At one thirty PM, Kagai calls me and says he is about leaving his office. It is about five minutes drive from Ademola Adetokunboh Crescent to Central Area, where my own office is. He says he will call me again when he get to my office. He will not come up, if I minded meeting up with him downstairs. I say I don’t mind, and we agree that I will be waiting outside the building. Immediately after the call, I clear up my desk. I tell Sally, the girl whose desk is next to mine, that I will be out for lunch. That if Mr. Akinoye come in before I return or any top management person asks for me, she should send me a text message. After that, I run into the ladies to freshen up my make-up. I am still in the elevator when Kagai’s second call comes through. I reject it, and send him a text saying I will be with him in a jiffy. He replies immediately; he is in a black Ford explorer, he texts.
The jeep isn’t difficult to locate. It is packed right at the gate, facing it as if it is the President inside it. I’m a little disconcerted by this. Should my programme director start asking question – who is that? Who is he here to see? It will make me look bad. Unprofessional, even. I make a mental note to mention it to him, in case there is a future with us. Walking up to the jeep, I tap on the driver’s window, assuming that he is the one at the wheel. The back window winds down, and his grinning face pops out.
“Hey, beautiful,” he greets.
“Hi, Kagai.”
“You look smashing.” The door swings open and he moves over to the other side for me.
I smile at him, and climb in. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. So, where do you want to go?” he asks, as he signals to his driver to move.
“I’m not particular. I’ll leave that to you.” I am certain he’s not taking anywhere I haven’t been to anyways.
“Okay then. How about Caesars’?”
“It’s okay. Their food is fine.”
“You’ve been there?”
“I’ve been to a lot of places,” I say, laughing. I wonder how that must sound to his ears.
“Oh really?” he winks at me.
“Get your mind out of the gutter,” I laugh some more.
“My mind was never there. But now that you mentioned it, I think it just make a stop there.” He quips, laughing.
“Well, get it out of there.”
“Aww. You’re no fun at all.” He nudges me playfully. “By the way, you look great.”
“Thank you again.” He doesn’t look bad himself. I had only seen him once, and in casuals. In a deep blue business suit, off-white shirt and bronze tie, he looks very distinguished. He is wearing horn-rimmed eyeglasses he hadn’t been wearing the other night. They complete his look. “You look nice yourself.”
“I do?” he cackles. “Thank you. I went to great lengths to pull this off.”
I laugh with him, “How do you mean? You don’t dress like this all the time?”
“No fucking way. Oops, excuse my French.”
“It’s okay.”
“You swear?”
“Once in a while.”
“That’s nice. I like girls who swear. I feel they’re free spirit. They are uninhibited.”
“Oh, really?” I’m not impressed by his logic. That is stereotyping. A man who stereotypes a woman, in my book, is not broadminded and not very intelligent at that. I’m hoping Kagai doesn’t fit into that mode. That will be a waste of good looks.
“ Yes.” Then he saves himself. But, of course, that’s generalizing.”
“Yes, it is. I was about to tell you that actually.”
“Do I get the sense that you wouldn’t have been very kind about it?”
I grimace, wondering if he has created an impression of me already. “What will you think that?”
“I dunno. You’re fun, yet you’re stern.”
“Stern? Me?” I’m surprised by the description. I haven’t been called stern before, as far as I’m aware.
“Yeah. You have this ‘don’t mess with me’ look. But you masquerade it perfectly. You smile a lot, but your eyes are saying ‘don’t fuck with me’. I’ll peg you down for a woman who doesn’t suffer fools gladly.”
“Wow. Interesting.”
I’m wondering whether to feel complimented or insulted, because his words read ‘you’re a bitter woman’ in my ears. And I bitter woman I certainly I’m not. Yes, I’ve met more than my fair share (if you ask me) of idiots, but I’ve refused to be hardened by it. I mean, why else had I listened while Timi kept putting his foot in his mouth over and over in the name of toasting.
“Somehow, you don’t sound very impressed. See, that’s exactly what I mean by you’re stern. You’re looking at me with a sweet face, but your eyes are piercing through me.”
I giggle. Even though what I’m really thinking is that this guy is full of crap. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
“My eyes are doing no such thing. I’m just trying to understand where you’re coming from. Because, truthfully, the person you speak of doesn’t sound like me.”
“Maybe I’m jumping into conclusion.”
“I believe you are.”
“I’m sorry. I should take time to study you, before drawing conclusion.”
“Indeed.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I, Azunna, doesn’t suffer fools gladly? Ha! How I wish.
I am not keeping a score card, but Kagai is not quite starting off on the right foot this afternoon. I really thought he’d be get it right. This morning’s phone call was just what the doctor ordered. Why isn’t the follow-up meeting up to the standard?? Jeez!
“So, tell me about yourself,” said Kagai, making another try
“What do you want to know?”
“Anything you want to tell me. Your family, if that’s too heavy. Your hobbies. Things that tick you off.”
“Hmm. Well, the family gist can happen later, if you’d please.”
“Sure, I understand. You never know, I might be an evil stalker.”
I titter, although the stalker part falls flat with me. “My hobbies will have to be movies. I’m an addict. I watch movies a lot.”
“So do i. that’s nice. We’ve something in common. What sorts of movies?”
“Mainly Rom-Com. That’s romantic comedy. Sandra Bullock’s, Jennifer Aniston’s type of movies.”
“You and a million other females,” He scoffs.
I smile. “Yes, we love us our chick-flick. But, I like action movies too.”
“Really. Now we’re in my alley. What’s your all time favorite action?”
“Recent or old?”
“Anyone.”
I rack my brain for the answer. I haven’t seen an action movie of late. I don’t want to say something that will have Kagai disappointed about my taste. “I liked Angelina Jolie’s Wanted.”
“It’s an all right movie. But, it’s old.”
Incredulous, I cried, “It’s 2008!”
“2008 is two years ago, girl. Movies have been made between them and now. Com’on, get me some names.”
“Well, that’s the last one I remember watching and really liking it.”
“Oh. Okay, I’m going to give you an assignment. Go and see where you can buy Clash of the Titans, Kiss Ass, The Book of Eli, Green Zone, and The Wolfman. Watch them and then we’ll revisit this subject.”
I like being challenged, so I smile. “It’s a deal.”
He rubbed his palms together in glee. “Wonderful.”
“Ehen? Okay then. I’m giving you an assignment too. Your own list of movies is The Back-up Plan, The Bounty Hunter, The Killers, Sex And The City.”
“You’re not serious!” he screams, “Com’on.”
“Don’t make too much noise, or I’ll throw in some Nigerian movies.” I joke, laughing very hard.
“I like Nigerian movies.”
“For real? You’re kidding me,” I’m stunned.
“Most definitely not.” We pull into Caesars’. “We’re here”
“Yes, we are. Wow, I’m amazed you like our movie. And here I am, about to trash them.” The driver parks besides a Chestnut-colored Mercedes jeep. The car looks very familiar. I make a mental note to check out the plate number when I get down. “They used to be so much better at the beginning though.”
Kagai gets down. “Just hang in a bit, let me open the other door for you.”
I am expecting it. “Wow. I’ve never had any man open the door for me.”
At least, here is something I haven’t experienced with Sam. And there I am about to give up hope that I’ll meet someone to give me a novel experience.
Kagai is pleased. “Really? Now, that has made my day.” He goes round the car, and opens the door and holds out his hand to me, “Mademoiselle”
Gingerly, feeling like a princess, I put my hand in his and step down with a pose and batting my lashes. “Thank you.”
My good feelings very soon evaporate when I notice Sam standing behind Kagai. Like Kagai, he is in a business suit as well, a black stripped one. His shirt is purple, and his tie a deeper shade of purple. Unfortunately, he looks better than Kagai, despite the latter with all his hunkiness. Sam wears his confidence like clothes. No, he wears it better than clothes. He isn’t looking at us. The white woman walking besides him consumes his attention. She is slim, like me. And tall, like me. And beautiful, more than me. Her dark locks are done up and goes very well with the gray sleeveless straight-cut mini gown she’s in. Her shoes are stilettos. And her handbag is enormous, like the ones Sam bought for me. She is the prettier, curvier, Caucasian version of me. She must the one Sam had been dressing me up as. She is the model, the framework, Sam had been building me to. Emotion drain from my face as this hits me. It is as though I have been slapped.
“Are you okay?” Kagai asks, noticing my unguarded reaction.
I shake my head, but before I can reply, Sam and the woman walk up to us.
“Kagai Michieka,”
Kagai looks over his shoulder at Sam, “Hey! Samson.”
“That’s me, bro.”
Holding on to my hand, Kagai turns to face him. “Fancy seeing you here. Didn’t I hear that you left Abuja.”
“Only for a vacation. I’m back now.”
“Must have been a short one. Where did you go?”
“Lagos. I was gone only for a week. I came in last night.”
“That’s great. So, you’re still at the hotel?”
“Nope. I moved out last month. I’ve a place of my own now.”
“Nice, nice. Where is that? I’m thinking of checking out myself. Maybe you could introduce me to your agent.”
“I sure will.”
All the while he spoke, he does not at much as glance my way. It is as though I am not standing there. As though, I am air. The woman with him was looking on with a small smile. It seems to me that she is accustomed to not being introduced to anyone Sam is addressing. What does that mean? That she’s merely an acquaintance? Or she is booty-call and they have an agreement not to make of their association more than it is. Or that she is his significant other and that status is well known to Kagai as previous introductions have been made and there is therefore no need to repeat it. Whatever, I am burning up on being ignored. And why on earth hasn’t Kagai introduced me?
“Nice running into you, Kagai,” Sam says, moving away from us. His walking mannequin walks follows his lead, but after exchanging a nod with Kagai. I think maybe she nodded at me too, but I’m too unglued to know for sure.
“Sure thing, Sam.” Kagai waves at them. “Ready?”
I do not hear Kagai. All that is resounding in my head is that Sam checked out of the hotel a month ago. When we were still dating! The motherfucker!
“Azunna?”
My temper has always been my undoing, and now is no difference. The next actions I take are purely out of adrenaline. I do not think them through, I just react to the anger welling inside me. I turn to Kagai with flaring nose, and heaving chest.
“You know him?” My voice quizzes as I struggle to maintain some degree of calm.
“What’s the matter?” He has a puzzled look on his face.
I try to answer, but I break as my heart beats as a crazy rate. I take a second to collect myself, before I speak again. “Just answer me, please. Do you know him?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I can’t remember. I believe it’s through a mutual friend.”
“How long have you known him?”
“Is there’s something wrong?”
“You don’t want to answer the question?”
He looks at me, probably wondering if he is getting entangled in something ugly. He might have weighed how great my need for his answer is, and if I might lash out on him if he didn’t do as I wanted.
“He’s a friend of a friend. I’ve known him since I came to this country. What is this about, please?”
“One more question, and I’ll tell you.”
“Okay. Shoot.”
“Is that lady his wife?” I say with difficulty, while praying that she isn’t. There is only so much as I can take in one dishing.
“I don’t know.”
“Are you sure you’re telling me the truth?”
Kagai is taken aback. He turns around to see if his driver is paying attention to us, but the man is faced straight ahead. If he is listening, he’s mastered the act of doing it without getting caught.
“Why will I lie? I’m not that close to the dude. We socialized within the same circle, yes. But I’ve never asked him if he’s married or not. He doesn’t wear a wedding band, so I can safely assume he isn’t. If he is, I’m not aware of it. The lady with him, I’d seen in his company a couple of time. However, I couldn’t say the true nature of their relationship, if there is any. It’s not my business. Are you satisfied now, or are there more twenty-one questions?”
I shook my head, feeling small. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. Now, what is going on?”
“He’s my ex-boyfriend. Would you believe that only last week, we were still together? Just last week!”
I am cursed with tear-ducts that embarrass me at the most inconvenient times. But, even if my eyes do not flood so easily, the special serving of humiliation Sam just gave me would have had it going against the norm. And so, the tears flow, no matter how stubbornly I fight to stop them. Any retrain I have is gone by the time Kagai puts his arms around me to console me. I start bawling.
©Flourishingflorida
Filed under: How Many Frogs Shall A Princess Kiss
