Oga Martins - Season 2 - Episode 11

5 years ago

Oga Martins - Season 2 - Episode 11

Martins had imagined that deal was going to be is breakthrough; his ticket to splendour crescent. He couldn’t even figure out which higher authority at his workplace he would register his grievance with. Which mere mortal in his office would he narrate his ordeal to yet be willing to take up the matter? Who would believe he could have been that dumb to trust Ada? A part of him still hoped that Ada’s conscience would haunt her so much like a hungry dog haunted a bone, maybe he could still get a paltry sum out of the commission that will arise from the deal which should originally have been his.

Regardless, Martins still needed to get to the root of the matter. All hope was not lost yet or so he thought.

Martins needed to understand what part Aisha played in his misadventure. There was still a missing link he needed to establish. He headed for Aisha’s workplace immediately after his debacle at his company’s parking lot not minding if he would be able to get back to work before the expiration of his break. Nothing else mattered to him after it dawned on him that he could have ultimately lost the best opportunity of his life at becoming a millionaire.

Martins appeared at the reception of AK Holdings Ltd in a state of brouhaha . His shirt was soaked in sweat as he perspired heavily like a hunter who just completed a hunting expedition at the Amazon basin. A bystander wouldn’t be wrong to think he was awaiting the hangman’s noose, in fact it looked like his sweat glands had ran amok. His heart rammed at his chest in protest like it needed space to cool off while his chest thumped helplessly in response like it was going to give in to the sporadic beat of his rebellious heart. His depressing appearance drew the attention of all and sundry present in the reception. Taking a closer look at him you would think the sun had set on his face.

“Martins! Are you alright? Did a hurricane happen at work?”

” Hurricane? It was worse; my heart tells me it was a Tsunami?”

“Oh don’t try to be funny; your appearance contradicts the sarcasm you are trying to impose on yourself.”

“Funny? Far from it. I’m just trying hard to lighten my mood. Aisha trust me, this is more serious than it appears.”

“Hmm…Tell me about it.”
“Can I have a moment with you in private, please? Can’t talk to you here” Martins eyes roved round the reception.

“Sure, not with so many people around. Let’s go to me office”

Aisha led the way as they headed for her office away from the probing eyes of clients and colleagues alike. Having walked into her office, Aisha made for her desk.

“Your boss is not around?” Martins asked.
“Yeah, he travelled. He’s on a 2-week leave”

“I see…” Aisha reclines into her seat “Please help yourself.”

Martins takes a seat opposite Aisha
“Got so much to do today but had to find time out of my busy schedule after we spoke on phone. The tone of your voice was frightening. Though we spoke for less than 15 seconds, I could feel it still. So what’s the problem? Were you sacked?”

“I wish I was, at least that would have been better than losing out of this deal”
Martins said giggling
“What deal?”

“Aisha, your friend, Ada played a fast one on me”

“Hey! Ada is not my friend. Next time I‘ll have to remind you, it won’t be pleasant” Aisha expressed her displeasure at Martins’ ill-fated statement.

“Sorry, I won’t mention it again”
“So what happened between you and the Viper?”

“You seem to know so much about her?”
“Martins I’m losing my patience. Are you here to talk or you are here to interrogate me?”

“Fine! Ada double crossed me, she stole my client from me and the deal was worth millions in terms of commission”

“Oh my God! The snake! How did you let that happen?”

“I don’t know how it happened; she must have been communicating with my client behind my back”

“Did you give her his contacts?”
“That’s the problem, I didn’t. I’m suspecting she got his contact from the phone she lent me that period I was phone-less.”
“Are you kidding me?”

“I think that was what happened. I never even imagined she could be that dubious.”
“But Martins, how could you have trusted her so much? How on earth did you let Ada outsmart you? I hope you don’t have any intentions of sweeping this matter under the carpet?”

“Of course not”
Good. You can’t let this lie low. You must report this case to your superiors.”
“First port of call tomorrow but I doubt anything good would come out of it. Who will believe me? It’s her word against mine. Moreover she’s my boss; she’s got more stakes in that company. Worse still I’m new to the company, my employment isn’t even confirmed yet”

“Martins, when will you stop being a child, s o you will let it pass because you are a new employee?”
“I haven’t said that”

There was an unusual silence between the duo. The silence deepened so much that they could hear the reverberations from the arguments between two customers of the company emanating from the reception.

“Aisha, when were you going to tell me about Engr. Adetukasi?” Martins broke the silence

“I beg your pardon!” Martins’ sudden question took Aisha unawares.

“I meant Tunde.”
“Tunde?” Aisha echoed his thoughts
“Yes, Tunde.”

“Mmm…Martins I don’t get you. What are you driving at?” Aisha feigned ignorance
“You missed 2 calls from him the other day at leisure mall. Tunde…2 missed calls…remember?” Martins gave a rejoinder in a bid to take her down memory lane
“Oh that! Yes, Tunde. But what has that got to do with…em…Engineer…the name you mentioned earlier?”
“Engineer Adetukasi.” Martins added.

“Whatever”
“You mean you don’t know him by that name?” Martins inquired

“I mean I don’t know who you are talking about or what you are referring to” Aisha appeared to be growing impatient

“Aisha, I dialed the number that called your line after you missed his call the second time. You remember you left your phone at the table we sat when you left for the rest room in a hurry…that was when the calls came in. The first time he called I thought the number was familiar, by the time he called again I knew it was. I only needed to dial the same number on my phone, it was then I realized that the Tunde whose call you missed was actually my client, Engr. Adetukasi” Martins concluded

“Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! Brilliant!” Aisha chorused and clapped her hands in pretentious awe for Martins’ seeming brilliance. She clapped her hands so hard that Martins could hear the echoes from a distant wall in the office.

“Martins, I duff my hat for you. So you were that intelligent to figure that out yet you let Ada turn you to her maga.”

“ Well…my bad. So you admit to know him?”
“I haven’t said anything yet or have I?”
Martins pretended not to understand
“ But why didn’t you tell me about him? Why did you decide to link me with a client of such substance yet kept me in the dark about it? Why have you been of so much assistance to me when all you should be is vengeful? Aisha, why have you been so nice? My actions cost you an extra year in school, I’m sure that’s still fresh in your memory.”

“I don’t know Martins. Probably I’m just been nice to someone who was once a good friend. It’s been how many years now…five? Six?”

“Five I guess”
“Five years! You can imagine how much time has elapsed. Martins, of what use will it be to still bear grudges? Moreover my life is better off now and I’m sure you’ve reaped the fruit of your labour in full measure already or don’t you think? At least the deal you lost to Ada lays credence to that among others. ”

Martins is lost in thoughts
“You are still thinking about it? Martins you were virtually our best student back then, but look at you…Who would have imagined you will be where you are at the moment; a bloody marketer hustling for commission? Wait self, how much is your salary? Huh? If not for the clients you manage to get through me, would they have even recognized you in your workplace? Would Ada have even seen you as a threat, a bait… someone to use to get to the top of the satanic ladder of her devious game?”

Martins is taken aback by Aisha’s contempt-laden remarks “Hmm…someone is finally talking. You want to tell me more?”

“You want to hear more?” Aisha added
“Yeah…at least now I know you are human after all. There must really be a reason why you’ve been of immense assistance to me since what seems like our reunion.”

“So?”
“We will get to that later. However, depending on the relationship you have with this Engineer Adetu…Tunde, whatever you know him as, Aisha, don’t you think we can still salvage the situation?”

“We? Martins, I see no we in this equation. You are the marketer here not me. We don’t even belong to the same company. Or does Realty Point and Ak holdings have similar inflections?”
“Okay, you don’t have to stress it. I got your point the first time.” Martins said with resignation.

“Aisha, who is Engineer Tunde or Adetukasi to you?” Martins popped the question this time.

However, Aisha stays mute like a nun that had just taken a vow of silence.

“Please Aisha, I have to know what’s going on here. You refused to let me in on your relationship with Ada, are you going to deny me this too?” Martins pleaded

Aisha is unmoved by Martins’ pleas.
“Okay let me help you. Is he your colleague, friend or… is he your lover?”

“How dare you?” Aisha rises from her seat fuming like a politician who just lost an election. It was as if the question had blown a fuse in her.

“Wow! Such rage? He is your lover then…” Martins is undeterred

“Get out of my office!” Aisha responded in utter rage

“Aisha, are you walking me out?” Martins is shocked at Aisha’s reactions

“I said get out!!!” Aisha ex ploded this time.
Martins slowly rises from his seat, he looks befuddled as he takes a long gaze at Aisha. Aisha looks away from him while she points to the door urging him to leave. With heads bowed in shame, Martins takes uncalculated strides toward the door.

“…And never come back!” Aisha added with finality
The silence between them was so frightening that they could hear the thumping of their heartbeats.