Mrs Mahmud, Mrs Mas'ood

41

Bukola (CBN): Hauwa, hey! Are you free this weekend? Let's have dinner together in Tulip Bristo and get to know ourselves better. We haven't seen each other much at work and I really want to get to know you better.

Hauwa: Hi, Bukola. Sorry, I have plans this weekend with my fiancé. We'll get to know each other at work. Thanks for the offer.

Bukola (CBN): Na wa o. You and this your fiancé sha.

Fayad (CBN): Hauwa, I found your IG page. I just have to say you're really, really pretty. Is it okay if I ask for pictures from you? I won't mind looking at you from time in time in my gallery.

Hauwa: I'll really appreciate it if you don't ask this again. It's inappropriate and I don't want this to blow up. Please let me know if you need anything work related.

Fayad (CBN): You know you're worse than Lucy-Anne, right? All I wanted was just a pic or two, there was no need to be aggressive.

Fayad (CBN): Hauwa, did you block me on IG? What the fuck?!

Gabriel Chiwendu (CBN): Hauwa, it's Saturday again and like always, we're hanging out later as a department. Don't miss out on this one okay? You've missed 3 already and that's not fun. Don't be like Lucy-Anne. Loosen up a little.

Hauwa: Good morning, Gabriel. Like always, I have plans. Do have fun. See you on Monday.

~*~

Mahmud raised a brow as Hauwa stormed towards him. She puffed out a breath. "Good morning, Qalb."

An amused expression sat comfortably on his face. "Rough morning?"

"You have no idea. My male colleagues are a pain in my neck...Do you have a free week?"

"I have like four days off. Why?"

"Can you take me to work and pick me up? These people think I have an imaginary man in my life and I'm this close to murdering them." She puffed out another breath. "Is it too early to resign?"

His amused expression was gone, replaced with worry. "Have you spoken up about it?"

She nodded. "To the ones that have reached out, yes. To those who haven't tried anything, no. Nothing big has happened."

"Nothing big is supposed to happen, Hauwa. It's been three weeks already. It's supposed to get easier, not the complete opposite."

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "Well, the work has gotten somewhat easier. The people are just the hard part."

Mahmud exhaled slowly. "You have to speak out if it gets too much, Hubb. An office should be comfortable. It's making me want to follow you to give those men a piece of my mind."

That brought a smile to her face. "I feel so loved right now."

Mahmud tried not to smile. He really did try. "I'm done with you, Hauwa." He unlocked the car doors and pulled the passenger door open. "Shall we?"

She was more than happy to climb into the car. From the first day she saw the Tundra Capstone in its Wind Chill Pearl shade, she had been obsessed. She loved the sleek black interior with its pearl accents too. With a grin on her face, she turned back to Mahmud who was yet to close the door.