Chương 2: 1
Abuja
Ayesha
I rubbed my arms shivering due to the high temperature of the air conditioner in the cabin that is not only spacious but tastefully furnished with brown and white furniture. My eyes couldn't stop but wander around the room as it captures everything. I never thought offices like this with a cool temperature exists in Nigeria since I've never been in one. Of course, excluding school offices. To be specific, the principal's office. The secondary school I attended had no working fan in our principal's office so whenever I go in, I get eager to leave because of the heat. But here, from the entrance of the 5 storey-building, a receptionist welcomed me with a warm smile. Everyone was so cordial which is amazing. I feel at home.
The door opened and a man came in. A tall man that has a moustache and was wearing a neatly ironed black suit and a blue tie. He smiles at me and moves to the swivel executive chair behind the pink ivory table with piles of documents on it and a laptop and sat down.
"You must be Ayesha Yusuf." He scans at me and bends bringing out the Ac remote. He reduced the temperature and then focused his attention on me again.
"Perhaps you didn't read the requirements properly. We don't want a fat woman and you're fat."
I forced a smile exhaling a deep breath. "Your name?"
"Hamid Abdulhamid."
My brows furrowed wondering what type of family they have. They're all bearing rhyming names. But this means he isn't the Khalid. He is either his younger brother or his elder brother.
"So?"
"Yes!" I nodded. "I mean I read it but who cares about the requirements? Your requirements seemed out of place. I'm sorry if you feel it is disrespect to you but I want this job urgently so I'll tell you why I'm here. My parents have been pestering me to bring someone home for marriage. Of course, I'm not ready but what can I tell them? Their daughter is 24 years old but is still not ready to settle down? Your Brother can understand the feeling. I'm not here for the three million you people will be offering. I want to be his fake girlfriend and in return, he'll be my fake boyfriend. For three months. Just so that my parents will leave me alone for a few years. He and I have to pretend we're boyfriend and girlfriend in front of them. You see, I'm not perfect nor am I a model. I have a lot of imperfections but the best thing is no one is perfect. Even your brother isn't perfect.
"You will not want to tell him he's not perfect."
But he isn't. There is no perfect person in the world except the Almighty. Back to me, I eat with my hands. I talk a lot but with the right people. Sometimes even with the wrong people. I don't know how to keep my thoughts to myself. I just voice everything out to anyone available. I might have studied in London but trust me all my habits are Nigerian. I can't help it. Nigerian culture flows in my blood. There, It's only on occasions or when we'll celebrate a friend's birthday party that I eat food that isn't Nigerian. In short, your brother needs me as much as I need him. Please select me to be the fake girlfriend and in return, you may keep the salary. I'm being honest with you and sharing a little part of my life. I can act if that's what you want. I will act like a modern woman. I can pull it off since it won't be every day I'll meet his parents.
"Okay. You may leave. If you're lucky, you'll receive a confirmation message by evening." He smiles wholeheartedly flashing his white teeth.
This can't be done. I won't leave without you reassuring me. Do you know I told mum I'll introduce her to my boyfriend this week? Where can I find one on such short notice? I'm disturbed. If I don't show her my boyfriend this week, she'll hook me up with her friend's son and I don't want that. I don't want to be in an arranged marriage not just arranged marriage, currently, I don't want to be in a marriage.
"Don't worry. Have faith and you may be selected."
No. If you tell me I'll be selected and you don't select me, I'll be heartbroken. Have you ever been heartbroken?
He shakes his head slowly.
I knew it. Even secondary school love stories are always incomplete. You must have promised your classmate that if not her, there will be no one. But then you went to the tertiary institution and met another lady whom you also liked. You moved on from the other girl and dated the new lady. She must have broken your heart because she couldn't wait till you complete your education before you marry her. She must have given you the excuse of family pressure asking you to send your family for discussion. You couldn't do it so you felt hurt. Sad, depressed. I know the food you ate at that time became tasteless even though it was delicious. Your life became dull and colourless. The world became boring and all you wanted was to run away from everyone and live in a dark place forever. I'm sorry for reminding you about the old memories but I can't help it. If you don't choose me to be the fake girlfriend, I'll become a mess. I'll be married to a stranger I know nothing about and my life will become like shawarma that has no fillings. You know the bread doesn't taste good unless it's eaten with something. A tea or when you spread mayonnaise on it but to eat it plain, I'm not dieting so I hate it.
"Miss Ayesha, we'll contact you. You may leave."
You must be reminded of old memories. Everyone has secondary school love. Even I had it. Sad that the boy can't help me now because I'm the reason we broke up. Please Hamid...Mr Hamid, please choose me. I'll forever be indebted to you if you do.
"You're selected. Happy? You may leave. I'm already late for a meeting because of you. Come tomorrow in the morning. You'll meet my Brother for further clarifications on the job."
"Yes, yes. I'll come early. Thank you." I pushed the chair back and rose from it. "I'll get going."
"Please do."
I dashed outside to the luxuriously furnished hallways reading a sign that says cafeteria which is pointing at a door.
This reminds me I haven't had a drop of water to drink since I came here because I was researching the Khalid. Had I known it was his brother I'll meet and not him, I won't have wasted my time. On top of that, there was nothing useful I found about him on any of the websites. His interior showroom is very popular so why is the owner a private person?
I opened the door and went in. There is no one inside. Neither a chef nor a waiter at the counter.
I turned to leave but my eyes sighted a fridge.
Anyone? I'm hungry. Can I get food and water?
No one answered.
I shrugged and went to the fridge opening its door. It contains many soft drinks, bottled water, slice cakes, leftover ice cream in a bowl and a leftover coffee in a cup.
I grabbed one bottled water removing the cap and gulping half of it inside me. After I felt satisfied, I proceeded to the counter seeing a served egg fried rice with shredded chicken on a glass plate.
"God." I licked my lips as I pulled it out from the hole and took it to a table sitting down. I used my hand and fetched some of the rice putting it in my mouth. As I relished the food, the taste reminded me of rice with goat pepper soup. Never have I ever had such amazing rice. It's well fried and the chicken is flavoursome.
The door opens and not bothered thinking it might be the chef or anyone since it doesn't matter, I continued enjoying my meal.
"Lack of manners. Didn't I ask for this room to be vacant before I come?" An angry man said and it got me startled because of the intensity of his voice. My eyes roamed here and there having all sorts of thoughts about who he is. I whirled my head meeting the eyes of the most handsome man that has been moulded into a perfect figure. It looks like he has designed himself. His muscles perfectly reveal themselves in the brown suit he wore and his height, perfect. Perfect for a man. And my weakness. He has trimmed his hair and he also got a beard on his face. I thought we only see this type of man in films. Built body and handsome face.
"Get out!" He exclaims bringing me out of my wild imagination.
Excuse me? Why will I leave? You get out. You saw me here and you can see a plate on the table that shows I'm eating. I won't leave without finishing because leaving food incomplete isn't a good deed.
He walks closer stopping inches away from me and he puts his hand in his pocket. My heart started racing back and forth as if it will explode at any moment. He says, "Do you have any idea who you're standing before?"
A person's background doesn't matter in three places. First, in a cafeteria which is here. Second in a mosque and the last, the grave. We all come here to eat food. Just because you want to exclude yourself from everyone won't make me leave this place. Go to another room and eat your food alone. Let me be. I came here first.
"I don't like repeating myself. Get out!" He shoots me a look that is filled with rage. This man doesn't know how to behave with guests.
Call your manager. Is this how the employees of this office behave with a guest?
"No wonder you're behaving like such. Didn't you read the sign outside this cafeteria that strictly mentions heads only?"
I saw the sign that says cafeteria. A cafeteria is a cafeteria. Be it heads or bodies. Whoever this belongs to has to welcome me today since I've started having my meal here.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me up walking me to the door.
"Let go of me." I jerked it back and rushed back to my table and sat. "Let me give you a piece of advice, stranger. It is never right to deny someone of his peace when he is eating. You're denying me of mine. Want to know how? You just badged in and yelled lack of manners. Do I lack manners according to you in any way? Just because I'm eating with the 5 fingers God has blessed me with you feel I don't have manners? Pieces of rice are on the table and on the marbled floor. It's obvious since my fingers aren't joint that will stop them from falling.
"This isn't the showroom. This is an office. Unless you're called here, it's not allowed for you to come. Now leave."
"Why do you love the word leave? Did your mother leave you and go when you were a child?" I turned briefly at his strict face and chuckled. "Probably. It explains the reason why you want everyone away from you."
The door closed with a loud thud and when I turned again to meet him, he wasn't there. "He wanted me to leave but he left himself. Stupid fellow."
••••
"Ma'am, Boss has ordered you to leave this room." A woman came in and said.
Did the man complain about me to the owner? What type of generation are we living in? Why couldn't he speak for himself?
"Ma'am, you spoke to the boss. That was the boss, Khalid Abdulhamid Sir. He seemed furious with you when he left. You wouldn't want to meet him again because he remained civil with you only because you're a guest."
My eyes widened at the revelation of his identity. Will I have to be a fake girlfriend to that man? I've made him angry so will he still accept me?
"Please leave. Because of you, Sir won't be having his lunch. He doesn't like dirty places and you made a mess of this place."
Show me his cabin. Please! I want to apologize to him. I had no idea he is the Khalid.
••••
She brought me to the door that leads inside to his cabin which had a nameplate on it that says C.E.O Khalid Abdulhamid. Hesitantly, I opened the door and went in. The whole office was furnished in black coloured furniture from the paint, to the chair, to the sofa, to the curtains and even the file in his hand has a black cover. Is he by any chance a vampire?
He gazes up from the file and looks at me.
I'm...I'm sorry.
"You better be. Leave." He exclaimed uninterested shifting his gaze to his file.
Okay enough. I apologized expecting to hear it wasn't a big deal but you said I better be. What reason do I have to be apologetic? It's not like I did anything wrong. I didn't see the sign that mentioned heads and bodies only in the cafeteria. Had I known, I would have removed my head only and entered with it. Why must you be so arrogant? Not everyone reads something from the beginning to the end.
"Are you dumb? If you're not, obey the first instruction and leave." He replied refusing to look up.
I'm not dumb but perhaps you are. Have you ever seen a situation where a woman and a man are in the same room and instead of the man waiting till she seats, he is already seated? I know London has more gentlemen but a person like you should at least try to copy them. When I came in here, the first thing you should have done is offer me a glass of water and then ask if I want anything but what you did is the opposite. I wonder where all the nice gentlemen in Nigeria fled to.
I settled on the soft cushioned sofa putting my head against the headboard. "Let me introduce myself to you. I'm..."
"Did I ask you for an introduction?"
"Hey..." The woman I met two days ago in the supermarket badged in and she exchanged looks with Khalid and me suspiciously.
"Khalid, I found your girlfriend...." The man that interviewed me came too and his cheerful face was replaced by a shocked expression when he saw the woman.
"Girlfriend? Is she your girlfriend?" She points at me.
Yes
"No." He replied. "I don't know her."
Aunt, you've met him. This is the reason why I said I can't date your son because I already have a boyfriend. Now only mum needs to be convinced.
"But he is my son. The son I wanted to hook you with. Never thought this boy will date ever but he found you."
"I know right." I giggled brushing my hands together.
"I was passing by this lane so I came to check on you two. Now that I've seen you, I'll get going but before I do, Khalid, I love your choice." She leaves the room.
Should I still leave your cabin or will you accept me to be your girlfriend?
"You're not even worthy to be an employee in this office talk less of the woman that will be with me for three months."
His comment was hurtful but I made sure it didn't evoke my confidence. It's just a matter of three months. What worst will happen in three months?
"This isn't the description I gave you Hamid. She is the opposite of what I want."
Whatever description you gave him is of no use now since your mum already saw me. She thinks we're dating and you can't just tell her we broke up. She is my mother's childhood friend and two days ago when we met at the supermarket, she collected my number so that you and I will become a thing. She thinks I'll be a good match for you...
"Only for three months. We can't change the fact that she thinks we're dating so we'll continue the act. Hamid has hired you. You'll join work tomorrow. Be here at 7:30 sharp. I hate people who are late."
7:30? I'm not awake at that time. Sleep is important for the human body and when I wake up at 7:30...
"Not wake up. You must be here at 7:30 sharp. We have to change you completely to a modern person."
That's not possible. The job doesn't mention I have to change myself...
"You didn't meet up with any of the requirements. Go home and start sleeping because you have to be here at 7:30 tomorrow. Don't leave home after eating breakfast. Don't eat anything. We'll have breakfast together."
I can't stay hungry for more than thirty minutes when I wake up. My stomach starts hurting due to hunger.
"This explains why you're fat but you won't be doing that again till after three months."
I won't assure you that I'll make it at 7:30 tomorrow but I'll try.
"If you're one minute late, your salary will be deducted."
"Well Khalid, she won't be taking any money from us. All she wants in return is for you to act as her boyfriend in front of her parents." His Brother chips in.
"That will happen when I see her behaviour and dedication towards the job. Miss, leave."
Okay, cool down. I'll leave your cabin.
I started striding to the door.
"7:30 sharp." He says from behind.
"Whatever!" My eyes rolls as I went out.
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