Dedicated to infika❤❤

A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire. --Proverbs 15:1 (MSG)

"Miss Faleye?" Posi heard a deep voice call to her softly. She had really never heard such a voice texture before- baritone but soft-spoken. She lowered her pad to the table and picked up her pair of glasses before slowly lifting her face to the owner of the strange voice.

She saw his shining black-coloured lace up shoes as she accessed his navy blue three-piece suit with a white shirt and black Paisley tie first.

Hmmmmm. He dresses well. And he has a nice face too.

If she was one of those girls that squealed, she would have at the handsome face before her. His brown eyes peered at her through short but thick lashes. For someone with such sharp features, he was so soft-spoken. The smile he sent in her direction reminded her that she hadn't replied his question.

Clearing her throat, she said, "Yes, that's me. I'll take it that you're Mr Sijuade, right?"

"I am," he responded as he extended his hands for a handshake. "Pleased to meet you. And I'm sorry about not showing up at the previous scheduled meeting. Something totally unforeseen came up and I couldn't make it. I'm so sorry again."

He flashed her a smile again as she gestured to him to have his seat.

"Well, things aren't done like that but it's no problem. I was offended and I still was up till some min-," she stopped abruptly as she realized she was letting out way too much information.

And the disarming smiles you have been sending in my direction disarmed my feelings of anger. So...

"Anyways, it's fine. Do you want to order something before we continue?"

****

"Yes, I think I will do that. I haven't had the chance to have breakfast yet," Tayo said as he watched his companion push her pair of glasses up on the bridge of her slightly large nose.

She was truly unconventional as she looked shy and at the same time spoke with an air of authority. However, what did he know? It had been a while since he had looked at a lady long enough to notice her eye colour and Posi's eyes were the lightest shade of brown.

Well well, bros. You're noticing eye colour now?

Shaking out of his thoughts, he beckoned to the waiter that had served him a glass of water on his arrival.

"Would you like something to eat too, Miss Faleye?" he asked politely.

"Ah, no. I'm fine. I had a cup of coffee before you came. I'm good till lunch and you can call me Ayomiposi or Posi," she replied with a small smile.

"Well, same goes for me too," he said before he saw her trying to hold in her laughter and realized what he said. "No, I mean you can call me Tayo, not Ayomiposi."

At that, Posi's laughter was let loose and Tayo couldn't help but smile. She has a nice laugh too.

Still smiling, he made his order. As the waiter walked away, he noticed Posi began to swipe through her pad as she searched for something.

"So, what kind of photo shoot do you want to have?" she asked with her finger still swiping through her pad.

Ah ah. She gets straight to the point. I like that.

You're liking a lot of things o. His mind whispered.

"Erm, I'm not really sure yet. I'm having the shoot majorly for my company use and it's like my first time doing this since my-." Catching himself, he shook his head subtly before he continued. "Anyways, I don't really have an idea of what I want. Maybe if I see some options that I can pick from, it would help. Or what do you think?" he asked.

Tayo watched as she cleared her throat and adjusted her glasses again before answering. "Well, I do have some previous shoots that you can choose from. I can show them to you as you eat."

"I may feel a bit uncomfortable about that," he said in response.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do to remedy that?" she asked with a frown in her face.

"Well, there is."

She gave him a quizzical look as if to ask what it was.

"You could eat something too. Even if it's a glass of juice or a piece of cake or both," he added when he saw her about to protest. He flashed a winning smile and he saw her relent before she said anything.

"Okay."

They continued conversing as Posi showed him different shoots she had done with the various settings and themes. Tayo really didn't know which to choose and he said as much. Posi showed him one last one which he liked and they decided on the date and time for the shoot.

Tayo discovered that he found it easy to talk to her and the conversation was going smoothly till he picked up his knife to cut through his piece of chicken. All of a sudden, the atmosphere shifted. It was like someone poured cold water on the atmosphere at their table and forgot to squeeze it out. Posi's replies became stilted and came out as monologues.

He had to look at the piece of chicken on his plate.

Does she not like chicken? Oh no! Is she a vegetarian? And I just insulted her senses by slicing through this piece of crisply-fried chicken?

All his efforts to bring back the easy conversation went out the window as Posi finally said she needed to leave.

"I'll communicate with you before the day of the shoot on your attires and every other thing you will need. Uhm, I have to go now. It was lovely to meet you,sir."

The way she spoke didn't show that it was lovely to meet him though and he didn't know what to make of it.

"Alright, Posi. I'll be expecting your call then. Do have a lovely day," he said in response.

Tayo stood and watched as she walked briskly towards the door. It was like the floor was on fire, with the pace she was moving.

Oh well. I guess I can eat my chicken now. He thought before sitting and picking up his cutlery again. And then he saw what had caused the change in the conversation.

*****

Posi wasn't angry at Tayo. Or should she say Mr Sijuade now? Infact she was far from it. She was just reminded of her father when she saw the wedding ring on his finger.

Her father had had an affair with another woman and had gone on to marry that woman while he was still married to her mother. Seeing the ring had brought back the memories. Memories of the unmentionable words that her mother used to call her father's mistress-turned-wife.

Of course, she had no right to feel that way, especially since it wasn't like Mr Sijuade had made any untoward advances towards her.

Actually, she had been feeling way too relaxed with their conversation and the easy laughs. It was like she had found someone else with whom she could be herself, just like she was with Gerald and Funmi. Her cynical and esteem-battered side had already been telling her to give him the cold calculated and professional Posi, but she had ignored it. And the ring was probably a sign that she needed to be professional and not whatever it was that was happening.

She was sure the man was baffled but years and years of hearing her mother talk about how her married father would have stayed put if some woman hadn't enticed him had made her internalize all the problems her parents had. Her head knew that it wasn't her fault but her heart felt otherwise. And in a way, she felt like she was responsible for her mother's failed marriage.

I won't give room for such a thing to happen again. Especially when I can stop it from happening. I won't allow another wife or another child feel the way I felt growing up. I won't be the cause for another failed marriage.

She answered Toyin's greeting absentmindedly as she walked into her office. She had work to do and she was better off facing that.

"That was when I realized that she saw my wedding ring. Can you imagine?" Tayo was busy narrating to his friend, Godspower.

"And you thought it was because she was a vegetarian?" Godspower cackled in laughter.

Tayo stared at him in disbelief. "See how you're laughing like a chicken sef. I really don't know why I keep telling you embarrassing stories of myself."

"If you don't tell me, who will you tell ehn?"

Godspower asked as he wiped the tears that had managed to make it out of his eyelids. When he didn't hear a witty comeback from Tayo, he looked up only to see his friend tearing up.

"Oh my. I didn't mean it like that, Tayo. I'm so sorry," he pleaded.

"It's fine, bro. I know you didn't. It's just still so hard without her."

Godspower moved to give him a hug as he shut his eyes and prayed under his breathe.

God help him.