Chapter 3: Company Wahala and Last Words

Tunde Adekunle send me message.

Red exclamation marks full the chat, but the message still show for the white bubble.

Looks like Tunde Adekunle finally remove me from blacklist.

I laugh myself.

E funny say na now he dey find me, when nothing dey pain me again. Na so life be.

He tell me make I come him office tomorrow, Monday. Him lawyer go prepare divorce agreement, after we agree, we go sign, then wait for cooling-off period.

[Okay.]

No more long talk, no drama. I just reply, keep my peace.

On Monday, I reach Tunde Adekunle company as we plan.

The company building big, everywhere neat. Security greet me as I waka enter, but nobody remember my face again.

Because I no get appointment, the receptionist call to check.

"Yes, lady wey her surname na Kemi."

After the call, she tell me make I go up to the MD office floor; secretary go meet me.

I thank her, go up straight.

My mind dey wander as I climb stairs. I remember when I be madam for this place—everybody dey greet me, dey fear small. Today, na like visitor I be.

Young woman wey I no know welcome me. Since I never see Tunde Adekunle for half a year, she go be new staff.

"Miss Kemi, abeg wait here. MD dey meeting."

She no know me. She call me Miss Kemi, lead me enter reception room. Her perfume dey strong, her nails long, pink. She no even look me twice. Time don change.

Before, anytime I come, I dey go straight to Tunde Adekunle office to wait. Him meetings dey last reach one hour. I hate to dey wait for people. Tunde Adekunle sabi that one, so he dey keep books and movies for office for me.

"You fit read or watch film. If you tire, lounge dey—rest there."

Na so he dey remind me.

The last time I come, all my things for his office don change. The person wey fit enter his private lounge no be me again.

Now, if I wan see am, na to wait for common reception room.

Before, my handbag get spare key to the office. Now, even the doorman look me like stranger.

But I no get energy to argue small things. I just sit down, wait. Time dey plenty.

I open my phone, dey play Candy Crush. I tell myself say, "Kemi, you go survive this one."

But I no expect to wait two hours—still, nobody call me to see Tunde Adekunle.

The AC dey cold, I rub my arms. I don dey vex, but I hold myself.

"Excuse me, MD meeting don finish?"

I finally go ask the young woman wey bring me.

She start to stammer, "MD still dey meeting..."

I frown, wan talk, na him I hear laughter and talk for corridor.

"Make we go chop for that restaurant."

"Okay!"

Those two voices, I sabi am well. I just hear them for phone last night.

Na so Lagos big, yet our stories always cross. Fate dey play ludo with us.

I see Morayo with folder, dey follow Tunde Adekunle. The girl dey lively, full of energy.

Her wig fine, her nails match her bag. Even the security dey look her as she pass—she get that small-girl-big-God energy. Even cleaner wey dey mop corridor, greet her with small bow. Everybody sabi say na new madam be this.

Tunde Adekunle walk beside her, dey listen to wetin she dey talk. Anything she talk dey make am smile.

His face be like person wey don forget old wahala. The Tunde I know no dey laugh anyhow, but for Morayo, he dey soft.

"Hey..."

The young woman see as I dey go straight to Tunde Adekunle, she no fit stop me.

Her mouth open, but she just shift for wall—nobody wan collect boss wahala.

"Tunde Adekunle."

As I call am, both of them turn look me at once.

I see the surprise and shock for Tunde Adekunle face.

E be like say breeze blow powder commot for him face. Morayo eye wide, her grip for folder tight.

I ask am if him meeting don finish. If yes, make we do our own business.

"I reach here ten o’clock, I don dey wait you for two hours."

"Who tell you say I dey meeting?" Tunde Adekunle frown, reply me.

E pain am, small pride show for him face. I know am too well—this kind thing dey scatter him mood.

I shock, look am. The confusion for him eyes no be fake.

We both realize am at the same time.

My eye just catch Morayo—her face dey twist like person wey chop bitterleaf.

I no talk again. Tunde Adekunle look the whole office serious. Everybody lower head. The young woman wey bring me shrink, look down. But before she look down, she throw quick eye for Morayo.

Office wahala dey everywhere. All those junior staff don sabi their new queen—Morayo.

Of course. For this office, who else fit do this kind thing? Na only Morayo.

She dey form small innocence, but her hand dey everywhere.

"I forget tell everybody say meeting cancel. I no do am on purpose. Sorry, MD."

Morayo purse her lips, act innocent for Tunde Adekunle. As usual, he just let am be.

E pain me, but I hold myself. This one no reach my blood pressure.

"Come in."

He look me, no want make wahala.

His voice low, just like old times when he dey beg me not to shout for public.

As I pass Morayo, I see the pride and challenge for her eyes.

She look me up and down—small smirk. I just carry my bag, waka like person wey no get time.