Dalia walked into the center of the room and turned slowly as she critically examined the sitting room. The room smelt of fresh roses, she had instructed her staff to buy enough flowers to fill the space with a scent that inspired thoughts of rebirth and love, they seemed to have gotten what she wanted. She was satisfied with what she saw but kept her face neutral, no way was she showing her workers that this was what she would have come up with if she had designed the house herself.
She glanced at her personal assistant who stood there, anxiously awaiting her reaction. Deciding to put an end to the suspense, she offered a small smile.
“Not bad, I like the clips you got for the blinds, they’re unique. I like what I see Yinka. It’s not the best, but far better than what you did last time. You’re coming up! Have you informed the agency that the help will resume here tomorrow at 8:00 am sharp and we want a man?”
“Yes madam, I also told Amah to come along with the banner, just in case you approve everything so we can hang it up”
“Hmmmm that’s a good initiative, tell the driver to bring the card for me to sign”
“Ok ma”
She turned around again this time running her eyes through everything. When her client had walked up to her and said,
"Hello, I was referred to you by someone who said you were the best at interior decorating and here I am. I just built a duplex for my recent wife and I want you to furnish to her optimal satisfaction, with no expense spared. She is having my baby boy, so I want it to be child friendly yet top notch."
Just from that one sentence and his mannerisms, it was evident that he was a decisive man who knew exactly what he wanted and was willing to go to any lengths to obtain it. In response, she reached out to her most reliable vendors -- from her furniture supplier in Hong Kong to her trusted contacts for curtains and blinds in India. She also made sure to include the finest artifacts from Imo state. She went above and beyond to ensure she had secured the best vendors available for the project at hand, and she was proud of her team.
“Madam” she turned to see Yinka extending his hand to give her the envelope, she took it from him.
“Thanks”. After rummaging through her purse to find her unique pen, she entered the bar area wearing her stylish Oscar de la Renta dress. She was aware that the dress length would not allow her to sit on the tall stool without revealing an indecent amount of leg, so she chose to stand by the bar. While standing there, she opened the envelope, retrieved the card, and proceeded to sign her initials. Then she gave it to her PA, who took it to the center piece and placed it there.
“That’s it,” she thought one project done and dusted off the journal!
“When you guys hang the banner, take the final pictures and send them to the printer, ok?”
“Yes ma”
“You can take the rest of the week off.
Just don’t forget the office phone in case of any emergencies.”
“Oh thanks a lot ma!”
“You’ve earned it! Don’t forget to send the mail” she spoke as she walked out of the house
”Yes ma, thank you ma,” he repeated
She noticed some of her staff lingering around, probably waiting for the next instruction.
“Well Done guys. You did a good job, if you keep this up, who knows? Maybe there will be an increase in salaries and commissions. Take the rest of today and tomorrow off and resume on Thursday. Is that clear?”
A chorus of “yes ma” and “thank you, ma” filled the air
She nodded and walked to her car. The driver made a move to enter the car as well.
“What I said includes you Baba, I will see you on Thursday” she said as she collected the keys from him
“Ah, thank you, ma! È śé ma, God bless you, ma”
“Hahahah, Amen.”
“ Argghhh thank God, that’s over… What to do, what to do! Yes, let me call Ada before she chews me alive
Ring ring ring ring.
“So, now your royal highness has the time to call the subjects back ehn?” Was the hello her friend said as she picked up her phone, Dalia mentally rolled her eyes
“Madam, we spoke this morning on WhatsApp plus you gave me two missed calls only, no just talk there!
Anyways I’m calling now, so what’s up” she bounced excitedly on her car seat as she drove out of the compound
“I no blame you, na me wey wan carry gist give you na. Anyways, where are you?”
“Hahahahah, I’m just leaving the house in Chevron, why”
‘That’s even better, come to my house, this gist is not meant for the phone, Kerri is here with me”
“Ehen…no wahala. Give me thirty minute, please I’m hungry oh”
“That makes the three of us, buy food from Mega Chicken on your way, bye bye”
“What…?” Ada had dropped the call
Sigh. Her friends were something else. She gave a happy sigh. Life was good. She remembered when she and her friends had nothing but dreams and their mouths.
They became close friends in their third year. And in their final year they planned to stay in the same room. All of them - She, Kerri, Ada and the smallest amongst them all Ese - got closer and unknowingly formed a clique people called KADE girls. She studied Mass Communication, Kerri studied Political Science, Ese studied Human Resources and Ada studied Economics. Ada was the first among them to get married and has been on their case to do the same.
She remembered when she finished her service year and everyone who had told her to bring in her CV when she was done with school just shut themselves down when it was time to actually get her a job. Out of frustration, she dropped her certificate, gathered money from her parents and went to study interior design. After which she interned for a company without pay for six months before breaking out to start her own business. Thinking back it had been a wise decision because she had never looked at her certificate. ”I don’t even know where that thing is sef” she thought to herself.
Now she had a brand that had a staff strength of fifty qualified people and over two hundred projects under her belt, she had to admit that life was looking good.
She was slowing down at the turning to enter Mega Chicken when her phone rang, she looked down to locate her phone and in that split second, she heard Kpash!”
Oh no! oh no! oh no! Please, God, let it not be what I think!
