Chapter 8
I woke up the following morning with a start, looking at Isadora’s side of the bed, I realized it was vacant. I rolled over to check the time, it dawned on me that it was past 8am. I stood up, walked to the bathroom when I heard some sounds from the kitchen. I made my way towards the kitchen only to meet Isadora arranging breakfast on the table.
“Looks like my sleeping baby is up”, Isadora teased while I felt a bit shy and at the same time cornered.
“Good morning sweet, you’re up already”, I asked rather foolishly.
“No bro, as you can see…I’m still in bed picking beans”, Isadora replied sarcastically.
“You’re mean, you are not nice at all”, I countered Isadora with a smiled across my face.
“No do prepare for work, stay there dey use me catch cruise”, Isadora narrowed her eyes.
“You forget say I already don resign from my job”, I smiled mischievously at Isadora.
“You forgot there’s difference between a job and work”, Isadora interjected while I diverted my attention to the breakfast she was almost done setting.
“So what are we having for breakfast?”, I tried to change the topic.
“Some slice of your big head with a touch of my teeth…you think say you smart to change topic bah? You don jam”, Isadora gave me a mock kiss and then burst into a short laughter.
“Women, ona get serious wahala”, I tried to keep a straight face.
“If you think say that your fake frown baby face move me then you dey deceive yourself”, Isadora laughed more.
“Abeg carry your yeye talk commot leave me jor, make I do chop come go bath”, I teased Isadora as she increased the tempo of her laughter.
“Abeg come carry go chop before you eat me, hungry man”, Isadora teased back.
“Ehn…leave am for me”, I shrugged as I sat down to eat.
I stood at the front of the mirror for last time admiring myself, this is the first time in a long while I’m dressing this cooperate and looking this cool and gentlemanly in appearance. Isadora was the one that picked them from the wardrobe for me.
“Now you look more handsome and more like a gentleman”, Isadora complimented as I came into the sitting room.
“Mtchwww…The first thing you do na to mouth me”, I formed a straight face.
“You and me know say na the truth I dey talk, every time you go dey dress like tech-bro”, Isadora giggled as she exit the door.
“You say wetin?”, I called after Isadora.
“I say ‘tech-bro’, abi you no hear am?”, Isadora replied back.
“Who you say resemble tech-bro?”, I asked Isadora as I hurriedly trialed behind her.
“My papa…”, Isadora shot back sarcastically as she enter and turn on her car’s ignition.
“That’s better, never knew your father was a tech-bro”, I chirped in with a mischievous smile.
“Abeg enter car make we dey go jor, senior tech-bro”, Isadora rolled her eyes.
“Na your papa”, I countered.
“No, your papa”, Isadora giggled and drove out of my apartment the moment I shut the car door.
We arrived at Mr. James’ apartment to pick him up, after which Isadora drove straight to her place of work. The P.A to the M.D was already waiting for us when Isadora drove into the television premises.
“Gentlemen, welcome to Silver-bird television!”, Isadora exclaimed excitedly as soon as she halted the car.
“Breath taking”, Mr. James scanned the environment and building with his eagle eyes.
“I am impressed”, I murmured more to myself than to my companions.
“Let’s get going, the M.D is waiting for us”, Isadora announced proudly as she alight from the car followed by Mr. James.
I followed them like the obedient servant following his master. We walked toward the P.A who was already smiling at us from the door way as if we were some sort of messiah sent to save his people from an affliction.
“Good morning Miss. Isadora, without asking I presume this is Mr. James…his eyes gave him away and…Mr. Thompson the genius himself”, The P.A greeted us each with a handshake.
“Good morning Mr. P.A sir, it’s our pleasure being here”, Mr. James and I chorused at the same time as if it was rehearsed.
“My name is Mr. Tony not Mr. P.A sir”, Mr. Tony pointed out with a smile while Mr. James and I exchanged glances of ‘Okay sir’, before nodding. Mr. Tony opened the door, ushering us into the television station building.
“So…Mr. Thompson, tell me a little about yourself”, The M.D who introduced himself as Mr. Tonubari nodded in my direction.
We were seated in the M.D’s office and ‘kola’ was brought as per first time guests. Isadora sat on a chair not too far as she busied herself going through some documents, or so she pretended to be doing.
“My name is Legborsi Thompson, a Petroleum Engineering graduate who followed his writing passion after graduating from school”, I flash Mr. Tonubari a smile which he returns almost immediately.
“And you?”, He angled his head towards Mr. James.
“What can I say…than I am the working girl”, Mr. James joked while everyone present burst into a fit of laughter.
“Well…”, Mr. James continued, “…I am an investigative journalist with a Bachelor in mass communication”.
“You forgot to add ‘I am an undercover FBI agent’ too”, Isadora chirped in while everyone burst into another round of laughter.
“I like your sense of humor Mr. James”, I’ve heard a lot about you duo so I decided to give you boys a shot”, Mr. Tonubari began while I exchanged knowing glance with Mr. James.
“Thank you for the compliment sir, we are indeed much honored to be here and also look forward to working with your media house”, Mr. James appreciated Mr. Tonubari amid smiles.
“I believe Miss. Isadora already furnish you boys with all the information you’ll need as well as the prerequisite for the collaboration, sorry lets term it partnership since you guys will be working on your own in order to achieve maximal desired result”, Mr. Tonubari continued, “I believe you boys are all set for the task ahead”. Mr. Tonubari faced me.
“Yes sir, we are set and ready for the task ahead”, I answered him.
“Good, now is your pay or…let’s say your commission”, Mr. Tonubari winked while we all laughed a bit.
“Can my partner and I discuss this for some moment sir?”, I asked Mr. Tonubari who nodded his head in approval.
Mr. James and I excused ourselves from the M.D’s office. We both walked to a secluded area for our conversation.
“So what do you think?”, Mr. James spoke first.
“We charge for time and quality not for job done, remember that”, I reminded Mr. James who nodded in agreement.
“That’s right, remember also that our assignment would be a very risky one, and also put into consideration the fact we’ll also need to tip some persons off in order to get some certain information”, Mr. James tried to elaborate more on my points.
“Exactly, that’s it. So we need to calculate all the financial expenses and all”, I touched Mr. James’ shoulder.
“So how much do you suggest we charge per assignment”, Mr. James asked while I stroked my beards gently.
“Well, let’s say…500”, I began.
“That’s outrageous Mr. Thompson”, Mr. James protested.
“That’s our opening price Jamie, remember that they’ll also bid their price and we need go up above the usual percentage”, I explained to Mr. James who nodded slowly.
“I think you made a point, you’re right”, Mr. James agreed while I grinned widely.
“So how much do we charge last?”, I asked Mr. James who stared into space for few seconds before answering me.
“If they will facilitate the investigative expenses, then we charge 300 last but if no, then 400 last”, Mr. snaps his fingers at the end of his opinions.
“Made sense…brilliant”, I commended Mr. James as we both returned back to the M.D’s office.
“I believe you boys have finalized your decisions”, Mr. Tonubari spoke up the moment we both took our respective seats.
“Yes sir”, Mr. James replied while I sat still.
“Hope you boys didn’t plan to break the bank on my behalf?”, Mr. Tonubari teased while I caught Isadora eyeing me.
Immediately, her advice the previous night hit me. I remember her telling me that the mission James and I would embark on wouldn’t be child’s play, frontline journalism and as such; shouldn’t charge below average. She also gave me an expo that front line investigative journalists and reporters earns much since their job was very risky. And as such, we should not settle for less.
“How much last will you boys charge?” The M.D’s voice brought me back to reality.
“400”, I heard Mr. James replied.
“Alright, if that’s your last cut, I’ll cut for 3.5, and we’ll take care of your field expenses”, Mr. Tonubari finalized while he took a look at me to ascertain my approval.
“That’s okay by me sir”, I acknowledged while he nodded in satisfaction.
“In addition, you guys would be given an official vehicle for your assignments, it’s maintenance would be the media house responsibility while you boys will be the ones to fuel it”, Mr. Tonubari continued, “…Hope we have a deal?”.
“Yes sir”, I answered.
“Good, I think this marks the end of the meeting gentlemen. I look forward working with you boys, for the main time, Miss. Isadora will show you around and help you boys on signing some papers. Mr. Tony will put things in place for you guys to resume tomorrow, inclusive of your official vehicle”, Mr. Tonubari concluded as we all stood up, shook hands and exit his office for the next line of action.