Bimpe had gotten up that morning
and as part of her decision to get even she had decided that leading up to his
birthday she was going to be as naughty as hell, it was a new day and she was
hopeful. Mr. Sheriff was on time, as usual, and she sent him the car keys to
get the car ready while she got ready for work. Yesterday she was informed that
she would be on the team that would present to their client the approach they
were proposing for settlement with the Igalla community. She would have been
happy to be a fly on the wall of that meeting, therefore when she was selected
as a part of the team, she was overjoyed. God has been faithful to her she said
to herself as she got dressed, Today is an all-black day, as she reached into
her closet she took out an all-black skirt suit. Dashed into the shower and was out in a
flash.
All black means all black as she
reached into her pantie drawers for her lacy black Victoria secret undies, and
the matching bra was a half-cupped bra designed to prop all there was to prop.
Not that Bimpe’s firm boobs needed any propping or augmentation they were firm
and round; the way most men loved boobies, two palmfuls, or a mouthful. All black means all black she thought again
as if she was hit by an idea, she walked back to her closet and reached for a
black dress. It was slightly above the knee, she put it against her body as
though she was on a quick inspection, unzipped the dress, and stepped right
into it.
Oh Yea! she said to herself
feeling very impressed with her choice. It was a dress by Armani, simple but it
was designed to hug the skin and there was no doubt the designer had
provocation in mind, she was stunning in the dress and she knew it; she walked to
the dresser and selected a pair of silver-studded earrings.
As if to provoke the curious
opposite sex further she picked up a silver neck chain it was a short one and
it sat on the neckline of the dress like an embroidery, only the heart locket
on the chain gave its nature away. Bimpe felt hot like chilli peppers; pair of
black four inches high heels, checked herself in the mirror before she grabbed
her bag and headed out the door. Mr. Sheriff knew his trade, he had the car in
readiness, air conditioner cooling, and the engine steaming as he waited for
her to alight from the house.
She knew as she walked to the car
knowing that she would be scored a 120% for her appearance alone, “dem go take”
she said to herself as she sang in her head “I feel good” song from the
Guinness Malt adveFeelLike the lady she was, she opened the rear door sank into
the seat first, pulled her legs in, and then she reached out and she pulled the
car door shut. "Good morning Mr. Sheriff, how are you today, to the
office, please".
The meeting went as planned and
the client was very happy with the legal presentation and they expressed
confidence in the firm, it was a good day for the firm. As the lawyers prepared
for the meeting, Mrs. J was busy putting finishing touches to the plans that
she had been making for the boss’s birthday which was less than twenty-four
hours away, she had everything set the food drinks cake, and the card which
would be circulated for all in the firm to sign on. She takes this task very
seriously because she knows from experience that that was the only form of
celebration that he would be getting. She had to be on top of her game, as
usual; ensured some of his friends stopped by at the office during the day. She
went through her to-do list ticking off items one after the other, confirming
and reconfirming appointments.
Bimpe on the other hand had been
busy with the legal team; having gotten the approvals of the client their
attention was turned to inviting the aggrieved parties. There were three
fractions and to the amazement of the senior lawyers in the team, Bimpe had
suggested a workable solution to bringing all parties together. She was
therefore saddled with the task of reaching out to them which she had handled
like a breeze to the admiration of Mr. Benson, who had to confess that before
Bimpe’s involvement on the matter, they had never been able to get them all to
agree on an agenda for any form of dialogue - acknowledging the breakthrough.
"The client would be most pleased to hear of this success", Mr.
Benson said as he got up to leave the conference room, feeling very pleased
with the achievements made that day.
The team rounded up half an hour
after Mr. Benson left the team, each retired to their offices and Bimpe to the
open office where the junior lawyers and associates stayed. There was an
emergency meeting scheduled for noon the following day which happened to be Mr.
Benson's birthday. He would usually not have attended any meetings outside of
his office on a day like this because of the visitors who made it a tradition
to visit on his birthday, but this was a very important meeting. Mr. Benson did
not have a good feeling about the meeting because the community groups had the
propensity to get violent very quickly too.
He made a private call to the
commissioner of police, asking for a special favor; a few armed policemen at
the venue of the meeting would keep things calm at the venue he thought to
himself. He felt a bit uneasy but he could not put his finger on the reason for
the uneasiness, so he called on Mrs. J, his lucky charm, he needed a
distraction from the unease, she came in at his request as soon as she had
somebody manning her office. She could
sense he was worried; she knew this because, that was about the only time when
he called her without an assignment; he smiled at her throughout the time but
he avoided eye contact, fidgeting with his keys, pen, sketching on his desk pad
they talked about how far they had come together, and the laughed at how Benson
and Lloyds all started, oh yes it all started from the spare room in his house.
She confessed that some of their
colleagues at the big names like Fawehinmi, thought she had lost her mind,
leaving a prestigious law firm for a start-up, without clients or an office
space to begin with, but here we are, time has put laughter on our lips; my Oga
sir. Mr. Benson, smiled as he mentioned retiring someday because he missed his
family. He was not sure if things would be the way they were when they all
lived in that small two-bedroom flat in Fola Agoro at Shomolu, where Michael,
his son was born. He realizes that he has missed out on the most important
aspect of his kids’ lives, in his drive to succeed; but having attained success
he finds himself alone, living an empty life.
He confessed that those were the
best days of his life, money he confided had not answered all things, for him,
material things replaced the things that mattered, he asked her if she could
keep the ship sailing if he went away on a long holiday. He warned her not to trade her family for all
the wealth in the world because family was everything.
But I promise you one thing YJ,
he said to her, he reached for her hands and said these words to her. "The
day it comes to my knowledge that you put your job ahead of your family, I will
fire you". "You are lucky to
have Gbemi for a husband and he is lucky to have you too, so keep that ship
sailing at all cost". This was the one time that he engaged eyes, then he
said to her "gerraway you, I have got work to do". They both laughed
as she got up to leave, as she reached the door she turned and asked like a
mother would "feel better already?" "Yes, mummy" he
mimicked a child’s response, they shared another laugh. "Get out my
friend, before I sack you".
M.r Benson swung his swivel chair
around and with his remote control set the CCTV to flip through all the
channels, he watched the staff go about the duties, diligently, he knew
everyone by name and could even tell a thing or two about their families, he even
saw Bimpe on her desk chewing on her pen as she worked on the task given her
from the meeting. He smiled knowing he had affected these lives; this was when
he realized the source of his unease. He feared that his decision could put
some of these lives in danger. He picked up his I phone 12 and dialed Bimpe.
Hey! Yam-head, he said, she
laughed, and as if she had been on cue, her response was smooth, as she said
"I am sorry sir you have the wrong number, please check and dial
again". "That’s my girl witty as ever, you know I have always admired
your comeback young lady". "Haul yourself to my office," he told
her, "I am busy" she replied, he retorted "no you are not, you
are hungry, and I have watched you feed on your pen". "It is time to
take a break so move your butt," he said, in a firm tone, and I mean, now!
He hung up. It was five exactly minutes after when she walked into his office,
hello she said as she shut his door.
Bimpe did not see Mr. Benson,
because, seated in his swivel chair, he had his back to the door. He turns
around but he was not his cheerful self; there you are, good evening sir, she
greeted him. "What is wrong
Sir?", she looked concerned, puzzled by his look, you should be cheerful
not looking like this Sir. Are you okay again she asked him? He smiled briefly
and spoke. Hey, food is ready so let’s eat. He got up, holding on to his iPad in
his left hand as he led the way to the conference table in his office. They sat
eating in silence, it was his favorite, Efo Riro and pounded yam; Mr. Benson
broke the silence asking, Bimpe, have I told you, that you look like a
hundred and fifty percent today, she smiled and replied flattery will get you
nowhere, I am still going to get you for the Miss Samsung stunt you pulled
yesterday.
Thank you for the compliment’s
sir, she said laughing, but on a serious note Sir, what’s on your mind, you do
look a little down today. Mr. Benson smiled and replied I guess it is a little
here and there it all adds up you know to a mild or not so mild headache. Okay.
Mr. Soji Benson, out with it. I am not your shrink, so it means you will not
pay me for this therapy session, that means the sooner we share what is
bothering you, the sooner I can get back to my day job.
We both know where that is. she
said this as though she was talking to a seven-year-old, he replied, yes, we do
it is at the Benson and Lloyds, but you do realize that you are talking to the
managing partner, with the powers to bury you under all the files in the
archives for a very long time, now don’t you?. He had a very serious look on
his face. You are joking right, she veered on the side of caution, eyes wide
open you are not threatening me now, or are you? that’s what you get when you
“Shakara your Oga” what’s that saying again, mess with the bull, you get the
horns.
His face loosened up into a smile
and then he burst out laughing. Gotcha!! Mr. Benson immediately lightened up then
he said to her; Bimpe, I actually would like to have a serious conversation
with you, she listened, “I am concerned about tomorrow” he said, “such
situations could go bad quickly and I do not want you in harm's way”. So, if
you would like to brief Mr. Akpan, he can do your task, at the negotiations
tomorrow. But Bimpe would have none of that, no, no. she said no again I will
be just fine, I promise you, I really want to be a part of this, I can assure
you that you will not regret this. Seeing her determination, he conceded on the
grounds that she drove with him so that he could keep an eye on her, she
accepted. "Mr. Benson, you just say that you want my company to the
negotiation, this is bullying a junior learned colleague, you do know that I can
report you to the disciplinary committee" "please don’t report me, my
learned colleague I beg for leniency", both rocking in their chairs with
laughter.
 |
| Photo credit:pinterest |
"Well, sir seeing as you are
back to your old self, I must return to my day Job lest I get a query, from the
first chair. Mr. Akpan". Mr. Benson laughed and said "Hmm, on that
one, you will be on your own. I will not get involved", "Eh hen, but
it was you that ordered me up here, Sir!", she said. As if in a courtroom
he asked her very quickly, do you have that in writing madam? Ah this Mr. Benson, next time you send for me
I wiii not come oh. Thanks for the food as she ran out of his office.
She left him in a cheerful mood, and she was glad she could help. Just as she
was about to sit down at her desk she got a text message, that said Thank you.
It was not signed, the caller's identity was withheld, but she knew who it was,
she looked up at the camera in the office and smiled. She got another text that
said “message received’ to which she gave a quick thumbs up. She could tell he
was watching. Bimpe had left early for home after she got the nod from Mr.
Akpan.
the story continues....
this story is inspired by true, however all names of people and places mentioned are fictitious
Written by Ogieva Emokpae
Quite intriuging.......
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