Chapter Nine

On Monday morning, I sat in my office cubicle and I stared into space. My eyes were red and swollen from all the crying I had done over the weekend. Lara had come over to give me a much-needed pep talk along with several specially formulated insults for Akin but even that didn’t fully restore my mood.

The previous week, I was full of enthusiasm but now, I felt empty and I hated the feeling.

How could one human being do this to me? Had I really invested so much of my time, energy and being into my relationship with Akin that it felt like a huge part of me had died?

Whatever it was, it felt unhealthy.

A tap on my shoulder broke off my thoughts.

"Are you alright, ma?" The person asked.

I turned to see Bayo behind me.

“Oh Bayo, I’m fine and you really don’t have to call me ma. Just call me Eniola. I’m not much older than you.” I managed a weak smile.

He insisted on using the term to address me even though there was only a small age gap of 4 years between us. I learned that he was 19 years old and was such a great help at work. That morning, when I arrived, he helped me get my bearings within the building and given me some tips about work. He was the temporary personal assistant to Mr Daniel Jacobs.

Despite being young, it seemed he was quite close to the boss and knew a lot about the policies of the company. He was incredibly intelligent too. I discovered this after I spoke to him for even a short period and I was amazed at how knowledgeable he was. I was sure that given a few years, he would accomplish great things.

I learned Mr Jacobs had travelled during the weekend. I was glad to hear this because if he saw me in the state I was in, I had no doubt he would reconsider my employment. I really had to snap out of the mood I was in.

“But you don’t seem fine, ma.”

"Bayo, I am fine." I smiled as brightly as I could and hoped I was more convincing.

He didn't look convinced but he let it go and adjusted his glasses.

"Mrs Ovie said I should remind you about those files she told you to organise."

"Yes, I'll take them to her in a few minutes," I replied and kept the smile on my face until he left.

Mrs Ovie was the head of the Finance department and I was her personal assistant. I wasn’t quite myself as I walked out of my cubicle. I felt my ankle twist as I took a shaky step in my black stilettos. My dress caught on the edge of the cubicle and a sharp ripping sound reached my ears.

I lost my balance and ended up kissing the floor, quite literally. The neatly organised files dropped from my hands and spread out before me. At that point, I desperately wanted the ground open and swallow me up or to simply disappear in a cloud of smoke.

"Are you alright?"

It was the second time someone asked me the question that morning and I wanted to yell “I’m not alright!” to anyone who cared to listen but I thought better of it. I looked up from the floor and saw a man watching me in concern.

"Let me get those for you." He averted his gaze from my sprawled out position on the floor and gathered the files while I tried to stand.

Why I chose to wear a dress on such a day would remain a mystery to me. The knee-length dress had now ridden up to mid-thigh. I awkwardly straightened it out and tried to avoid flashing my underwear at the man before me.

After a discreet check, it turned out the rip I heard wasn’t too bad, I could fix it myself with a needle and some thread once I got home. He handed the files back to me and I silently collected them. There I was, unable to form a coherent sentence while he had already made two.

"Thank you so much. I’m usually not this clumsy," I said with a small smile.

Oh great, my voice had returned. He returned the smile good-naturedly and introduced himself.

"I am Vincent Obi. I work in the digital department." He offered his hand and I shook it.

So that was his name. I had seen him around twice that morning, once in the elevator and then on my way to the restroom.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Eniola Fayola, personal assistant to Mrs Ovie," I replied. 

His grip was firm and warm.

"Well, I have to get going." I let go of his hand and gestured in a random direction.

"Oh, of course, I will see you later then." He took a step back.

"Thank you again," I said as we parted ways.

A few steps away, my neck prickled as I felt a penetrating gaze on me. But when I glanced back, no one seemed to pay me any attention.