Suitors & Sweethearts

Chapter 16

NINE

Five years later.

“I got the interview,” Lara said as she stared at the email. Her laptop sat on the small dining table and she on one of the chairs. Two words jumped out at her, sucking away any joy she would’ve felt for getting her first job interview after months of searching.

“Congratulations,” Ada said, turning around from her position on the three-seater sofa. “Which company is this?”

Lara swallowed to clear the lump in her throat. “Thomas International.”

“Wow!” Ada gaped. “That’s the same company Jane works for.”

“Jane?”

“You remember Jane Benson from uni. She was doing Business Admin. We hung out with her but she graduated a year before us.”

“Yes, I remember her. I didn’t know that’s where she works.”

“That’s because you don’t keep in touch with anyone.”

Lara shrugged. She struggled to make friends or keep in touch with people. After what had happened to her, she’d learned not to trust anyone. Ada was the only friend who had stayed constant in her life throughout the years.

Sighing, she glanced around her living room. It was small yet tastefully decorated in warm, natural tones, just like the rest of the flat. There were two cream upholstered sofas with patterned grey/brown cushions, a couple of armchairs on the other side formed a quadrangle with a low, glass-topped centre table, and four matching glass-topped side tables sat between the sofas and chairs. A medium-sized flat screen television and entertainment centre formed a focal point of the room, with family portraits hanging on the walls. In the corner was a large potted Bird of Paradise plant. Behind the longer sofa was a raised dais with an Iroko dining table and six upholstered chairs that matched the sofas. Two doors led away from the living room—one to the kitchen, another into the hallway with the three bedrooms and a family bathroom, though the master bedroom had an en-suite bathroom.

Despite the modest proportions, it was a flat she was proud of, a place she called home. She’d moved in with Ada when they’d both decided to stay in Lagos after their Youth Service. They’d been together throughout University and it made sense to get a place together afterwards.

The block of flats had just been completed when they’d rented it with the help of Judy and Ada’s parents. The area outside the walled complex had been mainly grassland. Since then, the whole area had been developing fast, as commuter families moved from the congested Lagos suburbs. There were now more residential estates, schools, hospitals, shopping malls, and hotels being built within the locale.

“So you know who else works at Thomas International, don’t you?”

Lara suspected where Ada was headed but she feigned ignorance. “Who?”

“Mr. Ike Thomas.” Ada snorted. “He owns the company. At least, his family are the majority shareholders.”

“Yeah. I know.” Her foot started bouncing against the floor tiles.

All of a sudden, she was back to the last time she’d seen Ike in that jam-packed party in Enugu. The sharpness of her jealousy at seeing him with that girl. The rawness of his rage when she’d claimed Malcolm as her boyfriend. The price she’d paid for her mistake.

One night that had destroyed her and turned her into a shell of her old self. The young, naive school girl had died that night.

She’d tried so hard to forget that night. To forget that whole year. But there were moments like this when something triggered a memory and she was back there.

Sweat broke on her forehead. She clutched her arms and her body rocked back and forth as she remembered the nightmare.

“Lara...” Somebody shook her. “Lara, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

She opened her eyes and found herself curled into a ball on the sofa with Ada standing over her.

She straightened and sat up. Her arm brushed her face and came away wet. She’d been crying. She hadn’t cried in five years.

“What happened?”

“I should ask you,” Ada said. “One minute we were talking about your new job. The next, you were curled up in a ball on the floor. I had to lift you and carry you to the sofa. You scared the hell out of me.”

“I’m sorry.” Lara pushed off the sofa. Her limbs felt heavy as she walked over to grab her laptop. “I’m going to have a lie down.”

“Are you coming down with a fever?”

“It’s nothing. I just need to sleep. I’ll be fine.”

Ada didn’t look convinced. But there was no way Lara was going to discuss what was really wrong with her. She walked into the kitchen and poured a glass of water before taking it to her bedroom.

She put the glass on the bedside cabinet. Then, she reached into her bag and pulled out the key which she used to unlock the top drawer. She pulled out the bottle of pills, opened it, and tipped out two into her hand. She popped them into her mouth and swallowed them down. Then she lay down on the bed and closed her eyes.

***

Two weeks later, Lara walked into the tall steel and glass skyscraper that housed the headquarters of Thomas International, aptly names TI Tower. She clutched her bag to her side and glanced at her wristwatch for the umpteenth time. The small gold watch had belonged to her mother and was one of the only mementos she had of her late parent. It helped to settle her anxiety as she approached the reception desk.

Cool, air-conditioned air kissed her hot skin and she sighed in relief.

“Good afternoon. How can I help you?” the girl behind the desk asked. She was a dark-skinned slim girl dressed in a frilly white shirt and a black skirt. She wore heavy makeup and long black hair extensions.

“My name is Lara Johnson. I have an interview at three o’clock with Mr. Soneye.”

The girl looked her over, as if sizing her up, and then punched a button on the switchboard before speaking into her headset.

“I have a Lara Johnson here for Mr. Soneye.” The receptionist spoke in a sing-song voice; the person on the other end said something to which she replied, “Sure.”

To Lara, she said, “His PA will be down shortly. Take a seat.”

Lara walked over to the sofas and sat down. She picked up a newspaper, although she was so nervous, she couldn’t concentrate on the words.

She took in her surroundings instead. The glass and steel skyscraper had recently been completed to critical acclaim. It was a showcase for modern architecture in Africa, the interior a minimalist heaven with clean lines and sleek surfaces. Overtaken by her environment, she couldn’t help day-dreaming about working in modern offices like this one.

TI was one of the biggest real-estate developers in Africa and dealt in areas from design and architecture to estate management. Working here would be a dream come true. A chance to use the skills she’d acquired at University. Hopefully, her meeting today would be a step in the right direction.

Feeling a pair of eyes on her, she glanced over to the receptionist and caught her watching, her expression contorted in an almost spiteful sneer.

Lara rolled her shoulders, shaking over the prickle on her skin at the memory of her first day at Hillcrest School and the similar look she’d received from Gloria Rawlins. She hadn’t seen the girl in years and she certainly wouldn’t let another girl intimidate her in the same way.

She refused to be daunted by the other girl’s obvious malevolence. She was dressed in her best skirt suit which, though inexpensive, was still smart and looked the part. She only had a touch of mascara and lip-gloss on, but heavy makeup had never been her thing.

Usually, she paid little attention to her appearance. She preferred to be as inconspicuous as possible. But once she’d had confirmation of the interview, Ada had dragged her over to the hairdresser’s to get a haircut as well as a manicure and pedicure. She had even started eating properly again, so that she’d gained a little weight. Anything to get the job, she’d told herself.

The ding from the lift brought her attention back into her surroundings. A woman walked out towards her. Lara stood up as she recognised her.

ding“It’s Lara, isn’t it?” the woman said in a bubbly voice and with lovely smile.

“Yes. It’s good to see you again, Jane.” Lara took her hand in a firm shake as she’d been taught to do during interviews.

“I nearly didn’t recognise you. You look so different with short hair.”

“I hope that’s different in a good way.” She hoped a certain somebody wouldn’t recognise her.

“Of course. You look good. Come on, I’ll show you to the meeting room,” Jane said and headed back to the lift foyer.

Lara grabbed her bag and joined her.

Jane was a dark-skinned girl with the perfect hourglass figure that reminded Lara of the Nollywood actress Ini Edo. She was in pink shirt and navy skirt that showed off her curves.

The lift doors opened to the swankiest office suites she had ever seen. Everything looked new, shiny, and tidy. A huge, open-plan space sat in the middle, with rows of desks and chairs, glass-panelled meeting rooms decked out with the latest office gadgets on one end, and offices with shielded glass walls on the other. She was struck by the size of it all and the fact that in every direction, the views from the window were amazing because of the floor to ceiling, sun-reflecting glass.

To come to work here every day would be amazing.

“It’s this way.” Jane continued down the corridor.

People looked up from their desks and smiled as they walked by. The atmosphere looked relaxed. Still, she couldn’t shake the edgy energy she felt as she walked into the meeting room where her appointment would be held.

“Jane, could you show me the ladies’, please? I just need to freshen up before the meeting.”

“Sure. It’s on your right as you walk back down the corridor,” Jane replied, pointing Lara in the general direction.

As she walked past the people in the rows of desks working away on their laptops or talking on the phone, her anxiety increased. Her steps faltered as she walked into the ladies’. Gripping one of the sinks, she stood still for a brief moment as doubt overtook her composure.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want the job. She just didn’t want to work for a company owned by Ike Thomas or his family. She didn’t want to keep reliving her past. She’d paid for her teenage folly in more ways than one. Now, it seemed that fate wasn’t done with her yet.

Lara took another deep breath and exhaled. After months of bemoaning her lack of employment, could she seriously walk away from an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like this one? She may never get another chance at a job like this that involved working with top-level executives. This was her chance; she was strong enough and could do this. She had to. There was too much at stake—too much to lose if she didn’t. She would not disappoint herself by letting her nerves get the better of her.

She took another deep, calming breath, checked her reflection in the mirror, and reapplied some powder to her face to take away the shine. Straightening up, she walked out of the ladies’ with her chin up and her steps more confident.

I am good enough and I can do this.

She walked back in the meeting room and concentrated on settling down.

Jane walked back into the room. “Olu will be here shortly.”

“Who is Olu?” Lara frowned, confused.

“Olu is Mr. Soneye.”

“You call him by his first name?” She was surprised; she didn’t think the man was that young to be referred to so casually.

“Yes, it’s the way we work up here. TI working culture is quite informal and relaxed,” Jane remarked enthusiastically.

“It should be an interesting place to work.” Lara smiled. “I didn’t realise you were the PA for Mr. Soneye, as well.”

“I can tell you, it’s a great place to work. Olu’s PA is on holiday. I’m just covering in her absence. Would you like some refreshments?”

“Just water, please,” Lara replied as Jane left to get the drinks.

The door opened and a man walked in.

“Hello, Lara. I’m Olu Soneye, the head of projects at TI.”

He beamed a friendly smile as he extended his hand for a handshake, which Lara accepted as she nodded.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Soneye.” She returned his smile.

“You must call me Olu. We are very informal here at TI. Please, sit down,” he returned.

Lara was surprised. Mr. Soneye—Olu—was in his early to mid-forties, old enough to be her uncle. It was unusual in Nigeria to refer to older people directly by their names. He was a congenial man with intelligent eyes and Lara liked him instantly, her body relaxing, losing her initial anxiety.

Jane came in with the refreshments, set it on the table. Lara glanced at her notes to prepare herself.

“Right. I’m ready when you are.”

***

I got the job.

Lara sent a quick message to Ada as she sat in Jane’s office, waiting for her to get back. Jane had printed off the job offer letter, terms of employment and job descriptions, and needed Olu to sign them before she could take them home.

Her spine prickled and she looked up from her phone. Through the glass partitioning walls, she observed two men talking in low tones down the hallway from Jane’s office. One of them was Olu who was facing her, but the other had his back to her.

The man was tall, with broad shoulders that spanned a well-tailored navy suit.

Instantly, she knew who he was although she couldn’t see his face and she hadn’t seen him in five years.

But the flutter in her stomach and the rapid beat of her heart were the same as the day when she’d sat in a classroom full of teenagers and met him for the first time. She could never forget that instant attraction. The breathlessness and the need to get as close to him as possible…

It gripped her now.

She couldn’t take her gaze away from him as her body heated up.

She should move and hide. She should pray for him to walk away without turning around.

She did neither and sat there as if rooted to the spot.

It was a morbid kind of fascination. It had to be. Because why else would she want him to see her? Why else would she want to remember? When she knew that remembering would be like ripping open a festering wound. A wound that had never healed. Would never heal.

As if sensing her, he glanced back. Mocha-coloured eyes looked directly at her. His dark brows lifted and almost met in the middle, his forehead creasing in undulating lines.

Her world tilted precariously, threatening to fall off the edge into a black hole.

She knew then, she shouldn’t have come for this interview. Shouldn’t have accepted the job offer.

She could still get out of here before Jane came back with the signed contracts.

But the men stood in her path. She would have to walk past them to get to the lifts. She glanced in the other direction, looking for a fire exit. There had to be a stairwell somewhere. She could use that instead of the lift.

She grabbed her bag and made to stand up when she realised Ike was headed in her direction, his stride confident and powerful, his status apparent for all to see.

She wouldn’t make it out of the office in time.

Suddenly feeling like the diffident teenager again, her face heating up appallingly, butterflies fluttering in her belly, she wished the ground would open up and swallow her. s**t.

Shit.