In Broad Daylight (Episode 1) "She's not picking up." She looks perplexed

"Madam, this is the file you asked for. I had to go as far as the accounts section to get it. I wonder how it got there. Someone probably mixed it up with another file and left with it." Mercy points the file at her boss.

The office of Mrs. Adebute is a big oval shaped space, luxuriously furnished with expensive leather upholstery.

There are two huge sofas with a table on the left part of the room.

A beautiful flower vase is on the table.

Just at the left corner of the room as well, there's a silver plated refrigerator.

On the right side of the office however, are two mannequins, male and female and a body form. All have lovely attires on them.

While the mannequins look like a Yoruba couple on their traditional wedding day, with the complete aso oke regalia, well embellished and finished off with a cap and head tie, the body form is adorned in an ethereal Elizabatherian floor length dinner dress made with exquisite Swiss lace fabric.

Right in the centre of the room is a mahogany table that spans almost all of the centre of the room with a big swivel office chair behind it.

There are two chairs in front of the table, while there's a silver file cabinet that's at least four feet high.

Everything about the room, from the floor tiles with wood panelling look, to the satin painted lilac walls, and the lush centre piece Arabian rug, screams class!

The laptop on Mrs. Adebute's table is still switched on, several files and papers lying on the table show she has been busy all day.

"It's barely 12noon and madam is exhausted," Mercy thinks.

Since her boss, Mrs.Adebimpe Adebute the MD/CEO of LUSH FASHION AND STYLE, a woman in her early fourties looks relaxed in her chair, head thrown back, hands on her laps, eyes closed, Mercy decides to let her be, since it seems the woman is just having a nap.

Mrs.Adebute is a very hardworking and enterprising woman. Despite being born into wealth, she has built a brand in the fashion industry. Her company name is a household name in Nigeria.

Specifically known for high end men and women's clothing.

She is a fashion mogul per excellence.

With eye for quality and excellent taste in fashion, she is the go to person for the creme de la creme of the country.

She caters to practically every aspect of fashion related needs particularly where clothing is involved.
Her clients range from politicians, oil magnates, business moguls, high service chiefs, etc.

As long has you have the money to spend, she is the person you want to style and design your attires, especially when you have an occasion to celebrate or attend.

Because of people like her, people hardly travel outside the country to purchase fashion master pieces.

Her company imports lots of fabrics, accessories and other materials from London, Paris, Switzerland and all over Europe and Asia, but ultimately, all the work is done here in Nigeria.
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"Mercy, hi, I'm here to see Madam, she is supposed to do the final checking of the items selected for the Abubakar/Rimi wedding." Austin, the purchasing officer says as he comes into Mercy, the M.D's secretary's office.

"Hmmm. I don't know if disturbing her is a good idea. I went in there few minutes ago after I found the file containing the late ambassador's burial invoice and order list.

I was so pissed sef, because I had to go through a lot of stress to get it, and for what? All these documents are available on the system but madam just likes to touch paper before she can believe a document is real. I came back to meet her sleeping. And me I don't want her wahala.

If I allow you in now, she might start screaming that I sent you in knowing fully well that she was asleep."

Austin has no time for Mercy's drama and stories today, as it is, they are behind schedule and the said orders ought to have left Hong Kong already.

"Look here Mercy, this is extremely important, and as you can see on my system, I'm online with the supplier and he is waiting for Madam's final word, so please just inform her that I'm here." He snaps as he shows her his system's screen.

"Mtcheew. Why are you always so grumpy? See ya trozez, like village headmaster own," she says with a snarl on her face as she picks the office intercom to ask their boss if she should let Austin in.

"She's not picking up." She looks perplexed.

"Maybe she's still napping like you said, Austin responds.

"Ha! It's been almost thirty minutes, she never naps that long. Let's go and check if everything is okay."

Mercy wears her shoes in a hurry as she and Austin make their way into the office.

"Madam! Madam!! Madam!!!" They both call in unison, but there is no response.
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#fiction
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Written By Tolulope Fakayode Faniran

June 15, 2017