|| 5.

I feel my cheek again and sigh, I have done that a couple of times since Paul kissed me there. My head tilts to one side, I close my eyes and think back to our conversation, replaying each line over and over again.

His outburst is on me. I should never have called someone I just met boring, we are not close enough to banter without one of us picking offence. I bang my forehead against the steering wheel and let out a scream.

Though I like how he didn't back down when I started on my rant, I am still of the belief that he should have paid me as much attention as he did his TV and the only reason I am bothered by it is because I am attracted to him. I can always get a man whenever I want, but I want him. His reaction is what I did not see coming.

I smile to myself as I turn the key in the ignition, we will try again some other time. After all, I did not get a chance to properly thank him for the parcel on the passenger seat. Paul is yet to see the last of Pauline.

*   *   *

One word. Beautiful. That's the only word that best describes Pavilion, the hotel I was posted to. The signboard that has the name written on it is decorated with colourful lights which I'm sure will glow in the dark, the entrance has two flower pots on each side and the walls are coated in grey paint

The marble floor has been polished so well it shines, same with the mirror doors, I can see my reflection on them and I pat my hair that's up in a bun. My bag is perched on my arm, my makeup is on fleek with my red lips popping, those lips can be spotted from a mile radius, which is exactly what I want.

One last glance at my wrist and I mentally applaud myself for coming this early. I want to show the staff who the boss is and I also want to lead by example, this is a clean slate for me and I do not intend to mess it up.

After a final smile to my reflection and the smoothening of the invisible creases on my suit trouser, I open the doors. The smell hits me first, it's a mix of something citrusy and one other flavour I cannot identify but the combination makes me inhale and sigh in contentment as I stand there. Mr Adams spared no cost in furnishing this place.

"Good morning," I greet the fair receptionist with a smile as I walk past her desk, hoping my memory of the video Mr Adams sent me will serve. If I'm right, the lift is close by.

My greeting goes unanswered, I shrug it off, I am used to staff like her. I have already hit the button for the floor my office is on when the receptionist turns in my direction. Her eyes widen, she frowns and as if hit by a thunderbolt, she shouts at me to come out.

I scoff and hit the button again but the door refuses to close. The receptionist comes out to lean on her desk with one hand on her waist, looking to see what I will do next. I grit my teeth and let out a suppressed sigh, thanks for nothing, mister elevator.

Her arrogant grin widens as I strut back to her and I plaster a fake smile of my own. I will have the last laugh, she doesn't know it yet and I look forward to laughing at her.

"Who are you?" she asks while giving me a onceover and I return the favour. Nothing much to see from her end, she is wearing the company's shirt and black jeans.

The question throws me off balance but I quickly recover and put on a facade of total calm. "Is that how you treat your guests?"

I am not a guest but if this is how she treats them, we might be out of business soon.

Instead of replying me immediately, she turns sharply and strands of her long weave brush my face. From the softness of it, I can tell it is original human hair, the type that leaves a dent in your account balance. She must come from money, which will explain her rotten attitude and expensive taste.

When she resumes her position behind the counter, she asks, "What do you want?"

Her words come out in between pops from the annoying chewing sounds she is making and I stare at her in bewilderment. She is fair, the kind of complexion that will leave an imprint on her cheek when slapped and I am tempted to test my theory out.

Who chews gum as early as 7 am? Only her.

"I am Pauline Ifunaya Eneh," I start while looking through my leather bag, "I will be in charge until the new manager arrives."

Frustration creeps up my spine as I search and fail to find my ID card, I must have left it in the bag I took to work yesterday.

"Seems I left my ID card at home," I say and raise my eyes to meet hers. Her countenance doesn't change; she looks like she wants to be everywhere but here.

The receptionist places her hands on the counter, her fingernails that are covered in red nail polish tap the desk in an offbeat rhythm, her frown turns upside down but I know all too well what a fake smile is like.

"I can't let you go wherever it is you are going to without proper identification. You are new and unfamiliar," she pauses to bat her lashes at me, "I don't want to risk my job by letting a stranger loiter around."

Ouch!

"You are worried about risking your job?" I scoff, visibly irritated by her attitude, she should not be working here. "You already lost it. I will speak to your Boss, Mr Adams."

Was there a cotton bud in her ears when I mentioned the bit about managing this place until the new manager arrives? I scoff and bring out my phone to dial Mr Adams number, I did not wake up early for this.

She doesn't seem fazed by what I am doing, the increased popping sounds from her mouth is enough proof. She doesn't care.

"Good morning Sir," I greet and turn my back to her when Mr Adams voice fills my ear, I complain to him and he asks for her name, "I don't know her name ... Okay, Sir."

He tells me to hand over the phone to her but the annoying receptionist refuses to collect it from me. I shake my head and put it on speaker. Left to me, she will be packing up her things by the end of today.

"Udochi Paula Chime?" Mr Adams voice booms. When she realises who is talking, she snatches the phone, takes it off speaker mode, goes to another corner to answer it.

I relish in the mild trembling of her hands as my phone connects to her ear and when she returns to hand over the phone, her facial expression is one of contrition.

"I am sorry?" she murmurs. It sounds more like a question than an apology. I want to ignore her but I don't know where my office is located. I purse my lips and stare at her.

"Show me to my office."

Udochi leads the way to the stupid elevator which works on her first trial. Her chewing grows quiet and we stare at the aluminium door in awkward silence until we hear that sound that signifies we are at our stop.

"I am so sorry," she tries again when we are at the front of a wooden door and I laugh.

The air of arrogance that surrounded her earlier is gone, all I see is a pretty lady with gum in her mouth. "If you are sorry, I don't want to ever see you chew gum again."

Her eyebrows raise in shock and I smile, I can't do the double eyebrow thing too. She takes the gum out of her lips with snail speed as if expecting me to change my mind, hands me a bunch of keys with instructions on their usage and leaves.

My office is big and beautiful, bigger than the one at Madiba with a beautiful view of the outside world, thanks to the one-way glass. I can see and hear them outside but I can't say the same for them.

The room smells the same as the reception area and I inhale again, taking notes of the cream walls with the AC attached to it.

I move closer to the window and sight a gate I didn't notice on my way in, it will make for the perfect sneak in spot should I ever come late. I laugh at that thought, reminding myself that I do not answer to anyone here. I already love this place.

There is a mini-fridge by the side of the wall, which has only bottles of water and a few cans of Malt. On the table is a small bowl of sweets, different kinds and I make a mental note to get cookies. I love cookies.

I sink into my spinning chair and let out a small scream. I have my office, no more Mrs Nse. Wow. There is a bounce in my step as I move to inspect the next object of interest, the couch at the far end of the room. I rest on it for a moment and the next thing I am waking up to is a knock on the door.

When the person knocks again, I pinch the bridge of my nose, yawn and groggily ask them to come in. This couch has some sleep inducing properties; I need to stay far away.

I hear mumbling and I raise my head to see Udochi, she is smiling. That's a surprise.

"I'm here to give you a tour; if you don't mind," she says and looks away.

"Did Mr Adams put you up to this?" I walk back to my desk, watching her with caution.

"No, Ma."

Her reply has me cackling, I am not a ma, maybe a miss or a ma'am but not ma. I roll my eyes, maybe she is trying to make things right after this morning's drama.

"Do you like sweets?" I ask.

She nods. Her hands are crossed in front of her belly, she looks calm but I know better.

"You can have some," I start and she does. "Besides, who picked them up?" I put one in my mouth, close my eyes and moan, just to show how much I like it. "I so love them."

She laughs. "I did. Mr Adams said we were going to have a new Manager and she was a lady. He asked me to decorate the place and get some other things for her. So I got the sweets as a small compensation for the drinks, in case you didn't like them."

Mr Adams already informed her about the new manager yet she acted the way she did earlier. I tilt my head to one side, best to forget about it; give her a second chance.

"How thoughtful of you," I say to her with my first genuine smile since I came in today, "I do like malt and I love the sweets. Shall we?" She nods and we walk out together.

When we are done with the tour, I offer to buy us lunch, it is the perfect opportunity to check on Paul. The giggles that follow has me trying and failing to raise a brow until she explains that the hotel workers get free meals. She giggles again and I laugh, she is not so bad. We just might get along.

We head off to the lunch area and she makes an order of yam and fish sauce for me. I refuse to let her introduce me, I want to know how they handle guests. They treat me with respect and soon enough, we are walking to sit with two trays in our hands.

"You can call me Pauline," I say. "No Ma, no Ma'am except it has to do with official matters or in front of guests. I want you to feel free around me. Are we good?"

She nods and when she is done with the food in her mouth, proceeds to add, "You can call me Chi whether or not we have guests." She nods again. "Are we good?"

Her reply has me tearing up with laughter, we will more than get along just fine.

**********

I imagine Richard Mofe Damijo as Pauline's Boss, Mr. Adams.

Picture: Richard Mofe Damijo.

I haven't given much thought to who I want as Chi. Any ideas?

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