Cliche

Chapter two "The ghost in my office

THE GHOST IN MY OFFICE

Bode straightened his blazers

"Good morning everyone" He cleared his throat.

Just then, She walked in, the dimness of the conference hall couldn't stop her skin from shining and at that point, Bode felt he needed shades.

He cleared his throat again and struggled to stop drinking her in with his eyes.

He was curious to know what color her eyes were, and he thought blue would suit her perfectly

"Focus!!"

He caught himself, he didn't even remember the topic he was pitching anymore.

"I'll be pitching my Idea on the Finance app I call Monielinx" he said and switched on the projector, the investors and other stakeholders turned in their seats to face the screen.

Bode was grateful, his hands weren't shaking this time, and the speech flowed out of him, like it wasn't him speaking.

The constant nods he got from the old, grey-bearded, bald man, one of the investors, made him hopeful, at least somebody was enjoying him.

"Now, to the pros and cons of the App"he said and pressed the remote, but it wouldn't budge. He was thrown off balance, because he didn't know what to say next

"This App..emmmm..emmm" he said and he went blank.

He just stood transfixed, his hands shaking visibly, his heart pounding hard beneath his chest, he knew he was in trouble, but he still couldn't move. All efforts to get him to continue proofed futile.

............

Bella rose up

"Mr investor sir, I have an idea that I think you are going to love"

She set up quickly, taking the remote from him, he gave her a dead stare, but she ignored him with a smile.

Bode watched her pitch so greatly and the cereal he had that morning was beginning to run his stomach.

He stood at the corner of the room, his laptop clasped to his chest and he felt lost. He was a disgrace to manhood, a fallen king.

The most painful part was when he heard the investors giving the contract to her, at that point, he knew he had had enough. He made a recap of how he had kept vigils for this day, and he felt a dagger sink deep into his heart. He clenched his fist, then released it when he knew it wasn't worth it.

"I think I'll need coffee for this one" He said as he walked to the lobby through the escape route, just to avoid seeing anyone. This was one of those moments he wished he was invisible.

.........

As expected, Bode lost the chances to move up the ladder at his workplace, and Bella, who was the new girl, got the post of Social media coordinator, one of the highest ranked office in the company's organogram

His Father was dissapointed and he lost the privilege to borrow any of his Dad's cars, which meant he would take the bus to work for three months and trust me, that was punishment enough.

He knew the dilemma of catching a bus in Lagos, and fact that his new fate was tied to how competitive he was to get into one. He was having a headache

................

"I hate her already" Bode said taking a sip of his drink, he rested one hand on the bar counter, so he could face Akin directed, although, he strained his eyes to see him, because the lights were so blue.

"Well, I don't blame you, she took everything"

"Everything!!! Dad said I would take the bus for three months!!"

he took another sip

"Ahhhhh, that's a lot, But, what happened up there man?"Akin asked a concerned look plastered across his face, he slurped at his soda through the straw

"I don't know, just went blank"Bode said and cupped his head, he starred at the bartender for what seemed like forever.

"It's okay though, we try again, sorry for your loss" Akin said hitting his shoulders, to encourage him

"Thanks man and why are you taking soda, are you on some diet or something?" Bode said, starring weirdly at his choice of drink

"Yes, Ninu and I are on a detox" he responded, and took another slurp of his drink, he starred at the clock.

"oh shoot! I'm 20 minutes late for our dinner date, Ninu is going to rip my throat"

he continued and kicked out of his seat

"You have fun now" Bode said and watched him leave.

Bode took the time to drool over his past failed relationships, it was often a chapter he hated to bring up, but right now, he couldn't unthink it.

He remembered Bisi, the girl his parents arranged for him and how disastrous it was. Bisi was a beautiful black girl, but it wasn't just working out for them, Although she broke up with him, he had wanted to do it for months, plus, she was from the street.

There was also Anita, She was a good woman, but something came up along the line, she just suddenly broke up with him, he remembered begging for her to stay that evening after he had struggled between getting pepper into his eyes, getting palmoil into his clothes, and getting hot all over, just to show a culinary skills that didn't even exist.

He remembered how much she hated the gbegiri and Amala, and he smiled, that was probably what made her leave.

There were many others, he couldn't even remember to mention, and sadly he was always at the receiving end.

He was a mess and the fear made him shut off that door.

....................

Bella walked out of the elevator, her brown blazer and her tan chequed skirt sure suited her new position beautifully, her hair was ironed straight and it dangled obediently along her shoulder, her phone beeped and she reached for it, she raised her hands to her welled made-up face, showing her well groomed nails

"Ada, thank you my darling, I'll call you tonight, I'm about to get into my office for the first time, yay!" She said with a giggle, her friend giggles.

She starred at the office door tap and drank it in for what seemed like forever, she was proud, she did a little wiggle dance and turned the key in the key hole.

She bursted into the room, only to see somebody spread eagled at her table

She screamed "There is a ghost in my office!!!!!"

"Zip it" Bode corrected, standing up and coming towards her, with a glass of wine in his hand, she struggled to calm her raging heart, but she still wondered how he got in.

"I have my ways" he responded like he had read her mind.

"Just my way of saying congratulations..." He got so close that he could smell her cologne

"Cheers" he said and laughed.

She was increasing irked by his manners

"Just stop" she was having a headache

"Why huh? Why should I stop? We both know it me that's supposed to be sitting there and not you" he was raising his voice now

"Well, I wasn't the one who made you suck at your presentation?" She responded and there was silence for a moment

"Well, a toast" he broke the silence

......

Bella stormed out to the HR's office to make a report, but it didn't go so well.

"Share an office with him???, I can't believe this"

She bolted out.

She knew she could die if she shared her office with Bode, she just felt it in her gut.

She sat the step, her makeup greasy from too much frustrating, She called Ada, her best friend.

Ada had this superpower of fixing people when they have issues.

"Ada, I have an issue" She said and waited for the suiting words to come, and it did come.