Lekki Sisi - S01 E38

2 years ago

Lekki Sisi - S01 E38

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 38

More sales girls walked out of the boutique angrily and I was wondering if Betty had decided to shut down the boutique. I hurried in to find out what was wrong and bumped into Chioma, the head of sales. She pulled me behind a section of clothes.

‘Betty has fired all the sales and marketing girls. Just two of us are left.’

I looked at her puzzled. ‘What?’

She nodded. ‘According to her, we are to handle the sales and marketing for now. She promised to pay our arrears by the end of the month.’

I was angry. ‘How are we supposed to handle sales and marketing. We’ll sell clothes, handle the ads, take deliveries. For heavens sake, how’s that possible?’

Chioma shrugged. ‘We will survive. Let’s get to work.’ She pointed to a customer who’d just entered. ‘Go attend to that customer and let me see to the online deliveries.’

I was fagged out before the end of the working day. This was enough sign that it was time to leave. I’d have to call Ranti and plead with him to get me another job as quickly as possible.

The following week, I returned to the boutique from delivering some dresses to a customer and found about five young girls in the lunch room. I discovered they’d been newly employed. We had a quick staff meeting that morning and when we finished, I went to look for Chioma. She was talking to the new employees and assigning responsibilities to them. Later, she joined me in the store room where I was taking an inventory of the new supplies.

‘How much do you think Betty agreed to pay those girls?’ I asked as soon as Chioma entered the store.

‘20k. That’s the info I got from the HR. Alice showed me their employment letters on Saturday.’

I opened my mouth. ‘20 what? From 50k. That’s crazy.’

‘I’m telling you. You know most of the ladies here were B.Sc holders but she instructed Alice to select only OND holders. Yesterday when you followed Betty to Ikeja, about fifty of them showed up at the boutique. We picked just five.’

Betty appeared behind us. ‘I don’t expect any of my employees to be gossiping during work hours. There is work to do. That’s why I pay you!’

I was irritated and I made no effort to hide it. I turned my eyes away and continued with my work.

‘I’m very sorry ma’am.’ Chioma said and walked out. Betty entered the store.

‘Tinuke.’

I raised my head but didn’t stand up. She folded her hands as she stood in front of me.

‘For the next two weeks, at the end of your shift, you are going to spend one hour with the new staff, training them on how things are done here. I’ve designed the training module. I’ll mail it to you before the end of today.’

I waited to hear the extra pay I’d earn for the training but my madam cat-walked out of the store. I called Ranti.

‘Hello dear.’

‘I take it you are no longer mad at me.’

I hesitated. ‘No I’m not.’

‘Thank you. I love you Tinuke.’

‘Ranti how far that job. Anything yet?’

‘Very soon. I’ve spoken to someone and she promised to give me feedback by the end of the week.’

I sighed. ‘Thank you.’

‘By the way I have a surprise for you.’

My eyes lightened up. ‘Really, what is it?’

‘It’ll no longer be a surprise if I tell you. I’m at Abuja right now for a meeting. I should be back by Saturday. You’ll see it after church on Sunday.’

‘I can’t wait!’ I screamed excitedly. I raised my head to find Betty standing by the entrance glaring at me. ‘Ranti, I have to go.’

Betty rolled her eyes at me and left. I smiled. There was no way Betty could fire me. I’d brought in more money than she’d ever made since she set up the boutique. Most of Ranti’s friends and colleagues had brought their side chicks to the boutique.