The office cleaner

The investigation

THE OFFICE CLEANER

EPISODE 3

The next day, Akpan got to work about fifteen minutes before 7 am. He began to clean the surrounding. Shortly after, Judith also arrived. She exchanged pleasantries with Musa, the gateman, smiling all through.

Aunty JuJu, he teased, you sabi smile o. I like the way you smile, he said, smiling back, revealing his teeth that had become brown, due to eating too much Kolanuts.

“What will I do na? I have to make myself happy”, Judith replied him

“Can I have the keys to all the offices please, I need to start cleaning immediately”, she said to him.

Musa handed her some keys. “This one na for general office for junior staff, this one na for reception”, he said as pointed at the keys one after the other.

“What about the one for Oga Excellent, Oga David and the Accountant office? Judith asked him

“Ah aunty, they no allow anybody to enter their offices unless they are around. Clean other places. Before you finish cleaning, they will come”, Musa replied her

“Really! Okay, thank you”, Judith replied him as she began to feel uneasy.

As she walked towards the office building, she began to mumble words to herself

“I need to gain access to their offices, alone. That is the only way I can achieve my aim here. What do I do now? Think, she said as she began to hit her head gently.

“I know what to do, she suddenly let out. I need to win their trust first. Yes, that is it. I will agree to date both men, then we take it up from there, she said with a satisfactory smile.

She opened the building and began cleaning the places she had access to. Before long other employees began to arrive. Judith greeted all of them happily, smiling at every given opportunity.

She was singing happily while she worked, to the admiration of the workers.

Tunde, a junior worker walked up to her and said “happiness is free. You look so happy even as a cleaner and I admire you already. Keep being you”

“By the way, my name is Tunde”, he added as he stretched his hand for a handshake.

Judith took his hand, “I am Judith. Nice to meet you”, she replied smiling.

“Wao! The boss is quite early today”, Tunde said looking towards the gate through the window, as the manager’s car drove in.

“I will see you around”, he said to Judith and hurriedly left.

Mr David walked in, saw Judith cleaning and instructed her to follow him immediately.

Judith suspended what she was doing and quietly followed him to his office.

Immediately they entered, he turned to her and asked, “what was that I saw at Excellent’s office yesterday?

“I don’t understand Sir”, she replied him, pretending to be shocked at the question

“Don’t even try to pretend. I saw the way he looked at you and the position in which I met you two”, he retorted

“Sir, he wanted me to do something for him. I was still waiting to get the instruction before you came in”, she replied, looking innocent.

“Anyway, we will revisit this topic. For now, quickly tidy up this office. I have a meeting with some business partners by 9am. Please be fast about it”, he instructed her.

Right away Sir, Judith replied and left the office to get a broom and mopping stick. She quickly went to her locker, took out a tiny pen-like camera.

“I need to know what they will discuss at the meeting”, she thought to herself

She returned to the office and began to clean quickly. Mr David stood by the entrance, making some calls.

While she was cleaning, Judith observed the office critically to be sure the company CCTV camera wasn’t installed in his office.

After she finished cleaning, she carefully placed the tiny pen-like camera in between some files on the shelf, making it face the manager’s sitting area.

She did this without his knowledge. She then put on the camera and tapped the record button.

“I am through Sir”, she told him as she approached the entrance, on her way out.

“Okay. Come back immediately my guest leave. I need to talk to you” he replied her.

I will sir, Judith replied him and stepped out. She walked majestically, winding her waist and shaking her backside, knowing that the manager would stare at her from behind.

He really did stare and immediately vowed that he must have her in bed.

Judith went about her normal duties, while the manager had his meeting with his “Business Partners”.

She cleaned Mr Excellent’s office. He kept a long face all through and didn’t say a word to her. He only replied her when she greeted and that was all

The manager’s meeting lasted for about two hours

Immediately the business partners left, Judith went back to the manager’s office.

“You asked me to see you Sir”, she said to him as she entered his office, after knocking.

“Judith, I want you to be my woman. Tell me what you want as compensation. I will do anything to have you. You are too beautiful and I can’t seem to get you out of my mind”, he told her

Judith was quiet for some seconds before she finally spoke. “Let me think about it Sir”.

Mr David began to laugh. “Think? That sounds funny to me. You have just two options. Agree or lose your job”, he replied her, sounding so authoritative.

“Okay Sir, I will do it”, Judith said, faking a sad look.

“Good. Will you be chanced tonight? You know what? Let’s make it Saturday. I will book a hotel for us”, he replied her.

“Can I please book the hotel myself Sir? There are some areas I don’t like to go”. Judith asked him

“If that is what you want, go ahead. You can send me your account number, he said, writing down his phone number on a paper, for her. I will send you money for the hotel booking”

“Okay Sir”, she said as she took the paper from him

She was about to leave when she screamed, Cockroach!

She ran towards the area she had placed the camera and began to scatter it, pretending to be looking for the cockroach. She picked up the tiny device and quickly threw it into her well tucked in blouse.

She continued to search for the cockroach. After a while, she said, “it is gone”

Turning to the manager, with her palms put together, she said, “I am so sorry Sir. I hate cockroaches so much. I got carried away”.

“Its fine. Just rearrange the shelf”. I will get an insecticide tomorrow, he told her

Judith rearranged the shelf and left his office, a smile of victory on her face.

TO BE CONTINUED…