Chapter Eighteen

'Good... Good morning, madam," The Security guard stuttered with his mouth agape. Bukunmi smiled, in response to his greeting, knowing why he had been so stunned upon seeing her that morning. Although she felt uncomfortable in the tight grey sequin skirt which was a little above her knees, which Nneoma had given to her a year ago because it was too big for her big ass, and couldn't fit in anymore; still, she didn't mind and was confident that things would go as planned, seeing the effect it had had on the security guard. She adjusted her black blazer, which she only wore because she was in a work environment, and not going to some club, and also because she didn't want her grandmother, Alhaja Pelumi to scold her or call her names. It was even a miracle that she had left the house without being questioned as to if she was really going to work. Thankfully, she had still been surviving and coming to work without having to ask her mother for anything even though all she had was a thousand naira last week. If not for the conference that had made the company wire some money into her account for her upkeep and expenses, she would have been dead broke by now. 1...2...3...4. She counted in her head, then heaved a nervous sigh, and finally opened the door, telling herself that she could do it and she would do it. It was Kate's wide-eyed expression that greeted her as she walked in. 'Oh, my goodness!" She squealed in awe and excitement. Bukunmi forced a nervous laugh. 'What in the world happened to you? You look magnificent," She said, looking her all over in surprise. 'Thank you," Bukunmi said, grinning from ear to ear. 'I can hardly believe my eyes. Turn around," Kate said. Bukunmi did so just for the sake of doing so, hoping Kate didn't slash her skirt as she turned around. Although, they had suddenly become cool with each other, she still couldn't really trust her. 'That's a pretty good behind you've got there, and why exactly have you been hiding it?" Kate inquired. 'I've not exactly been hiding it. I've just been dressing really decently," She countered. 'And who says this isn't decent enough?" Kate asked. 'Well, I'm not sure. This is an office setting, and I don't want to look like..." 'Forget those thoughts. You and I know very well that your outfit is corporate enough. I mean, you're even putting on a blazer. No one requires you to dress religiously, just dress corporately, and if we're being honest, your skirt isn't even short. It's just tight and it's revealing that you were actually blessed with ass. Damn, sister!" Kate said. Bukunmi chuckled. 'Okay, that's enough." 'No, I'm serious." 'I know you are. I just don't want your hyping to get too into my head," She explained. 'Oh, that's true. Keep dressing like this and you'll forever hold a special place in my heart," She said, in a joking manner. 'Oh, my. I would really love to hold a special place in your heart," Bukunmi said. 'Then, you have to keep dressing gorgeously," Kate said. 'Aye, aye, captain!" Bukunmi told her with a mock salute, and they both burst out in a fit of laughter. 'With the way you're dressed, one would think that the advice I gave on behalf of your friend yesterday was actually for you," Kate said. The laughter wore off, and Bukunmi just wore a confused expression, thinking she had been caught. Damn! Kate was really smart. 'But then again, who exactly would you be giving that attitude to? Mr Tade Wellington? Of course not! He may be loose, but he never has anything to do with his staff," Kate revealed. 'Oh, really?" Bukunmi asked in surprise. 'Yeah." 'Why then did you say when I came to look for a job that I'd just be another one of those girls?" Bukunmi inquired. 'Oh, that. You looked very innocent and desperate for a job, and seemed like an easy prey to catch. I thought that he'd take advantage of your situation and just want to use you. You weren't a staff then, and even when he gave you the job, I thought it was still a motive for him to get into your panties, but it's been a few weeks and you're still here, and you've really been doing a lot around here, so..." She said and shrugged her shoulders, not completing her statement. 'I think I understand, but just for clarity sake, you mean, he may have something to do with applicants, but not his staff?" Bukunmi asked. 'Yes, exactly; and he never employs anyone who he has had something to do with," Kate said. 'Wow. How do you know about all these things though?" Bukunmi asked again, curiosity at its peak. 'Trust me, not only Tade Wellington knows how to keep an eye on people," Kate said, with a wink. Bukunmi gave a wry smile. 'Interesting," She commented. 'I know. Anyways, you should get going. I was on my way to use the restroom before you came in," She said. 'Oh. I'm sorry to have..." 'You don't need to apologise for anything. I'm not going to pee, just want to fix my makeup," She said. 'Oh!" Bukunmi said, in realisation. Kate gave a small laugh. 'Women and makeup," She said. Bukunmi laughed as well. 'Tell me about it. Let me get going now. Thank you so very much for everything. Wish you luck in your activities for today," She said. 'Thanks. I wish you the same as well," Kate said. They both waved at each other and proceeded in the opposite directions. While Bukunmi headed for the elevator, Kate headed for one of the restrooms on the ground floor. If anyone had told her that Kate would ever become nice towards her, she'd have told that person off, and said that the person was a liar. Some people are actually really nice; you just have to get to know them first. She got to the elevator, and seeing it was free, got into it and tried to curtail her fears. What if Tade didn't even notice her? What if he said she was dressed inappropriately and fired her instantly? What if she bent over and the skirt ripped? 'What if you could just shut up?" The voice in her head asked, distastefully. Looking around to ensure she was the only one in the elevator, she said aloud, 'I hate you!" Unfortunately, that was when the elevator doors opened, and two men just stood there, not admiring her outfit this time around, but wondering why she'd say she hates them. 'I wasn't..." Bukunmi said, trying to clear the misunderstanding. 'Just get off, psycho," One of them said in a deep voice. 'Why are pretty girls crazy? You should see a psychiatrist, you know," The other one added. Bukunmi knew she had succeeded in making herself look like a fool once again in the presence of other people, and wanted to bury her head in shame as she just stepped out of the elevator, paving way for them to get onto it. How could a morning that was so good just be ruined by two good-for-nothings? She was very well aware of how one person could just change her mood and ruin the entire day for her, and usually, she would ignore, but not today. She could not just let them go away with the satisfaction of ruining her already perfect mood. She knew how to get back her happy self, but that was only if she could pay them back in their own coin. Therefore, she stuck her head into the elevator, and pressed the button, preventing it from moving. 'What's up with you now, psycho?" The first one asked. She ignored his question and looked at their name tags, then called their names out loud. 'Mr Felix and Mr Ahmed, both working in the accounting department." 'Who are you? Are you going to get us fired?" Mr Felix asked, swallowing hard as they both tried to cover their name tags with their hands. She shook her head in negativity. 'Of course not. I happen to be the personal assistant of Mr Tade Wellington, you know, and I oversee every work your department brings in. Trust me, I'll frustrate your efforts and reject every report you bring to me, till you run mad and see that psychiatrist you recommended for me to see," Bukunmi said. 'No, it was not..." 'Yes, it was. You called me a psychopath, right? I'll prove to you that I really am one. Oh! I've seen your names on the promotion list for next month..." 'Really?" Mr Felix asked in excitement. 'I told you we'll get it," Mr Ahmed said. Bukunmi scoffed. 'I'll swap those names with the demotion list. Have a very nice day," She said and turned around, but not before pressing the button to give the elevator the go-ahead. 'No, ma. We're sorry!" They called, till she could hear their voices no more. Bukunmi giggled to herself. Maybe she really was crazy, but not crazy enough to meddle in their affairs. It was already enough that she had instilled fear into them; fear kills faster than reality anyways. It was appalling that everyone thought you were crazy if they caught you speaking to yourself, when studies have shown that 96% of people actually speak to themselves out loud. Bracing herself up with her renewed confidence, Bukunmi opened the door to her office and stepped in. It was 8:55am, so, she had been early to the office. Of course, Tade was around, and she saw him, sitting on his chair, playing a video game as usual, but pretended not to take note of it, because it seemed like he hadn't noticed her presence as well. Her palms were getting all sweaty, an evidence that she was feeling nervous as hell, but still, she could not let her plan go down the drain. Desperate for his attention, she cleared her throat and began to hum a tune, then walked over to the electric socket to go and plug her phone, which she did successfully. When she was sure his gaze was on her, she turned her back on his desk and was heading back to hers, when she removed her blazer, fanning herself with her hands, making a show of feeling hot. She was putting on a blue tank top, which hung tightly to her bosoms, and revealed a small amount of her cleavage. She then hung her blazer on her chair, then flipped the wig her mother had given her upon their reconciliation the previous day, then sat down to begin her work. She could feel his gaze still resting upon her, but she didn't even try to steal a glance at him. She was to pretend he didn't exist, and that was exactly what she was doing. Who would have thought that she would be so good at this? She pushed the left part of the brown long wig she was wearing behind her ear, and started loading the computer, so she could begin typing all she had done yesterday, in order to print them out and submit to him. Tade was trying so hard to focus on his video game, but all he could concentrate on was her. What in the world had happened to her? Did her fairy godmother appear at night and magically transform her? No, that couldn't be possible. First of all, she wasn't Cinderella, and secondly, she had no ball to attend, or did she? Something was definitely up with Bukunmi and he could tell. The Bukunmi he knew would never dress so seductively and make wild thoughts run through his mind. She dressed really nicely, but also decently, so he couldn't fathom what it was that had transformed her overnight. He stared at her thoughtfully, and watched as she smacked her lips. Damn! She was wearing a red lipstick, which she never ever did. What the hell was really going on? Determined to find out what was truly going on, he pulled out his phone and began to type on it aggressively, like the phone was the cause of his problem. 'When a lady's dressing improves, what could be the plausible reason?" This was the question he had searched for on Google, who ought to know everything, and could damn well give him an explanation of what had happened to Bukunmi. Plenty of results popped up as answers to his questions, and all they were saying was the same thing, even though they were written in different ways. He looked from her face to his phone, trying so hard to believe the results were a lie. What he had been shown was that the lady in question, which was Bukunmi apparently, had gotten a new boyfriend or had a crush on someone. For reasons he didn't know at the time, his heart began to thump heavily, as anger and jealously surged through him. She was crushing on someone? Really? He knew definitely that she couldn't have a crush on him, not after he had left her alone in her hotel room in Ogun State, and certainly not after he had spoken to her in a harsh tone yesterday. For her to have dressed this way to the office, it could only mean that the person was within the company, and she was trying to impress him. He had a hunch that she couldn't have a boyfriend, because it'd be so soon to have started dating in the company already, and also, he felt she was going to be the loyal and faithful type who wouldn't kiss another man while she was still in a relationship. Since it was certain that the person should be within the company, the question that bothered his mind presently was who the person could be. The only persons he ever saw her speaking to were Kate and Itohan. When he had seen her laughing with Kate yesterday through his CCTV camera, he knew there was bound to be trouble. That girl seemed like a bad influence and before yesterday, he was aware that they didn't see eye to eye. Why were they laughing? Was it because the guy Bukunmi had a crush on said something funny, and they were discussing about it? Did Kate or Itohan give her the idea of dressing like the opposite of herself to attract this crush of hers? Throwing a look in her direction, he shook his head disappointedly. 'I really didn't expect this from you," He blurted out, then consciously bit his tongue as a punishment for revealing his inner thoughts aloud. 'What?" Bukunmi asked, shooting her head up for the first time that morning, wondering what it was he was disappointed about. Of course, he hadn't meant to say those words aloud, but the deed had already been done, and he couldn't tell her he was thinking out loud; he then made a resolve to improvise. Clearing his throat, he looked her in the eye from across his desk, then adjusted his tie before speaking up. 'Er...well, I'm disappointed in you," He said. 'Why?" Bukunmi asked, looking him all over like he was crazy. 'You came in today and failed to greet me, your boss, your employer, the payer of your salary, your..." 'I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were there," She said, knowing that he might as well say he was her Lord and Personal Saviour if she didn't cut in. 'Oh, really? So, I'm invisible, is that it?" Tade fired. Bukunmi put her hands up in surrender. 'Your words, not mine," She said. He scoffed. 'When did you become so bitchy?" He asked, finding it hard to believe that she had just said what she said. 'I beg your pardon?" She retorted, thrown off by his guts. 'You heard me right," He said firmly, maintaining his cool. 'Very well then. I'm sorry, Mr Tade Wellington, for coming to work on time in order not to get my salary deducted at the end of the month, and being so engrossed in my work to show how much I actually care about this job, to have not noticed that you were in your usual sitting position, doing nothing as always. Oh! You weren't doing nothing, you were playing video games which is not surprising at all, and actually equivalent to doing nothing," Bukunmi said, without pausing for breath. He looked at her in astonishment, and she looked at him with a confident look, when in actuality, she was trembling in fear. Why she had spoken in that manner, she didn't know, and she hated herself right now. Whenever she was really mad about something, she just exploded without thinking of the aftermath, and only the Heavens could save her from not finally getting a sack letter. On the other hand, a guilty feeling pricked at his heart. Why was this girl so good at making him feel bad? The way she had reacted was unlike her, and he knew he shouldn't have said she was becoming bitchy. Maybe all that was on her mind was her stupid crush and she actually didn't notice his presence, and he was stupid enough to have made a mountain out of a mole hill. They just stared past each other in an awkward silence; both of them not having an inkling on what to say to the other. At that moment, Tade was feeling really uncomfortable, and for the very first time in his entire lifetime, Drago saved the day, because at that moment, a call came in from him, and he could finally get past this awkward situation. 'Hello?" He said as he picked up the call. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Bukunmi go back to whatever she was doing on the computer, and unconsciously, heaved a sigh of relief. 'Hey, your plan worked. We got the son, and we can begin the process," He said. 'Well, my plan works all the time. I'm not surprised. So, where am I meeting you guys?" He asked. 'You really do not have to come..." 'I insist," Tade said in a firm voice. 'The usual place. This is quite surprising though. On the days you're asked to him, you will blatantly refuse, but today when you're not needed, you'll insist on coming. You really do have a mind of your own," Drago said, from the other end. 'Are you done?" Tade asked, showing through his voice, that he was uninterested in that conversation. 'Yes," Drago replied, knowing what Tade was going to do next, and he wasn't wrong, because just as he had thought, Tade hung up on him instantly. Rising to his feet, he grabbed his suit and dark sunglasses with his car key and began to leave the office without thinking twice. It was a good thing that Drago had called him, and he could pretend that he had something to do outside the office, and wasn't just trying to avoid her and the guilt she was bringing for the purpose of avoiding her. As he stepped out, the first person he came in contact with was Kate who looked like she was about to knock for permission to come in. 'Good..." 'Keep your greetings to yourself," He said, not even bothering to cover up the disgust he had felt upon seeing her there. 'Ummm..." 'What?" He retorted. 'I wanted to give this to Bukunmi. It's the final compilation on every department's memo for the anniversary," She said, holding up the large file she was holding. 'Then, do it!" He said coarsely and stormed off. He was sure that Kate was in a dilemma as to why he had responded that way, but he really didn't care. Something told him she had a hand in Bukunmi's change in dressing and attitude. She never used to come upstairs before, but she did today, which means they were getting close, and like elders would say, bad company corrupts good manners. He had to start watching everything Bukunmi was up to. He wanted to know who the guy she was trying to impress was, and he wanted to find out who was behind her sudden change. Why he cared, he didn't know. He shouldn't be bothered, and he knew that very well. All he was to care about in all sincerity was if she was doing her work well, and not who she liked, or who she was meeting. He also knew that spying on her was an infringement on her right to privacy, but he didn't care. The situation was driving him nuts and suddenly, he was losing all his senses, and the ache in his heart was more than enough reason to watch her every move.