GRACE TO GRASS
(II)
At this point, she needed not a prophet
to interpret the circumstance to her. She couldn’t believe herself. When she
was invited over the previous day, she was totally of the view that she was
coming to pick her employment letter unknowingly to her that the reverse was
the case.
Lilian was an ardent practising
Christian – owing to her family background – who couldn’t imagine betraying the
faith she had nurtured since childhood let alone doing so with a man who was
old enough to be her father.
“Sir,
are you actually asking me to have an affair with you?” She verified.
“The
handwriting is bold and clear,” he hinted. “Or, isn’t it?”
“I
am sorry sir,” she said. “I can’t.”
“Stop being naive, young lady…” He ranted.
Mr. Martins Adewale was an egoistic
man who believed he could get anything he wanted on a platter of gold.
“I’ve
painstakingly gone through your CV,” he continued, frowning. “You have been in
the labour market for four years now.” he observed, looking into her eyes
seriously. “And, I am sure you wouldn’t wish to continue with the unending job
hunt.” He thought aloud, paused.
Immediately, he appeared to the lady not
unlike a monster. The scene occurred to her like a daydream.
“Besides,
do you think you are the only lady among the teeming applicants?” he proceeded.
“I chose you because I care so much about you.”
There was absolute tranquillity.
“I am sorry sir,” Lilian tendered. “I
can’t.” She bluntly disclosed, stood up.
“Are you sure about this?” he enquired,
shocked as he remained in his seat.
He
was apparently yet to encounter such manner of rigidity since he commenced his
promiscuous lifestyle.
Lilian was speechless while standing.
She felt like pouring him acid.
“Well,
I will give you some time to think about it.” He added.
“There is nothing to think about.” She
ranted, hurriedly took her handbag which was kept on the table and walked
towards the office entrance.
“Nonsense,”
Martins lamented. “Go and remain in the street; I think that’s where you
belong.”
She hastily stopped on hearing the abuse,
angrily turned her head to where he was seated, sighed at him and dashed out.
“Non…sense!”
he reiterated disappointedly, stood up. “Look at someone I wanted to help.” He
thought aloud.
* * * * * *
“Hello,” Mr. Martins said as he answered his
phone, which had already rang twice, right in his office. “Who’s this?”
“Sir,
it’s me.”
It was an unknown feminine voice.
“Who,
please?”
“Lilian,”
the voice answered. “Okoro Lilian.”
Probably,
he didn’t save her number on his phonebook.
That
was the least of the names Mr. Martins expected to hear. It was in the morning
on 16th October 2008, exactly one week the caller furiously left his
office.
Lilian thought it wise to resort to his
demand after she got a misleading advice from one of her closest friends, Kemi
who was also a job hunter. Having shared the ordeal with her (Kemi), Kemi told
her that that was the kind of opportunity she had be awaiting, stating she
wished she was in her (Lilian’s) shoes; hence, warned her not to forfeit the
offer.
Unfortunately, she never discussed the issue
with her mum contrary to her usual attitude. Thus, she decided to keep her
parents in the dark.
“So,
what can I do for you?” Martins queried.
“Please sir,” Lilian submitted. “Can I come
and see you in the office tomorrow?”
“For what?”
“I will explain when I come, sir.”
“Young lady, tell me what you are coming
to my office to do.” he urged. “The last time you were here, I was like a
monster to you.”
There
was silence.
“Would you speak?” he reiterated. “Or, should
I cut this call?”
“No sir,” she feverishly replied, gushed out
tears. “I have accepted.” She eventually
hinted in a low tone.
“Accepted what…?” He enquired in false
pretence.
“The offer, sir.”
“Which
offer?” Mr. Martins loudly asked, laughed falsely. “You amuse me; do you think
we are selling crayfish here?” He added.
“Please sir.”
“I
am sorry,” he said. “Someone who is more serious has taken the space.”
“Plea…se
sir,” she pleaded. “I am very sorry for all the pains I caused you.”
He smiled; the plea was so fascinating to him.
He was wondering if such statement was coming from a woman who acted exactly
like a saint few days ago in his office.
“So,
what do you want me to do now?” he said. “Manufacture a space for you?”
“Sir,
I know you can do something.” she thought aloud. “Please, I am on my knees.”
“Okay,” he said. “Meet me at same venue at
ten O’clock tomorrow morning.”
“Remind me the name, sir.”
“New Haven Hotel,” he responded. “Room 235.”
“Okay sir,” she concurred. “I will be there
by ten.”
“Good
luck then.” Martins dished out, quickly cut the call even though he wasn’t the
caller.
Afterwards,
in two days’ time, Lilian became a staff of the Marketing Department of Arise
Group of Companies Limited. Interestingly, she was issued an official car with
a driver on commencement based on the ethics of the reputable firm.
Intriguingly,
Miss Lilian’s romantic affair with Mr. Martins continued to the extent that the
silly game was being played even in their respective offices.
Initially, it remained secret not
until one fateful afternoon when they were caught in the act right in Martins’
office. The company’s management couldn’t believe it. Martins’ promiscuous
behaviour was undoubtedly hidden to them prior to the emergence of the
unthinkable incident.
Consequently,
both of them were outrightly dismissed from the firm. The unforeseen moment of
grace to grass came at about four months after Lilian secured the employment,
February 2009 specifically.
Comrade
FDN Nwaozor
Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH)
- Owerri
___________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador
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