-continuation–
Tina Walked into the parking lot
of T.D.G.C in the closing hour even
though she had no car but the
closest route to the main gate is
the way from the parking lot. She
was excited that her first day at
work went well and she has
been able to estblish
relationships with Lola, her
secretary, Clement, her immediate
boss i.e the manager of her
department and Oyin, Clement’s
secretary. She hoped the
following day would be better
than her first day. She was
hopeful that she’ll meet the CEO
finally on the second day.
“Tina.” Clement called.
She recognised his deep rich
baritone voice anywhere. She
turned back to see him smiling.
“Lemme give you a ride since you
don’t have a car.” He said with
pride as he pointed his finger to
a wine coloured Nissan Murano.
She thought to herself for a few
seconds without moving.
“Hey! Its just and harmless ride.
We’re friends aren’t we?” he said
this time he had walked to
where she was and was holding
her hand.
“Thank you very much. But am
not going your way.” She said
hoping he’ll give up.
“You are not going my way. Do
you know where I live?” He
asked.
She snatched her hands from his
and walked away from where he
was. She was suprised that he
didn’t call her back.
“Maybe it is just a friendly ride. He
might not be interested in me.”
she thought to herself as she
walked towards the security post
where different sets of security
men were seated. They worked
in shift, a different set worked in
the morning till 4:30pm the
closing time and a different set
take over from 5pm when the
handing over takes place till
6:30am.
“Good night madam.” The man
who opened the small gate said
and Tina nodded her head while
smiling as she exited the
building.
She waited for the next five
minutes outside the gate and no
cab came around. She was
starting to grow impatient when
a mercedez benz parked beside
her. The window at the owner’s
corner was opened revealing a
woman in her late fifties.
“Do you mind if I give you a ride
miss Tina?” The woman asked.
“Not at all ma.” She replied as the
passenger door in front was
opened. She hopped in and sat
down beside the driver.
She tried to place the woman’s
face but she couldn’t fathom
where they had met. She was
sure the car came out through
the company’s gate which means
she is also an employee there.
“So how’s your first day at
work?” The woman asked.
“It wasn’t bad ma.” she replied.
“My name is Mrs Victoria Cole.”
The woman introduced.
Now she got it, she was the vice
chairman of the Interview Panel.
“Its nice to meet you ma.” She
said.
“The pleasure is mine. Call me
Vicky.” Madam Cole said.
The journey continued amidst
chatter. Tina got to know more
about the CEO of the company. At
the end of the journey when she
got to her destination she had
known at least seventy percent
about the company, the staff, the
discipline, the societal activities
and etcetera.
“See you tomorrow.” Victoria
said.
“Bye Ma” She said forgetfully.
“Am Vicky.” Madam Cole
corrected.
Tina smiled as she got out of the
car and crossed to the other side
of the road.
–to be continued–

–continuation–
The next day at work Tina got to
work very early to start work
before the arrival of her secretary
or Mr Clement. She started
printing out copies of the total
number of contracts awarded to
the company. Something Lola,
her secretary is supposed to do
but to reduce the workload on
her she decided to help her with
it so when Lola comes she’ll
spiral band the papers into about
twenty copies to be submitted to
various departmental heads and
their assistants including the CEO,
whom she is yet to meet in
person.
“Good morning madam.” Lola
greeted.
“Good morning Lola, how are
you doing?”
“Am fine ma. What are you doing
here?” She asked.
“Am helping you reduce the
workload for today. Anyways am
almost through with the
computation, all you need to do
now is print out twent copies of
each page then you spiral band
it. Making it a total of twenty
copies to be produced.” Tina
instructed as she stood up and
made for her office.
“I really appreciate your
kindness. The CEO will be in office
today.” Lola said to her retreating
figure.
Two hours later
Tina has been less busy since she
left Lola’s office two hours ago.
There has not been much to do.
There was a knock on the door,
“Come in.” Tina said.
The door opened and Mr Clement
the contract valuation manager
walked in smiling.
“What the hell is he looking for
now?” Tina asked herself.
Clement walked in and sat down
without being invited to sit. He
was staring at Tina while Tina
was trying to take her eyes off
his. The silence was killing, for
the past two minutes no one has
said a thing.
“I guess you are here for a
staring competition which am
not interested in.” Tina said
rudely.
“Don’t be rude am your boss.”
Clement replied.
“How may I help you?” Tina
asked.
“I want to take you out on a date
after the closing hour today.”
Clement said.
“Why will you take me out on a
date? Its not like we have any
thing between us except the
relationship between two
colleagues.” Tina replied.
“You should at least offer me a
drink or are you keeping them
for the future?” Clement asked
pointing to the refrigerator that
stood at the far end of the office.
Just then the telephone rang.
“Tina on the line.” She said on
picking the call.
“The CEO wants to meet you.”
Lola said.
“Okay. I’ll be there in a jiffy.” Tina
replied.
“Just look good.” Lola said
laughing.
Tina dropped the telephone and
looked at Clement who was
frowning.
“I have to be in the CEO’s office.”
She said.
“I’ll wait for you here.” Clement
replied.
“Excuse me?” Tina asked loosing
her temper.
“I’ll be back later.” Clement said
as he stood up and exited the
office.
Tina hissed as she adjusted her
hair and straightened her cloth.
She walked out of her office
instructing Lola to take down her
messages.
The CEO’s office
Tina got to the front of a door
marked with an Inscription THE
OFFICE OF THE CEO. A lady was
seated behind her table just
beside the door.
“Hi.” Tina said.
“Hello.” The lady replied.
“I want to see Mr Raymond.” Tina
said.
“You must be miss Tina?”
“Yes.”
The lady picked up the phone
and put a call through to
Raymond asking for permission
to grant Miss Tina entrance.
“You can go in.” The lady said on
dropping the call.
Tina walked into the CEO’s office
her heartbeat increasing to two
beats per millisecond.
“Good morning sir.” Tina greeted.
Raymond raised up his head
from whatever he was doing on
his computer system.
He got strucked with her beauty
as he couldn’t take his eyes off
her.
“Have your sit.” He said almost
stammering.
Tina managed to sit down even
though she was marvelled at
Raymond’s handsomeness.
END OF CHAPTER 1
Isn’t this love at first sight?

–continuation–
After her meeting with the
Doctor, Tina went back to her
mother’s ward to give the news
to her younger sister and after
deliberation Tina suggested that
she go seek help with her
friends.
So early the next morning which
was monday, Tina dressed up
and went to her friends place.
“This on that we see you today.
Hope we are safe?” Tonia asked
jokingly.
Tina smiled and faced her two
friends.
“Babes, my mum is sick.” Tina
said forcing back tears.
“Sick? Ehya! Hope she is getting
better now?” Tonye asked.
“She is not. In fact we need two
hundred and fifty thousand Naira
for her treatment of which fifty
percent is to be paid upfront.”
Tina explained.
“So how can we help you?”
Tonye who has the listening ears
asked.
“If you can borrow me the
money at least hundred
thousand i’ll pay you by month
end.” Tina explained.
“We’ll help you.” Tonia said.
“Thank you babes. Devil won’t
have a reason to make our
friendship go sour.” Tina prayed
as she embraced the girls.
Then Tonia dropped the
bombshell.
“I’ll give you my appointment
with Senator Ndume. All you
need do is spend the weekend
with him and name your price.”
Tina felt heartbroken that
moment, all hopes lost, no one to
turn to.
“Please don’t do this to me.” Tina
pleaded.
“Do what? You are talking as if
you’re a novice in this business.
Are you a virgin? Aren’t you one
of us before you answered God’s
call?” Tonia asked.
“We all know am no longer one
of you. I’ve found peace on God’s
side. All I need is your help am
out of this business for good.”
Tina explained.
“I understand but we all know
how it feels when you are being
ravaged by a man whose wife is
in Canada. We can’t suffer
ourselves and give you the
money cheaply. Go and feel it like
we do.” Tonia said dropping a
complimentary card on Tina’s
laps.
“My mother must not die.”
“She won’t by the special grace
of God.” Tonye prayed.
“And you may as well take your
leave.” Tonia said.
“I should leave?” Tina asked
foolishly.
“No, stay, sleep and eat. The
kitchen door is opened. Tonia
said laughing as she exited the
living room with Tonye leaving
Tina heart shattered.
Tina picked herself up and left
her friends place without picking
the complimentary card.
By the time she arrived at her
place of work the time was
8:15am. She was fourty-five
minutes late already.
“Good morning madam.” Maryam
one of the receptionists greeted.
“Morning.” She replied gloomily
as she signed in and walked into
the elevator.
She got into her office dropped
her bag and said a short prayer.
Then she proceeded into the
restroom to reapply her messy
makeup.
She re-emerged a few minutes
later to begin the day’s work. She
opened her computer and
somehow clicked on the day’s to-
do list and met the shock of her
life. A meeting of all the
departmental heads with the CEO
was to hold between 8am and
10am. As stated, she was to
represent Mr Clement who
started his leave on that day.
She hurriedly shut down her
computer, picked up a notepad
and walked to the conference
room. She pushed the door
opened and met about fifteen
peering eyes on seat including
the handsome Raymond. She
proceeded to the only empty seat
tagged CVM(contract Valuation
Manager)
The meeting continued for the
next ten minutes before the CEO
asked a question.
“Can we have the master copy of
all the contracts valuations?” he
asked directing the question to
no one in particular.
Tina knowing at once that the
question was meant for her
asked.
“You said?”
“You heard me right.” Raymond
replied angrily.
It was then it dawn on her that
she had failed woefully on the
day she is supposed to prove her
effectiveness at work.
“Sir I don’t have it with me now.”
Tina said.
“And why is that?”
“Mr Clement didn’t hand it over to
me before he went on leave.”
“Did you ask?”
Raymond had lost his temper
then as he kept on ranting about
her inefficiency.
“Meeting resumes by after the
lunch break.” Raymond declared
as he picked up his Ipad and
bottle of Coke. He walked out of
the conference room.
Everyone stood up after him,
passing disgusting comments
about Tina. Thay all left leaving
only Tina in the conference room.
–to be continued