Clint's office is a big compartment on the last floor of a storey building, along a busy highway. He sat on a swivel chair behind a semi-circular modern office desk. Few files lay on the left side of the desk, a white flat screen desktop monitor at the other, alongside other things. His name was boldly written and tagged "MD/CEO" on a plastic tag on the table.
Several security camera footage showed in square blocks on a 50 inches smart LG television mounted on the wall of the office by his right. The transparent wall before him provided him with a view of the busy expressway before him. He flipped through a file on the table when a dark-skinned, thick guy, just a few inches shorter than him entered the office.
"Pete, you're here. Took you long to get here." He acknowledged the presence of his visitor as he approached the table. He extended his hands for greetings.
Pete carried himself with calm but arrogant demeanour. His aura told tales of wealth — wealth earned and inherited. He settled into an empty seat opposite Clint, after exchanging pleasantries with him.
"I lost track of time. How's business?" He said calmly with a deep voice.
"Great, as you can see," Clint replied, "how is your old man faring?"
"Good. He's spending the morning with his Babe."
"Babe?"
"His wife, Bro. Cut it," he cleared.
"Oh, wow!"
The door was forced open, quickly introducing a scene of a corporately dressed lady who chased after a fair, plump lady on casuals. This startled the guys a whiff.
"Ma'am, you can't be in here," Jane the corporately dressed lady spoke to the other one with exasperation in her voice. She turned to Clint, "I'm sorry, Sir. I tried to stop her . . ."
The addressed lady ignored her and moved aggressively towards Clint's desk. Clint stood up, he was startled and irritated. "Kamso… What are you doing here?" He asked.
Kamso chuckled and moved closer. "You think you can treat me anyhow, eeh Clint? You feel you can treat me like that?" She said angrily in a calm voice.
Clint tried to contain his irritation by picking his words like a child, "what do you mean by that?" He slightly raised his voice in anger, "what are we talking about?"
"You now raise your voice at me, abi? You now shout at me, Clint, okwa ya! "
Clint took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Kamso, but can we talk later?" He left his table, moved over to her, and held her gently by the waist. He instinctively led her towards the door.
"I don't know why you are pissed, but can we not do this here, okay? Not here, not now, and definitely not before my client. I beg you in the name of God," he whispered to her, but Kamso flared up, before he was done.
"Oh! You don't know why I'm pissed! You don't really know?"
Clint tried to lead her through the door but she snapped away from him, "get your filthy hands off me!" She twisted herself away from his grasp.
"What do you want to achieve with this?" He whispered with frustration.
"So, you left me just like that? After everything?"
"Things like?" Clint gave up on whispering.
"This is what you say, right?" she asked, "This is how you put it right?"
Clint bit his lips in exasperation. Kamso had no claim over him. What they had was mutual and bereft of any form of commitment. Kamso was the random girl he met at the club some two years back and they clicked. There basis for friendship was based of beneficial intimacy and the often financial support from him. They never had a relationship and he made it clear he never wanted such. Kamso's growing emotional attachment made him distance himself and eventually ended their relationship, but Kamso has refused to give up.
"I'm sorry Kamso, but I thought we have . . ." Oblivious of how best to handle Kamso's sudden madness, Clint chose to apologize.
Amid sobs, "You thought what? What did you think? I'm a sex toy that deserves no care? You played with my emotions! You played with my emotions, Clint." Kamso teared up.
"But I, we, made this clear from the start," he raised his hands to the level of his chest, making gesticulations that matched his words.
Kamso withdrew to the door, amidst sobs still, "you are heartless! You're heartless, Clint, and I hate you for that! I hate you!"
"Kamso! Kamso!" He called her pleadingly. He made to hold her, but she withdrew herself from his reach. She walked through the open door and slammed it behind her.
"Darn it! I hate drama," Clint muttered under his breath, the muscles in his face morphed into a concerned expression.
"That was quite a big one." Pete, who was obviously entertained, remarked, "Quite some drama, I must say," he chuckled.
Clint threw himself on his seat, exhausted by the confrontation. "I'm sorry about that, Bro," he quietly said.
Pete stood up. "You shouldn't be apologizing to me. Meanwhile, I think we should talk later. You obviously need some space now."
"I'm sorry, let's just . . ." Clint trailed off.
"You need it, Clint. I'm not ready for the presentation either."
Clint sighed and sank into his seat where he watched Pete take his leave.
"You should go for less drama next time," Pete said smiled. He left the office for exhausted Clint.
Clint Waited At the lounge, sipping from his glass. The soft music in the background calmed his tired nerves. His phone buzzed in his pocket, he reached for it and pulled it out. Pete just responded to the PowerPoint he emailed him.
"In five days' kwa?" He said over the phone with dissatisfaction, "five days is too short; I can't guarantee that."
"How long will it take then?" Pete asked him over the phone.
"Let's say ten days, at least."
"That will be very long. They are needed before this coming week. We need to finish up with the building before the month ends."
"Business man!" Iyke hailed. He arrived with Ken who took a seat just beside Clint.
"I will try to shorten the days, but I can't guarantee you the five day deadline," Clint tried to finish up his business over the phone.
"Fine. Make it as fast as possible."
"I will try." Clint dropped his phone on the table before him.
"That deal should better click, after snubbing my existence," Ken said to Clint.
"I'm sorry, Bro."
"You look dull. What's up? Over-demanding clients again? You seem to have a lot of them these days," Ken asked.
"Nothing much. It's business as usual, except for Kamso who caused a ruckus in my office before my client."
Iyke's eyes lit up gleefully. He sat up in prep for the impending gist. "Wetin you still dey do with that girl? Weren't you the one who said you guys are on an equal page now?"
"I thought so, until this morning."
"So, she showed up?" Ken asked.
"Mm..hmm," Clint replied reluctantly, "she did."
"And?" Iyke queried.
"Why?" Ken threw in.
"Wait! Let me guess. She's pregnant for you," Iyke laughed.
Clint choked on his drink. "That's an expensive one."
They laughed at his reaction.
"So, all these while you have been with her, you never thought of that?" Iyke asked.
"I'm done with the story," Clint tried to cut them off.
They stifled laughter.
"What happened?" Ken asked, wearing a sober face.
Clint recalled the event that took place at his office, to their amusement.
"You really should stop laughing! What's funny here?" Clint said with all seriousness.
"Sorry, Bro, but that was quite hilarious. You made my day." Iyke tried hard not to sound sarcastic.
"As per comedian wey I be, abi?" Clint snapped at him.
"Have you tried contacting her afterwards?" Ken asked.
"Not now. Nothing good will come out of it,"
"Who knows what she's up to now?" Iyke was concerned.
"Her biz," Clint replied indifferently, taking a sip from his glass afterwards.
After the chit chat with his friends at the lounge, Clint went home late into the night. He came out of the shower wearing a blue towel around his waist. He sang to 'Ego' by Dj Inee. A basket filled with dirty clothes stood by the wardrobe close to the bathroom, the blue trouser and ash shirt he wore to work laid at the top. He added a dirty thug to the heap, as he made for the wardrobe.
"I forgot to call Sir P, " he muttered in-between the song, putting on his night dress.
Dressed up, he walked to his bed and gently jumped into it. He picked his phone from the bedside table and searched for "Sir P" on his WhatsApp contact. The contact appeared with a display picture of boldly written words in black letters, 'Laundry'. He proceeded to drop messages for him.
A notification on the status bar drew his attention. Kamso made a post on her Instagram handle. He clicked on it. She posted a shadowy portrait of a lady with a write-up,
"I became a fool for loving,
a bigger fool for asking to be loved.
[Broken heart emojis]
#dealingwithhardtimes #heartbreak #Men
#StillyourgirlKamso"
He felt relieved. "Finally!" He muttered and scrolled up, "good luck with that."
After a few scrolls, he found himself on Anna's page. She posted well-articulated clips of herself and Iyke in a garden, merry go round, playing video games and a karaoke studio.
"Still your birthday gurl
With LOML
I love you sweetheart
#Birthdaybash #birthdaygurl #LOML #love"
Clint laughed aloud, knowing very well that Iyke was dragged into all that, even though he appeared to enjoy them. He recounted the budget issue.
"Lovely," he typed in the comment section. Scrolling through the comments, he came across Iykes comment and gave off another laugh before chatting him up.
Clint: Lover boy [Laughing Emojis]
Iyke: Get some sleep, Mr.
Clint: Let's speak on call.
Iyke: Next 5 mins.
He continued scrolling. He came across a comment from a handle with familiar username. He clicked on it, instinctively.
His guess was right — Tina. He browsed through her handle, clicking on the like button like a bot. Before he minimized the app for his phonebook, he made sure to 'follow'.
For minutes, he discussed and joked with Iyke. He was about to end the call when he remembered Tina. What a good gist to wrap up with!
"Hey, I came across that, errm… Tina girl's IG handle."
"Don't tell me you are stalking her."
"Rest! I came across her comment on your babe's post."
"Hmm! Okay. Let me believe you."
"If you like nah," he replied "Guy, that babe fine, I no go lie. God finish work for dat girl body," he appreciated her looks in Nigerian Pidgin.
"So, wetin be your plan now? Go commando again with your 'no feelings attached' clause?"
"Getat! infact gerroff ma phone. Better go back to madam before she vex lock door."
"Your head there" Iyke cursed.
He ended the call and went ahead to message Tina.
TINA HISSED ON viewing the notification. She continued with her movie, unwilling to reply to Clint. A second notification popped up, this time from Chidi.
Chidi: Hei Tee
Tina: Xup
Chidi: Finally got the bags
She attached pictures of three different bags.
Tina: Babe, u're a durling [kiss emojis].
Coming to pick mine tmoro
Chidi: No need, will be coming your side 2moro.
Tina: Kk, thanks
Chidi: Eehhe . . . Xup with that dude?
Tina: By that dude, you mean?
Chidi: The one who devoted his time for your page.
Tina: Are you stalking me too
Chidi: Wha'ever!
What's up with the nigga? Gist me a little.
Tina: Nothing, met him at the party.
Chidi: Whc party?
Tina: The BD party.
Chidi: Anna's?
Tina: Yeah
During the weekend
Chidi: That's Annabel's
Tina: That's it
Chidi: Eehn, so....?
Tina: That's it
Chidi: This your story no complete
Tina: Dat one nah your biz,
E don finish, nothing more
Chidi: Una no discuss anything?
Tina: No
Chidi: No dance?
Tina: No
No be me an' u dey for d party?
Chidi: How didn't I notice him?
Abi, him be spirit? [tongue out emoji]
Tina: That's your prob.
Bring my bag tomorrow.