The large hall in the ground floor of Wodmax group was full with business executive from mostly construction and real estate companies.
Having; clients and suppliers, investors and prospective investors, competitors and myriad other executives with diverse interest in the industry the company is operating and maneuvering its way....
"Having all these scavengers under one roof could be quite overwhelming, I know sir.
For this reasons I hate these annual conventions. What with all the expansion going on, these vultures always catch on the smell quick enough….".
"will you stop talking Berge. I want to think".
"think about what? I am trying to cool off before they call me to on the stage to cite end of year reports."
"you can let Joe handle it if you are feeling nervous Nora," I suggested looking down at four foot eight lady in classy high heels,
daring her to forfeit her chance to prove to these power players that she is aiming for the top. And to have her as a team player will be very fruitful.
From a well cultured outspoken home, Nora have no problem expressing herself.
Her tongue is as sharp as a Pharaohs whip. Her eyes, as large and bright as that of an awl.
If she locked eyes with you, you feel as though your soul lay bare for all eyes to see. Is almost as if she can see what lays behind your breast bone.
And her transparent lenses which she wears constantly dulls not the intensity of her penetrating gaze. Not in the least.
The first time I set eyes on this ferret of a woman, I simply whispered to myself, 'stay away from that one….'.
but Nora seem to cross paths with whomever she choose as her new victim of her veracious interest.
"isn't she beautiful? Courtly. A diplomat," Nora said gesturing to Ruby, with her beak of a chin, her most distinctive feature, I found remarkable.
In her black trim suit and matching modest skirt, accentuating her lean regal figure, Ruby look more like a first lady, or the office version of Cinderella .
She looked calm in her calibrated strides towards the stage to take her seat among the executives.
"she is, Nora. Now, will you stop talking and focus on the report you will be delivering?"
"it is so boring when your memories it back to back. I have most of the crucial figures in my head."
"I wouldn't be surprise if you have the whole damn thing in your head Berge." She chortles as Diana and Mika walked up to us.
"who is the helpless victim Nora?" Diana asked the lady playfully.
"I am the victim ma'am," she laughed again.
"what do the director of finance have for the people?" Diana asked sarcastically, glancing at me.
"it's a simple premise diana."
"well, let's hear it in house before it goes public," she said beginning to chuckle.
"don't worry Nora will handle it in a grand style."
"I wouldn't doubt that, even in my sleep. I just want to her whatever comical phrase you have up your sleeve…". All three women laughed, glancing at me expectantly.
"you want to know about our policy to dangle before the eyes of those who come to take away cash they will never lay their hands on.
While we covet to take from the givers more than we actually need to get things running?...."
All three women had their palms on their mouths to muffle their giggles, "I told you. he does it every time," Mika told Diana to complement an opinion the two of them obviously formed about me.
"we will now call, the chief director of Wodmax, Mrs. Rubiana Dominick," the chairman spoke into the microphone as ruby approached the mike on the podium.
Palms where smacking palms vigorously, and I smack with them, like I did smack for my dad on his last day and last speech, 26 years ago.
There you go babe, shine for me. shine like the star that you are. Her poise, energy, control, galvanized with a palpable strength, were all traits of the woman that can't not easily be overlooked.
She did come this far. I love you, babe…. As though she heard me, she glances my way mid-way in here address.
In concise well coordinate speech, broad in girth, she touched at the core of the topics about the company, rather than approached anyone topic in length.
Aware of the impatient crowd of business executives who actually wanted to hear about figures and digits as quickly as possible to delight in the merry making that will follow afterwards.
None of these people actually care a hoot about anything except how much they can drain out of the company after the details of the financial statements lays bare, so that they know which part of the fat meat is juicy enough to be sliced.
Blood sucking leaches. Well, bring it on. The auditors will definitely come to battle the depreciation figure. They will come for revaluation, looking all scary.
A little compensation in their pockets behind closed doors and they wouldn't prob any further…. Blood sucking leaches. This year, I will be there waiting for them.
"I am up, people. Wish me luck," Nora's voice intrudes my interim musings. I nodded to her with a smile.
This is her field. I wouldn't go on a debate against that girl on any subject what so ever. Knowing is one thing, while communicating what you know is quite another.
Since I am a student of former, I will hold my peace against Nora any day since she is a student of the latter class of people.
She can sell to you any idea, and make you feel like missing out a lot if you don't buy.
In humorous projection of details without boring listeners, Nora tapped into the world of accounting ratios to plant vivid images that interpret the reports at a glance.
For the executives who were less inept at understanding financial jargon, Nora was out to make their eyes bulge and turn inward in confusion.
However, those who comprehend were having a thrilling trip into world of wodmax, and its promising future.
****†*****†*****†****††**********
"this really taste great. This catering service you out source this year can make a lady smack her lips all day long, ma'am," Nora said smacking her lips.
"Or probably get a man to swallow his figures whole", I added, munching my way into the succulent yam balls, the size of a plumb guava, stuff with mashed steak, fried eggs and onions, lettuce and green pepper. The aroma felt heavenly.
Smiling at Nora, Diana said, "I wish I could say the same about the way you handled the end of year report, Nora. I was lost before you ever begun. but I see it impress most of the executives it was supposed to appeal to."
"I am flattered all the same ma'am," Nora replied lively, sipping from her class of juice.
Mika dipped into her fried rice and vegies reluctantly as her amiable expression focused on Rhymz and the conversation he was having with Ruby across the other table while they eat.
It was not long before Rhymz stood up, and bow before Ruby, whispering something into her ears, getting her to grin and nod in acquiescence.
They hit the dance floor. A perfect couple floating in Unisom with the solo as they merge in with other couples and singles.
'you are jealous Kuga '. "am i, Spooky?"
I stood up. maybe a little abruptly. It got Diana and Nora raising their heads from their plates, maybe a little too sharply.
"sorry ladies. I need a minute to myself outside." I tug on my tie to create a little breathing space for my pulsating neck.
"need some fresh air, hah? I am coming with you." Diana said, and Nora added "me too. Lets take a walk."
"cant you two give a man his privacy, for just a minute."
"Nora, give me some time with your boss okay."
Diana hooked her hand around mind, tilting her head to look into my eyes.
" I believe you have some slippery moves for a lady on the dance floor," she said, drawing me towards the crowd of dancing men and women.
"I want to go out for a smoke."
"smoke can wait. Perhaps when we get to my place. from this place, I am sending you straight home, and you can't say no."
"okay woman, let's see how long you gon last."
"not too long I think. Maybe I am half way there. do you want here a little secret?" she whispered sensually into my ears.
"what is it lady?".
"it been three years Kuga."
"is this where you tell me I am the only one?"
"perhaps, you are the only one to ever get me there...."
" somebody's gonna get hurt, woman."
"we already hurting, so why not make it full circle...?
she queried, smiling and gliding with me on the dance floor, floating with the Alif Naaba solo titled Ka.
I was jaded by the sound and melody. "I definitely love this song Kuga, and you seem to roll with it so well," she said drowsily as though drunk in passion.
"now, tell me the truth, Kuga....". she looked at me with parted lips and hungry eyes.
I don't like it when a woman talk like this.
That always mark the beginning of a pending trouble.
"what do want to hear Diana? You want to know whether I missed you?". she gasped and pinch me on the chest playfully.
"do you read minds now?"
"there is nothing like that lady."
"tell me how you do that…"
"perhaps, I put the thought in your mind my thinking the same. Perhaps, it has to do with events prior to the statement. The rest is simply intuitive.
An instinctual guess. So far as I have a glimpse into what you mind revolves around, especially in the moment, lustful thoughts you have no shame of hiding, I can easily make an accurate guess. I catch your vibe woman, and my phallus ache as painfully."
She gawks and burst out laughing amidst the music, more of Alif Naaba soul redeeming solos, and we wine and twitch together like two intertwine serpents.
I could sense Ruby's gaze piecing into my skin, drilling two massive holes on my back.
when I turned around as I did imagine it, my eyes help her cold dark ones. spite filled them, loathing... and she wanted me to see how her regard for me had gone berserk.