Cupid's Risk, Episode 6

 Office Politics: Small small girls....by Bubbles

Bisi was on her BlackBerry as she stepped out of the bank's official car. Her last marketing call had been very successful indeed. She was smiling as she walked into the closed banking hall from the back entrance. Iphey and Jane were at the front desk. “Welcome back,” Iphey greeted. Bisi nodded. “Follow me,” she mouthed since she was still on the cell phone. She walked into the marketing office which was empty, all her colleagues must have left for the day, and settled into her swivel chair. “I will see you once I get off here...ok bye bye.” She pressed the end call button and turned. Iphey was leaning on the door looking at her with a smile.

“Hey babes, I've told you to relax with me. Come and sit down, I have gist.” Iphey walked over and took the seat opposite.

“I met your boyfriend…”

“Who are you talking about?” Iphey looked surprised.

“I met Chinedu in Silverbird last night. Fine hard working bobo like that. All he could talk about was you; his friend said he even left us to run to your side…”

“Oh, he's not my boyfriend ooo abeg…”

“But wouldn't you like him to be? Maybe if Funmi hears about you both, she'll know you left Ayo for her…”

“Shhushh. Don't let anyone hear you say that. I told you about them in confidence.” Bisi motioned of zipping her lips.

“I...” Iphey moved forward but the ringing intercom cut her off.

“Hold on,” Bisi picked it up, listened for a bit and hung up. “Jane said she needs you back, she wants to leave soon.”

“OK, let's talk tomorrow.” Iphey stood up and left the office.

Bisi tidied up her desk, put all the necessary documents in a black folder and slammed it shut. She shrugged into her dark purple blazer, and re-applied her lip gloss. She smacked her lips and walked down the corridor around the corner. On the right stood a beige door, she knocked twice.

“Come in.”

Bisi walked in with a smile on her face. “Oga mi…” She walked towards the table.

“I‟ve told you to stop calling me that. Wetin sef?”

“Ahn ahn, Funmi calm down jo! Body too dey pepper you.” Bisi huffed and crossed her arms in annoyance.

The head of operations backed down. “OK, OK sorry! But I don‟t know when you're being sarcastic with the oga thing.”

“I just dey hail you. I know that when the time comes, you will help me just like Ayo gave you a double promotion.” Bisi uncrossed her arms and sat down.

“You can trust me on that. Did Alhaji give you the account?”

Bisi took off her blazer and leaned forward with excitement. “Yes now, don‟t you know me again?” She waggled her eyebrows. “Who can resist this?” She bent low till her pendant was hanging in the exposed cleavage.

Funmi laughed. “No forget say na me give you the connections and 411.”

“I fit?” Bisi sat back and placed the black folder on the desk between them.

“He said we should expect turnover of at least five hundred million a month…”

“Wow, with this, you‟ll soon be head of marketing and I‟ll be branch manager.” Funmi jumped to her feet and came around to hug her.

“So you want to displace your former lover?” Bisi laughed.

Funmi leaned on the corner of the table. “Don‟t mind that stupid randy goat. He wants to push me over because of small small girls. Did Iphey tell you anything else?”

“She said she'll hook him to displace you, and is still bad mouthing you sha...”

“I will show her...” Funmi shook her head and bit a nail.

Bisi laughed. “Listen to new gist first. I went out during the weekend and met this guy…”

“Where did you go sef? I hope it wasn't that razz place in Silverbird?” Funmi interrupted, eyeing her with disdain.

“The place is not razz jo! Please let me finish my story now?”

“Ok, ok continue.”

“As I was saying, I met this guy who asked me if I knew Iphey. He wants her. 

I don't know how or where she met him but she is one lucky girl, he is very handsome.”

“How is that my concern?”

“Don't you want her to date him and leave Ayo for you?”

Funmi pursed her lips. “Hmmm...that one is her business o. Imagine, less than three months and she wants to pull weight with me. Ayo or no Ayo, she has to leave this branch if not the bank. I can't stand her.”

Bisi got up and faced Funmi, “So Ayo is not getting back with you?”

Funmi sucked her teeth, “So he says but I‟m still working on him…”

“That fool! Maybe you should just forget about him.”

“We shall see.”

“Ok o! I have to go now. I'm meeting Alhaji.” She put on her blazer.

“Alright, full gist tomorrow?”

Bisi nodded and tapped her folder. “Abeg get the small small girls to open the account. You can add more mistakes to bounce on their head as usual.”

“I need the ammo to show that small girl pepper.”

They both laughed as Bisi walked out.

The game takes a turn ....by David

Iphey got home early from work and dressed to go to her sister's house. She had had a fair enough day but wasn't to be pushed…she was almost at her limit. Her mom had been in Lagos for the past couple of weeks. Though their mother was staying with Ngozi to help take care of Obi, her presence still weighed heavily on Iphey. The bright side was that her nephew had been discharged from the hospital two days ago. They had all been surprised, considering his still weakened condition but the doctors said he was stable and would bounce back faster at home.

“Mum, how can you have a party for Ngozi and Obi? Shouldn't they be resting and besides, how come I'm just finding out about the party?” Iphey recalled her conversation with her mum the previous night.

“My daughter, I‟m sorry but seeing as you are a very busy lady, I didn't want to stress you more than you are. I know the few times you could come to the hospital. This is also my send off, I'm returning to Port Harcourt on Sunday.”

That was the only excuse she got from her mom. An excuse that raised suspicions that didn't sit well in her stomach. Though her attempts to find out who the other guests were from her mom seemed futile, she was so relieved her mum was finally leaving that she let it slide. Her mum had visited her office twice and she'd also caught her going through her phone. Iphey was beginning to feel like a third wheel with her colleagues and friends where her mum was concerned.

Oh well, she didn't want to overdress so she wore a pink, light sweater on a faded, deep blue jeans and a black, sleeveless leather jacket. She wore no make-up that evening. Looking into the mirror to make sure that her curves were not too pronounced, she stepped out of her apartment.

                                        ********

Chinedu parked his car on the street his heart beating a little bit faster. He had taken a chance to accept the invitation from Iphey's mother. He and her daughter had not spoken in nearly a week. Aisha had asked what he did since Iphey didn't want to talk about him though she had tried several times to find out what was happening. He was of half a mind to give up but something told him not to. He had never had it this difficult with a girl. He had the looks, the money, and the charisma. She was different…he suspected that she was not swayed by frivolities but was more interested in his personality. If so, he'll take things slow.

He walked into the house and saw other guests that had been invited, holding drinks and making conversation. He scanned for Habib but first found Aisha and her husband in a corner of the room with the lady who most definitely made his heart stop. ONLY ONE WOMAN MADE HIM FEEL THIS WAY! He took charge of him emotions, mustered a bland expression and walked up to them. Before he got there something unexpected happened. A tall, well dressed man joined the group, greeted them and hugged Iphey with familiarity. Even Chinedu couldn't deny that this new man was very attractive and he looked like he‟s got money as well. He felt a stab in his chest and his face betrayed his cool demeanor. He was full of jealousy in a way he had never been, especially as the stranger's hand was still resting on her hips.

“It's not that she's my lady but I know I can't stand her with another man...” A voice broke into his thoughts. It was Habib, “Why you stand here, come on…” Chinedu walked with him to say a very brief hi to everyone. He saw an expression of guilt on Iphey's face…this made him a little happy. He walked away after a muttered excuse to get a drink.

“Chinedu, Chinedu…hold on. Stop! Please…” Ipey called out. She had left the man she was with and came after him. He smiled. He turned around so suddenly that she ran into him and almost fell. He caught her on impulse and held her close. His heart raced and seemed to beat twice as fast. He looked into her eyes as the adrenaline pumped through his veins…and drowned in the beauty before him. A thousand years could have passed and he would not have traded that moment for anything. He stood there oblivious to his surroundings and wondered what was going on in her head. He wanted to know. Without warning, she kissed him. For a second, he thought he was dreaming, only to realize that it was for real. She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek but he remained tense and unyielding. Although he wanted nothing more than to fold her close he still smarted from the jealousy she had stirred in him. He pulled away and watched as she looked at him in disbelief.

“What was that about?” he asked.

“I wanted to say welcome and thanks for coming…” He could see she was embarrassed by his aloofness and didn‟t know what to say. She followed the direction of his gaze and gripped his arm. “I know what you're thinking but trust me, he's not...”

Cutting her short, “What does that have to do with me? Why should I care? At least you‟ve made it clear that you want nothing to do with an ex-armed robber. Now I know why you refused to hear the circumstances that led me down that path...”

“Chinedu please...”

He smiled without mirth, “Well I came on your mother's invitation, so I‟ll go greet her and your sister and be out of here…let's just say my eyes are now opened.” With that…he walked away, leaving her transfixed and at loss of what just happened.