Chapter 10 Renewed Vision

Dave drove off his hotel premises, he decided to head home. The first thing he was going to do was wash himself clean of Brenda s seductive perfume because the scent of her is driving him out of his mind, and then he would prepare himself for that important meeting he had scheduled for later today, and finally visit the club and meet with Rosie- the perfect cure to his Brenda-haunted mind.

***

Brenda was much more furious with herself than with Dave. Her traitorous body betrayed her. And she hated Dave for making her feel the way she did and then taking advantage of it. She had the intention of checking for an office space but she lost the mind to do anything but she would prove to Dave that she can be immune to his charms. She wanted to send a text to Greg to meet with her later; but a call from her realtor came in instead. "Hey Ella" she pressed the received button on her dash board, as she sped the freeway towards her father s office.

"Brenda, is this a good time to talk? I mean you are not driving or something like that?"

"You guessed right, I m driving, but you can speak on. Is there a change of plans?"

"No, not at all, I mailed your documents already, just sign them; and then we have an agreement."

"That s great! You do work fast, I like that about you. Her initial episode forgotten, I will make the payment and sign the papers."

"Okay, thanks it s nice doing business with you."

"The pleasure is mine… Ella, I was wondering if you could help me with an office space."

"Alright, what s your specification?"

"Nothing extravagant, something spacious in a good location will be nice."

"Okay, I will get back to you on that."

"Alright see you then"

"You too, and I will expect the signed documents so I can drop your keys."

"Okay, thank you."

The talk about her new place took her mind off of Dave for a while, but instead on how she was going to decorate her new place to her taste. That s her hobby she loves decorating, making things beautiful is a natural gift to Brenda. She started drawing a mental picture of her sitting room décor, the bedrooms and the kitchen - her most favorite place in a home.

The outside of Lewis and associates remained the same to what she remembered from all those years she had a detour to her father s office on her way from school before she travelled out of the country. She had not taken the time to visit or even check out his office since she got back. She was busy doing her own things, but since she really had nothing to do for the rest of the day she decided to visit him in his office. She entered the office, and was baffled by the sight that greeted her. The whole place looked like a shadow of its formal glory. Lewis and Associates, was an entertainment law firm. It was one of the best in the industry. Desmond Lewis represented some big names in the music and movie industry and even sometimes he represented some public figures, which probably birth his ambition of becoming a public figure himself. Brenda knew his dad to be driven and very ambitious, but the state of his firm was a far cry from what she knew it to be. Brenda was even lucky to have met celebrities like Sunny Ade, and Commander Ebenezer, she even had some pictures of her taken with some celebrities when she was little. She was the envy of her friends when she was a teenager. But now, now all that were gone, his father s practice was neglected in favor of a political pursuit or so she thought. Instead of the inflow and outflow of celebrities, it was a middle-age woman seated behind the blank-screened computer, who had nothing else to do on a Thursday afternoon other than file her nails. She was so engrossed that she was unaware of Brenda s entrance.

"Hello"

She jumped, dropping her nail filler cluttering on the tiled floor. "Hello, didn t know I have company"

She quickly schooled her features and tone to a more professional stance. "Good afternoon and how may I help you, Miss…"

"Brenda… Lewis," studying the dilapidating state of what once was her father s cherished law firm; though old looked every bit its age, the paintings were crying for help. Her gaze reverted on the woman, who seemed to be in her early fifties. She watched her expression moved from all professional to surprise, then genuine admiration.

A grin spread on her chubby but beautiful face. "Your pictures did you no justice"

"Thank you" Brenda smiled at the older woman, who seemed to be genuinely happy to see her.

"Please do have your seat, she led her to the sofa that was once a beautiful sunflower color but now a dark brown. "What can I get you?"

"Sorry … my manners … I m Angelina Johnson," shooting out her hands she gave Brenda a warm handshake. She watched Brenda took her seat gingerly on the old-looking sofa.

"Come on Brenda, there are no lice on that thing." walking towards the small kitchenette "Juice?" she threw over her shoulder.

"No thanks, water is fine"

"Water it is then" she brought back a tray laden with cold bottled water, placing it on a stool beside the couch.

She sat gently beside Brenda on the couch "I was hoping Mr. Lewis will introduce you to us soon."

Brenda gave a small smile, "Us?"

"Of course, all the staff here," She said giving her don t act dumb look.

"But where is everyone?" Brenda asked surprised she was the only one present at this time of the day.

Some took the day off and some went for lunch.

It was obvious to Brenda that most of the staff just come in to mark a register for pay roll. Here she was, thinking of getting an office of her own and her father s firm is crying for help. A thought struck her as she conversed with Angelina, asking for how long things have been in this state. And she wanted to know the office mode of operation. It would be better to resume to her father s office and help put things back on track. If there was any time her degree was needed, then it is now. Brenda s face lit up, she just discovered a new purpose to restore her father s firm to what it used to be or even better than it used to be. It will give her a good distraction from Dave and Greek- god body magnetic pulll. "How long have you worked for my father again?"

"Ten years"

"Great! Because I m going to need your help with serious restructuring"

"Thank God, finally a messiah" Angelina threw her hands up dramatically.

Brenda giggled, she liked Angelina already. She seemed to be in her late thirties, and she sensed she will enjoy working with her.

"I have been bored to my wits end, but I know if I leave the rest of the staff might leave too. As it is we are only four admin staff left, just to keep the place from becoming a ghost town. And Mr. Lewis is a generous man; the salary he gives, pays the bills too. Not to so easy to get a good job these days."

"Then I will say fasten your seat belts because we are birthing a new era," Brenda stood up and stretched her hands towards Angelina, who took her hand in her own firm ones.

"Then I say we are ready Boss."

"We have a whole lot to do then, starting with talking with my father. Then arrange a meeting with all the staff members. Then I see all the books, and then we move from there. She listed excitedly. Work mode activated!

"I will arrange the meeting," the two women exchanged phone numbers. "And I m glad you are back in town Brenda Lewis"

"I m glad I am back"

The women laughed. See you tomorrow.

"See you."

She stepped out of Lewis Associates a new person with a new vision and goal. But she would have a long talk with her father for allowing things to get this bad. In his defense it must have been his political ambition taking his time, making him to neglect his firm. But she, Brenda would not lie with folded arms and watch things depreciate beyond the level it already did, not without giving it everything she's got.

Brenda s phone beeped as she stepped into the sunny afternoon, she fumbled with her bag for her phone but got her car keys instead. She remotely unlocked the car and dived into her hand bag again for the phone that wouldn t stop ringing. Frustrated she wondered why one could never get hold of what you want from a simple handbag without tumbling the whole bag upside down. Finally she got hold of her phone and checked the caller s ID, it was Greg. She had not heard from him since he dropped her at home last night. Hello she said breathlessly into the phone, the sun must be around thirty two degree, breathing with intensity down her neck. She slid into the car, turning the Ac unit on. She listened to Greg s voice, saying some things she had not even settled down enough to wrap her head around. "You said what?"

"Did you get my flowers?"

"Oh! … I got them"

"Didn t you like them, you sounded disappointed"

"No, not at all…. I mean I like them… they were gorgeous"

"I m glad you like them, ahem… I was wondering if you are free for lunch."

"Hmm… I have some business I want to take care of, how about I give you a call later to see if you are free to grab a bite?"

"Ok, I will expect your call then."

"Ok, and thanks for the flowers."

"You are welcome"

Brenda could hear the satisfaction in his voice. She ended the call and drove out of Victoria Island where her father's law firm was located, moving towards Golden gate villa in Osborne. Thankfully traffic was light, so the ten minutes drive was not unnecessarily elongated. She might not want to admit but she felt disappointed that Dave did not send the flowers. And to think she almost made a fool out of herself earlier, thanking him . Dave would not have passed on the opportunity to make her feel worse for it.

She swivel into an avenue named after her mother Candice Lewis. Her father's mansion loomed ahead, as she drove slowly towards it. She would miss her home when she finally moves into her rented apartment. She remembered she had to cancel on the office space since she decided she would work for her father for a while just to get things back to normal.