Chapter Ten

Friday, 4^th December 2015.

I was finally able to focus on work and push Akin to the back of my mind where he now belonged. I had to admit, there were times I nearly picked up the phone to tell him about my day or just to hear his comforting voice after a stressful day at the office.

However, I met many new people at work and got along with some of them, especially Melody. So the new environment helped to get my mind off my woes. She and I just clicked when I met her during my second week and we chatted often during lunch breaks. She was a PA to the head of the digital department, Mr Akan.

"Good morning Melody," I said as I placed my handbag on my table.

I walked into the office to find her beside my cubicle. She returned the greeting and followed me inside.

"I was waiting for you." She glanced around discreetly. "I wanted to ask if you could join me for lunch today. There is this new place I really want to try out."

I frowned slightly. If that was all then why did she look so worried?

"Um… yes, of course."

"Great, I will see you later then." She walked away briskly and I just stood there in confusion.

That moment, my work telephone rang. It was a redirected call from the front desk downstairs, which I had to put through to Mrs Ovie.

“Please hold,” I said to the receiver.

After informing Mrs Ovie, I redirected the call to her office line. The next hour or so passed by similarly. I was grateful that I didn’t run around only to get coffee and snacks like most of my colleagues did. Melody had confessed that at times, she felt like a glorified maid but one with an incredible fashion sense.

I looked up at the sound of footsteps near my cubicle.

"Hello Eniola," It was Vincent. He leaned against the cubicle's partition wall with a charming smile on his face.

It seemed he had ventured out of the digital department once again.

Vincent was an Igbo man. He was quite good-looking too with smooth dark skin,

inviting eyes and a clean-shaven head. Not a strand of hair was to be seen on his head, apart from his neatly trimmed full beard which framed his jaw along with full eyebrows. Imagine Banky W but with dark skin.

"Hello to you too." I smiled politely.

We spoke a few times during the previous week whenever we came across each other but this was the first time he sought me out.

"I wanted to ask if you would join me for lunch this afternoon," he said. "A few other colleagues are coming too if you don't mind."

I tapped my pen thoughtfully against my cheek as I thought of a polite way to decline his invitation. Melody already asked me to join her and she seemed to have something on her mind that she chose not to say yet.

"I'm sorry but I have other plans," I replied.

His expression fell slightly but he covered it up with a playful grin.

"Guess I was too late then," he chuckled. "Oh well, till another day."

"Yeah bye," I replied as I watched him leave.

I quickly dropped my gaze down to my desk when he glanced back at me and turned my attention to the files I was yet to organise for Mrs Ovie that day.

#

By lunchtime, which was between 12-2:00 p.m., Melody and I walked into the restaurant. It was popular for its local dishes and it was also farther from the office than other restaurants which was probably why none of our co-workers was there. We placed our order at the counter and went to find a place to wait.

"So, I have a feeling you didn't just come here for the food." I hinted soon after we got settled at a table. Melody looked away as she took a sip of water.

"You're very quick to pick up on things," she smiled. "Or am I just easy to read?"

“It could be a little bit of both.” I shrugged. “So, what’s up?”

"Maybe I just wanted to have a little private gossip session," she raised her eyebrows suggestively.

"I am not buying that but okay, what is the topic of this discussion?" I decided to play along with her.

"Well, let us start with the fact that Vincent has been following you around the office like a lost puppy."

My eyes widened in surprise. She thought that something was going on?

"What do you mean?" I cocked my head to the side.

"Come on Eni, I have noticed the secret smiles, little greetings here and there. Plus, he was at your cubicle earlier today."

"But you weren't even there, how did you know that?" I was astonished at how she had gotten that piece of information.

"Favour told me.” She waved her hand dismissively. “Anyway, what is going on between you two?”

I rolled my eyes.

Favour was the managing director of gossip at the office and knew things about people they did not even know about themselves. I had quickly learned that gossiping was her favourite hobby and if such a department existed at the office, she would definitely be the head of it.

"Nothing is going on, he is just being friendly," I emphasized.

“Don’t be too sure about that.”

Her words stopped me in my tracks.