THE TATTOO

CHAPTER FOUR 

Lunch

At the parking lot, Uju heard someone call her name as she was about entering her car. She knew the voice and seriously didn’t want to face the owner. She heard the voice call again this time, closer. She exhaled slowly and turned to face the caller. Standing there was the CEO, he was pretending to catch his breath. “Damn, you’re such a fast walker. I had to jog to catch up with you Miss Chukwu.”

Uju rolled her eyes, “What now? I already know we are not winning the contract Sir, you don’t have to taunt me.”

“What are you talking about?”  He asked with obvious concern on his face. “You did absolutely well today, my team liked it but we haven’t made a decision yet. That would be after I must have had a meeting with them. But trust me, your presentation was good. I personally like it.”

Uju was relaxed now. She was relieved by what he said but didn’t still trust him. He might be making fun of her you know. She knew she overreacted at the mall but wasn’t really bothered about it. She folded her arms and looked him in the eye and said, “So why did you follow me to the parking lot? You and your team should be discussing with my boss.”

“Well, I thought we should do a proper introduction, my first meeting with you was quite awkward you know,” he said laughing.  He didn’t really look like the mall drama got to him, which Uju thought was cool. She thought to apologize to him about it but waved it off. It would seem like she was doing it to win the contract, after all she was just looking out for her child. 

“Well, I am Nnanna Joshua Ibekwe. You already know what I do asides talking to random girls at the mall,” he said laughing. “I guess it’s your turn.”  

"Obianuju Chukwu" Uju reluctantly said. 

“Can I call you Uju?” He asked

"Alright," she answered.  

“Let us have lunch together. Since there is a possibility we might be working together. We should eliminate any bad blood between us,” he said.  

“I’d rather not."

“Why? You can pick any restaurant of your choice and we can go in your car.” Uju finally agreed after much persuasion from him. She didn’t know the perfect restaurant to choose. The few times she had gone to fancy restaurants were for business meetings, friends’ birthday dinners and a few other social events. It was not that she didn’t have the luxury to go, but there was really no reason for her to. She had made it that way. She allowed Nnanna choose. He had instructed his driver to take his car to the location and wait there while Uju drove them to the restaurant in hers. She liked the place even though she thought it was a little bit too lavish for just lunch. It was a very relaxed environment with great décor and ambiance, an elegant atmosphere. They placed their order and Nnanna also ordered a bottle of wine for them. Uju thought it was too extra for just lunch but she didn't protest, she loved the idea of a bottle of wine anyways.

“How’s your sister?” Nnanna asked as he poured some wine in her glass.

“My sister?,”  Uju asked with her eyebrows raised

“Yes, the young lady with you at the mall,” he said as he sipped his glass of wine.

“Oh… she’s not my sister.”  Uju got that a lot. Nobody believed she was Kasie’s mother. “She’s my daughter," she added.

“No way” he said with a quizzical look on his face, "I didn’t know you could joke,” he said smiling. “That’s a good one.” He poured some more wine in his glass.

“I am serious,”  Uju said. He looked at her and she wasn’t smiling or looking like she was pulling his legs. She casually sipped her wine as if she didn’t just drop a bombshell. Uju saw the bewildered look on his face and laughed softly. “Don’t worry, I get that a lot. People do not always believe she’s my daughter and before you ask, I didn’t adopt her. The wine is great by the way.” She was smiling now.

“Wow, I am genuinely surprised. You don’t even look like you’ve birthed a human much less a 15 year old. You’ve got good genes you know.”  

He leaned forward, then dramatically looked around him pretending to be scared. "I hope no man would appear any moment from now to break my head for having lunch with his woman” he joked.

Uju let out a laugh. “You’re funny. No Mr. CEO, you do not have to worry about that.”

“I meant her dad, what about him?” He asked. Uju’s countenance suddenly changed. She finished the wine in her glass and looked at her wristwatch. It was funny how a question could change a whole mood. 

“He isn’t in the picture,” she said a few moments later. She wasn’t looking at him.

“Oh. Sorry, are you in a hurry?” He asked because she was still staring at her wristwatch. He sensed her discomfort and knew well not to continue with the subject.

“Not really but I am not spending the whole day here you know.  I’ve got work to do.” She felt her phone vibrate in her purse as she started to ask him how he had become the CEO of such a reputable company. She searched for the phone in her purse, looked at the screen, it was Kasie. The time was past 4pm and she knew she would be back from school by now.

“Well my dad was a…” he started to say

“Sorry, I've got to take this call. It’s from my daughter,” she said as she brought the phone close to her ear. “Hi love?” 

“Mum!” Kasie said over the phone, she was panting. “He’s here, I am scared. Please come home now, I need you."

                                                                                                                             CHAPTER FIVE