TOLU GOES TO LAGOS CHAPTER TWO

Lagos had not been kind to him; he sat nervously at the back of the taxi drumming his feet impatiently as he thought about his financial situation. He was out of cash and this ride was costing him N1,500 to the venue of the interview. He would run out for sure in two weeks and then what? He couldn’t go back home; that was just inconceivable. He was rattled out of his thoughts when the taxi he was in was hit slightly from behind by an oncoming vehicle.

Oloshi! Ko ni da fun e.  (Thif, it will not be well with you) If to say you scratch my motor na today you for see nwii for this Lagos! The taxi driver screamed at another cab man in a volkwagon beta car that had seen better days.

Oga abeg no vex..na mistake… take am easy biko…

Iwo omo iya were. Irun awon euan bii tie la gbe ninu ise titi lae

(child of a mad woman, it is your type of people that live in poverty forever)

Ewo bi o se n huwa bii didirin.  (See as he is behaving like an imbecile) Na me you dey tell make I take am easy eh! If you hit this my small kabu kabu wey I take dey feed my family na who go suffer! I say na who go suffer! Thunder fire ya yansh for there!

It was almost as if the taxi driver was trying to scream all his frustrations out on his colleague. A few minutes later he arrived at the venue of the interview. There were a few candidates loitering outside the building memorizing content from a pamphlet that looked like one of those cheap knockoff people sold to desperate job seekers to rip off what little money they had. He straightened his suit and wiped it clear of imaginary speckles of dust that might have settled on the way.

They were called in after thirty minutes and one by one the 25 candidates for the job were interviewed. He was nervous as hell… this would most likely be his last chance at a job for the foreseeable future so he was hoping to nail this down. He went to the bathroom to splash some water on his face and calm down a bit before it was his turn. Looking at his reflection in the mirror he saw only something borrowed. The suit which Olamide his friend had given him because he said it made his brown eyes pop, the wrist watch that his girlfriend had bought him two weeks back to lift his spirits and the shoes that his mother got for him as a parting gift before he left home. Hopefully this would be the background of an amazing success story because the thought of failing filled him with trepidation and an urge to vomit. He walked out of the gents just as his name was being called, walking with confidence he didn’t feel as he strode across the hall.

Mr. Anifowose right?

Yes Sir!

Okay, please sit down and we can get right down to the business of the day.

Three people sat across from him separated by a large table. A beautiful lady who appeared to be in her early forties, an over-weight man who looked like a walking heart attack waiting to happen and the Lebanese-Nigerian who had addressed him when he came into the room.

Olamide had told him to always maintain eye contact with the interviewers. It projected confidence and a certain suave they found admirable in corporate Lagos.

Try to be blunt, but sincere. Show them in few words that you can do what it takes to get the job done and wow them with your perfect English, they like that kan tin well well.

Why are you here today Mr. Anifowose? The Overweight man asked.

I am here because I am desperate; Jobs are not easy to come by in Nigeria today and I have been searching for about two years without any real progress. Lagos was supposed to be my big win; I don’t want to be another statistics for unsuccessful youths who live in their parents’ home unable to achieve their dream.

You have an outstanding academic background; but this is not enough in corporate Nigeria. Why should we hire you? The lady asked. She looked bored and uninterested. Almost as if she had heard enough for the day. His answer had to be good to reel her in.

I want to be in that small bracket of young people who get it done. I am a perfectionist; I start something and I have to complete it the way it should be or I don’t stop. You should hire me because even though failing seems to be all I have done in the last 26 months of my life, I am a winner at heart and this company is about winning. I can get things done via any way possible and I understand that corporate Lagos is a cut-throat system where only those who have the guts to do what it takes can win.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? The Lebanese threw this question at him with a small smirk playing at the side of his lips. If he came across as overly ambitious it could drive them away and if he gave an answer that made him look like a man without vision he was out. He was sweating in the heavy suit. Darned shoulder pads and layers added to nervousness were making him jumpy!

Ten years is a long time from now, but I would like to have moved up to a leadership role having worked for two other stockbroker companies by that time because in 15 years I plan to be running my own firm.

Water was pouring from his body at this point. The questions came hard and fast and he fought to stay alert and calm as each question came his way. Finally it was over and the Lebanese man was giving him a small smile that made him think maybe he had nailed this interview after all.

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As soon as he came home, the first thing he did was to yank off the tie and toss it across the room, his shoes and jacket soon followed as he sank into the sofa in the living room.

Hey babe… didn’t hear you come in. How did it go? Yetunde asked as she straddled him.

It was okay but I would rather not get into that now. Am famished beyond words dear; he said while glancing down at her shirt that seemed to be right in his face. He could see the top of her breasts. Oh how wonderful it would be to rest his head on them and fondle as he unloaded from the day he had just had. Alas he couldn’t because his girlfriend was withholding sex and affection from him till he gave her a final answer on the “sexual awakening/adventure” she had proposed when he first got to Lagos two months ago.

Can I touch your beautiful breasts baby? He asked, lust clouding his vision. He was beyond horny and there was only so much control a young man who hadn’t had any sex in 5 months could exhibit.

Depends…She replied as she wiggled her boobs further into face. Teasing him to see how much more he could take before his control snapped.

Are you ready to give me what I want now? All you have to do is say yes babe and I will bring you to the crescendo of pleasure right here, right now. We don’t even have to start using the toys today because I can see clearly that you are not ready. We could start in two weeks; get you accustomed to the idea of non-traditional, mind blowing, intense orgasm giving sex! Her eyes seemed to take a darker shade of black as she spoke. Most likely from imagining the adventurous sex they would soon start having. His body jumped in reaction to her words; he couldn’t help it but before he could get worked up… So tell me about this interview? She climbed off his laps, obviously done with teasing him now that her message was sent across.

It was okay; they told me they would get back to me on Monday.

That fast?

Yes; apparently they want the new trainees to start immediately. They asked me a lot of questions but the clinch was the answer I gave when they asked me why I wanted to work for their firm. I think I was very good. Fingers crossed for Monday!

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Sweetie you have to eat something! They said they will call, but you can’t make them do it any faster by sitting there and staring at your phone. Eat something babe while you wait.

He was too nervous. It felt like his whole life was riding on this one phone call and he was yet to hear anything from the company even though it was just after 2pm in the afternoon. Food would not settle well in his system. He would probably throw it all up before it crossed his throat. So he did the only thing that he had control over; sit down with his phone and bite his nails as he waited for the call that could kick start his life.

He almost didn’t hear the phone ring, lost in his thoughts and drowning in the thump of his erratic heartbeats. He picked up the phone and noticed that it was an unknown number flashing on his screen.

Hello? His voice sounded parched in his own ears. He took a gulp of water to clear it up and tried again.

Hello, this is Tolu Anifowose speaking

Mr. Anifowose, this is Mrs. Edet on the line. I am calling you from the Human Resource department of White Oaks stockbrokers Firm. After careful consideration of all candidates during the recent interview conducted, you have been selected to fill the post of Graduate trainee. We would like for you to come in on Monday for the offer letter and fill out the necessary paper work. Congratulations and welcome to White Oaks Stockbrokers!