Dedicated to Yamm70 ❤❤

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Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. --Isaiah 43:19 (KJV)

It was finally the day of Tayo's shoot and he was excited. And his excitement didn't have anything to do with taking pictures all day. He wasn't that vain. 

Okay, maybe I am. Just a teeny bit. He laughed at himself. But I will be seeing a certain beautiful someone. 

Posi made him very curious. He wanted to know everything about her.

In a friendly way. 

Yeah, right. Friendly way. 

"Yes, friendly na." 

"You said, sir?" He had forgotten that Kazeem was in his living room. Tayo mentally facepalmed as he tried to downplay his moment of talking to himself. 

Smiling brightly at Kazeem, he said, "Nothing. I was thinking aloud."

By the look on his face, it seemed his P.A didn't believe him and his next comment indicated that. 

"Sir, is everything okay? Do I need to book you for a checkup with Doctor Tosan?" 

If Tayo didn't know that his P.A was just concerned for him, he would have gotten angry because his statement was ambiguous, especially for a Yoruba boy like himself. Translating it into his Yoruba dialect even made the questions sound worse than they seemed in English. 

He sighed. "I know I have been acting strange lately but all is well, my dear Kazeem."

Standing up, he did a last check to see if anything was out of place. "I believe my clothes, shoes and accessories are all in the car. Plus everything we need."

"Yes, sir."

"All right. Let's move then."

He definitely sounded too excited, if he wanted to be honest.

*******

"Okay, can you stand and turn your face towards your left? Yes, that's it. Okay. Now, fold your arms. No smile. Smile now," Posi instructed from behind the camera.

She'd have given her contract staff photographer to do this but she wanted to do this herself. Why? She didn't know. 

With a small smile in Tayo's direction, she said, "You can go change your outfit now to the traditional wear."

She watched as he responded with a head nod and a very blinding smile that made her shut her eyes for a bit. She opened her eyes when she was sure she heard the door to the dressing room shut. 

Ah. This guy and his unnecessary blinding smiles. Do I look like I am searching for a toothpaste ambassador? 

As she skimmed through the pictures already taken in his office wear, she began to pick the ones that were particularly good. Of course, she'll still have his input. Then, she heard the door to the dressing room open. She turned in that direction and what she saw blew her away. 

Tayo was dressed in a pure white bùbá, sòkòtò and agbádá with a black fìlà with white embroidery on it. He wore matching black shinny shoes and had on the coral-coloured royal beads. If she didn't know he wasn't a royal, she'd have thought he was one of those kings in Yorubaland. 

How can someone have such blinding smiles and look like a king? 

Totally unfair, if you ask me. She thought with a smile.

The clearing of a throat drew her out of the whirlwind of inner thoughts she was having. She coughed and tried to regain a semblance of her dignified front. 

"Oh, yes. Okay. We will use the high-backed seat in that corner. Please, remove your shoes. Sit and place your feet on the low stool in front of you," she instructed as she got behind the camera. "Good. Now, lean forward. Okay. Remove your feet from the stool and sit upright with your arms on the arm rest. Yes. Good. Now, smile. Give me your boss look."

At that, Tayo burst into laughter and she saw the crinkle at the corners of his eyes. Befuddled, Posi straightened from behind the camera and lowered it as she stared at him. 

What happened to him? Did I say something funny? 

"I'm sorry but I couldn't help it," Tayo responded like he had heard her inner questions. "It was just hilarious."

Posi just shook her head before she walked to his right side to adjust the reflector and lights. She saw his P.A, Kazeem, look at his boss like he had lost it. 

I agree, Mr Kazeem. Your boss has definitely lost it. 

********

It was already 3:00pm and they had just rounded up the shoot. Tayo stretched as he stood up from the low seat he had been given to sit on in his casual wear of dark blue jeans, white t-shirt and matching Nike Air Force sneakers. 

He had spent his entire Saturday taking pictures and he had loved it! He hadn't been expecting it, but he had had fun. He even discovered that Posi had a weird sense of humour and he had laughed so much that he was sure that she must have questioned his mental stability. 

But what could he say. He had enjoyed himself. 

Now, she was asking him to select which pictures he wanted for the enlarged frames and the ones he wanted to keep. 

Hmm. She smells nice. Like a myriad of spices ground in the perfect mix of fragrances.  

He mentally rolled his eyes at himself. Now, he was being poetic. Something was definitely wrong with him because he didn't do poems.

But I'd like to be friends with her. 

Then tell her. A voice said. Ask her to lunch or something. 

"...want this one? I'd advise you take it though. It really makes you look regal and all." He heard her say. 

Turning his attention back to the computer screen, he answered in affirmative. "Yes. I'll take that. You know what, I think you should just choose out of all the pictures and send them to me so I can okay them. How's that?" 

She seemed puzzled before she answered, "Okay then. So, I guess we are done. I'll forward them to your mail by tonight then."

It's now or never, Tayo. 

As she turned to go, Tayo stopped her. "Posi?"

She looked at him and raised her brow in that cute way of hers like she was saying "get on with it, guy".

"I was wondering if we could get lunch or a late dinner today. Just a friendly hangout."

Her countenance showed that she wanted to refuse but he cut in feigning hurt. 

"I think you owe me an outing. You know, I was hurt when you left abruptly at our first meeting and you almost did the same on Sunday. So, you can repay me by hanging out with me. Besides, you have worked hard today and we can go anywhere you are comfortable with."

She seemed to consider it for a few seconds too long. "Erm, okay."

"Really?" Tayo burst out before he caught himself. "I mean, thank you. Okay, so where would you like to go?"

"Yeah. Bites 'n' Chops," Posi replied with a small smile. 

"Bites n Chops it is. Should I come pick you up or should we meet up there?"

"Let's meet up there. I still have some things to settle here. See you around 6:30pm."

As she turned to walk away, his lips formed an 'o' and he whistled G.F Handel's Hallelujah Chorus which made Kazeem smirk knowingly. Tayo was so sure God was proud of him at the moment. He had game.

You seem mighty pleased with yourself. 

I sure am. 

*******

Posi had a huge smile on her face but she didn't seem to know it till Toyin asked her what had her all excited.

"Nothing!" That was too sharp. "Nothing."

"Hmmmm." Toyin obviously didn't believe her and Posi could feel her eyes on her till she shut the door to her office. 

Mr. I-can-smile-for-Africa had just asked her to hangout with him. And he said it was a friendly one. So, why not be friendly with him. He wasn't so bad. Right? 

I am titanium… rang out calling her attention to her phone. 

Yep, she's calling. 

"Hello, ma. Good evening, ma," she greeted. 

"Good evening, my darling. How are you? And your day? Work?"

"All fine, ma." Get on with it, mama. 

Beloved, stay calm. 

"Yes. I was wondering if I could see you on Friday."

"Okay, ma. Where?"

"I'm staying at a hotel, Eco Hotel at Ikeja. You can come over there."

"Okay, ma. See you on Friday."

Friday was six days away. That should be ample time to get myself armoured up. 

God help me. 

Shifting in her seat, she began to put her table in order. There wasn't much to do. Besides she needed to get ready for her outing.

When was the last time I had one of those? She smiled again.

She has been smiling a lot.

Kazeem had seen all the nuances his boss gave off all through the shoot and they were very similar to those he had been seeing for the past few days at the office. 

"So, that's it. Or rather her."

It was strange because he had never seen his boss give any lady the time of the day since he lost his wife. But here he was smiling like it was a toothpaste ad they came for and laughing at things that weren't even funny. 

"Ah! Oga has been gotten big time. And by this prickly Miss Faleye at that. All the best to him o."

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Tayo's traditional wear below: