DREAM WAKE --- {COMPLETED} ☑️

FRIEND. . . OR FOE

Chapter 15

EYARE

Five files stared at me from my desk.

Why on earth did I have a partner then, if he couldn't attend to clients?

Of what use was he, if I needed to attend to everything?

I stared irritatingly at my itinerary.

I had five clients I needed to see today at 1pm, 3pm and the last two were at the same time -- at 5pm.

All these clients today?

I was only a human being, not a machine, for crying out loud. I braved a look at the time. It was already 11am.

The intercom on my desk buzzed. I pressed the button.

"Yes, Cecilia?" I barked.

"Good day sir. I left some files on your desk for you to look at. Can I come see you so I can brief you on them?"

My secretary was exceedingly efficient, and had saved me many a contract, but this time, I wasn't in the mood for her efficiency. I just needed to be left alone. I grunted and removed my hand from the button.

It was just past eleven in the morning and I was already frustrated. A thought came to my mind at that point. I could easily forgo everything here, tell my partner to buy up the company and just move with my family to my country home.

I knew my father had amassed a lot of solid investments. Mother was doing a fantastic job of keeping them afloat and making sure everything was in great order.

Was it so wrong to want to pave a way for yourself though, I thought bleakly.

A knock sounded at my office door, cutting off my reverie.

I barked out a curt 'come in', and Cecilia walked in.

I frowned upon sighting her.

Not giving her a chance to speak, I splayed my palms on the table and asked her. "Where is Mr. Jolaoso?"

"He went out for a couple of meetings." she replied unflinchingly.

"I see!" I replied, unsatisfied. I really didn't see anything. Maybe she didn't know this, but I had been under serious pressure, what with my baby just recuperating from leukemia. Thank God she was doing much better now.

Before I could get another word in, she brought out a gift that was all nicely wrapped up in a bow. She had been hiding it behind her back. I looked enquiringly at her when she handed it to me.

"I'm so very sorry to hear about your baby, sir. Please accept this gift for her. I do hope she's doing much better." She finished, smiling shyly at me.

I was touched. I took it from her and thanked her. She made me know that during the period of my absence, we suddenly had an influx of clients asking for my expertise.

I looked at her, aghast as to where they had all come from.

"Don't you remember sir? We advertised a month ago, before. . . " She faltered, not able to finish what she was about to say.

I nodded, because the period of my baby's ill health was a sad time for me and I really didn't want to keep being reminded of it.

"How has Mr. Jolaoso been handling it all?" I enquired, concern written all over my face.

"Sir, he has done a very good job. He has attended to 80% of the clients. I have set up a data base of all the interested clients. Those we have attended to and those we still need to attend to. The only reason you see those files on your desk is because they personally asked to meet with you." She finished, beaming like a mother hen that was proud of her chicks.

I suddenly felt remorseful at my previous thoughts towards Mr. Jolaoso. I would meet with him during the week so we could go through all the information and possibly do a follow up with the clients together.

I dismissed Cecilia and went through the files on my table. I went through the websites of the companies and other important information about them. An hour later, I was satisfied I had found out enough information about all the clients I needed to see today.

As an IT consultant, there was a constant need for companies to improve and make themselves more relevant, most especially online. There was a lot of market to garner as people were becoming more aware of harnessing the online market.Gathering my things, I headed out the door.

I finished with three clients and was left with just two. I couldn't very well see the two at the same time of 5pm, so I called one of the contacts on the files and asked if I could reschedule. I was told I could come during the week, so I decided to go see the last and final client.

I was ushered into a plush office and shook hands with the director. He seemed within the same age grade as myself. He had an amiable smile and a firm handshake. We sat down and exchanged a few pleasantries.

"So, Mr. Osazuwa," he started. "Are you by any chance related to the late Oba?"

My hands tightened on the arm of the chair where they were resting.

That damn question again!

I nodded tersely.

He smiled and said nothing, waiting for me to continue talking.

Get a grip man, this is a prospective client, you can't afford to mess this up.

I silently groaned, regarding the client in front of me.

Full circle again, I have come. If I lie, he would find out and I would be deemed untrustworthy and that is very bad for business.

So I nodded again, smiled and then proceeded to tell him how I had needed to carve a niche for myself, but how exceedingly difficult it was when my father's name and title preceded me.

I really didn't know what got into me, because once I did, I was like a tap that couldn't be turned off. Maybe it was the compassionate look in his eyes that did the trick, who knows.

I went on to tell him how when I finished school and tried to get a job, employers wanted me to do them favours by virtue of my name and status. I was treated preferentially because of whose son I was, not what talents I had.

In one of the company's I went to look for a job, the owner told me if I was able to get him a contract with my dad, he would make me the managing director of his company. Upset with the treatment I got from practically every company I went to, I decided to branch out on my own by starting my own company. I even told him how I had dabbled with changing my name but wasn't courageous enough to do so.

The man nodded sympathetically and said he was also in the same boat. "I'm Chief Edanre's son, so I know how it feels to want to come out from under your father's shadow."

"You mean the one and only Chief Edanre?" I asked, incredulously.

They were billionaires, paving the way in refineries in all parts of the country.

He nodded and laughed a little.

We joked around after that and struck up an interestingly lively conversation thereafter. I found out we have a lot in common.

He invited me to a club that he attended every weekend. He said it was exclusively for his friends and would very much like me to come. He finished by saying it was an avenue for me to meet people and network for business purposes also.

We came to an agreement on the business and he said he wanted all his staff trained on IT and he would like me to do this. I was quite pleased. For once, it wouldn't be because of who my dad was, it would be because of my expertise alone. That really gladdened me.

I felt a certain affinity to Gboyega, a certain closeness, I knew a bond had been forged. A great relationship was in the offing and it wasn't just for business alone. I smiled as I got into the car.

Good news for a change.