Part7... The rest of the day was uneventful as there was not much to do. The CEO is yet to be back so some important proceedings had to be suspended. Tina spent the whole day gisting with her secretary except for the time when the Financial director summoned her. She spent about three hours with the old lady who seems to be interrogating her of something she knew nothing of. Contracts that has been completed and dusted, she was asked to explain how it was financed. At the end of the day, she was already stressed out as she just finished with the woman and went to her office to pick up her bag. She got into the parking lot to meet Mrs Cole waiting beside her car. “How was work today?” Mrs Cole asked. “It wasn’t bad but too much energy was exerted.” Tina replied. “But I thought you are one of the lucky people who did nothing today.” “Yeah, I was until the FD called me.” Tina replied. Mrs Cole gave a short laugh as she drove out of the compound. “That’s because you are new here. Everyone in the Valuation department has at least once fought with the annoying lady who has refused to go on leave in the last three years.” Mrs Cole explained. “Really?” “You can ask Clement. She dare not look at him in the eyes.” Mrs Cole replied. “Does that mean I should expect more of her?” “Definitely. She’ll soon invite you to dinner in her house where you’ll talk about the company’s financial progress through out the night.” Mrs Cole said as she slowed down her driving pace. She took one hand off the steering and searched into her bag. “That’s the remaining hundred thousand naira I promised.” she said. “Oh! Thank you very much ma.” she ignored her as she concentrated on the road. “Hope you are free tonight sha or are you in a hurry to see your mum?” she asked. “Not really ma. My siblings are there with her.” “Fine. I want you to meet my humble family.” Mrs Cole said smiling. “My pleasure ma.” Mrs Cole smiled mischievously like someone who has a plan in place for her. In over fifteen minutes later, she drove into a big mansion which was no doubt constructed by the best engineer in the country and patterned by the best architect and designed externally by the best exterior designer. The flowers are trimmed to taste, the floors covered with italian tiles, the walls painted with arguably the best paint. “Welcome mum.” A young lady probably in her late teens greeted Mrs Cole. “How are you dear?” “Am fine.” the girl replied smiling and looking at Tina. “Tina this is my daughter Sharon.” “Good evening ma.” Sharon said going on her knees. “Good evening dear.” Tina replied. Sharon at once held Tina’s hand and led her to a two seater couch where they both sat down and started discussing. “Sharon. Where’s your brother?” Mrs Cole asked. “He is with the maintenance man in the garage.” Sharon replied. Mrs Cole re-emerged a few minutes later dressed in a casual night robe and a shower cap with a young and handsome guy of about twenty eight following her closely. “Tina, this is my son. Prince.” “Hi.” Tina greeted. “Good evening.” Prince greeted extending his hand for a handshake. Mrs Cole smiled like a fufilled soldier sent on a mission to make two people meet. “Sharon, leave the two of them alone and join me in the kitchen.” Tina wondered why the two of them must be left alone to converse but she has no choice other than to play along. At the end of dinner when Tina was about leaving, Prince had succeeded un getting her number and her Blackberry pin. He even volunteered to drive her home much to Mrs Cole’s delight. The rest of the week was uneventful for Tina except that her mum got discharged on friday. She has been a little bit busy with office works and some other stuffs. “Valuation department.” Tina said on picking up the call. “Good afternoon dear.” a male voice greeted. Tina was surprised that she got a call from someone who seems to be calling for an unofficial purpose. “Please who am I speaking with and how may I help you?” Tina asked curtly. The caller laughed on the other end much to Tina’s irritation. “My name is Prince and….” he was saying. “Why can’t you call me on my personal line?” Tina asked. “This is because I wanted to speak with you this minute. I also want to see you.” Prince replied. “Am in the office right now. So we can’t see.” Tina said. “Am sorry to disappoint you because am on the same floor with you.” Prince replied laughing. There was a knock on the door and the door was pushed open, Prince walked in. He was handsomely dressed in an all while attire, the young man stood 6ft 7inches in height and a bit macular with the perfect haircut that compliment his well patterned beared. “You are surprised. Ain’t you?” He asked. “Surprised is an understatement.I never knew you are around.” “You ought to be. Am actually in here to pay my friend a visit.” Prince replied. “Your friend? And who is the friend.” she asked. “Raymond.” he replied. “Raymond?” she asked with surprise. “Yeah. So can I take you out?” Prince asked. “Its not lunch time. Moreso lunch break is thirty minutes away.” “That’s one of the reasons why am here. Give it a try and walk out with me. No one dare ask questions.” Prince bragged. “I’ll meet you in the elevator.” Tina replied without thinking. Prince exited the office and Tina quickly reapplied her make-up and cleared her table just then the intercom rang. “Valuation department.” Tina said on picking up. “You attention is urgently needed at the Finance department.” The ever soronous secretary to the Finance director said. Tina hissed silently and cursed inwardly. “But lunch break is a few minutes away.” Tina said hoping she’ll be excused. “Yes. But you’ll be served lunch in the department.” The secretary said. “Okay I’ll be there in few minutes.” Tina said angrily as she hung up. She knew at once that she’ll miss going out with Prince, she’ll miss lunch and also sign out an hour after the normal closing hour. “Lola, please tell the man outside that I need to attend to an emergency.” Tina told her secretary. “Prince?” Lola asked. “Yeah.” Tina replied wondering how popular Prince must be in the whole of the comapany but a question popping into her mind is how Mrs Cole is comfortable working under her son’s friend directive. Only time will tell. She concluded as she walked away through the right exit wich leads to the hallway from which other departments are accessible. Raymond drove into the big exclusive Douglas estate which was voted the largest in the country. Inside the estate stood many mansions and low cost houses which were all occupied by the Douglas and their staffs. Chief &Mrs Douglas occupies one of the numerous mansion alongside their only daughter, Atinuke who just returned from the states after studying Business Administration. Their only son occupies another big bungalow where he is living the life of a typical bachelor even though he has many maids and servants at his disposal. Instead of driving into his own apartment he diverted his car towards his parent’s mansion which was presently occupied by his mother alone. “Good evening mum.” He said in prostration. “Hello darling.” Mrs Bianca Douglas replied pulling him up. “How are you mum?” “As you can see am fine.” Bianca replied. “I came here to say hi and pick up a book from dad’s library.” Raymond said as he stood up just when one of the maid servant served him snacks and juice. “Son we need to talk.” Bianca said. Raymond knew at once what his mother wanted to talk about seeing how serious she looked. “Am coming mum.” He said as he hurriedly left the spacious living room to his father’s library which was stocked with books by philosophers, tips for a successful business and books explaining extensively on leadership. He picked three books and locked the library. “Raymond.” Bianca called. “Yes mum.” he replied. He could see how serious his mother was, so he dare not make mistakes. “Do you realise that you are not getting younger anymore?” she asked. He kept quiet as he was staring at his mother knowing where the discussion was heading to. “All your mates are married, the few that are yet to get married are engaged already. Am sure you don’t have a girlfriend talkless of bringing anyone home for marriage anytime soon.” She continued. Raymond laughed at the mention of girlfriend. “Tell me, are you afraid of talking to them? I can arrange good girls who’ll be you life partner and a good daughter-in-law.” she said. “Mum. Am still working on it. I’ll bring your long awaited daughter-in-lawvery soon. Just give me time to work things out.” Raymond pleaded. “You can’t do two things at a time. You can’t be overseeing your father’s business empire and still be on the look out for a decent girl. You have to drop one for now.” She advised. “I’ll talk to dad tomorrow. We’ll draw out a conclusion.” he said hoping his mother will drop the topic which she did much to his suprise. Then he realised how much he was hungry. “Anything here to eat? Am famished.” he announced. “Your wife should be able to get that for you.” She replied. “Mum!” he exclaimed laughing. “No, assuming you are married, your wife…..” she was saying when his phone rang thereby cutting her short. Raymond picked his phone and spoke with the caller for the next ten minutes during which Mrs Douglas exited the living room and ordered one of the maids to serve Raymond what to eat. The relationship between Tina and Prince over the last few weeks had blossomed into what nobody could have anticipated. From Prince’s end he seemed to have found love at last, someone to cherish, someone to love, someone to make a happy family with but he was clearly mistaken because from Tina’s end she saw Prince as her brother, her friend, her confidant, her instructor and above all someone to talk to. They had gone on series of dates, they had spent weekends together at eateries, beaches and games reserves. Prince had made passes at her but she kept on declining his request for she knew she can’t marry someone like him. He is too classy for her likening while on Prince’s part he believed that he is not man enough and he has been making frantic effort to win her love with his mother behind him. Today is the 28th day of the month, the day according to the company’s policy on which salaries was paid. Everyone within the walls of the Douglas Group Of Company came to work with a new found spirit. Everyone was lively, all smiles and laughing heartily. Worst enemies became friend all of a sudden even though such friendship wouldn’t last. According to one man from the accounts department, he said the reason he was friends with another man from the valuation department was because he’ll be collecting the money which the later is owing him. Then her intercom rang. Tina was particularly happy on this day because she’ll be going out with Raymond after lunch. She picked the call and went to the accounts department where she was given her signed pay slip which she was to take to the bank for clearing even though she had received alert on her phone that her bank account has been credited, so all she needed to do now is get the pay slip and take it to the bank for clearing which is not all that necessary but obligatory. “Hold my calls I’ll be back in few minutes.” Tina said as she left her office. She exited the accounts department with her slip ten minutes later. She was confident that her major financial worries would be solved. Most importantly repaying part of the amount she got from Mrs Cole and stocking her out of class wardrobe. Just as she was about entering the elevator that’ll convey her back to her office floor she was accosted by a young man. “Miss Tina?” He asked. “Yes.” She replied. “The company has given you the mandate of taking the rest of the day off to begin your driving lessons. An instructor is waiting downstairs with one of the company’s cars.” The man said and stood still waiting for her reply. “Driving lesson? What for? But I got here barely a month ago.” “All your questions will be answered here.” He said handing over an envelope to her. “Don’t you know you are a senior staff.” He said as he turned back to leave. “Thank you sir.” “You are most welcomed.” he replied without turning back to look at her. Tina got back to her office, picked her things and walked out to give Lola some certain instruction after which she went to the second floor to sign out and off into the parking lot. A car drove into the parking lot and a young gentleman in his early thirties came out, a sun shade covering his handsome fair face. “Tina, wassup.” he greeted as he removed the black sun glass. “Mr Clement.” Tina said a bit suprised. They exchanged short official greetings as Tina hopped into the car and Clement into the company’s building. Tina walked into the office twenty minutes late the following day looking as beautiful as ever. “Good morning.” Lola greeted. Tina in turn sat down on her table and started gisting with her secretary. “How did the driving lesson go?” Lola asked. “It was not bad. But a bit stressful.” Tina replied. They talked a bit more about the driving lesson and the instructor, James who has been labelled as a womaniser. Lola explained everything in details how Mr James had made passes at every female colleague who had gone through learning how to drive under his tutelage. They gossipped a bit about Prince, something Lola has been dying to do because she was suprised to see them know each other to the extent that they went out on a date. “I saw Clement yesterday.” Tina said. “Clement. Oh! Your man. He came here too.” Lola replied. “What do you mean?” “Never mind madam.” Lola said playfully. “I thought he is on leave. Is he back?” “He came to get his leave allowance. That man too like money.” Lola replied. “Leave allowance or salary?” “Once you are on leave you’ll be paid one-quater of your salary at the end of the month as your leave allowance. Then you get your full salary on the day you leave clocks a month.” Lola explained. “So many policies.” “Amounting to success. We’re fine here.” Lola said. “Do you go on leaves too?” Tina asked referring to the secretary. “Yes. Mine is when Mr Clement returns then every other person in this department gets theirs towards October.” Lola replied. “I’ll be overworked.” Tina said. “No, a temporary office will be assigned to you. You’ll most likely work directly with the CEO because the last occupant of your office worked in Clement’s office last year.” Tina pretended like she heard nothing. She has no idea of what to do. Maybe scream in joy or get angry. But deep within her she was praying for Clement’s leave to elapse so Lola can go. She’ll be with Raymond, her source of happiness. She exited Lolal’s office after spending twenty minutes to begin the day’s work. She was in high spirit by the time she started working because its been a while she saw someone to talk to. She felt fufilled and everything she did before the lunch break smelt super-efficiency. After the lunch break, she recieved a mail inviting her to Clement’s birthday party scheduled to hold in a week’s time at his residence. She kept the message in her draft hoping she’ll send her reply two days before the day. She had a feeling the invitation was a ploy for Clement to get at her but was hopeful Raymond would be present. Tina stood up to go and see Mrs Cole in her office, the only place she is yet to visit since she began working here is the Interview Panel’s department. Since she has no business there, she has no disciplinary sanctions on her to defend. Its been a while she last saw Mrs Cole. She left her office with an envelop in which a sum of one hundred thousand naira was packaged. She got to Mrs Cole’s door and stopped as she heard a familiar voice from within.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 12:02:28 +0000
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