The Black Sheep II

The training went on smoothly and work proper started the following week.
Some of us new members of staff were sent to Port-Harcourt.
By now, I had gotten to know Williams a bit more. I also met other colleagues.
But Williams was the one who I found myself asking questions while tuning in to the new office life. He seemed to know things.

Day after day, the first week crawled past and weeks rolled into the first month.
It had been smooth. My first salary came and I made sure to get myself three T.M Lewin shirts, a Promador silver chain wristwatch and a pair of shoes by Firetrap.
And of course, I had a bottle of wine and suya. Suya is a local grilled flat piece of meat garnished with pepper, raw diced tomatoes and raw onions. Grilled steak. Suya and red wine is an awesome combination! In fact tales have been told of how people bought Suya as gifts to their lovers on Valentine's Day.
But less enjoyable was the fact that there was no one to share it with me. Presently, the only thing that beats the taste is the thoughts of Ada.

My mind drifted to Ada. I wished she was here with me now, talking over wine and suya.

Over the past one month, I had not seen much of her. Save, at the car park when we arrive in the morning or when we are leaving after work. Sometimes when she comes down to 2nd floor. A few other times was at the canteen. The canteen was too public to attempt to chat her up to avoid embarrassing myself, or even her. Most times, I just greet
"Good morning ma"
"Good morning" she would reply curtly.

I liked this lady and I wanted to get to know a bit more about her but I had never even succeeded in catching her eye for once.
One day I devised a means to get closer to talking with her and immediately put the plan to work after considering her possibly reactions.
I didn't know what part of Lagos she stays but I had noticed she drives towards Ikeja bus-stop. So, on this day I had gone to work without the car. After work, I chilled somewhere at the far end of the corridor on the 3rd floor, acting like I was busy punching away at my phone. Soon as I saw her exit the office, I followed. At a distance though. I was two flight of stairs behind her. That gave enough time for her to get to her car.
As she was fumbling with the keys to open her door, I came up to her
"Excuse me ma"
She turned round
"Oh! Stag how're you doing?"
"I'm good. Please which way are you going. But if its okay with you, I'd like to join you till I get to Ikeja main busstop, around the bridge."
"Ermmm... Okay"
She opened and we got in. The first moment inside the car together was awkward. I was tongue-tied, I didn't know what to say. A good thing she did was to tune the car radio to Rythm FM as she backed out and headed into the road. The traffic was slow moving through Toyin Street and joining Mobalaji Bank-Anthony Way beside the customs office. Though it became a relatively short journey when she spoke up as the traffic crawled.
"So how was the day"
"Oh, it was fine"
"And how have you found the company so far"
"Better than I had thought" I replied.
Like she took a moment to digest my reply, she asked
"So what were your initial thoughts"
I made a short laugh
"You don't want to say?
"Not that. If I'm sure I'm talking off records"
Now it was her turn to give a short laugh.
"Office hours are over."
Hmmm...
"So what did you have in mind?" She continued
"Well, going by your first attack at me for coming in late for the training, I would have thought the company quite high-handed."
"In other words, I am high-handed"
"I guess, its not about you as a person. You acted in the capacity of a facilitator representing the company, like my boss that you are"
"So you do not think I'm obnoxious?"
Wow!
Somehow, I was getting a bit uncomfortable at the turn of the conversation so I was silent at the question. A second too long, enough to make her get the point.
"You have been kind to me"
I could tell she wasn't expecting that.
She didn't say any thing again.

In a way that showed she had abruptly ended that topic, she asked
"So what happened to your car?"
"Oh! It just wouldn't start this morning. I tried all I could. The mechanic will take a look when I get home."
Hehehe. Only if she knew the car was working perfectly. I just wanted a valid reason to be around her closely for a while.
I had thought out other possible situations like someone else joining us. Or I didn't get to sit beside her. Luckily, everything had fallen in place. Just the two of us.
And at that time, 'Everyday People' by Arrested Development came on in the radio. I noticed her fingers tapping the steering in tune with the music even though she was not singing along. Sign of a music lover...

We began talking music. From music of the 90s to the 80s and 70s. And before we could talk some Frank Sinatra and Gladys Knight, we were at the busstop I was to come down.
Then suddenly, I found myself in a dilemma. How do I ask for her number? What was I taking it for? In an official circumstance or an attempt to get familiar. I disliked the later. Besides, what would I be calling her for? I can always thank her properly for the ride in the office tomorrow. So I gave up the thought.
I thanked her and alighted.


A plan well executed.


 As time went by, Williams and I became very good friends. He heads customer service. Through him I heard different stories and things that had happened before I joined the company.
One was of two people who had fallen in love with each other and connived to defraud the company. They hid and manipulated figures. Their plans was working well for them because the lady was an Admin staff and the guy was in Accounts. The guy had promised to marry the lady so she was fully co-operating with him until they were nabbed.

I wondered what might happen if I ever had anything to do with Ada. Would they find out? What could possibly happen? I shook the thoughts off.
I never mentioned Ada to Williams though. I could never do such. No matter the friendship, it remained office based. Sometimes, we sit somewhere around having drinks till the traffic frees up a bit before leaving.
Williams was married with two kids but would not let the youth corpers somewhere off Allen be. Those were his field. Maybe he naturally has a thing for Green khaki and white Tees, NYSC uniform.
We bonded in a very remarkable way. Despite the regular stuff men talk about, I don't act too familiar. We had a thing in common, we both like good asss. Huge batty, curvy hips, full bossoms and that feminine reception.
It was easy to know when Williams is having bad times with his wife. He waits longer before going home. All the times in company of a girl, but funny enough, he doesn't lay most of them.
She had to be the real deal or he'd pass. He just wants the company he gets. Then go home and just sleep. Lol.
Married peeps can act funny sometimes.

One day, a customer came in. When he sat down I couldn't help but recognise a Timex. 'EXPEDITION' written on the leather, as always, for the quiet class.
He had been referred by another company who used to our client-company until they moved. I attended to him. Giving him the information he required. He asked one question too many. He wanted their members of staff trained on being efficient professionals.
That needed IT grooming, and training sessions on 'The Work Place'. Timing, meetings, scheduling and prioritizing, formal communication and mannerisms, team building and all other items in a complete overhaul of staff attitude.
After his enquiries, I asked
"Your timepiece is nice. A Timex?"
"Expedition" he replied
And before I could say anything else, he began to tell me all about it. A sign.
Those who wear the less known but better brands only need you to spot their quality and they engage you.
After the little chat, he left. Only after taking a phone number.

He would call again the next day and refused anybody else attend to him. When I returned from using the Convenience, he called back minutes later. Eventually, he got the company and it turned out to be a big business for Diloft. Somehow, my name kept coming up everytime the file was being reviewed.
I was supposed to be customer service but the man always wanted me to do what the marketing section should do.
Whatever the client wants. I began to handle the profile. A marketer is normally attached to a profile, but Mr Nelson Oteh wouldn't hear none of that. A nice man he truly was. So I bridge between the marketer and the client. When he wasn't satisfied with the marketing, he would call me.

When the team of facilitators would visit the company, he requested that I come along. I went along.
Eventually, the staff at his company was trained after being accessed. In fact, they had to relieve some of the members. A new management had taken Becker Industries Ltd.

Unknown, even to my MD is that he and the MD of Becker Industries Ltd went to same secondary school at Kings College in the 60s to early 70s.
They would later meet and learn of this. When he returned to the office, he sent for me. The MD rarely sent for anyone except you were in trouble. So when people heard the MD sent for me, everyone had un-asked questions about the black sheep.
Well, I ran my mind through, what my possible offence might be. I started preparing a defence to counter my late coming.
Thing is, the club I loved to go most always did some all night on Wednesdays so Thursdays was a sure day of late coming for the black sheep. And yes, sometimes I overspend my lunch hour.

Funny how stuff works, when I went to his office, he didn't talk much about the office
"How are you Stag"
"I'm fine Sir"
"How do find working here?"
Not wanting to fall into same type of conversation I had with Ada, I said
"Its been a very pleasant experience sir"
"I'm told you introduced us to Becker Industries..."
Oops! I was lost at this point because the man actually walked in by himself.
"No sir, it only happened that I first attended to him"
"Oh well, but Akin talks highly of you"
Lost again.
"I'm not very sure I know which Mr Akin you mean"
"The owner of that company..."
And like a bolt of thunder, a surge of excitement rushed through him and began a long monologue of how they attended same school and told me of some of their experiences.
Do old men still reminisce this enthusiastically about the junior days in school? Wow!
He had his secretary bring me a pack of juice while I just sat and laughed at his gist. Many times, I had to force the laughs when he made failed attempts at jokes.

By the time the day ended, the whole office had known I was chatting friendly with the boss over a glass of fruit drink. Thanks to the secretary.

It was 20 minutes past 5 when I headed out of the office. As I stepped out of the building I heard someone call me
"Stag!"
The voice registered. And yes! I know that voice...

It was Ada.