Chapter 5: New Hustle, New Enemy, New War

When I return go work for Okoye Group, I remember the comments.

As I dey sit for my office, na so those comments dey ring for my head. I dey wonder if dem get camera for my life.

When Lin Shola come back, dem go sack me from Okoye Group.

For my mind, I dey plan how to survive. I no dey trust anybody. Office palava na another wahala.

Sack? Na big deal?

For Naija, people dey lose job everyday. If dem sack me, I go find another. Life no end for one company.

To siddon dey wait for wahala no be my way.

I dey pack CV, dey update LinkedIn. For this Lagos, sharp girl dey always get plan B.

I message the headhunter wey reach out before.

Just one word: [Here.]

My fingers dey quick. As I send message, I cross leg, sip zobo. Confidence dey body.

The headhunter, e be like say him body don clear, na so message dey fly come:

[Manager Pei, I dey here!]

[Manager Pei, you get time now?]

He dey rush me, like say na me be the last bottle for party. E sweet me.

Then, na company profile and big salary just dey fill my WhatsApp:

[Manager Pei, I feel say compared to Okoye Group, Musa Group go fit you pass.]

I dey see big logo, big pay. My eye dey shine.

Musa Group—Okoye family enemy, na dem dey drag.

For my mind, I dey reason say if I cross over, na real war go start. But money na money, abeg.

Since I don offend the next Okoye heiress, to go Musa Group make sense.

I dey plan my move like chess master. Life na strategy.

The headhunter, no sure say chat go reach, send me direct invite:

[Manager Pei, you fit come 7 p.m. tonight?]

[If yes, make we meet for the café under Musa Group.]

[How e be?]

Café na that type wey dey Lekki, with correct AC and pastry. I dey ready.

I dodge traffic for Lekki, sun dey hot, but I still reach with my face powder intact.

After some minutes, I reply, calm:

[Okay.]

I drop phone, adjust wig. Time to upgrade.

No overtime today.

I lock system sharp, tell secretary, "Abeg, no disturb me."

When I reach the café, headhunter don wait.

E dey fidget with phone, dey look up, dey shine teeth. As I enter, e stand, rush greet me, call me "Madam" like say na me be owner of company.

As he see me, na so he greet me with joy.

"Welcome, Manager Pei! Abeg, sit. Wetin you go chop? I dey pay!" I smile, order Fanta, show say I no be small girl.

I sit down, we discuss.

He open file, dey talk salary, talk benefits. I dey nod, dey plan next move. Lagos people sabi hype.

As we dey talk, headhunter face change, e begin stammer:

His face just change as he dey press phone. "Ah, ah! Manager Pei, sorry o, e be like say I forget something for car. One second."

“Manager Pei, I just remember say I never lock my gate for house—I gats go!”

He stand, wipe sweat, dey move back like rat wey see broom. Me, I dey wonder wetin dey worry am.

Before I fit even turn, he don run.

Na so he carry file, run comot. For my mind, I dey wonder if dem wan do me 419, but I still siddon, dey sip my Fanta.

I never even look back finish when—

I dey hear steps, then scent of expensive perfume enter my nose.

Hand land for my shoulder.

Big hand, soft touch, but na power dey the grip.

Familiar voice talk:

“Pei Zainab, you mean say Okoye Group offer no reach you? You dey plan run commot.”

My chest freeze. I know that voice anywhere.

Na my oga, my university classmate, and Okoye family mouthpiece—Okoye Jimoh.

Jimoh dey always dress clean, shoe dey shine, voice dey calm but carry wahala.

Some people fit laugh even when dem no get words.

Him smile na that type wey you no go trust, because as e dey shine teeth, e dey plot for head.

I no even fit turn look am.

I just dey stare my Fanta, dey calculate escape route. Jimoh dey block am.

Okoye Jimoh free my shoulder, take two steps come front.

He adjust suit, cross leg, face me direct. He tap table twice, like say na family meeting. E be like say court dey session.

Then, wear correct suit, he sit down for my front, like real oga.

Na full boardroom presence. For this life, you gats respect people wey sabi dress.

Him fine face just dey show vex:

Eyes sharp, brow tight, but smile still dey lip. I dey sense trouble.

“To dodge my chase, you really… fit do anything.”

I dey ready answer, but mouth just dry. For my mind, na 'God abeg' I dey pray.

The long-dead comments start again:

[Ahhh, the villain don show—Okoye family bro!]

[The villain too dey do, but e too fine! Abeg, see as I dey admire am!]

[Enough, you people wey dey follow fine face!]

[Chai, the villain—when female lead wan sack supporting female, na the villain dey always block am. He dey drag inheritance with female lead, too.]

[The villain too get power, him move dey sharp. If only author no force…]

I reason say life no dey follow script, but for this Lagos, everybody dey act role. Now, na my own turn to shine or to fall. Make we dey look.

For Lagos, na survival of the sharpest. And me—I dey ready for anything.