ShortStory I Grace To Grass

GRACE TO GRASS

      “Hello…” Lilian exclaimed as she took her phone call.

        It was an unknown number.

      “Good morning, dear.” an unfamiliar masculine voice greeted immediately.

      “Good morning, sir…” she responded. “Please, who’s this?”

        It was about some minutes past ten O’clock on October 8, 2008.

      “Please, is this Okoro Lilian?” the unknown voice enquired amidst the suspense.

      “Yes,” she replied in a very low tone. “Please, who is this?” She reiterated anxiously.

      “Eh-eh-m,” the caller stammered. “Okay, this is Mister Martins Adewale.”

        The name was relatively unknown to her.

      “The Human Resources Manager of Arise Group of Companies, Abuja.” He clarified.

      “Oh,” Lilian exclaimed. “Good morning, sir.” She exclaimed excitedly and apprehensively.

        Arise Group of Companies Limited was one of the notable firms in Nigeria whose headquarters was situated in the country’s capital territory, Abuja. It majored mainly in production of foods such as garri, baking flour, condiments, wheat and corn flour. Lilian successfully passed through both the oral and written job interviews of the company few days back alongside other several applicants.

        The 29-year-old lady was a graduate of Marketing from the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. She graduated five years back, precisely 2003, after which she participated in the Nigeria’s compulsory one-year National Youth Service programme.

        Mr. Martins who happened to be the leader of the 5-man interview crew set up by the company got her phone number from the Curriculum Vitae (CV) she tendered to the manufacturing firm.

       “Morning, my dear,” he replied. “Where do you reside?” He added in a jiffy.

       “Kubwa sir.” She answered.

         The aforementioned locality, which was one of the major suburban districts in Abuja, was slightly near to the location of the company.

       “Okay, you are a resident of Abuja?”

       “Yes sir.”

     “Can you make it to our office first thing tomorrow morning?”

       Of course, that was one of the most vital questions she longed to hear considering how long she had spent in the labour market.

      “Like what time, sir?”

      “By 9am.”

      “Yes sir,” she gladly concurred. “I can.”

      “Okay, till then,” he said. “Ask of me when you come.”

      “Okay sir.” quoth Lilian, smiling.

        He cut the call instantly.

        The following day being October 9, 2008, Lilian who couldn’t wait to embrace the appointment arrived at the company as scheduled at exactly 8:31am far earlier to the agreed time. When she got to the place, she was told that the HRM, Mr. Martins was yet to be on seat, so she had to wait till about some minutes past nine when he eventually arrived.

       “Good morning, sir.” Lilian greeted elatedly, head bent as she walked into Mr. Martins’ office having closed the door behind her.

        Lilian clad in black suit coupled with black plain trousers, black plain shoes and a white shirt recollected the face she was seeing having come across Martins on a few occasions.

       “Hello pretty,” Martins seated on his office chair in his white suit exclaimed cheerily. “How long have you been here?”

       “Almost an hour, sir.” she said, stood still.

       “Please sit down.” He urged.

       “Thank you, sir.” quoth Lilian, majestically sat on one of the chairs positioned opposite the host.

       “You are welcome.”

        There was a few seconds silence.

       “Actually…, I invited you for a crucial interaction,” he said. “That would be helpful to you.”

       “Okay sir.” She tendered, nodding as she smiled heavily.

         Her arms, which held each other, were placed on the table.

       “You see,” he rode on. “I like helping young girls like you.”

       “Thank you, sir.” She appreciated, lowering her head which was beautified with gorgeously plaited black hairs.

      “Especially pretty ones like you.” He added.

        She smiled.

        Lilian who was naturally endowed, was obviously a dark pretty damsel that any man would wished to behold. She was plump and average in height. Mr. Martins who was in his early fifties picked interest in her during the interview exercise.

      “Before I proceed,” he said. “I would like to ask you a question.”

      “What is it, sir?”

      “Do you truly want to get this job?”

       Lilian, amazed. “Sir,” she said. “This is what I have been looking for, for over four years now.”

      “Meaning,” said the HRM. “You can’t wait to have the job, right?”

      “Yes sir.” She replied passionately.

         He smiled. “So,” he said. “Are you willing to do what is expected of you?” He finally hinted.

       “Like what, sir?”

       “It’s a pity you are not familiar with the tradition.”

        The unsuspecting applicant remained curious.

         Since the interview segment Mr. Martins picked interest in her, he had been preoccupied with series of fantasies regarding his foreseen emotional relationship with her. Mr. Martins was a randy man to the core in spite of the fact that he was happily married with four children. He was very good in playing games to assert the least.

       “Meet me at New Haven Hotel tomorrow by 10 am,” Martins urged. “By then, the picture would be clearer to you.”

       “Hotel…?” Lilian shouted naively, deeply surprised.

       “Stop acting like a kid,” Martins enjoined. “This is what your mates do to get what they want.”

         To be continued, please.

FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

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