Mark looked across the table at Jumai. She was totally engrossed in the presentation. Even in her official suit she looked great. It was a shame he had lost interest in her. She looked at him and caught his stare. He turned his gaze to the projector screen. Did she smile? He looked back at her, her eyes were back on the presentation. Had he lost interest? No way.
“Mark, your turn.” His boss announced.
Mark picked his files and walked to the front of the room.
“Good afternoon everybody. Like my boss announced earlier, UNICEF will be arriving in Nigeria in two weeks. This is the first time we will be working with UNICEF so we have to make this perfect. Please look through the file in front of you. Everybody here except for Doctor Jumai…” He paused and looked at her. She smiled. He caught himself before he returned the smile. “…everybody knows how these things work. There is only one difference this time. And it will make all the difference in the world.”
He clicked the pointer and two pictures came on the screen.
“I’m sure we all know who they are. Professor Tanko and Professor Jibril. They are both on our team for the first time. Here are the roles they will be playing.”
“Wait Mark.” His boss stopped him. “Isn’t all these information in the files?”
“Yes sir. I was just…”
“This meeting has been on for too long.” He turned to address the room. “Like Mark said, you all know Professors Tanko and Jibril. You can read all about it in your files. Our next meeting is in a few days, we will send you a mail to that effect.”
Like that, Doctor Aderoju ended the meeting. Mark packed his files and returned to his seat. That was hours of preparation down the drain.
“That was great.”
Mark looked up and saw Jumai standing by his side.
“Great? Do you know the meaning of the word?”
She laughed. “Okay, it wasn’t great. I’m just trying to compensate for not remembering you.”
“Oh, I see. How do you plan to compensate for calling me Joey Tribbiani?”
“Maybe I’ll read your file.”
“Really? I will be so grateful to you.”
She arched her eyebrow. “Sarcasm?”
“Of course.”
Mark stood and headed for the door. He opened the door and Jumai stepped out of the room.
“My boss didn’t say why you were in this meeting.”
“I’m representing my father.”
“Your father?” His eyes widened. “Are you the daughter of..?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I should be kissing your feet. Your father is our biggest donor.”
“Did you know my feet has not been kissed in a long time? Maybe I’ll let you kiss it one of these days.”
They got to the front of his office and he stopped.
“Why did you stop?” Jumai asked.
“This is my office.”
“Oh, can I see?”
Mark peeked inside and shook his head. “Sorry, not today.”
“Too rough huh?”
“Rough? What? Nah.” Mark said and swallowed. “There’s a naked girl inside.”
She frowned. “I see.”
Mark looked at her face, she believed him?
“That was a joke. The office is too rough, that’s why… you know?”
They stood and endured a few seconds of awkward silence.
“About the compensation for calling me Joey Tribbiani, you still haven’t named the price.” Mark said.
“How about I let you walk me to the car?”
“Hmm, it doesn’t quite make up but I’ll take what I can get.”
They made small talk as they walked out of the building. She wasn’t as snobbish as he thought she was but she wasn’t an open book either. It looked like she was genuinely trying to pay back for forgetting him. He walked her to her car and watched her drive away.
Was it meant to be? He wasn’t so sure anymore but at least he would have another chance to find out in a few days.
He returned into the building and met his boss at the door.
“Where is Jumai?” He asked.
“She just left sir.” Mark replied.
“Aargh. I wanted to wish her a safe flight before she left.”
Mark smiled. “She didn’t fly sir, she drove.”
His boss looked at him and shook his head. “I didn’t mean now. She is flying back to Kaduna today. That’s where she practices.”
Mark spun around and watched Jumai’s car driving off in the far distance.
“Is she coming for the next meeting?” Mark asked.
“No. Why? Did she steal your lunch?” Doctor Aderoju said and walked away laughing at his own lame joke.
Was it meant to be? She had just walked away – driven away from him again. Well, he had his answer.
No comments:
Post a Comment