Chapter Four

    "Daddy" I called calmly. It was the weekend already, and I had to tell him my decision. He looked up from his laptop. I was sitting in front of him in the study, more like his home office.

   "Lola, what is it?"  He asked coldly.

I gulped, closed my eyes for a millisecond and answered. 

"Daddy, I... came to tell you about ...my decision, concerning...the job offer" I stuttered.

He gave me a stern look then concentrated on his laptop again, as if to tell me to continue with what I was saying. 

"I'll take it" I finally said after much reluctance, I wondered why I was so terrified of him, he's my father for goodness sake! Dad had a way of making us fear him, even mum wasn't left out. 

There were times she tried to resist his taunting stance on matters, but she had never pulled it off successfully. 

Although mummy tried to act like she wasn't afraid of him, we all knew she was.

One small mistake and she would be his punching bag, he would give her the cold shoulder for weeks and because she didn't want to leave the marriage, she would endure for us, her children. 

It was hard for us kids, to watch our parents fight all the time, I used to wonder what would happen if mum had divorced dad, would it have been better?.

Mum was very successful herself and she could take care my siblings and I , but she kept enduring everything. I believed she truly loved dad and she hoped everything would change. 

Okay back to the present... 

"Took you long enough" Dad muttered, loud enough for me to hear. 

He looked up at me so swiftly that I nearly flinched but regained my composure immediately, avoiding his piercing stares. He finally spoke up.

"You're starting on Monday" He said with an air of finality. Notifying me of the fact that this unpleasant conversation was over. 

"Yes sir" I said standing up and walking out of the office, I closed the door behind me, heaving a sigh, and I'm certain it's not of relief, I was worried sick, I had to do something about this

   Maybe you should go with Tana's plan 

My subconscious spoke, but heck it was right, I need to find a way to get out of this job, at least the one Mr Wole is offering, that man was no good and I kept wondering why Dad decided to go to him for help despite all his scandals. 

     I walked to my room, I was about tucking myself in, when my phone rang. It's 10pm , who could be calling? 

Of course, it was that crazy BFF of mine, "Tana Davis!" I half yelled, how could this girl be calling by this time, we weren't even chatting online. 

I face palmed myself inwardly.

This girl is gonna drive me crazy 

"Why are you calling?" I said

"Chill jor, I hadn't heard from you all day and I decided to call. 

"You just forget me for one side" She blabbered over this phone. 

This okoro will will not kick my bucket for me, Never! 

   "Hmm, so that's why you decided to call?" I asked dryly, knowing fully well that she called for something else.

Aproko no go kill this one  

   "Uh huh, can't I call my friend again?" She sounded so innocent, I giggled. 

"Talk true jor, you want to know how it went down between my dad and I, abi?" I smirked, I'd caught her already 

"Well... " She said, and I threw my head back trying to hold in my laughter. 

"Okay I admit it,Lola tell me what happened na, don't finish my call credit" She spluttered over the phone.

I couldn't hold it anymore, I laughed out loud, probably stunning her on the other end. 

After my bout of laughter I answered "Tatafo, you know that I know you, you want the gist? No wahala". 

She laughed on the other end, she knew that she was busted. 

I went on to tell her everything, including my thoughts to sabotage the job. She was in full support, all the way. I was thankful that I had such a supportive friend.

   Although I was nervous about everything, I didn't let it get to me, I'm going to take it one day at a time. 

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

   Monday swung by before I knew it, and I found myself dressing up for a new job, without an interview. 

That's how it works around here. 

Dad got the driver to drop me off at Wole and sons' Enterprises. The company's premises was huge, it looked classy too. 

  I walked in looking very corporate and classy. 

Trust me I'm not hyping it, I looked hot. Tana has always been right about the fact that I'm a fashonista, I don't joke with my looks. 

My make up was quite simple, I love looking natural. 

  I wore a straight black skirt which dropped a little below my knees, it hugged my curves perfectly with a small slit at the back. I was also wearing a maroon coloured top with beautiful lace designs, and to complete the attire, I wore  black stilettoes, my hand bag wasn't left out,but enough about what I was wearing *wink*. 

  I walked straight to the receptionist, a beautiful young, light skinned lady, from the tag on I top a figured that her name was Stella. She smiled at me and I returned the gesture. 

"Good morning ma'am, how may I help you?"  She asked politely,

"I'm Titilola Gregg and this is my first day here, I'm here to work in the accounting department"I said, showing her my credentials.

She stopped me almost immediately. 

"I know that ma'am, Mr Wole informed me of your arrival, I'll take you to him after which you'll resume at your office" She said that so quickly that I was startled, she sounded like some robot that was programmed to say stuff.

I regained my composure and gave her a small smile, acknowledging all she had said. 

"This way ma'am"she said leading the way to the elevator, she tapped on the buttons and I figured we were headed for the twentieth floor, I guess that's the highest floor. 

  I wonder what Mr Wole wanted to see me for, probably wanted to notify me that he acknowledged my presence in the company. I shrugged inwardly, who cares? Let's get this over with. 

  We stepped out of the elevator minutes later, into a busy hallway. Staffs kept scurrying left and right on every floor of the building. I felt stares from every angle, and even heard whispering .

Come on guys, I know I'm hot,but ain't it too early for gossiping. I chuckled at the thought. 

    Finally we were at the boss' office, that walked seemed like it was gonna last forever. Stella knocked on the door, molting me out of my thoughts. I heard his groggy voice from the other end. 

"Come in!" Stella opened and we both walked in, I took in a deep breath, inhaling the lingering scent of his Cologne and observing the interior of his office. 

  It was a large office, with his table by the large windows, giving an overview of the city below, two couches lay at a corner of the room. There were lots of documents on one desk, and on the desk he sat in front of there were only few, he had a mug of coffee on, another mug filled with ball pens, a framed photo of himself at one edge of the table and a few sheets of paper.

Mr Wole was on his swiveling chair, when we walked in. He looked up from what he was doing and stood up with a smile immediately he got a glance at me. 

"Lola dear, how are you? " He said pulling me into a slight hug. Weird right?                       I pulled back a little with a fake smile on my face.

"I'm fine, thank you sir".

" That's good"  He said and I smiled once again. He turned to Stella. 

"You may leave" She nodded quickly, and was about moving when he said again. 

"Won't you offer Miss Lola something to drink? ".

"Sorry sir " She said almost stuttering, and she turned to me

"What would you like to have ma?" I shook my head slightly 

"I'm fine, thank you".

" Lola, are you sure about that, don't be shy dear" Mr Wole said again,

"Yes sir, I'm fine, thank you" I said again. 

"You can leave now" He said coldly to Stella and she stepped out of the office. 

"Well as you know Lola, your father asked me to give you a job here, and out of my generosity, I appointed you a position without any hesitance". 

I mentally rolled my eyes 'generosity indeed' 

"Yes and I'm grateful sir " I said again with another fake smile on my face.

He chuckled and looked at me in a funny way. I was nervous now.

"You know Lola, you're a very beautiful girl and I'm glad you're going to be working here. I'd love to see your face more often" He said in that annoying accent of his.

I decided to act ignorant to his amorous advances. this man never changes, old habits,die hard I guess

"uhmm thanks sir" I said hesitantly, I just wanted to get out of this office ASAP. 

I groaned mentally, I told my dad about this but he never listens to anyone. 

I have to ask before things get more  awkward in here. 

"Where's my place of assignment sir? I mean my office?" I blurted out.

"Oh yes" He said as if remembering something. 

"Let me get someone to take you down there, you'll be in the accounting department" He picked up the intercom and called someone, he said a few things and before I knew it, a young man came in. 

"Lola this is James, he's the head of the department you'll be working, you'll be reporting to him from now on.  

"Nice to meet you Mr James " I said with a small smile, he nodded in acknowledgement of my greeting and turned to Mr Wole who dished out orders to him. 

Soon afterwards, we found our way out of the office heading for the department of my primary assignment. I could tell from the look of things that it's gonna be a long week. I sighed. 

James showed me around the company, and got me acquainted with my colleagues in the department, they all welcomed me warmly. 

I was given a small office, where I would do all my official duties. It wasn't so small, it was portable, it had a bathroom, so I didn't have to worry about moving out of the office to do my business. 

Work was just fine, only boring, I couldn't enjoy anything going on there. 

Though I had a fat salary, I still wasn't satisfied, I wanted to do my own thing, something I had always dreamt of. To be a fashion designer.

I brought up the thought once when I was way younger but my mum brushed the issue aside, calling the term "a glorified tailor", that almost killed my dream being of being one, but I don't give up easily.

💖

  Back home, I was bombarded with questions from Laila as soon as I walked in.we're family after all.

"Laila chill na, I just got home o..." I said, sitting down on the sofa, exhausted. Work is hard. 

"Sharrap my friend, just one day and you're acting like you carried the whole building on your shoulders. Tell me, how was it?" She said with a slight smirk. Was she actually laughing at my plight?.

I gave her a look,that spoke louder than words. An 'are you really asking me that?'look, from me, just made her burst into laughter. Okay, I'm gonna kill her.

I glared at her and she stopped laughing, gave me an amused look and finally said 

"okay I get it, you had a rough day" She said raising her hands, as if surrendering from a war. This was war. 

   I scoffed, throwing my head back a little, "That's and understatement sis, it was AWFUL"  I said stressing on the word 'awful'. 

"That Wole of a man, he's such a pervert" I gave an account of what my day was like, and she shook her head afterwards, she was quiet. Wasn't she going to say something? That's unusual. 

  She finally spoke up, "Daddy shouldn't have gotten you to work for him" She said calmly.

  I nodded, almost lost in my own thoughts "you're right, but there's always a way out" I shrugged

She looked amused and she raised her eye brows at me"Hmm, so tell me little sister, what's the way out? " Oh no, she wants me to spill my plan. No way! 

     "I dunno" I said looking around the room, trying to avoid her penetrating gaze. I knew she could read me easily but I'm not opening up either way.

"Who's teaching this one how to lie?" She said looking around the room asking no one in particular. She then turned to me and said dryly

"You suck at lying Titilola"

She was right, I always attributed that to the fact that I'm the last born, we can't hide anything from anyone, I guess. 

"Me? I dunno what you're talking about o, I'm sha going inside to rest, call me when dinner's ready" I stood up, trying to avoid the conversation. 

She laughed again "I'll find out, what you're hiding Fish, and of course I'll call you when we're done eating dinner" She hollered at me 

"Laila, don't try me o, first class crase" I hollered back, dodging the slipper she threw at me, I ran upstairs. gosh I'm exhausted

     I checked my phone, I hadn't had any time for it all day. 

Three missed calls from Tana 💞

"This girl can't live without me" I muttered to myself, chuckling a bit 

"Day one's out of the way at least" I said to myself. It's becoming a habit to talk to myself often, I found it weird sometimes, but who cares? 

I laid on my bed, thinking of so many things at once, before drifting into a short sleep. 

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