Echoes of the past - Chapter Four

     Echoes of the past - Chapter Four    
          Teni was stunned when Feyi's dad handed the keys to a brand new BMW 520 sport saloon car the evening before she resumed work. She stared at the keys then back to his smiling face before looking across at the grinning faces of Feyi and Deji. They had obviuosly known about it before now.   "But I can continue to use the car I’ve been driving!" She protested, feeling overwhelmed by the gesture.   Feyi made a face at her "Don't be silly. How can you compare a Beemer to a Kia? This will take your hot chick credentials to another high!"      Teni felt tears sting her eyes. She had given up trying to understand why this very nice family had decided to adopt her but it felt good to have a place in another home.   She could not resist the impulse and stood on tiptoe to kiss Feyi's dad's cheek. "Thanks Uncle Kola, you must be my fairy godfather."    He looked a little emotional at her gesture. "You’re very welcome, Teniayo."     Deji cracked a joke to lighten the mood and they all laughed before going out for a spin in her new car then spent the rest of the evening watching movies and eating spicy barbecued skewered beef or suya as it was called locally.      Teni felt Uncle Kola was just that little bit nicer to her because she shared the same name as his late twin sister. Teni had initially thought she probably resembled his twin sister, even though that would mean his sister also had to resemble Teni's mum too. She had asked to see the lady's pictures but there was no similiarity. So it had to be her name that evoked those tender feelings in him.   "Uncle Kola is such a sweet guy." Pamela said when she and Nicole came visiting two days later. She ran her fingers over the bonnet of the car. "I mean, look at the way he paid my Uni fees for two years, then got me a good job afterwards, not to talk of all the little things he still throws in."  "But he didn't get you a car like this." Nicole said, with the malicious glint in her eyes that Teni had grown accustomed to. "Maybe he likes Teni just that little bit extra, eh?"   A mildly annoyed expression crossed Pamela's face. "Sheathe your claws, Nicole. Uncle Kola buying Teni a car doesn't make me love him any less."  Nicole looked unrepentant as she admired her nails. "Don't let Feyi's mum hear you. She just may take exception to a young girl saying she's in love with her husband."  Feyi shook her head. "You're so twisted, Nicole." She said turned towards Teni and Pamela. "Feel like a swim, girls? The weather is absolutely boiling."       Teni was excited to start work at Vantres the following Monday. Vantres was one of the biggest advertising firms in the country and they had several big brands to their name, including many multinationals whose products they helped market. Her office was on the west wing of the sixth floor, the boring floor according to Feyi. It housed the accounting department and also the administrative offices. The other adminstrative offices were a floor above where Feyi's dad's and Deji's office were situated.  Feyi's office was on the east wing of the building.      She joined the other members of her department for a team brief and was taken round the department by her head of department, Dave, a pleasant young man somewhere in his early thirties. She found the staff friendly and easy going and she had a feeling she was going to enjoy working there.     Feyi and her met up for lunch at the office Cafeteria and they both swapped stories on how their day was going. Like Teni, she also had to report to an head of department. Even Deji who had worked in the company even before he graduated had had to start at a sub manager role when he joined the company.  "It's dad just making sure we’re properly grounded and at no risk of crashing the company he's sweated so much for." Feyi grinned as she tucked into her chicken roll "Well, it suits me for now as I don't have to be that responsible just yet."   Teni agreed with Feyi's dad's reasoning. Many times kids that were handed successful companies on a platter didn't quite appreciate the work that had gone into building them.      She was just rounding up for the day when she heard her phone ringing. She fished it out of her bag and her eyes widened when she saw Fola's number. She rolled her eyes. This guy wasn't letting up.   "Hi Fola." She said on connecting the call.   "How was your first day at work?" Came the now the familiar deep smooth voice.   "I’ve really enjoyed it." She reached for a post it note on her table and dawdled on it with her pen. "I think I'm going to like it here."  "Great. So what made it so interesting?"   "Everything. I like the relaxed atmosphere. The staff I've met so far all seem easy going and friendly and everyone seems to like their job, generally it seems like an atmosphere where one could really bring out one's potential."  "Sounds like they copied KH." He teased.   She could not help smiling. "Really? I'm sure Vantres is a much nicer place to work in."  "Don't be so sure, it's just your first day there, maybe you should check KH out before you make up your mind."  "Are you trying to poach me or what?"   He laughed "I'm just giving you some free advice on the best place to work; besides it would be cool to work in the same office as you." He added softly.   Office romance? No siree! "I already have a job, Fola and besides you can't even be sure I'd fit into KH."    "First degree in economics from UCL, masters in business admin from LSE? Impressive credentials, many companies would want to have you on board."   Teni was surprised "How did you know that?"   "I've got my sources."   She was still puzzled. "But I only just met you again on Saturday."   "That's a lot of time to dig around." She could hear the amusement in his voice. "Do you have anything planned for tonight?"   Warning bells flashed in her head, the player was on the prowl. "Um....sort of, going to have a long chillaxing evening."   "I had the same idea so let’s combine plans. I know just the perfect place to achieve that."   "I didn't plan to go out....."  "C'mon, Teni. I promise I won't keep you out late."  "Maybe some other time but not tonight."   "Maybe tomorrow?"   "I try not to go out socially during the week."   "I try not to make too many rules....I believe it stifles the fun out of life."   Not surprising, players are normally very flexible. "My rule works for me, Fola."   "Okay....Let's make it the weekend then."   "I'm not sure about that but I'll confirm it before then."     She was relieved to get off the phone a few minutes later. The guy sure had a persuasive tongue and she was almost tempted to give in to him and forget about what Feyi had told her but that would be like walking into a trap with one's eyes wide open.


     She went out with Feyi for a drink the next weekend. They ordered their food and drinks and settled down in their booth. Teni was just about to tuck into the chicken roll she had had ordered, when Fola Lawal strolled into the eatery. She looked quickly away, hoping he wouldn't see her.   "What's up?" Feyi asked curiously as she saw her face.  "Don't turn around but Fola Lawal just came in."   Feyi eyes widened "Uh oh...has he seen you?"   "I don't think so...” She said as she cast a furtive glance in his direction. He was now at the reception desk and was talking to the girl behind the counter. Even from where she was sitting, she could see the girl smiling coquettishly at him as she took his orders. That guy must attract females to him like bees to honey. For some reason, she felt a little irritated. Anyone that was dating him would always have to look over their shoulder for his female admirers. Not my kind of thing, she grimaced inwardly as she turned her attention back to Feyi.  "What's with the face?"   She told her and Feyi laughed. "I told you that he has a way with ladies. Too fine for his own good..."   "Shh....He's looking this way." Teni whispered. Fola had made his order and was now standing aside from the counter, his gaze casually moving over the room.   Feyi shrugged. "Well, It's no biggie if he sees us. You can't avoid him forever. You both live and work on the Island and you’re bound to bump into him occasionally." She bit into her sandwich and then took a sip of her orange juice. "Hmmm....the lemon gives it a bit of a kick, just the way I like it."    Teni tried to concentrate to what Feyi was saying and kept her eyes studiously fixed on her face. She still hoped that Fola had somehow missed seeing them but her hopes were dashed when she saw him heading in their direction a few minutes later, his bags of take away with him.  "Hello Feyi, Teni." He said as he got to their booth.   Teni cast a quick glance at him, forcing her eyes not to stare at the way his broad shoulders filled the beige Armani T-shirt he had on over snugly fitted Levi's Jeans.  "Hi Fola, good to see you again." Feyi smiled back at him.  "Same here." His eyes swept over Teni's face. "How have you been Teni?"   "Good, and you?" She forced her eyes to meet his for a few seconds before looking away.   "I'm well, thank you." He said.   "How is Ka-Tell doing, Fola?" Feyi asked him.   "Good. It's been busy but we’re trying to stay on top of it."   He chatted with them for a few minutes, Feyi and him did most of the talking but anytime Teni looked in Fola's direction, she met his eyes on her. She didn't know why, but the guy made her uncomfortable. Like Feyi said, he was too attractive for his own good but she knew she would be setting herself up if she ever tried to date him. He would probably walk all over her and move off to his next conquest while she would be left nursing a broken heart.    Feyi giggled after Fola had left. "That guy clearly has a thing for you!"  Teni sipped on her orange juice as she watched Fola's retreating back. "I'm not interested in a player."  "Then you’ve got to act a little more naturally around him. It was so obviuos there was something going on between you too. All that eyeballing..." She rolled her eyes "And by the way, it was on both sides."  "No it was not." Teni protested. "I wasn't eyeballing him!"   "I know what I saw and by the looks of it, you’d better watch out so you don't fall prey to that guy."   

          Fola listened as Dan; the new business development manager that KH had just hired delivered a proposal in the conference room. There were one or two loopholes he could spot in the guy's analysis but overall it was not a bad proposal.      KH was planning to start offering customers a fibre optic link directly to their premises which would enhance the broadband services. What currently obtained with fixed telecomms operators was a fibre optic cable and copper link combination. The fibre and copper connection reduced the overall broadband capacity compared with if it had been a fibre optic link all the way. KH was already leading the private Telecomms business in Nigeria comfortably by a good margin but wanted to create even more of a gap between it and its closest competitor, Opti-Tel who currently used the fibre optic and copper link. They would be the first Telecomms Company offering that service and they were projecting that the public would love it. That would be two satisfactory outcomes. The happy public and a satisfied Ka-Tell in the sense that it was delivering quality service and at the same time, making good profits.       The implementation was going to be involve more costs for KH but they were planning to offset it by the volume of new customers the services would attract as well as those customers who were bound to defect from other competitors.      Dan finished his proposal and it came to the questions and answers time. Fola sat back and watched as questions were fielded to Dan by the other team members. The good thing about KH was that the staffs took ownership of the projects assigned to them and were prepared to critique it as thoroughly as possible so that the success of the product could be almost assured.    "Your idea sounds plausible, Dan." He said to Dan after the Q&A session was over. "But I think Sam and you may have to put your heads together and come up with ideas on how there could be a level of internal protection of the cable." He turned towards Sam, the telecomms engineer who was sitting towards his right. Sam nodded and Fola continued "Then of course, the marketing department would have to do their best to see that the new product is well received and allay any concerns the customers could have. KH is going to be doing some strong media drive over the next few months and we are sure the results would be more than satisfactory." He cast a glance around the men and women sitting around the conference table. "Dan's proposal is quite impressive but we need to fine tune it as much as possible."       He walked back to his office when the meeting was done. He had a full diary and he dived right in. He had a number of reports he needed to complete ahead of the joint meeting he was attending with Akeem and some other directors the next day. He saw the messages flashing on his computer. Two were from Akeem. He read them quickly and sent a reply before settling down to work on compiling the reports.      He didn't know how fast the time had flown by until his PA reminded him for the third time about lunch. He glanced at this wristwatch; it was going for three pm.   "Should I just order something in from the Cafe for you, Fola?" She asked him with a mildly disapproving look on her face.  He rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. "Thanks but I think I actually need to take a little walk and clear my head. I’ll just grab a bite at Pinto's." He said referring to the eatery down the road.     A few minutes later he got out of the elevator and walked briskly across the road towards Pintos. The lunch hour rush would be over now anyway plus the fact that more people favoured the staff cafe to the more pricey Pintos.      His eyes caught a lady as she made her way to her car and he found himself giving her a second look automatically. Same built and height but it was not her. He smiled as Teni's face flashed before him. That gorgeous girl who was wrecking havoc on his emotions. He had called her again just the day before and she had declined yet another invite from him. He would have shrugged her off his mind after the second time she declined spending time with him but putting her out of his mind was proving such a hard task. It had been that way since she almost crashed into him at that roundabout. He found himself thinking about her at odd times and just having the urge to talk with her and find out the thoughts flitting behind that gorgeous face.   "I 'm afraid the timing is not convenient. I’ll be going to fix my hair at the salon that day." Had been her last excuse when he asked her out.  "I could push the outing a little farther into the evening." He had come back to her just as smoothly.   "Um... I don't think that works for me." She said in that cool British accent of her's. "Maybe some other, time, Fola."   He liked the sound of his name on her lips. In fact if he was being truthful, he liked everything about her. Her combination of beauty and brains was intriguing and he badly wanted to find out what made her tick.  "You and I are going to be seeing each other again soon, Teni." He said to himself as he stepped into Pinto's. "Much sooner than you think."
           Teni threw herself into her job over the next few days, trying to get the hang of it and adjust to the working environment. She was shadowing Phil, another member of the team. They were both working on the same project which was to minimise the time it took for customers needs to be met. Currently everything was being handled by the relationship manager and Vantres wanted to free the manager up from those duties so that he could concentrate on his main tasks. Phil and her were to come up with a Business requirement document and were to do a presentation for the rest of the department in about a week.      Phil was a nice guy who was very good at what he did and he was confident enough not to need to show off. He quietly put her through the ropes and how the general rules applied to the peculiarity of the Nigerian environment and the expectations of the clients and she found her respect for him increasing as they worked together.      Fola called her again on Thursday and this time around she didn't take the call. She listened to the voicemail he left. He wanted them to go out that weekend. She text him later and declined his invite. He didn't call her all through the weekend she congratulated herself that he had gotten her message. Not that hard to shake off then, she thought to herself smugly until she got to the office the next Monday and a delivery man brought a parcel for her to sign for. She was puzzled and wondered who it was and what the slim case could contain.   'Thought you'd like these, Fola.' Was written in a confident scrawl on the little card attached to the case containing three elegant pens.      She smiled as she looked at the note again. It was a subtle reminder that he was still on the chase. She text her thanks and he replied immediately.   'Glad you like them. How was your weekend?'  'Very good, and yours?'  'Could have been better but I got by.'     She stared at what he had written. She knew where the conversation would lead if she continued so she just text him to have a good week ahead and ended the conversation. He called her two days later and asked her to dinner on friday or saturday and she told him she was having an early night on Friday then going out with Feyi and Banji on Saturday. He asked for them to go to Marijas on Sunday and she declined again, she had promised to attend church with Deji that Sunday and she was going with them to visit their mum afterwards. Fola's voice was quiet as he told her he would get in touch with her again. Teni felt somewhat guilty  at his tone but shrugged off the feelings. There was no point starting a journey she couldn't complete. Fola was too attractive and way too easy for her to lose her heart to.       Feyi and Banji had asked her to double date with them and a friend of Banji's on Saturday and she had a good time. She had met the guy, Lanre a few times and he was a likeable person. Good looking too, but not in a smouldering in your face way like Fola.        She didn't get any calls from Fola the following week and she felt he had finally gotten her message even though she also felt strangely deflated too. He would probably just move on to the next lady anyway. With his kind of looks, he shouldn't have a shortage of girls willing to date him. He'd probably have more problems trying to trim the numbers down.      She rounded up her work early on Friday, and then decided to make some calls to her family. Feyi was going out with Banji again again and Lanre was out of town but even if he was, she didn't feel like tagging along for another double date.      Her dad was enjoying his stay in St Lucia and she was happy to hear his relaxed voice over the phone. She had initially wondered at the wisdom of him making the journey her mum and him had gone on so often so soon after her death but it appeared to be working as some form of therapy for him as he revisited those places that that had been to together and relieved their happy memories. They talked about her work. He was glad she was enjoying herself.  "I know how hardworking and efficient you are."  He said with a note of pride in his voice. "Vantres is lucky to have you."   "So says the adoring dad." Teni teased.  "But I'm saying the truth." He insisted. "But anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing you again." His voice became quieter. "Maybe you can take some time off and come home when I get back to England. Your mum left some documents and a letter for you."   "Oh." She didn't even want to think of going through her mother's things just yet. The memories they would evoke would be too painful "Maybe it's just stuff about shares and things like that. You can help me sort them out, can't you, dad?"   "I believe it's more than that." His voice was still rather quiet. "But not to worry, We will sort it all out together."     She called Brendan next, he was still in the office like her and they chatted for a while before he had to run as he was running late for the train back home.      She tidied her desk and was just tucking her phone in her pocket when she heard a knock on the door. She thought it was someone in her department and called out for the person to come in and the next thing she knew was that she was looking into Fola Lawal's face.   "Hey." He said as he shut the door behind him. "Thought I'd pop by and see you."      Her office was fairly large but he appeared to have shrunk it with his height and the sheer magnetism that seemed to radiate from him. He was still in his business dress, a charcoal grey suit that had to be bespoke because of the way it moulded his broad shoulders and outlined his toned physique. A crisp button down white shirt and a silk grey tie with silver specks completed the look. It was the end of the day, Friday no less, yet this guy appeared as fresh and energy packed like it was Monday morning.   "Surprise." She was amazed her voice was sounding so cool. She had expected it come out all squeaky. "I wasn't expecting you. Was just about leaving the office. You would have missed me if you came ten minutes later than this."   He sat down in the seat she offered. "I know roughly what time you leave the office everyday."   She looked at him and he gazed back at her. She wondered who his informant at Vantres was. "It might still have been safer if you called before coming."  A slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Would you have agreed to see me if you knew I was coming over?"   "Maybe..."  "I think maybe not." He held her gaze. "You’ve been giving off these vibes like you’re deliberately doing all you can to avoid seeing me."   "I don't get you." She hedged.   He arched his brow, the expression on his face telling her he didn't believe her. "You’ve had a perfect excuse to decline every single date I have asked you out on."  She shrugged "If the excuses were perfect, it may mean they are genuine."  "Or they are perfectly thought out so they appear genuine." He maintained eye contact with her. "So, tell me, why are you so bent on declining my invites?"  She looked away. She couldn't think straight with those eyes on her. "Well...."   "Well.......?"  "Hey, this is not fair; you are putting me on the spot here." She protested. Declining his advances was a lot easier on the phone.  "It's a simple question, Teni."  "Maybe It's because I don't know anything about you?"  "So go on and ask me anything you want to know."  She tried to think of a safe question but nothing was forthcoming. He just continued to look at her face.  "I have a better idea" He said when she didn't say anything "Why don't we get to know each other some more by actually spending time together?"  I can't. My wise momma told me not to play with fire. "I'm kind of busy right now, settling down to a new job and all that."   "Yeah, plus driving on the right side of the road and all that."  She looked up quickly and caught the amused glint in his eyes. "Yeah, plus that too." She agreed but could not help smiling.   "I can give you some driving lessons. See, I'm nice like that, even offering to help the lady that traumatised me."   She giggled "My driving is a lot better now, but thanks for the offer."   He smiled back at her. The single dimple on his right cheek making him looks even more gorgeous. She tore her eyes away and tried to remember Feyi's warning.  "You’re welcome anytime." He said. "So today is Friday and since I know you don't do week dates, we could go out any evening this weekend, right?"   "Let's see how that goes but I'll confirm it to you."   He shook his head "Nah. I'm going to just get a cryptic apologetic text declining my invite."  "You can't be sure about that."  "I'm hundred percent sure that's how it would play out." He placed his elbows on her desk and leaned forward "C'mon, Teni, It's just one little outing. Moreover I've been advised by my therapist that the best way to draw closure on my near fatal car accident is to have a discussion with the driver."  She shook her head. "That's blackmail, and it's so not fair."   He put on a solemn look but she could see the gleam in his eyes. "Don't blame me. I'm just trying to get some emotional healing here and I'm not sure how I'll survive if you put off the discussion indefinitely."    "I'm sure you'll find something to take your mind off." Or someone she added silently.   "I'll just think of the great time I'm going to have with you during our discussion tomorrow and er.... of course the healing process that it would initiate."   "I haven't agreed to seeing you."  "Do you have anything planned for tomorrow?"   She struggled to think up an excuse but failed miserably and having those smouldering dark eyes fixed on her certainly didn't help matters.   "Nothing planned as I thought." He continued when she didn't say anything. "So, beautiful Teni, would you do me the honour of having dinner with me tomorrow?"   She knew when she was beaten and just looked at him helplessly. He gazed back at her with an innocent expression on his face."What time?”   At least he had the decency not to look triumphant."Is seven pm okay?"   "That's fine."  She gave him the Ola-Daniel's address, packed up and they both left the office together. He waited until she got into her car before he went to his.      On her way home, she could not stop the silly smile that came over her face as she thought of Fola and his unexpected visit to her office. Although it felt like she had been rail roaded into accepting his dinner date, she had to admit that she was looking forward to it already. She remembered the way Fola looked in his impeccably cut suit. She could almost swear that guy got hotter anytime she saw him!   "You had better get a grip on yourself, girl." She tried to tell herself sternly. But the gooey smile remained firmly plastered on her face as she navigated her way through the busy evening traffic.






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