Resurgence

24. Maze End

“A hero is an ordinary individual, who finds the strength to persevere and endure, in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve.

•••

“Are you sure you really want to do this, Miss Olaere?”

The scrutinizing, yet concerned glare of Mrs. Flora Adeyemi rummaged her upright, static frame before her desk once again. It was Friday already, four days since Monday that she had made the decision to quit and resign from her job at Graffity for Tari’s plight. She hadn’t discussed the plan with anyone else asides Fisayo, and Dare who had surprisingly voiced no form of protests much to Fisayo’s dismay. Her best friend had leaned on the prospect of her husband being a last resort in knocking reasoning and sense back into her, but Dare had been nothing more than passive and agreeing. He was the elder brother, but he hardly exercised any measure of seniority of any form over her all throughout their sojourn in life.

She was happy to get that over with.

She hadn’t quite broken the news to her dad and mom yet, though because she knew how they’d react. Bewildered and greatly disapproving, and they wouldn’t back down in expressing their distaste on the subject matter—amidst firing orders that she didn’t take a step to finalize said plan. That was why she wasn’t going to tell them until she had gone and done it.

She was a full grown woman in her late twenties, and she didn’t need the permission of her parents, who were largely uninvolved in the proceedings of her life. Her father was more than occupied in nurturing and showering his new family with love and care, and her mother on the other hand—was too engrossed in running her international trade venture, like the business magnate she was. It was the major reason they’re marriage had been turbulent and had eventually crapped out. Her father wanted a more conventional, domestic wife—while her mom’s thirst was roused by career instincts and needs.

Which was why they’d be highly disappointed.  Her mom, because she cherished the glory of the career world and Lani was willing to throw it all away—just to stand by and provide support for the man she loved dearly, who was going through a hot furnace of recompense for her sin. To the woman, nothing should be prioritized or esteemed higher than one’s career prospects, not even family and love. It was why she made little to no effort to contact them, when several constraints restricted them from reaching out to her.

Her dad, on the other hand would only be mad at the thought of her being jobless—because he loathed a reckless life built on the grounds of freewill, and spontaneous chain of events. But he lost her esteem for his opinion on how she lived her life, when he abandoned them for another family. They hadn’t been perfect, and her mom had especially been a piece of work—but she felt that he hadn’t tried hard enough in his bid to keep them intact and together. He had taken the escape route and left them to deal with a whirlwind that he and mom had initiated.

“I’m very sure that I want to do this, Ma.” Lani nodded, with clasped hands as she remained upright—meeting the challenging gaze of her boss. “I’ve thought about it several times and I’ve weighed the consequences also. This is my decision. I’m leaving Graffity.”

Flora looked more distraught than Lani would have anticipated. Sure, they had the ideal working relationship, but that factored pretty much extended to every other executive in the firm. But Lani had been always been addressed with something hearkening to a preferential treatment because she was female. Flora built the foundation of the working relationship of her workers with qualities affiliated with trust and accord, paying little heed to hierarchical rudiments.

“You know that once you do this, there is no coming back.” Flora stood, meeting her unwavering gaze. The woman was a few inches taller, and had a less voluptuous shape, but still managed to look more imposing and audacious in her cream shift gown and black short braids plaited in a corn row fashion. They had virtually the same complexion, but Flora’s skin looked more refined and pristine owing to her much sophisticated lifestyle.