Dedicated to JaachiEdwin. ❤❤

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A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. --Proverbs 15:1 (NLT)

I hope these ones will get here on time today. Posi mused to herself. Any waste of her time today, they would hear from her. She'd left her office as early as 8:00am so she could beat traffic and also get to the proposed meeting point before her client arrived. 

A waiter approached her and asked, "Good morning, ma'am. Would you like anything to drink?"

"Yes, a cup of coffee will do. Two spoons of milk and two spoons of sugar. Thank you," Posi replied.

She looked around and appreciated the interior of the room. It was most certainly a beautiful and charming one. The atmosphere was cool and the fragrance in the air made it so relaxing. She couldn't recognize the music playing but she loved it. She also saw some art works displayed. They were arranged on a particular wall on one side of the room, making it look like an art exhibit.

I'd take a look at those on my way out of here.

There were standard tables with high-backed cushion chairs decorated with pretty slim vases. And also, low tables which looked like coffee tables with single sofas decorated with cream-coloured embroidered table clothes. She'd chosen to sit in the latter located in a corner that allowed her see the entrance too.

People probably thought she just loved showing off her punctuality but that was so far from the truth as the east was from the west. Showing up early was more of a practiced habit than it was a principle for her.

At first, it had begun with her leaving her house early for school just so she could escape her mother's verbal whips, especially if she didn't want her day to be ruined. Then, she later discovered that being on time sort of shifted focus off her. At least, when she got anywhere early, nobody noticed her and she could pick the best seat to hide away from the eyes of other people.

Her self-esteem was so low that her mind interpreted people's looks as disdainful or condescending. So she avoided anything at all that put her in the spotlight. She didn't participate in any events either academics or sports. She was so intelligent that she always stayed in the tenth to twentieth position range in her class of thirty students.

Posi knew her classmates, from primary to tertiary institution, saw her as a snob. She couldn't explain herself to everyone and she wouldn't even do it if given the opportunity. Her defense was that everyone was entitled to their own opinion. And she wasn't even ready for all the wahala that came with people.

So being punctual became a habit plus she was a very shy person. People didn't believe it about her because of the way she carried herself and even spoke but it was true. What they didn't know was that her supposed bold disposition was all a front.

Her shyness made her very nervous especially when meeting people for the first time. And this was one of those times. She came early so she could find concealed seats or at most, seats that were not in the centre of the room and would have been seated before the client arrived. All these afforded her the time to calm her nerves. Showing up late usually hiked up her nervousness several notches. And if it happened that way, she'd be shaking so much that she wouldn't be able to form a coherent sentence. 

Hence the reason she was already seated in The Kerrington Towers at 9:20am for a meeting that wasn't to take place until 10:00am, sipping a hot cup of coffee while looking towards the direction of the door.

Thank God this place has only one entrance. Oh well, I'll just catch up on some of my work. 

As she reached into her tote bag to pick her phone, the device began to vibrate before Sia's voice rang out. 

Why is she calling again? She should take the hint now. 

Posi wanted— no, needed to have a good start today and answering that call was sure to ruin her mood. So she did what she had been doing for the past week; she ignored it and pulled out her pad instead to continue the drawings and sketches she had been working on. 

I am titanium. She sang in a whisper as if to reassure herself. 

Posi glanced at her wrist watch. It was already 9:45am.

Eh eh. These people.

******

"Sir, we need to leave now for the meeting with Miss Faleye." Tayo heard Kazeem say.

It was Monday morning and he seriously wasn't having such a nice day and the day had only begun. The reminder about the meeting lifted his spirits a bit as the insomnia was beginning to get to him and hopefully this reprieve will do him some good. 

I probably just need some air.

"Yes yes, that's true. Erm, we are to meet her at The Kerrington Towers, yes?" he questioned as he began to move files around on his table. 

"Yes sir," came Kazeem's reply. If he noticed that his boss had been moving the files on his table around, arranging and rearranging them, he said nothing. Tayo was almost always focused but he'd have to be excused today. His spirit, soul and body needed a boost. 

"I thought we were to meet a Mr Coker?" he said as he finally stopped arranging the files to turn to Kazeem. 

Clearing his throat, Kazeem replied, "Yes sir. He had called to recommend Miss Faleye for the job. I told you about it before rescheduling sir."

"Oh, yeah. That's true. I'm sure she wasn't too pleased about the arrangement. Remind me to apologize for pulling a no-show at the last scheduled appointment. Let's move then."

As they got into the elevator, Tayo remembered that Godspower was to travel down to his place that day. That lifted his spirits the more. He was more of a brother to him than a brother-in-law and they shared a bond that couldn't be explained.

Tayo quickly made plans to be available to pick him up as soon as his flight arrived. That meant his meeting with this Miss Faleye would have to be a quick one, hopefully.

******

Tayo walked alone into The Kerrington Towers. He had had to leave alone as he realized he had some other assignments for Kazeem to carry out especially since he may not be returning to the office.

Once he got into the room, he checked his wrist watch and saw that it was 9:56am. He sighed in relief and was also glad that Kazeem had chosen a meeting point closer to his office. He also didn't like being late to meetings and he didn't want to further aggravate the situation he knew was already on the edge.

He was sure she was already here so he looked around for who it was he could be meeting. The Kerrington Towers was known for the charming ambience and the arrangement of the furniture plus soft music flowing from the unseen sound system added to the effect. 

All he hoped for was that it was having that same charming effect on Miss Faleye.

I have some apologizing to do.

He continued to look around but didn't seem to see anyone who looked like they were here for a meeting.

I believe she should be sitting somewhere conspicuous. Or is she not here yet?

He walked further into the room and looked around till his gaze landed on a petite lady clad in blue palazzo pants, a white inner wear with a matching blue jacket. 

I think it's called a kimono. We're even wearing matching colours. He laughed at the thought. 

If he hadn't been keen in his observation, he may not have seen her because she had chosen the most secluded part of the restaurant to sit. It was almost like she didn't want to be seen.

She seemed lost in what she was doing with the way her dread-covered head was bent over a pad and her right hand was skimming from one end of the pad to another. 

Well, that should be her. With his right hand in his pocket, he strode towards her and said her name. 

"Miss Faleye?"

Kazeem really hoped the meeting with the Miss Faleye would go smoothly. He had heard from a "friend" who worked as a delivery guy in her studio about her fiery temper.

He had really wanted to go with his boss, so he could maybe act as an intermediary or shield or something for him. But now, he was left all alone to face the woman.

"Eiii God, please help my boss. You know he is so soft-spoken and gentle, ehn. Please, help him," he prayed.

Pray and wait. That's all I can do now.

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