FairCritic:



Nice update

kweensheba:
He laughed shortly over the line. ‘You know what? The longer it takes you to consider the offer, the more I am convinced that you are the one for the job.’

I laughed too. ‘Really? There are many ladies that are qualified for the job, sir. Some are even better qualified.’

‘You are the one I’ve shortlisted for it. You are the one I want to take up the job.’

I nearly said I would, but when I imagined what the countenance of Isi Irabor would be, and how disappointed Madam Rose would look, I withheld my assent.

‘Give me a little bit of more time,’ I said, wishing I could take it up. The money was tempting, but sometimes, other exigent matters override pecuniary gains. 

 ‘The job will wait for you,’ he said. ‘I know you’ll still take it up.’

Later, I told Barbara about the man’s persistence. 

‘You are very lucky, aren’t you? Many ladies will be praying to be in your shoes.’

I nodded in affirmation. ‘Yes, but the fact remains that I can’t take it. I think I’m the one wasting time over this matter. All I have to do is tell him straight forward that while I appreciate his kind gesture, I can’t take it.’

‘Wait a minute,’ Barbara said. ‘What if I tell him that I’m willing to take it up?’

I stared at her in surprise. ‘Are you sure about what you are saying?’

‘Of course.’ She grinned. ‘Since the offer is better than what I have now, I don’t mind. What do you say to that?’

I thought briefly. ‘But you are just about four months on this job. You mean you’ll just leave it like that?’

‘Why not? De Gov’nor owns an oil marketing firm. He is swimming in money. Why should one not be willing to be part of that affluence? Tell him, that you cannot take up his offer, but that I, Barbara, am ready.’

I suddenly shrugged. ‘Okay. I’ll tell him.’

Later in my office, I put a call to Steve Renoya.
‘Good afternoon, De Gov’nor. I hope all is going very well.’

‘All is well. There’s no problem, my dear.’
‘I called you in respect of that P.A offer.’

‘Good. When’re you starting?’

‘No, I’m not the one taking it. It’s my good friend, Barbara that is humbly willing to accept the offer.’ 

There was a long pause and I wondered if the line had disconnected.

‘Hello? Are you still there?’ I asked.

‘Yes, I’m here. How could you tell that Barbara will be a good P.A?’

‘I think she will. First, she’s my boss here, and she’s doing very well. Two, she’s good in coordinating and organizing things.  In simple expressions, she combines beauty with brain.’

There was another long pause. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to take the job?  If you want me to increase the pay, I will do so, right now. Besides, remember there are many other perks that you will enjoy. I will ensure you get the best that is obtainable in the industry.’

‘See, sir, (yes, I used ‘sir’ that very moment) the main obstacle is the fact that my present employer is a good friend of my mother and is like a mother to me. She was the one that brought me to Lagos, from my Benin base. I can’t just leave her and the job within few months of working for her.’

There was a short silence. ‘Alright. I understand, now. It’s okay. But for Barbara, I will have to give her written and verbal test before I can be convinced that she’ll be suitable for the job.’ 

I grinned. ‘Okay, oga De Gov’nor, I’ll tell her.’
‘When are we seeing again?’

‘Tell me when you want to see me.’

There was a brief silence. ‘I’ll call you tomorrow to let you know.’

‘Okay, love.’

I told Barbara about what he said. 
‘If he wants me to write a test, no problem. I will call him to know when I can go to his office.’

Barbara called him and he asked her to come for the test and interview the following day by ten in the morning.




Lady of the Pack: https://m.okadabooks.com/book/about/lady_of_the_pack_18/38532

kweensheba:


‘Thanks, but no,’ I said. 

She laughed shortly again and brought a twenty-dollar bill from her bag. ‘Take this money, buy yourself cold bottle of water and think over what I said.’

Barbara would not stop confounding me. ‘Barbara, you are going crazy. How could you give me twenty dollars to buy water?’

But she knew what she was doing. It was a bait. I knew it was, and it was becoming difficult for me to resist.

‘I want good things for you, Queen. Aren’t you tired of the crumbs I’m giving you? Rather than giving you fish, don’t you want to learn how to catch fish by yourself?’

I was thoughtful.

‘This is your chance, Queen. This is a good opportunity to break into the big league. Or do you want to work for Madam Rose forever?’

‘See,’ she went on. ‘I don’t enjoy sex with men, but I pretend I do. I moan and wiggle my body to let them believe they’re the best givers of
pleasure on earth, even when they were terribly boring and sickening. And at the end of the day, I make my money. That’s cool, isn’t it?’

I nodded in affirmation. ‘Yeah, that’s cool.’

She grinned knowingly at me. ‘So, what’re you waiting for?’

I sighed. ‘Okay. I’ll do it this once. Don’t be disappointed if I stop after this.’

She came to kiss me fully on the lips. ‘That’s my baby.’ She sat next to me. ‘We need to plan it. Since the two of us cannot be absent from our
place of work at the same time, I’ll go on Friday. You’ll do the work for the whole day, then, you’ll go on Saturday. What d’you think?’

‘It’s a perfect idea,’ I said.

That was the way we hatched our plan. On Friday, I worked from early morning till late night. And as it was, there were so many customers that
Friday. I was at least happy that Customer Relation was good and we were making profits for Roses Hotel. It was about ten o’clock on Saturday morning when Barbara came.

‘I’m sorry I couldn’t come early. He did not want to release me,’ she said.

I had already dressed up and was set. Barbara gave me the address and the contact of who I was to meet. That morning, the man said he would be at the Polo Club in Ikoyi. I took a cab and by eleven, I got to the place. At the large reception hall of the elitist club, I asked to see Steve
Renoya. 

‘What’s the name, please?’ the very courteous lady asked.

‘The name is Queen.’

‘Please, sit down while I contact him.’

‘Thank you.’ I went to sit on one of the well-padded sofas. I waited for only a couple of minutes when the lady beckoned at me. I walked smartly to her. A young guy stood by the desk.

‘He will take you to meet Mr. Renoya,’ she informed.

I thanked her and keenly followed the young guy. We went through a passageway to an inner hall that looked like a private club. The guy took
me to a man that sat a bit aloof from others.

‘Here is your guest, sir,’ the guy told the important-looking man in jeans and Ralph Lauren polo shirt.

‘Ah, you are Queen, right?’ the man asked.

‘Yes, sir.’

His face brightened up. ‘You are welcome. Please, sit down.’

‘Thank you, sir.’ I sat on a chair away from him.

He should be in his early or mid-forties. Dark-skinned, medium height and stocky, he looked successful and confident.   

‘So, what d’you want? Feel at home and relax. I’ve heard that you are shy, but don’t be shy with me.’

I grinned briefly. Whoever gave that description of me did not do a bad job.

‘Any cool, soft drinks,’ I said.

He nodded in affirmation and ordered for red wine and barbecue.

‘Tell me about yourself, Queen,’ he prodded.

Really? Did he really care to know about me, or was he saying that to while away time? I grinned and briefly told him about my education and past times.

‘What do you currently do?’

I told him and he nodded in affirmation.  He seemed to be impressed.

‘Well, let me properly introduce myself too. I’m Steve Renoya, Chief Executive Officer of RenOil Oil and Gas. We’re mainly into the marketing of
petroleum products. You can call me De Gov’nor. It’s a pleasure to have you here.’

‘The pleasure is mine,’ I said.

De Gov’nor was obviously a well-known person there. Many of These ones men around hailed him while some came to greet him. It appeared
the name De Gov’nor would easily win an election in that place. 

We took the wine and took the barbecue till I wanted no more. When it was about few minutes to eleven, he said we should leave the place for
a place that offered exclusive privacy.

We went in his Mercedes jeep to a hotel at Awolowo Road, Ikoyi. The way he was attended to showed that he was a very known face. He had
already booked a suite there. We took the elevator to the third bed. The hotel was much bigger and much attractive than Roses Hotel, but
everything there reminded me about where I worked.

It was ironic that I, who once berated Barbara for agreeing to sleep with a stranger at the suite in Roses Hotel, would be doing the same thing
with a stranger in another hotel suite.

 De Gov’nor was all smiles as we sat in the living-room of the suite.

‘What d’you say to lunch? What will you have?’

 What else would I have other than my favorite, fried rice and chicken? I grinned. ‘Fried rice and chicken will be okay.’

He grinned and nodded in affirmation. ‘I’ll rather have pounded yam and egusi soup.’ He picked the intercom and ordered for the room service.

A trolley was used to bring the sumptuous meal. I wasn’t a heavy eater, so the fried rice he ordered for me was much too much for what I could finish. Of course, he ate pounded yam. The impeccable of my food made me to be proud of Roses Hotel. Though the size and splendor could
not be rated on the same level with this one, the food offered here was not better than the food Roses offered.



Lady of the Pack: https://m.okadabooks.com/book/about/lady_of_the_pack_18/38532