nineteen

After the waiter came and took our orders, we just sorta started talking.

We discussed about food, the weather (cliché? I know!), the view and even music.

“So you like Jay-z a lot, huh?” Chris was saying as our food arrived. I had ordered

the crème brulee while he ordered Oysters. “Thanks” I called to the waiter then,

“Yup!” to Chris. “Yeah? So what else do you like Miss Thompson?” he asked folding

his napkin in his lap. Just as I was about to reply: “Many things”, Layefa pinged

me. I muttered “Excuse me” then hurriedly switched on the Silent mode on my

Blackberry. Seeing Layefa’s bbm picture made me feel terribly guilty. I had

completely forgotten about him once Chris walked into my office. I didn’t even reply

his last message (that I didn’t even know he sent!):

Is the dude there yet? Don’t worry now, hez probly stuck in traffic. Let me know

when he arrives sha so I won’t bother u guys. K?

I slipped my blackberry back into my bag, took a deep breath then said, “Well…um…you

know, it’s actually Mrs.Thompson”. I felt two feet tall immediately those words left

my mouth. I caught his eyes checking out my left hand just before he cried, “Oh, my

bad! I wonder how I missed that!”, “So what else do you like Mrs.Thompson?” He

really emphasized the ‘Mrs’. I smiled. “I like a lot of things”, I smoothened the

tablecloth with my hands, “You should call me Delores, though”.


At Layefa’s office…


“Mr.Olaoye is here, sir” Claire said over the intercom. “Are you serious?! Let him

in fast!” Layefa replied jumping from his seat. He hadn’t seen Daniel in a while and

he was pretty excited to see one of his best buddies.

“Bad guy!!! Warrit doooo?!! Ah ahn! Who dash you suit?” Layefa cried as Daniel

entered his office. They did that handshake with a slap on the back thing that guys

do before they finally broke into a hug (fronting too plenty!)

“Fuck you man! You know you’re digging it” Daniel joked straightening his suit.

He had never really been the suit-wearing guy so Layefa was pretty shocked to see

him all decked in a Gucci suit and T.M. shirt.

“Sit down, man” Layefa said, “On the real though, what’s with the suit? Where’re you

headed?”. “Wetin? Shey person no fit dress up again?”, Daniel replied pulling out a
chair.

“I’m meeting some hottie I met yesterday for lunch”. Nodding, Layefa rose to make

drinks for them. “You still drink Campari with iced tea abi?” he asked squatting to

open his mini fridge at the corner of the wall. “Yes oh. But dawg, seriously man,

you’re ballin’! corner office and all. Mr. T must be real proud” Daniel said. “Na so

we see am oh” Layefa replied mixing the drinks.


“Mr.Thompson? Miss.Ibrahim’s here” Claire said over the intercom. “Oh? Let her in

please” Layefa replied. Then to Daniel, “Brace yourself, homie”. Sitting up in his

chair, Daniel straightened his jacket and crossed his legs in a total George Clooney

fashion.

“Layefa dear!” Saida cried bursting into the room. She was wearing a grey pin-

striped low-cut pencil dress. “Saida! Hey!!” Layefa replied rising from his seat and

walking towards her. “C’mon gimme a hug” she said pulling him into an embrace. After

about ten long seconds, she finally let Layefa go.

“Oh hello” she said shoving Layefa aside once she glimpsed Daniel

eighteen

Its not like I didn’t know any chic outdoor restaurants in Lagos, it’s just that I

was so desperate to make an excellent impression. I could easily have suggested the

Lagoon restaurant or the Sky lounge but then I thought if me and Layefa eat there

often and we’re not even celebs, why should an international award-winning

photographer eat there?

I hurriedly googled ‘Classiest outdoor restaurants on the Lagos Island’. At the top

of the list were: The Oyster Lounge, Yellow Chilli Bar and Lounge and The Meridian

Hotel rooftop Café. The closest to us was the Meridian Hotel rooftop Café.

“Well, let’s get on our way!” I announced after I had saved their telephone number

on my cell phone. He got up, picked up his bag and headed for the door. I quickly

slipped my laptop into my case, grabbed my purse and cell phone and headed for the

door too.( and yeah, Chris took my case from me and held the door for me! charming much?)

“We’ll be at this address” I said to Bola scribbling the address of the Meridian

Hotel rooftop Café on a notepad. She nodded and called, “Bye!” as we headed for the

elevator.

“So you ever been to this restaurant we’re going?” Chris asked as the driver pulled

into the turning where the restaurant was. I shook my head and said, “There’s

nothing to worry about though, it has one of the best reviews ever written”. He

nodded and turned back to the window. About six minutes later, we drove into the

hotel premises.

“Impressive” Chris said. I smiled and nodded. He got out of the car quickly and held

my door open while I got out. I smiled “Thanks”. He bowed his head as we walked

towards the entrance. For a world-class photographer, Chris was rather modest (if I

do say so myself). The concierge ushered us to the executive elevator after I

flashed my card and introduced myself with a flawless British accent. Grinning to

myself, I squeezed a N500 note into his hands as he left us. Chris remained quiet

all through the ride to the roof.

After we had settled in at our table, I unpacked my laptop while Chris marvelled at

the wonderful scenery. Even I had no idea how beautiful and green Lagos was from up

high. You could hardly see any razz looking parts of the city from up there.

“The view of your city from up here is quite exquisite, Miss Thompson” Chris said

turning back to me. “You know, I was just gonna ask you what you thought”, I

replied, “But I didn’t want to interrupt you thoughts, you looked really engulfed by

the view”. “I did? I guess I was imagining how lovely pictures taken from here would

be”. He said sipping his wine. I nodded then said, “Well, thanks on behalf of all

Lagos indigenes”. I pushed my laptop as far away from me as possible then took my

first sip of my drink.

“You like the wine?” Chris asked looking deep into my eyes. I almost felt like he

could see through to my soul. I held his gaze for half a second then shrugged, “I

guess its okay”. Smirking, he took another sip and leaned in closer to the table

(never once taking his eyes off me). That was when I thought, Okay, he’s definitely

flirting with me.

seventeen

“Good morning, Mr.Laire”, I said in my most professional voice, “Please sit”. I

gestured towards the visitor’s chair. “Morning. Ms.Thompson is it? Thank you.” He

said taking his seat. I could have corrected him but I just didn’t think it was

relevant. I took my seat opposite him.

“Is that an Alexander McQueen?” He asked gesturing towards my skirt suit. The guy

was good oh. It was an Alexander McQueen. The only one I had. “This?” I asked

stroking my lapel, “Oh.Yes, it is. Fall collection 08” I said confidently. Don’t

try me mehn. Big babe like me. He nodded impressively as he set his laptop bag on

the floor beside him.

“I hope your trip wasn’t too stressful” I said. “Well, I’m not one to complain.

Lagos is quite refreshing compared to what I expected so…” he replied. “Oh, it’s

your first time? Forgive my manners! Welcome!” I said with a toothpaste commercial

smile. He smiled and said, “Why, thank you”. His mouth was so heavenly. He had

perfectly shaped white teeth and lips like Trey Songz (I swear!). I was so engulfed

in his face that I sorta just stared at him for about a minute. “So Mr.Laire…” I

began. “It’s Chris” he interjected. “Okay. So Chris, how do you like your coffee? Or

perhaps tea?” I said. Mrs.Obie would be sooo proud. “Oh. I’m good. Thank you. I’m

not much of a tea or coffee person”, he replied. My mouth shaped into an ‘O’. I made

a mental note to berate Bola for not finding that out. We had researched all we

could about him; his favourite food, how he liked to relax, his pet peeves, his

numerous ex-girlfriends, his clients. But we didn’t find anything about how he liked

his tea or coffee.

“I guess we should begin then” I said switching back to my professional voice.

“Sure” he said sitting up. I handed him all the legal papers. After he had gone over

them, he nodded and slipped them into his bag. “So what do you want to do first?

The interview? The briefing?” I asked. The goal was to make him feel at ease.

I noticed he wasn’t listening anymore. He was just staring straight at me. “Mr.

Laire?” I called. I knew he said to call him Chris but I didn’t want to seem

familiar too quickly.

“Oh forgive me”, he said, “You have such lovely eyes, I guess I was carried away”.

Mehn I blushed tire then said, “Thank you”. “So you were saying?” he asked. I

repeated my question. “I was thinking maybe we could have lunch, somewhere open, you

know look around. We could even have the interview over lunch.” He replied.

I felt so stupid that I hadn’t thought of that. For crying out loud, he was a

freaking photographer! Why on earth would I think he’d like an interview in the

privacy of my office?! Smiling I said, “Sure! I was thinking that but then I thought

you might prefer the cozy indoors”. He said, “I’m an outdoors man any day! So do

you have any places in mind?”. “One second” I said quickly turning to my laptop.