“I would’ve thought she was bugging if I wasn’t there to witness it myself. Chale, rich folks aren’t safe either oo.”
Akwesi was eating his lunch with Franklin at Mitzy’s Restaurant while discussing the events of the night before. As he scooped another fork of waakye, he continued, “She was so scared, man. I went downstairs and there was glass everywhere. She said she heard a gunshot before the glass just shattered in the room. It was a long night, bro.”
“Damn man. Twice in one day? Is she new in the neighborhood or something? Cos who tries to rob the same house twice in one day? Man these boys are getting brazen.”
“That’s the thing, bro. The first guy got caught by the patrol, so it couldn’t have been him. Maybe he wasn’t alone when he tried, but the other guy got away before anyone could see him. Anyway, my girl’s with me until they come fix her stuff.”
“Yeah, that makes sense… Bro, chale, I don’t know why but I have a weird vibe about the whole matter. Something is not tracking in this situation.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know I used to be on that side of life, so I know the ins and outs of all that. Granted, kwashee boys and robbers don’t have weekly meetings or anything, but the way business is done is similar. I have never known any robber who goes back to the scene of the crime, especially on the same day.”
“That would make sense if this economy wasn’t what it is. Boys are getting desperate, man.”
“I know, bro. But nothing scares a bad man off like his partner being caught right before his eyes. If the man really had a partner in crime who escaped, that other guy would know that your girl’s house was hot for the day. He would have better sense than to come back to the same area, let alone the same house. Cos chale, as much as boys talk a big game, snitching is real oo. Why would I go to prison alone when I am not the only criminal in the case?”
“So you think it’s a whole other person who came to try his luck?”
“I don’t know, bro. It could be, but I doubt. All I know is that there’s something off about this situation.”
Franklin ate a spoonful of jollof and sipped on his malt as silence fell on their lunchtime. Meanwhile, Akwesi sat in thought for a while. Minutes passed without any words being spoken.
Once Franklin took the last bite of his food, he wiped his lips with the paper towel that came with the meal. A mischievous smile grew across his lips. “Ano go lie tho, as much as it’s a bad situation, it must be nice to go home to her at the end of the day. And that nighttime action? Bro!”
Franklin’s satisfied chuckle only added to Akwesi’s bafflement as he shook his head. “Bro, you spoil your body waa.”
Franklin looked him dead in the eye as he kept laughing. “Tell me that didn’t cross your mind.”
Akwesi took a sip of his orange juice. “No comment.”
*****
Franklin and Akwesi got back to the office to a waiting Suzie, who was seated in Akwasi’s chair with her legs on the table.
“I see you wore trousers today, so you’re making an attempt at manhood. The impunity of it all.”
“Did you have fun on your lunch date, boys? Did people see you holding hands and threaten to pull out their anointing oils and holy water bottles?”
“Woman, get your legs off my desk and your ass out of my chair, thank you.”
Suzie got up and walked right up to Akwesi, entirely too close for comfort. “Don’t worry, my ass will gladly do as ordered all day any day for you, my darling.”
Franklin, fully amused by this interaction, sat in one of the guest chairs and relaxed himself. “Boy I wish I had some popcorn right now.”
*
Meanwhile, at the same time, Clementine walked into the lobby of the Silverline building, and made her way to the front desk. “Hello, good afternoon.”
“Good afternoon, madam. Please how can I help you?”
“I have an appointment with Mr. Ocran from Starcraft Technologies.”
“Can I have your name please.”
“Clementine Claybell.”
The receptionist checked her computer. “Okay, please one second.”
*
Back in Akwesi’s office, Suzie held his gaze so intensely, refusing to back down, knowing very well how stubborn he was. Akwesi refused to lose this contest, even though Suzie was close enough that he could feel her breath on his chest.
“What do you want, woman?”
“Oh, I don’t know, a pound of flesh, a piece of your lips, that wonderful taste of your tongue that has so eluded me all this time.”
Akwesi figured out the source of the drama and walked to his seat. “You know.”
Suzie took her seat in the other guest chair beside Franklin. “Of course I know. Did you think I came here for the scintillating conversation?”
It was Franklin’s turn to be confused. “AK, what’s she talking about?”
“Akwesi sighed. “Close the door, bro.”
*
Clementine stood patiently in the elevator as it made its way to the tenth floor. She checked her phone, and then looked at the poster on the elevator wall to while away time.
Starcraft Technologies was on the tenth floor, Allegiant Communications was on the ninth, Severance Corporation headquarters was here too. She remembered when she first got out of school and applied there, only to never hear from them again. She later met a friend for drinks who had just gotten a job there, and her friend admitted to sleeping with the hiring manager.
Bastards. She dodged a bullet there for sure.
She continued going down the list, but then something tripped in her head when she got to the company on the sixth floor.
Quell Inc.
She was sure that company was elsewhere. She figured it must’ve been a subdivision of their company which had office space here. She looked at the time, she was twenty minutes early. She hit the sixth floor button.
*
“I was approached by the board of Starcraft Technologies three weeks ago. Apparently, Pernell Ocran is planning to retire in two months, and they want me to fill his seat. He nominated me himself.”
“And I would like to cause permanent harm to you for not telling me, your work wife. But I’d rather not have to explain to your girlfriend how her mate lost his limbs,” Suzie sneered. She turned to Franklin, thinking she’d find a friend in him.
If Franklin was surprised, his face certainly didn’t say so. “That’s a hell of a jump, bro.”
Akwesi nodded in agreement. “I know, man. Being CFO here is pretty hectic, but CMO of a whole division? I don’t know, man. I love the challenge, but I don’t know.”
*
The elevator opened up to a beautifully designed floor with a lot of natural light and an open concept. Clementine walked right past the front desk and decided to just take a stroll around. She was curious as to whether this place was the place she thought it was, and the only way to find out was to see if he had an office here. His workplace was not supposed to be anywhere near the area, yet his company was here. She had to see for herself.
*
Suzie wasn’t about to let Franklin off the hook easily. “Wait wait wait wait wait. You knew? You knew all week and you didn’t tell me?”
“You’re the one he’s married to at work. I guess my pillow talk is better than yours,” Franklin quipped, which earned him a punch in the arm. “Goddamn, woman.”
Suzie sat back with such content. “Never trash my pillow talk, young man. For real though, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Suz, I’m still processing the fact that they even offered me the position.”
“But you managed to tell Mr. Kpeglo over here while you were still processing.”
Franklin offered up a defense. “To be fair, Ms. Norman, I found out by accident. I walked in on a convo between Mr. Ocran and Mr. Macquaye over here, and Mr. Ocran was telling him that the offer was good for one more week. That was two days ago.”
*
Clementine walked most of the floor and saw no sign of her target. Her search was not at all aided at all by the absence of names on the doors, and she now had twelve minutes before her meeting. She decided she’d head back to the front desk and just ask. The risk of them calling him to let him know of her presence was slim anyway; it was rarely necessary anywhere.
*
“What are you going to do?”
“Suz, I’m not sure. I want to do it, but I still feel like I have more to give here. Besides, you know I can’t function without my work wife,” he said with a wink that made Suzie roll her eyes and Franklin shake his head.
“Corny much, bro?”
“Massa, free me.”
A call on Akwesi’s office phone stopped Franklin’s response. Akwesi answered, said yes, said thanks, and hung up. “Looks like the guys from Citrix Tech are here for the presentation. Suz, we good?”
“You know it, boss.”
Akwesi smiled. “Let’s go, then.”
*
Clementine was headed to the lady at the desk when a team of 4 men and 4 women beat her to it. She’d overheard them saying that they were there to meet with Akwesi, and the lady had directed them to a conference room.
So he really was here. And he’d never bothered to tell her that they’d changed offices. She’d deal with him on that later, but now she needed to see his office for herself.
She walked behind the team, out of sight, waiting to see if Akwesi would really emerge from some place on this floor. The team went into the conference room, so she kept walking, hoping to discover his office. She’d reached the restroom door when she heard a familiar voice, along with two other voices.
She entered the restroom but peeked out to see, and surely enough it was Akwesi.
*
Franklin went ahead while Akwesi and Suzie went over the talking points of the presentation. Suzie bounced a few last-minute ideas off of Akwesi, who decided which ones to go with and which ones to ignore. They were quite engrossed in conversation, and completely missed the small bump in the upcoming tile on the floor, which made Suzie its victim.
As she regained her balance, she dropped one of the folders in her hand. Akwesi dropped to pick them up. “I see we still need our class 3 teacher to say ‘pay attention’ loudly to our faces.”
Franklin cackled while Suzie shot Akwesi a playful, warning look. He gave her the folder and they headed into the meeting.
*
Clementine walked into the elevator, fuming. First, Akwesi’s company changed locations and he never thought to tell her. Then he was flirting with his coworker? Did he not understand when she told him that she demanded all of him? Did he not realize that included his attention and affection?
She hit the button for the tenth floor. Akwesi needed to be taught a lesson, and she knew just where to start.
Uh-oh. The title was no joke. Looks like things are about to get ugly for Akwesi now…
