Chapter 4: Silence and Temptation

Na that kind silence wey fit make even generator humble. That moment, air just heavy.

Room cold, but my heart dey hot. I adjust my bag, dey look window. The silence get weight.

I look away.

I dey try hide blush. I no wan make Oga see say I dey feel somehow. For my mind, I dey sing church song, dey bind temptation.

For staff front, e always dress correct, no dey give wrong signal.

Na true. Oga dey always maintain face for office, no dey mix work with play. But today, e dey act one kind.

Abi... na Ifeoma wahala open new door for am?

I dey reason. Sometimes, new staff fit change old boss. Or maybe e dey try prove say e fit move on from past.

Him voice pull me back.

The way e call my name, I gree say e mean am. "Amara..."

"If na because of Ifeoma, I understand. If e dey pain you..."

Oga dey try check my mind. E dey talk with care, but I no dey fall for am.

"No be that one," I rush talk, "Ifeoma sharp—she go fit do the work."

I no wan make am think say I dey jealous. I dey protect my heart, dey protect my dignity.

E arrange him sleeve, stand, open another button.

E dey restless. I dey watch am, dey wonder wetin dey for him mind. Maybe e dey try send me message, maybe na just heat dey worry am.

Small glimpse of hard muscle show.

If to say na Nollywood, na here music go enter. I just turn face, dey fan myself.

Him broad chest just dey form, make me blush.

As I look, I remember say e still be man, no matter how strict. Na so temptation dey start o! I pinch myself small.

I use file fan my face, pretend say na heat dey worry me.

Sweat dey my brow. "Lagos heat no dey respect person," I whisper.

"This weather sef—yesterday cold, today hot."

I try change topic. I laugh small, but my heart still dey beat.

"My resignation no urgent. We go talk am later."

I balance, try maintain respect. I no wan give Oga chance to talk pass himself.

"Mr. Akin, abeg prepare to go."

I talk am like PA. I dey focus on work, hide my face inside file.

"I don tell driver, if you over drink tonight, make e carry you go Akin house straight."

I add warning, the way big sister go do. I fit see say Oga dey smile small, but e hide am.

E look me, voice cold, eye just dey shine like wolf.

For small second, e eye catch my own. I dey try look away, but e no let me.

"No wahala. If I over drink, Ifeoma fit take care of me."

Oga voice get weight. E dey test me. I gree say e wan see if I go react.

"She go follow me go my house—where I dey alone."

E pause, dey look me. My heart dey race. I no know wetin to talk.

"She fit even sleep over, if I want."

E voice calm, but I feel sharp pin for my chest. I just smile, dey act say I no hear am.

"After all, I big pass—now."

Oga close file, dey look window. I gather myself, pack my bag, waka commot. I waka out, heart heavy, dey pray make Lagos swallow my shame before night fall.