“
JerryOluwatosin Meyer, you attention is being requested in the inner room.”He
answered but giggled a bit. “Inner room: is that where the interview
is conducted?” he smiled to himself.
The
interview wasn’t for too long. An hour plus and he was doing extremely well.
After being asked to narrate his loss of his last job which he truthfully did,
from beginning to the end. The interviewer asked him one last question.
“Are you a Christian?’’
“Of course,”
Jerry responded.
“Are you
sure of this, you must however know that all you have said in this room is
properly documented and could be used against you at any time at all,” the
interviewer stated, lowering the thick coated, gold rolled glasses that
glimmered in his eyes.
“Yes, I am
sir,” Jerry responded, determined to keep his faith more than the alluring job
being offered.
“Okay, then”
the interviewer responded. He was determined to push Jerry into a tight spot.
He was searching for the best and Jerry had it all but the question mark of
honesty hovered like a little demon over Jerry’s head. He felt satisfied.
“Thank you
very much for being honest with us. We will get back to you next week, whether
or not you are chosen for the job. Any questions?”
Jerry kept
mute. “None at all, thank you sir, thank you very much sir.” With that Jerry
picked his portfolio and moved out, doing well to quietly shut the door. He
moved out waving to the rest as he made for the lift. It wasn’t strange to him
anymore. The young lady taught him how to use the lift, so he just followed her
instructions - in no time he was down on the ground floor. He waved to the
receptionist passing the glass doors to the outside world.
He took the
direct bus to Iyana- Ipaja. He slowly drank from the newly improved 7up bottle
as he wondered what the interviewer meant by asking him if he was a real Christian.
“Hope it’s not about my last job,” he muttered, slowly getting lost in his
thoughts. The most important thing is that job; I can’t keep living this life
in Lagos like this. The conductor’s hoarse voice jolted him to life as he
counted the bus stops mentioning Agege as one. He quickly got off the bus as he
walked the short distance to his not too distant home.
On getting
home, he made for the shower, trying to relax and get his mind off some of the
interview questions. The worst thing that could kill him for sure was worry. He
made his mind to go out for a short drive and a small meal. His phone was
switched off. Immediately, he turned it on. He saw his fiancee’ message. It
read:
Good afternoon, husband-to-be, how
was the interview? I have called you severally. I also said a word of prayer
for you. I will be coming over by 4, straight from work, don’t you dare move.
Love, Kemi.
He smiled at
her thoughtfulness. He felt an immediate surge of happiness as he changed his
mind to prepare her favourite: Fried rice, garnished with chicken sauce,
coleslaw and plantain. He set to work so he could meet the four o’ clock
deadline.
Kemi walked
in while he struggled to fry the last bunch of plantain that was now darkish
brown instead of the conventional golden brown.
“Who is
frying that burnt thing?” She knowingly quipped.
He turned
around and happily scooped her in his arms. Kemi wasn’t at all short. They
stood at almost the same height but he being a bit taller, he towered over her
a bit due to his masculine prowess. She had eyes that lit up the flames of
cupid in him and was very much like him. She differed to him from other girls
due to her outstanding intellect and analytic mind, perfect communication
skills and high intuition hence the foundation of their long standing
relationship. He met her in his local church planning committee where she
analysed the whole idea of how the 50th anniversary be run.
Her
intelligence when he mutinously drilled her out-smarted his. That was his first
attraction to a lady after 11 long years. Their togetherness was confirmed
after almost a year of prayer and counsel from both his pastor and hers. He had
known her officially for 3 years but they became engaged the moment she was
confirmed as his life partner. Soon enough, he looked to surprise her with a
white wedding. All to come when he gets a job- a stable one.
“I am so
sorry for being late. You know I missed you so much that I didn’t know work
will close by 4 and at least an hour is needed before I get home. Forgive me,
please.”
“C’mon, I am
not angry. I just finished preparing dinner.”
Is it the
dinner that just got burnt?” she teased him
“Not at
all,” He paused as he opened the pot that was a bit transparent concealing the
fried rice and he brought the bowl from the freezer with coleslaw. She beamed
immediately. This time she hugged him tighter and gave a peck on the cheeks.
“I love you oko mi”
“Solet’s get
ready to eat”
They had
food and drinks after which Jerry brought a desert made with ice-cream. They lovingly
ate it and Jerry took time telling her about his ordeal at the interview and
the last puzzling question his interviewer asked.
( some months later)
“Do you
think they might use it against you?”said kemi
“I hope they
don’t. I don’t know what I will do if I lose that job due to my track record.’
“Don’t
worry, you won’t lose the job, you won’t” Come here, she called out. He came
close to
her as she let his head rest slightly above her chest cooing him slowly.
“It will be fine, dear.”
“See you
know what; I don’t understand,” he raised his voice. “I just don’t get it, what
are you saying”
“It’s very
easy, only that you fail to understand this simple deal”
“Is it a
deal you call it? This is fraud! Fraud!!” Jerry exclaimed
“No itisn’t.
Can’t you see how lucrative this will be for all of us? The money will be
shared equally and you will have a share of it too”
“You have to
give me a break to process all this”
Jerry walked
out of the conference room, very angry. He got to his door, unlocked it and
paced the room, wondering whether it was his destiny to keep losing. He
wondered what will become of him if he agreed to this deal. Femi wasn’t wrong
saying it would be lucrative and he was the only one who could help because he
has always been closely linked to company finances as the best Accountant,
Auditor, Finance Manager and Risk taker in the game. But this choice was
difficult to make, it was similar to what cost him his job at Cusson plc several
months now. At KPMG, life was terribly good. He had gotten a newer car and was
about to build a new house for his parents; he just bought the land!!!
He kept on
pacing the room, front to back, standard procedure when Abolore walked in.
“Oluwatosin,”Abolore
started with his middle name as he always called him, “You are not alone on
this, we are 20 on this deal with a lot of money. We just need you to agree-
that’s all. You are our main man, join us, please,” Abolore pleaded.
“I had
rather lose my job than let you steal.” Jerry moved up close to stand facing
him, Do you realise that this same thing cost me a Job at Cussons and almost
withdrew my certificate?
“You have no
idea how it feels so don’t come up here telling what to do and please do me a
favour to shut the door on your way out; I have had enough for today.”
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