Five
years later, Tamie sat behind a massive mahogany desk. He looked breathtakingly handsome. Every inch the Executive Director of a multi
billionaire empire. He leafed through some papers; he still couldn't believe
the way his life had changed in such a short time. Just yesterday, he was out
of school with a first class with no hope. Today, he was one of the
wealthiest men in the country at a tender age of 28. How much more fortunate
can one get? He could indulge himself in his most expensive pastime of buying
exotic and expensive cars and art works. He now lived in a very big mansion.
He'd been able to trace his old nanny, lulu. She was a Ghanaian who had preferred
to come to Nigeria with his parents than remained abroad. She had never gone
back.
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He
had also happily traced his mother's people. His grandmother and father had
been overjoyed to see him. His presence, they claimed, made up for the pain and
the void created by their daughter's tragic death and that of her husband and
daughter. His one regret was that his sister had died in the accident, if only
she had lived, he mused to himself. If only she had lived, he would have surely
given her the world. His intercom buzzed.
"Yes,
miss Fati?" he said into the receiver. He hated being disturbed.
"Miss Latie is here to see you sir, the new IT lady." The
receptionist said in her cool modulated voice.
"Give
me a few minutes' then send her in," he growled.'
"Yes
sir." Charity was his passion. He'd discovered while going through his
father's old files and books that he spent heavily on charity organizations.
He'd made his will in such a way that even after his death, the charity
organizations still received their annual donations from him.
Now
that he was in control, he certainly didn't intend stopping, rather, he would
do more. He tidied his table. He was having dinner with Helena, his girlfriend,
but he certainly didn't look forward to it. He felt trapped, Helena was choking
him. There was a knock on the door before he could utter a word. The door was
pushed open and a young lady walked, in flashing a toothpaste smile: For a
moment, Tamie was lost, he just stared at her. "Please, sit down." he
finally said, gesturing to a seat. He watched her smile widen, she looked
excited, like a coiled snake filled with so much energy about to jump out.
She
reminded him of a little child with suppressed energy and excitement. Latie
cleared her throat to draw his attention.
Men!
This guy is handsome, she thought, a smile playing on her lips. Dis one na real
big fish! Hmm, I wish say na my boyfriend, she thought.
"Yes,
miss Latie, what can I do for you?" She smiled, she wasn't fooled. He
looked bored but she wasn't going to give him the impression that she was
disappointed. "Its in respect of the job Sir," she replied.
"I
am a computer analyst ... " she started. "Its okay, that's not
necessary" he cuts in.
"I'll
get the secretary to attend ... "
"But
you haven't even heard my course or what I read," she protested. He
narrowed his eyes. He certainly didn't need a hysterical teenager dictating for
him.
"Well,
miss Latie, lets know your course then," he said.
Relieved,
she smiled and stared at him, thinking, bull headed snob. He thinks he's God's
gift to women, she thought.
"I
read computer engineering at Unilag, I'm in my fourth year and that's really
why I need to do this IT. " I heard your company is one of the best in the
IT field" she finished.
He
stared at her, he observed her big and sleep eyeballs. Her heart shaped face
with-, a pointed nose and kissable lips. The girl was surely pretty. He let his
eyes run down her face, down her throat, adorned by a beautiful chain and
pendant falling just before a beautiful navy blue well-cut suit top. Her chest
heaved up and down in her breathing. What would it be like, to kiss those lips?
he wondered as his eyes came back to rest on them.
"Where
are you from?" he found himself asking before he could stop himself.
"Ondo
State," she answered, wondering at the sudden diversion.
He
leafed through her file on his desk. "Otunde? Are you by any means related
to former chief justice Otunde?" she smiled, adjusting herself.
"Yes,
he's my father" she replied softly. Tamie was surprised and impressed.
"Then why are you looking for a job?"
"I
want to work. I'm the last in a family of six."
She
explained. She didn't want to depend on her father's name, which was why she
had decided to seek employment somewhere else. Her father had offered to help
her get a job with one of his friends but she had turned the old man down. She
didn't want any of his friends to treat her with kid's gloves just because they
wanted to please her father with their false smiles and attitude. She'd make
her own way in life just like her senior ones. "Do I have the job, Mr.
Tamie?" she asked, interrupting his thought.
He
stood up, and made his way to sit on the desk facing her.
"I
really don't think you're suitable for this job but I like you. Have dinner
with me tonight, will you?"
"What!
What did you say?" she gasped, rushing up from her seat, her face clouding
in anger. "You insult me sir, I don't make it a habit to sleep with
strange insensitive men!" she hissed, picking up her files and handbag and
turning towards the door. But he gripped her hand, smiling mischievously.
"So
the little lady is upset, uhn?" he echoed. "Please let me go,"
she muttered through clenched teeth, trying to prevent the tears from falling.
She had thought he was a decent man. The way he'd looked at her, and
practically undressed her. This must be his way with women, she concluded
bitterly. There goes my job, she thought wryly.
She
looked up into his smiling face and felt like hitting him.
"Please
let me go sir, I made a mistake coming here, I can never sell my body for a
job!" She suddenly slipped off his grasp and in a minute she was out of
the door, banging it hard. For no apparent reason, he felt a kind of loneliness
and disappointment at her leaving. He thought of going after her but changed
his mind. "He sure didn't need any emotional entanglement right now, he
thought as he settled back on his desk.
A
few minutes later, his secretary knocked and walked in, followed by Justice,
his cousin, who pinched the secretary on her bottom, making her jump and rush
out almost immediately.
"Hey
boy, what's up? Its 5p.m. and I'm set to leave this place, what about
you?"
"I'll
leave soon, I've a date with Helena." "Hmm ... its Friday and I'm
hitting the club.
Wanna
come along?" Justice offered.
Tamie
shook his head. "No, you know I can't stand clubs or being denied my
sleep." He had made Justice his admin and human resource Manager. He was
also on the board. He was his closest friend and the only person he could
confide in.
Justice
stared with hostile and ill concealed hatred at Tamie, who had his head
lowered, working on a file. His expression quickly changed when Tamie
looked up to show him something. His only ambition was to get rid of Tamie. He
was a thief, an impostor, like his father.
Well
Tamie, better enjoy all you can now because your days are numbered, he thought
as he stared hard at him.
"Ol'
boy, you look like you're ready to commit murder. What could be the problem?"
Tamie chided.
Justice
quickly forced a smile. "Its just that Holman is giving me
headaches."
"You
worry too much, let them go. That reminds me! Olu's birthday is on Sunday
afternoon, I hope we can both attend it," Tamie said.
"Why
'lot?" he said, standing up. "I'm off ol' boy, see you
tomorrow," he let himself out of the office.
CHAPTER 8
TO BE CONT.
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