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.