“Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul.” – Edward Abbey.
•••
“I get it that Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the entire world, and one of the most sophisticated locations but the Burj Al Arab, is so underrated. There is nothing that beats that oceanic view, trust me.”
Lekan wished he was someplace else, as Tiolu narrated tales of pleasure, that she had encountered on her honeymoon ordeal. It was the evening of Sunday, and twenty four hours since she had showed up unannounced at Anjola’s apartment, bringing an abrupt halt to their passionate, quixotic evening and now he was being made to join her and their parents—Kunle and Darasimi—for an exotic dinner, in a grand, welcoming act back to the country from her vacation.
He still didn’t know what the fuss was all about, and had contemplated requesting to be excused, but he couldn’t miss out on an opportunity to enjoy a homemade, scrumptious dinner prepared by his mom.
They were having Pounded Yam and Efo Riro for dinner, alongside a large assortment of a variety of meat, fishes and champagne. Although the company of his family, wasn’t something to kill for, it flooded him with nostalgia, as his mind journeyed back to the past—before Darasimi fell into coma—when they were one small, consolidated family but now he couldn’t help but feel alienated and out of place, in their midst. Everyone but him—on the table—seemed to have a deeper connection with one another, that transcended that of the surface. Also no one but Darasimi, cared that he wasn’t partaking in the conversation.
“You children of nowadays, don’t know how good you got it.” Darasimi who was seated across him on the table, said. The table’s seating capacity had been reduced to four, to accommodate fluid interaction. Tiolu and Kunle who sat across each other were on his left and right, respectively.
“During our time, your dad and I weren’t financially buoyant enough to go on a honeymoon. I mean, we were barely pulling by and managing the expenses of being independent, but when your dad’s company eventually hit, we spent about three months going from country to country.
“In the past, I used to say that I could never think of living overseas permanently, no matter how beautiful it is because Nigeria is still my country, and I still want to live with my people—and although I’m still here now, trust me when I returned to Nigeria then, I wanted nothing more than to go back. I eventually adjusted back though.” Darasimi finished.
“Yup for like a month straight, your mom kept on comparing certain things in Nigeria here to the way it was abroad and she easily got irritated.” Kunle, who was busy eating like everyone else on the table, was pouring himself a glass of Chamdor wine.
He and Darasimi, were sharing food on the same plate, as their seats were huddled together and didn’t have even space, in contrast to that of Lekan’s and Tiolu. “She was so put off by the way things were bad here, compared to other countries, that I feared she was going to wake up one day and say she was planning to go into politics, so as to rectify the state of things. And we all know how dangerous and dark, being a politician in every part of the world is, not to talk of Nigeria. And it doesn’t help that your mom is an incredibly optimistic person, that would put her all into her goal and assume everything would work out eventually, which isn’t usually the case most times.”
Tiolu chuckled, as she sliced through her mold of Pounded yam, with her knife and spooned it into her fork, which she eventually dipped into her soup. Lekan couldn’t help but scowl, as he watched and wondered why she was using utensils to eat instead of her bare hands. He was in fact tempted, to knock the fork and knife out of her hands in a precise angle, that would catapult her morsel of food right smack into her face. Now that would be an amusing sight.
Conversation continued, and right at that moment, his phone vibrated for the umpteenth time in his pocket, and he couldn’t resist the temptation to check why it had been buzzing incessantly for the past few minutes. Before he could pull up the notification bar however, Kunle was already reprimanding his apparent nonchalance for the conversation, going on, and the discourtesy his action depicted. It didn’t make sense, being hassled by the man when his participation wasn’t cherished in the first place.
“If you don’t care enough to participate in the conversation, the least you could do is not ignore us and actually act like you’re interested in what we’re saying, instead of staring at your phone.” Kunle was saying. “We haven’t had dinner like a family in about a year, and you can’t put away the phone you’ve had the luxury of operating, for like your whole life? If only I hadn’t dismissed your mom’s ‘no phone at the table’ rule, when you were teenagers—you wouldn’t have turned out like this after she fell sick.”
Lekan wasn’t stunned by the man’s ability to blow things out of proportion, by tracing the fault of his current action to decades back. He was quite used to it, but that didn’t mean he would remain mute and let himself be torn apart with criticism. After sliding a morsel of pounded yam into his mouth, he swallowed whole heartedly and then replied.
“Come on, Dad. No hard feelings, my phone has been buzzing nonstop and I just had to check if there was an emergency or something. Plus, I don’t know if you’ve forgotten, but unlike everyone else on this table, I’m not married and so I have no worthwhile contribution to make to this conversation, that’s about honeymoons, married life and what’s not.”
Darasimi who was dabbing at her wet rinsed hands, with a napkin, replied him and not Kunle who was still eating. “More reason for you to pay attention and listen to what we’re saying, since you would be tying the knot soon and settling down.”
Of course, his mom was still of the notion that he had plans to get married and settle down like every other average man, which wasn’t the case. But how did one tell their mom that they didn’t treasure such future and they’d be better off single all their life, whilst sampling all sorts of delicacies along the line? He didn’t need to anyway, since his dad’s resulting laughter was about to clarify that fact. He thought he and the man had made inroads into a better relationship, as a result of their genial work relationship, but he was indeed wrong, because the man didn’t seem to care for all of that.
“I for one can’t look forward to the time, where Lekan would consider that.” Kunle said finally, taking a sip from his glass of water. “About a week ago, I suggested that he considered getting married to Naade, his business partner but he refused and said if he’s going to get married, he’s going to do it because he wants to and is compelled to. That is, when what he feels for a woman is strong and has a life span that’s greater than a day. So you can see why I wouldn’t look forward to such time? I mean, rapture is surer to come before it.”
Darasimi as expected, flashed a look of scorn in the direction of her husband while Tiolu on the other hand, looked dumbfounded, obviously curious of the identity of the woman in the reference.
“Which Naade is that? Is it the same Naade Adeleke, that I know? The daughter of dad’s friend?” Tiolu asked, as expected.
“Yup, she is the one.” Darasimi answered on behalf of her husband. She was now busy flossing her teeth and flushing out chunks of meat, that had gotten itself lodged in between her teeth. “I met her at the office, on the day Lekan resumed his work properly. Although I wouldn’t say there was love sparks exploding between them, but Lekan appears to be taken by her, judging by the way he looks at her, at least. He might indeed feel something for her, but prompting marriage from that stance is still overstepping.” The woman finished, criticizing her husband’s action in her last sentence.
Tiolu was frowning visibly now, and she dropped her fork before signaling to Kunle, that the wash hand basin be passed over to her. “I think I saw her at the wedding, not exactly sure of that though. She looks okay, I guess.”
“I bet Lekan is already sleeping with her already,” Kunle said, after emptying his glass of water and concluding eating, finally. “It’s the girl I feel pity for. I just hope she doesn’t fall hard for him, and expect a real relationship or something serious.”
“There is nothing going on between Naade and I, okay?” He couldn’t stomach his distaste of the direction that the topic had veered to—anymore. “We have nothing more than a professional, cordial working relationship. And for your information, I’m actually in a real relationship with someone and things are working out and looking pretty good. But no one would happen to know that, since they just assume things about Lekan and don’t bother asking.”
“So you mean we just assume things out of the blues, and not out of speculation?” Kunle’s lips quirked, and he folded his hands. Darasimi nudged him gently on his side, as he sat up—apparently cautioning him not to take things overboard. “If everyone in a man’s life, assumes he is a criminal, is it because he looks like one? Or he has criminal written all over his forehead? Or is it because they have a strong reason to believe he is a criminal, from his actions and his daily dealings?”
“See ehn, it’s okay. No one is a criminal, let’s not dwell on that.” Darasimi intercepted, before things spiraled out of control. “Lekan, I think it’s great that you’re in a relationship. Matter of fact, I’m elated. Do go on and tell us who this person is. Do we happen to know her?”
He shared a brief knowing look with Tiolu, before he went on to answer Darasimi’s question. “Yeah, you know her actually. It’s Anjola, Tiolu’s best friend who was the chief bride’s maid on the wedding.”
Darasimi’s joy compounded, owing by her irrepressible grin but Kunle’s scowl deepened, and the words he spoke next, reflected the disdain on his features. “Really? Anjola? She seemed like a very decent, well natured girl. I’d have expected her to go for someone who doesn’t beat around the bush and isn’t interested in a fling or something. But then, I don’t know her and she could be like every other person you’ve been with.”
Lekan could tolerate slander thrown his way, but Anjola’s honor being dragged into the verbal mud was the final straw for him. “You know what? I’ve had enough. In the past, I used to think that you couldn’t control your offensive remarks and I don’t exactly blame you, because I’m not exactly world best son, but for the past month I’ve done nothing to prove to you that I can be competent and serious with my life also, and so is it so impossible, for you to think, that the rest of this newfound zeal I have can’t extend to other areas of my life? If you want me gone from here, I’d go. Didn’t want to come here in the first place, because I knew you’d spend half of the time tearing at me.”
Something wicked gleamed in Kunle’s eyes, and for a moment Lekan was worried the man had a scathing clap back lined up, with concrete reasons as to why he was being snide and had been constantly lodging disparaging remarks his way, all evening. But the man remained silent, while Darasimi proceeded to apologize on his behalf, with nothing but a solemn look before pulling Kunle away and exiting the dining room. His guess was that the man was about to get a tongue lashing from his mom, which was never pleasant.
It was then he realized, he wasn’t alone in the room after all and that Tiolu was still by his side and was now studying him with a probing look—that much he could deduce from his peripheral vision. He stalled, busying himself with piling the plates he used, into a rack before reaching out for the basin and rinsing his hands also. After that, he had to face the inevitable, which was his sister.
“What exactly is your deal with Anjola?” Tiolu hit the nail on the head, without going through tense foreplay. It was of course, the first time they had been alone since she returned, and found him and Anjola together and so he knew the question was unavoidable. Still, that didn’t prepare him for the amount of malice, her words were laced with. She tilted her chair in his direction, fully prepared for the conversation.
“My deal with Anjola?” He echoed, in a bid to buy more time and formulate a coherent reply.
“Don’t play silly, you understand what I’m saying.” She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Anjola explained to me that you guys are testing out the waters, blah blah, to determine if your feelings for each other are legit and all, but why bother when that isn’t the point? You haven’t been in a commitment before, Lekan because it’s hard for you and you hate it. You just love sex, and we both know she isn’t going to give you that unless you guys are married, and I’m sure you don’t even have marriage on your mind. So yeah, what exactly is the deal between you and Anjola?”
Lekan realized that the way out of the tunnel, that Tiolu’s question posed was to avoid it all together and not attempt venturing into it. “You can go ahead and query Anjola, on why she is seeing me and all, like you’re her mom and get away with it, but not me. I’m not obligated to answer any question, you’re asking. I could answer freely out of goodwill, but you’re questioning me like you have a right to knowing, which isn’t the case. So you could either reframe your question in a more polite way, or be contented with the analysis Anjola gave you. Your choice.”
Tiolu pinched the bridge of her nose, in reaction to his lethal response. “Ouch, that hurts. Anyhoo, you’re right. I’m not entitled to knowing that much, but trust me I wouldn’t be asking if the Naade thing hadn’t come up.”
His face paled at this, and he was sure Tiolu caught on to the change in his expression.
“Yeah, so Anjola spent the whole of yesterday telling me that you guys are doing this for the most logical reasons, and I did make a resolution to back off. But now I’m here, dad and mom are bringing up the fact that you are looking at another woman affectionately?”
“Dad and mom are seeing what they want to see.” He cut her off, his voice unwavering. “They just want to believe the fact that there is a possibility of me settling down, with someone they’re familiar with—”
“I’m not worried that you’re looking at another woman affectionately, that isn’t my point. That’s like being worried a toddler wouldn’t misbehave and disobey others. My point is that you’re working closely with someone, you’ve slept with before? You can’t honestly tell me that there is nothing at all going on between the both of you. Even if you’ve suddenly transformed into this disciplined person, Naade is still going to put moves on you—”
“You don’t know her or who she is, so you can’t assume anything about that.” He snarled. Although he was pissed at Tiolu for interrogating him like he was an ex-convict, it was the fact that everyone—including Anjola—was quick in assuming the worst of Naade, that was more disconcerting.
She wasn’t a slut or a whore, who threw her body around the place shamelessly. And ever since he had declined her last request, she had been nothing less than professional in their dealings.
“Naade and I got together because she was wounded, and wanted to blow off steam as a result of coming out of a suffocating marriage. Not like I need to explain her resolutions to you, but I’m just doing it so you wouldn’t misjudge her. She has dignity, okay? Nothing is going on between the both of us.”
Tiolu’s restive composure was evidence that she had so much more to say, but she didn’t. “Fine. Just don’t drug Anjola or something. You’re saying it now that you know what your relationship entails, but a time would come when you’d really be pressed for your sexual dose.”
He didn’t know what put him off specifically. Tiolu’s further slanderous remark or the bitter truth embedded in them. Whichever it was, it clouded his thinking. “Oh trust me, Tiolu. When I do seduce Anjola, she’d know it and it wouldn’t be as a result of some external force she can’t control. She’d know it, she’d want it and would also be willing to throw away all her morals in this world.”
Before he could commence damage control, a spring of red liquid sloshed all over his face. It was of course Tiolu’s doing, as she had poured the remnants of wine in her glass, in his face for his earlier comment. He couldn’t help but laugh and find pleasure, that he had gotten under her skin. Before anyone of them could speak however, their parents stepped back into the room and returned to their seats. It was of course, Darasimi who noticed the fact that his white shirt was now stained with red blots, and his face was dotted with droplets of wine.
“Lekan, what happened to your shirt? Did you pour wine on your face while drinking?”
Kunle lifted his gaze from his food to peer at him inquisitively, but didn’t say a word. Tiolu, the culprit of course fessed up to his crime.
“Nope, it’s me who poured it over his face actually. He dared me with a snide comment, but I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be doing such again in the future.”
***
Anjola did her best to shrug off burdensome thoughts, as she approached Delano’s office—assuring her subconscious that there was no reason to fret, as they weren’t on bitter, surly terms. But her anxiety didn’t wither, just because there was no lurking conflict of the sort.
Ever since Delano had made his romantic feelings for her, known—she had done her utmost best to avoid all sorts of awkward situations by steering totally clear of him, and ensuring that they didn’t have reasons to meet privately for any business matter. But she was only stalling, as it was only a matter of time. She knew she couldn’t avoid his company forever, but had committed to the resolve of avoiding that foreseeable future, for as long as she could.
Delano was no dummy, and he had sensed the measures she had dispatched in the area of maintaining optimal distance between them and so had made her work easier, by cooperating and ejecting himself from her work orbit and axis, reducing their relationship to a basic, professionally proficient one.
She felt guilty, that their once cordial relationship had emaciated into a bond, that was being held together by the frail seams of work. But there was nothing else she could do. She couldn’t act, like things were the same. She needed to give him space to recuperate, and most importantly—get over her. Perhaps, sometime in the future when he’d snagged someone and was in a rewarding relationship, they’d be able to turn the tide back and reboot their relationship status.
While standing in the rowdy hallway, she knocked the door of his office gently and instantly, it parted open—almost as if he had x-ray vision that could peer through obstacles and infer that she had arrived. When their gazes met, she whispered a “Hi.” as greeting, which he returned in kind with a curt nod and a polite smile, before gesturing into the open office, that she come in. The office was in its usual immaculate state—figurine wallpapers reminiscent of African culture, fluorescent torch lighting and marble tiles.
Anjola walked over to the receptive section of the room, and made herself comfortable before Delano sank into the couch opposite hers—a glass center table, holding a pitcher of fruits between them. He straightened up, and seemed to have a calm aura around him that put her throbbing mind at ease. He was wearing a grey bishop collar, on black khakis and brown oxfords. His beard was in its well primed state as usual, but his hair appeared a bit ruffled and disheveled—as a result of multiple hand rakings, probably.
“So how you doing? Hope you haven’t collapsed under the recent work load?” He asked, clasping his hands and studying her intently. “I’m asking because I know you. Not that I know you, but I know your work orientation. You wouldn’t ask for help, even if you’re drowning. So are you okay?”
“I’m okay, Delano.” She smiled genuinely, the leftover of her anxiety blown away by his calm demeanor. “It’s not like I’m doing it for free, anyway. The incentive is a very good motivation.”
Delano nodded, comprehension glowing in his eyes. “How about we make the incentive permanent, then? That’s why I called you here. Last week, Mrs. Shoneyin had a falling out with Sigma administration. Actually, they haven’t been on the friendliest of terms since the beginning of her maternity leave, but it was their disagreement last week that really took the cake. It’s as a result of them constantly hassling her with work while she’s away, and her—feeling intruded on, because she feels she has the right to be left alone during her leave. Anyway, she has resigned and won’t be joining us anymore.”
“Really?” The revelation of the news didn’t break her heart, or even come close to making a dent on it, but it still wasn’t anything to rejoice about. Anjols didn’t have a tight knit relationship with the woman, but she still felt disheartened she had to leave. She seemed nice. “That’s swell, right?”
“Depends on which angle you’re looking at it from,” Delano tilted his head to one side, as if to contemplate the possibilities. “Mrs. Shoneyin is a highly qualified woman, and her credentials would definitely land her somewhere good, although I doubt it would be in a position as high as she was here, as the head of the department. But then, she couldn’t have made such decision without thinking it through.
“She’s been put through worse constrains in the past, and didn’t resign so if she’s doing so now, it’s probably for a good reason. We weren’t exactly best of pals, because of the huge age gap between us, but from sharing the same office with her, I know her house suffers a lot from her being the person, Sigma needs her to be. So maybe, it was a conscious thing, you know. To make more time for her family, or the sorts.”
“Makes sense. What does this have to do with me then?”
“Mrs. Shoneyin leaving has of course, left her position vacant. As her assistant, I’m going to take over from her. Usually, it isn’t done that way at Sigma but well, the C.E.O. trusts me and thinks I’m fitting for the job.”
“Aw, I’m so happy for you.” She couldn’t help her swell of pride and elation. “You must be like the youngest director ever in the history of Sigma, right? I don’t think there has been any under-thirty department head in the past?”
“I don’t think so either, and thank you very much.” He chuckled, his face flushed. “The new salary is like, double of what I got before as assistant, so I’m still trying to wrap my head around the entire thing. It still feels so surreal, like someone is going to burst out of a corner when I’m off guard, and scream that it’s all an elaborate play or something. Because they know how much I’ve wanted this, since I signed up to work here six years ago.”
“Nah, it is legit trust me.” She assured him, edging forward in her seat—and anticipating the part of the development that was related to her. She wasn’t dumb, and her intuition had started to piece the information that had been disbursed to her, since she stepped into the room—to formulate something coherent and she had narrowed the possible outcome of the meeting to one fortuitous leeway. But she didn’t dwell too much on the thought, lest she become disappointed with the eventual outcome. “So, getting to my part already?”
“I think it’s quite obvious, already.” Delano rose to his feet, and encircled to the back of the couch to peer down at her. “For the past month, I’ve filled in for Mrs. Shoneyin as department head and you signed up to be my assistant. Now that my position as department head is permanent, it’s only natural that yours as assistant would be permanent also.”
It was just like she had predicted, but still it didn’t negate her shock. “Wow,” Was all she could manage to say.
“Yup, same thing I said when Damien informed me. Wow. Now I guess you can relate.” He beamed down at her with a bona fide smile. “Anyhoo, these changes are effective immediately, that’s why I’m telling you now. Now as per your role in your previous working capacity, someone would be brought in to fill in for you.
“Meaning, you’d be moving out of your old office and in here with me, as my assistant. Another reason I’m giving you an early notice, because I know you’re very tight with Adaure and Ehize, and they’re like secondary family to you. The changes must be effected before next week, so I guess you guys would have plenty time to organize a send-forth ceremony for you.”
“You’re not serious,” She tittered, despite her reignited anxiety. Being elevated to assistant head of the department, was a mahoosive accomplishment for her but the foreboding it held? The fact that Delano and her would begin to share an office working space, incited the streaking of cold chills down her spine. Just because things weren’t discomfited at the moment, didn’t mean it couldn’t blow out eventually. Especially when constant proximity was definite.
Anjola, stop it.
She couldn’t believe she was letting her anxiety overwhelm her to the point, that the jubilee fostered by the news, had faded away instantly. And so what if things were constantly awkward? That wasn’t her top most priority, and it shouldn’t be her principal concern. She was way too professional and devout to her work, to let a convoluted relationship she had with her partner, act as an impediment to her joy and will to serve. Delano was also every bit as devoted to his work like she was, and she was convinced that with the right effort they could trump the downside, that the new development posed.
“Are you okay?” Delano who was now resting his weight on his hands, that were pressed into the couch—pulled her out of her trance. “You seem fazed, sorta.”
“No, I’m fine actually.” Anjola replied, summoning courage within her. “It’s just a lot to process. Don’t get me wrong, I’m beyond ecstatic but…it’s still a lot to process.” She didn’t exactly hint at anything in particular, but Delano seemed to catch on to her worry—owing to his next words.
“You’d be fine, with working beside me, right?” He asked, with nothing but genuine concern in his voice. “If you don’t like the idea of the both of us sharing an office, I could ask the admin to commission one for you. And even if they can’t, we could always work something out—”
“No, that’s ridiculous. I don’t want anyone inconveniencing their selves because of me.” She interjected, waving her hands in dismissal. “We’re both professionals that have a fantastic working relationship. I see no reason why we can’t share the office. Everything would be fine. Matter of fact, I think things would be splendid. Besides, I mean look at this room…”
She gesticulated haplessly, with stretched hands. “It’s a really big working space. Matter of fact, It’s big enough for me to efficiently keep malice with you, if we have a disagreement in work and I don’t want to have to run into you or something, for the rest of the day. So great.”
A smile broke over Delano face. “It’s nice of you to warn me of what I’m getting into. I know, you’re lowkey worried about things being awkward between the both of us, but trust me it won’t get to that level.
“Now, there is just one final thing you need to do before we finalize this process. I didn’t tell you this earlier, but I was granted the freewill to choose whoever it is I deem fit, as my assistant. I only broke the news earlier to you in a way, that you’d accept its reality and wouldn’t want it not to be real anymore. But the decision still lies with me, and it won’t be finalized until you do what I wish. You want the post, right?”
“Yeah, I do?” She said in uncertainty, as his jesting voice took a dip and lowered l into a serious one. Whatever could the price be? She didn’t fear it was something bizarre, because Delano was a proper person but then what if he wasn’t in control of the entire thing, like he said? What if it was all being orchestrated by the higher-ups?
“Break up with your current boyfriend, and date me.” He straightened, and folded his arms. “Do that and the job is all yours, Anjola.”
Anjola was too stunned by his words to speak. They had decapitated her understanding, leaving her mind to a disarray state of incoherent thoughts. How could the price be so inhumane and loathsome? It all didn’t make sense. The temperature in her head escalated, and fear raged in her like a siege, leaving her at its mercy. She remained frozen, on the spot unable to speak and it wasn’t until Delano broke out in a hearty cackle, that a semblance of balance returned to her.
“Oh my God, you actually think that I was being real?” His eyes were widened in incongruity. “Of course, I was only messing around—”
She placed a palm over her head, to bring its reeling to a halt. “That joke was too expensive.”
“I’m sorry, I just had to. I needed to show you that things won’t be as awkward as you think, and we could even laugh over the fact that you rejected me some weeks ago. Trust me, it’s all good.”
She didn’t know if he was a master in the arts of foolery, or if he had immense experience in coating his pain in genial words, but whatever it was—she couldn’t spot a facet of pain, either in his profile or his voice. Maybe it was neither, and he was genuinely over her? It wasn’t far-fetched. He was a well desirable man after all, that women of high caliber flocked all over.
“Alright then,” Anjola forced a smile too, and rose to her feet—as the discussion had apparently come to a close. “Once again, thanks for this opportunity. Never in my wildest dreams, would I have thought that I would be getting this sort of massive promotion today. The thought of any promotion at all, would make me freak out real bad. I can’t freak out properly, because you’re here and I don’t want to embarrass myself. When I get home and I’m behind closed doors, I’m definitely going to freak out properly for sure.”
“Freak out all you want, but please don’t have a panic attack. I need my assistant to be in good health, so we can kick ass and show the entire company that young executives could be bad-ass. In case you don’t know, most executives would be angry at the fact that we’re so young, and would definitely want us to fail. But we’re going to show them.”
“I look forward to that,” She was already at the doorframe, and was twisting the knob to head out, before he asked one final question.
“How’s your relationship, though? It’s going good?”
“To be honest? Yeah.” And it was that moment, she realized there was no legitimate reason to be frightened for the future. Delano and her had just conversed like matured beings, and the conversation hadn’t plunged into a gloomy state despite venturing on the delicate topic. Indeed, they were professional enough to tackle that hurdle. “I’d see you around then.”
She headed back to her office, which silence was a bit depressing nowadays. Ehize and Adaure had refused to work things out, and get past their squabble. This had extinguished the lively atmosphere and replaced it with a bleak one. Sometimes the silence was so loud, that it was deafening.
As she walked to her desk however, she noticed Adaure’s desk wasn’t occupied and so only Ehize was in the room. She settled into her desk with an exhale of relief, at the smooth proceedings at Delano’s office but Ehize’s profile popped out of behind suddenly and startled her.
“Why are you surprised? You know I’m in the room.” His nose scrunched, and he folded his arms while leaning over her desk. “You just returned from Delano’s office. Hope all is well.”
“All is well,” She said too fast, that she knew Ehize would have reason to doubt, but it wasn’t like he could prod for more information anyway. Asides from the fact that their relationship didn’t have much depth, she wasn’t willing to tell anyone yet. Not even Adaure. She needed to get fully comfortable with the prospect first, before sharing the good news with everyone who cared enough to hear.
“Alright,” Ehize said, with an apathy that she was grateful for. “Anyway, I just got this ticket from my uncle to go to this concert. It’s an upcoming hippie band, but he says their music is legit and they have good backing. I have no reason to doubt his words, seeing as the band in question is holding their launch concert at Eko Hotels and Suites. I know you love good music, we could go together. It’s this weekend on Friday evening, if you’re not occupied.”
Anjola was about to jump on board the idea, and pledge that she’d be his plus one because it was indeed a golden event, that her as an avid lover of good music wouldn’t pass on, but then an idea hit her over the head. It had been inhabiting her consciousness for an inordinate long period of time, and right now—it felt ideal, and destined to be executed.
“Of course,” She held out her hand, and let a quite resplendent tract be slipped into her palms. “I’d definitely show up, and it’s so thoughtful of you to think about me. But what about Adaure, though? She’d have made the perfect partner, and although I know you guys have some…dispute going on, this would be the best time to put it aside and work your differences. What the hell is going on anyway?”
“Nothing, actually.” Ehize shrugged, and pushed himself off her desk. “I’m just tired of belonging to the group of men, who think they have something with her because of her overtly flirty nature. I mean, how am I even sure if anything between us is Legit? And I can’t tell her to stop being herself, which is you know…being all appreciative of beauty all around. Hence, my distance.”
Anjola thought Ehize had good—noble reasons in fact for being distant towards her friend lately. It was nothing but the bitter truth. Adaure acted like she was in love with every single man around her, thus putting her close relationships with potential romance into question. The entire stint would end, if one of them could set their pride aside and talk to the other—adequately conveying how they felt in words. But she knew, such wasn’t happening anytime soon. It was time she stepped in.
And that was why, she asked Adaure—when she walked into the office, some minutes after—if she’d like to go see a concert together during the weekend. A conniving smile grazed her lips, after she handed over the ticket, Ehize had given her—to her friend, in the ploy of getting them together. It was perhaps, the oldest trick one could use, but she had no reason to doubt its efficacy.
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The Tijanis’ might not be the pitch perfect, ironclad tight family but I believe they're quite the compact family, nonetheless. What do you think? And do you Anjola’s scheming would be succesful? Tell me in the comments, after you tap that star.