JOHN'S POV

"What are you doing here?" Mary screamed.

"And why are you driving James's car?" Mary added.

"It's not the way you think it is." I said, opening the car door.

"Tell me the way it is then." Mary said vibrating her leg in an angry manner.

"You see, James went on a holiday and he didn't want to tell you because you might worry." I said, placing a trembling hand in my pocket.

"Then why are you with his phone?" Mary asked, raising a brow.

"He said you disturb him a lot." I said wearing a fake smile.

Suddenly she held me by the hem of my suit and screamed.

"What have you done to your brother?" Mary yelled.

"How many times do I have to explain that he travelled?" I said raising my arms in pretense.

"And by the way I just came to relay the message. I would be on my way now. I don't like your questions at all." I added , opening the car door once more.

There was a question that I really wanted to ask her. But I was scared of breaking down in her presence and I wasn't ready to be a fool in a suit.

"Why didn't you ask me whether I was hungry? Why didn't you ask me?" I said, frowning at her.

"Would you like indomie?" Mary asked,looking around for a passerbye.

"Indomie? I am not a child and I am definitely not begging at all." I said entering the car.

"And don't worry, I would be gone before anyone sees me. I am an disowned child." I added sniffing.

And I started the engine of the car, what suprised me was the way Mama walked up to the car and knocked on the window, begging me to roll it down with her eyes.

"Drive carefully." Mary said smiling.

"Alright Mam....Mary." I said looking away.

"Remember that it's James's car and it mustn't have a single scratch." Mary added.

I didn't respond. I simply drove off with a powerful start making sure that particles of dust settled on Mama. I looked at her through the glass mirrors and she was trying to hold back a laugh. I smiled to myself. I pressed the music button and settled for a song for that moment.

Memories.

*****************

I walked to the office wearing a huge smile on my lips. I knew that I and Mama's relationship was still rocky but there were lots of room for improvement. I entered my office humming a childhood rhyme and stopped on my track when I saw Eniola seated on my seat twirling with it noisily.

"Eniola, get up from my chair this instant." I yelled.

"Do you know that Muhammadu Buhari was made president this year admist the huge critics from the masses?" Eniola asked smiling.

"I do not care about that. Your entire statement is just pointless." I said placing a hand on my forehead.

"Is my cooking pointless?" Eniola whispered.

"No.you cook just fantastic. I really enjoyed the meal you cooked for me. It smelt a lot like home." I said chuckling.

"Really?" Eniola asked,standing up in a way I found both amusing and seductive.

"Yes."I said, placing two fingers in my hair.

"You are a bad liar." Eniola screamed, holding up the food flask I had hidden earlier on.

"Eniola, I can explain." I said taking two steps backward.

"Explain explicitly." Eniola retorted, folding her arms under her bosom.

"I am fasting." I said, lying through my teeth.

"There's no way I am believing that after what you just did." Eniola said, dropping the flask on the desk with a loud thud.

"Who prepares Eba and ogbono soup in the morning? Do you want me to sleep on my job." I retorted, moving closer to her.

"Why didn't you reject it then? Do you know how hard it was to drive to a restaurant early in the morning to request for such meal." Eniola screamed.

"You didn't even prepare it." I said chuckling.

"Don't you dare put the blame on me James Okafor." Eniola hissed.

"At least, you should be grateful it hasn't spoilt. You can take it home and dive into it." I said dramatically.

"Oh no.You are going to eat it now." Eniola yelled.

I flopped into my chair and laughed loudly displaying my perfect sets of teeth.

"I don't fancy takeout Eniola." I said smiling.

"That's a new development." Eniola whispered.

"Hello." An unfamiliar voice said.

We both tilted our heads at the same time to catch a glimpse of the silent intruder, what I saw made my jaws drop in amazement. The lady before us was dressed in a crop top and a mini skirt matched with a sunshade and heels that looked so unnecessary. Her hair was the epitome of perfection, and her brown milky skin was flawless beyond perfection. A snap from Eniola's fingers brought me back to reality.

"Good morning. My name is Kemi Ojo." Kemi said, reaching to shake my hand.

Eniola threw her hands in frustration and left for her office. I gestured to Kemi to sit down and I followed suit removing my suit jacket.

"What can I do for you?" I said tilting my head.

"Well I was assigned to your office to begin work as your secretary. I was told that you are in need of one." Kemi said beaming.

"I don't remember asking for one but you are welcome anyways." I said.

"But I have a question for you." I said shifting closer in my seat.

"Alright sir." Kemi smiled.

"Do you know that you are harassing me?"I asked.

"Excuse me sir?" Kemi said dumbfoundedly.

"Your dressing for a first day at work is highly confusing to me.You look inappropriate." I said rolling my eyes.

"I am sorry sir.It's just that I feel comfortable wearing these." Kemi said, twirling the band of her bracelet.

"They say that a man should be able to restrain himself from looking at a woman inappropriately. Can't you restrain yourself from looking indecent?" I yelled.

Kemi reached for something in her bag,throwing a couple of items on the desk which felt normal until I saw a condom. She bent her head for a few seconds and when she got back up ,she was smoking with a cigarette, puffing loudly.

"Excuse me, you can't smoke in here. What's wrong with you?" I said shifting backward in my seat.

"This interview is making me so nervous and this is the way I release anxiety from my body sir." Kemi said disposing of the cigarette in her bag.

"First of all,if you are all out to work here. You have to dress decently. I don't give a damn if you have to go out on the street hawking pure water or gala."

"Secondly, I won't tolerate a smoker in my office. I won't allow someone to deliberately injure my healthy lungs. Are we clear Miss Kemi?" I finally said releasing huge breaths.

"Alright sir. Thank you sir." Kemi said trembling.

Kemi got up a little bit hastily which made her micro-skirt to jump up.I found this less appealing and a lot irritable.

"Kemi, please come back." I said.

"Alright sir."Kemi said smiling.

I threw her my suit jacket and she caught it in a jiffy.

"Wear that around your waist." I said smiling.

Kemi wore it and since she was short in height. It covered her smooth legs and it made her look homeless.

"Thank you sir. I look forward to working with you." Kemi said, shaking my hands happily.

"I look forward to firing you in the nearest future." I said smiling.

"So where do I sit or work?" Kemi asked sheepishly.

"You can sit on on the floor. That's the only thing appropriate for you." Eniola interrupted.

"Eniola, don't say that." I said standing up.

"Or what? It's not like the slut has a choice." Eniola said dropping some papers on my table.

"I see you lack manners. Let me teach you some." Kemi said, dragging Eniola by her braids.