"Ma, I didn't get..."
"I said what is the colour of your faith. What colour of garment does it wear?"
"I do not know how to answer that question, Ma", Isoken stated, wondering where this line of questioning was headed to.
"Obviously you can't", Jacqueline replied condescendingly, "For your information, I am a Christian like you but the colour of my faith is the colour of naira notes. Anyone who does not share in this sentiment is free to leave. Have these", Jacqueline said as she handed Isoken two brown envelopes, one light, the other slightly fat.
"In there is your suspension letter and the other contains a generous apology sum from Engineer Yahaya. It seems he read and liked your pitch afterall", Jacqueline declared. "See this as a medium through which you should have a rethink. While you are at it, keep in mind that the harvest is little but the labourers are plenty, unemployment isn't the best suitor for a single lady in this country", She concluded slyly.
Isoken just stood there. The envelopes she held quelled her built up rage from lashing out at the woman. She felt it, the money. If it was in #1000 naira denomination, it will be close to #50,000 or more. A part of her wanted to fling both envelopes, ignoring the consequences of unemployment which Jacqueline had highlighted with disdain. Another, a more cooler temperate, urged her to believe the money was not a pay-off but a payment for her services to Engineer Yahaya. Didn't Jacqueline say he read her pitch?.
Jacqueline watched the younger woman with twinkling eyes. She expected her to refuse the money and offer her resignation abruptly. That will be a loss to the organisation but she didn't care, so far it kept her staff in check. A few match sticks can be burnt for the fire to be kept alive. When Isoken caressed the envelopes, as one caresses the flesh of fufu balls before swallowing it, especially the one containing the money, Jacqueline knew Isoken was going on her suspension.
"So, what's it going to be, Miss Azagba?", Jacqueline inquired, clapping her hands into a knot.
Isoken sighed slowly as she sought to catch her breath, long held by the birth of the envelopes. She had to make a decision to prevent loses on both sides.
"Tell Engineer Yahaya, I appreciate his apology", She said, stepping into her words with glassed feet. "I will consider your request"
"Very good", Jacqueline uttered, "Just know, while you do that, you are considering your position at this organisation. Have a nice day, Isoken. See you in two weeks"
Isokem watched as her hirer gave a prelude to a silent treatment - a signal that she was dismissed. Have a nice day, indeed. The wall clock read 9:35am. She had been at this for over an hour. For a woman who had always left her home to work for 5 days a week, since two months, sitting at home, sorrowing her suspension, was a far cry from what she cajoled up in her head as 'a nice day'.
Isoken left the office with her handbag and lunch. Both now seemed like a unwavering reminder that few seconds ago she had a job. She still had one though, technically, but not for the next two weeks.
She wondered how she would avoid the office staff who will most likely question her for leaving so early in the day. Isoken did not want to be the one to break the bad news, that was Jacqueline's burden not hers. Fortunately, the office was an hive and nobody even knew who the other was as they passed each other while going through the daily chores of answering phone calls, taking down requests, filing and forwarding. She breezed through this hive, with the speed of a swimmer and came out the door panting lightly from hoarding her breath, as if the mere act of exchanging air will give up her presence.
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