Tori Ola
by
Esther Ebunife
Copyright © 2017 by Esther Ebunife.
For more information about the author, write to the author from [email protected].
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author or the publisher.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
EPILOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
MATTHEW GOT OUT OF the plane and into the airport. A car was already waiting for him and a servant came to take his bags then followed him to the car and placed all his luggage in the boot. Another man opened the door to the backseat for him and he slipped inside the elegant car. Mr. Solade, the driver, greeted him before he started the car and zoomed out of the airport. They stopped over at his parents' house where his nanny tried to make him rest but he refused. They offloaded the car and continued to the Badej company. His father own it and it'll be his someday. Being the only child of Mr. Teno Badejo, he had nothing to worry about because all of his father's wealth would be his. There was nobody to share it with him. He never knew hardship as the bad side of life did not affect him. He's always had all he wanted since he was a child.
He wasn't in haste to go to his father's company for any reason other than to see his tight friend, Steve. He'd just gotten back from school and wanted to make out with his pal. He didn't come home right after his graduation. Everyone else had gone back but he still stayed abroad for a while before coming. The name BADEJ'S appeared bold from ahead of them. They soon got to the gate and Mr. Solade drove in.
"Welcome, Sir." The gateman greeted them and he nodded.
He got out of the car and squinted under the hot sun. He dipped his hand into his breast pocket and brought out his sunshade, then he put it on and walked into the company. The workers greeted him and smiled. He went to the secretary, took off his shade and asked if his father was on seat, she said he was with Steve. Whenever his father was alone with Steve in his office, they were discussing business. So, he decided to dwaddle a little before going in to them. He took the elevator back down to the bottom floor. As he almost got down, a lady got in with him.
"Wow, she's gorgeous." He commented in his mind.
"Please, would you mind moving back a little. I need to balance all these docu......." She stopped when the documents she carried all fell to the floor. Then she stooped low and begin to pack them. He just kept watching her with a smile on his face, amused. She looked up at him like he's inconveniencing her. He raised a brow in question.
"My paper," she said and he looked down. He was stepping on one of the documents.
"Oh," he removed his leg from it and used his foot to push it at her just when she was about to pick it.
"Ow!" She cried out when his foot kicked her hand.
"Watch out next time." He said and received a deadly glare from her. He was surprised. No one does that to him because everyone wants to get on his good side so as to receive favours from his family.
"Arrogant pig." She muttered and got out of the elevator when it stopped moving. He stepped out too and watched her go, totally strucked dumb.
"What a lady!" He thought. Obviously, she didn't know who he was, otherwise, she wouldn't have insulted him. Who hired her in the first place? He asked himself.
He went back some moments later, when he thought Steve and his father would be done talking business. He was going on to his father's office when he saw her again, the lady he met in the elevator. She was engrossed in what she was doing and did not notice him come into her office, until he picked up one of the documents on her table. She was the only one in the office and he wondered where her colleague had gone to. Then he realised that it was lunch hour, but she was still there working. She must be a workaholic, he concluded in his mind. She looked up and frowned when she saw that he was the one.
"Please drop that sheet, I'm very busy and do not encourage such distraction." She said.
"Oh, so I am a distraction now. But I'm not disturbing you."
"Please leave, whoever you are. Just go." She collected the document from him and went back to her work.
"Look here lady, I'm not just anybody. I am Matthew Badejo, the son of the CEO." He told her. She stared at him, wide-eyed. Great! That was what he liked, she must be scared now that she realised he's the CEO's son.
"Uh, well. It's nice to meet you but I'm kind of very busy right now. So if you'll excuse me, I'll be glad to continue my work. Please." That wiped away the smile that was beginning to form on his face. She ignored him and continued working. Soon, he left her alone.
"Who is that lady?" He asked Foluke, the secretary.
"That's Miss Juliana Solade." She replied him.
"You mean, Mr. Solade's daughter?"
Foluke nodded.
"OK." He went in to meet his father. They exchange pleasantries, then he embraced Steve. They both went out a moment later. When they went past Juliana's office, she was not there.
"Do you know Juliana who sits in this office?" He asked Steve.
"Yes I do. Why asking?"
"That lady is something else, she doesn't even care about who I am. And I thought she would be easy to approach."
"Matthew, you just got back here and you've already seen a lady you're interested in."
"Do you not remember that she's the one we saw at the beach the last time I came?"
"You mean to say you still remember her?"
"Yes, how could I forget such beauty. She even looks more beautiful now but she is a tongue-lasher."
"Which means you have no chance with her." Steve concluded for him.
"WHAT A NERVE HE HAS." Julie mummured. Her dad drove on without saying anything.
"Who does he think he is? Just because he's the son of the CEO does not give him the right to treat other people like trash."
"Be patient with him. He's not as bad as you think he is." Mr. Solade told his daughter when they got home.
"Well, whatever." She went into the kitchen to prepare dinner. He smiled, she always reminded him of her late mother every time she was upset. He was watching TV when she told him that dinner was ready. The meal was delicious and he did not hesitate to say so. He knew she got her cooking talent from her mother too. She was almost twenty-three years old and had no man yet. Not that there wasn't any man interested in her, in fact, there were lots of them but she managed to keep them as mere friends. He knew his daughter very much, she would not do any thing she was not ready to do, and whatever she does, she put her everything to make sure she achieve the best. He'd brought up the topic of a man with her, but she stated firmly that she has to concentrate on her work for now. True, but that shouldn't stop her from having a man in her life, should it? Knowing how headstrong she is, he'd kept quiet on the issue of a man for her and result to praying for her to have a change of heart. He looked across the table at her, she was reading a book and eating at the same time. No matter how often he corrected her, she didn't stop that habit of reading while eating.
"Dad...." She dropped the book she was reading, "how long have you known this Matthew Badejo?"
He smiled, perhaps his daughter is starting to get interested in man.
"Dad?" She asked, impatiently.
"Y
ou seem interested in him." He said instead.
"Not really interested."
"Juliana, you should not cut off men from your...." He wanted to start the topic of finding a suitor, but she stopped him.
"Dad please, not now."
"Okay. Well, I've known Matthew for some years before he travelled abroad to further his education."
"And you conclude that he's a good guy."
Her daddy smiled and finished his food. "If you're interested in him, that's okay."
She glared at him. He just stood up, still smiling, he went into his room. Julie cleared the table and washed the dishes in the sink. She let her mind wander back to Matthew. He didn't look so bad, he's handsome and has a dashing smile that can ease away any anger, coupled with his adoring dimples. She smiled as she recalled how shocked he was when she didn't give him an audience even after he told her he's the son of the CEO. It's not that she didn't want to associate with him, who wouldn't want to be seen with such a handsome and wealthy man, but his arrogant and snobbish behaviour put her off. She went back into the living room, her dad had gone to bed already. It was just half past eight in the night and too early for her to retire to bed, so she turned on the TV then tuned it to her favorite channel.
When it was nine o'clock, her phone rang. Who could be calling her at that time of the night? She definitely wasn't expecting any call. She checked her phone and saw that it was an unknown number so she dropped it, not bothering to answer the call. The phone rang again and again and she picked it. Whoever it was must have an important thing to tell her.
"Hey, babe. Why did you take so long to answer the call?" a male voice asked.
"Excuse me, please who are you?"
"You do not recognise this voice?"
"Look, if you don't have any important thing to say to me, then bye." She was about to hang up when he replied hastily.
"Sorry. My name is Tunde." he said, "You may not know me, but I've been watching you for sometime now and I'm really interested in you."
"Oh really." She couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah, babe. So what do you say about it?"
"About what?" She asked, though she knew what he was asking.
"I want to date you, if you agree to it."
"You sound so confident."
"I am confident."
She smiled, here's another man who was about to receive a NO from her. But before she turn him down, she should at least know him face to face, "I think I need to see you physically before I can conclude on anything."
"Okay ma'am. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night and sweet dreams."
"Good night." She hung up the call.
Whoever is this Tunde guy? She could not even recall anybody with that name. Well, tomorrow will tell. The program she was watching on the TV had ended while they were still talking over the phone. She switched it off and went to bed.
CHAPTER TWO
JULIANA HADN'T SETTLE down well enough for the work of the day when she was told that the Managing Director wants her in his office. She went to him immediately. It was Matthew Badejo. Who made him MD overnight? She asked herself. Well, rich people do whatever they wanted and whenever they feel like.
"Good morning, sir." She greeted him and he smiled, then gestured for her to take her seat which she did. She sat there for about thirty minutes, doing nothing. He just concentrated on his phone and smiling, Julie suspected that he only wanted to frustrate her by asking her to just sit there in front of him.
"Sir, is there anything you want me to do?" She asked, but he did not reply her. She was already getting upset with his show of power. His handsome smiling face was beginning to make her fume with anger, she felt like smashing that phone on his face.
"Sir," she tried again, "I really have work to do in my office. So if there is nothing I can do for you, may I take my leave now?" He looked up at her and went back to what he was doing.
Matthew was enjoying himself. He want to frustrate her and he could see that she was already getting annoyed. He laughed within himself and continued to play a game on his phone, he was going to know the limit of her patience. And as the MD, she just have to do as he says. He was really enjoying his power over her.
After another hour, Julie was already boiling within her. Just as she was about to burst out and tell him off, Foluke came in.
"Sir, you have a meeting with the board in an hour." Foluke told him. That got his attention.
"Alright, I'll be there." he told her. Foluke dropped some papers on his table and left the office. He turned to face Juliana, "Sorry, Miss Solade. You have to leave now. I will see you later to discuss an important issue with you, but for now, I have to prepare for a board meeting."
She glared at him in anger and left his office without saying anything. Matthew smiled when she left. She was very easy to offend. He got back to his work to prepare for his first board meeting as MD.
"BASTARD." JULIE MURMURED again.
"Who are you calling bastard and why are you looking so furious?" Beny asked her.
She stopped typing and looked at her friend, "It's Matthew. He's such an annoying jerk."
"You mean the CEO's son?" She asked. Julie nodded, "He just arrived yesterday and you are upset with him. Did you two know each other before or what?" Beny was amazed.
"He's been getting on my nerve since yesterday." She fumed.
"Who? Me?" Matthew asked and strolled into her office. They didn't even realise he was there.
"Good afternoon, sir." Beny greeted.
He answered her and went over to Juliana. The board meeting had gone well for him and he was so happy he felt like bugging Julie again. She did not even acknowledge his presence. He took her hand from the keyboard.
"It's almost lunch hour, let's go to the cafe." he said and was rewarded with a hiss that could deafen anyone. Beny was surprised at her friend's attitude towards the MD, the future CEO. Anyone would've loved to be in her position and receive his attention.
She jerked her hand away from him, "I'm busy," she said.
"It's lunch hour....." He was trying to persuade her but she cut him off.
"Please, Mr Badejo. I have more important things to do." She shunned him.
Instead of him to look hurt as she'd expected, he just smiled and moved away towards the door, "Okay Miss Bee. I'm leaving now, workaholic." Before she could say anything, he left.
She banged her table with her fist, "Bastard." She retorted again.
"I don't know your problem, Juliana. Everybody in this company would have loved to gain his attention as you have." Beny said and shook her head, "You take things for granted."
"Well, I am not everybody." With that said, she resumed her typing. When it was almost lunch break, her phone beeped and she checked the message. It was from Tunde.
"Hi, babe. I'll be expecting you for lunch today. Don't worry, I'll foot the bill."
She smiled, then stood up to go to the cafe.
"You're leaving so early for lunch," Beny noted, "looks like something is fishy."
"Nothing is fishy, Beny. See ya." She went out.
As she sat by the window in the cafe, she looked here and there. There were waiters and waitresses everywhere, which one of them was Tunde? She wondered. Or maybe he was not working as a waiter, maybe he was the gardener or the cook. She sighed, this was hopeless.
"Hi, beautiful." A man said behind her.
She looked back and saw that he was a waiter but he wore a dark shade so she could not see his eyes.
"Are you Tunde?" She asked him.
"Sure I am, babe. Give me a moment." He went away and returned soon with two trays of food and juice with some water. He placed one in front of her and the other in front of himself, then he sat down.
"Aren't you supposed to be working with the others?" She asked him, curiously.
"Well, honey," he scooped a spoonful into his mouth and chewed, "I'm free for now and I often find favour with my boss, he's very understanding."
&nb
sp; "So, you're allowed to date a lady right in the cafeteria where you work?" She spoke slowly.
He was trying not to laugh and she noticed. They finished their food in silence, communicating with their eyes only. He kept on winking at her but refused to smile. Julie shook her head at him, he was too funny and she was already taking a liking to him. As they were strolling outside, she decided to remove the shade from him so that she could see his eyes, but he caught her hand before she could do so.
"I want to see your eyes. Stop staring back at me through the shade. I want to see who I am with." She said.
"Not yet."
"Why?" She queried.
He kept quiet for a while, then said, "I have an injury beside my eyes and it's not okay for you to see it."
Juliana smiled, "Liar, you have no injury." She tried to remove it again but he caught both her hands. "Okay, what injury is it? How severe?"
"I got into a fight like men do, it's typical of us."
"Why do I have a feeling that you are lying to me?"
"Because you desperately want to see my face, babe."
"And why aren't you smiling?"
"Because I'm not good at it."
"And why do you talk like.......?"
He silenced her with a kiss.
Julie was shocked, she didn't expect him to kiss her. Not on their first date. But instead of her to push him away, she found herself leaning into him and letting him have his way with her. The ringing of her phone jolted them back to reality and he released her so she could answer the call. It was from Beny.
"I have to go now, my lunch hour is far spent." She couldn't look at him as she spoke.
He held her face in his hands, making her lift her eyes up to him. "That was wonderful," he said, "it's the best ........."
"Please," she paused, trying to gather her thoughts. Then continued, "I don't know what came over me. I have to go."
He caught her arm before she could leave, "Will you go out with me again? Please."
"I really don't know."
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