea is?” he asked.
“urgh.” She groaned sliding down into her seat.
“Yeah I thought so…” he said.
“I don’t know yet. I didn’t sign up for brainstorming on my first day of work. Besides this place is mad dope.” She said sitting up and caressing the sit she was on.
“You should be thankful they didn’t ask for on during the interview. Concentrate will you?”
“What’s the use of thinking of one when big guy over here has something that will put whatever idea we have to shame. They’ll be stoked before they even get to us.”
I sighed patting my sling bag. I couldn’t help but agree with her. In no time, I’d start getting used to the fact that I’m big shot material.
“Besides!” she exclaimed, “just one meal from my parents have you sucking up to me. That’s cheap.” She said reaching over me to swat his arm.
“Now you’re being petty. Did you have to say that out loud?”
They kept on going back and forth as I looked around getting myself hooked as I waited for who ever wanted to brief us. Taking a good look at all the other people in the room with their black suits and nice hair styles, my mural began to diminish little by little. For these people to be here, there must have shown something remarkable and worth retaining at the interviewing. Big shot material? I scoffed inwardly. who was I kidding
“Hi everyone!” someone cheerily said causing me to jerk out of my pessimistic thoughts and the murmurs to settle. It was a cheerful looking woman around her early twenties that had this stupid matching smile on her face. I had nothing against cheerful, but it’ll do me a little good if she moderated the level of sugar.
“My name is tamira and I will be on the general management team.” She giggled.
“gosh that hurts my eyes.” Bukki said shielding her eyes and later on shielding mine.
“since we’ll all be working together, it won’t hurt to try to get to know each other. I went first someone else should follow suit…mmm” she hummed making a show of looking around . but when she pointed at me, it felt like it was premeditated.
“how about you go first?” she said to me with a little giggle as the icing.
“well played.” Bukki muttered with distaste.
I wanted so badly to go ahead and ignore her but with the way everyone else was peering at me, I was quite certain that I’d be given the snob of the year title on a platter and that wasn’t a good way to start. So I cleared my throat.
“don’t tell you’re going to do as she says.” Bukki said in dismay but I was already speaking up,“I’m Donnie. I’ll probably be on the software developing team.” And that was about how much I was going to say until I got out of there.
When she noticed I was saying much, she clapped with a half hearted laugh.
Someone raised their hand and cheeried up again.
“yes, how about you?”
“how about you shut the fudge up and stop hurting my ears?” a bored looking guy said from his corner where he sat in a fetus position.
Bukki scoffed, “ I like that one.”
“how about you all sit up right about now?” someone said stepping into the room.
“huh?” I said recognizing the face, “super woman?”
“super what now?” bukki asked.
“do you know her?”
“I sort of do but what is she doing here…”
“what wouldn’t she be doing here?” bukki scoffed like that was the most useless question asked in the history of stupid questions. “she’s kind of the right hand woman of the president… our boss.”
She turned to look at my bewildered face, “you didn’t know? You didn’t know?!”
“if she’s the right hand woman of the president…then that means….”
“oh here comes the president…” edward exclaimed struggling to his feet.
And it felt like I was immersed in a sea of ice when she came out from behind her right hand.
Everything felt mushy, even the silence that enveloped around me.
“what do you think you’re doing?” someone from the distance demanded. It was edward. “…do you want to get fired on your first day? Get up.”
But my feet felt numbed.
“hi everyone.” She began to say, “I’m the founder of this organization and your new boss… my name is snow.” She said.
The room erupted in silent mutters and whispers.
Her eyes scanned the room from end to end and when it finally connected with mine. A slow smile crept its way to her face. I felt the blood leave my face… if I was white, I’d be as white as a white could get.
I was at that moment that my life had gone from frying pan to fire.
In lay man….i was doomed.
**************