(I have death in my pocket)
Lara left her wallet on the shelf that morning before rushing out of her apartment for a job interview. She needed this job, so she studied all night, going through the company’s vision and mission statements, reading up her notes on customer care management, and watched several YouTube videos on how to deal with job interviews. She needed to put her best foot forward for this job.
The salary is good; they have a pension, HMO, and traveling care packages for employees. This is nothing like her #70,000 job with no HMO or Pension and she had no closing time. Her boss makes her work like hell and she leaves the office late; Lara gets home at odd hours.
This job is good for me. It is what I need now
Those were the words she kept muttering to herself. By the time she was settled inside the UBER, she remembered her wallet and scream “shit” in anger.
The driver asked her if she was alright?
I forgot my wallet at home and I kept my debit cards and ID cards inside it.
Would you like me to take you back, so you can get it?
Don’t worry, I can’t afford to be late for my appointment.
Lara quickly texted her friend Folake and asked if she could go to her room, and get her wallet so that after her interview she could stop by her office to pick it up.
Folake didn’t reply and Lara felt frustrated. She quickly dialed her number and Folake didn’t pick up.
Lara recorded a voice vote and sent it to Folake
“Hi babe, I forgot my wallet at home. Can you help me pick it up from my room and I’ll stop by your office after my interview to pick it up?”
Lara and Folake share a flat in Surulere, Lagos. It’s a two-bedroom apartment and they have a room each, but they share the sitting room. Lara and Folake met at the University of Lagos where they both studied English Literature. They graduated together and served in Ogun State and after service, they got a room self-contained and lived there for a year before they finally got this two-bedroom room flat.
Folake replied to Lara’s voice note and told her she had left home, but she would go back home and get the wallet for her. Folake’s boyfriend, Debo, secured this interview for Lara and he prepped her on how important it was, to arrive early, so she could make a good impression; also, he stressed the need to wow the hiring panel.
Lara made it to Crest Oil Ltd at 7: 53am; the interview was scheduled for 10 am, but to beat the Lagos traffic, she left home as early as 5: 30am. She was in the waiting room with other applicants. She was the second applicant to get there and that made her bond with Chigozie, the first applicant. They spoke about the job and why it’s important to secure the Job. Debo told her they were prepared to pay her #250,000 and that’s over 3 times what she currently earns. She wasn’t called in by the panel until 11:03 am and she took several deep breaths before walking into that door. Debo highlighted the importance of wowing the panel with her dressing. Lara doesn’t fancy make-up, except when she goes to the beach or informal gatherings; she rarely wears mini-dresses or skirts, but that day in her apartment, these were Debo’s words to her:
You need to wear make-up. You are a pretty girl and they are looking for pretty girls; of course, they won’t write that in the job description but it’s a silent and important criterion. I’d suggest you wear a nice outfit, dress, or skirt, but make sure you show your legs, wear heels, do your make-up, and strut into that office like it’s a runway. Make eye contact and make sure you immerse yourself in the business of the company and you are sure to get the job. The HR officer is my friend from graduate school and he was kind enough to tell me this.
Lara watched several YouTube videos and she knew the importance of taking deep breaths to calm your nerves and mind, and as she walked through those doors, she did exactly that, and strutted until she was standing in front of the panel. Most of the questions were about her thoughts on the political climate in the country and what she would do if a client were making sexual advances to her.
Lara has read too much not to be able to tackle this head-on. 30 minutes later she was done with the interview, so headed straight back to Folake’s office to update her and pick up her wallet.
How was it ?
It went well, actually and I didn’t stutter as much as I thought I would. We were 10 in total and the guys looked prim and proper in their suits and polished shoes, and all the girls were in heels. There was this particular lady that was light in complexion and her skin was enough to command attention and she wore a mini-dress. The inches of her heels were over 4 and even I would pick her, but I really do hope I get it. I find that lady intimidating, but I put my best foot forward and I am hoping that I would get the job.
Are you even looking at yourself? You look stunning, Lara.
Folake lent Lara one of her black mini-dress and introduced her to the make-up artiste; in fact, you can say that Folake was her stylist for this interview. She wore the bone-straight hair that Folake lent her, the heels she bought from a colleague, and she carried the handbag she got as a birthday gift.
Lara, you look amazing. Don’t sweat it, just be hopeful. I know you will get the job
I really do hope I get it.
Lara took permission from work by lying to her boss that her uncle died and he was her guardian in Lagos. Yes, her uncle is dead, but he died long before she met Folake or even got admission into the university. She had nothing to do for the rest of the day, so she said goodbye after picking up her wallet and after debriefing Folake she headed straight home.
She had to take a public bus (Danfo) back home. The UBER was just part of the strategy to help calm her nerves and now that the interview was over, it is back to the status quo. She was on a bus from Ikeja to Yaba, when her phone rang and she picked it up; it was Isaiah, her married boyfriend.
Folake!
This is she.
Folake!
Yes, please, who is this?
Lara has been with Isaiah for over 4 years. They met whilst she was still in school. He was not only her lover but her financial benefactor.
Isaiah was one of the dignitaries that were invited to give a speech during a departmental conference in year 2 and Lara was part of the team that went to drop the invite and follow up. It was during one of those calls that Isaiah had first asked to see a picture of her.
You have been calling me and I don’t know what you look like. When I come on the 12th, I want to be able to recognize you.
When they went to drop the invite, Isaiah was not around, so they gave it to his secretary. Lara sent a picture and Isaiah acknowledged receipt without any further comment. After the ceremony on the 12th, Folake went up to him to introduce herself, but he knew her, and he was courteous. A week later, he asked her on a date, and out of respect, she obliged him. He took her to a fancy restaurant in Lekki; he complimented her looks and told her she could always come to him if she needed anything. He sent her a #100,000 credit alert and up until that day, Lara had never had such an amount in her bank account. He took her on more dates and sent more alerts, airtime, and gifts and that was the foundation of their relationship. Isaiah told her by the third date that he was married with 3 kids. Lara was shocked and told him she couldn’t be with a married man.
I can’t bring myself to be with a married man. It is against everything I believe in and besides this won’t lead anywhere, so it is better if we just end it now.
I care about you, Lara and you intrigue me. Don’t let my marital status stop something good. She is just the mother of my children and I respect her but there is nothing good between me and her. I care for her because of my children but the love between us died a long time ago. Lara, I want you.
Lara tried to make a case for how this is what any other married man would say, but Isaiah was insistent and pleaded with her to let them see where this would lead.
As they progress, he brought up the conversation of wanting a 2nd wife.
I am a Yoruba man. I am allowed to have a 2nd or 5th wife
Folake always shies away from the marriage conversation.
My people would kill me if I tell them I want to marry a man who has a wife and kids. I am sure they would commit me to an asylum because there is no way they won’t believe that I have lost my mind.
I want to marry you. There has to be a way to go about it. You can get pregnant for me. By then they won’t have a choice but to accept me.
Hell, NO. I am not getting pregnant
For now, I am ready to wait till you accept to marry me. I want you.
They were together for years and he always throws a jealous fit whenever she is seeing any other guy, so for years, she never dated anyone else. Isaiah was 44 years old and Lara was 22 years old when they started dating; after NYSC, Isaiah came down with strokes, so his wife was in charge of his phones and every other means she could reach him. Lara was forced to think about life outside Isaiah again and for over 16 months she didn’t speak to him not since she called and his wife picked it up and rained curses on her.
You are the bastard sleeping with my husband. Ashawo! I have all your information and you will get what you are looking for soon. You are the unfortunate fellow who doesn’t want me to enjoy the fruit of my labor. You are the reason he is in a vegetative state and I promise you that I will find you and when I get you, you would prefer death over living.
Folake quickly ended the calls and for days after that day, she went to stay with her friend, Bola, she bought a new sim and broke the old sim. She never had the boldness to call Isaiah again. She spoke to Isaiah’s friend and he told her how bad things have been with him. Isaiah had a partial stroke, so his wife has access to his phones and messages. Jimoh suggested that she stopped calling him and he would update her. They spoke for months, and Jimoh was always updating, but after a while, they drifted apart, she rarely calls him and when she does, he doesn’t pick up, so she stopped calling him.
Lara was gobsmacked when she heard Isaiah’s voice
Isaiah!
Yes
Is it really you?
.
To be continued
