Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Mopelola rushed into the elevator and it whizzed up quickly. She turned to the few occupants and her eyes met with Lisha, her worst enemy.

"Hey gal," Lisha waved at her and Mopelola eyed her contemptuously.

"I don't understand why you have to be among the interviewers," she said while trying to position herself beside Lisha.

The corner of Lisha's mouth quirked up as she sized Mopelola up, she was looking grungy as always in her gothic clothes; a wine polo neck gown, one of her few designs that had managed to gain attention.

"I believe you're referring to yourself, between the two of us, everyone knows the one that doesn't deserve to be on the panel," Lisha retorted and rage quickened Mopelola's blood.

"Damn you! You're not that talented, I know you've been whoring your way around to gain recognition," Mopelola fumed.

Lisha showed her teeth in a mirthless smile and that got Mopelola wondering if she was insane.

"Hey Dumbo," she tapped a guy's shoulder and he turned to her in confusion.

"Lie that I didn't walk in on you and her in her office last week," Lisha challenged and the guy's eyebrow creased while others grumbled, Mopelola's face flushed as she turned to the guy.

The guy started, "Um…I…"

Lisha cut him short as she lowered her voice a bit, "I know you begged me not to tell anyone so I'm keeping to the promise."

The guy was left dumbfounded as he kept on gaping at Lisha in astonishment.

"So, guys, who has been sleeping around with everything in trousers? Mopelola, of course, the low-class prostitute," Lisha shouted and everyone turned to Mopelola whose words were stuck in her throat.

Her mouth opened unconsciously to retort but the door slid open and Lisha got down and strode quickly to the conference room while Mopelola turned to the guy as they both got down too.

"Excuse me, miss, do I know you or probably look like someone in this company?" The guy Lisha accused of sleeping with Mopelola queried.

She tried forming a small smile before responding, "I've never met you in my life and you don't look like any one in the fashion industry, that girl is just a psychiatric patient."

The guy's mouth shaped badly evidencing anger but Mopelola merely strutted out to the conference room.

Lisha bumped into Jimi as she got to the entrance of the conference room.

"Are you blind?" She shouted and Jimi looked down at her in amazement, she was the one who bumped into him and yet was yelling, asking if he was blind. She was definitely gaga.

"Smallie, you're the one who needs to be asked that question," he answered and Lisha rolled her eyes before pushing him out her way and walking into the conference room while Jimi followed behind.

Lisha walked up to the first seat and picked up the chilled water bottle before gulping down the water at a go while making some slurps. Jimi watched her in amusement as he wondered how her small stomach could occupy that quantity of water at a go.

Lisha turned to her side and locked eyes with Jimi, "That water was sweet," she ended it with a loud belch and Jimi stepped back.

"Gosh! You're something else," he complained and Lisha smiled before throwing the empty water bottle at him, he was quick to dodge it and it landed on the floor, Mopelola walked in that time.

"Please, can you call me one of the cleaners outside?" Jimi instructed and Mopelola smiled at him before poking her head out of the office, luckily, a cleaner appeared.

Lisha pulled out one of the office chairs as the cleaner walked in to get the empty bottle.

"Kindly tell them to bring me another water," Lisha said to the cleaner as she proceeded towards the door. Jimi shook his head before pulling out a chair by her.

"This isn't the designated seat for the CEO, I believe that's in the middle of this row," She said while swinging her gaze up to meet his.

"No, I can seat wherever I deem fit, meanwhile, there are only six chairs here for the interviewers and I'm amongst them," he concluded as the door opened to reveal the entrance of Folakemi and Mark.

"Hey," Mark greeted as he pulled out a chair by Jimi, Lisha shined her teeth without laughing in response to Mark's greetings while he only smiled at her, after everyone had swapped greetings, the interview started fully.

"Come in," Folakemi instructed as the first candidate walked into the conference room.

Lisha raised her head from the table only to be met with a guy's eyes, the guy she'd used in the elevator, the one she'd accused of sleeping with Mopelola, so, he was even one of the applicants, she glanced at Mopelola who eyed her before looking back at the guy.

"Have your seat," Mark instructed and the guy obeyed while still looking at Lisha, he just prayed he hadn't met his doom 'cause she looked like a devil.

"Your name please?" Lisha queried with a warm and angelic smile that made the guy think she might be bipolar.

"It's in his CV na," Jimi said to Lisha who she eyed before turning to the guy.

"Yes, Mister?"

"Naveed Ayebiwo," he replied and Lisha smiled before clapping, everyone turned to her in perplexity wondering why she clapped.

The interview went on and on till it was time for his judgement.

"Congratulations, you've been employed as a fashion forecaster, welcome to MAPLE," Folakemi said with a dreamy smile.

"Thanks a lot," he stood up with a grin.

"And yes, you'll be joining my design team, so, welcome to Lisha's design team," she grinned while opening her hands widely. Naveed's smile reduced instantly as he pondered on why he had to be in her design team.

"No, I want him in my team," Mopelola countered and Lisha gave out a harsh bark of laughter.

"So, you'll destroy him or eventually do what I predicted in the elevator with him?"

Naveed tensed as Mopelola tried to resist the urge to slap her.

"You may take your leave, call the next person," Jimi instructed and Naveed walked out quickly, he couldn't be more than relieved for leaving the conference room and happy for getting the job but at the same time nervous for having to work with a psycho.

************

"Smallie!" Jimi called and Lisha turned back to the voice, she was aware of the only stupid fella that always called her that, they'd met few times during the week and Lisha had warned him to stop calling her that but he remained as stubborn as a mule and in return she kept on calling him gym.

"What is it Gym?" She queried with lifted eyebrows and Jimi smiled.

"You're heading to the restaurant right? Let me walk you please," he proposed and Lisha pursed her lips. When she did that, Jimi knew her reply would be sarcastic.

"Don't tell me that was the main reason you screamed as if the building was on fire or maybe someone wanted to slit your throat," she answered and Jimi laughed.

Lisha stared at him till he stopped laughing, "You know I'm not actually funny, I'm just mean and people think I'm joking."

He lifted his chin before nodding in accordance, immediately he opened his mouth to talk, Lisha's voice evaded him.

"Oya, let's go," she said before taking his hand in hers, he felt the sensation of her touch as she pulled him into the elevator.

"You know I'm so hungry I could eat the whole you," Lisha pointed out as soon as the elevator started downwards.

Jimi chuckled as he turned to her, "That's a very big exaggeration, I'm certain this small stomach of yours can't contain me."

Lisha flipped her hair and inclined her head, "Should we try it?"

"Ah, no, I believe you."

"Better."

Minutes later, the elevator stopped and they both walked out heading to the restaurant, it was a very big and spacious one painted in green all through with round table and chairs. Lisha pointed to a corner and they both went there.

Jimi pulled out a chair for Lisha who eyed him before sitting, he shook his head as he pulled out another chair in front of her.

"Call that waiter nau," Lisha instructed while scowling at him, Jimi obeyed as he waved at one of the waiters, after the normal greetings, he gave Jimi the menu.

Jimi decided to go for Spaghetti Bolognese while Lisha still kept staring at the menu.

"Won't you pick?" He inquired, she swung her gaze up to meet his and smiled faintly before lowering her head back to the menu.

"I'll go for pounded yam and vegetables, make it five wraps," she said and Jimi stared at her in surprise.

After the waiter left, he talked, "Can you finish it?"

"Why not?" She gave a half shrug and Jimi watched her keenly.

"I know you can't finish that."

Lisha glowered at him before speaking on top of her voice, "And so? If I can't finish it, then I'll force myself." She punctuated it with a loud hiss and Jimi understood she was probably annoyed but what could piss her off?

"Why do you have to force yourself? Are you trying to gain weight or something?"

Lisha raised her head at this and glared daggers at him, "What's bad in me wanting to gain weight? I know I'm like a toothpick and I've decided to change that," she almost shouted.

"But you don't have to force yourself to eat what's beyond you, see, you look perfect the way you are," he insisted and Lisha scoffed.

She opened her mouth to retort but the appearance of the waiter stopped her. After the food had been served, Nikki walked into the restaurant and her eyes landed on her sister in company of Jimi, she felt unease at this and decided to walk over to them.

"Hi, I didn't know the CEO also eats in the staff restaurant," She greeted with a lascivious smile while pulling out a chair beside Jimi.

"Hey," he replied succinctly before looking at Lisha who was busy with her food, she still looked pissed off.

"Lisha!" Nikki shouted and Lisha lifted her head gently.

"Just why did you scream?"

Nikki pointed at the food in front of her sister and Lisha shrugged before devouring her food.

"I'm sorry my sister is eating like that, don't mind her, she's been like that, she doesn't care at all," Nikki started while grinning at Jimi who only nodded in response.

She continued, "So…"

Lisha cut in, "Are you here to eat or to discuss about me with him?"

"What do you mean?"

The appearance of the same waiter didn't allow Lisha to respond as he asked for Nikki's order, Lisha and Jimi ate in silence, while Jimi kept stealing glances at her, she concentrated on her food and tried forcing it down her throat. It wasn't long before the waiter came back with Nikki's order.

"Smallie, don't kill yourself," he said when he finished his food, she was already on her fourth wrap and it seemed like she wanted to pass out.

"It's none of your concern, Gym," she retorted and Nikki's face contorted as she wondered if they'd gotten so close to even have a nickname for each other.