When Love Lasts.

II

I sat across Fayza.
She called and asked to see me so I rushed over, she said it was something really important.

She walks in her office excitedly.
"Hey hey"
I tilt my head "What? What now?"

"What now? I have a great job opportunity for you and it's for a 6month period"
I smile "Really? Where?"

"It's a company. An investment and finance company"
I frown "Come on, you know my credentials aren't that impressive and I told you I won't work as a cleaner"

She shakes her head "No, they need a new chef"
I jump in excitement "Are you serious?"
"Yup. They need someone proficient and skilled for their cafeteria and you were the first person that popped up"

I felt like screaming in excitement "Okay, what about the pay? How much is it? Wait, which company is it?"

"Vanguard, it's the best of the best and who knows maybe you might get more job opportunities there, think about it—the caliber of people that will be eating your food and if they love it, they might keep you"

I was ecstatic.
"So? When do I start?"
"Tomorrow morning, like you're supposed to be there by 7am"

I nod "Not a second less"
"Fantastic".

::

Akbar's POV.

"Good morning, Sir" Ada says when she opens my car door.

I smile "Somehow you always know when I arrive. Don't tell me you always wait in the parking lot?"
She chuckles "No, Sir. You always arrive between 7:20 to 7:30"

"Never before or after?" I ask as I hand her my laptop bag.
"Yes, Sir"

We enter the elevator and head to the 5th floor where my office is located.
"Anyway, you have a meeting with Mr.Ayodeji by 8am. Regarding his assets"

I groan.
"Any other meetings?"
"You have one with the CEO and the COO"
"Did they mention what it's about?"

She shakes her head "No Sir, they just told me to inform you"
The elevator opens and we start walking towards my office.

I nod "And that meeting would be by what time?"
"By 9am Sir"
I turn and look at her "My meeting with Mr.Ayodeji should be at least two or three hours"

"They said it's important"
I huff "Then please call Mr.Ayodeji and reschedule to 1pm"

"But Sir, you have another meeting with the JP Morgan company"
I groan again.
I open my office door "Okay, is there any other important meeting I should know about?"

She nods "Just the one regarding Alhaji Sani's law suit against his nephews for his brother's inheritance"
I roll my eyes "What exactly is he fighting for?"

"Property Sir, apparently it's worth over 500million Naira"
"He's desperate, reschedule it for tomorrow afternoon and place Mr.Ayodeji instead"

She nods.
"But Sir, are you not taking coffee this morning?"

"I can just make it here" I say as I make my way to the tea closet. I open it and find variety of tea and coffee but none the kind I want.

"A new chef was hired and I heard people say her coffee is great"

I stare at her a bit hesitant but nod anyway.
"Fine"
If it's not good I can just not throw it out.

::

I enter the conference room and see Alhaji Hamed Nadabo and his daughter.
The father and daughter duo. He's the CEO and she's the COO.

They think that somehow makes them cool, different and also unstoppable but they're kidding themselves.

I sit by the table.
"You asked for me" I tell him.
He smiles "After 11years you're still so formal and reserved".

I smile "We are at work, I think that's just being professional".
Hanifa chuckles "I can see you're still a pain in the neck"

I nod "Anything for you"

Long story short, Hanifa and I had a fling, she got married, had three kids and recently got divorced so, she's coming back to work.

"Anyway, I called you two because you're my backbones and I need you to keep me and this company afloat" Alhaji Hamed starts "So, Wealthfront our competitors have found themselves in a bit of a pickle. You know investment and financial companies never run out of bad luck when it comes to being sued but unfortunately for Wealthfront it's with an international company"
"Which company?" Hanifa asks curiously.
"Uh—JP Morgan"

"Could that be why they asked for a meeting with me?"
He looks at me surprised and excited "Exactly. Now JP Morgan is the one company in African that is going head on with Dangote, of course not on the same level but having them as investors will boost this company's stocks"

Hanifa and I look at each other, she doesn't support it too.
"I don't think so" I say.
"Why not? It'll be good for the company"

"JP has already sank 3 investment companies and working with them—it's suicide. They get sued on a daily basis and then blame their investment companies to avoid being shut down. I know it will rake in billions but we can't end up like Wealthfront"

He smiles "That's why I have you two, to make sure we don't sink"
"I'm sorry to say but the moment we accept JP as investors we'll be making a hole in this ship and it's only a matter of time before we sink"

He huffs before turning to Hanifa who nods in response.
"Okay but we have to use this opportunity to put alot of distance between us and other investment companies, so no one dares compete with us"

"That we can do" Hanifa says proudly.
"Good".

::

"Let's get lunch, that meeting took too long" Hanifa suggests when we walk out of the conference room.

"I can't leave the office now" I say.
"Not out, that's why we have a cafeteria"

"You know I don't eat there"
"Why? Because it's not to your standard?"

I roll my eyes "Are you trying to guilt trip me into eating with you?"
She smiles "Please, you're the only person I get along with here"

I shake my head "I'm the only person you want to get along with"
She smiles "Maybe. Plus I got them to hire a new chef and my secretary told me she saw Ada getting coffee for you multiple times this morning"

I nod "Admittedly the coffee is nice and simple".

Eventually I went along with her.
On getting there some of the workers started leaving.

Hanifa glares at them "That's how they'll be too busy eating and chatting in the cafeteria they forget they work"

She gestured for the attendant to come over.
"Good morning Ma"
"Morning, I haven't had breakfast so please get me a sandwich and a bottle of juice"

She nods before turning to me "Just coffee, thanks".

She smiles "Hameeda isn't around to make your breakfast anymore?"
I nod "She had more important things to take care of"

"Ah"
I nod.
"So? Aren't you going to ask me about my divorce and how I've been?"

"I doubt it's my concern, it's your personal life, I don't think I should pry"
She pouts "It's not prying, you're just worried about an old friend"

"We were friends?"
She smiles "Nah, we were lovers"

I couldn't help but laugh "You could say that"
I see Ada running over.
"What is it?" I ask when she approaches me.

"Your next client will be here in an hour and we haven't sorted the contracts and documents"
I sigh "I completely forgot, okay let's go do that" I turn to Hanifa "Unfortunately I need to take my leave, enjoy your lunch"

I get up and start walking with Ada.
"I can't believe I forgot"
"That's why you have me Sir" she smiles.

As I was walking by I noticed a girl, she sat by a table alone. She looked tired and weak.
"Who's that?" I ask Ada.

"Oh, she's the new chef"
I nod and continue walking.

::