Something New💖

CHAPTER 3- AYO

Dear God
Your girl is grateful
***

30 minutes!!! 30 minutes!!! In my line of work, 30 minutes is golden and worth a lot. I sipped from my red paper cup. I have been sitting for more than 30minutes, and of course, Jada still believes her Assistant would be here for one, I know I have been too lenient with the workers, it's 11:34am already and he's not here yet. I stood up, looking through the glass separating me from the conference room -- it's where all meetings are carried out. There are people on the other side and they all look uncomfortable, well that's expected. They also look kind of furious, but furious at who? That shouldn't and can't even be me because I sign their pay cheques and I sure didn't employ the late one.
I had left my hotel wearing a black hoodie, sweat pants and a fucking Crocs slips, I just fucked the 'never to be caught unfresh' rule.

"Please, Ayo. 5 more minutes. If she's not here then, I will call in someone else." Jada interrupted my thoughts.

"I'm waiting for a She?" I snickered.

"Yeah, Saima. She works for me from here and I gave her the assignment last month. I'm sure she's prepared."

"She indeed is very prepared. I countered and checked my millions worth Rolex wrist watch, 11:43am. I leave here by 12, nothing more. How the fuck do I get to wait for my own staff?"

"Ma binu, Ayo." (Please).

"Why am I waiting for my own staff?"

Jada glanced at me,I see laughter in her eyes. Now I'm a joke, at least she's allowed to do that. She's my friend, a very good friend actually and mother of my son. One of my sons, I should add. Don't judge me. She's a good person, most times, when she's not crazy.

"Ayo, calm down joor. Nobody knows you are even here."

The door to the conference room opened, pushed open rather harshly which drew my attention. Miss what's-her-name should be the one, I prayed. Tick tock... but nobody came in. Someone sure is by the door, struggling to keep the door open. I noticed Jada quietly slip out behind me.

"Somebody help her hold the damn door!!" Alex Martins, my Creative Director's voice boomed. That man has never spoken in a calm tone. Ever.
Then, I heard her voice.

"Sorry I'm late. I.."

"No, You sorry, Saima! Do you know how long we have being waiting here?" Martins continued.

That's a lie though. He hasn't been waiting long, he came in like 10 minutes ago.

"Please, I beg of you,Martins. Let's just start." Another person sitting added. Oh, I don't know that one, she looks new, how come? I'm basically aware of people that sit in this room.

The Siiima girl was already seated fumbling with her hand bag and laptop bag (Women). Nobody said a word. Her head was still bent to her laptop, typing in her password, I guess. Her little Hijab or head wrap or whatever kept falling off. She was caught between typing on her laptop and putting, more like flipping the head wrap in place. Still behind the glass, I haven't had a glimpse of her face.

Jada cleared her throat which drew her attention and raised a brow looking at the late one.

"Saima, the presentation. We are already far behind time."

"Presentation??" The voice sounded unsure.

Manuel, my other manager snickered. Martins? That ones eyes almost popped out of his head. How come Jada is still smiling?

"Saima, the song, Overdose, needs a video and I told you to give me ideas. What. The. Fuck. Happened?" Jada asked. Now, she's frustrated. That's the Jada I was hoping for.

"Ohh!!! I.. I.. I swear Jada.."

"You didn't forget, did you?"

"Jada, I see this meeting is pointless," Manuel smirked, looking directing at the glass he knew I was there. Igbo wizard.

"Let her talk," Chioma spoke up. Ohh, she was in the Room? She and Martins can't stand each other.

"Are you crying?" Chioma asked the Siiima girl.

She sniffed. "Me? Oh, no! I'm not!"

I bet she was. Interesting! What the fuck is going on in my label?
She stood and walked directly to the podium which is directly opposite the tinted glass, her heels clicking quietly and then I saw her huge eyes, captivating! Looking unsure of where to start? Give me a fucking break! She's not prepared?

"Go on," Chioma urged.

She started talking, her voice calm. Too calm, and intelligent. Yes, she fumbled here and there. She even misspelt Sprint's Label's name, the guy I was featuring, in her PowerPoint presentation. Every ten seconds, she stops to flip her veil backward. Of course, I was counting.
She was on maroon from head to toe, covered. Well covered. I swear, if not her face and hand, I would never know she's dark skinned. That's how covered she was. Her Palazzo pant suit? Impeccable!!! And a turtle necked body hug top.

E be lyk say heat no dey catch diz one. This is Lagos, for heaven's sake. (It seem she's not feeling the heat). Did I forget to add that she had a jacket on? Maroon too. Her face was devoid of any makeup, at least from were I'm standing. She kept using her hand to demonstrate.

"Give those hands a break," I whispered.

As I took a sip of my wine, she did the last 10 second veil flip which oddly, I like. I smirked. She's a good person, I guess. Probably married, cause with this cover up. She definitely should be married. I mean, come onnn, I know people who work here. Professionals, yeah. But, sometimes... We know wetin we know (we know, what we know).

"Impressive! Which brings us to the type of girls we are gonna use,"

Chioma said, tilting her head to the side.

The Siiima girl raised a brow.

"Slim? Fat? Curvy? You know?" Manuel helped

"What do you say, Saima?"

"Ehmmmm. Ehmmm.
Now, there's the fumbling again.
"Let's use Foreign blonde, thick maybe? Or we could mix it with Nigerians, thick, curvy ones will do."

Speaking of thick, she herself is thick from what I can say? She definitely ain't slim. I dropped the red paper cup and pulled out my cigar and took a drag.

"That it, good job." They all stood, she only nodded, forcing a smile. We will look through it and get back to you."

Manuel tipped his head as a form of greeting to the glass, me of course. I blew my smoke and threw up my middle finger at him. Two can play the game.

I watched as she waited for everyone to leave the room, Jada being the last after patting her back. I didn't stop watching, couldn't stop watching. Maybe I didn't try but.. Fuck!

She walked directly to stand in front of the glass, oblivious to the fact that I was behind it and watching her and pulled off her veil. I swear, I like what I see. My breath caught when she loosened her hair.

******
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