#EPISODE_______2
“What about kids?” Joseph asked curiously.
“What about them?” Tobi asked with his eyes focused on the road.
“Don’t you want any?” Joseph narrowed his eyes at him.
“Yeah I guess. It would be nice to have a little girl. I would have adopted but Mama won’t agree.” Tobi grumbled.
“Ha! Mama! How is she? Did she come last Saturday?” Joseph burst into laughter. “It’s not funny jare. She came with this fat short woman who kept on ogling me. She was smiling so hard I’m sure her jaw was hurting.” Tobi complained pulling up into the parking lot. Joseph’s law firm was just opposite his gigantic office building.
“You have to give that woman a grandchild before she does something you hate more than ugly girls.” Joseph said.
“I know, I know.” Tobi agreed while raising his hands up in surrender and they both walked into his office building. They ignored the greetings of the workers who made way for them as quickly as they could.
“It’s not like you can pay someone to have your baby or anything.” Joseph joked. “Why not?” Tobi said seriously and turned to his friend with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You’re a genius.” He smiled broadly. “And you’re joking.” Joseph said rolling his eyes.
“We’ll talk later. Why are you following me anyway? Your office is across the street.”
Tobi asked as they stepped into the elevator.
“I know.” Joseph replied dryly. “I want to see Muna about something.” He added, secretly thankful that his friend had dropped the subject.
“Who’s that?” Tobi asked furthering his eyebrows.
“She’s the head of your Law department. Do you even know your employees?” Joseph asked as they walked towards Tobi’s office.
“I have over a million all over Africa… so no.” Tobi boasted and acknowledged Funmi, his secretary.
“Show off.” Joseph grumbled.
Funmi was not the typical secretary. She was in her late thirties, married with four kids and almost overweight; yet Tobi preferred her to any skinny bimbo. She was efficient and loyal. Just what he needed.
“She’s in there.” Funmi stopped him gesturing towards his office door. “Who?” Tobi asked startled.
“Eniola. She came. I couldn’t stop her. Said she brought you breakfast.” Funmi explained apologetically.
Tobi nodded and Joseph had an amused smile on his face.
“Eniola? Who’s she?” Joseph asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Met her at an award ceremony. Now she won’t take a hint and leave me alone.” Tobi gave an exasperated sigh.
“Still don’t want to get married shay.” Joseph chuckled.
“Nope. Can’t stick to one woman.” Tobi said. Joseph opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the sound of Tobi’s office door.
Eniola balanced expertly on a pair of stilettos. She was wearing a turquoise coloured jumpsuit and flashed a smile seductively at Tobi who in return, have her a strained smile. She was the daughter of the Oba of Lagos, and nobody wanted to piss off the Oba.
“Hey hun.” She purred touching his tie. “I brought you breakfast, your favourite. Yam and egg sauce.” She smiled pulling him in before he could utter a world in protest.
When the door was shut, Funmi chuckled and returned to her desk and Joseph smiled in amusement. He turned to leave but reversed as an afterthought “Wait. What’s his favourite? ” He asked
before leaving.
Funmi looked up from her laptop and said with a smile, “Spaghetti Bolognese.”
…
Tobi stood impatiently outside the KFC restaurant just a few blocks away from his office. He ignored the excited stares from passersby and the suggestive stares of
the women. He was waiting for Joseph so they could have lunch together, but the latter was held up at court.
He couldn’t stop thinking about what Joseph said earlier. Any woman would want to have his baby, and for the right price too. Why didn’t he think about it before? His thoughts were interrupted by a lady who was arguing with the staff of the restaurant. She wore a faded red dress with flip flops and her ebony black hair was packed but had strands falling out. She was beautiful. Class-less, yes, but beautiful anyway. He didn’t realise when he was smiling obviously amused. She wasn’t exactly his type of woman, but he couldn’t stop staring.
She sat down on a chair with a scowl on her face. A man came to talk to her and she glared at him but he didn’t seem to take the hint.
Without thinking, Tobi walked into the restaurant and towards her. Before he could say anything, she stood up and planted a kiss on his cheek.
“There you are! Why did you keep me waiting?” She said then turned to glare at the man. The man looked away with a frown and left.
“Sorry.” The lady turned to him with a shy smile. “I was trying to get rid of him. I told him to leave me alone but he just kept on talking and talking and argh.” She explained with frustration.
Joseph walked in with confusion written across his face and Tobi replied with a shrug.
“You have a little lipstick, on your-” She pointed to his cheek and he chuckled.
“No worries.” He said pulling out a handkerchief.
“I need to go to the restroom.” Joseph whispered and left.
The girl sat down and brought out her purse. She brought out a notebook and some bills and started writing some things down. He sat down with her and she looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“I said sorry. You can leave now.” She said dismissing him with her hand. “I want to sit here. Keep this seat for me while I order.” He said ignoring her comment.
He returned with a plate of Jollof rice and chicken and sat down with her, ignoring the scowl on her face.
Her stomach grumbled but he pretended not to notice. “Would you like some?” He offered. “I can’t eat it all alone.” He lied.
“Then you shouldn’t have bought it. I’m fine.” She snapped although her gaze lingered at the plate of food longer than it was supposed to. She looked back at her notebook with a serious expression, counting money and writing some things down.
“So, what are you doing?” He asked curiously.
“None of your business. Go seat somewhere else. I’m already having a bad day.” She said without looking up.
“Anything I can help with?” He offered with a smile tugging at his lips before taking a huge bite from his chicken. She fought the urge to look up at his food. “If you can get me a job, then yes.” She murmured but he heard her.
Breathing in nervously, he said, “You need a job? I have a job for you.” She finally looked at him suspiciously.
“What kind?” She asked and he gave her his card.
Tobi Ademi
CEO
Ademi Group of Companies.
_______________________________
Her face went pale. She had no idea she was talking to the Tobi Ademi. How could she be so stupid? His face was everywhere.
His name was in every business you could think of. She pretended not to recognize the name and looked at him.
“I’ll be there on Monday morning.” She smiled politely.
“Just show them the card, they’ll let you see me.” He replied with a cheeky smile. “Thank you.” She stood up to leave, and as an afterthought, she picked a drumstick from his place and bit into it. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow and an amused smile.
“What? You said I could have some!” She said with her mouth full before she walked away.
Joseph walked up to the table and sat down, placing his tray of food gently on the table. “What was that all about?” He asked before taking a spoon of Fried rice. “She’s perfect.” Tobi stated still gazing at the door even if she had left a moment ago.
“For what? Your wife?” Joseph asked hopefully and Tobi stared at him as if he had grown two heads.
“No you idiot. To have my baby.” Tobi said nonchalantly as though it was a normal thing.
“Where is this going?” Joseph asked carefully. “You didn’t actually take me seriously… did you?” Joseph asked in an alarming voice.
“I actually did. I’ve got it all planned out. See, it’s simple. No woman would refuse an offer to get pregnant for me.” Tobi pointed out with a smug smile.
“Any woman who wants to hold on to her virtue would.” Joseph argued.
“Oh but virtue can be bought, at the right price.” Tobi said still smiling. He looked like a little boy who got an A in his math test.
“No woman would reject that kind of offer, especially when there’s 40 million naira on the line.” Tobi added.
“40m! Are you crazy?” Joseph exclaimed.
“No. Just brilliant.” Tobi shrugged.
Joseph looked at his friend and was convinced he needed to be checked out. “We’ll sign a contract. She gives me my baby. She’ll get 40 million. That girl needs money desperately. She’ll totally jump at my offer.” Tobi’s grin grew wider but Joseph just started at him in surprise.
“And which stupid lawyer is going to draw up that kind of contract?” Joseph asked with a raised eyebrow as they stood up to leave.
“You, obviously.” Tobi stated and walked out.
…
“So when would you start drawing up the contract.” Tobi asked Joseph. They were seated in his car, on their way to Joseph’s house.
“As your friend, and lawyer, I would like to sincerely advice you against this very foolish act.” Joseph stated seriously.
“Just give me an answer.” Tobi snapped and Joseph rolled his eyes.
“I’ll get started alright. Just mail me the details.” Joseph grunted. He was still very opposed to the idea.
They pulled up in front of his house and he kept his laptop inside his briefcase before stepping out. “Did you get the milk?” Tobi called after him. Joseph groaned. “Oh shit.
_________________________
Abena walked into the huge building feeling completely out of place. She was wearing a pair of black pant trousers and a short sleeved blue button up shirt. She was already sweating because the company was far from where she lived and she had to enter three buses to get there.
To be continued
BARGAIN