Chapter 4: Insult Plus Policy

This director own too much, e mind tight pass needle eye.

I dey wonder whether na only me e dey target, or na all the old staff e wan scatter. Even my guy, Tunde, for IT, dey message me: "Omo, this man no get joy o."

Just because I question am for meeting, na enough to pursue me?

Even if you wan show say you dey in charge, at least give person reason. For Yoruba side, dem go say, "Ko gba mi lole, ko fun mi ni 'why'."

I talk with respect, “Director Musa, I no dey try argue with you. I just feel say six months too short.”

I try make my voice calm, even dey use small pidgin so e go know say I dey humble. E just dey look window, like say my words na mosquito.

Musa Bello just bone face.

E neck stiff, no smile, no blink. You fit hear pin drop for the office.

“I check your CV. Na second-tier university you go. For person with your background, I no surprise say you dey talk like amateur.”

That talk weak me. For my house, if dem hear this kind thing, dem go say, "E no reach to fight, but e reach to vex."

My mouth wan tear.

I wan give am reply, but I swallow my spit. For this company, na who get power dey talk last.

Wetin concern second-tier university? Na second-tier person thief your food?

Which kain rubbish be this? If na village, elders for don call family meeting.

All these years, wetin I do for company no less than people wey go big school.

I get my own small award, even lead project for Ghana side. All na under Zennex name. Still, na me dem dey talk down on.

I don dey do autonomous driving for ten years, just dey hope say my work go see light one day.

I dey remember those nights wey rain dey fall, me and team dey debug till 3am, generator dey hum for compound. Nobody dey see that one.

Now opportunity show, na im dem carry me throway.

People go dey talk, "Na when your soup don sweet, dem dey use am wash plate."

How I go fit take am?

If na home, mama go say, "No let person pour sand for your garri." But here, e be like say dem don pour full bag.

I try beg small.

Even as pride dey bite me, I humble myself. If na old Zennex, dem for at least listen small.

“Director Musa, I don dey here for ten years. Even if I never do anything big, I dey try. If you just remove me like that, people go begin dey talk.”

I dey appeal to small sense of fairness. For Naija office, sometimes, na small talk dey change mind.

He hiss. “No be say I promote you? If not, you think say you for still dey Zennex?”

As he hiss, e be like snake hissing for bush. The thing cut me deep. I feel say, even if na goat, dem no go treat am like this.

My anger just dey rise.

My face dey hot, e be like say I chop pepper. I dey grip my folder, dey find small self-control.

Wetin be 'person like me'? I kill person? I burn your house?

If na street, dem for say, "You dey find my trouble." But I hold myself, no be fight ground.

I just try hold myself. “Anyway, I no accept this transfer.”

My voice low, but my heart dey race. If na my papa, e go say, "Stand your ground, even if breeze dey blow you."

Musa Bello no send me, he pick phone.

E dial without look my side. The level of disregard loud.

“Zainab, come my office. Now.”

E voice cold like water for Harmattan.

Five minutes later, HR show with document.

Zainab, na one sharp lady, always dey wear Ankara and sneakers. This time, her Ankara bright like Sunday market, sneakers white pass chalk. Her face dey strong, she no smile.

“Here’s your job transfer confirmation. Abeg sign here.”

She stretch the paper, biro attached with red string. Na that kind document wey you sign, your wahala just start.