Bimpe - A Night to remember 2

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Bimpe stood glued to the floor, as she starred at “Mrs. J”. Everyone who worked at the B & L had referred to Mrs. Joseph that way, she could easily pass for the oldest staff at Benson and Lloyds. Mrs. Joseph had started working with Mr. Benson when he was at the prestigious law firm Rotimi Femi and Fawehinmi legal practitioners as his personal secretary; she had moved with Mr. Benson when he decided to partner with Gregory Lloyds to start the Benson and Lloyds partnership.

 

Her unquestionable loyalty to her boss had paid off when he not only presented her with the keys to a duplex in Dolphin estate, at her 50th birthday party but two years after, replaced her Honda accord 2012, with brand-new black Audi A6, full options with red leather seats, 8-speed Strep-Tronic gearbox and 18in matt black alloys. Mr. Benson had simply ordered the 2020 Audi A6 and had them deliver it to the office on a Saturday instructing that it be parked in her slot at the car park.

 

The security guard had been instructed accordingly as to where that new car should be parked, so when “AA” trucking company delivered the car, it was offloaded onto her parking slot. It came registered with a customized number plate “YJ” as Mr. Benson fondly called her. The car had been covered with a special protective car covering material, cable strapped, and padlocked beneath the front wheels. It was impossible to tell what vehicle brand lay beneath the cover. Mr. Benson had wanted Mrs. Joseph to be the first driver of that car, and he painstakingly ensured that happened.

 

So, when she drove into the office premises on that Monday to find her spot was taken, she simply parked her car in the visitor’s slot without a fuss.   It was a Monday morning and there was a partner meeting scheduled for the next hour and she was running a little late, traffic on Kingsway Road was hectic that morning due to an accident on Falomo bridge. Mr. Benson had come into the office in his usual business manner headed for his meeting and his day kicked off from there like any normal day.

 

He even asked Mrs. J to let his driver use her car to run a private errand which she obliged in a blink. She did not even think to ask where her car was headed to and when it would be back; little did she know that it was about to be driven straight to her house in Dolphin estate. The cat was let out of the bag when her husband, Dr. Gbemi Joseph, had arrived early from work to find her car at home wondering where she might be, he called her phone to find out where she was, at work, she replied: "but my Oga had asked to use my car” Gbemi retorted, "the one in the driveway at home?" She was still trying to wrap her head around her car being in her house when her extension rang, and it was her boss. Mr. Benson, asking for a reschedule of all his meetings for Tuesday because he suddenly had to travel to Abuja.

 

She was also to have his driver come up as he was done for the day. That’s fine sir she had replied Mr. Benson, as she had Gbemi drop the line to carry out her oga's instruction. Mrs. J called the drivers' lounge to ask for Pius, Mr. Benson’s Driver; she and Pius being the oldest staff of B and L had mutual respect, so there was no need to argue over the phone. As he walked through the door she asked where her car was, handing the car keys over to her, he said, "I have asked the boys to wash it already it was a little dusty".

 

"Now, something is definitely wrong", she thought to herself. Gbemi said my car was at home, but Mr. Pius says my car is downstairs, she laughed out muttering some people have been working too hard. Let’s go, Oga is ready to close, she said leading the way to Mr. Benson’s office.  He was all packed when she entered his office, he handed his briefcase over to Pius, and her, a velvet case the size of a business cardholder. Now that’s for you I hope you like it. As they walked through the lobby to the carport, she noticed the car on her slot had been uncovered, but she had not seen the license plate on the car. Mr. Benson in a swift motion as if to be in a sudden hurry turned and said to her, "I hear it is quite a drive", pointing in the direction of the car "so drive carefully".

 

He stepped into his Range Rover, and as he asked her to extend his regards to Gbemi, he reached out for his jacket's breast pocket and handed her an unsealed white envelope, in it were the papers to the car; he shut his car door smiling. It was at this time that Mrs. J noticed that the license plate had her initials just the way he fondly called her. The vehicle license plate read Lagos state, the center of excellence, YJ.

 

She came to tears shaken with Joy, she called Mr. Benson, who picked up the phone laughing, but her voice failed her, he could hear her sobbing, Trust is everything he said to her, you have earned it my dear. Thank you, for being there, and for having faith in me. She still could not find her voice filled with emotions she burst into tears, Mr. Benson ended the call, he was smiling; he was happy with himself.      

 

There was no doubt in the minds of all who worked at the Benson and Lloyds that Mr. Benson held Mrs. Joseph in high esteem. She was the alpha lioness in the pride and even though there was not much typing for her to do after the computerization of Benson and Lloyds, Mr. Benson had kept her on as his PA, often referring to Mrs. J as his good luck charm.

 

Bimpe’s reaction had caused Mrs. J to glance from over her silver-rimmed Cartier glasses, brushing well-permed sliver grey hair back in place with her middle finger, "is there a problem my dear?", Mrs. J asked Bimpe; "Oh, not at all! madam" she replied, "Which way is it to Mr. Benson’s office please", she asked.

 

"Down the hallway, you can’t miss it the second door on the right", Bimpe did as instructed knocked, and entered the office, it was a little more than she had expected, the décor was tastefully done; a fine mix of polished wood and leather all set perfectly so that there was a flow from the work desk to the sitting area. Mr. Benson had been at his desk responding to his mails as he typed on his Mac book Pro, without raising his head from the laptop he asked her to sit down, he would only be a moment.

 

He had said those words before she had a chance to greet, in her mind she wondered what kind of man he was, she busied herself with the news on the TV the raging pandemic has everyone concerned he said in a soft tone she had no idea he had left his desk to the sitting area.

 

He startled her out of her thoughts, that was creepy, she thought,  "aren’t you supposed to be at your desk sir", she laughed, jumping to her feet, as if she had only just realized who she was talking to she said Good morning sir, you sent for me sir. He laughed and said to her sit down Corper? she retorted Bimpe Sir. Tell me about yourself, he sat down to listen attentively as she went on about herself, at the end of the which he asked if she had any questions, that was her chance because she certainly did.

 

Honestly, sir, she said, lightning must have struck somewhere at the reception on her first visit because one minute she was on the verge of being thrown out of the premises, and the next, she was treated like a VVIP (very, very, Important, personality). They both had laughed, Sir, it is not funny at all. I honestly almost bolted out of here for fear of being in a horror movie set. Mr. Benson laughed even harder. He had not been in such a humorous company in a very long time. This certainly was therapy.

 

He had laughed so much during the conversation that at one point he found himself falling on the floor. What marveled him the most was that through it all she kept a totally straight face, business-like without an ounce of emotion in her expression. In all that humor a brain wave struck, he had found the key to a puzzle in a case that seemed impossible to break. Hold that thought he said to Bimpe, as he scrambled to his feet and did brisk work to his table grabbed his pen, and started scribbling on his pad. Dropped the pen and immediately reached for his Mac book. 

 

For the next 10 minutes, he typed away with such intensity and speed that she thought that laptop would break any second; as a matter of fact, she had counted down twice waiting for either smoke or an electric spark to bust out of the keypads. Not today that did not happen. When he was done typing, his expression was more intense as he read through over and again making a few corrections.

 

She was still standing in utter and complete amazement at how this man had gone from rolling with laughter to being as intense as a brain surgeon in the operating theatre. In a minute he reached for the intercom and called on Mrs. J. "please summon the team on the Chevron vs Igalla community case, I want them all in my office in five minutes, yes in my conference room", he added dropping his extension. Reaching into his briefcase, Mr. Benson fetched his iPad, clicked on the file’s app walked over to the sitting area within his office where Bimpe still stood mesmerized by everything that had transpired over the last 10 minutes in the office.

 

You, my dear, may have found the crack in the proverbial wall in a case that looked like we were about to lose. As he took his seat in his favorite chair, he continued, saying we have a very bad case against the Igalla community; and I am hoping that we can prevail upon the community to settle out of court, this mustn't go to trial. He said these words making himself more comfortable just as he had been seated before the brainwave struck. Now! where were we? He asked Bimpe as if he had just awakened from a trance.

 

Sir, you see what I mean, nothing in B and L is normal she stood there looking puzzled with her slim hands spread out wide, then the last ten minutes she was about to say more when his cell phone buzzed. He raised his index finger as if to command silence. Yes, it was a command for silence, as he took the call, it was a confirmation of his meeting with the company secretary of Chevron. Bimpe, he said as he put down his iPhone 12 pro, on the arm of the chair. I think it is pertinent that I apologize to you at this time, I am, responsible for all the special treatment that you have received. I had no idea that it made you uncomfortable.            

 

He explained how he came to notice her been treated in a rather harsh manner and how he needed to serve a lesson without stating the obvious. It was for that reason that he told them she was his niece. It all came together as he spoke, he went further I could have the plug as soon as you were given a place but I like to serve long and hard lessons. For as long as the receptionist sees you around, she will be careful not to be nasty to anyone who walks through those doors. Smiling, now he asked are there any other mystic experiences that you have experienced at B and L madam, as he clasped his hands on his chest. This was the chill pill Bimpe required, the much more relaxed Bimpe smiled, you are creepy and mischievous, I hope your kids are not as naughty as you are; she said this laughing.

Thank you, sir, for the opportunity and even more for the explanation, I promise not to let you down, I feel so relieved now, and I have come to know and understand you even better. She carried on, "not that it matters but how many people are aware of the fact that I am not your niece?"

 

Hmmm.. he replied, just the two of us, well there is the gentleman for whose sake you were brushed aside, you mean Chief Douglas sir, she said, that’s right, we go a long way and he knows I don’t have a niece because I am an only child. Well, it is time for that meeting that I summoned and you have earned the right to seat in on this one, I hope you learn something so, come along as he led the way into the conference room, he said to her take the fourth seat.  This marked the beginning of many things to come; a mentorship, that was soon to lead to a healthy work relationship. A friendship that neither could explain the purpose or the destination.

 

Over the next few months, Mr. Benson had taken a keen interest in the young girl often having her sit in on cases with him; he taught her everything he knew and pushed her to do more. The other lawyers at the firm could not explain why she was under so much pressure to deliver. Bimpe became extremely busy and had no time for socials. Working closely with Mr. Benson came with its perks, she had direct access to his office, his private study, and most of all a friendship. Bimpe had a mind of her own and would easily express herself. Mr. Benson loved that about her because Bimpe would have said it all before she realized she was talking to the almighty Mr. Benson. He would smile and sometimes say to her, "you this cheeky girl, do you know who you are talking to?", sometimes it even led to a burst of laughter. They would laugh so hard, that anyone who entered the office would wonder what was hilarious.

 

They had mutual respect for one another, Bimpe never discussed what happened in the privacy of Mr. Benson's office with anybody, she had an ignorant response to any question and would point to the heap of files or paperwork when anyone asked what went on in the office.

Mr. Benson soon became the new improved Oga, although nobody dared to say this anywhere near him or Bimpe for fear of losing their Jobs, they wondered why he was so close to this particular niece of his   

 

They both worked hard on cases closing pretty late and sometimes it became necessary to have a sleepover. It was therefore no wonder that as they shared a lot of time, they grew fond of one another. Mr. Benson would get cranky and easily irritable when Bimpe was unable to make it to work whenever she had stomach cramps; which she experienced every month. This automatically meant that she was going to be away from work for at least 3 days that week. Mr. Benson and Bimpe not only shared work, but lunch was a ritual. One would wait on the other for lunch. It was obvious he was enjoying a new lease of life.

 

Eye contacts sign languages worked between them so even in the company of other people there was communication, she would fiddle with her pencil when she wanted to catch his attention or sometimes even use her fingers to signal, and he caught on immediately. Their friendship was magical, Bimpe in common man’s language had Mr. Bensons Mumu button, with her finger constantly on replay. She would tell him that and he would say to her that he also had her own Mumu remote in his jacket.

 

Sometimes, Bimpe would say to him that he was a monster boss and that thanks to him she did not have a boyfriend anymore, he in return would say I don’t have one either, this would lead to a rock of laughter. To make up for this he would order a bouquet to be delivered to her at work, with inscriptions on the card that would say to my MUX2.                                             

However, their friendship had remained pure and platonic there had been no show of emotions from either party, they had found an amazing friendship that blossomed.

 

Then one night as they were about rounding up for the day she had said if she kept this up, she was going to die in celibacy, gosh it has been so long since she had “some” Mr. Benson did not look up but he mumbled something about that rubber toy you girls buy from Jumia these days. She went "wow! you must tell me about it today Mr. Benson!!