'I did something every stupid Iman. I have
been a very nasty person to you'
'What did you do?' Iman asked.
'I had sex with Ife on the first date' she said.
'That isn't a bad thing. I had a one night
stand with Obinna too but that doesn't mean
our friendship won't last. Ife is a boy, he hurt
you but you have to get back up on your feet'
Iman advised.
'I feel like smashing his head into a wall'
Narissa said.
'I feel you on that but it would end you in jail.
Just get over him, you need strength honey'
Iman pecked her.
'Thanks for always being there for me' Narissa
felt lighter after talking to her friend.
'Yes, that's what friends are for' she replied.
'So, on the brighter side, how is Obinna your
friend?' Narissa was curious about the young
man.
'Very fine. He isn't just a sales boy by the way.
He is a second class upper graduate of business
management, University of Nigeria' Iman
bragged.
'Are you kidding me? And I called him sales
boy!' Narissa's eyes widened in shock.
'He is going to work with my elder brother
Usman. I am so happy for him' Iman beamed.
'That's so sweet. You offered him the job?'
Narissa asked.
'No, he earned it' Iman answered. She had
decided to keep some things to herself.
'You're lying, you offered him the job' Narissa
didn't miss the way Iman avoided her eyes.
'It's not a bad thing. He may turn out to be Mr.
Perfect for you. We never can tell' Narissa
shrugged.
Since the encounter with Narissa, he seemed to
lose his peace. Whenever he watched a movie,
he saw her face; when he wanted to sleep, he
saw her face and now while pouring himself a
drink, her face was all he saw.
'Guilt' he murmured before swallowing his
drink.
'Guilt is all it is and nothing more' he poured
another glass.
A loud blast of a familiar horn almost burst his
ear drums and he went to check the gate; he
didn't remember inviting any one over. He
needed some alone time for himself.
'Ekene' he was surprised to see his friend.
'My guy, how are you?' Ekene stormed out of
his car. He had tried penetrating Narissa's
high walls but she had bruised his ego; he hated
it when his ego was scratched. He knew just how
to humble her.
'I am fine' Ife replied coolly and led them
inside.
'About that your girl Narissa, what do you say
we teach her a lesson?' Ekene rubbed his hand
nervously.
'What lesson?' Ife raised his brow.
'Let's leak that voice note of you two having
sex, it would humiliate her the more' Ekene
suggested.
'Seriously?' Ife's eyes darkened, what demon
had possessed his friend?
'Yes, I called her and she spoke rudely to me'
he blurted out without thinking.
'You called Narissa? Why would you call her?'
Ife raised an eyebrow.
'Sorry, I didn't call her' he lied.
There was silence for a while; Ife regarded his
friend steadily, it all made sense now.
'Do you think I am a fool Ekene?' His question
broke the silence that hung in the air.
'No, why would you ask that?' Ekene shrugged.
'Why do I have a feeling that you went behind
my back to ask my ex out? Did you do
something like that?' Ife dropped the glass he
held.
'Well, there's no point lying. I wanted to have
my share of her pink pussy too' he said.
'How foolish. You're a stupid person!' Ife was
infuriated. He felt more stupid for deciding to
bet with Ekene.
'Why are you calling me names? Are you aware
that I have the voice note that you sent to me?
I could easily leak it to the internet' Ekene
warned.
'But you wouldn't' Ife rose to his feet.
'I picked you from the gutter Ekene, made you
my friend and gave you a job of a lifetime in
my company. And you had the effrontery to
pick interest in the woman I once dated? Now,
you even threaten to leak the voice note I sent
you?'
'Of course. You know very well that if I leak
that voice note, your career and hers are over,
so you better speak to me with respect' Ekene
joined him on his feet.
'Really? You are my worst mistake but I don't
blame you Ekene, I was the bigger fool' Ife
shrugged.
'Good. I am happy you know you are a fool.
Now pour me a drink' Ekene ordered.
'No problem, as long as you don't leak the voice
note' Ife complied.
With Asa's help, he'd dressed up like a
corporate executive; he wore an old suit, the
dark color complimented his caramel
complexion; his hair was neatly combed, no
strand was out of place.
The brown of his eyes seemed brighter than
usual, his angular face reflected joy and his
lips wore a confident smile.
Obinna felt an inch taller, he was not a six
footer, an average man by height but at that
moment when he walked into "Lorex limited",
he felt like a king.
'All thanks to Iman' he muttered softly as he
was being led to his boss' office.
'Wait here, he's on a call' a young woman
offered him a seat close to the office.
'Thank you' Obinna nodded in appreciation.
This was like a dream, only that he was living
it.
'Come in' a deep voice growled, the sound of it
terrified him at first but he managed to
quickly pull himself together.
'Are you Iman's friend? You came in highly
recommended, have a seat son' the heavily
bearded man said to him.
'Good morning sir' Obinna bowed his head.
'Don't call me sir, I have a title. I have been to
the holy land seven times' the man scowled.
'Oh, I am sorry Alhaji' Obinna quickly corrected
himself.
'Good. So I hear you graduated with a second
class upper degree in business management,
Iman must really like you. She has never done
this for anyone before' he scanned the young
man suspiciously. He seemed like one with a
noble character but he needed to be sure.
'What would you do if you were trapped in a
burning house and there was just one thing for
you to rescue: your money bag or your
certificate?' The Alhaji stared intently into his
eyes, he needed to know if the young man was
fit for the position he was giving him.
Obinna could sense he was being interviewed, a
thoughtful question indeed. He knew the
outcome would determine if he was fit for the
job or not.
'I am waiting...' the man drummed his chubby
fingers on the glass table.
'I would leave with nothing' Obinna simply
replied.
'Why is that?' The man was startled by his
answer.
'Because fire burns faster than anything;
flames travel as fast as the speed of light. This
fire that burns my house will consume me if I
try to find my money bag or my certificate' he
answered.
'So you'll let everything go, just like that? Tell
me Mr Obinna, do you give up that easily in
life?'
'No. I don't give up, I am a go getter but this
fact holds true for me at all time...' He paused.
'What fact?' The man raised his brows.
'Some things aren't worth fighting for. I know
how important money can be and how
important one's certificate is, but life is the
most precious thing anyone could ever have.
This also relates to business, what good is a
business man without his life? Once he dies, his
dreams and passions go with him' Obinna
answered.
'But what good is he without money?' The Alhaji
pressed on.
To Be Continued....
