Blog

Miss Rachel came to my office the other day. One of those wet Lagos evenings. Heavy rain and everyone was trapped as it was rumoured that the 3rd Mainland Bridge was jammed or it had collapsed, many remained on the Island late or found other ways across to the Mainland.

Miss Rachel looked seriously worried. It was not the rain or that she did not know her way home. She has a car like most up and coming Lagos girls and the car was working.

She has a problem.

You see, Miss Rachel is at the prime of her life. You know, that age when every woman thinks she should be married with children as that female Big Ben was constantly chiming away. Making loud rumbling grumbles about inactivity and lack of optimization.

Along with this, there is the family matter. Pressures and reminders that the Big Ben is there and the younger ones need a leader in this population contribution business. Pressures from friends whose weddings, naming ceremonies and engagements make up Miss Rachel’s weekends in Lagos.

Miss Rachel wants a lot in her life. In fact, she has a lot in her life. A steady boyfriend she has been hoping to marry for a long time. A good job. A car. Many friends. The sadness in Miss Rachel is from being trapped between a rock and a hard place.

She depends on this good job. She caters for herself and her needs and contributes her fair share to the family upkeep budget. Life could not be better settled.

But my colleague A.S. is the problem.

You see, he is an internationally acclaimed banker. He has worked all over the world. When he arrived as one of those janded boys in our company, every young lady, as most do in Lagos, was eyeing him. The prospects of getting ‘close’ to him so that ‘favor’ can be granted sometimes because of his position. After getting tired of counting money, A.S. came to our company to count people. He is our top man in H.R. Good Salary. Good Benefits. Close to the Boss. Wife and Children.

But he wants Miss Rachel.

The tactic is to pressure a lady to submission. The pressure starts with extending the hand of friendship. A ‘friend’ to talk to on work matters. A shoulder to cry on if you need one. A little financial help here and there. ‘Appointment’ as the “my eyes and ears”.

To a growing professional, this is the ‘ideal’ position to have in a company. So when A.S. calls a late evening ‘meeting’ at the other quiet building Miss Rachel is invited. There are other people there. Outside clients. Contractors. Guests of the company. It is a business review session. The first one goes well. Everyone is happy. This has to become a regular fixture in the business calendar. And the next one. And the next one.

But A.S. has his eyes and other things on Miss Rachel.

Miss Rachel has her eyes on her future. Husband. Children. Good House. Good Car. Good Job. Her ally in the company is A.S. A top executive who can ‘assist’ her progress. A ‘friend’. A good man with honor and integrity. The type she hopes she will marry soon. Yes, soon as her boyfriend has the same qualities.

She has been with our company for 4 years. She has worked hard. She has been available when others have not. She will stay late to impress and will do her work diligently. So much so that some of the other HoDs will ask for her to do work for them as they do not have capable and committed staff. Everyone knows her here as Miss I Too Do. She likes this job.

Gifts from trips abroad for dedication to work. Financial Assistance from time to time. A little allowance for the weekend. Her ‘new’ Mont Blanc pen. The Catwoman sunglasses. A bag to match her dress for her friend’s wedding. This is not a problem as A.S. is a ‘friend’.

Then the ‘requests’.
“Lets have a drink”,
“No need to rush home”,
“Have you eaten at that Chinese restaurant near Eko Hotel?”,
“Why don’t you come in earlier so we can go over this reports?”.

It all seemed so innocent.

Miss Rachel was happy to be useful to a boss. Afterall, he is the H.R. oga. Can move her progress faster. Better position. Better salary. She can afford more and do the things she wants. To help her family. Her friends. Even her relationship. She enjoys her work. It is her life. It is her future.

Not anymore.

A.S. has come again. Promises of promotion. Promises of taking her on trips abroad. Promises of leaving his wife. Promises of giving anything she wants. She just has to be his ‘Baby’.

“Baby? “
“At this age? “
“Ah! She cant be anybody’s baby o! “

“Wait! What king of baby?”
“That kind?”
“With the prospects of a good future with her boyfriend? “
“Oh God!”
“But the other day you said…”

Miss Rachel has dignity. She cannot be anybody’s baby at her age. She has worked hard and knows what she deserves. She has earned it!

But wait a minute.

“What if A.S. arranges for her to lose her job?”
“What if she has no job?”
“How can she cope without this lifesaver?”
“Her boyfriend. Loyal, loving boyfriend.”

What is a girl to do?

“If nobody knows”
“Just once”
“Let him have this and he promises to deliver”
“I will cleanse myself in church after this one time”
“Pastor said to fast and pray for forgiveness when we do wrong”
“I think he can keep it quiet”
“I will get the promotion and move to a new job for better pay”
“It will pass and I will forget, boyfriend will not know”

Then the first time.

“Oh God!”
“What is this?”
“What have I done?”

Then the second time.

“Oh God!”
“I am dirty!”
“I hate myself”
“Please, nobody should know”

The next time?

Miss Rachel was scared! Everybody at work is looking at her somehow. Those ones were whispering. Her colleagues begin to seem quiet. They don’t talk anymore? No sister gossip?

That look.
That up and down look.
“Did that one just look at me like that?”
“Does anybody know?”

That Trip.
That late ‘working’ night.
That Party.

And A.S.?

He comes to our building often. Always stops by to say hello. A big smile on his face. Happy to be here. Even his fellow ogas say hello. He talks too much.

Then suddenly it all stops.

No Smiles.
No Gifts.
No late ‘review’ meetings.

“Maybe it is the problem with the authorities. “
“Maybe it is the pressure as oga kpata kpata is ‘away’”.
“Maybe.”

Miss Rachel broke down in my office.

“Please. Please Miss Rachel don’t cry so loud before they think something is wrong”
“What is the problem now?”
“What do you want to do?”

She feels trapped.

No Promotion.
No Salary increase.
She can’t resign as she needs this job.
Her boyfriend is there.
She can’t face him.
One day he will know.
But she loves him.
What about her future?
What about Big Ben?
Where can she run?
How can she hide?
Who can she tell?

What kind of life is this?
Living a lie.
Just when everything is looking well.

“She must run.”
“She must hide.”
“She can start again”
“Again?”
“At middle age?”
“Husband?”
“Children?”
“Yepa!”

And our company marketing line?
What Pride?

She can’t.
Can’t.
Can’t.
Can’t.
Can’t.

“Help!”

Help Miss Rachel 2:40 AM